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THIS MEETING OF ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS HERE BY CALL TO ORDER.
THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED IN ADDITION TO TAKING PLACE IN PERSON ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PALMARA.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
PLEASE STAND FOR AUDE TO THE FLAG AND REMAIN STAND FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
LUCIANO, THE LEADERS IN THE PLEDGE I PLEDGE STATES OF AND TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN THE VISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
I HAVE BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FROM THE CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
MADAME CLERK UNDER ANY TRANSCRIPTS TO BE APPROVED.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, THERE ARE NONE.
MADAME CLERK UNDER ANY TOPICS OF DISCUSSION, MR. PRESIDENT? THERE ARE NONE.
IN THAT CASE, LET US MOVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.
TONIGHT'S MEETING IS A COMBINED CONFERENCE SLASH BOARD MEETING, AND WE'LL VOTE ON EVERY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO IF THERE IS ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME, AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND IT WILL BE TIME LATER IN THE EVENING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OTHER ITEMS. SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
RECOGNIZING COMMISSIONER CBOL FLOOR IS YOURS, SIR.
MY NAME IS JAMES CHOI, RECORDING SECRETARY FOR NEW JERSEY FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE LODGE 1 0 6 AND THE STATE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE SPEAKING TO RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE IN SUPPORT OF DIRECTOR CHARLES'S PERMANENT APPOINTMENT AS DIRECTOR OF THE ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
I MYSELF CAME THROUGH THE RANKS WITH DIRECTOR CHARLES OVER THE PAST, GOING ON 30 YEARS.
UH, AND WE'VE NEVER BEFORE HAD ONE OF OUR OWN IN THE DIRECTOR'S SPOT.
SO WE LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE FREEHOLDER BOARD FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
UH, WITH THAT SAID, HE'S BEEN, UH, THE ACTING DIRECTOR FOR ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS.
THERE'S SOME THINGS WE LIKE, THERE'S SOME THINGS WE DON'T.
UH, THE JURY'S STILL OUT, BUT WE ARE CERTAINLY HELPFUL.
SOME ITEMS THAT WE WANT DIRECTOR CHARLES TO CERTAINLY ADDRESS, UH, ARE THE NON-CIVIL SERVICE HIRING PRACTICES THAT WERE INITIATED BACK IN MAY.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THE BOARD EVER RECEIVED THE DEMOGRAPHICS REPORT THAT IT PLACED AS A CAVEAT ON A, ON APPROVING THE RESOLUTION MAY 25TH, BUT WE RECEIVED IT UNDER AN OPRAH REQUEST.
UH, IT WAS LIMITED TO GENDER AND ETHNICITY.
UH, AND SINCE A DEPUTY WARDEN'S NEPHEW WAS AMONG THE FIRST 41 HIRED, WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT? UH, THE DEPUTY WARDEN'S NEPHEW WAS AMONG THE FIRST 41 HIRED, THE 41 THAT WE DISCUSSED AT LENGTH ON THE MAY 25TH MEETING.
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WE WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT RESIDENCY AGE AND EDUCATION.THERE'S NO LESS THAN 10 OPEN DOCKETED CASES UNDER REVIEW BY THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION REGARDING INAPPROPRIATE TITLES AND UNQUALIFIED STAFF, ALMOST ALL OF WHICH PRECEDED DIRECTOR CHARLES' APPOINTMENT.
MORE THAN 10% OF THE SWORN STAFF STILL LACKS THE STATUTORILY REQUIRED PTC LICENSE TO SERVE AS OFFICERS.
AND I WAS ALSO GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE AMBROSE REPORT THAT WAS DUE BACK IN JUNE, BUT I AM TOLD THAT IT WAS DELIVERED TO THE HALL OF RECORDS ON FRIDAY.
SO MY QUESTION THEN BECOMES, WHEN WILL IT BE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE? OR AT THE VERY LEAST, WE WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE AND EXPECT THAT DIRECTOR CHARLES WOULD REVIEW IT WITH US.
AND AS IS OUR PRACTICE, UH, YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED IN, UH, WRITING.
I, I DIDN'T, I SAID, AS IS OUR PRACTICE, YOUR OR YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED IN WRITING.
ANYONE ELSE FOR THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? LET THE RECORD REFLECT THERE'S NO ONE ELSE AT THIS TIME.
SO NOW WE WILL MOVE TO, UH, WE'LL MOVE OUTTA ORDER AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE RESOLUTION NUMBER SIX, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
PLEASE READ IT INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. RESIDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, OUR, UH, TREASURER MR. MOHAM WILL ADDRESS THIS ITEM.
WANT TO RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER GILL? UH, GOOD EVENING.
UH, MOHAMED, UH, COUNTY TREASURER.
UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER SIX IS, UH, IS FOR, UH, TO AMEND THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
UH, WE ARE INTRODUCING AN ORDINANCE, UH, TONIGHT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ORIGINAL CAPITAL BUDGET, AND THAT'S WHY WE AMENDING THE CAPITAL BUDGET TO INCLUDE THAT, UH, PROJECT FOR THE COUNTY COLLEGE.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS ARE COPY HEARING.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PALMARA? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION IN FIRST READING? UH, MR. PRESIDENT? WE HAVE ONE.
UH, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE THE ORDER NUMBER ONE, WHICH WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, UH, MR. PRESIDENT MR. MOHAMED WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM ALSO, UH, GOOD EVENING FROM SAN MOHAMED COUNTY TREASURER.
UM, THIS ORDINANCE, UH, IS FOR, UM, PROVIDING FOR VARIOUS, VARIOUS CAPITAL EQUIPMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE COUNTY COLLEGE.
THE BIFF SCHOOL ESTIMATE GRANTED THE COUNTY COLLEGE, $3 MILLION.
AND THIS IS THE SECOND MILLION YOU'RE REQUESTING.
AND THIS WILL BE FOR, UM, VARIOUS EQUIPMENTS LIKE LAB EQUIPMENT, CLASSROOM EQUIPMENT, AND OTHER, OTHER EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THE NEWER CAMPUS.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NOW? I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT PALMARA.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PO.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE THREE ORDINANCE O DASH 2022 DASH 0 0 11 ORDINANCE O DASH 20 22 12.
AND ORDINANCE O DASH 22 20 22 13.
LET'S MOVE TO ORDINANCE O DASH 2022 DASH 0 0 11, AND IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I DO HEAR BY THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE
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O 20 22 11 OPEN.IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FOR OR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THE DIRECTOR REFLECT, THERE'S NO ONE WISHING OR COMMENT.
MR. MCIN QUESTION, COMMENTS, MR. A? NO QUESTION.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING ON, I'LL MOVE THIS PRESIDENT.
AND I HAVE A MOVER, VICE PRESIDENT S AND THE SECOND PERMISSION OF MECADO.
DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVE IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE? YES, MR. YES.
MR. WHO SECOND? UH, COMMISSIONER MACAU.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO ORDINANCE O 20 22 0 0 0 1 2.
AND IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I HEREBY DECLARE A PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE O DASH 20 22 2 OPEN.
IF THERE IS ANY ME MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FOR OR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THERE'S NO ONE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING? UH, I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM TO CLOSE THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVER IN A SECOND? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO ORDINANCE O 20 22 0 0 1 3.
AND IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I HEREBY DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE OH, 20 22 3.
IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FOR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION AND YOU WILL HAVE FREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
AND THE SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE O DASH 20 22 0 0 1 3.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVE SECOND TO APPROVE THE ORGANS? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, UM, JUST TO, TO, UH, REMIND THE BOARD THAT ON FRIDAY, THIS COMING FRIDAY AT 10 O'CLOCK AT THE PARK WILL BE THE CEREMONY, UH, WITH, UH, SENATOR RICE AND, AND, AND THE NAMING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE, THE BOARD MEMBERS AWARE OF THAT AT WHICH PARK YOU WANNA AT VA.
WE KNEW THAT, BUT I JUST WANTED YOU TO SAY IT.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS AN ADVISED CONSENT NOMINATION FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF RONALD L. CHARLES AS DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION.
UH, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND ALL OF OUR TEAM ARE VERY HAPPY TO, UH, PRESENT TO THE BOARD, UH, MR. CHARLES FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
UM, AS MR. CHOI VERY ELOQUENTLY POINTED OUT, HE HAS A GREAT TRACK RECORD AND DEFINITELY COMES
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FROM THE RANKS, AND HE HAS MADE AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT IN THE FIRST, UH, SHORT TERM THAT HE'S BEEN HERE.SO WE'RE VERY PROUD TO PRESENT HIM TO THE BOARD AND, UM, ASK HIM TO COME UP AND HAVE SOME REMARKS AND ENTERTAIN YOUR QUESTIONS.
IT'S ON, RIGHT? IT SHOULD BE ON.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UH, MY NAME IS RONALD CHARLES.
UH, TONIGHT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS MY APPOINTMENT AS THE DIRECTOR OF CORRECTIONS, UH, FOR ESSEX COUNTY.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND.
I STARTED WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN, UH, 1986 AS A CORRECTION OFFICER.
I ROSE TO THE RANKS OF SERGEANT, LIEUTENANT CAPTAIN BECAME THE WARDEN, AND THEN THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
UM, I RETIRED FROM THE DEPARTMENT AFTER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE.
UM, I THEN, UH, WENT TO RUN, UH, DELANEY HALL, UM, WHICH DRUG AN ALCOHOL FACILITY, UH, FOR A FEW YEARS.
AND FOR THE PAST NINE YEARS, I WAS AT THE RECORD OF CORRECTIONS FOR THE UNION COUNTY, UH, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, UM, WHICH OVERSAW THE JAIL AND THE, UH, YOUTH DETENTION CENTER.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU, YOU MAY HAVE COMMISSION SBO.
I'VE KNOWN, UH, RON CHARLES FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
I REMEMBER WHEN HE FIRST WORKED FOR ESSEX COUNTY, AND I AM REALLY DELIGHTED THAT HE IS GOING TO BE ASSUMING THIS POSITION AND HE'S VERY, VERY ACTIVE IN THE TOWN WHERE HE LIVES IN, UH, WEST ORANGE.
AND, UH, WITHOUT GOING INTO DETAILS, YOU WERE ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, CORRECT? CORRECT.
AND YOU ARE RUNNING FOR TOWN COUNCIL, CORRECT? YES.
AND YOU'RE A TERRIFIC PERSON, AND I HOPE THAT EVERYTHING COMES TO FRUITION.
IS THERE OTHER, MR. PRESIDENT, COMMISSIONER, UH, THANK YOU.
UH, I TOO LIKE, UH, COMMISSIONER SEABOLD HAVE KNOWN RON CHARLES A. LONG TIME.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
I THINK HE'S AN EXCELLENT CHOICE TO RUN OUR FACILITY.
UM, WHILE I BELIEVE THAT THE FACILITY RUNS WELL, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE HAD SOME, SOME MINOR INCIDENTS, UH, OVER RECENT YEARS.
I THINK THAT IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE A, UH, WHAT I WANNA SAY, A HOMETOWN GUY THAT'S BEEN WITH OUR DEPARTMENT FOR YEARS, ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS, ALSO CONTINUES TO LIVE IN ESSEX COUNTY, UM, TO COME BACK HOME FROM UNION COUNTY AND STILL WANT TO DO IT.
SO, MR. CHARLES, DIRECTOR, UM, YOU KNOW, BEST OF LUCK TO YOU, AND, YOU KNOW, OUR BOARD IS HERE TO SUPPORT YOU WITH WHATEVER YOU NEED.
UH, THANK YOU, MR. UH, PRESIDENT.
THE, UH, I APPRE I APPRECIATE THE, UH, OFFER OF THE DIET SODA.
UM, UH, JUST WANTED TO, UM, ONE, UM, UH, AGAIN, UM, ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES, UM, ABOUT THE CREDENTIALS OF MS. CHARLES.
THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE NOT, UM, UH, IN QUESTION.
UM, HOWEVER, UM, I, I DO FEEL COMPELLED TO PUT THIS QUESTION, UH, ON THE RECORD.
