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ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS HEREBY CALL TO ORDER.THE MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAM IN ADDITION TO TAKING PLACE.
MADAM DEPUTY COURT, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT POIS HERE.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE SALUTE OF THE FLY.
I'M GONNA ASK COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON TO LEAD US IN THE SP TWO OF THE FIVE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I'M GONNA ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND HONOR OF THOSE TWO WE LOST SINCE THE LAST TIME WE CAME TOGETHER.
AND IN PARTICULAR FOR ONE OF OUR OWN, UH, CHIEF OF STAFF E WHO LOST HIS MOTHER
I HAVE BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FOR THE DEPUTY CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETING PUBLIC ACT.
UH, LET'S MOVE ON THE TRANSCRIPT.
MADAM DEPUTY, QUICK, ARE THERE ANY TRANSCRIPTS TO BE APPROVED? NO.
ARE THERE ANY TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT.
MR. JACKSON, PLEASE INTRODUCE THE PRESENTATION AND THE PURPOSE FOR THIS EVENING.
OUR HEALTH OFFICER, MAYA, UH, HARLOW IS GOING TO PRESENT, UH, TO THE BOARD AND I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO OUR HEALTH OFFICER.
GOOD EVENING, UH, PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS.
UH, I'LL BE DOING A PRESENTATION.
I HAVE SARAH BONIA HERE WITH US.
IT'S GONNA MAN THE, UH, CLICKER.
UM, SO I WILL LET HER GO FORWARD SURE.
I'M JUST GONNA MOVE OVER THERE WITH, UH, MR. PARLA SO THAT WE CAN GET A BETTER SHOT OF THE SCREEN AS WE TIED YOU AND THEN YOU CAN PROCEED.
NOW CAN, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD, UH, AS EVERYONE TAKES THEIR SEAT, UH, THIS PRESENTATION, UM, IS IN COORDINATES FOR OUR ACCREDITATION.
I'VE, BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANNA SAY HOW TRULY THANKFUL I AM TO THE PRESIDENT AND TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS FOR ALLOWING ME TO GIVE THIS PRESENTATION.
BUT THIS PRESENTATION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE PRESENTED WITHOUT THE COMMISSIONERS EVERY TIME THAT I STAND HERE AND ASK FOR SOMETHING TO BE INSERTED INTO THE AGENDA AND APPROVED BY YOU.
THIS IS THE WORK THAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO BECAUSE OF ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR US SHOULD MOVE.
SO, I PROMISE THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE BRIEF BUT IMPACTFUL TO ENSURE THAT, UH, YOU SEE THE STRIVES THAT WE ARE MAKING FOR THE ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITY AND FOR THE HEALTH OF ALL HERE WHO LIVE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
SO BEFORE I BEGIN PUBLIC HEALTH, WE ALL HEARD OF PUBLIC HEALTH DURING COVID.
UH, WE ALL RUSHED INTO HELP OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT WHAT WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IS PUBLIC HEALTH WAS ALWAYS SITTING THERE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IS NOT USUALLY NOTICED UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS.
AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT IS WE'RE PREPARING FOR THE NEXT DISASTER, AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PROMOTING HEALTHCARE EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY TO ALL IN ESSEX COUNTY.
HOW IS ESSEX COUNTY OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLEMENTING PUBLIC HEALTH? AND AGAIN, WITHOUT YOUR HELP, WE COULD NEVER HAVE DONE THIS AND WE COULD HAVE NEVER PRESENTED THIS PRESENTATION.
SO WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO IS WE ARE GOING FOR NATIONAL ACCREDITATION.
WE WILL BE ONLY ONE OF TWO COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY TO HAVE FULL NATIONAL ACCREDITATION.
WITH YOUR HELP, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVE OUR, IMPROVE, OUR ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO IMPROVE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT, HOW WE DELIVER SERVICES.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE HEALTH EQUITY, WHICH MEANS THAT ALL WHO LIVE IN ESSEX COUNTY WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR NEEDS ADDRESSED IN THEIR PROPER PRIORITIES.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES.
AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THE TRUST THAT WE BUILT THROUGH COVID.
THE PUBLIC TRUSTS US WHENEVER THEY SAW US AT A VACCINATION SITE, THEY TRUSTED US.
SO NOW THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRUST US AS WE PROVIDE VACCINES FOR CHILDREN SCREENINGS FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS THEM, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH ELIGIBILITY OR THROUGH LACK OF INSURANCE.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT HARD, BUT WE'VE DONE A COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT.
THAT COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT HAS PROVIDED US WITH THE ABILITY TO PRO TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR PRIORITY POPULATIONS
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ARE AND WHAT OUR PRIORITY AREAS ARE BASED ON THE DATA OF OVER 1000 RESIDENTS.THAT ANSWERED THE COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT.
THOSE WERE THE, THE PRIORITY AREAS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED WERE CHRONIC DISEASE, BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, AND OF COURSE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.
ALL OF US UNDERSTAND THAT CHRONIC DISEASE LIVES IN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN AN ISSUE BECAUSE OF COVID AND THE EFFECTS THAT WE ARE FEELING FROM IT.
NOW, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, WE ALL KNOW THAT IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY YOUR RENT, YOU'RE NOT GONNA CARE WHAT YOUR CHOLESTEROL IS.
AND THESE ARE THE PRIORITY AREAS THAT WE HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY HAVE IDENTIFIED FROM OUR POPULATION THAT WE WILL BE ADDRESSING.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE DOING.
WE HAVE PILOTED A PROGRAM CALLED THE HEALTHY MONDAYS CAMPAIGN.
IT WAS PILOTED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD THROUGH THEIR ENTIRE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
WE CREATED AN ENTIRE TOOLKIT THAT IS PROVIDED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S K THROUGH 12 EVERY SINGLE MONDAY.
THAT TOOLKIT WAS CREATED WITHIN OUR OFFICE AND IS PROVIDING A HEALTHY ACTIVITY EACH AND EVERY SINGLE MONDAY FOR EACH GRADE K THROUGH 12.
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES.
WE'VE ALSO HAVE A COMMUNITY HEALTH ALERT AND INFORMATION NETWORK.
WE HAVE OVER 500 INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AGENCIES THAT ARE PART OF OUR EMERGENCY ALERT NETWORK.
WE'RE ABLE TO CONTACT THOSE INDIVIDUALS QUICKLY, EASILY WITH ONE SINGLE EMAIL IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
AND WE'RE ABLE TO IDENTIFY EXACT PRIORITY POPULATION.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S AFFECTING JUST DAYCARES OR JUST LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, WE'RE ABLE TO ISOLATE THAT AND SEND IT TO THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
WE ALSO HAVE CREATED AND UPDATED ALL OF OUR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANS.
WE'VE CREATED OUR EMERGENCY, UH, ESF INCIDENT MANAGEMENT PLAN.
WE CREATED A REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION PLAN, WHICH MEANS WE CAN GO AHEAD, PULL THAT PLAN IF WE EVER NEED TO DISTRIBUTE VACCINES OR IF WE NEED TO DISTRIBUTE, UH, SUPPLIES.
WE'VE ALSO UPDATED, UH, OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION CRISIS AND RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN.
WE ALL KNOW THAT DURING AN EMERGENCY, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS DISSEMINATING INFORMATION.
AND WE HAVE A VERY UP TO DATE CURRENT PLAN THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT EASY, IMPLEMENTABLE, AND QUICK FOR US TO DISTRIBUTE.
OUR OFFICE PARTICIPATES NOT ONLY IN EXERCISES ALMOST EVERY SINGLE MONTH, BUT WE EXERCISE WITH AGENCIES NOT JUST WITHIN OURSELVES.
WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE FBI, NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE, NEW JERSEY TRANSIT, AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR MUNICIPALITY HEALTH, UH, OFFICES PARTICIPATES IN OUR SCENARIOS.
WE HAVE TABLETOPS EX EXERCISES.
THE LATEST ONE WE JUST DID WITH OUR CORRECTIONS FACILITY, AND WE, UH, DID A, UH, A MONKEYPOX OUTBREAK WITHIN THE FACILITY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO DIRECTOR CHARLES FOR ALL HIS HELP.
AND THEN WE ALSO, IN MARCH, UH, WE DID AN ANTHRAX TABLETOP WITH ALL OF OUR MUNICIPAL PARTNERS.
UH, WE HAVE ALSO CREATED THE ESSEX COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE.
THAT COMMITTEE ALLOWS FOR US TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, UH, AND PREPARE FOR UPCOMING ISSUES.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE ALL KNOW THAT FIFA IS COMING.
WE ARE PREPARING FOR WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACTS IT'S GOING TO HAVE, AND WE'RE PLANNING FOR THOSE.
SOME OF THE HEALTH IMPACTS THAT MAY COME ARE DIFFERENT COMMUNICABLE DISEASES THAT WE'RE NOT USED TO FROM ALL OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS THAT ARE COMING IN.
AND ALSO ENSURING THAT OUR CURRENT POPULATION IS SAFE, UH, WHETHER IT'S FOOD HANDLING OR PARTIES THAT ARE OCCURRING.
AND WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE PLANS FOR THAT.
WE HAVE A MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS.
THAT MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS IS COMPOSED RIGHT NOW OF 47 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
WE ALSO, MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN OUR MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC.
OUR MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC IS ONE OF OUR BEST AND MOST AMAZING, UH, ATTRIBUTES IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT HAS COME OUT OF COVID AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE, UH, VACCINES, HEALTH SCREENINGS, AND OF COURSE, OUR VACCINE FOR CHILDREN PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS FOR ALL CHILDREN TO, UH, GET VACCINATED REGARDLESS OF INSURANCE STATUS.
UH, THESE ARE JUST SOME OF OUR NUMBERS THAT WE DID IN THE, IN UH, 2024, WE'RE ABLE TO DO A TOTAL OF ALMOST 1400 SCREENINGS, AND WE DID A TOTAL OF 75 EVENTS.
SO WE ARE QUITE BUSY THIS YEAR.
UH, OUR VACCINE FOR CHILDREN, UH, PROGRAM.
WE DID OVER 700 AND, UH, 80 VACCINES THAT WERE ADMINISTERED TO 261 CHILDREN IN THE, UH, ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITY.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DID INTERNALLY AND I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR ADMINISTRATION, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO KNOW WHAT STRATEGIC
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PLANNING IS, IT TAKES THE STRENGTHS, THE WEAKNESSES, THE OPPORTUNITIES, AND THE THREATS OF A PARTICULAR DIVISION AND PUTS THEM OUT THERE.AND WITH THE INPUT OF OUR ADMINISTRATION, WE ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THEM.
ONE OF OUR BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES IS USING AI AND GIS AND CREATING DATA THAT IS VISUAL.
SO THE NEXT PRESENTATION THAT I'M GOING TO GIVE, UH, OR THE NEXT SLIDE IS GOING TO BE HOW INNOVATIVE AND HOW WE'VE USED GIS AND AI IN PREDICTIVE MODELING HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
SO, GIS IS THE BEST WAY THAT I CAN EXPLAIN IT IS TAKING DATA AND CREATING A PICTURE.
USING THE PILOT OF THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD, ONE OF OUR BIGGER MUNICIPALITIES, WE ARE ABLE TO MAP LEAD CASES IN BLOOMFIELD.
WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE HOTSPOTS AND OUR HEALTH EDUCATION AND NURSING TEAM WAS ABLE TO CREATE INITIATIVES BASED ON THOSE, UH, LOCATIONS AND STRATEGICALLY PLACE EDUCATORS IN SCHOOLS, UH, LOCATED IN THOSE AREAS WHERE THE HOTSPOTS WERE.
THIS IS AGAIN, ANOTHER HOTSPOT, UH, FOR LEAD.
UH, WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO GIS ALL OF OUR RESERVATIONS.
SO IF IN CASE WE EVER HAD A SITUATION, WHICH WE NEVER WILL, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIRES THAT ARE GOING ON IN CALIFORNIA, WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO, BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY GIS ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES, WE'RE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND GET REALTIME INFORMATION.
AND IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, WE'RE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND MAP THAT.
UH, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE USED EMS CALLS.
WE ARE ABLE TO MAP EMS CALLS BASED ON TIME.
AND WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO IS STRATEGICALLY ADVISE EMS ON WHEN TO STAFF, UH, THEIR PARTICULAR LOCATIONS AT THE BEST TIME WITH THE MOST AMOUNT OF CALLS AND WHAT TIME THAT IS.
UH, THIS IS HOUSEHOLD INCOME THAT WE'VE DONE.
SO ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS IS WE TALKED ABOUT SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, AND WE'RE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND STRATEGICALLY PLACE, UH, INDIVIDUALS AND HEALTH EDUCATION INITIATIVES BASED ON THINGS THAT ARE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS AND HAVE JUDGING OF ECONOMIC STATUS.
OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT, AS I TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, WE ARE ABLE TO CREATE AN INTERACTIVE DASHBOARD WITH THAT.
THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE SHOWS THE ELIGIBILITY AND INSURANCE ACCESSIBILITY WITHIN ESSEX COUNTY BASED ON THAT COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT.
OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT TO KNOW, THERE IS A DEP LAW THAT STATES THAT ALL PUBLIC FACILITIES MUST REPORT CHEMICALS THAT THEY HOLD.
WE ARE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND MAP EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE FACILITIES THAT, THAT ARE, UH, MANDATED TO REPORT TO US.
AND, UH, WE ARE ABLE TO SEE WHICH ONES WE'RE LACKING FOR REPORTING AND WHICH WE'RE NOT.
AND THIS IS HELPING US WORK WITH LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES TO ADDRESS AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE FACILITIES IS REPORTING TO US.
ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS, AND EVERYONE'S HEARD OF IT, IS AI.
AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE USING PREDICTIVE AI.
EVERY SINGLE MUNICIPALITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO MAP THEIR COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.
WE TOOK FIVE YEARS OF FLU CASES AND WE MAPPED THEM AND THEN WE PUT THEM INTO THE PREDICTIVE AI.
SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE CREATED A 2025 FLU SEASON FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD.
WHAT THESE MAPS ARE A LITTLE BIT FAR AWAY, BUT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS, AND WHAT THEY TOLD US IS THAT HISTORICALLY WE KNOW THAT WE ARE TARGETING 65 AND OVER AND YOUNG CHILDREN FOR FLU VACCINES.
WHAT OUR PREDICTIVE AI ACTUALLY TOLD US IS THAT THE MOST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE INFECTED ARE THOSE 25 TO 34.
SO OUR CAMPAIGNS WERE NOW CHANGED AND TARGETED TO THAT AGE GROUP.
AND REMEMBER THE ONES THAT TAKE CARE OF OUR ELDERLY AND THE ONES THAT TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN ARE THE 24 TO 35 YEAR OLDS.
SO IF THEY'RE GETTING SICK, WHO'S INFECTING THEM? SO IT'S REALLY INTERESTING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO LEARN THAT.
SO LIKE I SAID, WE TOOK FIVE YEARS WORTH OF DATA.
AND ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS THAT I WANT YOU TO NOTICE IS THAT THOSE HOTSPOT INDICATE TRAIN STATIONS.
THOSE WERE WHERE THE FLU CASES WERE MOST, NOT FROM PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THE TRAINS, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED AROUND THAT AREA.
WHICH MEANS IF THERE'S A MASS COMMUTER AREA, THEY'RE GOING TO USE THE SAME DUNKIN DONUTS OR THE SAME SEVEN 11 THAT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE AROUND THE AREA ARE.
SO OUR HEALTH EDUCATORS AND OUR NURSES STARTED TO PINPOINT, UH, OUR EDUCATION AND ALSO OUR VACCINE CLINICS AROUND THOSE AREAS.
AND, UH, SO THIS AGAIN, IS OUR AGE GROUP THAT WAS, UH, TALKING THAT I JUST SPOKE ABOUT.
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DONE WITH OUR GIS PROGRAM.AGAIN, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, TO THE PRESIDENT, TO OUR ADMINISTRATION, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, FOR ALLOWING US TO PRESENT THIS AND FOR ALLOWING US TO EVEN DO THIS.
THAT WAS, UH, VERY INSIGHTFUL.
UM, I MEAN, I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THE RESPONSE DURING COVID FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT WAS EXCEPTIONAL AND FROM THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
AND IT'S, UH, GREAT TO SEE THAT YOU CONTINUE THIS GOOD WORK LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE AND LEARNING FROM THE PAST AND HOTSPOTS.
UH, I PERSONALLY AM VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT BLOOMFIELD IS HELPING OUT A LITTLE BIT 'CAUSE I HAPPEN TO LIVE IN BLOOMFIELD, FULL DISCLOSURE.
UM, SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME TODAY AND FOR OUR COLLEAGUES TO, UH, ALLOW A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TODAY TO LEARN QUITE A BIT.
I'M SURE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR, UH, FOR COMMISSIONERS.
IF ANYONE SHOULD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BASED ON THE PRESENTATION.
UH, THANK, I WOULD'VE SAID THAT.
THE COMMISSIONER SAID, I APPRECIATE IT.
UH, MISS, I KEEP WANTING TO SAY, MS. LORD.
MS. HARLOW, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
AND, UH, LET ME, I, LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, FOR THE RECORD THAT VICE PRESIDENT COOPER HAS ARRIVED.
LET'S, UH, MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
TONIGHT'S MEETING IS A COMBINED CONFERENCE BOARD MEETING, AND WE WILL VOTE ON EVERY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THERE'LL BE TIME LATER IN THE MEETING, UH, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OTHER ITEMS. SO I ASK YOU, PLEASE LET ME COMMENT TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
JAMES TROI, VICE PRESIDENT, FOP LODGE 1 0 6, REPRESENTING THE SWORN SUPERVISORS AND INVESTIGATORS WITHIN THE ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
SPEAKING TO RESOLUTION NUMBER THREE, IT CALLS FOR THE CREATION OF COUNTY REENTRY COORDINATORS, PRESUMABLY WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
THE ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS THE EIGHTH LARGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN ALL OF NEW JERSEY, STARTING WITH THE STATE DOC TO THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE WORKING ITS WAY DOWN EVERY COUNTY, MUNICIPAL AND STATE AGENCY, THE EIGHTH LARGEST IN ALL OF JERSEY, THE LARGEST JAIL BY FAR IN NEW JERSEY.
