[Board of County Commissioners Agenda/Work Meeting on July 22, 2025.]
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IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY ON JANUARY 12TH, 2025. ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WAS PROVIDED AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
FOR PUBLIC ACCESS, PLEASE EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS TO COUNTYBOARDMEETING@CO.SOMERSET.NJ.US.
THE PUBLIC MAY PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING BY CALLING (908) 231-7075.
ALLEGIANCE] MAY WE CONTINUE TO BE LEADERS FOR ALL PEOPLE AT ALL TIMES. AS WE HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE SINCE WE LAST MET, WE HAD A LOSS OF LIFE DURING THE STORM ON JULY 3RD.
THIS AGENDA AND THE ITEMS ON IT ARE FOR DISCUSSION AND WILL BE CONSIDERED AT OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 26TH. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING UNLESS THE MEASURE AND ITS ADOPTION ARE NEEDED IN A MANNER NECESSARY TO CONTINUE COUNTY BUSINESS. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.
HERE. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. HERE. COMMISSIONER SOOY.
HERE. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. HERE. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.
HERE. BEFORE WE GET STARTED INTO OUR COMMISSIONER REPORTS, WE WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THOSE FIRST RESPONDERS AND THOSE WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINES AS WE EXPERIENCE THE STORM ON JULY 3RD AND THEN AGAIN ON MONDAY, JULY 14TH, ACTUALLY. AS WE UNDERSTAND, THESE STORMS ARE COMING FAST AND FURIOUS, BUT WE ARE SO PROUD OF THE WORK THAT OUR STAFF ARE DOING AND CONTRIBUTING AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE SAFE.
AGAIN, THANKFUL. AND THANKFULLY IN THIS SECOND STORM, THERE WAS NO LOSS OF LIFE IN SOMERSET COUNTY.
BUT THE TWO WOMEN WERE KILLED IN PLAINFIELD WHEN THEIR VEHICLES WERE SWEPT AWAY BY FLOODWATERS.
TONIGHT IT IS FITTING THAT WE PUBLICLY THANK, AS I SAID, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS OEM EMERGENCY AND FIRST RESPONDERS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL THAT WENT INTO ACTION ON THAT EVENING.
WE'RE HERE TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR PROFESSIONALISM, THEIR TRAINING, AND ULTIMATELY THEIR ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER AS A WELL-OILED MACHINE AND THE ORGANIZATION AND THE EXCELLENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM THAT THEY PROVIDE, NOT ONLY IN A TIME OF TRAGIC TRAUMA AND OR EMERGENCY, BUT JUST ALL THE WAY AROUND. SO WE KNOW THAT THEY FACE DANGER EVERY TIME THAT THEY GO OUT THERE LEAVING THEIR FAMILIES AND AGAIN ENSURING THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE SAFE. SO WE WANT TO APPLAUD YOU AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PUBLICLY. [APPLAUSE]. WE HAVE WITH US REPRESENTATIVES FOR OEM, ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS. WE HAVE PUBLIC WORKS AND OUR PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
SO IF THOSE DEPARTMENTS WILL COME FORWARD AND IF THERE'S ANYONE FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT THAT WE'RE THERE, I UNDERSTAND THEIR MEMBERS OF THE DIVE TEAM THAT ALSO PARTICIPATED.
SO LET ME NOT FORGET THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
SO IF YOU'RE HERE PLEASE COME FORWARD AND I'M GOING TO TEE IT UP AND GIVE IT TO COMMISSIONER GRANER, WHO IS LIAISON FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND 911 AND THEN DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
AND THEN AGAIN, PLEASE COME FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN TAKE A PICTURE.
AND WE ARE FORMALLY, PUBLICLY AND OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZING YOUR EFFORTS.
SO THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. DIRECTOR.
AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, OUR DIVISIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY WERE RESPONSIVE TO SEVERAL INCIDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN NORTH PLAINFIELD, WATCHUNG AND ROUTE 22 ALONG THE GREEN BROOK LAST WEEK AS A RESULT OF CATASTROPHIC FLOODING IN THAT PART OF OUR COUNTY.
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AND RESCUE UNITS. I WANT TO EXTEND OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE 911 COMMUNICATIONS TEAM AND THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS DURING LAST WEEK'S FLOODING. THEIR DEDICATION, COORDINATION AND PROFESSIONALISM KEPT OUR RESIDENTS SAFE AND INFORMED DURING A CHALLENGING TIME.WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. AND THANKS TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION, WHO IS ALWAYS TIRELESSLY OUT THERE DURING EVERY WEATHER EMERGENCY THAT WE HAVE.
MAKING SURE THAT THAT CRESTING OF WATER DOES NOT FLOOD OUR COMMUNITIES, AND OUT THERE AT THE READY TO CLEAN DEBRIS AND INCLUDING NATURAL DEBRIS, BECAUSE THAT WINDSTORM THAT TOOK US ON JULY 3RD WAS BRUTAL.
I LIVE IN GREENBERG TOWNSHIP. I'M ON THE EAST COUNTY, SO I SAW FIRSTHAND WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
GREEN BROOK ROAD AND ROUTE 22 BECAME A RAGING RIVER AND TREES JUST SNAPPED IN 20 MINUTES.
MATURE TREES GONE. THREE HUGE MATURE TREES IN MY PROPERTY FELL ON GREEN BROOK ROAD.
MY NEIGHBOR'S CARS CRUSHED, GARAGES SMASHED. AND I THANK ALL THE TEAM, THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR PUBLIC WORKS WHO ARE ALWAYS TIRELESSLY OUT THERE SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY SO SELFLESSLY BECAUSE, AS THE DIRECTOR SAID, YOU'RE LEAVING YOUR HOMES TO HELP EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND FIRSTHAND, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BECAUSE MY TREE FELL ON GREEN BROOK ROAD RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
[APPLAUSE] SO I'M ALSO GOING TO YIELD THE FLOOR TO THE COORDINATORS OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, PLEASE. IF YOU WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDED AND THE SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDED TO THE RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU DIRECTOR. FIRST, I JUST WANT TO THANK MY STAFF.
MOST OF THEM ARE HERE. THE ONES THAT COULD MAKE IT.
I AM BLESSED TO HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM. AND THE LAST TWO STORMS, WE COULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH WITHOUT YOU, SO. THANK YOU. YOU GUYS TIRELESSLY AND EFFORTLESSLY DO YOUR JOBS, AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.
AND THE RESIDENTS, OBVIOUSLY, THANK YOU. BUT THE RESOURCES WERE WE WERE VERY BLESSED THAT WE HAD SOME SYSTEMS PUT IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME FORWARD WARNING. SO WE KNEW TO BE ABLE TO WITHIN THE FIRST AS WE CALL IT, TEN STACKED CALLS THAT WERE COMING INTO THE 911 CENTER.
WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO ACT, AND WE DID. SO WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE HAD THAT FORWARD WARNING SYSTEM AND SYSTEMS IN PLACE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PUT IN PLACE AND GET THOSE SWIFTWATER TEAMS IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY FIRE COORDINATOR, AND THEY WERE OUT IN THE FIELD AND GETTING THOSE RESOURCES, AND WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT OUR OUT OF COUNTY PARTNERS, BECAUSE WE WERE INUNDATED IN COUNTY.
AND THOSE MUTUAL AID AND THOSE AGREEMENTS AND THOSE PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE WITH OUR OUTSIDE COUNTY AGENCIES ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS OUR IN COUNTY, SO. AND TO THE OTHER PARTNERS, THANK YOU.
WE CANNOT DO THIS. IT IS NOT A ONE MAN SHOW. IT IS ALWAYS A TEAM EFFORT.
SO EVERYBODY UP HERE DESERVES THE SAME RECOGNITION.
SO I EXEMPLIFY THEM AND THEIR EFFORTS ON THAT AS WELL.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, VINNY, I MEAN, IT'S DPW GETS KILLED AND I KNOW IT.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY. AND THANK YOU, DIRECTOR AND COMMISSIONERS.
SO NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO, YOUR NEXT VINY.
THEY'RE OUT THERE AND, ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. IT'S RAINING.
IT'S THE WIND IS BLOWING, THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND THEY'RE ROLLING.
THEY'RE PUTTING OUT ROAD CLOTHES, THEY'RE CLEANING DEBRIS. THEY'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE TRAVELING ARE SAFE. AND THAT'S A LOT TO ASK FOR WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE IN THE MIX OF IT. I MEAN, THOSE COUPLE HOURS ON BOTH STORMS WERE HAIRY FOR ME, AND I'M JUST FIELDING PHONE CALLS AND REALLOCATING RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS COVERED. SO I GOT TO GIVE IT TO MY STAFF. THEY'RE FANTASTIC.
THEY DO WHAT'S GOT TO GET DONE, AND THEY DO IT WELL.
MAYBE A LITTLE COMPLAINING, BUT WE ALL HAVE THAT.
SO PASS IT ON. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION.
HUGE KUDOS AND THANK YOU TO MY TEAM OVER AT THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.
THEY HAD JULY 3RD STORM AND THE JULY 14TH STORM TO DEAL WITH.
THIS STORM WE TOOK A TOTAL OF 2000 CALLS THAT CAME INTO THE CENTER.
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ALTOGETHER, THAT'S INCLUDING THE 700 PLUS 911 CALLS.JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE VISUAL, WE TAKE ABOUT 1500 CALLS A DAY IN THE WHOLE 24 HOUR PERIOD.
SO WE TOOK 2000 IN THAT THREE HOUR PERIOD OF THE STORM.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY HERE ON THIS TEAM OEM, EVERYBODY, ROAD DEPARTMENT, PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THE COLLABORATION IN THIS COUNTY IS INCREDIBLE.
AND WE REALLY COULDN'T DO OUR JOB IN THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER WITHOUT EVERYBODY ELSE'S HELP.
WE LEARN FROM SOME, YOU KNOW, AFTER ACTION REPORT.
SO I WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS. A FEW YEARS BACK, WE LOST SIX CITIZENS IN SOMERSET COUNTY.
SO WE FOUND OUT THAT WE NEEDED A HIGH WATER RESCUE TRUCK.
SO OUR COMMANDER OF THE DIVE TEAM IS TREVOR OLDENBURG, RETIRED FROM HILLSBOROUGH.
AND I CAN'T BE REMISS WITHOUT GLENN MILLER, AS WE WERE IN THE FORWARD OPERATING AS SORT OF, SAY, THE COMMAND POST GETTING DRENCHED. BUT, YOU KNOW, REALLY SEEING THE TEAM COME TOGETHER AND WORK AND BASICALLY, THERE'S NO EGOS AT THE DOOR. WE'RE JUST THERE TO SAVE LIVES, BASICALLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHILE FEEDING UP THE INFORMATION TO, YOU KNOW, THE POWERS TO BE, RIGHT.
BUT DEFINITELY SOME GREAT WORK. VERY PROUD OF THIS TEAM.
AT ONE POINT, WE WERE ON THE RESCUE BOAT FOR TWO GREEN BROOK OFFICERS. AND THIS MAN RIGHT HERE IS ON THE PHONE WITH THE COAST GUARD. THAT'S HOW HIGH WE'RE ELEVATING THIS. SO DEFINITELY A LOT OF GREAT WORK. AND YOU KNOW IT SHOULD BE PROUD.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING IN FROM OUR OFFICE.
AND I'M GOING TO PASS IT OFF TO SWIFT WATER TEAM TREVOR.
