Morristown council adopts airport capital ordinances, approves handicap parking changes

The Town of Morristown Council adopted four ordinances on Oct. 14 that fund capital improvements at Morristown Municipal Airport and add or amend on‑street handicap parking spaces, and it introduced two additional handicap‑parking ordinances for later public hearing.

The council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance O-34-2025 (adding a dedicated handicap parking space for a Hazel Street resident), O-37-2025 (providing for certain capital improvements at Morristown Municipal Airport), O-38-2025 (authorizing $6,059,746 to finance part of airport improvements) and O-39-2025 (amending a prior ordinance and increasing the airport funding total to $7,475,153.46, including an additional contribution from DM Airports Limited). Each adopted ordinance passed by voice vote with all members present recorded as voting yes: Councilwoman Foster; Councilwoman Ayanna Kone; Councilwoman Lindsay; Councilwoman Filipchuk; Councilman Russo; and Council President Umbriac.

The council also introduced Ordinance O-40-2025 and Ordinance O-41-2025, both amendments to the town code chapter governing on‑street handicap parking (chapter 7, section 7-40.2) to amend placard numbers assigned to dedicated spaces on Pine Street and Cobb Place. Both introductions passed by unanimous roll call and were set for public hearing and further consideration on Oct. 28.

Votes at a glance - O-34-2025 (adopted): dedicated handicap parking space, adopted unanimously (6–0). - O-37-2025 (adopted): capital improvements at Morristown Municipal Airport, adopted unanimously (6–0). Amount not specified in the meeting record. - O-38-2025 (adopted): appropriation of $6,059,746 for Morristown Municipal Airport improvements, adopted unanimously (6–0). - O-39-2025 (adopted): amendment increasing total airport funding to $7,475,153.46; additional contribution named as DM Airports Limited; adopted unanimously (6–0). - O-40-2025 (introduced): amend placard number for Pine Street; introduced by title, set for Oct. 28 public hearing. - O-41-2025 (introduced): amend placard number for Cobb Place; introduced by title, set for Oct. 28 public hearing.

The council also adopted three resolutions listed as R-136 through R-138; the meeting record shows the resolutions were approved but gives no substantive text or fiscal detail in the public minutes provided.

No members of the public spoke during the ordinances' public‑hearing openings; when the council opened the floor for each ordinance there were no speakers and the public hearings were closed before final votes. Council members did not request additional staff reports during the meeting on these matters.

The airport appropriations appear to be part of a multi‑phase capital program. Ordinance O-39 explicitly amended a prior 2023 airport ordinance and records an additional private contribution from DM Airports Limited to bring the total funding to $7,475,153.46. The meeting transcript does not specify the source(s) of the remaining funding beyond the amounts and the named private contribution, nor does it enumerate specific projects covered by each appropriation; those details were not presented at the Oct. 14 meeting and may appear in ordinance text or separate staff documents.

Council President Umbriac opened and closed public hearings for the airport ordinances and called the roll for each vote. The adopted ordinances will be effective according to the schedule and procedures set in the town code and as stated in each ordinance's text, which the council said will be considered further after the public hearing dates listed in the meeting agenda.