SO LOGIC SAYS THERE WILL NEED TO BE MORE THAN ONE OF THESE COUNTY REENTRY COORDINATORS.
THE QUESTION WE HAVE IS, ARE THESE TO BE NEW POSITIONS? ARE THESE GOING TO BE NEW EMPLOYEES OR EXISTING ONES THAT WILL RECEIVE BOLSTERED SALARIES, EITHER FROM THE CORRECTIONS BUDGET OR ELSEWHERE, AS WE KNOW IS BEING DONE WITH CHIEF OF STAFF? ELIJAH, RESOLUTION 14, PAGE NINE OF THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS PACKAGE.
YOU RECEIVED CALENDAR YEAR 20 23, 615, DRUG RELATED DEATHS 20 22 450 DRUG RELATED DEATHS, 2,695 NALOXONE ADMINISTRATIONS BY POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN EMS. DO THESE NUMBERS INCLUDE DRUG DEATHS WITHIN THE ESSEX COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY? DO THEY INCLUDE OVERDOSES AT THE ESSEX COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY? NALOXONE ADMINISTRATIONS AT THE ESSEX COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, I DON'T KNOW FOR CERTAIN, BUT 40 YEARS IN EMS CURRENTLY TEACHING STATEWIDE ON NALOXONE ADMINISTRATION.
THE NUMBERS WOULD SEEM TO SAY NO.
PAGE 53 OF THAT SAME PACKAGE TALKS ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVED PERSONS.
SECTION D TWO EXPRESSLY SAYS PRETRIAL PERSONS.
SO CERTAINLY ESSEX COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THOSE CALCULATIONS.
PAGE 58, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S SECTION I OR ROMAN NUMERAL ONE.
SO AGAIN, THE QUESTION IS, WHEN WE CALCULATED THE FIRST RESPONDERS, DID WE INCLUDE THE SWORN STAFF OF THE ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS? QUICKLY, RESOLUTIONS 26 AND 27, TALK ABOUT ACCEPTING FUNDS FROM THE BODY ARMOR REPLACEMENT FUND FOR THE PROSECUTOR AND SHERIFF.
ROUGHLY 30 SECONDS CORRECTIONS IS NOT LISTED.
PERHAPS THEY DIDN'T RECEIVE THEIR REWARD LETTER YET, BUT THE QUESTION BECOMES, ARE THEY GETTING BODY ARMOR REPLACEMENT MONIES? BECAUSE THE ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT
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OF CORRECTIONS WAS THE FIRST COUNTY AGENCY IN ESSEX TO SECURE THOSE FUNDS CIRCA 1999.AND I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT 'CAUSE I WROTE THE GRANT.
AND IS THERE A CUSTOM MOVE? WE'LL HAVE YOUR RESPONSES SENT TO YOU IN, UH, WRITING AFTER WE FORWARD INTO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR A RESPONSE.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT.
THERE IS NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE OUT OF ORDER TO TAKE RESOLUTION NUMBER 30, WHICH IS THE 2025 TEMPORARY CAPITAL BUDGET, WHICH WILL BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, MR. MOHAMED WILL HANDLE THIS, THIS ITEM.
UH, GOOD EVENING, SAM MOHAMMAD COUNTY TREASURER, UM, RESOLUTION, UH, FOR, UH, 2025 TEMPORARY CAPITAL BUDGET.
UM, THIS REPRESENTED THE, THE CAPITAL PLAN FOR 2025.
UM, THIS IS ALL THE PROJECT WE INTEND TO, UH, TO AUTHORIZE FOR 2025.
IT'S, UH, IT'S FOR VARIOUS IMPROVEMENT FOR PARKS AND ROADS AND BRIDGES AND, UH, UH, AND, UH, ACQUISITION OF, UH, VARIOUS EQUIPMENTS AND COUNTY COLLEGE, UM, IMPROVEMENTS.
MR. PARLOVE, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO.
JUST OBSERVATION THAT THIS, UH, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, UH, IS, IS A RESULT TOO OF, OF ALL OF THE, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE PROJECT TO BE DONE, UH, WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UH, MR. PRESIDENT JUST WANTED TO THING.
IT'S, IT'S, WELL, IT'S WELL WITH, IT'S WITHIN THE, THE, THE, THE GUIDELINES THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS ESTABLISHED, UH, WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE, AND THAT'S ROUGHLY $20 MILLION A YEAR.
COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE? AND SECOND? NO, SIR.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MERCADO WILL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE BACK IN ORDER TO ORDINANCE, UH, ON INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING, MADAM DEPUTY CLARK, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE THREE ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.
LET'S MOVE TO ORDINANCE NUMBER ONE AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, UH, PERIODICALLY WE UPDATE THE SALARY ORDINANCE FOR OUR, UM, UM, OFFICERS WITHIN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, UH, INCLUDING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, COUNTY COUNCIL, DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR, SHERIFF, UH, ET CETERA.
AND THIS IS JUST UPDATING THAT AND IT MATCHES THE INCREASES THAT WERE, UH, GIVEN TO, UH, UH, SO FAR TO OUR STAFF.
UH, SO, UH, OF OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.
AND THAT'S 2% IN 2024, 2% IN 2025, AND 3% IN 2026.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE NUMBER TWO, WHICH WILL BEAR ON AND FOR THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME, MR. JACKSON.
UM, MR. HAM WILL HANDLE ITEM TWO AND THREE.
MOHAMMAD, UH, ORDINANCE NUMBER TWO, UH, TO PROVIDE, UH, FOR, UH, VARIOUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, UM, UH, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TO THE PARKS AND THE, UH, BUILDING GROUNDS AND, UH, ROADS AND BRIDGES, UH, APPROPRIATE IN 13,000,450.
OUT OF THAT 12,000,775 WILL BE FOR, UH, IZED AS DEBT, AND THE REST WILL BE FROM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
OKAY, MR. PARLOVE, ANY QUESTIONS? NUMBER TWO.
ANY QUESTIONS ON NUMBER TWO? NO.
DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE, MOVE, MOVE BY MERCADO.
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ABSENT.COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
PROCEED WITH NUMBER THREE, PLEASE.
UH, MOHAMMAD COUNTY TREASURER.
UM, ORDINANCE NUMBER THREE IS FOR, TO PROVIDE FOR, UH, VARIOUS ACQUISITION AND IMPROVEMENT, UM, TO TWO DEPARTMENTS, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE APPROPRIATE IN $5 MILLION.
OUT OF THAT FOUR, 4,000,750 WILL BE AUTHORIZED FOR THAT.
LIKE, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
SEE, NAN? DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE? I'LL MOVE IT.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY? NO.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTIONS ON SECOND READING IN PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.
DO WE HAVE ANY? YES, MR. PRESIDENT? WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR URBAN PARKS AND GREEN ACRES THAT WE WILL ENTERTAIN AT 6:00 PM ALONG WITH RESOLUTION 21 AND 22.
MR. PARLOVE, MY UNDERSTANDING THIS HAS TO BE AT SIX O'CLOCK OR AFTER, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S RIGHT.
THIS IS, UH, A, UM, I BELIEVE, UM, UH, DEP REGULATIONS AND THERE WON'T BE A VOTE ON IT.
IT'S JUST REQUIRED THAT IT HAS A, UH, PUBLIC HEARING.
APPARENTLY THE STATE WANTS MR. STATE TO STAY HERE LATE TOO.
SO WE'LL KEEP HIM HERE UNTIL SIX O'CLOCK AT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH US.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS AN ADVICE AND CONSENT FROM THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WHICH WE REGARD TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, THIS IS AN APPOINTMENT OF AMIR JONES, OUR SHERIFF, TO THE POSITION OF, UH, COORDINATOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN THE COUNTY.
UM, UH, SHERIFF JONES WAS, UH, SCHEDULED TO BE HERE, BUT, UH, HAD A CALLED AWAY ON THE MATTER.
UM, HE'S HAPPY TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD, UM, AT A, AT ANOTHER MEETING TO DISCUSS, UH, QUESTIONS OR ENTERTAIN ANY ISSUES AT THE BOARD BEHALF.
ANY QUESTIONS? JUST A COMMENT.
MR. PRESIDENT, IF YOU RECALL AT THE LAST MEETING, UH, SHERIFF JONES WAS TEMPORARILY APPOINTED AND THAT HAD TO DO JUST WITH, UM, NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.
SO THIS IS THE, UH, OFFICIAL APPOINTMENT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER AL, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT THAT I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY FOR HIM TO APPEAR BEFORE US AT A LATER MEETING.
WE ALL KNOW THAT HE IS NOW THE SHERIFF, AND THIS, THIS POSITION FOR HIM IS PERFECT WITHOUT OUR QUESTIONING HIM.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? AND I'LL MOVE IT.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION TWO, WHICH IS FROM THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, WHICH COULD BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JOHNSON, UH, THANK YOU, UM, DIRECTOR AMOS AND, UH, WE'LL, UH, DIRECT THIS ITEM.
UH, PER, UH, AMOS, UH, FROM THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, UH, BOARD OF ELECTIONS CONTRACT WITH DOMINION VOTING SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE BALLOT SCANNING, TRAINING, SUPPORT, AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES, UH, THROUGH JANUARY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2026, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $887,682 AND 98 CENTS.
THE BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONS, THE VENDOR DOMINION VOTING FOR MACHINES, TABULATORS AND SCANNING DEVICES THAT ARE USED TO TABULATE MAIL-IN AND PROVISIONAL BALLOTS.
DOMINION VOTING ALSO ASSISTS FOR PROVISIONAL PROVIDING ADJUDICATION SOFTWARE, PROVIDING BALLOTS AND PROVIDE END OF NIGHT REPORTS AND RESULTS.
THEY PROVIDE ERS ON ELECTION DAY TO ENSURE ALL OF THEIR EQUIPMENT IS OPERATING AT ALL OF OUR POLLING LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT ESSEX COUNTY.
UM, AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. RON ROSANIA, THE REGIONAL SALES MAN MANAGER FROM DOMINION, VOTING FOR ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD AND JUST TELL US WHAT YOUR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IS WITH RESPECT TO THE VOTING MACHINES THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE DOING.
UH, PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS.
I AM THE SALES MANAGER FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY FOR DOMINION VOTING AND A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF ESSEX COUNTY.
UH, AS FAR AS THE, I'M SORRY, THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE YEAH, WHAT ARE YOU, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THIS CONTRACT? SPECIFICALLY? WHAT IS THE KIND OF MAINTENANCE AND THINGS THAT YOU DO? SURE.
SO THIS WILL, THIS WILL COVER ALL THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, UH, THE FIRMWARE AND WARRANTY ON THE ACTUAL SCANNING DEVICES THAT ARE
[00:30:01]
USED FOR THE PROVISIONAL AND THE VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS.WE ALSO OVERSEE THE SCANNING AND WE ASSIST IN THE BALLOT SCANNING PROCESS ON ELECTION DAY.
UM, THIS ALSO INCLUDES TAKING THE BALLOT IMAGES THAT ARE CREATED BY A COUNTY CLERK AND MAPPING THEM INTO THE SYSTEM, TESTING THEM, LOADING THEM ON THE EQUIPMENT HERE AT ESSEX COUNTY, UH, CERTIFYING THEM USING, UH, DOING THE PUBLIC TEST AS WELL.
AND LASTLY, THE ROVERS, LIKE WE HAD JUST EXPLAINED, UH, TO GO TO THE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO ASSIST POLL WORKERS IN ANY, UH, ONSITE SITUATIONS THAT THEY MIGHT, UH, ENCOUNTER.
AND THIS IS FOR THE APRIL SCHOOL ELECTIONS, THE MAIN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, THE JUNE PRIMARY ELECTION, THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION, THE DECEMBER SPECIAL ELECTIONS, AND ANY OTHER ELECTIONS THAT COME UP.
SO WE DO A LOT OF, UH, ELECTIONS HERE IN NEW JERSEY.
SO THAT KIND OF ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THOSE THINGS WITHIN EACH OF THOSE ELECTIONS.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LONG LIST, RIGHT?
PEOPLE THINK WE ONLY WORK TWO DAYS A YEAR, AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, JUST A QUESTION, SIR.
THE, UH, THE VOTING MACHINES THAT THE COUNTY NOW USES ARE DOMINION PRODUCTS, RIGHT? CORRECT.
AND THE SOFTWARE, UH, THAT'S USED IN THAT, IS THAT A PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE? THAT, THAT'S DOMINION.
SO YOU'RE BASICALLY KEEPING THIS WITHIN THE COMPANY.
THE COMPANY IS SERVICING THEIR OWN PRODUCTS, THEIR OWN SPECIAL SPECIALIZED CORRECT.
ANYBODY ELSE WOULD REALLY BE ABLE TO TO THAT, THAT WAS MY POINT.
YOU'RE NOT BRINGING IN ANY OUTSIDE COMPANIES CORRECT.
AND IT'S ALL CERTIFIED, OBVIOUSLY, FEDERALLY AND THEN WITHIN, ALSO WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
MR. MACKIN, I, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER SIEBEL? UH, I JUST HAVE A COMMENT.
UH, YOU ARE, YOU'RE ESTABLISHED THAT THE, UH, PRIMARY ELECTION IS, THE DATE'S GOING TO BE CHANGED.
YOU'RE ALL SET FOR THAT? OH, YES.
IT, IT WAS MOVED UP FOR A WEEK.
SO YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT AND YOU'RE ALL SET THAT ABSOLUTELY.
YOU COUNTY, ARE YOU BEING THERE FOR COMMISSIONERS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES.
ARE YOU SERVICING ANY OTHER COUNTY BESIDES ESSEX? YES, WE ARE CURRENTLY, UM, IN BERGEN COUNTY.
EXCUSE ME, BERGEN COUNTY, MERCER COUNTY, UH, SALEM COUNTY, CUMBERLAND COUNTY.
AND I'M MISSING ONE AND THEY'RE GONNA BE MAD AT ME.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER MERCADO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE IT? I'LL MOVE IT.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
UM, DIRECTOR CHARLES AND DR. VEGA WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM.
MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HAS ONE ITEM FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UM, IS THE APPROPRIATION OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO THE, UH, ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR THE REENTRY POSITION.
UM, BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, IN 2022, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED INTO LAW AND CREATED ALL COUNTY JAILS.
HAD TO HAVE THE REENTRY POSITION, UM, THE COUNTIES TO END.
JACK PUSHED BACK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THERE WAS ANOTHER MANDATE THAT NEEDED FUNDING THE STATE DOC THEN, UM, IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET BACK THEN, UM, HAD, UH, EACH COUNTY THEY WOULD APPROPRIATE A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
UM, IN 2023, UM, WE RECEIVED IT 2024.
AND AGAIN, UH, WE, IT'S IN IT FOR 2025.
VEKA, UM, WHO WAS THE HEAD OF ALL THE PROGRAMS, SO SHE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY ASK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE REENTRY PROGRAM, WHAT SERVICES WE PROVIDE, THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE YOU HAVE.
SO, UM, I'M GONNA STEP ASIDE AND HAVE HER SURE.
DOCTOR, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION AND, UH, IF YOU CAN JUST TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT THE DIRECTOR INTRODUCED.
I OVERSEE ALL OF THE MA PROGRAMS AT THE JAIL.
CAN YOU GIVE US A OVERVIEW OF THE KIND OF PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? I OVERSEE SOCIAL SERVICES, RECREATION, MAT, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, RELIGIOUS SERVICES, UH, INMATE ADVOCACY, REENTRY.
MR. BECK, ANY QUESTIONS? UM, YES, DR. VEGA, CAN YOU JUST TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THESE REENTRY COORDINATORS? I THINK THERE WAS A QUESTION EARLIER.
HOW MANY THERE ARE THERE? WILL THEY BE NEW EMPLOYEES? OKAY.
SO WE HAVE ONE REENTRY COORDINATOR, KRISTEN SANFILIPPO.
SHE'S BEEN WITH US FOR A YEAR.
BEFORE THAT WE HAD MS. WHITE WAS THE REENTRY COORDINATOR.
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WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH, UM, MS. WHITE SOCIAL SERVICES, MAT, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.IS THIS, UH, A HUNDRED THOUSAND THAT THE COUNTY GETS REIMBURSED? IS THIS IN THE FORM OF A GRANT OR IS THIS AN APPROPRIATION OF THE STATE BUDGET THAT, UH, CAN BE APPROPRIATED ONE YEAR, BUT MAYBE NOT THE NEXT DIRECT TO CHARLES? I BELIEVE IT'S A GRANT.
UM, BUT I'M GONNA DEFER TO, OH, SOMETHING OF THAT.
MR. MOHAM, CAN YOU CONFIRM WHETHER THAT'S A, A GRANT OR AN APPROPRIATION OR MR. JACKSON? OH, I'M SORRY.
UH, HUSAM, MOHAMMAD COUNTY TREASURER, UH, THE RESOLUTION IS FOR INSERTING A GRANT TO THE BUDGET.
MR. MACON, DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY.
SO, UM, I, I, WHEN, WHEN THEY WERE DISCUSSING THIS BEFORE, THEY MADE IT SOUND AS IF THIS WAS SUBJECT TO THE WHIM OF THE STATE, THAT IT WAS PUT INTO THE BUDGET.
UM, SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE THERE AS LONG AS THE GRANT IS THERE.
AS LONG AS THEY APPROVE THE GRANT.
IT'S NOT AN ITEM IN THE STATE BUDGET.
IT'S, IT'S A GRANT RESOLUTION GRANT.
THAT'S, ANY OTHERS? THAT'S GOOD.
MR. MEGAN, DO YOU WANT NO, WE'VE HAD SIMILAR THINGS WITH CORRECTIONS WHERE THERE WERE ITEMS IN THE STATE BUDGET UNDER CORRECTIONS.
COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT.
IS THIS OUR FIRST YEAR GETTING THIS GRANT? NO.
WE'VE GOT, WE GOT IT LAST YEAR, RIGHT? UH, DIRECTOR RON CHARLES? NO, UH, WE'VE RECEIVING IT.
