[00:00:01]
THAT'S A MAJOR, MAJOR DEAL, SO, OKAY.HE'S BEEN, UH, GUARDING THOSE FLOWERS AND MY OFFICE SMELL WONDERFUL RIGHT NOW.
AND I WANNA THANK THE STAFF FOR HELPING US PUT THE KNOW, PUT THIS TOGETHER.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING.
ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO OUR BUSINESS.
UH, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF TRANSCRIPTS.
MADAM DEPUTY CLARK, ARE THERE ANY TRANSCRIPTS TO BE APPROVED? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE FROM THE FEBRUARY 19TH, 2025 CONFERENCE BOARD.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEE, NAN, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE IT? MOVE IT.
SECOND BY MERCADO WILL CALL MAD DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
ARE WE, DO WE HAVE ANY TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION? NO, WE DO NOT.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
TONIGHT'S MEETING IS A COMBINED CONFERENCE BOARD MEETING, AND WE WILL VOTE ON EVERY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THERE WILL BE TIME LATER IN THE EVENING FOR OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR OTHER ITEMS. SO, I ASK YOU, PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME TO AGENDA ITEMS. GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I'M THE FIRST ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR IN ESSEX COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
AND I, I JUST WANTED TO COME TONIGHT AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, THANK ALL OF YOU AS COMMISSIONERS.
UM, NOT ONLY FOR THE RESOLUTION TODAY FOR, UH, GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS, UH, BUT ALSO FOR THE STEADFAST SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE ALL PROVIDED TO THE ESSEX COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
UH, THE RESOURCES THAT YOU ALLOCATE TO OUR OFFICE HAVE BEEN SO CRITICAL, NOT ONLY TO OUR ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE, UH, PROSECUTE CRIMES THROUGHOUT, UH, THE COUNTY, UH, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY AS TO SHOOTINGS, UH, THAT WE SUFFER FROM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, LIKE OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL, THAT HAVE TAKEN SO MANY LIVES AND DESTROYED FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
THIS IS WHY TODAY'S RESOLUTION REALLY REGARDING GUN VIOLENCE, UH, AND GUN GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS SPECIFICALLY, IS SO MEANINGFUL.
IT REALLY IS CRITICAL FOR US, I THINK, TO TAKE SOME TIME, REFLECT UPON THE IMPACT THAT THAT'S THIS HAS HAD ON SO MANY LIVES.
AND ALSO TO HONOR THOSE LIVES THAT WE'VE LOST AND THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN FOREVER CHANGED.
FAMILIES THAT HAVE FOREVER BEEN CHANGED BY THESE TRAGEDIES.
I DO, HOWEVER, ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE, OBVIOUSLY AS WE STAND HERE TODAY, THAT THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT AWARENESS OF GUN VIOLENCE, IT'S ALSO ABOUT COMMITMENT, WHICH YOU AS COMMISSIONERS TONIGHT HAVE SHOWN AND ARE SHOWING TONIGHT, WHICH IS THAT THIS IS A COMMITMENT TO MEANINGFULLY ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE WORK TIRELESSLY TO PREVENT FURTHER LOSS.
UM, JUST AS RECENTLY AS A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE LOST A 9-YEAR-OLD HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY DUE TO A TRAGIC SHOOTING.
UM, REALLY A DAY DOESN'T GO BY THAT ANY OF US WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THAT CASE AREN'T KIND OF JUST CONTINUOUSLY BROUGHT BACK TO THOSE IMAGES AND THE IMPACT, THE DEVASTATION THAT THAT BROUGHT TO A FAMILY.
HAVING SAID ALL THAT, I DO WANT TO END ON A POSITIVE NOTE.
UM, AN OPTIMISTIC NOTE, WHICH IS THAT THROUGH OUR PROACTIVE EFFORTS, THINGS LIKE THE GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM THAT WE DO IN ESSEX COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE DETERRENT IMPACT OF OUR PROSECUTIONS, THEY'VE UNDOUBTEDLY HAD AN IMPACT, UH, ON TRYING TO CURB VIOLENCE.
SO WE SEE OUR HOMICIDE STATISTICS ARE AT ALL TIME LOWS.
KNOCK ON WOOD, WE DON'T WANNA JINX THAT AS WELL AS SHOOTINGS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AT ALL TIME LOWS.
HOWEVER, AGAIN, GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY, UH, IS A REMINDER THAT A HISTORIC LOW IS NOT ENOUGH.
AND WE NEED TO KEEP OUR FOOT ON THE GAS AND KEEP WORKING TIRELESSLY WITH THIS EFFORT.
SO, I THANK YOU ALL AGAIN, UH, FOR THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT.
UH, IT MEANS AN IMMENSE AMOUNT TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY, UH, TO OUR OFFICE IN THE ESSEX COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, FOR CARING AND, AND FOR STANDING WITH US.
AND FIRST OF ALL, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FINE SERVICE ALONG AND BY EXTENSION OF COURSE, TO PROSECUTOR STEVENS, UH, AND, UH, EVERYONE IN THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR FINE WORK.
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT AN EASY JOB.
WE APPRECIATE THE GOOD SERVICE YOU AND EVERYONE, AND YOUR TEAM DOES.
[00:05:02]
IN FACT, WE'LL, UH, AND A LITTLE BIT, COMMISSIONER GILL'S GONNA BE SPEAKING TO THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER ON.MS. JACKSON, PLEASE, DONALD JACKSON.
UM, I WANTED TO SPEAK TO THE, WE ARE GETTING MONEY IN FOR THE OPIOID CRISIS, AND I DON'T WANT TO NEGATE WHAT THE YOUNG MAN JUST SAID BEFORE ME.
HOWEVER, WE ARE DOING A HORRIBLE JOB IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX WITH OPIOID DEATHS.
A YOUNG LADY WAS KILLED IN BRADLEY COURT.
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE REFUSES TO CLASSIFY IT AS A HOMICIDE.
AND THIS YOUNG LADY WAS GIVEN TWO FENTANYL PILLS.
UNBEKNOWNST TO HER WHAT WAS IN THEM.
WE PRAYED THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND BEED THEM TO INVESTIGATE THAT FURTHER YOUNG MAN THAT I'M ASSISTING IN A COMMUNITY OF ELDER.
I FOUND IT OUT VERONICA IN ESS COUNTY WHERE WE ARE GETTING ALL THIS OPIOID MONEY BACK.
AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE STILL ARE NOT CHARGING ANYBODY WITH THESE FENTANYL DEATHS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE BEING MANMADE.
I SEE OTHER COUNTIES, PARTICULARLY SUBURBAN AREAS, WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE DYING FROM FENTANYL OVERDOSES.
I SEE PEOPLE BEING ATTACKED, GOING AFTER BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
WHY CAN'T WE DO THIS IN THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITY OF ESSEX COUNTY? I HAVEN'T SEEN IT AND I'M DEMANDING THAT IT HAPPEN.
UM, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET INSERTIONS FOR, UH, NUMBER 14, 16, AND 17.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE GETTING MONEY FOR LIHEAP AND WHEN FAMILIES ARE APPLYING FOR FOOD STAMPS IN THIS COUNTY, THE LIHEAP APPLICATION IS NOT BEING DONE.
NOW I'VE BEEN COMING UP HERE AND I'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT FAMILY SERVICES FOR YEARS AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
YOU GOT RID OF THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR AND IT'S EVEN WORSE.
NOW, WHY DO WE KEEP PLAYING GAMES WITH FAMILIES? YOU GUYS ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN LANDLORD TENANT COURT.
I BROUGHT MS. KIANA BURWELL HERE TO GET SOME HELP, AND SHE STILL DID NOT GET HELP.
SHE APPLIED AT THREE AGENCIES AND ONLY ONE AGENCY PAID.
YOU GUYS HAVE NO IDEA BECAUSE WE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON.
THE FAMILIES OUT HERE COME TO THAT LANDLORD TENANT COURT.
I WAS THERE YESTERDAY, YOU KNOW HOW MANY CASES, 147 IN ONE DAY.
AND AT LEAST 50% OF THEM WERE EVICTED.
YOU GUYS NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
I ASKED YOU AT THE LAST MEETING, AND I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE ANSWER.
HOW MANY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN PROCESSED AND APPROVED IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX? WELL, DONNA COULD TELL YOU IN THREE YEARS, ABSOLUTELY NONE.
WHY AREN'T THE TRA WHAT STANDS FOR TEMPORARY RENTAL ASSISTANCE? I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW THAT 30 SECONDS.
HOW, WHY HASN'T ANY OF THAT MONEY BEEN EXPELLED TO HELP FAMILIES STAY IN THEIR UNITS? IT HAS NOT HAPPENED.
AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE A PART OF CAUSING THIS HOMELESSNESS.
AND LASTLY, LET ME JUST SAY THIS, EVERYBODY'S ENTITLED TO THEIR OPINION, BUT THAT SHOULD RAID THAT MAYOR BARACK POOL AT THAT ICE CENTER WAS HORRIBLE 'CAUSE HE NEVER QUESTIONED YOU GUYS HOW WE HAD HEIGHTS IN OUR JAIL.
ANYBODY ELSE ON AGENDA ITEMS? OKAY, MADAM DEPUTY COOK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTIONS ON INTRODUCTION IN FIRST READINGS.
DO WE HAVE ANY? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE ORDINANCE FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.
OKAY, SO LET'S MOVE TO ORDINANCE NUMBER ONE FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.
IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, DIRECTOR HARLOW WILL ADDRESS THIS ITEM.
GOOD MORNING COMMISSIONERS, OR GOOD MORNING.
MAYA HARLOW, HEALTH DIRECTOR AND HEALTH OFFICER ESSEX COUNTY.
THIS ORDINANCE IS FOR THE DESIGNATING THE ESSEX COUNTY OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AS THE LOCAL HEALTH PROVIDER IN ESTABLISHING THE ESSEX COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD.
PURSUIT OF LOCAL HEALTH SERVICES ACT, UH, BASED ON STATE STATUTE IN CHAPTER 52.