I'LL JUST REITERATE WHAT THE CHIEF SAID. WITH US GETTING THAT HIGH WATER VEHICLE AFTER IDA, WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE WHAT WE DID THE OTHER DAY WITHOUT IT. IT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING TO CERTAIN LOCATIONS, DEPLOYING BOATS FROM THAT. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN. AND I THINK THE CHIEF COVERED MOST OF IT.
SO BUT THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. OH YEAH.
I THINK IT MIGHT BE. THANK YOU. OKAY EVERYBODY.
AS WE REGROUP. ALL RIGHT. IT'S BEEN A BUSY MONTH.
SO THIS WILL BE A ROBUST AND COMPREHENSIVE MEETING OR MEETING'S ON TODAY.
JUST TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF LEGISLATION. ON JUNE 30TH, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED INTO LAW S4654.
THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE PUBLICATION NOTICE OF LEGAL, EXCUSE ME, OF LEGAL NOTICES ON GOVERNMENT INTERNET WEBSITES AND THROUGH CERTAIN ONLINE NEWS PUBLICATIONS. THIS WILL HELP TO STREAMLINE WHAT WE CONSIDER ANTIQUATED AND OVERLY BURDENSOME PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS TO SAVE VALUABLE TIME, RESOURCES, AND PROPERTY TAXPAYERS DOLLARS. THIS IS FREE.
THIS LONG OVERDUE CHANGE WILL ALLOW COUNTIES, MUNICIPALITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE TO PUBLISH LEGAL NOTICES IN A CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT MANNER. ALONG WITH MAKING THIS AGAIN INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE.
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MIDDLEBROOK ENCAMPMENT. NOT SO LONG AGO, I ACTUALLY HAD THE HONOR OF READING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.AND IF YOU HAVE NOT READ IT FOR YOURSELVES, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK, REVIEW IT, READ IT.
IF YOU REALLY JUST PAY ATTENTION TO THE WORDS THAT ARE WRITTEN ON THAT PAGE OR THAT WERE WRITTEN SO LONG AGO, AND THINK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE NOW AS WE ARE IN OUR 249TH YEAR OF THIS NATION'S ANNIVERSARY AND MOVING INTO THE 250TH THIS TIME NEXT YEAR. ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM OF NEW JERSEY. THE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM HAD SEVERAL EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE READING AND LITERACY. ONE I HAD THE PLEASURE OF THROWING THE FIRST PITCH AT THE SOMERSET PATRIOTS GAME.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR WAS THERE, SHE IS THE LIAISON.
AND SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND TIME WITH THE LIBRARY STAFF.
AND THE LITTLE ONES WHO ARE AVID READERS. ALSO, I ATTENDED AT THE SOMERVILLE LIBRARY.
HAD AN INCREDIBLE AFTERNOON CELEBRATING HARLEM RENAISSANCE THROUGH THE ARTS READING, POETRY, MUSIC. AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND I HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME.
WE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED AND DID A COLLAGE, SO IT WILL BE DISPLAYED IN MY OFFICE AT SOME POINT.
BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY A TRANSFORMATIVE PERIOD IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
AND SO THE YOUNG PEOPLE ENJOY THOROUGHLY THE POETRY, THE MUSIC.
WE'RE IN DEEP CONVERSATION AND TALKING ABOUT THE PERIOD AND HOW IT RELATES TO THEM AND THEIR ENJOYMENT OF THE ARTS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH COLLAGE, POETRY OR PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND COMMISSIONER GRANER AND MYSELF HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE THERE TOWARDS ZUFALL.
SINCE WE HAVE NOW OPENED THE DENTAL AND MEDICAL SIDE OVER THERE AT RICHARD HALL.
YOU KNOW, HE'S COMMITTED TO GATHERING EMPIRICAL DATA.
SEEING FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT, AND THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, THE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON OUR 50,000 RESIDENTS WHO USE THE SERVICES AT RICHARD HALL AND/OR ZUFALL HEALTH. AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH CARE POLICY THAT AFFECTS SO MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS AND SO MANY FAMILIES.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE COMING TOGETHER AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THOSE POLICIES MEAN AND MATTER AND HOW THEY NEGATIVELY AND OR POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR RESIDENTS.
I ALSO WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THINK LEGISLATORS FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THE STATE LEVEL AND OTHER COUNTIES WHO WERE HELPFUL IN PROVIDING RESOURCES AND OR ASSISTANCE DURING THE RECENT STORM.
WE GOT CALLS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, OUR STATE LEGISLATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
SHOUT OUT TO HUNTERDON FOR ASSISTING AND PROVIDING RESOURCES.
WE WERE IN CONTACT WITH THE MAYORS THAT WERE MOSTLY IMPACTED THROUGHOUT THIS STORM.
BUT JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE THERE. THE STAFF IS THERE WAS EVIDENT IN THE STAFF THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY.
THEM TELLING THEIR STORY FIRSTHAND OF WHAT THEY PROVIDE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE FOR OUR RESIDENTS SO WE CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH. ALSO ATTENDED THE 90TH ANNUAL NACO CONFERENCE.
AND AS THE LARGEST GATHERING OF COUNTY LEADERS NACO CONTINUES TO BE A POWERFUL SPACE OF COLLABORATION, LEARNING, AND ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS WE SERVE.
SO WE ARE PROUD TO TAKE PART IN THE CONVERSATION AND STAY CONNECTED AT THE WORK HAPPENING NATIONWIDE, WHERE OVER FOUR DOZEN POLICIES WERE REVIEWED AND VOTED ON, AND THEY RUN THE GAMUT OF AREAS SUCH AS AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND LAND USE, FINANCE, PENSIONS AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND EDUCATION, JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC LAND, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY, AND TRANSPORTATION.
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SO GLAD TO BE A PART OF THAT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.MY HEART GOES OUT TO EVERYBODY THAT WAS AFFECTED IN THAT COUNTY.
IT'S JUST SO SAD WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD AND YOU SEE PEOPLE'S LIVES AT THE CURB.
A FEW THINGS THAT I'VE ATTENDED AS THE DIRECTOR SAID, I WAS AT THE PLANET THE LIBRARY NIGHT AT THE BALLPARK AND BACK AT THE BALLPARK THE NEXT DAY FOR PLAN|NJ, WHICH IS A WONDERFUL NONPROFIT THAT HELPS FAMILIES WITH DISABLED ADULT CHILDREN FIND HOUSING FOR THEM FOR THEIR OLDER YEARS. SO IT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION.
THEY'RE BASED RIGHT HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY. THEY DO REMARKABLE WORKS FOR PEOPLE.
ALSO, WE HAD OUR JUNETEENTH CEREMONY, I THINK, SINCE THEN, WHICH WAS A LOVELY EVENT.
THANKS TO ALL THE PEOPLE HERE THAT MADE THAT HAPPEN.
YOU DID A LOVELY JOB THANK YOU. SHELLEY DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB EMCEEING THAT.
WE ALSO HAD OUR FIREWORKS AND CONCERT AT THE PARK TO KICK OFF OUR CONCERT SERIES FOR OUR PARKS.
WE GAVE OUT SOME AMERICAN FLAGS WHICH WERE VERY WELL RECEIVED, SO IT WAS A GREAT TIME.
REALLY FUN NIGHT. I ALSO ATTENDED A VIRTUAL SEMINAR HOSTED BY NJAC, THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, REGARDING THE SNAP BENEFITS AND THE CUTS TO OUR SNAP PROGRAM AND MEDICAID PROGRAMS, AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT US LONG TERM.
BUCKLE YOUR SEATBELTS, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BUMPY RIDE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
BUT AGAIN, BRACE YOURSELF BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH.
WE ALSO HAD THE AN ADDITIONAL MEETING WITH ANDY KIM.
SENATOR KIM, AS THE DIRECTOR HAD SAID. WE ALSO GOT TO SPEAK WITH ANDY KIM AGAIN.
I'LL GET TO THAT ON ANOTHER TOPIC AND WE GOT TO GO TO THE FIRE AND EMS GRADUATION.
LISA, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL CEREMONY. THANK YOU FOR HOSTING THAT.
I WOULD IMAGINE COMMISSIONER GRANER TO TALK ABOUT THAT AS WELL AS LIAISON.
OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, WE HAD 566 CARS AT OUR RECENT SHRED EVENT.
OUR MOSQUITO TEAM CONTINUES TO TAKE SAMPLES. HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS.
WE'VE HAD NO POSITIVE SAMPLES COME OUT OF THERE, SO WE'RE GOOD SHAPE SO FAR.
OUR LGBTQ ADVISORY BOARD PARTICIPATED IN SOMERVILLE PRIDE NIGHT.
WE PARTNERED WITH DOWNTOWN SOMERVILLE ALLIANCE IN THEIR PRIDE NIGHT.
IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. IT WAS A GREAT EVENING. THE WEATHER WAS GOOD.
EVERYBODY HAD A LOT OF FUN. OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE TEAM, WE HAD A CHANCE TO GO OUT AND VISIT OUR ARCHEOLOGICAL DIG THAT'S HAPPENING OVER AT LORD STERLING MANOR. SO THAT WAS VERY EXCITING. AND WE ALSO GOT TO EXPERIENCE GEORGE AND MARTHA WASHINGTON.
OUR ADMINISTRATOR, COLLEEN MAHR, HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR OVER A DECADE.
YEAH, SO I WON'T WE DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW LONG NOW.
WE INVITED THE MAYORS, AND WE HAD CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES, U.S.
SENATE REPRESENTATIVE, STATE ASSEMBLY REPRESENTATIVES, MAYORS.
SO WE ARE FIGHTING HARD, ADVOCATING HARD FOR THIS ONE SEAT RIDE BECAUSE NOTHING IS GUARANTEED HERE, FOLKS. WE GOT THE MONEY TO EXPAND THIS EXTRA TUNNEL INTO MANHATTAN, BUT NOW WE HAVE OTHER OBSTACLES.
WE NEED THE EXPANSION OF THE PENN STATION IN NEW YORK.
WE NEED THE EXPANSION OF WHAT WE CALL THE HUNTER FLYOVER, WHICH WOULD BE A BRIDGE THAT WE'D CROSS OVER FOR TRAIN TRACKS SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIT THERE AND WAIT FOR AMTRAK AND EVERYBODY ELSE TO CROSS.
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HAPPENING. SO WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, OUR GREEN OH TWO LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AUGUST 2ND AT 9:30 A.M. AT THE MIDDLESEX BOROUGH LIBRARY PAVILION.THERE WILL BE A MEMORIAL SERVICE TO COMMEMORATE THOSE THAT PERISHED IN GREEN BROOK BASIN FLOODS.
THIS IS SPONSORED BY THE GREEN BROOK FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT.
THEY DO THIS EVERY YEAR. EVERYONE IS WELCOME FROM THE PUBLIC TO GO.
THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT PERISHED IN GREEN BROOK IN THE 1973 FLOOD.
MORE THAT PERISHED IN THE FLOODS IN 1999. AND DARE I SAY NOW, THE RECENT FLOODING EVENTS, THAT WE HAVE LOST MORE SOULS. SO THAT WILL BE A MEMORIAL SERVICE TAKING PLACE ON AUGUST 2ND.
AND LAST, I WANT SOME GOOD NEWS. WE GOT A LOVELY EMAIL THAT CAME THROUGH TOM BOCCINO, OUR OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION DIRECTOR, THEIR MANAGER. I'M NOT GOOD WITH TITLES [LAUGHTER].
