[00:02:07]
OH, FIRST TIME, WHATEVER NUMBER TAKING KIDS, YOU LET ME KNOW.
SPEEDING OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS HEREBY CALLED TO ORDER.
HIS SPEEDING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED IN ADDITION TO TAKING PLACE IN PERSON.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE SALUTE TO THE FLAG.
I'M GONNA ASK COMMISSIONER GIL TO LEAVE US IN THE SALUTE TODAY.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THANKS TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
JUST GONNA ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO WE'VE LOST SINCE THE LAST TIME WE GATHERED HERE.
I HAVE BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FROM THE DEPUTY CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF TRANSCRIPTS.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY TRANSCRIPTS TO BE APPROVED? NO.
MADAM CLERK, ARE THERE ANY TOPICS OF DISCUSSION? NO.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.
TONIGHT'S MEETING IS A COMBINED CONFERENCE BOARD MEETING, AND WE WILL VOTE ON EVERY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THERE WILL BE TIME LATER ON IN THE EVENING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON OTHER ITEMS. SO I ASK YOU, PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
MADAM CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THERE IS NO ONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
AND LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE ON INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READINGS.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READINGS? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE TWO ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE NUMBER ONE, WHICH WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UM, MR. ZAS IS GONNA HANDLE, UH, ONE AND TWO.
[00:05:01]
THE MEETING FOR MR. ZAS TO COME ON UP.UH, JOSHUA ZAS S COUNTY PARKS, UH, IT'S VERY EARLY.
I HOPE I DON'T, UH, STUTTER TOO MUCH.
UM, NUMBER ONE IS, UH, COUNTY, UH, ORDINANCE TO AMEND, UH, BASICALLY OUR, UH, RULES AND REGULATIONS, UH, TO ALLOW FOR THE SALE AND SERVICE OF ALCOHOL, STRICTLY BEER AND WINE AT THE COUNTY'S THREE GOLF COURSES, WHICH ARE HENDRICKS WHEAT QUAKE AND FRANCIS BYRNE.
CURRENTLY, WE ALLOW, UH, BEER AND WINE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS THROUGH A PERMIT THROUGH OUR PERMITS DEPARTMENT.
THIS WOULD ACTUALLY ALLOW FOR THE SALE OF THOSE ITEMS. UH, WE'RE LOOKING TO, UH, OUTSOURCE, UH, OUR CONCESSIONS OVER THERE AND, UH, IT'LL BE A, A BIG, A BIG, UH, INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO APPLY, UH, IF THAT IS APPROVED.
MR. PARLOVE, ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.
YOU, YOU DID ANSWER HALF OF IT, WHERE THIS WILL GO OUT FOR SOME TYPE OF BID TO HAVE A, UH, LET'S CALL IT A DESIGNATED POOR OR WHATEVER THE TERM IS THAT WE USE FOR SODA.
WILL THERE BE ANY, UM, PER, UM, ANY BRING YOUR OWN PERMITTED, UH, LET'S SAY, OR WOULD THAT BE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE, UH, JOSH, ROSA, JOSE, TEXAS COUNTY PARKS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? NO, IT'D STRICTLY BE, UH, SALE THROUGH THE CONCESSIONAIRE.
MR. MCINERNEY, ANY QUESTIONS? YES, I DO.
UH, DOES THIS GENERATE ANY, UH, LIABILITY FOR SALES TAX, UH, RETAIL SALES TAX, UH, JOSHUA ZA S COUNTY PARK FOR YOU? MR. PRESIDENT, I MEAN, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD ALL BE ON THE CONCESSION ERROR TO, TO CHARGE THE APPLICABLE SALES TAX OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
SO, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE JUST RENTING THE FACILITY AND HOW, HOW IS THIS WORKING? RIGHT, SO THEY WOULD, UH, SIMILAR TO OTHER CONSENT, SIMILAR TO, UM, ARAMARK OVER AT THE ZOO, THEY HAVE A, A SIMILAR POLICY.
IT'D BE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THAT.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS.
DO WE HAVE ANY ESTIMATES FOR PROJECTED REVENUES THAT THIS INITIATIVE MIGHT BRING TO THE COUNTY, UH, JOSHUA COUNTY PARK? THREE, YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? IT WOULD, THE ONLY REVENUE THE COUNTY WOULD, UH, RECEIVE WOULD BE THE, UH, PAYMENTS THEY RECEIVE FROM THE VENDOR TO RUN THE CONCESSION.
UM, IT WOULD BE THE SAME AMOUNT, WHETHER THEY SOLD ONE BEER OR A HUNDRED BEERS, THE COUNTY WOULD GET THE SAME AMOUNT.
COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, WHAT ABOUT DOING SPECIAL EVENTS? UH, I'M, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.
SPECIAL EVENTS OR IS THERE A SPECIAL EVENT IN THE PARK? UH, YEAH, IT WOULD BE, UH, IT'S ALREADY ALLOWED DURING SPECIAL EVENTS, SO IT WOULD BE CONTINUED TO BE ALLOWED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND? I'LL MOVE IT.
I'M MOVED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SIEBEL.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT POMEZ? YES.
UH, LET'S MOVE ON TO WAR NUMBER TWO, WHICH WILL BE ADDED THE RECORD INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? MR. ZAS? AGAIN, MR. ZAS? YES.
JOSHUA ZAS AS COUNTY PARKS, UH, NUMBER TWO IS, UH, AMENDMENT TO THE, UH, 2024 FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE YES.
UM, THE BOARD RECENTLY APPROVED, UH, THE FEE SCHEDULE FOR 2024.
UM, AS WE WERE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THE RATES INTO OUR SIGNAGE AND, UM, VARIOUS OTHER PAMPHLETS, WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN ERROR FOR THE, UH, IRVINGTON PARK COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE HAD ESTABLISHED THE RATE AT $500.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN $650, WHICH BRINGS IT RIGHT IN LINE WITH THE CHERRY BLOSSOM WELCOME CENTER.
IT'S THE SAME EXACT RATE, AND THEY ARE COMPARABLE BUILDINGS IN SIZE.
SO, UH, THAT'S WHAT WE WERE LOOKING TO AMEND.
MR. PARLO BACK, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE IT? I MOVE IT.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SIEBEL.
UM, MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT.
OKAY, MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET'S MOVE ON, UH, TO SECOND READINGS IN PUBLIC HEARING FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY.
DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTIONS FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY? YES.
MADAM DEPUTY COURT, CAN YOU LIST RESOLUTIONS? UH, R DASH 2024 DASH 0 0 2 3 8 AND
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R DASH 2024 DASH 0 0 2 39 IN ORDINANCE O DASH 20 24 0 0 0 0 7 FOR PUBLIC HEARING AT OUR APRIL 17TH MEETING.OKAY, MADAM, DR. KIRK, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTIONS ON SECOND READING, UH, AND PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE THREE.
ORDINANCE O 20 24 0 0 0 0 5 AND ORDINANCE O 20 24 0 0 0 0 6.
OKAY, MADAM, I PUT THE CLERK, LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 20 24 0 0 4, WHICH WILL BE TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
SO I HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE NUMBER O 2024 DASH 0 0 0 4 OPEN.
IF THERE IS ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FOR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
FOR THE RECORD, SEEING NO ONE HAS COME TO THE MICROPHONE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
MR. PAR LEBECK, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
MR. KINER, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION? NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY, SCENE NONE.
COMMISSIONER, DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE ZERO OH DASH 2024 DASH 0 0 0 4.
MOVE BY COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVER AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT.
OKAY, MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 20 24 0 0 5, AND IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I HEREBY DECLARE THAT PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 2024 DASH 0 0 0 5 OPEN.
IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FOR OR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, SEEING NO ONE COMING TO THE MICROPHONE.
MR. PARLOVE, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
COMMISSIONERS, DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE ORDINANCE SECOND ZERO ZERO DASH 2024 DASH 0 0 0 0 5.
THAT'S MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MERCADO.
COMMISSIONER RICHARDS, DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVER AND SECOND? YES.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT.
OKAY, MADAM DEPUTY CLARK, LET'S MOVE ON TO A THIRD AND FINAL ONE.
ORDINANCE NUMBER ZERO DASH 20 24 0 0 0 0 6, WHICH WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I HEREBY DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE NUMBER 0 20 24 DASH 0 0 0 6 OPEN.
IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FOR OR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
MR. PARCO, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE ZERO.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RICHARDSONS.
DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVER AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE MOTION? YES.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
OKAY, MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS ONE THROUGH FIVE, WHICH ARE ADVICE AND CONSENT NOMINATIONS FOR VARIOUS APPOINTMENTS.
[00:15:01]
RELU RESOLUTION SIX THROUGH 15 ARE ADVICE CONSENT NOMINATIONS FOR REAPP APPOINTMENTS FOR VARIOUS, UH, APPOINTMENTS.LET'S BEGIN WITH THE NOMINATIONS OF RESOLUTIONS ONE THROUGH FIVE AND THEY'LL BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, OUR FIRST NOMINEE IS MR. HOWARD WEISS TO BE THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
I'M A RESIDENT OF, UH, WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.
I'VE, UH, BEEN WITH THE COUNTY, UH, A FEW YEARS.
RIGHT?
BUT ANYWAY, BUT I'VE HELD AN, A VARIETY OF JOBS IN MY, OVER MY, UH, TIME IN THE COUNTY.
I STARTED AS A RESEARCH ANALYST.
I WAS IN CHARGE OF THE MIS UNIT.
AT ONE TIME I WAS A SENIOR PLANNER, UH, AND I'D BEEN, UM, AN ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, AND ASSISTANT TO DIVISION DIRECTOR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
SO, UH, WE'VE BEEN AROUND A WHILE.
RIGHT NOW FOR THE POSITION THAT I'M BEING NOMINATED FOR IT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO BE THE STAFF PERSON FOR THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD, THE ESSEX COUNTY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE WORKFORCE SYSTEM IN THE COUNTY.
SO YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOOKING AT THE FUNDING PRO FUNDED PROGRAMS FOR THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT.
YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD THE NAME W OA, YOU'VE HEARD THE INITIALS.
W OA IS THE SUCCESSOR PROGRAM TO W-A-W-I-A, WHICH WAS WE HAD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND SO THE BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE TO OVERSEE THOSE PROGRAMS THAT ARE FUNDED UNDER THAT AS WELL AS OTHER PARTNER PROGRAMS OF THE SYSTEM.
SO NOT JUST THAT, BUT ALSO THE WELFARE TO WORK PROGRAMS AS WELL AS A MULTITUDE OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS FROM THE OTHER, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, UH, THAT ARE INVOLVED.
LITERACY PROGRAMS, PROGRAMS FOR THE SERVE, THE DISABLED, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE, UH, SYSTEM OF WHAT EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, THE STAFF OF EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, UNEMPLOYMENT, INSURANCE, AND WHATEVER.
SO IT HAS A QUITE A, THERE'S LIKE 19 PARTNER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO WORK WITH AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE WORKING PROPERLY.
SO I GUESS I'M READY FOR ANY QUESTION.
COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YEAH, YOU'VE BEEN AROUND A MINUTE.
YOU PROBABLY, UH, OVERQUALIFIED FOR THIS POSITION.
WELL, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY WHO REALLY NEED IT.
I WANTED TO MENTION TOO, I'M A LONG TIME A RESIDENT.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF ESSEX COUNTY MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I GREW UP IN NEWARK, WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN NEWARK, WENT, ENDED UP GOING, UH, TO SETON HALL AND I'VE BEEN AROUND FOREVER.
I KNEW WAS SOMETHING ABOUT YOU.
IF YOU KEEP SPEAKING, THEY MIGHT APPOINT YOU SOME OTHER OH, NO, THAT'S QUITE ALRIGHT.
COMMISSIONER, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MR. WEISS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NUMBER TWO, MS. CHRISTIAN, UH, BARLOWS TO THE POSITION OF THE ESSEX COUNTY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
UH, ALSO IN ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENCE.
I'VE ONLY BEEN IN THE COUNTRY FOR 22 YEARS.
