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THIS MEETING OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HEREBY CALLED THE ORDER.
THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED IN ADDITION TO TAKING PLACE IN PERSON.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT EZ.
HERE, PLEASE STAND FOR THE SALUTED, THE FLAG MAIN STAND.
I'M GONNA ASK COMMISSIONER JOHNSON OF THE ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH YOU STAND.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY, INJUSTICE FOR ALL.
HE REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR ALL THE SENSELESS KILLING IN THIS COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD.
I HAVE BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FROM THE CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
MADAM CLERK, ARE THERE ANY TRANSCRIPTS TO BE APPROVED? UH, YES.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE FROM DECEMBER THE 14TH, 2022.
CONFERENCE BOARD MEETINGS, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NOW? I NEED TO MOVE HER IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT OMARE? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
MADAM CLERK, ARE THERE ANY TOPICS OF DISCUSSION? UH, UH YES, MR. PRESIDENT? UH, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION TO THE COMMISSIONER RUFUSS L JOHNSON UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE BOARD.
RUFUSS, SHE CHANGED YOUR MIDDLE NAME.
I, IT'S FROM I TO L ISN'T IT? I HAD MY GLASSES OFF.
SO I WANT TO READ SOMETHING AND I WANT TO, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M GONNA ALLOW THE BOARD TO SAY WHAT THEY NEED TO SAY AND I'LL READ MY STATEMENT AFTERWARDS.
I'LL BREAK THE ICE OF, I MEAN, IF NO ONE ELSE WANTS TO SAY, WE'RE GONNA READ IT FIRST.
I WAS WAITING FOR HER TO SLIP.
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YOUR SUGGESTION.I THINK THE PRESIDENT SHOULD GO FIRST.
AND I'M, I'M THE PRESIDENT, SO
SO IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS TITAN OF ESSEX COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS.
WHO STANDS WELL, SITS BEFORE ME WHEN I TELL YOU ABOUT MY FRIEND AND BROTHER.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON HERE HAS HAD A BIG IMPACT ON THE NEWARK AND ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITIES.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON IS THE LONGEST SERVING AFRICAN-AMERICAN COUNTY COMMISSIONER IN NEW JERSEY, BEING FULLY SELECTED.
HE'S FIRST ELECTED IN 2008 AND IS NOW FINISHING OUT HIS FIFTH TERM.
HE IS ALSO A KEY CONFIDENT OF THE LATE AND GREAT SENATOR ROUND, UH, RICE, A LION OF THE STATE SENATE, HAVING SERVED AS RICE'S CHIEF OF STAFF IN THE LEGISLATURE AND BEFORE THAT, AS HIS AIDE DOING DURING RICE'S, 16 YEARS ON THE NEWARK CITY COUNCIL.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON IS AN ESSEX GUY, BORN AND RAISED, AND HAS NEVER STOPPED WORKING TO SUPPORT THOSE AROUND HIM, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE.
HE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEWARK WEST WARD YOUNG DEMS, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.
HE ALSO CO-FOUNDED AND COACHED BOTH THE NEWARK OPTIMIST CLUB LITTLE LEAGUE AND NEWARK POP WARNER FOOTBALL LEAGUE COACH, THE OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNCIL HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM, AND FOUNDED DIVISION OF HOLT BASKETBALL CAMP WITH FORMER NBA PLAYERS AND THE HELP OF OUR COUNTY EXEC.
JOE D AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER RUTH HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY ON SO MANY ISSUES THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES, HEALTHCARE, PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION, OPEN SPACES AND RECREATION, PUBLIC TRANSIT HOUSING, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
IF I WERE TO LIST ALL THE WAYS COMMISSIONER JOHNSON HAS MEANINGFULLY IMPROVED THE LIVES OF ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS.
HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO RETIRE TONIGHT,
WE'LL BE HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
SO, TO COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, MY FRIEND, MY BROTHER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DECADES OF SERVICE, NOT JUST TO ESSEX COUNTY, BUT ALSO TO NEWARK AND THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE COUNTLESS PEOPLE YOUR WORK HAS IMPACTED.
THIS RETIREMENT IS WELL DESERVED, ALTHOUGH WE MAY NEVER TRULY FILL YOUR SHOES.
HOW ABOUT PATTY NOW? COMMISSIONERS
WHICH ONE? YOU, YOU GOT THE MIC.
FIRST OF ALL, PRESIDENT WAYNE RICHARDSON SAID EVERYTHING THAT I COULD POSSIBLY SAY.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'LL DO WHEN YOU'RE NOT HERE ANYMORE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME.
I FIRST MET RUFUSS WHEN HE WAS, UH, CHIEF OF STAFF TO SENATOR RON RICE, AND HE HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY THROUGH ALL THESE YEARS.
AND THE BEST PART IS THAT RUFUSS JOHNSON NEVER, EVER STOP THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE PEOPLE HE WAS SERVING.
IT WAS ALWAYS FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND HE NEVER, EVER TIRED OF THAT.
AND I DON'T THINK HE EVER WILL.
HE'S TRULY A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL.
AND RUFUSS, IT WAS A REAL PLEASURE FOR ME TO SERVE WITH YOU.
I'M GONNA START OFF BY SAYING, UM, IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A ROUGH THREE YEARS FOR ME ON THIS SIDE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FOLKS KNOW HOW THE, UH, CHARTER WORKS HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY, BUT WE
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ARE ACTUALLY SEATED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER.SO THE, UH, TOP OF THE ALPHABET'S OVER THERE, UH, FOLLOWED BY THE REST OF THE ALPHABET.
I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 2011, AND MOST OF MY TENURE WAS ON THAT SIDE OF THE DEUS, SITTING NEXT TO MY FRIEND AND MY PARTNER, RUFUSS JOHNSON, BECAUSE JAY AND L ARE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
UM, IT WAS JUST THE LAST THREE YEARS THAT WE GAINED, UM, A COUPLE NEW COMMISSIONERS.
AND SO I WAS MOVED ON THIS SIDE.
BUT I WILL SAY RUFUSS WASN'T JUST THE GUY YOU SIT NEXT TO.
WE WOULD GO OUT AFTER MEETINGS AND DISCUSS, ESPECIALLY IN MY EARLY, UH, YOU KNOW, NEO FIGHTS, UM, TIME, HOW I WAS DOING AS A COMMISSIONER, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTIONS I WAS ASKING, THE, UH, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS THAT I WAS LEARNING.
I MEAN, YOU SIT HERE LONG ENOUGH, A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS THE SAME YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT, BUT WHEN YOU'RE THERE IN THE BEGINNING, THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT'S, IT'S NOT EASY AND YOU'RE A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE.
UM, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I STARTED, YOU KNOW, WE HAD, WE HAD SOME REAL GIANTS ON THIS BOARD, UM, THAT RUFUSS WAS SITTING ALONGSIDE BLONIE WATSON, LINDA, LORD I KAVANAUGH, RALPH CAPUTO.
JERRY OWENS WAS HERE FOR A WHILE.
CAROL CLARK, LET'S GIVE CAROL HER.
UM, WE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS ON THIS BOARD, UH, DONALD PAYNE JR.
SO YOU COULD IMAGINE ME BEING A NEWBIE AND A NEW GUY ON THE BLOCK, UH, ALONGSIDE A LOT OF THESE FOLKS.
AND, UH, RUFUSS REALLY TOOK ME UNDER HIS WING.
AND I JUST WANT TO PUT ON RECORD THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS NOT JUST A GREAT FREEHOLDER AND COMMISSIONER, BUT HE WAS A VERY GOOD POLITICIAN.
HE WAS VERY, UM, SAVVY WHEN IT CAME TO MAKING SURE HE GOT THE RIGHT THINGS FOR HIS COMMUNITY.
I KNOW AT THE TIME IT WAS THE WEST WARD.
HE ALWAYS USED TO EMPHASIZE BECAUSE I WAS A DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, THAT I SHOULD FOCUS ON MY DISTRICT.
JUST LIKE HE FOCUSED ON HIS NEIGHBORHOOD, MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE DOES A GREAT JOB, AND HE NOT ONLY DOES A GREAT JOB IN ONE OR CERTAIN AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT ENTIRE ESSEX COUNTY.
BUT IT WASN'T ALWAYS LIKE THAT.
SO IT WAS COMMISSIONER'S JOBS TO KIND OF FIGHT, HEY, WE NEED A NEW PLAYGROUND, WE NEED A NEW PARK, WE NEED A NEW FENCE.
UH, WE WANT TO SEE THIS, WE WANT TO SEE THAT.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, I REALLY WANT TO JUST PUT ON RECORD THAT I THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME BECOME THE PERSON THAT I HAVE AND SPENDING A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF NIGHTS AFTER THE MEETINGS WHEN WE USED TO TAKE THE SHOW ON THE ROAD, WHICH I THINK WE'RE GONNA GET BACK TO DOING, WE WOULD GO INTO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES IN ESSEX COUNTY, WHETHER IT BE SOUTH ORANGE AND MONTCLAIR.
WE WOULD GO TO ROSELAND, UM, LIVINGSTON, AND WE WOULD ALWAYS FIND A PLACE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO CATCH UP AFTERWARDS AND TALK ABOUT THE MEETING, GRAB SOMETHING TO EAT.
AND SO THAT, I'M TRULY THANKFUL AND I HOPE THAT ONE DAY I CAN PASS THAT ALONG TO SOMEBODY ELSE HERE, UM, AND PASS THE TORCH.
BUT THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, UM, FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE TO HELP ALL OF US HERE, INCLUDING, UM, YOU KNOW, PAT SEABOLD, WHO'S BEEN A HERO A REALLY, REALLY LONG TIME.
AND I'M SURE PAT, OF ALL THE FOLKS THAT YOU'VE SERVED, YOU COULD AGREE THAT RUFUSS JOHNSON IS A REALLY DISTINGUISHED AND OUTSTANDING GENTLEMAN.
UM, AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DESERVE, AND I'M SURE OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE WILL CONSIDER SOMETHING, UM, TO HONOR YOU AND PUT YOU IN EITHER LEGEND'S WAY OR SOMEWHERE IN THIS COUNTY.
UM, YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T WANNA BE IN LEGEND'S WAY.
NOT YET, WELL, MAY, MAYBE NOT.
LEGEND'S WAY
UM, NOT YET LONG LIFE TO LIVE, BUT, UM, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A COUPLE MOMENTS TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE WITH RUFUSS AND JUST PUT ON RECORD HOW THANKFUL I AM.
I, I, I I WAS WITH YOU, UH, COMMISSIONER UP UNTIL LEGEND'S WAY.
NO, HE, SO IF, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, WHAT LEGEND'S WAY IS THAT THAT'S A, UH, A PLACE OUT HERE ON THE COUNTY BY THE NEW BUILDING BETWEEN THIS BUILDING AND THE NEW BUILDING.
AND IT'S WHERE FOLKS WHO ARE NOW LEGENDS WHO HAVE, WHO HAVE PASSED ON OR DON'T LISTEN, GIVING A, A PLAQUE AND, AND REMEMBER, SO WE DON'T WANT BROTHER JOHNSON THERE ANYTIME SOON.
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COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.WELL, COMMISSIONER, I'M NOT KILLING YOU OFF, BUT I'M JUST GONNA SAY, I'M GONNA SAY, UM, I'M REALLY GONNA MISS YOU.
I APPRECIATE, UM, SITTING NEXT TO YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, SUPPORT AND YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND, UH, OUR, UM, AFTER MEETINGS MM-HMM.
UM, BUT MOST OF ALL, I WANT YOU TO ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT.
DO WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT TO DO, HOW YOU WANT TO DO IT, WHEN YOU WANT TO DO IT, WHO YOU WANT TO DO IT WITH.
AND THINK ABOUT ME
AND I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THIS.
IF I MAY, VICE PRESIDENT OMARE.
I'M NOT SHY OF, UH, YOU KNOW, KNOWING, UH, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.
I REMEMBER MEETING, UH, RUFUSS WHEN I WAS JUST BEGINNING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ON THE STREETS OF BLOOMFIELD.
