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IS BEING LIVE STREAMED IN ADDITION TO TAKING PLACE HERE IN PERSON.MS. EVANS, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PALM HERE.
PLEASE STAND TO THE SALUTE TO THE FIVE.
I'M GONNA ASK COMMISSIONER SERMONS LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.
MY PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDERGONE INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I'M JUST GONNA ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND HONOR OF THOSE THAT WE'VE LOST SINCE THE LAST TIME WE CAME TOGETHER IN THESE CHANGES.
I HAVE BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FROM THE DEPUTY CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF TRANSCRIPTS.
MS. EVANS, ARE THERE ANY TRANSCRIPTS TO BE APPROVED? OKAY.
UH, MS. EVANS, DO WE HAVE ANY TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION? NO.
SO BEING THAT WE HAVE NONE, LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
TONIGHT'S MEETING IS A COMBINED CONFERENCE AND BOARD MEETING, AND WE WILL VOTE ON EVERY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WILL LIKE TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THERE WILL BE TIME LATER THIS EVENING FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OTHER ITEMS. SO I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS AT THIS TIME TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
SEEING NONE, MS. EVANS, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THERE IS NO ONE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTIONS AND INTRODUCTION IN FIRST READINGS.
DO WE HAVE ANY? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE ORDINANCE FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.
ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S MOVE TO ORDINANCE NUMBER ONE FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.
IT'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JOHNSON, PLEASE EXPLAIN THE ORDINANCE.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, BOARD MEMBERS, THIS ORDINANCE IS GOING, IS AMENDING OR UPDATING, UH, OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE THAT PROVIDES FOR THE FEES THAT WE CHARGE FOR COUNTIES THAT SEND THEIR, UM, THEIR YOUNG FOLKS TO OUR JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.
UM, THIS WILL BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2026.
UH, THE NEW RATE WOULD BE $2,425 PER DAY, UH, FOR SENDING, UH, COUNTIES WITHIN 50 MILES OF THE FACILITY AND $875 PER DAY FOR SENDING COUNTIES THAT ARE GREATER THAN 50 MILES FROM THE FACILITY.
UH, ALSO, EACH COUNTY SHARES A PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THE EDUCATION AND MED MEDICAL COST.
MR. NU, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTION, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. MCINERNEY, ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, WHAT WAS, WHAT'S THE RATIONALE ON, ON THE MILEAGE IS WHAT, WHAT DICTATES A HIGH ARRAY FOR OVER 50 MILES? FOR, FOR JUST TO SOME LOGISTICAL ISSUES.
GETTING PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH.
TRANSPORTATION AND, AND, UM, IT, IT IS LARGELY LOGISTICAL.
I, BUT WE'RE, THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING 'EM TO, IN SOME CASES, YES, BUT IT'S, IT IS STILL EASIER FOR US TO MANEUVER.
UM, THAN IN, THAN FARTHER AWAY.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SAY NONE.
DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE IT? I'LL MOVE IT.
BOL DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
SECOND BY SERMONS, UH, THAT'S A MOVE TO INTRODUCE THE ORDINANCE.
DO I HAVE, UH, THE SAME COMMISSIONERS, UH, TO, UH, MOVE IT AND SECOND TO MOVE? YES.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT OMARE? YES.
OKAY, SO LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY.
MR. EVANS, DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTION ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING? YES.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 2025 DASH 0 0 0 1 1.
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ALRIGHT, SO LET'S MOVE TO THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2025 DASH ONE, WHICH WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.I HEREBY DECLARE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE NUMBER O 20 25 1 OPEN.
IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FOR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
MR. ANNU, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THIS, UH, CONFIRMING THIS IS ONLY FOR SIX MONTHS.
RIGHT? AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE SIX MONTHS? UH, THEY'LL MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER OR NOT TO CONTINUE IT OR NOT.
ANY QUESTIONS? UH, THE ONLY THING I HAD, UH, QUESTIONED IS WHETHER OR NOT, OR WHO IS GOING TO HANDLE ALL OF THE, UH, THE HOURS AND, AND THE PAYMENTS, UH, BOTH ON THE RECEIPT SIDE AND THOSE TO THE EMPLOYEES.
UH, MR. DOOLEY GOT BACK TO ME AND SAID THERE IS A THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT IS ALREADY CURRENTLY SERVING, I BELIEVE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
SO THEY WILL JUST EXPAND THEIR SERVICES TO HERE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEE? NONE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE O DASH 2025 DASH 0 0 0 1 1.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY LUCIANO, DO I HAVE TO SAY MOVER AND SECOND ON THIS MOTION? YES.
UH, TO APPROVE ROLL CALL, UH, MS. EVANS.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT PRIMARIES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS ONE THROUGH EIGHT, WHICH ARE, ARE ADVICE TO CONSENT RESOLUTIONS.
RESOLUTIONS ONE AND TWO ARE NOMINATIONS FOR APPOINTMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS.
3 0 8 ARE NOMINATIONS FOR REAPPOINTMENT FROM VARIOUS ADVISORY BOARDS, AND THERE WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
WITH YOUR PERMISSION, UH, I'D LIKE TO JUMP TO NUMBER TWO.
UM, OUR, UM, MS. ALLEN'S COMING OFF THE ELEVATOR, SO AS SOON AS YOU GET TO IT, WE'LL GO BACK TO NO WORRIES.
BUT, UM, WE'RE, UH, HAPPY TO, UH, NOMINATE JESSICA DELGADO TO THE LOCAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEE ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE.
MS. DELGADO, PLEASE JUST COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND JUST OFFICIALLY STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION AND JUST TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
YOU WE'RE GONNA GET A LITTLE HELP THERE.
I'M FROM FAMILY CONNECTIONS, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
AND WHAT DO YOU, SO TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOU.
UM, I'VE BEEN IN THE FIELD WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, UM, FROM RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT, FOSTER CHILDREN FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
UM, I'VE DONE CRISIS INTERVENTION, PARENT EDUCATION, AND, AND FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS I'VE BEEN DOING SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION, UM, WORKING WITH THE ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION TEAM COALITION.
UH, WE WORK THROUGHOUT ESSEX COUNTY.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, THE ESSEX COUNTY DIVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES AND THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY, WORKING ON VARIOUS INITIATIVES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, EDUCATION AWARENESS, POLICY CHANGES, PROGRAM CHANGES, UM, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, UH, FOR CHILDREN ALL THE WAY THROUGH OLDER ADULTS.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR NOMINEE? SEEING NONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO VOLUNTEER.
IF YOU DO A GREAT JOB WITH WPA NEXT YEAR,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING TODAY, MR. JACKSON.
UH, WE'D LIKE TO NOMINATE SHARONDA ALLEN TO THE ESS COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
MS. ALLEN, COME TO THE, THE MICROPHONE.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
JUST TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
I AM AN HISTORIAN, SCIENTIST, EDUCATOR, SOCIAL PHILANTHROPIST.
I'M THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATION GROW INC.
WHERE WE FOCUS ON HUMAN, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
WE DO LOTS OF WORK WITH THE YOUTH, PARTICULARLY EAST ORANGE AND NEWARK.
THERE'S ALSO SOMERSET YOUTH, ORANGE YOUTH AND IRVINGTON YOUTH.
AND, UM, PARDON ME RUNNING IN THE DOOR BECAUSE I JUST CAME FROM THE NEW JERSEY AUDUBON SOCIETY.
I PARTICIPATED AGAIN THIS YEAR WITH THE TEACHERS OF ECOLOGY PROGRAM.
AS PART OF MY SCIENCE, I DO A LOT OF WORK WITH URBAN AGRICULTURE LAST SUMMER, IF SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT THE ESSEX HUDSON GREENWAY HOSTED THE OPERATION GROW PLUS IN JTEP POPUP GARDEN.
I'M THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATION GROW.
SO AS I PARTNERED WITH THE NJ UH, DEP, I WAS ABLE TO SERVE THE NORTH NEWARK COMMUNITY AT THE INTERSECTION OF MANCHESTER PLACE AND HIGHLAND AVENUE.
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AND I WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE, UH, FRESH FREE PRODUCE, ORGANIC PRODUCE.IT WAS LIKE TWO FISH AND FIVE LOAVES.
THERE WAS ALWAYS PLENTY OF VEGETABLES TO GIVE AWAY EVERY DAY.
OF COURSE, I INCORPORATED THE YOUTH INTO IT.
MY YOUTH ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN PLANNING ON WHAT THE GARDEN WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE COMMUNITY.
NEWARK HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS A FOOD DESERT, EAST ORANGE AS WELL, UH, WHICH IS WHERE I RESIDE.
AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE DESERVE TO HAVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.
I'M ALSO AN EDUCATOR, CERTIFIED K THROUGH EIGHT ELEMENTARY, K THROUGH 12 SOCIAL STUDIES AND A SUPERVISOR CERTIFICATION.
I ALSO AM A RUTGERS UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD.
YES, I'M AN ENVIRONMENTAL GEEK AND ALSO A RUTGERS GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE CHAMPION.
UH, WHAT ELSE ABOUT MYSELF? UH, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.
GRADUATED FROM NEWARK ARTS HIGH SCHOOL, VOCAL MUSIC MAJOR.
I'M ONE OF THE LOST PRACTICES TO SIDEBAR, BUT I ALSO
SO, UM, I EARNED MY BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY WITH A MINOR IN AFRICANA STUDIES FROM KANE UNIVERSITY.
AND THEN IN 2002 I WAS THERE TO EARN A MASTER'S DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
SO I GUESS I HAVE THE PASSION FOR THE WORK THAT I'M DOING, THE NECESSARY WORK WITH THE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND I'M ALSO VERY EDUCATED AND CREDENTIALED TO BE VERY STRUCTURED IN PLANNING AND MAPPING THINGS OUT.
UH, LEARNING A LOT ABOUT NON-PROFIT, NON-PROFIT ESTABLISHMENT AND, UH, GOVERNANCE.
AND, UM, I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE.
I SAW THE LETTER FROM, UH, DI VINCENZO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, NEEDING FOLKS TO SERVE ON COMMISSIONS AND I'M JUST HONORED TO BE STANDING HERE AND, UH, BE ABLE TO BRING THIS INFORMATION, THE CONNECTIONS BACK TO MY YOUNG PEOPLE AND TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT ESSEX COUNTY AND OTHER PARTS OF NEW JERSEY.
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU DON'T DO? I'M JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY.
I CAN MAKE THE MUSIC, BUT, YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY LAUGHS AT ME THEN TELL ME I CAN'T DANCE, BUT I CAN JUST DON'T LIKE, ALRIGHT.
THEY JUST DON'T LIKE HOW I HAVE A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE WHEN I'M DOING IT, SO IT'S LIKE, STOP.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE AFTER THE MEETING.
PERHAPS I CAN S SEND YOU A SONG TOO, IF YOU'D LIKE.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR VERY TALENTED NOMINEE? COMMISSIONER SIEBEL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M THE, UH, COMMISSIONER LIAISON TO THE ESSEX COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND I AM REALLY THRILLED THAT SHARONDA ALLEN IS JOINING THE COMMISSION.
I THINK SHE'S A WELCOME, WELCOME ADDITION TO THAT BOARD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE MS. ALLEN.
OR MR. JACKSON FROM THREE TO EIGHT.
THESE ARE YOUR APPOINTMENTS? UH, YES SIR.
JUST, AND ALSO, UM, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, LUCY DELGAUDIO, WHO'S THE, UM, ON THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD, BUT IS THE NEWLY, UH, ELECTED CHAIRPERSON.
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH THE BOARD.
MS. DELGAUDIO, JUST PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD AND TELL US ABOUT YOU.
UM, GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND HONORED GUESTS.
MY NAME IS LUCY DELGAUDIO AND I'M DEEPLY HONORED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AS THE NEW CHAIR OF THE ESSEX COUNTY VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD.
AS A PROUD UNITED STATES ARMY VETERAN AND ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED, I STEPPED INTO THIS ROLE WITH DEEP SENSE OF DUTY, HUMILITY, AND COMMITMENT TO VETERANS OF OR ESSEX COUNTY.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR VETERAN COMMUNITY AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO ENSURE THAT NO VETERAN IN ESSEX COUNTY IS LEFT BEHIND THIS YEAR, THE ESSEX COUNTY VETERAN ADVISORY BOARD IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING A STRONGER CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR VETERANS AND THE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THEM.
WE PLAN TO INCREASE OUTREACH, STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL AND STATE AGENCIES, AND IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ADVISORY BOARD AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF UNDERREPRESENTED VETERAN POPULATIONS, PARTICULARLY WOMEN, VETERANS, LGBTQ PLUS VETERANS, VETERANS OF COLOR, AND THOSE TRANSITIONING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS OR STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HEALTH.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT OUR EFFORTS REFLECT THE FULL DIVERSITY OF THOSE WHO SERVE, THAT WE PROVIDE A SPACE WHERE EVERY VETERANS FEEL SEEN, HEARD, AND SUPPORTED.
OUR GOALS FOR THIS YEAR INCLUDES SUPPORTING THE PLANNING AND EXPANSION OF VETERAN FOCUSED EVENTS, JOB FAIRS, AND RESOURCE CLINICS, SUCH AS ON OCTOBER 9TH, WE'RE HOSTING THE NEW JERSEY
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SOS VETERAN STAKEHOLDERS, ESSEX COUNTY STAKEHOLDERS, MEETING AT 1230 AT THE CHERRY BLOSSOM CENTER IN BRANCH BOOK PARK ON OCTOBER 18TH.WE ARE PARTNERING WITH MULTIPLE VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, UH, FOR THE ESSEX COUNTY VETERAN STAND DOWN AT JFK RECREATION CENTER STRENGTHENING.
ALSO, WE'RE STRENGTHENING OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS, THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY VETERAN AFFAIRS, LOCAL VSOS AND OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ENSURING THAT OUR ADVISORY BOARD REMAINS A STRONG VOICE THAT ADVOCATES FOR EFFECTIVE POLICY AND FUNDING TO SUPPORT VETERANS IN OUR ESSEX COUNTY.
I BELIEVE THAT SERVICE DOESN'T END WHEN THE UNIFORM COMES OFF.
AND THIS ROLE GIVES MYSELF AND MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, SEVERAL OF WHICH ARE HERE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THAT SERVICE WITH PURPOSE AND PASSION.
SO, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE TRUST AND SUPPORT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO ENSURE THAT ESSEX COUNTY REMAINS A PLACE WHERE VETERANS ARE HONORED AND EMPOWERED AND UPLIFT.
THANK YOU, MR. ARDIO, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, PAST SERVICE EXCEPT FOR YOUR CURRENT AS WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MS. DELGAUDIO? SEE NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO KEEP US INFORMED WITH YOUR EVENTS.
'CAUSE I KNOW THAT, UH, WE, WE WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND SOME OF THOSE EVENTS.
ALL RIGHT, MR. JACKSON? UH, THAT CONCLUDES IT.
SO ONE THROUGH EIGHT ARE ONE AND TWO ARE NEW APPOINTMENTS.
THREE TO EIGHT ARE REAPPOINTMENT, SO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE THEM.
MR. EVANS ON ONE THROUGH EIGHT.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NINE, WHICH IS IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK AND CAN BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? MR. SRE? MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK CONTRACT AWARD TO RELIANCE GRAPHICS INC.
TO PROVIDE PRINTING SERVICES FOR ELECTION MATERIAL, EXERCISING THE TWO YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH AUGUST 31ST, 2027, AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,195,000.
UH, MR. BOB FEDERALLY FROM RELIANCE GRAPHIC IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION AND TELL US ABOUT THE CONTRACT.
MY NAME IS BOB FEDERALLY OF RELIANCE GRAPHICS.
THIS IS OUR 30TH YEAR OF BEING, HAVING THE TRUST OF ESSEX COUNTY TO HANDLE THIS WORK.
AND WE TAKE IT, IT'S A HARD JOB AND, AND IT'S A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK AND, AND WE DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY.
AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK AND THE RESPONSIBILITY.
I KNOW AT LEAST DURING MY TIME HERE, NO COMPLAINTS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I'M SORRY, MR. UH, AN WOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, NONE.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER MADAM, YOU CAUGHT ON VACATION? I'M SORRY.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PAREZ? YES.
ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 10 THROUGH 21 AND ADDED STARTERS 96 97, ALL OF WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
PLEASE NOTE RESOLUTION 15 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
GOOD EVENING, UH, COMMISSIONER BOARD.
I COME TO YOU WITH A, UH, PLETHORA OF ITEMS. SEAT NUMBER 10 IS THE APPROVAL OF OUR COMMUNITY-BASED DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN PERMIT APPLICATION, AND WE DO HAVE OUR, UH, DEER MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT, DAN BENE HERE TO, UH, MAKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
DANIEL BENE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT.
THE 2025 ESSEX COUNTY DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WAS CONDUCTED ACROSS 11 AFTERNOONS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, UH, WITH A GOAL OF REMOVING 30 DEER FROM THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION.
THE PROGRAM ACTUALLY REMOVED 85, UH, WITH A GOAL TO REMOVE 80 DEER FROM THE HILLTOP RESERVATION.
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WE REMOVED 58 FOR A TOTAL OF 143 DEER HARVESTED.UH, THOSE DEER YIELDED, UH, VENISON IN THE AMOUNT OF 3,952 POUNDS THAT WAS DONATED TO THE COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NEW JERSEY.
UH, US COUNTY CAN BE VERY PROUD THAT, THAT SINCE 2008, YOU HAVE PROVIDED ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILLION MEAT PORTIONS OF MEALS TO MEDIA AND HOMELESS.
