WE'LL MOVE RIGHT INTO OUR REGULAR MEETING.
[00:00:04]
TIME NOW IS 6:05.ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS.
ALL RIGHT, I HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, I ATTENDED THE TORY JACK DAY AT THE STAATS HOUSE.
BEAUTIFUL WAY TO CELEBRATE AND KICK OFF FOR THEM FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
WE HAD A TELLING OF A STORY IN THE BOOK OF CYNTHIA WILLIAMS NEWSOME OUT OF HOBBS TOWN.
HER EXPERIENCE AND HER FAMILY'S JOURNEY HERE TO SOMERSET COUNTY, WHERE THEY ESTABLISHED ROOTS IN THE HOBBS SECTION OF BRIDGEWATER. PLENTY OF MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT, AND MY GRANDSONS--ONE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN--MY GRANDSON ACTUALLY GOT A TOUR OF THE STAATS HOUSE, SO HE ENJOYED IT AND WANTED TO KNOW WHY WE COULDN'T LIVE IN THAT HOUSE.
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO PROCLAMATIONS AND I SEE OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH RECIPIENT IS HERE.
[Proclamation]
THE PROCLAMATION. SO, MR. DOC CUNNINGHAM, IF YOU COME FORWARD, PLEASE.SO IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, FEBRUARY 2023, WHERE IS THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, STATE OF NEW JERSEY IS VERY PROUD OF ITS DIVERSE HERITAGE AND ETHNIC BACKGROUND, AND WHEREAS, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, ALSO KNOWN AS AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH IN THE US HONORS AND AFFIRMS THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THE CULTURE, SOCIETY AND PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES BY AFRICAN AMERICANS, AND WHEREAS, THE THEME FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2023 IS BLACK RESISTANCE, AND RECOGNIZES THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE RESISTED HISTORIC AND ONGOING OPPRESSION IN ALL FORMS, ESPECIALLY THE RACIAL TERRORISM OF LYNCHING, RACIAL PROGRAMS AND POLICE KILLINGS, AND WHEREAS, IN ORDER TO CREATE AND ENJOY THEIR FULL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES AS AMERICAN CITIZENS, AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE HAD TO OVERCOME BEING ENSLAVED THROUGH ESCAPE AND BONDAGE AND FIGHTING BRAVELY IN CIVIL WAR TO DEFEAT THE RACIST JIM CROW LAWS THROUGH ALMOST A CENTURY OF STRUGGLE, CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AND POLITICAL ACTIVISM, AND CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO THIS TO MAKE REAL THE PROMISES OF CIVIL RIGHTS ERA IN THE FACE OF CULTURAL AND LEGAL BARRIERS.
WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS A TIME FOR ALL AMERICANS TO REMEMBER AND REFLECT UPON THE BRAVERY, SELFLESS ACTS AND SACRIFICE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE SOUGHT FREEDOM, EQUALITY, JUSTICE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE FULLY IN THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, AND WHEREAS, IN OBSERVANCE OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN SOMERSET COUNTY WISHES TO HIGHLIGHT BLACK PIONEERS TRAILBLAZING CONTRIBUTIONS TO BUILDING THE UNITED STATES FROM THE GROUND UP WHILE STRUGGLING TO POSSESS THE FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS EMBEDDED IN THE NATION'S FOUNDING DOCUMENTS.
NOW THEREFORE BE PROCLAIMED, THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY RECOGNIZE FEBRUARY 2023 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN SOMERSET COUNTY, AND CALLS UPON ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OFFERED IN THE FIELDS OF CIVIC, FRATERNAL, CULTURAL EDUCATION, RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ADVANCEMENTS MADE BY AFRICAN AMERICAN CITIZENS IN SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, AND SIGNED ON THIS 14TH DAY OF FEBRUARY BY YOUR SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU TO MR. DOC CUNNINGHAM, AND YOU HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED SAIC, SEE AMERICA IN COLOR.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING THE RECIPIENT.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS ABOUT SEE AMERICA IN COLOR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. WOW, TO COMMISSIONER ROBINSON, COMMISSIONER DIRECTOR ROBINSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETARY AND THE ENTIRE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, I AM ACTUALLY FLOORED AND HONORED TO BE RECOGNIZED IN THIS WAY.
