City Homeless Shelter Hearing Continued to March 20 State orders sister shelter in Morristown closed
By GARRETT STASSE The state says the controversial Jersey Shore Rescue Mission, which wants to run a homeless shelter in Asbury Park, has been operating illegally in Morristown and was ordered closed. The state Division of Community Affairs said in a letter dated Feb. 22 that Market Street Mission of Morristown needs licenses to provide drug and alcohol counseling for homeless men. The letter set off another round of controversy at the recent Asbury Park Board of Adjustment meeting. The mission wants to operate a homeless shelter on Memorial Drive near Asbury Avenue. The plan calls for beds for 40 men and kitchen facilities to serve meals to the needy on a daily basis. The mission is before the board for a third time to win use variances to run the operation on Memorial Drive near Asbury Avenue. Last year Superior Court Judge Alexander Lehrer, sitting in Freehold, directed the board to clarify testimony given during the original hearing on the mission's application for a use variance. Ronald Gasiorowski, the Red Bank lawyer representing Stand Up For Asbury, a group of city residents concerned about the shelter, produced the letter from the state at the meeting. Brendan Judge, the mission's Roseland-based lawyer, attempted to have the letter quashed as evidence, but was unsuccessful. Mission Director G. David Scott accused Gasiorowski of causing the letter to be written. Gasiorowski ignored the charge. He said the state sent a warning letter in November and an application for permits in December. Scott said he believed the mission didn't need licenses because of the separation of church and state doctrine. "You came to Asbury Park after you were told you were violating state laws," Gasiorowski said. "I call that arrogance. I call that disrespect for the community," he said, adding he planned to pursue the shut-down order in court if need be. Judge, conferring with Scott, told the board the city mission would comply with state rules. Gasiorowski also challenged the mission's ability to keep the facility and surrounding streets safe. He said the shelter had room for 27 men to sleep on mattresses for up to 10 days and facilities to feed many more during the day. There was nothing in transcripts to say how the mission would maintain safety for residents and children who walk past to and from school. "Twenty-seven men are basically flushed out every 10 days," he said. "They're released for the day unsupervised and they're unsupervised in the shelter. The mission has not submitted itself to the scheme and statutes of the state; there are no conditions attached dealing with supervision." That "could cause substantial detriment on the community" which would be contrary to Lehrer's assertion that the mission was beneficial to the city and region, he said. Scott replied that the mission has counselors in the building and that it plans to have a close working relationship with the Police Department. He also downplayed a report from the Morristown Police Department listing hundreds of calls to the Market Street Mission. Scott said nearly none were for crimes, and some were placed by the mission because of events outside the mission that they had nothing to do with. The mission can't conduct background checks but counselors ask a series of questions to determine whether a man should be admitted, Scott said. No one under drug or alcohol influence is allowed in, he said. Another lawyer for a resident, Paul S. Werther of Teaneck said the mission needs, but did not get, a license to sell used cars. He said a state Motor Vehicles Commission official told him there were no exceptions for religious institutions. "It's another indication of operating outside the law," he said. Scott said he has a letter from the same agency telling him the opposite. Gasiorowski grilled Scott about the city facility's service area. Morristown serves North Jersey; the Asbury Park facility is to serve South Jersey. Gasiorowski noted there are no prohibitions from taking men from anywhere in the country, he said. "Is it your intent to act as a magnet for drawing drug-addicted men from all of South Jersey," he asked. Scott said, "The truth is, if I need help I'm not going to come from Florida or someplace else." The hearing is scheduled to continue on March 20. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Something is new at Yahoo! Groups. Check out the enhanced email design. http://us.click.yahoo.com/kOt0.A/gOaOAA/yQLSAA/Y2tolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AsburyPark/join (Yahoo! 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