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HAVE IT. WE WILL THEN MOVE RIGHT INTO OUR REGULAR

[00:00:05]

MEETING.

WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR REGULAR WORKSHOP. EXCUSE ME? OUR REGULAR MEETING.

NO ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER REPORTS OR COMMENTS.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PROCLAMATIONS.

[PROCLAMATIONS]

WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEEK, AND OLDER AMERICANS MONTH.

IN THAT ORDER.

HEALTH AWARENESS. LISA AND STEPHANIE.

OKAY. SO CELEBRATING MAY 2023 AS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.

WHEREAS, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS, 1 IN 5 OR 20% OF AMERICANS ARE LIVING WITH A DIAGNOSABLE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION IN ANY GIVEN YEAR.

AND. WHEREAS, WITH SOMERSET COUNTY'S POPULATION OF MORE THAN 345,000 PEOPLE, THIS MEANS ALMOST 67,000 OF OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS ARE LIVING WITH A DIAGNOSABLE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION.

AND. WHEREAS, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AFFECT MORE THAN 23 MILLION AMERICANS, YET ONLY ABOUT 25% RECEIVE TREATMENT OF ANY KIND.

AND. WHEREAS, NAVIGATING THROUGH LIFE IS CHALLENGING FOR EVERYONE, BUT EVEN MORE SO FOR THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, PHYSICAL OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, OR THOSE MARGINALIZED BASED ON RACE, ETHNICITY, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR OTHER CRITERIA.

AND. WHEREAS, MANY WHO LIVE WITH THESE CHALLENGES ALSO FACE STIGMA FROM THEIR COMMUNITY AND IN THE FACE OF STIGMA, FIND IT HARD TO ASK FOR OR SEEK OUT HELP THAT IS AVAILABLE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND HEALTH.

AND. WHEREAS, SOMERSET COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO EDUCATING THE PUBLIC IN ORDER TO REMOVE THESE STIGMAS AND PROVIDING SERVICES THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAMS DELIVERED BY THE COUNTY BY RICHARD HALL, COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER, AND NUMEROUS VALUABLE NONPROFIT PARTNERS.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DECLARES SOMERSET COUNTY NJ TO BE A STIGMA.

FREE COUNTY RECOGNIZES THE MONTH OF MAY 2023 TO BE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND URGES ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS, ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES TO JOIN IN TAKING THE STIGMA FREE PLEDGE AND LIVE EVERY DAY STIGMA FREE.

NOW, LET'S SAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER SINGLETARY.

I APPRECIATE THAT. SO FROM THE 2023 WHITE HOUSE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH PROCLAMATION, IT WAS NOTED THAT 2 IN 5 ADULTS REPORTED ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AND 2 IN 5 TEENS DESCRIBED EXPERIENCING PERSISTENT SADNESS OR LONELINESS.

DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE ALSO NEAR RECORD HIGHS, AND SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE SOMERSET COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, RECOGNIZES THE PROFOUND IMPACT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES CAN HAVE ON FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND WORKPLACES.

WE HONOR THE COURAGE OF EVERY RESIDENT LIVING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSIS WHO WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND KEEP PUSHING FORWARD.

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE NEED FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND EXPANSION OF OUR RESOURCES AS A DEPARTMENT.

WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE EVERY PERSON WHO LIVES OR WORKS IN SOMERSET COUNTY HAS ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES.

I AM THE COUNTY DRUG AND ALCOHOL DIRECTOR.

MY NAME IS LISA FEDERICO AND I WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE STEPHANIE BILLETS.

HELLO, I'M STEPHANIE BILLETS.

I'M THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM NAVIGATOR.

HELLO, I AM STEPHANIE BILLETS.

I'M THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM NAVIGATOR.

PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS.

ABSOLUTELY. THEY CAN GIVE ME A CALL.

THEY CAN EMAIL ME. I'M HERE AS A RESOURCE FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO CONNECT THEM TO SUBSTANCE USE AND OR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT SERVICES.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

OKAY.

[00:05:04]

JESSICA PAOLINI.

COME ON DOWN.

HAS IT BEEN A YEAR YET? ABOUT TEN MONTHS. OKAY.

TIME IS. TIME IS FLYING.

