[00:00:03]
KATHY, YOU READY? GOOD EVENING.
UH, THIS MEETING OF THE, I'M GOING TO ASK, UH, UM, COMMISSIONER SIEBEL, GET US IN THE, UH, SALUTE TO THE FLY.
IS THAT YOU WANNA DO THAT? COMMISSIONER SIEBEL, CAN YOU LEAD US IN THE SALUTE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD INVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY TO JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I'M JUST GONNA ASK IF YOU COULD JUST REMAIN STANDING, UH, A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND HONOR THOSE WHO WE LOST SINCE THE LAST TIME WE CAME TOGETHER.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK, UH, ROD AND AL WILLIAMS OF THE NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH OF EAST IN EAST ORANGE, AND LEAD US IN OPENING PRAYER.
REVEREND BLESSINGS, ALL THE START OF THIS NEW YEAR, I ASK WHATEVER YOUR POSTURE IS, PRAYER AS WELL AS WE ARE THE GARDEN STATE.
WE ARE A MELTING POT OF MANY FAITHS, BUT I PRAY ONE PEOPLE IN ONE SPIRIT, WHATEVER YOUR POSTURE OF PRAYER IS, I ASK THAT YOU WOULD TAKE THAT NOW ON TODAY, AS WE ASK THE LORD'S BLESSINGS UPON THIS YEAR, THAT IS UPON US.
AND SO, GOD, WE THANK YOU ON TONIGHT, AND WE GIVE YOU PRAISE.
WE GIVE YOU HONOR, WE GIVE YOU GLORY.
WE THANK YOU OH GOD, FOR BRINGING US THROUGH THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
AND HERE WE ARE AT THE START OF ANOTHER CALENDAR YEAR.
GOD, WE BESIEGE YOUR BLESSINGS, YOUR PEACE.
WE ASK AT THE START OF THIS SACRED CIVIC MOMENT THAT YOUR PRESENCE WOULD REST UPON THIS COMMISSION.
WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PRAY AND SEND PEACE OVER THIS COUNTY.
AND FOR EVERY WARD, EVERY CITY, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS REPRESENTED, WE PRAY THAT THERE WOULD BE RESOURCES TO MATCH THE REQUEST.
I PRAY, MOST OF ALL FOR UNITY FROM A STATE LEVEL TO THE COUNTY LEVEL, AND MAY IT SPREAD TO OUR CITIES.
WE INVOKE YOUR PRESENCE BOTH IN THIS MEETING AND IN THIS YEAR, AND IN ALL THE WAYS THAT WE CALL YOU.
SOME CALL YOU JEHOVAH, SOME YAHWEH, SOME ALLAH, SOME ADONAI, SOME BUDDHA.
BUT I PRAY ALL OF THESE PRAYERS, THE MIGHTY, THE MATCHLESS NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.
UH, I HAVE BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FROM THE DEPUTY CLERK OF THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
AT THIS POINT, I'M GONNA TURN THE MEETING OVER TO THE DEPUTY CLERK FOR THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, I'M MISSING SOMETHING.
COMMISSIONERS, AT THIS TIME, I WILL ENTERTAIN NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT FOR THE BOARD OF 2026.
AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE WHO WAS HERE.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, JOINING US, UH, TONIGHT.
WE USUALLY ALWAYS HAVE A CROWD THIS LARGE AT OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER STEVENS
WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE EVERYONE, OF COURSE, ESPECIALLY HONORED TO HAVE, UH, THE FIRST LADY, UH, TAMMY MURPHY WITH US, UH, OF COURSE, OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, UH, TAISHA.
WE ALSO THANK YOU FOR BOTH, FOR BEING HERE, UH, WITH US TONIGHT.
AND I KNOW MANY OF THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED, UH, AT A CERTAIN, UM, AT A CERTAIN TIME.
UM, I AM HONORED, UH, TO PUT INTO NOMINATION TO LEAD OUR BOARD.
CARLOS, UH, HAS LED THIS BOARD WITH A LEVEL HEAD AND STEADY HAND, WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO,
UH, HE HAS A GENUINE COMMITMENT TO LISTENING TO COLLABORATION AND SERVICE,
[00:05:01]
AND ENSURES THAT THE DECISIONS ARE BOTH BY ARE, ARE GUIDED BY BOTH PRINCIPLE AND PASSION FOR PUTTING ESSEX COUNTY FIRST.HE APPROACHES COMPLEX CHALLENGES WITH CLARITY AND WITH RESPECT.
HE FOSTERS TRUST AND A SHARED SENSE OF PURPOSE THROUGH HIS CALM PRESENCE AND INCLUSIVE APPROACH.
COMM COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT POIS EXEMPLIFIES LEADERSHIP THAT PUTS PEOPLE FIRST.
THAT IS WHY I AM PROUD TO NOMINATE HIM, TO CONTINUE TO LEAD THIS BOARD AS OUR COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT.
IT IS ALSO GREAT TO SEE THAT HE'S JOINED BY HIS FAMILY, WHICH HE TAKES VERY, VERY GREAT PRIDE IN JOIN.
WE HEAR ABOUT THE THREE OF YOU ALL THE TIME,
UH, IN ADDITION, UH, FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE, UH, JOINING US FOR THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT, UH, COMMISSIONER RIS, UM, IS A, UH, I'M GOING TO SAY PROBABLY ONE OF THE LEADING EXPERTS IN THE COUNTRY ON THE PRESIDENCY OF GROVER CLEVELAND.
AND IF YOU, YOU, IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT, UH, PLEASE CHECK OUT HIS OFFICE BECAUSE HE HAS SOME, UM, UNBELIEVABLE AND PRETTY COOL MEMORABILIA, UH, THAT HIGHLIGHTS, UM, PRESIDENT CLEVELAND'S, UH, TENURE.
UH, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, PRESIDENT GOVER CLEVELAND WAS KNOWN FOR WAS, UM, ALWAYS MAKING DECISIONS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
ACTUALLY, HE WAS A, AN EARLY REFORMER AND IDENTIFIED AS A PERSON WHO STOOD UP TO SPECIAL INTERESTS ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE.
UH, AND COMMISSIONER PRIMES, I KNOW THAT, UM, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE PRIDED YOUR OWN LEADERSHIP STYLE ON.
THAT IS WHY I AM HONORED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE YOU TONIGHT TO SERVE AS A PRESIDENT OF THIS BOARD.
COMMISSIONER GI COMMISSIONERS.
DO I HEAR A SECOND ON THE NOMINATION OF COMM COMMISSIONER PALMER AS PRESIDENT, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.
GOOD EVENING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.
UM, I JUST WANT TO SECOND THE NOMINATION FROM MY COLLEAGUE, BRENDAN GILL, AND PLEASE, CARLOS PALMA'S NAME FOR PRESIDENT OF OUR BOARD IN 2026.
I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD SINCE 2011, UH, 15 YEARS.
SECOND LONGEST TENURED MEMBER OF THE NINE.
AND I HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE SEVERAL PRESIDENTS AND VICE PRESIDENTS.
I WILL ALSO CONCUR COMMISSIONER GILL, THAT CARLOS PALM MAILERS HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AS OUR PRESIDENT.
HE HAILS FROM BLOOMFIELD AND HE SPENT SEVERAL YEARS NOT JUST, UH, AS A ACTIVE MEMBER IN THE COMMUNITY OF BLOOMFIELD, BUT ALSO A MUNICIPAL LEADER.
