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THIS MEETING OF THE SES COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS HEREBY CALL TO ORDER.
THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED IN ADDITION, TAKING PLACE HERE IN PERSON.
MADAM DEPUTY COOK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE S FOR THE SALUTE.
I'M GONNA ASK, UH, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON TO LEADING SEND THE SALUTE TO FLAG THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO, TO THE REPUBLIC STAND ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN WITH LIBERTY AND D SUPPORT.
AM I ASK THAT WE JUST PLEASE STAND AND WE JUST PLEASE STAND IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND HONOR OF THOSE WE LOST TOGETHER IN THESE CHAMBERS.
I, UH, BEFORE ME, CERTIFICATION FOR DEPUTY CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC.
SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF TRANSCRIPTS.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY? NO.
DO WE HAVE ANY TOPICS OF DISCUSSION? NO.
UH, TONIGHT MEETING IS A COMBINED CONFERENCE BOARD MEETING BOARD ON EVERY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WILL LIKE TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THERE WILL BE TIME LATER IN THE EVENING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OTHER ITEMS. SO I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENT TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
ADAM KRAMER, UH, REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, UM, COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT FOUR.
UH, I WAS READING THE AGENDA AND I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
UH, I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THESE THINGS, BUT SOME THINGS POPPED OUT WHERE I HAVE SOME, SOME QUESTIONS AND PERHAPS SOME CLARIFICATION AS TO WHY THINGS COST SO MUCH OR WHAT THINGS ARE GOING ON.
AND THE THINGS ON THE AGENDA THAT I NOTED, UH, LOOKED A LITTLE ONE PEERS WERE BONDING $40 MILLION FOR ELECTION EQUIPMENT STORAGE.
MAYBE THERE'S OTHERS DETACHED WITH IT THAT I'M NOT SEEING.
SO I'M HOPING THE MEETING CAN HAVE SOME FURTHER EDUCATION.
EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS IS THE 7.5 MILLION BONDING FOR THE HAV SYSTEM AT THE CODY ARENA.
UM, MAYBE THERE'S FACTORS I DON'T SEE, BUT IT JUST SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT HIGH.
AND I WAS HOPING THAT THE MEETING CAN, UH, COULD PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATION AS TO WHY THAT'S SO EXPENSIVE.
AND I NOTICED THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT RENEW RENEWALS, UH, FOR VARIOUS PROPERTY CASUALTY, LIABILITY, LIABILITY INSURANCE, AND SOME, WHEN THOSE AGENDAS GO, COULD WE HAVE SOME CLARIFICATION ON HOW EFFECTIVE EFFECTIVELY WE ACTUALLY SHOPPED FOR THE PREMIUM RATES AS OPPOSED TO JUST ACCEPTING, ACCEPTING, UH, RENEWALS.
I'D LIKE THIS MEETING TO HAVE SOME CLARITY ON THE, ON THOSE, UH, ISSUES.
RECOGNIZING COMMISSIONER GILL HAS JOINED IN THE MEETING.
UH, WILL THE CLOCK RESET? UM, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
UH, NORM TER, 99 BERKELEY AVENUE IN BLUEFIELD, NEW JERSEY.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? UH, COMMISSIONER? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
UM, UH, I AM SPEAKING ON, ON AGENDA ITEM 49, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, UH, DIVISION OF ENGINEERING.
THE RESOLUTION CONSENTING TO THE TOWNSHIP OF BLUEFIELD ORDINANCE 26 1 DASH 11 TO DELETE AND MOVE THE BUS STOP ON BROAD STREET STREET AT CARROLL PLACE AFFECTING THE SEVEN TWO SOUTHBOUND BUS.
I URGE YOU AS COMMISSIONERS TO PAUSE THAT DECISION TO TABLE THAT OUT UNTIL YOU, UNTIL, UM, THE COUNTY INSTALLS, UH, TRAFFIC SAFETY, UM, AND TRAFFIC CALMING DEVICES.
UH, THERE WAS A REPORT ISSUED BY BRIGHTVIEW AND NEARING, UH, TO THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD.
I EMAILED IT TO YOU EARLIER TODAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN IT, BUT IN THAT RECOMMENDATION, UH, BRIGHTVIEW ENGINE ENGINEERING, UH, RECOMMENDED PARTNERING, UH, HAVING BLUEFIELD PARTNER WITH ESSEX COUNTY TO INSTALL SIGNAGE, TO INSTALL, INSTALL SPEED REDUCTION MARKINGS.
I URGE YOU TO DO THAT BEFORE YOU FINALIZE THE REMOVAL OF THIS BUS STOP.
WHY? BECAUSE, UM, VERY SIMPLY, IT COMES DOWN TO RIDER SAFETY.
IF YOU REMEMBER THIS, THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN BACK IN FEBRUARY AND
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MARCH, UM, AND IT IS A SAFE BUS STOP.THIS IS THE BUS STOP THAT'S BEING REMOVED.
THIS IS THAT SAME BUS STOP AT NIGHT, AND YOU CAN TELL THAT IT'S BRIGHTLY LIT.
IT HAS A NICE, UH, UH, STREETLIGHT ABOVE IT.
EVERYONE CAN SEE, UH, RIDERS WHO ARE TRAVELING TO AND FROM, UH, BLOOMFIELD, UH, TO AND FROM ACROSS BROAD STREET.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS CROSSWALK IS THE ONLY ONE.
IF YOU NEED TO GET ANOTHER CROSSWALK, IT'S A MILE NORTH OR HALF A MILE SOUTH.
NOW, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHERE THE BUS STOP IS BEING MOVED TO.
AND HERE'S WHERE IT'S BEING MOVED TO.
IT'S BEING MOVED IN FRONT OF THE TD BANK.
PEDESTRIANS HAVE TO CROSS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLOCK.
FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THAT SHOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE TO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
THAT SHOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE TO THE COUNTY.
YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S BASED ON, UH, COMPLAINTS ABOUT, UM, UH, BAD RIDER BEHAVIOR IN TERMS OF ALERT, IN TERMS 30 SECONDS IN TERMS OF SITTING 30 SECONDS, THANK YOU ON A RETAINING WALL.
BUT, UM, THERE NEEDS TO BE A BALANCE.
YOU CANNOT PUNISH EVERYONE FOR THE TRANSGRESSIONS OF A FEW.
THIS IS THAT CROSSWALK AT NIGHT.
YOU CAN TELL THAT IT'S NOT, UH, WONDERFULLY LIT.
AND JUST SO YOU PROVIDE SOME DATA FOR YOU, THE SPEED LIMIT IS 25 MILES AN HOUR, AND THE AVERAGE SOUTHBOUND SPEED IS 34.
THE AVERAGE NORTHBOUND SPEED IS 30.
I'M DANIELLE DEPA, AND I'M SPEAKING ON AGENDA NUMBER 1 1 7 RESOLUTION, REAFFIRMING SUPPORT OF THE PRESERVATION OF THE FOREST ON THE SECOND YONG MOUNTAIN RIDGE.
WE CARE, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE THE LAST CORE FOREST IN ESSEX COUNTY, WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.
I LIVE 200 FEET FROM THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION SITE AND THIS, AND IF THIS SITE WERE TO BE BUILT, IT WOULD NOT ONLY AFFECT MY LIFE OR MY NEIGHBOR'S LIVES, BUT ALL OF WEST ORANGE AS WELL AS NEIGHBORING TOWNS.
THIS SITE IS THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE CANOE BROOK, WHICH SERVES 2.9 MILLION NEW JERSEYANS WITH DRINKING WATER UNDER A PRIVATE COMPANY.
ADDITIONALLY, NEW JERSEY IS THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED STATE IN AMERICA.
NEW JERSEY EMITS APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 110 MILLION METRIC TONS OF GREENHOUSE GASES ANNUALLY.
THIS ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 1.7% OF TOTAL NATIONAL EMISSIONS.
ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, SEVERAL NEW JERSEY COUNTIES FREQUENTLY RECEIVE F GRADES FOR OZONE POLLUTION.
ESSEX COUNTY, THE COUNTY THAT HOUSES THE SITE, HAS RECEIVED A D THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO REMOVE AT LEAST 6,300 TREES FROM THIS SITE.
BASED ON AVERAGE SCIENTIFIC ESTIMATES, 6,300 MATURE TREES PURIFY APPROXIMATELY 75 TO 151 TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE EACH YEAR.
REMOVING THIS AMOUNT OF TREES WILL CAUSE
SINCE THESE TREES ACT AS A NATURAL BUFFER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE WITHOUT THESE TREES BEING IN PLACE TO PURIFY THE CARBON DIOXIDE IN THIS AREA, THE PREVIOUS, THE PREVIOUSLY STORED CLIMATE WOULD BE CARBON WOULD BE RELEASED BACK INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AND CONTRIBUTE MORE TO GLOBAL WARMING.
THIS SITE FAILS TO AVAILABILITY SUITABILITY, DEVELOPABILITY, AND APPROVABLE CRITERIA.
THIS SITE PROPOSES TO BILL 490 UNITS OF
I WAS TOLD DURING A APPRO, UH, DURING A PLANNING BOARD MEETING THAT NO FAMILIES WILL EVER LIVE, I FIND, FIND THIS CLAIM COMPLETELY THAT BIG OF AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE AT THIS TIME.
AS OF NOW, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS IN A $15 MILLION DEFICIT, AND OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAVE REDUCED THEIR OPERATING EXPENSES BY 15%.
300 TO 400 MORE FAMILIES MOVING INTO THE AREA WILL POST SIGNIFICANT STRAIN ON OUR MUNICIPALITY AND WOULD HINDER ITS EFFECT EFFECTIVENESS IN REGARDS TO SERVING EACH MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.
FINALLY, THIS SITE IS A LEAST OPTIMAL PLACE FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SIZE.
THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEAREST SCHOOL LIBRARY, BUS STATION, RESTAURANT, 30 SECONDS POST OFFICE, BANK AND GROCERY STORE ARE OVER ONE MILE AWAY FROM THE SITE.
AND THIS PROPOSED SITE IS NEARLY ONE MILE IN FROM THE NEAREST MAIN ROAD.
THIS SITE IS A LIABILITY TO OUR TOWNSHIP AND DOES NOT MEET AVAILABILITY, SUITABILITY AVAILABILITY IN AND OR APPROVABLE CRITERIA.
IN CONCLUSION, ASK THAT WHAT CORPORATE GREED CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO STOP CORPORATE GREED.
I LIVE IN ESSEX FELLS WITHIN THE
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200 FOOT NOTICE AREA OF THE WEST ESSEX ISLANDS.I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT RESOLUTION ONE 17, THE TO PRESERVE THE RESOLUTION, REAFFIRMING SUPPORT OF THE PRESERVATION OF THE FOREST ON THE SECOND WACH ON MOUNTAIN RIDGE.
I APPEARED BEFORE THIS BODY IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR.
I APPRECIATE THE REAFFIRMATION OF SUPPORT YOU JUST HEARD FROM.
WE CARE'S YOUNGEST MEMBER WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED HERE SINCE SHE WAS 13 YEARS OLD.
SHE IS A RISING JUNIOR AT MOUNT SAINT DOMINIC ACADEMY AND HAS GOTTEN ENGAGED AND INVOLVED IN EVERY ASPECT OF DETAILS OF THIS PROJECT THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T, DON'T APPRECIATE.
THIS PROJECT WAS NEEDED AT THE PLANNING BOARD IN WEST ORANGE AFTER 30 NEW MEETINGS AND TWO YEARS AND, AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF OBJECTION, OBJECTION, EXTRA TESTIMONY.
THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS WHY THIS SITE IS, AS DANIELLA SAID, UNDER AFFORDABLE HOUSING LAW NJAC FAKO 9 7 3 DASH 13, NOT APPROVABLE AVAILABLE DEVELOPABLE OR SUITABLE.
THE PROBLEM WAS THOSE FACTS WEREN'T DISCLOSED TO THE COURT IN 2020 NOR FAIR SHARE OF HOUSING COUNSEL, AND THEY WEREN'T DISCLOSED THIS TIME IN THE FOURTH ROUND.
THIS TIME, THE SITE IS STILL PENDING AN APPROVAL FROM THE MOUNT LAUREL COURT IN, UH, IN ESSEX COUNTY, BUT IT IS FACING FILL FIVE BUILDERS REMEDIES FOR WHICH IT HAS NO AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE.
AND THOSE SITES WERE NOT OF ITS CHOOSING IN TOWN.
THIS SITE IS ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF TOWN ON TOP OF THE SECOND RIDGE, WAS DEFEATED 20 YEARS AGO AT 25% LESS DENSITY ON FOUR TIMES MORE PROPERTY.
THIS SITE IS THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE CANOA, BUT THIS IS THE LAST UNPROTECTED CORE FOREST IN ESSEX COUNTY.
THE TREE CANOPY IN THE TOWN OF WEST ORANGE HAS GONE FROM 45% TO 27% IN THE LAST 15 YEARS.
THIS IS THE LAST UNPROTECTED FOREST IN THE COUNTY.
THE WATER SUPPLY IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONTEST.
THE DEP PERMITS THAT WERE ISSUED, THERE WERE FIVE ESSEX FELLOWS, ROSELAND AND VERONA.
AND THE ESSEX FELLOWS COUNTRY CLUB ALL FILED REPLY BRIEFS WITH THE DEP IN THE APPELLATE DIVISION IN, UH, TRENTON ON JULY 6TH.
THAT MATTER IS PENDING APPEAL.
THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE FACING HERE IN WEST ORANGE IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO COMPETING IMPERATIVES.
ONE IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR WHICH THERE'S SIMPLY JUST NOT ENOUGH OF NO MATTER WHAT 30 SECONDS IS.
AND THE OTHER IS PUBLIC SAFETY AND, AND, AND PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT FROM IRREPARABLE DISASTER.
THOSE TWO THINGS CANNOT RESIDE IN THE SAME PLACE AT THE SAME TIME.
WHEREAS MY GRANDFATHER USED TO SAY, YOU CAN'T RIDE TWO HORSES WITH ONE, BUT YOU NEED TO PICK ONE.
AND THE PRIORITY HERE IS A STATEWIDE CONFLICT THAT IS A POLICY ISSUE AND THAT WE HOPE TO ELEVATE THIS PERFECT EXAMPLE OF EXACTLY WHAT NOT TO DO BY VIRTUE OF WHAT HAS BEEN DEFEATED HERE AND KEEP IT ALIVE.
I HOPE TO COME BACK WHEN WE SUBMITTED DEP GREEN ACRES APPLICATION FUNDING THE GRANT.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? TEAM NONE.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME, SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON.
UH, BEFORE WE MOVE ON AND SOME OF THE RESOLUTIONS, I JUST WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE SOME IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMISSIONER OFFICE.
AND THIS IS THE TIME OF THE YEAR THAT WE HOST STUDENT, UH, INTERNS AND EXPOSE THEM TO THE VALUABLE WORK AND EXPERIENCES, UH, WHERE THEY LEARN, OF COURSE, THE ROLE OF COMMISSIONERS WHILE WORKING IN ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
THEY ALSO GET TO EXPERIENCE SOME OF THE COUNTY'S GREAT ATTRACTIONS LIKE THE TURTLEBACK ZOO, WHICH I BELIEVE THEY'RE VISITING TOMORROW.
AND OTHERS WE'RE PROUD THAT THESE WOULD LIKE TO ASK IN THE STAND FOR THE TIME THAT THEY'RE TAKING THE STAND AND TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR THE TIME THAT THEY'RE TAKEN TO, UH, WORK THIS SUMMER.
I DID HAVE THE PLEASURE OF MEETING WITH THEM LAST WEEK TO KIND OF JUST GIVE THEM, UH, A PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD.
AND I KNOW OTHER COMMISSIONERS I'VE MET WITH THEM AS WELL.
SO THEY'RE A DELIGHTFUL GROUP AND WE'RE, UH, THEY'RE FROM ALL AROUND ESSEX COUNTY.
SO WE WE'RE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
YOU GUYS GET TO GO HOME EARLY TODAY.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA SAY TO THE END THAT'S, WE'RE GONNA CUT YOU OFF SO YOU CAN GET HOME EARLY TIME.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THEM.
AND WE WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE HERE WHO, UM, IS A BUSINESS OWNER OR BACK AT WORK TO ENCOURAGE INTERNSHIPS OF COURSE, BECAUSE THE KNOWLEDGE YOU HAVE, UH, WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO SHARE WITH THE NEXT GENERATION.
SO AS WE SAW WITH ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS TODAY, UH, EARLY TODAY, YOU KNOW, RISING JUNIOR.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA GO OUT OF ORDER RIGHT NOW FROM OUR NORMAL AGENDA.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE RESOLUTION ONE 18, WHICH IS IN THE DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
IT'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD LATER TIME.
UM, MR. MOHAMMAD WILL HANDLE THIS
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ITEM.UH, HUSAM MOHAM COUNTY TREASURER.
UM, RESOLUTION NUMBER 18 IS, UM, UH, RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET.
UH, TO ADD A PROJECT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ORIGINAL ADOPTED CAPITAL BUDGET, WHICH IS THE, UM, THE PROJECT IN, UH, CODY ARENA FOR THE HVAC SYSTEM.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO LEGAL QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER OR VICE PRESIDENT? THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
WOULD YOU JUST ENLIGHTEN THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY AS TO WHY IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL BUDGET? UM, AT THE TIME WE INTRODUCED THE, THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
THIS, THIS PROJECT WAS STILL IN PROGRESS.
WE DID NOT HAVE, UH, A VALUE ON THAT.
SO ONCE WE KNOW HOW MUCH IT WAS BIDED AND HOW MUCH IS THE VALUE, WE ADD IT AS THE AMENDED TO THE BUDGET.
AND, UM, MY, MY HVAC BRAIN IS VERY LIMITED TO WHEN I SERVED ON THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE FOR THE NORTH BOARD OF EDUCATION.
SO I HAVE LIMITED CONTEXT TO KIND OF THE COMPARABLE COST FOR SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE.
