[00:00:01]
NOT AN OPEN FIELD SPACE, BUT MORE OF A SPACE, LIKE A PARKING LOT.SO I'M JUST WONDERING ABOUT LIKE, WHAT'S THAT ABOUT? IF YOU CAN, IF SOMEONE CAN EXPLAIN IT.
WE DON'T GO BACK AND FORTH NOW, BUT IN THE COURSE OF THE AGENDA, IT'LL PROBABLY BE ADDRESSED.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEE YOU NONE.
LET'S GO ON TO ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTIONS FOR AN INTRODUCTION FOR FIRST READINGS.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY? NO.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY.
DO WE HAVE ANY? NO, WE DO NOT.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE THREE.
ORDINANCE O 20 26, 0 0, 0, 0 9.
ORDINANCE O2, 2, 6, 0, 0, 0, 10.
OKAY, SO LET'S GO TO ORDINANCE O DASH 20 26, 0 0 0 6.
I HEREBY DECLARE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 2026 DASH 0 0 0 9 OPEN.
IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT FOR OR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
MS. SHABAZZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO.
MR. PRESIDENT, MR. MCINERNEY? NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ORDINANCE? THREE.
MR. PRESIDENT, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT.
UH, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT, UM, AS MANY BOTH HERE IN THE ESS COUNTY COMMUNITY AND CERTAINLY IN MY HOMETOWN OF NEWARK, NO, UH, THE LATE ALBERT CATINO WAS AN INCREDIBLE PILLAR, UH, TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SOMEONE WHO I DIDN'T GET TO KNOW IN PERSON PERSONALLY, BUT I JUST KNEW HIS LEGACY.
YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE IRON BOUND AND NOT TALK ABOUT ALBERT.
YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT SOCCER AND NEWARK AND IN THE IRON BOUND AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND NOT TALK ABOUT ALBERT.
YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT THIS IS THE CITY IN THIS COUNTY AND NOT TALK ABOUT HIM.
AND SO I JUST WANNA COMMEND THE ADMINISTRATION AND ALL PARTNERS, UH, WHO'VE COME TOGETHER TO RENAME THIS COUNTY, OR RATHER TO NAME THIS COUNTY, UH, SOCCER FIELD WHERE HIS LEGACY, EVERY DAY YOU DRIVE PAST, YOU SEE CHILDREN PLAYING SOCCER, UH, LIVES BRIGHTLY.
NAMING IT IN HIS HONOR IS, UH, A TREMENDOUS, UH, YOU KNOW, ACT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE VERY LEAST I THINK WE COULD DO TO SOMEONE WHO'S GIVEN OUR COUNTY SO MUCH.
SO HIS HATS OFF TO EVERYONE WHO'S WORKED DILIGENTLY TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE.
AGREED WITH ALL MR. MR. PRESIDENT, MAY I SAY SOMETHING? COMMISSIONER SEA, UH, ALBERTINO WAS A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, AND I AM VERY PLEASED THAT THE SOCCER FIELD IS GOING TO BE NAMED IN HIS HONOR.
I COULDN'T THINK OF ANYONE BETTER TO HAVE, HAVE IT NAMED AFTER THAN, THAN ALBERT CONTINO.
ANY OTHERS? ANY OTHER? SEEING NONE.
DO I HAVE, UH, SOMEONE TO MOVE AND SECOND TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE O DASH O DASH 2026 DASH 0 0 0.
DO I PRESIDENT? DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVER AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE? YES.
THANK YOU, MS. DEPUTY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMM COMMISSIONER LUCIANO? YES.
COMMISSIONER WENER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
LET'S MOVE THE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026 DASH 0 0 0 1 0.
IT'LL BE READ TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I HERE I HEREBY DECLARE PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 6 0 0 0 1 0.
IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WILL LIKE TO COMMENT FOR OR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO PLEASE, YOU GOTTA STATE YOUR NAME EVERY TIME YOU COME UP, BECAUSE WHEN THEY TRANSCRIBE THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT.
UM, I JUST WANNA KNOW, LIKE, UM, FOR THIS CREATION, HOW MANY NURSES OR DOCTORS, LIKE, WHAT IS THE STAFF GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR THIS? THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE PUBLIC? SEEING NONE, MR. JACKSON? YEAH, I JUST, THERE IS NO CHANGE TO THE STAFFING AT ALL.
IT'S JUST A REPORTING RELATIONSHIP GOING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO UNDER THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
[00:05:01]
NO CHANGE.THANK YOU, MS. SHABA, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO.
MR. PRESIDENT, MR. MCINERNEY, YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER DOES ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THESE? THANK YOU.
I WAS GONNA ASK, SEE ANNAN, DO I ASK SOMEONE TO MOVE TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH 0 0 0 1 0? I'LL MOVE IT.
UH, THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE AT ONE TIME.
DO I HAVE TO SAY MOVER AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE? YES.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR O DASH 2026 DASH 0 0 0 1 0.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE NUMBER ZERO, I'M SORRY, O DASH 2026 DASH 0 0 0 1 1.
IT'LL BE WRITTEN TO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
I HEREBY DECLARE THE PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCE O 2026 DASH 0 0 0 1 1 OPEN.
IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WILL LIKE TO COMMENT FOR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
ALRIGHT, SCENE NON FUND, THE PUBLIC AUDIENCE COMMISSIONER.
UH, MR. CHABA, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS, PRESIDENT.
MR. KIN, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ORDINANCE? SEE, I SO TO MOVE THE CLOSING OF PUBLIC COMMENT ON O DASH 2026 DASH 0 0 0 1 1.
MOVE IT, MOVE BY THE VICE PRESIDENT.
SECOND BY LUCIANO, DO I HAVE THE SAME MOVER AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE? YES.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR O DASH 2026 DASH 1 0 0 0 1 1.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE, OFFICE OF ACCOUNTS AND CONTROL.
AND THAT COULD BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, OUR CFO, MR. I ABRAHAM WILL, UH, ADDRESS THIS ITEM.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD AND EXPLAIN THE RESOLUTION.
UM, AS WE ALL KNOW, EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UH, UNIT IN NEW JERSEY IS REQUIRED TO HAVE AN ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT PERFORMED BY A REGISTERED ACCOUNTANT.
IF THERE ARE ANY FINDINGS, UM, WE HAVE TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN.
UM, DUE TO 2025 ANNUAL AUDIT, THERE WERE SOME FINDINGS AND A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN WAS PREPARED.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO LEGAL QUESTIONS.
I REVIEWED THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN.
I GOT A A CALL AND, UH, AND WENT OVER IT.
THERE WAS NOTHING REALLY MAJOR THAT I WOULD CONSIDER MAJOR.
STANDARD BUSINESS AS WE DO OVER HERE.
WHAT'S THAT? PRETTY USUAL STANDARD BUSINESS AS WE DO HERE.
LIKE THE OUTSTANDING CHECKS WAS ONE OF THEM AGAIN, AND, YOU KNOW, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO NUMBER ONE? SEE NONE.
SOMEONE GONNA MOVE IT, MOVE IT.
MOVE BY RICHARDSON OF A SECOND.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR NUMBER ONE.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME, AND I'M NOTICING THE ABSENCE OF A CERTAIN MR. JOSH ZAS TODAY.
SO MR. COL, ARE YOU HANDLING THIS? MR. CULTURE IS DOING IT.
MR. ZAS IS IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE, RELAXING AND HE COULDN'T MAKE EVERYONE HAS DESERVED A VACATION.
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS CONTRACTOR AWARD TO DIRECT WASTE TO PROVIDE COLLECTION, TRANSPORTATION, DISPOSAL OF ID 10 SOLID WASTE GARBAGE AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS, EXERCISING A 24 MONTH, UH, CONTRACT EXTENSION AMOUNT NOW TO EXCEED $746,948 AND 36 CENTS.
[00:10:01]
866,000, UH, $32 AND 89 CENTS, WHICH HAD A 20% CHANGE OF 144,338 POINT 81.THANK YOU MS. SHABAZZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO LEGAL QUESTIONS, PRESIDENT.
MR. MCKENNA, ANY QUESTIONS ON NUMBER TWO? NO COMMISSIONERS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON NUMBER TWO? SEE NONE.
ROLL CALL MAD DEPUTY CLERK FOR NUMBER TWO.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER THREE THROUGH SIX, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, AND THEY WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT ANY TIME.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS TO EXERCISING OF A TWO YEAR EXTENSION OPTION TO THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH COLONIAL ENERGY TO FURNISH AND DELIVER NATURAL GAS AND AMOUNT EXCEED $9 MILLION IN THE AGGREGATE.
THIS CONTRACT EXTENSION WILL ALLOW FOR THE UNINTERRUPTED SUPPLY OF NATURAL GAS TO COUNTY BUILDINGS BASED ON COMMODITY CODE COST AS PER DYNAMICS EXCHANGE, PLUS A FIXED UPCHARGE FOR THE WINTER SEASON OF 2026.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS THE ADOPTION OF THE ESSEX COUNTY 2027 ANNUAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM IN AMOUNT OF $10,026,084 FROM THE NJ TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND.
