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THIS MEETING OF THE ASES COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS HEREBY CALL TO ORDER.
THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED IN ADDITION TO TAKING PLACE.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS HERE.
PLEASE STAND, UH, FOR THE SALUTE OF THE FLAG.
I'M GONNA ASK COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON TO LEAD US IN THE SI PLEDGE ALL LEADER TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC STANDS, ONE NATION, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
PLEASE JUST STAND FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND HONOR OF THOSE WE LOST SINCE THE LAST TIME WE, UH, CAME HERE IN PARTICULAR, UH, I JUST WANT HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AS WELL TO HONOR, UH, JANET MCCARTHY, THE WIFE OF FORMER BLOOMFIELD MAYOR RAY MCCARTHY, WHO PASSED AWAY ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
I HAVE ME, UH, BEFORE ME CERTIFICATION FOR THE DEPUTY CLERK THAT THIS MEETING IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO OVER TO THE APPROVAL OF TRANSCRIPTS.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY? YES, MR. PRESIDENT.
WE HAVE ONE FROM THE NOVEMBER 6TH, 2024.
ANY QUESTION OR COMMENTS? SEE NONE.
AND COMMISSIONER SERMONS ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
DO WE HAVE ANY TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION? NO.
LET'S MOVE AHEAD TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
TONIGHT'S, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION IS A COMBINED, UH, UH, CONFERENCE, BOARD MEETING.
SO WE WILL VOTE ON EVERY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION FOR THE RECORD.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
THERE WILL BE TIME LATER IN THE EVENING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY OTHER ITEMS. SO PLEASE, I ASK YOU TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENT AT THIS TIME TO AGENDA ITEMS ONLY.
MADAM DEPUTY CLERK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT THERE'S NO ONE WISH TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD ON ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTIONS ON INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READINGS.
DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE OF RESOLUTIONS FOR LISTING PURPOSES ONLY? NO, WE DO NOT.
DO WE HAVE ANY ORDINANCE ON SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING? NO.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS FROM THE DIVISION OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS.
IT'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
UH, MEMBERS, UH, MR. COLTRANE WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM.
THIS IS A CONTRACT AWARDED TO ALLY UNIVERSITY PROTECTIVE SERVICE LLC WITH LOWES, RESPONSIBLE BIDDER TO PROVIDE SECURITY SERVICE AT 3 23 21 UNIVERSITY AVENUE FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2026 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 20, 28, AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,600,280 AND 59 CENTS.
WE HAD SEVEN BIDDERS ON THIS, AND THEY WERE ALL INTERVIEWED AND THE SPEC REQUIRED PREVAILING WAGE.
UH, TWO VENDORS WERE REJECTED BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT PAYING, UH, PREVAILING WAGE, AND THE LOWEST BIDDER WAS ALLIED, UH, ALLIED WITH A UNIVERSAL SECURITY SERVICE.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO LEGAL QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? NUMBER ONE, COMMISSIONER RICHARDSON.
WHAT, WHAT IS THE PREVAILING WAGE FOR, UH, SECURITY OFFICERS? DON'T QUOTE ME.
IT'S AROUND 25, 20 $6 PER HOUR.
AND THIS IS A NORTH BASED COMPANY ALSO.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE IT? SURE.
MAD AND DEPUTY CLERK FOR NUMBER ONE.
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ABSENT.COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS TWO THROUGH SEVEN, WHICH ARE FOR THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION.
WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
UH, DIRECTOR MCCOY WILL HANDLE THESE ITEMS. THANK YOU.
I'M WITH THE DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ACTION.
I'M HERE FOR SEVERAL AGENDA ITEMS. THE FIRST AGENDA, ITEM NUMBER TWO IS OUR INTER-AGENCY AGREEMENT FOR THE CODE RED PILOT PROGRAM.
AS YOU KNOW, ESSEX COUNTY WAS ONE OF FIVE COUNTIES SELECTED TO HANDLE THE CODE RED FOR THE EXTREME HEAT FOR OUR UNHOUSED VULNERABLE POPULATION.
UH, THE CITY OF NEWARK HAS GLADLY, GRACIOUSLY DECIDED, LET LET THE COUNTY OF TEXAS PARTNER WITH THEM TO HELP.
'CAUSE THEY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO TAKE AND HOUSE OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION OFF THE STREET.
SO WE PROVIDED THEM WITH $113,000 FOR THAT INITIATIVE FOR A FOUR MONTH PERIOD.
NUMBER THREE IS, UH, OUR STATE OF NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS PROVIDED TO ESSEX COUNTY WITH AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF $261,910 FOR CONTINUED SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE CONTINUOUS YEAR FOR 2026.
AND WITH THOSE DOLLARS, WE DECIDED TO SPREAD THAT OUT WITH OUR SERVICE PROVIDER AGENCIES FOR 4, 5, 6, AND SEVEN TO PROVIDE THOSE AGENCIES WITH DOLLARS TO CONTINUE SERVICES TO OUR, OUR PROVINCE INDIVIDUALS OF THE ESTES COUNTY.
THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE IRVINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE PROVIDED THEM WITH AN ADDITIONAL $60,000.
WE PROVIDED THEM AN ADDITIONAL $60,000, UH, MONTCLAIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE PROVIDED THEM WITH AN ADDITIONAL $50,000.
SO FOR THE RECORD, THAT'S NUMBER FIVE.
FIVE AND NUMBER SIX, WE PROVIDED JOYCE ANGEL WITH AN ADDITIONAL $61,250.
NUMBER SEVEN IS SEED TIME OUTREACH.
WE PROVIDE THEM WITH AN ADDITIONAL $50,000 FOR SERVICES TO CONTINUE THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS, PRESIDENT.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER, VP.
JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, SO WHEN YOU SAY ADDITIONAL, THIS IS AN INCREASE FROM THEIR, UH, ALLOCATIONS IN THE PREVIOUS CALENDAR YEAR THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? THAT IS CORRECT.
AND THOSE BECAME AVAILABLE THROUGH THE BLOCK GRANTS OR JUST IF YOU COULD JUST ENLIGHTEN SS TO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY GREAT WORK THAT'S HAPPENING.
