By Amy Batista, Special writer
MONROE — Planning Board member Morris Glass got the Key to the Township from Mayor Richard Pucci as a birthday present during his 100th birthday celebration at the Clearbrook Clubhouse on Dec. 23.
”When I turned 90, I thought who lives beyond, 90,” said Mr. Glass on Dec. 31. “Now, I know. It appears that as we go along, people are living longer and longer.”
Mayor Pucci said he appointed Mr. Glass to serve on the Planning Board 10 years ago, but has known him much longer.
”I have known Morris for over two decades during my tenure as Mayor,” Mayor Pucci said.
Mayor Pucci said age has not stopped Mr. Glass from making important decisions during his time on the board.
”It is absolutely amazing that his age goes unnoticed when he is at the meetings,” Mayor Pucci said. “He is engaged as much as any member, and has been a great asset to the board. He has been, and continues to be, a member whose actions are always looking to do what’s best for Monroe.”
According to Township Clerk Sharon Doerfler, Mr. Glass was appointed to the Planning Board in July 2002 as a Class IV member.
”Morris is an asset to the Planning Board and to Monroe Township,” said Planning Board Chairman David Rothman. “Every Planning Board in the State should have a Morris Glass, as an example to everyone else.”
According to Mr. Rothman, the mayor just re-appointed Mr. Glass for another four years on the board.
”That will make him 104 when his term is over,” Mr. Rothman said. “I am looking forward to working with this ageless member and doing the best we can for the citizens of Monroe. He is smart, insightful, dedicated and always prepared for every meeting.”
Mr. Rothman said that no application passes by without Mr. Glass having a “thoughtful comment or question” to add.
”The Planning Board works as a team, and Morris has been an exceptional team player,” Mr. Rothman said. “We all try to make the fairest decisions with can and serve the constituents well.”
Mr. Rothman recalled times when Mr. Glass questioned an applicant about a particular part of an application that the board did not bring up before approving the application.
”Morris is quick-witted and always asks the most thoughtful questions at every meeting he attends,” said Councilwoman and Planning Board Liaison Leslie Koppel. “Morris’s wife of over, I think, 75 years died in 2010. They were a loving and inseparable couple. He looked at me at 98 years old and told me that “Now I have to reinvent my life without her”. If at 98 years old Morris was ready to reinvent himself, we all should be.”
Mr. Glass moved to Monroe in 1983 and has seen the town change and develop during his time here.
”It’s amazing the way this town has grown and how well it is being kept,” Mr. Glass said.
According to Mr. Glass, the population in Monroe has “grown three times.”
”A lot of it is growth with the senior citizens organizations, condos and so forth,” Mr. Glass said.
Mr. Glass said the board is revising some of the zoning restrictions and working to protect certain areas to make sure there is enough open space in the township.
”I think there are people that are on the Planning Board that know a lot more than I do and they watch very carefully that the public will not be damaged by what the process is doing,” Mr. Glass said. “We’ve had some very hard requests.”
Mr. Glass encourages the public to come out and attend the board’s meetings.
”Most of the meetings are open to the public and usually when there is something that comes up that their community doesn’t like what is happening, they come out in a mass to make sure that their area isn’t damaged but what is coming in,” Mr. Glass said. “I think that is good to know that the public stays interested in what is going on in the township. It’s very important.”

