MORRIS TOWNSHIP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, June 7, 2021 – 6:00 P.M.

CALL TO ORDER The June 7, 2021 meeting of the Economic Development Advisory Committee was called to order by Liam Gallagher (EDAC Chairman) at 6:02 P.M., via Zoom.

* * * ATTENDANCE Mr. Ken Bariahtaris Mr. Robert Berns Ms. Jessica Brennan Mr. Randall (Randy) Emond Mr. Liam Gallagher Ms. Elizabeth (Beth) Kujan Mr. Jeffrey Mueller (absent) Mr. Malcolm (Mike) Sheldrick (absent/resigned)

APPOINTED OFFICERS Mr. Jeffrey Grayzel, Mayor Mr. Timothy F. Quinn, Township Administrator Ms. Kathy Viarengo, Tax Assessor

ALSO PRESENT Ms. Cathy Wilson, Township Committeewoman * * * PRESIDING OFFICER’S STATEMENT RE: ADEQUATE NOTICE – O.P.M.A. – (RECORD INSERT) Liam Gallagher issued the following statement of adequate notice:

“Adequate Notice” of this meeting of the Township Committee of the Township of Morris was given as required and defined by the Open Public Meetings Act, as follows:

Written Notice was given on January 15, 2021 to the official newspapers, Morris County Daily Record, by email at least 48 hours prior to the date of this meeting, and a copy of the Notice was posted on the Bulletin Board in the Municipal Building of the Township of Morris by the Township Administrator, and a copy of the Notice was likewise filed in the Township Clerk’s Office. Copies of this Notice were mailed by Certified Mail to all persons who have requested Indi MORRIS TOWNSHIP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, June 7, 2021 – 6:00 P.M. vidual notice, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 10:4-19, all of which Notices were given at least 48 hours prior to the date of this meeting, and said notice will be retained in the Office of the Township Clerk.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Liam Gallagher led the Pledge of Allegiance.

GENERAL BUSINESS The first topic of discussion was the vacant building that is for sale at 299 Madison Avenue. It has been vacant since April 2019 and is owned by Nuveen and managed by SJP. It is currently zoned as an OL-5 (office lab situated on five acres). Nuveen promised to keep EDAC informed on the sale of the property. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, medical offices, upscale retirement communities, and storage facilities demonstrated interest in the property. According to Liam and Kathy, it is not currently zoned for storage facilities or a retirement community and that its current zoning is best for medical offices. While there is currently not enough parking for a medical facility, the number of parking spaces can be increased. Kathy stated that the property will be offered “as is” and that proposed uses other than offices will have to go before the planning and zoning boards to request a variance. Mayor Grayzel stated that whatever goes in at the site will need to upgrade the Madison Avenue Corridor’s (MAC) appearance. Randy asked whether potential buyers would want to approach the Township first before purchasing the site to see if it is zoned for their vision. Tim responded that they would have to go before the planning board and the board of adjustments. Kathy stated that a press release to real estate publications regarding 299 Madison Avenue should be done sooner rather than later and that the press release should mention that the property is located only two doors down from the Abbey which will soon become a Restoration Hardware (RH) Gallery location. Committeewoman Wilson stated that the Municipal Messenger should also include info regarding the RH site. Randy believes that doing a press release is a good idea and that it should mention the 299 Madison Avenue site and other possibilities on the MAC. Kathy stated that RH closed on the Abbey several months ago and now officially owns the site. Tim stated that RH will be going before the planning board in July and will hopefully have board approval by September. Liam and Kathy both stated that property owners on the MAC should be notified regarding these developments prior to the public being notified. Rob and Jessica offered to assist with writing the press release. MORRIS TOWNSHIP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, June 7, 2021 – 6:00 P.M. GENERAL BUSINESS (CONTINUED) The next topic of discussion was the request for proposal (RFP) that was sent out to recruit possible candidates to conduct the interviews and administer the surveys to MAC property owners. It was sent to Therefore Strategy, Princeton Public Affairs Group (PPAG), and MBI. MBI did not respond but the other two firms did. Using Therefore Strategy would cost approximately $1000 more than PPAG and would not be available until after August 1st. Therefore Strategy was founded by Holly Moore who was a guest speaker at the April 5th EDAC meeting. Rob stated that he felt as if PPAG was the lesser of the two candidates, because they did not appear to have as detailed of an understanding and that their proposal was not as structured compared to Therefore Strategy. Committeewoman Wilson stated that she had reservations about using professionals to conduct the interviews and administer the surveys and asked if EDAC members could do the outreach instead. She also stated that she felt as if Township residents had been put on the back burner and wanted to engage them in revitalizing the MAC. Mayor Grayzel stated, “Time is of the essence and we need to move forward expediently.” Rob asked about starting the budget process. Tim responded, “We have not gotten there yet,” and also mentioned having a meeting with Township residents to discuss the findings of the interviews and surveys. Committeewoman Wilson agreed with the idea of the meeting and stated that people need to be involved and share their ideas, as she is concerned about misconstrued information making its way to the public. EDAC has a “resident subcommittee” consisting of Committeewoman Wilson, Ken, and Rob. It has not met yet but hopes to have its first meeting in the very near future. Liam stated that he also prefers Therefore Strategy to PPAG, as its proposal seemed “more robust.” Tim responded that he needs written justification for why the more expensive firm is being chosen and needs approval from the Township Committee, because taxpayers’ dollars will be funding the project. Mayor Grayzel asked if EDAC could ask PPAG to “fill in the gaps” but Tim warned against this. Liam asked if EDAC could reach out to Princeton for copies of final reports for similar projects to the one EDAC is conducting and Tim stated that he would be alright with that. Jeff suggested requesting finished products from each firm to make the comparison more fair. Tim agreed that that would be appropriate. The final topic of discussion was the development of 161-163 Madison Avenue, which is in Morristown but extremely close to the border with the Township near Turtle Road. A new apartment building is being proposed on the site. According to Kathy, the apartments will be available for rent and will be owned and developed by the Silverman Group which also owns the Provident Bank site and 310 Madison Avenue, both of which are in the Township. Liam and Committeewoman Wilson planned to attend the site visit on June 12th. MORRIS TOWNSHIP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, June 7, 2021 – 6:00 P.M. GENERAL BUSINESS (CONTINUED) The public commentary component consisted of Amy Merl of 3 Old Glen Road expressing her concerns about 299 Madison Avenue as she lives right near its parking lot. She stated that she is worried that the public is not being informed about what is happening and that she wants to be kept in the loop. She also stated that she “does not want to get stuck with something bad” and that the Township Committee should stand up for its residents. Mayor Grayzel assured her that there is a process and that any proposals for the site need to go before the planning board.

ADJOURNMENT The June 7, 2021 meeting, with no further business, was adjourned at 7:08 P.M.; next to convene at 6:00 P.M., July 19, 2021 via Zoom.

Nicole Donohue EDAC Secretary