* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:02:53] ALL THE PARENTS TO STAND UP. IF YOU ARE A PARENT, I WANT YOU TO STAND UP. LET'S GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. PARENTS. YES. HOW ABOUT TEACHERS OR PRINCIPALS? ADMINISTRATORS. I WANT IS ANY TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS IN THE ROOM. COMMUNITY LEADERS SUPPORT. YEAH. GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE YOU HELPED MAKE THIS WORK POSSIBLE. THIS DAY IS OBSERVED ANNUALLY ON OCTOBER THE 11TH, WHICH IS TOMORROW, UM, BY THE UNITED NATIONS. AND SO WE DECIDED TO DO IT TODAY BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, TOMORROW IS A JEWISH HOLIDAY. AND SO IN RESPECT TO THAT, THAT HOLIDAY WE WANTED TO HONOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL ON TODAY. SO WITH NO FURTHER ADO, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF ESSEX COUNTY SCHOOLS, DR. PETERSON, FOR A FEW REMARKS. I'LL BE VERY BRIEF. I KNOW THE POWER OF GIRLS. I HAVE THREE GIRLS AT HOME. OOF. DO I KNOW THE POWER OF YOUNG LADIES. THEY HAVE HUMBLED ME, UH, AND THEY'VE TAUGHT ME ACTUALLY HOW TO BE A BETTER MAN TOO. UH, I'M VERY, VERY, UM, PROUD AND HONORED TO BE IN CHARGE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE WE SEE YOUNG LADIES LIKE TAKI AND THE OTHER HONOREES AS WELL. I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF YOU AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING. YOU GOTTA SEE LADIES ARE YOUNG WOMEN ARE TAKING OVER IN A LOT OF OUR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN OUR SCHOOLS, IN THE CLUBS, IN THE ACTIVITIES. WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY, REALLY GREAT YOUNG WOMEN THAT ARE GONNA GO ON TO BE GREAT LEADERS, JUST LIKE THE LEADERS THAT WE, THE FEMALE LEADERS WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM. SO ON BEHALF OF THE ESSA COUNTY SCHOOLS OF TECHNOLOGY ON THE, UM, ON THE BEHALF OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL AND THANK YOU. AND LADIES, KEEP GOING. SO AGAIN, I'M SO HONORED. WHAT I FAILED TO SHARE WITH YOU IS THAT NOT ONLY AM I A GIRL MOM, BUT I JUST HAPPEN TO BE THE GIRL MOM OF COMMISSIONER, ADORE MURRAY THOMAS. YES. [00:05:01] FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW A DORIAN MAY HISTORY WHEN SHE WAS 23 YEARS OLD, WHEN SHE BECAME THE YOUNGEST WOMAN EVER ELECTED TO THE NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION, SHE THEN TURNED AROUND, DID A LITTLE SHALL I, YOU KNOW, AND MADE HISTORY AGAIN, BECOMING THE YOUNGEST WOMAN EVER TO BE ELECTED TO BE THE COMMISSIONER IN ESSEX COUNTY. AND SO WE ARE VERY PROUD OF IAN AND I I JUST WANNA SAY TO YOUNG WOMEN IN THE ROOM, RUN FOR OFFICE. LIKE IF YOU'RE IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT, LIKE TAKARA, RUN FOR OFFICE. IF YOU LOSE, RUN AGAIN. IF YOU JUST KEEP RUNNING BECAUSE WOMEN BELONG IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY AND POWER AND NEVER LET A NO DETERMINE YOUR DESTINY, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT COULD BE A NO FOR THIS AND GOD MAY HAVE SOMETHING ELSE MORE BETTER FOR YOU ON THE OUTSIDE. AND SO CONTINUE TO RUN, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WOMEN AND GIRLS. WE ARE EACH OTHER'S ALLIES. WE ARE EACH OTHER'S FRIENDS. DO NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN THE HYPE THAT, OH, I CAN'T, I DON'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS. NO, YOUR GIRLFRIENDS ARE YOUR FRIENDS. AND HAVING SISTERS AND GIRLFRIENDS IS A BEAUTIFUL THING. AND SO WITH NO FURTHER ADO, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP TWO YOUNG LADIES AND I'LL BRING THEM UP AND THEY WILL INTRODUCE EACH OTHER. THE FIRST ONE WILL BE A YOUNG WOMAN FROM PAYNE TECH, A AWESOME YOUNG LADY WHO ADD THE PLEDGE OF MEETING. AND AFTER THIS TIME, AFTER THIS INTRODUCTION, I WON'T SEE YOU GUYS ANYMORE UNTIL THE END OF THE SHOW. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP MIRACLE BAKER. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING. EVERY YEAR ON OCTOBER 11TH, THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF GIRL. OBSERVE ANNUALLY ON OCTOBER 11TH. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL IS A KEY GLOBAL MOMENT ON WHICH TO CELEBRATE GIRLS EVERYWHERE AMPLIFYING THEIR VOICES, ACTIONS, AND LEADERSHIP. IT IS A DAY THAT BELONGS TO EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUT GIRLS AND THEIR RIGHTS. FOR ON THIS DAY. WE COME TOGETHER AND RECOGNIZE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE FULL SPECTRUM OF GIRLS RIGHTS. URGENT ACTION IS NEEDED TO DRIVE PRO, NEEDED TO DRIVE PROGRESS WITH AND FOR GIRLS ACTIVELY INVESTING IN GIRLS' FUTURES IS TO INVEST IN OUR OWN FUTURES. TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A FUTURE IN WHICH EVERY GIRL'S RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED FOR. WHEN GIRLS ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS, WE ALL MOVE CLOSER TOGETHER TO ACHIEVING OUR GLOBAL GOALS. THANK YOU. NOW I'M GONNA BRING UP RAVEN ST. PAUL FOR THE WELCOME. NICE, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RAVEN ST. PAUL. I AM A FOURTH GRADER AT PINGREE. TODAY I AM THRILLED TO BE WITH ALL THESE AMAZING PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG WOMEN BEING HONORED TODAY. I LOVE BEING A GIRL, ESPECIALLY. I ESPECIALLY LOVE BEING A BLACK GIRL. I LOVE THE MANY THINGS I CAN DO WITH MY HAIR. I LOVE TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING AND DREAM BIG. I LOVE THAT I AM A GIRL AND TOTALLY UNIQUE. I LOVE BEING A LEADER AND HELPING OTHER GIRLS BE STRONG TOO. I LOVE LEARNING NEW THINGS EVERY DAY AND ALWAYS BEING READY TO GROW. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE COMMISSIONER ADO, MARY THOMAS. SHE INSPIRES ME BECAUSE SHE REMINDS ME OF HOW MUCH CHANGE SOMEONE CAN MAKE IN THE WORLD. WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL MEANS TO ME IS A DAY WHERE WE RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF ALL GIRLS IN OUR RIGHTS AS GIRLS. AS I CONCLUDE MY SPEECH, I URGE EACH ONE OF YOU TO TAKE A STAND FOR GIRLS LIKE ME WHO ARE UNABLE TO CAST THEIR VOTE THIS YEAR. VOTE WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT Y'ALL. RAVEN ST. PAUL. THAT'S RIGHT. GO GET HIM GIRL. I KNOW WE'RE IN A, UM, A FANCY LITTLE HALL, BUT IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE IN THE KITCHEN BECAUSE EVERYBODY IN HERE IS UP HERE COOKING FROM RAVEN TO MIRACLE, TO MISS DANA, TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU JUST BEING IN THIS ROOM. CAN YOU TURN TO YOUR NEIGHBOR AND TELL 'EM YOU LOOK GOOD. Y'ALL SAY YOU LOOK GOOD. YOU CAN SAY, I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW THE BROTHERS. YOU SAY, I KNOW. I KNOW. YEAH. YEAH. AND WHEN WE SAY YOU LOOK GOOD, WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE EXTERIOR, ALTHOUGH THE HAIR IS LAID, THE FACE IS V THE OUTFIT IS GOOD, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR SPIRIT GLOW. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT [00:10:01] YOUR ENERGY. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU RADIATE THE BEAUTY THAT IS US AS WE CELEBRATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU AND ALL THE GIRLS IN OUR LIVES AND OUR COMMUNITIES ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL. ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOURSELVES, FOR MAKING YOU HERE DESPITE LONG DAYS, DESPITE TRAFFIC, DESPITE CLASS AND GAMES AND SCHEDULES AND ALL THE THINGS AND MEETINGS AND ALL THE THINGS YOU'VE MADE, IT HAPPENED. I'M SO HONORED TO BE HERE, FIRST OF ALL, TO CELEBRATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE HONOREES. WE'LL BE CELEBRATING TODAY AND ALSO TO KICK OFF OUR FIRST ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL RESOLUTION CELEBRATION HERE AT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. NOW AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND MY MOM'S DID SUCH A BEAUTIFUL JOB, WELCOMING AND ANCHORING, UH, THIS SPACE, IT'S REALLY KIND OF A FANCY WAY OF BEING ABLE TO DO THREE THINGS, LISTEN, LEARN, AND LEAD. NOT UNLIKE OUR COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT, DR. PETERSON, WHO LISTENS, LEARNS AND LEADS WITH INTEGRITY HERE AT ESS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. NOT LIKE, NOT UNLIKE ALL THE INCREDIBLE PRINCIPALS WHO WE'RE GONNA HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IN THEIR SCHOOLS. NOT UNLIKE ALL OF YOU AS THE YOUNG WOMEN IN THE VILLAGE OF THE YOUNG WOMEN HERE, THEIR PARENTS, THEIR MENTORS, THEIR TEACHERS WHO LISTEN, LEARN AND LEAD EVEN WHEN IT'S TOUGH. I WENT TO SCHOOL NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE. I GREW UP RIGHT HERE IN NEWARK AND OUR LIVES WERE REALLY NORMAL UNTIL THEY WEREN'T. WELL. ONE DAY MY DAD WAS GOING TO PAY HIS SCHOOL TUITION. MY SCHOOL TUITION AT THE CHAD SCHOOL ON SOUTH 11TH STREET WAS ROBBED AND KILLED TWO BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE ON BROOKDALE ON HIS WAY TO THE SCHOOL. AND SO HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE MOTHERS LIKE MY MOTHER DANA, HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE MOTHERS OF THE MOTHERS LIKE MIRACLE AND RAVEN AND THE MOTHERS IN THE ROOM, THAT OF THE YOUNG LADIES WHO YOU HEAR FROM TODAY, TODAY, HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR A VILLAGE THAT LOOKED AND FELT A LOT LIKE THIS, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN STANDING HERE TODAY. AND SO AS WE CELEBRATE EACH OF YOU, WE NOT ONLY CELEBRATE YOU, BUT WE CELEBRATE SOME OF THE TOUGH STUFF THAT WE WENT THROUGH THAT GOT US HERE. WE CELEBRATE THE, THE, THE TRAUMA THAT SOMEHOW TURNED INTO TRIUMPH THAT WE'RE STANDING ON, THAT ROOTS US IN THIS MOMENT AND ROOTS US INTO OUR FUTURES AND INTO OUR TOMORROWS. WE CELEBRATE YOUR BRILLIANCE, YOUR MAGIC, AND ALL THE WAYS THAT MAGIC CONTINUES TO CHANGE LIVES AND COMMUNITIES. WITH THAT SAID, I'M SO HONORED TO BRING UP OUR FIRST HONOREE OF THE AFTERNOON. AND BEFORE I DO THAT, ACTUALLY CAN WE JUST, I WANNA SAY THIS, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE HAD IT NOT BEEN WON FOR THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS. AND I LITERALLY HAVE WINGS TODAY WITH THIS SHIRT. UH, BUT MY MOTHER DANA, JUST FOR HELPING PUT THIS ALL TOGETHER, CAN YOU JUST GIVE ROUND APPLAUSE FOR MY MOTHER, MS. DANA MURRAY AND FOR THE INCREDIBLE STAFF HERE AT THE ESS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, FROM DEPUTY CLERK BROWN, TO ADAM, TO KYLE, TO KEVIN, TO EVERYONE AROUND WE LOVE YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU, YOU ARE WHAT MAKES SURE THAT THE WAYS THAT WE CELEBRATE OUR YOUNG WOMEN AND OUR YOUNG GIRLS ACTUALLY COME INTO FRUITION. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'M SO HONORED TO INTRODUCE OUR FIRST HONOREE. HER NAME IS DE JOHNSON. SHE HAPPENS TO HELL FROM THE GREAT SPEEDWAY AVENUE SCHOOL. MAKE SOME NOISE FOR DAR. MAKES NO WAY TO THE PODIUM. SHE MAY. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. YOU'RE RIGHT THERE. LIKE I KNOW I SAW YOU. OKAY, WILLIAMS SWEETHEART. ONE MORE RATTLE APPLAUSE FOR HEY Y'ALL. SO I HAVE THE HONOR OF INTRODUCING A YOUNG WOMAN WHO IS THE YOUNGEST OF THREE WHO HAS ASPIRATIONS OF BECOMING AN ACCOUNTANT, WHICH MEANS SHE WILL, SHE KNOWS HOW TO SECURE THE BAG AND SHE'S ALREADY DOING THE MATHEMATICS TO DO IT. SHE PLANS TO ATTEND WEST SIDE HIGH SCHOOL AND STUDY FINANCE, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE'S DOING THE THINGS TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE BY BEING INVOLVED IN HER SCHOOL AND DRAWING AND PLAYING BASKETBALL. HER ACTUAL MODEL FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR IS LIMIT DISTRACTIONS AND FOCUS ON MY GOALS. HELLO HER PRINCIPAL, A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, MS. GILES AND THE STAFF AT THE SCHOOL ALWAYS REVEL IN THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT HOW SHE STARTED, BUT IT'S ABOUT HOW SHE FINISHES. AND SO SHE'S GROWING AND MATURING AND JUST LITERALLY CHANGING THE DYNAMISM AND THE ELEMENTS OF THE SCHOOL JUST BY BEING WHO SHE IS. AND PRINCIPAL GILES ACTUALLY RECOGNIZED HER AHA MOMENT, HER ATTITUDE, HER BEHAVIOR AND WORK ETHIC THAT HAS CONTINUED TO TRANSFORM FOR THE BETTER. SO IKA, WE ARE SO HONORED TO CELEBRATE YOU, NOT ONLY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TODAY, BUT WHAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO DO ON TOMORROW. CONGRATULATIONS [00:15:01] AGAIN, IKA. NOW YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IKA JUST TO SAY A FEW REMARKS AND WE JUST WANNA THANK YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FRIENDS, OR ANYONE. AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PRESENT YOU FIRST WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL AWARD. I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE AND FOR ME TO CONTINUE ACHIEVING MY GOALS IN LIFE. ABSOLUTELY. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU MUCH. THANK YOU. NOW IKA, AS YOU CAN SEE, AND FROM FROM SO MANY OF THE YOUNG WOMEN HERE, HAS AN INCREDIBLE VILLAGE AROUND HER. I REMISS AGAIN IF I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE ANOTHER PERSON IN MY VILLAGE HERE ON THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, SOMEONE WHO'S TAKEN ME UNDER HIS WING WITH KINDNESS AND GRACE. AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE A MENTOR AND A FATHER FIGURE AND AN ACTUAL FATHER TO SO MANY BEAUTIFUL WOMEN AND GIRLS, MY FELLOW COMMISSIONER MR. MERCADO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE FOR WHAT YOU DO TO SUPPORT WOMEN AND GIRLS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THIS NEXT HONOREE SIMILARLY IS DOING GREAT THINGS, NOT JUST TODAY BUT INTO THE PATHWAY OF HER FUTURE. SHE'S A SENIOR AT ESS COUNTY NOR TECH WHERE SHE THRIVES AS AN HONOR STUDENT AND LEADER IN THE TEAL PROGRAM. THIS IS NONE OTHER THAN MISS KYRA PHILLIPS. Y'ALL UP GIRL, WHO I HAVE TO SAY I KNEW SINCE SHE WAS FAR SHORTER THAN ME. THAT HAS CHANGED AND I KNOW HER THROUGH HER INCREDIBLE DAD AND FAMILY AND IT'S JUST SO HONORED TO SEE YOU AND CELEBRATE YOU TODAY. I WILL SAY, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS WAS THE SAME PERSON WHEN WE HAD REACHED OUT TO PAIN TECH, I WAS LIKE, WE, WE WANNA SEE WHO WE CAN HONOR, SORRY TO NEWARK TECH TO SEE WHO WE CAN HONOR. AND WHEN THEY SAID, AND THEN TREVOR TEXTED ME, HE WAS LIKE, HOLD, YOU KNOW THAT'S MY BABY, RIGHT? I SAID, OH MY GOD, I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE. BUT THE WORLD IS SO SMALL AND WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE WORK FROM WHEN YOU'RE JUST A CHILD, IT CONTINUES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND SO FROM WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER TO WHAT YOU CAN SEE SHE'S DOING TODAY, SHE HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND BRILLIANT AS CLASS PRESIDENT AND SOON TO BE CHAIR CLAPTON. SHE'S A LEADER IN THE BLACK STUDENT UNION, A SENIOR PEER MENTOR AND IS DEDICATED TO UPLIFTING HER COMMUNITY AND GUIDING HER PEERS TOWARDS SUCCESS. HER PASSION FOR THE ARTS DRIVES HER TO CREATE WORK THAT HIGHLIGHTS SOCIAL ISSUES AND SPARKS MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS. THIS INCLUDES FILM AND POETRY AND DANCING AND STILT WALKING AND ZDI AFRICAN DANCE, A GROUP THAT HAS BECOME FAMILY. SHE LEADS ON VOLLEYBALL COURT AND IN THE CLASSROOM WITH A FEARLESS AND PURPOSE DRIVEN MINDSET. AND HER FAMILY, ESPECIALLY HER MOTHER AND FATHER, WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN SHAPING HER INTO THE PERSON SHE IS TODAY. SHE'S SO THANKFUL FOR THE STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION AT NORTECH FOR THE UNWAVERING HELP AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT HER ACADEMIC JOURNEY. LOOKING AHEAD, WE CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU BECOME A LEADER, NOT JUST HERE IN THE CITY OF NEWARK, IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, BUT AT YOUR FUTURE HBCU OF CHOICE AS YOU CONTINUE TO GROW AND MENTOR AND POUR TO OTHERS. ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE Y'ALL. HI EVERYBODY. OH, I BE FORGETTING, I'M A LITTLE TALL. HI EVERYBODY. WELL GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I AM DEEPLY HUMBLED TO RECEIVE THIS REWARD AWARD AND I'M INCREDIBLY HONORED TO BE RECOGNIZED ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL BY OUR ESS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, ADORE, AND MURRAY THOMAS. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I THANK GOD FOR GIVING ME THE STRENGTH AND THE GUIDANCE TO REACH THIS POINT IN MY JOURNEY. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO MY FAMILY THAT'S SITTING RIGHT THERE, ESPECIALLY MY MOTHER AND FATHER FOR SHAPING ME INTO THE PERSON I AM TODAY. YOUR UNWAVERING LOVE, GUIDANCE, AND SUPPORT HAS GIVEN ME THE STRENGTH AND CONFIDENCE TO PURSUE MY PASSIONS AND STEP INTO THE VARIOUS LEADERSHIP ROLES WITH PURPOSE AND PRIDE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY TEACHERS AT ESS COUNTY NEWARK TECH, WHO HAVE ALWAYS PUSHED ME TO DO MY BEST, WHO HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN MY POTENTIAL. YOUR INFLUENCE HAS PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED MY LIFE. SO MY CLOSEST FRIENDS, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE FOR ME, OFFERING COMFORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT. I AM PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL TO MY PRINCIPAL, MR. WILLIAMS. WOO TO HIM, HIM WHO SAW POTENTIAL IN ME FROM THE [00:20:01] TIME OF MY INTERVIEW. FROM ZOOM GUYS IN COVID FROM THE TIME OF MY INTERVIEW TO ACCEPTANCE INTO NEWARK TECH. AND HE HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWN PRIDE IN ALL MY ACHIEVEMENTS. ALWAYS. IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, MR. JOSEPH DEVINCI, DEVENTION ZO DI VINCENZO , AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT DR. PETERSON, FOR PROVIDING US FOR THE, PROVIDING US WITH THE BEST FACILITIES FOR US TO LEARN AND GROW. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN AT THIS AS THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING, BY GOD'S GRACE, I WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE, PUSH FORWARD, AND EXTEND MY, EXCEED MY OWN EXPECTATIONS. AS WE ALWAYS SAY AT NEWARK TECH, HAVE A GREAT DAY AND REMEMBER THAT KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. GO TERRIERS GIRL. VERY NICE. THANK YOU. SO CONGRATULATIONS PRINCIPAL WILLIAMS, BIG INDIVIDUAL MR. SUPERINTENDENT PETERSON. WE'RE GONNA DO FAMILY PHOTOS WITH ALL THE AWARDS AS WELL TOO AT THE END. ALRIGHT, A LITTLE EXTRA CHEESE ON IT. THAT'S GOOD. EXTRA CHEESE ACTION. WE'RE SO HONORED THAT IN ADDITION TO EACH OF YOU GETTING THESE COMMENDATIONS FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WHICH IS A FANCY WAY OF SAYING THAT YOU WILL FOREVER BE ETCHED INTO THE HISTORY OF ONE OF THE LARGEST COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY FOR WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU'VE DONE, AND WHAT YOU WILL DO. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR HONOREES WILL GET THAT. IN ADDITION TO ALL OF OUR SPEAKERS WILL GET ONE OF THOSE COMMENDATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THAT I A MURRAY THOMAS OF THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON. BUT WE ARE ALSO JOINED BY THE ENTIRE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR RASHE BARACK OF THE GREAT CITY OF NEWARK AND CELEBRATING YOU TODAY. SO IN ADDITION TO THOSE COMMENDATIONS FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HERE AT ESSEX, YOU WILL ALSO BE RECEIVING THESE COMMENDATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF NEWARK. UH, WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO COUNCILWOMAN ROUNDTREE, MINISTER ROUNDTREE FOR HER PRESENTATION OF THESE AWARDS ON BEHALF OF THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL AND OF THE MAYOR. SO JUST A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOURSELVES AND FOR ALL THE LOCAL LEADERS WHO ARE CELEBRATING YOU ON TODAY. AS I WAS LISTENING TO MS. PHILLIPS TALK ABOUT HER WORK ON STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND EVERYTHING THAT SHE'S DONE, IT REMINDED ME OF HOW I WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN BEEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE RIGHT NOW OR HAVING RUN FOR OFFICE TO BE IN ELECTED OFFICE TODAY IF I WASN'T A KID IN SCHOOL. PRINCIPAL PITTS WHO RAISED MY HAND AND ASKED THE QUESTION, IF I WASN'T A KID IN SCHOOL, WHO WHEN I SAW SOMEONE GETTING BULLIED, I SAID SOMETHING 'CAUSE I REMEMBER WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO BE BULLIED BEFORE AND HAVE NO ONE SAY ANYTHING IN MY DEFENSE. UM, I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF I WASN'T THAT KID WHO HAD LOST HER FATHER TO GUN VIOLENCE AT SEVEN AND AT 19 SAID, WHAT IF I STARTED A GROUP FOR OTHER YOUNG WOMEN WHO WERE AFFECTED BY GUN VIOLENCE OR OTHER FORMS OF TRAUMA SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHATEVER THEY'RE GOING THROUGH ALONE. THE THINGS YOU DO TODAY TO POUR INTO YOURSELF AND YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR FAMILY WILL TRANSFORM YOUR TOMORROW. WITH THAT SAID, I'M SO HONORED TO BRING UP A YOUNG WOMAN WHO IS ALSO TRANSFORMING HER TOMORROW BY DOING INCREDIBLE THINGS IN MY ORGANIZATION. SHE WINS, BUT ALSO IN THE GREATER CITY OF NEWARK AND IN HER SCHOOL NORTH STAR ACADEMY. NONE OTHER THAN MISS NEVAEH BLAINE. NOW, NEVAEH FIRST KIND OF GOT COMPELLED UNTIL SHE WINS BY HER BIG SISTER. 'CAUSE AT FIRST SHE WAS LIKE, WHY AM I HERE? I'M REALLY ONLY HERE BECAUSE MY BIG SISTER IS HERE. AND THEN EVENTUALLY SHE CONTINUED TO COME AND JUST BLOSSOMED IN SO MANY WAYS. AND WE'RE SO HONORED TO CELEBRATE YOU AS YOU CONTINUE TO BLOSSOM. NOT ONLY IS SHE WINS IN YOUR COMMUNITY THROUGH YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE AND YOUR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT WHO YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE NEVAEH'S. HOBBIES AND INTERESTS INCLUDE FASHION AND OTHER ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS LIKE THEATER AND FILMING. SHE ALSO LOVES CREATING AND DESIGNING POSTERS AND BOARDS AND [00:25:01] DRAWING CLOTHING DESIGNS. SHE WILL VERY SHORTLY BE HOSTING A FASHION EVENT WITH OTHER SCHOOLS AT LINCOLN PARK HIGH SCHOOL. AS A PART OF THE FASHION DESIGN CAREER PROJECT, SHE'S EXPLORING NEW ACTIVITIES TO BOOST HER PRODUCTIVITY AND ENJOY THE OUTDOORS. IT HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY TO SEE YOU GROW INTO THE YOUNG WOMAN YOU ARE TODAY, EVEN THIS SUMMER WITH YOU WITH MIRACLE AND ALL THE GIRLS. JUST SEEING Y'ALL BE YOURSELVES AND CREATE A SENSE OF SAFETY WITH EACH OTHER TO CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY. AS WE CELEBRATE YOU TODAY, WE'RE SO HONORED, HONORED TO HIGHLIGHT YOU FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU WHO YOU ARE. RONALD FALLS FOR NEVA BLAINE EVERYBODY. TO START, I LIKE TO THINK OUR COMMISSIONER ADORE MA RAY THOMAS. AND I ALSO WANNA SAY I BELIEVE THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF GIRLS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT CELEBRATES THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN GLOBALLY AS WELL AS THIS DAY FOCUSING ON THE CHALLENGES THEY HAVE FACED THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME. CONTRIBUTING A DAY TO THEM HELPS SHINE LIGHT ON THEM AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY OF SUCCESS AND GROWTH. THANK YOU. PIZZA STORE CHEESE, EXTRA CHEESE. THANK YOU NEVA. CONGRATULATIONS IS ALL RIGHT. SO OUR NEXT HONOREE RERE REPRESENTS HAILS FROM THE GREAT CITY OF IRVINGTON. WOO. I KNOW WE GOT A COUPLE IRVINGTON PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING. THAT'S RIGHT. HEY. HEY. SO LET ME TELL Y'ALL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ULU DE CI AOP FROM IRVINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, WHO IS AN EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING COMPETITOR IN THE DEBATE CLUB. Y'ALL HEARD THAT EXTEMPORANEOUS, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? SHE JUST BE GOING OFF THE DOME AS THE KIDS SAY. LIKE THEY JUST GONNA, SHE'S GONNA DROP THOSE GEMS. THAT'S RIGHT ON THE DEBATE CLUB. AND I DID DEBATE TOO. SO SHOUT OUT TO THAT. SHE'S A MEMBER OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB, A MEMBER OF THE PRETTY PEARLS OF PROMISE PROGRAM, A MEMBER OF THE JUNIOR W-R-O-T-C, CADET AND DRILL TEAM AND A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER, AS YOU'LL SEE FROM THE OTHER HONOREES IN THIS CONTINUED TO BE HONORED IN HER. SHE TAKES NO DAYS OFF. SHE ATTENDED THE LINDSAY MEYER TEEN INSTITUTE SUMMER LEADERSHIP. YES, Y'ALL SAID LINDSAY MEYER IN THE BUILDING. I SEE Y'ALL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE WHERE SHE WAS CHOSEN AS ONE OF TWO ACTION GROUP REPRESENTATIVES, WHICH ALLOWED HER TO ACQUIRE LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS. AND I WOULD SAY MAYBE DIDN'T, YOU DIDN'T ACQUIRE THEM THERE, YOU JUST HONED THEM THERE BECAUSE YOU CAME THERE AWESOME TOO. SHE BROUGHT THESE SKILLS BACK TO HERON HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE ALONG WITH A FRIEND, SHE RECENTLY FORMED THE SCHOOL'S FIRST EVER BADMINTON CLUB. YES. SHE REGULARLY VOLUNTEERS AT THE BRIDGE IN JUNIOR ROTC, USUALLY AS A FOOD DISTRIBUTOR AT OASIS THE SCHOOL'S CONCESSION STAND AND AS A ROOT MARKER FOR FUNDRAISER WALKS, SHE PLANS TO BECOME A DOCTOR AND JOURNALIST IN THE FUTURE. AND THE SKILLS SHE LEARNS AT LMIT IRVINGTON HIGH SCHOOL AND IN HER FAMILY AND COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO BE INSTRUMENTAL IN ACHIEVING HER GOALS. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, OU FOR THIS AWARD. WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU, SWEETHEART. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK GOD FOR BRINGING ME HERE AND COMMISSIONER A DORIAN FOR EVERYTHING SHE'S DONE FOR THE GIRLS OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, AND FOR ORGANIZING THIS AMAZING AWARD CEREMONY. NEXT, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY MOTHER, THE GREATEST WOMAN OF ALL WHO RAISED ME SINGLE-HANDEDLY. AND MY MOST PROFOUND THANKS GOES TO THE WORKERS AT THE BRIDGE, ESPECIALLY MISS BEV AND MISS LETICIA MILLER. WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO HAVE MET YOU AND TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES THAT YOU CAREFULLY ORGANIZED FOR US TO IMPROVE THE IRVINGTON COMMUNITY. THIS AWARD WILL ONLY INSPIRE ME TO DO MORE AND I HOPE IT WILL INSPIRE OTHERS TO JOIN THE BRIDGE AND MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, ULU. I KNOW, I JUST SAW, UM, MY SISTER FRIEND IN THE WORK, MS. BRITTANY CLAY BROOKS, UH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN EMERITUS OF EAST ORANGE, [00:30:01] ANOTHER BLACK GIRL, MAGIC EXHIBITOR. SO SHOUT OUT TO HER FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW SHE HAD TO HEAD OUT, BUT I KNOW SHE WANTED TO SHOW LOVE. AND SPEAKING OF BLACK GIRL MAGIC AND WOMEN MAGIC, DOING AMAZING THINGS. SO OLA, YOU MENTIONED THE BRIDGE. MY MOM WORKED AT THE BRIDGE FOR A REALLY LONG TIME WHEN I WAS A YOUNG PERSON. THAT'S RIGHT. AND SO IT WAS THERE WHERE SHE MADE SO MUCH FAMILY LIKE MY AUNTIE, MS. MILLER AND ALL THE INCREDIBLE WOMEN, MS. MELISSA, MY AUNTIE, MOTHER, AUNTIE, COUSIN, MELISSA. AND SO I SAY THAT TO SAY THE WORK, WHEN WE DO THIS WORK OF EMPOWERING YOUNG WOMEN, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW YOU'RE ALSO EMPOWERING THE CHILDREN OF THE PEOPLE WHO YOU WORK WITH OR THE THE SIBLINGS OF THE PEOPLE WHO YOU WORK WITH OR THE FRIENDS. IT'S ALL ALL CONNECTED. SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, OWIN TO THE INCREDIBLE VILLAGE AT THE BRIDGE, IRVINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEN THAT WHOLE COMMUNITY. I'M SO HONORED TO, UH, GIVE AN AWARD IN ABSENTIA BECAUSE IT COULD NOT MAKE IT BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTUALLY COMPETING IN A GAME TONIGHT. BUT TO THE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM OVER HERE. AH, YAY. THIS AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING. THANK YOU SO MUCH, COACH. I KNOW Y'ALL DID A LOT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT HERE TODAY, SO I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE. MAKE SOME MORE NOISE Y'ALL. ALL RIGHT. SO SAGE IS ONE OF THE OGS ON THE TEAM, RIGHT? AND WHEN COACH WAS TALKING TO COACH EARLIER, HE WAS LIKE, WE GOING, WE GOT A COUPLE RETURNS. WE GONNA GET EITHER SAGE OR SUCH AND SUCH TO BE THERE. SO WHEN WE, SO GLAD YOU CAN MAKE IT HERE SAGE, BECAUSE YOU ARE A PART OF THE LEGACY OF YOUNG WOMEN ON THE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAMS. WELL, ONE OF MY MENTEE MENTEES, UM, NATALIE PLAYED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO IN GIFTY. BUT THIS TEAM HAS BEEN A CONSISTENT WINNER SINCE THE STAFF TOOK OVER IN 2016. THE PROGRAM HAS EARNED A BID INTO THE STATE TOURNAMENT AND ALL PAST EIGHT SEASONS AND THE TEAM HAS WON, NOT WON NOT TWO, NOT THREE, BUT FOUR CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS. THAT'S RIGHT. IN 20 16, 20 20, 22, AND 2024, SEVERAL PLAYERS WITH THE BASKETBALL TEAM HAVE CONTINUED TO LAUNCH INCREDIBLE CAREERS AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL. LIKE BRITTANY HEMLEY OF SHAW UNIVERSITY OR ZAYA OF GEORGIAN COURT UNIVERSITY OR BREONNA WORTHY OF CENTENARY UNIVERSITY OR CAALA AND KAYLA OF RUTGERS. UM, AND MOST RECENTLY, FAITH FE AND ROBINSON OF TOLEDO UNIVERSITY. THROUGHOUT IT, ALL THE BASKETBALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM HAS BEEN MAINTAINING A GPA OF OVER 3.0 DURING THIS ENTIRE EIGHT YEAR SPAN. THEY'RE NOT JUST ATHLETES, THEY'RE SCHOLAR ATHLETES, RIGHT? MS. ROBINSON AND MS. ROBIN, THEY'RE DOING INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE WORK. SO ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AS A FELLOW FORMER ATHLETE, I USED TO PLAY BALL A LITTLE, BUT YOU KNOW, I HAD THAT NICE LITTLE LEFTY, BUT I DON'T WANNA, I DON'T WANNA EMBARRASS Y'ALL, SO I'M NOT GONNA SHOW UP TO THE COURT AND SHOW YOU MY SKILLS BECAUSE THIS IS Y'ALL'S DAY. I DON'T WANNA SHOW Y'ALL MY SKILLS AND MAKE ANYBODY FEEL BAD BECAUSE OF HOW GOOD I AM, BUT WE'RE SO HONORED TO CELEBRATE YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM AS YOU CONTINUE TO RISE AND BE GREAT ON AND OFF THE COURT. CONGRATULATIONS. I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MY COACHES AND MY TEAMMATES BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING WE WORK TOWARDS AND WE WORK HARD, SO WE GONNA KEEP WORKING AND SEE HOW IT PAYS OFF. THANK YOU. AMAZING. ANY OTHER ATHLETES IN THE ROOM? YEAH. OKAY, LITTLE BIT. SHE SAID LITTLE GOLF CLAP. BEST FRIEND. ANYBODY ELSE? JUGGLING SCHOOL AND OTHER THINGS, CLUBS, BEING A SIBLING, BEING A FRIEND, BEING A FAMILY MEMBER, BEING A RIGHT. THOSE ARE ALL, IT'S A LOT TO DO. AND SO WE GIVE Y'ALL CREDIT TODAY AS WE CELEBRATE YOU. I AM SO HONORED AND HUMBLED TO BRING UP OUR NEXT HONOREE AND IT'S SIMILARLY TO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL. WE ARE HONORING AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY, A TEAM OF YOUNG WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE NEWARK SCHOOL OF FASHION AND DESIGN, THE REALITY TV SHOW PASSED. NOW AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY ARE HERE IN FORMATION. THE FITS ARE SERVING. IT'S GIVING NEW YORK CITY FASHION WEEK PRINCIPLE PITS, WHO I'VE KNOWN SINCE HER DAYS AT, UH, BACK AT, UH, CHANCELLOR [00:35:01] ALSO SERVES ON THE REGULAR, THE FITS ARE FITTING. BUT LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE NEWARK FASHION FOR, I ACTUALLY HAD A PRIVILEGE OF VISITING, UH, THE NEWARK SCHOOL OF FASHION DESIGN SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND I GOT TO SEE YOU GUYS IN ONE OF YOUR SHOWCASES. BUT LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR TV SERIES AND THIS INCREDIBLE CAST OF LEADERS FROM THE CITY OF NEWARK IN WHICH TWO NSFD STUDENTS HOST THE SHOW AND PRESENT A DESIGN CHALLENGE TO THREE TEAMS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT DESIGNERS WHO ARE ULTIMATELY COMPETING FOR A PRIZE WORTH MORE THAN $10,000. NOW, ONCE THE STUDENTS START WORK, THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S A BIG BANG, Y'ALL. THE PRIZE IS WORTH MORE THAN $10,000. NOW, ONCE THE STUDENTS START WORKING, THEY DRAW, THEY PLAN, CUT STITCH, GLUE, LAUGH, SWEAT, AND OVERCOME ADVERSITY TO MEET THEIR DEADLINES. THE SHOW INCLUDES THREE TEAMS OF THREE STUDENTS, THE RED, WHITE, AND BLACK TEAMS WITH FACULTY SUPPORT FROM PRINCIPALS, ENA PITTS AND FASHION EDUCATOR, AYA ANI. THE SHOW'S JUDGES INCLUDES PROMINENT FASHION DESIGNERS, STYLISTS, AND OTHER FASHION EXPERTS RECOGNIZED FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND GLOBE. WHAT EACH OF YOU ARE DOING AT THE NEWARK FASHION FORWARD IS NOTHING SURE OF REMARKABLE. AND I KNOW YOU WILL TAKE THE FASHION WORLD BY STORM AND FRANKLY, ANY WORLD IN ANY INDUSTRY YOU GO INTO BY STORM. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT YOU ALL WITH THIS COMMENDATION FROM THE BOARD OF ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, CONGRATULATIONS AND MORE SUCCESS FORWARD. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM CAA ROBERTSON, VP OF SENIOR YEAR 2025. SO I WAS THE FIRST COMING YEAR, FRESHMAN YEAR AS A, UM, AS A NEWCOMER TO THE BRAND NEW SCHOOL THAT OPENED UP. UM, IT WAS REALLY NERVE WRACKING BECAUSE OUR SCHOOL HAD, UM, NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. SO THE FACT THAT WE WAS A HISTORY IN THE MAKING WAS REALLY SPECIAL AND REALLY UNIQUE TO US. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MS. PITTS AND MY MOTHER. MY MOTHER IS A SINGLE MOTHER WHO RAISED THREE KIDS ALL BY HERSELF. MS. PITTS, SHE'S BEEN BELIEVING IN ME SINCE FRESHMAN YEAR WHEN I DID THE SUMMER PROGRAM FOR MISA HILTON. EVER SINCE THEN, SHE'S BEEN ROCKING WITH THE SENIORS, SOPHOMORES, FRESHMENS, AND JUNIORS ALL TOGETHER, MAKING SURE THAT WE ACCOMPLISH OUR DREAMS AND GET THE RECOGNITION THAT WE DESERVES. THANK YOU. PRINCIPAL PITS. COME ON UP. NOW WHAT I SAY, I SAID THE PRINCIPAL WILL BE SERVING RIGHT? AS ALWAYS ON THE REGULAR. YOU GOTTA, YOU GOTTA SQUEEZE IN. GOTTA GET THAT TURN AROUND RIGHT THERE. TURN AROUND RIGHT THERE. THERE YOU GO. MAKE SURE YOU CAN SEE YOUR FACE. THERE YOU GO. ALL RIGHT. CHEESE ON IT. LET'S CHEESE. BE SURE TO CHECK THEM OUT ON YOUTUBE. BE SURE. CHECK RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT. . THANK YOU. AND PRINCIPAL PIT JUST SHARED THE EPISODE ONE'S ACTUALLY ON THE SCHOOL WEBSITE. AND IF YOU WANT TO BE IMPRESSED BY YOUNG PEOPLE DOING INCREDIBLE THINGS RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF NORTH END OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, MAKE SURE YOU GO AHEAD AND TAP INTO ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS THESE YOUNG LADIES AND ALL OF OUR HONOREES ARE DOING. SANDY, I'M THINKING OF YOU BECAUSE LIKE YOU ALWAYS SERVE FASHION. AND THEN I JUST SAW THE YOUNG LADIES COME UP AND I WAS LIKE, IT'S GIVING LIKE ALL THE FASHION LADIES IN MY HEAD, YOU STAND OUT AND THANK YOU FOR, FOR BRINGING RAVEN AND YOUR FAMILY. THIS IS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL FOR BEING HERE. ALL RIGHT, NOW LAST AND CERTAINLY NOT LEAST AS WE BEGAN TODAY, WE TALKED ABOUT NOT ONLY THE GIRLS AND THE GENDER EXPANSIVE YOUTH WHO WE ARE CELEBRATING ON TODAY, BUT THE VILLAGE WHO MAKES THEM, WHO LIFTS THEM UP AS THEY CLIMB. SO I'M SO HONORED TO HAVE OUR VERY LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST HONOREE, NOT JUST BE AN INCREDIBLE GIRL HERSELF, BUT ALSO A GIRL MOM, A MOTHER OF EXTRAORDINARY YOUNG WOMEN WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK FROM PERSPECTIVE OF THE MOTHER DOING INCREDIBLE THINGS. AND WE, I JUST WANNA SAY THIS, AS A DAUGHTER OF A STRONG MOTHER, AS A DAUGHTER OF A STRONG GRANDMOTHER, A PRAYING GRANDMOTHER, ONE FROM BURPEES GUYANA, ONE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, UH, EARLY BRIDGE TO BE [00:40:01] SPECIFIC, I KNOW THAT AS A YOUNG WOMAN, I DON'T STAND HERE ON MY OWN. I STAND HERE ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS AND A LOT OF WOMEN'S SHOULDERS TO BE SPECIFIC. AND SO MS. JULIA LOPEZ, IF YOU WOULD DO US THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF COMING TO THE STAGE AS WE CELEBRATE YOU ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL AS A GIRL MOM, SUPREME BORN AND RAISED IN NEWARK TO A SINGLE MOTHER AND A FAMILY OF SEVEN. THAT'S RIGHT, JULIA LOPEZ LEARNED EARLY ON THE VALUE OF RESILIENCE AND HARD WORK AT 18 YEARS OLD. WHILE EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT WITH HER FIRST DAUGHTER, SHE EARNED HER GEDA MILESTONE THAT MARKED THE BEGINNING OF HER JOURNEY TOWARDS GROWTH, SELF-IMPROVEMENT, DEDICATION, EDUCATION, AND SERVICE. AT 20, SHE TOOK ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FULL CUSTODY OF HER TWO SIBLINGS WHO WERE IN THE SYSTEM. SHE GRADUATED FROM A PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM 27 YEARS AGO AND HAS SINCE DEVOTED 26 YEARS TO HER CAREER AS A THERAPIST, PASSIONATELY WORKING TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF PARENTS. WHAT'S NOT LISTED HERE, THE LIVES OF HER PARENTS, WHAT'S NOT HERE IN THE FORM OF HER PATIENTS. AND HER FORMAL BIO IS EVERYTHING SHE DOES, IN ADDITION TO HER DAY JOB FOR POURING INTO THE LIVES OF YOUNG WOMEN AND OTHER YOUNG MOTHERS. AS A MENTOR TO MOTHERS AND YOUNG WOMEN IN OUR ORGANIZATION, SHE WINS. I'VE SEEN YOU FIRSTHAND COME FROM DOUBLE SHIFTS, MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE ARE SHOWING UP FOR THESE BABIES. SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE REALLY SHOWING UP FOR THEM. AND SO THANK YOU FOR HOW YOU NOT ONLY SHOW UP FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR COMMUNITY AS A, AS A, A PHYSICAL THERAPIST, BUT ALSO FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR YOUNG WOMEN AS A MENTOR. HER COMMITMENT TO GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN HER EXPERIENCE AND SHE PROVIDES SUPPORT AND COMPANIONSHIP FOR THE ELDERLY IN NEWARK AND CONTINUES TO SHARE HER STORY TO OTHER YOUNG TEEN MOTHERS ENCOURAGING THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION JUST AS SHE DID. MS. JULIA LOPEZ'S STORY IS A TESTAMENT TO OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AND THE POWER OF GIVING BACK, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH HER ROLE AS A THERAPIST, A MENTOR OR CAREGIVER, AND CURRENTLY A GRADUATE STUDENT AS YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY TO BECOME A SOCIAL WORKER. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND EVERYONE, JULIA LOPEZ, FIX THE MICROPHONE. GOTTA PUT ON GLASSES AFTER A CERTAIN AGE. . ALRIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON, WE'RE GONNA START THERE. EVERYONE. FIRST I WANT TO THANK GOD MIA LA CARMEN, MARIA LOPEZ, MY MOTHER, CARMEN YOLANDA LOPEZ, MY TWO DAUGHTERS FOR BEING INSPIRATIONS AND MOTIVATION BEHIND SO MUCH OF WHAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN LIFE. AND I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP GRATITUDE TO COMMISSIONER A DORIAN MURRAY THOMAS FOR THIS INCREDIBLE HONOR. BEING HERE TODAY IS NOT JUST ABOUT MY JOURNEY, IT'S ABOUT THE JOURNEY OF THE WOMEN WHO CAME BEFORE ME, THE WOMEN WHO RAISED ME AND THE WOMEN I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO RAISE. I WAS RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER, BORN AND TOLD BY HA PUERTO RICO, WHO EMBODIES STRENGTH, PERSEVERANCE, AND SACRIFICE, BUT ALSO SHOWED ME WHAT IT MEANT TO BE TRULY LOVED. WHEN I THINK OF MY MAMA, ALSO THINK OF ME AELA AN HONORABLE WOMAN WHO PASSED DOWN THAT SAME SPIRIT OF DETERMINATION. MY MOTHER DIDN'T HAVE AN EASY LIFE, BUT SHE ALWAYS DID HER BEST TO PROVIDE FOR MY SIBLINGS AND I AND HER GRANDCHILDREN. THE WOMEN IN MY LIFE ARE THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING I AM TODAY. THEY TAUGHT ME THAT NO MATTER HOW HARD LIFE GET, WE DON'T BREAK, WE BEND, WE ADAPT, AND WE ALWAYS COME BACK STRONGER. THAT'S RIGHT. I LEARNED. I LEARNED THAT LIFE MAY NOT ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED. IT IS THE LOVE, STRENGTH, AND WISDOM PASSED FROM GEN FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT THAT KEEP US GOING LIKE THEM. I BECAME A TEEN MOM, WHICH BROUGHT ITS OWN SET OF CHALLENGES, BUT I NEVER GAVE UP. TODAY WHEN I LOOK AT MY DAUGHTERS, I SEE THEM LIVING THE VERY DREAMS I HAD FOR MYSELF. MY OLDEST DAUGHTER GRADUATED FROM BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE NINE YEARS AGO WORKING IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIELD. MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER IS NOW A JUNIOR AT THE PRESTIGE HBCU, XAVIER, UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA. THEY'RE LIVING PROOF OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN GENERATIONS OF WOMEN TRUST GOD, WORK HARD AND REFUSE TO GIVE UP. MY LIFE IS A TESTAMENT TO POWER OF PERSEVERANCE. ACCORDING TO STATISTICS, I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TODAY OR WHERE I AM RAISED BY MY SINGLE MOTHER. I HAD MY FIRST DAUGHTER AT 17, BUT I DIDN'T LET THAT LIMIT MY GOALS. TO ALL THE GIRLS HERE TODAY, NEVER FORGET YOU COME FROM A LONG LINE OF STRONG WOMEN AND STRENGTH LOOK DIFFERENT IN EVERY HOUSEHOLD. WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO OVERCOME ANYTHING. [00:45:01] YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW AND NO CHALLENGE IS TOO GREAT. AND TO THE MOTHERS HERE, KEEP GOING. YOU ARE BUILDING A LEGACY OF STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. AS I STAND HERE TODAY, WORKING TOWARDS ANOTHER COLLEGE DEGREE, I CARRY WITH ME THE LESSONS AND STRENGTH OF MY MOTHER, ELA, MY DAUGHTERS AND MY MENTORS. THEY HAVE SHOWN ME THAT IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO REACH FOR MORE, TO KEEP GROWING, TO ACHIEVE DREAMS YOU ONCE THOUGHT WERE IMPOSSIBLE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS HONOR. I DEDICATE THIS AWARD NOT JUST TO MY DAUGHTERS, BUT TO STRONG WOMEN WHO CAME BEFORE ME, MY MOTHER ELA, AND TO ALL THE GIRLS AND MOTHERS OUT THERE STILL WRITING THEIR OWN STORIES. I WANT TO END BY SAYING THANK YOU AGAIN AND HAPPY HIS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. CONGRATULATIONS. MY GOD. WOO. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR THAT BEAUT. YOU, YOU TOOK US HOME RIGHT THERE. OKAY, SHE SAID, I'M A MOTHER. WE GONNA, YOU GONNA GET THIS WORK AND YOU'RE GONNA HONOR THE MOTHERS WHO HAVE COME BEFORE US AS WE CELEBRATE EACH OF YOU TODAY. SO TO JULIA, MS. JULIA LOPEZ, TO IKA, TO TAKARA, TO NEVAEH, TO ULU, TO THE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM, TO THE NEWARK SCHOOL OF FASHION AND DESIGN TO OUR INCREDIBLE SPEAKERS, RAVEN AND MIRACLE, AND TO THE VILLAGE BEHIND ALL OF YOU. WE WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS. WE WANNA INVITE YOU ALL UP FOR A GROUP PHOTO. WE HAVE TO GIVE YOU ACCOMMODATIONS AS WELL AS YOUR AWARDS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, COUNCILWOMAN ROUNDTREE, YOUR VILLAGE AS WELL. YOU GUYS ARE INVITED UP. WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME PHOTOS AND LISTEN, THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL DAY WITH THE GIRL THIS YEAR. WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS NEXT YEAR AND BUILD AND BUILD AND CELEBRATE EVEN MORE OF YOU FOR ALL YOUR INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. AFTER WE TAKE THE FORMAL PHOTO WITH ALL THE HONOREES, WE'LL HAVE A FEW MINUTES. WE, UH, WE'LL HAVE A FEW MINUTES FOR FAMILIES TO COME UP HERE AND TAKE PHOTOS WITH THE HONOREES THEMSELVES, UM, ON YOUR OWN HERE IN THE SPACE. BUT WE'RE GONNA DO A FORMAL GROUP PHOTO WITH ALL OF THEM, OKAY? ALRIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES. COMMISSIONER MERCADO, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND JOINING, PLEASE. SURE. EVERYBODY LOOKING THIS WAY? EVERYBODY LOOKING THIS WAY? [00:51:59] NEXT FORWARD FOLKS, PLEASE COME OVER HERE. WE'LL GET YOU. ADAM, YOU GOT PUT THEM ON THE HOW ARE YOU? [00:56:29] WE CAN GET HI. [01:00:33] OH, OKAY. YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. THE OKAY. AND TEXT ME YOUR NAME TOO. OKAY. YEAH. ONE. NO, I'M GONNA, I'M SOMEBODY. OH YEAH, THEY BEAUTIFUL. I SAID YEAH, I THINK THEY GAVE THEM TO YOU. YEAH. UM, ISN'T THAT BEAUTIFUL HERE? UM, THAT'S [01:05:19] YOU GET YOUR AGENDA JUST A FEW, OKAY? OKAY. USUALLY I DIDN'T NEED YOU. I DIDN'T, NOT ABANDON. UH, [01:10:55] WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT'S UP? WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU? HOW DO YOU DO PAT? HOW ARE YOU BUDDY? HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. WELL, GIVE US THE MONEY BEFOREHAND SO WE COURSE YOU MISSING, YOU LEAVING YOUR QUESTIONS. I LOVE IT. I'M NOT FRANK, BUT I PLAY ONE ON TV WON'T BOTHER ME. THE IT WON'T BOTHER HUNDRED PERCENT. IT WAS THERE BEFORE LAST TIME. THAT WAS MEDIA. OKAY. I REMEMBER WHEN KYLE PUT IT IN. I, I MISSED IT, BUT I HEARD ABOUT IT. EVERYBODY WAS NO, IT AIN'T. OH YEAH. YOU NEVER, YOU NEVER WANT TO SPEAK, YOU NEVER WANT TO GO BEHIND. I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT MY FAMILY TREE. YEAH. TALK TO ME. SO THAT THING IS SERIOUS. LONG ENOUGH. TWO LIGHTS AND WHERE'S YOUR FAMILY FROM SOUTH BACK TO NORMAL AFTER WEEKEND FROM HAMPTON COUNTY. NEAR SOME IN A MEETING ON A THURSDAY. CHANGED THE WHOLE WENT TO AND THEN SHE WENT TO US. READ THIS SOME MY COUSINS. WE HERMAN'S HERE TONIGHT. I BET YOU I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU THIS. I'M IN THE FILE. YES. SO YOU GET THAT. ECIA, ECUA, SORRY. UA FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE. MM-HMM. . WELL, JOSH SITS THERE AND MARINATES IN THE BACK SEAT. . OH, HE'S EARLY. HE'S NUMBER THREE. NUMBER. [01:15:27] SO WHO IS MORRIS? MORRIS MURRAY NINE 90. HE RUNS VETERAN STAND. MORRIS MURRAY. YEAH, I'M TRYING. YOU CHECK YOUR HISTORY. OKAY, WE'RE READY WHEN YOU ARE. IT'S CRAZY. THIS MEETING OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HEREBY THIS MEETING IS BEING COMMISSION TO TAKE PLACE. YOUR MADAM DEPUTY CLARK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. COMMISSIONER GI HERE. COMMISSIONER LUCIANO. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER MERCADO. HERE. COMMISSIONER MARIE THOMAS. PRESENT. COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON. COMMISSIONER FEL. COMMISSIONER STERNS. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT. COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ. HERE, PLEASE STAND US TO THE FLAG UNDER EYES. COMMISSIONER GI, THE SALUTE I ALLEGIANCE FLAG. UNITED ONE NATION UNDER INDIVIDUAL AND JUSTICE FOR COULD ASK JUST FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR, UH, THOSE WHO WE LOST, WE LOST CAME TO YOU. THANK YOU. I HAVE BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FROM THE DEPUTY CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT. SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF TRANSCRIPTS. MADAM DEPUTY CLARK, DO WE HAVE ANY TRANSCRIPTS TO BE APPROVED? NO. MR. PRESIDENT. OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY TOPIC OR DISCUSSION? NO. MR. PRESIDENT. OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. TONIGHT'S MEETING IS A COMBINED CONFERENCE AND BOARD MEETING AND WE WILL VOTE ON EVERY AGENDA. SO IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE COME TO THE MY POINT AND STATE YOUR NAME AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. THERE WILL BE TIME LATER IN THE EVENING TO COMMENT ON ANY OTHER ITEMS I ASK YOU. PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENT AT THIS POINT TO AGENDA ITEMS. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LISA MADDOX DOUGLAS AND I AM THE PRESIDENT FOR THE PUBLIC AND BE SUPERVISORS UNION. AND WE REPRESENT MANAGERIAL SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES WITHIN DFAB. WE, UH, WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 22 AND WE ARE ACTUALLY IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS ASSERTION OF THE APPROVAL OF $317,373 TO PAY FOR OVERTIME MONIES TO PROCESS THE BACKLOG CASES THAT WE HAVE IN DIVISION OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE BENEFITS. AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, WE ARE EXPERIENCING A BACKLOG. ALTHOUGH EMPLOYEES WORK DILIGENTLY TO ALL THIS BACKLOG, WE ARE IN DIRE NEED OF THESE FUNDS. WE'RE IN DIRE NEED OF ADDITIONAL STAFF. WE ARE WORKING MINISTRY TO ENSURE THAT THEY PUT OUT THE NECESSARY REQUESTS FOR CERTIFICATIONS. SO WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH THAT. UH, FOR FAMILY SERVICE WORKERS, WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU APPROVE THIS AND RECEIVE THE NOTIFICATION HUMAN RESOURCES THAT THEY ARE INDEED ALONGSIDE DA TO ENSURE THAT THIS PATIENT IS DONE IN A TIMELY FASHION. WE ARE ALSO WAITING FOR THE COUNTY TO REQUEST CERTIFICATIONS FOR PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. ALSO AS RETIREMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS DFAB REQUESTED AND DID $2 MILLION IN 2024 BACK IN JANUARY. BUT WE AREN'T AGGRESSIVELY MOVING TO ENSURE THESE VACANCIES ARE REMEDIATED. AND AS YOU KNOW, YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE WITH FOOD, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND OF COURSE HOUSING. AS A RESULT OF THE STAFFING SHORTAGES. THIS HAS BECOME A REAL PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF NEWARK. ALL WE APPRECIATE THIS INSERTION. WE BELIEVE THAT THE COUNTY WOULD SAVE MORE MONEY BY SIMPLY SHOWING [01:20:01] THAT THE DIVISION IS APPROPRIATELY STAFFED. AND AS THE MONIES ARE DISPERSED, PLEASE RECALL THAT WE MEANING DFAB ALSO RECEIVED SNAP AMERICAN RESCUE ACT MONIES AND ALSO SPECIAL ARC OF FUNDINGS. IN THE PAST, I BELIEVE IT WAS CLOSE TO ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS OR SO, AND WE'RE STILL DEFICIENT IN STAFF. WE HOPEFULLY EXERCISE PRUDENCE OVER THIS MONEY AND RESPONSIBLE OVERSIGHT WHILE MEDIATING THE BACKLOG. AS I CLOSE, I WILL BE REMISS IN STATING THAT I ALSO IMPLORE AND ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE COMMISSIONERS TO ENCOURAGE THE COUNTY TO SIT DOWN WITH THE UNIONS TO BEGIN AND IN SOME SOME CASES, RESUME NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNIONS TO ENSURE THAT OUR MEMBERS RECEIVE A FAIR CONTRACT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MS. JACKSON. GOOD EVENING. HOW'S EVERYBODY? GOOD. THANK YOU. I WANNA SUPPORT MS TESTIMONY. JUST DON'T FORGET TO PUT YOUR NAME. OH, I'M DONNA JACKSON, NORTH RESIDENT. I'LL SUPPORT MS. MADDOX'S TESTIMONY. UM, YES, THE OVERTIME IS NEEDED. HOWEVER, YOU GUYS ARE DOING A HORRIBLE JOB OF MONITORING WHAT IS GOING ON HAS BEEN GOING ON. UM, WE NEED A COMPLETE INVESTIGATION INTO DFA AS TO WHAT HAPPENED DURING COVID WHEN WE ORDERED 400 LAPTOPS AND 400 TELEPHONES FOR STAFF DETAINED AND NONE OF THEM WERE EVER TURN ON EVER. ESSEX COUNTY HAD A ALMOST TWO YEAR BACKLOG. THAT IS NOT MUCH BETTER AT THIS POINT. WE HAVE THE LOWEST NUMBER OF EA CLIENTS AT ESSEX COUNTY RIGHT NOW. NOW, AS I SAT IN LANDLORD TENANT COURT YESTERDAY, OUR APPROACHING 700,000 LANDLORD TENANT EVICTION CASES AND YOU GUYS ARE SITTING HERE, IT'S NOT HAPPENING. WE ARE PUTTING FAMILIES OUT EVERY DAY. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST NEWARK. WE HAVE THE HEAVIEST CASE LOAD. NOW YOU'RE SEEING EVEN MORE FROM EAST ORANGE IRVINGTON, MONT. 'CAUSE I'M THERE. I WENT TO COURT ON TUESDAY TO HELP FOUR CLIENTS. I ENDED UP SERVICING 79 AND I DO NOT WORK FOR A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION. I DO NOT GET PAID DO THAT. BUT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY IN THIS COUNTY, K MONEY COMING IN FOR NAVIGATORS IN THAT COURT SYSTEM, THEY'RE NOT THERE. THERE'S BE ADVOCATES THERE ADVOCATING FOR THEY'RE NOT THERE. TENANTS IN THERE. LEGAL SERVICES, UH, ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL SERVICES, SEATON HALL, RUTGERS. THEY ARE DOING NOTHING TO HELP THESE TENANTS. TENANTS ARE WALKING INTO HEARINGS AND GOING IN FRONT OF THE JUDGES WITH NOBODY. AND IF YOU GUYS DON'T KNOW THAT, YOU NEED TO GET OFF YOUR DUFFS AND GET, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. PEOPLE ARE GETTING PUT IN THE STREET. I HAD 102 YEAR OLD, WHICH CAUSED ME TO GET PUT OUT OF THE COURT. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. LIVING IN THE UNIT FOR 65 YEARS AND THE LION LANDLORD, LLC BOYS AND Y'ALL KNOW WHO THEY ARE. THIS WOMAN DIDN'T PAY RENT IN TWO YEARS. SHE HAD ALL OF HER RECEIPTS IN HER LITTLE PULL BAG FROM 1975 TO TODAY. AND THE JUDGE STILL RULED WITH THE LANDLORD, DESPITE THE FACT FOR PROOF TO HAVE THIS CONVICTED AND SHE'S NOT THE FIRST ELDER AND SHE WON'T BE THE LAST 30 SECONDS. RESERVOIR NUMBER 64 CITIZEN SERVICES. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. YOU GUYS ALLOCATE MONEY FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN AND THEY'RE NOT HAPPENING. YOU GUYS HAVE THIS MEETING SO EARLY. I CAN'T GET THE CLIENTS WHO CAN'T GET THEIR FOOD STAMPS AND CAN'T GET THE EMERGENCY SYSTEM ASSISTANCE BEFORE SIX O'CLOCK. YOU GUYS HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. YOU NEED TO SEE WHAT THE CASES LOOK LIKE. TIME, WHY WE HAVE SO LOW AMOUNT OF YRA PAYMENTS AND THAT'S RENTAL ASSISTANCE. THE HOMELESSNESS IN ESTES COUNTY IS OUTTA CONTROL. THANK YOU MR. JUDGE. OKAY. MADAM DEPUTY COURT LET REFLECT. THERE'S NO ONE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME. LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE OF INTRODUCTIONS. READING. DO WE HAVE ANY? NO. MR. PRESIDENT? WE DO NOT. OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTIONS FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY? NO. MR. PRESIDENT. AND DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTIONS? SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT? NO, MR. PRESIDENT. OKAY. SO LET'S MOVE ON TO RESIDENT NUMBER MR. THE ESSEX COUNTY AUTHORITY, WHICH WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT LAY TIME. MR. JACKSON? GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UM, MR. HERMAN WILL, ELMER HERMAN WILL ADDRESS THIS ITEM. [01:25:06] JUST, UH, STATE RIGHT BEHIND YOU. HONOR YOU JUST BUSTED. THANKS. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD. GOOD EVENING. ELMER HERMAN, UH, ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ESSEX UTIL AUTHORITY. UH, THIS IS AN APPLICATION BEFORE THE BOARD IN CONNECTION WITH THE ESSEX K, UH, PLAN TO REQUEST THAT THERE BEING INCLUSION TO THAT PLAN OF THE, UH, COMPANY WHICH IS OWNED AS URBAN RENEWAL, UH, AS A CLASS B RECYCLING FACILITY. UH, THIS WAS A MATTER THAT WAS FIRST HURT BY THE SWAC WAS, OR WASTE ADVISORY, UH, SOME MONTHS. UH, AND, UH, AFTER TO SWAC, THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION THAT THE PLAN BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE THIS FACILITY. IT THEN CAME TO THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY WHO RECEIVED ANOTHER PRESENTATION, UH, AND, UH, APPROVED THE APPLICATION ALSO. AND NOW THE MATTER IS BEFORE THIS BOARD. UH, IT'S, IT'S AN APPLICATION FOR A PARTICULAR, UH, UH, TIRE FACILITY, UH, AT ONE OH OH DASH 1 0 8 COY STREET, UH, IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY. AND, UH, I THINK THE BEST THING FOR ME TO DO THAT IS A HIGHLY INDUSTRIAL AREA. IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO ROUTE 78. UH, I THINK THE BEST THING FOR ME TO DO, UH, WITH RESPECT TO THIS FACILITY, IF I CAN KNOW MICHAEL , UH, IS TO READ A LETTER OF MAYOR TONY, UH, WHO SENT A LETTER TO THE ESSEX COUNTY UTILITIES AUTHORITY ABOUT THE RECYCLING FACILITY AT THE PROPOSED CYCLING FACILITY AT 1 0 0 1 STREET. AND IT SAYS, DEAR ESS COUNTY UTILITIES AUTHORITY, IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT URBAN RENEWAL, LLC WILL BE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION, UH, FOR THE ESSEX COUNTY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN, COUNTY PLAN INCLUSION FOR THE PROPOSED TIRE HIKING FACILITY. AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT A PROBLEM TIRES EVERY PLACE. UH, THIS IS A, A TYPE THING WHICH WE THINK MOST BENEFICIAL TO THE COUNTY AND TO THE TOWNS, UH, THAT'S AROUND THIS PARTICULAR AREA. UH, IN ANY EVENT, AS THE MAYOR GOES FORWARD, HE STATES, UH, THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSED FACILITY IS TO COLLECT AND PROCESS USE TIRES AND SUB SUBSEQUENTLY SEND THE, THE PRO PROCESS MATERIAL TO THE END MARKET. UH, AFTER THESE TIRES ARE PROCESSED, THEY CAN BE USED FOR BASKETBALL COURTS, UH, SPORTING EVENTS, TENNIS COURTS, UH, SURFACES. UM, THE, UH, HE MENTIONS IN PASSING. ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR IS THAT THE, UH, EN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, UH, REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET, UH, AT THIS TIME, WHICH WAS ADVISED BY THE DEP. AND HE FINALLY, UH, ENDS BY SAYING, PLEASE ACCEPT THIS LETTER OF CONFIRMATION INDICATING THAT THE TOWNSHIP OF ARRINGTON FULLY ENDORSES THE PORTS URBAN RENEWAL LL PRIOR TO PURSUE PERMITTING, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATING ENTIRE RECYCLING AND PROCESSING FACILITY AT THE ABOVE CAPTURE ADDRESS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP. IRVINGTON , TONY VOSS, MAYOR. THANK YOU MR. PARLOVE. ANY QUESTIONS? I, I DO. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. HERMAN. IT'S GOOD TO SEE THANK, UH, TONIGHT I, FIRST I DO AGREE THAT, UH, RECYCLING FACILITIES ARE IMPORTANT AND IT'S A PRETTY SPECIFIC AREA OF RECYCLING THAT NOT JUST ANYBODY CAN, CAN DO THE TIRES. MY QUESTION IS, HOW WILL THE TIRES GET TO THIS SITE? AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, WILL THEY BE TRUCKED IN? YES. OKAY. WE, WE'VE RECEIVED, UH, [01:30:01] INDICATIONS THAT AS PART AND PARCEL PROPOSAL IS THAT THEY WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE FACILITY IN CLOSED, IN PROCESSED AT THE FACILITY, WHICH IS, WILL BE IN ANOTHER CLOSING FACILITY WITH THE PROPER, UH, AIR, AIR, ET CETERA, AND THEN MOVED FROM THE FACILITY IN THE SAME MANNER. OKAY. AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP, DID SW OR DEP OR ANYBODY ELSE COMMENT OR LOOK INTO TRAFFIC CONCERNS THAT THIS MIGHT YES. YES. YES. OF WHAT? FIRST OF ALL, OF ALL THE, THE FACILITY ITSELF BACKS RIGHT UP ON TO ROUTE 78 AND WE HAVE THE MAPS, THE WESTLEY 78 AND THE EASTERLY 70, WHICH ARE THE APPROPRIATE VEHICLES FOR THESE, THE APPROPRIATE EXITS FOR THESE VEHICLE AND GO RIGHT INTO THAT FACILITY. OKAY. SO IT LOOKS, THERE'S NO WAY ANY LOCAL RESIDENTIAL STREETS WOULD BE IMPACTED BASED ON THE, THE, UH, INFORMATION WE'VE RECEIVED. THAT WAS MY QUESTION, WHETHER OR NOT THIS WOULD HAVE TRUCK TRAFFIC GOING THROUGH RESIDENTIAL STREETS. BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT. NO. OKAY. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS. COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE. DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE? I'LL MOVE IT. MOVE BY COMMISSIONER SECOND BY ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR NUMBER ONE. COMMISSIONER GILL? YES. COMMISSIONER LUCIANO. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES. COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS? YES. COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES. COMMISSIONER SEABOLD? YES. COMMISSIONER SERMONS? ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT POIS? YES. SO MOVED. THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE. OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OFFICE AND COMMISSIONER OF REGISTRATION, WHICH WILL BE READ BACK AT A LATER TIME. MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU MR. VINCENTI WILL HANDLE ITEM. GOOD EVENING. GOOD, SIR. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONER. EXCUSE ME. GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT. MY NAME IS MICHAEL VINCENTI. I'M THE CREDENTIAL AIDE. PATRICIA SPANO, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTIONS. I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS REGARDING AWARD TWO EASY VOTE SOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE OUR ASSET TRACKING SOFTWARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES AND EXERCISE OUR 24 MONTH CONTRACT EXTENSION FROM 2024 THROUGH OCTOBER 18TH, 2026, NOT TO EXCEED $106,875. MR. PARVA COULD HAVE QUESTIONS. UH, JUST A QUICK QUESTION. UH, MR. VICENTE, I SEE THIS OBVIOUSLY AS AN A CON EXTENSION. SO YOU'VE USED THIS A VENDOR BEFORE. ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICES THEY'RE PROVIDING? I'M SORRY WE DIDN'T USE VENDOR BEFORE. I MEAN, WE HAVE BEEN USING THE VENDOR FOR THE PAST YEAR. YES. SO THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. WE ARE SATISFIED RIGHT NOW. I APOLOGIZE. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THEIR SORT SERVICES ARE GOOD. THE, UH, THE HANDHELD, UH, IS WORKING WELL AND, UM, WE HAVE NO ISSUES AT THIS TIME. OKAY. MR. MCINERNEY? YEAH, JUST, JUST A LITTLE MORE FUNDAMENTALS ABOUT THE CONTRACT ITSELF. ASSET TRACKING. CAN YOU EXPLAIN JUST WHAT ASSETS THEY ARE TRACKING? UH, RIGHT NOW? VOTING MACHINES, ELECTRONIC POLL BOOKS, UM, AND SEALS ON THE VOTING MACHINES. THEY TRACK THEM VIA, UH, BARCODE. UH, WE'RE LOOKING BA UH, AT MAYBE DOING RFID TECHNOLOGY IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE'RE SEEING THAT WE REALLY DON'T NEED THAT. THE BARCODE'S SUFFICIENT. I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT. THAT'S OKAY. WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND TO THE SUPPLIES, ANYTHING THAT HAS A BARCODE ON IT. SO FOR THE FIRST YEAR, WE'RE CONCENTRATING ON THE ELECTION MACHINES, LET'S CALL THEM. UH, AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'D LIKE TO GO INTO OUR SUPPLIES SO WE CAN START, UH, BEING, UH, MORE COST CONSCIOUS AND MORE EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF OUR PURCHASING OF SIZE AND ALSO THE MAINTENANCE OF THE MACHINES THEMSELVES, TRACKING OUR STAFF ON GROUND, HOW OFTEN THESE MACHINES HAVE TO GET, UH, MAINTAINED. OKAY. AND IS THERE ANY, UH, RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND BACKUP OF ANY, UH, INFORMATION ON, UH, RELEVANT SOFTWARE OR, OR, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, ANY INFORMATION HAS TO BE BACKED UP ON, ON ANY, YOU KNOW, COMPUTERS OR, OR, OR ANY OTHER DEVICES? UM, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. UH, BUT NO, I GUESS I COULD SAY THAT MACHINES ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET. OKAY. A HANDHELD SCANNER, [01:35:01] SCANS A BARCODE, SENDS A SIGNAL WIFI SOFTWARE ON OUR DESKTOP COMPUTERS. AND THAT INFORMATION IS SIMPLY, THIS IS THE VOTING MACHINE. IT'S LEFT THE BUILDING OR IT'S COME BACK INTO THE BUILDING, OR IT'S BEEN MAINTAINED BY MR. VINCENTI ON THIS DAY. AND THAT INFORMATION IS STORED ON OUR, UH, WAREHOUSE NETWORK, UH, WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE BY ALL THE DESKTOP COMPUTERS AT THE WAREHOUSE ONLY. BUT AGAIN, UH, NO SENSITIVE INFORMATION REGARDING THE MACHINES GO OUT TO THE INTERNET OR ANYWHERE OUTSIDE OF THE WAREHOUSE. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY WELL EXPLAINED. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE. DO I HAVE A MOVER MOVE BY RICHARDSON? I'LL SECOND. SECOND BY MERCADO. ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY FOR NUMBER TWO. COMMISSIONER GALE? YES. COMMISSIONER LUCIANO. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES. COMMISSIONER MURRAY? YES. COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON. YES. COMMISSIONER SIEBOLD? YES. COMMISSIONER SERMONS. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER POIS? YES. SO MOVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CAN I MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS THREE THROUGH SIX AND STARTED NUMBER SIX, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS. WE'LL BE RIGHT INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME. AND MUCH TO DISMAY COMMISSIONER, HERE'S MR. ZAS , SOME KIND OF MISTAKE. JOSHUA ZAS. THAT'S COUNTY PARKS. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT FOR RETURNING ME TO MY RIGHTFUL PLACE AMONG THE, UH, TOP OF THE AGENDA. UH, NUMBER THREE IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO ANCHOR OPERATING SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE SALES SYSTEM FOR THE ES COUNTY TURTLEBACK ZOO, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, THE ES COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER. 36 MONTH CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $334,000. WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE ANCHOR HERE. IS THERE ANY, UH, LOGISTICAL QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE? GOOD EVENING. JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING SHOULD THIS CONTRACT MOVE FORWARD? GOOD EVENING. UH, MY NAME IS ROBERT MILLER AND, UH, I'M THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT FOR ANCHOR OPERATING SYSTEMS. ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS MAY HAVE ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD BE DOING EXACTLY? OH, SORRY. YES, I AM, UH, AS A SUPPORT, UH, DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SUPPORT, UH, POST LAUNCH ON OUR SYSTEM. UH, I WILL SUPPORT THE, THE ZOO ON ANY ISSUES OR TROUBLESHOOTING OR TRAIN THAT THEY, UM, LOCAL SO THAT I WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR ANYTHING LIKE ONSITE AS WELL. UH, TO HELP WITH THE, THE ONBOARDING. ARE YOU, US X COUNTY BASED. UH, I AM IN JERSEY CITY. THAT'S MY BIRTHPLACE. I'LL NOT, I WON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST YOU. . THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. UH, MR. UH, PARLOVE, ANY QUESTIONS? VENDOR? IT'S NOT REALLY FOR THE VENDOR. JOSH, IS THE ZOO A CASHLESS FACILITY OR CAN YOU STILL JOSH SUSA COUNTY PARK ZOO DOES ACCEPT CAST. THE ONLY CASTLESS FACILITY WE CURRENTLY HAVE IS THE PARK AND RIDE ALONG NORTHFIELD AVENUE. OKAY. THANK YOU MR. MCINERNEY. ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS FOR THE VENDOR? QUESTIONS? NO. COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE VENDOR? FROM OVER. WE'RE HERE. ALL THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT, JOSH, LET'S JOSHUA ZAS COUNTY PARK NUMBER FOUR IS A CONTRACT AWARD DOWN TO EARTH FARMS TO PROVIDE PICKUP AND REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF ANIMAL WASTE OVER AT THE S COUNTY TURTLEBACK ZOO. THIS IS A 24 MONTH OPTION NOT TO EXCEED $202,176,000, UH, OF THIS CONTRACT, UH, 67,392 IS FIXED. THAT'S CALCULATED AT, UH, $648 PER PICKUP TIMES 52 PICKUPS A YEAR. AND OBVIOUSLY, UH, OVER THE TWO YEAR PERIOD, UH, THE ADDITIONAL PORTION OF THE CONTRACT IS AS NEEDED. UM, IT WOULD BE FROM, WE HAVE EXCESS WASTE IN PARTICULAR, UH, WEEKS. WE CAN, UH, HAVE THE COMPANY COME OUT AND, UH, CLEAN THAT UP FOR US. NUMBER FIVE, A CONTRACT AWARD TO URBANA GREENS, THE SOLE RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIVE, UH, REVENUE GENERATING BIDDER TO PROVIDE A HYDROPONIC FARMER TRAINER FOR URBAN FARM AT BRANCH BROOK PARK, UH, OVER FIRST OF THIS YEAR THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2020. REVENUE IN THE AMOUNT OF $281 800, 280 $1,807 AND 64 CENTS. UH, THE PREVIOUS VENDOR WAS RADICAL FARM, WHO HAD THE CONTRACT FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS. MIGHT'VE BEEN A LITTLE LONGER THAN THAT, OR BONO FARM IS, UM, MOSTLY WITH, UH, RADICAL, RADICAL NO LONGER, UH, SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL. UH, SO THEN URBANA, UH, WANTS TO MOVE IN SPECIFICALLY FOR THE FIRST YEAR, 42 50 A MONTH, SECOND YEAR, 44, 62, 50 A MONTH, THIRD YEAR, 46, 85, 63 [01:40:01] A MONTH. THEN, UH, THE NEXT YEAR, 49, 19 92. AND THEN FINALLY 51, 65, 92 PER MONTH. UH, THEY BASICALLY GREENHOUSE WHERE THEY, UH, GROW, UH, VARIOUS AND, UH, WHOLESALE IT TO RESTAURANTS, UH, AND, UH, SUPERMARKETS IS A AGREEMENT. BROUGHT ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES OF THE COMPLEX TO LISA LOU. AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $35,000. SPECIFICALLY. THIS IS FOR OUR HALLOWEEN EVENT ON OCTOBER 31ST. AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, IT WOULD COVER ENTERTAINMENT FOR OUR HOLIDAY, WHICH, UH, WILL RUN, UH, RIGHT AFTER THANKSGIVING UP UNTIL THE NEW YEAR. UH, NUMBER 66, UH, I TOLD TO BE TO COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THAT ONE. GOOD EVENING. IT'S A YOU TO JOIN US. OH, , COME ON. SHOULD I STAY HERE? YOU CAN STAY THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S FINE. UH, NUMBER SIX. SIX IS WHAT SOME OF US HAVE DISCUSSED. PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION. YES, THANK YOU. VERY HAPPY TO WITH YOU. UH, A LICENSE BETWEEN THE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE, WHICH IS A BRAND NEW LEAGUE FOR USE AT THE CODY ARENA AS A FACILITY. MANY OF YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE DEVIL, THEIR PRACTICE FACILITY AT THE CODY ARENA, UH, THEY HAD A LOCKER ROOM THERE. UH, THAT WAS YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AGO. PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE GONNA TEAM THE NEW JERSEY, THE NEW YORK SIRENS, UNFORTUNATELY AT, UH, AND THEY'LL BE PLAYING OUT OF THE PRUDENTIAL CENTER. UH, THEY WILL, UM, BE USING THE CODY ARENAS PRACTICE FACILITY. THEY WILL UPGRADE THE, THE OLD DEVIL'S LOCKER ROOM INTO THE NEW, UH, PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY LOCKER ROOM. AND THEY WOULD USE THAT, UH, AS A PRACTICE FACILITY, EXERCISE FACILITY, TEAM FACILITY, COACHING FACILITY. AND WE WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO BE CONNECTED WITH ONE OF, NOW THE ORIGINAL SIX HOCKEY TEAMS IN THE WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE. OH. UH, WE'VE HAD EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COACH, WITH MANAGEMENT, WITH, WITH, UH, THEIR ATTORNEY, WITH SOME OF THEIR PLAYERS. AND, UH, I, I'M ENTHUSIASTIC, AS YOU CAN ASIDE, THE FACT THAT WE'RE USING A, WE'RE BEING ABLE TO PUT, TO USE A FELLOW PIECE OF THAT HASN'T BEEN FOR SIDE, THAT'S ALL ON . THEY HAVE THEIR OWN COVERAGE. YES. UH, YES. GOT ANOTHER GOOD QUESTION. STANDARD COVERAGE, FACILITIES, INSURANCE POLICIES THAT WE INSIST ON ANYTIME WE DO BUSINESS WITH ANYONE ARE THE PACKAGE AND IN THE AGREEMENT WITH THE, UH, PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY THAT'S ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO THEM. THEY'VE ALREADY SIGNED OFF ON IT AND THEY HAVE TO ADD THE, THE BEST AS AN ADDITIONAL INSURED. OKAY. THANK YOU. EXCELLENT. SOUNDS GOOD. COMMISSIONER SIEBOLD. JOSH, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT NUMBER FIVE. I, UH, I, I'M SORRY. YOU KNOW, GO AHEAD. EXCUSE ME, COMMISSIONER. UH, I SHOULD ADD ONE MORE. WE'VE MADE A COMMITMENT, WE A COMMIT. I DID THE DOCUMENTS AND, AND I THINK I CAN PROBABLY COUNT ON YOU. WE'LL TRY TO HELP THIS TEAM GO OFF THE GROUND WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY HAVE, UH, WHEN THEY GO AND HAVE PUBLICITY, I, I BE PART OF IT AND I KNOW THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO BE PART OF IT. AND, UH, IT, IT'S A GOOD THING FOR WOMEN'S SPORTS AND IT'S GOOD THINGS, COUNTY. SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU WHEN THE APPROPRIATE TIME COMES, IF YOU WOULD BE PART OF, OF ABSOLUTELY. PART OF THE, I THINK YOU'LL GET NO ARGUMENT. EXCUSE ME. I THINK YOU'LL GET NO ARGUMENT FROM US. WE'LL LOOK TO THAT, PLEASE. ALRIGHT, JOSH, BACK TO NUMBER FIVE. YOU AND CORRECT THAT FORMER, UH, VENDOR WAS THERE FOR 10 YEARS IS CORRECT. JOSHUA SECURITY. IT WAS AT LEAST 10 YEARS. IT MIGHT'VE BEEN A LITTLE LONGER. WELL, WHY ARE THEY NOT CONTINUING? THEY DIDN'T GIVE A GOOD, UH, UH, THEY DIDN'T GIVE A GOOD PRICE THAT WITH THEM. UM, AND ALL WE KNOW IS WHEN WE PUT [01:45:01] IT OUT ON ARTICLE, DID NOT SUBMIT THE PROPOSAL. SO THEY, THEY GAVE THE BEST, THEY GAVE THE BEST BID PERSON BAN WAS THE ONLY, UM, THE ONLY PROPOSAL WE RECEIVED. OH, SO THE COMPANY THAT'S DOING IT DIDN'T PROPOSE? CORRECT. BUT I AM TOLD THAT, UM, URBANA, SINCE THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH RADICAL, THEY ARE KEEPING THEM . THANK YOU. MM-HMM. MR. PRESIDENT, UH, I DID SEE MR. POULTRY, UH, JULIUS POULTRY PURCHASING. I DID SPEAK WITH THE FORMER VETERAN. UH, HE'S PHASING OUT AND HE IS RETIRING. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION. THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR. AT LEAST THE EMPLOYEES FOR THE MOST PART ARE BEING RETAINED. THANKS, BISHOP. DOES ANY QUESTIONS? THREE SIX. COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS, 66 AS WELL. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. UM, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE, ESPECIALLY ON THE WOMEN'S TEAM, THE SIRENS. I THINK THAT'S REALLY EXCITING, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING WE HAVE SO MANY YOUNG HERE IN WHO ARE INVOLVED IN ICE HOCKEY. AND IT'LL BE GREAT TO SEE IF THERE COULD BE SOME COORDINATION BETWEEN SOME OF OUR TEAMS. THEY'RE HERE AT THE COUNTY SCHOOLS OR THE SCHOOL AND OUR MUNICIPALITIES TO MAYBE MEET THE TEAM, SUPPORT THEIR GAMES. AND IT SEEMS LIKE OBVIOUSLY THERE'S, UM, A LOT OF SUPPORT WITHIN THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND EVEN FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITIES WHO WANT. SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT ESSEX COUNTY IS A PART OF THIS HISTORIC MOMENT AND, UH, DRIVING FORWARD. AND, UM, I TRY TO ICE SKATE DOWN AT THE, IN THE NECK AT THE LITTLE, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY STILL HAVE THAT AS A SKATING RINK ANYMORE. THEY SURE DO. OH, THEY DO. THEY DO. THEY DO. YEAH. I SAW IT A COUPLE YEARS AGO. THEY RENOVATED, THEY SHUT IT DOWN FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND THEY, UH, BUT ANYWAY, SO THAT'S WHY I TRY TO ICE SKATE. BUT I LOVE THAT SO MANY OF OUR YOUNG WOMEN ARE STILL REALLY INVOLVED IN SPORT AND GLAD TO SEE IT COMING HERE TO ASK THEM THIS WAY. THANK YOU. I'VE GOTTA ASSUME. COMMISSIONER SEBEL, YOU WANT MOVE THESE? YES. OKAY. SECOND. SORRY. MOVE BY. COMMISSIONER MERCADO, BEFORE WE CALL THE ROLL, JOSH, WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT INCUMBENT ON YOU TO PERFORM WITH ALL THE HOCKEY AND PLEASE PASS ON THE WORD THAT WE EXPECT TO BE IN INVITE TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP. 'CAUSE WE HAVE NO, BECAUSE THEY HAIL FROM AROUND HERE. THEY'RE GONNA MAKE CHAMPIONSHIP. JULIE NOTE. I HOPE, I HOPE THEY HAVE A, UH, A REALLY NICE A CELEBRATORY DINNER. SO, POINT ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLARK, EXCEPT FOR THREE TO SIX 60. COMMISSIONER? YES. COMMISSIONER LUCIANO AB ABSENT. COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES. COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS. YES. COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON. YES. COMM COMMISSIONER SE? YES. COMMISSIONER HERMAN'S. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, VICE ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT EZ. SO MOVED. I CAN REFLECT THIS. 5 37. AND JOSH IS DONE. JOSH ZAS IS LEAVING. MR. RICHARDSON? MM-HMM? . . ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION SEVEN THROUGH 11, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. WE'LL BE READY INTO A LATER TIME. MR. JACKSON? I'M ASSUMING MR. ANTONIO WILL HANDLE THESE. YOU ARE CORRECT. UH, GOOD EVENING. DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. ITEM NUMBER, PORT OXFORD ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS, A TRUE CONTRACT TO PROVIDE ELECTRICAL IMPROVEMENTS ON AN ASNE BASIS OF VARIOUS COUNTY BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES IN AN AMOUNT ELECTRIC SEAT. $722,400. THIS SERVICE SHOULD BE PROVIDED. OUR ELECTRICAL SERVICES WILL ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO RESPOND TO THE NEED TO TAKE ELECTRICAL REPAIRS, FAMILY MANNER AS THE NEEDS ARISE. ASK FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS. SUBMIT THE LOWEST OF THE SIX BIDS RECEIVED. DIMITRI NIKKO OF OXFORD ELECTRICAL SERVICES IS HERE. HE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY, PERHAPS ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, SUPPORT ME. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATE FOR THE RECORD AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR, THE CONTRACT AND WHAT YOUR COMPANY'S ALL ABOUT. UH, THANK YOU. MY NAME IS DMITRI URA. I'M WITH OXFORD ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. COMMISSIONERS. UH, WE ARE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING COMPANY. WE'VE HAD, UM, A FEW ESSEX COUNTY ELECTRICAL CONTRACTS IN THE PAST, SO WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE MANAGERS AND WORKED IN MULTIPLE BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE ESSEX COUNTY. UM, UH, CURRENTLY FINISHING THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT HAD WITH ESSEX COUNTY. UH, YOU ANY KIND OF WORK THAT'S SWAT OF US STARTING FROM LIGHTING TO INSTALLING ELECTRICAL LES UH, OUTDOOR LIGHTING, UH, POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS. UM, UM, THE MOST RECENT PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DOING, UH, STARTING NEXT WEEK IS WE'RE INSTALLING RECEPTACLES FOR A A TV SYSTEM IN THE ESSEX COUNTY HOSPITAL. UM, UM, UH, IF THERE, THANK [01:50:01] YOU DAVID. IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK ME, UH, MR. BECK, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE VENDOR? I DON'T HAVE ANY MR. MACKIN. NO QUESTIONS. COMMISSIONER, DOES ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE JURY? COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES. UH, WHERE'S YOUR COMPANY LOCATED? IN HACKETTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY, SIR. HACKETTSTOWN. SO YOU'VE HAD SEVERAL, UH, CONTRACT WITH ESTES COUNTY. DO YOU EMPLOY ANY SIX COUNTY RESIDENCE? SO AT TIME WE'RE CURRENTLY HIRING AND WE, BECAUSE WE DO SO MUCH WORK HERE, WE ALSO HAVE THE CONTRACT FOR NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. WE ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE AREA. 