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IN FAVOR? AYE.

[00:00:01]

AYES HAVE IT. WE WILL MOVE RIGHT INTO OUR REGULAR MEETING.

[REPORTS]

THE ONLY TWO THINGS I'M GOING TO LIFT UP AT THIS TIME ARE OUR VETERANS RESOURCE JOB AND WELLNESS FAIR, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 10TH AT 3 P.M.

TO 6 P.M.

AT THE SENIOR WELLNESS CENTER.

IT IS 876 EAST MAIN STREET IN BRIDGEWATER.

THIS IS THE VETERANS RESOURCE JOB AND WELLNESS FAIR.

AND ALSO LIFTING UP ALL RECOVERY MEETING EVERY THURSDAY AT 2 P.M.

AT RICHARD HALL.

SO THOSE IN NEED OF SUPPORT AS ALL RECOVERY MEETING EVERY THURSDAY, 2 P.M.

AT RICHARD HALL.

AND WE DID HAVE A GRAND TIME IN HONORING AND CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF BASILONE.

SO THE COMMISSIONERS WALKED IN THE PARADE.

UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T HAVE ALL MY FACULTIES AND MY KNEES AND MY HIPS AND JOINT ISSUES.

BUT THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS WHO ACTUALLY WERE OUT THERE PASSING OUT THE FLAGS.

AND IT WAS A GREAT DAY.

I THINK WE HAD DOUBLE THE PARTICIPATION IN LAST YEAR SINCE, I MEAN, THE YEAR BEFORE LAST YEAR WAS RAINED OUT.

I ACTUALLY, UNBEKNOWNST TO YOU ALL, I GOT STUCK GETTING OUT.

SO I WAS ABLE TO SEE ALL THE PARADE GOERS AS THEY PASS THROUGH TO START OF THE PARADE.

IT WAS A SIGHT TO SEE.

SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

WE'VE GOT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART.

THE PATRIOTS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS.

YES, YES.

THE GAME TWO TONIGHT.

TONIGHT. SO, ANOTHER.

GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER MARANO.

YEAH, I DID FORGET THE MINOR LEAGUE PLAYOFFS TONIGHT.

THEY'RE PLAYING ERIE AND HOPEFULLY THEY DIDN'T.

THEY WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL WITH ONE GAME.

SO WE GOT A MUST WIN GAME TWO TONIGHT.

SO HOPEFULLY THEY TAKE IT.

THEY TAKE IT AWAY AS WE WERE WAITING FOR OUR GUESTS TO COME IN.

THAT WE GOT ANOTHER WHEELCHAIR.

DO WE NEED TO MOVE THE PODIUM? OKAY, GOOD.

SORRY. THAT'S OKAY. I THINK WE HAVE THE -- DEPUTY DIRECTOR, FLOOR IS YOURS.

ALL RIGHT. I AM GOING TO INVITE OUR FRIENDS UP FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.

[PROCLAMATIONS]

MICS NOT ON. OH.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU, LADIES FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

SO TO MY LEFT, WE HAVE MONICA MARTINEZ MILLAN.

SHE IS OUR CHAIRWOMAN OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP.

AND TO MY RIGHT WE HAVE IDA.

AND SHE HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR CLERK'S OFFICE AND HELPS WITH TRANSLATIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

BUT EVEN THOUGH OUR CLERK DOES PRETTY WELL IN SPANISH THEMSELVES AND MANY OTHER LANGUAGES, WE'RE VERY BLESSED HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

BUT TODAY WE'RE HERE BECAUSE IT IS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.

IT'S CELEBRATED NATIONWIDE FROM SEPTEMBER 15TH THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH EACH YEAR AND HAS BEEN CELEBRATED IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1968.

WHEREAS THE STARTING DATE OF SEPTEMBER 15TH IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE FOR LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES SUCH AS COSTA RICA, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, AND NICARAGUA.

