County of Morris Press Releases

Summer Camp Programs at the School of Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:16:00 +0000

Parents of children entering 7th, 8th, or 9th grades who are interested in a fun and enriching summer camp program may want to consider Summer Camp at Morris County School of Technology.

Middle school teens looking for a unique summer experience now have the opportunity to explore career paths during a one week summer camp program that could open a window to a career for their future.

Campers may choose from five different programs: Construction, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Technology or Vet Tech.

The camp will run July 9 to July 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Anyone registering by April 1 will receive a 10 percent early bird registration discount. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis and space is limited.

For additional information or to register call the Summer Camp Coordinator at 973-627-4600 ext. 245 or 231 or visit www.mcvts.org.

Freeholders Introduce County Budget

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:48:00 +0000

In the midst of challenging economic times, the Morris County Freeholders have introduced a 2012 county operating budget that not only preserves essential public safety, health and human services but also delivers a mere 0.5 percent increase in the tax effort, inclusive of a ¼ cent reduction in the Open Space Tax.

"Our intention from the very start of the budget process was to develop a budget that held the line on spending and did not impact critical services," said Freeholder Ann Grossi, chairperson of the freeholder budget sub-committee. "This is a true victory for Morris County."

Since 2008, the cumulative tax effort, inclusive of both the operating budget and the Preservation Trust Fund budget, has decreased by over $400,000, said Freeholder Gene Feyl, also a budget sub-committee member.

"A budget is more than a spending plan," Feyl said. "It is a planning document that brings to life our vision for the county for not just one year, but for several years to come. It is much more than dollars and cents."

Freeholder Grossi agreed, calling the budget "a sound business plan that establishes our policy for future years."

As well as preserving all county services, the 2012 budget prioritizes public safety, health and welfare programs for those in need, including several additional programs that enhance these services to residents and municipalities, said budget sub-committee member Freeholder Thomas Mastrangelo.

One example is the new Reverse 9-1-1 system that will give towns unlimited and unrestricted emergency calling capability. This type of system has been requested by communities, particularly after Hurricane Irene, flooding and snow storms this past year.

Another example of service enhancement in the budget, said sub-committee members, is funding for the expansion of the Public Safety Training Academy to accommodate the county's Communications Center, which continues to take on additional towns interested in consolidating dispatch service with the county in an effort to be more cost-effective at the municipal level.

In addition to the Communications Center, the Public Safety Training Academy expansion also includes an expanded crime lab serving all municipalities, an enhanced countywide Emergency Operation Center and a safe and secure county data center with built-in redundancies and emergency back up systems.

Grossi said the county budget also provides for the initiation of a first-of-its kind Flood Buyout Program in response to the flooding from the hurricane and tropical storm.

"This new effort will be a component of the county's Open Space program," Grossi said. "Morris County is in the forefront of developing an initiative that will help towns purchase homes in areas of their communities ravaged by flooding."

The 2012 county operating budget also maintains critical services for those in need, particularly those hard hit by the economic downturn, Freeholder John Murphy, liaison to human services, said. For example, the budget enables the county to continue to meet increased requests from those in need of emergency assistance, such as Food Stamps and other forms of temporary help.

Figures show the Morris County Office of Temporary Assistance experienced a 25.5 percent increase in its food stamp caseload last year from 2010, the second highest percentage increase in the state, while the office's caseload for general assistance jumped nearly 17 percent, also the second highest percentage increase in the state.

"We were not about to let these services for those in need go unmet," Murphy said.

Freeholder Feyl noted services at the county's long-term nursing home, Morris View Healthcare Center, are also maintained under the proposed budget, even in the midst of state reductions in Medicaid reimbursements.

While prioritizing public safety, health and human services, the county has also continued to trim its own work force. Since 2006, the county has eliminated 400 positions, saving approximately $20 million in salaries and benefits, said the sub-committee members.

The 2012 budget eliminates 35 positions, excluding the addition of personnel for the Emergency Communications Center. Those Communication Center positions are funded by the municipalities, with 22 towns participating currently, whose emergency services are being dispatched by the county.

Another way that the county is looking at efficiencies is by including funding for an independent study of its Information Services division. This study is set to be completed in the next six months.

According to the freeholder budget sub-committee members, one of the major goals of the 2012 budget was to place the county is a fiscally sound position, not only for this year but also for the following year.

"This sound financial planning has enabled the county to be only one of 65 counties nationally to maintain a AAA bond rating, the highest a government agency can receive, from both Moody's and Standard and Poors," Feyl said. The AAA rating is important because the higher the rating, the more money the county and Morris taxpayers save in interest payments on bond and note sales.

Another major component of the 2012 county budget, said Freeholder Mastrangelo, is its emphasis on shared services, particularly as it results in cost savings for the taxpayers. This year, the county's agreements for emergency dispatch are expected to generate $3.6 million in revenue, while at the same time saving the participating towns money in the form of personnel and technology upgrades.