WE PROBABLY WEREN'T THE MOST POPULAR TEAM TO VOTE FOR, BUT WE DID RUN AGAINST THE GRAIN.
AND ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T WIN THAT YEAR, IT WAS AN HONOR TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT.
AND YOU ENCOURAGED ME TO STICK AROUND.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN GREAT FOR ME SINCE, UH, WHEN I WAS ELECTED TO BLOOMFIELD AND WE ALWAYS KEPT IN TOUCH.
NEVER DID I EVER, EVER THINK THAT I WOULD SHARE THIS DANCE WITH YOU AND WHAT HONOR IT IS FOR.
BUT FOR ME AS WELL, I WON'T TALK ABOUT POLITICAL OR GOVERNMENTAL ATTRIBUTES THAT'S BEEN STUDIED ENOUGH.
BUT WHAT I REALLY ADMIRE YOU IS THE MAN THAT YOU ARE.
UH, I THINK WE HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON, AND I THINK MOST OF THE TIME WHEN WE GET TOGETHER, WE DON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THIS STUFF.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR FAMILIES.
AND I KNOW THAT RIGHT HERE, THEY'RE VERY PROUD.
AND I SEE THAT I REMEMBER YOUR RETIREMENT PARTY, HOW THEY WERE GLEAMING.
UH, WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON IS BOTH OUR DAUGHTERS ALWAYS ARE, SEEM TO BE OUR CHIEF OF STAFF ON THE MICROPHONE.
AND SO MY DAUGHTER'S A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.
SHE'S ONLY 15, BUT SHE'S BEEN DOING IT SINCE SHE'S, SHE WAS EIGHT.
AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE CASE FOR YOU GUYS.
'CAUSE I HEARD SOME OF THE STORIES
AND SO I, UH, I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE, UH, VERY SOLID, INCREDIBLE, AND REPUTABLE PEOPLE IN PUBLIC OFFICE, IT'S REASSURING SINCE, UH, SOMETIMES THE PUBLIC IMAGE ISN'T THAT WAY AND WHAT DOESN'T GET CELEBRATED OFTEN ENOUGH.
WHILE YOU MAY HAVE THE BAD APPLE CELEBRATED WAY TOO MUCH, YOU NEVER HAVE THE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE CELEBRATED.
YOU'RE ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE REAL GOOD GUYS.
AND YOU ARE A PERSONAL MENTOR OF MINE POLITICALLY.
AND I THINK YOU SHOULD BE AND WOULD QUALIFY AS A PERSONAL HERO TO MANY PEOPLE.
SO I KNOW YOU AFFECTED THE LIVES OF I COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND ONE, ONE COULD ONLY ASPIRE TO BE THAT WAY.
AND IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT, UH, ONE OF WHEN I WAS ELECTED TO THIS BOARD, RUFUSS CAME ON THAT ELECTION NIGHT, UH, DIDN'T HAVE HIS PARTY.
HE CAME TO OUR CELEBRATION IN BLOOMFIELD AND HE, UH, ACTUALLY PINNED ME WITH THE, THEN THE FREEHOLDER PINNED.
AND IT WAS SUCH AN HONOR TO HAVE SOMEONE THERE TO WELCOME YOU THAT NIGHT.
MOMENTS AFTER THE ELECTION RESULTS CAME IN, TO HAVE A LEGEND LIKE RUFUSS THERE.
I DIDN'T SAY LEGEND'S WAY, I JUST A LEGEND IN A TRADITIONAL THING TO HAVE A LEGEND LIKE RUFUSS COME THERE AND TO, UH, YOU KNOW, PUT THAT PIN ON ME AND TO SAY, WELCOME.
YOU KNOW, WALK HIM TO THE BOARD, WELCOME TO THE FAMILY, UH, NOW LET'S GO DO SOME WORK.
AND WE'VE BEEN DOING WORK SINCE.
SO FOR THAT, I'M VERY HONORED.
UH, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT KILLING YOU OFF BY ANY MEANS.
I HOPE YOU'RE GONNA BE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME PLAYING GOLF AND SPENDING TIME WITH, UH, WITH YOUR FAMILY AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE GRANDKIDS ON THE ROAD AND ALL KINDS OF EXTENDED NUMBER OF FAMILY, WHICH IS WHAT YOU DESERVE.
AND, UH, UM, FOR YOU, THE FAMILY, UH, WE OWE YOU A DEBT OF GRATITUDE FOR THE MANY TIMES THAT HE WASN'T HOME.
UH, I KNOW HE, HE WORKED HARD TO BE HOME.
BUT THERE ARE MANY TIMES THAT, UH, FOLKS IN THIS BUSINESS SACRIFICE FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, DOING THE PUBLIC GOOD.
AND SO YOU SHOULD BE JUST AS COMMENDED AS JOHNSON BECAUSE ALTHOUGH HE SERVED ON THE DANCE, YOU SERVE OUTSIDE THE DANCE ALONGSIDE HIM.
AND IT'S CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WITH HIM EVERY STEP WAY.
SO I, I RESPECT THE WHOLE, UH, RUFUSS CLAN, IF YOU WILL, FOR THE AMAZING CONTRIBUTIONS THAT I'VE DONE TO OUR SOCIETY.
BEFORE I, I FORGET, THERE'S A MESSAGE FROM OUR, UH, CHAIRMAN LEROY JONES WHO WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND TONIGHT, BUT HE WANTED TO, UM, CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR RETIREMENT AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE COUNTY, FOR THE CITY OF NEWARK, FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
AND HE JUST HAD A, A, A CONFLICT WHERE HE COULDN'T BE HERE, BUT HE WISH HE COULD HAVE BE BEEN HERE.
AND HE JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND, AND WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND WHATEVER YOUR, WHATEVER NEXT IS FOR YOU,
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RIGHT? YOU, I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA PLAY GOLF, RIGHT? YOU, YOU'RE ALREADY PLAYING GOLF, BUT YOU MAY EVEN GO FISHING.I DON'T KNOW,
BUT WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR YOU.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA COME UP AND GET THIS COMMISSIONERS PIECE COME UP.
AND I, SO WE'RE GOING GIVE YOU ONE OF THESE RESOLUTIONS AND YOU GIVEN AWAY THOUSANDS.
SO WE'RE GOING GIVE YOU ONE BACK.
WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER GIFT FOR YOU.
DON'T WEAR IT ON YOUR CHECKS, LIKE FLAVOR FLAG,
THIS IS FROM ALL OF US TO YOU.
AND YOU'LL APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.
'CAUSE IF IT WASN'T FOR MY COLLEAGUES THAT GAVE ME THE INSPIRATION TO DO MORE AND TO TRY TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS SYSTEM BECAUSE THE SYSTEM NOT EASY TO NAVIGATE THROUGH IF YOU'RE JUST COMING IN.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHEN I CAME IN, MENTIONED, UH, LIKE LENNY MENTIONED, HE MENTIONED ABOUT ALL OF THOSE POWER PLAYERS THAT WERE THERE.
I CAME IN THE SAME WAY AND I CAME IN AT A TIME WHEN COMING FROM THE RICE CLAN WASN'T POPULAR.
AND IT WAS A THING WHERE IT TOOK ME AT LEAST THREE, MY FIRST TERM, GOING INTO MY SECOND TERM BEFORE PEOPLE START UNDERSTANDING THAT I WASN'T THERE FOR WHATEVER THE BEEF IS.
I'M THERE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT I GOTTA REPRESENT.
AND WITH TIME IT SHOWED THAT I DIDN'T FIGHT BACK.
LIKE, AH, Y'ALL AIN'T NO, NO, NO, YOU DON'T DO THAT IN TIMES LIKE THAT.
YOU JUST LET THEM SEE, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE VISUAL.
YOU CAN SAY ANYTHING, BUT THEY DON'T GO BY WHAT YOU DO.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW? AND THAT'S WHY EVEN IN MY COMMUNITY, I HAVE PEOPLE IN SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THAT WILL COME IN AND FIGHT FOR ME.
AND I NEVER WANTED TO LEAVE ALL THE POWER OF, OF ME BEING IN OFFICE IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE WITH THE SUIT AND TIES.
BECAUSE IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU HELP.
IF THEY COME AND DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, THEY WILL DO IT FOR YOU BECAUSE THEY KNOW YOU HAVE DONE THINGS TO HELP THEM.
SO TO MY COLLEAGUES, ALL MY COLLEAGUES, PLEASE, OUR PEOPLE ARE HURTING HERE.
NOT ONLY IN THE SUBURBAN AND THE WEST ESSEX, BUT WE'VE GOTTA DO SOMETHING DOWN IN THOSE URBAN CITIES, THE NEWARK, EAST ORANGE, THE IRVINGTON'S AND ALL.
BECAUSE AS IN ESSEX COUNTY, IF THEY GROW, OUR WHOLE COUNTY WILL GROW AND THEY NEED US.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT PEOPLE CONFUSE WITH US BECAUSE WE ARE LEGISLATORS.
THEY THINK WE HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
NO, THE ADMINISTRATION IS THE, THE ONE THAT MAKES IT HAPPEN.
ALL WE ARE IS LAY LIAISON TO THE ADMINISTRATION FROM THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THAT MEANS THAT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HEAR THE VOICES OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES SO WE CAN BRING IT BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO GET THINGS DONE.
AND THE PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE IT CONFUSED.
JUST LIKE MOST OF YOU SAID, I HEARD COME OUTTA SOME OF YOUR MOUTHS OF WHAT I TAUGHT YOU OR WHAT I TRIED TO SHOW YOU OR WHAT I TRIED TO TELL YOU.
WE GOTTA DO THAT TO THE PUBLIC NOW BECAUSE IT'S GETTING REALLY OUTTA HAND.
AND ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT RIGHT NOW ON MY EXIT IS OUR STATE DELEGATION.
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DOES NOT HAVE ONE AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE IN, IN IT.AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING IN MOST OF OUR URBAN COMMUNITIES AND ALL ALL ARE AFRICAN MEN.
MEN, WE WANT OUR YOUNG MEN TO BE ABLE TO SEE AT LEAST ONE OF US ON EACH LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE CAN SAY, HEY, I LIKE HIS HIM.
I WOULD BE LIKE HIM COMING UP.
'CAUSE WITHOUT THAT, THEY HAVE NO HOPE.
AND WE'VE GOTTA BE REALISTIC ABOUT IT.
A LOT OF 'EM DO NOT RESPECT THEIR OWN MOTHER.
'CAUSE IF THEY DID, THEY WOULDN'T BE OUT THERE.
'CAUSE THEIR MOMS DON'T WANT 'EM OUT THERE DOING THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING.
YOU'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH ME TOO.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT, A LOT FROM YOU.
SEE THIS, THIS IS THE OTHER OLD HEAD WITH ME RIGHT HERE.
WE SHARED A OLD HEAD TAG IN HERE.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU ABOUT YOU, ABOUT ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE UNIONS AND ALL AND ALL.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU JUST IN JAN.
AND I HAD BAD SON AND I HAD TO MAKE HIM GOOD.
AND THEN GRAHAM, WHO ALWAYS SAT NEXT TO ME, THE ADMINISTRATION, OH MAN, JACKSON, MY GOLF BUDDY RIGHT NEXT TO HIM.
AND MCINERNEY, FRAN MCINERNEY AND ALL OF THEM.
HEY, YOU GOTTA LET THEM SAY SOMETHING TOO, MAN.
'CAUSE I KNOW THEY, THEY WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, MAN, WE'VE ALL BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
WE MIGHT HAVE TO SAVE THEM FOR THE END.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS BECAUSE YOU SAID THAT'S IMPORTANT.
AND THEN AT THE END YOU'LL BE HERE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL COMMUNISTS AT THE END, AND WE'LL LET THEM SAY WHATEVER THEY HAVE TO SAY.
WELL, BUT WE GOTTA GET THE MEETING STARTED.
WELL, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX THAT HAVE SUPPORTED ME ALL THROUGHOUT MY CAREER HERE, WHICH WAS 15 YEARS.
