[00:00:01]

WE WILL MOVE RIGHT INTO OUR 6:00 MEETING. OUR REGULAR MEETING.

ANY ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER REPORTS? THANK YOU.

I LIKE THAT. DOING A MOTION. OKAY. THAT WAS GREAT.

SO I DO SEE THE PROCLAMATION. THE PEOPLE RECEIVING THE PROCLAMATIONS ARE HERE.

IT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE RECEIVING CITATIONS THAT ARE, THAT IS ON THE AGENDA ARE STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

SO WE WILL RIGHT NOW GO TO THE PROCLAMATIONS.

WE WILL THEN SKIP THE CITATIONS FOR NOW AND GO STRAIGHT INTO THE MEETING.

AND WHEN THEY ARRIVE, WE WILL GO BACK TO THE CITATIONS.

SO AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE THE WOMEN'S VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY.

[PROCLAMATIONS]

ARE THERE ANY OTHER WOMEN VETERANS IN THE AUDIENCE? PLEASE COME FORWARD. ALL RIGHT. I GUESS JUST YOU AND I.

WOMEN VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY WHEREAS JUNE 12TH, 2025 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS WOMEN VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE LEGISLATURE OF NEW JERSEY IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 77TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOMEN'S ARMED SERVICES INTEGRATION ACT, GIVING WOMEN THE RIGHT TO SERVE AS PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN TIMES OF WAR OR PEACE.

AND WHEREAS WOMEN HAVE SERVED IN MILITARY ROLES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OUR NATION, INCLUDING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, PROVIDING SPYING ON ENEMY NURSING, AND EVEN DISGUISING THEMSELVES AS MEN TO FIGHT IN BATTLE.

WHEREAS MORE THAN 400 WOMEN FOUGHT DURING THE CIVIL WAR, AND WHEREAS, WOMEN SERVED IN VITAL ROLES IN BOTH BOTH WORLD WARS, INCLUDING 35,000 IN WORLD WAR ONE AND 350,000 IN WORLD WAR TWO.

AND PILOTING AIRCRAFT. AND WHEREAS, SINCE THE PASSAGE OF WOMEN'S ARMED FORCES.

EXCUSE ME. ARMED SERVICE INTEGRATION ACT WOMEN HAVE SERVED DURING TIMES OF CONFLICT AND CALM IN ALL MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES, INCLUDING LOGISTICS, MUNITIONS, INTELLIGENCE, AND COMBAT.

MAKING OUR MILITARY THE MOST PROFESSIONAL, EDUCATED, AGILE, AND STRONGEST FORCE THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN.

AND WHEREAS WOMEN VETERANS HAVE RETURNED HOME TO TAKE CIVILIAN ROLES AS BUSINESS LEADERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, TEACHERS, ARTISTS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, AND IN EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF CIVILIAN LIFE, USING THEIR UNIQUE EXPERIENCES AS SOLDIERS TO ENHANCE THEIR COMMUNITIES. NOW, THEREFORE, BE PROCLAIMED THAT SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY RECOGNIZE JUNE 12TH, 2025 AS WOMEN'S VETERANS APPRECIATION DAY IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN CELEBRATING THE HISTORY AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF AMERICA'S WOMEN VETERANS WITH APPROPRIATE CEREMONIES AND ACTIVITIES.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE. I KNOW TODAY IS THE 24TH, BUT WE STAND WITH AND HONOR WOMEN VETERANS.

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, ANDREA, FOR SERVING.

I, AS A VETERAN, HONORED TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PROCLAMATION.

AND IF THERE ARE ANY WORDS YOU WANT TO SAY AND THE ROLE THAT YOU PLAY IN IN THE AUXILIARY OR THE AMERICAN LEGION, AND JUST BEING A WOMAN VETERAN. SO I, I'M NOT REALLY A TALKER, BUT I WENT INTO THE MILITARY IN 1975.

THERE I GO. RIGHT. WHEN I WENT IN, I WAS ONE OF THE LAST CLASSES FOR THE WOMEN ARMY CORPS.

SO I WAS ACTUALLY A WACK. AND TWO YEARS LATER, WE BECAME PART OF THE MILITARY.

AND AT THAT TIME, WOMEN COULD NOT SERVE IN COMBAT.

THEY COULD NOT GO AND FIGHT. WE HAD TO LEARN, WE HAD TO SHOOT AND EVERYTHING.

