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THIS MEETING OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BORDER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THIS IS HEREBY CALLED TO ORDER.
THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED IN ADDITION TO TAKING PLACE HERE IN PERSON.
MS. EVANS, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER GILL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PALM HERE.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE SALUTE TO THE FLAG.
I'M GONNA ASK COMMISSIONER GIL TO LEAD US IN THE SALUTE I PLEDGE TO ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
JUST GONNA ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO WE'VE LOST SINCE THE LAST TIME WE CAME TOGETHER IN THIS CHAMBER.
I HAVE BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FROM THE DEPUTY CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF TRANSCRIPTS.
MS. EVANS, DO WE HAVE ANY TRANSCRIPTS TO BE APPROVED? YES.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE FROM THE MAY 22ND, 2024 CONFERENCE, BOARD MEETING.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MOVE IT.
SEEING NONE MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LUCIANO OR A SECOND? SECOND.
BY GRANT, BY ROME COMMISSIONER SERMON.
SORRY, I KEEP GOING BACK TO THAT.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO TOPICS OF DISCUSSION.
MS. EVANS, DO WE HAVE ANY? NO.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
TONIGHT'S PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, IS A COMBINED CONFERENCE BOARD MEETING.
AND SO EVERY ITEM ON THE AGENDA WILL BE, UH, VOTED ON.
IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THERE'LL BE TIME LATER IN THE MEETING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OTHER ITEM.
SO I ASK YOU, PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
HI, MY NAME IS JANET MACK AND, UM, I MET PAM EARLIER AT THE BURG PARK AND SHE INFORMED ME THAT YOU WERE HAVING A MEETING TONIGHT.
I JUST MOVED BACK TO THE NEWARK AREA, SO I'M TRYING TO GET, UM, TO SEE WHAT'S INVOLVED, BUT I'M MAINLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RONALD L. RICE, UM, PARK BECAUSE I USED TO WORK WITH RON BACK IN THE DAY.
ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
AND I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH SAVE OF ESSEX COUNTY, UM, A PART OF THE FAMILY SERVICES LEAGUE.
AND I NOTICED ITEM NUMBER 35 ON THE AGENDA ABOUT, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND THE, UH, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INVOLVED IN THAT.
AND I DO THINK AT THIS POINT IN TIME, IT'S ESPECIALLY NECESSARY FOR OUR US TO BE READY FOR ANY, UH, EMERGENCY SITUATION.
AND SO, UM, AS A VOLUNTEER FOR SAVE OF ESSEX COUNTY, I GO TO, UH, SUPPORT SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS IN THE HOSPITAL AND OFFER THEM, UH, SERVICES THAT FAMILY SERVICES LEAGUE, UH, GIVES, SUCH AS FREE THERAPY AND ALSO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THEIR RIGHTS AND PROVIDE TRAUMA SUPPORT FOR THEM.
AND I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS FUNDING FOR FAMILY SERVICES LEAGUE IS AT UNDER THREAT.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE BOARD WILL DO TO MAKE UP ANY FUNDING THAT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO FAMILY SERVICES LEAGUE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THESE
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SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY IN NEED.AND AS OUR CUSTOM, UH, WE'LL GET SOMEONE TO TAKE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.
SO, MS. EVANS, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTIONS ON INTRODUCTIONS AND FIRST READINGS.
MS. EVANS, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING? NO.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE, UH, ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY.
SO LET'S MOVE ON, UH, TO ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTIONS ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING.
MS. EVANS, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTIONS ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE THREE.
ORDINANCE NUMBER O 2020 5 0 0 0 5, ORDINANCE NUMBER O 2020 5 0 0 6 AND ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 2 0 2 5 7.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO, UH, PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE O DASH 2025 DASH ZERO FIVE, WHICH WILL BE READ UNTIL TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I HEREBY DECLARE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 2025 DASH 0 0 0 5 OPEN.
IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FORWARD AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICRO FOR STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
MR. PARVE, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, JUST A COMMENT.
A REMINDER, THIS IS A BOND ORDINANCE FOR, UH, PROPERTY IN CORONA THAT WE DISCUSSED, UH, DURING THE INTRODUCTION OF FIRST READING.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE NUMBER OH DASH 2025 DASH 0 0 0 0 5.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVER? AND SECOND TO YES.
MOVE THE UH, AND APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
WE'RE GONNA BE OUTTA HERE IN NO TIME.
YOU GUYS CAN GIGGLE IN THE BACK WHEN I MAKE BAD JOKES.
ALRIGHT, SO WE HAVE, UH, UH, WE HAVE MOVE THE SECOND, UH, ROLL CALL MS. S.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 2025 DASH 0 0 0 0 6, WHICH SHOULD BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I HEREBY DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 2025 DASH 0 0 0 6 OPEN AS ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FOR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
MR. PARLOVE, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO COMMENTS.
MR. MACINERNEY, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEE NONE.
DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE? AND SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE O DASH 2025 DASH 0 0 0 0 6.
WE'LL GET YOU NEXT ON THE NEXT ONE.
RICHARD, DO I HAVE TO SAY MOVER IN SECOND? YES.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 2025 DASH 0 0 0 7, WHICH SHOULD BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I HEREBY DECLARE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 2025 DASH 0 0 0 7.
IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FORWARD AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
SEEING NONE, MR. PARLOVE, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO COMMENTS.
DO I HAVE A MOVER AND A SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING? I MOVE BY SEBO.
DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVER? AND, UH, SECOND TO APPROVE? YES.
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COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES.COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
OKAY, MS. EVANS, AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA MOVE OUT OF TURN.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO, UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER 83, WHICH IS FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
AND WE'LL READ IT TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I WANT TO CALL ON MY GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, COMMISSIONER BRENDAN GILL, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THIS BOARD, WHO WILL SPEAK TO THIS RESOLUTION.
UM, AND THANK, UH, ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO, WHO QUICKLY, UH, SUPPORTED, UM, THIS RESOLUTION.
UM, AND I'LL, I'LL BE BRIEF BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE, UM, ADVOCATES IN THE, IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS RESOLUTION.
BUT THIS IS A, A RESOLUTION, UH, UH, STATING A POLICY OF OUR, UM, OF OUR COUNTY, UH, TO OPPOSE, UH, THE FEDERAL PROPOSALS TO SLASH BOTH HEALTH COVERAGE AND SHIFT THESE COSTS AND BURDENS, UH, TO STATE BUDGETS.
IN ESSENCE, WHAT THIS IS, IS A RESOLUTION, UH, ADDRESSING, UH, THE PROPOSED CUTS TO MEDICAID, WHICH ARE, UM, NOW, UH, PART OF, UH, THE INTRODUCED, UH, BUDGET AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
UM, WE ARE, UM, IN A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS,
AND, UM, ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT PART OF OUR, WHAT I WOULD SAY, REGULAR BUSINESS, UM, I FEEL COMPELLED THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY, UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO DO OUR BEST, DO OUR BEST TO HAVE ESSEX COUNTY GOVERNMENT FUNCTION, UH, AND DELIVER FOR ITS PEOPLE, UM, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, PARTICULARLY AT THIS TIME, TO SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT, UH, ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON NATIONALLY.
UH, THERE ARE OVER 2 MILLION, UH, PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, UM, WHO, UH, WHO MEDICAID AFFECTS IN A STATE OF 9 MILLION, 2 MILLION PEOPLE I BELIEVE IN THE COUNTY, WHICH IS IN THE RESOLUTION.
AND, UM, I FORGOT MY READING GLASSES.
SO READING THIS RIGHT NOW,
TRUST ME, THAT'S A SIGN OF HOW LONG I'VE BEEN DOING THIS.
UM, THE NUMBER, UM, IN ESSEX COUNTY, I THINK IS ROUGHLY AROUND 270,000 PEOPLE.
UM, ONE IN THREE, UH, BETWEEN SENIOR SERVICES, SNAP, OTHER PROGRAMS. SO JUST THINK ABOUT THAT ONE IN THREE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY IS AFFECTED BY WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
IT IS INSANE WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED.
AND WE, I BELIEVE, HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO STEP UP, TO SPEAK OUT AND TO PUT AS MUCH AS WE CAN ON THE RECORD WHAT WE BELIEVE, UM, SHOULD BE HAPPENING AND OPPOSE THINGS LIKE THIS THAT HURT OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR CONSTITUENTS.
SO, UM, TO, UM, AND THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL, THIS IS NOT A PARTISAN POLITICAL MATTER.
THIS IS AN ISSUE OF VALUES AND WHAT WE STAND FOR.
UH, SO WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, UM, I'LL STOP THERE.
UM, AGAIN, THANK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES WHO QUICKLY, UM, AGREE TO BE A PART OF TODAY'S, UH, RESOLUTION.
UH, AND ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM, UH, SOME OF THE MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO BROUGHT THIS TO OUR ATTENTION AND THOUGHT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE THIS PUBLIC STATEMENT AS A BOARD, UH, AT THIS TIME IN OUR HISTORY.
COMMISSIONER, DID YOU HAVE, UH, A COUPLE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN PARTICULAR WANTED TO BRING UP? YEAH, PLEASE.
THANK YOU S THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.
UM, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
I'M THE CO-CHAIR OF THE, UH, HEALTHCARE COMMITTEE FOR BLUE WAVE NEW JERSEY.
WE, UH, IN LATE FEBRUARY AS HOUSE REPUBLICANS TEED UP THEIR FEDERAL SPENDING BLUEPRINT FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS, PRESIDENT TRUMP FORCED THEM TO TRY TO SQUARE A CIRCLE ON FEBRUARY 18TH.
HE PROMISED THAT THE PENDING BUDGET RESOLUTION WOULD NOT QUOTE TOUCH MEDICAID ON FEBRUARY 19TH.
HE ENTHUSIASTICALLY ENDORSED THE RESOLUTION, WHICH CALLS FOR $880 BILLION IN SPENDING CUTS FROM PROGRAMS OVERSEEN BY THE HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHICH WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF MEDICAID.
THAT CUT TARGET REMAINED IN EFFECT WHEN THE SENATE AND HOUSE FINALIZED THEIR BUDGET RESOLUTION IN EARLY APRIL.
SENATE AND HOUSE LEADERSHIP HAVE ALSO PLEDGED TO ADHERE TO A BROADER TARGET OF $1.5 TRILLION TO BE CUT OVER 10 YEARS FROM VARIOUS VITAL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SNAP HOUSE LEADERSHIP HAS SETTLED ON A STRATEGY TO SQUARE TRUMP CIRCLE.
THEY'RE AIMING TO DEFUND THE AFFORDABLE CARE
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ACT MEDICAID EXPANSION, A CUT WORTH $561 BILLION OVER 10 YEARS ACCORDING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE.AND IMPOSE WORK REQUIREMENTS ON MEDICAID ENROLLEES.
THEY DENIGRATE AS ABLE-BODIED BY IMPLICATION LAZY ADULTS WHO SHOULDN'T NEED GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.
IF THEY SUCCEED, THEY WILL ULTIMATELY STRIP COVERAGE FOR MOST OR ALL OF THE 21 MILLION LOW INCOME ADULTS INSURED THROUGH THE A CA MEDICAID EXPANSION, INCLUDING 550,000 IN NEW JERSEY.
70 70,000 OF THEM IN ESSEX COUNTY.
OVERALL, ESSEX COUNTY HAS ABOUT 200,000, UH, MEDICAID, NEW JERSEY FAMILY CARE IN IES, BUT THEY WILL DO SO IN THE NAME OF QUOTE UNQUOTE PROTECTING MEDICAID FOR THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS FOR WHOM IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED.
DISMISSING THE A CA EXPANSION IS ILLEGITIMATE.
THEY ALSO HAVE THEIR KNIVES SHARPENED FOR MEDICAID PROVIDER TAXES AND DIRECTED PAYMENTS, LEGAL MECHANISMS IN PRACTICE FOR DECADES BY WHICH STATES WITH CMS APPROVAL LEVERAGED, LEVERAGE THE FEDERAL MATCH RATE TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS IN COVERAGE AND PROVIDER PAYMENTS.
STATES COULD THEORETICALLY MAINTAIN THE A CA EXPANSION IF THE 90% FEDERAL MATCH RATE IS REPEALED, BUT IT WOULD BE PROHIBITIVELY EXPRE EXPENSIVE NEW JERSEY'S DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES HAS SCOPED OUT THE COST FOR NEW JERSEY, ALONG WITH THE COST OF OTHER SPENDING CUTS ON THE REPUBLICAN MENU, DEFUNDING THE A CA EXPANSION WOULD COST THE STATE AN ESTIMATED $2.3 BILLION ANNUALLY, ELIMINATING ALL THE STATE'S PROVIDER TAX AND DIRECT PAYMENT PROGRAMS WOULD REMOVE ANOTHER 4.2 BILLION.
DHS WARNS THAT REVENUE LOSSES FOR HOSPITALS IN NEW JERSEY, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS 10 AND 11, BOTH OF WHICH INCLUDE MUCH OF ESSEX COUNTY WITH TOTAL APPROXIMATELY $280 MILLION IN DISTRICT 10 AND 200 MILLION IN DISTRICT 11 ANNUALLY.
IF, IF TWO LIKELY CUTS ARE ENACTED, THOSE ARE ELIMINATION OF THE A CA 90% MATCH RATE AND ELIMINATION OF THE COUNTY OPTION FUNDED BY A MEDICAID PROVIDER.
