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New Jersey Approves Bill Easing Brewery Restrictions and Liquor License Changes

By
Frank Cahill
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Allowing breweries, wineries, and distilleries to host unlimited events and private parties on their premises and up to 25 special events off-site.

MORRIS COUNTY — The state of New Jersey is set to implement changes to its craft brewery and retail license laws after a bill received unanimous support from both chambers of the state Legislature on January 8. The bill, sponsored by Democratic state Senators Vin Gopal, Paul Sarlo, and Troy Singleton, proposes several significant changes to the existing regulations affecting breweries, wineries, and distilleries in the state.

Some of the key provisions of the bill include:

  1. Allowing breweries, wineries, and distilleries to host unlimited events and private parties on their premises and up to 25 special events off-site.
  2. Permitting these establishments to sell food items like chips, nuts, and other packaged snacks. They can also coordinate with external vendors such as food trucks and restaurants to serve food on their premises.
  3. Eliminating the requirement that breweries must give patrons a tour of their facilities before they can consume alcohol.
  4. Activating some of the 1,400 inactive liquor licenses (known as pocket licenses) that have not been used by restaurants or bars for at least eight years. If a license remains dormant for two years, it will expire and may be auctioned off or extended by the municipality.
  5. Allowing communities to issue special licenses for establishments in shopping malls, with up to two additional licenses for towns with malls larger than 750,000 square feet and up to four additional licenses for towns with malls larger than 1.5 million square feet.
  6. Permitting towns to transfer one dormant license per year and two every five years to a neighboring municipality in need of more licenses.
  7. Establishing a farm brewery license for operators who engage in farming and wish to brew malt alcoholic beverages (up to 2,500 barrels of 31 fluid gallons a year) and sell them on their premises.

These changes are seen as a positive step for the state’s craft brewing and distilling industry, allowing it to grow and prosper. However, it’s worth noting that this bill represents a scaled-down version of broader changes that Governor Phil Murphy had previously pushed for in an effort to modernize the state’s Prohibition-era liquor license laws.

The bill’s passage has received mixed reactions, with some stakeholders applauding the progress made while others express concerns about certain restrictions, particularly regarding the transfer of inactive licenses and the overall affordability of liquor licenses in the state. The New Jersey League of Municipalities questions the limitation on transferring inactive licenses to contiguous municipalities, as it may not address the shortage of available liquor licenses in some areas.

Downtown New Jersey and the NJ Liquor License Reform Alliance believe that while this bill is a step in the right direction, it does not fully address the affordability issue and equity concerns related to liquor licenses in the state. They plan to continue advocating for more progressive reforms in the future.

Statement from Assemblyman Barranco: Why I Will Not  Vote for a Pay Increase for the State Legislature

By
Frank Cahill
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Assemblyman Christian Barranco

MORRIS COUNTY — Statement from Assemblyman Barranco: Why I Will Not  Vote for a Pay Increase for the State Legislature:

“At a time when many individuals and families in New Jersey are struggling to make ends meet; and at a time when so many middle-class homeowners and business owners are suffering the crushing impact of the highest property taxes in the nation, it is the height of insensitivity for the state lawmakers to give themselves a 67 percent pay increase.

“Instead of thinking about themselves, the legislators should be thinking about the people paying the taxes and retirees who have not had a simple cost of living increase in 12 years.

“It is shameful that the legislators most responsible for the high cost of living in New Jersey – the legislators, who six months ago approved the biggest budget in state history – would now think of rewarding themselves rather than working to relieve the financial burden they have placed on their constituents.  

“I cannot in good conscience vote for a pay increase for the legislature until we start addressing the economic and tax issues that are harming New Jersey’s working people.” 

Senate Clears Pennacchio/Bucco Bill that Would Credit Students for Completing Fire Academy Courses

By
Frank Cahill
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File Photo

MORRIS COUNTY — Legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Pennacchio and Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco that would provide course credits for high school students who become volunteer firefighters was approved today by the New Jersey Senate.

“New Jersey is suffering from a severe shortage of first responders,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “By incentivizing high school students to become volunteer firefighters in their municipalities, students can earn credits to meet certain graduation requirements. This bill provides an innovative solution to reduce New Jersey’s firefighter shortage and promotes educational opportunities for students outside of the classroom.”

The legislation, S-3901, would permit students to be eligible for credits in health, safety, and physical education for completing a course at a county fire academy, provided they meet certain criteria.“Firefighting is a skilled profession that is necessary to ensure the safety of our communities,” Bucco added. “This bill enables students to receive their education while simultaneously serving as vital public servants.”To receive credits, a student must be between 16 and 18 years old, complete an examination to become a junior firefighter, and volunteer at their local fire department for two years.