UM, THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO CONTRACT WITH
UM, THE RESULTS OF THAT, UH, SURVEY WORK SHOWED THAT IN SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION, UH, THE OVERWINTERING POPULATION, MEANING THE, THE POPULATION THAT WE ESTIMATE WILL BE PRESENT IN THE WINTER OF 2025 BEING INTO 2026, WILL BE AT A DENSITY OF ABOUT 35 PER SQUARE MILE.
AND IN THE HILLTOP RESERVATION, IT BE MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT AT 82 PER SQUARE MILE.
AS I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU FOR SEVERAL YEARS, FOREST ECOLOGISTS, UH, WHO ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT A, A FOREST COULD SURVIVE AT 20 HERE PER SQUARE MILE HAVE BEEN FINDING THAT THAT WORKS FOR A HEALTHY FOREST.
BUT OF COURSE, OUR FORESTS ARE NOT HEALTHY BECAUSE OF THE IMPACTS OF DEER AND INVASIVE PLANT INCURSION.
SO NOW THE RECOMMENDATION IS A DEER DENSITY OF 10 PER SQUARE MILE OR LESS.
AND AGAIN, OUR PARTS ARE SHOWING 35 PER SQUARE MILE AT SOUTH ME 82 AT HILLTOP.
UH, AND ESSEX COUNTY FOREST HEALTH REPORT PREPARED IN AUGUST OF 2023 FOUND THAT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FOREST HEALTH AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION HAD BEEN OCCURRING IN THE FIRST, UH, SEVERAL YEARS OF THE PROGRAM, BUT HAVE SLOWED DOWN SINCE 2013.
AND AT HILLTOP, THE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS HAVE HAVE NOT BEEN SIGNIFICANT IN RECENT YEARS.
UM, THEY THEREFORE ARE ADVOCATING FOR A MORE AGGRESSIVE DEER POPULATION REDUCTION QUOTE TO ASSURE RECOVERY TO FOREST HEALTH ON TOP OF THE PROBLEM OF, OF DEER OVERPOPULATION.
AND FORESTS NOW FACE THREATS FROM, UM, INVASIVE PLANTS FROM EMERALD DASH BOER INSECTS AND FROM BEACH LEAF DISEASE, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY IS PROBABLY GOING TO KILL EVERY BEACH TREE IN AMERICA.
UM, I HAVE MADE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION, UM, UH, IN, IN THE COMING, UH, PROPOSED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, UH, BE CONDUCTED AGAIN TO PROTECT THE 16 SEASONS OF INVESTMENT THAT HAVE ALREADY GONE ON THERE.
AND TO ENABLE THE SUCCESS OF THE FOREST REGENERATION PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR MANY YEARS.
MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO ATTEMPT TO REMOVE 85 DEER BY CONDUCTING FIVE AFTERNOON SHIFTS OF HUNTING WITH TWO RAIN DATES USING 14 HUNTERS AT A TIME AT 14 BAY STATIONS AND HILLTOP RESERVATION.
AGAIN, THAT POPULATION IS STILL EXTREMELY HIGH.
THE THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY IS SIGNIFICANT ALONG ROADS LIKE FAIRFIELD.
SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO ATTEMPT TO REMOVE 70 HERE ACROSS SEVEN AFTERNOONS WITH ONE RAIN DATE USING EIGHT HUNTERS AT A TIME AT EIGHT BAY STATIONS.
THOUGH MY DATA SUGGESTS THAT WE ACTUALLY SHOULD BE TARGETING MUCH HIGHER NUMBERS OF GEAR TO REMOVE, UH, THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ATTEMPT TO ALIGN WITH WHAT, UM, THE POPULATION ESTIMATOR FORMULAS THAT I HAVE AND THE FOREST HEALTH REPORT SUGGESTS WITH WHAT PARK VISITORS, PARK NEIGHBORS, THE BUDGET AND THE CALENDAR CAN ACTUALLY SUPPORT, UM, BY HUNTING ONLY IN THE AFTERNOONS, WE REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SECURITY PERSONNEL AND MAN HOURS REQUIRED TO MAKE THE PROGRAM WORK.
IT ALSO REDUCES THE COST PER YEAR AND INCREASES THE HUNTER PARTICIPATION.
SO THE, UH, PROPOSED PROGRAM AS OUTLINED IN THE APPLICATION THAT I HAVE PREPARED FOR, UH, SUBMISSION TO THE NEW JERSEY, UH, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION, OFFICIAL WILDLIFE WITH YOUR APPROVAL, UH, WOULD HAVE HUNTING AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION ON TUESDAYS FROM JANUARY 13TH TO FEBRUARY 10TH AND HUNTING AT HILLTOP, UH, RESERVATION ON THURSDAYS FROM JANUARY 8TH TO FEBRUARY 19TH.
AND OF COURSE, WE WOULD BE VERY VIGILANT TO CONDUCT FOLLOW UP INFRARED DRONE SURVEYS IN THE SPRING OF 2026 AS RAILROAD VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS ABLE TO DO IT, TO BE ABLE TO, UH, AGAIN, DETERMINE WHERE OUR NUMBERS LIE.
AT THAT POINT, I'D BE VERY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
UH, MR. AMU, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
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JUST, JUST ONE.IT'S THE INFRARED, UM, SURVEY OF THE NUMBER I'VE DONE BEFORE AND AFTER THE, UM, IT'S DONE AFTER THE HUNT.
UM, AND THEN THERE ARE FORMULAS THAT WE USE, YOU KNOW, USING A, A DRONE MOUNTED INFRARED COUNTER, THEY'RE ABLE TO GET VERY PRECISE INFORMATION AS TO WHERE THEY SEE DEER AT THOSE SPECIFIC TIMES ON THAT NIGHT OF THE SURVEY.
UM, THEY PROVIDE US A MAP AND DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THOSE DEER WERE, WERE SEEN.
IT'S HAPPENING IN THE SPRING, WHICH IS BEFORE NEW BIRTHS OCCUR.
WE KNOW FROM DATA COLLECTED DURING THE HUNTING PROGRAM, PRETTY MUCH, UM, THE, THE PERCENTAGE OF, UM, THE, THE, THE RATE OF REPRODUCTION THAT THE FEMALES ARE GONNA BE EXPERIENCING AND USING THAT DATA AND AN ESTIMATE OF NATURAL MORTALITY AND DEER, UH, CAR ACCIDENTS.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO ESTIMATE WHAT THE OVERWINTERING POPULATION WILL BE GOING INTO THE NEXT WINTER.
MR. MCINERNEY, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER GIL? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
JUST, UM, SO, UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, THE, SO WE'RE VOTING TO AUTHORIZE THE HUNT IN SOUTH MOUNTAIN IN HILLTOP.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY.
EAGLE ROCK IS NOW OFF THE LIST.
EAGLE ROCK IS NOW OFF THE LIST.
'CAUSE IT WAS ON AND NOW IT'S OFF.
IT WASN'T ALL IT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A HUNTING PROGRAM IN YOU UP FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
UH, I MEAN I DEFINITELY VOTED, I VOTED ON THAT.
WE VOTED ON A EAGLE ROCK PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO WHERE WE REAUTHORIZED TO HUNT THERE.
IT, IT, IT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT MY POINT.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE, WE HAVE HAD TO HUNT IN EAGLE ROCK SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD AND I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR 12 YEARS.
SO, UM, SO JOSHUA
UM, THE RESOLUTION MIGHT HAVE BEEN A CASE WE NEEDED TO, TO CALL IN EAGLE ROCK, BUT, BUT WE NEVER, BUT WE NE WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY EXECUTE ON IT.
BUT I THINK TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, WE MIGHT BE LEADING COURT.
YES, WE DO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT POPULATION.
THE, THE INFRARED GEAR STUDY WAS CONDUCTED AT EAGLE ROCK AS WELL, BUT THE NUMBERS UP HERE THAT WE'RE SEEING THERE WEIGHED OUT AGAINST THE, THE COST, AND I DON'T JUST MEAN THE DOLLAR COST, BUT THE PERSONNEL COSTS, THE, THE MAN HOURS NEEDED FOR HUNTERS TO BE ABLE TO HUNT THOSE GEAR.
AND ALSO BASED ON THE SPECIFICS WE'RE SEEING FROM THE AERIAL SURVEY OF WHERE THOSE GEAR ARE LOCATED AND THEREFORE HOW ACCESSIBLE THEY ARE TO A HUNTER, IT JUST DOESN'T PROVE ITSELF TO BE, UM, EFFICIENT.
UM, SO, SO TONIGHT WE'RE AUTHORIZING, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THESE HUNTS MAY OCCUR YET.
THESE ARE, SO ARE WE, SO ARE WE AUTHORIZING SPECIFIC DATE AND TIMES OF THESE HUNTS? OR ARE WE JUST VOTING? WHAT, WHAT ARE WE JUST BEING ASKED TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF A HUNT TO, TO, SO THAT, THAT'S QUESTION ONE.
NO, THE APPLICATION IS VERY SPECIFIC AS TO THE DATES.
THEY ARE, SO WE WILL HAVE, WE WILL BE HAVING A HUNT IN BOTH OF THOSE, IN BOTH OF THOSE.
MOUNTAIN RESERVATION ON TUESDAYS, THEY'LL TOP ON THURSDAYS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.
UM, AND, AND WHERE AT, AT THIS POINT IN TIME THROUGH YOU, MS. PRESIDENT, IT'S YOUR OPINION THAT THIS IS STILL, UM, THE MOST HUMANE WAY THAT WE CAN MANAGE THE DEER POPULATION IN OUR COUNTY? WELL, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, I, I CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE LITERATURE ON OTHER METHODOLOGY AND, AND I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING THAT SUGGESTED ANYTHING IS, UM, MORE EFFICIENT OR HUMANE.
UM, I, I, I KNOW THAT IN UNION COUNTY WHERE I AM AN EMPLOYEE, THAT THE PROGRAM THERE, UH, HAS SWITCHED TO A, UH, A CROSS BALL HUNT RATHER THAN A SHOTGUN HUNT, AND IT IS NOT BEING AS EFFICIENT AS THE SHOTGUN HUNT WAS.
UM, AS FAR AS IMMUNO CONTRACEPTIVE PROGRAMS, UH, I HAVE NOT YET SEEN DATA FROM ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT SUGGEST THAT IT CAN BE CONDUCTED FEASIBLY, UM, OR COST EFFECTIVELY THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
SO THERE, SO THERE, SO ARE THERE, IS THERE ARE ANY, SO THERE IS NO COUNTY RIGHT NOW THAT USE UTILIZES, UM, I'LL USE LAYMAN'S TERM BIRTH CONTROL.
IMMUNO CONTRACEPTIVE PROGRAMS. YEAH.
I, I CAN'T SAY THAT THERE'S NOBODY WHO'S USING IT, BUT I CAN SAY THAT, THAT IT'S NOT BEING EFFECTIVE.
UH, STATEN ISLAND HAD A VERY PAINFUL EXPERIENCE OF, UH, INSTITUTING A PROGRAM, UH, TRYING TO ROUND UP THE MALES AND THE SECTORIZED THEM, AND THEY SPENT $2 MILLION DOING IT OVER THE COURSE OF A COUPLE YEARS MM-HMM
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THE END, THEY WERE NO FURTHER ALONG IN THEIR, UH, REDUCTION THAN IF THEY HAD DONE NOTHING.SO, MEANING THAT THEY HAD DONE, THEY, THEY HAD SPENT $2 MILLION AND, AND, AND HAD NOT, HAD NOT, HAD NOT AFFECTED THE POPULATION.
THEY COULDN'T ACCESS ENOUGH MALES, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO, TO DOING VASECTOMIES.
YOU HAVE TO GET SUCH A HUNDRED PERCENTAGE OF THE MALES BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A FEW LEFT BEHIND, THEY CAN STILL CATCH UP WITH WHAT THE OTHERS ARE OUT THERE TO DO.
UM, AND IN ANY, UM, IN ANY CARE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY TARGETING THE FEMALES THAT MATTERS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE REPRODUCING AND, AND WE'RE SEEING OUR CASE, TYPICALLY 50% OR MORE ARE DELIVERING TWINS, ABOUT 7% ARE DELIVERING TRIPLETS.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO BE TARGETING THEM.
SO YOU NEED A, IF YOU'RE GONNA DO A BIRTH CONTROL METHOD, YOU NEED SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA BE ABLE TO REACH A LARGE NUMBER OF FEMALES, UH, IN ORDER TO AFFECT A REAL CHANGE.
AND, AND DOING THAT IS JUST SO PROBLEMATIC.
YOU HAVE TO, UH, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE THEM, HAVE TO PHYSICALLY BE ABLE TO HOLD 'EM, TO INJECT THEM.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO DART THEM.
IT, IT'S NOT LIKE YOU SAW A WILD KIDNEY WHERE YOU HIT THE HAMMER WITH THE DART AND YOU JUST FALL DOWN AND WAIT FOR YOU.
THEY TYPICALLY RUN AROUND FOR HALF AN HOUR AFTERWARDS WHILE THE DRUG IS TAKING EFFECT.
AND YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THEM THAT WHOLE TIME WITH TELEMETRY.
AND WHEN THEY LEAVE YOUR PARK AND GO INTO PEOPLE'S PRIVATE PROPERTY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM ALL OF THOSE PROPERTIES IN ORDER TO ACCESS THEM.
SO THE STATE DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE REQUIRES WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM EVERYBODY WITHIN A HALF A MILE OF YOUR PROPERTY THAT IF THE DEER ENDS UP ON THEIR PROPERTY, YOU'RE GONNA GO OUT TO GO IN.
THEN WHEN YOU DO INJECT 'EM, YOU'VE GOTTA BE ABLE TO TAG THEM TO IDENTIFY WHICH ONES YOU'VE, UH, INJECTED.
YOU'VE GOTTA HOLD THEM FOR A DAY OR MORE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO INFECTION AT THE INJECTION SITE.
UH, YOU LET THEM GO AND THEN YOU HAVE TO TRY TO CAPTURE THAT, THAT SAME ANIMAL AGAIN THE NEXT YEAR AND DO IT AGAIN BECAUSE THE, THE SHOT IS ONLY GOOD FOR A YEAR.
SO IT'S, IT'S VERY, IT'S INVOLVED PROCESS VERY DIFFICULT.
AND HANDLING ANIMALS, WILD ANIMALS IS, IS NOT EASY EITHER.
IT CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR THE WORKERS WHO ARE INVOLVED AND THE COST IS SIGNIFICANT, WHICH TYPICALLY YOU'RE TALKING A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER INJECTION.
YOU KNOW, THE, WITH INCLUDING THE PROCESS, BUT THEY EVEN STARTED, SO THERE'S NO COUNTY IN, IN NEW JERSEY THAT WE'RE AWARE OF THAT'S UTILIZING THAT PROCESS.
NONE THAT I'M AWARE OF INSTEAD OF A, AGAIN, INSTEAD OF A FINDING, NONE THAT I'M AWARE OF, UM, THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF.
HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN, UM, UH, IN ADDITION TO VEGETATION IN TERMS OF, UM, DISEASE, TICKBORNE DISEASE AND, AND OTHER THINGS THAT THEY CARRY? CARRIE, UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE SOME PAINFUL EXPERIENCE WITH THAT.
UM, I, I AM IN REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH A RESEARCHER AT THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
HE'S ALSO WITH RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.
HE'S BEEN DOING TICK RESEARCH FOR 40 YEARS, COLLECTING TICKS IN THE WATCH ON RESERVATION, WHICH SOME OF YOU KNOW, IS WHERE I LIVE.
AND, UM, THE REASON HE AND I HAVE BEEN CORRESPONDING LATELY IS BECAUSE A FEW WEEKS AGO I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ALPHA GAL SYNDROME, WHICH RESULTS FROM THE, THE BITE OF A LONE STAR TICK.
I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EAT THE MEAT OF A MAMMAL OR DAIRY PRODUCTS PERHAPS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
UM, THAT, THAT IS NOT THE SAME AS LYME DISEASE.
LYME DISEASE IS MORE PREVALENT AND THAT TYPICALLY COMES FROM BLACKLEGGED TICKS.
UM, THIS YEAR I, I DON'T HAVE DATA ON IT, BUT, BUT ON JUST FIRSTHAND OBSERVATION, THE NUMBER OF TICKS IN GENERAL THAT MYSELF AND MY STAFF IN THE ONG RESERVATION HAVE BEEN FINDING ON OURSELVES IS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED.
UH, I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WEATHER AND THE, AND THE WAY THE WEATHER HAS CREATED A, UM, MORE GROWTH OF VEGETATION, IT'S GIVEN THE, THE PICKS GREATER ACCESS TO THEIR PREY BECAUSE THEY LIKE TO GET UP HIGH ON THE GRASS TO BE ABLE TO JUMP OFF ON THEIR PREY.
AND WHEN WE'RE HIKING A TRAIL THAT PREY IS US PREVIOUS PRESIDENT
UM, SO THE, THE, THE N-J-D-E-P, UM, AND, UM, IS THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL, OR IS THAT, DOES THAT COME THROUGH FISH AND WILD? DOES IT COME UNDER THE NJ AT THE STATE LEVEL? LIKE WHERE DO WE TAKE OUR GUIDANCE FROM ABOUT HOW TO OKAY.
THROUGH MR. PRESIDENT, THE NEW JERSEY DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE IS A DIVISION OF DEP.