TAX THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU SENDS A MESSAGE TO NEW JERSEY'S REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS DO NOT HARM YOUR CONSTITUENTS BY STRIPPING THEM OF HEALTH COVERAGE.
DO NOT DEVASTATE THE STATE BUDGET BY CUTTING BILLIONS IN ANNUAL MEDICAID FUNDING.
DO NOT INCREASE FOOD INSECURITY FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS BY CUTTING SNAP FUNDING.
PLEASE, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
UH, PLEASE LEAVE ME YOUR COMMENTS FOR THREE MINUTES 'CAUSE WE DO HAVE A FULL MEETING.
HI EVERYONE, MY NAME IS ERIC BENSON, MONTCLAIR RESIDENT.
UH, I KNOW YOU GUYS DON'T HEAR THIS VERY OFTEN, OFTEN, BUT I'M PROUD TO PAY MY TAXES.
ONE EXAMPLE, CLOSE TO HOME, UH, ESSEX COUNTY PARKS, SOME OF THE BEST IN NEW JERSEY.
UM, WHAT WE DO, WE POOL OUR RESOURCES.
WE CHIP IN THE COUNTY, INVESTS IN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE AND EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, NO MATTER HOW MUCH OR HOW LITTLE MONEY THAT THEY HAVE BENEFITS FROM THIS INVESTMENT, MY KIDS USE IT EVERY DAY.
NOT EVERYONE IS AS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT PAYING THEIR TAXES.
THE, UH, WEALTHY AND CORPORATIONS HAVE BENEFITED FROM A RIG SYSTEM, AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE LIVING THROUGH AN ERA OF EXTREME WEALTH INEQUALITY.
UM, AND THE PLAN IS TO USE THE WEALTHY, THEIR POWER, THEIR WEALTH, AND THEIR INFLUENCE TO FURTHER ENRICH THEMSELVES.
ONE, UM, PROGRAM IN THE CROSS HAIRS WE TALKED ABOUT IS MEDICAID.
DID YOU KNOW THERE'S NEARLY TOO MANY, TOO MILLION PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY ON MEDICAID? IF YOU'RE OUT OF 9 MILLION PEOPLE HERE, IF YOU'RE NOT ON MEDICAID, YOU PROBABLY KNOW SOMEBODY WHO IS.
AND THESE FOLKS THAT ARE IN MEDICAID ARE LARGELY KIDS, SENIORS, LOW INCOME, DISABLED FOLKS.
WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE IT HARDER, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE PLAN IS TO DO.
AND IT'S ALL IN SERVICE TO GIVE BILLIONAIRES A TAX BREAK.
IF MY CONGRESSWOMAN LAMONICA MACGYVER IS LISTENING, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO CONSTITUENTS, TO GOING OUT THERE FIGHTING AND SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THESE, UM, VERY HARMFUL AND HURTFUL PROPOSALS.
THE, UH, THE THREE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THE MAJORITY PARTY WHO VOTED TO ADVANCE THIS PLAN, I WISH THAT THEY WERE DOING THE SAME RIGHT NOW.
UM, THE MEMBERS OF MEDICAID IN EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT, THEY'RE VOTING AGAINST THEIR OWN CONSTITUENTS CONCERNS, BUT THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE, THE THREE OF THEM ALONE COULD STOP THIS CHAOS AND STOP THIS PLAN.
AND, UM, THEY HAVE THE POWER TO DO IT, BUT THEY'RE HURTING EVERYONE ELSE IN NEW JERSEY.
AND MY LAST POINT IS THE, THE COST SHARE.
SO EVERYTHING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT DOESN'T PAY FOR THE STATE'S GOTTA PICK UP THE TAB.
AND WHEN THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY, THEY'RE PASSING IT DOWN AND WE'RE ALREADY IN A LITTLE BIT OF A BUDGET CRUNCH IT.
SO, UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THIS RESOLUTION UP.
THE ONLY DISAGREEMENT I HAVE WITH YOU, SIR, IS THAT I THINK OUR COUNTY PARKS ARE THE BEST, NOT ONLY IN THE STATE, BUT BEYOND.
THEY GOTTA GIVE US A SHAMELESS PLUG EVERY ONCE IN WHILE.
SO, UH, COMMISSIONER GILL, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP.
I KNOW I, I'M SURE I SPEAK FOR THE BOARD, UH, YOU KNOW, AND ALL FULL SUPPORT AND THANKING YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE BOARD.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
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ALL RIGHT, SO COMMISSIONER GI, I'M ASSUMING YOU WANNA MOVE THIS.WHO WOULD LIKE TO SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER SEABOLD.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE SPEAKERS FOR COMING TODAY AND FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS.
AND, UH, AGAIN, COMMISSIONER GILL, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE TABLE.
ALRIGHT, UH, LET'S GO BACK IN ORDER TO RESOLUTIONS ONE THROUGH 34, WHICH ARE ADVICE AND CONSENT RESOLUTIONS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RESOLUTIONS 5, 15, 19, AND 20, WHICH ARE ALL WITHDRAWN FROM THE ADMINIS BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
RESOLUTIONS ONE THROUGH 22 ARE NOMINATIONS FOR APPOINTMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS.
23 THROUGH 34 ARE NOMINATIONS FOR REAPPOINTMENT FROM VARIOUS ADVISORY BOARDS.
AND WE'LL BE READY INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT BOARD, EXCUSE ME, ITEMS ONE THROUGH THREE MEMBERS AND, UM, I DUNNO, MR. CATEGORIES OR EVERYBODY, WHY DON'T WE TAKE EVERYONE, UM, AND THE ITEM FOUR ADVISORY BOARD, UM, AND FOR YOUR, UH, UNIT, THOSE INDIVIDUAL HAVE TONIGHT.
UH, WE'RE GONNA LEAVE OUT NUMBER FIVE, RIGHT? YES.
OKAY, SO WE'RE ON TO NUMBER SIX? YES.
GIVE US MORE, A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR INTEREST IN THE COMMITTEE.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION AND JUST TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE US YOUR WHOLE LIFE STORY, BUT THEN DON'T BE SHY.
UH, WHY DON'T WE, MATT, CAN YOU ADJUST THE MICROPHONE A LITTLE BIT PLEASE? THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS JOSEPH MARIE OSCAR, UH, PREFERENCE IS JOEY.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I'M SUPPOSED TO SAY.
TELL US, WHAT DO YOU DO AND WHY DO YOU WANT TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD? AH, OKAY.
SO OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS I WAS WORKING WITH THE STATE, UM, AT GRAYSTONE AND THEN AETNA MAYHAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, UM, EAST JERSEY STATE PRISON AND UNION COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
UM, MOST RECENTLY I WAS A PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND NOW I'M WORKING OUT OF JERSEY CITY MEDICAL CENTER, OVERSEEING THREE PROGRAMS. UM, I REALLY DO ENJOY THE WORK OF WORKING WITH OTHERS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE, UM, THE, THE, THE LEAST FAVORABLE INDIVIDUALS, WHICH IS INMATES THAT ARE INCARCERATED.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASSIST IN ADVOCATING.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY, THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME.
IF YOU DO GOOD WORK WITH WP NEXT YEAR, BUT WE APPRECIATE THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE GOOD? ALRIGHT.
SEE, THANK EVERYBODY ELSE WILL FOLLOW.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO NUMBER SEVEN.
UM, DIRECTOR MARTINEZ WILL INTRODUCE MEMBERS TO BE NOMINATED TO THE ESSEX COUNTY YOUTH SERVICES COMMISSION.
GOOD EVENING DIRECTOR, HOW ARE YOU? I'M WELL, YOURSELF? GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR ESSEX COUNTY YOUTH SERVICE COMMISSION.
UM, BE, BEFORE I DO THE INTRODUCTIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO DO A SMALL BRIEF, UH, UH, INTRODUCTION OF WHAT THE YOUTH SERVICE COMMISSION IS.
THE YOUTH SERVICE COMMISSION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADDRESSING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY BY PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING, MONITORING, AND EVALUATING COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED AS A DELINQUENT.
IN ADDITION, THE YSC SUPPORTS HEALTHY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT BY FUNDING PREVENTION PROGRAMS TAILORED TO ADVERSE YOUTH THROUGH THESE EFFORTS.
THE YSC PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN REDUCING DELINQUENCY, PROVIDING ALTERNATIVE TO DETENTION, AND PROMOTING THE OVERALL WELLBEING OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE YOUTH SERVICE COMMISSION ENSURES THAT RESOURCES ARE USED EFFECTIVELY TO SUPPORT TRANSFORMATIVE AND LONG-TERM OUTCOMES FOR OUR YOUTH.
WITH THAT MISSION IN MIND, I AM
[00:25:01]
PROUD TO INTRODUCE THIS YEAR'S NOMINATIONS.UM, TODAY WE HAVE DAVID K. ARMSTRONG.
MR. ARMSTRONG, PLEASE JUST, UH, FOR THE RECORD, STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION AND JUST TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
UM, MY NAME IS DAVID ARMSTRONG.
I CURRENTLY HOLD A POSITION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE SPECIALIST FOR SPAN.
SPAN IS THE STATEWIDE PARENT ADVOCACY NETWORK.
UM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH YJC WHO CHANGED THEIR NAME FROM JJC AND I GET IT TO TRAVEL TO THEIR FACILITIES TO TALK TO THE RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES ABOUT TRANSITIONAL SERVICE AND SUPPORT.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, UM, FATHER, GRANDFATHER, GREAT-GRANDFATHER, HUSBAND.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MR. ARMSTRONG? OKAY, WE'RE GOOD.
NEXT WE HAVE KENNETH M. DOUGLAS.
MR. DOUGLAS, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONER, UH, KENNETH M. DOUGLAS.
UM, CURRENTLY I SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF TRENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT IN NEW JERSEY STATE'S CAPITAL, UM, FORMERLY RETIRED NEWARK FIREFIGHTER, WHERE I WAS AN ARSON DETECTIVE, AND ALSO I'M THE CEO, UM, AND THE FOUNDER OF FLAME FIREFIGHTER LEAGUE ACTIVITIES MENTORING EDUCATION WHERE THIS IS, UH, CLOSE TO MY HEART BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT BE BEING A ARSON DETECTIVE IN THE CITY OF NEWARK AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, I ALWAYS LIKE TO GIVE BACK AND ACTUALLY DO DETER PROGRAMS FOR THE YOUTH THAT IT, IT GETS CAUGHT UP IN CRIMES.
UM, WHEN I WAS A DETECTIVE, I GUESS I MUST SAY, THAT DID, UM, CONFRONT A LOT OF CHILDREN SETTING FIRES IN THE SCHOOLS, UM, AND AROUND THE CITY OF NEWARK.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW, EVEN BEING THE DIRECTOR, UH, THE CEO OF MY OWN NONPROFIT, I CAN ACTUALLY DO A DETERRENT PROGRAM MYSELF, KNOWING THE PROBLEMS WITHIN INNER CITY YOUTH THAT THEY FACE WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO SETTING FIRES AND FILTER THAT THROUGH MY NONPROFIT AND GIVE THEM DETERRENT, UM, PROGRAMMING THAT THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM IT SO THAT DOESN'T DESTROY THEIR LIVES.
UM, I'M VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS COMMISSION.
I WANT TO THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR, UM, TO CITY DIRECTOR HERE AND ALSO THE COMMISSION, I'M SORRY, JASON MARTINEZ, FRIEND OF MINE, UM, AND ALSO THE COUNTY EXEC.
AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THIS COMMISSION AND, UM, MOST GRATEFUL THAT CAN SERVE THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PAST SERVICE AND YOUR CURRENT AS WELL.
UM, I'M SURE WE ALL, UH, WOULD AGREE WE'D APPRECIATE THAT AND FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE NOW COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MR. DOUGLAS? THAT'S A GOOD TIME SEEING
TONIGHT WE ALSO HAVE LORI A. SCOTT PICKENS.
I THINK YOU CAUGHT ONTO THE ROUTINE AT THIS POINT.
UH, THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT AND THE COMMISSIONERS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
I'M LORI SCOTT PICKENS AND I'M DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH FOR THE SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE.
I ALSO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE MONITORING COMMITTEE, UM, FOR THE COMMISSION.
I AM HONORED, HUMBLED, AND PLEASED THAT YOU HAVE DECIDED TO CONSIDER ME FOR THIS, UH, POSITION.
THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR MARTINEZ.
I'M PUT HIM ON THE RECORD, UM, AND TO MY CONGRATULATIONS TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WHO WILL BE SWORN IN TONIGHT.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE AND HUGGING IS ALLOWED.
IF, IF, IF EVERYONE'S OKAY WITH IT THEN.
SO, UM, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE REVEREND BERNARD WILKES.
WE, JASON, CAN YOU, UH, LOWER THE MICROPHONE JUST A LITTLE BIT? YES.
UH, MY NAME IS BERNARD WILKES.
I AM A MINISTER IN THE, UH, COUNTY NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH YOUTH FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.
VOLUNTARY PROBATION COUNSELOR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, WORKED WITH THE ALTERNATIVE TO DETENTION PROGRAM WHEN JUDGE GRANT WAS OVERSEEING THAT AND THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.
WE WORKED WITH A GROUP CALLED FATHERHOOD BROTHERHOOD INITIATIVE, WHERE THERE ARE MEN WHO ARE IN BROTHERHOOD AND FUNCTIONING FATHERHOOD WITH THE YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND WE HAVE THEM GOING TO SUMMER CAMP AND A LOT OF THINGS, UH, TYPICALLY IT'S CONNECTED WITH THE CHURCH, BUT IT'S FOR EVERYONE.
