Mayor James R. Barberio announces shared services agreements between the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, the Town of Boonton and Rockaway Borough. The agreements will allow both Boonton and Rockaway to utilize Parsippany’s municipal court and staff to conduct their violations bureau and municipal court sessions. The shared courts arrangements will allow Parsippany to offset some of the costs incurred in the operation of its municipal court, while conveying significant savings to the taxpayers of Boonton and Rockaway, who will no longer be required to maintain and operate their own separate municipal courts. “Shared services is the essence of good, efficient government,” said Mayor Barberio, “these agreements will significantly streamline court operations and provide savings to all three towns and generate $900,000 for Parsippany. This is a win for all three towns.”
For the Town of Boonton, Parsippany will provide its courtroom and court staff for municipal court sessions, while the hearings will be conducted by Boonton’s own municipal court judge, prosecutor and public defender. Boonton will pay to Parsippany $167,313.04 per year for three years, with a 2% annual escalator beginning in the second year of the agreement. Boonton will also provide Parsippany with a metal detector to enhance courtroom security.
For Rockaway Borough, Parsippany will provide its courtroom and court staff, as well as its municipal court judge, prosecutor and public defender, who will conduct Rockaway’s violations bureau and municipal court sessions in conjunction with Parsippany’s municipal court sessions. Rockaway, which has a significantly smaller violations bureau than Boonton, will pay to Parsippany $75,000 per year for five years, with a 2% annual escalator beginning in the second year of the agreement.
The shared courts agreements have been reviewed and approved by the Hon. Stuart A. Minkowitz, Assignment Judge of the Morris/Sussex Vicinage, as well as the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts. In his approval letter, Judge Minkowitz thanked the mayors of Parsippany, Boonton and Rockaway for their efforts to provide and improve municipal court operations.