SO HE COMES WITH A LOT OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, WHERE WE BELIEVE IN HOME RULE AND WE SUPPORT OUR MUNICIPALITIES.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE I DO LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM AND I SEE NOT JUST LEADERS ON THE STATE LEVEL, BUT WE HAVE PLENTY OF FOLKS THAT ARE HERE, BUT DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES THROUGHOUT ESSEX COUNTY THAT ARE HERE BECAUSE WE WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALL OF OUR MUNICIPAL LEADERS AND FOLKS.
SO AT THAT, CARLOS, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING UNDER YOU AS PRESIDENT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND GODSPEED.
COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT? SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF PRESIDENT? COMMISSIONERS? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS? MOTION? COMMISSIONER LUCIANO? DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AND THE NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED.
NOW WE WILL VOTE ON THE NOMINATION OF COMMISSIONER POIS AS PRESIDENT.
COMM COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
UH, COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS.
AND AT THIS POINT, I WILL ASK JUDGE MICHAEL VECCHIO TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF
[00:10:01]
OFFICE TO COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT POIS.THIS IS THE FORMAL PARTY OF FIVE HOLDING THE BIBLE.
LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE, RIGHT HAND UP.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME.
TO THE SAME, AND TO THE GOVERNMENTS ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES AND TO THE GOVERNMENTS ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES.
I CARL SANMAR, HAVING BEEN ELECTED, HAVING BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, PRESIDENT OF THE SES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
DO SOLEMNLY PROMISE AND SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY PROMISE AND SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, IMPARTIALLY, IMPARTIALLY, AND JUSTLY PERFORM, AND JUSTLY PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE ALL THE DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT, UH, OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRESIDENT OF PROPOSED COMMISSIONS IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND IN FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CONTINUE? YES, PLEASE, MADAM.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL ENTERTAIN NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD FOR 2026.
COMMISSIONER COOPER, I MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, I NOMINATE COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS FOR THE POSITION OF VICE PRESIDENT.
SHE'S A WONDERFUL, AMAZING PERSON WHO HAS A LARGE, BIG COMMITMENT IN HEART TO COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS, HER LOVE OF FAMILY AND GOD AND HER STUDENTS, AND THE THINGS THAT SHE'S DONE WITH HER ORGANIZATION, SHE WINS, IS NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING.
AND BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU COULD PUT COMMUNITY FIRST FAMILY, AND GOD, I AM SO HONORED TO NOMINATE YOU FOR VICE PRESIDENT.
COMMISSIONERS, DO I HEAR A SECOND ON THE NOMINATION OF COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS AS VICE PRESIDENT COMMISSIONER MERCADO? THANK YOU.
UM, AS THE MOST RECENT ADDITION TO THE, TO THIS BOARD COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS HAS JUMPED RIGHT IN WITH BOTH FEET, HAS HAD AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY AND HER WORK THAT SHE DOES HERE IN THESE CHAMBERS.
SHE IS UNREPENTANT VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS IN ESSEX COUNTY, AND IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT SHE IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ALL ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS.
THROUGH HER WORK AND THROUGH HER INNOVATIVE IDEAS.
AS A FELLOW NEWARK, I AM PROUD TO CALL HER MY COLLEAGUE.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SHE'LL CARRY THE MANTLE OF VICE PRESIDENT WITH GRACE, COMPASSION, AND IT IS MY HONOR TO SECOND DENOMINATION.
I'D LIKE TO SECOND TO SECOND
UH, WHAT AN INSPIRING YOUNG LADY.
UH, I, I'VE WATCHED HER FOR MANY YEARS NOW.
I WATCH HER GROWTH AND, YOU KNOW, COMING TO THE BOARD, BEING ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AND JUST BEING COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY AND FAMILY AND GOD, UH, I THINK YOU'RE A PASTOR, A REVEREND AS WELL.
UH, SO SHE, SHE CHECKS ALL THE BOXES.
AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SINCERE YOUNG PERSON.
IT IS JUST MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE AND
[00:15:01]
PLEASURE TO SIT NEXT TO YOU ON THE BOARD, BUT TO SECOND THE NOMINATION, AND I KNOW YOU'LL DO WELL.COMMISSIONER, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT? SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF VICE PRESIDENT COMMISSIONERS? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE NOMINATION? SO, MOVE SECOND.
COMMISSIONER MERCADO AND COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
ALL IN FAVOR FOR THE CLOSING OF THE NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT, SIGNIFY BY SAYING A, A AYE.
AT THIS POINT, WE WILL VOTE ON THE NOMINATION OF COMMISSIONER MURRAY THOMAS AS VICE PRESIDENT.
CONGRATULATIONS, COMMISSIONER.
AT THIS POINT JUDGE MICHAEL VECCHIO WILL ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE TO COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
EVERYBODY ASSEMBLE PLACE YOUR LEFT HAND ON THE BIBLE.
GRAYMAR THOMAS, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION? THAT I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY? OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY? THAT I WILL BEAR, THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE, TRUE FAITH AND ALLEGIANCE.
AND TO THE GOVERNMENTS ESTABLISHED AND TO THE GOVERNMENTS ESTABLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES.
IN THE UNITED STATES, AND IN THIS STATE.
I, YOUR NAME I ADORING MARY THOMAS.
HAVING BEEN ELECTED, HAVING BEEN ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, IN AND FOR STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
DO SOLEMNLY PROMISE, DO SOLEMNLY PROMISE.
AND SWEAR AND SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, IMPARTIALLY, IMPARTIALLY AND JUSTLY PERFORM, AND JUSTLY PERFORM ALL THE DUTIES OF ALL THE DUTIES OF VICE PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, IN AND FOR THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
AT THIS TIME, I TURN THE MEETING OVER TO YOU.
THANK YOU, MADAM DEPUTY CLERK.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR A FINE JOB.
UM, AT THIS TIME, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE LEADERS AND DIGNITARIES THAT HAVE JOINED US HERE TODAY.
WE'RE GONNA START FIRST WITH A, A SHORT VIDEO FOR OUR ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE, SENATOR COREY BOOKER, A MESSAGE THAT HE'S PROVIDED HERE.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR STAFF JUST PLAY THAT FOR ONE MOMENT AND THEN I'LL MOVE ON TO THE LIVE VERSION FOR THOSE WHO ARE HERE.
[00:20:40]
HELLO EVERYONE, THIS IS SENATOR CORY BOOKER, AND I'M HONORED TO SAY A FEW WORDS AS YOUR LOCAL LEADERS ARE SWORN IN.I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT REALLY TO OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE WHO HAVE STEPPED UP TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.
LOOK, MY TIME AS MAYOR TAUGHT ME THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT REALLY IS THE FOUNDATIONAL STONES OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE TRUSTED YOU WITH THEIR HOPES AND THEIR NEEDS, AND EVEN THEIR AMERICAN DREAM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH YOU IN THIS TERM AND YOUR TERM AHEAD TO HELP YOUR COMMUNITY FLOURISH.
I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH IN YOUR ROLE.
CONGRATULATIONS, AND I WILL SAY THIS, FINALLY, OUR COUNTRY NEEDS HEALING.
IT NEEDS PEOPLE THAT WILL HELP TO REDEEM THE DREAM.
IT NEEDS PEOPLE TO REMIND US THAT WE ARE NOT LEFT OR RIGHT.
THAT WE ARE A PEOPLE CALLED TO MOVE FORWARD, TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
MORE THAN EVER MAY WE UNIFY AND REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE COMMON CAUSE AND COMMON PURPOSE, THAT WE ARE A GREAT NATION WHOSE HALLMARK IS E PLURIBUS UNUM, THANK YOU.