AND SO HOW DID THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE? I KNOW IT'S, I BELIEVE IT'S, UM, FROM THE FEDS, BUT JUST IF YOU COULD WALK US THROUGH SURE.
HOW WE HAVE MORE AVAILABLE FOR THESE SERVICES THAN THE PREVIOUSLY SURE.
EACH YEAR WE GET AN ALLOCATION AND IT'S FED TO US HERE, THE COUNTY AND PIECEMEAL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AROUND, WE, WE DID AN ADDITIONAL EARLY BACK IN JUNE, BUT THEY HAD REPROGRAMMING MONEY AND THE STATE PROVIDED THE COUNTY WITH ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.
'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT THAT MONEY TO GO BACK TO THE FEDS.
SO IN ORDER TO NOT MAKE SURE THAT MONEY GO BACK TO THE FEDS, THEY LOOK AT THE COUNTIES THAT ARE DOING THE BEST WORK IN ESS COUNTY, STANDS OUT TO THE STATE AS ONE OF THE BEST THAT WE ARE DOING TO HELP OUR CONSTITUENTS AND CONSUMERS WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES, FOOD, AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT WILL HELP THEM BECOME SUSTAINABLE AND SELF-SUFFICIENT.
AND THEN AS IT RELATES TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, UM, I KNOW THAT CONSIDERING NEWARK IS THE LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE, THE CITY GETS A LOT OF INFLUX OF FOLKS IN NEED AND INCLUDING, UH, HOMELESS FOLKS, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE HOME INSECURE, EVEN PEOPLE WHO AREN'T ACTUAL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.
BUT IF YOU ARE AT THE CITY, YOU COME, YOUR NEED OF SERVICES, THE THE CITY PROVIDES.
AND SO WAS NEWARK ALLOCATED FOR THIS GRANT? IN PART BECAUSE OF THEIR KIND OF HIGH RATE OF SERVICES AND THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE TO SERVE THESE AMOUNTS OF, OF HOMELESS RESIDENTS AND CONSTITUENTS.
AND THEN SECONDLY, ARE THERE OTHER, LIKE, ARE THERE, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE KIND OF SERVING THAT POPULATION AT THAT SCALE AS NEWARK IS WITHIN THE COUNTY THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT NEWARK IS EXACTLY THE, THE REASON WHY WE WENT BECAUSE OF THEIR POPULATION THAT THEY HAVE SERVICE AND THEY HAVE THE BIGGER INFRASTRUCTURE TO HANDLE THAT.
BECAUSE THIS IS A THREE YEAR PROGRAM PILOT, WE ARE, AND WE WOULD RECEIVE THIS FUNDING AT PRETTY MUCH THE LAST MINUTE.
WE HAD TO IMMEDIATELY START WORKING ON A PLAN.
SO WE STARTED WORKING WITH NEWARK, AND NOW WE'RE GONNA BE GOING INTO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES SUCH AS MONTCLAIR BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE A HOMELESS POPULATION, EAST ORANGE AND SO FORTH.
SO WE ARE GONNA BE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ON THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A THREE YEAR PROGRAM WITH THIS, A THREE YEAR GRANT WITH THIS PROGRAM.
RECOGNIZING COMMISSIONER COOPER HAS JOINED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? SEEING NONE, COMMISSIONER, VP, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE TWO TO SEVEN? SURE.
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DEPUTY CLERK FOR NUMBER TWO THROUGH SEVEN.COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
NUMBER EIGHT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
SO LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS NINE THROUGH 12 AND ADDED START 65 AND 67, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
A WE'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? UM, MR. ZAS, WE'LL HANDLE THESE ITEMS EXCEPT FOR NUMBER 66.
OKAY, LET'S, UH, DO NINE THROUGH 12.
S COUNTY PARKS NUMBER NINE IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO BIOCON LOWEST RESPONSIVE BIDDER TO PROVIDE HVAC SERVICES AT VARIOUS COUNTY PARKS FACILITIES NOT TO EXCEED $548,000.
THIS IS, UH, TIME AND MATERIAL CONTRACT.
UM, IT'S FOR EVERY FACILITY WITHIN THE ESSEX COUNTY PARK SYSTEM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TURTLEBACK ZOO, WHICH HAS A SEPARATE HVAC CONTRACT THAT WE WILL BE, UH, COMING TO THE BOARD, UM, SOMETIME NEXT MONTH, LOOKING FOR APPROVAL.
NUMBER 10, CONTRACT AWARD TO CORP C CO.
TWO LOWEST BIDDERS TO PROVIDE RENTAL PARTY RELATED ITEMS FOR FESTIVAL EVENTS AND CONCERTS.
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $300,000.
THIS IS FOR THE VARIOUS RENTAL ITEMS, INCLUDING 10 CHAIRS, LINENS, ET CETERA, FOR, UH, VARIOUS EVENTS, PRESS CONFERENCES, MEETINGS, UH, CONCERTS, UH, WHAT HAVE YOU.
NUMBER 11, THE CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER WITH ANTHONY'S AFFORDABLE TREE CARE.
DO JETS, TREE EXPERTS AND DOWNS.
TREE SERVICE FOR TREE REMOVAL, TRIMMING, STUMP GRINDING, ADDING AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $260,000.
THE ORIGINAL CON CONTRACT AMOUNT WAS 1.3 MILLION.
UM, IF WE ADD THE TWO 60, WHICH IS THE 20% AND NOW COMES TO 1.56 MILLION, UH, THE REASON WE'RE REQUESTING THE 20% IS JUST WITH THE RECENT STORMS IN THE AREA.
UH, TREE PICKUP, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
TREE CLEANUP, I SHOULD SAY, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, HAS BEEN, UM, INTENSE.
UH, NUMBER 12, CONTRACT AWARD TO GREENSIDE CONCESSIONS, HIGHEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIVE BIDDER, UH, TO PROVIDE AND OPERATE THE BEVERAGE CART.
FOOD CONCESSION OVER AT HENDRICKS FIELD GOLF CLUB, NOT TO, UH, 36 MONTH CONTRACT, NOT TO EXCEED $1,850.
AGAIN, THIS IS FOR THE CONCESSION OVER AT HENDRICKS.
UH, THE FIRST MONTH'S RENT WILL BE $500.