UH, BUT COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COST AND HOW, WHETHER OR NOT THIS COST IS PRETTY COMPARABLE TO PREVIOUS AMOUNTS OF INVESTMENTS WE'VE HAD TO PUT IN THE HVAC SYSTEM AND SPACES LIKE CODY ARENA, OR IS THIS AN ANOMALY AS FAR AS THE SCALE? UM, I'M NOT, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE TECHNICAL DETAILS, BUT PROJECT WAS BIDED WAS, THIS WAS THE LOWEST BID, UH, BASED ON THE SPECS WAS SUBMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
WELL, SO COULD SOMEONE ELSE SPEAK TO, IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE HAD TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN HVAC, UM, AT A SPACE LIKE THIS, DO WE TYPICALLY SPEND AROUND THIS AMOUNT? OR IS THIS HIGHER OR LOWER THAN IN THE PAST? IF 90, THE COOL ARENA IS ONE OF A KIND, UH, UH, FOR OUR, UH, BETWEEN OUR FACILITY BECAUSE THE SIZE AND, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF AIR CONDITIONING NEEDED AND, UH, AND HOW MANY UNITS WE HAVE.
SO IT'S KIND OF UNIQUE FOR US.
AND I'M, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE TECHNICAL DETAILS.
YEAH, MAYBE MR. JACKSON, WHEN, WHEN THE CONTRACT COMES OUT, WE CAN, MR. ANTONIO CAN GO THROUGH THOSE UNLESS UP TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, UNLESS YOU WANT MR. ANTONIO TO ADDRESS SOME OF THAT.
ARE YOU OKAY WITH, UH, DO YOU WANNA HAVE MR. ANTONIO COME BEFORE? YEAH, JUST A, JUST A SLIGHT, UM, KIND OF ANTONIO, CAN YOU JUST COME UP AND JUST SPEAK TO THE UNIQUENESS OF THE CODY ARENA, UH, BECAUSE IT IS AN EXPENSIVE ITEM.
I'M SURE THAT THE FACILITY IS NOT QUITE THE TYPICAL BUILDING.
CAN YOU JUST ADDRESS THAT A LITTLE BIT? UH, DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC, I WILL TRY MY BEST.
IT IS AN ICE RINK, NOT JUST ONE.
THERE'S TWO, IT'S A HUMONGOUS, CAVERNOUS OPEN SPACE.
UH, THERE'S LOCKER ROOMS, THERE'S PUBLIC SPACES, BATHROOMS, RESTROOM, THERE'S A LOT OF VOLUME OF AIR THAT NEEDS TO BE BOTH HEATED AND COOLED.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, YOU MUST MAINTAIN ICE
IT IS NOT A BUILDING LIKE THIS ONE, NOT LIKE MY HOUSE.
IT'S EXTREMELY UNIQUE AND THEREFORE THE COSTS ARE REFLECTIVE OF THAT.
THE THANK YOU, THAT'S HELPFUL.
THAT, UH, KIND OF HAS WHAT I WAS THINKING AND THE CAPITAL EXPENSE.
IS THIS LIKE A FIXED COST COST? I'M, I'M IMAGINING WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE TO SPEND SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR.
RIGHT? SO COULD YOU JUST ENLIGHTEN US AS FAR AS LIKE, THIS IS A CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND JUST, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT IT'S UP TO PAR AND THEN MAINTENANCE LOOKS LIKE X, Y, AND Z FISCALLY, DAVID AND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS WORKS.
SO ONE TIME INVESTMENT THINKS UP TO WHERE THIS SHOULD BE.
UH, FUTURE MAINTENANCE WILL BE MARGINALLY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THAT A LOT LESS.
HOW OLD IS THE UNIT THAT'S ON THE, UH, STORM BUILDING NOW? ARE WE REPLACING? SO, UH, THE HVAC SYSTEM, UH, DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
YEAH, WE ARE LITERALLY REMOVING EVERYTHING.
UH, IT'S STATED, IT'S LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, THESE ARE NOT HVAC UNITS THAT GET A BREAK ON THE SHOULDER SEASONS.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY GO OFF IN THE FALL AND ONLY KICKING AGAIN IN THE WINTER.
LIKE IN MY HOUSE WITH MY AC UNIT AND MY HEATER.
NO, THE QUESTION WAS HOW OLD IS THE CURRENT? UH, WE'LL SAY ABOUT 25, 30 YEARS.
SO WE'RE GONNA GET A GOOD RETURN.
WHEN WE MAKE THROUGH, THROUGH YOU MR. PRESIDENT, IT IS A GREAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
AND THIS ITEM IS CONNECTED TO THE BOND ITEM THAT'S ALSO ON THE AGENDA, OR NO? IS ANYTHING, UH, YES.
ONE IS THE FUNDING SOURCE, ONE IS THE ACTUAL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO I HAVE? SO GONNA MOVE IT.
MOTION MOVE BY SUPER SECOND BY, UH, VICE PRESIDENT.
MAD DEPUTY YOU CLERK FOR ONE 18.
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GILL? YES.COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MARIE THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
CAN, LET'S GO BACK IN ORDER, UH, EXCUSE ME, ON THE NORMAL AGENDA TO ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTION OF THE INTRODUCTION OF FIRST READING.
MADAM DEPUTY CLARK, DO WE HAVE ANY? YES.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE, UH, THREE ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.
ALRIGHT, SO LET'S MOVE TO ORDINANCE ONE FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.
IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, CAN YOU PLEASE APPOINT MR. MOHAMMED? NUMBER ONE IS TO AUTHORIZE A NEW $40 MILLION CAPITAL PROJECT, UH, TO BE FINANCED THROUGH THE ES COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY, UH, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF STORAGE FACILITY IN, UM, VERONA.
THE NEW BUILDING WILL BE HOUSING THE, THE STORING THE ELECTION MACHINES, COUNTY RECORDS, AND, UM, THE SENIOR BUSES.
CURRENTLY THE COUNTY HAS THREE, UH, SEPARATE FACILITIES.
THEY STORE OF THE MACHINES AND THE RECORDS ON THE BUSES.
UM, AND, UH, WE, WE PAY FOR A LEASE FOR THESE, FOR THESE FACILITIES.
AND THIS WILL BE BASICALLY CONSOLIDATING THE, ALL THE STORES IN ONE PLACE.
IT'LL, UH, AND IT'LL BE, UH, COST SAVING.
MR. MCINERNEY? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER COOPER.
UM, THIS IS, THIS IS THE SITE THAT WE ACQUIRED THAT THE SITE THAT WE ACQUIRED LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE.
JOSE MOHAMMAD COUNTY TREASURER.
I THINK 39 COMMERCE COURT IN VERONA.
WOULD YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE CURRENTLY PAYING RIGHT NOW IN THE LEASES AT THE OTHER THREE PLACES? MM-HMM
UM, OFF TOP OF MY HEAD, LIKE ALMOST 1.8 MILLION A YEAR.
SO THE DIFFERENCE IS WE'RE PAYING THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE LEASE ANNUALLY.
THIS, WE'RE OWNING IT, WE'RE GONNA BUILD IT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYBODY ANYMORE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THAT WAS MY EXACT QUESTION, MR. PRESIDENT.
COMMISSIONER COOPER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE IT? MOTION SECOND.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE NUMBER TWO FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.
IT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT LATER TIME.
UM, JOSE MOHAMAD, COUNTY T TREASURER.
UM, UH, ORDINANCE NUMBER TWO IS RELATED TO ORDINANCE NUMBER ONE, UH, BECAUSE THE, UM, THE FINANCING WILL GOES THROUGH, UM, UH, ASKS COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY.
THE ORDINANCE NUMBER TWO IS TO AUTHORIZE THE, THE COUNTY GUARANTEES FOR THE LEASE REVENUE BOND.
AND THIS WILL BE TO FINANCE THE PROJECT.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO LEGAL QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? THIS IS RELATED TO THE ONE WE JUST APPROVED, MO MOVED BY, UH, COOPER SECOND BY LUCIANO.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER? YES.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE NUMBER THREE FOR INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING.
WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, IS MR. MOHAM GONNA DO THIS? YES.
UM, JOSE MOHAMAD, COUNTY TREASURER, UH, ORDINANCE NUMBER C3 IS TO AUTHORIZE 7.5 MILLION FOR CAPITAL PROJECT TO REPLACE THE AGE OF SYSTEM AT THE CODY ARENA.
UM, THIS PROJECT IS FULLY, WILL BE FULLY FUNDED BY OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND OVER FIVE YEARS, AND THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE TO THE COUNTY DEBT.
SO WE HAD DISCUSSED THIS EARLIER, MS. SHABAZ, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS MR. MCINERNEY? YEAH, JUST, UH, SOME CLARIFICATION TOO.
WE'RE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO OUT FOR ANY SORT OF FINANCING ON THIS.
SO BASICALLY THIS IS GONNA BE, UH, UM, FUNDED BY FUNDS COMING OUT OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS OUT OF OPEN SPACE.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, OBVIOUSLY THE CASH EXPENDITURES WILL EXCEED THE FUNDS OVER THE FIVE YEARS COMING INTO THE CAPITAL FUND FROM
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OPEN SPACE.SO THE THEORY BEING, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, UH, MR. MOHAMED, THAT THERE ARE EXCESS FUNDS IN THE GENERAL CAPITAL FUND NOW THROUGH OTHER, UH, AUTHORIZATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO FUND THOSE CHARGES AGAINST THIS SPEC, THIS SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENT AUTHORIZATION.
UH, JOSE, JOSE, MOHAMMAD COUNTY TREASURER? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
SO WE'LL BE USING, UH, THE, THE CASH FLOW IN THE CAPITAL FUND FROM OTHER PROJECT.
UH, WE ALREADY HAVE FUNDING FOR BAN OR NODE.
SO, SO JUST SO THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS, WE WE'RE GONNA, SINCE THERE'S A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED, CASH IS AVAILABLE, BUT THAT CASH IS NOT NECESSARY NECESSARILY AT A, AT THE SAME PACE THAT WE COULD USE $7 MILLION TO FUND THIS HVAC SYSTEM.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA BE HAVING EXCESS FUNDS IN A CAPITAL ACCOUNT.
WE'RE GONNA USE IT AND EVENTUALLY IT'LL COME BACK AND BE REIMBURSED THROUGH THE OPEN SPACE OVER A FIVE YEAR ANNUAL PERIOD.
THANK YOU MR. MCINERNEY FOR NO MORE ON THE BOOKS FOR THIS COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT? THREE.
YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? THANK YOU FOR THAT INSIGHT.
ROUGHLY DO WE KNOW ROUGHLY WHAT PERCENT OF THE EXCESS FUNDS, UH, WILL BE GOING TOWARDS THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT? I IMAGINE IT'S MARGINAL, BUT DO WE HAVE ANY SENSE OF WHAT PERCENT IT, IT'S 7,125,000.
THAT, THAT'S THE FUNDS THAT ARE GONNA BE USED.
AND WHAT PERCENT OF THE EXCESS IS DOES THAT ACCOUNT FOR? LIKE, TWO, CONSIDER THAT YOU HAVE A NUMBER OF AUTHORIZATION, A NUMBER OF BOND ANTICIPATION NOTE RECEIPTS THAT ARE FLOWING INTO THE GENERAL CAPITAL FUND OR THERE BECAUSE YOU HAVE OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS.
SO THERE'S A POOL OF MONEY THERE.
WE'RE JUST GONNA TAP INTO THAT CASH FLOW, UH, AT A, AND PAY OFF THE 7 MILLION 1 25 IMMEDIATELY TO GET THE HVAC UP AND RUNNING.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, THOSE OTHER PROJECTS DON'T NEED THOSE FUNDS RIGHT NOW.
SO, BUT THEY WILL EVENTUALLY BE REIMBURSED YEAH.
THROUGH THE ANNUAL, UH, PAYMENTS COMING THROUGH OPEN SPACE BACK TO THE GENERAL CAPITAL.
AM I SENSE THEN IT'S A SMALL SHARE THEN? YEAH, IT'S, THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY.
FLOWING IN THE GENERAL CAPITAL.
DOES THAT CLARIFY IT? YEAH, THAT HELPS.
SO DO WE ISSUE THIS OR DON'T WE? ARE WE JUST LIKE FLOATED IN THE MIDDLE? NO, WE WE'RE NOT GONNA SELL IF YOU DON'T YEAH.
THERE, THERE IS NO THAT, THAT WILL BE JUST AUTHORIZED BUT WILL NOT BE ISSUED.
IT'S REALLY A MEMO ENTRY THAT WE KEEP TRACK OF THIS AMOUNT THAT'S COMMITTED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO I'M GONNA MOVE IT.
MOTION MOVE BY LUCIANO SECOND BY COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MARIE THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE TO ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY.
DO WE HAVE ANY? NO, WE DO NOT.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING.
SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS ONE THROUGH SIX, WHICH ARE REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE ESSEX COUNTY VOCATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD.
THEY COULD BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE SIX INDIVIDUALS, AS YOU MENTIONED.
UH, LEE, SANDRA MEDINA, ADRIAN DAVIS, SALVATO, VAL T PERNELL, JENNIFER AND CARILLO PEREZ AND REGINALD BLEDSOE TO BE, UH, RENOMINATED TO THE ESSEX COUNTY VOCATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD.
SO THESE ARE FOLKS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN VETTED.
MS. SHABAZZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTION, MR. PRESIDENT.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE FIRST SIX SIX ITEMS? MOTIONS.
COMMISSIONER SIEBEL, I KNOW MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING REAPPOINTED AND I AM THRILLED THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR, TO GIVE THEIR TIME TO THIS IMPORTANT BOARD.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER SIEBEL.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTION SEVEN
[00:30:01]
THROUGH NINE, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET THAT WILL BE RUNNING FOR THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.MR. JACKSON? MR. MOHAMED? HE'S BUSY TONIGHT.
YOU'RE GONNA EARN YOUR PAYCHECK TODAY, SIR? YES.
UM, JOSE MOHAM, UM, COUNTY TREASURER, UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER SEVEN IS TO UPDATE THE EQUITABLE 4 57 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN BY ADDING A ROAST OPTION.
UM, THERE WAS THE, UH, REGULATION BY THE IRS CALLED SECURE 2.0 REQUIRING, UM, UH, 4 57 PLANS TO HAVE A ROAST OPTION.
AND THIS, THIS RESOLUTION TO UPDATE THE PLAN DOCUMENT TO, UH, TO AUTHORIZE THE, THE ROSE OPTION FOR FOR 57.
ANY QUESTIONS ON NUMBER SEVEN? NO QUESTIONS FURTHER.
ANY QUESTIONS ON NUMBER SEVEN? OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO, UH, LET'S MOVE ON TO NUMBER EIGHT.
UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER EIGHT IS TO AMEND THE COUNTY CASH MANAGEMENT PLAN.
PLAN TO ADD THE, UH, BANK OF NEW JERSEY, UH, WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL PLAN, WAS ADOPTED IN JANUARY.
UM, LIBERTY BANK IS AN ESSEX COUNTY BASE, UM, A BANK LOCATED IN VERONA AND OFFERS, UH, A COMPETITIVE INTEREST RATE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON NUMBER EIGHT? NO QUESTIONS, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. MCINERNEY? NO QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS ON NUMBER EIGHT.
COMMISSIONER COOPER, I JUST WANNA NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT WE MAKE SURE WE COMMUNICATE WITH THIS NEW BANK ABOUT OUR BANKING COMMITTEE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE WOULD HAVE.
UH, SO, UH, MR. JACKSON, CAN WE JUST COMMUNICATE WITH THIS NEW BANK ABOUT OUR BANKING COMMITTEE SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE AND HAVE AN EXPECTATION OF THE PACKAGE THAT WE'LL SEND THEM LATER ON THIS FALL? YES, SIR.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER COOPER.
ALRIGHT, NUMBER NINE, MR. MARTIN.
UM, RESOLUTION NUMBER NINE IS TO AUTHORIZE THE, THE CANCELLATION OF OUTSTANDING VENDOR CHECKS THAT, UM, THAT ARE MORE THAN 1-YEAR-OLD.
AND, UH, THIS, THIS IS BASED ON AN ON COUNTY AUDITOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
MR. MCKINNEY? YEAH, NO, I REVIEWED THE LIST AND AS WAS SAID EARLIER AT THE LEADERSHIP MEETING, THAT IF THERE'S ANYBODY, THE FACT THAT WE'RE CANCELING THESE OUTSTANDING CHECKS DOESN'T MEAN THAT PEOPLE CAN'T GET PAID IF THEY REAPPLY, UH, AND PROVE THAT THE MONEY'S OWED TO THEM.
ANY QUESTIONS? NUMBER NINE, SEEAND.
I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE SEVEN, EIGHT, AND NINE.
SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT WILL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR SEVEN EIGHT NINE.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 10 THROUGH 18, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, MS. DELGAUDIO? GOOD EVENING, MR. DELGAUDIO.
FRANK DELGAUDIO, DIRECTOR OF RISK MANAGEMENT.
UM, THESE RESOLUTIONS ARE FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE COUNTY'S INSURANCE POLICIES.
IT'S ALL OF OUR POLICIES WITH EXCEPTION OF THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY PROPERTY.
SO RESOLUTION NUMBER 10 IS A RENEWAL WITH TRAVELERS, UH, INSURANCE COMPANY.
IT'S FOR THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY COVERAGE FOR THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE WELL OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN ASSETS.
WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A SOFTER MARKET THIS YEAR AND SAW SOME PREMIUM SAVINGS.
SO WE WERE ABLE ACTUALLY TO BUY DOWN OUR DEDUCTIBLE TOO, FROM 500,250,000 AND STILL SAW A PREMIUM SAVING A LITTLE OVER $16,000.
GREAT RESOLUTION 11 IS THE, UM, EXCESS GENERAL LIABILITY POLICY.
SO THIS YEAR, UH, WE WENT WITH A NEW CARRIER AND THE QUOTATION CAME IN SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN OUR PRE INCUMBENT CARRIER WITH $2 MILLION ADDITIONAL, UM, COVERAGE.