UM, THEY, THEY ARE THE ONES WHO CONTROL THE COMMUNITY BASED GEAR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE APPLYING FOR A PERMIT UNDER.
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THE LAST WORD ON IT THAT THE APPLICATION HAS TO GO BEFORE THE NEW JERSEY FISHING CAME COUNCIL FOR THEIR APPROVAL, AND THEN THEY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMISSIONER OF DEP AND, UM, HE HAS TO APPROVE IT AND IT'S THEN SIGNED OFF BY THE DIRECTOR OF NEW JERSEY FISH AND WILDLIFE.BUT, UM, I AM, UH, YOU KNOW, IN CONTACT WITH THE, THE STAFF AT THE DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE WHO MANAGE THIS PROGRAM.
AND, UM, THEY TEND TO KEEP ME UP TO DATE ABOUT NEW DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS, UH, NEW GRANT MONIES THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE AVAILABLE.
UH, ESSEX COUNTY HAS, UM, I, WE JUST PICKED UP SOME SIGNS WAS ABOUT PICK UP SOME SIGNS THAT THEY'RE MAKING AVAILABLE TO HELP ADVERTISE PROGRAM.
UM, BUT THEY ALSO ARE LOOKING TO FUND, UM, THE BUTCHERING COSTS AND, UM, THE BAIT COSTS AS WELL TO BE A SIGNIFICANT HELP FOR THE BUDGET.
FIRST OF ALL, I HOPE THAT YOU SOON RECOVER FROM THE ILLNESS THAT YOU MENTIONED.
IT'S STILL AN OPEN QUESTION OF WHETHER I EVER WILL, I'M SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THAT.
THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE DEER HAS OCCURRED FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER AS A COMMISSIONER HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY.
THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE AGAINST IT.
THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FOR IT, AND I HATE THE IDEA OF KILLING THE DEER.
HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE RESERVATIONS WERE DYING BECAUSE OF THE DEER AND WHAT THEY WERE EATING.
AND IT'S NECESSARY TO SAVE OUR RESERVATIONS TO HAVE A, UH, PROGRAM TO KILL THE DEER, TO KILL THE DEER THAT WE NEED TO DISPOSE OF.
AND TALKING ABOUT OTHER PROGRAMS, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, DOESN'T FIRE ISLAND HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE THEY TAKE CARE OF THE DEER SO THEY CAN'T, UH, PRODUCE MORE DEERS? THEY DID MORE DEER, NOT DEERS.
THEY, THEY, UM, THAT THAT'S WHERE THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES WAS TESTING ITS IMMUNO CONTRACEPTIVE PROGRAM.
AND THE REASON THEY PICKED THAT SITE WAS BECAUSE IT WAS AN ISOLATED SITE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT ISLAND AND THE DEER COULDN'T LEAVE.
SO IT WAS A VERY CAPTIVE POPULATION AND IT WAS AN UNUSUAL SITUATION THAT THE DEER WERE ALMOST CAME TO THE, UH, THE RESIDENTS HAD NAMES FOR EACH OF THE GEAR THAT WE BROUGHT PICTURES OF THEM.
THEY WOULD PUT, THEY WOULD PUT THEY OUT IN THEIR BACKYARDS TO DRAW THEM TO WHERE THEY COULD THEN IMMUNIZE THEM.
UM, BUT IT, IT'S NOT THE SAME AS SOUTH MOUNT RESERVATION.
WE CAN'T THAT WHERE THEY'RE THE WILDLIFE.
THEY'RE NOT JUST GONNA COME TO US BECAUSE WE RING A BELL, BUT IT WAS EFFECTIVE IN FIRE ISLAND.
UH, I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY STILL DO IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF, UH, IF IT WAS EFFECTIVE IN THE LONG RUN TO KEEP THAT COST.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S STILL VERY COSTLY.
I HAVEN'T READ ABOUT IT RECENTLY.
I, I'LL LOOK INTO IT THOUGH, UH, TO TRY TO GET AN UPDATE ON THAT, BUT, BUT I'M HAPPY YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN A CAREFUL WAY, SO THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS FIRST, OBVIOUSLY, I'M SORRY TO HEAR THE CONDITION.
I HAVE A RELATIVE WHO SUFFERS FROM THE SAME THING, IS A PRETTY OUTDOORS GUY AND I KNOW IT'S IMPACTED HIM.
UM, DID YOU SAY THAT WAS, IN THE TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS PROGRAM, LET'S SAY QUARTER OF A MILLION, WAS IT MEALS SERVED THE POUNDS? CAN YOU YES.
VENISON, ESSEX COUNTY HAS PROVIDED CLOSE TO 62,000 POUNDS OF VENISON TO THE COMMUNITY FOOD BANK.
UH, A MEAL PORTION IS TYPICALLY A QUARTER OF A POUND, SO 62,000 TIMES 40, IT'S OVER 250,000.
SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I THINK WE'RE GOOD.
LET'S, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DETAILED REPORT.
JOSHUA ZAS, S COUNTY PARKS NUMBER 11 IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO WE TIMBERMAN COVE FOR THE PURCHASE OF A, UH, FOREST STREET TRUCK WITH THE CHIP DUMP BODY UNDER THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICE COMMISSION OF NEW JERSEY CO-OP AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $262,116 AND 31 CENTS.
UH, IF APPROVED, THIS VEHICLE WILL REPLACE A 23-YEAR-OLD, UH, TRUCK THAT WE'VE HAD IN SERVICE, UH, FOR THAT LONG.
UH, THIS IS A VEHICLE THAT WE STAFF OURSELVES AND WE HAVE, UH, LICENSED DRIVERS TO OPERATE IT.
NUMBER 12 IS A CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH GREEN VALLEY LANDSCAPING DESIGN TO PROVIDE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE AT THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN RECREATION COMPLEX CONTRACT.
THE EXTENSION WOULD RUN FROM AUGUST 15TH OF THIS YEAR THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF THIS YEAR, AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $39,325.
THIS IS THE EXISTING VENDOR FOR THOSE SERVICES AND, UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE DIDN'T GET A NEW VENDOR LINED UP IN TIME, BUT WE EXPECT TO HAVE A NEW VENDOR IN PLACE, UM, BY THE TIME THIS
[00:40:01]
EXPIRES.LET'S MOVE ON TO 13 NUMBER 30 AND WE'LL ASK ANY, UH, QUESTIONS UNLESS THERE'S A VENDOR THAT COME UP.
WE'LL ASK ALL OUR QUESTIONS AT THE END AND YOU GO THROUGH.
NUMBER 13, A CONTRACT AWARD TO TRIBE CAFE TO PROVIDE AND OPERATE A FOOD CONCESSION OF FRANCIS BURN GOLF COURSE.
24 MONTH CONTRACT REVENUE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $9,600.
AGAIN, UH, THIS IS, UH, REVENUE GENERATING THIS STATE.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND THAT WE OKAY WITH THE TECHNICAL BECAUSE IT WENT OFF ON THE SPEAKER PHONE.
ARE WE HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH IT? I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS RECORDED FOR THE TRANSCRIPTION.
COUNTY PARKS NUMBER 13 CONTRACT AWARD TO TRIBE CAFE TO OPERATE THE FOOD CONCESSION OVER FERN GOLF COURSE.
THIS IS A REVENUE GENERATING CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED, UH, $9,600.
AGAIN, REVENUE GENERATING CONTRACT NUMBER 14 IS AUTHORIZATION TO USE YESA COUNTY RECREATION OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND FUND.
THE PURCHASE OF A NEW, UH, ZAMBONI RESURFACING MACHINE MEANT NOT TO EXCEED $124,230.
UH, AGAIN, THIS IS FOR A NEW ICE MACHINE OVER AT THE DAKOTA ARENA, UH, USED BY OUR ICE DEPARTMENT STAFF.
NUMBER 16 FOR THE RECORD, 15 IS WITHDRAWN, CORRECT? YES.
NUMBER 16 IS INSERTION OF ITEMS OF REVENUE FROM THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF NEW JERSEY FOR TOTAL BLACK ZOO OPERATIONS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE USED FOR THE PURCHASE OF A VAN, UH, EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE ZOO, AND WE EXPECT TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD AT A LATER DATE, UM, TO REQUEST THE PURCHASE OF THAT VEHICLE.
NUMBER 17, UH, INSERTION REVENUE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FROM MONTE URBAN ORANGE PARK PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS AND THE AMOUNT OF $1,000,405 AND 405,000 DO I CAN'T SAY THAT.
UM, UH, IF I MAY, NUMBER 17, 18 AND 19 ARE ALL RELATED.
THOSE ARE THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE ORANGE PARK PLAYGROUND THAT'S BE COMING UP LATER WITH THIS AGENDA.
UH, LIKE I SAID, NUMBER 17 IS THE GRANT AWARD.
NUMBER 18 IS THE ALLOCATION FROM OPEN SPACE IN THE SAME AMOUNT.
AND THEN, UH, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF $31,443 THAT WAS NEEDED FOR THE PROJECT.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE THREE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE LARGE PARK PLAYGROUND.
NUMBER 20 IS THE AUTHORIZATION.
TSS COUNTY RECREATIONAL OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND FOR THE ASSESSING PARK SOCCER, CROSS AND FIELD HOCKEY IMPROVEMENTS, UH, AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,125,000.
AND, UH, THIS IS A FUNDING SOURCE FOR, UH, AN UPCOMING ITEM ON THE AGENDA THAT WILL BE THE CONTRACTOR, UH, TO COMPLETE THIS WORK.
NUMBER 21, AUTHORIZATION TO USE, YES.
COUNTY RECREATIONAL OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND FOR THE TURTLEBACK ZOO, GIVEN HABITAT IMPROVEMENTS.
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,000,703 703,456.
UH, AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE AUTHORIZATION FOR OPEN SPACE WOULD BE THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE ACTUAL ACTUAL CONTRACT.
N 97, IS THAT CORRECT? 96 IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO SUNNY ELECTRIC LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER TO PROVIDE GENERAL ELECTRIC IMPROVEMENTS, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS, UH, AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $999,300 AND 75 CENTS.
UH, THIS IS THE PREVIOUS VENDOR FOR THIS CONTRACT.
WE WENT OUT TO BID AGAIN AND THEY WERE THE LOWEST BIDDER.
THIS IS FOR ANY KIND OF ELECTRICAL WORK THROUGHOUT THE PARK SYSTEM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ATHLETIC UH, LIGHTING.
THAT'S A SEPARATE CONTRACT THAT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THE SAME VENDOR.
AND FINALLY, NUMBER 97 IS A CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER WITH MCCLUSKEY MECHANICAL TO PROVIDE MISCELLANEOUS HVAC SERVICES, ADDING AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $64,960.
UH, AGAIN, THIS IS FOR ANY KIND OF HVAC SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT, UM, ZOO, UH, CODY ARENA AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
MR. ANON, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS THAT YOU DID NOT DISCUSS YET? NO QUESTIONS PRESENT.
MR. MCINERNEY, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTION.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER SIEBEL, ALL OF THE ITEMS DISCUSSING THE OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND ADVISORY BOARD WERE DISCUSSED AT OUR LAST MEETING ON AUGUST 7TH, AND WE ALL VOTED FOR THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? AND JOSH ATTENDS ALL OF OUR MEETINGS AND DOES A WONDERFUL JOB.
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I'M SURE HE DOES.DOES HE GO FIRST ON THE AGENDA? DOES HE GO FIRST ON THE AGENDA WHEN YOU MEET? YEAH.
WELL, THE, THE WHOLE AGENDA'S KIND OF MINE, SO HE DOES IT ALL AND HE'S WONDERFUL AND I MOVE AND I MOVE IT.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? ALL RIGHT, SO COMMISSIONER SEABOLD MOVING AND DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY SERMONS, WE'RE MOVING AND SECONDING, WE'RE VOTING ON 10 TO 21, BUT NOT 15, WHICH HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 22 THROUGH 32 AND ADDED STARTER NUMBER 98, WHICH ARE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, 22 IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO ERNO ANO CONSTRUCTION TO CONSTRUCT THE PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PLAYGROUND AT MONTE IRVING ORANGE PARK IN AN AMOUNT ELECTRIC EXCEED $2,841,603.
ERNO ANO SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE THREE BIDS RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.
THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE FOR THE PLAYGROUND LOCATED NEAR MONTE URBAN ORANGE PARKS INTERSECTION WITH HIGHLAND AVENUE IN ORANGE.
THE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE A NEW PLAYGROUND, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, RUBBERIZED SURFACES, FENCING BENCHES.
ALSO INCLUDED IS THE RESURFACING AND A REFRESH OF THE ADJACENT BASKETBALL COURT.
UH, PNA ANO HAS PAST EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY.
THEY HAVE, UH, THE CURRENTLY THE CONTRACTOR PERFORMING THE WA ASSESSING PARK MENT IMPROVEMENTS, UH, NEW THAT SUITE STORAGE AND ALSO PI GIORDANO, UH, CONSTRUCTION WILL UTILIZE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 55 LABOR AND THEY HAVE OVER FOUR RESIDENTS AS FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES OF THE COMPANY.
AND WE RECENTLY BATTED THEM HERE, CORRECT? YES, RECENTLY THEIR, UH, PRECEDENT LAST MONTH ACTUALLY.
ITEM NUMBER 23 IS THE WATER CONTRACTING PHOENIX CNET CONSTRUCTION FOR THE SOCCER AND CROSS FIELD IMPROVEMENTS OF WEST SAS PARK IN BLOOMFIELD AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $1,125,000.
CNET CONSTRUCTION SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE FIVE BIDS RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.
THE PROJECT ENTAILS THE FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING SYNTHETIC FIELD WITH THE NEW ONE, AND ALSO INCLUDES NEW FENCING, BLEACHERS, SCOREBOARD, NEW SOCCER AND LACROSSE GOALS AND NETS, ET CETERA.
WE DO HAVE MR. UH, ROME NAIK OF STUDENT CONSTRUCTION HERE THIS EVENING.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE OR TWO PLEASE.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR COMPANY AND THE WORK THAT YOU PROPOSE TO DO.
I'M A PROJECT MANAGER AT
UH, ABOUT 50% OF OUR WORKFORCE, ROSA RESIDE ESSEX COUNTY, AND WE ARE A LOCAL 4 72 AND 8 25 AFFILIATED COMPANY.
UH, WE'VE DONE SOME JOBS WITH THE COUNTY IN THE PAST, INCLUDING RECENTLY, BURG, JO, UH, BURG, DOG PARK, AND YCA FIELD.
UH, WE'VE ALSO DONE SOME JOBS AT TURTLEBACK ZOO.
WHILE HE'S, WHILE THE VENDOR IS HERE, UH, MR. AMO, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, NONE.
MR. PRESIDENT, MR. M, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE VENDOR? COMMISSIONER? GO.
UM, FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, UM, YOU SHOULD GET THAT VIDEO AND SEND THAT TO EVERY VENDOR THAT COMES BEFORE THIS BOARD, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU DO THE PRESENTATION.
EVERY VENDOR SHOULD SEE HOW THAT PRESENTATION WAS JUST MADE.
UM, IT HIT ALL THE KEY ITEMS. UM, ITS CONNECTION TO OUR COMMUNITY, UH, ITS CONNECTION TO ORGANIZED LABOR AND WORK THAT IT'S DONE.
UM, AND PRESENTED IN A WAY THAT, UM, WITH, YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THE WORK THAT WITH FULL CONFIDENCE SO WE CAN VOTE
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONERS? VERY GOOD.
UH, DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 24, AWARD TO CONTRACT TO CONSTRUCT THE RENOVATION OF THE GIBBONS HABITAT AT THE TURTLEBACK SIOUX TO AB CONSTRUCTION IN
[00:50:01]
AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED ONE MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX DOLLARS.AB CONSTRUCTION SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE FOUR BIDS RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.
AB CONSTRUCTION HAS PASSED EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY OF ESSEX AND HAS COMPLETED PROJECTS SUCH AS THE BLASEY FIELD IN CEDAR GROVE.
CURRENTLY WORKING IS ALSO CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE LEMUR EXHIBIT AT TURTLEBACK TWO.
UM, AND THE TULIP SPRINGS PICNIC AREA IN SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION IN MELBOURNE.
AB CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYS 25 TOTAL EMPLOYEES AND ALL 25 FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES OR COUNTY RESIDENTS.
UH, THE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE A NEW HABITAT FOR THE GIBBONS.
THERE WILL BE, UH, HABITAT PLATFORMS FOR VISITORS TO OBSERVE THE GIBBONS IN THE HABITAT.
OUTDOOR HEATED SHELTERS FOR THE ANIMALS NEW WINDOWS BUILDING RENOVATIONS, UH, JUST TO NAME A FEW THE IMPROVEMENTS.
ADAM, THEY'VE BEEN HERE A COUPLE OF TIMES THIS YEAR AS WELL, CORRECT? YES.
ANDREW PI HAS BEEN FOR THIS BOARD THREE TIMES THIS YEAR ALREADY.
I JUST WANNA FOR THE RECORD NOW THAT WE'VE ALREADY READ UP YEP.
NUMBER 25, DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 25 AWARDS A TWO YEAR CONTRACT TO THE TWO LOWEST BIDDERS TO FURNISH AND DELIVER BUILDING MATERIALS AND AN AMOUNT THAT SHOULD EXCEED $300,000 IN THE AGGREGATE.
THE THREE, THE TWO VENDORS ARE X TECH OPERATING OF NEWARK AND CONTINENTAL HARDWARE OF NEWARK.
