[00:00:49]
COMMISSIONER HEREBY CALLS WATER.
THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED IN ADDITION TO TAKING PLACE IN PERSON ROLL CALL MATTER.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
PLEASE STAND FOR FLAG AND REMAIN STANDING FOR 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, JUSTICE FOR, AND PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR MOLD 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 CERTIFICATION FROM THE, THAT DOESN'T MEAN IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC BEING.
THAT'LL, ARE THERE ANY TRANSCRIPTS APPROVED? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE.
CONFERENCE BOARD MEETING, COMMISSION.
ANY QUESTIONS? I NEED A MOTION.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PO.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT, RICHARD, ANY TOPIC FROM DISCUSSION, MR. PRESIDENT ARE NONE.
THAT CASE WAS MOVED TO PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION TONIGHT.
MEETING ISED COUNSEL SLASH BOARD MEETING, AND WE'LL VOTE ON EVERY ITEM ON THE 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 WE'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 TO AGENDA ITEMS. BOTH.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT MADAM CLERK, THAT NO ONE WISH.
CLERK, LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCE.
DO WE HAVE THAT, UH, MR. PRESIDENT? UH, WE HAD ONE, HOWEVER, THAT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY ADMINISTRATION.
LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCE ON THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR PURPOSES.
MCC CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION ON SECOND READING IN THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT? UH, YES.
WE HAVE ORDINANCE O DASH 20 23 1 0 ORDINANCE O 20 23 11, ORDINANCE 20 23 12.
LET'S MOVE FORWARD O 2023 AND WE'LL BE READY.
I DO HEREBY DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE O 20 23 10 OPEN.
IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
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WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.STATE YOUR AFFILIATION AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
COURT WILL LET THE RECORD REFLECT, WANT PERMISSION TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? MR. PAUL? YES.
UH, JUST TO REMIND THE BOARD, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS A BOND ORDINANCE FOR IMPROVEMENTS, THE COUNTY COLLEGE, UH, THAT DISCUSSED, UH, THOROUGHLY ON FIRST READING AT THE LAST MR. MC.
NO QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS, COPIES, HEARING HONOR, I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING ON 2023.
DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVER? A SECOND TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT CAMARA.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON? YES.
LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCE OH DASH 20 23 11, AND IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD TIME.
I DO HEAR BY PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023.
THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD 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.
CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT.
NO MOTION TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST.
MR. MCIN COMMISSION QUESTIONS OR HAVE A MOTION AND TO PUBLIC HEARING.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRANT WILL HAVE THE SAME MOVEMENT.
A SECOND TO APPROVE THE AUDIENCE.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT CAMARA.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
AND WE REGISTER THE RECORD AT A TIME.
I DO HEREBY DECLARE A PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE OATH 20 23 2 OPEN.
IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FOR OR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO BE MICHAEL STATEMENT, REMAIN AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
MADAM CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECTED ON THE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
MR. MR. PRESIDENT, JUST, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
THIS, THIS INCLUDE ARE, ARE WE HAVING A PRESENTATION BY U C I A TODAY? OR, OR SOME COMMENTS? UH, WE HAD NOT PLANNED ON.
OH, ROBERT JACKSON, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAD NOT PLANNED ON ANYTHING FOR SECOND MEETING COMMISSION QUESTION.
DO I HAVE A MOVE IN A SECOND? I'LL SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THREE, TWO.
OH, DO I HAVE THE SAME SECOND TO APPROVE THE YES.
MOVE BY COMMISSIONER SIBO AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER NELL.
ROLL CALL COMMISSIONER SIEGEL.
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.
SO I WANT YOU TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING EXCEPT ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
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SO, YES, SIR.MR. PRESIDENT, MEETING PRESIDENT OF 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.
AND THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY IS 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 OF DEEP F EMPLOYEES WHO WORK IN THIS AREA, UM, TO OFFSET SOME OF THEIR COSTS.
AND THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH AND THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH.
ITEM THREE, UH, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
THIS IS FOR THE YOUTH INCENTIVE PROGRAM, UH, TO 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.
UH, MR.
THIS IS A MAIN CHANGE FROM WATCHGUARD VIDEO TO MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS.
AND WATCHGUARD USED TO PROVIDE, UM, OFFICERS BODY CAMERAS, AND NOW MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS WILL HANDLE IT.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK.