I'M SORRY, THE FIRST YEAR'S RENT, $500.
AND THEN THE THIRD YEAR WOULD BE $750 FOR A TOTAL OF $1,850.
AGAIN, THEN THIS IS REVENUE FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
NUMBER 65 IS AUTHORIZATION, UH, UH, TO DO A 60, UH, I'M SORRY, UH, AUTHORIZATION FOR A SECOND CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH REVELATION WHOLESALE AND AGNI ENTERPRISES FOR PHARMACEUTICALS AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES.
THIS IS THE SECOND 60 MONTH CONTRACT.
UH, ORIGINALLY THE BACK IN JULY, THIS BOARD APPROVED A 60 DAY EXTENSION, WHICH BROUGHT, BRINGS US TO, UH, SEPTEMBER 15TH OF YEAR.
UH, THIS IS, UH, AN ADDITIONAL 60 DAYS, SEPTEMBER 16TH THROUGH NOVEMBER.
UH, THE REASON BEING, WE ARE GOING OUT TO ADVERTISE FOR THESE SERVICES AGAIN.
AND, UH, WE DO NEED THESE SERVICES WHILE IT'S BEING ADVERTISED.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE ANIMAL POPULATION.
UH, NUMBER 66 IS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IMPLIED.
I'LL HAVE TO DEFER TO OUR ESTEEMED COUNTY COUNCIL ON THAT ONE.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE SIRENS.
THEY ARE HOCKEY TEAM, PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE, WHICH I KNOW WE ALL SUPPORT.
THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS IT, AND SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THEM AS WE'RE THE HOST OF THE SILENCE.
SO IT'S JUST AN EXTENSION TO THE CONTRACT FOR ONE YEAR.
AND, UH, MR. ZAS, YOU WANNA WRAP UP? NUMBER 67? SURE.
JOSHUA ZAS COUNTY PARKS NUMBER 67 IS AN AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES AT THE SOUTH MOUNTAIN RECREATION COMPLEX.
LISA LU ENTERTAINMENT MOUNTAIN ACT TO EXCEED $45,000.
THIS IS FOR SEVERAL EVENTS OVER AT THE ZOO, INCLUDING, UH, SENIOR WELLNESS, WHICH IS COMING UP ON TUESDAY, AS WELL AS THE HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND, UH, VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS, UH, OFFERING OVER AT THE COMPLEX.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE.
UH, MR. SHABAZZ, ANY QUESTIONS ON NINE THROUGH 12 AND 65 THROUGH 67? NO QUESTIONS PRESENT.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? COMMISSIONER COOPER? THANK YOU FOR ITEM NUMBER 11.
THIS ENTITY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE
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FOR REMOVING TREES WHEN WE HAVE DOWN TREES DUE TO STORMS, ET CETERA.AND ALL PARKS OR JUST CERTAIN PARKS? UH, JOSHUA HS.
COUNTY PARKS, SUE, YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? IT'D BE FOR ANY PARK IN THE SYSTEM.
UM, TYPICALLY, WHAT'S THE TURNAROUND TIME YOU GUYS CALL THEM? AND THEN THEY TAKE HOW MANY DAYS TO COME TO PICK UP TREES? UH, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW BAD A PREVIOUS STORM WAS.
'CAUSE SOMETIMES THEY'RE INUNDATED WITH WORK EITHER IN OTHER PARKS WITHIN ESSEX COUNTY OR JUST OTHER PARKS IN GENERAL.
UM, SO IT, IT'S REALLY DEPENDING ON THEIR AVAILABILITY.
SO DOES THAT MEAN, UH, A WEEK, A MONTH? WHAT? BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN, THERE WERE SOME TREES DOWN IN ORANGE PARK AND THEY WERE DOWN FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME.
SO WE ALWAYS, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING.
WE ALWAYS STRIVE FOR A RESPONSE WITHIN, UH, 48 HOURS.
UH, AGAIN, IT'S BASED ON AVAILABILITY.
A A WEEK HONESTLY WOULD BE TOO LONG.
SO WE, WE WOULD TRY TO GET THEM IN AS A B IF THERE'S A SPECIFIC, UM, ISSUE YOU HAVE IN MIND, I COULD CERTAINLY BRING IT BACK TO THE PARKS DIRECTOR.
I, I WAS WILL FORWARD YOU, UM, SOME COMMENTS.
I KNOW THAT I INUNDATE MR. JACKSON WITH TREE THINGS THAT WE SEE DOWN.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING UP SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE, VAS BURG PARK IS A COUNTY PARK.
WHAT ABOUT THAT LITTLE, I'LL CALL IT NO MAN'S LAND AREA.
WHEN YOU MAKE A LEFT OFF SOUTH ORANGE, I'M DIRECTIONALLY CHALLENGED
IF YOU'RE GOING UP SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE TOWARDS SOUTH ORANGE, YOU MAKE THAT LEFT HAND TURN.
YOU KNOW HOW IT LIKE SPLITS AND CURVES AND COMES TOGETHER ALONG THE PARK.
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT LITTLE AREA? UH, THROUGH YOU, MR. PRESIDENT? I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU.
I'M NOT, I KNOW THE AREA YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHO, IF THAT'S COUNTY OR CITY PROPERTY.
BUT THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF TREES DOWN IN ORANGE PARK.
THEY WERE FINALLY PICKED UP, BUT THEY HAVE SAT THERE FOR EASILY TWO TO THREE WEEKS.
AND I WAS CURIOUS, HOW DO WE GO ABOUT, UM, GETTING THE TREES PICKED UP? IS IT SOMETHING WE DO INTERNALLY BUT WE'RE USING AN OUTSIDE COMPANY? YEAH, IT, IT WOULD BE ONE OF THE VENDORS THAT WE, ALRIGHT.
BUT LET'S, BUT CERTAINLY IT SHOULDN'T BE SITTING THERE MORE THAN A MONTH.
ALRIGHT, NEXT QUESTION IS FOR ITEM NUMBER 67.
HOW MANY EVENTS DID YOU SAY WAS INVOLVED? I BELIEVE, UH, JOSHUA'S HS.
IT IS FOR THREE SEPARATE EVENTS.
UM, LET'S START WITH SENIOR WELLNESS, WHICH IS NEXT WEEK.
