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AYES HAVE IT.

[00:00:01]

WE WILL MOVE RIGHT INTO OUR REGULAR MEETING.

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER REPORTS OR COMMENTS? JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT WE HAD OUR RIBBON CUTTING FOR OUR PICKLEBALL COURTS IN BERNARDSVILLE, WHICH REALLY COMPLETES THE POLO GROUNDS AND I GUESS RECREATIONAL AREA WHERE WE HAVE OUR MUNICIPAL POOL, TENNIS COURTS AND NOW PICKLEBALL COURTS RIGHT ALONGSIDE OF FIELDS THAT OUR COMMUNITY HIGHLY USES.

SO THAT BEING MY HOMETOWN, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT PROJECT.

THE COURTS CAME OUT GREAT AND WE ALL HAD FUN ACTUALLY PLAYING SOME PICKLEBALL IN THE PROCESS, AND I THINK MANY MORE PEOPLE WILL BE SIGNED UP.

ALL RIGHT.

.

TENNIS SKILLS COMING TO PLAY.

[PROCLAMATIONS]

MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO OUR REGULAR MEETING.

WE HAVE A FEW PROCLAMATIONS.

NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH.

NATIONAL LIBRARY WORKERS DAY.

AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH AND NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK.

IN THAT ORDER. NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH.

SO MY PRESENTING THIS TO LISA CLARK.

YES.

JUST GRAB THIS.

PEOPLE CAN HEAR US AT HOME.

OKAY. OKAY, HERE WE GO.

SO WHEREAS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES DECLARES APRIL AS NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH, MAKING THIS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NATION'S 3069 COUNTIES TO HIGHLIGHT THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT SERVE MORE THAN 315 MILLION AMERICANS.

AND WHEREAS, SOMERSET COUNTY IS CONTINUING TO PROVIDE VALUABLE SERVICES EFFICIENTLY AND COST EFFECTIVELY FOR ITS RESIDENTS.

AND WHEREAS, THE COUNTY SUPPORTS PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAMS, TO PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES AND PROMOTES JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP KEEP ITS COMMUNITIES SAFE AND PROSPERING. AND WHEREAS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH NACO'S THEME COUNTIES RISE, SOMERSET COUNTY HAS DEMONSTRATED THE ABILITY TO RISE ABOVE MANY CHALLENGES THROUGH ITS RESILIENCY BY QUICKLY REBUILDING AND RECOVERING FROM NATURAL DISASTERS SUCH AS IDA AND COVID 19 THROUGH INCLUSION BY CREATING PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT DIVERSITY THROUGH SOLVENCY, BY SUPPORTING EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING FOR RESIDENTS, AND THROUGH EMPOWERMENT BY INFORMING RESIDENTS OF THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO HELP COMMUNITIES PROSPER.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY DECLARE APRIL 2023 NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH AND ENCOURAGES ALL COUNTY OFFICIALS, EMPLOYEES, SCHOOLS AND RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS THE COUNTY PROVIDES.

I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU ALL, TOO.

OH, I SEE GOLD.

THIS WOULD BE YOUR SPECIAL GOLD CARD.

AND WHEN YOU USE THIS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FINES JUST LIKE NOBODY ELSE.

[LAUGHTER] HOW DID YOU KNOW WHO WAS WHO? WE'RE LIBRARIANS. WHAT CAN I SAY? YES, IT IS.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL LIBRARY WORKERS DAY.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST YOU FROM THE LIBRARY TONIGHT.

AM I MISSING ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE? I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE FROM BERNARDSVILLE.

BUT THE DIRECTOR'S NOT HERE YET.

OKAY. DO YOU WANT ME TO DELAY THIS? SHE WASN'T SURE. OKAY, SO, AS YOU ALL KNOW, SOMERSET COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM SERVICES.

HOW MANY COMMUNITIES? 15 OF THE 21.

15 OF THE 21.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE RECIPROCAL BORROWING NOW WITH CLARENCE DILLON LIBRARY, WHICH SERVICES FAR HILLS AND BEDMINSTER AND ALSO WITH FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP LIBRARY.

SO WE ARE PRETTY MUCH TOUCHING MOST OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT THE REST OF THE COUNTY SOMETIME THIS YEAR.

YES. AND WE ALL KNOW HOW MUCH THE LIBRARY GIVES TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT.

[00:05:01]

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A LIBRARY CARD.

BUT OUR LIBRARIES ARE OPEN AND WELCOME AND SAFE PLACES FOR ALL THE PUBLIC TO GO TO.