THIS IS A CONTRACT WITH SO E SOFTWARE TO PROVIDE THE LECTURE, NIGHT SUPPORTING REPORTING, UH, UM, SUPPORT.
UH, THE, THIS PROGRAM, UH, PROVIDES, UH, IF YOU GO ON IT AND SEE THAT IT PROVIDES A GRAPHICAL MAP OF DISPLAY ON ELECTION NIGHT, ON, ON, ON AN ONGOING BASIS.
UM, THE, UH, PRECINCT REPORTING.
AND IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR A MOBILE ACCESS, UH, THROUGHOUT.
AND IT PROVIDES, UH, AMPLE SECURITY.
AND, UH, MR. HUNT HAS, UH, UH, LOOKED AT IT AND, AND SAID, 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 IN 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 KENNEDY'S LAW FIRM, UH, FOR A MATTER, UH, WHERE, UH, MRO WAS SUED THE COUNTY IN CERTAIN, UM, UH, OFFICERS OF THE COUNTY.
THE, THE REASON THAT WE ARE CHANGING LAW FIRMS, AND THIS IS THE, THIS WILL BE THE LAST LAW IN THIS ROOM, IS BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CARRIER TO PICK UP THE DEFENSE, THEY WANT TO, UH, UH, SELECT THE 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 ISS FIRM.
SO I SAID, WELL, ANGELA IS ACCEPTABLE TO US.
SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE SWITCHING THE QUESTION.
MR. FATHER, UH, MR. ST, JUST A QUESTION ON THE CARRIER PROVIDED DEFENSE, DOES THE COUNTY HAVE ANY PAYMENTS IN TERMS OF AN S I R OR ANYTHING TOWARDS THOSE DEFENSE COSTS? YES.
AND, AND, UH, MRO, I DO FIND THAT 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 ARE SEVERAL CASES THAT SAYS THE CARRIER HAS THE RIGHT TO DO THAT UNLESS THEY DENY COVERAGE.
AND THEY, 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, GENOVA BURR.
UH, ITEM EIGHT, MR. PRESIDENT.
WE'LL, WE'LL GO THROUGH THAT ITEM.
APRIL, CALLWELL, UH, SS COUNTY WE OWE SERVICES.
ALEXANDRA, ADAM IS YOUR TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.
UM, THE AMOUNT FOR INDIVIDUAL TRAINING ACCOUNTS
[00:15:01]
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 AN 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 WILL BE BOTH FOR OLA AND STAFF PARTICIPANTS AS WELL.
YOU LIKE YOU'RE 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, THE 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 CENTS PER PATIENT PER DAY.
MR. MR. PRESIDENT, UH, NUMBER 10.
I KNOW YOU, YOU'RE VERY SAD THIS EVENING THAT MR. IS NOT HERE.
HE WAS AT A, UH, SON'S BASEBALL GAMES.
HE ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S NO EXCUSE TOLD.
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 OF ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF $21,250, BRINGING THE GRAND TOTAL TO, UH, $90,172 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 HOWARD STREET.
A NEW BUS STOP THAT IS BEING REQUESTED BY NEW JERSEY.
TRANSIT NUMBER 12 IS THE PERFORM OF PUBLIC WORKS ENGINEERING RESOLUTION, CONSENTING TO THE BOROUGH OF GLEN RIDGE, INSTALLATION OF RECTANGULAR RAPID FLASHING BEACON PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL AT RIDGEWOOD AVENUE AND CARTER STREET AND RIDGEWOOD AVENUE IN WILDWOOD, THE 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 CONTRACT ORDERED 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, UH, SHERIFF'S VEHICLES.
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 SL E SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLE IN THE AMOUNT OF $29,974.
WE HAD ONE THERE, MR. THANK YOU.
I'M THE TWO PROSECUTOR ITEMS 1450 ARE THOSE REPLACEMENT VEHICLES.
THE TWO VEHICLES, SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLES ARE REPLACEMENT VEHICLES IN NUMBER 15 IS AN INDIVIDUAL VAN FOR ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THE PROSECUTOR, UHN WILLIAMS HANDLES FOR COMMUNITY WORK AND BOTH OF THEM, NUMBER 15.
[00:20:03]
BECK.MR. MCINERNEY, ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY ITEMS? COMMISSIONERS? ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY ITEMS HEARING? I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO TAKE ONE THROUGH.
