ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT. WE WILL MOVE RIGHT INTO OUR NEXT MEETING.
[00:00:07]
ANYONE THAT WISHES TO ESCAPE AT THIS TIME, YOU MAY DO SO.WE DO HAVE CHECKS TO GIVE OUT. SO I SUSPECT THAT PEOPLE ARE HERE FOR THE CHECKS.
AND I SEE THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NJAC, DONNADIO IS HERE, I SAW HIM OKAY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR.
[NJAC SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS]
IS DOMINICK AND KENNETH, ARE YOU HERE? OKAY. COME FORWARD.OKAY. SUPERINTENDENT PRESUTO, COME FORWARD PLEASE.
COME ON. DON'T BE SHY. JOHN, DO YOU WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE INTRO ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP? I WOULD BE HAPPY TO. BUT FIRST, IF I COULD JUST TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK YOU, MADAM DIRECTOR, NOT ONLY FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY, BUT ALSO AS PRESIDENT OF THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY.
YOUR LEADERSHIP IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED ACROSS THE STATE, ESPECIALLY BY ME.
YOU'VE BEEN MORE LIKE A THERAPIST FOR ME THIS PAST YEAR THAN ANYTHING ELSE, WITH ALL THE STUFF COMING OUT OF TRENTON. SO THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE COLLEEN MARR, WHO IS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE NJAC FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS GROUP. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND OF COURSE, I MISS YOU SEEING YOU AT THE LOWE'S IN HILLSBOROUGH ALL THE TIME.
I'VE BEEN THERE A COUPLE OF TIMES AND WE WOULD SEE EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME THERE. BUT I LOVE, THIS IS MY FAVORITE THING TO DO WITH THE NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.
MY NAME IS JOHN DONNADIO. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND I LOVE GIVING AWAY OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY THROUGH THE FOUNDATION THIS PAST YEAR AND THE GENEROSITY OF COMPANIES LIKE PSEG AND AMAZON AND AT&T AND SHI INTERNATIONAL, WE'VE GIVEN AWAY OVER $110,000 THIS YEAR TO COUNTY VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL GRADUATES.
AND WHAT I LOVE ABOUT ALL THE STUDENTS THAT ARE RECEIVING THE SCHOLARSHIPS IN HUNTINGTON COUNTY, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WHICH I THINK IS AWESOME. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THANK YOU FOR A FEW MINUTES, MADAM DIRECTOR, I APPRECIATE IT. DO WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM SHI AND AT&T HERE THIS EVENING? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO FIRST UP DOMINICK ELIAS. IS ELIAS OR ELIAS? ELIAS. SO THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY WERE PLEASED TO WRITE.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO READ IN PART. PLEASE TO READ THIS LETTER ON BEHALF OF DOMINICK, A 12TH GRADE STUDENT IN THE MECHATRONICS ENGINEERING AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, MEAN PROGRAM AT SOMERSET COUNTY VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.
THE PROGRAM EMPHASIZES PRACTICAL SKILLS IN ROBOTICS, CODING, MACHINING AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, UTILIZING A VARIETY OF MACHINES INCLUDING CNC MACHINES, LATHES AND 3D PRINTERS.
IN ADDITION TO HIS PURSUITS IN THE CLASSROOM, DOMINICK HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN VOLUNTEER WORK, INCLUDING CLEANUP INITIATIVES AT DAVID AND PHILIP MILLER PARK AND SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF BOTH THE NATIONAL TECHNICAL HONOR SOCIETY AND NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.
SO WE HAVE FOR YOU A CHECK, SO DON'T SPEND IT ALL IN ONE PLACE, BUT DEFINITELY TO HELP YOU ON YOUR ENDEAVORS AND FURTHERING YOUR EDUCATION. AND A CERTIFICATE THAT READS: THE NJAC FOUNDATION AND SHI INTERNATIONAL 2025 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AWARD PRESENTED TO DOMINICK ELIAS IN RECOGNITION FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND DISTINGUISHED SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT.
SIGNED BY JOHN DONNADIO AND ON BEHALF OF THE NJAC BOARD, SO HERE YOU GO.