UH, THE HALLOWEEN OVER AT THE ZOO AND THEN THE HOLIDAY LIGHTS, WHICH RUN, UH, TYPICALLY RIGHT AFTER THANKSGIVING, UP UNTIL NEW YEAR'S.
WHAT EXACTLY DO THEY DO? SO THEY WOULD PROVIDE, UM, ENTERTAINMENT.
SO SUCH AS, UM, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU WERE AT THE, THE ZOO FOR ONE OF THE EVENTS, IT WOULD BE JUGGLERS.
UM, OH, SOMETIMES WE HAVE LIKE A PRINCESS NIGHT SO YOU CAN MEET ONE OF THE DISNEY PRINCESSES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'RE SEASON HOLDERS, SO WE GO TO THE ZOO A WHOLE LOT.
SO, AND MY KIDS LOVE HALLOWEEN AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO HALLOWEEN.
UM, QUESTION ABOUT NUMBER ITEM 12.
DID YOU SAY IT WAS EIGHT $1,850 FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION? OR IS THAT ANNUALLY? THAT IS CORRECT.
FOR THE ENTIRE, FOR THE ENTIRE THREE YEARS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? COMMISSIONER, VP THREE, MR. PRESIDENT, ON THE TOPIC OF TREES, UM, I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO PARTICULARLY, I'M THINKING ABOUT WITHIN MY DISTRICT, WEAK WAKE PARK, BUT ALSO JUST MORE BROADLY, WHEN THESE TREES DO FALL, UH, OBVIOUSLY IN CERTAIN CASES THERE ARE TREES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR TREE REPLACEMENT? UM, IS THERE A SPACE WHERE THE COUNTY KIND OF KEEPS TRACK OF THESE ARE THE TREES THAT FELL, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND HOW CAN WE AS BOARD MEMBERS IN THE PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION? YEAH, JOSHUA'S, HS.
SO THE FIRST, THE FIRST ITEM IS ALWAYS, UH, SAFETY.
SO IF THERE'S ANY TREE THAT'S, UM, IN A PUBLIC WALKWAY OR PUBLIC ROADWAY, THOSE WOULD ALWAYS BE ADDRESSED.
TREES, FOR INSTANCE, THAT WOULD FALL LIKE IN, UH, ONE OF OUR RESERVATIONS.
AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT ON A, UM, A WALKING TRAIL, THOSE WE KIND OF JUST TEND TO LEAVE.
AND THEN MOTHER NATURE DOES ITS COURSE.
AS FAR AS A TREE INVENTORY, I KNOW FOR SOME OF OUR PARKS SPECIFICALLY, LIKE BRANCH BROOK, I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE A TREE INVENTORY.
I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE SYSTEM WIDE, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
AND THEN, UM, AS FAR AS REPLACEMENTS GO, IT WOULD BE ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS AND DEPENDING ON WHERE IT FELL AND, AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND JUST, YEAH, JUST FOR THAT'S HELPFUL.
AND SO YOU SAID THERE MAY BE ONE FOR BRANCH BOOK, BUT YOU'RE NOT SURE ABOUT THE OTHER COUNTY PARTS.
BUT WE COULD CERTAINLY GET BACK TO YOU.
BECAUSE IN THAT, I THINK I'M WONDERING TOO, LET'S SAY WE, THERE IS ONE THAT EXISTS FOR EACH PARK.
UM, IS THERE SOME KIND OF LIKE PLAN THEN JUST MORE BROADLY FOR WHEN A TREE FALLS? AS LONG AS IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, IMPEDING ON THE SAFETY OF THE PARK MM-HMM
IS THERE ALWAYS A PLAN IN PLACE FOR A CERTAIN KIND OF TREE REPLACEMENT STRATEGY OR CONTEXT DEPENDENT? SO TYPICALLY IF WE WERE TO REPLACE THE TREE, IT WOULD BE WITH THE SAME SPECIES.
UM, BUT, BUT AGAIN, ANY, ANY TREE THAT'S KIND OF DETERIORATING WITHIN THE RESERVATION, WE WOULD NOT REPLACE.
IT WOULD JUST BE PART OF MOTHER NATURE.
ALRIGHT, I'LL FOLLOW UP JUST FOR SOME MORE INFORMATION IF THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL.
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VP, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE THESE ITEMS? YEAH.ALRIGHT, SO, UH, MOVING NINE TO 12.
DEPUTY CLERK COMMISSIONER SERMONS ABSENT.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
COMMISSIONER PRESIDENT POIS? YES.
LET'S MOVE ON TO RESOLUTION 13 THROUGH 16, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THEY WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
DAVID ANTONIO, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
ITEM NUMBER 13 IS THE EXERCISING OF A 24 MONTH EXTENSION CONTRACT WITH AMERICAN WEAR TO PROVIDE RENTAL CLEANING OF UNIFORMS IN A MANAGED TO EXCEED $305,000.
UH, THIS CONTRACT IS UTILIZED BY THE DIVISION OF FLEET MANAGEMENT BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS AND ROSE BRIDGES TO ENSURE THAT EMPLOYEES ARE WEARING APPROPRIATE AND SAFE UNIFORMS. ITEM NUMBER, UH, 14 AWARDS A TWO YEAR CONTRACT FOR PROVIDING COLLISION REPAIR SERVICES OF COUNTY VEHICLES TO THE FOUR LOWEST VENDORS IN A MAGNITUDE EXCEED $720,000.
THE FOUR VENDORS, VENDORS ARE A LAMBO CURRENT NEWARK MOTOR AND EXPORT THE FALCO INSTANT TOWING AND ROUTE 23 AUTO MALL.
THIS CONTRACT WILL ALLOW FOR NEEDED COLLISION DAMAGE REPAIRS TO BE PERFORMED ON COUNTY OWNED VEHICLES, INCLUDING SHERIFFS AND PROSECUTORS, SO THEY CAN BE RETURNED TO DUTY SERVICE ON A TIMELY MANNER.
ITEM NUMBER 15 IS A 24 MONTH EXTENSION OPTION TO THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH DIGITAL TEAM SIX.
TO PROVIDE COMPUTER NETWORK SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE AND SOFTWARE SUPPORT AND AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $65,000.