I THINK I HEARD THE VP, UH, MOVE MY VP MONITOR THE SECOND COMMISSION.
COOPER COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT LAMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
SO MOVED 16 THROUGH COMMISSION.
ANY QUESTIONS? 16 ACCOMMODATIONS AND S AND REVOLUTIONS.
AND WE'LL BE READY TO RECORD AT TIME.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT AMARA.
SO NOW 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, THE AMOUNT OF 2 BILLION TO ASSIST IN OFFSETTING ITS REVENUE LOSSES 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.
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 THAT THE COUNTY HAVE 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 AUDITS FROM 2021 AND WE TOOK FROM THEIR ACCOUNT SYSTEM 22, SINCE IT'S TOO EARLY IN THE YEAR TO HAVE THE AUDIT.
THEY HAD A RESIDENT SHORTFALL FOR THOSE TIME PERIODS OF OVER 2 MILLION, 2,286,000, UM, LAST YEAR, NOT AUDITED.
SO WE SUGGESTED THAT THE COUNTY CAN, IF THEY WISH TO FUND, BUT WE SET 2 MILLION, EVEN NUMBER ONE TO ROUND IT OFF FROM NUMBER TWO TO BE ABLE TO, UH, ALLOW FOR SOME ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON THE AUDIT.
WE, WE, WE DID NOT REQUEST IT, BUT WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY THAT, UH, THAT THE COUNTY HAS TAKEN A LOOK AT THAT TO SEE IF, UH, WE MIGHT BE ENTITLED TO IT.
WE'RE, WE'RE CERTAINLY VERY PLEASED THAT THAT WAS DONE.
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 THAT MEETING.
MR. PAUL, UM, YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MR. BECK? YES.
UH, SO, UM, YOU'LL GET THIS 2 MILLION.
YOU SAY, ANTHONY, YOU SAY THE REVENUES WERE DOWN BY THE GROSS REVENUES WERE DOWN BY 2 MILLION.
HOW DID THAT IMPACT ON EXPENSES? EXPENSES DOWN ALSO, OR, OR DID THEY STAY LEVELED? UH, PRIOR YEARS, I, I TOOK A QUICK LOOK AT EXPENDITURES, BUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EXPENDITURES.
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JUST REVENUE SHORTFALL.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.
WE WEREN'T SURE WE COULD DO FOR OTHER AGENCIES.
SO WE REACHED OUT TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEY CAME BACK TO, POINTED OUT WHERE THAT WAS, UH, STATED.
WELL, I UNDERSTAND, BUT THE REASON FOR I'M ASSUMING IS THAT YOU, YOU WANTED TO NOT ONLY REPLACE, I MEAN, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE REAL MOTIVE HERE IS JUST TO REPLACE THE REVENUES 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? 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 BY THE COUNTY? LET ME, LET ME EXPRESS, LET'S PUT YOUR NAME ON THE RECORD, PLEASE.
LET ME EXPRESS O 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, 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.
UH, WE HAVE HOPEFULLY RESOLVED THE TWO STRETCHES OF THE
SO, UH, E C I A IS ENGAGED IN VERY, VERY COSTLY LITIGATION, UH, ONGOING.
AND THAT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND THAT I, AND THAT I FULLY UNDERSTAND.
SO I GUESS WE'RE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GETTING THE POINT THAT WASN'T SOMETHING YOU SOUGHT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE TO GIVE THE E C I A, UM, 2 MILLION OUT OF THESE OUTTA THESE, UM, GRANT FUNDS, WHICH ARE NEITH BY THE COUNTY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND YES, THIS BOARD'S SEEING THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN AS WE SEE THE AGENDA FOR THE E C I A THAT'S PRESENTED FOR, UH, TO US THIS EVENING, THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL, OR HAVE BEEN EVERY SINGLE AGENDA THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM ECI SHOWS CONSIDERABLE FEES, UH, PAID TO THIS FIRM.
UH, IN THIS CASE, JUSTICE
AND ACTUALLY WE DID HAVE MR. ROBERT TO A CONFERENCE REPORT A FEW YEARS BACK TO DISCUSS THIS LITIGATION THAT'S BEEN, THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON.