IN ADDITION, MEXICO AND CHILE CELEBRATE THEIR INDEPENDENCE DAYS ON SEPTEMBER 16TH AND 18TH RESPECTIVELY.

AND WHEREAS SOMERSET COUNTY CURRENTLY COUNTS MORE THAN 55,000 RESIDENTS AS BEING OF SPANISH SPEAKING DESCENT AND GROWING, AND THAT HISPANICS HAVE BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO THE COUNTY SINCE BEFORE THE FOUNDING OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

WHEREAS HISPANIC RESIDENTS HAVE LIVED IN SOMERSET COUNTY FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND HAVE COME FROM, OR HAD, OR ARE DESCENDANTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME FROM MANY SPANISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES, FROM EUROPE, NORTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND SOUTH AMERICA.

AND WHEREAS SOMERSET COUNTIES, CULTURAL, EDUCATIONAL, BUSINESS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE RICHER FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF HISPANIC RESIDENTS.

[00:05:09]

WHEREAS SOMERSET COUNTY IS PROUD TO HONOR THE HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF HISPANIC CULTURE AND LEADERSHIP IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, ACROSS OUR NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT SOMERSET COUNTY'S BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER 15TH THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO LEARN AND RECOGNIZE THE NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY HISPANIC RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

THANK YOU. MUCHAS GRACIAS.

OTHER PROCLAMATIONS AS WELL FOR EACH OF YOU TO BRING HOME AND, MONICA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP? BECAUSE YOU WEAR MULTIPLE HATS TO REPRESENT OUR LATINO COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, WITH THE STATEWIDE HISPANIC CHAMBER AND MANY OTHER AREAS.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE TODAY.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS, OUR COUNTY, FOR ALL OUR SERVANT LEADERS THAT DO SO MUCH WORK TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE'RE ALL HERE TOGETHER, SERVING AS ALL PEOPLE.

I'M A PROUD RESIDENT, A PROUD BUSINESS OWNER IN SOMERSET COUNTY, AND I DO SERVE AS A CHAIRWOMAN, THE FIRST LATINA.

I ALWAYS CRY IN 100, OVER 100 YEARS OF HAVING A CHAMBER HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

THANK YOU. SO AS A DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS, I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WANT TO CELEBRATE SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENED.

LAST WEEK. WE WERE INVITED OVER TO NJIT, A COMMUNITY, A NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY THAT WAS JUST RECOGNIZED. ONE OUT OF IN 22 UNIVERSITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

AS A HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION, THAT MEANS THAT OUR MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY THAT ARE HISPANICS ARE ATTENDING THIS UNIVERSITY AND SO MANY MORE.

BUT NOW WE'RE OFFICIALLY ACCREDITED AS A UNIVERSITY HERE IN THIS STATE, AS AN R1 UNIVERSITY.

THAT ALL HAPPENS WITH CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO BE HERE.

AND I'M AGAIN, I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS AND OUR SERVANT LEADERS AS WELL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.

THANK YOU. AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE UP SOME OF OUR OTHER LATINOS IN THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER YOU WORK FOR THE COUNTY OR THE GREATER COMMUNITY. I SEE ONE OF MY ECUADORIAN FRIENDS HERE.

SO COME ON UP AND JOIN US.

BECAUSE COLLECTIVELY, THIS IS WHAT MAKES SOMERSET COUNTY, AND I AM THE FIRST LATINA TO SERVE AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

BUT HOPEFULLY NOT THE LAST.

ALL RIGHT, TAKE TWO.

FIRST ONE. ONE, TWO.

THREE. ONE MORE.

ONE. TWO.

THREE. HERE.

WE HAVE THE DISABILITY HISTORY AND AWARENESS MONTH FOR 2024.

SO ALL THOSE WHO ARE COMING UP TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION.

AND I SEE ALL OF OUR FRIENDS IN THE AUDIENCE WITH PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT ABILITIES.

