[00:00:07]
MAYBE I SENT THE WRONG PERSON IN THERE TO GET, OH YEAH, THAT'S, THEY'RE ABSENT TODAY.
YOU HAVE A QUICK, OH, ARE WE READY NOW? AS SOON AS.
JEFF, GIVE ME THUMBS UP WHEN WE'RE READY ING.
THIS MEETING OF ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS HEREBY CALL TO ORDER.
EXCUSE ME FOR A MOMENT, MR. PRESIDENT, OR MAYBE NOT THAT ECHO.
THIS MEETING OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS HEREBY CALL TO ORDER.
THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED IN ADDITION TO TAKING PLACE IN PERSON.
MADAM CLERK, COMMISSIONER COOPER, ABSENT, UH, COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT HAMARA.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE SUBARU OF THE FLAG AND REMAIN STANDING FOR US.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE, UH, COMMISSIONER CCAO LEAD US IN THE, UH, SALUTE MY PLEDGE LEAD YOU TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH THE LIBERTY, JUSTICE.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR ALL THE SENSELESS MASS MURDERS AND SENSELESS KILLINGS THAT ARE GOING ON DUE TO GUN VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTRY.
I HAVE BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FROM THE CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
MADAM CLERK, ARE THERE ANY TRANSCRIPTS TO BE APPROVED? UH, NO.
MR. PRESIDENT MADAM CLERK, ARE ANY TOPICS OF DISCUSSION? I UNKNOWN MR. PRESIDENT IN THAT CASE, LET'S MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
TONIGHT'S MEETING IS A COMBINED CONFERENCE SLASH BOARD MEETING, AND WE WILL VOTE ON EVERY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THERE WILL BE TIME LATER IN THE MEETING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OTHER ITEMS. SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE CLIMATE GROUP THREE 50 NEW JERSEY ROCKLAND, AND I'M WORKING WITH A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS, A NUMBER OF US WHO SPOKE HERE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO ABOUT THE, UM, PROJECTED PBSC, UH, FRACK GAS POWER PLANT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO, UH, THANK, UH, THE COMMISSIONERS FOR NUMBER 40, RESOLUTION 40 OPPOSING PBS C'S PROPOSED GAS BURNING POWER PLANT, AND SUPPORTING THE USE OF A RENEWABLE ENERGY BASED HYBRID
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MICROGRID FOR PBSC TO ACHIEVE ITS RESILIENCY GOALS SPONSORED BY ACCLIMATION.UM, I'M ASSUMING IT'S KIND OF A DONE DEAL, IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.
WE TOLD YOU WE WOULD AND, AND YOU DID.
COMMISSIONER MECADO IS THE ONE WHO PUT FORTH THE MOTION AND WE TOLD YOU THAT WE WOULD HAVE A RESOLUTION FOR YOU.
UH, FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU.
OH, MY NAME IS WINNER FED VICTOR HINES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WEEK, WEEK PARK ASSOCIATION.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR PASSING THE RESOLUTION AGAINST THE P VC P V S C POWER PLANT.
AND UM, THE SECOND ITEM THAT I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ABOUT IS NUMBER 21, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS CONTRACT WITH WE BRICK PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY.
SO, UM, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS LIKE HOW SPECIFIC IS THE BID THAT IS SERVICES PROVIDED? SO, SO LET ME IF I MAY, THAT ITEM HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
IT'S NOT EVEN, IT IS NOT UP FOR A VOTE OR ANYTHING TONIGHT.
OH, WAS A REASON GIVEN THE ADMINISTRATION WITHDREW IT.
I'M A RESIDENT OF HOBOKEN AND AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THE HOBOKEN DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE AND A MEMBER OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION.
DON'T GUESS THE MEADOWLANDS, I'M HAPPY TO SAY I WAS HERE A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN WE WERE OVERJOYED TO HEAR SEVERAL OF YOU SAY THAT A RESOLUTION AGAINST THE P B S C POWER PLANT CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE ON YOUR AGENDA.
I AM EVEN MORE THRILLED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO HEAR THAT YOU WILL PASS THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THE MORAL COURAGE TO SAY NO TO POLLUTING THE LUNGS AND BODIES OF MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE IN THIS ARE READY HEAVILY POLLUTED NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU CAN HOLD YOUR HEADS HIGH BECAUSE WITH THIS ONE SIMPLE VOTE, YOU ARE SENDING A LOUD AND CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF P V S C THAT THE PEOPLE OF ESSEX COUNTY WILL NOT TOLERATE BEING DUMPED ON AGAIN.
THEIR LIVES, THEIR VERY EXISTENCE IS THREATENED BY THIS PROPOSED METHANE SPEWING PLANT.
THANK YOU FOR WORKING TO SAVE LIVES AND SHOW SLOW THE PROCESS OF THE LARGER EXISTENTIAL PROBLEM OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
I'M THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO ADD YOU ALL TO MY LIST OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO DEFEND THE ENVIRONMENTALLY OPPRESSED IN NEWARK AND ALL OF ESSEX AND HUS HUDSON COUNTIES AND NEW JERSEY BY THIS ONE ACT.
YOU ARE A BETTER PARENT, FAMILY MEMBER, FRIEND, COLLEAGUE, NEIGHBOR, AND STEWARD OF THE EARTH.
I PRAY THAT GOVERNOR MURPHY AND THE DECISION MAKERS AT P V S C WILL HEAR YOUR VOTE AND PUT A STOP TO THIS PLANT RIGHT NOW.
MY NAME IS DAVID WEINER, PRESIDENT OF LOCAL TEN ONE COMMUNICATION WORKS OF AMERICA, REPRESENTING THE 625 NON-SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES OF THE ESSIS COUNTY DIVISION OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS KNOWN AS DFA.
ALSO USED TO BE DIVISIONAL WELFARE.
I RISE THIS EVENING TO OPINE UPON RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO, WHICH CALLS FOR THE INSERTION WITHIN THE COUNTY'S BUDGET OF REVENUE IN THE AMOUNT OF 674,000 OH FIVE THREE POINT 70 CENTS IN SNAP, WHICH IS FOOD STAMP AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, OR ARPA MONIES FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH THE NEW JERSEY DIVISION OF FAMILY AND DEVELOPMENT, TWO DFA TO FUND
[00:10:01]
OVERTIME FOR SELECTED EMPLOYEES OF DFA TO COMPLETE APPROXIMATELY 30,000 OVERDUE CASES, SNAP CASES PRIMARILY, WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN UNDUE STRESS OF PLACED UPON CLIENTS AWAITING THEIR BENEFITS FOR MANY MONTHS IN WHICH TO WHICH THEY ARE LEGALLY ENTITLED AND ALSO THE EXPRESSED UPON THE WORKERS.THE FIRST EXHIBIT, I'LL BE PROVIDING THESE, UH, I HAVE IT IN THE BACK, I'LL GIVE 'EM TO THE, TO THE CLERK.
UM, THE FIRST EXHIBIT OUR UNION PROVIDE YOU IS A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION.
THE SECOND EXHIBIT CONSISTS OF A LETTER OF MARCH 21ST.
OUR UNION WROTE AN EMAIL COMMISSIONER ROMAINE GRAHAM, IN WHICH WE RESPECTFULLY TOOK EXCEPTION WITH DFA DIRECTOR VALENTINA RICHARDSON GREEN'S TESTIMONY BEFORE THE WELFARE WORKFORCE NEW JERSEY MARCH 14TH MEETING, WHICH WE ARE THANK YOU FOR HOLDING AGAIN, MR. PRESIDENT.
OUR DIRECTOR ASSERTED THAT OUR AGENCY HAS 15,000 OVERDUE WHEN IN FACT THE TOTAL IS DOUBLED THAT AMOUNT TO THE, TO THE TUNE OF SOME 30,000 AND GROWING PRINTED VERSUS NON PRINTED OVERDUE CASES IS IMMATERIAL AS THEY ARE STILL OVERDUE.
CLIENT'S CASES, CLIENTS GOING BACK TO OCTOBER, THEY'RE STILL WAITING FOR THEIR BENEFITS.
THE THIRD EXHIBIT CONSISTS OF THE R LETTER WRITTEN TO DIRECTOR RICHARDSON BY THE DIVISION OF FAMILY DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCING THE STATE AWARDING THE ABOVE MENTIONED $675,000 IN APER MONIES TO FUND SOLELY SNAP APPLICATIONS CERTIFICATIONS.
THAT'S FOOD STAMP AND RE-CERTIFICATION COSTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 30.
THAT MONEY IS BEING SPENT UPON PROGRAMS OTHER THAN SNAP RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS CONTRARY TO THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT THAT THE STATE SENT TO DFA AND MS. RICHARDSON GREEN.
AND FINALLY, THE FOURTH EXHIBIT CONSISTS OF THE STEP TWO CLASS ACTION GRIEVANCE OF MARCH 21ST, 23.
I WROTE MS. RICHARDSON GREEN ENTITLED NON DAB EMPLOYEES PURPORTEDLY PAID OVERTIME IN 2022.
WE KNOW THAT AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS OF THE D E D T E, WHICH IS IN THE SAME DEPARTMENT OF DIFFERENT VISION DIVISION RECEIVED OVERTIME THAN THEY SHOULD NOT PRESENTLY.
THE OVERTIME BEING AFFORDED DAB ADMINISTRATION IS BEING AFFORDED TO ANALYSTS AND MANAGERS WHO DO NOT DO THE WORK DIRECTLY.
WE NEED WORKERS AND CLERKS TO DO THE WORK IF WE DON'T GET THIS CLEANED UP.
IT'S A LITTLE DISCONCERTING, BUT IF WE DON'T GET THIS CLEANED UP, THESE CLIENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE CL UH, WITHOUT THE BENEFITS TO WHICH ARE ENTITLED AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO EXPRESS THEIR ANGER OFTEN THROUGH DI ANGER, THROUGH VIOLENCE DIRECTED TOWARDS OUR MEMBERS.
AS IS OUR PRACTICE, ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASK WILL BE ANSWERED IN WRITING.
JIM CHOI VICE PRESIDENT F O P 1 0 6, REPRESENTING THE SWORN SUPERVISORY AND INVESTIGATIVE STAFF IN THE ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
SPEAKING OF RESOLUTION 16, RETENTION OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO MONITORING VARIOUS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AT THE JAIL.
I BELIEVE IT'S PARAGRAPH THREE OF THE RESOLUTION USES THE WORDS THAT NO WORK WILL BEGIN WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL OF THIS BOARD.
SO WE SHOULD ALL THEN TAKE IT THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO BILLABLES PRIOR TO TONIGHT.
OR HAVE WE ALREADY EXCEEDED $10,000 TO THE JAN TAMASI LAW FIRM FOR JAIL RELATED ISSUES.
FORMER COUNTY COUNCIL GAS JOINS THE JAN TAMASI LAW FIRM, AND NOW THAT FIRM IS RETAINED UNDER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO DO COUNTY COUNCIL'S JOB.
DO WE HAVE THAT RIGHT? SO HERE'S A POLICY FOR THEM TO MONITOR.
REMEMBER THOSE UNLAWFUL HIRES THAT WE DISCUSSED LAST MAY AND JUNE? ONE OF THEM WAS HIRED WITH A FELONY RECORD AND HAD ALREADY BEEN DENIED EMPLOYMENT AT THE YOUTH HOUSE.
SO ONE HAS TO WONDER HOW THEY GOT HIRED AT THE JAIL RESOLUTION.
17 EXTENSION OF A GRANT THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN THE REED BASED ON THE LEAP PROGRAM FROM NEW JERSEY'S GRANT, THE LEAP PROGRAM ITSELF APPEARS TO BE A K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS GRANT.
SO HOW IT'S BEING APPLIED TO A $431,000 CAPITAL PROJECT AT THE ESSEX COUNTY JAIL IS A LITTLE BEYOND ME, PARTICULARLY SINCE ALL OF THE GRANT DOCUMENTS ARE SIGNED BY A LIEUTENANT, NOT BY AN ADMINISTRATOR.
SPEAKING OF THE RESOLUTION, 38, THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING ONLINE OR DOWNLOAD WITHOUT HAVING TO LOG IN OPERATIONAL REVIEW SERVICES OF THE JAIL BY THE AMBROSE GROUP FOR JUST UNDER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS F O P 1 0 6.
AND I PERSONALLY HOLD ANTHONY AMBROSE AND HIS GROUP IN HIGH REGARD.
HIS PRIOR REPORT WAS RELATIVELY BALANCED.
HOWEVER, KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THAT REPORT WERE IGNORED OR THE EXACT OPPOSITE WAS DONE.
AS AN EXAMPLE, IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022 WHEN HIS REPORT WAS RELEASED, THERE WERE NINE INVESTIGATORS IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS AT THE JAIL.
BY MID-DECEMBER, THAT NUMBER HAD BEEN REDUCED TO THREE, WHICH IS WHAT IT STANDS AT TODAY.
[00:15:01]
TWO OF THOSE INVESTIGATORS WERE REMOVED IN MID-DECEMBER WHEN THE COUNTY WAS FOUND TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE POLICE TRAINING ACT, A STATUTORY VIOLATION AND ENFORCED BY THE POLICE TRAINING COMMISSION.THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION ISSUED A NOTICE OF VIOLATION IN EARLY FEBRUARY REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE THIRD.
SO HERE WE GO AGAIN, ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND 30 SECONDS.
UM, NEW POSITIONS THAT WERE CREATED.
A CHIEF INVESTIGATOR APPARENTLY BEGINS WORK NEXT WEEK.
A TITLE OF THE COUNTY HAS NEVER HAD BEFORE, BUT IT'S AN APPOINTED POSITION FOR 120,000 A YEAR PLUS.
I'M SURE WE'LL FIND THAT IN TONIGHT'S BUDGET.
UM, AND OUR PEOPLE WERE REMOVED FROM DOING INVESTIGATIONS AT THE YOUTH HOUSE SO THAT AN INVESTIGATOR TRAINEE, ANOTHER TITLE NEVER USED BEFORE, COULD BE HIRED AT THE YOUTH HOUSE IN VIOLATION OF CIVIL SERVICE RULES.
THANK YOU TIME, SETH, AS IS OUR POLICY, YOUR QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED IN WRITING.
I I'D LIKE TO GET SOME OF THOSE ANSWERS MYSELF.
THOSE ARE VERY INTERESTING QUESTION.
GOOD EVENING AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER COOPER.
MY NAME IS LISA MADDOX DOUGLAS.
I AM THE PRESIDENT FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEE SUPERVISORS UNION, WHICH REPRESENTS SUPERVISORY AND MANAGERIAL STAFF WITHIN THE DIVISION OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS.
I AM HERE REGARDING THE ASSERTION OF RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO FOR $674,053 AND 70 CENTS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER THE APA ALLOCATION SIGNED BY MRS. RICHARDSON GREEN FOR ACCEPTANCE FROM D F D OR OR ABOUT FEBRUARY, 2023.
WHY IS THIS INCLUDED IN THE 2022 COUNTY BUDGET? AND I'LL WAIT FOR YOUR RESPONSE.
ALSO, ACCORDING TO THE DECISION MEMORANDUM, IT APPEARS THAT MRS. RICHARDSON GREEN HAS ADVISED THAT THESE FUNDS ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE RELIEF FROM ADDITIONAL COSTS INCURRED DUE TO THE INCREASED BURDENS CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC AND POST PANDEMIC CHANGES.
I HAVE DOCUMENTATION, UM, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT YOURSELF FROM D F D, UM, WHICH BASICALLY SHOWS THE FOLLOWING STATEWIDE TANF CASES INCREASED BY 1,182.
FROM 98 38 WITH AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 12%.
HUDSON, CAMDEN, AND ESSEX, WHICH WAS OF COURSE ESSEX HAVING THE LEAST GREATEST NUMBERS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY INCREASE.
