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HERE PLEASE STAND.MAY VICE PRESIDENT FOR MORRIS, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES, OF STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC SINCE ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ON SILENT, FOR ALL THE SENSELESS KILLING IN THIS COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.
RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER COOPER.
I HAVE BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FROM THE CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT WITH PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE TWO.
WE HAVE YOU HAVE, UH, AN EXCERPT FOR APRIL 26TH AND MAY, 2023.
CONFERENCE BOARD, PRINCE BOARD MEETING, COMMISSION.
ANY QUESTIONS? PERIOD ON, DO I HAVE, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE TRANSCRIPT.
COMMISSIONER COOPER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER.
ROLL CALL MANAGE CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER GILL.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT PALMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON RICHARDSON.
UM, PRESIDENT, I JUST, I JUST WANT TO REQUEST AGAIN THAT STATE CLEAR, JUST THE DOORWAY AND THE AISLE.
ARE THERE ANY TOPICS OF DISCUSSION? UM, MR. PRES, MR. PRESIDENT? THERE ARE NONE.
IN THAT CASE, CASE, BEFORE WE GET TO, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION, I HAVE SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO READ.
SO I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
THIS SIN ALL WORKERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO FIGHT FOR THEIR AND ALL WORKERS DESERVE DECENT PAY TO LIVE AND THRIVE.
FAR TOO MUCH TIME HAS TIME HAS PASSED WITH WITHOUT A NEW CON FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, IT IS UNREASONABLE TO ASK OUR WHO TO ASK OUR OFFICERS TO REGULARLY PUT THEM AWAY WHILE THEIR CAREER FUTURES REMAIN UNCERTAIN.
THE BOARD UNEQUIVOCALLY SUPPORTING A FAIR AND COMPETITIVE CONTRACT FOR ALL OFFICERS IN LINE, IN LINE WITH OTHER COUNTY, COUNTY AVERAGES.
SOME HAVE HAD PRODUCTIVE CONVERSIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ONGOING ISSUES.
THE BOARD HAS ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS MATTER, AND WE HAVE EXPRESSED ON NO UNCERTAIN TERMS AND NEED FOR NEW CONTRACT FAIR CONTACTING QUICKLY.
TOO MANY OFFICERS ARE HAVING TO TAKE ON EXTRA HOURS AND LOSE TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES EITHER TO FILL SCHEDULE GAPS CAUSED BY UNDERSTAFFING OR JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND MUST BE FIXED.
THE BOARD IS MONITORING THE SITUATION CLOSELY AND WE ARE HOPING FOR PRODUCTIVE AND SWIFT RESOLUTION TO BENEFIT OF ALL OF OUR OFFICERS.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT AND MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD.
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO PUT ON THE RECORD? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, I DO HAVE, UM, A STATEMENT, UH, FROM THE ADMINISTRATION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO READ, UH, TWO DECADES ON THE LEADERSHIP, ON THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE DI VINCENZO.
AND OUR UNIONS HAVE FOLLOWED A POLICY OF TREATING ALL BARGAINING UNITS THE SAME.
OUT OF FAIRNESS TO ALL EMPLOYEES, THERE ARE 22 OTHER BARGAINING UNITS REPRESENTING THE MAJORITY OF COUNTY, COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO ACCEPTED THE COUNTY'S WAGE INCREASES IN 2017.
REST ASSURED THE ADMINISTRATION IS ENGAGING IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS IN GOOD FAITH WITH THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT UNITS AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS HAD CORRESPONDENCE WITH THESE UNITS AS, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS COUNTY INTERNAL MEETINGS, MEETINGS SINCE SEPTEMBER, FOP CORRECTIONS, FBA AND AND THE COUNTY MET FOR A COMBINED OF FIVE SESSIONS.
OFFERS AND ENCOUNTER OFFERS WERE MADE A MEETING ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20TH, 2023 WITH, UH, PBA 3 82 WAS ADJOURNED, NOT CANCELED.
UH, AS THE ADMINISTRATION HAD ANY INSUFFICIENT TIME TO REVIEW OR REVISE PBA PROPOSAL IN ORDER TO MAKE A COUNTER PROPOSAL GOOD,
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GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATION, THE COUNTY IS PREPARED TO OFFER, OFFER THE SAME SALARY INCREASES, WHICH HAVE BEEN PAID TO THE OTHER 22 BARGAINING UNITS FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, YEARS IN EXCHANGE FOR ACCEPT ACCEPTING THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWING NE IT'S SUIT.SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO ACCEPT THE SAME INCREASES THE 20, THE 22 UNITS ACCEPT IT.
LET YOUR UNION REPRESENTATIVES, LEADERS, AND COUNCIL KNOW HAVE YOUR ATTORNEYS REACH OUT.
ATTORNEYS REACH OUT TO THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COUNCIL.
I THINK, I THINK WE ALL REALIZE THAT WE MUST END THE GAME, WHICH HAS NOTHING BUT HAS NOTHING SO FAR.
BUT FOSTER PERSONAL ANTAGONISM PREVENT PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS AND DEPRIVE OUR EMPLOYEES OF GENEROUS, OF GENEROUS SALARY INCREASES FOR SIX YEARS, APPARENTLY UNFAIR TO BLAME OR, UH, THE, THE ADMINISTRATION AND NOW THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE ABSENCE OF CONTRACT WHEN EACH PARTY HAD AVAILABLE TO IT REMEDIES SUCH AS INTEREST RISK ARBITRATION THROUGH THE PUBLIC INFLATION COMMISSION.
FOR INSTANCE, AT ANY TIME DURING THE PAST SIX YEARS, ANY PARTY COULD HAVE FILED FOR INTEREST ARBITRATION COMPELLING A BINDING DECISION BY AN INDEPENDENT ARBITRATOR.
YEARS AGO, UM, UNIONS COULD HAVE FILED HOWEVER, UH, YEARS AGO, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FILED BY THE, BY THE UNIONS AND BY AND BY THE COUNTY AS WELL.
UH, GIVEN WHERE WE ARE, UH, BELIEVES THAT THERE'S A CURRENT IMPASSE AND HAS FILED FOR INTEREST ARBITRATION, STARTING WITH FOP 1 0 6 CORRECTIONS, IN ORDER TO HAVE AN HAVE AN IMPARTIAL ARBITRATOR, NOT ANY ADMINISTRATION, COMMISSIONERS OR UNIT OFFICIALS DECIDE CONTRACTUAL RAISES, TOTAL RAISES FOR THE NEXT, FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE'VE DONE WITHIN 90, UH, 90 DAYS, THE COUNTY'S THE COUNTY'S WILLINGNESS TO MOVE NEGOTIATIONS, NEGOTIATIONS FORWARD THROUGH THIS PROCESS SHOW SERIES ABOUT AND COMMITTED TO RESOLVING, UH, PAST YEARS TO GET THE RAISE LEASES FOR OUR UNION MEMBERS PARTIES.
MOVE TO THE PUBLIC'S COMMENT SESSION SESSION.
SO ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK.
AND WE'RE GONNA SUSPEND THIS IS NOT JUST ON AGENDA ITEMS, SO WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE YOU SIT HERE ALL NIGHT.
YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU NEED TO SAY, SAY THREE MINUTES.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO JAMES.
JAMES TROI, VICE PRESIDENT OF SIX, RECORDING, SECRETARY OF NEW JERSEY, JERSEY STATE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE, REPRESENTING THE SWORN SUPERVISORY AT THE ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, APPRECIATING SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR UPDATES, RAY CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND HEALTHCARE LITIGATION.
AND KNOWING THAT THOSE IN POWER CONTINUE TO PAINT AND PORTRAY THE UNIONS STANDING ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE ENTIRE COUNTY WORKFORCE.
AS WE'RE ONCE WE'RE ONCE AGAIN HERE TO CORRECTLY CLARIFY WITH YOUR ASSISTANCE.
THERE WERE TWO MEETINGS, THREE OF THE INVOLVED UNIONS O OTHER MEETINGS WITH 3 82 OTHER 3 82 OTHER MEETINGS WITH THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FROM PERFECT THEY REPRESENTED AND A AND A STARTING POINT, A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECT, OR WAS IT DESPITE FORMAL AND INFORMAL MEETINGS AND SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF YOU COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE ADMINIS ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY AS FRIDAY.
YESTERDAY, HEY, THE COUNTY'S COUNSEL FILED FOR ARBITRATION SOLELY AND EXCLUSIVELY AGAINST MY UNION.
NOT COINCIDENTALLY ON BOARD THE FIRST UNION THAT VOTED NO IN 2016.
THE COUNTY HAS AN ONGOING APPELLATE LEVEL APPEAL PENDING AGAINST A FIVE ZERO PERK DECISION, WHICH WAS TRIGGERED BY, BY A PRIOR THREE ZERO APPELLATE APPELLATE DIVISION RULING.
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ARBITRATION IS FILED SPITE US COMING TO THE TABLE IN GOOD FAITH WHILE THE APPEAL REMAINS PENDING.WE'RE NOT THE OBSTINATE ONES, EXCUSE ME, WE'RE NOT THE ONES PLAYING HARD PART BALL.
WE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO KEEP THAT DOOR DOOR CLEAR AND NOBODY ELSE SHOULD, SHOULD COME IN UNTIL SOME PEOPLE LEAVE OUT.
SO NO ONE ELSE SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME IN THAT DOOR.
PLEASE CONTINUE, CONTINUE PLEASE TO THE COMMENT TO THE COMMENTS THAT WERE JUST READ INTO THE RECORD BY MR. JACK.
EMPLOYEES HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME FOR 20 YEARS.
THE HEARING EXAMINER IN THE PERC REVIEW OF THIS MATTER, EX EXPRESSLY WROTE AND PERKED BY A FILE DECISION AFFIRMED THAT FREE OR A TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT.
NEGOTIATIONS IN GOOD FAITH WE'RE NOT THE PROBLEM.
WE CAME TO THE TABLE ONCE YOU FOLKS WERE KIND ENOUGH TO BREAK THE ICE AND GET US IN THE DOOR DOOR.
WE CAME TO THE TABLE, WE BROUGHT FORTH WHAT WE FELT WAS, WAS A TRULY REASONABLE PROPOSAL NOT TO SPEND.
SPEND SIX MONTHS GOING BACK AND FORTH AND, AND WHAT HAPPENS A WEEK OR TWO LATER? WE'RE GOING INTEREST ARBITRATION.
ONE THIRD OF YOUR WORKFORCE ENTERED IN THESE HALLWAYS TONIGHT.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN BEFORE THIS BOARD PLENTY OF TIMES ON THIS MATTER STARTING IN APRIL BECAUSE ONE OF THE FILINGS FROM YOUR COUNTY COUNCIL ON THE OUTSIDE COUNCIL SAID THAT WE CAME IN 26 16 TO THE MEETING WITNESS OF THE DEAL IN 2016 TALKS ABOUT 22 UNIONS AGREED, AND FOUR DIDN'T.
THAT'S LIKE MINIMIZING THE FACT THAT IT IS OVER A THOUSAND COUNTY EMPLOYEES, A 30 YEAR WORKFORCE.
THE HIGHEST PAID SOME OF 'EM EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY AND YOUR BANKING MONEY ON THE BACKS OF WORKERS WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE DURING EMERGENCIES, DURING COVID, WHEN OTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEES WERE ALLOWED TO STAY HOME.
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS, DETECTIVES, AND SUPERVISORS HAD TO SHOW UP AT WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE FROM WHAT WE'RE USED TO.
WE DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS A COUGH, A SNEEZE, TOUCHING THE DOORKNOB, RIGHT? THINGS WERE CHANGING BY THE MINUTE AND BY THE HOUR.
BUT WE CONTINUED TO COME TO WORK AND WE CONTINUED TO DO OUR JOB.
AND AT THAT POINT, IT WAS IN THE THICK OF THINGS, NO RAINS.
AND WE HAD A NATIONAL MODEL, BEST COVID OPERATION.
PEOPLE GOT REALLY SICK, GOT REALLY SICK.
LOT OF SACRIFICES WERE MADE, BUT DID WHAT WE SIGNED UP TO DO, WHICH WAS SERVE, SERVE THE PUBLIC.
ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR IS ELECTED OFFICIALS TO STAND BEHIND US AND GIVE US A FAIR, MODERATE CONTRACT.
MY NAME IS ASSAN ALDI, UH, VICE PRESIDENT OF KU FOR THE ESSEX COUNTY JAIL.
THIS IS MY FIRST, FIRST TIME BEFORE YOU GUYS.
UH, UM, JUST GONNA STATE SOME FACTS AND SOME NUMBERS.
THE STATE DOC JUST SETTLED AN UPDATED CONTRACT OVER FOUR YEARS, THREE AND A HALF PERCENT ACROSS THE BOARD.
THEIR TOP PAY IS NOW AROUND $23,000.
IN THE 16 PLUS YEARS I'VE BEEN WORKING HERE, STATE CORRECTIONS, IT HAS MADE LESS THAN US.
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IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY NOW MAKE MORE THAN THAN US.YOU DON'T WANNA GO WITH THE STATE.
LET'S GO WITH SURROUNDING COUNTIES.
HUDSON COUNTY, 127 K BERGEN COUNTY, OVER 150 K.
UNION COUNTY, WHICH IS A CLOSED JAIL.
WHERE DID WE RANK IN THE COUNTY JAIL SYSTEM? WE ARE THE FOURTH LOWEST PAID, LOWEST PAID COUNTY JAIL IN THE STATE.
YET THE COUNTY HAS BANKED ON AND MADE OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OFF OUR BACK WITH FEDERAL CONTRACTS.
UNION COUNTY CONTRACTS, IMMIGRATION CONTRACTS FOR A DECADE AND A HALF.
SO WE, WE GENERATE INCOME FOR THE COUNT COUNTY.
WE PAY 10% OF OUR SALARIES TOWARDS OUR PENSIONS.
AND THE AVERAGE FAMILY PLAN IS GOING FOR 800 TO OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER MONTH.
SO NOT ONLY IS IT SEVEN YEARS OF NO RAISES, BUT IT'S ACTUAL PAY CUTS OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.
BECAUSE AS OUR PAYCHECKS DWINDLE DOWN, BECAUSE WE, WE HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE, OUR MEDICAL CONTRIBUTIONS GO UP EACH AND EVERY YEAR AND IT'S ABOUT TO GO UP SEVEN AND 5%.
YET, WHILE ALL THIS IS GOING ON, WE WORKED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, GOT SICK BY THE HUNDREDS, WE HAD STAFF MEMBERS PASS AWAY.
WE WERE MANDATED TO DO FORCED DOUBLE SHIFT SHIFTS FOR TWO PLUS YEARS STRAIGHT.
WE'VE HAD OFFICER STAFF ASSAULTED, BEATEN, SPIT ON REPEATEDLY.
JUST LAST, LAST WEEK, WE HAD A SERGEANT WHEELED OUT ON A STRETCHER, UNCONSCIOUS PUNCH AND STOMPED ON BY, BY AN INMATE.
THIS IS A HEAVY DEMOCRATIC COUNTY.
I KNOW THE VALUE SYSTEM, ISN'T IT? FOR AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE, BLUE COLLAR WORKERS, PRO UNIONS AND THE MIDDLE CLASS.
BECAUSE IF I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER, I WOULD THINK I'M DEALING WITH THE CHRIS CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION.
SO I ASK, ARE THOSE YOUR VALUES OR IS THE NEW VICTIM DEFUNDING THE POLICE? 30 SECONDS.
IF THIS GOES DOWN THE PATH THAT THE COUNTY WANTS IT TO GO DOWN, AND THIS GOES DOWN INTO INTEREST ARBITRATION, LET ME BE CRYSTAL CLEAR, YOU'LL LOSE YOUR ENTIRE DEPARTMENT.
YOU'LL SEE A SHORT AND A SECURITY SITUATION LIKE YOU, LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
I'M A RETIRED CAPTAIN FROM THE ESSEX COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
UM, I THINK ONE THING, THING THAT WE ALL NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IS WHEN YOU SEE THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THESE AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, YOU SHOULD SEE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH PRIDE.
THEY'VE BEEN SITTING HERE WORKING FOR SEVEN YEARS WITHOUT A CONTRACT, RIGHT? BUT THEY COME IN EVERY DAY.
THEY DO THE WORK THAT THEY'RE ASKED TO DO, SHORTHAND, STAFFED, SENT TO COURT WHEN THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO DIFFERENT OTHER PLACES.
WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, WE CAME TO WORK EVERY DAY.
I WAS WRITING SCHEDULES, I WAS WRITING, UM, I WAS WRITING A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE DID OUT THERE ON THE ROAD.
THERE WAS OFTEN CONFUSION AS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON.
WERE PEOPLE ALLOWED IN THE PARK? WERE PEOPLE ALLOWED IN THE PARKS WITHOUT MASKS? WE SAT AND WE DID OUR BEST TO KEEP EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL.
WE CAME TO WORK EVERY DAY GRIPED ABOUT ANYTHING.
EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW WE WERE WORKING WITHOUT A CONTRACT FOR YEARS ON TOP OF YEARS, I RETIRED WITHOUT A CONTRACT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANNA RETIRE, BUT THEY'RE SCARED TO RETIRE.
THEY WANT TO STAY UNTIL THE CONTRACT IS SETTLED.
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO STAY AN EXTRA SEVEN YEARS TO FIGURE OUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO FIT INTO, INTO THE RAISE PROCESS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CONTRACT.
AND IT'S NOT BEING NEGOTIATED FAIRLY EQUITABLY AND LOYALTY THAT WE ARE SHOWING THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT BEING SHOWN TO US.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST, BIGGEST BITE TO US.
WE COME, WE COME TO WORK EVERY DAY.
WE DO THE JOB THAT WE'RE ASKED TO DO.
WE GET BEAT UP, AS HE SAID, SPIT ON AND CALL NAMES.
PEOPLE HAVE HAD, HAD FECES AND URINE THROWN AT 'EM, BUT THEY COME TO WORK EVERY DAY BECAUSE THEY NEED THE PAYCHECK, NUMBER ONE.
AND BECAUSE THEY'RE LOYAL, THEY KEEP THE JOB AND THEY COME.
SOME OF THAT LOYALTY IS RECIPROCATED.
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HELLO COMMISSIONERS.MY NAME CHRIS TAYLOR, REPRESENTATIVE IBW LOCAL 1158, WHO REPRESENTED ABOUT 50% OF THAT OTHER TWO THIRDS OF THE COUNTY, UH, EMPLOYEES OF OUTSIDE OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
WE ARE HERE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT OUR JUVENILE DETENTION OFFICERS WHO FIND THEMSELVES AND LIKE SITUATIONS WITH A FATIGUE THAT IS DETERIORATING AROUND THEIR EARS.
WHERE YOU LITERALLY HAVE, UH, GARBAGE PES IN THE HALLWAYS, CATCHING RAIN WATER ON A DAILY BASIS AS FALLING IN.
WE NOW HAVE EIGHT ADDITIONAL JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES FROM AROUND THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND WITH US BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE COULDN'T, COULDN'T HANDLE THEM.
THEY CLOSED THEM AND SENT 'EM ALL TO US.
WE HAVE SOME OF THEM OF THE LOWEST PAID JUVENILE DETENTION OFFICERS, UH, WORKING, UH, THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
THEY ARE ALSO SIT ON KICKED PUN PUNTS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND THERE ARE HOSTS OF SECURITY ISSUES AND MANY OF THEM WE PROVIDED YOU WITH COPIES OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU.