AND NOW I'M GONNA RIDE OFF INTO THE SUNSET AND LIKE HE SAID, AND I'M, I'M GOING PLAY GOLF.
I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO.
SO YOU'RE NOT GOING FISH FISHING, NO
I'LL EAT THE FISH TO CATCH, BUT I'M NOT GOING FISHING.
AND TO MY GUYS BACK THERE FROM THERE, I THANK Y'ALL.
YOU KNOW, HEY, I'VE WORKED WITH Y'ALL FOR QUITE SOME AND YOU KNOW, HEY, IT'S, IT'S TIME FOR ME TO MY FAMILY, MY WIFE, STAND UP, STAND UP.
MY OLDEST DAUGHTER STAND UP, AND MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER STANDUP, AND TWO PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKED WITH ME MY WHOLE JOURNEY.
RAQUEL STANDUP LILY TORRES, STAND UP.
AS YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, MY HOUSE.
I'VE, I GREW UP WITH WOMEN, JUST WOMEN.
SO I HAD TO HAVE WOMEN WORKING WITH YOU ALL THE TIME.
I THANK EVERYONE AND I THANK EVERYONE THAT HAS SOME GOODNESS IN THEIR HEART ABOUT ME.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME PEOPLE WITH SOME BADNESS IN THEIR HEART ABOUT ME, BUT I DON'T EVEN CARE AT THIS POINT.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, HOW'S THE COMMISSIONERS MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO DECEASED? LET'S, UH, MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SESSION TONIGHT.
MEETING IS A COMBINED CONFERENCE SLASH BOARD
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MEETING.WE'LL VOTE ON EVERY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS, UH, ONLY PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THERE WILL BE TIME LATER IN, UH, THE EVENING FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT ANY ITEM OR ISSUE.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THERE'S NO ONE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME ON AGENDA ITEMS. AND WE WILL MOVE TO ORDINANCE ON INTRODUCTION OF FIRST READING.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTION OR FIRST READING? INTRODUCTION OF FIRST READING? NO, MR. PRESIDENT.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCES ON SECOND READING, PUBLIC HEARING? NO.
MR. PRESIDENT IN THAT CASE, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTIONS FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY? NO.
OKAY, IN THAT CASE, LET'S MOVE TO ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS ON SECOND READING, IN PUBLIC HEARING.
MADAM CLERK, LET'S TAKE RESOLUTION ONE THROUGH SEVEN AND 33 AND ADDED START OF 51, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, AND MAY BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A ALLEGED TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, A SERIES OF ITEMS THAT, UH, NORMALLY OUR TREASURER, UH, MR. MOHAMMAD WOULD BE HERE TO HANDLE.
UH, HE'S UNDER THE, THE WEATHER, BUT HE HAS REVIEWED THESE ITEMS WITH MR. UH, ERNIE.
UM, AND, UH, I WILL, I'LL GO THROUGH EACH ONE, UH, TO BEST OF MY ABILITY.
UH, THE FIRST ONE IS OUR, UM, IS OUR, UH, YEAR END TRANSFER OF APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION.
THERE'S A LIST OF, OF, UH, TWO AND FROM ITEMS WHERE WE'RE MOVING MONEY AROUND TO, UM, ACCOMMODATE OUR, UM, SPENDING NEEDS FOR THE END OF THE YEAR.
UM, AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT'S BEING, UM, UH, TRANSFERRED IS, UH, $6,387,340.
UH, THE SECOND ITEM IS, UH, UH, WHERE WE'RE CANCELING A NUMBER OF CHECKS, UH, AGAIN, WHICH WE TYPICALLY DO, UH, UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF OUR AUDIT TEAM.
UM, AND THERE'S A LIST OF CHECKS THAT THE, UH, BOARD HAS THERE.
UH, I JUST ADD THAT THESE ARE NOT, UM, THERE'S NO EMPLOYEE CHECKS HERE.
THESE ARE ALL, UM, UH, VENDORS.
UH, ITEM THREE IS OUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SAMUEL KLEIN AND COMPANY AND THE AMOUNT OF $567,125.
UM, THIS IS FOR OUR, UH, ANNUAL AUDIT OF OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, OUR SINGLE AUDIT, OUR FORFEITED FUNDS, SHERIFF'S FORFEITED FUNDS, OFFICIAL STATEMENT SERVICES VERIFICATION AGENT.
AND, UH, ALSO THE, THE ORDER FOR THE, UH, DA DEPARTMENT OF, UH, UH, ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS.
UH, MR. MICHAEL MCGUIRE IS HERE FROM SAMUEL KLEIN, UM, TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS, UH, IF THE BOARD HAS ANY, AND FI, AND FI.
AND NUMBER FOUR IS, UM, AN PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH, FOR ACCOUNTING SERVICES FOR NEW JERSEY GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES, LLC.
IT'S A ONE YEAR AGREEMENT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED, UH, $300,000.
UH, THIS WAS A PUBLICLY ADVERTISED FAIR.
AN OPEN RFQ, UH, THE VENDORS FROM A WEST ORANGE.
AND AGAIN, MR. ANTHONY AO, WHO IS, UH, THE, THE LEADER OF THAT, UH, UH, SERVICE IS HERE.
SHOULD THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, NUMBER FIVE IS A, UH, LIST OF, UH, BOND COUNCIL SERVICES FOR THE YEAR 2024 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED, UH, $80,000 PER TRANSACTION.
UH, THIS IS WHAT WE TYPICALLY, UH, DO ANNUALLY, UH, TO PROVIDE FOR A LIST OF, UM, UH, FIRMS THAT WE CAN RELY ON FOR OUR BOND BOND COUNCIL SERVICE.
ITEM SIX, SIMILAR, UH, UH, WITH RESPECT TO, UH, FINANCIAL ADVISORY SERVICES.
AND AGAIN, AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $80,000 PER TRANSACTION.
THESE ARE SERV, THESE ARE FIRMS, UH, THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR, UM, UH, FINANCIAL ADVISORY SERVICES OR, OR WE CAN CALL ON FOR FINANCIALLY SERVICES, UH, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UH, NW FINANCIAL PHOENIX ADVISORS AND ACACIA FINANCIAL GROUP.
UH, AND WHAT WERE THE OTHER ITEMS? I'M SORRY, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, DID YOU WANT TO, MR. PRESIDENT, DID YOU WANT TO DO NUMBER SEVEN ALSO? YEAH, WELL, YOU, WELL, WE SKIPPED SEVEN, I'M SORRY.
[00:35:01]
IS FROM THE OFFICE OF PURCHASING.IT IS OUR ANNUAL OMNIBUS, ALLOWING THE BOARD TO ALLOW THE OFFICER PURCHASING TO APPROVE CO-OPS STATE CONTRACTS WITHOUT COMING TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL.
UH, BEING A QUALIFIED PURCHASING AGENT, I'M ALLOWED TO DO THAT WITH YOUR APPROVAL.
AND THERE'S STILL A THRESHOLD.
ANYTHING OVER $175,000 MUST STILL COME TO THE BOARD.
SO WE ARE ASKING THIS YEAR WITH A SLIGHT INCREASE OF 25 MILLION, 26 MILLION BASED ON, UH, ITEMS HAVE GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY, UH, DURING THE PURCHASING PROCESS OVER THE YEAR.
NUMBER THREE, THREE, UH, ALSO PURCHASING CONTRACT AWARDS TO THREE BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION, LOWEST RESPONSIBLE, RESPONSIBLE BIDDER TO PROVIDE COMMERCIAL MOVING SERVICES FOR RELOCATION OF THE COUNTY RECORDS.
UH, A 45 DAY CONTRACT PERIOD, UH, FROM THE DATE OF NO, IN THE AMOUNT OF $157,727 AND 50 CENTS.
UH, WE WENT OUT FOR A SET ASIDE, THE OFFICE OF PURCHASING FOR A TWO LOCAL MOVERS.
AND THIS WAS A MINORITY SOLICITATION FOR A SETASIDE.
AND WE HAVE, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE IN THE AUDIENCE, THEY WERE NOTIFIED, UH, TWO BROTHER.
UH, I HAVE ANOTHER VENDOR ON MY MIND THAT RIGHT NOW, UM, WE HAVE THE THREE BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION HERE OR SHOULD BE HERE AND REPRESENT THEM.
CAN YOU STEP UP AND TELL US WHAT YOUR PLAN ON DOING AND EMPLOYEES, HOW MANY YOU HAVE IN THE CITY, IN NORTH NEWARK, ET CETERA? YES.
YEAH, MY NAME IS GILBERT GOMEZ,
UM, WE ARE GOING TO DO ALL THE MOVING SERVICE FROM BELVIEW TO MATTHEW LUTHER KING, AND WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE TWO INSPECTORS AND ONE AREA OF THE LOWER PART FOUR EMPLOYEES TO ALL RAPID, ALTHOUGH DOCUMENTS AND ONE PROVIDE TWO BOX TRUCKS WITH THE TWO FLATBEDS IN THE OTHER AREA FOR RECEIVE THE MATERIALS FOR THE PACKAGE WHEN THEY USE, FOR PEOPLE TO RECEIVE IT, AND FOR, FOR PEOPLE TO SET UP IN THE, IN THE RACKS.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST COUNTRY FOR EXA COUNTY.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH EXA COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
WHERE IS YOUR COMPANY LOCATED? MY COMPANY IS LOCATED NEWARK, NEW JERSEY IN GRAFTON AVENUE.
WHERE IN GRAFTON AVENUE, GRAFTON? YES.
AND HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE FROM ESSEX COUNTY? FOR ESSEX COUNTY WHEN USE? UH, 12.
12, UH, EMPLOYEES FROM ESSEX COUNTY? YES.
I BELIEVE THAT'S ITEM 51, MS. PRESIDENT, ITEM 51.
UH, MR. MCINERNEY, UM, I'LL JUST GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF THESE IF YOU DON'T MIND.
SO, RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE IS 50.
I WAS 51, CORRECT? YEAH, I'M GONNA DO 51, FRANKLY.
WAIT, YOU STILL GOT, ALRIGHT, DO YOU WANT ME TO DO 51 1 MORE? YES.
UH, ITEM 51, UM, IS APPROVAL OF OUR DENTAL BENEFITS CONTRACT WITH AETNA LIFE INSURANCE FOR THE YEAR 2024.
UM, UH, THE, THE COUNTY PROVIDES, UH, DENTAL, UH, SERVICES OR DENTAL PLAN FOR OUR ACTIVE EMPLOYEES AND RETIRED EMPLOYEES WHO WERE ON THE, ON THE BOOKS AS OF 12 31 20 16.
UM, THIS AMOUNTS TO, UH, WELL, LAST YEAR WAS $1,370,000, UM, FOR THE, FOR THE DMO OR FOR THE MANAGER'S PLAN.
UM, THIS PER, THIS IS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE DO HAVE THAT NOW, THOUGH, AN OPTION THAT ALLOWS OUR EMPLOYEES TO UPGRADE THAT PLAN IF THEY SHOULD CHOOSE.
SO, UM, ONLY PAYING FOR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BASIC PLAN AND THE UPGRADE.
UM, SO, UH, THIS PLAN, THIS IS A RENEWAL FROM THE SAME PLAN THAT WE HAD IN 2023.
WE, WE WANNA DO THAT AGAIN IN 2024, AND THE AMOUNT OF THAT CONTRACT IS $1,700,000.
MR. MCIN, UH, MR. PRESIDENT BOARD, I, UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE IS THE, THE TRANSFER RESOLUTION, AS WAS SAID, IS TYPICAL TO GET THIS, THIS TIME OF YEAR, UH, ALLOWED ONLY AFTER THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER BEGINS.
[00:40:02]
THE ONLY REAL ITEM THAT, UH, STANDS OUT WITHIN THE TRANSFER RESOLUTION IS A $2 MILLION TRANSFER INTO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.AND MY DISCUSSION, UH, WITH, UH, MR. MOHAMMAD WAS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE CONCERN THAT THERE ARE CON CONSISTENT CLAIMS BEING MADE, UH, AGAINST THE COUNTY FOR DISABILITIES THAT THAT OCCURRED DURING, DURING COVID.