THIS PROGRAM WILL BE USED TO RESURFACE SIX ROADS ACROSS 16 AND A HALF MILES OF LENGTH THROUGH THE 2027 ROAD GRADE RESURFACING PROGRAM.
THE COUNTY'S 2027 ANNUAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM REFLECTS A 10% INCREASE OVER THE 2026 PROGRAM.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS AN INSERTION OF REVENUE EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF 10,000,020 $6,084 FROM THE FOUR MENTIONED ESSEX COUNTY 2027 ANNUAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.
THIS INSERTION OF REVENUE WILL ENSURE THAT THE RESURFACING OF 16 AND A HALF MILES OF ROAD WILL OCCUR.
AND ITEM NUMBER SIX IS A CHANGE ORDER WHICH MODIFIES THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH BLOCK ROCK ENTERPRISES TO PROVIDE THE 2025 ROAD RESURFACING PROGRAM BY INCREASING THE CURRENT NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT FROM 9,316,000 $127 TO A NEW, NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $9,816,929.
THIS IS AN INCREASE OF $500,000, WHICH IS 5.4% OF THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT.
UH, THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS WILL BE USED TO COVER THE COST OF ADDITIONAL QUANTITIES AND TRAFFIC CONTROL REQUIRED DUE TO ADDITIONAL LENGTH OF RESURFACING THAT OCCURRED DURING THE YEAR.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. BAZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THERE ARE NO LEGAL QUESTIONS.
MR. MCINERNEY, ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? NO QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THREE TO SIX? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT.
I'M WONDERING, I HAVE A QUESTION IT RELATES TO, IN RELATION TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WOULD YOU SHARE FOR THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC HOW THE COUNTY GOES ABOUT, UH, ASSESSING WHICH MUNICIPALITIES GET THESE RESURFACING GRANTS OR ARE SELECTED FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM? SO, UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. DAVID, ON THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, THIS MONEY IS FOR THE COUNTY TO USE.
WE'RE NOT GIVEN IT TO MUNICIPALITY.
UH, WE ARE DESIGNATING SIX ROADS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE GONNA DO LAKESIDE PLUS VALLEY WAY FIRM IS BEGINNING IN BLOOMFIELD AVENUE, VERONA ALL THE WAY TO ITS END IN WEST ORANGE AND NORTHFIELD AVENUE.
UH, SO THE SIX ROAD SECTIONS, SIX AND A HALF MILES, AND THOSE ROAD SECTIONS ARE CHOSEN BASED ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTING WORLD CONDITIONS.
AND THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED WITH THE GAS TAX THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE, UM, UH, THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND.
WHAT WAS THE LAST PART YOU SAID? IT'S CHOSEN BASED OFF WORLD CONDITIONS.
AND JUST IN GENERAL, BECAUSE I GET A LOT OF INQUIRIES FROM RESIDENTS WHO WERE LIKE, OKAY, IF THIS IS A COUNTY ROAD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, IT NEEDS WORK.
WHAT'S THE PROCESS? HOW DO I MAKE SURE? UM, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY IN YOUR ESTIMATION TO KIND OF COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC, HOW THE COUNTY GOES ABOUT ASSESSING WHICH ROADS OR, OR RATHER HOW ROADS ARE MANAGED? UH, FIXED AND ON KIND OF WHAT CRITERIA? WELL, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I WOULD SAY THE SIMPLEST THING IS ANYBODY THAT'S
[00:15:01]
INTERESTED IN KNOWING HOW WE DO THIS TO CALL US, UH, WE'RE OPEN TO FIELD.ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE JOURNAL PUBLIC? THAT'S ACTUALLY, IT'S A QUITE COMMON QUESTION WE DO HAVE FROM PEOPLE, WHICH IS, WHY ISN'T MY ROTARY RESURFACE? WHY WAS THAT ONE RESURFACED? AND WE, AND WE'RE VERY GLAD TO GIVE THEM AN, AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THAT HAPPENED.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS? SAY NONE.
MADAM VICE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE IT? SURE.
BY MERCADO WILL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR THREE THROUGH SIX.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
ANTONIO, LET'S MOVE ON TO RO SEVEN AND EIGHT, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRAINING EMPLOYMENT.
WE'LL BE RIGHT INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
SO MR. VIRA, SO HE CAN HANDLE THIS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR BOTH THE DIVISION OF SENIOR SERVICES AND EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING.
UH, TODAY I AM, UH, UH, REPRESENTING TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.
UH, RESOLUTION NUMBER SEVEN IS FOR OUR WAVE, UH, VEHICLES, UH, WORKFORCE ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES, VESTS COUNTY, BASICALLY THAT CONNECTS OUR JOB TRAINING SITES AND EMPLOYERS, UH, WITH OUR CUSTOMERS.
UH, THERE'S THREE ROUTES THAT, UM, RUN EVERY SINGLE DAY, UH, WEEKDAYS AS WELL AS WE HAVE ONE SPECIAL RUN THAT, UH, WE CHANGE UP AND, UH, CAN, UH, PROVIDE EVENING SERVICES ALSO.
ARE YOU DOING NUMBER EIGHT AS WELL? I'M NOT.
WHO'S DOING NUMBER EIGHT? MR. NAVAREZ IS GONNA DO NUMBER EIGHT.
SO LET'S JUST HANDLE THIS ONE.
AND, UH, THIS TIME, MR. BA, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON NUMBER SEVEN? THERE ARE NO LEGAL QUESTIONS.
MR. MCINERNEY? I HAVE NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONERS, SOMEONE TO MOVE IT, MOVE IT.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY COOPER FOR NUMBER SEVEN.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
AND DID YOU SAY MR. NAVARRO IS HANDLING THE NEXT ONE, NUMBER EIGHT NAVAREZ.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
ANDRE NARVAEZ, SES, COUNTY HOUSING COORDINATOR, AND I'M WITH THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
UM, THIS RESOLUTION IS TO REPROGRAM HOME FUNDING FROM OUR ONE YEAR ACTION PLAN TO A NON-PROFIT SIERRA HOUSE OF $400,000 FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR AFFORDABLE, UH, TOWN HOMES.
THESE TOWN HOMES WILL BE PROVIDED TO CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE IN NEED OF LOW INCOME HOUSING.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO LEGAL QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON NUMBER EIGHT? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT.
YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? UM, THANK YOU.
I WAS REALLY GLAD TO READ THIS RESOLUTION AND SEE THAT, UH, THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO CREATE FOUR NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, UH, WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP BEFORE AND CERTAINLY IN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX.
ARE THERE OTHER GRANTS LIKE THIS ON THE HORIZON, PARTICULARLY UNDER, GIVEN THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS IN NEW JERSEY IS BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACES TO LIVE, CAN WE EXPECT MORE, UH, RESOURCES LIKE THIS TO COME TO THE COUNTY AS FAR AS HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY THAT YOU MIGHT SHARE SOME LINE ON? UH, YES.
SO IN TERMS OF THE HOME PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHAT I CAN SPEAK TO, WE HAVE TWO ASPECTS OF THE HOME PROGRAM.
ONE IS THIS TRADITIONAL ONE, ONE IS HOME ARP, A RP, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.
SO WE DO HAVE OTHER APPLICATIONS FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN OUR CONSORTIUM.
AND I CAN ALSO PERSONALLY SAY THAT I DID GO TO WASHINGTON TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE FUNDING, UH, FOR PROGRAMS LIKE THIS AS WELL AS THE OTHER TWO PROGRAMS WITHIN THE DIVISION.
ANY OTHER QUICK QUESTION? UH, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT AND YEAH, HOW ARE THE, UM, WHO, WHO'S THE DEVELOPER IN THE CONTRACTORS, UH, HOW ARE THEY, UH, PICKED AND IS $400,000 ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY BUILD FOUR TOWN HOMES? SO THE DEVELOPER, UH, SOMEONE'S HERE REPRESENTING THEM IS SIERRA HOUSE.
THEY'RE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND THIS MONEY IS STACKED WITH OTHER FUNDING.
I BELIEVE WITH THIS PROJECT THERE'S GONNA BE MONEY FROM N-J-H-M-F-A
[00:20:01]
AS WELL AS SOME OTHER FEDERAL DOLLARS.AND THEN THERE'S GONNA BE SOME ASSISTANCE WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY FOR TAX CREDITS AS WELL.
SO THE 400,000 IS A, UH, ASSIST THEM IN BUILDING, UH, THE FOUR TOWN? YES.
THE $400,000 IS GAP FUNDING FOR SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO GET THIS PROJECT COMPLETED.
SO WILL THE 400,000 BE ENOUGH ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE FUNDING THAT THEY HAVE TO COMPLETE THE FOUR TOWN HOMES? YES.
ACCORDING TO EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE REVIEWED WITHIN THE DIVISION, IT SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO ASSIST WITH THE OTHER FUNDING THAT THEY HAVE COMING IN TO GET THIS PROJECT COMPLETED.
