EYES. HAVE IT. MOVE RIGHT INTO OUR REGULAR MEETING.
[00:00:11]
PROSECUTOR MCDONNELL STILL HERE.DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING? FOR.
[APPOINTMENTS]
AS THE NEXT GROUP IS COMING IN.WE DO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO THE CULTURAL AND HERITAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
A RESOLUTION 20 3-1274 FOR MARGRETTA WARLICK OF WARREN TOWNSHIP.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION? SO MOVED. SECOND.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.
YES. WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR OUR JUNE 13TH, 2023 MEETING.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ABOVE LISTED MINUTES? SO MOVED. SECOND.ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
SINGLETERRY. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.
[PRESENTATION]
DELIGHTED TO HAVE BACK.AND WE'LL WELCOME BACK TO THE MIC OUR PROSECUTOR, JOHN MCDONNELL, CAPTAIN JUSTIN BURGER, DEPUTY CHIEF FRANK ROMAN WILL BE PRESENTING.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE SECOND ROUND OF THE POLICE ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WE ARE FUNDING WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS.
THIS PROGRAM WAS INSPIRED BY A DESPERATE NEED ACROSS OUR NATION AND TO DIVERSIFY THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS. AND WE'RE DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS PROGRAM TO SOMERSET COUNTY AND TO SERVE AS A PATH FORWARD FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO GROW OUR DIVERSITY.
THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM HELPS TO OVERCOME THAT OBSTACLE OF PAYING TO ATTEND A POLICE ACADEMY. AND TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THE SECOND ROUND OF THESE SCHOLARSHIPS.
AND WE HAVE FIVE CANDIDATES SEEKING TO BECOME POLICE OFFICERS AND FIVE OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES. AND EARLIER THIS MONTH, ONE OF OUR FIRST TWO SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS GRADUATED FROM FROM THE ACADEMY, HAVE TO BE FEMALE AND STARTED WORKING AS AN OFFICER IN NORTH PLAINFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO PROSECUTOR MCDONNELL, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR ROBINSON, AND THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO THE COMMISSIONERS, YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN UNWAVERING.
WE ARE AT A POINT IN TIME WHERE WE GET TO THREE, PERHAPS FOUR APPLICATIONS FOR ONE POLICE OFFICER'S SPOT, WHERE FIVE YEARS AGO WE GOT 30 OR 40.
AND THE VISION OF THIS BOARD AND THE VISION OF THE COMMISSIONERS IN THIS COUNTY WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN REMARKABLE.
IT HAS BEEN, AGAIN, UNWAVERING.
THIS IS GIVING A GREAT, GREAT SERVICE TO THE RESIDENTS OF SOMERSET COUNTY.
WE HAVE A WONDERFUL GROUP TONIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO CALL THEM UP ONE AT A TIME IF IT'S OKAY.
SO FIRST WE HAVE NASIR WHITLEY OF BOUND BROOK AND LIEUTENANT LEONARDO.
SO JUST HERE. RIGHT HERE. NASIR IS A RECENT GRADUATE OF SETON HALL UNIVERSITY.
MY ALMA MATER. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HIM.
HE IS A HE IS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER IN BOUND BROOK.
HE DOES NOT GET PAID FOR THAT.
HE IS GOING TO START THE THE ACADEMY, WHICH WOULD BE THE MORRIS COUNTY ACADEMY ON ON JULY 16TH OF OF THIS YEAR.
WE HE IS GOING TO WORK HOPEFULLY WHEN HE GETS OUT OF THAT ACADEMY FOR THE BOROUGH OF BOUND BROOK. SO WE ARE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL THAT HE WILL BE ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS THIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM.
AND WE DO THE PICTURES EVERYBODY UP LIKE LAST TIME.
DIRECTOR OKAY, SO WE'LL JUST HOLD THE PICTURES AND I'LL INTRODUCE EVERYBODY ELSE.
HAVE A SEAT. I WOULD LIKE TO NEXT CALL UP FROM OUR HILLSBORO CONTINGENT, PLEASE.
AND LIEUTENANT CUOMO AND HER MOTHER, ANNETTE DEPIERO.
JEFF JANKOWSKI, HER BOYFRIEND.
YOU CAN COME UP BECAUSE HE IS A SOMERVILLE POLICE OFFICER AND YOU MAY HAVE SEEN HIM.
