[00:00:27]
NO, I THINK MR. MUHAMMAD PUT IT, UH, FAIRLY SUCCINCTLY.
I, I THINK WE, UH, APPROVED OR DISCUSSED AT A PRIOR MEETING WHAT, UM, THE PARK DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES WILL BE DOING WHILE THIS BUILDING'S UNDER RENOVATION.
UH, WHERE WILL THEY BE? THEY'LL BE IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION, OBVIOUSLY.
THEY'LL BE AT, UH, 1 55 PROSPECT STREET IN WEST ORANGE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING ITEM? DO I HAVE A MOTION? IN A SECOND? I'LL MOVE IT A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
ABSENT COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
SO, MOVE, IF, IF I'M, IF I MAY MISS PRESIDENT I, MR. JACKSON, I DON'T BELIEVE WE DID THE AMENDMENT FIRST.
WE NEED TO DO THE AMENDMENT FIRST.
MR. HASSAN, WHAT DID WE JUST DO, SIR? WHAT DID YOU JUST GIVE? YES, I, I MENTIONED THE AMENDMENT TO THE, TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
THIS IS BEFORE THE ORDINANCE? YES.
SO, SO WE WERE A LITTLE PREMATURE.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US, MR. JACKSON? I, UH, YES.
WHERE'S, I'M TRYING TO SAY IT POLITICALLY.
UH, WHERE'S THE AMENDMENT? WHERE IS THE AMENDMENT THOUGH? IF I ASK? IT'S NUMBER SEVEN.
THAT, UH, AND NOW GO BACK TO THE DO THE ORDINANCE.
THIS IS TO PROVIDE FOR RENOVATION FOR THE PARKS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING LOCATED ON HUNDRED 15 K AVENUE.
UH, AUTHORIZING THE 10 MILLION, UH, 810 MILLION OF IT WILL BE AUTHORIZED AND BARN.
WE'LL HAVE A MOVER IN A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER SIBO, SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT FOR MAR ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC.
HERE IS MR. PRESIDENT, JUST, JUST SO TO KEEP IT CLEAN IN CASE THERE'S ANY ISSUE SINCE WE JUST THEN VOTED ON THE, UH, KIND OF OUT OF ORDER ON THE AMENDMENT.
LET'S JUST TAKE ANOTHER MOTION AND SECOND ON THE, UH, ON THE BOND ORDINANCE IF WE CAN.
SO, IS THERE A MOVER AND A SECOND ON THE BOND ORDINANCE? I'LL MOVE IT.
COMMISSIONER SIBO, SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER ROLL CALL CLERK COMMISSIONER SIBEL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PAARI.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, MR. PRESIDENT? WE HAVE NONE.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ORDINANCES RESOLUTIONS ON SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT? UH, YES.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE THREE RESOLUTIONS ARE DASH 2023 DASH 0 180 8, RESOLUTION R 2023 DASH 0 180 9, AN ORDINANCE OH DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 5.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER R DASH 20 23 0 0 1 8 8,
[00:05:01]
AND IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.I HEREBY DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON RESOLUTIONS R DASH 2023 DASH 180 8 OPEN.
IF THERE ARE 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, AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
MADAM CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT NO ONE'S WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ORDINANCE.
MR. PARECIA, UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS.
COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING LINE? DO I HAVE A MOVER? IN A SECOND.
MOVE BY COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MERCARDO.
THAT'S TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THAT'S TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVER IN A SECOND? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT CAMARA? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
R DASH 2029 DASH 180 9, WHICH IS THE ADOPTION OF THE 2023 ESSIVE COUNTY S.
WE'RE GONNA OPEN THE, WE HAVE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THEN ADJOURN IT.
I DO HEAR BY THE PUBLIC HEARING RESOLUTIONS, R DASH 2023 DASH 180 8 OPEN.
MR. PAUL? YES, UH, MR. PRESIDENT AT THIS TIME, UH, MY RECOMMENDATION, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, IS NOT PREPARED OR WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO, UH, ADOPT THIS FULLY TONIGHT.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO TAKE A, A, UH, VOTE TO ADJOURN THE PUBLIC HEARING TO THE NEXT MEETING, MARCH 29TH, 2023.
SO THAT WOULD ALLOW, THAT WOULD KEEP THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN, BUT ADJOURNED AND GIVE, UH, THE PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, SPEAK ON THE 29TH WHEN THE, UH, BUDGET IS AGAIN, UH, INTRO IS BROUGHT UP, BROUGHT BACK FOR ADOPTION.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LUCIANO SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SIBO TO, TO ADJOURN THE, UH, BUDGET UNTIL MARCH 29TH.
MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY WELCOME MR. JACKSON.
UH, I JUST, WHAT MR. PARO SAID IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, LET THE BOARD KNOW AND THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SUBMITTED ITS BUDGET TO THE STATE TIME AGO, AND IT IS, UM, TAKING A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN THEY NORMALLY DO TO EVALUATE IT AND GET BACK TO US.
IN FACT, THE STATE'S BUDGET IS NOT POSTED.
UH, I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S STILL POSTED.
SO UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, THEY CAN'T, THEY, THEY WON'T, UH, APPROVE OUR BUDGET.
SO I JUST DIDN'T WANT THE BOARD OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT WE'RE LAGGING IN ANY WAY.
WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE STATE TO APPROVE IT.
SORRY TO HAVE GIVEN THAT IMPRESSION.
NO, I, I JUST WANTED TO ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
UH, THROUGH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT, UH, REAL QUICK BEFORE WE CONTINUE OUR AGENDA TO, UH, SPEAK TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, UM, ESPECIALLY BEING, I SEE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE STANDING.
UM, OUR MEETING TONIGHT IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE QUITE LENGTHY, AND IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN SIT OUT IN THE HALLWAY.
YOU USUALLY CAN HEAR OUR MEETING OUT THERE.
IF YOU CAN'T, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF PUTS IT ON THE MICROPHONE SO YOU GUYS CAN HEAR THE MEETING.
I, I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE THAT WANNA ADDRESS US ON SOME ISSUES.
YOU WILL NOT MISS YOUR TIME AT THE MICROPHONE, BUT BEING, WE'RE GONNA BE IN THIS MEETING FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
I DON'T KNOW IF SOME OF YOU FOLKS ARE WILLING TO STAND FOR OVER AN HOUR.
I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT NOW.
UH, COMMISSIONER CHAIRMAN, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCE.
I HEREBY DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON RESOLUTIONS OH DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 0 5 OPEN.
IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FOR OR AGAINST ITS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE
[00:10:01]
MICROPHONE.STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
DON CLERK WILL LET THE RECORD REFLECTORS.
NO ONE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ORDINANCE.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS WAS DISCUSSED AT LENGTH ON FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION AT THE PRIOR MEETING.
IT'S ISSUING, UH, $1,425,000 WORTH OF BONDS FOR CYBERSECURITY NETWORK IMPROVEMENTS.
COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NINE.
I NEED TO MOVER IN A SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SECOND, MR. GILL, MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MERCADO, SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVE IN A SECOND TO ADOPT? YES.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT FROM OURS? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS ONE THROUGH SIX, ONE THROUGH FIVE ARE ALL ADVISING AND CONSENT NOMINATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE ESSEX COUNTY LESBIAN GAVE BY SEXUAL TRANSGENDER AND QUESTIONING ADVISORY BOARD.
AND NUMBER SIX IS FOR REAPPOINTMENT AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, THE ADMINISTRATION COUNTY EXECUTIVE ARE THRILLED TO PRESENT TO YOU SIX, UH, UH, CANDIDATES OR FOR OUR ADVISORY BOARD.
UM, THE FIRST, UH, PERSON WILL BE AMIRA GOMEZ, AND YOU CAN JUST COME UP AND, UH, INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE BOARD.
UM, I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF CHOSEN COMMISSIONERS FOR APPOINTING ME INTO THIS ADVISORY BOARD.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK REGGIE BLETSO AND KATHY O'BRIEN FOR ALSO, UH, RECOMMENDING ME TO THE SUPPORT AND ROLE.
I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF ESSES COUNTY.
UM, I GREW UP IN EAST ORANGE AND I CURRENTLY LIVE IN NEWARK WITH MY PARTNER.
UM, I'M EXTREMELY HONORED TO BE ON THIS BOARD, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP.
UH, SO THERE ARE 1,440 MINUTES IN A DAY.
EACH OF THOSE MINUTES IS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RAISE AWARENESS AND BE THE VOICE FOR THOSE WHO FEEL UNSEEN AND UNHEARD WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
I EMBRACE THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD AND I PROMISE TO COMMIT MYSELF TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE ESS COUNTY, UM, COMMUNITY.
OUR NEXT, UH, UH, CANDIDATE IS AL ALANA BERMAN.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE, UH, BEFORE ME AND EV EVERYONE A PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, FOR TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY, FOR CREATING THIS BOARD.
AND I WANT TO THANK CERTAINLY, UM, REGGIE SLOW AND THE CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR CONSIDERING ME AS A NOMINEE.
AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING MY BACKGROUND AND ORGANIZING AND ANTI-BIAS AND EDUCATION, UH, TO THIS ROLE AND HELPING TO JUST ADVANCE THE GREAT WORK THAT THE COUNTY'S ALREADY DOING.
OUR NEXT NOMINEE IS, UH, RICK WILLIAMS. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK BIG D AND EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE BOARD TO NOMINATE ME AS AN ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER.
UM, I COME WITH A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE.
I WAS FORMERLY A COMMISSIONER FOR NEWARK, AND I HAVE A MAJOR BACKGROUND OF MEDIA BRAND MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS.
GONNA LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU, MS. WILLIAMS. THE NEXT, THE NOMINEE IS RAPHAEL SANTIAGO CHAVEZ
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE.
AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO, UM,
AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE, BE HERE TO, UH, START WORKING WITH THE L G B T COMMUNITY AS, UH, SPANISH AS, UH, GAY, AS A MEXICAN.
IT'S FROM AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
[00:15:01]
AND, UM, OUR FIFTH, UH, NEW APPOINTMENT.UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE CHANCE TO WORK ON, ON THIS BOARD.
I AM BORN AND RAISED IN ESSEX COUNTY.
I'M A HEALTHCARE WORKER IN THE COUNTY, AND I'M LOOKING TO SEE I CAN BE OF, OF MORE ASSISTANCE AND HOPEFULLY MAKE THINGS EVEN BETTER.
THANK ALL OF YOU FOR, UH, YOUR VOLUNTEERISM, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU WANTING TO STEP UP AND HELP YOUR FELLOW RESIDENTS.
FINALLY, IT'S A REAPPOINTMENT, MR. PRESIDENT OF LESLIE AFAR, UM, SHOULD BE REAPPOINTED TO THE BOARD AND WE'RE, UH, THRILLED TO DO THAT.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'M THE, UH, COMMISSIONER LIAISON TO THE, UH, L G B T QUESTION MARK COMMITTEE, AND WE MEET ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND I AM REALLY SO PLEASED THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE JOINING THE ADVISORY BOARD BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN IN NEED OF NEW PEOPLE TO JOIN US FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND I'VE LOOKED AT ALL THE RESUMES AND EVERYONE HAS A TERRIFIC BACKGROUND AND WILL BE IN ASSET TO THE BOARD.
AND THANK YOU TO REGGIE BLEDSO FOR RUNNING THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH DOES SUCH A GOOD JOB WITH THE COMMUNITY HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING YOUR TIME TO JOIN US ON THIS COMMITTEE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH ALL OF YOU.
AND I JUST WANNA ADD ONE OTHER THING THAT, UH, LESLIE DOES A WONDERFUL JOB.
LESLIE FARBER DOES A WONDERFUL JOB ON THE BOARD, AND I'M SO HAPPY SHE'S BEING REAPPOINTED.
BE BEFORE WE GO TO THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS COMMISSION.
SIBO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THIS? YES.
UH, I TOO WANT TO COMMEND ALL THE FOLKS HERE TODAY THAT WANT TO, UH, VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME, UH, HELPED OUT, UH, IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE HERE TO THE RESIDENTS OF ESSEX COUNTY BY MAKING THEM FEEL WELCOME AND COMFORTABLE.
WE'RE A REALLY DIVERSE COUNTY.
I'VE SAT ON THIS BOARD NOW FOR 12 YEARS, AND I CAN TELL YOU ALL THAT JUST CAME TO THE MIC.
AND ESPECIALLY, UM, THE REAPPOINTMENT THAT'S COMING BACK.
I THINK JUST ABOUT EVERY ONE OF US SERVED IN THE CAPACITY OF VOLUNTEERING ON A BORDER COMMITTEE WITHIN THE COUNTY BEFORE WE'VE MET, FOUND OUR WAY ONTO THIS BOARD.
AND, UH, IT'S DEFINITELY VERY EDUCATIONAL.
I THINK YOU'LL LEARN A LOT, YOU'LL MEET A LOT OF GOOD FOLKS, AND YOU'LL DO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS.
ALSO, JUST A PERSONAL SHOUT OUT TO YOUR DIRECTOR, REGINALD BLEDSO.
WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIM IN THE COUNTY RUNNING THIS, UH, NEW DEPARTMENT.
THANKS TO OUR ADMINISTRATION AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
AND AGAIN, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES.
LET ME JUST SAY, UM, I'M THE ALTERNATE, UH, ON THE ADVISORY, UH, UH, BOARD OF THIS COMMITTEE.
AND, UM, FIRST LET ME SAY, UM, AND RECOGNIZE, UH, REGGIE BLEDSO FOR, FOR ALL THE WORK THAT HE'S DOING, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY AND BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION, HE'S DONE A WONDERFUL JOB IN HIS RECRUITMENT OF THIS NEW CLASS, OF NEW VOLUNTEERS, UM, THAT'S COMING BEFORE US.
UM, WANNA CONGRATULATE EACH OF YOU ON A THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR TIME.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE, AND THIS COMMITTEE IS, UH, IS VERY, UH, DIVERSE AND, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AS, UH, WE MOVE FORWARD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
I HAVE A MOVER COMMISSIONER SIBO ROUTE, AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MECADO ROHO MEDICAL CLERK.
THIS IS FOR RESOLUTIONS ONE THROUGH SIX.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
AGAIN, THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND VOLUNTEERING.
SO FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION SEVEN AND EIGHT, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE.
[00:20:02]
WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.WE'LL READ IT INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, MR. PRESIDENT, RESOLUTION NUMBER EIGHT, MR. MR. MUHAMMAD WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM.
GOOD EVENING, HOSAN MOHAMED COUNTY TREASURER.
UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER EIGHT FOR TRANSFER, UH, APPROPRIATION, UH, 2022 APPROPRIATION RESERVES.
UH, WE ARE ALLOWED BY LAW TO, TO TRANSFER, UH, TO OUR PRIOR YEAR BUDGET IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
AND, UH, JUST, JUST MAKE SURE, UH, ALL OUR DEPARTMENTS, UH, FULLY FUNDED AND DO NOT HAVE ANY OVER EXPENDITURES.
AND YOU HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO, TO PAY FOR ANY BILLS FROM LAST YEAR.
I DID SPEAK TO MR. MCINERNEY THIS MORNING, WHO I KNOW, UH, DISCUSSED ALL OF THESE THOROUGHLY WITH MR. MUHAMMAD EARLIER COMMISSION.
ACCOUNT HEARING 90, THE MOTION TO TAKE RESOLUTION NUMBER EIGHT, MOVING.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MERCADO.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PALMARA? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS NINE THROUGH 11, WHICH ARE FROM THE DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES.
THEY WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, WARDEN BAR CLIP WILL HANDLE NUMBER NINE, AND, UH, MR. MARTINEZ WILL HANDLE 10 AND 11.
GENTLEMEN, YOU'RE BLOCKING THE MICROPHONE.
I'M WARREN BARKLEY FROM THE ESSEX COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
HERE TO ADDRESS RESOLUTION NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS THE CONTRACT BETWEEN, UH, ESSEX REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL, UH, SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE ESSEX COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
ESSEX REGIONAL PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, UH, TO THE JUVENILE, UH, DEFENDANTS WHO WE HAVE INCARCERATED IN OUR DETENTION FACILITY.
I HAVE REPRESENTATIVES HERE FROM THE COMMISSION, UH, MAINLY DR.
EDGEHILL, AND MS. MASSEY, WHO ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
THIS IS TO THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
THIS IS, YOU MISSED THAT PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WAS IN THE BEGINNING.
IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR AGENDA, YOU'LL, YOU'LL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
WELL, YOU HAVE TO GET HERE ON TIME.
LEARN FROM THE, UH, MOVEMENT TO CLOSE YOUR GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UM, SEEING US.
SHE'S OUR PRINCIPAL OF THE SOJO IN HIGH SCHOOL, AS WELL AS OUR VICE PRINCIPAL, MS. DE KEISHA MASSEY.
ED SCH, AND THIS IS MS. MASSEY.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'RE WILLING TO ANSWER THEM.
INTRODUCE YOUR WHOLE TEAM AND THEN WE'LL, I'M THE PRINCIPAL AND SHE'S THE VICE PRINCIPAL.
COMMISSIONER SIBO, I WOULD JUST, UH, LIKE TO ADD THAT I THINK YOU'RE DOING A TERRIFIC JOB AT THE DETENTION CENTER.
SO, COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL? YES.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU BECAUSE THE WORK THAT YOU DO AT THE DETENTION CENTER, UM, MANY FOLKS DON'T GET TO SEE IT.
YOU KNOW, CUZ YOU'RE BEHIND THE WALL.
BUT, UM, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO, TO WALK THROUGH AND, AND, AND SEE THE WORK THAT'S DONE.
AND YOU, YOU DO FANTASTIC WORK WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE, FOR THE WHATEVER PERIOD OF TIME THAT THEY'RE THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COPY? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
[00:25:01]
ESSEX COUNTY YOUTH SERVICES COMMISSION.UM, TODAY, THE YOUTH SERVICES COMMIT.
TODAY THE YOUTH SERVICES COMMISSION IS, UM, IS SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THE STATE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SUB GRANT AGREEMENTS FOR THREE PROPOSED SUB GRANTEES.
TODAY, I DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FOR, FOR LEADERS FOR LIFE, WHO IS ABLE TO AN EXPLAIN THE CONTRACT AND ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
I'M SORRY, FIRST OF ALL, MY NAME IS RI WHITE.
I WANT TO SEND OUT A CONDOLENCES, UH, TO THE FAMILY AND THIS COMMISSION FOR THE PASSING OF SENATOR RON RICE.
I STAND HERE BECAUSE OF THE GUIDANCE AND THE MENTORSHIP HE PROVIDED TO ME OVER 40 YEARS AGO.
SO I'M A LITTLE EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW.
WE ENTERED IN A CONTRACT WITH THE YOUTH SERVICES COMMISSION TO PROVIDE 48 JUSTICE INVOLVED MALE AND FEMALE IN COUNTY WITH DETENTION DAY PROGRAM, EDUCATION, MENTORING, MEDIATION, SOME OF THE, I'M SORRY.
SOME OF THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE FROM MENTORING MEDIATION STRATEGIES, INCREASE, UH, PARTICIPATION IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.
UH, DISCOVER THE USE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS OR FIREARM FIREARMS, INVOLVEMENT IN VIOLENCE AND OTHER DELINQUENT ACTIVITIES, AND INCREASED JOB READINESS AND SUSTAINABILITY SKILLS WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
COMMISSION ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HEARING, I JUST, OH, COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
UM, HOW MANY STUDENTS DID YOU SAY YOU SERVED? 48.
I, UH, UH, HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU, YOU'RE PARTNERING WITH THE COUNTY AND YOUTH SERVICES TO PROVIDE YOUR EXPERTISE.
YOU'VE BEEN IN THAT FIELD FOR A LONG TIME.
YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING IN WORK, SO I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SEE YOU, UH, GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, DO WHAT YOU DO ON THE COUNTY LEVEL.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS JASON MARTINEZ, DIRECTOR OF YOUTH SERVICES COMMISSION.
UM, TODAY WE ARE SEEKING THE DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES IS, UM, SEEKING TO RENEW THE STATE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP.
SOME GRANT AGREEMENTS FOR 10 PROPOSED, UM, 10 PROPOSED SUB GRANTEES.
I DO HAVE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY FROM A SPIRIT INC.
FOR THEIR EVENING REPORTING CENTER.
THEY MAY BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE CONTRACT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, ALL THE COMMISSIONERS.
I'M SERVING AS THE PROGRAM MANAGER.
UM, AND ALSO, SIR, IN PLACE OF OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CALLS VALENTINE, JR.
