[00:00:03]
HOW YOU DOING? HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SALUTE TO THE FLAG.
I'M GONNA ASK COMMISSIONER LU TO LEAD US IN THE SALUTE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, SUNG BY OUR OWN, OUR VERY OWN KATHY BROWN.
OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE LIGHT WHAT'S SO PROUD AT THE TWILIGHT LAST GLEAMING, WHOSE BROUGHT STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THROUGH THE PAIR ROLLER.
FIVE OR THE REST WE WATCHED WERE SO STREAMING THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT BYE.
OKAY, SO, UH, I WILL ASK BISHOP CHARLES E. MITCHELL SR.
PASTOR, SENIOR PASTOR OF REDIRECT MINISTRIES IN TO LEAD US IN THE OPENING PRAYER.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
GRACIOUS GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR YET THIS NEW YEAR OF 2023.
WE THANK YOU LORD FOR THIS MOST NOBLE GROUP OF COMMISSIONERS THAT WILL MAGISTRATE AND GOVERN OVER THE AFFAIRS OF YOUR PEOPLE IN THE GREAT COUNTY OF ESSEK COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
NOW, WE PRAY, LORD, THAT YOU WILL BLESS THEM IN A SPECIAL WAY FOR EACH ONE COLLECTIVELY AND ALSO CORPORATELY, THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE THEM, LEAD THEM, PROTECT THEM, KEEP THEIR MIND SHARP, AND WHATEVER THEY DO IN WORD ACTION, INDEED LET IT BRING GLORY AND HONOR TO YOUR NAME FOR YOU SAID IN YOUR WORD, WHEN THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN AUTHORITY, THE PEOPLE REJOICE.
GRANT US OUR PEACE FOR WE ASK IT ALL.
I HAVE BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FROM THE CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
HERE AT THIS POINT, I WILL TURN THE MEETING OVER TO THE CLERK FOR ELECTION OF OFFICERS, MADAM CLERK COMMISSIONERS.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL ENTERTAIN THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD FOR 2023.
COMMISSIONER COOPER, MADAM CLERK, I LIKE TO NOMINATE COMMISSIONER WAYNE RICHARDSON FOR THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER GRAHAM? YES.
I SECOND THE MOTION TO NOMINATE WAYNE RICHARDSON.
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THANK YOU.ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT? SEEING THAT THERE ARE NONE, UH, FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT.
COMMISSIONERS, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS? MOTION? SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SIGNIFYING SAY AYE.
UH, WE WILL NOW VOTE ON THE NOMINATION OF COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON AS PRESIDENT.
COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES, COMMISSIONER.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION? MAY.
THIS POINT I WILL ASK JUDGE JAMES PELLI TO MINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
I'M, I'M ASKING MY WIFE TO COME UP AND HOLD THE BIBLE.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM.
OR AFFIRM AND I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
BEAR TRUTH, FAITH, AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE, AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE, AND TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND IN THIS, AND IN THIS STATEMENT, I STATE YOUR NAME.
I, WAYNE RICHARDSON, BEEN ELECTED HAVEN, BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
SOM PROMISE, SWEAR, SOLELY PROMISES SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND I WILL FAITHFULLY I IMPARTIALLY IMPARTIALLY AND JUSTICE.
PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD COUNTY COMMISSION, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION FOR THE STATE OF JERSEY, AND FOR THE STATE OF ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES, ACCORDING TO BEST OF MY, AND UNDERSTAND.
SO, CONGRAT, COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CONTINUE? YES.
AT THIS TIME I WILL ENTERTAIN NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD FOR 2023.
COMMISSIONER SIBAL, I AM THRILLED TO NOMINATE CARLOS PALMARIS TO CONTINUE TO BE THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONER PALMARIS HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AS VICE PRESIDENT, AND HIS IMPORTANT WORK SHOULD CONTINUE.
PALMARIS IS THE FIRST HISPANIC TO HOLD A POSITION AT THIS LEVEL IN ESSEX COUNTY, AND OUR DIVERSITY SHOULD PREVAIL.
CARLOS'S MOTHER ESCAPED FROM THE CASTRO REGIME IN CUBA AND ARRIVED HERE IN THE UNITED STATES PREGNANT WITH CARLOS.
CARLOS WAS BORN IN HUDSON COUNTY AND LIVED IN UNION CITY.
THEREFORE, HE IS THE FIRST AND ONLY CUBAN IN ESSEX COUNTY TO REACH THIS LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.
ALTHOUGH HE WAS A COUNCILMAN AT LARGE IN BLOOMFIELD FROM 2013 TO 2016, COMMISSIONER
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PALMARIS HAS A STRONG COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS CULTURE AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION.HE SERVES AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CUBAN ARTIST FUND AND TEACHES HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE AT WILLIAM PATTERSON UNIVERSITY AND HUDSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
HE SERVES AND VOLUNTEERS FOR MANY ORGANIZATIONS.
CARLOS PALM IS THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE BLOOMFIELD CRUISERS, A NONPROFIT VINTAGE AUTOMOBILE ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS MANY CHARITABLE GROUPS, PALMER'S VOLUNTEERS TO WORK IN MANY ORGANIZATIONS, AND HAS RECEIVED A GREAT NUMBER OF HONORS AND REWARDS.
THAT IS WHY TONIGHT I AM PLEASED TO HONOR CARLOS PALMS AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ESSES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONER SIBO COMMISSIONERS, DO I HEAR A SECOND ON THE NOMINATION OF COMMISSIONER PALMARA AS VICE PRESIDENT COMMISSIONER RICCARDO? THANK YOU, MADAME CLERK.
UH, I AM HONORED TO REACT TO SECOND NOMINATION OF MY GOOD FRIEND AND BROTHER CARLOS PALM.
UM, CARLOS AND I WERE SWORN IN TOGETHER AND, UH, IN THIS SHORT TENURE HERE ON THE, ON THE BOARD, CARLOS HAS DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP, LEADERSHIP IN SO MANY WAYS.
LEADERSHIP AS A GOOD FAMILY MAN, AS AN EDUCATOR, AS A HISTORIAN FOR ARTS AND CULTURE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY AS A LEGISLATOR.
AND CARLOS HAS DONE AN EFFECTIVE AND EXCEPTIONAL JOB AS COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, IT IS MY HONOR TO THE SECOND DENOMINATION OF VICE PRESIDENT CARLOS PALMERS.
COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT? SEEING NONE, UM, THERE ARE NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF VICE PRESIDENT COMMISSIONERS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS? I'LL MOVE IT.
AND, UH, COMMISSIONER RICARDO, YOU SECOND? YES.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT SIGNIFIED BY SAYING AYE.
AND THE NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.
COMMISSIONERS, WE WILL NOW VOTE ON THE NOMINATION OF COMMISSIONER PALM MORRIS AS VICE PRESIDENT.