WHEN I TRAVEL, I TELL PEOPLE IN OTHER STATES, IN THE OTHER COUNTRIES, HOW WE'RE PRESERVING FARMLAND AND OPEN SPACE HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY. I'M HAPPY TO PAY TAXES TOWARDS THIS OUTCOME.
THERE MAY COME A TIME IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE NEED OPEN SPACE FOR GROWING FOOD OR OTHER ACTIVITIES.
KEEP SAVING FOR OUR FUTURES AND THOSE OF OUR GRANDCHILDREN.
AND THAT WAS FROM ELIZABETH ROMANO OF FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. ALL RIGHT THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THE FRONT LINE FOR THE FLOODING AND ALL THE WORK THAT COMES AFTER THAT.
WE SAW IT WITH IDA AND, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY.
THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS THAT ARE ABLE TO REALLY HELP FINE TUNE THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST ONE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT.
IT'S ALWAYS NICE. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE SUMMER AND ICE CREAM. YOU KNOW, EVEN JUST NOSTALGIA GROWING UP, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE HAVING A ICE CREAM ON A HOT SUMMER DAY.
AND I THINK EVERYONE HAD SMILES ON THEIR FACE WHEN I STOPPED BY TODAY WITH THE CLASSIC ICE CREAM TRUCK, WHICH YOU DON'T SEE THAT OFTEN. RIGHT HERE IN OUR PARKING LOT HISTORY ON THE GREEN.
COMMISSIONER MARANO, I THINK WE SAW SOME OF MARTHA WASHINGTON'S CHINA FROM THE ARCHEOLOGICAL DIG SITE [LAUGHTER], AND IT'S QUITE THE SIGHT WHEN YOU'RE WALKING DOWN MAIN STREET IN SOMERVILLE, WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE DRESSED UP IN THE TRADITIONAL GARB.
SO THAT'S ALWAYS NICE TO SEE PEOPLE FILTERING IN JUST BASED ON CURIOSITY.
AS WE GEAR UP FOR OUR 250TH CELEBRATION OF OUR COUNTRY THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF.
AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME OF THE RICHEST HISTORY RIGHT IN OUR OWN BACKYARD.
SO FORGET GETTYSBURG AND EVERY PLACE ELSE, YOU KNOW, FOCUS ON WHAT WE CAN LEARN RIGHT HERE.
COMING UP, WE HAVE THE LEGACY AWARDS OVER ON THE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP SIDE.
OVER ON THE 31ST AT THE BASKING RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB, IT IS ALMOST SOLD OUT.
SO IF YOU'RE ON THE FENCE AND YOU WANT TO GET A TICKET, THERE'S STILL A CHANCE.
SO PLEASE CHECK OUT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP WEBSITE TO DO SO.
I WILL SAY THAT IT IS IMPORTANT NOW MORE THAN EVER, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO OUR COLLEAGUES THROUGHOUT THE NATION, EVEN THOUGH SOMERSET COUNTY IS THE NUMBER ONE PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
WE'RE PROUD OF THAT TITLE, BUT WE'RE NOT TOO GOOD TO LEARN FROM OTHER PEOPLE. WITH SOME OF THE MOST, I WOULD SAY, THE FASTEST CHANGES WE'VE EVER SEEN ON THE FEDERAL SIDE.
THE STATE IS HAVING MORE AND MORE, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL CRUNCHES WITH FUNDING BEING STRIPPED AWAY.
NEW JERSEY IS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE HEAVILY IMPACTED AS WE SEE THESE CHANGES COMING.
WHETHER IT BE EDUCATION OR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, SENIOR CITIZENS MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S FUNDING FOR OPEN SPACE AND THINGS THAT WE CARE ABOUT DEARLY HERE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TRIED ON THE COUNTY LEVEL TO START TO REINVEST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WHILE THERE IS FUNDING AVAILABLE.
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SO WE TOPICS FOR THAT CONFERENCE INCLUDED EVERYTHING FROM PROTECTING OURSELVES IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGICAL BREACHES, AI, DEEPFAKES. SO IF YOU SEE A VIDEO, IT MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE THAT PERSON TALKING.SO LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW TO PROTECT OURSELVES, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S STATEWIDE POLICY TO TO PROTECT WHETHER IT'S PEOPLE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS OR EVEN STUDENTS ON THE MORE LOCAL SIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
AND OTHER POLICIES WE COME TOGETHER BIPARTISAN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO THAT IS APPROACHING VERY QUICKLY. SO EVERYONE IS GETTING OUR DUCKS IN A ROW TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.
BUT THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE AGAIN AND MY SUPPORT FOR ALL THE DPW FIRST RESPONDERS, POLICE, FIRE, EMS DEALING WITH THE LAST COUPLE OF STORMS. CERTAINLY THAT WAS CATASTROPHIC. BUT REALLY GREAT TEAMWORK IS GREAT TO SEE HERE.
AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY A GREAT REPRESENTATION OF HOW TAX DOLLARS CAN REALLY SUPPORT SAVING LIVES.
BUT I THINK JUST AS IMPORTANTLY AS THE FIRST RESPONDERS IN RESPONDING TO THESE CRISES, BUT LET'S ALSO THINK ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF EVENTS LIKE THIS THAT ARE OCCURRING.
THEIR NUMBER IS (908) 253-3165. AND IF YOU INDICATE THAT YOU ARE IMPACTED BY THE FLOODS, I UNDERSTAND YOU'LL RECEIVE PRIORITY DISCUSSIONS.
SO THERE ARE FOLKS WHO CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT ISSUE.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WE BRING THAT UP.
I ALSO PARTICIPATED ON A CALL REGARDING THE SNAP AND MEDICAID DISCUSSIONS ONGOING.
CERTAINLY EVEN ON THAT CALL, I LEARNED A GREAT DEAL.
I LEARNED A GREAT DEAL ABOUT HOW YOU QUALIFY FOR SNAP, HOW YOU QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID.
IT'S A VERY COMPLEX PROCESS. IT'S NOT JUST A GIVEN THING.
BUT I THINK CERTAINLY THE CUTS ARE DISCUSSION OF THE NEW RECENT LEGISLATION.
IT'S GOING TO BECOME EVEN MORE COMPLEX. SO STAY TUNED FOR THAT.
I WANT TO ALSO COMMEND THE STORM RESTORATION EFFORTS ON THE PART OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY PARK COMMISSION DURING THE LAST TWO STORMS. THEY ALSO HAD SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO PROPERTIES THAT ARE CURRENTLY RESERVED AS NOT ONLY OUR PARKS, BUT EVEN OUR OPEN SPACES. BUT LET'S NOT FORGET THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY OPERATE THE WARREN COUNTY POOL, WHICH WAS IMPACTED, WAS FLOODED. GOLF COURSES THE WARREN BROOK GOLF COURSE TOOK A TRAUMATIC HIT WITH TREES THAT FELL IN THREE DAYS THEY HAD THE PARK BACK OPEN FOR GOLFERS.
AND IF YOU CAN APPRECIATE THAT THEY DO DRAW REVENUE IN TO HELP SUPPORT THE COUNTY.
SO KEEPING IT OPEN IS VERY IMPORTANT. BUT ALSO BETWEEN THE COUNTY GOLF COURSES THE STABLE, LORD STERLING PARK, THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER, THE THERAPEUTIC RECREATION.
NOW THE SPRAY PARK, PADDLE BOATS AND MINI GOLF ALL ARE IN FULL SWING THIS THIS SUMMER.
LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THE PICKLEBALL AT NORTH BRANCH PARK. THAT'S UNDER WAY.
NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE GIVEN AWAY MILKWEED FOR MONARCHS, BUT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMERICAN KESTREL BANDING EFFORTS AND HABITAT RESTORATION ONGOING. WE RECENTLY I RECENTLY ATTENDED A DISCUSSION WITH RVCC REPRESENTATIVES, THE CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES.
I'M ALSO A REP TO THE SOMERSET COUNTY AGRICULTURAL BOARD.
AND WE MET RECENTLY, AND I WANT TO SAY WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR FARMERS.
RIGHT NOW IS PRIME TIME FOR THEM TO NOT ONLY SUPPORT FOR ALL OF US TO HELP SUPPORT AGRICULTURE.
[00:35:01]
THE FARM MARKETS ARE FULLY OPERATIONAL, SO I HOPE YOU CAN APPRECIATE GOING OUT AND GETTING THE SEASONAL JERSEY TOMATOES.WE ALL LOVE THEM. AND ALSO SWEET CORN IS NOW IN YOUR MARKETS AND GROWN HERE IN HILLSBORO.
SO LOCALLY GROWN, BUT CERTAINLY YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTED THROUGHOUT.
AND FINALLY, I WANT TO SAY REALLY KUDOS TO THE WARREN COUNTY WARREN BROOK SENIOR CENTER.
I THINK MOLLY GREEN WOULD HAVE WOULD AGREE. I ATTENDED A MUSICAL STORY SHOW THAT WAS PUT ON BY THE YESTERDAY AT THE WARREN BROOK SENIOR CENTER, AND IT WAS ENTITLED, WHAT ARE DUCKS UP TO NOW? AND I CAN TELL YOU, I THINK SHE WOULD AGREE I PROBABLY SUNG EVERY SONG BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE WORDS ARE HERE, BUT IT WAS A GREAT PROGRAM. NOT ONLY WAS I SINGING BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA.
LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND UNDER THE BOARDWALK.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS JUST AN INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE NOT ONLY OF THE ORCHESTRA AND THE PRODUCTION OF THIS GREAT EVENT RIGHT IN THE SENIOR CENTER, BUT THEY HAD DANCING, THEY HAD SINGING, THEY HAD STORYTELLING, AND IT WAS JUST A TERRIFIC PERFORMANCE, I WANT TO SAY, PUTTING THAT ALL TOGETHER, NOT ONLY THE WORK THAT WAS NECESSARY TO DO THAT IS REALLY A GOOD SHOWING FOR HOW VOLUNTEER EFFORTS REALLY HELP BRING LIFE BACK INTO OUR SENIOR CENTERS. AND THAT THAT I THINK WAS REALLY A JOY, I THINK POST, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FOLKS WERE PROBABLY DEALT WITH THE STORMS FOR THE LAST THREE DAYS THAT WERE THERE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT NOW THIS WAS REALLY ENLIGHTENING FOR THEM TO SORT OF, YOU KNOW, RELEASE A LITTLE BIT AND LIKE I SAID, IF YOU WANT ME TO SING SOME MORE SONGS, I CAN.
BUT THE FINAL SONG WAS THE LITTLE WHITE DUCK, WHICH I THINK THERE WAS A PICTURE OF ME DOING THE QUACK, QUACK, QUACK [LAUGHTER]. BUT THAT WILL STAY PROBABLY, YOU KNOW [LAUGHTER] BUT IT WAS IT WAS A GOOD EVENT.
SO I WANT TO SAY ONE MORE TIME. THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE INVITE.
AND I WANT TO SAY GREAT JOB TO THEM. AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET THEM ON A ROLLING BASIS TO OTHER PROGRAMS YOU KNOW, TRY TO GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD TO OTHER PLACES.
SO THAT'S GREAT. SO THANK YOU.
YES, ABSOLUTELY. I SEND MY REPORT THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, YOU ARE A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW [LAUGHTER].
I WAS SWORN IN ON THE 24TH OF JUNE, AND ON JUNE 25TH, I THEY ATTENDED THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE NEW JERSEY CENTER FOR TOURETTE SYNDROME HERE IN SOMERVILLE. ON JULY 3RD, AFTER OUR TOUR OF THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE AT LORD STERLING MANOR.
