[00:00:01]
HOLDING UP THE SHOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? YES.YOU, YOU JUST GET, WE CAN GET STARTED.
ARE WE READY? IS THE MICROPHONE WORKING? YES.
WILL YOU HEAR ME OKAY? AS LONG AS YOU CAN HEAR ME.
I'M COMMISSIONER OF MARCH ON OUR ESSEX COUNTY BOARD THIS AFTERNOON.
I'M EXCITED TO HONOR MY DEAR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, ASSEMBLYWOMAN MILE JC.
BEFORE I ASK HER TO JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD WHO ARE HERE.
WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, WAYNE RICHARDSON, COMMISSIONER BOBBY MARCADO, COMMISSIONER LEN LUCIANO, COMMISSIONER ROMAINE GRANT, COMMISSIONER BRENDA GILL, AND COMMISSIONER TACHE COOPER.
NOW ASSEMBLYWOMAN JC, WOULD YOU JOIN ME HERE AT THE PODIUM? OLD FRIENDS MYLET JC HAS BEEN A TRAILBLAZER AND AN INSPIRATION TO MANY, ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN IN POLITICS.
IT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN AN EASY TASK OR FRIENDLY PLACE, BUT BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND YOU AND YOUR PERSEVERANCE, THERE'S A SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR MANY.
THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS TO SAY ABOUT YOU.
HOWEVER, I WILL SHARE THE WONDERFUL HIGHLIGHTS FROM YOUR CAREER OUTLINES AN ACCOMMODATION.
THE HONORABLE MYLA AND JC WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE ASSEMBLY IN 2007 AND LATER SELECTED AS DEPUTY SPEAKER WHERE SHE IS CURRENTLY SERVING HER SEVENTH TERM, REPRESENTING FOUR TOWNS IN ESSEX, MARS COUNTY.
I FIRST MET MILA JASON JUST BEFORE SHE RAN FOR THE ASSEMBLY.
ASSEMBLYWOMAN JC SERVED AS VICE CHAIR OF THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, AND SHE WAS THE LEAD SPONSOR OF MORE THAN A HALF DOZEN MEASURES, PROTECTING TENANTS AND HOMEOWNERS FACING FORECLOSURE, RESULTING IN A LANDMARK LAND BANKING BILL BEING SIGNED INTO LAW.
PRIOR TO JOINING THE ASSEMBLY, SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE SOUTH ORANGE MAPLEWOOD BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THREE YEARS, EIGHT, OH, IT SAYS THREE YEARS.
I CORRECTED FOR EIGHT YEARS, INCLUDING TWO YEARS AS PRESIDENT.
SHE ALSO SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE PTA HSA FOR MANY YEARS, AND WAS PRESIDENT FOR TWO YEARS.
SHE IS A LONGSTANDING MEMBER OF THE COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT FOUNDATION, SOUTH ORANGE MAPLEWOOD COMMUNITY COALITION ON RACE.
WHILE ING LEE, NURTURE NEW JERSEY, THE LEGAL WOMEN VOTERS EMERGE, NEW JERSEY, PAMS LIST, NAACP AND THE NEW JERSEY LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS.
ASSEMBLYWOMAN JC IS A FELLOW TO THE HUNT INSTITUTE.
SHE'S A FORMER PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE WHO PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES AND PREVENTIVE CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
ASSEMBLYWOMAN JC HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR HER WORK AND HER LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES BY THE NEW JERSEY STATE NURSE'S ASSOCIATION.
SHE RECEIVED HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM BARNARD COLLEGE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, AND HER MASTER'S DEGREE FROM PACE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING.
HER EFFORTS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE NEW JERSEY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION COURT AND STATE EQUALITY, NEW JERSEY STATE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, NEW JERSEY BRAIN AND JURY ASSOCIATION, THE FRIENDS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION COUNCIL OF COUNTY COLLEGE, THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF ESSEX AND MARS COUNTIES, AND THE NEW JERSEY WOMEN'S NETWORK IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
SHE IS MARRIED TO HER HUSBAND, NEIL, WHOM I ALSO HAPPEN TO KNOW, AND HE'S A RETIRED JUDGE, JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW.
AND THEY ARE THE PARENTS OF THREE ADULT CHILDREN AND SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN.
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AND IF I MIGHT ADD, MILA JC IS ONE OF 11 CHILDREN AND HER MOTHER IS 98 AND LIVES WITH HER.SO THIS AFTERNOON WE ARE PRESENTING YOU WITH THE BOARD'S ACCOMMODATION AND THANKING YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS OVER THE YEARS.
AND WE WISH YOU MUCH AND WE WISH YOU MUCH HEALTH AND HAPPINESS IN ALL OF YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
AND WE URGE YOU TO RELAX AND ENJOY YOUR FAMILY
AND I'LL GIVE YOU SOME TO SPEED.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT WHAT TO SAY.
AND THE FIRST THING THAT I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT PAT HAS BEEN WITH ME FROM THE BEGINNING.
ONE OF THE HAPPIEST MEMORIES I HAVE WITH PAT AND I HAVE A LOT OF MEMORIES IS WHEN WE WERE AT, UM, THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN COLORADO FOR BARACK OBAMA.
IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TIME IN MY LIFE, AND I FELT INCREDIBLY BLESSED AND HONORED TO BE THERE.
AND I'M SO GLAD I SHARED IT WITH YOU.
PAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SUPPORT.
AND ACTUALLY PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER HAS BEEN A GREAT SUPPORTER.
AND SO I THANK EACH OF YOU THAT THE PERSON I HAVE TO THANK THE MOST IS THE ONE TAKING A PICTURE.
MARY AND I HAVE BEEN TOGETHER SINCE 2007.
SHE IS A GEM BECAUSE SHE'S VERY POLITICAL AND I'M NOT SO, AND SHE, I DON'T THINK SHE'S EVER STEERED ME THE WRONG WAY BY HONESTLY THE OTHER.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU PUBLICLY, MARY.
UM, I ALSO DID SOMETHING THAT I, I THINK WAS THE BEST THING TO DO.
AND THAT IS I ASKED A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE IF SHE WOULD RUN IN MY PLACE.
AND WE TALKED FOR A WHILE AND SHE FINALLY SAID, OKAY, ALL RIGHT, I CAN, I THINK I CAN DO IT, BUT, WELL, MARY STAYED WITH ME.
AND I SAID, OKAY, NOW I HAVE TO TALK TO THE CHAIRMAN.
SO BARNETT HALL IS RUNNING, AND I, SHE HAS ALL OF MY SUPPORT.
WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE TAKES THAT SEAT.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS HAPPENING AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL IS WE ARE LOSING A LOT OF WOMEN.
I DID NOT DO THIS DELIBERATELY.
I THOUGHT LONG AND HARD ABOUT WHEN AND WHY I WOULD RETIRE.
UM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, UM, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO BALANCE HOME AND WORK AND MAKE IT TO MEETINGS, ET CETERA.
AND AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW, I HAVE TWO MAJOR REASONS FOR LEAVING AT THIS TIME.
NOT BECAUSE I DON'T TREASURE THE WORK I DO.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF A LOT OF THE BILLS THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN ACROSS.
AND I TRUST GARNET TO WORK ON THE ONES THAT ARE STILL PENDING.
BUT AS PAT MENTIONED, I HAVE A 98 YEAR OLD MOM WHO'S LIVED WITH US MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
AND I WANT TO HAVE THE TIME TO RECORD HER STORIES.
MAYBE THAT'S WHY I FELT SO COMFORTABLE IN THE LEGISLATIVE, ALL THIS
UM, AND I HAVE ONE SISTER WHO LIVES WITH US NOW.
SHE'S A TEACHER HERE IN NEWARK.
AND THE TWO OF US SHARE, UH, HER CARE.
BUT TEACHING IS, IS A FULL-TIME JOB TOO.
AND SO SHE'S NOT HOME WHEN I'M NOT HOME.
AND THE OTHER REASON IS MY SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN, BECAUSE NEIL AND I COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED
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TO BE GRANDPARENTS.AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE GRANDPARENTS, KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING.
THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT YET, NOT YET, YOU WILL, UM, YOU WILL.
AND WE ARE ESPECIALLY LUCKY BECAUSE ALL SEVEN OF THEM LIVE WITHIN 20 TO 30 MINUTES OF US.