I'M KIND OF MOVING AWAY FROM DISABILITIES, I KNOW, BUT DIFFERENT ABILITIES.

SO COME ON UP.

DON'T BE SHY.

STAND SO EVERYBODY ELSE CAN GET UP HERE.

NO. COME ON, COME ON.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SPACE.

ANYONE ELSE COMING UP? INDIVIDUALLY. OKAY.

OH, OKAY. OKAY.

THAT'S FINE. YOU CAN STAY UP HERE, I SEE IT.

YEAH. OKAY. SO I WILL BE READING THE HISTORY AND AWARENESS MONTH PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990 AND THE ADA AMENDED ACT OF 2008 WERE ENACTED TO END DISABILITY BASED DISCRIMINATION AND TO PROMOTE INCLUSION, FULL PARTICIPATION, ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.

AND WHEREAS PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE A RICH HISTORY IN SOMERSET COUNTY AND BEYOND.

[00:10:06]

THEY HAVE MADE CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALL ASPECTS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND CULTURE, AND HAVE A RIGHT TO BE TREATED ABOVE ALL ELSE AS INDIVIDUALS.

AND WHEREAS TO ENSURE THE FULL INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN SOCIETY, IT IS NECESSARY TO EXPAND THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORY, ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXPERIENCES OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

AND WHEREAS, THE 2022 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY REPORTS THAT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 SOMERSET COUNTY RESIDENTS, FROM CHILDREN TO SENIORS, IDENTIFY AS HAVING A DISABILITY, COMPROMISING ALMOST 9% OF OUR ENTIRE POPULATION.

AND WHEREAS THE 2022 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY FURTHER REPORTS THAT NEW JERSEY'S EMPLOYMENT RATE FOR RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IS 45.6%, AND WHILE SOMERSET COUNTY'S EMPLOYMENT RATE FOR RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IS HIGHER AT 56.2%, IT IS STILL WELL BELOW THE RATE FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION.

AND WHEREAS SOMERSET COUNTY SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY IN WHICH ALL CITIZENS ARE EMBRACED AND SUPPORTED IN LIVING FULL REALIZED LIVES.

NOW THEREFORE, BE PROCLAIMED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE OCTOBER 2024 AS DISABILITY HISTORY AND AWARENESS MONTH IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET TO FOSTER AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORY, ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXPERIENCES OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO UPHOLD THE IDEALS OF EQUAL ACCESS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CITIZENS WHILE CELEBRATING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

AND IT IS SIGNED BY YOUR FOUR SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ON THIS DAY.

SO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

THE OFFICE OF AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES IS COMMITTED TO BRING AWARENESS, ACCEPTANCE AND RESPECT TO THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES LIVING IN THE COUNTY. SO WE HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF GREAT WORK.

WE HAVE THE PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES PROGRAM SERVING ABOUT 18 CLIENTS WITH SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN REMAIN ACTIVE. AND THE COMMUNITY WE HAVE HERE.

VICTORIA DEHEN, WHICH IS SHE'S THE CASE MANAGER FOR THE PROJECT LIFESAVER PROGRAM FOR KIDS.

SO THE 6 TO 21 YEARS OLD, WE HAVE ABOUT 13 CHILDREN JUST TO SERVING IN THIS PROGRAM AND WE HAVE JOSH GARGANO. HE IS OUR CHAIR FOR THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON DISABILITY ISSUES.

SO, I'M VERY HONORED THAT HE IS HERE WITH US TODAY.

THANK YOU. SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING OCTOBER 5TH IS THE DISABILITY EXPO AND JOB FAIR.

SO, IT'S A DISABILITY HISTORY AWARENESS MONTH AND ALSO THE NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH.

SO WE COME TOGETHER, THE GREATER WORKFORCE TO HAVE THE JOB FAIR AND ALSO THE EXPO.