SO I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY SHE'S STATING THAT WE HAD AN INCREASE, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY INCREASES.
NEXT WE HAVE SNAP JANUARY, 2023.
STATEWIDE 300 OR ROUGHLY ABOUT 400,000 THOUSAND HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED NEW JERSEY SNAP THAT DECREASED BY 68,921.
SINCE JANUARY, 2022, THE COUNTIES HAVE THE HIGHEST SNAP CASE.
CASELOAD CASES, UM, INCREASED SINCE JANUARY, 2022 WAS ACTUALLY HUNTERTON COUNTY.
THE HIGHEST DECREASE WAS HUDSON COUNTY, UNION COUNTY AND PASSAIC EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WAS ABOUT 1000 250 10 OF FAMILIES.
THEY RECEIVED EA IN JANUARY, 2023 AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT INCREASED BY ABOUT 54 HOUSEHOLDS.
SO I'M STILL NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY SHE'S SAYING THAT WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN CASELOAD BECAUSE THAT IS NOT TRUE.
ANOTHER CONCERN IS THAT SHE STATED ON THE DOCUMENT REQUESTING ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT THE PANDEMIC CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT 30 SECONDS REDUCTION TO STAFFING.
WE KNOW THAT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
WE IN FACT OR EX EXPERIENCING IT, IF YOU RECALL, UM, THE PRESIDENT OF CW LOCAL 10 81 AND MYSELF, WE HAVE BEEN HERE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF TIMES ASKING WHY THEY WOULD NOT HIRE INDIVIDUALS AFTER THEY RETIRED.
THE CASES ARE BEHIND, AND THIS IS THE REAL TRUTH BECAUSE THERE WERE LAPTOPS THAT WERE PURCHASED AND NEVER DISTRIBUTED.
TIME PROCESS TO CLIENT'S BENEFITS, ALTHOUGH BOTH UNIONS MADE SEVERAL PLEAS AND REQUESTS DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WHILE WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS, WE'RE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THIS MONEY BECAUSE IF WE REMEMBER THE CARES ACT MONEY REALLY DID NOT ADHERE TO ALL THAT WE SAID THAT WE WOULD DO WITH THOSE MONIES.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS? HEARING? I LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THERE ARE NO MORE PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCES ON INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.
DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTIONS OR FOR INTRODUCTIONS AND FIRST READING MADAM CLERK? YES, MR. PRESIDENT,
[00:20:01]
WE HAVE FOUR ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.OKAY, LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCE NUMBER ONE.
IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UM, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE THE FIRST ORDINANCE IS AN ORDINANCE, UM, NAMED THE COMMUNITY CENTER AT ESSEX COUNTY RIVERBANK PARK IN NEWARK, S THE ESSEX COUNTY.
NANCY ZACK COMMUNITY CENTER IN HONOR OF NANCY.
UM, THIS, THE CENTER, AS YOU MAY RECALL, WAS REBUILT IN 2020.
UH, MS. ZACK IS A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THE IRONBOUND NEIGHBORHOOD AND SHE'S REALLY BEEN A VOCAL ADVOCATE FOR HEALTH, SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES IN THAT, IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TENNIS RIGHTS, BUDGET ISSUES, RIGHT TO SPEAK AND PRESERVING THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
AND SHE'S ALSO ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF SPARK, WHICH HAS SAVED THE PARK AT RIVERBANK.
AND WE'RE, UM, HONORED TO RECOMMEND THIS TO THE BOARD.
MR. PAULO, NO COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER SIBO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'VE KNOWN NANCY ZACK FOR SO MANY YEARS, AND I KNOW HER BECAUSE OF ALL OF HER WORK IN THE IRON BOUND SECTION OF NEWARK.
SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE WORKING FOR WHAT I BELIEVE IS RIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK IT IS A GREAT TRIBUTE TO NANCY, ZACK THAT THIS WILL BE NAMED IN HER HONOR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
CAN I GET A MOTION? I'LL MOVE THIS ONE SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COOPER.
CLERK COMMISSIONER SIBEL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE TO ORDINANCE NUMBER TWO AND IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THIS IS OUR, UH, ANNUAL, UH, SALARY ORDINANCE, UM, ADJUSTING THE SALARIES OF, UM, CERTAIN POSITIONS FOR THE COUNTY, UM, INCLUDING DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE, UH, ADMINISTRATOR, COUNTY COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THE VARIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES, OUR SHERIFF, UM, AND IT ADJUST, UM, THEIR SALARIES, UH, THE 3% THAT THAT'S, UH, APPLICABLE FOR THE 2023 YEAR.
JUST, UH, A COUPLE OF, UM, HOUSE CLEANING, UH, ITEMS. UM, FOR ITEM, FOR NUMBER ON THE LIST FOR NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS THE SHERIFF, NUMBER 12, WHICH IS THE COMMISSIONER OF REGISTRATION AND NUMBER 14, WHICH IS THE CLERK OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
THE MINIMUM SALARY WOULD BE 100 INSTEAD OF THE 96 8 50.
THAT WAS A TYPO THAT WE, UH, JUST NOTICED.
SO EVERYTHING ELSE WILL REMAIN THE SAME.
IT'S JUST THAT THE MINIMUM FOR THOSE POSITIONS WILL BE, UM, ADJUSTED TO BE EQUAL TO EVERYBODY ELSE'S, WHICH WAS A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
MR. PAULO, UH, JUST ONE COMMENT.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE SALARY ORDINANCE ITSELF, GENERALLY THESE ARE DONE FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, BUT THIS ONE'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
IT'S JUST, UM, CAPTURING SALARY FOR 2023.
SO, UH, THIS WILL COME BACK BEFORE THE BOARD, UH, FOR NEXT YEAR'S SALARY FOR THIS GROUP OF, UH, EMPLOYEES.
COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE? HEARING NONE.
DO I HAVE A MOVE IN A SECOND? A MOVE.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCE NUMBER THREE, WHICH HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
THEREFORE, LET'S MOVE TO ORDINANCE NUMBER FOUR, MR. JACKSON.
NOW MR. MUHAMMAD WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM.
OSA MOHAMMED COUNTY TREASURER, UH, ORDINANCE, UM, UH, THIS TO PROVIDE IMPROVEMENT TO ESS COUNTY, UM, UH, COUNTY COLLEGE, UH, NEW PARK DECK FOR 1.8 MILLION.
UM, BONDS AND NOTES TO FOR THAT PROJECT.
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COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING HONOR, DO I HAVE A MOVE IN A SECOND? MOTION MOVED BY COMMISSIONER COOPER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SIBO.COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTION NUMBER FOUR? YEAH, THAT WASN'T, THAT WAS NUMBER FOUR, PLEASE.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE NONE.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS ON SECOND READING FOR PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT? UH, YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE TWO.
NUMBER, UH, THE ORDINANCE NUMBERS, I'LL PICK.
I'LL, WE, UM, WE HAVE ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 0 6 AND ORDINANCE R DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 180 9.
LET'S MOVE TO ORDINANCE NUMBER OH DASH 20 23 0 0 6, AND IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I HEREBY DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE NUMBER OH 2023 DASH 0 0 0 0 6 OPEN.
IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FOR OR AGAINST THE ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
MADAM CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT AS NO ONE WISHES TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST IT.
MR. PARECIO, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS, UH, WAS DISCUSSED IN SOME DETAIL AT THE FIRST READING, UH, AT THE PRIOR MEETING, AND IT HAS TO DO WITH, UM, AUTHORIZING FUNDING FOR THE, UH, RENOVATION AND OF THE, UH, PARKS BUILDING.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE O DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 0 6 WAS MOVED BY COMMISSION.
THIS IS TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING? YES.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CBOL AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MACCA.
I HAVE THE SAME MOVER AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
WE WILL NOW MOVE OUT OF ORDER AND WE'LL GO TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 37, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
PLEASE READ IT INTO THE RECORD.
DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE 2023 BUDGET TO BE READ BY TITLE O ONLY PURSUANT TO NJ NJ, S A 40 A.
MR. JACKSON, UH, MR. MUHAMMAD, PLEASE.
ALWAYS PASSING A BUCK, HUH?
UH, SAN MOHAMED COUNTY TREASURER THIS RESOLUTION TO READ THE, UH, THE BUDGET BY TITLE ONLY, AND THIS REQUIRED BEFORE THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET.
I BELIEVE THE MADAM CLERK HAS A STATEMENT TO READ.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE READ THE STATEMENT AFTER THE BUDGET IS PASSED.
MR. PARECIA? NO, MR. MOHAMED, UH, SAID IT, UH, SUCCINCTLY.
OTHERWISE, WE'D BE HERE A LONG TIME READING THE BUDGET.
COMMISSIONER, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COOPER.
[00:30:01]
ROLL CALL MADAM CLERK.COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE BACK TO RESOLUTIONS R DASH 2023 DASH 180 9 TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE 2023 ESSEX COUNTY BUDGET.
I HEREBY DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON RESOLUTIONS R DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 0 1 8 9 OPEN.
IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FOR OR AGAINST THIS RESOLUTION, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
JIM CHOI, VICE PRESIDENT, F O P 1 0 6, REPRESENTING THIS SWORN SUPERVISORY STAFF OF THE ESSEX COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
UH, WE SPEAK NEITHER FOR NOR AGAINST, BUT AS A POINT OF ORDER, AS OF, UM, LATE LAST NIGHT, THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS ORDINANCE RESOLUTION WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING OR DOWNLOAD ON THE WEBSITE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IMPACTS PUBLIC MEETING OR PUBLIC HEARING ACTIVITY.
YEAH, SO I MEAN, I CAN, I CAN ADDRESS IT.
I, AS FOR THE TECHNICAL END OF IT, I CAN'T ADDRESS IT, BUT, UH, THE RELU, IT DOES NOT IMPACT THE ABILITY FOR THE BOARD TO HEAR IT.
THE RESOLUTION IS, UH, THE BUDGET HAS BEEN AVAILABLE.
THERE WERE COUNTLESS, UM, BUDGET HEARINGS.
UM, I BELIEVE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A, IF THERE WAS A TECHNOLOGICAL SNAFU, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
BUT, UM, DOESN'T STOP THE, THE BOARD CAN CONTINUE AND, UH, ADOPT A BUDGET.
NOW, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET? NO.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING ON RESOLUTIONS? R DASH 2023 DASH 0 0 180 9.
MOVE, MOVE BY COMMISSIONER COOPER SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SEAONE, DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVE IN THE SECOND TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION? YES.
CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
YES, MR. PRESIDENT, I, UH, I WILL READ THE STATEMENT, UH, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, THAT THE BUDGET HEARING BEFORE SET FORTH IS HEREBY ADOPTED AND SHALL CONSTITUTE AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE STATED OF THE SUMS THEREIN SET FORTH AS APPROPRIATIONS AND AUTHORIZATION OF THE AMOUNT OF $443,671,420 FOR COUNTY PURPOSES.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE AND TWO, WHICH ARE COUNTY BUDGET INSERTIONS OF ITEMS OF, OF REVENUE, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, VERY GRACIOUSLY, UH, AWARDED A 7.5 MILLION, UH, FOR THE, UM, INDEPENDENCE PARK, NEW COMMUNITY, UH, BUILDING, UH, AND VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS SURROUNDING THE, THE PARK.
UH, THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS, UH, 8.9 MILLION, WHICH WE'LL GET TO A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE BUDGET.
BUT THIS, UH, RESOLUTION IS SIMPLY TO INSERT THAT $7.5 MILLION.
MR. PAULO, NO COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO TAKE RESOLUTIONS? ONE AND TWO.
MR. PRESIDENT, MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MECADO.
CLERK COMMISSIONER SIEBEL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION OF FINANCE, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
[00:35:01]
YOU IMAGINE? UH, I DON'T BELIEVE WE DID NUMBER TWO, MR. PRESIDENT.WE'LL GO TO NUMBER THREE THEN.
UM, UH, AGAIN, I'LL DELEGATE AGAIN.
UH, MR. MS. MAS WAIT, A WAIT, WAIT.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
JUST, JUST DISCUSS NUMBER TWO.
NUMBER TWO, SIR, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DISCUSS? OKAY.
NUMBER TWO, HAPPY TO, UM, THIS IS, IS AN INSERTION AGAIN FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY IN THE AMOUNT OF $674,053 AND 70 CENTS, UH, TO ADDRESS THE BACKLOG OF, UM, UH, PROCESSING STAMP APPLICATIONS AND RECERTIFICATIONS.
UH, THIS IS FUNDING FOR SALARIES AND OVERTIME FOR PROCESSING, PROCESSING THAT, AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE, PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO CERTIFICATIONS, THAT WAS, UH, HELD OFF TO THE PANDEMIC.
SO NOW, UH, MANY, MOST OF THE, UH, UH, THOSE WHO ARE RECIPIENTS HAVE TO RE-CERTIFY, AND THEY'RE OB OBVIOUSLY NEW PEOPLE WHO ARE CERTIFYING AS WELL.
UM, AND I THINK WHETHER THE NUMBER, WHETHER WHATEVER, NUMBER ONE, IT, UH, UH, PRESCRIBES TO BE IT 15,000 AT 30,000.
UM, THE, I THINK THE ISSUE IS THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT BACK LAW THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AND, UM, WHICH, UH, DIRECTOR RICHARDSON IS WORKING ON.
AND THIS MONEY WILL GO A LONG WAY TO HELP, TO HELP TO DO THAT.
UM, AND THERE IS NO COUNTY MATCH, AND THIS IS FUNDING FROM FEBRUARY, UH, THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
MR. PAULO, NO QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS ON CONGRESS.
UM, MR. JACKSON, ARE WE TALKING A COUPLE HUNDRED BACKLOG, OR IS IT THOUSANDS AND BACKWARDS? WELL, I, WE HAD, WITH THE, UH, WORKFORCE HEARING THAT WE HAD, UH, UH, A BIT AGO, UH, DIRECTOR RICHARDSON, UH, INDICATED THERE WAS A BACKLOG OF ABOUT 15,000 CASES, AS YOU HEARD, MAY HAVE WOULD'VE HEARD THAT NIGHT, AND ALSO WAS, UH, UH, REITERATED TONIGHT, UH, UH, MR. WEINER, UH, UH, AND MS. DOUGLAS DISAGREE WITH THAT NUMBER.
THEY THINK IT'S DOUBLE THAT, BUT WHAT, WHAT, EITHER WAY, IT'S A BIG NUMBER AND THIS, THIS FUNDING WILL HELP TO, UM, ADDRESS THAT.
SO, UM, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR WORKING THROUGH THESE CASES? LIKE, ARE WE, DO WE FORESEE THAT WE'LL NEED THE WHOLE TIME PERIOD UP UNTIL SEPTEMBER? I THINK YOU SAID THIS GRANT PERIOD, IT RUNS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH.
I, I, I WOULD HAVE TO, UH, GET WITH DIRECTOR RICHARDSON ON A SPECIFIC TIMELINE OF WHEN THAT THAT TOTAL AMOUNT WILL BE ADDRESSED.
BUT I WOULD THINK WHAT, WHAT I'VE HEARD IS THAT FROM HER IS THAT THIS WILL GO, UM, HAVING THE FUNDING AND BE ABLE TO, TO INSTITUTE THE OVERTIME WILL HELP THEM TO ADDRESS IT IN A MUCH MORE EXTRADITED BASIS.
BUT I'D HAVE TO GIVE YOU, I HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU ON, ON THE SPECIFIC TIMEFRAME.
AND THE OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE, PLEASE FORGIVE ME, I MISSED THAT COMMITTEE MEETING.
UM, CAN WE ALSO KNOW, IS THOSE CASES SEGREGATED BY JUST, UM, GENERAL RENEWALS OR IF THERE'S ANY FOLKS IN THERE WITH, YOU KNOW, EMERGENT CASES THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, UM, HOMELESS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE BURNT OUT, THINGS LIKE THAT.