NOT JUST FOR STEPPING UP, NOT JUST FOR THE ROLE THAT YOU ARE GONNA SWEAR AN OATH, UH, TO EMBODY, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING GREAT PATRIOTS, FOR PROTECTING OUR HERITAGE AND FOR MAKING FOR BETTER DAYS FOR OUR STATE, OUR NATION, AND THIS WORLD.
I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE SENATOR
ALRIGHT, SO AT THIS POINT, I WANNA TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK THE LEADERS AND DIGNITARIES WHO, WHO SHOWED UP HERE.
UM, I DON'T LIKE THIS PART BECAUSE I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE IF I MISS SOMEONE, I FEEL TERRIBLE ABOUT IT.
SO PLEASE, IF FOR SOME REASON I MISS ANYONE, PLEASE TELL ADAM OR ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF SO WE CAN PROPERLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU.
'CAUSE WE DO APPRECIATE THE EFFORT IN COMING HERE TODAY.
SO WE HAVE, OF COURSE, WE'LL HEAR FROM HER A LITTLE LATER.
UH, THE VERY FIRST LADY OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, TAMMY MURPHY WITH US TODAY.
WE HAVE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TAHI, THE HONORABLE CHAIRMAN, LEROY JONES, WHO SERVED THIS VERY BOARD.
HE'S ONE OF OUR GUYS FROM THIS BOARD RIGHT HERE.
UM, WE HAVE ASSEMBLYWOMAN GART HALL, SHERIFF AMIR JONES, BEBO COUNCILWOMAN, DIANA GAR BASCO BASTO YOUNG LADY WHO I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SWEARING IN A MONDAY IN BLOOMFIELD, BLOOMFIELD COUNCILWOMAN ROSALIE GONZALEZ, EAST ORANGE MAYOR, TED GREEN, EAST ORANGE CLERK, CYNTHIA BROWN, MY GOOD FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR, GLEN RIDGE MAYOR DEBBIE MANZ, IRVINGTON MAYOR TONY VOSS IS LOOKING AWESOME THESE DAYS.
IRVINGTON, COUNCIL PRESIDENT JAMILA BEASLEY LIVINGSTON, COUNCILMAN MICHAEL VIRA, CORONA COUNCILWOMAN, CHRISTINE MCGRATH.
SO COINCIDENTALLY, I DID PROMISE THIS WILL BE SHORTER THAN THE ONE WE WERE AT THE OTHER DAY, THAT SHELBY NAMELESS, UM, MY GOOD NEIGHBOR AND FRIEND, UH, MONTCLAIR COUNCILWOMAN, SUSAN SHIN ANDERSON, IRVINGTON COUNCIL, ORLANDO VIC IS HERE.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEFORE ME AT THE MOMENT.
I, IF I MISS ANYONE, WE WILL BE SURE TO, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE.
IF FOR SOME REASON, PLEASE DON'T HATE THE MESSENGER.
UH, AT THIS POINT, I WANT TO INVITE, UH, THE
[00:25:01]
HONORABLE CHAIRMAN JONES TO COME AND SHARE SOME REMARKS WITH THIS CHAIRMAN, WOULD YOU GIVE US, UH, A COUPLE OF MINUTES OF YOUR TIME? THANK YOU.WELL, HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATIONS, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, BOTH CARLOS AND, UH, A DORIAN ON, UH, YOU KNOW, THEIR, UH, YOU KNOW, ASCENSION TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS GREAT BOARD, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ESTEEMED FIRST LADY, UH, YOU KNOW, WHO, UH, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY, HAS, UH, YOU KNOW, LED, UH, THIS STATE WITH HER PARTNER, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH DISTINCTION, WITH COURAGE, UH, WITH AMBITION AND A MISSION TO MAKE SURE THAT NEW JERSEY, UH, YOU KNOW, WAS WHAT WAS THAT, UH, STATE WAS THAT HAS, UH, BEEN THE STATE OF DESTINATION FOR SO MANY.
UH, YOU KNOW, THE STATE WITH PURPOSE, UH, YOU KNOW, A STATE WHERE YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, RAISE YOUR FAMILY AFFORDABLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, YOU KNOW, YOUR SERVICE HAS BEEN HONORABLE.
IT HAS BEEN MEMORABLE, AND IT HAS BEEN YOU, A CONNECTION WITH FAMILY OF MY FAMILY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL CHERISH FOREVER.
SO, THANK YOU, TIM, TO REVEREND CLERGY.
UH, YOU KNOW, MY PASTOR, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM, UH, NEW HER BAPTIST CHURCH IN, UH, YOU KNOW, EAST ORANGE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, MY WIFE, UH, YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY THAT'S HERE TODAY TO, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, AWESOME OCCASION.
UH, YOU KNOW, I JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO SAY TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME OUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, UH, YOU KNOW, A REORGANIZATION, A REORGANIZATION OF LEADERSHIP, BUT A RECOMMITMENT OF PURPOSE AND SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY.
UH, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, PRESIDENT PRESENT, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS TO COMMISSIONER COOPER, UH, TO COMMISSIONER GILL, UH, SERMONS, UH, LUCIANO, UH, MECADO RICHARDSON, AND, UH, THE DEAN, UH, YOU KNOW, OF THE COMMISSIONER BOARD, FORMERLY THE FREEHOLDER BOARD, UH, YOU KNOW, PAT SIBO.
IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK IN THAT SEAT.
AND SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, UH, YOU KNOW, LOOK, THE PURPOSE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE HERE FOR, UH, IS THE CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY.
ALL THOSE PEOPLE OUT THERE, AND THE COUNTLESS STYLE THAT ARE NOT HERE TO, YOU KNOW, TO WITNESS THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE AN AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY.
SO TODAY'S REORGANIZATION, BUT TODAY IS RECOMMITTING YOURSELF TO SERVICE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, UNDERSTANDING HOW SACRED THAT SERVICE IS, AND HOW PURPOSEFUL, YOU KNOW, YOUR ROLES ARE ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND AND SHOULD UNDERSTAND.
AND IT IS YOUR DUTY TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND THE COMMITMENT OF GOVERNMENT, THE COMMITMENT OF SERVICE, AND THE PURPOSE OF ALL OF THAT, THAT YOU HOLD IN YOUR HANDS AS ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS COMMISSIONER BOARD OF THIS COUNTY, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, AND OF THIS STATE AND THE VARIOUS MUNICIPALITY OF COME FORTH, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE BEFORE US, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS LION THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IS SYMBOLIC, YOU KNOW, OF LEADERSHIP.
EACH ONE OF YOU HAVE THAT SAME ROLE, SHOULD SHARE THAT WITH THE SAME PASSION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT COMMITMENT TO PEOPLE IS THE FIRST ORDER OF YOUR BUSINESS AND SHOULD BE THE FIRST FIBER IN YOUR BEING.
SO, AS WE MOVE FORWARD OVER THE YEAR, I AM HOPEFULLY ENCOURAGED BY THIS RECOMMITMENT, THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, UNDERSTANDING OF SERVICE AND THE PURPOSE THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THREE MINUTES TO SHARE THOSE THOUGHTS.
AND NOW YOU KNOW WHY YOU SERVED US WELL ON THIS BOARD AND AT THE STATE HOUSE.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN, FOR BRINGING THE, THE MESSAGE WITH US.
