Resident Calls for Town Attorney to be Removed

A visit on unspecified business by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office to Parsippany Town Hall last week moved a resident to ask at Tuesday's Township Council meeting for the town attorney to be removed.

Resident Roy Messmer publicly questioned whether the visit was in relation to allegations by political opponents that Mayor James Barberio offered a council candidate a job in exchange for not running for office. He told the governing body, which did not adopt his suggestion to remove the town attorney, that their reputations were "on the line."

'Inglesino should be removed'

Two representatives of the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office visited the municipal building last Wednesday, witnesses, including Messmer, told Patch.

He said that a woman and a man wearing identifying polo shirts made a stop at Municipal Clerk Yancy Wazirmas' office at about 10 a.m. April 10 and left with an envelope containing computer discs.

"They opened a small manila envelope, looking into it, and were shaking their heads in acknowledgement of the requested materials," he told the audience Tuesday. "I was just feet away from them."

Standing before the council Tuesday night, Messmer put a "simple question" to the body and to the mayor, who though at the meeting, was not present for the public comment portion of the gathering.

"What's going on?" Messmer asked. "If this is related to the January Sunday night meeting, then [Town Attorney John] Inglesino should be removed from all phases of that matter, including giving advice of any kind to the administration and council members." 

Messmer was referring to the Jan. 13 Town Hall meeting confirmed by Township Council President Brian Stanton, in which he, Barberio and town Attorney Inglesino talked with Dr. Louis Valori, the retired Parsippany Police officer, about allegedly creating a possible $50,000 media relations position within the Parsippany police.

Valori is running for Town Council on the opposition ticket including mayoral candidate Paul Carifi Jr. and council candidate Robert J. Peluso. On March 3, he alleged publicly that Barberio, who is running for re-election, offered him a job in exchange for not running for office.

Stanton admitted that the discussion took place and that he asked his fellow council members to see if they were interested in creating the new position; they weren't. But he insisted that Valori was not offered a job in exchange for staying away from the 2013 election.

Barberio, on March 20, said in a statement that Valori's allegations were false. The mayor also stated his opinion that Valori, was running out of revenge for not receiving a promotion prior to his 2012 retirement. He has not answered specific questions regarding what occurred at the Sunday night meeting at Town Hall, the reasons for the township attorney's presence and whether the lawyer was billed and how much for his work that night.

Valori told Patch he took his allegations to the state Attorney General's Office for investigation. He added that the case reportedly was given to Somerset County to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. 

The law enforcement agencies said they do not comment on in-progress investigations.

'Hope that you represent us'

Still standing before the Town Council, Messmer called on Michael dePierro, "the senior sitting councilman, whom I respect," to make a motion calling for an independent attorney to replace Inglesino in serving the Barberio administration and advising the council.

"It's your names, your reputations, on the line," Messmer warned the lawmakers.

DePierro reminded Messmer of the corruption investigation of former Mayor Frank Priore in the 1990s.

"The feds were in Parsippany for over two years, duplicating papers and scrutinizing notes and such at Town Hall," dePierro said. "At no time during those two years did they ever indicate what it was they were investigating. So at this point in time... you can jump to a conclusion right now, but we do not know [what they're seeking.] So it's inappropriate to try to anticipate what it is they're going to do and what it is they are looking for."

The veteran councilman said it is more prudent to wait until the Somerset County prosecutor reveals what or whom the investigation is targeting.

Messmer also spoke against Inglesino for his "despicable" actions to silence resident Pat Petaccia at the April 9 council meeting when she tried to ask him questions about the Jan. 13 meeting at Town Hall.

First, Messmer congratulated Councilman Jonathan Nelson for his recent Letter to the Editor affirming his support for residents' free speech at public meetings. On April 9, Nelson and council candidate Paul Carifi Jr. reportedly attempted to convince Inglesino to allow Petaccia to have her say.

Then he told the lawyer that "6,540 men and women have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan," and more than 40,000 have been wounded to defend the right to freedom of expression so U.S. "citizens like Pat Petacccia can express their concerns and ask questions to their governing bodies.

"How dare you treat Pat Petaccia in that way that you did last Tuesday night," he continued. "How dare the mayor—though he's not present right now—allow someone who works for the township to conduct himself that way. Mayor Barberio, you should ask Mr. Inglesino for his resignation immediately."

He finished his remarks to a round of applause, saying, "God bless America."

Resident Julia Peterson also stood to defend Petaccia.

"As a friend and fellow citizen of Pat Petaccia, we're all familiar with how much she comes to council meetings," she said. "I think she has a right to speak, because she knows a lot about this town. She studies the issues; she's informed. I was upset to hear... I know it's hard to listen to all of us, but we really hope you listen to us and take us seriously.

"I do hope that you represent us."