NOW, IS THERE SOME TYPE OF A LOTTERY OR SOMETHING? HOW WOULD THE PEOPLE PICK WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THESE FOUR TOWN HOMES BEING BUILT? I WOULD, UH, ASK THAT SIERRA HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE WOULD COME UP AND ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE BROAD.
JEFF SCHECHNER, I'M THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE SIERRA HOUSE OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, UH, SERVING HOMELESS WOMEN.
AND THEN ALSO WE'RE INVOLVED WITH DEVELOPING AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, UH, THROUGHOUT ESSEX COUNTY.
CAN YOU JUST ADDRESS HOW THE FOLKS ARE SELECTED FOR THIS PROJECT AND OTHERS IN GENERAL? OKAY.
WELL, SIERRA HOUSE HAS A LOT OF CLIENTS.
UH, THEY COME TO SIERRA HOUSE BECAUSE THEY'RE HOMELESS.
THEY PROVIDE SHELTER SERVICES, SUPPORT CASE MANAGEMENT AND SO ON.
UH, SO WE ALSO GET LOTS OF REQUESTS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DESTITUTE POOR BECAUSE OF NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
THEY AGED OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.
THE HOUSING IS SITUATED, THEY JUST SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD.
SO WE HAVE A GREAT POOL OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE POOR AND DESTITUTE AND REALLY IN NEED OF HOUSING.
WE'VE COMPLETED OTHER HOUSING PROJECTS OF THE SAME KIND IN MAPLEWOOD, UH, IN EAST ORANGE.
WE'RE WORKING ON ONES IN NEWARK AND JERSEY CITY AS WELL.
UM, SO WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, A POOL OF CANDIDATES THAT WE COULD CHOOSE AND INTERVIEW TO SEE IF THIS KIND OF HOUSING IS APPROPRIATE FOR THEM.
COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON IS I, SO AGAIN, HOW ARE THEY SELECTED AND WHAT IS THE CRITERIA FOR SOMEONE TO BE SELECTED? WELL, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE, I UNDERSTAND YOU GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE AND A LONG LIST OF FOLKS.
SO HOW DO YOU GO FROM WHOEVER'S ON THE TOP OF THE LIST AND YOU WORK YOUR WAY DOWN? HOW, HOW DOES IT WORK? OKAY.
I AM NOT IN THE A POSITION WHERE I MAKE THE DECISIONS OR EVEN HAVE SEEN THE CANDIDATES, BUT WE DO HAVE A PERSON AND A PROGRAM OFFICER IN OUR FACILITY THAT HELPS MAKE THAT DETERMINATION BASED UPON A NUMBER OF FACTORS SUCH AS INCOME, HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN WAITING, UH, THEIR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO PAY INTO THE SYSTEM.
BUT LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT THE PERSON THAT MAKES THOSE DECISIONS OR EVEN EVALUATE.
SO I CAN'T FULLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
BUT WE DO HAVE SOMEONE THAT DOES THAT.
UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR AFFILIATION SO WE DON'T CONFUSE THE NAMES.
UH, ESSEX COUNTY HOUSING OF COMMUNITY, UH, DEVELOPMENT, UH, ANDRE NVA HOUSING COORDINATOR.
SO I DO ALSO WANT TO ADD ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO AS A COUNTY TO MONITOR THAT THESE FUNDS ARE GIVEN TO, UM, QUALITY PROJECTS AND USED APPROPRIATELY, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW HUD PROTOCOL.
SO IN TERMS OF, UH, PART OF YOUR QUESTION, THESE PEOPLE HAVE TO QUALIFY BASED OFF OF THEIR INCOME AND AS WELL AS THE RENTS THAT THEY'RE CHARGED HAS TO BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT AND IT HAS TO FOLLOW HUD PROTOCOL AND WE MONITOR THAT ANNUALLY AS A DIVISION FOR THE COUNTY.
UH, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE ALL OF OUR PROJECTS DO IS THEY WORK WITH OUR COC AND OUR COC HAS A SYSTEM, IT'S CALLED HMIS, AND IT HAS A LONG LIST OF CLIENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO ANY DEVELOPER, WHETHER THEY'RE FOR-PROFIT OR NON-PROFIT DEVELOPER IN NEED TO FILL THESE UNITS.
AND IT HAS THEM LISTED CHRONOLOGICALLY WHEN THEY WERE ENTERED IN AS CLASSIFIED AS HOMELESS OR, UM, AT RISK OF BEING HOMELESS.
SO IF AN AGENCY, A NONPROFIT AGENCY DEVELOPER, OR A FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPER NEEDS TO FILL THE UNITS FOR THESE PROJECTS, THEY CAN PULL 'EM OFF OF THAT SYSTEM, WHICH IS A STATEWIDE SYSTEM.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO GET PLANS FROM THE AGENCIES.
UH, BUT WE DO GET PLANS FROM THE AGENCIES AND THE OTHER DEVELOPERS ONTO HOW THEIR SELECTION PROCESS IS GONNA BE.
SO THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT DESTITUTE.
THESE ARE WORKING, THEY'RE WORKING POOR BECAUSE I HEARD THE GENTLEMAN SAY THEY WERE, HE'S GOT A LONG LIST OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DESTITUTE.
IF YOU'RE DESTITUTE, THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN PAY THOSE BILLS.
UH, AND SO ARE THESE RENTAL UNITS OR ANY OTHER FOR SALE? THEY'RE RENTAL UNITS FOR THIS PROJECT.
WELL MAY BE HELPFUL MR. JACKSON,
[00:25:01]
IF, UH, YOU CAN ASSIST US WITH JUST A, A, A NARRATIVE ON THE CRITERIA FOR THIS, MAYBE THAT'LL HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THIS MOVING FORWARD.AND THEN IF YOU COULD JUST SHARE THAT WITH THE DEPUTY CLARK AND DEPUTY CLERK, PLEASE SHARE THAT WITH THE BOARD WHEN WE GET THAT.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON NUMBER EIGHT? SEEING NONE, SOMEONE MOVE IT, MOVE IT, MOVE BY RICHARDSON.
WAS THAT UH, MECADO ON THE SECOND ROLL CALL? MADAM DEPUTY CLIFF FOR NUMBER EIGHT.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SHARING YOUR INFORMATION.
LET'S MOVE ON TO NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT.
WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. COLTER, UH, ALSO PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT CONTRACT AWARD TO UNITED FORD.
THIS ALL RESPONSIBLE BIDDER, UH, THE PURCHASE AND DELIVERY ONE NEW 2026 RENEWAL TRANSIT, TURNKEY REFRIGERATION, CARGO VAN EQUIVALENT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $73,980.
THIS IS FROM THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP WITH RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, UH, MON, UH, MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY, MONTCLAIR FARMS BECKER FARMS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
AS PART OF THE INITIATIVE, A MOBILE UNIT WILL BE VISIT ESSEX COUNTY PARKS COMMUNITY LOCATIONS, PROVIDING RESIDENTS WITH CONVENIENT ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT REDUCED AND ACCESSIBLE PRICES WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON FAMILY PARTICIPATION IN THE WIC SNAP PROGRAM AND OTHER NUTRITIONIST, UH, NUTRITION ASSISTANT PROGRAMS. THIS MOBILE VAN INITIATES AS PART OF THE BROADER PARTNERSHIP WITH BECKER FARM AND MONTCLAIR FARM THAT WILL BE UTILIZED COUNTY OWNED PLAN FOR LOCAL FARMING.
AND OO, PRODUCTION PRODUCED GROWN THROUGH THE PROGRAM WILL BE BROUGHT DIRECTLY BACK TO ESSEX COUNTY COMMUNITIES, CREATING A TRUE FARM COMMUNITY MODEL THAT CON CONNECTS LOCAL, AGRICULTURAL, PUBLIC, AND PUBLIC HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND FOOD ACCESS.
THE ESSEX COUNTY OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT IS EXCITED TO SUPPORT THE COLLABORATION EFFORT, UH, PART OF A LARGE COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY AND SOCIAL DETERMIN DETERMINANTS FOR OUR HEALTH.
BY BRINGING AFFORDABLE NUTRITION FOOD DIRECTLY INTO OUR PARKS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, WE REDUCE BARRIERS TO HEALTHY EATING WHILE CREATING SUSTAIN PROGRAM FOR BENEFITS OF ESSEX COUNTY.
THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM BECAUSE EVERYBODY NEEDS FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES AS YOU LOOK AT THE CONTAMINANTS.
AND WHEN YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, THAT PRODUCT IS SITTING THERE FOR DAYS AND DAYS BEFORE IT REALLY GETS TO THE TABLE.
SOUNDS LIKE AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM.
MR. AZZ, ANY QUESTIONS? NUMBER NINE.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS? NUMBER NINE.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR NUMBER NINE.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MARIE THOMAS.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 10, WHICH IS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION, THE DIVISION OF HOSPITAL CENTER.
WE BE READ TO THE RECORD LATER TIME.
