MORRIS COUNTY — In an effort to address the massive backlog at New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission agencies and hours-long wait times, the Assembly Appropriations Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Aura Dunn to make the written portion of the driver’s license exam available online during the Covid-19 public health emergency.
The MVC reopened in July after a four-month shutdown and struggled to accommodate an overwhelming number of drivers who waited in long lines that snaked around buildings. Even as the second wave of the pandemic subsides, MVC agencies have been plagued by coronavirus-related shutdowns.
“My measure provides a practical solution to a big problem at the MVC,” said Dunn (R-Morris). “Some drivers have had to wait for weeks to get appointments during the pandemic. It makes no sense to force people into long lines or wait times when we live in a digital age and a vast majority of us are learning and working from home.”
Under Dunn’s bill (A4632), people taking driver’s license exams online would need to certify that they did not use any reference materials or receive assistance from another individual. Drivers under 18 would be required to have a parent or guardian present.
“We can and should move certain services online to protect people’s health and reduce the demand on in-person resources at the MVC,” said Dunn.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of County Commissioners unanimously introduced the county government’s 2021 Budget tonight, maintaining spending on critical infrastructure projects, human services, and public safety while building reserves for unforeseen impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with no county tax increase for existing taxpayers.
Commissioner Deborah Smith
The proposed $320 million budget directs $38.6 million toward educational, cultural, and economic initiatives outlined by the Board of Commissioners to serve all Morris County municipalities, and includes a $35.8 million Capital Spending Plan.
“The pandemic has been straining family budgets in Morris County for almost a year. We were determined to bring in a county budget that did not increase the tax burden on our existing taxpayers. But we also remained focused on maintaining the programs, services.
Morris County’s new budget anticipates ending the year with and infrastructure improvements that our residents have come to rely upon in Morris County, and the result is this stable, fiscally responsible spending plan for 2021,” said Commissioner Deborah Smith, Chair of the Board’s Budget Committee.
Morris County’s new budget anticipates ending the year with a strong fund balance to ensure reserves are stable going into a year when the pandemic may cause uncertain economic trends.
Morris County Commissioner Kathy DeFillippo
“With rating agencies often recommending reserves equal to one or two months of operating expenses, the budget supports an expectation Morris County will be able to continue the AAA bond rating it has held for the past 45 years. Maintaining the highest rating for fiscal responsibility possible has enabled Morris County to borrow funding needed in the past for critical projects at rates that save millions of dollars for taxpayers,” said Commissioner Kathryn DeFillippo, a Budget Committee member.
“This is a structurally sound budget that allows us to continue our effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including our extensive operations at the Morris County Regional COVID-19 Vaccination Center while addressing our responsibility to maintain our infrastructure and serve the county’s public safety, human services, and educational needs,” said Commissioner John Krickus, another member of the Budget Committee.
Critical Community Investments
The County College of Morris, the Morris County Vocational School District, the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and the Morris County Office of the Superintendent of Schools will be supported by $18.8 million in spending in the new budget. Other program investments include:
$13.4 million dedicated to the 20,100-acre Morris County Park Commission system.
$5.8M for the Morris County Library and Heritage Commission
$591K for Economic Development and Tourism
Capital Projects
The budget includes a $35.8 million Capital Spending Plan for 2021, offset by $11 million in grants, and it dedicates $4.9 million toward bridge and culvert projects, as well as $9.5 million for 28 miles of roadway resurfacing in 19 towns.
A few of the planned road improvement projects include:
Boonton Avenue in Montville Township
Green Pond Road in Rockaway Township
Lincoln Park Road/Oak Road in Pequannock Township
Bartley Road/Bartley Chester Road in Washington and Mt. Olive townships
To take advantage of favorable interest rates available in 2020, Morris County expedited the 9-1-1 Communications Center upgrades. The $26 million projects will upgrade and double the operating capacity of the county’s emergency radio network and infrastructure, which is used by all Morris County law enforcement, emergency management, and municipal first responders every day.
COVID-19 Pandemic
The 2021 Budget anticipates a continuation of Morris County’s dedicated response to the virus outbreak, including:
Operating a COVID-19 testing facility at the County College of Morris
Staffing and operating the Morris County COVID-19 Regional Vaccination Center at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall, where more than 2,400 vaccinations will be delivered per day when vaccine supplies increase in New Jersey
Expanding Emergency Management and Public Health resources to maintain Morris County’s response to an unpredictable virus outbreak
The Morris County Commissioners will consider the adoption of their operating budget at a public meeting to be held on March 24, 2021, at 7:05 p.m.
View PowerPoint presentations of the proposed 2021 operating and capital budgets click here.
FLORHAM PARK — On February 21, 2021 Bill Guerriero and his daughter Allison lost their home to a devastating house fire.
While Bill is physically fine, sadly Allison is in the hospital burn unit recovering from injuries sustained in the fire. While she will be in the hospital for quite awhile. she will recover.
Besides the shock of the entire situation the devastation of the fire was realized when Bill and his sister-in-law went to the house to try and recover whatever items they could.
Bill grew up in Madison and has been a local businessman who has lived in Florham Park, for 50 years.
His daughter Allison has lost all of her belongings and clothing in the fire. Bill was gratefully able to recover/salvage many of his and his deceased wife’s belongings. Obviously there is lots of repair/reconstruction work that needs to be done in addition to the time it will take Allison to recover in the hospital.
We as a community are creating this page so Allison may purchase clothing and pursue alternative living arrangements once she is able to do so, Additionally she may have unpaid medical expenses from her injuries.
Please consider on making a donation through GoFundme, by clicking here.
EAST HANOVER — Melinda Genberg and Bryant Har were named as finalists for this year’s National Merit Scholarship Program.
