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[00:00:04]

GOOD EVENING.

THIS MEETING OF THE ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS HERE BY PAUL'S WATER.

THE MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED IN ADDITION TO TAKING PLACE HERE IN PERSON.

MADAM DEPUTY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

COMMISSIONER COOPER.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER GILL.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER MERCADO? HERE.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER SEABOLD.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER SERMONS.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ.

HERE, PLEASE STAND FOR THE SALUTE TO THE FLIGHT.

I'M GONNA ASK COMMISSIONER GIL TO LEAD US IN THE SALUTE I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH THE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

AND I'M JUST GONNA ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND HONOR THOSE.

SO WE'VE LOST SINCE THE LAST TIME WE CAME TOGETHER.

THANK YOU.

I HAVE BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FROM THE DEPUTY CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.

SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE FULL TRANSCRIPTS.

MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, DO WE HAVE IT? HAVE ANY YES, MR. PRESIDENT? WE HAVE TO FROM THE APRIL 3RD, 22, 24.

AND FEBRUARY.

FEBRUARY 5TH, 2025 CONFERENCE.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THESE? SEE NONE.

DO I SOMEONE MOVE IT.

MOVE BY REGISTERED.

SECOND BY MERCADO WILL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.

COMMISSIONER LUCY.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES.

COMMISSIONER SAL? YES.

COMMISSIONER SERMONS.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.

YES.

COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.

SO MOVE, LET'S MOVE ON, UH, TO ANY TOPICS OF DISCUSSION.

DO WE HAVE ANY? NO, WE DO NOT.

OKAY.

LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

TONIGHT'S MEETING IS A COMBINED CONFERENCE BOARD MEETING.

WE WILL VOTE ON EVERY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

SO IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT THAT ANY AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND SET YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.

YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

THERE WILL BE TIME LATER IN THE EVENING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OTHER ITEMS. SO I ASK YOU, PLEASE LIMIT YOUR, UH, QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS NOW TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.

OKAY.

MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THERE'S NO ONE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME ON THE AGENDA ITEMS. SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON, ON TO ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTIONS AND INTRODUCTIONS.

AND INTRODUCTION OF FIRST READING.

DO WE HAVE IT? I, I WAS SIGNING IN.

ALRIGHT.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION ON THE, ON THE AGENDA ITEMS? YES.

ALRIGHT, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.

UH, RONSON.

OKAY.

UM, ROGER JOHNSON FOOTBALL, SBA SEVEN A MINUS 350,000, UH, NOT OPEN YET.

SEEKING OFFICE BASED ON THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING SERVICE FOR WORKFORCE STAFF.

GAR STATE EMPLOYMENT TRAINING ASSOCIATION, INC.

IN REGARDS TO APRIL 1ST, 2026 THROUGH MARCH 31ST, 2027, AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $88,810.

UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO, I'M REQUEST AN 11 MONTH OPERATIONAL ESTIMATED ESTIMATED EXPENSES OFFICE HEADQUARTERS DRIVER, SECURITY OFFICE ASSISTANT AND HEAD COACH TO BE ANNOUNCED UNDER SBA SEVEN EIGHT PRIVATE EQUITY 10 COACHES TO BE ANNOUNCED UNDER NEW JERSEY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY ZONE $3.5 MILLION.

UH, ITEM TWO, I'M REQUESTING 11 MONTH OPERATIONAL ESTIMATED EXPENSES.

12 MONTH DOCUMENTED ESTIMATED EXPENSES DURING BUSINESS AS INTERIOR DETAILING CLEANING MINUS $100,000 IN REGARDS TO $1,000.

CONVENTIONAL APPLICATION FEE NEGATIVE IN REGARDS TO OUR CONTINGENCY TO 100 APPLICANTS UNDER SBA SEVEN A.

ROGER JOHNSON FOOTBALL OPEN YET, UH, $500 NEEDED TO COMPLETE SBA GRANT UNDER REVIEW AS OF TODAY FOR $100,000.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

AND AS OUR POLICY, WE'LL RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS IN WRITING.

THANK YOU.

MAKE SURE WE HAVE YOUR EMAIL.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY AT THIS TIME.

OKAY.

NOW SEEING NONE, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTIONS ON INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.

MADAM DEPUTY COURT.

DO WE HAVE ANY? NO.

MR. PRESIDENT? WE DO NOT.

OKAY.

LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY.

DO WE HAVE ANY? NO, WE DO NOT.

WELL, MOVING ON THEN TO ORDINANCE OF THE SECOND READING AND FOR PUBLIC HEARING.

DO WE HAVE ANY? NO.

MR. PRESIDENT? WE DO NOT.

OKAY.

MOVING AHEAD.

THEN WE'RE GONNA GO TO RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS ON THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND CAN BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.

MR. SORES, GOOD EVENING.

[00:05:01]

GOOD EVENING FOR YOU, MR. PRESIDENT JOHN SORES, DIRECTOR OF DIVISION OF HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

THE DIVISION IS REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT THE 2026 PROGRAM YEAR ACTION PLAN TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

THE PROGRAM YEAR RUNS FROM JUNE 1ST, 2026 TO MAY 31ST, 2027.

THE THREE GRANTS ARE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,175,593 HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,254,360 74 CENTS, EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT.

AND THE AMOUNT OF $458,474 AND MATRIX OF THE ACTIVITIES WAS INCLUDED IN THE REQUEST FOR YOUR REVIEW.

THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 21ST, 2026.

THE NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LOCAL ONLINE PAPERS AND ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE ON OR ABOUT APRIL 16TH, 2026.

IF ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS, COMMENTS ARE, RECEIVE, THE IMPACT ON THE FUNDING DIVISION WILL RETURN TO THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS TO RECEIVE THESE GRANTS.

HOPEFULLY THERE WON'T BE A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN TO DELAY THE FUNDING.

THANK YOU MR. HARROW.

MR. BILES, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTION, MR. PRESIDENT.

MR. MCINERNEY? I JUST HAVE ONE.

HOW IS THE HOME ENTITLEMENT GRANT OF 1,000,254? HOW, HOW IS THAT DISTRIBUTED? IS THAT, IS THAT DONE IN GRANTS OR IS THAT DONE IN LOANS? UH, IT'S FOR, IT'S IT'S LOANS.

LOANS.

YEAH.

IT'S LOANS.