THIS CONTRACT IS UTILIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO ENSURE THAT THIS COMPUTER NETWORK AND SOFTWARE IS FUNCTIONING OPTIMALLY TO MINIMIZE UNNECESSARY EMPLOYEE DOWNTIME.
AND NUMBER 16 IS A 24 MONTH EXTENSION OPTION TO THE EXISTING CONTRACT WITH READY CARE LLC, WHO PROVIDES FIRST EIGHT PRODUCTS AND EQUIPMENT IN AMOUNT TO EXCEED $11,624.
THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES DIRECT ACCESS FOR FIRST EIGHT SUPPLIES TO OUR DEPARTMENTAL STAFF AND PERSONNEL.
MR. SHABAZ, ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? NO QUESTIONS, PRESIDENT.
ANY QUESTIONS ON 13 THROUGH 16? MOTION MOVE BY COOPER.
SECOND BY RICHARD ROLL CALL MAD DEPUTY COURT.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
LET'S MOVE ON TO NUMBER 17, WHICH IS FROM THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK.
YOU'LL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON? MR. UH, PRESIDENT OPT, UH, THIS IS A CONTRACT AWARD TO OPTICAL STORAGE SOLUTIONS INC.
PROVIDE SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE IN SUPPORT FOR THE LAND X SYSTEM.
EXERCISING OF 24 MONTH CONTRACT EXTENSION, JANUARY 1ST, 2027 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2028, NOT TO EXCEED $42,000.
THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES STORAGE AND ACCOUNTING, UH, SYSTEM FOR ALL U US PASSPORTS, NOTARIES, NOTARY CERTIFICATION, ESSEX COUNTY IDENTIFICATION CARDS, SENIOR ID CARDS, FEDERAL LICENSE, VETERANS ID CARDS, AND ALL SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE WALL, THE ESSEX COUNTY CLERK.
COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS ON 17? SAY NONE.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
MOVING ON TO RESOLUTION 18, WHICH IS IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL THAT WILL BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT A LATER TIME.
THIS IS THE RETAINED OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY OF TEX IN A LAWSUIT THAT WAS BROUGHT AS WAS, UH, ALLEGING A VIOLATION OF LAW AGAINST DISCRIMINATION.
MR. MCINERNEY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS ANY QUESTIONS ON 18? MOTION
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MOVED BY COOPER.ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK FOR NUMBER 18.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
MOVING ON TO RESOLUTION 19 AND 20, WHICH ARE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION FINANCE, OFFICE OF PURCHASE.
AND IT'LL BE RIGHT UNTIL THE RECORD LATER TIME.
MR. COULTER, MR. PRESIDENT, THERE'S A CONTRACT AWARDED WV MASON, SOLE RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER TO FURNISH AND DELIVER OFFICE SUPPLIES.
OCTOBER 13TH, 2026 THROUGH OCTOBER 12TH, 2020.
INMATE EIGHT NOT TO EXCEED $6 MILLION.
AS WE ALL KNOW, WE BUY EVERY PRODUCT FROM WATER TO CANDY TO YOU NAME IT FROM WB MASON, INCLUDING FURNITURE.
UH, THEY DO HAVE 110 EMPLOYEES AND 26 ARE FROM ESSEX.
AND NUMBER 20, UH, IS THE COMPETITIVE CONTRACT PROCESS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FACILITY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THIS, UH, REQUEST IS MADE FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS.
SO ANYONE WHO NEEDS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH IS A FIVE YEAR PLAN, THEY CAN USE A COMPETITIVE CONTRACTING PROCESS.
MR. SHABAZ, ANY QUESTIONS ON 19 AND 20? NO QUESTIONS.
MR. MCINERNEY, WHAT WAS THE NON EXPECTED LAST YEAR BASIS? AND WE MASON? WE ASKED FOR 5 MILLION.
UM, AND WITH THE COST OF ITEMS GOING UP, WE ARE NOT TO EXCEED 6 BILLION, BUT HOPEFULLY WE NEVER GET THERE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON 1920? COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT.
SO WE ARE HOPING NOT TO EXCEED 6 MILLION.
WE SPENT AROUND 3.7 LAST YEAR.
UM, DO WE, HOW MUCH MORE ROUGHLY THAN DO WE EXPECT TO SPEND MORE THAN THE EXPENDITURE LAST YEAR? IT DEPENDS ON THE DEPARTMENT WHO'S SPENDING NOT ON MY DEPARTMENT.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE? AND THEN CERTAINLY WITH TARIFFS AND THE PRICES OF EVERYTHING ARE HIGHER, EVERYTHING YOU LOOK AT, INCLUDING THE WATER ON YOUR TABLE IS PURCHASED FROM WBE BASE MOST LIKELY.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 20.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE? YES.
WHAT HAPPENS IS EACH DEPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY BUILDINGS, LET'S SAY THE HOSPITAL CENTER, THEY SHOULD BE DOING A FIVE YEAR, YOU KNOW, FACILITY PLAN.
WHAT DO WE NEED IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? SO IF YOU GO OUT FOR A CONSULTANT, THEY WOULD THEN EVALUATE THE ENTIRE BUILDING SAYING, OKAY, THE ROOF HAS THREE YEARS OF LIFE TO BOILER, HAS 10 YEARS OF LIFE, AND START PLANNING.
SO WE CAN LOOK AT OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
SO WHEN WE COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR BONDING FOR $20 MILLION, ET CETERA, THERE'S A PLAN TO LOOK AT, AND THIS IS GONNA BE OWED TO ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS COUNTYWIDE.
AS LONG AS YOU HAVE FACILITY THAT, LET'S SAY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, DEPART HOSPITAL CENTER, LET'S SAY, UH, LET'S SAY, UH, SANJEEV WITH VARIOUS BUILDING, YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT MY SOFT SPOT IS THAT NEED, UM, THE SUPPORT IN THIS AREA, THE JAIL, YOU KNOW, ALL THE, THE AGE GIVEN THE AGE OF THE PLACE AND THE NUMBER OF ITEMS THERE AND THE USEFUL LIFE, WE NEED A ABSOLUTELY THEY COULD STRONGLY BENEFIT FROM THAT.