UM, AND, UH, THIS IS SOMETHING WE STILL HAVE OUR DOCTORS UP AT THE HOSPITAL CENTER, UH, REVIEWING THESE CASES.
UH, BUT IT HAS BEEN A, A, A BURDEN ON THE COUNTY.
I, I DON'T KNOW IF, IF THIS DISSIPATES AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, UM, AFTER COVID KIND OF, UH, YOU KNOW, EVAPORATES THOSE CLAIMS, BUT IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE COUNTY TO DEAL WITH BASED ON THE FACT THAT, UM, IT'S INCUMBENT ON THE COUNTY TO PROVE THAT THE EMPLOYEE, UH, DID NOT GET COVID AT THE COUNTY, NOT ON THE EMPLOYEE TO PROVE THAT THEY DID.
AND MI UH, MR. JACKSON, IF, IF I'M CORRECT ON THAT, I, I'D, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST TO AFFIRM THAT.
UM, SO, SO THAT'S MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE TRANSFERRING FUNDS INTO THE WORK WORKERS' COMPENSATION LINE OF, OTHER THAN THAT, UH, IT'S A VERY REASONABLE AMOUNT THAT, UM, THAT IS BEING, YOU KNOW, TRANSFERRED AROUND BEFORE, BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, AND MORE THAN LIKELY WE'LL SEE ANOTHER ONE BEFORE THE YEAR END CLOSES OUT.
UM, ALSO REGARD TO RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO, OUTSTANDING CHECKS.
I'VE REVIEWED THESE CHECKS, AS WAS SAID, NONE OF THEM ARE EMPLOYEE CHECKS.
THERE'S CHECKS TO VENDORS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DUPLICATED.
THERE'S ONE LARGE CHECK IN THERE FOR A WATER BILL FOR 90,000, WHICH OBVIOUSLY MIGHT HAVE BEEN PAID OR, UM, SO I'M, I'M NOT TOO CONCERNED BECAUSE WE, UM, BECAUSE OF THIS RESOLUTION DOESN'T MEAN IF SOMEBODY COMES BACK AND SAYS, YOU STILL OWE ME THAT MONEY, THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY IT.
UH, ALL THIS DOES IS KIND OF CLEAN OUR BOOKS UP, UH, IN, IN, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD AND NOT CARRY THESE OUTSTANDING CHECKS ON OUR BANK RECONCILIATIONS.
THAT COULD BE VERY CUMBERSOME.
UM, UH, I CAN JUST SAY THAT, UM, WE'VE WORKED WITH SAMUEL KLEIN.
NOW THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN VERY HAPPY WITH THEM OVER THE YEARS.
UH, THEY'VE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO OUR NEEDS AND, UM, OBVIOUSLY WE RECOMMEND 'EM AGAIN, UH, TO BE THE COUNTY AUDITORS.
UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER FOUR, UM, IS THE CONTRACT WITH, UH, MR. ALE'S FIRM.
ALTHOUGH THIS NUMBER SEEMS SIGNIFICANT, IT NEVER SEEMS TO REACH THAT AMOUNT.
UM, IT, IT IS THERE JUST IN CASE THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT SOMETHING HAPPENS, UH, WHERE HIS SERVICES MIGHT BE NEEDED BEYOND THE, UM, REALLY NOMINAL AMOUNT OF WORK RIGHT NOW THAT HE'S DOING FOR THE COUNTY.
UM, FIVE AND SIX, SPEAK TO PROFESSIONALS.
THESE ARE PROFESSIONALS, AS I SAID, FOUR FIRMS, UH, FOR BOND COUNCIL AND THREE FIRMS FOR FINANCIAL ADVISORY.
UM, THOSE FIRMS ARE TYPICAL OF THE FIRMS THAT WE'VE USED IN THE PAST AND HAVE PROVIDED THE SERVICES TO US IN A SATISFACTORY WAY.
UM, THE OMNIBUS RESOLUTION IS UP A LITTLE BIT.
UM, AGAIN, UH, THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT ELIMINATES THOUSANDS, MAYBE OF, OR AT LEAST HUNDREDS OF, OF, UM, CONTRACTS THAT HAVE TO, THAT WOULD NEED TO COME TO THE BOARD.
PREDOMINANTLY CONTRACTS, THE BIGGEST NUMBER IS THE STATE CONTRACTS.
IF THE STATE HAS APPROVED THE VENDOR, THEN, THEN THE COUNTY WILL GO AHEAD AND USE THAT STATE APPROVED VENDOR WITHOUT BRINGING THAT TO THE BOARD OF FREEHOLDERS.
AND THIS APPLIES ALSO TO THE COOPERATIVES THAT ARE THROUGHOUT THIS, UM, RESOLUTION.
AND THAT'S THE HUNDRED AND COUNTY, MORRIS COUNTY, BERGEN COUNTY.
WE UTILIZE ALL THOSE COOPERATIVES IN ORDER TO GET THE BEST PRICE FOR OUR, FOR OUR GOODS AND SERVICES ON.
UM, WHERE ELSE ARE WE NOW? I, I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON, UH, NUMBER 31 OR WHAT WAS IT? 33 MM-HMM.
THANK YOU, MR. MR UH, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESIDENT.
NO, UH, MS. MCINERNEY COVERED, UH, ALL OF THE TOPICS.
COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER SIEBEL.
I HAVE TWO COMMENTS ON NUMBER, UM, THREE AND NUMBER FOUR.
SAMUEL KLEIN AND COMPANY HAS WORKED FOR THE COUNTY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND THEY'VE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
THEY ALSO WORK FOR THE TOWN WHERE I LIVE AND THERE TOO.
THEY DO A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL JOB AND I'M GLAD TO THAT WE HAVE THIS RESOLUTION.
[00:45:01]
ONE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS NUMBER FOUR.'CAUSE ANTHONY AVALO PROVIDES ACCOUNTING SERVICES AND HE HAS DONE SUCH OUTSTANDING WORK FOR THE COUNTY FOR SO MANY YEARS, AND I'M VERY HAPPY THAT HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS AND PROVIDE HIS REALLY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
ANTHONY AVALARA, COMMISSIONER LOUISIANA.
I JUST HAVE A FEW COMMENTS ON A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS.
I'LL START WITH, UM, UH, RESOLUTION TWO JUST FOR THE RECORD, UM, TO CLEAR UP.
AND I KNOW MR. MCINERNEY GAVE US KIND OF A SYNOPSIS.
THOSE ARE JUST CHECKS THAT WE'VE PAID PEOPLE THAT THEY JUST HAVEN'T CASHED YET.
I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT SOME PEOPLE JUST SIT ON CHECKS, RIGHT, MR. MCINERNEY.
I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE MOST BIZARRE THING IN THE WORLD WE LIVE IN TODAY.
BUT I GUESS PEOPLE JUST DO THAT.
UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER THREE THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, JUST TO, UH, ECHO MY COLLEAGUE PAT SIEBOLD, I'VE BEEN HERE 12 AND A HALF YEARS.
UH, I KNOW OUR LIAISON THAT WE DEAL WITH IS JOE FONE.
HE'S DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF PREPARING OUR AUDIT, UM, IN A MANNER THAT THE COMMISSIONERS CAN TAKE A LOOK, UH, AS HAVE YOU DONE A GREAT JOB, MR. MCINERNEY, NUMBER FOUR, UH, AGAIN, BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.
ANTHONY AVALO HAS DONE GREAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY.
UH, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THIS CONTRACT.
I THINK IT'S VERY FAIR AND, UM, HIS SERVICES RENDERED ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED.
LASTLY, UM, OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE VOTING ON, I DID ALSO WANNA PUT A COMMENT ON THE RECORD FOR NUMBER SEVEN, FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE OR ARE WATCHING, UH, ON TV, $26 MILLION.
SOUNDS LIKE A LOT JUST TO AUTHORIZE.
UM, BUT LIKE MR. MCINERNEY SAID, IT'S A LOT OF SMALL LITTLE THINGS THAT WE BUY THROUGH THIS 26 MILLION.
ONE OF THE EXAMPLES I CAN GIVE IS LIKE TIRES, RIGHT? FOR SOME OF THE COUNTY VEHICLES WHEN THEY NEED TIRES, IT WOULD BE VERY CUMBERSOME TO OUR BOARD TO HAVE A CONTRACT FOR A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS TO ORDER TIRES.
UM, AND I'M SURE IF ANY OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS NEEDED TO TAKE A LOOK, UM, YOU'D SEE A LOT OF THE, THE GOODS THAT WE PURCHASED THROUGH THE OMNIBUS.
UH, AND AT THAT, I SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE GONE OVER.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE MOMENT, MR. PRESIDENT.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER GILL COMMISSIONERS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER SIBO
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.
ROLL CALL MADAM CLERK TO TAKE ONE THROUGH 7 33 AND 51 AS ONE.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PORES? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER EIGHT, WHICH IS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AWARD TO TWO LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS FOR ITEMS ON A UNIT COST BASIS TO FURNISH AND DELIVER INMATE UNIFORMS, UH, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 12TH, 2023 THROUGH DECEMBER 11TH, 2025.
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $350,000.
THEY ARE, UH, PREVIOUSLY AWARD ACME SUPPLY COMPANY IN ANGIE LYNN'S COLLECTION.
UH, BASICALLY IT'S $350,000 AS NEEDED.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON NUMBER EIGHT? HEARING NONE.
I'LL MOVE MR. MOVE BY VICE PRESIDENT ARI.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT BAEZ? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NINE THROUGH 11.
ADD HIS STARTERS, 56 AND 57, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
AND BE READY INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
JOHN WILL HANDLE THESE ITEMS. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, THIS IS APPROVAL FOR A LIST OF QUALIFIED LICENSED REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS.
WE ALL KNOW THAT WE NEED, SOMETIMES NEED APPRAISERS WHEN WE BUY PROPERTY OR WHEN WE SELL PROPERTY.
SO THIS IS TO AUTHORIZE THE OFFICE TO RETAIN APPRAISERS.
[00:50:01]
WILL BE APPROVED IN ADVANCE OF SIGNING THE CONTRACT.UH, WE'LL NEGOTIATE THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE.
UH, 10 IS, UH, THE ISSUE OF, UH, THIS IS THE ANNUAL APPROVAL FOR A LIST OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
AGAIN, BEFORE WE ENTER INTO ANY CONTRACT WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL, WE WILL NEGOTIATE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE COUNSEL.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, HAVING ME HEARD ME SAY THIS OVER AND OVER, I WILL TRY TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE REPUTATION FOR THE COUNTY AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE.
THAT'S, THAT'S MY DRIVING FORCE.
YOU SOUND LIKE A HUGE CAR SALESMAN, DON'T I?
11 IS WE, WE WE'RE, WE'RE OUT TO GET AN EXPERT.
UH, THIS IS A PREEMINENT CARDIOLOGIST.
UH, I CAN EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY WE NEED A PERIMETER CARDIOLOGIST.
WE, WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM, UH, AT THE CORRECTION FACILITY.
UH, AN INMATE DIED OF, OF A, OF A HEART ATTACK.
AND THE, THE ISSUE IS, DID WE DO ALL THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE FOR THIS INMATE OR WAS NO MATTER WHAT WE DID, WAS HE GOING TO PASS AWAY ANYWAY? OKAY.
UH, 56 IS THE ANNUAL CONTRACT THAT WE ENTERED INTO WITH THE, WITH THE FIRM OF MCCARTER IN ENGLISH TO ASSIST, UH, THE, UH, S COUNTY CORRECTION FACILITY, CIVILIAN TASK FORCE.
IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT, SAME CONTRACT AS WE ENTERED INTO LAST YEAR WITH THEM.
UH, AND THAT'S, THERE'S NOTHING NEW WITH THAT CONTRACT.
UH, THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE E EXTENSION OF THE FACILITY, THE, THE THERMAL ENERGY FACILITY AT THE CORRECTION FACILITY WITH DCO ENERGY.
UH, THE CONTRACT NOW IS COMING TO AN END, UH, AND WE'RE NOW GOING TO ENTER INTO AN EXTENSION OF THE CONTRACT FOR AN ADDITIONAL 15 YEARS.