THIS IS, THIS 2025 WILL BE OUR THIRD YEAR.
ANY OTHERS? COMMISSIONER YOU GOOD? I CAN COME BACK TO YOU.
UH, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, IF YOU HAVE, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
SO HAS THE GRANT AMOUNT REMAINED THE SAME ALL THREE YEARS? THAT IS CORRECT, YES, SIR.
AND SO FOR THIS, UH, REENTRY PERSON WHO'S OVERSEEING THIS, HOW MANY CLIENTS DO THEY ASK YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN REENTRY? THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
SO DOCTOR, JUST PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND FOR THE RECORD.
I OVERSEE INMATE PROGRAMS AT THE ESSEX COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SINCE UH, REENTRY, UH, THE REENTRY DEPARTMENT HAS JOINED US, WE HAVE SERVICE AND OFFERED PROGRAMMING TO 2,843 PARTICIPANTS IN LAST YEAR.
HOW MANY REENTRY COORDINATORS ARE THERE? WE HAVE ONE REENTRY COORDINATOR AND ONE SOCIAL SERVICES COORDINATOR.
AND SO HOW MANY OTHER EMPLOYEES OR STAFF MEMBERS AT THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE WITH REENTRY? OR IS IT JUST THOSE TWO? HOW MANY EMPLOYEES? YES.
SO WE HAVE MS. FELIPO, WE HAVE, UH, RIGHT NOW FOUR CASE MANAGERS.
WE LOST TWO, FOUR CASE MANAGERS SPECIFICALLY RE FOR REENTRY WITHIN THE FOR REENTRY.
FOUR CASE MANAGERS AND A SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR THAT ALSO WORKS WITH REENTRY.
SO THAT TOTAL IS, WHAT AM I COUNTING? SEVEN, EIGHT.
SO RE WHAT, WHAT EXACTLY DOES THIS PROGRAM DO? THE PRO, SO FROM INITIAL CONTACT, WHEN THE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS COME IN, IF THEY'RE MINIMUM AND MEDIUM, UM, THEIR CHARGES ARE ME MEDIUM TO MINIMUM TO MEDIUM SECURITY.
WHEN THEY COME IN, THEY HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE INTAKE, DONE A SCREENING, UH, THEY HAVE AN ASSESSMENT DONE, THEN I THEN I HOLD ON.
UH, A TREATMENT, A TREATMENT PLAN IS CREATED.
THEY ARE GIVEN AN INDIVIDUAL CASE MANAGER.
THOSE CASE MANAGERS FILE THEM FROM INITIAL CONTACT TILL THE TIME THEY ARE RELEASED.
THEY MEET ONCE A MONTH, UH, OR UPON REQUEST.
AND THEN, UM, THEIR TREATMENT PLANS NEEDS AND GOALS WILL CHANGE ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY NEED OR WHAT THEY NEED FOR REENTRY TO THE COMMUNITY.
HOW MANY MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS DO YOU HAVE NOW? THAT'S A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT.
RON CHARLES, DIRECTOR OF CORRECTIONS.
THAT'S, THAT'S IN THE, UH, THE CFG, THE CONTRACT MEDICAL VENDOR.
UM, THEY HAVE, I THINK I LAST COUNT, SIX OF THEM.
[00:40:01]
ONE OTHER QUESTION.UM, SO YOU REFERENCED WHEN THEY COME IN YES.
SO IS THIS JUST FOR, UH, PRISONERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE MANDATED TO THAT FACILITY? OR IS THIS ALSO FOR FOLKS WHO YOU, BECAUSE YOU SAID REENTRY.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S FOR PEOPLE WHO'S COMING FROM STATE FACILITIES WHO ARE GETTING IT'S, IT'S FOR EVERYONE.
SO, SO LET ME FINISH MY QUESTION.
SO IF IT'S REENTRY, YOU'RE REENTERING THEM INTO SOCIETY, RIGHT? YES.
BUT YOU'RE STATING THAT THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO AS SOON AS THEY GET THERE, THEY'RE COMING FROM THE STREET.
AND, UH, THESE FOLKS WHO ARE GONNA BE MANDATED JUST TO COUNTY TIME OR THESE FOLKS THAT MAY BE GOING TO STATE FACILITIES OR FEDERAL FACILITIES.
SO, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CALL IT A REENTRY PROGRAM WHEN THEY HAVEN'T DONE THEIR TIME AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO BE RELEASED.
'CAUSE USUALLY REENTRY IS WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO BE RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO GO ON THE STREET.
THE RE THE REENTRY DEPARTMENT THAT JUST CAME IN IN THE LAST YEAR, THEY CAME IN IN JANUARY 20, 24.
THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY TO TARGET THOSE WHO ARE DOING LITTLE, LITTLE TIME AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, WITH SOCIAL SERVICES, MA SUBSTANCE ABUSE, WE ALSO GIVE THOSE SAME SERVICES TO THE WHOLE, TO THE ENTIRE FACILITY.
SO THEY, THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO PROGRAMMING SUCH AS CULINARY ARTS.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE GONNA START WAREHOUSE CERTIFICATION, YOGA OS, OCEAN CONSTRUCTION.
UH, SO THERE, THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE ALLOWED TO, I'M JUST STILL TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THE REENTRY PIECE.
WHEN THERE'S FOLKS WHO ARE JUST COMING TO THE FACILITY AND THEY'RE JUST BEGINNING THEIR INCARCERATION PROCESS, HOW ARE THEY CONSIDERED REENTRY? IS I I JUST THAT I I CAN'T PLEASE HELP ME.
UH, RON CHARLES, DIRECTOR OF CORRECTIONS, LEMME TRY TIE IT UP.
SO THE PROGRAM IS MULTIFACETED.
UM, WE, WE TAKE, WHEN THEY COME IN, THEY GET THEIR ASSESSMENT.
THERE IS A, A PLAN TO, UH, PUT TOGETHER THAT PLAN FOLLOWS THE PEOPLE IF THEY GO ONTO A FEDERAL PRISON, IF THEY GO INTO THE STATE PRISON.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF THEY REENTRY INTO SOCIETY, WE TALK ABOUT WRAPAROUND SERVICES, UH, WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
WE TALK ABOUT LICENSE RESTORATION, WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING.
ALL OF THAT IN THE COMMUNITY IS THEN THE REENTRY INTO BACK INTO SOCIETY.
SO NOW THAT PART MAKES SENSE TO ME.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE OTHER PART, HOW YOU CALL IT REENTRY WHEN IT JUST COME INTO YOUR FACILITY AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE INCARCERATED MAYBE FOR YEARS ON END DOWN THE ROAD.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU COULD CALL THAT PART OF IT REENTRY.
NO, I, I I, SO WE, WE PUT UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF, OF REENTRY AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. UM, THERE, BUT YOU'RE, YOU CAN'T REENTRY INTO THE SOCIETY.
SO THE PEOPLE HITTING THE, HITTING THE STREETS OR, OR LEAVING THE JAIL OR LEAVING THE PRISONS, YOU'RE REENTERING THEM INTO SOCIETY.
I DON'T DISAGREE, BUT I DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T COME UP WITH THE NAME, BUT, OKAY.
YOU RECOGNIZING COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS HAS ARRIVED IN THE MEETING.
QUESTION, WHEN YOU DO THIS, UM, COMPREHENSIVE, UM, DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR TREATMENT FOR THEM, REHABIL TREATMENT PLAN FOR THEM, THE PARTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT THEM WHEN THEY EXIT THE JAIL, YOU GIVE THEM RESOURCES AND CONNECT THEM TO PEOPLE.
JOB TRAINING, LICENSE RESTORATION.
SO WE HAVE OVER 108 REFERRAL SERVICES THAT WE REFER THEM TO.
AND WE PROVIDE THEM WITH THOSE REFERRAL SERVICES, OR WE CONNECT THEM BEFORE RELEASE.
IT'S USUALLY DONE WITHIN 30 DAYS BEFORE RELEASE AND UPON REQUEST.
SO 30 DAYS BEFORE RELEASE, YOU START TO HELP THEM IF THEY NEED THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE, IF THEY NEED HOUSING, YES.
TO CONNECT THEM TO ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF THE JAIL.
DO YOU TRACK THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT RECIDIVATE AND COME BACK AFTER YOU CONNECT THEM TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES UNDER MAT? WE DO.
I'D LOVE TO SEE THE STATISTICS.
CAN YOU SEND THEM, EMAIL THEM? YES.
THROUGH YOUR OFFICE, UH, THROUGH MR. JACKSON.
LET'S GET THAT TO THE BOARD, UH, SO THAT WE CAN ALL YES, MR. PRESIDENT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE? NUMBER THREE? MOVE IT.
COMMISSIONER RICHARDS SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
[00:45:01]
YES.COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS NUMBER FOUR THROUGH NINE FROM THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION.
ALL EXCEPT RESOLUTION FIVE ARE TEMPORARY EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS AND WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
WILL THESE ITEMS? GOOD EVENING, DIRECTOR.
I'M HERE TO ASK FOR A CONSENT AND AUTHORIZATION TO GO INTO, UH, BUDGET, UH, ENTER OUR BUDGET AND FOR THE NEW YEAR FOR OUR SSH GRANT, WHICH IS FOR RESOLUTION NUMBER FOUR.
THAT'S MONEY THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION OF THE DIVISION OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND DIVI FAMILY DEVELOPMENT.
UM, THOSE ARE FUNDS TO HELP OUR CONSTITUENTS WHEN THEY NEED HELP WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND HOMELESS PREVENTION SERVICES SUCH AS SHELTERING UTILITIES AND SO FORTH.
UM, NUMBER FIVE TIES INTO NUMBER FOUR, WHERE WE ARE SUBCONTRACTING OUR SERVICES OUT TO THESE, FOR THESE SERVICES TO 19 AGENCIES.
AND I DO HAVE FIVE OF THOSE AGENCIES HERE THIS EVENING TO STAND UP AND COME AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND TELL YOU ABOUT THEIR SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE IF YOU, SO, OKAY.
WHY DON'T WE JUST HAVE 'EM COME AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES BRIEFLY, AND THEY CAN JUST TELL US, UH, WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY REPRESENT.
THE FIRST AGENCY I HAVE IS THE SALVATION ARMY, MICHELLE ZI.
THESE ARE ALL, UH, REPEAT, UH, UH, VENDORS, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
I'M THE BUSINESS MANAGER AT THE SALVATION ARMY IN MONTCLAIR.
UM, WE ARE SUBRECIPIENTS OF THIS, UH, FUNDING.
UH, IT PROVIDES FUNDING FOR, UM, EMERGENCY SHELTER AT CORNERSTONE HOUSE IN MONTCLAIR.
THIS IS SHELTER FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR, UM, SERVICES THROUGH DFAB.
UH, THESE ARE WORKING PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE LOST THEIR JOB, UH, WHICH LED TO LOSING THEIR HOUSING.
UH, WE WORK WITH THEM TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AND ULTIMATELY INTO HOUSING.
UH, IT ALSO PROVIDES FUNDING FOR HOMELESS PREVENTION, RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE TO INTERVENE BEFORE AN INDIVIDUAL OR A FAMILY BECOMES HOMELESS.
THE NEXT AGENCY THAT I WILL BRING UP WILL BE OUR NEWARK YMCA AND VICINITY.
I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF HOUSING AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE NEWARK, YMCA.
UM, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE HERE.
UM, I'M GOING TO KIND OF LIKE, UM, PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT MS. MICHELLE SAID.
UM, WE DO HAVE, WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS.
WE HAVE HOMELESS, UM, HOMELESS PREVENTION, WE HAVE RAPID REHOUSING.
SO WE DO THE TOTAL, TOTAL, UM, WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
WE HAVE SHELTER, SO WE SHELTER THEM FOR, FOR, UM, FOR ABOUT 30 TO 60 DAYS.
UM, AND THEN WE TRY TO USE OUR, UM, NOT TRY, WE DO, WE USE OUR FUNDING TO, UM, PUT THEM INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.
AND, UM, WITH THE YMCA, WE PARTNER WITH A LOT OF DEVELOPERS IN THE AREA.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN WAREHOUSING TO GET 'EM OUT INTO PERMANENCY.
UH, THE NEXT ONE WE HAVE IS OUR, ONE OF OUR SHELTERS.
ONE OF OUR BEST SHELTERS, WHICH IS TURNING POINT.
KARIMA HAGENS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TURNING POINT COMMUNITY SERVICES.
WE OWN AND OPERATE THE ONLY FAMILY SHELTER IN IRVINGTON.
WE ARE A RECIPIENT OF SSH FUNDING.
ECHOING, ECHOING THOSE WHO WERE BEFORE ME.
WE PROVIDE EMERGENCY SHELTER, A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES CASE MANAGEMENT.
WE USE THIS FUNDING TO SUPPLY THOSE WHO ARE THE WORKING POOR, SO WE COULD PROVIDE THEM HOUSING AND GIVE THEM A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT COULD LAND ON THEIR FEET.
ALRIGHT, THE NEXT AGENCY I HAVE IS THE NEWARK HARMONY HOUSE NEW COMMUNITY, HARMONY HOUSE OF MS. ARROYO.
HOW ARE YOU? I'M CARRIE
UM, WE PROVIDE ALMOST SIMILAR SERVICES TO EVERYONE.
UM, WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE WORKING POOR, THOSE WHO DO NOT FALL
[00:50:01]
INTO THE CATEGORY OF DFAB, UM, UP TO 90 DAYS STAY FOR THE WORKING POOR.AND THIS HELPS THEM GET SETTLED AND REINJURE INTO HOUSING.
WE HAVE A RELOCATION SPECIALIST ON SITE WHO WORKS INTENSELY WITH THEM TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ALSO, WHILE ON OUR, EXCUSE ME, IN OUR SHELTER, WE PROVIDE, UM, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, GROUPS, JOB TRAINING, UM, GED EDUCATION, ACCESS TO FOOD PANTRIES.
WE HAVE ALL THAT WITHIN A NEW COMMUNITY, UM, PROCESS THEMSELVES.
AND WE HAVE 102 UNITS IN OUR SHELTER.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, I'M A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF NEW COMMUNITY CORPORATION.
HARMONY HOUSE IS THE, UH, NEW COMMUNITY OWNER OF HARMONY HOUSE.
UH, IF THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION IN THIS MATTER, I'M GONNA LEAVE THE ROOM AND TAKE NO PART IN IT.
SOME OF US MAY ASK YOU NOT TO COME BACK.
YOU NEVER KNOW
AND THE LAST AGENCY THAT I'M GONNA BRING UP IS THE IRVINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION.
I'LL HAVE THE EXEC, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MS. JOSIE MONELL, COME UP.
AND BEFORE YOU START MR. UNI, PLEASE COME TO THE MIC.
UH, THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
SHOULD YOU SEE ANY CONFLICT, JUST ADVISE PLEASE.
JOSIE MONELL FOR IRVINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION.
UM, OUR AGENCY PROVIDE, WE ARE A SUB-RECIPIENT OF THE SSH RENT.
OUR AGENCY PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND WE ALSO DO A SECURITY DEPOSIT.
SO WE ALSO DO REFERRAL TO OTHER AGENCY WHERE WE PARTNER WITH THEM.
WE HAVE A SOUP PANTRY AND WE ALSO HAVE A SOUP KITCHEN.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THAT WAS, UH, UH, JEROME ST.
JOHN, UH, WITH THE CONCERN, JUST FOR THE RECORD, WITH THE CONCERN FOR THE CONFLICT OF JUST 'CAUSE HE SAYS ON THE BOARD, THAT'S FOR THOSE, UH, WHO, UH, WILL TRANSCRIBE THIS, UH, PROCEEDING.
SO WITH THESE FIVE AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE, THE ADDITIONAL WITH THE ORDERS, WITH ALL THE SET AGENCIES, THEY HANDLE SERVICES FOR OUR WORKING POOR POPULATION.
AND THESE ARE THE BEST AGENCIES THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT PROVIDE EXCELLENT SERVICES.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE CONTRACTING WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR THE SET SERVICES.
AND BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO NUMBER SIX, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA TAKE ALL OF YOURS IN ONE SHOT.
I, I THINK, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, I'M SURE WE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT WE ARE IN NETTED TO THE VERY GOOD WORK THAT YOU FOLKS DO FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ESSEX COUNTY.
WHEN YOU SEE YOUR FOLKS, THEY'RE AT THEIR, YOU KNOW, CRISIS, MOMENT OF CRISIS.
AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO REMAIN COMPASSIONATE WHAT MAY BE THE DAY-TO-DAY JOB, BUT YOU'RE THERE.
AND TO REMAIN AND HAVE THAT SUPPORT AND, AND THAT COMPASSION THAT PEOPLE NEED DURING THAT MOMENT, THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT IN THEIR LIVES AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
SO FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT WORK, WE APPLAUD YOU AND WE THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.
IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS, WISHES TO SIGN IN.
UH, YOU DO EXCELLENT WORK, UM, TO REFERRALS OUR, OUR REFERRALS MADE TO, TO YOUR OFFICE OR DIRECTLY TO THE AGENCIES.
DO YOU MR. MECADO? NO, MR. MECADO.
THEY COME THROUGH OUR OFFICE AND THEY GO DIRECTLY TO THE AGENCIES.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS.
UM, AND IT'S ALWAYS A, A PLEASURE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UH, AND BECAUSE OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT WE, YOU DO AND OF COURSE ISN'T, UH, EASY WORK, BUT NECESSARY A QUESTION AND, UM, KIND OF AN OFFERING WITH A QUESTION.
SO, FIRST IS A QUESTION AS FAR AS ON THE GROUND, I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM EITHER YOU, YOURSELF OR, UH, SOME OF YOUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE NEW OR THAT ARE COMING UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN AS FAR AS WHAT OUR FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE, UM, USING THESE SERVICES THAT WE AS BOARD MEMBERS, WE AS COMMUNITY SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION TO, UH, THAT YOU'D LIKE TO KIND OF JUST BRING TO THE FOLD.
UM, AND THEN SECONDLY, THIS IS KIND OF SIMILAR TO YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER MERCADO, I GET A LOT OF INQUIRIES FROM PEOPLE WHO WANNA DONATE THINGS, TOILETRIES, CLOTHES, TOYS.
