BOONTON TOWNSHIP — Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco said it’s a new year for everyone except NJ Transit commuters who continue to be plagued by the same old cancellations and crowded trains that strain working families, slow our economy and hobble commuters.

NJ.com reported today train cancellations, delays and standing room only at Penn Station for Wednesday evening commute. A NJ Transit spokesperson refused to say exactly how many trains were cancelled.

“Here we are just three days into the new year and commuters are just as frustrated as they were last summer. New season, same problems. For the sake of commuters let’s hope their ‘Summer of Hell’ won’t be followed by a ‘Winter of Hell,’” said Bucco.

Prior to its committee meeting in December, members held a private conference call with NJ Transit’s commissioner to discuss the agency’s ongoing problems. Bucco said, “I am again asking the Assembly Transportation Committee chairman to convene a public hearing that gets to the bottom of the problem. The public has a right to know why we continue to have cancellations and delays.”

Bucco also noted that South Jersey commuters are still waiting for service to resume on the Atlantic City line. Although full service was scheduled to start in early this year, a definitive date hasn’t been set.

“People need to be able to rely on the state’s mass transit system to get between work and home – on time – including working parents trying to make a parent-teacher conference, sporting activity, or just be there for dinner,” concluded Bucco. “Overall poor service is becoming the norm and that is unacceptable. Riders deserve answers and action yesterday.”

PARSIPPANY — With her four children alongside her on the House Floor, Mikie Sherrill took the oath of office on Thursday, January 3 and joined the 116th Congress as the Representative for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.

“Today, I proudly raised my right hand and reaffirmed my commitment to defend the Constitution of the United States for the people of the 11th District of New Jersey,” said Congresswoman Sherrill.“I couldn’t be more proud and humbled to stand alongside a diverse freshman class that reflects the shared values of our nation. I am ready to do the work of the people of New Jersey, to focus on the big issues that face our country, and help secure a world worthy of our children.”

Congresswoman Sherrill voted to advance H.R. 21 and H.J.Res. 1, two appropriations bills to fund federal agencies in 2019, including transportation and water infrastructure, and end the now 13-day government shutdown. In a letter submitted yesterday to the Chief Administrative Officer, Congresswoman Sherrill requested that her “pay be withheld until the lapse in appropriations that commenced on December 22, 2018, ends, and the federal government is fully reopened.”

Surrounded by more than 200 visiting constituents Sherrill’s father administered the oath of office. Sherrill hosted an open house in her Washington, DC office, located at 1208 Longworth House Office Building.

Sherrill will be opening her Parsippany office at 8 Wood Hollow Road.

The 11th Congressional District includes:

Essex County:

Bloomfield (part; also 10th), Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Montclair (part; also 10th), North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell, West Orange (part; also 10th)

Morris County:

Boonton Town, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, Denville, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Jefferson Township, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Madison, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown Town, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Pequannock, Randolph Township, Riverdale, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township and Victory Gardens

Passaic County:

Bloomingdale, Little Falls, North Haledon, Pompton Lakes, Totowa, Wanaque, Wayne and Woodland Park

Sussex County:

Byram Township, Hopatcong, Ogdensburg, Sparta Township and Stanhope

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Freeholders Deborah Smith of Denville and John Krickus, of Washington Township were sworn into office for second terms, while former Mountain Lakes Mayor Stephen Shaw took the oath of office this evening for his first term on the Morris County Board of Freeholders.

At county government’s 2019 Annual Meeting held in Morristown, Freeholder Doug Cabana also was selected by his peers for a third consecutive term as director of the board, while Freeholder Heather Darling was chosen as deputy director.

Showing their support for those who took the oaths tonight were a host of political dignitaries, including state Sens. Kristen Corrado, Tom Kean and Joe Pennacchio; Assemblymen Anthony Bucco, Michael Patrick Carroll, BettyLou DeCroce, and Christopher DePhillips.

Also on hand was former Freeholder Christine Myers, who declined to seek re-election last year, former Freeholder John Inglesino, and former Freeholder and longtime Morris Plains Mayor Frank Druetzler, who ended more than four decades as mayor on January 1.

“It is an honor for me, and a privilege I take very seriously, to have been chosen again by my colleagues as freeholder director,” said Freeholder Cabana, who hails from Boonton Township and is the longest serving member of the county governing board, starting in 1997.