UM, UM, IN TERMS OF, UM, THE OTHER POSITION THAT YOU'RE SEEKING, AND, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS POSITION IS A, AT LEAST IN MY EXPERIENCE HERE ON THE BOARD, IS A POSITION THAT'S A 24 7, UM, POSITION.
UM, IT'S REALLY NOT, IT'S NOT LIMITED TO JUST THE HOURS THAT THE COUNTY, UM, IS OPEN.
AND, UM, WOULD LOVE TO HEAR, UM, FROM MR. CHARLES IF, IS HE, IF HE IS SUCCESSFUL IN HIS PURSUIT TO SERVE ON THE WEST ORANGE TOWN COUNCIL, WHAT THE, UM, ALLOCATION OF, UM, HIS TIME WOULD BE, UH, BETWEEN THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES AND, AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES, UH, TO SERVE, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THIS, IN THIS POSITION.
SO, UH, I SERVED SIX YEARS ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN WEST ORANGE.
UM, AT NO TIME DID THOSE DUTIES ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I DON'T SEE ANY, UH, CONFLICT OF TIME-WISE, MY COMMITMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND TO THE COUNTY FOR THE PAST 30 SOMETHING YEARS OF MY, UH, MY ADULTHOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN, UM, STEADFAST.
AND FIRST, UM, I DO, I DO, I AM AT THE JAIL RIGHT NOW, 10, 12 HOURS A DAY AS I'M TAKING, ASSESSING EVERYTHING.
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WILL CONTINUE UNTIL, UM, I PUT MY, MY FULL TEAM IN PLACE.UM, I PUT MY, UH, REORGANIZATION TOGETHER.
UM, I AM AVAILABLE 24 HOURS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
MY FAMILY IS, IS QUITE AWARE OF, UH, OF HOLIDAYS, UH, MISSED HOLIDAYS, UH, MISSED BIRTHDAYS, MISSED EVENTS, MISSED, MISSED SPORTING EVENTS, UM, EMERGENCY MEETINGS.
UH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF ANYONE SUFFERS, IT'S THE FAMILY, RIGHT? THAT SUFFERS, RIGHT? CAUSE THEY KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE.
SO I STARTED IN CORRECTIONS WHEN I WAS 19.
UM, SO I AM PREPARED FULLY TO, TO, UH, MAKE THAT COMMITMENT, UM, MY COMMITMENT ON TO THE, IF I'M SUCCESSFUL IN THAT ROLE.
UM, I DON'T SEE ANY CONFLICT IN THAT AT ALL, ALL THREE, MR. PRESIDENT AND I, AND I APPRECIATE THAT FOR SURE.
AND IT'S, UM, LESS, I ASK THAT QUESTION LESS.
UM, I, I DON'T SEE THE TWO POSITIONS NECESSARILY AS, AS A CONFLICT, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, FROM YOU DIRECTLY ON, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU THINK ABOUT THE TIME, THE TIME COMMITMENT, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOUR CAREER IN, UM, UM, PUBLIC SERVICE HAS, YOU KNOW, AND THE IMPACT, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA THAT YOU HAVE WORKED IN, HAS PROBABLY HAD ON YOUR FAMILY.
SO I, I, I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT AND RESPECT THAT.
UM, I WANNA BE CLEAR, I DON'T SEE ANY CONFLICT IN THE TWO POSITIONS THEMSELVES OTHER THAN THIS POSITION, I THINK IS JUST, TO ME, OUT OF SOME OF OUR DIRECTORSHIP POSITIONS.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY ACROSS ANYTHING, IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK.
BUT THIS IS A PARTICULAR AREA THAT, UM, HAS, HAS BEEN PRONE TO HAVE MORE, UM, UH, UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS THAN NOT
I, I, I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT, RIGHT? SO WE, YOU KNOW, UM, SECONDLY, UM, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO TOUCHED ON IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, YOU KNOW, YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON, UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE FACILITY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE, UM, UH, A PERSPECTIVE FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE, BUT ALSO PUTTING A NEW SET OF EYES ON EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE, UM, IN PLACE.
I'M SURE YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH, UM, SOME OF THE MANY CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST, UM, MANY YEARS.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, FOR YOU, IF I, SURE.
I WAS A REMISS ON TWO THINGS, UH, FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT.
UM, I LIVED THERE, UH, SO I GOT MARRIED IN, UH, AT, AT 31.
I, FOR THE LAST 27 YEARS, MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN RESIDENTS OF, OF WEST ORANGE.
AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, ESSES COUNTY HAS BEEN MY HOME.
NOT, NOT ONLY THE JAIL, BUT ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP IN BE AND LIVING IN, UH, WEST ORANGE.
UH, WHAT, WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING, UM, SINCE MY ACTING APPOINTMENT, UM, IN ALL, I'VE BEEN ASSESSING ALL OPERATIONS OF, OF THE FACILITY, TAKING A HARD LOOK AT, UH, FIRST THE FISCAL, UH, PART OF IT.
I'M TAKING A LOOK AT THE, UH, THE SAFETY AND SECURITY.
WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT, UM, THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
WE'RE LOOKING OUT, UH, WE'RE LOOKING, UH, WITH THE NAOTO GROUP AS FAR AS REDUCING OVERTIME, UM, UH, THE AMBROSE GROUP WITH, WITH, WITH THEIR REPORT AND THE CIVILIAN TASK FORCE AS WELL.
UM, AND, AND WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
UM, MY GOAL IS TO MAKE THE FACILITY THE GOLD STANDARD IN CORRECTIONS, UM, THROUGHOUT, NOT ONLY NEW JERSEY, BUT, BUT, UH, BUT, BUT THE UNITED STATES, THAT'S MY GOAL.
UM, I'M, I'M ASSEMBLING A TEAM THAT WHO HAS THE SAME PHILOSOPHY THERE.
UM, THERE ARE GONNA BE SOME HARD, UH, CHOICES WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE, AND, UM, WE'RE WILLING TO DO THAT, UM, AND, AND GET THINGS IN ORDER.
UM, SO, UH, I, I JUST WANT THE COMMISSION TO, TO KNOW THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT MY PHILOSOPHY AND ME PERSONALLY HERE.
UH, CONGRATULATE, UH, THE ADMINISTRATION ON, UH, VERY THOROUGH SEARCH.
IF I MAY JUST ADD ONE THING TO THAT LIST THAT YOU JUST, UH, ENUNCIATED THAT WOULD BE CLEAR COMMUNICATION WITH THE BOARD SO THAT THIS BOARD DOESN'T FIND OUT TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE ABOUT THINGS THAT MAY BE PROBLEMATIC OR MOVING FORWARD.
AGAIN, AS COMMISSIONER GILL SAID, IT'S NOT AN INDICTMENT OR ANYTHING PREVIOUS, BUT I THINK IN THE RELATIVELY SHORT TIME THAT I'VE BEEN HERE IN LESS THAN TWO TERMS, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK COMMUNICA HEARS THE COMMUNICATION OVER THE LONG TERM COULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
AND SO WE'LL ASK THAT IF YOU COULD, UH, PERHAPS VISIT THAT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE LEARN ABOUT MAYBE WHAT SOME OF THE COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWNS HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.
AND SO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN BUILD ON, UH, ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
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THANK YOU.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SO, SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE ONE AND CONGRATULATIONS.
UH, AND WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO SEE PEOPLE WHO COME THROUGH THE RANKS AND WORK THEIR WAY UP.
UH, THEY HAVE A REAL, UH, INTRICATE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THINGS WORK, HOW OPERATIONS WORK.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT YOU ARE GONNA BE A HANDS ON GUY.
I HEARD YOU SAY YOU WORKING 10, 12 HOURS, UM, IN THE FACILITY, UH, NOW.
AND IT HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, GIL WAS, UH, POLITICALLY CORRECT.
SO IT'S BEEN A LOT OF ISSUES, UH, IN THAT FACILITY.
A LOT OF COMPLAINTS, A LOT OF EMAILS THAT WE GET, UH, CONTINUALLY IN TERMS OF, UM, IN TERMS OF HOW PROMOTIONS WORK.
THERE'S A LOT OF DISSENSION, UH, AMONG OFFICERS AND HOW THINGS WORK.
AND WE DEFINITELY NEED TO SEE SOME CHANGES.
COMMUNICATION IS GOING TO BE KEY.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THE DIRECTOR IN HERE, UH, AND HE SAY ONE THING, AND THEN HE'LL HAVE, WHAT'S PS ON THE PHONE WHO'LL SAY SOMETHING ELSE.
SO THEY BE AT A LIVE MEETING CONTRADICTING ONE ANOTHER.
SO I HOPE YOU PUT THE RIGHT TEAM IN PLACE.
SO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS DON'T HAPPEN.
UH, AND WE GET ONE CLEAR MESSAGE, BUT THEY NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHO'S GONNA BE IN CHARGE AND WHO'S RUNNING STUFF.
RIGHT? IT CAN'T BE THIS MIX OF 20 DIFFERENT PEOPLE RUNNING THE FACILITY.
IF YOU ARE GONNA BE THE GUY IN CHARGE, EVERYBODY IN THE FACILITY NEEDS TO KNOW THAT, THAT THE BUCK STOPS HERE.
WE'RE GONNA BLAME YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE TAKING, YOU'RE TAKING A JOB.
EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED, WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU.
WE'RE NOT GONNA DENY YOU ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO, UH, MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER AND THE TRANSITION SMOOTH.
I NEED YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT DELANEY HALL, TOO.
THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES IN DELANEY HALL, SO I DON'T KNOW WHO OVERSEES.
YOU WILL BE OVERSEEING DELANEY HALL AS WELL.
UH, SO WE NEED YOU TO PUT YOUR STAMP DOWN.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN CHARGE AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THEY NEED TO DO.
SO THE, THE AMBROSE REPORT AND THE YAKAMOTO REPORT.
SO HOW, HOW, SO HOW MUCH OF THAT IS JUST ADVISORY, OR ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE TO, UH, DO WHAT THEY SUGGEST? JUST ADVISING CONSENT? IS IT JUST ADVISORY, UH, DOCUMENTS? UH, SO, UM, I HAVEN'T READ THE FULL, UH, AMBROSE REPORT JUST YET, BUT I, THEY'VE, THEY'VE MADE CRITICAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON CRITICAL FINDINGS.
THEY'VE MADE, UH, I DON'T WANNA SAY PLAIN RECOMMENDATION, BUT, UH, ORDINARY RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL.
UH, AND THERE'S SUGGESTIONS IN THERE.
UM, I DID GET A CHANCE TO WORK WITH THEM OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE WEEKS ABOUT SOME OF THE INPUT, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE CALLING FOR, RECOMMENDATIONS I'VE ALREADY PUT IN PLACE.
I'VE ALREADY, UH, PUT THOSE, UH, THINGS THAT I FELT THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED RIGHT AWAY.
UM, I'VE, I'VE CORRECTED SOME OF THOSE, UH, DEFICITS.
UM, I'VE PUT CORRECTIVE ACTION IN PLACE ON, ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS ON, AND WE CONTINUE TO EVOLVE THE NA AOTO REPORT, UM, AS FAR AS THE STAFFING GOES, UM, IS GOING TO BE A BIG HELP.
AS, AS I SET THE REORGANIZATION TOGETHER.
UM, THERE ARE, UM, NEW, A NEW TABLE OF ORGANIZATION COMING OUT.
THERE'S GONNA BE, UM, RESPONSIBILITIES OF SERGEANTS, LIEUTENANTS, AND CAPTAINS, UM, THAT THEY'RE NOT USED TO.
UM, THE OFFICERS ARE GOING TO HAVE A, UH, WE'RE GONNA CONCENTRATE ON SECURITY AND SAFETY FOR EVERYONE.
UM, NOT ONLY FOR THE STAFF, BUT ALSO FOR THE, FOR THE IMAGE THEMSELVES.
UM, I THINK, I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN AWAY FROM THAT A LITTLE BIT, IN MY OPINION.
UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS THOSE THINGS.
UM, IF I MAY, I WANT TO, UH, ADDRESS YOUR CONCERN THERE.