UH, IT IS A PLEASURE TO BRING UP THE FIRST LADY, UH, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, THE GREAT STATE OF NEW JERSEY, TAMMY MURPHY.
I ALWAYS FEEL SO RUDE WHEN I HAVE MY BACK TO PEOPLE, BUT, UH, SO BE IT.
I ACTUALLY CAME HERE TONIGHT WITH SOME PREPARED
[00:30:01]
REMARKS.AND PAT, IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU.
UM, I DIDN'T SEE YOU EARLIER, BUT IT'S FANTASTIC TO SEE YOU.
UH, BUT I'M NOT GONNA USE THEM BECAUSE I, I JUST DON'T THINK I NEED IT.
UM, MUCH OF WHAT I WANNA SAY HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT I WILL FIRST START BY SAYING CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU, PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.
UM, BASED ON EVERYTHING THAT I HEARD, IT'S NO QUESTION THERE WAS A UNANIMOUS DECISION FOR BOTH OF YOU.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO ARE ON, UH, THE, THE COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE ON THIS BOARD.
UM, SERVICE IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND I AGREE WITH WHAT THE CHAIRMAN HAS JUST SAID, THAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU DO.
YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE.
AND YET YOU GO OUT EVERY DAY AND YOU GIVE IT YOUR BEST.
AND FOR THAT, I THANK YOU AND THE COUNTY THANKS YOU AND THE STATE, THANKS YOU, UH, ESSEX COUNTY IN PARTICULAR.
I HAVE TO SAY, WITHOUT THIS MAN, UH, YOUR COUNTY CHAIR, WITHOUT YOUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHO'S NOT HERE THIS EVENING, WITHOUT SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE CALLED OUT, I HEARD A LOT OF, A LOT OF OUR MAYORS WHO ARE DEAR FRIENDS OF OURS, AND MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMISSIONERS ON THIS BOARD, UH, THE GOVERNOR WHO SENDS HIS REGARDS, AND I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP AND DO WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO.
IT ALL STARTS AND ENDS IN ESSEX COUNTY, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE EIGHT YEARS.
YEAH, WE REALLY CARE WORKING ON THAT.
NAH,
AND I CARE AT THIS, THIS COUNTY, THE WAY THAT YOU GET UP EVERY DAY AND YOU, YOU, YOU LOOK AFTER NOT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE DOING WELL, BUT YOU SEEK OUT THE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES AND YOU ARE ELEVATING EVERYBODY AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S HEARD.
I'M SO GRATEFUL, SO GRATEFUL TO ALL OF YOU.
WE MAY BE STANDING ON THE SIDELINES SOON, BUT MAN, ARE WE ROOTING YOU ON? MM-HMM
AND REVEREND AWESOME SEEING YOU.
I'M GONNA TAKE A MINUTE 'CAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR TO ANYONE TO FOLLOW THAT.
YEAH, THAT'S A VERY HEARTFELT MESSAGE.
AND THE MURPHY'S HAVE BEEN TERRIFIC PARTNERS TO ESSEX COUNTY.
THERE'S CERTAINLY NO STRANGERS HERE.
UH, IT'S LIKE THEY LIVE HERE, AND IF SHE HASN'T LEFT YET, THERE'S ROOM FOR ANOTHER GREAT FAMILY IN ESSEX COUNTY, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO STAY.
UM, SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
LET ME TAKE A MOMENT BEFORE I BRING UP OUR NEXT SPEAKER.
UH, LET ME ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, MY APOLOGIES.
UH, CHAIRMAN, I DIDN'T PROPERLY INTRODUCE YOU.
UH, I SHOULD HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE BETTER.
HALF YOUR WIFE, MISS JACKIE JONES
BLAME IT ON A LITTLE BIT OF TOO MUCH STUFF IN FRONT OF ME AND NOT MY HEART, PLEASE.
UM, WE HAVE, AND WE'LL HEAR FROM HIM IN A MOMENT, OUR ESTEEMED, UH, ADMINISTRATOR, ROBERT JACKSON, WHO'S THE FORMER MAYOR OF MONTCLAIR, ANOTHER PRESIDENT FROM ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE, DR.
HE'S A GREAT GUY, ROSE TO THE RANKS OF FACULTY.
AND I SAY THAT 'CAUSE I TEACH AND MY WIFE TEACHES, AND NOW HE'S RUNNING THE COLLEGE AND HE'S DOING A FANTASTIC JOB.
I CAN'T GO THROUGH ALL OF YOU GUYS, BUT FORGIVE ME, BLOOMFIELD COUNTY COMMITTEE'S IN THE HOUSE HERE FOR SURE.
AND LET ME, UH, I, I KNOW THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER.
SO, MR. JACKSON, CAN YOU COME AND SHARE A FEW REMARKS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE? SURE.
WELCOME, MR. JACKSON, EVERYONE.
IT'S, UH, UH, PRESIDENT PROMAR NOTED THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES NOT FEELING WELL, UH, THIS EVENING.
HE REALLY WANTED TO, UH, BE HERE.
UM, TWO THINGS HE WANTED ME TO COMMUNICATE.
FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW, NEW, BUT REELECTED PRESIDENT TO OUR NEW VICE PRESIDENT.
UH, CONGRATULATIONS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING WITH ALL OF YOU.
[00:35:01]
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF YOUR TERM.UM, THE INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UH, WORKING TOGETHER, UH, AMONG ALL OF US.
AND, UM, I THINK THE CITIZENS, RESIDENTS OF VESTEX COUNTY CAN BE PROUD OF IT.
I THINK WE CAN HAVE TO TAKE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PRIDE IN IT AS WELL.
AND WE'RE JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE GOOD THINGS COMING IN THE FUTURE, UH, WORKING WITH THIS GREAT BOARD AND THIS LEADERSHIP.
AND, UM, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE THINGS THAT COME.
AND AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, HE DEEPLY REGRETS NOT BEING HERE, BUT, UH, UH, HIS, UH, HE JUST UNDER THE WEATHER AND COULDN'T MAKE IT.
I WAS A MAN OF, UH, EXCELLENT CHOICE WORDS, AND HE'S ALWAYS BRIEF.
HE KNOWS HE'S GREAT WITH THAT.
UM, UM, I HAVE ON THE PROGRAM HERE, TIME FOR COMMISSIONER POMAR TO MAKE SOME REMARKS.
SO I, I WANNA BE BRIEF BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, SOMEONE NEW IS GONNA BE, UH, SPEAKING.
SO I WANNA GIVE HER A LITTLE YIELD A LITTLE TIME THERE.
LET ME, UH, FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TODAY.
I'M VERY HUMBLED THAT YOU CAME.
UH, YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD, UH, TAMMY MURPHY SPOKE, UH, WITH A DEEPER HEARTFELT MESSAGE.
'CAUSE I HAD A BIT OF A TEAR KIND OF THINKING LIKE, OH, GEEZ, YEAH, I GOTTA, I GOTTA THANK A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT, IT ALWAYS MAKES ME A LITTLE BIT EMOTIONAL.
BUT LET ME FIRST TALK WITH MY FAMILY.
I, I KNEW IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.
UM, IF YOU KNOW ME, I'VE PROBABLY GOT BOUGHT THEM ALL THE TIME.
UM, THEY'RE PROBABLY EMBARRASSED THAT I TALK ABOUT 'EM.
BUT THEY ARE, UH, THE BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN MY LIFE.
AND THEY GIVE A LOT OF, UH, TIME FOR ME TO DO WHAT I DO, AS DOES EVERY COMMISSIONER AND EVERY ELECTED PERSON AND OUR STAFF.