AND MIKE, ARE YOU UP HERE ALSO? SO SARA WILL BE ATTENDING THE MONMOUTH COUNTY POLICE ACADEMY.
[00:05:03]
SHE'LL BE BEGIN ON JULY 24TH OF THIS YEAR.AND AS OF COURSE, WHEN SHE'S FINISHED, SHE'LL BE A POLICE OFFICER IN HILLSBOROUGH, NEW JERSEY. SHE'S FROM FLORIDA, HAS BEEN UP HERE FOR A WHILE.
SHE ADVISES THAT SHE IS A CROSSFIT TRAINEE, A CROSSFIT FANATIC.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS THE PHYSICAL ASPECT OF ALL THE TESTING WAS NO BIG DEAL AT ALL. SO WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF HER.
SHE'S FROM J.P. STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL, AND SHE WENT TO BROWARD COLLEGE IN FLORIDA.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND WE'LL TAKE PICTURES LATER.
OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE SOUTH BOUND BROOK RESIDENT JEFF SUMBANA FROM THE MANVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE FROM MANVILLE LIEUTENANT CRATER AND.
AND BRIAN DELGADO, SABANA JEFE WILL BE STARTING THE CAMDEN COUNTY PROGRAM ON JULY 24TH OF 2023.
SIT OVER HERE. AND WHEN HE IS FINISHED WITH THAT PROGRAM, HE WILL BE AN OFFICER IN THE MANVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS A VERY, VERY PROUD FAMILY.
THEIR SON, DEREK IS IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
HE HAS BEEN COMMENDED FOR HIS SERVICE.
AND DIRECTOR ROBINSON IS A BIG FAN, A BIG SUPPORTER.
SO WE WELCOME HIM AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GREAT THINGS FROM HIM.
THANK HIM. NOW WE HAVE AND I WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE MAYOR OF MANVILLE IS IN THE AUDIENCE.
THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE UP ALYSSA MONGE.
LIEUTENANT REINIER IS HERE FROM THE RARITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND BEFORE THAT, SHE WORKED AS A VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATE AT THE HUNTERDON COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
SHE WORKED IN OUR CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER.
I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER PERSON TO BE A POLICE OFFICER.
SHE HAS REMARKABLE CREDENTIALS, INCLUDING SHE HAS A MASTER'S DEGREE IN CHILD ADVOCACY, AND SHE IS STARTING THE MERCER, THE MORRIS COUNTY ACADEMY ON JULY 10TH OF THIS YEAR.
AND THEREAFTER, SHE WILL WORK WITH THE RARITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT, WITH LIEUTENANT RANIERE AND HIS GROUP.
SO, AGAIN, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU FROM OUR OFFICE.
AND YOU YOU SHOW US IN THE BEST OF LIGHT.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, SIR.
AND FINALLY, OUR LAST APPLICANT IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME FOR TWO REASONS.
NUMBER ONE IS SHE IS GOING TO WORK IN WATCHUNG MY TOWN.
WE HAVE THE BEST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN ALL OF SOMERSET COUNTY.
AND CINDY ALDANA OF SOMERVILLE, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME UP WITH YOUR FAMILY? AND ALSO MAYOR JUBIN IS HERE.
COUNCILWOMAN AID COUNCILMAN CHRISTINA AID CAPTAIN SCOTT ANDERLE.
HE IS LISTED AS LIEUTENANT, BUT HE'S NOW A CAPTAIN VICTOR GUMPEL, HER STEPFATHER, ANDREA GUMPEL, HER MOTHER, AND JOSEPH O'DONNELL IS YOUR BROTHER JOSE.
SO SHE WILL BE SHE HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY.
WE'VE SEEN HER IN THE OFFICE GETTING IN SHAPE FOR THIS PROGRAM.
SHE'S BEEN A TERRIFIC EMPLOYEE OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
WE ARE REALLY, REALLY GOING TO MISS HER.
SHE DOES VERY, VERY IMPORTANT WORK FOR US.
AND SHE'LL BE LEAVING US IN OCTOBER.
AND AS I SAID, SHE WILL BE GOING TO THE TO THE PASSAIC COUNTY ACADEMY IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR. SO WE WANT TO WELCOME AND THANK HER.
