County of Morris Press Releases

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.

Freeholder Meeting Feb. 8.

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:44:00 +0000

The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders will conduct its next regular public meeting Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room on the 5th floor of the Administration & Records Building on Court Street in Morristown.

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.

The public, mayors and other elected municipal officials are also being invited to share their thoughts on county spending with subcommittee members on Feb. 8 (new date) from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Knox Conference Room on the 5th floor of the Administration and Records Building on Court Street in Morristown.

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.

Sticker Shock Campaign Targets Purchase of Alcohol for Underage Youth

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:48:00 +0000

A "Sticker Shock" campaign is getting underway in Morris County aimed at warning adults not to purchase alcohol for anyone under 21.

Morris County Municipal Alliances, along with the Morris County Partners in Substance Abuse Prevention, and Morris County Prevention is Key will be working with liquor stores throughout the county to remind individuals who are over 21 years old that it is illegal to purchase alcohol for individuals who are under the state's legal drinking age of 21.

Steve Nebesni, Morris County Municipal Alliance Coordinator, said the groups are asking retailers who sell alcoholic beverages to assist them in reducing underage drinking by joining in a Countywide Sticker Shock Campaign.

"Participating retailers will be asked to place stickers on multi-packs of beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages or the bags or boxes used to package the beverages," Nebesni said. "The stickers remind those of legal drinking age that it is illegal to buy alcohol for anyone under 21."

One sticker warns that violators can face penalties of up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine, Nebesni said.
"If that message can "sticker shock" someone into not buying alcohol for a minor, it may help to prevent potential tragedies from occurring," Nebesni said. The campaign will run from January through February of 2012.

Anyone wanting additional information about the campaign may contact Nebesni at 973-285-6860 or at snebesni@co.morris.nj.us.

Municipal Alliances are community-based volunteer organizations in 34 of the 39 municipalities in the county that coordinate local efforts to combat substance abuse.

The Morris County Partners in Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition works to strengthen families and communities by raising awareness of substance abuse and related issues through collaborative prevention and advocacy initiatives.

Morris County Prevention is Key is a private, non-profit, community based health organization dedicated to the promotion of the health and well being of the Morris County community and the prevention of substance abuse, addiction, violence and related issues.

State Grant Awarded to Morris Municipal Alliances

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:37:00 +0000

The Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse has approved 2012 grant awards totaling $3.71 million to nine counties, including a $521,328 grant to Morris.

The county grants will help fund Municipal Alliances to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.

Municipal Alliances are volunteer organizations that plan and develop community and evidence-based addiction prevention strategies and programs as well as public education and awareness activities at the local level.

The 34 Municipal Alliances in Morris County are among a network of more than 400 in the state. John Hulick, acting director of the Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, said New Jersey's Alliances network is the largest in the nation, with 7,000 volunteers serving in more than 530 municipalities.

According to Hulick, the Alliances in 2011 provided nearly 3,500 school and community-based programs and activities.

In Morris County, those programs and activities include Project Graduation; a Peer Leadership program; the Giraffe Project, which targets youngsters in kindergarten through 5th grade; Anti-Bullying programs; an annual countywide Prevention Forum for parents and their teenagers; a "Natural High" evening of ice skating; and a Yoga for Seniors program for senior citizens.

The activities are overseen and coordinated by the Morris County Department of Human Services under the authority of the county's Mental Health-Substance Abuse Advisory Board.

The 2012 grant awards will ensure that the Alliances remain an integral part of the state’s overall addiction prevention strategies, allowing them to continue to lead efforts to address alcoholism and drug abuse in communities throughout the state, Hulick said.

Grant recipients are required to match the grants from the Governor's Council with a cash-match of 25 percent of the award and 75 percent in-kind services. The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders also supplies additional County funding to supplement innovative Alliance programs in municipalities who make application.

Additional information about the Morris County Municipal Alliances may be obtained by contacting Steve Nebesni, Morris County Municipal Alliance Coordinator, at 973-285-6860 or at snebesni@co.morris.nj.us.

Heritage Commission Awards History Grants

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:07:00 +0000

The Morris County Heritage Commission has awarded a total of $20,044 in re-grant funding to seven county organizations for General Operating Support and history projects through its history re-grant program.

Funding for the re-grant program is awarded to the Heritage Commission as a GOS grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission. The Heritage Commission then re-grants the funds to non-profit organizations based in Morris County with collections or programming relating to the history of the county or the state.

The Heritage Commission has been awarded GOS funds for the re-grant program from the New Jersey Historical Commission since 2001.

In the 2011 re-grant round, the Boonton Township Historical Society received $2,830 for General Operating Support to assist the organization with insurance costs.

The Chatham Historical Society was awarded $3,142 to purchase an archival quality storage cabinet, and Macculloch Hall in Morristown is the recipient of a $2,485 grant to cover the purchase of a museum quality vacuum cleaner to help maintain its decorative arts and textile collections.

The organization Preserve Greystone was awarded $1,650 to purchase computer equipment to expand its public outreach programming, and the Rockaway Borough Historical Committee received $2,322 to support its local historic site marker program.

The Washington Township Historical Society was awarded $2,615 to be used for UV protective window shades for the museum, while the Washington Township Historic Preservation Commission received $5,000 for a consultant to prepare historic district guidelines for the Township.

More information about the re-grant program or any of the other programs sponsored by the Morris County Heritage Commission may be obtained by calling the Commission at 973-829-8117, by visiting the Heritage Commission website at www.MorrisHeritage.net or by email at Heritage@co.morris.nj.us.

Morris MUA Reminds Us to Recycle That Wrap

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:15:00 +0000

The Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority reminds county residents to recycle gift wrap this holiday season and not put it into the trash.

