Residents urge action on Speedwell Place traffic, parking and code enforcement

Two residents told the Morristown Town Council they are concerned about pedestrian safety and local code enforcement at Speedwell Place.

David Cook, who identified himself as living at 37 Speedwell Place, said his neighborhood has seen multiple crashes — including a recent fatality — and urged changes to signal timing and pedestrian crossing controls. "The traffic lights out there need to be changed," Cook said, and he described past serious incidents including a drunken driver who drove through his house. He also said he and his family have received what he characterized as unclear or "bogus" property-maintenance tickets and asked to meet with the mayor.

His son, David Richard Cook, said the family spent months displaced after a crash and later faced unexpected public-parking rules that limited their ability to park near their home while they sought a permit. "I just wanted to sit down, talk to the mayor," he said, asking for a diplomatic meeting to resolve long-running permit and enforcement disputes.

Mayor Timothy P. Dougherty responded that property-maintenance complaints are handled through the town's property-maintenance division or the website portal, not directly through his office, and invited the Cooks to schedule a meeting with his assistant, Kristen Wetterburn. On traffic signals, the mayor noted that many signals are county or state-controlled and said he has requested the governor's office consider Morristown for any pilot work on light sequencing. The mayor also advised pedestrians to push the crosswalk button to trigger walk signals and said the administration is looking into the Speedwell intersection.

The council also noted the recent installation of a rapid-flashing beacon at Hamilton and South that still needs to be connected; town staff were asked to follow up with the county about light sequencing and button installation.