WHOSOEVER WILL WE RECRUIT THEM.
SO I APPRECIATE BEING A PART OF THIS COMMISSION AND I THANK JASON AGAIN FOR NOMINATING ME FOR THIS PHASE.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU DO.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THAT WAS, UH, MR. WILKES WAS NUMBER 11
[00:30:01]
FOR THE RECORD.DID WE SKIP OVER 10? YES, WE DID.
I, I'VE, I'M CONVINCED MR. MARTINEZ KNOWS THAT TO COUNT, HE'S JUST OFF BY ONE TODAY.
GOOD EVENING, MR. WILLIAMS. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONSIDERING ME TO CONTINUE TO SERVE AS A ESSEX COUNTY YOUTH SERVICE COMMISSIONER.
CURRENTLY, I SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THE PLAN WITH THE MONIES THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT IS MY ESTEEMED PLEASURE TO REPRESENT THE VICTIM'S VOICE FOR JUSTICE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU DO.
COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
YOUR LAST ONE, MR. MARTINEZ? UNFORTUNATELY, NO.
IT'S A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE TO, UH, YES.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO NUMBER 12.
CAN WE ADJUST THE MICROPHONE? JUST LOWER IT FROM THE STAND A LITTLE BIT? 'CAUSE UH, YEAH, A LITTLE BETTER.
I'VE ALWAYS DESIRED TO BE FIVE NINE, BUT I DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT.
I STOPPED AT FIVE, EIGHT AND A HALF.
YOU GOT ME BY, YOU KNOW, UH, GOOD EVENING.
AND I JUST WANNA THANK THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE NOMINATION THIS EVENING TO THE ESSEX COUNTY YOUTH SERVICES COMMISSION.
MY NAME IS JASMINE JOSEPH FOREMAN, AND CURRENTLY I SERVE AS THE CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER FOR THE NEWARK OPPORTUNITY YOUTH NETWORK.
UM, I HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN SERVICING YOUNG PEOPLE.
UM, I USED TO WORK FOR THE JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMISSION AND ALSO FOR THE NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO I'M HONORED TO BE HERE, UM, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MY COLLEAGUES WHO ALSO SHOW UP EVERY DAY TO SERVE YOUNG PEOPLE.
UM, SO I WANT TO THANK JASON, UH, AND THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES, UM, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR YOUTH.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? GOOD.
MR. JACKSON? WE'RE WORKING MR. MARTINEZ OVERTIME TODAY, AREN'T WE? WE FLAT BREAK.
THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT AND EVERYONE IN THE RESPECTED PLACES.
THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR MARTINEZ.
MY NAME IS ERICA HAW AND I'M THE NEWLY APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION FOR NEWARK PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING HAND IN HAND, UM, WITH THE GREAT PEOPLE OF THIS CITY TO REALLY SERVE AND SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR ONE, EDUCATED TO ANOTHER.
UM, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY, WE'RE GOOD.
DAVID E. SIMS. GOOD EVENING, MR. SIMS. GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT AND BOARD COMMISSIONERS.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.
I AM DAVID SIMS. I AM A RETIRED EMPLOYEE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES DIVISION OF CHILD PROTECTION AND PERMANENCY, AND RECENTLY RETIRED AFTER 40 YEARS.
I'M A PREVIOUS MEMBER OF THE YOUTH SERVICE COMMISSION AND HAVE SERVED GRACIOUSLY AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE.
I AM CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF THE ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN OF NEW JERSEY, A BOARD MEMBER.
AND I'M CURRENTLY ALSO WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN WHAT WE CALL THE CHILD FOCUS SAFE BABIES COURT TEAM.
AND I AM HONORED TO BE HERE AND WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO SERVE MR. SAMUEL.
IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU'RE RETIRED AT ALL, SIR.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALRIGHT.
15 IS WITHDRAWN, CORRECT? YES.
SARAH B. CRUZ? NO STRANGER TO ME.
THE COUNCILWOMAN HA FROM THE GREAT TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD WHERE I HAPPEN TO RESIDE.
FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION SURE.
AND TELL US US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU DIRECTOR FOR THIS NOMINATION.
I CURRENTLY SERVE ON THE BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP COUNCIL.
IN MY EIGHTH YEAR, I AM THE LIAISON TO THE BLOOMFIELD MUNICIPAL YOUTH GUIDANCE COUNCIL.
SO, AND I ALSO HAVE SERVED, UM, WORKED AT THE NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION RUNNING AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR EIGHT YEARS AND WORKED AT THE STATEWIDE AFTERSCHOOL NETWORK.
SO THE SPACE FROM THREE TO SIX AFTERSCHOOL IN THE SUMMERTIME IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND VITAL THAT WE HAVE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE SO THAT THEY'RE KEEPING BUSY AND OUT OF TROUBLE AND DOING, UM, GOOD THINGS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
SO I'M REALLY PLEASED TO BE HERE ON THIS, UM, COMMITTEE AND I HOPE TO DO GREAT WORK WITH YOU ALL.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN AND I MIGHT ADD THAT SHE SERVES A GREAT DISTINCTION.
I'VE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN TWO EYES AND A COMMITMENT TO THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD AND TO YOUTH IN GENERAL IS EXCEPTIONAL.
SO WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE COUNCILWOMAN? COMMISSIONER GILL, YOU, YOU LEFT OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
[00:35:01]
OH, NO.SHE'S A GRADUATE OF MONTCLAIR HIGH SCHOOL.
WE HAVE DIRECTOR REGINALD, UH, BLEDSO DIRECTOR.
BLEDSO IS NO STRANGER TO THIS BOARD.
IT'S A GREAT DISTINCTION HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.
FIRST I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR RECOMMENDING MY NOMINATION TO THE YOUTH SERVICES COMMISSION.
I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, DIRECTOR MARTINEZ, UH, WHO HAPPENS TO BE A GREAT COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND.
UH, AND I LEARNED A LOT FROM HIS LEADERSHIP ON HOW TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE OUR MOST VULNERABLE, VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
AND FOR ME, UM, I AM HONORED TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE TO SUPPORT SPECIALIZED YOUTH, SPECIFICALLY.
THOSE ARE PART OF THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY.
UH, AS WE KNOW THAT L-G-B-T-Q FOLKS OFTENTIMES DO NOT HAVE POSITIVE OUTLETS AND OFTENTIMES RESORT TO NEGATIVE INFLUENCE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE THAT PERSPECTIVE FOR THIS COMMISSION.
AND, UH, I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, I HO I SERVE ON A HOST OF OTHER ROLES.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF FORCE OF L-G-B-T-Q AFFAIRS.
I CURRENTLY AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ESSEX COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION.
I CURRENTLY SERVE AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER FOR THE ESSEX COUNTY SCHOOLS OF TECHNOLOGY.
UH, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE A PASSION TO ME, UH, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UPLIFT AND MAKE SURE THAT THE NEXT GENERATION COMING BEHIND US, UH, HAVE POSITIVE OUTLETS AND MULTIPLE PLATFORMS, UH, SO THAT THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH.
SO I, I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE AND JUST THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT, GREAT.
I AM THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH MANAGER FOR THE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
MY FOCUS IS TO PROVIDE OUR YOUTH WITH TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE YOUTH SERVICES COMMISSION BOARD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR YOUTH AND SUPPORT OUR YOUTH.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU.
NUMBER 19 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM BY THE ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS NUMBER 20.
TODAY, TONIGHT WE HAVE HONORABLE JOSEPHINE C GARCIA.
I'M CURRENTLY THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO COUNCILMAN GONZALEZ HERE WITH THE CITY OF NEWARK.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING OUR NEWARK RESIDENTS FOR THE PAST 26 YEARS.
I WAS CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEWARK BOARD OF EDUCATION AS WELL.
I SIT ALSO AS PRESIDENT TO THE ESSEX COUNTY REGIONAL SERVICES COMMISSION.
AND WHEN I WAS OFFERED THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE YOUTH HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY, IT ACTUALLY WAS IN ALIGNMENT WITH ESSEX REGIONAL.
SO I AM ACTUALLY VERY EXCITED TO TAKE ON THIS NEW ROLE HERE WITH DIRECTOR MARTINEZ.
AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR YOUTH COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
AND LASTLY, WE HAVE COACH CAROLYN R. LUCAS.
YES, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
I WANTED TO SAY GOOD EVENING TO THE PRESIDENT AND TO OUR DIRECTOR JASON MARTINEZ.
AND I ALSO WANNA SAY TO MY COUNCILWOMAN, I'M ALSO PROUD TO BE A LIFELONG BLOOMFIELD RESIDENT AND I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, DIRECTOR MARTINEZ AND COMMISSIONERS.
PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, I HAD A CONTRACT WITH THE ESSEX COUNTY WEOA, WHERE I SERVED AS THE IN-HOUSE YOUTH CAREER COACH FOR NINE YEARS.
AND IT WAS AN HONOR TO PROVIDE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT ESSEX COUNTY WITH WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS MENTORSHIP.
AFTER THE PANDEMIC, I WAS HONORED TO CARE.
MY 90-YEAR-OLD MOM WHO GOT HER BUTTERFLY WINGS LAST YEAR, AND SHE SAID TO ME, UM, THE LAST WEEK OF HER LIFE, SHE SAID, I KNOW THAT YOUR LIFE GOT A PAUSE BECAUSE YOU TOOK CARE OF ME.
SHE SAID, BUT AS SOON AS I GET TO HEAVEN, I'M GONNA LET ALL THE ANGELS AND THE LORD KNOW THAT YOU'LL BE AVAILABLE AGAIN.
SO IN REEMERGING, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE HOME.
HOME TO ESSEX COUNTY, REUNITED WITH JASON AND THAT WONDERFUL TEAM OF WORKFORCE FACILITATORS.
I AM CELEBRATING 10 YEARS IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF COACH ONCALL YOUTH TRAININGS AND UNSTOPPABLE GIRLS FOUNDATION, AND WE'VE SERVED OVER 10,000 GIRLS OVER 10 YEARS.
SO I WANTED TO SAY IN THIS ROLE, I WILL
[00:40:01]
BE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH ALL OF THE NEW COMMISSIONERS, AND I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THEM.AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT OUR YOUTH ARE IN NEED OF SO MANY NEW RESOURCES AS WELL AS MENTORS.
AND I'LL BE FOCUSING ON CONNECTING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO MENTORS.
LIKE MANY OF YOU ALL, I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND LET'S GET TO WORK.
I KNEW YOU WERE SPECIAL 'CAUSE FROM, UH, BLOOMFIELD, YOU KNOW, SO, RIGHT.
MR. MARTINEZ, IS THAT WRAP IT UP FOR YOU? YES, SIR.
MR. JACKSON? UH, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY ON THE BOARD? 64, APPARENTLY.
I BELIEVE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 20, UH, 26 AND ALL.
NO, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 35 ALTOGETHER.
NO, 19 IS STATUTE BY THE STATE AND THAT'S, THESE ARE ALL ADDITIONAL MEMBERS, SO THEY ALL VOLUNTEERED UNLIKE THE OTHER ONES THAT ARE STATUE.
SO, SO, SO YOUR BOARD MEETINGS HAVE TO BE PRETTY INTERESTING
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE JOE VINCENZO AND DIRECTOR MARTINEZ FOR COMING BEFORE US AND OFFERING SUCH WONDERFUL PEOPLE TO BE PART OF THIS BOARD.
SO MANY OF THEM I HAPPEN TO KNOW WELL.
SO I'M REALLY PLEASED THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO THIS BOARD.
AND I THINK THIS IS SO TERRIFIC THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR TIME TO HELP THE CONSTITUENTS RIGHT HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE, AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING SUCH GREAT PEOPLE TO US.
I ACTUALLY WANTED TO THANK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE DIRECTOR FOR PUTTING UP GOOD FOLKS TO, UM, NOMINATE AND SERVE ON THE BOARD.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE NOMINEES FOR STEPPING UP AND, YOU KNOW, UM, OFFERING YOUR TIME TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO GOOD THINGS FROM THIS COMMISSION AND I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
GOD BLESS YOU WITH THAT BIG BOARD.
AND I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE MADE IT CLEAR WE APPRECIATE YOU AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S A WONDERFUL SERVICE THAT YOU ALL, IT'S HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF EXPERIENCE COLLECTIVELY WHAT WE JUST SAW, PLUS THE OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE BEING REAPPOINTED.
SO THAT'S A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO TEX COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
WE ALSO HAVE 23 THROUGH 34, WHICH ARE RE APARTMENT, SO THEY DON'T COME BEFORE US.
THEY ONLY COME FIRST TIME OUT.
SO, UH, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE? YES.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE, UH, JUST FOR THE RECORD.
ONE, UH, THROUGH 34, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 5 15, 19, AND 20.
SECOND MOVE BY COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PALMERA.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO, UH, RESOLUTION 35 AND 36, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION, AND WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
UH, ITEM 35 IS A ONE YEAR AGREEMENT, MARCH 30, UH, 2025 THROUGH, UH, MARCH 29TH, 2026 IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 WITH, UM, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SOLUTIONS, LLC.
