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SPEEDING OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS HEREBY CALL TO ORDER.
THIS ME MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED AND IN ADDITION IS TAKING PLACE IN PERSON.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT PALM HARRIS.
HERE PLEASE STAND FOR THE SALUTE TO THE FLAG.
I'M GONNA ASK, UH, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER TO LEAD US INTO PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN INVIS WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I'M GONNA ASK PLEASE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THOSE WHO WE'VE LOST SINCE THE LAST TIME WE GATHERED HERE IN THESE CHAMBERS.
I HAVE BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FROM THE DEPUTY CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF TRANSCRIPTS.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, ARE THERE ANY TRANSCRIPTS TO BE APPROVED? NO.
MR. PRESIDENT, MADAM CLERK, DEPUTY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION? NO.
THEN LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
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 COMMENT ON THE AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THERE WILL BE TIME LATER IN THE EVENING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OTHER ITEMS. SO I ASK YOU, PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THERE IS NO ONE HERE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
MUCH TO COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON'S DISMAY
ALL RIGHT, MADAM DEPUTY, LET'S MOVE ON.
ORDINANCE OF THE INTRODUCTIONS, OUR FIRST READING, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION OR FIRST READING? NO.
MADAM DEPUTY CLARK, LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE ON SECOND READINGS IN PUBLIC HEARING FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY.
DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTIONS FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY? NO.
LET'S, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTIONS ON SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT? NO.
SO, UH, WE WILL MOVE OUT OF ORDER TO TAKE RESOLUTION NUMBER 86, WHICH IS FROM THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
AND I'D LIKE TO CALL ON COMMISSIONER ADO AND MARY THOMAS, WHO WILL SPEAK TO THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT.
IT'S MY HONOR TO PRESENT A RESOLUTION THAT I, I KNOW WILL BE SUPPORTED BY MY INCREDIBLE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, WHICH IS TO RECOGNIZE MAY AS HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTH.
UM, WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE MEMBERS OF A DIVERSE, IN FACT, THE MOST, OR ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE COUNTIES IN THE GREAT STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THIS MONTH, UM, IS SYMBOLIC FOR RECOGNIZING NOT ONLY THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HAITIAN AMERICANS AND EVERYTHING THEY BRING TO ESSEX.
WHETHER YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT JASMINE MATTIS, WHO LEADS THE ESSEX COUNTY YOUNG DEMOCRATS OR COUNCILMAN BERG OR EAST ORANGE, OR I GOTTA SAY THIS.
I'M, I'M AFRICAN AMERICAN AND, AND, AND GUYANESE, BUT MY BIRTHDAY IS ON MAY 18TH, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE HAITIAN FLAG DAY, A DAY WHERE THEY CELEBRATE THE, UH, THE BIRTH OF THE HAITIAN FLAG AND THE RESISTANCE OF HAITIAN PEOPLE.
SOMETHING THAT IMMIGRANT PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE WORLD, ACROSS THE COUNTRY CAN RELATE TO.
AND SO IT'S AN HONOR TO INTRODUCE THIS PROCLAMATION AND HONOR OF HAITIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
WE, UH, BEAUTIFULLY CELEBRATED ASIAN AMERICAN AND A API MONTH THIS MONTH, UH, EARLIER, AND IT'S JUST A GIFT TO, TO DO THAT WORK.
SO HONORED TO INTRODUCE THIS AND KEEPING WITH THE TRADITION OF THIS BOARD, WHICH IS RECOGNIZING THE BEAUTY OF THE DIFFERENCE THAT MAKES OUR COUNTY, UH, AS CREDIBLE AS IT IS.
I ALSO WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, THE INCREDIBLE WOMEN OF MOMS AND MEN.
YOU ALL DO SUCH INCREDIBLE WORK HERE IN NEW JERSEY, HERE IN ESSEX, ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND SO BRENDA GILL AND THE, AND THE INCREDIBLE INITIATIVE THAT HE'LL SPEAK TO THAT UNFORTUNATELY COMES FROM A PLACE OF PAIN.
YOU'RE WORKING YOUR ADVOCACY IS MOTHERS WHO WANT OUR CHILDREN TO LIVE AND LIVE WITHOUT FEAR.
REMIND US HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE HONOR OUR STORIES AND HONOR OUR STORIES OF SURVIVAL.
AND, AND MYSELF AS A HOMICIDE SURVIVOR WHO LOST
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MY FATHER TO GUN VIOLENCE IN THIS CITY.I TAKE YOUR WORK SO SERIOUSLY AND I'M SO HONORED TO BE IN THIS WORK WITH COMMISSIONER GI AND MY COMMISSIONER COLLEAGUES TO, UH, HONOR THIS WORK.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, IF I DO LEAVE EARLY, IT'S BECAUSE IT'S GRADUATION SEASON AND I HAVE TWO SETS OF REMARKS TO GIVE TO GRADUATIONS TONIGHT.
SO APOLOGIES IF I AM LEAVING EARLY, BUT SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, AND HAPPY ALMOST BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO, NO QUESTIONS.
UH, COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE? YES.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? YEAH, BE BEFORE YOU CAN SECOND, BUT I LIKE MY APOLOGIES.
WE SHOULD OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
SO WE'RE GONNA COME BACK WITH YOU ON A MOTION.
COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, UNDER DISCUSSION, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THIS RESOLUTION.
I THINK IT MAY BE A CAN PULL FOR THIS TO BE DONE VIA ACCLIMATION.
I THINK ACCLIMATION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IF ANYONE, UH, COMMISSIONER, I'M GONNA SUGGEST TO SAME.
UH, COMMISSIONERS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? JUST WANNA THANK MY COMMISSIONER COLLEAGUES FOR THE ACCLIMATION.
ALRIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOVED BY COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS.
WHO WAS THE SECOND? SECOND? MERCADO.
WE HAVE, UH, COMMISSIONER MERCADO.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
DIVERSITY IS A SPICE OF LIFE AND WE ARE AS SPICY AS IT GETS HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER, AND GOOD LUCK ON YOUR COMMENCEMENT.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT AT SOME POINT YOU WILL DEPART FROM US.
AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO RESOLUTION 84, WHICH, UH, IS ANOTHER RESOLUTION FROM THE BOARD DECLARING THE FIRST FRIDAY IN JUNE TO GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY.
AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL UPON, UH, A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THIS BOARD AND MY COLLEAGUE AND OUR COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER BRENDAN GILL, WHO WILL SPEAK TO THIS RESOLUTION.
AND, AND THANK YOU TO, UM, TO MY COLLEAGUES AND, AND PROBABLY BEFORE I, BEFORE I START, UM, ALTHOUGH WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE, UM, PRESENTING THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT.
I THINK ALSO, UH, THIS MAY BE A RESOLUTION I THINK THAT, UM, WOULD PROBABLY ALSO MAKE SENSE TO DO BY ACCLIMATION, UM, AS WELL.
UM, BUT I, I APPRECIATE, UM, YOU KNOW, SO MAYBE WE'LL MAKE THE PRESENTATION TO THE GROUP TONIGHT AND, UH, YOU MIGHT GET TWO RESOLUTIONS,
BUT, UM, I'M HONORED TONIGHT, UH, TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE FIRST FRIDAY IN JUNE, UH, AS GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY, UH, IN ESSEX COUNTY.
UH, BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, UM, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE VOLUNTEERS, UM, WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT, UH, FROM MOMS DEMAND ACTION IN ESSEX COUNTY, WHO HAVE JOINED US HERE TODAY.
I, UM, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HEAR SHORTLY, UM, FROM, UH, ANDREA, UM, AT THE END HERE, BUT I JUST, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME JUST TO READ A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT'S IN THE RESOLUTION.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK.
UM, EACH AND EVERY YEAR, THE HARD WORK AND ADVOCACY OF MOMS WHO DEMAND ACTION AND PEOPLE LIKE THEM HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL, UH, FOR SPREADING AWARENESS OF GUN VIOLENCE ISSUES AND FOR IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE POLICY TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND NEIGHBORS.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
ALTHOUGH WE CAN BE VERY PROUD THAT NEW JERSEY IS A NATIONAL LEADER IN PREVENTING GUN VIOLENCE, UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN NEVER DO ENOUGH WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ISSUE.
THAT'S WHY IN 2015, UH, ESSEX COUNTY PASSED AN ORDINANCE THAT REQUIRED VENDORS WHO SELL FIREARMS TO THE COUNTY TO PROVE TO US THAT THEY WORK WITH ONLY RELY REFUTABLE DEALERS AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR PURCH POLICIES REGARDING THEIR SALE OF ASSAULT WEAPONS TO CIVILIANS, HOW OR IF THEY LIMIT THEIR SALE OF PRODUCTS LIKE ARMOR PIERCING BULLETS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE MILITARY, THEIR COMMITMENT TO COMBATING ILLEGAL GUN TRAFFICKING AND GUN VIOLENCE, AND HOW THEY ENSURE THAT GUN THAT THE GUN DEALERS THEY WORK WITH REQUIRE PERMITS TO PURCHASE FIREARMS. I'M ALSO VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ENACT THIS LEGISLATION AND WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO ENACT LEGISLATION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THEN PRESIDENT, UH, RICHARDSON TO ESTABLISH AN ESSEX COUNTY ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE TASK FORCE.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, UH, FOR YOUR SUPPORT WHEN YOU WERE PRESIDENT FOR THAT EARLIER TODAY.
UH, THOSE OF US, UM, WHO WERE ABLE TO BE THERE, UH, BOTH IN PERSON COMMISSIONER PRIMES AND I, AND I KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE THERE, OF COURSE, IN SPIRIT, WE ATTENDED AN EVENT TO HONOR THE LATE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SHEILA OLIVER
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ESSEX COUNTY'S OWN LIEUTENANT GU.SHEILA OLIVER WAS A FIERCE CHAMPION FOR GUN SAFETY AMONG HER EXTENSIVE WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
IN 2009, THEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OLIVER SIGNED INTO LAW A PACKAGE OF GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION THAT ESTABLISHED HOSPITAL-BASED GUN VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A COINCIDENCE THAT THOSE TWO EVENTS ARE HAPPENING ON THE SAME DAY, AND I KNOW THAT SHE'S HERE WITH US TONIGHT IN SPIRIT TO CONTINUE OUR WORK ON THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED HOLISTICALLY.
GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY KEEPS THIS ISSUE AT THE FOREFRONT AND BRINGS OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER OVER THE SHARED GOALS OF PROTECTING OUR LOVED ONES AND ENCOURAGING RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP.
I HOPE ALL OF YOU'LL JOIN ME AND OTHERS IN WEARING ORANGE ON JUNE 7TH AS A TRIBUTE TO THE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE AND THEIR LOVED ONES.
THIS RECOGNITION WAS INSPIRED BY ONE TRAFFIC VICTIM WHO WAS KILLED AND SHOT AT THE AGE OF 15.
HER FRIENDS CHOSE ORANGE BECAUSE IT'S THE COLORS THAT HUNTERS WEAR TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN THE WOODS.
AND IT SAYS A LOT THAT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE TO ADVOCATE IN THAT WAY, AND THAT WE AS ADULTS, UM, CANNOT PROTECT THEM IN THE WAY THAT THEY NEED TO BE PROTECTED.
SO TO MY COMMISSIONER, COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THIS RESOLUTION AND ALL THE GUN SAFETY ISSUES THAT HAVE COME BEFORE THE BOARD.
I KNOW IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU BEFORE WE, UH, BEFORE THE VOTE.
WITH YOUR APPROVAL, MR. PRESIDENT, UM, WE'D LIKE TO INVITE, UM, ANDREA FROM MOM'S DEMAND ACTION.
I SAYS, KELLY NEED TO SAY A FEW WORDS IF SHE'S HERE, THAT THANK YOU ON THE MATTER AND, UM, TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH WE'LL PRESENT TONIGHT, AND THEN SWAP OUT WITH A, A CLEANER VERSION WITH EVERY BY ACCLIMATION A, A CLEANER VERSION.
GOOD EVENING, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M THE, UM, CO-LOCATE GROUP LEAD FOR ESSEX COUNTY MOMS DEMAND ACTION.
I WANNA THANK YOU, UM, ON BEHALF OF EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY AND EX ESSEX COUNTY MOMS. UH, THANK YOU FOR ISSUING THIS PROCLAMATION AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN OUR COUNTY.
WE WEAR ORANGE THIS YEAR, AGAIN WITH HEAVY HEARTS BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUED GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY.
HOWEVER, WE ALSO WEAR ORANGE WITH RENEWED DETERMINATION TO DEMAND A FUTURE FREE FROM GUN VIOLENCE AND TO ELEVATE THE VOICES OF THE SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE AND THOSE DEMANDING AN END TO THIS VIOLENCE.
THE COMMISSIONER READ GUN VIOLENCE STEPS IN THE PROCLAMATION, BUT I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW MORE.
GUNS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE US FOR OUR CHILDREN, TRAGICALLY, IN 2023, WE SAW THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF UNINTENTIONAL SHOOTINGS BY CHILDREN SINCE 2015 FOR HUNDRED 11 SHOOTINGS RESULTING IN 157 DEATHS AND 270 INJURIES.
NEARLY SIX OUT OF EVERY 10 GUN DEATHS ARE SUICIDES AND CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 TO 14 HAVE THE FASTEST GROWING SUICIDE RATE OF ANY AGE GROUP OVER THE LAST DECADE.
GUNS ARE STOLEN FROM CARS AT TRIPLE THE RATE THEY WERE 10 YEARS AGO.
IN 2022, ON AVERAGE, AT LEAST ONE FIREARM WAS STOLEN FROM A CAR EVERY NINE MINUTES.
ACCORDING TO THE A TF, GUN THEFT IS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF GUNS THAT END UP IN THE HANDS OF CRIMINALS.
SO THINGS LIKE LEGISLATION, LIKE SECURE FIREARM STORAGE CAN HELP REDUCE ALL OF THESE GUN VIOLENCE STATISTICS, AND WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR THAT GUNFIRE CAN RING OUT AT ANY MOMENT.
HOWEVER, AS INCIDENTS OF GUN VIOLENCE HAVE GROWN, SO TOO HAS THE MOVEMENT TO STOP IT.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO EDUCATE, RAISE AWARENESS, ADVOCATE AND RALLY FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES.
WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THE GUN VIOLENCE STOPS BY UNITING WITH US IN OUR EFFORTS TO END GUN VIOLENCE.
BY ISSUING THIS PROCLAMATION TOGETHER, WE CAN BUILD A FUTURE FREE FROM ALL TYPES OF GUN VIOLENCE, SUICIDE, HOMICIDE, UNINTENTIONAL SHOOTINGS, AND INTIMATE PARTNER SHOOTINGS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THIS LIFESAVING MISSION.
THANK YOU, MR. COMMISSIONER MCGILL.
THANK, THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
I ALSO, UM, EVERYONE HAS BEEN ACTIVE ON THIS ISSUE ON THE BOARD, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO ALSO GIVE SPECIAL REC RECOGNITION, UH, TO THE, TO THE DEAN OF OUR BOARD.
UH, AND I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THAT SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO JOIN US TONIGHT IN PERSON COMMISSIONER SIEBOLD, WHO'S ALSO BEEN A LONG TIME ADVOCATE ON THIS ISSUE AND HAS WORKED WITH MANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
GREAT TO HAVE YOU BACK IN PERSON, COMMISSIONER.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AS WELL ON THE, ON THIS ISSUE.