AND THEY ARE A WEALTH OF INFORMATION AND JUST SUPPORT MECHANISMS ON EVERY LEVEL.

HELPING FOLKS GET A JOB, HELPING STUDENTS DO THEIR RESEARCH, HELPING PEOPLE FIND RESOURCES, HAVING PROGRAMING ONLINE.

IT'S INCREDIBLE WHAT THE LIBRARY SERVICES DO AND HOW MUCH OF THE HEARTS YOU TOUCH OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS.

THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE OTHER REASONS WHY WE ARE A NICHE MAGAZINE, NUMBER ONE.

I THINK SO. I'M GOING TO SAY.

SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THIS QUICKLY.

SOMERSET COUNTY HAS SIX OUTSTANDING LIBRARIES SERVING OUR RESIDENTS.

LIBRARIES ARE CONSIDERED GREAT EQUALIZERS AND PEOPLES UNIVERSITIES ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO LEARN AT THEIR OWN PACE, TO READ FREELY AND EXPLORE NEW AND OLD IDEAS REGARDLESS OF THEIR STATION OF LIFE.

THEY'RE PLACES TO EXCHANGE DIVERSE IDEAS, ENCOURAGE READING AND CIVIL DISCOURSE.

THEY PROMOTE READING, READINESS AND A LOVE OF READING FOR CHILDREN, THEIR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS.

OUR LIBRARIES EMPLOY 525 INDIVIDUALS WHO COLLECTIVELY LEND OVER 4.4 MILLION ITEMS TO THE 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE WHO VISIT THEM EACH YEAR AND OPEN THEIR DOORS TO RESIDENTS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

THEY ARE CORNERSTONES OF OUR TOWNS AND OF OUR COUNTY OVERALL.

AND WHEREAS, OUR COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CELEBRATE LIBRARIES AND LIBRARY WORKERS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS ACROSS AMERICA AS WE CELEBRATE NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK FROM APRIL 23RD TO APRIL 29TH AND NATIONAL LIBRARY WORKERS DAY ON TUESDAY, APRIL 25TH.

THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE MY GLASSES ON, AND I SAW THAT GOLD.

OKAY FOR AUTISM AWARENESS.

HERE TO DISCUSS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH.

AND WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION 2023.

WHEREAS AUTISM ACCEPTANCE.

SORRY. AUTISM MONTH HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1972 TO CELEBRATE AND PROMOTE ACCEPTANCE OF AUTISM, A CONDITION THAT OCCURS IN 1 OF EVERY 36 CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES AND AS OF 2020.

AND WHEREAS, AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IS A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY THAT BEGINS BEFORE THE AGE OF THREE AND LASTS THROUGHOUT A PERSON'S LIFE AND CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL COMMUNICATION AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGES.

AND WHEREAS, AUTISM IS A SPECTRUM DISORDER AND EACH PERSON WITH AUTISM HAS A DISTINCT SET OF STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES, A REALITY THAT AFFECTS NOT JUST THE PERSON WITH AUTISM, BUT THEIR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, COWORKERS AND COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN A QUARTER OF ALL PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM ARE NON OR MINIMALLY VERBAL AND ACCEPTANCE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THIS REALITY AMONG THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING SERVICE PROVIDERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, IS VITAL.

AND WHEREAS, SOMERSET COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO FACILITATING THE INCLUSION OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WITH AUTISM IN ALL ASPECTS OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LIFE, CONSISTENT WITH THEIR STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES, INCLUDING SPREADING AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE OF AUTISM THROUGH PROGRAMS AND COMMUNICATION.

AND WHEREAS, TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, THE SOMERSET COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OFFICE ON AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES IMPLEMENTED THE PROJECT LIFESAVER PROGRAM, PROVIDING RESPITE CARE, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND EDUCATION AND NO COST BRACELET IDENTIFIERS AND TRACKERS.

IN THE EVENT THAT A RESIDENT MAY WANDER OR BECOME LOST.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE APRIL 2023 AS AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AUTISM AND WHAT THEY CAN DO TO SUPPORT THEIR NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS AND FAMILIES WITH AUTISM.

I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING. YEAH.

[00:10:04]

HELLO. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION FOR AUTISM ACCEPTANCE MONTH.

PROJECT LIFESAVER, LIKE YOU SAID, IS A PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS YOUTH AGES 6 TO 21 AND INDIVIDUALS 60 PLUS WHO ARE ACTIVELY WANDERING AND HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF A DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER.

SO FOR INDIVIDUALS, 60 PLUS, IT COULD BE DEMENTIA.