I STARTED AS AN ADULT STUDENT AND NOW I'M HEAD OF TWO ORGANIZATIONS IN FACTOR THREE.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA FOR S SAN PA SE COUNTY.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF NCC ADULT LEARNING CENTER, UM, THE PRESIDENT OF, UH, NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION FOR LIFELONG LEARNING AND A FEW OTHER THINGS.
AND I'M TRYING TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP A LITTLE BIT MORE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THAT'S USUALLY GOOD WHEN THEY HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
WE WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
OKAY, MR. JACKSON, MOVE ON TO NUMBER THREE.
YES, NUMBER THREE, UH, JOSEPH HAFE IS, IS ALSO TO THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
I'M THE OWNER OF THE HALAL GUYS.
EVERYBODY KNOWS HALAL AND HALAL GUYS.
YOU GET SPECIAL TREATMENTS,
UH, I HAVE TWO HALAL GUYS AND ONE BAKERY.
UM, WE ARE A INVESTMENT GROUP.
WE HAVE, UH, IN STATE OF NEW JERSEY ALMOST 10 LOCATIONS AND OVER IN OTHER LOCATION STATES TOO.
WE HAVE LIKE 30, 33 LOCATIONS SO FAR.
UM, I'M, UH, UH, HONORED TO TO BE, UH, UH, PART OF, UH, THE BOARD.
UH, I, I, UH, I MET WITH THEM IN IN A FEW ZOOM MEETINGS AND, UH, I SEE THE GOOD WORK THEY DO AND I, I'LL BE HAPPY TO BE A PART OF ANY SOLUTION THAT'S, UH, WE CAN PUT FORWARD TO HELP OUR WORK, UH, ALL EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MR. RICHARDSON, CAN YOU, UH, VOUCH FOR THE ABSOLUTELY BOTH LOCATIONS, BUT I
[00:20:01]
FREQUENT THE ONE ON EDISON PLACE THE MOST.WELL, HE CAN GET A DESSERT IN THE, AT THE BAKERY.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE TO HAVE A COMMISSIONER'S RETREAT THERE.
YOU GUYS ALWAYS REACH OUT TO ME FOR GATHERING, YOU KNOW, WE APPRECIATE IT.
SOMEBODY MAKE SURE THEY GET HIS NUMBER.
UH, MR. JACKSON? UH, YES, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, JOHN BLANTON, UH, FOR THE COMMISSIONER ON AGING ADVISORY BOARD.
JUST WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO BE INVOLVED WITH ONE OF THE PASSIONS OF MY LIFE.
I'VE BEEN A ESS COUNTY RESIDENT FOR 41 YEARS, AND THROUGH CHURCH MINISTRY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A PASSION FOR THE OLDER ADULTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WHATEVER WE DO FOR OURSELVES LEAVE THIS WORLD WHEN WE LEAVE, BUT WHATEVER WE DO FOR OTHERS LAST A LIFETIME.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COM, UH, THE, UH, COMMISSION ON AGENT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE MEMBERS, UH, OF THE ADVISORY BOARD AS WELL.
AND I THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS THIS COUNTY AND WELL AS OUR OLDER ADULTS, UM, AS THEY, THEY AGE AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
AND NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS THE LAST OF THE NEW APPOINTMENTS.
MR. JACKSON? YES, MR. PRESIDENT ANGEL, UH, VARGAS, UH, TO THE POSITION OF ESSEX COUNTY VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD.
HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? WE'RE DOING WELL, THANK YOU.
I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS HERE AT ADVISORY BOARD TO THE VETERANS ESUS COUNTY.
UM, I AM A RESIDENT OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, AND HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
BEFORE THAT WAS IN MONTCLAIR, BUT I'VE SERVED MANY AGENCIES IN THE CITY OF NEWARK, UH, INCLUDING A MEMBER OF THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE UNDER RAZ J BARAKA, UH, ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO.
BUT, UH, MY CALLING NOW IS TRYING TO HELP VETERANS.
I'M A VETERAN OF THE ARMED FORCES.
I SERVED 14 YEARS IN THE ARMY AND NATIONAL GUARD.
UM, I RECENTLY DID SOME SURVEYS ON HOW MANY VETERANS WE HAVE HOMELESS IN NEW JERSEY, AND IT'S CLOSE TO 2000 NOW.
I THINK THAT, UH, THERE MUST BE A WAY IF I COULD FIND INFORMATION OR DO SOMETHING WHERE THAT'S JUST KIND OF BE THE LEAD WAY TO HELP BUILD PROPERTY AND, UH, AND GET THESE, ALL THESE BUILDINGS THAT, UH, THAT WE HAVE THAT'S NOT BEING UTILIZED, MAKE 'EM INTO SHELTERS FOR THE VETERANS THAT, THAT THAT'S SERVED, YOU KNOW? SO THAT'S ONE OF MY, UH, PET PEEVES AT THE MOMENT.
I'M IN LOVE WITH IT, UH, AND I'M GONNA CONTINUE THAT JOURNEY.
TRULY APPRECIATE THE, THE INFORMATION THAT'S GOING ON HERE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME A PART OF THIS.
IT IS US ALL AS YOU ARE GREATER THE ATTITUDE FOR YOUR SERVICE, SIR.
ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOARD AND ALL OF ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MR. RICHARDS? COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, AND THEN COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS.
WELL, MR. BURGESS, WE HAVE THE MOMENT, UH, A MOMENT TO SPEAK BEFORE THE MEETING, AND JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR SERVICE, BOTH IN THE VETERAN SPACE AND YOUR WORK WITH THE LATINO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ALL OF YOUR, YOU KNOW, ORGANIZING WORK, UH, BOTH IN THE ESSEX COUNTY AND BEYOND, AND JUST TRULY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO BRING TO THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, MY FRIEND.
HOW YOU DOING, WAYNE? BEEN TOO LONG.
I, I REMEMBER MR. VARUS WORKING WITH IYO INTERNATIONAL YOUTH ORGANIZATION FOR MANY YEARS.
UH, SO I KNOW YOU ARE COMMITTED AND DEDICATED SO YOU CAN REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE.
YOU PROBABLY STILL HAVE MY NUMBER.
ANYTHING I CAN DO TO ASSIST, DON'T HESITATE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL MR. JACKSON.
SO NUMBER SIX FOR 15 ARE REAPPOINTMENT, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO REVISIT THEM TODAY.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT, SIR.
SO DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE, UH, ONE THROUGH, UH, 15.
MOVE BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM, SECOND.
BY COMMISSIONER MECADO ROCO, MADAM DEPUTY CROOK AND ONE THROUGH 15.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER, ABSENT.
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WHO WERE APPOINTED TONIGHT, CONGRATULATIONS ON BEHALF THE ENTIRE BOARD.WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND LENDING YOUR EXPERTISE.
WE, UH, WE EVEN APPRECIATE THAT AT NO COST TO US, SO THAT'S EVEN NICER
UH, AND SERIOUSNESS, UH, WE APPRECIATE OUR COMMUNITY IS OF COURSE, ALWAYS MOVING BETTER BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELVES WHO TAKE THE TIME TO VOLUNTEER.
ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 16, MR. JACKSON.
THIS IS AN, UM, AN AMENDMENT TO A SUBGRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE IRVING IRVINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION.
UM, WE'RE MOVING, UH, $31,482 AND 62 CENTS FROM THE MONTCLAIR NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO THE IRVIN ORGANIZATION.
MONTCLAIR NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, BECAUSE OF SOME RELOCATION ISSUES, WASN'T ABLE TO EXPEND ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT HAD FROM 2023.
SO, UH, NJ DCA HAS GRANTED AN EXTENSION UNTIL, UH, JUNE OF THIS YEAR TO SPEND, TO TRANSFER THE MONEY, UH, TO, UH, IRVINGTON FOR IT, TO USE FOR ITS, UM, VARIOUS PROGRAMS. THANK YOU, MR. PARLO, BACK HERE.
DO I HAVE A MOVER AND A SECOND? MOVE IT.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK ON NUMBER 16.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, HEALTH OFFICER LDO IS GONNA HANDLE THIS ITEM.
UH, ITEM NUMBER 17, MAYA LDO, UH, HEALTH OFFICER AND DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT FOR ESSEX COUNTY.
UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHAB OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT, UH, IS SEEKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, UH, FOR, TO PROVIDE, UH, EMERGENCY OPERATIONAL READINESS REVIEW AUDIT SERVICES THROUGH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SOLUTION.
THIS IS, UH, AND WE HAD THEM THIS CONTRACT LAST YEAR.
IT'S GOING TO BE EXTENDED TO THIS YEAR.
THIS PARTICULAR AGENCY HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLE TO US.
THEY HAVE, UH, AS MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD, UH, THE STATE CAME OUT WITH A REPORT FOR COVID-19.
THEY ALL SAID THAT THERE WERE PLANS IN PLACE, BUT NOBODY KNEW ABOUT THEM.
UH, WE ARE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN AND THAT THESE ARE BRAND NEW PLANS FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ON A PUBLIC HEALTH LEVEL.
WE'LL BE CREATING AN EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE WITH THIS PARTICULAR CONSULTANT.
THE CONSULTANT WILL ALSO BE HELPING US TO, UH, COMPLETE OUR FIVE YEAR GRANT CYCLE REVIEW, UH, ENSURING THAT WE CONTINUE TO RECEIVE, UH, FUNDING FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO OUR FEDERAL F GRANT.
ANY QUESTIONS MR. PAR? NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
DO I HAVE A MOVE FOR SECOND? I'LL MOVE.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
OKAY, MADAM DEPUTY, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 18 THROUGH 23 AND THE ADDED STARTER NUMBER 55, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
AND THAT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, I ASSUME MR. ZAS WILL BE PRESENTING.
MR. ZAS JOSHUA ZAS COUNTY PARKS, UH, NUMBER 18 IS, UH, CONTRACT AWARD TO LG EVENT PRODUCTIONS IN THE MOUNTAIN NOT TO EXCEED $203,600.
THIS IS FOR VARIOUS ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
IT INCLUDES THE SUMMER CONCERTS OF BROOKDALE, THE NINE 11, UH, REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY, THE LOCAL SUMMER CONCERTS, AS WELL AS, UH, THE HOLIDAY LIGHTS OVER AT THE ZOO, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER EVENTS.
NUMBER 19 IS A CONTRACT, UH, FOR THE EXHIBITION OF FIREWORKS WITH STAR FIRE CORPORATION AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $103,000.
UH, SPECIFICALLY THIS IS FOR VARIOUS FIREWORK PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
UH, JUST SO THE BOARD CAN, UH, FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE UPCOMING CALENDAR, UH, BRANCH BROOK PARK IS GONNA HAVE ITS FIREWORKS ON JUNE 28TH WEEK WAKE ON JULY 2ND, BROOKDALE ON JULY 3RD.
UH, THEN WE ALSO HAVE A OPTIONAL EVENT, WHICH WOULD BE AT, UH, WEEK QUAKE STILL TO BE DETERMINED.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO AN AS NEEDED ALLOWANCE, UH, IN CASE, UH, WE'RE LOOKING TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS. NUMBER 20 CONTRACT AWARD TO CLARK MOYNIHAN LANDSCAPING FOR LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE AT
[00:30:01]
CONCOURSE HILL WELCOME CENTER AND THE PARKS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING 24 MONTH CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $78,376.UH, SPECIFICALLY THIS IS, UH, GONNA COST $2,849 PER MONTH, WHICH GIVES IT A FIXED TOTAL OF $68,376.
AND THEN THERE IS A $10,000 ALLOWANCE, WHICH WOULD BRING THE CONTRACT UP TO THE $78,376.
NUMBER 21 IS A CHANGE ORDER WITH AIR SYSTEM MAINTENANCE FOR MISCELLANEOUS, UH, HVAC SERVICES OVER AT THE TURTLEBACK ZOO.
UH, SO ORIGINALLY THE CONTRACT WAS 312,500.
THE ADDITIONAL 20% WOULD MAKE THE NEW TOTAL 375,000.