UH, DCO WILL BE AT A, AT A FIXED PRICE PRESS, A NEGOTIATED SPLITTING OF ENERGY REVENUES.
WE WERE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE A BETTER SPLIT OF THE EV ENERGY REVENUES.
DCO IS GOING TO, UNKNOWN CALLER, DCO IS GOING TO, IN EFFECT, BUILD US A NEW PLANT INSIDE THE PLANT SO WE GET BETTER, UH, UH, EFFICIENCIES AS WELL AS WE'RE ABLE TO LAST FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS IN THIS, UH, THERMAL ENERGY FACILITY.
UH, MR. DOKI, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? NO.
ANY QUESTIONS MR. MCINERNEY? YEAH.
IS THIS, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS AGAIN IN TERMS OF WHAT EXACTLY IS THE BYPRODUCT OF THIS? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS WITH THE GRID AND THIS, THIS, THIS IS THE THERMAL ENERGY PLANT THAT DOES THE HEATING AND ELECTRICITY FOR THE CORRECTION FACILITY.
BUT DON'T WE SELL SOME OF THAT ENERGY OUTSIDE? WE SELL SOME OF IT TO A REFRIGERATED WAREHOUSE.
UH, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, UH, THIS, THIS CONTRACT AS YOU CAN, AS YOU CAN WELL IMAGINE.
'CAUSE YOU WERE HERE BACK IN WITH THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT, RIGHT? THE PLANT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, IT'S, UH, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE.
SO WE NEGOTIATED WITH DCO TO, IN EFFECT, REPLACE THE GUTS OF THE PLANT WITH MORE EFFICIENT, UH, UH, GENERATORS, THERMAL ENERGY, UH, FACILITIES.
AND SO THAT WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER 15 YEARS OF, OF USEFUL LIFE OUT OF THE PLANT AT A FIXED MONTHLY CHARGE WITH SOME ADDITIONAL CHARGES BECAUSE OF VARIABLE COSTS.
AND HOW DO THOSE CHARGES STACK UP TO WHAT WE WERE HISTORICALLY IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE MARGINALLY MORE EXPENSIVE BECAUSE WE'RE PUTTING IN ALL NEW EQUIPMENT A A AGREED.
I WOULD, I WOULD, I WOULD ASSUME SO.
WHAT, WHAT, I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIMME THIS ANSWER NOW, JOHN, BUT I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF REVENUES THAT WE DID GENERATE, UM, FROM SELLING WHATEVER EXCESS ENERGIES, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE.
I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'LL, I'LL GET YOU THE ANSWER THOUGH.
I DON'T, I DON'T THINK IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
UH, YOU DON'T THINK IT'S A LOT? NO.
NOW, WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU, DO YOU HAPPEN TO UPDATE? BECAUSE I KNOW, I KNOW THAT WAS ONE, THAT WAS SOMETHING WE, I TALKED ABOUT YEARS AGO.
BUT, UH, I, I DON'T THINK IT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ENERGY.
AND OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE, AND IT'S BEING BUILT REALLY FOR OUR PURPOSES, FOR OUR FACILITY.
AND, AND, AND THERE ARE VARIABLE COSTS FOR US BECAUSE THE PLANT IS FIRED BY GAS.
OBVIOUSLY GAS IS A COMMODITY THAT HAS A, A VARIABLE COST TO IT.
SO, UH, WE'VE DONE THINGS, THE FUTURES CONTRACT, UH, WE DID FUTURES IN THE OLD DAYS.
WE, WE, WE HAVE STOPPED DOING FUTURES.
WE BOUGHT OUT TO THE SPOT MARKET.
[00:55:01]
UH, I THINK, UH, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THERE'S GONNA HAVE TO BE A DECISION BECAUSE WE'RE PAYING FOR THE GAS, RIGHT? THIS IS NOT, IT'S NOT ON DCOS NICKEL.AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS.
DO WE WANT TO GO TO THE FUTURES MARKET? DO WE WANT TO GO OUT INTO THE SPOT MARKET? UH, UH, I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET SOME PRETTY GOOD ADVICE AS TO HOW WE WANT TO, TO HANDLE IT.
SO, UM, BUT THAT IS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION IN REGARD.
MR. PRESIDENT, ABOUT 3000 COMMISSIONER SEA REVENUE.
UH, MR. MNEY ABOUT $300,000 IN REVENUE.
SO IT'S, IT'S NOT, IT'S STILL SOMETHING.
I KNOW THAT DAVID DELVECCHIO IS HERE REPRESENTING DCO AND UP UNTIL NOW, THEY'VE REALLY DONE A, A TERRIFIC JOB RIGHT HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
AND I'M HOPING WITH THIS RENOVATION, THE WORK WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE WHAT, OKAY, MR. AZZ? UM, YES, MR. ST.
JOHN, I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON NUMBER 11, THE CARDIOLOGIST.
UM, DOES THIS AMOUNT ANTICIPATE TESTIMONY AT TRIAL AND ALL, LIKE ALMOST AN ALL IN COST THAT WE ANTICIPATE FOR THIS LITIGATION? OR IS THIS FOR SOME OTHER SERVICE? I WASN'T CLEAR.
WE NOW HAVE HIS EXPERT REPORT.
WE'VE ALREADY, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PAYING THAT THE, THE BALANCE IF NEEDED FOR TRIAL.
I'M HOPING WE CAN RESOLVE THE MATTER, BUT WE ARE VERY, VERY, VERY FAR APART BETWEEN WHAT THE PLAINTIFF IS REQUESTING IN TERMS OF A SETTLEMENT AND WHAT WE ARE WILLING TO OFFER.
AND IT'S A, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.
A YOUNG MAN SUFFERED CARDIAC ARREST AT OUR FACILITY, UM, AND WE WERE RESPONSIVE TO HIM WITHIN 17 MINUTES.
UH, AND THE, OUR EXPERT SAYS, UH, HAD WE, HAD, WE RESPONDED EVEN FASTER THAN THAT, THERE WAS A 93% CHANCE HE WASN'T GOING TO LIVE.
THAT WAS THE, THE EXTENT OF THE MASSIVE HEART ATTACK.
SO THE, THE, THE YOUNG MAN DID HAVE A HEART ATTACK.
BUT NOW WE'RE IN THE ISSUE OF THEY'RE ASKING FOR WELL IN EXCESS OF A MILLION DOLLARS AND WE'RE OFFERING, WELL, LESS THAN $500,000.
SO IT, IT'S, WHETHER IT'S GONNA BE LITIGATOR OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT IT'S CURRENTLY IN LITIGATION, CORRECT? CORRECT.
UH, THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER SIEBEL.
I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE SAME SITUATION.
IF THERE IS A CARDIOLOGIST, HOW WILL A CARDIOLOGIST GET THERE ON TIME WHEN WE HAVE SUCH A SITUATION? YEAH, I MEAN, ASSUMING THERE WAS A CARDIOLOGIST ON STAFF SO TO SPEAK, THAT THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD NOT.
THIS IS OUR EXPERT, UH, COMMISSIONER.
THIS IS 'CAUSE WE REPAIR OUR EXPERT REPORT AND GO TO TESTIFY.
WE WENT OUTSIDE AND GOT THE BEST POSSIBLE CARDIOLOGIST TO GIVE A REPORT TO US FOR LITIGATION.
BUT LET'S ASSUME THAT THERE WAS A CARDIOLOGIST ON SITE AT THE JAIL, THE TO RESPOND IN A, IN THE, IN A JAIL AT FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS VERY HEROIC THAT THEY COULD GET THERE AT 17 MINUTES.
SO THAT'S THE ARGUMENT, OBVIOUSLY, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CASE.
SO THE CARDIOLOGIST WON'T BE THERE, BUT WE'LL GET THERE QUICKLY.
SO THIS IS NOT ANY, THERE WAS NO CARDIOLOGIST, UH, AND, UH, THIS IS JUST OUR EXPERT TO, TO SAY TO THE JURY, THERE REALLY WASN'T ANY LIABILITY ON THE PART OF THE COUNTY.
THE COUNTY DID ALL THAT IT COULD DO.
AND HAD THEY EVEN RESPONDED QUICKER, THERE'S A 93% CHANCE THAT THIS YOUNG MAN, GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE ENORMOUS HEART ATTACK THAT HE HAD, WOULD NOT HAVE, HAVE NOT HAVE SURVIVED.
SO, SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT THE CARDIOLOGIST REPRESENTING THE COUNTY'S GONNA SAY.
BUT THE CARDIOLOGIST ON THE OTHER SIDE IS GONNA SAY THE OPPOSITE.
THIS IS, THIS IS FOR RESOLUTION NINE THROUGH 1156 AND 57, WHICH ARE ADDED ITS STARTERS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT OMAS.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT EZ.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 12, WHICH IS FROM
[01:00:01]
THE DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.AND WE'LL BE READY TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THIS IS A MEMO, NO MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BETWEEN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE COUNTY OF ESSEX FOR OUR ONE STOP PROGRAM.
THIS IS A RENEWAL OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE CO, FOR THE, UH, THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE FOR HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY TESTS, UH, ANTICIPATING PROVIDING ABOUT 2000 TESTS, UH, NEXT YEAR.
UM, AND THIS IS A, UM, JUST A MEMBER OF A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT, UH, COVERING, UH, THAT SERVICE.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
MOVE BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM, SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT OMARE? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 13, WHICH IS FROM THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES, AND IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS AN AMENDMENT, UH, TO MODIFY FIVE EXISTING SUPPORT SERVICES CONTRACTS, UH, UNDER A CHAPTER 51 GRANT PROGRAM.
THIS COVERS, UH, ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG DRUG ABUSE SERVICES, UM, ESSENTIALLY MOVING $161,000, UH, FROM, UH, FROM FOUR AGENCIES, UH, EXCUSE ME, THREE AGENCIES TO, UH, ANOTHER THREE AGENCIES.
REASON BEING THAT THE, UH, THE THREE AGENCIES FROM WHOM WE'RE TAKING THE DOLLARS, UH, HAVE NOT HAD THE, UH, PRODUCTION IF YOU WANT TO WILL, UH, UH, THAT WE ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED AND MOVING IT TO SOME AGENCIES THAT HAVE HAD, UH, TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.
SO IT'S MOVING $161,000 FROM THREE, UH, TO, UH, THREE OTHER AGENCIES.
MR. MCDO, THIS IS JUST A SHIFT TO GRANT FUNDS.
MR. PRESIDENT, NO QUESTIONS FOR THIS.
MR. AZZ? UH, NO QUESTIONS, PERMISSIONS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON 13TH? HEARING NONE.
I'LL SECOND MR. SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT OMARE? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 14, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? THANK YOU MR. COLTRANE.
THIS IS A PRO PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES FOR THE YEAR 2024.
UH, AWARDED GLEN FRIERSON IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $60,000.
THIS WAS A PUBLICLY A ADVERTISED FAIR AND OPEN RFP.
AND WE RECEIVED ONE RESPONDENT MCINERNEY.
NO QUESTIONS MR. BASS? NO QUESTIONS.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 15 THROUGH 26 AND ADDED STARTERS 53 AND 54, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD NOW.
SCA PARKS NUMBER 15 IS A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, UH, THE FOUR LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER TO PROVIDE BANNERS AND SIGNS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
THESE ARE SPECIFICALLY USED FOR VARIOUS EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE, BE IT, UM, SUMMER CONCERT SERIES OR, UH, EVENTS OVER AT THE ZOO, SUCH AS OUR CURRENT HOLIDAY LAKE PROGRAM NUMBER 16, 17, 18 AND 54.
ALL HAVE TO DO WITH, UM, FEEDING OUR ANIMAL POPULATION OVER AT THE TURTLEBACK ZOO.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 140 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF ANIMALS, UM, WHICH, UH, THE WHOLE ENTIRE POPULATION INCLUDES JUST OVER 500 TOTAL ANIMALS.
SO SPECIFICALLY NUMBER 16 IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO PLAIN FIELD FRUIT AND PRODUCE, UM, FOR, UH, FOR PRODUCE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 220,000.