AS EVERYONE IS COMING UP FOR PICTURES, I'D LIKE TO SAY IF ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY COMMENTS. KUDOS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.
BUT CERTAINLY FOR THE COUNTY, ALYSSA AND CINDY, OUR LOSS IS THEIR GAIN.
BUT CERTAINLY WISH ALL OF THE CANDIDATES WELL AS THEY GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND GLAD TO TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF YOUR JOURNEY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR VISION.
WE'LL HAVE THESE CANDIDATES COME UP WITH THEIR OFFICERS.
[00:10:10]
I.IT IS. SO WE MOVE ON TO 23 1266, AUTHORIZING SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO EXCEED
[COUNTY BUDGET CAP – BOARD OF ELECTIONS]
THE COUNTY ENTITY BUDGET REQUEST CAP.[2023 COUNTY BUDGET AMENDMENT PUBLIC HEARING]
23 1149 IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2023 SOMERSET COUNTY BUDGET.THE COUNTY BUDGET AMENDMENT PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR 2023 AMENDMENT TO THE COUNTY BUDGET? MOTION.
SINGLETERRY. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.
YES. ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AND THIS ITEM? ONLY FIVE MINUTES.
NO YIELDING OF TIME. NO COMING UP A SECOND TIME.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM ONLY.
WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO RAISE TAXES ON THE HOUSES, RIGHT? WHAT IS IT? $63 AND SOME CENTS FOR THE AVERAGE HOUSE.
GIVE ME A SECOND TO COMPOSE MYSELF HERE.
UH. WELL, I THINK SPENDING IS OUT OF CONTROL.
WE'RE SPENDING WAY TOO MUCH MONEY.
UH, I DON'T KNOW. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE'RE HEADING TOWARDS COMMUNISM WITH THE INSANE SPENDING. AND DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT OR STATEMENT ABOUT THE AMENDMENT? TO THE BUDGET? WELL, WE'RE MORE SPENDING, MORE TAXES.
I FEEL WE DON'T REALLY HAVE CHECK AND BALANCE.
CHECKS AND BALANCES IN THIS PROCEDURE.
RIGHT NOW, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE GDP.
HERE'S A FEW THINGS NOTES THAT I MADE THAT THE GDP IN THE UNITED STATES PUBLIC PORTION IS ONLY FOR THE AMENDMENT OF BUDGET.
WE WILL HAVE A REGULAR PUBLIC PORTION OF THE MEETING.
I CAN'T HEAR YOU THAT GOOD. WHAT DID YOU SAY? THIS PUBLIC PORTION IS ONLY FOR THE AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET.
WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION FOR THE MEETING, BUT THIS IS ONLY ABOUT THIS AMENDED BUDGET. ALL RIGHT.
THEN I'LL LET THAT GO AT THAT.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY. I JUST SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC ONLY.
THERE ARE NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS BY WAY OF SOCIAL MEDIA, PHONE OR EMAIL.
OKAY, THEN WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC.
IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION FOR THE AMENDED 2023 COUNTY BUDGET? MOTION SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.
[2023 COUNTY BUDGET]
WE NOW MOVE ON TO THE 2220 3-990 ADOPTION OF THE 2023 SOMERSET COUNTY BUDGET AS AMENDED.IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 20 3-1200 THROUGH 23.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
DASH 1213.SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.
[00:15:02]
YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 20 3-1214 THROUGH 23.
[AWARD OF CONTRACTS]
DASH ONE, TWO, FOUR. ONE MOTION.SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
COMMISSIONER MARANO? YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.
YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 20 3-1242 THROUGH 23.
[FINANCE]
DASH 1265.SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.
YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 20 3-1267 THROUGH 23.
[ITEMS TO BE ADDED FROM THE JUNE 27, 2023 WORK SESSION TO BE ADOPTED TONIGHT]
DASH 1273.ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SINGLETERRY.
[PUBLIC]
IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? FIVE MINUTES. NO USING OF TIME.NO. COMING BACK A SECOND TIME.
A SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.
WHERE ARE WE? HERE. HOLD ON A SECOND.
WAIT A MINUTE. I'M THINKING ABOUT THAT.
WELL, I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT THE GDP.
80% OF THE GDP IN THIS COUNTRY COMES FROM CHINA.