AND, UM, WE DO HAVE SOME PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE OVER AT THE ZOO.
UH, SPECIFICALLY THE, UH, REPTILE BUILDING, UH, NEEDS SOME HVAC OVERHAULS.
THE ORIGINAL HOSPITAL CENTER ALSO NEEDS, UH, HVAC REPLACEMENT.
AND THE NEW EDUCATION CENTER IS LOOKING FOR SOME DUCT WORK.
UM, THERE'S SOME HEATING ISSUES WE'RE DEALING WITH OVER THERE.
UH, NUMBER 22 IS A CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER WITH DOWN EARTH FARMS TO PROVIDE PICKUP REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF ANIMAL WASTE AT THE ZOO.
UH, THE CHANGE ORDER IS FOR 40,300, I'M SORRY, $40,435.
AGAIN, THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WAS $202,176.
THE NEW TOTAL WILL BE $242,611 AND 20 CENTS.
THIS IS, UH, FOR THE COLLECTION OF ANIMAL WASTE AT THE ZOO.
NUMBER 20, UH, NUMBER 23 IS THE APPROVAL OF TWO VENDOR NAME CHANGES FOR THE 2024 LOCAL ARTS GRANT RECIPIENTS.
UH, WHEN WE ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED THE MATRIX, UH, WE, UH, DID THE DOING BUSINESS AS NAME FOR TWO SPECIFIC, UH, ORGANIZATIONS INSTEAD OF THEIR LEGAL NAME.
UH, SPECIFICALLY IT'S, UH, IT'S THE IVY HILL BURG CENTER FOR ARTS CULTURE AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISM, AS WELL AS THE MILLBURN SHORT HILLS BUSINESS ORGANIZATION.
UH, EACH OF THOSE GROUPS, UH, RECEIVED A GRANT AWARD OF $6,392.
THE GRANT AWARD WILL NOT CHANGE.
THIS IS SIMPLY JUST A NAME CHANGE.
AND THEN FINALLY, NUMBER 55 AS A CONTRACT WITH HUTCHIN COMMITTEE ENTERPRISES TO PROVIDE JANITORIAL SERVICES AT THE TURTLEBACK ZOO, UH, MOUNTAIN NOT TO EXCEED $539,000.
THIS IS FOR JANITORIAL SERVICES OVER AT THE ZOO, UH, SPECIFICALLY, UM, FOR, UH, THE BATHROOM ATTENDANTS, UH, BOTH AT THE ZOO MINI GOLF, UH, AND THE BOATS.
UM, AND IT'S AN HOURLY, HOURLY RATE OF $23 AND 26 CENTS.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
MR. PARLO BACK, ANY QUESTIONS? UH, JUST A QUESTION ON 55.
JOSH, UH, HUDSON COMMUNITY ENTERPRISES, ARE THEY A SHELTERED WORKSHOP OR A BID EXEMPT ORGANIZATION? UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT JOSHUA
AND WE'VE USED THEM MULTIPLE TIMES.
ANY QUESTIONS? WE'RE DOING, UH, 18TH.
MOVE BY COMMISSIONER SAL, THEN SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER MERCADO.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 24 THROUGH 35, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. ANTONIO, WE WILL HANDLE THESE ITEMS. THANK YOU.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 24 IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO RE TACKLE CONSTRUCTION TO REPLACE TWO MINOR BRIDGES IN AN AMOUNT THAT TO EXCEED $3,686,000.
THE TWO STRUCTURES SHOULD BE REPLACED, OR THE BUFORT AVENUE CULBERT IN LIVINGSTON AND THE BLOOMFIELD AVENUE CULBERT IN WEST CALDWELL.
WE TACKLE CONSTRUCTION SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE THREE BITS RECEIVED.
AND MR. MATT GARDNER OF ALCO CONSTRUCTION IS HERE THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY AND OF COURSE, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SUPPORT MAY HAVE.
JUST PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION AND, UH, TELL US WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO.
[00:35:01]
UH, MATTHEW GORDON FROM RETA CONSTRUCTION IN BELLEVILLE.UM, I WORK AS THE PURCHASING MANAGER AT AKA AND WE WILL BE REPLACING, UH, TWO MINOR CULVERTS, UH, IN ESSEX COUNTY.
ONE IS IN LIVINGSTON AND ONE IS IN WEST CALDWELL.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, ARE YOU A UNION OUTFIT? YES, WE ARE.
UH, UNION, UH, 4 7 2 8 25, LOCAL 11, AND I THINK SIX 20 AS WELL.
AND WE HAVE, UH, ABOUT, UH, ABOUT 12 AND A HALF PERCENT OF OUR WORKFORCE IS ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS, MYSELF INCLUDED.
OKAY, MR. ANTONIO, LET'S CONTINUE.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 25 WILL ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND ROAD TO IMPROVEMENTS AT THE INTERSECTION OF MOUNTAIN AVENUE AND GOULD AVENUE IN NORTH CALDWELL BY AWARDING JC CONTRACTING A CONTRACT IN AN AMOUNT THAT YOU EXCEED $627,663.
JC CONTRACTING SUBMITTED THE LOWEST UP TO FIVE BIDS RECEIVED.
THIS CONTRACT WILL LAST 210 DAYS.
UNFORTUNATELY, MR. JOHN COYA INTENDED TO COME TO THE MEETING, BUT HE'S UNABLE TO GET HERE BECAUSE OF LOCAL FLOODING AT HIS COMPANY'S LOCATION.
UH, BUT I CAN SAY IS THAT THE APPROXIMATELY DO EMPLOY ABOUT 40% ASEX COUNTY RESIDENTS.
THEY WORK WITH 4 72 OPERATORS, FOR INSTANCE.
ITEM NUMBER 26 IS IN AWARD CONTRACT TO FOUR GI TRINITY.
4 4 4 72 ARE THE LABORERS, NOT THE OPERATORS.
UH, DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 26 IS IN A AWARD CONTRACT TO FOUR GI TRINITY ELECTRIC TO CONSTRUCT A NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION OF CHEN AVENUE PARK STREET AND CHEN PLAZA IN MONTCLAIR, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $620,753 FOUR GIA TRINITY ELECTRIC SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE SEVEN BITS RECEIVED FOR THIS PROJECT.
AND MR. ANTHONY ELLI IS HERE THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY, TRINITY FOIA, AND, UH, TOUCH ON THE SCOPE OF WORK AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TO BOARD MAY HAVE.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD AND TELL US ABOUT THE PROJECT AND YOUR COMPANY.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF JI TRINITY ELECTRIC.
I'VE BEEN DOING TRAFFIC SIGNALS FOR APPROXIMATELY 29 YEARS, AND I'VE PROBABLY DONE ABOUT OVER 150 INTERSECTIONS IN ESSEX COUNTY ALONE.
UH, THIS PROJECT ENTAILS OF INSTALLING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, CURB, SIDEWALKS, MILLING, AND PAVING OF THE ROADWAY.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S SOME DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL.
UM, AND I WILL BE OVERSEEING THE PROJECT.
WHERE ARE YOU, UH, BASED IN APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY EMPLOYEES OF ESSEX COUNTY DO YOU EMPLOY? WE HAVE ABOUT 10% ESSEX COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE 8 25, 4 72 AND 1 0 2, UH, ELECTRICAL.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER GI UH, THANK YOU, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THE, UM, UM, AND THIS, THIS QUESTION MAY BE PREMATURE, BUT WOULD THE, UM, THE, THE CURBS THEMSELVES, UM, ON THIS, ON THIS PARTICULAR INTERSECTION, I GUESS FIRST QUESTION, WILL THE PROJECT BE DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNTY'S COMPLETE STREETS POLICY? AND, UM, SECONDLY, WHEN WILL WE GET TO LOOK AT OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY PLANNING TO DO THERE? FAIRLY COMPLICATED INTERSECTION.
UM, THAT'S BEEN THE SUBJECT OF QUITE A BIT OF OUTREACH.
SO WHAT'S, WHEN WE SAY WE'RE GONNA DO A LIGHT, WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN? WE'RE GONNA INSTALL A TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO SIGNALIZE THE, UH, I BELIEVE THE FOUR APPROACHES.
UH, YOU HAVE WATCHUNG WAY, RIGHT? UH, YOU HAVE WATCHUNG AVENUE AND THEY HAVE PARK STREET, RIGHT.
THEY'LL PUT, UH, PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS WITH PUSH BUTTONS FOR THE PEDESTRIANS TO BE ABLE TO PUSH THE BUTTONS.
UH, THEY'LL HAVE, UH, CAMERA ACTUATED SIGNALS.
UM, THE CURBS, I DON'T REMEMBER OFFHAND EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING IN THERE.
BUT, UM, I KNOW THEY'RE REDOING MOST OF THE CURBS, HANDICAP RAMPS AND THEN THEIR PAVING.
TH TH THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, HAS THERE BEEN, UM, ANY THOUGHT TO EX TO BRINGING THE CURBS FURTHER OUT TO SLOW TRAFFIC EVEN FURTHER THERE? MEANING
[00:40:01]
THAT WHERE THE, UM, IF YOU HAVE, UH, WATCHUNG AVENUE, WHICH I GUESS GOING EAST TO WEST AND PARK GOING NORTH TO SOUTH AND THEN ONG RIGHT WAY WHERE THOSE CROSS, WHERE THOSE, BOTH THE CROSSWALKS ON, ON PARK AND ONG WOULD, I, DON'T YOU, YOU'RE ASKING IF THEY'RE BUMPED OUT? YEAH.WILL THEY BE BUMPED OUT OR WOULD THERE BE ANY THOUGHT? DON'T, I'M NOT SURE.
MR. ANTONIO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO WEIGH IN ON THAT? THIS IS, UH, JUST FOR REC CONTEXT, MR. ANTONIO AND MR. JACKSON.
THIS IS AN INTERSECTION THAT, UH, LONG BEFORE I WAS INVOLVED, COMMISSIONER GILL'S BEEN INVOLVED.
WE HAVE BOTH BEEN INCLUDED ON A GOOD NUMBER OF CONCERNS.
'CAUSE IT IS, UH, A VERY AWKWARD AREA AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE TURNS LEFT, TURNS COMING OUT OF THERE SOMETIMES HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF SOME SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENTS.
SO WE, WE'D LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT.
MR. ANTONIO, CAN YOU ADD FURTHER TO THAT? UH, DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, UH, AS MR. FELL MENTIONED, THERE WILL BE IMPROVEMENTS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE.
UH, THIS GO BEYOND JUST HAVING A NEW, UH, TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
THE SIGNAL WILL HAVE COUNTDOWN, UH, PEDESTRIAN HEADS, LARGE LED ONES.
THERE WILL BE HIGH VISIBILITY THERMOPLASTIC, WHITE CROSSWALKS VISIBLE AT NIGHT, DAWN AND DUSK.
UH, WELL, THERE MAY NOT BE ANY NEW BUMP OUTS.
THE GEOMETRY WAS LOOKED AT CAREFULLY TO SEE IF THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT.
UM, BUT IT'S NOT IN THE PANTS RIGHT NOW.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT OVERALL WE ARE GAINING TREMENDOUS SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE PEDESTRIANS.
UH, THAT, THAT WAS THE FOCUS OF THE IMPROVEMENT WAS TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THE PEDESTRIAN.
UH, AND SECONDLY, THE MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES THROUGH THE INTERSECTION.
I DON'T WANT TO IZE ALL THE TIME.
NO, IT'S ALL, THIS IS A, THIS IS A VERY, UH, DIFFICULT SITUATION HERE.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS HERE, SO IT WARRANTS THE QUESTIONING.
UM, SO THE, THE ACTUAL, UM, UH, THE PLACEMENT OF THE LIGHTS RADAR ARE ON, ARE ON WA, CH AND PARK.
CORRECT? DID I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM THAT.
SO THERE, SO THE PLAN DOES NOT CALL FOR ANOTHER LIGHT.