'CAUSE THAT WOULD HELP US OUT A LOT. ADDITIONALLY, OUR FOREMAN IS THINKING OF RELOCATING INTO THE NEW YORK AREA ALSO. SO, ANSWER TO MY QUESTION IS NOT AT THIS TIME, SIR. UM, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT ALL LOOKING, THANK YOU. COULD YOU EXPLAIN, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE DOING AT THE HOSPITAL CENTER? UH, IN THE HOSPITAL CENTER WE ARE INSTALLING, UH, FOUR RECEPTACLES. SO REGULAR THAT YOU PLUG THINGS IN ON A WALL, UM, UH, FOR A NEW TV DISPLAY SYSTEM. SO WE'RE GONNA INSTALL FOUR RECEPTACLES, AND THEN A COMPANY THAT INSTALLED MONITORS IS GONNA COME IN AND USE OUR RECEPTACLES TO POWER UP THEIR DISPLAY. IT'S NEEDED AT THE HOSPITAL CENTER. I I'M NOT TOO FAMILIAR WITH THE DETAILS OF THE, UH, MONITOR SYSTEM OR NEEDS ARE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST, WE'RE THERE TO PROVIDE THE POWER REQUIREMENTS FOR IT. UH, FRANK IS OUR, UM, MANAGER THERE IS OUR COMPANY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. MR. JACKSON. OUT OF THE FACT THAT THE VENDOR MAY BE DOING A LOT MORE WORK IN THIS COUNTY AND IS LOOKING FOR EMPLOYEES, IS THERE ANY OUTLET THAT WE CAN STRONGLY COMMEND FOR HIM TO GO WITHIN ESSEX COUNTY TO FIND LOCAL EMPLOYEES OR, UH, ANY OTHER SERVICES, OUTFITS THAT MAY BE TO OUR COMMUNITY? I WILL ASK MR. ANTONIO TO PUT HIM IN TOUCH WITH, UH, DIRECTOR, UH, GREEN, UH, RICHARDSON GREEN, UH, DTD AND I THINK MAY BE ABLE TO FIND SOME PRESIDENT. REACH OUT TO, DON'T WE HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS OUTFIT? YES, SIR. AND I THINK THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR OUT 430 SIDE CONTRACTORS. SO MAYBE YOU CAN FIND AT LEAST ONE EMPLOYEE OUT OF ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WE SIGNED UP. SO I, I WILL HAVE THOSE FOLKS GET IN TOUCH WITH, UH, SO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? UH, YES SIR. WE'LL, WE'LL DEFINITELY, UH, HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH, UH, DIMITRI. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY HELP. MUCH APPRECIATED. COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS. I JUST ADD THAT IN THAT KIND OF WORK, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS HERE IN COUNTY THAT ALSO ARE HELPING BUILD NEW PIPELINES. PEOPLE WHO CAN GO INTO VARIOUS CAREERS INCLUDING ELECTRIC. AND SO MR. JACKSON, IF THERE COULD BE SOME CONNECTION TO, UM, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THROUGH OUR SCHOOLS, EITHER THROUGH DR. PETERSON OR EVEN IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY KIND OF LEARNING THIS WORK OR INTERESTED IN IT, EXPOSED TO THIS LEAD, UH, BENEFICIAL CAREER. AND THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WE ARE PART OF THE APPRENTICE, UH, WORK. SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN APPRENTICE, THE FINISHING HIS PROGRAM, UH, 2025. SO WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR NEW APPRENTICE AND THAT WOULD BE PERFECT. YOU, MR. SO YOU APPRENTICES FROM WHERE ARE YOU A UNION OUTFIT? WE'RE NOT A UNION OUTFIT. NO, SIR. SO WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING FOR YOUR APPRENTICES THAT THEY'RE COMING FROM? UH, WELL WHAT APPRENTICE OUTFIT? WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? SO, SO WE ARE PART OF THE, UH, I BELIEVE, UM, A LITTLE BIT HA ON THE DETAILS, BUT WE, WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WHERE WE HAVE CURRICULUM THAT WE SEND OUR APPRENTICES NIGHT SCHOOL AND ALSO PROVIDE WORKING HOURS WITH PROPER SUPER INFO THEM. UM, I BELIEVE EVERY PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTOR IN NEW JERSEY HAS TO BE EITHER PART OF THAT PROGRAM OR PAY SOMEBODY, UH, FOR ANOTHER PROGRAM TO SUPPORT IT. UM, WE, WE ARE PART OF THE PROGRAM. WHICH PROGRAM? THROUGH THE A, BC? NO, THIS IS A NATIONAL, UH, NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. BUT THROUGH WHOM THOUGH? UH, I'M SORRY. IT'S USUALLY, USUALLY THE FEDERALLY APPROVED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS ARE, ARE PRETTY MUCH THROUGH THE UNION OR I THINK THE A BC HAS A WAY THAT THEY ALLOW YOU TO PAY A FEE THAT, OR THERE'S ANOTHER OPTION WHERE WE FILED ALL THE PAPERWORK WITH THE, WITH THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND WE'RE GRANTED THE RIGHT TO TRAIN APPRENTICES, UM, CLASSES AND TO GIVE THEM WORKING HOURS. SO YOU ARE YOU ARE FEDERALLY APPROVED APPRENTICES A FEDERALLY APPROVED APPRENTICE PROGRAM? NOT, I'M NOT, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO SAY SOMETHING I'M NOT SURE ABOUT. I JUST KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UH, AN APPROVED PROGRAM WE FOLLOW AND WE HAVE AN APPRENTICE ALWAYS ON PAYROLL, [01:55:01] UH, AS REQUIRED BY PUBLIC WORKS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. AND IT'S ALSO OUR APPRENTICES IN THE PAST HAVE BECOME OUR BEST EMPLOYEES. SO, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO FOLLOW THAT PATH. I APOLOGIZE. I DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH DETAIL ON THAT. SO, SUFFICE TO SAY, I THINK WHAT THE BOARD IS, UH, INDICATING IS THAT SINCE YOU HAVE DONE WORK WITH ESSEX COUNTY IN THE PAST AND LOOK FORWARD TO DOING WORK IN ESSEX COUNTY IN THE FUTURE, AND YOU ALREADY HAVE OTHER PROJECTS AS WELL, LOOKING FOR EMPLOYEES, THAT UPON YOUR RETURN HERE, SHOULD THAT BE A POSSIBILITY THAT, THAT PERHAPS IT MIGHT BE GOOD FOR YOU TO HAVE HAD ESSEX COUNTY PEOPLE EMPLOYED BECAUSE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US AS WELL AS ANY CONNECTIVITY TO THE LOCAL UNIONS BECAUSE WE LIKE TO SUPPORT THEM. AND THAT I'M GONNA SPEAK FROM, I DON'T THINK I AM ALONE IN THAT AND I THINK THE SENTIMENT IS THERE THAT YOU CAN SEE. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. AND MR. ANTONIO, PLEASE MAKE TO ENSURE THAT THE VENDOR HERE, SHOULD HE PASS, UH, WITH THIS CONTRACT, UH, BE FULLY UP TO SPEED WITH HOW HE CAN FIND ESSEX COUNTY EMPLOYEES SO THAT HE COULD COME BACK IN THE FUTURE, HE AND HIS COMPANY AND BETTER ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT. FAIR. GOOD? YES, SIR. ALRIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE? OH, I'M SORRY. WAIT, WE'RE NOT DONE. THAT'S JUST ONE. THAT'S JUST ONE WE HERE HAVE. THAT WAS NUMBER SEVEN, OR THE APPLICATION OF MOSQUITO ADULT ET ARIDE. AND THIS PURCHASE IS FULLY FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE N-G-D-E-P. UH, SOUNDS GOOD. WE LIKE THAT. LIKEWISE. ITEM NUMBER NINE IS IN A WATER CONTRACT TO WHEAT SYSTEMS TO FURNISH AND DELIVER SODIUM CHLORIDE SOLUTION ON A AS NEEDED BASIS IN AN AMOUNT I TOOK EXCEED $35,000 WHEAT SYSTEMS LIMITED WAS THE SOLD BIDDER TO THIS PUBLIC ADVERTIS OPPORTUNITY. THE SUN CHLORIDE SOLUTION, WHICH IS TYPICALLY CALLED BRINE, IS USED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS DURING WINTER OPERATIONS TO TREAT ROADWAYS ROADWAY SUCCESS AHEAD OF ANY SNOW ICE EVENTS AND HELP MINIMIZE ICE ACCUMULATION. ITEM NUMBER 10, ICE. THE CURRENT DO 23 ROADWAY RESURFACING IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM ON TRACK WITH SMITH SUN ASPHALT BY INCREASING THE NET TWO EXCEED AMOUNT BY 1 MILLION HUNDRED AND 19 $9,730, OR 19.63% TO A NEW TOTAL TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $10,964,800. THIS CHAIN ORDER RESULTED FROM UNDER FUEL CONDITIONS, WHICH HAVE LED TO THE UNDERESTIMATION OF CERTAIN QUANTITIES IN THE ORIGINAL PROJECT DOCUMENTATION, THE GDOT HAS APPROVED THIS CHANGE ORDER AND THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF MONEY, $1,719,730 WILL, WILL CONTINUE TO BE GRANT FUNDED. AND ITEM 11 IS, UH, SOLUTION. IT'S A SOLUTION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF BELLEVILLE AT BUS STOPS ALONG RUTGER STREET, BELLEVILLE AVENUE, AND FRANKLIN STREET AS REQUESTED BY TRANSIT. THERE IS NO FINANCIAL IMPACT, THE COUNTY OF ESSEX BY CONSENTING TO THIS TOWNSHIP FOR BE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. WE ALREADY COVERED SEVEN. UH, MR. PARLOVE, ANY QUESTIONS OF 8 3 11? I DON'T HAVE MR. MCINERNEY. NO QUESTION. COMMISSIONERS SEE? NONE. DO I HAVE SOMEONE MOVE? I MOVED BY MERCADO. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GI. ROLL CALL MOVE. DEPUTY CLARK ON SEVEN THROUGH 11. COMMISSIONER GILL? YES. COMMISSIONER . ABSENT. COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES. COMMISSIONER THOMAS. COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON. BOON YES. ON 8, 9, 10, AND 11. COMMISSIONER SIEBOLD? [02:00:01] YES. COMMISSIONER SERMONS? ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT RIS? YES. SO MOVED. THANK YOU. THANK MR. ANTONIO. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. JOSH HAS THE HEAD START ON YOU? COMMISSIONER GI DO YOU WANT TO ASK A QUESTION FOR MR. ANTONIO BEFORE YOU GO? YEAH. MR. MR. YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? JUST MR. UM, ANTONIO LEAVES? UM, I, I THOUGHT, UM, A QUICK UPDATE. I THOUGHT, UM, WE WERE GETTING TONIGHT'S AGENDA A SENT RESOLUTION FOR THE LOWERING OF THE SPEED LIMIT ON VALLEY ROAD IN MONTCLAIR THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT RESOLUTION YET. UH, ROUGHLY. YEAH. THEY PASSED PROBABLY TWO MEETING, TWO MEETINGS AGO. COMMISSIONER GILLER WASN'T BROUGHT UP. A LEADERSHIP . YEAH, NO, IT JUST ON THE VISION, THE, THE REASON I'M ASKING ON THE, ON THE VISION ZERO TEST ON THEIR TOWN. MM-HMM. ON THEIR, ON THE RUN, THE, THEIR TOWNSHIP VISION ZERO TEST COMMITTEE AND, UM, THE COUNTY FROM YOUR OFFICE. MM-HMM. SAID THAT IT WAS GONNA BE ON THE, THE AGENDA TONIGHT. UH, THROUGH YOU MS. UH, SESSION MEMO DID COME RIGHT. AND OKAY. SHOULD BE AT THE NEXT MEETINGS. REGULAR. OKAY. AGENDA. YEAH. NO, NO PROBLEM. I JUST, MM-HMM. MAKE SURE, 'CAUSE UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, OF COURSE WE'LL MAKE SURE TO COMMUNICATE THAT BACK AND IF, IF, IF YOU, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRE, UM, IF WE COULD ALSO HAVE SOMEONE JUST FROM YOUR OFFICE SEND A UN TO THE, I'M FORGETTING WHO THE REP IS ON THE, IN THE DEPARTMENT WHO'S ON THE TASK FORCE. YEAH. THANK YOU. MAYBE HE COULD, IF YOU COULD JUST SEND AN EMAIL TO THE TASK FORCE TELLING THEM THAT THIS WILL BE ON OUR NEXT THREE. MR. PRESIDENT. I BELIEVE TOMORROW'S THE REGULAR WEEKLY MEETINGS. IT'S FRIDAY, SO I'LL MAKE SURE WE, FRIDAY. WE, WE ONLY MEET ONCE A EVERY OTHER FRIDAY. THE MEETINGS ARE 4:00 PM ON FRIDAY. SO THANKFULLY THEY'RE ONLY ONCE A MONTH . UM, SO NO, WE'RE NOT MEETING TOMORROW. ALRIGHT. UM, E EITHER WAY I WILL MAKE SURE THEY'RE RECORDING ALSO TO, UH, NOT, YEAH, I THINK JUST TO LAURA. YEAH, NO, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ALL MOVING ALONG. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE, WE WERE ALL CLEAR ON WHEN WE WOULD, WHEN WE WOULD RATHER THAT AND THEN OF COURSE THE SIGNAGE AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD COME ALONG WITH THAT. SO THANK YOU. THANKS, MR. PRESIDENT. COMMISSIONER, WE'LL RUN UP THE LEADERSHIP MEETING. GREAT, THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 12, WHICH IS FOR THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH. WE'LL BE RUNNING TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME. MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THIS IS A SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF ORANGE TOWNSHIP FOR THE, UH, FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE RISE INITIATIVE, RECOVERY INTEGRATION, SUPPORT IN EDUCATION, UH, THE, UH, ORANGE, WE JOINING NUTLEY, FAIRFIELD AND WEST ORANGE IN THIS, UH, EFFORT, I'M SURE SOME OTHER TOWNS JOINING AS WELL. UM, THIS, UH, GRANT FUNDING TO PROVIDE FOR SUPPORT, UH, MUNICIPAL SUPPORTS, FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IS IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A NEED FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER C CARE SERVICES. THERE'S NO COST TO THE COUNTY AND IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT, UH, GRANT FUNDED. THANK YOU MR. PARLEY. LIKE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTION. MR. KINNER. NO QUESTIONS. COMMISSIONERS. DO HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE? NUMBER 12. MOVE IT. MOVE BY RICHARDSON. SECOND. SECOND. MARY THOMAS. SECOND ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR NUMBER 12. COMMISSIONER GI LUCIANO. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES. COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS. YES. COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON. YES. COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER SERMONS ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER AB ABSENT COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT EZ. YEP. SO MOVED. OKAY, LET'S MOVE RESOLUTION 13 THROUGH 16, WHICH IN THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF AND THERE WILL BE READ IN RECORD AT A LATER TIME. MR. JACKSON, MR. COLT'S JOB TODAY, MR. COLT? YES. HE ACTUALLY GETS TO EARN, EARN A FEW DOLLARS TODAY. A FEW DOLLARS, YES, MR. PRESIDENT. OKAY. UH, NUMBER 13 IS THE AWARD TO PROMISE FORD INC. TO PROVIDE 5 20 24 F 3 54 BY FOUR CAB CREW, UH, IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $269,350 AND 5 CENTS. UH, THESE VEHICLES ARE GOING TO BE REPLACEMENTS FOR BOMB UNITS. UH, THEY'RE JUST BASICALLY THE BODY AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA ADD ADDITIONAL BOMB EQUIPMENT TO IT. UH, NUMBER 14 IS THE SHERIFF FRANK'S TRUCK CENTER, LOW RESPONSIBLE BIDDER TO FURNISH AND DELIVER TWO MODEL YEAR 2024 GMC YUKONS, UH, IN THE EXCEED $159,724. AND THESE VEHICLES ARE FOR THE SHERIFF AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. NUMBER 15, CONTRACT AWARD TO AAA FACILITY SOLUTIONS GUN SERVICE AT THE ESSEX COUNTY PATROL ACRES AND OEM BUILDING, [02:05:01] ADDING AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $14,800. AND THAT'S A 20% CHANGE FROM THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT, WHICH WAS $70 AND NUMBER SICKNESS CONTRACT AWARD TO EAGLE POINT GUN TJ, UH, MORRIS AND SUN FOR THE PUR PURCHASE OF AMMUNITIONS NOT TO EXCEED $2,100. AND THEY ARE IN COMPLIANT WITH ALL THE ORDINANCE FROM 2015. MR. PARLA? I QUESTIONS? NO QUESTION MR. MCINERNEY. NO QUESTION. COMMISSIONER'S QUESTIONS ON 13TH THROUGH 16. DO I HAVE A MOVER? I'LL MOVE IT. MOVE BY SEAT SECOND. SECOND BY RICHARDSON. ROLL CALL THROUGH 16. COMMISSIONER GI? YES. COMMISSIONER LUCIANA. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER MUR? YES. COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS. YES. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER SEABOLD? YES. COMMISSIONER SERMONS. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT. COMMISSIONER RESIDENT EZ. YES. SO MOVED. LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 17 AND ADD START NUMBER 67, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF PURCHASING. AND THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD LATER TIME. MR. COLTER, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, DEPARTMENT OF NUTRITION FINANCE OFFICE OF PURCHASING CONTRACT AWARD TO WB MA COMPANY INC. TO FURNISH AND DELIVERY OFFICE SUPPLIES 24 MONTH EXTENSION TO THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AND TO EXCEED $5 MILLION. THIS IS FOR ALL THE OFFICE SUPPLIES, WATER, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, WHATEVER IS IN YOUR CATALOG. AND NUMBER 67, OFFICE OF PURCHASE AWARD TO THREE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER PER ITEM UNIT COST BASIS TO FURNISH AND DELIVER PROMOTIONAL ITEMS AT FOR VARIOUS FOR MONTH CONTRACT MONTH WOULD EXCEED $440,000. AND THAT IS FOR VARIOUS ITEMS THAT WE GIVE OUT AT VARIOUS EVENTS. MR. PARVA, YOUR QUESTIONS? NO QUESTION MR. KINER? NO QUESTION. COMMISSIONERS, DO I HAVE A MOVER FOR 17 AND 67? I'LL MOVE IT. COMMISSIONER SIEBOLD ON SECOND. SECOND. COMMISSIONER MERCADO, SECOND ROLL CALL MEMBER. DEPUTY CLERK 17 AND 67. COMMISSIONER? YES. COMMISSIONER LUCIANO AS AND COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES. COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS. YES. COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES. FOR VARIOUS ITEMS GIVEN OUT VARIOUS, VARIOUS, WHICH SHALL NOT HAVE OUR PICTURE ON IT, THEY WILL HAVE THE COMMISSIONER'S LOGO. COMMISSIONER ? YES. COMMISSIONER SERMONS. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT. ABSENT COMMISSIONER. PRESIDENT EZ. YES. SO MOVE. ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO NUMBER 18, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR. WILL BE READ TO THE RECORD. AND IS THAT YOU MR. COLT? THAT'S ME. MR. PRESIDENT? YES. YOU'RE EARNING YOUR MONEY TODAY, SIR. OFFICE OF THE RESOLUTION APPROVING PARTICIPATION WITH THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY GRANT PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY, ACCEPTING SUB S-F-Y-O-H-H OH 7 20 25 FOR A PERIOD OF SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2024 TO AUGUST 31ST, 2025 UNDER STATE FISCAL YEAR OPERATING HELPING HAND GRANT PROGRAM. MR. POLLAK, YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS. MR. MCINERNEY? NO QUESTIONS. COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS? SCENE NONE. DO I MOVE HER? MOVE IT. RICHARDSON. SECOND. BUELLER. ANYONE? BUELLER. SECOND. SECOND. SECOND. BY MARY THOMAS. ROLL CALL MADAM. DEPUTY CURRICULUM 18 AS MUELLER COMMISSIONER. ILL, YES. COMMISSIONER LUCIANO. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER MERKEL. PRESENT NOT VOTING. COMMISSIONER ME. COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES. COMMISSIONER SIEBOLD? YES. COMMISSIONER SERMONS. ABSENT COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT, ABSENT COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PAUL MAYOR 19 THROUGH, UH, ON 22, WHICH THE COUNTY BUDGET INSERTION OF ITEMS OF REVENUE FROM AT A LATER TIME. MR. JOHNSON. UH, THANK, UH, [02:10:01] UH, 300, 347 RESOLUTION. AND AS YOU KNOW, THE OPIOID CRISIS HAS HIT OUR COUNTRY REALLY HARD, ESPECIALLY, OF COURSE, NEW JERSEY IS NOT IMMUNE FROM THAT AND NEITHER. SO THIS HELPING HAND, HELPING HAND GRANT WILL HELP, UH, FOLKS WHO ARE SUFFER FROM OPIOID CRISIS OR OPIOID USAGE GET ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION THROUGH, UH, MENTORSHIP SUPPORT AND COUNSELING TO AVOID, UH, BEING DETAINED FOR WHAT'S RELATED DISEASE AND A SICKNESS. AND SO I THINK THIS IS REALLY GREAT WORK, UM, AND TO ADMIT TO THE GREAT WORK THAT SO MANY OF THE STAFF ACROSS THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT ARE DOING TO HELP EVERYDAY CITIZENS IN. SO, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS RESOLUTION AMID THE OTHER RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE DRIVING THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON. YEAH, I JUST WANT TO PICK ON, UH, COLLEAGUE MARY THOMAS, HER COMMENT, UH, I'M GLAD TOO THAT PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THAT DISEASE, UH, BUT THIS CRISIS HAS BEEN GOING ON IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY FOR 50 YEARS. IT, IT'S BIG CRISIS. I REMEMBER WHEN, UH, NANCY RAY SAID, JUST SAY NO, AND THEN IT WERE MANDATORY . SO I'M GLAD THEY TURNED THE CORNER. BUT WHAT MADE 'EM TURN THE CORNER? RIGHT? WHAT MADE THEM TURN THE CORNER? RIGHT. RIGHT. BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST IN CERTAIN AREAS. AND SO NOW IT'S A DISEASE AND EVERYBODY NEEDS HELP, WHICH IS TRUE, BUT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN TRUE. THAT'S RIGHT. SO I'M GLAD THEY'RE GETTING THE HELP AT THE NEED, BUT WE NEED TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS? STEVE? NONE. COMMISSIONER RICHARD TO MOVE IT. I'LL MOVE IT. MARY THOMAS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SECOND IT? SURE. THANK YOU. PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE GONE THE WAY BECAUSE IT WAS MY ALL GOOD. EITHER WAY. EITHER WAY. IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME. KEEP IT AS IS. IT'S ALL GOOD. UH, ROLL. COME OUT THROUGH 22. COMMISSIONER GA. YES. COMMISSIONER LUCIANO. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES. COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS. YES. COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON. COMMISSIONER SIEBOLD? YES. COMMISSIONER SERMONS ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT HOME. SO MOVED. LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS NUMBER 2363, A MEMORIAL RECOMMENDATION, RESOLUTIONS, UH, BE READ AND TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME. COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE? 23 THROUGH 63? SEE NONE. DO I HAVE A MOVER SMOKE? SECOND BY RICHARDSON. SECOND BY MERCADO ROLL. AND DEPUTY CLERK ON RESOLUTIONS. 23 THROUGH 63. COMMISSIONER GILL? YES. COMMISSIONER LUCIANO. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES. COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS. YES. COMMISSIONER? YES. COMMISSIONER STEVE? YES. COMMISSIONER SERMONS. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT ERIC? YES. SO MOVED. THANK YOU MADAM DEPUTY CLARK, DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, ADDED STARTERS? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE TWO RE REMAIN. WE HAVE WHAT, 64 AND 65, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CITIZENS. CORRECT. SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THOSE. WE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME. MS. JACKSON, WHY DON'T WE TAKE 64 AND 65? UH, YES, WE SAID MS. BENNETT AND MS. COLE WILL HANDLE 64. AND MR. ST. JOHN WILL HAND 65. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE EVENING. ONET YOUR MICROPHONE A LITTLE BIT. SO WE MAKE, WE DON'T ANYTHING YOU SAY. LIONEL MAY, UH, GO AHEAD AGAIN. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS . I REPRESENT THE DIVISION OF FAMILY AND BENEFITS OFFICE OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES. I AM ASSISTANT OFFICE [02:15:01] MANAGER. MY NAME IS FAT MCCO. I REPRESENT ESSEX COUNTY DIVISION ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS. I AM THE OFFICE MANAGER OF PHYSICAL MANAGEMENT MANAGED SPECIAL SERVICES. OKAY, THANK YOU. SO LET'S ADDRESS OUR 64 FIRST. YES. UM, THE COUNTY, I'M SORRY. SO THAT THE, WHOEVER'S TRANSCRIBING IS OKAY. IF JUST STATE YOUR NAME NOW AS YOU START NOW. SHARONDA BENNETT. OKAY. THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, UM, WANTS TO EXTEND, UM, ONE YEAR CONTRACT FROM 10 13 20 24 TO 10 20 25 BETWEEN DF SHELTER SERVICES FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES OF S COUNTY DIVISION OF WELFARE. WE'LL EXECUTE OUR CONTRACT OPTION TO EXTEND BY TWO MONTHS. UM, THE WARD CONTRACT COUNT 18 SHELTERS THAT PROVIDE EMERGENCY SHELTER AND TRANS SERVICES BENEFITS THROUGH THE DIVID OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS. OKAY. LET, WELL, CAN YOU HAND, ARE YOU HANDLING SIX FIVE AS WELL? NO. NO. OKAY. SO, UH, MR. PARLOVE, ANY QUESTIONS? I, MR. MCINERNEY? NO. COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER THOMAS, DO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? THANK YOU BOTH, FIRST OF ALL, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO, THIS CRITICAL LIFE SAVING WORK. SECONDLY, FOR PRESENTING RESOLUTIONS, JUST A, A QUESTION AS FAR AS NEED. AND SO EVEN WITH THESE 18, UM, CONTRACTS BEING EXTENDED, IF YOU COULD GIVE THE COMMUNITY AND US AS COMMISSIONERS A PULSE OF FOLKS WHO MAYBE AREN'T ABLE TO, UM, MAYBE MAKE, IF THERE'S A WAIT LISTER AREN'T ABLE TO MAKE A SEE WITHIN THOSE 18, UM, HOUSES, OR RATHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE CREATED THROUGH THE CONTRACT. ROUGHLY AS FAR AS WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR EMERGENCY HOUSING THAT WE'RE GETTING HERE AT THE COUNTY? WE, WE GET DAY, PROBABLY OUR 80 TO NINE WEEK WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR, UM, FROM THE MONTHS OF JANUARY, HAVE PLACED PROBABLY FIVE HUNDRED AND FIVE FIFTY SEVEN FAMILIES AND SINGLE INDIVIDUALS INTO THOSE 18 SHELTERS. UM, CURRENTLY, UM, WE HAVE, I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS FOR SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 'CAUSE RUN THEM YET, BUT, UM, WE HAD 318 AND SINGLES THAT WERE REMAINING IN THOSE SHELTERS, 209 OF THOSE FAMILIES WERE EITHER DISCHARGED, FOUND PERMANENT HOUSING FOR THEM, OR THEY WERE DISCHARGED TO NONCOMPLIANCE OR THEIR TIME LIMIT RAN FOR US. SO I HOPE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. IT DOES. IT DOES. WE HAVE, WE DON'T, SORRY, JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD SO THAT OH, I'M SORRY. AL WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A WAITING LIST, NOT HOW IT OPERATES. WE DON'T HAVE WAITING LISTS. THEY COME AND APPLY AND IF THEY'RE ELIGIBLE, THEN WE LIST THEM. SO NOT HAVING A WAIT LIST MEANS THAT EVERYONE ARE ELIGIBLE OR THEY, YOU WE FIND A PLACEMENT OF COURSE. UNLESS WE DON'T HAVE ANY BEDS. UNLESS THE BEDS, WE STILL HAVE A FEW BEDS LEFT, SO WE'RE YEAH. PRETTY GOOD FOR RIGHT NOW. YEAH. AND MAYBE THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT TOO, AS FAR AS LIKE THE BEDS BEING FULL AND STUFF. HOW ARE WE, LIKE, IS THAT A TYPICAL OR DOES THAT KIND OF, SO IT GOES BY MILES PACE LOOK LIKE. OKAY. RIGHT. IT GOES UP AND DOWN. RIGHT, RIGHT. UM, WE ARE GONNA START PICK UP, ESPECIALLY NOW DURING, UM, SEPTEMBER THROUGH, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS OUR, IN OUR, MOST OF THE FAMILIES MIGHT GO SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR THEY WOULD HOUSE 'EM AT A TIME. BUT NOW SCHOOL STARTS TIME ONLINE AGAIN. PEOPLE COME IN, UM, WE INFLUX OF PEOPLE COMING IN, ESPECIALLY OUR REVIEWS THAT ARE COMING IN, UM, THAT WE HAVE BIG INFLUX OF THAT. SO IF THEY ARE DEEMED ELIGIBLE, WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES OR THEIR SPECIAL SERVICE THAT WE HAVE, THEN WE DO HOUSE MASKS. OKAY. COULD YOU JUST NAME FOR THE RECORD NOW AGAIN? YES. SHADA BENNETT. I'M SORRY. OKAY. THE REASON IS THAT WHEN THE PEOPLE ARE TRANSCRIBING AND THEY HEAR LADIES SPEAKING, THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DISCERN BECAUSE OF THE RECORDING, JUST SO THAT THEY DON'T GET ANGRY AT ME. OKAY. , I'M SHADA BENNETT. MM-HMM. . THANK YOU MS. BENNETT, IT'S COLE. THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU LADIES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONS COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS, YOU LIKE WITH IT? SURE. YES. I'LL SECOND. SECOND BY MERCADO NUMBER SIX. FIVE. THANK YOU. ALL THE GOOD WORK YOU DO. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GILL? YES. COMMISSIONER LUCIANO ABSENT SAYS, I'M SORRY FOR THE RECORD NUMBER SIX FOUR. IF I MISSPOKE. IT'S SIX FOUR. OH, START AGAIN. COMMISSIONER GILL. YES. COMMISSIONER LUCIANO. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES. COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS. YES. COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES. COMMISSIONER SIEBOLD? YES. COMMISSIONER SERMONS. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PAUL. MARY? YES. SO MOVED. ALRIGHT, [02:20:01] NOW 65. MR. SINGLE, UH, THIS IS NUMBER 65 HAM ST. JOHN COUNTY COUNCIL. THIS IS, UH, JUST TO EXTEND AN ALREADY EXISTING CONTRACT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX AND THE COUNTY UNION FOR THE, THE, FROM FEBRUARY 1ST, 2024 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2 24. ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS REMAIN THE SAME. IT'S THE INTENTION, JUST SO THAT, THAT IN CASE YOU ASK THE QUESTION, IT'S THE INTENTION OF ESSEX COUNTY AND UNION COUNTY TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2025. WE CAN IRON OUT SOME OF THE DETAILS. OKAY. MR. VECO, ANY QUESTIONS? UH, NO. UH, ONE QUESTION. IS THERE ANY INCREASE IN, UM, POPULATION OR, UH, DO WE, DO WE HAVE SUFFICIENT SPACE IN OUR FACILITY FOR THESE, UH, JUVA? UH, WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH SPACE IN OUR FACILITY. IT'S, IT'S EDUCATIONAL SPACE IS THE PROBLEM. RIGHT. SO WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT WITH SOME CREATIVE WAYS AND, UH, WE'LL SEE HOW IT HA SEE IF WE CAN WORD OUT. THANK YOU. MR. KINNER. ANY QUESTIONS ON 65? JUST, UH, EV EVERY UM, EVERY INDIVIDUAL IN THE DETENTION CENTER IS, UH, QUALIFIES FOR THE POT FOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THERE, RIGHT? WHETHER THEY'RE FROM UNION COUNTY OR ANYWHERE ELSE. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S, THAT'S ALMOST RIGHT. IF THEY'RE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, THEN THEN DON'T EDUCATIONAL. CORRECT. BUT THAT LITTLE TECHNICAL ISSUE, UH, YES, THE ANSWER IS YES. OKAY. COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS IN SIX I A QUESTION, COMMISSIONER RICARDO, HOW MANY COUNTIES DO WE HAVE, UM, AGREEMENTS WITH TO, UM, UH, DETENTION ? WE HAVE, I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER J ST. JOHN, I'M REALLY NOT LAUGHING YOU AT MYSELF BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE NEVER EASY. WE HAVE PASSAIC, WE HAVE HUDSON, WE HAVE UNION, WE HAD, UH, AGREEMENTS WITH SALEM, CUMBERLAND, AND ATLANTIC. UH, ALL OF THOSE AGREEMENTS, WE HAVE INFORMED THEM THAT DUE TO EDUCATIONAL CONSTRICTIONS ON THE MS SPACE INVOLVED, THOSE CONTRACTS ARE NOT GOING TO GO FORWARD. UH, AND SO THAT GIVES YOU SOME BROAD OVERVIEW OF, OF THE CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. SO BIG HUDSON AND UNION PASSAIC HUDSON UNION ARE OUR THREE MAIN CONTRACT PARTNERS. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. COME MURRAY THOMAS. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT. I JUST NEED A, A LITTLE CLARITY BECAUSE IT, I KNOW YOU'RE HEARING THAT WE'RE NOT SUFFERING FROM THE OVERCROWDING, BUT THEN EARLIER THIS YEAR WE WERE GETTING A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM THE OVERCROWDING AND THE NATURE OF OUR JUVENILE FACILITIES. AND SO I'M TRYING TO BETTER PULSE OF WHAT IS THIS IN REAL TIME AS FAR AS YOUNG PEOPLE, FOLKS WHO ARE INSIDE, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY REALLY ACCOMMODATE THIS EVEN WITH STAFFING, THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS THERE. AND SO THEN THAT PUTS BOTH FOLKS, INSIDERS AND FOLKS WORKING THERE IN JEOPARDY. IF WE ARE NOT REALLY CLEAR ON WHERE WE ARE AS FAR AS WHAT IS, UM, ADEQUATE. SO COULD YOU ELABORATE ON THAT? YEAH. BE HAPPY TO MM-HMM. . SO SIGN, IT'S NOT AN OVERCROWD PROBLEM WHATSOEVER. IN, IN THE JUVENILE FACILITY. THE, THE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY IS BUILT TO HOUSE MANY MORE PEOPLE THAN WE HAVE THERE. THE RESTRICTION ON THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WE CAN SERVICE AT THE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY HAS NOW SHOWN TO US TO BE PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE KIDS. WE ONLY HAVE CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SPACE. AND SO WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION, UH, BOTH MORALLY AND UNDER THE LAW TO PROVIDE THESE KIDS WITHIN EDUCATION. UH, SOME THE HAWAII EPS. UH, AND SO THERE'S A LIMITATION ON SPACE. SO IF WE HAD, FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S A HYPOTHETICAL MM-HMM. . IF WE HAD NO ONE BEING REFERRED TO THE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY WHO WAS NOT A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE AND THEREFORE DIDN'T NEED AN EDUCATION, BY LAW, WE COULD PUT MANY MORE PEOPLE INTO THE FACILITY. SO PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY, WHO ARE ADMITTED TO BE IN THE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF EDUCATIONAL ROLE. AND SO WE HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL, UH, AS YOU KNOW, THE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY AND WE ARE, ARE PROVIDING AN EDUCATION FOR THOSE KIDS. MM-HMM. . AND I UNDERSTAND THE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO EARN CREDITS TO ACTUAL GGD, RIGHT? OR HIGH EQUIVALENCY. UM, I REMEMBER WHEN I WORKED IN THE DISTRICT AND I WAS SPECIFICALLY WORKING ALTERNATIVE YOUTH, SO YOUNG PEOPLE OUT OF INCARCERATION OR WERE SOMETIMES AT RISK. ONE OF THE GAPS WAS THAT KIND OF WHEN THEY WERE LEAVING THAT TOUCH POINT BETWEEN THE, MAYBE IT WAS THE CASE MANAGER [02:25:01] OR THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR ON THE INSIDE AND THE PERSON IN THE SCHOOL THEY WERE RETURNING TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT, OR, UH, EVEN THE ACADEMIC ALIGNMENT INSIDE SOMEHOW TRACK WHEN THEY GOT OUTSIDE. THAT WAY THEY WEREN'T, DIDN'T HAVE TO LIKE, REACH IN CLASSES AND STUFF. LIKE DO WE, DO WE HAVE LIKE ANYONE TO SEND THAT WITH STUDENTS? I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER ON YOUR SCOPE. OKAY. SCOPE? SURE. OKAY. BUT I, BUT I'LL LOOK JUST BECAUSE, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE FULFILLING THAT EDUCATIONAL RIGHT. FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THEY EXIT TYPE OF LINE. BUT NO, I, UM, I'LL, I'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR INSIGHT. MM-HMM. COMMISSIONERS. ANY OTHER? NAN? DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE NUMBER 65? THOMAS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE? SIX. I'LL MOVE IT ONE SECOND. JUST A SECOND. MOVE BY . SECOND BY COMMISSIONER THOMAS. WE'LL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK NUMBER SIX FIVE. COMMISSIONER GID? YES. COMMISSIONER LUCIANO. ABSENT. COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES. COMMISSIONER MARIE THOMAS. YES. COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES. COMMISSIONER SEABOLD? YES. COMMISSIONER SERMONS. ABSENT. VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT. COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES. MOVED. OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON TO THE BOARD OF BOOK COMMITTEES. ARE THERE ANY REPORTS TO BE PRESENTED TODAY? EVERY MORNING. MR. JACKSON DULEY. WOULD YOU HOP ON THE DATE OF THE TIME? FIVE 30. FIVE 30 THE 24TH? CORRECT. OKAY. SO THE DISPARITY COMMITTEE MEETING WILL FOURTH COURT TIME, BUT IT'S RELATED. SO, AND THAT'S, AND IT WORKS FOR SOME TIME SEEING NONE OTHER. SO LET'S MOVE ON. UH, DO WE ANY LEGISLATION? NONE. ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS, ANY NEW BUSINESS TO DISCUSS? OKAY. TO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT. IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WILL ANY MATTER, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND AFFILIATION FOR AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. NADIRA BROWN, NORTH NEW C AFFILIATE AS A CONSTITUENT. I WAS HERE LAST MONTH, BROUGHT UP CONCERNS AND I DO WANNA SAY I DIDN'T GET THE RESULTS I WANTED, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE FOLLOW UP. SOMETIMES WE DON'T UNDERSTAND. YOU MAY NOT GET WHAT YOU, BUT IT'S THE FOLLOW UP. I DO ASK GOING FORWARD, EVERYONE'S NOT BRAVE ENOUGH TO BRING UP ANY CONCERNS. TO DO LIKE A BOSS FROM YOU GUYS. YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY FOR THE FACT THAT SOMETIMES THERE'S THINGS YOU GOTTA WALK TO SEE. IT'S NOT GONNA BE TO YOU. WE ARE NOT LIVING IN A PERFECT WORLD, BUT WE LEARN THROUGH THE PANDEMIC THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO CAN CHANGE JUST OVER. WE JUST SAW A STRONG BACKING. STRONG CAME TOGETHER. AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, GREAT WORK IS BEEN HERE, BUT THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT ARE BEING IGNORED. BUT WE WANNA CONTINUE TO STILL DO GREAT THINGS. SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING IN SILENCE. JUST AFRAID TO BRING, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ARE BRINGING UP ABOUT CONTRACTS. IT'S BEEN A BIG THING, BUT I TRY TO BRING SOME AWARENESS. EVERYONE DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE STATE DISABILITY OR THE DI PLAN. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO PRETEND, I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES IT'S ABOUT BUDGET. I DON'T EVERYTHING. BUT SOMETIMES A PERSON GETS THAT 2%, THEIR MEDICAL GOES UP, PENSION GOES UP, EVERYTHING GOES UP. SO IN REALITY, THEY'RE FACED WITH GOING BACKWARDS. I KNOW IT'S SOME THINGS THAT MAY NOT CAN BE ADDRESSED HERE, MAYBE ON A HIGHER LEVEL. LIKE THAT CHAPTER 78, 14 YEARS AGO, I WAS TOLD ONE YEAR IS 14 YEARS LATER SUFFERING. 'CAUSE WE CAN'T SAY WHAT WE WANT, BUT EVERYONE'S NOT BRAVE ENOUGH TO BRING IT UP. WE MIGHT HAVE THE ANSWERS HERE OR MAYBE GUIDE THE CAN COME TOGETHER TO BRING A VOICE. JUST SOME AWARENESS BECAUSE WE APPRECIATE YOU LISTEN. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FOLLOW UP. 'CAUSE FOR YEARS BRINGING UP CONCERNS AND SOMETIMES JUST LOOK AT YOU. AND I REALLY WANT BRING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WE CAN'T HELP EVERY BUT JUST A SIMPLE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO. IT REALLY, REALLY MADE ME FEEL GREAT THAT SOMEONE FINALLY HEARD, BUT ABOUT THE UNDERCOVER BALLS. THERE ARE MANY AGENCIES IN THIS COUNTY JUST TO BRING SOME AWARENESS. I'M NOT GONNA SAY THAT THE INFORMATION GIVE SECONDS IS NOT THE [02:30:01] TRUTH. BUT WE ALL HAVE DIVERSIONS OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND SOMETIMES WE MAY JUST NEED TO COME GET A RESOLUTION. AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WELCOME BACK MS. JACKSON. SIR, I KNOW PEOPLE WAITING TO GET BACK. OKAY. OKAY, SO QUESTIONS. I NEED SOME ANSWERS. MAYBE THIS WILL HELP YOU DONNA JACKSON. HOW MANY CASES RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY IN S COUNTY, FAMILY SERVICE OF IT. TRA, UM, AMP, SNAP, MEDICAID, ET CETERA. BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING KICKED OFF THE SYSTEM BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO FOR SOME REASON NOW RENEW YOUR MEDICAID MATTER WHAT YOUR AGE IS EVERY YEAR. AND WE ARE CRIPPLING AND HURTING PEOPLE. AND THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING PROACTIVELY TO HELP FOLKS, PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING FOR THEIR MEDICATION NOW FROM ZERO TO A HUNDRED. 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT PAYING. HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS DO WE HAVE THAT THIS COUNTY? I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH. UNION HAS COME HERE AND SAID IT A MILLION TIMES. WHY AREN'T WE DOING SOMETHING TO THAT GAP? YOU HAVE FAMILIES. NOW YOU ALL KNOW YOUR OWN SELF, HOW MUCH FOOD COSTS? SO FOOD INSECURITY IS, BUT THEN WHEN I'M ON THE WAITING LIST, LIKE SIX TO NINE TO HERE FOR MY FOOD STAMPS THAT I'M OUT FOR. AND THEN YOUR STAT TURNS AROUND AND TELLS ME, OH, WELL MS. JACKSON JUST APPLIED. BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE HOW FAR BEHIND YOU ARE AND YOU ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT. CASE FAIR HEARING CASES ARE THERE AND WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO BE DONE? BECAUSE IF YOU, THE CALLED EMERGENCY FAIR HEARING, THEY'RE NOT DOING, AND A FAIR HEARING IS SUPPOSED TO BE WITHIN TWO WEEKS. THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT HERE. I KNOW IT'S GETTING BETTER ACROSS THE STATE. I'M I'M WORRIED ABOUT RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. YOU GUYS CANNOT HAVE IN YOUR HEADS IN THE STAND, LET ME GIVE YOU THIS CLARIFICATION. WE'D EVEN OFFER AN ELECTRICAL CLASS AT ES COUNTY VOCATION SCHOOL OR NIGHT SCHOOL. WE DON'T OFFER A PLUMBING CLASS CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW AT ESSEX COUNTY VOCATION DAY SCHOOL OR NIGHT SCHOOL. SO WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW? NOTHING. BUT BILL. WE ARE NOT GETTING OUR CHILDREN READY FOR THIS. GOD'S GOT US GO AND LOOK. KEEP SITTING IN THESE STAIRS AND LETTING JOE TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON. OH, S IS CAME FIRST. IT IS NOT. IT'S LACK THE CONDITION OF THESE SHELTERS THAT YOU GUYS BEDBUGS. THEY'RE BITING THESE KIDS. THEY'RE BITING THE ADULTS. Y'ALL AIN'T EVEN GOING IN THERE. LOOK, YOU GOT 18 SHELTERS. GET YOU TO GO TO FIVE OF THEM IN THE NEXT MONTH. YOU WON'T BECAUSE IT TOOK YOU FOREVER TO GO INTO THE JAIL. Y'ALL GOT OVER 2000 PRISONERS IN THIS COUNTY JAIL. EVERY TIME IT RAINED THAT WATER STILL IN THERE, YOU'VE CHANGED NOTHING. YOU SPENT $10 MILLION FOR RULE. SERIOUSLY. COME ON Y'ALL. 30 SECONDS. YOUR FAMILIES ARE AFFECTED BY THIS. I KNOW YOU SOME EVERYBODY FAMILY. WELL GET MY STAND. I DIDN'T GET MY STANCE. STOP IT. AND ACTING LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW MONEY. THAT'S TEMPORARY RENTAL ASSISTANCE. I HAVE A YOUNG MAN WRITING THIS. TWO CHILDREN GETTING READY TO BE EVICTED. I BROUGHT MS. BURWELL HERE. SHE GOT ONE PIECE OF HELP FROM THIS COUNTY OR THE STATE AND I BROUGHT HER HERE FIVE MONTHS AGO. SO YOUR WORK , YOU'VE DONE NOTHING. THANK YOU MR. JACKSON. SPEAK AT THIS TIME. OKAY, MADAM DEPUTY, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT AS NO WILLINGNESS GET THIS TIME. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE COMMISSIONER. COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS, AND THE COMMENTS. YEAH. TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, COMMISSIONER, SOME OF MY THUNDER. I DID WANT BRING UP THE FACT THAT THE, UH, DISPARITY STUDY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT, UH, THE AUTHORS OF THE DISPARITIES STUDY COME HERE ON THE 24TH. SO, UH, AND EVERYBODY IN A LISTENING AUDIENCE, PLEASE COME QUESTIONS. UH, PLEASE COME AND ASK YOUR QUESTIONS TO THE AUTHORS OF THE REPORT ON THE 24TH AT FIVE 30. UH, I'M EAGER TO SEE WHAT SOLUTIONS WERE SUGGESTED BY THE, THE DISPARITY STUDY. WE KNOW THE DISPARITY STUDY WAS BAD AND WE KNEW THAT IT WAS BAD THE FIRST TIME. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE THAT WAS DONE. SO I'M EAGER TO SEE HOW WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THAT GAP. WHAT IS THE COUNTY WILLING TO, TO DO TO HELP, YOU KNOW, CLOSE THAT DISPARITY. SO IT'S GONNA BE AN INTERESTING MEETING. EVERYBODY OUT THERE. IF YOU CAN HEAR MY VOICE, PLEASE COME TO THE MEETING. LET'S TALK ABOUT, LET'S GET SOME ANSWERS. THAT'S WHAT MOST OF ALL, LET'S GET SOME FIXES. LET'S FIGURE OUT [02:35:01] HOW TO CLOSE THE GAP. ANOTHER QUESTION TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. HOW MANY UNIONS AND WHAT UNIONS ARE STILL, UH, WITHOUT CONTRACTS STILL, UH, NEED TO BE, UH, NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS THAT NEED TO BE NEGOTIATED? ALRIGHT, WE ARE CURRENTLY NEGOTIATED WITH OUR 26 BARGAINING UNITS WITH ALL OF THEM. OKAY. HOW MANY THEM? HOW MANY OF THOSE 26 BARGAINING UNITS ARE THEY NEW CONTRACTS? EXTENDED CONTRACTS? HOW MANY? WHO HAD HAD A CONTRACT? THE, FOR THE VAST MAJORITY FOR, WELL, LET'S SEE, 19 OF THE 23. UM, NO, I'M SORRY, 18 OF THE 23. UM, UH, THEIR CONTRACTS EXPIRED ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2023. THE OTHERS, UM, ARE PART OF THE ARBITRATION NEGOTIATIONS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THE, WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT. UH, YES. UM, SO I, I'VE SEEN CORRECTED THE, FOR ONE OF, UH, THE CORRECTIONS RANK AND FILE THEIR CONTRACTED IN 20 WAS, WAS, UH, SETTLED. AND THERE'S ACTUALLY IN 2020 END OF 2023 ALSO. SO IT'S REALLY 19 OF THE 2019 OF THE, OF THE, OF THOSE ENDED IN, UH, I'M SORRY. I LIKE THE TONGUE. YEAH KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S SOMEWHAT NOT CONFUSED, BUT IT'S JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE AGREEMENT. DON'T HAVE, AND WHEN THEY START, WHEN THEY START. BUT THE, THE, THE, THE BOTTOM LINE COMMISSIONERS THAT WE, WE DON'T HAVE GROUND WE DON'T HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH ANYBODY GOING, UM, FOR, UH, THIS YEAR EITHER. BETWEEN OUR NEGOTIATIONS IN SOME CASES, ARBITRATION. WE THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL MOVING. WE'LL GET THERE. THANK YOU. ANY OTHERS? I'D, UH, LIKE TO CONGRATULATE COMMISSIONER BARRY EARLIER TODAY. HAD A NICE PROGRAM, UH, DEDICATED TO THE DAY OF THE GIRL. TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY HI TO MY STAFF AT HOME. MY MY DAUGHTER ZITO. UH, COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ALLOW TODAY? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL AS FOR THE DEPUTY CLERK IN THE ENTIRE, UH, COMMISSIONER TEAM. UH, MISS COMMISSIONER MERCADO, WHO WAS AN END AND EVERYONE WHO SENT, UH, GOOD ENERGY FROM AFAR TOMORROW REPRESENTS THE OFFICIAL DAY OF THE GIRL AS RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED NATIONS IN 2012, TO HONOR AND SUPPORT, UH, THE RIGHTS OF YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRL ACROSS THE WORLD. IN ADDITION TO OUR COUNTRY, WE KNOW THAT OUR YOUNG WOMEN, JUST OUR YOUNG MEN ARE AMAZING AND BRILLIANT, BUT ARE SERIALLY, UNDERPROTECTED, UM, IN LAWS AND CULTURE, BOTH JUST IN OUR COUNTRY, BUT ACROSS THE GLOBE. AND SO THIS DAY IS TO CELEBRATE YOUNG MEN, TO CELEBRATE THE PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, COACHES, EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTS YOUNG WOMEN TO BE THEIR BEST SELVES. AND SO WE WOULD HONOR, UH, SEVERAL SCHOOLS AND, UH, EDUCATORS AND THEIR MOTHER, UM, FOR HELPING EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN. SO THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. AND I KNOW, UH, I THINK IN THE NEXT MEETING WE'LL HAVE AN OFFICIAL RESOLUTION, OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS STATE OF THE GIRL ON THAT, UH, BE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING IT NEXT WITH MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES. I WANT TO ECHO SENTIMENTS. UM, COMMISSIONER, UH, DORIAN THOMAS. THOMAS, UH, MARY THOMAS, I'M SORRY. UH, DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. UM, AND THE , ALL THE YOUNG GIRLS, UM, AND THEIR PARENTS, UM, AND THE TEACHERS, DR. PETERSON WAS IN THE AUDIENCE 'CAUSE ONE OF THE PA ONE OF THE NOMINEES FROM NEWARK TECH. IT WAS JUST A WONDERFUL DAY CELEBRATING YOUNG GIRLS. SO YOU DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND AS WE'RE ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE, I WANNA AGAINST SOME ONE OF OUR OWN, UH, THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR ALL THAT THEY DO TO MAKE THESE MEETINGS MOVE AS, UH, AS POSSIBLE AND SMOOTH. AND OUR VERY OWN ADAM TUCK, WHO HAS JOINED THE RANKS OF THE MARRIED OVER THE WEEKEND. SO WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE HIM. IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND PROFESSIONAL LOVE TO , THIS WILL EARN AS A MARRIED MAN, WE ERNIE SURROUNDING POINTS INTO THE FUTURE. AND SEE, YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE SOME OTHERS FROM THE REST OF US HERE. , HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE. ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONERS, UH, LET'S END. LET'S END IT ON GREAT VIEWS OF ADAM, UH, BEING MARRIED TO A, A LOVELY YOUNG LADY. AND LET'S HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. [02:40:01] SO MOVED. SECOND. AYE. AYE. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.