BUT WE COULD NOT SERVE IN COMBAT. SO WOMEN HAVE COME A V ERY LONG WAY.

AND FOR THAT I'M VERY GRATEFUL AND VERY PROUD.

MOST OF YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU KNOW, JANELLE KNOWS I AM THE COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 12 HERE IN SOMERVILLE.

I'M ALSO A DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PERSON WITH OUR STATE AMERICAN LEGION, SO I'M A LITTLE BUSY, BUT MY HUSBAND TELLS ME I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN. BUT IT'S OKAY.

IT'S ALL GOOD. AND WE DO IT BECAUSE WE LOVE TO DO IT.

AND WE LOVE THIS COUNTRY. SO NOW, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT'S A WONDERFUL HONOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

[00:05:18]

BRANDYWYNE, DO YOU MIND COMING UP? GOOD TO SEE YOU, AS ALWAYS.

I. LOVE YOUR DRESS. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. SO WE ARE HERE TONIGHT WITH BRANDYWYNE MASSEY FROM OUR ENGINEERING DIVISION TO CELEBRATE CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.

SO BEAR WITH ME AS I READ THIS PROCLAMATION ALONG.

WHEREAS JUNE 2025 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH BY CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES FIRST CELEBRATED IN 2006 TO RECOGNIZE THE GREAT CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICANS OF CARIBBEAN DESCENT.

AND WHEREAS CARIBBEAN AMERICANS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CULTURE AND WELL-BEING OF THE UNITED STATES SINCE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND CONTINUE TO BE VITAL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES TO THIS DAY. AND WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES HAS MORE THAN 8.5 MILLION RESIDENTS OF CARIBBEAN DESCENT, WITH MORE THAN 20% IN NEW JERSEY, INCLUDING THOUSANDS WHO CALL SOMERSET COUNTY HOME.

AND WHEREAS, CARIBBEAN AMERICANS BROUGHT AND SHARED THEIR RICH AND DIVERSE CULTURES, CULINARY STYLES, MUSIC AND ARTS, INTELLECTUAL HISTORY, AND MORE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUSINESS LEADERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, TEACHERS, ARTISTS, ENGINEERING, PLANNING DEVELOPERS, AND MORE. WHEREAS, RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND SUCCESSES OF RESIDENTS OF CARIBBEAN ANCESTRY ENCOURAGES THEIR ONGOING PARTICIPATION AND CONTINUED ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND BENEFITS THE ENTIRE SOMERSET COUNTY COMMUNITY.

SO NOW THEREFORE BE PROCLAIMED AT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY RECOGNIZE JUNE 2025 AS CARIBBEAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO BE AWARE OF AND APPLAUD THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND SUCCESSES OF THOSE SHARING CARIBBEAN HERITAGE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? SORRY. I AM NOT OF CARIBBEAN DESCENT. HOWEVER, I ASCRIBE TO THE DOCTRINE OF PAN-AFRICANISM, WHICH IS A POLITICAL, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL MOVEMENT ADVOCATING FOR THE SOLIDARITY AND UNITY OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT WORLDWIDE.

IT EMPHASIZES A SHARED HISTORY, CULTURE AND DESTINY, PARTICULARLY IN RESPONSE TO COLONIALISM AND ITS LASTING IMPACTS.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION A FEW PROMINENT CARIBBEAN AMERICANS THAT YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF BEFORE.

MARCUS GARVEY, A JAMAICAN POLITICAL ACTIVIST.

SIDNEY POITIER, A BAHAMIAN AMERICAN ACTOR, DIRECTOR, AUTHOR AND ACTIVIST WHO LEFT A LASTING IMPACT ON AMERICAN CULTURE AND FILM. IN 1964, HE BECAME THE FIRST BLACK ACTOR TO WIN THE ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR FOR HIS ROLE IN LILIES OF THE FIELD IN 1963.

COLIN POWELL, 65TH UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE FROM 2001 TO 2005.

HE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO HOLD THE OFFICE.

HIS PARENTS WERE IMMIGRANTS FROM JAMAICA. RIHANNA, BARBADIAN SINGER, ACTRESS AND BUSINESSWOMAN.

THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE PRESENCE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF CARIBBEAN AMERICANS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] . WAIT. MAYBE IF I PUT MY GLASSES ON. COME. COME ON DOWN.

TIME FOR A CHECK UP.

SO THIS PROCLAMATION IS AWARDED TO GIVEN GIVING TO THE FRANKLIN FOOD BANK WHO HAS JUST HAD A NATIONAL RECOGNITION.