Legislation Signed to Increase Transparency in Online Gym Membership Cancellations

By
Frank Cahill
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MORRIS COUNTY — Gym membership sign-ups see an increase in January as many make New Year resolutions to get healthy, lose weight, and get fit. But as days get busier, those memberships take the back seat.

For those who are frustrated at the expense and difficulty of canceling those memberships, Governor Murphy has signed legislation streamling membership cancellation policies and protecting consumers across New Jersey.

The legislation A3892/S2952 requires gym subscription services that can be entered online to offer an online cancellation option. The location where subscribers can initiate the cancellation must be accessible and prominent on the gym provider’s website, within the individual’s account profile, or it may be completed through a termination email template provided by the service. This law will ease the process for consumers to willfully terminate automatic gym renewal subscriptions and avoid entrapment by rigid in-person membership cancellation policies.

“By signing this bill into law, New Jerseyans will be protected from confusing, misleading, and inflexible subscription cancellation policies,” said Governor Murphy. “For too long, members have faced difficulties when attempting to cancel a membership they entered into online. With these new requirements, we can ensure a simplified gym membership cancellation process for consumers and hardworking families can evade the financial burden of perpetual automatic renewals.”

Primary sponsors of A3892/S2952 include Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Senator Gordon Johnson, and Assemblymembers Paul Moriarty, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, and Angela McKnight.

“We thank Governor Murphy and our legislators for once again making consumer protection a priority in New Jersey,” said Cari Fais, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “This legislation establishes clear ground rules in an area where unscrupulous health club operators could otherwise take advantage of consumers by making it unnecessarily difficult to terminate memberships. The Division stands ready to enforce these new protections and hold violators accountable.”

“This is a straightforward consumer protection law,” said Senate President Scutari. “It shouldn’t be complicated for consumers to cancel their health club memberships online if they were purchased online. This will give them that option.”

“It’s simple, if you sign up for a gym membership online, you should be able to cancel your membership online as well,” said Senator Johnson. “This is a good policy which will undoubtedly benefit the consumers of New Jersey and save people from undue headaches.”

Marotta Controls Named Lockheed Martin Elite Supplier

By
Frank Cahill
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Marotta receives award in support of Lockheed’s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) business area

MORRIS COUNTY — Marotta Controls, a rapidly growing Aerospace and Defense supplier, announced that it received the Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) Elite Supplier Award today. This accolade takes into consideration a variety of factors, including delivery of reliable, quality parts, products, and services on time and at competitive prices; the alignment of supplier’s values with Lockheed Martin values; and the supplier’s track record of proactively solving problems. Marotta Controls’ Marine Business Unit is among 37 suppliers receiving this honor; honorees represent the top one percent of suppliers supporting the RMS business area.

“This most recent award acknowledges the strength of our long-standing relationship with Lockheed Martin as a whole in which trust, collaboration, and on-time/on-budget delivery have been standard practices, across divisions and programs,” said Bill Dimas, Vice President, Business Development, Marotta Controls. “Our work with the RMS division extends our commitment to Lockheed’s success, and our designation as an Elite Supplier recognizes the hard work and dedication that goes into ensuring that we deliver on our promises – every time.” 

Marotta’s Elite Supplier Award accomplishment is a result of Marotta’s contributions to the Aegis Combat System, the Navy’s most modern surface combat system. It was designed as a complete system: the missile launching element, the computer programs, the radar, and the displays are fully integrated to work together. This makes the Aegis system the first fully integrated combat system built to defend against advanced air and surface threats. Marotta has supplied three vital parts for Aegis:

  • Marotta’s Automatic Source Transfer Valve (ASTV) system provides digital control of chilled water from the main supply lines to mission-critical enclosures (MCE)
  • Marotta’s Integrated Electronic Controller (IEC) was developed to modernize auxiliary control functions within shipboard Mission Critical Enclosures (MCE)
  • Marotta’s MFV12 Motor Operated Valve Series provides proportional control of chilled water flow to ensure stable temperature control of the electronics within each Mission Critical Enclosure (MCE)

Marotta designs, develops, manufactures, and qualifies high-performance motion and flow control solutions for surface ships, submarines, and deep submergence vessels. The company’s components and systems meet stringent naval requirements and MIL standards for shock, vibration, low acoustic signature, and resistance to seawater corrosion. Having pioneered next-generation technologies that use advanced materials and embedded electronics, Marotta has reduced these critical parts’ weight, life cycle cost, size, and corrosion sensitivity.

Marotta has invested heavily in its relationship with Lockheed Martin. Over the past 13 years, the partnership has yielded:

  • The development of 20+ new products
  • Delivery of 40,000+ units
  • 6 franchise production programs
  • 18 current programs (11 development programs and 7 production programs)

For more information about the Marotta Controls marine system capabilities click here.