I THEN TOURED THE LORD STERLING STABLE WITH PARK STAFF AND PARKS COMMISSION DIRECTOR DAN HAYES.
I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF MENTAL HEALTH.
ON JULY 12TH, I HAD THE HONOR OF JOINING OUR DEDICATED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS FROM OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH GROUP AT THE SOMERSET PATRIOTS JERSEY DINERS GAME FOR THE PAST THREE SUNDAYS. I JOINED DAN HAYES AGAIN FOR OUR SUMMER CONCERT SERIES IN DUKE ISLAND PARK AND BRIDGEWATER.
AND THURSDAY AND FRIDAY OF LAST WEEK. I'M NOT GOING TO OUT ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO MIGHT HAVE DONE IT. THEY COULD DO IT THEMSELVES NORTH PLAINFIELD AND SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WERE THERE AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN NORTH PLAINFIELD TO DISTRIBUTE WATER, FOOD AND CLEANING SUPPLIES TO FLOODING VICTIMS. THEY WERE TRULY INSPIRING. THE OUTPOURING OF GENEROSITY FROM NEIGHBORS, INCLUDING NEIGHBORS FROM NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES, WAS REALLY A SIGHT TO BEHOLD. AND IT WAS REALLY HEARTWARMING AND GREAT BECAUSE I THINK IN THE FACE OF TERRIBLE THINGS THAT HAPPENED, THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY BRING OUR BEST TO THE TABLE. SO I WAS I WAS TRULY IMPRESSED BY THAT.
SO BACK TO THE REPORTS. PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMISSIONER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO AND I ATTENDED THE EMERGENCY SERVICES TRAINING ACADEMY GRADUATION ON JULY 11TH 23 BRAVE AND TIRELESS FIRST RESPONDERS COMPLETED FIREFIGHTER ONE TRAINING 14 WENT ON TO FINISH FIREFIGHTER TWO AND 15 COMPLETED EMT TRAINING. CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE GRADUATES.
HEALTHIER SOMERSET HAD OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON JULY 10TH AND I WAS ON BOARDED, I WAS, SERENA COLLADO FROM RWJ WAS KIND ENOUGH TO MEET WITH ME AND GIVE ME AN OVERVIEW ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND HER GOALS.
[00:40:06]
FOOD SECURITY ADVOCATE SUMMER SESSION, I LEARNED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF STRATEGIC, CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IN THE FACE OF EMERGING NEED. I'LL BE MEETING WITH THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND OUR HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR TOMORROW TO DISCUSS FOOD SECURITY TOPICS, ESPECIALLY ONES AS THEY PERTAIN TO FOOD INSECURITY WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS.ON JULY 17TH, I TOURED THE COUNTY VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL WITH SUPERINTENDENT PRESUTO AND SAW SOME OF THE VERY EXCITING CHANGES THAT WILL COME ONCE WE UNVEIL THE RESULTS OF OUR BUILDING PROJECT THERE. WHAT A TRULY IMPRESSIVE FACILITY! WE OFFER PROGRAMS AT THE SOMERSET COUNTY VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOLS THAT NO OTHER COUNTY OFFERS.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD HELD OUR QUARTERLY MEETING ON JUNE 26TH.
I MET WITH MR. GRZELLA SEPARATELY AND LEARNED ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND OVERVIEW WHAT'S TO COME.
THANK YOU [LAUGHTER]. AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO ASK PETER NIEMIEC TO COME FORWARD. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION TO PRESENT TO YOU.
WEARING MY AIRFORCE AN AMERICAN FLAG PIN JUST FOR YOU [LAUGHTER].
IN APPRECIATION OF PETER NIEMIEC, 27 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO VETERANS, WHEREAS PETER NIEMIEC WILL RETIRE FROM SOMERSET COUNTY OFFICE OF VETERANS SERVICES ON AUGUST 1ST, 2025, AFTER NEARLY THREE DECADES OF OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO VETERANS.
FIRST AS A VETERANS' SPECIALIST BEFORE BEING PROMOTED TO VETERANS SERVICES DIRECTOR IN 2009.
AND WHEREAS EARLY IN HIS CAREER, PETER SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY FOR 22 YEARS AS A CAREER RANK OF CHIEF PETTY OFFICER, AND WHEREAS, PETER WAS RECOGNIZED IN 1996 AS AN ACCREDITED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL, WASHINGTON, D.C. TO PREPARE, PRESENT, AND PROSECUTE CLAIMS BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS UNDER THE LAWS RELATING TO VETERANS BENEFITS. AND WHEREAS, THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER IN THE OFFICE OF VETERANS SERVICES, PETER SIGNIFICANTLY AND POSITIVELY IMPACTED THE WELL-BEING OF VETERANS, PROVIDING HOPE TO THOUSANDS OF VETERANS WHO HAD LOST CONFIDENCE IN EVER GAINING THE ASSISTANCE THEY DESPERATELY NEEDED. I'M ONE OF THOSE MANY, SO THANK YOU AND TO YOUR OFFICE.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH PETER'S YEARS OF DEDICATION AND PERSISTENCE, HE ACHIEVED GOALS THAT MANY VETERANS THOUGHT UNACHIEVABLE, INCLUDING HELPING THEM FILE CLAIMS AND RECEIVE BENEFITS.
RECOVERING A TOTAL OF OVER $68 MILLION IN BENEFITS DURING HIS TENURE [APPLAUSE].
AND WHEREAS, IN 2001, PETER WAS RECOGNIZED BY CONGRESSMAN RODNEY FRELINGHUYSEN, U.S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE VALENTINES FOR VETERANS PROGRAM AND FOR ENGAGING CHILDREN AND MAKING THEM AWARE OF THE SACRIFICES THAT VETERANS HAVE MADE FOR OUR COUNTRY. AND WHEREAS, OVER THE YEARS, SOMERSET COUNTY HAS RECEIVED MANY HANDWRITTEN LETTERS FROM VETERANS THANKING PETER FOR HIS SERVICES, SAYING IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL SOME WONDERFUL PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF THAT TRULY CARE ABOUT US VETS, AND WITHOUT YOUR HELP AND PERSEVERANCE, I WOULDN'T HAVE RECEIVED ANY BENEFITS AT ALL.
AND PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF ARE TRULY THE GUARDIAN ANGELS OF WAR VETERANS.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY EXPRESS PROFOUND GRATITUDE FOR PETER NIEMIEC LEADERSHIP AND HIS COMMITMENT TO SERVING VETERANS OF SOMERSET COUNTY. WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN HIS WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT, AND IS SIGNED ON THIS DAY BY YOUR 5 SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SO [APPLAUSE].
I THINK YOU WOULD YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE TAKE A PICTURE? IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE. THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
[00:45:07]
YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST. AND, COLLEEN, I WAS TRYING TO GET PARKING OVER HERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.AND YOU DID IT IN 24 HOURS THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].
LOPER, OUR COUNTY ENGINEER, COME FORWARD FOR A PRESENTATION.
THAT'S RIGHT THERE ALL RIGHT GREAT GOOD EVENING. I'M GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE GRIGGSTOWN CAUSEWAY.
IT'S A PROJECT THAT ENGINEERING HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
I THINK YOU PROBABLY ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT.
SO, YOU KNOW REALLY WE'VE COMPLETED THIS CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT.
AND THEN I WILL REVIEW THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.
YOU'LL EVERYBODY KNOWS THE CAUSEWAY. FOR TWO REASONS.
IT'S A ONE LANE BRIDGE THAT IS A TRAFFIC OPERATION ISSUE.
AND THEN THE FLOODING. WE ARE NOT ADDRESSING ANY FLOODING ISSUES WITH THIS CONCEPT HERE.
WE HAD LOOKED AT A LOT OF IDEAS WITH IT, BUT WE DECIDED TO SEPARATE THAT ISSUE FOR A LATER DATE TO, ADDRESS THE MORE PRESSING ISSUE, WHICH IS THE TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUE.
NEXT SLIDE KELLY THANKS. A FEW YEARS AGO, THE COUNTY DETERMINED TO INVESTIGATE THE SAFETY AND OPERATION DEFICIENCIES OF THIS CAUSEWAY AND THE THREE IN SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION. YOU CAN SEE THE MAP HERE. THE CAUSEWAY IS EAST TO WEST ON THE MAP.
AND THEN YOU HAVE BUNKER HILL ROAD GOING OUT TO THE EAST TOWARDS ROUTE 27.
SO IN ADDITION TO LOOKING AT THE CAUSEWAY ITSELF, WE ALSO INVESTIGATED THE TWO INTERSECTIONS IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, WHICH ARE CANAL ROAD AND BUNKER HILL ROAD AND CANAL ROAD, WHICH ARE SIGNALIZED.
AND THEN ONLY CAUSE GOING THE CAUSEWAY TO THE WEST TO MILLSTONE RIVER ROAD IS A STOP CONTROL, TOO. AS WE ALL KNOW, THE CAUSEWAY IS ONE OF FOUR EAST WEST CORRIDORS CROSSINGS OVER THE MILLSTONE RIVER BETWEEN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP TO THE EAST AND MANVILLE, HILLSBOROUGH, MONTGOMERY, AND ROCKY HILL TO THE TO THE WEST.
IT'S A ONE LANE BRIDGE AND IT OPERATES WITH ALTERNATING TRAFFIC.
THE WEST STOP, THE WESTBOUND STOP SIGN IS OFTEN IGNORED.
DEFINITELY UNEXPECTED DRIVER AND VEHICLE BEHAVIOR.
I THINK WE'VE ALL PROBABLY EXPERIENCED IT. SOME CRAZY THINGS YOU'VE SEEN OUT THERE.
AND THROUGH MOVEMENTS ON RIVER ROAD, WE'LL USE THE OPPOSING TRAVEL LANE TO BYPASS SOME OF THE QUEUING, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY ILLEGAL AND VERY DANGEROUS.
AND IT WAS OUR GOAL TO COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY.
EVERYTHING WAS ON THE TABLE. WE WANTED TO GO TO THE PUBLIC LAST EARLY THIS MONTH WITH EVERYTHING LOOKED AT EVERY OPTION POSSIBLE, KNOWING THAT EVERYTHING WOULD BE ASKED. SO WE HELD A PUBLIC MEETING ON JULY 1ST.
[00:50:01]
IT WAS WELL ATTENDED IN THIS ROOM, 84 PEOPLE SIGNED IN.IT WAS A PACKED HOUSE, STANDING ROOM ONLY. MANY DIFFERENT GROUPS AND TOWNS ARE REPRESENTED.
BOTH ADMINISTRATORS FROM FRANKLIN AND MONTGOMERY ATTENDED.
THE MAYOR, COUNCILMAN FROM FRANKLIN ATTENDED A LOT OF INTERESTED GROUPS, HISTORIC GROUPS, PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE D&R CANAL. ALL WERE HERE.
SEVERAL CATEGORIES ARE OVERREPRESENTED, WELL ABOVE THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE.
WE EVEN SHOWED VIDEO OF DRIVER BEHAVIOR, WHICH WAS QUITE STARTLING, TO SHOW A LINE OF CARS OF 100 CARS GOING OVER THE BRIDGE ALL AT ONCE, YIELDING TO ANOTHER 100 CARS GOING OVER THE BRIDGE ONCE WITH SEVERAL MINUTES OF DELAYS.
REAL QUICK, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE DID NOT.
