Editor’s note: Here is Mayor Dan Caffrey’s recap of the April 15, 2015, Morris Township committee meeting. You can read more about the Township’s proposed budget, and see videos of the meeting, here.
FROM MORRIS TOWNSHIP MAYOR DAN CAFFREY:
The Township Committee Meeting Audio in its entirety and unedited will be available through our website’s Agenda Center the day following the Meeting. This new feature will complement the agenda and minutes of the meeting that are also posted.
THE APRIL 15, 2015, MORRIS TOWNSHIP MEETING WRAP-UP
The Morris Township Committee convened for their fourth business meeting of 2015 at 5:30 PM for closed session and reconvened for public session at 7:00 PM.
SWEARING IN– COMMITTEEMAN MATHEU D. NUNN
Committeeman Matheu Nunn was officially sworn in Friday, March 27, 2015 by Morris Township Clerk, Cathleen Amelio after the Township Committee selection last month to fill the remainder of Scott Rosenbush’ s unexpired term.
“I am honored to have been selected by the Township Committee and am excited to get to work,” said Nunn, former Morris Township Municipal Prosecutor. “I have been active in the Township for a while and I am happy that I can increase my participation in this wonderful community.”
Nunn, also a Former Assistant County Prosecutor is in private practice at Einhorn Harris, Ascher, Barbarito & Frost in Denville and a Trustee of the Morris County Bar Association. Both positions require significant budgetary and financial responsibilities.
“He is a hard worker dedicated to the township,” Mayor Daniel Caffrey said after the March 25th special meeting. “He will be a great addition to the committee.”
“What is important about the selection of Mat Nunn is that his background, as a Morris County Assistant Prosecutor and Morris Township Municipal Prosecutor, coupled with a family that has a proven long-term history of dedicated public service to Morris Township, gives us the opportunity to not miss a step at the Township Committee level. We have the ability to continue our work seamlessly,” said Deputy Mayor Bruce Sisler.
“This isn’t “on-the-job” training for Mat because he has a deep understanding of Morris Township and how many aspects of municipal government work already.”
The following ordinances were introduced and will be heard for final passage on May 20, 2015 at 7:00 PM.
| 14-15 | RE: ACCEPTING ANDREA LANE AS A PUBLIC STREET, ACCEPTION A RIGHT OF WAY DEDICATION IN VAN BUREN ROAD AND AMENDING CHAPTER 88
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| 15-15 | CALENDAR YEAR 2015 ORDINANCE TO EXCEED THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION LIMITS AND TO ESTABLISH A CAP BANK (N.J.S.A. 40A:4 45.14)
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| 16-15 | ESTABLISHING SALARIES AND COMPENSATION FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE POLICEMEN’S BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION(PBA Local 133) OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MORRIS
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| 17-15 | ESTABLISHING SALARIES AND COMPENSATION FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE FIREMEN’S MUTUAL BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION (FMBA Local 70) OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MORRIS
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| 18-15 | “AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MORRIS, MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY CONCERNING SALARIES FOR IBT-469 PERSONNEL”
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ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL CONSIDERATION
The following ordinance was withdrawn from consideration:
04-15 RE: AMENDING CHAPTER 88, SCHEDULE IV TO REMOVE PITNEY PLACE AND MADISON COURT FROM CHAPTER 88, SCHEDULE IV (88.2.5) LIFTING THE NO PARKING FROM 1:00 A.M.-6:00 A.M.
- Ordinance removing Pitney Place and Madison Court’s “no parking” 1am-6am restriction.