AND, UH, NONPROFITS, UH, RECEIVE A LOWER INTEREST, UH, OTHER THAN PRO UH, PROFITS RE UH, HAVE TO TAKE THE LOAN OUT IN WITH A HIGHER INTEREST RATE.

OKAY.

NOW WHEN THAT MONEY COMES BACK, DOES THAT GET RECYCLED? YES.

LIKE CUMULATIVELY.

SO IS THERE, IS THERE A PORTFOLIO OF LOANS THAT THE COUNTY HAS THAT ARE OUTSTANDING THROUGH THIS PROGRAM? I MEAN, YOU GET THIS EVERY YEAR, SO I'M ASSUMING THAT IT'S CUMULATIVE THAT THESE LOAN AMOUNTS RECYCLE AND THEN INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THAT, UM, LOAN, LOAN SCHEDULE, IF YOU WILL, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, THE LOANS THAT ARE OUTSTANDING HAVE BEEN, UH, WERE FOR PERIODS OF 20 TO 30 YEARS.

RIGHT.

SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY COMING BACK YET.

WE DO GET PROGRAM INCOME.

RIGHT.

RIGHT.

SO THESE LOANS ARE, UH, PAID BACK, BACK AT THE END OF THE, OF THE, WITHIN, LIKE YOU SAID, WITHIN 20 YEARS AFTER THE DE WHATEVER IT IS, WHATEVER IT IS, WHETHER IT'S A DEVELOPMENT OR NOT.

AFTER ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GRANT DOCUMENT IN, UH, INDICATED FOR YOU, MR. OKAY.

AND, AND, AND TYPICALLY IS THESE INTEREST PAID OR IS IT PAID AT, PAID AT THE END, OR IS THERE INTEREST FREE FOR YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE STRUCTURED AGREEMENTS WE BE, UH, PROGRAMMING AT THE, IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW IT'S SET UP.

OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MR. MCINERNEY.

COMMISSIONER.

ANY QUESTIONS? IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, WE'LL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CFER NUMBER ONE.

COMMISSIONER COOPER ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER GID? YES.

COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES.

COMMISSIONER SIEBEL? YES.

COMMISSIONER SERMONS? ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MARY THOMAS? YES.

COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT PO.

YES.

SO MOVED.

THANK YOU.

UH, ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION TWO, WHICH IS ON THE DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.

THAT ALSO WILL BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.

MR. TARZI DOING THAT ONE AS WELL.

YOU'RE STICKING AROUND.

YOU WANNA DO THAT ONE TOO? NO.

ALRIGHT.

.

MR. JACKSON.

GOOD EVENING.

WHO DO WE HAVE HERE? MR. COL? SO NICE OF YOU TO JOIN US.

MR. COLTRAN.

YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME.

WE MISSED YOU.

UH, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, DIVISION OF TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING SERVICES FOR WORKFORCE STAFF.

UH, THE AWARD IS TO GARDEN STATE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ASSOCIATION, INC.

THIS WAS AN RFP SEVEN.

RESPONDENTS AND, UH, GUARDIAN STATE HAD THE HIGHEST SCORE OF 10 60.

UM, THIS IS TRAINING FOR THE WORK, UH, WORK, WORK-BASED LEADING OPPORTUNITY STAFF TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SPECIFIC TRAINING.

UH, THEY'RE GOING TO BE LEARNING AI TRAINING WITH EMERGENT UH TECHNOLOGIES.

THEY ALSO ATTEND A CONFERENCE, UH, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, WORKFORCE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, PROFESSIONAL ANNUAL MEETING, AND EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCES.

ESSEX COUNTY NEW WORKFORCE STAFF WILL HAVE AC HAVE ACCESS TO THE BROAD RANGE OF PR,

[00:10:01]

UH, UH, PRACTICAL RELEVANT RESOURCES GIVEN BY THE, UH, GARDEN STATE ASSOCIATION.

AND THIS IS GRANT FUNDED QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS PRESENT.

MR. MCINERNEY? NO QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONERS.

ANY QUESTIONS? NUMBER TWO.

SEEING NONE.

SO I'M GONNA MOVE IT.

I'LL MOVE IT.

MOVE BY MERCADO.

SECOND.

SECOND.

SECOND BY RICHARDSON.

ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK.

COMMISSIONER COOPER.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.

COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

YES.

COMMISSIONER SIEBEL? YES.

COMMISSIONER SERMONS.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.

YES.

COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS.

YES.

SO MOVED.

THANK YOU.

LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION THREE TO THROUGH NINE AND ADDED START OF 46, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.

AND MUCH OF THE SHARID OF COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

THEY'LL BE RUNNING UNTIL A LATER TIME.

ZA IS HERE EARLY TODAY.

UH, JOSHUA ZA COUNTY PARKS.

UH, THANK YOU AGAIN, MR. PRESIDENT FOR NOT LISTENING TO COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

, UH, NUMBER THREE IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO DOWNS TREE SERVICE TO PROVIDE GOLF COURSE DRAINAGE, EXERCISING THE 24 MONTH OPTION, NOT TO EXCEED $599,800.

AGAIN, THIS IS THE 24 MONTH OPTION FOR AN AS NEEDED DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT.

AND THEN REPAIR, UH, CONTRACT.

WE'RE AT THE COUNTY'S THREE GOLF COURSES.

NUMBER FOUR, A CONTRACT AWARD TO FUND SERVICES THE SOLE RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIVE BIDDER TO PROVIDE CARNIVAL GAMES AND MANAGEMENT GAMES.

24 MONTH CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $85,000.

THIS IS, UH, FOR THE RENTAL.

AND THEN THE, UM, RUNNING OF VARIOUS, UM, CARNIVAL GAMES, UH, BOUNCE HOUSES, UH, WHAT HAVE YOU, THINGS OF THAT NATURE FOR VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT THE PARK SYSTEM DOES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF A YEAR.

NUMBER FOUR CONTRACT AWARD.

I'M SORRY, NUMBER FIVE.

CONTRACT AWARD TO POWER WASHING PRO.

LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE, CLEANING AND WAXING OF STATUES.

24 MONTH CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $46,710.

AGAIN, THIS IS FOR THE CLEANING OF ANY OF THE BRONZE STATUES THROUGHOUT THE PARK SYSTEM AS WELL AS, UH, THE GOVERNMENT COMPLEX.