THIS, THIS CONTRACT WILL ALLOW THE DEPARTMENTS DIVISION ABOVE AND GROUNDS TRACES PERSONNEL ACCESS TO MATERIALS NEEDED TO PERFORM REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS TO COUNTY FACILITIES ON A, ON A AS NEEDED BASIS.
UH, SO THEY COMPLY MATERIALS SUCH AS FLAG SHEET, ROCK TWO FOURS, ET CETERA.
ITEM NUMBER 25 AWARDS AT TWO YEAR OPEN-ENDED CONTRACT TO NATURE'S CHOICE AND JAY TO PERFORM THE COLLECTION FALLING AND DISPOSAL ALONG
THE SERVICE IS USED DURING THE FOUR MONTHS TO COUNTY RESOURCES IN THE REMOVAL OF FREE OF COUNTY WORK WASTE ITEM NUMBER 27 WILL ALLOW FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIVE NEW 2025 FORD RANGER PICKUP TRUCKS BY AWARDING UNITED FORD.
A CONTRACT IN AN AMOUNT THAT YOU EXCEED $199,990.
UNITED FORD SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE S RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
THESE VEHICLES WOULD BE USED TO REPLACE THE ALL THE ONES USED BY THE FIELD INSPECTORS OF THE DIVISION OF MOSQUITO CONTROL.
THIS PURCHASE WILL BE FULLY FUNDED BY A GRANT FROM THE N-J-D-E-P ITEM NUMBER 28.
THAT SIZES A TWO YEAR EXTENSION OPTION TO THE TA BY WISE AND THE PARTS AUTHORITIES CONTRACTS TO FURNISH AND DELIVER AUTOMOTIVE BATTERIES ON A ESTIMATED BASIS IN A MANAGED GROUP C $30,000.
THIS CONTRACT IS USED BY THE FLEET MANAGEMENT OFFICE ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS AS THEY STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN THE COUNTY'S VEHICLE FLEET IN A STATE OF REPAIR.
AND ITEM NUMBER 29 IS THE AWARD OF A SIX MONTH REVENUE GENERATING CONTRACT TO DINING PARTNERSHIP GROUP TO OPERATE THE GRAB AND GOLD CAFE TO BE LOCATED IN THE LOBBY OF THE NEW BY NONA LITMAN FAMILY COURTS BUILDING IN AN AMOUNT TO EXCEED $1,500.
DINING PARTNERSHIP GROUPS EMITTED TO SOLE BID RECEIVED BY THE CONTRACT ITEM NUMBER 30.
IT'S A CHANGE ORDER WHICH MODIFIES KO'S EXISTING CONTRACT CONTRACT TO CONSTRUCT THE NEW POONA LIPMAN FAMILY COURTS BILLING IN NEWARK BY INCREASING THE CURRENT EXCEED AMOUNT OF $172,600,000 TO A NEW NET EXCEED AMOUNT, A HUNDRED SEVENTY SIX THOUSAND SEVENTY SIX MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THIS AN INCREASE OF $4.2 MILLION, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 2.4% OF ORIGINAL CONTRACT.
THE CAUSES TO CHANGE ORDERS INCLUDE ON UNFORESEEN SOIL CONDITIONS, THE PRESENCE OF FOUNDATIONS AND FOODING FROM FORMER ON ONSITE STRUCTURES, STRUCTURAL STEEL REVISIONS, UH, ELEVATOR SHAFT REVISIONS, AND ADDITIONAL CARPENTRY, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL WORK.
[00:55:02]
MODIES THE TACTICAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO CONSTRUCT TWO MINOR BRIDGES BY INCREASING THE, BY INCREASING THE AMOUNT BY THE AMOUNT OF $115,053 FOR A NEW TOTAL AMOUNT OF 3,000,801 AND 53.THIS CHANGE ORDER RESULTS FROM THE UNFORESEEN PRESENCE OF REGULATED MATERIALS AT THE SITE IN A, IN A COMPACTED ROADWAY.
AND WE NEED TO INSTALL HAT MIX ASPHALT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS AND AN UNDERESTIMATION OF CONTRACT QUANTITIES.
THE COST OF THIS CHANGE ORDER WILL CONTINUE TO BE GRANT FUNDED.
ITEM NUMBER 32 MODIFIES THE CONTRACT WITH FRENCH AND CAR TO PERFORM THE DESIGN ENGINEERING REQUIRED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BLOOMFIELD AVENUE AND THE BEAUFORT AVENUE S IN AMOUNT OF 399 4 8.
A NEW TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT TO A NEW TOTAL, NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $488,480.
UM, THIS CHANGE ORDER RESULTS FROM ADDITIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATION AND DISPOSAL GUIDANCE OF REGULATED MATERIALS THAT WERE FOUND DURING THE CONSTRUCTION, AND OF COURSE, ADDITIONAL INSPECTION HOURS DUE TO THE INCREASE IN THE CONSTRUCTION DURATION.
MR. ANTONIO, WHERE ARE THE, IS THIS ONE OF THOSE IN LIVINGSTON? IS THAT THE ONE?
AND, UH, PLU AVENUE IS IN WEST CALDWELL.
AND, UH, FINALLY, ITEM NUMBER 98 AUTHORIZES ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH
THE HOUSE IS DFA AND AMOUNT ACTUALLY EXCEED $449,786.
THIS AWARD IS MADE THROUGH THE BERGEN COUNTY COOPERATIVE CONTRACT.
THE ROOF IS OVER 25 YEARS OLD AND IT'S OVER 24,000 SQUARE FEET AREA AND HAS STARTED TO SHOW SIGN OF AGING SUCH AS LEAK.
UH, MR. ANU, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? UH, NO QUESTIONS MR. PRESIDENT.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? NO, NO QUESTIONS.
MR. PRESS COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? NO.
SO CAN I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE 22 TO 32 AND 98? MOVE IT.
COMMISSIONER SERMONS ON THE MOVES, LUCIANO, IN A SECOND.
MS. EVANS 22 TO 32 AND NUMBER 98.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
WELL, IT'S GONNA WAIT A MINUTE WHILE WE SWAP OUT THE MICROPHONE.
WE'RE GONNA SWAP OUT THE MICROPHONE TO ENSURE WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES.
ARE WE ALL GOOD, KYLE? SOUNDS GOOD.
SO LET'S MOVE TO, UH, RESOLUTION 33 TO 41, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CITIZEN SERVICES, DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF RESOLUTION 34, WHICH WILL BE TAKEN LATER WITH THE BUDGET OF INSERTION OF REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES, ALL OF WHICH CAN BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? MR. MCCOY? GOOD EVENING, MR. MCCOY.
I'M TERRANCE MCCOY, DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION.
UH, MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT ALRIGHT.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 33 IS OUR THANK YOU AGENDA.
ITEM NUMBER 33 IS OUR ANNUAL BUDGET INSERTION FOR FUNDING FOR, UM, FROM HUD IN THE AMOUNT OF $659,200.
AND THESE FUNDS ARE FOR STAFFING OF OUR ANNUAL COORDINATION WITH SERVICES TO PROVIDE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS IN THE, UH, LOW INCOME POVERTY AREAS OF ESSEX COUNTY.
NUMBER 35 IS A BUDGET ASSERTION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS FOR OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK GRANT.
THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO ADD ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO OUR CURRENT 2025 GRANT AND THE AMOUNT OF $713,127.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 36, 37, 38 AND 39 ARE TIED INTO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 39.
WE ARE AMENDING OUR SUBCONTRACTED AGENCIES TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO CONTINUE THE SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE THAT ARE NEEDED TO OUR LOW INCOME
[01:00:01]
POVERTY CONSTITUENTS THROUGHOUT SS COUNTY.AND NUMBER 36 IS FOR, UH, IRVINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR SUBCONTRACTED AGENCIES.
WE ARE PROVIDING THEM WITH AN ADDITIONAL 93, NO, I'M SORRY, ADDITIONAL $150,000 TO GO TOWARDS THEIR CURRENT CONTRACT.
NUMBER 37 IS TO AMEND THE MONTCLAIR NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND WE ARE PROVIDING THEM WITH AN ADDITIONAL 141,000 TO GO TOWARDS THEIR CURRENT CONTRACT.
NUMBER 38 IS FOR JOY'S ANGEL, WHICH IS ANOTHER ONE OF OUR SUBCONTRACTED AGENCIES.
WE ARE PROVIDING 'EM WITH AN ADDITIONAL 150,000 GLUE TOWARDS THEIR CURRENT CONTRACT.
NUMBER 39 IS C TIME OUTREACH AND WE ARE PROVIDING THEM WITH THE $141,000 TO GO TOWARDS THEIR CURRENT CONTRACT FOR SERVICES TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE 2025 CALENDAR.
YEAR NUMBER 40 IS ANOTHER BUDGET ASSERTION.
WE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND DEVELOPMENT FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
WE RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL $60,000 TO GO TOWARDS OUR CURRENT CONTRACT FOR 2025.
AND WE ARE TAKING THOSE FUNDS AND WE ARE SUBCONTRACTING THEM OUT TO TWO OF OUR NONPROFIT AGENCIES FOR NUMBER 41 AND NUMBER 42.
NUMBER 41 IS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO NEWARK EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR FAMILIES.
AND LEMME MAKE SURE THAT IS RIGHT.
NUMBER 41 IS FOR, TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TOWARDS WHAT AGENCY IS.
I THINK ON 41, CORRECT? YEAH, BECAUSE WE'RE STOPPING AT 41 IRVINGTON OR FOR 41 IS IRVINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, COMMISSIONER.
AND NUMBER 42 IS FOR NEWARK EMERGENCY SERVICES.
I THINK WE'RE STOPPING AT 41, IS THAT CORRECT, MR. JACKSON, IF YOU THAT'S CORRECT.
UH, MR. DARN
MR. KINNER, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS ON 33 TO 41 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 34, WHICH WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT LATER ON.
COMMISSIONER SERMONS, LUCIANO, ON THE SECOND ROLL CALL MS. EVANS.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PALMERA.
KYLE, DO YOU WANT TO CHECK THAT FEEDBACK? IS THERE ANYTHING WE JUST LOWERED A LITTLE BIT 'CAUSE IT'S, THEY'RE COMING UP PRETTY LOUD.
WE ARE EXPERIENCING TACTICAL DIFFICULTIES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO, UH, NUMBER 42, WHICH IS THE DEPARTMENT OF CITIZEN SERVICES, DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES.
AND IT CAN BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR ESS COUNTY YOUTH SERVICES COMMISSION.
TODAY WE ARE REQUESTING AN EXTENSION WITH UNITED COMMUNITY CORPORATION FOR THE RESTORATIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE JUSTICE FOR YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES PILOT PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS RTJ FOR FROM JULY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026, NOT TO EXCEED $821,100.
AND TODAY I ALSO HAVE, UH, MS. JACQUELINE HENRY FROM UH, UCC.
DO YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS? YOU JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD AND ADD TO THAT? SURE.
I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF UNITED COMMUNITY CORPORATION.
SINCE THE INCEPTION OF OUR RTJ PILOT PROGRAM, WE HAVE DONE TREMENDOUS WORK THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF NEWARK.
MANY OF OUR RTJ PARTICIPANTS HAVE RETURNED TO THE COMMUNITY.
THEY HAVE ENROLLED IN THEIR COURSES TO RECEIVE THEIR GED.
TO DATE, WE HAVE ABOUT EIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE THAT HAVE COMPLETED THEIR GED.
WE ALSO HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE ENROLLED IN THE YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM AND WORKING TOWARDS THEIR CONSTRUCTION CERTIFICATIONS AND FINDING EMPLOYMENT.
OUR YOUNGER PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM THAT ARE MIDDLE AGE, THEY HAVE HAD INCREASED ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL AS WELL AS JUST ENGAGING WITHIN SUMMER COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM AND HAVE BEEN MAKING PROGRESS IN TURNING THEIR LIVES AROUND.
[01:05:02]
MR. ANU, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.ANY QUESTIONS ON 42? STILL GONNA MOVE IT.
MOVE BY SERVANTS LUCIANO, SECOND.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PALMS. YES.
ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE TO 43 TO 46, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION.
THEY COULD BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, MR. COLTRANE, MR. PRESIDENT, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION.
OFFICE OF PUBLIC MANAGEMENT CONTRACT AWARD.
WR SPECIALTY VEHICLE, THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER FOR A RENOVATION AND REFURBISHING OF ONE EXISTING MOBILE PRIMARY HEALTHCARE VEHICLE.
THIS VEHICLE, UH, WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN 2021, WHICH NEEDS AN EXTENSIVE UPDATE.
AND WE RECEIVED TWO BIDDERS AND THIS, THIS COMPANY WAS THE LOWEST.
THIS DOES GOTTA WORK OUT THIS VEHICLE, THAT'S FOR SURE.
AGAIN, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH INTER UH, INTERRA AND INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
SHARED PROFESSIONAL SERVICE WITH THE TOWNSHIP OF IRVINGTON.
UTILIZE THE ESSEX COUNTY HEALTH OFFICE OFFICER TO PERFORM PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER SERVICE FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF IRVINGTON ON A TEMPORARY BASIS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
UH, THE CURRENT AGREEMENT EXPIRED ON AUGUST 13TH, 2025.
NUMBER 45, AGAIN, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, DIVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICE.
APPROVAL OF THE SFY 2026 ESSEX COMMUNITY MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE CONTRACT.
JULY 1ST, 2025 TO JUNE 30TH, 2026.
MOUNTAIN NOT TO EXCEED $271,950.
MUNICIPAL ALIGNMENT ALLIANCES 18 MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE, INCLUDING ONES IN CONSORTIUM TWO MIN WITH TWO MUNICIPALITIES, CALDWELL AND WEST COLDWELL WORK TOGETHER.
ESSEX FELLS, NEWARK, ORANGE, AND MONTCLAIR.
NUMBER 46, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
AGAIN, DIVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES.
RE REQUEST FOR AN APPROVAL AUTHORIZATION FOR THE ESSEX COUNTY INTOXICATED DRIVERS RESOURCE CENTER, IDRC TO ENTER INTO A MEMO, MEMO OF AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF PASSADE TO IMPLEMENT A 48 HOUR IDRC PROGRAM JANUARY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.
MR. AON WILL DO ANY, HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE FOUR ITEMS? NO QUESTION.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE FOUR? DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE? MOVE BY.
LUCIANO, DO YOU HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION 47, WHICH IS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WHICH CAN BE REC READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. SORES? GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, YOUR HONOR.
UH, JOHN SORES, DIRECTOR OF DIVISION OF HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UH, REQUESTING YOUR AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND THE PROGRAM YEAR 24.
UH, ACTION PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK.
GRANT, YOU PREVIOUSLY APPROVED THE FUNDING OF A $15,000 GRANT TO MONTCLAIR NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR YOUTH PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES.
UH, MONTCLAIR NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS REQUESTING THAT THEIR UN EXPENDED BALANCE OF 15,000 BE REALLOCATED FOR SENIOR PROGRAMMING ACTIVITIES.
MR. AON, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
SEEING NONE, I'LL MOVE THAT MOVE BY SEBO.
COMMISSIONER GI, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SECOND? SURE.
[01:10:01]
YES.COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PALMERO.
LET MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 48, WHICH IS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
IT CAN BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. GOLD, MR. PRESIDENT, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS CONTRACT AWARD TO ATLANTIC TACTICAL OF NEW JERSEY TO PURCHASE AMMUNITION UNDER THE STATE CONTRACT 17 FLEET 0 0 7 3 2 AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $68,935.
THIS IS 300 CASES OF NINE MILLIMETER AMMUNITION AT $196 AND 45 CENTS, UH, PER CASE.
THERE'S A 49% STATE CONTRACT DISCOUNT AND THE VENDORS IN COMPLIANCE WITH, UH, THE 2015 BOARD ORDINANCE.
YOU WANNA DO 49 SINCE IT'S VERY SIMILAR? YES.
OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF CONTRACT AWARD TO LAWMAN SUPPLY OF NEW JERSEY PURCHASE OF AMMUNITION.
THE STATE CONTRACT 17 FLEET 0 0 7 4 0.
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $54,655 AND 60 CENTS.
THEY'RE BUYING 20 CASES OF NINE MILLIMETER AMMUNITION AT FOUR $101 AND 33 CENTS PER CASE.
AGAIN, 12% STATE, UH, CONTRACT DISCOUNT AND THE VENDOR IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE 2015 ORDINANCE.
MR. YMO, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I 48 OR 49.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS ON 48 OR 49? SEEING NONE.
COMMISSIONER SERMONS A SECOND.
CALL MS. SIMMONS FOR 48 AND 49.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
50 HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN FOR BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO 51, WHICH GIMME ONE SECOND.
UH, WHICH IS FOR THE COUNTY OF ADMINISTRATION OFFICE.
IT CAN BE READ TO THE, UH, RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, YOU WANNA DISCUSS NUMBER 51? YES.
UM, ITEM 51, UH, IS THE AMENDMENT TO R 24, UH, OH OH EIGHT AND, UH, OH OH 8 8 5.
THIS IS THE REAPPOINTMENT OF EV SOLUTIONS TO HANDLE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE, UM, DIFFERENCE CARD THAT WE USE WITH THE, UH, STATE HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN FOR THE 2035 PLAN WHERE WE PROVIDE FOR THE COPAYS OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO TAKE THAT PROGRAM.
UM, THIS IS, UM, AND ALSO WE NEED A SIDEBAR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND EACH OF OUR UNIONS THAT WISHES TO PARTICIPATE.