UH, WE AS A LOCAL HEALTH AGENCY, AND THIS IS WHAT THIS ORDINANCE IS DOING, IS ESTABLISHING US AS A LOCAL HEALTH SERVICES, PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDER, UH, AND ESTABLISHING A ADVISORY BOARD THAT ALLOWS FOR STAKEHOLDERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO INPUT INTO OUR POL, GIVE INPUT INTO OUR POLICIES, AND DIRECT US TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, THE DECISIONS THAT WE ARE MAKING ARE TRULY, UH, PROPERLY, UH, ADVISED AND ALSO, UH, PROPERLY COMMITTED TO THOSE THAT LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
[00:10:01]
YOU HAVE BEEN IN AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR ACCREDITATION PROCESS.WE ARE 30 DAYS AWAY FROM OFFICIALLY SUBMITTING OVER 1000 DOCUMENTS OF DOCUMENTATION FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION.
UH, SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE LAST PIECES.
SO, UH, WITHOUT YOUR HELP AND YOUR, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US, UH, THIS IS THE LAST PIECE OF OUR ACCREDITATION PROCESS.
I'M HAPPY FOR YOUR SAKE, ACTUALLY THAT THIS IS
SO, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE TEAM FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND REPRESENTING ESSEX COUNTY, UH, IN THE EXCELLENT WAY THAT YOU DO.
MS. SHABAZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO, I DON'T.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'M GONNA MOVE IT.
SECOND BY, UH, I WANTED TO SAY GRANT BY SERMONS.
UH, ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
ORDINANCE OF SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY? NO.
DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTIONS OF THE SECOND READING FRONT AND PUBLIC HEARING? NO.
UH, AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA DO OUT, WE'RE GONNA GO OUTTA TURN AND WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 21, WHICH IS IN THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
IT'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
AND I'D LIKE TO ASK MY COLLEAGUE, THE ESTEEMED COMMISSIONER, BRENDAN GILL, WILL ADDRESS THIS.
UH, THANK, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, AND I KNOW WE HEARD EARLIER FROM OUR, UM, MR. ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR, UH, ALEX, ALEX, THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR BEING HERE AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THIS AS A RESOLUTION, UM, PUTTING FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION TODAY.
UM, OF COURSE, WITH THE SUPPORT OF, UM, OUR, ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES.
UM, TO, FOR A RESOLUTION, UH, DECLARING THE FIRST FRIDAY IN JUNE, UH, TO GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY.
UM, IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE DONE THIS.
I'M PROUD TO STAY IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES HERE WHO I KNOW WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM, UM, FROM MOM'S DEMAND ACTION, UH, SHORTLY ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION.
BUT VERY, UH, BRIEFLY, THIS, THIS RESOLUTION, UH, RECOGNIZES NATIONAL GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS DAY, RECOGNIZED ON THE FIRST FRIDAY IN JUNE, AND HONORS AND REMEMBERS ALL THE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE.
AND DECLARES THAT WE AS A COUNTY MUST CONTINUE TO DO MORE TO END THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
UM, WHEREAS EVERY DAY, 125 PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE KILLED BY GUN VIOLENCE AND MORE THAN 260 ARE SHOT AND WOUNDED WITH AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 19,000 GUN HOMICIDES EVERY YEAR.
AND WHEREAS PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE 26 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE BY GUN HOMICIDE THAN PEOPLE IN OTHER HIGH INCOME COUNTRIES.
AND WHEREAS NEW JERSEY HAS 437 GUN RELATED DEATHS EVERY YEAR WITH A RATE OF 4.88 DEATHS PER 100,000 PEOPLE, A CRISIS THAT NOT ONLY IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, BUT HAS ALSO COST THE STATE $5.3 BILLION A YEAR, $5.3 BILLION A YEAR, OF WHICH $168.9 MILLION IS PAID BY TAXPAYERS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU CANNOT PUT A PRICE TAG ON SOMEONE'S LIFE.
BUT, UM, THOSE ARE REAL NUMBERS THAT ALSO NOT ONLY, UM, REPRESENT THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTES, UM, TO AN ECONOMIC ONE AS WELL.
UM, I, I DON'T NEED TO ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE RESOLUTION 'CAUSE THE RESOLUTION, I THINK VERY MUCH SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK ALL THE ADVOCATE ADVOCATES WHO CONTINUED EACH AND EVERY DAY, UH, TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE, UM, AND, AND ALL OF THE, UM, AND ALL THE PEOPLE ACROSS THE MANY COMMUNITIES, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A, IN MY OPINION, UM, A SUBURBAN OR URBAN ISSUE.
THIS IS A US ISSUE, AN ALL OF US ISSUE.
IT CONTINUES TO BE AN ALL OF US ISSUE AND ONE THAT, UM, WE CAN, WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO SOLVE.
SO, MR. UM, PRESIDENT, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UH, THANK YOU FOR SPONSORING, UM, THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, UH, OF THE WORK OF OUR SUBCOMMITTEE, UM, ON THIS ISSUE.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO, WHO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
UM, AND WHICH WOULD ADD THAT I THINK THERE WAS A, A A A, UM, A FLYER LEFT ON OUR, ON EVERYONE'S DESKS,
[00:15:01]
UM, WITH SOME STATISTICS THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, TO ASK THAT MAYBE WE MAKE SURE IS AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR, YOU KNOW, THROUGH OUR PLATFORMS AS WELL.UM, BUT THEY'RE, THEY'RE PRETTY JAW DROPPING A ONE IN TERMS OF THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH I THINK WE ALL, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT.
BUT SECONDLY, UM, THERE IS A, A, A TINGE OF GOOD NEWS IN THERE BECAUSE, UM, IN NEW JERSEY, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME OF THE STRICTEST GUN, UH, COMMON SENSE GUN REGULATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, WE ARE DENTING THIS ISSUE
BUT THE IDEA THAT GOVERNMENT REGULATION, THAT OVERSIGHT, UH, THAT, UH, COMMON SENSE PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY MEASURES CAN'T SAVE LIVES IS FALSE
AND YOU JUST NEED TO LOOK AT THE STATISTICS HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY VERSUS WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
AGAIN, WE'RE FAR FROM WHERE WE NEED TO BE TO REALIZE THOUGH THAT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO, UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT FOR THAT, FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE A FEW WORDS AND THANK YOU, UH, TO THE ADVOCATES AGAIN WHO BRING THIS TO US EACH AND EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING, UH, TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITIES EACH AND EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR LEADING THE CHARGE.
DID YOU WANT TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE SHARE ONE OF THE, YOUR REPRESENTATIVES COME TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, MICROPHONE.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS LORRAINE LOMBARDI AND I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH MOM'S DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA, UM, THE ESSEX COUNTY CHAPTER.
AND I'M ALSO, UM, THE, UM, COORDINATOR OF A SECURE, UH, SECURE FIREARM STORAGE PROGRAM THAT WE ADVOCATE TO HAVE PEOPLE STORE THEIR GUNS TO SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES.
AND I'M HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES PET ZICO AND ALICIA
AND WE WANNA THANK YOU AGAIN ON BEHALF OF EVERY TOWN FOR GUN SAFETY AND MONTH END ACTION.
THE ISSUING THIS PROCLAMATION AGAIN FOR THE SECOND YEAR AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
NOW, WE WEAR ORANGE TO NOT ONLY HONOR HADDI PENDLETON, UM, WHO THIS PROGRAM WAS STARTED BY, BY HER FRIENDS WHEN SHE WAS KILLED, WHEN SHE WAS ONLY 14 YEARS OLD.
BUT WE ALSO HONOR THE HUNDREDS WHO ARE WOUNDED EVERY YEAR, AND THE COUNTLESS OTHERS WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY GUN VIOLENCE.
NOW, I WEAR ORANGE FOR THIS YOUNG MAN.
HE WAS A 25-YEAR-OLD NEPHEW OF MY BEST FRIEND UP IN BOSTON.
BRANDON WAS SHOT IN THE CHEST AT POINT BLANK RANGE TRYING TO CONVINCE AN INTRUDER TO DROP HIS GUN.
AND I ALSO WEAR IT FOR ONE OF MY TEACHING COLLEAGUES, MARIE, WHO DIED BY GUN SUICIDE DURING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME IN HER LIFE.
AND SHE WAS ABLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE HER FATHER'S GUNS WERE NOT SECURED.
NOW WE HONOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. WE EDUCATE AND BUILD AWARENESS ABOUT GUN SAFETY THROUGH WEAR ORANGE.
WE WEAR ORANGE EVERY YEAR AND OTHER PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMS BE SMART, WHICH IS A SECURE STORAGE PROGRAM THAT I MANAGE.
AND ALSO THE PROGRAM, ONE THING WE CAN DO, WHICH IS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF, UM, RED FLAG LAWS.
NOW, UM, LET ME GIVE YOU SOME, UH, STATISTICS, UM, TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW, UM, OF THE DEATHS THAT HAPPEN MOSTLY, UM, RELATING TO CHILDREN, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE MY FOCUS IS.
GUNS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR US CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES.
2,500 CHILDREN DIED BY GUNS IN 2023.
WHEN CHILDREN DIE BY GUNS, THE MAJORITY ARE HOMICIDES.
ABOUT 700 MORE CHILDREN DIE BY GUN SUICIDE.
AND BEFORE I STARTED DOING THIS WORK, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT CHILDREN DIED BY GUN SUICIDE.
AND OVER 110 OF THESE STEPS ARE UNINTENTIONAL SHOOTINGS, MEANING THAT A CHILD ACCESSES A GUN THAT AN ADULT HAS LEFT WHERE HE CAN, OR SHE CAN ACCESS IT JUST FOR SOME.
UM, UM, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON SO FAR THIS YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN, UM, AS OF MAY 21ST, THERE HAVE BEEN 66
[00:20:01]
DEATHS, 66 DEATHS, UNINTENTIONAL DEATHS IN THIS COUNTRY, RESULTING IN 30 DEATHS AND 37 INJURIES.NOW, THESE UNINTENTIONAL SHOOTINGS ARE MOSTLY OF CHILDREN UNDER 10, AND THEY'RE MOSTLY BOYS.
ANOTHER REALLY UPSETTING STATISTIC IS THAT NEARLY SIX OUT OF EVERY 10 GUN DEATHS ARE SUICIDES.
AND CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 AND 14 CHILDREN HAVE THE FASTEST GROWING SUICIDE GRADE OF ANY AGE GROUP.