SO NOT ONLY DO WE GET TO SEE THEM ON OCCASIONS, BUT WE GET THAT CALL A LOT.
THE BABYSITTER DIDN'T SHOW UP.
THE BABYSITTER SAID, THE KID HAS SAID GRANDMA DUTY, GRANDMA DUTY.
IN FACT, RIGHT NOW, MY HUSBAND IS CHAUFFEURING AROUND THE BOYS TO THEIR DIFFERENT PRACTICES IN MONTCLAIR.
SO, UM, WE, WE ARE SO LUCKY AND OUR LIFE IS SO FULL.
AND, UM, BEING A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE LAST, WELL, FOR BEING IN PUBLIC SERVICE FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS, UM, HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND ONE THAT I WILL ALWAYS TREASURE AND I WILL ALWAYS BE THERE SHOULD ANYONE NEED MY HELP OR, YOU KNOW, SUGGESTIONS.
BUT I THINK IT'S TIME TO STEP BACK NOW AND, UM, AND ENJOY OUR TIME TOGETHER.
SO WITH THAT, I I THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE BECAUSE OF PAT AND IT IS VERY, VERY SPECIAL TO ME.
THANK WHAT MY, WHAT MYLA DIDN'T MENTION HERS.
ONE OF HER SONS, SHE HAS TWO SONS AND A DAUGHTER.
ONE OF THE SONS IS THE HEAD NEUROLOGIST AT KESSLER.
AND MILA CALLED ME ONE NIGHT FROM SHOP.
HER SON HAD A MEETING AT DINNERTIME AND HIS WIFE HAD A MEETING AT THE SAME TIME.
SO MILA'S PICKING UP FOOD BECAUSE HER SON ASKED HER SHE COULD PROVIDE DINNER FOR THEM CAUSE THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE HOME.
SO SHE'S GOT LOTS OF RESPONSIBILITIES NOW THAT SHE HAS TO TAKE CARE OF US, TAKE THAT SHE HAS TO TAKE CARE OF.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY SHE'S LEAVING SUCH AN IMPORTANT POSITION.
AND THE LEGISLATURE WILL TRULY MISS ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE.
I'M GONNA ADD ONE SECOND BECAUSE THERE MAY BE SOME OTHERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.
I THINK THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, WAYNE RICHARDSON, WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE MIC AND SAY SOMETHING.
I, UM, TOO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.
UH, I HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU BELONGED TO, OR YOU WERE ASSOCIATED WITH ALL OF THOSE THINGS,
I, UH, MET YOU DURING, UH, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER FIGHT WITH CAM ANDERSON AND THOSE FOLKS IN THE CITY OF NEWARK, SENATOR RICE AND WITH SENATOR ALONG WITH SENATOR RICE.
AND I, I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT HOW YOU LED THE CHARGE, UH, IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, UH, ON BEHALF OF GETTING LOCAL CONTROL, REGAINING LOCAL CONTROL FOR THE CITY OF FLORIDA SO THEY CAN SELF-GOVERNMENT.
AND AND I'LL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW, MY WIFE WAS, UH, WAS ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AT THAT TIME.
SHE HAD RETIRED FROM TEACHING AND SHE RAN FOR OFFICE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M GRATEFUL THAT I, THAT I DID MEET YOU AND FOREVER WILL BE INDEBTED TO YOU FOR HELPING US GET LOCAL CONTROL BACK FOR THE CITY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.
I APPRECIATE THAT COMMISSION TO COME UP SO WE CAN TAKE THANK YOU.
I'LL HOPE KEEP COUNTING AGAINST ME.
I
ASSEMBLYWOMAN JC WAS SELECTED AT A SEPTEMBER
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CONVENTION OF THE ESSEX COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE.I HAD WORKED FOR HER PREDECESSOR AND A VACANCY AROSE, PROBABLY EVERYONE HERE KNOWS THIS STORY, BUT I WAS STILL IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
THE FIRST ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO CALLED TO CONGRATULATE ASSEMBLYWOMAN JC AND ASKED FOR HER CELL PHONE NUMBER SO SHE COULD GET IN TOUCH WITH HER WAS COMMISSIONER PAL.
AND I REMIND HER OF THAT ALL THE TIME, THE TIME.
AND THAT IS KIND OF HOW PAT AND I BECAME FRIENDS.
AND I WOULD BE HONORED TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH ALL OF YOU, EVEN THOUGH I SHOULDN'T COME CLOSE.
AND BEFORE WE CONTINUE, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE CLERK TO THE BOARD, UPPER DAVIS AND THE DEPUTY OF THE CLERK, KATHY BROWN, FOR SETTING THIS ALL UP, THIS WONDERFUL OCCASION FOR US.
OKAY TOO? NO, I JUST, OH, OKAY.
NOW WE'RE, WHAT DID YOU WANT, DEBORAH? SHE'S GETTING WITH SINCE THE BEGINNING AS WELL.
YOU'RE GETTING NEXT TO MY PAGE.
DO YOU WANNA GO ON THAT SIDE? NO.
LET'S PLEASE GIVE ASSEMBLYWOMAN ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
ASSEMBLYWOMAN BEFORE YOU GO TODAY IS ALSO PROVIDER, UM, THIS WEEK APPRECIATION FOR DAYCARE CENTERS AND YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF DAYCARE AND CHILDCARE.
IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT AS A WORKING MOTHER, I INTIMATELY UNDERSTAND THOSE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO BALANCE OUT WORK AND CHILDCARE AND FAMILY DUTIES AT THE SAME TIME.
UM, BEFORE MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY, I WAS HER CAREGIVER AND SHE OFTEN JOKINGLY WOULD TELL THE DOCTORS, SHE'S NOT THE MOTHER I AM WITHOUT RUNNING JOKE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT ONCE A MAN, TWICE A CHILD.
AND NOW I'VE LIVED THAT AND I EXPERIENCED IT.
CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE STATE.
AND MY COMMENT THERE WOULD BE, IN THE COUNTRY, AS WEALTHY AS OURS, WE STILL DON'T TAKE CARE OF OUR LITTLE ONES AND OUR ELDERS VERY WELL.
YOU'RE, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
BUT ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE START TO CHANGE ALL OF THAT IS HAVING MORE WOMEN ELECTED.
YOU KNOW, STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT OUR COMMUNITIES DO BETTER, OUR STATES DO BETTER WHEN MORE WOMEN ARE LEADING.
AND I KNOW I'M SO PROUD OF OUR CHAIRMAN, LEROY JONES, WHO HAVE BROUGHT MORE WOMEN INTO THE FOLD.
WE STILL HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.
SO AGAIN, I SALUTE YOU, I CONGRATULATE YOU.
I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR ALL OF US.
AND AS A FORMER LACTATION CONSULTANT, I WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE THE LACTATION IN NURSING ROOM.
LET'S GIVE A RONALD APPLAUSE THAT.
CAUSE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, I WAS IN BREASTFEEDING PUMP PUMPING MAMA AT THE SAME TIME.
SO BELIEVE ME, I ABSOLUTELY GET IT.
BUT TODAY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH CELEBRATING YOU, WE ARE ALSO CELEBRATING COMMUNITY DAY NURSERY WHO HAILS FROM THE GREAT CITY OF EAST ORANGE, WHERE I'M FROM.
UM, ACTUALLY MY NIECE IS A NEPHEW, GONE TO YOUR DAYCARE CENTER.
SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN AROUND A REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LONG TIME AND HAS EDUCATED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS IN EAST ORANGE, IN NEWARK, IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.
[00:20:01]
UM, I, ALONG WITH MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL AND COMMISSIONER GILL, PLEASE COME AND JOIN ME AS WE CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE COMMUNITY DAY AND SPECIFICALLY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARY PORTELLI.AND ALL THE GREAT WORK DID YOU DO.
SO CAN YOU PLEASE COME UP, PLEASE, MS. PORTELLI, SO THAT WE CAN, UM, GIVE YOU YOUR ACCOMMODATION AND HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY DAY AND ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
AND AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS, UM, TO OUR ASSEMBLY MOVEMENT.
I'M THE COMMISSIONER FOR DISTRICT ONE.
AND I AM HAPPY TO CO-SPONSOR A RESOLUTION THAT BRINGS AWARENESS TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS THAT'S SO DESPERATE.