UM, THE ASPERA EVENING RESEARCH, UM, REPORTING CENTER PROGRAM.
IT SERVES AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION TO JUVENILES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 18.
UM, THESE JUVENILES WHILE THEY WAIT, THEIR COURT HEARINGS.
UM, WE'RE LOCATED AT THREE 90 BROAD STREET IN NORTH NEW JERSEY.
UM, WE PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT, CASE MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT IN-HOUSE, BOXING PROGRAM, UM, ALSO PRODUCTION AND RECREATIONAL, UM, SERVICES AS WELL FOR STUDENTS TO GET ENGAGED.
UM, I THINK WE ALSO PROVIDE LIFE SKILL WORKSHOPS FOR THESE YOUTH IN, IN ADDITION TO THE THINGS THAT I'VE MENTIONED.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, UM, TAKE ON THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR THE BOARD.
WE'RE ALL VERY FAMILIAR WITH INSPIRO.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, DOING A LOT OF GOOD WORK.
UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND FOR NINE TO 11.
MOVE BY COMMISSIONER MERCARDO.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
ROLL CALL MASTER CLERK COMMISSIONER SIBEL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION NUMBER 12, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF RISK MANAGEMENT.
AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I SEE MR. WALKER, MR. JACKSON? MR. WALKER
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT, COMMISSIONER BOARD.
TIM WALKER, DIRECTOR OF RISK MANAGEMENT WITH COUNTY OF ESSEX.
UH, WE'VE COME TO YOU TONIGHT SEEKING TO INVOKE THE ONE YEAR EXTENSION FOR THE THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO IN ERCO
[00:30:01]
INSURANCE SERVICES, UH, NOT TO EXCEED HUNDRED THOUSAND $786.OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS, MR. PAUL? YES.
UH, I DO HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
IS THIS THE ONLY, UH, EXTENSION ON THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT? YEAH, I, I I BELIEVE THERE ARE TWO ONE YEAR EXTENSIONS AVAILABLE.
THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST OF THE TWO.
SO IF YOU DON'T DECIDE TO GO OUT AND BID FOR IT AGAIN, THERE'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND FURTHER.
WE'LL, WE'LL GO OUT TO BID NEXT YEAR THEN.
AND IS THERE ANY INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR YEARS, UH, CONTRACT? I THINK IT WENT UP BY A THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
MRO COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NOW? I NEED A MOTION.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION NUMBER 13.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, THIS IS A, UH, CONTRACT, UH, WITH ASSOCIATED YOUR, YOUR MAIN SERVICES TO PERFORM TRAP NEUTER.
UM, FASCINATED RELEASE SERVICES FOR THE COUNTY.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW.
THE PROGRAM IS REALLY, UH, BUILDING UP AND WANT, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR SUPPORT.
BUT, AND PARTICULARLY, UH, COMMISSIONER COOPER, UH, WHO'S BEEN OUT OUT FRONT ON THIS, UM, LAST YEAR, JUST JUST TO NOTE AND CAUSE OF COVID.
THIS, IT KIND OF WAS, WAS A LITTLE SLOW LAST YEAR.
WE DID, UH, 257, UH, UH, UH, SURGERIES, IF YOU WILL, OR SERVICES, UH, THIS YEAR ALONG, WE'VE ALREADY DONE 99.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA PACE TO DO ALMOST, UH, 500, UM, UH, SERVICES THIS YEAR.
UM, WE'VE, UH, ADDED NEW TRAPPERS AND, UH, BOUGHT TRAPS FOR THE, FOR THOSE NEW INDIVIDUALS.
SO IT'S MOVING, UH, QUITE, QUITE A BIT ALONG.
WE'VE UPPED THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT WE GIVE, UH, FOR EACH SERVICE AS AN INCENTIVE.
SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY MOVING ALONG.
AGAIN, I WANNA THANK THE BOARD AND, AND PARTICULARLY, UH, COMMISSIONER COOPER.
AND THIS IS FOR A CONTRACT FROM JANUARY 1ST, 2023 THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000.
MR. PAULO, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
MOVED BY COMMISSION VICE PRESIDENT PAARI.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MECADO.
CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER? ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS 14 THROUGH 19, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
AND BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, MS. ASSOR IS GOING TO ADDRESS THESE ITEMS. UH, JUST AS A NOTE, THIS IS HER FIRST MEETING AND I TOLD HER, DESPITE WHAT SHE MAY HAVE HEARD, THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY KIND GIVING
AND SO, UH, SHE'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE.
SO YOU HAD, YOU HAD TO, YOU JUST HAD TO DO THAT.
DELFIN DE, ASSISTANT COUNTY COUNCIL HERE ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COUNCIL.
I'LL BE READING RESOLUTIONS 14 THROUGH 19.
14 IS THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES, UM, WITH, AND THEN THIS WILL BE THE OUTSIDE COUNCIL.
SECOND AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH, UM, SHEA CHIAN AND GIAN TOMASI.
INCREASE IN CONTRACT TO AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED.
200,015 IS A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT AS WELL WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
JAMES JUDE PLEA WITHIN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 25,000.
16 AND 17 ARE THE SAME, BUT WITH DIFFERENT OUTSIDE COUNCILS.
AND 17 IS WITH, UM, THE OFFICE OF BAKKA BCA.
AND, UM, AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 25,018 IS ALSO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES, UM, WITH OUTSIDE COUNCIL, CARRIE VERSUS GROSS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 30,000.
[00:35:01]
AND LASTLY, 19 IS ALSO A PROFESSIONAL AGREEMENT CONTRACT, UM, WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL KENNEDY LAW IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 50,000.ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? MR. PARLOVE? THANK YOU.
I WAS GONNA START BY ASKING YOU TO RECITE THE RULE AGAINST PERPETUITIES, BUT THAT'S A LITTLE LOST JOKE.
UH, THESE ITEMS, UH, THE ATTORNEYS AND THE FIRMS TO WHOM THEY'VE BEEN ASSIGNED, IF YOU'LL RECALL CALL, UH, LATE LAST YEAR OR EARLIER THIS YEAR.
THE, UM, THE BOARD, UH, ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS APPROVING ALL OF THESE.
THEY'VE ALL GONE THROUGH THE FAIR AND OPEN PROCESS SO THAT WE, UH, THE COUNTY MAINTAINS A POOL OF QUALIFIED ATTORNEYS FOR VARIOUS DISCIPLINES, WHETHER IT BE EMPLOYMENT CASES OR, UH, PERSONAL INJURY CASES.
SO THESE ATTORNEYS HAVE ALL BEEN PRE-APPROVED AND THEY'RE NOW JUST BEING ASSIGNED SPECIFIC CASES.
UM, 14, 15, 16 AND 17 ARE, UM, WELL, WORKERS' COMPENSATION.
14 AND 15 ARE, WELL, THAT'S 15, 16 AND 17.
14 IS A CASE THAT'S BEEN OPEN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT 18 AND 19 ARE FAIRLY NEW.
UM, I COULD CERTAINLY GIVE YOU OFFLINE DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
I'VE HAD, UH, DISCUSSIONS WITH MR. ST.
JOHN ON THEM AND HIS PREDECESSOR ON, UH, ALL THESE CASES.
SO THIS IS JUST ASSIGNING OUR COUNSEL TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING HONOR, YOU NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT TAMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER COOPER AB ABSENT.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION NUMBER 20, WHICH IS FROM THE DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.
IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
UH, MS. VANDYKE IS GONNA HANDLE THIS ONE.
JOSETTE VANDYKE, CONTRACT MANAGER REPRESENTING ESSEX COUNTY DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.
AND WE ARE ASKING FOR APPROVAL TO CONTRACT WITH SEVEN VENDORS FOR OUR WELFARE TO WORK PROGRAMS TO DO TRAINING FOR EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, AND JOB SEARCH TRAINING.
AND THIS WILL COVER FOR CLIENTS THAT ARE ON WELFARE.
THAT'S, UH, TANIF, GA AND SNAP.
AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IS 1,418,004.
I HAVE THE VENDORS HERE IF YOU LIKE TO HEAR FROM THEM.
ARE THESE, ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE ANY OF THE VENDORS NEW? ARE THESE NEW VENDORS? YES.
WE HAVE ONE NEW VENDOR WE WANT TO HEAR FROM.
ALL THE OTHER ONES HAVE HAD THE, THIS CORRECT.
WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE WORK THAT THEY DO, BUT I'M, I'M HAPPY TO SEE A NEW VENDOR.
WE ALWAYS ASK HOW TO, UH, NEW VENDORS PARTICIPATE.
SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS FOUND FINALLY BROUGHT ONE.
PLEASE STATE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF GOOD EDUCATION GROUP, PRIVATE CAREER SCHOOL.
UM, OUR TWO CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED IS ONE FOR CERTIFIED MEDICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, WHICH PREPARES, UM, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO ENTER INTO THE MEDICAL FIELD IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY.
UM, OUR COURSE ALSO INCLUDES, UH, LIFE COACHING AS WELL AS JOB PLACEMENT SUPPORT.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED A, UH, CONTRACT FOR, UH, CERTIFIED CHILDCARE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE, WHICH ALLOWS FOR INDIVIDUALS FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO SERVE AS CHILDCARE, UH, IN,
[00:40:01]
IN THE CAPACITY IN DAYCARE CENTERS, AS WELL AS PRESCHOOL CENTERS.AND AGAIN, UM, OUR COURSE ALSO INCLUDES THE, UH, CERTIFICATION EXAM AS WELL AS LIFE COACHING AND JOB PLACEMENT SUPPORT.
WHERE YOU LOCATED? WE ARE LOCATED IN MONTCLAIR.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR CON MR. ALEC? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMON HEARING? NONE.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRANT ROLL CALL MATTER.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 21 THROUGH 29, WHICH ARE FROM THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THEY'LL BE READY TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. PRESIDENT, MR. UH, DIRECTOR LOMBARDI WILL HANDLE THESE ITEMS. MR. LOMBARDI? GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
UH, CRAIG LOMBARDI, HOUSING COORDINATOR FOR THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
WE ARE SEEKING AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT OUR RECOMMENDED ALLOCATION PLAN FOR THE $4,527,082 THAT WAS AWARDED TO THE COUNTY FROM HUD THROUGH THE HOME AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.
BASED ON CONSULTATIONS WITH MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS OF THE COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE, AND THE COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SYSTEM AND OTHER PARTIES INVOLVED WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND AND HOMELESSNESS, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE FOLLOWING THAT $1,131,771 OR 25% OF THE ALLOCATION BE UTILIZED FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.
THAT $2,716,249 REPRESENTING 60% OF THE GRANT AWARD WOULD BE ALLOCATED FOR DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING FOR QUALIFYING POPULATIONS WITH A PREFERENCE FOR HOMELESS PERSONS AND VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
AND FINALLY, UP TO 15% OF THE FUNDS WOULD BE ALLOCATED, UH, FOR $679,062.
AND THAT WOULD BE USED FOR ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING, UH, OF THE PROGRAM.
ITEM NUMBER 22, WE ARE REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF C D B G CORONAVIRUS OR CV FOR SHORT FUNDING FOR, UH, PROPOSED ACTIVITY BY THE BRIDGE TO SOUNDPROOF ITS COMMUNITY TREATMENT CENTER IN WEST CALDWELL, WHERE THEY PROVIDE BOTH ONSITE AND, UH, TELEHEALTH COUNSELING.
THE ORIGINAL AWARD ESTIMATE OF 63,225 WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE LOWEST BID RECEIVED, WHICH COMPRISED OF $97,250 TO SOUNDPROOF THE GROUP AND CONFERENCE ROOMS, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $92,000 TO SOUNDPROOF THE REST OF THE BUILDING.
UH, THIS, THIS DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT IS PRIMARILY, UH, APPLICABLE TO THE, UH, THE FACT THAT THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS RESTRICTED TO THE GROUP ROOM AND THE CONFERENCE ROOM.
WHEREAS A BIT SPECS, UH, EXPANDED THE PROJECT TO INCLUDE THE, THE WHOLE BUILDING.
ALSO, THE ESTIMATES THAT THEY RECEIVED FROM SOME CONTRACTORS IN THIS FIELD DID NOT FACTOR IN THE FACT THAT THE FEDERAL WAGE RATES ARE, ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN GEN GENERAL RATES FOR THIS KIND OF WORK.
AND, AND FINALLY, THERE WERE, AS THEY, AS THE CONTRACTORS WHO WERE BIDDING ON THE PROJECT, CHECKED OUT THE BUILDING, THERE WERE SOME UNFORESEEN COMPLEXITIES INVOLVED WITH SOUNDPROOFING THE CONFERENCE ROOM.
SO AT THIS TIME, THE BRIDGE IS REQUESTING ADDITIONAL FUNDS OF $30,000 TO SUBSIDIZE MOST OF THE HIGHER COST FOR THE GROUP ROOM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM.
AND THAT'S THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL $92,000 TO SOUNDPROOF THE REST OF THE BUILDING, THE FULL AMOUNT WOULD BE APPROVED.
THAT WOULD BE FOR, UH, $185,225.
SO, MR. LOMBARDI, THIS WAS, THIS WAS A BID THAT WENT OUT OR IS JUST, JUST A REQUEST FROM THE BRIDGE FOR MORE MONEY? RIGHT.
SO ORIGINALLY, UH, THE BOARD AUTHORIZED AN AWARD FOR $63,000.
THEN THEY WENT OUT TO BID, AND THE LOWEST BID THEY RECEIVED WAS FOR 187,000.
UM, 200, $250 OR $500, I'M SORRY, ONE $87,500.
AND SO WHEN THEY GOT THOSE BIDS IN, THEY SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO HERE TO GET THIS TO WORK? BECAUSE IT COSTS OBVIOUSLY SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.
[00:45:01]
THEY COULD DO NOW IS THEY COULD DO PHASE ONE OF THE PROJECT AND DO THE GROUP ROOM AND CONFERENCE ROOM CAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED MOST OF SOUNDPROOF.AND IN THAT CASE, THEY WOULD NEED APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MORE DOLLARS TO, TO SUBSIDIZE THAT COST.
UM, FOR ECONOMIES OF SCALE, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THEY COULD DO THE WHOLE BUILDING, IF THEY COULD GET THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
WE ARE WILLING TO DO THIS, GIVEN THAT WE DO HAVE THOSE FUNDS AVAILABLE.
THERE ARE CERTAIN, THERE'S, UH, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CDBG CV FUNDS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOCATED YET TO ANYONE SPECIFICALLY.
UM, AND I DO HAVE, I HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ORGANIZATION IF, DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THEM ABOUT THE SOUNDPROOFING AND WHATNOT? SURE.
I'M THE CEO OF THE BRIDGE AGAIN.
WHEN WE INITIALLY PUT THIS, UH, OUT FOR AN ESTIMATE TO PUT IN A PROPOSAL, UM, EVERYTHING WAS DISRUPTED STILL.
UH, FROM COVID, WE DID A LOT OF TELEHEALTH.
UH, LIKE ANY ORGANIZATION, IT DISRUPTED US.
WE LOST SOME COUNSELORS WHO PASSED AWAY.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAD NOW, WE HAVE NOW IS THE GREAT NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.
TWO THIRDS OF OUR CLIENTS ARE ON MEDICAID.
THEY COME TO US NOW, A LOT OF THEM ARE SHOWING UP IN OUR FACILITY.
WE WERE DOING A LOT MORE TELEHEALTH BEFORE, SO NOW WE'RE BUSTING OUT THE SEAM.
SO EVERYTHING'S BEEN EXACERBATED.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IT ALL NOW TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM.
WE HAD UNDER 200 JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.
SO IT'S EXACERBATED OUR PROBLEMS. AND ONE OF THE ISSUES IS IT'S AN OLD BUILDING.
IT WAS A GAS STATION THAT WAS CONVERTED TO AN AUTO DEALERSHIP THAT'S NOW CONVERTED TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
THE WALLS ARE THIN, IT'S CLEAN, IT'S SAFE, BUT THE WALLS ARE THIN.
IN OUR BIG GROUP ROOM, WHICH IS WHERE WE'RE GONNA FOCUS OUR ENERGY, WE HAVE IT'S SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER GROUPS.
IT'S A LOT OF OLDER PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS ADJACENT TO THAT BIG GROUP ROOM IS SMALLER COUNSELING ROOMS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILIES AND A LOT OF CHILDREN IN THERE, AND IT'S BLEEDING OVER.
SO WE UNDERESTIMATED THE NEED AND UNDERESTIMATED THE COST.
I'LL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT, BUT WE WERE MOVING VERY QUICKLY.
AND SO THE POPULATION WHO, THE RESIDENTS WHO YOU PROVIDE SERVICES FOR, FOR, UH, ESSEX COUNTYWIDE? YEAH.
AND AGAIN, IT'S OUT MOSTLY ALL AROUND WHERE, EXCUSE ME.
YOU SAID MOSTLY ARE FROM WHERE? NO, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S FROM, UH, EAST ESSEX COUNTY TO WEST ESSEX COUNTY.
IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHERE THEY'RE FROM.
THEY GET, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THERE'S A CAPACITY ISSUE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FIELD.
SO WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE, A LOT OF STUDENTS NOW, A LOT OF, UH, HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS ESSEX COUNTY ARE LOOKING TO US TO PROVIDE SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING.
NEXT, MR. LOMBARDI, ITEM NUMBER 23.
WE, UH, UH, FRIDAY ROOM 23, WE HAVE A, ANOTHER CDBG, UH, CD PROJECT WHERE WE'RE REQUESTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FAMILY CONNECTIONS.
UH, THE BOARD PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED A CONTRACT WITH FAMILY CONNECTIONS FOR $156,351 TO INSTALL AN ADA COMPLIANT HANDICAPPED WITH AT ITS COUNSELING CENTER IN ORANGE.
UPON REQUESTING AND RECEIVING BIDS THAT THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BID CAME IN AT $171,000, UH, AT THIS TIME, FAMILY CONNECTIONS IS REQUESTING AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF $14,649 TO COVER THE TOTAL INSTALLATION COST OF 171,000.
UH, AGAIN, WE HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE.
UH, IT IS EXPECTED THAT THIS ACTIVITY WILL BE COMPLETED BY WELL BEFORE AUGUST 1ST, UH, 2023.
AS AS WAS THE, UH, PREVIOUS PROJECT.
UM, IT IS NOTED THE FAMILY CONNECTIONS HAD, THEY ARE SUBSIDIZING SOME PARTS OF THE COST OF THIS PROJECT FOR APPROXIMATELY $8,000.
SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE, THEY'RE REQUESTING THESE FUNDS.
ITEMS 24 THROUGH 26 ARE SIMILAR IN THAT THEY ARE ESG SUB-RECIPIENTS WHO ARE REQUESTING THAT ESG FUNDING PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED FOR HOMELESS PREVENTION BE REALLOCATED FOR RAPID REHOUSING.
UH, ADJUST TO BRIEFLY EXPLAIN.
HOMELESS PREVENTION MAY BE TO HELP SOMEONE WHO HAS BACK RENT THAT THEY OWE, WHEREAS RAPID REHOUSING OR HELPING SOMEONE RELOCATE TO A BETTER SPACE, A MORE STABLE ENVIRONMENT.
SO THEY WOULD BE COVERING, THEY WOULD PROVO BE PROVIDING RENTAL ASSISTANCE, SECURITY DEPOSITS AND, AND OTHER, UH, SUPPORTIVE COSTS.
UH, THE REASON THESE SUB-RECIPIENTS ARE REQUESTING TO REALLOCATE THE MONEY IS THAT IT IS WITH THE REG REGULATIONS FOR ESG.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW TO GET THE PAPERWORK TO PROCESS THE HOMELESS PREVENTION FUNDING.
[00:50:01]
DEMAND FOR RAPID REHOUSING.SO, UH, MORE SPECIFICALLY, UH, ITEM NUMBER 24.
THE, UH, FAMILY PROMISE IS REQUESTING A $20,000 IN PROGRAM YEAR 2022.
HOMELESS PREVENTION FUNDS BE REALLOCATED FOR RAPID REHOUSING FOR ITEM 25.
THE Y M C A OF NEWARK IS REQUESTING A PROGRAM YEAR 2021.
FUNDS OF $26,059 BE REALLOCATED FROM HOMELESS PREVENTION TO RAPID REHOUSING IN ITEM 26.
THE Y M C A IS ALSO REQUESTING THAT PROGRAM YEAR 20,000 2022 FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000 BE REALLOCATED TO RAPID REHOUSING.
ITEM NUMBER 27, WE ARE SEEKING TO AMEND AN EXISTING PROGRAM YEAR 2022 C D D B G CONTRACT WITH NORTHWEST ESSEX COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE NETWORK IN THE AMOUNT OF $31,000.
THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WAS APPROVED TO INSTALL ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHT FIXTURES AT THE FACILITY IN BELLEVILLE.
BUT AT THIS TIME, NORTHWEST ESSEX IS REQUESTING THAT WE CHANGED THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT TO HELP REHABILITATE THE ROOF IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH SECTIONS OF THEIR BUILDING.
BECAUSE OF RECENT SEVERE LI LEAKAGES IN THOSE SECTIONS OF THE ROOF, UH, THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT OF OUR AWARD WOULD BE UNCHANGED.
AND IF AN EVENT OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED COSTS, THERE WOULD BE COVERED BY NORTHWEST ESSEX.
ITEM NUMBER 28, WE ARE REQUESTING THAT IN EXISTING TWO PROGRAM YEAR 2021 ESG AGREEMENT WITH FAMILY PROMISE THAT TECHNICALLY EXPIRED DECEMBER 1ST, 2022, BE EXTENDED TO MAY 31ST, 2023 TO ALLOW FOR THE CONTRACT BALANCE OF $1,733 AND 32 CENTS TO BE FULLY EXPENDED.
THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT OF THE GRANT WAS $70,000.
AND FINALLY, ITEM TWO, NUMBER 29, UH, THE COUNTY IS REQUESTING THAT THE CDBG SUBRECIPIENT CONTRACTS FOR THREE PROJECTS, NAMELY THE CITY OF ORANGE FOR CENTRAL PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, FIRST CEREBRAL PALSY OF NEW JERSEY FOR HVAC REPAIRS AND THE VILLAGE OF SOUTH ORANGE FOR ADA IMPROVEMENTS TO THE MANILA CENTER BE RETRO RETROACTIVELY EXTENDED FROM THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED DATE OF DECEMBER 31ST, 2022 TO AUGUST 31ST, 2023.
ALL THESE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN STARTED AND, AND ONE OF 'EM IS ACTUALLY COMPLETE, BUT WE JUST NEED THE EXTRA TIME IN THE PROCESS, THE VOUCHERS TO REIMBURSE THEM FOR THEIR WORK.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OF CONGRESS, COMMISSIONER CBO, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK, UH, GREG LOMBARDI FOR ALL THE TERRIFIC WORK HE DOES.
AND PRESENTING ALL OF THIS TO US.
WHERE DOES THE CD C D BG MONEY COME FROM? THE CDBG, THE REGULAR C CBG MONEY OR THE C CD MONEY? THE ONE THAT, THE REGULAR CDBG IS AN ANNUAL AWARD FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH HUD.
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.
SO IT SET ASIDE TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
NOW, DURING THIS COVID THERE WAS, THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, THERE WERE SEVERAL PROGRAMS FUNDED IN THE COUNTY, HAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF SOME OTHER ONES.
WHAT PROGRAMS THAT CAME TO OUR OFFICE, THEY'RE CALLED CDBG CV, FOR EXAMPLE, CV STATING FOR CORONAVIRUS.
SO THESE ARE ONE TIME LUMP SUMS THAT WERE AWARDED TO OUR ORGANIZATION TO DO ACTIVITIES THAT PREPARE FOR, RESPOND TO OR, UH, PREVENT CORONAVIRUS.
SO I KNOW WE'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF THE BOARD BEFORE, WE, WE'VE ALLOCATED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO AGENCIES AND WHATNOT TO UNDERTAKE PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS THIS.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S A PROJECT WHERE WE'VE SEEN ACROSS THE BOARD DURING COVID, THERE'S SO MANY MORE PEOPLE THAT NEED COUNSELING.
SO WE FELT A LOT OF COUNSELING CENTERS.
THERE'S ALSO THE HOME, THE HOME ART PROGRAM I JUST TALKED ABOUT, THAT WAS A ONE-TIME LUMP SUM FOR THROUGH THE HOME PROGRAM, WHICH IS SET ASIDE TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.
SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS, BECAUSE ESSEX COUNTY IS ONE OF THE LARGER RECIPIENTS, CERTAINLY IN NEW JERSEY, THEY'VE AWARDED US SOME LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY THAT WE'RE GETTING OUT THERE AND SPENDING AND, UH, HOPEFULLY HELPING, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR SMALL PART AND TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE DEAL WITH THE, UH, SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, IMPACT OF COVID.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IN ALL OF THESE ITEMS, MOST OF THE MONEY IS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, CORRECT? ABSOLUTELY, YES.
ALL THIS MONEY IS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THERE'S NO MONEY THAT THE COUNTY IS, IS SPENDING OF ITS OWN MONEY.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
COMMISSIONER, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO QUESTIONS? NO.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MECADO.
MADAM CLERK COMMISSIONER SIBEL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
[00:55:01]
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS 30 THROUGH 32, WHICH ARE FROM THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES.
THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, ITEMS 30 AND 31 ARE VERY SIMILAR.
THEY'RE JUST, UH, GRANTS AS PART OF THE MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE, UH, LEADERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM.
AND WE'RE, UH, REQUESTING THAT THEY BE EXTENDED FROM MARCH 15TH, 2023 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2023 TO ALLOW THE DOLLARS TO BE, UH, FULLY EXPENDED.
UH, ITEM 32, UM, LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
WE'RE REQUESTING TO MOVE SOME MONEY FROM, UH, ALLOCATED TO THE CITY OF ORANGE TO BACK INTO OUR COUNTYWIDE PROGRAM, UH, BECAUSE THE, THE CITY OF, UH, UH, ORANGE WASN'T, UH, PREPARED OR TO, TO MOVE ON THE GRANTS.
SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE THAT FROM SPECIFICALLY TO THE CITY AND MOVE IT INTO THE COUNTYWIDE PROGRAM.
IF WE DON'T SPEND THE MONEY, UM, THEN WE LOSE IT THE NEXT TIME AROUND.
SO IF OF ORANGE WANTS TO COME BACK, THEY CAN, CAN DO SO, BUT WE NEED TO SPEND THE MONEY TILL WE DON'T LOSE IT FOR THE NEXT ROUND.
COMMISSION THE QUESTIONS OR CONFERENCE HEARING? NONE NEED.
MR. MOVE BY COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT FOR MY ROLL CALL, MA'AM.
CLERK, UH, COMMISSIONER COOPER? ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS 33 THROUGH 42, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION IN CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
JOSH, IT'LL BE RIGHT INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, THE ONE AND ONLY JOSHUA EIGHTS.
UH, JOSHUA EIGHTS, UH, ESSEX COUNTY PARKS, UH, NUMBER 33 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE, UH, NEW YORK NEW JERSEY TRAIL CONFERENCE FOR EAGLE ROCK RESERVATION.
IT'S A 20 YEAR AGREEMENT, UH, TO PLAN, DEVELOP, AND MAINTAIN TRAILS.
THERE'S NO COST TO THE COUNTY OTHER THAN, UH, MATERIALS SUCH AS GARBAGE BAGS, GLOVES, UH, ET CETERA.
NUMBER 34 IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO SUNBELT RENTALS INC.
UH, TO FURNISH AND DELIVER THE RENTAL OF PORTABLE DIESEL POWER GENERATORS.
24 MONTH CONTRACT, NOT TO EXCEED $1,485,500.
UH, I KNOW THAT'S A BIG NUMBER, BUT JUST KEEP IN MIND, UH, THAT'S IF WE RENT, UH, ALL THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF GENERATORS EVERY DAY FOR THE ENTIRE, UH, 24 MONTH CONTRACT.
UH, JUST TO GIVE THE BOARD A FRAME OF REFERENCE, THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT, WE ONLY SPENT, UH, A LITTLE OVER 27,000 OF THAT.
IF, UH, YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BRING 'EM UP, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF, THE COMPANY, AND THE WORK YOU PLAN ON DOING.
MY NAME IS ANTONIO HERNANDEZ, SUNBELT RENTALS, AND, UH, I'M THE SALES REP FOR THE COMPANY.
AND SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO FOR THIS MILLION DOLLARS?
UM, WE, UH, WORK VERY REALLY WELL WITH THESE GUYS.
AND, UH, I, I WORK 24 7 FOR THEM, AND SO WHATEVER THEY NEED, I'M HERE FOR 'EM.
AND WHERE, WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? MYSELF? I'M IN CLARK.
AND DO YOU HAVE ANY ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT YOUR COMPANY EMPLOYED? YES, WE DO.
THE, UH, WE HAVE SIX, UM, BRANCH MANAGER, THE, UH, SERVICE MANAGER, YARD GUYS, TECH, UH, TECHNICIANS.
ANY QUESTIONS? NEXT, JOSHUAS EIGHT, ACCESS COUNTY PARKS NUMBER 35 IS A CONTRACT AWARD WITH BRITAIN ELECTRIC CONTRACTORS TO PROVIDE OUTDOOR, ATHLETIC LIGHT, OUTDOOR ATHLETIC GAME FIELD LIGHTING, UH, SCOREBOARDS, PLAYGROUND, LIGHTING, ET CETERA.
24 MONTH CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $603,754 AND 80 CENTS.
UH, THIS IS FOR ANY OUTDOOR LIGHTING AT ANY BALL FIELD THROUGHOUT THE PARK SYSTEM, SOCCER, FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, BASEBALL, ET CETERA.
WE DO HAVE THE, UH, THE VENDOR HERE.
UM, THE COMPANY IS, UH, BASED OUT OF, UH, ROSELAND, NEW JERSEY, HESTER COUNTY.
[01:00:01]
EMPLOYEES.YOUR, YOUR NAME, SIR? UH, MY NAME IS DREW BRITON.
UM, ALL THE EMPLOYEES ARE FROM ESSIS COUNTY.
I'M SORRY, PLEASE JUST SAY THAT AGAIN.
YOU SAID ALL YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE FROM WHERE? ESSIS COUNTY.
WE LIKE COMPANIES WHO EMPLOY OUR RESIDENTS.
BUT YOU DO EMPLOY EST ESSENCE COUNTY RESIDENCE? YES.
JOSHUA EIGHT, SES COUNTY PARKS NUMBER 36 IS A CONTRACT AWARD WITH LAKE MANAGEMENT SCIENCES, UH, FOR THE MONITORING AND CHEMICAL CONTROL OF ALGAE, UH, AND AQUATIC VEGETATION CONTROL OF VARIOUS, UH, COUNTY PARK, COUNTY PARK LAGOONS, UH, PONDS SPECIFICALLY, THIS IS FOR THE WATERWAYS AND BRANCH BROOK, UH, MONTE IRVING ORANGE IRVINGTON WEEK, WAKE THE ORANGE RESERVOIR, GROVER, CLEVELAND AND VERONA.
THEY, UH, WILL TREAT THE WATERWAYS ONCE A MONTH.
AND THEN IF THERE NEEDS TO BE ADDITIONAL, UH, TREATMENTS, THOSE WOULD OCCUR ON A 14 DAY BASIS.
YOU CANNOT TREAT THE WATERWAYS, UM, PRIOR TO 14 DAYS AFTER TREATING THEM PREVIOUSLY.
AND AND HOW MUCH IS THIS CONTRACT WORTH? THIS CONTRACT IS, UH, IT'S A, UH, TWO YEAR CONTRACT, UH, $137,350.
SO HOW LONG HAS BRANCH BROOK PARK WATERWAYS BEEN PRETTY MUCH SHUT DOWN, NOT BEING ABLE TO FISH HIM? WE HAVE SOME, SOME LAKES UP THERE THAT YOU CAN'T FISH IN.
THEY HAVE NO, THEY HAVE NO FISHING SIGNS.
HAVE THOSE SIGNS BEEN TAKEN DOWN? UH, I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU.
IS THIS THE SAME COMPANY WHO'S BEEN TREATING NOW THIS IS A NEW VENDOR.
SO THIS IS A NEW VENDOR? CORRECT.
SO MAYBE THEY'LL DO BETTER THAN THE LAST FINGERS CROSSED.
AND IF THEY DON'T, WE TERMINATE THEIR CONTRACT.
UH, NUMBER 37 IN CONTRACT AWARD TO PREFERRED OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE.
UH, D B A EAST CHASERS, UH, CONTRACT, UH, FOR, TO PROVIDE CANADIAN GEESE CONTROL MARCH 15TH OF THIS YEAR, WHICH WOULD BE TODAY THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST, 2024.
IT'S SEASONAL WORK, WHICH IS, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF 15 MONTHS OVER THOSE TWO YEARS.
THIS IS FOR, UH, GEESE CONTROL OVER IN BARONA GROVER, CLEVELAND, ORANGE, UH, MONEY URBAN ORANGE PARK BRANCH, BROOK PARK, YCO, UH, AND THIS IS FOR EGG ALING AS WELL AS THEY USE EGG IDLING TO DETER THE HATCHING OF THE EGGS.
AND THEN, UH, BORDER COWS TO CHASE THE CURRENT, UH, GEESE THAT ARE IN THE PARK.
SO WHY WASN'T WEEK WAY PARK MENTIONED IN THERE? THEY HAVE A GEESE PROBLEM AS WELL.
UH, LET ME JUST DOUBLE CHECK IT THERE.
I DON'T BELIEVE SOMETHING, BUT CERTAINLY IF, UH, IF THAT IS AN ISSUE IN WEEK WAKE, WE COULD CERTAINLY, UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT, IT IS AN ISSUE, ABSOLUTELY IS AN ISSUE.
WE COULD CERTAINLY DO A SUBSEQUENT CONTRACT.
UH, THAT WOULD INCLUDE WEEKLY.
GET IT TO ME BY THE NEXT MEETING.
HOW ABOUT THAT
NUMBER 38 IS, UH, CHANGE ORDER WITH IRIS COMMUNICATIONS TO PROVIDE GRAPHIC VIDEO ART AND DESIGN.
THIS IS FOR THE DESIGN WORK OF THE VARIOUS PARKS, UH, BROCHURES, UH, SUCH AS, UH, THE CHERRY BLOSSOM EVENTS, WHICH ARE COMING UP, WHICH, UM, WHILE I HAVE THE BOARD'S ATTENTION, UH, I JUST WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ON THE UPCOMING CHERRY BLOSSOM EVENTS.
UH, APRIL 1ST IS THE BIKE RACE.
APRIL 15TH IS FAMILY DAY, AND APRIL 16TH IS THE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL.
I HAVE A QUESTION NUMBER 39 IS A SUBGRANT AGREEMENT.
MRS EIGHT, COMMISSIONER SIBEL.
JOSH, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT IT.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE, UH, CHERRY BLOSSOM TREES HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO BLOOM.
IS THAT GOING TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE SCHEDULE? UH, UN UNFORTUNATELY, AS, AS, UM, POWERFUL AS OUR PARKS DIRECTOR ARE, HE CANNOT, HE CANNOT CONTROL, UH, MOTHER NATURE.
UM, WE HAVE HAD SOME EVENTS IN THE PAST WHERE UNFORTUNATELY IT HAS BEEN PEAK BLOOM.
UH, TYPICALLY THE, THE, UH, SINGLE BUDS BLOOM FIRST AND THEN THE DOUBLES ARE AFTER.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THE DOUBLES WILL STILL BE IN BLOSSOM THEN.
THE CORE NUMBER 39 IS APPROVAL OF SUBGRANT AGREEMENTS, UH, FOR THE 2023 LOCAL ARTS PROGRAM GRANT.
UH, THIS IS, UH, 45 NON-PROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE RECEIVING, UH, UP TO $10,000 FOR THIS PROGRAM.
[01:05:01]
THIS IS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.UH, EVERY ORGANIZATION THAT APPLIED, UM, MIGHT NOT HAVE RECEIVED THE MAXIMUM THAT THEY APPLIED FOR, BUT THEY DID RECEIVE SOMETHING.
AND, UH, THERE IS ANOTHER PROGRAM COMING UP.
THE, UH, NEW APPLICATIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON JUNE 1ST, AND THEN THEY'D BE DUE BACK ON AUGUST 15TH.
NUMBER 40 IS A SUBGRADE AGREEMENT, UH, FOR THE 2023 LOCAL ARTS HISTORY PROGRAM.
THIS IS FOR 12 NONPROFITS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, UH, AND AWARDS UP TO 10,000.
AND IT'S THE SAME DATES FOR THE NEW PROGRAM THAT'LL BE, UH, GOING INTO EFFECT LATER ON THIS YEAR.
JOSH HAS, UM, HAS, HAS THIS BEEN OUT ALREADY? AND, AND, AND THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN SELECTED? YES.
THIS IS FOR THE, THE PREVIOUS, SO TYPICALLY IT'S THE SAME DEADLINE.
SO IT WOULD'VE BEEN JUNE, FIRST OF LAST YEAR, THEN APRIL 15TH OF LAST YEAR.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD GET THE FUNDS FROM THE STATE, INSERT 'EM INTO THE BUDGET AND THEN DULL 'EM OUT AGAIN THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.
SO YEAH, THE NEW FUNDING CYCLE WOULD BE, THE APPLICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE JUNE 1ST AND THEN THEY'LL BE DUE AUGUST 15TH.
AND, AND THE FUNDING IS FOR 2024 THEN? CORRECT.
SO 2023 HAS ALREADY BEEN SELECTED AND CORRECT.
NUMBER 41 IS AUTHORIZATION TO USE THE ESA COUNTY RECREATION OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND, UH, TO FUND THE PARKS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING RE RENOVATIONS AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $800,000.
UH, THIS, THIS NUMBER 41, AS WELL AS NUMBER 42, WHICH IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO USE THE RECREATION OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND TO FUND THE PARKS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IN A MOUNT NATU C 5 MILLION.
THOSE TWO COMBINED, UH, WOULD BE 5.8 MILLION, AND THAT IS GOING TO PAY, PARTIALLY PAY BACK THE BOND FROM, UH, ORDINANCE NUMBER ONE.
UH, SPECIFICALLY THE 800,000 WOULD BE FOR THE DOWN PAYMENT, AND THEN THE 5 MILLION WOULD BE, UH, PAYABLE THROUGH THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
SO, COMMISSIONER SIBO, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT THESE TWO ITEMS WERE REVIEWED BY THE ES IS COUNTY RECREATION OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND ADVISORY REPORT, AND THEY WERE ALL APPROVED.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE PARK ITEMS. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ANYWAY, MR. P**I? YES, I DO HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR MR. ZITS.
JOSH FIRST ON 34, WHICH IS THE, UH, GENERATOR RENTAL, UM, ABSENT A SA HURRICANE SANDY LIKE ACTIVITY OR, YOU KNOW, DEVASTATION LIKE THAT.
WHY DO WE AUTHORIZE ALMOST A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS FOR THAT IF WE, WE USE 20 SOMETHING THOUSAND? SURE.
UH, JOSHUA EIGHT ESSA COUNTY PARKS, UH, JUST SO, UH, THE MECHANISM THAT WE USE TO AWARD IT, UH, WOULD, AS YOU MENTIONED, BE THE ABSOLUTE WORST CASE SCENARIO.
UM, SO JUST SPECIFICALLY, THERE'S, UH, LOOKS LIKE FOUR TYPES OF GENERATORS.
THERE'S A 20 TO 25 GIGAWATT GENERATOR, AND THEN WE HAVE THAT, THERE'S DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS. SO THERE'S THE WEEKLY COST RENTAL, THERE'S A MONTHLY COST RENTAL.
THEN YOU MOVE ON TO, UH, CATEGORY B, WHICH IS A 36 TO 45 KILOWATT GENERATOR.
AGAIN, A WEEKLY RENTAL, MONTHLY RENTAL, AND THEN MOVING ON UP ALL THE WAY UP TO A HUNDRED, UH, KILOWATT GENERATOR, WHICH WOULD BE A MONTHLY RENTAL.
SO IF YOU TAKE ALL THOSE NUMBERS, YOU ADD 'EM UP AND THEN YOU MULTIPLY THE, THE MULTIPLICATION IS A, A FACTOR OF 40.
SO IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY 40, THAT'S WHERE YOU GET THE 1.485 MILLION.
SO IT'S JUST, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S THE ONLY MECHANISM WE HAVE TO, TO DETERMINE THE COST BASIS.
SO IT'S A WORST CASE SCENARIO AND THERE'S A PLAN FOR, UH, AND A REASONING FOR THAT AMOUNT.
SO THE, SO, SO THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD MEAN NOT ONLY WOULD WE BE DOING A WEEKLY RENTAL OF EACH OF THE FOUR TYPES OF GENERATORS, WE'D ALSO BE DOING, AGAIN, THE WORST CASE.