SO WE WENT FROM 5 MILLION TO 7 MILLION ON THE EXCESS.
AND THEN WHAT WE DID ALSO WAS THAT WE, WE ALSO BOUGHT AN ADDITIONAL 3 MILLION TO BRING OUR LIMITS UP TO $10 MILLION THIS YEAR WITH AN AGGREGATE WOULD COME UP $20 MILLION.
SO THERE WE DID SEE A SIGNIFICANT PREMIUM SAVINGS, $316,000 AND INCREASED OUR COVERAGE.
FINISH RESOLUTION 12 IS THE RENEWAL OF THE COUNTY'S, UH, WORKERS' COMPENSATION POLICY.
WE DID SEE A EIGHT AND A HALF PERCENT PREMIUM INCREASE ON THIS POLICY LINE.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO GET OVER OUR COVID-19 CLAIMS, UH, WHICH WERE SIGNIFICANT.
WE HAD OVER 200 MULTIMILLION DOLLAR RANGE,
[00:35:01]
SO, UM, OUR PREMIUM'S GONNA TAKE A HIT FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS ON THAT.UM, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THE PROGRAM'S RUNNING EXCEPTIONALLY WELL WITH VERY SMALL CLAIM PAYMENTS.
UM, AND THIS IS A, IS THE BEST OPTION WE HAD FOR THIS RENEWAL.
RESOLUTION 13 IS A RENEWAL OF THE EXCESS PUBLIC OFFICIALS, EMPLOYEE PRACTICES, AND EMPLOYED LAWYERS LIABILITY POLICY.
SO THIS IS TO COVER ALL THE, UM, LIABILITY THAT ARE EXCLUDED FROM OUR GENERAL LIABILITY.
SO THIS INCLUDES HARASSMENT CLAIMS, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION COMING FROM OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO THIS, UH, ALSO COVERS OUR COUNTY COUNCIL FOR ALL OF THEIR LEGAL ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDES A MALPRACTICE COVERAGE FOR THEM.
THIS, UH, WE SAW A 9% PREMIUM INCREASE EQUATING TO A LITTLE OVER $27,000 RESOLUTION.
IT'S A RENEWAL OF HOSPITAL CENTER PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY COVERAGE, UH, MEDICAL MALPRACTICE IS A VERY DIFFICULT FIELD TO PLACE COVERAGE, ESPECIALLY FOR INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC CARE.
UH, WE SAW $5,000 PREMIUM INCREASE RELATIVELY INSIGNIFICANT FOR THE LINE OF BUSINESS WITH, UM, LUCKILY WE HAVE CLEAN, CLEAN, UH, CLAIMS HISTORY AT THE HOSPITAL.
RESOLUTION 15 IS THE RENEWAL OF THE COUNTY'S PRIVACY LIABILITY.
IN THE EVENT WE GET A CYBER ATTACK, UH, WE RENEWED WITH CHUBB, THEY'RE THE INCUMBENT CARRIER.
WE ACTUALLY SAW A PREMIUM REDUCTION, A LITTLE OVER $5,500, UM, AND COMPLIMENTS TO OUR COUNTY IT STAFF FOR KEEPING OUR SYSTEMS SAFE.
AND WE DID SEE THE BENEFITS OF A PREMIUM REDUCTION DUE TO THOSE FACTS.
RESOLUTION 16 IS THE RENEWAL OF THE COUNTY'S POLLUTION LIABILITY.
THIS BASICALLY IS TO COVER OUR UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS.
WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, HAS DONE A GOOD JOB REPLACING OLD UNDERGROUND TANKS WITH ABOVEGROUND TANKS.
SO WE DID SEE A SLIGHT PREMIUM INCREASE, 9% EQUATING A LITTLE OVER $2,500 ON THIS COVERAGE LINE.
RESOLUTION 17 IS THE, UM, ACTIVIST SILENCE INSURANCE.
UM, THIS IS A RENEWAL WITH ACCEL INSURANCE.
IT'S A, UM, FLAT PREMIUM RENEWAL.
THIS, UH, COVERAGE IS EXCLUDED FROM OUR GENERAL LIABILITY, SO WE PICK UP THE LAYER OF COVERAGE IN THE EVENT OF SOME TYPE OF CATASTROPHIC ACTIVE SHOOTER EVENT OR SOMETHING OF THAT LINE.
RESOLUTION 18 IS RENEWAL OF THE, UH, GOVERNMENT CRIME POLICY.
UH, THIS HAD A MINIMAL INCREASE OF $178.
UM, THIS IS WRITTEN WITH TRAVELERS CASUALTY COMPANY.
UH, IT'S BASICALLY A BLANKET SURETY BOND FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT HANDLE CASH AND TRANSACT FUNDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
ANY QUESTIONS ON 10 THROUGH 18? NO, THERE ARE NO LEGAL QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE? AND FOR THE MOST PART, I MEAN, UH, WITH THE BIG SAVINGS ON NUMBER 11, YOU KIND OF, UH, WIPED OUT THE INCREASES ON THE OTHERS THAT DID GO UP.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, WE'RE PRETTY GOOD FOR THE INSURANCE OF THIS YEAR.
MR. JACKSON, MR. PRESIDENT, IF I, UM, MR. ALDI, IF YOU JUST TEND TO TAKE A MINUTE AND EXPLAIN THE PROCESS THAT YOU GO THROUGH, YOU DON'T AUTOMATICALLY JUST RENEW POLICIES.
YOU GO THROUGH A A VETTING PROCESS.
THE THREE, MR. PRESIDENT, THE, UM, WHAT HAPPENS IS WE USE OUR, WE HAVE TWO BROKERS THAT WE USE A MASSEY AGENCY HERE OUTTA NEWARK AND, UH, CONTRO.
AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY GO OUT TO THE MARKET, THEY PRESENT, UM, ALL OF OUR DATA.
THERE'S NUMEROUS APPLICATIONS THAT ARE FILLED OUT.
THEN WE CONVENE WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND COUNTY COUNCIL AND DISCUSS SOME OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE.
UM, THE LIABILITY MARKET, ANYTIME YOU HAVE A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT COVERAGE.
UM, SO WE'RE LUCKY THAT WE HAD, UH, TWO COMPETING QUOTES THIS YEAR TO GO THROUGH THAT.
SO WE DO, UM, SPEAK ABOUT THIS.
THEY'RE NOT DECISIONS THAT I MAKE ON MY OWN.
SO, UH, IT'S, IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
THANK YOU, MR. ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE.
SO I'M GONNA MOVE 10 THROUGH EIGHT.
MAY I MOVE WITH MR. PRESIDENT? UH, SEABOLD ON THE MOVE.
SECOND, RICHARD, WITH THE SECOND.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 19, WHICH
[00:40:01]
IS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CITIZEN SERVICES.IT'LL BE READ TO THE RECORD AT LATER TIME.
UH, MR. PORTER WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM.
CHRISTIAN PORTER, ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST, DEPARTMENT OF CITIZEN SERVICES, DIVISION OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS.
I'M HERE TO PRESENT, UH, AGENDA ITEM 19.
IT'S A CONTRACT FOR SHELTERING SERVICES WITH A NOT TO EXCEED VALUE OF 16,000,750.
YOU SPEAK PORT TO MIKE? YEAH, YOU GOTTA RIGHT INTO THE MICROPHONE.
CHRISTIAN PORTER, ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST, DEPARTMENT OF CITIZEN SERVICES.
I'M HERE TO PRESENT AGENDA ITEM 19, SHELTERING SERVICES FOR DIVISION OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS CONTRACT TO RUN THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2027 WITH A NOT TO EXCEED VALUE OF $16,758,610 WITH A COUNTY SHARE OF $539,908.
MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS FOR THIS CONTRACT WILL BE PAID FOR THROUGH STATE GOVERNMENT, THROUGH THE, AND, UH, SERVICES FOR THIS WILL PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SHELTERING SERVICES FOR, UH, HOMELESS FAMILIES AND, UH, INDIVIDUALS SEEKING, UH, SHELTER.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT.
UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.
UM, ONE ON RESOURCES AND THE OTHER ON DEMAND RESOURCES FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL.
DO WE EXPERIENCE ANY DECLINES OR DECREASES IN THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING GOING TO THE, TOWARDS THESE HOMELESS SERVICES? OR IS THIS SIMILAR TO WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR? UH, IT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR.
UM, THE RESOURCES ARE TIED BACK TO THE FAMILY OR INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBILITY, UH, BASED ON THE WORKFORCE NEW JERSEY PROGRAMS SUCH AS GENERAL ASSISTANCE OR, UH, TANF, TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES.
SO IF THOSE FAMILIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR, UH, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS AND THEY NEED SHELTERING SERVICES, ESSENTIALLY THEIR SHELTER STAY WOULD BE PAID FOR THROUGH THAT FUND.
IS ASKING BECAUSE YOU NEED A LOT OF PRECARITY OF COURSE, UM, OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, UH, FOR REALLY CRITICAL RESOURCES LIKE THIS, LIKE FOLKS BEING ABLE TO HAVE HOUSING.
UM, AT LEAST IT'S AT THE SAME LEVEL.
AND THEN LASTLY, I KNOW IN THE PAST WHEN WE'VE HAD, UH, PRESENTATIONS FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT, WE TYPICALLY, CAN WE HEAR ABOUT THE, THERE'S OFTEN A HIGH DEMAND, RIGHT? SOMETIMES WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE WHO NEED SERVICE THAN WE ACTUALLY HAVE BEDS FOR.
AND SO OVER THE PAST YEAR, UM, I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S 365 BEDS THAT ARE PROVIDED FROM THIS GRANT.
UM, WAS OUR WAIT LIST OR THE LIST OF DEMAND DID IT OUT, UH, DID IT EXCEED THESE 365 BEDS IN THE PAST AS IT WAS IN THE PAST? OR IS IT LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER OF BEDS FOR THE EXACT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO REQUESTED THEM? UH, YEAH.
CHRISTIAN PORTER ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST.
SO, UM, THE PREVIOUS, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A SHELTERING SERVICES CONTRACT 25 180 9 THAT IS OFFERING 412 UH, BEDS.
AND THIS NEW CONTRACT WILL ADD 365 BEDS.
IN PREVIOUS TERMS, WE HAD UP TO 835 BEDS, UH, BEFORE THE YEAR 2025.
SO THIS NEW CONTRACT WILL BRING US UP TO, UH, PREVIOUS YEARS FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
AND THERE IS CURRENTLY A DEMAND FOR A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL, MALE AND FEMALE.
SO THIS WILL HELP OFFER THOSE SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED OF SERVICES, UH, SHELTER SERVICES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? VP, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE IT? SURE.
MOVE BY THE VICE P SOMEONE A SECOND.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLARK FOR NUMBER 19.
COMMISSIONER VICEMAN MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS 20 THROUGH 26, WHICH ALL FALL UNDER THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION.
THAT'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
TERRANCE MCCOY, DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION.
I'M HERE TO SEEK APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO MOVE SEVEN AGENDA ITEMS. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 20 IS OUR NEWLY CODE RED PROGRAM.
THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS PROVIDED FUNDING TO FIVE OUT OF 21 COUNTIES AND ESSEX COUNTY WAS SELECTED AS THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR THE COLD RED, UH, PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE RELIEF FROM THE EXTREME HEAT FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE, WHICH WOULD BE OUR UNSHELTERED AND UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A PLAN NOW TO GET THAT ALL STREAMLINED AND ROLLING OUT EFFECTIVE NEXT WEEK.
UM, BUT WE JUST NEED TO GET THAT APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
[00:45:01]
IS OUR ANNUAL ANNUAL D-F-D-S-S-H SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS GRANT THAT WE RECEIVE EVERY YEAR FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.DEVELOP FAMILY DIVISION OF FAMILY DEVELOPMENT.
THIS GRANT IS FOR PREVENTION SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION THAT ARE EXPERIENCING PREVENTION SERVICES THAT NEED RENTAL ASSISTANCE OR SHELTERING FOR OUR WORKING POOR POPULATION.
NUMBER 22 IS THE 23 AGENCIES THAT WE SELECTED ORIGINALLY THAT WAS APPROVED EARLIER THIS YEAR.
WE ARE AMENDING THEIR GRANTS TO PROVIDE THEM THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE DID RECEIVE RECENTLY FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEVELOP DIVISION OF THE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE TWO AGENCIES FROM THAT ARE HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET THEM, PLEASE.
I'LL INTRODUCE MS. MICHELLE ROZY FROM SALVATION ARMY.
IT'LL BE NICE TO YOU, I GUARANTEE.
JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
I'M THE BUSINESS MANAGER AT THE SALVATION ARMY IN MONTCLAIR.
AND WHAT DOES THE SALVATION ARMY DO UNDER THIS CONTRACT? WHAT THE KIND OF SERVICES CAN
AND WE ALSO PROVIDE, UM, RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR, UH, THAT SAME POPULATION.
SO IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT GRANT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE VULNERABLE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE OTHER OPTIONS, AND SO WE TRY TO KEEP THEM EITHER HOUSED WHERE THEY ARE OR GET THEM REHOUSED.
RIGHT? I ALSO HAVE, UH, MS. KEISHA SMITH FROM, UH, FAIRMOUNT FAMILY FAMILY SERVICE SHELTER MS. SMITH, WE'LL BE NICE TO YOU TOO.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT FAIRMONT HEALTH SERVICES.
WE'RE A LOW BARRIER TRAUMA-INFORMED SHELTER IN THE CITY OF NEWARK.
THE SSH GRANT HAS BEEN, HAS ALLOWED US TO EXTEND OUR SERVICES TO, UH, HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.
AND IT'S ALSO ALLOWED US TO ASSIST DFAB CLIENTS WHO WE ENCOURAGE TO FIND FINANCIAL STABILITY THROUGH EMPLOYMENT WHO GET A 30 DAY EXTENSION ONCE THEY GET EMPLOYED, AND THEN THEY'RE BACK HOMELESS.
SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TRANSITION THEM TO THIS SSH GRANT BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE EMPLOYED AND GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO FIND HOUSING.
AND SINCE WE GOT THE PROGRAM, WE'VE HOUSED 10, WELL, WE'VE SHELTERED 10 PEOPLE THROUGH SSH AND WE'VE HOUSED SUCCESSFULLY FIVE PEOPLE WITH YOUR PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXCELLENT WORK.
SO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 23 IS OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK GRANT.
23, 24, 25 AND 26 ARE TIED INTO MY COMMUNITY SERVICE BLOCK GRANT NUMBER 23.
WE ARE AMENDING THE CURRENT CONTRACT WITH IRVINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE GIVING THEM AN ADDITIONAL, UH, $80,000 FOR CONTINUED SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE 2026 GRANT.
YEAR NUMBER 24, WE ARE AMENDING THE MONTCLAIR NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
WE ARE ADDING ON $50,000 TO THEIR, TO THEIR CURRENT CONTRACT.
WE ARE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL, ADDITIONAL $85,000 TO THEIR CURRENT CONTRACT.
AND THE LAST ONE WOULD BE SEED TIME OUTREACH.
WE ARE ADDING AN ADDITIONAL $90,000 TO THEIR CURRENT CONTRACT.
SO ALL FOUR OF THESE CONTRACTS ARE EXISTING.
THEY WERE APPROVED EARLIER THIS YEAR.
WE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE STATE, SO WE JUST DECIDED TO GIVE THEM THE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR CONTINUED SERVICES.
THIS GRANT IS TIED FOR OUR POVERTY STRICKEN FAMILIES OF A LOW BARRIER.
MS. CHABA, ANY QUESTIONS? ADDING 105,000.
I WASN'T SURE IF THAT WAS A MISTAKE.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT THROUGH MR. PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, MR. PRESIDENT.
ANY QUESTIONS? WHO WANTS TO MOVE THIS SO THIS GOOD WORK CAN KEEP GOING.
COMMISSIONER SIEBEL RICHARDSON ON THE SECOND ROLL CALL MATTER.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
[00:50:01]
SO ANXIOUS TO GET IT OUT THERE, RIGHT? IT'S A GOOD BOOK.ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 27 THROUGH 37 AND ADDED START IS ONE 19 AND ONE 20, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
HERE'S THE ONE AND ONLY MR. RICHARDSON'S FAVORITE PERSON JOSH
UM, I DO HAVE A PLETHORA OF ITEMS BOARD THIS EVENING.
I HOPE EVERYONE IS SEATED COMFORTABLY.
WE DO HAVE OUR DEER MANAGEMENT EXPERT, DAN BEIER TONIGHT TO DISCUSS THE, UH, PROGRAM.
CAN YOU JUST GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF, UH, THE PROGRAM AND AS YOU NORMALLY DO, UH, DANIEL J BARNIER, UH, WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M HAPPY TO BE BACK HERE WITH YOU THIS YEAR.
UH, I WANNA REPORT FIRST ON THE RESULTS OF THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM.
UH, NOT ONE OF OUR BEST YEARS.
WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN CONDUCTING A DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM SINCE 2008, BUT WEATHER WAS NOT AT ALL ON OUR SIDE THIS YEAR.
YOU MAY REMEMBER IN JANUARY THERE WERE TWO SIGNIFICANT SNOW STORMS THAT HAD, UH, QUITE AN IMPACT ON THE PROGRAM.
CUT IT SHORT BY A DAY AND, AND RESULTED IN FOUR DAYS WITH, WITH NO DEER CALLED.
UM, HOWEVER, WE DID REMOVE 49 DEER FROM SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION, 43 FROM HILLTOP RESERVATION.
UH, THAT, THAT QUANTITY OF DEER YIELDED 2,632 POUNDS OF VENISON THAT THAT WENT TO THE COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF NEW JERSEY.
UM, TO DATE, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM, THE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED 64,000 POUNDS OF VENISON TO THE COMMUNITY FOOD BANK, WHICH EQUATES TO A QUARTER OF A MILLION MEALS SERVED.
UH, STUDIES OF FOREST ECOLOGY IN NEW JERSEY IN OUR HARDWOOD FOREST GENERALLY RECOMMEND A DEER DENSITY OF 10 DEER PER SQUARE MILE OR LESS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION.
