Freeholder Focus, March 2014

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Freeholder Focus
BI - MONT HLY NE WS L E T T E R OF T HE MOR R I S C OUNT Y BOAR D OF C HOS E N F R E E HOL DE R S
2014 FREEHOLDERS
Tom Mastrangelo, Director
Montville Township
David Scapicchio,
Deputy Director, Mt Olive
Douglas R Cabana
Boonton Township
John Cesaro
Parsippany-Troy Hills
Kathy DeFillippo
Roxbury
John Krickus
Washington Township
Hank Lyon
Montville Township
TAXPAYERS BENEFIT
FROM SHARED SERVICES
Morris County will provide
Morristown with health
services, saving the town
an estimated $575,000,
under a 5-year shared ser-
vice agreement approved
by the Freeholders. Morris
Plains, Boonton Township
and Denville already benefit
from this shared service.
“The freeholders are com-
mitted to sharing services
with our municipalities and
with other counties if it
saves money for taxpayers,”
said Freeholder Director
Tom Mastrangelo. “This
shared services agreement
with Morristown does that.”
Hello, and welcome to another edition of Freeholder Focus,
aimed specifically at our local, state and federal elected
and appointed officials. Our goal is to keep you informed
about how your county government is working for you
and your constituents. We expect to issue new editions
on a bimonthly basis in our ongoing program of enhancing
communication between the Freeholder Board and you.
The 2014 capital budget proposed by the
Morris County Freeholders continues to
reduce the county’s debt, while at the
same time meets the county’s ongoing
capital needs.
Freeholder Deputy Director David
Scapicchio, in outlining the $23.9 mil-
lion capital budget, said it continues
the overall reduction of capital proj-
ects from previous spending levels, thus
reducing the county’s debt.
“The key component to reducing taxes
is debt reduction,” Scapicchio said. “At
the end of 2013, the county’s debt was
$246.1 million. By the end of 2014, our
debt will drop by $7.3 million to $238.8
million.”
Scapicchio said the overall reduction of
capital projects from previous spend-
ing levels will not impact much need-
ed infrastructure improvements. He
noted the freeholders will be investing
$775,900 more this year to repave coun-
ty roads than they did in 2013.
The capital budget also focuses on pub-
lic safety and law enforcement, with
these areas seeing an increase of $1.3
million in their capital allocation for
this year, according to Freeholder Doug
Cabana.
Upgrades to the fire safety and securi-
ty systems in several county buildings,
including the Morris County Courthouse,
and the purchasing of driver and firearms
safety simulators to enhance training for
law enforcement personnel around the
county are among the items being fund-
ed. “This capital increase maintains the
freeholders’ longstanding commitment
to public safety,” Cabana said.
Funding levels have been maintained
for projects at Morris View Healthcare
Center and for those served by the
county’s Division on Aging, Disabilities
and Veterans.
The capital budget is part of the overall
county budget, which is in the process of
being developed.
County’s 2014 Capital Budget Reduces
Debt While Focusing on Infrastructure
Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders • PO Box 900 • Morristown, NJ 07963-0900
973-285-6010 • MorrisCountyNJ.gov
The Morris County
Freeholders entered 2014
with a pledge of work-
ing toward another year
with no increase in county
taxes.
“We plan to adopt a bud-
get that is prudent, sound
and that provides a zero
percent tax increase for
the second year in a row,”
said Freeholder Director
Tom Mastrangelo during
the board’s January
Reorganization Meeting.
Soon after Mastrangelo
was sworn in to begin
his second term on the
board, he was selected
by his colleagues as the
board’s director for the
second consecutive year.
Also for the second year
in a row, Freeholder David
Scapicchio of Mount Olive
was named the board’s
deputy director.
The Reorganization
Meeting also featured
Freeholder Doug Cabana
of Boonton Township
taking his oath of office
to begin his sixth term,
and Roxbury’s Kathryn A.
DeFillippo being sworn in
for her first term.
Freeholder Hank Lyon
said during the meeting
the freeholders’ number
one goal remains reduc-
ing county taxes for the
second consecutive year,
while Freeholder John
Krickus said he is pleased
to see some municipali-
ties have also set goals of
no tax increases.
The freeholders’ contin-
ued commitment to trans-
parency in government
was noted by Freeholder
John Cesaro. He said 2013
saw the freeholders unveil
a newly designed website
that makes it easier for
citizens to understand the
workings of county gov-
ernment.
“Morris County govern-
ment is fully transparent,
and in the year ahead, we
will continue to enhance
our openness,” Cesaro
said.
Kathryn A. “Kathy” DeFillippo of
Roxbury is the newest Morris County
Freeholder, having been sworn in
January 4 to begin her first term.
DeFillippo was a councilwoman in
Roxbury from 2006 through December
2013. She served as mayor in 2009
and deputy mayor in 2012-13 and was
also a member of the town’s Zoning
Board of Adjustment.
A past president of
the Roxbury Area
Chamber of
Commerce and currently on the board
of the NJ Metro Chapter of the National
MS Society, Freeholder DeFillippo
is a retired Certified Vocational
Rehabilitation Counselor.
Meet Freeholder DeFillippo
Freehol ders Pl edge No I ncrease
i n County Taxes
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MORRIS COUNTY
DEPARTMENTS
Contact Information
Planning & Public Works
Deena Leary
Phone: (973) 829-8120
[email protected]
Law and Public Safety
Scott DiGiralomo
Phone: (973) 829-8050
[email protected]
Human Services
Frank Pinto
Phone: (973) 285-6868
[email protected]
Finance
Glenn Roe
Phone: (973) 285-6085
[email protected]
Employee Resources
Cathy Burd
Phone: (973) 285-6353
[email protected]