WE'D ALSO BE DOING A MONTHLY RENTAL OF EACH OF THE GENERATORS, AND THEN ALL THOSE WE GET MULTIPLIED BY, UH, 40 AND THEN IN ADDITIONAL 25,000 AS AN ALLOWANCE.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR RESOLUTION? STUDY 3, 2 42.
QUESTION YOU, YOU, YOU'LL, YOU, YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AT THE END OF THE MEETING FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
LISTEN, LET FOR AGENDA ITEMS, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, AND THAT'S WHEN THAT'S ALLOWED.
COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER.
[01:10:01]
COMMISSIONER COOPER.COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARD SMITH? YES.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS 43 THROUGH 53 AND 88, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
UH, MR. ANTONIO? UH, GOOD EVENING.
UH, DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AVENUE NUMBER 43 IS AN AWARD, A CONTRACT TO TECHCON CONSTRUCTION TO UNDERTAKE THE RENOVATIONS TO THE ESSEX COUNTY PARKS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING LOCATED IN NEWARK.
THIS CONTRACT WILL NOT EXCEED $10,704,695 AND WILL LAST 300 CALENDAR DAYS.
THIS PROJECT ALSO HAS A, UH, PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT SIGNED IN THE FILE.
UH, TECANS BED WAS THE LOWEST OF THE TWO RECEIVED, AND MR. ERIC JUDECK IS HERE TO INTRODUCE TECAN AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
I'M ERIC JOK FROM, UH, TECH AND CONSTRUCTION OUT OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY.
I'M A PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY.
SO YOU WANNA TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TYPE OF WORK YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING? YES.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, UM, IT'S GONNA BE OUR RENOVATION AND, UH, THIS JOB, IT WILL BE PLA AGREEMENT FROM, WE HAVE LOT OF SUBCONTRACTORS FROM ESSEX COUNTY, UH, WHICH THEY'RE GONNA BE HIRED DOING THAT JOB.
IS THERE ANY DEMO DEMOLITION IN PART OF, PART OF THIS JOB IS, YES.
IS INTERIOR DEMOLITION WILL BE INVOLVED.
CONCRETE MASONRY RESTORATION, UH, FRAMING, THAT KIND OF TYPE OF THINGS.
UH, OF COURSE, UH, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, PLUMBING.
SO THERE'S A PLA ON, ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE WORK, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONERS.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, 44 AWARDS, A P S CONTRACTING A CONTRACT AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $10,537,000 TO CONSTRUCT THE NEW BEAU BEESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER IN IRVINGTON PARK.
THIS CONTRACT WILL LAST 270 DAYS, AND AP BID WAS THE LOWEST OF THE FIVE RECEIVED.
UM, THIS PROJECT IS PARTLY FUNDED BY A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
AND IN ADDITION, THIS PROJECT ALSO HAS A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT IN PLACE.
UH, STEVE, UH, SOKI IS HERE ALSO TO INTRODUCE HIS FIRM, TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TO PORT ME BEHALF? GOOD EVENING.
UH, STEVE SK I'M THE PRESIDENT OF A APS CONTRACTING.
UH, I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN DOING LOT JOBS.
I'M IN LA PROJECTS FOR SS COUNTY.
THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT IS, UH, IT'S A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER BUILDING FOR, UH, I BELIEVE ELRINGTON, UH, PARK IN ELRINGTON.
UH, IT'S A BRAND NEW, IT'S A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT.
SO MOST OF THE, UH, WORK IS GONNA BE BY UH, WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? MOST OF THE WORK? WHAT, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT, WHAT'S EXCLUDED 99% OF THE WORK MANAGEMENT EXCLUDED.
WHAT'S EXCLUDED? MANAGEMENT OF THE, OF THE PROJECT, MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECT, THE SUPERVISION AND THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT.
SO I MEAN, BUT ALL OF THE WORK IS GONNA BE UNION, A HUNDRED PERCENT UNION, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? CORRECT.
I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR CAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAID.
YOU SAID MOST OF THE WORK, I'M SORRY IF I, UH, MISSPEAK, BUT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE, OF THE, UH, PROJECT IS DONE, IS DONE, UH, DONE BY YOU, YOUR COMPANY, CORRECT.
MANAGES AND SUPERINTENDENTS OR WHATEVER.
AS LONG AS IT IS A HUNDRED PERCENT UNION.
IT'S A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT.
THERE'S NO DEMO, RIGHT? NO, IT'S A BRAND NEW BUILDING.
ANTONIO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, 45 AWARDS, A CONTRACT YOU PROVIDE BUILDING SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
[01:15:01]
OF THE 3 23 21 UNIVERSITY AVENUE BUILDINGS IN NEWARK TO CORE FACILITIES SERVICES.THIS WILL BE, UH, THROUGH YOUR CONTRACT.
IT WILL NOT EXCEED $2,079,393.
CORE BID WAS THE LOWEST OF THE FOUR RECEIVED.
AND MR. DELEON WILL TELL US ABOUT CORE FACILITY SERVICES.
ANY QUESTIONS? SUPPORT WE HAVE.
JUST TELL US YOUR NAME, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COMPANY.
UH, I'M THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF CORE FACILITY SERVICES, UH, BASED OUT OF, UH, THE CITY, NEW YORK.
UM, WE PRESENTLY DO WORK FOR ESSEX COUNTY, THE WEST CALDWELL TECH SCHOOL.
I'M ALSO THE INCUMBENT AT 3 23 21 UNIVERSITY PLACE.
AND, UH, WE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CARRYING ON THE CONTRACT.
UH, UH, YOUR NAME AGAIN, SIR? CHRISTOPHER DELEONE.
AND IS THIS A UNION OUTFIT? YES, IT IS.
IS THAT CWA? WHO IS THAT? WHO I'M, I'M SORRY, WHAT'S THE LOCAL, WHAT'S THE UNION? UNION LOCAL 68.
I'M ACTUALLY A TRUSTEE FOR 68 AS WELL.
AND YOU HAVE HOW MANY ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS? WE HAVE, UH, THREE.
WE HAVE, UH, 2, 2 2 ACCOUNTS WITH ESSEX COUNTY.
HOW MANY RESIDENTS OF ESSEX COUNTY DO YOU EMPLOY? OH, UM, CAN WE SAY UPWARDS OF 15 OUT OF
DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPART OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, 46 AWARDS ELLI BROTHERS, THE COUNTYWIDE MISCELLANEOUS DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACT.
THIS CONTRACT ALLOWS FOR THE REPAIR OF MINOR DRAINAGE STRUCTURES ALONG THE COUNTY WATERWAY NETWORK.
UM, THIS CONTRACT IS OPEN-ENDED AND IT WILL NOT EXCEED $717,202 AND WILL LAST 730 DAYS.
ELLI BROTHERS SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE THREE BIDS RECEIVED FOR THIS PROJECT.
UH, AND NINO ELLIS ALSO HERE, UH, THIS EVENING TO, UH, INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY AND AS ALWAYS, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, SUPPORT ME HAVE, UH, GOOD, GOOD EVENING.
UH, MY NAME IS NINO COLLIN WITH COLLIN BROTHERS.
UM, WE'RE A UNION OUTFIT OUT OF HACKENSACK NEW JERSEY.
UH, WE'VE DONE WORK, UH, WITH THE COUNTY IN THE PAST IN THIS PROJECT, UH, AS WELL.
AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MR. LOUIS RODRIGUEZ AND HIS GROUP, UH, TO IMPROVE THE COUNTY ROADS AND DRAIN FACILITIES, UH, AS NEEDED.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF, YOU'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK WITH THE COUNTY FOR A LONG TIME, SO I, I TAKE IT YOU'RE NOT ONE OF THE BROTHERS.
YOU MUST BE A NEPHEW OR A SON OR A COUSIN OR SOMETHING.
I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE A UNION OUTFIT.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 47 AWARDS, BASWELL ENGINEERING, A CONTRACTOR.
YOU PROVIDE THE DESIGN AND INSPECTION SERVICES FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THREE CORRUGATED METAL PIPE CULVERTS LOCATED AT, AT ROAD OVER KANE BROOK AND WEST COWELL.
CONDUCT COURT OVER THE FULLERTON'S BROOK IN ROSELAND AND CANOE LANE OVER THE CANOE BROOK IN ROSELAND.
THIS CONTRACT WILL NOT EXCEED $309,900, NOR WILL IT EXCEED 12 MONTHS IN DURATION.
POSSIBLE ENGINEER'S PROPOSAL WAS THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE THREE RESPONSES TO THIS PROJECT'S RFP.
AND MR. UH, AJAK IS ALSO HERE TO BRIEFLY INTRODUCE BASKETBALL ENGINEERING AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TO PORT MI BEHALF.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER WITH A PHD AND A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING AS AN ENGINEERING COMPANY FOR
[01:20:01]
MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS, AND WE HAVE SERVED THE ESSEX COUNTY FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.WE HAVE MANY ENGINEERING SERVICES IN STRUCTURAL HIGHWAYS, HYDRAULICS, AND ALL THE ENGINEERING, OTHER ENGINEERING SERVICES, INCLUDING THE PERMITTING.
AND THIS IS THE CONTRACT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THREE CULVERTS, WHICH ARE IN WEST AND RUSSIA PARK.
AND WE'LL BE DESIGNING A COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION PACKAGE SO THAT IT CAN BE UPDATED AS A BIDDING PACKAGE AND CONSTRUCTED FOR THE PERIOD OF ONE OR TWO YEARS.
WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE SERVED THIS EXCESS 20 FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, THEN WE HAVE RESIDENCE FROM THE
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO, HE'S GOOD.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 48 IS AN AWARD CONTRACT TO PENONI ASSOCIATES TO PERFORM THE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND INSPECTION SERVICES REQUIRED DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TWO LAWS 23 ROAD WADE RESURFACING PROGRAM.
UH, PIN ASSOCIATES SUBMITTED THE HIGHEST RATED PROPOSAL, AND THIS CONTRACT IS GRANT FUNDED AND WILL NOT EXCEED $275,340 AND WILL LAST 12 MONTHS.
PENONI GEORGE DON HEIMER IS HERE, IS HERE TO DISCUSS HIS FIRM.
AND ANY, ANY QUESTIONS, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD BEHALF, GEORGE.
UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
UH, AS DAVE SAID, MY NAME IS GEORGE DUN HEIMER.
I AM THE REGIONAL, UH, MANAGER FOR THE PENONI CONSTRUCTION SERVICES DIVISION.
WE ARE A FULL SERVICE CONSULTING FIRM PROVIDING ANYTHING FROM MUNICIPAL, UH, ENGINEERS STRAIGHT THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION AND AND MAINTENANCE.
UH, WE HAVE WORKED WITH, UM, ESTES COUNTY ON MANY PROJECTS IN THE PAST, AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE TO, TO WORK ON THE 2023, UH, ROADS PROGRAM.
OUR SERVICES WILL INCLUDE INSPECTION, CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING, UH, MAKING SURE THE CONTRACTOR DOES WHAT THE PLANS SAY, UH, DEALING WITH ANY SUBMITTALS AND QUESTIONS, REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION, AND, UH, ALSO THE PREPARATION OF ESTIMATES AND, UH, FOR, YOU KNOW, RECOMMENDS THEY RECOMMENDING, UH, PAYMENTS TO THE CONTRACTOR, TO THE COUNTY, UH, BASED ON OUR INSPECTION ACTIVITIES.
AND YOU GUYS ARE LOCATED WHERE? HUH? WELL, I, I
I'M GOING 36 OFFICES, BUT WE HAVE FIVE IN NEW JERSEY AND OUR CLOSEST OFFICE IS IN NEWARK AT 24 COMMERCE STREET.
COMMISSION ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMERCE? YOU GOTTA GET THAT OUT FIRST.
LET US KNOW YOU'RE IN ES ESSENCE COUNTY.
WELL, I'M, I'M LEARNING
ITEM NUMBER 49 AWARDS LIBERTY MECHANICAL, THE CONTRACT TO PERFORM ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, AND STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE ON THE KINGSLAND AVENUE BRIDGE.
BRIDGE CONNECTS AND ESSES COUNTY CHI GLENHURST IN BERGEN COUNTY OVER THE THEE RIVER.
THIS OPEN-ENDED CONTRACT WILL NOT EXCEED $175,800 AND WILL BE EFFECTIVE FOR 730 DAYS.
THE KINGSTON AVENUE BRIDGE IS JOINTLY OWNED AND OPERATED WITH BERGEN COUNTY AND AS SUCH A COUNTY FASA FEX HAS NOW BEGUN ITS TWO YEAR, UH, CYCLE AS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR MAINTENANCE ON THE STRUCTURE.
ITEM NUMBER 50 AWARDS CM E ASSOCIATES A CONTRACT AND ACT TO EXCEED $65,596 TO PERFORM A FLOOD MITIGATION STUDY ALONG, UM, ALONG A PORTION OF THE FULLERTON'S BROOK IN ROSELAND IN THE VICINITY OF SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH AVENUES.
THE WORK SHALL BE COMPLETED WITHIN 12 MONTHS, AND CES'S PROPOSAL WAS THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE SIX RESPONSES TO THE PROJECTS RFP AND ITEM NUMBER 51 AWARDS APPLIED ENGINEERS A CONTRACT TO PERFORM HVAC ENGINEERING TO DESIGN THE REPLACEMENT OF TWO HOT WATER TANKS LOCATED
[01:25:01]
AT THE ESSEX COUNTY HOSPITAL CENTER IN CEDAR GROVE.THESE TWO WATER TANKS ARE NEARLY 20 YEARS OLD AND ARE AT THE END OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE CYCLE.
AND REPLACEMENT MUST OCCUR TO ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF HOT WATER SUPPLY TO THE EMPLOYEES AND RESIDENTS OF THE HOSPITAL.
THIS CONTRACT WILL NOT EXCEED $39,190, NOR WILL IT LAST MORE THAN 12 MONTHS.
APPLIED ENERGY'S PROPOSAL WAS THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE SEVEN SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS PROJECT'S RF FEE IN ITEM NUMBER 52 AWARDS CALL AN AND KLERMAN AT TWO-YEAR CONTRACT TO PURCHASE AND REMOVE VARIOUS SCRAP METALS AT VARIOUS COUNTY FACILITIES.
THIS WILL BE A REVENUE GENERATING CONTRACT, AND AS SUCH, THE COUNTY WILL BE PAID A SPECIFIC AMOUNT PER TYPE OF METAL BASED ON THE EFFECTIVE FAIR MARKET VALUE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FROM THE AMERICAN METAL MARKET.
AND CLEMAN WAS THE SOLE BITTER ON THIS PUBLIC SOLICITATION.
AND ITEM NUMBER 88 WILL ALLOW FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A PRE-FABRICATED RESTROOM BUILDING PARKING AREA, IMPROVEMENTS AT THE EAGLE FIELD IN CEDAR GROVE BY AWARDING A CONTRACT TO A B CONTRACTING IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,227,260.
THIS WILL ADD RESTROOM FACILITIES, OFFSHORE PARKING TO THE LITTLE LEAGUE FIELD AND TO ENTRANCE WAS HERE.
UH, HE'S FROM AB CONTRACTING AND IF HE ALSO WANTS TO INTRODUCE HIS FIRM, TALK ABOUT THE SCOPE OF WORK AND PERHAPS ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, SUPPORT MIHA.
HI, I'M ANDREW BUP OF, UH, NUTLEY NEW JERSEY.
I'M THE OWNER OF AB CONTRACTING.
WE'VE DONE WORK FOR THE COUNTY IN THE PAST AT THE TURTLE BAG ZOO.
UM, MAN, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT, SO EXACTLY WHAT ARE YOU GONNA BE DOING? UH, WE'RE BUILDING A RESTROOM BUILDING AND A PARKING LOT FOR YOU.
HOW MANY ESSEX COUNTY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE? UM, 10 OF THE 15 PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR US LIVE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, UH, THAT CONCLUDES THE DEPARTMENT'S, UH, ITEMS FOR THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PAULO.
NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK DAVID ANTONIO FOR DOING SUCH A TERRIFIC JOB, ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF THE ROADS RIGHT HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY, THAT OUR COUNTY ROADS THAT YOU'RE RIGHT ON TOP OF, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE ALL IMPROVED THE WAY THEY NEED TO BE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER SIBO, SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT POMAR TO TAKE RESOLUTIONS.
43 THROUGH 53 AND 88 AS ONE ROLL CALL CLERK.
IT'S, UH, 43 THROUGH 52 AND 88, NOT 53.
I HAVE, YEAH, I, I PUT 53, BUT IT'S 52.
SO 43 THROUGH 52, 52 AND AND 88 AS ONE.
AND THE REMOVAL WAS COMMISSIONER SIBO AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RICARDO.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
ABSENT COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION 54, WHICH IS 50 53.
ITEM 53 IS A CONTRACT AWARD, THE THREE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS ON A UNIT COST BASIS TO FURNISH HOUSEHOLD AND JANITORIAL SUPPLIES OVER A 24 MONTH PERIOD AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2 MILLION.
THE THREE VENDORS ARE A TSP MAINTENANCE SUPPLY,
[01:30:01]
IMPERIAL BAG AND PAPER COMPANY AND PLASTIC EXPRESS.ITEM 54 IS A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND TARA KENNEDY REALTY.
UM, UH, QUESTIONED EARLIER ABOUT WHERE THE, UH, PARKS DEPARTMENT'S GONNA GO WHILE THE BUILDING'S BEING DONE.
AND THIS IS THE LEASE TO COVER THAT.
IT'S A TWO YEAR AGREEMENT, UM, UH, $20 PER FOOT, AND IT'S THE NOT TO AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $279,675.
UM, OTHER THAN TO WONDER WHERE MR. CORI IS FOR THE PURCHASING ITEMS, I DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
HE'S SOMEWHERE PURCHASING ITEMS.
COMMISSION ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE? NOW I NEED TO MOVE HER IN A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT TAMARA SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCA TO TAKE RESOLUTIONS.
CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER? ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 55, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, MR. JACKSON.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, AS YOU SAID, THIS IS FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
UH, IT'S A, UH, ONE-YEAR CONTRACT, UH, WITH, UH, COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST INC.
TO, TO FURNISH, REPAIR AND INSTALL VEHICLE EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND SIRENS.
UM, GIVE US A ONE MONTH CONTRACT.
THE RATE IS $24, UH, PER HOUR, AND THERE'S A 10, UH, THOUSAND HOUR ALLOWANCE FOR UNFORESEEN PARTS AND LABOR.
MR. PAULO, UM, I'M JUST LOOKING AT THIS ONE.
THIS IS A 12 MONTH EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING CONTRACT.
ANY EXI ANY, UH, INCREASE TO THE COST ON THIS MR. JACKSON? UH, THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT LAST TIME WAS A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
WE SPENT, AND THIS IS A HUNDRED THOUSAND AS WELL, WE SPENT 42,000.
BUT THE RATE, THE RATES ARE, UH, SAME.
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS? NO HEARING.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION 56, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFERS OF THE PROSECUTOR, AND THEY BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, THIS IS A CONTRACT FOR $278,885 AND 90 CENTS WITH, UH, PHILIP KANO ASSOCIATES.
THIS IS FOR VIDEO SURVEILLANCE AND CABLING PROJECTS OF PORTABLE TWO-WAY RADIO EQUIPMENT UNDER OUR STATE CONTRACT AND ALSO THE HUNTERTON COUNTY CO-OP, AGAIN, IN, IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $278,885 AND 90 CENTS.
AND THIS WILL BE PAID FOR OUT OF, UH, HIS TRUST.
COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS OR CONFIDENCE? HEARING HONOR.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER BY COMMISSIONER GILL.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 57, WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE DEPUTY CLERK OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONER SEAWALL WILL SPEAK TO THE RESOLUTION AND IT BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I'M ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT KATHY BROWN BE APPOINTED THE DEPUTY CLERK TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
KATHY HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.
I'VE WORKED WITH HER FOR SO MANY YEARS.
I WORKED WITH DEBBIE MARVEL AND SHE WORKED WITH DEBBIE MARVEL AND I WORKED WITH THE TWO OF THEM.
AND IT'S BEEN A WONDER WONDERFUL PLEASURE TO WORK WITH BOTH
[01:35:01]
OF THEM.AND I'M VERY HAPPY NOW THAT DEBBIE MARVEL HAS CHOSEN TO RETIRE THAT KATHY BROWN WILL TAKE HER PLACE BECAUSE I THINK SHE WILL BE AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT DEPUTY CLERK.
SO IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO NOMINATE HER TO BE THE DEPUTY CLERK, TO BE THE EXCELLENT DEPUTY CLERK
UH, I JUST WANNA SAY KATHY IS DONE, UH, PHENOMENAL FOR THE OFFICE.