[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS. SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
I GOT MONEY, I GUESS. [LAUGHTER] YEAH. I'M DEFINITELY PUTTING THIS TOWARDS MY SCHOOL BECAUSE IT'S EXPENSIVE, SO. BUT, YEAH, I JUST REALLY LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.
AND I DID NOT EXPECT THIS AT ALL. I AM NOT GOING TO LIE.
SO. BUT, YEAH, I JUST REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I RUN INTO THIS GUY ALL THE TIME IN THE HALLWAY, AND HE'S ALWAYS SO NICE.
BUT I REALLY GOT TO SEE HIM, BUT I'M GLAD I DID, BUT YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[00:05:04]
WHERE ARE YOU GOING? OH I'M GOING TO STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING FOR THIS FALL, SO THANK YOU. AND NEXT WE HAVE KENNETH. IS IT PONTERAS? OKAY, SO, KENNETH THE FIRST THING I THINK OF WHEN I THINK OF KENNETH PONTERAS IS HOW LIKABLE, OUTGOING, CONFIDENT, YET DOWN TO EARTH AND WISE HE IS.AS A STUDENT, KENNY HAS PERFORMED WELL ABOVE AVERAGE AT VO-TECH, AND HIS CURRENT GPA IS 3.4 ON THE FINAL AVERAGE OF A, B OR BETTER IN COMPUTER SCIENCE ESSENTIALS, CYBERSECURITY, AND COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES.
AS AN ATHLETE. HE HAS BEEN A STARTER ON THE VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM FOR FOUR YEARS.
HE HAS EXHIBITED HIS SKILLS ALSO IN VIDEOTAPING RUTGERS MEN'S BASKETBALL GAMES.
ARE YOU? MEN'S FOOTBALL GAMES AND MEN AND WOMEN'S SOCCER GAMES AS AN INTERN FOR RUTGERS SAMCO THE PAST YEAR AND THIS SUMMER, THAT MAY RESULT IN KENNY BEING A GIVEN LEADERSHIP POSITION OVERSEEING INTERNS.
WHATEVER KENNY IS PASSIONATE ABOUT, HE EXCELS IN.
THEREFORE, I UNDOUBTEDLY RECOMMEND KENNY PONTERAS FOR THE 2025 NJAC SCHOLARSHIP, WHICH IS THE AT&T SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEE FOR 2025. AND SO, THANK YOU.
I'LL TAKE THAT. NJAC FOUNDATION IN AT&T 2025 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AWARD PRESENTED TO KENNETH PONTERAS IN RECOGNITION FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND DISTINGUISHED SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] I WAS NOT EXPECTING TO TALK TODAY, SO. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO THANK GOD, MY PARENTS.
WITHOUT OF THIS, NOTHING WILL BE POSSIBLE. MY INTERNSHIP, MY EARLY SUCCESS AS A VIDEOGRAPHER.
MY GIRLFRIEND [INAUDIBLE]. SHE CANNOT BE HERE TODAY, BUT IT'S ALL GOOD.
THANK YOU TO YOU AS WELL. YOUR ACTIONS JUST AFFECT PEOPLE LIKE US.
THE STUDENTS LIKE ME AND AND OTHERS THAT AREN'T HERE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF US.
BEING A GRADUATE, JUST HAVING MONEY TO HELP TOWARDS AN EXPENSIVE FEE.
BUT THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. AND I'M MORE THAN BLESSED TO ACHIEVE THIS.
[APPLAUSE] WORDS OF WISDOM. WISE WORDS FROM FROM SUCH A YOUNG MAN.
SUPERINTENDENT PRESUTO, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT YOUR STUDENTS? OH, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH VO-TECH, WE ARE HOPEFULLY NOT THE BEST KEPT SECRET HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY, RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD IN BRIDGEWATER. BUT THESE YOUNG GENTLEMEN BEFORE YOU AND ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT COME TO US, WE ARE A CHOICE SCHOOL. SO THEY MAKE THE CHOICE TO SOMETIMES NOT BE WITH THEIR FRIENDS DURING THE DAY.
BUT THEY MAKE THE CHOICE TO COME TO VO-TECH. AND AS WE ALL KNOW THE NEED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH SKILLS THAT THEY CAN CREATE, THEY CAN BUILD, THEY CAN FIX, TROUBLESHOOT AND DESIGN IS VERY MUCH NEEDED IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND THEY DID IT FOR FOUR YEARS AT NO ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC BURDEN TO THEIR FAMILIES.
