PARSIPPANY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) launched a second survey for small businesses in the 11th District to collect feedback on the challenges continuing to face the small business community due to COVID-19 and as they reopen.

“New Jersey has made significant strides in our work to flatten the curve and stem the spread of COVID-19 in our state, but our small businesses are still suffering under the weight of this pandemic,” said Representative Sherrill. “I fought hard for specific, important changes to the PPP and EIDL program after hearing directly from small businesses about their experiences, and I know there is more work to be done. These surveys help me advocate for the critical needs of our New Jersey small business community during this crisis.”

On April 29, 2020, Representative Sherrill released her first small business survey for the 11th Congressional District to gather data on small business programs. More than 340 small business owners from 50 towns in the 11th District responded to the survey and shared their experiences with the PPP and EIDL programs, including the status of their applications, unanswered questions, recommended changes, and challenges they face in preparing to reopen.

Representative Sherrill outlined actions to improve the PPP and EIDL programs for the Treasury Department and the Small Business Administration built upon the concerns and recommendations from New Jersey small business owners. Many of the proposals were included in the bipartisan Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act that Representative Sherrill co-sponsored and the President signed into law.

A link to the survey can be found by clicking here.

MORRIS TOWNSHIP — The Attorney General’s Office is conducting an investigation of a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred on, Tuesday, July 14, in Morris Township.

The decedent has been identified as Timothy O’Shea, 24, of Morris Township.

According to the preliminary investigation, the Morris Township, Morris Plains, and Morristown Police Departments received a 911 call at approximately 4:14 p.m. reporting a domestic disturbance.

O’Shea was the son of retired Morris Township Police Lieutenant Kevin O’Shea who currently serves the department as an executive administrative assistant.

The caller reported that a person at the residence had cut himself and had a gun. Uniformed officers of the three police departments responded to the residence 86 Fairchild Avenue where Timothy O’Shea lived.

Upon arrival, officers encountered the 911 caller and took that person into safety. Shortly after, at approximately 4:19 p.m., officers encountered Timothy O’Shea, who was holding a pistol and bleeding. During the encounter, one officer fired his weapon, striking Mr. O’Shea. Officers rendered medical aid until EMS arrived. EMS transported Mr. O’Shea to Morristown Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased at 5:41 p.m. The pistol that was in his hand was recovered at the scene and determined to be a replica Beretta 9mm airsoft pistol.

The investigation is being conducted by the Integrity Bureau within the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.

This investigation is being conducted pursuant to a law enacted in January 2019, P.L.2019, c.1, which requires that the Attorney General’s Office conduct investigations of a person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while the decedent is in custody.

The investigation is ongoing and no further information is being released at this time.

MORRIS COUNTY — Senator Joe Pennacchio again implored the legislature to act on behalf of more than 6,700 elderly nursing home residents who lost their lives to COVID-19 and vote to create a Senate Select Committee to review the State’s response to the pandemic.

“The deplorable treatment of vulnerable seniors who were isolated, abandoned and exposed to this deadly virus was a pandemic genocide that stripped the lives of almost 7,000 fragile souls trapped in long term care facilities,” Pennacchio said.  “Now, this shocking nightmare is being compounded by apathy. These innocent victims have been being deserted by the legislature and forgotten by the press. Doesn’t anybody care what happened to these victims?”

Since early May, Pennacchio has been advocating for a Senate Select Committee to investigate the Executive Branch’s handling of the health crisis and the decisions that placed so many fragile residents at risk in under-staffed and unprepared facilities.

“Every week that passes makes it more difficult to uncover the truth so we can take steps to prevent the occurrence of a similar atrocity in the future,” Pennacchio said. “The situation demands a retrospective and real-time investigation, with subpoena power to compel the testimony of witnesses, so we can fully comprehend the systemic failures that contributed to unthinkable carnage among the fragile population that needs and deserves our protection.”

Pennacchio noted that the Administration has warned that the pandemic, now slowed, could exhilarate in a dangerous second wave.

“It is all the more reason to immediately address the procedures and decisions to make sure it’s not happening again in our nursing homes,” said the Senator. “We don’t want a deadly repeat.”

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Surrogate’s Office is proud to announce that it is moving forward with a plan to implement fully remote operations by the fall of this year.

Residents seeking probate services in the Surrogate’s Court will be able to complete the probate process from the comfort of their own homes or offices – a valuable tool in this era of COVID-19.

Starting in November, the public will have the option to complete the entire probate online without visiting the county government and court complex in Morristown.

Historically, the probate process usually has involved making an appointment and traveling to Morristown to complete the probate forms in the Surrogate’s office with the help of a probate clerk.

To improve that process, Morris County Surrogate Heather Darling has directed an IT vendor to move ahead with a software modification to allow for remote probate services.

“As an attorney practicing in the Surrogate’s Court, it was apparent to me that a significant segment of the clients this office serves is subject to mobility issues of varying degrees,’’ said Surrogate Darling. “It has been my plan since the day I was elected last year to implement this significant convenience for the residents of Morris County, and now we have found a way to bring it to fruition without any additional expense’’ she added.

Residents always have the right to come to Probate Court. However, this option will create efficiencies that previously did not exist.

Starting in the fall, clients and/or their attorneys will be able to fill in the necessary information online and submit it digitally to the County Surrogate’s Office for a quick review.

If there are issues with form selection or other matters, probate clerks will be available by phone to quickly make modifications. Final documents can immediately be executed at home and returned via regular mail or through an attorney or courier.

Once the documents, including the original Will and Certified Death Certificate, are received with payment, appropriate certificates will be issued from the Surrogate’s Court completing the process.

“This will provide a tremendous benefit to those using our office – a service that is rapidly being created out of necessity caused by Covid-19,” said Deputy Surrogate Christopher Luongo.

Since Covid-19 related building closures, the Surrogate’s Office has been operating by phone and email. In the event of a fall resurgence of the virus, this new online service will enable the Surrogate’s Office to provide full, efficient, and uninterrupted service to Morris County residents.

Surrogates in other counties have expressed an interest in the system being designed in Morris County and may follow the lead by purchasing the program being designed to Darling’s specifications.

MORRIS COUNTY —  Governor Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney, and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin announced their support of legislation to change the term ‘freeholder’ to ‘commissioner’ in county governments across New Jersey.

In a joint statement, they said:

“As our nation tears down symbols of injustice, we must also tear down words we use in New Jersey that were born from racism. It’s past time for New Jersey to phase out the term ‘freeholder’ from our public discourse –  a term coined when only white male landowners could hold public office.

This is not a matter of political correctness; it is a corrective action to replace an outdated designation that is rooted in institutional prejudice.”

MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 163, which requires individuals to wear face coverings in outdoor public spaces when it is not practicable to socially distance and keep a six-foot distance from others, excluding immediate family members, caretakers, household members, or romantic partners, except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health, where the individual is under two years of age, or in situations where individuals cannot feasibly wear a face covering, such as when eating or drinking at outdoor dining areas.

“As I’ve said before, we know this virus is a lot less-lethal outdoors than indoors, but that does not mean it is not lethal,” said Governor Murphy. “The hotspots we’re seeing across the nation and certain worrisome transmission trends in New Jersey require us to do more. In the absence of a national strategy on face coverings, we’re taking this step to ensure that we can continue on our road back as one New Jersey family.”