MORRIS COUNTY — All New Jersey public schools will remain closed to in-person instruction for the rest of the school year, Governor Phil Murphy announced.

Private schools with longer school years will remain closed until at least June 30, the governor said. The announcements effectively extend an existing instruction by the governor to keep schools closed indefinitely — one he’d previously said would be revisited by May 15.

Scholastic sports are called off for the rest of the year as well.

Citing the need to protect the health of New Jersey’s 1.6 million public and private school students as well as thousands of educators and support staff, Governor Phil Murphy today announced that statewide school closures will be extended through the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. Private schools with longer academic years will remain closed until at least June 30.

While the prohibition of in-person instruction will be maintained through the end of the school year, public schools will continue to provide remote learning for students to allow districts to meet the state-required minimum of 180 instruction days.

“This is a difficult decision and I know that many students, parents, and staff would like to be able to return to school,” said Governor Murphy. “However, I have been unwavering on the message that we need to make decisions based on science, not emotion. And while New Jersey is making great strides in mitigating the spread of COVID-19, science tells us that at this point, we can’t safely re-open our schools.”

“I commend Governor Murphy’s thoughtful, deliberative approach that takes into account the concerns of school administrators, teachers, and other stakeholders in the education community,” said Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet. “However, the most compelling factor guiding today’s decision is the health of New Jersey’s students and educators and their families.”

The Administration will create a steering committee consisting of a diverse group of stakeholders in the education community to explore summer learning opportunities for all students, including school-sponsored summer programming and Extended School Year for students with disabilities. The committee will provide recommendations to the Administration as to which services need to continue to be provided remotely should the public health emergency extend past the conclusion of the 2019-2020 school year.

The committee will also explore approaches for the safest and most efficient re-opening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year.

In addition, the Department of Education will work with school officials to share ideas on safe and innovative ways to recognize 2020 high school graduates and other end-of-year milestones for students.

Federal Stimulus Funding
The Administration plans to tap federal funds that will help schools improve continuity of learning, assist with sanitizing and deep cleaning of school buildings, and address the emotional needs of students.

New Jersey recently applied for $310 million in federal funding through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, which is part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Districts will have substantial local discretion in the use of these funds; the CARES Act lists a number of allowable uses, including:

• Purchase of educational technology, including hardware, software, and connectivity
• Purchase of sanitization and cleaning supplies
• Mental health supports
• Plan and implement activities related to summer learning and supplemental after-school programs, including providing online learning during the summer months to address the needs of student subgroups
• Planning and coordinating the distribution of meals to eligible students
• Provide principals and other school leaders with the resources necessary to address the needs of their individual schools
• Activities to address the unique needs of student subgroups
  Federal officials have signaled that states can anticipate a rapid approval of applications for this stimulus funding.

MORRIS COuNTY — Throughout this COVID-19 pandemic, Community Hope has worked tirelessly to stay faithful to its mission and keep those they serve healthy and safe. The challenge they faced was steep, how to keep homeless veterans and adults suffering from mental illness, who live together in communal living spaces, healthy and free from the virus.  They did what any family would do; they put an action plan in place, explained the situation to their residents and their employees, and made sure to follow the plan. However, one challenge was left; what happens if someone in the residential homes contracts the virus…how could they prevent the virus from spreading to the rest of the residents in the home when baths, kitchens, and, sometimes, bedrooms are shared?

The answer came when the County of Morris called and offered a vacant home to the organization. “Just as we were trying to figure out how to keep our consumers safe in case someone contracted the virus, Morris County presented us with an option that evolved into an idea for an isolation home. We decided to act swiftly and turn this vacant house made available to us by the County into a home where we could move someone who became ill and provide them with a comfortable and safe place to recuperate,” said Carmine Deo, Community Hope Executive Director. “Our housing team met and toured the home and we quickly realized that this was the answer.”

The home is spacious with five bedrooms and three full baths and recently renovated.  However, one challenge remained.  Community Hope needed to have the home furnished and ready for residents in a very short time. Deo made a phone call to Morris Habitat for Humanity Chief Executive Officer, Blair Schleicher Wilson. Once Ms. Wilson heard the plan, she offered to help by donating whatever was necessary from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.   “On behalf of our ReStore team, I am so happy we could help our partner and colleague, Community Hope with household furnishings for their clients.  Having a safe, decent, and affordable place to live is important now more than ever and by working together we will fill the world with hope and homes.,” said Wilson.