AND WE SEND $1 BILLION A DAY TO CHINA.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IS SO OUTRAGEOUS TO ME.
I MEAN, I HAD TO PUT A UNIFORM AND GO FIGHT COMMUNISM FOR THIS COUNTRY.
AND THIS COUNTRY HAS BETRAYED ME AND MY BROTHERS ALL THE WAY.
HE TOLD ME WE COULD HAVE BLEW VIETNAM OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
POLICE ACTION AND JUST DON'T LOAD YOUR RIFLES.
WHAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT IS THIS THAT RUNS SUCH NONSENSE? AND THEY MADE A LOT OF MONEY ON THE SOLDIERS.
WE WASTED $60 BILLION ON THE WAR IN VIETNAM, AND WE LOST.
AND NOW WE TRADE WITH THE COMMUNISTS.
IT ISN'T BAD ENOUGH LOSING THE WAR.
AND RECENTLY I FOUND OUT 22 VETERANS A DAY COMMIT SUICIDE.
AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE A FRIEND OF MINE, HE COMMITTED SUICIDE, TOO.
BUT THAT'S THE WAY PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THIS COUNTRY.
LIKE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'VE BEEN BETRAYED.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE COMMITTING SUICIDE.
AND IT'S A DISGRACE TO THIS COUNTRY AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COUNTRY.
LIKE NOW THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
WELL, THEY'RE GOING AFTER THAT.
THEY'RE WORKING TO PROTECT CRIMINALS, NOT TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AND WHAT ELSE? THE CIA, ATF, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING FOR US.
THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING AGAINST WEAPONIZING THESE GROUPS AGAINST THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. WHAT KIND OF INSANITY DO WE DEAL WITH IN THIS COUNTRY? I MEAN, IT'S A DISGRACE.
IT'S SUCH A DISGRACE THAT THESE PEOPLE SHOULD ALL GO ON TRIAL, MILITARY TRIALS FOR THESE PEOPLE SO THEY DON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS NONSENSE.
IT'S RIDICULOUS WHAT GOES ON IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND I MEAN, IT'S A SAD DAY IN MY HEART.
I MEAN, I FELT LIKE I'VE BEEN BETRAYED AND MY BROTHERS HAVE BEEN BETRAYED ALSO.
AND HOW CAN YOU FEEL? FOR THIS COUNTRY ANYMORE.
I USED TO LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND NOW I FEEL SO BETRAYED.
I SAID, I DON'T EVEN LOVE THIS COUNTRY ANYMORE.
IT'S TURNED AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IT'S JUST I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL LIKE, WELL, IT'S JUST LIKE VOTING RIGHT NOW.
I MENTIONED A COUPLE OF REPUBLICANS THERE.
WHAT WAS HIS NAME? KIP BATEMAN.
AND THE OTHER GUY THAT TOM KANE.
THEY BOTH VOTED FOR A $46 MILLION BUDGET, $46 BILLION.
WHEN I HAD HANDS ACROSS NEW JERSEY, WE HAD THEM TALKING ABOUT $11 BILLION.
WE HAD A MILLION SIGNATURES SAYING THAT THAT WAS TOO MUCH SPENDING.
NOW WE GOT A, I DON'T KNOW, $50 BILLION BUDGET IN NEW JERSEY.
[00:20:03]
GOD, WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THAT? YOU KNOW, BUT NO, I MEAN, AND VOTING.HOW CAN YOU SAY YOUR VOTE COUNTS WHEN THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST THE VOTERS? YOUR VOTE DON'T COUNT.
YOU VOTE REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, IT DON'T COUNT.
YOU NEED PEOPLE TO REPRESENT YOU WHEN THEY GET DOWN IN TRENTON OR WASHINGTON.
I ASKED THIS DISGUSTING WAY IT IS.
I MEAN, I. I FEEL HEARTBROKEN.
LIKE I SAY, I USED TO LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND I CAN'T.
THE POLITICIANS HAVE TURNED ME OFF.
THE LAWYERS AND EVERYTHING HAS TURNED ME OFF.
AND I WENT TO WAR FOR THIS COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SIDE I'M ON.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE CHINESE WILL COME HERE.
