MORRIS COUNTY — Rockaway Township is opening parks and trails to residents seeking a place to walk in the sunshine, and Senator Pennacchio said the state should follow suit.

“Residents will now be able to enjoy a walk in the sunlight and breathe fresh air while still maintaining social distancing,” said Pennacchio (R-26).

The decision was announced in a message from Mayor Michael Puzio on the township web site.

“The Murphy Administration in response to the COVID-19 outbreak has closed state parks and beaches essentially deeming them a health hazard. The State treats concerts in the park the same as they do an individual taking a leisurely stroll,” Pennacchio said. “There is ‘zero’ scientific evidence to back such draconian measures.”

The Senator questioned why state policy would allow people to travel and purchase alcohol, but forbid a husband and wife from holding hands while walking in the park.

“The Administration’s public health policy is a patchwork of measures, many of which do not make sense and lack scientific credibility,” noted Pennacchio. “You can shop in Home Depot but not drop your clothes off at the cleaners.

“The people of New Jersey have sacrificed an awful lot for the safety of all. They are willing to continue to sacrifice, but what they want is clear scientifically based reasoning for those sacrifices.  I applaud Rockaway for taking these initial steps applying common sense and reasoning,” concluded Pennacchio.

MORRIS COUNTY — Assemblyman Brian Bergen said that Governor Phil Murphy and his newly appointed commission to advise on the restart of the state’s economy should first look at the report released by the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

“The debate will only intensify over the next couple of weeks unless we figure out how to help businesses survive and keep jobs for people,” said Bergen. “The biggest problem with the state’s approach is that we aren’t listening to businesses right now.”

Seventy percent of business owners say they are able to operate safely under social distancing guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control, according to an NJBIA survey.

“People are personally responsible because self-preservation is the most basic human instinct,” continued Bergen. “We can reopen the economy and direct businesses to adhere to strict guidelines. The proof is right in front of us with what current businesses are doing.”

Bergen has been trying to work with the Murphy administration to improve relief for businesses, employees, homeowners, and renters since the pandemic began.

“It would not be out of line to close a business for violating safety guidelines, but it is out of line to depress our economy and our constituents,” concluded Bergen. “Personal health before economic health ignores that economic health affects personal health. The long-term problems are bound to be greater than our short-term problems.”

MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy and Superintendent of the State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan announced an Administrative Order clarifying which businesses are permitted to operate and ways in which certain businesses may operate in accordance with Executive Order 107. (Click here for a copy of Administrative Order No. 2020-10).

The Administrative Order states the following:

• • 1) Pet grooming businesses, pet daycare, and pet boarding businesses, and
  • 2) stores that principally sell items necessary for religious observation or worship shall be considered essential retail businesses
  • Car dealerships may permit customers that have ordered and/or purchased a vehicle online or by phone to test drive the vehicle at the time of pick-up or prior to delivery, provided the dealership adopts social distancing policies, the individual is given access to the vehicle alone, and the dealership appropriately cleans and sanitizes the vehicle after such test drive if the customer does not purchase the vehicle.
  • Licensees, owners, operators, employees, or independent contractors of personal care services facilities are not permitted to provide personal care services in their own homes, the homes of others, or in any facility or business setting unless the individual personal care service provider is providing the service to their household members, immediate family or other individuals with whom the personal care service provider has a close personal relationship, such as those for whom the personal care service provider is a caretaker or romantic partner. A prior business relationship alone does not qualify as a close personal relationship.
  • “As long as my stay-at-home order remains in effect, we’ll continue to provide New Jerseyans and our business community-at-large with as much clarity as possible for any and all restrictions we’ve put in place,” said Governor Murphy. “I thank everyone for doing their part to stay at home and maintain social distancing, which is the single most important thing we can do to beat this virus.”

“We understand the challenges businesses face in these unprecedented times and the need to keep the economy operating,” said Colonel Patrick Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “These clarifications address the way certain businesses are permitted to operate while adhering to the stay-at-home order and social distancing guidelines.”

The Order will take effect immediately.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, First Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Zelante, and Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker regretfully announce the passing of former Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Investigations, Joseph A. Devine. Chief Devine passed away yesterday at his residence in Chester.

A graduate of the FBI National Academy’s Class #198 and proud U.S. Army veteran of the Military Police Corps, Chief Devine began his law enforcement career at the Morris County Sheriff’s and the Morris County Prosecutor’s offices. He joined the Rockaway Township Police Department in 1981, and worked his way up through the ranks to become Chief of Police in July 1998. Chief Devine led the township police department until 2002 when he returned to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office to serve as Chief of Investigations under then Prosecutor Michael M. Rubbinaccio.

In 2006, Chief Devine retired from law enforcement to pursue a career in higher education. Chief Devine once served as an associate professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, teaching graduate classes on homeland security, management, and leadership. He was also an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University.