“Our students have proven themselves to be outstanding scholars whose efforts have been recognized by being ranked among the top 15,000 National Merit Finalists who took the PSAT in October of 2020,” said Thomas Callanan, Principal. “I applaud our students’ efforts and congratulate them for accomplishing this truly significant achievement.”
Placement in the NMSP is derived from performance on the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) and an initial screen of program entrants. The two students named this year took those tests in October 2020. They are among 1.5 million students in 22,000 high schools across the country that entered the program when taking the screening tests during their junior year.
“I am extremely proud of Melinda and Bryant. This achievement is a testament to their hard work and dedication to their academic studies”, said Thomas Callanan, Principal of Hanover Park High School. “They represent the best that this school has to offer and I commend them for their scholarship, leadership, and service to the Hanover Park community.”
The awards are supported by independent sponsors and by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Finalists can earn up to $2,500 in scholarship money from the program’s National Merit scholarships, corporate-sponsored merit scholarship awards, and college-sponsored merit scholarship awards.
BOONTON — Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Chief of Detectives Christoph Kimker, and Town of Boonton Captain Stephen Jones announce the following update on an active investigation into the discovery of two bodies in a pond on February 23, 2021.
On Tuesday, February 23, Warda Syed, female, 35; and Uzair Ahmed, male, 11 were located deceased in a pond in the Upper Pond section of Grace Lord Park in Boonton.
An unattended male child, 6, was also located at the scene unharmed. The two juvenile males were determined to be Warda Syed’s children. All three individuals are Boonton residents.
The name of the 6-year old child will not be released.
This is an ongoing joint investigation being conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Boonton Police Department Detective Bureau and Boonton Fire Department Swiftwater Rescue Team.
HANOVER — On-line registration for Greater Morristown YMCA Spring Swim lessons will begin on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. by clicking here.
There are limited slots available and registration will take place on a first come, first served basis.The Spring session will run from March 8 until May 29.
LEVELS INCLUDE:
*Advanced classes: Guppy, Minnow, Fish, Flying Fish and Stroke Clinic *Parent/child classes: Skip 1 & Skip 2 (for these classes, parents will be IN the water with their children)
If you are new to our swim program or have been taking lessons elsewhere, a swim evaluation is needed. Please call Edward Galuska at (973) 267-0704 extension 15 to schedule an evaluation.
BOONTON — Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives Christoph Kimker, and Town of Boonton Captain Stephen Jones announce an active investigation is underway following the discovery of two bodies in a pond on February 23, 2021.
On February 23, 2021, at approximately 5:39 p.m., law enforcement was dispatched to the Upper Pond section of Grace Lord Park in Boonton on a report of an unattended child. While searching the area, law enforcement located the bodies of a 35-year-old female and an approximately 11-year-old child in the water.
The unattended child, age 6, was unharmed. At this time, the identity of these individuals will not be released and the investigation is ongoing.
This is an active and ongoing joint investigation being conducted by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Boonton Police Department Detective Bureau and Boonton Fire Department Swiftwater Rescue Team.
HANOVER — Hanover Township Police Officer Stephen Manney arrested Mr. Benjamin Drumm, 54, Towaco for disorderly conduct on Tuesday, February 16. Officer Manney responded to the Red Carpet Inn for unwanted guests refusing to leave a room. Upon arrival Mr. Drumm was highly intoxicated and refused to leave a room after being asked to by the rooms owner.
While attempting to remove the individual he became unruly and combative and began arguing and resisting the officers on scene. He arrested and charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Mr. Drumm was additionally charged with harassment. He was released pending their court dates.
Then on Thursday, February 18, Hanover Township Officer Mike Byrnes arrested Mr. Benjamin Drumm for disorderly conduct. Officer Byrnes responded to the Red Carpet Inn for a medical aid and while assisting the patient Mr. Drumm, who was also an occupant of the room, became combative and began yelling and arguing with the officers who were rendering aid to his roommate. Mr. Drumm was eventually arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstruction. He was released pending his court date.
Again on Thursday, February 18, Hanover Township Police Officer Dan Acquaro arrested Mr. Benjamin Drumm for trespassing. Officer Acquaro responded to the Wegmans for a panhandler harassing customers as they exited the store. After a brief investigation, it was learned that Mr. Drumm had been advised in the past that he was not welcome at Wegmans and would be arrested if he returned. He was then arrested and charged with trespassing. He was released pending his court date.
Editor’s Note: An arrest or the signing of a criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
HANOVER — Hanover Township Police Officer Josh Williams arrested Mr. Anthony Fiumefreddo, 30, Matawan for possession of CDS on Friday, February 5. Officer Williams responded to the Hyatt House for a report of an intoxicated male.
Upon arrival, Officer Williams located Mr. Fiumefreddo incoherent and obviously highly altered.
After an investigation, Mr. Fiumefreddo was arrested and charged with possession of heroin, under the influence and possession of hypodermic needles. He was released after processing pending his court date.
Editor’s Note: An arrest or the signing of a criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The new Lowe's is located at 230 East Hanover Avenue, in the new Cedar Village shopping plaza
HANOVER — Hanover Township Detective Dominic Kaiser charged Eric Brown, 49, Newark and Mr. Alaric Osorio, 42, Newark with shoplifting, on Wednesday, February 3.
Detective Kaiser responded to the Lowes on Hanover Avenue for a report of shoplifting that had occurred in the past.
Upon arrival, Detective Kaiser met with loss prevention who provided him a surveillance video showing both Mr. Brown and Mr. Osorio removing merchandise from the store without paying.
The total amount stolen was approximately $1400.00. Det. Kaiser prepared arrest warrants charging both individuals with shoplifting and conspiracy and mailed them.
Editor’s Note: An arrest or the signing of a criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
