[0:00] Last year we secured a $202,000 grant
for our district schools, which brings
[0:06] in over 300 trees to four different
schools in our district. We've planted
[0:10] over a thousand trees. We went from a
commission that just wanted to plant
[0:15] trees to a highly skilled, highly
educated team of people who now plant
[0:22] the right tree in the right place
focusing on natives because native
[0:27] environmental work is super important.
And we are now entering into
[0:32] reforestation and forest regeneration.
Our one team member, Susan Landau, who
[0:37] is not here tonight, I want to do a
shout-out to her because she and her
[0:41] husband run our sister organization,
Friends of Foote's Pond Wood.
[0:45] Under our umbrella and our support, they
have taken a public park that had maybe
[0:51] 12 visitors a week to hundreds of
visitors a week and is a go-to place for
[0:56] a lot of people in Morris County now.
And it's because of that kind of work
[1:01] that our team is looking to do that in
all the tiny forested areas attached to
[1:05] our parks. We cannot do that alone. We
need resident support and we need um
[1:11] we need, you know, arm power for that.
But I do want to say thank you to our
[1:15] council who not only supports our
initiatives with ordinances, but I know
[1:20] many of you have been uh
have had wheelbarrows full of mulch and
[1:26] cutting vines and um planting shrubs and
doing all kinds of hard labor, which we
[1:32] appreciate. Of course, the mayor
supports us, which we are deeply
[1:36] grateful for, and I also want to call
out to Ms. Barrick, who I know that you
[1:41] heard me say this last year, but because
Ms. Barrick has the ability to see our
[1:46] vision and help us make it happen, that
goes a long way to supporting our
[1:52] initiatives. It's a rare quality in an
administrator and we are very lucky to
[1:56] have her.
I also want to say thank you to our
[1:59] engineering team and our DPW team. We
don't do anything without these people
[2:03] on board, and they are the people who
normally get complaints. These are the
[2:07] people behind the scenes who help
amazing magical things happen for our
[2:11] team.
So, thank you so much. We very much
[2:14] appreciate all of you. Thank you.
>> [applause]
[2:23] » I'LL RUN DOWN THE LIST.
UM
[2:26] FOR THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE Morristown
Recreation annual Easter hunt, thank you
[2:29] for all those who were there. I know a
bunch of you guys were down there. Great
[2:32] attendance. Yeah, it was a good event.
Yep. A little cold, but it was good.
[2:36] » Yeah, a little cold, right? Uh we had
the No Kings Rally. Uh shout out to the
[2:40] police department for another job well
done in protecting the public's right to
[2:45] um
assemble and uh their First Amendment
[2:48] right of free speech. Um
and so uh hats off to the organizers,
[2:53] but hats off to our police department uh
for the for what they do to protect the
[2:57] public's right.
On Monday, the 30th of March, the grand
[3:01] opening of Sabor's Latinas on 91 Morris
Street, owners of Chef Freddy's. We had
[3:07] a great great ribbon cutting, and food
was everywhere, and the food was really
[3:11] good, so try it. It's pretty good.
Um we had a grand opening on the 31st of
[3:16] an ENT and Allergy Associates at 10
Madison Avenue, third floor. I was
[3:21] actually there
this morning,
[3:23] and very impressed with with their
organization
[3:27] and their
uh their
[3:30] doctor-patient
communication.
[3:34] Uh so, it's an ENT right right around
the corner at 10 Madison. Uh brand new
[3:40] um and Allergy Associates. We had a
ribbon cutting April 14th uh today at
[3:46] the uh Shay Tree Garage.
Council
[3:50] Chris Russo was there. I got to tell
you, I I got to be honest.
[3:54] Did you know it was there?
I did not I did not know it was there.
[3:57] Did anybody know about it?
>> They were on Malcolm Street for years
[4:01] and I used them on Malcolm Street. They
used to be I go to the gym that's right
[4:04] in front of it, so Oh, well, I'll tell
you what, you want to get you want to
[4:07] you want to get you need a place to get
your car fixed?