AND WE'RE ALSO DOING A WORKSHOP THAT DAY FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND THE PSP PROGRAM.

SO HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY JOINS US THAT DAY AND AT THE BRIDGEWATER SENIOR CENTER.

AND YOU WANT TO READ THOSE CITATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS, I THINK YOU USUALLY READ THEM, BUT I WILL GIVE IT TO YOU.

OKAY. THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE COMING UP.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE GIVING CITATIONS SO THAT.

INDIVIDUALS. IN THE COMMUNITY.

OKAY. JOSH, THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THANKS YOU.

THIS IS JOSHUA GARGANO FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE DEMONSTRATING SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF SOMERSET COUNTY CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES AND IS SIGNED BY YOUR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT.

DO YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS? YEAH. INCLUSION IS A NEVER ENDING STRUGGLE.

WE'VE COME SO FAR, BUT WE STILL HAVE SUCH A LONG WAY TO GO.

AND PART OF INCLUSION IS INVOLVING OUR LOCAL AND COUNTY OFFICIALS.

SO WHAT I'M GOING TO I KNOW YOU GUYS DO ALREADY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU GUYS ATTEND ALL THE MEETINGS AND EVERYTHING SO THAT YOU COULD HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE WITHOUT HEARING

[00:15:06]

FROM US, YOU GUYS ARE NOT GOING TO KNOW DIRECTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO FIX.

SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR.

AND RECOGNIZE THE GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

I WANT JOSH'S ADVANCED PLACEMENT TEACHER TO STAND UP.

COME ON UP. SO EVERYBODY THAT IS I SO PART OF THE PROCLAMATION TALKS ABOUT RECOGNIZING THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AND THEIR GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

AND JOSH WAS SURPRISED TONIGHT BY HIS ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH TEACHER FROM HIS HIGH SCHOOL.

SO. ISN'T THAT FANTASTIC? SHE SAW IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SHE SAW JOSH WAS BEING RECOGNIZED AND HE WAS SUPER SURPRISED DOWNSTAIRS IN THE RECEPTION AREA.

SO I WANT TO THANK HER FOR COMING HERE AND JOSH, FOR ALL YOU DO TO LEAD THE COUNTY AND MAKE THIS.

RIGHT. YEAH.

YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE ONE PICTURE.

AND WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO YOUR PROFESSOR, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. OKAY, OKAY.

TELL THEM WHAT YOU TEACH AND FOR WHO YOU AND FOR YOUR AGENCIES THAT YOU WORK FOR.

OKAY. OKAY. ARE YOU TAKING A GROUP PICTURE NOW? ARE THE OTHERS HERE? YEAH, I THINK THAT'S EVERYBODY.

OH, NO. THIS IS JUST FOR JOSH.

AND THEN WE HAVE ONE MORE.

MIC]. ALL RIGHT. YOU GOT TO DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT IN HERE.

THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THANKS [INAUDIBLE], FOR ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF OR OTHER EXEMPLARY SUPPORT OF

[PRESENTATION]

SOMERSET COUNTY CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES AND FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE DEMONSTRATING SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF SOMERSET COUNTY CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES. SIGNED BY YOUR FIVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON THIS DAY.

YOU'RE WELCOME. HI EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS ZAINAB. I AM A REGISTERED NURSE AT MATHENY MEDICAL.

MATHENY IS A SCHOOL AND HOSPITAL WITH FOR CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, AND KENDALL IS ACTUALLY MY ONE-ON-ONE STUDENT AT THE SCHOOL.

THANK YOU.

SO, ZEINAB, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

SO ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS IN THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

THANK YOU, JOHNNY.

[00:20:06]

GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU. SO SHE WAS NOMINATED BY ALSO THE BROTHER AND.

FAMILY. FAMILY GET TOGETHER.

OKAY. OKAY.

COME OVER HERE. THE COMMISSIONERS STAND UP.