UH, THIS ENTITY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, UM, AUDITS OF ALL OF OUR EMERGENCY PLANS AND HOSTING AND FACILITATING LIVE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EXERCISES AND ASSISTING WITH OUR FIVE YEAR PLAN, UM, IN HELPING US WITH GRANTS.
AND IN FACT, THEY WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US GETTING A $1.5 MILLION, UM, FIVE YEAR GRANT, UM, AS PART OF OUR LINKS, UH, EFFORTS.
SO, UM, AGAIN, IT'S $150,000 GRANT, UH, FOR ONE YEAR.
36 AND 36, UH, IS A PART, ESSENTIALLY A RESOLUTION TO ALLOW, UM, OUR OFFICE OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES TO, UH, SUBMIT A GRANT, UH, TO THE STATE AS PART OF OUR ESSEX COUNTY MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE, UH, PROGRAM.
AND THIS WILL, IF WE WOULD SUBMIT, SUBMIT THIS PLAN, IT WOULD ALLOW US TO OBTAIN A FUNDING IN AMOUNT OF $343,414.
ANY QUESTIONS ON 35 OR 36? NO QUESTIONS.
[00:45:01]
ANY QUESTIONS ON 35 OR 36? NO, SEE? NONE.DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE? MOTION, MOVE BY VICE PRESIDENT COOPER SECOND.
SECOND BY COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 37 THROUGH 39, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND THEY WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
IT'S AN AWARD CONTRACT TO LS ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES TO PROVIDE THE CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT SERVICES REQUIRED TO SUCCESS SUCCESSFULLY CONSTRUCT THE 2025 ROADWAY RESURFACING, IMPROVE IMPROVEMENTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $274,000.
ALA ENGINEERS SUBMITTED THE HIGHEST RATED PROPOSAL OF THE FOUR RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE PROJECT'S ADVERTISED RFP.
THIS CONTRACT WILL BE OPEN-ENDED.
MR. KIM LAW, WHO'S THE PRESIDENT OF ALAS ENGINEERING ENGINEERING IS HERE THIS AFTERNOON THIS EVENING, AND WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY AND WHAT YOU PROPOSE TO DO.
UH, MY NAME IS KIM LAW, K-I-M-L-A-W.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF LS ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE.
UM, WE HAVE ABOUT, WE, I STARTED THE COMPANY IN 2001 AND WE HAVE ABOUT 30 EMPLOYEES, UH, OUT OF 30.
I THINK WE HAVE MAYBE FIVE OR SIX, UH, THE COUNTY RESIDENT HERE.
UH, THIS IS OUR SECOND PROJECT WITH THE COUNTY, AND I'VE, I'M VERY PROUD.
UH, WE FINISHED UP THE FIRST PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY AND THIS IS, AND, AND WE, WE ARE VERY HAPPY ABLE TO SERVE THE, UH, SS COUNTY AGAIN ON THIS, THE SECOND PROJECT HERE.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE VENDOR? NO, NO QUESTION.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, THANK YOU.
DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 38 AWARDS A PERFORMANCE OF THE 2025 FOR RESURFACING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO BLACKROCK ENTERPRISES IN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $9,316,928.
BLACKROCK ENTERPRISES SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE TWO BITS RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.
BLACKROCK ENTERPRISES WILL RESURFACE THE FOLLOWING ROADWAY SECTIONS UNDER THIS CONTRACT, GROVE AVENUE FROM BLOOMFIELD AVENUE IN VERONA TO POMPTON AVENUE IN CEDAR GROVE, JFK PARKWAY FROM THE UNION COUNTY LINE IN MELBOURNE TO HOLBROOK GAP ROAD IN LIVINGSTON AND NORTHFIELD AVENUE, OR ROAD FROM EISENHOWER PARKWAY IN LIVINGSTON TO MAIN STREET AND WEST ORANGE.
THAT'S ABOUT 12 MILES OF TOTAL RESURFACING EXISTENCE.
UH, SAY SAYEED PADAR, WHO'S THE VICE PRESIDENT OF BLACKROCK ENTERPRISES, IS ALSO HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
HE WILL ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE THIS COMPANY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, SUPPORT WE HAVE.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY AND WHAT THE PROJECT LOOK LIKE FROM, MY NAME IS SAYEED PADAR.
UH, OUR COMPANY, BLACKROCK, WE ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT UNION CONTRACTOR.
WE'RE 8 25 OPERATING ENGINEERS AND 4 72 LABORERS.
UH, WE HAVE DONE, WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS ARE FIRST JOB WITH ESSEX COUNTY, BUT WE HAVE DONE MULTIPLE PROJECTS THROUGH OTHER CONTRACTORS FOR ESSEX COUNTY AND FOR, UH, IF YOU WANT ME TO MENTION THE, YOU KNOW, CONTRACTORS NAMES OF SUCH JOB WE HAD AND, UH, WE ARE READY TO START.
AND, UH, WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE DONE MULTIPLE DOT PROJECTS, ROUTE ONE AND 9 82, 2 0 6, AND DIFFERENT COUNTIES, UH, SOMERSET COUNTY, MOUT COUNTY, MIDDLESEX COUNTY, OCEAN COUNTY, AND BURLINGTON COUNTY.
LAST YEAR WE FINISHED THE PROJECT THAT WAS, UH, TO US AS BIG AS THIS CONTRACT AND COMMEND US AND WE ALWAYS NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM, FORTUNATELY.
MR. MCINERNEY? NO, THE, JUST THAT THIS IS OUT OF OUR TRANSPORTATION.
OUR DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANT, ALL BUT ABOUT 952,000.
THAT 952,000 WILL BE COMING OUT OF OUR CAPITAL FUND.
SO THE LION'S SHARE IS ALL GRANTS.
SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL TO ME.
[00:50:01]
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YEAH, UH, JUST A COMMENT.I'D LIKE TO SEE A COMPANY GET MORE WORK HERE, ESPECIALLY AS MUSIC TO MY EARS.
WHEN YOU SAY A HUNDRED PERCENT UNION AND YOU WORK WITH THE LABORERS LOCAL 4 7 2 YES.
YOU KNOW, MEN AND WOMEN WILL GET PAID A, A GOOD WAGE, THEY'LL HAVE BENEFITS.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE, THAT'S WHAT I HEAR WHEN I HEAR A UNION, THIS MEANS SOMETHING.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER, UM, WOULD BE, UH, NUMBER 39 9 TOWARDS PRICHARD INDUSTRIES, A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT TO PERFORM THE JANITORIAL SERVICES AT THE NEW WINONA LIPMAN FAMILY COURTS BUILDING IN NEWARK IN AN AMOUNT THAT TO EXCEED $3,799,290.
THIS CONTRACT INCLUDES CLEANING ALL EX INTERIOR FLOOR SPACES, EXTERIOR BUILDING PERIMETERS, THE PARKING LOT IN THE BOTTOM, UH, IN, IN THE BASEMENT LEVEL, PLUS PROVIDING ONSITE CLEANING EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES.
PRICHARD INDUSTRIES SUBMITTED THE HIGHEST SCORING PROPOSAL OF THE 14 RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY OF MR. OSVALDO.
ROS WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE PRICHARD INDUSTRIES TO THE BOARD AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
I'M THE OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR
WHERE ARE YOU BASED AND HOW MANY EMPLOYEES? WE ARE BASED IN HAM PARK, BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN OFFICE IN, BECAUSE WE ALSO CLEAN THE 3 21 UNIVERSITY AVENUE, SO WE ARE GONNA BE PRETTY CLOSE HAVING ANOTHER OFFICE IN THE COURT BUILDING HOUSE.
MR. PARVE, ANY QUESTIONS? UH, NOT A QUESTION FOR THE GENTLEMAN, JUST TO COMMENT FOR THE BOARD.
UH, YOU'LL NOTICE THIS IS A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT, UH, UNUSUAL OTHER THAN, UH, IT'S COMPLETELY APPROPRIATE.
IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING WE USUALLY DO.
THIS IS AWARDED AS A COMPETITIVE CONTRACT, SO IT'S, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF A STEPPED UP PROCESS AND IT ALLOWS YOU THE FLEXIBILITY TO AWARD A CONTRACT FOR THAT LONGER PERIOD.
SO YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP THIS VENDOR IN PLACE FOR A LONGER TIME AND NOT HAVE TO REBID IT SO OFTEN.
COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, ARE YOU AFFILIATED WITH ANY UNIONS AT HOME? YES, SIR.
WE DO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH 32 BJS.
ALL OUR EMPLOYEES ARE BENEFITS AND ALL THE BELONGS TO THE UNION.
VICE PRESIDENT COOPER, IS THIS FOR ALL THE BUILDINGS OR JUST SOME? JUST THE ONE IN THE COURTHOUSE.
JUST THE ONE IN THE COURTHOUSE.
ITEM NUMBER 48 IS THE EXECUTION OF THE TAKEOVER AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF ASEX AND THE BERKELEY INSURANCE COMPANY.
UH, THE COUNTY TERMINATED ITS ITS CONTRACT WITH TACK ON CONSTRUCTION TO REHABILITATE THE PARKS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.
UH, AFTER WE SUBMITTED THIS PROJECT WITHDRAWAL LETTER ON NOVEMBER 29TH.
MR. ANTONIO, I'M SORRY, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED.
JUST MR. ANTONIO, UH, ARE YOU PRESENTING AGAIN LATER ON? NO, HE GETS, HE GETS PAID BY THE ITEM.
ALRIGHT, LET'S, UH, LET'S TAKE 37, 38 AND 39, UH, SINCE WE'VE VETTED IT ALL.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, I, SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY REGISTERED ROLL CALL MS. EVANS.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT PALMS? YES.
YOU MUST BE IN TROUBLE MR. ANTONIO, 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT ON RIGHT NOW.
SO,
UH, 40, 41, 42, AND 54 THROUGH 64, WHICH ARE ALL COUNTY BUDGET INSERTIONS ITEMS OF REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES
[00:55:01]
AND THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.MR. JACKSON? UM, ACTUALLY, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. BROWN IS GONNA DO 40, UH, DIRECTOR BROWN'S GONNA DO 40 THROUGH 43.
AND I, AND I THINK WE'RE COMING BACK TO THE INSERTIONS, WHICH I'LL DO.
CAN WE LIVE WITH THE MICROPHONE FOR MR. BROWN, PLEASE? THAT KEEPS GOING OFF.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR SENIOR SERVICES FOR THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
UM, IN RESOLUTION 40, THAT'S THE NEW JERSEY TRANSIT CORPORATION HAS AWARDED CASINO REVENUE FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,895,846 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CITIZEN SERVICES.
UH, THIS IS FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION.
IT COMES FROM, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, THE CASINO REVENUE FUNDS.
AND, UH, OUT OF THAT WE GET, UH, 8%, AND THAT'S THAT TWO $2 MILLION, 895,000.
UH, THAT'S, WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INSERTION IN OUR BUDGET FOR TRANSPORTATION.
4 41 IS INSERTION FOR OUR SENIOR FARMER'S MARKET WHERE WE DO THE VOUCHERS.
IN THIS CASE, WE GET THIS FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES, FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES FOR WIC.
AND IN THE AMOUNT OF, UH, I DON'T HAVE MY GLASSES, SO I'M LIKE, UM, MR. GI AND YOURSELF, I NEED TO GO SHOPPING FOR GLASSES.
UH, SO IN THIS CASE IT'S, I BELIEVE, UM, IT'S ABOUT 4,500.
AND, UM, THE, EACH VOUCHER IS WORTH $40.
WENT UP TO 50 THIS YEAR IT WENT BACK DOWN TO $40.
WE ARE PLANNING TO HAVE OUR INAUGURATION, OUR FARMER TO COME JUNE 6TH IN IRVINGTON.
NOW, 2 42, I ASKED FOR AN INSERTION FOR OUR AREA PLAN CONTRACT.
THIS IS FROM THE STATE ITSELF, THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
THIS IS IN THE AMOUNT OF FIVE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY TWO THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED THIRTY TWO DOLLARS.
THIS IS OUR AREA PLAN CONTRACT.
AND THIS IS A PORTION OF WHAT WE GET ARE CLOSE TO OUR 50% ALLOCATION THAT WE GET FOR 2025.
LEMME JUST CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD, THAT'S 5,372,732.
YOU, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE FOR TRANSCRIPTION PURPOSES, WE GET THAT CORRECT.
AND NUMBER 43, IS THAT YOU AS WELL? 43 IS A BREAKDOWN OF HOW THAT, UH, $5 MILLION IS GOING TO BE INSERTED INTO THE BUDGET.
AND WE HAVE THE MATRIX THAT SHOWS THE DIFFERENT PROVIDERS, UH, AND WHAT THEIR AMOUNTS WILL BE THAT THEY GET THROUGHOUT THE, UH, YEAR 2025.
AND THAT'S IN THE AMOUNT OF 12 $12,206,010? CORRECT.
WHY DON'T WE DO THIS? WHY DON'T WE, WHY DON'T WE, UH, VET THESE FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GO DOWN TO THE BUDGET INSERTIONS, UH, MR. JACKSON THAT WORKED FOR YOU? UH, YEAH.
IS HE DONE AFTER THIS ONE? NO, HE'S NOT DOING THOSE.
SO HE, I'M SORRY, SAY THAT AGAIN.
I'M, I'M DOING THE INSERTIONS.
MR. PARLOVE, ANY QUESTIONS? I I DON'T HAVE ANY MR. MCINERNEY? NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS ON 40, 41, 42 AND 43? YES.