UH, OVER HERE.

NUMBER 6, 7, 8, AND NINE ARE ALL RELATED.

UM, I'LL GO THROUGH THEM, BUT 6, 7, 8, AND NINE.

WHEN COMBINED ARE THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR NUMBER 10.

UH, SPECIFICALLY NUMBER SIX IS THE AGREEMENT WITH THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN CONSERVANCY TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS OVER AT THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION.

UH, THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN CONSERVANCY WAS AWARDED A $500,000 GREEN GREEN ACRES GRANT.

AND SIMPLY THIS IS THE AGREEMENT THAT, UH, THOSE FUNDS WOULD BE TURNED OVER TO THE COUNTY WHEN THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED.

NUMBER SEVEN IS THE BUDGET INSERTION OF THAT SAID, UH, AGAIN FOR $500,000.

UH, AS THIS BOARD KNOWS, KNOWS, MOST GREEN ACRES GRANTS SPECIFIC FOR NONPROFITS REQUIRE A MATCH.

AND, AND NUMBER EIGHT IS THAT MATCH, WHICH WOULD COME FROM THE OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND.

AND THEN NUMBER NINE IS THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT ERNIE IN ORDER TO FULLY FUND THE PROJECT.

FUND THE PROJECT.

AND FINALLY, NUMBER 46 IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO USE SES COUNTY RECREATION, OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND BASED TRUST FUND TO FUND A SHADE STRUCTURE, REPLACE REPLACEMENT IES OVER AT THE PURDUE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $60,000.

UH, AGAIN, THIS CONTRACT IS FOR, FOR ERNO GIARDANO.

IT'S THROUGH THE NG TRACT.

AND SPECIFICALLY, UM, FOR THOSE WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE ZU, WE HAVE THAT BANDSTAND AREA, AREA KIND OF NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE RIGHT WHEN YOU WALK IN, WHEN YOU WALK IN.

AND THIS IS TO REPLACE THOSE CATTLE.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU.

MR. VA, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO.

THELE OF QUESTIONS.

MR. MCINERNEY, UH, CONSERVATORIES THAT, UH, IS ANTICIPATED WOULD, WOULD GET, UH, GREEN ACRES, ACRES GRANT FOR THE BALLOTS OF THE YEAR, UH, UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, JUST ROSE COUNTY.

UM, SO WE DID COMPLETE OUR 2026, UH, APPLICATIONS BACK IN, IT WAS THE TAIL END OF FEBRUARY.

AND WE'RE TOLD THAT WE SHOULD HEAR WHAT THOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS BE THE END OF THIS MONTH.

OKAY.

SO, BUT I MEAN, LIKE, THE POLICY HAS BEEN, BEEN TO APPLY THROUGH ALL THE CONSERVATORY ORDERS THAT WE HAVE.

CORRECT? THAT, THAT IS IN, UM, A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.

UM, IN MORE RECENT TIMES, WE KINDA STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS JUST 'CAUSE THE GREEN ACRES MONEY ISN'T AS AFFLUENT AS IT WAS.

SO TYPICALLY NOW, UH, THE COUNTY APPLY, THE COUNTY ALWAYS APPLIES.

AND THEN TYPICALLY THERE'S ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR NON-PROFITS.

SO YOU'RE LOOKING UP BETWEEN FOUR OR FIVE APPLICATIONS A YEAR AS OPPOSED TO LIKE EIGHT.

EIGHT PLUS THE COUNTY.

CORRECT.

YEARS AGO.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

BUT IT'S STILL, IT'S STILL FOUND.

OH, YEAH.

IT'S A, IT'S A FANTASTIC PROGRAM.

I, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'D MAKE THE, UH, THE NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE DONE WITHOUT IT.

YEAH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU MR. KERMAN.

COMMISSIONERS.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE? ON THESE ITEMS? COMM, COMMISSIONER, MR. P, MR. PRESIDENT, MR. SEABOLD.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO TO RICARDO.

GUYS.

COMMISSIONER SEABOLD.

THANK YOU.

[00:15:01]

PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THE MONEY THAT THE OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND IS PROVIDING FOR THESE, UH, PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES.

UM, REGARDING NUMBER FIVE, I JUST HAVE A REQUEST REGARDING THE POWER WASHING OR THE STATUES.

IF I CAN BRING ATTENTION TO THE ROBERTO CLEMENTE STATUE ON BLOOMFIELD AVENUE AND LAKE STREET IS IN NEED OF SOME ATTENTION.

SPECIAL THANK YOU.

JUSTICE WAS SCATTER TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? YES.

IT'S, UH, ONE OF THE ONES ON THE LIST, SO THANK YOU.

WE WILL ADJUST IT.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER MERCADO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THREE TO NINE AND 46? YES.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? YES.

YES.

THANK YOU.

STEVE.

ROLL CALL.

THREE TO NINE AND 46.

COMMISSIONER SERMONS ABSENT COMM? YES.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES.

COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES.

COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.

COMMISSIONER COOPER.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.

YES.

COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.

SO MOVED.

LET'S GO TO RESOLUTIONS.

10 THROUGH 12.

THANK YOU MRS. HS.

LET'S GO TO RESOLUTIONS 10 THROUGH 12 AND ADD START OF 47, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.

AND THEY WILL BE READY TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.

GOOD EVENING, MR. ANTONIO.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.

ITEM NUMBER 10, IT'S AN AWARD CONTRACT TO PI, NO, NO, ANO CONSTRUCTION TO CONSTRUCT THE RENOVATIONS OF THE TRAILS AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION IN A, IN A AMOUNT TO EXCEED $1,265,000 PI.

ANO SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE FOUR BITS RECEIPTS RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.

THE PROJECT WILL REPAIR GRAVEL BOATS ACCESS POINTS BASE, UH, ACROSS THE CULVERS.

THERE'LL BE MINOR REPAIRS TO EXISTING PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES, UM, NEW RIGHT WALKWAYS, FENCING, SIGNAGE, ET CETERA.

UH, BUT TODAY WE HAVE MR. LACHLAN, UM, BAKER FROM DONALD ERNO, WHO WILL PROBABLY GO INTO BETTER DETAIL DETAIL THAN I CAN ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS AND ALSO INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY.

LACHLAN.

THERE YOU.

THANK YOU.