UM, AND SHE WORKS TIRELESSLY AND SHE'S SO SKILLED AT WHAT SHE DOES AND I AM THRILLED THAT SHE WILL BE, UH, THE NEXT DEPUTY CLERK.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT FOR REMARKS.
I, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE I CONCUR MY COLLEAGUES CUZ THEIR WISDOM IS INFINITE AND, UH, THEY HAPPEN TO BE RIGHT ABOUT YOU.
UH, BUT ALSO, I DON'T KNOW IF MANY PEOPLE OF PUBLIC KNOW, SHE LENDS HER WONDERFUL FAMILY TO US ON OCCASION WITH A LOT OF TALENT THAT GOES ON HERE WITH THE SINGING.
AND SO THEY'RE ALL TO BE COMMENDED.
EACH ONE OF HER VERY PROUD PARENTS, UH, HAD WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF CHILDREN, WHICH, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD A FEW YEARS ON THE, YOU KNOW, MY KIDS, I'M RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
AND, UH, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, THAT BEAUTIFUL FAMILY AND THAT INFLUENCE YOU BRING HERE WHEN YOU, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR VOICES HEAR SOME OF OUR EVENTS.
AND, UH, WE'RE VERY PROUD TO HAVE YOU AND THE WHOLE FAMILY.
I THINK, I THINK THE RESOLUTION INCLUDES ALL OF US
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE GOT, UH, WE GOT FOUR ADDITIONAL PEOPLE AT THE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PRICE OF ONE.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU, KATHY.
SO WE'RE GONNA NEED TO SEE ALL FIVE OF YOU IN THE OFFICE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.
KATHY BROWN, UH, TO PRESIDENT, UH, RICHARDSON, VICE PRESIDENT PRIME, UH, CLERK DAVIS, UH, FORD IN ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
UH, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T, UH, HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY AND CERTAINLY TO COMMISSIONER SEABOLD FOR THAT.
BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, UH, AFFIRMATION.
UM, I THINK MY JOURNEY WITH THIS BOARD BEGAN IN 2004, WHICH IS ALMOST 20 YEARS.
AND COMMISSIONER SIBO, YOU'VE BEEN THERE FROM THE BEGINNING AS WELL AS, UH, MANY OTHERS.
UM, BUT I, UH, DO WANT TO JUST THANK YOU AGAIN FOR, UH, AFFIRMING ME OF YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE, EVEN WHEN I WENT BACK, UH, FOR MY MASTERS AND GOT MY EXECUTIVE MASTERS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
SO I FEEL LIKE I'VE GONE FULL CIRCLE SO THAT, THAT I CAN NOW PUT BACK INTO, UH, THIS, UM, DEPARTMENT, WHAT YOU'VE POURED INTO ME.
AND I WOULD REALLY BE REMISS IF I DID NOT, UH, SPEAK ABOUT THE OUTGOING DEPUTY CLERK WHO HAS BEEN BY MY SIDE, ALONG WITH DEBORAH DAVIS FORD, THE, UH, KIRK OF THE BOARD.
UH, I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THE STAFF AND FROM HER.
AND IF ANYONE KNOWS DEBORAH MARVEL, THEY KNOW THAT HER STATURE IS SMALL, BUT HER BOOTS ARE REALLY LARGE.
UH, SO I WILL DEFINITELY NEED THE SUPPORT OF ALL THE PEOPLE HERE, UH, TO FILL THE VOID OF THOSE BOOTS.
I WANNA THANK THEM FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING ME AND FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.
THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT MISS BEING HERE.
UM, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY WERE GONNA BE HERE, BUT NOW THEY SEE WHAT, UM, I DO ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS.
SO I APPRECIATE EACH ONE OF YOU HERE AND THANK YOU PRESIDENT RICHARDSON FOR THIS TIME.
AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, BIG AND BETTER THINGS.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER SIBO AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MECADO ROLE.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 58 THROUGH 87.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HENRY'S GOT SOME ADDED STARTERS.
[01:40:01]
UH, 89 WAS WAS 89.NOW I'M NOW TRYING TO PAY PEN 13.
THAT TOOK THE LIST THAT COMES RIGHT AFTER POINT.
MOVE BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
CLERK COMMISSIONER COOK AB ABSENT.
ABSENT CO COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
THIS ADDRESS? NO, WE'RE GOING A RESOLUTION OF 89.
MR. PARECIO, PLEASE EXPLAIN THE RESOLUTION.
UH, ALTHOUGH WE WERE SCHEDULED TO, UM, ADOPT THE BUDGET TONIGHT, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE COUNTY CERTIFY THE COUNTY'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE US E E O C.
THAT'S THE EQUAL OPPOR, UH, EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSIONS ENFORCEMENT GUIDANCE ON THE CONSIDERATION OF ARREST AND CONVICTION, CONVICTION RECORDS AND EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS.
UM, WE'VE HAD TO DO THIS NOW FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, EVEN THOUGH THE, UH, BUDGET IS NOT ON FOR TONIGHT.
UM, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, UH, THIS BOARD CERTIFY THIS AND THAT ONCE THE BUDGET IS APPROVED, THAT THE CERTIFICATION OF SIGNATURES IS SUBMITTED WITH, ALONG WITH THE, UH, APPROVED BUDGET TO THE STATE.
IT'S AN UPDATED VERSION OF, UH, LAST COUPLE OF YEARS MEMO.
UM, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE, UH, COUNTY'S EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES AND HIRING PRACTICES ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE, UH, ARREST AND CONVICTION, UM, REQUIREMENTS OF E E O C.
THANK YOU MR. VEO CONVICTIONS.
COMMISSIONER SEVO, THANK YOU FOR SENDING THE, UH, THE, UH, EMAIL WITH THE ENTIRE, UH, UH, ORDINANCE.
IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO READ AND I COULDN'T GO THROUGH IT BECAUSE IT WAS SO LONG, BUT IF YOU WOULD APPROVE IT, IT'S OKAY WITH ME.
MAKE IT LONG SO EVERYBODY GOES, MAN.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT MAKES SENSE EVER.
IT'S SERIOUSLY, I IT'S ACTUALLY LA UH, I THINK TWO YEARS, UH, I DON'T REMEMBER.
MAYBE TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO I SAT DOWN WITH THE FORMER COUNTY COUNCIL.
WE WENT THROUGH THIS AT LENGTH.
THAT'S WHY IT'S A LENGTHY DOCUMENT, BUT IT'S STILL ACCURATE AND STILL, UM, CURRENT.
WELL, IF YOU THINK IT'S OKAY, THEN IT'S OKAY WITH ME.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NOW I NEED TO MOVE.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MECADO ROCO, MA'AM.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
UH, RESOLUTION 90 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
DO WE HAVE ANY ADDED STARTERS? 91.
OKAY, MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. RESIDENT.
UH, ITEM 91 IS A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $687,300 WITH SHOPRITE OF NEWARK, UH, TO PROVIDE FOR PROCUREMENT, UH, FOOD BOXES AND FROZEN TURKEYS FOR OUR VARIOUS, UH, FOOD DISTRIBUTION OF LOCATIONS OR PROGRAMS. UH, THERE'LL BE A ONE YEAR CONTRACT FROM THE DATE OF AWARD, UM, AND IT CONSISTS OF THE BOXES THAT, AND ALL OF YOU AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER HAVE BEEN TO THESE, UH, TO THESE, UH, FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS.
THE BOXES, UM, AT, UH, ROUGHLY $57 A BOX.
AND THE, UH, FROZEN TURKEYS, THEY'RE ROUGHLY $26, UH, PER TURKEY.
AND THERE'S ALSO A 15,000 HOUR ALLOWANCE FOR UN UNFORESEEN EXPENSES.
UH, THIS PROGRAM IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, PROGRAM.
UH, AND IF YOU REMEMBER, REMEMBER, WE AT ONE TIME WERE USING CARES AND OUR A R P MONEY FOR THIS.
UM, BUT WE'RE NOW USING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, PROGRAM.
SO, UH, WONDERFUL, UH, EFFORT AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP DOING IT.
UM, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IT.
THE BAD NEWS, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY IS THAT WE STILL NEED TO.
SO, UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.
AND AGAIN, THANK THE BOARD FOR, UH, ITS SUPPORT OF THIS FINANCIALLY, BUT ALSO OF BEING THERE SO MANY TIMES TO, TO, UH, TO WORK.
SO WE HAVE, DO WE HAVE DATES FOR DISTRIBUTION? UH, I, WE DON'T.
IT'S USUALLY AROUND THE HOLIDAYS, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, BUT I'LL HAVE, I'LL, I'LL GIVE TO THE MADAM CLERK THE, UH, THE DATES THAT, THAT ARE PROPOSED.
[01:45:01]
SO MUCH, COMMISSIONERS.PAUL, NO QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS? I WILL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR IS SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MECADO.
CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE TO REPORT BOARD.
DO WE HAVE ANY REPORTS OF BOARD, BOARD BOARD COMMITTEES? YES.
WE HAD A, A WORK FIRST COMMITTEE MEETING YESTERDAY.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU MR. JACKSON AND ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE, UM, MEETING.
UH, I BELIEVE WE ACCOMPLISHED, UH, QUITE A FEW THINGS.
UH, THERE'S SOME ITEMS THAT WE'RE GONNA WORK ON AND LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MEETING.
AND, AND THANK YOU CHAIR FOR, FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.
YES, THANK YOU, UH, MADAM CHAIR FOR CHAIRING THAT MEETING.
AND, UH, I THINK, YEAH, THERE'S SOME, SOME REAL OPPORTUNITIES TO GET SOME WORK DONE.
UM, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL THE PARTIES WHO WERE INVOLVED.
UM, SO GOOD JOB ONLY ANY LEGISLATIVE REPORTS, WRITTEN, COMMUNICATIONS, UNFINISHED BUSINESS, ANY NEW BUSINESS.
LET'S MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.
IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
UH, I LIVE IN THE IVY HILL SECTION, UM, OF NEWARK.
AND I SENT AN EMAIL TO MR. RICHARDSON, TO MR. RUFUSS JOHNSON AND TEMI TEMI COOPER, TEMI COOPER, UH, A FEW MONTHS AGO ABOUT THE FLOODING THAT, UH, RESIDENTS LIKE MYSELF AND, UH, IN SOUTH ORANGE RESIDENCE INCURRED.
UH, DURING HURRICANE IDA, UH, WE ORGANIZED AND STARTED TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DID WE GET BETWEEN TWO AND SEVEN FEET OF WATER IN OUR BASEMENTS? WATER WAS UP TO THE DOOR HANDLES ON OUR STREET.
UH, MY STREET RENTALS IS DIRECTLY BEHIND SETON HALL.
UH, I LIVE ON THE DEAD END STREET, WHICH ABUTS IVY HILL PARK.
UH, WE'VE BEEN ENGAGING WITH SEATON HALL CONTENTIOUSLY FOR QUITE A WHILE.
UH, WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE FOUR PARTIES INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAPPEN UP THERE.
UH, IN REGARDS TO THE WATER ISSUE, UH, ESSEX COUNTY IS ONE OF THEM.
BECAUSE OF THE PARK, IT HAS ALWAYS DRAINED POORLY.
BUT WITH THE, UM, ADDITIONS TO SEATON HALL'S CAMPUS, THE AREA AROUND US IS NOW ALMOST 100% IMPERVIOUS.
SO WE'RE IN A BOWL, UH, IVY, UH, THE PARK, IVY HILL PARK IS BEING WORKED ON.
THERE'S A BIG GRASSY AREA THAT IS NOW BECOMING ASTROTURF, WHICH WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN.
THE ASTROTURF DOES NOT HELP US IN RETAINING THE WATER.
SO WHAT WE NEED IN THE PARK IS A LITTLE MORE RETENTION AND PERHAPS DIRECTION FOR THE WATER TO GO IN ANOTHER AREA, BECAUSE THIS ONE PIPE THAT RECEIVES ALL THE WATER GETS INUNDATED, AND THAT ENDS UP IN OUR BASEMENTS.
UM, I SENT A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION WITH THE LETTER SO THAT YOU GUYS COULD KIND OF UNDERSTAND IN LAYMAN'S TERMS WHAT HAPPENED.
UH, WE TRIED TO CONTACT ESSEX COUNTY PARKS BEFORE THEY BROKE GROUND.
WE GOT IGNORED FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
UH, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN HEAR WHAT THE ISSUES WERE.
UH, VERY RECENTLY THE PARK FLOODED AND WE SENT PICTURES AROUND, AND THEN THEY GO, OH, YEAH, YOU GUYS FLOOD.
BUT THE PARK IS, THE, THE PARK HAS BEEN CHANGED OVER.
THERE'S VERY LITTLE GREEN SPACE IN THERE.
NOW, WHAT WE WANT TO SAY ON THE RECORD IS THAT THAT PARK NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN.
WHATEVER HAPPENED IN THE SIXTIES AND THE SEVENTIES THERE, LOTS HAS CHANGED, AND THE SEWERS IN THE AREA CANNOT HANDLE ALL THE CAPACITY BETWEEN THE COLLEGE, AND IT WAS JUST A NEIGHBORHOOD SEWER AT ONE POINT.
SO WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO LOOK INTO WHAT HAPPENED IN ADDITION TO WHAT NEWARK IS DOING AND WHAT SETON HALL IS DOING.
UM, SOUTH ORANGE SO FAR, NOT DOING TOO MUCH.
[01:50:01]
OKAY.BUT, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH YOU IN PARTNERSHIP.
JUST A NOTE, WHEN WE SAW JOE D AND WE SPOKE WITH HIM IN PERSON, HE DID SAY WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO, WE'LL DO, HOWEVER, THE PROJECT IN THE PARK IS STILL GOING ON, AND I THINK IT SHOULD PAUSE JUST LIKE WE WERE ASKING SEATON HALL TO PAUSE THEIR PROJECT UNTIL THE COMPLETE STUDY, HYDROLOGIC AND HYDRAULIC IS DONE TO ASSESS THE ENTIRE AREA.
SO, AS IS OUR POLICY, ANY QUESTIONS, ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASK WILL BE ANSWERED IN WRITING.
SO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASK WILL BE ANSWERED IN WRITING, SO BE CLEAR.
SO IF YOU COME UP HERE JUST AND MAKE STATEMENTS, NO ONE'S GOING TO ANSWER YOU.
I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO LOOK INTO WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR AREA.
NEXT, UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
UH, UH, MY NAME IS, UH, KEN WALTERS.
I LIVE ON REYNOLDS PLACE ADJACENT TO THE IVY HILL PARK ALSO.
UM, THE PARK IS ON THE BORDERLINE OF, UH, IVY HILL PARK.
IT'S ON THE BORDERLINE ON THE WESTERN SOUTH SIDE OF, UH, SEATON HALL UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS IN SOUTH ORANGE.
ON THE WEST SIDE FENCE LINE, UH, THERE IS SEATON HALL'S PARKING LOT, WHICH HAS AN OPEN TOP.
UH, AT THE BASE BEHIND THE, UH, THE PARKING LOT BEHIND THE FENCE LINE AND BEHIND SOME TREES, THERE ARE TWO, UM, CAST IRON DRAIN PIPES, ONE 12 INCH, ONE 16 INCH, THAT FLOW ALL THE WATER FROM THE PARKING LOT AREA DIRECTLY INTO ESSEX COUNTY PARK.
THOSE PIPES ARE UNFILTERED WATER COMING INTO THE PARK, UM, AT A HIGH RATE OF WATER FLOW, SUCH AS WE HAD WITH THE RIBBONS OF IDA.
THOSE PIPES DRAINED ABOUT 950 GALLONS PER MINUTE, WHICH IS MORE THAN HALF OF WHAT A FIRE ENGINE.
PUMPKIN PUMP FIRE ENGINE PUMP PUMPS ABOUT 1500 GALLONS PER MINUTE.
UM, ACCORDING TO NEW JERSEY STATE STATURES, UH, I THINK IT'S N J A C SEVEN DASH EIGHT, THE NEWARK CITY ORDINANCE FOR STORMWATER CAPTURE, UH, UM, 41 17 AND THE SOUTH ORANGE STORM WATER, UM, ORDINANCE OF, UH, 2022 DASH SEVEN.
THERE ARE PROVISIONS THAT SAY THAT STORM WATER DRAINAGE, UM, FROM A PARKING LOT OR A MAINTENANCE AREA, HAS TO BE CAPTURED AND FILTERED BEFORE BEING RELEASED BACK INTO THE PUBLIC STREAM.
THAT PARK HAS, UH, BIRDS AND, YOU KNOW, ALL KIND OF ANIMALS.
THERE'S EVEN, UM, DEER THAT COME DOWN HERE AT NIGHT.
SO THAT'S A DETRIMENT TO THE, THE ANIMALS IN THAT PARK.
UH, NOT TO MENTION THAT THEY PUMP SO MUCH WATER INTO THE PARK ON HEAVY RAINS THAT THE PARK FLOODS.
AND WE'VE ALREADY APPROACHED SEATON HALL ABOUT IT.
UH, WE'VE HAD THE ESER COUNTY ENGINEERS AND THE NEWARK ENGINEERS, UM, TO COME OUT AND THEY TOOK A LOOK AND EVERYBODY'S LOOK EGREGIOUS.
I JUST WANT TO PUT IT ON RECORD THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, AND ASK THE COMMISSION TO, UH, LOOK INTO IT TO ENSURE THAT THE, UH, SEATON HALL ABIDES BY THE AGREEMENT THAT THEY MADE WITH NEWARK AND ESSEX COUNTY AND SOUTH ORANGE TO RECTIFY, UM, 30 SECONDS, UH, RECTIFY WHAT FLOODING DID THEY HAVE GOING ON, BECAUSE IT'S ALL MANMADE FLOODING.
GOOD EVENING, MR. COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT, UM, MAN JAMES, UM, AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE PRESENT.
I AM A DISTRICT LEADER IN THE WESTWATER OF DISTRICT 36.
AND I STAND BEFORE YOU, FIRST OF ALL, WITH THE LOSS OF OUR DISTRICT LEADER.
DID I JUST RETIRE? SENATOR RICE? UM, BUT WE ARE HERE, UM, MY NEIGHBORS, OUR CITY NEIGHBORS OF SOUTH ORANGE AND MAPLEWOOD.
WHEN STORM IDA CAME IN ON AUGUST 31ST, 2020, NOT ONLY DID WE, DID WE RE DID WE DEAL WITH THE DOWNPOUR OF THE STORM? WE DEALT WITH THE WATER THAT CAME OFF OF IVY HILL PARK ONTO OUR HOMES AND THE WATER THAT CAME DOWN THE HILL FROM SETON HALL UNIVERSITY.
SO THAT INCLUDES THE CITY OF NEWARK, THE VILLAGE OF SOUTH ORANGE SEATON HALL UNIVERSITY, AS WELL AS TEXAS COUNTY PARKS.
SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE WILL LIKE FOR YOU TO HALT THE CONSTRUCTION THAT IS TAKING PLACE CURRENTLY IN IVY HILL PARK TO HALT AND MAKE SURE THAT SETON HALL DOES NOT BUILD UNTIL THE CITY OF NEWARK TO H NH STUDY IS TOTALLY COMPLETED BECAUSE THERE'S FAULT ON ALL PORTIONS SO FAR
[01:55:01]
THAT IT APPEARS.THERE WAS A MEETING YESTERDAY WITH THE GOVERNOR DCA JO D MAYOR BARAKA, UH, SHEENA MCCULLUM FROM THE SOUTH ORANGE.
UM, BUT WE WON A RESOLUTION HOW TO ABATE OUR HOMES FROM FLOODING.
THE WATER WAS SO HIGH ON WOOD WOODBINE AVENUE AND REYNOLDS PLACE, SO WHERE YOU COULD HAVE PUT A BOAT OUT THERE THAT NIGHT AND JUST WALLED IN THE WATER UNTIL IT FOUND SOMEWHERE TO RECEDE.
AND WHERE IT RECEDED WAS INTO OUR HOMES.
SOME OF US HAS LOST HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
I HAVE A TWO CAR GARAGE THAT IS CURRENTLY NOW LEANING TO THE LEFT.
OUR HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE WILL NOT ACCEPT US BECAUSE WE DO NOT LIVE IN A FLOOD AREA IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
FEMA DID NOT ACCEPT US BECAUSE INITIALLY THE CITY OF NORTH, THE COUNTY OF ACCESS WAS NOT ON THE FEMA LIST UNTIL I CALLED MR. DANNY GIBSON, WHO THEN CALLED LEROY JONES, WHO THEN CALLED THE GOVERNOR, WHO THEN CALLED THE PRESIDENT TO HAVE THE COUNTY OF EXIT, CITY OF NEWARK ADDED ONTO THE FEMA LIST.