UM, AND IF WE CAN, IF WE COULD, I WOULD, UH, HOPEFULLY ALL OF US COULD JOIN AND TAKE A PICTURE, UH, WITH, UH, I THINK THAT'D BE APPROPRIATE.
WHY DON'T WE GET MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION TO COME FORWARD AND THEN PERHAPS, ADAM, YOU COULD TAKE A PICTURE, UH, AND THEN WE WILL, UH, SHARE THAT LATER ON.
SO WHY DON'T I COME UP HERE, COMMISSIONER
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SEAT TO JOIN US HERE.AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, UH, FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO BRING AWARENESS TO GUN VIOLENCE.
YOU CAN GIVE THAT TO ADAM ACTUALLY.
ADAM, ADAM WILL BE, HE'LL, HE'LL BE RIGHT HERE IN A MOMENT.
OKAY, MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS ONE THROUGH 20, WHICH ARE ADVICE AND CONSENT NOMINATIONS FOR VARIOUS APPOINTMENTS.
RESOLUTIONS ONE THROUGH 15 ARE NEW APPOINTMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS, 16 THROUGH 20 ARE NOMINATIONS FOR REAPPOINTMENTS.
LET'S BEGIN WITH THE NEW APPOINTMENTS AND THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UM, OUR FIRST GROUP OF NOMINATIONS ARE FOR THE ESSEX COUNTY OF ESSEX OPIOID SETTLEMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL.
UH, THE FIRST MEMBER, UH, MR. JACKSON, CAN I ASK YOU TO HOLD FOR ONE SECOND? CERTAINLY.
I REALIZE WE TOOK THE PICTURE.
WE DIDN'T VOTE IN THAT LAST ORDINANCE.
WE WERE MOVING SO SMOOTHLY AND I JUMPED THE GUN.
SO, UH, LET'S, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, GILL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE? NUMBER 84? I WOULD THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SIEBEL.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
THANK YOU, UH, UH, MADAM DEPUTY CLARK FOR CALLING ME OUT ON THAT.
MY APOLOGIES FOR THE INTERRUPTION.
UH, I JUST WANNA REMIND, UH, AS WELL, WE'RE DOING, UM, NUMBERS ONE THROUGH FIVE.
THOSE, THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE COMING AND THE OTHER PEOPLE ARE MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION OR, OR STAFF.
AND, UH, WE'RE NOT ONE THROUGH FIVE FOR NEW FOLKS.
UH, THE REST ARE STAFF OF THE COUNTY ALREADY.
UM, OUR FIRST, UH, NOMINEE IS RICHARD RESS.
SO JUST TELL US YOUR NAME AND YOUR AFFILIATION AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE US YOUR WHOLE LIFE LONG STORY, BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT TO GET US TO UNDERSTAND WHO YOU ARE.
MY NAME'S RICHARD RESS AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERATION FOR THIS APPOINTMENT.
UM, I AM WITH ESSEX REGIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION.
UM, MY OPIOID, HOW I AM AFFILIATED WITH OPIOIDS IS WE ALSO, WE ARE THE FACILITATORS FOR AN OPIOID FATALITY REVIEW TEAM.
WE MEET MONTHLY, IT'S AN INTERDISCIPLINARY, IT HAS LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROBATION, CORRECTIONS, MEDICAL REHAB.
AND THE IDEA IS WE REVIEW CASES, FATALITY, OPIOID FATALITIES, AND WE REVIEW THE CASES WITH THE IDEAS OF, OF LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE DATA TO SEE WHERE WE CAN MAYBE CHANGE SOMETHING SO THAT IT DOESN'T END UP WITH A FATALITY.
SO THAT IS ONE OF MY PRIMARY AFFILIATIONS WITH OPIOIDS.
I ALSO SPENT 35 YEARS IN NUTLEY AS A VOLUNTEER MT I RETIRED NOW, BUT THAT ALSO GAVE ME QUITE A BIT OF EXPERIENCE IN
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TERMS OF OPIOID FAITH, YOU KNOW, OVERDOSES MOST.WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO VOLUNTEER AND CERTAINLY FOR YOUR PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTEER WORK COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, WE'RE GOOD.
ALRIGHT, NEXT NOMINEE IS, UH, SHARON, UH, ZA.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY SHARON HAD A MEDICAL, UH, ISSUE AND COULD NOT, UH, BE HERE.
MR. UH, JOEL TORRES IS GONNA, UH, SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SHARON.
MR. TORRES, GOOD EVENING, MR. TORRES.
JOEL TORRES OF COMPANY HEALTH SERVICES.
UH, SHARON IS A INDIVIDUAL LIVED EXPERIENCES WHO HAS BEEN WORKING IN THE FIELD FOR O OVER 25 YEARS, UH, CURRENTLY WORKING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
AND SHE HAS EXPERIENCE WITH OVERSEEING THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL FUNDING AS IT PERTAINS TO THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS.
UH, SHE'S CURRENTLY DEVELOPING PARENT OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS WITHIN HER LOCAL TOWN, UH, TO BE ABLE TO BUILD ON THE EFFORTS THERE.
AND, UH, SHE ASSISTS US WITH FINDING OUT AND IDENTIFYING WHAT TYPE OF ISSUES OR WHAT TYPE OF WORK IS BEING DONE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, WHICH IS NEEDED FOR THIS COUNTYWIDE BODY.
IF YOU COULD RELAY BACK, IF SHE'S NOT WATCHING, THEN WE APPRECIATE HER TIME AND VOLUNTEERING AND FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT SHE DOES AND WISH HER A PD RECOVERY.
WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'M GONNA ASK MR. TORRES TO STAY RIGHT THERE.
HE'S, UH, HE'S BEING NOMINATED AS WELL.
JOEL TORRES, DIVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH.
UH, I HAVE OVER 13 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC HEALTH.
UH, I HAVE A DEGREE IN PUBLIC HEALTH WITH A CONCENTRATION IN COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES.
UH, I COME TO THIS WORLD, UH, RECENTLY WITHIN THE COUNTY, BUT WORKING IN A NONPROFIT FIELD, UH, BEFORE THEN WORKING IN THE FIELD OF SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION OVER THAT ENTIRE TIME AND SERVING ON VARIOUS BODIES, NOT JUST HERE AT THE LOCAL AND COUNTY LEVEL, BUT ALSO AT THE STATEWIDE LEVEL, OVERSEEING VARIOUS PLANNING AND, UH, PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES AS IT PERTAINS TO SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, INCLUDING OPIOID, UH, USE DISORDER HERE WITHIN THE COUNTY.
WITHIN THE, UH, MY SHORT TIME HERE, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON PLANNING AND ORGANIZING OPIOID USE, UH, DISORDER PREVENTION, EARLY INTERVENTION TREATMENT AND RECOVERY INITIATIVES, AND BRINGING NEW FUNDING TO THE COUNTY, WHICH YOU'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, UH, MYSELF COMING UP HERE REQUESTING SOME APPROVAL TO INSERT MONEY INTO, INTO VARIOUS BUDGETS.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THE BOARD COMMISSIONS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. TORRES? OKAY.
UH, NEXT IS, UH, MICHAEL PADILLA, THE SECOND, UH, TO THE ADVISORY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, CONSIDERATION TO THIS COMMITTEE.
UH, I'M ALSO ON THE, UH, OVERDALE FATALITY COMMITTEE, UH, AS WELL, REVIEWING THOSE CASES, UH, LOOKING FOR, UH, POTENTIALLY DIFFERENT OUTCOMES.
I'M ALSO A POLICE OFFICER FOR 24 YEARS WITH TOWNSHIP OF NUTLEY, CURRENTLY COMMANDER OF THE, UH, PUBLIC INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS. UH, ALSO A MEMBER OF, UH, UH, HELP OUR PARENTS ENDURE, WHICH IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT BROUGHT EARLIER IN LIKE 2010.
A LOT OF THE, UM, INFORMATION TO OUR COMMUNITY REGARDING THE, UH, THE STARTUP OF THE OPIOID, UH, EPIDEMIC IN OUR, UH, COUNTY AND COMMUNITY.
UH, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY FOR VOLUN WILLING, BEING WILLING TO VOLUNTEER COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. PADILLA? OKAY, THANK YOU.
UH, FINALLY WE HAVE NA UH, BRISCOE.
I WORK AT INTEGRITY HOUSE AS THE SENIOR DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, AND IN THAT CAPACITY, UM, I WORK ON SECURING RESOURCES FOR US TO DO OUR WORK.
AND FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHO WE, WHO WE ARE, WE PROVIDE, UH, ADDICTION TREATMENT, UH, FOR THE CITY OF NEW JERSEY, UH, VARIETY, LEVELS OF CARE, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS TO THE CITY OF NEWARK AND THE COUNTY.
UM, I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR SIX YEARS.
I ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH ADDICTION IN MY FAMILY, SO I DEFINITELY AM VERY CLOSE TO THIS.
UM, I SECURED MY MBA FROM, UH, KELLOGG, UH, IN 2022.
SO I DEFINITELY AM LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTRIBUTING MY EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS MY CREDENTIALS TO THIS COUNCIL.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER SIEBEL? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I HAVE A STATEMENT, NOT A QUESTION.
I READ ALL THE RESUMES OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST COME BEFORE US, AND THEIR RESUMES ARE ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.
I WANT TO COMMEND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR FINDING ALL THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO HELPING THE CONSTITUENTS RIGHT HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US TONIGHT.
YOU ANY KEN? TO THE NORTH NEWARK? UH, BRISCOES.
THE NORTH NOR THE BRISCO'S FROM NORTH WARD.
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FROM NORTH NEWARK.YOU DON'T KNOW GEORGE BRISCOE OR NONE OF THE BRISCOES? NO.
SOUNDS LIKE A FAMILY BARBECUE IS IN ORDER TO SEE IF WE CAN SORT THIS OUT.
RICH COMMISSIONER, UH, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
I WANT TO ECHO COMMISSIONER SIEBEL'S, UM, COMMENTS.
THANK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION FOR BRINGING FORTH GOOD CANDIDATES TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD.
AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS THAT ARE RETURNING TO CONTINUE SERVICE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, THE OTHER NOMINEES, UH, ARE AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, STAFF MEMBERS OR THOSE WHO ARE VERY FAMILIAR TO THE BOARD.
EILEEN FISHERMAN, HASSAN MUHAMMAD, UH, STEVE MARTIS.
VINCENT, UH, DETA, UH, WHERE WAS I? UH, NICOLE GRAVES WATSON.
DO YOU WANT TO JUST CONTINUE WITH, UH, DO WE 16 THROUGH 20 AS WELL? UH, YEAH, THERE'S A DIFFERENT BOARD, BUT I DUNNO WHETHER YOU WANT TO VOTE SEPARATELY, BUT I'M HAPPY TO.
WHY, WHY DON'T WE JUST TAKE TOGETHER AND WE'LL VOTE AND, YEAH.
AND THE, ALL THE, THE BALLOTS ARE ALL, UH, RENOMINATIONS.
SO WE, WHAT DO WE HAVE? 16, UH, 16 THROUGH 21, I THINK IT IS.
UH, AND I CAN MAR UH, MARICE, UH, STRIVE CHAS, BERNICE TAYLOR JONES, NICOLE GRAYS WATSON, UH, ANGEL CONNIVER AND KATE MEREDITH.
THESE ARE ALL FOLKS WHO ARE BEING APPOINTED TO THE LOCAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE BEING REAPPOINTED.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON, UH, ONE THROUGH 20? SEEING NONE.
DO I HAVE A MOVER? I'LL MOVE IT.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLARK ON ONE THROUGH 20.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE WILLING TO SERVE AND TO SERVE AGAIN ON THESE TWO BOARDS.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS NUMBER 21 THROUGH 27, WHICH ARE INSERTIONS OF ITEMS OF REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.
AND THEY WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
ITEM 21 AS A BUDGET INSERTION OF $600,000 FROM THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF NEW JERSEY FOR THE TURTLEBACK ZOO.
UH, THIS IS QUARTERLY PAYMENTS OF $150,000 WITH NO COUNTY MATCH, WHICH GOES TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS AT THE TURTLEBACK ZOO.
UH, ITEM 22 FROM THE NEW JERSEY, FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR SAFE STREETS AND ROADS.
UH, THIS IS A $400,000 GRANT TO OUR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH WE'LL GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT, UH, FIVE YEARS OF CRASH DATA THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND DEVELOP, UH, HIGH CRASH LOCATIONS AND, UH, PROPOSE AND IMPLEMENT, UM, NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS IS A $400,000 GRANT THAT ALSO REQUIRES A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN-KIND MATCH FROM THE COUNTY.
ITEM 23, UM, IS A GRANT OF $400,000 FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LAW, UH, AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THIS IS FOR BODY-WORN CAMERAS, AGAIN IN THE AMOUNT FOR THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF.
THIS WILL PROVIDE FOR 200, UH, BODY-WORN CAMERA, BODY-WORN CAMERAS FOR THE OFFICERS.
UH, THIS PURCHASE WILL, UH, BRING THE, THAT DEPARTMENT UP TO FULL COMPLIANCE.
A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE OFFICERS WILL BE OUTFITTED.
UM, THIS REQUIRES A $400,000, UH, MATCH FROM THE COUNTY.
UH, AND I'LL JUST ADD, UH, PARENTHETICALLY THAT THE, UH, PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, ALL THE INVESTIGATIVE STAFF OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, UH, IS A HUNDRED PERCENT, UM, UH, FED IT OUT.
AND THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT, AS YOU KNOW, IS NOT REQUIRED TO WEAR, UM, UH, BODY WOR CAM BODY WORN CAMERAS.
UH, ITEM 24, UH, IT'S A GRANT FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR WORKFORCE, NEW JERSEY INNOVATION INITIATIVE IN THE AMOUNT OF $807,000.
THIS IS SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FOR, UH, IN, FOR INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ENGAGE, UM, UH, THE CLIENTS OF THESE SERVICES FOR, UH, EMPLOYMENT AND RETENTION, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, UH, THROUGH
[00:30:01]
DIGITAL OUTREACH MATERIALS AND OTHER MOBILE OUTREACH, UM, AND IT SERVICES.AND THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH FOR THIS.
THIS IS FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
UH, THIS IS RELATING TO OUR, UH, AREA PLAN FOR OUR DIVISION OF SENIOR SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,375,396.
UM, THIS IS A, A LITTLE OVER 5% INCREASE FROM WHAT WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR, AND IT DOES REQUIRE A MATCH FROM THE COUNTY, UH, IN THE AMOUNT OF, UM, $154,448.
UM, ITEM 26 IS, UH, AND THE AMOUNT OF $8,626.
THIS IS A REVENUE THAT GOES TOWARD OUR, UH, SENIOR FARMER'S MARKET NUTRITIONIST, UH, PROGRAM.
AND IT PROVIDES FOR $50 CHECKS OR QR CODES FOR LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS OF THOSE 60 YEARS AND OLDER TO PROVIDE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT, UH, VARIOUS, UH, FARMER'S MARKETS.
AND THERE'S NO COUNTING MATCH.
UH, FINALLY, NUMBER 27, UH, FROM THE FEDERAL TRANSIT TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION.
UH, THIS IS SECTION 5, 253 10 GRAND PROGRAM.
THIS IS FOR OUR DIVISION OF SENIOR SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000.