THIS IS THE THESE ARE THE ITEMS OR ALTERNATIVES THAT WE ABSOLUTELY REVIEWED.
AND WE WOULD NOT ADVANCE THE NO BUILD SITUATION.
IT WAS NOT CHOSEN BECAUSE IT DOESN'T IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THIS BRIDGE.
WE LOOKED AT CHANGING THIS INTERSECTION TO AN ALWAYS STOP CONTROL.
IT WAS NOT CHOSEN BECAUSE IT DOESN'T PREVENT COMPETING TRAFFIC ON THE SINGLE LANE BRIDGE.
WE ALSO EVALUATED AN INTERSECTION CONFLICT WARNING SYSTEM.
BASICALLY, IF YOU WERE GOING EASTBOUND, IT WOULD ALERT YOU THAT SOMEONE WAS COMING WESTBOUND.
WE LOOKED AT A NEW PARALLEL BRIDGE RIGHT NEXT TO THIS.
SO THE COUNTY AT THAT TIME BUILT A ONE LANE BRIDGE.
WE LOOKED AT A TWO LANE, A TWO WAY BRIDGE REPLACEMENT WITH AND WITHOUT LEFT TURN LANES.
IT WAS NOT CHOSEN DUE TO THE HIGH COST, THE IMPACTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND A LACK OF PREVIOUS SUPPORT OF ALTERNATING, ALTERING THE BRIDGE ESTHETIC. WE LOOKED AT A ONE WAY EASTBOUND CONVERSION.
THIS WAS NOT CHOSEN DUE TO THE TRAFFIC DIVERSION.
IF WE ONLY GO ONE WAY ON THIS BRIDGE, THAT WOULD PUSH ALL THE TRAFFIC DOWN THE ROCKY HILL AND INTO THE BLACKWELLS MILLS CAUSEWAY BRIDGE CROSSINGS. AND THEN PUT A LOT MORE TRAFFIC ON LOCAL ROADS IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP AND IN HILLSBOROUGH AND MONTGOMERY.
WE LOOKED AT A NEW BRIDGE AT BUNKER HILL ROAD WITH A COST OF $34 MILLION.
IT WAS NOT CHOSEN DUE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND COSTS.
AND THEN WE LASTLY LOOKED AT A CONVERSION TO JUST BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PEDESTRIANS, WHICH THE SAME REASON AS THE OTHERS IT WAS NOT CHOSEN DUE TO THE TRAFFIC DIVERSION THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED ON THE OTHER CROSSINGS. SO FINALLY WE PRESENTED THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.
KELLY COULD GO ONE MORE SLIDE. WHAT WE CHOSE TO DO IS METER THE BRIDGE.
THIS WOULD BE A PERMANENT SIGNAL THAT WOULD EXIST ON THE BRIDGE, ONE ON THE WEST SIDE ON RIVER ROAD AND ONE JUST EAST OF THE ACTUAL BRIDGE, WHICH WOULD METER THE TRAFFIC GOING WESTBOUND, THEN EASTBOUND OVER THE BRIDGE.
WE WERE GOING TO ADD A LEFT TURN LANE ON RIVER ROAD TO GET ON THE CAUSEWAY.
WE ARE ALSO ADDING ALWAYS STOP CONTROL AT CANAL ROAD AND BUNKER HILL ROAD ACROSS THE RIVER, WHICH WE'LL SHOW IN THE NEXT SLIDE. THIS ALTERNATIVE PROVIDES ORDER TO THE INTERSECTION AND IMPROVE SAFETY.
THIS WAS WELL RECEIVED AT THE MEETING. ALMOST EVERYBODY IN THE MEETING ACTUALLY LIKED THIS IDEA.
THE PUBLIC ENJOYED IT. BOTH THE FRANKLIN AND MONTGOMERY SUPPORTED THIS ALTERNATIVE OUTWARDLY, WHICH WAS GREAT. I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT'S EVER DRIVEN THIS KNOWS THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE, AND THIS, AND WE BELIEVE THIS BEFORE WE WENT INTO THE MEETING, WAS A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO MIMIC WHAT EXISTS THERE TODAY AND PROVIDE ORDER TO IT.
[00:55:07]
THAT'S REALLY HOW WE KIND OF FRAMED IT. AND I THINK I THINK IT DEFINITELY ACHIEVES THAT GOAL.AND NEXT SLIDE JUST SHOWS WHAT WE PLAN ON DOING OVER ON THE FRANKLIN SIDE, THE BUNKER HILL ROAD INTERSECTION IS ON THE TOP THERE, WHICH WILL BE A STOP CONTROL ON THE THREE DIRECTIONS.
AND THAT WILL PROVIDE MORE CAPACITY. AND IT WILL METER THE TRAFFIC BETTER ON THE CAUSEWAY ITSELF.
IMMEDIATELY WE'RE GOING TO FINALIZE OUR CONCEPT PLAN.
WE PUBLICLY SAID ABOUT TWO YEARS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, A LOT OF PERMITTING RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION THAT WOULD NEED TO BE OCCUR ON THE WESTERN SIDE WITH SOME EASEMENTS THAT WE NEED TO CONSTRUCT THAT INTERSECTION.
A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS. THE BRIDGE IS WEIGHT RESTRICTED RIGHT NOW, WHICH RESTRICTS TRUCKS FROM GOING ACROSS IT AND THEN ULTIMATELY GOING DOWN CANAL ROAD, WHICH IS ALSO WEIGHT RESTRICTED, AND THEN BUNKER HILL ROAD, WHICH IS WEIGHT RESTRICTED AS WELL.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT IF WE WERE TO BUILD ANY OF THESE OTHER ALTERNATIVES A TWO LANE BRIDGE, A PARALLEL BRIDGE, ANOTHER BRIDGE AT ANOTHER LOCATION, THAT THAT WOULD ENABLE US TO NOT HAVE A WEIGHT RESTRICTION IN THIS AREA.
SO I THINK A LOT OF THE SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT IS BECAUSE WE DID NOT DO THOSE OTHER THINGS.
THAT'S MY PERCEPTION. THAT WAS REALLY A SUMMARY OF WHAT THE PUBLIC THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
WE HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM FRANKLIN. THE MAYOR WAS VERY OUTSPOKEN.
THEIR ADMINISTRATOR SPOKE TO A GREAT LENGTH ABOUT IT ABOUT THE PROJECT AND HIS SUPPORT FOR IT.
WE'VE HEARD FROM MONTGOMERY. THEY ALSO SUPPORT THE PROJECT AS WELL.
SO I GOT IT IN FRONT OF ME. I DON'T HAVE IT UP HERE, BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, IT IMPROVES IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. AND IT IS ABOUT THE SAME AS IT IS NOW.
SO IT'LL BE. YEAH. IT. I'M GOING TO PULL UP THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE GRADES A THROUGH E LEVEL SERVICE. SO, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE.
WESTBOUND ON THE CAUSEWAY RIGHT AT GREEKTOWN IN THE AM, IT WILL REMAIN IN F, BUT IN THE PM IT GOES FROM AN F TO AND E, SO WE'RE NOT GOING FROM TO AN A RIGHT? AND NO ONE EVER STATED THAT WE WOULD GET TO THAT POINT.
SO THERE'S SOME, THERE'S SOME SITUATIONS OF THE DAY AND DURING RUSH HOUR AND PM THAT IT DOES GET IMPROVED AND OTHER TIMES IT'S BASICALLY THE SAME I WOULD SAY. YEAH. WELL THERE'S ORDER AND THERE'S ALSO NOT SITUATIONS WHERE SOMEONE LITERALLY GOES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON TRAFFIC, LIKE THERE'S ONLY TWO LANES ON MILSON RIVER ROAD.
SO PEOPLE ARE WAITING TO GO ONTO THE CAUSEWAY GOING SOUTHBOUND, STACKED UP, YOU KNOW, 10, 15, SEVERAL DOZEN CARS. AND PEOPLE LITERALLY DRIVE IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO GO SOUTHBOUND, TO CROSS OVER INTO AND TO GET AHEAD OF THOSE PEOPLE.
IT HAPPENS PROBABLY EVERY DAY. WE HAVE VIDEO DATA THAT SUPPORTS THIS.
THAT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. AND YOU KNOW, THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY FIX THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
YEP. [APPLAUSE] OH DON'T. WE HAVE SEVERAL COMMUNICATIONS.
ONE FROM MONMOUTH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OPPOSING THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BILL HR1 AND THE UNITED STATES SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE TEXT IMPACT AND SNAP ADMINISTRATIVE AND FUNDING CHANGES, ALSO FROM MONMOUTH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DECLARING SEPTEMBER 11TH,
[01:00:05]
2025, AS A COUNTY HOLIDAY. BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP RESOLUTION SUPPORTING REVOLUTION NJ A PLAN TO ENCOURAGE, DEVELOP, AND COORDINATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE UNITED STATES.NANCY GOODE, NOTICE OF RESIGNATION FROM THE SOMERSET COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL.
LINDA POWELL EMAILED IN SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY PASSING RESOLUTION FOR NJ CLIMATE SUPERFUND ACT.
MISS MAHR. [INAUDIBLE] 25-1401 AUTHORIZING THE SOMERSET COUNTY JAIL TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT FUNDING FOR THE MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT GRANT FUNDING INITIATIVE BEING OFFERED THROUGH THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. THIS GRANT IS FOR FISCAL. EXCUSE ME. FISCAL YEAR 2026 WITH NO COUNTY MATCH REQUIRED.
FUNDING TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $305,434.
25-1402 AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF COUNTY BRIDGE D0713 NORTH BRANCH RIVER ROAD OVER TRIBUTARY TO NORTH BRANCH RIVER INTO THE COUNTY SYSTEM WITH NO WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS, BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP, SOMERSET COUNTY.
RESOLUTION 25-1403, AUTHORIZING AGREEMENTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTIES FOR THE 2024 RESURFACING AND ADA COMPLIANCE PROGRAM TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $4,500. RESOLUTION 25-1404 AUTHORIZING AGREEMENTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTIES FOR INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS TO GREEN BROOK ROAD WEST, REDFIELD ROAD, ROCK AVENUE, AND GREEN BROOK ROAD EAST AND ROC AVENUE TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $3,000.
25-1405. AUTHORIZE ALSO AUTHORIZING AGREEMENTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTIES FOR INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS TO GREEN BROOK ROAD, WEST REDFIELD ROAD, ROCK AVENUE, AND GREENBERG EAST.
GREENBERG ROAD EAST, AND ROCK AVENUE TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $1,000.
RESOLUTION 25-1406 FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AUTHORIZING THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT THE FISCAL YEAR 26 STATE HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO BUILD, MAINTAIN, AND SUSTAIN NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS CAPABILITIES.
25-1407 IS AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET AND THE BOROUGH OF RARITAN.
IT'S A BOROUGH OVER IN SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
THIS IS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2026, AND IT'S TO ACCEPT $1,264,275 IF AWARDED.
25-1409 IS AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET TO APPLY FOR SECTION 5311 FUNDING, AND THIS, TOO, IS TO ACCEPT UP TO $464,872, AND THIS GRANT DOES REQUIRE AN IN-KIND MATCH OF $111,690.
FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. 25-1411 THE AWARD OF CONTRACT TO QUADIENT INC. FOR THE PURCHASE, DELIVERY, INSTALLATION AND TRAINING OF THE MACH 7 ENVELOPE PRINTER UTILIZING THE STATE CONTRACT NUMBER 41267. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $36,962.
