A lot of people played defense at Morristown’s council meeting on Wednesday.

The mayor, tax assessor and president of an appraisal company all tried to placate residents outraged about big tax hikes that contradict rosy estimates sent last fall.

And representatives of the Morristown Parking Authority defended their request to double parking meter rates on the busiest downtown streets.

With virtually no discussion, the council also unanimously introduced a zoning change to allow “extended stay” rooms within large apartment buildings, near the Morristown Green and near the M Station office complex. The measure appears tailored to M Lofts, a 150-apartment project pitched for Spring Street by M Station’s developers.

TAX ‘SNAFU’

Christine Conti-Collins paid almost $40,000 in taxes last year for her place in the posh 40 Park condos.  So she was elated last October when a letter from the town’s tax revaluation contractor estimated her bill would be decreasing to $26K.

Not so fast!

Turns out she’s not getting relief. And neither are many other property owners who thought they were catching a break.

These letters went out before school- and county tax assessments were calculated, Mayor Tim Dougherty said in a video posted earlier this month. He said he was flabbergasted, too — the $800 tax drop suggested in his October letter now looks more like a $1,200 increase, he said.

Who authorized those letters? Conti-Collins demanded on Wednesday.

Not me, the mayor said.

Mayor Tim Dougherty answers resident question. He is flanked by town Administrator Jillian Barrick and town Attorney David Minchello, April 24, 2024. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

“I don’t mind getting beat up for my mistakes. But I don’t like getting beat up for other people’s mistakes,” Dougherty said. He invited town tax Assessor Kevin Esposito and Rick Del Gurcio of Appraisal Systems Inc. to get up and say a few words.

Acknowledging responsibility with Del Gurcio for the letters , Esposito said he has dealt with hundreds of concerned residents and feels sympathy for anyone getting tax increases during these “very, very difficult times.”

But if there’s anyone to blame, Esposito told the gallery, “it’s not me as your Assessor, or the revaluation firm. It’s the process, unfortunately.”

A final tax rate won’t be certified until this summer, after budgets are finalized, he said.

In his defense, Del Gurcio noted that October letters to homeowners had a disclaimer, advising that tax estimates did not include any “county-, local- or school budget increases.”

He added it’s standard practice for Appraisal Systems to send, along with a home’s fair market value, “some indication of what effect the revaluation and re-distribution caused by the revaluation” will have on homeowners.

“Although that may be their standard practice, it’s unacceptable,” countered Dougherty. Vowing “this will never happen again,” the mayor said he will “put it in a law” to require revaluation companies to seek town approval before sending estimates to homeowners.

New Jersey towns conduct tax appraisals about every 10 years. Prodded by Morris County and neighboring towns, Morristown in 2022 hired Appraisal Systems to perform Morristown’s first town-wide revaluation since circa 2007. Property values have risen significantly over the last 17 years, as anyone who has house-hunted in Morristown can attest.

An audience member disputed it, but Del Guercio insisted some Morristown homeowners would face large tax increases even without the revaluation, “based on equalization.”

That’s a complex state formula that compares property values across municipalities and determines their “true value.”

The regional Morris School District says annual school taxes actually are going down for the average homeowner in Morristown (by $229) and Morris Township (by $147). But equalization has upped Morristown’s overall share of school taxes, from 33 percent in 2023 to about 40 percent this year, according to the district’s budget presentation last month.

Morris County says its tax rate is not increasing.

The school board’s budget vote is scheduled for Monday, April 29, 2024, at 7:30 pm in Morristown High School.

PARKING FEES

Employees of downtown businesses are feeding the meters to hog prime parking spaces, according to Morristown Parking Authority Executive Director Nicole Fox.

That violates two-hour limits and prevents turnover by shoppers, she told the council.

Morristown Parking Authority Executive Director Nicole Fox and parking consultant Gerry Giosa pitch parking rate increases to town council, April 24, 2024. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Rather than slapping violators with $37 tickets–which is unpleasant and requires intense enforcement — Fox said she hopes to nudge them into MPA parking garages by doubling parking meter fees to $2 an hour. Garages then will be slightly cheaper for all-day parking.