IF YOU WERE TO BE, UM, WOULD THE, UH, IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, WOULD THE TRAFFIC FLOW AROUND THE, UM, THE PARK STILL BE THE SAME? MEANING WOULD THAT WAS, WOULD THIS, WOULD THIS ANTICIPATE THE ONE, THE WAY THE, IF YOU WERE TRAVELING ON YONG AVENUE COMING UNDER THE TRESTLE HEADING, UM, UH, I GUESS THAT YOU WOULD BE HEADING, UM, WEST, UM, WOULD THE, SO IF YOU COME UNDER THE TRESTLE, YOU'RE HEADING WEST ON YONG AVENUE, IF YOU WERE TO MAKE THE IMMEDIATE RIGHT, DOES WITH, EVEN WITH THESE LACE, IS THE TRAFFIC AROUND THE ACTUAL, UM, PARK THERE, IF YOU WERE TO ANTICIPATE, SO THAT STILL ANTICIPATES BEING A ONE WAY ALL THE WAY YES.
AND THE LIGHTS, THE LIGHTS WOULD ACTUALLY BE ON WUNG AND PARK, UH, OVER WUNG AND PARK.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD WHEN YOU SPEAK.
SO THAT ONE, THE TRANSCRIBER DOES IT.
THERE'S NO CONFUSION ON WHO'S SPEAKING, UM, PROPOSE TO TRINITY.
UM, YES, THERE'LL BE OVER PARK WUNG, AND I BELIEVE YOU'LL HAVE A SIGNAL OVER WUNG WAY AS WELL, OVER WAY AS WELL.
THERE'S LITTLE THREE LIGHTS THAT ARE OKAY.
UM, DID THESE THREE, MR. PRESIDENT AND THESE LIGHTS, THESE LIGHTS HAVE THE, I MEAN THESE, THEY HAVE THE TIMING ALSO.
THESE ARE THE CAPABILITY WITH THE CAMERAS TO, TO, UM, SEE THE QUEUE OF THE CARS AND THE, AND THE AMOUNT OF PEDESTRIANS POTENTIALLY WHO WANNA CROSS AT THAT TIME.
SO THE WAY THAT THEY OPERATE IS THERE'LL BE CAMERAS TO PICK UP THE TECH, THEY CALL 'EM DETECTION AREAS.
WHEN THE CAR PULLS UP ON THE DETECTION AREA, IT WILL NOTIFY THE CONTROLLER CABINET TO SWITCH THE LIGHT TO GREEN FOR THE SECONDARY ROADS.
UM, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW THIS IS TIMED RIGHT NOW.
I'D HAVE TO LOOK THROUGH IT, BUT IF WATCHUNG WAY IS YOUR MAIN ROAD, WATCHUNG WAY WOULD STAY, UH, I'M SORRY.
WATCHUNG AVENUE IS YOUR MAIN ROAD.
WATCHUNG AVENUE WOULD STAY GREEN UNTIL SOMEBODY CAME UP ON THE SIDE ROADS, OR IF SOMEBODY ACTUATED WITH A PUSH BUTTON, PUSH THE BUTTON ACROSS THE ROAD, THEN IT, IT'D MAKE WATCHUNG AVENUE RED AND MAKE THE SIDE ROAD GREEN OR THE PEDESTRIAN SIGNAL WALK WITH, WITH THE MR. PRESIDENT, WITH THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF SLOWING.
I MEAN, THE, THE HIGHEST RATE OF TRACK SPEED IS PROBABLY ON WATCHUNG AVENUE ITSELF.
THE IDEA OF SLOWING THAT DOWN, IT'LL, IT SHOULD SLOW IT DOWN.
WHEN YOU PUT A SIGNAL UP, IT SLOWS, TENDS TO SLOW TRAFFIC DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.
UH, FINAL QUESTION, MR. PRESIDENT.
[00:45:01]
I, I PROMISE, UH, MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION, UH, FOR, FOR MR. JACKSON.IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE MUNICIPALITY AT THIS POINT THAT WE NEED IN ORDER FOR THIS PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD? OR WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED FROM THE MUNICIPALITY IN ORDER FOR US TO, TO MOVE FORWARD AS A COUNTY? YES.
THE, THE LESS THE, THE LESS, THE BETTER.
I THINK YOU KNEW WHERE I WAS GOING WITH THAT.
MR. THANK, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, MR. JACKSON.
SO IF I MAY ASK THAT, UH, AND MR. ANTONIO, WILL YOU PLEASE KEEP, UH, COMMISSIONER GILL AND I POSTED ON THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE RECEIVED A GOOD AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT IT, AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN ASSIST IN RELAYING THAT, UH, SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS ARE COMING THEIR WAY THAT WOULD, UH, GREATLY ALLEVIATE THIS VERY AWKWARD HISTORIC AREA.
BUT NONETHELESS, IT'S AWKWARD FOR MODERN TRAFFIC.
SO WE, WE WOULD LIKE TO CATCH UP, UP SPEED WITH THAT PERMISSION GO.
DOES THAT THAT WORK FOR YOU? THANK YOU.
UH, DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
UH, NUMBER 27 IS THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO SWICK CONTRACTING TO UNDERTAKE THE MISCELLANEOUS IMPROVEMENTS TO BRIDGES AND CULVERTS ON A AS NEEDED BASIS OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD.
UH, THIS CONTRACT AMOUNT GENETIC EXCEED $429,420.
EXAMPLES OF THE WORK INCLUDE THINGS LIKE, UH, MINOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SUBSTRUCTURES, SUPERSTRUCTURES OR THE DECK.
UH, IT COULD BE THE ELIMINATION OF STRUCTURAL SCOURING, UH, AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.
THE COUNTY HAS 360 BRIDGES AND CULVERTS IN ITS INVENTORY, HENCE THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A ON-CALL, MISCELLANEOUS CONTRACT IN PLACE.
AND WE DO HAVE MR. HURSTON OF SPAR CONSTRUCTION HERE THIS EVENING AS WELL.
INTRODUCE THIS COMPANY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SUPPORT MAY HAVE.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THE AFFILIATION OF YOUR COMPANY AND TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU MAY DO AND YOUR COMPANY.
UH, BRIAN GERSON SPARWOOD, CONTRACTING PRESIDENT.
UM, SPAR WICK'S, UH, FAMILY OWNED, UH, BRIDGE BUILDERS SINCE 1993.
MY BROTHER AND I ARE PARTNERS.
UM, WE ARE, UM, UH, ALL AN ALL UNION COMPANY, LOCAL 4 72, LOCAL 11, UM, LOCAL 15 56, 8 25, UM, CARPENTERS.
AND, UM, ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE FROM ESSEX COUNTY.
UH, THE PROJECT, UH, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE.
IT'S MISCELLANEOUS ON-CALL REPAIRS ON VARIOUS BRIDGES, UM, ON AN, UM, AS NEEDED BASIS, UM, AND, UH, ALL OVER THE COUNTY.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 28 IS THE EXERCISING.
YES, I SAW THAT OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION OPTION TO GUARDIAN FENCES.
CURRENT OPEN-ENDED CONTRACT TO REMOVE AND INSTALL FENCE AND GATES OF VARIOUS COUNTY FACILITIES ON A AS NEEDED BASIS IN AN AMOUNT THAT TO EXCEED $272,000.
UH, THERE'S STILL A UNSPENT BALANCE OF ABOUT $105,000 IN THIS CONTRACT, AND THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE EXISTING RATES, UH, COMING INTO PLACE WITH THIS OPTION TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT.
ITEM NUMBER 29 AWARDS JOSEPH MCKOWSKI INCORPORATED AN OPEN-ENDED TWO YEAR CONTRACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE HAULING AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE TIRES GENERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S DIVISION OF FLEET MANAGEMENT IN AN AMOUNT THAT TO EXCEED $100,000.
JOSEPH MINKOWSKI INCORPORATED SUBMITTED THE SOLE BID RECEIVED FOR THIS ADVERTISED OPPORTUNITY.
ITEM NUMBER 30 IS THE AWARD OF A NON UNFAIR AND OPEN BID.
ACCEPT CONTRACT TO MULTI FORCE, MULTI FORCE SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE FUEL FORCE FUELING SYSTEM FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000.
THIS FUELING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS USED BY THE COUNTY TO CONTROL THE EIGHT COUNTY FUELING FACILITIES, WHICH ARE USED BY THE COUNTY'S FLEET, WHICH INCLUDES THE SHERIFF'S, THE PROSECUTORS, AND PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 31 IS THE APPROVAL OF A MODIFICATION TO THE POLIS, KOLOWSKI AND SER ENGINEERING CONTRACT TO PROVIDE DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE PARKS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IN NEWARK BY ADDING AN ADDITIONAL $180,000
[00:50:02]
TO THE CONTRACT AMOUNT AND IN INCREASING IT TO A NEW CONTRACT TOTAL OF $908,000.THESE FUNDS ARE NEEDED TO COVER THE COST OF ADDITIONAL TIME USED BY THE CONSULTANT DUE TO THE UNFORESEEN LENGTH OF THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE AND UNFORESEEN CORRECTIVE ACTIONS THAT HAD TO, THAT HAD TO TAKE PLACE.
ITEM NUMBER 32 IS THE APPROVAL OF A CHANGE ORDER TO THE EXISTING MAJESKI AND MASTERS INCORPORATED CONTRACT TO PERFORM THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRIDGE STREET BRIDGE OVER THE PASS PACIFIC RIVER IN NEWARK BY INCREASING THE, BY INCREASING THE NEW NET EXCEED CONTRACT BY $45,201 TO A NEW TOTAL AMOUNT OF $2,274,981.
UM, AND FATHER BACK 33 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
I HAD EARLIER SAID THIS INCLUDED.
I'M TELLING YOU OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 34 AUTHORIZES THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION PAYMENT TO SERVE PRO IN A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $395,283 ON FEBRUARY 20TH.
2024 OCCURRED IN EMERGENCY DUE TO DAMAGES, UH, THAT OCCURRED ON FLOORS NINTH THROUGH 14 DUE TO A WATER LEAK ON THE 14TH FLOOR OF THE WILDLANDS BUILDING HERE IN NEWARK.
AN EMERGENCY EMERGENCY DECLARATION WAS MADE BY THE RECORD OF PUBLIC WORKS AND AN EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT WAS INITIATED, UH, FOR REPAIR SERVICES TO THE DAMAGES, AND SERVPRO WAS USED AS THE VENDOR FOR DAMAGE CLEANING AND RESTORATION IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $375,283.
ITEM NUMBER 35 AUTHORIZED THIS EXECUTION OF A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS STATE MOSQUITO CONTROL COMMISSION TO ACCEPT A $2 MILLION GRANT.
THESE FUNDS ARE TO BE USED BY THE ESSEX COUNTY MOSQUITO CONTROL DIVISION FOR THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES NEEDED IN MOSQUITO EXTERMINATION AS WELL AS, UH, CONTRACT SERVICES SUCH AS AERIAL SPRAYING AND SURVEILLANCE.
ALTHOUGH WE DID ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS, MR. PARLOVE, ANY QUESTIONS ON 24 TO 32 AND 34 AND 35? NO QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON 24 TO 32 AND 34 AND 35? SEEING NONE, DO I HAVE A MOVER? SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RICARDO.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GI? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 36 THROUGH 38, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL, WHICH WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, UH, MR. PRESIDENT COUNTY COUNSEL ST.
JOHN WILL HANDLE THESE ITEMS. I WHAT A DELIGHT THAT HE'S JOINED US TODAY.
I HAD TO TAKE THE CALLS ON THAT EMERGENT MATTER THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING BEFORE.
UH, 36 IS, UH, TO INCREASE FEES TO THE FIRM OF GENOVA BURNS FOR WORK THAT THEY DID ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY WITH REGARD TO NEGOTIATIONS AND ARBITRATIONS FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1ST, 2023 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, UH, 2023 BY $12,000.
UH, THE SECOND MATTER, UH, NUMBER 37, UH, ALSO IS AN INCREASE OF FEES, UH, FOR A LITIGATION MATTER FOR THE FIRM OF INGINO TAYLOR.