MR. ANTONIO, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY AND THE PROJECT.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS LACHLAN BARBER AND BARBER FROM DOWN CONSTRUCTION.

I'M A ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER, .

WE'VE BEEN, UH, IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 50 YEARS, MOSTLY DOING PARK CONSTRUCTION JOBS, MANY OF THEM IN ESSEX COUNTY, INCLUDING TWO ACTIVE PROJECTS RIGHT NOW AT WATTS ING PARK AND MONTE IRVIN ORANGE PARK.

UM, WE HAVE FOUR CURRENT FROM THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, AND OUR OWNERS WERE BORN, BORN AND RAISED IN NEWARK.

SO WE HAVE LOTS OF TIES TO THE COUNTY AND LIKE, LIKE TO DO OUR JOBS HERE.

UH, AS DAVID MENTIONED SOMEWHAT THIS JOB AT SOUTH MATHEN RESERVATION, WE WILL BE RESURFACING THE RIVER TRAIL AND FERRY TRAIL.

THERE'LL BE SOME PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS AND A NEW GAZEBO PICNIC AREA IN THE RESERVATION.

WE, WE HOPE TO START WORK ON THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND IDEALLY BE FINISHED BEFORE THE END, BEFORE THE START OF WINTER.

THANK YOU MR. AZZ.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE VENDOR? NO QUESTIONS.

NO QUESTIONS.

MR. MCINERNEY? NO QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONER.

MR. THE VENDOR COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YEAH.

WHERE'S YOUR COMPANY LOCATED? WE'RE FROM KEN KENWORTH, KENWORTH AND UNION COUNTY.

THE UNION OUTFIT OR NON-UNION OUTFIT? UH, YES.

DIVISION 55.

DIVISION 55.

DIVISION 55.

SORRY.

DISTRICT 55.

MY APOLOGIES.

DISTRICT 55, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

THEY ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE A-F-L-C-I-L OR AM AM I MISTAKEN? I I DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THAT, SIR.

OKAY.

I'M NO DISC 55.

COMMISSIONER, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.

NO.

ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR THE VENDOR? OKAY, THANK YOU.

LET'S MOVE ON TO ANSWER NUMBER 11.

UH, DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PUBLIC WORKS.

ITEM NUMBER 11 AUTHORIZED THIS EXECUTION OF A FEDERAL AMEN MODIFICATION FOR THE SPRING AVENUE SEVEN INTERSECTION PROJECT, WHICH, WHICH WILL REVISE THE CONCLUSION DATE FROM FROM SEPTEMBER, 2027 TO MAY OF 2028.

UH, UH, THIS IS A TIME EXTENSION REQUESTED

[00:20:01]

DUE TO THE HOME, UNFORESEEN DELAY IN THE DELIVERY OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT, UH, FROM THE SIGNAL EQUIPMENT, MANY MANUFACTURERS.

THERE IS CURRENTLY A SHORTAGE OF ALUMINUM CASTERS THAT MAKES TRAFFIC SIGNAL, ARMS, PULSE AND BASIS DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN ON A TIME TIMELY BASIS.

THIS TIME EXTENSION WILL FACILITATE THE DELIVERY, THE DELIVERY OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL, EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT, AND COMPLETION OF OBJECT.

AND THERE IS NO FINANCIAL IMPACT, UM, DUE TO APPROVING THIS TIME.

UH, ITEM NUMBER 12 OF IS A CHANGE ORDER ORDER WHICH MODIFIES THE EXISTING AS ENGINEERING TO PROVIDE THE CURRENT ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE 2020 2025 WORLDWAY RESURFACING PROGRAM FACING THE CURRENT NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT, 274,000 TO A NEW, NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF 318,000.

THIS IS AN INCREASE OF $44,577 DOLLARS, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 16 OF THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT.

THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS WILL BE USED TO, UH, COVER THE COVER THE COST OF ADDITIONAL MAN HOURS REQUIRED DUE TO THE LENGTH OF, OF THE RESURFACING REQUIRED FOR THE RESURFACING OF GROVE AND JFK PARKWAY PARKWAYS.

AND ITEM NUMBER 47 IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO ARTON BY THE DESIGN ENGINEERING REQUIRED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BOILER AND THE HOT HOT WATER HEATER AT THE THOMAS BOULEVARD CRIME SCENE UNIT IN ORANGE IN AMOUNT TO EXCEED $52,596.

ARTAN SUBMITTED THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE FOUR PROPOSALS RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.

UH, THE PROJECT ENTAILS THE ENGINEERING OF A REPLACEMENT SOLUTION TO THE THOMAS BOULEVARD CRIME SCENE UNIT'S, EXISTING BOILER AND DOMESTIC HOT WATER SYSTEM, WHICH HAS REACHED THE END OF THIS USEFUL LIFECYCLE.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU MR. ANTONIO.

MR. BAZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE REMAINING ITEMS? 11, 12 AND 47.

UH, JUST NUMBER 12.

UM, IS THIS THE FIRST CHANGE ORDER? YES.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THROUGH YOU MR. PRESIDENT.

IT IS.

MR. MCMURDY, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONERS.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THE REMAINING ITEMS? SEEING NONE, DO I SOMEONE TO MOVE, UH, 10 THROUGH 12 AND ADD THE START OF 47 AND MOVE IT.

SECOND.

MOVE BY MECADO.

SECOND BY, UH, MARY THOMAS.

ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER SERMONS ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER SEABOLD? YES.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES.

COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES.

COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.

COMMISSIONER COOPER.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.

YES.

COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.

SO MOVED.

THANK YOU, MR. ANTONIO.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO, UH, NUMBER 13 AND 14, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF THAT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.

MR. JACKSON, UH, MR. PRESIDENT REPS FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL PRESENT THESE ITEMS. GOOD EVENING.

HOW ARE YOU, SIR? GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

UH, FITZGERALD FIGLIO UNDER SHERIFF AS THIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S, OEM.

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR ITEMS. SO, UH, ITEM NUMBER 13, THAT IS A RESOLUTION FOR THE 10 33 PROGRAM.

IT'S A FEDERAL, UH, PROGRAM THAT SUPPLIES SURPLUS TO, UH, AGENCIES THAT, UH, APPLY AND ARE, UH, SUCCESSFULLY OR, OR APPROVED.

AND THEY, THEY, THEY HAVE A, A PLETHORA OF ITEMS THAT THE, THE AGENCIES CAN ACQUIRE AT NO COST.

SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL TO ME.

AND WHAT ABOUT NUMBER 14? 14 IS, UM, THE EVACUATIONS IS IN REGARDS TO THE STATEWIDE EVACUATION PLAN.

UH, THAT IS A, UH, RESOLUTION, UH, TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE, UH, STATE IN ORDER FOR, UH, EVERYONE TO OPERATE ON THE SAME FRAMEWORK IN CASE OF A, A LARGE SCALE EVACUATION.

SO WHAT WHAT THIS DOES IS IT CREATES, IT CREATES ONE MODEL FOR EVERYONE TO FOLLOW IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

AND THERE'S NO CONFUSION AND THE, UH, LOCATIONS ARE ALL, UH, ADOPTED SO WE CAN, UH, MOVE FORWARD.

THANK YOU.

MR. SHABA, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.

MR. MCINERNEY? NO QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONERS.

ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT.

THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU, PROFESSOR, FOR BEING HERE.

JUST TRYING TO GET A BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT THIS ACTUALLY INVOLVES.

THIS IS FOR ITEM 13.

SO IT SAYS, IT SAYS THAT, UM, 10 33 PROGRAM ALLOWS, UH, THE OFFICE TO MAKE USE OF EXCESS

[00:25:01]

PERSONAL PROPERTY BY MAKING THAT PERSONAL PROPERTY AVAILABLE TO MUNICIPAL COUNTY STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

CAN YOU PROVIDE A PICTURE AS FAR AS LIKE WHAT PERSONAL PROPERTY AND FOR WHAT PURPOSES, MAYBE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IMPLEMENTED 13.

YES.

SO, UM, THEY, IT'S, THERE'S A HUGE RANGE OF, OF, OF SUPPLIES THAT ARE, THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

UM, THE LAST TIME WE, WE USED THEM, UH, WE ACQUIRED, UH, SIX VEHICLES, HIGH WATER VEHICLES, HIGH WATER RESCUE VEHICLES.

UH, IT'S NORMALLY, UH, EQUIPMENT THAT THE MILITARY NO LONGER HAS USED.

FOUR.

UH, WE HAVE THREE HUS AND THREE, THREE DEUCES, WHICH ARE THE, UH, HALF TON TRUCKS.

UH, WE ACQUIRED THOSE IN 2015.

UH, WE HAVEN'T USED THEM OFTEN, BUT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO IF WE'RE IN NEED OF SOME KIND OF EQUIPMENT.

GOT IT.

WE CAN GO THROUGH THE LIST AND SEE IF THEY HAVE IT AND WE CAN OBTAIN IT FOR FREE.

GOT IT.

OKAY.

UM, AND THEY JUST REQUIRE, UH, AN ANNUAL, UH, APPLICATION AND A, UH, RESOLUTION FROM THE COMMISSION REPORT.

GREAT.

THAT'S HELPFUL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEE ANY NON VP? WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THESE 13 AND 14? SURE.

I'LL SECOND.

MOVED BY, UH, MARY THOMAS, SECOND BY MERCADO.

ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR 13 AND 14.

COMMISSIONER SERMONS ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER SIEBOLD? YES.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES.

YES.

COMMISSIONER MERCADO.

YES.

LUCIANO ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.

COMMISSIONER COOPER.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.

YES.

COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS.

YES.

SO MOVED.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO 15, WHICH IS IN THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES.

WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.

MR. JACKSON, ITEM 15.

UH, MR. PRESIDENT IS A, UM, A LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE OR A LETTER OF INTENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, UH, AND TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT.

UH, THIS IS FOR EARLY INTERVENTION GRANT FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2026 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2027.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST TO, UM, TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THE GRANT, WHICH IS ITEM 16, WHICH IS, UM, IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,964,095.

UM, THIS PROGRAM, UH, FUNDS, UH, EFFORTS TO EARLY IDENTIFICATION, EVALUATION, AND TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS FROM BIRTH TO THREE YEARS OLD, UM, FOR THE PERIOD AGAIN OF JULY 1ST, 2026 TO JUNE 30TH, 2027.

UM, AND THERE IS A MATCH OF ABOUT A 40% MATCH FOR THE COUNTY AND AMOUNT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,169,696.

MOST OF THAT COMES FROM THE FRINGE BENEFITS THAT WE, UH, PROVIDE TO 38 EMPLOYEES.

AND THEN WE ALSO GET, UM, CREDIT FOR FACILITY COSTS, PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENTS, AND, AND OTHER, UH, OVERHEAD COST.

THANK YOU, MR. BAZ.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.

MR. MCINERNEY? NO QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONERS.

ANY QUESTIONS ON 15TH? SEEING NONE.

SOMEBODY TO MOVE IT.

I'LL MOVE IT.

MOVE BY MERCADO.

SECOND.

SECOND BY RICHARDSON.

ROLL CALL MATTER.

DEPUTY CLERK 15.

COMMISSIONER COOPER.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.

COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

YES.

COMMISSIONER SIEBOLD? YES.

COMMISSIONER SERMONS.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.

YES.

COMMISSIONER RESIDENT EZ.

YES.

SO MOVED.

THANK YOU.

LET'S MOVE ON.

OUR RESOLUTION SIX 16 THROUGH 22, WHICH ARE ALL 2026 COUNTY BUDGET INSERTION OF ITEMS OF REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES THAT HAVE BE ENTERED TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.

MR. JACKSON? UH, YES, MR. PRESIDENT, I BASICALLY COVERED NUMBER 16, WHICH WAS THE, UH, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY RELATED TO 15.

OKAY.

AND AGAIN, AMOUNT, $2,964,095.

UH, ITEM 17, UH, IS FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO OUR, UH, DIVISION OF, UM, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $402,850.

THIS IS FOR OUR SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.

UH, HIGHLY POPULAR.

UH, UNFORTUNATELY THIS YEAR, ABOUT 60%, UH, WITH FUNDS WERE CUT FROM LAST YEAR.

SO WE WENT FROM ABOUT 200 SPOTS DOWN TO 97.

UM, AND, UH, WE HAD, UH, 500 APPLICATIONS, UH, WITHIN EIGHT HOURS.

SO IT WAS, UH, IT'S, IT'S WIDELY POPULAR.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE SLOTS THIS YEAR, SO THEY'RE GONNA GO THROUGH A MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE PROCESS FOR THOSE SPOTS, INTERVIEWING AND SO FORTH.

