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HEREBY CALL THE COURT.THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED AND ADDITION IS TAKING PLACE IN PERSON.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT OMARE.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
COMMISSIONER MERCADO P THE FLAG, UNITED OF AMERICA REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
AND I WANT TO DEDICATE THIS MOMENT OF SILENCE TO A FRIEND OF ALL AND A GIANT WHO WILL BE MISS TRAILBLAZER, OUR BELOVED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHEILA.
I HAVE BEFORE CERTIFICATION FROM THE CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
MADAM CLERK, ARE ANY TRANSCRIPTS TO BE APPROVED? UH, YES.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE.
THE OCTOBER 12TH, 2022 CONFERENCE BOARD MEETING PERMISSION.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING UNDER I WILL MOVE IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE TRANSCRIPT.
I JUST SEE A MIC, MR. PRESIDENT.
WANT ME TO WHERE, WHERE YOU WANT ME TO PICK UP FROM? NO, IT COURTED.
DO I HAVE A MOVE IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE TRANSCRIPT? I'LL MOVE IT.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MERCADO.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PORE? YES.
LET, DO WE HAVE ANY TOPICS OF DISCUSSION? UH, MR. PRESIDENT? WE HAVE NONE IN THAT CASE.
LET'S MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SESSION.
TONIGHT'S MEETING IS A COMBINED CONFERENCE BOARD MEETING, AND WE WILL VOTE ON EVERY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY? PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND IT WILL BE TIME LATER ON IN THE MEETING TO, UH, SPEAK ON ANY, UH, SUBJECT THAT YOU'D LIKE.
ED ESPOSITO, CAPTAIN ESSEX COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PBA 180 3 A.
MY COMMENT IS ON AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH SEVEN, THE BUDGET DISSERTATIONS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE BOARD DOES NOT TAKE STEPS TO APPROPRIATE MORE MONEY AND INSERT MORE MONEY INTO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BUDGET.
ON SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2016, THIS BOARD PASSED A RESOLUTION AND CHANGED OUR CONTRACT.
WITHOUT OUR CONSENT AND WITHOUT OUR APPROVAL, THE BOARD CAN PASS A RESOLUTION AND CHANGED THE SALARY RANGE FOR OUR OFFICE AS WELL.
WITHOUT OUR APPROVAL, WE'D BE HAPPY WITH THE RAISE.
AND TO THIS POINT, THE BOARD TOOK ACTION IN 22 WHERE YOU CHANGED THE SALARY, CHANGED THE SALARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, AND THE SALARY RANGE ADJUSTMENTS EQUATED TO JUST OVER $20,000 IN SALARY INCREASE TO THE RANGE.
AND THAT EQUALS MORE THAN A 15% CHANGE IN SALARY IN JUST ONE YEAR.
WE HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE IN SIX.
OUR CONTRACT WAS VIOLATED SEVEN YEARS AGO.
THIS BOARD VOTED AND THE ADMINISTRATION KEEPS SAYING THAT IT WAS FOUR UNIONS.
ALMOST A THIRD OF THE COUNTY'S WORKFORCE.
ONLY FOUR UNIONS MAKES UP A THIRD OF THE WORKFORCE.
THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER.
AND AGAIN, I JUST WANNA REITERATE THAT ADJUSTING SALARIES IS SOMETHING THAT THIS BOARD HAS DONE AND DONE TO SUCH
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A GREAT EXTENT.15%, LIKE I SAID, ADJUSTED THE SALARIES WITH ONE RESOLUTION OR, UH, I, I CORRECT.
UH, I BELIEVE IT WAS AN ORDINANCE.
BUT NONETHELESS, WHETHER IT'S AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION, WHATEVER IT IS, YOU HAVE TO PASS, WE'LL TAKE IT.
WE NEED MORE MONEY IN OUR BUDGET.
THERE'S MORE TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT THAN THERE'S EVER BEEN.
MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND MORE TRANSPARENCY.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.
AND YOU HAVE THAT AUTHORITY TO ADD MONEY.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE ASKING, YOU HAVE SEVEN BUDGET INSTITUATIONS ON THIS AGENDA.
PLEASE REMEMBER THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD RAISES.
OUR FAMILIES HAVE SEEN THE INCREASE WITH INFLATION.
WE'VE SEEN THE INCREASE IN HEALTHCARE COSTS.
A CHANGE THAT WAS MADE BY THIS BOARD WITHOUT OUR APPROVAL IN CONTRADICTION TO, IN CONTRADICTION TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
OUR RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO STRIKE.
YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE AND AS A FINAL POINT, I DID GET ONE QUESTION RESPONSE BACK IN WRITING.
THE SECOND ONE THAT I GOT BACK IN IN WRITING WAS, UH, NOT THE QUESTION I ASKED.
I THINK YOU HAD ME CONFUSED WITH SOMEBODY ELSE, THE RESPONSE TO THE JULY 12TH.
AND, UH, YOU NEVER RESPONDED TO MY MAY 24TH MEETING QUESTION.
NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE AGENDA ITEMS. ANTHONY DEPRO, PBA 3 25.
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE DETECTIVES.
MY OFFICERS ARE CONSTANTLY SHOWING ME TAKING PICTURES FROM AROUND THE COUNTY OF DIFFERENT NEW BUILDINGS, UH, OF, OF DIFFERENT, THAT'S ALL GREAT.
BUT I HAVE OFFICERS, DETECTIVES LOOKING UP AT THE, I HAD TO MOVE MY, I HAD TO MOVE MY DESK 'CAUSE THE CEILING WAS FALLING APART.
AND I HAVE PICTURES UPON PICTURES.
I INVITE YOU TO WALK THROUGH THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE WHERE WE HAVE ACTUALLY THE CEILING FALLING DOWN AND I'M TOLD THAT IT'S ASBESTOS AND IT'S LEAKING INTO GARBAGE CANS.
THIS, THIS IS THE WAY THAT THE BUILDING MANAGEMENT IS, IS REPAIRING THIS.
IT'S JUST HOSES, THREE HOSES GOING INTO A GARBAGE CAN.
BUT YET MY DETECTIVES LOOK AROUND AND THEY SEE MONEY BEING SPENT ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE.
WHEN ARE WE GONNA ACTUALLY HOLD OURSELVES RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES HERE TO TREAT THEM KIND TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE WHEN I GO TO THE BATHROOM, THERE'S NOT A HOLE IN THE WALL EVERYWHERE I LOOK, MONEY'S BEING SPENT LEFT AND RIGHT.
BUT IT'S LIKE YOU ARE OVERLOOKING YOUR, YOUR EMPLOYEES.
LIKE YOU JUST DON'T CARE WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IS WITH THAT? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
IT SHOWS, IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
I, AGAIN, I INVITE YOU TO WALK AROUND THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
WE KEEP ON SAYING, OH, IT'S THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
IT, IT'S, IT'S THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
WELL, I CERTAINLY DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT.
I REALLY DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT.
'CAUSE EVERYWHERE I LOOK, IT'S NOT HAPPENING.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE WE ARE, WE'RE OFF CONTRACT.
WE'RE THE BUSIEST PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN THE ENTIRE STATE.
AND WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT TREATED LIKE THAT.
EVERY TIME I TALK TO A DETECTIVE, THE THE, THE TOPIC IS WHERE ARE YOU APPLYING, WHERE ARE YOU GOING? AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I I, I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING BECAUSE I AGREE WITH THEM.
AND I KNOW I DON'T HAVE, I I I, WHEN ARE WE GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES HERE? IT'S JUST WRONG.
IIII WILL TAKE YOU UP ON YOUR OFFER.
WE ARE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS TO CONTINUE TO USE THE DOMINION VOTING SYSTEM.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST CORRUPT VOTING SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY.
THERE ARE LAWSUITS IN 19 OTHER STATES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AGAINST THIS MANUFACTURER BECAUSE OF THE ALTERING OF THE BALLOT, BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRONICS THAT THEY CAN USE.
ONCE YOU SIGN IN, UM, I'LL VOTE FOR YOU, MR. RICHARDSON, AND IT'LL SAY, I VOTED FOR MR. PAIA.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO USE THESE.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT INVESTIGATION WE DID.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY WE BOUGHT 'EM.
BUT 19 OTHER STATES HAVE LAWSUITS AND AGAINST THIS DOMINION VOTING MACHINE, UM, 15, I SEE IT'S BEEN WITHDRAWN.
HOWEVER, TO THE, TO THE POINT, UH, WE WERE GOING TO DO PRO, UH, PROVIDE MAINTENANCE OF FACILITIES TO PROVIDE ELECTRONIC AND THERMAL EN ENERGY.
UH, COULD WE FIX THE BUNK BEDS FIRST SO THAT THE PRISONERS COULD STOP MAKING WEAPONS, ET CETERA, ET
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CETERA, ON DOWN THE LINE.AND MAKE SURE THAT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS INSIDE THE JAIL, AS IN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, ARE FIXED BECAUSE THEY'RE BRINGING IN BREATHING IN ASBESTOS AND MOLD AS WELL.
UH, NUMBER 17 AND 18, UH, NUMBER 18, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE STATUS OF THE PROGRAMS ARE.
WE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T EMPLOYED AND TRAINED AND GOING TO WORK.
SO I NEED TO SEE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT AGAIN, AS WE SUPPOSED TO, WE SHOULD DO YEARLY WHAT, UM, THESE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERING.
IF A PERSON DOES NOT HAVE A GED AND OR DIPLOMA, ARE WE AT LEAST OFFERING THEM THAT MINIMUM? WHAT ARE THESE, UH, PROGRAMS DOING TO INCLUDE, UH, DRIVER'S LICENSE, DRIVER'S LICENSE RESTORATION? BECAUSE MOST OF THE JOBS NOW, INCLUDING IF YOU WANT TO GO ON MCDONALD'S, YOU WANT TO BE A JANITOR ANYWHERE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU'RE DRIVING OR NOT.
NUMBER 17, UH, AGAIN, IS ANOTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.
I JUST WISH, I WANT US TO PLEASE LOOK AT THE PROGRAMS AND THE OUTCOMES.
THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE SENDING THE TRAINING, ARE THEY SUCCESSFUL AFTER? 'CAUSE I KNOW FOR YEARS WHEN WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS, THE NUMBERS DO NOT MATCH.
WE USED TO PAY PROVIDERS THAT DIDN'T EVEN GIVE A GED.
UM, I DON'T LIKE GED 'CAUSE I CALL IT A GOOD ENOUGH DIPLOMA.
UM, AND THE WAY THEY'VE CHANGED THE DED TO GO WITH THIS COMMON CORE, UH, CURRICULUM IS NOT GOOD.
I'D RATHER US HAVE A DIPLOMA PROGRAM, BUT WE LEAST NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO THE PERSON, SOLIDIFY THE HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION SO THAT WHEN THEY GET ON OUR JOBS, WHICH WE CAN SEE TODAY, AND I KNOW THE OFFICER SAID, I SEE IT.
THESE, WE HAVE FOLKS COMING INTO WORK.
AND WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN.
SO WE ARE DOING EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING AND PLAYING PROVIDERS, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
AND AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE WE'VE KEPT UP THEM SO MANY, SO LONG, EXCUSE ME, UM, COMING FROM ANOTHER MEETING, UH, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SOME CASES FOR THESE PROVIDERS, WE NEED TO SEE THE OUTCOMES.