DO I HAVE A MOVER? I'LL MOVE IT.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
AT THIS POINT I WILL ASK JUDGE JAMES PELLI TO ADMINISTRATOR THE OATH OF OFFICE TO COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT PALMARA.
CAN'T I STATE YOUR NAME? CARLOS SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
THE CONSTITUTION, CONSTITUTION, CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY WILL TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE, THEN I WILL.
TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE THROUGH THE SAME TO THE SAME AND TO THES ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES AND TO THE GOVERNMENT, ESTABLISHED THE UNITED STATES AND, AND THIS AND BEEN ELECTED VICE BOARD.
BOARD COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
AND IN FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
PROMISE, PROMISE AND SWEAR FAITHFULLY ALL THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
BEST, MR. PRESIDENT, IT IS NOW MY
[00:15:01]
PLEASURE TO TURN THE MEETING OVER TO YOU.UH, BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR HAVING THE CONFIDENCE IN ME AND MY LEADERSHIP AND MY LEADERSHIP ABILITY TO, UH, LEAD THEM AGAIN, UH, THIS YEAR.
UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AND LOOK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND CON US CONTINUING, UH, TO WORK TOGETHER, UH, TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS COUNTY FORWARD.
BUT BEFORE I DO ANYTHING ELSE, I, I CAN'T WHERE SHE GO, OH, THERE, SHE'S CAN'T SEE YOU.
JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY WIFE WHO PUTS UP WITH ME ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE NO IDEA, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I SEE JACKIE SHAKING HER HEAD BACK THERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT AS ALWAYS.
SO NOW I WANT TO CALL UP, UH, MY COUNTY EXEC.
IT WAS JUST NEWLY SWORN IN YESTERDAY.
UH, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR YOUR SIXTH TERMS. SO LET'S HEAR A FEW WORDS FROM OUR COUNTY EXEC JOE DIE.
YOU WANNA CONGRATULATE BOTH OF YOU.
IT IS BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH BOTH YOU AND ALSO ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
SO LISTEN, WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF.
FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE A VERY STRONG DEMOCRATIC PARTY WHO'S, UH, BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE.
US NOT ONLY IN THE POLITICAL, BUT ALSO ON THE GOVERNMENT SIDE.
AND YOU'LL BE HERE FROM SHIRLEY'S.
BUT I WISH, WANT TO THANK FOR EVERY LEROY JONES WHO'S BEEN OUR CHAIRMAN OF OUR PARTY.
HE IS PART OF WHAT WE DO, NOT ONLY POLITICALLY BUT GOVERNMENTALLY.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I HAD A CALL ON HIM TO BE ABLE TO BE HELPFUL.
AND HE'S BEEN THERE FOR ALL OF US.
SO YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW THAT WE ARE ONE TEAM.
WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF HERE IN THIS COUNTY.
SOMETIMES WE TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL TO HAVE OUR FINANCIAL HOUSE IN ORDER, ALRIGHT? AND TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT A BUDGET FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS ON TIME, THE STATUARY DATE OF JANUARY 15TH.
NO MUNICIPALITY AND NO COUNTY'S ABLE TO DO THAT.
THE OTHER THING IS WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS COUNTY, ALRIGHT? SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THREE SCHOOLS.
THREE, ALL RIGHT, WHICH WE ONLY HAVE THREE.
ALL RIGHT? UH, 250 MILLION WHERE WE HAD SPORT, OF COURSE FROM GOVERNOR MURPHY AND STUFF.
BUT NO, BUILT THE DONALD PAYNE SCHOOL TO BE ABLE TO BUILD A NEW SCOPE IN WEST COWELL.
THIS FEBRUARY, UH, DEPENDING ON THE GOVERNOR'S SCHEDULE, FIRST WEEK IN FEBRUARY, WE'RE GONNA BE OPENING NORTH TECH.
AND THEN ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO THE COLLEGE, WE'RE BUILDING A BEAUTIFUL ANNEX UP THERE ON BLOOMFIELD AVENUE.
IT'S JUST NOT GONNA BE A BUILDING BEHIND IT.
WILL THERE BE A PARKING LOT, WHICH THEY ALWAYS NEED.
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SOCCER FIELD, WHICH EAST OREGON THAT THE COLLEGE NEVER HAD AND UTILIZE THAT FIELD IS ALSO GONNA BE WEST COLDWELL SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A, A FIELD DRAWN.
I'M TALKING ABOUT OUR VOCATIONAL SCHOOL.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE COMMUNITY WILL BE ABLE TO U UTILIZE THAT FIELD.
ALRIGHT? AND THEN ONE OF THE, THE OTHER THINGS WE'RE SHOULD BE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.
THAT'S BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN A FREE, THEY WERE IN THE BASEMENT OF THE BUILDING AND IT WAS VERY DISRESPECTFUL FOR TO DO THAT, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT.
AND WE FINALLY OPENED THE SECOND FLOOR.
AND ANYTIME YOU WANNA SEE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AND THE PEOPLE THAT COME THAT WE SERVICE, JUST GO TO THE SECOND FLOOR AND TO MAKE YOU FEEL VERY, VERY GOOD.
AND THE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO BUILD, UH, WHETHER IT'S THIS YEAR OR WHETHER NEXT YEAR, AND WE'RE IN THE STAGES OF DOING IT, IS A FAMILY COURTS BUILDING OF OUR OWN.
THE WORLD STAND BY ITSELF TO BE ABLE TO MOVE UP WHERE IT'S AT THE ONCE TO A NEW FACILITY AND TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PARKS.
YOU KNOW? AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS, I SAY WE, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE PRE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, COMMISSIONERS, WE DIDN'T HAVE YOUR SUPPORT.
WE CAN'T DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE HERE.
WERE MY DIRECTORS, MY DIVISION DIRECTORS, THE 3,500 EMPLOYEES THAT WORK HERE THAT PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THE PEOPLE OF ESSEX COUNTY.
AND THE THING IS FOR US TO STAY TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
SO ONCE AGAIN, WAYNE, CONGRATULATIONS
[00:20:01]
CARLOS.AND ALSO THANK YOU DURING COVID, BOTH OF YOU AND THE WHOLE TEAM, THE COMMISSIONERS, YOU ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE.
EVERYTHING THAT WE DID, AND YOU ALSO WERE THERE VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME.
SO, SO NEXT WE HAVE, UH, AND, AND, AND, UH, JOE REFERENCE, UH, HOW STRONG OUR DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS.
AND WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN HERE WHO HE, HE'S OUR GUY.
AND AS THE STATE GOES, THIS, THIS IS OUR LEADER, MAN.
BUT BEFORE I CALL HIM UP, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE HIS WIFE, JACKIE JONES
AND, AND NOW I WANT TO CALL UP OUR CHAIRMAN, MR. LEROY JONES, FOR A FEW REMARK.
UM, LET ME, UH, FIRST, UH, GET A CONGRATULATE.