OVER THE LAST DECADE, IT HAS INCREASED BY 146%, AND GUNS ARE BEING STOLEN FROM CARS AT TRIPLE THE RATE THAT THEY WERE 10 YEARS AGO.
ACCORDING TO FBI DATA, AT LEAST ONE FIREARM IS STOLEN FROM A CAR IN THIS COUNTRY EVERY NINE MINUTES.
AND ACCORDING TO THE A TF, GUN THEFT IS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF GUNS THAT END UP IN THE HANDS OF CRIMINALS AND RESEARCH AND DATA.
BACK UP THE STATEMENT THAT SECURE FIREARM STORAGE CAN HELP REDUCE ALL PIPES OF GUN VIOLENCE.
SO WE URGE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SECURE STORAGE AND US GUN OWNERS TO STORE THEIR GUNS.
NOW WE HEAR AND READ ABOUT THE GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR STATE AND IN OUR COUNTRY.
HOWEVER, I'D LIKE TO TURN THIS OVER TO PEG NOW, WHO'S GONNA HIGHLIGHT THREE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE LESS IN THE NEWS AND THAT ILLUSTRATE WHY YOUR SUPPORT OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION IS SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
I'M GONNA ASK JUST TO PLEASE LET ME YOUR COMMENTS FOR ABOUT THREE MINUTES.
I'M A CO-LEAD OF MOM'S DEBATE ACTION IN ESSEX COUNTY.
UM, THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT RA WAS MENTIONING IS NEW JERSEY HAS ALWAYS HAD STRICT GUN LAWS AND CORRESPONDINGLY LOW LEVELS OF GUN VIOLENCE.
HOWEVER, THE SUPREME COURT GREW A DECISION IN 2022.
THAT'S THE NEW YORK STATE RIFLE AND PISTOL ASSOCIATION VERSUS BRUIN, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE RECOGNIZED FOR THE FIRST TIME AN INDIVIDUAL RIGHT TO CARRY A LOADED GUN IN PUBLIC FOR SELF-DEFENSE.
AND THAT BROADENED THE SECOND AMENDMENT'S PROTECTION OF THE RIGHT TO CARRY A HANDGUN.
AS A RESULT OF THIS DECISION, THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE GUNS ON OUR STREETS THAN EVER BEFORE.
IN THE ROUGHLY TWO AND A HALF YEARS BEFORE BRUIN, 1,548 APPLICATIONS FOR CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS WERE APPROVED HERE IN NEW, IN NEW JERSEY.
IN THE ROUGHLY TWO AND A HALF YEARS SINCE BRUIN, 71,918 PERMITS HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN ESSEX COUNTY.
THE NUMBER OF PERMITS ALONE GRANTED WENT UP FROM 426 TO 6,080.
THAT'S A LOT MORE GUNS ON THE STREET.
OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, NEW JERSEY HAS LOST $35 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. THESE ON THE GROUND PROGRAMS LIKE THE NEW YORK COMMITTEE STREET TEAM, PLAY A CRUCIAL, CRUCIAL ROLE IN COMBATING GUN VIOLENCE.
AND THESE CUTS THREATEN THE CONTINUATION OF THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WORK.
AND THIRD, THERE IS A PUSH IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL RECIPROCITY POLICY, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE EVERY STATE TO RESPECT THE CONCEALED CARRY ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS OF ALL OTHER STATES.
SO RESIDENTS OF THE 29 US STATES THAT HAVE DONE AWAY COMPLETELY WITH ANY LICENSING OR TRAINING REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CARRY A CONCEALED WEAPON HERE IN NEW JERSEY.
THIS, DESPITE RESEARCH SHOWING THAT SO-CALLED PERMITLESS CARRY, HAS A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
JUST ONE EXAMPLE, WEST VIRGINIA PASSED PERMITLESS CARRY IN 2016.
BY 2020, GUN HOMICIDES HAD INCREASED 48% AND SUICIDE HAS INCREASED 22%.
WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR THAT GUNFIRE CAN RING OUT AT ANY TIME IN ANY PLACE, BUT AS INCIDENTS OF GUN VIOLENCE HAVE GROWN, SO TOO HAS THE MOVEMENT TO STOP IT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO RAISE AWARENESS, EDUCATE AND ADVOCATE FOR GUN SAFETY THROUGH OUR PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMS LIKE WEAR ORANGE SECURE STORAGE, LIKE BE SMART FOR KIDS, AND RED FLAG AWARENESS, LIKE OUR ONE THING YOU CAN DO PROGRAM.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT BY THE COMMISSIONERS, UH, SUPPORT OF OUR EFFORTS BY ISSUING THIS WEAR ORANGE PROCLAMATION FOR GUN SAFETY AWARENESS.
REST ASSURED WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THE GUN VIOLENCE STOPS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS.
[00:25:01]
OF ALL, THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER GILL TO OUR COMMUNITY ADVOCATES WHO JUST SPOKE TO THE ENTIRE BOARD, UH, MR. PRESIDENT FOR THE COLLECTIVE PASSAGE AND SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION.AND OF COURSE, UH, ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DO WORK ON BEHALF OF GUN VIOLENCE VICTIMS WHO, WHO AREN'T IN THE ROOM, OR SOME WHO ARE RIGHT, LIKE, UH, MS. JACKSON SPOKE EARLIER, WHO IS CONSTANTLY ON THE FRONT LINES IN OUR CITY OF NEWARK AND EVEN NEARBY COMMUNITIES AND CITIES, BUT ALL THE SURVIVORS, INCLUDING MYSELF, UM, OF HOMICIDE AND GUN VIOLENCE.
MY FATHER WAS KILLED WHEN I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD HERE IN NEWARK ON HIS WAY TO PAY MY TUITION AT THE CHAD SCHOOL ON, UM, RIGHT IN THE WEST WARD.
UM, AND SO IT WAS FROM THAT WORK, OR RATHER THAT EXPERIENCE THAT I GOT INVOLVED REALLY IN THE WORK OF PUBLIC OFFICE BY STARTING A NONPROFIT FOR YOUNG WOMEN AFFECTED BY GUN VIOLENCE AND LIKE THE WOMEN WHO SPOKE SHARED SO ELOQUENTLY.
AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALWAYS COMING IN, JUST BEING SUCH AN ADVOCATE, NOT JUST HERE IN THESE MEETINGS, BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THROUGH YOUR WORK WITH MOMS DEMAND ACTION.
UH, YOU HAVE TO, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ONLY DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY GUN VIOLENCE, BUT ARE ALSO NOW, IF YOU, YOU LOOK AT THE, THE NUMBERS DISPROPORTIONATELY, UH, REPRESENTED IN SOME OF THE PERPETRATORS, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AS IT RELATES TO GUN VIOLENCE HAVE TO BE PUBLIC.
SO THEY HAVE TO INVOLVE EVERYDAY PEOPLE.
UM, AND SO YOU MENTIONED THE NEWARK ANTI-VIOLENCE PROGRAM THAT WAS STARTED BY MAYOR BARACK HERE IN NEWARK, BUT ONCE THAT STARTED IN NEWARK, GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID, WE NEED TO START ONE AT THE STATE.
RIGHT? AND SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN YOU REMEMBER THAT ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL AND THAT PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT PUBLIC ISSUES HAVE TO INVOLVE THE EVERYDAY PUBLIC PEOPLE? YOU ACTUALLY GET PROGRESS.
AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT EVERYWHERE WE NEED TO BE, WE CERTAINLY ARE, UH, HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION DESPITE WHAT'S HAPPENING FEDERALLY.
AND SO, UH, THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD, THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER GILL FOR YOUR, YOUR STALWART LEADERSHIP ON THIS, FOR ALL THE ADVOCATES AND THOSE PRESENT IN THE ROOM AND OUTSIDE OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO AS WELL ON BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS OF ESSEX COUNTY.
UM, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WITH ROOMS LIKE THIS AND WORK LIKE THIS ONE DAY, WE WON'T HAVE TO PASS RESOLUTIONS OR PASS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROGRAMS FOR THESE ISSUES ANYMORE BECAUSE I GENUINELY HAVE HOPE, UH, THAT THESE ISSUES WILL END.
UM, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT HAPPENS IN ROOMS LIKE THIS AND OUTSIDE OF ROOMS LIKE THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO, THANK YOU ALL AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO BUILD WITH FOLKS.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, FOR A VERY, YOU KNOW, VERY PERSONAL AND DEEP AND, AND VERY RELEVANT POINTS YOU MADE TODAY, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SCENE NONE.
COMMISSIONER GILL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE IT? YES.
COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SECOND IT? SURE.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER, ABSENT.
AND COMMISSIONER GILL, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE TABLE.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR THE ADVOCATE WHO CAME TODAY TO SPEAK, COMMISSIONER GI.
I THINK AT THIS TIME WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE ADVOCATE TO COME FORWARD.
WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE WITH THEM, WITH THEIR APP PROCLAMATION.
COMMISSIONERS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN HERE AT THE CENTER JUST FOR A MOMENT FOR A PHOTO? AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE WITH OUR MEETING.
AND PROSECUTOR, MR. PROSECUTOR, ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR, PLEASE JOIN.
[00:30:19]
OKAY.UH, MR. JACKSON, I THINK WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA GO OUT OF TURN.
I'D LIKE TO, UH, DO NUMBER 14 THROUGH 20, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH YOU, SIR.
I'LL LET IT GO THIS TIME, BUT, UH, GIMME ONE SECOND.
WE NEED, I THINK WE NEED SIX FOR THIS ONE.
DO WE NEED IT? NO, WE'RE GONNA DOUBLE CHECK JUST TO MAKE SURE.
I DON'T THINK SO EITHER, BUT IF WE DO, WE'LL DO IT NOW.
IN THE MEANTIME, WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? WHY DON'T WE GO TO, UH, LET'S GO TO RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS FROM THE DIVISION OF SENIOR SERVICES.
AND THAT CAN BE READ FOR THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
THAT IS NUMBER RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, UH, DIRECTOR RA WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM.
GOOD EVENING, DIRECTOR, RARO COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT COMMISSIONERS MICHAEL RA, DIRECTOR OF SPECIALIST TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR BOTH THE DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT AND SENIOR SERVICES.
THIS RESOLUTION IS FOR SENIOR SERVICES.
IT'S AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONTRACT WITH, UM, THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
UH, FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN DOING A PILOT PROJECT USING, UH, UH, UBERS AND LYFTS TNCS IN THE TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS.
