Post by Freehold Resident on May 8, 2007 10:59:46 GMT -5
Looks like Freehold Borough isn't the only town running out of money to fund the Memorial Day Parade. Interesting.
FR
www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070508/COMMUNITIES38/705080364
Parsippany parade not dead yet
Official pledges to pay for Memorial Day event
BY ROB JENNINGS
DAILY RECORD
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
PARSIPPANY -- Momentum to revive the Memorial Day parade was growing Monday, with one township council member pledging to cover the cost out of his own pocket, and angry veterans planning to attend tonight's council meeting.
Meanwhile, members of Parsippany High School's marching band were being told they would perform in some other venue if the local parade -- canceled last Thursday amid an impasse over the 2007 municipal budget -- remains shut down.
"That was like a real shock. I didn't even think of that ever happening," freshman Ariel Gordon, who plays the cymbals, said of the parade's unprecedented cancellation.
Parsippany High School band director Joe Stella could not be reached. Gordon's father, Alan, is a school board member and president of the high school's Band Boosters group.
Mayor Michael Luther canceled the parade, a fixture in Parsippany for decades, two days after the council voted 3-2 against introducing his proposed budget. Luther said he could not justify a discretionary expenditure of at least $20,000 amid the budgetary impasse.
Other Memorial Day commemorations, such as the wreath-laying ceremony at Veterans Park, still will take place.
Council Vice President James Vigilante, who voted to introduce the budget, asked Luther on Monday to reinstate the parade "based on my personal guarantee."
Vigilante, a U.S. Air Force reservist, said he began collecting pledges last Wednesday from local businesses and others -- totaling $8,000 as of Monday afternoon -- and would make up the difference if the budget battle remains unresolved.
"It would be an atrocity not to have this celebration," Vigilante said.
Luther said in response that he was not clear whether the town could legally accept such an overture and would consult today with municipal lawyers.
Parsippany municipal attorneys Al DeCotiis and Judy Verrone did not return phone calls.
Luther, who said previously the parade was "unlikely" to be revived, wasn't ruling anything out Monday.
"Right now, there's been no change, but the situation is under review," Luther said.
Council President Rosemarie Agostini said last week that she would address the budget at tonight's meeting, which will begin at 7:30 in the municipal building.
Veterans set to go
Gary Erdmann, senior vice commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10184 in Parsippany, said he will attend tonight along with other VFW members.
Agostini -- who voted against introducing the budget along with Ann Grossi and John Cesaro -- did not return a phone call Monday.
Luther said last week that canceling the parade might be only the first in a series of drastic steps. Luther said some town employees might be laid off or furloughed and municipal facilities shuttered, depending on how long the budget impasse lasts.
All five council members are Republicans while Luther is a Democrat.
Vigilante is running for re-election in November as an independent. Agostini -- who went to state Supreme Court last Wednesday to overturn her narrow mayoral election loss to Luther in Nov. 2005 -- is running in the June Republican primary for a council nomination.
FR
www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070508/COMMUNITIES38/705080364
Parsippany parade not dead yet
Official pledges to pay for Memorial Day event
BY ROB JENNINGS
DAILY RECORD
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
PARSIPPANY -- Momentum to revive the Memorial Day parade was growing Monday, with one township council member pledging to cover the cost out of his own pocket, and angry veterans planning to attend tonight's council meeting.
Meanwhile, members of Parsippany High School's marching band were being told they would perform in some other venue if the local parade -- canceled last Thursday amid an impasse over the 2007 municipal budget -- remains shut down.
"That was like a real shock. I didn't even think of that ever happening," freshman Ariel Gordon, who plays the cymbals, said of the parade's unprecedented cancellation.
Parsippany High School band director Joe Stella could not be reached. Gordon's father, Alan, is a school board member and president of the high school's Band Boosters group.
Mayor Michael Luther canceled the parade, a fixture in Parsippany for decades, two days after the council voted 3-2 against introducing his proposed budget. Luther said he could not justify a discretionary expenditure of at least $20,000 amid the budgetary impasse.
Other Memorial Day commemorations, such as the wreath-laying ceremony at Veterans Park, still will take place.
Council Vice President James Vigilante, who voted to introduce the budget, asked Luther on Monday to reinstate the parade "based on my personal guarantee."
Vigilante, a U.S. Air Force reservist, said he began collecting pledges last Wednesday from local businesses and others -- totaling $8,000 as of Monday afternoon -- and would make up the difference if the budget battle remains unresolved.
"It would be an atrocity not to have this celebration," Vigilante said.
Luther said in response that he was not clear whether the town could legally accept such an overture and would consult today with municipal lawyers.
Parsippany municipal attorneys Al DeCotiis and Judy Verrone did not return phone calls.
Luther, who said previously the parade was "unlikely" to be revived, wasn't ruling anything out Monday.
"Right now, there's been no change, but the situation is under review," Luther said.
Council President Rosemarie Agostini said last week that she would address the budget at tonight's meeting, which will begin at 7:30 in the municipal building.
Veterans set to go
Gary Erdmann, senior vice commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10184 in Parsippany, said he will attend tonight along with other VFW members.
Agostini -- who voted against introducing the budget along with Ann Grossi and John Cesaro -- did not return a phone call Monday.
Luther said last week that canceling the parade might be only the first in a series of drastic steps. Luther said some town employees might be laid off or furloughed and municipal facilities shuttered, depending on how long the budget impasse lasts.
All five council members are Republicans while Luther is a Democrat.
Vigilante is running for re-election in November as an independent. Agostini -- who went to state Supreme Court last Wednesday to overturn her narrow mayoral election loss to Luther in Nov. 2005 -- is running in the June Republican primary for a council nomination.