UM, YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR YOUR THIRD YEAR AS, UH, THE PRESIDENT OF, UH, THIS, UH, AUGUST GOTTI.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, TO CARLOS, UH, YOU KNOW, AS, UH, HE, UH, PICKS UP HIS THIRD YEAR AS, UH, YOU KNOW, VICE PRESIDENT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, THE MEMBERS OF, UH, THE BOARD.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I REMEMBER IT WAS LIKE YESTERDAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I SAT IN ONE OF THOSE CHAIRS AS A MEMBER OF THIS BODY.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY.
CAUSE FRANK MCINERNEY STILL SEEMED LIKE
FRIDA GIBB IS STILL OVER HERE.
THREE DIENZO IS, UH, YOU KNOW, HERE AS WELL.
UM, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, IN REFLECTING, UM, YOU KNOW, THOSE WERE TIMES THAT WERE, THAT WERE MUCH DIFFERENT.
UH, YOU KNOW, THOSE WERE TIMES THAT WERE EXTREMELY CHALLENGING.
VERY POLITICAL IN SOME CASES, VERY PERSONAL IN IN OTHERS.
BUT WE HAVE REACHED A, A DAY AND A TIME UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF A COUNTY EXECUTIVE THAT, UM, WAS SWORN INTO HIS SIXTH TERM.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS BEING A WEEK OF OATH, IT JUST RESEMBLES THAT SOLEMN PROMISE THAT HE'S MADE WAY BACK IN 2002.
AND THAT EACH OF YOU MAKE, AS YOU TAKE YOUR
AND HE HAS SET A PACE THAT IS SECOND TO NONE, SECOND TO NONE IN THIS STATE, SECOND TO NONE IN THIS COUNTRY, I BELIEVE.
AND ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN CO-PARTNERS IN THAT TRAVEL.
ALL OF YOU HAVE, I BELIEVE, LIVED UP TO YOUR OATH OF OFFICE.
BUT AS YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE LEADERSHIP OF WAYNE AND CARLOS, THERE ARE SO MUCH MORE THAT IS BEFORE THIS BOARD.
AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT EVERYONE THAT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT SITS IN THESE SEATS IS THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE.
IT'S NOT ABOUT DEMOCRAT, IT'S NOT ABOUT REPUBLICAN.
AND YOU'RE HEARING THAT FROM A DEMOCRATIC CHAIR.
THE ACTIONS THAT YOU TAKE HERE IMPACT LIVES.
THE WORDS THAT YOU SPEAK HERE HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECT ON LIVES.
850,000 PEOPLE, MANY OF THE THEM DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU DO HERE.
BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS, IS THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DO AND THAT YOU KNOW, YOU IMPACT LIVES.
SO I JUST ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU, IMPLORE YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY, TO RECOGNIZE THAT SOLEMN OATH THAT YOU TAKE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY, TO WORK WITH A COUNTY EXECUTIVE, YOU KNOW, WHO IS NOWHERE NEAR FINISH.
IF YOU ASK ME, IT'S ONLY JUST BEGUN.
BUT ALL OF YOU HAVE THAT COMMITMENT TO THAT AGENDA THAT HE JUST SIMPLY LAID OUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT ANY
[00:25:01]
FORMAL INTRODUCTION, THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOUT TO COME BEFORE YOU.AND THOSE THINGS, AS I SAID, WILL IMPACT THE LIVES OF SO MANY PEOPLE.
SO AS WE CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR, AS WE CELEBRATE CONTINUED LEADERSHIP, WE SHOULD ALSO CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THAT VERY SPECIAL PRINCIPLE, THAT VERY SPECIAL OBLIGATION TO SERVE AS PEOPLE.
SO I LEAVE THAT WITH YOU AS YOU MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THE YEAR WITH A MORE ROBUST MEETING SCHEDULE THAT EMBRACES INCLUSION, THAT EMBRACES ENGAGEMENT, AND GIVES THE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU AND TALK ABOUT HOW THEIR LIVES ARE IMPACTED BY THE DEEDS THAT YOU DO HERE TODAY.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH NOW, THANK YOU.
ASSEMBLYMAN THOMAS GIBBON IS IN THE BACK AS ALWAYS.
WE HAVE FORMER MAYOR SEAN KLEIN.
WE HAVE COUNCILMAN OF MONTCLAIR, BOB RUSSO.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE SOMEONE, UH, WHO, WHO'S SITTING IN THE, IN THE AUDIENCE.
AND THE COUNTY EXEC KIND OF REFERENCED IT.
HE SAID, WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FINANCIAL HOUSE CENTER ORDER, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON TAKING CARE OF YOUR FINANCES.
AND THAT'S, UH, HASSAM MUHAMMAD, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND THE TREASURER.
SO I JUST WANTED, SO AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MY GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, VICE PRESIDENT POMAR, TO OFFER HIS REMARKS.
UH, COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, I HAD SOME, UH, VERY INSIGHTFUL WORDS SHARED BY TWO FAMILY MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, IN PREPARATION FOR TONIGHT.
THIS IS A RARE NIGHT THAT MY FAMILY'S NOT HERE.
IF YOU KNOW ME, YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE ALWAYS IN TOLL AND WE HAVE THESE KIND OF EVENTS.
SO MY 12 YEAR OLD SON, MARIO, SAID, UH, UH, GOOD LUCK TO THE DAD.
UH, LET ME GIVE YOU A PIECE OF ADVICE.
IF, UH, YOU'RE GETTING NOMINATED FOR VICE PRESIDENT, DON'T TURN IT DOWN.
IT'LL MAKE FOR AN AWKWARD MOMENT.
I HOPE IT'S BETTER THAN KEVIN.
LITTLE BIT OF HUMOR TO, YOU KNOW, LOVE IT TO YOU.
I THOUGHT MY, MY FAMILY HAS A INTERESTING SENSE OF HUMOR.
BUT ON A VERY SERIOUS NOTE, LET ME, UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, UH, CHAIRMAN JONES, UM, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE.
UH, BECAUSE OF HIS EFFORTS AND THE PARTY'S EFFORTS.
I'M ONE OF THE VERY FORTUNATE MEMBERS TO SIT HERE WITH A GREAT NUMBER OF COLLEAGUES WHO I, I REALLY CHERISH AS FRIENDS.
UH, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVES LEADERSHIP AS, UH, AS CHAIRMAN JONES.
UH, HE'S JUST GETTING STARTED.
UM, AND IT PUTS US IN A GREAT POSITION TO BE ABLE TO DO GREAT THINGS, INEX COUNTY.
AND IT NEVER, UH, IT NEVER ESCAPES ME, UH, HOW IMPORTANT THE ROLE IS AS MY DAD, WHO WAS A SURGEON IN CUBA, FOUNDS HIMSELF AS A POLITICAL PRISONER FOR SIMPLY HAVING AN OPINION.
AND WHILE WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE, WE ALL RESPECTED EACH OTHER'S OPINIONS, AND WE ALWAYS WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY TO COME TO A, A HAPPY PLACE WHERE WE COULD ALL KIND OF MOVE FORWARD.