UM, CURIOUS, 41, IS THAT THE NORMAL AMOUNT YOU GET OR WAS IT REDUCED? 41 FOR THE, UM, FARMER MARKET VOUCHERS THAT YOU ONLY GET, I THOUGHT YOU GET, WOULD GET MORE THAN $4,500.
THAT'S ALL YOU'VE UH, EVER GOTTEN.
UM, HOWEVER, I HAVE TO SAY, DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHAT IS GOING ON, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET IF WE'RE GOING TO GET ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR 42, UH, NO, FOR 43, ALL THE SERVICES FOR THE PROVIDERS IN 43 WERE, HAVE THEY GONE OUT TO BID? AND THAT'S HOW YOU SELECTED THESE PEOPLE FOR 43.
UM, HOW THEY, IT'S BASICALLY ALL OF 'EM ARE THE PRETTY, THE SAME ONES THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY.
AND THIS IS JUST FOR ONE YEAR CONTRACT? YES.
OR YEAR ONE YEAR THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, COMMISSIONER? YES, ONE YEAR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THEM SECOND? YES.
MOVED BY COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
[01:00:01]
BY RICHARDSON.ROLL CALL MS. EVANS FORTY, FORTY ONE, FORTY TWO AND 43.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
MR. JACKSON, WE HAVE 54 THROUGH 64, CORRECT? CORRECT.
OKAY, LET'S, LET'S JUMP AHEAD.
THESE ARE ALL, UH, INSERTION OF, UH, BUDGET ITEMS HERE.
UM, ITEM 54 IS, UH, IN THE AMOUNT OF, UH, $151,300.
UM, IT'S TO PROVIDE FUNDING SO THAT, UH, WHENEVER LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, IT COMES INTO A SITUATION WITH A HOSTAGE OR A BARRICADED, UH, INDIVIDUAL, THAT THERE'S SOMEONE, A PROFESSIONAL WHO'S ABLE TO COME OUT AND WORK WITH THEM ON, ON THAT ISSUE, ON THOSE, UH, CIRCUMSTANCES, UM, AGAIN, IT'S THE AMOUNT OF $151,300 AND IT'S NO COUNTY MATCH.
UH, ITEM 55 IS, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL MONIES THAT WE GOT FOR, WE'RE GETTING FOR EARLY VOTING IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE $3,488 AND, UM, 61 CENTS.
WE, OR WE ORIGINALLY GOT ABOUT $990,000 AND THIS IS JUST A, A SUPPLEMENTAL AMOUNT AND THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH.
ITEM 56 IS, UM, $600,000 FROM THE, UM, UM, ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
UH, AND THESE FUNDS ARE USED TO PAY FOR VENDORS IN PROVIDING GOODS AND SERVICES AT THE TURTLEBACK ZOO.
ITEM 57 IS A $500,000, UH, GRANT, UH, FROM THE, UH, BRIDGEPORT PARK ALLIANCE FROM DIRECTLY THROUGH GREEN ACRES.
UH, AGAIN, THE AMOUNT OF $500,000.
AND THIS IS TO SUPPORT THE, UM, FIELDS THAT WERE DONE BEHIND THE CHERRY BLOSSOM WELCOME CENTER.
UH, THOSE TOTAL PROJECT FOR THAT COST, THE TOTAL COST OF THOSE PROJECTS WAS $3,068,000.
WE USED 1.5 MILLION FROM A RP, UM, ONE, UH, 1,000,060 8,000 FROM OPEN SPACE AND $500,000 FROM THIS GRANT.
UH, LET'S SEE, ITEM 50, UH, WHERE ITEM 58, UH, IS, UH, FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THIS IS A MEDIC, A SUB SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING THAT WE'RE RECEIVING FOR THE, UH, BUFORD AVENUE AND, UH, BLOOMFIELD AVENUE BRIDGES IN WEST LIVINGSTON AND WEST CALDWELL RESPECTIVELY.
IN THE AMOUNT OF $59,606 AND 6 CENTS.
ITEM 59, UH, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, D-E-D-T-E, UH, $832,000.
AS YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE THE SUMMER PROGRAM, UH, EVERY YEAR, AND THIS IS THE FUNDING FOR THAT THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR, UM, 200 POSITIONS, UM, WITH AN HOURLY RATE OF, UH, $17 PER HOUR.
AND THEY WORK 25 HOURS PER WEEK.
UH, AND IT'S BEEN, UM, REALLY EXTRAORDINARILY SUCCESSFUL, UH, IN, IN THE YEARS THAT WE'VE DONE IT.
UH, ITEM 60 IS, UM, ALSO WITH D-E-D-T-E IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,673 AND 13 CENTS.
THIS IS FUNDING THAT WE, UM, RECEIVED FROM THE, UM, APPLICANTS WHO ARE PROVI, WHO ARE GOING FOR THEIR GEDS OR RETESTING FOR THEIR GEDS TASK AND OTHER, UH, HIS SET AND OTHER TESTS THAT WE HAVE.
UH, AGAIN, THIS IS MONEY FROM LAST YEAR, UM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,673 AND 13 CENTS.
ITEM 61, UH, DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION, $500.
THIS IS FOR, UM, THE COMMUNITY ACTION DIVISION SERVES AS A, AS AN INTAKE AGENCY, UH, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE, TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO PAY THEIR GAS OR ELECTRIC BILLS.
AND WE RECEIVE $50 FOR, UH, EVERY APPROVED APPLICATION.
UH, ITEM 62 IS SIMILAR, UH, IN THE AMOUNT OF $940.
THIS IS ALSO HELPING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES RELATING TO THEIR ENERGY COSTS.
AND WE RECEIVE $20 PER APPROVED APPLICATION.
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT COMING FROM THE APPLICANT'S.
THIS IS COMING FROM, UH, THE STATE.
UH, ITEM 63, UM, LET'S SEE, $805.
UH, THIS IS MONEY THAT WE RECEIVED.
THE STATE HAS A, AS A FORMULA FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO COME BEFORE US WHO HAVE BEEN, UM, UH, HAVE ISSUES WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
UM, AND THIS $805 IS BASED ON THAT FEE
[01:05:01]
STRUCTURE.UM, AND THIS IS MONEY THAT WAS COLLECTED IN 2024.
UH, ITEM 64, UM, WITH THE DIVISION OF HIGHWAY AND SAFETY.
THIS IS FOR THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, UH, $105,000 THAT HELPS WITH, UH, UH, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION.
YOU, ANY QUESTIONS? ON 54TH THROUGH 64? NO QUESTION.
ROLL CALL MS. EVANS ON 54 THROUGH 64.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PAREZ? YES.
LET'S GO BACK TO 44, WHICH IS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
AND THAT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'M PUTTING IN A PROTEST.
I'M GOING TO LAST WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
HOW DARE HE? AND DOES HE HAVE A GOOD EXCUSE? NO, HE HAS NO GOOD EXCUSE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SEND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICER TO GO GRAB HIM OUT OF HIS DINNER TO COME HERE AND PRESENT.
HE ONLY, HE ONLY HAD ONE ON HIM.
AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN, HE WOULD'VE BEEN LAST.
SO HE OWES YOU NOW A DEPARTMENT OF PARKS RECORDS.
COMMISSIONER RICHARD, ARE YOU GOOD WITH THIS? IF, IF I MAY PLEASE.
SO, UH, IF WE NEED TO DRAFT LEGISLATION FROM THIS BODY, NOT TO ALLOW MR. Z TO MISS ANY MEETINGS, I DON'T CARE HOW LITTLE HE HAS ON THE AGENDA GOING FORWARD, BUT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
WE'RE JUST HAVING A LITTLE FUN OF JOSH'S EXPANSE BECAUSE WE HEAR YOU.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE GOOD FUN WITH HIM AND WE TRY TO KEEP IT A LITTLE LIGHT.
I THINK WE CAN PROCEED WITH NUMBER 44.
AND JOSH HAS DESERVED A GOOD NIGHT OFF 'CAUSE HE DOES WORK VERY HARD IN MOUNT COUNTY.
THAT'S, WELL SINCE WE ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM.
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIR AGREEMENT WITH THE BRANCH BROOKE PARK ALLIANCE TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS AT BRANCHFORD PARK.
THE ALLIANCE RECEIVED A $500, UH, GRANT FROM NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF DEP GREEN ACRES, UH, THE BRANCH BROOK ALLIANCE TRANSFER.
THE GRANTS THE GRANT TO ESSEX COUNTY REIMBURSEMENT OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND FOR BALLFIELD BEHIND CHERRY BLOSSOM WELCOME CENTER.
AND THE AMOUNT OF 500 TH UH, 500 K.
ANY QUESTION, QUESTIONS? MR. MCINERNEY? NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER SIEBOLD ON THE MOVE.
COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, YOU SECOND HONOR.
IN HONOR OF JOSH, IN HONOR OF JOSH, WE HAVE A, A MOVER AND SIEBOLD THE SECOND.
AND RICHARDSON, LET'S DO THE ROLL CALL MS. EVANS FOR NUMBER 44.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
NOW THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN OF JOSH'S EX, UH, EXPENSE, LET'S MOVE ON TO 45 AND 46, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF.
AND NOW WE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME, MR. JACKSON.
MR. COLTRANE, UH, THIS IS A CONTRACT WITH, UH, LAWMAN SUPPLY OF NEW JERSEY FOR THE PURCHASE OF AMMUNITION UNDER THE STATE CONTRACT 17 FLEET 0 0 7 4 0.
THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,285 AND 29 CENTS.
IT'S THE PURCHASE, 110 CASES OF 40 SMITH AND WESTON, UH, AT 4 57 PER CASE.
THIS IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RESOLUTION FROM THE BOARD FROM 2015.
NUMBER 46 IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO ATLANTIC TACTICAL OF NEW JERSEY PURCHASE, UH, MAGAZINES ON THE STATE CONTRACT 17 FLEET OH 0 0 7 32.
THE AMOUNT, ONE 1,327 $28 AND 70 CENTS.
UH, THEY ARE BUYING, UH, 3 57 ROUNDS AND AT $26 AND 83 CENTS PER CASE.
AND THEN THIS IS IN COMPLIANCE AGAIN WITH THE RESOLUTION BY THE COMMISSIONERS.
UH, MR. PARLOVE, ANY QUESTIONS ON 45 OR 46? NO QUESTION.
COMMISSIONERS, SOMEONE TO MOVE, MOVE IT.
AND I SEE A SECOND BY LUCIANO.
[01:10:01]
COMMISSIONER SIEBEL? YES.COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 47 THROUGH 49, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
AND THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
EVEN THOUGH MR.
THIS IS A, UH, A REQUEST THAT JEROME ST.
JOHN COUNTY COUNCIL, UH, FOR FUNDING TO RETAIN A LAW FIRM, UH, FOR US TO ENTER AN AMICUS BRIEF ON A SUIT, UH, THAT, UH, GENERATED OUT OF BERGEN COUNTY.
AND THE PURPOSE OF US JOINING IN THAT SUIT, OTHER THAN BERGEN COUNTY, ASKED US IF WE WOULD JOIN THEM.
AS AS FOLLOWS, THERE'S AN OPEN SPACE STATUTE THAT OPEN SPACE STATUTE SAYS, UNLESS YOU'RE RENTING THE SPACE OUT, YOU HAVE IMMUNITY FROM LAWSUITS.
SO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER, IF SOMEONE WALKS ACROSS OUR GOLF COURSE AND FALLS INTO A HOLE AND THEN TRIES TO SUE US, WE'RE IMMUNE FROM THOSE SUITS.
IF, UH, THEY'RE WALKING ON ONE OF OUR PATHS AND THEYRE, OR FALL AND WE'RE IMMUNE FROM THOSE SUITS, IF WE RENT OUT OUR BASEBALL PARK TO THEM, WE'RE NOT NOT IMMUNE SUIT.
IF WE, UH, THEY, WE CHARGE A MISSION TO TOBACK ZOO.
WE'RE NOT IN THE, UH, IMMUNE FROM.
SO IF WE CHARGE THEM, UH, WE'RE NOT IMMUNITY.
IF WE DON'T CHARGE THEM, UH, AN OPEN SPACE, WE ARE IMMUNE.
SO IT'S THE, UH, TRIAL DIVISION AND THE BUREN COUNTY CASE RULED IN FAVOR OF IMMUNITY AND WENT UP TO THE APPELLATE DIVISION.
THE APPELLATE DIVISION UNANIMOUSLY RULED IN FAVOR OF IMMUNITY IN A PUBLISHED OPINION, WHICH MEANS THAT'S THE LAW OF THE STATE.
NOW WE WERE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
NOW, THE PLAINTIFF IN THAT MATTER, PETITIONED THE SUPREME COURT TO TAKE THE CASE.
THE SUPREME COURT AGREED TO TAKE THE CASE, WHICH THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE IT WAS UNANIMOUS DECISION.
WE CAN LOOK AT IT ONE OR TWO WAYS, THAT'S NOT GOOD 'CAUSE THEY'RE GONNA REVERSE THE DECISION OR IT'S GOOD BECAUSE IT'S A PUBLISHED DECISION AND THEY WANT TO LEND THE WEIGHT OF THE SUPREME COURT TO THE PUBLIC, THE PUBLISHED OPINION, AND EXPAND THE, THE OPINION SOMEWHAT.
SO THAT'S WHY, UH, WE'RE ASKING YOUR PERMISSION TO FILE AS AMICUS IN THAT LAWSUIT.
