[00:00:16]
ARE WE GOING TO 10? YEAH, CONTINUE.
UM, 10 FOR THE, UH, UH, DIVISION OF ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE, SUBSTANCE USE, WE PROVIDE, I, UM, WE GO OUT TO BID FOR, TO BID FOR CONTRACT.
AND, UM, THERE OF, UH, OUR, UM, PROVIDERS HERE THIS EVENING.
EVENING, UH, CHRIS VADIS, UH, UM, GREATER ESSEX COUNSELING, THAT PATIENT INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FOR OUR CHAPTER 51 GRANT.
THE ONE GRANT, UH, ELAINE ROMERO IN HOUSE WHO PROVIDES HALFWAY HOUSE SERVICES FOR, FOR FEMALES IN THEIR CHAPTER 51 GRANT.
AND ROBIN SHORTER, WHO'S THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH INTEGRITY HOUSE PROVIDES FOR CHAPTER 51.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE SUBCONTRACT WITH THEM FOR OUR REACH FOR RECOVERY PROGRAM, WHICH IS NUMBER 12.
DO YOU NEED TO HEAR FROM THEM? THEY'RE HERE.
PLEASE JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR, WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I'M CO-OWNER OF GREATER ES COUNSELING SERVICES.
WE ARE AN OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE FACILITY IN ON 23 BRANFORD PLACE.
UM, WE PROVIDE MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT.
WE PROVIDE IOP, WE PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL AND COUNSELING SESSIONS, GROUP THERAPY, PEER RECOVERY, UH, SPECIALISTS, UH, HELP THEM WITH JOBS.
UM, SO WE TREAT THE CLIENT ALL THE WAY AROUND.
IS, UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY COLLEAGUES WITH YOU OR JUST MYSELF? JUST YOURSELF.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE GENTLEMEN AS HE'S HERE? THANK YOU.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
UH, ROBIN SHORTER, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT INTEGRITY HOUSE AND PROGRAM MANAGER FOR REACH FOR RECOVERY.
AND TELL US ABOUT, UH, THE PROGRAM.
DID YOU, I MEAN, I KNOW WE'RE FAMILIAR, BUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.
SO WE ARE IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, FOUR TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK PROVIDING EDUCATION INFORMATION AND RISK REDUCTION SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE IN 12 TO 13 DIFFERENT COUNTIES, INCLUDING ORANGE, UH, EAST ORANGE, UH, MONTCLAIR, CALDWELL, IRVINGTON, AS WELL AS BLOOMFIELD.
FROM SEPTEMBER 24 TO SEPTEMBER 25, WE HAVE PROVIDED SERVICES AND INTERACTED WITH 1,970 CONSUMERS DIRECTLY IN THE, THE COMMUNITY TO INCLUDE CHILDREN BECAUSE WE ATTENDED THE BOOK BAG, UM, DISTRIBUTION GIVEAWAY AT 50 SOUTH CLINTON.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO TOUCH OUR SENIOR POPULATION AT THE SENIOR WELLNESS DAY AT TURTLEBACK ZOO.
WE'VE ALSO TOUCHED OUR ADOLESCENT POPULATION BY ATTENDING THE NUTLEY HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR.
AND ALSO WE ATTENDED THE, UH, VETERANS, UH, HEALTH AND WELLNESS EVENT AT BRANCH BOOK PARK.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TOUCH ALL THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, UH, WITHIN INNOCENCE COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOOD WORK COMMISSION THERE.
ION, IS THAT IT, MR. CHEN? THAT'S IT.
UH, SHABAZ, ANY QUESTIONS ON NINE THROUGH 12? UH, NO.
MR. KINER, ANY QUESTIONS ON NINE 12? NO QUESTIONS.
SO I'M GONNA MOVE IT, MOVE IT.
MOVE BY RICHARDSON SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER, ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK ON NINE THROUGH 12.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RAMIREZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 13 THROUGH 15, WHICH ARE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
THERE WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
JOSHUA ZAS, ESA COUNTY PARKS NUMBER 14.
NUMBER 13 IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO TITAN MECHANICAL AND PIPING TO PROVIDE INSPECTION, SERVICE, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OVER AT, UH, CODY ARENA.
24 MONTH CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $574,967 AND 68 CENTS.
THIS IS SIMPLY AN INSPECTION OF THE COMPRESSORS OVER AT THE TWO RINKS OVER AT THE CODY ARENA.
[00:05:01]
THEY DO A MONTHLY INSPECTION AND THEN, UH, REPAIR AND REPLACE PARTS AS NECESSARY.NUMBER 14, THE CONTRACT AWARD TO CLARK MOYNIHAN LANDSCAPING LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER PROVIDE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE FOR PARKS IN THE BLOOMFIELD NUTLEY AREA.
UH, DATE OF AWARD THROUGH OCTOBER 6TH, 2027.
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $483,501 AND 84 CENTS.
THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PARKS BROOKDALE WATS SING IN YCA.
THE MONTHLY COST IS $15,145 AND 91 CENTS.
UH, THE FIXED AMOUNT FOR THE TOTAL CONTRACT IS 363,000 5 0 1 AND 84 CENTS.
AND THEN THERE'S $120,000 ALLOWANCE AS WELL.
WE ARE EXPERIENCING TACTICAL DIFFICULTIES.
WERE THEY TRYING TO TELL ME MY THREE MINUTES EXPIRED?
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIX THAT LATER ON.
ALRIGHT, LET'S GO BACK TO BUSINESS.
WE'RE NOT NUMBER 15 NOW, CORRECT? YEP.
UH, FINALLY, NUMBER 15 IS A CONTRACT, EXCUSE ME, CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER, WHICH EASY GO DIVISION OF TEXTRON TO PROVIDE AND DELIVER MAINTENANCE OF, UH, LITHIUM POWERED GOLF CARTS, ENDING AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $107,362 AND 80 CENTS.
UH, THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AWARD WAS 536,814 WITH THE 20%, THE NEW CONTRACT AMOUNT IS $644,176 AND 80 CENTS.
UH, THE REASON BEING IS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN ROUGHLY SIX YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD ALL THREE GOLF COURSES OPEN AT THE SAME TIME.
AS YOU KNOW, UH, BOTH BY AND HENDRICKS WERE PREVIOUSLY, UH, IMPROVED.
AND THEN WE JUST OPENED WEEK QUAKE, UH, BACK AT THE END OF THE SUMMER.
SO NOW WE'RE FINDING THAT, UM, DUE TO THE INCREASE IN ATTENDANCE, WE DO NEED ADDITIONAL GOLF COURSES.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
THAT'S A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE, SIR.
MS. SHABAZ, ANY QUESTIONS ON 13 THROUGH 15? NO LEGAL ISSUES HERE.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YEAH, TWO.
SO HOW MANY GOLF CARTS WOULD THIS PROVIDE AND WHERE WOULD THEY BE GOING? UH, JOSHUA'S, EIGHTS COUNTY PARK STUDIO, MR. PRESIDENT, I DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFIC AMOUNTS.
UM, I CAN CERTAINLY GET THAT TO YOU, BUT WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN DIVVYING UP WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY FOR THE THREE GOLF COURSES TO THE TWO GOLF COURSES.
NOW THAT THIRD ONE'S OPEN AGAIN.
UH, WE NEED ADDITIONAL CARTS, BUT WE COULD CERTAINLY PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT INFORMATION.
JOSHUA, IT BE SAFE TO SAY IT'S ROUGHLY SPLIT EVENLY THREE WAYS, OR IS IT SO DIFFERENT? WHEN, WHEN WE INITIALLY HAD THE CONTRACT, IT WAS EVENLY SPLIT.
I, I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK WITH THE GOLF DIRECTOR TO SEE WHAT THE ALLOCATION IS CURRENTLY.
IF YOU CAN GET BACK TO US ON IT, WE'D APPRECIATE IT.
SO WE'RE BUYING ADDITIONAL CARDS.
THESE ARE FOR THE RENTAL OF THE GOLF CARTS.
NO, JUST TO REMIND THE BOARD, THIS CONTRACT DOES END IN APRIL OF NEXT YEAR, AND WE WILL BRING, UH, A NEW CONTRACT TO THE BOARD, UH, AT THAT TIME.
ALL RIGHT, MR. BA ARE YOU ASKED QUESTION MR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, SO I'M GONNA MOVE IT.
MOTION MOVE BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER SECOND RICHARDSON ON THE SECOND ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 16 AND 25, WHICH ARE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
I'M SORRY, THAT'S 16 THROUGH 25.
WE'LL, KEEPING US GOT BUSY TONIGHT.
THEREFORE, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THAT'LL BE RIGHT TO THE RECORD LATER TIME.
MR. ANTONIO IT THE FLOOR OF YOUR SIR? UH, GOOD EVENING.
DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, 16 AWARDS, DCO ENERGY, A THREE YEAR CONTRACT TO PROVIDE THE TOTAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE AT THE ESSEX COUNTY HOSPITAL CENTER LOCATED IN CEDAR GROVE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $8,143,251 DCO ENERGY SUBMITTED TO SOLE BID RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.
AND THE CONTRACT WILL ALLOW FOR THE FULL LABOR, MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING AND THE BUILDING SYSTEMS SUCH AS THE HVAC AT THE HOSPITAL.
MR. DAVID DELVECCHIO OF DCO ENERGY IS HERE TO TOUCH ON THE
[00:10:01]
SCOPE OF WORK, THE CONTRACT, INTRODUCE THIS COMPANY, AND OF COURSE, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, SUPPORT WE HAVE, CIO.PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY AND THE PROJECT.
YEAH, DAVID DELVECCHIO, DCO ENERGY.
WE'VE BEEN AT THE HOSPITAL CENTER SINCE IT, SINCE IT OPENED, AND WE'RE, UH, VERY HAPPY ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY WITH REGARD TO THAT.
AND, UH, IN TERMS OF COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, WE HAVE EVERYONE WHO IS NOT MANAGEMENT IS PART OF THE UNION.
UH, AND WE HAVE, UH, 30% OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ESSEX ACCOUNT EMPLOYEES.
UH, DCO IS PART OF THE JINGLE.
WE'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE 1918, UH, AND WE, WE, UH, REALLY ENJOY BEING PARTNERS WITH THE COUNTY AND REALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THE COUNTY AND THE RESIDENTS AND THE, THE EMPLOYEES AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE.
MS. SHABAZ, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE VENDOR? UH, NO.
MR. MCINERNEY, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE VENDOR? THE ONLY, THE ONLY QUESTION I, SO THIS IS A SET, A SET CONTRACT, BUT THERE IS, UM, A $300,000, UH, I GUESS IT'S A REIMBURSEMENT OR MAYBE YOU CAN EXPLAIN THAT.
IT'S, IT'S FOR REPAIRS, IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT EVERY YEAR WITHIN THE CONTRACT.
UH, DAVID ANTONIO, UH, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, THERE'S THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY $300,000 PER YEAR.
UH, FOR OVER THREE YEARS, IT'S HUNDRED THOUSAND.
IS THAT USED UP EVERY YEAR OR IS THERE USUALLY MONEY? 11.
UH, THERE'S DAVID FROM PUBLIC WORKS.
UH, IT'S ALWAYS SOME BALANCE OF THAT ALLOWANCE, WHICH IS $900 FOR THE THREE YEAR PERIOD.
SO IT'S A GOOD ASSET TO HAVE THAT ALLOWANCE IN THE CONTRACT.
THERE'S ALWAYS THINGS THAT COME UP THAT NEED TO BE PURCHASED BEYOND LABOR.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE VENDOR COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER, I HAVE A QUESTION TO COMMENT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING PREPARED TO RESPOND TO OUR COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON HAND.