HAVE THOSE PEOPLE BEEN SEGREGATED? IF THERE'S A DIFFERENT TRACK FOR PROCESSING THEM VERSUS THE NORMAL RECERTIFICATIONS, I WILL GET BACK TO YOU ON A TOMORROW.
COMMISSIONER COOPER, ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? AND SECOND, SECOND, MOVE BY COMMISSIONER COOPER.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON? YES, SIR.
NOW LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER THREE, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
AND WE WILL BE READY TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, WORK YOUR MAGIC
GOOD EVENING OF SOME MOHAMED COUNTY TREASURE.
UH, THIS RESOLUTION TO TRANSFER, UH, FUNDS FOR, UM, APPROPRIATION RESERVES, WHICH IS THE 2022 BUDGET.
UM, JUST THIS RESOLUTION TO MAKE SURE ALL VERY, UH, ALL DEPARTMENT HAS ENOUGH FUNDS FOR ANY OUTSTANDING INVOICES FROM 2022.
THIS IS JUST A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR TRANSFER.
IT DOESN'T RESULT IN ANY INCREASE IN TAX COLLECTION OR BUDGET INCREASE.
[00:40:01]
COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE? NONE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? TAKE RESOLUTION NUMBER THREE.
MOVED BY VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MECADO.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON? YES.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS FOUR THROUGH 10, WHICH ARE FROM THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, MR. BROWN, WILL, UH, DIRECTOR BROWN WILL HANDLE ITEM FOUR, UH, DIRECTOR MCCOY FIVE THROUGH EIGHT.
UH, MS. RAMOS, UH, NUMBER NINE.
AND MR. MCCOY AGAIN FOR NUMBER 10.
SO FOR NUMBER FOUR, MR. BROWN.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR SENIOR SERVICES FOR THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
UH, THIS NUMBER FOUR IS REGARDING THE PURCHASE OF VETERAN FLAGS THAT, UM, WE NORMALLY DO TRADITIONALLY AROUND MEMORIAL DAY OR VARIOUS, UH, VETERAN ORGANIZATIONS.
IN THIS CASE, IT'S, UH, $15,235 GOING TO A METRO FLAG COMPANY.
MR. VEK, NO QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR CONGRESS COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT PO.
THIS REFLECT ANY CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR OR IS IT ABOUT THE SAME? IT'S ABOUT THE SAME, SIR.
I'M TERRENCE MCCOY WITH THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION.
I'M HERE FOR AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL TO SUBCONTRACT OUR CSBG COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK GRANT SERVICES TO FOUR OF OUR PROVIDER AGENCIES.
THIS, THIS IS RESOLUTION, I'M SORRY, RESOLUTION 5, 6, 7, AND EIGHT, AND WE WANT TO SUBCONTRACT OUR SERVICES.
THESE ARE THE SAME SERVICES THAT ARE COMING BY ANNUALLY EVERY YEAR.
THREE OF THE AGENCIES, WHICH IS FIVE, SIX, AND EIGHT, ARE OUR USUAL SERVICE PROVIDER.
AND NUMBER SEVEN IS A NEW AGENCY THAT APPLIED TO RECEIVE SERVICES.
AND THE NUMBER FIVE IS OUR EAST ORANGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
WHO IS LOCATED IN EAST ORANGE? NUMBER SIX IS IRVINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD.
THAT'S THE NEW AGENCY THAT IS, WANTS TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR FOOD PANTRY AND AFTER SCHOOL, AND THEY'RE LOCATED IN EAST ORANGE.
AND NUMBER EIGHT IS MONTCLAIR NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
UH, MR. MCCOY DID, UH, FOR NUMBER SEVEN FOR THE NEW PROVIDER, IS, IS THAT PROVIDER REPLACING SOMEBODY OR IS THIS A NEW SERVICE OR NEW AMOUNT OF SERVICES? WERE YOU MR. PRESIDENT? THIS IS A NEW, A NEW AGENCY.
BUT NOBODY WAS DOING THESE, PROVIDING THESE SERVICES BEFORE THIS AGENCY? NO, SIR.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OH, I'M SORRY.
I WANNA JUST ACKNOWLEDGE AND COMMEND MR. MCCOY FOR, UM, ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU DO.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR A NEW AGENCY.
I KNOW I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT'S ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT CAN WE REDO OUTREACH AND GET MORE ORGANIZATIONS TO COME IN.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR THAT.
UM, NUMBER FIVE, IS HE ORANGE? SIX IS IRVING.
SEVEN IS NEWARK, AND EIGHT IS MONTCLAIR.
IS THAT CORRECT? UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
NUMBER SEVEN IS, IS NOT NEWARK.
THAT'S NUMBER SEVEN IS EAST ORANGE.
AND THEY'RE BASED IN EAST ORANGE.
FIVE AND SEVEN ARE BOTH EAST ORANGE, FIVE AND SEVEN.
AND WHY DID WE NEED TWO IN EAST ORANGE? WELL, DO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT EAST ORANGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION DOES NOT PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT JOYCE ANGELS NUMBER SEVEN DOES.
SO WE NEEDED ANOTHER AGENCY TO PROVIDE SCHOOL SERVICE.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THAT WOULD BE AFTER SCHOOL AND THE FOOD PANTRY AND NUMBER FIVE, EAST ORANGE WASN'T ABLE TO DO THAT? MM.
[00:45:01]
DO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? NO, MA'AM.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONGRESS? VERY FAMILIAR WITH GEORGE AMYS, THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
THEY DOING A LOT OF GOOD WORK IN THE COMMUNITY, SO I'M HAPPY TO SEE THEM FINALLY GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THE COUNTY.
HOPEFULLY WE CAN MAKE IT LARGER.
MR. PRESIDENT, MR. JACKSON? I HEARD YOU, MR. PRESIDENT
OH, YOU GOTTA COME BACK, HUH? YES.
MY NAME IS MARIA RAMOS, DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION IN ESS COUNTY.
I AM HERE TO REQUEST THE APPROVAL OF OUR, UH, 2222 CONTRACTS.
WHICH, WHICH, WHICH RESOLUTION? NUMBER NINE.
THE BUDGET FOR THE SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS AND THE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE, WE, UH, ISSUE ANOTHER, UH, REQUEST FOR A, UH, FOR PROPOSAL IN FEBRUARY.
WE HAVE 22 RESPONSES, BUT WE ONLY HAVE 20 FOR THE SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS THAT WE APPROVE.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NOW? OKAY.
WE'RE, WE'RE JUST, WE'RE ENTERING INTO, OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? NO.
I'M LOOKING AT THE WRONG NUMBER.
MR. MCCOY, TERRENCE MCCOY, DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION FOR RESOLUTION NUMBER 10.
DURING OUR, UH, WE WERE, WE ARE, SORRY.
WE, THE BOARD APPROVED OUR COLD BLUE SERVICES TO OUR SHELTER PROVIDERS BACK IN JANUARY, AND THERE WAS A ERROR MADE WITH THE NAME OF ONE OF THE AGENCIES.
THEY HAD, UH, HELP CENTER SLASH 6 89 SOUTH 16TH COURT.
WE ARE INADVERTENTLY PUT ON THE CONTRACT, AND IT WAS APPROVED FOR A HEALTH CENTER, BUT THE AGENCY CONTACTED US AND THEIR LEGAL NAME IS 6 89 SOUTH NINTH SOUTH, SOUTH 16TH COURT.
SO WE JUST WANTED TO GET THAT CHANGED SO WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THE SERVICES.
IT'S JUST A NAME CHANGE, NO CHANGE IN OWNERSHIPS OR SERVICES OR COST THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
NO CHANGES IN SERVICES OR ANYTHING.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? FOUR THROUGH 10.
MOVE BY COMMISSIONER COOPER, SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT PO MORRISS.
TAKE RESOLUTION FOUR THROUGH 10.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT FROM MORRIS? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON? YES.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS 11 THROUGH 13, WHICH ARE UNDER THE DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES, AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, MR. PRESIDENT, I COULDN'T PAW THESE OFF, SO I'LL DO 'EM MYSELF.
ITEM 11, UH, IS TO PROVIDE THE FUNDING, UH, THROUGH THE NEW JERSEY SUPERIOR COURT FOR A SUBSTANCE ABUSE EVALUATOR, UM, IN THE AMOUNT OF, UH, $100,237.
THIS COVERS SALARY AND FRINGE BENEFITS, UH, 100% GRANT FUNDING.
AND THIS, UH, PERSON EVALUATES THAT THE PEOP JUVENILES COMING BEFORE THE COURT AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO, UH, TO JUDGES, UH, REGARDING, UH, SENTENCES AND SO FORTH.
ITEM 12, UH, IS TO PROVIDE FOR A PART-TIME STAFF PHYSICIAN AT 19 HOURS A WEEK IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,992.
UM, THIS PERSON, UH, CONDUCTS TELEPHONE NOTIFICATIONS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES WHO FAILED TO APPEAR FOR SCHEDULED COURT HEARINGS.
UM, THIS IS A, HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM, BUT THE, UM, UH, THE DIVISION AND THE COURTS HAVE FOUND THAT IF, UH, WITH, UH, A GOOD TELEPHONE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, THE, UH, ATTENDANCE, UH, SEEMS TO IMPROVE.
SO THIS IS GONNA PROVIDE, UH, THE FUND, THE GRANT FUNDING FOR THAT.
UH, ITEM 13, UM, IS ALSO WITH THE DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES.
THIS IS WITH THE COMMUNITY STATE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP GRANT.
AND THIS IS PROVIDES SERVICES FOR, UH, YOUTH WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH THE COURT, UM, AND PROVIDES FOR, UH, GRANT FUNDING FOR THEM TO SURPRI PROVIDES, UH,
[00:50:01]
SUPPORT SERVICES, AND THIS IS IN THE AMOUNT OF 10,316, UH, DOLLARS.COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE? NOW I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RICARDO.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 14, WHICH IS FROM THE BOARD OF TAXATION, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
HE IS, IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG NOW.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT JULIUS COLT, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, THIS IS FOR THE OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF TAXATION PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING SERVICE.
UH, THE SOLE RESPONDENT WAS SAMUEL KLEIN NOT TO EXCEED $25,000.
MR. PECK, NO QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE.
COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER SIBO? I'M JUST CHECKING.
IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT AS LAST YEAR, CORRECT? YES.
AND THEY DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
SEEMS LIKE I HEAR THE SAME NUMBER.
EITHER THEY OVERCHARGE THEN OR THEY'RE UNDERCHARGING NOW.
COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS OF COMMENTS? HEARING NINE.
I NEED TO MOVE INTO SECTION, MOVE BY COMMISSIONER SEA.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COOPER.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON? YES.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 15, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? MR. KORE, MR. PRESIDENT
THIS IS A 20% CHANGE ORDER FOR RELIANCE GRAPHIC FROM THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $365,050.
UH, THE NEW TOTAL FOR THIS CONTRACT WILL BE $2,190,300, AND IT EXPIRES IN AUGUST 31ST, 2023.
MR. COULTRE, I JUST WANTED TO GET ON THE, UH, MYSTERY, THIS
UM, I, I REMEMBER, I THINK I REMEMBER LAST YEAR, A CHANGE ORDER HAVE, UH, FOR THIS CONTRACT HAVING TO DO WITH SOME SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND REALLY HAVING A PROBLEM GETTING PAPER.
IS THERE A PARTICULAR, UH, REASON FOR THIS, UH, 20% INCREASE? I, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS THE SAME CONTRACT.
SIMILAR, UH, THIS IS STRICTLY FOR RE FOR PRINTING OF VARIOUS THINGS IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN FROM ONE OF THE OTHER ELECTION OFFICES BECAUSE A RELIANCE DOES MULTIPLE, UH, OFFICES.
I, I CAN, MR. KO, I CAN'T SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE, IS THAT, IF YOU REMEMBER THE, THE STATE SAID THAT WE HAD THE MORE BALLOTING BY VOTE BY MAIL, AND ALSO THE VOTE, UM, UM, ELECTION DAY BALLOTS.
UH, SO WE HAD TO DO MORE, AND I THINK THEY HAVE TO DO IT NOW PER DISTRICT AND INDIVIDUALIZED ONE PER DISTRICT.
SO THERE'S LIKE 574 DISTRICTS.
SO JUST THE AMOUNT OF PAPER NOW IS THE AMOUNT THEY HAVE TO PRODUCE HAS INCREASED.
COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE? NOW I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 16, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
UH, PRESIDENT IS INVOLVED RETAINING AN ATTORNEY TO
[00:55:01]
ASSIST THE COUNTY IN MONITORING OUTSIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COUNTY PROTECT.UH, COULD YOU ALL HEAR ME WHEN I STARTED? NO.
YOU HAVE TO START OVER ON BEHALF TO, UH, UH, THIS RESOLUTION INVOLVES, UH, JEROME ST.
THIS RESOLUTION INVOLVES RETAINING AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY WHEN AN OUTSIDE AGENCY IS LOOKING INTO POLICY AND PROCEDURES AT THE CORRECTIONS FACILITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY'S INTERESTS ARE PROTECTED TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY ITSELF, NOT THE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES.
MR. PAULK, UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
COMMISSION GUI, UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, UH, FOR OUR COUNSEL, UH, AN EXAMPLE OF, UM, THE TYPE OF INVESTIGATION THAT, UH, THIS MIGHT, UM, THIS MIGHT COVER, AND, UM, ALSO, UM, COULD WE, COULD YOU SPEAK TO, UM, THE, THE, HOW THIS PARTICULAR, UM, CONTRACT AND SERVICE, UH, WOULD WORK IN RELATIONSHIP TO OUR INDEPENDENT, UM, UH, CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD? SO, I GUESS MEETING WITH THIS, WOULD THIS, WOULD THIS FIRM PARTICULAR, UH, POTENTIALLY OVERSEE SOMETHING THAT THAT BODY WAS DOING OR THAT, OR THAT GROUP WAS DOING? UH, I'D BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THOSE JURORS.
THIS, UH, THIS ISSUE AROSE ON A SPECIFIC FACTUAL BASIS THAT I'M NOT GONNA GO INTO THE FACTS I SEE, WHICH I'D BE HAPPY TO DO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT IF I MAY, UH, COMMISSIONER, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, GENERALLY, UH, AN OUTSIDE AGENCY WAS LOOKING INTO A, A TRAGEDY THAT OCCURRED AT THE JAIL AND HAD BEEN INVESTIGAT, EXCUSE ME, HAD BEEN ASKING AN EMPLOYEE, UH, TO ACT AS A WITNESS PURSUANT TO A WITNESS LETTER ABOUT WHAT TRANSPIRED AT THE JAIL.
UH, THAT HAPPENED WELL IN EXCESSIVELY A YEAR AGO.
IT WAS HANDLED BY THE FORMER COUNTY COUNCIL.
UH, SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, RECENTLY, THEY, THAT SAME OUTSIDE AGENCY HAS SAID THEY WANT TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH THIS EMPLOYEE.
UH, AND, UH, THEY WERE NOT WILLING AT THIS POINT IN TIME TO GIVE THAT INDIVIDUAL A WITNESS LETTER.
ALTHOUGH THEY'RE SAYING WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE THAT INDIVIDUAL A TARGET LETTER EITHER.
TARGET LETTER IS SOMEONE WHO'S THE TARGET OF AN INVESTIGATION.
I'M NOT GONNA LET THAT INDIVIDUAL HANG OUT WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
THE FORMER EMPLOYEE WE HAVE, UH, RETAINED, UH, THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS RETAINED AN EMPLOYEE TO, TO REPRESENT THEM IN THIS MATTER.
BUT WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE COUNTY.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS LAWYER BEING HIRED.
UH, IT'S NOT THE FORMER COUNTY COUNCIL.