REMEMBER, THIS IS UP TO THE DEPARTMENT TO COME BACK AND SAY, YES, WE WOULD LIKE TO GO OUT FOR A COMPETITIVE CONTRACT FOR THAT PARTICULAR SERVICE.
COMMISSIONER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE? 19, 20? SURE.
LET'S GIVE MERCADO ON A SECOND.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS 21 THROUGH 26, WHICH ARE 2026 COUNTY BUDGET INSERTION OF ITEMS OF REVENUE FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.
THEY WILL BE READY FOR THE RECORD LATER TIME.
MR. JACKSON, UH, MR. PRESIDENT.
ITEM 21 IS FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO OUR, UM, DIVISION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH IN THE AMOUNT OF $799,993.
UH, GOING THROUGH, UH, SEPTEMBER 29TH, 2027.
THESE FUNDS WILL STRENGTHEN OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE OPIOID, UH, UH, CRISIS GOING ON ALL OVER, INCLUDING A 24 7 HOTLINE FOR OPIOID RELATED ASSISTANCE AND OUR INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH RUTGERS MEDICAL SCHOOL.
UM, UH, AND THERE'S NO COUNT COUNTY MATCH ITEM 22 FROM THE J NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF, UM, HOMELAND OFFICE OF
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HOMELAND SECURITY TO THE OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF IN THE AMOUNT OF $281,000.THIS IS TO CONTINUE THE NATIONAL IN INCIDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, UH, AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION PLAN.
UH, AND, UH, THERE IS NO, UH, COUNTY MATCH ITEM 23, ALSO FROM THE NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $219,546 AND 3 CENTS.
THIS WAS, THIS IS, UH, THESE FUNDS WILL ENABLE US TO BUILD, MAINTAIN, AND SUSTAIN THE COUNTY'S ABILITY TO, UH, RESPOND TO AND RECOVER FROM INCIDENTS OF TERRORISM.
UH, AND THERE IS NO, UH, COUNTY MATCH ITEM 24, ALSO FROM THE NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE AMOUNT OF $16,000.
UM, THIS IS, UM, UH, $16,000 THAT'S GOING TO THE NUTLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, TO REIMBURSE IT FOR OPERATIONAL AND OVERTIME RELATED TO THE WORLD CUP, UH, THAT JUST OCCURRED.
UH, ITEM 25 5 IS, UM, FROM THE NEW JERSEY, UH, DEPARTMENT OF, UH, STATE TO THE ESSEX COUNTY, UH, OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTIONS AND COMMISSIONER OF REGISTRATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $235,781 AND 47 CENTS.
THIS IS REIMBURSEMENTS FOR, UH, EXPENSES OCCURRED DURING THE 2025 GENERAL ELECTION AND ITEM 26 FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF STATE TO THE ESSEX COUNTY OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK IN THE AMOUNT OF $42,820 AND 99 CENTS.
THIS IS REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES CURR DURING EARLY VOTING FOR THE 2026 PRIMARY ELECTION.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE ITEMS? NO QUESTIONS, PRESIDENT.
ANY QUESTIONS ON 21 AND 26? MOTION MOVE BY COOPER.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY CLERK 21 TO 26.
COMMISSIONER VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
LET'S MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS 27 THROUGH 64, WHICH ARE IN MEMO COMMENDATIONS PROCLAMATION RESOLUTIONS.
THEY COULD BE READ INTO THE RECORD AT LATER TIME.
COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE? MOTION? SEE NONE.
ROLL CALL MADAM DEPUTY COURT COMMISSIONER AGAIN.
COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT MURRAY THOMAS.
ALRIGHT, WE'VE ALREADY COVERED 65 THROUGH 67.
SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE REPORT OF BOARD COMMITTEES.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD ANY, UH, COMMITTEE REPORTS RECENTLY.
UH, ANY LEGISLATIVE REPORTS? MAD DEPUTY CLERK? NO.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS OR ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS COMMISSIONERS.
LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF THERE'S ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANY MATTER, PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
STATE YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
YOU HAVE THE FLOOR ALL TO YOURSELF TODAY.
I KNOW AS I'VE NEVER SEEN IT LIKE THIS BEFORE.
SO MAGGIE FREEMAN WEEKLY PARK SPORTS AUTHORITY.
SO WITH THE DISCUSSION OF THE TREES, UM, THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY, I JUST WANTED TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD, THAT, UM, TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF NEWARK, UM, TO HAVE SOME TREES.
I THINK THEY'RE DOING A GRANT, UM, THIS WEEK.
AND SOMEHOW THE COUNTY TREES WERE, THAT WERE ALLOTTED TO BRANCHVILLE PARK AND A FEW OTHER PARKS, QUA PARK WERE REMOVED FROM THAT GRANT.
SO I WOULD JUST WANT TO KIND OF STATE THAT SO THAT MAYBE SOMEONE FROM, UM, THE COMMISSIONERS CAN POSSIBLY, UM, KIND OF INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF IT'S STILL POSSIBLE TO GET THOSE TREES BACK ADDED BACK TO THE PLAN.
UM, BECAUSE THERE WAS A, I WANNA SAY OVER 300 OR SO TREES THAT WE KIND OF DON'T HAVE AVAILABLE, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW PSNG DID A LOT OF, UM, REPAIRS THROUGHOUT THE PARKS WITH THE LIGHTING.
HOWEVER, THE AREA THAT TENDS TO STILL GO LACKING IS THE BRIDGE AT WHICH I WANT TO SAY IS THE RAIL LINES RESPONSIBILITY.
SOMEHOW THOSE LIGHTS JUST NEVER ARE FACTORED OR NEVER, UM, COMPLETED.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR THAT OR IF THEY HAVE TO BE REDONE ENTIRELY.
MAYBE IT JUST HAS TO BE AN INSTALLATION BY PSE AND
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G FOR NEW POLES.I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS, BUT WE DO NEED TO RESOLVE THAT SOMEHOW BECAUSE IT'S BEEN OUT FOR PROBABLY OVER A DECADE.
UM, LASTLY, I THINK THERE WERE SOME TREES THAT WERE STILL DOWN ON THE 22 CORRIDOR OF THE PARK, SO THOSE NEED TO BE REMEDI, UM, ABATED AS WELL.