YOU'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.
UH, DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 17 IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO DCA ENERGY, A THREE YEAR CONTRACT TO PROVIDE TOTAL BUILDING MAINTENANCE AT THE ESSEX COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER IN NEWARK IN AN AMOUNT ELECTRIC SEED, $3,951,410 DCO ENERGY SUBMITTED TO SOLE BID RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.
THIS CONTRACT WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR FULL LABOR, MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO PERFORM OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING IN ITS VARIOUS BUILDING SYSTEMS AT THE DETENTION CENTER.
AND IF MR. DEBA, YOU'RE STILL HERE, IF UR HAS ANY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS SEPARATE FROM, UH, MS. SHABAZ, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PARTICULAR THIS CONTRACT? NO.
COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT? WE SEEING NONE.
UH, DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS HAVE NUMBER, UH, I HAVE NUMBER, UH, 18 IS AN AWARD CONTRACT TO BERRY ENGINEERS TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT SERVICES REQUIRED TO SUCCESSFULLY CONSTRUCT THE 12 TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS ALONG VARIOUS ROADWAYS AND TOWNSHIPS IN EXCEED 1,691,000 $120.
DEBERRY ENGINEER SUBMITTED THE HIGHEST RATED OF PROPOSAL OF THE FOUR RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.
THIS CONTRACT COST WILL BE FULLY FUNDED VIA FEDERAL GRANT AND MR. LAC SFAR OF DEBERRY ENGINEERING IS HERE THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY AND PERHAPS EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY AND ABOUT THE CONTRACT AS YOU SEE IT.
ALA ZAFFER FROM BURY ENGINEERS.
WE ARE LOCATED IN BLOOMFIELD SES COUNTY.
UH, WE ARE ABOUT 15 ENGINEERS AND WE ARE PROVIDING CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT SERVICES TO SS COUNTY FOR MANY YEARS.
WE, THE LAST PROJECT WE DID FOR THEM WAS FOR NINE INTERSECTIONS ALL ALONG LEON AVENUE.
AND BESIDES, WE ARE WORKING WITH S COUNTY ON DESIGN OF SIGNALS AS WELL, UH, FOR, FOR, UH, SIX SEVEN INTERSECTIONS ALONG SPRINGFIELD AVENUE.
SO BURY IS NOT NEW TO S COUNTY.
WE HAVE DONE SERVICE THEM AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PERFORM THE SERVICES AS WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO LEGAL ISSUES.
COMMISSIONER OF QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES.
[00:15:01]
HOW MANY ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS DO YOU EMPLOY? WE ARE LIKE 35% EMPLOYEES IN THE, IN THE, IN THE OFFICE.OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO NUMBER 19.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 19 IS THE AWARD OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 12 TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND WORKING IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THE VARIOUS ROADWAY WAYS, MUNICIPALITIES, BY AWARDING A CONTRACT TO FAGON ELECTRIC IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $9,887,292.
THIS CONSTRUCTION COST WILL BE FULLY FUNDED VIA FEDERAL GRANT.
FAGON ELECTRIC SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE SIX BIDS RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
UNDER THIS CONTRACT, FAGON WILL IMPROVE 10 SIGNALED INTERSECTIONS PLUS CONSTRUCT TWO NEW ONES.
WE DO HAVE MR. FRANCISCO DEA OF FAGON ELECTRIC HERE THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SUPPORT MAY HAVE.
PLEASE JUST INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR COMPANY FOR THE RECORD AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR, UH, COMPANY THERE.
MY NAME IS FRANCISCO DEZA WITH FAGON ELECTRIC COMPANY.
HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND RUNNING FOR 40 YEARS NOW.
WE SPECIALIZE IN TRAFFIC SIGNALS, HIGHWAY LIGHTING.
WE'VE DONE SEVERAL PROJECTS WITH S COUNTY AND MULTIPLE MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN S COUNTY AND HAVE HAD A VERY GREAT SUCCESS RATE IN COMPLETING THEM IN A TIMELY FASHION.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO, MR. PRESIDENT.
COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES, SIR.
WHERE, WHERE'S YOUR, UH, COMPANY LOCATED? WE'RE LOCATED AT ONE 40 11TH STREET IN PISCATAWAY.
SIR, WE ARE AN ALL UNION SHOP.
WE ALL UNION ALL UNION, EVERY EMPLOYEE'S OUT OF THE UNION HALLS.
WE HIRE OUT OF, UH, 4 72, WHICH IS BASED IN NEWARK 1 64.
UH, WE ALSO HIRE 8 25 OPERATORS AND THAT'S BASICALLY EVERY TIME WE NEED GENTLEMEN OR LADIES TO FULFILL TASKS WE CALL THE HALL.
WE ASK FOR EMPLOYEES THAT LIVE IN THE COUNTY OR IN THE CITIES THAT WE ARE WORKING IN TRYING TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT.
UM, MS. ANTONIO, WERE YOU ABLE TO, UM, THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD DURING THE MEETING THE OTHER WEEK ABOUT THE, UM, SIGNALS AROUND SCHOOLS, UM, DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IN THIS SPECIFIC CONTRACT.
I BELIEVE IT'S 1, 2, 3, UH, THREE OF THE 12 SIGNALS IN QUESTION ARE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO A SCHOOL, UH, BLOOMFIELD HIGH SCHOOL IN BLOOMFIELD AND, UH, BROOKDALE ELEMENTARY IN BLOOMFIELD AS WELL.
UM, AND I THINK YOU ASKED ABOUT AUDIBLE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS THAT IS NOW GONNA BE INCLUDED IN ALL SIGNALS INCLUDING THESE.
NUMBER 20, UM, ITEM NUMBER 20 IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO T AND M ASSOCIATES TO PROVIDE THE CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING AND COST CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT SERVICES REQUIRED TO CONSTRUCT THE NINE TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND ROAD IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD IN THE AMOUNT ELECTRIC EXCEED $1,275,940.
TNM SUBMITTED THE HIGHEST RATED PROPOSAL OF THE FIVE RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THIS PROJECT'S RFP.
THIS CONTRAST AND ITS COST WILL BE FULLY FUNDED VIA A FEDERAL GRANT.
AND MR. STEVE WONG OF TNM ASSOCIATES, HE IS ALSO HERE THIS EVENING, WOULD ALSO LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY, TNM.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
MY NAME IS STEVEN WONG, UH, WITH T AND M ASSOCIATES.
I'M A VICE PRESIDENT AND I AM THE, UH, TRANSPORTATION MARKET LEADER, UH, FOR THE COMPANY.
WE HAVE OFFICES IN BLOOMFIELD, UH, AND 20, OVER 25% OF OUR STAFF THERE IS IN ESSEX COUNTY.
UM, I'M ALSO JOINED, UH, WE NEXT YEAR WE ARE, UH, CELEBRATING OUR 60TH YEAR IN BUSINESS.
UM, AND I'M JOINED HERE BY THE ARI ON THE JOB.
JULIO VEGA, IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE JOB, MR. BASS, ANY QUESTIONS? NO, THEY'RE GOOD.
SEEMS LIKE BLOOMFIELD IS WELL REPRESENTED TONIGHT.
AS A BLOOMFIELD RESIDENT, BLOOMFIELD HIT THE JACKPOT.
APPARENTLY WE'RE LIKE AN ENGINEERING HUB NOW.
DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
IT'S THE AWARD OF THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO CONSTRUCT
[00:20:01]
THE NINE TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND ROAD IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD BY AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO SMITH SANDY CONSTRUCTION AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $7,451,267.THIS CONSTRUCTION COSTS WILL BE FULLY FUNDED VIA FEDERAL GRANT SMITH SUNDAY CONSTRUCTION SUBMITTED TO LOWEST OF THE FOUR BITS RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.
UNDER THIS CONTRACT, SMITH SUNDAY WILL IMPROVE SEVEN EXISTING SIGNALED INTERSECTIONS PLUS CONSTRUCTION.
UM, MID SANDY CONSTRUCTION DOES, UH, HAVE U UNION, UM, UNION, UH, PARTICIPATION IN LABOR, UH, LABOR 4 72 OPERATING ENGINEERS 8 25.
AND UH, THIS AFTERNOON WE CONFIRMED THAT THEY HAVE 16 EMPLOYEES OF THEIRS THAT LIVE IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 22 IS TO EXERCISE OF A 24 MONTH EXTENSION OPTION TO, UH, ELLI BROTHERS CURRENT CONTRACT TO PROVIDE MISCELLANEOUS ROAD WEIGHT DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS ON A AS NEEDED BASIS IN THE AMOUNT TO EXCEED $854,052.
THIS CONTRACT IS USED BY THE DIVISION OF ROADS AND BRIDGES TO PROVIDE FOR THE TIMELY REPAIR OF ROADWAY WEIGHT, DRAINAGE ISSUES SUCH AS COLLAPSED CATCH BASINS AND, UH, MANHOLE REPAIRS.
ITEM NUMBER 23 IS THE EXERCISE OF ANOTHER 24 MONTH EXTENSION OPTION, BUT THIS TIME, MR. THE SWICK CONTRACTING CONTRACTORS, UH, CURRENT CONTRACT TO PROVIDE MISCELLANEOUS CULBERT AND BRIDGE REPAIRS ON A AS NEEDED BASIS AND IN A AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $429,120.
THIS CONTRACT IS USED BY THE DIVISION OF ROADS AND BRIDGES TO PERFORM AS NEEDED MINOR REPAIRS TO MINOR BRIDGES AND CULVERTS.
AND ITEM NUMBER 24 AUTHORIZES THE, UM, THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AUTHORIZE THIS EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT SO THAT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL INSTALLATION MAY TAKE PLACE ALONG, UM, PLEASANT VALLEY WAY.
THE CONTRACT WILL BE BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX AND THEN REDWOOD WEST ORANGE.
UH, THE
THE PROPOSED TRAFFIC SIGNAL INSTALLATION HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ENGINEER AND WILL IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW ALONG PLEASANT VALLEY WAY.
THE ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND UH, ANY OTHER WORK WORK IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE BORN BY REDWOOD WEST ORANGE.
THE DEVELOPER AND ITEM NUMBER, UH, 25 AUTHORIZES TO EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF ASSETS AND PILOT FIBER FOR THE INSTALLATION OF TELECOMMUNICATION AERIAL CABLES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT ON COUNTY ROADWAYS ON EXISTING UTILITY POLES.
THIS AGREEMENT WILL ALLOW THE COUNTY TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REVIEW COST AND ALSO THE, AND ALSO ENSURE THAT THAT ANY WORK DONE BY PALLET FIBER IS DONE IN AN ORDERLY MANNER IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNTY PERMITS AND STANDARDS.
MR. BOWZ, ANY QUESTIONS ON 21 TO 25? NO, THERE ARE NO RELATIONS MR. MR. MCINERNEY.
THE, THE ONLY THE, UH, THE GRANTS HERE ARE FEDERAL GRANTS, CORRECT? ON THE DOT, BUT DIFFERENT THAN THE STATE GRANTS THAT WE WANT THROUGH YOU MR. PRE.
DO TS ADMINISTRATING BODY, BUT THEIR FEDERAL GRANTS.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? UM, IN REFERENCE TO ITEM NUMBER 21, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS PAVING.
WE RECENTLY PAID ON
THERE WERE, I THINK THEY WERE SHERIFF OFFICERS WHO DETERMINED THE NUMBER OF SHERIFF OFFICERS THAT ARE ON THE JOB WHEN WE DETERMINED IT OR THE CONTRACTOR.