Newark Man Faces Multiple Charges Including Human Trafficking and Child Endangerment

By
Frank Cahill
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The Morris County Correctional Facility, located at 43 John Street in Morris Township, serves as the primary detention center operated by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Chief Thomas Miller of the Chatham Township Police Department have confirmed the charging of Nafis H. Wiggins, 25, of Newark.

Wiggins faces a litany of charges, including two counts of Human Trafficking (a first-degree crime), two counts of Luring (a second-degree crime), five counts of Sexual Assault (a second-degree crime), two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (a third-degree crime), Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) with Intent to Distribute (a third-degree crime), and Possession of a CDS (a third-degree crime) under N.J.S.A. statutes.

The charges stem from alleged actions between August 1 and September 28, 2023, during which Wiggins is accused of providing narcotics to two victims, aged 14 and 15, in exchange for sexual favors. He reportedly recruited and lured the minors through text messages. On several occasions, it is alleged that Wiggins met with the victims in Chatham Township and Chatham Borough, later transporting them in his vehicle to more isolated locations for drug use and sexual activities.

Wiggins was apprehended on December 19, 2023, at Cougar Field in Chatham Township, where he was found in possession of a controlled substance.

Following a detention hearing in compliance with the Criminal Justice Reform Act, the defendant was remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility.

Individuals with information on this investigation are urged to contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit at (973) 285-6200.

Prosecutor Carroll expresses gratitude to the Chatham Township Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office’s Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit for their diligent efforts in the investigation and arrest.

Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the individual(s) are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law

Newly Elected Officials Sworn In at Boonton’s Reorganization Meeting

By
Frank Cahill
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Mayor James Lynch Takes Oath of Office with Mother Holding Bible

BOONTON — The Town of Boonton conducted its reorganization meeting on January 1, during which the following individuals were sworn into office by Township Clerk Elizabeth Bonsiewich:

  • James Lynch as Mayor
  • John Meehan as First Ward Council Member
  • Jacob Hettrick as Second Ward Council Member
  • Robert Murray as Third Ward Council Member
  • Alexis Minson as Fourth Ward Council Member
John Meehan as First Ward Council Member taking the oath of office
Jacob Hettrick as Second Ward Council Member taking the oath of office
Robert Murray as Third Ward Council Member takes the oath of office
Alexis Minson as Fourth Ward Council Member takes the oath of office

Click here to download the agenda.

Mayor James Lynch Addresses Overflow Crowd with the Following Speech:

Town of Boonton Mayor James Lynch

I’d like to welcome you all, thank you for joining us, and wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

I don’t normally make New Year’s resolutions but for your sake and mine, I’ve made one that I intend to keep. I resolve to keep this brief.

I would like to recognize the following dignitaries joining us today – Boonton-born and raised Sen Anthony Bucco, Boonton’s own Morris County Sheriff Jim Gannon, Boonton High graduate and long-serving County Commissioner Doug Cabana, Boonton-born and raised Retired County Commissioner Administrator John Bonanni, County Commissioner Director John Krickus, incoming County Commissioner Director Christine Meyers, County Commissioner Steve Shaw, County Commissioner Tayfun Selen, County Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo, County Commissioner Deb Smith, Senator Joe Pennacchio, Assemblyman Brian Bergen, Assemblyman Jay Webber and Morris County Surrogate Heather Darling

Welcome and congratulate John Meehan, Ward 1 Council Member; Jake Hettrich Ward 2 Council Member, Rob Murray Ward 3 Council Member, and Alexis Minson Ward 4 Council Member. 

I would also like to recognize and thank recently retired Town Clerk Cindy Oravitz. I hope you are still in your PJs with your feet up enjoying your first real day of retirement.

I previously served as an Alderman and council member for nine years under three different mayors.  They all operated differently and I learned from each of them.  I learned from their successes and their missteps.  I would describe each as smart, passionate, and hard-working.  While these descriptions are admirable, they, along with good intentions, don’t guarantee successful governing.  It is also important to know what you don’t know and to ask for help when needed.  Accordingly, I have assembled a group of three well-respected individuals with far more experience in the public sector and far greater success and responsibilities in the private sector to serve as an advisory panel.  I intend to consult with them and seek their guidance and counsel.  It is also important to have a trusting, supportive, collaborating governing body.  To promote this, I pledge to each member of our Council to be open, honest, and respectful.  I expect the same from each of you.  I look forward to working with all of you. Together, we can be successful and accomplish much.

In keeping with my resolution, I won’t bore you with the issues I’d like to address, but do know, that I intend to Stay True to Boonton’s Past and Embrace its Future while doing my best to justify the confidence and support the voters have placed in me.