YOU NEED TO DEPEND ON COUNT ON DAYCARE AND, UM, UH, AND TO REALLY LOOK OUT FOR OUR MOST PRECIOUS AND VULNERABLE COMMODITY, OUR CHILDREN.
UM, I COULD TELL YOU MY WIFE, UM, WORKED IN A DAYCARE IN NEWARK HER ENTIRE CAREER SINCE SHE GOT OUTTA HIGH SCHOOL.
SARAH WARD NURSERY OVER ON J STREET.
SHE WORKED THERE FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS.
UM, MR. ELLI JOINS US HERE AT CU PODIUM.
AND, UM, I JUST WANNA READ A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COMMENDATION.
UM, COMMUNITY DAYCARE NURSERY AND OTHER ORGANIZATION NATIONWIDE ARE RECOGNIZING THIS WEEK AS CHILDCARE PROVIDERS WEEK.
UM, MAY 12TH, 2023, COMMUNITY DAY NURSERY IN EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY IS A PRIVATE NONPROFIT CHILDCARE CENTER THAT PARTNERS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OFFER PRE-K TO CHILDREN IN EAST ORANGE.
THE OFFER BEFORE AND AFTERCARE PROGRAMS AND FULL DAY SUMMER PROGRAMS. LAST YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION CELEBRATED 125 YEARS SERVING THE COMMUNITY.
CHILDCARE PROVIDES SAFETY, NURTURING PLACE FOR ENRICHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF MILLIONS OF CHILDREN NATIONWIDE.
ITS VITAL FORCE IN OUR ECONOMY.
THE PANDEMIC ILLUMINATED HOW INDISPENSABLE CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ARE FOR THE WELLBEING OF ECONOMIC SECURITY OF ESSEX COUNTY'S YOUNG CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES.
CHILDCARE PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE MOSTLY SMALL BUSINESSES, RUNNING STAFF BY PREDOMINANTLY WOMEN ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE HEALTH AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS, STEMMING FROM THE PANDEMIC WHILE THEY HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILIES THEY SERVE.
AS THIS COUNTY RECOGNIZES THAT CHILDCARE HAS BEEN A LIFELINE FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
AND THE ECONOMY HAS PROVIDED MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT TO PROVIDERS TO HELP SUSTAIN THE VIABILITY OF CHILDCARE.
OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY AND THE QUANTITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES PROVIDED TO YOUNG CHILDREN TODAY.
SUPPORT THE HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE REPRESENTS A, A WORTHY COMMITMENT TO OUR CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE.
UM, AND AGAIN, I WANT TO COMMIT YOU, CONGRATULATE YOU, YOUR ORGANIZATION, YOUR STAFF, BECAUSE THE STAFF AT THE CHILDCARE CENTERS ARE THE ONES BEHIND THE SCENES, AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY MAKE IT WORK.
MY WIFE WAS AN ASSISTANT, SHE WASN'T A TEACHER, SHE WAS THE ASSISTANT, BUT SHE KNEW MORE THAN THE TEACHERS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LOT OF TEACHERS COME IN, YOU KNOW, YOU GET NEW TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE TURNAROUND IN CHILDCARE SOMETIMES IS, IS, IS, IS, IS FREQUENT.
YOU KNOW, CUZ THEY COME IN AND THEY GO OUT AND THEY GET NEW JOBS, THEY GOTTA RECRUIT.
UM, AND, UH, MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THAT WHEN WE HAD NEW TEACHERS COMING OUTTA COLLEGE, EAGER TO TEACH, EAGER TO LEARN, MY WIFE AND HER COLLEAGUES, ASSISTANTS, AND I, I, IT IS JUST KUDOS TO ALL THE ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THEY REALLY DON'T GET THE CREDIT THAT THEY REALLY DESERVE.
THEY PROVIDE, UM, UH, A WEALTH OF SUPPORT TO THE TEACHERS AND THE CHILDREN.
SO AGAIN, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR A VERY WELL DESERVED RECOGNITION.
UM, AND, UH, I THINK IT'S ALL BEEN SAID
UH, COMMISSIONER MECADO, UH, AND COMMISSIONER COOPER FOR ALLOWING ME TO CO-SPONSOR, UH, THIS RESOLUTION, UH, WITH YOU.
UH, BEFORE I JUMP INTO THAT RESOLUTION, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO ALSO PERSONALLY CONGRATULATE, UM, ASSEMBLYWOMAN JC FOR, FOR CAREER, UH, NOT ONLY FOR HER CAREER.
WE, WE SHARE A SPECIAL CONNECTION AS WELL.
UH, HER, ONE OF HER GRANDSONS AND MY OLDEST LAWYER THE SAME AGE.
AND WE'LL BE GRADUATING THE EIGHTH GRADE, UM, IN JUST A FEW WEEKS MOVING UP ON, UH, TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, SO WE, WE'VE BEEN OUT THERE, UH, ON THE SOCCER FIELDS, UH, TOGETHER.
AND, UH, FROM A DISTANCE, ONE OF THE THINGS, UM, THAT, UM,
[00:25:01]
I MOST ADMIRE ABOUT THE ASSEMBLY IS HER ABILITY TO BALANCE ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND MAKE SURE SHE WAS PRESENT, UH, FOR THOSE, FOR THOSE MOMENTS TO BE WITH HER, UH, FAMILY.I WANT TO COMMEND COMMISSIONER SEABOLD, UH, FOR RECOGNIZING FOR, FOR HER SERVICE.
UH, AND I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON, UH, UH, TO CALL.
UH, UM, AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, AL AL MY WIFE, IS NOW ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR.
UM, NOT ABOUT THAT, BUT THE FIRST PERSON TO REACH OUT AND ASK FOR HER CELL PHONE NUMBER WAS COMMISSIONER SEBO
SO, OR ONE, SHE WAS THE TOM MOVE FIRST, BUT SHE WAS THE TOP FIVE.
SO, UM, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.
AND, UM, AND I SAY IT ALL THE TIME, UH, AND IT WAS MENTIONED AS SOME WOMEN IN YOUR OWN REMARKS, BUT, UM, UM, THE ISSUE OF REPRESENTATION IN THE LEGISLATURE, THE ISSUE OF, UM, OF HAVING DIVERSE VOICES IN THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT ONE THAT HAS TAKEN LIGHTLY.
AND IT'S PEOPLE WHO PLAY, UM, COMMISSIONER SIEBEL TO HELP BEHAVE THE WAY AND CONTINUED FOR THAT.
UM, AND SHE SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS WELL FOR HER, CONTINUED FOR HER CONTINUED SERVICE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I, WE KNOW THAT OFTENTIMES SHE WAS THE ONLY WOMAN VOICE, UH, IN SOME OF THOSE ROOMS, UH, ON THIS, ON THIS BOARD, UM, UH, AND HER OWN LEADERSHIP ROLE.
SO, UH, A LOT OF US AND OTHER FAMILIES WHO WERE INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SERVICE STAND ON HER, ON HER SHOULDERS.
AND OF COURSE, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION OVER THE YEARS DID NOT GO UNNOTICED.
IT WAS MENTIONED BY OUR PRESIDENT, UH, WAYNE RICHARDSON, ABOUT YOUR ROLE, UH, IN THE CITY OF NEWARK DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT OVERALL, JUST BEING A STORM SUPPORTER, BECAUSE EIGHT YEARS ON A BOARD OF EDUCATION, WHICH IS, THAT'S A LOT
SO WE'RE SORRY WE GOT THAT ONE WRONG.
IT'S LIKE, YOU'RE LIKE, NO, NOT THREE EIGHT
AND AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, BUT THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF, OF ALL OF THE MANY CHILDREN, UH, OUT THERE WHO HAVE BEEN GONE THROUGH OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.
AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOUR SUCCESSOR WILL CONTINUE, UH, THAT LEGACY AS WELL AS MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO COME UP, YOU KNOW, UP AND BEHIND YOU, AND WILL SERVE IN THE LEGISLATURE VERY HOPEFULLY VERY SOON.
SO, THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT, UM, PROVIDER APPRECIATION DAY, ES COUNTY, IT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID.
I'M, I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO, UH, PRESENT, UH, BUSINESS WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
UM, IT, UH, IS A SERVICE, UH, NOT JUST A SERVICE.
IT'S A PROFESSION THAT NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED, UH, SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AND SHOULD BE, UH, SUPPORTED.