UH, LAST YEAR IT WAS 23 OF THE 26, UM, UH, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREE, UH, UH, ORGANIZATIONS AGREED TO DO IT.
AND THIS IS EXTENSION OF THE PROGRAM FOR 2026 IN THE AMOUNT OF $41 AND 22 CENTS PER, UH, EMPLOYEE.
MR. MCINERNEY? SO ROBERT, IF YOU COULD, AGAIN, JUST, THIS IS A, THIS IS THE CARD THAT YOU USED FOR WHAT? THE UM, 1 25 PLAN, THE 2035 PLAN.
IT'S THE, IT'S A, IT'S A PLAN THAT'S A CHEAPER, UH, 10, 10, 12% CHEAPER THAN THE, UH, NJ 10.
AND, BUT IT ALSO HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF THE, THE COUNTY PAYS FOR THE EMPLOYEE'S, UH, COPAYS AND OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES.
THIS HAS, THIS HAS BEEN IN PLACE, THIS HAS, UH, STARTED LAST YEAR.
STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, CORRECT.
IS THAT WHAT WE, I JUST A BLANK ON, I'M SORRY.
YEAH, I THINK WE'RE, WAS IT A DISCOUNT CARD IS HOW WE REFER TO BASICALLY THEN, SO, ALRIGHT.
SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS MR. MCKINREY? NO, I DON'T COMMISSION ANY QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER GILL ON THE SECOND ROLL.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PALMERO? YES.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO RESOLUTION 34, UP TO 50, JUST 34, 52 THROUGH 57, WHICH ARE 2025 BUDGET INSERTION ITEMS OF REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES, WHICH CAN BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
ITEM 34 IN THE AMOUNT OF $72,609, UH, IS A, IS A GRANT TO SUPPORT, UM, THE HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL.
IT'S A 18 MEMBER BOARD AND IT PROVIDES FOR PUBLIC INPUT AND PARTICIPATION IN THE, UM, D-H-G-H-S DECISION MAKING AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION.
[01:15:01]
IT DOES REQUIRE A $10,237 AND 87 CENTS MATCH, WHICH WE MATCH BY THE WAGES OF A, OF AN EMPLOYEE WHO'S NOT FUNDED BY, WHO'S NOT, DOES NOT GRANT FUNDED.ITEM 52, UH, ANY AMOUNT OF $12,971, UH, IS FUNDING THAT PROVIDES FOR THE, THE ANALYTICAL SYSTEM, THE DATA ANALYSIS SYSTEM, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, FOR OUR DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.
UM, AND IT'S, UH, UH, GOING FROM JULY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026, AND THERE'S NO, UH, COUNTY MATCH.
ITEM 53, UM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000,487,990, UM, IS REVENUE FROM THE NEW NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR WORKFORCE INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY ACT.
UM, AND THIS, UH, TRAINING, UH, EFFORT GOES, IS GEARED TOWARD OUR YOUTH.
UH, ITEM 54 IS RELATED, UM, UH, FROM THE SAME SOURCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,337,745.
UH, AND THIS IS GOING FOR ADULTS, UH, AND FOR APPROXIMATELY 1.4 MILLION AND DISLOCATED WORKERS IN THE AMOUNT OF 1.9 MILLION.
AND THERE'S NO, UM, NO COUNTY MATCH.
ITEM 55, UH, IS ANOTHER ALLOCATION OF THE, UH, O OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND GOING TO THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES AND THE AMOUNT OF $180,001 AND 75 CENTS.
UH, THIS BRINGS A NEW TOTAL TO $2,888,894 AND 71 CENTS.
UH, AND THERE'S NO, UH, COUNTY MATCH ITEM 56 IN THE AMOUNT OF $502,123 AND 44 CENTS.
UH, IT'S GO, IT'S FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF, UH, NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
UH, AND THIS IS REIMBURSING US FOR EARLY VOTING, UH, FOR THE 2024 PRIMARY ELECTION.
UH, IT'S FOR OT, TEMPORARY STAFF, POLL WORKERS PRINTING SUPPLIES AND PUBLICATIONS.
AND THERE'S NO, UH, COUNTY MATCH.
UH, ITEM 57, UM, IS FOR THE, IN THE AMOUNT OF 42,000, UH, $534.
UH, THIS IS FOR OUR OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT, JULY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026.
THIS FUNDING STRENGTH, UH, STRENGTHENS OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE, UH, HEALTH CORE PUBLIC HEALTH OPERATIONS AND ENHANCES OUR CAPACITY ACROSS SEVERAL, SEVERAL, UH, SERVICE AREAS.
UM, AND THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH.
WOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? NO QUESTIONS, MR. PRESIDENT.
ROLL CALL MS. EVANS ON THIRTY FOUR FIFTY TWO THROUGH 57.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE OUT OF ORDER AND GO TO RESOLUTION 84, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION AND CAN BE READ INTO THE REC RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AWARD TO GEMINI, UH, AWARD, LLC, DOING, DOING BUSINESS AS CJ TROPHIES AND PROMOTIONS, LOWE'S RESPONSIBLE BIDDER TO FURNISH AND DELIVERY TROPHIES AND PLAQUES AND COMMEMORATIVE NAME PLAQUES FOR ESSEX COUNTY CONTRACT PERIOD FOR 12 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF AWARD AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000 WITH A 15% DISCOUNT.
MR. AMO, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? NO QUESTION, MR. PRESIDENT.
ROLL CALL MS. EVANS ON NUMBER 84.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT PALM MAREZ.
SO MOVED IN THE HOME STRETCH FOLKS.
UH, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS 58 THROUGH 95, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 84, WHICH WE JUST HANDLED.
UH, THESE ARE IN MEMO MORGANS COMMENDATIONS PROCLAMATION RESOLUTIONS.
THEY CAN BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THESE? SEE? NONE.
THIS IS FIFTY EIGHT THREE NINETY FIVE, EXCEPT FOR 84.
[01:20:01]
YES.COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT COOPER.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADDED STARTERS THAT WE DIDN'T COVER? NO.
MR. PRESIDENT, THEY WERE ALL TAKEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT RESOLUTIONS.
BOARD OF COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONERS, ANY REPORTS? BOARD OF COMMITTEES IN SUMMERTIME.
SO WE USUALLY DON'T HAVE TOO MANY, UH, LEGISLATIVE REPORTS.
SEEING ANY? NONE WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS.
NONE UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMMISSIONERS.
WE HAVE ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS OR ANY NEW BUSINESS? SEEING NONE.
LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER, PLEASE GO TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK.
YOU CAN GRIP IT THERE AND THEN JUST PULL IT DOWN AND RIGHT.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
UH, GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
I'M A RESIDENT AT 3 1 5 LITTLE FALLS ROAD, CEDAR GROVE.
BEEN THERE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW AND, UM, WE TOOK A BIG TASK ON MY WIFE AND I.
WE JUST MOVED TO THE COUNTY, AS I JUST MENTIONED, AND WE RENOVATED OUR PLACE.
AND, UH, AS I'M DOING THE LANDSCAPING OUTSIDE, I REACHED OUT TO A LANDSCAPER TO PRUNE A TREE IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
AND, UH, HE TOLD ME I SHOULD CHECK WITH THE TOWNSHIP AND I FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS A COUNTY ROAD, SO THE TREE BELONGS TO THE COUNTY.
UM, PROBABLY BACK IN LATE MAY, EARLY JUNE, I REACHED OUT TO, UH, DPW AND SPOKE TO ARBORIST AND HE SAID HE WOULD COME OUT, CHECK IT OUT.
AND, UH, THE WHOLE MONTH OF JUNE, I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE ARBORIST.
UH, AND HE INFORMED ME THAT, UH, YOU HAVE AN EXTERNAL VENDOR THAT TAKES CARE OF PRUNER ONCE THE TREE IS AT A CERTAIN LEVEL.
AND, UM, HERE WE ARE NOW IN AUGUST AND, UH, BEEN DOWN TO THE DPW COMPLEX ON BLOOMFIELD AVE A FEW TIMES, AND IT KIND OF SEEMS LIKE THERE'S LITTLE TO NO CLARITY.
AND, UM, I REACHED OUT TO THE EXECUTIVE SIDE, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HIS CHIEF OF STAFF EMAILED ME BACK AND FORTH WITH THE, UH, DPW DIRECTOR, I BELIEVE, BUT STILL, UM, NO CLARITY.
AND THE LAST THAT I HEARD WHEN I WENT TO DPW WAS SOMEONE WOULD BE OUT MONDAY, TUESDAY TO PER THE TREE.
AND, UH, THAT WAS TWO WEEKS AGO.
AND, UH, THE REASON WHY I'M HERE IS BECAUSE, UH, I LOVE THE COUNTY.
I LOVE THE PARKS, ESPECIALLY, UH, THE PARK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD TO CEDAR, THE GROVE PARK.
AND, UH, YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE PARK AT MC LOONS IN WEST ORANGE AND WE GOT A GREAT PARK SYSTEM AND A GREAT COUNTY SYSTEM OVERALL FROM WHAT I SEE AND JUST BEING AT THE MEETING HERE THIS EVENING.
BUT, UM, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED IN THE CONSTITUENT SERVICES THAT I'M RECEIVING, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO THE FOLLOW UP BECAUSE I'M, I'M CONSTANTLY BEING TOLD THAT IT'S GONNA GET DONE AND IT'S GONNA GET DONE AND IT'S LIKE, UH, TIME IS IDLING AND IT'S GOING BY AND I JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S A BIT OF A LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM AND ESPECIALLY ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I HEAR ABOUT THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY BEING SUCH RESPONSIVE.
I FEEL LIKE, UM, THIS ONE IS KIND OF LIKE LITTLE TO NOTHING IS HAPPENING.
AND THE LAST THING BEFORE I LEAVE YOU GUYS IS, UH, AS I LEFT THE DPW FACILITY AND I WAS GOING DOWN BLOOMFIELD AVE IN MONTCLAIR ON BLOOMFIELD AVE, A TREE WAS BEING PRUNED BY THE COUNTY DPW.
SO I FELT LIKE THAT WAS LIKE A SLAP IN THE FACE THAT I CAN'T EVEN GET A RESPONSE OF WHEN THE TREE IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE PR NEAR ME IN CEDAR GROVE AND NOT ALLEGING ANYTHING, BUT I KIND OF, YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS SAY ABOUT MONTCLAIR AND THIS AND THAT, BUT THAT WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE AND I'M HOPING TO GET A DIFFERENT TUNE SPEAKING TO THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE OF THINGS THIS EVENING.
AND I JUST WANTED TO COME OUT AND VOICE MY OPINION.
WHAT I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO DO IS, UH, JUST GIVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION THAT ADAM WAS IN THE BACK THERE.
AND THEN WE'LL FORWARD YOUR REQUEST TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND ASK 'EM IF THEY CAN PROVIDE AN UPDATE.
I THINK THERE IS TWO THINGS THAT HAPPEN.
I THINK DPW DOES SUM TREES, AND THEN THERE IS AN OUTSIDE VENDOR.
SO I DON'T KNOW IN YOUR CASE WHAT THE STATUS IS, BUT WE COULD INQUIRE, HOPEFULLY THEY CAN MOVE IT ALONG QUICKLY.
YOU KNOW, ARGUABLY IT IS, UH, A TOUGH SEASON NOW AND WE ARE INUNDATED OF, BUT NONETHELESS, UH, I'M SURE THAT THEY'RE GONNA GET TO YOU SOON, BUT WHY DON'T WE JUST, UH, MAKE SURE ADAM GETS YOUR INFORMATION SO WE COULD DO THAT.
THERE MAY BE A SIGN IN SHEET THERE IF THERE WAS AN ORDER TO IT.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
I'M REPRESENTING MYSELF AS A RESIDENT OF WEST ORANGE.
UH, I TRULY THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING ME THIS FORUM TO PRESENT MY OBSERVATIONS
[01:25:01]
AND CONCERNS IN THIS PUBLIC FORUM COMMENT.I HAVE OFTEN FOUND VALUE IN MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE BY LISTENING TO THE MASSES AND THE PERCE PERCEPTIVE PERCEPTION FROM THE RESIDENTS, I GUESS CAN ONLY BE INVALUABLE TO YOU.
UH, MY ASK IS THAT THE CO THE COUNTY SHALL LISTEN AND CONTINUE TO VALIDATE AND REACT POSITIVELY TO MY CONCERNS AS IT RELATES TO THE ROAD WORK THAT WAS PERFORMED OUTSIDE MY HOUSE ON GREGORY AVENUE LAST JULY.
I'VE BEEN IN CORRESPONDENCE WITH A NUMBER OF OFFICIALS SINCE THEN, AND THIS ISSUE HAS STILL NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.
UH, AFTER FOUR MONTHS SINCE THAT INCIDENT, I HAD BEEN ESCALATED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL AND, UH, WAS PRESENTED THIS CONCERN TO THIS MEETING HERE.
UM, I WAS REALLY GLADED, UH, BY THE REACTION BY THIS COUNCIL THAT WE WERE TAKING UP THE ARMS IN SUPPORTING MY CONCERNS IN ADDRESSING THIS WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, THE DUR DURING THAT TIME BETWEEN NOVEMBER AND NOW, UH, MY PROPERTY, MY CAR, MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE HAS BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO MOTORISTS DRIVING UNSAFELY DUE TO THE PORE STRIPING THAT PSEG HAD DONE OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE.
UH, THE ROAD DECK HAS ALSO BEEN INCREASED HIGHER THAN WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, WHICH IS COMPROMISING THE COUNTY'S CURB DRAINS THAT SERVE MY HOUSE AND MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSES AS WELL.
UM, I WAS JUST INFORMED ABOUT A WEEK AGO BY COMMISSIONER LUCIANO THAT, UH, THE CONVERSATION HAD BEEN HAD WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
AND AGAIN, MY CONCERN WAS NOT GOING TO BE ADDRESSED.
I DON'T KNOW THAT, UH, THE FULL BREADTH OF MY CONCERN WAS TRULY PRESENTED, BUT THE CONVERSATION SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN.
UM, AM I, I WAS DIRECTED THEN TO PRESENT MY CONCERN TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF SCHEDULING THAT APPOINTMENT.
UH, SO I DO WISH THAT IF THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL HELP THAT THIS COUNSEL CAN PRESENT IN VOICING MY CONCERN TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, MR. DESO HIMSELF, I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, BUT AT THIS POINT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DISAPPOINTMENT GOES INTO RECORD, THAT FOR A YEAR NOW, MY SIMPLE CONCERN HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AND BEEN EFFECTIVELY STONEWALLED BY, UM, THE, THE COUNTY MEMBERS INVOLVED IN MAKING THESE DECISIONS.
SO I THANK, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION, AND I, UH, PLAN TO REPORT BACK TO THIS COUNCIL WITH THE RESULTS OF MY CONVERSATION WITH MR. DESO.
J JUST FOR CLARITY, DID YOU SAY THE ROAD WORK WAS DONE BY PUBLIC SERVICE? UM, THERE, THERE WAS LIKELY ELECTRICAL OR GAS LINES THAT WERE BEING REDONE ON GREGORY AVENUE.
THEY REPAVED IT AND RETRIED IT, AND IT WAS JUST, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO PARK MY CAR, UH, OR TO EVEN PULL INTO MY DRIVEWAY WITHOUT OBSTRUCTING THE LANES.
MY CAR HAS BEEN HIT MULTIPLE TIMES.
IN FACT, MY NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE WAS HIT LIKELY DUE TO THE COMPLETE UNEVENNESS OF, OF THAT STRIPING.
SO I, I, YOU KNOW, SO WE, WE CAN RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS IN WRITING.
SO IF YOU POSE A QUESTION LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD LIKE TO, I, I, I'LL I SEE YOU AGAIN, I'LL GET TO YOU IN A SECOND.
YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR US IF YOU POSE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AS OPPOSED TO STATEMENTS THAT YOU COULD ADDRESS THOSE.
SO IF YOU REQUEST IS SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT MAY BE DONE AS A RESULT OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE HERE, AND YOU BRING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION OR SOMETHING OF THAT MATTER, WE CAN FORWARD THOSE QUESTIONS THERE.
SINCE WE DON'T OPERATE THE DEPARTMENTS DIRECTLY, WE DON'T DO OPERATIONS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THAT'S WHAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE DOES.
SO IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR US IF YOU WANT WISH TO COME BACK WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MEETING AND, AND SPECIFICALLY ASK FOR QUESTIONS, THEN THAT'S HOW WE CAN FORWARD YOUR QUESTIONS AND, YOU KNOW, WITH, UH, THAT IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
I, I BELIEVE THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
SO I AM NOW REPORTING BACK THAT THOSE CONCERNS, THOSE QUESTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AND THAT BEEN ADDRESSED TO YOUR SATISFACTION.
COMMISSIONER GIL, WE DON'T NORMALLY OPEN THIS UP FOR PUBLIC CONVERSATION.
YEAH, I, I KNOW WE DON'T NORMALLY, AND I, I JUST, I DID.
THANK YOU FOR THAT COURTESY, MR. PRESIDENT.
AND, UM, SO, AND ALSO JUST WANTED TO COMMENT BECAUSE WE'VE ALSO BEEN IN TIME CONTACT ON THIS ISSUE AND, AND HAD MEETINGS AND, UM, WE, WE RECEIVE OBVIOUSLY A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF, UM, CONSTITUENT FEEDBACK.