NUMBER 17 CONTRACT AWARD TO, UH, MIDDLE VALLEY FARMS TO DELIVER HAY AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 165,000.
[01:05:01]
NUMBER 18 AND CONTRACT AWARD TO LIEN LABORATORIES TO FURNISH AND DELIVER FROZEN AND LIVE ANIMAL FOOD, UH, AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $132,000.NUMBER 19 IS A CONTRACT WITH GOLF COMPETE INC.
UH, TO PROVIDE A POINT SYSTEM OVER AT, UH, THE GOLF 36 MONTH CONTRACT.
UH, SPECIFICALLY THIS IS FOR A NEW POS SYSTEM AND TEE TIME RESERVATION SYSTEM OVER AT HENDRICKS BURN AND QUAKE.
UH, NUMBER, NUMBER 20 IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO VIP SPECIAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE, UH, CLEANING AND WAXING OF STATUES.
THIS IS A 24 MONTH OPTION NOT TO EXCEED $51,060.
NUMBER 21 IS A CONTRACT TO V ROACH AND SONS, UH, THE, UH, SOLE RESPONSIVE BIDDER, UH, FOR, UH, DEER BUTCHERING SERVICES FOR NEXT YEAR.
UH, SPECIFICALLY THIS IS, UH, GONNA BE A HUNDRED DOLLARS PER DEER.
THIS IS FOR OUR DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT'S GONNA BE TAKING PLACE, UH, EARLY NEXT YEAR.
UH, JUST TO GIVE THE BOARD SOME NUMBERS OF HOW MUCH VENISON, UH, THE PROGRAM HAS DONATED TO VARIOUS FOOD SHELTERS.
THERE'S BEEN OVER 54,000, UH, POUNDS OF VENISON.
AND, UH, EACH PORTION OF THAT, UH, EQUATES TO FOUR MEALS.
SO THE 54,000 POUNDS EQUATES TO, UH, JUST OVER 216,000 MEALS WE'VE DONE DURING THE LIFE OF THE, THE DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
HOW, HOW, HOW DO I GET SOME OF THAT?
AND NUMBER 22 IS THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR NUMBER 23, WHICH IS THE ACTUAL, UH, PURCHASE OF THE NEW ZAMBONI.
UH, JUST TO GIVE THE BOARD, UH, A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE CURRENT SITUATION WITH ZAMBONIS AT THE ARENA.
UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE, UH, ONE IS 18 YEARS OLD AND TWO ARE 16 YEARS OLD.
AND THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A ZAMBONI IS TYPICALLY 15 YEARS.
SO, UM, WE ARE DUE FOR A NEW ZAMBONI AS THE BOARD CAN SEE.
UH, NUMBER 24 IS A CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER WITH RUSSELL WEED WASTE HANDLING AND DISPOSAL.
UH, FOR PORTABLE SANITATION UNITS, WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD $71,975.
ORIGINALLY THE CONTRACT WAS JUST OVER 359,000.
ADDING THE ADDITIONAL, UH, 71,975 BRINGS THE NEW TOTAL TO 4 31 850.
THE CONTRACT IS, UH, SET TO EXPIRE IN MAY.
AND, UH, WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT ADDING THE 20% WILL GET US THROUGH THERE.
AND THEN, UH, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING NEW SPECS TO, UH, RE-ADVERTISED FOR THOSE SERVICES.
NUMBER 25 IS THE APPROVAL OF SUB-GRANT AGREEMENTS FOR THE 2024 LOCAL ARTS PROGRAM, UH, AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 391,400.
UM, SIMILARLY, NUMBER 26 IS THE SUB-GRANT AGREEMENT FOR THE LOCAL HISTORY PROGRAM AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 72,500.
UH, SO BOTH OF THESE PROGRAMS, UH, WE'RE AWARDING GRANTS BETWEEN 800, I'M SORRY, BETWEEN $1,200 AND 8,000.
EVERY APPLICANT FOR BOTH THE ARTS AND HISTORY PROGRAMS WHO APPLIED, RECEIVED SOME FUNDING.
UH, NEXT YEAR PROGRAM, THE APPLICATIONS ARE GONNA OPEN ON JULY, UH, JUNE 1ST, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE DUE ON AUGUST 15TH.
NUMBER 53 IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO NORTHEAST ROOF MAINTENANCE TO PROVIDE REPAIRS AT KIPPS CASTLE CARRIAGE HOUSE AND THE FRANCIS BYRNE GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE BUILDING.
UNDER THE BERGEN COUNTY CO-OP AMOUNT ACTUALLY RECEIVED $355,600, UH, BACK IN OCTOBER.
THE BOARD OF APPROVED THE FUNDING FOR THIS FROM THE RECREATION OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND.
AND THIS IS PERMISSION TO USE THE CO-OP, UH, OUTSIDE OF THE OMNIBUS, UH, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE OMNIBUS DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH, UH, FUNDS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR IN ORDER TO, UH, TO FULLY FUND THIS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
AND THEN NUMBER 54 IS, UH, PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THE CONTRACT AWARD WITH WF FISHER TO, FOR DRY ANIMAL FOOD EMBEDDING OVER AT THE ZOO, UH, AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $260,000.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS ON RESOLUTION 19 ON THAT, UH, POINT OF SALE, UH, IS THAT TIED INTO OUR ACCOUNTING SYSTEM OR IS THAT SOMETHING SEPARATELY? THAT HAS TO BE ENTERED INTO OUR ACCOUNTING SYSTEM AT THE COUNTY.
UH, JOSHUA S COUNTY PARK, SUE YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
SO, UM, WE INTERNALLY WE WOULD MONITOR IT AND ADD IT TO OUR, OUR REVENUE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM, BUT IT'S NOT, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT AUTOMATICALLY ADDED MR. BASS THAT BE ADDED ANNUALLY OR WE CAN, UH, PULL UP, THERE'LL BE A, A, A VIRTUAL, UH, YOU COULD, YOU COULD PULL THE INFORMATION UP, UH, REMOTELY ON THE INTERNET AND THEN WE COULD, WE COULD ADD IT INTO OUR REVENUE STREAM.
[01:10:01]
UM, YES.NOT NECESSARILY A LEGAL QUESTION, BUT ON NUMBER FOUR, WITH THE CHANGE ORDER, UM, I SAW THE DOCUMENTS THAT IT WAS DUE TO KIND OF UNFOR UNFORESEEN USAGE OF THE PORTABLE UNITS.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE TEND TO EXPECT MOVING FORWARD, OR IS THERE SOME SPECIFIC REASON MAYBE FOR THIS YEAR? UH, UH, JOSHUA ZAS, COUNTY, PARK CITY, MR. PRESIDENT, UM, IT'S JUST ADDITIONAL EVENTS THAT THE PARK SYSTEM HAD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT, UM, WHEN WE, WHEN WE GO OUT TO ADVERTISE FOR THESE SERVICES IN THE FUTURE, WE'RE GONNA CERTAINLY TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.
NO OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER SIBO, THE THEN VICE PRESIDENT FOR MARS NUMBER 22 AND 23, DEAL WITH THE NEWS AND BONY FOR CODY ARENA, THE OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND MET AND DISCUSSED THIS, AND WE REALIZED HOW MUCH IT IS NEEDED TO HAVE A NEW ONE.
AND WE WERE IN TOTAL AGREEMENT THAT THIS WAS A, A GOOD PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER COMMERS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? VICE PRESIDENT OMA.
WITH RESPECT TO THE CARRIAGE HOUSE AT KIPPS CASTLE, SINCE IT IS A HISTORIC, IS THE CARRIAGE HOUSE A HISTORIC PROPERTY OR IS AN ADD ON LATER, UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. UH, JOSHUA PARKS THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? I KNOW, UM, I BELIEVE, I DON'T WANNA MISSPEAK.
I BELIEVE KIPPS CASTLE ITSELF IS ON THE HISTORIC, UH, UH, REGISTRAR.
UM, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE CARRIAGE HOUSE.
I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
BE THAT AS IT MAY, WHETHER IT IS OR ISN'T, IT MAY SIMPLY NOT BEING DESIGNATED DOESN'T PRECLUDE IT FROM PROTECTION FROM THE LAW, AS YOU MAY KNOW.
SO MY CONCERN IS OFTEN WITH HISTORIC PROPERTIES LIKE THIS, OUTBUILDINGS IN PARTICULAR, THEY'RE LOST BECAUSE OF NEGLECT OVER TIME.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S THE CASE HERE, BUT THAT'S JUST A GENERAL THING.
SO THAT'S WHAT ALERTS ME TO IT.
AND OFTENTIMES THESE KIND OF STRUCTURES MAY HAVE SLATE ROOFS AND SLATE IS VERY DIFFICULT.
SO OFTEN WE RIP THAT OFF AND THEN WE PUT MORE MODERATE STUFF AND IT DOESN'T CONFORM TO THE HISTORIC CHARACTER.
IT, IT'S A CONCERN FOR ME, AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT.
THREE YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, WE'LL DEFINITELY GET BACK TO YOU.
BUT, UH, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THEY'RE GONNA RE REPLACE IT, REPAIR IT, UM, TO HOW IT CURRENTLY OR, OR SHOULD, SHOULD LOOK.
BUT I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO KNOW CERTAINLY NONETHELESS WHAT IS THERE, BECAUSE IF IT'S A SLATE ROOF, THAT'S A DIFFERENT BALL GAME THAT REQUIRES DIFFERENT KIND OF SPECIAL SPECIALTY.
AND A LOT OF ROOFERS DON'T WORK IN SLATE ANYMORE.
IT'S LIKE, UH, OLD SCHOOL KIND OF STUFF, AND NO ONE REALLY LIKES TO WORK WITH IT.
AND IF IT'S A FULL REPLACEMENT OF SLATE, THERE ARE SLIGHT ALTERNATIVES THAT LOOK LIKE IT, BUT MAYBE ARE NOT.
AND WHY I SAY THAT IS THAT IN THE FUTURE, IT MAY PRECLUDE US FROM SOME KIND OF HISTORIC DESIGNATION, WHICH MAY BE TO OUR ADVANTAGE.
AND OF COURSE, JUST FOR THE SENSITIVITY OF KEEPING OUR SITES AS HISTORICALLY ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE.
WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF TOO MANY HISTORIC PROPERTIES, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME, AND WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAINTAIN THEM.
SO, MR. JACKSON OR THROUGH PARK, CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE ME, IF YOU CAN, PICTURES AS WELL SO THAT I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT? AND THIS IS KIND OF MY WHEELHOUSE DURING THE DAY, NOT IN THE EVENING, BUT, UH, I'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT.
I AGREE WITH, UH, VICE PRESIDENT LAMAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE SLATE ROOF.
I'VE SEEN, UM, JUST A SMALL REPAIR NEEDED AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONVINCED TO STRIP OFF THEIR SLATE ROOF.
BAD MISTAKE BECAUSE, AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW FOLKS, UH, UH, COMPANIES AROUND THAT STILL DO SLATE ROOFS.
I HAVE A SLATE ROOF AND I WOULDN'T CHANGE IT FOR ALL THE TEA IN CHINA.
IT'S WORTH REPAIRING OR FIXING, AND IT GIVES CHARACTER TO THE HOUSE OR TO THE STRUCTURE.
SO IF I MAY, MR. PROBABLY, JUST TO ADD TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, OFTEN, I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS THE CASE WITH US, BUT WITH THE SLATE ROOF, UH, A LOT OF VENDORS, UH, REALIZE THERE'S SOME VALUE IN IT.
SO THEY'LL CONVINCE YOU FOR CHEAP ROLL ALTERNATIVE.
RIGHT? I PUT THIS ASPHALT STUFF, WHICH IS A FRACTION OF THE COST.
THEY TAKE YOUR SLEIGH ROOF AND THEN THEY GO OUT THERE AND THEY SELL IT.
THAT'S THE SAME'S IS TRUE WITH SLEIGH SIDEWALKS.
SO IT'S A BIG, IT'S A COMMODITY FOR A LOT OF, UH, CONTRACTORS WHO ARE ON A SHADY SIDE.
