Mayor: I Can't Stop Snooki & JWoww Filming in Morristown

Tim Dougherty is the mayor of Morristown. That doesn't mean he has the authority to do anything he wants, which currently includes telling production crews they cannot film in Morristown.

The mayor clarified that point to Patch Wednesday afternoon in the wake of  that the decision to allow the filming of "Jersey Shore" spinoff series "Snooki & JWoww" here is his.

"I don't have that power," he said. "I don't have ultimate authority if there is no law on the books to back me up."

When 495 Productions–the production crew behind the show about "Jersey Shore" cast members Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and Jenni "JWoww" Farley–sought to film in Hoboken earlier this year, they were rejected . That city's mayor, Dawn Zimmer, was lauded for the decision, even from the Italian American One Voice Coalition.

While Dougherty has said the town is not closed-minded to any production company wanting to use Morristown for their shoots, the safety and quality of life of the residents comes first.

Dougherty said town attorney Vij Pawar is presently researching whether or not such a regulation, or something else, is possible for Morristown. The letter sent to Morristown by 495 Productions noted the two cast members would be frequenting clubs, restaurants and bars in town, which Dougherty noted "are in residential neighborhoods," he said. "That may be something we want to look at."