AND THEY MAKE US PROUD EVERY DAY. AND I INVITE ANYONE TO COME SEE OUR FACILITY.
WE HAVE TWO BRAND NEW BUILDINGS. THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET FOR THAT, WHICH WILL OPEN IN SEPTEMBER, AND WE WILL BE ADDING SEVEN ADDITIONAL CTE CLASSROOMS. COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD AND HUMBLED TO BE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF YOUR VO-TECH, THANK YOU.
AND THE PARENTS, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE OF PICTURES, THEN WE CAN MOVE ON TO.
[00:10:12]
SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST AND BEST COMING OUT OF SOMERSET COUNTY, AND ESPECIALLY THE VO-TECH.WHEN WE WERE AT THE GRADUATION, I JUST MARVELED IN THE WORDS OF WISDOM AND THE STUDENT SPEAKERS, THE VALEDICTORIANS AND SALUTATORIAN. I ACTUALLY TOOK NOTES.
SO IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY SEE THEM AND HEAR THEIR STORIES.
[SPOTLIGHT NEWSLETTER]
SO AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO DO A SPOTLIGHT NEWSLETTER.ANNOUNCEMENT OF SHOW US YOUR SOMERSET WINNER.
AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND I ARE GOING TO EACH DRAW A WINNER AT THIS MOMENT.
OKAY. OKAY. YOU WANT TO SHOW THAT? WELL. OH, I LIKE THAT ONE.
SO IN OUR LAST NEWSLETTER ON THE BACK, WE ASKED PEOPLE TO SHOW US THEIR SOMERSET AS A CONTEST AND A WAY OF ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND SEEING THROUGH THEIR LENSES AND THROUGH THEIR EYES OF WHAT, THE CAPTURING SIGHTS AND EVENTS THROUGHOUT SOMERSET COUNTY.
RIGHT. SO. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
CHU NG. AND I'VE GOT WHAT'S ON THE BOARD RIGHT THERE TO MANKIND.
[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] YEAH. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, SO THE WINNER, ONE WILL RECEIVE FOUR TICKETS TO THE SOMERSET PATRIOTS GAME, AND THE OTHER ONE WILL RECEIVE A GIFT, CERTIFICATE OR GIFT. DON'T PUT THEM BACK. PUT IT BACK HERE.
I KNOW THE NAME, I GOT IT, I GOT IT, I GOT THE WINNERS.
HERE WE HAVE THE WINNERS. AND THE OTHER ONE WILL RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE FOR BRIDGEWATER MALL.
VERY NICE SHOPPING SPREE. CONGRATULATIONS. SO AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HAVE OUR PRESENTATION OF
[OPIOID SETTLEMENT GRANTS]
OPIOID SETTLEMENT GRANTS. THE MOMENT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A CHECKS, CHECKS, CHECKS, CHECKS. SO I WILL CALL MY NONPROFITS UP ONE BY ONE.BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS REALLY QUICK.
HOLD ON. I'M VERY TALL. OKAY. COOL. KARAOKE. SO I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THAT OUR OFFICE LAUNCHED THE COMMUNITY SOLUTION SMALL GRANT PROGRAM, USING OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS TO SUPPORT GRASSROOTS EFFORTS ADDRESSING ADDICTION AND RECOVERY.
THIS YEAR, WE AWARDED FUNDING TO TEN LOCAL INITIATIVES, INCLUDING TRAUMA INFORMED ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN IMPACTED BY PARENTAL SUBSTANCE USE, NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION THROUGH SAVE A LIFE DAY, YOUTH PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, AND GRIEF AND RECOVERY WORKSHOPS. WE ALSO SUPPORTED RESEARCH INTO SUBSTANCE USE AMONG OLDER ADULTS, STRENGTHENED ACCESS TO EVALUATIONS FOR YOUTH, AND FUNDED COLLABORATIONS THAT CONNECT SENIORS AND TEENS THROUGH PREVENTION EDUCATION.
