WE WILL ROLL RIGHT INTO WHAT IS CONSIDERED OUR REGULAR MEETING.

[00:00:05]

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE CULTURAL AND HERITAGE GRANT AWARDS.

ALL RIGHT. SO I HEAR KATE ROUNDING THEM.

DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DO THE WOMEN'S HISTORY? YEAH, CAN WE TRY AND ASK PEOPLE TO BE HERE AT 5:45 JUST IN CASE WE RUN EARLY OR MAYBE THEY'RE ALL STANDING OUTSIDE.

[LAUGHTER] YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.

SURE. OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

THERE WAS A REQUEST TO DO THE PROCLAMATIONS FIRST.

RIGHT HERE. I DO.

OKAY, LET'S DO IT.

I. HOW ARE YOU . LONG TIME NO SEE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, THEN WE'LL HAVE MARCO ACCEPT FOR BOTH.

HOW'S THAT? I SAID.

OH, REALLY? YEAH.

TOM. TOM? ARE WE GOING TO ORDER? CALL TO ORDER? YEAH.

[PROCLAMATIONS]

AND MR. MARK KIRBY IS HERE, AND HE WILL BE ACCEPTING BOTH.

WE GET DOUBLE FOR YOUR TROUBLE.

[LAUGHTER] THE YOUNG LADY THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HERE CAN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, SO I'LL HELP OUT.

THE WEEK OF THE WOMEN, I GUESS.

MARK, IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE HERE, MARK.

[LAUGHTER] I APPRECIATE THAT.

MARK IS THE CHAIRMAN OF OUR COUNTY AG BOARD, AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE HIM HERE.

BUT WE'RE HERE ABOUT A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL AGRICULTURE DAY ON MARCH 24TH, 2023.

AND I'LL READ PARTS OF THIS.

IT SAYS, WHEREAS AMERICA'S FARMERS AND RANCHERS HELP FEED THE WORLD, FUEL THE ECONOMY AND PROVIDE A SAFE DOMESTIC FOOD SUPPLY, THEREBY REPRESENTING THE DETERMINED AND SELF-RELIANT CHARACTER OF SOMERSET COUNTY AND OUR NATION.

AND WHEREAS, SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS ESTABLISHED THE SOMERSET COUNTY AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD IN 1983 AND CHANGED IT WITH PRESERVING FARMLAND, MEDIATING RIGHT TO FARM MATTERS AND RETAINING, SUSTAINING AND ADVANCING THE INDUSTRY OF AGRICULTURE IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

AND WHEREAS, THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE SOMERSET COUNTY AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF PRESERVED FARMLAND IN THE COUNTY. AND WHEREAS, SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE SOMERSET COUNTY AG BOARD RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN SOMERSET COUNTY AND FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE BUSINESS CONTRIBUTES SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE COUNTY'S ECONOMY, PROMOTING HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES THROUGH LOCALLY GROWN FOODS AND PROVIDE SOCIETAL BENEFITS THROUGH AGRITOURISM, LAND PRESERVATION.

AND WHEREAS, THROUGH ITS EFFORTS IN PLANNING, PRESERVATION, EDUCATION AND MARKETING, THE SABC AND THE ADVANCED THE IDEALS AND HOPES TO INSPIRE THE RESIDENTS OF SOMERSET COUNTY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AGRICULTURE, FOOD PRODUCTION AND AVAILABILITY AND AGRICULTURAL CAREER OPTIONS.

AND WHEREAS, 2023 MARKS THE 12TH RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL AG DAY IN SOMERSET COUNTY AND MARKS THREE YEARS OF SUCCESS WITHIN THE COUNTY'S VIRTUAL APPROACH TO NATIONAL AG DAY, PROVIDING ACCESS TO ALL COUNTY RESIDENTS AND BEYOND THROUGH SCROLLING THROUGH THE AGRICULTURAL STORY MAP SERIES.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY RECOGNIZE MARCH 24TH, 2023, AS NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL DAY IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, AND ENCOURAGES ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE, THE ROLE AGRICULTURE PLAYS IN OUR DAILY LIVES, ACKNOWLEDGE AGRICULTURAL, CONTINUING IMPORTANCE TO OUR ECONOMY, AND EXPRESS OUR DEEP APPRECIATION OF FARMERS AND RANCHERS IN SOMERSET COUNTY

[00:05:02]

SO MARK, DO YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT COUNTY AG DAY? SURE. [APPLAUSE] SO COUNTY AG DAY WE STARTED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO TO REPRESENT THE AGRICULTURE HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY AND TO CELEBRATE IT.

SO ON COUNTY AG DAY, YOU GUYS ALL WALKED IN.

YOU SAW THE PICTURES ALONG THE WALLS DOWNSTAIRS.

THAT'S ALL WAS DONE, FRAMED THE FARM, AS WE CALL IT, OUR FARM TO FRAME EXCUSE ME IF I GOT IT WRONG, BUT IT WAS DONE THROUGH CULTURAL AND HERITAGE.

IT WAS A GREAT THING.

BUT WE'LL BE DOING SOME PROGRAMS. AND KATE KASTNER IS HANDLING THAT WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL GROUP OUT OF OUR COMMITTEE.

AND IT'S TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE HERE IN THE COUNTY, WHICH THE HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE HERE IN THE COUNTY RUNS VERY, VERY DEEP.

AND I WANT TO JUST TAKE A MINUTE TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THERE'S REALLY THREE GROUPS HERE TO THANK FOR.

OKAY. FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS.

WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT 4 YEARS AGO TO START THIS, WE WOULDN'T BE ANYWHERE NEAR THE 9,000, A LITTLE OVER 9,000 ACRES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IN THE SYSTEM BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO THANK MY WELL, THEY TELL ME I'M THE BOSS AND THEY'RE MY STAFF.

BUT THE OFFICE STAFF DOWN THERE IN THE PLANNING BOARD, KATE KATZER AND WALTER LANE AND TOM D'AMICO, THEY ARE FANTASTIC.