THIS IS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATION DIVISIONAL HOSPITAL CENTER.
THIS IS A TWO YEAR AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.
UH, FACILITATES WILL PROVIDE NURSING STUDENTS CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN THE CARE OF PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS.
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH THE HOSPITAL AND THE STUDENTS.
THIS IS NO COST OF THE COUNTY.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS, PRESIDENT.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS ARE NUMBER 10.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 11, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF PURCHASING.
WE'LL BE BACK TO THE RECORD AT LATER TIME.
MR. COL, YOU'RE THREE IN A ROW.
[00:30:01]
CONTRACT, A AWARD OF PANORAMA TOURS AND INC.AND CARTER'S, UH, CONCIERGE, LLC, THE LOWS, RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS TO PROVIDE RENTAL, UH, CHARTER BUSES AND FLEET SERVICES FOR VARIOUS ESSEX COUNTY AGENCIES.
THIS IS A 12 MONTH CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $100,000.
UH, PANORAMA WAS THE PREVIOUS LOW BIDDER AND FULLY EXPENDED THE 50,000.
UH, THE NEW CARTER CONCIERGE IS A SPRINTER, VANS AND LARGE SUV VANS USED FOR ANY AGENCY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
UH, SPECIFICALLY FOR SENIOR WELLNESS DATE, WHICH IS COMING UP ON THE 21ST OF SEPTEMBER.
SEEING NONE, I'M GONNA MOVE NUMBER, NUMBER 11, MOVE IT, MOVE BY THE VICE.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR NUMBER 11.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE TO RE TO RESOLUTION 12, WHICH IS IN THE OFFICE OF PURCHASING.
AND YOU WILL BE READ FOR THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR.
THIS IS A 2024 MONTH CONTRACT.
THE AMOUNT, NOTHING EXCEEDS $50,000.
IT'S A NON FAIR AND OPEN CONTRACT.
UH, DO YOU ANY ATTORNEY OR ANY OTHER OFFICE, UH, COUNTY MEETING THESE TYPES OF BOOKS AND PERIODICALS.
MR. VALEZ, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO 13, WHICH IS IN THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF.
IT'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF ESSEX AND 4 84 82 SCOTLAND ROAD, LLC, EXECUTION AND PERMITTING THE COUNTY LEASE SPACE AT 44 82 GLIB STREET IN ORANGE MOUNTAIN, NOT TO EXCEED $28,800.
THIS IS A WAREHOUSE WE, UH, LEASE 2100 SQUARE FEET FOR OEM AND THEY STORE PPES.
AND I BELIEVE ALSO THE, SOME OF THE MOTORCYCLES THAT WE HAVE PURCHASED IN THE PAST.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
MR. SHABAZZ, ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTION.
MR. MCINERNEY? I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I KNOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF, UH, BUILDING OR PURCHASING OUR OWN SPACE FOR ELECTION EQUIPMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT IN EXCESS.
AND I'M WONDERING FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT, DO WE ANTICIPATE NEEDING ANOTHER SPACE FOR OUR SHERIFF'S, UH, EXCESS EQUIPMENT AND PARTICULARLY IN HOPES OF, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY SOME LITTLE WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE ELECTION EQUIPMENT, SAVING MONEY BY HAVING OUR OWN PROPERTY.
DO WE ANTICIPATE GOING A SIMILAR DIRECTION TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR, WELL, OVERALL, WE WOULD LIKE TO CONSOLIDATE AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR ALL OF OUR LEASES, WHETHER IT'S ELECTIONS, WHETHER IT'S OUR WAREHOUSE AT 35 MLK.
UM, WE'RE BUILDING A LOT OF BUILDINGS AND CONSOLIDATING ALL OF OUR LEASES IF POSSIBLE.
ANYONE ELSE? VP, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE IT? SURE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, GIL ON A SECOND.
YOU GOTTA BE A LITTLE FASTER THAN SEE MORE
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR NUMBER 13.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
SO MOVE, LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION 14, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. COULTER, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS THE RESOLUTION HARMONIOUSLY NAMING FRANKLIN AVENUE AND NUTLEY AND BELL AS CHIEF PHYLLIS BINDI BOULEVARD IN HONOR OF THE EASTERN ORANGE POLICE CHIEF PHYLLIS BINDI.
GRAHAM MARSHALL OF THE 2026 NUTLEY BELLS FARM AS DAY PARADE.
ANY QUESTIONS AT 14? SEEING NONE, I MOVE IT.
MOVE, MOVE BY GI DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
[00:35:02]
SECOND.MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER.
AND I, I KNOW HE'S AS HANDSOME AS ME, BUT THAT WAS COMMISSIONER LUCIANO.
MY APOLOGIES FOR THE
FOR THE RECORD, IT WAS THE COMMISSIONER LUCIANO WHO MOVED IT AND IT WAS SUCKING BY RICHESON.
YOU ARE BOTH SO DEADLY HANDSOME.
I COULDN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
BILL MOVED THE ONE FOR, UH, THE IRISH PARADE IN, IN MARCH.
ABSENT COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
SO MOVE, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS 15 THROUGH 20, WHICH ARE ALL 2026 COUNTY BUDGET INSERTION OF ITEMS OF REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.
THEY'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, YOU HANDLING THESE? UH, YES, SIR.
UM, ITEM 15 IS A, A REVENUE FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO OUR, UH, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE AMOUNT OF $719,729.
THIS IS FOR THE, UH, MEDICATION ASSISTANT, UH, TREATMENT PROGRAM, THE MAP PROGRAM AT OUR, UH, CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
AND IT RUNS THROUGH, UH, JUNE 30TH, 2027 AND THERE'S NO, UH, COUNTY MATCH ITEM 16 ALSO FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
UM, THIS IS GOING TO OUR, UM, THE S COUNTY DIVISION OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING IN THE AMOUNT OF $656,607.
THIS IS TO PROVIDE FOR A CASE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HAD SEVERE, UM, BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND HAVE BEEN AND HAVE RECEIVED, UH, BENEFITS FOR OVER 60 MONTHS.
UH, THIS RUNS THROUGH, UH, SEPTEMBER OF 2027 AND THERE'S NO, UH, COUNTY MATCH.
ITEM 17 IS FROM, UM, THE, UH, OFFICE OF HOME, NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF IN THE AMOUNT OF $68,400.
THIS IS TO, UM, REIMBURSE THE, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND
AND MONTCLAIR THE AMOUNT OF $32,400 FOR SECURITY, UH, DURING THE WORLD CUP, UH, MATCHES.
ITEM 18, UH, IS FROM THE NEW JERSEY, UH, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, UH, TO OUR NEW JERSEY, TO OUR, THE ESSEX COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS IN THE AMOUNT OF $394,336.
THIS IS FOR THE, UH, FY 27 LOCAL ARTS PROGRAM.
THERE IS EMBEDDED IN THIS IS $308,253 FOR DIRECT GRANTS TO, UH, VARIOUS, UH, AGENCIES AND $86,083 FOR ADMINISTRATION.
THAT ADMINISTRATION PIECE REQUIRES US TO MATCH IT, UH, ONE TO ONE, AND WE'LL BE DOING THAT AFTER SALARY AND WAGES.
UH, ITEM 19, UH, SIMILARLY, UH, FROM, UH, THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF STATE, UM, THIS IS FOR THE, UH, HISTORY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, UH, GOING TO OUR DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
THE AMOUNT OF $81,000 UNDER THIS PROGRAM, $76,000 WILL BE DIRECT GRANTS AND $5,000 IS FOR ADMINISTRATION.
WE'RE REQUIRED TO MATCH THAT, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE PIECE, UH, THREE TO ONE.
AND SO THAT $15,000 WILL ALSO BE MATCHED THROUGH, UM, SALARY AND WAGES.
AND, UH, ITEM 20 FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF, UH, STATE AGAIN, UH, FROM THE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS, UH, IN THE AMOUNT OF $127,672 AND $674 AND 42 CENTS.
THIS IS TO REIMBURSE THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, UM, FOR EXPENSES FROM THE 2026, UH, PRIMARY ELECTION.
AND, UH, THERE IS NO, UH, COUNTY MATCH.
MS. SHABAZ, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? NO LEGAL QUESTIONS.
IS, IS, UH, RESOLUTION 15 GENERAL MATTER? IS THAT A RECURRING GRANT? UH, WE HAVE RECEIVED THAT, UH, FOR OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS.
THE YOU THE MAP PROGRAM? YEAH.
DON'T COMMISSIONER ANY QUESTIONS OF 15 THROUGH 20? SEEING NONE.
SO I'M GONNA MOVE THESE ITEMS, MOVE IT, I'LL MOVE IT.
SECOND BY SEABOLD, WE'LL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER COOPER.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS? YES.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT EZ? YES.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 21.
