Our Montville

Montville PD Sending Alerts Via Email & Text

The Montville Township Police Department is once again using a service to broadcast alerts to interested residents via text message and email, Chief Richard Cook announced.

For the past month, Montville police have used the service, Nixle, to broadcast information about a rash of home break-ins  in town. Nixle allows public safety agencies to send warnings, alerts and informational messages via text message, email, mobile app or Web browser for free.  Continue reading Patch.

New Fire Chief at the Wheel in Towaco; Elections Coming

Kenneth Breeman, former president of the Towaco Board of Fire Commissioners, was elected fire chief by the Towaco Fire Department. Breeman began his term on January 1st.

At the regular Towaco Fire District meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 18, Breeman asked the commissioners to approve a white water rescue training program for eight members of the Fire Department. Because Montville Township was hit by a flood last summer, Breeman said that this awareness program would be helpful.  Continue reading NorthJersey.com.

Consultant Coming for Police Review

A Palo Alto, Calif.-based consulting company is scheduled to visit the Montville Township Police Department starting next week to look for "opportunities to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency" of the department, officials said.

Matrix Consulting Group was awarded a $35,000 contract to perform the study, which includes extensive interviews of township and police management and staff, and an analysis of the department's budget, policies, calls and workload.  Continue reading Patch.

Obama Pushes For High-Voltage Line To Be Built

The Obama administration announced Wednesday its support for fast-tracking the Susquehanna-Roseland project—a plan to build high-voltage power lines on towers running from Warren County through Sussex and Morris Counties.

The proposal—which has drawn criticism from environmental groups as well as several of the affected towns—would include a 145-mile long 500 kV transmission line from the Susquehanna Substation in Pennsylvania to the Roseland Substation in New Jersey, and several 500-230 kV substations in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Continue reading Patch.

Kiwanis Food Pantry is Serving a Need

In the 15 months since the Kiwanis Club started a food pantry, it has grown in every way  imaginable: the need, the donations, and the locations. At the Food Pantry, volunteers Deane Driscoll, Janie Hines and Nancy Flanagan have room for more items on the shelves.

The pantry is the brainchild of Joe O’Dowd, its unofficial chairman, who suggested it after what he describes as the "perfect storm" of events.

Long before the food pantry, located at the United Methodist Church in Towaco, was ever an idea, the Montville Township Kiwanis Club was distributing food to needy families – in baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The members received help from the teens in the Key Club at Montville Township High School who conducted a food drive at the school.  Continue reading NorthJersey.com.

OurMontville.com wants your "Report Card" on Montville

So now that Montville has been ranked 17^th in the nation as one of the best places to live, and is  also part of Morris County’s happiest residents in the state……where do you think we actually fit in?

Considering that so many residents seem to engage in heated debates about anything from putting turf on the high school fields to the intense political battles that ensued this year, one cannot help but wonder how our residents really feel about this highly rated and happy town!

Township roots for trees

Montville Township celebrated its seventh annual Arbor Day on Friday, April 29, at the Municipal  Building. Committee Member Deb Nielson was honored for her environmental contributions to Montville through her formation of the Montville Sustainability Committee and her work with the Montville Township Environmental Commission. The Sustainability Committee fosters the development of policies that integrate environmental, economic, and social values in decision making.

Emily DeFazio, a third grader from Valley View Elementary School, was the winner of the Arbor Day poster contest. Third graders Lillian Wu and Nina Chirico from Hillside Elementary School tied for second runner-up honors. The theme for the posters was "Trees in Montville are Beautiful."  Continue reading NorthJersey.com.

Montville and Insurer to pay $700,000 legal settlement

A seven-year legal battle drew to a close yesterday when the insurer for Montville Township agreed to terms of a settlement with a local developer who filed a lawsuit charging civil rights violations and breach of contract.

Ronald Soussa will receive a total of $700,000, with $600,000 coming from the insurer and $100,000 directly from the township. A tentative settlement, which awaited the insurer’s acceptance, was announced in Superior Court in Morristown two weeks ago.  See Star Ledger and Judge Davenport Charged With Ethics Violations.

Judge Davenport Charged With Ethics Violations

 The Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct has filed a formal complaint entitled In the Matter of Seth I. Davenport, Former Judge of the Municipal Court. 

MUNICIPAL JUDGE FACES ETHICS CHARGES FOR MOONLIGHTING AS MAYOR'S LAWYER
A former municipal judge accused of doing legal work for his town's mayor while serving on the bench has been charged with judicial ethics violations. Seth Davenport, who was Montville's judge for seven years until resigning last April, also submitted a false certification denying that he represented the mayor after becoming a judge, the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct alleges in a complaint made public on Monday.

During an interview with ACJC staff on Oct. 5, 2010, Davenport admitted it was "improper" for him to represent then-mayor John Rossellini Jr. while a judge and that the certification, filed in a Superior Court case, was "incorrect." Davenport, who became Montville judge in January 2003, allegedly kept handling personal legal matters for Rosellini until at least December 2004.  See Neighbor News, Daily Record, and Star Ledger.

See previously Judge Davenport Under Investigation.

Morris residents not immune to 'worst economic downturn since Great Depression'

Services of Morris County Office of Temporary Assistance in demand

The numbers, said Mary Jo Buchanan, Morris County's director of human services, are "frightening."

The numbers tally Morris County residents who sought services through the Office of Temporary Assistance last year. As outlined by Freeholder John Murphy to fellow board members, they show: Continue reading Daily Record