NOT TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ISSUE HEARING.
ARE YOU GONNA BE DOING NUMBER 48 AND 49? YES, PLEASE.
WHY DON'T WE DO BOTH AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS.
UH, THE, THE 48 INVOLVES THE TAKEOVER AGREEMENT.
WE HAVE THE, UH, NEW PARKS HEADQUARTERS BUILDING NEXT TO THE BASILICA.
AS YOU KNOW, THE, UH, CONTRACTOR IN THAT MATTER WALKED AWAY, UH, WHEN THE PROJECT WAS NOT COMPLETE.
WE HAVE A, WHAT IS CALLED A SURETY BOND AND PAYMENT BOND, WHICH THE, UH, EXCUSE ME, A PERFORMANCE BOND AND, UH, PAYMENT BOND.
THE PERFORMANCE BOND ENSURES THAT THE PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETE.
THE PAYMENT BOND ENSURES THAT THE SUBS WILL GET PAID.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, LIENS NOW, UNION DUES, OTHER ISSUES THAT AREN'T BEING PAID.
UH, AND SO THE COUNTY WHO, UH, UH, WE WERE ALL INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATIONS AND SAN TOOK THE, THE LABORING FORCE AS TO OUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
AND WE HAVE NEGOTIATED WHAT'S CALLED A TAKEOVER AGREEMENT WITH THE INSURER, WHERE THE INSURER IS SAYING, WE'LL TAKE OVER THE PROJECT, WE'LL FINISH IT, WE'LL PAY ALL THE SUBS, AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA DO IT UNDER THE TERMS OF THE, THE BOND THAT WE SHOULD INITIALLY WHEN YOU, WHEN WE, WHEN THE PROJECT WAS BID OUT TO THE, UH, PRIME CONTRACTOR.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT.
SO WHAT DO YOU NEED? GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER.
DO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT NOW, WHO, WHO WAS THIS GC? WHO WAS THE PRIME? WHO WAS THE PRIME TECHCOM WHO WALKED AWAY? HOW DO YOU SAY IT RIGHT? TECOM.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THEY NEVER GET ANY MORE WORK WITH, WITH ES ESSENCE COUNTY.
WHERE IS MR. PARLOVE, UH, MR. ST.
JOHN OR ANYBODY AT THE TABLE? HOW DO WE SELECT A REPLACEMENT? UM, UH, CONTRACTORS.
CONTRACTORS THAT DOES, DO WE HAVE THE SAY OVER THAT OR IS THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY? UH, THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
THEY SELECT, UH, INITIALLY AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SHOULD WE DO THE PROJECT? SHOULD WE COMPLETE THE PROJECT, MEANING THE COUNTY.
BUT THEN THAT IT CREATES COMPLICATIONS.
DO WE HAVE TO THEN GO OUT AND PUBLICLY BID THINGS? RIGHT.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH MR. COLT, UH, TALKING ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.
THE, THE INSURER IS GOING TO HIRE THE CONTRACTORS TO FINISH THE JOB.
WELL, WELL, THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE SECOND PART OF MY QUESTION.
IF IT WAS US, I WAS GONNA ASK ABOUT THE PROCESS, SINCE IT'S NOT US AND IT, IT'S ABLE TO BE DONE BY THE INSURER.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE PROJECT HAS A, UH, SHORTER, UH, DISTANCE TO THE FINISH LINE? WE'RE, WE'RE HOPING.
ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE LAST ONE.
[01:15:01]
HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE FINISHED, UH, NEGOTIATIONS WITH ONE MORE UNION WITH THE SAME, UH, FRAMEWORK THAT WE HAD GOING FORWARD.I WANT TO THANK MR. JACKSON, WHO WAS INVOLVED IN ALL OF THE, UH, NEGOTIATIONS AS WELL AS SYLVIA HALL, WHO'S OUR CHIEF, UH, UH, LABOR NEGOTIATOR IN OUR OFFICE, AS WELL AS OUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE 2, 2, 3, 3 3 MATRIX THAT WE REPORTED TO ON ALL THE OTHER CONTRACTS THAT WERE SETTLED.
UH, ANY S ANY OTHER QUESTION FROM 47 THROUGH 49? COMMISSIONER SIEBEL? YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION.
GOING BACK TO, UH, 48, WHEN DO YOU THINK THE BUILDING WILL BE FINISHED? HAVE YOU ANY IDEA? WE, WE HAVE DISCUSSED IT WITH HER.
WE HOPE TO GET IT COMPLETED WITHIN SIX MONTHS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE IT COMPLETED A DATE.
I HOPE SOONER, OBVIOUSLY, EVEN WITH THIS BIG CHANGEOVER.
HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE COMPLETED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER SIBO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE IT? YES.
MOVED BY SIBO RICHARDSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SECOND? YES.
ROLL CALL MS. EVANS FROM FORTY SEVEN FORTY EIGHT AND 49.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON THROUGH RESOLUTIONS 50 THROUGH 52, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THE IT OFFICE THAT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
UH, CARL HUNT, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER NUMBER 50 IS FOR $1.297 MILLION.
THIS COVERS ALL THE MICROSOFT PRODUCT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNT EXCEPT FOR ONE, UM, UNIT.
AND, UM, IT, IT'S, UM, THE NORMAL ENTITY THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR.
UH, NUMBER 51 IS FOR, UH, $305,000, UH, 6 69.
THIS IS FOR OUR SERVERS THAT CALLED THE GREENLAKE SERVER.
SO THIS TAKES CARE OF BOTH THE, OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM, OUR HR SYSTEM, AND THE HOSPITAL.
SO IT RUNS IN BACKUP MODE BETWEEN THE HOSPITAL AND THE, UM, AND 4 69 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.
SO WE SHARE EVERYTHING AND WE FLIPPED OVER SHOULD IN CASE ONE FAILS IT BACK UP EACH UNIT.
NUMBER 52 IS FOR 208,000 2 74.
THAT'S FOR CYBERSECURITY, THAT'S FOR ENDPOINT SECURITY FOR PCS THAT PROTECT ALL OF OUR PCS.
IT'S THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
ANY QUESTIONS? UM, JUDGE NUMBER 52, UH, MR. HUNT, IS THAT SOFTWARE OR IS OR IS THAT A, UH, A SERVICE? UH, NUMBER 52 IS SOFTWARE THAT WE, THAT WE MAINTAIN AND RUN ACROSS ALL PCS BY MY STAFF.
I, I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT 51, IS THAT A FINANCIAL SOFTWARE PACKAGE? UH, NO.
FIVE, UH, 51 IS HARDWARE, SO THAT'S HARDWARE THAT SIT WITHIN.
UM, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING BUILDING AND THE HOSPITAL THAT BACK UP EACH OTHER.
AND, AND WHAT SYSTEMS RUN ON THAT? UH, ON THE, ON THE, THE MAIN ON THE, IN, AT THE HOSPITAL CENTER, THE MAIN HOSPITAL UNIT, ALL THEIR SYSTEM RUNS ON IT, BUT IT'S BACKED UP AT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND AT DR.
THE FI OR FINANCIAL SERVICES OR HR SYSTEM RUNS THERE, BUT IS BACKED UP AT THE, UH, HOSPITAL CENTER.
IS IS EVERYTHING NOW, UM, THAT WE HAVE ON, ON A SYSTEM BACKED UP ON A, I'LL SAY A REGULAR BASIS, MAYBE LIKE A DAILY BASIS? YEAH.
IT'S BACKED UP EVERY 30 SECONDS AND THEN WE MOVE IT OFFLINE AND WHAT WE DO IS WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A AIR GAP THAT WE TAKE IT OFF AND KEEP IT, UM, BEHIND EVERYTHING BEHIND THE SYSTEMS. ONE, ONE LAST QUESTION.
HAVE WE HAD ANY OTHER INCIDENCES OR, OR HAVE WE HAD AN INCIDENT RECENTLY OF, OF ANY SORT OF, UH, SECURITY BREACH? WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY SECURITY BREACH RE RECENTLY, BUT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF ATTACK.
SO WE, ON A DAILY BASIS, WE HAVE ABOUT, UH, 1200 ATTACKS ON A DAILY BASIS BETWEEN EACH DEPARTMENT.
ALL IT TAKES IS ONE 1200 ATTACKS DAILY.
I THINK YOU AND MR. ANTONIO SHOULD HAVE A SHOWCASE.
SO WHO'S GOT THE BEST VOICE OF ESSEX COUNTY HERE? OKAY.
YOU GUYS COULD BATTLE THAT ONE OUT.
I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT MY VOICE CAME FROM OUR, YOU KNOW, THE ROBERT JACKSON TALKING
YOU GUYS DIDN'T EXPECT THAT ONE DID YOU? HUH? ALRIGHT.
UH, COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON 50 THROUGH 52?
[01:20:02]
SCENE? NONE.DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE? I'LL MOVE IT.
WE WILL CALL MS. EVANS FIFTY FIFTY ONE AND 52.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT.
MOVING RIGHT ALONG IN THE HOME STRETCH HERE, UH, NUMBER 53, WHICH IS IN THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR THAT COULD BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. COLTRANE, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS, UH, PARTICIPATION, UH, RESOLUTION WITH, UH, GRANT GRANT PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY, ACCEPTING $151,300 FOR THE NEW JERSEY FY 25 ALTERNATE RESPONSE TO REDUCE INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AND ESCALATION TOGETHER WITH CRITICAL INCIDENT MODELING PROGRAM.
UH, THIS IS STATE REQUIRED RESOLUTION.
ANY QUESTIONS? DO I HAVE A MOVER FOR 53? MOVE IT.
UH, MS. EVANS VOTE CALL FOR 53.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 65 THROUGH 88 AND NUMBER 90 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 83, WHICH WAS ADOPTED EARLIER IN THE MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER GIL.
THESE ARE IMMEMORIAL COMMENDATIONS PROCLAMATION RESOLUTIONS.
THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER TEBEL? NUMBER 87.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TOO LATE, BUT IF IT'S NOT, I'D LIKE TO BE INCLUDED.
WHAT IS 87? LET'S TAKE A QUICK LOOK HERE.
THAT'S IN MEMORY OF COOPER JEAN SMITH THAT THE ABSOLUTELY.
UM, WERE PRIVATE, BUT ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I KNEW HER WELL AND I KNEW HER HUSBAND.
ANY OTHERS? DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE? I'LL MOVE IT.
SIEBEL COMMISSIONER GILL ON THE SECOND, UH, ROLL CALL.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PALMERA.
LET'S MOVE TO 89, UH, WHICH WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? MR. COLTRANE? MR. PRESENT.
THIS IS A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR PARKING AT 300 WASHINGTON STREET, NORTHERN JERSEY WITH RBH DASH TRB 300 WASHINGTON STREET, LLC.
IT'S FROM MAY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH APRIL 30TH, 2028.
UH, AMOUNT, NOT THE
THIS IS FOR 88 PARKING SPOTS AT 300 WASHINGTON STREET.
FOR THE NEW EMPLOYEES OR THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE GONNA WORK IN OUR NEW WINONA LITMAN BUILDING, UH, FIRST YEAR IS 19,712.
UH, AND IT'S ALL OUT OF OPERATING.
ANY QUESTIONS? I I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
THESE ARE COURT EMPLOYEES WHO I PRESUME WERE PARKING SOMEWHERE ELSE IN A DIFFERENT LOT CLOSER TO THE GIBRALTAR BUILDING.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY PARKING ACROSS THE STREET.
IT'S, IT'S WHAT MR. JACKSON? IT'S A DIFFERENT, IT'S A NEW LOT THOUGH.
IF, IF YEAH, IF THERE ARE, THE COURTS NEED, UM, 372 SPACES.
WE HAVE 304 BEFORE THIS AGREEMENT.
SO THIS PUTS US 20 OVER AND IT, IT'S USING THE, UH, 23 THAT ARE GONNA BE IN THE BUILDING.
WE HAVE 229 THAT ARE IN THE LOT THAT MR. CORY WAS REFERRING TO.
AND THIS WILL GET US UP TO A FEW MORE THAN, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT OF THE SURPLUS.
AND THIS IS ALL, THEY'RE ALL, UM, ACROSS THE, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BUILDING, FROM THE BUILDING.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SOMEONE GONNA MOVE IT, MOVE IT.
UH, ACTUALLY WE HAVE SERMONS ON THE SECOND.
[01:25:01]
SERMONS WE'LL CALL MS. EVANS.COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT.
WE'RE TURNING THE LAST CORNER.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES.
DO WE HAVE ANY REPORTS OF BOARD COMMITTEES? LEGISLATIVE REPORTS.
ANY WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS? SEE, NONE.
ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? SEE, NONE.
ANY NEW BUSINESS? SEEING NONE.
OKAY, MS. EVANS, LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
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, AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT.
MY NAME IS, UH, NOR
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK HERE TONIGHT, UM, ABOUT THE CRITICAL SERVICES WE PROVIDE THROUGHOUT ESSEX COUNTY.
THROUGH OUR MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING PROGRAM AND OUR SAVE OF SX COUNTY PROGRAM, OUR COUNTY'S DESIGNATED SEXUAL VIOLENCE SERVICE PROVIDER.
FAMILY SERVICE LEAGUE HAS DEEP ROOTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE WERE FOUNDED IN 1881 IN MONTCLAIR AND PROUDLY SERVED THERE FOR NEARLY 140 YEARS UNTIL RELOCATING TO BLOOMFIELD IN 2020.