ACCEPTING THE 2025 COUNTY AUDIT, AND THAT
[00:40:01]
WE'LL BE RIGHT INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.UH, MR. MCINERNEY THEN, I GUESS IT WAS UP TO YOU OR WHO WAS ADDRESSING YOU? UM, WELL, I, I CAN ADDRESS, I GUESS AS FAR AS IF THERE ARE ANY FINDINGS OR STATEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT THAT WOULD, I WOULD DEFER THAT TO MR. MCINERNEY.
BUT JUST FROM THE LEGAL STANDPOINT, THIS IS A, UH, REQUIRED, UH, RESOLUTION EVERY YEAR BY STATUTE THAT ESSENTIALLY ACKNOWLEDGES FROM THE BOARD'S PERSPECTIVE THAT WE'VE REVIEWED THE AUDIT, UM, ITS COMMENTS AND HAVE REQUESTED.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS ALREADY DONE IN OUR FIRST RESOLUTION, A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN, WHICH HAS OCCURRED.
AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS FOR YOU TO VOTE ON.
YOU HAD ASKED YOUR QUESTIONS ALREADY EARLIER, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD? YEAH, YEAH.
WHAT, WHAT OUR COUNCIL IS SAYING IS, IS VERY IMPORTANT IS, IS THERE A SIGN OFF ON THAT? IS, UM, YES.
YEAH, THERE IS A SIGN OFF ON THAT.
SO YOU KIND OF PLEDGE THAT YOU'VE, YOU'VE LOOKED AT THIS AND WENT THROUGH IT AND AS WE SAID EARLIER, THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN DEALS WITH A COUPLE ITEMS. YOU KNOW, A COUPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY NEED OUR ATTENTION.
UM, BUT FOR THE MOST PART ARE THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST WITH EXCEPTION, LIKE THE FORFEITURE FUND THING.
UH, OTHER THAN THAT, UH, I, I THINK WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON NUMBER 21? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT, PLEASE.
UM, THIS WAS REPAIRED BY SAM KLEIN AND COMPANY, AND THE PERSON WHO ALWAYS WAS RESPONSIBLE WAS JOE FONE, AND HE RECENTLY DIED AND HE WAS A VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE.
AND I WANNA CALL THIS, UH, RESOLUTION TO HIS ATTENTION BECAUSE HE WAS A WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL.
COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE? NUMBER 21? YES, I WOULD.
BY LUCIANO ROLL CALL MAD ON DEPUTY CLERK 21.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POMEZ? YES.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION 2022 THROUGH 47, WHICH ARE IM MEMORIAMS COMMENDATIONS PROCLAMATION RESOLUTIONS.
THEY COULD BE READ AT A RECORD INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
COMMISSIONERS, ANY, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THESE ITEMS? SEE? NONE.
LUCIANO, DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
BY RICHARDS OF ROLL, MAD DEPUTY CLERK.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY ADDED STARTERS TONIGHT? YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE RESOLUTION NUMBER 48 FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTION NUMBER 48 THAT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UH, THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THERE, UH, THERE'S CHANGE GOING ON IN, UH, IN THE, UM, UH, MEDICAL EXAMINER'S WORLD.
UM, WE ARE, UH, WE HAVE BEEN A PART OF, UH, THE NORTH JERSEY, UM, UH, OPERATION FOR YEARS.
UH, AND THAT WAS ESSEX COUNTY, FOUR COUNTIES, ESSEX, SOMERSET, HUDSON, AND PASSA.
UH, OUR FRIENDS IN HUDSON PASSA HAVE, UH, DECIDED TO LEAVE THAT, UH, GROUP, THAT GROUP AND JOIN WITH, UM, BERGEN COUNTY.
UH, SO THEY'LL BE LEAVING AND IT WILL BE, UM, ESSEX AND SOMERSET, UH, OR THE REMAINING MEMBERS AND WILL BE JOINED BY UNION COUNTY.
UH, THIS RES THIS, UM, UH, RESOLUTION WILL ALLOW US TO END THAT RELATIONSHIP AS OF, UH, AS OF, UH, SEVEN, UH, 30, UH, 20, NO, I'M SORRY.
UM, UH, UH, AS OF SEVEN AS OF NOW, UH, JULY 31ST, 2020 26.
AND WE WILL BE, UM, GOING OFF FOR ANOTHER YEAR FOR AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL END ON EIGHT ONE FOR THAT WILL BEGIN A NEW AGREEMENT THAT'S BEGINNING ON 8 1 26 AND GOING FOR A YEAR.
UM, DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, WE EXPECT THAT WE WILL HAVE, UH, A NEW AGREEMENT AMONG THE THREE ENTITIES, BUT THIS WILL CARRY US FOR THAT YEAR PERIOD IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,012,024, UH, WHICH IS A SIMILAR AMOUNT TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN, UM, PAYING, UH, SINCE WE STARTED THIS NEW AGREEMENT.
UM, AND, UM, WE'LL LOOK, WE'LL, WE'LL SEE WHAT THE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE WHEN THE, UM, THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S, UH, OFFICE GOES THROUGH THE BUDGET AND, AND PRESENT THAT PRESENTS THAT TO US.
[00:45:01]
A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE AMOUNT THAT WE PAY FOR THAT SERVICE.ANY QUESTIONS? NO LEGAL QUESTIONS.
MR. MCINERNEY, IS THIS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE NUMBERS YOU GET FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER? CORRECT.
COMMISSIONER, HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON NUMBER 48? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT, JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, WHAT, ARE THERE ANY RAMIFICATIONS THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT FROM THIS NEW AGREEMENT? AND DO WE HAVE INSIGHT ON WHY THE OTHER GROUPS LEFT? UM, I, I THINK THEY, WELL, THEY LEFT BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE, IT WAS A, THEY GOT A BETTER DEAL JOINING WITH BERGEN.
UM, AND THE STATE MEDICAL MEDICAL EXAMINER'S OFFICE HAS TAKEN A LOOK AT WHAT THEY THINK THE NUMBERS ARE GONNA BE.
UH, THEY HAVEN'T FINALIZED IT YET, BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE, UM, WORD TO US PRE SORT OF A DRAFT, UH, UH, BUDGET, IF YOU WILL, IS THAT WE WON'T SEE, WE'LL SEE AN INCREASE, BUT WE DON'T THINK IT'LL BE, UM, DRAMATIC.
THERE'S ANOTHER MR. PRESIDENT, MR. SO I, AND FORGIVE MY IGNORANCE ABOUT THIS, BUT I, I REMEMBER WHAT, WHAT IT WAS LIKE 1.5 MILLION, THE MEDICAL EXAMINERS, HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN, HAS IT BEEN HIGH THIS HIGH? UH, IT'S BEEN, IT IS BEEN IN THE FOUR OR FIVE RANGE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE COST HAVE JUST GONE UP.
GONE UP AND ACTUALLY, UH, PRECIPITOUSLY.
SO SINCE, UH, COVID, COVID REALLY BOUNCED THE NUMBER WAY UP.
SO ONCE IT GOT THERE, IT KIND OF STAYED THERE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEE? NONE.
MOVE, MOVE BY LUCIAN SECOND VICE PRESIDENT.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON TO, UH, REPORTS.
WE DON'T, UH, HAVE ANY TODAY, I DON'T THINK.
DO YOU HAVE ANY LEGISLATIVE REPORTS? NONE HAVE BEEN SENT TO US.
DO WE HAVE ANY WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS THAT WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED? SEEING NONE.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMMISSIONERS ON UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
ALRIGHT THEN LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
DOES ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WILL LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER? PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK? YES, SIR.
OH, I GUESS I GOTTA BRING THIS.
CAN YOU ADJUST IT? OH, THANK YOU.
I LIVE IN SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE WHERE I LIVE.
I LIVE AT TWO 14 WEST SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 11 YEARS NOW.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE AMOUNT OF VEHICLE CLASHES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.
THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS ON APRIL 19TH WHERE A CAR OVERTURNED CAME INTO MY WALKWAY, DISHEVELED IT, IT NOW HAS TO BE REPAIRED, RUINED MY FOUNDATION OF THE FRONT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND ALSO RUINED MY PARTS OF MY FRONT LAWN.
I HAVE A DISABLED MOTHER THAT LIVES WITH ME.
SHE DOES WHAT? SHE LIVES WITH ME NOW.
I'VE HAD TO MOVE HER SOMEPLACE ELSE BECAUSE SHE COULD HAVE BEEN DEAD.
WE WOULD'VE BEEN PLANNING A FUNERAL IF SHE WAS SITTING OUT WHERE THAT CAR WAS, OR MY SON WALKING HIS DOG OR A SCHOOL CHILD OR SOMEONE JUST WALKING THEIR DOG FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST YEAR THAT YOU HAVE DONE SOME THINGS WITH THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS AT RIDGEWOOD BETWEEN CONWAY AND RIDGEWOOD ON SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE.
THE SECOND PIECE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS YOU DID PUT SIGNS UP.
I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THE SIGNS THAT DOES NOT DO ANY GOOD.
CARS ARE STILL FLYING DOWN THE HIGH, THAT STRETCH OF WALKWAY.
SO I'M ASKING FOR TWO THINGS FOR ONE TO HAVE A FOLLOW UP SO YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT AREA.