SO I KNOW WE'LL DO WHATEVER WE CAN HERE AT THE COUNTY TO CONTINUE TO, UH, TO SUPPORT YOU, NOT ONLY YOUR INSTITUTION, BUT ALL THE INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE DOING THAT WORK.
SO, I, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS, THIS IS, THIS IS REALLY AN AMAZING DAY FOR ME.
WE ARE, WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU TERRIBLY.
YOU ARE VOICE FOR CHILDREN IN EDUCATION IN NEW JERSEY, AND, AND WE REALLY NEED THAT.
UM, THE FIELD OF EARLY CHILDHOOD IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TIME IN A CHILD'S LIFE.
WHEN, WHEN CHILDREN ARE, ARE TWO AND THREE AND FOUR, AND THEY'RE JUST LEARNING AND DEVELOPING.
THEIR BRAINS ARE DEVELOPING, THEY'RE LEARNING SO MUCH.
WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT EARLY CARE IN EDUCATION IS.
AFTER THE PANDEMIC, WE SAW THE DEVASTATION THAT CAUSED THE FAMILIES WHEN THEY HAD NO PLACE FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO GO.
SO, UM, I JUST WANNA ACCEPT THIS ON BEHALF OF THE AMAZING PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH AT COMMUNITY DAY.
HAVE TEACHER ASSISTANTS WHO ARE OUTSTANDING.
UM, OUR FAMILY WORKERS, OUR KITCHEN STAFF, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY.
AND PLEASE, PLEASE COME AND VISIT US.
WE'D LOVE TO TAKE YOU ON A TOUR SO YOU CAN SEE THE FACILITY.
[00:30:01]
CONGRATULATIONS.SO COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONERS, I NEED YOU BACK HERE IN ABOUT, UH, 17 MINUTES.
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COMMISSIONER[00:55:17]
HEREBY[00:55:17]
CALLS[00:55:17]
WATER.[00:55:19]
THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED IN ADDITION TO TAKING PLACE IN PERSON ROLL CALL MATTER.COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
HERE, PLEASE STAND THE FLAG AND REMAIN STANDING FOR SILENCE.
I'M GONNA ASK COMMISSION, MOVE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH HE STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD INVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR, AND PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR MOLDER SILENCE FOR ALL THE SENSELESS KILLINGS AND MASS SHOOTINGS IN THIS COUNTRY.
THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAPPEN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD EXCEPT FOR HERE.
I HAVE BEFORE YOUR CERTIFICATION FROM THE BOOK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC.
BEING THAT, ARE THERE ANY TRANSCRIPTS? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE.
THE MAY 11TH, 2022 CONFERENCE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR CONFERENCE HEARING? I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT? YES.
NOT ANY TOPICS FROM DISCUSSION, MR. PRESIDENT? THEY'RE NONE IN THAT CASE.
LET'S MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.
TONIGHT'S MEETING IS THE COMBINED COUNSELING SLASH BOARD MEETING AND WE'LL BOARD ON EVERY ITEM AGENDA.
SO IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER 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'LL 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.
REFLECT MADAM CLERK, THERE'S NO ONE WISH TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCES ON INTER READING.
DO WE HAVE THAT, UH, MR. PRESIDENT? UH, WE HAD ONE, HOWEVER, THAT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY ADMINISTRATION.
LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR LISTENING PURPOSES ALL.
DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION ON SECOND READING IN THE PUBLIC HEARING TIME? UH, YES.
WE HAVE ORDINANCE O DASH 2023 ORDINANCE O DASH 20 23 11, AND ORDINANCE O 20 23 12.
LET'S MOVE FORWARD O 2023 AND WE'LL BE READY THROUGH RECORD AT A LATER.
I DO HEREBY DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCE O 2023 OPEN.
IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK FOR THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
YOU MINUTES COURT WILL LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT.
WANT, WISH TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
UH, JUST A REMIND THE BOARD, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS A BOND ORDINANCE FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT THE COUNTY COLLEGE, UH, THAT WERE DISCUSSED, UH, THOROUGHLY ON FIRST READING OF LAST WEEK.
MR. NO QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS?
[01:00:01]
HERE WE, I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING.23 BY COMMISSION, SECOND BY COMMISSION.
UM, DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVE IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE? YES.
ROCO COMMISSIONER SIEGEL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT CAMARA.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
AND IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD.
I DO HEREBY DECLARE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE NUMBER OH DASH 2023 DASH 11.
IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO LIKE TO COMMENT FOR OR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION, AND WE WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THAT WILL LET THE RECORD REFLECT NO WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST HIS DESIRE.
UH, NO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS MR. PRESENT.
MR. MC COMMISSION QUESTIONS COMMON HERE? WE HONOR, WE'LL HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING ON ACCORD DASH 2023.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER COOPER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER.
A SECOND TO APPROVE THE AUDIENCE.
ROBO COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT CAMARA.
COMMISSIONER PRESENT RICHARDSON? YES.
LET'S MOVE O 20 23 12 AND WILL BE REGISTER THE RECORD AT A TIME.
I DO HEREBY DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE OH, 20 23 2 OPEN.
IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FOR OR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO MICROPHONE.
STATE AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
MADAM COURT, LET THE RECORD REFLECTED ON THE NO MOTION TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
MR. PAUL? NO COMMENTS, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. MR. PRESIDENT, JUST, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
THIS, THIS INCLUDE ARE, ARE WE HAVING A PRESENTATION BY CIA TODAY? OR, OR SOME COMMENTS, UH, WE HAD NOT PLANNED ON.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAD NOT PLANNED ON ANYTHING FOR SECOND MEETING COMMISSIONERS.
DO I HAVE A MOVE IN A SECOND? I'LL SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON TWO.
OH, DO I HAVE THE SAME ORDER A SECOND TO APPROVE THE YES.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCONNELL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION ONE THROUGH THREE.
WE'RE GONNA DO A LITTLE DIFFERENT FORMAT TONIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE ALL THE ITEMS AND VOTE, UH, TAKE THEM ALL AS ONE AND VOTE ON 'EM.
SO, I WANT YOU TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING EXCEPT ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
MR. PRESIDENT MEETING P NUMBER TO THE BOARD.
UH, I'M GOING TO, UH, HANDLE ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE AND WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS ASSIGN FOR THE OTHER.
UM, ITEM NUMBER ONE IS A BUDGET INSERTION IN AMOUNT OF $58,691.
THIS IS TO SUPPORT THE SENIORS FARMER MARKET NUTRITION PROGRAM WHERE, UH, SENIORS OF, OF, OF A CERTAIN INCOME AND AGE, UH, ARE ABLE TO GET $50 VOUCHERS TO, UH, GET FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
[01:05:01]
AN ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FROM, UH, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY TO IMPLEMENT THAT PROGRAM.ITEM TWO, UH, BUDGET INSERTION AND AMOUNT OF $53,278.
THIS IS TO FUND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE
UH, AND THIS GRANT, UH, JUST, UH, OFFSETS A SMALL PORTION OF THE SALARY WAGES THAT DEEP EMPLOYEES WHO WORK IN THIS AREA, UM, TO OFFSET SOME OF THEIR COSTS.
AND THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH AND THERE WAS NO COUNTY MATCH FOR NUMBER ONE.
ITEM THREE, UH, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, THIS IS FOR THE YOUTH INCENTIVE PROGRAM, UH, FOR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION.
UH, THIS AGAIN FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT IN THE AMOUNT OF $45,314.
THAT HELPS, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR CAREGIVERS WHO HAVE, UM, BEHAVIORAL, UH, CHALLENGES.
AND THIS HELPS US SUPPORT, AGAIN, ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS.
UM, ITEM FIVE, UH, MRK MR. PRESENT THROUGH PURCHASING.
THIS IS A NAME CHANGE FROM WATCH GUARD VIDEO TO MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS AND WATCH GUARD USED TO PROVIDE, UM, OFFICERS BODY CAMERAS AND NOW MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS WHILE HANDLE IT.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK.
THIS IS A CONTRACT WITH SO E SOFTWARE TO PROVIDE THE RECORDING, REPORTING, UH, UM, SUPPORT.
UH, THE THIS PROGRAM, UH, PROVIDES, UH, IF YOU GO ON IN AND SEE THAT IT PROVIDES A GRAPHICAL MAP OF DISPLAY ON ELECTION NIGHT, ON, ON, ON AN ONGOING BASIS.
