Morristown cops are getting a contract. A Washington Street building may get condemned. A traffic roundabout got a closer look.
Tuesday was a busy virtual meeting for the town council.
The governing body authorized Mayor Tim Dougherty’s administration to proceed with a five-year contract, retroactive to last year and stretching to 2025, for PBA Local 43. The council also introduced an ordinance establishing officers’ salary ranges, with maximums of $120,000.
Increases at the top and bottom steps of the contract rise from 2 percent last year to 3 percent by the fourth and fifth years of the pact. Both council votes were unanimous.
The PBA, which campaigned against Dougherty before last year’s Democratic primary, has approved the deal, according to town Administrator Jillian Barrick.
By another 7-0 vote, the council authorized town officials to perform inspections and appraisals of 2-10 Washington St., for possible condemnation of the vacant law offices overlooking the historic Morristown Green.
Citing decrepit conditions at the site — dormant for more than a decade — the council took a first step towards eminent domain last spring by designating the property as needing redevelopment.
Town officials at the time said the move was meant to spur owner Dave Brown–who also owns a slew of vacant storefronts on North Park Place–to do something with the empty Washington Street offices.
Subsequent talks with Brown have gone nowhere, Council President Stefan Armington told MorristownGreen.com.
Meanwhile, construction of a traffic roundabout at Spring and Morris streets will start next week at Spring Place, which will be realigned with a new traffic signal over the next six weeks or so, said Matt Seckler, engineer for the M Station office project.
Then the sidewalk along Morris Street will be reopened for pedestrians, Seckler said, and overnight crews will remove existing traffic islands from the Morris/Spring intersection. Exterior sections of the roundabout come next, then the interior section.
The whole thing, including three pedestrian crossings, should be completed by Nov. 1, 2022, with all work occurring outside of commuter rush hours, and during overnights, Seckler said.
A bilingual educational campaign, funded by the M Station developers, will familiarize motorists with roundabouts prior to the opening of this one, Barrick said in response to queries from Councilman David Silva.
Barrick also assured Councilman Robert Iannaccone that Morristown police will monitor detours, while devising strategies to prevent trucks from detouring up Pine Street, a residential roadway. Police will determine what’s needed for safety, and will be paid with M Station escrow funds, Barrick said.
CONFLICTS, CANNABIS AND PARKING
In other business, the council approved rehiring Topology as planning consultants. The firm will receive monthly payments of $12,500 for “general planning services,” plus $200 an hour for redevelopment planning from developer escrow deposits, and $150 per hour from the town.
Iannaccone inquired if the town has a backup planner in case conflicts arise. The town has contracts with lawyers who can pinch-hit for the town’s legal counsel and board attorneys, for example.
The councilman also inquired whether town professionals are obligated to report conflicts, real or perceived.
Although Morristown has no backup planner, the municipality certainly would hire one “if there should be a need,” Barrick said
“And yes,” she continued, “if there is a conflict, there’s a duty to disclose for any professional that works for us, whether it be the planner, an attorney, or an engineer.”
Some planning board members were surprised to learn last year that Topology’s Phil Abramson, who advises them, had worked elsewhere with an attorney now seeking board approvals.
That sort of relationship is not a conflict in the eyes of the American Institute of Certified Planners, according to Armington, who also serves on the planning board.
Barrick also said she aims to solicit proposals from prospective cannabis businesses by spring. A town ordinance allows up to two cannabis dispensaries, in designated zones away from schools and houses of worship.
“There’s been lots of inquiries, a lot of potential cannabis entrepreneurs that are seeking to do business in Morristown,” said the administrator, who is creating licensing fees for such ventures.
Armington said he’s aware of at least five who have expressed interest. But dispensaries still could be slow in coming. Anyone with the town’s blessing still would have two years to obtain state approval, the council president said.
Lastly, five streets with two-hour daytime parking now will see those limits extended around the clock. Only residents with parking permits can park all night on Bellevue Terrace or on Cleveland, Clinton, Grant and Columbia streets.
The new rules span the full length of these streets, except for Columbia, where the new restrictions apply between Bellevue Terrace and Sussex Avenue.
And…Armington said he intends to revisit resuming in-person meetings–relaunched in late November and halted this month amidst the surging COVID-19 Omicron variant–when the statewide transmission rate stays below 1.0 for three straight weeks.
Iannaccone, a hospital CEO, advised continuing with hybrid meetings–livestreams of in-person sessions–going forward. COVID is likely to come and go in cycles, he predicted.
Look Kids…GREAT question. Costs should include all the studies the tax payers footed for years as well.
Kevin: What is the total amount for the roundabout that the town’s taxpayers are now on the hook for? Is this public info?
Does anyone know if in the spring Washington St/South St will finally be repaved?