BUT BECAUSE JJC REGULATIONS DO NOT ALLOW US TO PUT CERTAIN INFORMATION ON THE PUBLIC RECORD, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED ARE REQUESTING A SUBCOMMITTEE MEET WITH THE, UH, OUR UNION AND OUR MEMBERS SO THAT WE CAN PUT IT.
'CAUSE THERE'S SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF.
YOU NEED TO BE ADVISOR BECAUSE WE HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN SOMEONE IS GOING TO TO DIE IN THAT FACILITY AND BE AND BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
WE WANT TO GET YOUR, HELP US YOUR HELP IN WORKING WITH US.
UH, WE APPLAUD, UH, THE, THE DIRECTOR OF THE JUVENILE DETENTION AND TRYING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE.
BUT SOME ARE JUST SIMPLY BEYOND HIS.
AND DIRECTOR RAM SAYS HIS CAPABILITY OF OF HANDLING.
SO ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND, THAT EVERYBODY WHO CAN'T DEAL WITH A PROBLEM ISSUE IS SENDING THOSE PEOPLE TO.
THIS IS NOT THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER WHERE IF YOU WERE TOO, YOU WERE CHEWING FOR SCHOOL.
IF YOU GRABBED, YOU GRABBED YOUR DADDY'S PER, UH, MOTHER'S PURGE DADDY'S CAR FOR A TOUR RIDE.
THESE ARE CARJACKERS AT, AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF GANG MEMBERS, MEMBERS THAT ARE IN OUR JAIL, THE GANG UNION, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY COME TO COME TO OUR FACILITY TO LEARN AND TRAIN HOW TO HANDLE THE INMATE.
SO IT'S AN IMPERATIVE THAT WE GET YOUR, YOUR ATTENTION.
30 SECONDS THAT WE GET A MEETING WITH, YOU CAN DISCUSS THE MANY SECURITY, SECURITY ISSUES THAT YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF INSIDE OF THE FACILITY.
YOU'LL YOU'LL GET YOUR MEETING.
MEETING JAVI ESSEX COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE.
I AM DEMON CONCERNED WITH TREATMENT OF ESSEX COUNTY.
UH, WE HAVE RECEIVED NO RAISE, BUT OUR TAXES AND MEDICAL BENEFITS ARE, ARE RAISED ANNUALLY TO INCLUDE RAISES AT A MOMENT.
AT MOMENT'S NOTICE, IE 2015 AND A SHORT STORY, I HOPE TO PAINT A PICTURE OF US HERE TO HELP FORESHADOW WHAT'S TO COME.
AND THAT STORY IS THE THREE LITTLE PIGS.
THERE WAS ONCE A BIG BAD WOLF, THREE PIGS AND THREE HOUSES, BUSES.
I, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT, I'LL MAKE IT QUICK, WANTED TO LIVE PEACEFULLY, BUT UNDERSTOOD THEY NEEDED PROTECTION.
SO THEY BUILT HOUSES WITH LITTLE EFFORT AND MONEY.
AND WHEN THAT BIG BAD WOLF CAME, IT BLEW THE HOUSE DOWN THE SECOND PIG.
TOOK A LITTLE MORE, TOOK A LITTLE MORE EFFORT AND MONEY TO BUILD A STICK HOUSE.
STICK HOUSE WHEN THAT BIG BAD WOLF CAME THAT ALMOST AS EASILY.
NOW THIS THIRD PIG BELIEVED IF HE PUT THE EFFORT AND MONEY INTO, IF HE PUT THE EFFORT AND MONEY INTO HIS STRUCTURE, IT WOULD BE A SOLID FOUNDATION.
WHEN THE BIG BAD WOLF CAME, THE DUE DILIGENCE SERVED FRUITFULLY.
THE LITTLE PIG'S HOUSE STOOD FIRM.
PIGS FOLLOWED THE BRICK HOUSE PHILOSOPHY AND COULD LIVE, LIVE PEACEFULLY.
THE STORIES BIG BAD WOLF REPRESENTS CRIME.
THE THREE LITTLE PIGS SOCIETY AND THE THREE HOUSES.
TO ACQUIRE THIS, TO ACQUIRE THIS, IT'S A VERY SIMPLE FORMULA.
LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONS, FOUNDATIONS OF WHICH COMMUNITIES THRIVE NATION IS SOLID AS BRICK.
HOWEVER, WITH THE CURRENT STATUS OF HOW S SIX SIX OFFICERS ARE BEING PAID IN, IN WHICH
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SUPERIOR OFFICER ASSOCIATION LOCAL 2025.THIS IS THE SAME THING PLAYING OUT THROUGH MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTY GOVERNOR REPEATING THE SAME THING.
OKAY? WE HAD A MAYOR WHO WOULD NOT, WHO WOULD NOT NEGOTIATE.
YOU NEED PUSH MR. COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO COME AND NEGOTIATE OUR TOWN.
WENT OUT WITH THEIR MONEY, BOUGHT A GOLF COURSE, BOUGHT A SPUR FUND SITE, INDEBTED THE CITIZENS OF WEST ORANGE.
ORANGE WITH AN INSURMOUNTABLE AMOUNT OF DEBT.
OF DEBT, BUT TO GO AND GET ACCOUNTED.
THAT IS NOW APPRECIATIVE OF OUR MEMBERS.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN HERE.
WE NEED TO, TO GO OUT AND FIND GOOD ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE WILLING TO FIGHT THE FIGHT FOR THE MEMBERS, FOR EVERYBODY.
AND RIGHT NOW THE MAYOR OF WEST ORANGE IS SUING THE COUNCIL.
SUING THE COUNCIL BECAUSE THE COUNCIL IS FIGHTING UP TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED HAPPENED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE.
AND WE ONLY HOPE, HOPE AND HOPE EVERYBODY HERE, EVERYBODY HERE HAS THE COURAGE THAT MR. COUNTY EX HERE TONIGHT.
YOU NEED TO HAVE THE COURAGE, YOU NEED TO STEP FORWARD.
AND YOU NEED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN DO IT.
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DO THAT.
SAYING THAT YOU WANT THE CONTRACT SETTLED.
AND THE OTHER THING IS GOING TO ARBITRATION IS A BIG MISTAKE.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR AND THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO.
YOU'RE GONNA PAY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
'CAUSE YOU'RE GONNA TRAIN OFFICERS.
THEY'RE GONNA LEAVE AND THEY'RE GONNA GO TO BETTER PLACES.
ONE TO THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN FLORIDA.
IN FLORIDA, ONE TO THE ORLANDO, ORLANDO POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND ANOTHER OFFICER, OFFICER TODAY RESIGNED WITH NO JOB.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE FORCING PEOPLE TO DO.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO BE COURAGEOUS.
YOU'RE ELECTED NOT ONLY BY THE CITIZENS, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT YOUR WORKFORCE.
THEY'RE THE PEOPLE THAT GET EVERYTHING DONE.
EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH HAPPENS ON THEIR BACKS.
IF THEY'RE NOT DOING THE JOB, YOU KNOW NOTHING'S GONNA HAPPEN.
YOU SHOULD BE THANKFUL THAT THEY'VE DONE WHAT THEY'VE DONE FOR AS LONG AS THEY'VE DONE.
MAKE MR. COUNTY EXECUTIVE COME TO THE TABLE.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE PBA.
ALL THESE MEMBERS HERE, DO ALL THESE MEMBERS HERE DO NOT DESERVE SEVEN YEARS WITHOUT A PAY.
RIGHT IN YOUR MOD AS I'M DRIVING UP TO, TO ESSEX COUNTY COUNTY, IT SAYS, PUT ESSEX COUNTY FIRST.
CLEARLY YOU HAVE NOT DONE THAT FOR THESE CLEARLY, CLEARLY YOU'RE PUTTING YOUR OWN INTERESTS FIRST.
NOT THESE MEMBERS' INTERESTS FIRST.
CLEARLY YOU'RE, YOU'RE LETTING DOWN THE RESIDENTS OF, OF ESSEX COUNTS COUNTY.
RIGHT? YOU HAVE MEMBERS HERE THAT, THAT JUST EXPLAINED TO YOU THAT THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR LIVES OUT IN DANGER.
THEY'RE RISKING OR RISKING PERSONAL BODILY INJURY.
RIGHT? RISKING THEIR LIVES DAY IN, DAY OUT FOR THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
THEY ARE CLEARLY PUTTING ESSEX COUNTY FIRST AND YOU ARE NOT.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS STEP UP LIKE THE GENTLEMAN SAID BEFORE, WITH THE RESOLUTION ON THE TABLE, AND VOTE AND GIVE THESE MEN AND WOMEN THAT DOODLY SERVE ESSEX COUNTY ON A DAY DAILY BASIS.
THE, THEY, THE UH, THE PAY RAISES THEY DESERVE.
UH, CAN'T TELL YOU HOW DISAPPOINTED I AM IN THE BOARD FOR NOT PUTTING THE PRESSURE ON THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO COME TO THE, COME TO THE TABLE TO NEGOTIATE.
IT WAS DISRESPECTFUL WHEN YOU VOTED TO TAKE OUR BENEFITS WHEN UNDER CONTRACT.
YOU ALL THAT WERE HERE AT THE TIME CREATED THE PROBLEM.
IT'S UP TO YOU TO FIX THE PROBLEM NOW.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALL SINGLE HERE, VERY DISINTERESTED.
I'M NOT EXPECTING A COMMENT BACK.
BUT MR. LUCIANO, I'M IN THE HALLWAY AND TELL THE OFFICERS OUT THERE THAT YOU DON'T SUPPORT 'EM LIKE YOU TEXT ME, THAT YOU DON'T SUPPORT US, YOU DON'T HAVE OUR BACK.
IT'S NICE OF YOU TO SHOW UP TONIGHT.
THE LAST MEETING YOU WERE WHEN YOU WERE AT, UH, WHAT CAMPAIGNING FOR MAYOR VEIA.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ADDRESS
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THE CHAIR.UH, AGAIN, UH, THROUGH MR. PRESIDENT, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO WHO SAYS HE DOESN'T SUPPORT US, THAT WE SHOULD TET A LOAF.
HE TAKES MORE, TAKES MORE THAN HIS SHARE BY PAYING HIS GIRLFRIEND THREE 32,000 TO BE HIS PLATE OF AID WHILE WE'RE STARVING OVER HERE TO GET A CONTRACT.
HE DOESN'T EVEN SHOW UP TO DO HIS JOB AND HE'S PAYING SOMEONE ELSE NOT TO DO THEIR JOB.
JOHN HERE IS SHAKING HIS HEAD.
I HAVE THE OPRAH REQUEST IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IT.
THAT'S ALL DONALD JACKSON CONCERNED CITIZEN.
WELL, I CAN SPEAK LOUDER 'CAUSE I'M FROM THE HOUSING UNIT UNIT, SO I GOTTA ALWAYS YELL, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO IN TV LAND CAN HEAR ME.
UM, MR. CHAIR TO ADDRESS MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
UM, THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS AMONGST US.
I WANT TO CAUTION US, NOT BE FOOLED, DO NOT FALL, HOOK, HOOK, LINE AND SINKER FOR THE HOLIDAY PARTIES, FOR THE FUNDRAISERS, FOR THE GIFTS, FOR, FOR THE BAD.
WE CAN'T GO TO NO FUND RAID AND HELP NOBODY GET ELECTED.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE HAVE AN ELECTION COMING UP THIS TUESDAY.
THIS IS GREAT AND THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, I'M SURPRISED AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE WE ARE OUT HERE.
BUT IF WE DON'T START PUTTING IN THESE POSITIONS THAT HAVE I HAVE OUR BACK AND SUPPORT US, IT IS FR IT IS FRUIT TOWEL.
IT MEANS NOTHING BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA GO ACT, MAKE THE DEAL, VOTE THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO AND WE LOSE OUT YET AGAIN.
AGAIN, DON'T FALL FOR HOOK, LINE AND SINKER.
MY QUESTION TO THE UH, MR. EXECUTIVE IS HOW DO YOU GO FOR A 26 6% PAY RAISE IN THREE YEARS AND THINK WHAT YOU OFFERED US IS ACCEPTABLE? LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION.
HAVE YOU HAD THROWN, HAVE YOU HAD URINE THROWN IN YOUR FACE? HAVE YOU HAD TO WRESTLE WITH A NAKED PERSON ON PCP IN THE COUNTY JAIL? HAVE YOU HAD TO RESPOND TO A STABBING IN A CELL CELL WHERE THERE'S SO MUCH BLOOD? AND, AND, AND I DON'T TELL THESE BE MELODRAMATIC, BUT I TELL YOU THESE STORIES BECAUSE THEY ARE A REALITY.
WE, WE ARE DEDICATED TO THE PROFESSION AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU HAVE NOT NOT LOST THE ENTIRE, IF NOT A GOOD MAJORITY OF THIS DEPARTMENT.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THE DEDICATION.
BUT WHAT WE WILL NOT ALLOW, IT WILL NOT CONTINUE, IS THE DISRESPECT AND THE ANTI LAW ENFORCEMENT RHETORIC COMING OUT OF THIS BUILDING.
IT IS SICKENING AND WE ARE TIRED.
YOU'RE RUN AROUND HERE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING ESSEX COUNTY FIRST, HOW THAT POSSIBLE FOLK FOLKS ARE LOSING THEIR HOMES.
PE PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK DOUBLE SHIFTS JUST TO MAINTAIN THE PURCHASING POWER THAT YOU HAD IN 2017 IS 26% UNDER WHAT IT IS NOW.
MEANING YOU NEED 26% INCREASE IN YOUR SALARY JUST TO MAKE AND SURVIVE THE WAY YOU WAS IN 2017.
SO ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT ISN'T EVEN REALLY RAISE.
AND, AND AND, AND WHAT I HATE TO HEAR AND SEE IS ALWAYS THE POLITICAL GAME.
THE NAME POINTED, THE FINGER CALLING AND ALL THIS NONSENSE.
THESE FACILITIES ARE DANGEROUS AND FALLING APART AND IT'S OF SOMEBODY TO TAKE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY WHO THANK YOU.
MAY MEGAN DECKER, SPOUSE OF MICHAEL DECKER, SHERIFF'S, UM, OFFICER SERGEANT HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
UM, THE FACT THAT I'M HERE TONIGHT, MY TODDLER DURING WHAT SHOULD BE BEDTIME TELLS YOU HOW SERIOUS THIS IS FOR NOT ONLY THE OFFICERS AND THE TAXPAYERS OF ESSEX COUNTY, BUT ALSO THE SPOUSES AND FAMILIES BEING DIRECTLY IMPACTED.
I ASK, I ASKED YOU TO REFLECT ON THE POWER THAT YOU HAVE DOWN.
THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU INDIVIDUALLY AND YOU AS OF THE BOARD CAN DO TO BENEFIT WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE AND FIX THIS SITUATION.
WHEN MY HUSBAND SIGNED UP FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, I HAD A GENERAL IDEA OF WHAT I WAS GETTING INTO.
I KNEW THAT THINGS WERE GONNA BE DANGEROUS.
I KNEW HE WOULD WORK LESS THAN IDEAL SHIFTS AND PROBABLY NOT SEE OUR SON FRANK AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE.
WHAT I DIDN'T EXPECT IS FOR THE COUNTY
[00:35:01]
TO BE PUTTING HIM IN POSITIONS OF DANGER WHERE HE IS WORKING, WHERE HE IS WORKING AND UNDERSTAFFED AND UNDERPAID ENVIRONMENTS WHERE HE HAS COWORKERS THAT ARE WORKING DOUBLE AND TRIPLE SHIFTS ARE EXHAUSTED AS A RESULT WHERE HE'S IN WORKING CONDITIONS THAT HAVE ROACHES AND RATS AND BLACK MOLD AND ASBESTOS.I ASK YOU TODAY, PUT THE RESOLUTION ON THE TABLE, TAKE ACTION, MAKE THE COUNTY BETTER, AND REWARD THE WORKERS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR YOU WITHOUT RAISE FOR SEVEN YEARS.
ALRIGHT, LET'S DO GOOD EVENING, DONALD JACKSON, NEW JERSEY.
HELL RAISING, WELL WE SHOWING IMPROVING TONIGHT.
I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO BRING THE REST OF THE CALVARY HERE FOR YOU TO GET THE MESSAGE.
I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE THE GUTS.
I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE THE MORAL FIBER TO DO THE RIGHT THING HERE TONIGHT AND SEND THIS BACK TO JOE AND TELL HIM HELL NO.
YOU DON'T HAVE NO GUTS TO DO THAT BECAUSE IF YOU DID, YOU DONE DID IT A LONG TIME AGO, THESE FOLKS DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WOULD NOT COME BACK TO THE TABLE IN GOOD FAITH.
YOU GUYS LIKE TO THROW THE BALL OVER TO JOE'S COURT.
OH, SAY, WELL WHO YOU WORK FOR.
WHAT DECISIONS DO DO YOU MAKE? WHOSE AGENDA IS THIS? IT AIN'T OURS.
DARE YOU HAVE SOME GOODS TONIGHT.
THESE FAMILIES ARE IN FORECLOSURE BEHIND ON THEIR RENT.
I COME UP HERE ALL THE TIME TALKING ABOUT THE WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
EVERY ONE OF 'EM DOING A RENTAL APPLICATION OR MORTGAGE APPLICATION.
AND GUESS WHAT? THEY WAITING IN LINE LIKE THE REST OF US SMOKES.
CAN'T SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR FOOD STAMPS? YOU DON'T LET 'EM BE SO LOW WHEN THEY SALARY, CAN YOU GIVE IT TO 'EM? BECAUSE THEY FAMILY SIZE, SIZE DICTATES THAT THE WORKING CONDITIONS, YOU WOULDN'T WORK IN THOSE CONDITIONS.
YOU WOULD NOT, YOU WOULD BE DOING JUST WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
RAISING YOUR VOICE, SAYING SOMETHING, SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER, WHICH I, I CLEARLY UNDERSTAND.
SEE I DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE HAND IN HERE.
'CAUSE YOU CAN'T DO NOTHING TO ME.
THE GOVERNOR, NOBODY CAN DO NOTHING TO ME 'CAUSE I'M JUST DONNA.
BUT GUESS WHAT? DONNA IS STANDING ON 35 YEARS OF BEING A KID IN THIS STATE.
35 YEARS OF GETTING IT DONE, 35 YEARS OF MAKING STUFF HAPPEN HAPPEN.
YOU GUYS ARE PLAYING EVERY DAY WITH THEIR LIVES.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE JAIL.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT 300 WEST, UH, UNIVERSITY AVENUE.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU KEEP CUTTING THESE FAMILIES OFF.
YOU'RE NOT GIVING THEM WHAT THEY NEED.
GUESS WHAT? THAT'S WHY YOU GOTTA HAVE 15 POLICE RIGHT AT THE DBO WELFARE BUILDING.
'CAUSE YOU PLAYING WITH PEOPLE.
THEY'RE UNDERSTAFFED, OVERWORKED.
YOU EXPECT THESE GUYS TO KEEP COMING FROM PERFORMING.
YOU GOT THREE SERGEANT SERVED CARS WORKING THE MIDNIGHT SERVICE.
THEY CAME TO THE SAFETY COMMITTEE AND TOLD YOU THERE'S NOBODY WORKING AT MIDNIGHT.
I GUESS THAT'S WHY WE FOUND ALL THESE BODIES.
THEY GOT TIME TO DUMP 30 SECONDS.
I COULD KILL SOMEBODY RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW HOW TO GET AWAY WITH IT.