[4:10] There's a lot of places to get your car
fixed, but I was very impressed with
[4:14] their with their uh way their business
is set up. Um it's really cool that the
[4:19] owner is a councilman in
uh Morris Plains.
[4:22] Um and it was very nice that the mayor
from Morris Plains showed up to support
[4:27] him. Um it was uh really cool. They had
some really They do a lot of work. They
[4:31] do old cars. So, if you have old cars,
like
[4:34] 70s, 60s, 40s, 20s,
um 80s, cuz you know, these cars were
[4:40] built with carburetors and and timing
and and belts and all the different
[4:45] things, not like today. Today's cars are
all electronic and computerized.
[4:49] Um they fix the old stuff. There was a
70s uh Malibu, um
[4:55] » 72 Corvette
>> 72 Corvette. What was the other one they
[4:58] They had an Aston Martin, that's a 2019,
so a little newer. Yeah, but they had
[5:00] they had MGs there. They had
>> Yeah, so they had uh some really cool
[5:04] stuff. So, hats off to that for those
guys uh to keep that business going.
[5:08] It's a new owner after 49 years of one
owner um and he bought it and uh so,
[5:14] it's terrific to still have that stuff
being in Morristown. It's a service to
[5:19] the community and hats off to uh
to uh the Shade Tree Garage on 171
[5:25] Washington under new ownership of Art
Bruen from Morris Plains.
[5:30] Upcoming events, Sunday, April 19th,
3:00 to 5:00, South Asian Artists
[5:34] American Exhibit Art Show at MPAC. The
event celebrates the rich and diverse uh
[5:39] artistic traditions of South Asia
featuring works from local and regional
[5:43] artists across a variety of mediums,
including painting, sculpture, con-
[5:47] contemporary media,
uh mixed media. It aims by fostering
[5:51] cultural appreciation and community
engagement and artistic dialogue with
[5:55] our town.
Uh
[5:57] 25th of April, 9:00 a.m., Arbor Day
celebration at Jacob Ford
[6:02] uh park basketball courts.
Be there, right? Be there or be
[6:09] be square. I was trying to figure a tree
thing with it, I couldn't get
[6:13] April 26th, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 uh 8:00
8:00 a.m. I Yeah, I guess it is 8:00
[6:19] a.m. to 11:00 a.m. PBA's Usually they
have it in the evening.
[6:23] So, I hope that's not a misprint.
Uh but 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., the PBA
[6:29] our police department has their annual
cops and robbers car show around the
[6:32] green, really cool. They have lots of
cars around the green, so check them
[6:35] out.
Um
[6:38] one of a couple of special notes, um
retirement of Thomas Text the Group.
[6:43] He started as a firefighter in October
2000 and was promoted to fire captain in
[6:49] 2020 and retired April 1st, 2026 after
serving 26 years on our fire department.
[6:55] We wish him uh great success and happy
trails in his uh retirement. He's a
[7:00] really great guy um and he will be
missed uh the Morristown Fire
[7:04] Department. Um I was going to interrupt
Kristen just to remind people
[7:10] of the passing of Michael Rockland.
Um
[7:14] and that's uh my neighbor, Patricia
Arts' husband.
[7:17] Longtime and valued member of the Kala
Club. Um celebration of life at the Kala
[7:21] Club will be Sunday, April 26th from
2:00 to 4:00 p.m. He's an author,
[7:26] volunteer, uh
professor, all around great guy, great
[7:31] neighbor for all the years I've been
living on Wetmore. And uh and he will be
[7:35] missed and uh we'll keep their family in
our thoughts and prayers uh Uh, as as
[7:41] you know,
life is changing always.
[7:45] So, hats off to
what Michael Rockland did for our
[7:49] community. He will [snorts] be missed.
That's all I have, Council President.