AND WITH ALL THE EVERYBODY ELSE DOWN THERE, BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULD NOT HAVE A CAB THAT'S RATED NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE, EVERYBODY NUMBER ONE.

SO THAT'S A BIG THING.

MY COMMITTEE.

I'M SORRY. THE COUNTY'S COMMITTEE, THE CABB COMMITTEE.

WITHOUT THAT AND THEIR UNDYING SUPPORT AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY INSIDE THE COUNTY.

AND LASTLY, THE RESIDENTS WHO SUPPORTED THE OPEN SPACE TAX IN ORDER TO HELP PRESERVE FARMLAND AND OPEN SPACE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

WITHOUT THAT, WE WOULDN'T BE ANYWHERE NEAR WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND YOU KNOW, I REALLY ENJOY ACCEPTING THESE AWARDS AND IT'S BEEN KIND OF A SHAME THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT WE'RE BACK TO IT AGAIN.

HERE WE ARE, ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PHOTO AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO READ ALL ABOUT HORTICULTURAL THERAPY WEEK.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU GOT IT. LET'S DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.

MARK IS SUBSTITUTING FOR LAURA DEPRADO, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE COUNTY AG DEVELOPMENT BOARD, AND SHE WORKS VERY HARD AND TIRELESSLY, NOT ONLY AS HELPING SUPPORT AGRICULTURE, BUT ALSO RUNS A BUSINESS THAT REALLY TALKS ABOUT HORTICULTURAL THERAPY AND THE NOTION THAT WE CAN REALLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO REALLY FEEL BETTER ABOUT FARMING, AND GETTING THEIR HANDS IN THE DIRT AND GROWING THINGS.

SO MARCH 20TH THROUGH THE 24TH OF 2023 IS RECOGNIZED.

SORRY, THANK YOU. AS HORTICULTURAL THERAPY WEEK.

AND I'LL BE BRIEF ON THIS.

WHEREAS HORTICULTURAL THERAPY IS A TIME PROVEN PRACTICE OF UTILIZING THE THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF WORKING IN A PEACEFUL AND NON-THREATENING GARDEN ENVIRONMENT INDOORS OR OUTDOORS. AND WHEREAS, DR.

BENJAMIN RUSH, A SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, UTILIZED HORTICULTURE AS A MODALITY TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND WHEREAS, THE PRACTICE WAS APPLIED IN THE UNITED STATES TO REHABILITATE WOUNDED VETERANS OF WORLD WAR TWO AND SOMETIMES TODAY IN VETERANS HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND WHEREAS, HORTICULTURAL THERAPY IS PRACTICED THROUGH VOCATIONAL, THERAPEUTIC AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND SUCCESSFULLY ENABLES AND EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE THEIR MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE IN SETTINGS SUCH AS HOSPITALS, CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SENIOR CENTERS AND COMMUNITY GARDENS.

AND WHEREAS, HORTICULTURAL THERAPY PROVIDES DIGNITY AND ENHANCES SKILLS BY ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO GROW AND FUNCTION TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES AND HELPS THOSE RECOVERING FROM ILLNESS OR INJURY THE ELDERLY, THE SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.

AND WHEREAS, HORTICULTURAL THERAPY IS BENEFICIAL FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE, IN A WIDE VARIETY OF REHABILITATIVE HEALTH CARE AND RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS, PROVIDING BENEFITS DIRECTLY THROUGH FORMAL PROGRAMS WITH TRAINED HORTICULTURAL THERAPY PROFESSIONALS AND INDEPENDENTLY THROUGH THE CREATION OF PUBLIC GARDENS AND COMMUNITY GARDENS. AND WHEREAS, IN 2014, SENATOR KIP BATEMAN INTRODUCED SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NUMBER 12, DESIGNATING THE THIRD FULL WEEK IN MARCH AS HORTICULTURAL THERAPY WEEK.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY DESIGNATE MARCH 20TH THROUGH THE 24TH 2023 AS

[00:10:07]

SO WE'RE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET OUT AND GET IN THE SOIL AND PLANT SOMETHING.

BUT THAT'S OUR HORTICULTURAL THERAPY.

YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. MARK VERY GOOD.

LAURA DOES A GREAT JOB WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE BEEN TO NURSING HOMES WITH THIS PROJECT AND A COUPLE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE, AND IT'S REALLY A FANTASTIC THING. THE RESIDENTS OF THE NURSING HOMES LOVE IT.

THEY GET THEIR FINGERS DIRTY, YOU KNOW, AND A COUPLE OF TIMES WE'VE DONE IT.

IT'S BEEN LIKE ONE OF THOSE DAYS OUTSIDE TODAY, YOU KNOW, COLD, NASTY, ROTTEN WEATHER.

WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF THOSE WHERE YOU WERE LOOKING FOR THE SUN TO STAND INTO.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I'M SURE LAURA WOULD LOVE TO BE HERE, BUT SHE'S JUST A LITTLE UNDER THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU, MARK. YEP. OKAY.

AND THANK YOU. YEP.

ALL RIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND MONICA MARTINEZ MILAN FROM THE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP AND THE STATE HISPANIC CHAMBER.

SO I HAVE THIS FANTASTIC PROCLAMATION WHERE WHEREAS IS WRITTEN FAR TOO MANY TIMES, BUT IF YOU BEAR WITH ME, THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT FACTS ABOUT INCREDIBLE WOMEN.

AND WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1987.

AND WHEREAS, THE OBSERVANCE OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH CALLS OUR ATTENTION TO THE COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN RECORDED AND UNRECORDED THAT ARE OFTEN UNDERVALUED AND REINFORCES THE NEED TO BATTLE SEXISM AND BUILD A SOCIETY THAT LIVES UP TO ITS DEMOCRATIC IDEALS.

WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH THEME CELEBRATING WOMEN WHO TELL OUR STORIES, IS A RECOGNITION OF WOMEN PAST AND PRESENT, WHO HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN ALL FORMS OF MEDIA AND STORYTELLING, INCLUDING PRINT, RADIO, TV, STAGE SCREEN, BLOGS, PODCAST AND MORE.

