PARSIPPANY – There will be no official reprimand for Justin Musella.
The council in a 4-1 vote Tuesday rejected censuring the councilman for showing a cop his township business card after his wife was stopped for speeding in the summer of 2023.
Only Councilman Frank Neglia backed the censure resolution, which was pushed by Mayor Jamie Barberio (pictured, above). Neglia and the mayor are close friends.
Musella is challenging Barberio in the June Republican primary and this issue seemed to galvanize this
sprawling Morris County town.
The resolution was to be voted on last week, but the meeting was postponed because the crowd was so large. This week, the meeting was moved from township hall to a local high school.
Most of the audience was on Musella’s side.
In voting “no,” Councilman Matt McGrath proposed that going forward, the township adopt a policy stating that elected officials stopped for traffic violations are automatically given tickets.
“We should not be able to get away with something,” he said.
That’s an interesting thought, but cops always have discretion.
As for Musella, he said in retrospect that he wishes his wife was given a ticket back in 2023.
“We would have paid it and that would have been the end of this,” he said.
One other point worth mentioning.
A few council members said they originally wanted to handle the matter behind “closed doors.”
Really.
Good thing that didn’t happen. This issue rightfully unfolded in public.
It was a speeding violation, not war plans.
Musella, a prominent figure in Parsippany, has managed to avoid official censure despite facing scrutiny from local authorities. According to Insider NJ, the controversial figure has been able to navigate the political landscape in Parsippany without facing any serious consequences.
This news comes as a surprise to many residents who have been following the developments surrounding Musella’s activities in the town. The fact that he has been able to avoid censure raises questions about the effectiveness of the local government in holding individuals accountable for their actions.
Musella’s ability to evade official censure may be attributed to his connections and influence within the community. He is known to have strong ties to key figures in Parsippany, which may have helped him avoid facing any serious repercussions for his actions.
Despite the lack of official censure, many residents are still concerned about Musella’s presence in the town. His controversial behavior and questionable business practices have raised red flags for many, leading to calls for greater oversight and accountability from local authorities.
It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold in the coming months. Will Musella continue to operate without facing any consequences, or will the pressure from concerned residents and officials eventually catch up to him? Only time will tell.