[7:54] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
I'll move on to the Council Liaison
[7:57] reports. Councilman Abreu. Yes, sir. The
Morristown Partnership met on April 8th.
[8:03] The partnership is working with a
company called Root to review landscape
[8:07] concepts for traffic islands and pocket
parks throughout the town. So, some we
[8:10] looked at some artistic renditions and
looks really really nice.
[8:15] Also, I have some pamphlets for for all
of Council. Morristown Restaurant Week
[8:19] starts next week. So, April 20th to the
24th, over 40 restaurants participating.
[8:24] There's also an event called Snack, Sip,
and Stroll. It's a ticketed $85 event
[8:29] during Restaurant Week, which offers a
unique way to explore Morristown's
[8:32] diverse culinary scene. On Monday, April
20th, visit Speedwell Avenue's Chef
[8:36] Freddy's Table, Sushi Lounge, Parkside
Tavern, and 1776.
[8:41] And on Wednesday, April 22nd, visit
Morris Avenue's
[8:44] End of Elm Town Bar and Kitchen, Non
Mexican Table and Tequila Bar, and The
[8:48] Committed Proper. For more information
and to purchase tickets, visit
[8:52] morristown-nj.com/restaurantweek.
[8:57] And I have pamphlets for everybody.
[9:05] Councilman Russo.
Uh, next Planning Board meeting is
[9:08] scheduled for Thursday, April 23rd, but
uh,
[9:11] I don't know if we're going to have
anything yet, so we'll see. Time will
[9:13] tell. That's it. Thank you.
Councilman Silva. Morris Parking
[9:17] Authority will meet tomorrow at 6:00
p.m. I'll be there.
[9:22] Thank you.
We'll move on to regular business, Ms.
[9:25] Kersey.
Okay, we have four ordinances for
[9:28] introduction this evening. First is
ordinance O-7-2026,
[9:33] ordinance amending and supplementing the
code of the Town of Morristown, Chapter
[9:36] 7, Traffic, Section 7-40.2, Handicap
parking on streets for private
[9:41] residences to amend the placard number
assigned to a dedicated parking space
[9:45] for a a resident of 7 Henry Street.
I'll make a motion to introduce
[9:50] ordinance O-07-2026.
Second. Are there any comments or
[9:54] questions?
On the introduction of ordinance O-7-
[9:59] Excuse [clears throat] me, 2026.
Councilman Foster. Yes.
[10:02] » Councilman Iannacone.
>> Yes. Councilman Silva. Yes. Councilman
[10:05] Umbriac. Yes.
Councilman Russo. Yes. And Council
[10:09] President Pilipchuk. Yes. Ordinance
O-7-2026
[10:13] has been introduced properly by title
and will be considered further after a
[10:16] public hearing on April 28th.
Ordinance number O-8-2026,
[10:21] ordinance amending ordinance amending
and supplementing the code of the Town
[10:25] of Morristown chapter 7 traffic, section
40.2 handicap parking on streets for
[10:29] private residences to add a dedicated
handicap parking space for a resident of
[10:34] 189 Speedwell Avenue. I'll make a motion
to introduce ordinance O-08-2026.
[10:40] Second. Any comments or questions?
On the introduction of ordinance
[10:43] O-8-2026,
Councilwoman Foster. Yes. Councilman
[10:47] Iannacone. Yes. Councilman Silva. Yes.
>> Councilman Umbriac. Yes. Councilman
[10:50] Russo. Yes.
>> Council President Pilipchuk. Yes.
[10:53] Ordinance O-8-2026
has been introduced properly by title
[10:57] and will be considered further after a
public hearing on April 28th.
[11:01] Ordinance O-9-2026,
ordinance amending and supplementing to
[11:04] chapter 13 housing and property
maintenance.
[11:07] Make a motion to introduce ordinance
O-09-2026.
[11:12] Second. Any comments or questions?
On the introduction of ordinance
[11:16] O-9-2026,
Councilwoman Foster. Yes. Councilman
[11:20] Iannacone. Yes. Councilman Silva. Yes.
Councilman Umbriac. Yes. Coun-
[11:24] Councilman Russo. Yes. Council President
Pilipchuk. Yes.
[11:27] Ordinance O-9 has been introduced
properly by title and will be considered
[11:31] further after a public hearing on April
28th. The last is ordinance
[11:35] um O-10-2026,
an ordinance amending and supplementing
[11:38] chapter 12, building and construction.
Make a motion to introduce ordinance
[11:43] O-10-2026.
>> Second. Any comments or questions on the
[11:47] introduction of ordinance O-10-2026?
Councilwoman Foster? Yes. Councilman
[11:52] Anacone?
>> Yes. Councilman Silva? Yes. Councilman
[11:54] Umbriac?
>> Yes. Councilman Russo?
[11:56] » Yes. Council President Polipchuk? Yes.
Ordinance O-10 has been introduced
[12:00] properly by title and will be considered
further after a public hearing on April
[12:04] 28th.
We have two ordinances for public
[12:08] hearing and adoption. First is ordinance
number O-5-2026,
[12:12] ordinance amending and supplementing the
code of the town of Morristown, chapter
[12:15] 7, traffic, section 40.2, handicap
parking on streets for private
[12:19] residences,
to add a dedicated handicap parking
[12:22] space for a resident of 55 Madison
Street.
[12:26] Make a motion to adopt ordinance
O-05-2026.
[12:29] Second. At this time, I'll open the
floor for a public hearing on ordinance
[12:32] O-5 only.
Seeing none, I'll close the public
[12:36] hearing. Any comments or questions?
On the adoption of ordinance O-5-2026?
[12:41] Councilwoman Foster? Yes. Councilman
Anacone?
[12:43] » Yes. Councilman Silva? Yes. Councilman
Umbriac? Yes. Councilman Russo? Yes.
[12:48] Council President Polipchuk? Yes.
Motion carries. Ordinance O-5-2026
[12:53] is adopted. Ordinance number O-6-2026,
ordinance amending section 2-83.1, fees,
[13:00] of article 15, policies and procedures
of chapter 2, administration of the code
[13:05] of the town of Morristown.
Make a motion to adopt ordinance
[13:08] O-06-2026.
Second. At this time, I'll open the
[13:11] floor for a public hearing on ordinance
O-6 only.
[13:15] Seeing none, I'll close the public
hearing. Any comments or questions? On
[13:18] the adoption of ordinance O-6-2026?
Councilman Foster? Yes. Councilman
[13:23] Anacone? Yes. Councilman Silva? Yes.
Councilman Umbriac? Yes.
[13:26] » Councilman Russo? Yes. Council President
Polipchuk? Yes. Motion carries.
[13:30] Ordinance O-6-2026
is adopted. There are five resolutions
[13:35] on the agenda this evening. Would any
member of council like to pull any for
[13:39] separate consideration?
With that, I would ask for a motion to
[13:43] adopt resolution numbers R-85 through
R-89-2026.
[13:48] Uh motion to adopt resolutions R-85
through R-89-2026.
[13:53] Second.
On the adoption of those resolutions,
[13:56] Councilwoman Foster? Yes. Councilman
Hanacone?
[13:59] » Yes. Councilman Silva? Yes. Councilman
Umbriac?
[14:02] » Yes. Councilman Russo?
>> Yes. Council President Polipchuk? Yes.
[14:05] » Motion carries. Those resolutions are
adopted.
[14:09] Thank you, Miss Carey. We have no items
under our old business. We have no items
[14:12] under new business. I'll make a motion
to adjourn. Second. All in favor? Aye.
[14:17] Opposed?
Meeting adjourned.
[14:20] Nicely done. Good job, Margo. Thank you.
Thank you.
[14:23] » Do I? I don't have a good