Morristown closes on Hillcrest property; park could open there by the fall

Morristown’s newest park could be dedicated by September, according to town Administrator Michael Rogers.

That’s because the town has purchased a two-acre lot at 20 Hillcrest Ave. that it has coveted for years,  Mayor Tim Dougherty announced at Tuesday’s council meeting.

“We’re very, very happy we have finally closed on that piece of property. A lot of time and energy were spent on that,” the Mayor said.

“YES!” exclaimed Robert Parker via email. The Hillcrest Avenue resident has lobbied ardently for the town to acquire the property for a park. The land has been on the town’s wish list since at least 2004, when it appeared on an open space plan.

In 2010, Morris County allocated $254,000 for the purchase, and the state Green Acres program approved a $100,000 matching grant last year.

It’s taken all this time to iron out details with Green Acres, Michael Rogers said. The $350,000 purchase closed on May 30.  The steeply sloped, wooded property was owned by the Kleitman family, near Boston.

“The property owner was very patient with us,” the administrator said.

A vacant house will be demolished. That project will go out for bids this summer, Michael said.

The park has been designated for “passive” use. Exactly what that means will be hashed out by the administration and members of the town environmental commission, Michael said.

Asked when the park might be ready for passive enjoyment, he expressed “cautious optimism about the fall.”

TABLING SIDEWALK TABLES

In other council business Tuesday, bars continued to be a hot topic.

The Iron Bar, which held its grand opening last weekend, sought permission for a sidewalk café on South Street. Councilwoman Rebecca Feldman said she only learned of the request hours earlier, and wanted more time to study it.

She voiced concerns about the “alcohol vibe” sweeping the downtown, and wondered how families would react to outdoor barmaids not dressed in “family friendly” fashion.

The matter was tabled by a 3-1 vote. Rebecca, Stefan Armington and Raline Smith-Reid cast the tabling votes; Council President Michelle Dupree Harris cast the no vote.  Council members Anthony Cattano Jr., Alison Deeb and Kevin Gsell were absent.

On Wednesday, June 13, the council will weigh controversial applications for two more proposed bars. The public hearing starts at 6:30 pm at town hall. At the June 26 council meeting, all town liquor licenses are up for renewal.

SPEEDWELL, SUSTAINABILITY, SALARIES

The council voted 3-1 (Raline voted no) to introduce an ordinance exempting a redeveloper from local taxes, in exchange for 30 years of in-lieu-of-tax payments, for the first phase of the Speedwell Avenue redevelopment.

By a unanimous vote, the council authorized a $50,000 grant application to the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation to continue the town’s Office of Sustainability. Also by a 4-0 margin, council members approved salaries for managers and non-union employees (posted here), and for themselves and the Mayor.

The Mayor will continue to earn $26,042. Council members make $9,676, with an extra $1,000 for the council president.

Representatives of Proctor & Gamble received a plaque from the Mayor thanking the company for donating hygiene products to residents in the aftermath of last summer’s Tropical Storm Irene.