UH, IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH.
IT'S USUALLY A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN US AND THE CONTRACTOR.
UM, YEAH, SO THE AREA ON BLOOMFIELD AVENUE THAT RECENTLY WAS PAVED, UM, BLOOMFIELD AND GROVE STREET MM-HMM
THERE WERE OFFICERS I RECALL BEING AT ONE END AND THE OPPOSITE END, BUT IN THE MIDDLE THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANY OFFICERS.
AND I'M SAYING THAT BECAUSE YOU DID ALL THIS BEAUTIFUL WORK MM-HMM
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU COME TO PUT THE WHITE MARK PARKED DOWN ON THE ROAD MM-HMM
IT WAS WET AND CARS DROVE THROUGH THIS, UH, THROUGH YOU MR. PRESIDENT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HOPE DOESN'T HAPPEN.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE TELLING US ABOUT THIS MOVING FORWARD.
WE'LL BE MORE MINDFUL TO MAKE SURE THAT APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC CONTROL IS IN PLACE TO AVOID THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.
THAT IT, I'M SURE I LOOK THAT SHE, LOOK, WE SPENT A PRETTY PENNY ON THAT PROJECT.
IT'S BEAUTIFULLY PAID, NICELY MARKED OUT.
[00:25:01]
KNOW, SOMETIMES DRIVERS DON'T ADHERE TO THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AND THEY TRY TO WORK AROUND 'CAUSE WE DID COURT IT OFF A REALLY BIG SECTION, SO IT WAS KIND OF HARD PROBABLY FOR PEOPLE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY NEEDED TO GO.SO MY ASK IS THAT IF WE'RE MAKING THAT DETERMINATION THAT WE PUT MORE OFFICES OUT THERE SO THAT OUR WORK, YOU KNOW, IS IN VEIN BECAUSE IS THAT LIKE THERMAL ON AND SO NOW IT'S GONNA BE THERE LIKE THAT FOR A WHILE.
IT'S THERMOPLASTIC IS, UH, PRETTY MUCH AS LONG GLASSING AS YOU CAN GET FOR WORLD BIG MARKINGS.
SO THAT'S THE WAY THAT THIS IS DONE.
WELL WHITE ALL OVER THE POLICE.
TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, WE CAN ALWAYS GO BACK AND IDENTIFY THIS AREA WHERE THIS OCCURRED, HAVE THAT REPLACED, AND MOVING FORWARD WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
RECOGNIZING COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS HAS JOINED THE MEETING.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MOTION.
SO WE HAVE, UH, A MOTION FOR RESOLUTION SIX 16 SECOND 25 BY COOPER.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
COMMISSIONER ANTONIO, YOU EARNED YOUR MONEY TONIGHT, THAT'S FOR SURE.
LAST MOVE, MOVE ON TO 26 THROUGH 30, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF COUNTY COUNCIL.
THAT CAN BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT LATER TIME.
JOHN, UH, ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL.
UH, RESOLUTION 26 IS, UH, THE, UH, SETTLE THE RESULTS OF A ARBITRATOR'S DECISION.
UM, THERE'S 1 0 6, WHICH IS SUPERIORS CORRECTION.
WE ATTEMPTED TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH.
FOP 1 0 6 HAS THIS, THE RIGHT DEMANDED BINDING ARBITRATION.
UH, AND THROUGH THE WORK OF MR. JACKSON, UH, SYLVIA HALL, WHO'S THE HEAD OF OUR LABOR AR ASSET AREA, UH, JOHANNA, OUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL, MR. MOHAN, UH, WE, THE S REPORT TO YOU THAT THE BINDING ARBITRATION WAS ALMOST A HUNDRED PERCENT DISSOLVED IN OUR FAVOR.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
AS YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, YOU, YOU, YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A, THE SAME PATTERN THAT WE NEGOTIATED WITH ALL THE OTHER S AND THEY, THEY, THE ARBITRATOR DENIED A LOT OF THE REQUESTS THAT THEY MADE.
NUMBER 27, UH, 27, 28 AND 29 ARE, UH, ARE REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL LEGAL, UH, FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL LEGAL FEES.
'CAUSE THE CASES ARE, HAVE GONE ON.
WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THEM.
THE REQUESTS OF THE PLAINTIFFS ARE SO ENORMOUS.
WE'RE NOT GONNA RESOLVE THEM, UH, PUBLIC PRIVATE CASES UNLESS THERE ARE REQUESTS FOR SIGNIFICANTLY DOUBT.
AND NUMBER 30, IS THAT PART OF IT AS WELL? IS THAT ONE OF THOSE CASES YOU MENTIONED AS WELL? I SAT, I SAT BACK TOO SOON.
UH, THAT'S 30, UH, 30 IS THE, I APOLOGIZE, IS EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
MR. BAZ, ANY QUESTIONS ON 26 TO 30? UH, NO, NO QUESTIONS.
THE PRESIDENT, AS YOU KNOW, WE DISCUSSED ESPECIALLY NUMBER 26 IN OUR LEADERSHIP MEETING AND A GREAT JOB BY THE ADMINISTRATION ON HAVING THIS MATTER RESOLVED.
OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. MCINERNEY? UH, JUST ON THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, UH, WERE, WERE THOSE RATES PRETTY MUCH, UH, WHAT, WHAT YOU HAD OFFERED, EXCUSE ME, FRANK, WERE THOSE RATES PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU OFFERED? BASICALLY WHAT, WHAT WE OFFERED TO EVERYONE ELSE.
AND, AND THESE FUNDS ARE RESERVES, I'M ASSUMING WE HAVE A RESERVE SET UP YES.
ANY QUESTIONS ON 26 TO 30? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT? JUST A QUICK ONE FOR MR. JACKSON FOR ITEM NUMBER 26.
UM, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR PROCESSING? UM, YOU KNOW, THE RETRO STUFF, UM, UM, I WOULD SAY, UH, WE, WE WOULD SHOOT FOR THE END OF THIS YEAR, BUT MORE THAN LIKELY, JANUARY GOES BACK A NUMBER OF YEARS.
UM, SO FOR THE ACTUAL PAY ASPECT OF IT, IT'LL, I WOULD SAY WITHIN 60 DAYS, NO LESS, NO MORE.
AND, BUT THE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE PENSION ISSUE IS ANOTHER STORY, BUT THE, THE ACTUAL PAY FOR THAT WILL BE PROBABLY AT 60 DAYS WITHIN, NO, NO MORE THAN 60 DAYS.
JOHN SAID THERE'S TWO OTHER UNIONS THAT YOU STILL NEED TO, UM, RESOLVE WITH.
SO EVERYONE ELSE HAS BEEN SETTLED.
[00:30:01]
RUNS THROUGH 2025.SO TECHNICALLY WE'RE, WE ONLY HAVE ONE OUT.
AND YOU'RE AND TALKS WITH THOSE PEOPLE TO HOPEFULLY RESOLVED WITH THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SOMEONE TO MOVE 2026 TO 30.
MOTION MOVED BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER SERMONS? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
MOVE ON TO 31, WHICH IS IN THE OFFICE OF, OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WHICH CAN RUN INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? MR. TRE, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICE.
UH, GENTLEMAN IS GLEN FRIESEN THE 12 MONTH, UH, FROM DATE OF AWARD AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $60,000, UH, COMING AT AN OPERATING.
MOVE BY RICHARDSON OR SECOND? SECOND.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK 31.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO 32, WHICH IS IN THE OFFICE OF PURCHASING.
AND WE'LL BE RIGHT INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. COLTON, THIS IS, UH, MR. PRESIDENT.
THIS IS AN AUTHORIZATION TO USE COMPETITIVE CONTRACTING PROCESS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR INMATES AT THE ESSEX COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
MOTION MOVE BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER SAKI.
BY SIMMONS WE'LL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK NUMBER 32.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
LET'S GO ON TO 33, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR.
BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION, APPROVING PARTICIPATION WITH THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE DIVISION OF VI VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE.
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY, ACCEPTING THE SUB-AWARD FOR A PERIOD.
OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026.
MR. CHAZ, ANY QUESTIONS? NO LEGAL QUESTIONS.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERKS FOR 33.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 34 THROUGH 41, WHICH ARE ALL 2025 COUNTY BUDGET AND INSERTION OF ITEMS OF REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.
THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT LATER TIME.
MR. UH, MR. PRESIDENT, ITEM 34 IN THE AMOUNT OF $222,709 AS A BUDGET INSERTION FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR.
UH, THESE, THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO, UM, ASSEMBLE, UH, AN OPERATE, UH, A RESPONSE TEAM AND EXAMINATION PROGRAM FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS IN ESSEX COUNTY TO PURCHASE NEEDED LIVES AND TO MAINTAIN VICTIM EXAMINATION SERVICES AT HOSPITAL SITES.
UH, WITHIN THE COUNTY, THERE IS A, UH, MATCH OF 55,007 $677 THAT WILL BE MET THROUGH SALARY, WAGES, AND FRINGE ITEM, UH, 35, UH, FOR OFFICE, FOR THE OFFICE, ALSO FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR.
AND THE AMOUNT OF $29,330 AND 59 CENTS.
THIS IS FOR THE DRINKING DRIVING ENFORCEMENT, UH, FUND, UH, TO PROVIDE FOR, UH, UH, ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS FOR ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, BUT ALSO FOR PURCHASING SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT.
UH, ITEM 36, UM, SIMILAR GRANT GOING TO THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF IN THE AMOUNT OF NINE $9,307 AND 3 CENTS.
50% OF THIS WILL BE USED FOR, UH, PATROL AND 50% FOR BUYING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES.
AND THERE'S NO, UH, COUNTY MATCH ITEM 37,
[00:35:01]
UM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,128 AND 30 CENTS.THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL, UH, AMOUNT INTO THE, UH, OUR OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND.
UM, THIS IS GONNA GO TO THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH, UH, AS PART OF THE NATIONWIDE, UH, SETTLEMENT.
AND, UH, FOLLOWING THIS, UH, AMOUNT, OUR, OUR, UH, NEW TOTAL IS 3 MILLION 307 300, UH, $37,831 AND 36 CENTS.
UM, AND, UH, THE, THE COMMITTEE WILL BE, UH, DELIVERING, UH, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRAMS TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE BOARD.
ITEM 38, UH, GOING TO THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION IN THE AMOUNT OF 1,617,005 $5.
THIS IS FOR SUPPORT FOR THE HOMELESS.
UH, CODE BLUE AND INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS RUN BY THE DIVISION.
UH, AND THERE IS NO COUNTY MATCH OF THIS FUNDING IT FOR JANUARY 1ST, 2026 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026.
ITEM 39, ALSO GOING TO THE DIVISION, EXCUSE ME, OF COMMUNITY ACTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $384,321.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT, NON-DISCRETIONARY, UH, FUND AND PROVIDE FOR SERVICES FOR IMPOVERISHED AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS OF BLOOMFIELD, EAST ORANGE, ORANGE, IRVINGTON, MONTCLAIR, AND BELLVILLE.
UM, THEY SHOULD BOARD OF EVERY CALL.
NEWARK HAS ITS, UH, OWN PROGRAM AND THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH, UH, FOR THIS PROGRAM.
UH, ITEM 40, UH, GOING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE AMOUNT OF $719,729.
THIS IS FOR OUR, UM, THE MAT PROGRAM, MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT PROGRAM.
AND THIS IS, THESE DOLLARS ARE USED FOR PROGRAMS TO REDUCE, REDUCE THE RISK OF OVERDOSE, UH, AND TO INCREASE, UH, TREATMENT, UH, RETENTION.