UM, IT, UH, PRECINCT REPORTING AND ALSO PROVIDES FOR, UH, MOBILE ACCESS, UH, THROUGHOUT.
AND IT PROVIDES, UH, AMPLE SECURITY.
AND, UH, MR. HUNT HAS, UH, UH, LOOKED AT IT AND, AND AGREES THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY A PROGRAM THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE 20, UH, 18, UM, TO PROVIDE FOR ELECTION NIGHT, UH, REPORTING.
AND THIS CONTRACT IS AN AMOUNT OF, UM, IT'S A TWO YEAR CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $40,400.
UH, LET'S SEE, ITEM SEVEN, UH, MR. ST.
UH, ITEM SEVEN INVOLVES A PAYMENT OF LE OF LEGAL FEES TO THE KEN'S LAW FIRM, UH, FOR A MATTER, UH, WHERE, UH, MR. O WAS SUED THE COUNTY OF IN CERTAIN, UM, OFFICERS OF THE COUNTY.
THE, THE REASON THAT WE ARE CHANGING LAW FIRMS, AND THIS IS THE, THIS WILL BE THE LAST OF THIS FIRM, IS BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CARRIER TO PICK UP THE DEFENSE.
THEY WANT TO, UH, UH, SELECT COUNCIL TO REPRESENT BOTH THE CARRIER AND THE COUNTY.
THEY, THEY HAD, THEY HAD A LIST OF NAMES.
UH, ONE OF THE FIRMS IS SOMEONE THAT ALREADY REPRESENTS US, WHICH IS NOVAS FIRM.
SO I SAID, WELL, ANGELA JUVA ACCEPTABLE TO US.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE SWITCHING THE
ONE QUESTION, UH, MR. ST, JUST A QUESTION ON THE CARRIER PROVIDED, DOES THE COUNTY HAVE ANY PAYMENTS IN TERMS OF AN S I R OR ANY TOWARD THOSE DEFENSE COSTS? YES.
AND, AND, UH, MRO, I DO FIND IT DISTASTEFUL THAT THE CARRIER HAS THE RIGHT TO DO THAT.
I LOOKED AT THE POLICY CAREFULLY.
IT'S IN THE POLICY VERY CLEARLY.
I DID LEGAL RESEARCH, UH, AND THAT THE, THERE ARE SEVERAL CASES THAT SAYS THE CARRIER HAS THE RIGHT TO DO THAT UNLESS THEY DENY COVERAGE.
AND THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE, THEY'VE GIVEN A RE, THEY'VE GIVEN US A RESERVATION OF RIGHTS LETTER, BUT THEY HAVEN'T DENIED COVERAGE.
AND, AND I'M PERFECTLY HAPPY WITH, UH, JENOVA BURN.
UH, ITEM EIGHT, MR. PRESIDENT.
MS. AICK, WE'LL, WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT ITEM.
APRIL, CALLWELL, UH, SS COUNTY, WE OWE THE SERVICES.
ALEXANDRA ICK IS YOUR TRAINING AND APPOINTMENT.
UM, THE AMOUNT FOR INDIVIDUAL TRAINING ACCOUNTS FOR THE COUNTY FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS HAS BEEN AT $4,000.
UM, SO WE REQUESTED TO PUT IN AN INCREASE WITH INFLATION AND INCREASE COST OF TRAINING TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT FROM 4,000 TO 6,000.
UM, THE AMOUNT AND BOOKS AND FEES THAT STAYED THE SAME, SO GO FROM 4,500 TO 6,500, AND THAT WOULD BE BOTH FOR OLA AND, AND STAFF PARTICIPANTS AS WELL.
[01:10:01]
THANK YOU.YOU LIKE YOU STILL STANDING THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE YOU, YOU NEED TO KNOW? NO, THAT'S IT.
THIS PRESIDENT, UH, IS A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF, UH, A THREE YEAR CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,271,121 WITH GD CORRECTIONAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE FOR FOOD SERVICES AT THE ESSEX COUNTY HOSPITAL CENTER.
CONTRACT GOES FROM JUNE 1ST, 2023 TO MAY 31ST, 2026.
UM, AND THERE IS A, UH, A SLIGHT 4.9% INCREASE, UH, FROM $33 4 CENTS PER PATIENT PER DAY TO $34 AND 65 PER PATIENT PER DAY.
MR. CORAN, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, NUMBER 10.
I KNOW YOU'RE VERY SAD THIS EVENING THAT MR. IS NOT HERE.
HE ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S NO EXCUSE
HE TOLD ME HE WASN'T GOING TO.
HE ALSO TOLD ME HIS SON WASN'T TOO GOOD AT PLAY.
UH, THIS IS, UH, AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION AMENDMENT.
UH, THE ORIGINAL DECLARATION WAS DECLARED ON JANUARY 30TH, THE NEW MAN OF $68,922 AND 95 CENTS.
UH, SINCE THAT TIME, THERE WAS A ASBESTOS OF ABATEMENT IN THE AMOUNT, ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF $21,250, BRINGING THE GRAND TOTAL TO, UH, 90,001 $72 AND 95 CENTS.
NUMBER 11 IS THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, UH, ENGINEERING RESOLUTION CONSENTING TO THE CITY OF NEWARK, UH, FOR, UH, SEVEN R THREE A 0 2 1 5 2 3 SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE AT BUS STOP THAT IS BEING REQUESTED BY MCE.
TRANSIT NUMBER 12 IS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEERING RESOLUTION, CONSENTING TO THE BOROUGH GLEN RIDGE, INSTALLATION OF RECTANGULAR RAPID FLASH FLASHING BEACON PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL AT RIDGEWOOD AVENUE IN CARTER STREET AND RIDGEWOOD AVENUE IN WILDWOOD, A TERRORIST RESPECTIVELY IN THE BOROUGH OF GLEN RIDGE.
THE RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED ON JULY 11TH, 2022 AND MARCH 13TH, 2023.
NUMBER 13 IS THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF CONTRACTING ORDERED CUT HOLDING ME FOR THE OUTFITTING OF 26 SHERIFF'S VEHICLES IN THE AMOUNT OF $330,472 AND 16 CENTS WITH VARIOUS FLIGHTS AND OTHER PARAPHERNALIA THAT ARE FOR THE UH, SHERIFF'S VEHICLE.
NUMBER 14 IS THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR, UH, CONTRACT AWARD TO FRANK TRUCKS FOR TWO NEW 2023 CHEVROLET TAHOE PREMIER ESCORT VEHICLES.
EACH VEHICLE IS $68,996 PER VEHICLE.
TOTAL AMOUNT IS HUNDRED 37,920 $992,000.
NUMBER 15, WHICH IS THE OFFICE OF PROSECUTOR, AGAIN, FRANK'S TRUCK CENTER, SOLE RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE BID FOR TERRAIN S E SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLE IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,974.
WE HAD ONE THERE, MR. THANK YOU.
UH, MR. I'M THE TWO PROSECUTOR ITEMS. 1450 ARE THOSE REPLACEMENT VEHICLES.
THE TWO VEHICLES SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLES ARE REPLACEMENT VEHICLES.
AND NUMBER 15 IS AN INDIVIDUAL VAN FOR ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THE PROSECUTOR, UH, WILLIAMS HANDLES FOR COMMUNITY WORK.
QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY ARGUMENTS, COMMISSION ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY ITEMS? HEARING HONOR? I WANT, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO TAKE ONE THROUGH 15.
I THINK I HEARD THE VP, UH, MOVE.
[01:15:09]
COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT LAMAR? YES.
SO MOVED 16TH THROUGH COMMISSION.
ACCOMMODATIONS AND MEMORIALS AND PREPARATION REVOLUTIONS.
WE'LL BE READY TO RECORD AT MOTION BY, BY COMMISSIONER COOPER.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SIBEL
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT LAMAR? YES.
SO NOW WE'LL GO BACK TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON THE AGENDA.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, ITEM FOUR IS A ONE-TIME ALLOCATION TO THE YESES COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT OF 2 BILLION TO ASSIST IN OFFSETTING IS REVENUE LOSS IS CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
AGAIN, THIS IS A ONE TIME, UM, ALLOCATION.
AND MR. ALE AND MR ARE HERE TO, UH, UH, ADDRESS THIS.
I AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, ANTHONY JERSEY GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES STEVE ROTH, E C I A WITH RESPECT TO THE 2 MILLION AS, UH, YOU MAY KNOW THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED BY THE COUNTY OVER THE YEARS TO LOOK O OVERLOOK THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND THE USES OF THE COUNTY HAD.
WE WERE ASKED TO LOOK AT THE REVENUE SHORTFALLS UP AT THE E C I A TO SEE WHETHER THEY QUALIFY FOR ANY FUNDING OR NOT.
SO WE DID THE SAME METHODOLOGY THAT THE COUNTY USED FOR THEIR CALCULATION.
WE USED 2019 AUDIT TO USE OUR BENCH AS A BENCH YEAR CAUSE IT WAS PRE COVID.
AND WE TOOK THE AUDIT FROM 2021.
WE TOOK FROM THEIR ACCOUNT SYSTEM 22, SINCE IT'S TOO EARLY IN THE YEAR TO HAVE THE AUDIT.
THEY HAD A REVENUE SHORTFALL FOR THOSE TIME PERIODS OF OVER 2 MILLION, 2,286,000.
SO WE SUGGESTED THAT THE COUNTY CAN, IF THEY WISH TO FUND, BUT WE SENT 2 MILLION, EVEN NUMBER ONE, TO ROUNDED OFF NUMBER TWO TO BE ABLE TO, UH, ALLOW FOR SOME ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON THE AUDIT, MR. DOING, WE, WE, WE DID NOT REQUEST IT.
LOOK, WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY THAT, UH, THAT THE COUNTY HAS TAKEN LOOK AT THAT TO SEE IF, UH, WE MIGHT BE ENTITLED TO IT.
WE WE'RE CERTAINLY VERY PLEASED THAT THAT DUN.
SO YOU DIDN'T INITIATE THE ASK E C I A DIDN'T INITIATE THE ASK? IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? NO, NO.
WE DID NOT INITIATE MR. UM, ANY QUESTIONS, FRANK, MR. BECK? YES.
UH, SO, UM, GIVEN THAT YOU'LL GET THIS 2 MILLION, AND YOU SAY, ANTHONY, YOU SAY THE REVENUES WERE DOWN BY THE GROSS REVENUES WERE DOWN BY 2 MILLION.
HOW DID THAT IMPACT ON EXPENSES? WERE EXPENSES DOWN ALSO, OR, OR DID THEY STAY LEVEL? UH, PRIOR YEARS, I, I TOOK A QUICK LOOK AT EXPENDITURES, BUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EXPENDITURES.
UM, THEIR FIXED COST WOULD'VE BEEN THE SAME NO MATTER WHAT.
UH, THEY DID HAVE SOME OTHER EXPENSES THAT THEY, THEY TOOK OUT THE SURPLUS, ESSENTIALLY.
UH, BUT I DID NOT GET DEEP INTO EXPENDITURES.
CAUSE AMERICAN RESCUE DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THAT AS A USE FOR, UH, IT'S, IT'S FUNDING.
IT'S NOT TO REPLACE EXPENDITURES, IT'S STRICTLY TO REPLACE REVENUE.
AND WE CONFIRMED IT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TOO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE, WE KNEW WE COULD DO IT FOR THE COUNTY.
WEREN'T SURE WE COULD DO OTHER AGENCIES.
SO WE REACHED OUT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEY CAME BACK TO, POINTED OUT WHERE THAT WAS, UH, STATED.
[01:20:01]
BUT THE, BUT THE REASON FOR IT, I'M ASSUMING, IS THAT YOU, YOU WANTED TO NOT ONLY, I MEAN, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE REAL MOTIVE HERE IS JUST TO REPLACE THE REVENUES, OR, OR IS THERE, IS THERE AN EXPECTATION THAT REVENUES WILL BE DOWN IN THE FUTURE OR THAT PROFITABILITY ISN'T THERE AND THAT THE ECI IS NOT, NOT PROFITABLE AT THIS TIME? OR IS IT STRICTLY JUST THE, IS IT STRICTLY JUST THE OPPORTUNITY? LET, LEMME FINISH THE QUESTION.IS IT STRICTLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BE ABLE TO MOVE 2 MILLION AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS, UM, AND THAT THIS MONEY IS IN NEED BY THE COUNTY? LET ME, LET ME EXPRESS, JUST PUT YOUR NAME ON A RECORD, PLEASE.
LET ME EXPRESS, UH, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE AUTHORITY HAS, HAS HIS NEED FOR FUNDS IN, IN ONE MAJOR, MAJOR FASHION.
AND THAT IS, IT IS, UH, ENGAGED IN THE LITIGATION IN THE PASSAIC RIVER, THE, THE LARGEST OF SUCH EPA LITIGATION EVER IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND WE'RE ENGAGED IN, IN THAT CASE, UH, DUE TO THE, UH, PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY FOR THE COUNTY JAIL.
AND WE HAVE INDEMNIFIED, THEY WERE UNDER PREVIOUS, PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS WERE INDEMNIFIED FOR ANY CLAIMS THAT WERE MADE.
AND SO WE ARE NOW ACTIVELY ENGAGED AT A HIGH COST TO, UM, DEAL WITH THAT LITIGATION.
UM, WE HAVE HOPEFULLY RESOLVED THE TWO STRETCHES OF THE
AND THAT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
AND THAT I, AND NOW I FULLY UNDERSTAND.
SO I GUESS WE'RE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GETTING THE POINT THAT WASN'T SOMETHING YOU SOUGHT.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE TO GIVE THE E C I A, UM, 2 MILLION OUT OF THE OUTTA THESE, UH, GRANT FUNDS, WHICH ARE NEEDED BY THE COUNTY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND YES, THIS BOARDS SEEING THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AS WE SEE IN THE AGENDA FOR THE E C I THAT'S PRESENTED FOR, UH, TO US THIS EVENING, THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL, EVERY SINGLE AGENDA THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM YOU SAID, SHOWS CONSIDERABLE FEES, UH, PAID TO THIS FIRM.
UH, IN THIS CASE JUST TO SATISFY FUND, THE FEES WERE 53,000, ALMOST $54,000 TO MCCANNON.
HE ASSAULT AND ROONEY, AND ACTUALLY WE DID HAVE MR. ROBERT TO A CONFERENCE BOARD A FEW YEARS BACK TO DISCUSS THIS LITIGATION THAT'S BEEN, THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON.
AND THE FACT THAT IT HAS BEEN COSTING IS A, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
SO, UH, IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT IF THIS $2 MILLION HELPS YOU OFFSET THE COST OF THAT LITIGATION, I THINK IT IS, IT'S, IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT.
THANK YOU, MR. I DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS MR. COOPER.
UH, MR. PAULO, CAN YOU JUST GIVE US, UM, NOT NOW BECAUSE IT'S A LITIGATION.
IT, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS.
UM, THE, UH, THE NEWARK BANK LITIGATION? YES.
I MEAN THE, UH, SAY BERKELEY LOCATION, SORRY.
YES, I CAN, I, I'LL GET SOMETHING WRITING ABOUT THAT.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION, THE SAME QUESTION THAT I ASK LEADERSHIP.
AND MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, YOU HAVE A 4 MILLION SURPLUS AT THIS TIME, AND SO HOW COME THAT'S NOT ABUSE? OH, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT IS BEING USED AND IT'S BEING HELD IN, IN RESERVE FOR ADDITIONAL SETTLEMENTS THAT ARE GONNA BE IMPOSED UPON US.
SO THERE, THERE, THERE, THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE EXPOSED TO.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PRESERVING FUNDS FOR.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE DEMAND AS WE'RE BEING ASSESS THOSE.
THIS IS MC UH, AND THAT, THAT BRINGS UP LIKE ANOTHER POINT.
IF THIS MONEY GOES IN AS UNRESTRICTED, OBVIOUSLY IT CAN BE USED FOR OPERATING EXPENSES.
UM, I NOTICED THAT IN THE AUDIT THERE WAS WELL OVER 2 MILLION IN ITS WELL CRUDE EXPENSES, WHICH IS VERY HIGH FOR A BUDGET THAT HAS, UH, UNDER A MILLION DOLLARS ON ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS OF, OF AN OPERATING BUDGET.
[01:25:01]
THAT ACCRUED EXPENSE THAT'S LISTED AS A LIABILITY? CURRENT LIABILITY? ARE, ARE THERE RESERVES IN THERE FOR THIS LITIGATION? WE, WE HAVE.THERE HAVE BEEN SOME RESERVES.