[CITATIONS (Part 1 of 2)]

[00:10:01]

IN 2024, THE FRANKLIN FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTED 3.1 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD.

THIS WAS LOGGED MORE THAN 30,000 VISITS AND HAD VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN 17,000 HOURS OF THEIR TIME.

THANKS TO THE FOOD BANK'S PROGRAMS, 94% OF THE FAMILIES RECEIVING SERVICES REPORTED THAT THEY WERE BETTER ABLE TO AFFORD OTHER NECESSITIES SUCH AS RENT, UTILITIES, CLOTHING, EDUCATION, MEDICATION, AND TRANSPORTATION.

IN ADDITION TO FOOD PROGRAMS, THE FRANKLIN FOOD BANK ALSO PROVIDES HEALTH SCREENINGS, NUTRITION WORKSHOPS, AND ASSISTANCE WITH SNAP BENEFITS ENROLLMENT.

THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP AND TEAM AND VOLUNTEERS FOR HELPING TO KEEP SOMERSET COUNTY FED AND HEALTHY.

AND IT IS SIGNED BY YOUR FOUR EXCUSE ME NOW FIVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON THIS DAY.

SO CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] YES.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY. GOOD TO SEE YOU. SORRY FOR BEING A LITTLE BIT LATE. THIS IS VERY SPECIAL.

AND IT'S AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO ACCEPT THIS ON BEHALF OF THE FRANKLIN FOOD BANK.

WE'VE BEEN HELPING TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

AND I'M ALWAYS TORN WHEN I SAY THAT BECAUSE 50 YEARS OF SUPPORTING A TOWN SHOWS A LOT OF GRIT AND RESILIENCE AND RESOURCEFULNESS.

BUT IT'S ALSO VERY CONCERNING. IN A TOWN AS WEALTHY AS FRANKLIN AND A COUNTY AS WEALTHY AS SOMERSET, AND A STATE AS WEALTHY AS NEW JERSEY, AND A COUNTRY AS WEALTHY AS THIS ONE.

WE SHOULDN'T HAVE FOOD INSECURITY. IT'S NOT A PRIVILEGE.

IT'S A HUMAN RIGHT. 70,000 PEOPLE LIVE IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

ALMOST 10,000 ARE FOOD INSECURE. HOWEVER, WE ARE STILL VERY OPTIMISTIC.

WE HAVE INCREDIBLE SUPPORTERS ACROSS THIS INCREDIBLE TOWN AND COUNTY AND STATE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOMERSET COUNTY.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS SO MANY FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE FACING CHALLENGES WITH RESPECT TO FOOD INSECURITY.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, IF YOU'RE FOOD INSECURE, IT'S PROBABLY A SYMPTOM OF OTHER CHALLENGES THAT YOU FACE FROM HOUSING AND HEALTH CARE TO TRANSPORTATION AND EMPLOYMENT, AND THROUGH INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMERCE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

AND SOMERSET COUNTY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRIDGE THOSE GAPS FOR LITERALLY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THAT COME TO US FOR SUPPORT EACH AND EVERY DAY.

IT IS RECOGNITION LIKE THIS THAT FUELS US. THESE ARE SOME DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING TIMES AND SHINING A LIGHT ON THE WORK THAT WE DO.

KEEPS US MOTIVATED AND INSPIRED TO SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND CONTINUE TO DO THIS WORK.

SO THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU, FOR SUPPORTING US, YOUR FRIENDS, TO THE FOOD BANK.

YOUR WARRIORS ON THE FRONT LINE OF THIS EFFORT. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL SO MUCH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THE NEXT CITATION. RECIPIENTS ARE NOT HERE YET, SO WE WILL MOVE RIGHT ALONG.

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ABOVE MINUTES? SO MOVED. SECOND. ANY CHANGES? SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES.

ANY QUESTIONS? ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.

ABSTAIN. ABSTENTION NOTED. COMMISSIONER DRAKE.

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. ABSTAIN. WE HAVE OPEN SPACE 25-1200 AUTHORIZING THE GRANT TO NORTH PLAINFIELD BOROUGH FROM THE SOMERSET COUNTY OPEN SPACE TRUST FOR

[OPEN SPACE GRANT]

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $435,000. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.

YES. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

[00:15:01]

[CONSENT AGENDA]

YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-1217 THROUGH 25-1232.