ONCE WE WERE ADDED ONTO THE LIST, THEY STILL DENIED US FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
MOST OF US ARE STILL DEALING WITH IT.
AT THE TIME I WORKED FOR THE CITY OF NEWARK AND THE FORTY THREE ELEVEN DOWN EMERGENCY CALL CENTER.
SO MY JOB, NOT ONLY AS A HOMEOWNER AND EMPLOYEE, BUT A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, WAS TO THEN GET DUMPSTERS SO WE CAN THEN CLEAN OUT EVERYTHING THAT WAS SOAKED AND WET AND WATER.
I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A DISABLED RETIRED DETECTIVE FROM THE CITY OF NEWARK, AS A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, AS A TAXPAYER, AS WELL AS A VOTER.
NOW WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY ASKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF SOUTH ORANGE.
UH, I LIVE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SETON HALL'S CAMPUS.
MY NEIGHBORHOOD FLOODED IN IDA WITH THREE TO SIX FEET OF WATER.
WE WERE HIT MUCH HARDER THAN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN SOUTH ORANGE.
SINCE LEARNING OF IVY HILLS FLOODING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SETON HALL'S CAMPUS, MY NEIGHBORS AND I ARE CONCERNED ABOUT STORMWATER RUNOFF INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM SETON HALL.
I WANTED TO ASK IF THE SEWER AND STORMWATER PIPES AND CATCH BASINS THAT RUN ALONG SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE BELONG TO ESSEX COUNTY? IF THEY DO BELONG TO ESSEX COUNTY, ARE THE PIPES REGULARLY MAINTAINED? OR ONLY IF SOMEONE NOTIFIES IF THERE'S A PROBLEM? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME S E C TV SCOPING WAS DONE ON THESE PIPES? I ALSO WANT TO ASK ON THE RECORD FOR ESSEX COUNTY TO CONSIDER COMMISSIONING A STORMWATER H AND H STUDY FOR THE SOUTH ORANGE NEIGHBORHOODS ADJACENT TO SETON HALL.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RICHARD ISON, HOW YOU DOING? I, I DON'T KNOW.
I CAME IN THIS ROOM AND I WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU IN THIS, UM, IN THIS ROOM.
SO THANK YOU FOR OFFERING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK UP.
MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ.
I'M A MENTOR, A RESIDENT, UM, A URBAN FARMER.
AND I'M COMING TO YOU, TO YOU TO ASK FOR HELP AS A RESIDENT OF ESSEX COUNTY TO HELP US WITH STOPPING PA STATE VALLEY SEWAGE COMMISSIONED FROM PROPOSING TO BUILD ANOTHER POWER PLANT IN OUR ALREADY OVER BURNING COMMUNITY.
WE ALREADY HAVE THREE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, ALL WITHIN A FIVE MILE OR LESS RADIUS.
THEY SAY THAT THE POWER PLANT WILL HELP THEM FROM LOSING POWER AGAIN.
HOWEVER, HERE ARE Q UH, A FEW KEY ITEMS TO CONSIDER WHY ANOTHER POWER PLANT IS NOT NEEDED.
P VSC FLOODED DURING SUPERSTORE IN SANDY, WHICH WAS 11 YEARS AGO, IN PART BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A FLOW WALL AROUND THEIR FACILITY AT THE TIME.
I I PASS BY ALL THE TIME AND I SEE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TALL WALL GOING UP.
SECONDLY, PSE AND G ALREADY INVESTED 2.1 BILLION IN HEARTENING THE INFRASTRUCTURE, MAKING IT STORM READY.
THIS IS WHY WE DIDN'T LOSE POWER DURING THE OTHER STORMS WITH WITHIN THE LAST 11 YEARS, SUCH AS HURRICANE IDA AND HENRY P PBSC IS CLAIMING THAT THEY ARE A CLEAN ENERGY INDUSTRY.
HOWEVER, PROPOSING ANOTHER NATURAL GAS PLANT IS NOT REBI RELIABLE AND CERTAINLY NOT CLEAN.
IT'S SOLUTION THAT THEY KEEP FEEDING OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE WERE ABOUT A THOUSAND EXPLOSIONS OF NATURAL GAS PIPES DURING SUPER STORM, SANDY.
SO WHY, WHY WOULD WE WANNA GO THIS ROUTE? YOU KNOW, WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES LIKE OHIO, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT THE SAME THING.
WE KNOW THAT LIVING BY ALL THESE CHEMICAL PLANTS.
SO IF SOMETHING THAT WILL, YOU KNOW, EXPLODE, IT WILL BE CATASTROPHIC TO US.
UM, WE NEED TO DO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO DO THINGS THE RIGHT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.
WE DON'T HAVE TO, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
UH, YOU KNOW, AND DOING, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S RIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ADD TO THIS.
PVC IS PROPOSING TO MIX NATURAL GAS AND HYDROGEN GAS.
HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGY IS VOLATILE.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO DO OUR RESEARCH.
[02:00:01]
I CAN LEAK AND MIXING IT WITH NATURAL GAS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.SO WHY IS IT THAT NEWARK HAS TO BE THE TEST DUMMIES FOR THIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY? WE SHOULD MATTER AS HUMANS.
PBS E IS CREATE HAS BEEN CREATING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR RESIDENTS OF THE IRONBOUND OF NEWARK.
YOU KNOW, HOW ARE THEY BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR BY PROPO PROPOSING UNTESTED TECHNOLOGY? HYDROGEN IS NITROGEN OXIDE PRODUCING.
IT'S NOT CLEAN ENERGY AND IT'S EXPLOSIVE.
COMMISSIONERS, I'M ASKING YOU ALL, WILL YOU HELP US STOP THIS PROCESS AND ASK THEM TO THINK ABOUT OTHER ALTERNATIVES THAT MAKE SENSE CONSIDERING THAT WE HAVE BETTER 30 SECONDS PSE INFRASTRUCTURE? UH, IT'S BETTER THAN IT WAS 11 YEARS AGO.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO JOIN ALL THE 20 NEWARK LEGISLATORS, INCLUDING RAS WHO HAVE SUBMITTED A LETTER OPPOSING P V S C.
WE ASKING IF YOU CAN ACTUALLY PASS A RESOLUTION SO THAT NO MORE NATURAL GAS PLANTS OR ANY FOSSIL FUEL TECHNOLOGY ARE ACTUALLY BUILDING ESSEX COUNTY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, AGAIN, MY NAME IS CHRISTIAN AND I'M A PROUD NEWARK RESIDENT.
I'M REPRESENTING CLEAN WATER ACTION, WHICH IS A NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION WITH A LONG, PROUD HISTORY HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY AND, UM, IN NEW JERSEY.
UM, WE HAVE OVER 10,000 MEMBERS HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
HAVE OF, HAVE HAD OFFICES AND EMPLOYEES FOR OVER 30 YEARS IN MONTCLAIR AND NEWARK AND JUST MOVED OUR STATE HEADQUARTERS TO ESSEX COUNTY.
UH, WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF NEWARK, EMPLOYING LOCAL RESIDENTS, REPLACING LEAD SERVICE LINES, WORKING THROUGH NORTH DECKS TO GET, UH, SEWAGE OUT OF NEWARK STREETS AMONG MANY OTHER EFFORTS.
I'M HERE SPECIFICALLY TO FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT CHRIS JUST MENTIONED ON THE P BSE, UH, DIRTY GAS POWER PLANT.
BUT I WOULD BE AMISS IF I DIDN'T ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH SETON HALL.
UM, AND, UH, THAT, THAT SITUATION.
UM, KIM GADDY, A LIFELONG NEWARK RESIDENT, FOURTH GENERATION, UM, IS OUR AS CLEAN ORDER ACTIONS NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE DIRECTOR.
SHE WROTE AN OP ED WITH A COUPLE OTHER FOLKS.
UM, THE HEADLINE IN THE START LEDGER A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, SETON HALL IS A RACIST NEIGHBOR TO NEWARK RESIDENCE.
THAT'S NOT MY WORDS, THAT'S THE STAR LEDGERS.
UM, SO I CAN AFFORD THAT AS NECESSARY.
AND THE OP-ED AND IT'S SPECIFIC TO THIS PROJECT.
UM, AND THAT OP-ED WAS WRITTEN BY DEBORAH SMITH, GREGORY, THE PRESIDENT OF NAACP IN NEWARK, KEN GETTI, NEWARK NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE DIRECTOR, CLEANWATER ACTION, AND ASAD RASHIDI, THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZER FOR THE SOUTH WARD ENVIRONMENTAL EYELINES.
NOW ON, UH, PBSC, WHEREVER YOU LIVE IN ESSEX COUNTY, NORTH WARD, WEST WARD, CENTRAL WARD, BLOOMFIELD, BELLEVILLE, NUTLEY, THE ORANGES, MONTCLAIR CALDWELLS, VERONA, CEDAR GROVE.
AND I KNOW I'M MISSING A LOT, BUT YOU GET THE IDEA.
YOU DON'T WORRY TOO MUCH WHEN YOU FLUSH THE TOILET OR WHEN YOU TURN ON THE LIGHTS OR WHEN YOU TURN ON YOUR COMPUTER, OR WHEN YOU THROW YOUR TRASH IN THE GARBAGE, IT MAGICALLY DISAPPEARS.
GUESS WHO GETS THE BRUNT OF THEM? THE E FOUR, THE IRON VALLEY AND P IS PROPOSING TO SOLVE A VERY RARE PROBLEM BY NEARLY NEEDLESSLY EXACERBATING IRONBOUND, UM, UH, NEEDLESSLY, I'M SORRY.
P IS PROPOSING, UH, TO SOLVE A VERY RARE PROBLEM BY NEEDLESSLY.
EXACERBATED A VERY RARE PROBLEM BY EXACERBATING A VERY REAR REAL PROBLEM.
THEY WANT TO POISON IRONBOUND LUNGS MORE TO STOP SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENED ONCE IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF NEWARK IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY.
AND AS FAR AS WE KNOW, ENTIRE HUMAN HISTORY, RAW SEWAGE BEING DUMPED BECAUSE OF SANDY, IT'S A BAD PROJECT.
FRACKED GAS, RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS, EVERYTHING THEY'RE PROPOSING MEANS MORE POISONING OF IRONBOUND LUNGS.
SO I CAN, WITH VERY QUICK FIVE MORE SECONDS.
WE URGE THE COMMISSION TO OPPOSE WHAT SETON HALL IS PROPOSING.
WILL, WILL THE COMMISSION DO THAT? AND, AND FURTHER WILL THE COMMISSION OPPOSE PSCS PROJECT TO CONTINUE POISONING AND MAKING IRON BOUND LUNGS WORSE? UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE MAY BE A VOTE AS RECENT AS SOON AS THE APRIL BOARD MEETING OF THE P VSE.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR TAKING A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH TIME.
A AS IS OUR POLICY, YOU WILL BE AT, YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED IN WRITING.
UH, MY NAME IS WILLIAM MERO, M A R O.
AND I HAVE A BUSINESS HERE ON PARK PLACE IN NEWARK.
UM, I'M HERE WITH A HEART THAT'S FILLED.
I'M HERE WITH THE BROWN GARCIA
[02:05:01]
FAMILY.AND WE SHARE, WHAT WE SHARE HERE IS TRAGEDY, UH, BETWEEN OUR SONS.
UH, MY SON JONATHAN, UM, SUFFERED CARDIAC ARREST, UM, IN JANUARY AND WAS SAVED BY AN A E D MACHINE THAT WAS ON PREMISE.
THEIR GRANDSON, ELIJAH BROWN, ELIJAH BROWN GARCIA, THERE WAS, WERE NO, NO ONE'S HERE TO MAR TO ARGUE WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE, WHAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE.
BUT WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE IS AN A E D MACHINE THAT SAVES LIVES, PERIOD.
I'M HERE, I HAVE NO REASON TO BE HERE.
BUT I VOWED TO MS. BROWN AND TO MS. BROWN GARCIA THAT WE'RE GONNA FIND A WAY NO MATTER WHAT HAS HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, WITH SHOTS, WITHOUT SHOTS, WHATEVER YOU CAN ARGUE WHAT'S DONE IS DONE.
WE NEED TO SAVE KIDS' LIVES, RIGHT? WE DO.
CUZ IF MY SON'S LIFE WOULD'VE PERISHED, IT WOULDN'T HAVE AFFECTED MY, HIS SISTER, ME AND HIS MOTHER.
IT WOULD'VE AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF LIVES THAT I KNEW.
GOD BLESS THE BROWN GARCIAS, RIGHT? IT HAS AFFECTED SO MANY LIVES.
NOW WHAT DO WE DO? UH, NOT AT THE TOWN LEVEL, BUT AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO PROVIDE THESE MACHINES.
AND THE QUESTION TO THE COMMISSION IS HOW DO WE DO IT RIGHT? HOW DO WE PROVIDE THESE MACHINES? IS IT THROUGH THE STATE, THROUGH COVID MONEY OR IS IT THROUGH A DIRECT PURCHASE TO PROVIDE THESE MACHINES AT EVERY FIELD? I HAVE A PLAN AND I HOPE WE'RE ABLE TO DISCUSS IT TO PERIOD, SAVE ANYONE'S LIFE.
AND I HOPE WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER.
AND I HOPE THAT ESSEX COUNTY, I CAN BE A ROLE MODEL FOR EVERY COUNTY IN AMERICA.
AND, UH, WE'LL DEFINITELY GET YOUR INFORMATION AND HAVE SOME CONVERSATION.
BUT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT ALL OF THAT IS DEFINITELY BEING LOOKED INTO.
UH, AS SOON AS THIS HAPPENED, I WASN'T EVEN IN THE STATE AT THE TIME WHEN, WHEN I HEARD ABOUT IT, I WAS NOWHERE AROUND.
UH, AND IT'S A TRAGIC SITUATION THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED.
UH, WE NEED TO HAVE, IN MY OPINION, UM, PARENTS, COACHES, UH, WHO ARE TRAINED IN CPR.
UH, FOLKS WHO TAKE, WE TALKED ABOUT FOLKS WHO TAKE OUT PERMITS TO BE ON THESE FIELDS NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO RESPONSIBLE PARTIES WHO ARE CPR TRAINED, KNOW HOW TO USE THOSE MACHINES AND KNOW HOW TO GET EMERGENCY HELP IMMEDIATELY.
UH, SO THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IN RESPONSE TO WHAT HAPPENED TO MR. BROWN, UH, YOUNG MR. BROWN.
UH, AND WE NEVER WANT TO SEE ANYTHING LIKE THIS, AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEE IT EVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
SO, AND, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER.
OKAY, WELL I'M JUST, I'M THE GRANDMOTHER OF ELIJAH JORDAN, AND, UM, THERE IS A BILL IN PLACE AND THE BILL IS THE A 25 0 5.
I WOULD JUST ACT LIKE TO ASK THE COMMISSION ORDER, UH, THE CITY OF NORTHGATE COUNTY TO BE A PART OF THAT BILL.
LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO PASS.
BECAUSE CURRENTLY THE EIGHT, THE DEFIBRILLATORS, THE CPR, ALL OF THAT'S ONLY FOR THE SCHOOLS.
IT'S NOT FOR THE OUTSIDE RECREATION.
THERE'S NO BILL, THERE'S NO LAW.
SO WE NEED TO GET THAT IN PLACE.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT, TO HOPEFULLY THAT WE CAN ALL JOIN FORCES AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
I CURRENTLY LIVE IN PISCATAWAY.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT I WANNA ADDRESS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR, AT NEWARK, OR SINCE THIS HAPPENED IN NEWARK, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE 9 1 1 SYSTEM WAS CONSIDERED URGENT.
WHAT'S NOT CONSIDERED URGENT WHEN THE CHILD IS DOWN ON THE GROUND, THAT'S CONSIDERED URGENT.
[02:10:01]
WHY, WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS IN TERMS OF POLICE DEPARTMENT BEING DISPATCHED TO A SCENE WHEN A 9 1 1 IS CALLED? I KNOW WHEN I LIVE IN PISCATAWAY, I LIVED IN WESTVILLE, I LIVED IN MONTCLAIR, I GREW UP IN MONTCLAIR, GRADUATED FROM MONTCLAIR.WHEN YOU CALL 9 1 1, YOU GOT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU GOT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU GOT EVERY SERVICE POSSIBLE.
AND I, I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD ALL BE ON THE SAME PAGE.
YOU KNOW, MY DAUGHTER'S IN SO MUCH PAIN.
YOU KNOW, I, MY GRANDSON WAS A LOVELY YOUNG MAN.
IF I WAS THERE, I WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE HIM THE CPR.
BUT I JUST THINK THAT IF ANYBODY COMES TO YOUR CITY AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED A, A PERMIT TO USE YOUR RECREATION PARK, WHICH IS IN THE COUNTY, COUNTY 24 AND THERE'S FOUR, THAT'S ACTUALLY LIKE A RECREATION, NOT NECESSARILY ATHLETIC FIELDS.
AND NEWARK IS PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE WEST SIDE PARK BEING ONE WHERE MY GRANDSON DIED.
IT'S NOT, I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT DIFFICULT TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT'S GETTING THESE PERMITS, THAT'S HAVING THESE SPORTS EVENTS TO SAY, HEY, YOU NEED TO HAVE TWO AT MINIMUM PEOPLE THERE WHO ARE CPR CERTIFIED.
AND THEN AS FAR AS THE DEFIBRILLATORS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A WAY, AGAIN, A COMMISSIONER, I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING EVERYTHING YOU SAID.
I, I BELIEVE YOU WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE LOOKING INTO EVERYTHING, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO PUT THESE AEDS IN EVERY PART.
YOU CAN PUT 'EM IN THE BUILDINGS THAT WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY, THAT THEY'RE 30 SECONDS RE THAT THEY'RE REDOING FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING.
PUT 'EM IN THE BUILDING, GIVE THEM THE PEOPLE THAT GET PERMITS.
THEY GET THE CODE TO GET IN THE BUILDING.
THEY PULL THAT A E D OUT BEFORE THAT EVENT STARTS.
AND I DON'T SEE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS BOARD AND I'LL SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD SUPPORTING THAT RESOLUTION.
IF, IF, IF I MAY, MR. PRESIDENT? YES, MR. JACKSON, PLEASE.
MISS, MISS MS. BROWN, MS. BROWN GARCIA, DON'T GO.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, COMMENT ONE.
YOU KNOW, NONE OF US CAN EXPRESS YOUR PAIN OR FEEL THE PAIN THAT YOU FEEL WE'RE SO SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
UM, BUT TO, TO, TO MS. BROWN'S POINT, THE, THE LEGISLATION THAT, UH, SHE'S REFERRING TO, UH, ACTUALLY SHOULD HAVE, UH, WAS, WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE.
SEPTEMBER 1ST, I BELIEVE WAS 2020.
AND IT WAS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY.
THE ASSEMBLY PASSED IT, UM, NEAR UNANIMOUSLY.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN SITTING IN THE SENATE FOR, FOR SINCE THEN.
SO, AND THAT, AND THAT WAS A LAW THAT THAT MANDATED THAT ORGANIZATIONS, UM, UH, JUNIOR FOOTBALL, JUNIOR BASEBALL, WHATEVER, THAT THEY HAD TO HAVE A MACHINE, UH, AS PART OF THEIR GETTING A LICENSE AND PARTICIPATING, YOU HAD TO HAVE A AN A E D THERE.
SO, UM, I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT WAS, HAS NOT BEEN DONE.
BUT, UM, I, I JUST WANT TO ALSO JUST RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU SAID AND, AND ACTUALLY SUPPORT WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THAT LEGISLATION.
UM, IN, IN THE MEANTIME, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE, WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW IS, IS, IS FIGURING OUT A WAY, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE, IT'S NOT GOING THAT HARD, BUT MAKING SURE THAT WHEN PEOPLE APPLY FOR A PERMIT FOR TO OUR PARKS, THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THEY HAVE TO, UM, INDICATE IS THAT, TO YOUR POINT AND TO YOURS, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT THEY DO HAVE PEOPLE, ONE, SOMEBODY'S BEEN TRAINED, AND THEY ALSO HAVE ONE OF THESE, UM, DEVICES.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE NEGOTIATED WITH OUR, THE PERSON WHO SUPPLIED THE COMPANY AND SUPPLIES US, UH, TO PROVIDE THOSE MACHINES AT THE SAME RATE, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT WE PAY, WHICH IS, UM, TO DELETE THEM.
AND THAT'S, UH, UM, RIGHT NOW $110 A YEAR.