AND THAT'S OUR, THAT'S OUR JOB.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, JUST ON THAT COMMENT, MR. PRESIDENT, UM, THIS HAS BEEN COMMUNICATED THROUGH OUR OFFICE MULT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
SO, UM, I, I GUESS WHAT I'M JUST SUGGESTING IS WE ALWAYS GET BACK TO ANYBODY WHO COMES TO A MEETING TODAY IN WRITING AND PUTTING THOSE QUESTIONS IN WRITING.
BUT I JUST DO WANNA BE CLEAR THAT THO THOSE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN PUT IN WRITING TO OUR OFFICE ON MULTIPLE,
[01:30:01]
UM, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.I KNOW ADAM HAS FOLLOWED UP ON THIS THROUGH OUR OFFICE.
KATHY BROWN HAS FOLLOWED UP THROUGH OUR OFFICE, UM, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE TIMES.
UM, THE, THERE, THE, THE, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IS VERY AWARE OF THIS.
UM, AND THIS IS, BY THE WAY, NOT TO, THIS IS NOT TO REFEREE.
THIS IS, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT, UM, THIS, THERE'S, THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF BACK, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH ON THIS.
SO, UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA RESOLVE IT DURING THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE MEETING.
UM, UH, TONIGHT YOU ARE COURSE FREE TO, TO TRY TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO SPEAK TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
BUT I, I DO WANNA PUT IT ON THE RECORD THAT, UM, THAT ALL THE RELEVANT, UM, PERSONNEL AT THE COUNTY THAT WOULD NEED TO HAVE AWARENESS OF THIS ARE AWARE OF, OF WHAT THE, OF WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.
AND I DON'T WANNA PUT IT BACK ON DAN, IS TO, HE DOES NOT NEED TO RESEND ANYTHING TO US ABOUT WHAT THE ISSUE, HE'S BEEN VERY CLEAR ON WHAT HIS REMEDY IS.
HE DOES NOT NEED TO SEND US ANYTHING.
AGAIN, HE DOES NOT NEED TO TELL US ANYTHING.
AGAIN, WE, WE EITHER NEED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE HIM A VERY CLEAR AND DIRECT ANSWER ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OR NOT GOING TO DO.
AND THEN WE CAN, THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
AND SO WE'LL FORWARD THOSE, UH, SENTIMENTS FROM COMMISSIONER GILL.
WE'RE GONNA FORWARD THOSE COMMISSIONER GI SENTIMENTS, MR. PRESIDENT TO THE MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, THAT IS THE DISTRICT I REPRESENT.
GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.
AND I'M IN TOUCH WITH THE CONSTITUENT.
I KNOW WE DON'T GO BACK AND FORTH.
UM, IN FACT, I ENCOURAGED, UM, THE GENTLEMAN TO COME HERE AGAIN TONIGHT.
UM, BUT I BELIEVE IT'S THE POSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE DIRECTOR AND HIS TEAM OF ROAD ENGINEERS THAT THE COUNTY, AT LEAST ON OUR END MONEY-WISE, IS NOT GOING TO REMEDIATE ANYTHING.
THEY'RE VERY HAPPY WITH THE ROAD THE WAY IT IS.
IT'S NOT THE SAME AS IT USED TO BE.
UM, YOU KNOW, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, IF PSE AND G OR THE ELECTRIC COMPANY WANTED TO COME BACK AND DO IT ON THEIR OWN, THE COUNTY ENGINEER WAS NOT OPPOSED TO THAT.
BUT HE WAS NOT GOING TO USE ANY OF HIS CAPITAL TO TELL A UTILITY COMPANY WHO CONSTANTLY DOES WORK WITHIN OUR COUNTY THAT THEY SHOULD COME BACK AND DO IT.
BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY, ACCORDING TO THE ENGINEERS THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY, THEY DID THE JOB THAT MEETS THE STANDARDS OF ESSEX COUNTY IN NEW JERSEY.
IT MAY NOT MEET THE STANDARDS IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
IT MAY NOT MEET THE STANDARDS OF THE NEIGHBORS THAT LIVE THERE THAT I SYMPATHIZE WITH, UM, AND I THINK COMMISSIONER GILL SYMPATHIZES WITH.
BUT THE POSITION IS PRETTY CLEAR, AND I'VE RELAYED THAT MESSAGE THAT OUR COUNTY ENGINEER IS NOT USING ANY OF OUR FUNDING AND OUR CAPITAL TO CHANGE WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN IN PLACE.
UM, AT THAT POINT, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD PUT ON RECORD, UH, AS TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE GET SOME LEGAL REPRESENTATION WITH THE UTILITY COMPANY.
I MEAN, AGAIN, I KNOW FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IN MY OFFICE, I WOULD SUPPORT SEEING IT BEING SAFER FOR RESIDENTS, IF THAT'S THE CONCERN.
UM, BUT AS YOU DO KNOW, THESE PROJECTS AREN'T SMALL AND EVERYONE'S ALWAYS CONSTANTLY MOVING AND THERE'S ALWAYS MONEY INVOLVED.
UM, SO AGAIN, WHERE IT LAID REST IN MY OFFICE WAS IT MEETS THE STANDARDS AND IT'S PRETTY BLACK AND WHITE.
MR. JACKSON, IF WE COULD JUST PERHAPS HAVE THE ENGINEERS SENT TO THEIR, HIS COUNTERPART AT P-S-C-N-G ALERTING HIM TO HIS CONCERNS AND SEE IF THEY WOULD WISH TO MEET WITH HIM.
I'M SORRY, I DID NOT CATCH YOUR LAST NAME.
MUELLER, M-U-E-L-L MUELL, ER MUELLER.
I'M SORRY I DIDN'T WANNA CALL YOU BY FIRST NAME.
UH, MAYBE THEY CAN, UH, REF, WE CAN REFER MR. MUELLER TO A PROPER CONTACT THERE WHO COULD HEAR HIM OUT AND SEE SINCE IT WAS THEIR PROJECT.
THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND, UH, AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
I LIVE IN UNION, NEW JERSEY, AND I COME TO ESSEX COUNTY SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, AND USUALLY TWO OR THREE TIMES ON THE WEEKEND AS PART OF EYES ON ICE AND PART OF AMERICANS FOR IMMIGRANTS.
SO I CAME HERE TONIGHT TO UPDATE YOU A LITTLE BIT WITH THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE DELANEY HALL, WHICH IS AN 11, UH, 1100 BED FACILITY IN YOUR BACKYARD RUN BY ICE.
AND GEO GEO GROUP IS CONTRACTED TO RUN THAT FACILITY.
THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED PERMITS.
THEY ARE PRETTY MUCH AN ILLEGAL FACILITY, AND WHAT ICE IS DOING IS CLEARLY ILLEGAL IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THERE.
I WOULD INVITE ANY OF YOU TO COME DOWN AND LOOK AT THAT FACILITY SOMETIME ON THE WEEKEND WHEN THE VISITORS ARE THERE AND SEE HOW POORLY IT'S BEING MANAGED.
I MEAN, THE FACILITY BASICALLY SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN, BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE'RE HAVING
[01:35:01]
IS THERE'S NO PARKING FOR VISITORS AT THAT FACILITY, AND THERE'S NO PARKING NEARBY FOR PEOPLE WHO COME TO VIGIL WHO ARE CALLING OUT THIS FACILITY AND DONALD TRUMP'S DEPORTATION MACHINE.AND AS DEMOCRATS, WE WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD BE GETTING SOME ASSISTANCE FROM ALL OF YOU TO COOPERATE AND HELP THE VISITORS WHO ARE GOING THERE, WHO ARE UNDER TREMENDOUS DURESS, AND ALSO HELP THE ILRS AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE TRYING TO HELP THE, THE VISITORS.
SO, UM, WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT THAT ROADWAY, WE BELIEVE IS A COUNTY ROAD.
IT HAS SOME PARKING, NO PARKING SIGNS, MAYBE ONE OR TWO ALONG THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE ROAD THAT ARE VERY UNCLEAR.
AND THE NEWARK COPS ARE COMING AND GIVING PEOPLE TICKETS AND TOWING THEM AWAY BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME SIGNS OUT THERE.
HOWEVER, THOSE SIGNS ARE INADEQUATE BECAUSE ON THE WEEKENDS THERE'S NO TRUCK TRAFFIC.
THEY'VE OPENED THAT ROADWAY UP TO TWO LANES IN BOTH DIRECTIONS SO THAT TRUCKS CAN PASS EACH OTHER DURING THE WEEK.
HOWEVER, ON THE WEEKEND, THERE IS NO VERY, VERY LITTLE TRUCK TRAFFIC.
SO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE IS THAT THE COUNTY UPDATE THOSE NO PARKING SIGNS AND HAVE, EXCEPT FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, AT LEAST FOR THE PRESENT TIME, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE MAJOR VISITING HOURS ARE.
AND THAT ALSO MAKES SENSE FOR THAT ROADWAY.
THE OTHER THING IS THE COUNTY JAIL HAS A HUGE PARKING LOT THAT SAYS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND IT IS USUALLY OCCUPIED, MAYBE A QUARTER OF IT IS OCCUPIED BY VISITORS TO THE COUNTY, UH, COUNTY STAFF AND OTHERWISE.
SO THAT PARKING LOT IS A PUBLIC PARKING LOT.
AND WE HAVE MET WITH HARASSMENT FROM THE SHERIFFS THERE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GETTING THAT DIRECTION, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IN THE ENTRANCE OF INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT THAT PARKING LOT SHOULD BE WELCOMING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE AREA DOING WORK.
OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE, VISITING LOVED ONES THAT ARE HELD UNDER TERRIBLY, UM, HORRIBLE CONDITIONS.
AND OFTEN THEY'RE THERE ILLEGALLY, AS MOST OF YOU HAVE KNOWN, WHO'VE BEEN READING THE PAPER.
I'D SAY TWO THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE MEET WHO ARE GOING TO VISIT, UH, PEOPLE DETAINED.
MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DETAINED AS PART OF THEIR LEGAL IMMIGRATION PROCESS.
THEY'RE IN COURT, THEY'RE REPORTING TO ICE, THEY'RE FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THEIR PROCESS, AND THEY ARE PICKED UP BY ICE AND PUT IN THAT JAIL.
SO I THINK ALL OF YOU SHOULD KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR COUNTY, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU COULD WORK WITH PEOPLE WITH THE PUBLIC AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A SPACE TO PARK WHILE WE'RE DOWN THERE AND THAT WE'RE NOT HARASSED.
UH, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? WE DON'T GO BACK AND FORTH GENERALLY, BUT IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTIONS CORRECTLY, JUST SO THAT IT GENERATES A RESPONSE, YOU, WE'D LIKE TO SEE IF THE SIGNS COULD BE AMENDED ON THE WEEKENDS TO FACILITATE THE PARKING AND IF THE DETENTION CENTER'S LOT CAN BE USED.
AND ALSO YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT ON THE WEEKEND, EACH DAY THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 200 VISITORS THAT COME THROUGH THERE, UH, UNDERSTOOD.
UM, MR. JACKSON DO MR. YOU, AND IT SHOULD BE NO PEOPLE AND IT SHOULD BE CLOSED.
SO PLEASE GET INVOLVED WITH THAT.
MR. JACKSON VISIT IF YOU CAN? YES.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, UH,
IT'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A COUNTY ROAD.
SO THE CHANGES, ANY CHANGES ON PARKING AND SO FORTH WOULD BE, UH, BY THE CITY OF NEWARK.
UM, THE, THE PARKING LOT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT THE PUBLIC WHO'S COMING TO VISIT PEOPLE AT THE SES COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, IT'S NOT A PUBLIC, UH, LOT.
WELL, THAT'S, THAT IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
WE'RE VISITING THE LOT, WE'RE VISITING THE, UH, FACILITY.
SECONDLY, UM, WE, WE WERE, OUR, OUR POSITION IS THAT WE, AS YOU ONCE, AS YOU REMEMBER, WE WERE IN THE, UH, ICE BUSINESS, UH, FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PERIOD OF TIME.
WE'RE NO LONGER IN THAT, IN THAT BUSINESS.
UM, AND WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY CREATED A FIREWALL, IF YOU WILL, BETWEEN OUR FACILITY AND, UH, DELANEY HALL.
AND, UM, WE WERE ASKED TO, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, PROVIDE PARKING FOR, UH, EMPLOYEES, UH, OF GEO.
AND, AND I ASSUME WE DECLINED, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT IN THAT, IN THAT BUSINESS.
SO WE HAVE BEEN VERY, UM, CLEAR, UH, THAT WE ARE NOT IN THAT CONNECTED WITH THAT FACILITY.
UM, AND SO, UH, ANY OF ANY, ANY OF US TO, TO PROVIDE PARKING OR ANYTHING ELSE, UM, WOULD NOT BE, WOULD BE SORT OF VIOLATIVE OF WHERE WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE COME ON THAT ISSUE.
UM, BUT I, I WOULD CERTAINLY BE WILLING TO, UM, PRESENT
[01:40:01]
WHAT WAS PRESENTED, UM, UH, THIS EVENING, UH, AS TO THE, TO OUR, OUR, UH, STAFF AT THE ECCF AND, UM, SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE.BUT OUR POSITION HAS BASICALLY BEEN, UM, WE ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THAT OPERATION.
THANK YOU MR. JACKSON, FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
I AM THE NEW JERSEY REGION COORDINATOR FOR POX CHRISTI, USA.
WE REPRESENT THE INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC PEACE MOVEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES.
UH, SO, UM, WHAT, WHAT, I'M SORRY, I I DON'T KNOW YOUR NAME.
UM, THE GENTLEMAN JUST SAID IS NOT MR. JACKSON.
UH, JUST SAID IS IS NOT ENTIRELY TRUE.
'CAUSE FIRST OF ALL, GEO EMPLOYEES ARE PARKING THAT A LOT EVERY SINGLE DAY WITHOUT INCIDENT.
OKAY? BUT THE VISITORS WHO COME THERE TO VISIT, WHO BY THE WAY, ARE STANDING IN THE PARKING LOT OF DELANEY HALL FOR UP TO 12 HOURS TO MAYBE GET A 30 MINUTE VISIT, SOMETIMES IT'S ONLY A 10 MINUTE VISIT WITH THEIR LOVED ONES.
I THINK YOU SHOULD ALL BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THOSE FOLKS.
AND IN FACT, WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO GET YOU OUT OF THE JAIL BUSINESS, OUT OF THE ICE DETENTION BUSINESS, ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT YOU ALL MADE TO US WITH PEOPLE BE BETTER OFF HERE BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO SERVICES.
WELL, GUESS WHAT? THERE'S HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMING WHO ARE NOT, DON'T HAVE LOVED ONES WHO ARE DETAINED, WHO SOME OF THEM, UH, MANY OF THEM ARE YOUR CONSTITUENTS HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY WHO ARE COMING TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THOSE FOLKS, GIVING THEM UMBRELLAS, GIVING THEM WATER, GIVING THEM CHAIRS SO THAT THEY ARE COMFORTABLE, AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE.
OKAY? BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WHEN THE WINTER COMES BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW WE KEEP PEOPLE WARM FOR 12 HOURS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE KEEP PEOPLE.
AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ELDERLY.
THERE ARE WOMEN WHO ARE HEAVILY PREGNANT.
THERE ARE INFANTS AND SMALL CHILDREN WHO ARE COMING HERE AND THEY HAVE TO STAND IN AN ACTIVE DRIVEWAY.
THIS PROPERTY, AS TERRY SAID, OPENED ILLEGALLY.
IT DID NOT GO THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS, DID NOT GO THROUGH THE ZONING PROCESS.
THEY MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE SITE.
THEY MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE INSIDE OF THE FACILITY.
THE CHANGES TO THE SITE INCLUDE, INCLUDE ELIMINATING VISITOR PARKING.
THE CHANGES TO THE FACILITY INCLUDE ELIMINATING AN INDOOR WAITING ROOM FOR THE, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO VISIT.
THIS IS THE ONLY FACILITY IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY THAT WE ARE AWARE OF.
AND WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH ACTIVISTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY THAT DOES NOT PROVIDE A WAITING, INDOOR WAITING ROOM FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO VISIT.
THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND COMPLETELY INSANE.
THIS BODY THOUGH, COULD, AND, AND, AND TO HEAP ONTO THEIR MISERY.
THE NEWARK POLICE CAME ON SATURDAY AND TICKETED AND TOWED CARS.
THEY, THEY TOOK THE TWO CARS THAT HAD OUTSTATE PLATES AND THEN THE TOWING YARD WASN'T GOING TO RELEASE THEIR CARS UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING.
SO PEOPLE HAD DRIVEN THREE AND FOUR HOURS TO GET THERE, AND THEN CAME OUT FROM THEIR VISIT WITH THEIR LOVED ONE, WHICH WAS CUT SHORT BECAUSE OF THE INEFFICIENCIES OF THE FACILITY AND FOUND OUT THEIR CAR WAS TOWED.
I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING AND HAVE A HEART.
THIS IS, AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT YOU TOLD US WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO GET YOU OUT OF THE DETENTION BUSINESS, THAT PEOPLE WILL BE BETTER OFF BECAUSE YOU ALL WOULD HELP US TO TREAT THEM BETTER.
WE WILL HAVE MORE PEOPLE HERE, UH, TO COME AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOLVING THIS PROBLEM.
WE THINK WE HAVE SOLVED IT WITH THE CITY.
I WAS JUST ON THE PHONE WITH THE BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CITY.
