Parsippany Mayor, School District Trade Barbs Over Security Costs

Update: This article now includes comment from Board President Frank Neglia.

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Parsippany Superintendent Dr. Barbara Sargent said last week that the Township of Parsippany is going to end a partnership that keeps officers in Parsippany schools. But Mayor Michael Soriano says that is a lie, noting that the only conversation occurring is how the program should get funded.

"To be clear, I fully support renewing the SRO program and Class III officers,” Soriano. “The SROs are more than just police officers. They are trained in understanding teenagers and have built trust with the youth in this community. The program needs to be fully funded."

The township and the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District share the cost of school-resource officers and a director of security at Parsippany schools. Sargent alleges that the township communicated through their attorney that they would no longer continue this long-standing partnership past June.

"Whatever the Township's financial status, the issue of student safety and school community policing should not be a political football," she said.

Patch requested comment and evidence of the statement from Sargent and Board President Frank Neglia at the end of last week. Neither returned comment, so Patch submitted an Open Public Records Request on Monday for the alleged communication.

Later Monday, Neglia said via his campaign that the administration rejected both the traditional three-year deal and a proposed one-year deal "which would allow the administration to 'figure out' the 'costs' associated with those officers."

"Because this mayor cannot manage a budget," Neglia said in a statement, "and as noted by our Board Attorney, he is asking the Board to renegotiate the terms of even a one year agreement with only weeks left in the school year."

Political Play?

Soriano's administration and campaign released separate statements calling the claim false.

Soriano, a Democrat, also alleged that the board's statements have a political motivation of furthering Neglia's campaign. Neglia is running as a Republican for Town Council.

"I am calling on Board President Frank Neglia to stop using our students as political footballs, and start treating our schools and children’s safety with the seriousness it deserves," Soriano said.

Neglia, council hopeful Justin Musella and mayoral candidate James Barberio appear set to comprise the Republican ticket in Parsippany's municipal elections after last week's primary. They would face Soriano and Democratic council candidates Cori A. Herbig and Judith Hernandez in the General Election.

The township currently faces an estimated $9 million deficit. Soriano's administration originally proposed that the township take out a $5 million emergency loan, but Town Council has since agreed to a reduced loan of $2.3 million. Reducing the loan to $2.3 million gives the township an opportunity to repay the loan in full next year with COVID relief money. Read more: Emergency Loan Proposal Slashed More Than 50% In Parsippany

The next Town Council meeting takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Town Hall.

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