I MEAN, OUR FAMILIES GIVE UP ANY IMMENSE AMOUNT OF TIME SO THAT WE CAN DO WHAT WE DO.
UH, ESSEX COUNTY, I THINK HANGS DOWN, AND BY FAR IS THE BEST COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND PROBABLY BEYOND THE GREAT STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
I KNOW WE SAY ESSEX COUNTY, PUTTING ESSEX COUNTY FIRST, BUT IT ALMOST COULD BE LIKE, WE CARE.
AND I THINK THAT'S SYNONYMOUS WITH THAT.
SO I WANT TO THANK LOVE OF MY LIFE.
MY, MY WIFE NATASHA, WHO IS HERE WITH TORN MENISCUS AND ALL.
SHE'S HOBBLING, BUT SHE'S HERE.
SHE, UM, UH, THE GREATEST GIFT, UH, IN LIFE GAVE ME WAS HER, FOLLOWED BY THREE WONDERFUL KIDS.
SO MY SON, CARLOS, MY DAUGHTER
SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE CONFUSED, THAT'S IT.
SHE'S OUR, OUR LITTLE THESPIAN HERE, UH, LOOKING TO GO INTO COLLEGE NEXT YEAR.
AND MY SON MARIO, WHO'S BRINGING UP THE, THE, THE REAR AND THE FAMILY LEGACY OF GOING TO ST.
PETER'S PREP, WHICH IN MY HOUSE IS A BIG DEAL.
UH, UNLIKE ME, THEY'RE ALL SCHOLARS.
THEY'RE OVERLY SMART, AND, UH, THEY, THEY'VE DONE WELL.
AND MOM AND DAD ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU GUYS.
SO THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING THE GREAT KIDS THAT YOU ARE.
IT MAKES OUR JOB SO MUCH BETTER, AND IT GIVES US A LOT OF COOL STUFF TO BRAG ABOUT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH BEFORE THAT, UM, I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE VOTE OF CONFIDENCE TO BE HERE TODAY.
AND COMMISSIONER GILL, I, I'M, AND, AND COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR, YOUR LOVELY WORDS AND, AND, AND, UH, THOUGHTFUL WORDS THAT YOU SAID TODAY, ESPECIALLY ABOUT GOVER CLEVELAND.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LA THE MAN'S LAST WORDS WHERE I'VE TRIED SO HARD TO DO RIGHT? AND I FIND THAT THOSE LAST WORDS ARE NOT, THAT SHOULDN'T BE LAST WORDS.
THEY SHOULD BE WORDS TO LIVE BY.
AND, UH, HE, UH, LEARNING ABOUT HIM AND WORKING AT HIS MUSEUM, WHICH IS IN CALDWELL, NEW JERSEY, EVERYONE YOU CAN GO VISIT, UM, UH, LEARNING ABOUT HIM AND WORKING AT A MUSEUM AND MEETING HIS SON, HIS, HIS GRANDCHILDREN, AND OTHER RELATIVES WAS A PROFOUND, UH, EXPERIENCE FOR ME AS MY VERY FIRST JOB AS AN INTERN AND THEN INTO COLLEGE.
I THINK IT'S WHAT LED ME HERE, ALTHOUGH I NEVER HAD ANY ASPIRATIONS TO SERVE IN PUBLIC.
BUT AS A SON OF, UH, A DOCTOR AND A NURSE SERVICE AS PART OF YOUR DNA, AND, UH, SO THANK YOU FOR EVOKING SOME OF HIS WORDS, COMMISSIONER.
AND, UH, NO OFFENSE, I HOPE YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE HERE MUCH LONGER.
THAT'S A GOOD THING IF, UH, AND I DON'T MEAN THAT IN A BAD WAY BY ANY MEANS.
IF, YOU KNOW, IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, UM, UH, ALL OF YOU HAVE, UH, PLAYED A SPECIAL PART IN MY TIME HERE.
SO I, MY COMMITMENT TO YOU IS TO CONTINUE TO WORK HARD AND TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO BE, TRY TO BE AS UNDERSTANDING AS POSSIBLE, AND TO TRY TO BE AS FLEXIBLE AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE COULD ALL MOVE TOGETHER.
I, I THINK ONE OF THE MISCONCEPTIONS WHEN PEOPLE COME TO MEETINGS AND THEY SAY, FOR THE MOST PART WE SAY YES TO A LOT OF THINGS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME WE'RE VETTING THINGS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, WITH COLLEAGUES, WITH MEMBERS OF THE MUNICIPALITIES IN OUR COUNTY STATE, FOLKS, EXPERTS.
[00:40:01]
UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIALOGUE.SO BY THE TIME WE COME TO THE MEETING, UH, WE FULLY VETTED WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO BUSINESS ABOUT.
AND YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
YOU DON'T JUST SHOW UP TO YOUR FINAL EXAM AND ACE IT BECAUSE YOU JUST WALK THROUGH THE DOOR.
AND SO IF WE, IF WE AS A COUNTY, NOT JUST THE BOARD AS A COUNTY ACE, IT, IT'S BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO, SO, I, I THANK MY BOARD COLLEAGUES FOR THAT.
I WANT TO THANK MR. JACKSON, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, YOUR, ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES.
UH, WE, I THINK WE HAVE A VERY NICE RAPPORT WHEN WE COME HERE.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME GOOD LAUGHS USUALLY AT JAY'S EXPENSE.
UH, BUT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF GOOD LAUGHS.
BUT WE DO THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE HERE VERY EFFECTIVELY AND VERY EFFICIENTLY.
AND, UH, YOU'RE A TRUE GENTLEMAN, MR. JACKSON.
UM, OUTSIDE, BEFORE YOU GET INTO GOVERNMENT, THERE IS, UH, A POLITICAL PROCESS AND, UH, YOU HAVE TO GET ELECTED TO BE IN GOVERNMENT.
AND I WANT TO THANK CHAIRMAN JONES AND THERESA LOUIS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING ME.
I WANT TO, I WANT TO THANK MY BLOOMFIELD PEOPLE BACK AT HOME, MY CHAIRMAN, MIKE SIA, UH, AND, AND ALL OF THE BLOOMFIELD FOLKS.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, THE MANY MEMBERS OF MY DISTRICT AND BELLEVILLE, WHO I SEE A FEW OF THEM BACK THERE.
THEY ALWAYS REPRESENT BELLEVILLE, NOT LEE AND GLEN RIDGE AND MONTCLAIR.
AND THAT'S THE DISTRICT I REPRESENT.
AND I, I WOULDN'T WANT TO CHANGE THAT, THAT ROLE FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE IT.
I HOPE I DON'T TEAR UP AGAIN, IS I, I'M NOT HERE BY ACCIDENT.
I'M HERE BECAUSE 55, 55 YEARS AGO, MY FAMILY MADE A HARD DECISION TO LEAVE CUBA WITH MY DAD IN JAIL FOR HAVING A POLITICAL OPINION.
HE WAS DEDICATED TO SAVING LIVES AS MY FATHER-IN-LAW.
MY MOM WAS A NURSE AND SHE HAD TO CARRY US ON HER BACK WHEN OUR ASYLUM WAS APPROVED.
THREE OF US, WELL, SHE WAS, I WAS MADE IN CUBA, BUT BORN HERE.
