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WE WILL MOVE RIGHT INTO OUR REGULAR MEETING.

[00:00:03]

ANY ADDITIONAL REPORTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? I HAVE ONE ACTUALLY 2, BECAUSE I FORGOT TO ADD A FEW THINGS.

SO ONE, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE MATT LOPER AS OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND PLANNING, AND I THANK OUR OTHER EMPLOYEES FOR HELPING US DURING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME AS WE MERGED THE DIVISIONS BETWEEN THE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP, PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE OTHER MEMBERS.

AND YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR BACKGROUND AND LEADERSHIP, WE'RE CONFIDENT YOU HAVE A MILITARY BACKGROUND.

I THINK YOU'RE A PROUD VETERAN OF THE NAVY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AIR FORCE NUMBER ONE.

AND, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS WITH SOMERSET COUNTY.

WE KNOW EVEN ON JUST ON A STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL, YOUR ACCREDITATIONS AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU IN ANOTHER ROLE HERE.

AND THE OTHER ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I FORGOT TO MAKE IS WE HAVE THE FIFA WORLD CUP IN 2026.

I ATTENDED THE ANNOUNCEMENT OVER AT METLIFE AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THAT AND NEW JERSEY AS MUCH AS NEW YORK IS TRYING TO CLAIM IT.

WE ARE VERY PROUD TO HAVE IT HERE ON OUR HOME TURF.

ANYONE ELSE? WE ECHO THE SENTIMENTS, ON WELCOMING MATT ABOARD ON HIS NEW ROLE.

I KNOW THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SOMERSET COUNTY PROUD AND THANK YOU.

YOUR GREATEST ASSET AND RESOURCES ARE OUR PEOPLE.

SO THANK YOU ALL.

WE WILL DO A PROCLAMATION BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION.

[PROCLAMATION]

WE HAVE BRUCE MORGAN AND MEMBERS OF THE NAACP, THE NEW BRUNSWICK BRANCH.

SO IF YOU COME FORWARD.

[INAUDIBLE] I'LL DO ANYTHING BY MYSELF CAUSE EVERYBODY MAKE [INAUDIBLE].

COME ON AROUND.

THAT WAS A FIVE MINUTE TIMER.

AND UNLIKE YOU, [INAUDIBLE] I HAVE TO TAKE MY GLASSES OFF.

I KEEP LOSING MY READERS, BUT THIS IS JUST AS GOOD.

IN THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROCLAMATION GOES TO YOU ALL, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNITION.

AND IT READS IN PART.

WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH HONORS AND AFFIRMS THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE THROUGHOUT OUR AMERICAN EXPERIENCE BY AFRICAN AMERICANS.

AND WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS A TIME FOR ALL AMERICANS TO REMEMBER AND REFLECT ON THE BRAVERY, SELFLESS ACTS AND SACRIFICES OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE SOUGHT FREEDOM AND EQUALITY, JUSTICE, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE FULLY IN THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

WHEREAS AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE FOUGHT BRAVELY AND WITH DISTINCTION IN EVERY MAJOR AMERICAN WAR, INCLUDING THE FOUNDING OF OUR NATION DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

AND WHEREAS AFRICAN AMERICANS CONTRIBUTE PROFOUNDLY TO THE ACCUMULATION OF AMERICAN WEALTH, DESPITE MILLIONS BEING DENIED COMPENSATION FOR THEIR LABORS THROUGH THE INHUMAN INSTITUTION OF RACE BASED ENSLAVEMENT.

AND WHEREAS, THE NATIONAL THEME FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2024 IS AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THE ARTS, WHICH EXPLORES AND HIGHLIGHTS THE MANY INDELIBLE IMPACTS BLACK AMERICANS HAVE HAD ON VISUAL ARTS, MUSIC, CULTURAL MOVEMENTS AND MORE.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY RECOGNIZE FEBRUARY 2024 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN SOMERSET COUNTY AND CALLS UPON ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OFFERED IN THE FIELDS OF ARTS, CULTURE, CIVIC, FRATERNAL, EDUCATION, RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS MADE BY AMERICAN MADE BY AFRICAN AMERICAN CITIZENS IN SOMERSET COUNTY AND IS SIGNED ON FEBRUARY 13TH, 2024 BY YOUR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

SO I'M GOING TO HAND THE MIC OVER TO BRUCE MORGAN, WHO IS THE, CHAPTER PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP NEW BRUNSWICK CHAPTER.

BUT ALSO IN REGARDS TO THE ARTS, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL ARTIST THAT'S DISPLAYED DOWNSTAIRS BY THE NAME OF VERONICA SPRUILL.

I HAVE BEEN WATCHING HER AND FOLLOWING HER WORK FOR THE PAST 6 OR 7 YEARS.

A WONDERFUL PIECE THAT SHE HAD, PIECES THAT SHE HAS DISPLAYED DOWNSTAIRS.

