Broken Promises, Backroom Deals, and Free Golf in Parsippany

PARSIPPANY – James Barberio’s third term as Mayor of our community has had a rocky first month.

Supported by a one-party Council, Parsippany’s government has served only itself through the month of January. It began when Mayor Barberio broke a major campaign promise. He returned former Township Attorney John Inglesino’s law firm to the government payroll. It escalated with a failed attempt to oust the independent Zoning Board’s attorney. The month ended bizarrely with an attempt to grant politicians free membership at the township-run Knoll Golf Course.

Broken Promise: Mayor Barberio’s 2017 loss was a taxpayer revolt against “Million Dollar” Township Attorney John Inglesino, whose sky-high legal fees dwarfed those of similarly-sized communities. Despite stating during last year’s campaign that Inglesino’s firm, “has no interest in applying and being the Township Attorney,” his firm was appointed as “special counsel” by a unanimous 5-0 vote. While not technically holding the Township Attorney position, we can expect Inglesino’s huge legal fees to once again inflate our tax bills.

Backroom Deals: Soon after, a disturbing voicemail came to light from Zoning Board Chair Robert Iracane. Though the Zoning Board is an independent, quasi-judicial body, Iracane alleges in his voicemail that “the Council” preferred a new attorney for the board.

The Council’s supposed discussion wasn’t in public. We don’t know if a vote was taken, or if one individual ordered the Zoning Board attorney’s removal. We don’t know how the Mayor is involved, particularly given how many professional service providers were replaced last month. The Mayor and Council must publicly address this scandal, and shine light on their backroom politicking.

Free Golf: Most inexplicably of all was a proposal by Council President Michael dePierro offering free memberships to select individuals at the township’s Knoll Golf Course – including himself. To their credit, the other Councilmembers voted down his proposal.

After years of public statements condemning the condition of Parsippany’s finances, why does Council President dePierro want to reduce the Knoll’s revenue? The only reasonable explanation is that he wants to play golf for free.

Republicans won the last election, and deserved a chance to show the fiscal restraint and transparency they promised. Instead, the million-dollar attorney has returned, backroom politics are the government’s focus, and our Council President is fixated on his own golf fees.

Whether you voted Democratic or Republican last year, the time has already come to watch the actions of this government with skepticism. Even in Mayor Barberio’s first tenure, there were never so many scandals surrounding him at once. We’ve seen now that accountability will not come from the Mayor’s Office or Council Chambers. These longtime politicians know what they’re doing. Don’t let them off the hook.

###