THIS IS SO, SO DISRESPECTFUL THAT YOU GUYS SIT HERE AND YOU'RE GOING TO ANSWER THESE FOLKS, BUT YOU DON'T CARE 'CAUSE I DARE YOU TO TAKE A POWER MOVE TONIGHT 'CAUSE Y'ALL AIN'T GOT NO POWER.
YOU THINK YOU DO, BUT YOU DON'T SEND THE AGENDA BACK TO JOE.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE CHICKEN IN THE ROOST.
UH, JASON RODRIGUEZ, UH, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ESSO COUNTY SHERIFF, PBA 180 3.
RIGHT? LET LET THAT SIT IN THE ADMINISTRATION.
22 OUT OF THE 26 UNIONS SIGNED THE THE DEAL.
RIGHT? 4 4, 4 UNIONS THAT ARE HERE TODAY REPRESENT.
I'VE MENTIONED THIS TO YOU BEFORE AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S ONLY AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE, BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS.
TRANSPORTATION DIVISION IS WORKING WITH SIX TO 10 WHILE HANDLING HUNDREDS OF INMATES THAT COME IN EVERY SINGLE DAY.
ALL IT TAKES IS ONE ROGUE INMATE TO BE TOLD THAT HE'S JUST BEEN HAND LIFE S TO COME DOWN.
AND GUESS WHAT? THERE'S SIX TO 10 OFFICERS THAT WORK DOWN THERE, BUT THIS DEPARTMENT FIELDS,
[00:40:01]
THAT'S OKAY.THAT'S THEIR MOTTO, RIGHT? OUR PLAIN, PLAIN CLOTHES UNIT.
YOU SUBJECT THEM TO COMING INTO COURT.
THERE'S A A REASON WHY THEY'RE WORKING IN THAT UNIT.
YOU SUBJECT THEM TO COME, TO COME TO COURT.
GUESS WHAT WHOT, IF SOMEBODY WHO THEY'VE BEEN WORKING UNDER SEES A ME NOW, THEY JUST BEEN COMPROMISED.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S NAME MIGHT BE ON EVERYTHING IN THIS COUNTY.
BUT LOOK BEHIND ME 'CAUSE THE MEN AND WOMEN HERE ARE THE ONES THAT REPRESENT THIS COUNTY.
OFFICER ROSELO, PBA LOCAL THREE TO TWO SERGEANT AT ARMS. I'M JUST COMING TO STAND BEFORE YOU TO TELL YOU.
MY DAUGHTER WROTE A LETTER IN THE COUNTY EXEC LAST YEAR THAT I COULDN'T TURN IN 'CAUSE MY NAME WAS ON IT.
SHE'S TIRED OF HEARING ME TELL MY MY WIFE AND FRIENDS, WE CAN'T DO STUFF TILL WE GET A CONTRACT.
LAST TIME WE HAD A CONTRACT, MY SON WAS TWO.
EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE, BUT IT'S TO THE, TO THE POINT WHERE NOBODY CARE US.
THE STUFF WE SEE THEY TALK ABOUT.
I RESPONDED PERSONALLY TO THAT CODE.
YOU WANT ME TO DRAW IT ON A PIECE OF PAPER FOR YOU RIGHT NOW? 'CAUSE I CAN, IT'S ETCHED MY BRAIN FOREVER.
I BLEW UP AT THE SAWMILL DOWN THE SHORE WHEN THEY PUT A CUP OF CHOCOLATE MILK ON THE TABLE.
'CAUSE IT REMINDED ME OF OFFICER MATOS FACE.
WE ARE PER PEOPLE WE'RE TREATED LIKE NUMBERS.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT I'M TIRED OF REPEATING THAT.
DADDY, DID YOU GET YOUR CONTRACT YET? OUR CHILDREN, I LOOK BACK AT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO HAVE CHILDREN MY CHILDREN'S AGE.
THEY'RE THE ONES SUFFERING WE CAN HANDLE OURSELVES.
YOU GUYS ARE HURTING AND INFECTING EVERY DAY.
NOT ABLE TO ENOUGH, PUT ENOUGH MONEY IN THEIR COLLEGE FUNDS.
COLLEGE IS GOING THROUGH THE ROOF.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE AFFECTING THE CHILDREN OF THIS COUNTY.
THE PUTTING ESSEX COUNTY FIRST IS, THAT'S EXACTLY, EXACTLY ALL THAT IS.
WHO CARES ABOUT THE PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.
WE'RE GONNA SIT UP HERE AND TALK.
I'VE WATCHED ENOUGH OF THESE MEETINGS.
I'M, I'M TIRED OF HEARING TALK.
WE DEAL WITH ACTION EVERY DAY.
TRUST ME, THAT ALARM GOES OFF THE BLOOD.
STOP TALKING AND DO SOMETHING.
I JUST WANNA SHARE A, A SHORT STORY WITH YOU.
ALL OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE HERE TO TELL YOU ABOUT UNDERSTAFFED.
WORKING TWO AND THREE, THREE SHIFTS, UH, COMING TO WORK, TIRED, BEING BEAT ON.
THREATENED TO BE STABBED, THREATENED TO BE SHOT, SHOT IN THE STREETS AND ALL THE OTHER EXTRA STUFF.
I WAS MANDATED TO WORK TWO DAYS IN A ROW.
CAUGHT A NINE MINUTE NAP BY MYSELF AND IN A CORNER WITH NO INMATES AROUND.
MY JOB IS NOT, MY LIFE IS NOT NOT WORTH THAT.
I HAD THOSE TWO MANDATORY DOUBLES BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WANTED TO COME TO WORK.
WHO WANTS TO COME TO WORK WHEN THEY DON'T GET PAID? NO ONE IN THIS ROOM WILL COME TO WORK.
PAID EXCEPT FOR THE PEOPLE BEHIND.
SO, SO IF YOU DON'T PAY THESE PEOPLE, THE LOYAL ONES LIKE ME, LIKE A COUPLE OF OTHER ONES, EITHER GONNA BE FIRED OR GONNA QUIT.
WHY WOULD I STAY THERE? WHAT IS MY PURPOSE? 32 HOURS ON A 48 HOUR PERIOD.
YOU CAN'T EVEN DRIVE A, A CAR LIKE THAT.
YOU COULD LOOK AT ME WITH THE BLANK STARE MAKING IT UP.
THESE PEOPLE BACK HERE CAN TELL YOU THAT.
AND THEN THE SUPERIORS WHO TRIED TO TERMINATE ME WOULDN'T EVEN SHOW UP TO MY HEARING FOR NOTHING.
FOR A NINE MINUTE NAP, A 48 HOUR PERIOD.
OFFICER B SMITH, BERNARD SMITH FROM ESSEX COUNTY JAIL.
NOT APBA REP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU GUYS EVER BEEN DOWN TO THE ESSEX COUNTY JAIL AT THREE 54TH TO REMUS? TRY TO IMAGINE COMING TO WORK.
WORK AND THE PLACE SMELLS LIKE REGRET AND ANGER.
THAT'S HOW BAD IT SMELLS DOWN HERE.
I'M, I'M NOT A STORY WRITER, SO I CAN'T MAKE IT UP.
YOU RUN INTO AN EMERGENCY, YOU
[00:45:01]
GOTTA STOP SOMEWHERE.PUT ON EQUIPMENT THAT'S ABOUT 2020, MAYBE ALMOST 30 POUNDS OF UNNATURAL WHEAT.
AND THEN TRY TO GO SOMEWHERE, RUN ELSE SOME STATE AND THEN TRY TO FIGHT SOMEBODY.
I THINK Y GUYS SHOULD COME DOWN TO THE JAIL, NOT FOR TWO OR THREE HOURS.
DO AN EIGHT HOUR SHIFT WITH US.
MATTER OF FACT, NO, DO IT ON DELTA POD WHERE WE HAVE GUYS THAT SMELL LIKE I EVEN DESCRIBE THIS, YOU GOTTA SEE THE PLACE.
A LOT OF OUR COHOS HAPPEN ON SOME OF OUR, WHAT WE CALL SHOE, WHAT WE CALL SHOE SECURE HOUSING UNITS.
COME WITH THESE OFFICERS AND JUST SEE WHY WE'RE ASKING, ASKING FOR A CONTRACT, A RAISE, NOT FAIR.
OKAY, I AM SERGEANT FROM THE JUVENILE DETENTION.
PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MIC SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.
I'M SERGEANT KENTON FROM THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
ONE OF THE THINGS ARE, WE, WE ARE NOT CONSIDERED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
HOWEVER, WE, UH, WE HAVE DETAINEES THAT ARE MAKEUP, GENERAL MAKEUP, 7% MURDERERS AND 20% CARJACKERS.
WE NOW HAVE NINE COUNT, EXCUSE ME, NINE COUNTIES.
THOSE GROUPS COME AND THEY'VE BEEN COMING AND THEY ADD ON.
AND WE ARE NOT COMPENSATED FOR THOSE RESIDENTS, FOR THOSE INMATES.
THEY, WE HAVE TO PROTECT THEM FROM KILLING EACH OTHER.
AND WE'RE NOT, NOT SAFE OR PROTECTED BECAUSE THE ONES THAT WE ARE LOCATED IN IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY WHERE FORMER DETAINEES COME AND THEY HAVE ACCESS TO, TO WHERE WE'RE LOCATED IN, IN THE FAC WHERE OUR FACILITY IS LOCATED.
SO, UM, OUR OFFICERS DON'T FEEL PROTECTED IN THAT WAY.
WE CAN GO FURTHER INTO UM, DE DETAILS, BUT WE REQUEST AN EXECUTIVE EXECUTIVE MEETING JUST TO, AS OF ALL THE BRIES THAT WE HAVE THERE, WE'RE UNDERPAID.
THEY ARE REQUIRING OFFICERS TO WORK SO MANY HOURS.
IF THEY GET INJURED ON DUTY, THEY'RE ON DUTY.
THEY'RE FROWNED UPON THAT THEY NEEDED TO, TO, YOU KNOW, HEAL, TO COME BACK TO WORK.
UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR RIGHT NOW.
ANTHONY DEPRO, PBA 3 25 ESSEX COUNTY PROSECUTORS, ALL DETECTIVES.
I'M JUST GONNA KEEP IT REAL, REAL SIMPLE.
WE DON'T TAKE THE OFFER, WE DON'T TAKE THE OFFER.
WE DON'T DO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE DOES.
WE DO WHAT WE, WE, OUR JOB IS TOTALLY SEPARATE.
WE WANT A FAIR, COMPETITIVE, COMPETITIVE CONTRACT TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND WE, WE WANT SAFE FACILITIES THAT ARE CLEAN, CLEAN TO WORK IN.
YOU PRESENT TO US, WE WILL TAKE IT.
WE'RE NOT GOING THROUGH MY DOCTORAL PROGRAM.
ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT I REMEMBER, ALL THE THINGS I LEARNED, I LEARNED.
DOM TOLD ME, WHEN THE SHARKS ARE IN THE WATER CIRCLING, YOU HAVE TO FEED THE SHARK.
YOU HAVE TO FEED THE SHARKS TO GET, TO GET THEM BACK IN THE WATER.
'CAUSE IF YOU DON'T FEED THE SHARKS, EVENTUALLY THEY'RE GONNA CAPITALIZE YOUR BOAT.
HOW YOU DOING? MY NAME'S ROB ROSE T I'M THE VP FOR, UH, PBA FOR UH, PBA 180 3.
IT IS TAKEN ME A LOT TO COME HERE AND TALK TODAY.
WE, WE HAVE, WE DO EVERYTHING FOR THIS COUNTY.
WE GO TO EVERY EVENT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE THESE SPECIAL DEALS WITH.
[00:50:01]
EVERY DAY BECAUSE WE'RE TOLD WE HAVE TO.DO YOU THINK WE WANT TO BE THERE WHEN WE HAVEN'T GOT PAID IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS? YOU'RE, YOU, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
BUT WE HAVE NO ONE THAT HAS OUR BEST.
THAT'S ALL I CAN ASK IS, IS THAT PLEASE THAT YOU HAVE OUR BACKS.
'CAUSE WE'RE OUT THERE EVERY DAY AND WE HAVE YOUR YOURS DURING ALL THESE EVENTS, EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE TOLD THAT WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND DO, WE JUST NEED TO GET PAID.
IT'S HARD, IT'S HARD TO PUT TO PUT THE FOOD ON A TABLE FOR YOUR KIDS.
IT'S HARD TO, IT'S HARD TO PAY THE BILLS 'CAUSE WE'RE UNDERSTAFFED TREMENDOUSLY.
SOME OF THE OLDEST EQUIPMENT PROBABLY IN THE CAMP, WE HAVE VEHICLES THAT ARE O OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES ON 'EM.
SOME THAT ARE, THAT ARE PROBABLY WE CAN SUBMIT FOR TEMPLATES.
I ASK YOU AGAIN FOR, FOR YOUR HELP.
PLEASE HELP US GET OUR CONTRACT.
MIKE CAPITANO, VICE PRESIDENT OF PBA 180 3 A.
FIRST OFF, LET ME START BY THANKING THE COMMISSIONERS AND SOME OF THIS ADMINISTRATION WHO, ADMINISTRATION, WHO HAVE SHOWN THE TIME, THE COMMITMENT, UH, THAT IS MEANINGFUL TO VOTE TO SOME DEGREE.
HOWEVER, AS AS I STAND HERE, UH, AS I'M SITTING HERE LISTENING TO ALL THESE COWORKERS OF MINE TALK, UH, I THINK TO MYSELF, WHY WOULD ANYBODY WANT TO WORK HERE FOR THIS COUNTY? WHY WOULD ANYBODY STAY AND SUBJECT THEMSELVES, UH, TO THIS AS IT'S ONGOING? AND THE ONLY THING I THINK OF IS IT SHOWS THE COMMITMENT OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT STAND BEHIND ME TO KEEP COMING TO WORK AND DOING THEIR JOBS AND DOING THEIR JOBS WELL.
AND I THINK ALL WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ASKED, UH, WE HAVE DONE.
AND ALL WE DO IS ASK FOR SOME RESPECT FROM THIS BOARD AND THIS ADMINISTRATION.
IT'S NICE NOW THAT I LOOK AROUND AND I SEE A LOT OF THE COMMISSIONERS LOOKING AND PAYING ATTENTION.
UH, AND MAYBE THEY'RE ACTUALLY HEARING US NOW.
AND THEN THERE'S SOME THAT STAY ON THEIR PHONES AND DON'T REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, ARE PROBABLY UPSET THAT WE ARE HERE TONIGHT.
SO I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS THAT YOU CAN'T MAKE JOE D ANGRY, UH, BECAUSE, UM, YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT.
SO YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY, UH, WITH TAKING A HALF OF LOAF OF BREAD.
SO I DID AN EXPERIMENT AND I MADE MY SON A SANDWICH ON A HALF OF LOAF OR A HALF A PIECE OF BREAD.
AND I GAVE IT TO HIM AND HE SAID, DAD, WHAT THE HECK IS THIS? AND I SAID, WELL, THIS IS WHAT MY ADMINISTRATION IS TELLING US WE SHOULD DO.
ALL WE HAVE DONE IS BEEN RESPECTFUL.
WE HAVE DONE OUR JOB, AND WE HAVE ASKED FOR HELP, WHICH WE ARE NOT GETTING.
WE MADE, UH, A REASONABLE OFFER AND WE HAVE GOTTEN NOTHING BACK.
AND NOW I HEAR THAT, THAT WE ARE GOING TO ARBITRATION WITH ONE OF THE UNIONS.
IT'S A SLAP IN THE FACE TO EVERYBODY.
WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOME, SOME HELP.
WE'RE LOOKING TO GO PAST THE FISH LINE.
WE'RE LOOKING TO GET THIS DONE.
AND I, I THINK IT'S A LOT OF MISRE REPRESENTATION ON WHAT IS GIVEN AND WHAT WAS READ ON THE RECORD INITIALLY, LEE.
[00:55:01]
HI EVERYONE.MY NAME IS, UH, VINNY RIZZO AND I'M THE BERGEN COUNTY BA CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN.
I'M GONNA PUT A LITTLE, PUT A LITTLE DIFFERENT SPIN ON THIS.
UH, EVERYONE THAT'S SPOKEN, SPOKEN HERE TONIGHT HAS BEEN FROM ESSEX COUNTY.
SO, SO WHY IS SOMEBODY FROM BERGEN COUNTY STANDING HERE? HEY, I'M GRATEFUL FOR WHERE I WORK.
I'M FULL EVERY SINGLE DAY AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR REASONABLENESS.
I EVEN ENOUGH TO THINK THAT WHAT I DO, THAT WHAT I DO DAY IN, DAY OUT IS AS TOUGH AS THE MEN AND WOMEN STANDING IN THESE HALLWAYS DO DAY IN, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, RISKING THEIR LIVES.
THIS IS ALSO COMING FROM SOMEONE THAT LOST THEIR BEST FRIEND IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN ONE OF THOSE SLEEPY TOWNS.
REASONABLENESS IN SEVEN YEARS IS NOT REASONABLE, REASONABLE.
WHEN I SIT DOWN WITH MY ADMINISTRATION, SAY, HEY, I WANT A 20% RAISE, AND THEY BACK WITH A ZERO, I SAY, HEY, HOW ABOUT A FOUR OR 5%? THEY SAY ZERO.
I SAY, COME ON, THAT'S NOT REASONABLE.
AND HEY, WE MEET SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.
THREE, THREE AND A HALF PERCENT.
TWO MEETINGS IN SEVEN YEARS IS NOT REASONABLE.
THESE GUYS, NICE MEN AND WOMEN RISKING THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY ARE PAID UNDERAPPRECIATED.
ZERO THAT RAISES IN SEVEN YEARS.
SO ALL MY NAME IS KAY HENDERSON AND I'M HERE TODAY.
TODAY BECAUSE WE MONEY IN THE WORST WAY.
WE DON'T KNOW IF WE COMING OUT AS Y'ALL SIT HERE AND Y'ALL, Y'ALL GO TO Y'ALL WORKPLACE.
DO Y'ALL EVER WANT, AM I GONNA COME OUT OF THERE? NO, BECAUSE YOU WORK IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
OUR ENVIRONMENT IS HOSTILE AND WE SHOULD GET MORE MONEY.
$43 AN HOUR FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.
IT'S NOT FAIR TO OUR FAMILIES.
IT'S ACT, ACTUALLY A SLAP IN THE FACE EVERY DAY.
WE GO IN THERE RISKING OUR LIVES, PUTTING OUR LIVES ON EYE AND WE GET NOTHING.
SO I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK Y'ALL TO BE REASONABLE.
I'M WITH S COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
BEEN THERE ALMOST, I'M IN TO MY 15TH YEAR.
UM, YOU JUST WANNA SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF MY EXPERIENCE.
ADAMS, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS CRYSTAL STOKES.
I'VE BEEN WITH, I'VE BEEN WITH ESSEX COUNTY GOING INTO MY 15TH YEAR.
UM, I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT THIS BAD IN THERE.
UM, I'M GONNA SHARE MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AS FAR AS BEING THERE.
YOU KNOW, I WORKED THE BUILDINGS.
I HAVE WORKED INTAKE FOR FIVE YEARS AND HALF OF US DO DOWNSTAIRS IN THE INTAKE.
WE WORK FOR OUTBREAKS BECAUSE WE TRY TO GET THE WORK DONE AND LET IT LET US TAKE BREAKS.
NOTHING WOULD, NOTHING COULD BE DONE 'CAUSE WE'RE SHORT STAFFED.
ALSO, YOU SEND THE OFFICER OFFICERS INTO THE BUILDING WHERE THE BUILDINGS BUILDING IS THERE, SMOKING, FENCING, ALL OKAY TOO AND PASSING OUT.