Shared services contracts with Warren, Hunterdon and Sussex counties with the juvenile facilities have generated over $1,050,000 in income. Another shared service, the Morris County Medical Examiner's Office, is expected to bring in more than $400,000 in anticipated revenue to Morris while also saving the county $150,000 annually in operating costs.

Mastrangelo said additional shared services included in the proposed budget
supports include:

● Law enforcement including the Prosecutor's Office and the Sheriff's Office.
● The Morris County Park Commission.
● The County College of Morris.
● The Mosquito Commission, which provides mosquito control, stream dredging and clean-up to all 39 municipalities.
● The School of Technology and its Career Academies, Share Time Programs, Share Time Programs for Special Needs students and Adult Education programs.
● The Morris County Library.
● The Division of Weights and Measures, which ensures that Morris County consumers are protected by checking all commercial weighing and measuring devices such as supermarket scales and gasoline pumps for accuracy.
● The training of all local emergency first responders.
● The Office of Emergency Management, which provides emergency and coordinating services to all Morris County municipalities.
● Health services provided by the county's Health Management Office. Those services include environmental compliance, responding to hazardous materials spills, monitoring for outbreaks of infectious disease and supporting other public health agencies in the county.
● The Morris County Correctional Facility.

In spite of the continuing economic uncertainty, the Morris County Freeholder Board has been able to keep both operating expenses and salaries to increases of less than 1 percent, and pension and other statutory costs and insurance costs to minimal increases of 1.03 percent and 2.15 percent respectively over 2011.

Freeholder Director William Chegwidden thanked the budget sub-committee members and county staff for their hard work in developing the budget.

"This is a very responsible budget," Chegwidden said. "Despite the prolonged challenges brought on by the national economic downturn, our 2012 budget proposal continues to provide the same level of quality service to Morris County citizens."

The Freeholders will hold a public hearing on the budget on Wednesday, March 28 during the Freeholders' public meeting that begins at 7:30 p.m.

NJDOT to Reconstruct Salem Street Bridge Over Rt. 10

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:19:00 +0000

The New Jersey Department of Transportation has announced a project to reconstruct the Salem Street Bridge over Route 10 in Randolph Township.

This overpass provides access from Route 10 eastbound to Salem Street northbound and from Salem Street southbound to Route 10 eastbound.

The DOT said initial utility relocation work and preliminary construction setup is scheduled to begin the week of Feb. 20. The relocation of overhead electrical lines will require single-lane closures on Route 10 westbound below the bridge during off-peak and overnight hours.

As early as mid-march, the DOT said its contractor, Konkus Corporation, will require a full closure and detour of the Salem Street overpass for approximately six months. Notification will be provided in advance and signage will be installed to provide detour information, according to the DOT.

In a release, the DOT said the $2 million federally funded project will replace the existing, structurally deficient bridge superstructure, including the bridge deck, support beams, median pier cap and parapets.

The reconstructed structure will be raised slightly to improve clearance beneath the bridge. NJDOT will widen the existing roadway shoulders, replace and upgrade existing guide rails and resurface the bridge approaches on Salem Street to conform to the new bridge height.

In addition, minor improvements will be made to the traffic signal, sidewalks and lane striping at the Route 10 intersection with Franklin Road, located to the east of the Salem Street overpass.

NJDOT said it will maintain three travel lanes on Route 10 in each direction below the overpass during peak period hours, utilizing traffic shifts. However, single-lane closures may be necessary on Route 10 during off-peak hours.

Short-term full closures of Route 10 will be required periodically during overnight hours for demolition work on the overpass.

The existing overpass was constructed in 1960 and carries more than 11,000 vehicles per day. The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2012.

The DOT said variable message signs will be deployed on Route 10 to notify motorists of pending construction and any upcoming traffic pattern changes. The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors.

NJDOT provides emergency roadway information, construction schedule updates and real time traffic information and images at www.511nj.org.

Seniors Warned About Misleading Medicaid Flier

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:57:00 +0000

Senior citizens are being warned about a company the state said is circulating a flier containing misleading information about Medicaid.

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services reports the company, Senior Help Line, is marketing to residents of low income housing with a circular that implies the individual can get $100 back a month from Medicaid.

However, according to the department, when beneficiaries call the number on the flier, an insurance agent calls them back and tries to enroll them in an HMO insurance plan.

The department notes that an investigation by the New Jersey Attorney General's office has revealed Senior Help Line is not a registered company with the state.

Any beneficiaries enrolled in this plan as a result of Senior Help Line should call Mary McGeary of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services at 609-943-3491.

Morris Reminds Eligible Residents to Claim Tax Credit

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:43:00 +0000

The Morris County Department of Human Services and the Board of Chosen Freeholders have joined with the New Jersey Department of Human Services in urging eligible county residents to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.

The EITC is a special federal and state tax benefit for low-income working families and individuals that may increase the tax refund to be received, decrease the amount of taxes owed or provide a refund even if taxes are not owed.