The result is a quaint home ready and waiting for anyone who should need it.  “The best part of the story is that we have not had to utilize the home at this point for a sick resident.  We have been able to manage the virus and keep our residents healthy.  The home is there if we need it, but, at this point, we are looking for other opportunities to utilize the space,” commented Deo.

Community Hope is deeply grateful to the County of Morris and Habitat for Humanity for their swift action to help those who Community Hope serves daily with offering solutions to help them continue their mission of serving individuals, including veterans and their families, overcome mental illness, addiction, homelessness, and poverty by providing housing and support services.

“I am so proud of our employees, as well as our veterans and consumers for keeping themselves and others healthy and safe throughout this crisis.  We are truly working together,” Deo added.

Community Hope, a non-profit organization since 1985, employs a team of over 150 and helps hundreds of people annually, including veterans and their families, overcome mental illness, substance use, and homelessness.  The organization provides clinical case management and support, transitional housing, affordable housing, and homeless prevention services.

MORRIS COUNTY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library, A Grow with Google Partner, would like to invite all small business owners and entrepreneurs for a special live stream for small businesses “Manage Your Business Remotely in Times of Uncertainty.”

Google will be hosting this event on Wednesday, May 6, at 12:00 p.m.

Discover tools, tips, and resources to help you manage your business remotely during the COVID-19 crisis. Learn how to update critical business information online to keep customers informed, and how to host virtual meetings and events.

You can ask questions live during the event on Twitter by using #smallbizlivestream.

Links will be sent to registrants only when they are released. Click here to register.

NEW JERSEY — COVID-19 testing will be available daily in East Rutherford to all NJ Transit employees. Through an agreement with Agile Urgent Care and Accurate Diagnostics Lab, NJ Transit employees will be accepted for appointment-only testing at the site which opened on April 13 and is currently geared toward first responders and frontline healthcare workers. Online registration access for NJ Transit employees will be available beginning on Sunday, May 3.  NJ Transit is also working to expand access to similar testing sites in central and south Jersey.

This expansion of testing advances Principle 2 of Governor Murphy’s “The Road Back: Restoring Economic Health Through Public Health.”  With support from the Governor and working with the United Transportation Union’s SMART-TD Local 60 President Jerome Johnson and the Amalgamated Transit Union’s New Jersey State Council President Orlando Riley, NJ Transit is extremely pleased to announce this significant health and safety advancement for NJ Transit employees. The ability to facilitate access to testing for employees will lead to quicker identification of cases, quicker treatment for those testing positive, and immediate isolation to prevent spread.

“The men and women of NJ Transit have been an essential part of our frontline COVID-19 response efforts,” said Governor Murphy.“With increased access to testing, we can ensure the health and safety of NJ Transit’s workforce and build public confidence in our mass-transit system, as our economy begins to reopen in the weeks ahead.”

“Maintaining the public transportation system to ensure essential personnel has a way to get where they are needed is critical, and the committed men and women of NJ TRANSIT are on the front lines doing their part to keep the trains and buses clean, safe, and running,” NJ Transit Chair and NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said. “Providing our employees access to testing is another way we can keep everyone safe and make sure those that need treatment get it as soon as possible.”

“There has been no higher priority at NJ TRANSIT than the health and safety of our incredibly dedicated employees. Providing access to a dedicated COVID-19 testing site is just another layer of protection we’re adding to the many proactive measures we’ve taken since the onset of this pandemic,” said NJ Transit President & CEO Kevin Corbett. “Our employees have continued to operate on the frontlines of this crisis in order to keep essential personnel moving through the region, and we’re pleased to be able to facilitate access to testing that will ultimately lead to quicker treatment and slowing the spread of the virus.”

“I would like to thank Governor Murphy for his understanding that testing is something all New Jersey citizens need.  I am extremely appreciative that Governor Murphy understands that the frontline employees must be tested for this deadly virus,” says Smart-TD Local 60 General Chairman and President Jerome C. Johnson.“Smart-TD Local 60 members are most susceptible to catch this virus due to the nature of their respective duties.  Governor Murphy’s understanding and leadership will only help protect our members and passengers by making sure all essential employees are tested for the COVID-19 virus.”

“It’s great news that NJ Transit will be testing all employees, particularly our members working on the frontlines. It’s imperative that we identify those individuals who are positive, in order to prevent further spreading of the virus and help those positive individuals get the care they need,” said ATU NJ State Council Chairman Orlando Riley.