IT'S SOMEONE ELSE AT THAT FIRM, UH, WHO HAS E EXPERTISE IN A DIFFERENT AREA.
AND, UH, THAT I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO GO IN ALL THE SPECIFICS OF THE REQUEST.
I DON'T ANTICIPATE THERE'S GONNA BE ANY PROBLEM.
I I ANTICIPATE THAT THIS, I'VE SPOKEN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITH THE STATE AGENCY.
I THINK THIS IS A VERY INAPPROPRIATE FISHING EXPEDITION, AND I'VE EXPRESSED THAT TO THEM.
I SAID, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
BUT ALL THAT BEING SAID, I'M NOT GONNA LET THE COUNTY BE INVOLVED IN THE MATTER WITHOUT APPROPRIATE LETS, UH, UH, REPRESENTATION.
I'M NOT GONNA LET A, AN EMPLOYEE BE INVOLVED IN THIS INVESTIGATION WITHOUT APPROPRIATE RES UH, REPRESENTATION.
SO, I HOPE, HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
NOW? NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MACKAY.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PI.
LET'S MOVED TO RESOLUTION 17 AND 38.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, DEPUTY DIRECTOR HOLMES MARROW AND LIEUTENANT, UH, CAMACHO ARE HERE TO ADDRESS THESE ITEMS.
[01:00:04]
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR MERRILL DEPUTY DIRECTOR REGINA HOLMES MERO, DEPUTY DIRECTOR REGINA HOLMES ROMERO.UM, THE FIRST ITEM IS NUMBER 1717, UM, ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM.
AND WE'RE, UM, ASKING FOR AN EXTENSION, UM, FOR THE GRANT, UH, TO FINALIZE OUR PAPERWORK.
UH, WE JUST COMPLETED OUR, UM, INTAKE YARD FENCE IN THE INTAKE YARD.
AND NUMBER 38 IS FOR THE, UH, OPERATION REVIEW SERVICES.
AND WITH THAT, UH, WE PUT OUT OUR RF, UH, P FOR, UM, AND WE RECEIVED, UH, THREE, UH, RESPONSES BACK.
AND WE DECIDED TO, UM, GO, UM, AWARD, UH, THE, UH, AMBROSE'S, UM, GROUP BECAUSE THEY WERE THE, UM, LOWEST, UH, BIDDER.
WE HAD THREE, THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER.
I'M JUST LOOKING AT, UH, 17, UH, NO QUESTIONS.
AND SO WHAT ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO BE DOING ON 38? WHAT'S, WHAT'S ON 38? SO WHAT THEY'RE, WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING IS BECAUSE THE, UH, UM, POLICE ACADEMY IS UNDER THE DIRECTOR NOW, UNDER THE CORRECTIONS, THEY'LL BE, UH, REVIEWING THE ACADEMY POLICE ACADEMY, UH, CONTINUE WITH OPERATIONS REVIEW AND EXECUTIVE TRAINING.
AND SO THIS IS THE AMBROSE GROUP, THE SAME AMBROSE GROUP WHO DID THAT EXTENSIVE REPORT OVER MONTHS AND MONTHS OF TIME.
AND SOME, IF NOT, A LOT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WEREN'T EVEN FOLLOWED BY YOU.
AND SO NOW YOU'RE GIVING THEM ANOTHER CONTRACT TO DO SOMETHING.
WILL, WILL THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHAT THEY'RE CHARGED TO DO BE FOLLOWED? YES.
SO HOW COME, WHY, WHY WAS IT SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS IN THE AMMOS REPORT FOLLOWED? WELL, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL WORKING ON, UH, SOME OF THE, UM, ITEMS, UH, AS WELL AS WITH, UH, THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS THAT HAS BEEN, UH, RECTIFIED CUZ WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING, UH, MORE INVESTIGATORS.
WE HIRED A CHIEF AND NOW WE HAVE, UH, WE ADDED ANOTHER INVESTIGATOR WHO WILL BE STARTING WITHIN, UH, THE NEXT WEEK.
AND WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
SO THESE INVESTIGATORS, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION EARLIER THAN THEY WERE NINE INVESTIGATORS.
THESE ARE THE SAME INVESTIGATORS.
AND THEN NOW IT'S DOWN TO THREE.
SO IF THO THO THESE ARE THE SAME POOL OF INVESTIGATORS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO WE HAVE THREE THAT WERE ALREADY THERE.
WE HAVE ONE THAT, UH, RECENTLY WAS, UH, CHOSEN TWO, UM, BE PLACED IN TWO INTERNAL AFFAIRS, BUT THERE WERE NINE AND NOW THERE'S THREE.
THAT IS THE, THOSE NUMBERS CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SIX? WELL, TWO OF, SO I WERE GOING OUT TO R P TO HIRE MORE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SIX THAT WERE ALREADY THERE NO LONGER THERE? WELL, WHEN I CAME IN, THERE WERE ONLY, UH, FIVE WHEN I CAME IN.
SO WHERE THE OTHER TWO, THE OTHER TWO WERE REMOVED BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT, UH, TRAINED.
SO WE HAVE A CHIEF, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE, WE WILL HAVE, UH, FIVE INVESTIGATORS.
WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? MY NAME IS YOU STANDING? YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED.
MY NAME IS, UH, LIEUTENANT ORLANDO CAMACHO, UH, OFFICE OF BUDGETING.
SO, SO, SO WE'RE ALL NINE INVESTIGATORS THERE WHILE YOU
[01:05:01]
WERE THERE? I DON'T RECALL THAT.WHAT, WHAT NUMBER DO YOU RECALL? I, I I, I, I DON'T THINK I'M THE RIGHT PERSON TO ASK THAT QUESTION.
I DON'T, I DON'T RECALL IT BEING NINE.
WHAT DO YOU RECALL? I IF YOU DON'T RECALL, DON'T JUST START WRITING.
YEAH, I JUST, JUST SAY YOU DON'T KNOW.
COMMISSIONER, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO COMMENTS.
WHAT EXACTLY DO THE OPERATIONAL REVIEW SERVICES MEAN? SO WHAT THEY, SO OPERATIONS REVIEW, LIKE THE POLICY, UH, PROCEDURES THAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE FACILITY, THERE WILL BE AN OVERLOOKING THOSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
SO FROM WHAT I CAN RECALL, THE AMBER'S REPORT, THEY HAD MADE A SLEW OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND AT OUR HEARING A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK, SOME THINGS WERE IMPLEMENTED, SOME THINGS WERE STILL IN PROCESS.
WHO CAN GIVE US A STATUS OF ALL OF THEIR WONDERFUL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY MADE IN THAT REPORT, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THAT REPORT AND WE'RE BRINGING THEM IN TO DO MORE SERVICES.
ARE THE TWO THINGS GOING TO COMPLIMENT ONE ANOTHER? UM, AND THEN YOU ALSO REFERENCE SOMETHING ABOUT THE POLICE ACADEMY.
WHAT ROLE WILL THIS PLAY RELATED TO THAT? BECAUSE THE DIRECTOR IS NOW O OVERSEES THE POLICE ACADEMY.
SO HOW THAT WOULD PLAY OUT, THE AMBROSE GROUP WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THAT, UH, POLICIES, PROCEDURES ARE BEING FOLLOWED AT THE POLICE ACADEMY, MAKING SURE THINGS ARE, UH, DONE IN A PROPER MANNER.
MY CONCERN, MR. PRESIDENT, IS IF THE AMPERS FOLKS WHO CAME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, UM, WONDERFUL PRACTITIONERS IN THEIR FIELD RECOMMENDED, UM, SOME CHANGES BASED UPON SOME THINGS THAT TOOK PLACE THERE.
SO, UM, AND IF WE DIDN'T FOLLOW THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, THEN MY CONCERN IS IF WE'RE BRINGING THEM IN NOW, ARE WE GOING TO FOLLOW THEM? SO I WOULD ASK IF WE COULD, UM, HAVE, I GUESS, SOME RESPONSES FROM THE ADMINISTRATION OR FROM THE DIRECTOR WHO'S CHARGED WITH CARRYING OUT THE DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES AT THE JAIL.
IF THROUGH YOU, MS. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, UM, MR. JACKSON, IF YOU RECALL IN OUR MEETING, WE, UH, WITH THE DIRECTOR, CHARLES, UH, HE, HE WENT THROUGH THE REPORT.
WE, WE, THE BOARD HAD RECEIVED THE REPORT AND HE KIND OF WENT THROUGH A STATUS OF WHERE WE WERE ON CERTAIN ITEMS. AND I, I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THE CHARACTERIZATION.
I KNOW YOU DON'T MEAN IT THIS WAY, BUT TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING HIM IS NOT AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION.
WHAT IT, WHAT IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT WE HAVEN'T COMPLETED EVERYTHING THAT THEY RECOMMENDED BECAUSE WE CAN'T, IF WE COULD DO IT OVERNIGHT, IT WOULD BE DONE.
IT'S A, THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT OF HARD WORK THAT HAS TO GO THROUGH IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY'VE DONE.
A LOT OF THEM, THEM HAVE BEEN DONE, BUT NOT EVERYTHING'S BEEN DONE.
AND, UM, AND SO SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT, UH, MR. CHOI RAISED, UM, ARE, ARE ACCURATE.
WE'RE STILL, WE'RE STILL WORK IN PROGRESS ON SOME OF THOSE, BUT THE INTENT IS TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AMBROSE GROUP.
NOW, WITH THAT, NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER AREA THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, WHICH IS THE POLICE ACADEMY GOING THROUGH SOME, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS THERE.
AND HOPEFULLY OVER TIME WE'RE GONNA GET TO, UH, WORKING ON THOSE AS WELL.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO, UM, AND I, AND I WILL ASK THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITH THE, UH, DIRECTOR, IS TO PROVIDE ANOTHER UPDATE ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHERE THE STATUS, THE STATUS IS OF EACH.
AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT FOR YOU.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, SO LET ME TAKE BACK THOSE WORDS THAT YOU HAVEN'T DONE THEM.
PERHAPS YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THEM IN YOUR TIMELINE.
SO IF WE COULD GET A UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF ALL THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE FIRST AMBROSE REPORT.
AND, UM, PLEASE ALSO TALK ABOUT IF THIS CONTRACT RIGHT NOW COMPLIMENT THOSE FIRST RECOMMENDATIONS THAT, UM, THE AMBROSE GROUP PERFORMED FOR US.
AND IS THIS A YEAR? THIS IS A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
AND, AND THIS IS JUST FOR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AT THE TRAINING CENTER? NO, THIS IS FOR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES INSIDE THE FACILITY BECAUSE THERE ARE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT ARE BEING CHANGED IN INSIDE WHICH FACILITY? INSIDE THE FACILITY, INSIDE THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
THERE ARE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT ARE BEING CHANGED, BUT AS WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SLOW, UH, PROCESS CUZ WE
[01:10:01]
ARE MAKING CHANGES.THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE ADDRESSED.
AND I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, UM, AND GIVE YOU ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED.
YEAH, I THINK WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE A, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, A PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE HEARING SO WE CAN GET ALL THE UPDATES AT ONCE.
SO WE'RE GONNA LOOK TO SCHEDULE THAT THROUGH YOU.
I, UM, MR. PRESIDENT, I, I AGREE.
MAYBE WE CAN, UH, I RECOMMEND THAT WE HAVE A, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, HEARING AND YOU CAN BRING, UM, THE FOLKS FROM, UH, THE FACILITY AND GIVE US AN UPDATE ON ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE IN THE AROSE GROUP AND WHERE YOU'RE AT WITH EACH ONE.
AND WE CAN GET, YOU KNOW, SEE EXACTLY WHERE THINGS ARE.
YEAH, NO, THAT MAKES COMMISSIONER COOPER, AND I'M GONNA SAY, IF YOU CAN, MR. PRESIDENT, CAN WE, UM, ALSO HAVE RESPONSES TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THE GENTLEMAN PUT ON THE RECORD? OH, ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SHOULD GET THEM LONG BEFORE THEN.
UM, LIEUTENANT, LOOK LIKE YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED AGAIN.
I CAN WELL, I CAN PROVIDE THOSE, UH, ANSWERS FOR YOU.
I CAN GO BACK AND I CAN HAVE THOSE AN, UH, ANSWERS PROVIDED FOR YOU.
SO YEAH, I THINK WE DO, WE CALL THE PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING AND THEN MAYBE BY THAT TIME, LIEUTENANT, YOU'LL WANT TO GET INVOLVED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? FORM 17 AND 38, HEARING NINE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND RESOLUTION? 17 AND 38 AS ONE MOVED BY COMMISSIONER COOPER SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, MS. AMMOS WILL, UH, AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR, UH, DIRECTOR AMOS AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR FRANZI WILL ADDRESS THIS ITEM.
NICOLE, I MISS, UH, CLERK, UH, FOR THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND REVIEW, UH, FOR OUR CONTRACT WITH RELIANCE GRAPHICS TO PROVIDE PRINTING SERVICES FOR OUR 2023 AND 2024 ELECTION MATERIALS.
MATERIALS THAT WOULD CONSIST OF OUR VOTING AUTHORITIES BADGES, SIGNS, BOOKLETS, THINGS THAT WE TYPICALLY PRINT FOR AN ELECTION CYCLE AND AN ELECTION YEAR.
THE CONTRACT WOULD, UM, EXPIRE, UH, DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.
WE'RE ASKING THAT THE CONTRACT NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF $252,000.
WE ALSO HAVE WITH US THIS EVENING, JOE, UH, FEDERALLY OF RELIANCE GRAPHICS, WHO'S ALSO AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
YEAH, LET'S GET YOU UP HERE, JOE, AND, UH, INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO YOU ARE, YOUR COMPANY, WHERE YOU'RE LOCATED.
GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO FOR THE COUNTY.
UM, THIS IS OUR THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
JUST PUT YOUR, PUT YOUR NAME ON THE RECORD.
UH, JOSEPH FEDERALLY, UH, NORTH CALDWELL, NEW JERSEY, ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENT.
UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND WE SUPPLY THEM WITH ANY MATERIALS THEY NEED AND REQUEST FOR.
ANY QUESTIONS ANYONE HAS? LET'S FOLLOW.
YOU WANNA KNOW WHERE THE BUSINESS LOCATED? THAT'S WHERE HE LIVES.
WHERE'S THE BUSINESS LOCATED? UH, VERONA, NEW JERSEY IN VERONA.
NOW HOW MANY ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS DO YOU EMPLOY? UH, TWO.
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE? TWO.
LAST TIME WE GOT HUNDRED PERCENT.
WE'VE ALREADY PASSED RESOLUTION NUMBER, UH, 15 AND THAT WAS WITH YOU.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE TO THE TWO RESOLUTIONS? UH, 15 WAS FOR
[01:15:01]
THE COUNTY.UH, TO PROVIDE PRINTING SERVICES FOR ELECTION MATERIALS TO THE CLERK.
THAT WAS STRICTLY FOR THE COUNTY CLERK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENT? HOME RESOLUTION 18.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 19, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT, AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT COMMISSIONERS MAYA LORD COUNTY DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO, I'M SORRY.
YOU GOT, YOU GOT YOU WERE PREEMPTED THIS TIME.
UH, GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT COMMISSIONERS.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION, OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AND EXTRAORDINARILY UNSPECIFIED SERVICES AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY OPERATIONAL READINESS REVIEW AUDIT SERVICES FROM EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SOLUTIONS, LLC FOR ONE YEAR AGREEMENT.
JUST TO NOTE, THIS IS GRANT FUNDED MONEY.
UM, THIS IS FOR DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WE SAW THAT THE RESPONSE FROM THE COUNTY WAS EXTRAORDINARILY, AND OF COURSE, THANKS TO YOU AND OUR COUNTY EXEC.