AND I DON'T THINK IF WE DID THAT AUDIT, WE WOULD SEE THE OUTCOMES THAT WE SHOULD GET.
HOW ARE YOU? MIKE CAPANO, TEXAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 21 ON THE, UH, THE AGENDA.
$7.5 MILLION IS GONNA BE SPENT ON A COMMUNITY BUILDING.
I THINK WE NEED TO SPEND MONEY ON THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING TO HAVE.
HOWEVER, WE SPEND HALF OF THAT ON OUR PATROL BUILDING, HALF OF THAT AMOUNT WAS SPENT TO BUILD A BUILDING FROM SCRATCH.
AS MY COUNTERPART SAID FROM THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
OUR BUILDINGS, OUR FLOORS ARE FALLING APART.
THE BATHROOMS ARE IN DISARRAY.
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO USE THEM.
IT'S EMBARRASSING FOR THE PUBLIC TO COME UP AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO USE IN ORDER TO USE THE RESTROOMS. IF WE WANNA SPEND MONEY, MAYBE WE SHOULD START LOOKING INTERNALLY AND SPENDING A LITTLE BIT MONEY ON THE EMPLOYEES AND THE WORKERS OF THIS COUNTY.
I THINK YOU SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT GETS SPENT OUTSIDE OF HERE WITHOUT AT LEAST TRYING, TRYING TO HELP US FROM WITHIN.
AT A MINIMUM, THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD START DOING.
AND I'M ALL FOR SPENDING MONEY ON COMMUNITY FAIRS AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR, TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
BUT MAN, I WISH THAT JUST FOR A QUICK SECOND, YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING TO US AND HOW WE LOOK AT THINGS.
AND I FEEL LIKE THIS BOARD, THIS COMMITTEE, UH, DOES NOT, AND I FIND IT TO BE A SHAME AND EMBARRASSING.
BUT I, I JUST WILL, I, I WILL COMMENT ON 21.
IT'S ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT MONEY FROM THE COUNTY.
AND A LOT OF THESE THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE THERE, IT'S MONEY THAT ARE GRANTS, UH, FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR EITHER THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
SO JUST THE DISTINCTION IS ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM? DENNIS GILBERG.
UM, IT SEEMS THAT, UH, THE STATE HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN THAT WE WERE FORCED INTO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE, BUT AS BEING A RETIRED OFFICER, THESE BENEFITS GO UP EVERY YEAR.
YOU MEAN THE COST? WHAT? YOU HAVE TO PAY THE COST GO UP.
I WORKED IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR 32 YEARS.
I PUT IT FIRST, LIKE JOE SAYS, LET'S PUT ESS COUNTY FIRST.
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I LOST FRIENDS.AND THEN YET WE WERE FORCED INTO A PLAN.
I WAS PROMISED FREE HEALTHCARE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
WHEN I CAME ON THE JOB, THERE WAS NO NEGOTIATION FOR HEALTH BENEFITS.
AND NOW THAT IT GOES UP EVERY SINGLE YEAR, MY PENSION GOES LOWER AND LOWER AND LOWER PRETTY SOON.
I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE I SHOULD ASK FOR SECTION EIGHT BECAUSE I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO AFFORD WHERE I LIVE.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO MOVE OUTTA THE STATE.
I DON'T WANNA LEAVE, BUT I'M GONNA HAVE TO, I CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE NOT BEING RETIRED.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE ANY OF THIS IS COMING FROM.
WHERE WE AGREED ON YEAH, LET'S GO INTO THE STATE HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN, AND THEN WE DON'T GET ANYTHING FOR IT.
I, SO IT REALLY, IT WASN'T AGREED UPON.
I I'M JUST, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S CONCERNING.
AND THE RAISE THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS NOT, THEY WON'T EVEN NEGOTIATE WITH THE PBAS, THE UNIONS, IF THEY NEGOTIATE SOMETHING, I WOULD GET A LITTLE BUMP IN MY SALARY, IN MY PENSION, EVEN A LITTLE BIT, MAYBE TWO, $300 A MONTH.
BUT AS STILL AS BEING RETIRED, I'M STILL DEALING WITH NO CONTRACT.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE BOARD SHOULD STEP UP AND START DOING THE RIGHT THING.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, ENOUGH'S ENOUGH.
YOU WANT CLOSE? NO, I, I, I AM GONNA MAKE A, A QUICK STATEMENT TO, UH, OKAY.
SO LET ME, UH, MADAM CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT.
THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
SO I'M JUST GONNA MAKE, TAKE A A POINT OF PRIVILEGE AND INFORMATION THAT I WAS GIVEN THAT WHILE THIS BOARD IS UNABLE TO NEGOTIATE YOUR CONTRACT, THAT'S NOT THIS BOARD'S FUNCTION.
AS SOON AS IT IS RESOLVED, YOU'LL GET ALL YOUR BACK MONEY, I'M ASSURED, I ASSURE YOU.
AND IT'S ALMOST $34 MILLION SITTING THERE AT THIS POINT.
SO IT'S COMING AND I'LL LEAVE THAT RIGHT THERE.
MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCES AND INTRODUCTIONS ON FIRST READING.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION OF FIRST READING, MR. PRESIDENT? WE HAVE NONE.
MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE NONE.
DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY? NO.
IN THAT CASE, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS ON SECOND READING OF PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT? UH, NO.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS ONE THROUGH EIGHT, WHICH IS FROM THE COUNTY BUDGET BUDGET INSERTIONS OF ITEMS AND REVENUES.
IT'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. RESIDENT.
GOOD EVENING, UH, TO YOUR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UH, ITEM ONE IS A RESOLUTION INSERTING $640,000.
UH, THIS IS A RENEWAL OF OUR COORDINATED ENTRY PROGRAM, UH, THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF, UH, FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN AND DEVELOPMENT, UH, IS FOR HOMELESS HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SERVICES AND CASE MANAGEMENT.
ITEM TWO IS FROM NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS IN THE AMOUNT OF $702,876.
THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE TO PROVIDE FOR SERVICES TO IMPOVERISH AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS OF BLOOMFIELD, EAST ORANGE, ORANGE, IRVINGTON, MONTCLAIR, AND BELLEVILLE.
UH, ACTIVITIES INCLUDE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, FOOD PROGRAMS, AND YOUTH ADVOCACY.
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BUDGET INSERTION FROM NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG, UH, UH, FOR THE MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE GRANT, UH, IN THE AMOUNT OF 343,414, UH, DOLLARS.UH, THIS PROGRAM, UH, WILL AFFECT, UH, 19 OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES.
UH, ORANGE
UM, AND IT'S A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES, UH, FOR, UH, VARIOUS, UH, LOCAL PROGRAMS AND DRUG AND ACTIVITIES FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL PREVENTION AND EDUCATION.
THERE'S A, UH, 25% CASH AND 75% IN KIND MATCH, UH, THAT ARE PROVI THAT'S PROVIDED BY THE MUNICIPALITIES.
UM, AND WE RECEIVE, UH, 70, $70,000 FOR, UH, COORDINATING THE PROGRAM.
ITEM FOUR, UH, IS ALSO FROM THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG, UH, USE, UH, YOUTH LEADERSHIP GRANT, UM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $108,201.
AGAIN, THIS IS FOR, UH, PREVENTION AND EDUCATION ABOUT ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE.
UM, THERE ARE 15 MUNICIPALITIES PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM.
UH, CEDAR GROVE, IRVINGTON, MONTCLAIR ORANGE, AND VERONA.
UH, OPTED OUT, UH, NO COUNTY MATCH.
ITEM FIVE, UM, FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, UH, SUPPORTIVE ASSISTANCE.
UH, GRANT, UH, THIS IS FOR OUR DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.
THE AMOUNT IS $656,607, AND IT COVERS A PERIOD FROM, UH, OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 THROUGH, UH, SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
AND THIS IS FOR, UM, PROVIDING FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE, UH, SEVERE VARIES INTO EMPLOYMENT, BUT HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED 60 MONTHS OF, UH, BENEFITS.
UH, AND THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH FOR THIS PROGRAM.
ITEM SIX FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE THOMAS BOULEVARD BRIDGE IN ORANGE.
UM, AND WE PROJECTED THIS PROJECT WILL BE AWARDED IN MARCH 8TH, AROUND MARCH OF 2025, AND THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH FOR THIS GRANT.
ITEM SEVEN FROM THE NEW JERSEY, UH, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AUTHORITY AMOUNT OF $132,966 TO OUR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, AND THIS IS TO SUPPORT VARIOUS, UH, PLANNING ACTIVITIES AND, AND SUPPORT.
UH, FOR THE, UM, UH, PLANNING ACTIVITIES THAT THE DEPARTMENT DOES THROUGH, UH, N-J-T-P-A, UH, THERE'S A, THERE IS A COUNTY MATCH OF, UH, $33,241 AND 50 CENTS.
AND AGAIN, THE, THE GRANT AMOUNT ITSELF IS $132,966.
UH, ITEM EIGHT, ALSO FROM NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF, UH, PUBLIC OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THIS IS FOR THE OFFICE OF VICTIM ADVOCACY FOR THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $956,069.
UH, VICTIM OF CRIME ADVOCACY PROGRAM.
UH, THIS CONTINUATION, THIS, THIS PROVIDES SUPPORTS FOR VICTIMS OF, UH, AND THEIR FAMILIES OF, UH, CRIMES.
AND THERE IS A SALARY INFRINGEMENT, UH, BENEFIT MATCH OF IN KIND BENEFIT, UH, THAT WE PROVIDE IN THE AMOUNT OF $239,017.
MR. VECCHI, NO QUESTIONS ON THESE.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MR. PRESIDENT? OH, I'M SORRY.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT NUMBER FOUR.
YOU MENTIONED THAT I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE FOUR COMMUNITIES NOT PARTICIPATING.
UH, IS THERE A REASON WHY THEY ARE NOT PARTICIPATING? YES.
UH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANTS, THE GRANTS ARE NOT PARTICULARLY, UH, GENEROUS, I WOULD SAY.
AND SO FOR A LOT OF THE TOWNS, IT'S NOT WORTH THE, THE EFFORT TO APPLY.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE REASON.
AND THEY HAVE TO PUT UP CASH TO GET, SAY, $2,500 IN CASH TO GET A $6,000 GRANT, PLUS ALL THE WORK THAT GOES INTO IT.
SOME OF THE TOWNS JUST DECIDE IT'S NOT WORTH, THEY DIDN'T WANNA BOTHER DOING IT.
DO I HAVE A MOVE? IN A SECOND? I'LL MOVE IT.
MR. P MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MERCADO, SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT FOR MY ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT OMARE? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS NINE THROUGH 12, WHICH WILL BE READ IN THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, MR. MCCOY, DIRECTOR MCCOY WILL HANDLE THESE ITEMS. GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
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MCCOY.I'M HERE TO, UM, COME BEFORE THE BOYS SEEKING APPROVAL FOR, UM, AMENDMENTS FOR FOUR OF THE AGENCIES THAT WE HAVE, UH, UNDER THE CSBG GRANT TO THAT ARE STILL CONTINUING TO PROVIDE SERVICES, AND THIS IS TO AMEND TO GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.
