The Morristown Parking Authority hosted an evening of swan songs last week. Some ended more sweetly than others.
On one floor, there was pasta and cake for a commissioner who served for more than a half century, and for a retiring garage attendant who faithfully manned the gates for more than four decades.
Two floors below, an employee parted ways with the MPA on less pleasant terms.
The night started there. Eight-year Parking Enforcement Officer Chris Comprelli handed commissioners his “involuntary” letter of resignation, alleging harassment by Executive Director Nicole Fox and the board and threatening legal action.
Fox, who previously told commissioners “a lot of the facts Chris presents are not in alignment with ours,” declined to comment on the resignation. MPA Labor Counsel Stefani Schwartz said Comprelli was paid through his final day, Jan. 17, 2024.
Comprelli disputes that, saying he was placed on unpaid leave in December when he declined to sign a “last chance” agreement with which he disagreed. He has contended his unionizing activities landed him in management’s crosshairs.
After deliberating in closed session for about 30 minutes, the commissioners withdrew a motion to fire Comprelli–an action made moot by his resignation.
‘A GREAT RIDE’
The commissioners then moved upstairs, where plaques were presented to former Commissioner Anthony Lucia and retiring Parking Attendant Joe Margiotta.
Lucia, first appointed to the unpaid board in 1968, was praised by MPA Chairman Cary Lloyd as a “fierce advocate” for the MPA who “played a critical role in Morristown’s urban renewal.”
“It was a great ride,” said Lucia, 86. “I enjoyed it. I thought I was doing something very good for the town.”
He had hoped to stay; he said he was taken by surprise when the new town council voted earlier this month to replace him with Michael Rogers, his neighbor and former Morristown town administrator.
“I wanted to get back on,” said Lucia, a Morristown High grad (Class of ’54) who is retired from the insurance industry.
Lucia’s MPA chronology differed slightly from Lloyd’s; he recounted joining the board in 1965.
Except for a three-year break in the early 1980s, he served continuously through December 2023. He worked with every executive director in the MPA’s history, starting with Jack Dalton, and was present for creation of three parking garages.
In the early 2000s, Lucia and the parking authority were heavily involved in negotiations for the Epstein’s department store redevelopment, a massive project that transformed the downtown.
It entailed construction of the DeHart Street garage, upscale housing at 40 Park and The Metropolitan, and the MPA’s environmentally friendly headquarters at 14 Maple Avenue — home, until recently, of the Dodge Foundation.
“Commissioner Lucia has been a critical player during a consequential period in the life of the Morristown Parking Authority and the town. He has always guided the MPA with a steady hand,” said Robert Goldsmith, the MPA attorney for the last 40 years.
Lucia also was a key figure in projects including:
- Leasing of air rights for the Schuyler Place Office Building–now part of the Morris County complex–and construction of the Ann-Bank garage in the mid-1980s
- The 1993 sale of air rights and 125 parking spaces at Ann-Bank to the county, a $2.75 million deal that helped defray costs for the new Dalton garage.
- The MPA sale to the county of a 40-percent stake in the Ann-Bank garage, a move that provided a downpayment for construction of the DeHart Street garage.
During the 1990s, Lucia had a hand in the Chancery Square project, which brought the first market-rate apartments to downtown Morristown since the 1960s. On an MPA committee with the late Margret Brady, Lucia helped negotiate the “Dalton Garage and Morristown Green Agreement.”
Among other things, the agreement expanded the Dalton garage, which some have credited as a factor in attracting Century 21 to the Macy’s building, a storefront that sat vacant from 1993 to 2002.
But Lucia cited his proudest achievement as a tie-breaking vote against a parking proposal–one that would have put the MPA in charge of the Headquarters Plaza underground garage.
Among Lucia’s well-wishers last Wednesday was his replacement, Michael Rogers.
The council voted for the change on Jan. 2. The governing body’s new liaison to the MPA, Council Vice President David Silva, did not attend Wednesday’s farewell ceremony. Asked later about the vote, new Council President Nathan Umbriac responded:
“With gratitude and respect, I appreciate the time and energy that Mr. Lucia put into the Parking Authority. When a volunteer’s term expires, it is an opportunity to consider reappointment or a change. Michael Rogers had expressed an interest and has a deep knowledge of the MPA as Morristown’s former business administrator.”
Councilman Robert Iannaccone had nominated Lucia for another term, but his council colleagues backed Rogers.
‘PERFECT JOB’
Praised as a “model professional” by MPA Executive Director Nicole Fox, Joe Margiotta was a special education teacher when a friend at the parking authority told him about a perfect part-time job.
That was 41 years ago.
Margiotta, 73, has seen countless cars come and go from the MPA’s three garages since then. Staffing a booth might seem like a dull gig. But Margiotta said he looked forward to coming to work every day.
“I enjoyed the camaraderie, and the interaction with people of the town,” said the 1968 Morristown High alumnus, whose dad owned a downtown tailor shop for years.
A good second baseman in his day–he claimed a record with eight straight hits for the University of Miami–Margiotta said he might try some coaching in retirement. He probably won’t attempt any double play pivots himself, though.
“I need a hip replacement,” he said.
His fan club at last Wednesday’s ceremony included his brother Art and several members of his extended MPA family. One of them, Parking Attendant Joey Viola, considers Margiotta an inspiration.
“Joe Margiotta worked for the community of Morristown for 40-plus years and was an example of excellence for all other employees of the MPA,” said Viola.
“He was a welcoming face for any visitors to this town, and all his fellow workers deeply appreciated him.”
The public interaction Margiotta cherished soon may be a memory. The parking authority plans to automate its garages in coming months.
As Assistant Director and then Executive Director of the Morristown Parking Authority (MPA) for some 30 years I had the pleasure and the honor of working with Mr. Lucia. Mr. Lucia was there during the formative years of the MPA and during a period when revitalization was extremely critical to the Town of Morristown. During my tenure he provided leadership, guidance, compassion, and good old fashion common sense during decision-making. He always had the Town of Morristown, MPA and the publics best interest at heart. Also, his attendance record was remarkable, I recall that during those 30 years he only missed a few meetings. Mr. Lucia was not only a devoted public servant and is a caring resident he is real gentleman.
Will, note from Tony. Sorry this note is a little late. Just wanted to thank you for your kind words following the debacle. I will be at the 2/13 town meeting where they will honor me with a proclamation. Yo are welcome to come.
I’m with William Needham. As Tony’s colleague on the parking authority—but not for as long as he served—I can certainly add an “amen.” Serving the MPA and Morristown is precisely what Tony Lucia has done for decades. He is indeed a model for “how best to serve our community.” We need more just like him.
Tony Lucia is an amazing neighbor and a dedicated public servant. His leadership will be missed on this board.
We should all look to him as a role model for how best to serve our community.
Rogers is another tool in mayor Tim’s belt. When are the voters in Morristown going to wake up.