AND IT, IT NEVER ESCAPED ME THAT, UH, IT TOOK ME ABOUT 25 YEARS TO ACTUALLY MEET MY DAD AS PAT GAVE A NICE BIOGRAPHICAL OVERVIEW OF MY LIFE.
UM, YOU KNOW, MY, MY MOM LEFT PREGNANT WITH ME.
MY DAD DID NOT COME, YOU KNOW, HE REMAINED IN CUBA, NOT BY CHOICE.
AND SO, UM, I NEVER FORGET HOW IMPACTFUL THAT IS AND HOW IMPORTANT WE SERVE, UH, WHAT WE DO HERE, EVEN IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE DO OR WHAT, WHAT, HOW IT LOOKS LIKE.
OR MAYBE SOMETIMES WE MAKE IT LOOK EASY BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CIVIL HERE AND THAT MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE NORM OF SOME OTHER PLACES.
BUT WE CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY AS A WHOLE, LIKE PROFESSIONALS.
AND I, I DO THINK, UH, AS THE GOVERNOR SAID YESTERDAY AT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES INAUGURATION, WE ARE THE COUNTY TO ENVY.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK THAT'S BEEN LAID DOWN FOR DECADES, WELL BEFORE I GOT HERE.
AND I'M VERY PLEASED, UH, TO BE HERE TO MY COLLEAGUES.
FIRST, LET ME START WITH MY PRESIDENT.
UH, WHAT A WONDERFUL LEADER YOU ARE.
[00:30:01]
YOU MAKE SURE YOU GO AROUND THE ROOM AND GET PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS.AND, UH, YOU ARE OPEN TO THEIR SUGGESTIONS.
YOU'RE, UM, TO THE, THE QUEEN OF THE WAR.
PAT SEABOLD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVELY INTRODUCTION TODAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN AND, UH, I LEARN A LOT FROM YOU BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS COME WELL PREPARED TO THESE MEETINGS AND YOU'RE AT JUST ABOUT EVERY EVENT.
AND, UH, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, REALLY A WONDERFUL PRECEDENT FOR THE REST OF US TO LEARN.
AND AS A RELATIVELY NEW GUY COMPARED TO YOU, UH, HERE, UH, THAT, THAT'S REALLY BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO ME.
THANK YOU, UH, TO MY
NOW, UM, HOW LUCKY AM I THAT THE MADAM CLERK ON A REGULAR BASIS, UH, YOU KNOW, CONFUSES ME AND YOU TOGETHER FOR HIS GOOD LOOKS AND, UH,
UM, THE LADIES ACROSS FROM ME WHO, UH, WERE A GOOD YEAR WHEN I NEEDED IT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CAREGIVING, WHICH IS WHERE I FIND MYSELF NOW WITH MY WIFE, UH, FOR HER DAD.
AND, UH, THE STORY IS THAT YOU SHARE, AND I KNOW CHAIRMAN JONES AND I SHARED THIS ON, I CALLED THE OTHER DAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE, WHAT WE GIVE TO EACH OTHER HERE IS WELL BEYOND POLITICS.
UH, TO BRENDAN, WHO WAS THE FIRST COMMISSIONER I KNEW, UH, BACK IN THE, IN FREEHOLDER WHEN I REACHED OUT TO HIM FOR A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE MORRIS CANAL GREENWAY, WHEN I WAS IN, UH, A BRAND NEW COUNCILMAN IN, UH, BLOOMFIELD, AND WHO SWORE ME IN TWICE.
UM, I HOPE YOU'RE NOT OFFENDED TODAY.
SO THE JUDGE CAME IN
MY TIME IS SERVED, UH, VERY NOTABLY SERVED AT A VERY DIFFICULT TIME ON THIS BOARD.
UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT TO BE LEARNED FROM THERE.
AND, AND I DIDN'T CERTAINLY, AND, UH, TO RUFUSS, WHO, UH, THIS SOUNDS FUNNY, BUT HE WAS THE FIRST GUY THAT PIN ME FREEHOLDER WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED.
AND THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GOOD FRIEND, WELL, BEFORE I GOT TO THIS BOARD IN BLOOMFIELD, CUZ HE WAS ALWAYS A SUPPORTER THERE.
AND BACK AT HOME, I, BLOOMFIELD FAMILY, I CAN'T FORGET THEM BECAUSE, UH, THEY'VE BEEN EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF ME FROM DAY ONE.
AND, UH, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE.
AND SO A DOZEN YEARS FOR ME NOW, IT FEELS LIKE I JUST STARTED NOT THAT LONG AGO BECAUSE I, I COME BY WAY OF ANOTHER CAREER.
UM, I'M NOT A COMMISSIONER BY DAY AND NIGHT.
I, I KIND OF DO OTHER THINGS AND, UH, I FIND MYSELF HERE.
AND, UH, I ABSOLUTELY LOVE WHAT WE DO HERE.
UM, TO THE MEMBER, MEMBER OF THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM, UH, MR. MCINERNEY, HE'S ON OUR SIDE AND HE'S A GREAT HUB.
UH, MR. JACKSON, WHAT A REAL GENTLEMAN YOU ARE.
UM, YOU RUN THOSE LEADERSHIP MEETINGS SO EFFECTIVELY AND MAKE IT VERY ACCOMMODATING FOR US.
AND, UH, THOSE ARE THE BEHIND THE SCENES THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T SEE.
UH, THOSE LEADERSHIP MEETINGS, THAT INTERACTION BACK AND FORTH.
UH, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.
MATT, YOU KNOW, STANDS UP BEHIND HIM.
AND, UH, I'M NOT GONNA FORGET, UH, MY GOOD FRIEND LOUIS FELIX WHO HELD THE BIBLE FOR ME TODAY HERE, BECAUSE THIS IS PROBABLY THE LAST TIME HE MAY CATCH ME.
HE'S BEING SWORN IN TODAY BECAUSE, UH, HE'S GOT THAT H FOUR SNOWBIRD FEVER AND HE'S GONNA BE HEADING DOWN INTO FLORIDA PRETTY SOON.
AND WHILE I'LL SEE YOU THERE, PLENTY, CAUSE I, I GET THAT EDGE TOO.
SO I ASKED HIM TO JOIN ME TO A VERY SPECIAL OCCASION.
CAUSE LOUIS FELIX WAS THE FIRST PERSON WHO REALLY SUPPORTED ME IN BLOOMFIELD ALL THOSE YEARS AGO WHEN NO ONE KNEW WHO I WAS.
AND I DON'T KNOW EVERYONE, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE STILL KNOW HAWAII ANYWAY.
BUT LOUIS WAS THERE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND TRUE TO HIS NAVY ROOTS, UH, THIS IS A GUY WHO'S ALL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UH, TBM, TIME TO BE LATE, UH, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWS HIS ORDERS, HIS OWN ORDERS.