[AWARD OF CONTRACTS]

YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-1233 THROUGH 25-1266.

[FINANCE]

YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-1267 THROUGH 25- 1281.

[ITEMS ADDED FROM THE JUNE 24, 2025 WORK SESSION TO BE ADOPTED TONIGHT]

YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. BEFORE WE GO INTO PUBLIC, EVEN THOUGH THE RECIPIENTS ARE HERE.

[CITATIONS (Part 2 of 2)]

IT'S A GOOD ORGANIZATION. THEY'VE COMPLETED 500 SUCCESSFUL VOLUNTEER CLEANUP PROJECTS IN MORE THAN 23 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING WITHIN THE US AND CANADA. AND WE FURTHER, WE CELEBRATE WITH GRATITUDE THE EXEMPLARY WORK THIS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION HAS DONE IN SOMERSET COUNTY. THE DSNDP GROUP HAS ADOPTED FIVE ROADS IN SOMERSET IN SOMERSET, BOUND BROOK, BRIDGEWATER, GREEN BROOK AND WARREN TOWNSHIP AS PART OF THE ADOPT A ROAD PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SOMERSET COUNTY DIVISION OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

AND ALL TOGETHER IT'S PRETTY EXCITING. DSNDP HAS COMPLETED 33 CLEANUPS AND TREE CONSERVATION EVENTS IN SOMERSET COUNTY. WE WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR GREAT WORK THEY'RE DOING.

I THINK CERTAINLY THESE TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND THE ADOPT A ROAD PROGRAM IS SO VERY IMPORTANT WITHIN SOMERSET COUNTY.

SO WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY'VE REALLY STEPPED UP SIGNIFICANTLY.

I KNOW THEY'RE NOT HERE, BUT WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEIR GREAT WORK AND THANK THEM FOR FOR THEIR EFFORT.

THANK YOU. WE COME TO THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING WHERE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK.

[PUBLIC]

NOW. COMING UP A SECOND TIME, IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? ANY EMAILS OR PHONE CALLS? YES. YES. GIVE US YOUR NAME.

ADDRESS? AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

[*A portion of this video is without audio* ]

[00:21:43]

RIGHT. I JUST GOOGLED IT WHILE YOU WERE SPEAKING. SO IT SAYS SOMERSET COUNTY PROPERTY OWNERS AND RESIDENTS CAN SIGN UP TO BE NOTIFIED ANYTIME THE COUNTY CLERK RECORDS A DOCUMENT IN THEIR NAME BY SUBSCRIBING TO A FREE SERVICE.

YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL FOR MORTGAGE, DEED LIEN OR OTHER OFFICIAL DOCUMENT WITH YOUR NAME IS RECORDED.

SO WE ALREADY OFFER THAT SERVICE FOR FREE. YOU JUST NEED TO SIGN UP.

AND THEN WHEN WE RECEIVE A DOCUMENT THAT HAS YOUR NAME, BECAUSE THAT DEED TO TRANSFER IS GOING TO HAVE YOUR NAME ON IT.

RIGHT. EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T SIGN IT, YOU'LL GET A NOTIFICATION FROM US SAYING, HEY, DID SOMETHING, SOMETHING WAS FILED WITH YOUR NAME ON IT. RIGHT.

BECAUSE SPEED IS YOUR FRIEND. THEN YOU CAN COME AND CHALLENGE THAT FILING, RIGHT? BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIMES YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, RIGHT? WE CAN'T REALLY SLOW UP THE PROCESS OR ADD TWO FACTOR IDENTIFICATION FOR RECORDING.

BUT WE DO HAVE A FREE SERVICE THAT THE CLERK INSTITUTED WHEN HE FIRST GOT HERE TO YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BUY LIFELOCK.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN YOU CAN GO DO ALL THAT GREAT STUFF.

I DON'T SUPPORT OR ENDORSE ANYONE, BUT THERE IS A FREE SERVICE THAT THE CLERK OFFERS TO GIVE YOU NOTIFICATIONS.

GOOD THING YOU CAME. YEAH. AND WITH REGARDS TO THE ROAD, WE ARE IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH YOUR MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

ABOUT THAT ROAD AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE AND THE INVESTMENTS WE PUT INTO IT.

AND HE'S AWARE OF IT, RIGHT. SO SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ALWAYS OURS, SOMETIMES IT'S LIMITED BY WHAT WE CAN DO.