However, the state Human Services Department reports thousands of hard working residents miss out on millions of dollars each year because they do not claim the tax credit on their federal and state tax returns.

According to the department, the federal EITC can range between $464 and $5,751 and the state credit ranging from $92 to $1,150, depending on the income of the taxpayer.

In Morris County, eligible taxpayers who do not claim the tax credit leave more than $123 million on the table that could be used to help them remain financially stable, said Shelia D. Carter, Human Services Coordinator.

The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free tax help at locations across the county for taxpayers who qualify, and will be able to let a taxpayer know if he or she is eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, Carter said.

She said site locations, most of which offer free electronic filing, may be obtained by dialing the information and referral hot line, 2-1-1.

Information about the Earned Income Tax Credit may also be found online at www.njeitc.org.

School of Technology Accepting Applications for High School Share Time Programs

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:10:00 +0000

The Morris County Vocational School District is encouraging Morris County students who will be juniors in high school next year and their parents to consider applying to one of the school's career and technical share time education programs.

MCVSD provides students the opportunity to receive daily career and technical training as part of their junior and/or senior high school program. Academic subjects are taken at the home school and students are transported to MCVSD for specialized career and technical training in Auto Body/Collision Repair, Automotive Service Technology, Carpentry, Computer Drafting and Graphics Studio, Cosmetology, Electrical Trades, Plumbing and Welding Technology.

Programs for students with special needs include Auto Body, Auto Service Technology, Building and Grounds Maintenance, Building Construction, Food Services and Retail Supermarkets.

The application deadline is March 2. For additional information, call the Morris County School of Technology at (973) 627-4600 ext. 277 or visit the school's website, www.mcvts.org.

Freeholders Congratulate Girl Scouts for Their School Supplies Drive

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:07:00 +0000

The Morris County Board of Freeholders hosted Girl Scouts from troops in Morristown, Chatham, Parsippany, Rockaway and Denville at the freeholders' Feb. 8 public meeting.

The freeholders honored the girls for collecting more than 260 pounds of school supplies in August 2011 for the children of families served by the Interfaith Food Pantry.

The collection drive was conducted in conjunction with the Morris County Women's Advisory Committee to the freeholders.

During the Back-to-School Supplies drive, the Girl Scouts were stationed at various drop-off sites around the county, collecting pens, pencils, paper, markers and other materials for students who might otherwise have had no way of getting the necessary supplies for the new school year.

The freeholders thanked the girls for their hard work and for thinking of other, less fortunate youngsters and presented each Girl Scout with a framed Certificate of Appreciation.

Interstate 280 Bridge Decks over Whippany River in Morris County to be Replaced

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:12:00 +0000

NJDOT officials have announced the replacement of the Interstate 280 bridge decks in both directions over the Whippany River connecting Parsippany-Troy Hills and East Hanover in Morris County.

Initial construction operations on the $5.2 million project will begin this week.

Eastbound travel lanes will be shifted to the south and westbound travel lanes to the north to establish a construction zone in the median of the highway, according to the DOT. Temporary overnight single-lane closures will be necessary on I-280 in each direction to establish the new work zone.

A press release issued by the DOT states that in the first stage of construction the contractor will build a temporary bridge over the Whippany River in the median of I-280. The temporary bridge will enable NJDOT to maintain two travel lanes on I-280 during daytime and peak period hours during the demolition of the existing bridge decks and construction of the new cast-in-place concrete decks.

Diverting traffic onto the temporary bridge will also allow NJDOT to accelerate the construction and complete each deck within a shorter time-frame, according to the release.

Once the temporary structure is completed, NJDOT will shift both I-280 eastbound travel lanes on to it while the eastbound bridge deck is demolished and replaced, with this work anticipated to be complete in late-summer 2012.

At that time, NJDOT will shift I-280 eastbound traffic onto the newly rebuilt mainline bridge and shift I-280 westbound on to the temporary structure. Demolition and reconstruction of the westbound bridge deck will then begin.

New guide rails will be installed along the new bridge decks and for 700 feet along I-280 west of the bridge. The project is anticipated for completion in spring 2013.

Approximately 62,000 vehicles use these bridges every day to cross the Whippany River, according to the DOT.

Variable message signs will be deployed to inform motorists of the construction and any changes in traffic patterns. The precise timing of the work is subject to change due to weather or other factors.

The DOT encourages motorists to check NJDOT's traffic information website www.511nj.org for construction updates and real-time travel information.

Public Schools Offered "Keep Morris Litter Free" Grants

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:07:00 +0000

Public schools, grades 6 through 12, in Morris County are being offered the chance to apply for a "Keep Morris County Litter Free" grant.

The program is part of Morris County Clean Communities, which is administered by the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority.