BUT ONE THING WE DID SEE WAS THAT THE MUNICIPALITIES DID NOT HAVE PREPAREDNESS PLANS.
UH, WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MUNICIPALITIES ARE ABLE TO ORGANIZE AND MOBILIZE WHEN NEEDED.
SO THE COUNTY IS PROVIDING EACH MUNICIPALITY WITH AN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, UH, CONSULTANT TO GO INTO THE MUNICIPALITY AND ORGANIZE AND LOOK AT THEIR PLANS.
ALSO, THE CONSULTANT WILL PROVIDE TRAINING SERVICES TO THE HEALTH OFFICERS, AND WE WILL HAVE A COUNTY WIDE, UH, TABLETOP EXERCISE, UH, FOR AN EMERGENCY.
I THINK WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT BOTH A PANDEMIC AND ALSO ENVIRONMENTAL.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF ISSUES SUCH AS OHIO AND PHILADELPHIA WITH THE WATER.
SO IT IS REALLY TO ALIGN ALL OF THE MUNICIPALITIES TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE READY IF ANYTHING HAPPENS.
COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS OF COMMISSIONER SIBO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WONDERFUL WORK.
UM, YEAH, I TOO WANT TO ECHO COMMISSIONER SIBOS COMMENTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE INCREDIBLE WORK YOU DO, AND THIS RESOLUTION IS AMAZING.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S MUCH NEEDED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING SURE, UM, THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE RESPONSIVE TO YOU AND IT'S WORKING TO GET THIS DONE.
DO I HAVE A MOVER? IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 20 THROUGH 26, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NUMBER 21, WHICH HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
THEY'RE ALL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, AND THEY WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER DATE.
I'M NOT EVEN GONNA SAY MR. ZITS.
SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, BUT YOU, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I CALL YOU
THAT MR. ZITS GUY, MR. JACKSON, MR. ZITS.
JOSHUA ZIT SAYS, COUNTY PARKS NUMBER 20 IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO RAY PALMER ASSOCIATES FOR PUMP AND FILTER PLUMBING SERVICES, EXERCISING THE, UH, CONTRACT EXTENSION OPTION ABOUT NOT TO EXCEED $691,300.
THIS IS FOR ALL THE PLUMBING NEEDS OVER AT THE TURTLEBACK ZOO, INCLUDING PARTS AND, UH, PLUMBING SERVICES.
UH, THE, THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT, WHICH AGAIN, THIS IS THE 24 MONTH OPTION, WE SPENT, UH, A LITTLE UNDER 51,000.
[01:20:01]
CONTRACT WITH THE UNITED COMMUNITY CORPORATION TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES AT WESTSIDE PARK.UH, IT'D BE BE MARCH 1ST OF THIS YEAR THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2025, AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $129,999 AND 90 CENTS.
SPECIFICALLY, THIS IS FOR, UH, VARIOUS RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE AT WESTSIDE PARK.
UH, ALTHOUGH IT'S A THREE YEAR CONTRACT, IT'S, UH, IT WOULD RUN, IT WOULD END, UH, DECEMBER 31ST OF EACH YEAR AND START UP AGAIN ON MARCH 1ST OF EACH YEAR.
AND AGAIN, THAT ENDS ON, UH, DECEMBER 31ST, 2025.
THE MONTHLY COST FOR THAT IS $4,333 AND 33 CENTS.
NUMBER 22 IS A CONTRACT, UH, CON TO CONDUCT OUR, UH, ANNUAL FIREWORKS DISPLAYS WITH STAR FIRE CORPORATION.
UH, UH, ASSUMING THERE'S NO, ASSUMING THERE'S NO, UH, WEATHER ISSUES, UH, THE BRADBROOK PARK FIREWORK DISPLAY WILL TAKE PLACE JUNE 30TH WEEK.
QUAKE PARK WILL BE JUNE 28TH, AND BROOKDALE PARK WILL BE JULY 3RD.
WHICH, WHICH NUMBER WAS THAT? MR. ZITS? THAT IS NUMBER 23.
CONTRACT AWARD TO ROTAN SONS HIGHEST RESPONSIVE, UH, UH, REVENUE GENERATING BID FOR THE OPERATION OF THE COMPOST FACILITY OVER AT THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION.
IT'S A REVENUE CONTRACT, UH, IN WHICH THE COUNTY WILL BE RECEIVING $170,400.
THIS IS FOR THE, UH, THE PROCESS, THE LEAVES, TREE PARTS, TREE STUMPS, TREE BRANCHES, YARD TRIMMINGS OVER AT THE, UH, SOUTH MOUNTAIN, UH, RESERVATION.
THERE'S A, A COMPLEX THERE SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE SERVICES, AND THIS IS FOR THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY TO, UH, DUMP THESE VARIOUS MATERIALS.
AND THEN IT'S GRINDED UP AND MADE INTO MULCH AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
UH, NUMBER 25 IS AN AUTHORIZATION TO USE THE ESA COUNTY RECREATION OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND TO FUND THE CODY ARENA SOUND SYSTEM AND MOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $227,000.
UH, THIS IS AGAIN FOR THE, UH, OLD CODY ARENA SOUND SYSTEM.
IT'S FOR BOTH RINGS ONE AND TWO.
THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS, UH, OVER 15 YEARS OLD.
IT'S VERY ANTIQUATED, AND WE WILL BE COMING TO THE BOARD, UH, SHORTLY WITH THE ACTUAL CONTRACT, UH, TO DO THESE SERVICES.
AND THE CONTRACT WILL BE FOR THE, UH, THE AMOUNT OF $227,000.
NUMBER 20, WHERE AM I? 26 IS, UH, AUTHORIZATIONS USED RECREATION, OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND TO FUND WESTSIDE PARK PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, UH, EQUIPMENT REPAIRS IN THE MOUNT EXCEED $107,693.
UH, THIS IS FOR AN EXISTING CONTRACT WE HAVE WITH THE WORLD CORPORATION, UH, SPECIFICALLY TO FUND, UH, VARIOUS PLAYGROUND REPAIRS.
UH, SPECIFICALLY WHAT'S GOING ON WEST SIDE, WE'RE GOING TO BE REPLACING THE PLATE BOOST NECK CABLE REMOVING, REPLACE THE ZIP LINE, REMOVING, REPLACE DAMAGE, BROKEN SWINGS, REPAIR THE DAMAGED TELESCOPE UNIT, AND, UH, THE VARIOUS HARDWARE, UH, THAT, UH, IS PART OF THE CATTAIL SPINNER.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
MAY I HAVE MR. PAUL? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS? YES.
20 THROUGH 26 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 21 COMMISSIONER SIBO.
TWO STATEMENTS NUMBER 25 AND 26 WERE DISCUSSED IN FULL AT THE MARCH 7TH OATH TRUST FUND.
AND WE WENT THROUGH ALL THE DETAILS OF WHAT WILL OCCUR IN TERMS OF THESE TWO PLACES, AND WE WERE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THIS.
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.
I FEEL SORRY FOR JOSH, BECAUSE JOSH ALWAYS HAS TO WAIT A LONG TIME UNTIL HE'S CALLED UPON TO DISCUSS ITEMS DEALING WITH THE PARKS.
COULD YOU SOMETIMES PUT HIM ON EARLIER
IT'S, IT'S ORDERS OF THE, THE PRESIDENT WHO WANTS TO TORTURE HIM, SO HE WILL CONTINUE TO.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMISSIONER.
JOSH, YOU JUST GOT MOVED TO DEAD.
THE SECOND LETTER IN PARKS IS AN A MAYBE WE GO BY THE SECOND LETTER IN EACH DEPARTMENT, BUT LET'S NO, WE'RE GOING BY YOUR LAST NAME.
WE'RE GOING USE YOUR LAST NAME ON
JOSH, YOU CAN'T SAY I'M NOT TRYING.
COMMISSIONER CCAO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SEA BONE.
YOU ARE JUST A LITTLE TOO SLOW ON THE DRUM.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
[01:25:01]
GRAHAM.COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 27 THROUGH 34 AND 39, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 27 IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO GROVE CONTRACTING TO BUILD THE NEW BUILDING AND SET IMPROVEMENTS AT INDEPENDENCE PARK IN THE CITY OF NEWARK IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $8,927,000 GROVE CONTRACTING FIT PLUS THE SO ONCE SUBMITTED, UH, THIS PROJECT INVOLVES A CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 7,600 SQUARE FOOT COMMUNITY BUILDING AND OTHER SITE IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, THIS PROJECT ALSO HAS A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT IN PLACE.
MR. MICHAEL CHIARELLI OF GROVE CONTRACTING, UH, IS HERE TO INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TO BOARD MI BEHALF? GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONER.
MY NAME IS MIKE CHIARELLI, OWNER OF GROVE CONTRACTING.
WE'RE AN ESSEX COUNTY BASED COMPANY.
WE'RE LOCATED IN VERONA, NEW JERSEY.
GROVE CONTRACTING HAS COMPLETED SEVERAL PROJECTS LOCATED IN ESSEX COUNTY.
WE DID THE ROBERT O TOOL CENTER LOCATED IN CEDAR GROVE, THE ESSEX COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY.
AND WE'RE CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS OF DOING THE NEW WALLY CHOICE BUILDING IN MONTCLAIR.
UM, GROVE DOES PLA UNION WORK.
WE USE THE OPERATING ENGINEERS, MASON'S LABORERS AND CARPENTERS GROVE HAS ROUGHLY AROUND 20 TO 30 EMPLOYEES AND ABOUT FIVE ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS.
YOU GUYS DO REALLY, REALLY GOOD WORK.
WHAT IS YOUR PAL THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE FOR THIS CONTRACT? IS IT FOR THIS CONTRACT OR THE, THE INDEPENDENCE PARK? YEAH.
UM, WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS? IS IT A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT? P A YEAH.
SO WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS? WHAT ARE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU HAVE TO HIRE? DO YOU HAVE THOSE KIND OF REQUIREMENTS? IT'S, NO, IT'S THE SUBCONTRACTORS.
SO, SO IF IT'S OVER $5 MILLION, THEN IT HAS TO BE A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT.
UH, UNION, UH, UNION, UH, PROJECT NEXT, DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, 28 ALLOWS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW DOCK PARK AND RENOVATIONS TO THE PUBLIC GRASSROOTS AT BELLPORT PARK IN THE CITY OF NEWARK BY AWARDING CNET CONSTRUCTION.
A CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $1,994,950.
CNET CONSTRUCTION SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE FOUR BIDS THAT WERE RECEIVED.
THIS CONTRACT WILL LAST 180 DAYS, AND MR. KARTIK NAIK FROM SENATE CONSTRUCTION IS ALSO HERE THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE PORT MAY HAVE.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS.
UH, I HAVE BEEN IN THIS PODIUM MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, PROBABLY.
I WAS A YOUNG KID WHEN I STARTED.
UH, WE DID MULTIPLE PROJECTS WITH ASEX COUNTY AND CITY OF NEWARK SUCCESSFULLY AND IN TIME.
THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT IS IN NEW ORLEANS CONSTRUCTION OF, UH, BIG DOG PARK, SMALL AND BIG DOGS, AND SOME RESTROOM RENOVATION, INCLUDING SOME SITE FURNISHINGS AND, UH, DECORATIONS ALONG THE LANDSCAPING AND STUFF LIKE THAT ALONG THE, ALONG THE DOG PARK.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, 29 IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO SHORE TOP CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $566,200 TO PERFORM THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TENNIS COURTS AT GROVER CLEVELAND PARK IN CALDWELL.
SHORTSTOPS SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE THREE BIDS RECEIVED FOR THIS, FOR THIS PROJECT.
UH, MR. MIKE SCHMIDT OF CONSTRUCTION IS ALSO HERE THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
UH, MIKE SCHMIDT, SHORT TOP CONSTRUCTION, FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY.
UH, WE SPECIALIZE IN TENNIS COURTS.
WE'VE DONE MULTIPLE JOBS IN ESSEX, UH, BEFORE, AND WE'VE
[01:30:01]
DOING THE GROVER CLEVELAND PARK TENNIS COURTS AT THIS TIME.DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SO, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT, WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO? YOU SPECIALIZE IN TENNIS COURTS.
TENNIS COURTS, PICKLEBALL, BASKETBALL.
ANY DOMESTICS? NO, BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST IS WE'VE HIRED ONE, IT'S MORE ONLY HAVE LIKE A FOUR OR FIVE MAN CREW HERE.
I HOPE YOU CONTINUE THAT PRACTICE.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC CLERKS.
ITEM NUMBER 30 AWARDS JOSEPH AND SENSOR A CONTRACT TO REPLACE FOUR MINOR BRIDGES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $297,925.
UH, THIS PROJECT SHALL LAST 240 DAYS.
THE MINOR BRIDGES TO BE REPLACED ARE LITTLE FALSE ROAD OVER THE PECKMAN RIVER IN CEDAR GROVE, EISENHOWER PARKWAY, OVER THE WILLOWBROOK IN LIVINGSTON, FRANKLIN AVENUE OVER THE SECOND RIVER IN BEVO AND THE BRIGHTON AVENUE OVER THE SECOND RIVER CULVERT IN EAST ORANGE.
UH, JOSEPH SENSOR'S BIT GUSTALLO OF THE SIXTH THAT WERE RECEIVED.
AND WE ALSO HAVE MR. MATT DE DEBOR, DIOR DG.
THANK YOU, UH, HERE THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE THE COMPANY THAT HE WORKS FOR AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, MATTHEW DIOR, PROJECT ENGINEER JOSEPH SINZ.
JOSEPH EMONS AIR INCORPORATED, KNOWN AS J M S, IS A FAMILY OWNED CORPORATION THAT HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
J M S SPECIALIZES IN REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR OF BRIDGES, HIGHWAY AND ROAD WORK, EARTH AND SITE WORK AND UTILITY WORK.
JMS HAS A WORKFORCE OF OVER 400 PEOPLE DURING PEAK CONSTRUCTION MONTHS.
JMS HAS AN ALL UNION WORKFORCE, INCLUDING NEWARK, LOCAL 4 72 LABORERS, WHICH MAKES UP ABOUT 85% OF OUR LABOR FORCE OPERATING ENGINEERS, TEAMSTER CARPENTERS, AND IRON WORKERS.
JMS HAS WORKED IN ESSEX, ESSEX COUNTY BEFORE FOR VARIOUS CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES, AS WELL AS N J O D O T AND NJTP.
JMS IS PROUD TO EMPLOY MANY ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS AND WILL MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO UTILIZE THEM ON THIS PROJECT.
WE ALL KNOW GOOD FAITH EFFORTS AREN'T WORTH THE PAPER THEY'RE WRITTEN ON, SO YOU GOTTA DO BETTER THAN GOOD FAITH.
UH, ON TOP OF THE, THE PERCENTAGE OF LABORERS, WE HAVE ABOUT 125 ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS.
YOU ALREADY, YOU ALREADY DOING IT.
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HELP HELP THEM.
OH, THAT WAS GOOD TO, IT'S NOT ALL GOOD THOUGH.
YOU, YOU, YOU WERE GOOD WHEN YOU SAID YOU WERE A, A UNION SHOP, BUT I NOTICE THIS Z VERY WELL THANK YOU AND HAVE FOR MANY YEARS.
I HAVE A ALSO CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE, THE HARD COPY.
HE'S, UH, CHRIS CALVIN'S HERE.
SEE, SEE THAT GUY RIGHT THERE? THANK YOU.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC COURTS.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, 31 AWARDS, A 24 MONTH OPEN-ENDED CONTRACT TO THE TWO LOWEST BIDDERS TO PROVIDE VEHICLE WASH IN DETAIL SERVICES IN BOTH THE NORTHEAST AND SOUTHWEST, SOUTHWEST REGIONS OF THE COUNTY.
UH, IN AN AMOUNT THAT TO EXCEED IN THE CUMULATIVE $200,000.
