By Kevin Coughlin
Basking Ridge Towing is back in business in Morristown.
After hearing three-and-a-half hours of testimony on Thursday, the town council voted 5-0 to restore the annual license for the town’s most active private towing company.
That license had not been renewed earlier this year, based on public complaints cited by police. Towed motorists have complained about BRT demanding cash payments, having inconvenient car release hours, and charging extra storage fees.
But those concerns were resolved long ago, according to BRT lawyer Harvey Fruchter.
“The council agreed there were no findings or violations for an entire year,” the lawyer said on Friday.
“We evaluated it based on the threat of legal challenges. The license is re-issued every year, and the basis for denying it should be the behavior of the previous year,” acknowledged Council President Stefan Armington.
The council heard testimony from police Sgt. Michael Molnar. Representatives of the Morristown Housing Authority, the Minuteman Press and a property adjacent to the Morristown Diner testified on behalf of the towing company.
BRT has a lot on Martin Luther King Avenue in Morristown, operates a fleet of seven trucks, and services about 25 private towing contracts in town. The company has been licensed in town since 2010, and towed about 500 vehicles from here last year, according to owner Gerard Schmidt Jr.
“I’m a legitimate businessman. I’m not out to screw people over,” said Schmidt, noting that the town sets the $115 towing fee, and collects $25 on every vehicle towed.
“Some people like it and some don’t, but it has to get done. Morristown has no parking. A lot of people park where they’re not supposed to park. It’s not fair to the people who pay rent,” Schmidt said.
Morristown police declined to comment about the council decision.
Fruchter said he raised concerns that other towing companies in Morristown are not posting parking areas with warning signs that conform to state and local regulations. Councilman Robert Iannaccone said motorists could benefit from clearer signage.
“We may revisit the ordinance to make it stronger,” said Iannaccone, describing towing as a “nasty business.
“Nobody likes having their car towed. I think the police do the best job they can managing it,” the councilman said, adding that he hopes BRT will be “a little more courteous” going forward.
As liaison to the Morristown Housing Authority, Councilwoman Hiliari Davis hears complaints from public housing residents about conflicts over parking spaces. She said she was satisfied the council did the right thing at Thursday’s special hearing for BRT.
“We just want to be sure that companies doing business in town are not taking advantage of anyone, and everything is above-board,” Davis said.
Council members Alison Deeb and Toshiba Foster also supported the license renewal. Michael Elms and Michelle Dupree Harris were were absent.