The following ordinances were adopted:
| 08-15 | RE: AMENDING CHAPTER 13A ENTITLED OPEN SPACE IN PARTICULAR SECTION 7 SUBSECTION F
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| 09-15 | AMENDING CHAPTER 89, SECTION 14 “TOWING AND STORAGE CHARGES”
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| 10-15 | RE: AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MORRIS AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF A PORTION OF PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS FOUR (4) LOTS AND TRIAL CORRIDOR AND EXCESS LAND ON PICATINNY ROAD AND REED ROAD (BLOCK 4601, LOT 1) AS SHOWN ON THE TAX MAP OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MORRIS AND AUTHORIZING THE USE OF OPEN SPACE TRUST FUNDS TO SATISFY ALL OR A PORTION OF THE PURCHASE PRICE THEREOF
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| 11-15 | AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 14-14 MANDATING DIRECT DEPOSIT FOR ALL FULL-TIME AND REGULAR PART-TIME MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MORRIS PURSUANT TO C. 52:14-15f ET. SEQ.
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| 12-15 | “AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF MORRIS, MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY CONCERNING SALARIES FOR NONUNION PERSONNEL”
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| 13-15 | AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 71 “SEWERS AND SEWERAGE”, “ARTICLE II CONNECTION FEES AND SERVICE CHARGES” SECTION 15 “PAYMENT OF CHARGES” SUBSECTION “A”
· The date of the new sewer connection will be the effective date to bill new buildings for the beginning of the annual sewer service charge. For existing buildings, the service charge shall begin 90 days after the date of official notice to connect with the sewer. |
INTRODUCTION OF 2015 MUNICIPAL BUDGET
- The 2015 Municpal Budget and budgets for the Sewer Utility, Swim Pool Utility and Parking Lot Utility were introduced. Public Hearing and Final Consideration will be on May 20, 2015 at 7:00 PM. The proposed budget is available on the Township’s website, www.morristwp.com. Look for “Municipal Budget” on the homepage.
The Morris Township Committee took action on 15 Resolutions, which can be found in our Agenda Center; be sure to click April 15, 2015. These types of resolutions are formal approval by Township Committee for the appointment of professional services, awarding of contracts to minor personnel matters.
Resolutions of note:
- Entered into a 2015 lease agreement with the following programs for use of the Township’s Swimming Pools: Lakeland Hills YMCA, Bright Horizons Children’s Centers at Honeywell and Giralda Farms, Seaton Hackney Farms, Harding Township Rec. Association Day Camp Program, and Northern NJ Youth Enrichment Summer Camp (Y.E.S) Program.
- The Township is eligible to participate in the budget examination program by the Division of Local Governement Services. Met the requirements to participate,full list of requirements available in the resolution.
- Revisions were made to the 2015 standing committees and the Mayor was appointed to the Sanitary Sewer Advisory Committee.
- Resolution approving the Fireman’s Mutual Benevolent Association, Local 70 collective bargaining agreement.
- Resolution approving the Policemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association, Local 133 collective bargaining agreement.
- Resolution appointing Mr. Matthew Petracca, esquire as Municipal Prosecutor.
- Resolution approving the settlement of a Tax Appeal for LINDSLEY DRIVE ASSOCIATES, LLC for the years 2012-2015
CONSENT CALENDAR
On the Consent Calendar, the Township committee took several actions which can be found in our Agenda Center. These include:
- Authorization for the College of St. Elizabeth’s to use the municipal parking lot for their commencement ceremony parking.
- Approval granted for the Morris County Golf Club to hold a fireworks display on Friday, July 3, 2015.
- Interfaith Food Pantry was granted municipal consent to hold their annual 5k and 1 mile Thanksgiving Turkey Trot Charitable Fundraiser on November 26, 2015. This event raises funds for the Literacy Volunteers of Morris County and the Interfaith Food Pantry.
- Acknowledges the successful completion of one year probationary period of Firefighter Brendan McCloskey.
- Approved the appointment of Jared Zappa as a probationary Police Officer effective May 4, 2015.
CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT
The Committee also voted to pay $8,036,003.52 for the bills for the month of March. This includes a $5,041,120 transfer to the Morris School District, approximately $1,374,831 in salaries and the remaining $1,620,052 in operating and capital project expenses for the Township.
I’m glad not to live, nor own real property in Morris Township. After over four decades living in a town of one party rule and closed minded conservatism, it’s a good day that I don’t have to let them tell me how to live my life any longer.