Mayor Michael Luther began his annual speech to the members of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, January 29 at Ruth’s Chris Steak House at the Parsippany Hilton.. Mr. Luther stated “As I begin my third year in office, two years have passed more quickly than I ever would have imagined, and I stand here today to say that I am inspired by all that we have accomplished in Parsippany in that short a time and all that we have yet to achieve.
As Parsippany approaches its 80th anniversary in 2008, we remain a community rich in history, a town that treasures its roots and strong values. From our earliest years as a community inhabited by the Lenni Lenape Indians who gave us our name, Parsippany grew into the community it is today with a population of just over 50,000. It is the strong foundation and community spirit, grown and nurtured over 80 years that define our township’s future.
In order to understand our progress over the past year, I would like to begin by giving you an update of those items I spoke to you about in my last address of 2007.
In reiterating my strong commitment to the efficiencies of technology, we have had a major upgrade to the Township’s website. For those of you who have used it, you will notice that it is much more user-friendly, much easier to navigate and has easy access to many township forms. I am happy to report that payments can now be made online. Township ordinances, Council, Planning Board and Board of Adjustment meeting schedules, agendas and minutes are available online as well. Companies wishing to relocate their employees can refer them to the website to obtain a good overview of Parsippany. I think it is interesting to note, that as of December 14th, we have been averaging 12,000 visits per month. I remain committed to continual improvement of the Township’s presence on the World Wide Web by keeping the website up to date and relevant.
Last year I spoke about the revitalization of the Housing Department. One of the prime focuses of that effort has been to conduct the inspection of Parsippany’s multi-family dwellings specifically, the apartment complexes. In 2007, the department completed the inspection of 20 out of 24 complexes including 6,161 apartments. It is anticipated that the inspection of the remaining complexes will be completed this year.
Township ordinance requires every multi-family apartment complex to be inspected every two years. The ordinance has been in existence for 15 years. However, as a result of the efforts of the housing department, my administration is the first to enforce the ordinance. The total revenue generated from those inspections came to $150,000 in 2007.
Overcrowding still remains a priority. This issue continues to be a paramount concern because of the threat to public safety and the health and welfare of our first responders, the neighbors and the inhabitants of the dwellings. My administration, with the help of Councilwoman Grossi and Councilman dePierro adopted the “Anti-Stacking Ordinance”. Enforcement efforts of this ordinance have resulted in 308 inspections and 245 violations issued to apartment complexes and approximately 43 to single family homes . While this is a significant impact, we must remain vigilant and aggressively enforce the anti-stacking ordinance.
We continue to make significant infrastructure improvements. In 2007 we were able to complete the Rainbow Lakes Bank Stabilization Project, the reconstruction of more than 7 roadways in town, the resurfacing of streets in 5 neighborhoods including the paving of Dryden Way in the Mack-Cali Office Complex and 2 major drainage projects. Looking forward to 2008, the Township will go out to bid on 5 major reconstruction projects, the milling and resurfacing of Knoll Road, traffic signal improvements at the intersection of North Beverwyck and Vail Roads and the long-awaited footbridge over the Troy Brook on Parsippany Boulevard.
Construction is scheduled this year to begin on the Vail Road reconstruction project, Fanny Road traffic signal improvements, curb and sidewalk repair throughout the Township and the Marmora Road sidewalk replacement project near Eastlake School. We have over 9 major projects slated to enter the Design Phase for future development. The Township is also working with the NJDOT to improve the Route 10/202 intersection as well as to improve pedestrian safety along Route 46 between North Beverwyck and Baldwin Roads.
In my quest to search for ways to significantly reduce energy costs and for opportunities to create clean energy, we applied for a grant for our solar energy project. The Township has been rewarded by the BPU with New Jersey Clean Energy Rebate of $1,744,754 which I am told is extraordinary. The project involves the design and installation of a 700 kw, photovoltaic (solar) project that will be located on the Sharkey Landfill, a former Superfund Site. The photovoltaic system will generate electricity for municipal wastewater treatment plant, which is adjacent to the landfill. The funding we received will offset the capital costs of the system, estimated to be about $8 million. This project would provide 10% of the energy requirements for sewer treatment.
On a smaller scale, and with a heavy emphasis on energy conservation, I have asked our Building Maintenance Supervisor to start replacing the existing incandescent bulbs in township offices with the new high efficient low energy bulbs. Thus far, it has translated to a savings of 10 – 15%. The plan for this year is to upgrade all HVAC electrical motors to Energy Star motors predicting an additional savings of 10 – 20%. We are happy that JCP&L is engaging in a program called “Group Relamping” in which they are going throughout the township to upgrade all of the mercury and incandescent lighting to sodium lighting. This, too, will reduce the Township’s bill for street lighting.