SO, UH, GREAT PROGRAM, BUT, UM, UH, REDUCED.

SO THE, THIS YEAR'S, THE AMOUNT IS, UH, $402,850, AND THERE ARE TWO PERIODS OF EMPLOYMENT.

ONE IS, UH, JUNE 22ND TO AUGUST 14TH, AND THE OTHER IS FROM JULY 6TH TO AUGUST 28TH.

AND BECAUSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, OVERWHELMING DEMAND, THEY'VE, THEY'VE CLOSED THE, UH, THE APPLICATION WINDOW.

UH, ITEM 18 IS FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

[00:30:01]

TO OUR DIVISION OF FAMILY AND ASSISTANCE, FAMILY ASSISTANCE BENEFITS ON THE AMOUNT OF $28,310.

THIS IS FOR THE, UM, UH, HOME ENERGY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

UH, WE GET FUNDS FROM THE, UH, DEPARTMENT FOR, UH, UH, IDENTIFYING PEOPLE WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAM AND ALSO ASSISTING THEM, UH, THROUGH THE PROCESS.

ITEM 19, ALSO FROM NEW JERSEY, UH, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS TO OUR, UH, DIVISION OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS IN THE AMOUNT OF 44,280, UH, DOLLARS.

UH, THIS IS FOR THE LHE PROGRAM, UH, LOW, WHICH PROVIDES, UH, ASSISTANCE FOR A LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

UH, AND AGAIN, THIS GRANT HELPS TO OFFSET SOME OF OUR COSTS, UH, OF, UH, PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO OUR RESIDENTS.

AND I SHOULD MENTION, FOR BOTH THE 18 AND 19, THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH.

ITEM 20 IS FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO WHAT? TO THE, TO OUR OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,419.

UH, THE COUNTY IS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR RIGHT TO KNOW ACTIVITIES IN THE COUNTY.

AND THIS IS, UH, FUNDS THAT HAVE PROVIDED TO US, UH, IN THAT EFFORT.

AND THERE AGAIN, THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH.

ITEM 21, UH, IS A DONATION, A PRIVATE DONATION FROM DR.

DEPAC.

WE'VE SEEN HIS NAME A NUMBER OF TIMES, UH, RECENTLY, UM, MAKING DONATIONS TO THE COUNTY, PARTICULARLY TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF $22,500, WHICH WILL PURCHASE TWO CANINE DOGS FOR THE, UH, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

UH, ITEM 22, UM, IS FROM THE, UM, THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR TO DIVISION OF SENIOR SERVICES.

UH, WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION FOR SENIORS LARGELY THROUGH LIKE UBER AND, AND LYFT.

AND, UH, THIS IS AN ASSERTION OF $350,000.

IT'S ACTUALLY FOR TWO YEARS, $175,000 FOR 2024, AND $175,000 FOR 2025.

UH, AND THERE'S NO COUNTY MATCH.

THANK YOU, MS. UH, SHABAZZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS, MR. PRESIDENT.

MR. TEMKIN, ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION ON 21 WITH THE, WITH THE TWO DOGS.

I, I'M, IT SOUNDS SILLY, BUT IS THERE A NEED FOR THESE DOGS? I MEAN, THEY'RE, HOW MANY DOGS DO WE HAVE AT THIS POINT? I, I, I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OF DOGS THAT WE HAVE, BUT I THINK IT'S ABOUT, DO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE EIGHT AND THIS ONE'S RETIRING, AND SO, YEAH.

OKAY.

SO IT'S ONE'S RETIRING.

YOU'RE BRINGING TWO ON.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, MR. NEY.

COMMISSIONERS.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

AND THANK YOU MR. JACKSON, FOR THIS THOROUGH REVIEW.

UM, I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT, AND THEN IT'S CONNECTED TO A QUESTION.

LAST WEEK, I WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE, UH, COUNTY'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION FAIR AT THE OFFICE OF TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

UM, IT WAS JUST SO MANY INCREDIBLE RESOURCES.

EXTREMELY WELL DONE.

SO SHOUT OUT TO DIRECTOR VALENCIA AND THE WHOLE TEAM, UH, THERE WHO HELPED PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER.

BUT ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO I MET, THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO'S OVER AND INVOLVED WITH THE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM FROM ITEM 17.

AND SHE SHARED, YOU KNOW, NUMBERS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU SHARED.

YOU KNOW, WE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF CUTS THIS YEAR, AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE STRUGGLING THERE.

I'M WONDERING, AS WE GO INTO PREPARING FOR NEXT YEAR, WHERE EVERYONE AGAIN, WILL BE KIND OF STILL DEALING WITH THESE CONSTRAINTS.

ARE WE LOOKING AT PHILANTHROPIC OPPORTUNITIES, CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY? WHAT ARE SOME OF OUR OPTIONS TO REALLY TRY AND, UH, MAKE SURE WE HAVE THESE, UH, NECESSARY SUPPORTS FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HERE IN ESSEX? BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S MONEY OUT THERE.

UM, WHAT ARE SOME OF OUR STRATEGIES FOR DIVERSIFYING AND GETTING THESE REVENUE STREAMS EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THESE, YOU KNOW, EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIMES BUDGET WISE? I, I THINK EVERYTHING'S ON THE TABLE.

ANY ANYBODY OF THE BOARD THAT HAS SOME IDEAS OR CONNECTIONS THAT WE CAN MAKE TO, TO CALL PEOPLE TO REACH OUT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

UM, AGAIN, WE'RE OPEN TO, TO ANYTHING.

YEAH.

ANY SUGGESTIONS.

BUT, UM, I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S SUCH A POP POPULAR PROGRAM, UH, THAT WE DO NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO, UH, FIGURE MAYBE, MAYBE WE DO SOME FUNDING OURSELVES.

I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE BUDGET LOOKS LIKE, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER POSSIBILITY TOO.

BUT I THINK, I THINK SOME CORPORATE OR OTHER FILM, MAYBE WE'LL GET DR.

DECO TO, UH, YEAH.

, COUGH UP SOME MORE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

MR. PALM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO, UH, UH, COMMIT, UH, MAC AND MR. MCINERNEY AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THE BOARD? I I JUST WANNA GO BACK TO THE DOGS FOR A SECOND.