LET ME QUICKLY THANK A FEW FOLKS.
I HAVE MY WIFE AND OUR OLDEST DAUGHTER WITH US.
SO GIVE HER A HAND, IF YOU WILL.
I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATIVE CONGRESSWOMAN BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN AND HER TEAM.
BACK IN 2019 WHEN I FIRST HAD THIS IDEA OF LAUNCHING SEE AMERICA IN COLOR, I WASN'T SURE WHERE TO START, WHO TO TALK TO, WHERE TO GO TO KIND OF RUN IT BY SOME FOLKS WHO MIGHT HELP ME MAKE SOME SENSE OF HOW TO START THIS THING, AND SO I REACHED OUT TO THEIR OFFICE, WAS ABLE TO LAND A MEETING WITH THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF THERE, AND SOMEONE ON THEIR TEAM SAT DOWN WITH THEM.
[00:05:01]
SURE THAT I HAD SOMETHING TO RUN WITH.SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I ACKNOWLEDGED REPRESENTATIVE COLEMAN AND HER OFFICE.
BASICALLY, TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON SEE AMERICA IN COLOR: IT, IT WAS BORN OUT OF A SERIES OF NATIONAL NEWS STORIES BETWEEN 2012 AND 2015 THAT DID NOT SIT WELL WITH ME.
I WAS FRUSTRATED, CONFUSED, FED UP, TICKED OFF ANY SET OF WORDS YOU'RE COMFORTABLE USING , AND PART OF THE STRUGGLE WAS ONE WEEK I FELT LIKE I UNDERSTOOD THE ISSUES, AND A WEEK LATER, I WAS BACK TO FEELING CONFUSED.
SO I EMBARKED ON WHAT I CALL A DEEP DIVE IN AMERICAN HISTORY, THE BLACK TO AMERICA STORY AND HOMETOWN STRONG COMEBACKS, AND WHAT THAT DID FOR ME IS IT GAVE ME A MUCH BETTER PICTURE OF CIVIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES FOR A HIGHER LEVEL OF CITIZENSHIP, AND SO THE NUTS AND BOLTS, THE ELEVATOR PITCH FOR SAIC IS IT'S A NEW BRAND IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, SOCIAL CHANGE AND COMMUNITY LIFE WHERE FOLKS HAVE A MUCH BETTER PICTURE OF HOT BUTTON ISSUES BASED ON HOW THEY SEE AMERICA IN COLOR, NOT JUST IN BLACK AND WHITE.
LET ME ALSO THANK THE FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP COUNCIL AND IN PARTICULAR COUNCILWOMAN KIMBERLY FRANCOIS, WHO WAS A SOUNDING BOARD FOR AN EVENT WE LAUNCHED BACK IN OCTOBER TO COMMEMORATE NATIONAL CIVICS DAY, AND AS YOU GUYS KNOW, NATIONAL CIVICS DAY CELEBRATES THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVICS EDUCATION AND COMMEMORATES THE DAY WHEN THE FEDERALIST PAPERS WERE FIRST PUBLISHED BACK IN THE DAY, LIKE WAY BACK IN THE DAY, AND SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO USE NATIONAL CIVICS DAY AS A LAUNCHPAD, AS A NEW PUSH IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC GOOD IN AMERICA, AND THE REASON BEING IS, IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN THOSE PAPERS WERE WRITTEN, WHEN THE FEDERALIST PAPERS WERE WRITTEN, IT WAS AS A MEANS TO SELL TO THE COLONIES AND SELL TO THE COUNTRY AND SELL TO WE THE PEOPLE, THIS IDEA OF THIS NEW AMERICA AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING THEN THEY WERE CREATING THE FOUNDING FATHERS WERE CREATING A SHIFT IN CITIZENSHIP AND LEADERSHIP.
WE WERE GOING FROM BRITISH SUBJECTS TO AMERICAN CITIZENS, AND WE'RE NOW INTRODUCING THIS NEW CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, THIS NEW FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WOULD BE INTERACTING WITH THE STATES, AND SO THAT WAS THE IMPETUS FOR CELEBRATING NATIONAL CIVICS DAY AND LAUNCHING THIS NEW PUSH IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC GOOD, BECAUSE WHAT SAIC IS COMMITTED TO DOING IS CREATING A SHIFT IN CITIZENSHIP AND LEADERSHIP.