I’d be remiss, and likely sleeping and unfed on the couch, if I did not mention my family, four generations of which are here today.  Thank you for sharing me with the town and putting up with the moods that will likely ensue.  I especially want to acknowledge my wife, Debbie.  She grew up in the Township, is a Boonton High graduate, the daughter and granddaughter of Boonton Township mayors, and now the wife of Boonton’s. 

Again, thank you all for coming and please accept my wishes for a Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year.

Boonton is designated as a Town and is therefore governed by a Mayor and Town Council.  The Town is divided geographically into four wards with two Council Members elected per ward.  Each ward contains two districts, hence two Council Members.  The Mayor serves a 4-year term and is elected by residents from all four wards. Council Members serve a 2-year term and are elected by the residents of their specific ward. Therefore, the governing body is a nine-member board that includes the Mayor and eight Council Members (two per ward).  This will be important to know should you need to contact your Council Member (or the Mayor) with any issues you would like to address. 

Kutztown University Announces Fall 2023 Dean’s List

By
Frank Cahill
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Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

MORRIS COUNTY — 2,092 students have been named to the Fall 2023 Dean’s List at Kutztown University. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, an undergraduate student must be registered for at least 12 credits and have a minimum grade point average of 3.60.

Sean G Hoey of Morris Plains
Julia Rose Strain of Boonton

The Kutztown University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1866, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is a proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education located on 289 acres nestled in the beautiful East Penn Valley in Berks County, between Reading and Allentown, Pennsylvania. KU is just two hours from New York City; and 90 minutes from Philadelphia.

As the region’s center for excellence in academics, culture, and public engagement, KU’s programs and reputation for quality offer students the opportunity to discover lifelong avenues of learning and discovery. KU students select from more than 130 areas of study within four colleges in a diverse liberal arts academic environment. To complement their studies, KU’s NCAA Division II athletics program with 22 varsity sports joins the more than 160 student clubs and organizations providing students with a variety of activities for learning and discovery.

Hanover Reorganization Meeting – January 4, 2024

By
Frank Cahill
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Brian J. Cahill, Michael A. Mihalko, Ronald F. Francioli, John L. Ferramosca, and Thomas "Ace" Gallagher

HANOVER — The Township Committee of the Township of Hanover held a scheduled reorganization meeting for Thursday, January 4, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. This meeting included an in-person, open public conference and a closed executive session for legal and personnel matters. The gathering will take place in Conference Room “A” at the Township Municipal Building, situated at 1000 Route 10 West in Whippany.

Click here to download the agenda.

Morris County Commissioner Stephen Shaw was Elected Secretary of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority

By
Frank Cahill
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Commissioner Stephen Shaw

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Commissioner Stephen H. Shaw was elected Secretary of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Board of Trustees at the January 8 meeting.

“I thank my fellow Board members for electing me and I look forward to serving on the Executive Committee,” Commissioner Shaw said. “The NJTPA provides a vital regional perspective on transportation issues, whether supporting the key role that freight plays in our local economy or prioritizing funding for much-needed local safety improvements, like those the county is studying for East Main Street/Mendham Road in Mendham Borough and Mendham Township and South Morris Street in the Town of Dover.”

The NJTPA oversees regional transportation planning and annually authorizes more than $1 billion in federal surface transportation funding for 13 counties in northern and central New Jersey.

The Executive Committee provides guidance and leadership to the full Board on a wide range of planning, policy, and administrative issues. It meets as needed to review financial, personnel, and policy matters. Board membership is an uncompensated position.

Commissioner Shaw has been in office since 2019 and joined the NJTPA Board in 2023, following the retirement of Morris County Commissioner Kathryn DeFillippo, who had previously represented the county on the board. This is his first time serving on the Executive Committee. He has also served as a member of the Planning & Economic Development Committee.

At the meeting, the NJTPA Board also selected four other members of its Executive Committee. The elected members of the Executive Committee are Ocean County Commissioner John P. Kelly, chair; Middlesex County Commissioner Charles Kenny, first vice-chair; and Warren County Commissioner Jason Sarnoski, second vice-chair. Following the bylaws, Chairman John W. Bartlett appointed Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski to the position of third vice-chair.

The NJTPA is the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for 13 northern New Jersey counties. Under federal legislation, MPOs provide a forum where local officials, public transportation providers, and state agency representatives can come together and cooperatively plan to meet the region’s current and future transportation needs. It establishes the region’s eligibility to receive federal tax dollars for transportation projects.

The NJTPA Board consists of one local elected official from each of the 13 counties in the region (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren), and the cities of Newark and Jersey City. The Board also includes a Governor’s Representative, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the Executive Director of NJ TRANSIT, the Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and a Citizen’s Representative appointed by the Governor.

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