Borough Departments

Beginning on Monday, May 18, 2020 the physical operation of all non-essential construction projects are permitted to resume, subject to conditions in E.O. 142.

Ahead of Monday, the Madison Building Dept., serving Madison and Chatham Borough, have implemented policies and procedures in regards to permit payments and pick-ups.

• Payments can be dropped off at Hartley Dodge Memorial, or mailed to 50 Kings Road.
• Please note that Hartley Dodge Memorial still has restricted access, so all business will be conducted through the violation window;
• Permits, once paid, will be mailed to the address provided on the application. Permits will NOT be available for pickup at Hartley Dodge Memorial for the foreseeable future;
• Permit numbers, once paid, will be emailed to the email addressed provided on the application, if applicable, to allow the contractor and/or homeowner to schedule inspections via the online portal;
• The SDL Online Permit Portal will be the primary use for scheduling inspections. Please visit the portal here for scheduling of any/all inspections;
• Please note that due to higher than normal inspection requests, your first requested date may not be available;
• All work must follow the conditions in accordance with E.O. 142, which can be viewed here.

Please note that we ask that you utilize the SDL portal to its full advantage, including but not limited to, checking the status of your permit and scheduling inspections.

Due to higher than normal call volumes, hold times may be longer than normal. Please help us, help you in moving your permit and inspection along by refraining from calling the office for non-emergent issues. Permits and inspections are being processed in the order they are received.

We implemented a policy on March 12, 2020 that building inspections - including electric, plumbing and fire - will be delayed on a property where a member of the household and/or contractor is sick.

The Electric Department is adequately staffed to ensure that power is supplied to borough residents and businesses.

They will continue to upgrade infrastructure throughout Madison by replacing electric meters throughout town with new RF meters that allows the Borough to read your meter without walking onto your property. Replacing the meter requires a temporary interruption of service (1-2 minutes). Crews are replacing meters Monday through Friday from 8am to 3pm.

Madison Police, Fire and EMS services are prepared and ready to respond in the event of COVID-19 in Madison. Procedures have been implemented to contain exposure, while also providing a high level of service to residents.

Please be advised that the Madison Police Department will be strictly enforcing Executive Orders 107 & 108 at the direction of Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal. This includes playgrounds, and fields. 

Penalties for violations of this Executive Order may be imposed under, among other statutes, 2C:29-1. Obstructing administration of law or other governmental function and/or N.J.S.A. App. A:9-49 Violations as disorderly conduct; penalty; prosecution during an emergency.

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The Madison Police Department is now able to accept online reporting of certain incidents that have taken place within our jurisdiction. 

Online reporting is available at: https://www.frontlinepss.com/Madison 

DO NOT USE THIS FORM to report a crime in progress, an injury or any other emergency.   Dial 9-1-1 for all emergencies requiring a Police, Fire or Medical response.  An incident of Domestic Violence must be reported to an officer in person; online reporting is not allowed.  The loss or theft or prescription medication or narcotics also cannot be reported online.

If you’re not sure whether or not to use online reporting, contact dispatch at 973-593-3000.

Here is a list of applicable situations for online reporting.

• Criminal Mischief;
• Harassment;
• Lost Property;
• Theft of Property;
• Fraud / Credit Card / Financial Identity Theft;
• Other Non-emergent issues

DISCLAIMER: It is a crime to file a false police report online.

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Domestic Violence Information and Support Services 

During the COVID 19 court closures, Applications for a Temporary Restraining Order may be filed with the local police department where (1) the victim resides or is sheltered or (2)where the defendant resides or (3) where the incident occurred. 

If you are in need of domestic violence services you can contact any of the following resources:

Morris County Family Justice Center at 973-829-4050 or www.Morrisfjc.org

JBWS: 973-267-7520 or www.JBWS.org

Safety, Support and Solutions for All: 24 hour hotline at 1-877-R U ABUSED (1-877-782-2873)

If you are Hearing Impaired, you can contact 973-314-4192

Center for Non-Violence counseling programs at 973-539-7801

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All Firearms Application and Registration System (FARS) applications will be processed with an expected delay due to the COVID-19 response and recovery. FARS will continue to accept new applications, however it is expected that the background investigations and processing times will be significantly delayed. It is important to note that initial applications will be indefinitely delayed due to the closure of the States contracted fingerprint vendor sites. This portion of the background process will continue as soon as non-essential businesses are allowed to reopen.