THERE WILL BE NO QUESTION, UH, THAT I, IF I'M APPROVED TONIGHT, WHO'S IN, WHO'S IN CHARGE? I UNDERSTAND MY RESPONSIBILITY.
I UNDERSTAND, UM, WHAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATION AND THIS BOARD HAS APPROVED FOR ME.
UM, I DEDICATE, I'VE DEDICATED MY LIFE ONTO THIS PROFESSION.
I'M GONNA PUT A TEAM TOGETHER, UM, TO CORRECT SOME OF THE, WHAT I BELIEVE ARE SOME OF THE, THE ILLS THAT ARE HAPPENING THERE, UH, FROM A OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT AND FROM A STAFFING
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STANDPOINT.UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH, UH, THE
UM, THIS BOARD AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, UM, IN MAKING SURE THAT THINGS ARE, ARE RUN ABOVE BOARD, TRANSPARENT, AND, UM, FAIR AND SAFE TO EVERYONE.
THAT'S ALL WE ASK, RIGHT? AND, AND I KNOW YOU'RE THE MAN FOR THE JOB.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
DO I HAVE A MOVER? IN A SECOND.
MR. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER SIBO, SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PO.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
I'M GONNA NEED YOUR CELL PHONE, THOUGH,
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS TWO THROUGH FIVE N 88, WHICH ARE BUDGET INSERTIONS AND WILL BE RENTED TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE, AS YOU SAID, WE HAVE FIVE, UH, BUDGET INSERTIONS THIS EVENING.
THE FIRST ONE, UM, IS $150,000 FROM THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF NEW JERSEY FOR THE TURTLEBACK ZOO OPERATIONS.
UM, AND THIS IS MONEY THAT WILL BE USED TO PAY VENDORS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES TO THE, UH, ZOO.
THE SECOND ONE IS FOR, ALSO FOR THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN, UH, RECREATION COMPLEX.
THIS IS FOR THE, UH, ENHANCEMENT FUND, AND THESE FUNDS ARE USED A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OR USED FOR MAINTENANCE, LANDSCAPING, UH, AND TREE WORK AT THE FACILITY.
UH, THE FOURTH ONE IS, UM, THE, AN INSERTION FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR 2023, UH, TRANSPORTATION PLAN OF, UH, OF PAING THAT WE DO, UM, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
UM, AND THIS WILL FUND OUR, OUR 2022 TRANSPORTATION ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THERE'S NO MATCH FOR THIS.
UM, THE FIFTH ONE, UH, IS AN INSERTION OF REVENUE FROM, UH, DIVISION OF, UH, HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, FOR THE CDBG UH, PROGRAM, YEAR 2016 TO 2021 IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,057,064.
THIS FUNDING IS GONNA GO FOR ROAD REHABILITATION OF STUYVESANT AVENUE FROM THE SOUTH ORANGE, FROM SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE IN NEWARK, THROUGH IRVINGTON, UH, TO THE UNION COUNTY, UH, BORDER.
UM, AND NUMBER 88 IS THE INSERTION OF REVENUE FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
THIS IS FOR THE, UH, AREA SERVICE PLAN THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE BOARD, UH, ALREADY APPROVED AND RECEIVED, UH, FIVE, APPROXIMATELY $5 MILLION, UH, EARLIER THIS YEAR.
UM, AND, UH, THIS IS THE, WHAT THEY CALL THE MIDYEAR, EXCUSE ME, MIDYEAR ALLOCATION, AND AGAIN, IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,304,819.
COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONERS OR CONDUCTS HEARING NOT.
YOU NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND TO TAKE RESOLUTIONS TWO THROUGH FIVE AND 88 IS ONE.
THANK MOVE BY COMMISSIONER ACADO.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRANT, ROLE CODE MEDICAL CLERK.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, UH, MR. MOHAMED WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM.
GOOD EVENING, SOME MOHAMED, UH, THE COUNTY TREASURER.
UM, THIS RESOLUTION IS AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY TO, UH, OBTAIN SHORT TERM FUNDING THROUGH THE NEW JERSEY INFRASTRUCTURE BANK FOR ORDINANCE NUMBER 2205.
UH, THE, THAT ORDINANCE WAS FOR THE RENOVATION OF THREE, UH, COUNTY BRIDGES.
UH, THE ORDINANCE WAS ADOPTED BACK IN, UH, APRIL OF 2022.
[00:35:02]
THANK YOU, MR. AA.MR. MC, NO QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING HONOR.
I'LL SECOND MOVE BY VICE PRESIDENT FROM OUR SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PALMARA? YES.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 8 86 AND 87, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CITIZEN SERVICES, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR, UH, RICHARDSON GREEN WILL HANDLE THESE ITEMS. GOOD EVENING.
UH, VALENTINA C RICHARDSON, GREEN, DIRECTOR OF DIVISION OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS.
THE FIRST ITEM IS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CITIZEN SERVICES, DIVISION OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS, REQUEST APPROVAL OF THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION PAYMENT TO THANK YOU GEMBA SECURITY SOLUTIONS FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF PA SYSTEM AT 3 23 21 UNIVERSITY AVENUE, NEWARK IN THE AMOUNT OF $236,670 AND 24 CENTS.
THE REASON FOR THE PA SYSTEM PURCHASE IS FOR SECURITY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS AS WELL AS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES, OR JUST FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES.
AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS, JUST GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM AND WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU.
DEPARTMENT OF CITIZEN SERVICES, DIVISION OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS, APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY SHELTER AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SERVICES FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.
24 MONTH CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $34,790,740.
THE NEXT ITEM, DEPARTMENT OF CITIZEN SERVICES COUNTY MOORE KEEPER OFFICE CONTRACT AWARDED TO TWO LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS TO PROVIDE FUNERAL SERVICES FOR UNCLAIMED OR INDIGENT DIRECT INDIVIDUAL INGROUND BURIALS 24 MONTH AGREEMENT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $350,750.
I ALSO HAVE ONE OF THE, OUR SHELTER PROVIDERS FOR OUR LARGEST SHELTER, THE Y M C A, THE SUPERVISOR OF THE SHELTER HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, WITH RESPECT TO THE EMERGENCY PA SYSTEM, PURCHAS, THAT WAS IN RESPONSE TO, UM, A FILE FILE, UM, VISITATION THAT NECESSITATED, UM, THE PURCHASE RATE EMERGENCY ITSELF? NOT COMPLETELY.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS, UH, NEEDED.
PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS NEEDED PRIOR TO THAT, BUT THAT JUST, UH, GAVE US MORE BACKING IN TERMS OF NEEDING THAT, IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR CUSTOMERS, AS WELL AS OUR EMPLOYEES, ARE NOTIFIED SO THAT THEY CAN GET OUT THE BUILDING SAFELY.
JUST, JUST WANTED THE RECORD TO REFLECT FOR THE SAFETY AND WELFARE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? VICE PRESIDENT.
ON NUMBER 86, THE, THE ONE THAT DEALS WITH THE EMERGENCY SHELTER, THERE WERE TWO DENIED, UH, RESPONDENTS BECAUSE OF LICENSING ISSUES.
WERE THOSE ONES THAT WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY FUNDED, OR WERE THOSE JUST FOLKS NEW ENTITIES THAT JUST DIDN'T MEET OUR QUALIFICATIONS PREVIOUSLY? WE HAVE UTILIZED THE HALSEY STREET ASSOCIATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO BE PLACED IN OUR REGULAR SHELTERS.
THAT IS A, A HOTEL MOTEL, AND UNITED COMMUNITY CORP WAS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WE USED BEFORE, BUT THEIR LICENSE WAS NOT UP TO DATE FOR THE PARTICULAR CONTRACT THAT WE PUT OUT.
SO IT JUST WAS A MATTER OF NOT THAT, NOT KEEPING CURRENT, NOT HAVING THE APPROPRIATE SHELTER LICENSE.
MR. MC, ON THE EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANTS, UH, THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MR. A MILLION DOLLARS OF THAT, AND I JUST, MR. MR. MCIN, I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
I'VE SAID THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CLOSE TO $1 MILLION, UH, OF THAT AGREEMENT.
AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF, HAS THAT AMOUNT BEEN BUDGETED IN THE 2022 BUDGET? THE AMOUNT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.
THERE'S A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE BASED ON THE TYPE OF SHELTERS.
IF IT'S A TAN SHELTER, THERE'S A PERCENTAGE THAT'S COVERED BY THE COUNTY.
THE GENERAL ASSISTANCE, THE SINGLE
[00:40:01]
INDIVIDUALS IS COVERED FULLY BY THE STATE.THE COUNTY'S PORTION FOR TANF IS ONLY 5%, AND FOR THEIR SSI CUSTOMERS IS 25%.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS HERE OR NOTHING? I HAVE A MOVE IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PO.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
OKAY, MADAME CLERK, LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
AND WE'LL BE RUNNING TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, MR. PRESIDENT WILL PUT MR. CHARLES RIGHT TO WORK, AND HE'S GONNA HANDLE THIS ONE.
HEARD THAT ONE OR NOT? I GUESS.
MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, UH, WE DEPARTMENT CORRECTIONS HAS ONE ITEM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT.
UM, IT'S FOR THE RESPONSIVE, UH, BIDDER FOR TO PROVIDE SPORTS EQUIPMENT AND GAMES TO THE RECREATIONAL SUPPLIES TO THE JAIL.
DEALS ARE FOR GAMES LIKE DOMINOES, CHEST CHECKERS, AND DEXA CARDS, PASSIVE RE, UH, PASSIVE, UH, RECREATION EQUIPMENT.
I'LL BE HAPPY ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS? HEARING 90 TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PALMARA? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS 10 AND 11, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COUNCIL, AND BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL ST.
JOHN WILL HANDLE THESE ITEMS. GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT CA.
UH, UH, ITEM 10 IS INVOLVES, UH, EIGHT EIGHT PLUS ACRES IN CEDAR GROVE, UH, THAT WAS BEING USED BY CEDAR GROVE, UH, AND NOW THROUGH A LEASE THAT WAS TO EXPIRE IN 2024, IT'S GOING TO EXPIRE NOW IN 2022 WITH THE FIVE YEAR LEASES.
THEREAFTER, THEY'LL BE USING ONLY THE SOFTBALL SLASH BASEBALL FIELD, AND THE BALANCE OF THE PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE USED BY THE COUNTY.
SO THE BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FIELDS WILL BE USED BOTH BY CEDAR, BY CEDAR GROVE, AS WELL AS THE, THE COUNTY EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.
SO THAT'S, THAT INVOLVES, UH, ITEM NUMBER 10.
ANY, ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE MIGHT HAVE ON, ON THE BASEBALL SOFTBALL FIELD OR CEDAR GROVE? GO, GO TO THE NEXT ONE WITH THE, I'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT.
UH, NUMBER 11 IS TO RETAIN AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT US IN THE MATTER OF ANTHONY CAPEL VERSUS THE COUNTY.
UM, I'M RECOMMENDING THAT WE HIRE THE SAME FIRM THAT IS REPRESENTING THE COUNTY ON ANOTHER L A D CASE, SO THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE BROUGHT UP TO SPEED ON THE PARTIES OR THE DISCOVERY THAT WAS, UH, TENDERED IN THAT MATTER.
AND I THOUGHT, A, THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB ON THE OTHER MATTER, AND B, I THINK IT'S GONNA SAVE US SOME MONEY.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? 10 OR 11 HEARING? I NEED TO MOVE.
UH, JUST ON, UM, ISSUE, UM, UH, NUMBER 10, THE, DO WE, DO WE HAVE, DOES THE COUNTY HAVE ANY OTHER AGREEMENTS FOR ANY OF OUR OTHER FIELDS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THIS ONE? UM, AND, AND I GUESS THE, THE REASON I'M ASKING IS I'VE, I'VE HAD CONSTITUENTS, UH, THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE GROUNDBREAKING THAT WE HAD ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
AM I JUST MAKING SURE I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CORRECT FIELD? SO I'VE HAD OUTREACH AS TO WHY, UM, FROM THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IN CEDAR GROVE, WHY WE WOULD ONLY ALLOW CEDAR GROVE TO USE THE FIELD.
