This won’t hurt a bit.
Morristown municipal taxes will inch up in 2021. But school and Morris County taxes will dip, Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty told the town council at Tuesday’s virtual meeting.
“That means the average Morristown taxpayer will see an overall reduction in their total tax bill,” said Dougherty, who seeks a fourth term.
The mayor’s $43.7 million operating budget, introduced by the council, contains a tax increase of 1.8 cents per $100 of assessed value. For the second straight year, the administration is tapping surplus funds to blunt the economic impact of the pandemic.
“If 2020 was the year of perseverance, then 2021 is the year of endurance,” said Dougherty.
For more details, council members must await town Administrator Jillian Barrick’s presentation on June 10, 2021, when the spending plan is scheduled for a public hearing and adoption by the council.
In the meantime…
The council directed town attorneys to negotiate the purchase of a former lumberyard at Elm and Hill streets for a town park — and to prepare for condemnation of the property if talks fall short.
An ordinance temporarily banning cannabis businesses was tabled, to allow a planning board review.
The council also approved a liquor license for “Top Chef” David Burke’s golf-themed restaurant, slated for an August opening near the Morristown Green, while formalizing its rejection of rooftop dining at the Iron Bar on South Street.
And a skateboard park may be rolling this way. The mayor and Council President Stefan Armington said they are talking with neighboring Morris Township about sharing a facility, in response to an online petition signed by hundreds of skateboard- and BMX bicycle fans.
Armington, Council Vice President Toshiba Foster and Councilman Michael Elms agreed to study whether to revamp ordinances that prohibit skateboarding and in-line skating on public property.
‘NOTHING SHORT OF MIRACULOUS’
During his budget remarks, Dougherty reflected on the past year and sketched plans for this one. He expressed awe for “uniquely great” residents whose COVID-19 response has been “nothing short of miraculous.”
He also thanked nonprofits for feeding people throughout the crisis, and the Zufall Health Center for vaccinating local seniors.
Construction of the M Station office park began despite the pandemic, and most of the small businesses displaced by the project have relocated, the mayor said.
While protests unfolded nationwide after George Floyd’s murder in Minnesota last year, Morristown police successfully pursued training and certification to ensure they “render aid without intimidation,” Dougherty said.
His proposed budget delivers services while avoiding layoffs, he said, despite sizable increases in pension- and sanitation costs and lost hotel tax revenue.
Dougherty said he plans to create a full-time position for a public health nurse. Other 2021 projects include milling and resurfacing of 2.5 miles of roads, drainage improvements to reduce flooding, and completion of a master plan for Burnham Park.
After years on drawing boards, Pioneer Park renovations at Headquarters Plaza and a new park on Speedwell Avenue are nearing completion, the mayor said. The town is exploring shared public works services with area municipalities, while continuing efforts to acquire the Morristown post office building, he added.
As for the vacant lumberyard, it “has remained blighted for many years, and its reuse as open space will not only eliminate that blight, but it will provide a small oasis, to a densely populated area,” Dougherty said.
The council designated the tract for redevelopment in 2015, and subsequently rejected owner Lawrence Berger’s proposal of eight-story condos. Eminent domain was threatened at the time.
Tuesday’s resolution cited “numerous code violations and failed inspections” for overgrown shrubs; graffiti; litter; garbage; rodent concerns; and safety hazards from tree limbs, branches and flammable materials.
It passed by a 6-0 vote. Elms, a realtor, recused himself because of business dealings with Berger.
“This is the right time, this is the right motion,” said Councilman Robert Iannaccone, whose First Ward includes the site.”We are in dire need of a park in the First Ward, west of Roue 287.”
Before a fire destroyed the lumberyard in 2003, an empty warehouse stood there, Iannaccone said.
Earlier this spring, the council authorized condemnation of a former law office at Washington and Bank streets that has been unoccupied since 2010.
The move got the attention of that owner, according to Dougherty. Town officials continue to engage with the owner — who is David Brown— and they look forward to collaborating to fill his vacant storefronts facing the Green along North Park Place, the mayor said.
Esperanza Porras-Field is challenging Dougherty in next month’s Democratic primary. At 7 o’clock this evening, May 12, they will square off in a virtual forum hosted by the League of Women Voters.
IN OTHER BUSINESS
Last month the council shot down a liquor license expansion for the Iron Bar, which sought to add rooftop dining.
The governing body memorialized that decision on Tuesday, with a resolution echoing residents who feared increased noise, garbage, traffic, and parking congestion from “an oversaturation of alcohol drinkers…would only exacerbate” existing quality of life issues.
Armington, who is being sued by the Iron Bar’s owner, and Elms, who missed the April hearing, abstained. Councilwoman Tawanna Cotten opposed the resolution. It was supported by Foster, Iannaccone, Sandi Mayer and David Silva.
Resident Linda Cahn, a lawyer and property owner suing the town for allegedly welshing on a development deal, called with more charges during the meeting’s public portion.
Cahn accused the mayor’s campaign of illegally placing a political sign on her property — and claimed the administration has appropriated her alleyway as an entrance to the new Speedwell Avenue park.
She requested a council investigation.
Because of the lawsuit, town Attorney Vij Pawar advised the council against responding to Cahn.
“She is an attorney,” Pawar said. “She knows her recourse for unlawful things.”
I agree with Matt. Many parks have been improved, while the Franklin Corners area has been neglected. Many political leaders ignored the negative impact of RT. 287 and the loss of the playground on Franklin St. closed by the hospita. Then there was the loss of open space and playing fields when GW School was converted to condos adding more density without replacing the open space.. Density was even more increased with the large residential development at the old telephone warehouse site, stretching for Ford ave and down Morris Street. While the new uses stabilized the neighborhood , no attempt was made to provide needed park or recreation space. while increasing density.
I for one am grateful that the Mayor has recognized this need after all these years.
Getting rid of a dangerous eyesore at the same time is a real bonus for the entire Town.
FYI- I am not even a Democrat and can’t vote in this primary so I have no stakes in a candidate
Also forgot the addition of the Foote’s Pond Park + trails as well under Dougherty
@ Faith – the parks have done very well under him, including the new HQ park and the Speedwell park. What are you even talking about? Why don’t you suggest your better ideas (be specific) and defend them, rather than baseless and useless criticisms. And yes, the growth has been smart and the town is more attractive and alive than it has ever been.
@Faith
FACTUALLY— Most of the parks in town have gotten a revamp under Dougherty + the gut renovation of Headquarters Park
A park proposed for the corner of Elm and Hill Streets ?? !! That’s very good news since the vacant area of the empty lumberyard has been a neglected and blighted area for many, many years. Now, running for election for the 4th time, Mayor Tim has a new platform “Green and Open Space, ” So, he has prompted the council to take on the lumberyard.. When did he EVER talk about “Green and Open Space” during his 12 years as mayor? During his 1st, 2nd, and 3rd terms as mayor, Dougherty supported “Smart Growth” evidence all the tall, dense buildings around Morristown. Seems the coming election has caused Dougherty to change his tune. Now he never mentions “Smart Growth” and all the big developments in town which he supported and pushed through giving tax breaks to the developers. Where has “Smart Growth” gone? Could it be that many residents were not very happy with all the new developments? Trying to win an election can cause amazing changes.
I am tired of Berger owning all these properties and doing nothing with them
hat Many families have suffered from the negative impact of the neglected old lumberyard property for years. Let us hope that after many failed attempts to deal with the old lumber yard owner, let us hope this plan succeeds before there is another disaster as a result of Berger’s long established neglect of his property.