AND WHEREAS, FOR GENERATIONS, WOMEN HAVE PASSED OUR HERITAGE IN WORDS AND PRINT TO COMMUNICATE THE LESSONS OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US AND TO CREATE NEW UNDERSTANDINGS AND BRIGHTER FUTURES FOR THOSE WHO WILL FOLLOW.

WHEREAS SOMERSET COUNTY IS PROUD OF ITS WOMEN COMMUNICATORS, INCLUDING SCIENTISTS, JOURNALISTS AND NOVELISTS.

MARY GRIFFITHS OF FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, SUFFRAGIST SCIENCE WRITER AND POET ANTOINETTE BROWN OF SOMERVILLE, MODEL WRITER, MAGAZINE EDITOR AND CONGRESSWOMAN MILLICENT FENWICK OF BERNARDSVILLE CHEMIST AND AUTHOR JEANNETTE BROWN OF HILLSBOROUGH CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK, AND YOUNG ADULT AUTHOR BARBARA COHEN OF SOMERVILLE.

SINGER AND SONGWRITER GLORIA GAYNOR OF GREENBROOK AND MANY MORE.

WHEREAS, SOMERSET COUNTY IS PROUD TO HONOR THE HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY RECOGNIZE MARCH 2023 AS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH AND THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO LEARN ABOUT AND RECOGNIZE THE NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY WOMEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY, INCLUDING THOSE LEADING THE RECENT PANDEMIC RESPONSE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD. YES.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

ON BEHALF OF THE STATUS OF WOMEN SOMERSET COUNTY.

WE THANK YOU.

WE THANK ALL THE COMMISSIONERS.

AND SINCE THIS IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, I CAN'T LEAVE OUT THE WOMEN COMMISSIONERS.

[00:15:02]

THANK YOU. MELONIE MARANO AND COUNTY WORKERS.

THANK YOU, COLLEEN, FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.

SHELLY BELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND THE OTHER WOMEN OF THE COUNTY THAT ASSIST US.

THERE'S TOO MANY TO NAME, SO WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND OF COURSE, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, OUR LIAISON, SARA SOOY, COMMISSIONER SOOY . THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING ME HERE.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS, I'M VERY HONORED AND GRATEFUL, AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT 42% OF ALL US BUSINESSES ARE OWNED BY WOMEN.

THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO 13 MILLION WOMEN OWNING BUSINESSES IN THE US.

. WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES EMPLOY OVER 9.4 MILLION WORKERS.

ESTIMATED THAT 849 NEW WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES OPEN EVERY SINGLE DAY.

MINORITY OWNED WOMEN BUSINESSES MADE $422 BILLION DOLLARS IN 2019.

SO AS A MOTHER, WIFE, LATINA, AND PROUD OWNER OF A BUSINESS HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY, SOMERSET COUNTY RESIDENT I OWN STUMPY'S GREEN BROOK, AND I'M THE VICE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE SOMERSET COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP AND A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE STATEWIDE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF NEW JERSEY.

I AM VERY, EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TODAY AND WITNESS THIS.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I LIKE THAT CEREMONY.

PLEASE COME UP. IF YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THIS.

OUR HONORARY MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT. HELLO, EVERYONE.

[PRESENTATION]

I AM MANAGER OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY CULTURAL AND HERITAGE COMMISSION AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES FOR THE OFFICE OF PLANNING POLICY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

TONIGHT, WE ARE PRESENTING GRANT AWARDS TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND MUNICIPALITIES FOR ARTS AND HISTORY PROGRAMING THROUGH OUR COUNTY HISTORY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AND LOCAL ARTS PROGRAM GRANTS.

THE SOMERSET COUNTY CULTURAL AND HERITAGE COMMISSION IS AWARDED FUNDING FROM THE NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO SUPPORT LOCAL HISTORY ORGANIZATIONS, OTHER NONPROFITS AND MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN SOMERSET COUNTY THAT PROVIDE HISTORY, PROGRAMING SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT.

PLEASE JOIN US IN CELEBRATING SOMERSET COUNTY'S 2023 COUNTY HISTORY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM GRANT RECIPIENTS RECEIVING $2,000 IN SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT IS THE BOROUGH OF BOUND BROOK.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS BOROUGH ADMINISTRATOR HECTOR HERRERA.

[APPLAUSE] RECEIVING $16,250 IN SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT IS THE DOWNTOWN BERNARDSVILLE.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS BOARD MEMBER ROBERT FRAWLEY.

[APPLAUSE] OKAY.

RECEIVING

[00:20:05]

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS PRESIDENT KATHY ORMOSI.

[APPLAUSE] RECEIVING $5,000 IN SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT IS THE FRIENDS OF THE KENNEDY MARTINSDALE FARMSTEAD BASED IN BERNARDS.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS BOARD PRESIDENT LESLIE WORKMAN.

[APPLAUSE] AND FEEL FREE. YES. IF YOU DO HAVE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WITH YOU, THEY ARE WELCOME UP AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT.

MAYBE A LITTLE MORE.

RECEIVING $15,500 IN SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT IS THE MILLSTONE VALLEY PRESERVATION COALITION, BASED IN FRANKLIN, ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS PRESIDENT ROBERT VON ZUMBUSCH.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS BOARD PRESIDENT CATHERINE FULMER-HOGAN.

[APPLAUSE] I KNOW, I KNOW THERE ARE SOME OTHER MEMBERS LIKE JEANETTE IS HERE AS WELL.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

SAY, IT'S A FUN THING TO HANG ON THE WALL, RIGHT.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND RECEIVING $2,000 IN SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT IS THE UKRAINIAN HISTORY AND EDUCATION CENTER BASED IN FRANKLIN.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS ARCHIVIST MICHAEL ANDREC.