AND THIS PROGRAM WILL BE ABLE TO TREAT UP TO 1500, UH, UH, INMATES.
AND THE, THE PROGRAM FUNDING RUNS FROM JULY 1ST, 2025 TO JUNE 30TH, 2026.
UH, ITEM 41 IS GOING, UH, TO THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK AND THE AMOUNT OF $163,493.
AND THIS IS REIMBURSEMENT FOR PRINTING EXP EXPENSES INCURRED DURING THE 2025 GENERAL ELECTION AND THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH.
UM, AND FINALLY, UH, ITEM 79, UM, IS AN INSERTION OF ITEMS, UH, FROM THE NEW JERSEY, NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GOING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE AMOUNT OF $21,398,692 AND 53 CENTS.
THIS FUNDING, UH, WILL BE USED FOR THE FINAL DESIGN ENGINEERING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE, THE BRIDGE STREET BRIDGE OVER THE PER SE COUNTY, WHICH WE DO IN CONJUNCTION WITH, UH, HUDSON COUNTY.
AND THERE'S NO, UH, COUNTY MATCH.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO LEGAL QUESTIONS, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. MCINERNEY, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS THROUGH YOU? MR. PRESIDENT? COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS.
THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
MY QUESTION'S AROUND ITEM NUMBER 35, BUT I GUESS IT ACTUALLY COULD APPLY TO ANY GRANTS.
UM, AND I'LL FOR, FOR CLARITY FOR THE RECORD, FOR THE PUBLIC, UM, THIS IS ITEM 34, EXCUSE ME, WHICH IS THE INSERTION OF REVENUE FOR VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE.
SO IT'S ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, BUT THEN ANY ITEM THAT'S RELATED TO FEDERAL GRANTS, THAT'S OUR CONTINUATION.
PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHERE IT'S DOING SUCH CRITICAL WORK SERVING, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OR POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE.
AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF AMBIGUITY WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, WITH CONTINUATION OF FUNDS FOR STUFF LIKE THIS.
MY QUESTION IS, I SEE THAT THIS IS A, UH, INSERTION BASED OFF A CONTINUED GRANT, BUT IS THIS GRANT AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER GRANTS THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING UNDER VOCA, ARE THOSE THINGS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR LOOKING PRETTY SECURE? HAS THERE BEEN A ROLLBACK ON SOME OF THOSE GRANT PROVISIONS? JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AS FAR AS THE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS TYPE OF WORK.
UM, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE FOR LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS GRANT TEN ONE TWENTY TWENTY FIVE THROUGH 9 30, 20 26.
UM, I THINK WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
AND IS THIS A, A RECURRING GRANT OR IS THIS YEAH, WE HAVE GOTTEN THIS OVER TIME, BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I, I CAN'T GUARANTEE FOR THE NEXT FISCAL CYCLE.
BUT FOR AT LEAST FOR THIS FUNDING, I, WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
SO I'M GONNA MOVE, UH, 34 QUESTION.
COMMISSIONER ITON, THE QUESTION IS ON SEVEN NINE EXACTLY.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA BE, WHAT WHAT'S GONNA BE DONE WITH THE BRIDGE COMPLETELY REPLACED WILL BE COMING TO THE BOARD, UH, FAIRLY SHORTLY.
I THINK THE, THE TOTAL PRICE OR REPLACING THE WHOLE BRIDGES IS NORTH OF 200 MILLION.
SO WE'LL BE GETTING A GRANT TO, UM, TO TOTALLY REPLACE THE BRIDGE STREET BRIDGE.
SO HAS THERE BEEN AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY DONE ON
[00:40:01]
WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE, UM, FOR THAT PARTICULAR AREA? I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ANTONIO STILL.IT'S PROBABLY GONE, BUT I, I, ALL I CAN SAY, UM, UH, COMMISSIONER IS THAT WHATEVER THE, THE, THE REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR THE GRANT AND FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO THE WORK WILL BE DONE.
AND PART OF THIS STUDY, I THINK THIS, THIS GRANT, THE $2 MILLION GRANT IS JUST FOR A FINAL DESIGN.
SO I'M SURE INCORPORATED IN THAT WILL BE SOME OF THAT WORK.
BUT I, I, I'LL FIND OUT EXACTLY FOR YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER MITCHELL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE 34 TO 41 AND 79? MOVE IT.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER GI? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 42 THROUGH 90 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 79, WHICH WE JUST DID, WHICH ARE IN MEMORIALS COMMENDATIONS PROCLAMATION RESOLUTIONS THAT COULD BE READ TO THE RECORD.
LADIES, HONOR COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS SCENE? NONE.
SO I'M GONNA MOVE IT MOVE BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER SECOND SECONDARY, RICHARDSON RICHARDSON.
UH, 90 WITH THE DECEPTION OF 79, WHICH WE DID.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
MADAM DEPUTY COOK, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER ADDED STARTERS? BELIEVE WE GOT ALONG? NO, WE DO NOT.
ALRIGHT, SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONERS.
DO WE HAVE ANY BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS THROUGH MR. PRESIDENT? IT'S NOT EXACTLY ABOUT THE COMMITTEE REPORTS, I JUST WANNA GO BACK ON THE RECORD AND VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE FOR THE, UH, RESOLUTIONS THAT WERE VOTED ON.
ONE NUMBER WERE, I THINK IT WAS ONE THROUGH ABOUT, WAS IT 70 OR SO? I COULD GO AHEAD AND DOUBLE CHECK.
OR ABOUT ALL THE ONES THAT YOU WERE ABSENT FOR.
ANY OTHER REPORTS OR BOARDS OR COMMITTEES WE'RE GOOD? ANY LEGISLATIVE REPORTS OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS? ANY, NONE.
ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS OR ANY NEW BUSINESS? SEE NONE.
IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND AFFILIATION.
YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK.
WINIFRED VICTOR HINES AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
AND UM, MY REASON FOR BEING HERE IS, UM, TO MY CHAGRIN, ON NOVEMBER 20TH, NO, NOVEMBER 19TH, WE FOUND OUT THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO INSTALL ANOTHER CONS.
UH, ANOTHER BASEBALL FIELD AT QUAE PARK.
WE ALREADY HAVE THREE BASEBALL FIELDS, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FOURTH ONE.
NOW, IN ALL MY YEARS LIVING IN NEWARK AND WORKING AT WEE PARK, TALKING TO RESIDENTS DOING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, I HAVE NOT EVER HEARD ONE PERSON SAY THAT THEY NEEDED ANOTHER BASEBALL FIELD.
OKAY, SO YOU HAVE ICE SKATING RINKS AT, UM, YOU USED TO HAVE THE ONE AT BRANCH BROOK PARK AND ALSO YOU HAVE CENTRAL PARK PROSPECT PARK.
AND RECENTLY IN MONTCLAIR, RIGHT? CLARY ANDERSON ARENA, THEY WON A BATTLE TO REOPEN THEIR SKATING RINK AND THEY HAD COMMUNITY INPUT AND IT WAS A SOURCE AND IT IS A SOURCE OF COMMUNITY PRIDE.
AND SO I SENT AN EMAIL TO DAN AVANTE AND I CC'D YOU GUYS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GOT IT OR NOT, RIGHT? AND SO I HAVE A COPY OF THE EMAIL HERE.
ALRIGHT? AND I ASKED HIM, RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE COUNTY PAUSE CONSTRUCTION AND REOPEN THE DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY REGARDING THE LONG REQUESTED ICE SKATING RINK.
AND THEN I DIDN'T GET ANY RESPONSE FROM DAN OR ANY ONE OF YOU.
AND SO I CALLED DAN AND THEN HE SPOKE TO ME AND HE, YOU KNOW, GAVE ALL SORTS OF EXCUSES ABOUT FUNDING.
WELL IT WOULD COST SO MUCH, BLAH, BLAH, ET CETERA.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE
[00:45:02]
WE WERE NOT PART OF THE DISCUSSION AS USUAL.SO LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, NO COMMUNITY INPUT.
AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, RIGHT? UM, A COUPLE OF DAYS, A FEW DAYS LATER, I GET AN EMAIL FROM MR. JACKSON'S OFFICE, RIGHT? ASKING US, ALL RIGHT? AND UM, BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO MEDIATE THE ONGOING CONFLICT BETWEEN THE WEAK WAKE PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY AND THE WEAK WAKE PARK ASSOCIATION, RIGHT NOW WE CAN ONLY OCCUPY THE OFFICE AND SCHEDULE PROGRAMMING ONLY ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS BETWEEN 9:00 AM AND 5:00 PM SO ALL THE OTHER DAYS, INCLUDING FRIDAY, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE RETALIATION FOR US SPEAKING OUT AND THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN.
OKAY? AND ON TOP OF IT, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU GUYS ARE NOT INVESTIGATING THE HICK PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY.
WHY ARE YOU NOT INVESTIGATING WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS? OKAY.
SOMETIMES IT FEELS IF IT'S A FRATERNITY, YOU GUYS JUST GIVE DAN SALVAN TO A PAT IN THE BACK.
MATTER OF FACT, YOU GIVE JOE DI VINCENZO A PAT IN THE BACK, WHY NOT? ALL RIGHT.
DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE THE POWER TO INVESTIGATE THEM? I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN IS IT THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU GUYS ARE HEARING THIS? 30 SECONDS.
AND SO INSTEAD WE KEEP BEING INVESTIGATED, WE NEED AN ICE SKATING RINK AND OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY, OKAY? THEY ARE INCENSED ABOUT THIS AND YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM SOME OF THEM.
BUT I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU PAUSE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS BASEBALL FIELD THAT NOBODY WANTS AND NO ONE ASKED FOR IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE DO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH UM, THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS RECREATION.
AND WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TOLD INSTEAD DAN TOLD ME IT'S BECAUSE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
NOT EVEN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAME TO US ASKING US ABOUT THIS.
OKAY, SO ILLEGALLY THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ILLEGAL.
LEGALLY IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT OUR CONSENT AS WELL.
WE MIGHT HAVE TO JUMP, WE'LL HAVE MATT ADJUST THAT FOR YOU.
MICHELLE BOYNTON, GOOD EVENING.
UM, I'VE BEEN AT WICK GRADE PARK FOR 60 YEARS AND WEEK GRADE PARK SOUTH WARD, THAT'S WHERE I GREW UP AT.
WE HAVE FOOTBALL, WE HAVE BASKETBALL, WE HAVE BASEBALL, BUT WE HAVE KIDS WHO WANT TO ENJOY LIFE AS WELL.
EVERYTHING IS NOT ABOUT A SPORT, ABOUT PLAYING, ABOUT WINNING.
AND MY THOUGHTS IS WE CAN HAVE AN ICE SKATING RINK IN THE SUMMER.
LET'S HAVE A ROLLER SKATING RINK.
LET'S LET KIDS ENJOY SOMETHING.
A FAMILY COMMUNITY IS WHAT WE NEED.
OUR KIDS ALL, THEY HAVE A CELL PHONE COMPUTER, THAT'S THEIR LIFE.
THE EXERCISE THAT WE USED TO GET ME GROWING UP, WE WAS GREAT.
WE PLAYED BASKETBALL, KICKBALL, HOPS, GOT JUMP ROPE, EVERYTHING.
ALL KIDS KNOW, EVEN ADULTS, I'M CROSSING GUARD.
Y'ALL WALK ACROSS THE STREET WITH CELL PHONE.
KIDS GOT CELL PHONES, WE DON'T NEED A BABYSITTER.