UH, IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL AND THIS RESOLUTION CONTINUES AS SUCCESS.
MR. BAZ, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. G**O? UH, NO QUESTION, MR. PRESIDENT.
IS MICHAEL, IS THIS, IS THIS AVAILABLE IN, IN OTHER TOWNS IN SES COUNTY AS WELL? TECHNICALLY, YES.
UM, SO THE COUNTY HAS A TNC PROGRAM, RIGHT? WE CALL THIS THE MONTCLAIR BECAUSE MONTCLAIR IS ACTUALLY GIVING US MONEY.
UM, SO WE'VE DEDICATED, UM, THAT MONEY JUST FOR MONTCLAIR.
BUT, UM, WHENEVER OUR, UH, BLUE VANS ARE COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES ARE FILTER CAPACITY, WE WILL SEND UBERS AND LYFTS.
NOBODY IS TURNED DOWN FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
SO WE DO, DO THIS, UH, COUNTYWIDE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MR. VIRO? SEEING NONE.
SO I GONNA MOVE IT, MOVE IT, MOVE BY RICHARDSON.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER, ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PUL? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTIONS.
COMMISSIONER REGISTRATIONS, UH, SUPERINTENDENT SPANEL WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM.
COMMISSIONER MERCADO, UH, DO YOU WANT TO, UH, WEIGH IN ON NUMBER TWO, PLEASE? YES.
THE AFFIRMATIVE ON NUMBER TWO.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT AND ESSEX COUNTY BOARD, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
I AM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTIONS, COMMISSIONER OF REGISTRATION FOR ESSEX COUNTY.
I AM HERE TONIGHT TO ASK FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTIONS, COMMISSIONER OF REGISTRATION CONTRACT AWARD TO A RIFKIN COMPANY TO PROVIDE ELECTION BAGS AND CARTS.
I AM REQUESTING TO EXERCISE THE 24 MONTH CONTRACT, EX EXTENSION OPTION AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $350,000.
ANY QUESTIONS ON NUMBER THREE? NO QUESTIONS.
MR. MCINERNEY? UH, PAT, THIS WAS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY? OR, OR WAS THIS CONTRACT IN, IN PLAY LAST YEAR? OH, THIS, THIS A CONTRACT EXTENSION, CORRECT? YES, IT WAS APPROVED TWO YEARS AGO.
SO IS THIS, IS THIS 350,714 THE SAME AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR? I BELIEVE SO, YES.
THERE, THERE, THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE MUCH EXPENDED FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S CONTRACT, IS THAT CORRECT? AND IS THAT BECAUSE THE ELECTION CYCLES, WHAT IT'S, WHAT IT'S BASICALLY FOR IS IN OUR VOTING MACHINES, WE HAVE, WE INSERT A CANVAS BALLOT DROPBOX,
[00:35:01]
RIGHT.WHICH WE DID PURCHASE FOR EACH OF OUR MACHINES.
AND THEN WE ALSO PURCHASED FROM A RIFKIN, A CANVAS ROLLING BAG THAT WE PUT OUR IPADS IN FOR, TO TRANSPORT THEM TO THE POLLING LOCATIONS.
SO WE BASICALLY SET UP OUR SUPPLY, AND NOW WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS REPLACING AS THEY BREAK, OR, YOU KNOW, WE NEVER KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET BACK.
SOMETIMES WE DON'T EVEN GET THEM BACK.
SO THIS IS REALLY, YOU, YOU HAVE AN INVENTORY AND THEN THIS REALLY JUST REPLACES IT.
AND SOME, SOME YEARS I'M SURE IT'S HIGHER THAN IT WAS IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO NUMBER THREE? SEEING NONE, SOMEONE TO MOVE IT.
COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS? YES.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS FOUR, FIVE.
AND ADD IS SUB NUMBER 34, WHICH WILL THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
THERE WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
NUMBER FOUR IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO GUARDIAN FENCE, THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER TO PROVIDE INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL OF FENCING THROUGHOUT THE ESSA COUNTY PARK SYSTEM.
24 MONTH CONTRACT, NOT TO EXCEED $1,023,600.
THIS IS A TIME AND MATERIAL CONTRACT.
UH, IT'S BASED ON AN HOURLY RATE.
AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, THERE'S A PARTS AND MATERIAL ALLOWANCE OF $348,000.
NUMBER FIVE IS A CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER WITH SUNNY ELECTRIC FOR GENERAL ELECTRIC, UH, MAINTENANCE REPAIRS AND INSTALLATIONS AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $164,216 AND 60, UH, AND 60 CENTS.
UH, SO THAT WOULD, UH, INCREASE THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT OF $821,063 TO A NEW TOTAL OF $985,299 AND 60 CENTS.
UM, WE'RE FINDING WITH, UH, THE PARK SYSTEM BEING, UM, WELL OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD THAT THERE'S, UH, SOME AGING INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE PARK SYSTEM AND WE'RE DEALING WITH THAT, UH, ESPECIALLY OVER AT THE ZOO, WHICH I BELIEVE OPENED IN THE, UH, THE MID SIXTIES.
AND THEN NUMBER 34, UH, I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO COUNTY COUNCIL ON THAT ONE.
MR. PRESIDENT, IS THIS RELATED NUMBER 34? EXCUSE ME? IS THIS ONE RELATED TO PARKS 34? YES.
JOHN COUNTY COUNCIL, UH, YOU KNEW THIS WAS FOR THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
IT'S THE SECOND TO LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
IT WAS NOT MY GOOD FRIEND WHO USUALLY GOES FIRST
YOU CAN TAKE THAT UP WITH HIM.
THE, UH, THE REASON, UH, WE HAVE A SITE ACCESS AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX AND THE DEP.
AND I MUST SAY THAT DEP WAS COOPERATIVE.
WE MADE, UH, SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE SITE ACCESS AGREEMENT.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS THEY GO OVER, THEIR CONTRACTORS ARE GONNA GO OVER OUR PROPERTY TO REACH THEIR PROJECT.
AND WHAT WE WERE, WE AS A COUNTY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WAS ACCIDENTS, LAWSUITS, ET CETERA, THAT MIGHT TAKE PLACE ON OUR PROPERTY AS THEY'RE GOING ACROSS IT.
TO GET ONTO THEIR PROPERTY, THEY'RE GONNA PUT US ON THE INSURANCE OF ALL OF THEIR CONTRACTORS, AND THEY MADE OTHER CHANGES THAT WE WANTED.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S ON THE AGENDA.
ANY QUESTIONS ON NUMBER FOUR, FIVE AND 34? UH, NO.
WELL, THIS IS PART OF THE LARGER GREENWAY PROJECT, CORRECT? YEAH.
IT'S, IT'S, THIS IS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PROJECT.
I MEAN, IT'S THE OLD SOUTHERN RAILROAD.
IT WILL EXTEND THROUGH OUR COUNTY AND IT'S HUDSON COUNTY AND OTHER COUNTIES, AND IT'S GONNA BE A REALLY FABULOUS THING FOR NORTHERN NEW JERSEY.
IT IS A GREAT GREENWAY PROJECT, AND I'LL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU.
IT CONNECTS WITH ANOTHER AWESOME CANAL GREENWAY, THE MORRIS CANAL GREENWAY PROJECT, WHICH I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH, SO I GOTTA GIVE IT A PLUG WHILE I'M HERE, SO THANK YOU.
SO DOES THIS REPRESENT ANY COST TO THE COUNTY AT THIS POINT IN TIME? OR EXCUSE ME, ANY COST TO THE COUNTY AT THIS POINT? NO, WE'RE JUST, WE'RE JUST GIVING YOU PERMISSION FOR THE DEP TO GO OVER PROPERTY.
THAT'S, AND THAT'S IT AT THIS? YEAH, THAT'S IT.
DOES THAT PROJECT HAVE ANY COST TO THE COUNTY AS WE MOVE FORWARD? IT'S AN ACCESS AGREEMENT.
BUT IT DOES THE GREENWAY PROJECT PROJECTED, IT'LL HAVE ANY COST TO, TO THE COUNTY AS WE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.
NOT THAT I KNOW THERE'S NO COST IN THIS.
UH, I KNOW BRENDA BROUGHT THIS UP HERE.
I, I THINK AT THE, WE DON'T, I THINK, I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE
[00:40:01]
YET WITH THE BUILD OUT OF THAT TO KNOW IF THERE WILL BE ANYTHING IN THE FUTURE.UH, I THINK THIS IS JUST TOO PRELIMINARY FOR THAT.
I DO KNOW AT THIS TIME IT'S A DEP PROJECT, BUT RIGHT.
SO, UH, IT'S A WONDERFUL PROJECT THOUGH, AS IT CONNECTS PERHAPS TO OTHER SITES, IT MAY, YOU KNOW.
COLLABORATION MAY COME TO FRUITION.
THIS CERTAINLY IS NOT PART OF THAT, BUT IT, WHO KNOWS DONNA.
ANY, UH, QUESTIONS, UH, COMMISSIONERS FOR NUMBER FOUR, FIVE, AND 34.
SO I'M GONNA MOVE IT, MOVE IT, MOVE BY RICHARDSON.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOUR, FIVE AND 34.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER, ABSENT.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION SIX AND SEVEN, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
WE'LL BE RIGHT INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER SIX IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO JET BACK EQUIPMENT TO FURNISH A COMBINATION HIGH POWER MOBILE SEWER LINE JETTING SYSTEM, AND A CLAMP BOOM IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $437,084.
JET BACK EQUIPMENT SUBMITTED THE SOLE BID RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY, AND THIS VEHICLE WILL REPLACE EXISTING CATCH BASIN CLEANING TRUCK IN USE BY THE DIVISION OF ROADS AND BRIDGES.
THE NEW TRUCK WILL NOT ONLY BE ABLE TO CLEAN CATCH BASINS, BUT WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO CLEAN CLOCKED STORMWATER LINES, MAKING OUR CREWS MORE EFFICIENT.
WE'RE RESPONDING TO FLOODING COMPLAINTS.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, IT'S A RESOLUTION CONSENTING TO THE TANGIBLE OF BLOOMFIELD'S ORDINANCE, ADDING A BUS STOP ALONG BROAD STREET, NEAR SUNSET AVENUE, AS REQUESTED BY AN TRANSIT.