SO YOU SEND ANOTHER ON ANOTHER OFFICER THERE.
SO NEXT OFFICER GET PASSED OUT.
I'M ALSO LOOKING FOR MY RAISE.
I HAD MY MOTHER, SHE HAS STAGE FOUR BREAST CANCER THAT'S SPREADING.
I TRIED TO SHOW THAT SHE'S OKAY SO SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT NOTHING.
I, I MADE THE DECISION TO SELL MY HOUSE LAST YEAR BECAUSE AGAIN, WHO DIDN'T EXPECT TO NOT HAVE A RAISE IN SEVEN YEARS? I LISTENED TO MY COWORKER, REESE, HOW THEY'RE STRUGGLING, WHETHER THE P**S BILL TO PAY THIS BILL.
I WAS GOING UP 7% COME JANUARY 1ST.
BUT YET WE STILL DON'T HAVE A RAISE.
I DON'T WANNA KEEP WORKING OVERTIME.
BUT I HAVE TO, HEARING MY COWORKERS SAYING, JUST SAYING HOW THEY GOING TO EAT SOME, SOME OF MY COWORKERS NOT GONNA BOOST FOR LUNCH,
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S A STRUGGLE FOR ALL OF US THAT'S BEEN THERE.
AND TO SEE THE CHANGES, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WAKE UP EVERY DAY JUST TO JERK US AROUND, AROUND.
I AM AM OFFICER J SMITH OF ESSEX COUNTY, DEPARTMENT OF HEAD, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION.
[01:00:01]
NOW FOR FOUR YEARS AND I, AND I HAVE BEEN WITH THE ADULT CORRECTION FOR 22 YEARS.SO WHEN YOU SAY FIRST I HAVE MY ENTIRE, ENTIRE ADULT LIFE, A DAUGHTER IN COLLEGE.
I'M, I'M PAYING OUT OF POCKET MORE STATE UNIVERSITY.
MY DAUGHTER FOR 22 YEARS OF HER LIFE, I'VE BEEN WORKING.
WHEN YOU GO TO COLLEGE, I'M GONNA MAKE SURE YOU GRADUATE COLLEGE DEBT FREE WITH A DEGREE.
I KEPT MY WORD TO MY DAUGHTER, BUT IT'S HARD.
LIKE I WORK TWO SHIFTS EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
I HAVE AN 11 YEAR OLD THAT I'M RAISING.
I CAN'T DEPRIVE HIM BECAUSE I'M PAYING FOR A COLLEGE TUITION THAT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO, TO HANDLE AS AN OFFICER FOR WORK.
WORKING FOR ESSEX COUNTY FORT FOUR YEARS OF MY LIFE.
SO I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR ESSEX COUNTY MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE.
JUVENILE, FOUR YEARS, ESSEX COUNTY.
FINEST ADULT CORRECTION, 22 YEARS.
I DESERVE TO BE PAID, PAID FOR MY WORK.
I HAVE WORKED INTAKE, I HAVE WORKED COURTS, I WORKED ANYTHING VISITATION.
I DESERVE TO BE PAID, PAID FOR MY SERVICES.
ANYONE THAT WORK WITH ME, THERE'S A LOT OF COWORKERS HERE.
I DO MY JOB AND I'VE BEEN DOING WELL MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE WORKING FOR ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MY CORRECTION.
SO WHEN I RETIRED IN ANOTHER 18 MONTHS, LET'S BE CLEAR, I HAD TO RELOCATE OUTTA NEW JERSEY 'CAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO STAY HERE.
I'M GONNA TAKE MY PICTURE, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.
WHATEVER THIS CONTRACT COMES TO.
SISTER BI HAD TO RELOCATE MY FAMILY 'CAUSE I CAN'T STAY IN NEW JERSEY.
WHY CAN'T WE BE PAID FOR WHAT WE DO? WE WORK HARD AT THAT JAIL.
AND ANYBODY I WORKED IN DOWNTOWN, RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, RIGHT ACROSS THE WALKWAY.
I WAS DOWN HERE WHEN PEOPLE, 30 SECONDS DIRTY BARS, SECONDS.
I'M, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU TWO MORE SECONDS.
WE NOT ASKING FOR, FOR NOTHING THAT WE DON'T DESERVE.
AND IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, COME ON DOWN TO S COUNTY JAIL.
MY, MY CAPTAIN LIEUTENANT IS HERE.
I WALK YOU AROUND, LET YOU SEE AREAS WHERE YOU NEED TO SEE WHY WE ASKING FOR WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR.
MY NAME IS, UH, DESMOND GRARD.
I WORK AT ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
OVERTIME I WAS IN 23 OVERTIME, 700 DAYS OF OVERTIME TO MAKE HIS MEET.
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS PROFESSIONALISM IS COME TO THAT JAIL DAY IN, DAY OUT.
THE HURRICANE, WE WERE DOWN FISH FLAPPING AROUND ON THE FLOOR FROM THE POND OUTSIDE BY THE PARKING LOT.
DAY IN, DAY OUT, ESCAPED INMATES DURING THE RAIN.
30 DEGREES OUT OUT HERE IN NEWARK, LOOKING FOR THIS GUY.
ME AND SERGEANT JARMAN GO DOWN TO THE COLD.
WHICH WAY WE GOING? THE OFFICER'S LAYING STAIRS, UNCONSCIOUS.
THE INMATE RUNNING AROUND THE TOP.
CAN'T HELP THE, THE INMATE, I MEAN, CAN'T HELP THE OFFICER.
'CAUSE WE GOTTA SECURE INMATE, HELP US OUT PLEASE.
WE HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK AND IRON THIS OUT.
I DID THIS RELATIONSHIP GO WRONG.
Y'ALL SIT ON THAT SIDE AND WE IN THE JAIL GETTING IT DONE.
[01:05:09]
HELLO, I'M OFFICER JAY RAMIREZ.UH, I GRADUATED, UH, THE POLICE ACADEMY 2010.
I STARTED WORKING WITH THE COUNTY IN 2009.
ONE OF THE PROUDEST MOMENTS THAT I HAD WAS GRADUATING FROM THE POLICE ACADEMY AND HAVING MY FATHER FLY OUT HERE FROM PUERTO RICO.
'CAUSE I'M, I'M, I'M A, A NATIONAL PUERTO RICO.
I, I I I, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN PUERTO RICO, BUT I PUT ESSEX COUNTY FIRST.
SO MUCH SO THAT THE LAST 15 YEAR I'VE BEEN COMING IN, DOING DOUBLE SHIFTS EVEN BETTER.
I'M A TWO TIME, TIME CANCER SURVIVOR.
AND DURING THAT, I WAS COMING HERE EVERY DAY, PUTTING IT OUT THERE.
FOR SOMEONE TO SAY THAT THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THESE OFFICERS IS REAL SIMPLE.
IT IS NOT ABOUT MONEY, IT'S ABOUT
AND I PROMISE YOU, WE'LL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE.
'CAUSE WE DO IT EVERY DAY ANYWAY.
I GO INTO THE LION'S DEN AND I SEE THEM EVERY DAY.
GUESS WHAT? I WILL COME INTO WORK.
I WILL PUT ESSEX COUNTY FIRST.
THE MOMENT THAT JOE VINCE SO SHOOK MY HAND ON THE DAY OF GRADUATED.
SO LET'S DO THE RIGHT THING FOLKS, PLEASE.
LOOK, I AIN'T EVEN TAKE UP THREE MINUTES.
LET'S GET THIS COME SETTLED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
CAN WE GET THAT DONE? THANK YOU.
ESS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS PRESIDENT.
YOU SEE A LOT OF THINGS UP HERE TODAY.
YOU GUYS SAW THE, YOU GUYS SAW THE LETTER? I I WROTE YOU EXPLAINING HOW MY
YOU SEE ALL THE LOYALTY UP HERE.
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE COME JAN, JANUARY, WHEN THE LYER PROGRAM COMES INTO EFFECT AND PEOPLE GO AND ALL THESE OFFICERS ARE NATIONALLY LICENSED.
THEY'RE GONNA BE TRANSFERRING NOT ONLY TO THEIR NEIGHBORING TOWNS, BUT TO OTHER CITIES.
RIGHT NOW I HAVE 104 NON ACADE TRAINED OFFICERS.
THAT'S A RISK AS PVA PRESIDENT, I CAN'T EVEN REPRESENT THEM.
IF THEY GET IN TROUBLE OR THEY GET HURT, THEY'RE NOT PART OF MY LPP, MY ULP.
SO THEY'RE NOT LEGALLY COVERED.
THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE ACADEMY.
SO NOW WE'RE DOWN A HUNDRED GUYS.
THAT BRINGS OUR WORKFORCE DOWN.
THAT MEANS MORE GUYS GETTING MANDATED.
THAT THAT MEANS MORE GUYS GETTING SICK, MORE PROBLEMS AT HOME.
THEN COMES A LICENSE IN JANUARY.
YOU GIVE ME A LICENSE, I CAN GO, I CAN MOVE TO CALIFORNIA.
IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE IN A HEARTBEAT.
YOU SEE THE PROBLEM IN FRONT OF YOU.
I I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO BE CONSCIOUS AT SIX 30 WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO, UH, AGENDA ITEMS AND, UH, WE GOTTA TAKE CARE OF THE, UH, BUSINESS.
AND THEN RIGHT FLOOR IS YOUR SIR.
HOW YOU DOING? MARVIN HARRISON FROM
UM, I'VE BEEN WITH THE SHERIFF OFFICE FOR 10 PLUS YEARS ON MY, MY WHAT'S IT GOING TO COME? BECAUSE I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE MEETINGS ONLINE.
UM, EVERYBODY'S SITTING HERE LISTENING, OR I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE LISTENING.
EVERYBODY'S SAYING THE SAME THING.
UM, I WORK ON THE TRANSPORTATION FLOOR.
WE BRING UP MONDAYS AND FIVE DAYS, A HUNDRED PLUS IES.
AND SOMETIMES WE ONLY GOT FIVE OFFICERS ON THE FLOOR FLOOR.
THREE OF THEM IS OFFICERS, ONE IS A JAIL AND ONE IS A CAPTAIN.
WE DOING, WE DOING IT WITH UNSAFE, UNSAFE PRACTICES.
SOMEBODY'S GONNA WIND UP HURT.
UM, I WATCHED THE LAST MEETING.
MY FELLOW OFFICER, UM, DAVE SESCO CRIED OUT FOR HELP.
HE SAID HIS MOTHER IS NOT DOING GOOD.
I'M NOT BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S HERE.
[01:10:01]
JUST TO SO SUPPORT.WE'VE BEEN, WE ARE BEING MISTREATED.
UM, HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEND TIME WITH HIS MOTHER.
WHEN SOMEBODY PASSES IN THE SHERIFF OFFICE, WE, WE, WE SEND AROUND A CARD, EVEN THOUGH OFFICERS DON'T HAVE IT, WE PUT MONEY IN IT TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE DO.
THIS GUY SAT UP HERE AND TOLD YOU GUYS THAT HE HAS TO WORK TO WORK OVERTIME TO HELP, TO HELP TAKE HIS MOTHER, THAT HIS MOTHER'S GOOD.
I WANNA LOSE
THEY MAY COME SOONER THAN THAN SOMEBODY ELSE'S.
I'M HERE TODAY, DAVE, TO DONATE FROM, FROM MY FAMILY.
SO THAT'S, MAYBE, THAT'S ONE LESS SHIFT THAT YOU GOTTA DO.
I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE WE HAVE TO COME UP HERE TO EXPLAIN TO YOU GUYS THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING PAID, THAT WE'RE UNDERSTAFFED.
YOU HAVE ABOUT 80 PLUS OFFICERS IN THE HALLWAY.
WE ASKING YOU GUYS TO GET SOMETHING DONE.
DARNELL GIBBS, I WORK WITH, UH, EXES COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE, LIKE MANY OTHER OFFICERS THAT SAW OUT HERE IN THE HALLWAY AND BEHIND ME.
SO I HEARD TWO THINGS OVER AND OVER.
I HEARD ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND I HEARD ABOUT FAMILY PUTTING, PUTTING COUNTY FIRST AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
ALRIGHT, SO ONCE AGAIN, YOU GUYS ALREADY KNOW I'M IN THE MILITARY.
I'VE BEEN IN THE MILITARY FOR 14 YEARS.
ALRIGHT? BEEN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, SYRIA, YEMEN, YOU NAME IT, I'VE BEEN THERE.
MAJOR CONFLICTS, I'VE BEEN THERE, ALRIGHT? BUT ONE TIME HAD NEVER EVER HAD TO THINK IT'S A DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IS GONNA GIMME A RAISE NEXT YEAR.
I'M RISKING MY LIFE EVERY DAY.
I WONDER IF THEY'RE GONNA GIMME A RAISE.
ALRIGHT? MY FIRST COMBAT DEPLOYMENT IN THOUSAND 12 TO AFGHANISTAN, ALRIGHT? AND THE DEFECT THEY USED TO PLAY A MONITOR SHOWED THE DEPTHS IN THE US.
SO THIS WAY WE FELT SAFER IN AFGHANISTAN.
THERE'S MORE DEATH HERE THAN IT WAS WHEN I WAS DEPLOYED.
A MAJORITY OF THOSE DEATH CAME FROM MEN AND WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY KEEP ASKING ME OVER AND OVER, YO.
YEAH, YOU DON'T FEEL SCARED WHEN YOU GO INTO DEPLOY ALL THESE HOSTILE PLACES.
THERE'S MORE COPS DYING THAN SERVICE MEMBERS.
BUT YEAH, I NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT THE RACE.
NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT IT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AFFAIRS.
WE TALK ABOUT FAMILY PUTTING, EVERYBODY PUTTING COUNTY FIRST.
PUTTING THE COUNTY COUNTY FIRST, RIGHT? YOU GOT A LOT OF OFFICERS.
TODAY'S MY DAD'S 75TH BIRTHDAY.
MY MOM SAID, HEY, YEAH, YOU GONNA MAKE IT? I SAID, HEY MOM, I'M GONNA BE THERE.
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COME HERE AND VOICE MY OPINION ABOUT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE AUTOMATIC.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE COMING HERE ALL THE TIME.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SKIP FAMILY EVENTS TO WORK OVERTIME SO THEY CAN HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
ANY OF YOU HAVE TO SKIP A FAMILY EVENT TO WORK OVERTIME.
I SKIPPED A LOT OF 'EM WHEN I FIRST STARTED HERE.
IF YOUR LOVED ONE WAS DYING, WOULD YOU WANT TO BE HERE? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
WE CAN KEEP TALKING ABOUT PUTTING COUNTY FIRST.
WE BUILDING ALL THESE NICE PARKS IN THAT LIKE THAT.
THEY THROW THESE EVENTS IN BRANCH BOOK PARKWAY PARK.
WHO'S DOING, WHO'S DOING THE SECURITY THERE? X COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE.
THAT'S WHO'S DOING THE SECURITY DAY THERE.
YOU GOT OFFICERS WHO ARE DOING THE SECURITY THERE FOR OVERTIME TO MAKE ENDS MEET WHILE THEY FAMILY IS ASKING 30 SECONDS.
OH, CAN YOU COME WITH US? OH NO, I GOTTA WORK THIS POST BECAUSE IF I LEAVE THIS POST, I MAY GET IN TROUBLE.
THAT OFFICER SHOULD BE ABLE TO ATTEND THAT EVENT AT THAT PARK WITH THEIR FAMILY RATHER THAN TAKING THE OVERTIME THAT MEET ENDS.
MEET PUBLIC SAFETY AND FAMILY, PUBLIC SAFETY AND FAMILY.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS HARP ON IT TOO.
UH, MY NAME IS NZINGA TO RECENTLY RETIRED FROM ESSEX COUNTY JAIL.
I GAVE SSU ALMOST 28 YEARS OF MY LIFE.
PEOPLE KEEP ASKING ME, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO RETIRE? I TELL 'EM, I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE I RETIRED RIGHT NOW.
I FEEL LIKE I'M ON VACATION EVERY DAY.
I GET TWO TO THREE CALLS A DAY TALKING ABOUT THE CONDITIONS DOWN AT ESSEX COUNTY JAIL.
A FEW MONTHS BACK I CAME TO THIS MEETING AND I ASKED Y'ALL
[01:15:01]
TO GO DOWN TO THAT JAIL TO CHECK ON THE CONDITIONS OF THAT JAIL.AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT LITTLE, THE LITTLE MOCK WALK THAT THEY GIVE YOU WHEN YOU DO COME DOWN.
THE LITTLE PRETTY PLACES THAT THEY TAKE YOU IN THE JAIL.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SHOES, THE DB PODS WHERE YOU GOT YOUR FOR RENTS THAT NOBODY IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT.
RIGHT? I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL THE MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS THAT THEY GOT THAT NOBODY IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT.
I WAS TOLD A LONG TIME AGO BY MONSIGNOR OFFICERS, IF YOU TREAT 'EM LIKE ANIMALS, THEY'RE GOING TO ACT LIKE ANIMALS.
RIGHT? HOW MANY OFFICERS, AND I'VE SAID THIS TO, TO, TO PHIL ELIJAH, I'VE SAID IT TO WARDEN CILLA WHEN HE WAS THE WARDEN IN WHICH YOU HAVE NO WARDEN.
NOW HOW MANY OFFICERS IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET KNOCKED OUT? HOW MANY OFFICERS IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET ASSAULTED? I'M RETIRED.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I DO WORRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE WHETHER THEY LIKE ME OR NOT, THESE ARE MY FAMILY.
I WAS IN THEIR LIVES FOR ALMOST 28 YEARS.
SOME OF 'EM ARE, I FEEL LIKE ARE MY KIDS.
SOME OF 'EM ARE OLD ENOUGH TO BE MY KIDS.
BUT SOME OF THEM ARE OLD ENOUGH TO BE MY KIDS.
Y'ALL GOTTA GET UP OFF YOUR BUTTS AND GET DOWN TO THAT JAIL.
I SEEN YOUR EYEBROWS GO UP, GET UP OFF YOUR BUTTS, GO DOWN TO THAT JAIL AND CHECK IT OUT.
THE CONDITIONS THAT THEY GOT, THE DRUGS THAT'S IN THERE AND, AND, AND THE SMOKE.
AND THEN YOU GOT OFFICERS FALLING OUT AND THEY CAN'T STAND ON THE POD.
BUT THEN THEY GETTING WRITTEN UP BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ON THEIR POD.
THEY FALLING OUT AND THEN THEY GOTTA GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND YOU STILL, STILL CONTINUE TO WANT THEM TO GO IN THIS PLACE.
I WANT MY MONEY AND I WANT IT NOW.
GIVE US WHAT WE ASK FOR AND COME DOWN HERE AND SEE THE CONDITIONS OF THE JAIL AND FIX IT.
AND THEN WE GOTTA GO TO OUR, UH, AGENDA.
BUT THEN WE WILL HAVE FOR AT THE END FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T SPEAK IN ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.
I WORK AT THE ESSETT COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
I'M GONNA MAKE THIS REALLY SHORT.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF OUR, THE WORKERS.
I'M HERE BECAUSE WE NEED MORE MONEY.
WE HAVE NINE COUNTIES COMING IN, MORE JUVENILES AND IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT DEALING WITH, BUT WE DO THE BEST WE CAN.
WE DO A LOT OF OVERTIME AND 90% OF US, WE DON'T COMPLAIN.
WE JUST 'CAUSE WE'RE MANDATED.
WE DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO KEEP THE FACILITY GOING AND TO PROTECT THE INMATES.
PROTECT, EXCUSE ME, THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE BROUGHT INTO US.