WELL, AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST CEDAR GROVE, IT'S ESSEX COUNTY, UH, SCHOOLS AS WELL THAT WILL BE USING THE FIELD.
BUT, BUT WE'RE PROHIBITING ANY OTHER, SO WE'RE PROHIBITING ANY OTHER SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES FROM USING, UTILIZING OUTSIDE OF THOSE TWO.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER, YEAH, LET ME ASK YOU FIRST QUESTION.
UH, AND I'M TOO NEW TO TELL YOU WHICH ONES THEY ARE, BUT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AGREEMENT SINCE I GOT HERE.
SOMEONE SAYS, PLEASE LOOK AT THE VO TECH AGREEMENT.
[00:45:01]
REMEMBER THE VO TECH BASEBALL AGREEMENT? THERE'S A VO-TECH BASEBALL AGREEMENT, UH, WITH A MUNICIPALITY.I, I CAN'T TELL YOU, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
I KNOW WE HAVE OTHER AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
NOW, I, I GUESS, I GUESS THE THREE, MR. PRESIDENT, THE, THE, THE QUESTION I'M, I GUESS THE POINT I'M GETTING AT IS, IS IT, ARE WE GIVING EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO A MUNICIPALITY BECAUSE OF THE USE OF THE, BECAUSE OF THE VO-TECH USE OF THE FIELD? WHY ARE WE GIVING AT A COUNTY FACILITY EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO ONE TOWN FOR FIELD USE? I'M GOING TO ASSUME, AGAIN, I, I WAS AROUND WHEN THE HILLTOP PROJECT WAS DONE TWENTYSOMETHING YEARS AGO.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS, THERE WERE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THIS, WITH CEDAR GROVE AT THE TIME FOR THE USE OF THAT FACILITY IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT THE COUNTY WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH WITH REGARD TO THE HILLTOP PROJECT.
I BELIEVE THAT'S WHY THEY GOT THE ORIGINAL LEASE FOR THAT 8.8 PLUS ACRES OF PROPERTY AS A, UH, NEGOTIATED TERM WITH, WITH CEDAR GROVE TO BE COOPERATIVE.
WITH REGARD TO THE HILLTOP PROJECT.
DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING DIFFERENT BACK THEN? I DON'T, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING, I WASN'T HERE, BUT I CAN SAY THAT THE, I GUESS TO ME, THAT THE ISSUE IS RIGHT NOW, BEFORE THIS CHANGE, CEDAR GROVE HAD EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE FIELD, OF THE FIELD.
SO IN RETURN FOR GIVING THAT UP AND ALSO ALLOWING US TO USE A FIELD FOR THE SCHOOL, FOR WEST CALDWELL, THE QUICK GROW PRO, IF YOU WILL, WOULD BE THAT THEY MAINTAIN THAT, THAT SENSE OF EXCLUSIVITY, BUT ALLOWING US TO USE IT, BUT NOT LOSING WHAT THEY HAD.
SO THEY'RE NOT GIVING UP COMPLETELY THE FIELDS.
THEY HAD IT, THEY HAD IT EXCLUSIVELY BEFORE.
SO IT WAS, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO CHANGE.
AND I DON'T, AND I CAN'T, COMMISSIONER, I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY YEAH.
THAT MANY MOONS AGO, WHY THAT WAS DONE.
BUT THAT'S, THAT WAS REALITY AT THE TIME.
I MEAN, I'M SURE YOU CAN APPRE YOU PRESIDENT.
I'M SURE YOU CAN APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHEN WE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED THIS OTHER, YOU KNOW, UM, ANOTHER TOWN SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL LEAGUE SAYING, HEY, LISTEN, FIELD ARE AT A PREMIUM.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER ONE, ONE THING, YOU'RE CORRECT, MR. ST.
BUT, BUT THAT'S ALLOW 'EM TO FINISH.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS SAYING.
THIS IS SAYING THAT TO THE, TO THE, TO THE MUNICIPALITY.
MEANING, UNLESS I'M MISUNDERSTANDING THIS, ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT THE, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT THE VERONA BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL LEAGUE COULD USE THIS, COULD USE THIS FIELD? CAUSE I'M, THEN I'M MISUNDERSTANDING WHAT THIS AGREEMENT SAYS.
BE HAPPY TO, UH, THE AGREEMENT IS AS FOLLOWS.
CEDAR GROVE WILL GIVE TO THE COUNTY A SCHEDULE FOR THEIR USE OF THE FIELD FOR, UH, SOFTBALL, UH, AND LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL.
WE WILL BLOCK OUT THOSE DATES FOR THE USE OF CEDAR GROVE FOR THOSE TIMES AND DATES.
NOT FOR THE BALANCE OF THE USE OF THE FIELD.
SO THEN, UH, TO, TO, WE NOW HAVE THE, THE, THE COUNTY FACILITIES THAT WILL BE USING IT AS WELL.
IF THERE IS AN EXTRA USE OF THE FIELD THAT'S POSSIBLE THERE, WE OWN THE FIELD.
SO I DON'T SEE ANY LIMITATION ON IT.
IF MORONA CAME TO, WELL, WE SHOULD COUNTY, WE, WE SHOULD CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE WAY IT WAS PROJECTED IN THE PRESS, THIS PRESIDENT.
LIKE IT WAS VERY CLEAR IT, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
IF THAT'S, IF THAT'S THE CASE AND THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, JUST LIKE IF ANY OF OUR OTHER FIELDS WILL BE ABLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, THROUGH MR. PRESIDENT MORE, I GUESS MORE TO THE, I GUESS BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
CAUSE IT'S MORE A QUESTION OF POLICY.
TO ME, IT'S MORE OF A POLICY QUESTION THAN A LEGAL QUESTION.
I, I UNDERSTAND THE AGREEMENT.
I HAVE NO ISSUE WITH THE, THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THE AGREEMENT.
I'M REALLY NOT ASKING A LEGAL QUESTION.
I'M ASKING A POLICY QUESTION, WHICH IS, WHEN WE ANNOUNCED THIS, WE SAID ONE TOWN GETS TO USE THIS FIELD AND ONE TOWN ONLY.
AND THE CEDAR GROVE OFFICIALS WERE PRETTY CLEAR TOO.
NO ONE ELSE WAS USING THIS FIELD.
SO THAT'S INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE ANNOUNCED.
SO, UM, SO WHEN, WHEN WE HAD THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
SO I JUST, I I DO NEED, I, I DO NEED, HOPEFULLY YOU CAN GET AN ANSWER, YOU KNOW, BACK AS TO, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, THROUGH YOU MR. PRESIDENT, AS TO WHETHER OR NOT, UM, WHAT OUR COUNTY COUNCIL JUST TESTIFIED AS TRUE THAT A TOWN COULD APPLY FOR THE USE OF THE FIELD ONCE ALL THOSE DATES ARE, ARE FILLED UP.
WELL, AGAIN, LET ME GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
THE COUNTY'S GONNA BLOCK OUT THOSE DATES FOR THEM.
NOW YOU HAVE COUNTY USE OF THE FIELDS.
AFTER THE COUNTY USES THE FIELDS, WHO KNOWS WHAT DATES WILL BE AVAILABLE.
I AM CERTAIN THAT NO ONE AT, I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT.
I HAVEN'T READ THE PRESS, BUT I'M ASSUMING NO ONE AT CEDAR GROVE SAID WE HAVE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE FIELD.
[00:50:01]
CAUSE THAT'S NOT THE DEAL AND THAT'S NOT THE DEAL IN WRITING.AND THEY DON'T HAVE EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE FIELD.
THEY DON'T EVEN OWN THE FIELD.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, UM, I'LL, I'LL BE, UM, HAPPY TO CIRCLE BACK ON AGAIN ON THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT'S, I, I UNDERSTAND AND I APPRECIATE THE ANSWER, BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID IT DID.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT EXACTLY WAS CONVEYED IN, IN THE, IN THE, UM, HENCE, HENCE THE OUTREACH TO, TO MY OFFICE.
OTHERWISE I WOULDN'T HAVE, IF IT WAS, IF IT WAS SAID, HEY, THEY HAVE A, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS A PRIORITY, YOU'RE SAYING PRIORITY SCHEDULING IS GONNA BE GIVEN TO THE HOMETOWN THAT THE, THAT THE FIELD, AND WE'RE GONNA FILL THOSE DATES FIRST THEY HAVE PRIORITY AND THOSE DATES, SO THOSE ARE THE DATES ARE GONNA GET FILLED FIRST.
THEN OUR VOCATIONAL DATES ARE GONNA GET FILLED, FILLED SECOND, AND IF THERE'S AVAILABLE DATES, OTHER COMMUNITIES, THEN JUST THROUGH OUR, JUST LIKE ANY OF OUR OTHER PARKS COULD, CAN APPLY TO OUR SCHEDULING PROCESS FOR, FOR TIME.
SO I THINK I UNDERSTAND THAT POINT, BUT IT JUST, IT WAS CONVEYED DIFFERENTLY WHEN WE MADE THE, WHEN WE, AT LEAST WHEN WE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
AND I JUST, AND, AND THAT DISTINCTION TO ME IS IMPORTANT.
AND BY THE WAY, IF THAT IS THE POLICY, MY OWN OPINION, I'M FINE WITH THAT.
THE POLICY, I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND WHY IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, YOU'RE TELLING ME IT ISN'T.
BUT EVEN IF IT IS, I WANNA UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S JUST BECAUSE IT'S, WE'VE VOCATIONAL USE THE LEASE BACK AGREEMENT, WHATEVER, I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER, UM, WHY WE MADE THAT DECISION.
BECAUSE THIS SETS A PRECEDENT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE ABOUT TO, WE'RE ABOUT TO FINISH THREE OR FOUR OTHER FIELDS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE FINISH, UM, A MULTIPURPOSE FIELD, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, IN, IN MY HOMETOWN OF MONTCLAIR AND GLENFIELD PARK IS FINISHED.
DOES THAT MEAN, UH, DOES THAT MEAN, UM, THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN AGREEMENT WHERE ONLY THE, ONLY THE NON-PROFIT SPORTS LEAGUES IN MONTCLAIR GET FIRST? THEY GET THE FIRST CRACK AT THE DATES AT GLENFIELD PARK? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING? I DUNNO.
I THINK ABOUT GLENFIELD PARK
DO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. YAO? YEAH.
WHILE IN ARTFUL, UM, TO YOUR POINT, UH, COMMISSIONER GILL IN SUBSECTION ONE, IT IS CLEAR THAT IN THE EVENT THAT THE CEDAR GROVE REQUESTS THE USE OF THE FIELD OR ANY NON-SCHEDULE DATES, IT IS COMPLETELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE COUNTY TO CONSIDER THAT REQUEST.
SO IT, IT IS COUNTY PROPERTY AND WHEN OUTSIDE THE SCHEDULE, THEY HAVE TO MAKE THE REQUEST.
SEE IF YOU CAN GET MA LOCKED IN TOO
THIS IS, THIS IS FOR RESOLUTION 10 11, MOVE BY COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, WHO'S SECOND? I DID.
COMMISSIONER GRAND ROLL CALL MATTER.
UM, ARE WE TAKING 10 AND 11 TOGETHER? 10 AND 11 TOGETHER? UH, SO YES.
ON 10, UH, PRESENT, NOT VOTING ON 11.
AB AND COMMISSIONER LUCIANO? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PALMARA? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 12 THROUGH 15, WHICH ARE FROM THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S A DYNAMIC DUO, UH, AT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS NOW, UM, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE DEPUTY, MS. AMOS AND MR. FRANZY, THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AND THEY HAVE A COUPLE ITEMS FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THIS EVENING.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS, AS MY MIKE IS ADJUSTED.
MY, UH, MY PARTNER'S IN HIS SEAT, BUT, UM, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, UM, BEFORE YOU, UM, THE PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME ON THE RECORD.
NICOLE AMOS, CLERK AND YOUR AFFILIATION, CLERK OF THE BOARD.