According to Liz Sweedy, Morris County Clean Communities coordinator, "Keep Morris County Litter Free" is part of the "Slam Dunk the Junk" statewide initiative sponsored by the New Jersey Clean Communities Council, which focuses on conducting litter cleanups, enforcing anti-litter regulations and changing the attitudes of "litterbugs" through education.

To quality for a grant, a public school must conduct a litter cleanup on at least two acres of school grounds, which may include ball fields and wooded areas, between April 15 and June 6, 2012 Sweedy said. A minimum of 20 students and their adult supervisors much participate in each cleanup.

After the cleanup has been conducted and the proper paperwork has been received and reviewed by the MCMUA, the school will receive a $500 grant to purchase outdoor receptacles for either recyclables or trash, or indoor receptacles for recyclables only, Sweedy said.

A second and optional component of the grant program is a school-run poster contest for Morris County public school students in grades 6-12. County winners of this contest will receive a $200 gift certificate and have their posters replicated on a recycling receptacle for their schools, Sweedy said.

"The artwork from last year is absolutely spectacular," Sweedy said.

Last year's poster contest winners were Valerie Bai of Morristown High School, Sanae Miyawaki of Morris Knolls High School, Justice Victoriano of Lincoln Park Middle School, and Saphrinna Phin of Black River Middle School in Chester. Their winning art work and the four recycling receptacles may be viewed on the MCMUA website, www.mcmua.com.

A school may participate exclusively in the poster contest or in conjunction with the cleanup, but it must conduct a litter cleanup to earn the $500.

"We are confident these two 'green' projects will raise awareness about both litter abatement and recycling, and at the same time will assist the participating schools financially," Sweedy said.

An application packet is available online at www.mcmua.com. The applications must be received by March 30.

Additional information may be obtained by calling Sweedy at 973-285-8393.

County College Dedicates New Morristown Location

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:56:00 +0000

The Morris County Freeholders and officials from the County College of Morris on Jan. 27 officially dedicated CCM's new satellite location in Morristown at 30 Schuyler Place in a county-owned building provided by the freeholders.

Leaving behind its location at Headquarters Plaza in Morristown, CCM is now leasing the second floor of 30 Schuyler Place from the county for $1 a year.

The move will save the college an estimated $400,000 a year, said Freeholder Gene Feyl.

"Noting that rent was a large item in the college's budget, the freeholders and college trustees agreed that this savings could be better used to mitigate potential tuition increases for students," Feyl said. "Economically, this makes a good deal of sense."

According to CCM President Dr. Edward J. Yaw, the new location not only will provide CCM with significant cost savings, but also will allow the college to better serve Morristown area residents and businesses.

"The renovated space with its state-of-the art teaching facilities means CCM is now even better positioned to offer the area innovative access to the college's high quality credit, certificate and continuing education programs," Yaw said.

The new facility consists of four general purpose classrooms with the latest in instructional equipment, two computer labs and a student lounge.

The county and CCM shared the cost of the relocation with the county paying for renovations and the college for all furnishings and equipment.

The building also features free onsite parking in a garage accessible from Bank Street/U.S. 202 South.

Morris County MUA Seeks Awards Nominations

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:14:00 +0000

The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority is seeking nominations for awards to be presented at the 25th Annual Morris County Recycling Awards Dinner that will be held on Friday, Nov. 2, at the Hanover Manor in East Hanover.

Each year, the MCMUA honors individuals, businesses, educational institutions, civic and religious organizations, as well as municipalities whose actions have contributed toward the success of waste prevention, re-use, litter abatement and recycling, including the purchase and use of items containing recycled material, said Penny Jones, Recycling Education Specialist with the MCMUA.

Among the awards to be presented is the Hy Nadel Creativity Award, established in 2010 in memory of Herman (Hy) Nadel of Lincoln Park, who was a member of the MCMUA Board for more than 17 years, including six years as chairman and three years as vice chairman.

"Nominees for this award should have a passion for recycling and for creatively nurturing planet Earth," Jones said.

The theme of this year's dinner is "Food for Thought – the Past, the Present and the Future of Recycling."

"We'd like people to reflect on the early years of mandatory recycling in Morris County, how far we've come and the possibilities for the future," Jones said.

Nomination forms may be downloaded from the MCMUA Web site, www.mcmua.com. Nomination forms and additional information may also be obtained by calling the MUA at (973) 285-8395.

Completed nomination forms must be received by the MCMUA on or before April 1.

Historic Preservation Grant Applications Available

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:34:00 +0000

Applications are now available for projects seeking funding in 2012 under Morris County’s Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

To be eligible for matching grant consideration, a historic resource must be listed, or certified as eligible for listing on the New Jersey and the National Register of Historic Places. Eligible applicants are municipalities, qualified non-profit organizations and the county.

Application forms and program rules and regulations are now available online at www.MorrisPreservation.com.

Two types of applications are available. Projects that are principally construction
related will require a Construction application. Grant requests for acquisition, plans and reports associated with the implementation of a historic preservation project should be completed on the Non-Construction application.

