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April 2021: Morris Township News Update
Disclaimer: This is a personal communication from Jeff Grayzel and does not represent an official communication from our local government or any other local authority.
Hello Neighbors,
I hope that many of you have had the opportunity to receive a COVID vaccine. This past Monday vaccine eligibility opened up in NJ to anyone aged 16+. I urge everyone to get their eligible teenagers signed up for the vaccine. You can find more info on the NJ Covid hub website: https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/finde
Our monthly Township Committee is coming up TOMORROW April 21 starting at 7:00pm. See the details below.
Please read this entire newsletter to get fully informed and then please share it with your family and neighbors.
Upcoming Township Committee Meeting
Wednesday, April 21
The Township Committee will hold its next Regular Meeting this Wednesday at 7:00pm. The  meeting will be held virtually via Zoom Meetings as has been the practice since the start of the pandemic. The agenda can be found here:
https://www.morristwp.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04212021-1181
As you can see from the agenda, we will cover the following topics (among other items) at our meeting:
- A Proclamation recognizing the Hillside Ladies Auxiliary Anniversary.
- A continuation of our tradition recognizing a member of the public for their accomplishment or volunteer work (tune in to see who it is!)
- Opportunity for public commentary and questioning on any matter relating to Morris Township.
- Presentation of the 2021 Municipal Budget
- Second Reading and vote of an ordinance setting our pools fees for the upcoming season.
- Introduction of several ordinances related to capital expenditures included in this year’s budget.
- Commentary by Township Committee.
To participate in the meeting, click on the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84358121300?pwd=VmpvY3hwR3ZuM2MrWm9EQkZkSUgxZz09
If you are more familiar with Zoom, you can access our meeting via the “Zoom Meeting” app or webpage:
https://us02web.zoom.us/join
Enter Webinar ID: 843 5812 1300
Passcode: 318078
Alternatively, you can dial in with a traditional phone call:
Phone: (929)-205-6099 or (301)-715-8592
When prompted, type in the following numbers:
Webinar ID: 843 5812 1300
Passcode: 318078
 Morris Township Regular Meeting
March 17, 2021
The Township Committee held its third Regular Meeting of 2021 on March 17. The agenda for this meeting can be found here:
https://www.morristwp.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03172021-1169
As a reminder, video recording of each of our Township Committee meetings can be found on Morris Township’s YouTube page:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxS482suIq4FW35sWpcQEiQ/videos
We started off this meeting by recognizing National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Please read the proclamation that was read into the record:
https://www.morristwp.com/DocumentCenter/View/8052/03-17-21-DEVELOPMENT-DISABILITIES-MONTH-MARCH
At each of our monthly meetings we honor people from our community for the good work they do
either as volunteers or in other ways that they help the community. This past month we honored the Special Needs Athletic Program (SNAP) organization and their director Kimberle Strasser. In 2006, Matthew and Zachary Certner, former Morris Township residents and graduates of Morristown High School, created the SNAP program when they were in middle school and high school. Their mission to create a culture of acceptance was carried out through the creation of sports clinics for children with special needs. They recruited eager and compassionate middle and high schoolers to become a “mentor” at these sports programs which taught the fundamental skills of a variety of sports while also fostering social interactions. The Certners were also passionate about educating others about disabilities and so, in 2012, SNAP partnered with the Morris School District to bring “Disability Awareness Training” to each 3rd grade student. Their second mission of promoting awareness and empathy was developed through their “kids helping kids” motto and educational initiatives that still continues each year with Kim Strasser as the Director of SNAP for the past nine years. You can watch the video of this presentation on the Township’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBpC2jsxhsg
At the March 17 meeting there were FIVE ordinances for final consideration. Read the full text of these ordinances here:
https://www.morristwp.com/DocumentCenter/View/8054/03-17-2021-ORDINANCE-ADOPTION
- Ordinance 01-21 relates to a proposed development at the office park located at 340 Mount Kemble Avenue. See below for more information on a Special Meeting to be held for this proposal.
There were THREE new ordinances for introduction at this meeting. Read the full text of these ordinances here:
https://www.morristwp.com/DocumentCenter/View/8053/03-17-21-ORDINANCE-INTRO
Next the Township introduced the 2021 Municipal Budget. You can view the brief presentation if you watch the meeting video (see the link below).
The meeting continued with two bid reports from the Township Administrator on two important projects for 2021:
- OTE 2021-01 RAYNOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS
- OTE 2021-02 JAMES STREET SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS
The meeting then continued with the Township Committee voting on 19 RESOLUTIONS. The full text of each resolution can be found here:
https://www.morristwp.com/DocumentCenter/View/8076/03-17-21-RESOLUTIONS
The meeting continued with reports from our Standing Committees (varying combinations of two members from the Township Committee are assigned to various operating functions within the municipality to provide oversight), followed by individual commentary by each member of the Township Committee. The meeting concluded with “public inquiry” from our residents. You can listen to all this commentary by clicking on the video link below.