THANK SO GOODNIGHT TO EVERYONE.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS WITH REGARDS TO SEEKING APPROVAL FOR CONTRACTS.
STARTING WITH NUMBER 12, WE ARE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THE CONTRACT TO DOMINION VOTING SYSTEMS, WHICH, UH, PROVIDES THE, UH, SCANNING OF THE, UH, MAIL-IN BALLOTS AND CASTING BALLOTS.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT A 12 YEAR CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $24,500.
ITEM NUMBER 13, WE'RE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR CONTRACT AWARD TO TRI-TECH SYSTEMS, UH, TO PROVIDE ELECTION VOTING MAIL EQUIPMENT.
UH, THIS IS A, UH, PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WAS PURCHASED DURING COVID.
UM, WHAT IT SIMPLY DOES IS SCANS IN THE, UH, THE OUTER ENVELOPES OF THE BALLOT, WHAT
[00:55:01]
TYPICALLY WOULD TAKE DAYS TO DO.THIS PARTICULAR MACHINE ALLOWS US TO SCAN BALANCE AND ENTER THEM INTO OUR SYSTEM IN A MATTER OF MINUTES TO HOURS, CUTTING BACK ON TIME AND LOOKING, UH, FOR THAT NOT TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF $19,558.
UM, NUMBER 14, UH, CONTRACT AWARD TO NO INC.
TO PROVIDE EPO, UM, PAD TRAINING, ONSITE SUPPORT OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE AT POLLING LOCATIONS DURING THE GENERAL ELECTION AND EARLY ELECTION WITH, UM, AND NOT TO EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF 1,700 AND $500.
AND WITH US TONIGHT, WE ALSO HAVE MR. KEVIN SHOT.
HE IS THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF NO, INC.
AND ITEM NUMBER 15, CONTRACT TO AWARD DOMINION VOTING SYSTEMS, INC.
TO PROVIDE BALLOT SCANNING, TRAINING, SUPPORT, AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES, UH, FOR LOOKING TO SEEK, UM, A 12 MONTH CONTRACT, NOT TO EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF $57,500.
COMMISSIONERS AND QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YOU SAID YOU HAD SOMEONE HERE WITH YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP MR. FRANZY TO INTRODUCE, AND WE ALSO HAVE MR. SHOT, UM, THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF NO, INC.
IF YOU HAVE ANY DIRECT QUESTIONS, UH, FOR, UH, REGARDS TO, UH, NO INK CONTRACT.
SO SINCE YOU BROUGHT NO INK WITH YOU, UH, YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOUR OH, SURE.
UM, THIS IS, UH, DEPUTY CLARK, PETER FRANZY, WHO'S HERE WITH, UH, WITH US TONIGHT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE MR. KEVIN SHOT.
HE'S OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR NO INK.
SO LET'S GET, UH, MR. SHOT UP HERE AND YOU CAN SURE.
UH, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COMPANY AND WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO FOR THIS $177,000.
I AM AGAIN, THE CFO FOR, UH, NO INK, UH, WHO PROVIDES ELECTRONIC POLL BOOKS, UH, FOR YOUR, UM, VOTING, UM, SYSTEM WHERE WE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CHECKING IN THE, THE, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE VOTING.
UH, WE'RE NOT COUNTING THE VOTES, WE'RE JUST CHECKING THOSE PEOPLE IN.
WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING IS ON SITE SUPPORT, UH, NOT ONLY DURING THE EARLY ELECTION PERIOD, BUT ALSO FOR ELECTION DAY.
WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE ON SITE, UM, UH, HELPING OUT YOUR POLL WORKERS.
ALSO HAVE PEOPLE AT THE, AT THE, UM, BOARD OF ELECTIONS FACILITY, UH, IF ANY PROBLEMS MIGHT OCCUR WITH THE ELECTRONIC POLL BOOKS AT THIS, AT, UH, AT ANY POINT IN TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER SIBO? YES.
UH, I HAVE A QUESTION ON, ON ONE OF THE ITEMS, IF IT APPLIES TO WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
UNDER THE NEW REGULATION, PEOPLE WHO SEND IN THEIR BALLOTS AHEAD OF TIME IN THE PAST, THEY COULDN'T BE OPENED OR COUNTED UNTIL AFTER ELECTION DAY.
UNDER THE NEW RULE, THE BALLOTS CAN BE OPENED AHEAD OF TIME, BUT NOT COUNTED.
BUT THEN ON ELECTION DATE, THEY WILL PROMPTLY BE COUNTED.
IS ONE OF THESE MACHINES GOING TO APPLY TO WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? SO, YES.
COMMISSIONER C, BOLD, UH, PLEASE, PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME ON THE RECORD.
NICOLE AMUS, UH, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
SO, YES, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
WE DO NOW, UH, UH, HAVE THE ABILITY TO START OPENING THE BALLOTS FIVE DAYS BEFORE.
HOWEVER, WE WILL NOT BE COUNTING UNTIL THE DAY OF.
AND THE, UH, VENDOR THAT WE WILL BE USING FOR THAT IS DOMINION.
IS THAT NU IS THAT ONE OF THESE ITEMS? YES.
UH, THAT WOULD BE ITEM NUMBER, I'M SORRY.
SO THAT APPLIES TO WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? YES.
AND THAT, THAT WAY THE BALLOTS CAN BE COUNTED VERY QUICKLY.
SO WE WON'T HAVE TO WAIT AS WE HAD IN THE PAST NUMBER OF ELECTIONS DAYS.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE GOAL THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO REPORT OUT EARLIER.
YES, THANK YOU, MR. NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONERS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
ROLE CALL MEDICAL CLERK COMMISSIONER SIBEL? YES.
UH, I'M A LITTLE LATE TO THIS.
I WAS JUST KIND OF THINKING OF IT.
UH, I THINK IN MY, BECAUSE OF ELECTIONS AND
[01:00:01]
THE IMPACT AND HOW SIGNIFICANT THEY ARE, MIGHT WE JUST REQUEST THAT EVERY TIME WE HAVE A VENDOR COMING TO PROVIDE A SERVICE SO THAT THE NEW BOARD CLERK BRING THOSE VENDORS HERE? BECAUSE IF WE HAVE ANY DIRECT QUESTIONS FOR DOMINION, THEY'RE NOT YOU TODAY.SO MIGHT I JUST ADD THAT RECOMMENDATION THAT WHEN YOU HAVE IN THE FUTURE OTHER VENDORS, BECAUSE THE, THE, THE, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ELECTION PROCESS AS A WHOLE IS, IS PARAMOUNT.
AND SO WE MAKE JUST THAT SUGGESTION TO NO MATTER HOW SMALL THE CONTRACT THAT WE BRING THESE VENDORS IN.
MY APOLOGI FOR BEING LATE ON THAT.
IN DOMINION, THEIR REP DOES LIVE IN ESSEX COUNTY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, SO IT SHOULD BE EASY TO GET HIM HERE.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 16 THROUGH 19, WHICH ARE FROM THE DIVISION OF THE HOSPITAL CENTER AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
DIRECTOR DEL CORDIO IS GONNA HANDLE THESE ITEMS. GOOD EVENING.
FRANK DEL GADIO, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND REHAB FOR THE COUNTY.
UH, RESOLUTION 16 IS A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE, UH, CONTRACT FOR, UH, PSYCH PSYCHIATRY AND PHYSICIAN PLACEMENT SERVICES.
UM, TWO FIRMS RESPONDED TO THE RFP AND, UM, WERE ASKING YOUR PERMISSION TO AWARD CONTRACTS TO BOTH OF THESE FIRMS. ADELPHI MEDICAL STAFFING AND JACKSON COKER, LOCUM TENS, UM, AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $150,000.
UM, ADELPHI BID $30,000 FOR EACH PLACEMENT.
AND JACKSON COKER BID 45,000 FOR EACH PLACEMENT.
BOTH FIRMS ARE BASED OUT OF GEORGIA.
ITEM NUMBER 17, UM, IT'S A CONTRACT AWARD.
THIS IS FOR OUR, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
IT'S A FIRM FOR CONSULTING SERVICES TO HELP WITH THE ACCREDITATION OF THE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S A CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $27,500 AND IT'S A 12 MONTH TERM.
UH, AND RFP WAS ISSUED ON THAT AND TWO FIRMS RESPONDED.
ITEM NUMBER 18 IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO GREEN VALLEY LANDSCAPING.
THIS IS FOR LANDSCAPING SERVICES, UH, TWO YEAR CONTRACT AWARD NOT TO EXCEED.
$26,112 IS A VERONA BASED BUSINESS.
ITEM NUMBER 19 IS A, UH, AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH SEATON HALL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING.
AND THAT'S NO COST TO THE COUNTY.
WE, UM, THE STUDENTS DO THEIR ROTATION AT THE HOSPITAL CENTER AND PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OUR IT'S.
COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, HEARING NOW I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER, UH, MOVE BY COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.
THIS IS TAKE RESOLUTION, 16 THROUGH 19.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT BA MORRIS? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON? YES.
UH, NUMBER, UM, UH, CAN I BE ANY AFFIRMATIVE FOR, UH, NUMBER 12 THROUGH, UH, 15 HE WAS OUT ON, SO HE WANTS TO BE YES.
WHICH, AND, UM, UH, PRESENT, NOT VOTING ON 19TH.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 20, WHICH IS FROM THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH.
AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. GRA WILL HANDLE, UH, THIS ITEM.
I'M COLLECT DEGRASIA PROGRAM MONITOR WITH THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH, UH, OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES.
RESOLUTION NUMBER 20 IS A REQUEST TO AMEND SEVEN EXIST EXISTING SUBCONTRACTS FOR OUR CHAPTER 51 GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $130,000.
UH, CHAPTER 51 IS A YEARLY CONTRACT, WHICH PROVIDES SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION SERVICES TO INDIGENT POPULATIONS IN
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ESSEX COUNTY, STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.AND WE'RE REQUESTING APPROVAL TO REALLOCATE FUND FUNDS FROM THREE OF OUR PROVIDERS, TURNING POINT COPE CENTER AND FAMILY CONNECTIONS TOTALING $130,000 DUE TO UNDERSPENDING.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ALLOCATE THE $130,000 TO TWO OF OUR PROVIDERS THAT MAY RUN OUT OF FUNDING, CAUSING A DISRUPTION IN SERVICES WITHOUT THE REALLOCATION.
SO THAT WILL BE $70,000 TO GREATER ESSEX COUNSELING SERVICES AND $60,000 TO MAIN STREET COUNSELING CENTER.
AND I HAVE REPRESENTATIVES HERE FROM BOTH OF THOSE AGENCIES.
UM, STEVE MARTIS FROM MAIN STREET COUNSELING, AND, UM, KATIE LINTON AND CHRIS BODIS FROM GREATER ESSEX, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
TO
UH, MAIN STREET COUNSELING CENTER AND GREATER ESSEX COUNSELING.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO ME,
I'LL SECOND MOVE BY VICE PRESIDENT
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
CLERK COMMISSIONER SIBEL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
SO, SO, MR. PRESIDENT, SOME NEWS THAT YOU, YOU MIGHT BE HAPPY, ANY ADMINISTRATION MIGHT BE HAPPY ABOUT.
I ACTUALLY HAVE TO EXCUSE MYSELF TO GO TO BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT FOR MY TO 10 YEAR OLD
SO IS THAT THE NEWNESS? I THOUGHT YOU WERE REALLY GONNA TELL US SOMETHING.
OH, NO, I, I EXCUSE MYSELF FROM THE MEETING, SO THANK YOU.
SO WE MIGHT GET OUTTA HERE EARLY NOW,
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 21 AND 22, WHICH ARE FROM THE DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.
AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, MS. VAN DY AND MS. CALDWELL ARE GONNA ADDRESS THESE ITEMS. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS.
JOETTE VAN D**E, CONTRACTING MANAGER FOR DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.
WE ARE REQUESTING TO RECEIVE APPROVAL TO DO SELF-DIRECTED TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUAL TRAINING ACCOUNTS WITH VARIOUS VENDORS.
THAT'S NUMBER 21 FOR US NOT TO EXCEED 2,000,005 HUN.