AND THEN, UM, THINKING, OH, AND THEN, THEN WE'VE RECENTLY LOST A SERIES OF TREES ON THE ELIZABETH AVENUE SIDE BECAUSE THOSE ARE, UM, GREATLY AGE.
SO WE DEFINITELY NEED TO PRIORITIZE THOSE PLANTINGS AS WELL.
AND I THINK, UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR TODAY.
DIVIDEND HILL HAS BEEN A, UM, A THING WE'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR FOR A LONG TIME.
I'VE ROLLED THROUGH ALL SUMMER ALONG AND JUST KIND OF SEEN THE OVERGROWTH.
I I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN GET ATTENTION TO THIS AREA, BUT IT'S REALLY, REALLY NEEDS TO BE PRIORITIZED, ESPECIALLY WITH THE STRUCTURE REALLY ON, UM, ON THIS.
IF YOU COULD JUST, UH, SHARE SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS WITH ADAM, IN PARTICULAR, THE LIGHT, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE ENGINEERING REACH OUT TO THE UTILITY COMPANY TO ADDRESS THAT.
'CAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE PROBABLY ONE OF THE MAIN CONCERNS.
BUT ANY OTHER THINGS, OF COURSE, THAT YOU MENTIONED.
MADAM DEPUTY COOK, LET THE RECORD REFLECT.
THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
SAYS THERE'S NO ONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE.
UH, WE WILL THEN MOVE ON TO, UH, COMMISSIONER.
UM, I WANNA THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR RESPONDING SO QUICKLY TO, UM, A CONCERN FOR REPAIRING THE, UM, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT ORANGE PARK.
LITERALLY THAT ABOUT SEVEN 30 IN THE MORNING, SEVEN O'CLOCK, UM, GOT SOME COMMENTS FROM CONSTITUENTS ON A FACEBOOK POST TECH GROUP AND I SENT IT TO MR. JACKSON.
AND BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS, THE ISSUE WAS, UM, REPAIRED.
I WANNA POINT OUT THAT OFTENTIMES PEOPLE AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME THAT IT WAS NEGLECT FROM THE CONTRACTOR OR THE VENDOR THAT INSTALLED THE WORK.
SOMETIMES WE ARE NOT GOOD STEWARDS OF THE EQUIPMENT AND THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN THE PARK, SO WE HAVE TO PAY BETTER ATTENTION TO HOW WE USE THINGS, YOU KNOW, UM, TO BE MINDFUL OF IT AS WE BREAK IT, SOMEONE ELSE COME ALONG, THEY MAY BE HARMED BY IT.
SO AGAIN, I WANNA THANK YOU MR. JACKSON, FOR RESPONDING SO QUICKLY FOR GETTING THAT ADDRESS.
I WANT TO REMIND THE ADMINISTRATION AND TALKING ABOUT THE TREES EARLIER THAT WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION WENT TO DO THE IMPROVEMENT AT ORANGE PARK, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL WITH BUILDING A NEW CLUBHOUSE THAT WE HAVE THERE, THE ADMINISTRATION, UM, THE COUNTY EXEC SPECIFICALLY HAD, UM, TOLD MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WE WOULD REPLACE SOME OF THE TREES THAT WE WERE CUTTING DOWN WITH BUILDING THE NEW, UM, FIELDS THAT WE PUT THERE IN A NEW BUILDING.
IN ADDITION, IN RECENT STORMS, WE LOST SOME REALLY BIG TREES THERE.
SO THE COMMUNITY GROUP AND SOME OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE EXPECTING US, UM, TO REPLACE THOSE TREES.
AND SO FAR I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY PLANTINGS OF NEW TREES THERE.
SO AS THE COMMISSIONER, VICE PRESIDENT TALKED ABOUT, UM, WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR REPLACING THOSE TREES AT ORANGE PARK, THE OTHER THING THAT THE COUNTY EXEC HAD AGREED TO, UM, ADDRESS AT ORANGE PARK IS THE FENCE THERE.
I KNOW A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO WE HAD HIRED A FENCING CONTRACT.
SO, UM, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, HE HAD TALKED ABOUT PUBLICLY REPLACING, 'CAUSE REMEMBER IT'S PORTIONS OF THAT FENCE THAT'S MISSING PROBABLY DUE TO STORMS OVER THE YEARS AS WELL.
AND MY LAST QUESTION IS, A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE ADMINISTRATION.
I THINK THE PUBLIC HAD ASKED FOR A LONG JUMP AT THE WEAK WAY PARK SO THAT WHEN THEY WERE DOING THEIR TRAINING THINGS WITH THE KIDS, UM, MY DAUGHTER RECENTLY HAS TAKEN UP DOING LONG JUMPING AND SHE'S AT THAT AGE WHERE SHE'S LOOKING INTO MY SURPRISE.
SO, UM, I WAS JUST WONDERING, DID THE ADMINISTRATION EVER DO THE ANALYSIS TO SEE IF WE COULD STALL SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT WEAK WAY PARK OR PERHAPS ANOTHER PARK SO THAT THE KIDS WHO POTENTIALLY COULD LOOK AT SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE TRACK AND FIELD REALM IF WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT? THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT I THINK, UH, YOU ATTENDED A NICE EVENT TODAY.
CAN YOU GIVE US A QUICK RECAP ABOUT THAT? SURE.
EARLIER, ACTUALLY THIS MORNING I STOPPED OVER TO ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE, NEWARK CAMPUS, UH, WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ALONG WITH OTHER DIGNITARIES FROM THE CITY OF NEWARK, UH, FACULTY, STAFF, UH, STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES.
WE, UH, CUT THE RIBBON FOR A BRAND NEW, UM, I, I WANNA SAY IT'S NOT JUST A MEDIA CENTER.
IT'S ACTUALLY A, A MEDIUM AND MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY WING.
UH, IT'S A COMPLETE, I MEAN, THERE'S MULTIPLE ROOMS, MULTIPURPOSE ROOMS, UH, ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
AS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE MENTIONED,
[00:40:01]
VERY INVITING.THEY OPENED UP A LOT OF WALLS, BIGGER ROOMS, UH, BIGGER GLASS TO THE OUTDOORS.
SO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GETTING NATURAL LIGHT.
AND, UH, OF COURSE STATE-OF-THE-ART TECHNOLOGY, SMART BOARDS, UH, COMPUTERS, DESKS FOR STUDENTS.