Applications must be returned to the county no later than the close of business March 30. Applicants must also submit a "Declaration of Intent" by Feb. 28.

The Morris County Freeholders established the fund after voters approved a public question in November 2002 allowing the county to amend its Open Space Trust Fund to include the acquisition, stabilization, restoration or preservation of historic resources.

The freeholders in 2011 allocated $2.57 million from the Historic Preservation Trust Fund to help preserve 24 historic sites in 15 towns.

More information about the application process or the Historic Preservation Trust Fund may be obtained by contacting Ray Chang at the Morris County Department of Planning and Development at (973) 829-8138 or rchang@co.morris.nj.us.

Morris Offering Rail Safety Program

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:15:00 +0000

The Morris County Division of Transportation, in conjunction with the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, is offering a free rail safety education program to schools and civic organizations in the county.

The program, called Operation Lifesaver, is designed to prevent collisions, injuries and fatalities on and around railroad tracks and highway-rail grade crossings, said Erik DeLine, a senior planner in the Division of Transportation who is certified and trained to make Operation Lifesaver presentations.

"Operation Lifesaver promotes the three E's – education, enforcement and engineering – to keep people safe around the tracks and railway crossings," DeLine said. "We have presentations that are aimed at specific audiences ranging from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade to driver education classes, community groups, professional drivers, law enforcement officers and emergency responders."

The Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis reports there were 30 highway-rail incidents in New Jersey, five of which were fatal, in the first 10 months of 2011. During that same period there were 15 rail "trespasser" fatalities in the state.

Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit public awareness program that began in Idaho in 1972 to promote highway-rail grade crossing safety. It soon became a nationwide program, which is co-sponsored in New Jersey by NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

More information on Operation Lifesaver may be obtained at http://oli.org. To request an Operation Lifesaver presentation, contact DeLine at edeline@co.morris.nj.us or at 973-829-8101.

Morris Uses Social Media to Connect with Citizens

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:12:00 +0000

The Morris County Freeholders are actively using social media to help county residents stay connected to their county government.

"Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social sites provide wonderful opportunities for Morris County government to share information about programs, services, meetings, events and other timely information with our citizens," said Freeholder Director William Chegwidden.

Direct links to these sites, as well as to Scribd, an online document library, and Flickr, an online photo gallery, are available on the home page of the Morris County government website, MorrisCountyNJ.gov.
Once on the home page, individuals may also register to receive the county's free electronic newsletter "Morris County Connections."

"We're using as many channels as possible to provide information about Morris County government programs and freeholder actions," Chegwidden said.

Each social network can also easily be reached from MorrisCountyNJ.gov by clicking its icon at the top of the page.

For general county government information, Morris County is known as MorrisCountyNJ on each of the social sites.

Facebook registered users will find the Morris County Facebook page at Facebook.com/MorrisCountyNJ.

The county has several YouTube channels. YouTube.com/MorrisCountyNJ ,
features the freeholder show "Focus on Morris County," which also airs on Cablevision and Comcast cable systems in the county. An array of county videos, including "Morris Minutes," which are brief informational videos about a variety of county services, are there as well. The Morris County Prosecutor's Office has a YouTube channel at YouTube.com/MorrisProsecutor, which includes press conference videos.

Morris County shares a variety of information with its "followers" on Twitter.com. No account is needed to read these short updates called "tweets". General county updates are at Twitter.com/MorrisCountyNJ. Focused tweets are available from the Morris County Prosecutor (Twitter.com/MCNJProsecutor), the Morris County Library (Twitter.com/MCLib) and the Office of Health Management (Twitter.com/MorrisHealth). Emergency updates are at Twitter.com/MCUrgent.

An individual may join Twitter by signing up at Twitter.com. Once logged in, the Twitter user can search to find Morris County accounts. By clicking the "Follow" button, tweets from the followed account will come automatically into the user's account.

Morris County's Scribd document library, Scribd.com/MorrisCountyNJ, allows visitors to read, download, print and share such county documents such as minutes from freeholder meetings, the Morris County Park Commissions' "Pathways" newsletter and publications from various county government departments. An account is not required unless a reader wants to download or print any item.

The county's photo gallery is on Flickr.com. Still photographs of our parks, facilities, and special events may be viewed at Flickr.com/ MorrisCountyNJ.

Freeholders Seek Public Input on County Budget

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:08:00 +0000

The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders is soliciting input from the public on the 2012 county budget.

The Freeholder Budget Subcommittee has been meeting on a regular basis for nearly one year to develop a spending plan, but the committee would now like to hear from any resident, mayor or member of any local governing body who would like to share his or her ideas about county government spending this year.

"This year, like last, the freeholders are faced with making with some difficult budget decisions," said Freeholder Margaret Nordstrom, chairman of the budget committee. "We are thoroughly examining all county government programs, and we welcome any suggestions and recommendations the public and municipal officials may have about county spending."

The $313 million budget adopted by the freeholders in 2011 reduced the gross county tax levy for the third consecutive year.