UH, WE DID SOME SPOTLIGHT COUNTS, UH, ON APRIL 9TH OF THIS YEAR THAT THE OVERWINTERING POPULATION GOING INTO 2027 IN SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION WILL BE 23 DEER PER SQUARE MILE.
A LITTLE MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT IT SHOULD BE.
AND IN HILLTOP RESERVATION, UM, THE AMAZING NUMBER OF 325 PER SQUARE MILE, VERY SMALL PARK WITH A HUGE DEER POPULATION.
UH, THERE WAS A FOREST HEALTH REPORT PREPARED AUGUST OF 2023, WHICH IS STILL SIGNIFICANT TODAY.
THAT REPORT POINTED OUT THAT OUR DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BE AGGRESSIVE IN ORDER TO BRING THE DEER POPULATION DOWN IN ORDER TO ENSURE RECOVERY OF THE FOREST HEALTH.
AND THAT IS MORE SIGNIFICANT NOW WITH THE THREATS THAT WE ARE FACING IN OUR FOREST FROM BEACH LEAF DISEASE, WHICH IS PROBABLY GOING TO KILL EVERY AMERICAN BEACH TREE IN THE COUNTRY.
EMERALD BOER, WHICH HAS ALREADY KILLED MOST OF THE ESTU TREES IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THE PROLIFERATION OF INVASIVE PLANTS, WHICH, UH, IS A CONSTANT STRUGGLE.
SO THE PROGRAM FOR 2027, WHICH IS DETAILED IN THE APPLICATION THAT THAT, UH, HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU FOR SUBMISSION TO THE STATE, RECOMMENDS CONTINUATION OF THE HUNTING PROGRAM AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN RESERVATION AND HILLTOP RESERVATION AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN.
THE PROGRAM WOULD OCCUR ON FOUR AFTERNOONS, UH, WITH TWO POSSIBLE, UH, DATES IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER.
THE GOAL WOULD BE TO REMOVE 50 DEER AND IT WOULD UTILIZE 12 HUNTERS AT A TIME, UH, SITTING AT 12 BAIT STATIONS AT HILLTOP.
WITH THAT POPULATION BEING SO EXTREMELY HIGH, WE WOULD, UH, HUNT ON EIGHT AFTERNOON SHIFTS, UH, THROUGH JANUARY AND FEBRUARY WITH NO RAIN DATES.
UM, AND THE GOAL WOULD BE TO ATTEMPT TO REMOVE 80 DEER.
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ATTEMPT TO ALIGN WHAT THE POPULATION ESTIMATOR THAT I USE AND THE FOREST HEALTH REPORT SUGGESTS WITH WHAT PARK VISITORS, PARK NEIGHBORS, THE BUDGET AND THE CALENDAR CAN SUPPORT.
UM, HUNTING ONLY IN THE AFTERNOONS REDUCES THE NUMBER OF SECURITY PERSONNEL AND MAN HOURS, THEREBY REDUCING THE COST PER DEER.
AND IT ALSO HELPS TO INCREASE HUNTER PARTICIPATION.
HUNTING AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN, AGAIN WOULD BE ON TUESDAYS AND HILLTOP RESERVATION ON THURSDAYS.
UH, WE, IN OUR PROPOSAL, ARE SLIGHTLY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF HUNTING SITES IN EACH PARK, UH, BASED ON, UH, THE RESULTS OF, UH, THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, SEEING WHICH SITES HAVE BEEN PRODUCTIVE, WHICH HAVE NOT, AND REALIZING THAT WE WOULD ACHIEVE THE SAME, UH, YIELD
[00:55:01]
WITH LESSER SITES AND LESS HUNTERS IN THE WOODS.VERY IMPORTANTLY, WE, UH, HAD HOPED TO CONDUCT, UH, AERIAL INFRARED SURVEYS, BASICALLY BASICALLY DRONE SURVEYS OF DEER THIS YEAR, AS WE HAVE DONE IN SOME PREVIOUS YEARS.
THAT IS THE MOST RELIABLE WAY TO SEE WHAT THE DEER POPULATION LOOKS LIKE POST HUNT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE VENDOR THAT WE USE FOR THAT WAS NOT ABLE TO, UH, TO PERFORM THOSE SURVEYS THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE IMPACTS OF THE WEATHER.
THE SNOW CAUSED, UH, HIS SCHEDULE TO GET BACKED UP AND THINGS WARMED UP RATHER QUICKLY.
AND THE, THE FOREST LEAFED OUT FASTER THAN HE COULD GET TO OUR SITES.
SO WE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE OLD METHOD OF USING SPOTLIGHT COUNTS.
BUT OUR PROPOSAL CALLS FOR GOING BACK TO DOING YOUR COUNTS NEXT YEAR.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR DETAILED REPORT, MR. BAZ.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER GIL.
UM, UM, HAS THERE BEEN, UM, ANY DEVELOPMENTS, UM, IN MORE, UM, HUMANE WAYS TO, UM, DEAL WITH THE DEER PROBLEM IN POPULATION SINCE THE LAST TIME YOU PRESENTED YOUR REPORT? UH, THREE.
MR. PRESIDENT? YES, THERE HAVE BEEN, UM, SOME TECHNICAL PAPERS THAT I'VE SEEN IN THE PAST YEAR, UH, LOOKING AT IMMUNO CONTRACEPTIVE, UH, PROGRAMS AND, AND SHOWING THAT THERE STILL IS NO BETTER, UM, METHOD OF INTER IMMUNO CONTRACEPTION OUT THERE.
BASICALLY BIRTH CONTROL THAT, UH, THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF AGENTS, UH, EXPERIMENTED WITH TO CAUSE A, UH, A FERTILITY CONTROL IN DEER, BUT THE APPLICATION OF THAT DRUG OR ANY OF THOSE DRUGS, FREE RANGING POPULATION IS JUST WHOLLY IMPRACTICAL.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY AND YOU ALWAYS GIVE A VERY THOROUGH REPORT, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT.
ALRIGHT, MRS. ZAS, LET'S MOVE ON TO NUMBER 28, JOSHUA ZAS.
ESS COUNTY PARKS NUMBER 28 IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO WORLD CORPORATION, LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER FURNISH, UH, REPAIR, REPLACE PLAYGROUND SAFETY SURFACES, UH, ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF AWARD, $1,986,750.
AS STATED, THIS IS FOR THE, UH, INSPECTION, UH, REPAIR AND, UH, ULTIMATELY, UM, OVERALL MAINTENANCE OF BOTH THE SAFETY SURFACES AND PLAYGROUNDS THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
SYSTEM NUMBER 29 CONTRACT AWARD TO GARDEN STATE PAVEMENT SOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE ASPHALT REPAIRS AT THE ESS COUNTY BRANCH.
BROOK PARK UNDER THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICE COMMISSION OF NEW JERSEY, UH, AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,342,265 AND 73 CENTS.
THIS IS ALL FUNDED, UH, THROUGH A DCA GRANT.
UH, SPECIFICALLY IT'S, UH, WITH THE CO-OP AND AS THE BOARD KNOWS IF, UH, THE CO-OP IS OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT, WE DO NEED, UH, COMMISSIONER APPROVAL.
UH, SPECIFICALLY THE PROJECT WILL CREATE A CONTINUOUS PAVE WALKWAY PATH FROM CERONE FIELD TO THE PARK AVENUE CROSSOVER.
UH, REESTABLISH A PATH NEAR BARRINGER ALONG THE LAKE REPAIR GUARDRAILS THROUGHOUT THE PARK, STRI AND REPAVE AS NEEDED FROM CERONE TO CLIFTON AVENUE, AND THEN FROM HELLER TO UNION.
AND FINALLY, PEDESTRIAN CROSSOVER IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
NUMBER 30, A CONTRACT AWARD TO QUAM IRRIGATION, SOLE RESPONSIVE BIDDER, UH, 12 MONTH CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $570,625.
THIS IS FOR THE STARTUP SHUT DOWN MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF ALL, UH, IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. BASICALLY, THE AERATORS THROUGHOUT THE PARK SYSTEM, UH, INCLUDES THE WINTERIZATION OF THOSE SYSTEMS AS WELL.
NUMBER 31 IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, UH, INC.
THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER INSTANCE DELIVERS SWAN BOATS ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF AWARD NOT TO EXCEED $217,400.
UH, BASICALLY THIS CONTRACT IS FOR THE PURCHASE OF UP TO 24 SWAMP BOATS.
UH, WE'VE COMMITTED TO PURCHASING A MINIMUM OF FOUR, BUT AS I SAID, UH, 24 TOTAL IN THE CONTRACT IF WE, UH, DECIDE TO PURCHASE THAT MANY.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A $5,000 ALLOTMENT FOR, UH, REPAIRS.
UH, CURRENTLY WE HAVE 36 SWAMP BOATS IN THE FLEET.
THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF A SWAMP BOAT IS ABOUT 15 YEARS.
WE DON'T PLAN TO ADD ANY ADDITIONAL SWAMP BOATS.
IT'S JUST REPLACING ONES THAT ARE, CAN NO LONGER BE USED.
NUMBER 32 AND NUMBER 33 ARE RELATED.
NUMBER 32 IS THE APPROVAL OF A QUALIFIED, UH, LIST, UH, TO PROVIDE OUTSIDE EXOTIC ZOO VETERINARIAN SERVICES.
AND THEN NUMBER 33 IS THE ACTUAL RECOMMENDATION FOR THOSE SERVICES TO TWO VENDORS.
NICOLE LEWIS, DVM, AND KATRINA.
I'M GONNA BUTCHER HER LAST NAME, BOIN, DVM.
[01:00:01]
CONTRACT FROM DATE OF AWARD NOT TO EXCEED $80,000.UH, JUST TO GIVE THE BOARD A BRIEF HISTORY OF, UH, THE VETERINARIAN'S, UH, SITUATION OVER AT THE ZOO.
WE DID HAVE TWO FULL-TIME VETS ON STAFF.
UM, WE DO HAVE ONE FULL-TIME MEMBER STILL ON STAFF.
UM, WE ARE, UH, IN THE HIRING PROCESS PROCESS FOR AN ADDITIONAL VET.
UH, THESE VETS IN THIS, UH, CONTRACT WOULD BE TO SUBSEQUENTLY, UH, FILL IN WHEN THE ONE VET ON STAFF IS NOT AVAILABLE.
ALSO, SOME PROCEDURES DO REQUIRE MORE THAN ONE VET TO PERFORM THE PROCEDURE.
AND ALSO THIS WOULD BE FOR, UH, HOLIDAYS, UH, AND, AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
NUMBER 34 CONTRACT AWARD TO TRIPLE C3 C.
UH, DBA IS THE CARIBBEAN RESTAURANT AND CATERING TO PROVIDE QUAKE PARK GOLF COURSE CONCESSION 30 MONTH CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $4,500.
THIS IS A REVENUE GENERATING CONTRACT FOR THE COUNTY.
IT IS A REVENUE COMING IN FROM THE CONCESSIONAIRE TO RUN THE WHEAT WAKE GOLF PARK, WHEAT WAKE GOLF CO COURSE, FOOD CONCESSION.
THE, UH, THE RENT WOULD BE $1,200.
AND THEN IN 2028 IT WOULD BE $1,800.
NUMBER 35 IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO USE YESES COUNTY RECREATION, OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND TO FUND THE, UH, HVAC REPLACEMENT SYSTEM OVER IN CODY ARENA.
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $7,125,000.
UH, THIS IS A PAYABLE OVER FIVE YEAR PERIOD AS THE COUNTY TREASURER MENTIONED BEFORE.
THIS WOULD BE THE REPAYMENT FOR THE BOND THAT, UH, WAS APPROVED PREVIOUSLY.
NUMBER 36 IS THE AUTHORIZATIONS USE.
COUNTY RECREATION, OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND TO FUND THE SEPTEMBER 11TH MEMORIAL LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS IN EAGLE ROCK AMOUNT TO EXCEED $599,553.
THIS IS THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR AN AGENDA ITEM THAT'S, UH, COMING UP SHORTLY.
NUMBER 37 IS AUTHORIZATIONS UCS COUNTY RECREATION OPEN CHASE SPACE TRUST FUND TO FUND THE WEST SIDE PARK COMMUNITY BUILDING HVAC IMPROVEMENTS TO MOUNTAIN ACT TO EXCEED $60,000.
UH, THIS IS FOR, UH, AN UPCOMING CONTRACT THAT WE WILL BRING TO THE BOARD AT A LATER DATE.
NUMBER ONE 19 IS THE AUTHORIZATIONS USE THE ESSEX COUNTY RECREATIONAL INTEREST BASED TRUST FUND, 5,000.
SO THIS IS THE, UH, ADDITIONAL PIECE, UH, TO FULLY REPAY THE BOND.
AND FINALLY, NUMBER ONE 20 IS AUTHORIZATION, UH, CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH REVELATION WHOLESALE AND AG GNI ENTERPRISES, UH, FOR PHARMACEUTICAL MEDICAL SURGICAL SUPPLIES OVER AT THE TURTLEBACK ZOO.
IT'S A 60 DAY EXTENSION, AND WE ARE CURRENTLY OUT TO BID FOR THESE SERVICES.
AND THIS WOULD JUST, UH, HOLD US OVER THESE MUCH NEEDED SERVICES UNTIL THAT BID IS, UH, COMPLETE.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
MR. BAZ, ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? NO QUESTION, MR. PRESIDENT.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
COMMISSIONER SIEBEL, THEN I'M GONNA GO TO COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND ANY MEETINGS SINCE, SINCE APRIL 1ST, BECAUSE APRIL 1ST, I WAS ADMITTED TO THE ENGLE MOORE REHABILITATION CENTER IN LIVINGSTON BECAUSE I BROKE MY SHOULDER.
SINCE THAT TIME, I'VE HAD TO HAVE A MAJOR SOLDIER OPERATION, A REVERSE SOLDIER OPERATION, AND I'M STILL HERE.
AND I HAVE NOT ATTENDED ANY OF THE OPEN STATION SPACE TRUST FUND MEETINGS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A ZOOM CONTACT HERE, BUT I GET ALL THE MATERIAL FROM JOSH.
SO EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT IT.
WE WISH YOU A SPEEDY RECOVERY THERE.
AND I'M SURE THEY MISSED YOU AT THE OPEN SPACE MEETINGS.
YEAH, I'M ANXIOUS TO GET BETTER.
ON, UH, WE, THE RESURFACING, THE
I MEAN, IT NEEDS A REAL OVERHAUL.
UH, I THINK SOME PICTURES WERE SENT TO DAN, UH, ABOUT THE SURFACING THAT'S NEEDED.
SOME OF THE MATERIAL IN THE PLAYGROUND IS BROKEN, UH, THROUGH JUST GENERAL WEAR AND TEAR.
THERE'S A LOT OF USE OVER THERE.
SO, UH, WILL SOME OF THIS MONEY BE DEDICATED TO DO THAT? JOSHUA CHESTER, COUNTY PARK STUDIO, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, I WILL DEFINITELY, UM, TALK TO THE DIRECTOR ABOUT THAT.
UH, BUT THE CONTRACT IN THE PACKET WOULD BE THE ONE THAT WE WOULD BE USING TO, TO FIX ANY PLAYGROUNDS, INCLUDING THAT ONE.
THAT, THAT NEEDS A COMPLETE OVERHAUL.
[01:05:01]
COMMISSIONER VPE.UM, AND MS. UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, GOODNESS.
UH, PRAYING FOR YOUR SPEEDY RECOVERY.
YEAH, YOUR PRESENCE IS DEFINITELY MISSED WITH OPEN SPACE.
UM, ALSO WANTED TO FLAG SOME CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN LIFTED, UM, AT THE ELIZABETH AVENUE SIDE PLAYGROUND IN WEAK WAKE PARK.
USUALLY WHEN I'M ON WEAK WAKE PARK, I SPEND A LOT MORE TIME ON THE, MORE THE INSULATED PART NEAR THE WATER.
UH, BUT I DRIVE PAST THAT SIDE A LOT.
AND THEN SIMILAR TO MR. JUSTON ALSO GOTTEN A LOT OF PHOTOS AND THE PLAYGROUND.
IT'S JUST THE PIECES OF JUST A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR.
UM, SO ALSO WANTED TO FLAG THAT THOSE REPORTS, UM, YIELD ACTUAL, UH, IMPROVEMENTS.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR SPEEDY RESPONSE TO THAT.
BUT ALSO FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT IS THERE, LIKE SIGNAGE THAT WE CAN PUT UP WHEN PEOPLE SEE ISSUES IN THE PARK, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND AS THE BEST WAY FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO LIFT THOSE CONCERNS SO THEY CAN GO DIRECTLY TO THE ADMINISTRATION? OBVIOUSLY IT'S, IT'S AMAZING THAT PEOPLE WHO THEIR COMMISSIONERS ARE, THEY CAN COME TO US.
BUT FOR THE FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW WHO WE ARE YET, WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE PROCESSES OR SIGNAGE, WHAT HAVE YOU THAT COULD BE USEFUL FOR PEOPLE? UH, JOSHUA HS, COUNTY PARK, STUDIO, MR. PRESIDENT.
SO WE DO HAVE SIGNAGE UP WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, REGULAR RULES AND SAFETY REGULATIONS.
I CAN'T RECALL IF WE LIST THE COUNTY, THE PARK SYSTEM'S PHONE NUMBER ON IT OR NOT.
UM, IF NOT, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK TO DO.
BUT, YOU KNOW, ANY CONCERNS ANY CITIZENS MAY HAVE, THEY'RE ALWAYS FREE TO CALL THE PARKS MAIN NUMBER (973) 268-3500, AND THEN FROM THERE, THEY COULD PUT ZERO FOR THE OPERATOR AND BE DIRECTED TO WHATEVER THEIR ISSUE MAY ENTAIL.
IS THERE A WORLD IN WHICH, MAYBE THIS IS LIKE MORE LONG TERM THINKING, BUT I'M THINKING LIKE MAYBE THERE'S A WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE CAN, YOU KNOW, SUBMIT ALMOST LIKE, NOT LIKE A CLAIM, BUT KIND OF LIKE A CLAIM.