THE FIRST ONE IS RESOLUTION NINE IS THE EAST ORANGE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
WE ARE GIVING THEM 195,000 ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO, FOR CONTINUED SERVICES.
UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER 10 IS IRVING 10 NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION.
WE ARE GIVING THEM AN ADDITIONAL $155,000 AND RESOLUTION.
NUMBER 11, JOYCE ANDREW, WHO'S DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
WE ARE GIVING THEM AN ADDITIONAL $60,000 AND RE NUMBER 12 IS MONTCLAIR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
WE'RE GIVING THEM AN ADDITIONAL $152,500 OFF OF THESE AGENCIES TO CONTINUE SERVICES THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR.
MR. PAUL, I DO HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. MCCOY.
UH, MR. MCCOY, IF THEY, IF THESE AGENCIES DIDN'T RECEIVE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WOULD THEY HAVE TO STOP PROVIDING SERVICES? THEY ABSOLUTELY WOULD DO.
SO IT DOESN'T ALLOW THEM TO EXPAND, IT JUST ALLOWS WHAT THEY DO TO CONTINUE? YES.
MR. MCIN, ARE, ARE THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION, OR ARE THESE FUNDS THAT WERE NOT USED BY OTHER AGENCIES AND ARE ABLE NOW TO BE ALLOCATED TO THESE PARTICULAR ONES THROUGH REVIEW? COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
THESE ARE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FROM THE DEPARTMENT.
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
OKAY, SO THEY'RE NOT, NOT REALLOCATED DOLLARS.
COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NOW I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.
SHOULD TAKE EITHER RESOLUTION NINE THROUGH ONE SECOND.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT PO.
UH, COMMISSIONER RICARDO? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION 13, WHICH WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, I THANK MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, DIRECTOR NICOLE AMOS WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM.
NICOLE AMOS, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
I COME BEFORE YOU THIS, THIS EVENING ASKING FOR YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER A, AN AWARD CONTRACT TO DOMINION VOTING SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE ON ONSITE ELECTION SERVICES FOR THE 2022 ELECTIONS.
UH, THIS WOULD BE A 12 MONTH CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $149,175.
I'D LIKE TO SAY AT THIS TIME, THE BILLS THAT WE ARE ASKING TO BE APPROVED, THEY WERE OVERLOOKED DURING A PERIOD WHEN THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WAS WITHOUT A FULL-TIME CLERK.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, UM, AND I THINK IT WAS OBVIOUS, THE THESE ARE FOR BILLS FOR SERVICES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED.
THAT WOULD BE COVERING ELECTIONS, UH, FROM MARCH THROUGH JUNE OF 2022, MARCH THROUGH JUNE.
YEAH, I, THE QUESTION WOULD BE, UM, HOW WERE THE BILLS INCURRED? THE SERVICES THAT GENERATED BILLS INCURRED IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CONTRACT OR, OR DID THEY HAVE A CONTRACT AND IT WAS JUST NOT AS ADEQUATE? I, UM, I WAS NOT WITH THE COUNTY AT THE TIME, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE WAS NOT A CONTRACT FOR THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
SO THERE WAS NO CONTRACT AND THE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED? THAT IS CORRECT.
WELL, THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S AN INTERNAL CONTROL ISSUE THAT, THAT HOPEFULLY IS RESOLVED.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WHEN I CAME BEFORE YOU IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, GET AN APPROVAL FOR A TWO YEAR CONTRACT WITH DOMINION SERVICES.
SO WE WILL NOT HAVE THIS SITUATION AGAIN.
BUT OBVIOUSLY SOMEBODY CALLED THEM AND ASKED THEM TO COME IN AND PROVIDE THE SERVICES, BUT THEY DID SO WITHOUT THE AUTHORIZATION OF A CONTRACT THAT WOULD APPEAR TO BE SO.
AND AS I'VE EXPLAINED AT THE TIME, THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WAS WITHOUT A FULL-TIME CLERK, SO THIS WAS DEFINITELY OVERLOOKED.
COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'LL MOVE IT.
I'LL SECOND AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MECADO.
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YES.COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT TAMARA? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
IT'S MOVED TO RESOLUTION 14, WHICH IS FROM THE BOARD OF TAXATION.
IT'LL BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. UH, MR. PRESIDENT MR. COLTRANE WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM.
MR. PRESIDENT, UH, THIS RESOLUTION IS THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF TAXATION CONTRACT AWARD TO BRT TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE CLOUD-BASED DATA PROCESSING FOR A 12 MONTH PERIOD.
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $150,380.
UH, WE HAD ONE RESPONDER AND IT WILL BE FOR $12,531 AND 66 CENTS PER MONTH.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER COOPER HAS JOINED US.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, NEITHER.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.
ROLL CALL MEMBER CLERK COMMISSIONER SIEBEL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT OMARE? YES.
COMMISSIONER COOPER, WHAT NUMBER ARE WE ON, PLEASE? UH, WE'RE ON, UH, RESOLUTION 14.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, CAN I JUST, JUST WANT MR. MC, IT'S NOT SO MUCH, UM, BUT ON THIS, ON THIS CONTRACT, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING TOO THAT THIS IS GONNA BE, THIS MONEY'S BEING LAID OUT BY THE COUNTY, UH, BUT LATER TO BE REIMBURSED BY THE BOARD OF TAXATION THROUGH, ITS, ITS, UH, ITS TRUST FUND MR. CO.
MR. JACKSON REFERS MR. JACKSON THAT'S TRUE.
SO THIS MONEY'S ACTUALLY GONNA COME BACK TO THE COUNTY.
YOU TWO KNOW HOW TO PASS THE BUCK, DON'T YOU?
UH, THIS IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK.
I'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? MR. COLTRANE? MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK CONTRACT AWARD TO RELIANCE GRAPHIC.
IT IS SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2023 THROUGH AUGUST 31ST, 2025.
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,195,000.
THIS WAS A PUBLICLY ADVERTISED.
THIS IS FOR, FOR ALL ELECTION MATERIALS FOR ELECTION MATERIALS FOR THE COUNTY CLERK, CLERK.
THERE'S, THERE'S A SEPARATE CONTRACT WITH ONE OF THE OTHER, UH, YES.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NOW I NEED A MOVE IN A SECOND.
MR. LEWIS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER COOPER, SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT EZ.
ROLL CALL MEMBER COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT OMARE? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 17 AND 18, WHICH ARE FROM THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, MR. PRESIDENT MR. LOMBARDI WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM.
THESE ITEMS, UH, GOOD EVENING.
CRAIG LOMBARDI, DIVISION OF HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, HOUSING COORDINATOR.
WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE ALLOCATION OF FEDERAL HOME FUNDS TOTALING $395,000 FOR PROGRAM YEARS 2015 AND 22 TO THE ARC OF ESSEX COUNTY FOR THE RETROFITTING OF A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 43, UH, 45 BEACH TREE ROAD IN WEST CALDWELL.
UH, UPON COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT, UH, THE ARC WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR FOUR VERY LOW INCOME PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
UM, IT IS NOTED THAT THIS PORTION OF HOME FUNDS IS ACTUALLY DRAWN FROM THE, UH, FUNDS THAT ARE SET ASIDE FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZ, LIKE THE ARC THAT ARE DESIGNATED AS COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS OR CHODO FOR SHORT.
UM, ALSO NOTE WE DO HAVE TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ARC HERE, SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY
[00:35:01]
QUESTIONS FOR THEM AFTERWARDS.WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE EXTENSION OF VARIOUS, UH, SUB-RECIPIENT CONTRACTS, UH, WHO HAD RECEIVED CDVG COVID FUNDS.
UH, THEIR CONTRACTS EXPIRED ON AUGUST 1ST, 2023.
UM, THESE CONTRACTS ARE DESCRIBED IN THE, UH, MATRIX THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE DECISION MEMO IN THE RESOLUTION.
UM, MOST OF THESE PROJECTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED DURING THE, UH, THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, BUT WE ARE ASKING THAT THE AB EXTENDED UNTIL DECEMBER OF 2024 SO THAT WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT THEY'LL WILL GET FUNDED AND FULLY DISPERSED.
PERMISSION QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, SINCE WE'RE REPROGRAMMING, DOES THAT MEAN THAT ANOTHER PROJECT DIDN'T, UM, PERFORM, OR THESE ARE LEFTOVER FUNDS THAT WE HADN'T ALLOCATED? IS THIS REFERRING TO THE HOME PROGRAM? YES.
SO WITH CRAIG LOMBARDI HOUSING DIVISION OF HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WITH THE HOME PROGRAM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM YEAR, WHEN WE SUBMIT OUR ANNUAL PLAN TO HUD, WE DON'T USUALLY HAVE PROJECTS SET ASIDE FOR THOSE DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY INVOLVED PROJECTS.
SO WE JUST SAY WE'RE GONNA USE HOME DOLLARS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
SO WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PROJECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO ALLOCATE FUNDS TO, WE NEED TO ESSENTIALLY REPROGRAM THE HOME FUNDS.
SO THESE ARE NOT FUNDS FROM ANOTHER PROJECT PER SE, THESE, IT IS JUST WE'RE U WE'RE UTILIZING THE HOME FUNDS THAT WERE PROVIDED TO US THAT WERE NOT DEFINED FOR ANY SPECIFIC PROJECT.
ARE THERE ANY TOWNS THAT CAN'T APPLY FOR THESE FUNDS FROM YOU? OKAY.
SO THE ESSEX COUNTY HOME CONSORTIUM IS COMPRISED OF THE 18 MUNICIPALITIES THAT DO NOT RECEIVE HOME FUNDS DIRECTLY.
NEWARK, EAST ORANGE, BLOOMFIELD AND IRVINGTON DO RECEIVE, UH, HOME FUNDS DIRECTLY.
NOW, FOR THE MOST PART, WE TRY TO FOCUS ON OUR CONSORTIUM.
HOWEVER, WE ARE ALLOWED TO WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THESE OTHER TOWNS THAT A PROJECT ARISE, WHERE THERE'S ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW, FUNDS THAT NEED TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO MAKE THE PROJECT GO.
RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.
YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, OBVIOUSLY IF WE WERE DOING A PROJECT, LET'S SAY IN NEWARK, WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THE NEWARK HOME PROGRAM IS ALSO INVESTING FUNDS.
WE CAN'T UNILATERALLY INVEST FUNDS IN A PROJECT OUTSIDE OUR DESIGNATED AREA.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NOW I NEED TO MOVE IN A SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT PARI? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
THIS MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 19 AND 20, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION, AND THEY WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, ITEM 19, UH, IS WITH, UH, IS BASICALLY AN AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE THE INTER INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSFER AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY FOR THE, UH, NEW JERSEY COUNTY OPTION HOSPITAL FEE PROGRAM, UH, THAT THE BOARD, UH, INITIATED, UM, UH, WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF, UH, DIRECTOR DELGAUDIO A FEW YEARS AGO.
UM, AND THIS IS JUST A CONTINUATION OF THAT AGREEMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024.
UM, AND IT'S BEEN A, A REAL BENEFIT AND WINDFALL REALLY FOR OUR, UH, EIGHT COUNTY, NINE COUNTY HOSPITALS, UM, UH, TO, AND ALSO AN INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE FOR, UH, INDIVIDUALS ON MEDICAID.