SO THIS PROCLAMATION IS PRIORITIZING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

AND. WHEREAS, CHANGE IS CONSTANT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HELPS MANAGE THIS CHANGE IN A MANNER THAT PROVIDES STABILITY, LONGEVITY, CONNECTEDNESS AND BETTER CHOICES FOR HOW PEOPLE LIVE, WORK AND ENJOY LIFE.

AND. WHEREAS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS HELP CREATE THE CONDITIONS THAT SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROVIDE A STABLE TAX BASE BY FACILITATING INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND TALENT THROUGH SMART PLANNING THAT INCORPORATES INDUSTRY NEEDS, CONNECTING BUSINESSES TO PRIVATE STATE AND FEDERAL RESOURCES AND UTILIZING THEIR EXPERTISE TO SUPPORT INVESTMENT. AND. WHEREAS, REALIZING THE FULL BENEFITS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REQUIRES PUBLIC OFFICIALS, BUSINESS LEADERS AND CITIZENS WHO UNDERSTAND, SUPPORT AND DEMAND EXCELLENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND. WHEREAS, GOVERNOR MURPHY HAS DECLARED THE SECOND MONDAY IN MAY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DAY.

AND. WHEREAS, THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL HAS DESIGNATED THE WEEK OF MAY 8TH TO MAY 12TH, 2023, AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEEK IN NORTH AMERICA AND ENDORSES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEEK AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY PROFESSIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS TO CREATE MORE ECONOMICALLY VIBRANT AND LIVABLE COMMUNITIES.

AND. WHEREAS, SOMERSET COUNTY ACKNOWLEDGES THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS IN OUR COUNTY AND EXTENDS OUR HEARTFELT THANKS FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND CEASELESS COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND. WHEREAS, SOMERSET COUNTY RECOGNIZES THAT SOUND, STRATEGIC AND INNOVATIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CAN ADDRESS MANY OF OUR CITIZENS CONCERNS REGARDING EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS BASED TRAINING, THE FOSTERING AND RETENTION OF TALENT AND BUSINESSES, WORKFORCE HOUSING, THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, ACCESSIBILITY AND EXPEDIENCY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

PRESERVATION OF OUR NATURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES, AND TO ULTIMATELY ENSURE A ROBUST AND THRIVING ECONOMY IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZES THE WEEK OF MAY 8TH TO MAY 12TH, 2023 AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEEK IN SOMERSET COUNTY. AND WE STRESS AND SHARE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS COMMUNITY CELEBRATION, WHICH SUPPORTS EXPANDING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN MAKING LIVES BETTER.

SIGN ON THIS DAY MAY 9TH BY ALL OF YOUR COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. AWESOME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I JUST HAVE A FEW REMARKS AS WELL.

SO I JOINED THE COUNTY LAST YEAR AS THE MANAGER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE FIRST PERSON TO HOLD THAT ROLE IN THE NEWLY EXPANDED OFFICE.

AND I WANT TO APPLAUD ADMINISTRATOR COLLEEN MAHR AND THE COMMISSIONERS VISION IN PRIORITIZING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND RECOGNIZING THE VALUE OF SOUND PLANNING POLICY AND HOW IT CONTRIBUTES TO ECONOMIC GROWTH.

AS THE PROCLAMATION STATED, CHANGE IS CONSTANT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS HELP BUSINESSES PLAN FOR AND LEVERAGE THOSE CHANGES IN WAYS THAT CAN BENEFIT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND HELP BUSINESSES BE MORE SUCCESSFUL.

AND WE'RE HELPING OUR BUSINESSES IN SOMERSET COUNTY ADJUST TO THREE NEW REALITIES.

ONE IS THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT, WHICH HAS BECOME A NORM.

WE HAVE A CHALLENGE IN KEEPING OUR LARGE EMPLOYERS IN COUNTY AS THEY'RE LOOKING TO RIGHT SIZE THEIR OPERATIONS AND MOVE INTO SMALLER FOOTPRINTS.

SO WE'RE REACHING OUT PROACTIVELY TO OUR BUSINESSES AND HELPING THEM TO RIGHT SIZE WITHIN THE COUNTY.

OUR EMPLOYERS ARE ALSO COMPETING FIERCELY FOR TALENT THAT CAN NOW LIVE OR WORK ANYWHERE.

AND WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH CORPORATE HR TEAMS TO HELP MARKET THE BENEFITS OF LIVING AND WORKING IN THE COUNTY.

AND THIS BRINGS ME TO ESG, WHICH, LIKE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENTS, IS A NEW STANDARD BUSINESS PRACTICE AND A WAY FOR EMPLOYERS TO ATTRACT VALUES ORIENTED EMPLOYEES.

SO WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST COUNTIES TO ORGANIZE AN ESG CONFERENCE TO BRING TOGETHER BUSINESS LEADERS TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES.

AND LASTLY, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE STILL RECOVERING AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BE MORE RESILIENT.

SO WE'RE CONNECTING OUR MUNICIPAL LEADERS AND OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO NEW RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS. AND WE BROUGHT THE RESOURCES FOR GROWTH EVENT TO THE COUNTY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SO WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.

THERE'S MUCH MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

I BELIEVE I'M ON THE CALENDAR FOR MAY 23RD, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING WITH THE COMMISSIONERS MORE ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT STAND BEFORE

[00:10:08]

US. AND AGAIN, WANT TO THANK ADMINISTRATOR MAHR WALTER LANE AND THE COMMISSIONERS.

GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.

EVENING, ADMINISTRATOR.

I'M JUST HERE TO INTRODUCE.

SABATHIA, WHO IS THE NUTRITION AND WELLNESS PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR.

SO WE'LL BE HERE ACCEPTING.

AUDIENCE. AND WE THANK YOU AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE.

SO WE SAID, WELL, WE'RE HERE TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.

WHEREAS THE ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING.

ACL LEADS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH ANNUALLY IN MAY, AND THIS YEAR THE ACL IS PROMOTING THE THEME AGING UNBOUND.

AND. WHEREAS, AGING UNBOUND MEANS THAT OLDER AMERICANS AND THOSE WHO SERVE THE COMMUNITIES, THESE COMMUNITIES ARE TACKLING AGEISM AND STEREOTYPES ABOUT AGING WITH FLEXIBLE THINKING.

AND. WHEREAS, OLDER ADULTS ARE ENGAGED IN A WIDER ARRAY OF OF EXPERIENCES THAN EVER BEFORE, AND WHERE OLDER ADULTS REMAIN INVOLVED, INDEPENDENT AND INCLUDED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, IT BENEFITS EVERYONE.

AND. WHEREAS, THE SOMERSET COUNTY OFFICE OF AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES, WHICH MANAGES ALL SIX SENIOR WELLNESS CENTERS, SUPPORTS FLEXIBLE THINKING THROUGH ITS PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES, WHICH HELPS FOSTER THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF OLDER ADULTS.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY DECLARE MAY 2023 OLDER AMERICANS MONTH AND A TIME FOR ALL RESIDENTS TO EMBRACE FLEXIBLE THINKING, SUPPORT OLDER AMERICANS AND RECOGNIZE THEIR VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I CANNOT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

THIS IS THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF OLDER AMERICAN MONTH.

WE WANT TO THANK SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ADMINISTRATOR MAHR MIKE FROST, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AND OF COURSE, JOANNE FETZKO FOR THE CONTINUED SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED AND ESPECIALLY TO PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY AS AN OLDER AMERICAN MONTH.

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE CONTRIBUTIONS, CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENT OF OLDER ADULTS.

IT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMITMENT TO SOMERSET COUNTY SENIORS BY PROVIDING THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE FROM OFFICE ON AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES.

OUR SENIORS ARE AGING AND BOUND AS SENIOR WELLNESS CENTERS PROVIDES THEM WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE A WIDE RANGE OF AGING EXPERIENCES WHILE ENJOYING INDEPENDENCE AND FULFILLMENT BY PAVING THEIR OWN PATH AS THEY AGE.

THERE ARE WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL STORIES THAT COME ACROSS OUR DESK, AND I WILL JUST SHARE ONE.

WARREN BROOK, SENIOR CENTER ON THEIR OPEN HOUSE THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE OPEN THE CENTER.

SO TWO OF THE SENIORS WHO PROBABLY MET AT THE CENTER ARE GETTING MARRIED ON MAY 24TH.

IT JUST MADE MY DAY AS THEY BOTH WERE LONELY AND THEY WANTED WARREN BROOK SENIOR CENTER TO BE AT THEIR WEDDING LOCATION.

I'M LIKE, GLAD YOU GUYS FOUND US, BUT WE WILL HAVE A CAKE FOR YOU.

SO THAT WAS ONE.

AND THEN ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL STORY THAT JUST HAPPENED YESTERDAY, ONE OF OUR 97 YEAR OLD CLIENTS THAT WALKS WITH A, JUST WITH A SIMPLE CANE.

HER DAUGHTER, WHO IS NOW A RETIRED PEDIATRICS INFECTIOUS DISEASE CDC RESEARCHER AND HER SON, GRANDSON, WHO'S BALTIMORE.

SOME RESEARCH FROM RESEARCHER FROM THAT AREA, CONTACTED US TO CELEBRATE THE NEEDLE WORK THAT THIS CLIENT HAS DONE, WHO HAS BEEN WITH US FOR MORE THAN 20

[00:15:09]

YEARS. SO IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL TO SEE WHAT IMPACT HAS BEEN MADE BY THIS FAMILY WHO CONTACTED US TO CELEBRATE.

AND WE WERE EQUALLY SURPRISED TO SEE THIS WIDE RANGE OF NEEDLE WORK FROM DIFFERENT THREADS TO DIFFERENT KNITTING AND ALL.

IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING TO DO.

AND LASTLY, WHEN HER HER DAUGHTER BEFORE LEAVING SAID THE SENIOR WELLNESS CENTERS GAVE HER MOTHER THE PURPOSE OF LIFE AND CONNECTION WITH THE FRIENDS TO COMBAT LONELINESS.

AND THAT REALLY KEPT HER GOING.

SO THEY CAME TO CELEBRATE HER LIFE WHILE THEIR MOTHER WAS ALIVE WITH THEM AND BECAUSE WE WERE THE PART OF IT.

SO THAT CREDIT REALLY GOES TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS SUPPORTED AND BEEN TO SOMERSET COUNTY SENIOR WELLNESS CENTER.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

AND THERE ARE MORE GOOD STORIES TO KNOW, SO YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO JOIN ONCE YOU'RE 60 YEARS AND OLDER.

THANK YOU.

IS A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

I WAS LOOKING AT THEM TOO.

THAT'S GOOD. OKAY.

WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR APRIL 25TH, 2023.

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? MOVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

WE HAVE ORDINANCE 23-999 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMITS ALONG COUNTY ROUTE 533 ORCHARD ROAD, MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP RIVER ROAD, HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP,

[ORDINANCE]

MILLSTONE RIVER ROAD, HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, MAIN STREET, MILLSTONE BOROUGH, AND SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR MAY 23RD, 2023 AT 6 P.M.

AND PUBLIC HEARING 23-999 SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 23-999 FOR MAY 23RD, 2023 AT 6 P.M.. IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 23-999 ON FIRST READING AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR MAY 23RD AT 6 P.M.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

WE HAVE COUNTY BUDGET 23-980 AUTHORIZATION TO EXCEED THE COUNTY BUDGET APPROPRIATION LIMITS AND TO ESTABLISH A CAP BID AND SETTING THE

[2023 COUNTY BUDGET]

PUBLIC HEARING FOR TUESDAY, MAY 23RD.

IS MAY. MAY 10TH AT 2023.

MAY 23RD. MAY 23RD.

2023 AT 6 P.M.

23-981. AUTHORIZATION TO AUTHORIZE A READING OF 2021 BUDGET BY TITLE ONLY.

23-982 AUTHORIZATION FOR EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION CERTIFICATION 23-983 AUTHORIZING SOMERSET COUNTY TO EXCEED THE COUNTY ENTITY BUDGET REQUEST CAP FOR SURROGATE.

23-984. AUTHORIZING SOMERSET COUNTY TO EXCEED THE BUDGET ENTITY BUDGET REQUEST CAP FOR SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND 23-995 AUTHORIZING SOMERSET COUNTY TO EXCEED THE COUNTY ENTITY BUDGET REQUEST CAP FOR PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.

DR. ROBINSON? YES.

WE NEED A MOTION AND A VOTE ON THAT, PLEASE.

980-985, PLEASE.

IS THERE A MOTION ON 23-980 THROUGH 23-985? MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

BUT I AM GOING TO TAKE THE LIBERTY AND ASK THAT WE PULL 23-958 FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ON FOR A SEPARATE

[00:20:07]

VOTE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT PRESENTED FIRST.

PAUL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOTE ON THAT FIRST? EXCUSE ME. 23-958 IS AUTHORIZING ALLOCATION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING TO THE GREATER RARITAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO PROVIDE FOR A LITERACY INITIATIVE IN THE AMOUNT OF $260,000.

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

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE AMY LAM, WHO IS, OF COURSE, WITH THE LITERACY VOLUNTEERS.

SOMERSET COUNTY. SHE'S GOING TO BE OUR PROJECT LEAD FOR THIS.

AND WE'D LIKE TO JUST HAVE AMY SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THE IMPACT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE AND WHO IT'S GOING TO HELP.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ADMINISTRATOR MAHR AND COMMISSIONERS FOR APPROVING THIS FUNDING FOR OUR OUR COLLABORATION.

WE ARE GOING TO BE REACHING IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO READ, WRITE AND COMMUNICATE IN ENGLISH.

WE ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION TO PEOPLE WHO REALLY SPEAK NO ENGLISH AND ARE LOOKING FOR BASIC ENGLISH INSTRUCTION AND HELPING THEM TO LEARN EVERYDAY ENGLISH SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THEM GET BETTER JOBS, HELP THEIR CHILDREN SUCCEED AT SCHOOL, HELP THEM COMMUNICATE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH POLICE OFFICERS AND DOCTORS AND PHARMACISTS AND JUST REALLY EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES.

SO IT'S GOING TO INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO REACH 30% MORE PEOPLE THAN WE'RE CURRENTLY REACHING.

IT'S A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE WORK.

THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD, LITERACY, VOLUNTEERS OF SOMERSET COUNTY, RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THE LIBRARY SYSTEM, AND ALSO THE HUNTERDON EDUCATIONAL SERVICES COMMISSION.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD WITH VERY LIMITED BUDGETS, SO THIS EXPANDS OUR ABILITY TO REACH MORE PEOPLE AND ALSO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

WE'VE ALREADY ACTUALLY STARTED PRE-PLANNING AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S TO COME.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND THANK YOU, PAUL AND ADMINISTRATOR MAHR FOR FOR HEARING OUR PLEA FOR FOR THE NEED FOR SERVICES LAST NOVEMBER AND SO QUICKLY GETTING US THE FUNDING.

SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU.

WE'LL MOVE RIGHT ALONG TO OUR THE REST OF OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 23-900 THROUGH 23-914.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 23-915 THROUGH 23-936.

[AWARD OF CONTRACTS]

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.

ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 23-937 THROUGH 23-957.

[FINANCE]

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.

ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 23-959 THROUGH 23-963.

[ITEMS ADDED FROM THE MAY 9, 2023 WORK SESSION TO BE ADOPTED TONIGHT]

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

THE PUBLIC PORTION OF OUR MEETING.

[PUBLIC]

FIVE MINUTES. NO YIELD. ENOUGH TIME, THOUGH.

COMING UP A SECOND TIME.

IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN TO PUBLIC? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK.

THERE'S ONE COMMENT ONLINE FROM DEIRDRE JIMENEZ FROM HILLSBOROUGH.

HE WANTS US TO BE AWARE THAT IT'S OFFICIALLY EASTER BUNNY DUMP SEASON FOR RESCUES AND SHELTERS.

AND HE'S CURIOUS WHAT THE COUNTY COULD DO FINANCIALLY TO HELP SMALL RESCUE SHELTERS AND WITHIN THE COUNTY.

SO. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. HEARING NOTHING ELSE.

[00:25:02]

IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION? SO IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

IS THERE EXECUTIVE SESSION?

[Executive Session]

OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE? OH, GO AHEAD. NO, YOU CAN.

THE MOTION TO ADJOURN FROM THIS MEETING BY GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

AND WE WILL BE DISCUSSING PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO THE JAIL AND SPECIFICALLY AND WE WILL ADJOURN DIRECTLY FROM THE EXECUTIVE AND TAKE NO ACTION IN PUBLIC.

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

GOOD NIGHT. AND BE WELL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.