RESOLUTION 25-1412 AWARD OF CONTRACT CC-0105-23 TO FLATBUSH AND VAN COMPANY OF LINDEN, NEW JERSEY FOR MOVING OF VOTING MACHINES FOR THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS FOR THE 2025 GENERAL ELECTION,
[01:05:02]
THIRD YEAR OF A THREE YEAR CONTRACT TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $31,990.25-1413. AWARD OF CONTRACT TO GSP PROPERTIES OUT OF MENDHAM NEW JERSEY FOR THE SECOND YEAR OF A TWO YEAR MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR REPAIRS TO VARIOUS BUILDING STRUCTURES LOCATED IN SOMERSET COUNTY.
THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF A TWO YEAR MAINTENANCE CONTRACT THAT WILL EXPIRE ON MARCH 11TH, 2026. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $900,000. RESOLUTION 25-1414 IS AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT TO DMR ARCHITECTS FOR THE DESIGN OF A STREET SWEEPINGS COLLECTION FACILITY AT 410 ROYCEFIELD ROAD IN HILLSBOROUGH.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $164,000. RESOLUTION 25-1415, THE AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT TO PAULUS, SOKOLOWSKI & SARTOR FOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION SERVICES FOR REPLACEMENT OF COUNTY BRIDGE.
G0401 MORTON STREET OVER CUCKELS BROOK AND REPLACEMENT OF COUNTY BRIDGE G0907 TULLO ROAD OVER WEST BRANCH OF THE MIDDLE BROOK, BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $150,000.
RESOLUTION 25-1416 AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT TO MOTT MACDONALD, LLC FOR POST-CLOSURE ENGINEERING AND MONITORING SERVICES, YEAR 29 DUKES PARKWAY LANDFILL IN MANVILLE. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $105,000.
RESOLUTION 25-1417 IS AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT TO VAN CLEEF ENGINEERING FOR THE GREEN ACRES SURVEY AND MINOR SUBDIVISION OF THE KNOWLTON PARCEL BLOCK 9. BLOCK NINE, LOT 2.04, IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, TOTALED NOT TO EXCEED $38,500.
HOWE FARMSTEAD BARN REPLACEMENT IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP TOTALED NOT TO EXCEED $24,560.
MAIN STREET, MANVILLE BOROUGH CONTRACT 21005.
THE CONTRACT AMOUNT IS $6,997,457. FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT IS $7,530,937.05 INCLUDES CHANGE TO ONE IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,439.60.
CHANGE ORDER TWO A TIME EXTENSION CHANGE ORDER THREE AND THE AMOUNT OF $373,886.42.
CHANGE ORDER FOUR IN THE AMOUNT OF $73,494.01 AND CHANGE ORDER FIVE, IN THE AMOUNT OF $208,423.50. THIS IS CHANGE ORDER SIX, THE FINAL CHANGE ORDER IS AN INCREASE OF $94,083.59.
RESOLUTION 25-1420 IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT CC-0147-24 TO EDMUNDS GOVTECH FOR UPGRADES, MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF MUNICIPAL SOFTWARE. SECOND YEAR OF A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $60,662.86.
RESOLUTION 25-1421 WATER CONTRACT TO SHI INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION FOR THE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION SUPPORT AGREEMENT FOR VEEAM CLOUD BACKUP SOLUTION FOR OFFICE 365 ONLINE UTILIZING THE NEW JERSEY COOPERATIVE PURCHASING ALLIANCE CONTRACT.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $37,791. RESOLUTION 25-1422 AWARD A CONTRACT TO TRAIN'S TOWERS FOR WIRELESS MICROWAVE UPGRADES FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TOWER TO MILLER LANE, UTILIZING THE STATE CONTRACT TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $24,620.
RESOLUTION 25- 1423 AWARD OF CONTRACT TO 22ND CENTURY TECHNOLOGIES AS PRIMARY VENDOR AND ADELPHI MEDICAL STAFFING AS SECONDARY VENDOR FOR TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT SERVICES FOR LICENSED PSYCHIATRIC PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS AT RICHARD HALL COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER.
THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR OF A THREE YEAR CONTRACT TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $15,000.
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GOOD EVENING. RESOLUTION 25-1424 ITS AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO MIKE'S TOWING AND RECOVERY OUT OF BRANCHBURG, NEW JERSEY FOR HEAVY RECOVERY SPECIALIST TOWING, STORAGE AND RELATED SERVICES FOR THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.SECOND YEAR OF A THREE YEAR CONTRACT TOTALED NOT TO EXCEED 5000.
THANK YOU. RESOLUTION 25-1425 911 COMMUNICATIONS AWARD OF CONTRACT TO FLEMINGTON DEPARTMENT STORE FOR UNIFORMS UTILIZING STATE CONTRACT.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $24,926.25.
RESOLUTION 25-1426. AWARD OF CONTRACT TO SHP MEDICAL DIRECTION, LLC FOR MEDICAL PROGRAM ADVISOR.
FIRST OPTIONAL ONE-YEAR EXTENSION WITH THREE REMAINING TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $5,000.
FIRST OPTIONAL ONE-YEAR EXTENSION WITH TWO REMAINING TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $63,495.
25-1428 IS AWARDED A CONTRACT TO DIRECT FLOORING.
THIS IS FOR CARPETING AND FLOORING REPLACEMENT IN WARREN BROOK SENIOR CENTER.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $66,564.61. 25-1429 IS AWARDED A CONTRACT TO DIRECT FLOORING.
THIS IS FOR REPLACEMENT OF CARPETING AND FLOORING IN MULTIPLE AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
BUILDING'S TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $57,338.88. 25-1430 IS AWARDED A CONTRACT TO MAINTAINCO. THIS IS FOR A TOYOTA FORKLIFT. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $44.659.53. 25-1431 IS AUTHORIZING THE CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO ATLANTIS MAINTENANCE, JANITORIAL SERVICES AND SOMERSET COUNTY YMCA.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $6,800. 25-1432 IS AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY WATER CONTRACTS FOR VARIOUS VENDORS FOR 2025 SUMMER YOUTH WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM STIPEND PAYMENTS TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED NEGATIVE $20,400.
1433 IS AMENDING THE CERTIFICATION CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS TO CLOSE OUT P.O 280689 TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED -$8,408 AND 1434 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING AN ORDER FOR ATTENDANCE FOR TEN GREATER RARITAN TEAM MEMBERS FOR THE 2025 GARDEN STATE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE IN ATLANTIC CITY IN OCTOBER, TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $8,177.
25-1435 AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO JAG-ONE PHYSICAL THERAPY TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $2,250.25 1436. AMENDING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS TO CASCO DC MEDICAL SERVICES. CONSENT FROM MEDICAL CENTER PERSONNEL DATA SYSTEMS PRINCETON HEALTH CARE SYSTEM RESOLUTION IS TO CANCEL VARIOUS OPEN BLANKET PURCHASE ORDERS THAT ARE NO LONGER NEEDED.
TOTAL. NOT TO EXCEED -$38,157.70. RESOLUTION 25-1437 FOR THE COUNTY CLERK. THIS IS APPROVAL TO PAY A CONFIRMING ORDER TO TOSHIBA AMERICAN BUSINESS SOLUTIONS FOR THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE PHOTO ID SYSTEM. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $99.19 25-1438. AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS FOR MORRIS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE CONTRACTED MEDICATION COSTS OF SOMERSET COUNTY INMATES AT THE MORRIS COUNTY JAIL TOLD NOT TO EXCEED $60,000.
25-1439 AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS AND PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO EAST COAST EMERGENCY LIGHTING FOR REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT OF UNFIT MATERIAL PARTS ON POLICE VEHICLES TOTALED NOT TO EXCEED $5,000.
25-1440 AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO NATIONAL HIGHWAY PRODUCTS TOTALED NOT TO EXCEED $1,133.64 AND 25-1441 FOR ONE APPROVAL TO PAY, CONFIRMING ORDERS TO RED BANK VETERINARIAN
[01:15:06]
HOSPITAL FOR SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE SOMERSET COUNTY SHERIFF, TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $1,326.25.CONTRACT FOR REPAIRS OF VARIOUS PARK COMMISSION STRUCTURES.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $271,222. RESOLUTION 25-1443 AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY ORDERED CONTRACT TO HAHR CONSTRUCTION.
ALSO FOR MAINTENANCE. CONTRACT FOR REPAIRS OF VARIOUS PARK COMMISSION STRUCTURES.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $19,856. RESOLUTION 25-1444 AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO U.S.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR OPERATION OF A FLOOD INFORMATION SYSTEM.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $46,226.25.
25-1445 IS AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS TO A CONSULTING GROUP FROM TOMS RIVER, NEW JERSEY. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $950. THE NEXT RESOLUTIONS ARE INSERTIONS OF SPECIAL ITEMS IN THE BUDGET.
I APOLOGIZE, THE LIST IS LONG. 25-1446 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT. DISLOCATED WORKER GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,492,057.
1447 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT YOUTH GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $659,374. 1448 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT ADULT GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $534,271 AND 1449 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT DATA REPORTING GRANT AND THE AMOUNT OF $12,971.
1450 IS THE FOR THE NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE NATIONAL OPIOID SETTLEMENT AMOUNT SETTLEMENT FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF $102,084.81. 25-1452 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.
NATIONAL OPIOID SETTLEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $57,748.73.
1452 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE NATIONAL OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND, IN THE AMOUNT OF $55,461.70. 1453 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BRIDGE K0701 LOCAL BRIDGE FUND GRANT AND THE AMOUNT OF $876,860.
1454 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, BRIDGE C1102 LOCAL BRIDGE FUND GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $850,000. 1455 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, BRIDGE G0402 LOCAL BRIDGE FUND GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $750,000.
1456 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY NORTH JERSEY TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AUTHORITY AT THE NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY SUBREGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING PROGRAM GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $143,682.50.
1457 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS VA TRANSPORTATION GRANT, AND THE AMOUNT OF $2,200. 1458 IS FOR THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
DIGITAL DIGITIZATION OF RECORDS GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,000.
1459 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
FAMILY'S CHILD ADVOCACY DEVELOPMENT GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $173,753.
1460 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ASSISTANCE GRANTS AND THE AMOUNT OF $55,000.
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THERE'S AN IN-KIND MATCH APPROPRIATED IN THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT SALARY AND WAGE BUDGET.1463 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OVERDOSE FATALITY REVIEW TEAM GRANT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,000 AND 1464 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. FARMERS MARKET GRANT AND THE AMOUNT OF $2,250 AND 25-1465 IS THE PAYMENT OF CLAIMS AND RATIFICATION OF THE SAME.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $2,942.50. RESOLUTION 25-1467 AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR A PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO VITAL RECORDS HOLDINGS FOR OFF SITE STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SERVICES TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $18,000.
RESOLUTION 25-1468. THIS IS APPROVAL TO PAY A CONFIRMING ORDER FOR RUTGERS HEALTH FOR CEUS FOR THE STIGMA FREE HUMAN SERVICES CONFERENCE HELD IN MAY 2025. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $2,300.