AND THE FACT THAT IT HAS BEEN COSTING, WE SAY, A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
SO, UH, IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT IF THIS $2 MILLION HELPS YOU OFFSET THE COST OF OBLIGATION, I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT.
THANK YOU, MR. I DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS MR. COOPER.
UH, MR. PAUL, CAN YOU JUST GIVE US, UM, NOT NOW BECAUSE IT'S THE LITIGATION ITEM.
UM, THE, UH, THE NEWARK BANK LITIGATION.
I MEAN THE, UH, SAY BERKELEY LITIGATION, SORRY.
YES, I CAN, I, I WILL GET SO 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 BEING USED? OH, 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.
[00:30:01]
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE DEMAND AS WE'RE BEING ASSESS THOSE, MR. MC.SO, 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 WHAT'S CALLED CRUDE EXPENSES, WHICH IS VERY HIGH FOR A BUDGET THAT HAS, UH, UNDER A MILLION DOLLARS OR ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS OF, OF AN OPERATING BUDGET.
UM, SO IS ANY PART OF 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 HAVE, DID YOU SEE ANY OF I DID NOT WANT THAT HERE.
THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME, SOME RESERVES ALL ALONG, UH, FOR POTENTIAL SETTLEMENTS.
SO IT, IT, 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 UH, 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 COMMON 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.
I THINK JUST FROM A, FROM A PRUDENT STAND 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, A DESIGNATED UNRESTRICTED RESERVES AS POTENTIAL PAYMENTS FOR THIS LITIGATION THAT THIS $2 MILLION WERE A PORTION OF IT
DID THIS MONEY JUST COME IN? THIS AMERICAN RESCUE MONEY IS HIS OLD MONEY.
YES, ANTHONY A 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 STAIRS.
DID I HEAR CORRECTLY THAT THE, UH, ORGANIZATION HAS A DEFICIT OR NO? DID 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 WITH THEM AS TO DO HOW THEY, THEY END UP USING IT AND, UM, AS MAKE BEST MC SUGGESTED TO RESERVE IT OR NOT.
UH, THEY ALREADY, I ASSUME HAVE THEIR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, SO 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 GOVERNMENTS, SO WE GOT PERMISS GOVERNMENT.
YEAH, 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 THAT 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 ON COVID ITSELF.
SO IS IT, UH, FAIR TO SAY THAT THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED, THE LITIGATION YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH, WITH RESPECT TO WE WOULD, WITH RESPECT TO, WITH THE RIVER, YES.
SO THEN WHAT WILL BE THE PLAN WHEN YOU THEN HAVE LITIGATION WITH THE NEW BAY PORTION OF IT, WHICH IS
THAT'S SIMPLY AN EXTENSION OF THIS VERY SECOND LITIGATION.
IT'S THE SAME, SAME ISSUES, JUST ADDITIONAL, UH, AREAS THAT DOWNSTREAM IS, IS SEEKING, UH, TO, UH, 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 ACCIDENTALLY WHEN SHE'S THE CHIEF PARTY THAT'S RESPONSIBLE
[00:35:01]
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'VE ALL BEEN SUCKED INTO THIS.
AND WE WILL STAY THERE AS LONG AS EPA STILL WANTS TO CLEAN UP THE RIVER AND THE BAY.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT TO BE A VERY LONG PROCESS, DECADES THAT I'M AWARE OF THAT.
SO IT'S AT LEAST 20 YEARS AND 4 BILLION LAST CHECK THAT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE COMMITTED.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHAT IS THE PLAN TO FUND THAT LITIGATION MOVING FORWARD? WHEN YOU EXHAUST THESE 2 MILLION? IS THE GONNA COME BACK HERE? I ASK MORE.
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, UM, ARE FINANCING 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 NEEDED $2 MILLION BECAUSE 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 FEES ARE GONNA BE FAIRLY CONSISTENT AND, UH, I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED.
I MEAN, ONCE THESE $2 MILLION ARE BEING EXHAUSTED, UM, I MEAN THIS IS, GUESS THIS IS COSTING ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
COUNTY COUNCIL HAS, IF I MAY, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, MR. PRESIDENT COUNTY COUNCIL HAS ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE.
IF, IF I'M MIGHT THAT MR. JACKSON? YEP.
IF YOU WANNA HEAR FROM COUNTY COUNCIL ABOUT I, I'D BE HAPPY TO HEAR.