SHE LEFT PREGNANT SIX MONTHS WITH ME, WITH TWO LITTLE GIRLS, SIX AND SEVEN YEARS OLD WITH HER 60-YEAR-OLD PLUS GRANDMOTHER AND HER SISTER WHO HAD A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY.
AND OUT OF, UH, THE DESPERATION OF WELFARE, UH, AND SURE DETERMINATION, THIS LITTLE FIVE FOOT TALL WOMAN CARRIED US, THE ENTIRE FAMILY ON HER BACK.
WHILE MY DAD WOULD REMAIN IN CUBA FOR THE NEXT QUARTER OF A CENTURY, WHEN I WOULD FINALLY MEET HIM.
IN FACT, I MET MY DAD WITH A YOUNG LADY I WAS DATING AT THE TIME, WHO'S NOT MY WIFE.
SO THAT MADE A PROFOUND MARK OF ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT FREEDOM IS NOT FREE, AS THEY SAY.
AND IT IS NOT A, UH, UH, IT'S NOT GIVEN SADLY.
AND WE SHOULDN'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY.
SO, UM, THERE ARE ARDUOUS PROCESS AND THERE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES, UH, WORKING ODD JOBS, LEARNING ENGLISH AT NIGHTTIME, CLEANING HOUSES, WHICH I REMEMBER GOING IN OFFICES AND DOING ALL THOSE HUMBLE THINGS THAT IF SHE WERE ALIVE TODAY, SHE'D BE EMBARRASSED TO ME.
SHE WOULD BE JUST, SHE WOULD BE A QUIET PERSON SITTING IN THE ROOM.
UH, SHE WOULD BE SO PROUD OF ME AS WITH MY DAD.
SO I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.
'CAUSE THOSE ARE THE SHOULDERS, THOSE ARE THE GIANTS WHOSE SHOULDERS I STAND ON.
SO I'M GONNA STOP HERE BEFORE I TEAR UP ANYMORE.
AND I SAID I WAS GONNA BE SHORT.
I, I, I DIDN'T GO THAT SHORT AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL VERY SINCERELY FOR ENABLING ME TO SERVE YOU, THE COUNTY, AND, AND SPECIFICALLY HERE AS PRESIDENT.
AT THIS POINT, I WANT TO INVITE MY GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, UH, OUR YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE BOARD, WHO IN THE SAME WEEK, I BELIEVE, FINISHED HER, HER MASTER'S THESIS, GRADUATED AND OR CELEBRATED A BIRTHDAY, UH, COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MARY THOMAS TO OFFER SOME REMARKS.
COMMISSIONER, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
UH, WHAT A GIFT TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.
UM, THANK YOU PRESIDENT POMAR FOR THOSE BEAUTIFUL WORDS.
AND FOR, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, STARTING US, YOU REVEREND WILLIAMS, STARTING US IN A POSTURE OF PRAYER IN RECEIPT OF THE GOODNESS AROUND US.
BUT I THINK A FORM OF PRAYER IS ALSO GIVING THANKS.
AND WE GIVE THANKS TO OUR ANCESTORS.
WE GIVE THANKS TO OUR FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE DAYS LIKE THIS POSSIBLE.
AND SO THAT'S HOW I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY FIRST JUST SAYING THAT I'M SO DEEPLY HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY, TO HAVE BEEN NOMINATED AND ELECTED BY MY BOARD COLLEAGUES TO SERVE
[00:45:01]
AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ESSEX COUNTY OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.THE WEIGHT OF THIS MOMENT, AND FRANKLY, ANYTIME I'M IN THESE BEAUTIFUL CHAMBERS, IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED BY ALREADY, BY, BY FACT, IF YOU LOOK UP EVERY SINGLE TOWN IN CITY IN ESSEX, IT'S LISTED ACROSS THE ATRIUM HERE.
AND I LOVE TO POINT THAT OUT WHEN I BRING FOLKS HERE, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, BECAUSE THESE CHAMBERS ARE OUR CHAMBERS.
THEY REPRESENT THE VERY BEST OF US HERE IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND IN THE CITY OF NEWARK.
YOU KNOW, A CITY THAT IS ONE OF THE OLDEST IN AMERICA, A CITY THAT WAS FORGED BY THE FAITH, THE BLOOD, THE SWEAT, THE TEARS OF HARDWORKING PEOPLE, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES LIKE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND THE FAMILIES THAT WE COME FROM.
CITY FORGED BY THE NATIVE, THE IMMIGRANT, THE BLACK SOUTHERN MIGRANT, THE ENSLAVED.
FOR MANY OF US, UNDER THE SOUND OF MY VOICE THIS EVENING, OUR STORIES COME FROM SIMILAR PEOPLE, THE NATIVE, THE IMMIGRANT, THE MIGRANT, THE FORMERLY ENSLAVED PEOPLE WHO MADE THEIR WAY TO EITHER NEWARK, ESSEX COUNTY, OR OTHER PARTS HERE OF NEW JERSEY FOR A BETTER LIFE.
SO YES, WHILE I STAND HERE TODAY IN DEEP GRATITUDE AND HONOR, I'M ALSO JUST HUMBLED TO BE HERE AS THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF HATTIE MURRAY, A WOMAN WHO MIGRATED TO NEW JERSEY FROM JIM CROW, SOUTH CAROLINA AT 17 YEARS OLD TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE.
I'M HONORED THAT I'M HERE AS THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF ANNETTE THOMAS, MY GRANDMOTHER, WHO'S ACTUALLY HERE WITH US TODAY, WHO IMMIGRATED TO THIS COUNTRY ALL THE WAY FROM BUR EAST GUYANA TO START A NEW LIFE AND WORK TIRELESSLY TO RAISE THE MONEY FOR MY FATHER AND MY AUNTS AND MY UNCLE, AND THEN SOON TO BE MY OTHER UNCLE, TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT TODAY THE DAUGHTER OF DANA MURRAY, MY MOM WHO'S HERE WITH US TODAY, AND MY FATHER, SAMUEL ARLEY THOMAS, WHO'S LOOKING DOWN FROM HEAVEN, WOULD BE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
NOT JUST AS A PROUD NEWARK, NOT JUST AS A PROUD FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, NOT JUST AS A GIRL, BORN AND RAISED ON THE NUMBER BLOCKS, BUT NOW THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSION.
I DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY BECAUSE I'M THE CHILD, PROUD CHILD OF AN IMMIGRANT, SOMEONE WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY WITH AN AMERICAN DREAM, A DREAM AND A HOPE THAT WITH FAITH, WITH HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE, WE CAN ALL CONSTRUCT A BETTER LIFE, NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR THOSE AROUND US.
SO WHAT A BLESSING IT IS, BUT FRANKLY, WHAT A BURDEN AND A WEIGHT IT IS TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT AT A TIME SUCH AS THIS, IN A SEASON WHERE THE PEOPLE WHO MADE ME THE MIGRANT, THE IMMIGRANT, THE FORMERLY ENSLAVED, ARE IN A COUNTRY THAT TODAY IS UNRECOGNIZABLE FROM THE DAY THAT THEY CAME AT A TIME WHERE LITERALLY THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN, THE ACCENT ON YOUR TONGUE, THE LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK, CAN GET YOU SWEPT UP IN AN UNMARKED CAR, NOT JUST IN ANOTHER STATE.
I'M TALKING UP THE STREET IN HOME DEPOT.
I'M TALKING DOWN THE STREET IN THE NECK ON FERRY STREET WHILE YOU'RE DROPPING OFF YOUR KID AT SCHOOL OR LOANING YOUR GROCERIES AT HOME.