THERE'S SOMETHING OTHER THAN JUST, AND IF WE ALREADY HAVE FOUR, WHAT DO WE NEED ANOTHER ONE FOR? BUT WHERE WAS THE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY? WE, THIS IS WHERE, THIS IS OURS.
AND MY CONCERN TOO, WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION WHO'S FROM ESSEX COUNTY, NEWARK.
I KEEP PAYING ESSEX COUNTY, BLOOMFIELD, THIS ONE, THERE'S NEWARK, THERE'S WOMEN, THERE'S MEN THAT DO CONSTRUCTION.
WHERE ARE THEY? WHEN I COME IN THE PARK AND I SEE, I DON'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE THEY WAS FROM THAT AREA.
SO IT'S NOT REALLY FAIR TO JUST THROW SOMETHING AT SOMEONE WITHOUT ASKING WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO? KIDS THEY COLD, THEY CAN'T GO OUT AND PLAY SOFTBALL NOT TO ENJOY.
BUT MOTHERS, FATHERS, THE GRANDKIDS, BRING YOUR KIDS TO SIT, SKATE, LEARN.
I MEAN I GO TO BRANCHWOOD PARK TO SKATE.
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE IT.
AND WE HAVE THIS YOUNG MAN I WENT TO SECOND GRADE WITH STILL ROLLER SKATES TEACHERS, ROLLER SKATING KIDS CAN DO IT.
IT'S SOMETHING OTHER THAN JUST A CELL PHONE, A COMPUTER, A BASEBALL.
A BASKETBALL SPORTS IS WONDERFUL.
THEY GET IT IN SCHOOL AFTERWARDS.
WHERE'S THE FUN? WHERE'S THE ENJOYMENT IN LIFE? 'CAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WINNING, WINNING WINNING.
AND IT'S NOT JUST KIDS, IT'S ADULTS.
GRANDPARENTS, TAKE YOUR KIDS, SHOW THEM THERE'S SOMETHING.
WE MIGHT GO TO THE OLYMPICS, WHO KNOWS? BUT I'M JUST SAYING IT'S REALLY NOT FAIR.
SO MANY THINGS YOU LOOK HAPPEN.
WHERE DO WE GET AN INPUT TO SAY AND HONESTLY I'M ASKING WHO NEEDS ANOTHER
[00:50:01]
BASEBALL FIELD WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY, HOW MANY PEOPLE IS PLAYING BASEBALL AND HONEST TO GOD, HOW MANY LOOK LIKE ME? SO IT'S JUST NOT FAIR TO THROW SOMETHING WITHOUT SAYING.AND IF YOU GUYS HAVE THE VOICE, YOU HAVE THAT POWER.
HEY LISTEN, WHEN WAS THIS DONE? WHO WAS ASKED? AND WE GRADE PARK THIS HOUR WAS WHITE.
CERTAIN DAYS THAT YOU COULD COME AND DO SOMETHING.
IT'S ALWAYS WE PLANTING TREES.
PEOPLE COME BY YOUR GRANDKIDS 20 YEARS LATER.
THIS IS WE GRADE PARK HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.
IT'S BUILDING, LET IT BUILD BUT LET US GROW WITH IT AND JUST LET US PLEASE HAVE A VOICE AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
I MEAN I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS STILL LIKE TO SKATE.
THEY GOT SKATERS AT 90 YEARS OLD.
ENJOY LIFE, ENJOY WEEK GRADE PARK.
PLEASE JUST OUTTA THE RESPECT, GIVE US SOMETHING OTHER.
WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER BASEBALL FIELD.
AND WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION IS DONE, I WANT EVERYBODY GIVE PEOPLE FROM NEWARK, YOU HAVE WOMEN THAT CAN DO CONSTRUCTION.
IT THE LOOK BECAUSE JUST PLEASE GIVE US WHAT WE ARE ASKING.
OR YOU GUYS FIND OUT WHY, WHAT YOU WANT.
ANOTHER BASEBALL FIELD IN WEAK WAY PARK.
MATT'S GONNA BE THE OFFICIAL MICROPHONE ADOPT PERSON THERE.
I'M AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF A SEMI VILLAGE INCORPORATED.
I HAVE PARTNERSHIP WITH WEAK WAY PARK ASSOCIATION AND I'M IN, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF NEWARK, PARTICULARLY THE SOUTH WARD, TO RESPECTFULLY PETITION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTER OF AN INTERCHANGEABLE MULTI-SEASONAL SKATE AND RINK AT WEEK WAY PARK.
ALONG WITH THE, ALONG WITH ADDITION, ADDITIONAL OTHER THINGS.
UM, MY PARTNERSHIP WITH WEEK WAY WE DO YOGA AND WE FACILITATE FOR MATERNAL HEALTH MOTHERS.
SO WHEAT GRAY PARK IS THE LARGEST, WELL THE SECOND LARGEST PARK IN NEW JERSEY.
UM, AND BRANCH BOOK PARK IS THE OTHER ONE.
COMPARING BOTH OF 'EM, YOU HAVE MORE ACTIVITIES, YOU HAVE MORE UM, THINGS OVER AT BRANCH BOOK PARK, MORE SOMETHING YOU DO AT WEEK GRADE PARK.
WE ARE ASKING TO HAVE AN INTERCHANGEABLE RINK LIKE BROOKLYN OR BURG PARK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO, TO USE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE CHILDREN LIKE THEY STATED BEFORE TO HAVE SOMETHING ACTIVITY IN THE WINTER TIME BUT ALSO HAVE ROLLER SKATING BACK ON, UM, THE SOUTH WARD SIDE, IF YOU ARE FROM NEWARK, WHICH I AM FROM NEWARK, UM, WE USED TO HAVE TWIN CITIES.
YOU USED TO GO OVER THERE AND USED TO ROLLER SKATE.
THE CHILDREN NEED SOMETHING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
IT'S FINE TO HAVE SOMETHING IN NORTH NEWARK, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL.
BUT CAN WE HAVE SOMETHING IN OUR OWN FACILITY, IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE KIDS AND THE FAMILIES CAN ENJOY? YES.
UM, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO HELP US.
UM, WE ARE ASKING FOR THE FAMILIES AND WE ARE ASKING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I KNOW SOME OF Y'ALL FROM NEWARK CITY, Y'ALL KNOW HOW IT WAS.
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL TO GO TO ROLLER SKATING RING AND ENJOY IT WITH THE FAMILY.
SO BRING IT BACK, JUST BRING IT BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOU GUYS HAVE A BLESSED DAY.
I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF NEWARK.
BEEN ROLLER SKATING FOR 60 YEARS ON BUSINESSES ABOUT ROLLER SKATING.
I STILL ROLLER SKATE AND I WANNA ADDRESS TWO ISSUES.
THE FIRST ONE IS THAT WE HAVE A SKATING RINK RIGHT HERE IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, RIGHT IN EXA COUNTY PARKS THAT PRICE PRICES ARE GOING ASTRONOMICAL.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A SINGLE MOM WITH THREE KIDS COULD HAVE TO GO SKATING AND PAY $80.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS COMING UP, I WAS AN ALBERT TO GO TO COLLEGE.
I STUDIED AT NIGHT, BECAME A CHEMIST, GRADUATED MAGNUM CU LAUDE.
BUT I HAD A VEHICLE THAT KEPT ME OFF THE STREET.
MY MOTHER HAD SEVEN, EIGHT KIDS, YOU KNOW, AND NONE OF US EVER GOT INCARCERATED 'CAUSE WE HAD A VEHICLE.
SO WE WANT THESE KIDS TO GET OUT HERE AND DO GREAT THINGS, BUT WE DON'T GIVE THEM A VEHICLE TO DO THAT.
SKATING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A NATIONAL THING.
IT'S SO BIG NOW THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SKATING WITH USHER AND ALL THESE PEOPLE OUT HERE ARE COMING FROM NEWARK 'CAUSE THEY HAVE GENERATIONAL LEGACY TO LEARN FROM.
I RUN AN ORGANIZATION CALLED HEAVEN ON WHEELS.
WE DO CANCER EVENTS BACK TO SCHOOL.
ALL THESE THINGS WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS ON OUR OWN DIME.
AND WE DON'T EVEN CAN GET PARTICIPATION BY BRANCH BROOK.
[00:55:01]
BUT WE HAVE A VOICE AND I'M WATCHING THESE PRICES GO UP AND NO ONE'S DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.YOU KNOW, WHEN I SPEAK TO THE MAYOR, WE LIVE ON THE SAME BLOCK.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY HAS A DEATH EAR TO IT BECAUSE IF IT'S NOT A POLITICAL ELECTION GOING ON AND I VOTE EVERY YEAR, YOU DON'T HAVE A VOICE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING THAT THEY CAN'T GET A BENEFIT FROM IT.
AND I'M NOT CRITICIZING THE ONE PERSON, BUT THAT'S A, A THING THAT YOU NEED TO ADDRESS BECAUSE THIS IS EXA COUNTY AND I DON'T KNOW WHO'S RUNNING THAT PLACE, BUT THEY, IT IS BEING LEASED BY USA AND THEY TREAT US COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN THEY DO IN NEW YORK.
YOU KNOW, SO WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE KIDS SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO AS LEADERS SO THEY CAN TAKE OVER IT.
BUT WE, WE, OUR HANDS ARE TIED.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT I'VE SKATED NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AND I REALIZE THAT MOST COMMUNITIES HAVE SOME TYPE OF ROLLER SKATING PAVILION IN THEIR PARK WHERE THEY CAN SKATE 24.
WELL, YOU DON'T WANNA SKATE 24 7, BUT YOU WANNA SKATE YEAR ROUND AND YOU WANNA HAVE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO FREELY.
AND IT'S A VIBRANT THING BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT.
YOU KNOW, INNER CITY KIDS HAVE DEVELOPED A STYLE THAT HAS TAKEN THIS NATION BY THE STORM.
THEY'RE COMING FROM ALL THE WAY FROM EUROPE JUST TO COME INTO NEWARK TO SKATING.
BUT THAT'S GOING TO DIE IF THESE YOUNGER KIDS DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO PRACTICE AND SKATE A SKATE PAVILION, A PARK WILL PROVIDE THAT.
I'M FROM QUA AND THE LAST, I'VE BEEN IN MY OWN HOUSE SINCE THE SEVENTIES.
SO, AND THAT'S, THAT PARK HAS ALWAYS BEEN DOWN THE STREET, YOU KNOW, BUT THE REDUNDANCY OF THEM BUILDING ONE BASEBALL FIELD AFTER ANOTHER BASEBALL FIELD AND I'M RIDING PAST THERE AND I'M SEEING JUST ONE DEMOGRAPHIC USING IT.
YOU KNOW, SO I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THE POINT, THOSE TWO THINGS OUT.
WE DO NEED THAT PAVILION AND WE DO NEED A VOICE FOR THIS SKATING RING TO BE IN SOME SOMEBODY'S JURISDICTION.
'CAUSE THEY, THEY'RE RUNNING AMUCK WITH, WITH THE PRICES.
I'M A LIFELONG NEWARK RESIDENT.
SO, AND ALSO I STILL LIVE ON WEEK WAY AVENUE.
ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS WAS WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOUSE, I WANTED TO BE ON IN WEEK SECTION BY THE PARK SO I COULD SEE THE PARK.
AND I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT I ENDED UP ON WEEK AVENUE.
UM, BEING HERE RIGHT NOW, I'M, I'M A SKATER.
I'M A NEW SKATER, NOT AS LONG AS KIRBY, BUT DURING THE PANDEMIC I FOUND ROLLER SKATING.
AND ROLLER SKATING REALLY DOES BRING COMMUNITY.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE WHO DO IT.