THAT WILL BE A YEAR LONG CONTRACT.
AND NUMBER 22 IS FOR ON THE JOB TRAINING.
AND THAT IS ALSO A YEAR LONG CONTRACT FOR 1 MILLION MS. AA? NO QUESTION MR. MCIN.
UM, ON THE MILLION DOLLAR, UH, GRANT, UM, DOES THAT, DO THE EMPLOYERS GET PAID? YES.
THE MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE GRANT, THEY ACTUALLY GET PAID THOSE, NOT WE, IT'S 50 50.
PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME ON THE RECORD EACH TIME YOU SPEAK.
OH, JOSE VANDYKE, CONTRACT MANAGER.
THE COMPANIES WILL PAY HALF AND WE PAY THE OTHER HALF OF THE SALARY.
IT'S THE SALARIES THAT THE MILLION DOLLAR GRANT COACH TOWARDS.
AND WHAT, WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL EMPLOYERS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM? APRIL CALWELL, WE OVER SERVICES MANAGER.
UM, THEY'RE ACROSS ANY INDUSTRY, UM, BECAUSE IT'S STATE FUNDED, WE TEND TO LEAN TOWARDS IN DEMAND CAREERS.
UM, AND ANY, THE INDUSTRY THAT IS IN DEMAND? WELL, I MEAN, CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME LIKE A FEW, WHICH THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE OJT, SO WE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I HAVE ONE.
SO HOW, HOW, HOW LONG DO THE EMPLOYERS HAVE TO EMPLOY
[01:10:01]
THE, UH, PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM? THE RECIPIENTS? YEAH.APRIL CALDWELL, UM, WE OWE A SERVICES MANAGER.
UM, SO THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IS THAT WE ASK THE EMPLOYER TO THE O J T CONTRACT PERIOD IS A MAXIMUM OF SIX, UH, MONTHS, BUT WE ASK THE EMPLOYER TO KEEP THE INDIVIDUAL FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR.
SO I'M DEFINITELY GONNA BE, SO SHOULD THIS, UM, PASS TONIGHT? WHEN DOES IT ACTUALLY START? WE ARE CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW SETTING UP ALL OF THE STEPS AND GETTING THE INDIVIDUALS, OUR PLAN RIGHT NOW IS TO START IT IN NOVEMBER.
SO WE'D LOVE TO HEAR A REPORT AFTER THE FIRST SIX MONTHS TO SEE HOW SUCCESSFUL YOU ARE, THOSE INDUSTRIES WHO ARE HIRING THE FOLKS, AND IF THEY'RE KEEPING THEM FOR SIX MONTHS.
AND THEN WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AFTER THAT TO SEE IF ANY OF THE EMPLOYERS WHO YOU'VE ASKED TO KEEP THEM LONGER HAVE DONE SO.
I APPRECIATE THEY'LL GET YOUR PENCILS SHARP AND THAT WELL, THEY DON'T REALLY USE THAT ANYMORE.
YOU GET THOSE KEYBOARDS TOGETHER.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
CLERK COMMISSIONER SIEBEL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PALMARA? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS 23 THROUGH 26, WHICH ARE FROM THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, MR. PRESIDENT MR. SORES IS GONNA HANDLE THESE ITEMS. GOOD EVENING, UM, FOR YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
JOHN SOS THE DIRECTOR OF DIVISION OF HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
ON ITEM NUMBER THREE, THE DIVISION OF HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS SEEKING APPROVAL ON AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROGRAM YEAR 21 CDBG GRANT BETWEEN ESSEX COUNTY DIVISION OF HOUSING, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND TOWNSHIP OF BELLEVILLE.
WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED APPROVAL VIA, VIA RESOLUTION FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO ENTERING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWNSHIP OF BELLEVILLE IN THE AMOUNT OF 335,000 FOR WATER MAIN RECONSTRUCTION OF VARIOUS ROADS, INCLUDING ROCKWELL STREET FROM NEWARK AVENUE TO NEWCOMB STREET.
THE TOWNSHIP IS REQUESTING THAT THE SCOPE WILL WORK FOR ROCKWELL STREET, BE EXTENDED FROM NEWCOMB STREET TO SANFORD AVENUE IN ORDER TO REIMBURSE, REINFORCE THE WATER MAIN GRID FOR THE CLARA MASS MEDICAL CENTER, AS WELL AS RESIDENTS FOR THAT SECTION OF THE ROAD.
THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT OF THE PROGRAM YEAR 2021 PLAN HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND NO COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED TO DATE.
TOTAL CDBG FUND WILL NOT CHANGE FROM THE ORIGINAL AWARD OF 335,000.
THE DIVISION OF HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS SEEKING APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH ESSEX COUNTY DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION FOR PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR CDBG CV RENTAL ASSISTANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,500,000 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS MUST BE INCOME ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS FROM ONE OF THE 18 MUNICIPALITIES PARTICIPATING IN THE ESSEX COUNTY CONSORTIUM.
EXCLUDES BLOOMFIELD, EAST ORANGE, IRVINGTON, NEWARK, WHICH RECEIVED THEIR OWN ENTITLEMENTS DIRECTLY.
THE PROVISION OF THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FUNDING FOR AN AREA RESIDENT MUST BE JUSTIFIED AS PREVENTING PREPARING FOR AND OR RESPONDING TO THE CORONAVIRUS.
REQUESTED FUNDING CANNOT BE A DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS RECEIVED OR TO BE RECEIVED FROM OTHER RESOURCES.
ITEM 25, THE DIVISION OF HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SEEKING APPROVAL TO EXERCISE THE 24 MONTH CONTRACT EXTENSION.
WOULD VAN VITI INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $36,480? THE MAJORITY OF THE COSTS ARE FOR USER LICENSES FOR STAFF EACH YEAR TO UTILIZE THE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.
THIS IS, UH, THIS SOFTWARE WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE EFFICIENCIES NOT REALIZED BY MANUAL SYSTEMS THAT WERE IN PLACE, REDUCES ERRORS IN PROCESSING AND ENABLE MANAGEMENT TO FOCUS EFFORTS TO CRITICAL NEEDS OF THE DIVISION.
ADDITIONALLY, THE SYSTEM HAS PROVIDED TRANSFER, TRANSFER SEAT TO APPLICANTS THROUGH CDBG, ESG AND HOME PROGRAMS. AND IT ALLOWS THE CLIENTS TO SEE IN REAL TIME WHERE THEIR APPLICATION IS.
[01:15:01]
BASED IN ATLANTA.ITEM 26, THE DIVISION OF HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS SEEKING APPROVAL TO EXERCISE 24 MONTH CON CONTRACT EXTENSION OF BEN VITI INCORPORATED TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT SOLUTION AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $23,400.
IT'S SIMILAR TO 25, BUT THIS IS FOR THE COVID GRANTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.
SO IT'S SEPARATE FROM THE NORMAL, UH, PROGRAMS THAT WE ADMINISTER.
UH, WITH RESPECT TO THE CDBG CV, UH, RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, ARE THERE LIKE COMPLIANCE MECHANISM IN PLACE, UH, TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST A DUPLICATION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL, UM, RESOURCES ALREADY PROVIDED THROUGH YOU, MR. MR. PRESIDENT? YES, THERE ARE, UH, A SYSTEM CALLED HAMMUS THAT, UM, WE WILL HAVE TO CHECK THE FOR FIVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT, AGAIN, FUNDING, FUNDING FROM ANOTHER, ANOTHER SOURCE.
OH, WITH REGARD TO THE SAME, UH, CONTRACT THERE, UH, IS WHAT IS THE, THIS IS WITH THE ESSES COUNTY DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION THROUGH YOU AND MR. PRESIDENT? YES.
IS THAT BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE OF THE RESOLUTION AND I SAW WAS THAT THE COUNTY SEEKING TO SEEKING APPROVAL TO, TO CONTRACT WITH THE ES COUNTY DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION? IS THAT A SEPARATE ENTITY? IS THAT A SEP IS THAT SEPARATE FROM ES COUNTY THROUGH 'EM AS PRESIDENT? I'M NOT SURE.
IT'S THROUGH THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION.
I, YEAH, JUST IT WAS THE WORDING OF THE RESOLUTION THAT THREW ME OFF.
IT SAYS IF THE COUNTY IS ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH ITSELF, MAYBE IT'S JUST THE WORDING THROUGH WHO MR. PRESIDENT POSSIBLY IS.
WE'RE LEARNING THE PROCESS AS WE'VE HAD CHANGES.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NOW I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND TO TAKE RESOLUTIONS.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 27 THROUGH 33, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND WILL BE RAN INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GOT TO THE BEGINNING OF THE LIST.
UH, JOSHUA AIDS S COUNTY PARKS.
MY LAST NAME STARTS WITH A Z, SO I'M VERY USED TO THAT.
I THINK WE SHOULD DO REVERSE ALPHABETICAL ORDER NEXT TIME.
UH, NUMBER 36 IS, UH, AUTHORIZATION TO THE ESSEX COUNTY RECREATION OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND TO, UH, FUND THE BROOKDALE PARK FIELD IMPROVEMENTS AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1.8 MILLION.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR ITEM NUMBER 36 WITH, UH, WHICH, UH, PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 27 IS, UH, PARTIAL FUNDING SOURCE FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX.
UH, SO 27 IS THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR NUMBER 36, WHICH WILL, UH, BE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL, UH, SHORTLY.
28 IS THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR 29 28 IS ALLOCATE ALLOCATION FROM THE RECREATION OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND OF $70,000 TO FUND THE RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM.
AND THEN NUMBER 29 IS THE ACTUAL CONTRACT WITH THE RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PROGRAM.
THEY'RE BASED OUT OF, UH, GARABALDI HALL OVER IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER.
AND THE RUTGERS PROGRAM PROVIDES PROGRAMS INVOLVING AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, GARDENING, FOOD PRODUCTION, BOTANY, FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES.
UH, AND THEY, THEY PULL THEIR SERVICES TO DELIVER, UH, THESE ITEMS TO ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS.
NUMBER 30 IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO CORP C CORP DBA HODGES PARTY RENTAL.
SO RESPONSIVE BIDDER TO PROVIDE ITEMS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND CONCERTS.
24 MONTH CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $275,000.
THIS IS TO RENT VARIOUS ITEMS THAT WE USE FOR, UH, VARIOUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE CALENDAR YEAR, UH,
[01:20:01]
SUCH AS TABLES, CHAIRS, TENTS, UH, THOSE ITEMS WOULD BE USED.UH, HALLOWEEN EVENTS, UH, HOLIDAY LIGHTS, SENIOR WELLNESS EARTH DAY, AND SO ON.
TOJO PROPERTY SERVICES TO PROVIDE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE AT CEDAR GROVE PARK.
18 MONTH CONTRACT EXTENSION, WHICH WOULD RUN FROM APRIL 1ST, 2023 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $120,999 AND 96 CENTS.
UH, SPECIFICALLY THE MONTHS OF SERVICE ARE APRIL 1ST, 2023, UH, THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.
THEN THERE'S, UH, A BREAK, AND THEN IT STARTS UP AGAIN APRIL 1ST, 2024.
AND THEN FINALLY ENDS DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.
AND DURING THOSE 18 MONTHS, THE MONTHLY, UH, FEE IS $6,722 AND 22 CENTS.
CONTRACT AWARDED DOWN TO EARTH FARMS SOLE RESPONS BIDDER TO PROVIDE PICKUP REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF ANIMAL WASTE AT THE TURTLEBACK ZOO 24 MONTH CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $202,176.
THIS IS A PART FIXED AND PART AS NEEDED.
THE FIXED PART IS 67,392,000, WHICH, UH, REMAINS THE, UH, AS NEEDED, $134,784.
UH, SIMPLY THIS IS, UH, DUMPSTERS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, THAT ARE LEFT OVER AT THE ZOO.
UH, THE ANIMAL WASTE IS THEN, UM, BROUGHT TO THESE DUMPSTERS AND THIS COMPANY THEN PICKS UP THE ANIMAL WASTE AND DISPOSES OF IT.