THEIR FEES WERE WORK DONE FROM JANUARY 1ST, 2023 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2023 FOR BY $15 FROM 45 $15,000 FROM $45,000 TO $60,000.
AND THE LAST MATTER IS, UH, TO INCREASE THE FEES TO A MCELROY DEUTSCH FOR WORK THAT THEY PERFORMED, UH, FROM THIS, UM, FROM JANUARY 1ST, 2023 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2023 BY $40,000 FROM 40,000 TO $80,000.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THESE, UH, THREE RESOLUTIONS ARE ALL, I'LL CALL THEM CLOSEOUT FOR 2023 BILLS.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND, UH, LAST WEEK UNRELATED, SOMEWHAT RELATED TO THIS, UH, LAST WEEK, COUNTY COUNCIL'S OFFICE SENT TO ME, WHICH I CIRCULATED AMONGST THE BOARD, UH, A LIST
[00:55:01]
OF, UH, WE'LL CALL THEM SIGNIFICANT MATTERS OF LITIGATION THAT ARE BEING HANDLED BY OUTSIDE COUNSEL, UM, UH, THAT ARE SOMEWHAT SUMMARIZED.AND, UH, THERE WAS AN OFFER IF ANYBODY HAD ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THOSE LAWSUITS, UH, WE COULD SET UP A MEETING WITH, UH, WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER SEABOLD.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER AND PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
OKAY, MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 39 40 AND ADDED STARTER NUMBER 56 OF WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, WHICH WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, MR. COLTATE, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, GLAD TO SUE YOU AGAIN.
THIS IS A CONTRACTOR WE'RE INSTITUTE FOR FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMS, UH, APRIL 15TH, 2024 THROUGH APRIL 14TH, 2026.
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $318,000, $500.
UH, PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMS ARE $365 PER TEST.
FITNESS FOR DUTY IS $545 PER TEST, AND THIS IS A COUNTYWIDE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
CORRECTIONS, UH, HR, WHOEVER NEEDS IT AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, MR. JACKSON? YEAH.
UH, FOR ITEM 40, THIS IS A CHANGE ORDER AS WELL WITH TRYING AND ASSOCIATES AND ASSOCIATES WHO PROVIDE BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR US, UM, INCREASING THE AMOUNT BY $5,000.
UH, THIS CONTRACT EXPIRES LATER ON THIS MONTH, AND THIS AMOUNT WILL GET US THROUGH THE END THAT WE HAD TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SEASONALS.
AS YOU REMEMBER, TOO, WE HAD A, A FREEZE FOR A WHILE AND AS WE GEARED UP AGAIN, UM, OR WE NEEDED A FEW MORE DOLLARS TO, UH, GET US THROUGH THE, TO THE NEXT CONTRACT.
56 IS, UH, THREE BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION, LLC TO PROVIDE COMMERCIAL MOVING SERVICES FOR RELOCATION OF THE COUNTY RECORDS.
THIS IS A MINORITY VENDOR AND NOT, THE ADDITIONAL 20% IS $31,545 AND 50 CENTS, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO $189,273.
AND WE ONLY HAVE A FEW MORE DAYS TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT.
COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS ON 39 40 AND 56? NOPE.
DO I HAVE A MOVER? I'LL MOVE IT.
COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, DO I NEED A SECOND? HERE? SECOND.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK THIRTY NINE FORTY AND 56.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
OKAY, MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 41 THROUGH 54 AND 57, WHICH ARE IN MEMORIAMS COMMENDATIONS PROCLAMATION RESOLUTIONS, WHICH COULD BE READ IN THE RECORD IN AT A LATER TIME.
LET'S BEGIN WITH 41 THROUGH 52 AND 54 COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SCENE.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT POMEZ? YES.
OKAY, MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET'S MOVE ON TO RE RESOLUTION NUMBER 53, WHICH WILL BE READ TO THE LAKE OF TIME.
MR. PAR, PLEASE EXPLAIN THE RESOLUTION.
YES, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, NUMBER 53 IS A HOUSEKEEPING ITEM REGARDING THE, UH,
[01:00:01]
2024 BUDGET ON THE FACE OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENT ITSELF.COUNTY REQUIRED TO LIST THE DATE ON WHICH THE ADVERTISEMENT WILL BE, UH, PUT IN THE PAPER BECAUSE OF THE TIMING ISSUE WITH HOW, UH, WHEN THE STAR LEDGER NEEDS TO, UH, RECEIVE, UH, AN ITEM, WE HAD TO PUSH THAT DATE FORWARD BY A DAY.
THAT DOESN'T IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO HAVE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE, ON THE BUDGET ON APRIL 17TH.
BUT AGAIN, FOR HOUSEKEEPING ITEM, UH, HOUSEKEEPING PURPOSES, THAT PROPER ADVERTISEMENT DATE JUST HAS TO BE, UH, ADJUSTED AND PUT ON THE BUDGET DOCUMENT BEFORE IT GOES DOWN TO THE STATE.
AND THEY TEND TO BE A LITTLE, UH, CALL IT FASTIDIOUS.
THANK YOU, MR. BECK AND MR. MCIN.
ANY QUESTIONS? UH, I'M GOOD WITH THAT.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'M STILL LOOKING UP FASTIDIOUS.
IT'S MY, IT'S MY WORD OF THE DAY.
THERE ARE OTHER WORDS THAT I CAN'T USE ON THE RECORD, BUT FASTIDIOUS IS THE ONE I HAVE.
DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE IT? MOVE BY.
COMMISSIONER GRAHAM, DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR NUMBER 53.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
UH, NUMBER 57, WHICH WILL BE READ, UH, INTO THE RECORD A LATER TIME.
COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, WE WILL EXPLAIN.
I JUST WANT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION OF SPONSORING, DECLARING APRIL, 2024 SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH IN ESSEX COUNTY.
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH IS CELEBRATED NATIONALLY.
EACH APRIL, IT RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ABOUT SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND EDUCATES COMMUNITIES ON HOW TO PREVENT IT.
OVER 50% OF WOMEN, 30% OF MEN, AND 40% OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE INVOLVING PHYSICAL CONTACT.
SO WE'RE PROMOTING RESPECTFUL BEHAVIORS AND ENVIRONMENTS THAT PROTECT THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF ALL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.
THE THEME OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH 2024 IS BUILDING CONNECTED COMMUNITIES.
IT CALLS ON EVERYONE TO WORK TOGETHER TO HELP REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SEXUAL ABUSE, ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT SUPPORTS HEALTHY, STRONG, SAFE, INCLUSIVE, AND EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES.
ALL RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO OBSERVE THE MONTH BY PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND EVENTS DESIGNATED DESIGNED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT SEXUAL VIOLENCE, EDUCATE AND SUPPORT SURVIVORS.
FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS AND MORE, WE ARE DECLARING APRIL, 2024, SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH IN ESSEX COUNTY.
I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE EVERYONE TO AN EVENT ON THE THEME OF CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION.
THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, PRECIOUS LITTLE LADIES, HEADED BY ONE OF MY AIDES, AZIZA KBI, SPONSORS AN ANNUAL KITE FLIGHT TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.
THIS YEAR WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER, ON SATURDAY, APRIL 13TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM IN ELWOOD PARK IN EAST ORANGE WITH LOTS OF FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES.
I'D LIKE TO DO THIS VIA ACCLIMATION.
IF I COULD GET MY, UH, COMMISSIONERS TO SUPPORT THAT.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU BRING THIS UP, AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I SAID BRIEFLY JUST WANTED TO THANK THAT COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS.
THANK YOU FOR COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON FOR THAT, FOR THIS WORK.
AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT AND IT'S, IT AFFECTS OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
IT AFFECTS OUR ADULTS WHO ARE ALSO SURVIVORS.
AND SO, UH, TRULY LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THESE EFFORTS AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OUR COUNTY.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT, UH, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE ADAM PUT THIS ON OUR WEBSITE SO THAT THIS GETS, UH, THE PUBLICATION IT DESERVES.
I JUST GET THE THUMBS UP IN THE BACK THERE FROM ADAM WHO SEES IT.
[01:05:01]
A SECOND? COMMISSIONER GRAHAM, ROLL CALL.MADAM DEPUTY CLERK ON NUMBER 57.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PALM? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONERS.
DO WE HAVE ANY REPORTS ON BOARD COMMITTEES? OKAY.
DO WE HAVE ANY LEGISLATIVE REPORTS, ANY WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS AND ANY UN UNFINISHED BUSINESS? MR. PRESIDENT, COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS? I THINK THIS MAY FIT UNDER THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
IT'S JUST A FOLLOW UP FROM, UH, COMMUNITY COMMENT LIFTED UP IN THE LAST MEETING AROUND THE QUALITY AND CONDITIONS OF SOME OF OUR FACILITIES, PARTICULARLY OUR DETAINMENT FACILITIES, JUVENILE, UH, DETAINMENT, OUR ADULT, OUR DETAINMENT.
UM, AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IT ALSO LASTS AROUND THE SAME TIME WE'VE BEEN GETTING, UM, SOME CONCERNS FROM CERTAIN STAFF MEMBERS WITHIN THE BUILDING.
ALSO SPEAKING ABOUT THEIR OWN NEEDS AND DIFFERENT RESOURCES.
AND SO IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE, BOTH AS FAR AS WHAT OUR, UH, FOLKS WHO ARE DETAINED OR GO ARE ENDURING WITHIN OUR, UH, DETAINMENT FACILITIES AND THEN OUR STAFF.
AND SO, JUST WANT TO URGE US TO CONTINUE TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
I KNOW A NUMBER OF US ARE, UH, IN CONVERSATION WITH THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER FOLKS, AS WELL AS THE, UM, ADULT DETENTION CENTER FOLKS TO SET UP A TOUR TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON OURSELVES.
BUT WE JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.
UM, OUR STAFF NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THESE FACILITIES, BUT ALSO WHAT OUR, UH, FOLKS WHO ARE DETAINED NEED TO HAVE A BASIC, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, DESPITE, UH, YOU KNOW, THEIR, THEIR, UH, BEING DETAINED.
SO I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK ALREADY HAPPENING THERE, BUT WANTED TO LIFT THAT UP BECAUSE SOMEONE, UH, BROUGHT IT UP IN THE COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY LAST MONTH, BUT IT'S BEEN KIND OF A RECURRING THEME.
SO JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO DO THE WORK WITH COMMISSIONERS IN THAT REGARD.
COMMISSIONER, UH, MR. JACKSON AS A STARTER FOR THAT, PERHAPS, CAN WE GET AN UPDATE ON THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT THE FACILITY THAT WERE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, UH, A FEW MONTHS AGO? UH, JUST MAYBE A MEMO, GIVING US AN OVERVIEW OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? CERTAINLY.
AND THEN I'D ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE A TOUR.
I KNOW I WILL BE ASKING FOR A TOUR SOON.
I, I KNOW ALL OF US CAN'T GO AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT, UH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO AND FIRSTHAND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE AND WHAT IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE, WHAT DEFICIENCIES, IF ANY, ARE EXISTING AND WHAT WE COULD DO TO REMEDY DO THAT.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT THROUGH MR. JACKSON, THROUGH HIS OFFICE, SO THAT YOU CAN FACILITATE THOSE, UH, REQUESTS AS THEY COME TO OUR, TO YOUR ATTENTION.
ANY OTHERS? ANY NEW BUSINESS? ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
DOES ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER, PLEASE GO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT.
MY NAME IS AZIZA KBI MCGILL, AND I AM ONE OF MR. RICHARD, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON'S AIDES.
UM, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR ACKNOWLEDGING SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH AS AN OFFICIAL MONTH OF AWARENESS FOR ESSEX COUNTY, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE NATIONALLY IT IS RECOGNIZED, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO RUBBER STAMP THESE EFFORTS IN ORDER TO RAISE AWARENESS.