[APPLAUSE]

[00:25:09]

SIMILAR TO THAT GRANT, WE ALSO RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE NEW JERSEY STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS TO SUPPORT LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, NONPROFITS AND MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN SOMERSET COUNTY TO PROVIDE ARTS PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT.

PLEASE JOIN US NOW IN CELEBRATING THE 2023 SOMERSET COUNTY LOCAL ARTS PROGRAM GRANT RECIPIENTS.

RECEIVING $4,000 FOR SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT IS THE ADULT DAY CENTER OF SOMERSET COUNTY, BASED IN BRIDGEWATER.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DIANE ROBINSON.

[APPLAUSE] RECEIVING $35,000 FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT IS THE AMERICAN THEATER GROUP BASED IN BERNARDS.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JIM VIAS.

[APPLAUSE] OKAY, NO PROBLEM.

NO PROBLEM. YEAH. RECEIVING $3,000 FOR SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT IS THE BOUND BROOK CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE BASED IN BOUND BROOK.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS BOROUGH ADMINISTRATOR HÉCTOR HERRERA.

[APPLAUSE] RECEIVING $34,000 IN CREATIVE PLACEMAKING SUPPORT IS THE DOWNTOWN SOMERVILLE ALLIANCE, BASED IN SOMERVILLE.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS DOWNTOWN MANAGER CONSULTANT NATALIE PINERO.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.

ADULATIONS. RECEIVING $1,000 FOR SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT IS THE FRIENDS OF THE ABRAHAM STAATS HOUSE BASED IN SOUTH BOUND BROOK.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS PRESIDENT KATHY ORMOSI.

RECEIVING $22,700 FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT IS THE FRIENDS OF THE KENNEDY MARTIN STEALTH FARMSTEAD, BASED IN BERNARDS ACCEPTING THE CHECK, IS BOARD PRESIDENT LESLIE WORKMAN AND COMPANY.

[APPLAUSE]

[00:30:11]

WE'RE SPEEDING THROUGH. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE GETS HOME SAFELY TONIGHT.

RECEIVING $10,000 FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT IS RAAG-RANG BASED IN BRIDGEWATER.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS DIRECTOR MITALI BHOWMIK.

RECEIVING $4,000 FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS SUPPORT IS THE RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE ARTS AND DESIGN DEPARTMENT BASED IN BRANCHBURG.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS CO-CHAIR OF THE ARTS AND DESIGN DEPARTMENT, JOHN STICKEL.

[APPLAUSE] GETTING TIRED.

RECEIVING $10,000 FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT IS THE SOMERSET SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BASED IN BRANCHBURG.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS BOARD PRESIDENT FATIMA MAGBOUL.

[APPLAUSE] NO.

NO, NO.

MAYBE THE SNOW. GRAB THAT ONE.

YEAH. RECEIVING $5,000 FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT IS THE RARITAN VALLEY SYMPHONIC BAND BASED IN HILLSBOROUGH, ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS DONALD GROSSMAN.

[APPLAUSE] RECEIVING $20,000 FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT IS THE SOMERSET VALLEY PLAYERS BASED IN HILLSBORO.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS TREASURER RAYMOND SHINN.

[APPLAUSE] RECEIVING $18,000 FOR SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT IS THE STOUTSBURG SOURLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM BASED IN MONTGOMERY.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS BOARD PRESIDENT CATHERINE FULMER-HOGAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

[APPLAUSE] AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, PURELY BY ALPHABETICAL ORDER.

RECEIVING $20,000 IN GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT IS THE UKRAINIAN HISTORY AND EDUCATION CENTER BASED IN FRANKLIN.

ACCEPTING THE CHECK IS ARCHIVIST MICHAEL ANDREC.

[APPLAUSE]. PEOPLE ARE RUNNING A

[00:35:10]

ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR COMING.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT IN TODAY'S KIND OF SNOWY, GROSS WEATHER.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU DO AMAZING THINGS THIS YEAR WITH THE GRANT FUNDS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU DON'T WANT TO STAY FIVE MORE MINUTES.

WE'LL BE DONE. THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. PAUSE FOR THE CAUSE.

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.

MELONIE. I KNOW YOU JUST GOT BACK.

OH, YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. AS WE MOVE ALONG WITH OUR MEETING APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY 14TH AND FEBRUARY 28TH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ABOVE LISTED MINUTES?

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES.

COMMISSIONER MARANO? YES.

COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. WE HAVE ORDINANCES ORDINANCE 23-580 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMITS ALONG EAST MAIN STREET, COUNTY ROAD 612 BOROUGH OF SOMERVILLE AND BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, SOMERSET

[ORDINANCES]

AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ORDINANCE 23-580.

SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 23-580 FOR MARCH 28TH, 2023 AT 6 P.M..

IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE? EXCUSE ME. YES? IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 23-580 ON FIRST READING AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARCH.

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? AND THAT'S MARCH 28TH AT 6:00 P.M..

ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER DRAKE.

YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO.

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. ORDINANCE 23-581 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMITS ALONG SOMERSET STREET COUNTY ROAD 626 BOROUGH OF SOMERVILLE AND BOROUGH OF RARITAN, SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.

PUBLIC HEARING 23-581 SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 23-581 FOR MARCH 28TH, 2023 AT 6 P.M..

IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 23-581 ON FIRST READING AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR MARCH 28TH AT 6 P.M.

? SO MOVED. SECOND.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES.

COMMISSIONER MARANO.

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

IS THERE A MOTION TO PULL 23-500 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 23-501 THROUGH 23-512.

SO MOVE. SECOND.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER DRAKE? YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO? YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

[00:40:01]

[AWARD OF CONTRACTS]

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER DRAKE.

YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO.

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 23- 523 THROUGH 23-555.

[FINANCE]

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES.

COMMISSIONER MARANO.

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 23-556 THROUGH 23-557.

[ITEMS ADDED FROM THE MARCH 14, 2023 WORK SESSION TO BE ADOPTED TONIGHT]

COMMISSIONER DRAKE? YES.

COMMISSIONER MARANO.