WE USED TO HAVE THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD, THERE'S LIKE AN ISSUE IN YOUR SCHOOL BUILDING, THEN YOU COULD SUBMIT.
UM, THE AIR CONDITIONER'S BROKEN AND THAT GOES TO CENTRAL.
WE HAVE SOME KIND OF TECHNICAL SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE CAN SUBMIT.
I'M, I'M NOT AWARE OF US HAVING THAT.
I DON'T WANNA MISSPEAK IF WE DO MM-HMM
BUT, UM, I'M NOT AWARE, BUT I COULD CERTAINLY LEAVE, FIND OUT FOR YOU.
MR. HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? P WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THESE ITEM ITEMS? SURE.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE ALL THE ITEMS. ALRIGHT, WELL, THE VICE PRESIDENT MOVING IT.
WE HAVE COMMISSIONER BOL SECONDING.
27 THROUGH 37 ROLL CALL DEPUTY CLERK AND ALSO INCLUDE ADDED STARTER AND, AND, SORRY.
AND THE ADDED START IS 1 19, 1 20.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
MRS. S LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 38 THROUGH 49 FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THERE'LL BE GOING TO THE RECORD LATER TIME, THE ONE AND ONLY MR. RETURN TO TELL US ABOUT THIS.
DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, 38 AWARDS STONEFIELD ENGINEERING CONTRACTOR TO PERFORM TRAFFIC ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES FOR 18.
TRAFFIC SIGNALS ALLOW ALONG COUNTY ROADWAYS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $737,000.
UH, STONEFIELD THE HIGHEST TO THE ADVERTISED RFP.
THIS CONTRACT IS FEDERALLY FUNDED AND WILL DEVELOP THE ENGINEERING PLANS AND SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF SIGNALED INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS AT 19 LOCATIONS ALONG JFK PARKWAY, SOUTH LIVINGSTON AVENUE, SOUTH THOROUGH AVENUE, AND SANFORD STREET IN BELLEVILLE, IRVINGTON LIVINGSTON, EAST ORANGE IN NEWARK.
WE DO HAVE MR. JOSEPH RSO OF STONEFIELD ENGINEERING HERE THIS EVENING.
HE WOULD LIKE A MINUTE TO INTRODUCE THE COMPANY AND PERHAPS EXPLAIN THE PROJECT A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN I CAN.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR COMPANY, HOW MANY EMPLOYEES OF MEDEX COUNTY YOU EMPLOY, YOUR UNION AFFILIATIONS AND SUCH.
I'M A PROJECT MANAGER AT STONEFIELD ENGINEERING.
WE ARE A, A COMPANY OF APPROXIMATELY 120 PEOPLE.
WE HAVE EIGHT, EIGHT OFFICES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, RANGING FROM MICHIGAN TO FLORIDA TO SALEM, OUR HEADQUARTERS IN RUTHFORD, NEW JERSEY.
UM, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ON THIS PROJECT.
WE JUST RECENTLY, UH, COMPLETED THE WATTS SING IN FRANKLIN INTERSECTION.
WE CUT THE RIBBON A FEW WEEKS AGO.
IT WAS A WONDERFULLY SUCCESSFUL PROJECT AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE ANOTHER WONDERFULLY SUCCESSFUL PROJECT WITH THE COUNTY.
HOW MANY, UH, ESSEX COUNTY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE AND WHAT ARE YOUR AFFILIATIONS WITH OUR UNIONS? UM, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY AFFILIATIONS OR ESSEX COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT TO US HERE IS WE LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, HELP OUR RESIDENTS OUT WITH LOCAL PEOPLE DOING LOCAL WORK.
WHAT ARE YOU UNION AFFILIATIONS? UM,
[01:10:01]
NO UNION AFFILIATIONS COMMISSIONER.UM, SORRY, MR. BAZ, ANY QUESTIONS MAY HAVE NO LEGAL QUESTIONS.
MR. MCINERNEY? NO, NO QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT.
THIS IS A, A RESOLUTION THAT HAS, UH, WE ARE SOMEWHAT FAMILIAR WITH, WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.
JUST ENLIGHTENED US ON THE MUNICIPALITIES.
THE, THE REASONING FOR THE MUNICIPALITIES REQUEST OF THE DELETION OF THE BUS STOP.
I'M, I'M TESTING US FROM WHEN WE GET TO THAT RESOLUTION.
OH, COMMISSIONER GI, DO YOU HAVE THANK YOU.
I, I JUST A QUICK FEW QUESTIONS.
SO THE MR. P, THESE ARE, UM, SO THESE ARE, UH, INTERSECTIONS, UM, ON JFK ON, I MEAN SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE.
WHAT WAS THE THIRD? YEAH, THERE IT'S SOUTH LIVINGSTON AND, SORRY.
OKAY, SO, AND, UH, SOUTH ORANGE JEFFERS IN ARLINGTON AND LIVINGSTON.
SO THIS IS A CONTRACT FOR THE DESIGN, MR. PRESIDENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE FIRST IN A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS COUNTY FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, BUT ONE THING THAT WE JUST CONTINUE TO NOT TO BE ABLE TO DENT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE FIRST IN, WHICH IS ACTUALLY PRETTY HORRIFIC.
WE CONTINUE TO BE FIRST, UM, IN THE STATE IN TRA IN TRAFFIC FATALITIES.
UM, WE HAVE A HUGE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS WITH THAT IN THIS COUNTY.
AND WE HAVE HAD IT FOR A LONG TIME NOW, UM, THROUGH MR. PRESIDENT ENCOURAGING.
UM, AND THIS IS NO INDICTMENT ON THE DEPARTMENT OR, UM, YOU KNOW, ON, UH, OUR PUBLIC WORKS FOLKS, BUT, UM, OR EVEN SAN ANTONIO.
'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, MANY, MANY TIMES.
UM, BUT WE JUST, WE NEED TO DO MORE WITH, UM, THESE DESIGNS OF THESE INTERSECTIONS AND THESE PARTICULAR INTERSECTIONS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT HERE.
LIKE, WE NEED TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE MORE ON WHAT WE ARE DOING TO DESIGN WITH AND MOTORIST SAFETY IN MIND, UM, ABOVE, YOU KNOW, SO OUR, UM, AS I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT, OUR COMPLETE STREETS POLICY IS, UM, WELL OVER A DECADE OLD.
UM, IT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED, UM, LIKE YESTERDAY.
UM, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE TYPES OF ENGINEERING, UM, PRACTICES NEED TO BE REVIEWED, UM, AND LOOKED AT AND WE NEED TO DENT THIS PROBLEM.
SO I'M REALLY ENCOURAGING OUR VENDOR, UM, WHEN THEY DO THIS DESIGN, TO PUSH THIS DESIGN OF THESE PROJECTS, UM, WITH, UM, THE MOST, UM, UP-TO-DATE BEST PRACTICES, UH, THAT WE ARE AWARE OF TO BOTH REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FATALITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING ON OUR ROADWAYS AND BY AND BYWAYS.
AND ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN, WE IMPLEMENT, UM, A WHAT I'M GONNA CALL VISION ZERO IN COMPLETE STREETS APPROACH, UM, TO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
THANK YOU, MR. THANK YOU, MR. AGREED.
YEAH, I JUST, COMMISSIONER, DO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, I JUST WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON, UH, COMMISSIONER GID JUST STATED, SO HE ASKED YOU TO, UH, DO THE BEST DESIGN THAT YOU COULD DO.
UH, ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THAT? ABSOLUTELY.
EVERY, WE ARE GONNA BE FOCUSING ON THE 19 INTERSECTIONS AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT THROUGHOUT EVERY INTERSECTION WE DESIGN.
WE WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT ALL THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TIMING.
WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT THE INTERSECTION LENGTH OF CROSSING, MAKING SURE THAT THE PEDESTRIANS HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO CROSS THE INTERSECTIONS.
WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT EVERY A DA RAMP THAT'S GONNA BE IN, AT EACH ONE OF THESE INTERSECTIONS.
I KNOW THAT, UH, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF 19 INTERSECTIONS.
THE MAIN FOCUS OF THIS PUBLIC, THIS, UM, THIS CONTRACT IS GOING TO BE THE PEDESTRIANS.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, THAT'S THEIR FOCUS AS WELL.
THAT'S, THAT WAS WHAT WE DID A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AT THE, UH, AT THE OPENING OF THE WATTS INTERSECTION AS WELL.
THANK YOU VP THROUGH MR. PRESIDENT.
WE'VE HAD, UH, SEVERAL TIMES WE'VE HEARD FROM FEDERATION OF THE BLIND, UM, SEVERAL OF THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO COME AND TALK ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY AT OUR INTERSECTIONS.
AND SO COULD YOU SPEAK TO, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE A DA RANS, BUT COULD YOU TAKE SPEAK TO OTHER AREAS OF ACCESSIBILITY AT THESE, UH, THESE INTERSECTIONS UNDER YOUR DEVELOPMENT? BE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, YOU KNOW, AUDITORY EXPLANATION OF NOW IT'S YOUR TIME TO CROSS, ET CETERA.
WHAT OTHER MEASURES ARE IN PLACE? THE BIG PUSH IS GONNA BE BRINGING THE INTERSECTIONS UP TO THE 21ST CENTURY, AND THAT INCLUDES MAKING SURE
[01:15:01]
THAT THERE'S THE AUDITORY RESPONSE PUSH BUTTONS, RIGHT? THAT'S, THAT'S A MAJOR PART OF THESE INTERSECTIONS.UM, THAT'S USUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE OUT AND CHECK, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WALK THROUGH, LIKE, WE'RE GONNA GO AND WALK THROUGH EACH ONE OF THE INTERSECTIONS AND THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF THE INVENTORY OF WHAT WE NEED TO REPLACE.
UM, MAKING SURE THAT THE SOUND WORKS, MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IMPORTANT.
UM, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE KNOW THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF OUR DESIGN.
AND THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE WITH YOUR BLESSING AND PERMISSION, UH, AS A COMMISSIONER, I WOULD LOVE TO ACTUALLY BE A PART OF AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE INITIAL WALKTHROUGHS TO SEE YOUR KIND OF AUDIT OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, INTERSECTIONS ARE UP TO DATE, WHICH ONES AREN'T.
AND SO HOPEFULLY WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IF YOU COULD EXTEND THAT INVITATION TO THE COMMISSIONERS, THAT WAY WE CAN KIND OF BE ABREAST ON THOSE DIFFERENT EFFORTS.
AND CERTAINLY, SARAH, OUR CONSTITUENTS, I KNOW THEY WERE, THEY'RE GONNA LOVE TO HEAR, UM, THAT THESE, YOU KNOW, UH, SAFE AND INACCESSIBLE INTERSECTIONS ARE BEING APPROVED.
SO, UH, HOPEFULLY WE COULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT.
UM, IT'S, UH, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE REACH OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING AND WE'LL HAVE THEM IN, UH, RENO, EXTEND THE INVITE TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
MR. ANTONIO, NUMBER WHAT, 39? UH, DAVID ANTONIO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER, UH, 39 IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TOUGER PROPERTY SERVICES AND AMOUNT TO EXCEED $599,553 TO PERFORM LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NINE 11 MEMORIAL AT EAGLE ROCK RESERVATION.
WEST ORANGE SUGAR PROPERTY SERVICES SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE THREE BIDS RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.
THE PROPOSED LANDSCAPING IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE COMPLETED AHEAD OF THIS YEAR'S SCHEDULE, 25TH YEAR NINE 11 MEMORIAL SERVICES.
THE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE NEW CONCRETE WALKWAYS, NEW BLUESTONE PAVERS AROUND THE PLAZA, MEMORIAL BLUE LANDSCAPING, NEW PAINTINGS, NEW SAW, NEW BENCHES, NEW TRASH RECEPTACLES, ET CETERA.
OF COURSE, NEW LIGHTING AS WELL.
UH, WE DO HAVE MR. JAMES TIERNAN OF SCHU PROPERTY SERVICES HERE.
UH, HE WOULD LIKE TO, UH, PERHAPS TOUCH ON THE SCOPE OF WORK AS WELL AND INTRODUCE HIS COMPANY.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
TELL US ABOUT THE COMPANY BRIEFLY AND, UH, ABOUT THE PROJECT.
JAMES TIER AND OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR THE LANDSCAPING DIVISION OF ALGER PROPERTY SERVICES, UH, LOCATED IN EAST ORANGE.
UH, WE ARE AFFILIATED WITH 4 72 UNION HALL, UH, 8 25 UNION HALL.
UM, WE HAVE PROBABLY OVER A HUNDRED WORKERS.
90% OF 'EM ARE FROM ESSEX COUNTY.
WE DO A PRISONER REENTRY PROGRAM WHERE WE DO HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE WORKING FOR US NOW.
WE DO SNOW PLOW FOR THE COUNTY AND WE DO SORT OF EVERYTHING, OUR COMPANY.
WHAT ABOUT THIS PROJECT? WHAT, WHAT DOES THIS WORK ENTAIL? WHAT DO, HOW DO YOU SEE IT COMING FROM? UM, NEW, UH, NEW PAVERS, NEW WALKWAYS, UH, LANDSCAPING, LIGHTING, BENCHES, PARK BENCHES.
THEY ARE PROBABLY DOING WHAT WE COULD SAY IS LIKE A 25 YEAR UPDATE, RIGHT? SO WE'RE GONNA PUT IN ALL NEW BENCHES, TRASH RECEPTACLES.
THERE'S DIFFERENT WALKWAYS GOING IN.
THE LANDSCAPING'S GONNA BE COMPLETELY CHANGED.
UM, MORE FLOWERING STUFF, UH, EVERGREENS AND SOME GRASSES THAT ALL COME BACK EVERY YEAR.
AND ASSUMING WE APPROVED TODAY, UH, THIS WILL ALL BE DONE IN TIME FOR THE NINE 11 MEMORIAL.
THAT'S A SUCH ONE OF OUR BIGGER EVENTS THAT WE DO HERE.
IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DAVID ANTON DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC COURT.
IT'S, UH, IT, IT WOULD NOT HINDER THE, THE NINE 11 SERVICES ISSUE.
WORK WILL BEGIN AFTER, SO, YEAH.
MR. UM, QUESTION? NO QUESTIONS MR.
GOOD WORK NUMBER 40, UH, 40 HERE.
ITEM NUMBER 40, AWARD BOSWELL ENGINEERING A CONTRACT TO DEVELOP THE COUNTY'S STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE MAP.
AND I AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $134,766 $766.
BOSWELL ENGINEERING SUBMITTED TO HIGH RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.
ASWELL WILL PRODUCE A GIS STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE MAP DOCUMENTING ALL THE ROADWAY STORMWATER ASSETS OWNED OR OPERATED BY THE COUNTY.
UH, THE CREATION OF THE MAP IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE N-G-D-E-P REGULATED HIGHWAY AGENCIES SUCH AS US, THE COUNTY OF ASSETS.
UH, MR. JAMES WOODWARD OF FAST OIL ENGINEERING IS HERE THIS EVENING.
HE WILL ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND THE COMPANY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SUPPORT MAY HAVE.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
TELL US ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE WORK YOU'RE PROPOSING HERE.
YES, I AM JIM WOODWARD FROM BOSWELL ENGINEERING.
I'M THE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST AT BOSWELL.
[01:20:01]
IS A ENGINEERING COMPANY BASED OUT OF NEW JERSEY, OUR HEADQUARTERS IN SOUTH HACK ATTACK.WE HAVE FIVE CORPORATE OFFICES ACROSS NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY.
IT'S THE M MS FOUR INFRASTRUCTURE MAPPING PROJECT IS GOING TO BASICALLY LOCATE ALL OF THE STORMWATER COLLECTION POINTS, SO KNOWN AS STORMWATER MANHOLES AND INLETS.
DIGITALLY MAP EVERYTHING WITHIN THE COMPUTER DATABASE TO THE OUTFALLS WHERE THE WATER SPILLS OUT INTO THE WATERWAYS.
MS. SHABAZZ, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTION, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. MACON? I JUST HAVE A, A QUESTION.
WHAT I MEAN, EXPLAIN TO ME A, A STORMWATER DRAIN AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE REFER TO AS A SEWER DRAIN.
UH, IT'S COMMON TERM WOULD BE AN INLET OR A CATCH BASIN.
SO IT WOULD BE JUST THE GRATE WITHIN THE ROAD OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOW MUCH WATER CAN GO THROUGH WHERE IT GOES INTO A COLLECTED SYSTEM.
SO IT WOULD JUST BE THE GRATES THAT YOU WOULD SEE ON THE CURBS.
WHICH, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO.
SEWER SYSTEM, MOST OF THE TIME SEWER SYSTEM WOULD BE REFERRED TO AS A SANITARY SYSTEM AND THE STORMWATER WOULD BE A SEPARATED JUST STORMWATER COMPARED TO A COMBINED SYSTEM OR A SANITARY SYSTEM.
AND DO WE HAVE BOTH IN ES COUNTY COMBINED SYSTEMS IN THERE ARE SEPARATE SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT.
ITEM NUMBER 41, DAVID ANTONIO.
ITEM NUMBER 41 IS AN AWARD OF A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT TO ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE CORPORATION TO SPEC TEST AND MAINTAIN THE ELEVATORS LOCATED OF THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
AND I AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $456,188.
THIS CONTRACT INCLUDES THE REQUIRED MONTHLY AND
ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE CORPORATION SUBMITTED THE LOWEST OF THE THREE BITS RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.
ITEM NUMBER 42 EXERCISES A TWO YEAR EXTENSION OPTION TO THE CONTRACTS WITH SIX VENDORS, WHICH PROVIDE AUTOMOBILE AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCK PARTS IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $400,000 IN THE AGGREGATE.
THIS CONTRACT IS USED BY THE DIVISION OF FLEET MANAGEMENT ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS AS THEY CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN OUR VEHICLES IN A STATE OF GOOD REPAIR.
AND ITEM NUMBER 43 IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO, AT NORTHERN AND JLLC TO FURNISH AND DELIVER THREE FOUR BY FOUR HEAVY DUTY MASON DUMP TRUCKS.