UM, AND I HAVE KIND OF LIKE A LIST OF FOLKS WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN MY OWN SPHERE, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE POINT PEOPLE AT THE RESPECTIVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
AND I'M SURE OTHER COMMISSIONERS GET SIMILAR INQUIRIES.
SO THAT WAY WHEN THOSE THINGS COME, UM, AND THERE'S A SURPLUS OF THINGS TO GIVE AWAY, WE CAN MAKE SURE THEY GET INTO, UH, THE FOLKS MOST IN NEED.
SO YEAH, JUST FIRSTLY BROAD STROKES, LIKE WHAT ARE WE SEEING? WHAT ARE WE HEARING AND WHAT ARE THINGS THAT, UH, WE SHOULD BE CONTINUING TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO AS FAR AS WHAT FOLKS ARE GOING THROUGH.
SO HOW WE CAN, YOU KNOW, BE OF SERVICE WHEN DONATIONS COME, MR. PALM, THIS, WE, WE NEED, WE NEED MORE FUNDING FROM THE STATE AND WE NEED HELP WITH LOBBYING, TRYING TO BRING IN MORE DOLLARS FROM THE STATE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN SERIOUS NEED.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING MONEY FROM THE STATE, WE NEED HELP FROM OUR LEGISLATIVE BODY TO TALK TO OUR STATE PARTNERS TO HELP US WITH GETTING MORE FUNDING WITHIN THE COUNTY SO WE CAN CONTINUE HELPING
[00:55:01]
SERVICES.BECAUSE THE FUNDING IS NOT THERE ANYMORE LIKE IT USED TO BE.
HOWEVER, WE ALSO NEED HELP WITH OUR PARTNERS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AREAS.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
THAT'S A BIG ISSUE WHERE PEOPLE ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE BECAUSE THESE GRAND DOLLARS ARE BASED ON SUSTAINABILITY.
SO IF WE NEED, IF WE ARE GONNA HELP THEM, WE GOTTA BE ABLE TO SEE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO CARRY THEMSELVES GOING FORWARD.
'CAUSE THESE DOLLARS ARE ONLY FOR ARREARS.
IT'S NOT LIKE SECTION EIGHT OR IT'S NOT LIKE SOMETHING THAT WILL CARRY THEM THROUGH ON A DAY TO DAY OR A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS.
SO WE NEED A LOT OF HELP WITH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE BODY.
WE'RE TALKING TO OUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO GET US MORE DOLLARS.
AND WHEN YOU SAY DOLLARS, AND I KNOW WE NEED DOLLARS EVERYWHERE, RIGHT? WE NEED DOLLARS FOR STAFF, WE NEED DOLLARS FOR, YOU KNOW, LIGHTS AND THE FOOD AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE VOUCHERS, ALL THAT.
BUT ARE THERE SPECIFIC AREAS, UH, WHERE LIKE AT THE COMMUNITY PARTNER LEVEL WHERE IT'S LIKE, OKAY, WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE DOLLARS.
THAT WAY WHEN FOLKS HAVE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE NEEDS, WE HAVE A SURPLUS OF FUNDS.
WE REALLY NEED, LIKE OBVIOUSLY IT'S ALL OF THE ABOVE, BUT I'M CURIOUS IF THERE'S CERTAIN AREAS THAT STAND OUT MORE THAN OTHERS.
LET ME, Y'ALL, LET ME LET YOU TALK TO, OKAY.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT HANDLE THOSE STUFF ON THE FRONT LINE.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO, UH, DIRECTLY IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, LET'S HAVE ONE OR TWO REPRESENTATIVES BECAUSE WE COULD BE HERE ALL NIGHT DISCUSSING IN NEEDS.
BUT I, I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSCORE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS, THAT, UH, WHATEVER INTEREST IS EXPRESSED FOR ASSISTANCE, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO GO THROUGH THE DIRECTOR SO THAT, 'CAUSE HE IS THE EXPERT IN WHAT EVERY ONE OF THE PARTNERS DO TO THEN DEFER TO ALL OF HIS PARTNERS.
THIS IS WHAT HE DOES DAY TO DAY, I'M ASSUMING.
AND SO HE WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN US, BUT THAT WOULD BE MY GENERAL, UH, RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT.
AND THEN, UH, UH, MR. MCCOY CAN THEN DIRECT, PLEASE JUST INTRODUCE YOU.
MICHELLE CRUZI, THE SALVATION ARMY OF MONTCLAIR.
UM, WE, WE WORK WITH THE WORKING POOR AND A BIG ISSUE WITH THAT POPULATION IS LIMITED HOURS.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO NE DON'T NECESSARILY WORK FULL TIME.
AND IF THEY DO, IT'S AT MINIMUM WAGE.
AND REGARDLESS OF HOW HIGH MINIMUM WAGE IS GOING, IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH FOOD.
UM, HOUSING PRICES IN MONTCLAIR AND ESSEX COUNTY THROUGHOUT ESSEX COUNTY, UM, ARE HIGH AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THAT.
UM, BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, UH, ABOUT DONATIONS? YEAH.
WE ALWAYS USE TOILETRIES BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE SERVE THE WORKING POOR, WE DO SERVE THE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS AND WE DO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SHOWERS.
AND WE DO NEED CLOTHING FOR, YOU KNOW, GENTLY USED CLOTHING FOR PEOPLE.
THERE ARE, THERE'S SO MUCH NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY, UM, THAT THIS JUST, THIS IS HELPING ONE PART OF THE POPULATION, BUT WE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH.
AND I AGREE WITH DIRECTOR MCCOY.
YOU CAN ALWAYS USE MORE FUNDING.
DONNA DARBY, IRVINGTON, NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION, GRANTS COORDINATOR.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SEE IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD, UM, A REALTOR TO GET, UH, A, A PLACE, RIGHT? BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, IN ORDER TO GET A PLACE, UM, YOU NEED TO HAVE EIGHT, UH, $6,000.
YOU GOTTA PAY THE REALTOR'S FEE AND YOU HAVE TO PAY THE RENTAL FEE.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE SEE IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF, UM, SENIORS WHO ARE BECOMING HOMELESS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH BUILDINGS FOR LOW INCOME, UM, INDIVIDUALS, UH, TO MOVE INTO.
AND I CONCUR WITH EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE ELSE SAID, BUT THE, THE REALTOR'S FEES AND THE SKY ROCKET RENT IS JUST OUTRAGEOUS.
WELL, AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE ARE SAW A LOT OF THE, THE, THE, THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING.
WE'RE TRYING TO SERVICE THIS POPULATION, BUT WE DO THE BEST WE CAN AND WE ARE STILL TRYING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AND MAKE IT WORK.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, COMMISSIONER RICH? YEAH, JUST A, JUST A THOUGHT WHEN I HEARD ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT THE WORKING POOR, I GET IT.
BUT THE PART WHERE YOU SAY SOME OF 'EM DON'T, UH, GET ENOUGH HOURS, RIGHT? THAT'S AN ISSUE.
BUT I KNOW THE COUNTY HAS A ROBUST, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WHERE THEY GET THESE TRAINING ORDERS AND THEY'RE DOING ALL OF THIS TRAINING.
SO IS IT A WAY THAT THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH HOURS CAN TAP INTO THESE TRAINING PROGRAMS WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE PUTTING PEOPLE TO WORK AT A BETTER WAGE 'CAUSE OF THE TRAINING.
IS IT A WAY TO TAP THAT? AND HAVE YOU ANY OF YOU USED
[01:00:01]
THAT, UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HERE AT THE COUNTY WITH THE FREE TRAINING THROUGH YOU MR. PALM THAT'S PAID FOR BY THE STATE THROUGH YOU, MR. PAREZ? WE, WE SEND, WE, WE PARTNER WITH THE DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT AND WE GET THE NOTIFICATIONS OF ALL OF THE TRAININGS THAT HAPPENED AND WE SUBMIT THAT TO ALL OF OUR SUBCONTRACTED AGENCIES AND ENCOURAGE THEM WHO ARE EXPERIENCING LOW WAGES OR LOW HOURS TO PLEASE ROUTE THEM TO 50 SOUTH CLINTON STREET WHERE THESE PROGRAMS ARE.AND WE GET A NU WE GET A GOOD NUMBER, BUT IT'S NOT A LOT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T SHOW UP.
WE MAKE APPOINTMENTS, THEY JUST DON'T SHOW UP.
BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH THE DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT TO ENROLL PEOPLE INTO THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
THINK IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY, BUT IT HAS TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO NUMBER SIX.
NUMBER SIX IS OUR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE.
OUR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
WE RECEIVED A GRANT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY BACK IN 2021, WHICH WAS EAP, WHICH WAS COVID RELATED TO HELP PEOPLE WHO WERE EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS WITH KEEPING THEM IN THEIR APARTMENTS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY, UH, REACHED OUT TO ESSEX COUNTY, MR. JACKSON AND I SAID THAT THEY HAD SOME EXTRA DOLLARS ON HAND THAT THEY WANTED TO UTILIZE BEFORE THE NEW ADMINISTRATION CAME IN AND SEE, THOUGHT THAT THE COUNTY PROBABLY COULD USE THESE DOLLARS AND WE ACCEPTED.
SO WE TOOK IT UPON OURSELVES TO JUST TAKE THESE MONEY TO HELP 'CAUSE IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN NEED TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THE SSH PROGRAM AS WELL TO BE ABLE TO HELP FOLKS TRY AND STAY IN THEIR APARTMENTS.
NUMBER SEVEN IS OUR ANNUAL, UH, OUR ANNUAL HIGH POOL, WHICH IS THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AIDS RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THAT'S A PROGRAM THAT IS GARED TOWARDS PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING WITH HIV, THAT ARE LIVING BELOW THE 30% MEDIUM OF THE AREA INCOME THAT CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THEIR RENT.
SO THIS GRANT SUBSIDIZES THE RENT FOR THEM.
NUMBER EIGHT IS OUR ANNUAL RENEWAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK GRANT.
THAT'S A GRANT THAT COMES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
THAT'S A GRANT THAT PROVIDES ALSO RENTAL ASSISTANCE, FOOD SERVICES, AND, UH, ALSO TRAINING IN PROGRAMS AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR OUR LOW INCOME CONSTITUENTS THROUGHOUT THE ESTES COUNTY.
AND NUMBER NINE IS AN, IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE CURRENT GRANT WE HAVE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
THAT'S A DATA-DRIVEN PROGRAM THAT FUNDS OUR OFFICE WITH COMING UP WITH ISTIC ANALYTICAL INFORMATION TO PROVIDE ON OUR HOMELESSNESS SERVICES.
SO THIS IS A NEW GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED LAST YEAR, AND THE STATE THOUGHT THAT THE PROGRAM WAS GOING SO GOOD THAT THEY PROVIDE US WITH ADDITIONAL DOLLARS TO CONTINUE WITH PROVIDING THAT, GETTING THOSE ANALYTICAL DATA SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE WITH GETTING FUNDING FOR ALL OF THAT, WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP GOING FOR THIS SERVICE.
MR. PARLEY BECKER, ANY QUESTIONS? FOUR THROUGH NINE.
COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
UM, DIRECTOR, FIRST I WANNA COMMEND YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND DIRECTOR RAMOS AND THE WHOLE ADMINISTRATION FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING AROUND EMERGENCY HOUSING, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR CODE BLUE.
I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR TAKING HOMELESS PEOPLE OFF THE STREET RIGHT NOW DOING THESE FRIGID TEMPERATURES, UM, AND GETTING 'EM TO THE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR DOING THAT GOOD WORK AS WELL.
QUESTION WHEN A PERSON GOES INTO DFAB, YOU KNOW, WELFARE AND APPLY FOR SERVICES.
AND IF THEY DON'T QUALIFY, DO THEY AUTOMATICALLY GET REFERRED TO ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH YOU, MR. RAMIREZ? YES, THEY DO.
THEY, THEY GET ACTUALLY ROUTE TO MY OFFICE AND THEN WE WILL REFER THEM OUT TO ONE OF OUR SUBCONTRACTED AGENCIES FOR CASE MANAGEMENT AND SERVICES FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE IF THEY DO NOT QUALIFY FOR DEFECT SERVICES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, VICE PRESIDENT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE IT? YES.
SECOND BY MERCADO ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOUR THROUGH NINE.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PALMS? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 10 11, WHICH ARE FROM THE DIVISION OF SENIOR SERVICES AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, DIRECTOR BROWN, WE'LL HANDLE RESIDE.
HOW ARE YOU, SIR? I'M FINE, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M MAURICE BROWN, DIRECTOR OF SENIOR SERVICES AND, UM, I WANNA SAY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU.
[01:05:01]
IS A TEMPORARY EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR OUR RESPITE CARE PROGRAM OF 637,000.WHAT HAPPENED WAS, DURING THE YEAR, THE STATE INCREASED THE HOURS FROM SIX HOURS TO EIGHT HOURS THAT WE COULD GET PEOPLE IN TO, UM, REPLACE THE CAREGIVERS.
SO THAT UTILIZED A LOT MORE MONEY THAN WHAT WE HAD, BUT THE STATE CAME UP WITH THE EMERGENCY FUNDS TO COVER THAT.
UM, IF SO, THAT'S THE 637,000.
UH, 11 LEAVES THE BALANCE OF, UH, $477,750.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE 10% IS USED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.
UM, ANOTHER 15% IS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COST DIRECTIVE SERVICES, EQUIPMENT, THINGS THAT WE MAY, MAY NEED.
WE DON'T HAVE TO USE IT FOR THAT.
WE DO HAVE TO USE $477,750 MUST BE USED FOR DIRECT PURCHASE SERVICES FOR THE CLIENTS THAT WE SERVE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE 10 11? NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS FROM MR. BROWN? 10 11.
UM, GOOD TO SEE YOU, DIRECTOR.
WHAT IS THE CRITERIA TO QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM? WELL, FIRST WE HAVE THE JACK PROGRAM AND THE RESPITE PROGRAM.
RESPITE PROGRAM IS A LOWER INCOME, UM, BUT IT IS FOR THE, WE REPLACE THE CAREGIVERS.
WE GIVE THEM SIX TO EIGHT HOURS.
SO SAY FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEONE IS, UM, UM, TAKING CARE OF THEIR, THEIR FAMILY, UM, AND THEY NEED A REST, WE CAN THEN GO SIX TO EIGHT HOURS AND REPLACE THEM AND DO THE SERVICING THAT'S NEEDED FOR THOSE PARTICULAR FOLKS.
IS THERE AN APPLICATION PROCESS ONLINE OR THEY JUST CALL YOUR OFFICE DIRECTLY TO APPLY? NO, THEY'RE BOTH.
THEY CAN CALL OUR OFFICE, BUT THERE IS AN APPLICATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'LL MOVE IT.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK ON 10 11.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO 12 THROUGH 14, WHICH ARE FROM THE HEALTH AND REHABILITATION, UH, DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT COULD BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, MR. COLTRAN COLTRANE'S GONNA HANDLE ITEM 12.
UH, I AM ONE AND DONE TONIGHT, BUT THIS IS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION.
IT'S TO FURNISH AND DELIVERY ONE.
SPEC SPECIALTY VEHICLE DODGE RAM FIVE 50 CHASSIS OR EQUIVALENT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $451,829 AND 65 CENTS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, A MODAL, A MOBILE PEDIATRIC HEALTH VEHICLE WITH ONE WHEELCHAIR LIFT, UH, DATED, UH, DEDICATED TO, UH, PEDIATRIC HEALTH CLINICS WITHIN ESSEX COUNTY.
UH, WE RECEIVED, WHICH WAS INSERTED PREVIOUSLY, $428,403 GRANT FROM RWJ BARNABAS, WHICH WAS INSERTED ON 12 4 24.
AND THE COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM WILL, UH, PARTICIPATE WITH $23,426 AND 65 CENTS.
JUST A NOTE FOR LATER ON, UH, WE JUST RECEIVED A BID TODAY TO REHAB THE EXISTING VEHICLE THAT YOU SAW IN THE PRESENTATION.
SO YOU WON'T BE CONFUSED AT UNDERSTOOD WITH THE TWO VANS.
SO WE HAD, UH, IN TOTAL WE HAD TWO OF THESE VEHICLES.
THERE'S THE LARGER MOBILE UNITS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
ARE YOU DOING 13 AS WELL? NO, I AM NOT MR. PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR FISHMAN IS GONNA HANDLE THAT.
MR. TORRES WILL HANDLE MR. TORRES.
1314 PRESIDENT BOARD OF COMMISSION.
JOEL TORRES, SIX COUNTY DIVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES.
ITEM NUMBER 13 IS A REQUEST TO ACCEPT AND APPROVE OF
[01:10:01]
A YEAR, ONE OF A POTENTIAL FOR A TWO YEAR RENEWAL OF A COMPETITIVE CONTRACT THAT WAS APPROVED BY THIS BODY FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2022.UH, THIS IS FOR THE AMOUNT, UH, ALLOCATION TO SUBCONTRACTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,050,000 FOR 15 SERVICES THAT CROSS THE ENTIRE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER CONTINUUM OF CARE.
THAT INCLUDES PREVENTION, EARLY INTERVENTION, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY.
AND NOW, UH, ALSO DOES INCLUDE HARM REDUCTION.
WE HAVE TWO OF OUR SUBCONTRACTEES HERE, UH, TO JUST SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT THEIR ORGANIZATION AND THE SERVICES THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING WITH THE FUNDING.
JUST TO SPECIFY, THIS FUNDING IS SPECIFICALLY ALLOCATED FOR OUR COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO ARE EITHER DEALING WITH, UH, LACK OF INSURANCE OR INSURANCE THAT DOES NOT COVER ALL THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED AS IT PERTAINS TO THEIR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT AND SERVICES.
UH, FOR REAL HOUSE, I HAVE ELAINE ROMEO HERE TOO.
UH, JUST GIVE YOU A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO HERSELF AND TO HER ORGANIZATION PLEASE.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS ELAINE ROMERO AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RURAL HOUSE INC.
SO WE MANAGE, UM, HALFWAY HOUSES, IOPS, UM, AND WE RECENTLY GOT AN INPATIENT.