ARE THE, WILL THESE DOGS BE ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC SHERIFF'S OFFICER? YES.

THERE IS A, A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE, THE, THE DOG AND THE, AND THE, UH, OFFICER.

YES.

AND THEN THE, DOES THE OFFICER BRING THE DOG HOME? UH, YES.

OR AND THE OFFICER GETS PAID OVERTIME FOR THAT, OR NO? THERE'S A, THERE'S A, A STIPEND ARRANGEMENT.

THAT THERE'S A STIPEND ARRANGE.

OKAY.

THAT, THAT I, I JUST, I'M MAKING THE POINT BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THESE ARE FREE, THERE IS A COST ASSOCIATED.

YES.

AS LONG AS THERE'S A NEED, THEN IT'S OKAY.

YES.

THERE'S AN OVERABUNDANCE OF THEM AND THEY'RE JUST, THEN IT'S A, IT'S A COST THAT WE

[00:35:01]

DON'T NEED.

RIGHT.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT.

AND IT'S ALSO TOO, I MEAN, WE, WE HAD A SITUATION, WHAT WAS IT, UH, YESTERDAY WHERE THEY WERE USED, UH, TO DO SOMETHING FOR, UH, LOOKING FOR CONTRABAND.

RIGHT? SO IT'S NOT JUST EXPLOSIVES.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE USED, UH, IN OTHER OKAY.

CAPACITIES AS WELL.

I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT MM-HMM .

NO, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

BUT, AND, AND TO YOUR POINT THERE, THERE WAS ABOUT, WHAT, FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO, THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THAT, THAT SAME THING.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO NOW KEEP IT UNDER TO A REASONABLE NUMBER.

OKAY.

UH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OTHERWISE, I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION.

MOVE IT.

SECOND.

MOVED BY MERCADO.

SECOND BY THE VICE PRESIDENT WILL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK 16 TO 22.

COMMISSIONER COOPER.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.

COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

YES.

COMMISSIONER SEABOLD? YES.

COMMISSIONER SERMONS.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.

YES.

COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.

SO MOVED.

LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 23 TO 44, WHICH ARE IMMEMORIAL, COMMENDATIONS, PROCLAMATION RESOLUTION, STATE OF BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.

COMMISSIONERS.

QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER MERCADO, IF I DIDN'T BE ADDED TO NUMBER 44, UM, THAT'S WHAT COMMISSIONER GILL.

COMMISSIONER GILL.

YES.

I'M SORRY.

40 OF COURSE.

UM, 44 IS NO PROBLEM.

I THINK YOU'LL BE SPEAKING ON THAT.

I'M SPEAKING ON 44 'CAUSE I, FOR CERTAIN I HAD 46.

AM I BUT IT'S 44, RIGHT? YES, IT IS.

YES.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.

BE AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

I'LL DO THE SAME PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU.

I MEAN, I'M HAPPY TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT.

UH, YOU KNOW, IF WE COULD DO IT BY ACCLIMATION, I DON'T, IATION NOT EVERYONE IS HERE, BUT I'LL MEAN IF YOU CAN ENTERTAIN THAT, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

SURE.

MR. UH, COMMISSIONER GI, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS 44? SURE.

THANK, UH, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

UM, AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, THAT SUPPORT TO, UH, YOU KNOW, BOTH, UH, TO COMMISSIONER THOMAS MERCADO AND, UM, RICHARDSON.

UM, THIS IS, UM, A STRAIGHTFORWARD RESOLUTION AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT ON IT.

MR. PRESIDENT.

UM, DEALING WITH, UM, A, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, UM, A NATIONAL ISSUE THAT WE BECOME ALL TOO, UH, FAMILIAR WITH.

UM, BUT IT DOES INVOLVE, UM, OUR COUNTY OFFICIALS, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, UM, AS WELL AS ANY AGENTS OF THE COUNTY.

VERY SIMPLY, UH, THIS IS A RESOLUTION, UH, THAT WOULD PROHIBIT, UM, ICE, UH, FROM ENTERING, UH, THE IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FROM ENTERING, UH, ANY ESSEX COUNTY OWNED OR LEASED BUILDING, UH, WITHOUT A JUDICIAL, UH, WARRANT.

THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM, AS WE KNOW, THAT'S BEEN VERY PUBLICLY REPORTED, UH, WHERE ICE HAS BEEN ENTERING, UM, PUBLIC FACILITIES, UM, WITHOUT PROPER WARRANTS.

UM, AND THIS IS A, UH, RESOLUTION WHICH IS GOING TO HELP US CODIFY THE WAY THE COUNTY OF ESSEX IS GOING TO DEAL, UH, WITH THOSE SITUATIONS.

UH, IT IS CONSISTENT, UH, WITH THE IMMIGRATION TRUST DIRECTIVE, WHICH WAS ISSUED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, WHICH ENSURES THAT EFFECTIVE INTERACTIONS AND PO AND POLICING BETWEEN ALL LOCAL COUNTY AND STATE CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FEDERAL CIVIL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, WHILE PROMOTING THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF ALL NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS.

UH, IT IS ALSO CONSISTENT, UH, WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ISSUED BY OUR GOVERNOR, MIKEY CHERYL, ON FEBRUARY 11TH, 2026, WHICH PROVIDES THAT EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY A JUDICIAL WARRANT OR A JUDICIAL ORDER, EXECUTIVE BRANCH DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SHALL NOT PERMIT OR CONSENT TO FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICERS ENTERING, ACCESSING, OR USING NON-PUBLIC AREAS AS A STAGING AREA AND PROCESSING LOCATION OR OPERATION BASE OF STATE PROPERTY FOR THE PURPOSES OF FACILITATING FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL IMMIGRATION LAW.

SO, VERY SIMPLY, UM, THIS IS A, UM, AGAIN, UM, A STATEMENT I THINK BY OUR COUNTY, UH, THAT WE ARE NOT GONNA ALLOW OUR RESOURCES, UH, TO BE USED, UH, TO UNDERMINE COMMUNITY TRUST, UH, OR TO DIVERT OUR RESOURCES, UH, FROM LOCAL PRIORITIES.

SO, UM, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, UM, FOR, AND, AND ALSO OUR COUNTY COUNCIL, OUR COUNCIL TO THE BOARD FOR EVERYONE WHO, UH, WORKED ON THIS, UH, I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE PUT THIS FORWARD AND TO HAVE EVERYONE SUPPORT, UM, AT A TIME, UH, IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY WHERE WE ALL THINK, I THINK WE ALL WOULD LIKE TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE.