TODAY WE CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THAT SAME MISSION, DELIVERING TRAUMA INFORMED, AFFORDABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE CARE TO, UH, OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT TODAY MARKS THE FINAL DAY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH.
I'M HERE NOT ONLY TO REPORT ON THE SERVICES WE ARE, WE HAVE PROVIDED, BUT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE URGENT AND ONGOING NEEDS OF SURVIVORS IN OUR COUNTY.
AND THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIPS PLAY IN ADDRESSING SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
IN 2024 ALONE, OUR TEAM DELIVERED 6,564 MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SESSIONS TO 672 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS.
WE RESPONDED TO 511 CRISIS HOTLINE CALLS AND ACCOMPANIED 168 SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE TO HOSPITALS, POLICE STATIONS AND COURTROOMS, ENSURING NO ONE HAD TO FACE THOSE TERRIFYING MOMENTS ALONE.
TO ADDRESS THE TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES FACED BY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, WE PROVIDED 608 FREE SHARE RIGHTS SO SURVIVORS COULD ACCESS COUNSELING AND EMERGENCY ACCOMPANIMENT SERVICES WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.
WE ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT INCLUSION.
484 OF OUR COUNSELING SESSIONS WERE CONDUCTED IN SPANISH, THIRD ONE IN PORTUGUESE AND 68 AND HAITIAN CREOLE.
WE ENGAGE THE WIDER COMMUNITY THROUGH 62 OUTREACH EVENTS AS WELL AS COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND HIGH SCHOOLS.
WE ALSO SUPPORTED THE PIPELINE OF FUTURE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS BY SUPERVISING AND TRAINING 12 GRADUATE LEVEL INTERNS.
THESE AREN'T JUST STATISTICS, THESE ARE ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO TURN TO US WHEN CRISIS STRIKES, WHEN TRAUMA LINGERS AND WHEN HEALING BEGINS.
BUT THE SERVICES THEY RELY ON ARE IN JEOPARDY.
FAMILY SERVICE LEAGUE RELIES ON GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR WORK.
81% OF OUR FUNDING COMES THROUGH A PASS THROUGH STATE OR CANADA DOLLARS, INCLUDING THE CDB FUNDS.
BUT WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SLASHES SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS, THOSE CUTS HAVE A DEVASTATING TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT ON OUR STATE.
OUR COUNTY AND OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER CONSISTENT CARE CUTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE TO ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
JUST AS DEPARTMENT GRANTS, HOT PROGRAMS, MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION FUNDING, UM, AMONG OTHERS.
UM, THESE CUTS NOT ONLY ENDANGER DEVELOPING OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, THEY DIRECTLY THREATEN THE JOBS OF THOSE WORKING EVERY DAY TO HELP THEM.
COUNSELORS, ADVOCATES, OUTREACH WORKERS.
THESE ARE SKILLED PROFESSIONALS WHOSE ROLES ARE NOT EASILY REPLACED.
AND THE CONSEQUENCES DON'T STOP WITH OUR AGENCIES WHEN SURVIVORS ARE ARE LEFT UNSUPPORTED.
WHEN FAMILIES CAN'T ACCESS MENTAL HEALTHCARE OR WHEN HOUSING IS LOST, VIOLENCE AND INSTABILITY GROW.
THESE RIPPLE EFFECTS ARE REAL AND THEY AFFECT ALL OF US SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, POLICE AND NEIGHBORHOODS ALIKE.
AND TONIGHT I ASK THAT UC FAMILY SERVICE LEAGUE, NOT JUST AS A NONPROFIT, BUT AS A LONGSTANDING PARTNER IN KEEPING ASEX SAFE, SUPPORTED AND RESILIENT.
WE ARE ASKING FOR COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT TO PROTECT AND SUSTAIN CDBG FUNDS.
THE SAFETY NET OUR COMMUNITY DEPENDS ON.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND FOR ALLOWING US TO RAISE OUR VOICE TONIGHT ON THIS LAST DAY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS
[01:30:01]
MONTH.ON BEHALF OF EVERY SURVIVOR FAMILY AND FRONTLINE WORK WE SERVE.
WHAT I'LL ASK IS, UH, WE DON'T USUALLY GO BACK AND FORTH HERE, BUT WHAT I'LL ASK IF, ADAM, IF YOU CAN GET OUR INFORMATION, ARE YOU CURRENTLY COLLABORATING WITH THE COUNTY ESSEX? YES.
YOU ALREADY GETTING THE CD? YES.
'CAUSE I DIDN'T, I MISSED A LITTLE BIT OF IN THE BEGINNING 'CAUSE IT WAS A LITTLE TOO MUCH NOISE.
BUT, UM, ADAM, WE'LL JUST MAKE SURE WE COLLECT OUR INFORMATION AND PUT IN TOUCH WITH THE ADMINISTRATION JUST FOR THE RECORDS SO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PASS THAT ALONG TO THEM.
BECAUSE ANY WORK WOULD, UH, ORIGINATE WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
UH, HE'S GONNA COME TO YOU NOW.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS, WE'LL GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE SO WE CAN HEAR YOU.
I'VE BEEN NAVIGATING FOR BURY PARK AND I HAVE TO SAY WE CAME A LONG WAYS.
WE NOW, THE CONSERVANCY A NONPROFIT.
SINCE THE PARK BEEN RENOVATED, WE STILL HAVE SOME ISSUES.
AND THE MAIN ISSUE IS THE TRAFFIC.
I HAVE BEEN TO THE CITY AND THE PETITION, I DON'T, I'M, I BEGGED, BUT RIGHT NOW I'M COMING TO THE COUNTY ASKING THE COMMISSIONER COULD Y PLEASE HELP ME WITH THE TRAFFIC OF ORTON PARKWAY.
THE TRACTOR TRAILERS IS NO LONGER THERE, YOU KNOW, BUT THE TRAFFIC, AND NOW THAT THE CAR, THE PARKS PARK, THE PARK IS RENOVATED.
WE HAVE KIDS COMING FROM ALL OVER CARDWELL, THE COLLEGES, WE HAD THE TRACK MEET THERE AND IT'S JUST THE TRAFFIC.
IT'S LIKE, IT'S TWO 80 AND IT'S, I DON'T WANNA WAIT UNTIL, AND THE PARK IS FULL, SCHOOL WILL BE OUT.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING I DO.
I DO A MONTHLY RIDE THROUGH THE PARK, YOU KNOW, CHECKING TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG.
OUR PARK AT BURY PARK IS THE SMALLEST, AND NOW THAT IT'S BEEN RENOVATED, IT'S MORE KIDS THERE.
WHEN I WENT THROUGH THERE JUST YESTERDAY, IT'S SO DAMAGED.
THE SURFACE, THE, THE PLAYGROUND, THE SLIDES AND STUFF ARE BLACK WHERE I ASSUME THEY NEED TO BE POWER WASHED.
THEY NEED TO BE CLEAN BECAUSE I WOULDN'T ALLOW MY CHILD TO RIDE DOWN.
IT'S YELLOW, BUT EVERYTHING IS BLACK.
BUT KIDS DON'T LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
THEY JUST HOP ON IN AND YOU KNOW, DO THEY THING.
I HAVE ALSO ASKED, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY ALSO LIKE THE PARK IS PLAYGROUND.
YOU KNOW, I HAD SPOKEN TO JOE AND THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, IN REFERENCE TO LIKE A WATER PARK.
SOME OF THE TREES MAY HAVE COME DOWN BUT NOT HAVE TO COME DOWN, BUT NOT THAT MANY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE PARK IS FULL AND IT'S NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR THE KIDS IN THE PLAYGROUND.
EVERYONE'S SITTING AROUND WAITING FOR THE SWINGS.
SOME OF THE SWINGS IS NOT EVEN THERE, YOU KNOW.
THEN WE HAVE THESE CONCRETES THAT'S BIG BLOCKS.
IT'S NOT A, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY NOT CONCRETE OR SEAL OR WHATEVER WAY TOO.
THIS BIG CIRCLE WE HAVE IN THE MIDDLE, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE.
BUT I'M REALLY ASKING THE COUNTY TO PLEASE HELP ME WITH THE TRAFFIC.
WE NEED SOME SPEED HUMPS OR SOMETHING THERE PLEASE.
I DONE WENT TO THE CITY AND THEY SAID, WELL THE ONLY THING THEY CAN DO PUT THE POLICE CAR THERE.
AND IT'S NOT LIKE THE PARK JUST CAME THERE.
IT'S NOT LIKE THE PARKWAY JUST CAME IN.
BUT NOW THAT THE PARK IS RENOVATED, WE HAVE KIDS COMING FROM ALL OVER AND THEY UTILIZE THE PARK.
I'M HAVING MY SECOND AVENUE AUTISM EVENT SATURDAY.
I HAVE EVENTS THERE AT THE PARK AND THIS PEOPLE'S LIKE, OH, WE DIDN'T KNOW THIS BUILDING WAS HERE.
WE DIDN'T KNOW THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON.
SO I'M ASKING THE COUNTY TO PLEASE WITH THE SPEED.
WE NEED SOME TYPE OF TRAFFIC MEASURE THERE.
AND I DON'T WANNA WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENED.
AND YOU KNOW, THEN EVERYBODY DECIDE THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING.
THE CITY HAD NOT, I HAVE WENT TO THE CITY, SO NOW I'M COMING TO YOU GUYS TO ASK FOR YOUR HELP.
AND GETTING SOME TYPE OF SPEED HUMP JUST ON THE ORTON PARKWAY SIDE, JUST ON THE ORTON PARKWAY SIDE.
UM, AND THE PLAYGROUND, YOU CAN EVEN IF YOU VISIT, COME TO BURY PARK, YOU CAN SEE 30 SECONDS HOW SMALL.
THAT'S THE SMALLEST PLAYGROUND.
AND IF YOU COME THERE AND JUST TAKE A LOOK, IT NEED UPGRADE THE SURFACE.
IT HAS HOLES AND CRACKS AND THE BASKETBALL COURT, FORGET IT.
IT'S JUST, IT'S THE WORST, YOU KNOW.
SO WE, WE HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED IN A WHILE, EVEN THOUGH, LIKE I SAID, WE CAME A LONG WAYS AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT JOE HAVE DONE TO BUILD GREAT PARK BECAUSE IT WAS A BIG SANDBOX AND IT WAS ONE OF THEM PARKS THAT WAS JUST FORGOTTEN.
BUT NOW THAT WE BACK ON THE MAT, THINGS IS REALLY COMING TOGETHER.
I'M JUST ASKING FOR THE COUNTY FOR HELP, FAR AS SPEED MEASURE AND BRINGING IT, UPGRADING THE PARK.
[01:35:01]
YOU.SO WHAT I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO DO, SO THAT WE HAVE VERY SPECIFICS, I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO, UH, JUST SIT A MOMENT WITH ADAM.
YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS ARE MAINLY THE TRAFFIC AND THEN THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC ISSUES WITH THE PLAYGROUND.
IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE HIM THAT SHORT LIST SO THAT WHEN WE FORWARD IT TO THE ADMINISTRATION THERE VERY SOMETHING VERY SPECIFIC TO LOOK AT BECAUSE I FIND THAT THEY'RE MORE, UH, SPECIFIC.
LET'S JUST START WITH AT LEAST GETTING THAT LIST.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH THAT AND WE'LL FORWARD THAT TO THE ADMINISTRATION SO THAT WHEN PARKS OR DPW, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER IS GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DIFFERENT PORTIONS OF WHAT YOU ALL CALL TODAY, THEY HAVE SOMETHING VERY SPECIFIC TO REFER TO.
I MEAN YOU MENTIONED THE TRAFFIC BUT IN A SPECIFIC STREET AND THOSE ARE THE DETAILS THAT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL.
UH, PRESIDENT PAREZ, UM, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER, UH, COMMISSIONERS.
UM, I LIVE IN BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY.
UM, I INVITE YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION, NOT ONLY OF ALL OF YOU, BUT EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE.
RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF YOUR LOVED ONES.
NO, WE DON'T GENERALLY NO WORRIES.
UM, SO COMMISSIONERS, UH, WE JUST HEARD ABOUT TRAFFIC AND WE JUST HEARD ABOUT PREVENTATIVE MEASURES THAT NEED TO TAKE PLACE AND UM, THERE IS DATA IN NEW JERSEY THAT BEARS OUT THAT PEDESTRIANS AND PEDESTRIAN CRASHES AND FATALITIES ARE AT A HIGHER RATE THAN THEY'VE EVER BEEN.
AND THERE IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, THAT COULD ENHANCE SAFETY.
UM, I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY WHEN IT COMES TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY HERE IN ESSEX, ESSEX COUNTY.
IT'S AN ISSUE THAT I CARE ABOUT.
WHY DO I CARE? BECAUSE I SEE A WIDENING AND GROWING GAP BETWEEN ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AFFLUENT AND THOSE THAT ARE NOT.
AND THAT GAP APP IS SIX SECONDS LONG.
IN ENGINEERING PARLANCE, IT'S CALLED A LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVAL.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT IT IS A SIGNAL THAT GIVES PEDESTRIANS SIX SECONDS, A SIX SECOND, A CRUCIAL HEAD START TO CROSS A STREET BEFORE TRAFFIC GETS A GREEN LIGHT.
THERE ARE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION PROVEN SAFETY COUNTERMEASURE.
THEY REDUCE PEDESTRIAN VEHICLE CRASHES AT INTERSECTIONS BY A PROVEN 13%.