I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA ON SOUTH ORANGE THAT GOES RIGHT INTO THE TOWN IS TO HAVE ONE AT CONWAY CONSIDER FLASHING LIGHT.
THEY'RE NOT STOPPING WITH THOSE LOVELY SIGNS THAT YOU PUT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, SOME OF THOSE SIGNS HAVE CAME DOWN BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE RAN INTO THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL CRASHING INTO THEM.
THE OTHER THING THAT I'D LIKE TO ASK FOR IS TO PUT NOT STEEL BARRIERS, BUT STYLISH, LARGE CEMENT BARRIERS THAT WOULD STILL BE GOOD FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT WOULD STILL LOOK LIKE IT'S AN UP UPLIFT, UH, FACELIFT.
AND THAT WOULD DETER THE CARS FROM COMING IN.
I DID SEND, UM, TO I BELIEVE, UM, TO THE COUNTY ACTUAL VIDEOTAPES, THE AMBULANCE, THE FIRE CHIEF THAT
[00:50:01]
HAD TO COME AND TAKE AND RESCUE THIS GENTLEMAN OUT OF THE CAR.THAT WAS TOTALLY FLIPPED OVER.
I'VE HAD THREE OTHER ACCIDENTS THAT'S MADE IMPRINTS IN MY GROUND.
UM, FORTUNATE THAT JUST WENT 30 SECONDS ON THE SIDE.
SO RESPECTFULLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR SOMETHING TO BE DONE BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO MOVE AND I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO BE HURT.
WHAT ALL I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO DO IS, UH, ADAM IS SITTING IN THE BACK.
UH, PROVIDE US WITH YOUR EMAIL AND JUST YOUR, UH, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR SO THAT WE CAN FORWARD THAT TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND THAT COULD BE FORWARDED TO THE DEPARTMENTS THAT HANDLE THOSE SUCH THINGS, WHICH WOULD BE OUR ENGINEERING AND OUR OEM AND AND SO FORTH, SO WE CAN SEND IT TO THEM.
ADAM IS, UH, WITH A GREEN SHIRT THERE? YES.
UM, REPRESENTING, I GUESS BEING A RESIDENT OF ESSEX COUNTY, WE GET THREE MINUTES AND I'M ALWAYS NOT QUITE SURE WHAT I TALK ABOUT BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY DO LISTEN.
AND I WANNA SAY, UM, UNFORTUNATELY I'M HERE TO BRING UP SOMETHING THAT REPRESENTS ME.
BUT EVEN THOUGH IT'S MY CIRCUMSTANCE, I'M REPRESENTING MANY OTHERS THAT ARE EMPLOYEES.
AND I WANNA PUT ON THE RECORD THAT IF WE CAN LOOK UP STATUTE IN JSA 40 41, A DASH 87 B, CAN'T READ THE WHOLE ENTIRE THING BECAUSE I HAVE A FEW MINUTES, BUT I WANNA BRING UP THE SUSPENSION PROCEDURE.
WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL IS SUSPENDED OR DISMISSED, IS GIVEN A PUBLIC HEARING, NOT LESS THAN 15, NO MORE THAN 30 DAYS AFTER A PERSONAL SERVICE OF WRITTEN NOTICE.
A COPY OF SUCH NOTICE SHALL BE FILED WITH THE CLERK TO THE BOARD OF THE FREE HOLDERS.
AND I KNOW YOU CHANGED YOUR NAME TO THE COMMISSIONERS, BUT THE LAW STILL SAYS FREE HOLDERS IMMEDIATELY.
AND I JUST ASK FOR SOME DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT FOLLOWING THIS PROCEDURE.
AND THE REASON THAT I ASKED TO BE FAIR TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO EXPEDITE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
AND WE JUST ASK FOR IT TO BE FAIR FOR INDIVIDUALS TO KNOW THEIR RIGHTS FOR.
WE DO HAVE A COUNTY COUNCIL A PART OF THIS, BUT, BUT WHEN YOU SEND OUT EMAILS AND YOU BECOME THAT INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE YOU'RE BOISTEROUS, YOU DON'T ALWAYS RECEIVE A REPLY.
AND AS IT WAS STATED EARLIER, WE TALKED ABOUT HOUSING.
SO IMAGINE THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BEING PLACED WITH THESE SUSPENSIONS AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY NOT WRONG, BUT THEN NOW THEIR FINANCES ARE HIT.
NOW THEY'RE UNABLE TO PAY BILLS AND OUR AGENCY IS HERE TO HELP THOSE WHO HIT THE HARD TIMES.
I'M JUST ASKING BECAUSE YES, WE HAVE UNIONS IN PLACE, BUT AS OF 2018, INDIVIDUALS AREN'T REQUIRED TO USE THE UNION.
SO I'M ASKING GOING FORWARD THAT MAYBE PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE WHEN WE DO OUR NEXT BARGAINING, THAT YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS AT THE TABLE THAT AREN'T REPRESENTED BY THE UNION.
WE ALSO WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO DO A MEET AND GREET.
WE THANK YOU FOR THESE MEETINGS, BUT EVERYONE DOES NOT KNOW.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER SINCE I'M MAKING A SUGGESTION FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO YOU.
EVERYONE IS NOT BOLD ENOUGH TO COME OUT AND SPEAK IN PUBLIC, BUT I'M REPRESENTING FOR MYSELF AND I'M REPRESENTING FOR OTHERS.
WE ARE HERE, WE COME EVERY DAY.
30 SECONDS AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.
BUT WE JUST WANNA REMIND YOU THAT WE'RE INDIVIDUALS FIGHTING ANY HARDSHIPS AS WELL.
EVERYONE DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THOSE HUD PROGRAMS BECAUSE OF OUR A MI, BECAUSE OF OUR INCOME, EVEN ON HARD TIMES, WE STILL CAN'T GET HELP.
I JUST ASK THAT YOU LISTEN AND PLEASE LOOK INTO IT.
MAY NOT BE WHAT I WANTED, BUT I ASK FOR YOU TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT AT THIS TIME? GOOD EVENING.
I'M THE FOUNDER OF TREEHOUSE ENT CULTURAL ARTS MOVEMENT.
UM, LAST SUNDAY WE HOSTED OUR 11TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY MUSIC EVENT AT MONTY IRVIN ORANGE PARK.
I'M HERE TODAY TO, TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY PERSON, EACH AND EVERY COUNTY COMMISSIONER, UM, UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, ST.
MICHAEL'S, AND THE COMMUNITY FOOD BANK ASSISTED US WITH THAT EVENT.
THERE'S THREE LARGE SENIOR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS ACROSS FROM MONTE IRVIN.
WE PROVIDED OVER 1000 FREE FRESH PRODUCE BOXES TO NOT ONLY THEM BUT THE COMMUNITY.
THERE WERE ALMOST THREE TO 4,000 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.
THEY ALSO WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE THAT SERVICE.
UM, A LOT OF SENIORS WERE VERY, VERY HAPPY.
THEY GOT FREE, UM, HEARING EXAMS,
[00:55:01]
THEY GOT FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS AND THEY WANT TO COME BACK AGAIN.UM, NOT JUST FOR THE FESTIVAL, BUT THEY WANT TO COME BACK AGAIN AND DO A HEALTH FAIR WITH US TO, UM, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES.
BUT I'M HERE TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO MARISSA, THANK YOU TO KATHY BROWN, THANK YOU TO YOU, COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT, YOU COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON, ALL THE COMMISSIONERS.
UM, I'M LOOKING AT THE, UM, THE REVIEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
EVERYBODY HAVE NOTHING BUT POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY.
THE VENDORS DID VERY, VERY WELL.
I'M GETTING THANK YOUS FROM THEM ALSO.
AND, UM, THE SHERIFF'S, UM, SHERIFF AMIR, AMIR JONES, EXTREMELY HELPFUL.
HE MADE SURE HE PROVIDED EVERYTHING THAT WE NEEDED.
CAPTAIN BARKER ON POINT ON POINT.
THEY COVERED AND PATROLLED THE WHOLE ENTIRE PERIMETER, EVEN THOUGH WE ONLY HAD, WE ONLY UTILIZED ONE SECTION OF THE PARK, BUT THEY MADE SURE THAT THEY COVERED EVERY AREA FROM PARKING TO PATROL AND MADE OUR GUESTS FEEL VERY WELCOME.
I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO YOU ALL AND THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING THAT WE COULD DO THIS.
WE APPRECIATE TAKING THE TIME TO COME HERE TO SHARE THAT WITH US.
WE DON'T NORMALLY GET THAT
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? OKAY, MADAM DEPUTY CLERK THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO COMMISSIONER SESSION COMMISSIONERS.
ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING THEY WISH TO SHARE BEFORE WE ADJOURN? COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON AND THEN THE VICE PRESIDENT.
JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO TREEHOUSE.
UH, I KNOW THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING, COMMUNITY, UH, PROVIDING FOOD AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO ANYWAY, UH, NEED THE ASSISTANCE.