“On behalf of the Members of PBA 304, the PBA would like to thank NJ Transit,  Agile Urgent Care and Accurate Diagnostics for partnering together to ensure that all members of the New Jersey Transit Police Department, as well as our frontline employees from ATU NJ State Council, Smart-TD Local 60 and the other Rail Unions on the property all, operate in a healthy and safe environment,” said PBA 304 President Dan Whartnaby.

As a reminder, all staff and customers on NJ TRANSIT vehicles are required to wear face coverings per Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 125.

Due to the rapidly changing nature of the COVID-19 response, customers are strongly encouraged to sign up for My Transit alerts and to check njtransit.com for the latest updates.

As an added precautionary measure to protect bus operators and customers, NJ Transit has implemented rear-door boarding on all bus routes where rear-boarding is available. Seats near the bus operator have been taken out of service to allow for proper social distancing for the operator.  Customers are encouraged to use the NJ Transit mobile ticketing app or purchase paper tickets prior to boarding to limit cash transactions with the bus operator. Travel should be limited to essential personnel only.

MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 135, suspending in-person requirements for receipt of a marriage license and marriage ceremonies, and for the receipt of working papers for minors.

“Our current public health emergency requires us to adjust our processes to protect public health and safety,” said Governor Murphy. “Even in uncertain times, we must allow important milestones, like marriages or youth seeking their first job, to move forward in a safe, efficient manner.”

Under the executive order, individuals may use videoconferencing technology for the licensing process and the marriage ceremony. The requirement that a marriage or civil union be solemnized in the physical presence of an officiant and two witnesses can be satisfied through the use of live audio-visual technology, provided certain conditions are met.

The order also suspends the 72-hour waiting period between the license application and issuance, extends the period that a license is valid from 30 to 90 days, and waives fees imposed for the issuance of a second marriage or civil union license if the original has expired.

Additionally, minors seeking to certify their working papers with a school designated official will be permitted to do so through videoconference. Individual school districts will craft procedures that satisfy the statutory requirements without requiring in-person contact.

The executive order permits both in-person marriage licensing and ceremonies and in-person certification of working papers to continue, subject to social distancing, where offices are open, and officials are available to oversee the processes.

The order will take effect on Monday, May 4, 2020.

Click here to download a copy of Executive Order No. 135.

MORRIS COUNTY — Senator Joe Pennacchio released the following statement after Governor Murphy Governor had “knucklehead” signs posted on state highways:

“I strongly condemn the flippant language the Governor has used in press conferences and on these signs. It is disrespectful to the citizens of New Jersey who have – and will continue to – make hard sacrifices to stop the spread of the coronavirus and save lives.

“The sophomoric language is unbecoming of the Governor, and certainly not fair to the people of New Jersey. Webster defines a knucklehead as a ‘stupid person.’ Is that what you think of sacrificing New Jersey citizens? Really?”

MORRIS COUNTY — For the sixth year in a row, Damian Christian Shammas has been selected to the exclusive Thomson Reuters New Jersey Super Lawyer list. The distinction is shared by a mere 5% of attorneys in the State of New Jersey.

From 2012 through 2014, Damian was named to the Thomson Reuters Rising Stars lists.

Shammas is an attorney who represents clients in the Morristown area. He is recognized by peers and was selected to Super Lawyers for 2015 – 2020. This selection is based on an evaluation of 12 indicators including peer recognition and professional achievement in legal practice.

Damian Shammas chose to pursue a career in law after completing undergraduate studies. He attended Seton Hall University School of Law and graduated in 1999. Damian Shammas passed the bar exam and was admitted to legal practice in 1999.

He represents clients with Employment Litigation: Plaintiff issues in New Jersey. He also represents clients with General Litigation issues.

Being selected to Super Lawyers is limited to a small number of attorneys in each state. As one of the few attorneys to garner the distinction of Super Lawyers, Damian Shammas has earned the respect of peers as one of the top-rated attorneys in the nation.

Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. Since Super Lawyers is intended to be used as an aid in selecting a lawyer, we limit the lawyer ratings to those who can be hired and retained by the public.

Law Offices of Damian Christian Shammas is located at 6 South Street, Suite 301, Morristown, NJ 07960. He can be reached by calling (973) 998-8500 or clicking here.