Cleanliness of Morristown Streets Sparks Debate

Things got heated earlier this week over a discussion about clean streets in Morristown.

Morristown resident Helen Arnold, who lives in the second ward, told the governing body that the streets need to be cleaned more. She said she had brought this up to the council back in the winter months at the end of last year.

"As taxpayers we’re used to having our streets cleaned more than once a month. My friends in the other wards say that theirs are being cleaned. Ours are not,” said Arnold. 

“Our streets should be cleaned. We deserve better.We are not Newark, we are not Paterson where we’re so over populated where during the daytime we cannot clean our streets. We have got to do something to help our residents. There’s paper, dirt everywhere in the second ward.”

Councilwoman Alison Deeb asked Arnold if she could list specific streets.

“It’s about every street. Friends on every street and every street, they’re telling me the same thing,” said Arnold.

Council President Michelle Dupree Harris said a couple houses had a cook-out party and “there was garbage on the streets, so it’s the responsibility too of the residents to clean up after themselves.” She added that some neighborhoods do a community cleanup of their streets.

Councilwoman Toshiba Foster said that she lives on Willow Street and, “I can attest that I have seen the street cleaner on Willow Street.”

“For years and years we had a schedule,” said Arnold.

When Councilwoman Raline Smith-Reid brought up the need for residents to be notified with a street cleaning schedule, a debate ensued between Smith-Reid and Mayor Tim Dougherty.

Dougherty said that he would get a schedule of when the street cleaner would come around. He added that Jeff Hartke, director of Public Works/Town Engineer, came in front of the council about nine months ago, provided it with a schedule and told the board that although the state says it needs to be done once a month, Morristown cleans its streets three times.

“I think people are looking for a definite schedule where as they were accustomed being able to have their cars off the street on certain days and certain times. Ward 2 is heavily parked and the residents do deserve to have the street cleaned up to the curb,” said Smith-Reid, adding that perhaps the street cleaning schedule can be sent out when garbage pick up dates are mailed to residents.

Dougherty asked if he gets Hartke to give Smith-Reid a schedule, could Smith-Reid then relay that to her constituents in the second ward, “or do you want us as the administration to send a letter out to every resident?”

The discussion traveled to the topic of what happens to cars in the streets when street cleaning occurs with ample notification to residents. The solutions included towing, ticketing or do nothing.

“Say there’s a car parked on your street and you’re scheduled for (street) cleaning. Two cars don’t get moved, what are we supposed to do with them?” asked Dougherty.

“Let’s give (residents) a couple weeks or even a month and if the cars are not moved after notification, they will get towed,” said Harris.

“I don’t want to tow their cars,” said Dougherty.

“I know, but if the streets aren’t clean and residents complain … they have to get the point,” said Harris.

“If it gets to that point, there’s going to be a lot of upset people,” said Dougherty.

Deeb said that on Western Avenue, there’s signage there telling people to move their cars for street cleaning. However Harris said that there doesn’t need to be more signs.