AND THIS IS THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FUEL FOR OUR SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES.
AND THEY PROVIDE NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, THERAPIES, DIALYSIS, EMPLOYMENT, FOOD SHOPPING, UH, AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR OUR SENIORS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON 21 THROUGH 27? I DO HAVE A QUESTION ON, UH, MR. JACKSON ON NUMBER 22.
THAT'S THE SAFE STREETS AND ROADS GRANT PROGRAM.
YOU MENTIONED A $100,000 INKIND MATCH.
WHAT IS THAT MADE UP OF? HOW, HOW WOULD WE PAY, UH, THAT WILL CONSIST OF EMPLOYEE TIME, SUPPLIES, OFFICE SPACE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, MR. PAAK? NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON 21 THROUGH 27? SEE, NAN, DO I HAVE A MOVER MOTION MOVE BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, ROLL CALL MATTER.
AND DEPUTY CLERK 21 THROUGH 27.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
OKAY, MADAM DEPUTY CLARK, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 28, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, WHICH WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, COUNTY TREASURER MOHAMMED WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM.
UH, HUSAM MOHAMMAD COUNTY TREASURER RESOLUTION 28 TO CANCEL CERTAIN, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT OF APPROPRIATION, UH, BALANCES.
THIS IS OLD ORDINANCES, UH, NO LONGER NEEDED BALANCES, NO LONGER NEEDED.
UH, AND WE HAVE, UM, FUNDED AMOUNTS, WHICH GOES BACK TO THE CAPITAL FUND BALANCE AND UNFUNDED.
THIS IS JUST CANCELING THE AUTHORIZATION.
THERE IS NO ACTUAL CASH WAS AUTHORIZED, WAS AUTHORIZED, BUT IT WAS NEVER, WAS, NEVER ISSUED THAT FOR IT.
MR. MR. PARLOVE, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
MR. MACONE? ANY QUESTIONS? YES, THE WELL COMMENTS.
THE, THESE ARE, THESE ARE, WHEN WE AUTHORIZE CAPITAL ORDINANCE, WE, WE, WE ACTUALLY GIVE THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE COUNTY TO GO OUT AND ACTUALLY FUND THAT ORDINANCE BY WAY OF EITHER, UH, BY WAY OF BONDS.
UM, SOME OF THOSE AUTHORIZATIONS NEVER GET FUNDED.
SO IF THE PROJECTS NEVER COME ABOUT OR IF PORTIONS OF THE PROJECTS NEVER COME ABOUT, THOSE AUTHORIZATIONS ARE THE UNUSED PORTIONS OF THOSE AUTHORIZATIONS REMAIN, UH, IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS THEN IS, SO THOSE, THOSE ARE THE UNFUNDED ONES.
AND THEN, THEN IF SOMETHING WAS FUNDED, UH, IF BONDS WERE SOLD AND, UH, THE PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN, BUT THE PROJECT CAME IN UNDER BUDGET, THEN YOU HAVE THIS AMOUNT LEFT OVER THAT'S ACTUALLY AUTHORIZED AND FUNDED.
IT'S LIKE HAVING ADDITIONAL CASH.
UM, THAT'S IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND CASH ACCOUNT THAT CAN BE USED, HOWEVER, TO USE IT.
IF THAT PROJECT'S UP, YOU HAVE TO MOVE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND SO, UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS KIND OF CLEANING HOUSE ON BOTH THE FUNDED AND THE UNFUNDED.
THE UNFUNDED WERE THE LARGER AMOUNTS.
THERE WAS A $10 MILLION PROJECT, UH, THAT DID NEVER, THAT NEVER CAME ABOUT.
ANOTHER ONE WAS A ALMOST $3 MILLION PROJECT THAT, UM, UH, DID COME ABOUT, BUT
[00:35:01]
THEY FOUND GRANT MONEY TO PAY IT.SO THE ORIGINAL AUTHORIZATION WAS NO LONGER NECESSARY.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
SO THE UNFUNDED I GET, WE DIDN'T GO OUT TO USE THAT.
RIGHT? BUT THE FUNDED AMOUNT, NOW WHAT HAPPENS TO IT? IT GOES INTO ANOTHER FUND AND THEN IT GOES TO CAPITAL AUTHORIZED SUR TO DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH IT.
IT, IT, IT CAN TYPICALLY IT GOES TO CAPITAL SURPLUS.
YOU, YOU CAN FUND IT AND IT GOES TO FUND BALANCE.
AND THAT, OR AT SOME POINT LATER, YOU CAN USE THAT MONEY TO EITHER USE IT AS A DOWN PAYMENT FOR SOME OTHER BOND ISSUE OR SOME OTHER ORDINANCE, OR USE IT TO FUND ON, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME SMALLER ORDINANCES.
MOST OF THIS STUFF OTHER THAN THE LARGE ONES THAT WERE UNFUNDED, OR IT'S KIND OF LIKE HOUSE CLEANING, IT'S AMOUNTS THAT WERE LEFT OVER.
UM, SMALL AMOUNTS MAINLY THAT WERE LEFT OVER FROM FUNDED PROJECTS.
BUT THE UNFUNDED MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.
IT'S JUST GOD, IT EVAPORATES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALANCE SHEET.
THE FUNDED ONES CREATE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO USE THAT CASH FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSION DO I HAVE A MOVER FOR 28? MOTION MOVED BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK ON NUMBER 28.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT PALMER? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 29 AND 30, WHICH ARE FROM THE DIVISION OF SENIOR SERVICES AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. SMITH AND MR. VIRA WILL HANDLE THESE ITEMS, UH, IN THAT ORDER.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, UM, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS ERIC SMITH, PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE DIVISION OF SENIOR SERVICES.
ITEM NUMBER 29 IS, UM, WE'RE REQUEST, UM, REQUESTING APPROVAL OF OUR 2024 MATRIX OF SUBCONTRACTS FROM VARIOUS AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE THE SERVICES TO ALL THE SENIORS THAT RESIDE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
AND THAT AMOUNT WILL NOT EXCEED $11,387,009.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS, MR. PARLOVE? ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
UM, SO THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE FUNDED, HOW DO RESIDENTS CONSTITUENTS FIND OUT ABOUT THESE SERVICES THAT WE'RE FUNDING? IF WE GO TO YOUR WEBSITE AND YOUR PAGE, ARE THESE ORGANIZATIONS LISTED OUT? UM, WITH THE THINGS THAT WE'RE FUNDING? AS OF RIGHT NOW, LIKE OUR DIVISION AND INFORMATION IS ON THE, ON THE MAIN COUNTY WEBSITE WHERE SOME OF THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED.
WE ACTUALLY JUST, UM, WAS TALKING WITH THE DIRECTOR AND, UM, WITH ANTHONY ABOUT PUTTING OUR RESOURCE GUIDE.
UH, A LINK TO OUR RESOURCE GUIDE DIRECTLY ON THE SITE.
SO, UM, CAREGIVERS OR SENIORS, IF THEY'RE TECH SAVVY, CAN NAVIGATE AND CLICK ON A LINK AND THEY CAN SEE THE DOCUMENTS ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OVER 90 PAGES, BUT IT, IT COVERS ALL OF THE SERVICES AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
SO WE ARE WORKING ON PUTTING THAT UP THERE.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, MR. JACKSON, CAN WE, UM, CAN YOU GUYS HELP FACILITATE THEM? I, I GOT A CALL RECENTLY FROM A, UH, A SON WHO'S TRYING TO HELP HIS ELDERLY MOTHER AND I DIRECTED HIM TO GO TO OUR WEBPAGE, THE COUNTY'S WEBPAGE.
AND HE WAS FRUSTRATED THAT HE COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT.
AND I KNEW WE HAVE A WHOLE DIVISION OF YES.
SENIOR SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE.
BUT YOU SAID YOU COULDN'T MM-HMM.
DO, DO YOU STILL HAVE HIS NAME AND I CONTACT? I DO.
WELL, DO YOU GIVE THAT? WE'LL, WE'LL, OKAY.
VICE PRESIDENT, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO I HAVE A MOVER? MOTION MOVED BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY TO THE CLERK ON NUMBER 29.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
ALRIGHT, NUMBER 30, WE HAVE MR. MICHAEL VIRA PRESENTING TODAY.
GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT MICHAEL VIRA.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR THE DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT AND SENIOR SERVICES.
TODAY'S RESOLUTION 30 IS REGARDING, UH, SENIOR SERVICES.
IT'S AN INTERLOCAL, UH, AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SES COUNTY, UH, COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM
[00:40:01]
AND THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR TO PROVIDE TNC SERVICES, TNC SERVICES, TRANSFER TRANSPORTATION NETWORKING COMPANIES, WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR UBERS AND LYFTS.UH, MONTCLAIR IS THE FIRST, UH, MUNICIPALITY IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY THAT THEIR SENIORS ARE RIDING ALL, UM, ON LYFTS AND, UH, AND UBERS.
UM, MONTCLAIR IS PROVIDING A $175,000 GRANT.
UH, THEY'VE INCREASED IT FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS.
MR. VIRA, IS THIS AS A RESULT OF SOMETHING THAT CAME OUTTA THE PANDEMIC? UM, YEAH, A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE, UM, IN REGARDS TO THE SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, UM, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT OUR DRIVERS AND OUR PASSENGERS, UH, BECOMING CONTAMINATED WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
UH, WE STARTED ONE-ON-ONE TRANSPORTATION, AND WE FOUND THAT USING UBERS AND LYFTS ARE ACTUALLY EVEN CHEAPER THAN USING, UH, UH, TRADITIONAL TRANSPORTATION, WHICH WE STILL HAVE OUR TRADITIONAL TRANSPORTATION.
BUT THIS IS JUST AN ADDITION TO OUR, UH, OUR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.
IT HELPS LOCAL PEOPLE OUT AS WELL.
MR. PARLOVE, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
MR. MCINERNEY? ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? YES, COMMISSIONER SIEBEL, I'D LIKE TO JUST ADD SOMETHING.
FIRST OF ALL, I THINK ESSEX COUNTY IS VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE MICHAEL VIRA, WHO IS TAKING CARE OF ALL THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR THE CONSTITUENTS.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT MICHAEL IS ALSO HEAD OF THE NEW JERSEY COUNCIL ON SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION, AND HE JUST GOT BACK FROM ONE WEEK IN ATLANTIC CITY FOR A CONFERENCE WHERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ATTENDED THOUSAND THOUSANDS.
IT WAS FOR THE NEW JERSEY COUNCIL ON SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION.
SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE MICHAEL VIRA WORKING RIGHT HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY ON TRANSPORTATION.
UH, MICHAEL, AFTER A WEEK, ATLANTIC CITY, DO WE STILL HAVE MONEY? I ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I GAMBLED ONCE AND I ACTUALLY WON FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.
HE DID NOT GAMBLE COUNTY MONEY, WHICH, WHICH COMMISSIONER IS VERY GOOD BECAUSE OUR FUNDING COMES FROM THE CASINOS, UH, UNDER OUR CITIZEN, UH, SENIOR CITIZEN DISABLED RESIDENTS TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.
SO WE DO GET 8.5% OF THE WIN FOR EACH CASINO.
AND, UH, SPORTS BETTING AND INTERNET WAGERING COMES DIRECTLY TO ESS COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY.
MR. VIRA, I'M NOT SURE IF MRS. VIRA IS AWARE, BUT SHE WILL BE PROBABLY AFTER TONIGHT.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
I'M CURIOUS, UM, THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM.
UM, I REMEMBER WHEN YOU, THIS WAS FIRST INTRODUCED, HOW MANY SENIORS, I'M CURIOUS, IS USING YOUR PROGRAM ANNUALLY? SO IN THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC WHERE WE WERE NOT PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION IN 2019, UH, MONTCLAIR WAS, WAS AVERAGING ABOUT 6,000 TO 7,000 TRIPS.
WE HAVE THIS ALL OVER, UH, THE COUNTY.
UH, THIS IS USING, UH, MONTCLAIR MONEY AND SOME SES COUNTY MONEY.
WE DO DO IT, UH, WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES TOO.
SO NOT ONE PERSON SHOULD BE DENIED A TRIP, UM, ON OUR ESS COUNTY COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE A SEAT AND THAT PERSON CAN GO ONTO AN UBER AND LYFT, WE PUT THAT PERSON ONTO AN UBER AND LYFT.
SO WE DO ANOTHER PROBABLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND TRIPS, UH, JUST AROUND THE COUNTY ITSELF.
HOW DO PEOPLE GET IN CONTACT IF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A TRIP AND THEY CAN'T, YOU KNOW, GET, I HEAR, I HEAR FROM PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, IF THEY WANT TO GO TO THE DOCTOR AND THE COST IS TOO HIGH, SO THEY KIND OF BUDGET WHEN THEY GET TO DO IT.
SO THE COUNTY OF ESSEX TRANSPORTATION IS ALL FREE.
UH, THEY NEED TO CALL 9 7 3, UM, SEVEN THREE SEVEN FORTY TWO HUNDRED.
THAT'S THE ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM AND JUST SCHEDULE A TRIP.
IF YOU'RE LIVING IN MONTCLAIR, THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM YOU CALL, UM, MON, ACTUALLY, YOU CAN CALL MONTCLAIR FOR INFORMATION, BUT YOU'LL CALL THE, UM, EASY RIDE DIRECTLY AND THEY'LL SCHEDULE YOU.
I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER SIEBEL, YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB.
COMMISSIONER GI, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THIS? UH, YEAH.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? YES.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SECOND, SECOND WILL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 31, WHICH IS FROM THE DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES.
AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? THANK YOU MR. MARTINEZ.
[00:45:01]
GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR ESS COUNTY YOUTH SERVICES COMMISSION.
TODAY, I, I'M ACCOMPANIED WITH CURTIS MOORE FROM IMAT AND ALSO MR. MEDINA FROMA INC.
UM, TODAY WE ARE REQUESTING APPROVAL OF THE STATE COMMUNITY CONTRACT STATE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, UH, SUB, SUB SUB AGREEMENTS FROM JANUARY 1ST, 2024 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2026 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,069,777.
UM, IS THERE ANY, AND THAT'S ALL.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MR. PARLA? BECKER, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, I DON'T.
MR. M DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF COMMISSIONER? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? DO YOU WANNA INTRODUCE YOUR COLLEAGUE AND TELL US, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT HE'S DOING FOR ESSEX COUNTY AND JUST GIVE US A LITTLE OVERVIEW.
I MEAN, YOU CAME HERE, YOU MIGHT AS WELL SAY SOMETHING, RIGHT? WHAT'S YOUR NAME? SIR? SIR? YES.
I'M THE SENIOR COUNSELOR, UM, FOR THE EVENING REPORTING CENTER AND INSPIRA.
AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT ESP INSPIRA OF NEW JERSEY.
BASICALLY, UM, WE, WE ARE, UM, TAKING CARE OF ALL THE YOUTH, UM, JU JUVENILES, UM, THAT ARE ON, UM, BRACELETS, UM, FOR, UM, YEAH,
JUST, SORRY, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS.
LET ME RECOGNIZE COMMISSIONER LUCIANO IS NOT PRESENT.
AND, UH, MR. MARTINEZ, DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER COLLEAGUE WITH YOU? YES, SIR.
DO, WOULD YOU INTRODUCE YOUR COLLEAGUE? UM, GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M CURTIS MOORE, UM, PRESIDENT, THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF IMAT.