Nordstrom said individuals should e-mail their comments to the freeholders in care of the county public information office at jgarifo@co.morris.nj.us.

New Time for Jan. 25 Freeholder Meeting, New Date for Budget Input Session

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:40:00 +0000

The time of the Jan. 25 regular public meeting of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders has been moved from 7:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room, 5th floor, Administration and Records Building, Court Street in Morristown.

The special public input session on the 2012 county budget that was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25 has been moved to Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m.

More details about this special budget input session can be found in the press release announcing it.

County Saves Towns Money on the Cost of Dead Deer Pickup

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:12:00 +0000

The Morris County Freeholders last year saved municipalities in the county $52,236.50 by picking up the tab to remove deer carcasses from municipal roads.

According to Stephen W. Hammond, director of the Morris County Department of Public Works, 2,000 deer carcasses were removed from county and municipal roads last year, 363 more than were picked up in 2010. Of that total, 1,153 carcasses were picked up from municipal roads.

The Morris County Board of Freeholders in 2006 implemented a shared services program for the county's 39 municipalities and assumed the cost of carcass removal when the New Jersey Department of Transportation transferred that responsibility to towns and counties, said Freeholder Gene Feyl, freeholder liaison to the Department of Public Works.

"The freeholders thought at the time that the state was placing an unfair burden on municipalities," Feyl said. "We still do, which is why the county continues to cover the cost for the towns."

According to Hammond, Morris County has a contract with Space Farms Zoo in Sussex, which has been picking up the carcasses since July at a rate of $42 per deer, compared with the $54.50 per carcass fee that had been charged by a previous company.

Figures show Washington Township led the way last year with a total of 210 deer carcasses picked up, 130 of them from municipal roads. That means the county saved the township $5,758, Feyl said.

The county saved Parsippany $4,194.50 last year by paying for the removal of the 99 deer killed on municipal roads in the township, while a savings of $3,891.50 was realized by Hanover when the county paid for the removal of 87 carcasses from municipal roads there, Feyl said.

Under the county program, each town is responsible for reporting deer carcasses on local and county roads within its municipality directly to the Space Farms. Space Farms Zoo removes dead deer from both county and local roads and uses the venison to feed the zoo’s more than 500 animals.

In 2011, the total cost to the county for carcass removal on all county and municipal roads was $92,400.

Other towns that realized savings were Boonton, $222.50; Boonton Township, $965.00; Butler, $96.50; Chatham Borough, $277; Chatham Township, $1,805; Chester Borough, $84; Chester Township, $1,754; Denville, $1,716.50; East Hanover, $2,832.50; Florham Park, $1,095.50; Harding, $1,255.50; Jefferson, $1,343; Kinnelon, $428; Lincoln Park, $1,036; Long Hill Township, $1,759.50; Madison, $734.50; Mendham Borough, $692.50; Mendham Township, $2,098; Montville, $2,610; Morris Plains, $42; Morris Township, $3,803; Morristown, $361; Mount Arlington, $54.50; Mount Olive, $1,942.50; Mountain Lakes, $42; Netcong, $42; Pequannock, $856; Randolph, $3,630.50; Riverdale, $54; Rockaway Borough, $138.50; Rockaway Township, $1,393; Roxbury, $3,101.50; Washington Township, $5,758; and Wharton, $126.

Hearings Scheduled on State Strategic Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:43:00 +0000

The State Planning Commission will be conducting six public hearings, including one in Morris County, to receive testimony on the draft Final State Strategic State Plan: New Jersey's State Development and Redevelopment Plan and the draft Infrastructure Needs Assessment.

Morris County residents and local officials will have the opportunity to comment on the draft Strategic Plan during a public hearing Monday, Feb. 27 at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 53 East Hanover Ave., in Morris Township.

A presentation on the plan will be given at 6 p.m., with the public hearing to follow at 7 p.m.

Other public hearings across the state are scheduled for:
●Feb. 13 at Richard Stockton College in Galloway;
●Feb. 16 at the Offices of Government Service, Gloucester County Clayton Complex, Building A in Clayton;
●Feb. 23 at the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority in Newark;
●Feb. 28 at Monmouth University in West Long Branch;
●March 1 at Rutgers University EcoComplex in Bordentown.

A presentation on the plan will be given at 6 p.m., with the public hearing to follow at 7 p.m. at each session. In the event of inclement weather resulting in a canceled hearing, the following date(s) have been reserved:

●March 6 at 6 p.m. at Rutgers University's Civic Square Building in New Brunswick;
●March 21 at 10 a.m. at the State House Annex in Trenton.

A copy of the draft Final State Strategic Plan is available for public inspection at the New Jersey Department of State, Office for Planning Advocacy, 225 West State Street, Trenton, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Plan and its supporting documents are also available online on the Office for Planning Advocacy's website, http://www.state.nj.us/state/planning/df.html.