AND YOUR UH, MUSIC FESTIVAL IS ALWAYS PHENOMENAL.
UH, SO JUST GLAD, HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, PLAY A SMALL PART.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO ON A DAILY BASIS.
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DO.
YOU GUYS DO THIS EVERY DAY, FEEDING PEOPLE.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WHEN THAT I ASK ABOUT HOW DOES A NEW ORGANIZATION QUALIFY FOR, UH, THESE GRANTS AND ALL THAT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I LOVE TO HIGHLIGHT.
AND IF SOMEBODY COULD GET THEM THE INFORMATION SO THAT THEY CAN BECOME, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT'S SOME OF THE OTHER ONES WHO GET IT? UH, ANGELS SOMETHING, MAYOR EDWARDS ANGELS AND SOME OF THE OTHERS WHO GET THESE VERY HELPFUL GRANTS.
TREEHOUSE CARES IS ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHOULD BE, UH, A PART OF THAT AND THEY SHOULD BE GETTING THOSE GRANTS AS WELL.
SO IF WE CAN GET THE INFORMATION TO THEM SO THAT THEY CAN GET ON THAT GRANT LIST, WE APPRECIATE.
YEAH, DEFINITELY WANNA ECHO EVERYTHING THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON SAID.
ALSO WANT TO, UH, BRING ATTENTION TO TWO THINGS.
ONE TO, UH, ALL OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE ABOUT TO START SCHOOL.
I KNOW WE HAVE ALREADY GOT THE BALL ROLLING HERE IN OUR COUNTY SCHOOLS AND CERTAINLY ACROSS ESSEX COUNTY.
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GETTING READY, IN SOME CASES BEGRUDGINGLY, BUT
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING AT EVEN SOME PARENTS AROUND THIS ROOM WHO'VE BEEN TAKING THEIR KIDS TO SPORTS TOURNAMENTS AND ALL TYPE OF STUFF, ALL SUMMER.
UH, SO I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, CONGRATS TO EVERYONE FOR, UM, A SUMMER WELL SPENT, UM, A RELATIVELY LIKE SAFE SUMMER TOO.
UM, THERE'S BEEN SOME UPS AND SOME DOWNS.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, AT LEAST IN, IN NEWARK, WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO HAVE, UM, A DECREASE, I THINK THE LOWEST RATE OF HOMICIDE WE'VE HAD, UM, IN, IN RECENT HISTORY.
UM, AND AGAIN, A LOT OF THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE WORK, UH, THAT'S DONE BETWEEN BOTH WITHIN OUR MUNICIPALITIES AND SOME OF OUR INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORK BETWEEN OUR COUNTIES AND OUR CITIES AS WELL.
BUT I WANT TO, UM, CALL ATTENTION TO THIS PAST WEEK.
UM, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE SERVICES FOR MR. WILBUR MCNEIL, THE FOUNDER OF WEEK WAKE PARK ASSOCIATION.
AS WE ALL KNOW, SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN AN INSTRUMENTAL, UH, PART OF NOT ONLY, UH, THIS COUNTY'S HISTORY, LITERALLY STARTING THE FIRST CONSERVANCY THAT OUR COUNTY'S EVER SEEN AT A COUNTY PARK, BUT HAS REALLY SET A BLUEPRINT, UH, FOR WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN COMMUNITY AND COUNTY COME TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY.
UH, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NEWARK.
I GREW UP IN THE SOUTHWARD AND
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I HAD NO IDEA THAT LIKE MY CITY WAS FILLED WITH SO MANY GIANTS, MANY OF WHOM I WOULDN'T GET TO MEET, UM, TILL LATER IN MY LIFE.SO I GOT TO MEET MR. MCNEIL MAYBE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST CAME ON THE BOARD.
UH, MR. WA DO WHO WHEN I WAS LIKE 18, 19, GAVE ME MY FIRST GOLF CLUBS AT WEAK WAKE PARK.
UM, BUT AGAIN, WEAK WAKE PARK IN PARTICULAR HAS SO MUCH HISTORY, RIGHT? LIKE, I MEAN, YOU TALK ABOUT THE SOLDIERS WHO USED TO COME THERE AND HORSEBACK, RIGHT? MAGGIE AND DOUG WOULD TELL ME, YOU KNOW, UM, AND SO MANY OTHER SOMEONE, THE OTHER FOLKS, THE RACETRACK, ALL THIS GREAT HISTORY AND IT'S PEOPLE LIKE MR. MCNEIL, UM, AND THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE AND HAS CREATED THROUGH THE WWAY PARK ASSOCIATION THAT MAKES THE THINGS THAT WE KIND OF CAN TAKE FOR GRANTED AS BEAUTIFUL, AS PROSPEROUS AS THEY ARE TODAY.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE, MAKE SURE THERE'S A MOMENT ON THE RECORD TO EXPRESS, UM, MY CONDOLENCES TO THE WHEATLEY PARK ASSOCIATION, UH, COMMUNITY TO THE MCNEIL FAMILY.
UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, FUNERALS ARE ALWAYS SOMBER, BUT IT'S REALLY POWERFUL WHEN PEOPLE CAN SAY, SPEAK VERY EASILY ABOUT THE LOVE, THE POWER, AND THE, THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF A PERSON.
AND OUR OWN COUNTY EXECUTIVE DJ JOEY DI VINCENZO, UH, SENATOR THERESA BIZ, UH, MAYOR BARAKA, AND SO MANY OTHERS SPOKE SO BEAUTIFULLY ABOUT, UH, MR. MCNEIL.
AND IT'S JUST INCREDIBLY LARGE SHOES TO FILL.
AND SO, UM, CERTAINLY THERE WITHIN THE COMING WEEKS, I'D LOVE TO DO SOMETHING HERE IN OUR OWN CHAMBER, CELEBRATE MR. MCNEIL, HIS FAMILY, HIS COMMUNITY, AND WPA ASSOCIATION.
SO MORE ON THAT TO COME, BUT JUST WANT TO OFFICIALLY ON THE RECORD, UM, AS A SOUTH WARD GIRL, AS A NEWARK GIRL, AND CERTAINLY AS A ESS COUNTY, UH, YOU KNOW, CHAMPION TO EXPRESS MY CONDOLENCES.
AND I THINK WE ALL, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE IN A DEEP, UH, MOMENT OF REMBRANDT, OF HIM AND HIS LEGACY.
ANYONE ELSE? UH, JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO BRING UP.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ONE OF OUR OWN DIRECTOR, JASON MARTINEZ, WHO WITH THE YOUTH SERVICES COMMISSION, WAS ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER THE INAUGURAL OLYMPICS OF THE MANY DIFFERENT, UH, POLICE AND FIRE JUNIOR ACADEMIES THAT EXIST IN ESSEX COUNTY.
HE WAS ABLE TO BRING 'EM ALL TOGETHER THIS YEAR IN WEST ORANGE TO HAVE LIKE, FRIENDLY COMPETITION.
BUT THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS THAT, UH, DIRECTOR MARTINEZ GOT THAT FROM AN IDEA FROM ONE OF THE CADETS THE LAST YEAR, AND HE WAS INSPIRED BY THIS YOUNG MAN.
UH, LET ME SEE IF I CAN FIND HIS NAME.
WE HONORED HIM AT THE EVENT, AND AS A RESULT WAS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL.
UH, UH, I MEAN, THERE WAS EASILY OVER A
AND, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SECOND ANNUAL OLYMPICS NEXT YEAR, I THINK IT'S GONNA MOVE AROUND ESSEX COUNTY, SO DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE IN WEST ORANGE.
I THINK IT'S GONNA, ITS GOAL IS TO MOVE AROUND THE COUNTY, UH, SO EVERYONE CAN HAVE A HOME COURT ADVANTAGE AT ONE POINT.
UM, WE DO ALSO HAVE, UH, OUR ESSEX COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSION.
IT HAS A HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, HERE AT 6:00 PM WE ALWAYS HAVE FANTASTIC HONOREES, JUST WHEN WE THINK WE'VE HAD THE BEST.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE MATCH IT EVERY YEAR FOR EVERY ONE OF THESE, UH, HONOREE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE.
AND THEN THE VERY SOMBER, OF COURSE, UM, ESSEX REMEMBERS, UH, THIS IS A VERY SOLEMN CEREMONY IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO WE LOST, UH, ON NINE 11.
UH, THIS IS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THAT TRAGIC EVENT.
UM, I'VE GONE FOR, SINCE I'VE BEEN A COMMISSIONER.
AND, UH, IT'S AN EXTREMELY MOVING EXPERIENCE IF YOU HAVEN'T GONE.
IT IS ALSO, UM, STREAMED ONLINE TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES, UH, UH, PAGES.
SO IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND, AND I KNOW THERE'S MANY EVENTS THAT DAY AROUND THE COUNTY, AND, UH, WE WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE MUNICIPALITIES WHO IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER ARE, UH, HAVING SOME EVENT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, COMMEMORATE THAT ANNIVERSARY AND TO HONOR THOSE THAT WE LOST AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO GRIEVE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF MANY FAMILY MEMBERS.