VIDEO recordings of Township Committee meetings are available on the township’s website! You can find the link on the municipal website’s “agenda center” (click on the camera icon) OR you can go directly to the YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxS482suIq4FW35sWpcQEiQ/videos
340 Mount Kemble Avenue Redevelopment Proposal
At the January 20 meeting the 340 Mt. Kemble Redevelopment Plan Ordinance was introduced. A copy of the Redevelopment Plan and an “FAQ’s” (Frequently Asked Questions) are available on the municipal website:
https://www.morristwp.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1213
The site is one of three adjacent office parks making up the entire office complex located at 340, 350 and 412 Mount Kemble Avenue. The proposal is to add a 225-room business-style hotel on the site. Existing parking spaces at the adjacent office building will be removed to accommodate the new hotel building, and there will be very little disturbance of lands that are not already impervious surfaces (i.e. asphalt).
The Township Committee held a Special Meeting on April 1 to begin the review of the Redevelopment Plan proposal. This meeting was recorded and the link to the recording can be found at the top of this page:
https://www.morristwp.com/952/11536/Redevelopment?activeLiveTab=widgets
Another Special Township Committee meeting devoted to this project has been announced for May 26. All documents related to this proposal can be found on the Township website:
https://www.morristwp.com/952/11536/Redevelopment?activeLiveTab=widgets
Seasonal Yard-Waste Collection Has Begun...
Monthly yard-waste collection by the Department of Public Works began in April and will end in September (and then leaf pick-up starts in October). Curbside pickup of grass clippings, leaves, plant waste, light brush and bundled sticks/limbs takes place on the scheduled Saturday dates listed below.
Please follow these rules:
- Curbside pickup of grass clippings, leaves, plant waste, and light brush takes place on the scheduled Saturday dates listed below beginning in April and ending in September. Please review the street listing to find out your zone and scheduled collection dates.
- Place in 32 gallon standard garbage cans with lid and handles
- Grass clippings, leaves, plant waste, and light brush can be mixed together during this period. Light brush should be tied with string in bundles no longer than 4 ft., or placed in 32 gallon standard garbage cans cut to the height of the garbage can.
- NO plastic bags – please!!
- Fifty (50) pound limit per can or bundle
- NO dirt, logs, roots, or stumps.
- Alternative for RESIDENTS ONLY (no contractors): Residents may also bring grass clipping and light brush to the Department of Public Works located on Jane Way off West Hanover Avenue anytime during business hours, Monday thru Friday, 6 AM to 3 PM, and each Saturday from 6 AM to 1:45 PM.
The Township is broken up into two zones, and you can find your zone here:
https://www.morristwp.com/DocumentCenter/View/7047/Yardwaste-Collection
- ZONE 1 COLLECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED FOR:
May 8th, June 12th, July 17th, Aug 21st, & Sept 18th
- ZONE 2 COLLECTIONS ARE SCHEDULED FOR:
May 15th, June 19th, July 24th, Aug 28th, & Sept 25th
If you have any questions, please contact our Department of Public Works Office at 973-326-7398 or send an email to publicworks@morristwp.com.
Operation Take Back -- this Saturday, April 24
Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Sheriff’s Office and Mu nicipal Police Departments Partner For Operation Take Back this Saturday, April 24, 10 AM- 2 PM.
The goal of Operation Take Back is to encourage the public to anonymously turn over unused, unwanted, or expired prescription medicine for proper disposal. This program has been successful in helping to prevent the misuse of addictive pharmaceutical drugs. More information and a complete list of collection sites can be found here:
https://www.morristwp.com/DocumentCenter/View/8124/Operation-Take-Back-Spring-2021
If you are unable drop off your medication at one of these locations, you can utilize any other permanent drop box locations nearest you, which are listed at http://safehealthymorris.org/dropbox
Township Updates
Read the Municipal Messenger Monthly Newsletter
The April update can be found here:
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Municipal-Messenger-Monthly--April.html?soid=1132644874787&aid=4_ULQ2-Z4yM
SMCMUA to Conduct Routine Hydrant Flushing
SMCMUA will be performing routine hydrant maintenance and flushing on the streets listed below between April 19, 2021 and April 23. The complete list of streets can be found here: https://smcmua.org/Hydrant%20Flushing.htm
Sign up for Morris Township’s “Municipal Messenger”
In order to keep updated with news and information related to Morris Township, I encourage everyone to sign up for “Municipal Messenger” email notifications by clicking here:
https://www.morristwp.com/915/Municipal-Messenger
The Municipal Messenger is an invaluable tool to receive important information from the municipality.
Upcoming Township Committee Meetings…
The next Regular Meeting of the Township Committee is scheduled for this Wednesday, April 21 at 7:00pm.
Looking ahead, next month’s regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 19.
There will also be a Special Meeting of the Township Committee on Wednesday, May 26 to continue the hearing on the Mount Kemble Redevelopment Plan.
Contact Jeff…
I will continue to communicate with the public by e-newsletter on a periodic basis. However, if you ever have a question or an issue you would like to discuss, feel free to contact me by e-mail. I will respond to e-mails sent to Jeff@JeffGrayzel.com.
Please feel free to forward this e-mail news on to others. If you know someone who w ould like to subscribe to future issues, please have them contact me at Jeff@JeffGrayzel.com
Remember: Stay SAFE by WEARING A MASK whenever you are in public!
Your neighbor,
Jeff
© 2021 - Jeff Grayzel
4/20/21
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