SO THIS IS JUST A CONTINUATION OF THAT AGREEMENT WHERE BASICALLY WE ARE, WE'RE AGREEING WITH THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY THAT WE RECEIVED THE MONEY FROM THE HOSPITALS.
UM, WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE A 9%, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FROM THAT, AND THEN WE PASS THE MONEY ON TO THE STATE.
THE STATE GIVES, UM, MONEY BACK TO THE HOSPITALS, AND THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES ADDITIONAL MONEY ON TOP OF THAT.
SO THEY'RE ABLE TO NET, UM, AS A RESULT OF SERVICING, UH, MEDICAID PATIENTS, THEY'RE ABLE TO NET, UM, UH, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, UH, IN, IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
UH, ITEM 20, UH, IS AN AGREEMENT, A 24 MONTH CONTRACT EXTENSION AND THE AMOUNT OF $83,528, UM, WITH, UH, BERTLESMAN LEARNING, UH, LLC WHO PROVIDES FOR, UM, OUR IN-HOUSE E-LEARNING, UH, PROGRAM AT THE HOSPITAL, UH, THAT SUPPORTS OVER 400 EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS IN OUR FACILITY AND LIKE MOST OTHER HOSPITALS AND, AND, AND HEALTH FACILITIES.
TODAY, A LARGE PART OF THE EDUCATION IS DONE
[00:40:01]
THROUGH E-LEARNING, AND THIS IS THE, UH, THE OUTFIT THAT WILL BE, UH, THAT WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT FOR US AT THE HOSPITAL CENTER.MR.
WITHIN THAT AGREEMENT? YES, SIR.
COMMISSIONS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
COMMISSIONER COOPER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT LES ROLE.
AND MR. PRESIDENT, IS THIS FOR RESOLUTION 19 AND 20.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT POMAR? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 21 THROUGH 24 AND ADDED STARTERS 52 AND 53, WHICH ARE ALL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, AND THEY WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME BY MR. ZAS.
HERE, UH, JOSHUA ZAS, ESCA PARKS NUMBER 21 IS, UH, EXCEPTION ACCEPTANCE AND EXECUTION OF A $7.5 MILLION GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR THE IRVINGTON PARK COMMUNITY CENTER.
THESE FUNDS WERE INSERTED BACK ON THE FEBRUARY 15TH MEETING OF THIS YEAR, AND THIS IS SIMPLY THE EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT SO THAT THE COUNTY COULD DRAW DOWN ON THE FUNDS.
NUMBER 22 IS A CONTRACT AWARD WITH DIRECT WASTE SERVICES FOR THE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE SLASH RUBBISH RUBBISH, UM, EXERCISING THE 24 MONTH OPTION AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,371,120.
THIS IS FOR THE, UH, DROP OFF AND PICKUP OF DUMPSTERS THROUGHOUT THE PARK SYSTEM.
THE COMPANY WOULD DROP 'EM OFF, PICK 'EM UP, EMPTY 'EM.
UH, CURRENTLY THE DUMPSTER LOCATIONS ARE THE BRANCH BROOK PARK GARAGE WHEAT QUAKE PARK, HENDRICKS BERNOFF COURSE, TURTLEBACK ZOO AND BROOKDALE PARK.
BUT, UH, THE DUMPSTERS COULD BE PLACED ANYWHERE, UH, IN ANY, UH, OF THE ESS COUNTY PARK SYSTEMS PROPERTIES NUMBER 23 AND NUMBER 24 ARE BOTH ALLOCATIONS FROM THE ESS COUNTY RECREATION OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND.
UH, 23 AND 24 COMBINED WILL FUND NUMBER 25.
NUMBER 23 SPECIFICALLY IS THE AUTHORIZATION, UH, TO USE THE OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND FOR THE DESIGN SERVICES OF THE YANA CAR PARK BALL FIELD IMPROVEMENTS.
AND NUMBER 24 IS AN ALLOCATION FOR THE OPEN SPACE, UH, TO USE THE TRUST FUND FOR DESIGN SERVICES FOR GLENFIELD PARK TENNIS AND BASKETBALL COURTS.
NUMBER 52 IS A PARTIAL FUNDING SOURCE FOR NUMBER 50.
UH, SPECIFICALLY IT'S AN ALLOCATION FROM THE OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND FOR THE IVY HILL PARK IMPROVEMENTS, UH, UM, FOR THE IVY YES, UH, AMOUNT, ACT TWO C 99,500.
AND THEN FINALLY, NUMBER 53 IS THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR, UH, NUMBER 51, UH, AUTHORIZATION TO USE THE RECREATION.
I'M SORRY, I'M, I'M BACKWARDS ON THIS.
52 IS, UH, BRANCH BRICK PARK SYNTHETIC TURF INFIELD, WHICH IS THE PARTIAL FUNDING FOR NUMBER 50.
AND THEN 53 IS THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR 51, UH, TO FUND THIS DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE RV HILL BALLPARK IMPROVEMENTS AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 99,500.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
UH, MR. ZAS, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON 21.
THAT'S THE, UH, GRANT FUNDING.
UM, I THINK BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THAT FUNDING SOURCE, UH, THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS ON USE OF THOSE FUND DOLLARS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT.
IS THERE ANY COMPLIANCE OR REPORTING REQUIRED? BECAUSE I THINK THIS COMES, COMES TO THE FEDERAL, WHATEVER THE ACT.
YEAH, JOSHUA, IT'S ZAS, UH, ES COUNTY PARK.
SO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, UM, YOU ARE COLLECT MR. UH,
UH, IT'S SPECIFICALLY EARMARKED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, 7.5 MILLION IS THEN FUNNELED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE IRVINGTON PARK, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER.
AND THERE IS, UH, VARIOUS FILINGS.
UM, ASSUMING THE, UH, APPROVAL OF NUMBER 21, WE CAN THEN START ON THOSE FILINGS.
UM, YESTERDAY, AUGUST 1ST, THE OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND ADVISORY BOARD MET AND WE REVIEWED 23, 24, 50, 51, 52,
[00:45:06]
AND 53.IS THAT CORRECT? JOSH? UH, JOSH COUNTY PARK TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
WE REVIEWED ALL OF THOSE AND WE VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
UH, I HAVE A QUESTION WITH NUMBER 52.
THE BRADFORD PARK SYNTHETIC TURF FUSE.
IS THAT THE OUT BOTTLE COMPLEX FUSE? UH, JOSHUA ZAS COUNTY PARK.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS FOR THE BALL FIELDS.
IT'S LOCATED BEHIND WHAT WOULD BE THE NEW CHERRY BLOSSOM CENTER? THE THREE BALL FIELDS BEHIND THERE.
AND WHAT IS THE PLAN? UH, SPECIFICALLY, I, I KNOW I BELIEVE THE, UH, CONTRACTORS HERE FOR THAT ONE.
I SPECIFICALLY, I HAVE, UH, SOME BULLET POINTS.
SO MR. ZAS, IF YOU, IF THE CONTRACTOR IS HERE, HE CAN PROBABLY BETTER ANSWER.
UH, COMMISSIONER MERCADO'S QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU ONLY HAVE BULLET POINTS.
UH, IT'S THE INSULATION OF SYNTHETIC TURF OVER AT THE ONE BASEBALL FIELD.
TWO SOFTBALL FIELDS, UH, LANDSCAPE WITH THE SYNTHETIC TURF, UH, DOME BACKDROPS, SLEEP BASES, PERMANENT BASE MOUND, THREE ROW POWDER COATED BLEACHERS, REINFORCED CONCRETE BLEACHERS, UH, FIBERGLASS FLAG POLES, DECORATIVE METAL BENCH, UM, SOD, LAWN IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
IS THERE ANY LIGHTING INCLUDED IN THAT PLAN? UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? JUSTICE, I DON'T SEE LIGHTING ON MY, UH, BULLET POINT SHEET.
UM, NO, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY GET BACK TO YOU, UH, TO LET YOU KNOW FOR SURE.
COMMISSIONER SIBO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THIS ABSOLUTELY.
COMMISSIONER SIBO, SECOND BEHIND COMMISSIONER MECADO ROCO MADAM CLERK.
AND THIS IS FOR 21 THROUGH 24, 52 AND 53.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT TAMARA? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS 25 THROUGH 33 50 AND 51, WHICH ARE ALL FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
IT WILL BE READY TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
WE'LL HANDLE THESE ITEMS. UH, GOOD EVENING.
DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 25 AWARD TWO PROJECTS TO TWO ENGINEERING FIRMS. PROJECT ONE IS AWARDED TO REMINGTON AND VERNICK ENGINEERS TO PERFORM THE DESIGN ENGINEERING OF THE TENNIS AND BASKETBALL COURT IMPROVEMENTS AT GLENFIELD PARK IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $87,400.
AND PROJECT NUMBER TWO AWARDS FRENCH AND PARALLEL ASSOCIATES, A CONTRACT TO PERFORM THE DESIGN ENGINEERING OF THE BASEBALL FIELD.
IMPROVEMENTS AT THE ANTICO PARK IN AN AMOUNT NET SEAT $91,925.
REMINGTON AND VERN'S PROPOSAL WAS THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE FIVE RECEIVED.
AND FRENCH AND PELLA'S PROPOSAL WAS ALSO THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE FIVE RECEIVED FOR PROJECT NUMBER TWO.
ITEM NUMBER 26 AWARDS COLLIERS ENGINEERING AT THE SIGNED CONTRACT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $799,800 TO PERFORM THE DESIGN ENGINEERING OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL UPGRADES AT 29 INTERSECTIONS.
THE PROPOSAL SUBMITTED BY COLLIERS ENGINEERING WAS THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE SEVEN RESPONSES RECEIVED TO THIS PROJECT'S RFP.
THE INTERSECTIONS SHOULD BE DESIGNED, ENGINEERED UNDER THIS CONTRACT INCLUDE 10 IN EAST ORANGE, 13 IN IRVINGTON, THREE IN NEWARK, TWO IN SOUTH ORANGE, AND ONE IN MAPLEWOOD.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE FUNDED WITH FEDERAL FUNDS FROM THE LOCAL SAFETY PROGRAM.
MR. ADAM ALLEN OF COLLIERS IS HERE AND HE WILL INTRODUCE HIS FIRM, TOUCH ON THE SCOPE OF WORK PERHAPS, AND OF COURSE ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SUPPORT MAY HAVE.
I'M A SENIOR PRINCIPAL WITH COLLIERS
[00:50:01]
ENGINEERING AND DESIGN, WHICH IS A, UH, FULL SERVICE ENGINEERING FIRM HEADQUARTERED HERE IN NEW JERSEY.UH, WE'VE WORKED WITH THE COUNTY FOR MANY YEARS, UH, MOST RECENTLY FINISHING UP, UH, BLOOMFIELD AVENUE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN MONTCLAIR.
UM, AND ALSO PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN DEVELOPING, UH, THE GRANT APPLICATIONS TO FUND PROJECTS LIKE THE ONE DAVID JUST TALKED ABOUT.