AND THEN THE YOUTH, IT COULD BE DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM OR EXCUSE ME, DOWN SYNDROME.

SO WITH THAT, WE JUST LINK THEM, PUT THEM ON THE SORRY PROGRAM.

THEY HAVE TO BE ACTIVELY WANDERING, LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEN WITH THE OFFICER'S SUPPORT, IF THEY ARE TO ACTIVELY WANDER, THEY WILL GO OUT AND PROVIDE THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO QUICKLY LOCATE THEM.

DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, SERGEANT ROMERO? WELL, I WANT TO SAY THAT OFFICER ROMERO AND OFFICER ZUZA HAS BEEN DOING A GREAT WORK WITH PROJECT LIFESAVER.

THEY GO TO THE SCHOOLS.

THEY DEVELOP A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KIDS.

THEY GET TO WITH THEIR UNIFORMS. AND THEY REALLY BUILT THAT RELATIONSHIP.

YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY SCARY TO SEE AN OFFICER COME INTO YOU AND YOU'RE LIKE, OH, MY GOD.

SO THEY REALLY TAKE THEIR TIME AND DEVELOP THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KIDS.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE KIDS ARE NONVERBAL.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SKILLS AND THEIR OWN CHALLENGES, AND THEY REALLY TAKE THEIR TIME.

JANNELL REALLY CARES FOR THE PARENTS.

IT'S VERY STRESSFUL NOT KNOWING WHAT SERVICES ARE OUT THERE.

AND JANNELL REALLY GOES AND TAKES CARE OF THE FAMILY, REALLY CONNECTS THEM WITH SERVICES AS WELL AS CONNECTING THEM WITH PROJECT LIFESAVER.

SO IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

ALL RIGHT. SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN ABOUT PROJECT LIFESAVER, FEEL FREE TO CALL THE OFFICE ON AGING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] AS YOU PREPARE TO TAKE YOUR PICTURE.

I MEAN, I'VE DONE THIS IN THE PAST, BUT IT WAS WITH A LOCAL AUTISM NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

I AM GOING TO OFFER UP ONE OF MY GAMES AT THE PATRIOTS IN THE SUITE TO PROJECT LIFESAVER.

WORK WITH KATE BERRY IN OUR OFFICE TO IDENTIFY WHICH ONE OF THOSE DATES.

THE LAST GROUP I WORKED WITH, THE FAMILIES WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE BECAUSE IT WAS SELF-CONTAINED AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GO OUT AND HAVE A FAMILY FUN NIGHT.

SO I AM DONATING ONE OF MY NIGHTS TO PROJECT LIFESAVER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELCOME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE HAVE A SMALL GROUP FOR NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK.

[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU.

GREAT. HEY.

ALL RIGHT. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. IT'S THE SHORT WAY TO THE FRONT.

LET'S GO. YOU'LL MAKE ME FEEL A LITTLE TALLER.

YOU KNOW WE'RE REALLY OUT THERE.

ALL RIGHT. YOU GO DOWN THAT WAY.

IT'S LIKE PROM ALL OVER AGAIN.

WE KNOW HOW TO SET IT UP. ALL RIGHT.

SO THE RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK, APRIL 16TH THROUGH 22ND.

WHEREAS RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OF SOMERSET COUNTY, A UNIT OF THE NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION AT RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY AND A DIVISION WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PROVIDES RESEARCH BASED EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT PEOPLE'S LIVES AND AGRICULTURE, THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, FOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION AND HEALTH AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.

AND WHEREAS, VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN THE CORNERSTONE OF RCE'S SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMING, INCLUDING THROUGHOUT THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, LEARNING NEW OUTREACH TECHNOLOGY AND SPEEDING THEIR TIME, TALENTS AND EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO MENTOR OUR YOUTH, IDENTIFY INVASIVE PESTS AND WEEDS, ADVISE ON PROTECTING OUR LAND AND WATER RESOURCE, IMPROVE HEALTH AND ENHANCE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

[00:15:01]

AND WHEREAS, 350 RCE VOLUNTEERS ARE FULL AND PART TIME WORKERS, RETIREES, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS WHO PROVIDED 108,134 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES IN 2022.

[APPLAUSE] SO THAT'S A LOT OF.

VALUE AN ESTIMATE OF $3,502,460.20 . [LAUGHTER] AND GOT TO INCLUDE EVERY PENNY FOR THAT VOLUNTEER TIME.

