PARSIPPANY - Sometimes it's the little things that mark a change in government.

"I get to do this," Judy Hernandez said Tuesday night upon her election as council president, a feat made possible after Dems won control of the council last fall.

She then did "this" - gently banging her gavel. Yep, wielding the gavel to control the council is a prerogative of the council president.

Not that it was needed on this night.

It was quite the peaceful transition in Morris County's largest town.

Dems now control the council by a margin of 3-2.

Hernandez, the longest-tenured Democrat on the council, was elected unanimously, as she also got support from the two council Republicans.

The bipartisan flavor of the evening also resulted in the newly-elected Diya Patel being unanimously named council vice president.

In the audience were two Republicans who just left the council - Justin Musella, who didn't seek reelection to the council, and Frank Neglia, who lost reelection. Neglia, however, was named to the township's economic development advisory commission.

Democrat Pulkit Desai, the new mayor, spoke briefly, thanking his staff for helping him ease into office and talking about transparency.

This is Desai's first government position.

With experience lacking on the council, the township attorney figures to be a key position.

That will be Joe DeMarco from Scarinci-Hollenbeck, a well-known politically-connected law firm. He was appointed Tuesday and immediately took his seat on the dais.

According to his bio, DeMarco has widespread government experience.

His past and current positions include business administrator in Bayonne and West New York, where he was also assistant town attorney.

He is also county counsel for Somerset County and borough attorney in Roselle Park.

During the public portion of the meeting, a resident asked a question about the legality of two PILOT, or Payment-in-lieu-of-Taxes, ordinances the previous council adopted last month.

PILOTs tend to be controversial. They are designed to encourage needed redevelopment, but critics often see them as sweetheart deals for developers.

DeMarco said simply, "I've been here 15 minutes, maybe."  He promised to look into the matter and report on it at a subsequent meeting, But we weren't done with PILOTs yet.

Matt McGrath, one of two Republicans on the council, made a motion to repeal the two PILOT ordinances adopted last month.

Silence.

No second. So, no discussion and no vote. A few groans from the audience.

End of meeting.