I'M ASKING BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY AND THE SEVERITY OF THE ISSUES.
I'M ASKING THAT, CAN WE HAVE AN AN EXECUTIVE MEETING AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS MORE.
BUT I'M, I'M ASKING THAT WE NEED MORE MONEY.
INSURANCE IS GOING UP, WE NEED MORE MONEY.
I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THAT COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
I'VE BEEN EMPLOYED WITH THE ESA COUNTY DETENTION CENTER FOR 16, 16 YEARS.
UM, I'M STANDING REPRESENT THE ESS COUNTY DETENTION OFFICERS IN REGARDS TO THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS THAT WE FACE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
HOWEVER, OUR SAFETY IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
GET THE, THE JUVENILES THAT WE GET EVENTUALLY GO TO THE BIGGER, THEY'RE CRIMINALS, THEIR CARJACKED RECORDS, THEY'RE ROBBERS.
OUR 11, 11 TO SEVEN SHIFT, THEY CANNOT, CANNOT EVEN EVEN HAVE BREAK IN THE BREAK ROOM.
THAT'S HOW OUR SAFETY CONDITIONS ARE.
SO WE'RE FORCED TO HAVE BRAKES IN OUR VEHICLES WHERE WE'RE EXPOSED TO THE PUBLIC, WHERE POTENTIALLY SOME OF US CAN BE CARJACKED.
ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR IS MORE MONEY AND MORE SAFETY WITHIN OUR FACILITY.
WE, WE, WE DO HAVE, WE DO HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE BEFORE THE BREAK.
[01:20:01]
ALRIGHT.I'M ANTHONY KAPAL, UM, MESSES COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I SPOKE TO THIS BOARD, SPOKE TO THIS BOARD ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
JUST BRINGING LIGHT, LIGHT TO SOMEBODY THAT WE HAD OUR DEPARTMENT, ESSEX COUNTY, JUST SPECIFICALLY, NAMELY VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT AND SO FORTH.
UM, ONE OF THE MAIN TOPICS THAT'S BEEN COMING UP TONIGHT IS PUTTING ES COUNTY FIRST.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I TAKE VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.
I'M BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY OF NEWARK.
I TOOK THIS JOB BECAUSE I WANTED TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY.
DO YOU HEAR IS THAT I CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I'M, THAT I'M HERE SERVING BECAUSE OMMUNITY THAT I WORK FOR IS NOT NOT PAYING ME TO LIVE IN THERE, LIVING THERE.
SO IT'S AN ISSUE FOR ME, PERSON HAVE TO COME TO NEWARK THAT I LOVE TO WORK, AND THEN I HAVE, HAVE TO GO SOMEPLACE ELSE.
NOW, THIS JOB IS VERY DANGEROUS.
I BROUGHT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS TO THE TABLE THE LAST TIME THAT I SPOKE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID, DID NOT BRING UP IS THE FACT THAT US AS OFFICERS, WE DEAL WITH A LOT OF TRAUMATIC SITUATIONS AND INCIDENTS.
NOBODY EVER GIVES US ANY TYPE OF SUPPORT THAT WE NEED FOR IT.
ESPOSITO BROUGHT UP THE FACT THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCY FOR OFFICERS.
YOU HAVE OFFICERS THAT WILL RESPOND TO A SUICIDE IN THE PARK.
THEY'RE EXPECTED TO THEN LEAVE THAT CRIME SCENE, GO TYPE OUT A REPORT, AND THEN CONTINUE THE REST OF THEIR EIGHT TO EIGHT HOUR SHIFT.
THAT'S ISSUE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT WORRYING ABOUT THE SAFETY AND THE MENTAL ISSUES THAT OUR OFFICER'S DEALING WITH.
THE NEXT PART OF THAT IS THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE OFFICERS THAT GET INTO INJURIES.
ANY DOCTOR DOESN'T SUPPORT HIM.
HIS JOB IS TO PUT YOU BACK TO WORK.
SO HOW IS IT THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PUT IN ESSEX COUNTY FIRST, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE AAAA, A COUNTY DOCTOR THAT'S SUPPOSED TO SIT THERE, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WELL ENOUGH TO COMPLETE OUR JOBS, AND HE'S NOT DOING THAT.
THEN I'M GETTING PENALIZED WHEN I HAVE TO GO THROUGH MY INSURANCE TO GET THE PROPER HEALTHCARE THAT I DESERVE, TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M SAFE ENOUGH TO SERVE YOU THIS COMMUNITY, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M THERE FOR ALL MY COUNTERPARTS.
THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT IT'S VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT COMES TO THE STAFFING LEVELS.
I DON'T THINK YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
IT'S TO THE POINT THAT THEY HAVE TO, TO CONSTANTLY TAKE PEOPLE OUT OF OTHER DIVISIONS AND SHUT THEM DOWN ON DAILY BASIS JUST TO ENSURE THAT COURTS HAS ENOUGH PEOPLE TO SURVIVE.
WE'RE NOT HIRING ENOUGH PEOPLE.
AND THE REALITY OF IT IS THAT NOBODY WANTS TO BE A COP NOWADAYS.
BUT YET, EVERY SINGLE LAST ONE OF THESE PEOPLE HERE, THEY ALL SHOW UP 30 SECONDS EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL GOOD, THE BACKUP THAT WE NEED.
WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT MAKING ENOUGH MONEY, THEY'RE FORCED TO WORK OVERTIME.
AND WHEN YOU'RE WORKING OVERTIME BEFORE A SHIFT, AND THEN YOU GET REGULAR SHIFT, AND THEN YOU'RE BEING HELD ON FOR ANOTHER SHIFT, IT ADDS TO THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY.
PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU, IF I GOTTA GET ON MY KNEES AND BEG YOU, PLEASE JUST HEAR US OUT AND HELP US.
SO, I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO SPOKE SO FAR, UH, AND UN UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS AND THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH ARE NOT FALLING ON DEAF EAR.
WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE TO MOVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
SO IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE COME TO THE MIC.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MIKE CAPANO, VICE PRESIDENT, PBA 180 3 A.
UH, MY COMMENTS, UH, MY QUESTION, UH, MY QUESTION IS ON, IS ON, LET THOSE WHO ARE LEAVING LEAVE.
ONCE AGAIN, UH, MIKE CAPITANO, VICE PRESIDENT, UH, PBA 180 3 8.
MY, MY QUESTION IS ON, UH, AGENDA FOUR AND FIVE.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE PROJECTS THAT ARE SLATED, UH, FOR BOTH OF THOSE BUDGETS.
WITH THAT SAID, I, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE COMMISSIONERS, UH, FOR HEARING US OUT FROM TIME TO TIME.
UH, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS THAT I TOOK ON A TOUR OF THE, UH,
[01:25:01]
OF THE COURTHOUSE WITH AND OUR, OUR, UM, GREAT, UH, VENUE THAT, UH, I KNOW THAT THE COUNTY EXEC WAS WALKING AROUND THE FLOOR AND THERE'S SOME TALK ABOUT, UH, REDOING THAT.I WOULD ALSO LIKE, LIKE TO LET THIS BOARD KNOW.
SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN TRANSFERRED, UM, PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THAT.
UH, SO I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO KNOW THAT, UH, I'VE BEEN REMOVED FROM MY POSITION I WAS IN, AND I'VE BEEN MOVED DOWN TO THE COURTHOUSE.
UH, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT BE KNOWN SINCE, SINCE WHEN, SINCE THE TOUR.
HOW YOU DOING? HOW YOU DOING? CAPTAIN ESPOSITO.
PBA 180 3, A ESSEX COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I WANNA COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
IT IS THE APPROPRIATION OF MONEY.
SO IT DOESN'T SAY, UH, IN THE AGENDA.
WHAT IS, SO I, I WENT INTO THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS AND I FIND IT FUNNY BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE EVERY YEAR WE DO THIS CHARADE, RIGHT? THIS LITTLE GAME THAT GETS PLAYED BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE BOARD WHERE MONEY GETS TRANSFERRED AROUND.
SO THE REASON I'M MAKING A COMMENT IS THERE'S $390,000 FROM SALARIES IN THE SALARY LINE IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT'S GETTING MOVED DOWN TO OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, OKAY? AND THEY'RE ALREADY COMPLAINING.
THEY'RE OVER THEIR OVERTIME BUDGET.
THE FREE HOLDERS, ONE OF YOUR DISTINCT DUTIES IS THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET.
AND BEFORE YOU, EVERY YEAR PE PEOPLE COME, DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.
THERE'S CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND THE SHERIFF'S PEOPLE, I URGE YOU, I URGE YOU TO ASK THE SHERIFF FOR HIS ACTUAL ANNUAL SUBMISSION TO THE ADMINISTRATION, NOT THE PACKET THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SENDS YOU WHEN EVERYBODY COMES TO THE BUDGET HEARING, NOT THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
LOOK FOR THE NUMBERS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS OF THE STAFFING.
WE DON'T EVEN ASK FOR CAPITAL BUDGET MONEY ANYMORE.
YOU KNOW WHY I ASKED THAT QUESTION TO THE SHERIFF? BECAUSE WE DON'T GET IT BECAUSE WE'RE JUST TOLD NO BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
SO I ASK YOU ASK FOR THE SUBMISSIONS FROM THE SHERIFF TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO TRANSFER, ABOUT TO TRANSFER OR RE-APPROPRIATE, I SHOULD SAY, 300 SALARIES TO OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE THE OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT ARE REQUIRED? IF THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY IN THE REGULAR BUDGET FOR THE THINGS THAT ARE BUDGETED, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO MOVE MONIES FROM THE SALARY LINE OVER TO THE OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICE SERVICES.
I WATCHED SOME OF THE BUDGET HEARINGS BACK.
I'VE BEEN, BEEN A PART OF 'EM MYSELF IN THE PAST, AND I HEAR THE QUEST BY THIS BOARD AND THE BOARD'S BUDGET CONSULTANT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
SHERIFF, HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO DO THIS, SHERIFF? HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO DO, DO THIS? HE'S NOT ABLE TO DO IT.
HE DOES IT BECAUSE YOU REAPPROPRIATE MONEY AND MONEY AND MOVE MONEY AROUND EVERY SINGLE YEAR TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN ON TOP OF REVENUE THAT COMES IN SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND GRANTS THAT COMES IN FROM THE SHERIFF SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT HAS PARKED IN ACCOUNTS THAT WE CAN'T USE.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR BUDGET AUDIT, YOU WILL SEE THESE ITEMS JUST PARKED THERE.
SO YOU DO HAVE CONTROL, YOU HAVE CONTROL OF BUDGETARY THINGS.
YOU HAVE CONTROL OF APPROPRIATIONS, YOU HAVE CONTROL ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH REVENUE AND THE, AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
SIR, I, AGAIN, THE RESPONSE FROM THE LAST MEETING, 30 SECONDS.
I APPRECIATE THE RESPONSE FROM THE LAST MEETING YOU GAVE ME WHAT'S IN THE COUNTY'S BUDGET, WHICH IS MINING PER THE STATE LAW AND ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.
I ASKED SPECIFICALLY WHAT WAS REQUIRED BY THE COUNTY'S ORDINANCE, WHICH HAS TO INCLUDE A LITANY OF THINGS.
THERE'S, THERE'S FOUR ITEMS I BELIEVE THAT ARE LISTED SPECIFICALLY.
NONE OF THOSE WERE INCLUDED IN THE RESPONSE.
YOU TWO GAVE ME JUST A LIST OF ITEMS. SO TAKE THE MONEY YOU'RE ABOUT TO TRANSFER AROUND BEFORE YOU VOTE ON IT.
TRO 1 0 6, RESOLUTION ITEM 11 ALLOCATES $25,000 IN A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TO THE JANSS LAW FIRM.
SPECIFIC QUESTION, HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT IN 20 20 23? I'LL JUST LIMIT IT TO THE ONE YEAR HERE ON OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENTS AND WHICH LAW FIRMS DID THEY GO TO? THE COUNTY AGREEMENT REQUIRE DECLARATION OF CAMPAIGNING, DONATIONS AND DONATIONS TO ELECTED OFFICIALS, WAS WITHIN THE COUNTY SPEAKING TO JOHN AND JQ PUBLIC, JOHN AND JQ TAXPAYER AT HOME.
ALSO, LOOK AT WHAT THOSE SAME LAW FIRMS ARE DONATING TO PACS AND SUPER PACS IN AND AROUND THE COUNTY.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A REASON TO BELIEVE LAW FIRMS ARE ACTUALLY USING THIS AS A REVOLVING DOOR FOR, FOR POLITICAL PATRONAGE.
THAT THE MONEY THAT THE COUNTY GIVING, THAT THE COUNTY EXEC, THE OFFICE OF COUNTY
[01:30:01]
COUNCIL, IS ALLOCATING TO THESE SERVICES, SOME OF WHICH ARE COMPLETELY LEGITIMATE ACKNOWLEDGED, BUT HOW MUCH OF THAT MONEY THEN GETS FUNNELED BACK INTO CAMPAIGN COFFERS? THANK YOU.GOOD MORNING, DONALD JACKSON AGAIN.
NUMBER SEVEN, CLEARLY BROKEN DOWN.
EVERY LINE ITEM, EVERY DOLLAR, QUARTER.
NUMBER, HOLD ON, LET ME GET TO THE CHERRY BOX NUMBER.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S A GRANT APARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION FOR THE CHERRY BLOSSOM IN NUMBER SEVEN.
IS ANY OF THAT TRANSFER OF FUNDS SOMETHING THAT'S LEFT OVER LIKE WE DOING WITH THE HOSPITAL, WITH THE, UH, PURSUIT WHERE WE TOOK SOME COVID DOLLARS, AIR MONEY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, AND PUT IT AND PUT IT INTO THE ZOO FOR THE NEW HOSPITAL.
THAT IN, ACCORDING TO MY RECORDS, IT'S IN THE AMPHITHEATER THAT WE SAID COULD NOT NOT BE BUILT.
SO WE FOUND A NEW WAY AROUND THAT BY PUTTING UP A HOSPITAL WITH THE VISITING ROOMS, ET CETERA, WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE AND DISPERSING FUNDS.
ARE WE, ARE WE PUTTING ANY MORE MONEY, MONEY INTO REAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS? ARE WE PUTTING ANY MONEY INTO, INTO SOME SERIOUS BUILDING? WE WASTED $10 MILLION AS TRANSFERRING THESE FUNDS TO PUT A NEW ROOF OR A NEW ROOF ON THE JAIL THAT'S SINKING INTO THE GROUND, THE GROUND WASTE OF MONEY.
'CAUSE I'M GONNA HAVE A BREAKDOWN AND DOING, DOING REPAIRS AT THE YOUTH HOUSE.
HOUSE NOW BECAUSE THE OFFICER STEPPED FORWARD.
SO WE HAVE AAA BOND RATING, THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER THING.
SHOW US, SHOW US AS YOU'RE TRANSFERRING THIS MONEY ALL, ALL OVER IN THIS COUNTY AND, AND WE SEE THE DEFICIENCIES PAST MEETING, ARE YOU TRANSFERRING ANY OF MONEY TO GET THE 9 1 1 AUTOMATED CENTER THAT WE DON'T HAVE HERE? ARE WE DO, ARE WE DOING ANY OF THAT? AND I'M ASKING BECAUSE I DON'T SEE IT GET THERE.
SO HOPEFULLY, UH, JOSH WILL SEND ME THE ANSWER.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE MONEY THAT WE ARE NOT, THAT WE ARE NOT FUNNELING CORRECTLY? AND THEN LASTLY, AS YOU JUST TRANSFER, HOW MUCH IS THIS GONNA GONNA COST THE TAXPAYERS OF ESSEX COUNTY? WHAT A, WHAT A INCREASE ARE WE GOING TO GET? BECAUSE, BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA ROLL THIS OVER TO THE HOMEOWNERS.
YOU'RE GONNA ROLL THIS OVER TO THE VERY PEOPLE SITTING IN THIS ROOM TODAY, BECAUSE MOST OF THEM LIVE IN THE COUNTY.
SO, SO AS YOU'RE GONNA ROLL THIS OVER AS YOU'RE TRANSFERRING IN YES MA'AM.
WE NEED A CLEAR, CLEAR LINE ITEM AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN, WE ARE BEING PUT AT THE END OF THE LINE IN THE TRANSFER.
I HOPE SOMETHING IS IN, IS IN HERE FOR THE RAISE SAYING LIKE FIVE AND 6% BECAUSE, UH, THEY'RE NOT COMING BACK FOR TWO MEETINGS.
BUT IF IT'S NOT, THEN WE GONNA HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A 7% INSURANCE INCREASE.
I HOPE THE COUNTY'S GONNA PAY SOME OF THAT, SOME OF THAT TO HELP THESE FAMILIES OUT.
ALRIGHT, MADAM CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT.
THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY AND WE'LL MOVE TO ORDINANCE AND ON INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.
DO WE HAVE ANY THE PRESIDENT? WE HAVE NONE.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE TO, DO WE HAVE ANY, ANY ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING OF PUBLIC PUBLIC HEARING FOR LISTING PURPOSES? MS. PIT? WE HAVE NONE.
CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTION ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT? HEARING TONIGHT, MR. PRESIDENT? WE HAVE NONE.
RESOLUTION ONE THROUGH SIX AND ADDED STARTERS AND ADDED STARTERS.
38 AND 39, WHICH OFF COUNTY BUDGET INSERTIONS OF ITEMS AND REVENUES AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
UH, ITEM ONE, AS YOU SAID, IS AN ASSERTION OF $5 MILLION TO SUPPORT THE, UM, ESSEX COUNTY PARKS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, BUILDING.
UH, AND THERE IS NO COUNTY MA MATCH ITEM TWO A.
SIMILARLY, IT'S A $5 MILLION GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE STATE TO, UH, TO SUPPLEMENT THE COST OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOM WELCOME CENTER IN BRANCHWOOD PARK.
UH, ITEM THREE IS, UH, REVENUE FROM
[01:35:01]
THE, UH, UH, ECONOMIC DIVISION DIVISION OF HAVE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.THIS IS FOR CDBG ROAD REHABILITATION PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF 1,637,004 $425.
AND THE GOAL FOR THE REHABILITATION OF IRVINGTON AVENUE FROM SOUTH, SOUTH ORANGE TO CLINTON AND CLINTON AVENUE FROM IRVINGTON TO SPRINGFIELD AVENUE.
ITEM FOUR IS A HOME, IS IS ANOTHER GRANT, HOMELAND SECURITY PREPAREDNESS, UH, FOR THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF IN THE AMOUNT OF $370,496.
AND THIS ONE WILL BE USED FOR SPECIAL EQUIPMENT INTELLIGENCE SHARING.
UM, AND TARGET TARGETING TARGET.
TARGET, TARGET TARGETING, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
ITEM FIVE IS ANOTHER GRANT FROM HOMELAND SECURITY TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $259,000.
AND THIS IS TO IMPLEMENT NATIONAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
ITEM SIX, UH, COUNTY BUDGET INSERTION, UH, UH, FOR LAW, DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THIS IS FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR, UH, 230,745 $5.
THIS IS TO SUPPORT THE, THE OPERATION RESPONSE TEAM, UH, PROGRAM FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT VIC VICTIMS. UM, THERE IS AN IN KIND, KIND MATCH OF $57,606, UH, WHICH WE WILL BUY SALARY, WAGES, AND FOR FRINGE.
UH, THIS IS, UH, FOR OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTIONS AND COMMISSION REGISTRATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $159,002 AND 58 CENTS.
THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH WITH THIS.
