Montville Threatens Parsippany With Lawsuit Over Sewer-Sharing

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Montville Township filed a letter earlier this month demanding Parsippany reimburse them $1 million in credits for their sewage use. Parsippany has called their request "baseless."

Montville Mayor James Sandham sent the letter to Parsippany Mayor James Barberio, claiming Montville was overcharged for their usage of the Parsippany Sewer Utility.

Sandham said that because the Parsippany Sewer Utility has an "enormous surplus," Montville is entitled to some of their payment back, totaling $1 million. Sandham said numerous requests were made, and the letter was a last resort before a lawsuit.

Barberio, in a public blog post, denied ever receiving a call from Sandham, and called the claims were "baseless."

Parsippany Township Attorney John Inglesino responded in a letter saying an independent auditor would reassess how funding for the sewage system is allocated. It is currently based on how much water waste each town produces, and is adjusted annually, Inglesino said.

"There is no legal or equitable basis for such a credit, nor has any such credit against surplus been established through the parties’ course of dealing," Inglesino said.

Sandham told TapInto Montville they will "explore all options available to us."

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