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. IS THERE A MOTION FOR 23-500 THAT WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA?

[Additional Item]

COMMENTS. QUESTIONS.

DIRECTOR. I'M PLEASED TONIGHT TO PUT IN FRONT OF YOU THE PHASE TWO OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. AS YOU KNOW, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WE DID PHASE ONE WHERE, AS YOU KNOW, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ALLOWS INFRASTRUCTURE AS A PERMITTED USE. AND WE FOCUSED ON HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY LEVERAGE OUR MONEY BACK INTO OUR 21 MUNICIPALITIES TO HELP THEM WITH PROJECTS THAT THEY MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY GET DONE.

AND SO TONIGHT, WE WILL BE AWARDING FOUR ADDITIONAL PROJECTS FOR WATER AND SEWER, WHICH WOULD BRING US UP TO A TOTAL OF NINE, AND THAT WAS 17 OUT OF THE 21 TOWNS WILL HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS.

AND WHAT'S EVEN NICER IS, IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR POPULATION, ONCE THESE FOUR AWARDS GO OUT THE DOOR AND THE PROJECTS GET STARTED, THESE PROJECTS WILL ACTUALLY HAVE AN EFFECT ON 94% OF OUR POPULATION.

YOU KNOW. AND SO I THINK THIS REALLY IS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF WHY YOU HAVE THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS IS TO HELP LEVERAGE.

SO TONIGHT, I'M PLEASED TO PUT FORTH FOUR PROJECTS.

THE FIRST ONE.

WELL, CAN WE VOTE BEFORE YOU ANNOUNCE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMISSIONER DRAKE.

YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO.

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. GREAT.

THANK YOU. SO HERE TO ACCEPT, WE HAVE THREE OUT OF THE FOUR RECIPIENTS HERE TONIGHT.

SO THE FIRST I'D LIKE TO CALL UP DEPUTY MAYOR JENNIFER STATION REHABILITATION PROJECT WITH A VALUE OF $800,000.

AND ALSO WE HAVE MATT LOPER FOR ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

SO WELCOME, DEPUTY MAYOR.

THANK YOU. AND ON BEHALF OF THE BERNARD SEWERAGE AUTHORITY AND ALSO THE TOWNSHIP OF BERNARDS, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS AWARD.

I KNOW OUR DIRECTOR, MR. TIMKO, IS BEYOND ELATED AND EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BEGIN THIS PROJECT THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE BEEN DELAYED AND THIS WILL HELP ENABLE BETTER EFFICIENCY THAT WILL ALSO HELP IMPROVE OUR RESIDENTS QUALITY OF LIFE.

SO AGAIN, WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL AND WILL PUT THAT MONEY TO GOOD USE.

SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DEPUTY MAYOR, FOR COMING OUT.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. OUR NEXT AWARD IS GOING TO GO TO THE FRANKLIN SEWER AUTHORITY FOR THE BROOKLINE SEWER COLLECTION AREA REHABILITATION. AND WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JOE DANIELSON, THAT'S HERE THIS EVENING.

WELL, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU.

ASSEMBLYMAN. THANK YOU.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR GRANTING US THIS MONEY.

THIS IS GOING TO A PROJECT IN ONE OF OUR OLDEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN TOWN WHOSE SYSTEM'S ALMOST 100 YEARS OLD.

ITS SEWER SYSTEMS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SEALED, CLOSED SYSTEM.

AND THROUGH TIME, HOLES AND THINGS BREAK.

AND WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO OUR ENVIRONMENT AND TO OUR RATEPAYERS.

AND THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO SEAL UP THAT ENTIRE CORNER OF OUR TOWN.

AND THIS WILL ALSO KEEP OUR RATES LOWER BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN STUFF GETS INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM, WE HAVE TO CONVEY IT AND THEN PAY FOR IT TO BE TREATED AND NEEDLESSLY.

SO I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, KELLY.

KELLY WILL I BE GETTING ONE OF THOSE BIG, HUGE CHECKS? KNOW ABOUT THAT? NO.

DO YOU HAVE ANY EXTRAS FOR ME? WE CAN MAIL IT. OH, WELL, IT'S IN THE MAIL.

OKAY. DIRECTOR AND COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THIS.

[00:45:02]

MAY I TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE? SURE.

DIRECTOR? YES.

THANK YOU. THIS IS MARCH.

MARCH IS THE MONTH FOR CHILDREN'S CANCER, AND I'VE BEEN FUNDRAISING FOR CHILDREN'S CANCER SINCE 2008 VIA SAINT BALDRICK'S, AND I USUALLY ATTEND THE EVENT IN NORTH PLAINFIELD.

WHEN A CHILD REACHES THE AGE OF 20 THE STATISTICS SAY THAT 1 IN 263 CHILDREN WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER, THOUGH NOW BECAUSE OF MODERN MEDICINE, 90% SURVIVE.

BUT 99% OF CHILDREN THAT SURVIVE WILL HAVE LIFELONG HEALTH CRITICAL HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE TREATMENT, NOT BECAUSE OF THE CANCER. AND THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN'S CANCER GETS A VERY SMALL FRACTION OF THE OVERALL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PIE. SO THAT'S WHY I GOT INVOLVED.

AND I RAISED MONEY FOR SAINT BALDRICK'S, WHICH IS THE LARGEST GRANT PROVIDER IN THE WORLD, REALLY, OTHER THAN THE AMERICAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND THIS YEAR WE'RE LESS SAINT BALDRICK'S HAS RAISED LESS THAN HALF IT DID LAST YEAR, AND LAST YEAR IT WAS LESS THAN HALF THE YEAR BEFORE IT.

SO IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK.

SO I TOOK THE LIBERTY OF TEXTING ALL OF YOU WHILE I WAS SITTING HERE, SO MAYBE YOU COULD CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, 5 OR $10 OR WHATEVER.

KELLY I DON'T HAVE YOUR CELL PHONE, SO I'M GOING TO NEED THAT.

