Committeewoman Olivo-Moore Steps Down

At our July Township Committee Meeting, Committeewoman Tara Olivo-Moore announced that she would be stepping down from the Township Committee to relocate with her family to Massachusetts. I am incredibly grateful for Ms. Olivo-Moore’s service on the Township Committee since she was sworn in back in January. Tara has been a hard-working, dependable member of our governing body- who did a great job representing the interest of our residents. While we are sad to see Tara go so soon, we wish her and her family all the best in their next stage in life. We are looking forward to celebrating her time on the Township Committee at a future meeting.

Swearing in Committeewoman Donna Guariglia

As required by state law, the Township Committee appointed an interim member of the governing body to serve on the Township Committee until the results of a November Special Election are certified. The individual elected in November will serve the remaining two years of Ms. Olivo-Moore’s term. We were pleased to appoint Donna Guariglia at our August 17 meeting to temporarily fill Tara’s seat.

Ms. Guariglia is someone who has deep roots in our community and has demonstrated her long-term commitment to Morris Township. Donna has dedicated years of her life to community service, from being Co-President of the League of Women Voters of the Morristown Area to serving as Treasurer of USA Hockey and Vice President of the organization’s foundation. Our residents can be confident that they will be served by a well-qualified, independent thinker who will always  represent their best interests.

Police Chief Robert Shearer Sworn In

On July 1st, Captain Robert Shearer became the Morris Township Police Department’s newest Chief of Police. Chief Shearer has been in a leadership role since very early on in his career in Morris Township and is a constant motivator for personal development, team mentality, ownership, accountability, and a growth mindset while constantly balancing his support for his personnel with the needs of all residents in Morris Township. The community and the agency are in great hands as we make this transition. Congratulations Chief!

Township Committee Passes Local Campaign Finance Reform 

This summer, the Township Committee introduced and passed an ordinance further restricting the ability of large political donors from being hired as paid Township professionals. Furthermore, the Township Committee introduced at our August meeting a similar ordinance restricting large donors from being considered as redevelopers for future redevelopment proposals that may come before the governing body.

I applaud Committeeman Bud Ravitz for his leadership moving these two important ordinances forward with the support of the Township Committee. Together, these two ordinances will codify our efforts to keep outside influence out of the hiring and redevelopment practices of our town. 

Collinsville Playground Input Session & Movie Night 

We had a great night at the Collinsville Playground earlier this month to kick off our park redesign project. Special thanks to our Parks and Recreation Department for working with our park planners to create interactive displays for neighbors to view and for showing an outdoor movie! We were also thankful to have our Police Department present to meet the neighbors and provide giveaways for the kids. We are looking forward to participating in the upcoming neighborhood and stakeholder meetings this fall as we move forward with revitalizing the Collinsville Playground and Tucker Field.

National Night Out

On August 2nd, the Police Department hosted our first National Night Out at Streeter Pool. This event featured games, activities, and ice cream for families and provided the opportunity for them to meet first responders from the Police Department, Fire Department, Office of Emergency Management, and Morris Minute Men. 

Thank you for reading my August newsletter. Please be sure to follow Morris Township by signing up for our Municipal Messenger, liking our Facebook page, and following us on Instagram.

Best,

Mark