UH, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO, UH, TO EFFECTUATE,

[00:40:01]

UM, POSITIVE CHANGE.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND I'M SURE WE ALL AGREE.

WE CAN APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.

I'M GONNA TOPIC, IT'S NOT MR. P, MR. PRESIDENT, UH, COMMISSIONER SAL, MAY I PLEASE BE INCLUDED IN THIS EXCELLENT RESOLUTION? YES.

SO NOT COMMISSIONER GI, WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT.

THANK YOU.

SURE.

AB ABSOLUTELY EVERYTH.

WE'RE GONNA DO BY, WE'LL DO IT BY A COMMISSION.

THAT'S SOUNDS GOOD.

FINE.

COMMISSIONER GI, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THESE ITEMS? I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THESE ITEMS. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

I'LL SECOND.

SECOND.

MAYOR MERCADO WILL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.

COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES.

COMMISSIONER SIEBOLD? YES.

COMMISSIONER SERMONS.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS? YES.

COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.

SO MOVED.

THANK YOU.

UM, MADAM DEPUTY CLARK, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADDED STARTERS? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE REMAINING RESOLUTION 45 FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IT OFFICE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO LET'S GO TO RESOLUTION 5 45 WILL BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.

MR. JACKSON? UH, YES.

OUR CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER, MR. HUNT, WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM.

GOOD EVENING, MR. HUNT.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

UH, NUMBER 45 IS FOR, UM, MICROSOFT LICENSE SOFTWARE.

THIS IS FOR THE ENTIRE S PHONE.

TWO WITH THE EXCEPTION OF, UM, THE CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT, UH, FOR EMAIL AND OTHER SOFTWARE THAT WE USE WITH MICROSOFT.

OKAY.

UH, MR. BZ, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS, MR. KINNER.

SO IS, IS THIS A SECURITY? NO, THIS IS FOR LIKE EMAIL WORD.

UM, THOSE, THOSE PARTS OF MICROSOFT.

AND, AND, AND, AND WHAT DOES IT DO WITH, I MEAN, WE GET EMAILS NOW.

SO WHAT DOES THIS DO? THIS IS FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A EMAIL, TO SEND AN EMAIL OR FOR YOU TO HAVE A WORD TO, TO WRITE DOCUMENTS OR FOR YOU TO HAVE A PROJECT TO DO PROJECT MANAGEMENT.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CARL.

COMMISSIONERS.

ANY QUESTIONS ON 45? I MOVE IT.

MOVE IT.

SECOND RICHARDSON.

SECOND MERCADO.

ROLL CALL.

MADAM DEPUTY CODE 45.

COMMISSIONER COOPER.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER GILL? YES.

COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER MERCADO? YES.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON? YES.

COMMISSIONER SEABOLD? YES.

COMMISSIONER SERMONS.

ABSENT.

COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.

YES.

COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.

SO MOVED.

LET'S MOVE ON TO REPORT A BOARD COMMITTEES.

DO WE HAVE ANY NO.

ANY LEGISLATIVE REPORTS SAYING NONE WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS.

SEEING NONE.

NEW BUSINESS COMMISSIONERS? NONE.

SO LET'S MOVE ON THEN TO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT IS ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WILL LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER.

PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.

STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.

GOOD EVENING.

OKAY, NO PROBLEM.

OKAY, NO SPEAKERS.

MADAM DEPUTY DIRECTOR REFLECT, THERE'S NO ONE WILLING TO SPEAK.

NO ONE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.

SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER COMMON SESSION COMMISSIONERS.

ANY COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER MARY THOMAS.

THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

TWO QUICK THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO, UH, GIVE A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO FIRSTLY ALL THE VOTERS WHO VOTED IN YESTERDAY'S VARIOUS MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AND IRVINGTON AND MY CITY OF NEWARK AND BELLEVILLE.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYWHERE IN NEW JERSEY WHERE THERE'S ELECTIONS WAS CERTAINLY HERE IN ESSEX.

JUST CONGRATS TO THE VOTERS.

CONGRATS TO THE WINNERS.

AND I WANNA GIVE A SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO, UM, OUR COUNTY WORKERS, OUR OF THE BOARD OF, YOU KNOW, ELECTIONS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTIONS.

ALL THE FOLKS FROM OUR COUNTY WHO WORK DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS ARE EFFECTIVE, THAT THEY'RE EFFICIENT, UH, AND THAT THEY'RE ACCURATE.

UM, YOU KNOW, FOLKS WORKING REALLY, REALLY HARD TO MAKE THESE ELECTIONS POSSIBLE AND KNOW IT'S NO EASY UNDERTAKING TO DO THAT.

AND ONE OF THE LARGEST COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ESSEX COUNTY VOTERS FOR YET AGAIN, BEING A PART OF THE DAILY ACTION OF KEEPING DEMOCRACY ALIVE BY USING THEIR VOICE AND USING THEIR VOTE INTO ALL THOSE WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, UH, WHO DON'T GET THE CREDIT AND NAMES IN, IN THE HEADLINES, BUT DO THE WORK DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY VOTE IS COUNTED AND HEARD.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU.

GOOD COMMISSIONER.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I JUST BRIEFLY WANNA MENTION YESTERDAY I HAD THE PLEASURE OF JOINING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND MANY OTHER FOLKS AT, UH, WA PARK FOR AN EXCELLENT RENOVATION OF THE CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND, WHICH HAS EXPANDED QUITE, UH, TO A MUCH LARGER FACILITY.

AND IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE SPRAY PARK.

IT'S, UH, THE PARK STRADDLES BOTH BLOOMFIELD AND EAST ORANGE.

THIS IS MORE IN THE EAST ORANGE SECTION

[00:45:01]

WHERE THE SPRAY PARK WAS PHENOMENAL PLACE.

SO I HAD SOFT TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR DOING THAT.

NICE.

SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS OF COMMENTS, SO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MOVE IT.

MOVE BY RICHARD A SECOND.

MY MERCADO.

ALL IN FAVOR? THE AYE HAVE 35.

OKAY.

TAKE IT.

THANK YOU.

BUT YOU WEREN'T HERE.

THAT WAS YOUR FASTEST.