[LAUGHTER] AND YOUR ADDRESS AND SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, WHATEVER YOU GOT.

CREDIT CARD. SO ANYWAY, ANY CONSIDERATION YOU CAN FOR THE KIDS? AND THEN COMMISSIONER SINGLETERRY, YOU'RE GOING TO BE AT THE EVENT NORTH [INAUDIBLE].

THAT'S YOUR HOMETOWN. IT'S THE 18TH.

I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, OH, JOE DANIELSON, YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL ECONOMY OF HAIR.

WHY WOULD YOU SHAVE THAT OFF? WELL, BECAUSE IF YOU RECALL, ALL KIDS, THEY JUST WANT TO BE LIKE OTHER KIDS.

SO WE SHAVE OUR HEADS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE CHILDREN WHO LOST THEIR HAIR.

SO I'LL MAKE A SPECTACLE OF MYSELF IF YOU JUST DONATE A FEW DOLLARS.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE, TOO.

ARE YOU SHAVING? LOOK AT YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK A LOT BETTER THAN I DO SHAVED.

I GOT A BIG MELON HEAD, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO IT FOR THE KIDS.

THANKS. THANK YOU.

[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT GRANT WILL GO TO NORTH PLAINFIELD AND THE MAYOR.

LAWRENCE LA RONDE IS HERE, MAYOR.

THIS IS FOR THE GREEN BROOK SANITARY SEWER INCEPTION IMPROVEMENT FOR $500,000.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR.

AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO ITERATE WITH THE REST OF THE OTHER TWO CANDIDATES THAT GOT THESE GRANTS SAID IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THIS GRANT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HELP 13,000 OF OUR RESIDENTS.

THE SEWER LINE ITSELF WILL PROBABLY CONVEY PROBABLY 50% OF THE BOROUGH'S SEWER COMING OUT OF OUR MUNICIPALITY.

AND THESE PIPES ARE OVER 80 YEARS OLD, CAST IRON.

SO IT JUST TELLS YOU JUST HOW OLD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS.

AND THIS WILL BE GREAT HELP FOR US TO TAKE CARE OF THAT AND GET OUR MUNICIPALITY IN BETTER SHAPE.

SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU. AND I'LL SEE YOU SATURDAY ALSO.

[APPLAUSE] OKAY. IT'S ALREADY IN THE MAIL AND THE FINAL ONE.

THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO COME BUT IS FOR BERNARDSVILLE FOR $750,000, WHICH WAS THE PUMPING STATION WHICH SERVES WHICH IS OVER 60 YEARS OLD AND HAS DETERIORATED AND THE SYSTEM, HAS ACTUALLY BECOME VERY OVERWHELMED.

AND ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE WHAT WE CONSIDER SHOVEL READY.

SO THEY WILL BE GETTING INTO THE GROUND SOON.

SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE TOWNS AND THE RESIDENTS.

SO FAR, WE'VE PUT CLOSE TO $13 MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE WATER AND SEWER IN THESE TOWNS AROUND THE COUNTY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SO NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING.

[PUBLIC]

SO FIVE MINUTES.

NO YIELDING OF TIME. NO COMING BACK A SECOND TIME.

WE WILL ENTERTAIN ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC.

PLEASE COME UP. STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

THANK YOU. HI, I'M TOBY KRAMER.

I'M 55 BRYANT COURT IN SOMERSET.

THIS IS MY FIRST TIME COMING TO YOUR MEETING, AND IT'S REALLY VERY IMPRESSIVE.

AND CONGRATULATIONS ON EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.

I NEVER KNEW ALL THE GRANTS THAT YOU GAVE, AND SO THIS WAS NICE TO SEE.

I'M HERE BECAUSE I RECENTLY WAS MADE AWARE OF THE NJ STATE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DISTRIBUTION OF WAREHOUSING AND GOODS MOVEMENT GUIDELINES THAT COMMISSIONER ROBINSON WAS.

[00:50:05]

YOU WERE THE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE REALLY APPRECIATED.

I WISH WE HAD THIS TWO YEARS AGO BEFORE SOME OF THESE WAREHOUSE APPLICATIONS WENT IN.

OUR COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE ABOUT 2000 SENIOR CITIZENS AND WE HAVE A WAREHOUSE THAT'S APPLIED FOR A PERMIT THAT'S LITERALLY 100 YARDS BEHIND SOME OF OUR HOUSES.

AND ORIGINALLY THEY ASKED FOR 89 BAYS FOR 18 WHEELERS.

THEY JUST CAME BACK ASKING FOR.

I DON'T SEE THE NUMBER OF BAYS, BUT THEY REDUCED IT.

HUH? 60 BAYS.

SO FOR 18 WHEELERS AND THEY'RE ON A SCENIC CORRIDOR.

IT'S METTLER'S ROAD AND METTLER'S ROAD HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR A LONG TIME.

IT'S ACTUALLY A COUNTRY ROAD AND IT LEADS BACK TO COLONIAL PARK.

AND THEN THERE'S ALL KINDS OF WAREHOUSE APPLICATIONS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THEY'VE BOUGHT A HORSE FARM RIGHT BEHIND THE B9 PROPERTY, AND THEY WERE WANTING TO BUILD A SECOND WAREHOUSE RIGHT BEHIND THE FIRST WAREHOUSE.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT APPLICATION STANDS, BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU, WE'RE TERRIFIED.

WE'RE SO SICK WITH WORRY ABOUT THE TRAFFIC, THE NOISE, THE AIR POLLUTION, THE WATER, THE FLOODING.

WHEN HURRICANE IDA CAME THROUGH, METTLER'S ROAD WAS COMPLETELY FLOODED LAST YEAR.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY A VERY VULNERABLE POPULATION AND WE'RE A VULNERABLE COMMUNITY AND WE'RE BESIDE OURSELVES.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE THEY APPLIED FOR THIS BEFORE YOUR GUIDELINES.

AND I KNOW THESE ARE GUIDELINES.

THEY'RE NOT I DON'T THINK THEY'RE REGULATORY.