HE JUST GOTTA TELLS ME WHAT TO DO AT TIMES.
AND, UH, ALWAYS WORKS VERY DILIGENTLY TO DO THE BEST HE CAN TO HELP ME OUT.
AND TO OUR STAFF RIGHT HERE, UH, MADDEN CLARK, DEBBIE MARVEL, AND ALL OF YOU HERE, UH, WHAT A WONDERFUL JOB YOU DO, KATHY.
UH, ALWAYS, UH, CRAZINESS WITH THE VOICE.
AND IF YOU THINK HER VOICE IS GREAT, YOU SHOULD SEE HER WRITING.
SHE HELPS ME WRITE THE LETTERS AND THAT'S A LITTLE SECRET, RIGHT? BUT YOU KNOW, YOU, WE GO BACK AND FORTH IN THE WRITING, AND I ALWAYS ASK FOR KATHY WHEN I NEEDED A LETTER WRITTEN BECAUSE, UH, SHE'S, SHE CAPTURES MY THOUGHTS AND WRITES IT BETTER THAN I DO.
SO I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU, AND I'M SORRY IF I WENT A LITTLE BIT LONG.
BUT WE HAVE A WONDERFUL TEAM HERE.
AND, UM, THIS IS A NIGHT FOR CELEBRATING NOT US.
THIS IS ABOUT ALL OF US HERE BECAUSE YOU, YOU KNOW, WE ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
SO I'M VERY BLESSED TO HAVE YOU HERE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
I USED TO SIT IN THAT SEAT BEFORE YOU AND SHE WAS IN MY EAR AS WELL.
[00:35:01]
THAT SEAT.SO NOW, MADAME CLERK, UH, LET'S CONTINUE WITH THE AGENDA AND WE WILL MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
SO IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
HEARING NOW, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS.
PLEASE READ RESOLUTION NUMBER, RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE, ESSIS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER BYLAWS.
AND, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, OUR COUNSEL CAN EXPLAIN.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CHANGES TO OUR BYLAWS THIS YEAR.
LAST YEAR WE MADE SOME CHANGES, UH, MOST NOTABLY CHANGING EVERYTHING FROM FAIL YOUR COMMISSIONER.
UH, BUT THIS YEAR THEY WILL REMAIN THE SAME.
DO I HAVE A MOTION IN THE SECOND MOTION? SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO.
ANNUAL SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS ADOPTION, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, AS REQUIRED, UH, BY OUR BYLAWS, UH, WE HAVE, UH, THIS INCLUDES ALL THE MEETINGS THAT ARE SCHEDULED FOR 2023 COMMISSIONERS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? AND A SECOND MOVED BY COMMISSIONER SIBO.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
CLERK COMMISSIONER SIBEL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT TAMARA? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
CLERK, LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER THREE.
RESOLUTION THREE, OFFICIAL NEWSPAPERS TO RECEIVE PUBLIC NOTICES, DESIGNATION, AND THEY ARE THE STAR LEDGER.
UH, NORTH JERSEY NEWSPAPERS, WORL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS, AND LOCAL TALK WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS.
THANK YOU MADAM CLERK RO UH, COMMISSIONERS.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, UH, DO YOU, MR. MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS, DOES THIS, DO THESE NOTICES COME OUT OF OUR BUDGET OR THE HOW DO WE PAY FOR THESE NOTICES? THEY COME OUT OF MISS THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
WHAT, WHAT, HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND ON THESE NOTICES LAST YEAR? UH, MR. PRESIDENT, UM, I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU.
I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME AT THIS TIME.
ROUGHLY WHAT DO WE SPEND ON THESE NOTICES? MR. MCINERNEY? CAN YOU HELP US OUT HERE? NO, I DON'T.
I I DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE THE BUDGET WITH ME, BUT I CAN GET THAT TO YOU.
BUT I, I, I, I KNOW WE, WE BUDGET MORE THAN WE SPEND ON, ON THAT ONE LINE ITEM.
I MEAN, I'M GUESSING NOW I'M HONESTLY, THERE'S ABOUT SIX DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS IN THE ONE LINE ITEM FOR, FOR THE ACTUAL, FOR, FOR THE NOTICES FOR NON-PROFESSIONAL HELP, PROFESSIONAL HELP.
AND, UM, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, FOR OUR COUNCIL ARE, ARE WE OBLIGATED UNDER A STATE STATUTE TO, FOR HOW MANY PRINT PUBLICATIONS? YES.
SO WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE THAT'S COUNTYWIDE, UM, COUNTYWIDE DISTRIBUTION.
UM, I THINK IT'S TWO NEWSPAPERS.
UM, AND THE REST WOULD BE COURTESIES, I GUESS JUST TO GET THEM INTO DIFFERENT ACCOUNT.
SO ONE COUNTY, ONE, ONE COUNTY WIDE PRINT PUBLICATION.
UH, SO, UH, ADDITIONAL QUESTION, MR. PRESIDENT.
SO THE, UM, SO ADDITIONAL PRINT PUBLICATIONS COULD BE ADDED TO THIS PRINT YEAH.
THERE'S NOT A, THERE'S NOT A CAP ON IT.
THERE'S NO NO CAP OR NO FLOOR.
AND IN FACT, THE STATUTE, UH, UM, AS YOU WOULD NOT BE SHOCKED TO HEAR, HASN'T CAUGHT UP TO THE TECHNOLOGY YET.
[00:40:01]
KNOW, REALLY JUST REMARKING IN THE STATUTE ON NEWSPAPERS AND PRINT MEDIA, NOT DIGITAL.SO DO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? UH, SO THE, SO THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO OBLIGATION TO DO ANY DITCHED, ANY DIGITAL NOTICES? I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
SO THE, UM, IF YOU COULD IS JUST, UM, SO I WOULD READ THE THREE MR. PRESIDENT.
I WOULD DEFINITELY WOULDN'T BE INTERESTED TO JUST, AGAIN, TO SEE THAT, TO, UM, TO SEE THAT NUMBER AND NINE ITEM OF WHAT WE'RE SPENDING WITH THOSE PRINT PUBLICATIONS.
AND, AND THANK EVERYONE FOR INDULGING ME ON THOSE QUESTIONS.
BE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WE'LL MAKE A POINT BECAUSE WE'RE SPENDING MONEY WITH PUBLICATIONS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T LOOK AT ANYMORE,
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, WE DON'T, WE JUST HAD A REORGANIZATION HERE.
WE DON'T HAVE ONE REPORTER HERE FROM THE, I CAN'T REMEMBER IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, IF WE'VE HAD A REPORTER HERE FROM THE STAR LEDGER OR THE, OR NORTH JERSEY.COM, UM, COVER ONE THING THAT THIS COUNTY AND OR THIS BOARD HAS DONE IN THE LAST TWO, TWO TO THREE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE.
AND NOW WE'RE INVESTING OUR CONSTITUENTS MONEY IN THOSE PUBLICATIONS THAT DON'T COMMUNICATE BACK TO THE PUBLIC.