UH, THIS IS FUNDING FOR, UH, OVERTIME SECURITY SUPPLIES AND VOTING MACHINES AND POLLING LOCATIONS.
UM, ITEM 39 IS, UH, NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR THE AREA PLAN THAT WE, UH, USE, UH, THAT WE PRODUCES EVERY YEAR IN THE AMOUNT OF 3,743,326 $7.
THIS IS A MID-YEAR ALLOCATION.
WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED ABOUT ABOUT $5.4 MILLION.
WE'RE ABLE TO, UM, USE 10% OF THIS AMOUNT FOR ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATING.
AND THERE'S A COUNTY OF MATCH AT $125,578.
MS. VICKI, JUST ONE QUESTION, MR. JACKSON ON 39, WHICH WAS AS, UH, A LATE, UH, ADDITION TO THE AGENDA, I UNDERSTAND THE 10%.
WHAT, WHAT IS THE BALANCE OF THAT? UH, INSERTION? UH, I'M NOT SURE QUESTION MR. VAL.
SO WHAT IS THAT MONEY FOR THE, THE NUMBER 39, THE BUDGET INSERTION REVENUE? UH, OH.
WE, EVERY YEAR, UM, RIGHT HERE WE PUT OUT A THREE YEAR VICE PRESIDENT.
WE PUT OUT AN AREA PLAN PLAN, WHICH IS PROVIDE FOR, UH, THE PROGRAMS, THE FEEDING PROGRAMS, GRAMS, OTHER SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR SENIOR.
UM, AND IT'S USUALLY DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS.
UH, WE RECEIVED $5.4 MILLION EARLIER.
THIS IS THE SECOND PART OF, UH, OF, UH, 3.7 MILLION.
YOU MENTIONED THE 10 PER TO 10% FOR ADMINISTRATIVE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PERCENT THEY REMAIN, THE OTHER 90% GOING THEN THAT'S WHERE THE DIRECT DIRECT TO THE, FOR THE PROGRAM.
QUESTIONS OF COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER COOPER, UH, MR. PRESIDENT FOR ITEM THREE? MR. JACKSON, DID YOU SAY THAT THAT INCLUDED SOUTH ORANGE IRVINGTON AVENUE AND SOUTH ORANGE SOUTH? UH, YEAH.
IT'S, IT'S FROM, LET'S SEE, IRVINGTON AVENUE, SOUTH ORANGE TO CLINTON, THE CLINTON AND CLINTON AVENUE, IRV SPRINGFIELD.
WHAT EXACTLY IS BEING DONE? UM, IS THE ENGINEERING DONE FOR THAT YET? UM, IT, IT WILL BE THE, UM, UH, MILLING PAVING.
UM, I THINK SOME LIMITED, I THINK SOME LIMITED CURBING MAKING THE, UH, INFANTS HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE.
UH, THAT, THAT KIND OF, ALRIGHT, SO THIS IS JUST ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT, NOT DEALING WITH THE TRAFFIC, THE TRAFFIC, COMMON FEATURES THAT YES.
BECAUSE WE HAD GOTTEN A REQUEST TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE TRAFFIC FEATURES THERE FOR THE, UM, NON-PROFIT AGENCY THAT'S THERE.
SO WE, WE NEED TO, WHAT, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE OF THE ONE? I, I HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT COMMISSION.
WELL, I'LL TALKED TO MR. UH, VARS AND GUESS I'LL GET BACK TO YOU, PLEASE.
UM, MR. MR. PRESIDENT, DID WE INCLUDE ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IN THEN IN THIS AS WELL? NO.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
I NEED TO MOVE HER IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COOPER.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
[01:40:01]
OKAY.MADAM CLERK MUST MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER SEVEN IS TRANSFER RESOLUTION.
UH, WE ARE ALLOWED BY LAW TO, TO TRANSFER, UH, TO THE CURRENT YEAR APPROPRIATION IN, UH, IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS OF THE YEAR, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.
AND JUST TO MAKE SURE ALL THE VARIOUS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS ARE FULLY FUNDED TO THE END OF THE YEAR.
QUESTIONS OF COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER COOPER.
MR. JACKSON? SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR PO POSITIONS.
WHAT HAPPENED? UM, YOU YOU MEAN MOVING FROM YEAH, LIKE, DID WE NOT FULFILL 'EM? DID WE CHANGE OUR MIND? WE APPROPRIATED AMOUNTS DURING THE BUDGET TIME.
I HAVE HAD VAC WE, WE HAVE, WE HAD VACANCIES, HAD VACANCIES THAT WE DIDN'T FILL.
UH, UM, UH, SOME OF THESE DEPARTMENTS, THEY HAVE, UM, SOME VACANCIES WAS NOT FELT YET, UH, FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
AND SOME OF THEM, THEY HAVE SALARY SAVING FOR, UM, SOME EMPLOYEES GET DOCKED FOR, UM, UH, EXCEEDING THEIR, UH, VACATION TIME.
SO THE, ACTUALLY, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE SOME SALARY SAVING BUILT IN AND WE CONTACT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ENOUGH FUND TO, TO, UM, TO RATE TO THE END OF THE YEAR.
MR. PRESIDENT, MY CONCERN IS WE'VE HEARD DURING, DURING BUDGET TIME FROM SOME OF THESE DEPARTMENTS ABOUT NEED FOR THOSE POSITIONS.
AND I WOULD LIKE A MORE DEFINITIVE ANSWER AS TO WHY WE DID NOT FILL THOSE POSITIONS.
DID YOU ADVERTISE AND PEOPLE JUST DIDN'T RESPOND? UM, IT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW.
AND I'M OKAY WITH TRANSFERRING THIS MONEY AROUND TO ACCOMMODATE OTHER PLACES, BUT BUDGET TIME NEXT YEAR, IF THE CONVERSATION IS GONNA BE, CAN WE HAVE THIS MONEY TO FILL THIS POSITION OR ARE WE GONNA BE IN THE SAME, YOU KNOW, POSITION AGAIN NEXT YEAR? SO MR. JACKSON, THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW.
THAT IF WE ADVERTISE AND WE JUST DIDN'T FILL THEM OR WE CHANGED OUR MIND AND WE NO LONGER NEEDED THEM, WE HAVE SOME OTHER POSITIONS THAT'S DOING THAT WORK.
LIKE, WHAT'S THE ANSWER? THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY THAT REPRESENTS A GOOD NUMBER OF POSITIONS AND SOME VERY PERTINENT AND CRITICAL, UM, DEPARTMENTS THAT WE HAVE, UH, UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THE, THE, UH, THE ANSWER IS IT VARIES BY DEPARTMENT.
SOME OF EVERYBODY'S AGGRESSIVELY LOOKING FOR, FOR PEOPLE.
UM, AND SOMETIMES OUR, UH, AS A, AS AN EXAMPLE, OUR, IN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, UM, THE PROSECUTOR'S WORKING ON GETTING UP THE STARTING SALARY FOR THE ASSISTANT PROSECUTORS, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE, THE ATTORNEYS COMING IN TO BE MORE, MORE COMPETITIVE.
IT'S JUST, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN RIGHT NOW, BUT HE'S WORKING ON THAT.
UH, SO THERE ARE OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHERE, UM, UH, FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE HOSPITAL, UM, SOMETIMES EMPLOY, UH, OUR, OUR, WITH RESPECT TO NURSES NOW, IT'S INCREDIBLY COMPETITIVE.
UM, SO IT'S GO FOR MR FOR DIRECTOR OF AUDIO TO SECURE AS, AS READILY AS HE MIGHT LIKE.
UM, BUT, BUT I, I HEAR, I HEAR YOUR POINT.
AND WHAT I, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BY DEPARTMENTS.
AGAIN, I, I CAN'T, ONE IS, THERE'S NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL ON THIS RESPONSE, SO WE'LL, WE'LL DO A DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSE FOR YOU.
THREE, MR. PRESIDENT, UM, JUST WANTED TO MAKE, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS, UH, CORRECT, BETWEEN THE SHERIFF'S, THE SHERIFF AND THE PROSECUTOR, IT'S $390,000 THAT, THAT, THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR, UM, UM, FOR POSITIONS, SALARIES, SALARY, AND 700 IN, IN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE THAT WAS BUDGETED AND APPROPRIATED FOR SALARY.
THAT'S SALARY THAT'S NOW BEING TRANSFERRED BACK INTO THE GENERAL, INTO THE GENERAL FUND LINE.
WELL, UM, MR. IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE, YES, GO AHEAD.
UH, FOR THE SHERIFF AND THE PROSECUTOR, THIS WAS, THIS WAS TRANSFERS WERE DONE TO THE OTHER EXPENSES LINE BECAUSE HE NEEDED SOME FUNDS TO, TO COVER OTHER, YOU KNOW, UH, WITH INFLATION, EVERYTHING COST MORE.
AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES HE NEED EQUIPMENT.
SO THE, THE, THIS WAS, WAS DONE BY THE DEPARTMENT.
THEY REQUESTED TRANSFER THESE FUNDS AND WE WERE TRYING TO HELP THEM TO, TO OPERATE TO THE END OF THE YEAR THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
SO A LINE, UM, SO A LINE ITEM WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENT, JUST CLEAR.
SO A LINE ITEM THAT WAS IN SALARY THAT'S NOW BEEN, SO POSITIONS THAT WEREN'T FILLED, IT'S NOW, IS NOW GONNA BE SPENT SOMEWHERE ELSE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO JUST TO FOLLOW UP, MR. PRESIDENT, SO COMMISSIONER COOPER TO YOUR QUESTIONS OVER MILLION DOLLARS
[01:45:01]
WORTH POSITIONS THAT WEREN'T FILLED IN ONE CALENDAR CALENDAR YEAR.AT ROUGHLY MY, AM I CLOSE ON THE MATH? YES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MR. PRESIDENT? VICE CHAIR? PRMA.
UH, MR. MOHAM? SO NUMBER MORE OR LESS ABOUT THE SAME EVERY YEAR OR SAME EVERY YEAR, OR IS THIS UNUSUAL FOR THIS ONE YEAR? I MEAN, I AM PERHAPS PANDEMIC TIME.
BUT HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO PREVIOUS YEARS? THAT THAT'S, THAT'S ABOUT, ABOUT EVERY YEAR WE, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO, BASICALLY ALL THE DEPARTMENT HAS TO COME TO US WITH ALL THE REQUEST AND WE HAVE TO, TO, TO DISCUSS IT WITH THEM, AND WE MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S GOT FULLY FUNDED.
I'M JUST MORE SPECIFICALLY, OR I DON'T KNOW MR. JACKSON OR PRO, I WAS GONNA JUST ALSO FOR, I'M MORE, I'M MORE LIKE, IS THIS THE KIND OF DOLLAR, DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE DO ON A REGULAR BASIS? IS THIS ABOUT THE SAME PERCENT? PERHAPS IT'S, IT'S ABOUT THE SAME.
EVERY, AND AGAIN, THIS IS 0.5%, 5% OF OUR BUDGET.
SO IT'S, IT'S LIKE, IT'S, IT'S A GIANT AMOUNT OF, OF OUR BUDGET.
IT'S POINT 0.5% OF OUR PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET THAT WE'RE MOVING AROUND TO MAKE ITEMS MAKE, MAKE, MAKE ENDS MEET.
WE HAVE ABOUT 800 PLUS MILLION DOLLAR, $850, $850 MILLION BUDGET, AND WE'RE TRANSFERRING $4 MILLION OF A $850 MILLION BUDGET.
UM, AS A FOLLOW UP QUESTION, MR. JACKSON, YOU'VE RUSHED OUT SOME OF THE SALARIES ARE NOT COMPETITIVE.
UM, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO ADJUST THOSE SALARIES TO MAKE THEM COMPETITIVE SO WE DON'T FALL INTO THE SAME POSITION AGAIN NEXT YEAR? MM-HMM,
WELL, I, AGAIN, UH, DEFER TO OUR PROSECUTOR, UH, WITH RESPECT TO HIS PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND THEY'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO, TO WORK TO GET THE, TRY TO HAVE TO GET THE NUMBER.
SO FROM LOOKING AT THIS, IT'S THE HOSPITAL PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
I WOULD LIKE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER ON WHAT THE PLAN IS BECAUSE AGAIN, BUDGET TIME NEXT YEAR, I HOPE WE DON'T GO, GO DOWN THE SAME ROAD THAT WE PUT THIS MONEY MONEY IN, ESPECIALLY WITHIN SOME OF THESE DEPARTMENT, THESE DEPARTMENTS THAT COMMUNICATE THAT THEY NEED.
WE CERTAINLY KNOW THAT THE NURSES ARE, ARE NEEDED AT THE HOSPITAL.
I REMEMBER WHEN AFTER WAS HERE, AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE CHAT, CHAT WITH TRYING TO TRACK PEOPLE, UM, AND THAT OUR SALARIES NOT COMPETITIVE.
SO AT THIS POINT, AT LEAST ALMOST A YEAR NOW, SO, SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO DIFFERENTLY TO CHANGE, TO CHANGE THIS, UM, COVER THIS, UM, CONVERSATION FOR NEXT YEAR.
PROVIDE THAT FOR YOU, COMMISSIONER.
WITH YOUR PERMISSION, MR. PRESIDENT AB ABSOLUTELY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF COMMENTS? HERE? MOVE IN A SECOND.
MR. MOVED BY COMMISSIONER COOPER.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT FOR ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PALMARA? YES.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS EIGHT THROUGH 10, WHICH ARE FROM THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, DIRECTOR MCCOY WILL HANDLE THESE ITEMS. GOOD EVENING COMMISSION.
MCCOY, THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION HERE TO SEEK AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL TOOL TO AMEND CURRENT THREE CONTRACT WITH OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK GRANT.
UM, RECENTLY, AS OF AUGUST 31ST, ONE OF OUR PROVIDER, A AGENCIES SHUT THEIR DOORS BECAUSE THEY COULD GET A RENEWAL FOR THEIR, THEIR PROPERTY THAT THEY WERE PROVIDING THE SERVICES OUT OF.
SO THEY WERE LEFT WITH A $56,000 IN THE, IN, IN BALANCE OF FUNDS.
SO WE WANT TO TAKE THESE MONIES AND GIVE THE TWO DAYS THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS TO, TO CONTINUE THE SERVICES UNTIL THE END OF THE CONTRACT PERIOD.
MR. MCCOY FROM THE ONE AGENCY THAT CLOSED ITS DOORS TO, TO THE PEOPLE THAT WERE SERVED BY THAT AGENCY NOW GO TO THIS, TO THE REMAINING AGENCIES? YES.
THEY'RE GONNA BE SPREAD IT OUT THROUGHOUT THE THREE AGENCIES.
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE AGENCY THAT CLOSES DOORS? THE AGENCY THAT CLOSES DOORS IS EAST ORANGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
AND, AND MR. COOPER, WHAT'S THE REASON THEY CLOSED THEIR DOORS? UH, THE ARCHDIOCESE OF THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEWARK WOULD NOT RENEW THE LEASE AND THEY WERE SELLING THE PROPERTY.
[01:50:02]
COMMISSIONER COOPER.WILL THE AGENCY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REAPPLY? LIKE THEY WON'T, THERE WON'T BE ANY PENALTY FOR THEM, WILL IT? ABSOLUTELY.
NOT THROUGH YOU, COMMISSIONER.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
MOTION MOVE BY COMMISSIONER SBO.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COOPER.
CLERK COMMISSIONER SIEBEL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
COMM COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES.
COMMISSIONER, VICE COMMISSIONER.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 11, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COUNCIL.
I'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A RELATED TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. SANJA.
THE COUNCIL, UH, WE HAD A LAWYER WHO RESIGNED UNEXPECTEDLY.
UH, AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE HAD A LOT, WE HAD IMMEDIATE WORK THAT HAD TO BE, HAD TO BE ADDRESSED.
UH, I REACHED FOR THE PREVIOUS CA COUNTY COUNCIL, COURTNEY GASE ASKED HER TO DO ME A PERSONAL FAVOR AND TO SEE IF SHE COULD SET SOME TIME, TIME ASIDE TO HELP US OUT OF THIS CRUNCH IN A SHORT, HOPEFULLY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL WE CAN GET, UH, A LAWYER TO TAKE THE LAWYER THAT RESIGNS PLACE.
THAT'S WHAT THIS CONTRACT IS ALL ABOUT.
NUMBER TWO, THERE WAS A QUESTION RAISED ABOUT, UH, POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
I CAN SAY TO YOU UNEQUIVOCALLY, I HAVE NO IDEA WHO'S EVER MADE A POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION TO ANYONE OTHER THAN WE HAVE STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH THE PAY TO PLAY LAW LAWS, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHETHER ANYONE WHO DOES WORK FOR THE COUNTY, WHETHER THEY MADE ANY CONTRIBUTION TO YOU, TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, TO ANYONE ELSE.
I MAKE EVERY DECISION IN SELECTING COUNSEL ON WHY TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNCIL.
SECONDLY, JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW, I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS, BUT 'CAUSE YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS, NONE OF YOU HAVE EVER COME TO ME AND SAID, I HAVE A SOMEONE WHO IS A BLEAK CON CONTRIBUTOR OF MINE.
CAN YOU SEE IF YOU COULD SEND THEM SOME WORK? NEVER HAPPENED.
NO ONE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION HAS EVER SAID THAT TO ME.
CAN YOU PLEASE SEND THEM SOME WORK? NEVER HAPPENED.
UH, SO MAYBE YOU SHOULD CLEAR SOME STUFF UP.
I ONLY SELECT PEOPLE TO RUN THE COUNTY WHO I BELIEVE CAN DO THE BEST JOB FOR THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ON THIS, ON THIS MATTER? MR. MR. PAUL VIC? I DO.
THIS, UH, CONTRACT IS JUST AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
WHAT ARE THE SERVICES SPECIFICALLY THAT ARE BEING PERFORMED? UH, PICK PICKING UP THE, THE FILES OF THE LAWYER THAT, UH, RESIGNED.
SO VARIOUS ITEMS THAT HAD HAPPENED.
A LOT, A LOT OF DISCIPLINARY MATTERS, ET CETERA.
WHY DID THE LAWYER RESIGN AND WHICH LAWYER? HEY, IT'S A PER, IT'S A PERSONAL MATTER AND I, AND I REALLY, SHE HAS A, SHE HAS ANOTHER JOB, FIRST OF ALL, BUT IT'S A PERSONNEL MATTER THAT REALLY, I REALLY CAN'T DISCUSS IT.
SO YOU CAN'T GIVE US THE NAME OF THE FIRM.
DO THEY HAVE ANY OTHER WORK WITH THE COUNTY? EXCUSE? NO, SHE'S NOT GOING TO A LAW FIRM.
SHE'S GOING TO A STATE AGENCY.
DOES THIS WHERE THAT WAS RESIGNED IS GOING TO A STATE AGENCY.
YEAH, I THINK YOU ASKED THE QUESTION WHY DID SHE RESIGNED.
I CAN SPECULATE, BUT I UNDERSTAND.
BUT DID SHE HAVE WORK, OTHER WORK FOR THE COUNTY OR JUST THIS, THE LAWYER, SHE WAS A FULL-TIME LAWYER WITH THE COUNTY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT FULL-TIME LAWYER WHO WAS IN THE COUNTY COUNCIL'S OFFICE RESIGNED TO TAKE A POSITION WITH THE STATE AGENCY.
AND, AND THEN BECAUSE WE WERE SO SHORT STAFFED, I REACHED OUT TO THE PREVIOUS COUNTY COUNCIL.