THE NORTHEAST VENDOR WILL BE, UH, FRANKIE'S FINISH LINE TWO, UH, CARWASH IN BLOOMFIELD, AND THE SOUTHWEST VENDOR WILL BE LIVINGSTON CIRCLE CARWASH IN LIVINGSTON.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 32 AWARDS AN OPEN-ENDED TWO YEAR CONTRACT.
MR. PRESIDENT ON THE CAR WASH, WE WILL, WE WERE LOOKING FOR MORE CAR WASHES.
SO, JULIUS COLT, PURCHASING AGENT.
UH, SO WE ARE OUT THE BID AGAIN FOR ADDITIONAL CAR WASHES.
SO IN THE NEAR FUTURE, YOU'LL SEE ANOTHER BID COMING IN FRONT OF YOU.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 32 AWARDS AN OPEN AWARD.
AN OP OPEN-ENDED TWO YEAR CONTRACT TO THE TWO LOWEST BIDDERS TO PROVIDE TREE MAINTENANCE, UH, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $190,000.
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IN THE AGGREGATE, UH, TREE SERVICES INCLUDE TREE TRIMMING, TREE REMOVAL, AND STUMP GRINDING.UH, THESE TWO LOWEST OF THE FOUR BITS RECEIVED ARE DOWNS TREE SERVICE AND RICH TREE SERVICE.
BARRETO DOWD A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $80,005 TO DESIGN ENGINEER THE RESURFACING OF TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL COURTS AT BROOKVILLE PARK IN MONTCLAIR, UH, BARRETO DOW'S PROPOSAL WAS THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE EIGHT THAT, THAT WERE SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS PROJECT'S, R F P AND ITEM NUMBER, UH, 33, UH, AWARDS FRENCH AND PERELLO, A CONTRACT TO THE SIGN, THE MODERNIZATION OF FIRE, ALARM AND LIFE, SAFE LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS AT VARIOUS BUILDINGS IN AN AMOUNT THAT YOU EXCEED $63,240.
FRENCH AND P'S PROPOSAL WAS THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE SIX SUBMITTED.
UH, AND THIS CONTRACT WILL LAST 12 MONTHS.
UH, THE BUILDINGS INCLUDED IN THIS CONTRACT ARE THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER HERE IN NEWARK, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN EAST ORANGE.
AND OF COURSE, RIGHT HERE, THE HOLLOW RECORDS COMPLEX IN NEWARK.
AND THAT IS THE, THE LAST ITEM.
UM, CHANGE ORDER CAMINO ASSOCIATES.
UH, WE CAN LEAVE UNTIL NEXT TIME.
MR. JACKSON? YEAH, I I CAN, I CAN DO THAT ONE.
UM, ITEM 39 IS ANY AMOUNT OF $89,000.
UM, IT'S A CHANGE ORDER WITH, UH, IT'S A 20% CHANGE ORDER WITH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATES FOR THE CONS DESIGN OF THE, UM, ANIMAL WELFARE ANIMAL HOSPITAL AT THE TURTLEBACK ZOO.
UM, AND IT'S ADDING AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $89,000 TO THE ORIGINAL, UH, CONTRACT, WHICH WAS FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR FOUR HUNDRED FORTY $5,000.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HERE WE GO.
I MOVE IT SECOND YOU STATE? YEAH.
AND THIS IS FOR RESOLUTIONS 20 THROUGH 26, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 21? NO, NO.
WHO IS THE MOVER? CCAO COMMISSIONER? YES.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COOPER.
COMMISSIONER LUCIANO ABSTAIN ON 27.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION 35 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
SO LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION 36, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? MR. KORE? MR. PRESIDENT, UH, I WAIT MY TURN.
THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU, JAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT.
THIS IS, UH, FOR THE PROSECUTOR OR CONTRACTOR AWARD OF MORRIS COUNTY PREVENTION IS KEY TO PROVIDE CERTIFIED PEER RECOVERY SERVICES FOR THE OPERATION OF HELPING HAND.
I AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $20,000.
THE PRO PROGRAM ACTIVELY LINKS INDIVIDUALS WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND DISORDERS TO TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICE INCARCERATION.
ONE RESPONDENT NOT TO EXCEED $20,000.
LET'S, UH, I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT FOR MARS.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
[01:40:01]
JOHNSON.COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION NUMBER 40, WHICH WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
COMMISSIONER MERCADO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH IS BEING SPONSORED BY THE BOARD.
YES, MR. PRESIDENT, UM, PAE VALLEY SEWAGE COMMISSION HAS PROPOSED, UH, TO BUILD A GAS FIRE POWER PLANT, UM, ADJACENT TO THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT IN THE IRON BROWN SECTION OF NEWARK.
THE IRON BAR SECTION OF NEWARK IS A ROBUST COMMUNITY.
IT'S A DENSELY POPULATED COMMUNITY, UH, THAT'S BEEN BURDENED WITH AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF, UM, HA HAZARDOUS FACTORIES AND POLLUTING FACILITIES, UM, IN THE AREA.
UM, THE, THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF, OF GAS POWERED, UH, FIRE PLANTS, IT HAS A, HAS A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF AIR, THE POOR HEALTH CONDITIONS OF, UM, ITS RESIDENTS.
AND IT IS JUST, UH, UH, NOT GOOD FOR THE IRONBOUND.
THEY, THEY HAVE INCREASED EMISSIONS THAT ARE, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD BE DIRECT PROPOSITION TO THE GOALS OF THE NEW JERSEY CLEAN AIR ACT.
UM, GOVERNOR MURPHY SIGNED INTO LAW LAST YEAR, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE LEGISLATION, S 2 32, AND IT WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES LIKE THE IRON BROWN SECTION IN NEWARK IN PARTICULAR.
UM, THE COMMISSION, THE, THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ARE NOT OPPOSED TO P PSCS EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE RESILIENCY OF ITS SEWAGE TREATMENT AND RECOGNIZES THAT THE JOBS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT, BUT IT'S, UH, WE FEEL THEY, SHE USED RENEWABLE ENERGY BASED, UH, MICRO GRID SOLUTIONS INSTEAD OF A GAS FIRE PLANT.
SO, THE BOARD, AND I AM HAPPY TO, UH, TO, TO INFORM, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HERE AND FOR THE RE UH, FOR THOSE OUT, UM, THAT ARE WATCHING, THAT THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, UM, BY ACCLIMATION, UM, OPPOSES, UH, THE PASSADE VALLEY SEWER, UH, AUTHORITY TO, UH, TO BUILD THIS PLANT IN THE CITY OF NEWARK.
SO, I AM DELIGHTED, UM, TO, UH, TO JOIN.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, UH, AND THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR JOINING IN ON THIS RESOLUTION.
NO, I CAN'T, CAN'T SAY IT ANY BETTER THAN COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
SO, UH, MISS, UH, COMMISSIONER RICARDO, YOU'LL, YOU'LL MOVE.
I'LL MOVE SECOND AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER CBO.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
IF I COULD JUST ADD ONE, THIS IS MY COMMISSION, MCCONNELL.
UM, RATHER THAN BUILDING POWER PLANTS, WE SHOULD BE, UH, PRESERVING LAND BUILDING PARKS, BUILDING, UH, COMMUNITY CENTERS, BUILDING ACTIVITY CENTERS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THE IRONBOUND, UM, IT'S MERCHANTS.
IT'S, IT'S A REALLY CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY THAT, UM, HAS BEEN BURDENED WITH ALL THESE, UH, UH, UH, UH, FACTORIES DOWN THERE.
AND, UM, UH, WE ARE, I AM REALLY, REALLY GLAD THAT, UM, THIS, THIS RESOLUTION WAS, UH, APPROVED BY THE BOARD TODAY.
AND, UH, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, NEWARK DOESN'T NEED ANOTHER POWER PLANT.
IF I COULD JUST ADD THAT THE EAST COMMISSIONER REALLY CARES.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 41.
COMMISSIONER GILL WILL SPEAK TO THE RESOLUTION, AND IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
COMMISSIONER GILL, PLEASE EXPLAIN THE RESOLUTION.
UH, THIS IS, UM, A RESOLUTION, UH, UM, SEEKING TO SUPPORT, UH, TWO PIECES OF LEGISLATION, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED DURING THE 20 20, 20 22, 20 23 SESSION OF,
[01:45:01]
UH, OUR STATE LEGISLATURE, UM, SUPPORTING AND AUTHORIZING, UH, THE CREATION OF LOCAL CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARDS, UH, TO REVIEW POLICE OPERATIONS, UH, AND CONDUCT.UH, I FIRST WANT TO, UM, UH, THANK YOU PRESIDENT RICHARDSON FOR AGREEING TO, UH, TO CO-SPONSOR THIS, UH, RESOLUTION, UH, WITH ME.
UM, HOPEFULLY MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES CAN ALSO SUPPORT, UM, THIS RESOLUTION.
BUT, UM, IN, IN LIGHT OF, UH, THE VARIOUS, UM, ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED, UM, UH, I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT, UH, THE MORE, UH, TRANSPARENCY, UM, AND OVERSIGHT THAT WE CAN HAVE, WE WILL ALL GET TO A BETTER, UH, PLACE.
WE'RE IN A VERY, YOU KNOW, UM, DIFFICULT, UH, SITUATIONS AS WE'VE OBSERVED OVER THE LAST, UM, FEW MONTHS, NOT JUST A FEW MONTHS, BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, HISTORICALLY.
UM, AND I JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS A VERY GOOD PIECE OF LEGISLATION, UM, UH, AIMED AT, UH, THE CONTINUE, UH, MOVEMENT, UH, TO DELIVER THE HIGHEST QUALITY PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, POSSIBLE.
SO, UM, SO WITH THAT, UM, MR. PRESIDENT, I'LL TURN IT OVER.
I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO BE PART OF THIS, AND PERHAPS IT COULD BE BY ACCLIMATION FROM THE ENTIRE BOARD.
I'M HA HAPPY THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO SIGN ON.
YEAH, I ABSOLUTELY, NO, I HAVEN'T, I HAVE NO OBJECTION.
AND, AND, UM, WOULD ALSO JUST, UM, UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT MENTIONED THAT, UM, UH, AGAIN, UM, ESSEX COUNTY IS AHEAD OF THE CURVE BECAUSE WE ARE DOING, UM, OR ALREADY HAVE DONE MANY OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION CALLS FOR.
SO, UH, DO WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, I KNOW WE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS TO GET THERE, BUT ALSO DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SHOWED, UH, IN TRYING TO, UH, DO SOMETHING TO CREATE SOMETHING, UH, THAT IS NOT EASY, UH, TO DEAL WITH OR TO GRAPPLE WITH, AND NOT BEING AFRAID TO DO THAT.
SO, UM, BUT YEAH, ABS, I WOULD, UH, ABSOLUTELY WELCOME THIS AS, AS ACCLIMATION AND APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S, UH, SUPPORT ON THAT.
NOW, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO MOVE.
AND YOU'RE RIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONER GILL, A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT THEY HAVE IN THE LEGISLATION, THE COUNTY OF INVESTING, BEEN OUT IN FRONT ON, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THINGS IN THIS, UH, COUNTY, YOU KNOW, BEFORE.
NO ONE HAD TO TELL US TO DO IT.
WE JUST STARTED DOING SEVERAL THINGS AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO DO IT.
SO, I KNOW YOU WANT TO MOVE THIS COMMISSIONER.
GIVE I, I I'D LIKE TO MOVE IT.
NO, IT'S MY TWIN MEDO SECOND ROLL CALL NOW.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 42 THROUGH 71, WHICH ARE ACCOMMODATIONS, MEMORIALS, AND PROCLAMATION RESOLUTIONS.
AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON 42 THROUGH 71? HEARING NUMBER? I HAVE A MOTION.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER RICARDO.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COOPER, ROLL CALL CLERK.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE TO REPORTER BOARD COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONERS.
DO WE HAVE ANY REPORTS? DO WE HAVE ANY LEGISLATIVE REPORTS? ARE THERE ANY WRITTEN COMMUNICATION? DO WE HAVE ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? DO WE HAVE ANY NEW BUSINESS? ONE SECOND.
IN THAT CASE, LET'S MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.
[01:50:01]
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.
JIM CHOI, VICE PRESIDENT, F O P 1 0 6, REPRESENTING ALL SWORN AND SUPERVISORY AND INVESTIGATIVE STAFF WITHIN THE ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
WE HAVE FILED MULTIPLE OPRAH REQUESTS FOR THE TRANSCRIPTS OF THE MAY AND JUNE, 2022 COMMISSIONER'S MEETINGS.
WE HAVE BEEN TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE, THAT WE'RE BETWEEN VENDORS.
UM, WE KEEP BEING POINTED TO THE VIDEO, WHICH WE FULLY APPRECIATE IS AVAILABLE.
HOWEVER, THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION IS HOLDING MULTIPLE DOCKETED CASES OPEN WITHIN THEIR DIVISION OF APPEALS AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS.
AND THEY WILL ONLY WORK FROM HARD COPY TRANSCRIPT.
A FACT THAT THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COUNCIL HAS BEEN MADE WELL AWARE OF, UM, SO WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD GET THE MAY AND JUNE, 2022 MEETINGS TRANSCRIBED AND MADE AVAILABLE.
CERTAINLY, THE MEETINGS UP TO AND INCLUDING THE APRIL, 2022 MEETINGS WERE TRANSCRIBED AND WERE APPROVED BY THIS BODY.
AND THEN IT JUST KIND OF STOPPED, AND THEN IT PICKED UP AGAIN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER.
NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED AS TO THE MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, UM, THAT WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER RELATED TO OUR EARLIER CONCERNS.
WE ASKED FOR AN INVITE TO THAT MEETING.
MATTER OF FACT, WE WOULD LIKE A SEAT ON THAT COMMITTEE.
IT WOULD UNTIE OUR HANDS TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THINGS LIKE VIOLATIONS OF STATUTORY LAW THAT WERE RECENTLY ENFORCED BY THE POLICE TRAINING COMMISSION VIOLATION NOTICES ISSUED AGAINST THE COUNTY BY THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION IN FEBRUARY, FBI UNDERCOVER ARRESTS AND ONGOING STING OPERATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING INSIDE THE FACILITY AS RECENTLY AS LAST WEEK, WEEK BEFORE THE SEVEN OR SO CIVIL TORT CASES AGAINST THE COUNTY, STEMMING FROM INMATES SUING FOR CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES, ALLEGATIONS BY STAFF OF COERCION AND BULLY TYPE TACTICS THAT ARE ALSO NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
AS TO THE POLICE ACADEMY, THE ESSEX COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY PROCESSES MORE RECRUITS THAN ANY NON-STATE ACADEMY IN NEW JERSEY, YET IT HAS THE FEWEST STAFF OF ANY ACADEMY IN NEW JERSEY.
IT'S NOT STAFFED, IT'S NOT FUNDED, IT'S JUST THIS THING THAT'S OUT THERE.
UM, THE POLICE TRAINING COMMISSION WILL BE DISCUSSING CERTAIN ISSUES ABOUT THE ESSEX COUNTY ACADEMY AT THEIR NEXT MEETING ON APRIL 5TH.
INCIDENTS EARLIER THIS YEAR PROMPTED REQUESTS FOR VIDEO OF COMMON AREAS OF THE POLICE ACADEMY, ONLY TO LEARN THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CAMERAS ARE THERE, THE VIDEO RECORDING SYSTEM HASN'T WORKED, AND NOBODY KNOWS WHEN THE LAST TIME IT WORKED WAS 30 SECONDS.
UH, WHEN WE WERE HERE LAST MAY AND JUNE, WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT CORRECTIONS OFFICERS CAN WORK FOR NINE MONTHS OR 12 MONTHS BEFORE THEY GO TO THE ACADEMY.