UH, SO WE ARE DELINQUENCY, UM, PREVENTION PROGRAM WHERE WE WORK WITH, UM, ADOLESCENTS OVER THE COUNTY ESSENCE, UM, NEWARK, IRVINGTON, EAST STAUNCH, AND WORKING WITH, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE TO HELP THEM, YOU KNOW, STAY OUTTA TROUBLE.
UM, TRUANCY, UM, HELPING 'EM WITH AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
UM, MR. MARTINEZ, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT LEADERS FOR LIFE IS DOING? YES, THE, UM, THE FIR THE FIRST ONE THAT, UH, WAS TALKING ABOUT IS AN EVENING REPORTING CENTER.
THESE ARE FOR KIDS WHO ARE MANDATED FROM THE COURTS THAT ARE ON ELECTRIC MONITORING BRACELETS.
SO THEY'RE, UM, IT'S AN ALTER ALTERNATIVE TO DETENTION PROGRAM.
SO THESE, INSTEAD OF THE KIDS BEING INSIDE OF A JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, THEY'RE MANDATED TO, TO BE HOME, GO TO SCHOOL, AND THEN AFTER, UH, AFTER SCHOOL, THEY'RE GOING INTO PROGRAMS SUCH AS, UH, THE EITHER, UH, EITHER REPORTING CENTER, UM, THAT MR. UH, MEDINA WAS TALKING ABOUT.
MR. UH, MR. MOORE SPEAKING ABOUT IN REGARDS TO I MATTERS A PREVENTION PROGRAM.
THESE PROGRAMS ARE TO PREVENT KIDS FROM ENTERING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, SO THEIR PROGRAMS SUCH AS RECREATIONAL, UM, ACTIVITIES SUCH AS FOOTBALL, SOCCER, BASEBALL, OR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, THINGS OF THOSE NATURE.
WE FOLLOW HOW MANY KIDS, A A, A LONG CONTINUUM BETWEEN PREVENTION, DETENTION, ALTERNATIVES, REENTRY THINGS OF THOSE NATURES, HOW MANY KIDS COME THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS ALTOGETHER? LAST YEAR, UM, BETWEEN OUR, OUR GRANITE 2023, WE WAS ABLE TO HELP OUT 1,500 KIDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THROUGH OUR, UH, STATE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP GRANTS.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND YOUR SUB-GRANTEES TO PLEASE KEEP UP WITH GOOD WORK.
COMMISSIONER VICE P WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE IT? YES, PLEASE.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, I'LL GET YOU NEXT.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 32 THROUGH 34, WHICH ARE FROM THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. LOMBARDI WILL HANDLE THESE ITEMS. THANK YOU.
CRAIG LOMBARDI, HOUSING COORDINATOR FOR THE DIVISION OF HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WE ARE SEEKING TO, UH, MODIFY THE EXISTING, UH, CDBG GRANT, THE VILLAGE TOWNSHIP VILLAGE OF SOUTH ORANGE.
UH, TO CHANGE THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, UH, THE ORIGINAL SCOPE WAS TO DO A DA WORK AT MANILA CENTER.
UH, BECAUSE OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED COSTS FOR THIS PROJECT, THEY'VE REQUESTED THAT THE
[00:50:01]
SCOPE OF THE PROJECT BE CHANGED TO EDA IMPROVEMENTS FOR THEIR COMMUNITY POOL.UH, THEY ARE GUARANTEED US THAT THEY ARE SHOVEL READY AND THEY'RE VERY CONFIDENT ABOUT WHAT THE COSTS ARE GONNA BE FOR THIS PROJECT.
CAN YOU, IS IT FOR A DA COMPLIANCY WITH THE POOL? IS THAT, WHAT, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? UH, SO A DA IMPROVEMENTS TO THE POOL TO MAKE IT MORE A DA ACCESSIBLE FOR THE, THE USERS OF THE COMMUNITY POOL AREA.
WE ARE SEEKING TO ALLOCATE C-D-B-G-C-V FUNDS TOTALING $964,735, UH, TO VARIOUS, UH, SERVE AGENCIES.
AND ALSO ONE PROJECT, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, UH, FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF NUTLEY.
AND THEN ITEM NUMBER 34, UH, IF I MAY BACK UP FOR A SECOND.
SO THE CDBG CV FUNDS I JUST REFERENCED, THOSE WERE FUNDS THAT WERE DIRECTLY ALLOCATED TO OUR DIVISION FROM, FROM HUD.
ITEM NUMBER 34 WERE, UH, ASKING TO REALLOCATE CDBG CV TWO FUNDS.
NOW THESE WERE CDBG CV FUNDS THAT WERE ALLOCATED TO THE COUNTY FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
UH, AND THEY WERE INITIALLY AWARDED THOSE FUNDS, UH, FROM HUD.
SO IT'S, IT'S C-D-B-G-C-V, BUT A DIFFERENT TRANCHE OF FUNDS.
AND THERE WE'RE LOOKING TO, UH, REALLOCATE $1,632,196, UH, FOR, UM, VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, MAINLY FOCUSING ON IMPROVING THE, UH, HVAC UH, SYSTEMS AT VARIOUS PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCIES.
UH, HOPEFULLY, GOD FORBID THERE'S A, ANOTHER VIRUS DOWN THE ROAD.
THIS, THIS SHOULD HELP ALL THESE FACILITIES HAVE A MUCH HEALTHIER FACILITY AND BE ABLE TO TR DEAL WITH, UH, THEIR CONSUMERS, UH, IN, IN, UM, IN A BETTER WAY THAN THEY IF THEY HAD TO, YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY STRUGGLED THIS DURING THIS, UH, COVID.
THEY REALLY STRUGGLE EARLY ON.
HOPEFULLY THESE ARE PROJECTS WILL BENEFIT, UH, BOTH SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM.
THESE 34 MUNICIPAL FACILITIES OR COUNTY FACILITIES, THESE ARE VARIOUS AGENCIES, SERVICE AGENCIES, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, SO FOR EXAMPLE, UH, THE YMC OF NEWARK, UH, WINONA'S.
AND THERE'S, THERE'S OTHER AGENCIES THAT REFERENCED IN NATURE ALL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'VE APPROVED HERE THROUGH OTHER VARIOUS SOURCES OF FUNDING.
AND UH, AGAIN, THIS IS A BIG FOCUS OF HUD WITH THE, THE REMAINING FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH C-D-B-G-C-B THAT REALLY, UH, EN ENCOURAGING ENTITIES LIKE US TO FIND FOLKS OUT THERE WHO CAN USE THIS MONEY FOR PROJECTS LIKE HVAC SENSE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON 32 THROUGH 34? NO, NO QUESTION.
COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER, WHAT TIME OF YEAR IS THIS ADVERTISEMENT PUT OUT FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO APPLY FOR? OR DO YOU GUYS GO OUT AND FIND THE PROJECTS TO FUND, UH, THE, UH, THE, THE, FOR THE TWO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS? IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME.
WE DID, IT WAS SOMETIME AROUND AUGUST, SEPTEMBER THAT WE BOTH, WE PUT OUT RFPS FOR BOTH THESE PROGRAMS. UH, THERE WAS A DELAY AND THERE WAS SOME PROJECTS THAT WE HAD TO TAKE SOME TIME ON TO SEE IF THEY WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE C-D-B-G-C-P FUNDING.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT LATE ON THIS.
WE'RE LATER THAN WE'D LIKE TO BE, BUT WE STILL HAVE TIME TO SPEND THE MONEY AND WE HAVE, UH, THE AGENCIES ARE ALL VERY EAGER TO GET THEIR CONTRACT SIGNED AND, AND, UH, MOVE FORWARD ON THEIR PROJECTS.
HOW MUCH TIME DO THEY GET TO IMPLEMENT THE PROJECT? THEY'RE, WELL, THE C-D-B-G-C-V FUNDS WILL EXPIRE WITHIN A COUPLE YEARS.
SO THAT, I MEAN, THE LONG TERM, THAT'S, THAT'S THE END DATE.
THESE PROJECTS, WE EXPECT THEM JUST TO FINISH THESE PROJECTS WITHIN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMERS? DO I HAVE A MOVER? COMMISSIONER GRAHAM? YES.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER FOR THE SECOND ROLL CALL.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK ON 32, 33 AND 34.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 35 AND 36, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION.
THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UM, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, HEALTH OFFICER LODO WILL HANDLE 35 AND DIRECTOR DEL GAUDIO WILL HANDLE 36.
COMMISSIONER IS MAYA LODO HEALTH OFFICER FOR ESSEX COUNTY.
UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER 35, UH, INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR SHARED PROFESSIONAL
[00:55:01]
SERVICES FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD TO UTILIZE THE ESSEX COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER TO PERFORM PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE TOWNSHIP FROM JULY, 2024 THROUGH JUNE OF 2027.THIS IS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN, UH, THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD AND ESSEX COUNTY, UH, FOR HEALTH OFFICER SERVICES, WHICH IS MYSELF.
UH, UH, BLOOMFIELD HAS AN EXTRAORDINARY STAFF THAT, UH, SUPPORTS ME AS WELL.
UH, AN ACCREDITED HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UH, THE COUNTY DOES GET COMPENSATED, UH, FOR THE SERVICES AND, UH, WE, UM, STARTED THIS ABOUT A YEAR LAST YEAR.
UH, IT HAS BEEN MOST FRUITFUL FOR ALL OF US TO SHARE THE RESOURCES OF BLOOMFIELD AND ALSO, UH, THE COUNTY, UH, GETTING COMPENSATED FOR THIS SERVICE AS WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO, NO QUESTIONS.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT COMMISSIONERS.
FRANK DELGAUDIO, DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION.
UH, ITEM 36 IS A AFFILIATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ESSEX COUNTY HOSPITAL CENTER AND HACKENSACK MERIDIAN MOUNTAINSIDE HOSPITAL.
UM, ALL OF THE HOSPITALS WITHIN ESSEX COUNTY, UM, ARE REQUIRED THROUGH THE DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES TO FORMULATE WITH ACCEPTING HOSPITALS, UM, AN AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ADMISSION INTO THE ESSEX COUNTY HOSPITAL, WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE FROM THE SHORT TERM CARE FACILITIES.
THIS IS A PRETTY ROUTINE AFFILIATION AGREEMENT.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE EVERY THREE YEARS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THIS YEAR WE'VE ONLY RECEIVED TWO BACK.
ONE FROM CARAL AND THIS ONE FROM MOUNTAINSIDE.
UH, FRANK, THERE'S NO COST TO THESE ARE THERE? IT'S YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
ANY QUESTIONS? DO I HAVE A MOVER? MOVE IT.
I'LL SECOND MOVE BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
'CAUSE LUCIANA WAS A LITTLE TOO SLOW ON THAT ONE.
YOU'LL HAVE TO CATCH UP THE NEXT TIME.
UH, MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
OKAY, MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 37 THROUGH 41.
AND AND PLEASE NOTE THAT RESOLUTION NUMBER 85 WAS WITHDRAWN BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
UH, THEY'RE OFTEN THE DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
AND WE HAVE MR. ZAS HERE WHO WILL BE PRESENTING, WHO I THINK IS A LITTLE SORE 'CAUSE HE WASN'T FIRST TODAY.
AND JOHN GATES AS COUNTY PARKS.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE.
I HAVE A LITTLE TOUCH OF LARYNGITIS.
UH, SO I WON'T BE ABLE TO SPEAK, UH, AS BOISTEROUSLY AS I NORMALLY DO, WHICH I KNOW WILL UPSET COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON GREATLY.
37 IS THE CONTRACT AWARD WITH WORLD CORPORATION FOR REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT OF VARIOUS PLAYGROUNDS SAFETY SERVICES.
THIS IS EXERCISING THE 24 MONTH OPTION AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,991,500.
UH, SIMPLY POINT, THIS IS TO, UH, REPAIR ANY OF THE PLAYGROUNDS.
SO YOU HAVE THE S COUNTY PARK SYSTEM.
IT ALSO INCLUDES THE REPRI SAFETY SURFACE.
UH, JUST AS A POINT, UH, JUST AS A NOTE, UH, THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT, WHICH IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE, WE EXPENDED, UH, 837,000 OF THAT, UH, CONTRACT AMOUNT.
NUMBER 38, THE CONTRACT AWARD TO MEGA TURF SOLUTIONS FURNISH AND DELIVERED TWO NEW BARNESS RIDERS SWEEPER, UH, MOWERS, UH, DAY CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $85,000.
THIS IS FOR THE PARK SYSTEMS THREE GOLF COURSES.
UH, IT HELPS TO REDUCE MANUAL LABOR.
OBVIOUSLY BEFORE THE PURCHASE OF THESE MOWERS, OUR, UH, STAFF WOULD BE, UH, RAKING THE GREENS.
UH, WITH THAT, UH, EACH OF THESE, UH, MACHINES COST 42,500.
AND AS STATED, THERE'S TWO OF 'EM FOR A TOTAL AWARD OF 85,000.
NUMBER 39 CONTRACT AWARD TO PARTY PERFECT RENTALS.
UH, TRY CARNIVAL RIDE AND AMUSEMENT GAMES 24 MONTH TO, UH, HAVE A COMPANY COME IN, A BOUNCY HOUSE, A WATER GUN GAME, WHAT HAVE YOU FOR VARIOUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE PARK SYSTEM, UH, SUCH AS A CHERRY BLOSSOM EARTH DAY, HALLOWEEN EVENTS, HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT THE ZOO, ET CETERA.
[01:00:01]
THAT HAS PRICES.IT ALSO INCLUDES AN HOURLY RANGE, UH, FOR CARNIVAL WORKERS TO COME IN AND WORK THOSE GAMES.
ALSO INCLUDES, UH, A RATE FOR, UH, A GENERATOR RENTAL FOR WHATEVER MACHINES MIGHT NEED THAT.
UH, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES, UH, A FEE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION SET UP AND REMOVAL OF THOSE MACHINES.
NUMBER 40, CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER WITH SUNNY ELECTRIC TO PROVIDE FEDERAL GENERAL ELECTRIC IMPROVEMENTS, MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS, AND INSTALLATIONS.
WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $164,260 AND 60 CENTS.
UH, THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AWARD WAS $821,063.
UH, THIS ADDITIONAL 20% WILL BRING THE NEW NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT, UP TO $985,299 AND 60 CENTS.
UH, SPECIFICALLY WE'RE GONNA USE THIS MONEY FOR, UH, SOME SECURITY CAMERAS IN BRANCH BROOK PARK OUTSIDE THE MAINTENANCE BUILDING CAN UPGRADE THOSE.
UH, RIKER HILL NEEDS SEVERAL ELECTRICAL UPGRADES AND THE BURN GOLF COURSE NEEDS A NEW POWER LINE OVER BY THE PUMPHOUSE.
NUMBER 41 IS A CONTRACT AWARD WITH FAT DADDIES, UH, LLC TO PROVIDE AND OPERATE THE FOOD CONCESSION.
THE FRANCIS BURN GOLF COURSE, IT'S A THREE YEAR CONTRACT.
THIS IS A REVENUE GENERATING A CONTRACT.
UH, THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE $7,050 OVER THE THREE YEARS.
THIS IS TO OUTFIT THE, UH, CONCESSION STAND OVER AT BURN, UH, AGAIN, WITH THIS VENDOR.