BUT I'M SURE AS IF ANYONE COMES AND BRINGS SOMETHING TO OUR ATTENTION, WE WILL LOOK INTO IT NOW AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

BUT IT WILL HELP THE PEDESTRIAN OR THE OTHER DRIVER THAT GETS HIT WHEN SOMEBODY IS NOT YIELDING THE RIGHT OF WAY.

WE JUST HAVE TO EVALUATE IT, RIGHT? THE SIGN MAY NOT BE THE BEST ANSWER TO MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE THAT AN ENGINEER SEES THAT YOU AND I DON'T SEE OR SOMETHING.

BUT REST ASSURED THAT WHEN ANY RESIDENT COMES WITH AN ISSUE RELATED TO A COUNTY ROAD THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, WE MAKE SURE THAT SOMEONE IS ASSIGNED TO LOOK AT IT AND TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.

THAT'S GREAT. ALL RIGHT. YEP. NOT A PROBLEM. ONE MORE QUESTION.

ON HIS PAGE IS A LIST OF THINGS HE DOES. AND ONE OF THEM SAYS PROPERTY RECORDED NOTIFICATION SERVICE.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NOPE. NOT A PROBLEM.

SO WE UNDERSTAND WE HAVE. ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ANY MORE? EMAIL. ANY EMAILS OR PHONE CALLS? NO. NOTHING ELSE.

HEARING NONE. SEEING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING? ALL IN FAVOR? I HAVE IT IS YOURS. SURE. CAN MR. WHALEN AND MR.

[00:25:05]

HOW ARE YOU? I AM, I'M PAUL DRAKE. HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU, SIR? HOW ARE YOU? NICE TO MEET YOU. SO JUST BEFORE YOU CAME, I READ.

I READ THIS REALLY A COMBINATION OF THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

I WON'T READ IT AGAIN, BUT I THINK WHAT I CAN SORT OF EXPLAIN IS WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR SOMERSET COUNTY.

I UNDERSTAND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND THROUGHOUT MANY COUNTRIES, YOU'RE DOING A LOT OF WORK FOR THE DSNDP.

SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT? WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO.

AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY COMMEND ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND THANK YOU FOR CONTRIBUTING TO SOMERSET COUNTY HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO DSNDP , WHICH IS DR. SHRI NANASAHEB DHARMADHIKARI PRATISHTHAN , WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN 2008.

THE MOTTO WAS VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM, WHICH MEANS THE WORLD IS ONE FAMILY.

SO THE MOTTO OF THIS POSITION IS TO CONSTANTLY GIVE BACK TO THE SOCIETY.

SO THE FOUNDERS OF THESE OF THIS INSTITUTION ALWAYS TAUGHT US IT IS NOT WHAT THE COUNTRY GIVES YOU, BUT IT IS WHAT YOU CAN GIVE TO THE COUNTRY. SO THE IDEA OF GIVING BACK TO THE SOCIETY MOTIVATED THE ORGANIZATION TO DO A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS LIKE CLEANLINESS DRIVE, TREE PLANTATION DRIVE CLEANING OF RIVERS WATERS GIVING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

SO THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF GREAT WORK, AND WE TAKE PRIDE TO BE A PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

WE HAVE 500 AND WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO SHARE THAT THIS YEAR WE HAVE COMPLETED 500 PROGRAMS AND WE ARE DOING A MEGA CLEANLINESS DRIVE ACROSS 30 LOCATIONS IN NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK. AND WE ARE REALLY OBLIGED THAT THE COUNTY IS GIVING US APPRECIATION FOR THIS.

A SECOND BEST THING TO SHARE IS THE HUDSON COUNTY RECENTLY GAVE US THE GOVERNOR AWARD, WHICH IS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. FOR ALL THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE NORTH AMERICA, IN BOTH USA AND CANADA.

WE RECEIVED THE WE RECEIVED THE GOVERNOR AWARD FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP FOR 2024.

SO I THINK OUT OF EIGHT GROUPS, WE WERE ONE OF THEM.

SO YEAH THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S TERRIFIC. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO.

SO WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PHOTO. HERE'S ALSO THIS WAS SIGNED BY THE FIVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

INCLUDE OUR NEW COUNTY COMMISSIONER. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD.

YEAH. ALRIGHT.

ALRIGHT. I THINK WE'VE DONE WHAT WE CAME TO DO.

SO IF NOTHING FURTHER, I WILL TAKE A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT.

SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT. GOOD NIGHT. BE WELL AND BE SAFE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.