AND IT MIGHT NOT TO EXCEED $381,404 AT NORTHERN AND JLLC SUBMITTED TO SOLE BID RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY.
THE NEW TRUCKS WILL BE USED TO LEAVE TO DO LIFT PICKUP, CATCH BASIN CLEANING, POWER REPAIR, AND OTHER SIMILAR ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE DIVISION OF ROADS AND BRIDGES.
ITEM NUMBER 44 WILL ALLOW THE DIVISION OF MOSQUITO CONTROL TO PURCHASE THREE MICROSCOPES AND A PORTABLE MONITOR BY WARDING I MILLER PRECISION OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $8,384 I MILLER PRECISION OPTICAL SUBMITTED SOLE BID EXERCISES AT TWO YEAR EXTENSION TO THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH GATES FLAG AND BANNER COMPANY, WHICH PROVIDES FLAGS AND RELATED ACCESSORIES AND NUMBER NOT TO EXCEED $100,000 IN THE AGGREGATE.
ITEM NUMBER 46 ALSO EXERCISES AT TWO YEAR EXTENSION OPTION TO THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH GATES FLAG AND BANNER COMPANY, WHICH EXCLUSIVELY WILL PROVIDE COUNTY LOGO FLAGS IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $70,000 IN THE AGGREGATE.
ITEM NUMBER 47 IS IN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO FRENCH AND PELLO TO PROVIDE THE DESIGN ENGINEERING SERVICES REQUIRED TO DEVELOP THE CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE 2027 ROADWAY RESURFACING PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT TO EXCEED $64,700.
FORAL PERELLO SUBMITTED THE HIGHEST RATED OF THE FOUR RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY ADAM.
NUMBER 48 IS A, IS A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PRELIMINARY ALTERNATIVE FOR REPLACING THE CLAY STREET BRIDGE OVER THE PASS PACIFIC RIVER IN NEWARK.
THE FEDERALLY FUNDED CLAY STREET BRIDGE LOCAL CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT STUDY ADMINISTERED BY THE N-G-T-P-A COMPLETED AN ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS, WHICH IDENTIFI THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE AS SPINNER AS BEING A COMPLETELY NEW BRIDGE TO ALIGNMENT WITH A SINGLE MOVABLE SPAN OVER A 70 FOOT WIDE WATERWAY PASSING.
THIS SUPPORT RESOLUTION WILL ALLOW THE PROJECT TO QUALIFY
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FOR FEDERAL FUNDING OF THE FINAL DESIGN PHASE OF THIS PROJECT.AND NUMBER 49 IS THE RESOLUTION CONSENTING TO THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD'S ORDINANCE DELETING A BUS STOP ALONG BROAD STREET NEAR CARROLL PLACE.
THERE IS NO FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THE COUNTY BY CONSENTING TO THIS TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD ORDINANCE.
MR. BAZ, ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? NO LEGAL QUESTIONS, PRESIDENT.
COMMISSIONERS COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
AND THEN VICE PRESIDENT, ALL 47, THE REMOVAL OF THE CLAY STREET RIDGE.
IS THERE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY, UH, TO YOU? IF SO, CAN WE, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT IT? OF COURSE.
UH, THE PROCESS THAT GOT US WHERE WE ARE TODAY HAS TAKEN ABOUT 10 YEARS.
WE HAVE HAD AN IMPACT STATE IMPACT STATEMENTS.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING AVAILABLE AND WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL GLADLY SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE LAST ITEM THAT WAS INTRODUCED HAVING TO DO WITH BLOOMFIELD.
AND IS THERE GOING TO BE A TRAFFIC COM COMITY? UH, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL CALMING MEASURES.
IS THE, IS THE METHOD NEEDED OR CALMING PROCEDURE? YEAH, WELL, UH, I WAS GONNA ASK THAT WE HAVE, UH, JUST THE ENGINEER REVIEW.
I MEAN, I DON'T MIND APPROVING IT, BUT I THINK WE COULD ASK THE ENGINEER TO SEE AND RECOMMEND TO THE TOWNSHIP WHAT CALMING MEASURES, UH, OR, OR ASK THE ENGINEER WHAT COMMONING MEASURES MAY BE APPROPRIATE THERE.
I ALSO KNOW THAT THE ENGINEERS AT TIMES SAY YOU JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU PUT CROSSWALKS BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC IN CERTAIN ROADS AND CERTAIN LOCATIONS MAY NOT BE SUITABLE, BUT THAT'S WHAT HE KNOWS.
AND SO, UH, I KNOW WE, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS AND MR. TERRY AND I DISCUSSED THAT WITH HIM DIRECTLY.
SO, UH, WITH 49 LOST THE ENGINEER TO INQUIRE AND SEE WHAT COMMON MEASURES THERE MAY BE, UH, RELEVANT IN THAT SPOT.
DEFINITELY CAN'T OR BE DONE TO MAKE US SEE THAT IT'S THE RIGHT RESOLUTION.
YEAH, I THINK, I THINK WE CAN APPROVE TO, UH, SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION TO REMOVE THE BUS THING, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT HAS TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
I THINK WE KNOW WE CAN, UH, REQUEST THE TIME TO REVIEW THE CALMING MEASURES.
I'M SORRY, WOULD YOU REPEAT THAT PLEASE? I THINK WE COULD APPROVE THE RESOLUTION IF WE, SO WE COULD PROCEED WITH THE RESOLUTION TO APPROVE IT IF THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD DESIRES.
UH, BUT THERE STILL COULD BE TIME FOR ANY COMMONING MEASURES TO BE DONE.
I DON'T THINK THE BUS STOP, THEY'RE NOT GONNA YANK THE BUS STOP TOMORROW IMMEDIATELY.
YOU DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA RUN THERE AND TAKE IT OUT.
SO I THINK IT'S JUST, UH, THAT THE, THE APPROVAL BACK TO THE TOWN FOR DOING IT.
BUT WE CAN, UH, TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT COMMONING MEASURES ARE APPROPRIATE THERE.
BUT WHAT IF WE VOTE AGAINST IT? IT, IT JUST STAYS THERE.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN? IT JUST STAYS THERE? THE TOWN IS REQUESTING US FOR SUPPORT IN REMOVING THE BUS STATION.
WE OFTEN DEFER TO THE, THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES WITH THESE TYPES OF REQUESTS.
SO THESE COME ABOUT MAYBE THREE, FOUR TIMES A YEAR MOVING THEM, REMOVING THEM, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I I WOULD SAY IT'S, WE, WE ALWAYS, UH, AGREED TO WHAT THE TOWNSHIP I I, I DON'T REMEMBER IF A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE WE DIDN'T.
UM, SO WE, WE WE NORMALLY DO THAT, BUT I, I, YOU KNOW, I I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A PARTICULAR RUSH.
UH, YOU KNOW, I I I THINK YOU COULD APPROVE THE, THE REMOVAL SUBJECT TO SATISFACTION ABOUT THE, UH, ANY OTHER ME MEANS TO, TO MITIGATE.
YEAH, I THINK THE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IF YOU WANT TO MODIFY IT TO, TO SAY THAT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE COULD DO.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO REAL RUSH, SO WHY DON'T WE ASK THE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN, WE CAN VOTE ON IT TODAY, YOU KNOW, MOVE ON IT, UH, PER THE TIMES'S REQUEST.
WE COULD ALSO REQUEST AS WELL THOUGH THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'D LIKE TO REVIEW WHAT THE
I'D LIKE TO SEE IMPROVEMENT ON THAT RESOLUTION.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AS WELL? THANK YOU.
JUST ON A SIMILAR LINE, UM, WHEN I LOOKED AT THE RESOLUTIONS, I KNOW THIS HAS ACTUALLY COME TO US IN THE PAST.
UM, IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY LANGUAGE THAT ASSERTS THAT THERE WILL BE THOSE CALMING MEASURES.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE HISTORY TO SUGGEST THAT THERE WILL BE, BUT IT IS TROUBLING THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE CALMING MEASURES, UM, AREN'T KIND OF LISTED HERE.
UM, AND EVEN, YOU KNOW, BASED OFF THE INSIGHT FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WAS JUST LIFTED, WHEN YOU DO SEE THAT NEW AREA WHERE IT'S KIND OF RECOMMENDED TO BE, YOU DON'T SEE A CROSSWALK, YOU DON'T SEE THESE OTHER, UH, MEASURES THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, ASSURES THAT PEDESTRIANS
[01:30:01]
WOULD BE SAFE.AND SO, UH, I'M LEANING TOWARDS SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION, BUT WITH UNDER THE ASSURANCE, UH, SIMILAR TO MR. UH, JACKSON'S LANGUAGE, UH, WITH ASSURANCES, UM, THAT THESE CALLING MEASURES ARE IN PLACE AND THAT THE BOARD IS KEPT ABREAST TO WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE AND THAT IT'S COMMUNITY INFORMED.
MS. JACKSON, CAN WE DO THAT? WE'RE GOOD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THESE ITEMS? JUST IF I MAY BE SIR, JUST CLEAR, THIS IS NOT THE COUNTY OF ESSEX PRESSING.
THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD, AND REALLY ALL WE'RE DOING IS SAYING IT'S OKAY FOR YOU TO DO THIS AND, AND IF YOU, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME CONCERNS THAT WERE RAISED BY THE BOARD, SO IF THOSE ARE SATISFIED, THEN SOVA, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE ON THE CLEAR THAT WE'RE NOT THIS, THIS IS ALL TOWNSHIP INITIATED.
ACTION, CORRECT? NO, WE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS THE TOWNSHIP I INITIATING THE REQUEST.
WE DON'T GO INTO TOWNS AND REMOVE BUS STOPS, RIGHT.
BECAUSE WE WANT TO
WE'LL, UH, WE'LL REQUEST THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CALLING, BUT WE, BUT WE CAN ASK MORE QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED.
WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ANSWER? UH, COMMISSIONER STEVENS? I'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE, WHERE IT'S GOING TO CHANGE, BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE NO CROSS WORK AND IT SEEMS TO BE MOVING TO A BAD PLACE.
WELL, I, I, AGAIN, MR. PRESIDENT, I, I'M, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE CAN SAY IT WON'T BE A CROSSWALK AND IT WON'T BE LIGHTING.
I, I JUST SHOWING THAT WHERE THEY'RE MOVING IT TO.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S GONNA BE THE CASE, BUT I THINK, AGAIN, I WOULD SUGGEST PASSING THE RESOLUTION, UM, SUBJECT TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT I TALKED ABOUT, THE LIGHTING AND THE CROSSWALK, ET CETERA.
AND IF KNOWING THAT THOSE ARE SAT, IF THOSE ARE OKAY, THEN YOU'RE, YOU'RE FINE.
BUT IF NOT, THEN YOUR RESOLUTION IS SUBJECT TO SATISFACTION.
AND IF IT'S NOT, YOU'RE NOT SATISFIED, THEN I, I WOULD LEANN, OF COURSE THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
BUT THAT, THAT'S MY THINKING ABOUT HOW TO, UH, THROUGH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, IF THE DESIRE IS TO MOVE FORWARD, WE CAN MOTION TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION TO INDICATE WHAT'S BEEN STATED.
SO ESSENTIALLY, UM, MOTION TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION TO REQUIRE THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD TO PROVIDE, UH, INFORMATION REGARDING TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES.
WE COULD, WE COULD VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION WITH THAT AMENDMENT IF THAT IS BOARD'S.
SO WHY DON'T WE MAKE THAT AMENDMENT? SO WE WOULD REQUIRE A MOTION TO AMEND, UM, IF SOMEONE WOULD, TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION TO INCLUDE.
OKAY, SO LET ME ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO AMEND, UH, RESOLUTION 49.
UH, SO THAT SECOND THE COMMONING MEASURES COULD BE REVIEWED, STUDIED, AND SEE WHAT MIGHT BE IMPLEMENTED.
IF THEY ARE INDEED AN OPTION, THAT WOULD BE AN ENGINEER'S CALL.
SO WHY DON'T WE DO THAT? DO WE HAVE A MOTION? MOTION? ALRIGHT, DO I HAVE A SECOND ON THAT? I'LL SECOND THAT.
CALL ON, ON THAT AMENDMENT FOR 49.
LET'S JUST TAKE THAT SEPARATELY.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER, ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
OKAY, SO NOW LET'S GO BACK AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR, UH, RESOLUTIONS 38 TO 48 SINCE WE ALREADY HANDLED, UH, 49.
SECOND, SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT.
THIS IS AGAIN FOR 30, UH, 38 TO 48.
IT SHOULD INCLUDE FOUR NINE AS AMENDED AS WELL AS 40.
THAT ROLL CALL WAS JUST TWO, UH, CORRECT.
DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO MOVE IT? SIBO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THAT ONE? YES.
DO I HAVE A SECOND CALL? MADAM.
ON EVERYTHING EXCEPT NO ON 49.
[01:35:01]
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
HAVE A GOOD, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS.
50 51, 66 THROUGH 71 AND ADD A START.
1 21 THERE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
THERE'LL BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
JOHN COUNTY COUNCIL, UH, 50 IS OUR ANNUAL APPROVAL OF THE, UH, TO FUND THE AFFIRM, DEPART ENGLISH ACT AS INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO THE CIVILIAN TASK FORCE.
UH, UH, THAT'S NUMBER 50 51 IS AGAIN, THE, UH, THE RESOLUTION TO FUND THE COMPANY, THE INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES FOR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES OF ACCOUNT, WHICH WE DISCUSSED BEFORE.
THESE ARE, UH, FUNDING FOR, UH, VARIOUS LAW FIRMS THAT ARE REPRESENT THE COUNTY OF, UH, MATTER.
OUR FIRST ONE IS, UH, TO THE AMOUNT OF 32 PAROLE FIRM.
UH, 67 IS AGAIN, TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT, UH, FOR THE FIRM OF CHI SUCH.
UM, AND THAT IS FOR THE YEAR, UH, JANUARY 1ST, 2026 TO 2026.
UH, SAME THING WITH NUMBER 68.
UH, THIS IS, UH, TO, UM, FOR THE FUNDING FOR THE FIRM TO, UH, REPRESENT US ON THE, UH, BRANCH MATTER, UH, WHICH YOU'VE DISCUSSED.
THAT WAS THE INDIVIDUAL WAS HEARD CROSSING THE STREET.
UH, 69 IS, UM, THIS IS, UH, ALSO FOR THE, UH, CASE FIRM, UH, FOR, UH, ANOTHER MATTER, UH, MR. UH, UD AND, UM, MAN WHO, UH, WHO DIED IN CUSTODY, UH, 70 IS, UH, THIS IS, UH, A CONTRACT WITH THE FIRM OF HATFIELD SCHWARTZ IN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 80,000 FROM JANUARY 1ST, 2026 FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR OF, UH, 2026 TO DECEMBER 31ST.
NEXT MATTER IS, UH, THIS FOR, UH, UH, FOR A MATTER, NOT DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.
AND THAT IS ALL OF THE MATTER.
WE, UH, WE SETTLED, UH, SOME LITIGATION, UH, ON A BID DISPUTE BETWEEN TWO, UH, BIDDERS, UH, UH, WAS ABLE HELP.
SUBJECT JUDGE SPENT A LOT OF TIME HELPING US NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT.
UH, WE SETTLE THAT MATTER, UH, UH, TO OUR SATISFACTION.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? NO QUESTIONS, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. MCINERNEY? NO QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE, I'LL MOVE.
AND I WANNA THANK MR. JEROME, ST.
THANK, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER.
I WISH, UH, YOU WERE HERE IN PUBLIC FOR ME TO THANK YOU.
WOULD YOU PLEASE? DO I HAVE SOMEONE TO SECOND? THANK YOU.
THIS IS FOR 50 51, 66 THROUGH 71, AND ADDED STARTER, UH, 1 21.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 52 AND 53, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'LL BE RUN TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. PRESIDENT, MR. COLTRAN, GOOD EVENING.
UH, DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT DIVISION OF HOUSING AND DEVELOP COOPERATION AGREEMENT IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX
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IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES FOR CONDUCTING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.THIS IS A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ARE REQUIRED BY HUD TO RECEIVE CDBG, UH, FUNDS, HOME FUNDS AND ESG FUNDS.
THIS IS A THREE YEAR AGREEMENT COVERING FEDERAL, UH, PHYSICAL YEAR 2027 TO 2029.
THE PROGRAM PROVIDES MAJOR HOUSING CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND ENHANCED SOCIAL SERVICE, UH, PROGRAMS. PROGRAMS FUNDED ENTIRELY BY HUD.
THIS CONSISTS OF 18 MUNICIPALITIES EXCLUDING NEWARK IRVINGTON EAST ORANGE, WHICH RECEIVES THEIR OWN FUNDING.
NUMBER 53 IS THE SAME CONSORTIUM COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX, THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD FOR CONDUCTING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
BLOOMFIELD PART OF ESSEX COUNTY CONSORTIUM FOR HOME PROGRAM ONLY.
UH, BLOOMFIELD RECEIVES CDBG FUNDS AND ESG FUNDS DIRECTLY FROM HUD IS A THREE YEAR AGREEMENT COVERING FED FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2027 TO 2029.
HOME PROGRAM FUNDED ENTIRELY BY HUB MS. CHAVEZ.
ANY QUESTIONS? LADIES? THESE NO QUESTIONS PRESIDENT.
COMMISSION QUESTIONS ON 52 AND 53.
SO I'M GONNA MOVE IT, MOVE IT, MOVE BY RICHARDSON.
A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY THE VICE PRESIDENT.
DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
MOVING ON TO RESOLUTIONS 54 AND 55 FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
THAT'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD A LETTER TIME, MR. JACKSON OR MR. COLTRANE? MR. COL.
CONTRACT AWARD TO GEMINI, UH, SERVICES LLC DOING BUSINESS AS C AND J TROPHIES.
THESE ARE, THIS COMPANY IS A 12 MONTH CONTRACT EXTENSION AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000.