I KNOW IN MY HOMETOWN OF BLUE, WE LOST THREE, BUT IN ESSEX COUNTY, WE LOST, YOU KNOW, A A COUPLE DOZEN AND, AND, UM, Y YOU KNOW, THAT'S, IT'S NEVER GONNA BE EASY.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE, UH, REPRESENTATIVES OF FLIGHT CREWS, UH, THAT WERE IMPACTED THAT DAY THROUGH THEIR, THE LOSS OF THEIR COLLEAGUES, AND OF COURSE, UH, A A AN EX, A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF FIRST RESPONDERS THERE.
AND, UH, A LOT OF COMMUNITY LEADERS.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE OR WATCH, UH, OR ATTEND IT.
IT WILL BE HELD AT THE NINE 11 MEMORIAL AT EAGLE ROCK RESERVATION.
IT IS AT, AT 8:00 AM THEY WILL STOP THE PROGRAM TO COMMEMORATE THE IMPACT OF THE, THE TWO IMPACTS ON, ON THE, ON THE TWIN TOWERS THAT DAY.
IT'S A, UH, A VERY, UH, APPROPRIATE PLACE TO HAVE SUCH A CEREMONY.
SO WE, WE DO INVITE YOU TO COME TOGETHER AS, UH, AS ONE
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FOR THAT DAY.COMMISSIONERS, ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE ADJOURN? MR. JACKSON? EXCUSE ME.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING THE BOARD SOMETHING TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION.
WE HAD OUR, UH, 2016, WE HAD PRIVATE, UH, HEALTH INSURANCE, UH, THROUGH AETNA.
UH, WE LEFT IN 2017 TO JOIN, UH, STATE HEALTH BENEFITS.
UH, AND WE'VE BEEN THERE EVER SINCE, UH, FOR THE FIRST FOUR YEARS OR SO.
UM, WE ENJOYED GREAT SAVINGS AS A RESULT OF BEING IN STATE HEALTH BENEFITS.
UM, AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, UM, OVER THE LAST YEARS, UH, THE INCREASES, UM, HAVE GOTTEN REALLY NO OTHER WORD TO SAY OTHER, OTHER THAN UNCONSCIONABLE.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE MADE SOME EFFORTS TO LOOK INTO SOME ALTERNATIVES.
UM, AND, UH, AS OF JANUARY 1ST, 2027, WE HOPE TO BE OUT OF THE STATE HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN TO GO MOVING TO A PARTIALLY, UM, UH, SELF-INSURED PLAN.
WE, UH, AS A RESULT OF THAT, UH, IF WE WERE TO STAY IN STATE HEALTH, HEALTH BENEFITS, OUR BENEFITS ON A WEIGHTED AVERAGE BASIS WOULD'VE GONE UP, UM, 20% OR SOMETHING.
WE HAVE THAT, BUT 17% ALONE FOR OUR ACTIVES, UH, AND HIGHER PERCENTAGES FOR OUR RETIREES.
UM, BY MOVING TO THIS, UH, PROGRAM, WE'RE GONNA BASICALLY CUT THAT INTO, CUT THAT IN HALF, UM, AND SAVING OURSELVES, SAVING THE COUNTY, UH, UH, BUT I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY, SAVING OUR EMPLOYEES A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY.
'CAUSE THEY PAY, EXCUSE ME, TO PAY FOR 20% OF THAT.
WE HAD A VERY, UH, ENCOURAGING, UH, COLLABORATIVE MEETING, UH, THIS MORNING WITH OUR, UH, UNION, UH, FRIENDS, UM, WHO I THINK, UH, EMBRACED, UH, THE MOVE, UH, I WOULD SAY ENTHUSIASTICALLY.
UM, AND, UH, SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA MOVE THAT PROCESS, CONTINUE TO MOVE THAT PROCESS.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, UM, IT, I I, I FEEL BAD FOR THOSE WHO ARE GONNA REMAIN IN THE, IN THE STATE HEALTH BENEFIT PROGRAM.
I THINK IT'S GONNA BE 20 OR 25% AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
IT'S, IT'S, WHAT'S HAPPENING IS YOU'RE GETTING, AS PEOPLE LEAVE, THE REMAINING FOLKS THERE ARE, ARE THE FOLKS WITH A REALLY BAD CLAIM HISTORY.
SO THE, THE RATES ARE JUST GONNA, THE INCREASE IS GONNA KEEP COMING.
SO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE, THE SUCCESS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN BY MAKING THIS MOVE.
UH, I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S THE FIRST OF A NUMBER OF MOVES OVER THE NEXT COMING YEARS.
THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT, UH, OTHER APPROACHES, UH, TO, TO, TO INSURANCE, UH, HEALTH INSURANCE THAT, UH, IS BEING TAUGHT AT THE STATE LEVEL, UM, THAT I, I THINK COULD HELP US EVEN FURTHER.
UM, BUT WE'RE GONNA BE OPEN TO THOSE WE EVALUATE EVERY YEAR AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE, THE, THE, BRING IT TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION THAT, UM, UH, OUR, OUR YEARS, UH, AGAIN, WE, WE ENJOY GRACE SUCCESS FOR A WHILE, BUT IT'S, IT'S NOW IT'S STARTING TO BITE BY THIS, YOU KNOW, WHERE, SO WE'RE GONNA, UM, MOVE OUT.
AND, UM, I, I, I'M, I'M ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE CHANGE.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR THERE WAS, UH, GENERAL RECEPTIVITY, YOU KNOW, ON BEHALF OF THE DIFFERENT UNIONS, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTED TODAY.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE.
I KNOW THIS IS AN EVOLVING SITUATION AS WELL.
IF, I'M SORRY, MR. IF I MAY, JUST, ONE OF THE THINGS TO, TO BEAR IN MIND THAT THE COVERAGE THAT WE WILL HAVE WILL BE, UM, WITH THROUGH HORIZON, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT A FULLY INSURED PROGRAM, THEY WILL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM.
WE WILL BE PAYING THE CLAIMS. UM, THE, SO THAT, THAT'S NO CHANGE FOR 98% OF OUR ACTIVE EMPLOYEES.
A FEW PEOPLE HAVE AETNA, UM, BUT THERE'S REALLY NO DIFFERENCE.
THE PLANS WILL BE EXACTLY THE SAME.
THE COPAYS, THE COVERAGES, THE NETWORKS ON THE PHARMACY SIDE, THERE'LL BE A DIFFERENT PROVIDER FOR THAT.
BUT THE, ALL THE FORMULARIES, ALL THE COPAYS, ALL THE, ALL THOSE WILL BE EXACTLY THE SAME.
UM, FOR OUR, UH, OVER 65 RETIREES, THEY HAVE, UH, AETNA RIGHT NOW THROUGH THE STATE HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN, WE WILL HAVE AETNA FOR THEM.
SO IT'S NO CHANGE, I WOULD SAY FOR 90% OF OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE TO DO NOTHING.
UM, WE WILL JUST MOVE, MIGRATE THEIR INFORMATION TO THE NEW, UH, UH, UH, ENTITY, IF YOU WILL.
UM, SO FOR MOST OF THE PEOPLE, THEY WON'T KNOW.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE THEY WILL SEE WILL BE, THEY'LL HAVE TO GET A NEW CARD, AND THAT WILL BE SENT TO THEM IN THE MAIL.
OTHER THAN THAT, UM, UH, SEAMLESS.
AND, UH, JUST I WANT TO NOTE TOO, THAT PART OF THE PROGRAM, WHY DO I SAY IT'S A PARTIALLY SELF-FUNDED, UH, PROGRAM? BECAUSE WE OBVIOUSLY PAY THE CLAIMS, BUT WE WILL HAVE WHAT AMOUNTS TO REINSURANCE SO THAT FOR, UH, ANY CLAIM THAT'S OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT, THE, AN INSURANCE WILL PICK THAT UP.
AND IF, IF OUR AGGREGATE EXPOSURE ABOVE THAT NUMBER GETS A CERTAIN POINT, WE'LL HAVE AN AGGREGATE INSURANCE AS WELL.
SO, UH, THE EXPOSURE IS NOT LIKE SOME PEOPLE, WELL, IF YOU HAD, YOU KNOW, FIVE PEOPLE WHO HAD TO HAVE HEART TRANSPLANTS, IS THAT GONNA BANKRUPT
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THE, YOU KNOW, NO, BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE INSURANCE FOR THE, FOR THOSE EXTRA, UM, EXTRAORDINARY, UH, EVENT.SO, UM, IT, IT'S A GOOD PACKAGE FOR US.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S FLUID, RIGHT? SO WE'LL BE LEARNING MORE AS TIME GOES ON, AND I'M SURE WE'LL BE SEEING, UH, THINGS ON OUR END, UH, ON THE AGENDA THAT WILL REFLECT THAT.
COMMISSIONERS, ANYTHING ELSE? HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION MOVED BY LUCIANO, OR A SECOND, SECOND?