THESE PROJECTS REFLECT THE POWER OF INVESTING DIRECTLY IN OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, MEETING REAL NEEDS WITH COMPASSION, CREATIVITY, AND IMPACT. I AM PROUD TO SAY WE ARE THE FIRST COUNTY IN THIS IN THE STATE TO CREATE A PATHWAY TO FUNDING LIKE THIS.
[APPLAUSE] AND AS SUCH, SOME OTHER COUNTIES HAVE BEGUN TO REPLICATE IT, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT TO SEE. I WANT TO THANK THIS BOARD FOR ALLOWING ME TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, FOR SUPPORTING INNOVATION, AND ALLOWING US TO USE THESE FUNDS IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND ETHICAL WAY THAT WE CAN.
I WILL CALL UP OUR AGENCIES ONE BY ONE. THANK YOU FOR WAITING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. FIRST, I HAVE SAFE AND SOUND SOMERSET, YOU CAN KIND OF COME ON UP.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND SAY A FEW WORDS IF YOU FEEL INCLINED TO.
GO RIGHT TO THE FRONT. OKAY. YOU HAVE TWO.
YOU KNOW, WE DO WANT EVERYONE TO STAND FOR THE PICTURE.
DEFINITELY. AFTER YOU TALK. THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO.
[00:15:02]
MY NAME IS SHEILA BREEDING. I'M CHAIR OF SAFE SOUND SOMERSET'S BOARD.WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN SERVING THE COMMUNITY OF SOMERSET COUNTY FOR 40 YEARS, ASSISTING THOSE SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND BEING THE ONLY PROVIDER FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE HAVE SEXUAL ASSAULT BETWEEN THE AGES OF THREE AND 12. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS AN INTERLACED IN TRAUMA OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND WE ARE SUPREMELY APPRECIATIVE OF THE RECOGNITION OF THESE WORKING ISSUES.
SO WE APPRECIATE THEM. THANK YOU. THIS IS.
WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT ONE, SIR. OKAY. NEXT WE HAVE THE COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES OF SOMERSET, HUNTERDON AND WARREN COUNTIES FOR THEIR SUPPORTING CHILDREN IMPACTED BY PARENTAL OPIATE USE.
THANK YOU. HI, I'M TRACY HEISLER, I'M CASA SHAW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THIS FUNDING.
WE HAVE INVESTED THE LAST TEN YEARS IN TRAUMA INFORMED CARE IN OUR AGENCY.
WE'VE BEEN SERVING KIDS IN FOSTER CARE HERE FOR 20 YEARS IN SOMERSET COUNTY.
AND WE HAVE FOUND THAT TRAUMA IS REALLY THE GATEWAY TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
AND UNDERSTANDING THOSE DYNAMICS CAN HELP US BETTER SUPPORT OUR PARENTS IN THEIR RECOVERY AND CAN HELP US BETTER SUSTAIN AND SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN AS THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THEIR WAY THROUGH THIS REALLY DIFFICULT EXPERIENCE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] YOU DO. NEXT, WE HAVE FEEDING HANDS, TO ADDRESS THE OPIOID CRISIS WITH RESIDENTS FACING FOOD INSECURITY.
HI, LOIS. THANK YOU FOR WAITING. I'M LOIS BENNETT, THE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FEEDING HANDS.
AND WE CONNECT PEOPLE TO OTHER SERVICES BEYOND FOOD, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE ONLY ISSUE.
SO WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE, RECEIVED FUNDING TO ACTUALLY DO THIS WORK.
CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT WE HAVE EMPOWER SOMERSET FOR THEIR OLDER ADULT AND YOUTH CONNECTION PROGRAM.
[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. SURE. HI, EVERYONE I'M KRISTEN SCHIRO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EMPOWER SOMERSET.
WE'VE BEEN PART OF THIS COMMUNITY FOR OVER 50 YEARS NOW.
OUR ROOTS ARE IN SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION, BUT WE BRANCHED OUT A BIT INTO MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION, PREGNANCY, TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION AND LIFE SKILLS.
WE ALSO HAVE THE COUNTY'S FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER, WHICH IS CALLED THE PIONEER FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER.
WHERE ANYBODY IN THE COUNTY CAN COME FOR RESOURCES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER IT'S RENTAL ASSISTANCE, HELP WITH FOOD NEEDING NEEDING EMPLOYMENT. AND WE ALSO TOUCH ON ECONOMIC STABILITY AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITY NOW.