I AM SPEAKING NOT AS MY POSITION HERE AS AID TO MR. RICHARDSON, BUT, UM, PERSONALLY, BECAUSE I AM A SURVIVOR OF OVER 17 YEARS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF MY FATHER.
AND THE FIRST STEP TO PREVENTION AND MAKING A CHANGE IS TO RAISE AWARENESS.
SO, AS A BODY WHO REALLY FOCUSES ON FINANCE, FINANCES OF THE COUNTY, I THINK YOU WOULD FIND IT INTERESTING THAT SEXUAL ASSAULT ACTUALLY COSTS SURVIVORS BETWEEN 300,000 AND $1 MILLION TO RECOVER.
SO I THINK THOSE THINGS SHOULD BE TAKEN IN ACCOUNT.
IT IS A PART OF RAISING AWARENESS SO THAT WE CAN CREATE PROGRAMS, EXCUSE ME, AND EFFORTS LIKE AWARENESS MONTH IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND BE SUCCESSFUL.
SO, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THIS EFFORT.
THANK YOU FOR THIS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
AND, UM, PLEASE DEFINITELY COME OUT TO THE KITE FLIGHT.
IT IS ALSO AS YOU, UH, NOT OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY.
I'M SURE THAT'S NOT, WASN'T EASY TO,
[01:10:01]
TO SHARE.AND IT'S BEEN, UH, A, A LONG JOURNEY FOR YOU.
AND, UH, KNOW THAT WHAT YOU SHARE WILL, I'M SURE BE A GREAT WORLD OF ASSISTANCE FOR OTHERS WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCED OR HAVE EXPERIENCED IT, OR MAY STILL BE, AND DON'T HAVE SOMEONE TO LOOK UP TO, TO LIKE YOURSELF, TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT AND SHARE WHAT WHAT YOU DID.
IS THERE ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? YOU MAY WANNA RAISE THE MICROPHONE A LITTLE BIT THERE.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS LAMONT VAUGHN, UM, RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, AND A MEMBER OF THE NEWARK ANTI-VIOLENCE COALITION.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, WHOM I KNOW OTHERS WHO ARE, WHO ARE NOT HERE, WHO I KNOW.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO SPEAK TO THREE THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, UM, I HEAR THE COMMISSIONER HERE SPOKE ABOUT THE EX COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER AND THE EXES COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
I WAS ACTUALLY COMING HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT THOSE TWO ENTITIES, UH, PRECISELY.
UH, SO FIRST I'LL START WITH THE EXES COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I JUST CAME HOME FROM THERE THREE WEEKS AGO.
HE DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS, PERIOD.
UM, I CAN GO INTO DETAILS, BUT I'D RATHER SIT DOWN WITH YOU GUYS AND IRON THIS STUFF OUT, PUT IT ON PAPER, LET YOU REVIEW IT.
'CAUSE I ONLY GOT A CERTAIN AMOUNT, AMOUNT OF TIME HERE.
UM, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT FACILITY.
AND I'M NOT ONLY GOING TO PROVIDE YOU GUYS WITH PROBLEMS, BUT ALSO SOLUTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS TO WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO ANYBODY WHO'S INTERESTED WITH THAT, WE CAN GET TOGETHER AND WE CAN BEGIN TO BUILD THAT OUT.
UM, SECONDLY, WITH RESPECT TO THE EXA COUNTY JAIL, WHEN YOU GUYS GO IN THERE, SOMETIMES YOU GUYS NEED TO GO IN THERE UNANNOUNCED.
SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO GO IN THERE WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW YOU'RE COMING.
AND WHEN YOU GO IN THERE, DON'T LET THEM TAKE YOU TO THE PLACES THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE YOU TO INSIDE OF THE JAIL.
BECAUSE WHEN THEY KNOW THAT YOU'RE COMING, THEY CLEAN UP THOSE PLACES FOR YOU, BRING YOU TO THOSE PLACES, AND GIVE YOU A WONDERFUL STORY ABOUT THE CLEANLINESS AND HU HU HUMANENESS OF THOSE PLACES.
BUT AS SOON AS YOU LEAVE THOSE PLACES REVERT BACK TO THE PLACE THAT THEY WERE BEFORE YOU CAME, AND THE REST OF THE PLACE THAT YOU NEVER SAW REMAINS THE SAME WITH RESPECT TO THE, THE THIRD THING WITH RESPECT TO THE JAIL IS COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS UNDER THE VIOLENCE REDUCTION INITIATIVE OF MAYOR BARAKA AND THE CITY OF NEWARK HAVE PROGRAMS AND MEMBERS THAT ARE READY AND WILLING TO GO INSIDE OF THESE PLACES.
BOTH THE EXA COUNTY JAIL AND THE EXA COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
AND IF I MAY JUST ASK FOR AN EXTENSION OF 30 SECONDS TO A MINUTE, I WON'T, YOU KNOW, GO OVER THAT.
UM, THE, THE, THE OBJECTIVE OF GOING INTO THESE PLACES A LOT OF TIME WE TALK ABOUT REINTEGRATION AND REENTRY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THOSE PROCESSES REALLY BEGIN INSIDE OF THE JAIL, OR SHOULD BEGIN INSIDE OF THE JAIL.
A PERSON SHOULD, UH, UM, BE, BE, HAVE ACCESS TO PROGRAMMING, TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO OTHER NECESSITIES, BASIC NECESSITIES THAT THEY WILL HAVE PRIOR TO GETTING OUT OF JAIL.
SO THAT WAY, WHEN THEY'RE WALKING OUT OF THE JAIL, THEY HAVE A SENSE OF SOME, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT AND STABILITY BEHIND THEM.
AND IF WE CAN JUST GET, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN HAVE THE, UH, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SET SOME TYPE OF A PROGRAM UP WHERE WE BEGIN WORKING WITH THE NEWARK COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING THIS WORK, I'M PRETTY SURE WE CAN ALL SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE, BUILD OUT SOMETHING, AND BLAST THESE INSTITUTIONS FOR POSITIVE PURPOSES, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY NEEDED.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, ME BEING INCARCERATED, I STILL WAS DOING THE WORK.
YOU KNOW, YOU COULD TALK TO DIRECTOR CHARLES DOWN AT THE JAIL.
HE'LL TELL YOU, I'VE INTERVENED IN SITUATIONS IN THE JAIL TO HELP STOP THE VIOLENCE, THE FIGHTING AMONGST INMATES TO FIGHTING, UH, INMATES ON OFFICERS, ALL OF THAT.
YOUR CAPTAINS DOWN THERE WILL TELL YOU THAT.
SO, ALTHOUGH I WAS IN JAIL, YOU KNOW, I STILL HAD THE HEART FOR THE WORK THAT I WAS DOING PRIOR TO BEING INCARCERATED.
[01:15:01]
TO SAY THAT PEOPLE ON THE INSIDE ARE MORE RECEPTIVE TO THESE ANTI-VIOLENCE SENTIMENTS AND MESSAGES THAT THE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS OUT HERE TODAY ARE PUMPING OUT.AND SO I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BEGIN GETTING THESE ORGANIZATIONS INTO THESE JAILS, YOU KNOW, TO WORK WITH THESE GUYS, IDENTIFY GUYS, WORK WITH THEM HANDS ON, PREPARE THEM TO GET BACK OUT, AND WHEN THEY GET BACK OUT WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO GUIDE THEM FORWARD IN THEIR PRODUCTIVITY, YOU KNOW, IN, IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO, I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS.
I'M WILLING TO PUT THIS STUFF ON PAPER.
UM, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ISN'T HERE, BUT I'VE ALSO SPOKEN TO HER, MR. RICHARDSON, ABOUT THIS TYPE OF STUFF.
I'M SPEAKING TO THE ENTIRE BOARD HERE TODAY.
UM, AND I'M JUST ASKING YOU GUYS, BECAUSE I REALLY CARE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE ON THE INSIDE.
YES, WE COMMITTED CRIMES, WE DID STUFF WRONG.
BUT AT THE END OF, END OF THE DAY, LIKE THE YOUNG LADY JUST SAID HERE, THE COMMISSIONER, WE'RE STILL HUMAN AND WE ARE STILL, WE, THEY STILL NEED TO KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THEIR PROCESS, YOU KNOW? AND I THINK THAT THAT WILL MEAN WELL AT FAREWELL WITH THEM.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME, YOU KNOW, UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GUYS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, AND THANK YOU.
WE'RE GLAD TO SEE YOU HERE TODAY.
AND, UH, WHAT YOU, WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO, IF YOU FEEL SO INCLINED, ADAM, IN THE BACK, AND TAKE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION IF YOU HAD VERY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, UH, THAT WE COULD ANSWER.
'CAUSE SOMETIMES THE BEST WAY TO GET SOME, UH, RESPONSES TO ASK VERY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND SO IF YOUR QUESTIONS WERE ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF REENTRY PROGRAMS WE MAY HAVE, AND THAT MAY ENGAGE SOME DIALOGUE, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEAVE THAT WITH ADAM.
AND THEN THAT WAY YOU'LL GET A RESPONSE FROM US VIA THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE, AND THAT MIGHT A GOOD PLACE TO START.
IS THERE ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WE SHOULD TO SPEAK? LET'S SEE, ONE MORE.
JUST FOR YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
I AM WITH THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND TRAUMA RECOVERY.
I AM ALSO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I AM ALSO A PROUD MEMBER OF THE NEWARK ANTI-VIOLENCE COALITION AND A MANAGER OF THE ONE HOOD ORGANIZATION.
SO I'M HERE IN REPRESENTATION OF ALL OF THOSE.
'CAUSE I'M PRIVY TO INFORMATION THAT LET ME KNOW.
WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT CAN ASSIST THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION.
AS MY BROTHER JUST SPOKE ABOUT, THE, THE COUNTY JAIL, MY INFORMATION OR WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN WOULD LOOK LIKE SUPPORT SYSTEMS WITH OUR JUVENILE OFFENDERS.
THE RECIDIVISM THAT IS HAPPENING IN COMPARISON TO THE ABSENTEEISM OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN COMPARISON IS A, AN ALARMING NUMBER.
AND THE PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY OFFERS THROUGH THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, WE'RE NOT GIVEN THE ACCESS, EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THEM WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS TO GET INSIDE OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE, UH, OFFICE, THE, THE YOUTH HOUSE IN ORDER TO GIVE THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED, THE MENTORING THAT THEY NEED.
AND THAT HANDS-ON ONE-ON-ONE APPROACH TO REDIRECTING THEM.
UM, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SERVICES THAT'S PROVIDED INSIDE OF THE YOUTH HOUSE, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THEY'RE NOT WORKING, BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS WHEN I HAVE A 16-YEAR-OLD THAT'S BEEN ARRESTED SIX TIMES, SOMETHING ISN'T WORKING BECAUSE THAT MEANS HE'S NOT IN SCHOOL AND HE'S NOT DOING WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO.
AND THERE'S A VERY GREAT AREA BETWEEN OUR 17 YEAR OLDS THAT DO NOT GET THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
AND THAT MAY BE HIGHER LEGISLATION.
HOWEVER, IF THE COUNTY AND THE CITY CAN COME UP WITH REAL COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMING AND THE ALLOWANCE INSIDE OF THE DETENTION CENTER, ONCE THEY ARE PROCESSED, WE CAN START LOOKING AT HOW THE CRIME RATE THAT IS NOW SPREADING FROM OUTSIDE OF NEWARK INTO OTHER AREAS.
WE ALL SEE, YOU KNOW, OUR KIDS ARE NEWARK KIDS ARRESTED IN DIFFERENT PLACES FOR US TO ACTUALLY ASSIST.
SO CRIME IS DOWN NOW IN THE CITY OF NEWARK, THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN IN 60 YEARS, BASED ON SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT MAYOR BARAKA HAS PUT IN PLACE, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND TRAUMA RECOVERY.
NOW, TO MAKE THIS FULL CIRCLE IS, I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH GETTING THE PARTNERS INSIDE OF THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
ONCE THESE CHILDREN ARE PROCESSED, WE HAVE A SOCIAL WORKER IN THE PROCESSING CENTER, BUT THAT'S AS FAR AS SHE CAN GO.
