Freeholder Board Statement on U.S. Supreme Court Decision NOT to Hear County Historic Preservation Case

Published on March 04, 2019

FREEHOLDER DIRECTOR DOUG CABANA ON U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION

The Morris County Board of Freeholders is very disappointed by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to consider the county's appeal.(PNG, 53KB)

The U.S. Supreme Court's denial binds the county to the New Jersey Supreme Court's ruling which exclude religious organizations from applying for and/or receiving county historic preservation program grants.

We believe that the county's preservation program was created for a secular purpose: to preserve all historic landmarks. Our preservation grant program was created for all historic sites, including our magnificent houses of worship, some of which date back to the 1700s.

The county's program has never differentiated between religious and secular organizations when it comes to our history.

Morris County's historic preservation program will continue in 2019, however, per the court rulings, religious institutions will not be eligible to apply for or receive county historic preservation trust fund grants.

The Freeholder Board will have no further comment.

https://morriscountynj.gov/2018/morris-county-petitions-u-s-supreme-court-on-historic-preservation-of-religious-institutions/

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