SO, UH, THESE 29 INTERSECTIONS WILL RECEIVE STATE-OF-THE-ART TRAFFIC SIGNAL EQUIPMENT, UM, WHICH WILL IMPROVE NOT ONLY MOBILITY THROUGH THESE INTERSECTIONS, BUT ALSO SAFETY FOR EVERYONE USING THEM, ESPECIALLY PEDESTRIANS.
UM, SO ANY QUESTIONS? I'M HERE TO ANSWER.
DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 27 IS AN AWARD CONTRACT TO MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL TO PERFORM THE DESIGN ENGINEERING OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS AT 25 INTERSECTIONS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $699,894.
MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL SUBMITTED THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE EIGHT PROPOSALS THAT WERE RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THIS PROJECT'S RFP.
THE INTERSECTIONS INCLUDED UNDER THIS CONTRACT INCLUDE 15 IN NEWARK, FIVE IN BLOOMFIELD, FIVE IN RIDGE.
THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO BE FUNDED WITH FEDERAL MONIES THROUGH THE LOCAL SAFETY PROGRAM.
MR. LEMAR ALMAZAR OF MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL WILL ALSO, UH, INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY PERHAPS, UH, TOUCH SLIGHTLY ON THE SCOPE OF WORK AND, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, MY NAME IS LEO MOORE ALMANAR.
I WORK WITH, UH, MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL.
UH, OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED AT THE GATEWAY CENTER.
UH, WE HAVE DONE MULTIPLE PROJECTS FOR THE, UH, COUNTY OF ESSEX, UH, MOST RECENTLY ON THE, UH, CENTRAL AVENUE TRAFFIC SIGNAL UPGRADES, UH, CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT STUDY.
UH, THE, UH, THIS PROJECT CONSISTS OF THE, UH, UH, ROAD IMPROVEMENTS FOR FOUR MILES, UH, ALONG THE TIRE CORRIDOR, AS WELL AS 25 TRAFFIC SIGNALS, UH, TRAFFIC SIGNAL, UH, UH, IMPROVEMENTS THAT INCLUDE, UH, NEW COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR ALL THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
UH, NEW VEHICLE DETECTION SYSTEM FOR ALL THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND A, UH, A CENTRALIZED SYSTEM THAT WILL CONTROL THE, UH, THE SIGNALS, UH, REMOTELY.
UH, THE UH, PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES THE, UH, REPLACEMENT OF SIDEWALKS AND CURB RAMPS, UH, ALL THE SIGNALED INTERSECTIONS.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 28, UH, AWARDS AURORA ENVIRONMENTAL, A TWO YEAR CONTRACT TO MAINTAIN AND REPAIR THE COUNTY'S FUELING STATIONS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $167,100 AS THIS COUNTY OPERATES NINE FUELING STATIONS, WHICH REQUIRE MANDATORY INSPECTIONS AS WELL AS UNPLANNED REPAIRS TO COMPONENTS SUCH AS PUMPS, HOSES, BELTS, NOSS, ET CETERA.
KEEPING THESE FOOD STATIONS OPERATIONAL IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE SINCE THEY ARE USED TO FUEL THE COUNTY'S FLEET VEHICLES, INCLUDING SHERIFFS, PROSECUTORS, CORRECTIONS, AND PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 29 AWARDS A ONE YEAR CONTRACT TO PERFORM GRAPHIC ART SERVICES AT VARIOUS COUNTY FACILITIES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $90,000 TO IRIS COMMUNICATIONS.
IRIS COMMUNICATIONS SUBMITTED THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE FIVE PROPOSALS THAT WERE RECEIVED.
THESE SERVICES INCLUDE DESIGNING BANNERS, SIGNAGE, AND BROCHURES AMONG OTHERS.
ITEM NUMBER 30 IS THE EXERCISE OF A ONE YEAR EXTENSION TO BARNWELL HOUSE OF TIRES CONTRACT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $80,000.
BARNWELL HOUSE OF TIRES PROVIDES DELIVERY, UH, OF TRUCK AND AUTOMOBILE TIRES VIA A CATALOG DISCOUNT.
UH, THIS CONTRACT IS A PRIMARY MECHANISM UTILIZED BY THE COUNTY CPW TO ACQUIRE REPLACEMENT TIRES FOR THE COUNTY'S VEHICLE FLEET.
ITEM NUMBER 31 AWARD MAXIMUM SECURITY PRODUCT, A CONTRACT TO PROVIDE AND INSTALL A 3 27 D HEAVY DUTY LOCKING DEVICE AT THE TEMPORARY HOLDING AREA WITHIN THE VETERANS' COURTHOUSE.
MAXIMUM SECURITY PRODUCTS WAS THE SOLE BIDDER ON THIS PROJECT, AND THIS CONTRACT WILL LAST FOR 45 DAYS.
ITEM NUMBER 32 WILL ALLOW FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE EXTERIOR FACADE LETTERING ON THE DPW
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BUILDING LOCATED AT 99 WEST BRADFORD AVENUE IN CEDAR GROVE BY AWARDING ENOR SIGNS CORPORATION, A 45 DAY CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $31,000.ENOR SIGNS WEST THE SOLE BIDDER ON THIS PROJECT.
ITEM NUMBER 33 AWARDS, THE TWO LOWEST BIDDERS, A PER ITEM ON UNIT COST BASIS CONTRACT TO PURCHASE, AUTOMATE, UM, AUTOMOTIVE BATTERIES OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $30,000 BUY WISE AUTO PARTS AND PARTS AUTHORITY SUBMITTED THE TWO LOWEST OF THE THREE BITS RECEIVED.
THIS CONTRACT WILL BE USED BY THE DIVISION OF FLEET MANAGEMENT TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT CAR BATTERIES FOR THE COUNTY'S VEHICLE FLEET.
ITEM NUMBER 50 AWARDS LANDTECH GROUP A CONTRACT TO CONSTRUCT THE NEW SYNTHETIC TURF INFIELDS AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS AT THE NORTH BA BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FIELD IN BRUNCH BRANCH WORK PARK IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 3,000,060 $8,000.
LANDTECH GROUP GROUP'S BID WAS THE LOWEST OF THE THREE RECEIVED.
UH, PROJECT INCLUDES NEW SYNTHETIC TURF, UH, AT ONE BASEBALL FIELD AND TWO SUPPLE FIELDS, PLUS OTHER IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS NEW DUGOUTS, CANOPIES, UH, BASES, BLEACHERS, BENCHES, WATER FOUNTAINS, AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS AMONGST OTHERS.
UM, MR. UH, JIM MENTO, WHEN I MAKE IT THIS EVENING, YOU HAD AN UNFORESEEN CAR INCIDENT, BUT HE DID TELL ME THAT THEY DO UTILIZE LOCAL 8 25 OPERATING ENGINEERS.
THEY ALSO UTILIZE LOCAL 4 72 LABORERS, HIGHWAY AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT, UM, AND THAT THEY WILL COMPLY WITH, UH, THE WISH COUNTY TO MAXIMIZE THE UTILIZATION OF ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS ON THIS PROJECT.
UH, AND ITEM NUMBER 51 ALLOWS FOR THE DESIGN OF THE IVY HILL PARK IMPROVEMENTS BY AWARDING FRENCH AND PERELLO A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $99,500.
THIS IMPROVEMENTS CONSIST OF A NEW BATHROOM FACILITY, FENCING, NEW ACCESS PATHWAYS, AND PAVING BENCHES, GARBAGE CONTAINERS, AND UPGRADED SCOREBOARD AND LIGHTING.
FRANKLIN PERELLO SUBMITTED THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE TWO PROPOSALS.
ANY QUESTIONS? WE'LL GLADLY TAKE THEM AT THIS TIME.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? VICE PRESIDENT PERALA.
UH, MR. ANTONIO WITH RESPECT NUMBER A 27, UH, CAN YOU GO OVER THAT AGAIN? UH, THAT WAS MULTIPLE MUNICIPALITIES, I BELIEVE YOU SAID GLEN RIDGE BLOOMFIELD.
YEAH, I CAN SPEC, CAN YOU? YEAH, SURE.
CAN YOU GIMME THAT AGAIN WITHOUT BLOOMFIELD AVENUE? SO THERE'S 15 IN NEWARK, FIVE IN BLOOMFIELD, AND FIVE IN GLEN RIDGE.
IN BLOOMFIELD, IT WOULD BE THE INTERSECTION OF BLOOMFIELD AVENUE AND M PIERRE, BLOOMFIELD AVENUE AND WATTS, BLOOMFIELD AVENUE AND ELLA.
AND THEN CONTINUING THROUGH GLEN RIDGE, PARKING HILLSIDE, HIGHLAND, RIDGEWOOD, VILLE, AND BAY.
UH, WITH RESPECT TO THE GLEN RIDGE ONES, THERE'S THREE SCHOOLS THERE.
JUST WANTED TO ASK THE, UH, DESIGN ENGINEERING FIRM.
I SHOULD HAVE ASKED WHAT YOU WAS THERE, BUT I WAS THINKING IT OVER.
THERE ARE THREE SCHOOLS THERE.
WHAT DO THEY DO TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S SEASONAL AND THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.
I THINK THAT WAS FOR MICHAEL BAKER.
I THINK, I THINK THAT WAS MR. MICHAEL BAKER.
BUT I'M SURE YOU WANT TAKE THE CONTRACT TOO, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO DO THAT PHONE ALL TIME.
WE'LL SHARE, LET ME POSE THAT QUESTION AGAIN SINCE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF DELAY COMING UP HERE IN GLEN RIDGE, THERE'S THREE SCHOOLS THAT IN THAT GENERAL PROXIMITY, IN A LIBRARY, IT GETS A LITTLE CONFUSING.
AND RIDGEWOOD AVENUE IS THE MAIN ARTERY THERE, OF COURSE, THE BLOOMFIELD AVENUE.
WHAT DO YOU DO IN THOSE AREAS IN TERMS OF THE TRAFFIC FLOW, THE SYNCHRONIZATION OF LIGHTS? DO YOU SLOW IT DOWN? DO YOU CHANGE IT SEASONALLY OFF FOR THE SUMMERS WHEN THE SCHOOL IS IN AND OUT OF SESSION? DO YOU DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR THAT? AND ALSO TO DO, PLEASE BE BEFORE BEGIN, PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME, AFFILIATION ON THE RECORD.
SO THE FIRST THING WE'RE GOING TO DO IS, UH, UH, CONDUCT TRAFFIC COUNTS AND DO A CAPACITY ANALYSIS.
UH, AND, AND PART OF THE, UH, ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IS TO, UH, UH, ADJUST SIGNAL
[01:00:01]
TIMINGS BASED ON TRAFFIC DEMAND.SO THERE WILL NOT BE A NEED TO IMPLEMENT DIFFERENT TIMING PLANS.
IT WILL DO IT AUTOMATICALLY IN REAL TIME BASED ON TRAFFIC FLOW.
IT JUST SEEMS, UH, AN UNUSUALLY, UH, INTERESTING AREA BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT ONLY THE THREE SCHOOLS, YOU HAVE ONE INTERSECTION, YOU HAVE A 90 DEGREE TURN, A 45 DEGREE TURN.
A LOT OF HISTORIC ROADS THERE.
SO IT'S VERY AWKWARD AREA, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, TRAFFIC CAN BE PRETTY BAD THERE.
AND IT ALSO RAMPS UP PRETTY HIGH AT TIMES AS WELL.