I KNOW THAT WE DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T DEAL WITH ANY OF THAT STUFF, BUT NONETHELESS, IT DEFINITELY IS WORTH, UH, AN ALERT.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, RESIDENT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND TO TAKE 15 THROUGH 26, 53 AND 54, WHICH ARE ADDED STAR MOVE BY COMMISSIONER SBO.
I'LL SECOND MR. SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT OF POMAR ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION 27 THROUGH 31 AND ADD IT STARTERS 52 AND 55, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
[01:15:02]
THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.MR. DANTONIO, I MEAN, MR. JACKSON, I'M SORRY, I JUST SKIPPED RIGHT OVER YOU.
DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THE LIRO GROUP, A CONTRACT TO PERFORM THE ENGINEERING OF IMPROVEMENT TO THE ELEVATORS AT THE VETERANS COURTHOUSE BUILDING IN NEWARK AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $230,975.
THE PROPOSAL SUBMITTED BY RO GROUP WAS THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE FOUR RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE PROJECT'S ADVERTISED.
RFP, UH, MR. AN, MR. ANTHONY PANINO FROM THE RO GROUP IS HERE THIS EVENING.
HE WOULD LIKE TO, UH, INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY, PERHAPS TOUCH ON THE SCOPE OF WORK, AND OF COURSE, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SUPPORT MAY HAVE.
TONY PANZANO FROM, UH, LERO GROUP.
UM, WE HAVE AN OFFICE IN, UH, MIDDLESEX COUNTY IN EDISON, UH, COMPANY-WISE, WE HAVE ABOUT A A THOUSAND EMPLOYEES OUT OF A THOUSAND.
A HUNDRED OF THEM LIVE IN NEW JERSEY, HENCE, I, WE OPENED UP THE, UH, JERSEY OFFICE A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
UM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A JOB WITH ESSEX, CONTINUE TRYING TO GIVE THESE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE TO ESSEX COUNTY.
SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
UM, WE DO HAVE, I'M GONNA SAY ABOUT 10% OF THE A HUNDRED LIVE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
SO WE ALWAYS LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP STAFF OR HIGHER STAFF WITHIN ESSEX COUNTY.
NO, I I, I I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
SO, SO DO YOU WORK WITH THE, UH, ELEVATED WITH, UH, LOCAL ONE ELEVATED UNION? UH, I DO NOT.
UH, WE ARE DESIGNING, UH, THE ELEVATORS RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE DESIGNING THE ELEVATORS? YEAH, WE'RE DESIGNING IT.
AND THEN WE WILL CONTRACT IT OUT SO THAT HOPEFULLY, UH, THAT UNION WILL BE INSTALLING THE ELEVATORS.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 28 AWARDS NORTHEAST ROOF MAINTENANCE AND OPEN-ENDED TWO-YEAR CONTRACT TO PERFORM MISCELLANEOUS ROOF REPAIRS TO COUNTY BUILDINGS ON A AS NEEDED BASIS.
NORTHEAST ROOF MAINTENANCE SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE SIX BITS RECEIVED.
ITEM NUMBER 29 WILL ALLOW FOR THE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT SERVICES NEEDED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF TWO BOILER, UH, TWO BOILERS IN THE HALL OF RECORDS, POWERHOUSE BY AWARDING MG ENGINEERING A CONTRACT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 98,000 $150 MG.
PROPOSAL WAS THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE SEVEN RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THIS PROJECT'S ADVERTISED.
RFP ITEM NUMBER 30 AWARDS A TWO YEAR CONTRACT TO PERFORM TESTING AND MAINTENANCE OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND HOSES AT VARIOUS COUNTY FACILITIES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $34,507 TO A BC FIRE SAFETY INCORPORATED.
A BC FIRE SAFETY SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE THREE BIDS RECEIVED TO THE COUNTY'S SOLICITATION.
AND ITEM NUMBER 31 AUTHORIZES THE SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION AND EXECUTION OF A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ACCEPT $2,098,252 FROM THE FY 2024 LOCAL BRIDGES FUND PROGRAM.
THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO REPLACE ONE, THE CULVERT CARRYING LABEL STREET OVER TONY BROOK IN MONTCLAIR.
AND SECOND, THE COLBROOK CARRYING WEST NORTHFIELD ROAD OVER SLO BROOK IN LIVINGSTON.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, 52 AWARDS TOP SHORE CONSTRUCTION AND 90 DAY CONTRACT TO PERFORM THE VERONA PARK TENNIS COURTS IMPROVEMENTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $404,900.
TAP SHORE CONSTRUCTION SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE FIVE BIDS RECEIVED.
MR. MICHAEL SCHMIDT OF SHORT TOP CONSTRUCTION IS ALSO HERE THIS EVENING.
HE WILL LIKE TO, UH, INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
UM, MIKE SCHMITT, SHORT TOP CONSTRUCTION.
UH, WE SPECIALIZE IN TENNIS COURTS AND AND PARKS.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR JOB WILL REQUIRE MAYBE, UH, FIVE EMPLOYEES FOR TWO WEEKS.
AND AS IN THE PAST, WHICH WE'VE DONE QUITE A
[01:20:01]
FEW JOBS IN ESSEX, WE'LL HIRE A, UH, LOCAL RESIDENT.DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 55 AWARDS FRENCH AND ELLO.
A CONTRACT TO PERFORM THE DESIGN ENGINEERING REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE HVAC UNITS AT THE WEST SIDE PARK COMMUNITY CENTER IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $29,600.
FRENCH AND PERELLO SUBMITTED THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE NINE PROPOSALS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE PROJECT'S ADVERTISED.
I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
MRM, I HAVE NO QUESTIONS ON THESE CONTRACTS, MR. BASS? NO QUESTION.
COMMISSIONS QUESTIONS 27 THROUGH 31 52 AND 55 VICE PRESIDENT OF POMAR.
WITH RESPECT TO NUMBER 28, SAME CONCERNS ABOUT THE ROOFING.
I'M ASSUMING THESE ARE NOT HISTORIC BUILDINGS.
I MEAN, ALTHOUGH A BUILDING LIKE THIS IS HISTORIC, IT DOESN'T HAVE QUITE A HISTORIC ROOF LIKE A SLATE ROOF LIKE YOU WOULD SEE THE CARRIAGE HOUSE IN VICTORIAN.
CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT? WOULD YOU KNOW? OR IS IT NOT DETERMINED YET? THIS IS JUST LEAVING A BUDGET FOR ROOF WORK THAT WE MAY DO FOR THE YEAR.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE DO NOT HAVE SPECIFIC BUILDINGS.
THIS IS IN, UH, AS NEEDED TWO YEARS OUT.
AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IN ANY KIND OF HISTORIC NATURE OF THE ROOFS.
NO, I, AND I KNOW IN THE PASS WITH THE BRIDGES IN PARTICULAR AND LIKE THAT YOU HAVE, I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT UP IN THE EVENT THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I DON'T THINK THAT IT LENDS ITSELF OUTSIDE OF KIPP'S CASTLE AND MANY, MAYBE A HANDFUL OF OTHER THINGS THAT REALLY WOULD STAND OUT, BUT THAT IS MY CONCERN, OF COURSE.
BUT I KNOW THAT YOU, YOU'VE DONE THAT IN THE PAST, SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
MR. PRESIDENT, MOVE BY COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT POMAR.
ROLL CALL MADAM CLERK TO TAKE RESOLUTIONS.
27 THROUGH 31, 52 AND 55, WHICH ARE ADDED STARTERS AS ONE.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 32, WHICH WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? MR. TRE, THIS IS A, MR. PRESIDENT IS A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR FORENSIC NURSE EXAMINER SE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE CONSULTANT VIVIAN NUGEN, A 12 MONTH CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $164,000.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? 1 32 HEARING.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT KAMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 34 THROUGH 50.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES.
I HAVE A QUESTION AND A STATEMENT ABOUT NUMBER 34 IN MEMORY OF MARK BERSON.
HE WAS VERY PHILANTHROPIC HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
HE WAS VERY PHILANTHROPIC TO TURTLEBACK ZOO AND THE EDUCATION CENTER CARRIES HIS NAME.
AND I'M SORRY THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, SO I COULDN'T BE INCLUDED IN THE MEMORIAL.
AND IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF ALL OF US COULD BE INCLUDED OR PERHAPS IT'S TOO LATE AND I'M SORRY THAT I WASN'T INCLUDED.
UH, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, COULD I BE ADDED TO, UH, NUMBER 41? ABSOLUTELY.
AND I TOO KNEW MARK, UH, BERSON.
AND, UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO BE INCLUDED TO, UH, COMMISSIONER GI.
OH, NO, I, I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, UM, ABSOLUTELY.
AND SECOND OF ALL, ALTHOUGH THE REQUEST WAS MADE, I ASSUMED IT WAS GONNA BE BY A AFFIRMATION.
I, I SAID I ASSUMED IT WAS GONNA BE BY ACCLIMATION, SO A ABSOLUTELY.
[01:25:01]
OKAY.WE CHANGE THAT TO ACCLIMATION.
COULD NUMBER 39 AND 40 BE BY ACCLIMATION? 39, COMMISSIONER GILL, 39 AND 40 SURE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, HEARING OR NONE NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND? LAST NO, NO PROBLEM.
I THINK THEY WERE, AS LONG AS IT'S FINE.
THEY, THEY WERE PRESENTED, I THINK LAST, SO IT'LL JUST BE FOR THE RECORD.
PARDON ME? I'M AWARE OF THE FACT THAT IT WAS PRESENTED.
AND I WAS JUST EXPLAINING THAT I'M SORRY THAT I WASN'T INCLUDED.
THANK YOU, MR. MR. PRESIDENT, CAN I JUST MAKE A SUGGESTION GOING FORWARD, SO, UM, FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR YOU OR FOR WHOEVER, WHEN, WHEN AN OFFICE REQUESTS A PROCLAMATION, MAYBE IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE FOR THE, FOR THE, THROUGH YOU MADAM CLERK, TO ASK THE SPONSORING OFFICE IF THEY HAVE ANY OBJECTION FOR IT TO BE BY ACCLIMATION RATHER THAN, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT THIS WAY.
SO I'M, I'M MORE THAN, UH, WOULD OH, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO, I THINK AS ANY OF US WOULD BE TO HAVE ANY PROCLAMATION BE BY ACCLAMATION.
AND, AND THAT'S REQUESTED AND ALL OF US HAVE.
SO I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND TO TAKE RESOLUTIONS.
I'LL MOVE MR. PRESIDENT, MOVE BY VICE PRESIDENT ARI.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRANT ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT OMARE? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES.
ARE THERE ANY LEGISLATIVE REPORTS, WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS, ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS, ANY NEW BUSINESS PERMISSION? DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BUSINESS AT ALL? NONE.
IN THAT CASE, LET'S MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK OR COMMENT ON ANY MATTER, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
UH, I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND LAST MONTH'S MEETING.
UH, ALSO MY COUNTERPARTS, UH, APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING HERE TONIGHT.
THEY JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEIR ABSENCE IS NOT TAKEN AS WE'VE CHANGED COURSE OR IN OUR, UH, QUEST TO GET A FAIR CONTRACT.
AT LAST WEEK'S MEETING, MR. ST.
JOHN HAD MENTIONED THAT HE WANTS A CONCRETE DEAL.
I COULDN'T AGREE WITH HIM MORE THIS WAY IN THE FUTURE, THE COMMISSIONERS CAN'T BREAK THE CONTRACT LIKE HE DID THE LAST ONE.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO A CONCRETE DEAL.
TO THAT SAME POINT, UH, MY COUNTERPART, CAPTAIN ESPOSITO, PRESIDENT ESPOSITO AT 1 8 3 8, HE DROPPED OFF OUR PROPOSAL TO EACH OF THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICES.
I ASSUME THAT Y'ALL HAD IT AND HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT IT.
LAST WEEK'S MEETING, MR. LUCIANO, YOU HAD MENTIONED ABOUT GOING TO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS OUR PROPOSAL.