HOWEVER, THE CHAPTER 51 GRANT ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR OUR FEMALE HALFWAY HOUSES IN NEWARK AND BLOOMFIELD.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER AS WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY FOR COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS? THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU BOTH FOR AND ALL OF THE FOLKS INVOLVED FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
THE, THE HALFWAY HOUSES THAT YOU WORK WITH, UM, ARE THEY PRIMARILY FOR ADULT FOLKS RETURNING TO SOCIETY? ARE THEY ALSO, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MAY BE COMING FROM LIKE JUVENILE OR WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH ANY KIND OF JUVENILE OR YOUTH POTENTIAL CLIENTS AS WELL? WE DO NOT HAVE JUVENILE AND YOUTH THAT SAYS, UH, FEMALES 18 AND OVER.
IT WAS MENTIONED TO AROUND HARM REDUCTION.
UM, IS A PART OF, UH, THE APPROACH.
IS THAT ALSO, UH, WITHIN YOUR PARTNER AS WELL, LIKE YOUR ORGANIZATION, LIKE A HARM REDUCTION PROGRAM OR IS THAT MORE CONNECTED TO SOME OF THE OTHER SERVICES? WELL, NOT FOR REAL HOUSE.
WE PROVIDE HALFWAY HOUSE SERVICES.
UM, SO WE DON'T DO HARM REDUCTION.
HOWEVER, INSURANCE DOESN'T PAY FOR HALFWAY HOUSES.
UM, SO WHEN UH, CLIENTS GET OUT OF DETOX OR OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, IF THEY DON'T HAVE, UM, A PLACE TO GO, UM, THEY WOULD CHOOSE A HALFWAY HOUSE.
AND WE GET COUNTY AND, AND STATE FUNDING IN ORDER TO PROVIDE TREATMENT, WHICH IS COUNSELING GROUPS.
UM, WE CONNECT THEM WITH THE BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
WE TRY TO GET THEM INSURANCE, UM, AND PROVIDE MEDICATION AS NEEDED.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO.
AND THERE'S CERTAINLY, UH, TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S CREDIT, THERE'S A HUGE FOCUS HERE ON REENTRY AND DIFFERENT SERVICES FOR FOLKS WHO ARE RETURNING TO SOCIETY.
SO I'M ASSUMING, AND THAT THERE'S ALREADY, YOU KNOW, COORDINATION BETWEEN YOUR SERVICES WITH THE HALFWAY HOUSES AND THE, THE OFFERINGS HERE.
AND HOPEFULLY THAT CAN CONTINUE, UH, IN THE COMING SEASON.
SO WHEN YOU SAY HALFWAY HOUSES, THESE HALFWAY HOUSES ARE FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED ON ALL GOING BACK INTO SOCIETY.
THOSE ARE THE HALFWAY HOUSES THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH.
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT TYPE OF HALFWAY HOUSE.
WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE CLIENTS WHO ARE STIPULATED, WHO ARE ON PAROLE, WHO ARE JUST RECENTLY RELEASED FROM, UM, JAILS OR PRISON.
UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE VOLUNTEERS.
SO THESE HALFWAY HOUSES PROVIDE HOUSING, PROVIDE MEALS, PROVIDE TREATMENT, UM, COUNSELING, MENTAL HEALTH, EVERYTHING INCLUDED SO THAT THEY CAN MAINTAIN THEIR SOBRIETY AND BE PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY ONCE THEY FINISH.
SO THE FOLKS THAT WE'RE REFER TO WITH THIS GRANT, THESE WOMEN SAY 18 YEARS AND OLDER COMING FROM MAYBE, UM, A DETOX FACILITY AND THEY JUST NEED A PLACE TO STAY.
AND SO HOW LONG IS THE STAY? IS IT A 28 DAY STAY? WAS IT 60 DAYS? 90 DAYS? THREE TO SIX MONTHS.
UH, I ALSO HAVE ONE MORE JUST IN CASE.
UH, MS. MURRAY THOMAS, JUST THE COMMISSIONER.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THIS FUNDING IS SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR ADULT POPULATION, 18 PLUS.
UH, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT ADVOCATING FOR FUNDING FOR OUR YOUTH POPULATION, UH, THROUGH OUR NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT WE RECENTLY COMPLETED FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND INFORMATION HERE IN THE COUNTY AS IT PERTAINS TO OUR YOUTH.
AND WE ARE HOPEFULLY HOPING WITH THAT DATA TO KIND OF PRESENT TO THE STATE THE NEED FOR MORE FUNDING AND MORE
[01:15:01]
SUPPORT NEEDED FOR OUR YOUTH POPULATION WHO ARE DEALING WITH SUD AND, UH, THE ISSUES PERTAINING TO THAT.WHEN IT COMES TO HARM REDUCTION, UH, WE RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE STATE TO DEVELOP SPECIFICALLY TO DEVELOP WOUND CARE KITS BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING WHAT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS WOUND, WOUND CARE KITS WOUND.
WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF OUR CLIENTS THAT HAVE ACTIVE LACERATIONS, ACTIVE, UH, OPEN WOUNDS BASED ON THEIR, SOMETHING RELATED TO THEIR SUBSTANCE USE OR OTHER HEALTH ISSUES.
UH, DIABETES, ET CETERA, THAT, THAT HAVE ELEVATED OR, OR KIND OF EXPANDED DUE TO OTHER SUBSTANCE USE.
YEAH, SO WITH THOSE KITS, WE'RE CURRENTLY DEVELOPING 1,200 KITS.
THOSE ARE, OUR STAFF ARE VOLUNTEERING SOME TIME TO DEVELOP THOSE KITS AND GET THEM OUT TO OUR PROVIDERS TO GET THEM OUT TO THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE IN NEED.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANYONE WHO IS IN NEED OF A HARM CARE KIT, YOU COULD DEFINITELY MM-HMM
TOUCH BASE WITH OUR DIVISION AND WE WILL GLADLY GIVE YOU, UH, KITS TO GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, JUST A QUICK FOLLOW UP.
AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT, THAT CONTEXT.
UM, I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AND I'M AN EDUCATOR, SO I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT LIKE THE YOUNG PEOPLE I AM CURIOUS OUT OF, 'CAUSE YOU THE POPULATION'S 18 AND UP, ROUGHLY WHAT PERCENT OF SOME OF THE, AND THIS MAY BE DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY 'CAUSE YOU'RE PROBABLY THINKING OF MULTIPLE SERVICE PROVIDERS, BUT WHAT IS THE ROUGH LIKE RATIO OF, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING SERVED THAT ARE BETWEEN THAT 18 TO LIKE 23, 24 AGE RANGE? TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE? I ASK BECAUSE I MEAN, DEVELOPMENTALLY, LEGALLY THEY'RE ADULTS.
DEVELOPMENTALLY, THERE'S A LOT OF DATA THAT SUGGESTS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL, THERE'S STILL YOUNG PEOPLE AND THAT COULD ALSO KIND OF HELP WITH THE CASE THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE AROUND HOW WE DO NEED MORE SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE MORE BROADLY.
BUT WHAT'S THAT ROUGH BALLPARK, IF YOU HAVE A SENSE OF IT THROUGH THE PRESIDENT? UH, MM-HMM
I WILL SAY THAT THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DO NOT HAVE THE NUMBER, BUT I DO KNOW THAT, UH, WE HAVE THE DATA MM-HMM
STORED THROUGH THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE, UH, OVERVIEW, WHICH IS DATA THAT'S COLLECTED THROUGH THE STATE'S DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES.
UH, SO I TYPICALLY LOOK AT THAT DATA AND CREATE A REPORT FOR US INTERNALLY.
I WILL LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND GET THAT OVER THROUGH, UH, MR. JACKSON.
UH, THREE, MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE FROM GREATER ESSEX COUNSELING SERVICES.
WE HAVE, UH, HIR ADO AND WE HAVE, UH, CARIS ES.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
UM, SO WE ARE FROM GREATER ESSEX COUNSELING SERVICE AND WE FOCUS ON, UM, HELPING A PATIENT OUT.
WE ARE A FACILITY FOR OUTPATIENT DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION.
UM, WE, UM, TREAT THE PATIENTS WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
UM, CHAPTER 51 HELP US LAST YEAR, HELPING, UM, PEOPLE THAT DOESN'T HAVE INSURANCE AND ALSO UN UNDOCUMENTED CLIENTS.
MY NAME IS CARISE RE, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
SO I'VE BEEN WITH GREATER SX FOR THREE YEARS, AND WHAT I HAVE NOTICED, HONESTLY THIS PAST YEAR IS HOW MUCH OUR CLIENTS HAVE INCREASED THAT ARE UNDOCUMENTED.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY MAY BE BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON OR THEY JUST DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING PUT TOGETHER, BUT A LOT OF, UM, I'M, I DON'T WANNA USE THE WRONG WORD, BUT I WOULD SAY THE UNDOCUMENTED.
I THINK WE'VE ALL SEEN HOW EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOING, BUT OVERALL, WE TRY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SERVICES THAT THEY MAY NEED TO GET BACK INTO SOCIETY, WHETHER THEY NEED JOB TRAINING, A JOB, A JOB IN GENERAL.
UM, ANY, UH, FEATHERING EDUCATION, WE PROVIDE THEM WITH THE RESOURCES.
WE ARE ALSO, UM, IN PARTNER WITH THE NEWARK BOARD OF ED, AND A LOT OF TIMES, UH, YOUNGER KIDS ARE COMING IN AND WE JUST TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OVERALL RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE IT TO THEM AND AS WELL AS PROVIDE ANY CARE, CARE MANAGEMENT THAT THE CLIENTS THAT ARE ADMITTED IN THE PROGRAM AND THAT NEED TREATMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THAT SUPPORT IN PLACE AND THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH EVERYTHING THEY MAY NEED.
MR. DO WANNA MOVE ON TO 14? IS THAT, UH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
ITEM NUMBER 14 IS, UH, THROUGH THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS, WHICH YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
UH, THERE IS A STIPULATION THAT ALLOWS FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO, UH, PULL THE MONEY AND GIVE IT TO A PARTICIPATING COUNTY IF THEY DO NOT KNOW, OR THEY DO NOT WANT TO UTILIZE, UH, THE FUNDING THEMSELVES.
UH, THERE ARE SOME MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE RECEIVING A LOW AMOUNT OF FUNDING.
UH, SO WITH THAT, THEY WOULD RATHER PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY PULL, PULL THE FUNDS INTO
[01:20:01]
THE COUNTY FUNDS.AND, UH, THAT IS THE REASON NUMBER 14 IS AN APPROVAL FROM LIVINGSTON LIVINGSTON, UH, APPROVED THROUGH THEIR MUNICIPAL BODY TO SUBMIT THE FUNDS OVER TO THE COUNTY.
UH, THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT THAT'S LISTED WITHIN THE DOCUMENT IS NOT A DOCUMENT FROM US WITHIN THE DIVISION OR THE COUNTY.
IT'S A DOCUMENT THAT WAS CREATED BY THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND BY THE AUTHORIZING, AUTHORIZING BODY THAT CREATED THE SETTLEMENTS FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
UH, SO THAT AGREEMENT KIND OF STIPULATES THAT THIS IS ALLOWED, AND IT WAS A AND ATTACHED DOCUMENTS.
UH, ONCE THIS IS COMPLETED, AND ONCE BOTH GOVERNING BODIES APPROVE AND ARE SIGNED OFF BY BOTH GOVERNING ENTITIES, UH, THEN THE MUNICIPALITY CAN WITHIN THEIR SYSTEM, THAT'S BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OR BY THE NATIONAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, UH, ORGANIZATION, THEY CAN THEN ALLOCATE THE FUNDS TO THE COUNTY TO BE UTILIZED FOR, UH, OUR OPIOID USE DISORDER PREVENTION AND EARLY PREVENTION TREATMENT RECOVERY EFFORTS.
MR. PARLOVE, ANY QUESTIONS ON 13 OR 14? NO QUESTIONS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR 13 OR 14 FOR 13.
HOW DO YOU SELECT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS? IS IT A RFP PROCESS? IT'S A COMPETITIVE RFP PROCESS, UH, THAT'S DONE THROUGH OUR PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, AND THEN THERE'S A PANEL OF OUR LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE.
UH, THAT'S A GOVERNING BO WELL, THAT'S A BODY THAT OVERSEES, UH, THIS, THIS CHAPTER 51 FUNDING.
IT'S STIPULATED AND REQUIRED BY THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
UH, THESE ARE EITHER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE, UH, WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER THEMSELVES OR WITH A LOVED ONE, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN THE FIELD, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN VARIOUS ASPECTS THAT CONNECT TO SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, THAT MAKE UP THIS GOVERNING BODY.
UH, THAT'S THEN WITHIN OUR DIVISION, AND THEY MEET TOGETHER THAT, THAT BODY MEETS TOGETHER.
THEY RANK, THEY APPROVE OF, UH, ALL THE RFPS THAT CAME THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF PURCHASING, AND THEN WE SUBMIT IT BACK.
SO, MR. COLT TREE, THIS IS, WOULD THIS BE ADVERTISED THROUGH THE PORTAL AS WELL OR SOMETHING SEPARATE? JULIUS COLT, UH, PURCHASING DIRECTOR.
WE ADVERTISE BOTH IN THE NEWSPAPER ONLINE NOW THAT THE NEW JERSEY LEDGER IS NOT REALLY IN BUSINESS ANY LONGER, AND ON OUR PORTAL, EVERYTHING WE THAT WE PUT OUT IS ALWAYS ADVERTISED ON THE PORTAL.
AND THEN FOR, UM, NUMBER 14, SINCE LIVINGSTON WANTS TO GIVE US THEIR FUNDS, DO THEY DICTATE TO US WHAT WE DO WITH THE FUNDS, OR WILL WE TREAT THEM LIKE WE TREAT THE REST OF OUR FUNDS? HOW WE'RE DOING IT? UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, IS IF ANY MUNICIPALITY WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT, UH, WE'RE INVITING THEM TO HAVE A MEMBER THAT IS ON OUR ADVISORY COUNCIL.
SO FOR THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS, THERE IS AN ADVISORY COUNCIL AT THE, AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, LAST JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, THIS BODY RECEIVED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, UH, FOR THAT BODY.
AND, UH, THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR A MEMBER TO JOIN US FROM LIVINGSTON.
AND IT'S, UH, UP TO THE BODY TO THEN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND PASS THAT ON TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR A FINAL APPROVAL TO BE PRESENTED TO THIS BODY FOR ALLOCATION.
SO IT'S TREATED JUST LIKE, UH, ANY OTHER MISS VALLEY HERE IN THE COUNTY.
THEY, UH, SO JUST TO CLARIFY, THEY CANNOT SPECIFICALLY DICTATE TO US WHERE THE FUNDS GO AS THEY PULL THE MONEY TO THE COUNTY.
IT'S UP TO THE ADVISORY COUNCIL TO UTILIZE THE FUNDS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE? 12, 13, AND 14? I'LL MOVE, MOVE BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER SECOND BY SIEBEL.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO 15 THROUGH 17, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND THEY CAN BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT LATER TIME.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, 15 WILL ALLOW FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE EXISTING TRAFFIC SIGNAL, UH, THE INTERSECTION OF FRANKLIN AND BERKELEY AVENUES IN THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD BY AWARDING JC CONTRACTING A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $465,416.
THE, THE MODERNIZATION OF THIS INTERSECTION INCLUDES UPGRADING THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL HEADS TO LARGER LED LIGHTS, NEW LED COUNTDOWN, PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS WITH PUSH BUTTONS, UH, HIGH DISABILITY THERMOPLASTIC ROADWAY MARKINGS, NEW PAVEMENT.
UH, GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT'S GONNA SHAPE WHAT'S ONE OF THE OLDEST INTERSECTIONS IN THE COUNTY, UP TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS AVAILABLE.
UM, JC CONTRACTING SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE SIX BITS
[01:25:01]
RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.THIS PROJECT WILL UTILIZE UNION LABOR FROM LABORERS 4 72 OPERATORS, 8 25, AND IBW 1 64.
THIS IMPROVEMENT IS BEING FUNDED WITH STATE FUNDS.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 16 ALLOWS FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIVE NEW 2025 FORD RANGER PICKUP TRUCKS BY AWARDING NIELSEN FORD OF MORRISTOWN A CONTRACT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $195,760.
UH, NIELSEN FORD SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE FOUR BITS RECEIVED.
UH, THESE VEHICLES WILL BE USED TO REPLACE OLDER ONES CURRENTLY USED BY THE FIELD INSPECTORS OF THE DIVISION OF MOSQUITO CONTROL.
AND THIS PURCHASE IS FULLY FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE N-J-D-E-P.
AND NUMBER 17 IS A RESOLUTION CONSENTING TO THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR'S ORDINANCE, WHICH REDUCES THE SPEED LIMIT ON GROVE STREET, UH, FROM BLOOMFIELD AVENUE TO THE PASSA COUNTY LINE.
FROM 30 MILES AN HOUR TO 25 MILES AN HOUR, THE COUNTY WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING SPEED LIMIT SIGNAGE, BUT THERE IS NO OTHER FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THE COUNTY OF FEX BY CONSENTING TO THIS TOWNSHIP OF MONTAIR ORDINANCE.
MR. PARLOVE, YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER GIL? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
YOU JUST WANT TO, UM, ON THE, UM, LOWERING OF THE SPEED LIMIT ON, UM, ON GROVE STREET, WANNA THANK, UM, SANJEEV, UH, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MR. JACKSON, UM, UH, AND, AND THE ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION, UH, FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO, UH, TO MEET AND WORK ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
ALTHOUGH THIS, UH, MAY APPEAR TO BE A VERY MUNDANE, UM, UH, RESOLUTION ON A LOWERING OF A SPEED LIMIT, THIS IS A BIG, BIG DEAL, UM, UH, FOR, UH, THIS COUNTY ACTUALLY TO, UM, AGREE, UH, TO DO THIS.
UM, THIS IS, UM, A, UM, ON A, ON A MAJOR COUNTY THOROUGHFARE.
