Politics & Government

Local Women Hit Hurdle in Montville Before Tying the Knot

Couple ends up getting married in Maplewood.

Officials in New Jersey are now authorized to marry same-sex couples. A decision by the State Supreme Court ruled that same sex-marriages could begin Monday, and they did.

Montville Mayor Tim Braden said that he hadn’t heard of any requests for same-sex marriages to be performed yet, but that the township would obey with the new legislation.

“I am sure that the Town is complying. It is the law,” said Braden. “ I have not been contacted by anyone looking to be married lately.”

Find out what's happening in Montvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

On Monday, a local had some difficulties. 

Patricia Bannan was trying to affirm her marriage to Allison Doyle in New Jersey. She and Doyle have been together for 25 years. 

Find out what's happening in Montvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bannan said in a post on Montville Patch's Facebook page that she "called Montville Township to apply for a remarriage license so that Allison and I can affirm our marriage in New Jersey this afternoon in Maplewood at 4:30. The woman who answered would not make an appointment for us to come in. She said it is "too new," and that someone would have to get back to me." I insisted on an appointment, and she would not make one. I have left John Wozniak three messages. He is in a meeting and will call me back."

She added that she had tried to reach Wozniak four times since 8:30 a.m. and had not heard back by noon time. "Why, does the town that I have lived in for 21-plus years not have the respect, consideration or decency to at least call me back," she said. 

In Montville, marriage licenses are not handled by the clerk's office, but rather the health department. Township Health Officer Wozniak told Patch that "this situation was already resolved."

A little after 1 p.m. on Monday, Bannan announced on her Facebook page that she and Doyle would be getting married in Maplewood at 4:30 p.m. 

"The only reason Allison and I got our license application on the 21st was that I insisted we were coming in at 2:00. It was disgraceful that a town like Montville didn't know enough that equality means the same forms, the same procedures for everyone. In the end, it worked out. But I must say that I was disappointed in their response," said Bannan.

Just last week during a debate with Sen. Barbara Buono, Gov. Chris Christie said the following:

"If my children came to me and said they were gay I would grab them and hug them and tell them I love them," Christie said. "I would also tell them that your dad believes that marriage is between one man and one woman."


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