NUMBER 33, UH, IS A CHANGE ORDER WITH THE MIGOS CLEANING SERVICE FOR JANITOR OWNED PORTER SERVICES AT THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN RECREATION CONTRACT.
WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD ADDITIONAL $36,420.
UH, SIMPLY PUT, WE JUST UNDERESTIMATED THE AMOUNT OF HOURS WE WOULD, UH, NEED THE SERVICES OF THIS CONTRACT.
AND THAT'S DUE TO, UH, VARIOUS EVENTS AND, UH, FACILITY RENTALS.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
UM, ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, WE HAD A MEETING OF THE OPEN SPACE ADVISORY BOARD, AND THE MINUTES FROM THAT MEETING ARE INCLUDED IN THE MATERIAL WHICH EVERYONE RECEIVED.
AND MANY OF THESE ITEMS WERE DISCUSSED AND VOTED ON.
AND THE FULL DETAILS ARE IN THE MINUTES IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THE SPECIFIC, UH, DETAILS DEALING WITH EACH OF THESE, UH, RESOLUTIONS.
COMMISSIONER SIBO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THIS? YES, I WOULD.
THIS IS TO TAKE RESOLUTIONS 27 THROUGH 33 AS ONE.
MOVE MY COMMISSIONER, SIBO SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MECADO.
CALL MEDICAL GROUP COMMISSIONER SIEBEL? YES.
AND OF COURSE I SEE JOSH ALL THE TIME.
ABSENT COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 34 THROUGH 42 AND 84 AND 85, WHICH ARE ALL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. J, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. ANTONIO, WHOSE DAY BEGINS WITH AN A.
DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 34 IS THE AWARD OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION OPTION TO AMERICAN WEAR IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $310,000.
AMERICAN WEAR WILL CONTINUE TO FURNISH AND CLEAN UNI UNIFORMS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 35 ALLOWS FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE 2023 ANNUAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN, UH, PROGRAM, AND THE SUBMITTAL OF AN EXECUTED GRANT AGREEMENT TO THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 9 MILLION $101,233.
THIS PROGRAM WILL FUND THE ROADWAY RESURFACING OF THE FOLLOWING COUNTY ROADS, EAGLE ROCK AVENUE IN ROSELAND HIGH STREET IN NETHERLAND, BLOOMFIELD SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE IN LIVINGSTON MILBURN, SOUTH ORANGE IN NEWARK, UH, CHANCELLOR AVENUE IN NEWARK AND IRVINGTON LAUREL AVENUE IN LIVINGSTON, LITTLE FALLS ROAD IN FAIRFIELD AND NORTH CALDWELL, UH, EAST PASA AVENUE IN BLOOMFIELD MOUNTAIN AVENUE IN CALDWELL AND NORTH CALDWELL HORSE, NECK ROAD AND PURE LANE, BOTH IN FAIRFIELD.
ITEM NUMBER 36 IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO LAND TAKE LANDTECH GROUP TO INSTALL THE NEW SYNTHETIC FIELDS AT BROOKDALE PARK.
[01:25:01]
CONTRACT WILL NOT EXCEED $3,590,725, NOR WILL IT EXCEED 120 DAYS IN DURATION.ATLANTIC'S GROUP GROUP'S BID WAS THE LOWEST OF THE FIVE RECEIVED.
AND MR. JIM CHIO OF ATLANTIC GROUP IS HERE THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE HIS FIRM, UH, TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
I'M A PROJECT MANAGER WITH THE LANDTECH GROUP.
I'M THE PAST PRESIDENT AND OWNER OF JC LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION, AND I BUILT MANY PROJECTS WITH THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, INCLUDING CEDAR GROVE PARK, IF YOU RECALL.
BUT I'M NOW WITH THE LANDTECH GROUP.
SO ANYWAY, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT BROOKDALE PARK AND THE AWARD ON IT SHOULD, IF ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MS. NO QUESTION.
SO LANDTECH GROUP, YOU GUYS, THEY DO A LOT OF WORK IN ESSEX COUNTY.
HOW MANY ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS DO YOU EMPLOY? I COULDN'T GIVE YOU A TOTAL NUMBER.
UM, I DON'T KNOW, PROBABLY UNDER A DOZEN, BUT WE DO WORK WITH LABOR UNIONS TOO, SO WE CAN ALWAYS REQUEST.
SO WHO, WHO WHICH, WHICH UNIONS DO YOU WORK WITH? LOCAL 8 25.
UH, DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC.
IT'S AN AWARD CONTRACT TO HS MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS TO PERFORM THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HVAC ROOFTOP UNITS ATOP THE SS COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY BUILDING IN CEDAR GROVE.
THIS CONTRACT WILL NOT EXCEED $638,500 AND WILL LAST 240 DAYS H'S.
MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS BID WAS THE LOWEST OF THE THREE RECEIVED.
HE'S ALSO HERE THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE HIS FIRM AND, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, SUPPORT ME HAVE.
MY NAME IS STEVEN H I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER OF HANNA'S MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS, INC.
WE'RE LOCATED IN MILLTOWN, NEW JERSEY.
UH, WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS, UH, SINCE 2006.
YOU'RE YOU'RE FROM WHERE IN NEW JERSEY? UH, MILLTOWN, NEW JERSEY, 0 8 8 5 0.
UH, IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO NEW BRUNSWICK, UH, EAST BRUNSWICK AREA.
UH, WE ARE PRIMARILY GENERAL CONSTRUCTION, MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING CONTRACTORS.
WE PRIMARILY FOCUS ON PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.
UH, OUR PRIMARY FOCUS WE DO IS K THROUGH 12, COUNTY WORK, FEDERAL WORK, UH, YOU NAME IT, LIBRARIES, UH, YOU KNOW, ET CETERA.
ARE, ARE YOU A UNION SHOP? UH, WE ARE AN OPEN MERIT BASED SHOP, BUT PRIMARILY MOST OF OUR CONTRACTORS ARE UNION CONTRACTORS.
SO OUR CONTROLS CONTRACTORS, OUR STEEL CONTRACTORS, ROOFING ARE ALL ROOF, ARE ALL UNION CONTRACTORS.
HOW MANY ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS DO YOU EMPLOY? UH, AT THE MOMENT, UH, CURRENTLY WE ARE LIKE, UH, 15 MEN SHOPS.
SO NONE OF OUR DIRECT EMPLOYEES LIVE IN ESSEX COUNTY, BUT OUR SUBCONTRACTORS, UH, CRANE RENTAL, UH, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT NATURE, THEY'RE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
DID YOU FILL OUT THE ASPIRATIONAL GOAL? YES.
YEAH, WE WE'RE, OF COURSE, WE'RE TRY, I I WILL TRY TO MEET THAT GOAL OF 35%.
OKAY, DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 38, UH, WILL AWARD THE CONTRACT TO PROVIDE AND FIXED TRUCK AND SPECIALIZED VEHICLE TIRES TO THE TWO LOWEST, TO THE TWO LOWEST SUBMITTED BIDS.
THIS ONE CONTRACT WILL NOT EXCEED $80,000 IN THE AGGREGATE AND WILL BE AWARDED TO BARNWELL HOUSE OF TIRES IN FAIRFIELD AND F AND S TIRE CORPORATION IN ADDISON.
ITEM NUMBER 39 IS AN AWARD CONTRACT TO BARNWELL HOUSE OF TIRES TO PROVIDE TIRES FOR VARIOUS COUNTY FLEET VEHICLES OVER A ONE YEAR PERIOD IN AN AMOUNT THAT TO EXCEED $80,000 BARNWELL HOUSE OF TIRES WAS THE SOLE BID RECEIVED.
ITEM NUMBER 40 IS AN AWARD CONTRACT TO THE, TO FIVE RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE BIDDERS TO PROVIDE AUTO AND LIGHT TRUCK PARTS FOR THE COUNTY'S VEHICLE FLEET OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD IN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $400,000 IN THE AGGREGATE.
THE FIVE VENDORS ARE PNA AUTO PARTS SUPERIOR DISTRIBUTORS BY RIGHT WISE AUTO PARTS ROUTE 23 AUTO MALL AND PARTS AUTHORITY ADD.
[01:30:01]
A TWO YEAR CONTRACT TO BE AWARDED TO THE FOUR RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS TO PERFORM MECHANICAL REPAIRS TO COUNTY FEED VEHICLES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED IN THE AGGREGATE $400,000.THE FOUR VENDORS ARE ROUTE 23 AUTO MALL AIR BRAKE EQUIPMENT, FERRAS TRANSMISSION, AND EIGHT LIMBO CAR AND HEAVY TRUCK COLLISION.
ITEM NUMBER 42 IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO DIGITAL TEAM SIX TO PERFORM COMPUTER NETWORK MAINTENANCE OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $86,000.
DIGITAL TEAM SIX IS BID, WHAT'S THE LOWEST OF THE FOUR RECEIVED.
AND ITEM NUMBER 84 AUTHORIZES THE SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT FUNDING APPLICATION TO THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO UNDERTAKE THE STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS TO MAIN STREET IN ORANGE AND WEST ORANGE BETWEEN PARK AVENUE AND SCOTLAND ROAD.
THIS APPLICATION IS BEING MADE THROUGH THE 2023 TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM.
AND ITEM NUMBER 85 IS AN AWARD CONTRACT TO SMITH SANDY ASPHALT CONSTRUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,770,127 TO UNDERTAKE THE ROAD RESURFACING OF STUYVESANT AVENUE FROM SOUTH AVENUE TO THE COUNTY LIMITS.
UH, SMITH SANDY'S BID WAS THE LOWEST OF THE SEVEN RECEIVED AND MR. BOAL OF SMITH SANDY IS ALSO HERE THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE HIS FIRM AND ANSWER.
ANY QUESTIONS TO COURTNEY? UH, GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL BOBBLE AND I'M AN EMPLOYEE OF SMITH SUNDAY FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS.
SMITH SUNDAY'S BEEN IN THE, UH, ASPHALT PAVING BUSINESS FOR 76 YEARS.
OUR CLIENTELE BASE RUNS FROM MUNICIPALITIES TO COUNTY WORK TO THE N J D O T.
OUR OPERATORS ARE THE 8 25 AND OUR TRUCKERS ARE THE TEAMSTERS LOCAL FIVE 60.
UH, AND TO ANSWER ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS, APPROXIMATELY 18% OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENCE.
MISSION, ANY QUESTIONS OF CONGRESS? VICE PRESIDENT FOR MARS FOR NUMBER 35.
OKAY, ON 35, YOU HAD MENTIONED SOME OF THE NAMES ON THE ROAD PAGE.
IT INCLUDED EAST PASSAIC AVENUE AND I'M ASSUMING THAT GOES THROUGH BLUEFIELD AND PART NOTLEY AND ALL THAT.
IT HAS HAD AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF PSE AND G WORK.
NOW I'M SURE THAT BEFORE YOU PAVE ANYTHING, YOU REACH OUT TO PSE AND G
I KNOW NO ONE IN THIS ROOM IS A STRANGER TO THIS SCENARIO AS I SEE EVERYONE'S HEAD BOMBING.
CAN I IMPLO SOMEHOW THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED ON PRIOR TO EAST PASSAIC ON HOOVER BECAUSE THE TRANSITION IS RIGHT INTO THE PASSAIC EAST AND WEST AND WE'VE HAD THIS SIGNIFICANT ISSUE AND IT IS A MAIN THOROUGHFARE THROUGH BLOOMFIELD NUTLEY AND ON WAY CONNECTING, UH, YOU KNOW, BEVILLE AS WELL.
WHAT WHAT CAN WE DO TO ENSURE THEY'RE NOT GONNA RIP IT UP THE MOMENT YOU PAYMENT, UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, THE DEPARTMENT PUBLIC WORKS IN PARTICULAR TO THE VISUAL OF ENGINEERING, UH, IS ALWAYS IN GREAT DISCUSSIONS AND, UH, COORDINATION WITH THE UTILITY COMPANIES, INCLUDING PUBLIC SERVICE.
