Clerk Candidate Amasses Long List of Mayoral Endorsements

Morris County Freeholder Ann Grossi is building support for her bid for a new job.

Morris County Freeholder Ann Grossi, running in the June 4 Republican primary to replace outgoing county Clerk Joan Bramhall, has something to celebrate. Her campaign has announced that the Parsippany resident has won the public support of a long list of New Jersey mayors. The list includes the names of 24 town leaders. An open letter sent to Morris County Republicans by an entity called Mayors for Ann Grossi extols the candidate's virtues. "As Republican elected officials and community leaders we can think of no one more qualified and capable of continuing the integrity and efficient management of the clerk’s office than Freeholder Ann Grossi," the document states. "Since the Liberal Media has [sic] declared war on the Republican party …

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No Tax Increase in Morris Budget, Up For Adoption Wednesday

Freeholders expect final vote on first spending plan in 15 years to maintain stable tax levy.

The Morris County freeholders will hold a public hearing on the 2013 $311.1 million spending plan Wednesday evening. The budget, which was introduced in February, is the first in 15 years without a tax increase, as the amount to be raised by taxation — $217.9 million — is stable from 2012.  “This budget reflects the first zero percent tax increase in 15 years,” said Freeholder Hank Lyon, chairman of the Freeholder Budget Sub-committee, in a release. “It gives the families and taxpayers of Morris County the relief they deserve.” The budget cuts expenses by more than $6 million and reduces spending by $2.3 million.  Lyon said the 2013 budget continues to fund a wide variety of human and social service programs including mental health; …

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Morris County Budget Input Wanted at Public Meeting

Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents to speak their minds to committee members.

The Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders is asking for the public's input on the 2013 county budget currently being drafted and has invited members of the public and municipal leaders to share their opinions with the Budget Subcommittee. The subcommittee will be hosting a budget session on Feb. 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Knox Room, fifth floor, of the county Administration and Records Building on Court Street in Morristown. "The freeholder’s budget committee has been meeting on a regular basis for nearly a year and is now in the process of formulating the final spending plan for introduction in the next few weeks," according to a press release sent by Joe Garifo, public information officer for the freeholders. Additionally…

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No Tax Hike Resolution OK'd by Freeholders

Flat tax would be first time since 1998, Freeholder Hank Lyon says.

The recently reshuffled Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders has moved quickly on its first substantial piece of action, passing a resolution on a plan introduced just two weeks ago. Six of the Freeholders approved a resolution to seek a goal of no increase in county taxes for the 2013 budget, according to a press release from Freeholders John Krickus and Hank Lyon. Lyon, the budget committee chairman, presented the resolution to the board, saying “It’s important we give the taxpayers a break. We cannot freeze property taxes every year, but when we can we should freeze or cut property taxes,” according to the release. If the resolution holds true, this would be the first year since 1998 taxes did not increase at the county level, the …

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Kevin Nedd

5:51 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013

I think you are right. Especially since the WTBOE's lastest budget contained a 0 percent tax increase, the County could probably learn a thing or two.   more ›

Freeholder Reflects on Tax Decrease, Fiscal Strength in Morris

Ann Grossi congratulates governor, county on 'a job well done.'

Morris County Property Taxes Down .8 Percent, Freeholder Says

Director said county plans not to increase taxes in 2013 while still providing 'essential services.'

Morris County property taxes fell .8 percent last year, the only county drop in the state, according to Freeholder Director Tom Mastrangelo. In a press release sent Monday, Mastrangelo, a Montville resident, credited Gov. Chris Christie and his administration for redirecting property taxes downward through legislation enacted during his tenure. "By enacting salary arbitration, health benefits, and pension reform, local government was given the tools to reduce property taxes and in Morris County we did," he said. Mastrangelo said the .8 percent figure was inclusive of local, school and county levies. The county was able to maintain a bond rating of AAA. "In 2013 we are seeking no increase in property tax dollars to run county government …

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Grossi Running for County Clerk: 'I'm Taking a Risk'

Montville Library Board attorney steps away from county freeholder board to make a bid for clerk's position.

Parsippany resident and Montville Township Public Library Board Attorney Ann Grossi has had a number of titles: lawyer, councilwoman, Morris County freeholder. Now, she is giving up her freeholder seat to run for another position: Morris County Clerk. With Joan Bramhall's Friday announcement that she will not run for a fourth term, three area Republicans have indicated interest: Morristown Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll, county Freeholder Douglas R. Cabana, of Boonton, and Grossi. "It's a different focus than being an elected official in a legislative or policymaking capacity," Grossi said of the shift between freeholder and clerk. "I have the administrative experience to run the office efficiently. I could do a good job during …

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Parsippany's Cesaro Sworn in as Freeholder

Special convention elected Cesaro to fill seat vacated by Gene Feyl, who now heads Highlands Council.

John Cesaro, of Parsippany, the top vote-getter in last week's Republican primary for Morris County freeholder was sworn in Tuesday as the newest member of the board. Cesaro was elected by acclaim by a special Republican convention called to fill the open seat on the freeholder board vacated by Gene Feyl, who in May was named executive director of the Highland Council. Following his election to the freeholder board, Cesaro announced he had resigned his seat on the Parsippany Township Council. His first freeholder meeting was Wednesday. Cesaro will fill the remainder of Feyl’s term until the end of the year, and if elected in November, would begin serving a new three-year term in January. Cesaro was nominated for the position by his running…

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Crowded Freeholder Primary Race Goes to Voters

Nine Republicans and four Democrats seek nominations for four seats Tuesday.

Four open seats on the seven-member Morris County Board of Freeholders produced a primary season that at times seemed more like musical chairs. Nine Republicans and four Democrats are on the ballot Tuesday, seeking party nominations that will place them on the November general election ballot. The open seats are three regular three-year terms and one unexpired two-year term created last year when incumbent Freeholder Margaret Nordstrom was removed from the seat when a state Appellate Court disallowed her narrow special convention victory. The court ruling placed Nordstrom’s opponent Hank Lyon in the seat. He was  sworn into office in March and is unopposed in seeking election to the remainder of his term in November. In addition, incumbent…

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Prentiss Gray

8:56 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The Republican line is pretty much all the same this year, cut, cut, cut, cheaper, cheaper, cheaper. That's all well and good, it's great to have the most efficient local government but what about strategic investments? We always have to invest to meet future needs, what about developing a 5 year plan? I don't have much faith in a candidate that flatly states that they are never going to raise …   more ›

Nordstrom Tapped as Highlands Deputy

Former Freeholder takes over for recently-resigned Tom Borden.

Former Morris County Freeholder Margaret Nordstrom is now the Highlands Council’s deputy director, after the body appointed her to the position on Thursday in Chester. Nordstrom, who was forced to vacate her seat on the Freeholder board after an appellate court ruled her election in November was invalid, said she didn’t consider working on the Highlands Council initially. “I wasn’t thinking about (working on the Highlands Council) at the time,” Nordstrom said. “I always thought it would be something I might like to do, but I didn’t consider it until the Borden resignation.” The resignation of deputy director Tom Borden came in protest, shortly after the firing of director Eileen Swan earlier this year. In April, former Morris County …

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whoha

5:15 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012

Congrats to Margaret. She will do a fine job.   more ›