SO, AND IT'S COMING DOWNHILL IF YOU ARE TRAVELING EASTBOUND.
AND, AND SO THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROBLEMS IN THAT AREA.
SO IT'S AN AREA THAT I THINK NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF SPECIAL ATTENTION.
I'M CERTAINLY NO TRAFFIC ENGINEER, BUT I DRIVE A LOT THAT QUALIFIES ME FOR BEING STUCK IN TRAFFIC
BUT IT IS AN AREA THAT I THINK NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF SPECIAL CONSIDERATION, AND I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THAT IN THAT AREA.
I, IT'S JUST NOT QUITE THE NORMAL, UH, AREA.
AND MY CONCERN IS SPECIFICALLY WITH SCHOOLS.
UH, I THINK IT WAS THE LAST YEAR, THE YEAR BEFORE THIS BOARD APPROVED THE CHANGE OF DIRECTION OF A FLOW OF A STREET IN GLEN RIDGE TO ACCOMMODATE ONE OF THE SCHOOLS.
SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AND MAYBE EVEN REACH OUT TO SCHOOL OFFICIALS IN THAT AREA TO, TO LOOK THAT OVER.
MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT, UM, ARE THE AREAS IN NEWARK THAT YOU'RE CHANGING OR LOOKING AT? SO MAKE SURE I GET THE RIGHT LIST ON ONE SECOND.
SO IN NEWARK, WE ARE LOOKING AT IRVINGTON AVENUE BY BOYDEN AND MANOR, IRVINGTON AVENUE BY PUTMAN AND NORMAN GROVE STREET BY SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE.
AND IN THIS CONTRACT, WE'RE LOOKING AT BLOOMFIELD AVENUE FROM BROADWAY AND BLOOMFIELD PLACE, WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH THE BEGINNING OF BLOOMFIELD AVENUE, RIGHT DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, ALL THE WAY THROUGH NEWARK INTO, UH, BLOOMFIELD.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 15 INTERSECTIONS PER SECONDLY IN BLOOMFIELD, RIGHT ON AVENUE IN NORTH THAT IS, SORRY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'M HAPPY TO MOVE IT.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT LAMAR SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MECADO TO TAKE 25 THROUGH 33 AND 50 AND 51.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 34, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF PURCHASING AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. COLTRANE WILL HANDLE ACTUALLY 34 THROUGH 37.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. JACKSON.
MR. PRESIDENT, UH, 34 IS A NAME CHANGE.
UH, THEY DELIVER FURNISH AND DELIVER TRAFFIC SUIT, SIGN MATERIAL FOR GARDEN STATE HIGHWAY PRODUCT.
THEY WILL NOW BE NAMED NATIONAL HIGHWAY PRODUCT AND THEIR CONTRACT WENT FROM MAY 1ST, 2023 TO APRIL 28TH, 2020 5, 35 IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR.
UH, RESOLUTION, APPROVING PARTICIPATION WITH THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
THIS IS A SUBGRANT, UH, AWARD V 37 DASH 21 FOR A PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2023 TO JUNE 30TH, 2024.
AND THIS RESOLUTION JUST TO APPROVE PARTICIPATION.
THE NEXT ONE IS FROM 36, OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF CONTRACT AWARD TO MOTORCYCLE MALL, THE SOLE RESPONDENT RESPONSIBLE BIDDER TO FURNISH DELIVERY ONE NEW 2023 OR NEWER POLARIS RANGE CREW XP 1000 NORTH STAR, UH, IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $43,772 AND ONE BID WAS RECEIVED.
[01:05:01]
OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CONTRACT AWARD FRONTIER TO PROVIDE, UH, ADVERTISING CONSULTING SERVICE FROM AUGUST 4TH, 2023 THROUGH AUGUST 3RD, 2024.AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS EXERCISING A 12 MONTH OPTION EXTENSION.
UH, MR. COLTRAN, NUMBER 35 FROM THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
DOES THAT FUNDING, UH, SUPPORT, UH, POSITIONS IN THAT OFFICE? UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT OFFHAND, UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, BUT WE'LL GET THAT BACK TO YOU.
THANK AND FIND OUT THE INFORMATION.
NO QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NUMBER YOU MOVE IN A SECOND.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER COOPER, I'LL SECOND COMM.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.
COMMISSIONER, UH, VICE PRESIDENT OMARE.
FOR 36 AND 37, NOT VOTING ON 35.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 38 THROUGH 49.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
UM, I WAS GONNA ASK, CAN NUMBER 39 BE BY ACCLIMATION, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
YOU GOT THAT 39 VIA
ARE WE GONNA DO 38 BY A OR? WE CAN, IF THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S YOUR QUESTION.
LET'S DO IT BY ACCLIMATION THEN WE'LL PUT EVERYBODY ON.
AND IT'S MOVED BY COMMISSIONER COOPER.
BY COMMISSIONER MCCARDLE ROCO.
MADAM CLERK TO TAKE RESOLUTION 38 THROUGH 49.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT OMARE? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION 54, WHICH IS THE 2022 COUNTY AUDIT, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I JUST RECEIVED THIS, THIS, UH, THIS AFTERNOON.
UH, THERE ARE NO AUDIT COMMENTS IN IT, SO THERE'LL BE NO CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN, UH, BROUGHT TO, BROUGHT TO THE, UH, THE BOARD OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
UM, I'M, AS I SAID, I'M GOING THROUGH IT AND, UH, I'LL BE ABLE TO FURTHER REPORT ONCE I'VE COMPLETED THAT REVIEW.
MR.
I SECOND AND A SECOND COMMISSIONER, MOVE BY.
COMMISSIONER SIEBEL SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MECADO.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT MAREZ.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE TO REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES.
COMMISSIONER, DO YOU HAVE ANY, OH, I'M SORRY.
I DON'T HAVE A REPORT, BUT I HAVE A QUESTION STEMMING FROM, UM, ONE OF MY COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
I WAS CONTACTED BY, UM, SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WERE IN ATTENDANCE.
THEY ASKED QUESTIONS AND THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE.
TYPICALLY, HOW LONG DO WE TAKE TO SEND THE RESPONSE BACK TO? IS, IS IT A RESPONSE FROM THIS BOARD OR WAS IT DIRECTED TO THE ADMINISTRATION? I THINK IT WAS A COMBINATION OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD AS WELL AS SOME THAT PROBABLY
[01:10:01]
WOULD NEED TO BE ANSWERED BY THE ADMINISTRATION, MADAM CLERK.UM, IT TYPICALLY TAKES ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO, TO GET ANSWERS OUT.
UM, AND, UH, WE SEND OUR, THE QUESTIONS THAT GO TO THE ADMINISTRATION, THEY RESPOND, UM, UH, VERY, UH, RAPIDLY, UM, WHENEVER WE SEND THEM INFORMATION.
AND THEN THAT INFORMATION IS, UH, SENT OUT VIA EITHER EMAIL OR BY, UH, REGULAR MAIL, UH, TO THE PEOPLE WHO ASK.
AND SOMETIMES, UH, UH, THROUGH, FOR CLARIFICATION, UM, PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME TO THE MIC, WE ONLY SEND RESPONSES TO ACTUAL QUESTIONS.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE LOOKING FOR RESPONSES, BUT THEY DON'T ASK QUESTIONS.
THERE WAS A PERIOD WHEN WE WERE DOING SOME CHANGES BETWEEN, UM, OUR, OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER.
THAT MAY HAVE BEEN A GAP, BUT GENERALLY WE ARE PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH, UH, TWO WEEK TURNAROUND.
SO GOING FORWARD, MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, UM, WHEN I HAVE A COMMITTEE MEETING, I SHOULD ASK THE PERSON AT THE MIC, ARE THEY JUST MAKING A STATEMENT OR QUESTION SO THAT WE CAN RESPOND ACCORDINGLY? MAKE SENSE? THAT MAKE SENSE? YEAH.
IF, IF YOU NOTICE, I, I'LL MAKE IT A POINT TO SAY TO PEOPLE, WE WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IF YOU, IF YOU JUST MAKE STATEMENTS, THERE'S NOTHING TO ANSWER.
BUT IF YOU COME TO THE MIC AND YOU ASK A SPECIFIC QUESTION, THEN YOU SHOULD GET A SPECIFIC RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION AND YOU SHOULD GET IT IN A TIMELY FASHION.
AND IF YOU DON'T, NOW WE NEED TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
LEGISLATIVE REPORTS, WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS, UNFINISHED BUSINESS, NEW BUSINESS.
IN THAT CASE, LET'S MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
MR. MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, I I DID HAVE ANY, ABSOLUTELY.
IF I, I DID HAVE AN ANSWER FOR MR. CIO'S QUESTION ABOUT STAFFING FOR THE NUMBER 35.
YES, IT'S UH, ACTUALLY 13 POSITIONS.
UH, IT COVERS THE SALARY AND OVERTIME INFRINGING BENEFITS FOR 13 POSITIONS.
ONE VICTIM, UH, WITNESS COORDINATOR, 10 VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATES, ONE ADVOCATE CLERK, AND ONE CLERK.
SO THAT'S THAT WHOLE SEGMENT OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
PROBABLY THAT'S FUNDED BY THAT.
OKAY, MADAM CLERK, LET'S MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.
THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME, AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD, AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
COMMISSIONER COOPER, I THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT QUESTION ON QUESTIONS ASKED AT A MEETING.
'CAUSE I'M WAITING FOR ANSWERS ON QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED.
WE DO HEAR A LOT OF COMMENTS AS TO WHAT THE, THE COMMISSIONERS CAN'T DO.
I'M MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU CAN DO.
IN MARCH OF 22, I SENT A DETAILED EMAIL TO COMMISSIONER, UH, GIL.
I'M ASSUMING HE NEVER SHARED IT WITH ANY OF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS REGARDING TRAINING AND OTHER DEFICIENCIES, SAFETY CONCERNS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
I FOLLOWED UP TWO OTHER TIMES TO NOTE WITH NO RESPONSE.
SO WE CONTINUE TO SAY WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE CAN'T DO.
YOU KNOW, CORRECTIONS HAS BEEN HERE.
WE'VE BEEN HERE CONTINUALLY WITHOUT A RESPONSE.
I UNDERSTAND YOU SAY THAT YOU DON'T RESPOND TO PEOPLE SPEAKING ON THE MIC.
I SIT AROUND AFTER THE MEETING AND WAIT TO SEE IF ANYBODY HAS A QUESTION.
AND EVERYONE RUNS OUTTA HERE LIKE THEY OWE ME MONEY.
BUT I GUESS THEY DO NOW BECAUSE THEY DO OWE US MONEY.
AND ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, IS ENOUGH.
WE'RE TALKING ALMOST SEVEN YEARS OUTTA CONTRACT.
NOT TO KEEP BEATING THE SAME DEAD HORSE.
BUT NOT ONE COMMISSIONER HAS EVER REACHED OUT TO ME FOR THE CONCERNS THAT I BOUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD.
UM, LAST WEEK WE SAW A LOT OF PICTURES FOR THE OPENING OF THE BURN GOLF COURSE.
$8 MILLION, NO INVESTMENT IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR IN PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT $8 MILLION IN A GOLF COURSE THAT'S GOING TO SERVE A VERY SMALL DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE COUNTY PUBLIC.
