Council Condemns Hate Speech At Morristown Reorganization Meeting

MORRISTOWN, NJ — The Morristown council rang in the new year during the annual reorganization meeting on Tuesday, welcoming three new members and providing an optimistic outlook for the year ahead.

However, not all remarks were pleasant, as three callers to the hybrid meeting joined via Zoom, breaking out into hate speech before being cut off by Town Clerk Margot Kaye.

Town Attorney David Minchello warned the council that there seemed to be a "coordinated effort with hate speech," advising the town to give the upcoming speakers a "very short leash."

Newly appointed Council President Nathan Umbriac promptly stated that hate speech would not be tolerated in council chambers. "I think it was terrible what just transpired; it's embarrassing, but it is not welcome here and won't be tolerated."

Council member and newly appointed Vice President David Silva added that the phrase "freedom of speech is used to bring these things. But we have to remember that freedom demands responsibility."

The reorganization meeting on Tuesday also featured four council members taking their oaths of office for this new term.

Robert Iannaccone will continue to represent Ward One; Tina Lindsey will represent Ward Two; Steven Pylypchuk will represent Ward Three; and Christopher Russo will represent Ward Four.

Umbriac also assigned the following liaison positions for the coming year:

• Morristown Parking Authority: Silva
• Morristown Partnership: Pylypchuk
• Morristown Housing Authority: Lindsey
• Morristown Planning Board: Russo

Newly retired Council Members Stefan Armington and Tawanna Cotten, who both chose not to seek re-election, were in attendance at the Tuesday night meeting and received mayoral proclamations.

Cotten, who served one term in the Second Ward, was lauded for her efforts as a liaison for the Environmental Commission and the Shade Tree Commission.

Mayor Tim Dougherty, who read the proclamations into the record, said that he would miss Cotten's temperament on the council.

"Tawanna is as calm as you can get, and level-headed. Never seemed to get too flustered, and that is really the sign of a good legislator who is balanced. I will personally miss that. I'll miss that calmness looking across, smiling and seeing your smile," Dougherty said.

Armington, who spent 12 years representing the Third Ward, was praised by Dougherty for his various accomplishments.

"My success has a lot to do with what Stefan Armington was able to accomplish in the 12 years. What I want to say publicly is everyone knows that he's been elected 12 years and on the planning board for all those years. and an asset to the community and a guidance to me, but people don't realize how active he was before he was a councilman," Dougherty said. "Just because you're not sitting up on the dais does not mean you are not going to be as active. His guidance on the planning board for all these years and his guidance on the council is one of the main reasons Morristown has flourished the way it has."

Dougherty officially proclaimed Jan. 2, 2024, as Tawanna Cotten and Stefan Armington Day.

"If you don’t see me, it means you’re doing a good job," Armington said after receiving the proclamation.