DID YOU SEE ANY OF I DID NOT WANT THAT.
NO, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME, SOME RESERVES ALL ALONG.
SO IT, IT IS, IT, IS IT, I MEAN, I KNOW THIS MONEY IS GIVEN TO YOU IN AN UNRESTRICTED WAY, BUT IT MAY BE ADVISABLE TO TAKE IF SOME, IF NOT ALL OF IT, AND UM, ALSO RESERVE A PORTION OF IT, UH, MAYBE USED SOME FOR OPERATIONS, BUT ALSO TRY TO RESERVE A PORTION OF IT, UM, FOR THE POTENTIAL FOR, FOR THAT, UH, LITIGATION SETTLE.
I, I, I, I COULDN'T ACCEPT THAT, THAT THAT WOULD BE FINE IF, IF THAT WANTS TO BE CONDITIONED IN THAT FASHION.
I'M NOT CONDITIONING, I'M JUST SAYING FROM A PRUDENT STANDPOINT, I, I DON'T THINK THE, THE BOARD RIGHT NOW HAS THAT, UM, ISSUE BEFORE IT.
I THINK JUST FROM A, FROM A PRUDENT STANDARD WHEN ON A FINANCIAL BASIS, IT WOULD SEEM, YOU KNOW, RATIONAL IF YOU'RE EXPECTING A LARGE HIT AND YOU'RE ALSO ALREADY RESERVING FUNDS AND ALSO USING YOUR UNRESTRICTED OR, UM, OR, UM, DESIGNATED YOUR UNRESTRICTED RESERVES AS POTENTIAL PAYMENTS FOR THIS LITIGATION, THAT THIS $2 MILLION WILL MAKE PORTION OF IT ALL RESERVE.
DID THIS MONEY JUST COME IN? THIS AMERICAN RESCUE MONEY IS HIS OLD MONEY.
PLEASE, PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME ONE THE RECORDS.
UH, THIS MONEY CAME IN TWO YEARS AGO AND HAS A LIFE UNTIL THE END OF 2024.
IT WAS OVER, IT WAS ABOUT 166 MILLION THAT WE'VE BEEN USING OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
PRIOR TO THAT, DID I HEAR CORRECTLY THAT THE, UH, ORGANIZATION HAS A DEFICIT OR NO, THAT I MISUNDERSTAND? IT'S NOT THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAD A DEFICIT.
THEY STILL HAVE A $4 MILLION SURPLUS, BUT THEY HAD A DEFICIT IN, IN REVENUES COMPARED TO THE PRE COVID LEVEL, WHICH IS WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANTS US TO CHECK ON.
SO EVERYTHING'S HAS GONE BACK TO 19.
AND WE WENT TO THE END OF 22, WHICH IS A 2 MILLION SHORTFALL, A LITTLE OVER 2 MILLION.
SO ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS FOR HOW WE USE THIS MONEY? NO, IT, IT, IT IS JUST A REVENUE SHORTFALL.
IT GOES INTO THEIR, IT WOULD BE UP TO THEM AS TO DO HOW THEY, THEY END UP USING IT AND, UM, AS MAKE BEST MC SUGGEST TO RESERVE IT OR NOT.
UH, THEY ALREADY, I ASSUME HAVE THEIR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.
SO IT WAS, WOULD NOT BE AN ANTICIPATED REVENUE.
I WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
THIS MONEY CAME TO THE COUNTY AND WE WERE GIVING IT TO THE AUTHORITY.
AND WE HAVE UNDER, WE ASKED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPECIFICALLY IF WE CAN DO THAT.
AND THEY SAID WE CAN'T GIVE THE OTHER GOVERNMENTS.
WE, WE ASKED WAS IT DOESN'T SPELL OUT.
UH, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOESN'T GIVE DIRECT ANSWERS.
THEY JUST POINT YOU SOMEWHERE.
AND WHERE THEY POINTED US TO, WHICH WAS INFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, IT SAID, WE CAN GIVE TO OTHER GOVERNMENTS IF THIS, THIS COMMISSIONER.
NO, REMEMBER WE DID THE SAME THING WITH CARES.
WE GAVE 45 MILLION TO ALL THE TOWNS.
UH, AND THAT WAS NOT, THAT WAS SUSPEND ON COVID ITSELF.
SO IS IT, UH, FAIR TO SAY THAT THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED, THE LITIGATION YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW? WE WOULD BE WITH RESPECT TO THE
SO THEN WHAT WILL BE THE PLAN WHEN YOU THEN HAVE LITIGATION WITH THE NEW BAY PORTION OF IT, WHICH IS GONNA, THAT THAT'S SIMPLY PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME ON THE RECORD.
THAT'S SIMPLY AN EXTENSION OF THIS.
IS THE SAME, SAME ISSUES, JUST ADDITIONAL, UH, AREAS THAT DOWN IS, IS SEEKING, UH, TO, UM, IMPROVE.
SO THAT WILL COST MORE MONEY, CORRECT? YES, CERTAINLY.
AND WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR THAT AND WHAT'S THE, WHAT, WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR DEALING WITH THAT? THE, THE, EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.
THE SAME ENGAGEMENT IN DEFENSE ALLY WHEN SHE'S THE CHIEF PARTY THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POLLUTION OF THE RIVER AND THE BAY.
THEY ARE BRINGING ALL OF THE OTHER POTENTIAL PARTIES INTO THE LITIGATION.
THAT'S HOW WE ALL SUCK INTO THIS.
AND WE WILL STAY THERE AS LONG AS EPA STILL WANTS TO CLEAN UP THE RIVER AND THE BANK.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT TO BE A VERY LONG PROCESS OVER DECADES.
SO IT'S AT LEAST 20 YEARS AND 4 BILLION LAST.
I CHECK THAT PROBABLY GONNA BE, SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHAT IS
[01:30:01]
THE PLAN TO FUND THAT LITIGATION MOVING FORWARD WHEN YOU EXHAUST THESE $2 MILLION? IS THE GONNA COME BACK HERE TO ASK MORE? NO, NO, NO, NO OTHER, OTHER REVENUE THAT WE MAY MAKE FROM OTHER SOURCES, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN USING.ALL WE'VE BEEN USING FUNDS THAT WE'VE GENERATED FROM OTHER SOURCES, UH, ARE FINANCING IN VARIOUS PROJECTS ALL OVER, UH, THIS COUNTY AND SOME OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY.
THOSE REVENUES HAVE BEEN USED TO DO THIS.
SO WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE PANDEMIC, YOU WOULDN'T NEED THIS 2 MILLION CAUSE YOUR REVENUE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO COVER PERHAPS, PERHAPS, PERHAPS.
SO I'M, I'M, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT INTO THE FUTURE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE LEGAL BE FAIRLY CONSISTENT AND UH, I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED.
I MEAN, ONCE THESE $2 MILLION ARE BEING EXHAUSTED, UM, BECAUSE, BUT I MEAN THIS IS, I GUESS THIS IS COSTING ON A MONTHLY BASIS THIS POINT.
COUNTY COUNCIL HAS, IF I MAY, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. PRESIDENT COUNTY COUNCIL HAS ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE.
IF, IF I'M A CHECK THAT MR. JACKSON YEP, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
IF YOU WANT HEAR FROM COUNTY COUNCIL, I'D HAPPY HEAR.
SO, SO MY NAME, SO LET ME RE LET ME CLARIFY.
SO, UH, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU FORGIVE ME IF I'M WRONG.
I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY LIKE TODAY.
THIS 2 MILLION DURING, IT WAS AN ABSENCE APPROACH LIKE MANY OTHER BUSINESSES SUFFERED DURING THE PANDEMIC.
SO UP UNTIL THAT TIME, THEY WERE ABLE TO HANDLE THEIR LEGAL FEES WITH RESPECT TO THIS.
BUT THIS OBVIOUSLY IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM, WHICH I THINK WE COULD ALL AGREE WILL NOT BE SETTLED IN THE NEXT YEAR, 2, 3, 5, AND SO FORTH.
SO, WILL THERE BE ENOUGH FOR REVENUE TO COVER THE LEGAL EXPENSES, WHICH SEEM TO ME TO BE FAIRLY CONSISTENT ON A MONTHLY BASIS? UH, MR. VICE PRESIDENT ST.
JOHN COUNTY COUNCIL, UH, YOU OBVIOUSLY MADE THE, THE EXCUSE STATEMENT.
WE CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE, BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHAT IS REASONABLY EXPECTED.
THE, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY WAS SPENT ON LEGAL FEES OVER THE LAST X NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND TO THE TWO OF THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT DEPLETED THE RESERVES THAT THE COUNTY HAD, UH, MR. ROGER AND I, UH, UNDERTOOK TRYING TO REPLACE THE LAW FIRM THAT WAS REPRESENTING THE IA.
UH, IT WAS A FIRM IN PHILADELPHIA THAT DID A VERY GOOD JOB, BUT WAS CHARGING US A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND WE SOUGHT TO FIND A FIRM IN NEW JERSEY THAT AL ALREADY WAS REPRESENTING A GROUP OF DEFENDANTS THAT WAS SPLITTING UP THE LEGAL TIES OVER A LARGER GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THAT WE COULD JOIN THAT GROUP.
WE HAVE FOUND A FIRM AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE, UH, THE CASES SHAIN AND JOHN FIRM, DIANA BONNO.
SHE HAD A, A GROUP OF, UH, CLIENTS THAT, THAT SHE WAS ALREADY REPRESENTING.
AND SHE WOULD SPLIT THE FEES UP, UH, THROUGH MULTIPLE CLIENTS.
THERE'S NO, THERE'S, THERE'S NO ASSURANCES.
BUT I CAN SAY TO YOU, LAST YEAR THE IA PAID ABOUT 1,000,004 LEGAL FEES.
UH, MR. ROTH AND I ARE ANTICIPATING THAT THIS NEXT YEAR WITH THIS NEW ARRANGEMENT WILL BE PAYING $200,000.
SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO STOP THE BLEEDING.
SO DURING YOUR QUESTION IS, WHAT DO WE INTEND TO DO IN THE FUTURE? WE, WE INTEND TO STOP THE BLEEDING IN TERMS OF LEGAL FEES, IN TERMS OF LIABILITY, UH, AS A RESULT OF THIS LITIGATION.
I CAN'T TELL YOU, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO IT THAT APRIL YET.
I WILL DO THAT WITH MR. ROTO WILL LOOK AT THE LIABILITY.
BUT THE LI OF BIG LIABILITY HAS BEEN THE LEGAL, THE HOURLY TIME CHARGES HAVE BEEN ENORMOUS.
UH, THEY'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB, BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
AND SO WE WE'RE MAKING CHANGES.
WE'VE GOT THE FINAL PERMISSION TODAY AND WE'RE GONNA PROCEED WITH THE SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL ON LEADERSHIP.
AND WE HOPE THAT THAT WILL RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.
AND THEN FOR C I A, THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU ANTICIPATE HIRING NEED MORE STAFF USING ANY OF THIS MONEY FOR THAT OR FOR RAISES TO DO WHAT? DO YOU ANTICIPATE HIRING ANY FURTHER STAFF STAFF? NO.
I'M SURE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT THAT'S THE CASE.
WE HAVE NOT HIRED NEW STAFF FOR YEARS.
[01:35:01]
OKAY.DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.
IS, UM, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
WHEN WILL THE SUBSTITUTION OF ATTORNEY BE FIRED? UH, WE'RE HOPING IT'S IN A MATTER OF DAYS.
THAT'S NUMBER THAT JUST DESCRIBED FROM THE OLD NUMBER, NUMBER THAT, THAT'S A REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE.
HOW LONG WAS THIS OLD LAW FIRM IN PLACE? ABOUT 10 YEARS.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, I'M REASONABLY NEW EVEN ON NOT THAT BILL, MYSELF, UH, TO, UH, SO I JUST GOT INVOLVED IN MR. THIS IS SOMETHING WE KNOW WE HAVE TO DO IMMEDIATELY.
UH, UH, MS. BUDGER UNDERSTANDS THAT THE SUBSTITUTION HAS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY AND THE OLD FIRM IS ASSEMBLING THEIR DOCUMENTS TO, UH, TO SEND THEM TO MS. GUO, EVERYTHING PROBLEMS. UM, MAY I PLEASE ALSO REQUEST, UH, MR. PRESIDENT AS A PART OF THE REVIEW THAT I ASKED FOR, HOW, HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND ON LEGAL FEES AS WELL WITH THE OLD FIRM? YES.
BECAUSE THAT'S, REMEMBER, THAT'S THE E YES.
WE'RE, WE'RE ALL TOGETHER AND WE ALL REPRESENT AND WORK FOR THE PUBLIC.
UM, I, SO I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THAT, THAT NUMBER, AND I'M GRATEFUL MR. TO ST.
JOHN, THAT, UH, YOU ARE HERE NOW AND THAT WE ARE MOVING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
UH, I'M DOING A ROOM WITH EVERYONE THIS, YOU ALL KNOW.
SO I, AND I APPRECIATE THE, THE CONFIDENCE YOU PLACING.
VERY COMMENT, MR. AND I THINK ONE THING, IT'S SAFE TO ADD MR. ST.
THIS FIRM HAS BEEN ENGAGED IN THIS CASE.
SO THERE'S NOT A MATTER OF GETTING UP TO SPEED ON WHAT THE LITIGATION IS ABOUT.
SO SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HAVE A TRANS, UH, A SUBSTITUTION ATTORNEY, THERE'S A LEARNING CURVE, I THINK THAT GETS, UH, ROUNDED OFF ALL OVER.
VERY MUCH SO WITH MR. IS THAT FAIR TO SAY? MR. YEAH.
UH, WE TALK ABOUT THE OPERATIONS OF C BUT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT ALTHOUGH THE ECA OPERATES THE AIRPORT PORT, ANY REVENUES EARNED ON THAT AIRPORT CANNOT BE SPENT ON ANYTHING BUT THE AIRPORT.
SO THERE IS ZERO NET REVENUES THAT COME TO THE COUNTY OTHER THAN MAYBE AN ALLOCATION, BUT ON SOME OPERATING EXPENSES, UM, THAT CAN GO INTO THE OFFERS OF THE E C I A UNRESTRICTED ACCOUNTS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HEARING HONOR, I HAVE SECOND, I'LL SECOND.
SIBO, SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT ROCO.
CLERK IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON THE AGENDA.
MR. COOPER? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANNA NOTE FOR THE RECORD, WE HAVE A T N R MEETING COMING UP, UM, IN THE MONTH OF JUNE, MAY, UM, OR MAY, I'M SORRY.
UM, COMMISSIONER COOPER IN, IN MAY.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT YES, THANK YOU AND COULD YOU, UM, FOR THE LISTENING WARNING, JUST TELL US WHAT A TN IS.
COMMISSION COOPER, UM, BEATING, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S MAY 17TH, UM, AS OUR NEXT, UM, MEETING IN ANTICIPATION OF, UM, IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED AT OUR LAST SUBMITTED MEETING, WHICH WAS, UM, ISSUING THE RFP TO GET MORE GROUPS INVOLVED SO THAT THEY, UH, WE CAN SERVICE MORE CATS AND GET MORE CATS.
FELLOW CATS NEUTER, COMMUNITY CATS.
MORE COMMUNITY CATS, UM, S SPADE AND NEUTERED TO BETTER MANAGE THE OUTROS OF THAT POPULATION.
I'M SORRY, MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY.
WHAT? THAT'S ON THE 17TH AT WHAT TIME? I THINK IT'S AT 14TH NIGHT.
SO IT'S BEFORE THE EVENT? YEAH,
[01:40:01]
IT'S AT FOUR.ARE THERE ANY LEGISLATORS IN THIS? ANY WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS? ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS, ANY NEW BUSINESS? HOW ABOUT PUBLIC TIME? IS THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON? ANY MATTER? PLEASE COME TO THE WHITE FALL.
YOU HAVE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
WE WILL HAVE FEELINGS TO SPEAK.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THERE'S NO MOTION TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT.
UH, I THINK WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO CONFIRM THAT.
IT APPEARS THAT ON MAY 24TH AT ABOUT 4:00 PM BEFORE OUR MEETING, WE'LL BE HONORING THE NUTLEY MUSIC DEPARTMENT FOR A SERIES OF OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH MY COLLEAGUES JOIN.
NO BUSINESS MOTION TO MR. JACKSON.