'Conflict of Interest' Causes Honeywell Hearing Delay

A potential conflict of interest will force the Morris Township Committee to re-introduce the Honeywell zoning ordinance on Wednesday night, causing the public hearings to be postponed, the township administrator said.

The nature of the conflict will be discussed at Wednesday's meeting, Township Administrator Timothy Quinn said.

Quinn said in a statement that the township attorney determined the conflict could have prevented one of the township committee members from participating in the scheduled hearing.

"It is anticipated that the ordinance will be reintroduced on Aug. 1 and the public hearing and final consideration will commence at the regularly scheduled township committee meeting on Aug. 15," Quinn said in the statement.

Procedurally, the township committee must wait 10 days after the time of introduction. This has caused the cancellation of the Aug. 8 public hearing. The next chance the public can comment in Aug. 15.

Although Wednesday's meeting is open to the public, residents won't be allowed to question or comment the ordinance because it's getting reintroduced.

Several residents already voiced their displeasure with what they felt was a short notice during the summer for the three hearings. One of those who believed there needed to be more time was Committee Member Jeffrey Grayzel.

"If you want to have a fair and open process that's open to the public," Grayzel said, "doing it in August is just not the way to do it. It's just not fair to the public."

If more public hearing and final consideration dates are deemed by the committee to be necessary, it will be announced at the Aug. 15 meeting.