WE SERVE ALL FOUR CORNERS OF THE COUNTY, BUT YET YOU DON'T INVEST IN US.
UH, I THINK YOU REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
'CAUSE ALL OF YOU SIT HERE AND LOOK AT ME.
BUT NOT ONE OF YOU HAVE EVER ASKED ME A QUESTION.
A GUY CAN COME UP HERE AND TELL YOU PLANTED THREE TREES.
YOU'LL ASK HIM WHERE HE WENT TO SCHOOL, WHERE HE GOT THE TREES FROM.
WE'RE TELLING YOU ABOUT LEGITIMATE CONCERNS TO OUR SAFETY AND TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND YOU'RE NEGLECTFUL JUST SITTING THERE AT THE OPENING OF THE GOLF COURSE.
YOU TALK ABOUT TEAM CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT A TEAM.
WHO'S ON THE TEAM? IS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PART OF THE COUNTY TEAM? HOW DO WE GET ON THE TEAM? IS THERE AN APPLICATION? DO WE HAVE TO SWEAR AN OATH? DO WE TRY OUT, HOW DO WE GET ON THE TEAM? 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT TREATED AS TEAM MEMBERS.
[01:15:01]
COURTESY OF THE CONVERSATION.I HAVE TO COMMEND MAYOR BARAKA FOR A MEETING WITH THE NEWARK FIREFIGHTERS YESTERDAY TO RESOLVE THEIR ISSUES.
WE'VE BEEN BRINGING FORTH ISSUES WITHOUT A WORD FROM ANYONE FROM THE SHERIFF, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, OR ANY MEMBER OF THIS BOARD FOR YEARS.
SO I I COMMEND 30 SECONDS MAYOR BARAKA FOR MEETING WITH THE NEWARK FIRE UNIONS YESTERDAY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES.
BUT THEY HAD TO LOSE TWO OF THEIR BROTHERS TO GET THAT MEETING.
IT'S ALMOST USELESS COMING HERE.
QUESTION, HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE JAIL YET? QUESTION.
HAVE YOU GONE INTO THE CELL AND CLOSED THE DOOR? QUESTION, HAVE YOU LAID IN ONE OF THE BUNK BEDS TO SEE THAT YOU TWO CAN MAKE A WEAPON WITHOUT MUCH EFFORT BECAUSE THE BEDS ARE FALLING APART? THAT'S HOW THEY'RE STABBING.
NOT ONLY THE OFFICERS BUT THEMSELVES.
QUESTION THE TAX INCREASE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE THE COUNTY, THE $45 MILLION THAT'S SITTING FOR BACKPACK.
NO DISRESPECT MR. UH, RICHARDSON.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, UM, THERE'S LOVE.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THIS, THIS BUSINESS FOR ME, UH, DON'T BELIEVE IT.
THE COUNTY HAVE $45 MILLION SITTING THERE, THEN THEY NEED TO RELEASE THOSE FUNDS AND PAY THESE FOLKS.
YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FORECLOSURE BEHIND ON THEIR RENT AND ALL OF THAT.
SO IT'S SIMPLY NOT HAVING A CONTRACT.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE OTHER UNIONS DON'T GET TOGETHER AND COME HERE TOO, BECAUSE THE CLERK SHOULD BE HERE.
THE PEOPLE THAT WORK AT 300 SHOULD BE HERE.
THE CORRECTIONS SHOULD BE HERE.
YOU KNOW, THE RETALIATION THAT THESE OFFICERS HAVE COME TO THIS MIC AND UNION LEADERS AND RETIRED HAVE COME TO THIS MIC ABOUT IS REAL.
I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE THE YOUNG MAN HERE THAT RETIRED.
BUT YOU SHOULD RUN FOR COUNTY AS THAT.
IT'S TIME TO GET JOE D OUTTA HERE BECAUSE HE DOESN'T RESPECT US.
THESE GUYS EVIDENTLY CAN'T EARN A LIVING THERE EITHER.
THEY HAD A NICE, UH, LETTER ON THE PBA NEW JERSEY LAW ENFORCEMENT MAGAZINE THINGY.
I THINK YOU GUYS SHOULD READ IT BECAUSE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FLIGHT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS, FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE OF THE PAY, BECAUSE OF THE COST AND INCREASE.
AS YOU HEARD THE YOUNG MAN SAY, YOU KNOW, HE HASN'T HAD A RAISE YET.
HE'S RETIRED NOW HE ON A FIXED INCOME.
SOCIAL SECURITY DIDN'T KICK IN.
'CAUSE UNFORTUNATELY HE'S TWO DAYS TOO YOUNG FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS.
SO HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT SUPPLEMENTAL INCOME.
AND AS WE DON'T DO, AND AS YOU GUYS KEEP PLAYING AND YOU KEEP ALLOWING, AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR ROLE, BUT YOU GUYS ARE THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE COUNTY.
YOU HAVE NOT PUT ONE OUNCE OF PRESSURE ON JOE D.
SO GUESS WHAT? IT'S GONNA FALL ON YOU.
AND AGAIN, YOU GUYS ARE FIGHTING THEM ON THIS MEDICAL CONTRACT.
WHAT IS IT? WE MESSED UP THE CITY OF NEWARK MESSED UP 30 SECONDS.
WE GOT INTO POLITICAL BED WITH MURPHY, DO NOTHING.
AND YOU GOT COSTED EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY BECAUSE WHEN THE COUNTY SWITCHED OVER TO THE STATE AND THE CITY SWITCHED OVER TO THE STATE, YOU KICKED PEOPLE OFF THAT WERE IN FAMILIES.
ALL OF THIS PARK MONEY WHERE, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ESSEX COUNTY PARK COMMISSIONS, FREE PARK PROGRAM CAMP PROGRAMS FOR OUR KIDS IN THE SUMMER.
WHERE IS THAT? YOU FIXING ALL THESE TREES, TENNIS COURTS ON CLOSING, BUT THERE'S NOTHING FOR THE CHILDREN TO DO AND FAMILIES NEED THAT RESOURCE RIGHT NOW.
SO WHERE'S THE SHOW US THE 54 MILLION? 'CAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S THERE.
SO, SO MS. JACKSON, MY PERSONAL, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU BUMP THE AMOUNT UP SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT IT IS NOT, NOT QUITE 54 MILLION.
THAT WASN'T THE NUMBER THAT I STATED.
AND I PREDICT IT WON'T BE MUCH LONGER AND THEY WILL GET THEIR MONEY.
UM, SO, UH, JUST TO PIGGYBACK, UM, OFF, OFF OF YOU, MR. UH, PRESIDENT RICHARDSON, UM, THERE WAS A FIGURE GIVEN.
NOW IS THAT ACROSS THE BOARD OR IS THAT JUST ONE PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT? I'M SURE YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET INTO PARTICULARS.
UM, BUT UH, A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY WILL BE GREAT WITH THAT AND I'M SURE THAT WILL BE FORTHCOMING.
UM, SO, SO THOSE OF US WHO ARE INCLINED, WE DO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE.
THE PROBLEM IS THE BOARD IS NOT PUTTING A FIRE
[01:20:01]
UNDER THE EXECUTIVE.AND THAT NEEDS TO START, UM, THE ANTI-POLICE RHETORIC.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I FEEL LIKE IT IS COMING FROM THIS COUNTY IS RIDICULOUS.
WE WORK THE FACILITIES THAT YOU GOVERN, WE WORK THE STREETS THAT YOU GOVERN.
I DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY YOU GUYS TRAVEL TO THIS BUILDING, BUT YOU CAN'T BE COMING DOWN SPRINGFIELD AVENUE.
YOU CAN'T BE COMING DOWN SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE AND YOU CAN'T BE COMING ACROSS HIGH STREET AND SEEING WHAT I SEE AND THINKING THAT THIS IS OKAY.
'CAUSE IT'S NOT, THE CRIME IN THIS COUNTY IS ON THE RISE.
THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED ARE HINDERED DUE TO POLITICS.
I'VE SAID IT WHEN I FIRST CAME BACK TO THIS MIC AND STARTED SPEAKING, THE POLITICS HAVE RUINED THIS COUNTY.
PEOPLE ARE FLEEING BECAUSE THEY ARE RISKING LIFE AND LIMB FOR SOMETHING THEY LOVE TO DO, BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO STAY HERE.
SO THIS BOARD SENT ME A RESPONSE FROM THE QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED AND IT DIDN'T REALLY GIVE ME THE ANSWER IT, AND IN FACT, IT DIDN'T GIMME ANY ANSWER.
SO I'M, I'M GOING TO ASSUME WHAT I SAID MIGHT'VE BEEN TAKEN AS A STATEMENT, RATHER A QUESTION.
WHEN YOU GUYS HAVE YOUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND FOLKS COME HERE AND THEY SPEAK TO THE COMMITTEE, DOES THAT COMMITTEE COME BACK TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE AND DISCUSS HOW TO MOVE FORWARD? OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? GOING BACK TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WE HAD, THAT STARTED ALL OF THIS THAT STARTED WITH, WITH, WITH THE UNIONS COMING, STARTED WITH THE FOLKS COMING, GOT THE BALL ROLLING.
WHEN THAT OR THOSE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS CAME TO THIS BOARD, DID ANYBODY COME BACK AND HOLD AN EMERGENCY MEETING AND SAYING, LISTEN, WE NEED TO FIX THE ISSUES.
NOT ONLY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE CONTRACT, BUT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRAINING AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESOURCES.
'CAUSE YET AGAIN, PUBLIC SAFETY IS AT RISK.
WE ARE DEALING WITH ANTIQUATED TECHNOLOGY.
30 SECONDS OLD SYSTEMS, UNDERSTAFFING NOT HAVING PROPER EQUIPMENT.
AND YET WE LOOK AT THIS AGENDA, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GET PASSED THROUGH HERE.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? THANK YOU.
SO JUST WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING.
THE, THE ATTORNEY, THE OUTSIDE COUNSEL THAT THIS BOARD IS CONTINUOUSLY RENEWING AND IMPROVING CONTRACTS TO FIGHT THE HEALTHCARE GRIEVANCE AND UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE THAT, THAT WE HAVE FILED, WHICH WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO.
SO, UM, THE AMOUNT OF THOSE CONTRACTS, I I THINK ONE OF MY PAST QUESTIONS WAS NOT ANSWERED CORRECTLY.
'CAUSE MAYBE IT WAS MISUNDERSTOOD, BUT BASED ON YOUR COMMENT, MR. PRESIDENT, I'LL CLARIFY.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THE COUNTY HAS SPENT ON THE OUTSIDE LAW FIRMS TO FIGHT THE UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE, LAWSUIT, LITIGATION, WHATEVER.
IT'S WHATEVER YOU WANNA CHARACTERIZE IT AS.
I WANNA KNOW THE LUMP SUM BECAUSE I THINK THE TAXPAYERS NEED TO KNOW THAT.
NOT NOT PIECEMEAL YEAR AFTER YEAR APPROVALS.
I JUST NEED TO KNOW THE WHOLE NUMBER THAT'S BEEN SPENT BECAUSE BY MY ACCOUNT IT'S IN EXCESS OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
THE COUNTY HAS NOT WANTED A SINGLE STAGE.