We are always seeking out ways to preserve the environment. The Township of Parsippany is going “Green” with environmentally safe cleaning products manufactured under the name of Spartan Green Solutions. I agree with the Council’s current effort to examine ways of implementing a phosphate ordinance which will ban the use of certain fertilizers because of contamination to our storm water system. The chemical also threatens the jewels of our lake communities.
Improvements to our recycling program make it easy for residents to comply. We have increased our recycling efforts to significantly reduce waste by accepting computers, monitors, large screen and high definition televisions and electronic equipment. Residents are now able to combine all papers to include newspapers, magazines, junk mail, envelopes, soft cover books, telephone books, chip board (cereal and gift boxes) and office paper. We have expanded our recycling program by reaching out to the school system to join in our efforts. Simplicity is the way to go and I hope that we receive 100% cooperation from the schools and commercial properties in town. Our increased efforts in the recycling area have started to show some very positive results. Our landfills are overflowing and the public can wait no longer to address this pressing problem.
Those of you who have been utilizing our Construction Office, have seen a vast improvement since last year. With the additional personnel I hired, the department is much more efficient. A total of 2,665 building permits were issued in 2007 and brought in a revenue of $2,147,762.
The commercial real estate market continues to flourish in Parsippany. Home to 15 Fortune 500 companies with more than 100 employees, and a total of 11.7 million square feet of commercial office space, we continue to be the third largest submarket in New Jersey, after the Hudson Waterfront and Newark. One Jefferson Road, a building with 100,000 s.f., currently under construction and built on spec, is about to be completed. Two of the largest leases within northern and central New Jersey were signed here with IMS Health leasing an entire 120,000 s.f. building at 11 Waterview Boulevard for their regional office and Daiichi Sankyo who expanded their U.S. headquarters by adding an additional 97,876 s.f. The RBA Group from Morristown is re-locating to Parsippany to 7 Campus Drive and will be occupying 35,696 s.f. Wyndham Worldwide is locating their regional headquarters to Sylvan Way and the headquarters is currently under construction.
You will be happy to learn that there is a new proposal for the incomplete steel structure that has been standing alongside Route 80 West for the past 20 years. The plans for Commercial Realty to purchase the property and build two office buildings are still pending. I am sure that many of you would be happy to see that project finally come to fruition.
I hope to continue to attract the types of corporations that are drawn to the small town values of our community, and its excellent location – those who will take a place in our community as “good corporate neighbors”. When I look back at my 2007 calendar, I am amazed at the number of grand openings, ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings and other celebrations that reflect the continued positive growth and confidence of our community.
The subject of shared services often arises. While I am actively investigating additional opportunities, we have already begun by hosting Morris County’s Nutrition Center here in Parsippany’s Community Center. The first year was positive for both the Township and the County. The program fed over 100 people daily at the Community Center and delivered over 200 meals to homebound seniors making this the largest nutrition site in Morris County. I am most inspired by this program which brings our aging population out of their homes for socialization or delivers these same well-balanced meals to those who are homebound.
Which brings me to the subject of the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign. In this state, almost 23% of people are obese and 37% are overweight (according to the CDC). NJ leads the nation in childhood obesity, not a statistic that we should be proud of. Nationwide, this generation of children is projected to be the first to have a lower life expectancy than their parents. Obese children lead to overweight adults. As part of my initiative last year to improve the health and wellness of Parsippany residents, I joined forces with the State’s Mayor’s Wellness Campaigns. We have been extremely successful in all of our efforts. We held a Health Fair last April that totally surpassed all expectations and the Mayor’s Healthy Cook-off drew a crowd from all over northern and central New Jersey. “Work-out Wednesdays” became a motto for many township residents who participated in our monthly events. We targeted all ages with our Jazzercise and yoga classes, skate party for the youngsters, dances for our senior citizens and cooking and nutritional demonstrations for everyone. My intention is to continue this program with even more fervor than last year with more of a concentration on long range planning.
It is my goal to have Parsippany recognized as a “New Jersey Healthy Town”. In order to achieve this designation, a municipality must be a participant in the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign for at least one year and is obligated to demonstrate sustainable programs in the categories of Youth in Motion, Employers in Motion and Community in Motion. The objective here is to increase opportunities for residents and employees to participate in daily physical activity with a long-term goal of reducing health care costs secondary to obesity.
As champions of community health, we have committed to holding another health fair on April 5th. The committee has met to plan additional functions for the year including a 5K race and a bicycle rodeo. We always appreciate corporate sponsors that can actively participate and have their employees share in the wellness programs with our residents.