AND WHEREAS, FOR EACH VOLUNTEERS MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUTH THROUGHOUT IN PERSON, HYBRID OR VIRTUAL CLUB MEETINGS, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, SHORT TERM PROGRAMS, CAMPS AND FUN ACTIVITIES THAT CONTINUE TO CREATE THE SENSE OF BELONGING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE NEED.

FOR EACH, VOLUNTEERS SERVE AS CLUB LEADERS FOR EACH ASSOCIATION MEMBERS 4H FAIR MANAGERS, JUDGES, MENTORS, TRAINERS, EDUCATORS, AND MUCH MORE.

WHEREAS, RUTGERS MASTER'S GARDENER, AN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD, VOLUNTEERS AND A&R CONTINUED SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMING, INCLUDING ONLINE AND IN-PERSON OUTREACH TO DELIVER ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS ANSWERING NEARLY 371 INQUIRIES ON LAWN GARDEN INSECT AND LANDSCAPING QUESTIONS VIA THE GARDEN HELP LINE AND UTILIZE E NEWSLETTERS AND MONTHLY WEBINARS TO REMAIN ENGAGED WITH PUBLIC ONE ANOTHER AND OVERALL PROGRAM.

ALMOST THERE. AND WHEREAS, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH SCIENCES VOLUNTEERS ASSIST AT COMMUNITY CLASSES AND EVENTS AND SERVE ON THE FCHS ADVISORY COUNCIL TO PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING AND FOOD PREPARATION.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT SOMERSET COUNTY'S BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 16TH THROUGH 22ND 2023 AS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK IN SOMERSET COUNTY, AND THANKS TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS.

NO, THANK YOU.

YEAH. [APPLAUSE] WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? I GUESS I CAN ADD TO THIS.

BUT JUST IN CASE I TURNED IT OFF BECAUSE I'VE NEVER KNOWN HOW TO USE A MIC.

THE MIC IS NOT WORKING. I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU LIFT A MICROPHONE.

I KNOW. I DON'T THINK I NEED A MIC I'M PART OF RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, AND WE'RE PRETTY LOUD.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR RECOGNIZING OUR VOLUNTEERS.

WE DO HAVE SOME AMAZING VOLUNTEERS IN RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION, WHICH IT INCLUDES.

THAT THING THAT WE HAVE.

BUT WE DO OFFER THESE SERVICES OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND ALL THAT OUR COUNTY HAS DONE FOR US.

AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COUNTY AND ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS OUR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION, HAS CHOSEN HARRY BROCHINSKY, ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, AS THE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR.

[APPLAUSE] I WANT TO SHARE THAT BECAUSE HE'S A SOMERSET VOLUNTEER, AND THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

THEY'RE WORTH $0.20.

[LAUGHTER] SO. FIVE PEOPLE IN FRONT. HOW ABOUT SARA? THAN ME, YOU'RE ME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH.

YOU KNOW, I GUESS.

IT TAKES US A LOT OF TIME. IT'S MINE.

THE THREE OF US TAKE A LOT TO GET OUT HERE.

[00:20:02]

THANK YOU. GREAT NEWS ALL THE WAY AROUND.

THANK YOU. USUALLY THEY NEED TO TALK ME DOWN WE HAVE TWO APPOINTMENTS TO OUR YOUTH COUNCIL WITH RESOLUTION 23-753.

[APPOINTMENTS]

WE HAVE KETHARAMAN PALANIAPPAN AND MALAVIKA MALANTHARA.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION? MOTION. SECOND.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES.

COMMISSIONER MARANO.

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR MARCH 28TH, 2023.

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED. SECOND.

ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMISSIONER DRAKE? YES.

COMMISSIONER MARANO.

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

NOT PRESENT. ORDINANCE 23-799.

[ORDINANCE]

APPROPRIATING $3,933,000 FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE TOWNSHIP OF BRANCHBURG AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUE OF $3,933,000 TO COUNTY TO COUNTY COLLEGE BONDS OR NOTES OF THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, FOR FINANCING SUCH APPROPRIATION.

THEN WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING 23-799 SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 23-580 FOR APRIL 25TH, 2023 AT 6 P.M..

IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 23-799 ON FIRST READING AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR APRIL 25TH.

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.

ALL MATTERS LISTED HERE UNDER FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE IN NATURE AND WILL BE ENACTED UPON IN ONE OR SEVERAL MOTIONS.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

ANY PERSON MAY REQUEST THAT AN ITEM BE REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION, AND THE ITEMS LISTED BELOW WERE INTRODUCED AT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION MEETING ON MARCH 28TH, 2023.

AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO PULL 23-745 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO VOTE ON SEPARATELY AS WE HAVE COMMITTEEMAN JIM SCHWORN FROM BRANCHBURG WITH US.

SO WE WILL BE MOVING THAT ONE FIRST.

AND IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD, PLEASE, AND WE WILL READ THIS AND VOTE ON IT AND GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ON BEHALF OF BRANCHBURG. THIS IS THE PLANNING POLICY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE ACQUISITION OF OPEN SPACE PROPERTY BY THE TOWNSHIP OF BRANCHBURG KNOWN AS LOTS TWO AND 3.04 AND BLOCK 67 IN THE TOWNSHIP OF BRANCHBURG TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1 MILLION DOLLARS.

AND THIS IS RESOLUTION 23-745.

IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION. SECOND.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMISSIONER DRAKE? YES.

COMMISSIONER MARANO.

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR.

SINGLETERRY. YES.

DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

THANK YOU. I JUST ON BEHALF OF THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE AND THE RESIDENTS OF BRANCHBURG, THIS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT YOU.

I PERSONALLY THANK EACH AND EVERY COMMISSIONER.

THE OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE.

TOM PACINO DID A GREAT JOB WORKING WITH US.

MR. DEMARCO, AND OF COURSE, COLLEEN MAHR.

SO THIS IS PROBABLY THE LAST PURPOSEFUL AND MEANINGFUL OPEN SPACE AVAILABLE THAT CONNECTS EXISTING OPEN SPACE AND THE RIVER CORRIDOR AND STATE LAND.

SO THAT'S READILY AVAILABLE.

SO AND IT COULDN'T BE DONE WITHOUT YOU.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN. WE APPRECIATE THAT.

[APPLAUSE] YES.

A SMALL CHECK OR LARGE CHECK.

YES, IT DOES. SO, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT MADE OUT TO ME.

[LAUGHTER].

ALL RIGHT. MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO THE REST OF OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[00:25:01]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 23-700 THROUGH 23-702.

SECOND. 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 23-703 THROUGH 23-720.

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. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 23-721 THROUGH 723-744 AND 23 -746. 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.

YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 23-747 THROUGH 23-752.

SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

COMMISSIONER DRAKE? YES.

COMMISSIONER MARANO.

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. WE COME TO THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING.

[PUBLIC]

FIVE MINUTES. NO YIELDING OF TIME.

NO COMING UP A SECOND TIME.

IS THERE ANYONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN TO PUBLIC? SO MOVED. SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

IS THERE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? HI. FIRST TIME.

I'M ALL EXCITED.

OKAY, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

MY NAME IS LAURA WILLIAMS. I'M IN MANVILLE.

LAST YEAR, I HAD THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH RICH BOOTHE AND RUTHIE KASS, CLEANING HEADSTONES IN HUNTERDON COUNTY.

OUR LAST HOOKUP MEETUP WHATEVER.

THEY SAID, SOMERSET COUNTY WAS LOOKING INTO DOING IT.

WHAT? WHAT'S.

I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING.

SO HUNTERDON REACHED OUT TO ME AT A MEETING.

I BELIEVE WE WERE IN ATLANTIC CITY, SO I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK OR HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE INFORMATION AS TO THE COMPANY OR THE LOGISTICS BEHIND DOING THAT.

SO AT THIS POINT, WE WOULD NEED TO FOLLOW UP.

OKAY. BECAUSE I KNOW RICH HAS BEEN ON VACATION.

I EMAILED HIM AND IT'S LIKE, I'LL BE BACK IN TWO WEEKS.

IT'S LIKE, THANK YOU. YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR INFORMATION SOMERSET COUNTY WILL BE A LOT NICER THAN DRIVING AN HOUR OUT TO.

HUNTERDON COUNTY. LAMBERTVILLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. YEAH, THAT WAS.

HARRY B[INAUDIBLE] DID CALL.

HE WOULD LIKE US TO CUT TAXES IN HALF.

THE RUTGERS COACHES MAKE $600,000 A YEAR AND THAT IS WAY TOO MUCH MONEY AND THAT WE SHOULD GO BACK TO THE GOLD OR SILVER STANDARD BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT WILL BE WORTH MONEY.

AND INFLATION IS OVER 11%.

AND THAT WAS IT. OKAY.

SEEING AND HEARING NOTHING ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING? SO MOVED. SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

NOTHING FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

OKAY. SO IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED. SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR. AYE.

AYES HAVE IT. GOOD NIGHT.

AND BE WELL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.