Council OKs Mayor's Budget Introduction—But Not Unanimously

Barberio blasts councilmen seeking mayor's seat for voting against introduction of $62M 2013 spending plan.

The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council, by a vote of 3-2, approved the introduction of Mayor James Barberio's proposed $62 million 2013 municipal budget at its Tuesday night agenda meeting at Parsippany High School — and the town's top executive is not happy that the vote wasn't unanimous. Council members Paul Carifi Jr. and Jonathan Nelson, who are both running for mayor in the 2013 election, voted against the measure. Barberio is running for re-election. In a statement released Wednesday, Barberio attacked them both and called on the councilmen to change their votes when the measure comes up for a final vote. The $62,286,803.97 spending plan would result in a zero percent tax increase for residents. "I worked hard on this budget to …

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Letters to the Editor

Councilman Defends Freedom of Speech in Public Meetings

Send your thoughts to Patch.

To the Editor: The U.S. Supreme Court has written that traditional public forums are those that “have immemorially been held in trust for the use of the public and, time out of mind, have been used for purposes of assembly, communicating thoughts between citizens and discussing public questions." Public streets and parks are the quintessential example. The court has also determined that Township Council meetings are not traditional public forums and may impose reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on expression. However, that does not mean the Township Council or its attorney may restrict the questions and opinions expressed by members of the public. At the April 9 Parsippany Township Council meeting, the township attorney …

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Poll: Which Par-Troy Election Ticket Do You Support Today?

A little more than two months until 2013 primary election

The June 4 primary election is 72 days away. Now that a Democratic ticket has been announced, Patch thought this a good time to take another snapshot reflecting the electorate's  current mind. The most recent entrant to the race was Democrat Jonathan Nelson, now a sitting Township Council member, who is running with council candidates Robert Keller and Mihir Oza. The trio, who announced last Thursday, are running on a platform of changing the current state of Parsippany leadership and making "common-sense government common again." On Feb. 21, Mayor James Barberio launched his re-election campaign official, announcing his theme of "Moving Parsippany Forward," and his running mates, present Council Vice President Vincent Ferrara and …

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Councilman Nelson Launches Mayoral Campaign

Democratic ticket running unopposed so far in June 4 primary.

Parsippany Democrats now have their standard bearers for the 2013 races for mayor and Township Council. Jonathan Nelson, a businessman elected for a one-year council term last November, tossed his hat into the ring for Parsippany's top elected position at a campaign kickoff event at the Sheraton Hotel Thursday night.  A large, enthusiastic crowd was in attendance to show their support for Nelson and his ticketmates, Planning Board member Robert Keller and newcomer Mihir Oza, who are running for the two available council seats. Oza is a 25-year-old Parsippany Hills High School and Drexel University graduate who works for a nonprofit organization in Morristown. "He's running to ensure a diverse council," said Nelson. "He grew up here, cares …

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Peter

12:58 pm on Saturday, April 6, 2013

We have already seen how the big boys roll. I am a lifetime republican who is voting democratic. Hopefully Nelson will not have enough time in office to cultivate all of the connections the republicans have been using to bleed. Our tax dollars dry. Do you think former police and municipal employees are going to tackle pension and benefit reform? Take a look at the line item in the budget, it …   more ›

Law Dept. Idea Undergoes Council Scrutiny

Pros and cons of controversial suggestion to create in-house town attorney discussed

The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council discussed the establishment of a legal department within the municipal administration at its Tuesday night agenda meeting at Town Hall. Councilman Jonathan Nelson proposed the idea after researching how having an in-house attorney is handled in two municipalities similar in size and scope to Parsippany, Wayne and Howell townships. "It really isn't anything different from how we're set up now," Nelson said, noting that his plan would only set a cap on how much the municipal attorney would make, and makes the attorney a town employee. He said the lawyer, who would have backup from go-to law firms, potentially could save the township hundreds of thousands of dollars over the long term and help the …

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Chinese New Year Celebrated at Parsippany Library

The holiday is Feb. 10, but last Saturday, the Parsippany Library gathered local children for a festive celebration.

The Parsippany-Troy Hills Free Public Library rung in the new year Chinese style at a special event at its Halsey Road branch last Saturday. The library's 12th annual Chinese New Year Celebration featured a variety of activities for kids (and adults), including face painting, origami, paper cutting, Chinese calligraphy and games. There even was a lively and colorful Chinese dragon at the event. Township Council member Jonathan Nelson, who lived in Beijing from 1992-93, heard the hubbub while at the library and said he was delighted to see the celebration as it happened. "I was checking a book out of the library when I heard traditional Chinese music coming from the basement, and I was curious," he explained. "It was great to see the …

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Councilman Proposes Township Department of Law

Jonathan Nelson says making the town attorney an in-house, part-time position will save the township thousands of dollars.

Parsippany's newest Township Council member Jonathan Nelson wants the town to reconsider the way it handles legal issues. Nelson has drafted an ordinance proposal to bring the town's lawyer under the Town Hall umbrella and to establish a Department of Law, aka the Office of Township Attorney, that he said will be introduced at Tuesday's council agenda meeting. He told Patch he hopes to open discussion on an idea that he said would save the town money, make life easier for township department heads and boost government transparency. An early draft of the proposal lays out the idea: setting up a department at Town Hall that would be headed by an in-house lawyer appointed by the mayor with the advice and consent of the Township Council. The …

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Good Samaritan Resolution Wins Council Approval

Statement urges the General Assembly to override governor's veto of measure allowing treatment rather than punishment for drug overdose victims and those who help them.

By unanimous vote, the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council approved a resolution at its Tuesday night business meeting at Town Hall urging the New Jersey legislature to once again take up the Good Samaritan Emergency Response Act. The measure would offer limited immunity from prosecution to those who suffer a drug overdose and to those who call 911 while trying to assist someone experiencing a drug overdose. The legislation, with bipartisan support, was passed by both the General Assembly and the state Senate last year. But in October, Gov. Christie vetoed the bill and instead called for an 18-month period to research the issue further.  The council's act makes Parsippany the 11th New Jersey town officially to pass a resolution asking …

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Golf Club Gets Mulligan for $132K Water, Sewer Debt

Town Council approves erasing amount owed by Knoll.

The Parsippany Town Council voted 4-1 to cancel the financially struggling Knoll Golf Utility's debt to the water and sewer utility at its Tuesday night regular meeting at Town Hall. The issue was briefly mentioned at the Dec. 11 council agenda meeting.  Councilman Michael dePierro, who is the body's Knoll liaison, said in the past, when the golf club routinely operated with surpluses, the township sometimes used some of the utility's excess funds to offset deficits in other areas of municipal government. Wiping away the debt, he said, would make things even and reduce the burden hanging over the golf club.  A resolution authorizing the erasure of the Knoll Country Club's 2012 water and sewer receivable balances, as expected, came up …

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Parsippany Menorah Lighting at Town Hall Illuminates

Video on the Go captured the 5th night of Hanukkah fun from start to finish.

Joy and celebration were the watchwords as Parsippany's diverse Jewish communities and residents came together to celebrate the fifth night of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, at Town Hall. Mayor James Barberio and town officials were on hand as Councilman Jonathan Nelson used a torch dubbed the Light of Freedom to light the official town menorah which stands prominently on Route 46 in front of the municipal building. After the lighting, the attendees gathered in Council Chambers for music, inspirational messages and Hanukkah treats including jelly doughnuts and potato latkes.

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