I'M TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SERVANT AT A TIME WHEN MOTHERS, FATHERS AND BIG SIBLINGS AND COUSINS CAN WORK DAY IN, DAY OUT AT JOBS WHERE THEY'RE UNDERAPPRECIATED, UNDERPAID, AND HAVE TO ROB PETER OF PAY PAUL TO MAKE ENDS MEET, WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE WORK HARD, THINKING OF THE MAKOS AND THE YASMINA'S AND SO MANY OTHER BRILLIANT YOUNG PEOPLE IN MY LIFE, AND THAT SHE WINS.
AND IN THIS COMMUNITY CAN WORK HARD, GO TO COLLEGE, BUT HAVE TO FIGURE SO MUCH OUT, TAKING ON DEBT, TAKING ON LOANS, AND STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY'RE GONNA GET THE JOB THAT THEY DESERVE TO GET WHEN THEY LEAVE COLLEGE AND BE ABLE TO PAY RENT OR ONE DAY AFFORD A MORTGAGE.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AND A SERIOUS TIME TO BE A PUBLIC SERVANT.
AND SO, YES, I DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY TO BE ACCEPTING THIS NOMINATION TODAY, BECAUSE WHILE WE LIVE IN THE BEAUTIFUL GARDEN STATE, MY GOD, WE ARE IN TIMES BEARING STRANGE, STRANGE FRUIT.
I KNOW LIKE MOST OF MY BOARD COLLEAGUES AND ALL OF THEM MIGHT SAY THAT WHAT MATTERS LESS IS THE TITLE AND MORE WHAT WE DO WITH IT.
AND SO, IN THAT SPIRIT, I JUST WANNA GIVE A FEW MORE THANKS TO SOME PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR WHO HAVE MADE THIS DAY IN THE DAYS
[00:50:01]
AHEAD POSSIBLE TO THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR GREAT COUNTY OF ESSEX DEMOCRATIC PARTY, TO THE PARTY THAT IS THE ENGINE, NOT JUST OF ESSEX COUNTY, BUT THE ENGINE OF NEW JERSEY IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW JERSEY STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FUELING THE SOUL OF AMERICA AT TIMES THAT SEEM VERY SOULLESS.AND WHILE MY FATHER IS AN ANCESTOR NOUN, I THANK GOD FOR THE FACT THAT THERE ARE MEN LIKE YOU IN MY LIFE WHO TAKE CARE OF ME, WHO PRAY FOR ME, AND KEEP ME COVERED IN A WAY THAT FATHERS AND FATHER-LIKE FIGURES DO TO PEOPLE LIKE MY MAYOR, THE GREAT MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF NORTH NEW JERSEY, WHO FIRST SAW A WORLD FOR ME IN POLITICS WHEN I NEVER SAW IT FOR MYSELF.
I WAS ORGANIZING YOUNG PEOPLE STARTING MY ORGANIZATION.
AND THE MAYOR SAID, I SEE YOU.
I WANT YOU TO SEE YOU THE WAY I SEE YOU, AND ENCOURAGE ME LIKE MY YOUNG PERSON, LAKITA ACTUALLY TO RUN FOR OFFICE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND I THINK KIM, AND A DAY LIKE TODAY TO MY LEGISLATIVE AID TEAM, MISS DANA, MR. DAVE
AND I SEE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE.
I THINK I SAW MELISSA AND SO MANY PEOPLE WHO'VE LITERALLY LIKE KNOCKED ON DOORS FOR ME.
PEOPLE WHO I GREW UP WITH, CAME UP WITH HERE IN THE CITY.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BELIEVING IN SOMETHING, IT'S ABOUT HAVING PEOPLE AROUND YOU WHO CAN HELP YOU SEE THE VISION AND TAP INTO IT TOO.
AND SO MANY, MY MENTORS, FRIENDS, COUSINS, AUNTIES, UNCLES WHO ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY, SO MY BOARD COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE, WHO HAVE JUST BEEN INCREDIBLE PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS AND SUPPORTERS THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE, THIS ENTIRE, UH, TIRELESS AT TIMES WORK THAT IT SEEMS, BUT THE MOST REWARDING THING ONE COULD EVER DO TO MY DEPUTY CLERK, MS. KATHY, WHO'S BEEN SUCH AN INCREDIBLE MENTOR AND GUIDE THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY TO THE ENTIRE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, Y'ALL, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, DOES NOT RUN WITHOUT THE PHENOMENAL STAFF THAT KEEPS THIS WORK GOING.
SO, WE LOVE YOU, WE THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S TEAM WHO HELPS MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE AS COUNTY LEGISLATORS, AND OF COURSE TO ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE HARDEST WORK IN THE BADDEST COUNTY IN THE LAND.
IF YOU, ESSEX COUNTY PERSON, CAN YOU MAKE SOME NOISE, Y'ALL COME ON.
WHETHER YOU'RE A RESIDENT OR EMPLOYEE OR HISTORY MAKING SHERIFF LIKE MY BROTHER AMIR JONES, THIS IS A COUNTY UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
I THANK YOU AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE WITH YOU TODAY AND ALWAYS, AND TO THE BOARD LEADERSHIP BOARD PRESIDENT PALM, WHO HAS BEEN SO KIND AND GENEROUS.
UM, AND ANOTHER MENTOR OF MINE ON THIS BOARD IS I LEARNED THE ROPES AND JUST CONSISTENTLY ENCOURAGED AND OF COURSE TO MY NOMINATORS ON TODAY, MS. TMI COOPER, THE EPITOME OF BLACK GIRL MAGIC ON THIS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WHO I COULD TEXT AND CALL WITH ANY QUESTION, WITH ANY QUERY.
AND IT WAS REALLY SUCH A ROLE MODEL FOR ME.
SO I GET TO SIT RIGHT ACROSS FROM YOU ON THIS BOARD AND TO SEE YOU AND YOUR PASSION AND YOUR FERVOR THROUGHOUT HAS BEEN SUCH AN ENCOURAGEMENT.
AND SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR NOMINATION AND YOUR SUPPORT TO MY SECONDERS MY BROTHERS FROM NEWARK, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, COMMISSIONER MERCADO, WHO I GET TO SIT BETWEEN, SHOUT OUT TO, YOU KNOW, MONTCLAIR LIPSON.
YOU KNOW, I'M NEVER GONNA KNOCK IT 'CAUSE IT'S ESSEX, BUT I GET TO SIT BETWEEN THE BADDEST BROTHERS IN THE LAND FROM THE GREAT CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, EVERY SINGLE MEETING.
AND I APPRECIATE NEWARK IS IN THE HOUSE, BRICK CITY, NOT THE, YOU KNOW, YOU THE OFFICIAL ONE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
WE, WE ARE THE OFFICIAL BRICK CITY AND IT'S A GIFT TO WELCOME YOU TO OUR GREAT CITY AND OF COURSE TO BE ABLE TO SERVE WITH DISTINGUISHED MEN FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
AND TO ALL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO WERE HERE, MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY, MY MOTHER WHO WAS HERE, MY GRANDMOTHER, MY AUNTIE PAM, HER INCREDIBLE LIFE PARTNER, PETER, AND ALL MY EXTENDED FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COUSINS.
SO IF I DON'T SAY EVERYONE'S NAMES, FORGIVE ME, CHARGE IT TO MY HEAD AND NOT MY HEART.
BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WHEN I WIN, I'M LOOKING AT MY FIRST LADY, MY PRAYER PARTNER.