AND WE'RE JUST RUBBER STAMPING THIS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE, LET'S JUST PUT IT ON THROUGH IT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY WE ALWAYS DO IT.
NOTWITHSTANDING, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULDN'T ENCOURAGE, AND I, AND I DON'T MEAN THIS TO BE DISRESPECTFUL TO ANY JOURNALISTS, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE STILL READ A PRINT NEWSPAPER? LOTS, LOTS, LOTS OF PEOPLE.
IT'S A, IT'S A, YOU GUYS WOULD BE ON THE WRONG.
THE HIGHER, WE HAVE A HIGHER SAMPLING ON THIS BOARD THAN THE REST OF THE STATE
YEAH, NO, AND I'M, LISTEN, I'M, I'M NOT SAYING THAT PRINT DOESN'T HAVE ITS PLACE.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT THAT THINK TIMES ARE CHANGING AND WE, WE NEED TO CHANGE WITH IT.
BUT THE, MY BROADER POINT IS THAT, UM, IS THAT I'M NOT REALLY SURE THAT WE NEED TWO OF THOSE NEWSPAPERS TO SPEND.
I'D RATHER SEE US SPEND OUR MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE ON LOCAL PUBLICATIONS IF WE ONLY NEED TO DO ONE.
UM, THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING IF THERE'S A BUDGET QUESTION OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN REVISIT AT A, YOU KNOW, AT A LATER TIME.
IF WE ONLY NEED ONE COUNTY PRINT PUBLICATION, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE CAN CONSIDER ONLY DOING ONE AND SPENDING THAT MONEY WHERE THERE ARE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE THEIR OWN PRINT PUBLICATIONS WHERE THAT INVESTMENT WOULD MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE.
THEY'RE INDEPENDENT NON-PROFIT PRINT PUBLICATIONS UP AND DOWN THIS COUNTY THAT COULD PUBLISH THESE, UM, NOTICES AND ACTUALLY DO COVER THE WORK OF THE BOARD.
I'LL LET US, I KNOW IT'S BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE AGENDA MAKES, AND MY COLLEAGUES SEEM TO BE ANNOYED ABOUT THE QUESTIONING, SO I'M DONE.
MAY I OFFER A SUGGESTION? UM, SO IN MY EXPERIENCE, COMMISSIONER GILL, PROBABLY OFF THE CUFF, SOME OF THESE ADVERTISEMENTS MAY COST TWO TO $300 TO RUN A STAR LEDGER IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE.
UM, STATE LAW DICTATES THAT WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE A CERTAIN KIND OF WAY COUNTYWIDE, AS OUR COUNCIL JUST EXPLAINED.
SO PERHAPS MAYBE WE COULD LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER LOCAL NEWSPAPERS THAT COMMISSIONER GILL IS REFERENCING AND ADD THEM TO THE LIST.
BUT BEAR IN MIND THAT WE STILL HAVE TO DO CAST THAT Y NET TO MEET THE, UM, STATE LAW REQUIREMENT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WE COULD, YOU KNOW, ALMOST LIKE CHERRY PICK IS THE, IS THE WORD THAT COME TO MY MIND RIGHT NOW, BUT NOT THE WORD THAT I MEAN TO USE.
UM, SEE SOME OF THOSE OTHER LOCAL PAPERS THAT WE COULD EQUALLY ADD IN, IN, IN, INTO THE FOLD.
SO, AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LIKE PUT THEM ON THE LIST AS LONG AS WE ARE MEETING THE, THE WIDE DISTRIBUTION THAT THE LAW REQUIRES.
I I THINK IT'S A GREAT POINT, UH, THAT YOU BRING UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE MONEY THAT WE SPEND AND WE CONTINUE TO SPEND ON THESE, UH, PRINT PUBLICATIONS AND THEY NEVER SHOW UP OR PRINT ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THIS BOARD DOES OR WHO WE ARE OR ANYTHING.
SO I, I, THAT POINT IS NOT LOST ON ME.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DIGITAL, YOU KNOW, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT, RIGHT? WE HAVEN'T CAUGHT UP, RIGHT.
THE STATUTE HAS, HASN'T CAUGHT UP.
AND I'M JUST TRYING TO PROLONG THIS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE, UH, MR. VEK WAS AC LOOKING AT THE STATUTE.
UM, AND I'M JUST READING FROM THE NEW JERSEY STATUTE, ONE OF WHICH SHALL BE EITHER A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED AT THE COUNTY SEAT OR SUCH COUNTY OR A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN A MUNICIPALITY IN SUCH COUNTY HAVING THE LARGEST POPULATION.
[00:45:01]
NEWARK, UH, ACCORDING TO THE LAST POPULATION AND ONE PRINTED, UM, IN SUCH COUNTY AND ONE CIRCULATING IN SUCH COUNTY.AND IF THERE'S ONLY ONE DAILY NEWSPAPER PRINTED, UM, SO YOU NEED, AND IF THERE'S NOTHING PUBLISHED IN THE COUNTY, THEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S STATEWIDE.
SO IT'S TWO NEWSPAPERS IS THE ONLY REQUIREMENT CAN BE MR. PRESIDENT.
I MEAN, JUST ONE MORE, ONE MORE ADDITIONAL POINT ON THAT.
IF YOU LOOK, IF YOU LOOK HERE TOO, WE DON'T HAVE ONE PRINT LATINO NEWSPAPER ON OUR LIST.
I MEAN, I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE ONE.
YES, THERE WAS, UH, COMMISSIONER MECADO.
I, I, YEAH, THERE WAS, UH, UM, A SPANISH NEWSPAPER THAT, UM, USED TO BE IN THE CIRCULATION AND THEY, UM, THE, UH, THE JOURNALIST RETIRED AND IS NO LONGER, UM, THAT NEWSPAPER IS NO LONGER THERE, BUT THEY'RE STILL, I STRONGLY, UH, AGREE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A SPANISH LANGUAGE, UH, NEWSPAPER AS A CIRCULAR OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT THIS BOARD HAS.
SO I DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS OF, UM, OF, THERE, THERE ARE VARIOUS, UH, SPANISH LANGUAGE NEWSPRINTS THAT ARE CIRCULATING, UM, THROUGHOUT, UH, AT LEAST THE NORTH WARD AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT WE CAN PROBABLY CONSIDER.
WARRELL PUBLICATIONS, UH, HAS A NEWSPAPER THAT GOES TO ALMOST EVERY TOWN IN ESSEX COUNTY.
WHAT'S THE NAME OF IT? WAR WARRELL.
THERE'RE WHAT HERE, THERE ARE THREE NEWSPAPERS THAT WE DON'T ADVERTISE IN, AND THAT IS THE MONTCLAIR PAPER, THE MILLBURN SHORT HILLS PAPER, AND THE, UM, I THINK IT'S THE VERONA, UH, NEWSPAPER.