25-1469. AUTHORIZING THE CANCELLATION OF CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS FOR SPRING REINS OF LIFE FOR EQUINE SERVICES NOT TO EXCEED -$4,610 AND FREEDOM YOGA FOR YOGA SERVICES NOT TO EXCEED -$1,900. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED -$6,510.25 1470, AUTHORIZING THE CANCELLATION OF CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS TO LAINE FEDERAL SOLUTIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED -$3,000. 25-1471. AUTHORIZING THE CANCELLATION OF CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CENTERS OF NEW JERSEY AND PENNSYLVANIA FOR MEDICAL EXAMS FOR MENTAL HEALTH EMPLOYEES.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED -$1,184.40. 25-1472. THIS IS APPROVAL TO PAY A CONFIRMING ORDER FOR RANDAZZO IN RARITAN FOR MAY 2025. TAX VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $562. 25-1473. APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO RANDAZZO.
RARITAN FOR THE MAY 2025 HANDYMAN VOLUNTEER MEETING.
25-1476. SORRY. 75 IS AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS TO MULTIPLE VENDORS FOR SERVICES AND MATERIALS. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $123,518.92 25-1476 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDERS TO AME DAVE SUBURBAN DISPOSAL AND TRI COUNTY TERMITE AND PEST CONTROL FOR VARIOUS SERVICES.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $16,790.25. 25-1477 IS CANCELING AND APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER RESOLUTION R25-1251.
IT WAS FOR VARIOUS SAFETY CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES, SO WE ARE GETTING THIS MONEY BACK.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $8,750. 25-1478 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO MAZZA RECYCLING SERVICES.
THIS IS FOR OUR RECYCLING COMMODITIES. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $67,618.61.
25-1479 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO RADIAC RESEARCH CORP..
THIS IS FOR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE FOR OUR JUNE COLLECTION.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $50,242.70. THIS WILL BE REIMBURSED BY THE REA GRANT.
RIGHT NOW, WE TOOK IT OUT OF OUR RECYCLING BUDGET.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $3,117.60. THIS DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID IS FOR OUR TRUCKS.
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BUY IT ON CONTRACT, IT WILL BE CONFIRMED. WE DO NEED THIS FOR OUR DIESEL VEHICLES TO OPERATE.25-1481 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO RECYCLING EQUIPMENT CORP.
THIS IS FOR AN EMERGENCY REPAIR THAT HAD TO BE MADE IN OUR CARDBOARD BALER.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $1,509.18 25-1482 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO REPUBLICAN. I'M SORRY. REPUBLIC SERVICES AND ALLIED WASTE SYSTEMS. THIS WAS ALSO FOR COMMODITIES TOTALED NOT TO EXCEED $464.31.
AND FOR THE NEW COMMISSIONER, THE COMMODITIES ARE A SPOT MARKET ONCE A MONTH.
SO EVERY TIME COMMODITY COSTS COME IN, THEY WILL BE A CONFIRMING ORDER BECAUSE THERE IS NO CONTRACT.
OKAY. 25-1483 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO PUMPING SERVICES.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $6,115. 25-1484 IS AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS TO DOT DESIGNING. THIS IS FOR UNIFORMS TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $3,500.
25-1485 IS AMENDING AND CANCELING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS TO MAGICAL RESULTS AND GRAND FALLOONS.
THIS IS TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $20,200. THEY'RE THE ONES WHO PROVIDE RECYCLING EDUCATION TO SCHOOL STUDENTS, SO WE PAY THEM TO GO INTO OUR GRAMMAR SCHOOLS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ON RECYCLING.
25-1486 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDERS TO BON VENTURE SERVICES.
THESE ARE MENU ADS THAT WE PUT INTO DINERS SO PEOPLE CAN SEE IT WHEN THEY'RE EATING TO PROMOTE RECYCLING SERVICES, WE'RE WORKING WITH PURCHASING RIGHT NOW TO COME OUT WITH A SPECIFICATION TO BID THIS OUT.
SO THIS DOESN'T CONTINUE TO COME UP AS A CONFIRMING ORDER.
25-1487 IS AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS FOR PARTS AND REPAIRS, TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED 183000. 25-1488 IS AMENDING AND CANCELING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS. THIS IS TO VARIOUS PARTS AND REPAIR VENDORS.
SO THIS IS MONEY THAT WILL BE COMING BACK TO US $38,134.04.
25-1489 IS APPROVAL TO PAY, CONFIRMING ORDERS TO MULTIPLE PARTS AND REPAIR VENDORS.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $79,576.85. SOME OF THESE CONFIRMING ORDERS, THERE WERE PARTS WHEN WE SENT THE TRUCKS OUT FOR REPAIRS, THAT IF THEY DON'T USE A PART THAT'S ON CONTRACT, THE ENTIRE REPAIR BECOMES A CONFIRMING ORDER.
SO THAT'S WHY THESE SOMETIMES COME UP AS CONFIRMING ORDERS.
25-1490 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDERS TO NATIONAL FUEL OIL FOR FUEL TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $54,772.48. NOT AT ALL OF THESE WERE THIS WAY, BUT SOME OF THE CONFIRMING ORDER FOR THIS IS WE ORDER FUEL PRIOR. WE DO A BLANKET, AND THE BLANKET GETS APPROVED PRIOR TO THE BLANKET GETTING APPROVED.
WE HAPPEN TO ORDER FUEL AND THAT'S WHY IT BECOMES A CONFIRMING ORDER.
AND WE DID AN EMERGENCY REPAIR ON A FUEL PUMP.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ADD THE ABOVE RESOLUTIONS? 25-1400 THROUGH 25-1490 TO THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR AUGUST 26TH.
SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.
YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.
YES. ITEMS TO BE ADDED FOR ADOPTION. REGULAR MEETING.
WORKFIRST NEW JERSEY GENERAL ASSISTANCE, SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM GRANT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $70,567 AND 25-1365 IS FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WORKFIRST NEW JERSEY TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $103,412. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADD THE RESOLUTIONS 25-1364 AND 1365 TO THE AGENDA.
SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.
YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR. ROBINSON.
YES. RESOLUTION 25-1366 IS AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR A PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO
[01:30:01]
CITYDATA FOR WEB BASED ANALYTIC APPLICATION SOFTWARE SERVICES TO THE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED 20,500.1367 IS AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH HUNTERDON COUNTY EDUCATIONAL COMMISSION FOR GED YOUTH LITERACY SERVICES FOR ONE MONTH, TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED 17,000. 1368 IS AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE OF THE COUNTY BID THRESHOLD TO $53,000.
1369 AUTHORIZING A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH VARIOUS SOMERSET COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES, BOARDS OF EDUCATION, AND NONPROFIT AGENCIES FOR THE PURPOSES OF PRINTING SERVICES.
COUNCIL. STEP BACK TO 1368. EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS.
WHICH ONE? 1368. SO THE STATE INCREASED THE BID THRESHOLD FOR THE COUNTY.
AND THIS IS JUST TAKEN ACTION TO CONFIRM THAT.
FOR ALL COUNTIES, IT'S THE SAME. YEAH. OKAY. THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT IS.
1370 IS AUTHORIZING A NOVATION AGREEMENT FOR PYE-BARKER FIRE AND SAFETY DOING BUSINESS AS B SAFE, LLC, FORMERLY SDG SECURITY; 1371, IS AUTHORIZING RECEIPT OF FUNDS FROM THE NJ DOT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO BROWN AVENUE AND PAYMENT TO HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP OF THOSE FUNDS. 1372 IS AMENDING R25-1201 TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF THE ACCEPTANCE OF AWARDS BY SOMERSET COUNTY AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THE GRWDB FOR WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT FUNDING TO $3,013,874 FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2025 TO JUNE 30TH, 2026.
1373, EXCUSE ME, IS AWARD OF AN EMERGENCY THREE MONTH EXTENSION FOR CONTRACTS CY-COM-0002-20 WITH HUNTERDON COUNTY EDUCATIONAL SERVICES COMMISSION FOR WFNJ EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR HUNTERDON AND SOMERSET COUNTY, AND EXTENDS THE CONTRACT WITH THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES FOR WFNJ PROGRAM SPACE FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $135,037.68 FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2025 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
25-1374. AWARD OF CONTRACT CC-0052-24 FOR EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT AND SERVICE AWARDS TO CASCO INTERNATIONAL FOR THE SECOND YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $19,293.
25-1375, AMENDING RESOLUTION R25-1023 CONFIRMING ORDER FOR GALLS.
TOTAL AMOUNT TO BE DECREASED BY $21.22, TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $1,175.02.
AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO KONKUS CORPORATION AT BEDMINSTER, NEW JERSEY FOR MAINTENANCE. CONTRACT FOR STRUCTURAL REPAIRS OF BRIDGES AND STRUCTURES, VARIOUS LOCATIONS.
SOMERSET COUNTY CONTRACT 25006 EMERGENCY FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $650,000. ADAM, IS THAT AS A RESULT OF THE STORMS WE JUST HAD? YES IT IS. THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT ARE LARGER THAN WE CAN HANDLE.
SO WE'RE HAVING OUR ON CALL CONTRACTOR FIX SOME THINGS.
OKAY. THANK YOU. INCLUDING SOMERSET STREET. OKAY, GREAT.
THANK YOU. RESOLUTION 25-1377 AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A TEMPORARY EASEMENT WITH WESTON SOLUTIONS, INC.
AND 3M. COMPANY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF TEMPORARY MONITORING WELLS ON THE FORMER 3M PROPERTY IN THE SAUERLAND MOUNTAIN PRESERVE, MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY. RESOLUTION 25-1378 AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT TO HUNTER RESEARCH FOR A GRAVESTONE ASSESSMENT AT THE SOUTH COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY, HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $5,500.
RESOLUTION 25-1379 AUTHORIZING A PURCHASE FROM S.H.I FOR A ONE YEAR LICENSE.
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT FOR OMNISSA HORIZON SOFTWARE SUITE UTILIZING THE NEW JERSEY COOPERATIVE PURCHASING ALLIANCE CONTRACT, THE TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $55,427.07. RESOLUTION 25-1380,-AWARD OF CONTRACT TO EPLUS TECHNOLOGIES FOR CISCO SMART NET RENEWAL SUPPORT CONTRACT UTILIZING THE HUNTERDON COUNTY CONTRACT CO-OP TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED
[01:35:03]
$36,594.65. RESOLUTION 25-1381, AWARD OF CONTRACT TO FILEBANK CONTRACT CC-9095-25 TO FILEBANK INCORPORATED FOR HISTORICAL DOCUMENT RESTORATION AND DIGITAL DIGITIZATION FOR SOMERSET COUNTY.TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $18,305. THAT WILL BE ACTUALLY BACK SCANNING RECORDS GOING BACK FROM THE 1700S, NATURALIZATION RECORDS, OUR SOMERSET COUNTY GAZETTES FROM THE EARLY 1800S, THEY WILL NOW BE DIGITIZED.
AND OF COURSE, FREEHOLDERS COMMISSIONERS MEETING MINUTES.
GOING BACK TO, I THINK ABOUT 1770. I THINK IT WAS OUR FIRST.
YEAH. SO THAT WILL ALL BE DIGITIZED AND MADE AVAILABLE.
SO AT HOPEFULLY BEFORE NEXT YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR, IT'LL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE.
YEAH. SO ALL RIGHT. RESOLUTION 25-1382 APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO VITAL RECORDS HOLDINGS FOR RECORDS MANAGEMENT, PHYSICAL STORAGE AND SERVICES.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $8,712.15. RESOLUTION 25-1383.
APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO WINDSTREAM FOR INTERNET AND VOICE OVER IP SERVICES.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $52,059.56.
RESOLUTION 25-1384 AUTHORIZING THE SOMERSET COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT SOMERSET COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL CONTRACT FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30TH OF 2026, TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $69,949. COUNTY IN-KIND MATCH NOT TO EXCEED $16,987 THROUGH THE SOMERSET COUNTY OPERATIONS AND PLANNING, SALARY AND WAGE BUDGET. RESOLUTION 25-1385.