AND THAT PROVIDES FOR, WHICH IS A CHEAP PRICE FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S, IT'S QUARTER LIFE.
SO, AND, AND SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN THOSE AT THAT.
AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES, BY THE WAY, MAINTENANCE.
SO NOT ONLY DO YOU GET THE MACHINE, BUT THEY'RE ABLE TO COME AND, AND MAINTAIN IT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
I THINK IT'S QUARTERLY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT PRICE, IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T PUT ANY VALUE ON, ON A, ON A LIFE, CERTAINLY A YOUNG LIFE LIKE THAT.
BUT, UM, AND, UH, THE OTHER THING TOO IS IN ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS, UH, HERE, OUR GOLF COURSES, OUR, UH, ALL OUR COMMUNITY BUILDINGS GOING FORWARD WILL AT LEAST HAVE ONE IN EVERY BUILDING.
AND NOW ALL THE SHERIFF'S OFFICER'S, UH, CARS, EACH CAR HAS AN A E D IN IT.
SO IF THEY'RE, IF THEY'RE CALLED, THEY'RE ABLE TO GET THERE AND PROVIDE THE, THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT, HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, IN A, IN A FAST MANNER.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I, I, I, I, I, AGAIN, I, I, I DON'T, I CAN'T, I DUNNO WHAT TO SAY.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE, BUT I, I, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT WASN'T,
[02:15:01]
UH, A DEATH THAT WENT, THAT'S NOT GONNA BENEFIT GOING FORWARD.THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF KIDS.
UM, AND, AND, AND IT'S UNFAIR, RIGHT? IT'S GROSSLY UNFAIR THAT YOUR SON, YOUR GRANDSON, HAD TO SACRIFICE.
BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT HIS UNTIMELY DEATH REALLY WILL SAVE OTHERS' LIVES.
AND I, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND SAY GOD BLESS, FOR WHICH YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH IN A SUFFERING, BUT, UH, KNOW THAT IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
CAN I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION? I KNOW I MIGHT, I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, AND THIS IS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, ME DOING.
THIS IS MY MISSION FOR ELIJAH.
CUZ WHEN I WAS STANDING OVER HIS COFFIN, CUZ THE DAY BEFORE THE FUNERAL, I PROMISED HIM THAT THIS WOULD BE MY MISSION TO MAKE ALL THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
BUT THE OTHER THING, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP ME THIS, BECAUSE THIS WAS A COUNTY PARK, WEST SIDE PARK, I WANTED TO SEE IF NEWARK COULD POSSIBLY DO SOME TYPE OF MEMORIAL PLAQUE ON A, A BENCH OR HIS NAME ON THE, ON THE SIGN, SEEING A MEMORY OF ELIJAH JORDAN, GAR BROWN GARCIA CON, CONSIDER IT DONE.
DO WE HAVE A FORUM? UH, HANG ON.
WE DON'T HAVE, WE HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE A FORUM.
UM, HI EVERYONE, MY NAME IS JEANETTE.
UM, AND SIMILAR TO THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE BEFORE ME, UH, ABOUT P E B S C, UM, I WANT TO URGE ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO STAND IN GANGS.
WHAT WOULD BE THE FOURTH GAS PLANT IN NEWARK.
UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PBS C'S PERMIT HERE.
UH, FOLKS HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED, UH, THE VAST POLLUTING INDUSTRIES ALREADY.
NEWARK, UH, TRUCK TRAFFIC AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS, THE THREE GAS PLANTS, UM, THAT I JUST MENTIONED, A PLASTIC BURNING PLANT, A FAT RENDERING PLANT, AND OTHER HARSH MEDIC, UH, CHEMICAL STORAGE AREAS WITH A MIX OF THESE PLUS THE COMMUNITY WHO LIVES BREEDS PLACE, UH, HERE EVERY DAY.
UH, I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THAT ANOTHER GAS PLANT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL IDEA FOR NEWARK.
UH, I HAD COVID LAST WINTER AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN NEWARK ARE BATTLING, UH, WITH RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES.
UH, FORTUNATELY I AM NOT ONE OF THEM, BUT I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF, UM, BECAUSE, UH, I HAVE THE TIME AND ENERGY TO BE HERE.
UH, THERE'S MANY FAMILIES IN NEWARK WHO HAVE NO IDEA OF, OF EVEN THAT THEIR P VSE WANTS TO PUT ANOTHER PLANT.
UM, I MENTIONED THIS BECAUSE THINKING OF ALL THE INDUSTRIES IN NEWARK SEPARATELY, UM, DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A BIG DEAL TO NEWARK LEADERSHIP MAYBE, BUT ALL OF THEM TOGETHER DO CREATE A HARMFUL AND DANGEROUS COMBINATION.
P VSE HAS NEVER FULLY EVALUATED THE FULL POTENTIAL OF A HYBRID MICROGRID, UTILIZING MULTIPLE CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES SYNERGISTICALLY TO PROVIDE RESILIENT BACKUP POWER.
UH, WE URGE THE ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO SIDE WITH THE NEWER COMMUNITY, UH, THE CURRENT RESIDENTS AND THE NEXT GENERATION THAT COMES AFTER ME.
UM, I AM FROM PERU WHERE THIS WEEK WE ARE HAVING, WE ARE GOING THROUGH A CYCLONE, UH, NEVER SEEN BEFORE FLOODING.
I MENTIONED THIS NOT AS A NEWS BULLETIN, BUT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT NEWARK ALREADY HAS FLOODING EVERY TIME IT RAINS HEAVILY.
THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS ALREADY IN OUR BACKYARD.
WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT COUNTRIES ACROSS THE WORLD.
WE CANNOT THINK THAT ANYTHING WE DO HERE WON'T AFFECT THE COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND NEWARK.
WE MUST THINK AHEAD BEYOND THE NEXT FIVE AND 10 YEARS.
AND RETHINKING THIS PROJECT WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY IS SOMETHING THAT YOUR GRANDCHILDREN WILL ALSO THANK YOU FOR.
UH, FOSSIL FUEL GASES WILL ONLY EXACERBATE STORMS AND VIOLENT CLIMATE EVENTS.
IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO LOOK BACK ON.
AND I THINK, UM, AND THINK WE DIDN'T ACT SOONER AGAIN, WE ASK YOU TO STAND WITH NEWARK COMMUNITY AND SIDE WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY.
UH, AND, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, MR. KRAMER, IF YOU WOULD JUST PLEASE HOLD ON.
A COUPLE OF US NEED TO TAKE 10 MINUTES, BUT YOU ARE UP NEXT.
[02:20:37]
IT'S GOOD IF YOU ASK FOR NO, YEAH, IT'S OKAY.SAY YOU GOT FIVE KIDS IN YOUR PROGRAM, WHATEVER IT IS, EVERY YEAR.
SO IN CASE YOU ARE A AND PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU KNOW THAT, AND THEN THROUGH THE SAME THING, WE SHOULD, I MEAN, PROGRAM THOUSANDS.
AND PARTICULARLY IF HE SAID, HEY, THIS IS SOMEONE'S THERE
[02:31:22]
IN[02:31:22]
TROUBLE.KEEP BREATHING, KEEP BREATHING, KEEP BREATHING.
NO, MR. KRAMER, THE FLOOR IS YOURS, SIR.
UM, I AM HERE TODAY TO, UH, RESPOND TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECENT, UH, ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY ARE OFFERING TO BUY THE ROCK SPRING GOLF COURSE.
AT THE TERMS, SAME TERMS AS WERE BEFORE, UM, WHEN WEST ORANGE BOUGHT IT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A MISTAKE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
UH, NUMBER ONE, I DON'T THINK IT'S IN THE ECONOMIC INTEREST, UM, TO KEEP THIS LAND AS A GOLF COURSE.
UM, KEEPING IT AS A GOLF COURSE DENIES WEST ORANGE, ITS RATEABLES.
UM, IT DENIES THE POSSIBILITY OF BUILDING MORE HOUSING AND COUNTY AND COMMUNITY WHERE AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE HOUSES NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED.
UM, SO I THINK IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE AT MANY LEVELS ALSO, BECAUSE IT'S SO PIST TO THE OTHER COUNTY GOLF COURSE, AND IT WOULD BE AN MUNICIPALITY TO, BESIDES HAVING A COUNTY GOLF COURSE HAS MULTIPLE PRIVATE GOLF COURSES.
SO THE QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH GOLF COURSES DO WE NEED? AND ALSO IT IS LITERALLY ACROSS WALKER ROAD FROM A 2000 PLUS, UH, ACRE RESERVE KNOWN AS A SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION.
SO IT'S NOT AN AREA THAT REALLY NEEDS OPEN SPACE.
SO I HOPE THAT, UH, ESSEX, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, UH, DOES NOT GO FORWARD WITH ANY PLANS TO BUY THE GOLF COURSE.
UM, THE OTHER REASON I'M HERE IS TO RESPECTFULLY, UH, VOICE MY CONCERN ABOUT THE SHERIFF AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRACTS.
I KNOW THE COUNTY'S POSITION IS ABOUT THAT THEY WANT TO GO UP EVERY, ALL ONE HEALTHCARE PLAN WITH THE STATE.
HOWEVER, I RESPECTFULLY THINK THAT AFTER FIVE YEARS, UH, TWO MONTHS PLUS, UM, IT'S TIME THAT WE REALLY NEGOTIATE, SETTLE THIS AND ENABLE, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, EMPLOYEES IN THIS COUNTY TO HAVE THE CONTRACT ENFORCED.
I THINK KEEPING AND ATTRACTING GOOD LAW ENFORCEMENT IS PARAMOUNT.
UH, IT'S THE BEST WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE'S CIVIL RIGHTS ARE RESPECTED AND THAT WE ALL HAVE, UM, UH, PROTECTION AS THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT.
I THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FOR LISTENING AND WISH YOU WELL.
FRED VICTOR HINES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WICK PARK ASSOCIATION, NEWARK RESIDENT, AND ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF, UH, CLEAN WATER ACTION.
SO I'M HERE FOR, UM, THE TWO TOPICS.
UH, YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH ME COMING HERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, THE CAMPAIGN THAT, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS
[02:35:01]
RECREATION HAS AGAINST THE WWI PARK ASSOCIATION AND THE COLLUSION THAT THEY HAVE WITH THE WWI PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY TO TRY TO GET WWI PARK ASSOCIATION OUT OF THE BUILDING AND TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST US.AND ALSO THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT THAT I FILED FOR HARASSMENT THAT, UM, I RECEIVED FROM THE WEEPER PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY.
I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED THAT REPORT.
AND, UH, SO THAT SAID, I AM IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE IVY HILL RESIDENCE AGAINST THE SETON HALL PROJECT, AND THEN VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE THE P V S C GAS FIRED PLANT BECAUSE ALREADY, IF YOU CARE, YOU SAID, IF YOU ARE SINCERE RATHER ABOUT OUR CHILDREN HERE IN NEWARK, AND YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE SINCERE, ESPECIALLY AS YOU SHOWED IT TO THE GARCIA BROWNS AND THE TRAGIC DEMISE OF, UM, THEIR SON AND GRANDSON.
WHILE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR CHILDREN HERE.
OKAY? THREE OUT OF FOUR CHILDREN HERE IN NEWARK SUFFER FROM ASTHMA, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE SLOWLY DYING BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE THREE P POLLUTANTS INCINERATORS IN NEWARK, IN THE IRON BOUND, AND WE ARE AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY, OVERLY POLLUTED DRUG, D DIESEL AIRPORTS, SHIPS, ET CETERA.
YOU NAME IT, WE ARE BOMBARDED BY IT.
AND IF YOU CLAIM THAT YOU CARE AND SINCERELY YOU DO CARE, THEN YOU WILL STOP THIS P V S C PROPOSAL, OKAY? WE DO NOT NEED IT.
OKAY? AND IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR GRANDCHILDREN, THEN YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY STOP IT AND DO SOMETHING 30 SECONDS ABOUT IT.
OH, AND BY THE WAY, ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WHO HAVE PAST RESOLUTIONS AGAINST THE P V S E GAS POWER PLANT, HOBOKEN, MAPLEWOOD, UH, YOU KNOW, ET CETERA, THE JERSEY CITY.
SO IF YOU WANNA DO THE RIGHT THING, THE JUST THING, OKAY, RENEWABLES STOP.
I LIVE IN BLOOMFIELD, UM, HAVE LIVED THERE FOR 25 YEARS.
UH, I WAS AT ONE POINT THE COORDINATOR OF THE GROUP ROSELAND AGAINST THE COMPRESSOR STATION, UH, 10 YEARS AGO.
AND GOING FORWARD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, TRYING TO PREVENT THAT FROM BEING BUILT, THREATENING THE, THE, THE RESIDENTS OF THE ROSELAND EAST HANOVER AREA, UH, WITH, UH, WITH POLLUTION, UH, AND LEAKAGE FROM A, UH, GAS COMPRESSOR STATION.
UH, WE WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN PREVENTING THAT FROM BEING BUILT.
BUT, UH, THERE ARE OTHER, UH, SIMILAR EFFORTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY.
AND ONE OF THEM, OF COURSE, IS THE P V S C POWER PLANT.
UM, I, I ALSO SHOULD MENTION, I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZ.
IT'S A CLIMATE GROUP, THREE 50 NEW JERSEY ROCKLAND.
UM, WE'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE TRYING TO PREVENT THE EXPANSION OF THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY IN THE STATE.
WE NEED TO DO JUST THE OPPOSITE.
WE NEED TO STOP EXPANDING, STOP DIGGING OUR HOLE DEEPER AND DEEPER THAT WE'RE ALREADY IN WHEN IT COMES TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND TO THE POLLUTION, PARTICULARLY, UH, IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THE IRONBOUND, LIKE NEWARK, ET CETERA, THAT ARE ALREADY SO, SO BURDENED DOWN.
I WANT TO REMIND YOU WHAT ALREADY WAS SAID BY OUR PEOPLE EARLIER THIS EVENING THAT, UH, MAYOR BARAKA AND 20 STATE LEGISLATORS, UM, HAVE CALLED FOR THE P VSC BOARD TO NOT GO AHEAD AND, AND VOTE THIS PROJECT FORWARD, UH, WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING NEXT MONTH.
UM, AND I WOULD URGE YOU, I WOULD ASK YOU AS FAR AS AN ASK, ASK THAT THE, THE, UM, THE ESSEX COUNTY, UH, COMMISSIONERS, UM, UH, ISSUE A STATEMENT, UH, IN IN SOLIDARITY, IN ESSENCE WITH THE MAYOR OF, OF NEWARK AND THOSE 20 STATE LEGISLATORS AND ALL OF THE OTHER GROUPS, AND PARTICULARLY THE GROUPS OF THE IRON BOUND OF FORCE THAT ARE MOST IN DANGER FROM THIS.
UM, PLEASE, PLEASE ISSUE A STATEMENT AND PLEASE DO IT AS SOON AS YOU CAN, BECAUSE TIME LOOKS TO BE OF THE, OF THE ESSENCE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A, A PUSH ON TO HAVE THIS VOTE BY THE PBSC BOARD VERY SOON.
SO IT URGE YOU, UM, TO MOVE AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN ON THIS.
[02:40:10]
MY NAME IS, IS THIS ON? YOU'RE GOOD.MY NAME IS JANE CALIFF, AND I ALSO LIVE IN BLOOMFIELD.
AND I AM THE CHAIR OF THE BLOOMFIELD CITIZENS SOLAR CAMPAIGN.
AND FOR, UH, WE ARE ALL AGAINST THIS P V S C POWER PLANT FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT YOU'VE HEARD.
AND I WILL NOT REPEAT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT THE 25% OF THE CHILDREN OF NEWARK ARE 30 TIMES HOSPITAL, 30 TIMES MORE HOSPITALIZED THAN CHILDREN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
AND THAT'S, AND OF COURSE, AIR DOESN'T JUST STAY IN NEWARK.
IT FLOATS ALL AROUND AND ADDS TO THE POLLUTION IN OUR STATE, WHICH IN UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE ONE OF THE MOST POLLUTED STATES IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER FRACK GAS POWER PLANT.
AND I WANT TO JUST QUICKLY MAKE A COMPARISON WITH A FIGHT IN ROSELAND THAT BEGAN IN 2013 THAT I WAS PART OF WHERE, UH, WILLIAM TRANSCO COMPANY SNEAKED, SNUCK AROUND AND GOT ALL THE PERMITS AND NOBODY KNEW THEY WERE DOING THIS.
AND NOBODY KNEW WHAT A EVEN WHAT A COMPRESSOR STATION WAS.
SO WE ORGANIZED, UH, BUT THEY GOT THEIR PERMITS SECRETLY.
SO WHAT COULD WE DO? SO THEN A FEW YEARS LATER, THEY WANNA EXPAND THIS COMPRESSOR STATION, AND, UH, AT THAT POINT, POLITICIANS GOT INVOLVED COM MORE COMMUNITY PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED BECAUSE ROSELAND AGAINST THE COMPRESSOR STATION WAS VERY ACTIVE IN PUBLICIZING THIS INJUSTICE.
AND SO, UH, JO JO D OR COUNTY EXECUTIVE HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE, AND I WAS THERE.
AND ALL THESE PEOPLE, ENVIRONMENTALIST COMMUNITY PEOPLE, POLITICIANS, SAID THAT IT WAS A BAD IDEA TO EXPAND, BUT BECAUSE IT GOT OFF ON A, ON A SECRET PLAN THAT NO ONE KNEW ABOUT, AND IT WAS ALREADY BUILT, WE FAILED.
BUT IN THIS CASE, YOU'VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS AND EVERYBODY'S KNOWN ABOUT THIS, WHO LIVES IN NEWARK AND IS CONCERNED WITH THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THIS FIGHT AGAINST THE P VSC GAS PLANT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS.
SO IT ISN'T A SECRET, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT IT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA.
AND SO WE REALLY HOPE THAT YOU WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.
SUPPORT THE TOWNS OF THE PAST RESOLUTIONS AGAINST THIS.
WE WOULD NEED A CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE, NOT A POLLUTED ONE.
AND JUST TO REMIND YOU, ROSELAND HAS ONE POWER PLANT, ONE COMPRESSOR STATION, NO POWER PLANT, AND THAT'S IT.
AND EVERYBODY, WE WERE TRYING TO STOP THAT.
THIS IS LIKE A COMMUNITY IN NEWARK THAT'S TOTALLY POLLUTED AS IT IS RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN THEY WANNA PUT ANOTHER, UH, IT'S JUST AWFUL TO THINK ABOUT ANOTHER, UH, POLLUTING SOURCE THERE.
SO PLEASE DO THE, THE RIGHT THING.
MY NAME IS FATHER DAVID STUMP.
I'M A CATHOLIC PRIEST, THE JESUIT, UH, FOR 18 YEARS I TAUGHT PHYSICS, MATH, AND COMPUTER SCIENCE AT ST.
AND THEN FOR 20 POINT MORE, I WORKED AT ST.
UM, I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO USE YOUR AUTHORITY, YOUR INFLUENCE TO URGE THE PATHETIC VALLEY SEWAGE COMMISSION TO GIVE UP THE CRAZY IDEA OF BUILDING A NEW GUEST CARD GAS FIRED ELECTRIC PLANT IN THE MEADOWLANDS.
UM, ACTUALLY TWO YEARS AGO, I WAS TRANSFERRED FROM, UH, ST.
PETER'S TO FORDHAM UNIVERSITY IN THE BRONX.
UH, BUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE PROBLEMS THAT VARIOUS GROUPS WORKED ON ARE UNIVERSAL.
AND I BECAME ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERAL OF THOSE GROUPS DURING MY TIME HERE.
UH, TODAY WE'RE LOOKING AT LAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE LOOKED AT A GREAT INCREASE IN SNOWFALLS AND FOREST FIRES, UH, IN FLOODS AND DROUGHTS, IN RISING SEA LEVELS.
THE SCIENTISTS PREDICTED THIS 35 YEARS AGO, THEY TOLD US THAT WE CONTINUED TO BURN SO MUCH POSSIBLE FUELS.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN INSTEAD OF PAYING ATTENTION TO THEM, THE, UH, PETROLEUM INDUSTRY FOUNDED A HUGE DENIAL MOVEMENT.
AND NOW IT'S AUR, IT'S AN URGENT PROBLEM.
UM, THAT PLANT DOES NOT NEED TO BE BUILT AS A GAS FIRED PLANT.
