3 Takeaways From the Morristown Council Debate

MORRISTOWN, NJ — The candidates clashed on several issues Tuesday at the Morristown Council debate, including affordable housing and tax arrangements for developers.

The Democratic ticket features Council Vice President Toshiba Foster, Councilmember David Silva and Housing Authority Commissioner Nathan Umbriac. Former Council President Michelle Dupree and Verrilli's owner Kristi Dimogerodakis represented the independent slate at the debate. Their running mate, John Thomas Jr., was not present.

The candidates are running for three, four-year Town Council positions.

Here are three takeaways from the debate:

Clashes on Housing

Harris made it clear in her opening statement that she felt gentrification and overdevelopment were top Morristown issues. When the candidates were asked about affordable housing, Dimogerodakis said the increasing costs have changed demographics around town.

"Although growth and development is a fantastic thing and we all welcome it, when middle-class Americans cannot afford to live here, such as myself, who makes a wonderful income, we have a problem," Dimogerodakis said. "We have a big problem. We have changed the look of Morristown, which was once a working-man town. And now we have a bunch of transients who don’t really have any generational love or plan on growth for this town."

She blamed the shift on the town's widespread development of apartments over the years, which she said aren't as suitable for someone to build a family in Morristown and stay longterm.

But Silva and Foster touted the municipal government's record on housing, with Silva stating that they've enabled local laws that ensure a certain percentage of new developments become affordable units.

Foster praised the progress of the Morris Street redevelopment project, which will yield 18 affordable-housing units, including 14 special-needs homes.

"One of the projects I’m proud about that we recently supported as a governing body was the project on Morris Street, that’s going to yield 85 units, (14) of which are going to provide special housing for special needs," Foster said.

Development Disagreements

But the Morris Street project came with an arrangement that included a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), and PILOTs have sparked controversy in Morristown. Supporters have argued that such arrangements make the development projects possible, by allowing profitability in their early years. Critics have opposed the fact that they tend to take tax payments away from the Morris School District. Read more: Public's Doubts Loom Over Morris Street Tax-Incentive Proposal

Dimogerodakis argued that the Town Council has been giving out too many PILOTs.

"We have PILOT programs where we have enticed people to come to Morristown and help, right? Because Morristown is an undesirable town," she said sarcastically, "and we're going to put in these PILOT programs so that you put in your money and invest in us."

But when the topic came up again in the debate, Silva defended the arrangements.

"Every single PILOT is different and unique," Silva said. "Every resident in Morristown should be interested in studying PILOTs. And also I encourage people to continue participating in every community meeting when somebody comes and proposes to develop or do something that requires a PILOT."

Future of the Century 21 Property

The candidates proposed several different ideas for what they'd like to see in the building Century 21 occupied by the Green.

Harris proposed something "crazy and fun:" making it a town recreation building and also moving Town Hall to the space. She proposed selling the current Town Hall property and pursuing federal funds.

"It would be perfect, right in a location where everybody can walk to it," Harris said.

Silva agreed that the town needs greater recreation and said the property would be a good place for it — whether it's private or public.

Umbriac liked the idea of keeping retail there but thought the space could be good for a shared-services community center. Dimogerodakis thought Morristown would benefit from a teen center there, where the youth can get mentored and do activities.

The General Election takes place Nov. 2. You can watch the full debate below. The League of Women Voters of the Morristown Area and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority co-hosted the event.

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