ONCE THE CHILDREN ARE SENTENCED, THERE'S A, A GAP IN THE GAP OF SERVICES IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.
HOW WE CAN ASSIST AS FAR AS THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND HOW THE NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HOW WE CAN PUSH THAT SUPPORT THERE WITH THE PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAVE, ESPECIALLY WITH MAKING SURE THAT THEY GRADUATE ON TIME AND MAKE SURE THAT THE COV CREDIT RECOVERY IS HAPPENING AS WELL.
SO WHAT I SUGGEST THEN, THE QUESTION THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ANSWER IS MAY, UH, THROUGH YOU AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE OF ORGANIZATIONS, UH, ENTERTAIN A MEETING WITH THOSE AND THE ESSEX COUNTY GOVERNMENT
[01:20:01]
ON THOSE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER, AND TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY COLLABORATION BETWEEN YOUR VARIOUS GROUPS THAT YOU MENTIONED TODAY IN OURS.SO IF YOU FEED THAT TO ADAM BACK THERE, THEN WE CAN POSE THAT QUESTION AND ESTABLISH A DIALOGUE WHEN WE FORWARD IT TO THOSE PARTIES IN ESSEX COUNTY WHO DO THOSE PROGRAMS, AND THEN THEY'LL RESPOND.
SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT YOU ASK THAT RIGHT QUESTION SO THAT WE CAN DELIVER THAT TO THEM.
AND SOME TYPE OF MOU IN PLACE WHERE I KNOW JUVENILE INFORMATION IS SENSITIVE, BUT WE GET A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT FROM THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES.
AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT ISN'T BREAKING ANY LAWS, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THE KIDS ARE GETTING THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
NO LAWS WILL, I GUARANTEE THAT.
SEE ADAM IN THE BACK SO THAT WE CAN FURTHER ASSIST.
UH, MS. HAYNES, IF YOU MAY, I JUST HAVE A QUICK FOLLOW UP QUESTION FOR CLARITY.
UM, MS. HAYNES, IF YOU WANNA JUST ANSWER A A A MOMENT HERE.
UM, JUST SO YOU MENTIONED THAT ONE OF THE ROADBLOCKS IS AFTER SENTENCING.
I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A BETTER CLARITY OF WHERE THE ACCESSIBILITY ISSUE.
SO THERE'S A POINT WHERE FOLKS FROM OVP AND ANTI-VIOLENCE HAVE ACCESS TO THE YOUTH, BUT THEN ONCE THE SENTENCING HAPPENS, IS IT THEIR, THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE KIND OF FULLY JUST WITHIN THE YOUTH HOUSE CARE AND THERE ISN'T AN OP I'M JUST TRYING, IF YOU COULD JUST DESCRIBE AGAIN WHAT THE GAPS ARE.
SO ONCE THE JUVENILE IS PICKED UP BY THE NEWARK POLICE DEPARTMENT OR ANY OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, MM-HMM.
SO IN THAT PROCESSING PART, ONE OF OUR SOCIAL WORKERS, IF IT'S IN BETWEEN THE TIME THAT THEY WORK, THE NINE TO FIVE SCHEDULE, THERE'S AN INTAKE THAT'S DONE ON THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION SIDE WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE PARENT AND SEE WHAT SERVICES WE CAN PROVIDE WITH THE 38 PARTNERS THAT ARE NOW FUNDED THROUGH THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND TRAUMA RECOVERY.
SO THAT'S MENTORING, THAT'S, UH, THERAPEUTIC SERVICES.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT MENTORING GROUPS THAT CAN ASSIST.
SO IF THE CHILD IS RELEASED TO THEIR PARENT CUSTODY AND WE HAVE THAT PARENT'S INFORMATION, WE ARE ABLE AND DO HOUSE VISITS.
BUT ONCE THEY ARE PROCESSED AND GONE INTO THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, THERE'S, THERE'S A CUTOFF.
AND SO THERE HAS BEEN SOME ACCESS FOR UNION COUNTY REPRESENTATION TO COME AND VISIT THEIR POPULATION, BUT NEWARK POPULATION DON'T GET THAT SAME LENIENCY OR GRATITUDE.
MAKE SENSE? AND WHEN YOU YEAH, IT DOES.
AND SO, AND WHEN YOU SAY VISIT, YOU MEAN, AND I'M JUST THINKING HYPOTHETICALLY, I THINK IT'S PROGRAMMING.
LIKE, SO LIKE, I THINK THEY COME IN ON FRIDAYS AT MAYBE 12 OR 11, RIGHT? AND WHEN SOME OF THE PARTNERS FROM NEWARK, THEY'RE LIKE, HEY, THE, THE UNION KID, THE HUDSON COUNTY KIDS, LIKE, HEY, WE WANT, UH, VISITS TOO.
WELL, WE WANT OUR MENTORS TO COME IN TOO.
LIKE, THEY LITERALLY TURNED THEM AROUND AT THE GATE.
SO IT'S LIKE, OKAY, WHAT'S THE PROCESS? WE FILLED OUT THE APPLICATIONS.
WHERE'S THE STAGNATION OF US ACTUALLY GETTING THE SERVICES THAT THESE CHILDREN NEED? BECAUSE ONCE THEY ARE RELEASED, EITHER THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WREAK HAVOC OR WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR HANDS ON THEM TO HELP REDIRECT THEM.
IT'S INTERESTING, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THIS IS MAYBE RIGHT BEFORE COVID, UM, SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM MY NONPROFIT DID A SOCIAL ACTION PROJECT WITH AALIYAH BERRY FROM SEASON BERRIES.
AND THEY ACTUALLY WENT INTO THE YOUTH HOUSE, MY YOUNG PEOPLE, AND DID A TRAUMA INFORMED CARE SESSION WITH OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND IT WAS, AT THAT TIME, LIKE, IT, IT WASN'T VERY, IT WASN'T AS MUCH OF A COMPLEXITY.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S LIKE A PRE COVID THING OR WHAT HAVE YOU, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU KIND OF PAINTING THAT PICTURE.
AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE YOU'RE ASKING FOR, FOR MUCH AS FAR AS WE JUST NEED ACCESS POINTS TO SERVE THE YOUTH.
BUT IF WE COULD GET MORE CLARITY, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, FUTURE CONVERSATIONS ON WHAT THE HOLDUPS ARE AND WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION ARE BETWEEN THE CITY, UM, AND THE COUNTY HERE.
FRANKLY, IT'LL BENEFIT EVERYONE.
WHY DON'T WE, IT'LL BE OFFICIAL.
BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGE, PROBABLY COMMENT TO EXTEND TOO FAR IN FAIRNESS TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
WE'LL HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
WE COULD SET UP A MEETING PERHAPS, AND THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE.
BUT I WOULD FIRST START WITH THE QUESTION TO ADAM, THAT WAY WE CAN GET THE PROPER PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TO HAVE THE, THE BIGGER QUESTION.
IS ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, LET'S MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER, UH, COMMENT SESSION.
ANY COMMISSIONERS, ANY COMMENT, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THROUGH YOU? MR. PRESIDENT? MR. RICHARDSON? A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I I WANT TO COMMENT ON, UH, WHAT MR. VAUGHN WAS SAYING IN TERMS OF, UM, GOING TO THESE FACILITIES UNANNOUNCED.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE TOUR, YOU GOING TO GET TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO SEE, UH, WHEN YOU GO THERE AND YOU ASK PERMISSION.
BUT, UH, I DON'T THINK WE NECESSARILY NEED TO ASK PERMISSION.
WE NEED TO SHOW UP SOMETIME AND, UM, GET THE DOORS OPEN AND SEE THOSE AREAS WHERE, UH, THEY MAY NOT WANT US TO SIT.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU A SHORT STORY.
[01:25:01]
AND THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.AND WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT, MR. VON TALKED ABOUT THERE WAS THIS YOUNG MAN, HE WAS, UM, 39 AT THE TIME.
HE HAD BEEN IN AND OUTTA INCARCERATION SINCE HE WAS 18.
HE SAID HE HAD BEEN TO BOARDING TOWN, HE HAD BEEN TO RAILWAY, AND HE HAD DID TIME IN, UH, TRENTON STATE PENITENTIARY.
AND HE SAID HE DID 30 DAYS IN THE COUNTY JAIL.
AND HE SAID, I'M NOT NEVER GOING BACK TO JAIL.
HE SAID THE COUNTY JAIL AS HIS COUNTY JAIL WAS THE WORST JAIL HE HAD EVER BEEN IN HIS LIFE.
HE SAID THE WORST PLACE HE'S EVER BEEN WAS ESSENCE COUNTY JAIL.
DO THEY CALL IT THE GREEN MONSTER? THEY STILL CALL IT THE GREEN MONSTER.
AND THAT WAS 10 YEARS AGO, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S GOTTEN ANY BETTER.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER IAN THROUGH YOU, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU.
UH, YES, THANKS TO THE SPEAKERS THAT CAME BEFORE US TONIGHT AND YOUR COURAGE TO COME AND SHARE, UM, WITH US.
THINGS THAT WE DO NEED TO HEAR.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY, IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A LULL.
WE HAVEN'T HAD MANY FOLKS COME TO OUR MEETINGS TO SPEAK ABOUT THESE ISSUES IN A WHILE.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND BRINGING THEM BACK INTO THE FOREFRONT.
UM, CHANGING THE SUBJECT AND THE TOPIC.
I DID WANT TO JUST PUT ON THE RECORD THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF OUR CLERK, MS. UH, KATHY BROWN HAS REALLY DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB, NOT JUST FACILITATING OUR MEETINGS HERE, HERE, UM, OVER THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS, SHE'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL ALONG WITH THE OTHER STAFF THAT HAS HELPED, UH, ALL CONTRIBUTE AND CHIP IN.
UM, BUT I DID WANNA JUST MENTION THAT ON RECORD THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE STEPPED INTO SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, I HOPE DOWN THE ROAD, UH, WHEN OUR CLERK DOES RETIRE, WE'RE ABLE TO FILL THAT POSITION.
UM, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THANK YOU, KATHY.
PERSONALLY, I ALSO LEARNED TONIGHT THAT I WILL NOT BE PLAYING WORDS WITH FRIENDS WITH MICHAEL PARLA, BECKO
I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPELL THAT WORD, MIKE.
UM, SO COULD BE, IT COULD BE THAT HE WENT TO ST.
PETERS PREP, BUT I'M JUST SAYING DOESN'T MY 13 YEARS.
I THINK THAT WAS THE, UH, THE BEST WORD YET THAT WE'VE HAD HERE AT OUR MEETING SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD.
UM, BUT THANK YOU, UH, MR. PRESIDENT FOR, UH, CONTINUING TO SHOW LEADERSHIP, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT MEETING IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND I SHOULD NOTE, SINCE WE DID, I DID BRING UP ST.
PETER'S PREP, TODAY'S FOUNDER'S DAY FOR ST.
PETER'S PREP, AND WE HAPPEN TO HAVE TWO OF US UP HERE WHO ARE PREP GUYS, THE RIGHT PREP.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS CALL THAT.
COMMISSIONER, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER GI? NOT, NOT IN RESPONSE TO THAT, MR. P
UM, BUT, UM, JUST A COUPLE THINGS.
SO FIR YOU KNOW, FIRST AND FOREMOST WANT TO, UM, UH, UH, COMMEND, UH, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, UM, UH, HIS STAFF, UH, FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT.
UH, AS WE CONTINUE TO BRING AWARENESS, UH, TO THAT VERY, VERY, UM, SERIOUS ISSUE.
AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING, YOU KNOW, THAT STORY IN A VERY PUBLIC WAY AND TO, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, WHICH I'M SURE IS NOT EASY.
UM, BUT THANK YOU, UH, FOR DOING THAT.
UM, AND I'M SURE WE CAN COUNT ALL OF US AND TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND TO, TO PUSH BACK, UH, ON THAT ISSUE, UH, TO, UM, UH, THE ISSUE OF, UM, OUR CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO HEAR THAT.