OUR CONCERNS WERE HEARD THE POLICE TRAINING COMMISSION THROUGH THE POLICE LICENSING ACT THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR MURPHY LAST YEAR.
AS OF JANUARY 1ST, 2024, NOBODY WORKS WITHOUT BEING LICENSED, THEREFORE, NO OFFICER WILL BE ON THE POD WITH THE INMATES WITHOUT HAVING FIRST ATTENDED THE ACADEMY.
I I, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION AND I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T.
UH, HOW IS THE TRANSCRIPTS FROM, JUST, JUST HOW ARE THE TRANSCRIPTS FROM THE TWO DATES THAT YOU ASKED FOR, FOR, FROM THIS, FROM THIS BODY GONNA HELP THE CIVIL SERVICE AND GIMME, AND JUST GIMME THOSE DATES AGAIN, PLEASE.
THE MAY, 2022 MEETING AND THE JUNE, 2022 MEETING, THERE WAS ONLY ONE MEETING EACH MONTH.
UM, THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION IS INVESTIGATING, THE, WHAT WE ALLEGE IS UNLAWFUL HIRING OF THOSE OFFICERS IN MAY AND JUNE.
THE DIVISION OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS THERE HAS OPENED THE DOCKET ON THOSE CASES.
THEY OPENED THE DOCKET SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS AGO, BUT THEY WILL ONLY WORK FROM A HARD COPY TRANSCRIPT.
WE KEEP REFERRING THEM TO THE VIDEO AND THEY KEEP SAYING, NO, WE NEED THE TRANSCRIPT.
YOU, UM, WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU PUT IN AN OPEN REQUEST? I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK, BUT I WOULD SAY ABOUT 30 DAYS AGO OR SO.
WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THAT IN A TIMELY FASHION.
I'M GONNA ASK THE CLERK TO MAKE SURE SHE EXPEDITES THAT.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? GOOD EVENING.
MAGGIE FREEMAN WITH GREAT PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY CONSERVANCY.
UM, I WANNA SPEND MY THREE MINUTES KIND OF TALKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES IN WEEK PARK.
UM, RIGHT NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN THREE FIRES, UM, WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, UM, WHICH
[01:55:01]
WE ARE ALREADY CONCERNED ABOUT ENVIRONMENTALLY.THAT'S A, UH, A DETRIMENT TO OUR PARK ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY CONCERNS.
UM, WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP OUR, I'M SORRY, RESOLUTION 21.
I'D LIKE AN EXPLANATION FOR WHY IT WAS, WAS WITHDRAWN FROM TODAY'S, UM, MEETING.
UM, IN REFERENCE TO THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'VE DONE WITH THROUGHOUT THE LAST 10 TO 12 YEARS WITH THE COUNTY, I WILL SAY THAT, UM, RECREATION THAT WE KNOW ALWAYS SAVES LIVES.
AND EACH TIME THAT WE CAN'T, UM, PERFORM THE RECREATIONAL SERVICES IN A CON, IN A STRUCTURED, SUPERVISORY WAY, UM, WE LOSE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY TO VIOLENCE, TO DRUGS, TO ALL THESE DIFFERENT DETRIMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
AND THAT'S, I'VE NEVER SEEN THE COUNTY KIND OF DELAY SOMETHING AS, UM, IMPORTANT AS RECREATION FOR YOUTH, UM, IN THIS WAY.
AND I, I JUST, WE JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY, UM, THIS IS NOT MOVING FORWARD IN THE EXPEDITIOUS WAY.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING THIS TOLIO JERRY DIO? I AM, UH, THE CORRESPONDENT SECRETARY OF P F O P, LOCAL 1 0 6, UH, REPRESENTING THE SUPERIOR OFFICERS AT THE JAIL.
AS MR. TRI OSI TOLD YOU, JUST NOW AS OF JANUARY, 2024, NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED TO WORK ON A POD OR WITH INMATES THAT HAS NOT GRADUATED THE ACADEMY FIRST.
BESIDES THAT, ONCE YOU GRADUATE THE ACADEMY, THAT DOESN'T MEAN ONCE THEY GO DOWN TO THE JAIL, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET SHELLSHOCKED AND NOT WANNA WORK THERE FOR LONG.
ANOTHER PROBLEM YOU HAVE IS BECAUSE THE OFFICERS DO NOT FEEL IT'S SAFE DOWN THERE, YOU HAVE A RECORD NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT ARE LEAVING TO GO TO OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
CURRENTLY, I THINK WITHIN THE LAST MONTH OR TWO A HUNDRED OFFICERS HAVE LEFT.
SO TO KEEP THE PLACE STOCKED WITH OFFICERS MAY BE A PROBLEM COME JANUARY, AND MORE AND MORE DEPARTMENTS ARE HIRING THESE PEOPLE AND THEY FEEL THEY'RE GOOD BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM BEING TRIGGER FINGER BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A GUN IN THE JAIL.
SO THEY DO VERY WELL IN PUBLIC FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD.
AND THEY'RE HIRING THEM A TOP PAY POLICE DEPARTMENTS, HIRING THEM A TOP PAY, AND THAT'S A BIG CONSIDERATION FOR THEM TO LEAVE.
AND I WAS A LIEUTENANT THERE, I RETIRED 12 YEARS AGO, AND MY CONCERN WAS ALWAYS WATCHING OUT FOR THE OFFICERS, FOR THE INMATES, AND FOR THE STAFF, INCLUDING NURSING.
JUST A WEEK OR TWO AGO, AN INMATE HAD TO MAKE A CODE BLUE BECAUSE AN OFFICER WAS GETTING CHOKED BY A FORENSIC, BY WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS A FORENSIC INMATE.
THE SAME INMATE WAS CAUGHT TRYING TO CHOKE A NURSE ONLY A WEEK BEFORE.
THAT'S HOW DANGEROUS IT IS DOWN THERE.
AND WHEN YOU HEAR THINGS ABOUT THE AMBROSE GROUP THAT THEY MADE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEY'RE BEING WORKED ON, YOU WANNA KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG.
I KNOW THEY SAID, WELL, WE DID SOME THINGS, BUT THE OTHER THINGS WERE, WELL, IT DOESN'T TAKE A YEAR TO GET THESE THINGS DONE THAT HE RECOMMENDED.
HE WANTED MORE PEOPLE IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
THERE IS A LIST, A CIVIL SERVICE LIST WITH SIX PEOPLE ON IT.
THEY'VE ONLY PICKED ONE, AND THAT PERSON FROM THE LAST TIME HE CHECKED WITH CIVIL SERVICE IS STILL LISTED AS A PROVISIONAL, NOT PERMANENT.
SO THERE'S NO REASON FOR THIS.
YOU SHOULD TELL THEM, I WANT A, A REPORT OF WHAT'S GOING ON, AND YOU SHOULD GET A MONTHLY REPORT OF HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAS TAKEN PLACE.
UM, THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO, UH, 21.
PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME ON THE RECORD.
UH, YES, IN REFERENCE TO NUMBER 21, THAT TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN GIVING THESE CONTRACTS, RIGHT? THAT OUR YOUTH, OUR CHILDREN ARE COMMUNITY, DESERVE, QUALITY, RECREATIONAL, OKAY.
NOT MEDIOCRE OR SUBPAR PROGRAMS. AND, UM, WE'VE BECOME, BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO SUBPAR PROGRAMS AND GIVING BIDS TO ANYBODY.
AND ALSO, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, UM, FOR, UM, FOR YOU,
[02:00:01]
UM, TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN GIVING THE BID, SO HOW SPECIFIC IS THE BID IN TERMS OF SERVICES PROVIDED? ARE THERE DETAILED BREAKDOWNS IN TRANSPARENCY? ARE THESE POSTED? WHAT WERE THE DETERMINING FACTORS THAT MADE THE W PSA OR WEEK CREEK PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY VERSUS OTHER MORE QUALIFIED VENDORS WERE AUDITS PERFORMED? AND WHEN, WHAT KIND OF TRAINING HAVE THOSE SUPERVISING THE KIDS RECEIVED? AND WHAT LICENSES DO THEY HAVE? HOW ARE THEY PAID AND CASH CHECKS, ET CETERA.IS THERE A PAPER TRAIL? ARE THERE RECORDS FOR EVERYONE WHO IS BEING PAID OR RECEIVING FUNDING? DO THEY HAVE INSPECTORS THAT COME BY? IF SO, DO WE HAVE RECORDS OF THOSE DATES AND THE REPORTS? ALSO? WHEN WILL I RECEIVE A COPY OF THE OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION BY DOMINIC SCAGLIONE OF MY HARASSMENT COMPLAINT AGAINST JOY FREEMAN AND BRIANNA FREEMAN AND ARE THE ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, TRYING TO CONCEAL THE CLANDESTINE ACTIVITIES OF THE WWI PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY IS A DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS COLLUDING WITH THE WEIK PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY AGAINST THE WICK PARK ASSOCIATION.
AND IS JOSEPH DIENZO AWARE OF ALL OF THIS? IS JOSEPH DIENZO, A SELF PROCLAIM DEMOCRAT AWARE THAT THE COUNTY IS SUBSIDIZING THE CLANDESTINE ACTIVITIES OF SELF-PROCLAIMED MAGA REPUBLICANS, POLITICIANS, DOUG FREEMAN, JOY, BANBURY FREEMAN, MAGGIE FREEMAN, THE WEAKER PARK SPORTS AUTHORITIES USE OF A TAX FUNDED PUBLIC COMMUNITY BUILDING FOR THEIR OWN BUSINESS AND POLITICAL ADVANCEMENT.
AND ARE THERE THE, ARE THE ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AWARE THAT ALTHOUGH WE, WE CREEK PARKS, UH, ASSOCIATION 30 SECONDS, HAVE HAD A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH THE ESSEX COUNTY FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS.
DAN ANTE'S APARTMENT PUTS OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF US, SUCH AS NOT ALLOWING US TO USE THE SPACE ON THE DATES REQUESTED, REFUSING TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR COLLEAGUES FOR PROJECTS, NOT PROVIDING US WITH ANY FUNDING, NOT KEEPING US ABREAST OF PROJECTS, OPPORTUNITIES IN OTHER ISSUES HAPPENING IN THE PARK, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN INFLUX OF ALMOST 82 MILLION TO THE PARK.
AND THAT'S A QUOTE FROM THE COUNTY.
THANK, ARE THERE ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? PLEASE COME TO THE MIC.
GOOD EVENING POLICE, SONAI JEDI.
PRESIDENT, UH, RICHMOND RICHARDSON.
I'M ALMOST COMPELLED TO ACTUALLY COME UP HERE.
I'VE WORKED WITH THESE GUYS FROM YEARS AGO.
I'M A CORRECTIONAL FORMER CORRECTIONAL OFFICER, FORMER FIREFIGHTER.
I WAS ACTUALLY HURT AND, UH, EXCESS COUNTY.
I WAS OUTTA COMMISSION FOR OVER 70 YEARS.
WHATEVER THESE GUYS ARE REQUESTING FOR CORRECTIONS, IT'S A VERY HAZARDOUS PLACE.
YOU GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH TEMPER, UH, AND THEY'RE READY TO LASH OUT.
SO IF THESE GUYS ARE REQUESTING SOMETHING AND THEY, HERE, IT'S REAL SERIOUS.
UM, I WANT TO INTRODUCE, UH, OUR CORPORATION, DAYTON STREET, UH, WHICH IS CALLED DCAP, DAYTON STREET COMMUNITY AWARENESS PROJECT.
UM, IN REGARDS TO THE PARK, UH, WE NEED A, A DOG PARK, UH, FOR, FOR PETS.
AND I'M NOTICING EVERYONE ELSE IS KIND OF RECEIVING AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE KIND OF GETTING QUESTIONED.
WHY DON'T WE HAVE ONE? SO, UM, I THINK I'M GONNA FORWARD A, A PETITION AND I DON'T KNOW WHO TO FORWARD IT TO.
UM, IF YOU COULD I, UH, DIRECT ME ON, ON THAT NOTE.
AND AS FAR AS DOUG FREEMAN AND FAMILY, UH, AND THEIR, THEIR RECREATIONAL, I'VE SEEN THEM WORK WITH KIDS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON FINANCIALLY, BUT I'VE SEEN THEIR WORK.
I'M RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET TO, TO ACTUALLY WITNESS EVERYTHING AS FAR AS CHILDREN ARE CONCERNED.
THEY'VE TAKEN A LOT OF KIDS AND A LOT OF OF OUR KIDS FROM DAYTON STREET UNDER THEIR WING.
AND AS IS OUR PRACTICE, ANY QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED IN WRITINGS.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? COME ON UP, GIVE YOUR NAME.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
[02:05:01]
BURY FREEMAN.I AM ONE OF THE MEMBERS FROM LEEWAY PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY.
PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE.
SO I'M SQUEEZE BEHAVIOR LOOK MORE.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.
I'VE HEARD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT WAS BEING SAID ABOUT QUA PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY.
OUR GROUP, MYSELF, BRIANNA FREEMAN, DOUGLAS FREEMAN, MAGGIE FREEMAN.
AND WE WORK WITH WEAK WAKE PARKS FORCE AUTHORITY.
I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY WE ARE BEING BASHED, AND I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE, BECAUSE THAT MEMORY IS CAN YOU SPEAK UP? IT'S HARD TO HEAR ME.
SPEAKING TO THE MIC, YOU CAN'T HEAR YOU.
YEAH, I'M, I'M SPEAKING INTO THE MIC.
I'M WANNA KNOW HOW LONG WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO KEEP BEING BASHED ABOUT OUR PERFORMANCE THAT SHOWS RECORD THAT WE'RE DOING A JOB.
I SAID IT WON'T BE MUCH LONGER.
WE, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT JUST SO YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE GOTTA IRON OUT BETWEEN, I, I'LL GO ON THE RECORD AND BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS TO OCCUPY WEEK.
AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A MEETING CALL BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS OKAY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO, TO PEACEFULLY COEXIST OR NOT, BUT, OKAY.
UH, AND I'M NOT TAKING SIDES MM-HMM.
BUT WHAT I WILL TELL YOU, I KNOW THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO DO WITH KIDS.
I'VE SEEN IT, I'VE BEEN A PART OF IT.
SO WHAT SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY IS WHAT THEY SAY, RIGHT.
BUT THE TWO GROUPS HAVE TO FIND SOME COMMONALITY AND SOME COMMON GROUND TO PEACEFULLY COEXIST, OR THERE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE SOME OTHER CHANGES MADE.
AND YOU COULD KEEP TALKING IF YOU WANT, OR YOU COULD JUST WAIT AND WE'LL HAVE AN ADULT CONVERSATION WITH, WITH ADULTS IN THE ROOM.
AND, AND WE'LL SIT DOWN AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN GOING FORWARD.
ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? GOOD EVENING.
MARKY OWENS WEEK PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY, UM, VICE PRESIDENT.
UM, SPEAKING OF WHAT SHE SPOKE ON, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT SOMEONE ASKS THE PERSON THAT KEEPS COMING UP, UH, SPEAKING BAD UPON US TO BRING SOME TYPE OF PROOF FORWARD.
SHE'S ASKING YOU GUYS TO DO THE WORK TO PROVE WHATEVER SHE'S SAYING, WHICH THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
AND, AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY FORUM THAT SHE CONTINUES TO, UH, SAY OUR NAME IN.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET BACK TO DOING WHAT WE DO WITH OR WITHOUT A CONTRACT.
JOSE LOPEZ, ALSO WEEKLY PARK, UM, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND FOOTBALL COACH.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA START OFF BY THANKING EVERYBODY.
I PRETTY SURE YOU REMEMBER I WAS THE COACH THAT, UM, HAD THE, UM, I SEE PROBABLY WITH THE YOUNG MAN THAT PASSED AWAY AT, UH, WEST SIDE PARK.
AND, UM, I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY HERE FOR FINDING THE HELP FOR ME.
I REMEMBER IT WAS YOU AND, UM, THEY DEEPLY HELP ME.
I WILL BE GRADUATING IN ANOTHER WEEK.
AND, UM, IT HELPED ME DEEPLY, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? I'M, I'M DOING WELL.
UM, I LEARNED TO TAKE THE YOUNG MAN OFF MY SHOULDER.
I HAVE HIM HERE IN MY HEART NOW, SO I'M DOING VERY WELL.
AND, UM, I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY HERE FOR THE HELP AND, YOU KNOW, SO I AGREE.
UM, AGAIN, UM, I ALREADY HEARD WHAT YOU JUST SAID, SO I'LL MAKE IT BRIEF.
WE WANNA SETTLE THIS, YOU KNOW, PEACEFULLY AND LIKE COULD DO SO WE COULD CO THIS.
AND, UM, I HOPE THAT WE CAN SETTLE THIS QUICKLY BECAUSE I AM DEEPLY DYING TO GET BACK TO WORK WITH THESE KIDS, YOU KNOW, SAYING THESE KIDS NEED US BADLY.
[02:10:01]
THEY, YOU KNOW, THE STREETS ARE GOBBLING THESE KIDS UP, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE UNDEFEATED AND THERE'S NO WAY THESE KIDS ARE EVER GOING TO BEAT THESE STREETS.BUT, UM, THE MORE THAT WE COULD KEEP 'EM OFF THE STREETS AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE, THE BETTER THEIR CHANCE IS.
SO THE QUICKER WE CAN HAVE THIS MEETING AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS AND GET US TO CO-EXIST, THE QUICKER THAT WE CAN DO THAT, THE BETTER OFF WE ARE.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, UH, VICE PRESIDENT FOR BARR.
WE DON'T NORMALLY ADDRESS FOLKS, BUT I JUST WANT TO TELL COACH LOPEZ, UH, YOU KNOW, IT IS, UH, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, IN YOUR ABSENCE, WHEN I CHAIR THE MEETING, UH, WE, UH, OFFERED MR. LOPEZ A LITTLE BIT OF ASSISTANCE.
AND, UH, WE, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW HALF I AM TO SEE YOU HERE.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT GOES ON AT THE PARK.
UM, AND I'M JUST HAPPY TO SEE YOU HERE.
I WANT TO THANK MR. JACKSON AND I WANT TO THANK DR.
THANK WHO, UH, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, SUSAN AND FOLKS HERE.
AND I EXPECT TO SEE YOU BACK HERE AGAIN.
WE GREAT PARK SPORTS SOCIETY PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SOME CLARIFICATION.
THERE'S NOT A PROBLEM BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS.
UH, WE RESPECT THE WEEK WAY PARK ASSOCIATION AND THE FOUNDATION AND WHAT IT STANDS ON FROM THE RUNNERS WHO ADVOCATED FOR WEEK WAY PARK FROM, UH, UH, MR. WHITTEN, UH, TO MOK, UH, MILITANT, WHICH WE HAVE HIS NAME ON THE BUILDER THAT WE ADVOCATED FOR TO WIN.
UH, MR. WOU AND MR. WILBERT, UM, ACTUALLY MET IN THE PADDLEBALL COURT AND WE WAS ABLE TO RESTORE IT TO THE POINT THAT WE, THE WEEK WAY PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY GATHERED ALL OF MR. WILBER'S AND THE WPA A'S DOCUMENTS AND PUT IT INTO STORAGE WITH OUR OWN LABOR.
THIS IS A, A ISSUE IN THE SMEAR CAMPAIGN BY INDIVIDUAL, AND THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.
NOT THE ORGANIZATIONS BEING ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME UNTIL THIS INDIVIDUAL WHO CONTINUES TO COME BEFORE THIS MICROPHONE AS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHO WAS JUST PUT IN PLACE, WHO IS NOW ADVOCATING AND PUTTING OUT FALSE ALLEGATIONS, DEFAMING OUR, UH, COUNTY AT THE UNITED, UH, PARKS AS ONE MEETINGS AND CONTINUING TO ADD RACISM IN ALL OF THESE OTHER ADJECTIVES, UH, TO OUR GREAT COUNTY.
SO THIS IS BEYOND TWO ORGANIZATIONS.
THIS IS STINGS THAT YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED DOWN THERE IN THE SCHOOLS WHEN, WHEN YOU DO NOT STOP INDIVIDUALS WHO SEEM TO BE UNRAVELED.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT TWO ORGANIZATIONS AT THIS POINT.
THIS IS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE DO NOT WANT WHAT HAPPENS INTO THESE SCHOOLS THAT HAPPEN INTO OUR PARK.
AS I SAID BEFORE, I HAVE BEEN CONFRONTED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO EVIDENTLY FOLLOWS THIS INDIVIDUAL.
THIS IS BEYOND JUST TWO ORGANIZATIONS.
WE ARE WORKING WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AS WE SPEAK.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE PERSON WHO CONTINUES TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND TO SHOW CAUSE OF WHY THEY ARE MAKING THESE ALLEGATIONS.
AND SO, JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, I WISH SHE HAD STAYED SO SHE COULD HEAR THIS.
UM, WE HAVE OUR, OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING IS THE 12TH, UH, I MEAN APRIL 12TH.
AND SO THE MEETING THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT CALLING, IT'S GONNA BE BEFORE THAT SO WE CAN GET BACK TO THIS RESOLUTION.
WELL, WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF RESOLUTION BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU, THE TWO GROUPS.
I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CHARACTERIZE IT AS AN INDIVIDUAL, BUT SHE'S STILL PART OF THAT GROUP, RIGHT? THE WWAY PARK ASSOCIATION.
YOU'RE THE WWAY PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY.
SO WHAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IF WE CAN CONTINUE FOR BOTH OF YOU TO COEXIST AND OCCUPY A PARTICULAR SPACE OR NOT.
AND IF YOU CAN'T, THEN WE'LL ADDRESS
[02:15:01]
THAT AS WELL.IT'S BEEN GOING ON FAR TOO LONG, AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE'RE ALL TIRED OF HEARING IT.
SO WE, WE ARE, WE'LL, WE'LL FIX IT IF YOU CAN.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR STATEMENT ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
UM, AND I THINK A LOT OF THE, THE GROUPS THAT COME UP WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DOING FOR OUR YOUTH, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THEM IS TO MODEL GOOD BEHAVIOR AND, UM, AND WORKING TOGETHER.
AND WHEN THEY LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON, THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY SEE.
AND SO WE ARE, UH, UH, A LOCKSTEP WITH THE BOARD ON MAKING SURE THAT SOMETHING GOOD COMES OUT OF THIS.
THAT, THAT AT COME, COME, UH, APRIL 12TH, WE'RE EITHER GONNA HAVE FIGURED THIS OUT OR WE'RE NOT.
AND, AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IS THAT REGARDLESS OF HOW IT TURNS OUT, WE ARE GONNA ENSURE WORKING WITH THE BOARD THAT PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, UM, OF FIRST CLASS PROGRAMS. AND, UM, BY NOCA CROOK IS GONNA HAPPEN.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH, UH, WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD AND TO OF COURSE OUR ADMINISTRATION, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, TO UH, DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
BUT IF IT HAS TO GO A DIFFERENT WAY, SO BE IT.
I THINK YOU, YOU SAID IT BEST, MR. PRESIDENT.
EVERYBODY HERE HAS HAD ENOUGH.
AND UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO, I I, I HESITATE TO GO HERE, BUT I, I, I JUST FEEL COMPELLED TO DO IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS, AS, AS A, AS A AFRICAN AMERICAN SITTING HERE.
I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD HOPE IS THAT WE COULD BE, AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, COULD MODEL, UM, GETTING ALONG AND WORKING TOGETHER.
IT IS THE, THE, THE, THE WORST DEMONSTRATION OF, OF UNITY WHEN WE HAVE THIS KIND OF, UM, AND, AND I'M, AGAIN, NOT POINT OF FINGERS, BUT CLEARLY SOMETHING IS AMISS AND IT DOESN'T SPEAK TO, UM, ALL THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT, ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER.
WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, UM, WE TALK ABOUT IMOS AND ALL THESE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR FOR KWANA OF GETTING TOGETHER.
AND YET AT A VERY SIMPLE LEVEL, WE CAN'T WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE, UH, AN ENVIRONMENT GOOD FOR OUR KIDS.
SO EVERYTHING ELSE WE TALK ABOUT IS JUST RHETORIC AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
IF WE DON'T SIT DOWN AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS, UH, FACILITY IN THIS MAGNIFICENT PARK, UH, OFFERS SOMETHING THAT'S POSITIVE FOR OUR KIDS.
AND AT THE SAME TIME WE AS ADULTS MODEL BEHAVIOR THAT THEY CAN SAY, THIS IS HOW ONE SHOULD COMPORT ONESELF IN, IN A CERTAIN SETTING.
CUZ THEY'RE NOT SEEING THAT NOW.
ARE ANY OTHER PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK THAT THE RECORD REFLECTED IS NO OTHER PERSON WISHING TO SPEAK? COMMISSIONERS ANY COMMENTS OR COMMISSIONER? VICE PRESIDENT FOR MARK? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I JUST, UH, VERY BRIEF CAUSE I KNOW EVERYONE WANTS TO GET HOME ALREADY.
UM, BUT AS YOU MAY HAVE ALL HEARD AT THIS POINT, THE DECAMP BUS LINES AND TRANSPORTATION HAS ANNOUNCED VERY SUDDEN AND DEPARTURE FROM SERVICES.
AND, UH, I, ALONG WITH THE PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONER GILL, FORMER PRESIDENT GILL, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO JOIN CONGRESSWOMAN CHERYL IN A LETTER TO NEW JERSEY TRANSIT, IMPLORING THEM TO PICK UP THE SLACK WHERE DECAMP WILL FAILED, UH, AS A RESULT OF NO LONGER OFFERING SERVICES.
AND I THINK IT'S VERY WORTH MENTORING.
UH, AND HOPEFULLY THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE CERTAINLY WEREN'T THE ONLY ONES.
THERE WERE A LONG LIST OF ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THAT LIST, UH, WITH THE CONGRESSWOMAN IMPLORING YOU DURING THE TRANSIT TO PLEASE CONSIDER, UH, PICKING UP THE SLACK HERE BECAUSE COMMUTERS NEEDED.
I KNOW WHILE YOU SEE ME HERE, I WORK IN NEW YORK MANY TIMES AND I COMMUTE AS WELL.
MY SON COMMUTES TO SCHOOL, DOESN'T USE THE CAMP, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING, UH, THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICE THERE.
SO THAT EMPLOY EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, WHETHER YOU TAKE THE DECAMP BUSES OR NOT TO IMPLORE THAT NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.
STEP UP AND HELP US OUT BECAUSE ALL OF US HERE, WHETHER YOU COMMUTE OR WHETHER YOUR WIFE OR YOUR HUSBAND OR YOUR CHILDREN OR YOUR BROTHER, SISTER, NEIGHBOR, EVERYONE WILL COMMUTE SOMEONE IN YOUR NETWORK.
I GUARANTEE YOU COMMUTES USING THIS MASS TRANSIT AND IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE SUPPORT IT.
SO I WOULD ASK ALL OF YOU AND ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU, I'M SURE MY COMMISSIONER COLLEAGUES WOULD AGREE.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN ANYONE'S MOUTH, BUT THIS IS VERY BASIC AND VERY SIMPLE TO EMPLOY NEW JERSEY TRANSIT, THE FOR CAMPUS STATE.
UH, COMMISSIONER PALMER HARRIS, VICE PRESIDENT.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, MY, YOU KNOW, MY COMMISSIONER COLLEAGUE IS ASKING HERE IF WE COULD SEND A RESOLUTION AND YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE,
[02:20:01]
IF WE ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE SUNDAY RESOLUTION TOWARDS NEW JERSEY TRANSIT IN POURING THEM TO DO SO.MODELING THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S SUFFERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD PUT IT TOGETHER BY NATION AS A SHOW OF FORCE.
THIS IS A NO TO ME, BUT I DON'T WANT SPEAK FOR EXCELLENT.
AND IF WE CAN, LET'S GIVE THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THE PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL TO CALL NEW JERSEY TRANSIT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE.
I'LL BE SURE THAT, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, COMMISSIONER COOPER.
AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO PUT THAT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND TAG EVERYONE AND WE CAN SUPPORT THE WORK.
I'M SURPRISED YOU DON'T HAVE IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA ALREADY.
WHAT'S THAT? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER GIL? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
JUST, UM, UH, MY COMMENT ACTUALLY WASN'T ABOUT THAT ISSUE, BUT IT CONCUR WITH, UH, ALL THOSE THOUGHTS AND OF COURSE, THE FULL SUPPORT, THE FULL BOARD ON A RESOLUTION, BUT ALSO JUST WANTED TO ALSO, UM, MENTION THAT IT WAS, UM, JUST BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT ALSO I BELIEVE OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, UM, ANNOUNCED, UH, UH, TO ALL THE MAYORS, UH, OF THE COUNTY THAT HE WAS, UM, ALSO WERE FOLLOWING UP ON THAT SAME REQUEST AND TRYING TO, AND TRYING TO SEE IF WE COULD DO ANYTHING IN ADDITION.
SO I THREE, MR. PRESIDENT ALSO, UM, AND I'M SURE YOU ARE IMPLORE THE ADMINISTRATION TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO AS A COUNTY, NOT ONLY, NOT ONLY PRESSURE NEW JERSEY TRANSIT, BUT WE CAN DO AS A COUNTY TO HELP FILL THOSE, UM, GAPS, UH, THROUGH OUR OWN TRANSPORTATION, UH, NETWORKS, UH, AND PROGRAMMING, UM, YOU KNOW, AS, AS QUICKLY AND AS SOON AS, UH, POSSIBLE.
UM, SECONDLY, HAD THE, UM, UH, PLEASURE, UH, THIS WEEKEND TO ATTEND, UH, A GRAND OPENING, UM, IN MONTCLAIR, UH, OF OUR, UM, UH, I REALLY FIRST EVER, UH, SKATE PARK, UM, UH, CALLED THE CANYON COURTS.
AND, UH, AS MAYOR JA, OR AS FORMER MAYOR JACKSON
AND ACTUALLY, UH, WE WERE REQUESTED TO ACTUALLY HAVE TO START A CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, SKATEBOARDING IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOW BEING DONE ALL OVER
UM, UH, IT'S A RISING SPORT, I SHOULD SAY.
AND, UH, AND WE'RE USUALLY FIRST IN CLASS IN PARKS.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, AND THE ADMINISTRATION ON EXPLORING WAYS THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY EXPAND ACCESS TO THAT, TO THAT SPORT.
UH, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT OUR OWN COUNTY PARK SYSTEM COMMISSION IS SIBO.
NUMBER ONE, LIVINGSTON HAS A, A SKATEBOARD, UH, PARK THAT'S BEEN IN USE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND IT'S VERY, VERY POPULAR IN TOWN.
AND I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO THE RESOLUTION TO GO TO NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A MEETING UNTIL OCTOBER 12TH, CORRECT? APRIL.
SO COULD THE RESOLUTION GO OUT PRIOR TO OUR MEETING TO CAS? SO HAVE TO VOTE ON RESOLUTIONS, BUT I, I'M WORRIED ABOUT WAITING TOO LONG.
THIS, SO DON'T WE DO A LETTER? DO A LETTER? YEAH, WE CAN DO A LETTER.
WE ALL SIGN AND THEN WE CAN HAVE A RESOLUTION.
THE RESOLUTION COULD FOLLOW THE LETTER.
I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD MEDIA LIKE.
COMMISSIONER, ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, NOW MOTION TO ADJOURN.