AND ASKED HER WOULD SHE DO ME A PERSONAL FAVOR AND HELP US OUT OF THIS CRISIS.
JOHN, I WANT TO BE CLEAR TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD YOUR RESPONSE TO MR. VECCHIO CORRECTLY.
THIS IS SPECIFIC FOR DISCIPLINARY MATTERS, NOTHING RELATED TO THE APPEALS FOR THE OTHER LEGAL CASES THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
THIS SPECIFIC $25,000 IS FOR DISCIPLINE ACT NOT RELATED TO THE LABOR.
CORRECT? THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
WHERE SHE, WHAT SHE IS, WHAT SHE IS GONNA DO IS PICK UP THE FILES THAT THE PERSON THAT WAS EMPLOYED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL WAS WORKING ON AND SEE THEM THROUGH TO CONCLUSION.
BUT, UH, SO IF YOU'RE ASKING ME DO I, DO I HAVE A LIST OF, OF THE FILES THAT SHE WAS WORKING ON? I DON'T, I THINK THE QUESTION IS, IT WAS VERY SPECIFIC.
THIS DOESN'T RELATE TO ANY OF THE ONGOING, UH, LABOR
[01:55:01]
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE FOUR OUTSTANDING ENDING.SHE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY, ANY LE UH, LABOR NEGOTIATION MATTERS.
I MISUNDERSTOOD YOUR QUESTION.
ANY OTHER, OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
MOVE BY BY COMMISSIONER SIBO BU SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT FOR MORRIS ROLL CALL NINE CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON, THEN YES.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS NUMBER 12 AND ADDED ORDER 36.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK, UH, THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, MR. DEL WILL HANDLE ITEM, UH, 12 AND, UM, HEALTH OFFICER LORD WILL HANDLE ITEM 36.
FRANK DELGAUDIO, DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHAB.
[02:03:27]
ARE BOTH, UH, THE STATE REQUIRED ACCEPTANCE EXECUTION FOR THE PRE TWO PREVIOUS BUDGET INSERTIONS, UH, WHICH WERE ITEMS NUMBER ONE AND TWO EARLIER THIS EVENING, SPECIFICALLY TO THE PARKS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND THE CHERRY BLOSSOM CENTER.HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
UM, JOSH, I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T MENTION ALL OF THE PARKS FOR NUMBER 14.
OUR PARK WASN'T MENTIONED AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
UH, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THEM? JOSHUAS H UH, THREE.
UM, IF THEY WEREN'T LISTED, THEN THEY WOULD BE HANDLED IN-HOUSE.
IT'LL BE HANDLED NEXT, HANDLED IN-HOUSE BY OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'LL MOVE IT.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT FOR MARS.
MADAM CLERK, THIS IS TO TAKE RESOLUTIONS 13 THROUGH 18 AS ONE.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT TAM MAREZ.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
[02:05:01]
THANK YOU.OKAY, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 1920 AND 24, WHICH WILL BE FROM DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND IT'LL BE READY TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. ANTONIO WILL HANDLE THESE ITEMS. UH, GOOD EVENING.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 19 IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO TURCO GOLF INCORPORATED TO CONSTRUCT THE NEW SAC FIELD AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS AT ELBOW PARK FOR AN AMOUNT THAT TO EXCEED $2,759,890.
TURCO GOLF SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE EIGHT BITS RECEIVED FOR THIS ADVERTISED BIT SOLICITATION.
THIS CONTRACT PERIOD WILL BE FOR 90 DAYS.
AND MR. CHRIS DENNIS WILL INTRODUCE HIS FIRM, TOUCH ON THE SCOPE OF WORK, AND OF COURSE, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
CHRIS DENNIS FROM TURCO GOLF IN POMPTON LAKES, NEW JERSEY.
WE'LL BE DOING A, UH, FIELD AT BELLEVILLE PARK, THREE FIELDS THERE.
ONE WITH, UH, UH, MISS, UH, MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE USE FIELD WITH, UH, SOCCER AND LACROSSE.
AND THE TWO WOULD BE SOCCER FIELDS.
UH, WE'VE BEEN DOING BUSINESS FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
WE BUILT, UH, ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT PROJECTS THROUGH THE AREA.
WE'VE JUST FINISHED UP, UH, HENDRICKS AND, UM, ALSO, UH, FRANCIS BURN GOLF COURSES.
SO WE'VE BEEN AROUND AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'D LIKE WORKING WITH YOU GUYS.
COMMISSIONERS, VICE PRESIDENT VARUS.
UH, CAN YOU GIVE ME YOUR, I THINK WE DISCUSSED THE LEADERSHIP, IT WAS A GENERAL TIMELINE, BUT WHAT'S THE KIND OF TIMELINE FOR WORK, GIVEN THAT WE'RE CLOSE TO THE END OF THE YEAR AND ALL THAT, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN FOR YOUR IN 90 DAYS? STARTING WHEN THOUGH? WHEN WOULD YOU BE STARTING? UM, I'M SAYING THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.
AND YOU'VE BEEN WORKING A LONG TIME WITH ESSEX COUNTY.
HOW MANY ESSEX COUNTY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE? WELL, WE USE ABOUT 30% THROUGH, THROUGH EVERY JOB THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SO FAR.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DO ADVERTISE IN THE LOCAL STORE LEDGER.
UH, WE ACT, UH, THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALSO THROUGH ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE EVENTS WITH THAT YOU NEED WORKERS, WE'D BE GLAD TO BE INVOLVED WITH THAT.
IT'S PREVAILING WAGE JOBS SOME MORE? YES.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 20 AWARDS SHORT TOP CONSTRUCTION.
A 90 DAY CONTRACT TO UNDERTAKE THE BASKETBALL AND TENNIS COURT IMPROVEMENTS AT GLENFIELD PARK IN MONTCLAIR FOR AN AMOUNT THAT YOU EXCEED $1,012,945.
SHORT TOP CONSTRUCTION SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE SIX BIDS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THIS PROJECT'S ADVERTISEMENT.
THIS PROJECT, THIS PROJECT'S CONTRACT WILL LAST 90 DAYS.
AND MR. MICHAEL SCHMIDT OF SHO TOP CONSTRUCTION IS ALSO HERE TO INTRODUCE HIS FIRM.
UH, TOUCH ON THE SCOPE OF WORK PERHAPS, AND, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
UH, SHORE TOP CONSTRUCTION, FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY.
WE'RE A SMALL COMPANY, SPECIALIZE IN ATHLETIC COURTS.
UH, WE'VE DONE MANY PROJECTS FOR ESCI COUNTY BEFORE.
UH, WE JUST FINISHED GROVE CLEVELAND PARK.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING AT BROOKDALE PARK RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE HIRE, WELL HIRE THREE OR FOUR LOCAL PEOPLE FOR EACH PROJECT THAT WE DO IN THE COUNTY, AND WE'LL ONLY HAVE MAYBE 10 OR 11 PEOPLE OUR OWN ON THE JOB.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, 24 AWARDS THE CONTRACT TO CONSTRUCT THE NEW SYNTHETIC TURF, INFIELD AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS AT YANOFF PARK AND NUTLEY TO CNET CONSTRUCTION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,994,450.
C NET CONSTRUCTION SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE SEVEN BIDS RECEIVED FOR THIS PROJECT.
THE CONTRACT WILL NOT EXCEED 150 CALENDAR DAYS.
MR. NICK KNIGHT OF
[02:10:01]
NICK FROM ZENITH CONSTRUCTION OUT OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.UH, OVER THE TWO DECADES, WE HAVE WORKED TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK FOR ACCESS COUNTY, MULTIPLE PROJECTS DONE SUCCESSFULLY.
UH, HOPEFULLY THIS IS ONE OF THEM IN NUTLEY.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO WORK? I'M READY TO ANSWER.
COMMISSIONS VICE PRESIDENT FORMAR.
UH, CAN YOU GIVE ME AN IDEA OF HOW MANY FIELDS YOU'RE GONNA BE WORKING IN AND WHAT YOUR APPROXIMATE START AND END DATE WILL BE? ROUGHLY? IT'S GONNA BE TWO FIELDS.
ONE IS SOFTBALL, THE OTHER ONE IS, UH, BASEBALL.
SO TWO FIELDS, UH, IN YANKO PARK.
AND I WOULD SAY WE COULD START RIGHT AFTER THE HOLIDAYS AND GET IT DONE IN THE TIMELINE.
I'M SORRY, WHAT'S YOUR TIMELINE? IS THAT A 90 DAY TIMELINE? I I THINK IT'S 90 TO ONE 20.
SO LATEST UP ON THE END OF APRIL OR SO IS A SAFE, THAT'S THE GOAL.
THE ONLY KEY THING IS THE SYNTHETIC TURF STEAMING.
SO AS SOON AS THE WEATHER PERMITS WE'LL GET IT DONE.
WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT REQUIRE? WHAT KIND OF WEATHER DOES THAT HAVE TO BE ABOVE 40 AND RISING 45 DEGREES IN RISING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR.
UM, UM, COMMISSIONER PALMAR 101 HUNDRED 50 CALENDAR TODAY.
IT WAS A, IT'S A 150 DAY CONTRACT.
THANK YOU VERY, THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'LL MOVE IT.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COOPER.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT EZ.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 21, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF PURCHASING.
AND BE READY TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, MR. COLTRANE WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM AS WELL AS, UH, LATER ON, 22 AND 23.
MR. PRESIDENT IS FROM THE OFFICE OF PURCHASING.
THIS IS TO FURNISH, UH, IN ING.
IT'S FROM NOVEMBER TO NOVEMBER 3RD, 2020, ACADEMY SUPPLY COMPANY IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.
LOWS AND CHARM TECH, UH, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK SECTION DETENTION MATTRESSES.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON 21? HEARING HONOR, I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MCCULL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT OMARE.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
MR. PRESIDENT PRESENT IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF CONTRACT AWARD TO X-RAY IMAGING, THE SOLE RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR FOR VO AND RAPID SCAN MACHINES.
THEY ARE THE X-RAY AND MAGNETOMETERS THAT YOU WALK THROUGH OF VARIOUS, UH, ENTRANCES, MOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $258,300.
WE HAVE ONE POTENTIAL, ONE BIDDER.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MERCADO.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT RAMEZ? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 23, WHICH WILL BE READ FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR.
WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. PRESIDENT, MR. A RESOLUTION,
[02:15:01]
APPRO APPROVING PARTICIPATION WITH THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY, ACCEPTING A SUB-GRANT AWARD FOR VS OH SEVEN DASH 21 FOR A PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER COOPER? JUST ONE QUICK ONE.
THE MATCH WAS THIS, WE'VE INSERTED THIS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, RIGHT? IT'S A MATCH IN HERE.
IS THAT A CASH MATCH OR LIKE AN IN KIND MATCH WHICH RESOLUTION? 23.
THIS IS JUST A PARTICIPATION RESOLUTION THAT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY NEEDS THAT THEY ARE PARTICIPATING WITH NO CASH.
YOU NEED MORE CLARIFICATION? YEAH.
AM I WRONG? IT? UH, IF I
IT RELATES TO ITEM SIX THAT WE INSERTED EARLIER.
AND THERE'S A, UH, IN TIME MATCHUP $57,686, WHICH WOULD MEAN BY SALARY WAGES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NOW I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MERCADO.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 25 THROUGH 35, WHICH ARE ACCOMMODATIONS IN MEMORIALS, PROCLAMATION RESOLUTIONS.
AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
COMMISSIONERS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UM, FOR ITEM 35, CAN I BE INCLUDED OR COULD YOU DO THAT BY ACCLIMATION? IF YOU DIDN'T MIND.
ACCLIMATION MEAN? THIS IS FOR 35.
YOU NEED TO MOVE HER IN A SECOND.
SECOND
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COOPER.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PALMARA.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 37, WHICH WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD ON A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THIS INVOLVES THE ABANDONED VO-TECH SCHOOL IN BLOOMFIELD ON FRANKLIN AVENUE.
UH, WHICH THE COUNTY RECEIVED FROM, UH, VO-TECH, UH, THAT IS NOW HAS NOT A NECESSITY FOR THE COUNTY.
SECONDLY, THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS. THERE WOULD BE SOME PROBLEMS, OBVIOUSLY, KEEPING AN ABANDONED SCHOOL.
SO WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO WAS TO SELL IT TO THE COUCH FOOTBALL FIELD.
UH, WE WENT THROUGH THE PROPER PROCESS.
WE'RE WE'D LIKE TO CLOSE ON THAT.
WE HAVE A SIGNED CONTRACT ATTACHED.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE, ON THE TRANSACTION OR THE CONTRACT? MR. PAUL? BECKY? NO.
COMMISSION QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON 37TH? HEARING NONE.
MOVE BY COMMISSIONER MECADO SECOND.
I YOU HAD A COMMENT? OH, YOU HAD A COMMENT.
YOU, I'M JUST THAT THEY FINALLY GONNA SELL THAT BUILDING.
THAT SCHOOL THAT'S BEEN AN EYESORE OF FRANKLIN.
I FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND KNOW THE COUNTY USED THE VOCATIONAL SCHOOL NEXT TO IT FOR WHILE THEY WERE DOING THE CONSTRUCTION OVER AT WEST CARDWELL AND SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTY SCHOOLS.
BUT I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT THE COUNTY HAS MOVED IN THAT DIRECTION AND THAT'LL HELP, UH, GROW FIELD.
THE ABANDONED SCHOOL IS NOT A GOOD THING.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN JUST LEADS TO TROUBLE.
[02:20:01]
TEACHERS KNOW.COMMISSIONER, SIBO BLOOMFIELD ROLL CALL MAY INCLUDE.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT OMARE.
ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE TO REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES.
ANY LEGISLATIVE REPORTS, ANY WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS, ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS, ANY NEW BUSINESS.
LET'S MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSIONS.
AND THIS IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T SPEAK EARLIER.
YOU WILL NOT GET ANOTHER BITE AT THE APPLE.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
YOU HAVE BROWN PREVIOUS TO SPEAK.
UM, I'M STANDING WITH MY FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
THAT'S WHAT I'M, UM, I NEED TO GO.
ACTUALLY, I WAS HOME WATCHING IT AND WAS MOVED BY HEARING MY OTHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS SPEAK.
I ACTUALLY HAVE TO WORK TONIGHT AT 11.
I JUST GOT OFF AT THREE O'CLOCK, BUT I HAVE TO GO BACK IN AT 11, UH, BECAUSE I HAVE TO, AND THEN WORK MY REGULAR SHIFT AT SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
UM, ALSO, THE YOUNG MAN WHO WAS HERE A FEW WEEKS AGO, MY SON, WHO I WAS VERY PROUD OF, UM, I FOUGHT REALLY HARD THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
I, I ALSO HAVE CUSTODY OF HIM.
UM, SO BEING HERE ALSO, BECAUSE I HAVE TO WORK AT 11.
I ALSO DON'T GET TO DO HOMEWORK WITH HIM TONIGHT TO COME DOWN HERE TO STAY WITH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
UM, AND HOPEFULLY GET A NAP IN.
AND THEN WE'LL KNOCK OUT THE 16 HOURS.
SO JUST BEAR WITH ME ONE SECOND.
I'VE BEEN AROUND A LITTLE WHILE.
UM, I'M TALKING MEN AND WOMEN OFF THE LEDGE.
I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING TO SAY FOR US CONTINUING TO SHOW UP TO WORK EVERY DAY, BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN EXPLORED.
THERE AREN'T EVEN TALKS OF THAT BECAUSE WE'RE PROUD, HARDWORKING INDIVIDUALS WHO TAKE THAT.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING HERE.
WE'VE JUST BEEN TAKEN FROM SUNDAY.
IT'S 40 IN THE MOUNTAIN UP ON NORTHFIELD AVENUE.
I'M OUT IN THE RAIN POURING, MAKING THE COUNTY LOOK GOOD.
'CAUSE OH MY GOD, GOD FORBID THERE'S TRAFFIC SEEN BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OR THE SHERIFF AND WE ARE NOT WORKING FAST ENOUGH.
'CAUSE GOD KNOWS WOULD'VE HAPPENED THEN, RIGHT? WE'RE STILL MAKING YOU LOOK.
IT IS ALMOST LIKE WE'RE PROTECTING THE ABUSER, RIGHT? THAT'S ALMOST WHAT'S HAPPENING.
WE, WE ARE NOT SAYING ANYTHING BAD.
WE'RE NOT KICKING COUNTY EXECUTIVE SHERIFF RA.
I SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND DO MY JOB EVERY DAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHO YOU'RE MAD AT THE LAST 30 YEARS.
WHAT'S GOING ON? I HAVE US AND OUR FAMILIES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
WE ARE ASKING TO BE TREATED FAIRLY.
I HOPE THAT YOU DON'T TRANSFER ME FOR THIS.
PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING BY US, PLEASE.
I'M ASSUMING THIS IS THE CAMERA.
AS I SAID, I WAS HOME, SO I HAD TO LIKE RUN DOWN HERE QUICKLY.
PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING BY US.
WE SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND DO OUR JOBS.
WE, THERE HASN'T, I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN OFFICER WHO'S BEEN HERE 30 YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE BAD BLOOD.
OUR FAMILIES ARE GETTING CAUGHT IN THE POLITICS.
I KNOW ALL OF YOU, Y'ALL, Y'ALL ARE THE, YOU GUYS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO PULL UP.
WE ARE THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
YOU WALK RIGHT PAST US, YOU WON'T EVEN GET OUT AND SHAKE MY HAND.
YOU, I'VE, I'VE MOVED CONES FOR YOU, SIR.
[02:25:03]
AH, THERE WE GO.I AM THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.
THREE DFOP LOCAL 1 0 1 6, 1 0 8, WHATEVER.
ANYWAY, WHAT I WANTED TO SAY TONIGHT IS THAT WHAT MR. JACKSON SAID BEFORE, THE STATEMENT HE MADE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM.
HE SAYS, WE'LL GIVE THEM A CONTRACT TOMORROW AS LONG AS THEY ACCEPT WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE GOT.
AND TECHNICALLY, THAT IS WHAT PERK HAS SAID IS NOT NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.
THESE OFFICERS ARE IN DANGER EVERY DAY.
I'M NO LONGER IN DANGER AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
IT'S 30, UH, 13 YEARS THAT I RETIRED FROM THE JAIL AS A LIEUTENANT, THE SHIFT COMMANDER.
AND I HAVE TO SAY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE UTAH, THE WORST PEOPLE I EVER HAD TO DEAL WITH IN THE JAIL WERE JUVENILES THAT WERE IN THE JAIL BECAUSE THEY WERE CHARGED AS ADULTS.
'CAUSE THEN ERS COMES DOWN AND SAY THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEIR GUMMY BARS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND TREAT THEM LIKE THE REAL KIDS EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THREE MURDERS THAT THEY'RE CHARGED WITH.
THE OTHER THING I WANNA SAY IS AS OF JANUARY, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE LICENSED.
YOU CAN'T HIRE ANYBODY AT THE JAIL TO WORK UNLESS THEY'RE LICENSED.
AND IF THAT HAPPENS, YOU GOTTA REMEMBER THIS YEAR THE JAIL HAS LOST A HUNDRED OFFICERS, 100 OFFICERS WHO WENT TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
WE NOW HAVE OFFICER FREE AGENCY THAT IF THEY DON'T LIKE WHERE THEY WORK, THEY CAN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT PAYS THEM BETTER.
SO YOU HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE TO KEEP THE PEOPLE WORKING AT THE JAIL.
I'VE BEEN COLLECTING SOCIAL SECURITY FOR NINE YEARS.
