Committee carries two land‑development ordinances, adopts deed for new softball field; several ordinances introduced for March hearing

The Morris Township Committee on Feb. 19 carried two proposed land-development ordinances to the March 19 meeting for required planning-board review, adopted an ordinance accepting a deed for a completed softball field, and introduced six more ordinances for public hearings next month.

Committee members said ordinances O-1-25 and O-2-25—amendments to Chapter 57 (land development) and a site-plan waiver—require master-plan consistency review by the township planning board and cannot be adopted tonight because the planning board had not yet met; the committee carried those ordinances to the March 19, 2025 meeting by recorded vote.

The committee adopted Ordinance O-3-25, which accepts a deed of dedication from a developer (identified in the ordinance text) for Block 10401, a portion of Lot 3.02, transferring a fully improved softball field to the township and Morris County for public park and open-space purposes. Township Administrator Tim Quinn confirmed the field and associated improvements were completed by the developer as required under prior agreements. The adoption passed on a roll-call vote with recorded yes votes by the five voting members present.

Also introduced for March public hearings were: - O-4-25, an amendment to zoning boundaries for Block 3105 (Egbert Avenue/Conklin area); - O-5-25 and O-6-25, ordinances establishing salary ranges for nonunion personnel (general government and fire department); - O-7-25 and O-8-25, companion cannabis ordinances (zoning overlay and regulatory language) discussed separately in public comment; - O-9-25, administrative updates to township code sections for online applications.

All introductions were recorded by roll call; the committee stated each introduction allows statutory publication and sets the required public hearings and deadlines for notice. The mayor noted Committeeman Jorphy recused himself from O-6-25 due to his fire-department role.

On other business the committee approved a consent calendar and 23 resolutions (numbers 53–75) by roll call. The township also recorded claims for payment totaling $13,178,747.88 and noted monthly reports for several departments were filed for the record.

Procedural details: the two land-development ordinances (O-1-25 and O-2-25) were carried because the planning board was not scheduled to meet before the committee; the clerk read the official titles into the record and the clerk confirmed the March 19 meeting will be the next opportunity for public hearings and adoption. The committee directed staff to publish the required legal notices.

Votes at a glance: O-3-25 (acceptance of park/open-space deed) — adopted by roll call (all voting members present recorded yes); O-1-25 and O-2-25 — carried to March 19, 2025 for planning-board consistency review and public hearing; O-4-25, O-5-25, O-6-25, O-7-25, O-8-25, O-9-25 — introduced and scheduled for March 19 public hearings; Resolutions 53–75 — approved by single motion and roll-call vote.