[00:00:01] ALL RIGHT. AND LET'S ROLL RIGHT INTO OUR NEXT AGENDA. DO WE HAVE ANYONE COMING IN TODAY? OKAY. WE'LL GIVE THEM A MINUTE TO FILTER IN. [REPORTS] ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL REPORTS? MIC] I THINK WE'RE GOING TO START OUT WITH AMERICA'S FIELD TRIP CONTEST WINNER. [CITATION] SO I'D LIKE TO CALL UP LULIN TO THE FRONT. AND IF HIS MOM BILIA IF I'M PRONOUNCING THAT CORRECTLY. COME ON UP. COME ON UP. HELLO. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. SO THIS YOUNG STUDENT HERE APPLIED TO A CONTEST, NATIONWIDE CONTEST PEOPLE, NATIONWIDE, 150 WINNERS AND HE WROTE A BEAUTIFUL POEM. AND WE HEARD IT AT OUR CULTURAL AND HERITAGE MEETING. AND ONCE I HEARD IT, I SAID, OH, I'VE GOT TO ASK HIM IF HE'LL COME TO OUR MEETING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING HIM. AND OH MY GOSH, THIS IS AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU AND HONOR FOR SOMERSET COUNTY TO HAVE THIS AWARD WINNER. I'M GOING TO READ THIS ALOUD ABOUT LULIN. IS THAT HOW YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME? OKAY, I GOT IT. I'M LUCKY TODAY. ALL RIGHT LULIN. READ ALONG WITH ME HERE. WE'RE GOING TO SAY LULIN WAS SELECTED ONE OF 50 WINNERS OF THE AMERICA'S FIELD TRIP CONTEST OUT OF MANY THOUSANDS OF ENTRANTS FOR HIS MORNING POEM CELEBRATING WHAT AMERICA MEANS TO HIM. THE CONTEST IS PART OF THE NATIONAL CELEBRATION OF THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ON JULY 4TH, 2026. LULIN WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN A FIELD TRIP THIS SUMMER TO ONE OF AMERICA'S HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SITES. WE ARE HONORED TO CELEBRATE LULIN'S ACCOMPLISHMENT AND INVITE ALL PATRIOTS TO READ HIS POEM AS THEY CELEBRATE OUR NATION'S BIRTH. THE SOMERSET COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONGRATULATE YOU [APPLAUSE]. SO, LULIN I'M GOING TO ASK YOUR MOM TO HOLD ON TO YOUR CERTIFICATE AND WOULD YOU BE SO KIND AS TO READ YOUR POEM FOR US? I'LL HOLD THE MICROPHONE FOR YOU. OKAY. FANTASTIC AMERICA. IN REALMS WHERE SPLENDOR REIGNS SUPREME, WITH JUSTICE AS OUR GUIDE HEARTS FIND THEIR DREAMS. IN THIS LAND SO WIDE, ABUNDANT AND OPULENT, CROWNED FOREMOST IN THE WORLD'S GRAND REIGN. OLDEST REPUBLIC PRIDE DISPLAYED A TAPESTRY OF STATES TO EXPLORE IN OUR PARADE. THE PINNACLE OF THE UNITED STATES YET TO COME. BUT WHEN IT DOES, ITS BRILLIANCE ELEVATES. TEEMING WITH PEOPLE WITH PRIDE BY THEIR SIDE. BENEATH THE STARS AND STRIPES, ASPIRATIONS GLIDE. IN THIS REALM OF OPPORTUNITY WHERE DREAMS IGNITE, AMERICA GLEAMS WITH UNYIELDING LIGHT [APPLAUSE]. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO WRITE THAT, OR SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHEN YOU WERE WRITING IT? SO SOME OF MY THOUGHTS WERE LIKE, HOW TO DESCRIBE AMERICA IN LIKE A, LIKE A FEW WAYS. [00:05:08] THEN I AFTER I WROTE THAT, I MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO LIKE, OH, WHATEVER I WAS WRITING. SO LIKE AND I CAME OUT WITH THIS POEM. IT'S FABULOUS, AND I AM EXTREMELY IMPRESSED BY THE WORK YOU'VE DONE. AND AGAIN, IT'S WHAT MAKES SOMERSET GREAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU, GREAT STUDENTS, GREAT SCHOOLS. SO ONCE AGAIN, LET'S GIVE LULIN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE [APPLAUSE] AND THEN DON'T MOVE. RIGHT IN THE CENTER, BECAUSE YOU ARE A GUEST OF HONOR. DO WE HAVE MORE FAMILY TOO? IF YOU WANT A PHOTO, YOU CAN COME IN TOO. WE'LL SEND YOU A COPY OF IT. MIC] GREAT JOB. AND NEXT WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE TO CELEBRATE CELEBRATE NATIVE AMERICAN [PROCLAMATION] HISTORY MONTH. AND I BELIEVE HAROLD WILLARD IS WITH US HERE. DO YOU WANT TO COME UP HAROLD? AND HAROLD WEARS MANY HATS, BECAUSE I MET HIM AT THE VETERANS DAY CEREMONY, AND WE HAD A VERY NICE CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT. SO IT WAS FORTUITOUS THAT YOU WERE THERE AND THE MONTH COINCIDED. SO YOU'RE GETTING ALL KINDS OF CELEBRATIONS IN NOVEMBER. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. ALLOW ME TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION FOR YOU. AND THEN IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. ALL RIGHT. SO NOVEMBER IS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. WHEREAS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IS CELEBRATED EACH YEAR IN NOVEMBER TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NATIVE AMERICANS TO UNITED STATES HISTORY. AND WHEREAS THE LENNI-LENAPE HAVE LIVED IN SOMERSET COUNTY FOR CENTURIES AND HELPED FOSTER A VIBRANT AND COLLABORATIVE SOCIETY AND CULTURE. AND WHEREAS NATIVE AMERICANS STAND AMONG AMERICA'S MOST DISTINGUISHED AUTHORS, ARTISTS, SCIENTISTS, ATHLETES, SOLDIERS, AND POLITICAL LEADERS, AND IN THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THEY HAVE PROFOUNDLY STRENGTHENED AMERICA'S LEGACY. AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DO HEREBY DECLARE THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2024 AS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO OBSERVE THE CULTURAL, SOCIAL AND PERSONAL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAS. AND IT'S SIGNED BY YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. WELL, I'D LIKE TO LET ME JUST PUT THIS HERE. YEAH. WOW. I LIKE FOR MY WIFE TO COME UP, AND SHE WILL ASSIST ME. OKAY. YES, DEAR. AS COMMISSIONER MALONE, MARANO MARANO, PARDEN ME. NO WORRIES. MARANO. I MET HER AT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL DOWNSTAIRS HERE DURING VETERANS DAY, AND WE WERE HONORED TO HAVE YOU THERE, MA'AM. THANK YOU. AND IN THAT MEETING I DID LET HER KNOW MY NAME AND WHO I WAS AND THAT I WAS VERY SURPRISED ABOUT THIS AWARD GETTING THIS AWARD HERE TODAY. SO I WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING I PREPARED. [00:10:04] LET ME JUST PUT THIS OVER HERE. YEAH I'M KIND OF LEANING ON IT. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I DO. AND LET ME GET MY GLASSES OUT OF HERE. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND EVERYONE FOR PRESENTING ME THIS PROCLAMATION CELEBRATING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE AND HISTORY MONTH. I'VE LIVED IN SOMERVILLE FOR 20 YEARS. DURING THAT TIME, I HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN PRESENTING THE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE TO OUR TOWN. OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE ORGANIZED NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVALS POW WOW IN TOWN. A FEW WERE HELD AT SAINT JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. THAT WAS SOMETHING. AND OTHERS WERE ON DIVISION STREET. I HOPE TO CONTINUE THESE CULTURAL EVENTS IN THE FUTURE. I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR GIVING ME THIS PROCLAMATION. I WOULD LIKE NOW TO CLOSE WITH A PRAYER. OH GREAT SPIRIT WHOSE VOICE I HEAR IN THE WIND, WHOSE BREATH GIVES LIFE TO ALL THE WORLD. HEAR ME. I NEED YOUR STRENGTH AND WISDOM. LET ME WALK IN BEAUTY AND MAKE MY EYES EVER BEHOLD THE RED AND PURPLE SUNSET. MAKE MY HANDS RESPECT THE THINGS YOU HAVE MADE. MY EARS SHARP TO HEAR YOUR VOICE. MAKE ME WISE SO THAT I MAY UNDERSTAND THE THINGS YOU HAVE TAUGHT MY PEOPLE. LET ME LEARN THE LESSONS YOU HAVE HIDDEN IN EVERY LEAF AND ROCK. I SEEK STRENGTH NOT TO BE GREATER THAN MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, BUT TO FIGHT MY GREATEST ENEMY, MYSELF. MAKE ME ALWAYS READY TO COME TO YOU WITH CLEAN HANDS AND EYES, SO WHEN LIFE FADES LIKE THE FADING SUNSET MY SPIRIT MAY COME TO YOU WITHOUT SHAME. [INAUDIBLE] WHAT I JUST SAID I JUST SAID THAT PRAYER AND AT THE ENDING IN MY LANGUAGE I THANKED GOD AND THE WORD [INAUDIBLE] IS GOD IN MY LANGUAGE. AND IN THAT PROCLAMATION, COMMISSIONER READ ABOUT THE LENNI LENAPE PEOPLE AND THEY ARE FRIENDS. AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY AT OUR FESTIVALS HERE IN SOMERVILLE. AND CHIEF DAN PERRY AND URI RIDGEWAY OF THE NANTICOKE PEOPLE AND OF THE VANDERPOOL PEOPLE ARE VERY GOOD FRIENDS OF MINE. I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HONORING ME HERE WITH THIS TOKEN OF YOUR GRATITUDE. I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN. HAVE A BLESSED DAY. I'M SO GLAD YOU COULD COME. THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU. MIC] [00:15:10] THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL PRAYER. [APPROVAL OF MINUTES] COULD I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE NOVEMBER 12TH, 2024 MINUTES. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SINGLETERRY. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SOOY. YES. APPOINTMENTS. [APPOINTMENT] THE MJTPA OR THE NORTH JERSEY TRANSPORTATION AND PLANNING AUTHORITY ALTERNATE BOARD MEMBER, R 24-2264, PAUL DRAKE. WELL, I GOT TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THAT. I'LL SECOND THAT. ALL RIGHT, SO WE'VE GOT A MOTION A SECOND. CAN I GET A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SINGLETERRY. OKAY. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SOOY. IF I HAVE TO MISS A MEETING, YES. SO MOVING ON TO ORDINANCE 24-2299. [ORDINANCE] ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMITS ALONG GEORGETOWN, FRANKLIN TURNPIKE, WASHINGTON STREET, COUNTY ROAD, ROUTE 518 MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, BOROUGH OF ROCKY HILL, SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, AND SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR DECEMBER 10TH, 2024 AT 6 P.M.. CAN I GET A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 24-2299 ON THE FIRST READING AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR DECEMBER 10TH, 2024 AT 6 P.M.. MOTION. SECOND. ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SINGLETERRY. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SOOY. YES. ALL RIGHT. AND WE HAVE ORDINANCE 24-2199 ORDINANCE PROHIBITING LEFT TURNS FROM EASTBOUND GEORGETOWN FRANKLIN [PUBLIC HEARING] TURNPIKE, COUNTY ROUTE 518 INTO BRECKNELL WAY, MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. COULD I GET A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 24-2199? MOTION. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANY ONE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK. NONE THAT I'M AWARE OF. ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE. SEEING NONE. MOTION TO CLOSE. SECOND. SO I WAS GOING TO SAY, CAN WE HAVE A. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ALL RIGHT. PERFECT. COULD I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 24-2199. MOTION. SECOND. ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SINGLETERRY. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SOOY. YES. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. [CONSENT AGENDA] ALL MATTERS LISTED HEREUNDER ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE IN NATURE AND WILL BE ENACTED UPON IN OR SEVERAL MOTIONS. ANY PERSON MAY REQUEST THAT AN ITEM BE REMOVED FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION. ITEMS LISTED BELOW WERE INTRODUCED AT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S WORK SESSION MEETING OF NOVEMBER 12TH, 2024. ADMINISTRATOR MAHR. WE CAN GO STRAIGHT TO THE MOTION. STRAIGHT TO THE. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION. ALL RIGHT. SO MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-2200 THROUGH 24-2212. MOTION. SECOND. ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SINGLETERRY. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SOOY. YES. MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-2213 THROUGH 24-2220. [AWARD OF CONTRACTS] MOTION. SECOND. ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SINGLETERRY. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SOOY. YES. ALL RIGHT. COULD I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-2221 THROUGH 24-2263. [FINANCE] MOTION. SECOND. ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES, [INAUDIBLE] 24-2240. ABSTENTION FROM 24-2240 NOTED. COMMISSIONER SINGLETERRY. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SOOY. YES. ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 24-2265 THROUGH 24-2276. [ITEMS ADDED FROM THE NOVEMBER 26, 2024 WORK SESSION TO BE ADOPTED TONIGHT] WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THAT TO 2277 WITH THE ADDITION OF THE TRANSFER. [00:20:05] SO WITH THAT CHANGE, COULD I GET A MOTION. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. ROLL CALL. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SINGLETERRY. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR SOOY. YES. CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN UP TO THE PUBLIC? MOTION. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL RIGHT. ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC? THERE ARE NONE. ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE. SEEING NONE. MOTION TO CLOSE. [INAUDIBLE] SECOND. ALL RIGHT. AND DO WE HAVE. [EXECUTIVE SESSION] AND WE HAD EXECUTIVE SESSION EARLIER. DO WE HAVE MORE? WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE. ALL RIGHT. THAT TIME OF YEAR. SO I NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE DISCUSSION OF GRANT FUNDING OR POSSIBLE AWARD GRANTS OF 2025 LAP GRANTS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH REGARDS TO VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES RELATED TO THE CPAC PROGRAM AND A PERSONNEL MATTER. SO MOVED. WE WILL TAKE NO ACTION AND ADJOURN DIRECTLY THEREFROM. MOTION. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.