AND NUMBER 55 IS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE INFORMATION CONTRACT AWARD TO FRANK GARGIULO AND SON, THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER TO PROVIDE PRODUCE FOR THE ESSEX COUNTY SENIOR WELLNESS DAY, 12 MONTH CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $25,750.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS ON 54 AND 55.
MOTION MOVED BY THE VICE PRESIDENT.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK 54 AND 55.
COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S GO TO REUS 56 THROUGH 58 AND ADDED START OF 1 22, WHICH FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION OF FINANCE.
IT'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
UH, THIS IS OFFICE OF PURCHASING CONTRACT AWARD TO THE SOURCING GROUP, UH, DOT DESIGNING LLC AND FRY MARKETING, LLC.
THE FURNISHING DELIVERY SILK SCREEN EMBROIDERY APPAREL, UH, NOT TO EXCEED IS A 24 MONTH CONTRACT EXTENSION AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 600,000 BUCKS.
I ALSO HAVE 1 22 AND I DO HAVE THAT HIGHLIGHTED.
UH, DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF PURCHASING, AUTHORIZED TO USE COMPETITIVE CONTRACTING PROCESS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE DATA PROCESSING, ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE RELATED TO THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF AND ALL THE OFFICER LEGAL, ALL THE OFFICERS WITHIN ESSEX COUNTY.
UH, THIS IS TO PROVIDE, UH, OUTSIDE SECURITY PROGRAMS. OKAY.
WHO'S GONNA HANDLE 57 AND 58 ON MR. JACKSON? WHY DON'T YOU, LET'S DO THOSE.
UH, ITEM 57 IS IN A, A CONTRACT WITH CONNOR STRONG BUCK, UH, TO PROVIDE INSURANCE IN 2026 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2028 IN AN AMOUNT, NOT D EXCEED $200,000.
UH, THEY, UH, PROVIDED THE HIGHEST, HIGHEST RATED AND LOWEST COST, UH, PROPOSAL.
UH, ITEM 58 IS AN AGREEMENT, UH, WITH DR.
SUSAN A, UH, THE LOWEST AND RESPONSIVE RESPONSIBLE BIDDER TO PROVIDE PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR OUR VARIOUS, UH, COUNTY
[01:45:01]
AGENCIES.A 24 MONTH CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $304,500.
UH, SO FOR 56 THROUGH 58 AND 1 22.
MS. SHIVA, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
MR. MCINERNEY, DID YOU SAY, ARE YOU TALKING 56 AND 58 AND 1 22? WHAT ABOUT 57? 56 THROUGH 58.
DID WE DO 57 MR. JACKSON? YES, I DID.
IS THIS, SO THIS IS A RECURRING, JUST, IS THIS NEW OR IS THIS RECURRING WITH CONTRO? IT'S THE SAME ONE EVERY YEAR, RIGHT? YES.
NOT NECESSARILY WITH CONTRO, BUT WITH A BROKER.
MS TWO, CONNOR STRONG AND BUFFALO? YES.
IT, IT JUST SO HAPPENS SHIP TAPE AND IT FOR A WHILE.
SO THEY, BUT, BUT THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HELP US MAKE A DETERMINATION IS WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR HEALTH BENEFITS.
THEY HAVE ONE FOR OUR HEALTH BENEFITS.
THIS, AND, AND THIS IS, THIS IS IT? ALRIGHT, YOU GUYS GOOD? I'M, I'M GOOD.
ANY QUESTIONS? DONE? QUESTIONS OF COMMENTS ARE 56 THROUGH 57 AND 1 22.
THANK YOU MR. UH, COMMISSIONER STE.
ANYONE ELSE FOR A SECOND? HERE.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
LET'S GO TO 59 AND 60, WHICH ARE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THE IT OFFICE.
W ENTER THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I SEE MR. HUNT WILL HANDLE THESE.
UH, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER NUMBER 59 IS SEQUENCE $316 192 TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL CYBERSECURITY MONITORING GEAR.
AND NUMBER 60 IS TO PURCHASE, UM, NETWORK GEARS FOR THE CORRECTION CENTER.
THE NETWORK GEARS AND THE CORRECTION CENTER HAS BEEN 15 YEARS OLD, SO THIS IS, UM, REPLACING THESE GEARS TO PROVIDE BETTER INTERNET AND DATA ACCESS FOR THAT.
MR. BAD QUESTIONS ON 59 AND 60? NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS ON THESE TWO? SEEING NONE, SOMEONE TO MOVE 59 AND 60, MOVE IT.
DO HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY THE VICE PRESIDENT ON SECOND ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
LET'S MOVE TO 61 THROUGH 65, WHICH ARE ALL 2026
IT'S FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR OUR WORK FIRST NEW JERSEY TANIFF PROGRAM, UH, IN THE AMOUNT OF 11,790,000, $11.
THESE FUNDS ARE USED TO HELP, UM, RECIPIENTS IN FINDING AND RETAINING, UH, FULL EMPLOYMENT AND THERE IS NO COUNTY MATCH.
ITEM 62, UM, IS, UH, ADDITIONAL, UH, FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE FOR OUR, UM, SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM THROUGH THE DIVISION OF EMPLOYMENT, UH, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $402,850.
THIS, UH, UH, ADDITIONAL FUNDING ESSENTIALLY DOUBLES THE PROGRAM.
I WE DISCUSSED IT EARLIER IN THE YEAR THAT THE PROGRAM WAS CUT IN HALF.
UM, AND I THINK LARGELY DUE TO THE, HOW, HOW EFFECTIVE IT'S BEEN AND, AND THE GREAT WORK THAT THAT DIVISION'S DONE, THEY'VE ACTUALLY BROUGHT US BACK TO WHERE WE WERE BEFORE.
SO WE'RE UP TO 805,000 THOUSAND $700 TOTAL.
UM, SO THAT THE, SO THIS WILL GET US UP TO, UP FROM 97 SLOTS TO, UM, I THINK IT'S, UH, OH, DOUBLE THAT.
IT'LL BE ALMOST 200, UH, POSITIONS.
SO IT'S, IT'S GREAT NEWS, GREAT NEWS FOR US.
UH, THIS IS FOR THE, THE, UM, HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL AND PROVIDES $72,609 FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, ASPECT OF THAT BOARD.
UM, IT REQUIRES A MATCH OF 10,000, UM, $237 AND 87 CENTS, WHICH WE MEET BY PROVIDING A STAFF MEMBER UNPAID ON GRANT UN GRANTED, IF YOU WILL, OF, UH, PERSON, UH, WITH THE, THE, UH, ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHO, WHO DOES THE MINUTES, AND ALSO ALL THE CLERICAL WORK FOR THE COUNCIL.
UH, ITEM 64, UH, NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF
[01:50:01]
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.UH, THIS IS OUR INTERAGENCY, UH, RECORDING, UH, COORDINATING COUNSEL.
UM, THE DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATOR IN THE AMOUNT OF 48,000, UH, $485.
THIS SUPPORT STAFF AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARDS TO ENSURE THAT THE NECESSARY TASKS, MEETINGS, ET CETERA, ARE BEING, UH, ADHERED TO.
AND THIS ENHANCE THE SERVICES TO BEHAVIORALLY CHALLENGED YOUTH, YOUTH AND, UM, THEIR CAREGIVERS.
UH, ITEM 65, UH, A BUDGET INSERTION, UH, FROM THE NATIONAL OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND.
THIS IS MONEY, AN AMOUNT OF $42,694 AND 85 CENTS THAT WE'RE RECEIVING FROM THE TOWNSHIP OF LIVINGSTON.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, MANY OF THE, THE TOWNS HAVE SEEDED THEIR, UH, OPIOID, UH, MONEY TO THE COUNTY FOR A BROADER, UH, PROGRAM.
AND THIS IS, UH, MONEY THAT WE'RE RECEIVING FROM, AGAIN, LIVINGSTON.
OUR NEW TOTAL FOR THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED IS $3,154,715 AND 29 CENTS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE? NO QUESTIONS, PRESIDENT.
COMMISSIONERS, QUESTIONS ON 61 AND 65? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT.
JUST A COMMENT IN RELATION TO 62, UM, I WAS REALLY GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THAT, UM, INCREASE IN FUNDING OR RATHER THAT THAT STABILITY, UH, THAT WE HAVE NOW, UH, FROM THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
UM, ACTUALLY GOT TO MEET ONE OF THE, THE LEADERS OF OUR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM HERE AT THE COUNTY, UH, MAYBE A FEW WEEKS AGO.
AND THEY WORK SO HARD AND SO DO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND SO THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY HERE, THAT THAT FUNDING HAS BEEN SECURED AND SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF SEATS AVAILABLE.
ALSO, JUST WANNA ECHO THE CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR EXTRAORDINARY INTERNS.
SPEAKING OF YOUTH EXCELLENCE, WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY, WE HAVE MAKO, PATRICIA, ERIC, HENRY, MARIE, BERGSON, SONIYA, MIA, TANIA, AND MAGGIE.
AM I MISSING ANYONE? I, THAT'S EVERYBODY AMAZING.
BUT YOU GUYS REALLY REPRESENT, UH, THE BEST OF US AS A COUNTY.
UH, YOU COULD BE DOING A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THIS SUMMER, BUT YOU'RE HERE, YOU KNOW, FURTHERING YOUR, UH, INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE, YOUR, UH, MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE SEEING THE INSIDES AND OUTS OF GOVERNMENT.
SOME OF IT'S VERY EXCITING, SOME OF IT IS NOT VERY EXCITING, RIGHT? BUT YOU REALLY GET TO BE A PART OF THAT AND HELP MAKE SURE THAT THIS COUNTY SERVING, UH, ONE OF THE LARGEST COUNTIES IN THIS STATE GETS TO SERVE ITS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WELL.
CONSIDER ALL OF US BOARD MEMBERS, ADMINISTRATION, COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE, A PART OF YOUR VILLAGE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL THE GREAT THINGS YOU'LL DO, ALL THE GREAT THINGS YOU'LL BECOME.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THESE, UH, VP? SURE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND ON THESE? SECOND.
SECOND BY GILL ROLL CALL MATTER.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
SO MOVE, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 72 TO ONE 17.
WHICH ARE I MEMORIAMS COMMENDATIONS PROCLAMATION RESOLUTIONS THAT CAN BE READ UNTIL THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
AND ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS HERE? NONE.
SO I'M GONNA MOVE HIM, MOVE IT.
MOVE BY RICHARDSON OF A SECOND, SECOND.
SECOND BY SIBO ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY KIRK.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
IT'S, UH, FROM THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
UH, MS. SHABAZZ, WILL YOU EXPLAIN THE RESOLUTION? UM, YES.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION FOR A CONTRACT TO AWARD TO CNET TECH SOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE WEBSITE CONSULTING SERVICES FOR A 20 MONTH, 24 MONTH CONTRACT FROM THE DATE OF AWARD NOT TO EXCEED $34,800.
THERE WERE 16 VENDORS THAT SUBMITTED PROPOSALS.
THE SCORING COMMITTEE SCORED THOSE PROPOSALS AND DEEMED CNET TO BE THE HIGHEST RATED RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE PROPOSAL.
CNET WAS ALSO THE PROVIDER, UH, FOR LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESOLUTION.
IT WAS APPROVED AND THERE ARE NO LEGAL ISSUES OR CONCERNS, UM, ON MY END.
MR. MACKIN, ANY QUESTIONS? NO.
ANY QUESTIONS? I'M GONNA MOVE IT, MOVE IT, MOVE BY RICHARDSON.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR ONE TWENTY THREE.
[01:55:01]
COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
WE'RE IN THE HOME STRETCH HERE.
ANY REPORTS OF BOARD COMMITTEES? SAYING NONE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY LEGISLATIVE REPORTS SAYING NONE.
ANY WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS SAYING NONE.
ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS SAYING NONE.
THEN WE'RE MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE MATTER, PLEASE.
THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK MR. FA.
UH, ADAM KRAMER, REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, UM, DISTRICT FOUR, COMMISSIONER ESSEX COUNTY.
UM, I OBSERVED A FEW THINGS AT THIS MEETING AND I FEW, WHAT I HOPE ARE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITIQUES.
UM, YOU APPROVED A BOND FOR $40 MILLION FOR AN APART, FOR A NEW, UH, WAREHOUSE TO STORE ELECTION EQUIPMENT, BUSES, COUNTY RECORDS AND SUCH.
BASED ON WHAT YOUR, UH, YOUR, UH, TREASURER SAID.
THE CURRENT LEASE IS 1.4 MILLION BASED ON MINE MATH THAT CONTINUE TO LEASE FOR ABOUT 27 OR 28 YEARS.
AND IT'S GOING TO COST MONEY NOT ONLY TO BUILD, BUT MAINTAIN, UH, AND REPAIR THE BUILDING ONCE YOU OWN IT.
SO FROM MY MATH, UM, PROBABLY NOT THE SMARTEST UH, DECISION.
UM, IN THE INTEREST OF THE TAXPAYER.
UM, YOU AS A COUNTY SIT ABOVE A MUNICIPALITY.
SO IF YOU SEE A MUNICIPALITY'S MAKING A MISTAKE THAT MIGHT HARM PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY, HEY, YOU'RE MAKING A MISTAKE.
AND, UH, I THINK THE RIGHT, THE THING TO DO WOULD'VE BEEN TO TABLE THE MOTION TO MOVE IT OR NOT APPROVE IT.
UM, AND I, YOU KNOW, I FIND MYSELF ACTUALLY AGREEING WITH THE COMMISSIONER WHO I OFTEN DISAGREE WITH AND, UH, EVEN THOUGH I DO FIND 'EM A VERY AGREEABLE COMMISSIONER.
UM, SO THOSE ARE MY CRITIQUES.
UM, I THINK BASICALLY YOU'RE DOING A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT, SO I DON'T WANT TO COME HERE AND SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M MR. NEGATIVE, BUT THOSE ARE MY CRITIQUES AND THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT TO DO MAYBE A LITTLE BETTER.
UH, I'M A RESIDENT OF THE WESTWARD BURG.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME AT THE MEETING, SO, YOU KNOW, FORGIVE MY IGNORANCE OF IF I'M NOT LINE OR NOT, BUT I, IN SPEAKING, I HEARD THE GENTLEMAN FROM PARKS AND RECREATION AND YOU ASKED HIM ABOUT HOW SOMEBODY CAN REPORT SOMETHING FOR ME.
IT WAS KIND OF SCARY THAT SOMEBODY THAT WORKS THERE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT, BUT THEY DO HAVE SOMETHING WEBSITE THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO TO AND SAY THE PROBLEM AND, AND PICK THE PARK SOMEWHAT.
BUT THE REASON I'M HERE, UM, I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR THE, THE BELGRADE PARK AND WE TRY TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET EXERCISE EQUIPMENT IN THE PARK AND WE JUST WENT UNDER SOME MINIMUM, UM, RENOVATION.
BUT WE WANT TO, WE, WE ARE LOOKING TO INVEST IN OUR HEALTH AND YOU KNOW, I, I COULD SEE ADDING EXERCISE EQUIPMENT IN THE PARK WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW.
UM, AND IT'S NOT EASY GETTING IN CONTACT WITH THE, THE PARKS COMMISSION.
I HAVE EMAILS IN MY PHONE THAT I'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING, ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHICH DIRECTION TO GO SINCE APRIL AND HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYTHING BEEN THERE PHYSICALLY.
EMAIL WAS TOLD TO EMAIL PARKS AND COMMITS.
AND THEN EVENTUALLY THE SAME PERSON THAT TOLD ME THE EMAIL THERE TOLD ME TO, TO SUBMIT A REPORT TO, TO REPORT A PROBLEM, WHICH I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND HOW SUGGESTING AN ADDITION IS REPORTING A PROBLEM, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND THEN TO HEAR THIS GENTLEMAN SAY THE SAME, LIKE, LIKE HE DIDN'T KNOW.
I WAS LIKE, OH, I COULD SEE WHY SHE DIDN'T KNOW.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? BUT OTHER THAN THAT, LIKE THAT'S MY REASON FOR ME HERE.
SO IF I'M OUTTA LINE OR IF I GET DIRECTION ON HOW WE MIGHT CAN GET THIS DARK CONSIDERED TO BE DONE.
WHAT I WOULD DO, THERE IS A, A GENTLEMAN AND BACK, UH, ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS, ADAM, YOU CAN PROVIDE HIM WITH YOUR EMAIL AND, UH, HE COULD FORWARD YOUR REQUEST TO US, WHICH WE'LL FORWARD TO THE ADMINISTRATION WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE OF THE GOVERNMENT.
OUR COLLEAGUES ARE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
THEY MANAGE MORE THE DAY TO DAY.
[02:00:01]
OKAY.SO WE CAN FORWARD YOUR INQUIRY TO THEM AND, UH, AND ASK THEM FOR WHAT THE PROCESS MAY BE TO, YOU KNOW, JUST PROVIDE YOUR INFORMATION AND YOUR INQUIRY.
WANTED TO SAY, TAKE A MOMENT AND SAY THANK YOU, UH, TO THE PRESIDENT, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT AND THE ESSEX COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR AGAIN SUPPORTING THE ESSEX COUNTY HUMAN SURVI HUMAN ADVISORY COUNCIL, THE HAYSTACK COMMITTEE.
I AM THE HAYSTACK COORDINATOR, ADMINISTRATOR FOR ESSEX COUNTY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS VITAL COUNCIL AND ITS CONTINUATION.
AND ALSO SAY THAT TOMORROW WE ARE HAVING OUR MONTHLY ESSEX COUNTY HAYSTACK MEETING.
IT'LL BE VIRTUALLY, IT IS A PUBLIC MEETING, IT IS PUBLICLY NOTICED.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND ALSO OF COURSE MEMBERS HERE AND, UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS WELL, UM, TO BE ABLE TO COME JOIN THE MEETING.
WHAT WE'D ASK YOU TO DO, IF YOU CAN AGAIN, UH, WITH ADAM, JUST MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU WANT TO PUT UH, US ON THE EMAIL LIST, IF YOU WILL, WE'LL GO TO THE CLERK AND SHE CAN FORWARD IT TO US.