THERE IS NO FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THE COUNTY BY CONSENTING TO THIS TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD ORDINANCE.
MR. BAZ, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTION.
MR. MR. MCINERNEY? NO QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? SINCE SIX AND SEVEN? SEE NONE.
ROLL CALL MADAM THE COURT COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
LET'S MOVE TO THE RESOLUTION NUMBER EIGHT, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR.
IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
AND PLEASE NOTE THAT RESOLUTION NUMBER NINE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
ARE YOU HANDLING THIS ONE, MR. PRESIDENT? I'D LIKE TO YIELD A MINUTE SO MR. JACKSON CAN DO THE INSERTIONS OF THE FUNDING.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOOD OR BAD.
ALRIGHT, LET'S GO ON NUMBER EIGHT AS ENTERPRISES.
UM, THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR CONTRACT AWARD TO AXON ENTERPRISES FOR THE PURCHASE OF BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE UNDER NEW JERSEY STATE CONTRACT 17 FLEET 0 0 7 38 IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $710,079 AND 9 CENTS.
THIS IS A 300 IN TOTAL ACCOUNT AND 160 WC JUSTICE ACCOUNT.
150,000 FROM, UH, JUSTICE ACCOUNT AND AP LEGAL ASSISTANCE.
UH, THE HARDWARE IS $244,303 AND 73 CENTS, AND THE ACCESS IS $465,775 AND 36.
AND IT'S FROM THE PROSECUTOR'S TRUST FUND.
COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS? NUMBER EIGHT.
SECOND, RICHARDSON ON THE SECOND ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY COURT NUMBER EIGHT.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
AGAIN, NUMBER NINE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO NUMBER 10, WHICH IS FROM THE BOARD OF TAXATION AND CAN BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. COLT, MR. COLT, UH, CONTRACT AWARD TO REVELATIONS ADVISORY SERVICES LLC TO, TO PROVIDE CONSULTING SERVICES
[00:45:01]
JUNE 8TH, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 7TH, 2026.THIS WAS AN RFP SOLICITED AND WE HAD ONE RESPONDENT.
ANY QUESTIONS ON TIME? NO QUESTION.
SO I'M GONNA MOVE IT, MOVE IT, MOVE BY, UH, SERMONS.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER 11 AND 12, WHICH ARE IN THE OFFICE OF PURCHASING, AND THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS, UH, REVISED, UH, LEASE BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX AND CAME ASSOCIATES.
AND THIS IS REALLY TOTALLY FOR, UH, THE BON WAS IN THE ONE 15 CLIFTON AVENUE, WHICH IS STILL UNDER RENOVATION.
SO THE CONTRACT GOES FROM 70 SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE, SUITE 1 0 2, LIVINGSTON, NEW JERSEY, OCTOBER 14TH, 2024 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2025.
AND BEYOND THAT, IT WAS WITH A MONTH TO MONTH THEREAFTER UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST, 2025, NOT TO EXCEED $44,700.
ARE YOU GONNA DO NUMBER 12 AS WELL? I WILL PLEASE.
UH, A PURCHASE CONTRACT AGREEMENT IS ASSURED OF, UH, LLC, THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE, RESPONSIBLE BIDDER TO BUY ONSITE SHREDDING SERVICES.
THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $294,000.
PREVIOUS CONTRACT WAS FOR 154,000.
ANY QUESTIONS OF 12, 11, AND 12? NO QUESTIONS.
MR. MCINERNEY? UH, THAT 44,000, UM, ON THE, ON THE LEASE AGREEMENT, THAT INCLUDES THE, UH, MONTH TO MONTH AS WELL, ONLY IF WE NEED TO CONTINUE ON.
BUT THE IS THE 44 7, CORRECT? YES.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS IN 11 AND 12? SEEING NONE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? IT'S NOT IN HERE.
MAD DEPUTY CLARK IN 11 AND 12.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
NUMBER 13 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
SO LET'S GO THROUGH 14 THROUGH 20, WHICH ARE, UH, 2025 COUNTY BUDGET INSERTIONS ITEMS OF REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES THAT COULD BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
SIX MONTHS AND, SORRY, 13 IS REMOVED FROM, UH, THE AGENDA AND 19 AS WELL.
SO LET'S DO 14 THROUGH 18 AND 20.
I JUST HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ON NUMBER 11 WHEN WE WERE TALKING, THAT SEEMS TO BE FOR JUST THE SIX MONTHS OF 2005, THE 44 7.
SO IF YOU WENT MONTH TO MONTH, WOULD YOU HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR AN AUTHORIZATION OR IF WE WENT PAST 2025.
BUT WE'RE WE'RE ANTICIPATING, UH, BEING IN THE NEW BUILDING BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO THE 44 7 WOULD INCLUDE THE SIX MONTHS THAT YOU MIGHT BE MONTH TO MONTH? NO, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA THE, YEAH, THIS IS TO MATT'S POINT, THIS ALREADY APPROVED THROUGH MAY.
THIS WOULD JUST ADD THE SIX MONTHS FOR THE OH, THIS ADDS TO MONTH TO MONTH.
MR. JACKSON, ARE YOU DOING 14? YES, SIR.
UM, ITEM 14 IS AN ADDITION OF $48,738 AND 61 CENTS TO THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND.
UH, AND THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH FOR THAT.
UM, ITEM 15 IS AN AMOUNT OF $23,648 AND 14 CENTS.
UH, THIS IS THE TOWNSHIP OF CEDAR GROVE, UH, SEEDING ITS, UH, OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS, THE COUNTY, UH, RATHER THAN, UM, ADMINISTERING THOSE FUNDS ITSELF.
UH, AND THIS WAS, UH, VIA AN INTER INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT WAS APPROVED ON, UH, MARCH 5TH, UH, ITEM 17 IN THE AMOUNT OF $44,283,
[00:50:01]
UH, IS SOME FUNDING ASSISTANCE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE, UH, LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.AND THIS OFFSETS A SMALL PORTION OF THE, OF THE WAGES OF THOSE WHO, UH, ADMINISTER THAT PROGRAM.
UM, SIMILARLY, UH, IT'S A GRANT AMOUNT OF, UM, $28,312 FOR THE UTILITY AND HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, UH, THROUGH OUR DIVISION OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS.
AND THIS IS DONE IN COOPERATION WITH LA CASA, UH, DATE ON PEDRO ITEM 18.
UM, UH, SIMILARLY, UM, AN AMOUNT OF $3,171.
WE ORIGINALLY ASSERTED 45,314.
AND THIS IS SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE YOUTH YOUTH INCENTIVE PROGRAM, WHICH ENHANCES SERVICES FOR BEHAVIORALLY CHALLENGED YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.
AND THIS GRANT IS USED FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THAT PROGRAM.
ITEM, UH, 19 WE, WE NOTICED WAS, IS WITHDRAWN.
ITEM 20 IN THE AMOUNT OF $2 MILLION, UH, IS A GRANT FROM, UH, NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO, UM, AROUND BRANCH BROOK PARK.
IT WILL INCLUDE, UM, A, A HOST OF IMPROVEMENT PATHWAY IMPROVEMENTS, SHORELINE STABILIZATION, INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE, RUBBERIZED TRACK IMPROVEMENTS, BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS, REV RESTROOM, UH, UPGRADES AT THE OUT COMPLEX, AND, UH, OTHER, UH, SIMILAR IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? NO, NO QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS.
THANK YOU MR. JACKSON FOR THOSE QUESTIONS, OR RATHER THAT, UH, KIND OF DETAILED RESPONSE AND ELABORATION.
ONE, THE 48,000 FROM THIS PARTICULAR GRANT, HOW MUCH, OR ROUGHLY WHAT IS THAT? THE LARGER PIE FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF OPIOID SETTLEMENT? THAT THAT 48,000 IS CONTRIBUTING TO? OH, THE LARGER PIE.
UM, THE NEW TOTAL IS NOW $2,685,244 AND 82 CENTS.
AND THAT'S ANNUALLY? OR IS THAT AN AGGREGATE? THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOTTEN SO FAR.
THIS, THIS FISCAL YEAR OR JUST OVER THE COURSE OF, UH, THROUGH, THROUGH THE LIFE OF THAT, UH, SETTLEMENT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I APPRECIATED FROM THE, THE RESOLUTION WAS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE FUNDING.
THERE'S A FOCUS ON TREATMENT, THERE'S A FOCUS ON PREVENTION, THERE'S A FOCUS ON COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTIONS.
I'M CURIOUS AT THIS POINT IN THE, THE LIFESPAN OF THE PROGRAM, TWO POINT PLUS MILLION DOLLARS, THESE THREE VERY IMPORTANT AND DISTINCT LEVELS OF INTERVENTION.
WHAT ARE WE, LIKE LEARNING, DOING THE SAME OR DOING DIFFERENTLY AT THIS POINT IN THE PROGRAM? UH, CONSIDERING HOW, UH, SIGNIFICANT THIS ISSUE IS, AND IT'S ONLY GOTTEN WORSE, UNFORTUNATELY NOT JUST IN NEW JERSEY, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WHAT ARE OUR LEARNINGS THUS FAR AFTER THESE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES FROM THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT? THE, THE MONEY THAT'S BEEN SPENT SO FAR HAS BEEN TO, UM, FUND A PLAN OF WHAT TO DO WITH THE MONEY.
UH, TO YOUR POINT, UH, COMMISSIONER, WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO, WHATEVER WE DO, WE WANT TO DO IT INTELLIGENTLY AND, AND, AND WELL PLANNED OUT.
SO I KNOW THE BULK OF THE MONEY SO FAR HAS BEEN TOWARD A PLAN AND I WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO LEAN TO, UM, DIRECTOR HARLOW AND DIRECTOR FISHERMAN IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE, UH, GONNA TAKE THAT REPORT WHEN IT'S DONE AND, AND IMPLEMENT POLICY.
BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY COME BACK TO THE BOARD OR A COMMITTEE TO REPORT ON THAT.
AND DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF WHEN THE, THE PLAN TIMELINE WILL BE THERE? I DO NOT, BUT I WILL, I'LL GET THAT TO MADAM CLERK, UH, TOMORROW.
