Morristown Mayor predicts progress for 2011 in his first annual address

Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty delivers his first State of the Town Address, Jan. 4, 2011. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
3

Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty‘s first State of the Town Address (video above, text below) painted a picture of a municipality that has weathered the economic storm better than most places.

Continued progress will rely in part, he told residents at Tuesday’s council reorganization meeting, on projecting an “overall positive climate” to attract investment to the downtown.

Along those lines, he lauded community efforts such as the recent holiday windows decorating contest and the Gran Fondo, a major biking event planned for August by bike shop owner Marty Epstein.

mayor tim dougherty
Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty delivers his first State of the Town Address, Jan. 4, 2011. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Looking back on his first year in office, the Mayor cited hard fiscal measures including elimination of 26 town jobs (12 layoffs, the rest through attrition) and salary freezes by town unions.

Outsourcing and shared service agreements with neighboring municipalities are likely in 2011, he added.

The Mayor cited quality of life initiatives: Stepped up enforcement of residential parking ordinances, a town bicycle plan, a coming review of the town master plan, and jump-starting of redevelopment plans for Speedwell Avenue and Spring Street that could lead to construction starting this year.

He said 50 businesses have opened downtown since 2009; he expects 10 businesses will open in the first half of this year. Many of them will be restaurants. The Mayor pledged to keep working with the Morristown Partnership to attract “soft goods” retailers.

michelle harris-king and anthony cattano jr
Morristown Councilwoman Michelle Harris-King holds Bible as Anthony Cattano Jr. is sworn in as council president, for the 10th year, by his count. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

“The uniqueness of our efforts will give us a competitive edge over other downtowns. Morristown has been fortunate to experience … continued growth while other downtowns, and regional malls for that matter, continue to experience vast store closings.”

That growth included last spring’s openings of the 40 Park luxury condos and the Metropolitan luxury apartments. Mayor Dougherty said the Metropolitan is now fully leased, as is the Transit Village apartment complex near the train station.

LIBRARY FINALLY RE-OPENING

During the brief council meeting the Democratic Mayor also vowed to work with state Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-25th Dist.) keep pressing the state Board of Public Utilities to determine what caused last May’s powerful explosion at the Morristown & Township Library, “to make sure this never happens again.”

A partial re-opening of the library is planned for Thursday.

After the meeting the Mayor vividly recalled the May 3 blast. It happened during his first vacation after a long, hard-fought election campaign. “It was the first day, I’m fishing in North Carolina, and I get the call,” he said. “I haven’t taken a vacation since.”

The Mayor said the library is an asset beloved by many.

“You hear talk about libraries being obsolete because of the internet,” he said. “But the library serves a function. It’s an important part of the fabric of our town.”

IN OTHER BUSINESS…

In other business at the meeting, the council unanimously re-appointed Anthony Cattano Jr. as council president–for the 10th straight year, by his count–and named Michelle Harris-King as vice president, succeeding Alison Deeb, the lone Republican on the council.

Morristown Council President Anthony Cattano Jr. holds Bible as Michelle Harris-King is sworn in as council vice president. Oath is administered by Town Clerk Matt Stechauner. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Morristown Council President Anthony Cattano Jr. holds Bible as Michelle Harris-King is sworn in as council vice president. Oath is administered by Town Clerk Matt Stechauner. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Alison was succeeded as council liaison to the Morristown Partnership by Rebecca Feldman, also by a unanimous vote. Kevin Gsell was tapped as council liaison to the planning board, and Elnardo Webster II, a former Pittsburgh Steeler, was reappointed as assistant municipal attorney without opposition.

Five officers from the volunteer portion of the fire department were sworn in. They were Assistant Fire Chiefs Victor France and Timothy Byrne, Captain Doug Reighard and Lieutenants Kyle Hastings and Curtis Ott.

The Mayor also memorialized Kevin Cray, a former member of the town health department, who died of cancer. And Councilwoman Alison Deeb remembered the late Kemper Chambers, a decorated Korean War veteran who was an active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.

Victor France and Timothy Byrne are sworn in as assistant fire chiefs at Morristown's council reorganization meeting. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Victor France and Timothy Byrne are sworn in as assistant fire chiefs at Morristown's council reorganization meeting. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

MAYOR TIM DOUGHERTY’S STATE OF MORRISTOWN SPEECH, JAN. 4, 2011:

First let me wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year.