When MPA’s computers are upgraded–possibly later this year–discounted garage permits may be available for these workers, Fox said.

The increases, which require council approval, would apply to 214 of 710 parking meters. Specifically, the meters around the Morristown Green; on South, DeHart, Market and Pine streets; and on Cattano Avenue and Community Place.

By comparison, minimum hourly meter rates are $2 in Asbury Park, Freehold and New Brunswick, and $3 in Hoboken, said MPA consultant Gerard Giosa.  New Brunswick’s priciest meters charge $8 per hour, he said.

Councilman Robert Iannaccone encouraged the MPA to seek input from business owners in the Morristown Partnership.

EXTENDED STAYS

If you’re coming to Morristown to work on a long-term project for, say, the new Valley National Bank headquarters, or for companies in the soon-to-be-renovated Headquarters Plaza, or for Deloitte or Sanofi at the new M Station complex, Morristown’s three hotels probably won’t cut it.

Town codes limit hotel stays to one month, and prohibit kitchens.

A zoning change introduced on Wednesday says these heavy hitters “have regional, national, and international scopes that necessitate travel by staff, vendors, and clients to their offices for periods greater than 30 days, and in such instances may desire to have cooking facilities available within the guest rooms.”

The ordinance would allow “extended stays” as a conditional use in apartment buildings near the Morristown Green, and also near the train station.

Extended stays would be allowed in mixed-use buildings which:

• Have a ground floor with at least 1,000 feet of commercial space;
• Have dwelling units at least equal to, or greater than, the extended stay guest rooms;
• Have a combination of at least 100 dwelling units and extended stay guest rooms.

Additionally, extended-stay guest rooms must be at least 650 square feet.  At least half of them must have one sleeping room; two bedrooms is the limit. And at least half of  extended stay lodgings must be furnished. Housekeeping and laundry services must be provided for guests.

Maximum stays would be 180 days.

Morristown Councilman Robert Iannaccone makes a point, as Councilman Chris Russo listens, April 24, 2024. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

The concept is similar to AVE Florham Park, which blends apartments and extended-stay rentals near the New York Jets training center.

Only one project in Morristown’s proposed zones appears to meet the size requirements. SPJ Properties and Scotto Properties, developers of M Station, seek approvals next door on Spring Street for 150 apartments they are calling M Lofts.

Iannaccone suggested allowing extended stays in smaller buildings, and in more parts of town.

But he voted to introduce the measure as written, along with Council President Nathan Umbriac, Vice President David Silva, and Councilmembers Steve Pylypchuk and Chris Russo.  Council members Toshiba Foster and Tina Lindsey were absent. The ordinance returns for a final vote on May 14, 2024.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

Pylypchuk, Iannaccone and the mayor said landscapers have been converting to electric leaf blowers, to comply with a partial ban of gas-powered blowers approved by voters last November.

“I love the peace and quiet that I hope will come about,” said resident Judy Bayard, who volunteered to help spread the word about the ordinance. The controversial referendum was spearheaded last year by then-Councilman Stefan Armington.

Bill Byrne, an advocate for people with disabilities and, arguably, the town’s most passionate advocate for pedestrian safety, continued to press for a ban of electric scooters from sidewalks.

Town Attorney David Minchello said he is researching if they already are prohibited.  Umbriac said he shares Byrne’s concern and will discuss enforcement with the town public safety director.

“They are dangerous, they go 25 or 30 mph, they don’t make noise, and they zoom right by you,” the council president said of electric scooters.

Morristown Administrator Jillian Barrick receives a commendation from Mayor Tim Dougherty, April 24, 2024. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

Most recipients of mayoral proclamations seem delighted. But town Administrator Jillian Barrick had to be coaxed to accept one on Wednesday.

Hailing her as “the best administrator in the state,” Dougherty commended Barrick for her Distinguished Public Service Award from the state chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).

“It really is a thankless job she has–and not just working with me,” Dougherty said. Morristown is lucky to still have her after eight years, he added, because other towns “try to poach her all the time.”

Wednesday’s hybrid meeting was moved from its usual Tuesday slot because of the Passover holiday.