UH, THE DEVELOPMENTS IN RENEWABLE
[02:45:01]
ENERGY WITH LINDON SOLAR RECENT YEARS HAVE MADE IT ACTUALLY PROBABLY JUST AS MAYBE EVEN LESS EXPENSIVE TO BUILD THAT PLANT AND MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE TO RUN IT SINCE YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY FUEL OR A SOLAR PANEL.UM, SO AS I SAY, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO USE YOUR AUTHORITY TO URGE THE COMMISSION, THE SAFE VALLEY SEWAGE COMMISSION TO GIVE UP THIS CRAZY IDEA WHY THEY ARE STILL DOING IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE, UH, TOO TIMID TO GO TO SOMETHING NEW OR BECAUSE THEY HAVE INVESTED IN THE, UH, OIL INDUSTRY, BUT WHATEVER IT IS, IT SHOULD BE STOPPED.
I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY A LATE NIGHT FOR A LOT OF US, AND I IMAGINE THIS ISN'T AS PACKED AS IT IS TODAY, USUALLY.
UM, I'M A LIFELONG NEWARK RESIDENT, UM, AND WE'VE HEARD NOT JUST FROM NEWARK RESIDENTS TONIGHT, BUT FROM PEOPLE THROUGHOUT ALL DIFFERENT, NOT JUST ESSEX COUNTY, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THROUGHOUT ALL OF OF NEW JERSEY, UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT YOUR DECISION ULTIMATELY TO OPPOSE THE PSE VALUE SEWAGE COMMISSION'S PROPOSAL FOR A FOURTH POWER PLANT IN NEWARK.
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT A LOT OF YOU HAVE WORKED VERY LONG IN THIS CITY, IN THIS COUNTY, UM, IN SERVICE OF THE PUBLIC.
AND SO WE ARE ASKING, IT SOUNDS LIKE COLLECTIVELY FOR YOUR SUPPORT, UH, WE HAVE OVER 20 NEWARK LEGISLATORS, INCLUDING MAYOR ROS BARAKA, WHO HAS SIGNED OFF ON A LETTER OPPOSING THE PASSAIC VALLEY SEWAGE COMMISSION.
THE NEWS ABOUT THIS POWER PLAN AND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN FOR OUR OVERBURDENED COMMUNITY, UH, MAJORITY LOW WEALTH, BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY, UM, IS GOING NATIONAL.
IT'S BEEN PICKED UP BY NPR, IT'S BEEN PICKED UP BY FOX EVEN.
IT'S BEEN PICKED UP BY MANY NEW, UH, MANY OUTLETS.
UM, THERE'S PLENTY OF PLACES TO GET A BACKUP IN THIS SUPPORT IF THIS WAS A PUBLIC OPPOSITION.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAD THE EJ LAW, THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LAW, SIGNED IN 2020.
UM, AND WHAT IT SAYS IS VERY SIMPLE, WHICH I DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN, BUT I WILL ADJUST CUZ I HAVE THE TIME TO.
IT JUST SAYS THAT THE D E P HAS THE POWER TO STOP ANY INCOMING FACILITIES THAT WOULD CAUSE FURTHER HARM TO COMMUNITIES LIKE NEWARK, LIKE OURS, LIKE ALL THE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT ESSEX COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT NEWARK, I'M SORRY, AND THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY.
UM, AND SO WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT, THOSE RULES TO BE RELEASED, BUT WE DON'T WANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO BE COMPROMISED WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR IT TO BE RELEASED.
THE PAE VALLEY STORAGE COMMISSION, LIKE YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT, THERE ARE PLENTY OF REASONS WHY IT'S BEEN GIVEN THIS MONEY OVER 11 YEARS AGO, BUT WE'VE ALREADY PUT IN THE WORK, THE TIME, THE INVESTMENT, UH, TO CREATE THAT FLOOD RESILIENCY.
AND SO WE ACTUALLY DON'T NEED IT, AND IT WOULD BE CAUSING NOT JUST THE HIGHEST RATE OF ASTHMA IN OUR ENTIRE STATE.
UM, BUT MY BACKGROUND IS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE.
IT CAUSES, UM, ISSUES WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO BECOME PREGNANT, MAINTAIN A HEALTHY PREGNANCY, AND THESE ARE, UM, ON TOP OF THE RATES OF CANCER, DIABETES, CARDIOVASCULAR ISSUES THAT ARE VERY HIGH WITHIN COMMUNITIES THAT LOOK JUST LIKE OURS.
AND SO, UM, WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT IF IT MEANS A LETTER, IF IT MEANS A RESOLUTION.
AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UH, I'M GOING TO BE REDUNDANT, BUT I AM A TEACHER AND I'VE BEEN TOLD REDUNDANCY PAYS OFF.
PEOPLE REALLY HEAR REDUNDANCE.
I AM PROUD TO SAY OUR CITY COUNCIL VOTED AGAINST THE PASSAIC VALLEY SEWAGE COMMISSION'S PROPOSED FRANTIC GAS POWER PLANT.
I AM HERE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE RESIDENTS OF IRONBOUND TONIGHT AS A MOTHER OF TWO SONS, AND AS I MENTIONED, A FORMER ELEMENTARY ART TEACHER.
AND NOW AS AN ART TEACHER OF SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE HOMELESS, I IMPLORE YOU TO THINK OF YOUR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN.
THEN I BEG YOU TO THINK OF THE THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS OF THE IRONBOUND, GREATER NEWARK, THE ORANGES, IRVINGTON, JERSEY CITY, SECAUCUS, BAYONE, ELIZABETH.
AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, LARGE AND SMALL IN ESSEX AND HUDSON COUNTIES.
IF THIS FOURTH DIRTY POWER PLANT GETS BUILT IN THE ALREADY HEAVILY POLLUTED SECTION OF IRONBOUND AND THE ALREADY OVER POLLUTED CANCER CORRIDOR OF NEW JERSEY WHERE WE ALL RESIDE, THE THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT I'VE JUST LISTED FOR YOU, INCLUDING
[02:50:01]
YOUR OWN FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, WILL BE AT ACC CU CU RISK OF HUGE AMOUNTS OF CARCINOGENS CAUSED BY THE AIR POLLUTION EMITTED FROM THIS PLANT AND THE OTHER INDUSTRIAL POLLUTERS HERE IN NEWARK.THIS PLANT'S EMISSIONS ADDED TO THE POLLUTION ALREADY SICKENING OUR RESIDENTS TODAY MAKES IT POTENTIALLY LETHAL TO THE FOLKS OF THE IRON BAND AND EVENTUALLY BEYOND EVEN TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
A RECENT REPORT PUBLISHED ON MONDAY, MARCH 6TH IN THE WASHINGTON POST, STATED THAT 7 MILLION PEOPLE DIE FROM THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF POLLUTION EVERY YEAR.
UNPLEASANT DEATHS, I MIGHT ADD CANCERS, 30 SECONDS, HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, LUNG DISEASE, ET CETERA.
AND I HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED TALKING ABOUT OUR CLIMATE CRISIS, UNFORTUNATELY, I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SAVE LIVES.
I IMPLORE YOU TO STAND WITH OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE STATE AND URGE P V S C TO STOP THEIR AIR PERMIT, TURN AWAY THE TURBINES THAT THEY'VE ORDERED AND NOT BUILD THIS FRACK GAS POWER PLANT.
THERE ARE CLEAN GREEN ALTERNATIVES.
MY NAME IS SAM DEFALCO AND I'M AN ORGANIZER WITH THE GROUP FOOD AND WATER WATCH.
UM, SPEAKING TONIGHT, UM, REPRESENTING OUR 18,000 MEMBERS HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UM, I'M ALSO HERE TO ASK THE COMMISSIONERS TO, UM, JOIN US IN SUPPORT, UM, IN OPPOSING, UH, SEIC VALLEY SEWAGE COMMISSION'S, UH, GAS POWER PLANT PROPOSED IN THE IRONBOUND.
UM, AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA WIND UP BEING REDUNDANT WITH THINGS YOU'VE HEARD ALREADY TONIGHT, BUT THIS WOULD BE THE FOURTH GAS POWER PLANT IN THE IRONBOUND, WHICH IS ALREADY HOME.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU KNOW, TO DOZENS OF OTHER TOXIC AND POLLUTING FACILITIES.
PBSC, UM, YOU KNOW, IS PROPOSING TO BUILD THIS PROJECT.
AND THEY'RE SAYING IT WILL BE ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES.
AND, UM, EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNOR HAS COME OUT AND SAID, ESSENTIALLY IMPLIED THAT THE PROJECT'S THE DONE DEAL, AND IT'S ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES, BUT UM, ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES ALSO MEANS IT WOULD BE RUN MONTHLY IF NOT MORE FOR TESTING.
UM, WHEN FACILITIES LIKE THIS START UP, THEY'VE RELEASED HUGE AMOUNTS OF TOXIC CHEMICALS.
UM, AND P V S C AS THE BIGGEST, UM, OR ONE OF THE BIGGEST, UM, UH, USERS OF ELECTRICITY HERE IN NEW JERSEY HAS EVERY INCENTIVE TO RUN THE GAS PLANT ALL THE TIME TO SET OFFSET THEIR POWER NEEDS.
AND UNDER A DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATION, THEY COULD ADJUST THEIR PERMITS TO, UH, REAPPLY FOR PERMITS SO THAT THEY COULD DO SO.
AND WE'RE SEEING A REALLY DANGEROUS, UM, TREND ACROSS INDUSTRIES, UM, LIKE PBSC AND OTHER, OTHER POLLUTERS WHERE THEY'RE SAYING, WE'RE GONNA MAKE OUR PROJECTS GREEN BY USING THINGS LIKE RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS, OR WE'RE GONNA BURN HYDROGEN WITH MIX HYDROGEN WITH NATURAL GAS, UM, OR WE'RE GONNA USE BIOGAS.
AND THESE ARE UNPROVEN TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE JUST AS DANGEROUS AND JUST AS POLLUTING TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES AS USING FOSSIL FUELS.
UM, YOU KNOW, BURNING SOMETHING LIKE BIOGAS IS EVEN MORE DIRTY.
BIOGAS IS GAS THAT COULD BE MADE FROM SEWAGE OR FROM, UM, COMPOST HUMAN WASTE, UM, JUST AS DIRTY IF NOT DIRTIER THAN, AND THEN BURNING, UM, METHANE GAS.
UM, EARLIER THIS WEEK, UM, NEW JERSEY TRANSIT, WHICH IS PROPOSING A SIMILAR GAS PLANT TO THIS ONE.
UM, THE EMPOWER NEW JERSEY COALITION RELEASED AN EXPERT STUDY THAT SHOWS THAT IT'S ACTUALLY TECHNOLOGICAL 30 SECONDS FEASIBLE AND MORE ECONOMICAL TO, UM, BUILD BACKUP SOURCES OF POWER WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY AND BATTERY STORAGE, UM, THROUGH A HYBRID MICROGRID.
AND SO THERE ARE SOLUTIONS OUT THERE TO PBS C'S NEEDS THAT WON'T CONTINUE, UM, TO DUMP ON, UH, NEWARK AND IRONBOUND RESIDENTS.
HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS CHRIS NOEL.
UM, I'M A HIGH SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE TEACHER IN DOVER, NEW JERSEY, BUT I'M ACTUALLY QUITTING AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO JOIN, UH, THE FIGHT AGAINST THESE PROPOSED FOSSIL FUEL PROJECTS FULL-TIME AROUND AROUND NEW JERSEY.
SO, UM, A AS I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW, NEWARK'S IRONBOUND QUALIFIES AS AN OVERBURDENED COMMUNITY UNDER NEW JERSEY'S ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LAW BASED ON THE HIGH PERCENTAGE OF LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS AND MAJORITY PEOPLE OF COLOR.
UM, THE EJ LAW IDENTIFIES 26 ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH
[02:55:01]
STRESSORS, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE CAR AND TRUCK TRAFFIC, KNOWN CONTAMINATED SITES, SOLID WASTE FACILITIES, LACK OF TREE CANOPY, AND GROUND LEVEL OZONE.UM, HERE'S A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT OZONE THAT MY STUDENTS ARE LEARNING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, UH, THAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT ALREADY KNOW.
SO IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE, STRATOSPHERIC OZONE PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST THE SUN'S RAIDS.
IN CONTRAST, TROPOSPHERIC OZONE AT GROUND LEVEL IS HARMFUL TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
OZONE IS GOOD UP HIGH, BUT BAD NEARBY BECAUSE GROUND LEVEL OZONE CAN IRRITATE THE ENTIRE RESPIRATORY TRACT.
REPEATED EXPOSURE TO OZONE POLLUTION MAY CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE LUNGS, EVEN AT LOW LEVELS, AND ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH PREEXISTING RESPIRATORY AILMENTS AND CHILDREN.
THESE ADDITIONAL IMPACTS ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNING IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AREAS THAT ALREADY EXPERIENCE A HIGHER THAN AVERAGE SHARE OF OZONE.
GROUND LEVEL OZONE FORMS WHEN VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS, VOCS AND NITROGEN OXIDE KNOCKS REACT IN THE PRESENCE OF SUNLIGHT ACCORDING TO THEIR AIR PERMIT APPLICATION.
PBS C'S THREE COMBUSTION TURBINE GENERATORS COULD, COULD EMIT UP TO 1.96 TONS OF NOS PER YEAR.
AND 1.7, 1.27 TONS OF VOCS PER YEAR.
ON TOP OF THE 17 TONS OF NOS PER YEAR, AND AROUND 13 TONS OF VOCS PER YEAR, UH, P PBSC ALREADY EMIT EMITS, WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT A 10% INCREASE, UH, FOR THEIR FACILITIES, UH, FROM FROM THEIR FACILITIES.
UM, I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE EJ LAW CONSIDERS 26 ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH STRESSORS ACCORDING TO THE EJ MAP TOOL ON THE D DP WEBSITE.
UH, FOR NEWARK CENSUS BLOCKS AROUND PBSC FROM 20 TO 24 OF THOSE, OF THE 26 STRESSORS ARE ADVERSE.
THAT'S 20 TO 24 OF THE 26 STRESSORS ARE ALREADY OF ADVERSE GROUND LEVEL OZONE BEING ONE IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.
FOR THE GEOGRAPHIC POINT OF COMPARISON, WHICH IS THE STATE, THAT NUMBER IS ONLY 13 ACCORDING TO THE EJ MAP TECHNICAL GUIDANCE DOCUMENT, 30 SECONDS.
IF AN OVERBURDENED COMMUNITY BLOCK GROUP COMBINED STRESSOR TOTAL VALUE IS HIGHER THAN THE GEOGRAPHIC UNIT OF ANALYSIS, THAT OVERBURDEN COMMUNITY IS SUBJECT TO ADVERSE COM CUMULATIVE STRESSORS.
UM, AND SO PBSC HAS NOT COMPLETED THE CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ANALYSIS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED UNDER THE EJ LAW, AND THEY HAVE NEVER FULLY EVALUATED THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE HYBRID MICROGRID.
UM, THEY OPPOSE THIS PROBLEM AS KIND OF A ZERO SUM SITUATION.
EITHER THE NEW, THE PEOPLE OF NEWARK GET RAW SEWAGE IN THEIR STREETS OR AND HOMES, OR THEY GET MORE AIR POLLUTION TIME'S UP.
IT IS NOT A ZEROS SUM SITUATION.
SO PLEASE TELL P V S C THAT THEY MUST CANCEL THE CURRENTLY PROPOSED GAS POWER PLANT AND PRIOR PRIORITIZE RENEWABLE ENERGY.
THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR LAST SPEAKER, UH, SID MADISON, UH, FROM MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
AND I WAITED TILL THE LAST BECAUSE I'M A VISITOR.
UH, I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE WORLD'S CLIMATE NEEDS.
AND I'M ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT THREE ACTIONS AGAINST THE FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE WORLD THAT'S MAKING OUR PROBLEMS EVEN WORSE.
UH, OVER 30 YEARS AGO, CLIMATE SCIENTISTS SAID WE HAVE TO STOP USING THE FOSSIL FUELS THAT WE'RE USING THE LAST 30 YEARS.
THE USE HAS INCREASED BY 50%, CAUSING ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU'VE HEARD DISCUSSED TONIGHT.
UH, ALSO NEW JERSEY HAS A GOAL OF REDUCING EMISSIONS BY 50% BY 2030.
IF WE BUILD MORE FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED.
I ASK YOU TO TAKE THREE ACTIONS.
ONE, SUPPORT A RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTION FOR NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.
ON MONDAY, THERE WAS ANNOUNCED A SOLUTION THAT'S BETTER, WAY BETTER THAN A GAS POWERED PLANT.
THE SECOND REQUEST, STOP THE GAS, UH, POWERED SOLUTION FOR P V S, FOR AS EVERYBODY ELSE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
THIRDLY, ASK GOVERNOR MURPHY TO ENACT AM IMMEDIATE, IMMEDIATELY ENACT A MORATORIUM ON ALL FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE IN NEW JERSEY IN MAY OF 2021, THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY RECOMMENDED THAT GOVERNMENTS TAKE ACTIONS BECAUSE THE FOSSIL FUEL INFRAS, THE FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES ARE JUST OVERRIDING ALL COMMON SENSE IN TERMS OF CLIMATE.
AND I ASK YOU, WILL YOU SUPPORT ALL THESE THREE ACTIONS? THANK YOU.
THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS
[03:00:01]
TIME.I'M GONNA CLOSE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT, SESSION AND COMMISSION.
ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY, ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? COMMISSIONER MECADO? YES, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, UM, THE EAST WARD IS, UM, IT'S PART OF MY DISTRICT AND, AND I REPRESENT DISTRICT ONE.
AND I JUST WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD TODAY THAT I OPPOSED, UH, PBS'S, UH, UH, PROPOSAL AND AS WELL AS I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO SO FOR THE SAME.
AND I WILL PROBABLY, UM, I WILL SUBMIT A RESOLUTION FOR NEXT MEETINGS TO SUPPORT, UM, THAT AS WELL.
SO COMMISSIONER SIBEL, I AGREE WITH THE COMMISSIONER AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING PART OF THIS TO COMMISSIONERS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
SO THERE WILL BE A RESOLUTION SPONSORED BY COMMISSIONER MECADO AND YEAH, AND IT'S OKAY WITH THE COMMISSION.
YEAH, AND, AND WE'LL, WE'LL PULL THE BOARD AND SEE, UH, WHO ELSE WANTS TO SIGN ON, UH, TO IT.
BUT YEAH, YOU CAN ALSO ADD MY NAME AS WELL, PRESIDENT.
UM, RICHARDSON, YOU CAN ADD MY NAME ALSO, VICE PRESIDENT.
WELL, I JUST WANTED TO THANK, UH, I HAD SOME EVEN MEMBERS FROM MY HOMETOWN TO COME HERE AND CALL ON THIS.
AND WE EVEN HAD A SURPRISE GUEST BY, UH, ONE OF OUR OLD TEACHERS WHO I DON'T THINK REALIZES, HE MAY HAVE TAUGHT A COUPLE OF US HERE, ST.
UM, THE CONMAN, I'D BE, UH, HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS.
UM, BACK IN BLOOMFIELD YEARS AGO, ALONG WITH COUNCILMAN JOANNA, WE ESTABLISHED THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
UH, AND WE THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THESE THINGS.
SO, UH, THERE IS A VERY DIFFICULT WAY TO BALANCE, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS ARE AND, AND THE POWER GRID, BECAUSE OF COURSE IT IS OUTDATED.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT THEY, WE NEED TO CONSIDER SOME OTHER, UH, ALTERNATIVES.
ALBEIT I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS FOR ALL OF THE ALTERNATIVES, BUT I THINK IF WE DO A DUE DILIGENCE AND PERHAPS WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME ILLUSION SOLUTIONS THAT DON'T COMPROMISE OUR HEALTH BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY LIVING IN SUCH A DENSE, DENSELY POPULATED STATE IN THE CAPITAL OF THE UNIVERSE OF NEW YORK CITY AND LIVING IN THAT METROPOLIS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXPOSED TO A LOT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO SEE, UH, SOME KIND OF, UH, RESOLUTION WHERE WE CAN IMPROVE OUR, OUR, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, BUT NOT AT THE COST OF OUR HEALTH.
I KNOW I HAVE THREE KIDS AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, I DON'T, I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA SEE MY KID LONG TERM HEALTH OR A MINOR AND ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES IMPACTED.
SO THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.
THANK, THANK YOU, UH, VICE PRESIDENT FOR MORRIS AND, UM, FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER MECADO FOR, UH, WANTING TO SPONSOR THIS RESOLUTION.
AND WE GOT FIVE VOTES RIGHT HERE, SO WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
AND WE'LL POLL THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS, SEE IF WE CAN MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
SO NOW I NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN, SO MOVE.