IN YEAR ONE, WE WILL, THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE $2,000, YEAR TWO, $2,350.
AND THEN FINALLY IN YEAR THREE, $2,700.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SUPPORT MAY HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON 37TH TO 41? YES, MR. PRESIDENT? UH, JOSH ON NUMBER 38, THAT'S THE OMEGA TURF SOLUTIONS.
THE, UH, SWEET WRITING SWEEPERS.
UH, IS THAT A PURCHASE OF THESE ITEMS TO BE USED BY STAFF OR IS THAT A CON, UH, SERVICE CONTRACT, UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT JOSHUA ZA COUNTY PARKS, THAT'S TO PURCHASE THE, UH, THE MACHINERY AND, AND, UH, GOLF STAFF WILL BE USING IT.
I, I WAS JUST CONFUSED BY THE 90 DAY CONTRACT.
UH, THAT'S JUST THE TERMS FOR THEM TO DELIVER THE EQUIPMENT TO US.
OH, THEY HAVE 90 DAYS TO PROVIDE.
UH, MR. PAR, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO.
UH, ON 39, UM, I DIDN'T SEE IT IN THE DOCUMENTATION, BUT THERE IS A, A CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE THAT THEY, UM, THIS COMPANY PROVIDED US WITH FOR LIABILITY COVERAGE ON THESE RIDES.
YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? I, UH, I BELIEVE THIS IS, IS THIS THE SECURE MR. NER, IS THIS THE CERTIFICATE? NO, IT'S NOT.
UM, THEN I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE BOARD.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS ON, UH, 37 THROUGH 41? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
ARE WE OUTFITTING THE PLACE WITH THE EQUIPMENT OR THE OPERATOR HAS TO DO ALL OF THAT? UH, JOSHUA
THERE WAS A PRE-BID TOUR FOR THE, UH, PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS TO COME IN, SURVEY THE AREA AND SEE WHAT WOULD BE NEEDED.
WE DO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AS WHAT WE THINK THEY WILL NEED, BUT IT WOULD BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPLY WHATEVER IS NOT CURRENTLY EQUIPPED IN THE KITCHEN.
WE, WE DO THIS KIND OF THING AT OTHER PARTS TOO, RIGHT? IS THAT OUR STANDARD WAY THAT WE DO IT? WE PROVIDE, YEAH.
FOR INSTANCE, AT THE ZOO AND ARENA AND THE VERONA BOATHOUSE IS ALL RUN BY ARAMARK, AND IT'S THE SAME THING.
WHATEVER EQUIPMENT WE HAVE, THEY'RE WELCOME TO USE, BUT OTHERWISE THEY WOULD HAVE TO FURNISH IT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER SIEBEL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE IT? YES, BUT HE OKAY.
CALL IT COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
DO YOU, UH, MR. PRESIDENT? I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING MR. ZA SAID.
CAN WE GET HIM TO START OVER?
MY WIFE HAS NEVER BEEN HAPPIER FOR THE PAST THREE DAYS, SO
COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER SIEBEL WILL MOVE.
UH, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON WAS SECOND ROLL CALL.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK 37 THROUGH 41.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
IT'S LIKE STANDUP NIGHT HERE TONIGHT, RIGHT? TWO MINIMUM AFTER THE MEETING.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 42 THROUGH 45, WHICH ARE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. ANTONIO, THE VOICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
I'M ASSUMING MR. JACKSON? THAT IS CORRECT, SIR.
[01:05:01]
OF PUBLIC WORKS.ITEM NUMBER 42 AWARDS BOWELL ENGINEERING, A CONTRACT TO PERFORM THE DESIGN ENGINEERING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WEST NORTHFIELD ROAD, CULBERT IN THE TOWNSHIP OF LIVINGSTON FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 339,000 $190.
BOSWELL ENGINEERING SUBMITTED THE HIGHEST SCORING PROPOSAL OF THE SIXTH RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THIS PROJECT'S RFP.
AND WE DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE, MR. NAVARRO, FROM BOSWELL ENGINEERING HERE, WHO WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE BOWELL ENGINEERING, PLEASE AND, UH, PERHAPS ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION AND TELL US ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE PROJECT.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. PRESIDENT.
MY NAME IS MARCO NAVARRO FROM BOSWELL ENGINEERING.
BOSWELL ENGINEERING IS LOCATED IN SOUTH HACKENSACK.
APPROXIMATE EMPLOYEES IS ABOUT, UH, 300.
UH, THE PROJECT IS TO REPLACE A CULVERT IN, IN, UH, LIVINGSTON ALONG WEST NORTHFIELD AVENUE AND OR NORTHFIELD ROAD, EXCUSE ME.
UM, WE'VE DONE SIMILAR PROJECTS LIKE THIS IN THE PAST, UH, MAINTAINING, YOU KNOW, TRAFFIC FLOW AS WELL AS, AS REPLACING THE CULVERT SITUATIONS LIKE THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO, NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? I HAVE A QUESTION.
COMMISSIONER SIEBEL, UH, COULD YOU TELL ME WHERE ON NORTHFIELD ROAD IS THIS KOHLBERG LOCATED? I, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, DAVID ANTONIO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
UH, THIS IS THE KOHLBERG CARRYING NORTHFOLK AVENUE OVER THE LOCK BROOK, WHICH IS BETWEEN, UH, BETWEEN HAZELWOOD AND CROSS MEADOW, CRESTBROOK STREET.
BETWEEN HASELWOOD AND CROSS BROOK.
OKAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? BEING THAT YOU BROUGHT IT UP, YOU SAY YOU HAVE 300 EMPLOYEES, ANY OF 'EM FROM ESSEX COUNTY? I'M SURE THERE ARE AT THE MOMENT.
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I COULD NOT TELL YOU THAT IN TERMS OF WHO.
MR. NAVARRO, UH, MOVING FORWARD WHEN THE COMPANY COMES, JUST BE PREPARED WITH THAT KIND OF INFORMATION.
'CAUSE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
I KNOW THAT BOSWELL HAS DONE WORK WITH US IN THE PAST.
AND I'M CONFIDENT THERE ARE ESSEX COUNTY, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING, IF YOU COULD TAKE BACK TO THE OFFICE, SHOULD YOU COME BACK HERE? YES.
WE'LL GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU BEFORE THAT.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 43 AWARDS, MATT MCDONALD, LLC.
THE CONTRACTOR PERFORMED THE DESIGN ENGINEERING REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE LABEL STREET CULBERT IN THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR IN AMOUNT NATURAL EXCEED $294,365.
MATT MCDONALD'S PROPOSAL WAS THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE SIX RECEIVED.
AND ALSO WE HAVE MR. UH, RO OF MATT MCDONALD HERE THIS EVENING.
ALSO TO INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY AND ALSO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS REPORT MAY HAVE.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY AND WHAT YOU PROPOSE TO DO AND WHAT THE PROJECT LOOKS LIKE.
I'M THE SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER FOR MOUNT MCDONALD.
UH, WE ARE, UH, UH, HEADQUARTERED INLAND, NEW JERSEY.
WE HAVE OVER 400 EMPLOYEES FROM NEW JERSEY AND OVER 2,500 ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UH, WE ARE HAPPY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS LABEL STREET CULVERT.
THE BRI THE CULVERT WAS BUILT IN 1900 AND, UH, HASN'T RECEIVED TOO MUCH ATTENTION SINCE THEN.
UH, SO IT'S IN, IN A BAD NEED OF, UH, REPAIR.
AND WE PROPOSED A SOLUTION THAT WE THINK IS GOING TO, UH, SAVE THE COUNTY, UH, MONEY AND PROVIDE A, A GOOD LONG-TERM SOLUTION AT THIS LOCATION.
THANK YOU B, THAT YOU HAVE SO MANY EMPLOYEES.
CAN YOU TELL US APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY ARE FROM ESSEX COUNTY, OR WHAT PERCENTAGE? UH, I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER, UM, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE DOZENS OF EMPLOYEES FROM THERE.
MOVING FORWARD, WE'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY ARE MORE ACCURATE.
ANY QUESTIONS? MR. PARLOVE? YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS, MR. MCINERNEY? ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO NUMBER 44.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 44 ALLOWS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF TWO HANDICAP STAIR LIFTS WITH NEW CARVANA LIFTS AT THE VETERAN'S COURTHOUSE AND THE HALL OF RECORD ANNEX BY AWARDING ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE CORPORATION, A CONTRACT THAT WILL NOT EXCEED $97,500.
ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE TWO PITS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO
[01:10:01]
THIS PUBLICLY ADVERTISED PROJECT.AND ITEM NUMBER 45 AWARDS A TWO YEAR CONTRACT TO SUPERIOR ENVIRONMENTAL EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF BOILERS AT THE HAULER RECORDS.
RO SMITH PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AND THE DPW BUILDING IN VERONA ON A AS NEEDED BASIS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $85,000.
I WILL GLADLY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SUPPORT MAY HAVE AT THIS MORNING.
COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? DO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT IS 44 OR 45, EITHER ONE OF THEM.
UNION COMPANIES? UH, FORMER COMPANY OR THE ELEVATOR COMPANY? I THINK THE, I I CAN GIVE YOU THE EXACT INFORMATION.
I DON'T WANNA SPEAK OUT, BUT I BELIEVE THEY BOTH ARE ACTUALLY.
SO PLEASE GET THAT INFORMATION BACK TO US.
I THINK FOR ANY, UH, VENDOR THAT COMES, I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY, WE'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THOSE ARE THE KIND OF AFFILIATIONS AND THE ASEX COUNTY EMPLOYEES, UH, SCENARIO.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? DO I HAVE A MOVER? I'LL MOVE IT.
COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT.
COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, ROLL CALL.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK 4 42, 3 4 AND 45.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 46 AND 47, WHICH WILL BE READ, UH, INTO THE RECORD LATER TIME.
THEY ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
ITEM 46, UH, IS AN AGREEMENT, UH, THROUGH SHI INTERNATIONAL THROUGH THE BERGEN COUNTY COOPERATIVE TO PROVIDE FOR, UH, SECURITY FOR, UH, OUR, UH, COMPUTER SYSTEM, THE PURCHASE OF BLACKBERRY CYLANCE COMPUTERS, UH, PROTECTIONS, UM, ENDPOINT SOLUTIONS SECURITY, UM, AND WAS GONNA BE PAID FOR FOR OPERATING THROUGH OPERATING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $202,049 AND 95 CENTS.
AND, UH, MR. DEL GAUDIO WILL HANDLE NUMBER 47.
HE HAD TO STICK AROUND FOR TWO.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, MR. DELGAUDIO.
FRANK DELGAUDIO, THIS TIME RISK MANAGER FOR THE COUNTY.
UM, NUMBER 47 IS A, UM, IT WAS A COMPETITIVE CONTRACT FOR OUR CLAIMS CONSULTING AND ADMINISTRATION INVESTIGATION SERVICES TO REQUEST FOR A CONTRACT WITHIN SERVCO INSURANCE SERVICES, A THREE YEAR REQUEST FOR $326,114.
ANY QUESTIONS? UM, NO QUESTIONS.
IS, SO WHAT DOES THIS AGAIN DO? DOES THIS, IS THIS AN INVESTIGATIVE, UH, UH, CONTRACT OR COMPANY FOR YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? SO, IT'S MULTIFACETED.
WHAT HAPPENS IS A NOTICE OF CLAIM COMES IN TO THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COUNSEL.
IT IS THEN SENT TO THE CLAIMS PROCESSOR, WHICH IS IN SERV CODE.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE CURRENTLY THE INCUMBENT.
SO WHAT WE REQUEST OF THEM EITHER REACH OUT TO THE CLAIMANT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD RESOLVE IN HOUSE, UM, AND WE TRY TO EITHER SETTLE OR DENY THE CLAIMS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING SUCH AS A POTHOLE CLAIM, A TRIP AND FALL IN THE PARKS, A CAR ACCIDENT WITH ONE OF OUR 800 FLEET VEHICLES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO, DAY TO DAY, THEY'RE DOING THESE THINGS.
THE MUCH MORE COMPLICATED LITIGATED CASES.
THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO NOTIFY OUR EXCESS INSURANCE CARRIERS, PERFORM A FULL INVESTIGATION, GIVE US STATUS UPDATES ON ALL THE CASES, UH, RECOMMEND RESERVES TO BE SET.
SO THEN, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS, AND THAT INCLUDES, UM, ATTORNEY FEES AND, AND IT'S, IT'S QUITE A BIT OF WORK ON A DAILY BASIS.
DOES ANY OF THIS DEAL WITH WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS? NO.
THAT'S THROUGH PMA, UM, THAT THEY DON'T HANDLE THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION.
BUT IS THERE ANY INVESTIGATIVE TYPE SERVICE THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT, WITH THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIM? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, THEY WE'RE CONSTANTLY, RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING ON ALL THE COVID INVESTIGATIONS.
ACTUALLY, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF THAT GOING ON.
I KNOW THAT, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? DO I HAVE A MOVER FOR 46 AND 47? I'LL MOVE IT.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ROLL CALL MATTER ON DEPUTY CLERK FOR 46 AND 47.
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COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES.COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT PALM? YES.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS NUMBER 48 AND 49 OF WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR, IN WHICH WE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. COLTRANE WILL HANDLE THESE ITEMS. GOOD EVENING, MR. COLTRANE.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS, UH, THIS IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO GREATER ESSEX COUNTY COUNSELING SERVICE SOLE RESPONSIBLE, RESPONSIBLE BIDDER TO PROVIDE DRUG AND TREATMENT SERVICES FOR THE HELPING HAND HOPE PROGRAM.
24 MONTH AGREEMENT NOT TO EXCEED $46,944 49 IS A MEMO, A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN ESSEX COUNTY FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER, INC.
IT'S TO PROVIDE OFFICE SPACE FOR THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF LEE ROAD, SMITH PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING.
COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR NUMBER 48.
IS THAT FUNDED BY WAY OF A GRANT? YES, IT IS.
AND THEN, UM, AND THE RECOMMENDATION MEMO, IT REFERENCES $31,214 AS THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED, BUT THE CONTRACT SAYS A DIFFERENT NUMBER.
ARE WE LIMITING THIS TO THE $31,000? NO, WE'RE LIMITING THIS TO THE 46,944.
IS THE GRANT THAT MAYBE THE GRANT THAT THE PROSECUTOR'S REFERRING TO IS ONLY $31,000 THAT WE GOT AND THEN WE'RE PAYING THE DIFFERENCE? NO, WHEN THEY, UH, RECEIVED, THEY RECEIVED THE 46,944.
SO PLEASE REVIEW THE RECOMMENDATION MEMO AGAIN, PLEASE.
UM, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IF I'M MISREADING IT.
NO, I, I THINK YOU'RE READING IT CORRECTLY.
WE'LL HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT.
SO, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, IT IS, UH, AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $46,944 ON NUMBER 48.
AND THIS IS GRANT FUNDED? THAT IS CORRECT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT FOR NU WE'LL GET THAT FIXED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IS THIS A NEW PROGRAM? NO, IT IS NOT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE IT VICE PRESIDENT? SURE.
