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Township Committee
TOWNSHIP OF MORRIS

50 WOODLAND AVENUE
PO BOX 7603
CONVENT STATION, NEW JERSEY 07961-7603
FAX NO. (973) 605-8363
WWW.MORRISTWP.COM
March 21, 2020
Dear Neighbors,

As we work to address the challenges posed by COVID-19 together the Township Committee wants to assure you that Morris Township is doing everything possible to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our community. We also want to emphasize the Township’s commitment to sharing accurate and timely information with the public so everyone understands what’s going on in our community, what the Township is doing, and what all of us can do to help. We’re in this together. We’ll get through this together. And we will emerge stronger on the other side.  

In that spirit, the following is an update of current information as of Saturday, March 21 st . 
Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Saturday, March 21 st
The following is a high-level overview of the Governor’s most recent Executive Order :

  • All gatherings are canceled until further notice both public and private from weddings to family gatherings.
  • All non-essential retail businesses must indefinitely close their physical stores to the public effective 9:00pm tonight.
  • Work on construction, manufacturing, and transport may continue. 
  • Residents are requested to stay home unless going out for essential purposes (getting groceries, seeing a doctor, etc.) or going out for a walk.
  • Rules laid out in this order supersede all county and municipal rules to ensure consistency across the State.
Ten cases of COVID have been confirmed in Morris Township
  • Our Health Department is working closely with County and State officials to ensure appropriate follow up for these individuals, for others who may have been in contact with them, and for the public at large. 
  • Additional information can be found in the letter to residents that was sent out on Friday 3/20/20: Letter Confirming Two COVID-19 Cases in Morris Twp. The total number has since increased.
  • We will share updated information as it becomes available. 
What the Township is Doing
The Township Committee and our Township employees take this situation very seriously.

Our municipal team, including our Health Department officials, first responders (police, fire, OEM), and Administration – are working closely together to plan and implement best-practice local actions. We are in frequent contact with County and State officials to ensure that our actions align with CDC recommendations, with guidance and directives issued by the State, and with plans that are being coordinated at the County level.

Morris Township has implemented new guidelines and procedures to ensure the safety of our residents.
Residents are urged to review these new policies and keep up with the latest news by visiting our Coronavirus Update page .

  • All of our municipal buildings are now closed. All events and activities have been cancelled until further notice.

  • Trash and recycling will continue as scheduled, but most non-essential services will be cancelled absent an emergency. Please do not put extra trash outside of your trash cart. If you require additional pickups, please call: (973) 326-7398 or email: publicworks@morristwp.com

  • Our Township Administrator’s Office will be staffed to answer questions and provide assistance to residents when possible. Residents can contact the office by phone: (973) 326-7360 or e-mail: administration@morristwp.com.

  • Our Township Health Department will also remain staffed. Residents can contact the office by phone: (973) 326-7390 or e-mail: health@morristwp.com.

  • Sewer fees due April 1st may be made by mail, online, or in the drop box located outside the front door of the municipal building.

  • In addition, based on an Executive Order from the Governor, all of our parks and playgrounds are closed. Use of playground structures is not permitted. Trails are open to walking or biking by individuals or groups of four or less individuals who maintain 6 feet of distance from each other. 

  • Given our proximity to parks, which are operated by the Morris County Park Commission and the National Park Service, please refer to the new guidelines for parks and make note of changes in the press release from the County Park Commission and the press release from the Morristown National Historical Park.

As always, our police officers and firefighters are here to protect us. Additionally, emergency medical services continue to be provided by the Morris Minute Men. Our Office of Emergency Management is standing by should their services be needed. Our first responders are taking additional precautions when responding to emergencies to ensure their safety and the safety of our residents. 
What You Can Do
The Morris Township Health Department and Township Committee urge residents to STAY HOME to prevent further spread of COVID-19. It is crucial to flatten the curve of community spread to protect those who might be vulnerable, especially those with chronic illness, seniors, and young children.

Here is a list of things we encourage residents to do during this time:

  • Stay home to help flatten the curve.
  • Sign up for our Municipal Messenger to stay informed.
  • Visit our Coronavirus Update page for resources and guidelines.
  • Follow Morris Township on Facebook for timely alerts and information.
  • Have a friend, neighbor, or loved one who may need assistance? Sign them up at NJ Register Ready and our Office of Emergency Management(OEM) will check in on them frequently to make sure they have everything they need.
  • Interested in volunteering to help your neighbors during this challenging time? Sign up to volunteer for a variety of activities through the Morris County Medical Reserve Corps. This group will help with such initiatives as delivering groceries to seniors and the disabled.
  • Support our local businesses by ordering take out. We have provided a full list of eating establishments in Morris Township to let you know which remain open for take-out or delivery.
  • Send any questions you may have to: administration@morristwp.com.
In closing…
This is an extraordinary time for all of us. Our bottom line goals are to ensure that all of us stay safe, that we all do our part to contribute to the safety of our community as a whole, and that everyone has the information that’s needed to understand what’s going on in our town. Fighting the spread of COVID-19 is going to take everyone’s participation. Please do your part by adhering to the new guidelines .

We appreciate your patience at this difficult time, and we look forward to keeping in touch.

Mayor Cathy Wilson and Members of the Morris Township Committee
Jeff Grayzel, Deputy Mayor
John Arvanites
Mark Gyorfy
Peter Mancuso  
Morris Township | www.morristwp.com