HANOVER — On August 18, 2024, Hanover Township Police Officer Carlos Najera charged Angel Sperry, 35, of Budd Lake, with multiple offenses. Hanover Township Police Officer Najera responded to the Scottish Inn for a reported dispute.

After an investigation, it was determined that the dispute had escalated into a physical altercation. Ms. Sperry was charged with simple assault and subsequently released. Management requested that Ms. Sperry not return to the property, and she was advised that returning could result in her arrest for trespassing.

Approximately 20 minutes later, officers located Ms. Sperry back at the hotel, possessing property that did not belong to her. Following a further investigation, additional charges were considered.

Editors Note: The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

HANOVER — On Friday, August 16, 2024, three Hanover Township Police Officers responded to the Red Carpet Inn at 1255 Route 10 to investigate a complaint of harassment and threats between motel residents. During the investigation, one officer noticed a man lighting a cigarette in the hallway, despite having been repeatedly warned in the past that smoking inside the motel was prohibited. The officer informed the man he would be issued a summons, at which point the man attempted to flee into a room. As the officer tried to prevent him from entering by grabbing his arm, the man resisted. The man’s wife and daughter began shouting threats and profanity at the officers, trying to pull them away to stop the arrest.

Other officers moved to detain the daughter, but two male motel residents then attacked the officers to prevent her arrest, sparking a large altercation in the hallway. The officers called for backup, and additional Hanover officers, along with officers from surrounding jurisdictions, arrived to secure the scene. Ultimately, three men and two women were arrested and transported to police headquarters. Several officers sustained injuries, though none required medical attention.

Those charged include:

• Luis Pabon, 34: Aggravated Assault on Police, Resisting Arrest, Riot, Obstruction, Failure to Disperse, Violent Disorderly Conduct, and Smoking in Public.
• Aaliyah Rodriguez, 18: Terroristic Threats, Resisting Arrest, Riot, Obstruction, Failure to Disperse, and Violent Disorderly Conduct.
• Annamarie Rodriguez, 35: Riot, Failure to Disperse, Obstruction, and Violent Disorderly Conduct.
• Dawan Portis, 20: Aggravated Assault on Police, Resisting Arrest, Riot, Obstruction, Failure to Disperse, and Violent Disorderly Conduct.
• Ahmir Portis, 18: Aggravated Assault on Police, Resisting Arrest, Riot, Obstruction, Failure to Disperse, and Violent Disorderly Conduct.

The three men were lodged in the Morris County Jail awaiting a detention hearing, while the two women were issued summonses and released pending court dates.

Editors Note: The court’s rules require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

HANOVER — To better equip residents with the skills and knowledge needed to handle emergencies, the Hanover Township Committee is hosting an in-depth citizen preparedness event titled “Are You Ready?” on Saturday, September 28th at 4:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Hanover Township Community Center and will focus on disaster preparedness for both individuals and families.

As communities across New Jersey face increasing threats from severe weather, power outages, and other emergencies, this timely event aims to provide attendees with practical guidance on how to stay safe. The “Are You Ready?” workshop promises to cover a wide range of topics, from storm readiness and disaster planning to dealing with flooding and power outages. Importantly, attendees will also learn about storm-related medical emergencies, fire extinguisher safety, and safe exchange locations within the community.

This initiative, spearheaded by Hanover Township Emergency Services, is designed to help the public better understand the resources available to them in times of crisis. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with experts from local emergency services, including police, fire departments, and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The sessions will include guidance on how to handle generator and contractor safety, prescription drug drop-off locations, and how to prepare homes and families for unexpected emergencies.

Mayor Thomas “Ace” Gallagher commented on the importance of this event: “In today’s world, we never know when a disaster might strike. Hanover Township is committed to ensuring our residents are prepared and equipped with the knowledge to respond to emergencies. This event is a great way to come together as a community and make sure we’re all ready.”