WE DON'T ADVERTISE IN THOSE THREE, BUT WARRELL GOES TO EVERYONE, AS DOES THE STAR LEDGER.
AND I KNOW AS OUR, OUR COUNTY COUNCIL SAID, UM, IT'S BY LAW THAT WE MUST ADVERTISE AND PEOPLE SEE IN THESE NEWSPAPERS THAT WE ARE HAVING MEETINGS AND THEY DO READ THE NEWSPAPERS.
NOT EVERYONE IS DOING IT DIGITALLY.
AND ALTHOUGH THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT FOR THE FUTURE, I THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO, UH, UH, PUBLISH IN THE NEWSPAPERS.
AND AS FAR AS COVERING OUR MEETINGS, YEARS AGO, THE STAR LEDGER AND THE LOCAL PAPERS USED TO COVER OUR MEETING ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND THEY USED TO COVER THE LOCAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS ALSO ON A REGULAR BASIS.
BUT THE STAR LEDGER GAVE THAT UP MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, AND THAT NO LONGER HAPPENS.
AND EVEN WARRELL DOESN'T PUBLISH.
THEY USED TO HAVE A SECTION THAT WAS DEDICATED TO COUNTY NEWS, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THAT ANYMORE, ALTHOUGH THEY DO CARRY SOME COUNTY NEWS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS ARE HAVING A PROBLEM THESE DAYS.
SO I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT TO MAKE IT WORSE FOR THEM BY NOT ADVERTISING IN THEM BECAUSE THEY DESPERATELY NEED OUR MONEY IN ORDER TO STAY PUBLISHING.
I FRANKLY THINK THAT WE CAN DO BOTH, YOU KNOW, MEET THE STATE LAW AND, AND EQUALLY ADVERTISING SOME OF THE LOCAL PAPERS.
AS LONG AS WE NEED THE STATE THRESHOLD.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT PRECLUDES US FROM ADVERTISING AND TALK OR THE LATINO HISPANIC NEWSPAPERS THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES IS REFERENCING.
UM, IN MY OPINION, THE STARLET COVERS US A LITTLE BIT FOR MORE LOCAL TALK.
THERE ARE MORE ARTICLES IN THOSE PAPERS ABOUT OUR, UM, PROGRAMS THAT WE DO ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
PICTURES THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE TAKEN IN WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND DIFFERENT, UM, ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ARE ALWAYS IN.
UM, YES, THE WAR ROOM PAPER AND IN LOCAL TALK I SEE THEM ALL THE TIME.
I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER SIEGAL THAT, UM, IF WE COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO BALANCE IT OUT, UM, I THINK SHOULD BE THE GOAL TO MEET SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COMMISSIONER GILL IS TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DO LIKE DIGITAL PRINT BETTER.
UM, AS LONG AS WE'RE MEETING THE STATE LAW, I THINK WE CAN, WE CAN DO BOTH THINGS.
ONLY, UH, WE'VE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR AN HOUR.
UM, NOW I AGREE WITH THAT, COMMISSIONER COOPER AND THAT, SO LET ME, LET ME, LET ME JUST MAKE SURE.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M, I'M ABUNDANTLY CLEAR FOR THE RECORD AND, AND WHAT MY, MY POINT IS, I'M NOT, I'M NOT ADVOCATING ONE OVER THE OTHER.
UH, THAT'S WHY I'VE STARTED MY LINE OF QUESTIONING TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND.
I I THINK THEY'RE, I, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE, SO I THINK WE CAN DO BOTH.
I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND BETTER THE, THE STATE STATUTE THAT GOVERNS, UM, HOW WE SPEND THIS MONEY.
[00:50:01]
THE CONTEXT OF, UM, AND, AND THE POINT ABOUT THE COVERAGE, YOU KNOW, ONE IS NOT DIRECTLY TIED TO THE OTHER.UM, OFTENTIMES THERE ISN'T NOW IN THE NEW MEDIA LANDSCAPE, BUT THERE SHOULD BE, UM, AN EDITORIAL WALL, SO TO SPEAK, BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, THESE DECISIONS AND WHAT KIND OF COVERAGE WE DO OR WE DON'T.
IT SHOULDN'T INFLUENCE THAT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
IT'S MAKING A MORE GENERAL POINT THAT THEY'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
THERE JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY, UM, AND THAT'S NOT, NOT NECESSARILY THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE'S FAULT.
THAT'S JUST THE REALITY OF, OF WHERE THOSE PUBLICATIONS ARE.
THAT BEING SAID, IN TERMS OF OUR, OUR BUDGET AND WHERE WE CAN PUT THIS MONEY, THE NUMBERS THAT I'VE HEARD THAT IS, THAT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN POTENTIALLY A LOCAL PRINT NEWSPAPER.
AND I THINK I HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON WHAT THOSE ARE, BUT I'M NOT SURE I DO.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE TOO.
LIKE WHAT PEOPLE ARE READING, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT THESE DAYS, UM, WHAT BE IT, PRINT OR, UM, BE IT PRINT OR DIGITAL.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLICATION IS IMPORTANT.
THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE MEETINGS, OF COURSE, ARE IMPORTANT.
UM, THE STATE LAW SEEMS OBVIOUSLY, IN MY OPINION, USED TO BE LOOKED AT.
IF IT ONLY DEALS WITH PRINT AND NOT DIGITAL, THAT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT ON THE STATE LEVEL WE NEED TO START TO, UM, TO LOOK AT.
UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE AT THE SAME TIME, IF WE'RE THE, IF, IF IT'S NOT JUST ONE COUNTY, IT'S EVERY COUNTY, EVERY MUNICIPALITY, AND IT'S A HUGE PART OF THEIR BUSINESS.
ONE IS ON MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION, IT CAN'T BE JUST UP TO US TO SUSTAIN THEIR BUSINESS MODEL.
BUT THEIR BUSINESS MODEL DOESN'T WORK.
IT'S NOT THE OBLIGATION TO OUR CONSTITUENTS
SO YOU, YOU, AGAIN, THAT'S MY PERSONAL OPINION.
COMMISSIONER GILL, YOU WON'T GET AN ARGUMENT OUT OF ME, BUT STATE STATUTE, UH, DICTATES THAT WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE IN TWO NEWSPAPERS.
DOESN'T PRECLUDE US FROM DOING DIGITAL STUFF EITHER.
SO THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK INTO.
AND, AND DEALING WITH THIS RESOLUTION TODAY DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T BE AMENDED IN THE END OF JANUARY.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET OUR ARMS AROUND IT A LITTLE BIT AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF WHAT THE BUDGET IS, WHAT ELSE IS AVAILABLE, WHAT MAY BE BETTER, UH, OPPORTUNITIES.
SO I, I I I WE HAD A MOVER IN A SECOND, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
COMMISSIONER COOPER ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER FOUR.