WELL, YOU KNOW, A FRIEND OF MINE, I HAD A TALK WITH MY GOOD ONE OF MY GOOD BUDDIES, WARREN, HE TOLD ME, HE SAYS, WELL, HE SAYS, YOU BETTER GET READY.
HE SAYS WHEN THE CHINESE COME HERE, HE SAYS, THEY OUTNUMBER US PROBABLY 3 TO 1 OR MORE.
THEY GOT OVER A BILLION PEOPLE.
HE SAID, YOU BETTER JUST HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN YOUR HOUSE AND BE READY TO FIGHT.
IT ISN'T THAT. I SAID, YOU CAN'T EVEN TRUST YOUR OWN GOVERNMENT.
BUT WHY ARE WE TRADING WITH THESE COMMUNIST COUNTRIES? I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY.
WHAT CAN YOU SAY? ALL RIGHT. GOOD NIGHT.
GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
MAYOR RICHARD UNDERGO 325 NORTH MAIN STREET BOROUGH OF MANVILLE.
WHO'S JOINING ME TOMORROW NIGHT? COMMISSIONER DRAKE 730 HILLSBOROUGH MUNICIPAL COMPLEX.
ROYCE BROOK FLOOD CONTROL MITIGATION.
IT'S BEING PUT ON BY RUTGERS UNIVERSITY.
DR. ABRUPTA THE WATERSHED INSTITUTE.
IT'S WHAT LITTLE HOPE WE HAVE FOR MANVILLE.
WE'RE NEVER GOING TO SEE FLOODWALLS AND LEVEES LIKE THE GREEN BROOK FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT. UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE LEFT OUT.
BUT THIS GIVES ME HOPE THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO ACTUALLY LOWER FLOOD WATER LEVELS FROM THE ROYCE BROOK.
IT KILLS MY SOUTH MAIN STREET, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
I HOPE SOME OF YOU ELSE WILL COME OUT AND JOIN US TO HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON.
I THINK THEY COULD DO A $5 MILLION PROJECT UNDER THE RESILIENCY COMMUNITIES FUND THAT THEY HAVE OUT NOW.
I KNOW YOU LIVE IN HILLSBOROUGH.
THEY SHOULD BE THE LET'S DO A MAJOR PROJECT WHERE WE SPOTLIGHT IT SO THAT WE CAN GO BACK AND RETROFIT OTHER AREAS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE FLOODING ISSUES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY FROM MY HOMETOWN.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT AND WE'RE STILL HURTING.
THERE'S STILL A DELAY IN FEDERAL AID.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG.
IT'S SAD. SO WITH THAT, I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE BUDGET.
THE AMENDMENT DID THAT INCREASE THE BUDGET OR DECREASE THE BUDGET? I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION.
AWESOME. YEAH. SO IT WENT FROM OVER $70 PER AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD DOWN TO 63.
AND THAT'S BASED ON WHAT TOWN? THAT'S BASED ON A BLENDED RATE OF $510,000 AVERAGE HOUSE.
SO THE AVERAGE HOUSE IN MANVILLE IS 384, $385,000, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LOOK.
AVERAGE HOUSE IN FAR HILLS IS OVER A MILLION.
AVERAGE HOUSE IN RARITAN IS 446, SO THAT $63 AVERAGE WOULD BE FELT LESS IN MANVILLE BECAUSE THEIR HOUSE AVERAGE IS BELOW THE AVERAGE WE USE TO CALCULATE THAT NUMBER.
IT WILL BE. I'LL BE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THAT.
IT WILL BE FELT MORE IN FAR HILLS BECAUSE IT'S TWICE THE AVERAGE.
WELL, I'LL BE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THAT.
NO, BUT THAT'S THAT'S OUR YEAR.
THE BLENDED COUNTY LEVIES HAVE GONE UP FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
SO I'VE BEEN ASKING AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I CAN'T GET AN ANSWER.
WHAT'S THE INCREASE THIS YEAR FOR THE THREE COUNTY TAX LEVIES FOR MANVILLE? SO THE GOOD NEWS, THE REASON IS YOU'VE SEEN INCREASES IN LEVIES IS ALSO YOUR INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUE.
SO YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUE IN MANVILLE IS OVER 6%.