We had a very interesting 2010 to say the least. When I started my first year in office, our Town faced a massive budget shortfall of over $4 million, mainly due to the following reasons:

  • State Aid was reduced by approximately $740,000.
  • Healthcare Insurance rose by nearly $800,000.
  • Pension Obligations escalated by $1.7 million ($1 million of this amount attributed to the 2009 Pension deferral).
  • The Reserve of Tax Appeals needed to be increased by roughly $500,000 due to a 300% increase in tax appeal filings.

Given I was elected to lead our Town in a new direction and to minimize any additional financial burden on Morristown taxpayers, tough decisions and difficult choices were needed to be made. In order to overcome 2010’s fiscal challenges, and to develop a more structurally sound budgetary future for our Town, I set out to reorganize our municipal organization and to redefine how we provide our municipal services. I’ll highlight some of the outcomes:

  • Our local government workforce was reduced by 26 positions (12 positions through layoff and 14 positions left vacant through attrition). This saved the Town over $1.5 million in last year’s budget.
  • Through tough negotiation, and governing body approval, our Collective Bargaining Units all agreed to a salary freeze to stabilize personnel costs.
  • By entering into an Agreement with Morris County to provide Radio Dispatching Services for our Town, we should realize personnel cost savings of approximately $200,000 per year over the next 3 years (a $600,000 total cost savings).
  • The Town’s Solid Waste and Recycling schedule was changed from a 6 day pick up schedule to 5 days. Annually, this municipal service change will save the Town $80,000.

In addition, we had several redevelopment projects on the table that required new negotiations with my administration and town planners, as well as moving along projects that had stalled and/or had serious issues that needed resolution.

We have moved along the process of reviewing the entire town for the purposes of updating our master plan and designing more comprehensive redevelopment plans. Our redevelopment strategy requires a cohesive vision that ensures compatibility between projects. Is there adequate accommodation for safe pedestrian movement? Will there be too much traffic? Are there public amenities? All quality of life issues that the development plans must take into consideration.

Furthermore, we have worked with some dedicated residents on the Town’s Environmental Commission to design a town-wide Bicycle Plan as well as create and implement a comprehensive Community Forestry Management Plan.

2010 was a year of many positive accomplishments for the Town of Morristown. My administration worked closely with the Morristown Parking Authority to design and implement a plan for better enforcement of residential parking regulations. While this may generate additional revenue for the Town, more importantly, it will reduce overcrowding on our residential neighborhood streets, thereby freeing up parking space and improving the overall quality of life for our residents.

As I promised in my campaign, my administration was inclusive and positive and I personally met with dozens of residents, business owners, civic leaders and frankly anyone who wanted to understand why we make the decisions we make. We were and will continue to be open about anything we are trying to do to make our town better.

In 2010 we witnessed increased collaboration between various Town civic organizations and my administration, one of which resulted in a Holiday Store Front Decorating Contest and the first ever guide to the dozens of activities occurring in Morristown during the holiday season.

These combined efforts are so critical to the overall positive climate we need to project to increase investment and bring people downtown and I look forward to additional projects this year.

2010 was a year of significant economic development in Morristown and considering the state of the economy nationally, it was even better than we all could have hoped for.

The long-awaited grand opening of 40 Park occurred in April and the sales of the condo units have been steady given the market. The leasing of the Metropolitan apartment complex began in April as well and by the end of 2010 was 92 percent leased. [The Mayor amended this to say the Metropolitan now is fully leased.] Also in 2010, the Transit Village apartment complex became fully rented. These are astonishing achievements considering how poorly the economy has been and the fact that these are high market rate units.

On the commercial end, 40 Park has leased roughly one third of the overall available space. AT&T opened in early summer and several restaurants will be opening the early part of this year. The owners are continually marketing the space and are optimistic about leasing the remaining space this year. The national retail climate is not favorable to large expansions and that is definitely impacting the effort.

Furthermore, 2010 saw the continued growth of the central business district with more than two dozen new businesses opening. In fact, ten businesses will be opening in the first half of this year and all totaled; more than 50 new businesses have opened in our downtown since 2009. This translates into millions of dollars of investment and significant new tax revenues for the town.

Not to mention, the variety of new retail, services and food establishments that are coming to serve the overall community. Now I am aware that we are not currently attracting the soft good retail like clothing, shoes or a bookstore that many of us want, but that should not and cannot diminish the significance of the more than four dozen new businesses in the last two years.