PLEASE READ THE RESOLUTION, UH, RESOLUTION FOUR, CASH MANAGEMENT PLAN, DESIGNATION OF DEPOSITORIES FOR 2023.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING HONOR, I WILL MOVE IN A SECOND.
SECOND MOVE BY COMMISSIONER COOPER.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRANT ROLL CALL MA'AM.
CLERK COMMISSIONER SIBEL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PALMARA? YES.
UH, COMMISSIONER RICARDO? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER FIVE.
RESOLUTION FIVE, APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS REPRESENTATIVES TO THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES IN JACK FOR 2023.
AND WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO STATE PLEASE WHO THEY ARE? UM, THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR IN JACK WILL BE COMMISSIONER GILL AND THE ALTERNATE ALTERNATES WILL BE COMMISSIONER ROBERT RICARDO AND WAYNE RICHARDSON.
COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE? WE NOW ROLL CALL MA'AM.
OH, I NEED A MOVE IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PALMARA? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
[00:55:01]
THE RESOLUTION NUMBER SIX AND RESOL RESOLUTION NUMBER 6 20 23.MR. BECKONER, MR. PRESIDENT, AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
IT'S, UH, THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE FOR, UH, AUTHORIZATIONS FOR SPENDING, WHICH IS 26.25% OF LAST YEAR'S APPROPRIATIONS.
THIS WILL TAKE US APPROXIMATELY TO THE MONTH OF MARCH.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NOW I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
CLERK COMMISSIONER SIBEL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO THE PUBLIC'S COMMENT SESSION.
THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADJUST THE BOARD ON ANY ISSUE.
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME, AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
BOB RUSSO, FORMER MONTCLAIR MAYOR, CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBER OF SIX TERMS. VERY LONG TIME, BUT I DID SERVE ONE WEEK IN 19 19 78 AS FREEHOLDER.
AT THE TIME WE RECORD, YOU SAID ONE WEEK THEY ALMOST SAW ME IN, UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK ON WHAT FREEHOLDER, WHAT COMMISSIONER, UH, GIL JUST BROUGHT UP BECAUSE THAT'S, I WANT TO SPEAK WHEN THE RESOLUTION CAME UP.
MONTCLAIR PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THE COVERAGE THAT THEY USED TO GET.
THE MONTCLAIR LOCAL IS THE NEWER PAPER IN TOWN, WHICH CIRCULATES HEAVILY.
THE MONTCLAIR TIMES IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY NORTH JERSEY NEWSPAPERS, I BELIEVE.
SO WHAT, WHAT THE COMMISSIONER GILL IS BRINGING UP IS THE, THE COMMUNICATION WITH OUR LARGE COMMUNITY.
MONTCLAIR HAS TWO NEWSPAPERS UNUSUAL FOR MOST TOWNS HAVE TWO NEWSPAPERS.
WE HAVE THE MONCLAIR LOCAL AND THE MONCLAIR TIMES, BUT AS COM, AS COMMISSIONER SEA BALL POINTED OUT, WEAU PAPERS HAVE PAPERS ALL OVER THE COUNTY, BUT WE DO CONNECT WITH THE MILLBURN PAPER, I BELIEVE, AND THE VERONA CEDAR GRO PAPER, THE MONTCLAIR.
SO WHATEVER GOES INTO THOSE WOULD, WOULD COVER QUITE A FEW TOWNS.
JUST URGING THAT WE DO SOMETHING, MAYBE ROTATE TO LOCAL PAPERS, UH, TAKE OUT ONE OF THESE, YOU KNOW, DAILY PAPERS.
WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUES IN MONTCLAIR WE'RE DEALING WITH.
WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE LOCAL PAPER AND ONE DAILY PAPER.
BUT THESE ARE THE, THE TIMES THAT HAVE CHANGED.
AS WE'VE SAID, COMMUNICATION REALLY IS THROUGH THINGS LIKE, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THE, UH, UH, THE, THE BARISTA NET, FOR EXAMPLE, COVERS SEVERAL TOWNS IN THE NORTH ESSEX AREA.
SO THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE LOOK AT.
THEY LOOK AT THAT RIGHT AWAY ONLINE.
SO LOOK AT THIS VERY CAREFULLY AS WAY, NOT JUST TO SAVE SOME MONEY, BUT TO ALSO REACH MORE PEOPLE THAT I WANTED TO THANK AND PRAISE COMMISSIONER, UH, GILL FOR BRINGING THIS UP.
BEFORE WE CALL, ASK, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT? LET THE RECORD REFLECT.
NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
AND BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT AND CALL, UH, THE BISHOP BACK UP, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, JUST THANK THE STAFF AS WELL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO MAKE ALL OF US LOOK GOOD.
UH, ALL OF YOU, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU TO EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
AND TO MR. JACKSON, TO MATT, TO MACINERNEY, MR. TO KYLE.
LIONEL, JUST THE WHOLE TEAM IS JUST, UH, E SENT YOU.
BUT I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOT AND I, I KIND OF SAVED HER FOR LAST.
AND THAT'S MY AIDE WHO DOES MY DIGITAL STUFF THAT I CAN'T DO, AND THAT'S AZIZA.
UH, AND SHE DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB.
SO I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR ME.
SO LET'S CLOSE OUT WITH, UH, BISHOP, UH, MITCHELL, WHO WILL OFFER THE BENEDICTION.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, GRACIOUS GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS EVENING.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, FOR THE GREAT COUNTY OF ESSEX.
WE PRAY NOW, LORD, THAT YOU WOULD BLESS IN, IN KEEP THEM IN ALL THAT THEY DO.
GIVE THEM STRENGTH, GIVE THEM COURAGE.
ALLOW THEM TO OPERATE WHEN DILIGENCE,
[01:00:01]
INTEGRITY, AND IN EXCELLENCE.NOW, WE KNOW WE HAVE MANY DAYS AHEAD OF US, BUT IF YOU GOT US AND YOU LEAD US, WE SHALL BE LED.
AND THAT WHATEVER THEY DO, WE BRING GLORY AND HONOR TO YOUR NAME.
NOW THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP THE, THE LORD SMILE UPON GRACIOUS ONTO THE THE LORD.
LIFT UP HIS CHARACTERS AND GIVE THE PEACE.
IT'S MY PRAYER FOR THEM ALL IN THIS GREAT COUNTY.
SO BEFORE I, UH, ASK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN, I WOULD LIKE, UH, EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WHO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED COMMISSIONER COMMITTEES TO CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THOSE COMMITTEES.
UH, UNTIL WE DON'T MAKE ANY CHANGES,
SAID COOPER LOOKED AT ME LIKE HE LOOKED AT ME.
WE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMMISSIONER COOPER ON THAT ONE COMMITTEE THAT YOU SERVE ON THE CATS.
UM, YOU, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PERSONALITY FOR THAT.
SO WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SERVING ON US.
OUR COMMISSIONERS DO HAVE A, A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN.
SO, AND WE HAVE FOOD, ADJOURN.