SO, SO MY NAME, SO LET ME, LET ME CLARIFY.
SO, UH, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU GIVE ME IF I'M WRONG, I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY.
YOU ONLY LOOK LIKE SOME DAYS
BUT TODAY THIS 2 MILLION WILL NEEDED CAUSE DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS AN ABSENCE OF REVENUE 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, 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, THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY WAS SPENT ON LEGAL FEES OVER THE LAST X NUMBER YEARS TO THE TWO OF THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT DEPLETED THE RESERVES THAT THE COUNTY HAD.
UH, MR. ROGER AND I, UH, 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.
AND 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, 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, WE'LL 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 HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO IT THAT DEEPLY YET.
I WILL DO THAT WITH MR. ROCKFORD.
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.
[00:40:01]
THE FINAL PERMISSION TODAY, AND WE'RE GONNA PROCEED WITH THE SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL ON MEETING, AND WE HOPE THAT THAT WILL RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.AND THEN FOR THE CIA, THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU ANTICIPATE HIRING ANY 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.
NOT LOOKING AT, 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.
JUST JUST DESCRIBED FROM THE OLD NUMBER TO THE NEW NUMBER.
THAT'S, 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 THOUGH I'M NOT THAT NEW MYSELF.
UH, SEE, UH, SO I JUST GOT INVOLVED IN MR. LOCKER.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE KNOW WE HAVE TO DO IMMEDIATELY.
UH, UH, MS. VAO UNDERSTANDS THAT THE SUBSTITUTION HAS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY AND THE OLD FIRM IS ASSEMBLING THEIR DOCUMENTS TO TRY TO SEND THEM TO, TO MS. VAO, EVERYTHING YOUR PROVIDES.
UM, MAY I PLEASE ALSO REQUEST, UM, 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 PAGE.
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.
I'M DOING ROOM WITH EVERYONE YOU ALL KNOW.
SO I, AND I APPRECIATE THE, THE CONFIDE YOU PLACE.
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 OF ATTORNEY, THERE'S A LEARNING CURVE, I THINK THAT GETS, UH, ROUNDED OFF ALL OVER.
IS THAT FAIR TO SAY? MR. YEAH.
UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE OPERATIONS C BUT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT ALTHOUGH THE ECA OPERATES THE AIRPLANE 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 MAY BE AN ALLOCATION, BUT ON SOME OPERATING EXPENSES, UM, THAT CAN GO INTO THE OF THE UNRESTRICTED ACCOUNTS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENT, HEARING, YOUR HONOR.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT RO CLERK ITEM NUMBER FOUR ON THE AGENDA.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT MAARI? YES.
MR. COOPER? THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT.
I JUST WANNA NOTE FOR THE RECORD, WE HAVE A T AND R MEETING COMING UP, UM, IN THE MONTH OF JUNE, MAY, UM, OR MAY, I'M SORRY.
UM, COMMISSIONER COOPER IN MAY.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT YES.
AND COULD YOU, UM, FOR THE LISTENING, JUST TELL US WHAT A TN IS? B MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, WE BE 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 COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH WAS,
[00:45:01]
UM, ISSUING THE RFP TO GET MORE GROUPS INVOLVED SO THAT THEY, UH, WE CAN SERVICE MORE CATS AND GET MORE CATS.FELLOW CATS, NEUTERED COMMUNITY CATS.
MORE COMMUNITY CATS, UM, S SPADE AND NEUTERED TO BETTER MANAGE THE OUTROS OF THAT POPULATION.
VICE PRESIDENT COMMISSIONER, THAT'S ON THE 17TH AT WHAT TIME? I THINK IT'S AT FOUR ON THE, WE HAVE THAT NIGHT.
ARE THERE ANY LEGISLATIVE, ANY WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS, ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS, ANY NEW BUSINESS? HOW ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT? IS THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON? ANY MATTER? PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
YOU HAVE STATE YOUR NAME, AFFILIATION, YOU HAVE HEARINGS TO SPEAK.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THERE'S NO MORE MOTION TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
COMMISSIONER, PRESENT VICE PRESIDENT.
UH, I THINK HONOR JUST ABOUT TO CONFIRM THAT APPEARS THAT ON MAY 24TH, 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 TO JOIN.
BUSINESS MOTION TO MR. JACKSON.