AND I, I DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY TO BE IN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN WIN TOGETHER AS A COUNTY, UM, AND AS A STATE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS NEW ROLE, BUT CERTAINLY A SPACE IN WHICH THE MISSION REMAINS THE SAME.
UM, WHICH IS TO SERVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I GOTTA SAY BEFORE I SIT DOWN AS A PROUD GUYANESE SISTER, SHOUT OUT TO ALL MY GUYANESE FAMILY IN THE BUILDING, TO THE GT MASSIVE OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK, ESSEX COUNTY HOLDS THE LARGEST
[00:55:01]
POPULATION OF ESE IMMIGRANTS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.AND SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ESSEX, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HARDWORKING, EVERYDAY CARIBBEAN PEOPLE, IMMIGRANT PEOPLE, PEOPLE FROM ALL STORIES AND BACKGROUNDS WHO MAKE OUR COUNTRY, MAKE OUR STATE WHAT THEY ARE.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE A DAUGHTER OF GREATNESS ON BOTH SIDES.
AND OF COURSE, CERTAINLY FROM THE BEST SIDE, WHICH IS THE SIDE OF NEWARK, THE SIDE OF NEW JERSEY, AND THE SIDE OF ALL OF YOU.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVE AND TO BE ON THE JOURNEY.
COMMISSIONERS CERTAINLY HAS THE GIFT OF GAB, RIGHT? THEY LOVE, UM, LISTEN, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE VERY LONG.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY TWO MEETINGS BECAUSE WE BROKE IT UP JUST TO DO THIS, UH, THIS ONE ON THE SHORTER SIDE, WE'RE JUST GONNA RUN THROUGH A FEW QUICK RESOLUTIONS AND THEN WE'RE GONNA ADJOURN AFTER THAT SO WE CAN TAKE SOME PICTURES AND THEN YOU'RE WELCOME TO GO.
'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA STICK AROUND WITH THE SECOND ONE, WHICH IS ALSO GONNA BE BRIEF TOO.
UM, BUT THAT I JUST WANT TO KIND OF GIVE EVERYONE A HEADS UP SO YOU DON'T GET TO AND SEE.
UM, AT THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA MOVE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION TO THE END OF THE MEETING.
SO MADAM DEPUTY COOK, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS.
UH, PLEASE READ RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE.
RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE, ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BYLAWS.
COMMISSIONERS, DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOVE IT.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE P PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT RIS? YES.
UH, PLEASE READ RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO.
ANNUAL SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS ADOPTION.
COMMISSIONER, DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE IT.
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS? ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER THREE.
RESOLUTION NUMBER THREE, RESOLUTION DESIGNATING OFFICIAL NEWS PAPERS FOR THE PUBLICATION OF LEGAL NOTICES AND AUTHORIZING ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION PURSUANT TO NEW JERSEY LAW 2026.
COMMISSIONER, DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOTION MOVED BY COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MARY THOMAS.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GRAHAM.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
RESOLUTION NUMBER NUMBER FOUR, RESOLUTION NUMBER FOUR.
DESIGNATION OF DEPOSIT DEPOSITORIES 2026.
COMMISSIONER, DO I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVE, MOVE BY.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER REPRESENTATIVES TO THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.
I'M SORRY, COMMISSIONER, DO I HAVE A MOTION? MOVE IT.
BY COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MARY THOMAS.
UH, JUST, UH, SINCE GIL'S NOT HERE, LET'S MAKE HIM THE, UH, THE, THE OFFICIAL COMMISSIONER REPRESENTATIVE.
THAT'S THE PUNISHMENT FOR NOT BEING HERE.
UH, THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE ANZAC WILL BE COMMISSIONER MCGILL.
THE ALTERNATIVES WILL BE MYSELF AND COMMISSIONER COOPER.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL.
MAD DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER SIX.
MR. MC, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET? NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONERS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON NUMBER SIX?
[01:00:01]
SEE NAN, DO ASK SOMEONE TO MOVE, MOVE, MOVE BY SIEBEL.ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, UH, IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ANY ISSUE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
LET THE RECORD REFLECT THERE'S NO ONE WILLING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
CAN WE HAVE, UH, REVEREND WILLIAMS, WILL YOU BE SO KIND TO THIS, TO COME UP HERE AND, UH, CLOSE THIS OUT WITH THE BENEDICTION? THANK YOU MADAM.
I AM SO HONORED, UM, TO STAND BEFORE YOU ON TONIGHT WITH BOTH INVOCATION AND BENEDICTION.
I WANNA SAY TO YOU AS I PREPARE TO CLOSE THAT IN THE DAYS WHEN YOU BELIEVE, UM, THAT YOUR JOB IS ARDUOUS, UH, WHEN YOU WONDER IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT CARES, IF YOU WONDER IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT IS PRAYING FOR YOU, UM, I WANNA SHARE A PRIVATE, UM, UH, MOMENT WITH YOU THAT, UH, ALMOST FIVE DAYS A WEEK, UH, I BEGIN MY DAY AT 8:00 AM IN PRAYER.
UH, AND ONE OF THE PRAYER WARRIORS THAT IS ON THAT LINE IS OUR, UH, LADY JACKIE JONES.
AND SO I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW, UM, THAT ALTHOUGH WE ARE PRAYING FOR THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE, UH, SPECIFICALLY AS NEEDS ARE ARISING HERE, SOMETIMES YOUR NAMES ARE BEING CALLED NOT YOUR MOST INTIMATE PERSONAL BUSINESS, BUT WHERE PRAYER IS NEEDED, PRAYER IS BEING APPLIED.
SO AGAIN, I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS HONOR TONIGHT, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT JUST FOR AN EVENT, BUT PRAYER IS A POSTURE OF LIFE THAT WE CARRY.
LET US TO GO TO GOD IN PRAYER.
AND SO, GOD, WE THANK YOU AGAIN ON TONIGHT, AND I THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT COMMISSION.
I THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESIDENT WHO HAS BEEN ELECTED AGAIN WITH A FINE JOB HE IS DOING FOR THIS YOUNGEST VICE PRESIDENT AND SISTER IN CHRIST.
WE CONTINUALLY PRAY BLESSINGS UPON HER AND THE ENTIRE BOARD.
SOME WE KNOW BY NAME AND SOME WE KNOW BY THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
UH, AGAIN, WE THANK GOD FOR ALLOWING, UH, MS. PAT TO BE HERE ON TONIGHT.
WE PRAY EVEN NOW FOR EVERY ORDINANCE, EVERY RESOLUTION, EVERY COUNTYWIDE LAW POLICY THAT THEY HAVE A HANDOVER EVERY REVIEWING OF BUDGET.
I PRAY THAT THERE BE ENOUGH BANK FOR THE BUDGET.
LORD GOD, I PRAY EVEN NOW FOR EVERY APPOINTMENT, ALL THE ADVICE THAT THEY WOULD GIVE OFFICIALLY AND UNOFFICIALLY.
I THANK YOU FOR THE AGREEMENT THAT IS IN ESSEX COUNTY.
I THANK YOU FOR OUR FEARLESS CHAIRMAN AND ALSO OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
I THANK YOU FOR EACH AND EVERY MAYOR, EVERY COUNCIL PERSON, AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE DO TOGETHER.
I PRAY THAT WHEN TIMES OF INVESTIGATION COME THAT THE PEOPLE WILL HAVE TRUST IN KNOWING THAT THE COMMISSIONERS ARE EXECUTING THEM FAIRLY AND UNBIASED.