THEY'RE GOING TO STAND ON THE BACK.

SO, MUHAMMAD, ACTUALLY, HE NOMINATED THE SISTER AND SONNY FOR HER GREAT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

SHE HAS BEEN A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR THE SOMERSET COUNTY RESIDENTS.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

DO YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT THIS? YEAH, I THINK.

YOU'RE ON THE SPOT. YOU CAN GO NEXT.

I HAVE, I ADMIRE ZANIB SO MUCH.

SHE'S ONE OF OUR BEST NURSES.

ALL OF OUR NURSES ARE EXCELLENT, BUT ZANIB.

I TRULY FEEL I'M HOPING I'M NOT HER MOTHER, BUT I WOULD LOVE HER TO BE A NURSE EDUCATOR.

THAT'S HOW GOOD SHE IS AT WHAT SHE DOES.

SHE'S AMAZING. SHE'S BEEN A WONDERFUL MENTOR TO ALL THE NURSES.

THANK YOU.

AND I GUESS I'LL SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS ABOUT ZAINAB'S PERSONAL LIFE.

I KNOW WHEN SHE GRADUATED NURSING SCHOOL IT WAS DEFINITELY AN ADJUSTMENT FOR HER WORKING AT MATHENY BECAUSE SHE HADN'T WORKED WITH THAT POPULATION BEFORE.

BUT I'M VERY PROUD OF THE PERSON THAT SHE'S BECOME TODAY AND HOW MUCH SHE LOVES AND CARES FOR ALL HER STUDENTS.

OH, DID YOU PAY? DID YOU PAY YOUR BROTHER TO SAY THAT? YEAH. SO WE NEED SOME PEOPLE ON THIS SIDE SO THE COMMISSIONERS.

. SO THIS NEXT CITATION IS FOR PLANNED LIFETIME ASSISTANCE NETWORK OF NEW JERSEY, INC.

FOR ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF OR OTHER EXEMPLARY SUPPORT OF SOMERSET COUNTY CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES AND MAKING A COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE POSITIVE AWARENESS OF THE NEEDS OF SOMERSET COUNTY RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES.

AND IS SIGNED ON THIS DAY BY THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

SO YOU WANT TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NETWORK.

ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO LET MELANIE MIQUELLE, OUR DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, THE OFFICE OF THE OFFICE ON AGING AND DISABILITIES IN SOMERSET COUNTY, FOR PRESENTING US WITH THE 2024 DISABILITY ADVOCATE AWARD.

ON BEHALF OF PLAN NEW JERSEY AND OUR FANTASTIC STAFF.

SOME OF THEM ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY.

OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE ARE TRULY HONORED TO BE AMONG SOME PHENOMENAL RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

PLAN NEW JERSEY, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE, WAS FOUNDED WITH A MISSION OF HELPING PARENTS WHO HAD A LOVED ONE WITH DISABILITY ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHO WILL CARE FOR MY LOVED ONE WHEN I CAN NO LONGER DO THAT? AND SO AT PLAN NEW JERSEY, OUR STAFF WORKS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE, PERSON CENTERED LIFE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE CARE AND SUPPORT OF THAT INDIVIDUAL.

AND WHEN THE TIME COMES, OUR STAFF EXECUTES THAT LIFE PLAN TO ENSURE THAT THAT THAT THAT LOVED INDIVIDUAL OF THE FAMILY IS CARED FOR,

[00:25:01]

IS PROTECTED, IS CONNECTED TO THEIR COMMUNITY, AND IS ABLE TO LIVE THEIR BEST LIFE.

WE HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO PARTNER WITH FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY, AS WELL AS AGENCIES AND SCHOOLS, TO OUTREACH PARENTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY TO HELP TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THE NEED TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE CARE OF THEIR LOVED ONES.

AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN THE COUNTY TO SUPPORT THE CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

EXCUSE ME. WE HAVE TO MOVE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

OKAY .

