MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County residents interested in serving on the County College of Morris (CCM) Board of Trustees are invited to send their resumes to a special trustee search committee of the Morris County Board of County Commissioners.

The search committee must receive resumes by September 1, 2023. The committee will review all of the applications and then submit recommendations to the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, who will make the appointments.

Morris County is seeking to fill three board seats for four-year terms, which terms shall begin on November 1, 2023.

The two sitting trustees must reapply by the September 1 deadline if they wish to be considered for reappointment.

To qualify for consideration by the search committee, a candidate must be a resident of Morris County for at least four years and may not hold a current elected office in Morris County or be an employee of Morris County government or CCM.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate independent judgment, distinction in their profession, knowledge of higher education, involvement in their community, and a firm commitment to serving the college. A candidate must be willing to commit at least 20-30 hours a month to his or her duties as a college trustee to be considered for appointment.

Duties of trustees include appointing, supporting, and evaluating the college president; clarifying and, if necessary, revising the college’s mission statement; ratifying long-term plans; approving the college’s educational program; ensuring fiscal viability and maintaining the college’s physical plant.

The CCM search committee requests a resume and a background statement from each applicant outlining why he or she wishes to serve as a trustee and what specific skills the applicant would bring to the board.

Applicants must send one copy of their resume and a brief background statement to the Office of the Morris County Counsel, County of Morris, P.O. Box 900, Morristown, N.J. 07963-0900.

The County College of Morris Board of Trustees is composed of eleven Morris County residents from business, education, law, and other professional fields who volunteer their services in four-year terms.

By statute, eight members are appointed by the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, and two members are appointed by the Governor. The Morris County Superintendent of Schools is also a member of the Board by statute. One non-voting CCM graduate member is elected for a one-year term by each year’s graduating class. In addition, the CCM President serves as an ex-officio member.

The Board of Trustees sets policy and has final authority over budgets and expenditures, and the President is responsible for internal administrative operations.

MORRIS COUNTY — The New Jersey State Department of Corrections (NJDOC), through its Office of County Services, conducted an inspection of the Morris County Correctional Facility. The authority to perform the inspection is granted by N.J.S.A. 30:1-15.

The review was conducted to determine compliance with the requirements of N.J.A.C. 10A:31, the “Manual of Standards for New Jersey Adult County Correctional Facilities.” Standards include mandates regulating Security and Control, Sanitation, Food Service, Emergencies, Protective Custody, Inmate Classification, the Inmate Work Program, Medical, Dental, and Health Services, and more.

As a result of this inspection, the Morris County Correctional Facility was found to be in full compliance with the requirements of N.J.A.C. 1OA:31. A resounding congratulations is to be shared with the entire staff of the Morris County Correctional Facility on this achievement. All are to be commended for the efforts made in preparation for this inspection and their conduct during the inspection process.

The inspectors reported during their review of the facility they found the staff was most helpful and cooperative throughout the entire inspection. Every inspector was treated in a respectful and professional manner. Sheriff James M. Gannon said, “I am so proud of our Bureau of Corrections employees. They walk the toughest beat in Morris County and always treat those incarcerated with the utmost dignity and respect.

The results of our inspection reinforce the ever-present commitment to the care of others and professionalism that exists at the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.” The correctional facility, operated under the Sheriff’s Bureau of Corrections, is also accredited by the American Correctional Association (ACA), as well as the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC).

MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy has announced the official New Jersey State Funeral and Memorial Service for the late Lt. Gov. Sheila Y. Oliver. The service will take place at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark on Saturday, August 12, and the public is warmly invited to attend.

In a solemn tribute, Oliver will lie in state in the Rotunda of the State Capital on Thursday, August 10, and at the Essex County Courthouse on Friday, August 11. A full honor guard will accompany her during these times, as announced by Murphy.

“Together, we will honor and celebrate her remarkable contributions to the state she loved,” Murphy stated, reflecting on Oliver’s dedication to her community and the people of New Jersey.

In further tribute, Governor Murphy has ordered that both the American and New Jersey flags be flown at half-mast for the next month in memory of Oliver.

Born and raised in Newark, and later residing in East Orange, Oliver left a significant mark on New Jersey’s political landscape. Before serving as Garden State’s second lieutenant governor, she made history as the first Black woman to serve as Speaker of the General Assembly.

A statement from Oliver’s family captured the sentiments of many: “[Sheila] was not only a distinguished public servant but also our cherished daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and hero. Sheila Y. Oliver leaves behind a legacy of dedication, service, and inspiration. We will remember her commitment to the people of New Jersey and her tireless efforts to uplift the community.”

Oliver’s funeral and lying in state provide an opportunity for the public to pay respects and reflect on the life of a woman who dedicated herself to public service, breaking barriers, and inspiring others. Her legacy is sure to be remembered and cherished by those she touched through her years of service.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Clerk, Ann Grossi, Esq., has revealed plans for a Passport Outreach Event scheduled for Tuesday, October 17. The event will be held from 9 am to 2 pm at the Rockaway Township Municipal Building, located at 65 Mount Hope Road.

MORRIS COUNTY — Both chambers of lawmakers have unanimously approved StayNJ, a program designed to significantly reduce property tax bills for seniors in New Jersey. However, there are lingering doubts about the program’s survival until the awards start being distributed in 2026.

StayNJ is targeted at New Jersey homeowners aged 65 and above, offering them tax credits that could cover up to half of their property tax bills, with a cap of $6,500. This applies as long as the homeowner’s annual income does not exceed $500,000.

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex), the mind behind the program, stated, “We have heard from seniors across the state on this issue. We know what a difference this will make for families making difficult decisions. We owe it to our seniors and to their families to ease those burdens.” Governor Phil Murphy put his signature on the bill Friday evening.

The cap on the awards will be adjusted in line with property tax bills, and the program’s estimated cost stands at $1.3 billion when payouts begin in the first quarter of 2026.

However, some advocates and Republican officials have raised concerns about whether these awards will ever be realized. Specific provisions in the bill halt payments if the state fails to meet its commitments regarding school aid, pension payments, or two tax deduction programs designed for seniors and military veterans. Moreover, StayNJ payments will be obstructed if the state is unable to make them while maintaining a surplus equivalent to 12% of annual spending.

Certain Republicans argue that these conditions, combined with a recent dip in New Jersey’s revenue, virtually ensure that StayNJ payments will never be made. Others criticize the $500,000 income cap, suggesting that it directs aid toward residents who don’t require assistance with property taxes.

Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-Morris) commented, “We have seniors in the state of New Jersey today, who under the provisions of this bill can make $450,000 a year and still get $6,500 back in property tax relief. That $6,500 doesn’t come from a phantom fund. It comes from the money that we take from all the other taxpayers in the state of New Jersey.”

Bergen and Assemblyman Kevin Rooney (R-Bergen) were the only two who voted against the bill in either chamber. A proposed amendment by Bergen that would have lowered the income cap to $200,000 was also rejected by the Assembly.