SO ALSO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, YOU KNOW, TONIGHT, CONTINUING TO RAISE AWARENESS ON THOSE ISSUES AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE, UM, UH, FOR SOME TIME.
UM, SO WE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE TO TRY TO, UH, TO, UM, TO COLLABORATE, UH, TO GET WHERE I THINK WE ALL, UM, UH, WOULD LIKE TO GO.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE ISSUE OF, UM, OF VIOLENCE, UH, OF GUN VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTY, AND, AND I CONTINUE TO SAY THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT, UH, AN ISSUE THAT'S EXCLUSIVE TO ANYONE PART OF THE COUNTY.
UM, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS COME UP AND THEY TALK ABOUT THIS AS JUST A, THIS IS NOT JUST A NEWARK
I HATE WHEN THAT IS SAID 'CAUSE IT HAS A CERTAIN CONNOTATION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD, UH, EVEN AS RECENTLY AS MONDAY NIGHT IN MY HOMETOWN OF MONTCLAIR, YOU KNOW, UH, AN ACT OF GUN VIOLENCE, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, SO IT JUST, IT CONTINUES.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
IT CONTINUES TO BE A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS IN, IN, UM, IN OUR COUNTY AND OUR STATE.
AND, UM, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO, TO FIGHT IT.
I ACTUALLY WANTED TO, UM, UH, JUST COMMENT BRIEFLY ON, UH, THE ISSUE OF, UM, THAT'S BEEN, UM, UH, FAIRLY, UH,
[01:30:01]
FAIRLY PROMINENT IN THE NEWS, UH, REGARDING, UH, REGARDING THE ISSUE OF HOW ELECTIONS AND PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE GONNA BE CONDUCTED, UH, IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.UM, UH, PARTICULARLY SINCE IT HAD A, A, UM, AN IMPACT ON, UH, THE COUNTY.
AND THERE WAS ACTIONS TAKEN BY OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER IN LIGHT OF THAT, UH, DECISION, UH, FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE WATCHING AND THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE, UH, THERE WAS A, A, A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT COURT DECISION, UM, AROUND AND REGARDING, UH, OUR PRIMARY CAMPAIGN THIS YEAR.
AND ALSO ON, UM, HOW PRIMARY CAMPAIGNS ARE CONDUCTED, UM, IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, ADDRESSING WHAT IS KNOWN UNIVERSALLY AS THE, THE LINE AND WHETHER THE LINE WAS CONSTITUTIONAL, UH, OR NOT.
UH, FEDERAL JUDGE, UH, FOUND THAT, UH, THE LINE WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
UM, AND THAT, UH, WE WOULD BE MOVING OUR PRIMARY ELECTIONS TO A SYSTEM CALLED BLOCK VOTING, MEANING THAT CANDIDATES WOULD NOW BE LISTED BY THE OFFICE THAT THEY ARE SEEKING, UM, UH, RATHER THAN, UH, BRACKETED TOGETHER IN A LEFT TO RIGHT, UH, FASHION.
UM, UH, OUR, UH, COUNTY CLERK, UM, UH, ANNOUNCED, UH, RECENTLY TONIGHT.
THERE WAS A, THERE WAS AN APPEAL OF THAT DECISION, UH, AND OUR COUNTY CLERK, UH, CHRIS DURKIN, WHO DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB AND I THINK WHO WE ALL, UH, SUPPORT, UH, WAS PART OF AN PROCESS TO, UH, APPEAL THAT DECISION.
UH, I THINK BASED ON THE, UH, THE TIMING, UH, NOT SO MUCH, NOT CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OR THE DECISION THAT, UH, FOUND THAT THIS, UM, PRACTICE WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BUT CHALLENGING, UH, THE DECISION ON THE GROUNDS THAT THERE MAY, MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TIME ESSENTIALLY, UH, TO EDUCATE VOTERS, UH, ON THIS, UM, NEW PROCESS.
UM, AS WE WERE HERE IN THE MEETING TONIGHT, THE JUDGE, UM, STAYED THAT, UH, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MR. PERIO, THE JUDGE DENIED THE DENIED, DENIED THE STAY, DENIED THE STAY
AND, UH, AND, UH, OUR COUNTY CLERK, UM, ALTHOUGH THERE'S GOING TO BE, I GUESS, UH, AN APPEAL ON THE MERITS OF THE CASE, MEANING WHETHER, UH, APPEALING THE DECISION THAT IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR NOT, UM, OUR COUNTY CLERK, UH, HAS ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL NOT BE A PART OF THAT, UH, APPEAL PROCESS GOING FORWARD.
SO I WANT TO COMMEND OUR CLERK.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT IS THE, WE, I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY CONSTITUENTS, MANY, UH, ADVOCACY GROUPS, UH, THAT WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY USING PUBLIC, UH, PUBLIC DOLLARS, UH, ON THIS APPEAL.
UM, AND, UH, AND I SHARED THOSE CONCERNS.
I'VE, I'VE LONG BEEN, UH, AND AGAIN, AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HAVE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ON THIS.
I'VE LONG BEEN AN ADVOCATE OF BLOCK VOTING, UH, BY OFFICE, HAVE SUPPORTED THAT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
I THINK THAT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, UH, AND TAKES US, UH, UH, A STEP CLOSER, UH, TO HAVING, UH, EVEN MORE ACCESS THAT, UM, FOR INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, UH, I THINK, UH, THE TIME HAD COME, UH, FOR US TO STOP, UH, BASED ON THAT, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE APPEALS COURT DECISION, AND IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
SO I WANT TO COMMEND, UH, OUR CLERK FOR TAKING THAT STEP, UH, AND DECIDING AT THIS POINT IN TIME, UH, THAT THE COUNTY, UM, WILL NO LONGER PARTICIPATE, UH, IN THIS APPEAL, UH, EVEN IF THIS APPEAL MOVES FORWARD.
UM, MY, MY FINAL, I GUESS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, IS ALSO A QUESTION, UH, THAT I JUST WANTED TO PUT ON THE RECORD ABOUT, UM, ABOUT THE COUNSEL THAT WAS USED FOR THE FIRST PART OF THIS APPEAL, UM, IN TERMS OF, UH, AS A CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER.
AND, AND I KNOW IT'S ONE KIND OF GOVERNMENT WHERE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAS BEEN RAISED IN THE PUBLIC IS KIND OF WHO'S PAYING, YOU KNOW, FOR THE, WHO'S PAYING, UH, FOR THAT AND, AND HOW THAT DECISION WAS MADE.
SO, AND, AND I'M AND SO THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, I WAS HOPING THAT, AND, AND IF NOW'S NOT, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT ANSWER.
I KNOW THIS ANSWER MAY BE WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER, RIGHT? YEAH.
THAT ANSWER MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK OUR CONSTITUENTS DO NEED TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW THAT DECISION WAS MADE, UH, AND WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS BOARD, YOU KNOW, IS AND, AND, UM, IS AND WILL BE GOING FORWARD, UH, WHEN, UH, WHEN WE TAKE POSITION, WHEN WE TAKE PUBLIC POSITIONS, UH, IN A COURT OF LAW ON ISSUES LIKE THIS, UH, THAT POTENTIALLY MAY SEEM TO CONTRADICT, UH, WHERE OUR CONSTITUENTS WANT US TO BE.
MR. PRESIDENT, CAN I JUST, MR. PAR THAT GO JU JUST TO GIVE SOME CLARITY TO THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER GIL, UH, ABOUT, UM, THE CLERK'S DECISION AND THE COUNTY'S DECISION ULTIMATELY NOT TO PURSUE THE APPEAL FURTHER.
UH, SO THE PUBLIC IS AWARE, UM, 19 OF THE 21 COUNTY CLERKS WERE NAMED AS DEFENDANTS IN THAT LAWSUIT.
[01:35:01]
ESSEX COUNTY WAS BY NO MEANS THE ONLY GOVERNMENTAL PARTY TO THAT.SO, UH, THE FACT THAT, UM, ESSEX IS STEPPING OUT IS MORE OF A, A UNIQUE STANCE THAN, THAN NOT AT THIS POINT SOME OTHER COUNTIES HAVE.
AND THEY MAY HAVE SINCE WE'VE BEEN SITTING HERE.
AND I THINK BASED ON THE ACTION OF THE THIRD CIRCUIT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR THAT THIS WAS NOT AN ESSEX COUNTY CASE.
NO, ACTUALLY, IF I, IF I DIDN'T MAKE THAT CLEAR ABSOLUTELY.
MS. PAR, I THAT, UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, UM, UH, NO, ACTUALLY, THAT, THAT'S EXACTLY MY POINT.
UM, THAT'S WHY I WANT TO COMMEND, UH, OUR COUNTY CLERK FOR, UM, HIS DECISION.
UM, BECAUSE HE, HE IS, UH, I THINK EFFECTIVELY PUTTING ESSEX COUNTY FIRST FOR SURE.
UM, I'M IN NO WAY, UM, I WANNA BE CLEAR ON THE RECORD.
I'M IN NO WAY, UM, UH, UH, CRITICIZING HIS DECISION, YOU KNOW, PUBLICLY TO BE A PART OF THAT FIRST APPEAL.
I, I UNDERSTAND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, UM, MINES CAN DIS, I MEAN, I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREED WITH THAT, THE, THE FIRST PART OF THE APPEAL AS WELL, NO MATTER HOW MANY COUNTIES WERE IN IT.
BUT THAT'S A, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, BUT I HAVE NO WAY CRITICIZING AND UNDERSTAND WHY THAT DECISION, UH, FELT, WHY, WHY HE FELT, OR WE FELT AS A COUNTY, THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE THAT DECISION BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF COUNTIES THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE, IN THE APPEAL ITSELF.
AND, UM, AGAIN, WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK HIM AND ALSO, UH, HOPEFULLY BRING SOME CLARITY TO, UM, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD JUST WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CAN GET THAT ANSWER ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW THOSE COSTS ARE GONNA BE COVERED, WHO'S COVERING THOSE COSTS AND WHERE EXACTLY IN THE BUDGET THEY, THEY LIVE.
CERTAINLY THINGS HAVE CHANGED QUITE A BIT IN JUST A WEEK'S TIME.
AND, UH, WHO KNOWS WHAT THE NEXT WEEK WE WILL, WE'LL BRING IN STORES.
AND I THINK THE POINTS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP TODAY WILL CERTAINLY WILL BE ADDRESSING IT SOON.
DO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? IT'S ONE OTHER THING.
WE HAD, UH, OUR FIRST ANNUAL 5K RUN IN OUR WEEK, WAKE PARK AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS, UH, VERY SUCCESSFUL.
UH, COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS WAS THERE AND SOME OTHER FOLKS, UH, UH, PARTICIPATED.
WE HAD 125 RUNNERS WHO PARTICIPATED VERY SUCCESSFUL FIRST, FIRST, UH, VENTURE.
UH, AND HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR, WE'LL, UH, WE'LL DOUBLE THAT NUMBER OR TRIPLE THAT NUMBER.
DO YOU HAVE A DRIVING PORTION OF THAT? MM, YES.
ASKING FOR A FRIEND,
IF YOU GOT A POLICE CAR, COUNT ME.
AND I WANT TO THANK LIONEL FOR, UH, GETTING THIS, UH, THAT RACE TO BE OFFICIAL THROUGH, WHAT WAS THAT? AN ORGANIZATION, USA TRACK, FIELD, USA TRACK AND FIELD.
DID YOU QUALIFY? MOTION TO ADJOURN PRESIDENT.
GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER THOMAS.
QUICKLY OR MOVE I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T COMMEND YOU, MR. COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON ON YOUR 5K.
ALSO WAS IN WEAK WAY PARK SOUTH FOUR.
REALLY PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT.
JUST A REMINDER THAT SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS ARE COMING UP, PARTICULARLY IN NEWARK AS WELL.
SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU, UH, REGISTER.
IF YOU'RE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE, MAKE SURE YOU GO VOTE.