'CAUSE IT, AS THAT'S DEVELOPED, I THINK BOTH THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF DIRECTIONS WE'RE GOING AND EVEN HAVE COMMUNITY PEOPLE ARE COMMUNITY PEOPLE KIND OF INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION, THE PLAN.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A BOARD THAT, THAT'S BEEN FORMED THAT GETS INPUT.
COMMUNITY BOARD, I THINK IT IS FAIRLY LARGE.
UM, SO THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON HELP, HELPING TO SHAPE THE PLAN AS WELL AS HOW IMPLEMENTATION.
BUT I, I'LL GIVE YOU A STATUS UPDATE TO THE BOARD THROUGH MAD CLERK, UH, TOMORROW.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE 14 THROUGH 18 AND 20? SURE.
SECOND BY MERCADO, WE'LL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GILL.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE WITH THE RESOLUTION 22 THROUGH 32, WHICH ARE A MEMORIALS COMMENDATIONS PROCLAMATION RESOLUTIONS.
THERE WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
WE ALREADY DID NUMBER 21, SO WE'LL EXCLUDE THAT, UH, BECAUSE WE DID IT EARLIER IN THE MEETING.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? MOVE.
MOVED BY RICHARDSON, SECOND BY MERCADO.
MAD DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GI.
[00:55:01]
RICHARDSON? YES.COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
SO, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY ADDED STARTERS, MA'AM? DEPUTY COURT? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE TWO REMAINING.
AND RESOLUTION 35, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COUNCIL.
SO LET'S HANDLE RESOLUTION 33 AND 35 THAT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD.
ROME STATE, JOHN COUNTY COUNCIL.
UH, RESOLUTION 33 IS, UH, WE ARE HA NEED TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL BECAUSE OF AN ETHICAL CON, UH, CONFLICT.
SO WE HAVE TO HAVE SEPARATE COUNSEL.
UNDERSTAND THAT IS, UH, RESOLUTION 33.
UH, I'M, UH, VERY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE ONE MORE SETTLEMENT OF A CONTRACT, UH, THAT IS WITH THE, THE ASSISTANT PROSECUTORS THAT MAKES, UH, 22 OUT OF THE 26TH.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, BOTH OUR, OUR, OUR MR. JACKSON, OUR ADMINISTRATOR, UH, FOR BEING INVOLVED IN THIS.
THE PROSECUTOR, THE FIRST ASSISTANT WHO YOU MET TONIGHT, ALEX AL, WHO WAS VERY INVOLVED.
THE TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ASSISTANT, THE ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR'S ASSOCIATION.
UH, THEY WERE VERY COOPERATIVE.
WE HAD A SERIES OF MEETINGS AND THE, UH, COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND CHIEF OF STAFFS ALSO GOT INVOLVED IN THE DISCUSSIONS.
AND SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY, UH, ON BOTH SIDES WITH THE RESULT.
UH, IF YOU LIKE SOME BRIEF OVERVIEW, IT'S A STANDARD 2, 2 3 3 3 TYPE CONTRACT THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED IN OTHER MATTERS.
UH, WE ALSO, UH, PAYING, UH, A STIPEND TO, TO THE NOT SALARIES, A STIPEND TO, UH, YOUR MEMBERS.
UH, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
CONSISTENT WITH ALL THE OTHERS.
MR. SHABAZ, ANY QUESTIONS ON 33 AND 35? NO QUESTIONS MR. MCINERNEY? NO QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? I GONNA MOVE IT.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER, ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES.
ANY REPORTS TODAY? I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY, BUT ANY LEGISLATIVE REPORTS? SEEING NONE.
ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? SEEING NONE.
ANY NEW BUSINESS? SEEING NONE.
HAS ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER, PLEASE GO TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS ALEXIS T. MILLER AND I'M A SUPERVISOR AT THE DIVISION OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS.
I'M HERE TODAY TO RESPECTFULLY SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM THE COMMISSIONERS BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING HARASSMENT AND BULLYING I HAVE ENDURED AT THE HANDS OF UNION PRESIDENT DAVID WEINER.
DAVID WEINER IS THE UNION PRESIDENT FOR LOCAL CWA 10 81, WHICH IS THE UNION FOR THE WORKERS THAT I SUPERVISE.
ON MAY 14TH, 2025, DAVID WEINER FILED A GRIEVANCE AGAINST ME ON BEHALF OF HIS UNION MEMBER WHO HAD FABRICATED ALLEGATIONS TO PROTECT HIMSELF FROM IMPENDING DISCIPLINE FOR A RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL EMAIL HE SENT TO ME ON MAY 8TH, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN A PACKET THAT I'VE MADE COPIES OF.
HOWEVER, IN THAT GRIEVANCE, DAVID DEFAMED ME AND HE LIBELED ME WHEN HE MADE EGREGIOUS ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ME BASED ON FABRICATIONS FROM HIS UNION MEMBER.
ON FRIDAY, HE FILED ANOTHER GRIEVANCE FOR RETALIATORY HARASSMENT AGAINST THE UNION MEMBER AND INCLUDED A PERSONAL EMAIL THAT I SENT TO PHIL ELIJAH ON MAY 21ST.
WHY DID THE UNION MEMBERS NEED TO BE APPRISED OF AN EMAIL I SENT TO PHIL? WHAT BEARING DOES THAT HAVE ON A GRIEVANCE? HE WAS FILING? THE ANSWER IS NO BEARING WHATSOEVER.
PARDON ME? THE ANSWER IS NO BEARING WHATSOEVER.
BUT TO FURTHER HUMILIATE AND EMBARRASS ME FOR REACHING OUT TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR HELP, DAVID WEINER HAS A PERSONAL VENDETTA AGAINST ME AND USES HIS PLATFORM AS THE UNION PRESIDENT TO PERSECUTE ME IN EXACT VENGEANCE AGAINST ME UNDER THE GUISE OF UNION WORK.
DAVID WEINER IS AN FSW, BUT HAS NOT PROCESSED THE CASE IN AN ENTIRE 17 YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED WITH THE COUNTY.
I THINK IT'S UNFAIR AND SOMEWHAT BIASED THAT DAVID WEER RECEIVES A SALARY OF AN FSW WITH ANNUAL RAISES AND INCREMENTS, AS WELL AS RECEIVING SALARY AND INCENTIVES AS THE UNION PRESIDENT.
HOWEVER, HE ONLY DOES THE WORK OF A ROGUE UNION PRESIDENT WHILE EVERYONE ELSE IS IN THE
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TRENCHES AND ON THE FRONTLINE PUTTING ESSEX COUNTY FIRST.DAVID HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO WORK FROM HOME EVEN BEFORE COVID, WHICH IS DISCONCERTING AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.
DAVID WEINER HAS FILED NUMEROUS, NUMEROUS GRIEVANCES AGAINST ME IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN A SUPERVISOR AND NEVER REDACTS MY NAME ON ANY GRIEVANCE, BUT REDACTS THE NAME OF OTHER EMPLOYEES WHEN HE FILES A GRIEVANCE.
IN CLOSING, I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TIRELESSLY TO SERVICE OUR COMMUNITY AND UPHOLD D FAB'S MISSION STATEMENT, DESPITE ENDURING A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT AT THE HANDS OF DAVID WEINER.
PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER SINCE I HAVE NO OTHER RECOURSE, BUT TO SEEK HELP FROM THE COMMISSIONERS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO SEEK HELP FROM OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
JOE D THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
AND DID YOU SAY YOU HAVE HANDOUTS FOR US? YES.
I HAVE COPIES OF THE GRIEVANCE THAT DAVID FILED ON MAY 22ND.
HE COPIED SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE, WHICH IS WHY I CAME TONIGHT TO SEEK HELP.
SO I HAVE THE PACKETS HERE FOR NO, NO WORRIES.
SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, HOLD ON, COMMISSIONERS, LET'S ALL WAIT.
I'M GONNA ASK THE STAFF MEMBER TO BACK LATIFA.
I DON'T SEE HER, BUT SO WE'LL, WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT TO HER AND WE'LL MAKE SURE A COPY IS DISTRIBUTOR COMMISSIONER AND WE'LL DISTRIBUTE AS WELL TO THE ADMINISTRATION, MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
WE, WE NEED A QUORUM, SO JUST GIMME A FEW MOMENTS, OKAY? IT'S OKAY.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? GOOD EVENING, MS. JACKSON.
I, I REALLY WISH YOU GUYS WOULD REALLY START PAYING ATTENTION.
I KNOW IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB, BUT THIS IS WHY YOU GUYS NEED TO SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.
THIS YOUNG LADY HERE, ALEXIS MCGEE, THAT THE NINE, THE 9-YEAR-OLD WHO WAS MURDERED IN JANUARY THAT THE PROSECUTOR JUST TALKED ABOUT, HIS MOTHER GOT EVICTED YESTERDAY IN COURT BECAUSE THIS SYSTEM IS BROKEN.
EVERY TIME I COME TO THIS MIC TO TELL YOU, GOD, SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU THINK I GOT, I DON'T HAVE NO TIME PUT ANYTHING ELSE, BUT I DON'T, AND YOU GUYS NEED TO PAY ATTENTION.
YOU COULD PULL THE NUMBERS YOURSELF.
IF THEY GIVE YOU ANYTHING THAT SAYS AN EMERGENCY APPLICATION WAS PROCESSED, YOU BETTER CALL THOSE FAMILIES.
'CAUSE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN MS. HOWARD, A FIRE VICTIM AND WINONA LITMAN CAME HERE AND APPLIED FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES BECAUSE NEWARK HOUSE OF AUTHORITY WOULD NOT PLACE HER.
SO MS. HOWARD, 75 YEARS OLD HAS BEEN COUCH SURFING FOR 18 MONTHS.
AND I BROUGHT HER TO THIS BODY.
I DON'T WANNA BRING THE FOOD STAMP PEOPLE HERE.
THE COUNTY OF ESSEX ISSUED A LETTER THAT ANYBODY ELSE, FOOD STAMPS THAT WAS SCAMMED, THEY NOT REPLACING THEM.
I'M HAVING LUNCH WITH MR. RICHARDSON.
I'M CALLING MR. UH, MCNERNEY ON THE PHONE.
HOW AM I PURCHASING SOME FOOD IN UTAH? SO NOW WHY ARE WE MAKING THE FAMILY SUFFER? BECAUSE THE FIRST SCAM, WE ASKED FOR AN INVESTIGATION.
