Morristown Council Meeting Plagued By Tech Glitches

MORRISTOWN, NJ—In a meeting that saw multiple technology issues interrupt the proceedings, in one instance for about 20 minutes, the Town Council of Morristown met on Tuesday night.

The problems began when the council meeting started late, after another conference ran over time. Members of the public who tried to log into the meeting were told they could not.

"Our council meeting started late," said town administrator Jillian Barrick "Our ABC hearing was still going on, so when anyone tried to log in at 7:30, they got a message that they could not join."

But soon after, during the public hearing portion of the meeting, the feed logged out for approximately 20 minutes. A Zoom link mix up with the previous meeting was said to be the cause.

Mayor Tim Dougherty's report reviewed the start of indoor dining and noted that Morristown's coronavirus numbers have leveled out to where the town hasn't had a new case in nearly one week.

"It's really good," Dougherty said, "people are doing what they're supposed to be doing, wearing masks. People are keeping their distance, and hygiene is key."

Sandi Mayer, 4th Ward councilwoman, reported vandalism of trees in ward as part of the Shade Tree Commission report.

"There's holes being drilled into the trees and something is being poured into them," Mayer said, "probably trying to ruin the trees and get rid of them."

Mayer said a tree on Cleveland Street was recently vandalized, its bark sawed off and copper nails nailed into it.

"Hopefully the residents will step up in that neighborhood and put a stop to that vandalism," the councilwoman said.

In other business, the council, while renewing the liquor license for the Iron Bar on South Street, lifted the bar's requirement to close at 11 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. on weekends. The council members established that the bar's early closure was not due to any violations concerning its license.

"There were no ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) violations," said Vijayant Pawar, the town's legal director. "If there were violations, we would receive notice that the state ABC had filed charges against the establishment."