Morris Paratransit Program Taking E-Mail Reservations

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:24:00 +0000

Riders using the Morris Area Paratransit System may now reserve their trips by e-mail at maps@co.morris.nj.us.

MAPS is Morris County's curb-to-curb transportation service for senior citizens, people with disabilities and individuals living in rural areas of the county.

According to Theresa Davis, director of the Morris County Division on Aging, Disabilities and Veterans Services, reservations by e-mail will help enhance the efficiency of the MAPS service and will make it more convenient for riders to book their trips.

E-mail is checked on a daily basis and responded to within 24 hours. The e-mail system can also be used to alert riders of service delays or cancellations because of inclement weather or other circumstances.

MAPS rides may still be reserved by telephone by calling 888-282-6277 in the Greater Morris Region; 973-208-6123 in Jefferson Township; and 973-835-8885 in Butler, Kinnelon, Riverdale, Pequannock and Lincoln Park, Davis said.

Weekday transportation using small buses, cars, minivans and station wagons is provided by MAPS to various locations including medical facilities and education and employment sites, said Hope Hezel, the division's director of special transportation.

MAPS operates from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. during normal business days, and because of the heavy demand for service, riders are asked to make their reservations at least 48 hours to one week in advance, Hezel said.

Ridership has increased 19 percent since 2006, with more than 70,000 one-way trips made for 1,755 clients last year alone, Hezel said.

MAPS travels within Morris County, and may be able to take riders a short distance outside of the county.

The service is funded by the county, as well as with federal dollars and revenue from Atlantic City casinos under the New Jersey Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Assistance Program.

There is no charge for MAPS rides, but donations from riders are accepted, and certain rides may have a cost share applied, Hezel said.

Additional information about MAPS may be obtained online at www.morrishumanservices.org, or by calling the MAPS office at 973-829-8103 or 888-282-6277.

Freeholders Annual Reorganization Meeting is on YouTube

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:15:00 +0000

The Stated Annual Meeting of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders may be viewed on the county government's YouTube page, http://www.youtube.com/morriscountynj.

During the Jan. 6 meeting, the freeholders for the second consecutive year elected William J. Chegwidden of Wharton and Douglas R. Cabana of Boonton Township to serve as the board's director and deputy director respectively.

The meeting also featured the swearing in of Freeholder Margaret Nordstrom of Washington Township for her fifth three-year term.

Freeholders Saddened by Death of Alex Decroce

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:49:00 +0000

The Morris County Freeholders today shared their shock and sadness over the death Monday night of Morris County Assemblyman Alex DeCroce.

"This is a terrible loss for the people of our county and our state," said Freeholder Director William Chegwidden. "My freeholder colleagues and I send our sincere condolences to Alex's wife, Betty Lou, and his entire family."

DeCroce, a former Morris County Freeholder and the longest-serving member currently in the state Assembly, collapsed and died at the Statehouse in Trenton late Monday night.

"Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth," Chegwidden said, quoting the late New York Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. "If that's the case, Alex's rent was paid in full many times over. He was a dedicated public servant in the truest sense, who took pride in the constituent services he and his legislative staff provided."

DeCroce, of Parsippany, was elected to the freeholder board in 1983 after serving as chairman and a member of the County College of Morris Board of Trustees for 10 years; a commissioner of the county's Board of Taxation for one term; and chairman of the Morris County Board of Elections. He served on the freeholder board until he resigned in March 1989 to fill a vacancy in the Assembly.

"This is a huge loss for Morris County, Freeholder Margaret Nordstrom said. "Alex was a friend and mentor to all of us on the freeholder board."

DeCroce was director of the freeholder board in 1986. During his tenure on the board he chaired the Human Services; Administration and Finance; and Education and Cultural committees.

Freeholder Ann Grossi, a fellow Parsippany resident, said she was shocked to learn of DeCroce's passing.

"The lives that he has touched and his everlasting contributions are the cornerstone of his legacy," Grossi said. "We have lost a friend and a tireless advocate, especially for County College of Morris. He will be missed."

As a member of the Assembly representing the 26th District, DeCroce served as Deputy Speaker from 1994 to 2001, and as Assembly Republican Leader from 2003 until his death. He also served as chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee.

Morris Freeholder Takes Helm as NJTPA Chairman

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:41:00 +0000

Morris County Freeholder Gene F. Feyl was elected chairman of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority at the agency's Jan. 9 board of trustees meeting.

The NJTPA oversees regional transportation planning and more than $2 billion annually in surface transportation funding for 13 counties in northern and central New Jersey.

"Transportation is the lifeblood of our regional economy," said Feyl, who became a member of the NJTPA Board of Trustees in 2007. "The NJTPA must continue to focus on making wise transportation investments that fuel economic growth, job creation, and job retention. All this must be done with limited resources, as we carry out our duty to be responsible stewards of public funding."

Feyl said he looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead as the NJTPA works to improve transportation and encourage economic development.