I'M CURIOUS IF THAT'S TAKEN PLACE OR THERE'S A PLAN TO TAKE PLACE, UH, MOVING FORWARD.
ALSO TOO, WE TALK ABOUT 3 82, UH, COMING TO AN AGREEMENT, I'D JUST LIKE TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT THEY DIDN'T GET AN EQUAL DEAL THAT THE OTHER UNIONS ACCEPTED.
THEY TOOK 0.25 LESS THAN EVERY OTHER UNION GOT.
SO WHEN EVERYONE SAYS THEY GOT THE SAME DEAL AS EVERYONE ELSE AND EVERYONE BARGAINED IN GOOD FAITH, I'M NOT SURE THAT WAS IN GOOD FAITH.
AND TO YOUR COMMENT EARLIER, JUST TO SAY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS ENOUGH USED CARS, UH, I HAVE ANOTHER CONCERN.
UH, WE HAD JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM US AND GIVEN TO THE IRVINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IN IRVINGTON PARK, THAT IS OUR JURISDICTION.
THAT'S WHERE WE TAKE REPORTS, INVESTIGATE CRIMES, AND SO ON.
IT'S COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE IRVINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
[01:30:01]
IS NOW BEING PAID OVERTIME, TAKING JOBS AND DOLLARS OUT OF OUR GUYS' POCKETS WHILE WE GO SEVEN YEARS AT A CONTRACT.CAN THE ADMINISTRATION COMMENT ON THAT? HOW THIS CAME TO BE? I SPOKE TO THE CONTRACTOR.
HE ADVISED ME THAT HE'S NOT PAYING.
SO IF HE'S NOT PAYING, I'M CURIOUS.
IRVINGTON IS PROVIDING POLICE SERVICES OUTTA GOODNESS OF THEIR HEART TO HARM US.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS IS NOT RETALIATION FOR THIS ONGOING LABOR DISPUTE THAT WE HAVE.
AND ALSO, EACH OF YOU GOT AN EMAIL FROM OUR ATTORNEY ADVISING THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN 30 SECONDS, OUR ATTORNEY AND THE COUNSEL THAT WE HAVE REACHED OUT FOR MEETINGS.
JOHN THAT WE HADN'T REACHED OUT AT LAST WEEK'S MEETING WAS NOT CORRECT.
ALSO, IN CLOSING, MR. JOHNSON, ALL THE BEST TO YOU.
THEY REFERRED TO YOU BEFORE AS A POLITICIAN.
YOU'RE TOO MUCH OF A GENTLEMAN.
SO WAS YOUR QUESTION, I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS THERE.
SO I, I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE I GOT IT CLEAR IN MY MIND SO YOU CAN GET A WRITTEN RESPONSE.
MY QUESTION WAS, HOW COME IRVINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING IN A COUNTY PARK TAKING MONEY OUT OF OUR POCKETS? SO YOUR QUESTION IS, AND WHO'S PAYING FOR IT? HOLD ON.
YOUR QUESTION IS, IS IRVINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT NOW WORKING IN A JURISDICTION THAT BELONGS TO THE SHERIFF? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND IF THAT'S TRUE, WHY THAT'S CORRECT.
IS THERE ANOTHER QUESTION? THE OTHER QUESTION WAS, HAS A MEETING BEEN SET UP FOR TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE CONTRACT SITUATION THAT WAS PRESENTED AT LAST, UH, WEEK'S MEETING? OKAY.
MAKE SURE WE GET BACK TO YOU IN WRITING.
ONE LAST ONE AND I'LL WALK AWAY.
UH, WE STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A DATE FOR THE SHERIFF'S PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS COME BEFORE THE BOARD MONTHS AGO.
THE JOB'S IN BLUE THAT YOU PASSED RESOLUTION ON THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS YES.
I CAN STAND UP HERE FOR TWO DAYS, BUT THAT'S ALL FOR TONIGHT.
JOB, MADAM CLERK, LIKE TO THE RECORD, REFLECT THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
SO WE ARE GOING TO GO TO COMMISSIONER, COMMENT SESSION, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY OTHER, ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO SAY BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT AND BREAK FOR THE HOLIDAY? COMMISSIONER GILL.
UH, JUST, UM, WANTED TO, UM, MAKE A QUICK FEW COMMENTS ABOUT, UM, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.
UM, UH, I THINK THIS IS, I BELIEVE HIS FINAL AND LAST MEETING, UH, WITH US, UM, TODAY.
AND, UM, WANTED TO, UH, EXPRESS WHAT A PLEASURE AND HONOR AND HAS BEEN TO SERVE, UH, ON THIS BOARD, UH, WITH HIM, UH, DURING THE TIME, UH, THAT WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER.
UH, AND, UM, 100% CONCUR THAT HE'S BEEN AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US AND HOW TO CONDUCT OURSELF IN PUBLIC LIFE.
SO, UH, SAD TO SEE HIM LEAVING THIS BOARD, UH, BUT EXCITED FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY FOR WHATEVER OPPORTUNITIES, UH, ARE IN FRONT OF HIM.
'CAUSE I KNOW, AS HE CONTINUALLY HAS REMINDING US, HE'S NOT DONE
SO IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH YOU, UH, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.
AND NOTHING BUT THE BEST TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.
OH, I FORGOT ABOUT YOU GUYS, BUT I ASKED, I SAID COMMISSIONER.
SO IF THERE'S ANYONE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION WHO HAS A KIND WORD FOR COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, FOR ALL OF YOU WHO DON'T KEEP IT TO YOURSELF.
UM, I I'VE REALLY ENJOYED, UH, WORKING WITH YOU, SIR.
UM, WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS IN YOUR OFFICE, MY OFFICE, ABOUT A WHOLE HOST OF ISSUES.
AND, UM, I CONSIDER YOU REALLY A, A AN INCREDIBLY KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSON.
UM, SOMEBODY WHO CUTS THROUGH ALL THE, THE MORASS AND JUST GETS RIGHTS TO THE RIGHT, TO THE ISSUE.
UH, ALWAYS, UM, INSPIRED BY AND MOTIVATED BY TRYING TO
[01:35:01]
DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF ESSEX COUNTY.UM, YOU'RE GONNA BE SORELY MISSED.
UM, I AM JUST HAPPY FOR YOU THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE DOING SOME OTHER THINGS, THAT YOU'RE GONNA PROVIDE YOU WITH JOY, WITH YOUR FAMILY AND, AND YOUR, AND YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
UH, AGAIN, YOU'LL BE SORELY MISSED.
AND, UM, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP TO ME OVER THE YEARS.
MR. COLT, UH, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.
WE'VE BATTLED ON THE FIELD, YOU KNOW, IN THE WEST WARD AND THE NORTH WARD OVER THE YEARS, BUT AFTER WE FINISH, WE COME TOGETHER, BREAK BREAD, AND YOU'RE DEFINITELY A GENTLEMAN AND A GENTLEMAN ON THAT GOLF COURSE.
THANK YOU FOR SERVING AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND.
UM, I COULDN'T LET THIS MOMENT PASS, UH, WITHOUT STANDING AND JUST SAYING THAT FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID ABOUT MY HUSBAND, I'M ANNETTE JOHNSON.
UM, I'M A WITNESS TOO PERSONALLY.
I'VE BEEN WITH MY HUSBAND FOR, UM, 40, 41 YEARS NOW.
UM, I MET HIM AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS JOURNEY, AND HE'S BEEN A MENTOR TO ME.
HE'S TAUGHT ME SO MUCH ABOUT LEADERSHIP.
HE'S HELPED ME GROW PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY, BABE, WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND WE ARE SO, SO PROUD OF YOU.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, SPENDING EVERY DAY WITH YOU.
I HAVE YOU ALL TO MYSELF NOW, AND I'M SO HAPPY
YEAH, I, I, UH, WHEN RUFUS FIRST CAME ON THE BOARD, THERE WAS A NIGHT WHERE, UH, IT WAS A SUMMER NIGHT AND HE ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO GO DOWN TO A CONCERT.
AND, AND RUFUSS AND I, WE DROVE DOWN PART OF THE WAY, BUT IT WAS CROWDED.
THE STREET WAS REALLY CROWDED IN FRONT OF NEW JERSEY, PACKED.
THERE WAS A BAND PLAYING THERE.
AND, AND IT WAS LITERALLY PACKED.
AND AS WE MADE OUR WAY ACROSS THE MILITARY PARK TO, TO THE FRONT OF WHERE THE BAND WAS, I WAS AMAZED.
THERE WASN'T ANYBODY THAT DIDN'T KNOW WHO RUFUSS WAS.
EVERYBODY SAID HELLO TO HIM FROM OLD PEOPLE TO YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND IT JUST, AT THAT MOMENT, I KIND OF GOT A REAL SENSE OF, OF, OF WHO HE WAS AND WHAT HE MEANT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND PEOPLE DON'T REACT TO YOU LIKE THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT A GUY THAT GETS THINGS DONE OR YOU'RE NOT A GOOD GUY.
THEY REACT TO YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND OBVIOUSLY HE WAS DOING ME FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S HOW I GOT TO KNOW HIM.
I'VE BEEN TO HIS HOME WITH MY WIFE, HE'S BEEN TO MY HOME WITH HIS WIFE AND HIS FAMILY ON SEVERAL TIMES.
AND, UH, AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
AND I'LL SURE I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN, YOU KNOW BEST.
ALRIGHT, MADAM CLERK, UM, I'M GOING TO SPEAK VERY LITTLE 'CAUSE EVERYONE HAS SAID EVERYTHING, UM, THAT COULD BE SAID, UM, ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT, UH, SUPPORTING YOU AND WITH YOUR KINDNESS AND YOUR FOLLOW UP AND, AND IN ANY, ANY DIRECTION THAT YOU NEEDED.
UM, YOU WERE, UH, SOMEONE THAT WE REALLY ENJOYED SUPPORTING PERSONALLY.
UM, I'VE BEEN TO YOUR HOME AND, UH, WITH MY FAMILY AND WHAT I ADMIRE ABOUT YOU THE MOST, UH, BESIDES ALL THE PUBLIC SERVICE THAT YOU'VE DONE, IS THAT YOU'RE A FAMILY MAN WHO LOVES HIS WIFE, WHO LOVES HIS DAUGHTERS, WHO ELEVATES THE WOMEN IN THIS LIFE.
AND COMING FROM A CULTURE OF EMBRACING AND LOVING FAMILY, UH, THAT'S WHAT I APPRECIATE ABOUT YOU THE MOST.
ALRIGHT, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE ONE OTHER COMMENT ABOUT AN AN OBSERVATION OF, UM, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON AND HIS LEADERSHIP.
SO IT SAID THAT REAL LEADERS OPEN THE DOOR FOR OTHER LEADERS, REAL LEADERS RAISE LEADERS.
AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THAT MAN.
HE HAS DONE THAT IN HIS CAREER.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HE COACHED IN LITTLE LEAGUE AND MENTORED THEM THROUGH THEIR LIVES, THROUGH THEIR JOURNEY, WHO ARE SITTING ON CITY COUNCILS RIGHT NOW, WHO ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I WANT TO TIP MY HAT TO YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE THREATENED BY FOLKS WHO COME UP BEHIND THEM, AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY TAKE THE TIME TO MENTOR THEM.
WE SHOULD ALL BE BE TRAINING OUR REPLACEMENTS
[01:40:02]
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GONNA BE HERE FOREVER.WE'RE NOT GONNA BE HERE THAT LONG.
AND I WANT TO GO OUT LIKE RUFUSS IS GOING OUT ON MY TERMS AND IN RETIREMENT, RIGHT? BUT WE HAVE TO MENTOR YOUNGER FOLKS.
WE HAVE TO TEACH THEM, WE HAVE TO SHOW THEM THE WAY.
AND SO EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY'S SAYING ABOUT YOU IS A HUNDRED PERCENT ACCURATE, BROTHER.
AND I APPLAUD YOU AND I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST.
THANK AND WITH THAT MOTION TO ADJOURN MOTION, ALL IN FAVOR.
LET THEM GO IN THERE AND EAT THAT CAKE.