The process of delivering the Firearms Purchaser Identification Cards and/or Handgun Purchase Permits may be modified (i.e. mailing permits, pickup from a drop box, etc.) and will be handled on a case by case basis.

The National Instant Criminal Background Check System used by firearms dealers is currently suspended. Handgun Purchase Permits are valid for 90 days and can be extended for an additional 90 days for a total validity period of 180 days. It is possible that Handgun Purchase Permits may expire prior to the end of the COVID-19 response. Handgun Purchase Permits will not be extended past the 180 days from the date of issuance. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis for transactions initiated before Executive Order #107 became effective. The NJSP Firearms Unit and the respective retail firearms dealer will handle those exceptions.

We are providing this information so applicants can make an informed decision on submitting an application in FARS at this time

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All fingerprinting and non-essential records functions will be suspended until further notice. In addition, most permits are available online. Please complete electronically, as possible.

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Tours of the Madison Public Safety Headquarters (Police & Fire), are suspended for the next 30 days.

The Madison Health Department continues to monitor the situation, and provide updates, as necessary to borough administration and Council. 

As of this message, Vital Statistics - birth, death and marriage licenses - are still being issued normally, but due to the current health situation, please call the office ahead of time, as your request might be able to be processed via email.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, municipal courts have cancelled their in person court sessions. With the use of technology, certain cases may be able to be heard and adjudicated remotely. It is advised that you contact the court to set up a video court proceeding and provide your telephone and email address. 

Individuals with traffic tickets are encouraged to pay them online (see payments below).

The Madison Free Public Library is closed, as of March 15, 2020. All programs and activities have been cancelled until further notice.

Although closed, the Library is working to continue to provide residents with limited services. Those services will be relayed through their website and Facebook. 

Public Works and the Sewer Department will continue day-to-day procedures as normal. The Water Department will be suspending all non-emergency Water Meter repairs/replacements - if a resident has an appointment scheduled, it will be rescheduled for a later date.

Beginning Wednesday, March 25 and continuing for the foreseeable future, our hauler will begin collection as early as 4:00 A.M. Residents are encouraged to place their collection to the curb the night before.

In addition to the change of collection time, twice a week curbside pickup, which was scheduled to begin on May 11, has been suspended for the foreseeable future. This change has been reflected in Recycle Coach. We apologize for the inconvenience, and appreciate your understanding.

As of March 12, 2020, all recreation activities are suspended until further notice. We will continue to monitor all available information as the situation evolves, and activities will resume as soon as it is prudent and appropriate. 

Our parks are OPEN, but group activities are not permitted.

All playgrounds, fields and bathrooms are CLOSED. 

As of Monday, March 16, the Senior Center is closed for all events and activities. The center will continue to be staffed for phone support.

Van trips have been cancelled. 

The pickleball season, which was scheduled to begin on April 1, 2020 has been cancelled. We hope to start the season as soon as it is prudent and appropriate.

The Madison Area Call to Action (MACTA) has established a hotline to help the most vulnerable population, seniors.

If you are a senior or know a senior who needs groceries or other assistance, please call 1-800-337-0236 or email MadisonSeniors2020@gmail.com.

Electric meters will continue to be read as normal on the exterior of the house or remotely. That being said, we will be accelerating our meter reads, and billing some customers sooner than normal. You may receive a partial and/or estimated bill, but payment due dates will remain as consistent as possible. 

As of March 13, 2020, interior water meters will no longer be read for residential properties. We will leave an info card at the residence as to how to read and report your usage for proper billing. If we do not hear from you, we will estimate your bill. In the event we have over or under charged, your bill will be adjusted in the future. Commercial water meters will continue to be read as normal.

Borough Council, Commission, Committee and Advisory boards will meet virtually, as necessary. Links to join the respective boards meetings via Zoom will be posted on their calendars, as appropriate. 

For more information, including how to participate in the public portion of meetings, please click here.

As of this message, events including the Green Vision Forum, Taste of Madison and DDC Summerfest have been postponed or cancelled.