BY COMMISSIONER MERCADO FROM THE SKY.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 50 THROUGH 83, SINCE WE ALREADY DID 84 AND 86 AND 85 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
UM, THESE ARE, UH, IM MEMO'S, COMMENDATIONS PROCLAMATION RESOLUTIONS, WHICH WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
COMMISSIONER SIEBEL, IS IT TOO LATE TO BE INCLUDED IN NUMBER 57, COMMISSIONER GI? UM, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, I'D LIKE TO BE ADDED TO 64 IF, UH, COMMISSIONER MERCADO DOESN'T MIND.
COMMISSIONER MECADO, ARE YOU OKAY WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON JOINING YOU IN SPONSORING NUMBER 64? ABSOLUTELY.
OR CAN WE DO I ACCLIMATION OR PERHAPS, OR PERHAPS BY ACCLIMATION NOW THAT I'M READING? IS THAT OKAY? ACCLIMATION IS EVEN BETTER.
OH, HOW ABOUT 55 BY ACCLIMATION COMMISSIONER GILL, IF YOU DON'T MIND? SURE.
MR 55, UH, BY ACCLIMATION, IF IT'S OKAY WITH COMMISSIONER GI.
I WOULD SAY ONLY THING WITH 55 IS I KNOW IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN PRESENTED.
IT'S BEEN PRESENTED ON THE BOOKS.
BUT IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN PRESENTED.
DO I HAVE A MOVER MOTION MOVE BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MERCADO.
[01:20:01]
COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT PALMER? YES.
UH, MADAM CLERK, WE DON'T HAVE ANY ADDED STARTERS.
AND DO WE HAVE, UH, MADAM CLERK ANY, UH, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONERS.
DO WE HAVE ANY REPORTS OF BOARD COMMITTEES? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
WE HAD A, UM, T AND R COMMITTEE MEETING, UM, ON, UM, APRIL, THE APRIL 23RD OR APRIL 30TH.
WE HAD A MEETING AND WE DISCUSSED, UM, A PRESENTATION FROM THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE AWARDED CONTRACTS WITH THE COUNTY TO, UM, SERVICE THE COMMUNITY CATS.
MAJORITY OF THE MONEY WAS SPENT LAST YEAR.
SO THIS YEAR, AND I WANNA THANK THE ADMINISTRATION AGAIN.
WE DOUBLED THE FUNDING THIS YEAR.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO SERVE, UM, MORE TOWNS, UM, AND COMMUNITIES THIS YEAR.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES AGAIN THIS YEAR WAS THE, UM, DIFFICULTY OF VET SERVICES, ALTHOUGH IT HAD INCREASED SOME, THEY'RE STILL STRUGGLING WITH GETTING VETERINARIAN SERVICES AND, UM, STRUGGLING WITH GETTING SOME TOWNS TO PARTICIPATE.
THEY'RE NATURALLY SEEING MORE PARTICIPATION FROM NEWARK AND IRVINGTON, UM, CERTAIN TOWNS.
AND IT WAS GOOD TO SEE ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT CAME OUT TO JOIN.
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE POSTING THE LITERATURE, TALKING ABOUT THE PROGRAM ON ALL OF OUR MEDIA OUTLETS, BECAUSE SOME RESIDENTS HAVE VOICED CONCERNS THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROGRAM AND HOW IT WORKED.
SO WE'RE GONNA DO A BETTER JOB THIS YEAR.
WE'RE POSTING THE DAYS AND TIMES THAT FOLKS CAN GO AND GET SERVICES FROM THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
THE OTHER GOOD THING THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WAS WE LEARNED THAT THE, UM, UNION COUNTY, UM, VETERINARIAN PLACE WILL HONOR THE FEES THAT WAS NEGOTIATED HERE IN ESSEX.
IF FOLKS CHOOSE TO TAKE THEIR CATS TO THAT.
AND THE NAME OF THAT ORGANIZATION ESCAPES ME RIGHT NOW, BUT, SO IT WAS A GOOD PROGRAM WHERE PROBABLY HAVE OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS FROM NOW.
WE'LL, WE'LL GET TO SEE MORE ACTIVITY THAT'S HAPPENING, HOPEFULLY TO A WIDER NUMBER OF TOWNS.
I, UH, I THINK WE'RE ALL WAITING FOR YOU TO CLOSE THE STOP PROPERLY.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN WHEN YOU'RE DOING BUSINESS, RIGHT? YES, YES.
ANY
WE'LL MOVE ON TO UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMMISSIONERS.
DO WE HAVE ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMMISSIONER LUCIAN, UH, TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? UM, MY APOLOGIES ON BEING, UH, ABSENT EARLIER, BUT I WOULD LIKE THE DEPUTY CLERK TO MARK ME IN THE AFFIRMATIVE YES.
FOR RESOLUTIONS ONE THROUGH 30.
LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER, PLEASE COUNT TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME, AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I'M A DISTRICT LEADER OF CENTRAL 15 AND A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE.
RECENTLY, OR LAST YEAR, WE HAD IN VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK HOUSE MUSIC, I EXPRESSED TO WAYNE RICHARDSON AND LIONEL LEACH AT THE TIME THAT WE ARE MULTICULTURAL, EDUCATED, CONSTITUENT IN THIS COMMUNITY FROM WARREN STREET ALL THE WAY OVER TO SPRINGFIELD AVENUE.
WE ASKED FOR DIFFERENT ENTERTAINMENT GENRES TO ADDRESS THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND LAST YEAR WHEN JOE D HAD HIS BIRTHDAY PARTY, THE COMMUNITY RESIDENT SAID, WHY DON'T WE HAVE MUSIC LIKE THAT? THAT WAS A COMBINATION OF SALSA R AND B JAZZ THAT REFLECTS THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.
THE OTHER THING THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACTED, UM, OUR COMMUNITY IS THE FACT THAT THEY
[01:25:01]
ARE ALLOWING THE DJS TO SELECT VENDORS, ET CETERA.WE PAY TAXES HERE, WE VOTE HERE, AND WE SHOULD BE PART OF THE DECISION MAKING THAT IMPACTS THE COMMUNITY WE LIVE IN.
THE OTHER THING I WANT TO ADDRESS IS THE COUNTY CLERK NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MONITORING THE POLLING SITES WHEN, UM, WE HAVE ELECTIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BEING MANAGED PROPERLY.
AND ALSO THERE ARE CANDIDATES THAT ARE VIOLATING THE HATCH ACT.
THE OTHER ISSUE I WANT TO RAISE TONIGHT IS THE SPLITTING OF THE DISTRICTS.
WHEN I MOVED HERE OVER 20 YEARS AGO, ALL OF SOCIETY HILL WAS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF CENTRAL 15.
NOW YOU HAVE VOTERS AND RESIDENTS HERE THAT ARE BEING SPLIT WITH THEIR POLLING SITES AND NOT BEING ADVISED IN ADVANCE THAT THEIR POLLING SITE HAS BEEN CHANGED.
WE NEED MORE FROM THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO ADVISE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT UPCOMING, UM, ELECTIONS.
ASIDE FROM A WEEK BEFORE THE ELECTION IS BEING HELD.
WE NEED MORE THAN A CALENDAR AND A BOOKLET FROM ESSEX COUNTY.
AND AS PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PUBLIC SERVANTS IS TO ENGAGE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, HALF OF YOU GET ELECTED BY DEFAULT.
BECAUSE MOST OF THE RESIDENTS SAY, I DON'T KNOW THESE PEOPLE.
WHO SHOULD I VOTE FOR? THAT'S THE FEEDBACK THAT I'M PROVIDING YOU.
AND I'M ASKING THAT THIS YEAR, JULY, THAT IT'S NOT SOLELY HOUSE MUSIC BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS NOT A HOUSE MUSIC HEAD.
YOU HAVE A DIVERSE POPULATION AND WE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO COMPLIMENT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
IF, IF I MAY, MR. PRESIDENT, SO YOU ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT CORRECT IN WHAT YOU ASKED ME, BUT THAT WAS TWO YEARS AGO.
LAST YEAR THERE WAS NO HOUSING MUSIC IN VETERANS PARK.
WE HAD, UH, A MOVIE NIGHT AND WE HAD SOME OTHER STUFF.
SO THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN LAST YEAR.
WE HEARD YOU AND WE CHANGED IT.
WE USED TO, AND IT WAS GOING ON DURING THE WEEK.
SO THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN LAST YEAR.
WHY ARE YOU BRINGING IT BACK THIS JULY AND THE, THE REST, AND THAT'S GONNA BE, SO, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE TWO EVENTS AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON A SATURDAY, ONE IN JULY AND ONE IN AUGUST ON A SATURDAY.
NOT DURING THE WEEK, BECAUSE YOU SAID THE RESIDENTS DIDN'T WANT THAT.
SO MATT, IF IT'S NOT A, I'M SORRY, BUT WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE, EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER, LEMME JUST AS WELL, RIGHT.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED ONE PERSON TO SPEAK ONLY AT A TIME.
WE DON'T DO TWO PUBLIC COMMENT.
THERE'S ONE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND THE HOUSEMAN WILL NOT BE DURING THE WEEK.
UH, ANTON MATINE, UH, REPRESENTING THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, 2 57 SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE AND THE GREATER MUSLIM COMMUNITY.
I WAS HERE EARLIER, UM, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING AND I HEARD A LOT ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE.
UH, JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, WE LOST OUR IMAM TO, UH, GUN VIOLENCE.
A TRAGEDY OUTSIDE OF OUR MASTER, RIGHT? UH, OUTSIDE IN THE BACK.
UM, AND I'M GONNA BE HONEST AND TRANSPARENT, UH, WE HAVEN'T REALLY GOT NO, UH, UPDATES FROM OUR PROSECUTORS', UH, OFFICE.
UM, AND WE HAVE NO, UH, NO UPDATES OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO I'M HERE, UH, TO THE PRESIDENT AND TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
UH, CAN WE GET SOME KIND OF UPDATE STATUS, UH, JUST DIALOGUE, UH, OUR MUSLIM COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND, UH, TO THE, TO THE BODY, TO THE GOVERNING BODY, AND TO WHEREVER THIS CONVERSATION NEEDS TO GO TO, UH, WE DESERVE ANSWERS.
AND IT'S ONLY RIGHT, UH, THAT WE HAVE SOME KIND OF, UH, PARTNERSHIP, UH, WITH THOSE THAT'S IN IN OFFICE.
UH, WE ARE, UH, DEVASTATED STILL DEALING WITH IT, UH, TO BE A YOUNG, UH, ASSISTANT MA ON STAFF, UH, GOING TO MY MASTER AS A TRIGGER.
AND MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE STILL FEELING THE PAIN AND WE HAVE NO ANSWERS.
AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, UM, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ALL, THAT'S ALL IT IS.
SO WHOEVER THIS NEEDS TO, TO GET TO, CAN WE GET IT TO THAT INDIVIDUAL? UH, THE, THE, THE HEAD PROSECUTOR, UH, JULIAN, IF I'M, UH, NOT MISTAKEN, I'M NOT PICKING ON ANYONE.
BUT OUR REALITY OF IT IS, IS THAT WE ARE DEALING, UH, WITH DAY-TO-DAY SERVICES.
UH, OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, MASTER MUHAMMAD, UH, OUR COMMUNITY MASTER THAT PROVIDES SERVICES, AND YET WE DON'T.
OUR OUR LEADER WAS TAKEN AWAY THROUGH GUN VIOLENCE.
SO AGAIN, WE JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
[01:30:01]
MANY TIMES, UH, WE, WE TRIED TO REACH OUT TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.UH, WE, WE NEED, WE NEED SOME UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHY OUR, UH, CONVERSATION IS BEING SWEPT UNDER THE RUG.
UM, SO IT'S NOT FAIR, UH, TO OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHO PROVIDES MANY SERVICES, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY ON SOUTH, ON JIVE AND CANAM STREET, ALI, MUSLIM, UH, PLAZA.
UM, WE JUST NEED A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ALL CAN SPEAK TO THAT OR WHOEVER IT IS THAT NEEDS TO GET THIS.
PLEASE, UH, GET IT, GET IT TO THEM BECAUSE, UH, WE FEEL ABANDONED.
UM, AND WE FEEL BETRAYED LIVING IN OUR CITY AFTER THEY KILLED AND MURDERED OUR IMAM ON SACRED GROUNDS.
AND SINCE YOU POSED THE QUESTION, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL FORWARD THAT INQUIRY TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, AND PERHAPS WHAT WE CAN DO IS ENCOURAGE THEIR OFFICE OR THE RESPECTIVE AUTHORITIES THAT HANDLE THAT TO COME OUT FOR A COMMUNITY DIALOGUE SESSION WITH YOU FOLKS O OVER THERE.
I REMEMBER, UH, WE HELD OUR, UH, UH, AN EVENT WHEN WE HONOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, WE HELD A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND WE SPOKE ABOUT HIM.
IT WAS, I THINK, JUST A MATTER OF DAYS AFTER THAT TRAGEDY TOOK PLACE.
AND SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS THEY'RE GONNA ASK ADAM, IF YOU COULD TAKE, UH, THIS GENTLEMAN'S INFORMATION, UH, HE ADAM'S IN THE BACK.
IF YOU COULD PROVIDE YOUR NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION, WE CAN THEN FORWARD THAT TO THE PROPER PERSON AND SEND IT YOUR WAY.
MY NAME IS JAMES YOUNG, PROUD RESIDENT OF THE SOUTH WARD, DISTRICT LEADER FOR DISTRICT 45 TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
UH, I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF QUA PARK RESTORATION.
I LIVED IN THE NORTH WARD FOR MANY YEARS IN MY ELEMENTARY YEARS, UH, FREQUENT BRANCHFORD PARK.
UH, MOVED TO THE SOUTH WARD AND WAS IN LOVE ALSO WITH RUTH WADE PARK.
UM, I A NOW SEE THE TALE OF TWO CITIES.
UM, RECENTLY WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO BURG PARK AND, UM, VISIT A CHERRY BLOSSOM CENTER AND SAW THE, UH, THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET FOR ELECTRIC CARS AND VERY, VERY ELECTRIC THAT THEN I RETURNED BACK HOME.
AND I DON'T SEE THE SAME ENERGY FOR A WEEK.
RAY PARK, AS I SEE IN OTHER PARKS.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS, WE HAVE A MON DIVIDEND HILL.
A MONUMENT THAT IS THE COMPLETE DIS DISARRAY, UM, MR. DECAY.
UM, WHEN I GREW UP IN NEWARK, WE REMEMBERED GOING TO SEE WEDDING PARTIES COME TO WEEK.
RAY PARK, WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL TULIPS AND FLOWERS, AND PEOPLE WERE TAKING PICTURES THERE.
UM, WHEN I GOT MARRIED, I HAD TO GO TO BRENTFORD PARK, EVEN THOUGH I LIVED, YOU KNOW, UM, IN THE SOUTH WARD.
AND SO WHAT MY CONCERN IS, I THINK THERE'S A NEGLECT, UM, ON THE TYPES OF, CAN WE JUST, FOLKS, PLEASE, WE NEED ANY CONVERSATION, PLEASE TAKE IT IN THE HALLWAY JUST SO THAT THIS GENTLEMAN HAS, I'M SORRY, HIS MOMENT TO SPEAK HERE.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THAT, BUT PLEASE, WE'LL ASK YOU, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT INTENTIONAL.
SO, WHAT MY CONCERN IS, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE, UM, A COMMITTEE OF STAKEHOLDERS AND RESIDENTS AS MAYBE AS AN ADVISORY BOARD FOR QUA PARK.