THANK YOU.

DID YOU GET A PICTURE WITH JOSH? OKAY. NO OFFENSE TO ANYBODY ELSE.

. HE'S A PHD CANDIDATE.

AND HE'S A PROFESSOR AT KING UNIVERSITY.

OKAY, SO WE WERE RECOGNIZING SPECIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

SO I SAID COME UP AND JUST LET THEM MEET YOU.

I'M JUST THRILLED TO BE ASKED AMONG THIS AUGUST ASSEMBLY HERE.

YOU ALL EMBODY THE BEST OF THE AMERICAN IDEAL AT ITS CORE.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

THE RECEPTION THAT HE WAS HAPPY TO BE HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY TO SEE HOW WE'RE LEADING THE CHARGE AND ADVOCATING FOR PEOPLE THAT LIVE WITH DISABILITIES, BECAUSE HE DOESN'T ALWAYS FIND THAT AND HASN'T FOUND IT IN OTHER COUNTIES IN HIS LIFE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

I THOUGHT HE WAS A, YOU KNOW, A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A MENTOR AND SOMEBODY WHO COULD GUIDE OTHERS THAT ARE STRUGGLING IN LIFE.

WELL, I'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH A LOT OF TALENTS.

I'M A PROFESSOR AT KEAN UNIVERSITY OF HISTORY AND ENGLISH, AND I HAVE A DOCTORATE FROM DREW, AND IT'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD WORK, BUT A LOT OF FUN.

BUT IT'S, JUST IT'S A JOY TO SEE LEADERS LIKE YOU WHO HAVEN'T GONE INTO POLITICS TO FEATHER YOUR OWN NEST, BUT REALLY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.

AND THANK YOU FOR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU, JOHN. THANK YOU.

WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR OUR SEPTEMBER 10TH MEETING.

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ABOVE LISTED MINUTES? MOTION. SECOND.

ROLL CALL PLEASE.

WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE 24-1899 ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMIT ALONG GEORGETOWN, FRANKLIN TURNPIKE, WASHINGTON STREET, COUNTY ROUTE 518 MONTGOMERY

[ORDINANCE]

TOWNSHIP, FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, BOROUGH OF ROCKY HILL, SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY AND SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR OCTOBER 8TH AT 6 P.M.

IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS THE ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR OCTOBER 8TH AT 6 P.M.?

[00:30:04]

SECOND. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE.

A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-1800 THROUGH 24-1804.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

SO MOVED. SECOND.

ROLL CALL PLEASE.

YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-1805 THROUGH 24-1817.

[AWARD OF CONTRACTS]

SO MOVED. SECOND.

ROLL CALL PLEASE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-1818 THROUGH 24-1834.

[FINANCE]

MOTION. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 24-1835 THROUGH 24-1850.

[ITEMS ADDED FROM THE SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 WORK SESSION TO BE ADOPTED TONIGHT]

SO MOVED. SECOND.

ROLL CALL PLEASE.

IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING? ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

FIVE MINUTES. FIVE MINUTES ONLY.

NO YIELDING OF TIME.

NO COMING UP A SECOND TIME.

IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN TO PUBLIC? MOTION SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE ALL FAMILY IN THE ROOM.

ANYTHING? PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, NOTHING FROM ME.

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.

WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

AND I WILL HAND IT OVER TO COUNTY COUNSEL.

CORRECT. THERE ARE TWO ISSUES FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

ONE IS PVA NEGOTIATIONS.

PVA 307 AND ONE IS THE PENDING LITIGATION IN THE KIM VERSUS HANLON MATTER.

WE WILL NOT TAKE ANY PUBLIC ACTION AND ADJOIN DIRECTLY FROM THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IS THERE A MOTION TO GO TO EXECUTIVE AND ADJOURN IMMEDIATELY WITH NO ACTION BEING TAKEN MOTION SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.

GOOD NIGHT. AND BE WELL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.