Dear Neighbor,

It’s been busy fall thus far. With the holiday season fast approaching, I wanted to provide you with some important updates.

1.Veterans Banners to be Dedicated Saturday

2.Fall Capital Projects Continue in the Township

Autumn is a busy time of year for public projects. Work has continued at a brisk pace both at public facilities and along our streets.

Dive deeper:

• 165 trees have been planted across the Township as part of our tree replacement program. Residents in neighborhoods impacted heavily by ash tree removals had the opportunity to select from a variety of trees to have planted along the roadway to help restore canopies.
• Work is continuing on Walnut St in Collinsville this month to reconstruct the roadway and install sidewalks. As part of this project, contractors have also completed preliminary work at the Collinsville Playground ahead of its major facelift in 2024.
• Regrading and fencing work continues at Kiwanis Field on Lake Valley Rd.
• Retaining wall, drainage, and fencing work is scheduled to be completed at Hillside firehouse in the coming weeks.

3.Cannabis Advisory Board Wraps Up Public Meetings

The Cannabis Advisory Board met for the sixth and final time earlier this month to hear public comment and discuss its final written year-end report.

Why it matters: The Cannabis Advisory Board was established by the Township Committee earlier this year to research the evolution of cannabis industry in New Jersey since its legalization in 2021 and report back to the Township Committee with an analysis of whether the Township should remain opted-out of all six classes of cannabis licensing.

• No formal action is being taken by the Cannabis Advisory Board - as an advisory board, it has no authority to modify or change any existing Township policies or ordinances.
• After its final meeting, the board is required to provide a comprehensive, public report to the public and the Township Committee on its findings.

This volunteer board met six times since August to hear the perspectives of Township legal and zoning professionals, law enforcement, and industry experts. 



• Meeting recordings and answers to frequently asked questions can be found here.

Background: In 2020, voters in New Jersey approved by referendum vote an amendment to the State Constitution legalizing the recreational use of cannabis and allowing for recreational cannabis sales. The referendum received support from 68.64% of Morris Township voters. The Morris Township Committee opted out of all six classes of cannabis licensing in 2021 with the intent to monitor the development of the industry and revisit their decision in future years.

4.Expanding Our Footprint to Better Serve Morris Township

Last month, the Township acquired a new facility at 4 Old Turnpike Rd in Convent Station. You may recognize this property as the former location of the Cozy Cupboard.

Why it matters: Morris Township is a growing community and, as a result, our facilities need to grow with it to best serve our residents.

• The acquisition of this property provides us the potential to save hundreds of thousands of dollars that would otherwise need to be spent expanding our Municipal Building.

• Our Parks and Recreation Department will be able to relocate staff and services to this new facility, offering residents convenient access for picking up pool passes or dropping off forms.

Special thanks to Parks and Recreation Director Bill Foelsch for the vision and perseverance to make this project a reality for the Township.



We are excited to open this building to the public in 2024!

5.Recognizing Our 10U and 14U State Champions

Photos courtesy of the Morris NewsBee

At our October Township Committee meeting, we recognized Morristown National Little League’s 10U and 14U State Championship winning all-star softball teams.

• One State Championship for MNLL is impressive, but two in the same year is a major feat!

We are so proud of the hard work from the players of both teams – they demonstrated tremendous discipline and perseverance during their summer seasons.

As a former MNLL player, I’d also like to thank the coaches and parents who made their success this year (and all of the fun they had along the way) possible.

6.Condemning the Terrorist Attacks in Israel

The Township Committee stood together at our October Township Committee meeting to condemn the terrorist attacks that inflicted so much pain and suffering on innocent people last month in Israel.

• Deputy Mayor Bud Ravitz and Committeeman Jeff Grayzel presented a proclamation from the Township Committee to Rabbis from our local synagogues. In addition to watching the recording, can also read the full proclamation here.

Since our October 18th meeting, our Municipal Building has been illuminated in blue and white in solidarity with our friends and neighbors in the Jewish Community, their families, and the people of Israel.

Thank you for reading my monthly newsletter. Please be sure to follow Morris Township by signing up for our Municipal Messenger, liking our Facebook page and following us on Instagram.

Best,

Mark 

Morris Township | www.morristwp.com