In keeping with our Wellness Campaign, we encourage everyone, including our corporate business citizens, to use our popular park system to keep moving and stay active. I am happy to report that it is working and citizen participation in our recreation programs is at an all time high. The Parks and Recreation Department is always busy and has celebrated another successful year. The infrastructure at Volunteers Park was upgraded with installation of a new brick patio and keystone wall. A new artificial turf field was installed at Smith Field Park allowing for hundreds of hours of additional playing time. The playground equipment in five of our parks was replaced to bring the Township into compliance with New Jersey Playground Codes. This year, Parsippany will continue its reputation as a leader in recreational amenities when we construct and open our Skate Park in Lake Hiawatha.
The result of our efforts in teaming with the County, yielded a grant of $850,000 from the County of Morris toward the open space purchase of the McDermott property which is adjacent to Smith Field Park. This would allow the Township to expand the recreational facilities in one of our most active and popular parks in the county. Some of you may have had the opportunity to make use of some of the facilities at Smith Field as participants and/or spectators. Both youth and adult leagues engage in activities at Smith Field. Lighted fields provide additional benefit to the players by expanding the hours of availability, particularly in the spring and fall when it gets dark earlier. With increased requests to use the park, the proposed expansion will help to support these recreational activities in the future.
We are at an important point in our development where it becomes essential to preserve the past, to learn from it, protect it and share its lessons with the community. Craftsman Farms, the home of Gustav Stickley, famed furniture maker, is the only national historic landmark in Parsippany and one of five in Morris County. Last year, we had the opportunity to enhance the original purchase by teaming with the Craftsman Farms Foundation and the Morris County government to obtain 4 acres, 3 additional original buildings and the ruins of the original barn on the Western portion of the Craftsman Farms property. We are very excited about the expansion plans and renovations that are currently being made to the property. The Annex will soon be refurbished with an ADA-accessible restroom and a visitor’s reception area with rooms available for meetings. The restoration of the log house (Gustav Stickley’s home) will soon be completed and the two cottages on the premises will provide space for artisans in residence and room for special exhibits.
In 1989, the Township purchased the original 26 acres with 5 original buildings, at which time the Craftsman Farms Foundation was formed to oversee the property and the museum. Last year, the Foundation offered the sale of the Western portion to the Township at a below market value in return for an extended operating lease agreement which has enabled the Foundation to be more favorably viewed by county, state and national granting organizations. The partnership between Craftsman Farms Foundation and the Township of Parsippany serves as a model for other government agencies and historic sites.
The police department has completed its first year under the leadership of Chief Michael Peckerman. When Chief Peckerman first began his term in December 2006, the department had 107 officers. From December 2006 through 2007, with resignations and retirements, the force decreased to 98. As of January 2008 we hired an additional 8 officers, 3 of whom are in the academy and will graduate in March bringing the force to a total of 106.
Residents of Parsippany are made to feel safe and secure in all types of emergencies. Confidence is instilled in our citizens with the knowledge that the Office of Emergency Management is available anytime night or day and ready to serve them. The OEM has incorporated HAZMAT, RACES, and CERT into their operations. Last year they assisted during several storms, power failures, a tornado watch and an oil spill. They have been responsible for community outreach and have trained volunteers to assist in times of need.
Planning my vision for tomorrow requires the right fiscal choices today. Fiscal responsibility has been a top priority and focus of my administration. While in the process of planning the budget for 2008, I am committed to curtailing spending without cutting services to the public.
We have been proactive in applying for grants to alleviate some of the township’s financial costs. We are grateful for the $1,556,642 that we received from various government agencies this year, which is in addition to the $1.7 million received from the BPU. And we will continue to seek out further opportunities along the way.
With advice and assistance from a local insurance agency, the Township withdrew from the State Health Benefits Plan and saved a substantial amount of money. The 2007 medical insurance payments were $380,000 less than what was paid in 2006. It is $600,000 less than what the Township would have paid in 2007 if we had stayed in the State Health Benefits Plan.
Our Moody’s bond rating, which is always an accurate barometer of our fiscal condition remains at Aa3 and Standard & Poor’s rating is a solid AA. The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills enjoys an amazing 99% tax collection rate. As you can see, we have a strong foundation for future success.
More than anything else, I am determined to make sure that Parsippany continues to be a place we are proud to call home, a diverse township where opportunity, quality of life and sense of community are made stronger and better each year. So when I am asked about how the town is doing, I say we’ve had an amazing year full of accomplishments and successes. And we have an even greater potential for the future!” he ended his speech.