In addition to expert-led sessions, attendees will enjoy light refreshments, and the opportunity to ask questions or seek advice from seasoned emergency professionals. With speakers from Hanover Township Emergency Services, residents will be able to tap into the expertise of those who have dedicated their lives to keeping the community safe.

The “Are You Ready?” event is open to all residents and is part of a broader effort by Hanover Township to promote community safety and resilience in the face of increasing natural disasters and other emergencies. Organizers hope that through these discussions, citizens will feel empowered to act calmly and effectively should a crisis arise.

For those looking to gain invaluable insights into protecting their homes, families, and loved ones, this event is not to be missed. Be sure to mark your calendars for September 28th at 4:00 p.m. at the Hanover Township Community Center.

For more information, contact Hanover Township Emergency Services or visit the Township’s official website.

HANOVER — At the regular open public meeting of the Hanover Township Committee on Thursday, September 12, the governing body unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the Township to join a coalition of municipalities in filing litigation at both the state and federal court levels, challenging the constitutionality of the Fair Housing Act of 2024 against the State of New Jersey.

Spearheaded by Montvale Township in Bergen County, the litigation seeks to address an inequity whereby sixty-two (62) municipalities in the State categorized as Urban Aid communities are not required to construct affordable housing. It is patently unfair that the obligations of these 62 towns should be shifted to the rest of New Jersey’s communities.

During the meeting, Mayor Thomas “Ace” Gallagher, on behalf of the entire Township Committee, echoed his sentiments and those of his colleagues in making the following statement:

“The Township of Hanover steadfastly supports affordable housing opportunities in the Township. The Township has, however, been dramatically impacted by the 3rd round of affordable housing rules and was able to be compliant. The recent legislation was adopted without any information, studies, or cross-acceptance of municipalities. We wanted an opportunity to make sure all our voices were heard—it was not. So, some issues and questions were never answered by our legislators,” said Gallagher.

Hanover is responsible for satisfying its portion of a regional obligation that is divided among municipalities. We are concerned that, under the new law, various municipalities, including large cities, are exempt from contributing to that regional obligation, increasing the total for those towns—such as Hanover—that are not exempt.

While the Township supports affordable housing, we do not support high-density development and the five additional market residential units that inevitably accompany each affordable unit.

The purpose of joining the recent litigation is to ensure that every municipality throughout the State of New Jersey contributes its fair share to the regional obligation, just as Hanover has and will continue to do. This litigation represents a narrow issue from the Township’s perspective. It is about making sure everyone contributes fairly and proportionately.

Over the past three years, the Township has preserved 187 affordable housing units that have already been built, funded a program for rehabilitation of units in need of repair, and created additional affordable housing opportunities for the construction of low- and moderate-income households, amongst other actions. The Township’s actions have provided for affordable housing opportunities while, at the same time, avoiding additional market units for residential development.

We also have commitments for the construction of 60 more age-restricted senior affordable housing units, which do not include more market units in such a plan.

It is critical that our voice as a Township is heard, just as we must maintain compliance and work in good faith with the Fair Share Housing Center to provide realistic affordable housing opportunities. However, we do not want the new rules and regulations to place disproportionate responsibility on the Township of Hanover.

This case is not about putting one town or group against another. It is about fairness and inclusion of all municipalities.

Therefore, we support this litigation to ensure we avoid an unfair impact on our infrastructure, population, and schools.”

                                                                Thomas “Ace” Gallagher, Mayor and
Members of the Township Committee

The lawsuit is docketed as Borough of Montvale v. State of New Jersey, Superior Court of New Jersey, MER-L-1778-24. The Coalition is represented by Michael L. Collins, Esq. of King, Moench & Collins LLP. 

“Local Leaders for Responsible Planning” is led by Montvale (Bergen) and includes the following municipalities that have joined as Plaintiffs to the litigation: Township of Denville, Borough of Florham Park, Borough of Hillsdale, Township of Mannington, Township of Millburn, Township of Montville, Borough of Old Tappan, and Borough of Totowa.