I DON'T KNOW. BUT AND FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP HAS RECENTLY ADOPTED A RESOLUTION OF NO MORE WAREHOUSES RIGHT NOW, OR AT LEAST A MORATORIUM ON WAREHOUSES UNTIL THEY GET SQUARED AWAY.

BUT WE NEED HELP.

WE'RE A COMMUNITY.

WE'RE TRYING TO RAISE MONEY PRIVATELY TO FIGHT THIS, BUT WE REALLY NEED SOMERSET COUNTY'S HELP AND WE NEED STATE HELP.

AND WE NEED TO WHAT WE'RE WANTING IS A MORATORIUM BEFORE THEY BUILD ALL THESE NEW WAREHOUSES TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR COUNTRY, ROADS AND OUR COUNTRY ENVIRONMENT AND TO PRESERVE IT'S A HISTORICAL AREA.

COLONIAL PARK IS LIKE THE CROWN JEWEL OF SOMERSET COUNTY, I THINK.

AND SO ALL OF THIS WOULD DISTURB EVERYTHING BACK THERE.

AND SO I'M JUST HERE TO ASK YOU FOR HELP AND FOR GUIDANCE AND TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY WAY IN THE WORLD WE CAN HAVE YOUR GUIDELINES, ADVISE THE PLANNING BOARD IN OUR TOWNSHIP SO THAT THEY WOULD PUT HAVE A MORATORIUM, AT LEAST UNTIL FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP CAN ALIGN ITSELF WITH THE STATE GUIDELINES.

I THINK THE STATE HAS REALLY GOTTEN IN GEAR NOW IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING HOW MUCH THE WAREHOUSES WOULD IMPINGE UPON OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND THAT WAREHOUSES DON'T BELONG IN COUNTRY NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND SO WE'VE GOT THE PROBLEM OF HAVING THE PORTS.

AND I UNDERSTAND GEOGRAPHICALLY WHERE NEW JERSEY IS.

AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE BEING BESET BY WAREHOUSES EVERYWHERE.

BUT I'M JUST HERE TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THESE GUIDELINES TOGETHER.

BUT I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE TOO LATE FOR US BECAUSE NOTHING'S BEEN BUILT YET AND NOTHING'S BEEN APPROVED YET.

EVERYTHING'S IN THE WORKS IN TERMS OF GETTING ASKING FOR APPROVAL.

BUT NOTHING'S BEEN DONE YET.

AND SO I THINK I'M PRAYING THAT IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HI, MY NAME IS JAN BRANDT AND I LIVE AT 22 BRYANT COURT.

AND WE WERE HERE A WHILE BACK VISITING WITH YOU ALL.

AND SO WE'RE BACK AGAIN.

AND JUST TO PIGGYBACK ALONG WITH WHAT TOBY WAS SAYING, I LIVE IN CANAL WALK AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OVER 2000 PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE.

AND I WOULD LIKE I THINK WE ASKED YOU LAST TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS B9 SCHOOLHOUSE DEVELOPMENT.

I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER DRAKE IS YOU'RE A PLANNER, RIGHT? AND I ACTUALLY REACHED OUT.

TOBY SAID 100 YARDS.

IT'S ACTUALLY 100FT.

YOU GAVE IT EXTRA TIME.

SO, SO 100FT AWAY FROM THE BOUNDARY LINE.

AND I LIVE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, AND IT'S A VERY NARROW ROAD.

[00:55:03]

I HOPE I DON'T CRY.

THEY WANT TO BUILD THESE WAREHOUSES OVER THERE.

AND I ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO MARK HEALY, WHO'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH THINGS.

AND I WAS LIKE, MARK, CAN YOU TELL ME ANOTHER COMMUNITY WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE A WAREHOUSE WITH 60 BAYS THAT'S 100FT AWAY FROM A NEIGHBORHOOD? AND HE TOLD ME SOMEPLACE HE SAID, MAYBE JIFRY ROAD, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY LIGHT MANUFACTURING.

AND I ACTUALLY LIKE LOOKED AT ALL THE AREAS AND I COULDN'T FIND ANOTHER PLACE.

AND SO THERE'S REALLY BEEN A MISTAKE MADE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY CHANGED OVER FROM LIGHT MANUFACTURING TO BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY.

AND HERE OUR COMMUNITY IS REALLY GOING TO BE AFFECTED.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT TOBY MENTIONED AND I MADE SOME COPIES FOR YOU, ALL THIS IS ON AND THIS IS TWO OF THE LOTS.

THAT'S 17 ONE IS, 17.8 ACRES AND ONE IS FIVE ACRES.

AND THE 17.8 ACRES LOT IS HALF OF IT IS RESIDENTIAL.

SO IT REALLY WASN'T MEANT FOR BUSINESS.

AND SO SUPPOSEDLY THEY'RE GOING TO SUBDIVIDE THAT LOT AND IT'S GOING TO STAY RESIDENTIAL.

BUT TOBY MENTIONED SOMETHING SHE DIDN'T KIND OF GIVE ALL THE FACTS.

BUT THIS OTHER WAREHOUSE THAT'S 600,000FT², THEY'VE ALREADY THEY'VE APPLIED AT THE DEP AND THE PROPERTY WHO'S APPLYING FOR THIS WAREHOUSE IS KIND OF GIVING THEM THAT LOT SO THEY COULD LIKE DRIVE THROUGH ON SCHOOL HOUSE.

BUT THAT'S. I'M NOT HERE ABOUT THAT.

BUT I'M HERE ABOUT THIS LOT.

THAT'S IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LOT.

IT'S VIRGIN LAND.

THERE ARE BIRDS, THERE ARE ANIMALS.

THERE'S A POND. THERE'S PEOPLE THAT GO FISHING AT THAT POND THAT I WOULD GO TALK TO.

AND THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY CATCH FISH, BUT THEY THROW IT BACK.

THERE'S TURTLES IN THE POND.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE BOG TURTLES OR WOOD TURTLES.