AND THIS PROJECT IS RELATED TO THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT SENIORS ARE AT RISK FOR SUBSTANCE USE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE ISOLATED. SO WE'RE CONNECTING WITH TEMPLE BETH-EL.
THAT'S OUR PARTNER IN THIS THEIR REFUGEE COMMITTEE.
WE'RE CONNECTING THEIR TEENS WITH SENIORS, EITHER IN ADULT COMMUNITIES THAT MAY BE ISOLATED, AND THEY'RE DOING STORYBOARDS TOGETHER, TALKING ABOUT THEIR HERITAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO THAT THEY CAN CONNECT AND YOU KNOW, LEAN ON ONE ANOTHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS FUNDING.
[00:20:02]
NEXT UP, WE HAVE RECOVERY FRIENDLY LLC FOR THEIR OLDER ADULT WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RESEARCH PROJECT.THANKS, LISA. DAVID MARTINAK, I'M THE FOUNDER OF RECOVERY FRIENDLY NEW JERSEY.
IT IS A, WE RECEIVED 501C3 STATUS IN NOVEMBER 24TH.
SO WE ARE A GRASSROOTS NONPROFIT, AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH.
AND I SIT ON OTHER ADVISORY COUNCILS AND BOARDS AND OTHER COUNTIES, AND I DON'T HESITATE TO PROMOTE THIS CONCEPT BECAUSE IT'S EXACTLY ONE OF THE THINGS THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS IS INTENDED FOR IS FOR INNOVATIVE NEW SOLUTIONS.
AND I CAN'T THINK ENOUGH. SO WHAT I'LL BE DOING IS ASSESSING THE ROLE OF PEER RECOVERY SPECIALISTS AND OTHER WAYS TO ASSIST THE OLDER ADULT POPULATION, BECAUSE DESPITE THERE'S A SLIGHT DECLINE IN THE OVERDOSE RATES, WE KNOW THAT IN THE OLDER ADULT COMMUNITIES IT IS GROWING, SO THANK YOU ALL OF THAT. [APPLAUSE] NEXT UP WE HAVE OUR TRI-COUNTY CARE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION.
COME UP AND THANK YOU FOR WAITING. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M JAMES PARAUDE. I'M THE CEO OF TRI-COUNTY CMO.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO WE ARE, WE PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES FOR KIDS FROM AGES AS YOUNG AS THREE, ALL THE WAY UP TO 21. WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 20 YEARS.
THERE'S A CMO IN EVERY COUNTY, BUT WE ARE SERVING THIS MONEY WILL GO TOWARDS KIDS IN SOMERSET COUNTY FOR SUBSTANCE USE EVALUATIONS AND THE ADVENTURE TRAINING PROGRAM. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] LET'S TAKE A PICTURE.
CONGRATULATIONS. ALMOST DONE, I PROMISE. NEXT UP, WE HAVE PREVENTION RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SAVE A LIFE DAY, WHICH IS SEPTEMBER 25TH. CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU. HI. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING SAVE A LIFE DAY TO SOMERSET COUNTY.
I'M HERE TODAY WITH MY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ERIN COHEN.
SHE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT PREVENTION RESOURCES FOR PREVENTION SERVICES.
OUR AGENCY NOT ONLY DOES PREVENTION, BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE COUNSELING RECOVERY CENTERS, FAMILY SUCCESS CENTERS IN HUNTERDON AND DOWN IN OCEAN COUNTY AS WELL, AND OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.
AND CHARLIE, YOU JUST CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD. I DIDN'T SEE YOU.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I SAW YOU. MASS DELIVERY OF GIVING OUT NARCAN, WHICH IS A LIFE SAVING ANTIDOTE FOR OVERDOSES. LAST YEAR IN SOMERSET COUNTY, WE HANDED OUT OVER, I THINK IT WAS 800 NARCAN ALL IN THE SAME DAY, SO IT'S PRETTY COOL. THIS YEAR, SAVE A LIFE DAY WENT NATIONAL, SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET MORE COUNTIES INVOLVED RIGHT NOW.
