Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty, who last night gave the council an austere town budget that included layoffs and a 1.9 percent tax increase, is not accustomed to adding revenue to the municipal coffers.
But this morning he was able to bolster the bottom line by $15,000, courtesy of organizers of the Morris County St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
“You guys do a great job…I’m looking forward to next year,” the Mayor said during a brief town hall check presentation.
The money was meant to cover police and public works department overtime resulting from last month’s rescheduled parade. The original parade in March was canceled around starting time because of high winds and heavy rain. The parade committee also contributed $20,000 toward that initial event, for a total of $35,000 this year.
“I suspect we will have a ‘public safety date’ next year” as a fallback plan, said John Butler, this year’s parade Grand Marshal. In the past, parade organizers have prided themselves on marching through all sorts of weather, and no rain dates had been scheduled.
The check presentation was made by John and Willie Quinn from the parade committee and Ernie Miltner, president of the area Friendly Sons of St. Patrick chapter.
The money was raised through ad sales in the parade brochure, and by a $35,000 donation by families who own Sona 13, Tashmoo and the Dark Horse Lounge in Morristown. Enough was left over for the parade committee to set aside $20,000 for charities, Willie said.
John said the committee will apply for next year’s parade permit this fall–months earlier than in past years–to ensure all details are ironed out. The issue of who should contribute how much for Morristown police and other parade-related expenses has been contentious, although the Mayor said a “special events” ordinance pending before the council should bring clarity.
The Mayor did not have police overtime costs for the rescheduled April parade, which attracted far fewer spectators than usual. But he said he expected today’s check would more than cover the costs, leaving money for other pressing needs.
Citing his Irish heritage, the Mayor restated his support for the annual parade, and said canceling the parade during the March storm, though necessary, was hard.
“We appreciate this check, and certain bars stepping up to the plate, and all the charity you do,” the Mayor told the parade representatives. “Morristown is the county seat, it’s a county parade, and it brings in a county crowd. It’s perfect. I can’t wait till next year, when all these people in 40 Park (a new condo community near the Morristown Green) experience the parade from their balconies, and see what a great day this is.”