AND IT GIVES YOU SO MUCH GROWTH AND SO MUCH ABILITY TO LEARN WHAT YOU CAN DO WITHIN YOURSELF.
IT HELPS GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE, IT GIVES YOU SKILLS THAT YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU CAN HAVE.
AND THEN YOU TAKE THOSE SKILLS AND YOU TAKE 'EM OUT INTO THE WORLD.
I JUST THINK, I IMAGINE IF I HAD CUT, I'M ALMOST 50 YEARS OLD AND I'M DOING THINGS ON ROLLER SKATES THAT IF YOU SAW ME DO THEM, YOU WOULD BE LIKE, OH MY GOD, IS SHE REALLY ALMOST 50 YEARS OLD? BUT IMAGINE LEARNING THAT WHEN YOU WERE KIRBY'S AGE AT 10 AND GROWING UP WITH THAT AT SIX AND THEN GROWING UP WITH THAT YOUR WHOLE LIFE, YOU'D BE UNSTOPPABLE IN THE WORLD.
THERE'D BE NOTHING THAT PEOPLE COULD TAKE FROM YOU.
THERE'D BE NOTHING PEOPLE COULD TELL YOU YOU COULDN'T DO.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN GO ON ROLLER SKATES, ON WHEELS AND SWING FROM ONE END OF THE ROOM TO ANOTHER ON ONE FOOT.
IT'S AMAZING TO WATCH THESE KIDS AND ADULTS AND ME EVEN AS A NEW SKATER.
IT'S AMAZING TO WATCH IN THE COMMUNITY.
ONE OF OUR VERY OWN NEWARK RESIDENTS WAS ON STAGE WITH USHER AT THE SUPER BOWL, ONE OF OUR VERY OWN ROLLER SKATER AND IS THAT KIND OF THING THAT WE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO WEAK WAY PARK, RIGHT? IT'S GREAT TO HAVE BRANCH BROOK AND JUST, AND IF WE GET A PAVILION, WE WON'T STOP GOING TO BRANCH BROOK, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR SKATE NIGHTS AND THAT'S A LOT OF, LOT OF FUN.
BUT TO HAVE A PLACE THAT'S MAYBE LOWER COST OR FREE EVEN, WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND THEY CAN PRACTICE AND THEY CAN COME OUT AND THEY CAN JUST BE TOGETHER IN A FAMILY OF FOUR.
LIKE KIRBY SAID, HE WAS A FAMILY OF LIKE 10 PEOPLE.
IT'S, IT'S LIKE $20, $21 IF YOU DON'T HAVE SKATES TO GET IN BRANCH BROOK PLUS TAX.
HOW, HOW, HOW IS A SINGLE MOTHER? YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
AND THEY HAVE A PAVILION IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA THAT I KNOW ABOUT.
THEY HAVE ONE IN DC THAT I KNOW ABOUT.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IF WE ARE GONNA BE ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF CITIES AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE A PREMIER CITY, WE SHOULD PROVIDE THESE THINGS TO PEOPLE.
[01:00:01]
INTERNET, ROLLERSKATING IS EVERYWHERE.AND MAYBE NOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, MAYBE IT'LL POP UP IN YOUR FEED 'CAUSE OUR PHONES ARE DEFINITELY LISTENING, RIGHT? BUT UM, MAYBE IT'LL POP UP IN YOUR FEED AND YOU'LL SEE IT FOR YOURSELF.
ROLLERSKATING THAT DIDN'T START AND STOP WITH USHER.
THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN ROLLERSKATING FOREVER.
I WILL BE ROLLER SKATING FOREVER.
AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY COULD HAVE FOR FAMILIES.
AND WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER WHAT IS A BASEBALL FIELD? WE DON'T.
SO JUST AS A, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR THE ROLLER SKATING PAVILION.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME OR SOMEONE ELSE? GOOD EVENING.
I I WAS HERE LAST MONTH AND I ASKED FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND HAVING BURY PARK SENIOR, UH, CAFE INSPECTED.
I CONTACTED THE, WITH DAN AND THEM.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING BACK.
I ALSO MENTIONED ABOUT THE, UM, REPAIR PUT THE STOVE AND THE MICROWAVE DON'T WORK.
I ACTUALLY BOUGHT A MICROWAVE FROM HOME THERE JUST TO HEAT UP SANDWICHES.
BUT IN ORDER FOR ME TO RECEIVE THE KITCHEN, HAVE TO BE INSPECTED.
THE KITCHEN HAVE TO BE INSPECTED.
AS OF NOW, IT HADN'T BEEN INSPECTED SINCE 2019.
I KNOW WE GETTING THE NEW BUILDING, I DON'T KNOW WHEN.
NO ONE GAVE ME ANY TYPE OF THEY USE TO EMAIL ME, GIMME SOME TYPE OF INFORMATION.
SO NOW I'VE GOT TO KEEP CALLING THE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY, FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I GET NO INFORMATION AGAIN IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING MINOR THAT PUBLIC SERVICE CAN PUT IN JUST, JUST UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THE BUILDING.
NOW I EVEN SPOKE ABOUT, UH, SOUTH ON AVENUE, WHICH IS A COUNTY ROAD.
IF YOU COME DOWN THERE IN THE MORNING OR IF YOU WATCH SOME OF MY VIDEOS, MY LIFE, IT WAS SO MANY FROM VANS TO TRUCK PARKED ON THE SIDEWALK OF THE PARK TO CROSS THEY KIDS TO GO INTO SPEEDWAY, WHICH IS THE ENTRANCE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL.
I STOPPED JUST TO GIVE THEM THE OP EVEN THOUGH I WAS BEING CALLED WHATEVER.
AND TOOTING HORNS, YOU HAVE FAMILIES CROSSING THE STREET.
THAT'S WHY WHEN RON WRIGHT SENIOR WAS ALIVE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HE HAD SPOKE TO ME ABOUT, IS GETTING A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE BECAUSE HE KNEW THE DANGER OF THAT AREA.
AND FOR SOME REASON IT JUST WENT DEAD.
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE A TRAGEDY HAPPENED TO SOME OF A FAMILY OR A CHILD OR WHATEVER IN THAT AREA.
SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE, 7 37 TO EIGHT.
ONCE I DROP MY GREAT GRANDSON OFF SCHOOL, HE HAS TO BE THERE SEVEN 30.
THAT'S WHERE I GO, RIGHT TO STRAIGHT DOWN TO BELLWAY PARK, STRAIGHT DOWN SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE.
AND THE TRAFFIC, UNBELIEVABLE.
ALL THE CARS WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE PARK UP ON THE CURVE.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL BUS COMING TO DROP KIDS OFF.
THE DESIGN OF THE SCHOOL WAS, SO, TO ME IT WAS BACKWARD BECAUSE AGAIN, THE COMMUNITY WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT ANYTHING.
IF YOU TALK TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU CAN GET A LOT OF, YOU GET BETTER IDEAS THAN THE ENGINEERS HAVE THAT WENT TO SCHOOL FOR IT, YOU KNOW? BUT YOU DON'T, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
SO RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS SPEEDWAY SCHOOL GOING INTO THE, THE TRAFFIC, THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE.
UH, ONE PERSON SAY, OH, IT GONNA LOOK UGLY.
I DON'T CARE WHAT IT LOOK LIKE.
OKAY? IT'S THE LIES ABOUT CHILDREN.
YOU KNOW, I'M STILL FIGHTING WITH ORIGIN PARKWAY.
YOU CAN'T TRACK, WELL, THE TRACTOR TRAIL IS THE, WE GOT SORT OF, KIND OF GOT RID OF THEM, BUT THE SENIORS WON'T EVEN COME OUT BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IS SO, IT'S JUST HORRIBLE, YOU KNOW? AND I ASKED AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO HELP ME, BUT THE, IT IS SO MUCH LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO ENTITIES IS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
BUT SOMEBODY HAVE TO TAKE A STAND.
SOMEBODY HAVE TO TAKE A STAND.
I DON'T KNOW WHO COVERS BURY PARK, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO COMMUNICATE, TALK TO ME, LET ME KNOW SOMETHING.
'CAUSE I'M GOING, I'M STILL TAKING BABY STEPS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT'S HAPPENING.
SO LIKE, WHAT, WHAT DO I DO? WHERE DO I GO? WHO DO I TALK TO NEXT? WHO? SOMEBODY TELL ME 30 SECONDS, YOU KNOW? BUT RIGHT NOW, UM, LIKE
[01:05:01]
I SAID, THOSE ARE MY ISSUES FOR NOW.LIKE I SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE GOING TO GET THE BUILDING.
IF I KNEW WHEN, WHATEVER'S WRONG IN THE KITCHEN.
I HAVE A ORGANIZATION THAT'S WILLING TO BRING ME MEALS.
PEOPLE COME THERE LOOKING FOR STUFF.
I DONE BEEN INTO MY POCKET PERSONALLY AND JUST BOUGHT HOT CHOCOLATE OR WHATEVER TEA THEY GIVE 'EM, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SOMEONE MAKING SOUP TO GIVE THEM, YOU KNOW, BUT I, I'M NOT A RICH PERSON.
OKAY? I'M ON THE FIXED INCOME.
I'M A RETIREE, SO PLEASE, I'M JUST ASKING FOR YOUR, THE COUNTY SUPPORT.
YOU KNOW, BURY PARK, BEEN FORGOTTEN FOR A LONG TIME.
LET'S, IT IS, LET'S BRING IT BACK.
CAN'T THINK OF, DID I SPEAK, WE ONLY GET ONE OPPORTUNITY, A PIECE.
IT'S ONE OPPORTUNITY PER PERSON.
I HAVE TO, THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
SO IS ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK? 'CAUSE HERE'S WHAT I RECOMMEND.
SO WITH THE WEAK WAKE PARK FOLKS, WHOEVER'S IN, UH, MATTER, THE FIRST PERSON, UH, YOU SPOKE FIRST.
SO SINCE YOU'RE THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND, ADAM, IF WE CAN GET A CONTACT INFORMATION AND WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS TO REQUEST A MEETING TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF A SKATING PAVILION.
I DON'T THINK IT NECESSARILY HAS TO COME AT THE EXPENSE OF STOPPING THE BALL FIELD.
IT COULD BE SOMETHING SEPARATE.
THAT MIGHT BE MY, YOU KNOW, A BETTER, BUT EVEN STOPPING THE BALL FIELD, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S TOO MUCH.
I REALLY IS, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU REQUEST A MEETING.
'CAUSE I I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO SOLVE IT FOR YOU HERE.
THAT, THAT'S WHAT I'M SUGGESTING THAT YOU DO.
I THINK YOU MAY HAVE BETTER LUCK TO REQUEST A MEETING TO SEE IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY TO DO.
THAT'S WHAT I, HOLD ON A SECOND.
SO BETWEEN US AND WHO ELSE? WELL, I WOULD TO REQUEST A MEETING, STEVE, YOU CAN SPEAK TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SO WE CAN FORWARD THAT REQUEST.
IF YOU SPEAK TO ADAM, AND HE'LL GET THE CONTACT INFORMATION SO THAT THROUGH ONE PERSON AS OPPOSED TO EIGHT OR HOWEVER MANY PEOPLE YOU, WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU BACK AS A GROUP.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, ARE THEY MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BASEBALL FIELD? I HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING OF IT BEING PAUSED AT THIS TIME.
I, I DON'T, DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION.
SO IS THERE ANY WAY YOU GUYS CAN PAUSE IT UNTIL AFTER AT THIS POINT? BECAUSE POINT, I MEAN WE, MADAM THIS IS, LET ME EXPLAIN.