UH, MORE SO THAN EVER WE'RE AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND, UH, WE'RE WORKING DOUBLE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN, UH, IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE'RE AWARE OF THIS HAPPENED.
BUT I HAVE TO ASK THAT QUESTION CAUSE ANYONE IN BLOOMVILLE RIGHT NOW WHO HAS ANY IDEA THAT THAT'S GONNA GET PREPARED, THE FIRST THING THEY'RE GONNA SAY IS JUST WAIT UNTIL P AND G RIPS IT UP AGAIN.
SO I I I LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ENSURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN? AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD BE IGNORING OR ADMITTING.
IT'S PROBABLY STANDARD PROCEDURE I'M SURE, UH, TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UTILITY COORDINATION IS PART OF ANY RESURFACING PROJECT.
UH, AND LIKE I SAID EARLIER, MORE THAN EVER, IT IS GREAT IMPORTANCE TO US TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN.
SO OUR ENGINEERS ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH PUBLIC SERVICE.
THANK YOU MR. THANK YOU COMMISSIONS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING, UH, I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER MECADO, SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT PO ROLL CALL MEMBER.
IT TAKE 34 THROUGH 42, 84 AND 85 AS ONE.
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ABSENT.COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PI MAREZ? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 43 AND 44, WHICH Y'ALL FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXEC AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, 43 IS A RESOLUTION CEREMONIOUSLY NAMING FRANKLIN AVENUE AND NUTLEY IN BELLEVILLE AS TINA CACIO BOULEVARD, UH, IN HONOR OF MSS VAIO, WHO'S THE GRAND MARSHALL FOR THE 2022 PARADE.
UM, AND, UH, MR. VAIO IS THE LEAD SPORTS ANCHOR REPORTER ON W N Y W, UH, FOX FIVE, UH, ITEM 44, UM, IS A CONTRACT WITH, UH, AS PER COLA'S ACRES YOUR SOLE RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER TO PROVIDE PROCUREMENT OF PRODUCE FOR THE SENIOR WELLNESS DAY, UH, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $40,000.
THIS IS PROVIDING ASSORTMENT OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FOR, UH, SENIORS WHO ARE FOR OUR SENIOR WELLNESS DAY, WHICH, UM, AGAIN, IS ON TUESDAY, UM, UH, AT THE, UH, SOUTH MOUNTAIN ARENA.
AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE EVERYBODY THERE.
MR. AHU? NO QUESTION MR. MCAR? NO QUESTION.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE OR NONE? NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND? MOVE IT.
SEATTLE ROLE CALL MADAM CLERK.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON? YES.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION 45, WHICH WAS IS FROM THE OFFICE OF PURCHASING AND WILL BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER DATE.
UH, TODAY WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM WB MASON.
UH, PHIL NAEL, WHICH IS THE BE THE LOWEST OR THE, I SHOULD SAY THE HIGHEST DISCOUNT FOR A NATIONAL CATALOG THAT WE PUT OUT.
WE HAD THREE BIDDERS AND THE BB MASON WAS THE HIGHEST, WHICH IS AT 12.6%.
SO NAEL IS HERE WITH US, AND I'LL EXPLAIN GOOD TO MR. PRESIDENT.
THAT'S KIND OF, YOU SAY HE WAS THE HIGHEST BIDDER, HE WAS THE HIGHEST DISCOUNT
AND WE DO SELL PENCILS AND PENCIL SHARPENERS,
UH, OUR COMPANY IS OUT OF SEACOR.
WE EMPLOY 40% FROM ESSEX COUNTY.
OUR FURNITURE, UH, INSTALLERS ARE OUT OF NEWARK AND WE SELL OVER 30,000 DIFFERENT PRODUCT LINES AS YOU PROBABLY HAVE SEEN IN OFFICE SUPPLY CATALOG.
WELL, NOW IT'S ON THE INTERNET, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE 1898.
JUST TO, UH, I HAD ASKED, UH, MR. COLS QUESTION, BUT JUST FOR THE RECORD, EVERYBODY WHO BID ON THIS CONTRACT DID BID OFF THE SAME, OFF THE SAME CATALOG THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
IT'S THE NATIONAL, UH, STATIONARY, UH, CATALOG.
I BELIEVE THE COMMISSIONING NOW IS A SENTENCE.
IS IT YOUR TRACK FOR YOUR COMPANY THAT I SEE ALL OVER THE PLACE? YES.
IT IS ALWAYS DELIVERING TO VARIOUS, UH, IT IS, IT'S ALL, IT'S ALL OVER.
AND, AND NOW 10% OF OUR FLEET IS GREEN.
NEED TO THINK ABOUT DOING THAT TOO.
THEY, THEY WENT OUT AND BOUGHT A SPRING SOME FIVE YEARS AGO, I ASSUME IT WAS AT THE TIME.
AND THEY WENT WITH THE, THE NAME BLIZZARD OF COURSE.
UH, CUZ WE HAVE A BLIZZARD PAPER, WHICH IS AN ULTRA WHITE PAPER AND IT JUST COINCIDED FOR THE, FOR THE WATER.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE? NO, I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
I'LL SECOND MOVE BY COMMISSION TO SEEBO.
[01:40:01]
GRAHAM? YES.COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 46, WHICH IS FROM OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF AND WE'LL BE RENDERING THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. COLT, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, THE SHERIFF IS REQUESTING, UH, APPROVAL OF A COMPETITIVE CONTRACT FOR KINE MEDICAL SERVICES, WHICH WOULD BE, UH, FROM THREE TO FIVE YEARS FOR VARIOUS SERVICES FOR THE CANINE.
UM, APPROXIMATELY 15 ANIMALS ARE CURRENTLY HOUSED THERE AND THEY HAVE ISSUES LIKE ADULTS, YOU KNOW, FROM, YOU KNOW, BEING SICK, HAVING A COLD TO MAJOR SURGERY.
MR. SEE THIS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD THIS FOR CANINE MEDICAL SERVICES.
THIS THE REASON WE'RE ASKING FOR A COMPETITIVE CONTRACT.
IT ALLOWS YOU THIS TO GO OUT FOR FIVE YEARS AND LIKE HUMAN BEINGS, THE, UH, ANIMALS HAVE EXTENDED CARE NEEDS AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED MORE THAN A ONE YEAR RFP.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
OKAY, MME. CLARK, LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS 47 THROUGH 83, WHICH WITH YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS, MEMORIALS AND PROCLAMATION RESOLUTIONS.
AND THEY WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NOW I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MACAU ROLL, MEDICAL CLERK.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE TO BOARD COMMITTEES.
COMMISSIONER, DO WE HAVE ANY REPORTS OF BOARD COMMITTEES? HOW ABOUT ANY LEGISLATIVE REPORTS, ANY WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS, ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? OKAY.
IN THAT CASE, LET'S MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK.
IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY.
YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN CAT LEE.
JUST HOLD, JUST HOLD, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
YOU DON'T NEED I KNOW, I KNOW.
ALL HAVEN'T BEEN HERE TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE.
OKAY, SO YOU'LL, YOU'LL HAVE JUST PUT YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION ON THE MAMA MEOW GALA.
5 67, THE FLOOR IS YOURS, IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY.
I WANNA TELL YOU THERE'S TWO SPECIAL EVENTS, NOT ONLY THE GLOBAL CAFE DAY, IT'S OCTOBER IS MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
EACH ONE OF YOU, IT DOESN'T MEAN TO BE OCTOBER, HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU VERY MUCH, YOUR TIME, YOUR EFFORT, AND YOUR CARING FOR ESSEX COUNTY.
YOU'RE ALWAYS PUTTING US FIRST AND I TRULY APPRECIATE THAT.
THE REASON WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT IS NOT ONLY THAT I'M EXCITED AND DANCING, THAT WE HAVE A GLOBAL CAFE.
I WANNA THANK OUR COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
SHE'S IN IRVINGTON, WORKING VERY HARD WITH HONORABLE MAYOR BOSS.
HUBER'S TRAPPING, NEUTERING, RETURNING AND MANAGING OUR COMMUNITY CUPS.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY IN ESSEX COUNTY, NOT EVERYBODY'S DOING IT.
AND WE NEED TO GET, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ESSEX COUNTY BE THE ROLE MODEL TO SHOW ALL THE COUNTIES IN NEW JERSEY WE'RE THE BEST.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA DO THIS IS BY MAKING A TEAM EFFORT IN ESSEX COUNTY.
SENATOR LESNIAK HAS NECK INSTITUTE IN KANE UNIVERSITY.
HE'D BE GLAD TO WORK OUT WITH SOME KIND OF PROGRAM THAT WE CAN START GETTING THIS GOING.
[01:45:01]
ROLE MODEL FOR ALL THE COUNTIES IN NEW JERSEY THAT WE UNDERSTAND.COMMUNITY CATS NEED TO BE TRAPPED, NEUTERED, VACCINATED, AND ALSO TO BE ADOPTIVE IF POSSIBLE.
EAST ORANGE, THEY HAVE THE SHELTER AND THEY HAVE THEIR, THEY HAVE THEIR NON-PROFIT GROUPS WORKING LIKE A, LIKE A, AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.
BUT IF WE COULD GET UNITED, IT WOULD BE A BENEFICIAL, UH, EFFECT.
I WOULD LIKE, I WAS HOPING COMMISSIONER COOPER WAS GONNA BE HERE BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING HARD, BUT IT'S LIKE SCATTERED, LIKE YOU SAY, UH, PRESIDENT RICHARDSON, WE NEED TO FOCUS AND ON ONE GOAL AND THEN THIS WAY WE CAN STEP BY STEP REACH OUR ENTIRE OBJECTIVE.
UH, I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD ALL THE CATS GOING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SEEING A PROBLEM AND FINDING A SOLUTION AND GOING BOLD DAY OUT.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT AND AGAIN, YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
LET THE RECORD REFLECTED THAT NO OTHER PEOPLE, PERSONS FROM THE PUBLIC WAS IN THIS SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I HAVE ONE.
JOHN, WE DID SPEAK ABOUT IN OUR, UH, LEADERSHIP MEETING ABOUT THE GETTING COMPELLING VENDORS TO FILL OUT THE ASPIRATIONAL GOAL FOR 'EM.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY PROGRESS? NO.
I WHY CAN'T WE, WHY CAN'T WE JUST COMPEL THEM TO HAVE TO FILL OUT EVERY PIECE OF PAPER IN THEIR BID SPECS? I, I ACTUALLY SPENT A DAY, AN HOUR TODAY DOING LEGAL RESEARCH INTO THE QUESTION.
SO THE ANSWER STILL IS NO, UNFORTUNATELY.
AND SO WE CAN'T COMPEL BIDDERS TO FILL OUT ALL THE PAPERWORK IN THE BID PACKAGE.
I'M TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE CAN DO IT CORRECTLY.
AS I SAID, I SPENT AN HOUR THIS AFTERNOON DOING RESEARCH, UH, TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A, AN EFFECTIVE ANSWER.
I THINK LET'S JUST PROCEED THE WAY WE, WE'VE BEEN PROCEEDING.
BUT I'D LIKE TO BACK IT UP FOR YOU WITH APPROPRIATE LEGAL RESEARCH.
MR. COLTRAN, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT PREVENTS US FROM COMPELLING BIDDERS FROM JUST FILLING OUT ALL THE PAPERWORK IN THE BID? I'M GONNA DEFER TO COUNSEL.
BASICALLY, IF SOME OF YOU DOESN'T FILL IT OUT, IT'S NOT A MANDATORY REJECTION.
THERE ARE ONLY CERTAIN ITEMS THAT ARE MANDATORY REJECTIONS.
SO NOBODY SAID IT WAS GONNA BE A MANDATORY REJECTION.
I DIDN'T ASK YOU TO REJECT THE BID.
THE QUESTION WAS CAN WE COMPEL ALL BIDDERS TO FILL OUT EVERY PIECE OF PAPER IN THE BID? I'M GONNA HAVE TO MR. PRESIDENT DEFER TO COUNSEL.
I KNOW, KNOW THAT TO BE A FACT.
ANYWAY, ANYTHING ELSE? MOTION TO ADJOURN.