MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders approved a shared services agreement with Sussex County to house a minimum of five Sussex County female inmates per day at the Morris County Correctional Facility in Morris Township, at a cost of $105.00 per inmate per day.

The freeholders voted 7-0 in support of the three-year agreement that will go into effect on Monday, April 1.  The pact will remain in effect until March 31, 2022, unless terminated earlier by mutual consent.

The contract requires Morris County to make a minimum of five beds available for female Sussex County inmates and pay a minimum annual amount of $191.625, even if Sussex County does not need five beds every day.

“This is another example of smart business through shared services,” said Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, who negotiated the agreement with Sussex County Sheriff Michael Strada through the oversight of respective county counsels for both counties.

“We have a sophisticated operation at our correctional facility and this gives us an opportunity to cut our operating costs with the additional revenue from Sussex County,” Sheriff Gannon said.

“This is exactly the type of smart government we should be fostering in our state, to provide needed programs and services in the most cost effective and efficient manner possible,’’ said Morris County Freeholder Director Doug Cabana. “In this case, it makes great sense for Morris County to partner with Sussex County for the benefit the taxpayers in both counties.’’

Opened in May 2000, the Morris County Correctional Facility was built to house 524 inmates but now has an average daily population of about 200 inmates.

The population at the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in Newton, which opened in 1978, has been declining since statewide criminal justice reform, also known as bail reform, went into effect in 2017, with more arrestees released pretrial, under special conditions, rather than being held in custody.

In 2016, the average daily inmate population at the Sussex County jail was 146. Currently, the daily population is between 70 and 80. Sheriff Strada said the Sussex County jail is antiquated and needs a large infusion of money to bring it into compliance with building codes and the Americans With Disabilities Act.

“We absolutely can take all of Sussex County’s inmates,” said Morris County Correctional Facility Warden Christopher Klein. “It’s a great opportunity because of the shared services aspect.”

A key provision of the agreement calls for Sussex County Sheriff’s Officers to transport female inmates to Morris County and then to subsequently retrieve and transport them back to Sussex County upon discharge.

Another provision calls for Morris County to provide all routine, non-hospital, non-emergency medical services. However, Sussex County would be responsible for the costs of all off-site medical care, emergency care, hospital care, and extraordinary or non-routine medical care given to female Sussex County inmates housed by Morris County.

Sheriff Gannon, along with Warden Klein and Morris County Correctional Facility Undersheriff Alan J. Robinson, said the Morris County jail is uniquely suited to accommodate the Sussex County inmates because of its size, available space and multiple accreditations attesting to its professional operations.

The Morris County Correctional Facility is accredited by the American Correctional Association and the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare.  The ACA recently gave the Morris County Correctional Facility perfect scores of 100 on all mandatory and non-mandatory standards.  The facility also is inspected annually by the state Department of Corrections.

The Sussex County inmates housed in Morris County will have equal access to educational and substance abuse programs, as well as special programs started by Sheriff Gannon that include the Successful Transition and Re-Entry Program (STAR) that assists inmates in re-entering the community, and the Hope Wing, for inmates struggling to overcome substance abuse addictions.

MORRIS COUNTY —  The Morris County Board of Freeholders adopted county government’s 2019 budget, which slightly increases the average tax levy to pay for enhanced social services, public safety, education, modern technology, and a strong emphasis on maintaining the county’s vital road, bridge, and facilities infrastructure.

County homeowners will pay an average of just $11 more annually, or 0.94 cents per month, in county taxes this year to finance programs and services included in the county’s $315.3 million 2019 county budget.

“We carefully scrutinized county operations to make sure we run a modern, efficient and cost effective county government,’’ said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana. “This is fair and balanced budget, which incorporates all current critical needs of our residents while taking a far-reaching look at the county’s future.’’

The operating budget incorporate important public safety and social services initiatives, offered in many cases with nonprofit providers, and dealing with school safety, the opioid epidemic, childcare, emergency medical services, and other services for the county’s most vulnerable residents.

The budget positions the county to address emerging challenges and needs by partnering with its 39 municipalities, constitutional offices, nonprofits, and others entities on a variety of programs and projects.

It also addresses the need to maintain the county’s roads and bridges, and its technology, law enforcement, public safety, educational and recreational infrastructure that are key to the county’s high quality of life.

“This  2019 budget ensures that our county will remain the premier place in New Jersey in which to live, work, and raise a family,’’ said Freeholder Heather Darling, chair of the freeholders’ budget subcommittee. Other members are Freeholders Kathy DeFillippo and Deborah Smith.