NOW I'M TRYING TO MAKE A SUGGESTION SO THAT, 'CAUSE YOU MADE STATEMENTS, BUT STATEMENTS ARE GONNA JUST STAY HERE.
SO PERHAPS WHAT IF YOU'RE ASKING PERHAPS FOR A REQUEST FOR A MEETING, WHICH IS WHAT I'M SUGGESTING THEN THAT WE CAN FORWARD TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND THAT WOULD BE A BETTER PATH MOVING.
SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? DEFINITELY WANT A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH HIM.
SO THEN THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO.
I WOULD SPEAK TO ADAM SO HE CAN DO THAT.
BY, BUT HOLD ON SECOND FOLKS, THIS ISN'T A BACK AND FORTH RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE TRYING TO ASSIST YOU BY MAKING A STATEMENTS INTO AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THAT WITH THE COUNTY.
THAT, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.
WITH RESPECT TO BURG AND ALSO, UM, ALL THE MATTER, IT CAN'T BE A BACK AND FORTH.
THEY, OKAY, MR. JACKSON, GUYS, PLEASE.
I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU OUT, GIVE YOU SOME GUIDANCE AS OPPOSED TO JUST STATEMENT, SO YOU CAN MOVE SOME PROGRESS.
WHAT IS IT, MR. JACKSON? IS THERE, I I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT ANY FACILITY HAS BEEN UNINSPECTED SINCE 2019.
THAT SEEMS LIKE A ENORMOUSLY LONG TIME, BUT CAN YOU PLEASE NOT REALLY, UH, WITH RESPECT TO THE PARK HOUSE OF BURG, LOOK INTO THAT OR DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION? A ABSOLUTELY, AND I I, WE ACTUALLY HAD A CONVERSATION, OR MATT ACTUALLY HAD SOME, UH, COMMUNICATION TODAY WITH PARKS ABOUT THE, UH, AND, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT BRINGING SOME EQUIPMENT IN BECAUSE WE'RE, AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE MOVING BACK INTO ONE 15.
SO SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE, WE HAD AT ANOTHER LOCATION MAY BE AVAILABLE TO THERE.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT IT.
AND I, I JUST WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD HOW MUCH I, I REALLY NOT, I DON'T WANNA SOUND PATRONIZING, BUT I REALLY ADMIRE MS. UH, MCKELLAN'S, UH, UH, RELENTLESS, UH, UH, ADVOCACY FOR, FOR FOR BURG PARK.
I APPRECIATE AND, AND IT'S, THAT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED, BUT IT'S, UM, BUT I, WE, WE ACTUALLY, SO HOPEFULLY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS THERE BASED ON THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE YEAH.
FROM ANOTHER LOCATION THAT'S BEING SHUT DOWN.
SO, UH, WE'LL MAYBE AT THE NEXT MEETING A WEEK FROM NOW, WE CAN HAVE SOME KIND OF CLARIFICATION FOR THAT.
I'LL PUT, I'LL PUT MRS. GATES ON THE HOOK FOR THAT.
PUT MR. S ON THE HOOK OR HE GONNA BE LAST AT THE MEETING.
THERE'S NO OTHER COM UH, SO LET THE RECORD REFLECT OF THE MORE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.
SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO COMMENT SESSION FOR COMMISSIONERS.
COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA, UH, THANK ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO COME OUT EVERY MONTH FOR TO SPEAK.
BUT I WANNA GIVE, AGAIN, I GREW UP IN BETWEEN SOUTH AND WEST WARD, SO BOTH SBO AND WEAK WIG PARK ARE PARKS WHERE I SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT, UH, LEARNED HOW TO SKATE IN BROOK PARK.
I LEARNED HOW TO HIT THE T-BALL AT BURG PARK.
[01:10:01]
AND THEN AT WEEK WICK PARK, THAT'S WHERE WE, I WENT TO TEAM.SO WE WOULD RUN AROUND THERE ALL THE TIME TO WHEN I WAS AUDITIONING FOR THE CROSS COUNTRY TEAM AND DID NOT MAKE IT, UH, BUT LEARN HOW TO PLAY TENNIS THERE.
UM, SO EVERY PARK THAT HAS COME UP TONIGHT IN PARTICULAR HAS SHAPED WHO I AM TODAY.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR THEIR ADVOCACY.
AND I WANNA LIFT UP, UH, PARTICULARLY THIS IDEA AROUND AN OUTDOOR SKATE PAVILION.
UM, THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT MODELS THAT EXIST.
UM, I'VE BEEN TO THE ONE IN HARLEM BEFORE.
THERE'S ONE LITERALLY RIGHT IN EAST ORANGE, WHICH IS LIKE A DIFFERENT VERSION THAT'S MORE LIKE BOTH ROLLER SKATING AND SKATEBOARDING.
UH, BUT I KNOW FOR SURE THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR US AS A COMMUNITY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR ADMINISTRATION TO EXPLORE.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M DEFINITELY TAKING SERIOUSLY AND YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM ME SO WE CAN WORK ON SOME JOINT COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE WHAT'S POSSIBLE AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN FOR OUR KIDS.
BECAUSE AS YOU SHARE, YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING ABOUT, I REMEMBER GROWING UP SEEING YOU IN THE BRANCHFORD PARK, SO NOW I'M GONNA SEE YOU OVER HERE.
I'M LIKE, OH MY GOD, WE ARE HERE WITH THE LEGENDS.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THIS CAN REALLY SAVE LIVES AND COMMUNITIES AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, OUR PARK WEAK WIG PARK DESERVES.
AND SO JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A PERSONAL, A PRIORITY FOR ME.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW OUR ADMINISTRATION TAKES THIS WORK SERIOUSLY AS WELL.
SO, SO MORE SOON THERE, UH, TO COME.
I ALSO, JUST SPEAKING OF THE ADMINISTRATION, WANT TO JUST NAME THIS HOLIDAY SEASON IS A BEAUTIFUL TIME, BUT ALSO A DIFFICULT TIME FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE JUST FIGURED OUT AND ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, CLOTHES ON THE BACK FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
AND IN THE WAKE OF EVERYTHING THAT OUR COUNTRY AND OUR, PARTICULARLY OUR OUR COUNTY HAS GONE THROUGH WITH THE SNAP AND WIC DELAYS, I JUST WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU, UM, TO OUR COUNTY LEADERSHIP.
TO OUR COUNTY STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO SERVE THE LARGEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BENEFICIARIES OF THESE PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
THEY ALL COME FROM ESS COUNTY.
UM, AND SO TO OUR ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO ARE ALSO OUR ESSEX COUNTY STAFF WHO ARE THERE EVERY DAY, MAKING SURE THAT PARENTS AND MOTHERS HAVE MILK AND, AND RESOURCES AND NUTRIENTS FOR THEIR BABIES, UM, THAT THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO FEED AND CLOTHE THEIR CHILDREN.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR WORKING UNDER UNSPEAKABLE OF GLOBAL AND FEDERAL CONDITIONS, UH, TO MAKE SURE OUR PEOPLE, UM, HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.
SO I JUST WANNA JUST SAY THAT THOSE GRATITUDES, PARTICULARLY DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, GOD BLESS YOU, YOU ARE OUR FUTURE AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.
WE CAN'T DO BACK AND FORTH PLEASE.
WE WANNA RESPECT THE, THE, THE RULES OF THE GAME, IF YOU WILL.
THAT WAY WE BOTH HAVE DIALOGUE, CIVIL DISCOURSE.
OKAY, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, EARLIER THIS EVENING, YOU AND COMMISSIONER GILL HONORED A COUPLE OF FOLKS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE US A QUICK RECAP ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED? YES, WE, UH, THANK YOU, UM, TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
SO WE HONORED A, UM, A SPECIAL EDUCATOR FROM MONTCLAIR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I WOULD DEFER TO COMMISSIONER GILL, BUT HE HAS GONE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A ACHIEVEMENT AND ALSO HAD IN TWO ITALIAN AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, EVEN THOUGH ITALIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE HAS PASSED, UH, WE HONORED, UH, TWO DIFFERENT CHAPTERS AND GAVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE CHARITABLE WORK THEY DO HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
SO AS WE DO, UH, ALWAYS APPRECIATE OUR REGULAR BUSINESS AS COMMISSIONERS HANDLING COUNTY BUSINESS, WE ALSO LIKE TO COMMEND THOSE THAT ACHIEVE AND UH, GO OUT OF THEIR WAY FOR CHARITABLE WORKS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
ALRIGHT, UH, ANYTHING ELSE? COMMERS? YES, COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT.
WAS THERE LIKE A, UH, I KNOW WE HAVE A PARKS OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN.
DID THE WEEK WAKE PARK PLAN CALL FOR AN ADDITIONAL BASEBALL FIELD? CAN YOU REVIEW THAT AND THEN GET BACK TO US AND UH, AND, AND EVEN IF IT DID, DID WE DO A CURRENT DAY ASSESSMENT TO SEE IF THAT DEMAND, UM, WAS STILL SOMETHING THAT WE NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD FOR? MY NEXT QUESTION IS, WHERE EXACTLY IS THIS NEW BASEBALL FIELD GOING? BECAUSE QUA PARK IS HEAVILY USED AND IF IT'S GOING WHERE, I THINK I HEARD THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT IT'S GOING OFF THE MER AVENUE ENTRANCE.
MADAM, PLEASE, FROM THE AUDIENCE, 'CAUSE THEY GOTTA, AT THE MER AVENUE ENTRANCE, THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT OFTEN TAKE PLACE IN THAT PARK BECAUSE AFTER WE'VE DONE ALL THE WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'VE DONE THERE, AND SOMEONE SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE COUNTY EXEC ONLY INVESTED IN PARKS.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES INVESTMENT IN PARKS IS AN INVESTMENT IN FAMILIES, IN COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OUR PARKS BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR US TO ENJOY AND TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.
SO THAT'S AN INVESTMENT IN US.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO LET ME CORRECT THAT FOR THE RECORD.
[01:15:01]
PUTTING ANOTHER BASEBALL FIELD RIGHT THERE, WE ARE DESTROYING THE VERY THING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN.AND IF WE ALREADY HAVE THREE, AND AGAIN, I'VE NEVER DONE AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT'S IN THE PARK, YOU GUYS REPRESENT THAT AREA THAT
MY QUESTION WOULD BE, IF WE ALREADY HAVE EXISTING FIELDS, WHY DO WE NEED ANOTHER ONE? AND AGAIN, I'M GOING OFF BASE OF WHAT I'VE HEARD TODAY.
UM, COULD THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CO-LOCATE SOME THINGS TOGETHER IF THE DEMAND IS THAT GREAT? I KNOW WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COMING TO THE RAIL TALKING ABOUT THE NEED TO HAVE MORE TRACK AND FIELD THINGS TAKE PLACE IN THAT PART.
AND I KNOW THE ADMINISTRATION HAD RESPONDED THAT THEY WERE LOOKING TO DO THAT.
WHERE ARE WE WITH THE STATUS QUO WORKING WITH THAT COMPONENT, THAT BIG DEMAND? I WANNA THANK THE RESIDENTS FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP COMING OUT AND TO BRING MORE WITH YOU.
THERE'S STRENGTH AND NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, THAT FINGER THING DOES THIS, BUT THAT FIST HIT A WHOLE LOT HARDER.
PAT THE COUNCIL, THE CHAMBERS, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU REALLY WANNA SEE, COME OUT AND SPEAK UP.
AND MS. PAM, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR BEING A ONE WOMAN SHOW.