WHY THE AVERAGE INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR FOR OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IS MORE LIKE 2% OR TWO AND A QUARTER. SO IF A MUNICIPALITY SEES A LARGER INCREASE IN THEIR LOCAL PROPERTY VALUE, THAT HAS AN EFFECT ON THE EQUALIZED TABLE.
YEAH, I FIND THAT TO BE UNFAIR, SO TO SPEAK.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT. AND I KNOW I DON'T MAKE THE RULES, BUT WE CONTRIBUTE OVER HALF
[00:25:03]
$1 MILLION ABOUT TO THE OPEN SPACE FUND.CORRECT. WE'RE KNOCKING DOWN 52 HOMES THIS YEAR.
I'M GOING TO LOSE HALF $1 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE.
I'M CREATING OPEN SPACE IN MY HOME TOWN.
WHY AM I CONTRIBUTING A HALF $1 MILLION TO THE OPEN SPACE FUND AND GETTING NOTHING BACK? IT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR MANVILLE TO FORK OVER, TO OPEN SPACE AND NOT TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH IT IS NOT AS MY INTENTION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY DID INCUR CLOSE TO $10 MILLION OF MONEY TO REMOVE GARBAGE AS A RESULT OF THE LAST FLOOD EVENT.
AND A MAJORITY OF THAT CAME FROM THAT AREA, THAT FLOOD ZONE, THAT IS.
MANVILLE. AND THAT WAS A COST BORNE BY THE COUNTY THAT WE STILL CARRY ON OUR BOOKS AS WE WAIT FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
SO THAT LEAVES $1 MILLION OF UNREIMBURSED COST THAT THE COUNTY WILL TAKE CARE OF.
WE DON'T SEND A BILL TO ANYBODY.
SO CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHEN AM I GOING TO SEE THE COUNTY TAX LEVIES? LIKE WHEN? SO THE BUDGET GETS ADOPTED.
THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THEN STRIKES THE RATE AND PUTS FORTH THE EQUALIZED TABLE AND THAT GETS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES.
YOU HAVE A TIME FRAME ON THAT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO GET THE BILLS OUT.
NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT. I HAVE A CALL OUT TO HIM TO RUSH THAT, BUT THAT SHOULD ALREADY BE CALCULATED. THE CHALLENGE WAS YOU HAD TO RECALCULATE IT DOWNWARD, WHICH IS NOT A BAD PROBLEM TO HAVE BECAUSE WE LOWERED THE BUDGET.
SO HE HAD TO REDO THE NUMBERS OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING, ONE CLOSING COMMENT.
IT WAS NICE TO SEE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE UP HERE TONIGHT TO GO INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I WILL NEVER PUBLICLY STATE THE DEFUND THE POLICE.
THAT WAS THE CRAZIEST COMMENT I EVER HEARD IN THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
FOR MY SEVEN YEARS AS MAYOR OF MANVILLE.
I NEVER INCREASED THE TAX LEVY FOR THE MUNICIPALITY MORE THAN 2%.
WE WERE UNDER 2% FOR 6 OR 7 YEARS UNTIL THE FLOOD HIT.
TRY TO KEEP THE TOWN AFFORDABLE.
AND IF IT WASN'T FOR HURRICANE IDA, I HAD PLANS TO HIRE TWO ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS IN TOWN BECAUSE I WANT MORE OF A STREET PRESENCE.
SO ANYWAY, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE STEPPING UP.
I'M NOT SO SURE I WOULD WANT THAT JOB TODAY, BUT I GIVE THEM A HELL OF A LOT OF CREDIT.
SO WITH THAT, COMMISSIONER DRAKE, I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK.
DO WE HAVE ANYTHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR PHONE? WE DO NOT. ALL RIGHT.
WE WILL BE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[Executive Session]
HOLD ON A SECOND. WE DO NEED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.ONE IS A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH PBA 177177A, WHICH IS THE CORRECTIONS UNION AND JAIL VARIOUS CONTRACTS.
AND THERE WAS A POTENTIAL PURCHASE OF GSA PROPERTY IN HILLSBORO THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS. SO I WOULD NEED A MOTION.
WE WILL TAKE NO ACTION AS WE WILL ADJOURN DIRECTLY FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO IF SOMEONE COULD MAKE THAT MOTION, THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
SO MOVED. SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. EYES HAVE IT.
GOOD NIGHT AND HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY.
SEE YA.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.