SO, UH, IT SHOWS THAT OUR, UM, OUR, OUR, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, UH, DEPARTMENT, UH, IS FORWARD THINKING, IS EVALUATING CONSTANTLY HOW WE CAN IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN, UH, AND TRAFFIC SAFETY.
UM, AND, UH, AGAIN, UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT TO BE, TO BE VERY BLUNT, WOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT NORMALLY WOULD PROBABLY EVEN BE RECOMMENDED
UM, JUST BASED ON KIND OF THE WAY THESE THINGS ARE USUALLY, UM, CALCULATED, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A SERIOUS, ACTUALLY, UM, IN ADDITION TO MANY CRISIS GOING ON IN NEW JERSEY RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A SERIOUS CRISIS WITH, UM, UH, TRAFFIC VIOLENCE AND PEDESTRIAN FATALITIES.
UH, OVERALL NEW JERSEY IS UP, UH, OVER 35, UH, PERCENT, UH, FROM WHERE IT'S BEEN IN THE PAST, AND PEOPLE WHO ARE, UM, BEING KILLED ON OUR ROADS, UM, AND HIGHWAYS, UNFORTUNATELY, ESSEX COUNTY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE FIRST IN A LOT OF THINGS, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE FIRST AND, AND WE'RE NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE, UH, FOR MOST AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC, UM, FATALITIES.
UH, AND, UH, AND WE WANT TO DO THINGS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE AND WORK ON THAT.
UM, THIS, UH, UH, THIS RESOLUTION ALSO COINCIDED WITH THE GOVERNOR, UM, SIGNING A, A STATEWIDE VISION ZERO TASK FORCE BILL, UM, WHICH WILL NOW MAKE VISION ZERO PLANNING AND VISION ZERO TASK FORCE, THE LAW OF THE ENTIRE, UM, STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
WE HAD MANY ADVOCATES FROM ESSEX COUNTY WHO WORKED ON THAT, UM, LEGISLATION.
I KNOW THE COUNTY THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO UNDERGO ARE, UM, UH, UH, THERE'S SO MANY ACRONYMS AND TRANSPORTATIONS, UH, SS FOUR A, I GUESS, SAFE, SAFE STREETS FOR ALL PLANNING DOCUMENT, WHICH, UH, COINCIDES WITH OUR, UM, WITH OUR VISION ZERO PLANNING.
BUT VISION ZERO VERY SIMPLY IS TO GET, UM, THE COUNTY OF ESSEX AND THE MUNICIPALITIES IN IT TO ZERO TRAFFIC FATALITIES.
OTHER, UM, OTHER, OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE DONE THIS ALREADY IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, JERSEY CITY, UH, HOBOKEN.
UH, THERE'S A FEW OTHERS THAT HAVE UNDERGONE THAT PROCESS, AND THEY HAVE REACHED ZERO.
SO IT IS, IT IS POSSIBLE, UM, YOU KNOW, TO GET THERE.
SO AGAIN, I REALLY DO WANT TO COMMEND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THEIR WORK, UH, RESPONSIVENESS, UM, ON, ON GETTING THIS DONE.
AND, AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL MAKE A HUGE IMPACT.
UH, AND NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY LOCALLY IN MONTCLAIR, BUT IN ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE REPRESENT.
COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT.
I TOO WANNA COMMITTEE ADMINISTRATION FOR UNDERTAKING THIS AND LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT.
I RECENTLY WAS, AND THE CITY OF NEWARK ON SPRINGFIELD AVENUE, WHERE THIS CAR HAD TO BE DOING ABOUT 50 60
[01:30:01]
AND HAD AN ACCIDENT, REALLY BAD ACCIDENT, AND KNOCKED THE CAR UP ON THE SIDEWALK, TURNED IT UPSIDE DOWN IN FRONT OF THE HOME DEPOT.FROM THAT PROCESS, IT, I STARTED PAYING ATTENTION TO THE SPEED LIMIT BECAUSE I, MYSELF, MY HUSBAND ACCUSED ME OF HAVING A HEAVY FOOT, YOU KNOW, LEAD FOOT WHEN I'M DRIVING.
AND THAT MADE ME PAY ATTENTION THAT ON SOME PARTS OF OUR COUNTY ROADS, THIS POSTED SPEED LIMIT IS 35, AND IF IT'S POSTED 35, YOU KNOW, THAT MEAN PEOPLE REALLY DOING 40, 45.
SO I WOULD IMPLORE US TO DO SOME KIND OF STUDY TO SEE HOW WE LOWER THE SPEED LIMIT.
TWO YEARS AGO, I GOT A TICKET ON CENTRAL AVENUE, AND WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE WAS IN EAST ORANGE, THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT WAS 35.
AND WHEN I GOT TO NEWARK, I GOT A TICKET IN NEWARK, THE SPEED LIMIT ON CENTRAL AVENUE IS 25, IT BECOMES 25, 35, AND THEN IT GOES BACK UP WHEN YOU GET TO ORANGE.
AND I WOULD SUBMIT THAT WE SHOULD DO A STUDY TO SEE IF WE SHOULD LOOK AT LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT ON SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTY ROADS TO STOP THE SPEEDING THAT'S TAKING PLACE.
AGAIN, I WAS DOING 30, I WAS DOING 40 BECAUSE IN EAST ORANGE THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 35.
BY THE TIME I GOT TO CENTRAL AVENUE IN NEWARK, IT WAS ONLY 25.
SO I GOT A TICKET, YOU KNOW, THAT 2.3 POINT TICKET, BUT I WASN'T AWARE THAT THE SPEED LIMIT DROPPED DOWN AND CHANGED BY 10.
I WAS STILL DOING 35 40, ADMITTEDLY, SO I WAS WRONG.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO GLOBALLY LOOK AT THIS, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS WHERE IT IS THICK, DENSE POPULATIONS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING REALLY FAST BECAUSE THAT ACCIDENT A COUPLE WEEKS BACK ON CENTRAL AVENUE COULD HAVE REALLY BEEN A LOT WORSE IF IT WAS AFTER SCHOOL TIME WHEN IT WAS MORE, MORE KIDS ON THE STREET CROSSING BACK AND FORTH.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER MARIO THOMAS.
FIRSTLY, JUST ECHOING EVERYTHING THAT COMMISSIONER GILL AND COMMISSIONER COOPER SHARED, UM, HATS OFF TO THE RESPONSIVENESS AND BEING PROACTIVE, UM, AS WE COME INTO THIS NEW ERA, I HAVE A QUESTION THAT, UH, CAME FROM A CONSTITUENT ACTUALLY, UM, AROUND SIGNAGE AND SIZES OF SIGNAGE, PARTICULARLY AROUND LIKE ONE-WAY SIGNS.
UM, THERE'S AN AREA NEAR, UH, THE COUNTY ROAD OF SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE IN BURG PARK, AND FOLKS MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
PART OF NOR LIKE WEST WARD, KIND OF LIKE GOING TOWARDS THE PARKWAY, THE HIGH SCHOOL, I'M SORRY, BY THE HIGH SCHOOL WEST SIDE HIGH.
NOT TOO FAR FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL.
CLOSER TO THE, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL THOUGH SPEEDWAY, UM, WHICH ACROSS THE STREET FROM BURG PARK.
UM, AND SHE POINTED THIS OUT TO ME, I WAS LIKE, OH, YOU'RE ACTUALLY, I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT.
SHE WAS LIKE, BASICALLY THERE'S A ONE WAY, UH, TO GET ONTO THE PARKWAY, BUT IT'S KIND OF SMALL.
AND SOME FOLKS, SHE, SHE SAID SHE ALMOST WITNESSED LIKE SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, LIKE MULTIPLE TIMES 'CAUSE SHE COMMUTES OVER THERE, UH, TO GET TO WORK.
AND THERE'S JUST A QUESTION OF LIKE SIGNAGE AND VISIBILITY AND WHO TO GO TO IF, UH, CONSTITUENTS HAVE A SENSE THAT, HEY, IF THIS SIGN WAS BIGGER, THIS MIGHT PREVENT, UH, TO, YOU KNOW, AS WAS SHARED EARLIER, FATALITIES OR ACCIDENTS.
UM, WHO DOES ONE GO TO FOR THOSE TYPES OF REQUESTS AROUND SIGNAGE, TYPES OF SIGNAGE? UM, AND PARTICULARLY IN AREAS LIKE THAT WHERE IT'S BOTH COUNTY AND LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES INVOLVED, DAVID ANTONIO AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
UH, TOMORROW MORNING, I'M, I'M GONNA MAKE SURE THAT ONE OF OUR ROAD INSPECTORS VISITS THE LOCATION.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, SECOND OF ALL, UH, THE SIGN SIZE, VISIBILITY, REFLECTIVITY, THOSE ARE ALL, UM, PRESCRIBED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MM-HMM
THROUGH SOMETHING CALLED THE M-U-T-C-D.
THE MANUAL AND UNIFORM CONTROL DEVICES.
UH, THERE'S THE, THE, THE SPEED OF THE ROADWAY, THE WIDTH, UH, THE DISTANCES BETWEEN INTERSECTION, THOSE WILL DICTATE THE SIZE.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ONE WE SIGN, IT MAY BE TOO SMALL MM-HMM
IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE CAN REPLACE IT BECAUSE IT'S AT OUR INTERSECTION.
UH, BUT USUALLY THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS OF EACH JURISDICTION, CITY ROADS, COUNTY ROADS, STATE DEPARTMENT, ROADS MM-HMM
THEY HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL HANDLE THOSE KIND OF REQUESTS.
AND IT, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION THOUGH.
'CAUSE I DRIVE OVER THERE OFTEN AND THERE'S JUST A LOT GOING ON.
THERE'S LIKE SEVERAL DIFFERENT LANES.
THERE'S THE PARKWAY, THERE'S THE PARK, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THANKS TO THE INCREDIBLE WORK OF OUR, YOU KNOW, PARKS AND RECREATION, THERE'S A LOT MORE ACTIVITY AT THE PARK.
UH, BECAUSE IT'S, FIRST OF ALL, IT JUST LOOKS AMAZING.
I MEAN, WHEN I LEARNED HOW TO PLAY T-BALL THERE, IT WAS CUTE.
IT WASN'T AS CUTE AS IT IS NOW, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY.
THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY GREAT TO HEAR ABOUT THAT APPROACH.
IN FACT, THE AREA THAT COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS IS TALKING ABOUT, IT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT'S RIGHT FOR US, EVALUATING THE SPEED THAT TAKES PLACE OVER THERE.
AND BECAUSE WE REHAB, WE REHABILITATED THAT PARK.
THE KIDS ARE GOING THERE AND PEOPLE ARE DRIVING THROUGH THAT AREA, LIKE THEY'RE ON A FREEWAY AND I GUESS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GUILTY IS CHARGED BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT THERE BY THE FREEWAY.
[01:35:01]
IT'S, AND, AND IT'S KIND OF, UM, CONFUSING BECAUSE PARTS OF IT IS LIKE NEWARK.AND THEN SO WHO CONTROLS AND DECIDES WHAT HAPPENS THERE ALONGSIDE VAS BURG PART.
THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS WHAT ARE THE RULES AROUND THE POSTED SPEED LIMITS? LIKE WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS? SHOULD THEY BE POSTED ONE EVERY TWO, THREE MILES? BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT YOU DRIVE AROUND, ESPECIALLY ON THE COUNTY ROADS, SINCE I GOT THAT TICKET, I'M PAYING ATTENTION NOW.
UH, IT VARIES WITH, UM, THE ADJACENT LAND USES RESIDENTIAL VERSUS COMMERCIAL VERSUS FARMLAND.
UH, BUT TYPICALLY YOU WANT TO SEE, UM, ACHI YOU WANT TO SEE A SIGN WHEN YOU'RE CHANGING THE SPEED LIMIT, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT'S NOT RIGHT TO SAY IT'S 35 MILES AN HOUR AND THEN BE, UH, PUT IN A 25 MILE AN HOUR ZONE THAT BE HAPPEN TO YOU.
WITH THAT BEING WARNED FIRST 25 MILES AN HOUR ZONE COMING UP OR STARTING HERE.
UM, IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S ANY PARTICULAR ROADWAY CORRIDOR, UH, WE WOULD HAVE TO VISIT EACH ONE OF THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND IDENTIFY TO OUR BEST LOCATION AND THE NUMBER OF SIGNS REQUIRED BASED ON THE SPEED, THE WIDTH, AND THE ADJACENT LAND USES.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, THROUGH YOU, I'M ASKING THE ADMINISTRATION TO LOOK AT THE SPEED LIMIT ON CENTRAL AVENUE, BECAUSE WHEN I WENT BACK AND COUNTED THE NUMBER OF SPEED LIMIT SIGNS, IT WASN'T A WHOLE LOT.
AND IF YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WHEN I TRANSITIONED FROM EAST ORANGE TO NEWARK, WHEN THE SPEED LIMIT DROPPED, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SIGN POSTED ALERTING ME TO THAT.
NO, THAT SIGN WASN'T TILL I GOT CLOSER TO DOWNTOWN NEWARK.
MR. JACKSON, COULD WE HAVE THAT LOOKED INTO AND HAVE THE ENGINEERING AND BACK TO US? ABSOLUTELY.
AS WELL AS THE, UH, INTERSECTION OF COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS, UH, ROUGHLY CHEN SPEEDWAY, GENERAL VICINITY YOU'D MENTIONED.
AND IF YOU, I COULD GET A A I'LL SEND IT TO YOU VIA EMAIL.
I'VE GOT A VIDEO OF LIKE THE EXACT AREA, THE INTERSECTION OF THE PHOTOS THAT WAS SENT TO ME.
I, I, IF I, YOU MAY, MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOUTH ORANGE DRIVE WHEN YOU'RE GOING TOWARDS THE SPEEDWAY, THAT LEFT HAND TURN? NO.
SO IF YOU'RE COMING DOWN SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE, SO COMING, LIKE LET'S SAY YOU'RE COMING FROM LIKE IVY HILL, YOU'RE DRIVING BACK DOWN INTO CENTRAL WARD OF NEWARK MM-HMM
UM, AND YOU KNOW, ON YOUR RIGHT SIDE YOU'VE GOT BURG PARK, AND IF YOU MAKE THAT RIGHT TO GO TOWARDS BURG PARK, YOU'VE GOT THOSE TWO DIFFERENT ROADS.
YOU GOT ONE GOING TO THE PARKWAY THIS WAY, ONE GOING TO TOWARDS PARKWAY.
THAT WAY, UM, THAT GENERAL AREA THAT IF THAT'S PRETTY MUCH, IF YOU'RE COMING UP THAT LEFT HAND TURN RIGHT.
GOING TO THE PARKWAY, IF YOU, IF YOU MISS THAT TURN AND THEN PEOPLE WILL MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WHERE IT SAYS NO TURNS.
SO THAT'S, I FORGET THE NAME OF THE INTERSECTION, BUT I'LL TRY TO GET THE EXACT STREETS FOR YOU.
COMMISSIONER GI, THAT THANK YOU, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, ONE OF THE, UM, ONE OF THE VERY EXCITING THINGS ABOUT THE LEGISLATION IS THIS WILL BE, THIS WILL, UM, MOVE US TO MORE HOLISTIC THINKING ABOUT THE EXACT KIND OF CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW.
SO FOR THOSE OF US, UM, WHO ARE SERVING IN THE COMMUNITIES, IT'S NOT JUST A, UH, AND THIS IS IN NO WAY MEANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS NOT, ANY OF THESE ARE NOT SERIOUS ISSUES TO ADDRESS, BUT THEY'RE NOT ADDRESSED IN ONE-OFF MANNERS.
SO THAT, THAT THEY'RE REQUIRING NOW EVEN MORE, UM, UM, THE TASK FORCE, THE WAY THESE TASK FORCE WILL BE SET UP, AND THEY'LL BE SET UP AT THE STATE AND COUNTY LEVEL, IS THEY WILL FORCE COMMUNICATION, UM, BETWEEN VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
AGAIN, NO, NO CRITICISM OF THE VARIOUS AGENCIES THAT SOMETIMES THEY'RE JUST SO BUSY, THEY DON'T TALK
SO IT'LL BE, IT WILL MAKE SURE THAT CITY ENGINEERS AND COUNTY ENGINEERS ARE SITTING LIKE THE, THE, THE KIND OF EFFORT THAT IT TOOK EVEN TO GET THIS PART OF THE ROADWAY.
UM, AND WITH A, AN EXTREMELY RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT MEANT ACTUALLY HAVING IN-PERSON MEETINGS MM-HMM
WITH THE VARIOUS ACTORS AT THE TABLE AT THE SAME TIME.
SO WE COULD CHART A PLAN OF ACTION AND THEN, AND THEN MOVE FORWARD.
UM, SO THE REAL EXCITING THING IS THAT THE, THE, THE, THE BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR AND, AND, AND SIGNED AND PROBABLY, UM, SHOULD, SHOULD, FOR THOSE OF US WHO MAY, WHO MAY ALREADY KNOW I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
BUT THE, THE GENESIS OF THAT LEGISLATION IS, UM, WAS FROM A, UM, A YOUNG, A YOUNG, A FAMILY WHO LOST FROM WEST ORANGE, WHO LOST THEIR 11-YEAR-OLD, UM, UH, PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
SO THEY, THAT'S HOW LONG THEY WERE WORKING ON TO GET THIS BILL DONE, UM, DUE TO, YOU KNOW, DUE TO A, DUE TO A, DUE TO A CAR ACCIDENT.
AND, AND IT WAS FAR TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM US IN MANY WAYS, PARTICULARLY TO THIS TYPE
[01:40:01]
OF, OF, UM, PREVENTABLE, UM, ACCIDENT.SO I WOULD JUST SAY MORE TO COME ON THIS.
I'M REALLY, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE SS
WE'RE GONNA GET RID OF THESE ACRONYMS, ONE OF THESE S FOUR, RIGHT? THE SS FOUR, A PLANNING PROCESS THAT THE COUNTY OF ESSEX HAS TO UNDERGO TO RECEIVE ALL OF THIS FEDERAL MONEY.
