Morristown’s council voted unanimously on Tuesday to extend the grace period for homeowners to pay their taxes, while vowing to battle one homeowner who has opened a ‘sober living’ residence.
Second-quarter property tax payments due on May 1 now can be paid up June 1, 2020, without any late fees. Usually the grace period is 10 days, but Gov. Murphy signed an executive order on Tuesday allowing municipalities to extend the deadline because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Leaders of towns and cities across the state have been trying to find ways to lessen the blow on local residents, and with this action, they are empowered to provide relief to homeowners as we continue to do everything possible to fight this pandemic,” Murphy said in a statement.
The tax office in town hall remains open on Mondays and Fridays, town Administrator Jillian Barrick said during the hour-long council session, conducted via teleconference to adhere to social distancing.
In other coronavirus news, Councilman David Silva reported that so far, COVID-19 has infected only four of 235 residents in seniors housing run by the Morristown Housing Authority. Seniors in longterm care facilities across the state have been hit hard by the virus.
WIDOW ‘DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE AND SECURE’
At least a dozen residents from the Shady Lane neighborhood phoned or emailed complaints to the council about a “sober living” house that opened last week with state approval, possibly in violation of town zoning laws.
Residents have raised concerns about safety, traffic and property values from conversion of the single-family house into a place for people in recovery from substance abuse.
Phyllis Crump, who has lived on the street for 35 years, said she is a widowed senior citizen who “deserves to feel safe and secure when driving into her neighborhood, especially in the dark.”
Town officials said they were blind-sided by the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA) licensing of the operation on April 22.
“Our zoning inspector and property maintenance director have been at the property several times since we were made aware of this, and a zoning violation has already been issued, town Administrator Jillian Barrick told the council.
Barrick said the owner submitted a zoning application to the town just two hours before Tuesday’s council meeting.
Mayor Tim Dougherty said he has reached out to the governor’s office for help in dealing with the DCA.
“We are doing everything, legally, possible we can do,” he said. While he wishes anyone well who is striving for sobriety, Dougherty said the state failed “to look at the total picture.”
Councilman Robert Iannaccone, whose First Ward includes Shady Lane, said this is not a nonprofit group home, but rather, a commercial venture housing “transients” for one- to three months. Three individuals already have moved into the rear portion of the house, he said.
“We will fight this on every front,” Iannaccone said.
Property records show the house was purchased in 2018 for $519,000 by Dr. Michael T. Hernando and Connie Hernando.
A board-certified surgeon specializing in breast surgery, Michael Hernando is director of minimally invasive and robotic surgery at Morristown Medical Center, according to Atlantic Health’s website.
The hospital is across the street from One Shady Lane.
It’s an address with a troubled history.
A prior owner, an 84-year-old woman who worked in a local tailor business for years, perished in a fire at the house in December 2014. A subsequent owner clashed with neighbors and the town by renting the place to college students.
This a a Sober Living home, not a Halfway house. The State oversees with supervision. The residents have been peaceful with appropriate goal plans. As someone has already noted, most of us have experienced personally close ones who have struggled with addiction. This a fabulous program to assist with clients reintegrating into society with normalcy especially with guidance. It appears the council members are reacting impulsively instead of moving towards proactive change with support. This is a community that obviously needs more outreach programs instead of making believe services are not needed.
These cranky old people have no idea… addiction is in every family. Just look around!!! You don’t want addicts around yet you fight the treatment necessary to save their lives!!! A halfway house saved my life. I am grateful for my new life. And that’s all because of a halfway house in the area!!! #fighttheproblemnotthesolution
Forgive them, for they know not what they are doing
The verbiage they choose to use tells me we have a long way to go in the fight against the stigma of those suffering from Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders not excluding those in Recovery. Its appalling, shameful and discriminatory.
God be with all those fighting that good fight, those that lost as well as their loved ones, and may all those that have Recovered stay Recovered!
Great job Morristown. Way to kick a man while he’s down. Meanwhile, fatal overdoses are spiking in Morris county. We went from one death every five days to one every three days and you want to fight the solution. I’ll see you at the polls in November. I’m fed up.
Could this be discrimination by the Morristown Administration? Give the home a chance. If the residents cause trouble for the neighborhood, then the Administration should take the appropriate action to resolve the problems.
Note: this is the second time I am posting about this. The first post was taken off the website. Could it be because I suggest the possibility that the Administration is practicing discrimination? I hope not.
I appraise the state for providing a safe directed home to assist individuals in need of rehab assistance. Many people in our lives, even current neighbors have disabilities and receive no guidance to be strong and get back on their path. Grateful to known there are programs to help people live their lives and let go of negativity. Disability comes in many forms
Those commenting fail to understand the difference between this operation and most other uses of this type, located without problems in every part of Morristown.. This neighborhood although small in size has several of these homes already.
I have learned a lot over the years. !. The length of stay matters. Long term residents have the opportunity to become part of the neighborhood. 2. On site supervision is key. When troubled transients are left to their own devices, there are those more than willing to take advantage of the opportunity to help them break the rules. 3. An individual owner, purchasing an investment is operating a business. Other half way houses are run as homes and not a for profit business. 4.Transient residents, without accountability are a danger, we recently had a group home for boys that when the supervision was neglected, the boys ran amok and caused all kinds of trouble. especially when there are a number of cars without a place to park involved. On the other hand Mrs. Wilson’s House with strict policies and good organization has had a positive impact on its neighborhood. 5. It is not nimby but a realistic concern for their safety that the neighbors are alarmed.
Shame, Shame! It seems the Morristown administration is practicing a form of discrimination. Give the residents a chance! I would agree to close the facility if the residents are a nuisance in the neighborhood.
I live on a lovely street in Morristown and we recently had a Sober House next door. They were fantastic neighbors, quiet, respectful, no parties, no loud music or any disruption.
I was in no way troubled by their presence.
The elderly neighbor has nothing to fear from my experience.
Exactly @Lorena. I’ll tell you why. Scotto owns that property and apparently the town owns the junkyard parking lot. It’s not what you know its who you know.
I understand the NIMBY concerns of the residents in the area of 1 Shady Lane. Many see a moral failing when a substance use disorder is involved and sadly regardless of the facts, many will see nothing but.
However, what I find amazing is that just a short drive away, down Spring Street is the abandoned property on the corner of Bishop Nazery Way. That has been the spot for the unfortunate homeless and active addicts to live. It has been the spot where FATAL overdoses have taken place. Its been vacant for years, it’s blighted and the parking lot looks like a junkyard. I can’t understand why the owner is not taken to task from our Administration as aggressively as the owner of Shady Lane is.
Could be that it’s not in their backyard.