I HOPE. YOU KNOW, I TOOK PICTURES OF THEM.

I'M GOING TO SEND IT INTO THE DEP.

BUT IT'S THIS BEAUTIFUL AREA AND EVERYTHING IS BUILT ON A SCENIC CORRIDOR AND THERE'S AND LIKE I SAID, I MADE COPIES.

THERE'S LIKE SEVEN PAGES OF ORDINANCES FOR THE SCENIC CORRIDOR THAT EVERYTHING HAS TO BE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING TO THE EYE.

WHEN WE MOVED OVER TO THIS PROPERTY, WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WEREN'T TOLD THERE WAS GOING TO BE A WAREHOUSE.

IN FACT, THE PERSON WHO THE PROPERTY HASN'T BEEN CLOSED YET, YOU KNOW, THE PROPERTY IS STILL UNDER CONTRACT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GET PERMISSION FOR THIS WAREHOUSE.

AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE TOBY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COMING HERE TO ASK FOR HELP BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE ON OUR COMMUNITY.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE ASKING FROM SOMERSET COUNTY WAS I NOTICED THAT IN THEIR APPLICATION, IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT APPLICATION, THEY ASKED FOR A LETTER OF EXCEPTION AND A NO INTENT.

SO YOU ALL HAVE TO CHECK OFF ON SOMETHING FOR THIS PROJECT.

AND THAT WAS IN THERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW WHAT THAT IS, BUT THAT WAS IN THEIR IMPACT STATEMENT.

AND ONE THING THAT I NOTICED IS SOMERSET COUNTY HAS A MASTER PLAN.

AND THE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR MASTER PLAN FOR SOMERSET COUNTY, IT'S A 2017 MASTER PLAN, IS YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT SENIORS AND YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HEALTH AND YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT OPEN SPACE.

AND THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTING US.

I MEAN, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WILL IMPACT US IN THE AS SOON AS THEY MOVE IN.

YOU KNOW, LET ME LOOK AT MY LIST HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE NOISE.

I MEAN, IT'S 60.

MY MOUTH IS DRY AND I'M NERVOUS.

BUT THERE'S 60 BAYS AND THERE'S 80 PARKING SPACES.

I FORGET THE PARKING LOT IS THE ONE THAT'S 100FT AWAY.

SO THE NOISE, I MEAN, AND IT'S 24/7.

SO THAT'S THE OTHER THING THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

BESIDES THE NOISE, THE AIR QUALITY, I MEAN, WE'RE HAVING ALL THESE TRUCKS 24/7 COMING THERE.

AND IF THEY'RE WANTING 60 BAYS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SPEC WAREHOUSE, WHO KNOWS HOW MANY TRUCKS ARE GOING THROUGH.

AND THE ROADS ARE VERY, VERY NARROW.

AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE IMPACT ON THE ROAD.

AND LIKE TOBY MENTIONED, THERE'S THE COLONIAL PARK FURTHER UP.

SO I'M REALLY PRAYING THAT.

OH FLOODING THAT'S THE OTHER THING.

I MEAN, AS IT IS NOW.

I'VE ALREADY MY HOUSE IS FOUR YEARS OLD.

I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE A SUMP PUMP BECAUSE THERE'S WATER THAT COMES OVER TO OUR SIDE.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ASKING THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ELECTRICITY OVER THERE.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. SO I JUST.

MAY I HAND THESE OUT TO YOU ALL? IS THAT YOU CAN HAND IT TO THE CLERK.

I BEG YOU ALL THAT TO PLEASE TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THIS.

COMMISSIONER. AS SHE'S SPEAKING WITH THE CLERK AND HANDING OUT THE DOCUMENTS, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WISHING TO SPEAK? THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK?

[01:00:03]

[Additional Item]

DANKO. WHO WAS CONCERNED THAT WE HAVE AN ALLOCATION TO A CONTRACT FIRM BASED OUTSIDE OF NEW JERSEY, SUCH AS OUR EAP SERVICES THAT IS A NEW YORK COMPANY.

HE WANTED TO KNOW WHY WE DON'T PATRONIZE NEW JERSEY BASED BUSINESSES.

THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS WE DO ADHERE TO THE PUBLIC CONTRACTS LAW, WHICH DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST A LOCATION OF A BUSINESS AS LONG AS THEY ARE REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THEY APPLY IN THIS PARTICULAR ONE FOR THE EAP SERVICES, WE ONLY HAD ONE RESPONDER, SO OUR CHOICES WERE LIMITED.

NOT THAT WE YOU KNOW, WE DO EVALUATE EVERYONE ON, BUT ON THIS ONE AND THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN COUNTY OR LOCALLY.

SO THAT WAS THAT.

AND MR. BOZLAK WANTED TO LET US KNOW THAT HE IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ECONOMY, THAT IT IS A MESS THAT IS GROWING.

WE CAN'T PAY OFF DEBT WHEN THE ECONOMY IS BASED IN CHINA.

INSANE SPENDING.

HE'S FOLLOWING THE DOMINION VOTING SYSTEM INVESTIGATION AND WILL KEEP US APPRIZED OF IT.

JOE BIDEN IS NOT WORKING FOR THE BEST INTEREST.

CAPITAL ATTACKS WERE ALL STAGED BECAUSE THE BUFFALO HEAD GUY WAS JUST WHEN YOU SAY BUFFALO HEAD GUY BUFFALO HEAD GUY WAS LED IN BY POLICE AND THE VIDEO SHOWS IT ALL AND UNFORTUNATELY HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME BECAUSE HE WAS WAITING ON LINE IN THE BANK TO GET HIS MONEY OUT BEFORE IT CLOSED.

NOTHING ELSE. ALL RIGHT.

SEEING AND HEARING NOTHING ELSE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. DO WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION?

[Executive Session]

SO IF WE CAN HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO MOVED. WE WILL BE ADJOURNING DIRECTLY THERE FROM AND NOT TAKE ANY FURTHER PUBLIC ACTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

GOOD NIGHT. BE WELL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.