WE THINK WE HAVE A SOLUTION FROM THE CITY, BUT YOU COULD SOLVE OUR PROBLEM BECAUSE EVEN IF THE CITY DOESN'T TICKET AND TOW THOSE CARS, PEOPLE ARE STILL PARKING ON A ROAD WHERE THERE IS TRUCK.
EVEN THOUGH THERE'S HARDLY ANY TRUCK TRAFFIC, THERE STILL IS TRUCK TRAFFIC.
AND IT WOULD BE MUCH SAFER FOR THEM TO BE PARKING IN THE COUNTY LOT, AS TERRY SAID.
AND I WILL TELL YOU TOO, THAT IT IS MAYBE A QUARTER OF THE WAY FULL.
SO, AND, AND ON THE WEEKEND, THE ESSEX COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS JOINING IN WITH THE NEWARK POLICE OFFICE AND BLOCKING ACCESS TO THAT LOT AND TELLING PEOPLE THAT IF THEY PARK THERE, THEY WOULD BE TICKETED TOWED THERE TOO.
SO WHAT PEOPLE HAD TO DO ON SATURDAY WAS PARK ON AVENUE P.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT THAT AREA, AVENUE P IS THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE AWAY AND IT WAS 90 DEGREES.
SO WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE HEAVILY PREGNANT, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ELDERLY, WHO ALREADY HAVE TO WAIT FOR HOURS IN HOT SUN, WHO ARE NOW WAIT, WHO ARE NOW BEING TOLD BY POLICE OFFICERS THAT YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT WE, THAT THEY HAVE TO WALK FOR THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE.
SO I HOPE THAT FIRST OF ALL, YOU WILL TAKE ACTION AND ALLOW US, ALLOW VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS
[01:45:01]
TO USE THAT PARKING LOT AND ALSO TO WORK WITH US BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROBLEM.BECAUSE WINTER IS COMING AND I KNOW HOW TO KEEP PEOPLE.
WE KNOW HOW TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE SUN.
WE PROVIDE THEM WITH UMBRELLAS, WE PROVIDE THEM WITH WATER, WE PROVIDE THEM WITH CHAIRS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WHEN IT GETS COLD AND WET AND RAINY AND PEOPLE ARE STILL STANDING THERE FOR 12 HOURS.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
I AM A RESIDENT OF EAST ORANGE.
GOOD EVENING TO COMMISSIONERS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND COUNTY STAFF.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE A NUMBER OF FAMILIAR NAMES TO BE APPOINTED TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION.
THAT BEING SAID, AS WE APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION, I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE COUNTY TO ADVANCE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO GREEN SPACE AND WALKING TRAILS ACROSS ALL COMMUNITIES IN ESSEX COUNTY.
THERE ARE STRIKING DIFFERENCES IN TREE CANOPY AND PARKLAND COVERAGE, EVEN AMONG COUNTY MANAGED PARKS.
FOR INSTANCE, A RECENT ANALYSIS FOUND THAT OVER 35% OF WEST ORANGE'S URBAN AREA IS DEVOTED TO COUNTY PARKS COMPARED TO JUST 4.7% IN NEWARK FOR SIMILARLY MANAGED SPACES.
WHILE THESE DISPARITIES CAN BE EASILY EVIDENT IN OUR URBAN CENTERS, THEY UNDERSCORE THE OVERALL LEAD FOR COUNTYWIDE STRATEGIES THAT ENSURE EVERY RESIDENT HAS ACCESS TO NATURE, SHADE AND SAFE, WALKABLE GREEN CORRIDORS.
AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION TAKES SHAPE, I HOPE THEY WILL CHAMPION AND BE SUPPORTIVE OF INVESTMENTS IN CONNECTED GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, SUCH AS, SUCH AS WALKING TRAILS, SHADE TREES, AND MULTI-USE PATHS THAT CAN REDUCE HEAT STRESS, IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, AND BRIDGE GAPS IN ACCESS TO PARKS AND NATURE.
ON A RELATED NOTE, WITH REGARD TO RESOLUTION 22 AND TONIGHT'S AGENDA, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, WHEN WILL THE CLUBHOUSE AT MONTE IRVING ORANGE PARK BE COMPLETE AND WILL, AND WHEN WILL CONSTRUCTION BE ON THE NEW INCLUSIVE PARK, UH, PLAYGROUND? THESE FACILITIES WILL BE ADDITIONAL VALUABLE AND HAVING A CLEAR TIMELINE WOULD HELP THE COMMUNITY PREPARE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE.
ALSO, WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT RESOLUTION 27 AUTHORIZES THE PURCHASE OF FIVE FORD RANGER XL FOUR BY FOUR PICKUP TRUCKS, I UNDERSTAND THAT'S MOVING FORWARD.
I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER FOR FUTURE FLEET PURCHASES VEHICLE CHOICES THAT PRIORITIZE BOTH COMMUNITY SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
PICKUP TRUCKS, INCLUDING MID-SIZED MODELS LIKE THE FORD RANGER XL, HAVE HIGHER FRONT ENDS AND REDUCED CLOSE RANGE VISIBILITY COMPARED TO SEDANS, SMALLER SUVS.
THIS DESIGN CAN MAKE IT HARDER FOR DRIVERS TO SEE PEDESTRIANS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, SENIORS AND WHEELCHAIR USERS, TO DEFECT, UH, DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.
AND THIS, UH, IN THE EVENT OF A VE UH, COLLISION, THE INCREASED HEIGHT AND WEIGHT CAN ALSO RESULT IN MORE SEVERE INJURIES.
SO, HYBRID AND ELECTRIC PICKUP TRUCKS ARE INCREASINGLY AVAILABLE AND ALREADY IN USE IN OTHER AGENCIES ACROSS THE NATION AND OFFERING SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS LIKE REDUCED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, LOWER FUEL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS, AND ELIGIBILITY FOR STATE AND FEDERAL INCENTIVES.
LOOKING AHEAD, I WANNA URGE THE COUNTY TO EXPLORE LOWER PROFILES, LOWER EMISSION OR ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES WERE FEASIBLE.
PLEASE INCLUDE DOCUMENTATION TO SAY THAT THIS WAS AT LEAST CONSIDERED.
THIS WOULD HELP IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, REDUCE OUR FLEET, OUR FLEET'S CARBON FOOTPRINT, AND SET AN EXAMPLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IN ESSEX COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS FORWARD LOOKING APPROACH AND FUTURE DECISIONS FOR A GREENER, MORE INCLUSIVE ESSEX COUNTY.
GOOD EVENING, PLEASE, MS. PRESIDENT, IF I COULD JUST, I JUST, I CAN ANSWER TWO OF THOSE QUESTIONS I NEED, BUT THE CLUBHOUSE SHOULD BE DONE.
UM, I'M ANTICIPATING IN OCTOBER AND THE, UH, THE PLAYGROUND SHOULD BE DONE BY THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.
SO OCTOBER END YEAR FOR THE CLUB CLUBHOUSE AND PLAY GOLF.
WE DID A 90 DAY CONTRACT TODAY, SO I'M, YOU KNOW, SHOULD BE DONE THIS YEAR.
WE MOVING PRETTY QUICK? GOOD EVENING.
PLEASE JUST SAY YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
I JUST WANNA LET EVERYONE KNOW IF YOU EVER GO TO A NEWARK MUNICIPAL MEETING, ONCE YOUR TIME IS UP, THEY CUT YOU OUT AND PUT YOU OUT.
SO THANK YOU FOR NOT CUTTING OFF THE CONSTITUENTS BEFORE ME AND REALLY LISTENING TO WHAT THEIR CONCERNS WERE.
A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SUNSHINE ACT AND GIVE THAT CREDIT 'CAUSE I RECENTLY GOT PUT OUT 'CAUSE MY FIVE MINUTES WERE UP.
BUT I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT I'M COMING TODAY.
I CAME BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS AND I THANK YOU WITH A LOT OF THINGS.
BUT TODAY I'M GONNA FOCUS ON ONE, I'M COMING AS A CONSTITUENT, BUT ALSO WANNA BRING UP SOME CONCERNS OF SOME EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY.
A LOT OF TALK HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT THESE HEALTH BENEFITS, BUT SOMETHING COMES UP AND WE'RE NOT GETTING A CLEAR ANSWER
[01:50:01]
WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL GOES ON LEAVE OF ABSENCE.AND ACCORDING TO THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK ON PAGE 22, IT STATES THE COUNTY WILL CONTINUE BENEFITS COVERAGE FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED THREE MONTHS.
WHENEVER AN EMPLOYEE IS PLACED ON A SICK FAMILY OR MATERNITY LEAVE THEREAFTER THE EMPLOYEE MAY BE ABLE TO CONTINUE GROUP COVERAGE AT HIS OR HER OWN EXPENSE UNDER COBRA RULES.
THE REASON THAT I BRING THIS UP, AND IT'S A PART OF THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK, BUT WE'RE NOT GETTING A CLEAR ANSWER ON WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL TAKES A LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
I KNOW FROM MY DEPARTMENT THERE'S NO INCOME.
YOU HAVE NO INCOME WHEN YOU'RE ON LEAVE.
WE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE STATE DISABILITY.
SO IF YOU DO APPLY FOR IT, YOU'RE DENIED.
WHEN YOU COME BACK, THEY WANT YOU TO PAY YOUR PREMIUM FOR THE THREE MONTHS.
IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT TO PAY, BUT IF YOU NEVER HAD THE INCOME, THE THREE MONTHS YOU'RE OUT AND THE PREMIUMS ARE THREE 80 EVERY TWO WEEKS, THEN YOU'RE TELLING ME I HAVE TO PAY ALL THIS BACK.
CAN WE TRY TO THINK OF A PROGRAM OR SOMETHING GOING FORWARD BECAUSE IT'S A HARDSHIP OR MAYBE HAVE THE OPTION OF NOT HAVING THE MEDICAL WHEN WE'RE ON THE LEAVE, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SHY AWAY FROM OUR RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IT'S A REAL HARDSHIP, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR JOB MAKES SURE THAT THE CONSTITUENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, WHEN THEY FALL ON HARD TIMES, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE OKAY.
BUT WHEN YOU GET SICK, YOU GET RIDICULED FOR EVEN TRYING TO COME IN AND GET BENEFITS YOU GET LAUGHED AT AT YOUR COWORKERS.
SO I JUST WANNA BRING THIS TOPIC UP BECAUSE I BROUGHT THIS UP AND I'M NOT GETTING A CLEAR ANSWER.
AND IN THE PAST I'VE COME HERE, OOH, MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO MAKE ME SIT IN THE CORNER WITH LIGHTS OUT.
BUT I JUST WANNA TELL YOU THAT IN THE PAST I CAME TO YOU, I MAY NOT HAVE LIKED THE ANSWER, BUT I RESPECT THE FACT THAT YOU LOOKED INTO THE SITUATION I ASKED ABOUT.
AND I'M COMING AGAIN TO ASK IF WE COULD JUST GET AN ANSWER ON THOSE THREE MONTHS.
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT PAYMENT? AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR TONIGHT.
I DON'T HAVE THE IMMEDIATE ANSWER FOR YOU, BUT I THINK WE CAN FORWARD YOUR QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
YES, I THINK THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN HR QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF DEFERMENTS ARE POSSIBLE FOR, UH, YOU KNOW, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE AND I DON'T BEGIN TO PRETEND TO KNOW THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS YES.
THAT WE HAVE WITH VARIOUS UNITS.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT WE SHOULD FORWARD THAT QUESTION TO THE ADMINISTRATION SO THAT THEY CAN GET SOME CLARITY TO HUMAN RESOURCES SO THAT THEY CAN GIVE YOU AN ANSWER.
MAYBE IN YOUR CASE IT MAY BE, UH, OR, OR THE CASE.
THE CASE IN GENERAL MAY NOT BE A REGULAR OCCURRENCE AND THEREFORE IT JUST MAY NOT BE COMMON KNOWLEDGE.
OKAY? I'M SURE THERE'S POCKETS OF AREAS LIKE THAT WHERE THINGS, THESE ARE THINGS THAT DON'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN IN SCENARIOS.
SO WE COULD FORWARD THAT TO YOU.
ADAM, CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE MS. BROWN GENERAL QUESTION ABOUT, UH, THAT SHE POSE TO YOU AND WE'LL FORWARD IT TO MR. JACKSON.
COULD THEN FORWARD IT TO APPROPRIATELY.
THANK YOU MAMA AL STUYVESANT AVENUE.
THE REASON WHY I'M HERE IS BECAUSE THERE'S A PETITION GOING AROUND THAT IRVINGTON IS VIOLATING THE NEW JERSEY STATE LAW.
THEY DO NOT HAVE A SHELTER OR ANY KIND OF PROVISION FOR THE DOGS OR THE CATS.
RYAN COULD NOT MAKE IT RYAN HACKETT 'CAUSE HE'S IN VINELAND.
HE SAID THAT IRVINGTON APPROACHED THE NEWARK SHELTER AND THEY DON'T WANNA PAY.
THEY WANNA GIVE A LITTLE, UH, 'CAUSE THEY WERE, UH, WHEN THEY WERE AT ST.
THEY LIKED TO GET THEIR SERVICES FREE.
UH, IF YOU REMEMBER, THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE THEY HIRED A DOG KENNEL NEAR NEW YORK WHERE THE MAN WAS BOUND PUTTING A DEAD DOG OR RATHER A ILL DOG IN A BLACK BAG AND THROWN IN IN THE DUMPSTER.
IRVINGTON KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT, BUT THE GUY HAD SEEN IT.
SOMEBODY SAW IT, HE WAS ARRESTED AND THEY HAVEN'T HAD A SERVICE SINCE.
THEY USED TO PUT THE DOG OR THE CAT IN A CAGE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PARKING LOT AND WAIT FOR THE MAN TO COME TO PICK UP THE CAT OR THE DOG.
NOW THEY'VE HAD MEETINGS, BRIAN, MYSELF, WITH THE SO-CALLED HEALTH OFFICER.
OH, THEY SAY LOTS OF NICE THINGS.
EVEN ROMAINE NOW WITH HER SISTER WHEN SHE WAS A DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SHE WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE RESPONSIVE BECAUSE SHE STATED, SHOW ME SOMETHING.
I DON'T WANNA PREVENT SOMETHING.
SHOW ME THAT SOMETHING'S WORKING AND WE CAN COME TO A SOLUTION.
WE'VE HAD FIVE HEALTH OFFICERS
[01:55:01]
IN IRVINGTON AND NOT ONE OF THEM HAS ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM THAT IRVINGTON NEEDS A SHELTER OR SOMETHING TO TAKE CARE OF.WHERE'S THE ANIMAL CONTROL? I'M ON THE STREETS OF IRVINGTON DAY AND NIGHT.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN THAT BAND ONCE.
WHERE ARE THESE ANIMALS AND DOGS GOING? YOU ARE ABUSING THE RESCUERS.
THEY HAVE, I'M CALLING THEM KATHY.
THEY HAVE TO GO AND PICK UP THE CAT.
THEY'RE PICKING UP THE CAT, THEY'RE TAKING IT TO THE VET AND THEY'RE PAYING THE BILLS.
AND IRVINGTON IS LAUGHING UP THE SLEEVE SAYING, LET THE RESCUERS DO IT.
WHY IS THAT? WHY ARE THEY BEING DENIED AND WHY ARE THE RESCUERS BEING ABUSED? I'M ASKING YOU IF THEY'RE VIOLATING THE STATE LAW, WHICH THEY ARE.
WHY ARE THEY BEING SOMEBODY TAKING INTEREST TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? THOSE ANIMALS HAVE HUMAN BEINGS OR SOULS TOO, AND THEY DESERVE IT.
AND THEY, WE SHOULDN'T BE ABUSING ALL THE RESCUERS THAT YOU HAVE.
PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM SOUTH JERSEY TO HELP TO SAVE THE CAT WHERE IRVINGTON IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB.
ROMANIA'S RIGHT HERE, SHE'S PART OF THE B SHE HAS PROMISED ME WE'RE TRYING GET IT TOGETHER WITH EAST ORANGE AND IRVINGTON.
YOU KNOW HOW LONG THAT WAS? I WON'T MENTION, THEY SAY GREAT WORDS, BUT THEY DON'T DO IT.
SHE ADOPTED TWO KITTENS THAT FROM SUSIE AIO AND SUSIE AIO WAS PUTTING THE PETITION AROUND.
THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, BUT I'M NOT AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP FOR THE CATS, FOR THE VOICELESS.
'CAUSE AS YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO SPEAK UP FOR THINGS THAT ARE HOMELESS OR NEED HELP.
IT'S A SHAME THAT SHE'S A REPRESENTATIVE AND DOESN'T CARE.
AND YOU TALK TO HER AND SHE GOES, OH YEAH, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA DO THAT.
AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE, UH, COUNCILMAN BICK.
I CALLED HIM AND HE SAID, OH YES, SKAS WORKING ON IT.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET TOGETHER WITH EAST ORANGE.
YOU KNOW HOW LONG THAT WAS? I DON'T THINK THAT'S PROPER ATTENDING WORDS TO NOT WANNA TAKE YOUR DUTY OF A NEW JERSEY STATE LAW.
THEY KNOW ABOUT IT AND THEY IGNORE IT.
I HOPE SOMEBODY HERE WILL TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND TELL MAYOR SMITH, BAYER BOSS, WHAT'S GOING ON, TONY? WHAT'S GOING ON? THAT THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THESE ANIMALS.
AND DON'T FORGET, THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER IS RECEIVING A PAYCHECK FOR WHAT? AND WHERE ARE THESE ANIMALS GOING? WHERE'S THE CATS? WHERE'S THE DOGS GOING? THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR BECAUSE I AM WITH THE VOICELESS.