YOU HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB WITH
UM, WAS DISMAYED A HEARING THAT IT HASN'T BEEN EXPECTED FROM SINCE 2019? I HOPE THAT ISN'T TRUE, BUT SHE BRINGS UP ANOTHER GOOD POINT.
WE HAD TALKED ABOUT LOOKING AT WAYS TO SLOW DOWN THAT TRAFFIC, THAT ESPECIALLY SINCE WE PUT IN MORE MONEY INTO BAIL AND WE'RE BRINGING THE COUNTY OVER THERE NOW, WE REALLY DO NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SLOW THE TRAFFIC DOWN.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT THE CITY OF NEWARK NEED TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE WITH SLOWING THE TRAFFIC DOWN THERE.
SINCE THAT, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH IT'S A COUNTY ROAD, WE STILL REPRESENT THE CITY OF NEWARK.
SO MAYBE WE NEED TO COLLECTIVELY BRING THE CITY OF NORTH OFFICIALS TOGETHER TO SLOW DOWN THE TRAFFIC ON SOUTH ORANGE AND THE PARK THAT WRECKS AROUND THE PARK BECAUSE IT REALLY IS LIKE A SPEEDWAY WITH THE WAY THE SPEED, THE RATE OF SPEED THAT PEOPLE, UM, THE WAY THAT THEY DRIVE THROUGH THIS.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE ABOUT THE BASEBALL FIELD.
I DO HOPE THAT IF WE ARE DOING SOMETHING, MAYBE WE COULD HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON TO EVALUATE IF THIS IS THE RIGHT, UM, PACK THAT WE'RE GOING DOWN.
BECAUSE THE WORST THING, IF WE ALREADY HAVE FOUR, WE'RE BUILDING A NEW ONE.
ARE WE GOING TO USE IT? DO WE NEED IT? MY OTHER COMMENT IS, DO WE HAVE HOURS FOR THE USE OF THE PARK? I'VE GOTTEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ORANGE PARK, WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL PARK WHERE PEOPLE ARE THERE PLAYING SOCCER FOR A REALLY, REALLY LONG TIME AND LEAVING A LOT OF TRASH AROUND.
SO, UM, I WAS IN THE PARK RECENTLY.
WE USED TO HAVE RULES AND HOURS POSTED UP.
I DIDN'T SEE THOSE DOWN AT THE SOCCER SIDE.
SO PERHAPS MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT ERECTING THOSE SO THAT THE PEOPLE THAT'S UTILIZING THAT SPACE COULD SEE WHAT THE HOURS ARE SO THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, COULD EXIT THE PARK AT A REASONABLE TIME.
UH, SO I THINK PART OF THE ISSUE IS, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I BROUGHT UP IN THESE CHAMBERS MORE THAN ONCE, IS THE FACT THAT THE FIELDS OR, UH, FOLKS FROM NEW YORK AND EVERYWHERE ELSE COME AND UM, PLAY BALL IN IN OUR PARKS.
AND I DON'T THINK WE WOULD NEED ANOTHER BALL FIELD IF YOU COULD LIMIT FOLKS FROM OUTTA STATE AND OUT OF THE COUNTY, UM, HOGGING UP ALL THE TIME.
'CAUSE THEY'LL COME IN AS SOON AS YOU, YOU CAN APPLY FOR PERMITS, THEY'LL COME IN WITH A WHOLE SEASON AND TAKE EVERY DAY.
AND SO FOLKS WHO ARE LOCAL GET EDGED OUT BECAUSE THESE FOLKS ARE VETERANS AND THEY KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.
AS SOON AS THE DAY THAT IS OPEN, THEY COME UP WITH A WHOLE SEASON FULL AND, AND THEY'LL, THEY'LL PAY, UH, WHATEVER THE COST IS.
SO IF ESSEX COUNTY AND NEWARK RESIDENTS HAD THE FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL, AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN HERE, BUT I KEEP HEARING THERE'S NO WAY TO DO IT.
SO AS LONG AS YOU GOT FOLKS, BASEBALL PLAYERS COMING FROM NEW YORK AND THEY'RE HOGGING UP ALL THE TIME, LOCAL RESIDENTS CAN BARELY GET ON THOSE FIELDS BECAUSE OF OUT OF TOWNERS.
THERE'S A WAY TO DO THAT THEN I DON'T THINK WE WOULD NEED ANOTHER BASEBALL FIELD.
IT'S THE LOCAL FOLKS WHO AREN'T GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY MM-HMM
[01:20:01]
NEW YORK AND OTHER PLACES ARE COMING AND TAKING UP ALL OF THE TIME, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.SO THAT'S THE ONLY REASON I SEE THAT THERE'S ANOTHER BALL FIELD NEEDED.
IS THAT BALL FIELD GOING TO BE EXCLUSIVE TO NORRIS? 'CAUSE IF NOT THE SAME THING IS JUST GONNA HAPPEN, THE SAME EXACT THING IS GONNA HAPPEN.
SO I MEAN, WE NEED TO DO THAT.
AND SO IF THERE'S A WAY TO DO THAT, THEN WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER LAWSUIT FIELD.
IF WE GIVE NEWARK AND ESSEX COUNTY FOLKS AND WE SAY ESSEX COUNTY BECAUSE JUST THE COUNTY NEWARK IS A PART OF THE COUNTY, BUT THERE'S OTHER 21 OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
YOU HAVE THESE OUT OF TOWNERS OUTTA STATERS.
THEY COME FAR AS CONNECTICUT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL PARKS, GREAT BALL FIELDS, AND THEY'LL COME IN WITH THEIR WHOLE SCHEDULE FROM DAY ONE.
AND ONCE THEY PAY FOR THOSE PERMITS TO BE THERE FOR, THEN YOU HAVE NO CHANCE.
SO IF YOU COME DAY TWO, YOU ARE ALREADY TOO LATE.
THE NEXT THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE WALK AROUND THE LAKE.
SO WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME? UM, COMMISSIONER, THE, UH, THE, THE CONTRACTOR CAME WITH OUR GUYS AND LOOKED AT IT, UM, AND HAVE A PLAN TO REMEDIATE SOME OF THE, THE ISSUES THAT YOU SAW ON OTHERS.
UH, BUT IT JUST GOT COLD, TOO COLD TOO QUICK.
SO AS SOON AS IT WARMS UP, THEY'LL, THEY'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF IT.
BUT THEY'VE GOT A PLAN ALREADY DONE.
AND, AND WE TRIED TO REMEMBER SESSION.
YEAH, BUT, BUT THAT, THAT DOESN'T, BUT THEY, THEY WALKED IT AND KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND AS SOON AS IT GETS WARMING UP, THEY'LL FIX IT.
SO WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM? UM, I I THINK PART OF IT WAS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW WITH WHEN IT WAS APPLIED.
I THINK SOME OF THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COLDER AND, AND WHEN IT WAS REAPPLIED OR RE I THINK IT WAS, THEY ACTUALLY CAME BACK AND DID SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
BUT I THINK IT JUST WASN'T THE, THE TIMING WAS NOT GOOD WHEN HE DID IT.
TIMING WAS NOT GOOD AND IT WAS TOO THIN.
I, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE TOO THIN PART.
YEAH, I, I I I COMPARED IT TO BRANCH BOOK AND IT WAS A LOT LESS MATERIAL USED IN WEEK WAKE PARK TO ME.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING WITH THE MEASURE, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE A LOT LESS MATERIAL WAS USED IN WEEK WAKE PARK THAN IN SWICK PARK TO ME.
I CAN WE, THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT WE COULD, I CAN HAVE ASKED AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHY IT CRACKED SO FAST.
I THINK MORE I'LL LOOK INTO THAT ONE.
ALRIGHT, WE GOT, WE GOT, WE ARE GETTING ONE SHOT HERE.
UM, UH, ONE ADDITIONAL ITEM WE HAD, UH, THE COUNTY EXEC HAD COMMITTED, UH, ADMINISTRATION TO PUTTING A LONG JUMP IN, UH, TRACK AND FIELD STUFF AND WEEK PARK.
IS THAT UNDER DEVELOPMENT? IS THAT A PART OF THIS FIELD STUFF THAT WE'RE DOING NOW TOO? UM, I I, THAT WAS, UH, POSTPONED OR WAY LATER A LITTLE BIT.
THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH, UM, LOGISTICS OF PUTTING THAT IN.
AND THERE WAS SOME, I KNOW WE HAVE IT IN AT BLOOMFIELD, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY USED AT BROOKDALE.
UM, SO, UH, MR. SANTE AND HIS TEAM WERE KIND OF STILL INVESTIGATING.
'CAUSE I KNOW THE TRACK TEAM REALLY WANTED, UH, THE LONG JUMP THING.
SO IT'S NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN, BUT IT, IT BECAME A LITTLE BIT MORE SOME THINGS THAT WERE BEEN THERE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS.
LIKE SOME THAT THE ONE AT BROOKDALE'S BEEN THERE FOREVER.
BUT SOME OF THE NEW REQUIREMENTS AND THINGS ARE FOR SAFETY AND IT GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED THAN I THINK I THOUGHT OR EVEN THEY THOUGHT, BUT IT'S NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN.
IT'S STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, I WOULD SAY.
CAN YOU SHARE THE OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN WITH THE BOARD AND THE TIMELINE? ONLY WE UPDATED BECAUSE AGAIN, I THINK THAT WHEN WE ARE MAKING THESE INVESTMENTS, HE'S NOT CHEAP.
HE'S HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE PUT IN.
IT SHOULD MEET THE DEMAND AND THE TIME FOR WHAT WE'RE LIVING IN.
AND IF THAT AREA WRITES TRACK AND FIELD, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR US TO PUT BASKETBALL THIS WAY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GONNA USE IT.
AND IF WE'RE BUILDING A NEW BASEBALL PARK, AND IF THE KIDS NEED TRACK AND FIELD, I THINK FOR ME THAT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY.
UM, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE KIDS.
IF WE DO SOME OF THESE THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, SOME OF THESE KIDS CAN AVAIL THEMSELVES TO SCHOLARSHIPS AND IF WE DO SOME THINGS THE RIGHT WAY AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US, WHEN'S THE LAST TIME WE UPDATED THAT PLAN? I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE REALLY, REALLY GOOD AT THAT.
LIKE, YOU CAN LET EVERY FIVE, 10 CYCLES.
[01:25:01]
BEFORE WE DO THE DEVELOPMENT, DO WE LIKE CIRCLE BACK TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE'RE GONNA DO, IS IT STILL RELEVANT FOR THE TIME? WE'RE THANK YOU ALL.WE'LL CLOSE WITH A COUPLE OF THINGS.
UH, ASEX COUNTY DID A REALLY NICE JOB WITH THE TURKEY DRIVE.
UH, I THINK WHAT 1500 TURKEYS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO PEOPLE WHO COULD USE IT.
AND THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS COMING UP ON DECEMBER 18TH AT THE CODY ARENA, UH, WHICH WOULD BE THE HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE.
IT USUALLY INCLUDES, UH, YOU KNOW, BOX OF GOODS WITH SOMETHING.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY HAVE PLANNED, BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD.
SO VOLUNTEERS, UH, WILL BE THERE, OUR STAFF WILL BE THERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING THERE AS WELL.
AGAIN, THAT'LL BE ON DECEMBER 18TH THAT'S BEEN POSTED IN OUR SITE.
UH, ADAM, I'M SURE WILL POST IT AGAIN AS WELL AS IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES PAGES AS WELL.
SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE? ADJOURN.
SECOND IT SECOND BY RICHARDSON.
WELL, YOU ONLY GOT, THAT WAS JUST THREE.