UM, WE HAVE, DO HAVE NICE PROGRAMS THERE, BUT I SEE MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY, UH, RESTAURANTS, UM, CATERING HALLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO ALSO FOCUS ON WHAT'S ALREADY THERE.
AND THAT'S THE RESTORATION OF, UM, DI HILL AND OTHER MONUMENTS THAT ARE IN OUR PARK.
UH, AND THEN JUST INCIDENTALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, I DID RECEIVE SOME INFORMATION TODAY ABOUT ONE OF THE MONUMENTS, UM, IS A DIVIDEND TAIL, HISTORIC LANDMARK.
IT'S, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE A LARGE GAZEBO.
I DID GET THIS INFORMATION TODAY, AND I'LL, UH, FORWARD THIS TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
UM, IT'S A RESTORATION PROJECT, SO THOSE GRANTS ARE A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO COME BY, BUT WE'LL, WE WILL ASK THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY PLANS IN STORE FOR THIS.
IF I CAN, MR. JACKSON MISSON, IF I MAY.
COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, THE MONUMENT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, UH, THAT SINCE I WAS THE PRESIDENT OF, OF THIS BOARD AND TRYING TO FIND A MONEY TO REDO THAT, BEEN THERE.
WE, WE LOOKED AT IT, WE, WE TOURED IT.
UM, SO IT, IT'S NOT THAT IT'S FORGOTTEN EVEN THE TRACK AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN DISARRAY RIGHT NOW.
[01:35:01]
THE LAKE AND EVERYWHERE AND NEW EQUIPMENT AND EVERYTHING IS COMING.SO IT MAY LOOK THAT WAY AT THIS POINT.
AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE ADDRESSED.
DID YOU WANNA ADD OR WE COVERED IT? YEP.
ANY OTHER MEMBERS WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? GOOD EVENING.
I'M E VON GARRETT PATTERSON WITH THE PATTERSON FOUNDATION.
UM, GOOD EVENING, UH, PRESIDENT AND GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
UM, I'M THE ONE THAT SENT THE, THE DOCUMENT TO YOU.
I'D LIKE TO THANK, UM, THE COMMISSIONERS FOR TAKING TIME TO CONSIDER THIS ISSUE.
UH, I, I WAS RAISED IN WEEK WAKE PARK.
MY MOTHER WAS THE TENNIS COACH, BUT ALSO SHE WAS, UH, SHE WORKED WITH, UH, JOE CLARK.
THEY WERE BOTH, UH, THE SUMMER DAY CAMP DIRECTORS BACK IN THE DAY.
AND SO I WAS RAISED IN WHEAT WAKE PARK, AND, UH, AND I UNDERSTAND HOW IT CAN, IT CAN OPERATE, UH, IN A, IN A SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE.
BUT CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, THE, THE PARK IS EXPERIENCING, UH, CERTAINLY EXPERIENCING DECLINE IN SOME, UH, CONFUSION IN TERMS OF MANAGEMENT OF SERVICES.
SO I'D JUST LIKE TO READ THIS VERY QUICKLY INTO RECORD.
WEAK WAKE PARK OVER THE YEARS HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED DECLINE BECAUSE OF INCONGRUENT MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE.
CONTRACTED PARK SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN LEFT TO, TO DEFEND AND IMPLEMENT VITAL SERVICES.
OBSTRUCTED BY THE LACK OF PARK OVERSIGHT IS, IT IS, UH, WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE COMMISSIONERS TO ASSURE THAT LOCAL CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED THROUGH CONSISTENT ON ON ONSITE ONSITE MANAGEMENT OF THE PARK.
THERE'S A NEED TO OBTAIN, TO ESTABLISH A PARK DIRECTOR.
THIS MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PARK MANAGEMENTS, BUT I KNOW THAT WEAK WAKE PARK CAN BENEFIT BY HAVING AN ONSITE LOCAL PARK DIRECTOR AND A STEERING COMMITTEE COMPRISED OF REPRESENTING ORGANIZATIONS.
WE'VE GOT SOME STRONG, VITAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT IMPLEMENT VITAL SERVICES TO THE PARK.
THEY NEED SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T OVERLAP IN SERVICES, THAT THEIR SCOPE OF WORK IS CLEARLY DEFINED AND EVERYTHING IS DONE DECENTLY IN ORDER AND PEACEABLE.
UH, BECAUSE, UH, CURRENTLY IT IS NOT THE CASE.
UH, THE PARK SERVICES AND COMMUNITY NEEDS, UH, CLEARLY, UH, NEEDS ARE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED THAT ALL PARK SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE APPROVED SCOPE OF WORK SERVICES TO ASSURE PARK SERVICES IS, UH, CONDUCTED, UH, UNOBSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN ORDER AND PEACE THAT ANY OVERLAPPING INTEREST WOULD BE GOVERNED BY THE PROPOSED LOCAL PARK DIRECTOR.
DEFINING ROLES AND FACILITATE COLLABORATION TO ADOPT A PARK SMART GROWTH PLAN TO ASSURE, UM, MAXIMIZING THE PARK POTENTIAL.
IE RECREATION CULTURAL PROGRAMS, ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
UH, THE, ALSO THE, UH, AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF ALL THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE A COPY AND HAVE SEEN THE PICTURES OF DIVIDEND HILL.
WE HAVE TO HONOR OUR LANDMARKS.
UH, DIVIDEND HILL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LANDMARKS, NOT ONLY IN THE COUNTY, BUT IN THE STATE.
AND IT IS SITTING IN SUCH A GODAWFUL CONDITION.
IT IS NOT SAFE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
UM, EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT RESTORED, IT CAN BE CLEANED UP.
THE GROUNDS COULD BE CLEANED, FLOWERS CAN BE PLANTED, LIGHTS CAN BE LIT.
RIGHT NOW, THERE'S SEXUAL PARAPHERNALIA ON THAT SITE.
THERE'S DRUG, UH, UH, NEEDLES.
THERE HAVE BEEN, UH, BOTTLES OF LIQUOR.
THIS DIVIDEND HILL SITE IS THE SITE WHERE NEWARK WAS FOUNDED.
AND IT WAS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF NEWARK AND THE, THE CITY OF ELIZABETH 1668.
IT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SITE, AND IT IS LEFT WITH SUCH DISREGARD.
NOW, I LIVE IN SOUTH ORANGE, BUT I WAS RAISED IN NEWARK ON KEIR AVENUE.
AND IT WOULD NOT BE IN SOUTH ORANGE, IT WOULD NOT BE IN VERONA PARK LOOKING LIKE THAT.
IT WOULD NOT LOOK IN THAT CONDITION UP IN, IN, UH, UH, SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION AREA.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE OUR LANDMARKS TREATED WITH SUCH DISREGARD AND SUCH NEGLECT.
SO THE, THE DI DIAGRAM THAT I SUBMITTED TO YOU ALL 2018, 2021, 2020, UH, 2024, ALL OF THESE DATES AND, AND IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE.
UH, IF YOU COULD GO THERE AND SEE IT, IT'S APPALLING.
SO THE FRUSTRATION IS NOT ONLY IS IT NOT TAKEN CARE OF 30 SECONDS, BUT THERE WAS A GRANT, THERE WAS A GRANT THAT WAS APPROPRIATED THREE YEARS AGO FOR $325,000.
AND WE'RE ASKING, WHERE'S THAT APPROPRIATION? BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN APPROPRIATED.
AND IF IT HAS, IT'S NOT BEEN APPROPRIATED CORRECTLY.
SO WE HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR LANDMARKS, MAKING SURE
[01:40:01]
THAT WE HAVE SITES THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN, AND THE INTEGRITY AND DIGNITY OF OUR HISTORY AND OUR CULTURE DONE CORRECTLY.THAT CAN BE THE ONE OF THE MOST ASTOUNDING, BEAUTIFUL LOCATIONS IN OUR COUNTY.
AND WE NEED TO RESTORE IT TO BRING DIGNITY, HONOR AND RESPECT TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH DISTRICT OF ESSEX COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
UM, AND WHEN I'M NOT A COMMISSIONER, I'M ACTUALLY A MUSEUM, HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST.
SO I WILL, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN TALK TO THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AND SEE.
I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS ABOUT THE GRANT AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WASN'T SUFFICIENT ENOUGH FOR THE PROJECT OR SCOPE, BUT WE'LL LOOK, WE CERTAINLY WILL LOOK INTO IT REGARDING SOME OF THE OTHER MATTERS.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, AND THIS BOARD ALREADY APPROVED, UH, THE DESIGN OF A VARIETY OF PROJECTS THAT WILL ENHANCE THE PARK THROUGHOUT.
SO IT'S NOT GOING ON DEAF EARS.
LUCKY YOU'RE NOT COMMISSIONED.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A PROMOTION.
YEAH, I JUST, IF I, IF I COMMENT AND WE'LL ACTUALLY DO MORE DETAILED COMMENT, BUT, UM, TO, TO COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON'S, UH, EARLIER POINT, UH, UH, THE, THE COMMISSIONER, UH, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, UH, DAN, OUR PARKS, WE ACTUALLY COMMISSIONED A STUDY TO LOOK AT WHAT, WHAT, WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO, UH, TO BRING, UH, DIVIDEND HILL BACK TO ITS GLORY.
AND, UH, WE ACTUALLY DID GET A GRANT AND WE'RE STUDYING IT AND WE THOUGHT WE HAD ENOUGH MONEY AT ONE POINT TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DENT IN IT.
AND, UH, THAT STUDY INDICATED THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT MORE MONEY THAN ANY OF US, I THINK ANTICIPATED TO GET IT, TO GET IT DONE.
UM, SO I KNOW THAT, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON ACTUALLY, UM, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF BILL PAYNE, UM, IT IS A PRIORITY, A HIGH PRIORITY.
AND I THINK WE JUST HAVE, WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND KIND OF PUT HIT RESET BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE A MUCH BIGGER, EXPENSIVE PROJECT THAN ANY OF US IMAGINE.
STILL COMMITTED TO DOING IT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WE THOUGHT.
MORE, MUCH MORE THAN WE THOUGHT.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS BET DICKERSON AND I AM A DISC LEADER FOR THE SOUTH WARD FOR DISTRICT 36.
UM, THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR HUGE TREES ALONGSIDE, UH, THE ELIZABETH AVENUE AND ELIZABETH AVENUE AND MEERS STREET.
THESE TREES HAVE HUGE HOLES IN THEM.
THE TREES MUST STAND AT LEAST 75 FEET TALL.
THE HOLES ARE AS LARGE AS AS TALL AS I AM, AND I'M FIVE SEVEN.
I'M AFRAID THAT IF SOMEONE'S DRIVING BY, BECAUSE I'M OFTEN ON THAT CORRIDOR, THAT TREE CAN TUMBLE OVER AND WE DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE RESULTS OF THAT IF, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS IS ASSIGNED TO AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR, BUT WE NEED TO GIVE THAT SOME ATTENTION.
AND MY COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON PASSED THAT WAY OFTEN AND I WOULDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO HIM.
SO WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE? NEITHER WOULD WE OR ANYBODY ELSE.
NO, BUT WITH SOMEONE, PLEASE GIVE SOME ATTENTION TO THAT.
CAN YOU REPEAT THE LO THE GENERAL LOCATION AGAIN? THAT'S ON ME.
THAT'S ON ELIZABETH AVENUE AND IT'S BETWEEN SHEPHERD AVENUE, I'M SORRY, MAPES AVENUE ON, UM, MAPES AVENUE.
AND PROBABLY THE ENTRANCE INTO THE PARK BY BY CHANCE AVENUE.
SO IF YOU COME DOWN CHANCELLOR AVENUE AND MAKE YOUR LEFT HEADING TOWARD DOWNTOWN NEWARK.
THE TREES ARE RIGHT THERE ON YOUR LEFT, ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE.
AND YOU SAY IT'S ABOUT FOUR TREES.
AND THOSE, THOSE TREES, YOU, YOU CAN'T MISS IT.
IT'S LIKE A MATTER OF JUST TILTING OVER.
SOMETIME AGO, I THINK LESS THAN A MONTH AGO, THERE WAS A, UM, A GRANDFATHER IN HIS BACKYARD WITH HIS GRANDSON.
AND THERE WAS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU HEARD ABOUT THAT STORY.
AND WHILE SITTING, WHILE SWINGING IN THAT HAMMOCK, THE TREE TILTED OVER AND BOTH PASSED AWAY.
I'M SURE MR. JACKSON TOOK FURIOUS NOTES AND UH, I'M SURE WE CAN TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THIS IN UH, REAL SHORT ORDER.
AS WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE SLEEPY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CONTRACT.
I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT IT,
[01:45:01]
BUT THERE'S A SLAP IN THE FACE TALKING ABOUT 0, 0, 0.I DON'T CARE WHAT ELSE YOU OFFERING.
IF THE MONEY IS SUPPOSEDLY SITTING, WHICH IS THE LIE THAT'S BEING TOLD, THEN START SENDING THOSE CHECKS OUT.
'CAUSE I THINK IT IS ANOTHER SLAP IN THE FACE TO EMPLOYEES TO PAY THEM 30, 40, $50,000 AT ONE TIME WITH THAT TAX AND EVERYTHING ELSE COMING OUT.
YOU WOULDN'T WANT IT DONE TO YOU.
SO IF YOU OWE 'EM EIGHT YEARS OF CHECK, SEVEN YEARS OF CHECK, SIX YEARS, GIVE 'EM A CHECK FOR EACH YEAR.
AT LEAST DON'T HIT 'EM WITH THAT FEE.
DON'T DO WHAT YOU DID TO THE CORRECTION OFFICERS WHO UNFORTUNATELY, UH, GOT DUPED INTO TAKING THAT DEAL.
HOW MANY DO WE HAVE FOR THE COUNTY OF ESSEX? SECOND OF ALL, STATUS OF FAMILY SERVICE CONTRACTS AND CASES.
YOU BEEN OVER THERE? FAMILIES APPLYING FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AT ESSEX COUNTY WELFARE.
A PROCESS THAT'S SUPPOSED TO TAKE 48 HOURS IS STILL TAKING SIX TO NINE MONTHS.
YOU GUYS ARE LITERALLY HELPING PEOPLE GET PUT IN THE STREET.
'CAUSE I STILL GO TO LANDLORD TENANT COURT.
YOU KNOW HOW MANY CASES WE GOT FOR ESSEX FOR THE TWO YEARS? WE HAVE 473,000 LANDLORD TENANT EVICTION CASES JUST FOR ESSEX COUNTY.
YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME? GO LOOK AT THE RUTGER STUDY.
PLEASE DON'T TELL ME THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.
'CAUSE RUTGERS SAID WE HAD 270,000 CASES AS OF THE END OF 2022.
22 WHEN SUPPOSEDLY COURT WAS CLOSED DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WHY DO WE SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN BURG PARK AND IT'S STILL FLOODING.
WHY DID I PUT ALL THAT NEW TRAP THERE AND IT'S STILL FLOODING WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE? WE PUT THE NEW STUFF DOWN.
WHY IS THE NEW JUSTICE BUILDING LEAKING? SEE, THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
ARGUE WITH THE CITY OF NEWARK ALL THE TIME.
WHO'S WATCHING THE STORE? YEAH, IT LOOK NICE, BUT IT'S LEAKING ALREADY IN THE ENTRANCE.
NO LESS WHERE YOU GO IN AROUND THE BACK LEAKING THE SAME THING YOU GOT WE DID WITH THE JAIL AND MANY OF YOU WEREN'T HERE.