HUNTINGTON AND SOMERSET COUNTY ARE THE ONLY COUNTIES IN NEW JERSEY WHO ARE PARTICIPATING.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A CHANGE AND GET ALL OF THE COUNTIES TO PARTICIPATE.
[APPLAUSES] THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
[00:25:03]
HEALING AND RECOVERY WORKSHOP. CONGRATULATIONS.ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. WHICH ONE OF YOU. YOU BETTER.
SPEAKER. SO THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU.
LISA. THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT INNOVATION GRANTS HAVE BEEN PROBABLY THE MOST IMPACTFUL PART OF THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS THAT WE'VE HAD BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FUND SMALL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS.
AND CHARLIE IS TRULY A SMALL GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION.
HE FOUNDED HIS ORGANIZATION. THE DEATH OF HIS GRANDSON.
WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER CEUS AND HELP EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND HELP INCREASE GRIEF LITERACY, WHICH YOU KNOW, IS TRULY TRANSFORMATIVE. I DID WANT A SNEAK PEEK AND LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT WE JUST OPENED A SATELLITE OFFICE IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP AT 873 HAMILTON STREET.
CHARLIE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY. YEAH, SURE. I'M CHARLIE DROPP, AND THIS HAS JUST BEEN AN HONOR.
SO IT'S NICE TO HAVE A CHECK FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO PAY FOR IT FOR A CHANGE, YOU KNOW? SO WE'LL PROBABLY DO STEP TWO NEXT YEAR AT THE COLLEGE AGAIN, SO WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL.
OH, YES. SORRY, I'M AHEAD OF MYSELF. IT'S DINNER TIME.
THANK YOU. AND WE'RE GOING TO GET CLOSE TOGETHER. YES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR INDULGING US. I DON'T NEED TO BE IN THIS ONE.
I'M. I'M IN ENOUGH OF THEM. TO GO. OKAY. OKAY.
OKAY. A LITTLE CLOSER AND EVERYONE CLOSER. YOUR CHECKS UP.
THE CHECKS ARE GOOD AT ALL STORES. OKAY. WONDERFUL.
SMILE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING. THANK YOU FOR WAITING. AND AUGUST IS ALSO A DRUG AWARENESS MONTH SO, OH, OVERDOSE AWARENESS MONTH. SO I'M COMING UP AUGUST.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF EVENTS TO CHECK OUT OUR COUNTY WEBSITE FOR THOSE EVENTS.
[APPOINTMENT]
RESOLUTION 25-1363. WE HAVE STEVEN HARLAND OF NORTH PLAINFIELD BOROUGH.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION? MOTION. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.
YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR. ROBINSON.
YES. WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR OUR JUNE 24TH MEETING.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LISTED MINUTES? SO MOVED. SECOND. ANY SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES. ANY COMMENTS? NOTHING. ALL RIGHT. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.
[CAPITAL BOND ORDINANCE]
OF THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY, ON APRIL 22ND, 2025.MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 25-1399 ON FIRST READING AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR AUGUST 26TH.
[00:30:05]
MOTION TO PASS. SECOND. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR. ROBINSON.
YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 20 5-130031308.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
MOVE. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES.COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.
YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 25-1309 THROUGH 25-1333 SO MOVED.
[AWARD OF CONTRACTS]
SECOND. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.
YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 25-1334 THROUGH 1362?
[FINANCE]
MOVE. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.
YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 25-1364 AND 1365?
[ITEMS ADDED FROM THE JULY 22, 2025 WORK SESSION TO BE ADOPTED TONIGHT]
MOVE. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.
YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 25-1366 THROUGH 1396? MOVE. SECOND. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.
YES, COMMISSIONER. DRAKE. YES, COMMISSIONER SOOY.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.
YES. THIS IS WHERE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? FIVE MINUTES.
NO YIELDING OF TIME. NO COMING UP A SECOND TIME.
IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN TO PUBLIC MOTION? MOTION TO OPEN PUBLIC.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? NOPE. NO PHONE CALLS, NO EMAILS. IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING? MOTION CLOSED. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. AYE. I SEE NOTHING FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. THEN IF ALL HEARTS AND MINDS ARE CLEAR, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOVE TO ADJOURN. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE.
GOOD NIGHT. AND BE WELL. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.