“It was developed in coordination with the county’s strategic plan, adhering to guiding principles developed in that plan, in concert with the county’s municipal, school, business, healthcare, nonprofit and community leaders.’’

While maintaining a tight rein on spending, the 2019 budget invests in key programs and initiatives that maintain the high quality of life in the county:

• Maintains and expands public safety initiatives;
• Sustains all human services programs;
• Enhances Stigma-Free tools to deal with opioids and mental health issues;
• Addresses the needs of our military veterans.
• Continues the preservation trust fund that finances open space, farmland and historic preservation, and funds recreational trails and flood mitigation projects.

The budget also supports countywide economic development, protects the top-ranked Triple A bond rating, and preserves a stable level of fund balance required for well-run county governments.

Some new and expanded programs, to be done through partnerships, include:

• Expanding Morris County’s EMS Initiative, to offer two additional backup units for as-needed emergency response service to all 39 Morris County municipalities;
• Rolling out “Navigating Hope,’’ which will deliver critical social services programs into the community, and will partner with the Sheriff’s Hope One opioid initiative;
• Expanding investments in community based Human Services programs operated and managed by nonprofit agencies within the county;
• Creating a Ballistics Laboratory in the Sheriff’s Office, to support law enforcement;
• Supporting the Responsible School Violence Prevention Program for school districts;
• Developing a new services-oriented county website, and new electronic online forms system for public interaction with county government;
• Increased funding for the county park system;
• Addressing the Emerald Ash Borer countywide tree infestation.

The 2019 budget strategically authorizes $33.5 million to responsibly deal with critical infrastructure needs, including county roads and bridges; public safety technology and security enhancements; parks, education and building maintenance needs.

This portion of the budget was reviewed by a subcommittee of the Freeholder Board that included Freeholders Tom Mastrangelo, John Krickus and Stephen Shaw.

$18.8 million is dedicated for public works initiatives and includes:

• Resurfacing of 25.3 miles of county roads;
• Construction of six bridges and design of nine bridges;
• Morris View Healthcare, Historic Courthouse and other facilities maintenance projects.

The planned $7.8 million earmarked for bridge projects (combined with federal and state dollars) is the highest amount allocated for bridge repair and replacement in six years. Projects will target the county’s lowest rated bridges to ensure continued safety.

Some other major capital funding:

• $6.7 million: County College of Morris campus upgrades, including construction of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center;
• $6.6 million: 9-1-1 Communications Center technology upgrades;
• $2.2 million: Information Technology equipment and upgrades;
• $1.9 million: Park Commission improvements, including renovation of Lees Marina;
• $1.6 million: Morris County School of Technology upgrades;
• $1.2 million: Head Start Program expansion and renovation (loan to be repaid);

View the county’s 2019 budget by clicking here.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office will be holding a recognition and remembrance ceremony in observance of the 2019 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week which is observed from April 7-13. National Crime Victims’ Rights Week has been celebrated every April since 1981. It is a time of national remembrance and is dedicated to advancing the policies and programs instituted to help victims of crime.

The Keynote Speaker for the program is NBC New York Award Winning Journalist and New Jersey Correspondent, Brian Thompson. Following Brian’s presentation, the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders will present a proclamation to Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp on behalf of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office in honor and recognition of 2019 Crime Victim’s Rights Week. Reverend Doctor David Smazik of the Presbyterian Church in Morristown will also provide opening and closing prayers.

The ceremony will be held in the Freeholder Public Meeting Room on the 5th Floor of the Administration & Records Building in Morristown. It will begin at 9:30 a.m. This event is open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP to Morrisvw@co.morris.nj.us or (973) 285-6210.

MORRIS COUNTY — All boys and girls in grades K-5 are invited to the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby Championship for Fishawack District (eastern Morris county).

The Championship will be held on Saturday, April 6, between 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Alfred Vail School, 125 Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains.

You will see the fastest cars that our Cub Scouts have built during the past year as they race for the right to move on to the World Pinewood Derby Championship. Each boy or girl spectator will be able to purchase a pre-carved Pinewood Derby car and customize it on the spot with markers and stickers.

Spectator’s cars will be raced just for fun and will not be eligible for the championship.Please register by clicking here.For information about the Pinewood Derby, or other Cub Scout fun year-round, contact Senior District Executive Al Thomas, Patriots’ Path Council, BSA, al.thomas@scouting.org; (973) 765-9322 ext. 229.