THEY INCREASE THE VISIBILITY OF CROSSING PEDESTRIANS, THEY REDUCE CONFLICTS, THEY INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF MOTORISTS YIELDING TO PEDESTRIANS AND THEY ENHANCE SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS WHO MIGHT MAYBE SLOWER TO START INTO THE INTERSECTION.
WE KNOW THAT OUR NATION IS AGING.
WE KNOW THAT ESSEX COUNTY IS AGING.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S AN OLDER POPULATION THAT USES OUR ROADS.
LET ME SHARE SOME DATA FROM BLOOMFIELD OFFICIAL DATA IN 2021.
THERE WERE 55 PEDESTRIAN CRASHES IN 2022, THERE WERE 44 OBVIOUSLY A DROP.
AND IN 2024 THERE WERE 85 PEDESTRIAN CRASHES.
THAT IS AN INCREASE FROM 2022 TO 2024 OF 93%.
AND UM, AS A PEDESTRIAN, I'VE ENCOUNTERED LPIS, I ENCOUNTERED THEM IN NEW YORK CITY.
I'VE ENCOUNTERED THEM IN MONTCLAIR, I'VE ENCOUNTERED THEM IN MELBOURNE.
THANKFULLY THERE IS ONE IN BLOOMFIELD, UM, RIGHT NEAR MY FAVORITE BAGEL SHOP, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH.
BUT HERE'S THE INTERESTING THING, BACK IN 2020, AND WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020.
SO I'M VERY PATIENT BACK IN 2020, BRIGHTVIEW ENGINEERING, THE TOWNSHIP ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS FOR BLOOMFIELD, THEY STUDIED 10 INTERSECTIONS IN BLOOMFIELD.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE INTERSECTIONS WERE COUNTY INTERSECTIONS.
AND THEY RECOMMENDED LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS.
THEY SENT THAT REPORT TO THE ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND IN THOSE FIVE YEARS, VERY LITTLE HAS BEEN DONE.
WE NEED ACTION, UH, THERE FOR THOSE LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS.
LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS ARE PROVEN TO SAVE LIVES.
STARK DIFFERENCES EXIST HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY, IRID RECORDS AND ESSEX COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A LIST OF, UM, LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVALS AMONG THEIR 400 PLUS INTERSECTIONS.
AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE SO THAT FOLKS IN ORANGE, IN EAST
[01:40:01]
ORANGE, IN BLOOMFIELD, IN MONTCLAIR, IN NUTLEY, IN VERONA, IN CALDWELL, IN WEST CALDWELL, IN NORTH CALDWELL ARE ALL PROTECTED WHEN THEY DO SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US HAVE DONE IN THE PAST WEEK.AND THEN NUMBER THREE, WE NEED TO SEE ACTION AND WE NEED TO SEE DOCUMENTED, UH, UH, UH, PROVEN, DOCUMENTED ACTION OF SIMPLY REPROGRAMMING A TRAFFIC CONTROLLER.
A TRAFFIC CONTROLLER TO GIVE PEOPLE SIX SECONDS TO GET A HEAD START BEFORE VEHICLES CROSS THE ROAD.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? GOOD EVENING.
CAN YOU LOWER THIS A LITTLE BIT? YEAH, WE CAN LOWER THAT.
MATT, CAN YOU GIVE A HAND? OKAY.
MY NAME IS WINIFRED VICTOR HINES AND I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
IN LIGHT OF ALL THE INSTABILITY WE'RE EXPERIENCING, WE THE
IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE HEADLINES, YOU KNOW THAT ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS HAS FACED SERIOUS SETBACKS, FUNDING CUTS, POLICY, ROLLBACKS AND RHETORIC ABOUT RETURNING TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS, THREATENED DECADES OF HARD WON VICTORIES AND SOCIAL SERVICES, SUSTAINABILITY, CONSERVATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
MANY OF YOU KNOW THE QUAKE PARK ASSOCIATION STORY, THE CHALLENGES WE'VE FACED AND THE UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES PLACED IN OUR PATH FROM THE BEGINNING.
OUR WORK HAS BEEN DRIVEN PURELY BY LOVE FOR KU PARK, OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS MADE IT PARTICULARLY DISHEARTENING WHEN OTHERS ATTEMPTED TO CO-OPT OUR NAME AND EFFORTS FOR PERSONAL GAIN HINDERING THE PARK'S PROGRESS.
WE HOPE FOR THOSE DIFFICULTIES ARE BEHIND US NOW.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES TO ADDRESS.
RE CANOPY, WILDFIRE THREATS, AIR AND WATER, POLLUTIONS, FLOODING, LAKESHORE EROSION, SOIL CONTAMINATION, MICROPLASTICS, THE LIST GOES ON.
BUT THE UNIVERSE HAS A WAY OF PROTECTING AND NURTURING THOSE WHOSE HEARTS ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
NEVERTHELESS, HERE AT WHEAT CREEK PARK, WE ARE NOT DISCOURAGED.
WE'VE NEVER RELIED ON DEEP POCKETS.
WE'VE RELIED ON DEEP COMMUNITY THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM, GRASSROOTS CONTRIBUTIONS, AND A WHOLE LOT OF HEART.
WE'VE KEPT THIS PARK THRIVING.
WE ARE A SCRAPPY, DETERMINED, AND UNSTOPPABLE GROUP.
THE WE QUICK PARK ASSOCIATION IS MORE THAN AN ORGANIZATION.
IT'S A MOVEMENT, A MINDSET, A REFLECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY'S STRENGTH.
AS OUR MODEL PROUDLY STATES, WE ARE THE PARK WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
IN ADDITION, I'M DELIGHTED TO NOT ONLY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HONORING OUR FORMER PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER MR. WILBUR MCNEIL WITH THE NAMING OF OUR 2.2 MILE TRACK LAST MONTH.
BUT ALSO TO SHARE NEWS OF A REMARKABLE REVIVAL OF ACTIVITIES AND, AND THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
OUR EARTH DAY EVENT THIS PAST TUESDAY WAS EXTREMELY WELL ATTENDED.
THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE.
ATTENDEES REPEATEDLY MENTIONED THE ENERGY IN THE ROOM AND THAT'S QUOTES AND GOOD FEELING PERMEATING THE EVENT.
IT DEMONSTRATED THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS THIRSTING FOR AUTHENTIC, OPTIMISTIC AND EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, WE DID SEND YOU AN INVITE WHETHER YOU'RE ABLE TO ATTEND OR NOT, JUST KNOW YOU'RE ALWAYS WELCOME.
LOOKING AHEAD, WE ARE LAUNCHING SEVERAL EXCITING INITIATIVES, YOUTH ECO WARRIORS PROGRAM AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES PARTNERSHIP WITH COACH JOSE SENIORS GARDENING GROUP, CLIMATE RESILIENCE WORKSHOP SERIES, WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM, RAIN GUARDING, INSTALLATION PROJECTS AND OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
OUR NEXT EVENT, EXCUSE ME, OUR NEXT EVENT.
THE CONVENING OF THE WE WAKE PARKS ADVISORY BOARD WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUESDAY, MAY 6TH FROM SIX TO 7:00 PM INSIDE THE WE CREEK PARK COMMUNITY CENTER.
30 SECONDS AND REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED.
LASTLY, ALL WE ASK IS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN WHATEVER WAY YOU CAN OFFER IT.
WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES TOGETHER WE CAN WORK WONDERS FOR WE CREEK PARK NEWARK IN THE SURROUNDING
[01:45:01]
COMMUNITIES.OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE EVERYTHING THAT WE CREEK PARK HAS TO OFFER AND MORE.
AND I ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF ASK IF I MAY RIGHT, UM, IF THE NEXT TIME THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT BUYS THE CLEANING PRODUCTS, IF THEY COULD BE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, NON-TOXIC PRODUCTS BECAUSE THE STAFF, WHEN THEY CLEAN, THEY INHALE THIS EVERY DAY AND IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THEIR HEALTH.
AND THEN ALSO THAT, UH, THE WEAK WAKE PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY, YOU COULD ASK THEM 'CAUSE THEY'RE SITTING IN THE BACK.
THEY HAVE CAMERAS IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM AND THEN ALSO IN THEIR OFFICE.
SO THEY'RE MONITORING EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AND WHAT OTHER PEOPLE DO.
AND WE DID NOT GIVE THEM ANY WRITTEN CONSENT TO DO THAT.
SO THEY'RE MONITORING THE STAFF AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO WALKS IN THERE.
AND THEN ALSO, ONE LAST THING, NUMBER 37 ON THE, THE AGENDA, IF YOU CAN ENSURE THAT THEY USE ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY MATERIALS.
SO I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE COMMISSIONERS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A CONTRACT FOR RECREATION IN WEEK WAY PARK AND WE JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY ON HOW THE TWO PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE IN THE PARK, UM, WITH THE CONSERVANCY STATUS CAN INTERFERE OR TORTUOUSLY INTERFERE WITH THAT PROGRAMMING.
SO WE DO WANT TO ANSWER FOR THAT.
AS FAR AS ANY OTHER ALLEGATIONS, THAT'S ALL WE'VE BEEN UPFRONT WITH.
I MEAN, I'M SORRY, CONFRONTED WITH, SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOING RECREATION AND WEEK PARK, THE SHERIFF REPORTS WILL KNOW EVERY INCIDENT THAT WE HAVE TO CALL ON ALL THE TIME FROM THE FIELDS, FROM ALL DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND IT'S JUST A SHAME THAT WE HAVE TO BE ONCE AGAIN, DRUG UNDER THE MUG, I'M SORRY, DRUNK DRUG UNDER THE RUG FOR THIS, THIS INTERFERENCE THAT WE'RE, UM, EXPERIENCING.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE TO REVIVE OURSELVES.
WE HAVE DONE THE WORK OUR LIGHT HAS ALWAYS SHOWN.
WE HAVE ALWAYS COME TO THIS MICROPHONE TO REPORT THEUS INCIDENTS FROM WHEN I CAME INTO THE PARK IN 2012.
MR. EDU'S LEGACY IS STRONG HERE, BRINGING THE FIRST T OF ESSEX, UM, TO WEAK WAY PARK.
SO WE HAVE BEEN HERE STRONG AND HAVE ALWAYS CARED ABOUT THE THE WEAK WAY PARK AND HOW IT'S PROGRESSING.
UM, AS FAR AS, UM, PAM'S CLAIM FOR BURG PARK, I WANNA ALSO ADD THE SENTIMENT ABOUT THE TRAFFIC.
WE ALSO NEED THAT SAME STUDY HERE IN WEEK WAY PARK WHERE THE TRAFFIC DOES NEED TO BE SLOWED DOWN.
ONE WAY IS NON-EXISTENT IN WEEK WAY PARK.
THEY'RE COMING IN AND OUT ONIKA AVENUE AND IT'S JUST, UM, AN UNSAFE CONDITION.
UM, THAT'S WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN FROM CONSERVANCIES WHEN THEY COME TO THE MICROPHONE TO TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IN WEAK GRADE PARK AND NOT ABOUT ENTITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DOING THE WORK.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE SOUTH WATER OF NEWARK.
YOU PUT YOUR NAME ON THE RECORD.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION PLEASE.
UH, DOUGLAS FREEMAN REPRESENTING SOUTHWARD REPUBLICANS.
SO I, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, GIVING OUR FORMER MAYOR, UH, RECOGNITION AT ESTES COUNTY.
HE'S GONNA BE ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE INAUGURAL, UH, ESTES COUNTY WOLVERINES ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME.
AND THAT'S JUST DUE ALL HIS WORK THAT HE HAS PERFORMED.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION IS THAT WE DID HAVE A MEETING WITH ESTES COUNTY PARKS AND A TENNIS GROUP.
AND WHAT WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS UNDER SHARP JAMES AND OFF THE ASH THERE WAS 5,000 CHILDREN PLAYING TENNIS IN ES COUNTY.
SO IN THAT PARTICULAR PIECE, THE TENNIS ASSOCIATION AND EVERYONE ELSE WANNA MOVE OUR THINGS FORWARD, WANNA MOVE OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD AND WANT TO HELP.
SO I DO NOT HAVE TO SHINE MY LIGHT, NOR DO ANYONE ELSE.
WE KNOW THAT THE WORK HAS SPOKEN.
UH, WHEN IT COMES TO WOMEN MCNEIL THOUGH, I DID HIGHLIGHT AT HIS, UH, UM, TRACK EVENT ALL THE GREAT THINGS HE HAVE DONE.
AND I WANT TO EXPECT THAT KIND OF ON THE SAME AND ASK FOR AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS MATTER.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? KING SCENE? NONE.
MS. EVANS, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THERE'S NO ONE WILLING TO, UH, WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE COMMISSIONER COMMENT SESSION.
ANY COMMENTS TO MAKE AT THIS POINT? SEEING NONE, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS THAT WE HAVE COMING UP.
JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS WE HAVE.
THE BOARD WILL BE CELEBRATING ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC HERITAGE MONTH ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 21ST.
JEWISH HERITAGE CELEBRATION WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 5TH.
AND THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN LIVINGSTON.
AND WE STILL HAVE OUR ONGOING COMMUNITY CATS
[01:50:01]
E-T-N-V-R PROGRAM FOR ANY, UH, GROUPS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH, UH, FERAL CATS AND UH, LOCAL GROUPS LIKE THAT, UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND THAT PROGRAM.