WE GOT SERIOUS ISSUES GOING ON HERE.
THE ESSEX COUNTY COULD BE FIRST.
IT COULD, IT AIN'T, BUT IT COULD BE.
BUT WE GOTTA STOP PLAYING WITH WHAT WE TALKING ABOUT.
CAN'T NOBODY SLEEP IN THE PARK? I'VE BEEN TELLING Y'ALL THAT FOR 10 YEARS.
THE HOMELESSNESS HERE, MS. MCGEE IS A VICTIM.
THE THE VERY FOLKS THAT JUST LEFT HERE, HER SON WAS GUNNED DOWN.
'CAUSE THIS PROCESS DOESN'T WORK.
I CAN'T TELL Y'ALL NO SIMPLER THAN THAT.
WHERE'S SHE GOING? WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE SHELTER SPACE TO TAKE HER.
IF SHE HAD TO GO TO ONE, WHY DOES SHE HAVE TO LEAVE THE APARTMENT? SHE'S ALREADY TRYING TO MOVE.
WE WORKING ON, Y'ALL KNOW THAT'S HARD.
PLEASE LOVE A NEIGHBOR TO DEATH.
FAMILY SERVICES IS A TOTAL FAILURE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
I GOT PEOPLE LEAVING ESSEX COUNTY GETTING $200 A MONTH IN FOOD STAMPS.
THEY GOING TO ELIZABETH, UNION COUNTY AND THEIR FOOD STAMPS GO FROM $200 TO 500.
AND THE RENT AND THE INCOME IS THE SAME.
THERE'S NO DIRECTOR NOW, DON'T YOU, YOU, YOU DON'T THINK THIS LADY IS SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THAT.
Y'ALL GOTTA STOP THIS FRENZY FAMILY PLAYING.
PLEASE GET OVER THERE AND HELP SOME FAMILIES.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU MISS, UH, MCGEE'S INFORMATION.
HOPEFULLY ONE OF Y'ALL COULD CALL THE NEIGHBOR AND TELL HIM TO GIVE HER EMERGENCY SERVICES.
GIVE US SOME TRA 'CAUSE YOU GOT MONEY IN THAT POT SO SHE CAN STAY IN HER UNIT OVER ON, UH, SOUTH
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WATER, NORTH MS. JACKSON.CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE THE CONTACT INFORMATION I DO TO LATIF AND THE BACK? YES.
YOU KNOW WHO LATIF IS, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
UH, DOUGLAS FREEMAN
UH, JUST WANT TO COME HERE ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND THE TRACK.
UM, THERE'S A REQUEST FROM THE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW, UM, THEY'RE HEAVILY, UM, COMPETING NOW INTO TRACK AND FIELD.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN WEEK WAY PARK AND ALSO BEEN HELPING OUT IS WE HAVE PURCHASED THE TIMING EQUIPMENT.
SO WE'VE BEEN GOING ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY START TO SEE LIKE, HOW IS THE TRACK AND FIELD GROWING? IT'S GOING TO A POINT WHERE ONE MEAT HOLDS ABOUT 500 CHILDREN AND IT'S STARTING TO GROW.
UM, WE START TO SEE A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN BURG PARK, BUT THERE'S A NEED NOW FOR THE LONG JUMP PITS IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE A CERTIFIED MEAT WITH THE U UH, UNITED STATES TRACK AND FIELD.
SO I'M ASKING FOR THAT REQUEST BECAUSE THE FOOTBALL FIELD IS BEING DONE.
UM, IT IS A SECTION THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO, TO WHERE WE COULD GET A PIT, UM, THAT'S GONNA BE MAINTAINED BY THE SPORTS SOCIETY.
SO WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE SAND ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND THE COMMUNITIES ALSO, UH, SAY THEY'RE GONNA DO THEIR PART TOO.
SO I'M JUST ASKING FOR THAT REQUEST THAT MAYBE THAT COULD BE ADDED AS AN ADD-ON TO PUT THAT THERE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE PROPER TRACK MEETS.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS TOO IS THAT WE START TO NOTICE THAT THE YOUTH ARE GOING TO PAYING TECH, UM, TO LEARN FROM THOSE STUDENTS.
AND PAYING TECH STUDENTS ARE NOW GIVING BACK.
AND THERE'S ALSO AN INFLUX OF WANTING TO WORK WITH ESSEX COUNTY BECAUSE THAT'S, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR, BUT, UM, ESSEX COUNTY'S TRACK TEAM IS DOING A GREAT JOB AND THEN THEY NEEDS TO BE COMMENDED FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT THEY ALSO VOLUNTEER WHEN THEY IN THESE PARKS LIKE BERRY PARK AND WEEK PARK.
BUT IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO TRAIN SOMEONE AT THE AGE OF 6, 7, 8, 9 IF THERE'S NO LONG JUMP PIT.
SO I'M JUST ASKING FOR THAT REQUEST AND MAYBE CONSIDER THAT ON, YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD GET THAT IN THE PARK.
SO JUST MS. SHABAZZ, I'M SORRY.
SO JUST ASK THE, UH, IF YOU COULD WE'LL PUT INTO A QUESTION OR A REQUEST FOR THE ADMINISTRATION MM-HMM
UH, I'M SURE THAT THERE'S DETAILED SPECS ABOUT COMPLIANCE FOR COMPETITION AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO WE'LL ASK THE ADMINISTRATION TO REVIEW IT AND FORWARD IT TO THEIR AUTHORITY SO THEY CAN TAKE IT INTO CONSIDERATION.
MAGGIE FREEMAN QUA PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY.
UM, SO JUST TO KIND OF DOUBLE BACK WITH, UM, MR. FREEMAN'S REQUEST WITH THE LONG JUMP, WE ALSO NEED THE SCOREBOARD FOR THE, UM, FIELD THAT ALSO, UH, ESCAPED THE OTHER, UM, UH, PLANNING.
SO IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
UM, TWO, WE SENT A FEW EMAILS WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH THE GRIEVANCES, UM, THAT WE HAD WITH THE HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENTS OR HOSTILE ENVIRONMENTS IN WEEKLY PARK WHERE WE WANTED TO HAVE THE COUNTY HOST THOSE MEETINGS AGAIN MONTHLY OR QUARTERLY.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY TRACTION OR EMAIL RETURNS ON THAT INFORMATION.
WE WANNA SEE MEETINGS WHERE ALL THE PUBLIC, ALL THE CONSERVANCIES ARE AT THE TABLE BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF MISINFORMATION BEING PROJECTED OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY AGAINST OUR ORGANIZATION AND AND BOARD MEMBERS, BUT JUST THE, THE PROGRESS OF THE PARK.
UM, WE ARE NOT, WE DON'T HAVE A, A UNIFIED NARRATIVE.
UM, AND SO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO GET DONE ARE NOT BEING COMPLETED.
AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU, WE, WE JUST DON'T HAVE A CONSISTENT WORK WORKFLOW AT ALL.
SO WE JUST NEED TO SEE SOME RESPONSE TO OUR EMAILS WITH THOSE REQUESTS.
SO WITH RESPECT TO THE SCOREBOARD AND THE MEETINGS, WE'LL LAST, IF YOU CAN, I SEE MR. FREEMAN IS FILLING THAT OUT.
PLEASE PUT THAT IN WRITING SO THAT WE CAN FORWARD THOSE REQUESTS.
THE LAST TIME THOSE MEETINGS TOOK PLACE WAS ABOUT WHEN.
'CAUSE I, THE MAIN THING TOO IS THE, THE CATCH BASINS, THE DRAINAGE ON THE ELIZABETH AVENUE SIDE, THE FLOODING IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, UH, COUNTLESS ISSUES, BUT IT SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME PEOPLE COME TO THIS MICROPHONE, IT'S ABOUT ATTACKING THE BOARD MEMBERS, UH, WEAK PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY AND NOT ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S GETTING DONE IN THE PARK.
SO WE WANNA SEE SOMETHING HAPPEN.
GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS.
UH, NORM ARIA BLOOMFIELD, UH, NEW JERSEY.
I JUST WANTED TO, UM, SHARE MY GRATITUDE, UM, WITH THE ESSEX COUNTY, UH, ESSEX, ESSEX COUNTY, UM, STAFF, ESPECIALLY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE ENGINEERING STAFF, UM, INCLUDING, UH,
[01:10:01]
SANJI, VARESE AS, UH, DAVID ANTONIO PLANNER AND, UM, ISAAC OJEDA AND, UH, THEIR ENTIRE SUPPORT STAFF.WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF WONDERFUL INTERSECTION PROJECTS ARE COMING UP AND BEING PLANNED, AND THAT'S VERY, VERY EXCITING.
UM, I KNOW THAT THE INTERSECTION THAT I SPOKE ABOUT THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, UM, THE INTERSECTION OF BELLEVILLE AVENUE AND BROAD STREET BY BLOOMFIELD HIGH SCHOOL THAT IS DUE FOR AN INTERSECTION UPGRADE.
I KNOW IT WILL TAKE A FEW YEARS.
WHAT I'M REQUESTING IS THAT A LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVAL BE PROGRAMMED INTO THAT INTERSECTION FOR THE BLOOMFIELD, UH, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ESPECIALLY WHO UTILIZE THAT INTERSECTION.
THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE, UH, WOMAN WHO WAS HIT, UM, AT THAT INTERSECTION IN EARLY FEBRUARY.
SHE IS, UM, SHE WAS HIT AND I FOUND THIS OUT AT A BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP COUNCIL MEETING THAT I WAS READING A POLICE REPORT AND IT WAS HER, UM, THAT WAS STRUCK BY THAT VEHICLE.
UM, SO THAT LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVAL WILL HELP IN THE YEAR OR TWO THAT IT WILL TAKE TO GET THAT INTERSECTION, UM, UPGRADED.
I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE INFORMATION, UH, THAT I FOUND OUT.
UM, THEY HAVE THESE NEW JERSEY, N-J-D-O-T, THEY HAVE THESE LOCAL AID MEETINGS, UH, CALLED PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTER MEETINGS.
UM, BLOOMFIELD AND GLEN RIDGE HAVE DEDICATED 30 MINUTES TOTAL TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT 10 INTERSECTIONS.