SO WE ARE KEPT ABREAST OF YOUR WHATEVER PROGRAMS AND MEETINGS YOU MAY HAVE AND ANY OTHER NEWS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM AN EAST ORANGE RESIDENT AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE ESSEX COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY GROUP.
I ACTUALLY, UM, AM IT'S VERY REFRESHING TO ALREADY HEAR, UH, SOME COMMENTS AROUND VISION ZERO, COMPLETE STREETS, SAFE STREETS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THAT BUILDING ON I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ESSEX COUNTY, UH, SAFE STREETS AND ROADS, ACTION, SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL ACTION PLAN.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR ADOPTING THAT BACK IN JANUARY ON JANUARY 14TH.
ADOPTING IT WAS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE.
NOW COMES THE WORK OF IMPLEMENTING IT.
ACCORDING TO THE ACTION PLAN, ESSEX COUNTY HAS EXPERIENCED 382 TRANSPORTATION RELATED FATALITIES SINCE 2018, AN AVERAGE OF NEARLY 50 LIVES LOST EVERY YEAR.
THE ACTION PLAN ALSO IDENTIFIES 60.3 MILE HIGH INJURY NETWORK THAT ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN 68% OF ALL FATAL AND SERIOUS INJURY CRASHES ON THE COUNTY ROADWAY SYSTEM.
THE DATA IS THERE, THE PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, THE ROADMAP HAS BEEN DEVELOPED.
NOW IT'S TIME TO PUT THAT ROADMAP INTO ACTION.
THE NEW JERSEY TARGET ZERO ACTION PLAN COMMITS OUR STATE TO ELIMINATING TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES BY 2040.
ACHIEVING THAT GOAL WILL REQUIRE ACTION AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT AND COUNTIES PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE BY IMPLEMENTING THE PROJECTS AND STRATEGIES IDENTIFIED IN ACTION PLANS LIKE THE ONE ESSEX COUNTY HAS ADOPTED.
THE ACTION PLAN IDENTIFIES 34 PRIORITY PROJECTS, DOZENS OF SHORT, MEDIUM, AND LONG-TERM ACTIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDING UPDATING THE COUNTY'S COUNTY'S EXISTING COMPLETE STREETS POLICY TO ALIGN WITH NEW JERSEY'S COMPLETE INGREDIENT, STREET STANDARD, AND SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE MEASURES TO TRACK PROGRESS.
BECAUSE THIS BOARD ADOPTED THE ACTION PLAN, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE IMPLEMENTATION A STANDING PRIORITY BY REQUESTING REGULAR PROGRESS UPDATES AND ENSURING THE COUNTY CONTINUES ADVANCING BOTH THE INFRASTRUCTURE, PROJECTS AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS IDENTIFIED IN THE PLAN.
ESSEX COUNTY IS KNOWN FOR ITS OUTSTANDING PARTS, PARKS.
LET'S MAKE SURE THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS LEADING TO THEM ARE JUST AS SAFE, WELCOMING AND INVITING.
OUR PARKS SHOULDN'T BE JUST BEGIN AT THE PARK ENTRANCE.
THEY SHOULD BEGIN WITH THE JOURNEY THERE.
SO WHEN CAN THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC EXPECT THE FIRST IMPLEMENTATION REPORT ON THE COUNTY'S PROGRESS? I ALSO ENCOURAGE THE COUNTY TO MAKE THIS INITIATIVE MORE VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION WILL REQUIRE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.
YET MANY ESSEX COUNTY RESIDENTS MAY NOT EVEN KNOW THE ACTION PLAN EXISTS OR UNDERSTAND THE WORK THAT THE COUNTY IS UNDERTAKING TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY.
IF YOU COULD PROVIDE REGULAR IMPLEMENTATION UPDATES AND EXPAND INFORMATION ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE, AND ALSO REGULAR PUBLIC UPDATES, THAT WOULD REALLY HELP THE RESIDENTS TO FOLLOW THE COUNTY'S PROGRESS AND BECOME PARTNERS IN CREATING SAFER STREETS WHILE REVIEWING THE ACTION PLAN.
I ALSO LEARNED THAT ESSEX COUNTY HAS AN EXISTING TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD WHOSE STATED PURPOSE IS TO ADVISE THE DIVISION OF PLANNING AND DIVISION OF PLANNING AND SERVE AS A PUBLIC FORUM ON TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.
ALTHOUGH I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY INFORMATION ON THE BOARD'S MEMBERSHIP MEETING SCHEDULES OR ACTIVITIES, 30 SECONDS.
SO IF THE COUNTY COULD PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON
[02:05:01]
THE STATUS OF THAT TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD, AND WHETHER OR NOT IT'LL HAVE A ROLE IN IMPLEMENTING THE SAFE STREETS AND ROADS ACTION PLAN, THAT'D BE GREAT.AND ALSO, I JUST WANNA KNOW IF THE COUNTY HAS APPLIED FOR SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL IMPLEMENTATION GRANT.
IF SO, HOW MUCH FUNDING WAS REQUESTED? WHAT PROJECT OR INITIATIVES WERE INCLUDED IN THE APPLICATION, AND HOW WOULD THOSE INVESTMENTS SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION PLAN? WE WANT A STRONGER, SAFER ESSEX COUNTY WHERE CHILDREN CAN WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL, OLDER ADULTS CAN CROSS THE STREET.
AND I HOPE THAT THAT PLAN IS GONNA BECOME A LIVING ROADMAP FOR WHERE WE WANNA GO.
WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IN WRITING.
JUST PLEASE SEE ADAM, UH, SO THAT WE COULD HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION.
UH, HOPE EVERYBODY'S HAVING A GREAT SUMMER.
HEY, I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION, MR. THERE STILL A, A VACANT, UH, OPPORTUNITY TO CLERK TO THE BOARD? IS THAT POSITION STILL VACANT HERE? I'M SORRY, I, I, IS THERE A VACANCY, UH, IN REGARDS TO CLERK TO THE BOARD, UNDER THE BOARD OF, UH, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS? THE SHORT OF ANSWER THAT IS YES.
UH, PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, UM, AND COMMISSIONERS.
UH, NORM ARIA 99 BERKELEY AVENUE, BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY.
IT'S COMPLEX, RIGHT? UM, THE, UH, INTERPLAY BETWEEN COUNTY ROADS AND LOCAL ROADS AND COUNTY, UH, GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
SO I APPRECIATE CERTAINLY, UM, THE PAUSE AND SORT OF THE REFLECTION, UM, ON, UH, UH, IMPLEMENTING SAFETY MEASURES, UM, ON, ON BROAD STREET, ON THE COUNTY ROAD, UM, BEFORE RELOCATING THAT BUS STOP, STOP.
I THINK ONE OF THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP OF BLOOMFIELD ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND THE ESSEX COUNTY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
AND I'M JUST SAYING THIS NOT, AGAIN, NOT ACCUSING, BUT, UM, ESSENTIALLY SAYING, I HAD A REPORT FROM BRIGHTVIEW ENGINEERING THAT THEY DID IN APRIL OF 2026 THAT STUDIED BROAD STREET AND STUDIED THAT THE INTERSECTION, BROAD STREET AND CARROLL, UM, I SENT IT TO ALL OF YOU.
DON'T WORRY IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT.
ESSENTIALLY IT SAID, PEOPLE FEED AND LIKE NINE SOMETHING LIKE 94%, UM, UH, ABOVE 90% IN EITHER DIRECTION, UM, GO OVER THE 25 MILE AN HOUR SPEED LIMIT.
UM, AND THERE WERE THINGS THAT THEY RECOMMENDED TO, UM, TO BLOOMFIELD TO DO, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF A FLASHING BEACON AT THE INTERSECTION OF BROAD AND CARROLL, WHERE THE BUS STOP WILL NO LONGER BE.
AND, UM, THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED PARTNERING WITH THE COUNTY.
SO I HOPE THAT WITH FUTURE, WITH FUTURE REMOVALS OR WITH FUTURE, UM, RESOLUTIONS, WHEN YOU SUPPORT A TOWNSHIP, UM, THAT HAS A BUS STOP REMOVAL ON A COUNTY ROAD, UM, IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOU, UM, BEFORE APPROVING THE RESOLUTION, UM, YOU TURN TO THE TOWNSHIP AND ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS TALK WITH ONE ANOTHER AND SAY, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY STUDIES DONE? BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT WOULD'VE HELPED THINGS, UH, TREMENDOUSLY.
AND, UH, MOVING FORWARD, INSTEAD OF RELYING ON A, ON, ON AN INTERESTED MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO, TO CONNECT THE DOTS.
UM, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL.
MISS, EXCUSE ME, MR. PRESS YEAH.
YES, THE ACOUSTICS, THE ACOUSTICS IN HERE ARE CERTAINLY, THANK YOU, UH, VERY MUCH.
UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR, UH, YES.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, UM, FOR SAFE STREETS FOR ALL.
UM, IT NEEDS TO START WITH SOMETHING BASIC.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ESSEX COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, FATAL PEDESTRIAN AND FATAL CYCLISTS.
UM, INVESTIGATIONS NEED TO BE MADE PUBLIC AND EXAMINED.
UM, I KNOW THAT I'VE DONE AN ANALYSIS IN BLOOMFIELD.
WE HAD 75 PEDESTRIANS HIT BY CARS LAST YEAR.
I AM PULLING THOSE REPORTS, I AM ANALYZING THEM, AND I HOPE TO MAKE A REPORT TO MY OWN TOWN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
IS ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? THIS WOULD BE THE LAST CALL.
SEEING NONE, UH, MADAM DEPUTY CLARK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT.
THERE'S NO ONE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME, SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO COMMISSIONER.
JUST, JUST AS A FOLLOW UP, UM, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, WHEN WE, WHEN WE DO RECEIVE THE ANSWER, I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS YES, THAT THE COUNTY DID, UM, APPLY FOR A SAFE STREETS
[02:10:01]
FOR ALL IMPLEMENTATION GRANT.I KNOW WE, I KNOW WE APPLIED FOR THE SS FOUR A GRANT.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE'S HERE, UM, RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT WHEN WE DO GET THAT ANSWER, CAN WE, UH, DO MR. PRESIDENT MAKE, UH, PROVIDE THAT TO THE FULL BOARD? UM, YEAH, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS A PROBLEM.
CAN WE JUST, UH, YEAH, WE HAVE A NUMBER, BUT YES, I THINK WE DID.
SO I DON'T, I WOULD JUST LOVE TO SEE WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT IS.
AND, UM, ALSO, UM, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, UM, WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, GENERAL GAME PLAN IS AROUND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT.
IT, IT'S GRANT ACTUALLY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION, RIGHT, OF THE, OF THE, UM, THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, POTENTIALLY HAVE GIVING US SOME RESOURCES FOR, UM, UH, DI YOU KNOW, ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES AND OVERSIGHT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND THEN SECONDLY, MR. PRESIDENT JUST WANTED TO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS, UM, A STORY, UH, AND IS, UH, MORE OF A NATIONAL ISSUE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE IN A TIME WHERE INCREASINGLY AS, UM, BOTH AS CITIZENS AND AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE SHOULD, WERE, WE'RE FORCED TO, UM, COMMENT AND STAND UP ON THINGS THAT NEED BE OUT OF OUR IMMEDIATE PURVIEW, UM, IN OUR ROLES THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AS REPORTED YESTERDAY IN, IN J.COM, UM, RESPONDED, UH, TO, UH, THE COUNTY'S, UH, THE RES THE RESOLUTION THAT WE PASSED.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT ON THAT, UH, BANNING, UM, UM, ICE ACTIVITY WITHOUT PROPER JUDICIAL, UH, JUDICIAL WARRANTS.
AND AGAIN, UM, I THOUGHT THAT, UH, THE ARTICLE ITSELF FOR THOSE THROUGH MS, THROUGH YOU, MS. PRESIDENT, IF, IF OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD DID NOT SEE THE ARTICLE YESTERDAY, IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH, UM, READING, UH, FOR SURE, BECAUSE IT MAKES A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION, UH, BETWEEN JUDICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE WARRANTS AND WHAT WE ACTUALLY DID HERE, UH, TO PROTECT, UH, OUR CITIZENS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, UM, UH, I AM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AS NOT ONLY HAVE A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, UM, UH, AS A PERSON WHO, UM, HAS A FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS A, YOU KNOW, COLOMBIAN IMMIGRANT AND, AND WHOSE KIDS ARE, UH, UH, LATINO, AND I KNOW YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, OBVIOUSLY I'VE BEEN KNOWN TO BE LATINO YET, YEAH.
THIS IS, THIS IS NOT A, A FOREIGN CONCEPT, BUT, UM, AND STILL CONTINUE TO BE, I, AND MAYBE NOT, MAYBE SHOCK'S NOT THE RIGHT WORD, BUT, YOU KNOW, BECOMING NUMB TO WATCHING, UM, GOVERNMENT, UH, AGENTS, UM, MURDER, UM, AMERICAN CITIZENS.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.
UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, A PERSON WHO WAS COMMITTED TO THEIR FAMILY AND, UM, WHO WILL NOW HAVE, YOU KNOW, CHILDREN WHO WILL NOT HAVE A FATHER AND ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
UM, AND IT'S, UM, IT'S JUST OUTRAGEOUS.
AND SO, UH, AGAIN, UM, THE RESOLUTION THAT WE PASSED AND THE, AND THE STEP THAT WE TOOK IS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, TIMELY AND ONE SMALL STEP TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO STAND UP, UH, BASED ON ONE OF THE MANY, MANY ILLS THAT ARE PLAGUING OUR NATION RIGHT NOW.
AND, UM, WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO, TO READ THAT ARTICLE, UH, AND TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK UP AND STAND OUT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE WITNESSING IN REAL TIME.
VERY LONG TIME HERE, AND WE ARE HAPPY TO JOIN YOU WITH THAT, UH, EFFORT AS WELL.
COMMISSIONER HAS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENT, UH, COMMENTS? I'M SORRY.
I, UH, HAD THE PLEASURE OF JOINING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE YESTERDAY OF RIVERFRONT PARK FOR, UH, IT'S AN 18 ACRE PARK THAT, UH, I THINK MAYBE 15, 16 YEARS AGO WAS A DUMP.
UH, IT WAS, UH, A GAS STATION, UH, STACKED WITH CONTAINERS FIVE HIGH.
IT MUST HAVE BEEN ONE HECK OF AN ISO.
UM, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT TODAY, YESTERDAY WE WERE THERE TO SEE THE SECOND REITERATION OF THAT PARK.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PARK.
UH, IT'S WELL LOVED, IT'S WELL ATTENDED, UH, AND IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THAT, BUT JUST, AND WE HAD SOME MEMBERS OF THE ADVOCACY GROUP, UH, THERE, UH, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTED AND, UH, YOU KNOW, 15 YEARS, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT'S BEEN.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I HAD THOUGHT TO, UH, ACCOUNT FOR, YOU KNOW, SEEING THE VISION OF, OF WHAT LOOKED LIKE INDUSTRIAL WAY, CLEANING IT UP, SURE IT'S SAFE, AND THEN MAKING IT SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL NOW.
SO THAT WAS WORTHY OF, YOU KNOW, $2 MILLION RENOVATION.
AND, UH, IT, IT, IT WAS A FANTASTIC LOOKING, UH, LO LOCATION.
WE ALSO DID ANOTHER ONE TODAY AT MONTE PARK, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO GO BECAUSE, UH, THE SCHEDULE CHANGED LAST
[02:15:01]
MINUTE.BUT WE ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, INTRODUCED, UH, GREAT IMPROVE IMPROVEMENTS THERE AS WELL.
SO I THINK IN ESSEX GIVEN YEAR, THEN MOST COUNTIES ONLY GIVEN FIVE YEAR PERIOD, WHICH IS, UH, A TESTAMENT TO THE RESOLVE, RESOLVE OF OUR ENTIRE TEAM, REALLY TO COMMITTED TO, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THESE AS, UH, ESSEX COUNTY'S, UH, ASSETS TOP NOTCH.
SO, SO THOSE ARE A PROUD MOMENT FOR ALL.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF ANYONE ELSE HAS NOTHING ELSE TO GO, I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO JOURNAL.
YOU GOTTA BE QUICK HERE 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, SUPER QUICK.
I CHOSE THE WORST TIMING, BUT I DID JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, THE THREE, UH, WOMEN FROM NEWARK WHO I WAS ABLE TO CELEBRATE TONIGHT IN OUR SPECIAL PRESENTATION.
THESE ARE EXCELLENT WOMEN WHO FINISHED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, UH, TECHNICALLY LATER IN LIFE, BUT ALWAYS ON TIME.
AND SO, UH, TO THE WOMEN, TASHA MAY, KIM PARKER AND MONIQUE WRIGHT, UH, WHO GRADUATED FROM NEWARK EVENING HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, ONE IS ON HER WAY TO CULINARY SCHOOL.
ONE IS ON HER WAY TO THE CULINARY SCHOOL HERE, ACTUALLY AT ES COUNTY COLLEGE.
ONE IS ON HER WAY TO NURSING SCHOOL AND THE OTHER IS CONTINUING HER CAREER.
AND THEY MANAGE FINISHING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AFTER HAVING TO STOP EARLY, ALL WHILE BEING PARENTS, MOTHERS, UH, AND THE LIKES.
I WANNA CONGRATULATE THEM AND THANK ALL OF OUR, OUR, UH, OFFICE STAFF, OUR DEPUTY CLERK FOR, YOU KNOW, KATHY BROWN FOR ALL HER ASSISTANTS, UH, ADAM KYLE, EVERYONE FOR WHO HELPED MAKE THAT PRESENTATION SO SPECIAL, INCLUDING OUR, UH, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF AND, UH, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, MS. JACQUELINE JONES, WHO JOINED US AS WELL WITH SPECIAL REMARKS.
AND MELISSA REED, NEWARK SCHOOL BOARD EMERITUS MEMBER AND MEMBER OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT STAFF.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM AND FOR EVERYONE WHO'S GRADUATING AND DOING AMAZING THINGS, UM, THIS SUMMER.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
THAT WAS A LONG ONE, LATE DINNER, BUT THE DATES I.