WE SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THAT JAIL.
ANOTHER MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER BUDGET BECAUSE WHEN THEY PUT IT IN THE DOORS TO THE CELLS WEREN'T CLOSING.
YOU GUYS GOOD AT STICK MISSPENDING MONEY.
BUT IF WE GOING TO GET THESE CONTRACTORS, MAKE 'EM DO THE WORK AND MAKE 'EM HOLD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY SUPPOSED TO DO, GET IT.
GET SOMEBODY OVER THERE THE BUILDING.
ARE Y'ALL SERIOUS? WHAT? YOU GONNA PUT A NEW ROOF ON THAT ONE TOO LIKE IT DID TO JAIL? STOP WASTING MONEY.
HOW MANY KIDS WE HIRING FOR THE SUMMER? YOU HAD THE YOUTH FOLKS JUST COME UP HERE.
YOU WANNA KNOW HOW MANY OF THEM, 1200, 1500 KIDS AND YOU WANNA KNOW HOW MANY KIDS THEY CAN'T SERVICE.
MALIK POOKY AND IBB, CARLOS, MARIA AND CHERYL.
THAT'S IN THESE STOLEN CARS NOW ALL OVER THE STATE.
WE GOT PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY CALLING FOR FEDERAL CHARGES FOR OUR CHILDREN.
I DON'T KNOW DRUGS AND I'M GONNA END WITH THIS.
YOU HAD THE FOLKS IN HERE TODAY.
YOU PUTTING THIS ONE ON THE COMMISSION, THIS ONE ON THE BOARD SOUNDS NICE.
WHO CARES ABOUT DEGREES? WHO CARES ABOUT ALL OF THAT? YOU KNOW WHERE THE NUMBER ONE DRUG USE IS IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX? RIGHT AT YOUR JAIL.
YOU KNOW WHERE YOU HAVING OVERDOSES AT? RIGHT AT YOUR JAIL.
I COULD GET BETTER DRUGS IN THAT JAIL THEN I COULD GET ON BROAD MARKET IN NEWARK.
AND WE KNOW IT'S HOT RIGHT THERE.
I COULD GET BETTER DRUGS IN THE JAIL THAN I CAN ON CLINTON AND CHADWICK.
SO I HEAR ALLEGEDLY, ALLEGEDLY FOR VIETNAM LABELED THE DRUG USER.
MY MY AREA, SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE UP TOP.
'CAUSE THEY COME FROM ALL OVER.
WE SEE THE CARS FROM OUTTA STATE.
BUT I HEAR EVEN WITH ALL OF THAT, WE GOT BETTER DRUGS THAN THAT IN DOUS AVENUE.
YOU KNOW SOME OF US IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT USE AND AND AND DO THINGS WHEN THEY GET HIGH.
WE USED TO GET HAPPY WHEN THE OFFICERS PICKED THEM UP AND TOOK 'EM DOWN TO DOREENS.
YOU KNOW WHY? 'CAUSE THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRY OUT.
OUR CONVICTS NOT COMING OUT, DRIED OUT.
THEY COMING OUT WITH A HIGHER USAGE LEVEL.
AND I KNOW WE WORKING ON THE ODS AND I KNOW WE GOT OPIOID MONEY, BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH IT IF WE NOT STARTING AT THE MAIN SOURCE, THE JAIL.
HOW IS THAT STUFF STILL GETTING IN THERE? WHO BRINGING IT IN? AND I KNOW IT'S NAMES THAT WE DON'T WANNA SAY ALLEGEDLY, BUT THAT AIN'T NO REGULAR PRISONER.
THAT AIN'T NO REGULAR OFFICER BRINGING ALL THEM DRUGS IN THERE IN THERE.
SO I I'M, I'M BEGGING YOU GUYS TO CALL FOR THE DEA AND THE FBI TO GET
[01:50:01]
IN THAT JAIL AND SAVE SOME LIVES BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT THE ODS.WE DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT THE CONDITIONS IN THAT JAIL RIGHT NOW.
PARTICULARLY SINCE WE LET THOSE A HUNDRED SOME OFFICERS GO.
Y'ALL DO REALIZE THEY LOCKED DOWN, UH, DAYS AT A TIME.
NOW THEY'RE NOT COMING OUT ONE HOUR A DAY.
THEY ARE NOT, THEY'RE NOT COMING OUT AT ALL.
'CAUSE THEY CAN'T, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS.
AND THEN CLOSING ALL OF THE STUFF WE TALKING ABOUT THAT'S GOING ON IN THE PARKS, I'M GOING TO AGAIN REFER TO MY BROTHERS IN BLUE.
SHERIFF OFFICERS SAID THEY GOT HOW MANY OFFICERS WORKING AT NIGHT? THREE.
HOW MANY WORKING DURING THE DAY? I KNOW WE OVER 200 OFFICERS SHORT.
BUT HOW LONG WE GONNA KEEP CONTINUING FOR THIS STUFF TO GO ON WHEN THE BOATS COME TO WEAK WAY PARK? WE WAS PROMISED THOSE 20 YEARS AGO, I WAS ON THE WEAK WAY PARK ASSOCIATION.
I'M NOT BLAMING YOU, BUT I'M SAYING LET'S DO SOMETHING.
LET'S HOLD YOUR HOLD THE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
HOW MANY CASES ARE WE PROCESSING TODAY AT THAT FAMILY CENTER? HOW MANY MORE WORKERS DO WE NEED? STOP LISTENING TO THE UNIONS.
COME TALK TO SOME OF THOSE CLIENTS IN LINE.
TALK TO FAMILIES WHO HAVEN'T GOTTEN THEIR FOOD STAMPS AND STILL, WHAT DID WE DO WITH THE BREACH THAT WE HAD IN DECEMBER? HAVE THOSE FAMILIES BEEN MADE? WHOLE PEOPLE LOST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND A LOT OF FAMILIES STILL DIDN'T GET 'EM BACK.
SO I'M JUST ASKING YOU GUYS WHEN IT COMES TO SERVICES FOR THE COUNTY, AND I KNOW YOU GUYS GET A LITTLE BIT UPSET WHEN I SAY IT.
OH WELL ESSEX COUNTY AIN'T FIRST ONLY IN THE PARKS AND AIN'T NOBODY SLEEPING IN THE PARKS.
I TELL Y'ALL THAT ALL THE TIME.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY SERVICES, WE ARE HORRIBLE.
WE PAY SOME STATE AND FEDERAL FINES AND YOU GUYS NEED TO GET IN THERE AND SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
IF I PROCESS 50 CASES A DAY, MR. MACK DOES 50 CASES A DAY, BUT MR. JACKSON ONLY DOES 15.
UH, WE NEED TO PULL 'EM IN OFFICE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A LETTER OF WARNING AND THAT IF HE DOESN'T IMPROVE, ONLY BECAUSE YOU'RE SITTING THERE, SIR.
I WAS GONNA SAY, WHY DO I HAVE TO? JUST BECAUSE, BECAUSE MR. ONLY 'CAUSE YOU ARE ON THAT SIDE.
MR. MACK IS OVER HERE WITH ME.
WE, WE PULLING THEM IN AND WE ARE TALKING TO HIM.
AND THEN WE NO LONGER LEAD YOUR SERVICES BECAUSE WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT ARE SUFFERING 'CAUSE THEY CAN'T GET THESE SERVICES.
I LIVING AT 66TH DAYTON STREET IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF, UH, WHEATLEY PARK, DAYTON STREET COMMUNITY.
UH, MY FORMER, UH, COLLEAGUES, COUNTY CORRECTIONS.
THE, UH, JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY.
I'M APPALLED AT WHAT I'VE, UH, LISTENED TO, UH, DURING THE COURSE OF THIS DAY WITH ALL THE, THE NEGLECT.
UM, THE COUNTY HAS NOT RECEIVED THE MONIES DUE TO THEM WITH THE PRICE OF GROCERY AND EVERYTHING.
AND I SPOKE ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
EVERYTHING IS ESCALATED AND THESE GUYS HAVE A CERTAIN STATUE OF LIVING.
IT IS APPALLING FOR ME TO BE HERE TALKING ABOUT IT.
YOU GUYS COULD SIGN OFF AND, AND, AND MAKE IT BETTER FOR THEM.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE COUNTY OFFICERS.
I'M NOW, UH, A DISTRICT LEADER.
I'M A REPUBLICAN AT THAT IN A HIGHLY, UH, DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.
AS FOR MY PARK, I I I PARTNER WITH, UH, MS. MOORE ON HER SENTIMENTS AND THE DAYTON STREET.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF DAYTON STREET AND I SPEAK FOR THEM AND WITH THEM WE NEED SOME TYPE OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE PARK, WHICH RESIDES IN DISTRICT 48.
AND THE DISTRICT 48 IS WHAT I REPRESENT.
THAT CORRIDOR ON DAYTON STREET WITH THE GATES.
I'VE CLEANED WWAY PARK MYSELF.
TAKES ME JUST ABOUT EIGHT HOURS AND I GET ABOUT
[01:55:01]
10 INDUSTRIAL BAGS OF GARBAGE A DAY BY MYSELF.I DON'T ASK FOR ANYTHING, BUT I ASK FOR YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, WE NEED SOME TRANS TRANSPARENCY.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WE SHOULD SPEAK? I THINK WE'VE ALL SPOKEN AT THIS POINT.
UH, BEING THAT THERE'S NO ONE HERE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THERE'S NO ONE LEFT, UH, TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE COMMISSIONER.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
UM, SO THE ADMINISTRATION, THE LAST ONE THAT WE, TOWARD THE JAIL, WE, UM, OBSERVE THE JAIL, GOT THIS WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONAL CHART THAT SHOWED THE TIER AND HOW IT WORK.
WE WOULD LIKE TO, I KNOW I WOULD LIKE TO GET AN UPDATE AND SPEAK FOR ME IN THE COMMITTEE, AN UPDATE OF THE CURRENT STAFFING.
I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE CHALLENGES THAT MAY HAVE IMPACTED SOME THINGS, BUT HOW ARE THINGS GOING THERE NOW? WE WOULD LIKE TO GET AN UPDATE.
UM, I CERTAINLY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE STATUS OF THAT COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.
WHEN WE MET LAST, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE GOING OUT TO UPGRADE THAT SYSTEM.
LIKE WHERE WAS THAT IN QUEUE IN THE TIMELINE, ESPECIALLY HEARING THAT WE PUT SOME MONEY BACK INTO THE, INTO THE CAPITAL CONFERENCE AND WE POTENTIALLY USE SOME OF THAT FOR THERE.
UM, ALSO I GOT A COMPLAINT FROM A FORMER, FORMER INMATE WHO RECENTLY LEFT THE JAIL WHO SAID THAT WHEN IT WAS HEAVY DOWNPOUR RAIN, THE FIRST FLOOR FLOODED AT THE JAIL.
AND THAT, UM, HIM AS AN INMATE, HE WAS NOT LIKE EVACUATED TO ANOTHER AREA.
I HAPPENED ON THE DAY WHEN IT RAINED A COUPLE WEEKS BACK.
'CAUSE I WENT TO SEE FOR MYSELF JUST HOW BAD IT IS.
AND I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THAT THE AMOUNT RAINED THAT, UM, POOLS AROUND THE JAIL.
SO IF THIS IS THE CASE, WHAT CAN WE DO TO KIND OF REMEDY THIS? BECAUSE I'M THINKING ABOUT ALL THE POTENTIAL HEALTH THINGS THAT HAPPENS WITH THAT STANDING WATER THAT'S COMING IN THERE.
UM, YOU'RE ALREADY IN A PLACE THAT CARRY ALL KINDS OF THINGS, BUT JUST THE WATER BEING LEFT THERE.
AND ACCORDING TO THIS EX INMATE ALLEGEDLY, HE SAID IT WOULD SIT LIKE THAT.
HE WOULD SIT LIKE THAT AT LEAST A DAY OR TWO AT A TIME.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS EXAGGERATED, BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY CONCERNING TO HEAR THAT.
WE KEEP HEARING THIS COMPLAINT.
COMPLAINT AND I'VE GONE TO VISIT WELFARE.
I'VE GONE OUTSIDE, UM, TO SEE WHEN THERE'S LIES.
I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT IS THE AVERAGE TURNAROUND FROM THE TIME THAT A PERSON APPLIES FOR BENEFITS TO THE TIME THAT WE GET THEM THE SERVICES, WHETHER IT IS WE'RE DENYING THEM FOR WHATEVER REASON OR, YOU KNOW, HOW LONG DOES THAT GENERAL TAKE? IS THAT A FIVE DAY, 10 DAY, 30 DAY THING? LIKE WHAT WAS THE, THE GENERAL TIME TIME LIKE THAT AND AT OUR MEETING WHEN WE LEARNED, I THINK IT WAS BACK AT THE MARCH OR THE APRIL MEETING THAT, UM, WE GOT THAT ARBITRATOR'S, UM, RECOMMENDATION.
I THINK I ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE FOR PAYMENTS TO BE MADE TO THE OFFICERS.
UM, AND I THINK THE DAYS THAT YOU QUOTE IT, IT WAS 60 DAYS.
I THINK I TOLD YOU THAT AN OFFICER THAT ACTUALLY EMAILED ME TO FIND OUT HOW LONG THE PAYMENTS WOULD TAKE TO BE MADE, AND I REFERRED THEM BACK TO THEIR UNION LEADERSHIP OR TO ASK THE QUESTION OF THE DIRECTOR TO, FOR HOW LONG THE PAYMENTS WOULD BE MADE.
BUT ONE TO CONFIRM, WERE THOSE THINGS MADE TO THE UNION THAT WAS, UM, IMPACTED BY THE ARBITRATION AWARD? MM-HMM.
THAT'S IT FOR ME, MR. PRESIDENT.
ANY OTHERS? COMMISSIONER GI? UH, THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT.
JUST A, JUST A FOLLOW UP, UH, THROUGH MR. PRESIDENT, THE ADMINISTRATION, UM, ON A RESPONSE THAT WE RECEIVED, UM, FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON A, ON A QUESTION THAT I ASKED ON THE RETAINING WALL AT BROOKDALE PARK.
I JUST, AT THE, THE, THE, THE RESPONSE WAS THE COUNTY IS AWARE OF THE DAMAGE AND THE REPAIR AS TIME ALLOWS.
SO I JUST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS,
I, I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE A, A SPECIFIC, UH, I DIDN'T GET A, WE DIDN'T GET A SPECIFIC DATE FROM, UH, DIRECTOR ANTE.
UM, BUT I WILL, WE'LL FOLLOW UP YEAH.
TOMORROW AND GET IT MORE SPECIFIC SENSE.
I'M NOT TRYING TO HOLD THIS TOO, BUT I UNDERSTAND.
ANY OTHERS? COMMISSIONERS? I FOR ONE, WOULD LIKE TO,
[02:00:01]
UH, UH, ECHO WHAT COMMISSIONER GIL SAID EARLIER THIS EVENING AND SAY, WELCOME BACK TO OUR ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER SEABOLD, WHO, UH, HAD A LITTLE KNEE SURGERY AND SHE'S BACK AT IT AND SHE'S BEEN ITCHING TO GET BACK HERE.AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BACK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PRESIDENT.
WE'RE SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS.
WE'RE GONNA CALL FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
AYE, WE GONNA GO OVER THERE TOO.