SO, SO IT'S ENCOURAGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES LIKE TO, TO DIVE INTO THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH ME, BECAUSE THAT PROCESS, WE, WE PASSED A RESOLUTION PROBABLY A FEW MONTHS AGO, CREATING A CON FOR APPROVING A CONSULTANT WHO'S OVERSEEING THIS PROCESS.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES ON THAT, ON THAT PROCESS.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY THE TIME TO GET THE KIND OF STUFF OF LIKE, HEY, I'M DRIVING AROUND AND LIKE THE SPEED LIMIT HERE IN THIS INTERSECTION HERE, AND WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE SIGNAGE OVER THERE.
WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA CATALOG THIS STUFF IN A WAY THAT HAS NOT BEEN CATALOGED IN A LONG TIME.
WE'RE GONNA CREATE A PLAN THAT'S NOT GONNA SIT ON A, UH, SIT ON A SHELF AND WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA PUT IT INTO ACTION.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, UM, ABOUT THE UPCOMING PROCESS, BUT JUST WANTED TO USE THIS CONVERSATION.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANNA, WHERE WE WANT TO GET TO.
YOU COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE 15 THROUGH 17? SURE.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK 15, 16, AND 17.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 1824 AND 27, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR.
RESOLUTIONS 24 AND 27 ARE TEMPORARY EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS, AND THEY WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, UH, ITEM 18 IS A RESOLUTION APPROV PARTICIPATION IN THE, UH, IN RECEIVING DOLLARS, AS YOU MENTIONED, UH, JUST NOW.
THIS IS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCEPTING AN AWARD FOR A PERIOD OF JAN, JULY 1ST, 2024 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2025.
UM, AND GOING NOW TO THE BUDGET INSERTIONS, UH, ITEM 24, UH, IS THE INSERTION FOR THAT, UH, PROGRAM.
IT'S FOR THE NARCOTICS TASK FORCE.
THE SALARY IN FRINGE BENEFITS FOR DETECTIVES, UH, TO THE UNIT TWO DETECTIVES 67% OF THE TIME AND 60% FRINGE.
AND AGAIN, THE AMOUNT IS, UH, $246,040.
UH, ITEM 25 IS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR OUR WORKFORCE TANF PROGRAM.
LET ME JUST GO OFF FOR, IT'S 24 JUST FOR THE RECORD.
WELL, DID YOU ASK THE 25 OR JUST 1720? I, I, WELL, FOR, THEY WERE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR, SO I CALLED FOR 1824 AND 27 AND 27.
UH, ITEM 27, UH, PARDON ME, IS THE, UM, AN AMOUNT OF EIGHT $8,823 AND 11 CENTS.
THIS IS FOR, UH, BODY REPLACEMENT, UH, PROGRAM.
UH, AND THIS WILL PROVIDE FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT VEST.
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON 18 24, 27? NO, I DON'T.
DO I HAVE SOMEONE GONNA MOVE THEM? MOTION MOVED BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER SECOND BY RICHARDSON.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
LET'S GO THROUGH RESOLUTIONS 19 TO 23, WHICH FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS, THEY WILL BE READ TO THE RECORD A LATER.
DO YOU WANNA DO THAT OTHER THING? UH, SO, YEAH.
SO, UH, MR. PARCO, WE HAVE A HEARING.
THIS IS WHAT WE SKIPPED EARLIER BECAUSE THIS IS, UH, A PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE HAD TO HAVE, BUT IT COULD NOT BE HELD ANY EARLIER THAN 6:00 PM YES.
IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR URBAN PARKS AND GREEN ACRES.
THIS IS A REQUIREMENT FOR, UH, UH, FOR THESE GRANTS THROUGH DEP.
IT'S NOT A VOTE, IT'S JUST A PUBLIC COMMENT THAT I BELIEVE THE TRANSCRIPT.
DOES THE TRANSCRIPT GET SENT TO DEP, UH, JOSHUA CHESTER COUNTY PARKS? UH, YES.
SO I THINK MR. ZAS WOULD TAKE IT FROM THERE.
JUST SO A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
UM, IT'S TWO SEPARATE APPLICATIONS.
I'M REQUIRED TO DO TWO SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO BEGIN WITH THE IRVINGTON PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE GREEN ACRES PROGRAM, OR THE WEEK WAKE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE, LET'S START WITH IRVINGTON THEN WEEK QUICK.
SO, UH, JOSHUA ZAES COUNTY PARKS, GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT, PALM VICE PRESIDENT COOPER, AND THE ENTIRE ESSA COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
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IS TO OBTAIN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR A GRANT APPLICATION TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION GREEN ACRES PARK DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.THE GREEN ACRES PARK DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION IS SEEKING FUNDS FOR IRVINGTON PARK LOCATED AT GROVE STREET AND LYONS AVENUE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY.
THAT PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE TWO SOFTBALL FIELDS, WHICH INCLUDE INSTALLING NEW SYNTHETIC TURF, INFIELDS, NEW LIGHTING AND BLEACHERS, AS WELL AS LIGHTING FOR THE SOCCER FIELD.
I WANT TO DIRECT EVERYONE'S ATTENTION TO THE CONCEPT PLANS FOR THE APPLICATION, WHICH YOU SHOULD HAVE ALL RECEIVED.
I ALSO HAVE COPIES UP HERE IF, UH, ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHES TO SEE THEM.
UH, THESE WERE PREPARED BY THE COUNTY ENGINEER.
THE IRVINGTON PARK CONCEPT PAN PLAN PROPOSES RECREATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY OF IRVINGTON, INSTALLING NEW SYNTHETIC TURF IN FIELDS, NEW BLEACHERS AND LIGHTING AT THE TWO SOFTBALL FIELDS, AS WELL AS AT THE SOCCER FIELD, INCLUDING DESIGN AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS CONTINGENCIES.
THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS ESTIMATED AT $2,552,190, AS PER AN ESTIMATE PREPARED BY THE COUNTY ENGINEER BECAUSE THE PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE TOWNSHIP IN IRVINGTON IN URBAN AID MUNICIPALITY, AND WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF AN ADVERSE STRESS OVERBURDENED COMMUNITY AND SPONSORED BY THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
THE PROJECT'S FULL SCOPE IS ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING.
UH, THE COUNTY HAS ALSO PREPARED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THIS PROJECT.
AS REQUIRED BY THE N-J-D-E-P APPLICATION GUIDANCE, THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS WILL GREATLY INCREASE THE OVERALL UTILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THE FACILITY.
THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS IN ENHANCEMENTS TO THE PARK ARE NOT ANTICIPATED TO HAVE ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENTS FOR IRVINGTON PARK.
IN THE SHORT TERM, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING LIGHTING AND SEATING WILL SUSTAIN RECREATION AS IT WILL PROVIDE PLAYERS WITH AN UPGRADED FACILITY FOR SPORTS, AS WELL AS PROVIDE VIEWERS WITH A SAFER, BRIGHTER, AND MORE COMFORTABLE AREA.
OVER THE LONG TERM, THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS AND RELATED FACILITIES WILL ALLOW FOR MORE SUSTAINED RECREATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND REQUIRE SIGNIFICANTLY MUCH LESS EFFORT AND MAINTENANCE.
THIS PROJECT WILL DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE RESIDENTS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
AS THE POPULATIONS ARE DIS APPROPRIATELY IMPACTED BY THE SOCIAL DETRIMENTS OF HEALTH.
THE PROPOSED RENOVATIONS WILL IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF VISITOR EXPERIENCE IN BOTH THE LONG TERM AND SHORT TERM AT THE PARK.
THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS AT THE PARK ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE ACTIVE RECREATION ONSITE AND CREATE A MORE ENJOYABLE AND AESTHETICALLY PLEASING ENVIRONMENTAL OVERALL, UH, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INCREASED ATTENDANCE BY VISITORS LOOKING FOR BOTH ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
THERE ARE NO ANTICIPATED IMPACTS TO THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT OR, UH, ENVIRONMENT OR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
AND ANY PERMITS WILL BE ACQUIRED, WILL BE ACQUIRED THAT ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT MEASURES AND PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN TO MITIGATE ADVERSE IMPACTS THAT THE PROJECT SITE INCLUDE, BUT ARE LIMITED TO THE ERECTION OF SELF FENCING DURING THE CON, DURING AND AFTER CONSTRUCTION.
THE PROLIFERATION OF SOIL AND SEDIMENT CONTROLS, SCHEDULING AND STAGING EFFORTS TO MINIMIZE OVERALL DISTURBANCE AND SIGNIFICANT LANDSCAPING ACTIVITIES THAT WE INCLUDE THE REPLANT OF ANY FLORA WHOSE REMOVAL IS REQUIRED FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE WORK.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT WILL COMPLY WITH ANY AND ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS PERMEATED BY THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND OR REGULATORY AGENCIES REGARDING BUILDING REMEDIATION, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, AND THE ATTAINMENT OF ALL NECESSARY PERMITS FOR BUILDING REMEDIATION AND SOIL CONFIRMATION CONSERVATION AS NEEDED.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD OR PUBLIC MAY HAVE.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THERE'S NO ONE, UH, IN THE AUDIENCE WITH, UH, QUESTIONS THAT I CAN SEE.
COMMISSIONER SIEBEL, I HAVE A QUESTION, JOSH.
THIS, THIS, UH, PARK IS USED AN AWFUL LOT.
THERE ARE ALWAYS A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE.
WILL THIS HELP THE SITUATION? UH, CERTAINLY HOPEFUL.
UM, UH, CURRENTLY THE TWO SOFTBALL FIELDS ARE NOT SYNTHETIC.
UM, AND THEN OUR, OUR PROPOSAL IS TO CREATE A SYNTHETIC INFIELD ON BOTH OF THOSE PARKS.
WOULD, WOULD, WOULD REALLY HELP, UM, WITH THE COMMUNITY AND, UH, ALL THE ACTIVITY IN THAT PARK, AS YOU MENTIONED.
'CAUSE IT REALLY NEEDS SOME IMPROVEMENT, SEE ANOTHER.
MR. Z, DO YOU WANNA MOVE ON TO NUMBER, UH, WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU? WEAK PARK.
UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT JOSHUA ZAS, UH, ESA COUNTY PARKS THE PURPOSE OF THIS HEARING, UH, AGAIN, THIS IS FOR THE URBAN PARKS FOR WEAK WAKE PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS HEARING IS TO OBTAIN PUBLIC COMMENT FOR A GRANT APPLICATION TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION GREEN ACRES URBAN PARKS.
THE URBAN PARKS APPLICATION IS SEEKING FUNDINGS FOR FUNDING, IS SEEKING FUNDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO WEEK WAKE PARK, LOCATED ON ELIZABETH AVENUE AND MEER AVENUE IN THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.
I WANT TO DIRECT EVERYONE'S ATTENTION TO THE CONCEPT PLANS FOR, UH, WEEK WAKE PARK.
UH, AGAIN, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL COPIES UP HERE IF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK.
THE WEEK WAKE PARK CONCEPT PLAN PROPOSES IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BUILDING 90 TWOS BASKETBALL COURTS, AS WELL AS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ATHLETIC FIELDS, WHICH INCLUDE FOOTBALL, SOCCER, AND
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TRACK FACILITIES.THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL HELP ENSURE THE BASKETBALL COURTS MAXIMUM SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY.
ADDITIONALLY, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ATHLETIC FIELDS WILL ENCOMPASS UPGRADES TO THE FOOTBALL AND SOCCER FIELD AT WEEK WAKE PARK, INCLUDING DESIRED AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS CONTINGENCIES.
THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS ESTIMATED AT $2,045,620 AS PER AN ESTIMATE PROVIDED PREPARED BY THE COUNTY ENGINEER.
THE PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF NEWARK, AN URBAN AID MUNICIPALITY THAT CONTAINS AT LEAST ONE OVERBURDENED COMMUNITY, SUBJECT TO ADVERSE CUMULATIVE STRESSORS AS DETERMINED BY THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE MAPPING TOOL.
AS A RESULT OF THE PROJECT'S LOCATION, THE COUNTY OF ACCESS, ESSEX IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE PROJECT, AND NO MATCHING FUNDS ARE REQUIRED.
THE URBAN PARKS PROGRAM DOES NOT HAVE A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FUNDING TO BE REQUESTED, AND NO MA MATCHING FUNDS ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS PROJECT.
THE COUNTY HAS ALSO PREPARED AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THIS PRO PROJECT.
AS REQUIRED BY THE N-J-D-E-P APPLICATION GUIDANCE, THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS WILL GREATLY INCREASE THE OVERALL UTILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THE FACILITIES.
THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS AND ENHANCEMENTS TO THE PARK IS, ARE NOT ANTICIPATED TO HAVE ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENTS.
AT WEAK QUAKE PARK, THE SCOPE OF WORK WILL PROVIDE SAFER AND NEWER RECREATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THE COUNTY RECOGNIZES THIS PARK IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND SELECTED THESE IMPROVEMENTS AS THEY WILL MAXIMIZE, MINIMIZE ANY VEGETATION CLEARING, GRADING, AND SOIL EROSION TO THE GREATEST POSSIBLE EXTENT FOR WEAK WAKE PARK.
IN THE SHORT TERM, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING BASKETBALL COURTS, IMPROVEMENTS OF THE EXISTING FOOTBALL, SOCCER, AND TRACK FACILITIES WILL CREATE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR ACTIVITY.
WHILE IN THE LONG TERM, THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS WILL ENCOURAGE MANY TO GET OUTSIDE EXERCISE AND ENJOY THE OPPORTUNITIES AT THE PARK FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, THIS PROJECT WILL DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THE RESIDENTS AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
AS THE POPULATIONS ARE DIS APPROPRIATELY IMPACTED BY SOCIAL DETRIMENTS OF HEALTH, THE PROPOSED RENOVATIONS WILL IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF VISITORS' EXPERIENCE IN BOTH THE LONG AND SHORT TERM AT THE PARK.
THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS AT THE PARK ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE ACTIVE RECREATION ONSITE AND CREATE A MORE ENJOYABLE AND PLEASING ENVIRONMENT OVERALL, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INCREASED ATTENDANCE BY VISITORS LOOKING FOR BOTH ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
THERE IS NO AN ANTICIPATED IMPACT TO LOCAL ENVIRONMENT OR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, AND ANY PERMITS WILL BE REQUIRED THAT ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT MEASURES AND PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN TO MITIGATE ADVERSE IMPACT AT THE PROJECT SITE INCLUDE, BUT ARE LIMITED TO THE ERECTION OF SILT FENCING DURING AND AFTER CONSTRUCTION.
THE PROLIFERATION OF SOIL AND SEDIMENT CONTROLS, SCHEDULING AND STAGING EFFORTS TO MINIMIZE OVERALL DISTURBANCE AND SIGNIFICANT LANDSCAPING ACTIVITIES THAT INCLUDE THE REPLANTING OF ANY FLORA WHOSE REMOVAL IS REQUIRED FOR THE COMPLETION OF WORK.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT WILL COMPLY WITH ANY AND ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS DETERMINED BY THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND OR OTHER REGULATORY AGENCIES REGARDING BUILDING REMEDIATION ENVIRONMENTAL AS ASSESS CONSERVATION TO THE ATTAINMENT OF ALL NECESSARY PERMITS FOR BUILDING REMEDIATION AND SOIL CONFIRMATION AS NEEDED.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD OR PUBLIC MAY HAVE.
SEEING, UH, NO ONE IN THE PUBLIC COMMISSIONER SIEBEL? I HAVE A QUESTION, JOSH.
UM, THERE ARE MANY GROUPS THAT ARE AFFILIATED WITH WEAK WAKE PARK.
UH, SO MANY, AND THEY'VE COME BEFORE US FOR MANY, MANY YEARS COMPLAINING ABOUT PROBLEMS AT WE WAKE PARK.
ARE THEY FAMILIAR? ARE THESE GROUPS FAMILIAR WITH WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THEM, UH, JUST TO KEEP 'EM IN THE LOOP.
UM, UH, I, I CAN'T SEE WHY THEY WOULD BE AGAINST IMPROVEMENTS, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL CERTAINLY LET THEM, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVEN'T YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING? NO, I HAVE NOT.
THEY HAVEN'T COME TO COMPLAIN OR DO ANYTHING.
'CAUSE MAYBE THEY'LL BE REALLY SATISFIED.
THANKS, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
SO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, I DON'T THINK NONE OF THEIR COMPLAINTS ARE ABOUT THE FACILITY THEMSELVES.
I THINK THEIR COMPLAINTS ARE MORE, LESS TOWARDS THE PEOPLE WHO USE THE FIELDS AND COME FROM OUT OF TOWN OR WHEREVER THEY COME FROM, THE FOLKS WHO RENT AND LEAVE THE PARK NASTY AND DIRTY, AND THEY DON'T CLEAN UP BEHIND YOU.
SO I THINK A LOT OF THE COMPLAINTS ARE IN TERMS OF THOSE FIELDS, THOSE FIELDS ARE CONCERNED, IS ABOUT THAT.
'CAUSE I GO ON THAT PART ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND I SEE THE GARBAGE AND STUFF THAT THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THESE PERMITS AND RENT THE FIELDS, THE WAY THAT THEY LEAVE IT IS DISGUSTING.
JUST, JUST TO CLARIFY ONE THING, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I DID MISSPEAK EARLIER WHEN I WAS INTRODUCING THIS.
THERE WILL BE RESOLUTIONS, UM, TO, UH, TO AUTHORIZE THAT APPLICATIONS,
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UH, FOR THESE GRANTS BE MADE.SO YOU WILL BE VOTING ON, ON THE AUTHORIZATIONS.
COMMISSIONER SIBO, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, EXCEPT IN THE PAST THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FACILITIES AT WIGWAG PARK.
SO I'M GLAD THAT A LOT OF WORK WILL BE DONE, AND I HOPE YOU WILL PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON IS SAYING.
NOW THAT WE HAVE, UH, CONCLUDED OUR PUBLIC COMMENT, NONE FROM THE PUBLIC, UH, CAME FORWARD AND FROM OUR COMMISSIONERS, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON FROM THE ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTIONS ON SECOND READING, IN PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.
JOSHUA, WHY DON'T YOU START? YOU HAVE 19 THROUGH, I BELIEVE, 23.