THIS JANUARY, I'M GONNA GET A 3.2% RAISE.
I'M DOING BETTER WITH SOCIAL SECURITY THAN THE OFFICERS ARE DOING TRYING TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY.
WHY SIT HOME? SO PLEASE LISTEN TO THEM AND TRY TO GIVE THEM A DECENT RAISE.
STOP WITH THE TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT SITUATION BECAUSE THAT'S AN EGO THING.
AND YOU CAN'T WORK WHEN SOMEBODY'S GOT A BIG EGO.
AND THAT'S GOTTA BE 31, 30 SECONDS.
HOW YOU DOING? I, IVAN HOLMAN.
UH, THIS IS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS NOW.
I WAS DEBATING ON WHETHER I WAS GONNA COME UP AND TALK.
UH, BUT IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SIT THERE AND NOT SAY ANYTHING WHEN YOU HEAR A COMMENT LIKE, HEY, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ALMOST TWO, $3 MILLION FOR, UM, SALARIES AND ABOUT HOW THINGS NEED TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE SO WE CAN HIRE PEOPLE.
BUT WE'RE SITTING HERE TELLING YOU THAT WE CAN'T KEEP STAFF, WE CAN'T HIRE PEOPLE.
WE CAN BARELY KEEP THE PEOPLE WE HAVE.
BUT YET YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU WANT TO INCREASE THAT YOU'RE, YOU, YOU AGREE AND YOU THINK THAT THE SALARIES FOR THE NURSES AND EVERYONE ELSE NEED TO BE RAISED AND YOU KNOW, THE PROSECUTOR, WHICH IS COOL.
I, I AGREE AND I THINK EVERYBODY DOES NEED THEIR SHARE.
BUT WE'RE THE ONE THAT'S STILL PROTECTING THEM.
WHEN YOU GO TO THE HOSPITAL CENTER, THERE'S AN OFFICER AND SECURITY GUARD SITTING IN THAT BUILDING PROTECTING THEM.
WHEN THESE, WHEN EVERYBODY COME TO THE COURTHOUSE AND YOU'RE SITTING IN THE COURTROOM, THE PERSON THAT'S KEEPING THAT GUY AT THE TABLE OR THAT GIRL AT THE TABLE THAT'S GOING TO GET THAT SENTENCE FOR 10 20 OR EVEN LIFE FROM JU ACROSS THAT TABLE AND HURTING SOMEBODY ELSE IN THAT SAME ROOM IS US.
HOW IS IT THAT EVERYBODY ELSE DESERVES SO MUCH? BUT WE'RE JUST HERE NOT GETTING ANYTHING FOR SEVEN YEARS.
I DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT WAS OFFERED TO THE OTHER UNIONS AT THIS POINT BECAUSE I GET UP EVERY DAY AND I LITERALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT MY FAMILY AND THINK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I'M GOING TO COME HOME WHEN I GO TO WORK AT FOUR 30 IN THE MORNING TO DO THINGS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ONLY SEEN IN A MOVIE.
I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT MY FAMILY REMEMBERS THE PASSWORD TO MY, TO MY COMPUTER SO THAT THEY CAN ACCESS MY WILL IF SOMETHING IS TO HAPPEN.
I'M 33 YEARS OLD AND I KNOW PEOPLE OLDER THAN ME THAT DON'T EVEN HAVE A WILL.
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING I HAVE TO HAVE BECAUSE OF WHAT I DO ON A DAILY BASIS.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT NOT GIVING US A CONTRACT OR HOW MUCH MONEY YOU THINK THAT WE DESERVE.
[02:30:04]
HOW YOU DOING? LEE SUTHERLAND, PBA 180 3.I JUST WANNA TOUCH ON THE, UH, MOVEMENT OF THE FUNDS FOR HIRING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, LET'S USE THE TOWNSHIP OF CALWELL.
THEY HAVE THREE OFFICERS ON EACH SHIFT FOR A TWO SQUARE MILE TOWN.
IF I'M WRONG, IT'S RIGHT AROUND THERE.
WE HAVE ONE OFFICER FOR THE ENTIRE WEST END OF THE COUNTY.
IF I HAVE TO WAIT FOR BACKUP, LET'S SAY THREE TO 11 SHIFTS, SEVEN TO THREE SHIFTS OR EVEN MIDNIGHTS.
DON'T EVEN GET ME GOING ON THAT.
'CAUSE NEAREST BACKUP COULD BE AS FAR AS NUTLEY.
THEN WE HAVE TO PRAY THAT MAYBE CALWELL WEST CALWELL, THEY'RE NOT ON A DOMESTIC OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THEY'RE OFF THE ROAD.
PETER, YOU'RE TAKING PEOPLE DURING THE DAYTIME OUT OF PATROL OUT OF OUR NARCOTICS DIVISION, WHICH A NARCOTICS DIVISION.
WE GOT A PRETTY BAD NARCOTICS ISSUE IN THIS STATE, IN THIS WHOLE COUNTRY, RIGHT? THE AMOUNT OF TIMES WE HAVE TO USE NARCAN IN THE PATROL DIVISION IS A DISGRACE.
BUT WE'RE TAKING PEOPLE OUTTA NARCOTICS TO PUT 'EM IN THE COURTHOUSE.
WE'RE TAKING PEOPLE OUTTA PATROL.
THE OTHER DAY WE, THE ENTIRE COUNTY OF ESSEX HAD EIGHT PATROLMEN ON THE ENTIRE COUNTY OF ESSEX WITH THE BIGGEST CITY IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
EIGHT OFFICERS WITH A ONE MAN CAR THAT PATROLS THE IRONBOUND SECTION AND THE SOUTH WARD AND A TWO MAN CAR THAT PATROLS THE WEST AND A LITTLE BIT OF THE NORTH.
AND WE'RE STILL OUT THERE ENFORCING WHAT WE HAVE TO ENFORCE, TAKING CARE OF THE COUNTY BUILDINGS AND DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
BUT JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW THAT WHEN WE DO GET A CONTRACT, HOPEFULLY IT'LL HAPPEN SOON.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE PEOPLE LEAVING 'CAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN OFFICERS THAT ARE JUST WAITING FOR THIS TO BE DONE.
SO WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO THEN? ARE WE JUST GONNA HAVE A CONTRACT NOW AND HAVE NO OFFICERS? THE LICENSING PEOPLE ARE LEAVING.
WE'VE HAD GREAT OFFICERS THAT HAVE TRANSFERRED FROM DEPARTMENTS CAME HERE AND THEY WERE LIKE, WOW, TO BE COMPLETELY FRANK, THIS PLACE SUCKS.
AND THEN THEY RUN FOR THE HILLS.
WE CAN'T HOLD ANY, WE'RE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
HOW DO YOU NOT WANNA WORK HERE? MY FATHER DID 24 YEARS HERE.
I WANTED TO WORK NOWHERE ELSE AND NOW I'M HERE AND I AIN'T GOING ANYWHERE.
BUT WE NEED PEOPLE TO WANNA STAY HERE AND THERE'S NO REASON FOR THEM TO WANNA STAY HERE.
THEY HAD TO SHUT DOWN THE PRISON FLOOR THE OTHER DAY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS.
YOU CAN'T COUNT A LIEUTENANT AND A CAPTAIN AS AN OFFICER 'CAUSE THEY'RE IN THERE DOING MANAGERIAL LEVEL DECISIONS IN THERE.
WE HAVE TO RUN THE DAY-TO-DAY STUFF.
YOU'RE SENDING MEN ON A BUS FILLED WITH INMATES.
SO OKAY, TAKE THREE GUYS OFF OF THERE.
WHAT HAPPENS THERE? WE JUST COMPLETELY RUN AT A DEFICIT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
OUR DETECTIVE BUREAU, THE FUGITIVE SQUAD FUGITIVES.
I THINK THAT NEWARK PROBABLY HAS A DECENT, YOU KNOW, SOME, I THINK THE COUNTY HAS A PRETTY DECENT AMOUNT OF FUGITIVES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
THEY DON'T GO OUT AND ARREST ANYBODY.
YOU KNOW WHY? 'CAUSE THEY'RE IN COURTS.
IMAGINE HAVING A FUGITIVE SQUAD WITH SOME OF THE WORST 30 SECONDS CRIMINALS ON PLANET EARTH.
THAT DOESN'T GO OUT AND GET THESE GUYS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING.
IT'S NOT JUST ONE DIVISION IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
AND I USED TO WORK DOWN IN THE JAIL TOO.
SO I KNOW IT'S DOWN THERE TOO.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE COUNTY A LONG TIME NOW AND I HONESTLY, WE DON'T SEE IMPROVEMENTS.
WE JUST KEEP SEEING JUST, WE'RE JUST GOING BACKWARDS.
UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, DOUGLAS FREE.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT I'VE HAD WITH THE SHERIFF OFFICERS.
IMAGINE SOMEONE ODING AND THE SHERIFF OFFICERS HAVING TO DO CPR IN FRONT OF THE CHILDREN.
AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF SECONDS TO SEE IF THAT PERSON'S GOING TO DIE.
YOU'RE CALLING THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT AND HE GOES FOR THE OFFICER'S GUN.
AND MYSELF AND OTHERS ARE ROLLING AROUND 'CAUSE THE AIR, THE SHERIFF OFFICER DOES NOT WANNA SHOOT HIM.
IMAGINE THOSE SAME OFFICERS PLAYING FLAG FOOTBALL WITH THE COMMUNITY.
IMAGINE THOSE SAME OFFICERS PLAYING BASKETBALL.
NOW IMAGINE THESE SAME OFFICERS, WHICH IS REAL FACTS, IS NO IMAGINATION THAT THEY CAN NO LONGER DO THE COMMUNITY SERVICE, WHICH HAS HELPED WEEK WAY PARK BECAUSE THAT'S SOME OF THE UNTOLD HISTORY OF WEEK WAY PARK.
[02:35:01]
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SHERIFF OFFICERS AND THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, THERE WOULD BE NO SAFE WEEK WAY PARK.IT'S NOT ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE PUT THERE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE DEATH THAT WAS DONE, THAT WAS THROUGH, UH, THE POLICE OFFICERS HAVING COME FROM BRANCHWOOD PARK ALL THE WAY TO WEAK WAY PARK.
UM, EVEN MYSELF HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF THE LACK OF POLICING THAT GOES ON AT WEAK WAY PARK.
'CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MAN HOURS.
MY LUS WAS LOOSENED ON MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I SUPPORT THESE BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
AND THEN COMMUNITY POLICING, WHICH MYSELF AND MY WIFE REALLY, I WASN'T JUST SURPRISED.
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OUR TIRE CAME OFF.
TAKING CHILDREN TO NEW YORK TO GO TO SCHOOL.
THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST CONTRACTS.
THERE'S AN IMPACT OF HOW YOU TREAT THEM.
THE YOUTH NO LONGER RESPECT THEM.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE STEALING CARS AND THEY'RE RUNNING INTO A SHERIFF OFFICER'S CAR.
'CAUSE THEY DON'T RESPECT THEM ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING AT HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER AS ADULTS.
NOW, I'M NOT GETTING INTO THE LABOR RELATION PIECE BECAUSE I USED TO BE 30 SECONDS IN THE UNION AND I CAN TAKE THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL.
BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF RESPECT TOWARDS NOT JUST THESE YOUNG, UH, THESE, WE GOTTA SAY YOUNG AS GOTCHA RETIRED, BUT NOT JUST FOR THE OFFICERS, BUT FOR THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO LOOK UP TO THEM.
AND I'M GOING TO SHARE MY SUPPORT AS A RESIDENT FOR THEM AND ALSO FOR THE COUNTY.
AND Y'ALL SHOULD LOCK THE DOOR INTO YOU.
COME OUT WITH SOME TYPE OF RESOLVEMENT BECAUSE WE NEED THE COUNTY AND THE SHERIFF OFFICERS TO RESPECT ESSEX COUNTY FIRST.
I'M DAVE SUSKO FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
UH, LAST TIME I WAS HERE I SPOKE ABOUT MY MOM AND WHAT SHE WAS GOING THROUGH, BUT TONIGHT I WANNA TALK ABOUT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AFTER LAST MEETING.
AND YOU HEARD TONIGHT, THEY'RE ALL GOING THROUGH STUFF.
I WAS ASKED IF THEY COULD DO A FUNDRAISER FOR ME SO I COULD SPEND MORE TIME WITH MY MOM.
HOW COULD I TAKE TIME AND MONEY FROM THEM? WE'RE ALL STRUGGLING.
ALSO, SOME OF THEM EVEN HAVE THEIR OWN HEALTH ISSUES, BUT THEY ORGANIZED ONE ANYWAY BECAUSE THE OFFICERS OF MY DEPARTMENT ARE KIND, CARING, GENEROUS PEOPLE.
THAT IS THE CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ASKING YOU FOR HELP.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE OFFICERS IN THIS COUNTY LAST, LAST MEETING.
YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE A TON OF STRESS OFF OF A THOUSAND OFFICERS.
YOU'RE NOT JUST AFFECTING THEM.
YOU'LL BE HELPING THEIR FAMILIES.
YOU CAN DIRECTLY AFFECT TWO 3000 PEOPLE AND MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER.
RIGHT NOW, I WANT, I WANT TO THANK MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS FOR BEING THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE.
AND I HOPE I COULD COME UP HERE SOON.
UM, I WORK WITH THE ESSEX COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE AND CURRENTLY I ACTUALLY WORK WITH THE JUVENILES.
UM, I WANTED TO COME FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
WE ALL KNOW WHY WE ARE HERE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU ALL.
UM, THE BIBLE SAYS YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
THE QAN SAYS NO ONE WILL REAP EXCEPT WHAT THEY SOW.
BUDDHISTS EVEN SAY, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW YOUR FUTURE, LOOK INTO YOUR PRESENT ACTIONS.
NONE OF THESE QUOTES SCRIPTURES OR ASSERTS DISCRIMINATE.
THEY DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT RACE.
THEY DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT GENDER AND THEY DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE POSITIONS THAT YOU HOLD.
AND THERE'S A SNOWBALL EFFECT DEALING WITH THE JUVENILES.
I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY MONEY BEING ALLOCATED.
I'M NOT EVEN GONNA TALK ABOUT A CONTRACT ALLOCATED TO ANY TYPE OF RECREATION FOR THESE JUVENILES.
AND THE SAD THING IS THAT IT'S A SNOWBALL EFFECT.
AND IT'S EVENTUALLY THE STREETS ARE GOING TO REAP WHAT THEY'RE SEWING INTO.
THESE KIDS, THEY'RE GOING TO STEAL YOUR CAR OR A LOVED ONE.
THEY'RE GOING TO HIT YOU OVER THE HEAD OR SOMETHING.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO CALL 9 1 1.
NEWARK IS GOING, IF YOU GOT, IF YOU ARE ON THE BORDERLINE OF THE STREET AND THE PARK, THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHO'S GOING TO TAKE THE CALL.
IS IT GOING TO BE NEWARK OR DID YOU FALL OVER INTO THE PARK? SO THEN IF YOU FALL OVER INTO THE PARK, WE'LL BE THE ONES WHO RESPOND.
HOPEFULLY WE HAVE SOMEBODY TO RESPOND.
IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME THAT PEOPLE, THAT
[02:40:01]
IT'S NOT BEING, THE FOCUS IS NOT BASICALLY, UM, WE THINK THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY AND IT'S ALWAYS OKAY.YOU, IT'S IN YOUR HANDS TO MAKE DECISIONS, PUT THINGS ON THE TABLE, MAKE THESE TYPE OF DECISIONS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
I DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT POLITICS.
I WOULDN'T STAND UP HERE AND SAY THAT I DID.
I KNOW ABOUT BEING ABLE TO GO HOME AND SLEEP AT NIGHT.
SO WHEN I DO MY JOB, I DEAL WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PEOPLE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WHEN I GO HOME AT NIGHT, I'M ABLE TO SLEEP PEACEFULLY.
YOU WANNA KNOW WHY? BECAUSE NOT ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE A GUN, BUT BECAUSE I DO THE RIGHT THING.
SO I'M SAYING TO YOU, I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS CAN GO HOME AND SLEEP PEACEFULLY BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ONE OF YOU OR TO ONE OF THE OTHER, OTHER ONE 30 SECONDS.
UM, BECAUSE IT'S A SNOWBALL EFFECT.
AND IF YOU THINK THAT THE STREETS ARE NOT GOING TO READ WHAT IS SEWING INTO THESE KIDS, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY RECREATION, THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THEY PARENTS CAN'T READ, THEY CAN'T READ.
KIDS THAT CAN'T READ, CAN'T WRITE.
CHICKENS ARE COMING HOME TO ROOS.
SO YOU MIGHT WANNA MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA NEED US.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT IS NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
COMMISSIONERS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER COOPER? UM, JUST A COUPLE.
MR. PRESIDENT, MR. JACKSON, I SENT YOU AN EMAIL ABOUT BERG PARK.
I LOVE ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT WAS DONE THERE.
BUT THERE'S SOME FLOODING ON ONE SIDE.
THE WATER IS NOT DRAINING OFF THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD IN OTHER AREAS.
'CAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE NOW TWO DAYS FOR A GAME.
AND, UM, ALSO RELATED TO THE PARK.
THERE WAS SOME EMAILS TO SENT FROM THE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY GROUPS ABOUT THE SAME THING.
WOULD YOU RESEND THAT TO ME? 'CAUSE I, I DON'T RECALL GETTING.
UM, AND THEN WHAT'S THE STATUS OF HIRING A REPLACEMENT OR PUTTING SOMEONE THERE TO REPLACE TIM WALKER? YOU KNOW, AS I LOOK AT, AGAIN, THE CONTRACTS THAT WE APPROVED TONIGHT, I'VE REFERRED PEOPLE TO MR. WALKER AND I BUMPED INTO SOMEONE WHO WAS INTERESTED IN RESPONDING TO PAVING OR TREES OR SOMETHING.
AND HE SAID THAT HE DID NOT GET A RESPONSE BACK AND MR. WALKER WAS HELPING HIM AND HE DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE BACK.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHO HE'S EMAILING NOW SINCE HE'S NOT THERE ANYMORE.
BUT WHO IS THE REPLACEMENT? I CAN DIRECT THIS GENTLEMAN TO.
WE, WE HAVE, UM, UH, JESSICA BAIER WHO'S WORKING, UH, AS AN INTERIM, UM, IN THE POSITION.
BUT WE'RE, WE'VE GOT SOME, SOME RESUMES AND WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE SHORTLY.
AND THEN, UM, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF HIRING A WARDEN AT THE PRISON? I KNOW WE DID SOME INTERVIEWS.
WHERE ARE WE IN THAT PROCESS? UM, ALL, ALL I KNOW IS THAT NO RESUMES WERE, WERE RECEIVED.
I'D HAVE TO DEFER TO, UM, AND ASK, UH, DIRECTOR CHARLES WHERE THAT STANDS PLEASE.
BUT WE CAN FIND THAT OUT FOR YOU.
UM, AND MR. PRESIDENT, RESPECTFULLY, I'M REQUESTING THAT WE SCHEDULE THAT MEETING WITH THE JAIL FOLKS FOR THE YOUTH HOUSE.
SOME OF THE COMMENTS TONIGHT, UM, THOSE COMMENTS ARE TRUE.
MR. JACKSON, WHERE ARE WE WITH THE DISPARITY STUDY? UH, THERE'S AN INITIAL DRAFT, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT WE SHOULD RECEIVE, UH, IN A DAY OR TWO.
UH, WE'LL REVIEW IT AND THEN SET UP FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS.
YOU NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION.