[Board of County Commissioners Agenda/Work Meeting]
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IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY ON JANUARY 12TH, 2023.
ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WAS PROVIDED AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS MEETING IS BEING DIGITALLY RECORDED AND LIVE STREAMED ON THE SOMERSET COUNTY WEBSITE AND SOMERSET COUNTY FACEBOOK PAGE.
PLEASE EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS TO.
COUNTY BOARD MEETING AT CO DOT SOMERSET, NJ US.
THE PUBLIC MAY PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING BY CALLING (908) 231-7075 OR BY COMMENTING ON THE FACEBOOK LIVE STREAM.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND STANDING FOR REELECTION.
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE.
I. THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET IS COMMITTED.
EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN PUBLIC SERVICE PROMOTING THE.
ALL RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT.
WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR MAY 23RD, 2023.
OTHER SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
THIS AGENDA AND THE ITEMS ON IT ARE FOR DISCUSSION AND WILL BE CONSIDERED AT OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13TH.
NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING UNLESS THE MEASURE AND ITS ADOPTION ARE NEEDED IN A MANNER NECESSARY TO CONTINUE COUNTY BUSINESS.
MY REPORT IS VERY, VERY BRIEF.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ON SUNDAY THE DEDICATED PATRIOTS GAME TO OUR VETERANS.
SO KUDOS TO THE PATRIOTS WHO ARE YANKEE AFFILIATES, ALONG WITH THE KHALIFAH FAMILY AND ALL OF THE PATRIOTS.
THEY WORE CAMOUFLAGE JERSEYS IN HONOR OF VETERANS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
HAD A WONDERFUL FLYOVER AND JUST A WONDERFUL TIME.
THEY REENACTED THE IWOJIMA INCIDENT AND THEN THE MARINE CORPS WERE THERE AS A SPECIAL GUEST. OUR SPECIAL GUESTS FROM THE COUNTY WERE INDEPENDENCE OF VETERANS, WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION, A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS VETERANS AND ITS FOUNDER STATION MADONNA. AND ALSO, WE INVITED OTHER VETERANS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY TO JOIN US IN THIS WEEK. SO, AGAIN, AS WE APPROACHING THE TIME TO CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY FOR THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN DEFENDING THIS COUNTRY.
TWO WEEKS AGO, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN WARREN TOWNSHIP. THEY HAD THERE WARREN TOWNSHIP CAPSTONE CHALLENGE.
WE SAW PRESENTATIONS FROM FIFTH GRADERS ON TOPICS THAT WERE RELATED TO THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
SO WE HEARD PRESENTATIONS ON GENDER EQUALITY, FOOD WASTE AND LITERACY.
SO THE KIDS ALL DID A GREAT JOB.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE UNVEILING OF THE GENERAL JOHN FRELINGHUYSEN HOUSE HISTORIC MARKER AT THE RARITAN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THIS WAS PROVIDED BY A GRANT FROM THE COUNTY.
THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE OF THIS BUILDING GOES BACK TO AT LEAST THE 1750S.
AS A SIDE NOTE, IT WAS IT WAS OWNED BY JOHN FREELAND HISER.
HE REPRESENTED SOMERSET COUNTY IN WHAT WAS THE STATE SENATE BACK THEN.
HE WAS ALSO A COUNTY SURROGATE AND FOUGHT IN THE WAR OF 1812.
I ALSO, ON MAY 13TH I ATTENDED AND SPOKE AT RVC'S GRADUATION.
SO I AGAIN WANTED TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES AT RVCC AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.
I JUST RECENTLY HEARD THAT SO FAR ENROLLMENT IS UP THIS YEAR ABOUT 3,434%.
THAT'S A LOT. AND SO I GUESS THAT MEANS THAT FUTURE GRADUATIONS ARE GOING TO BE EVEN LONGER. BUT IT'S AND SO WE HAVE A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS GOING OVER THERE.
WE HAVE A NEW ADULT PROGRAM STARTING THIS FALL FOR OLDER STUDENTS WHO WANT TO GO BACK TO WORK. AND THAT'S IN ADDITION TO A SUBSTANTIAL EXPANSION OF THE WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY SUPPORTING.
LAST WEEK, ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER PAUL DRAKE, I SPOKE AT THE COUNTY'S SECOND ANNUAL
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STIGMA FREE MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCE THAT WAS HELD AT RVCC.THERE WERE OVER 140 PEOPLE WHO REGISTERED.
A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BEING PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. ALSO LAST WEEK, THE SOMERSET, THE HEALTHIER SOMERSET COALITION MET LISA FEDERICO, WHO'S OUR DIRECTOR OF ADDICTION SERVICES, AND STEPHANIE BLITZ, WHO IS OUR MENTAL HEALTH NAVIGATOR.
THEY GAVE A NICE OVERVIEW OF HOW THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS THE COUNTY IS RECEIVING, HOW THEY'RE BEING USED.
WE ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE AT LEAST $450,000 EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT 18 YEARS TO BE USED FOR ADDICTION SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH.
THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY TAKING A SURVEY.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN CAN PARTICIPATE ON ON HOW TO BEST USE THOSE FUNDS.
YOU CAN FIND THE SURVEY ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE.
SOME THINGS WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING.
WE DID HIRE A MENTAL HEALTH NAVIGATOR.
TO HELP PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES WHO HAVE ADDICTION ISSUES, WHO ARE LOOKING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
AND WE ALSO HAVE AN OUTREACH VAN.
THE VAN OPERATES AS A MOBILE HUMAN SERVICES HUB THAT TRAVELS THROUGHOUT SOMERSET COUNTY.
THE VAN HAS FOOD, PANTRY, FREE BOOKS AND GIVEAWAYS.
IT'S SCHEDULED ON JUNE 3RD FROM 8 TO 11 A.M.
IT'S GOING TO BE AT THE HILLSBOROUGH MUNICIPAL COMPLEX.
AND ON JUNE 24TH, FROM 1 TO 5 P.M., THE FRANKLIN YOUTH CENTER.
AND LET'S SEE IF ANYONE ALSO IF ANYONE WANTS TO CONTACT OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NAVIGATOR, STEPHANIE BLITZ, YOU CAN CALL 908 2036130.
AND FINALLY, ON SATURDAY, I ATTENDED AND SPOKE AT BERNARDS TOWNSHIP CHARTER DAY OPENING CEREMONY.
A LITTLE RAIN DID NOT DAMPEN THE MOOD.
BERNARDS WAS CELEBRATING ITS 263RD ANNIVERSARY.
I NOTED THAT THE COUNTY'S CHARTER GOES BACK 335 YEARS, WHICH MEANS BOTH BERNARDS AND SOMERSET COUNTY IS OLDER THAN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH WILL CELEBRATE ITS 250TH ANNIVERSARY IN THREE YEARS.
I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE HERITAGE TOURISM, SOMETHING WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON.
SO WE HAVE A VERY RICH HISTORY HERE THAT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. SO THAT'S MY REPORT.
THANK YOU. AND YES, IT WAS A RAINY CHARTER DAY.
BUT THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE BUSINESSES, SCHOOL GROUPS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL ARTISAN AND FOOD VENDORS THAT WERE THERE IN THE RAIN.
EVERYONE WAS VERY HAPPY NONETHELESS.
GROWING UP IN THE SOMERSET HILLS, PEOPLE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVERY YEAR AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE OUT AND ABOUT, EVEN IF IT'S WITH SOME RAINCOATS ON AND UMBRELLAS.
AND I TOO ATTENDED THE CAR SHOW OVER AT THE VO-TECH SCHOOL.
IT WAS GREAT TO SEE OUR VERY OWN STUDENT FROM HILLSBORO WHO FOUND AN OLD CORVETTE AND DECIDED TO BRING IT HOME, RESTORE IT, KEEP THE EXTERIOR AS IS, AND JUST A PHENOMENAL JOB. AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE PASSIONATE STUDENTS THAT CAN TAKE ON A TRADE AND TRULY LOVE WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY.
REALLY SPEAKS TO SOME OF OUR TEACHERS AND PROGRAMS THERE.
ON JUNE 3RD, THE SOMERSET COUNTY COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN WILL BE GATHERING OVER AT THE BALLPARK AT THE PATRIOTS STADIUM.
USUALLY ALL OF US, WE HAVE A WE USE THE COUNTY SUITE TO BASICALLY MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE THAT'S A VOLUNTEER SERVES ON OUR BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A CHANCE AND OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND THANK THEM FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
IT'S A THANKLESS JOB AND IT'S NICE TO SEE EVERYONE THERE WITH THEIR FAMILIES TO REALLY GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, TOO.
AND THIS MORNING, WE HAD THE SOMERSET COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP WOMEN IN BUSINESS MEETING AT JAG.
THE PHYSICAL THERAPY LOCAL BUSINESS HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY.
I TOO, WENT TO THAT CAR SHOW AND IT WAS REALLY, REALLY FUN.
THEY HAD A GREAT TURNOUT THERE AND THE CARS WERE OF COURSE, I'M A MUSTANG PERSON, SO I WAS HAPPY TO SEE A VERY WIDE VARIETY OF MUSTANGS.
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SO GREAT JOB TO HEATHER BOYCE FROM THEIR PTO WHO PUT THAT TOGETHER.I ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO GO TO THE FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
E I HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE THAT? I'D, I'D, I'D CELEBRATION COUNCILWOMAN UDDIN FROM FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP PUT THAT TOGETHER AND SHE DID A REALLY A FANTASTIC JOB.
THEY HAD SUCH BEAUTIFUL PROGRAMING THERE.
I ALSO MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM JUST DETENTION INTERNATIONAL.
THEY ARE A GROUP THAT WE WERE SECURED A GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I BELIEVE IT WAS TO TRAIN OUR GUARDS ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE OF INMATES WITHIN PRISONS.
NOT THAT WE HAVE AN ISSUE HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY, BUT WE'RE TRAINING FOLKS FOR THAT.
GOING FORWARD PUBLIC WORKS, WE WERE VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THE STATE AWARDED US FROM OUR CASINO GRANTS FOR NEXT YEAR FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM IN EXCESS OF $1 MILLION. WE WILL BE RECEIVING $1,068,053 FOR OUR NEXT YEAR'S TRANSPORTATION TEAM.
SO A LOT OF ONLINE GAMBLING SUPPORTS, SENIOR TRANSPORTATION AND DISABLED TRANSIT.
WE ALSO HAD OUR SHRED SERVICE.
GOOD JOB TO THOSE THAT WERE WORKING THAT DAY MYSELF.
IN 1037, CARS WERE OUT THERE SHREDDING DOCUMENTS.
SO ANOTHER GREAT SERVICE THAT THE COUNTY OFFERS.
AND WE HAD OUR LGBT ADVISORY BOARD PICNIC ON MAY 11TH, WHICH WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL NIGHT.
WE THANK ALL THOSE THAT PARTICIPATED TO STAFF BOOTHS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAD SOME GREAT ENTERTAINMENT AND IT WAS JUST A REALLY VERY, VERY POSITIVE MOOD.
AND PAUL, PLEASE SEND MY THANKS TO THE FAZ TEAM THAT CAME DOWN AND HELPED US OUT AND SETTING UP AND AND TAKING THINGS AWAY.
SO PLEASE, THEY DID A GREAT JOB AND WE APPRECIATE IT.
I JUST WANT TO WELCOME LISA KRUEGER, OUR NEW LEADER THERE FOR LEADERSHIP.
SOMERSET. I HAD A CHANCE TO STOP BY ONE OF THEIR MEETINGS AND THAT THEIR MAY MEETING THE STUDENTS ARE REALLY, REALLY ENGAGED.
JUST QUICK COMMERCIAL FOR YOUTH LEADERSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE BEING TAKEN NOW FOR YOUTH LEADERSHIP. SO IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S A SENIOR, WELL, THEY WOULD BE A RISING SENIOR OR A RISING NINTH GRADER THAT CAN APPLY FOR THAT PROGRAM.
MY DAUGHTER WENT THROUGH THAT PROGRAM MANY MOONS AGO, LOVED IT.
SO IT'S A REAL GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND ADULT LEADERSHIP.
I THINK OUR APPLICATIONS ARE DUE IN THE LATE FALL, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
OKAY. SO OCTOBER 31ST, IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN THE ADULT LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, AGAIN, A FANTASTIC SERVICE THAT SOMERSET COUNTY DOES TO INVEST IN OUR PEOPLE, TO MAKE SOMERSET COUNTY AN EVEN BETTER PLACE.
SO KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR THAT.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, A EARLY MEMORIAL DAY.
AND THANK YOU TO OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED AND ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
I WANT TO ECHO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP SOMERSET PROGRAM.
I DID ATTEND THE GRADUATION OF THE STUDENTS LAST SATURDAY.
A GREAT EVENT ALL THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE FROM THE FALL THROUGH THE WINTER.
AND NOW IN THE SPRING, CLASSES WERE HELD.
STUDENTS DEDICATE BETWEEN 8 TO 8 P.M.
OR EIGHT IN THE MORNING UNTIL TWO IN THE AFTERNOON.
THEY SPEND ONE SATURDAY A MONTH AND THEY LEARN ABOUT A HOST OF ACTIVITIES, HOW GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS. THEY LEARN ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THEY LEARN. WE SPENT A DAY AT THE SOMERSET ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON SOMERSET INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE THERE.
THEY OPENED THE DOORS FOR FOR THEIR STUDENTS, FOR OUR STUDENTS.
AND IT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING, THE APPLICATIONS ARE FORTHCOMING OR DEADLINE IS JUNE, SUNDAY, JUNE 11TH.
AND I KNOW THAT IT GETS PRETTY COMPETITIVE.
BUT WE YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO RECEIVING THOSE APPLICATIONS ALONG THE LINES OF YOUTH. THERE'S ALSO A PROGRAM THIS WEEK, MAY 25TH, FROM 6 TO 8 AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM, ONE AT 27 WARREN STREET CALLED YOUTH TELL US, AND IT'S REALLY A FORUM FOR YOUTHS IN GRADES EIGHT THROUGH 12 FOR THE PURPOSE OF GAINING A PERSPECTIVE AND FEEDBACK ABOUT HOW THEY ARE FEELING AND EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH.
THERE WILL BE GIVEAWAYS AND REFRESHMENTS FOR ALL WHO ATTEND, AND THE PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE TRI COUNTY CARE MANAGEMENT AND THE SOMERSET COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES
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DEPARTMENT. AND YOU CAN REGISTER FOR THAT ONLINE.I'M GLAD TO REPORT OUT THAT THE ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS DISPLAY WILL TAKE PLACE AGAIN HELD ON TUESDAY, JULY 4TH AT THE FIREWORKS WILL BE OFF AT 9:30 P.M.
BUT THE GATES AT NORTH BRANCH PARK WILL OPEN AT 6 P.M.
TO ALLOW VEHICLES TO ENTER THE PARK AND FAMILIES TO PICNIC ON THE FAIRGROUNDS.
FIREWORKS DISPLAY WILL BEGIN AT 930.
AND ALSO EXCITING TO HEAR THAT THE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT DUKE ISLAND PARK WILL CONTINUE THIS YEAR, STARTING ON JULY 9TH.
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SUMMER, THERE'LL BE EVENTS ON SUNDAY NIGHTS FROM 630 TO 8 P.M.
AND ON JULY 9TH, 2023, IT'S VITO PICONE AND THE ELEGANCE ARE PLAYING.
SO REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING VITO PLAY.
AND THAT'S THE END OF MY REPORT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME MARIA VALLEJO, WHO'S FILLING IN FOR JOE DEMARCO.
AN EMAIL FROM KRISTEN SMITH RESIGNING FROM THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON DISABILITY ISSUES COUNTY OF MONMOUTH RESOLUTION CALLING FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COMBAT ILLICIT XYLAZINE AKA TRANQ USAGE.
THEN THE COUNTY OF MONMOUTH RESOLUTION 2020 3-0373 SUPPORTING BILL, SENATE BILL 2413 AND ASSEMBLY BILL 4115 SUPPLEMENTING THE PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITY FUNDING ACT OF 1977, FOLLOWED BY THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
NOTICE OF GUARDRAIL EXCUSE ME GUIDERAIL REPLACEMENTS ALONG ROUTE 202, ROUTE 296 AND ROUTE 287.
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOMERSET COUNTY, OUR OWN JESSICA PAOLINI.
ALL RIGHT, JESSICA. FLOOR IS YOURS.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS JESSICA PAOLINI, MANAGER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND AS I'M COMING UP ON MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH THE COUNTY, I'M EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW WE'VE BEEN PRIORITIZING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO TO SET THE TONE AGAIN, THE OFFICE OF PLANNING WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE POLICY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND WHILE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A FOCUS OF ALL 21 NEW JERSEY COUNTIES, WE'RE ONE OF THE FEW THAT PURPOSEFULLY REMOVED SILOS AND EMBEDDED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN PLANNING, WHICH, AS YOU'LL HEAR, FACILITATES STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES AROUND REPOSITIONING, STRANDED ASSETS AND MORE.
AND AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS, OUR MAIN AREAS OF FOCUS ARE RETAINING OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES, ATTRACTING NEW INVESTMENT, SUPPORTING THE TALENT PIPELINE, AND ENSURING THAT OUR ECONOMY IS RESILIENT TO DISRUPTION, MANMADE OR NATURAL.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN I ASSUMED THE ROLE WAS CREATE A BUSINESS INVENTORY.
SO WE HAVE ROUGHLY 500 COMPANIES IN THAT DATABASE AND WE HAVE DETAILS LIKE GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS, LOCATION AND LOCAL BUSINESS FUNCTION.
SO WE KNOW IF THE COMPANY HAS A WAREHOUSE OR A SALES OFFICE OR A HEADQUARTERS OPERATION WITHIN THE COUNTY.
AND THIS INVENTORY LITERALLY ALLOWS US TO DO EVERYTHING ELSE WITH IT.
WE KNOW WHAT OUR STRENGTHS ARE.
WE KNOW WHAT THE GAPS ARE IN OUR SUPPLY CHAIN.
WE CAN USE IT TO TARGET MESSAGING AND PROGRAMS, AND IT PROVIDES DATA FOR MARKETING MATERIALS. SO AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'VE UTILIZED THIS DATABASE, THE STATE LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM TO HELP MANUFACTURERS PURCHASE NEW EQUIPMENT.
SO WE READ THROUGH THE PROGRAM MATERIALS, LISTENED IN ON THE WEBINAR, AND ONCE WE UNDERSTOOD THE CRITERIA FOR THE PROGRAM, WE IDENTIFIED 60 COMPANIES FROM THIS DATABASE AND WE SENT INDIVIDUAL EMAILS TO ALL 60 COMPANIES LETTING THEM KNOW ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO APPLY.
SO THE EDA IS STILL REVIEWING APPLICATIONS AND ANNOUNCING AWARDEES, BUT WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE THAT SKYCAM IN HILLSBOROUGH.
ONE OF THE CEOS THAT WE COMMUNICATED WITH ABOUT THE PROGRAM WAS JUST AWARDED A $60,000 GRANT TO PURCHASE NEW EQUIPMENT.
SO THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR US TO SEND THESE TARGETED COMMUNICATIONS UTILIZING THE DATABASE THAT WE CREATED.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT OUR LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES HAVE A LOT OF TOUCH POINTS WITH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITIES, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION ON ABOUT THE NEW PROGRAMS THAT ARE ROLLING OUT.
SO IN FEBRUARY, WE ORGANIZED A WEBINAR.
IT WAS JUST FOR SOMERSET COUNTY MUNICIPAL LEADERS WITH THE STATE EDA'S NEW BUSINESS
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DEVELOPMENT TEAM.THEY SHARED WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES ALL OF THE NEW PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR MAIN STREET AND SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND OUR MUNICIPALITIES WERE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS DIRECTLY OF THE EDA TEAM.
AND THEN WE FOLLOWED THAT UP BY INVITING OUR MUNICIPAL LEADERS AND OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESOURCES FOR GROWTH, WHICH WAS AN EVENT WE ORGANIZED IN MARCH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE BUSINESS ACTION CENTER.
WE HAD 29 RESOURCE PROVIDERS, SO ESSENTIALLY OUR BUSINESSES COULD COME, THEY COULD WALK THE FLOOR, THEY COULD MEET WITH LENDERS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDERS, ALL IN ONE ROOM.
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN HELD FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS NOW, BUT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT IT'S EVER BEEN HELD IN SOMERSET COUNTY, AND WE HAD THE MOST RESOURCE PROVIDERS THAT THEY'VE EVER HAD FOR THIS EVENT. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER DRAKE, FOR SPEAKING AT IT.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE DOING, BEING REALLY PROACTIVE IN REACHING OUT TO OUR BUSINESSES IS WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE STAR REAL ESTATE DATABASE.
SO WE'RE PULLING INFORMATION FROM THAT DATABASE ABOUT UPCOMING LEASE EXPIRATIONS.
WE'RE SHARING THAT INFORMATION WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES.
AND THEN TOGETHER WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES, WE'RE REACHING OUT TO OUR BUSINESSES TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AHEAD OF TIME BEFORE THEY'RE MAKING A DECISION ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO STAY IN SOMERSET COUNTY ON THE BUSINESS ATTRACTION SIDE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES, SHARING THE TRENDS THAT WE'RE SEEING ABOUT WHAT BUSINESSES ARE LOOKING FOR.
AND WE'RE SEEING THE MOST DEMAND FROM LIFE SCIENCES AND MANUFACTURING COMPANIES.
SO WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE REAL ESTATE SPACE AND THE TALENT PIPELINE SO THAT WE CAN ATTRACT THE BUSINESSES THAT WE WANT TO TARGET.
SO I KNOW THAT MAYOR JACOBS WAS HERE RECENTLY, AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE REZONING OF THE AT&T CAMPUS TO ATTRACT HIGH TECH AND CELL GENE THERAPY MANUFACTURING.
THE OTHER THING WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF BUSINESS ATTRACTION IS WE'RE ATTENDING INDUSTRY CONFERENCES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO EVENTS LIKE THE SITE SELECTORS GUILD, ANNUAL CONFERENCE, SELECT USA, BIO INTERNATIONAL.
SO AS ONE EXAMPLE, I WAS AT SELECT USA A FEW WEEKS AGO.
WHILE I WAS THERE, I HAD LUNCH AND MET AN INDIAN TECH COMPANY.
CFO TOLD HIM ABOUT SOMERSET COUNTY AND INVITED HIM TO COME VISIT THE COUNTY, AND HE TOOK ME UP ON THAT OFFER.
WE HAD THREE DAYS TO PLAN, BUT WE PUT TOGETHER A HALF DAY OF MEETINGS AND TOURS FOR HIM. HE WAS HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND MET WITH COLLEEN AND A NUMBER OF OTHER PARTNERS, AND RIGHT NOW HE'S IN PROCESS OF INCORPORATING HIS BUSINESS IN THE US AND WE EXPECT HIM TO MAKE A DECISION SOON ABOUT POTENTIALLY LEASING OFFICE SPACE HERE IN SUMMERVILLE. SO STAY TUNED FOR THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.
SO I HAVE BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING.
SO IT'S ROUGHLY 70 COMPANIES, AND THESE AREN'T ALL THE COMPANIES THAT WE'VE TOUCHED.
THESE ARE COMPANIES THAT WERE PROVIDING DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO.
SO I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF DEMAND FROM LIFE SCIENCES AND MANUFACTURING. YOU CAN SEE THAT THOSE INDUSTRIES MAKE UP A LITTLE OVER HALF OF ALL OF THE COMPANIES THAT WERE DIRECTLY ENGAGED WITH YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, AND MANY OF THE COMPANIES THAT WERE DIRECTLY ASSISTING ARE ASKING FOR HELP WITH SITE SELECTION. SO THEY WANT HELP IDENTIFYING WHAT COMMUNITIES ARE OPEN TO THE TYPE OF BUSINESS THEY'RE LOOKING TO BRING HERE, WHAT REAL ESTATE IS AVAILABLE.
YOU ALSO SEE A LOT OF ASSISTANCE IN THE OTHER CATEGORY, AND THAT ENCOMPASSES A BROAD RANGE OF ASSISTANCE AND SOME REALLY SPECIFIC FORMS OF SERVICE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, LAST WEEK I WORKED WITH AN ENTREPRENEUR TO CONNECT HER WITH A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN SO THAT SHE CAN SCALE PRODUCTION OF HER FOOD PRODUCT.
ONE OF THE THINGS I PITCHED TO WALTER WHEN I INTERVIEWED FOR THE POSITION WAS THE STRENGTH OF MY RELATIONSHIPS.
I HAVE REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH STATE AGENCIES AND OTHER PARTNERS, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT HAS BEEN PAYING OFF.
MOST OF THE LEADS THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING FOR PROJECTS HAVE COME FROM OUR STATE PARTNERS AND TOGETHER WITH THE DIRECT OUTREACH THAT OUR STAFF HAS DONE, THAT MAKES UP ABOUT HALF OF ALL THE LEADS THAT WE'VE GENERATED FOR OUR OFFICE.
SO I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S THE NUMBER ONE CRITERIA BY FAR THAT ANY BUSINESS CONSIDERS WHEN THEY'RE MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION.
SO IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TALK ABOUT OUR TALENT AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT
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OF OUR TALENT PIPELINE.SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE, WE HAVE NEW PAGES ON OUR WEBSITE TALKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ON THOSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PAGES, WE HAVE VERY SPECIFIC DATA SETS ABOUT THE TALENT THAT'S IN THE COUNTY.
WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY ROLES THAT ARE GROWING WITHIN OUR TARGET SECTORS, PARTNERED WITH DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO PULL DATA SETS FROM LIGHTCAST.
AND WE'RE GETTING INFORMATION THAT INFORMATION OUT TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO WORKING TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN KEEP TALKING ABOUT OUR WORKFORCE BY SUPPORTING OUR TALENT PIPELINE.
SO WE'VE BEEN IN A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS WITH RVC, WITH OUR STATE PARTNERS, SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE GROWTH WE'RE SEEING IN CELL AND GENE THERAPY.
MANUFACTURING PARTICIPATED IN A ROUNDTABLE LAST FALL WITH ABOUT A DOZEN INDUSTRY PARTNERS, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS CONNECTING POTENTIAL NEW PARTNERS, THE LATEST, THE ALLIANCE FOR REGENERATIVE MEDICINE TO RVC SO THAT THEY CAN SUPPORT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING TO TRAIN TECHNICIANS IN CLEAN ROOM MANUFACTURING ROLES.
UM, SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING IS KEEPING TRACK OF TRENDS THAT HAVE POTENTIAL TO DISRUPT OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
SO WE SAW THE IMPORTANCE OF ESG REGULATIONS AND PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY FOR COMPANIES THAT ARE BASED IN EUROPE BUT MAY HAVE OPERATIONS HERE IN THE US.
I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY COUNTIES IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY TO ORGANIZE A DIALOG AROUND ESG FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND COMMISSIONER SINGLETERRY, THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN THAT EVENT.
WE HELD IT IN MARCH AND WE WERE REALLY PURPOSEFUL ABOUT BRINGING TOGETHER A SELECT GROUP OF SPEAKERS AND ATTENDEES TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR BUSINESSES WERE SPEAKING TO THEIR PEERS AND THAT WE HAD OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS COMING OUT OF THAT EVENT. THIS EVENT HAS OPENED A LOT OF DOORS FOR US THAT WERE NOT OPEN BEFORE.
CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE HAVING WITH COMPANIES THAT WE WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE.
AND WE'RE EXPECTING TO BE ABLE TO LAUNCH SOME NEW PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES COMING OUT OF THIS. SO I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING UPDATES WITH YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
AND BASED ON THE SUCCESS OF THIS EVENT, WE'RE WORKING WITH COLLEAGUES IN OUR OFFICE TO STRUCTURE, MODEL AND INFLUENCING AGRICULTURE EVENT THAT WILL PULL IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AROUND FARMING TOPICS.
SO LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION, YOU KNOW, ON THE DAY TO DAY WORK THAT WE ARE ENGAGING WITH A NUMBER OF PARTNERS, WE'RE HAVING A COUPLE OF MEETINGS EACH MONTH WITH KEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE SUPPORTING OUR WORK.
SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT SOME OF THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE AND SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT WE'VE SPOKEN TO AND SHARED THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
GREAT JOB. GREAT PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, WALTER, TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO ANOTHER ESG CONFERENCE NEXT YEAR? HE STARTED TO ASK ABOUT THIS.
I THREATEN HER FOR MAKING IT AN ANNUAL EVENT.
BUT YES, WE AS I MENTIONED, A LOT OF DOORS HAVE OPENED BECAUSE OF THAT EVENT.
WHEN WE SENT INVITATIONS OUT TO COMPANIES, WE ENDED UP WITH ROUGHLY 25 COMPANIES THAT ATTENDED 60 ATTENDEES.
WE HAD 11 COMPANIES THAT COULDN'T ATTEND FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER, BUT HAVE EMAILED US AND SAID, I WANT TO COME TO THE NEXT ONE.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THE EVENT WHO HAVE REACHED OUT, WHO WERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND SAID, I WANT TO SPEAK AT THE NEXT EVENT.
SO WE WE ALREADY HAVE THIS SORT OF MASS OF PEOPLE ASKING FOR ANOTHER EVENT.
SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MAY LOOK TO CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE.
AND THEN ONE FINAL QUESTION WITH REGARDS TO THE GRANT AND THE ASSISTANCE, AND I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, DID YOU TALK ABOUT HOW MANY COMPANIES DID APPLY? YEAH. DID WE PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR DID THE EDA PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE? SO THE GRANT IT'S THE MANUFACTURING VOUCHER PROGRAM.
IT'S A PROGRAM THROUGH THE NEW JERSEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
SO WE DID DIRECT OUTREACH TO COMPANIES LETTING THEM KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM BECAUSE A LOT OF THE MARKETING IS SORT OF MASS MARKETING, RIGHT? YOU PUT IT OUT IN A NEWSLETTER, YOU POST IT ON YOUR WEBSITE, AND YOU KIND OF HOPE AND PRAY THAT THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE SEEING IT.
SO WE DID THE DIRECT OUTREACH, LETTING THE COMPANIES KNOW WE'RE PRETTY SURE YOU'RE QUALIFIED FOR THIS PROGRAM IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT AND YOU
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HAVEN'T ALREADY MADE THE PURCHASE, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER APPLYING.SO WE HEARD FROM EDA THAT 11 COMPANIES FROM THE COUNTY APPLIED.
THEY'RE STILL REVIEWING APPLICATIONS.
THE PROGRAM WAS OVERSUBSCRIBED.
SO EDA ACTUALLY WENT BACK TO THEIR BOARD, GOT AN ADDITIONAL $15 MILLION IN FUNDING, AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO ROLL OUT A SECOND PHASE OF APPLICATIONS THIS FALL.
SO I RIGHT NOW, I THINK THEY'RE MAYBE HALFWAY THROUGH AND REVIEWING THE APPLICATIONS AND ANNOUNCING AWARDEES.
SO THERE ARE FOUR COMPANIES FROM SOMERSET COUNTY THAT HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED FUNDING.
AND WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT ONE OF THEM IS ONE THAT OUR OFFICE DIRECTLY COMMUNICATED WITH ABOUT THE PROGRAM.
AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING THERE WILL BE A FEW MORE OF THE COMPANIES THAT WE DIRECTLY REACHED OUT TO BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY WERE APPROVED TO GO THROUGH THE SECOND PHASE OF APPLICATION.
SO YOU MENTIONED INDUSTRIAL AND SOMERSET COUNTY.
WE'VE HAD QUITE A FEW PEOPLE ASKING HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY? 18 WHEELERS.
HAVE WE SEEN WHERE WE ARE IN THE CYCLE? BECAUSE TYPICALLY WITH DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, INDUSTRY CLUSTERS WITHIN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE IN PARTICULAR, IT'S 7 TO 10 YEARS.
HOW DID THE PANDEMIC IMPACT THIS AND WHERE ARE WE? YEAH, SO WE'VE SEEN AN EXPLOSION OF DEMAND FOR WAREHOUSING, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT HAS LED TO A LOT OF FEEDBACK ABOUT TRUCK TRAFFIC IN PARTICULAR.
ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING AS WE'RE STARTING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A PULLBACK IN DEMAND FOR WAREHOUSING, ESPECIALLY AS COMPANIES LIKE AMAZON ARE.
PULLING BACK FROM SOME OF THEIR INVESTMENTS.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF THE DEVELOPERS AND BROKERS THAT HAVE THESE LARGE WAREHOUSE PROPERTIES ABOUT.
WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN CONVERTING THIS SPACE FOR MANUFACTURING? BECAUSE IT'S IT'S KIND OF AN OPEN BOX, RIGHT? YOU CAN EASILY FIT IT OUT IF A COMPANY IS WILLING TO COME IN, BECAUSE THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A LOT OF OUR FAMILY OWNED MANUFACTURING FIRMS, THEY HAVE A LOT OF ORDERS AND THEY COULD EXPAND, BUT THEY CAN'T FIND THE SPACE.
AND AS SOON AS THEY FIND INDUSTRIAL SPACE, THEY'RE GETTING OUTBID BY WAREHOUSES.
SO WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH A FEW, ESPECIALLY IN HILLSBORO AREA, THAT ARE WILLING TO TAKE EXISTING WAREHOUSING SPACE AND CONVERT IT FOR MANUFACTURING WITH THE RIGHT TENANT. SO THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING TO TRY AND ALLEVIATE. IT WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE TRAFFIC THERE.
HIGHER PAYING JOBS FOR THE WORKFORCE THAT WE HAVE.
AND BECAUSE WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A BIT OF THAT PULLBACK IN WAREHOUSING DEMAND, IT'S IMPORTANT TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN REPOSITION ALL THE WAREHOUSES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN BUILT. AND DO WE HAVE ANY EV TRUCKING COMPANIES THAT ARE IN THE MIX FOR CONVERSATIONS AS THEY COME TO SOMERSET COUNTY? NOT THAT I HAVE.
BUT I CAN GO THROUGH OUR INVENTORY AND HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON COMPANIES THAT ARE HERE DOING THAT WORK IN THE COUNTY.
IT COMES UP IN CONVERSATION QUITE A BIT WITH THE NTPA.
THAT'S WHY I ASK. YEAH, NO PROBLEM.
MINE IS MORE A COMMENT THAN A THAN A QUESTION.
IT'S JUST I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I PERSONALLY AND I THINK BY THE NODDING HEADS ON THIS DAIS, WHAT THIS BOARD WAS LOOKING FOR IN YOUR POSITION.
SO CONGRATULATIONS AND KUDOS TO YOU FOR FULFILLING WHAT WAS WHAT WE HOPED FOR.
OH, GREAT. THANKS, OF COURSE, TO WALTER'S LEADERSHIP ON THE TEAM, TOO.
OH, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.
AND COLLEEN, TOO. ANYTIME I BRING A CRAZY NEW IDEA TO HER, SHE'S VERY SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
WELL, AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO THAT BECAUSE THE COMMISSIONERS ARE REALLY THE ONES THAT SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF BRINGING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BACK INTO THE COUNTY AFTER IT HAD BEEN, YOU KNOW, OUTSOURCED TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.
AND IN A YEAR YOU HAVE DONE SUCH A FANTASTIC JOB AND YOUR FINGERPRINTS ARE EVERYWHERE AND YOU ARE POSITIONING US IN SUCH A PERFECT PLACE BECAUSE THE ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THIS COUNTY IS PARAMOUNT TO ALL OF US UP HERE.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST HOW THE COUNTY GOES, IS HOW THE RESIDENTS GOES, HOW OUR PARKS GOES, HOW OUR LOCAL ECONOMY GOES.
SO WE ARE REALLY, I THINK, KEEPING OUR FINGER ON THE PULSE DIRECTLY BECAUSE OF THE WORK YOU'RE DOING. SO THANK YOU AND KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I FOLLOW THAT.
I HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS TONIGHT FOR THE SAME PROPERTY, AND I JUST THOUGHT I'D GIVE A
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LITTLE BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THEM.WE HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS TO AWARD GRANT FUNDING TO THE STOUTSBURG SAUERLAND, AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM AND THE SOURLAND CONSERVANCY FOR MATCHING FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE TRUE FARMSTEAD, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST GRANT THAT THE COUNTY IS GRANTING AND THAT THE COMMISSIONERS ARE AUTHORIZING TO A NONPROFIT OR TWO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LAND THROUGH OUR SPECIAL PROJECTS ACQUISITION GRANT PROGRAM.
SO THIS IS A RESULT OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE MADE IN THE PRESERVATION PLAN.
WE THINK THIS PROPERTY WAS A GREAT FIRST PROJECT WHERE IT BRINGS TOGETHER HISTORY, OPEN SPACE AND AGRICULTURE ALL IN THE SAME PROPERTY.
AGAIN, GOALS OF THE OVERALL PRESERVATION PLAN, LOOKING TO SHOW THE OVERLAP AND THE COORDINATION AMONG THE THREE PROGRAMS. AND JUST ANOTHER LITTLE WORD IS WE WILL BE PRESENTING THIS PROJECT AT THE NEW JERSEY PLANNING CONFERENCE.
WALTER AND I WILL BE ON A PANEL WITH JAY WATSON FROM NJKF, DANITA JOHNSON FROM SAM AND LAURIE CLEVELAND FROM THE SOURLAND CONSERVANCY.
SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THAT TO REALLY GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT WHAT OUR PRESERVATION PLAN IS DOING AND THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR.
SO PRESENT RESOLUTION 23 110 AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE ACQUISITION OF OPEN SPACE PROPERTY BY THE BY THE STOUTSBURG SOURLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM FOR THE TRUE FARMSTEAD IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $125,000.
RESOLUTION 23 1101 AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE ACQUISITION OF OPEN SPACE PROPERTY BY THE SOURLAND CONSERVANCY FOR THE TRUE FARMSTEAD IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP.
TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $125,000.
AND AS I STATED, BOTH GRANTS ARE GOING TO THE SAME PROPERTY.
WE JUST FELT IT BEST TO KEEP IT BETWEEN THE TWO TWO ORGANIZATIONS WHO CO-OWN THE PROPERTY. AND THIS IS ALSO HOW THEY ARE RECEIVING GREEN ACRES FUNDING, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THEIR MATCH FOR THIS PROJECT.
THANK YOU. 23 1102 IS FOR THE ONE STOP CAREER CENTER AUTHORIZES A NO COST EXTENSION OF GRANT FUNDED CONTRACT WITH MIDDLE EARTH, A BRIDGEWATER FOR WIOA YOUTH OUTREACH FOR $80,000.
AND WE OWE A WORK BASED LEARNING 114 401 FOR THE CONTRACT PERIOD 7123 TO 9 3023 TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $194,401.
23 1103 AUTHORIZING THE SOMERSET COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT FUNDING FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR THE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ACT GRANT UP TO $375,000 FOR THE GRANT PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2023 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2024.
THIS IS A GRANT THAT THE COUNTY RECEIVES ANNUALLY, AND IT ALLOWS US TO ADMINISTER ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL IN THE AREAS OF AIR, WATER, NOISE AND SOLID WASTE.
AND ACCEPTING THESE FUNDS, THE COUNTY WOULD AGREE TO A MATCH OF UP TO 50% OF THE TOTAL PROJECT AMOUNT. 23.
1104 IS AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN A SOMERSET COUNTY AND DELAWARE TOWNSHIP FOR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL FOR CDL TRAINING.
23 1105 IS AUTHORIZING THE AWARD OF A CONTRACT JC 0014 DASH 22 TO ATLANTIC TACTICAL FOR AN OPEN ENDED COOPERATIVE CONTRACT FOR AMMUNITION AND RELATED POLICE SUPPLIES.
IT'S THE SECOND YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT.
THE NEXT THREE ARE FOR THE PARK COMMISSION OUT OF THE CAPITAL.
23 1106 IS A AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT TO URBAN HENRY EQUIPMENT FOR THREE PRONE DUMP TRAILERS. CONTRACT 9064 23 TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $52,263.
23 1107 IS THE PURCHASE OF ONE 2023 FORD F 250 OFF OF THE NEW JERSEY STATE CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED $62,824 AND 2311 ZERO EIGHT IS AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF ONE CATERPILLAR LOADER AND ONE CATERPILLAR MINI HYDRAULIC EXCAVATOR OFF OF THE NJ COOPERATIVE.
[00:40:03]
TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $269,103.12.AND 23 1109 IS AWARDING THE SECOND YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT CC DASH 0004 DASH 22, WHICH IS THE UNIFORMS FOR ALL OF THE COUNTY DIVISIONS AND THE PARK COMMISSION.
2311 TEN FOR THE OFFICE OF YOUTH SERVICES AUTHORIZES AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO MIDDLE EARTH. TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $325,550 FOR SERVICES FROM JANUARY 1ST, 23 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.
AND 23 1111 ALSO FOR YOUTH SERVICES, A SEPARATE CONTRACT IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $45,747.
ALSO TO MIDDLE EARTH FOR SERVICES EFFECTIVE JUNE 1ST, 23 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.
1112 IS AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT TO T.R.
WINEGAR FOR THE IRRIGATION IMPROVEMENTS AT THE WARRENSBURG GOLF COURSE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $2,021,183.50.
WE HAD THREE BIDDERS ON THIS PROJECT AND THE THE LOW BID WAS 42% BELOW ESTIMATE.
1113 IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO ASSOCIATED TECHNOLOGY, INC.
FOR THE SOMERSET COUNTY 911 CENTRAL 911 CENTER HVAC EVALUATION NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF 32,000.
NEXT IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO JOHNSON, MERRIMAN AND THOMPSON FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION AND RESIDENT ENGINEER SERVICES FOR BRIDGES CO 701, WHICH IS SOUTH BRANCH ROAD, M10 19 SOMERSET STREET, AND THE PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY AT COAL DRIVE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF 466 $467,500 1115 IS AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT TO SSP ARCHITECTS FOR THE HILLSBOROUGH SENIOR CENTER GREENHOUSE RECONSTRUCTION NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $14,000.
AND LAST IS A CONSULTANT AGREEMENT.
MODIFICATION NUMBER ONE TWO SHRUNK ALBERT ENGINEERING FOR THE SOMERSET COUNTY BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEM. UPGRADES NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $19,300.
NEW CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $55,500.
23 1117 IS AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT TO MULTIPLE VENDORS.
THIS IS FOR REFUSE DISPOSAL AND IT'S ALSO FOR THE PARK COMMISSION.
IT'S THE FIRST YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $40,859.
23 DASH 1118 IS AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT TO AM IN FAIRFIELD AND THIS IS FOR THE PURCHASE AND REPLACEMENT OF A VALVE AND ACTUATOR AT 40 NORTH BRIDGE STREET.
THIS IS FOR THE COOLING TOWER AND THE TOTAL IS NOT TO EXCEED $21,185.15.
23 1119 IS AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT TO M4 PUBLIC SECTOR.
THIS IS FOR OUR COST ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE THAT WE USE IN MULTIPLE DIVISIONS AND PUBLIC WORKS FOR MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT.
FIFTH YEAR OF A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $42,709.43.
23 1120 IS AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT TO WASTE EQUIP MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
THIS IS FOR THE DUMPSTERS THAT WE USE AT OUR RECYCLING DIVISION.
IT'S THE SECOND YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED 50,000.
23 1121 IS RESCINDING AWARD OF CONTRACT TO PLASTICS EXPRESS IN UNION.
THIS WAS FOR GLOVES THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE IN THE UNIFORM CONTRACT TO OUR RECYCLING DIVISION.
23 1122 IS A RESCINDING THE AWARD OF CONTRACT TO MOTT MACDONALD AND THIS IS FOR RECYCLING CONSULTING SERVICES.
THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES ANYMORE AS THE PERSON WHO DID IT RETIRED.
23 1123 IS AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT.
THIS IS FOR OUR UNDERGROUND ELECTRICAL WORK, FOR OUR TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
23 1124 IS AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT TO HOOVER TRUCK CENTERS.
AND THIS IS FOR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, MANUFACTURED BUS PARTS.
AND IT'S A SECOND YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $1,000.
23 DASH 1125 IS AUTHORIZING AWARD OF CONTRACT TO MULTIPLE VENDORS.
AND THIS IS FOR RECAPPING TIRES AND SOLID TIRE REPLACEMENT FOR VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT.
IT'S THE FIRST YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $20,000.
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23. EXCUSE ME.23 1126 AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS FOR HUMAN SERVICE. HUMAN RESOURCES FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CENTERS NOT TO EXCEED 16,000, PRIMARILY FOR PRE-EMPLOYMENT PHYSICALS FOR EMPLOYEES, DRUG AND ALCOHOL SCREENINGS, AND FIT FOR DUTY EXAMS. GOOD EVENING. RESOLUTION 23 1127 IS AUTHORIZING TO PAY A CONFIRMING ORDER TO RICOH, USA FOR A COPIER.
THE INVOICE IS NOT TO EXCEED THREE $306.
AND I ALSO, SINCE I HAVE A CHANCE, WANT TO THANK JESSICA FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT SHE DOES IN MAKING THE OFFICE SHINE.
AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO EVEN MORE WITH THE ADDITION OF BEN TO OUR TEAM THAT WE'RE GOING TO REALLY BE ABLE TO DO EVEN MORE GREAT STUFF.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK BOTH OF THEM FOR THEIR WORK.
THANKS, PAUL. UH, 23 1120 IS THE PAYMENT OF CLAIMS AND RATIFYING OF THE SAME.
ALL RIGHT. 23 1129 APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO COMCAST.
AND 23 1130 FOR THE RICHARD HALL COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER APPROVAL TO PAY A CONFIRMING ORDER FOR APPROVED STORAGE AND WASTE HAULING MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK FOR MEDICAL WASTE PICKUP TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $19.
23 1131 ALSO FOR RICHARD HALL AUTHORIZES US TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT AND PAYMENT TO HUGHES, PLUMER AND ASSOCIATES OF SOMERVILLE, NEW JERSEY, FOR THE PURCHASE OF PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR RICHARD HALL, COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER STAFF.
TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $34,124 FOR THE PERIOD JUNE 1ST, 23 TO JUNE 1ST, 2024.
FROM THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, THIS IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDERS TO INDEMNIFY IDENTITY AND SECURITY FOR MAINTENANCE OF OUR LIVE SCAN FINGERPRINTING COMPUTER NOT TO EXCEED $3,390.57.
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE RESOLUTION 23 1133 APPROVAL TO PAY A CONFIRMING ORDER TO INDEMNIFY FOR MAINTENANCE OF OUR OFFICE FINGERPRINTING COMPUTER TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $11,977. 23 1134 APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO GOLD TYPE BUSINESS MACHINES FOR THE INFO SERVER AND LICENSE RENEWAL TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $11,100.
THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT'S USED PRIMARILY BY POLICE PATROLS AND DISPATCHERS TO INTERFACE WITH DMVS OF ALL 50 STATES, RECEIVE REAL TIME INFORMATION BACK AS WELL AS WARRANT INFORMATION. 23 1135 AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO CARE FOR NURSING AND CLERICAL SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE TB CLINIC NOT TO EXCEED $46,670.
THESE ARE SERVICES THAT ARE REQUIRED BY LAW FOR THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR TUBERCULOSIS SCREENING AND MEDIATION.
WE DO RECEIVE A GRANT FOR THIS, BUT THE GRANT FUNDS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO COVER EVERYTHING THAT'S NEEDED AND WE CONTRACT OUT TO IDD CARE BECAUSE IT WOULD COST US A LOT MORE TO DO IT OURSELVES.
1136 AMENDING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS TO 22ND SECRETARY TECHNOLOGIES FOR NURSING SERVICES PROVIDED TO COVID 19 VACCINATION CLINICS NOT TO EXCEED 7000 -$7,799.08.
WHAT HAPPENED HERE WAS WE CREATED A BLANKET PURCHASE ORDER TO PAY THIS VENDOR FOR THIS IS COVID 19 GRANT FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVED.
THAT BLANKET WAS CREATED IN MARCH.
AND THIS WAS TO COVER A PERIOD OF JANUARY THROUGH JUNE OF THIS YEAR.
SO WE NEEDED TO REMOVE JANUARY AND FEBRUARY AND PROVIDE THAT IN A SEPARATE CONFIRMING ORDER, WHICH IS THE NEXT RESOLUTION 23 1137 FOR THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WE REMOVED $7,799.08.
23 1138 IS AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS TO HAIG SERVICE AND MILLENNIUM MECHANICAL.
THIS IS FOR ADDITIONAL HVAC TYPE WORK.
23 1139 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDERS TO BRIDGEWATER RESOURCES FOR GARBAGE DISPOSAL. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $3,299.55.
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23 1140 IS AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS TO AVID EXCHANGE, WHICH IS OUR BILL TRACKING AND PAYMENT SYSTEM, AND ALSO IRON MOUNTAIN, WHICH IS OUR SHREDDING SERVICE.AND THAT TOTAL IS NOT TO EXCEED 20,000.
23 1141 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDERS TO DB AUTO SUPPLY FOR DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID.
23 1142 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDERS TO OUR COMMODITY VENDORS BAY SHORE AND COLGATE TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $105,501 $571.
23 1143 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDERS TO FOCUS ON TRAINING.
THIS IS FOR A PESTICIDE TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $850.
23 1114 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDERS TO RICOH AMERICAS.
IT'S FOR COPIER LEASE TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $275.46.
45. IS AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS TO NATIONAL FUEL OIL FOR GASOLINE AND DIESEL.
23 1146 IS AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED PARTS AND REPAIR VENDORS TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED 129,000.
23 1147 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDERS TO MULTIPLE PARTS AND REPAIR VENDORS TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $48,765.47.
THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADD THE ABOVE RESOLUTIONS 20 3-1100 THROUGH 20 3-1147 TO THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR JUNE 13TH.
WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS THAT ARE NEEDED TO BE ADDED FOR ADOPTION FOR OUR REGULAR MEETING, WHICH IS IMMEDIATE FOLLOWING THIS ONE.
A FIRST RESOLUTION, RESOLUTION 23 1044.
ITS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDERS FOR LANGUAGE LINES NOT TO EXCEED $1,882.58.
A RESOLUTION 23 1045 IS AUTHORIZED IN THE CULTURE AND HERITAGE COMMISSION TO APPLY AND ACCEPT FUNDING IF AWARDED FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF STATE, THE DIVISION OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM, THE COOPERATIVE MARKETING GRANT NOT TO EXCEED $15,000 WITH THE REQUIRED MATCH OF 25% UP TO $33,750 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.
THIS WOULD BE THE FOURTH YEAR IF WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN RECEIVING IT.
WE'VE USED THIS FUND FOR THE JOURNEY THROUGH THE PAST FOR MARKETING THAT EVENT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
A 23 1046 IS AUTHORIZING THE SETTLEMENT OF A TAX SALE CERTIFICATE.
BLOCK 169 LOT 13IN THE TOWNSHIP OF HILLSBOROUGH NOT TO EXCEED $5,600.
THIS WAS A RECORDING ERROR, AND WE'RE FIXING THE ERROR ON THE COUNTY'S PART.
DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS ONE, TOO? 23 1047 IS AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE FROM COMPUTER SQUARE OFF OF THE NEW JERSEY STATE CONTRACT FOR THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FOR COURT ORDERS NOT TO EXCEED $70,000.
23 1048 AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET AND THE COUNTY OF MORRIS FOR A 50 YEAR LEASE OF PORTIONS OF A MORRIS COUNTY FACILITY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT.
THIS IS A LEASE FOR $1, AN AGREEMENT THAT THE TWO COUNTIES HAVE MADE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE RADIO AND DISPATCH COVERAGE TO THE NORTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTY, WHICH IS VERY MOUNTAINOUS AND CAUSES A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN PROVIDING THAT COVERAGE.
THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF STUDIES INTO PROVIDING THAT COVERAGE WITH OUR OWN FACILITIES AND BUILDING NEW FACILITIES WITHIN OUR OWN COUNTY.
AGAIN, THE RAIN, THE TERRAIN CAUSES A LOT OF PROBLEMS THERE.
THERE'S ALSO SOME ORDNANCE PROBLEMS THAT PREVENT US FROM BUILDING WHERE WE'D LIKE TO.
THERE'S A MOUNTAIN RANGE THAT RUNS NORTH TO SOUTH THAT PREVENTS COVERAGE EAST TO WEST WOULD REQUIRE US TO DO DOUBLE THE WORK AND PUT UP TWICE THE SITES.
SO THIS THIS COVERS A VERY BIG PORTION OF WHERE WE'RE LACKING RIGHT NOW.
AND THIS IS A RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT WHERE WE HAVE A FUTURE TOWER PLANNED IN THE PILL HILL SITE THAT HASN'T BEGUN CONSTRUCTION YET.
BUT WHEN THAT'S UP, MORRIS COUNTY WILL BE LOOKING TO HAVE A SIMILAR AGREEMENT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE ADDING SOME OF THEIR EQUIPMENT TO HELP ADD SOME REDUNDANCY TO THEIR AREAS AS WELL.
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1123 1049 WHICH IS AUTHORIZING WORD OF CONTRACT TO SHI INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF FULL ACCESS NET MOTION PLATFORM LICENSES UTILIZING THE BERGEN COUNTY COOPERATIVE PURCHASE ALLIANCE.THIS IS UTILIZING GRANT FUNDS TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE 911 CENTER.
THIS WILL ALLOW A VPN FOR THE FIELD UNITS TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE BACK WITH OUR COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH IN THE 911 CENTER.
23 1050 AUTHORIZING AUTHORIZATION TO AMEND RESOLUTION 2022.
1002, ADOPTED ON MAY 31ST, 2022, TO CORRECT THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT FUNDING FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR THE SIHA GRANT.
JULY. JULY 1ST, 2022 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2023.
THE PORTIONS OF THIS RESOLUTION THAT ARE BEING CORRECTED IS THE MATCH PERCENTAGE AND THE VERBIAGE AS TO WHAT WOULD BE MATCHED.
UH, 23 1051 IS AMENDING A CLERICAL ERROR ON RESOLUTION 23, 923 AND 23 1052 IS ALSO AMENDING CLERICAL ERROR ON RESOLUTION 23 921.
THANK YOU. THERE'S A MOTION TO ADD RESOLUTION 20 3-1044 THROUGH 20 3-1052 TO THE AGENDA FOR OUR REGULAR SESSION IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS MEETING.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER DRAKE? YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO? YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.
YES. THIS IS THE PUBLIC PORTION OF OUR MEETING WHERE ANYONE WISHING TO COME UP SPEAK FIVE MINUTES. NO YIELD. ENOUGH TIME? NO COMING UP A SECOND TIME ON ANY TOPIC THAT THEY WISH.
WE ALSO WILL ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMAIL.
IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN TO PUBLIC? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ALL RIGHT. ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK COME FORWARD.
BEING FROM SOCIAL MEDIA? NO, BUT I THINK THE MAYOR IN THE BACK HAD JUST RAISED HIS HANDS.
BUT THERE'S NOBODY ON FACEBOOK OR SOCIAL MEDIA.
MAYOR DUNKER. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
MAYOR RICHARD ON DERECHO 325 NORTH MAIN STREET FROM THE BOROUGH OF MANVILLE.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A CONCEPT THAT'S IN OUR SOCIETIES THESE DAYS. IT'S CALLED EQUITY, RIGHT? EVERYBODY WANTS FAIRNESS.
WELL, I WANT COUNTY TAX EQUITY FOR MANVILLE.
AND I DID SOME HOMEWORK FROM THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE.
FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, MANVILLE HAS GOTTEN A SIGNIFICANT COUNTY TAX INCREASE EVERY YEAR.
AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THAT IS, IF IT'S ACCURATE OR NOT.
FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE COUNTY TAX WENT UP 14.6%, OPEN SPACE WENT UP 11%, AND THE LIBRARY WENT UP 18% FOR A TOTAL TAX LEVY, INCREASE OF 14.5% OVER FIVE YEARS.
AND THOSE OF YOU ARE FULLY AWARE WE'RE KNOCKING DOWN HOMES IN MANVILLE.
WE'RE LOSING PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, AND I'M GOING OUT WITH A SIGNIFICANT MUNICIPAL TAX INCREASE. THAT REALLY IS TROUBLESOME TO ME BECAUSE I LOVE MY HOME TOWN.
I LOVE LIVING HERE, AND I WANT TO KEEP IT AFFORDABLE.
AND I GOT PEOPLE RIGHT NOW WHO ARE LEAVING.
ONE OF FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SOMERSET COUNTY CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, RICH, I CAN'T AFFORD THE PROPERTY TAXES. I'M RETIRING.
HOW MUCH LONGER IS THIS GOING TO GO ON? JUST KEEP RAISING TAXES, INCREASING BUDGETS.
AND WHO CAN I WORK WITH TO DETERMINE IF MANVILLE IS GETTING TAX EQUITY FROM THE COUNTY SYSTEM OF TAXATION? BECAUSE THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS.
IT'S A IT'S A COMPLEX CALCULATION.
OKAY. UM, AND I CAN READ THAT TO YOU REALLY QUICK, IF I MAY.
IT SAYS THE GROSS MARKET VALUE OF MANVILLE, ALONG WITH THAT OF EVERY DISTRICT IN THE COUNTY, IS DETERMINED THROUGH THE EQUALIZATION PROCESS WHEREBY THE ASSESSED VALUES ARE DIVIDED BY THE RATIO FOR EACH DISTRICT.
THE SUM TOTAL OF ALL THESE EQUALIZED VALUES IS THEN CALCULATED.
NEXT, THE COUNTY BUDGET IS DIVIDED BY THE TOTAL OF ALL EQUALIZED VALUES TO ARRIVE AT AN APPORTIONMENT RATE APPLIED TO THE RELATIVE VALUE OF EACH DISTRICT TO CALCULATE THE DISTRICT'S SHARE OF THE COUNTY BUDGET.
LASTLY, THE DISTRICT'S SHARE OF THE COUNTY BUDGET IS DIVIDED BY THE TOTAL ASSESSED
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VALUES IN THE DISTRICT TO ARRIVE AT A LOCAL COUNTY TAX RATE FOR THAT TOWN.AND ONE OF THE THINGS I GUESS IS TROUBLESOME TO ME IS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, MANUEL'S VALUES HAVE GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE FLOOD AND NOW WE'RE REBOUNDING AND THE HOME VALUES ARE ASSESSMENT WENT UP AGAIN, I THINK 15% FROM LAST YEAR.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE TOTAL ASSESSMENT GOES UP AND IT'S BEING THE DENOMINATOR, MAYBE YOU GET A LOWER TAX RATE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS, BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO WORK WITH ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE TO FULLY UNDERSTAND YOUR BUDGET AND HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT MY RESIDENTS, BECAUSE I'M IN THE MIDST RIGHT NOW OF TRYING TO GET MORE STATE AID FOR MY TOWN. WE'RE ON TRANSITIONAL AID.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GOING OUT WITH A SIGNIFICANT MUNICIPAL INCREASE.
AND IT REALLY BOTHERS ME BECAUSE I STILL HAVE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T BACK IN THEIR HOMES AND THEY'RE STILL PAYING TAXES ON A HOME THAT THEY'RE NOT LIVING IN.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER MARANO WAS ON THE TAX BOARD FOR MANY YEARS, BUT YOUR TAX ASSESSOR SHOULD BE CALLING OUR TAX OFFICE AS WELL.
AS YOU KNOW, THAT FORMULA IS NOT SOMETHING WE MADE UP.
NO, NO, BUT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE WE CAN DO ABOUT THE CALCULATION.
SO I'M GOING TO DEFER ANY COMMENT RIGHT NOW TO COMMISSIONER MARANO BEING ON THAT BOARD AND THEN ASK THAT YOU FOLLOW UP WITH OUR TAX OFFICE AS WELL.
NO, I DIDN'T MEAN IT THAT WAY.
IT'S TROUBLESOME. AS THE VALUES GO UP, OUR TAXES GO UP, WE PAY MORE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S TAX EQUITY.
THEN WE'RE ALL. OKAY, WELL, I'LL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON IT. WHEN IS YOUR BUDGET HEARING? HE HAD AN INTRODUCTION AT OUR LAST MEETING.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE ONE YOU'RE GOING TO ADOPT.
IT'S USUALLY, WHAT, 20 DAYS? IT'S ON YOUR JUNE. 13TH MEETING.
OKAY. AND ONE LAST TOPIC REALLY QUICK.
I'LL BE BRIEF. SOMEONE MENTIONED TONIGHT ABOUT WAREHOUSING.
AS YOU KNOW, HILLSBORO HAS SIX WAREHOUSE APPLICATIONS PENDING AGAINST THEIR PLANNING BOARD RIGHT NOW. AND TWO OF THOSE FACILITIES ARE RIGHT ON THE BORDER WITH MANVILLE.
VERY TROUBLESOME IN MY OPINION.
THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES DON'T BELONG NEAR RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
THEY BELONG OFF INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS.
AND WHAT'S TROUBLESOME IS THEY'RE GOING TO BE TAKING A LARGE AREA OF FORESTED AREA NEAR MANVILLE AND PUTTING IN A WAREHOUSE.
HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T GET APPROVED, BUT 50% OF THE TRUCK TRAFFIC IS GOING TO BE COMING THROUGH MY TOWN.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'RE GOING TO GET THEIR STORMWATER RUNOFF TO ONE INCH OF RAIN ON THE ROOF, 550,000 GALLONS OF STORMWATER RUNOFF.
HOW MUCH MORE CAN MANVILLE TAKE? WE NEED WE NEED SOME EMPATHY.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO COME FORWARD SPEAKING ON ANY TOPIC.
HEARING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING? DIRECTOR, WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME COMMENTS ONLINE.
THERE WAS AN EMAIL THAT WAS SENT EARLIER BY ELLIOTT COLLINS, A ROBERT BURROW.
HE WORKS FOR THE SOMERSET EXECUTIVE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, SAYS HIS POSITION IS FUNDED BY THE SOMERSET COUNTY.
HE MAKES CLEAR THAT HE'S NOT COMPLAINING, BUT HE RECOGNIZES THAT THERE WAS THE BUDGET INCREASE SUPPOSEDLY LIMITED TO 4.4%.
SAYS THAT IT IS WELL BELOW TODAY'S INFLATION RATE.
THE 2% INCREASE IN HIS SALARY IS WELL BELOW TODAY'S INFLATION RATE AS WELL.
SO OSTENSIBLY WHAT HE IS ASKING FOR IS A SALARY INCREASE FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES FOR THE
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NEXT FISCAL YEAR THAT ACTUALLY KEEPS UP WITH INFLATION BECAUSE HE'S MAKING MORE MONEY IN HIS SOCIAL SECURITY.AGAIN, THE BUDGET MEETING IS NEXT.
NEXT MEETING ON JUNE 13TH AT 6 P.M.
AND YOU HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT AS WELL.
THIS WAS CALLED IN EARLIER TODAY BY MR. HARRY BOLINGER FROM FRANKLIN, AND HE PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS.
SO MR. BOESELAGER IS AGAINST THE PLAN TO SEND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS INTO THE US CDC'S US CITIES BECAUSE THEY WILL CAUSE A RISE IN TAXES FOR THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY PAYING THEM.
HE ALSO NOTED THAT THE ALPHABETICAL FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT'S THE CIA, FBI, IRS, ET CETERA, ARE OUT OF CONTROL AND NEED TO BE LESS.
AND DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE NOT RUNNING THE COUNTRY ANYMORE.
IT'S THE BANKERS WHO ARE DOING THAT.
AND THEN FINALLY, THE GOVERNMENT IS GROWING AND WE'RE ALL PRODUCING NOTHING IN RETURN.
AND CHINA IS THREATENING THE SUPPLY CHAIN.
SO WE SHOULD BE PRODUCING MORE GOODS HERE IN THE US AND STOP TRADING.
IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING? MOTION. SECOND.
WE WILL MOVE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.