THE AWARD OF CONTRACT TO SPRING REINS OF LIFE IN THREE BRIDGES, NEW JERSEY, FOR EQUINE SERVICES FOR A ONE YEAR CONTRACT, WITH AN OPTION TO EXTEND AN ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $26,180.
25-1386 AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO CONTINENTAL HARDWARE, INC. FOR LUMBER AND SUPPLIES FOR THE HANDYMAN PROGRAM, TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $5,825.
25-1387 AWARD OF CONTRACT CY-COM-0021-24 TO MIDDLE EARTH FOR THE PROMISES PROGRAM. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF A POSSIBLE THREE YEAR CONTRACT FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2025. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $47,131.16.
RESOLUTION 25-1388 APPROVAL TO PAY A CONFIRMING ORDER TO MIDDLE EARTH FOR SEVEN MONTHS OF THE PREVENTION, OF THE PROMISES PROGRAM FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JULY 31ST, 2025.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $58,428.84.
RESOLUTION 25-1389 AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT FUNDING AWARDED FROM THE FFY24 VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT GRANT PROGRAM.
25-1390. AWARD OF CONTRACT TO ATLANTIC TACTICAL AT NEW CUMBERLAND, PA FOR NIGHT VISION BINOCULARS AND ON-GUN LASER SYSTEMS. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $558,662.80. 25-1391, AWARD A CONTRACT FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE SOMERSET COUNTY CRISIS NEGOTIATION TEAM, THE PRIMARY MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IS AWARDED TO PAUL R MEHAFFEY COUNSELING SERVICES, AND A SECONDARY MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IS AWARDED TO BRIANNA MANGO.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $67,680. RESOLUTION 25-1392 APPROVAL OF A CONFIRMING ORDER TO HAPPY PETS VETERINARY HOSPITAL OUT OF SOUTH BOUND BROOK TOLD THEM NOT TO EXCEED $255.91.
THANK YOU. RESOLUTION 25-1393 FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AUTHORIZING A NO COST EXTENSION FOR THE ENHANCING LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT, THE ORIGINAL AWARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,087,124 TO BE EXPENDED BY JUNE 30TH OF 2025, HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED TO MARCH 31ST, 2026.
[01:40:09]
25-1394 IS AWARDED A CONTRACT TO B SAFE, THIS IS FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF SECURITY DOOR SYSTEMS, FIRE ALARM SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AT THE SOMERSET COUNTY JAIL.THIRD YEAR OF A THREE YEAR CONTRACT. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $110,684.40.
25-1395 IS AWARDED A CONTRACT TO MULTIPLE VENDORS.
THIS IS FOR ROAD MATERIALS, FIRST YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT.
TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED 44,000. 1396 AUTHORIZED CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS TO NOOR STAFFING, LLC FOR TEMPORARY STAFFING DUE TO EMPLOYEE ESTIMATED TO BE ON LEAVE THROUGH OCTOBER 2025.
NOT TO EXCEED $14,642.80. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADD RESOLUTIONS 25-1366 THROUGH 25-1396 TO THIS AFTERNOON'S AGENDA? SECOND. ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE.
YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO.
YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. THIS IS WHERE WE COME TO THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK, YOU CAN COME UP TO THE MIC.
FIVE MINUTES. NO YIELDING OF TIME. NO COMING UP A SECOND TIME.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS. FOR THE RECORD, IS THERE A MOTION TO GO INTO PUBLIC? MOTION. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? THIS IS NOT ADJUSTABLE. HI, I'M LINDA POWELL.
22 BEAUFORT DRIVE, SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, WHICH IS FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
I DID SEND IN A WHILE BACK, WHICH I THINK I SENT YESTERDAY A RESOLUTION THAT ESSEX COUNTY BEAT US TO COME ON SUPPORT OF THE NEW JERSEY CLIMATE SUPERFUND ACT, AND THIS IS, AS I SEE IT, A WIN WIN SOLUTION FOR BOTH THE STATE AND THE RESIDENTS IN NEW JERSEY, WHICH MEANS THAT THE TYPES OF FLOODS AND DAMAGE THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING BASED ON THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE DISASTERS WILL BE, AT LEAST IN PART PAID FOR BY THOSE COMPANIES THAT CREATED THIS SITUATION TO BEGIN WITH.
AND THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT. THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION, I KNOW PEOPLE ON THIS BOARD KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE PUBLIC DOES.
AND IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP AGAIN. AND WHAT WILLIAMS TRANSCO IS TRYING TO DO IS TO FAST TRACK THIS PROJECT THROUGH IN THIS POLITICAL CLIMATE, THEY FEEL THAT THEY CAN PUSH THE PROJECT THROUGH WITHOUT FOLLOWING ANY RULES AND REGULATIONS. AND I ALSO FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THEY HAVE ALSO PUT FORWARD A SOUTHEAST SUPPLY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT.
AND WHEN I WAS LOOKING UP SOME OF THEIR SAFETY RECORDS, OR LACK THEREOF, I FOUND SOME INFORMATION ON A RECENT COUNTY COMMISSION BOARD. I BELIEVE I KNOW WHAT COUNTY IT IS, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S IN ALABAMA OR NOT.
AND THE ANSWER THEY GOT WAS A VERY WISHY WASHY ANSWER ABOUT THAT.
THEY TRY FOR 40% LOCAL EMPLOYEES, BUT THEY DON'T GUARANTEE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE FROM THEIR COUNTY OR THE IMMEDIATE AREA. JUST IN CASE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS PROJECT, WHAT IT ENTAILS IS A NEW GAS POWERED COMPRESSOR STATION IN FRANKLIN, RIGHT ACROSS FROM SOUTH BRUNSWICK, WHICH COMPRISED OF TWO MARS 100 TURBINES. 3.5 MILES OF NEW CONNECTING PIPELINE THROUGH OLD BRIDGE AND 23 MILES THROUGH RARITAN BAY, KEYPORT, ABERDEEN, MATAWAN, OUT THROUGH UNDERNEATH THE RARITAN BAY AND NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK HARBOR. SO IN NEW YORK, THEY HAVE A BIG COALITION FIGHTING THIS PROJECT IN NEW YORK.
[01:45:04]
IMPACTS, AND I GUESS I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT IT WASN'T JUST RESPIRATORY AND CARDIAC, BUT ALMOST EVERY SYSTEM IN OUR BODIES CAN BE IMPACTED ADVERSELY BY THE TYPES OF EMISSIONS.AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT WAS THAT IN THE AIR PERMIT WAS AWARDED IN 2017 BY THE THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
HOWEVER, THE RULES CHANGED. THE REGULATIONS CHANGED ON ON THE HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTION ADMISSION AND WERE PUBLISHED IN 2018. AND THEY'RE WAY ABOVE IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHART THAT I PROVIDED IN THE EMAIL WAY ABOVE.
WHAT WHAT THE AIR EMISSIONS WOULD BE. AND THEY REALLY WOULD NEED TO SUBMIT FOR A NEW AIR PERMIT, WHICH THEY THINK THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT. THEY DON'T NEED AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION UNIONS, LOOK UP THEIR SAFETY RECORD, THE DATA THAT THEY HAVE COLLECTED FROM 2008 TO 2018 INCLUDED FINES OF 3.4 PLUS MILLION FOR ACCIDENTS AND FAILED SAFETY PROCEDURES AT VARIOUS PLANTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING EXPLOSIONS IN WHICH SIX PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 102 INJURED.
THESE WERE SEVERAL EXPLOSIONS, AND THAT WAS ONLY A LITTLE LESS THAN TEN YEARS OF DATA.
I HAVEN'T FOUND THE UPDATED DATA, BUT I WOULD BE VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS.
IF YOU'RE IN THE BUILDING TRADES TO WORK WITH US ON A CONTRACT WITH THIS PARTICULAR COMPANY.
IT'S NOT SAFE. THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW FROM WORKING WITH THIS BOARD IN THE PAST, YOU'VE BEEN VERY GOOD AT PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS IN THIS COUNTY.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? GOOD EVENING. I'M CAROL KEEN, A LITTLE TALLER.
NOT MUCH. AND I RESIDE AT 4291 ROUTE 27, IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
WHICH IS PART OF THE NORTHEAST SUPPLY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT.
I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AND ALSO FOR MY NEIGHBOR.
THE NEW JERSEY BUDDHIST VIHARA AND MEDITATION CENTER, WHICH IS ALSO AN IMPACTED LANDOWNER.
SINCE WILLIAMS TRANSCO HAS RESURRECTED THEIR PLANS FOR NESE AND IS SEEKING APPROVAL OF THEM ON BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS, I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO PLEASE ONCE AGAIN PASS A RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO IT.
IT APPEARS THAT ALL OF OUR ORIGINAL OBJECTIONS TO THE COMPRESSOR STATION AND NESE IN ITS ENTIRETY ARE STILL RELEVANT, AS I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THAT WILLIAMS TRANSCO HAS MADE TO THEIR PLANS, THEIR ORIGINAL PLANS. OUR CONCERNS STILL ARE FOR OUR HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS OF FRANKLIN AND SOUTH BRUNSWICK TOWNSHIPS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CS206 SITE, WHO WOULD BE VULNERABLE TO AIR NOISE AND WATER POLLUTION.
THE CS206 SITE IS SITUATED NEXT TO TRAP ROCK QUARRY, AN ACTIVE MINING OPERATION WHOSE BLASTING IS OFTEN SO STRONG THAT IT SHAKES MY HOUSE. ON THE ROUTE 518 SIDE THERE ARE TWO FARMS AND AN ACTIVE SUPERFUND SITE, WHICH TRANSCO WANTS TO USE AS THEIR DRIVEWAY FOR CONSTRUCTION AND ACCESS TO CS206.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE ROUTE 27 SIDE, THERE ARE TWO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE APPROXIMATELY WITHIN A MILE OF THE PROPOSED COMPRESSOR STATION PRINCETON MANOR AND PRINCETON WALK. AND ALSO, AS I MENTIONED, THE NEW JERSEY BUDDHIST VIHARA AND MEDITATION CENTER, WHICH WHOSE PROPERTY ABUTS THE SITE AND CONCERNS ABOUT NOT ONLY POLLUTION BUT SERENITY AND PEACE OF THAT AREA ARE IN JEOPARDY. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS INCLUDE NOT ONLY WATER AND AIR POLLUTION, BUT ALSO THE DEGRADATION OF FOREST HABITAT, EXCEPTIONAL WETLANDS AND THE WATER SYSTEM THEY FEED INTO.
CLIMATE CHANGE WILL BE EXACERBATED BY METHANE GAS EMISSIONS FROM THE COMPRESSOR STATION ITSELF,
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AND FROM THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING PIPELINES. WE, RESIDENTS OF FRANKLIN AND OTHERS WHO OPPOSED NESE LAST TIME, ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE SUPPORT YOU GAVE US AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ONCE AGAIN AND SEE YOU PASS A RESOLUTION AGAINST IT.THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DON'T THINK ANYONE. NO EMAILS, NO PHONE CALLS.
ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. HEARING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING? MOTION TO CLOSE. SECOND. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
AYES HAVE IT. WE WILL MOVE RIGHT INTO OUR NEXT MEETING.
ANYONE THAT WISHES TO ESCAPE AT THIS TIME MAY DO SO.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.