“My goals in 2019 are to make decisions that benefit all residents of Morris County, to keep close watch on spending while delivering critical public safety and quality of life services.”

Critical issues for 2019, he told an overflow audience in the County Administration and Records Building, include:

• Continuing to preserve the county’s top-ranked Triple A bond rating, and maintain the county’s prudent and responsible financing and budgeting.

• Continuing to make the safety of our residents a priority by providing the best-educated, trained, and equipped police, fire, EMS and first response services across our county.

• Working to ensure a positive environment for our business community, by helping to ensure they have a well-trained workforce that will keep our companies and jobs here in Morris County.
• Working closely with our 39 municipalities on shared services, and incorporating the goals developed in the county’s new Strategic Plan into our county-municipalities’ relationship.

Cabana was mayor of Boonton Township for six years and a member of the township’s governing body for 11 years. He is a member of the 200 Club of Morris County and a former president of the Morris County League of Municipalities.

A past president of the New Jersey Association of Counties, it was under his leadership in 2006 that the association became an initial driving force behind the now popular concept of “shared services.” Cabana will continue in 2019 as Morris County’s representative to that statewide association, a role he has held since 1999.

Some specific projects to be addressed by the county in 2019 include starting up the county’s new Navigating Hope mobile social services operation, building a new $10 million County College of Morris engineering and manufacturing facility, starting work on the new 4.4-mile Pequannock-to-Wayne Recreational Trail, continuing and expanding special training program on school violence for law enforcement and educators.

He also spoke of the need to deal with the infestation of the county’s ash trees by a tree-killing insect, and pursuing the county’s petition to the U.S. Supreme Court to allow historic houses of worship to participate in the county’s historic preservation program.

Also, he said the board in 2019 will take key steps to consider long-term judicial space needs at the county court and government complex in Morristown. He noted that a special information session for the public will be held next Wednesday evening, January 9, in Morristown.

The Morris County Board of Freeholders will hold its first 2019 work session in Morristown on the afternoon of January 9, at 4:30 p.m., and its first regular public meeting at 7:00 p.m.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Board of Freeholders will hold a special public session on the evening of Wednesday, January 9, to outline the specific needs and requirements for state judicial facilities in Morris County, and the reasons for the consideration of Morris County Courthouse expansion and renovations.

The special forum will take place during the Freeholder Board meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the County Administration and Records Building in Morristown.

Officials from the Morris County courts, law enforcement, engineering and public safety are scheduled to make brief presentations on the courthouse issue during this special session.

Providing adequate court facilities and securing those facilities are the sole responsibility of each respective county in New Jersey. Previously, the Morris County Freeholder Board commissioned a Space Needs and Facilities Assessment pertaining to the judiciary and county government.

That Space Needs Assessment identified a significant shortfall in criminal, family and civil court facilities.

A redacted version of that Needs Assessment (with sensitive security information blacked out) is posted on the main page of the Morris County website for public review. You can read or download the summary and the full report by clicking here.

At a December 12 meeting, the Freeholder Board, by a unanimous vote following a public hearing process, adopted two capital ordinances totaling $5 million that could finance a design of the proposed new and expanded court facilities.

The need for courthouse expansion will be discussed at the January 9 public session, at which the public will be able to comment. Also, a one-month formal public comment period will commence following the meeting.

Some Background: 

In Morris County, the county government, the state courts, and related nonprofit organizations currently operate from the Morris County Courthouse, the Morris County Administration and Records Building, and the Schuyler Annex Building in downtown Morristown, with additional state‐level court services housed in leased space.

Over time, as the needs of the county and the state have grown, so has the need for more secure and accessible facilities from which to operate. Morris County has attempted to meet these needs on a project-by-project basis, utilizing available facilities and space in the most efficient manner possible.

In late 2016, it became apparent that an analysis of existing available space was needed, coupled with a comprehensive and long‐term examination and evaluation of current and future space needs. In early 2017, Morris County retained a team of consultants led by consulting firm Dewberry to undertake this needs assessment and master planning effort.

The study was scoped with addressing the capital facility needs of Morris County for both county government and state court functions, looking at least 20 years into the future, and developing a capital facility master plan level strategy to meet those needs.

Following months of data gathering, interviews with key officials and stakeholders, in‐depth analyses, and development and evaluation of optional solutions, several key findings emerged that defined the recommended solution.