Penny Jones, recycling education specialist with the MUA, said gift wrap, including tissue paper, is acceptable in Morris County's recycling programs.

"The amount of trash that haulers collect increases dramatically during the holidays," Jones said. "Much of that is gift wrap and packaging that can be reused or recycled rather than be put into in the trash."

Jones suggested saving and reusing bows as well as bubble wrap and clean, dry polystyrene (Styrofoam) packing peanuts.

She said the packing peanuts and bubble wrap can be taken to Mail Boxes Etc., the UPS Store or similar retailers for reuse. To find the closest store, Jones said an individual can visit the Plastic Loosefill Council's Web site,
www.loosefillpackaging.com, or call the "Peanut" Hotline at 1-800-828-2214 or check the Yellow Pages.

Jones said corrugated cardboard cartons, pre-holiday catalogs and gift boxes should also be recycled, as should glass bottles, plastic bottles coded 1 and 2, aluminum beverage cans and steel food cans from holiday gatherings. Newspapers, magazines and junk mail—all of which are generated year round, should be recycled as well.

If cardboard boxes are too large to fit into a curbside recycling bin, they should be flattened, folded and stacked inside one cardboard box and placed next to the recycling bin, Jones said.

In addition, a number of new items are now being accepted for recycling in the communities that have contracts with the MCMUA for the curbside collection of recyclables, Jones said.

To determine what items are acceptable for recycling in a specific community, Jones said county residents may check with their individual municipality, or they may visit the Morris County MUA Web site, www.mcmua.com.

Telepsychiatry Request to be Discussed

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:25:00 +0000

A request by Saint Clare's Health Services to use telepsychiatry or real-time secure video conferencing to conduct psychiatric assessments in the psychiatric emergency service units of its Denville and Dover locations will be on the agenda at the Jan. 12 meeting of the Morris County Mental Health Substance Abuse Advisory Board.

Saint Clare's submitted the waiver request to the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addictions Services asking to use telepsychiatry instead of conducting face-to-face psychiatric evaluation assessments of patients because of what it said were restricted funding resources, a limited availability of psychiatrists and increased salary and operating costs. As a result, Saint Clare's reports that some consumers face unnecessary transfers while others must wait up to 10 hours before they can be evaluated by a psychiatrist.

Laurie Becker, director of the county's Division of Behavioral Health and Youth Services, said the county's Mental Health Substance Abuse Advisory Board will be addressing the waiver request at its Jan. 12 meeting so it can then develop a recommendation to the state as required.

The meeting will take place at 5:15 p.m. in the red conference room on the 3rd floor of the Schuyler Building, 30 Schuyler Place in Morristown.

Saint Clare's medical staff will be in attendance to give an overview on how telepsychiatry would work and to address any questions or concerns, Becker said.

Becker also said the waiver request may be viewed at online at http://morriscountynj.gov/generalHTML/StClaresTelePsychiatryWaiverRequest.pdf.

Anyone wanting to make comments on the waiver request may do so at the Jan. 12 meeting, or they may e-mail their comments to Becker at lbecker@co.morris.nj.us or they may reach her at 973-285-6852.

Changes in Recycling Schedules Coming to 7 Communities

noreply@blogger.com (Joe) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:12:00 +0000

Changes in the schedules for the curbside pickup of recyclables are coming to Boonton Township, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Hanover, Mendham Township and Wharton in the new year.

The seven communities are among 15 that participate in the curbside pickup program operated by the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority.

Kathleen Hourihan, District Recycling Coordinator with the MCMUA, said the schedule changes are being made to increase efficiency.

"We're consolidating pickups in some communities and adjusting schedules in others to allow for a much better and more efficient use of our manpower and equipment," Hourihan said. Hourihan detailed the changes.

In Boonton Township, instead of having recyclables picked up throughout the community every other Friday, pickups will now take place throughout the township every other Thursday, starting Jan. 5. The last Friday collection in 2011 will be Dec. 30, Hourihan said.

For Denville, where recyclables are now picked up every other Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in three sections of town, the pickups in 2012 will take place every other Wednesday in the entire town, starting Wednesday, Jan. 11. The last Monday collection in 2011 will be Dec. 12, with the last Tuesday collection this year coming Dec. 27, Hourihan said.

Recyclables in Dover, which are now collected every other Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in three sections of town, will be collected in 2012 every other Friday in the entire town, starting Friday, Jan. 13. Dover's last Monday collection in 2011 will be Dec. 12, with the last Tuesday collection this year coming Dec. 27, and the final Wednesday collection for 2011 will be Dec. 28, Hourihan said.

In East Hanover, instead of having recyclables picked up every other Wednesday and Thursday in two sections of town, the 2012 collection will be every other Wednesday in the entire town, starting Wednesday, Jan. 4. Hourihan said the last Thursday collection in 2011 will be Dec. 22.

In Hanover, instead of having recyclables picked up every other Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in three sections of town, pickups will now take place every other Tuesday in the entire town, starting Tuesday, Jan. 10. The last Monday collection in 2011 will be Dec. 12, with the last Wednesday collection this year coming Dec. 28, Hourihan said.

Mendham Township's pick ups will change from the current schedule of every other Monday to every other Thursday in the entire town, starting Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. The last Monday collection in 2011 will be Dec. 19, Hourihan said.

In Wharton, where recyclables are now collected every other Thursday and Friday in two sections of town, the pickups in 2012 will take place every other Monday in the entire town, starting Monday, Jan. 16. The last Thursday collection in 2011 will be Dec. 29, with the last Friday collection in 2011coming on Dec. 30, Hourihan said.

She noted recycling containers should be at curbside the night before the collection day, and the maximum weight of a curbside recycling container and its contents is 50 pounds.

More information about recycling in Morris County is available online on the Morris County MUA website, www.mcmua.com.