I am confident that we will be able to entice the soft good retailers to open in Morristown as the national economy grows. I am committed with the Morristown Partnership to continue to develop strategies that can attract more diverse retail establishments.

The uniqueness of our efforts will give us a competitive edge over other downtowns. Morristown has been fortunate to experience this continued growth while other downtowns, and regional malls for that matter, continue to experience vast store closings.

Looking forward to 2011 I am excited about Morristown’s prospects. Despite the new budgetary challenge to stay within the State’s new 2 percent Property Tax Levy CAP law and somehow offset other negative budget forces such as continued diminishing State Aid, increasing Healthcare Insurance and Pension costs and a declining Tax Base due to tax appeal settlements, the Town is NOT facing a multi-million dollar budget shortfall as it contended with last year.

Nevertheless, we still have much work to do in order to minimize any potential municipal tax rate increase this year. Rest assured, I will consider every feasible option available when evaluating how to increase local revenues, and also how to decrease municipal service costs through outsourcing, shared service agreements with other public entities and by changing how we currently deliver services provided by Town personnel. I do hope that the Town Council will work cooperatively with me and be open to any proposed changes on how we provide and deliver our municipal services.

The continued progress of the key redevelopment projects on Speedwell Avenue and Spring Streets could lead to commencement of construction this year, which would get us closer to realizing increased property tax revenues from these projects.

Furthermore, the leasing and/or redevelopment of several sites in town including the former McDonald Pontiac property, properties on Market and Bank Streets, the former lumber yard on Morris Street, the remaining two lots of the Epstein’s Redevelopment, the former Schenck Price buildings on Washington Street, the vacant lot on Ann and Court Streets, all should make progress this year.

These numerous projects will translate into tens millions of dollars in private investment as well as millions of dollars in new revenue for the town. I am committed to assisting in however necessary to help these projects come to fruition.

I previously mentioned the many new businesses moving into town the first half of this year and with a few creative programs launched in 2011 I am confident whatever minimal remaining retail space there is will be leased as well.

The Hyatt continues to attract events to town that bring in thousands of people. In August of this year we will have the first ever Gran Fondo NJ. Spearheaded by Marty Epstein of Marty’s Reliable, this signature cycling event should attract thousands to town for two nights the end of August.

In addition, we look forward to the many programs and events sponsored by the Morristown Partnership, Mayo Center for Performing Arts, Arts Council, and Morris County Tourism Bureau to name a few.

I am hopeful that 2011 should be a very productive year in Morristown. If the national economy begins to improve through job creation, more financial capital should become available for investment.

But we will not stop doing what we need to to make our town the best it can be. We will continue to work with everyone interested in investing in Morristown from those with redevelopment plans or property owners that want to improve their existing buildings.

We will continue to work to reduce the town’s debt, increase revenues and stabilize overall expenditures. I will continue my walking tours through our neighborhoods and commercial districts and to have an open door policy. Anyone who’s interest is improving the overall quality of life in Morristown will have my ear.

As I stated many times before, I don’t believe a successful government can operate in a vacuum. By working together and listening to each other’s concerns and suggestions we can successfully solve any challenge we face.

John F. Kennedy once said: Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction. In 2011 and beyond I will continue to deliver on my promises to reshape how Morristown is governed with openness and transparency, sound planning, strong work ethic and with fiscal accountability.

Thank you!

3 COMMENTS

  1. Nice picture of my brother Victor france. He has done alot to keep the people in Morristown safe! Go Victor!!!!
    As far as the Mayor and his speech it is what it is.
    In 2011 it would be good to see him ask people who did help to get him elected but who love Morristown to serve on some boards.

  2. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK kEVIN FOR HIS COVERAGE OF TOWN MEETING AND EVENTS IN A MANNER THAT ENABLES OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS TO STAY INFORMED.

  3. 4 million dollar shortfall, and you made it up how? 200K by outsourcing the radio dispatch. 80K by changing garbage pick up from 6 days to 5. And finally the big one 1.5 million of staff reductions and salary freezes.

    Do the math. Where did the other 3.7 million come from. I forgot, the development projects (Epsteins and Transit Village revenues) that you did not plan or get off the ground. Parking restrictions that are costing the residents fines and over priced parking at the hospital.

    Since 2009 50 businesses opened in town. Can you tell me how many opened in 2010?

    What is in store for 2011? Bicycle lanes that only a few will use. A huge bill from attorneys and planner for your double take of Spring and Speedwell development projects. And finally, the largest ego ever.

LEAVE A REPLY