Volunteer Opportunities

Service in the Community of Caring

Morris Plains residents have a long history of volunteer service in the “Community of Caring.” Each year, many of our residents offer their time, energy, knowledge, and talent to our municipality by volunteering on the Volunteer Fire Department, the Morris Minute Men rescue squad, civic groups, or on one or more of our boards, commissions, or committees.

If you have interest or expertise in a particular area and a desire to volunteer, the Borough of Morris Plains needs you! Please consider volunteering and supporting your community. Many opportunities exist.

Volunteer Form

Click here to complete a volunteer form for a Borough Board, Committee, or Commission.

Volunteers Needed!

The following links provide information about the many ways you can serve the community.

• All Seasons Garden Club
• Beautification Committee
• Board of Health
• Clean Communities
• Community Band
• Memorial Day Parade Committee
• Model Train Club
• Morris Minute Men Emergency Medical Services
• Morris Plains Fire Department
• Morris Plains Museum
• Municipal Alliance Committee
• Planning Board
• Recreation Commission
• Recycling Committee
• Roberts Garden Commission
• Shade Tree Commission
• Teen Center Board
• Traffic Committee
• Zoning Board of Adjustment

Other organizations that provide service to our community:

• Scouting programs for kids
• Youth team sports
• Morris Plains Rotary Club
• Morris Plains Moms Connection
• Morris Plains Home & School Association
• Education Foundation of Morris Plains

Volunteer Projects

In addition to joining the Fire Department, Morris Minute Men Emergency Medical Services, or one of the municipal boards/commissions/committees, there are numerous opportunities for individuals or groups to do projects on their own. Over the years, volunteers have completed a wide range of projects, including building or rebuilding walking trails, erecting benches and tables in local parks, and operating the cameras in the Council Chambers at Borough Hall to record meetings of the Borough Council and of boards/commissions/committees. Since many of these projects will require Borough Council approval, please contact the Borough Clerk for information at rdenman@morrisplainsboro.org.

Citizen Service Act

In 2009, the New Jersey State Legislature enacted the Citizen Service Act, which requires all municipalities to follow a uniform process to allow all citizens an equal opportunity and manner in which to express their interest in serving on local boards, commissions and committees. Any person interested in serving on a municipal board, commission or committee must file a Volunteer Form with the Borough Clerk to start the process.

Once an appointment is made to an official board, committee, or commission, the newly appointed volunteer is required to take an oath of office for that specific position. Under previous law, individuals were only required to take the general oath of office. The law further permits the oath of office to be administered by the chairperson of a board or commission, Borough Clerk, or by any other person authorized under law to administer oaths (N.J.S.A. 41:2-1).  All oaths of office are filed with the Borough Clerk.

The Citizen Service Act further requires the Borough Clerk to maintain a directory of individuals appointed to each of the boards, commissions and committees. The directory includes the number of members or positions; a list of currently appointed members, along with their terms of office; vacancies; general frequency of meetings; the appointing authority, and enabling statute, ordinance or resolution that describes the entity and responsibilities of the members.

The Citizen Services Act amended the law that determines when a position becomes vacant due to unexcused absences. A position can now to be declared vacant when a member is absent from meeting for 8 consecutive weeks, or 4 consecutive regular meetings, whichever is longer.