Chief Devine held a Masters of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, a Masters in Administrative Science, an Educational Specialist Degree, and a Doctorate in Leadership and Management from Seton Hall University. He had presented lectures at several academic and professional conferences, including a leadership lecture about social and emotional intelligence on the USS Intrepid in 2014.

Prosecutor Knapp said “As the Township of Rockaway labor attorney, I worked extensively with Chief Devine for many years, beginning during his tenure as a captain and subsequently when he was promoted to Chief of Police. We continued to work together when he joined the MCPO as Chief of Investigations. Joe was also a student of mine in the graduate program at FDU for multiple courses. As a career law enforcement professional, Chief Devine served multiple agencies with honor, dedication to duty, and excellence. May he rest in peace.”

Chief Devine is survived by his three children, Conor, Sean, and Heather.

MORRIS COUNTY — Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital has reported to New Jersey Department of Health that 100 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. In addition there were 45 patients testing positive; as well as five deaths.

Currently there are a total of 338 patients at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital.

Statewide Psychiatric Hospitals have a total of 1,251 patients, of that 152 patients tested positive as well as 386 staff members testing positive. There have been a total of nine patient deaths and five staff deaths related to COVID-19. The other hospitals include Ancora Psychiatric Center, Ann Klein Forensic Center, and Trenton Psychiatric Hospital.

Greystone has 450 beds in its state-of-the-art psychiatric hospital, plus another 60 beds in cottages on the grounds. Located in North Central New Jersey straddling the two townships of Morris Plains and Parsippany.

MORRIS COUNTY —  Morris County has risen to 5048 presumptively tested positive cases an increase of 40 cases since last reported on Friday, April 24. A total of 355 deaths have been reported in Morris County. In New Jersey a total of 111,188 presumptively tested positive cases with a total of 6,044 deaths.

The County of Morris, in partnership with Atlantic Health, is offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the County College of Morris, Dover Chester Road, Randolph, NJ 07869, in parking lot 1. Testing is scheduled beginning at 9:00 a.m. and is for Morris County residents only. There is no fee for the test.

To sign up for an appointment online click here for details.

The figures reflect COVID-19 positive cases as of the date and time indicated, some cases which may be pending, or have yet to be entered into the system.

Please note the following limitations and provisos related to the data above:

• COVID-19-related deaths are not included in this data. Visit the State of NJ COVID-19 Dashboard for a summary of death totals.
• Pursuant to HIPAA, specific identifying health information of persons testing positive or who have passed due to the virus will not be released.
• Data reflects COVID-19 positive cases on dates and times indicated; some cases may be pending and are not yet entered.
• Data may not include cases with incomplete or incorrect street addresses or PO boxes. Such cases require additional investigation by local health officials.
• Figures do not include persons under quarantine/isolation due to exposure and who have not tested positive.
• The numbers, especially higher numbers, do not necessarily reflect community spread in a specific town. Various factors may be related to high numbers, such as increased testing and facilities with high-risk populations.
• This data should not be used to gauge if heightened precautions are needed in specific towns. Social distancing, hand hygiene, and preventive steps must be followed at all times regardless of the number of cases in a municipality.

MORRIS COUNTY — Amid growing concerns for the long-term impact of the coronavirus on the economy, Senator Joe Pennacchio today announced plans for legislation to help employers cope with the loss of revenue and stay in business.

“This crisis has stripped companies of the ability to operate their business or adapt to changing market conditions,” said Senator Pennacchio (R-26). “Hard-working men and women who are used to doing everything possible to protect their business and their employees’ jobs find themselves powerless in a marketplace shut down caused by the virus. Without warning or any time to prepare, businesses have been closed down for more than a month and most have no way to make money under current restrictions.”

Senator Pennacchio will introduce legislation that would allow landlords to waive all or part of three months’ rent to businesses, up to $15,000. In return, the landlord would be eligible for a state tax credit for one-third of the forgiven rent. The program would be voluntary.

“Tax credits will help landlords who may otherwise be faced with foreclosure,” Senator Pennacchio said. “I think there’s a lot of landlords who want to do the right thing. My legislation will help reduce the number of businesses defaulting on leases and prevent a glut of vacancies created in the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak.”

The program can be initiated without the need to create any new bureaucratic layers, and it may be eligible for a portion of the almost $2 billion in federal coronavirus stimulus aid, the Senator noted.

“This would be a life preserver for businesses that are going under,” noted Senator Pennacchio. “We will reap triple benefits. If the state commits $100 million, the business will get $300 million in relief that will save tax-paying companies and the jobs of citizens who already struggle to pay New Jersey outrageous tax rates.”

Pennacchio is also introducing a resolution urging the federal government to adopt similar tax credits, increasing the net benefit of the state’s rental assistance.

“New Jersey sends more of our tax money to Washington than almost any other state,” Senator Pennacchio added. “Federal tax credits would help our state recover sooner from the devastation of the ongoing lockdown. We need help from the feds.”

Earlier this month, the Senate unanimously approved a bill to create the “2020 New Jersey Emergency Rental Assistance Program” and appropriate $100 million aid for residential renters.