LASTLY, AND I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS, I THINK THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS THAT LEBRON JAMES JUST BROKE KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR'S SCORING RECORD ALL TIME SCORING RECORD.
WHY AM I SAYING THAT? WELL, KAREEM WAS ASKED, HOW DID HE FEEL ABOUT LEBRON BREAKING HIS RECORD, AND HE SAID SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT WAS PROFOUND YET FULL OF GRACE.
HE SAYS WHEN ONE PERSON CLIMBS HIGHER THAN THE LAST PERSON, WE ALL FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE CAPACITY OF BEING MORE , AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, COUNCILWOMAN DIRECTOR, AS I CAME HERE, CONSIDERED THIS HONOR.
THE FACT THAT MANY OF US IN FRANKLIN HAVE WATCHED YOU CLIMB HIGHER SINCE THE LAST TIME AND CLIMB HIGHER SINCE THE LAST TIME, AND AS I'VE SHARED WITH YOU, THAT HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION FOR ME AND SO WHAT I'M HOPING TO DO FROM THIS POINT FORWARD IS USE ALL OF THAT INSPIRATION AND BRING IT TO COMMUNITIES.
BRING IT TO K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS, TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, TO THE BUSINESS SECTOR, TO COMMUNITIES SUCH THAT WHETHER BORN OR UNBORN, THAT FOLKS WILL FEEL LIKE WHEN EACH OF US WHEN ONE OF US CLIMBS HIGHER THAN THE LAST ONE, WE ALL FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE CAPACITY OF BEING MORE SO FOLKS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
[00:10:31]
GIVEN US A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THINK ABOUT AND TO DO.MOVING RIGHT ALONG, WE HAVE APPOINTMENTS, ADVISORY COUNCIL ON DISABILITIES RESOLUTION 23 -372.
[Appointments]
JAN GOODMAN, CULTURE AND HERITAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 23-373.KATHLEEN PALMER, ALDO ADIAZOLA, RIKKI MASSAND AND BRIAN FAULKS.
OFFICE ON AGING ADVISORY RESOLUTION 23-374 SUSAN AND [INAUDIBLE] COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 23-375 MARIE ESTRADA.
SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 23-376.
SHEILA TWEEDIE, RON CHEESMAN, THOMAS GENOVA, HOWARD V.
NORGALIS, DEVRA KEENAN, DONALD MATTEWS, KEN PINE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 23-372 THROUGH 23-376.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR JANUARY SIX, JANUARY 10TH AND JANUARY 24TH OF 2023.
[Approval of Minutes]
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LISTED MINUTES.ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
[INAUDIBLE] FROM THE JANUARY 10TH MINUTES.
[Bond Ordinance]
$10,200,000, THEREFORE, AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $10,200,000 BONDS OR NOTES OF THIS COUNTY FOR FINANCING THE COST THEREOF.PUBLIC HEARING 23-399 SET IN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON FEBRUARY 28, 2023 AT 6 P.M..
SO MOVED. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
[Ordinance]
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING TEMPORARY SPEED LIMIT ALONG MAIN STREET, COUNTY ROAD 533 IN MANVILLE BOROUGH, SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.MOTION TO OPEN PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ORDINANCE.
SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE--OR IS THERE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC, I'M SORRY, FOR THIS ORDINANCE ONLY.
ALL RIGHT, SEEING AND HEARING NONE, IS A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION FOR ORDINANCE 23-200.
IS THERE A MOTION NOW TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 23-200? MOTION.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 23-300 THROUGH 23-306.
[Consent Agenda]
MOTION.SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 23-307 THROUGH 23-326.
SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
[00:15:01]
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 23-327 THROUGH 23-356.ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR RESOLUTIONS 23-357 THROUGH 23-71.
[Items Added from the February 14, 2023 Work Session to be Adopted Tonight]
MOTION.SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
MOTION TO OPEN UP TO THE PUBLIC, THIS PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT. ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? ANYTHING FROM SOCIAL MEDIA? I HAVE NO ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
NOTHING FROM EMAIL? ALL RIGHT, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC? MOTION. SECOND.
IS THAT CORRECT? ALL RIGHT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION TO ADJOURN. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.