BUT CHECK HER OUT AS WE ARE FEATURING HER AS ONE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTS THIS MONTH IN CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN OR BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

[00:05:02]

SO, BRUCE, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER.

DIRECTOR. I THANK THE PEOPLE OF SOMERSET COUNTY, AND I THANK ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO MAKE WHAT WE DO HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, I THANK EVERYBODY ON BEHALF OF THE NAACP.

BUT WE DO NOTHING ALONE.

YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT WE DO IS DONE BY A CADRE OF PEOPLE NAMED AND UNNAMED, KNOWN AND UNKNOWN.

AND I ACCEPT THIS ON BEHALF OF THEM.

AND I THANK THE TEAM I WORK WITH.

I LOVE YOU, YOU PROTECT ME, YOU HELP ME.

AND WE'RE MAKING A BETTER COMMUNITY AND SHANEL YOU ARE A MEMBER OF OUR BRANCH.

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR JOINING AND YOUR FAMILY.

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST I THANK EVERYBODY FOR THIS WONDERFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

AND I HOPE WE CAN KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. I THANK ALL OF YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR COMING OUT.

[INAUDIBLE].

DID YOU HEAR THAT? SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO MOVE IT TO THE NEXT MEETING.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

WE WILL MOVE ALONG AND FOREGO THE PRESENTATION UNTIL ANOTHER DATE BY THE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP.

WE HAVE TWO APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMISSION ON STATUS OF WOMEN RESOLUTION R24-370, RHEANAH JOHNSON AND SHELLY BELL.

[APPOINTMENTS]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-370? SO MOVE. SECOND.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

FOR JANUARY 23RD MEETING.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. IS THERE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? I WAS ABSENT AND NOTED.

AND THANK YOU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.

WONDERFUL JOB. ORDINANCE 24-399 ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A LEFT TURN LANE RESERVATION ALONG BONNIE BURN ROAD COUNTY

[ORDINANCES]

ROUTE 695, WATCHUNG BOROUGH, SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY AND THE PUBLIC HEARING 24-399 SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 24-399 FOR FEBRUARY 27TH AT 6 P.M.

IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 24-399 ON FIRST READING AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR FEBRUARY 27TH AT 6 P.M.? MOTION [INAUDIBLE].

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.

NOW WE HAVE ORDINANCE 24-100 ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMITS ALONG BONNIE BURN ROAD COUNTY ROUTE 695, WATCHUNG BOROUGH, SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY . MOTION TO OPEN PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ORDINANCE.

IS THERE A MOTION? MOTION. SECOND.

ROLL CALL PLEASE.

IS THERE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ORDINANCE AND THIS ORDINANCE ONLY? HEARING NONE. SO CAN WE CALL FOR THE VOTE, A MOTION TO ADOPT OR.

EXCUSE ME, THE ORDINANCE 24-100.

DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES? YOU CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

[INAUDIBLE]. OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OKAY.

MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 24-100.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

[00:10:02]

ORDINANCE 24-101.

ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMITS ALONG SOUTH MAIN STREET, NORTH MAIN STREET, FINDERNE AVENUE, COUNTY ROUTES 533 AND 633, MILLSTONE BOROUGH, BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. MOTION TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 24-100.

AND IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.

IS THERE ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ORDINANCE AND THIS ORDINANCE ONLY? HEARING NONE. SEEING NONE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION FOR THIS ORDINANCE? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 24-101.

SO MOVED.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ROLL CALL PLEASE.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-300 THROUGH 24-308.

MOTION. SECOND.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.

I WASN'T HERE FOR LAST MEETING.

MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-309 THROUGH 24-320.

[AWARD OF CONTRACTS]

SO MOVED. SECOND.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.

[FINANCE]

. MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 24-321 THROUGH 24-351.

SO MOVE. SECOND.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.

[ITEMS ADDED FROM THE FEBRUARY 13, 2024 WORK SESSION TO BE ADOPTED TONIGHT]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-352 THROUGH 24-369.

MOTION. SECOND.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? THERE ARE NO OTHER EMAILS, PHONE CALLS OR TEXT MESSAGES.

ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, HEARING NONE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

I, COUNTY COUNCIL?

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

YES, THERE IS A NEED FOR THE GOVERNING BODY TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS TWO MATTERS.

ONE IS A POTENTIAL PENDING LITIGATION CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING MARCONI PLAZA AND SIMILARLY, PERSONNEL MATTERS AND CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS RELATED TO THE JAIL.

SO IF THERE IS A MOTION FOR THE BOARD TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 10; 4-12 FOR THOSE REASONS, IT IS EXPECTED AND THAT THE BOARD WILL ADJOURN DIRECTLY THERE FROM AND NO FURTHER PUBLIC ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.

SO MOVED SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

AYES HAVE IT. GOOD NIGHT.

BE WELL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.