IS THAT CORRECT? UH, JOSHUA ROSA COUNTY PARKS? THAT IS CORRECT.
MR. PRESIDENT, IF, IF, IF I MAY COMMISSIONER MR. PRESIDENT, UH, VERY BRIEFLY, UH, HAPPY TO SEE YOU BACK IN YOUR RIGHT POSITION,
I WAS, I COULD ALMOST, I FRANKLY COULD READ HIS MIND AS HE WAS LOOKING AT ME, THE HOSPITAL THAT TIME I WAS GONNA COMPLAIN, BUT I KEPT QUIET.
ALL RIGHT, IF WE KEEP TALKING, WE'RE GONNA BE HERE ALL NIGHT, INCLUDING MR. ZA.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO 19 AND 23.
UH, JOSHUA ZAS S COUNTY PARKS, I, I'M ASSUMING NEXT MEETING, I'LL BE FIRST TO MAKE UP FOR THIS
NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I ASK, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER.
UH, THIS IS FOR BOTH OUR GOLF COURSE FACILITIES AS WELL AS OUR MAINTENANCE.
UH, SIMPLY PUT, UH, TORO WOULD COME OUT AND SHARPEN THE BLADES, REPAIR ANY, UH, MOWERS THAT MAY BE, UH, IN NEED OF REPAIR.
IT INCLUDES ANY KIND OF ELECTRICAL OR MECHANICAL ISSUES.
UH, NUMBER 20 IS A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS MADE PART HEREOF WHO ARE APPLYING FOR GREEN ACRES FUNDS FOR ESA COUNTY PARKS.
UM, WE, AS THE BOARD KNOWS THROUGH THE PUBLIC, UM, THE, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING WE JUST HAD, THERE'S TWO COUNTY PROJECTS THAT, UH, WE ARE APPLYING FOR US EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH THE COUNTY.
AND THEN WE ARE ALSO PARTNERING WITH THREE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR SOME ADDITIONAL PROJECTS, UH, THROUGH THE GREEN ACRES ACRES PROGRAM.
UH, IT'S BEEN, THIS IS, UH, BASICALLY A RESOLUTION JUST SAYING THAT THE COUNTY SUPPORTS THESE, UH, APPLICATIONS WHEN THEY'RE SUBMITTED.
UH, THESE ARE, AGAIN, THREE, UH, THE ESA COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION FOR MILLS, RESERVATION IMPROVEMENTS.
HILLTOP CONSERVANCY FOR HILLTOP RESERVATION IMPROVEMENTS.
AND FINALLY, THE BRANCH BROOK PARK ALLIANCE FOR BRANCH BROOK PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, MORE SPECIFICALLY, UH, BRANCH BROOK WILL INCLUDE THE BASKETBALL COURTS, UH, UPGRADES AS WELL AS BATHROOM UPGRADES.
HILLTOP, WE'RE LOOKING FOR DOG PARK UPGRADES, PATHWAY IMPROVEMENTS, TRAIL RENOVATIONS, UH, FORESTRY REPLENISHMENTS.
AND THEN IN, UH, MILLS RESERVATION, IT'S GONNA BE HILLTOP, I'M SORRY, ENTRANCE IMPROVEMENTS AND TRAIL RENOVATION.
NUMBER 21 AND 22 ARE THE, UH, RESOLUTIONS THAT, UM, MR. VECCHIO JUST SPOKE OF.
THEY ARE THE TWO RESOLUTIONS, UH, BASED ON THE PUBLIC HEARING.
NUMBER 21 IS THE ONE, UH, FOR GREEN ACRES.
FOR FOR GREEN ACRES, WHICH WAS FOR IRVINGTON PARK.
AND THEN THE, UH, NUMBER 22 IS FOR THE URBAN PARKS, WHICH WAS QUAKE.
AND FINALLY, NUMBER 22 IS AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY TO THE GY COUNCIL OF ARTS, LOCAL ARTS PROGRAM FOR THE 25 THROUGH 27 PROGRAM FUNDING.
UH, THIS GRANT SUPPORT, JOSH, LEMME JUST CORRECT.
UH, THIS GRANT SUPPORTS, UH, THE GRANT REGRANT PROGRAM.
UH, WE'VE SUPPORTED, UH, AROUND 48 LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS.
THE GRANTS RANGE BETWEEN 1,008 THOUSAND EACH.
THE TOTAL AMOUNT WE'VE AWARDED TO DATE HAS BEEN 305,000.
AND THIS IS, UH, A BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING THAT WE HAVE TO DO EVERY THREE YEARS IN ORDER TO REAPPLY FOR, AGAIN, 25, 26, AND 2027.
DOES THAT INCLUDE THE HISTORY GRANTS AS WELL? THIS IS EXCLUSIVE TO THE ARCH GRANTS.
MR. KIN, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
WHAT DO WE APPLY? GET THE MONEY AND GET REDISTRIBUTED TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS? UH, JOSHUA IS ASEX COUNTY PARKS THREE.
YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? THAT'S CORRECT.
DO WE DO IT THROUGH A COMPETITIVE BASIS OR WE ALREADY LIKE PRESCREEN WHO WAS, SO THERE ARE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM.
UM, I DON'T SPECIFICALLY HAVE THEM IN FRONT OF ME, BUT WE DO INVITE APPLICANTS TO APPLY.
UM, TYPICALLY IT'S NONPROFITS OR TOWNSHIPS OR LIBRARY BOARDS, THINGS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT THE APPLICATIONS OPEN THIS YEAR ON JUNE 1ST, AND THEN THEY'RE DUE BACK ON AUGUST 15TH.
VICE PRESIDENT, JUST FOR THE BACK.
I'M FAMILIAR WITH THIS, UH, SINCE THIS IS KIND OF MY WORLD, UM, GENERALLY, UH, THERE'S AT LEAST ONE GRANT GIVEN TO EVERY
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MUNICIPALITY.THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB DISTRIBUTING TO ENSURE EVERY MUNICIPALITY, UNLESS THEY DON'T APPLY, GET SOMETHING.
DOES THAT GO THROUGH THAT PORTAL THING TOO, JAY? OR NO? HOW, HOW DOES, HOW DO PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT THIS ONE? THIS IS MOSTLY MUNICIPALITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS AFFILIATED LIKE THE LIBRARY, WHICH COULD BE AUTONOMOUS AND MUNICIPALITIES THAT DO THAT.
THIS IS KIND OF REALLY THAT WORLD.
TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT THE PRESIDENT WAS SAYING, IT WOULD BE OPEN TO THOSE MUNICIPALITIES, LIBRARY BOARDS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
WE DO HAVE A, A LIST AND WE DO A, A MAILING TO LET EVERYONE KNOW.
UH, HAVING, HAVING SAID THAT, IF THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT, THAT YOU FEEL WOULD, UM, BENEFIT FROM IT, IF YOU COULD PASS THE INFORMATION ON, WE'D LOVE TO, TO GET THEM THE INFORMATION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER SIBO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE IT? DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ROLL CALL MATTER.
DEPUTY CLERK ON NINETEEN TWENTY, TWENTY ONE, TWENTY TWO, AND 23.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
WE CAN VOUCH THAT YOU WERE HEAR THIS LATE SINCE SHE'S USED TO YOU COMING HOME EARLY NOW.
UH, MR. JACKSON, ARE YOU GONNA BE DOING 25 AND 26? YES, SIR.
ALRIGHT, SO LET'S DO 25, WHICH IS FOR THE DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.
IT'S A TEMPORARY EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION, WHICH WILL BE RUN INTO THE RECORD LATER TIME.
AND 26 IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, ALSO A TEMPORARY EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION, WHICH WILL BE RUN INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
UH, YOU ACTUALLY SUMMED IT UP QUITE WELL, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, THE, UH, BUT I'LL JUST SAY THAT THE 25 IS FOR OUR TANANA FUNDING, UH, FOR PART OF THE, FOR COUNTY YEAR 2025.
AND ITEM 26 IS FOR 25 VESTS FOR OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR, UH, BODY ARMOR REPLACEMENT.
UH, DO WE HAVE, UH, CAN YOU GIVE ME A SENSE, AND I LIKE, I MEAN, WE USUALLY GO OVER THIS, UH, METRIC OF WHERE DO WE STAND WITH THE, UH, WITH THE VESTS AND ARE THEY, OF COURSE NOT EXPIRED AND ET CETERA.
CAN YOU JUST FILL US IN THE, UH, SHERIFF'S WOULD, AFTER THIS PURCHASE, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WILL BE GOING FOR 85, UH, MORE VESTS AND THEN THEY'LL BE FULLY DONE.
AND WITH THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, UH, THE EARLY ONE, WE DID THE FIVE, WE WILL BRING THEM UP TO SNUFF.
SO THEORETICALLY WE'LL BE UP TO SPEED.
UH, MR. PARLEY BECK, YOU 25 26.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK 25 AND 26.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
OUR RESOLUTION 28 AND 29, WHICH ARE IMMEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS.
THEY WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
COMMISSIONER GI, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE? YES.
MAD DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
WE DID 30 EARLIER THIS EVENING.
UH, SO MADAM DEPUTY CLARK, DO WE HAVE ANY ADDED STARTERS? UH, YES.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE REMAINING RESOLUTION.
31, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COUNCIL.
THAT'LL BE RUNNING TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIR.
THE, THE TRANSFER AND THE EXECUTION OF LEGAL DOCUMENTATION WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL WE FINISH OUR FAMILY COURTS BUILDING.
WE HAVE THE TURNOVER OF THE PROPERTY TO THE NEW PURCHASER, AND AT THAT TIME, UH, WE WILL ISSUE THE BONDS SO THAT THE IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY HAS THE FUNDS TO BUY THE, UH, UNITS FROM US.
SO THAT THAT WILL BE DONE JUNE-ISH, UH, AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
MR. PARLOVE, ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, I, THE BOARD MIGHT REMEMBER, UM, A FEW MONTHS AGO,
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WE, UH, YOU VOTED ON THE, UH, THE BONDING FOR THIS PROJECT.SO NOW WE'RE HERE WITH THE AGREEMENT.
THIS IS THE SALE OF THE COUNTY'S UNITS TO THE ECIA FOR THE FURTHER DISPOSITION OF THE, TO THE O THAT'S CORRECT.
TO THE OWNER OF THE REST OF THE BUILDING.
BUT, UH, TITLE DOESN'T CHANGE UNTIL THOSE PORTIONS OF THAT AGREEMENT TITLE NOT CHANGE TO THE COURT, TO THE TURNOVER DATE.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN THE PROPERTY IS FINISHED, OUR, OUR PROPERTY IS FINISHED.
WE SIGN THESE AGREEMENTS AND THE I A HAS THE $11 MILLION TO PAY US AT THAT POINT IN TIME, TITLE WILL CHANGE SIMULTANEOUSLY.
AND THEY, THEY DID PUT UP THE DEPOSIT.
YOU SAID, EXCUSE ME, THE DEPOSIT RIGHT? TWO 50.
THEY, THEY, THE, UH, THE PURCHASERS, WE INSISTED ON A GOOD FAITH DEPOSIT.
THEY'RE A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT GETTING IT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO REPORT TO YOU.
UH, I KNOW THAT TWO, TWO, MY TWO COLLEAGUES, WE AGONIZED OVER IT.
THAT'S A DEPOSIT ON THE PROPERTY.
AND BY WE, IT'S IN THE ESSEX COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY, UH, ACCOUNT.
SO THAT'S A GOOD SIGN OF GOOD FAITH.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS IN 31? YEAH.
RICH, DO YOU, MR. SPREAD OVER, YOU GOT $250,000 ON AN $11 MILLION SALE, CORRECT? I THINK THAT'S A GOOD DEAL FOR THEM TO ONLY HAVE TO PUT UP 250,000 NON-REFUNDABLE.
VICE PRESIDENT, REMIND ME AGAIN PLEASE, MR. PARVE.
WE'RE GETTING PAID UP FRONT NOW THROUGH THE ECIA AND REMEMBER IT WAS KIND OF DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WAS A LITTLE MENTAL GYMNASTICS ON THIS ONE.
SO I, I JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT KIND OF, UH, ORDER BY ORDER FOR ME ORDER OF OPERATIONS.
SO THE COUNT, UH, THE COUNTY PROPER OWNS THREE UNITS.
I BELIEVE IN THE GIBRALTAR, IN THE GIBRALTAR BUILDING ON HALSEY STREET WITH WHERE WE HAVE THE FAMILY COURTS, SOME PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, WE ARE TRANSFERRING THROUGH SALE TO THE ECIA.
THE ECIA WILL PAY THE COUNTY FOR THOSE PROPERTIES.
ONCE THE ECIA OWNS THAT OWNS THE, OR TAKES TITLE TO THE PROPERTIES, IT WILL THEN BE LEASED, I THINK TO LEASED A THIRD PARTY WHO OWNS THE REMAINDER OF THE BUILDING.
WE, THE COUNTY GETS PAID, SO WE'RE GETTING PAID.
AND NOW THE ECIA, WE GOTTA DEAL WITH THE MAKING
AND I THINK THAT'S A, IT'S, I THINK THAT'S A LEASE TO BUY.
I, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE DEAL IS BETWEEN ECIA AND THE THIRD PARTY, BUT I THINK IT'S A PURCHASE LEASE TO PURCHASE AGREEMENT AT SOME POINT.
SO I RECALL CORRECTLY THAT UH, IF THEY DEFAULT THE PROPERTY TO RETURNS BACK TO THE COUNTY, THE PROPERTY RETURNS BACK.
ALL THOSE TERMS STILL STAY IN PLACE.
IF THERE'S, SO, IF THERE'S A DEFAULT BETWEEN THE THIRD PARTY PURCHASER AND THE ECIA, THE PROPERTY REVERTS CORRECT.
AND WE STILL GET TO KEEP OUR MONEY.
KEEP WHATEVER MONEY WE'VE GOT TO THAT POINT.
DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE IT? I'LL MOVE IT.
ALL IN, UH, I IN FAVOR MY WISH.
MAD DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO REPORT A BOARD COMMITTEES.
DO WE HAVE ANY REPORTS? SEE NONE.
DO WE HAVE ANY LEGISLATIVE REPORTS? SEEING NONE.
ANY WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS? SEEING NONE.
ANY UN UH, UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONERS ANY NEW BUSINESS TO DISCUSS? SEEING NONE.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF THERE'S A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
JAMES TROI, VICE PRESIDENT, FOP LODGE 1 0 6, REPRESENTING THE SWORN SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL WITHIN THE ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL ON THE INTRODUCTION OF YOUR RAISES IN THE SALARY ORDINANCE.
20 25, 20 26 RAISES FOR THE COUNTY EXEC, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, EACH AND EVERY COMMISSIONER COUNTY COUNCIL.
TO BE CLEAR, WE DON'T BEGRUDGE ANYBODY A RAISE IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES, BUT THE SWORN SUPERVISORS WITHIN CORRECTIONS ARE STILL TRYING TO NEGOTIATE 20 21, 20 22, AND 2023 MORE INSULTING.
WE HAVE IT CONFIRMED TODAY THAT THE DIVISION OF PENSION AND BENEFITS
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PFRS IS STILL WAITING FOR THE COUNTY TO SUBMIT PAYMENT FOR SETTLEMENT OF OUR 18, 19, AND 2020 CONTRACT.MONEY WAS WITHHELD FROM OUR MEMBERS, BUT IS YET TO BE FORWARDED TO TRENTON.
SO AS SOMEONE DIRECTLY IMPACTED, WHO'S PAYING THE FEES AS TAXPAYERS AS YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WHEN WILL THE COUNTY PAY ITS OBLIGATIONS FROM NEARLY SEVEN YEARS AGO? PS THANK YOU TO JOE D AND COUNTY COUNSEL FOR THE $330,000 SETTLEMENT CHECKS OUR LAWYERS RECEIVED TODAY, THAT $330,000 SETTLEMENT.
NOT TO MENTION COUNTY'S COST FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL WAS TO MAKE A FEDERAL FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT CASE GO AWAY.
IT WAS DONE WITHOUT REQUIRING YOUR APPROVAL FOR THOUSANDS OF MANDATORY OVERTIME HOURS THAT MY PEOPLE WORKED FROM SEPTEMBER, 2023 THROUGH MARCH OF 2024.
THEY WERE ORDERED INTO MANDATED TRAINING AND THEN HAD TO SUE SIX MONTHS LATER TO GET PAID.
LASTLY, WE AGAIN RAISED THE ONGOING VIOLATIONS OF STATE AND FEDERAL CRIMINAL STATUTES BY THE RECORDING OF AUDIO CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THE FACILITY, TO WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT A PARTY WITHOUT A WARRANT OR A WARRANT EXCEPTION.
THOSE RECORDINGS ARE BEING MADE DIRECTLY OUTSIDE OF OUR UNION OFFICE.
THEY ARE NOW BEING MADE INSIDE A ROOM THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THE SECURE PERIMETER.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE PRISONERS ARE TALKING ABOUT COMMON AREAS FOR EMPLOYEES ONLY.
SO AN AREA THAT'S GENERALLY USED FOR STAFF DINING, BUT WHERE WE HOLD OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS, 30 SECONDS IS NOW BEING AUDIO RECORDED.
HUDSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT, HUDSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SPENT 18 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DOING SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR.
HOW MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM KNOW THAT YOUR CONVERSATIONS ARE BEING MONITORED IN THE HALLWAYS? RIGHT OUT HERE.
I'LL SHOW YOU THE HIDDEN MICS.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? SESSION? ANY COMMENTS? YEAH, I, I, I LIKE FOR DON'T GO.
I WANT TO, I WANT YOU TO SHOW 'EM TO ME.
DID WE DO A, A MEMORIAL FOR CHIEF OF STAFF? PHIL ELIJAH'S MOTHER? BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE IT ON HERE.
UH, AND FLOWERS WERE ALSO SENT.
UH, I THINK, UH, THE INFORMATION ON, UH, UH, REGARDING THE SERVICES AND ALL THAT HAS BEEN SENT AS WELL.
BUT IF ANYONE NEEDS IT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL ASK KATHY.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOVE IT.
MOVE BY RICHARD SECOND, VICE PRESIDENT.