AND UH, THE KATHY GATES CALLED ME AND SAID, OH, WE GOT A, A AWARD, UH, DROP RETURN AND NEUTER.
SO DON'T, DON'T MAKE A COMPLAINT TO THEM 'CAUSE THEY WON'T LIKE IT.
WE GOT A BIG GRANT AND IT'S GONNA WORK.
TRAP RETURN NEUTER IS NOT WORTH ANYTHING IF YOU'RE NOT TAKING CARE OF THE DOGS AND THE CATS.
BLOOMFIELD HAS A GREAT ONE BECAUSE YOUR MAYOR WAS ONE THAT TOOK CARE OF IT.
IF YOU REMEMBER BUKOWSKI, I REMEMBER BURKOWSKI, HE USED TO BE IN ROSELAND WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL 'CAUSE I WAS INVOLVED WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL ALSO HAVE ALL KINDS OF AWARDS.
BUT WHAT'S AWARDS OR WHAT AM I DOING TODAY? WE ONLY HAVE TODAY.
WE ALL SHOULD BE TAKING SOMETHING.
AND YOU TOO, YOU'RE, YOU'RE A KIND OF A PERSON THAT TAKES COMPASSION.
YOU, YOU, I HOPE YOU'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING TO CHECK INTO THIS, TO FIND OUT WHY THEY ARE BEING DENIED SERVICES, PLEASE, FOR THE ANIMAL'S SAKE.
AND I, I CAN'T SAY MEOW 'CAUSE I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED.
I COME HERE ALL THE TIME WITH, WITH HOPE AND I'M BEING ABUSED MYSELF.
I'M NOT GONNA SAY, UH, PHYSICALLY SHE KNOWS ABOUT IT BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT YOU TO DO GOOD WORK.
BUT I RE YOU KNOW WHAT? I REPRESENT GOD AND GOD'S MISSION IS TO HELP PEOPLE AND TO HELP ANIMALS.
WHAT ELSE ARE WE HERE FOR? AND AS OUR BELOVED LIEUTENANT SHEILA OLIVER USED TO SAY, AND I'M GONNA END THIS WITH IT, WHEN YOU ARE WALKING BY AND YOU SEE A PERSON FALLING IN GLASS, DON'T SAY, OH, I'M SORRY.
I HOPE SOMETHING COMES BETTER.
SHE SAID, TAKE YOUR HAND AND TAKE THAT PERSON OUTTA GLASS AND TRY TO HELP THEM.
WELL, THOSE ANIMALS ARE FALLING IN GLASS.
WHAT'S GONNA BE DONE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I LOVE YOU GUYS ALL BUT YOU KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT IS RIGHT.
AND WHEN, WHEN THE ANIMALS ARE NOT BEING TREATED PROPERLY AND THEY'RE NOT, THEY DON'T, ONE MORE ISSUE, THEY'RE PUTTING A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE DRUGS.
[02:00:01]
THEY HAVE MUSIC AND THEY HAVE IT ALL NIGHT.AND YET AN ANIMAL THAT'S SUFFERING AND DYING THEY HAVE NO TIME FOR, NOR DO THEY CARE.
AND I CAN, I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A AH, INSTEAD OF A MEOW BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE CAT IS UPSET.
THEY USUALLY GIVE YOU THE HOT BREATH.
THANK YOU CHARLIE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, CHERYL.
WE KNOW THAT YOU'RE A VERY DEDICATED ADVOCATE FOR IT.
SO, WE'LL, WE DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, UH, THE SCENARIO IS IN IRVINGTON.
SO, BUT YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW THAT WE WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR PROGRAM HERE AND HOPEFULLY WHEN THEY GET A HEALTH OFFICER, THINGS WILL CHANGE THERE.
THAT MAY BE PART OF THE ISSUE, BUT I, I, I CAN'T SAY FOR SIR.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
MAC, CAN YOU ADJUST THE MICROPHONE IF YOU DON'T MIND, PLEASE.
YOU BECOME THE OFFICIAL MICROPHONE ADJUSTER.
UM, WE GOT EVERYTHING COVERED.
UM, MY NAME IS TAJA WILSON TALKING TO ITEM ON THE AGENDA NUMBER 13.
WE ARE THE GREEN CART COLLECTIVE.
WE WILL BE OFFERING FOOD SERVICES AT FRANCIS BURN GOLF COURSE AND WE'RE SO HAPPY TO DO SO.
WE'RE AT 72% OF ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES SINCE ADVERTISING JUST ONLY TWO DAYS UP UNTIL THIS AWARD DATE, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOTTEN OVER 20 RESUMES ALL FROM ESSEX COUNTY NINE, WELL, 92% FROM ESSEX COUNTY FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT WHEN YOU MOVED FOR US TO TAKE ON THIS CONTRACT, YOU MOVED FOR JOB CREATION IN ESSEX COUNTY.
AND WE'RE SO PASSIONATE NOT ONLY ABOUT SERVICE, I PERSONALLY SPECIALIZE PROFESSIONALLY IN, UM, JUST FILLING A GAP AND BRIDGING NEED, RIGHT? SO CONNECTION BETWEEN GOLF AND THIS FOOD SERVICE IS GONNA CREATE A STRONGER COMMUNITY, AND I'M JUST VERY PASSIONATE.
ALL OF US ARE ABOUT, UM, ACTIVATING OUR PUBLIC SPACES SO THEY CAN BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BE, AND WE CAN ALL HAVE THE BEST EXPERIENCE WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE'RE HAPPY FOR THE AWARD, AND WE THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? OKAY, MS. EVANS, OFF THE RECORD, REFLECT THAT IS NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO, BEFORE WE CLOSE THE COMMISSIONER, COMMENT SESSION.
COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER GILL.
UM, I, I JUST WANTED TO, TO, UM, COMMENT AND I, AND I KNOW SOME THINGS WERE PUT ON THE RECORD, UM, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD ADDITIONAL OUTREACH ON THE SITUATION, UM, AT DELANEY HALL, BUT I, I DO WANNA REITERATE, UH, SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT, UM, AND THANK YOU MR. JACKSON FOR THE UPDATE, YOU KNOW, DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT WERE MADE.
YOU KNOW, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UM, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, UM, TO NOTE, UM, THAT, UM, IN TERMS OF TICKETING AND, UM, ANY INDIVIDUALS, AS FAR AS I KNOW, AT LEAST, I WAS UPDATED THROUGH OUR SHERIFF THAT, UM, WE DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY TICKETING.
UM, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHO HAS JURISDICTION.
UM, AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT AN EXCUSE, BUT THERE IS CONFUSION ABOUT, UM, SHERIFF'S OFFICERS VERSUS CORRECTIONS OFFICERS VERSUS CITY POLICE.
BUT THE, THE DISTINCTION, I THINK EVEN FOR LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCATE IN THE ADVOCATE COMMUNITY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT DISTINCTION, UM, AND WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF DOING AND WHAT WE'RE NOT CAPABLE OF DOING.
I THINK, UM, I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF ON THIS BECAUSE IT WAS RAISED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
NOT EVERYONE, UM, ON THIS BOARD SUPPORTED, UM, THAT ICE CONTRACT WHEN WE HAD IT HERE AT THE COUNTY.
UM, SO, UM, I WAS NEVER IN FAVOR OF THAT ICE CONTRACT.
I'M ON THE RECORD FOR A LONG TIME OF BEING OPPOSED TO IT, EVEN WHEN WE HAD IT.
UM, THE, THE, THE, UM, THE ISSUE AS IT PERTAINS TO, UH, THE FACILITY ITSELF AND THE SITE PLAN, I'D BE VERY INTERESTED THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, TO GET, UM, AND MAYBE WE CAN DO SOME FOLLOW UP FROM THE CITY ON WHAT IT WAS.
IT WAS SUGGESTED, AGAIN, DURING PUBLIC COMMENT THAT THERE SOME TYPE OF SOLUTION THAT THE CITY IS, UM, IS GOING TO, UM, BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, WOULD DEFINITELY BE INTERESTED TO, TO, UM, HEAR WHAT THAT IS AND ALSO, UM, ENCOURAGE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATION IF WE'RE ABLE TO BE A PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS OR DIALOGUES TO PLEASE HAVE THAT WITH MR. PENNINGTON, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR AT THE CITY LEVEL.
UM, AND, AND UPDATES, UPDATE THAT ON US.
UM, AND IN TERMS OF THE SITE PLAN, I MEAN THE, IN TERMS OF THE FACILITY AND THE SITE PLAN AND THIS FACILITY THAT IT'S A PRIVATE FACILITY NOW THAT'S IN CONTRACT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT, UM, I BELIEVE CONTINUES TO OPERATE, UM, FROM EVERYTHING THAT I PUBLICLY READ ILLEGALLY.
[02:05:01]
NOT AS FAR AS I KNOW, CAN HAVE, UH, A PROPER, UH, CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, UH, FROM THE CITY OF NEWARK.UM, I, UM, WILL WRITE ANOTHER LETTER.
UM, I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER TO OUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES, TO OUR, UM, YOU KNOW, TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN, OUR STATE FOLKS, ANYBODY WHO WILL LISTEN THAT, UM, MAYBE AND MAYBE THROUGH OUR OWN COUNSEL.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR, OUR POWER IS OVER THAT, UM, IF THERE IS ANY, UM, YOU KNOW, AND NOT TO ANSWER RIGHT NOW, BUT WOULD LOVE TO EXPLORE THAT FURTHER ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO CHALLENGE, UH, THE OPERATION OF THE FACILITY IF THEY'RE OPERATING, UM, ILLEGALLY.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ONE, THAT'S ONE ISSUE, UM, THAT, THAT WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE OF WHAT WE DO WITH THE ACTUAL, UM, UH, UH, FOLKS, FAMILY MEMBERS, UH, ADVOCATES, PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE FACILITY, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING HOUSED THERE, UM, AND WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW, IN OUR, IN OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
UM, IN TERMS OF MAYBE BEING ABLE TO FIND, UM, ALTERNATIVES FOR, UH, SPACE, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WOULD, UM, COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S NOT A PUBLIC FACILITY, BUT MAYBE SINCE THESE ARE SOME UNUSUAL TIMES, WE COULD, UM, REEVALUATE OR TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT ANY OTHER POTENTIAL OPTION.
NOT UNDERSTANDING, NOT LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER TONIGHT, UM, MR. JACKSON, BUT, UM, WOULD, UM, WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY POSSIBILITY ON, ON HOW MAYBE WE CAN BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION TO AT LEAST FIND, UM, SOME, SOME SAFE SPACE ON, ON OUR PROPERTY, THE PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR, UM, FOR FOLKS TO, UM, TO BE ABLE TO SET UP, ESPECIALLY THE FOLKS WHO ARE THERE, WHO ARE WAITING, I HAVE BEEN THERE, WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING, UM, HOURS UPON HOURS TO GET INTO THE FACILITY TO TRY TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON OR TO VISIT THEIR, THEIR LOVED ONES.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE, WHO ARE BEING HOUSED OR DETAINED THERE, EVEN IF THEY'RE ABLE, WE, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION WE DON'T HAVE EVEN, WE DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY IF THEY'RE THERE OR, OR NOT.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I WOULD AGAIN, STRONGLY ENCOURAGE US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, UM, UH, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
UM, AND, UM, AND AGAIN, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THOUGH THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NO, YOU KNOW, I DEEPLY APPRECIATE MR. JACKSON.
WE'RE NOT IN A CONTRACT THERE, IT IS NOT OUR FACILITY.
UH, ACTUALLY THERE'S A STATE LAW ON THE BOOKS NOW, WHICH MAKES IT ILLEGAL FOR, UM, FOR COUNTIES TO BE IN THAT BE TO HAVE THOSE TYPES OF CONTRACTS.
UH, THERE'S ALSO FEDERAL LAW ON THE BOOKS NOW, WHICH, UH, MAY BE OVERTURNED, WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT, UM, THAT MAKES IT ILLEGAL FOR, FOR US TO BE IN THOSE, UM, CON TO BE IN THOSE TYPES OF CONTRACTS.
BUT, UM, IN THE IMMEDIATE NEED, UM, UH, I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT, ONE, IT'S NOT OUR FACILITY.
AND TWO, UH, IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE INSIDE IT AT THIS TIME, THAT WE PLEASE TRY AND DO THAT.
UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT AND THANK YOU MR. JACKSON FOR THOSE, FOR THOSE, FOR THOSE UPDATES AND COMMENTS.
I DON'T, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THE FACILITY SHOULD BE OPERATING, PERIOD.
IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE OPERATING LEGALLY.
I CERTAINLY, I THINK THAT WAS WHAT THE MAYOR OF NEWARK WAS QUESTIONING WHEN, YOU KNOW, HE WAS ARRESTED AND WRONG, WRONGFULLY ARRESTED.
UH, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE STATUS IS WITH, UH, THEIR OPERATIONAL STATUS, BUT I SUSPECT IT'S NOT, IT HAS NOT RESOLVED IN THINGS, FRANKLY, I HAVEN'T PROBABLY CHANGED WITH THAT.
AND I WOULD AGREE THAT IF THERE'S A, A MANNER IN THAT WHICH WE CAN ASSIST, UM, YOU KNOW, TO ALLEVIATE AND ASSIST THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO HELP, THAT WE SHOULD DO SO.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SIEBEL.
WITHOUT GOING INTO TOO MANY DETAILS, I WAS VERY MUCH AGAINST ESSEX COUNTY HAVING SUCH A DETENTION CENTER WHEN WE ORIGINALLY SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT WE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THAT CONTRACT EXPIRED.
WHEN THAT CONTRACT WAS OVER, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CHOSE NOT TO RECONSIDER AND CONTINUE TO RUN THE DETENTION CENTER.
I AM VERY, VERY FAMILIAR WITH EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON THERE.
NOW, I'M ALSO FAMILIAR WITH DELANEY HALL BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE MANY TIMES.
I KNOW THAT IT'S A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE NOW, AND I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.
A NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE HAVE TOLD ME EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON.
SO I'M VERY, VERY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING, AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH MAYOR RAS BARAKA, AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE FACT THAT WHAT HE WAS ACCUSED OF WAS RELEASED.
AND ALSO, CONGRESSWOMAN MACGYVER RIGHT NOW IS WAITING FOR SOME KIND OF CONCLUSION IN TERMS OF WHAT SHE DID.
I HAVE SENT THE ADMINISTRATION ALL OF THE INFORMATION, AND I'M HOPING
[02:10:01]
THAT THERE IS SOME SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY CAN DO.AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FACILITY IS PRIVATELY OWNED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PARKING IS A PRO.
I UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE PROBLEMS, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT SOMETHING CAN BE RESOLVED.
BUT WHAT, WHAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED IS THAT THIS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STOPS THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
'CAUSE THAT IS THE PROBLEM, AND THAT IS A PROBLEM ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
AND A LOT OF IT IS JUST PLAIN ILLEGAL.
UH, SHIFTING GEARS, BEFORE WE CLOSE, I WANT TO COMMEND COMMISSIONER SIEBEL, WHO TOOK THE TIME TO HONOR A COUPLE OF OUR VERY LONG TIME, AND WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH OBSERVING RETIREES TODAY.
UH, COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU JUST QUICK TO BRIEFLY ADDRESS WHO WE HONOR TODAY, UH, BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED? IT'S HARD FOR ME TO GO INTO THE DETAILS, BUT WE HONOR TWO, BRIEFLY, TWO WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR ESSEX COUNTY.
WE HONOR CRAIG LOMBARDI, WHO'S BEEN HERE FOR, I DON'T REMEMBER SO MANY YEARS.
I KNOW HIM FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.
AND WE ALSO HONORED MAURICE BROWN, WHO'S ALSO BEEN HERE AND DONE A WONDERFUL JOB.
AND WE HAVE SO MANY GREAT EMPLOYEES WHO ARE LEAVING, SO I HOPE THE ADMINISTRATION CAN FIND OTHER GREAT EMPLOYEES TO TAKE THEIR PLACE.
IT WAS VERY NICE OF YOU TO DO, AND, UH, GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO JOIN YOU AT FOUR O'CLOCK TODAY FOR THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, MR. PRESIDENT? IF I MAY, IF I MAY? YES, PLEASE, MR. MR. TO, TO REITERATE, UH, YOU KNOW, COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONER GILL, YOURSELF, MR. PRESIDENT, AND, UM, YEAH, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, S SIEBOLD.
I'VE JUST HAD BRAIN, BRAIN BLOCK THERE.
UM, UH, AS I SAID, I WILL DEFINITELY, UH, UH, GET WITH OUR STAFF AT THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, UM, TO SEE WHAT, WHAT WE CAN, I, I, I'M JUST NOT A CORRECTIONAL EXPERT, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO UNDERSTOOD.
YOU KNOW, I CAN, BUT I, I WILL DEFINITELY, UM, UH, BRING THIS CONCERN UP AND SEE IF WE CAN'T WORK SOMETHING OUT.
WE ASK THAT, AND IF I JUST MAY ASK, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, SINCE THIS IS A, THE THING, THE WHOLE THING IS A FLUID MOTION.
UM, IF YOU DO HAVE ANY COMMUNICATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM NEWARK OR OTHER, IF YOU COULD JUST, YOU KNOW, SEND US A MEMO TO UPDATE IT SO THAT WE'RE UP TO SPEED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
SEEING ALL THE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
SO MOVE, MOVED BY SERMON SECOND BY LUCIANA.