"The investments we plan and implement today will shape the region's economic future," he said. "Transportation is vital to the future of this region and every county and town within it."

The NJTPA in 2009 approved Morris County's request for nearly $6 million in federal stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to rehabilitate the Chester Branch Railroad. This four mile active rail line extends from Wharton to Roxbury, where it now serves commercial users and has the potential to serve customers in Randolph as well, creating future economic opportunities in the county, Feyl said.

"Being chairman of this influential board allows me to continue to advocate for critical regional projects, many of which have local implications here in Morris County," Feyl said.

Feyl noted funding for improvements to Sussex Turnpike in Randolph and the Route 10 and Commerce Boulevard intersection in Roxbury is also provided through NJTPA. He said he will also be working through the agency to gain funding for necessary upgrades to the Route 24-Columbia Turnpike-Park Avenue intersection in Hanover and Morris Townships.

Feyl served as First Vice Chairman of the NJTPA Board and Chairman of the Project Prioritization Committee in 2010 and 2011. Feyl is a former Denville mayor and councilman who joined the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders in January 2007.
He served as director of the board in 2009 and 2010.

A brief interview with Feyl following the NJTPA board meeting is available at on the NJTPA website.

Chegwidden, Cabana Lead Freeholder Board in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:35:00 +0000

The Morris County Freeholders for the second consecutive year have elected William J. Chegwidden and Douglas R. Cabana to serve as the board's director and deputy director respectively.

The action occurred during the freeholder board's Jan. 6 Stated Annual Meeting, which also featured the swearing in of Freeholder Margaret Nordstrom of Washington Township for her fifth three-year term.

Chegwidden, who also serves as mayor of Wharton, said the freeholder board in 2011 faced some difficult economic choices, but never shirked its responsibility to Morris County citizens.

"You can not escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today," Chegwidden said, quoting Abraham Lincoln. "As freeholders, our responsibility is to provide for the health and safety of our citizens and to offer them services that enhance their quality of life. When it became clear last year that the resources to fund those services would be severely limited or would no longer be available, we did not try to escape our responsibility by evading the problem."

Instead, Chegwidden said spending was re-prioritized, most county employees, including those in 19 of 21 bargaining units, agreed to a zero percent wage increase, and the gross county tax levy was reduced for the third year in a row.

"The freeholders thank all of those county employees who agreed to work without salary increases this past year," Chegwidden said. "They continued to provide the outstanding service the citizens of this county have come to expect, and we applaud them for it."

Chegwidden said he is looking forward this year to the start of Phase Two of the Morris Model, the county's award-winning solar energy project. Phase Two participants are expected to realize energy cost savings of $6.9 million, Chegwidden said.

The freeholders in 2012 will also continue exploring shared services with towns and neighboring counties, Chegwidden said. He noted such an arrangement with the Medical Examiner's offices in Morris, Sussex and Warren counties has saved Morris approximately $150,000.

The freeholders in 2011 will continue to conduct their regular public meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. The meeting schedule is posted on the county government Web site, www.MorrisCountyNJ.gov.

Freeholders Continue Wednesday Meetings in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:34:00 +0000

The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2012 will continue to conduct regular public meetings at 7:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, with some exceptions for holidays.

Most of the meetings will be in the Public Meeting Room on the 5th floor of the Administration and Records Building on Court Street in Morristown. However, some public meetings may also be conducted during the year in one of the county's 39 municipalities.

Freeholder work sessions are conducted at 9:30 a.m. in the Knox Room, also on the 5th floor of the Administration & Records Building, on the same day as the public meetings.

The 2012 meeting schedule is posted online at http://www.co.morris.nj.us/freeholders/publicmeetings.asp on the Morris County government website, www.MorrisCountyNJ.gov.

Meeting dates and locations may be confirmed by calling the Office of Public Information and Social Media at 973-285-6015.

Morris to Rehabilitate Two Railroad Crossings in Dover

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:08:00 +0000

Morris County will be undertaking two railroad grade crossing projects along the Dover & Rockaway Railroad in Dover next week.

According to Erik DeLine, senior planner in the Morris County Division of Transportation, Warren Street will be closed between Bassett Highway and West Clinton Street on or about Tuesday, Jan. 10, weather dependent, starting at 7 a.m. for approximately 48 hours.

During active construction, the sidewalks across the Dover & Rockaway Railroad will be closed to pedestrian traffic, DeLine said.

Then, on or about Thursday, Jan. 12, weather dependent, North Sussex Street will be closed between Bassett Highway and West Clinton Street starting at 7 a.m. for approximately 48 hours.

The sidewalks across the Dover & Rockaway Railroad will be closed to pedestrian traffic during active construction in this area.

DeLine said the work is necessary to improve the safety and condition of the crossings and roadways.

Detour plans are online at www.MorrisDOT.org. DeLine said anyone having any questions about the projects may contact Morris County Division of Transportation at (973) 829-8101.