BUT YOU KNOW WHO I'M JEALOUS OF? I'M JEALOUS OF NEWARK IRVINGTON, SOUTH ORANGE AND MAPLEWOOD BECAUSE AT THEIR MEETING THEY'RE DEDICATING TWO HOURS FOR DEEP COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR THE 11 INTERSECTIONS THAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.
I KNOW THAT ESSEX COUNTY HAS SOME SORT OF ROLE.
I'M, IT IS MY HOPE, UM, AS A RESIDENT THAT, UM, FOLKS IN BLOOMFIELD AND GLEN RIDGE WOULD HAVE MORE THAN 30 MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT THE 11 INTERSECTIONS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, THAT WILL IMPACT THEIR PEDESTRIANS, THEIR CHILDREN, UM, FOLKS WHO ARE VISITING, UM, THE ENTIRE CONSTELLATION OF PEOPLE, UM, WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THAT.
UM, SO I'M WORKING ALSO TO FIND OUT INFORMATION, UM, FROM MY OWN TOWN.
AND FINALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, I FEEL IT'S, UH, THAT CONSISTENCY IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FROM ESSEX COUNTY WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT.
FINALLY, UM, KIND OF ON THE HEELS OF THE BE QUICK, UM, FOLKS, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE ARE BAKED INTO THESE INTERSECTION DESIGN PROJECTS.
AND THE NUMBER ONE THING IS ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS FOR FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE BLIND AND LOW VISION.
THE ONES THAT TALK AND SAY THE GREEN LIGHT IS ON AND CROSSING, BECAUSE WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS THAT THEY ARE LACKING AT OUR COUNTY INTERSECTIONS AND THAT IS AN A DA ACCESSIBLE CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE.
SO, UM, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE BAKED INTO THE PLANS.
UH, FOR THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND THINKING ABOUT OUR DEMOGRAPHICS, AGING IN PLACE.
UM, IN FACT, IT WAS, IT WAS HIT HOME.
UH, I WAS COMING FROM A PAPER SHREDDING EVENT IN BLOOMFIELD, DRIVING DOWN BROAD STREET.
I LOOK OFF TO MY RIGHT AND THERE WERE FOLKS THAT WERE THERE WHO WERE BLIND AND, AND LOW VISION.
UM, FOLKS WHO ARE BLIND AND LOW VISION AND, UM, I SPOKE WITH THEM.
APPARENTLY THE NEW JERSEY, THE, UH, FEDERATION OF THE BLIND HAS MONTHLY MEETINGS AT THE CIVIC CENTER.
I ASKED THEIR ORGANIZERS, WHAT'S THE NUMBER ONE INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, CHANGE YOU WANNA SEE IN BLOOMFIELD? AND THEY SAID ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS.
THEY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN HERE FOR A COUPLE OF OUR MEETINGS AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH 'EM AND THEY HAVE ALREADY AND WILL BE MEETING WITH OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
I'M A LOCAL MINORITY AND WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS, UH, BUSINESS OWNER AND A LIFELONG ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENT.
I SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL IN GOOD FAITH FOR THE FRANCIS BYRNE CONCESSION OPPORTUNITY AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT FAIRNESS, TRANSPARENCY, AND THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC TRUST.
SO MY THOROUGH AND COMPETITIVE BID WAS UNJUSTLY REJECTED BASED ON SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS GIVEN TO ME BY THE PURCHASING OFFICE AT THE TIME OF SUBMISSION DIRECTIONS.
I FOLLOWED EXACTLY, I FORMALLY PROTESTED THE REJECTION OF BID 25 0 6 7.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF MY BID PROTEST.
HEARING THE RULING CLEARLY LEANED TOWARD REINSTATING MY BID.
THE DECIDING OFFICIAL AFFIRMED THAT SUBSTANCE WOULD BE PRIORITIZED OVER TECHNICALITIES AND THAT THE DISMISSAL OF MY BID ON TRIVIAL GROUNDS WOULD NOT PREVAIL.
WE WERE TOLD THE DECISION WOULD COME ABOUT IN 24 HOURS, GIVING THE DECIDER, YOU KNOW, OVERNIGHT TO DELIVERY.
[01:15:01]
INSTEAD, THREE DAYS PASSED ON MAY 16TH.I RECEIVED AN EMAIL, NOT A DECISION, BUT RATHER FORWARDED COMMUNICATION SAYING THAT IT WOULD BE MOOT TO RENDER, UH, A DECISION ON MY PROTEST BEING THAT JAY COLT TRAY AND THE OFF FROM THE OFFICE OF PO UH, PURCHASING AND THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS HAD COMMUNICATED AND THE COMMUNICATION WAS DATED MAY 14TH, THE VERY DAY THAT MY PROTEST DECISION WAS TO BE FINALIZED.
THAT EMAIL CONTAINED NOT A RULING ON MY PROTEST, BUT A SUDDEN CANCELLATION OF THE ENTIRE RFP ALTOGETHER.
FOLLOWING THIS, I SENT MULTIPLE EMAILS SEEKING CLARITY, PARTICULARLY ON THE SCORING, WHICH I AM ENTITLED TO SEE.
THESE INQUIRIES WERE IGNORED OR SIDESTEPPED WHEN MY QUESTIONS BECAME TOO SPECIFIC TO DISMISS RESPONSES CEASED ENTIRELY.
I THEN SUBMITTED AN OPRAH REQUEST SOON AFTER A NEW R-F-P-R-F-P 25 1 0 6 WAS ISSUED WITH REVISED SPECIFICATIONS THAT APPEARED TO MIRROR NOT ONLY MY PROTEST ARGUMENTS, BUT ALSO MY BID SUBMISSION CONTENT REWRITTEN IN A WAY THAT INCREASES BARRIERS TO MY ELIGIBILITY.
THEY NOW REQUIRE LICENSES AND FINANCIALS AT SUBMISSION, NOT UPON REWARD, A RIGID THREE YEAR MINIMUM IN FOOD SERVICE EXPERIENCE, A NEW MANDATORY HOURS OF TIED TO GOLF COURSE OPERATIONS AND A HEIGHTENED OVERSIGHTS OF AUDITS AND INSPECTIONS.
THESE CHANGES EFFECTIVELY BOX ME OUT AS A QUALIFIED STARTUP, A TEXTBOOK CASE OF GOAL POST MOVING.
AND IN THIS CONTEXT, IT APPEARS RETALIATORY.
THIS PROCESS RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS UNDER TITLE 10, THE NEW JERSEY LAW AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, PROTECTING AGAINST RETALIATORY OR DISPARATE TREATMENT AND TITLE 11 MANDATING MERIT BASED PUBLIC CONTRACTING AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRANSPARENCY, THE TIMING AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND SILENT ADOPTION OF MY BID LANGUAGE AND PROTEST LANGUAGE AND NEW BARRIERS.
THAT POINT TO AN ATTEMPT TO ERASE ACCOUNTABILITY AND RE-ENGINEER THE OUTCOME BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT AND A FORMAL AUDIT OF THE REISSUANCE PROCESS, INCLUDING THE HISTORY OF PAST OPPORTUNITY AWARDS AS IT PERTAINS TO FRANCIS FERN GOLF COURSE AND THE RELATIONSHIP TO ACTING VENDORS, THE HANDLING OF MY PROTEST AND THE DECISION TIMELINE IMPLEMENTATION OF CLEAR VENDOR COMMUNICATION SAFEGUARDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN PRIOR BIDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN REVIEWED, MEANING THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY SEEN MY, SEEN MY BID IN ALL OF MY CREDENTIALS.
AND PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THIS REVIEW THAT THE BOARD AWARD 30 SECONDS UNDER THE ORIGINAL RFP 25 0 6 7 TO THE RIGHTFUL QUALIFYING BIDDER WITH MY PROPOSAL FULLY AND FAIRLY CONSIDERED.
I STAND HERE NOT JUST FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR EVERY LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR TRYING TO DO BUSINESS WITH INTEGRITY WITH THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
THE PROCESS MUST WORK FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITIES, NOT THE EXCLUSION OF THOSE TRYING TO UPLIFT THEM.
I STAND BEFORE YOU, NOT DISCOURAGED, BUT MORE MOTIVATED THAN EVER AND FULLY PREPARED TO FULFILL THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH EXCELLENCE, PRIDE IN A WAY THAT RAISES THE STANDARD AND MORALE FOR OTHERS.
I HAVE A COPY OF ALL SUPPORTING MATERIALS.
WHATEVER MATERIALS YOU MAY HAVE, PLEASE LEAVE A T FOR THAT.
SHE CAN FORWARD IT TO THE BOARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? OKAY, MADAM AND DEPUTY COOK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THERE'S NO ONE ELSE, NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME, THE COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YEAH, MR. JACKSON? UH, WITH OUR, UH, SMALL BUSINESS AND MINORITY OPPORTUNITIES, HOW MANY MINORITY BUSINESSES HAVE GOTTEN AN OPPORTUNITY AT THE COUNTY THIS YEAR? I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
AND I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHY SHE WAS REJECTED.
SEEMS LIKE SHE HAD SOME REAL ARGUMENTS.
SO WE NEED TO DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT WHY SHE, HER BID WAS REJECTED ON WHAT GROUNDS, AND IS IT TRUE THE THINGS SHE JUST STATED IN TERMS OF THE BIG COMEBACK WITH SEEMINGLY HER ARGUMENTS INTACT.
SO WE DEFINITELY NEED TO, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT WHY SHE WAS REJECTED.
WHAT ARE THE REASONS, WHAT'S THE SCORING? ALL OF THE THINGS THAT SHE ASKED, WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF.
AND WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE OF MINORITY CONTRACTORS THAT HAVE GOTTEN SOME WORK IN THE COUNTY THIS YEAR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE AGAIN, COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS, CONGRATULATIONS.
LOVELY, LOVELY WAY TO START THE MEETING.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS?
[01:20:01]
YES, YOU DO.COMM PRESIDENT, UH, PRIME, THE ENTIRE BOARD, THE STAFF COUNTY, UH, CLERK, DEPUTY CLERK BROWN, AND EVERYONE FOR THAT AWARD.
AND FRANKLY, EVERYONE, FOR BEING HERE SAYING, THROUGH THESE LONG MEETINGS, BUT NECESSARY ONES TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
SECOND BY RICH IS ALL IN FAVOR.