UM, AND THIS IS THE FIRST, I'VE ACTUALLY SEEN THIS IN A COLLEGE THAT AREN'T ACTUALLY DESKS THAT YOU SIT AT.
IF YOU WANT STAND AT THEM, YOU CAN ADJUST THE HEIGHT ACCORDINGLY.
UM, SO IT WAS A VERY NICE, I WANNA SAY, UM, MOVING MOMENT BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THIS VISION OF ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY UNDER THE LIGHT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, RISING COSTS FOR, UH, UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE TUITION.
THAT WE WILL RETAIN STUDENTS HERE WITHIN ESSEX, UH, REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE OF THE TOP FACILITIES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU TO GOVERNOR MIKEY CHERYL, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, TO US HERE AT ESSEX COUNTY, YOU KNOW, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE ALWAYS FINDS THE WAY, YOU KNOW, FOR US TO COME UP WITH THE FUNDING TO DO THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS.
UH, COMMISSIONER, I DIDN'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
BUT I KNOW THAT THAT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO YOU BECAUSE IT'S RELATED TO YOUR FIELD.
SO I THOUGHT YOU WOULD, UH, WANNA BRING IT UP.
UM, ON FRIDAY, I HAD THE HONOR TO, UH, SHARE REMARKS AT THE NINE 11 MEMORIAL, UH, ON, ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 25TH, UH, YEAR THAT, UH, ANNIVERSARY.
AND, UH, AS USUAL, THERE WAS, UH, A VERY SOLEM AND POIGNANT EVENT, UH, WERE VERY, VERY WELL ATTENDED, AND IT WAS LIVE STREAMED.
AND, UH, UH, WHILE IT'S CERTAINLY A VERY SAD EVENT, IT WAS A PROUD EVENT IN THAT ESSEX COUNTY COULD COME TOGETHER AND BRING SO MANY PEOPLE FROM, UH, MEMBERS OF THE AIRLINE WHO LOST FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES THAT DAY.
ALL OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND, UH, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF THOSE RESIDENTS OF TEX COUNTY WHO, UH, WE LOST THAT DAY.
AND IT WAS A, A VERY TOUCHING MOMENT.
AND IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT DAY BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE THAT THE, UH, THE SITE WILL BE RENOVATED.
IT'S ALREADY ACTUALLY STARTED.
I, I SAW THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES OUT THERE TODAY.
THE MONUMENTS WILL REMAIN THE SAME.
THEY WILL NOT CHANGE, OF COURSE.
UH, BUT THE PAVERS AND THE WALKWAYS AND THE LANDSCAPING MAY BE ENHANCED BECAUSE IT IS, UH, 24 YEARS OLD, BECAUSE THAT WAS OPEN.
IT WAS THE FIRST ONE TO OPEN IN, IN ESSEX COUNTY, I THINK, AND PERHAPS ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE STATE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
SO, UH, THAT'S NO DOUBT GONNA BE, UH, UNEVEN LOVELIER PLACE FOR, UH, FAMILIES TO COME AND, YOU KNOW, REMEMBER THEIR LOVED ONES AND THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR COLLEAGUES.
AND, UH, I WAS, UH, HAPPY TO SEE MY SON JOIN OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE, UH, IN READING OF THE NAMES.
BECAUSE I THINK NOW THAT 25 YEARS HAS MOVED ON, I THINK THE, YOU KNOW, WE ADDED ANOTHER ELEMENT TO THE MILESTONE, IF YOU WILL, AND THAT'S TO ENGAGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF, UH, PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT BORN THERE.
I THINK IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT DAY, I THINK IT WAS, I THINK MR. ABADO SHARED WHO MC THE EVENT, SOMETHING ABOUT A HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE WEREN'T ALIVE.
AMERICANS WERE NOT ALIVE WHEN THAT HAPPENED 25 YEARS AGO.
SO IT'S A BIG JOB FOR US TO ENSURE THAT THAT DAY IS NEVER FORGOTTEN.
SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HIS ENTIRE TEAM AND ALL THOSE INVOLVED FOR PUTTING TOGETHER, UH, AN EXTREMELY FITTING AND, AND, UH, BEAUTIFUL EVENT ON THAT PART.
I WAS HAPPY TO JUST BE A LITTLE PART OF IT.
SO, ALRIGHT, IF WE HAVE NOTHING ELSE THEN, UH, MR. I'M SORRY, MR. PRESIDENT.
COMMISSIONER LUCIANO, I'M GONNA GRAB THE MIC ONE MORE TIME.
I JUST WANNA PUT ON THE RECORD FOR FOLKS AT HOME, UM, FOR THE COMMISSIONERS HERE TONIGHT.
UH, ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENTS HERE IN ESSEX COUNTY IS NEXT WEEK.
IT'S IN MY DISTRICT IN WEST ORANGE.
SENIOR WELLNESS DAY IS AT THE CODY ARENA, UH, I BELIEVE, RIGHT? UH, MR. JACKSON.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
I DO ATTEND PERSONALLY EVERY TIME I GET THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE DO GET, UH, HUNDREDS, I MEAN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS.
AND AGAIN, HATS OFF TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
YOU KNOW, WE PROVIDE THEM USUALLY WITH A LUNCH BAG AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TCHOTCHKES AND TRINKETS AND THINGS THAT YOU CAN, UH, TO REMIND THEM OF ALL THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT'LL BE THERE REPRESENTED THAT KATHY BROWN.
WILL WE, UH, ALSO BE ATTENDING, I'M ASSUMING RIGHT? OUR OWN DEPARTMENT.
UH, THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH WILL ALSO BE THERE.
SO AGAIN, JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE TO THE PUBLIC.
AND IF ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS WANNA STOP BY, UH, I'LL LET YOU KNOW.
I USUALLY PIGGYBACK ON TOP OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
SO IF HE'S GONNA BE THERE AROUND, YOU KNOW, MIDDAY OR OR LATE MORNING, I TRY TO FIND OUT AND THAT'S WHEN I USUALLY MAKE THE TOUR.
ALL RIGHT, SO I'LL HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MOTION MOVE, MOVE BY COOPER SECOND BY LUCIANO.