SO THAT'S TAXPAYER MONEY THAT'S JUST GETTING THROWN OUT THERE.
SO MAYBE 34 MILLION COULD HAVE BEEN 35 MILLION.
AND ANOTHER POINT IS PERC JUST DENIED THE COUNTY'S MOTION TO STAY THE ORDER.
SO AGAIN, ANOTHER LOSS AND MORE TAXPAYER MONEY WASTED TO GET THE SAME ANSWER THAT YOU CONTINUED TO GET OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS SINCE THIS UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE WAS INITIALLY FILED.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE JUST THROWING MORE MONEY INTO A HOLE TO GET THE SAME ANSWER OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
YOU RESPONDED BACK THAT THE ADMINISTRATION SAID THEY WOULD NEGOTIATE.
I'M GONNA CHECK MY PHONE JUST TO MAKE SURE.
STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN A CALL, TEXT, OR EMAIL.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU GETTING THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
BUT AGAIN, TWO PARTIES HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE TO NEGOTIATE.
WE'VE SAID THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
AND THE $34 MILLION YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S $34 MILLION WE'RE AWARE OF, OF HOW MUCH MONEY IS PARKED.
'CAUSE IT'S IN YOUR FINANCIAL REPORTS AND DISCLOSURES.
I APPRECIATE YOU BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT.
AND, AND THE, UH, THE BOARD BRINGING THAT TO THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION.
HOWEVER, WE RECEIVED OVER $10 MILLION IN BASE SALARY REIMBURSEMENTS BECAUSE SHERIFF'S OFFICERS WERE REASSIGNED DURING THE PANDEMIC AND DID COVID RELATED DUTIES AT VACCINE SITES AND TESTING SITES.
SO ON TOP OF THE 34 MILLION, ANOTHER 10 PLUS
[01:25:01]
MILLION, AND I KNOW THE NUMBER'S HIGHER THAN THAT, I'M BEING CONSERVATIVE IN MY ESTIMATE.SO WE'RE REALLY TALKING 44 MILLION, RIGHT? SO FORGET ABOUT THE MILLION WASTED ON THE LAW FIRM, PLUS 44 MILLION.
AGAIN, WE CAN'T BE DISRESPECTED AND IGNORED FOREVER.
WE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THE TABLE.
AND ON A FINAL NOTE, THE LAW FIRM THAT YOU'RE PAYING INCLUDED IN ONE OF THEIR FILINGS, THEIR, THEIR BRIEF THAT THEY FILED BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 22 TO TRY AND GET SUMMARY JUDGMENT.
THEY SAID SPECIFICALLY ON SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2016, THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS PASSED A RESOLUTION ENTERING THE STATE HEALTH BENEFITS PLAN AS REQUIRED.
LOCAL 180 3 UNION LEADERSHIP WAS PRESENT AT THE MEETING AND DID NOT VOICE ANY OBJECTION TO THE PASSAGE OF THE RESOLUTION BY THE BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE NOTICED, YOU MIGHT HAVE, BUT OUR, OUR PRESENCE IN VOCALNESS IS IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THIS 'CAUSE IT'S ALMOST INSULTING THAT YOU'RE GONNA THROW IN OUR FACE THAT WE CAME TO A MEETING AND DIDN'T SPEAK UP AND DIDN'T OBJECT.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO OBJECT 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T NEGOTIATE AND WE DIDN'T AGREE TO THIS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE WITHOUT OUR PERMISSION.
I KNOW YOU DON'T NEGOTIATE, BUT YOU'RE ABLE TO VOTE TO CHANGE OUR CONTRACT TO HARM US.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T VOTE TO CHANGE OUR SALARIES TO HELP US.
YOU CAN VOTE TO DO IT WHEN IT'S NOT TO OUR FAVOR.
WHY CAN'T YOU VOTE TO DO IT WHEN IT IS TO OUR FAVOR? THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING IS PUSH THE ADMINISTRATION, GET US A SEAT AT THE TABLE WITH THEM, WITH THEM.
WE COULD SIT AT THE TABLE ALL DAY LONG.
THE ONLY FLOOR OF THE VETERAN'S COURTHOUSE THAT HASN'T BEEN RENOVATED IS THE SECOND FLOOR.
WE HAVE LOCKER ROOMS WITH NO BATHROOMS, NO RUNNING WATER.
PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME OR ACTUALLY I'LL REACH OUT TO YOUR SPOKESMAN.
I'D LIKE TO SET UP A TOUR WITH ALL THE COMMISSIONERS.
I'LL LET YOU SEE BEHIND THE SCENES THE WAY WE SEE IT.
NOT THE WAY IT'S PORTRAYED TO THE PUBLIC, BUT THE WAY WE SEE IT.
AND, AND AGAIN, I'LL TAKE YOU, I'LL TAKE YOU UP ON THAT INVITATION.
MM-HMM,
I'LL GIVE YOU SEVERAL OPTIONS.
DAY, NIGHT, EVENING, OVERNIGHT.
WE CAN GO, WE CAN GO RIGHT AFTER THIS.
ANYBODY ELSE? WISHING TO SPEAK.
THIS IS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THERE'S A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH IS NICE.
I WISH I WAS IN ESS COUNTY PARK.
SEEMS LIKE THEY GET A LOT WITH THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
SOMEBODY ASKED ABOUT LIGHTING.
MY LAST FEW YEARS OF WORKING, I WORKED IN THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE UNIT.
MAYBE WHEN YOU PUT THESE IMPROVEMENTS UP, YOU CAN PUT A LIGHTING, CAMERAS, ADD SOMETHING THAT HELPS LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I INVESTIGATED A CRIME IN A PARK AND WE COULDN'T FIND OUT WHO DID WHAT BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING THERE TO HELP US.
IT'S STILL THE SAME WITH, WITH THE, THE BUILDINGS THAT, THAT, THAT CAPTAIN ESPOSITO'S TALKING ABOUT.
WHEN WE MOVED INTO THE NEW PATROL BUILDING, WE WENT IN, THERE WAS, WE WERE ALREADY OUTGROW.
I HAD FOUR DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING EVERY CRIME IN, IN ESS COUNTY ON THEIR PROPERTIES.
BUT THAT'S ALL THAT COULD FIT IN THAT DB.
EVEN IF YOU WANT TO PUT MORE PEOPLE IN THERE, YOU CAN'T.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE IMPROVEMENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT GETS THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL IT SEEMS LIKE, SEEMS LIKE NOBODY CARES ON THIS BOARD.
WHO'S GONNA PROTECT ALL THESE IMPROVEMENTS? WHO PROTECTS ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS? WHO, WHO? THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PROTECTS IT.
AND YET WE'RE WORKING WITHOUT A CONTRACT.
WELL, NOT ME, BUT THE MEN AND WOMEN ARE WORKING WITHOUT A CONTRACT.
HEALTH BENEFITS ARE RIDICULOUS, WHICH WE ALREADY WON, BUT YET WE JUST KEEP GOING AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND ALMOST SEVEN YEARS NOW.
SO I I, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF SOME, SOMEBODY HERE WOULD LIKE TO FIRE.
I THINK IT'S REALLY ONE PERSON THAT'S HOLDING EVERYTHING UP AND WE KNOW WHO THAT ONE PERSON IS.
HE'S HOLDING EVERYTHING UP AND I THINK HE'S DOING IT PURPOSELY.
HE DOESN'T LIKE CERTAIN PEOPLE IN THE UNIONS BECAUSE THEY PUSH BACK.
I THINK THE FIRE HAS ALREADY BEEN LIT.
AND AGAIN, I PREDICT THAT IT WON'T BE MUCH LONGER.
[01:30:02]
YOU'LL GET YOUR MONEY, YOU'LL GET YOUR KIND, YOU'LL GET WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU DESERVE AND WHAT'S COMING TO YOU.I DON'T HAVE NO INSIDE INFORMATION, BUT I PREDICT ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK.
UM, UM, MY NAME IS SHARON MAXWELL.
I'M A RESIDENT ACROSS THE STREET IN SOCIETY HILL.
IT'S NOT AS SERIOUS AS MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO, UH, SPOKE HERE THIS EVENING, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, UM, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE PARK IN TERMS OF, I'M TALKING ABOUT CULTURAL EVENTS AND UH, THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN SOME WONDERFUL EVENTS.
UM, SOME DIVERSE EVENTS, OPERA.
WE'VE HAD OPERA, WE'VE HAD JAZZ AND SOME OTHER, UM, THINGS GOING ON IN THE PARK THAT HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY NICE.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN, AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, AND THAT'S REALLY WHY I'M HERE TODAY, IS, UH, THAT WE WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR THE HOUSE MUSIC AND THOSE, UH, EVENT IS PARTICULARLY THE HOUSE MUSIC TO REALLY COME BACK.
WE WOULD HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, SUPPORT A LOT OF THE VENDORS THAT WERE AT THAT.
UM, DURING, AT THE HOUSING, EXCUSE ME, AT THE CO UH, THE HOUSE PARTY STUFF THAT WAS GOING ON LAST YEAR.
AND I WAS INFORMED, UH, BY ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO DOES THE EVENTS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN VERY, A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HOUSE MUSIC.
I ATTENDED MOST OF THE HOUSE, UH, HOUSE MUSIC EVENTS LAST YEAR.
AND WHAT I NOTICED WAS, UM, A A LOT OF DIVERSE FOLKS THERE.
IT WAS, EVERYONE WAS VERY PEACEFUL.
EVERYONE PICKED UP AFTER THEMSELVES.
WHEN WE WERE ASKED TO LEAVE THE PARK, WE LEFT THE PARK ON TIME.
UH, THERE WERE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO CAME BACK OUT TO THE PARK, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT AREA WAS CLEANED.
AND SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY THE HOUSE MUSIC, UH, IS NOT PART OF THE AGENDA AND IN TERMS OF THE MUSIC AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT COME BACK.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY I DID ASK SEVERAL OF THE HOMEOWNERS TO COME OUT AND SPEAK THIS EVENING, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY WERE WORKING AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND I DO HAVE ANOTHER HOMEOWNER HERE THAT ALSO SUPPORTS, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVING THE HOUSE MUSIC COME BACK.
SO WE CAN ALSO SUPPORT SOME OF THE VENDORS WHO ARE, THAT'S REALLY THEIR MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME WHEN WE HAVE THOSE HOUSE, UM, THE HOUSE PARTY EVENTS COMING OUT, THAT'S THEIR MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME.
SO I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO COME BACK IF POSSIBLE.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.
ANY ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? MADAM CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SO COMMISSIONER COMMENTS SESSION? I SO MR. PRESIDENT FOR ME, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, UH, I'D LIKE TO ACCOMPANY YOU ON THIS TOUR IF YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT AFTER THE MEETING.
WHERE'D THAT GENTLEMAN GO? IS HE STILL HERE? HOLD HERE.
UM, I I JUST WANT TO UH, TAKE ANOTHER COUPLE MINUTES AND TAKE YOUR TIME.
WE LOST A GIANT, GIANT, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE OLIVER.
I A DEAR FRIEND AND SHE WILL BE MISSED.
SHE MEANT SO MUCH TO SO MANY FOR A LONG TIME AND I JUST WANTED THE PUBLIC SAY THAT.
[01:35:02]
MOVE IT.