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[Board of County Commissioners Agenda/Work Meeting on September 9, 2025.]

[00:00:05]

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.

ADDITIONALLY, THIS MEETING IS BEING DIGITALLY RECORDED AND LIVE STREAMED ON THE SOMERSET COUNTY WEBSITE.

FOR PUBLIC ACCESS, PLEASE EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS TO COUNTY BOARD MEETING AT SOMERSET.NJ.US.

THE PUBLIC MAY PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING BY CALLING (908) 231-7075.

DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

WELCOME EVERYONE, TO THE SEPTEMBER 9TH WORK SESSION OF SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

THIS AGENDA AND THE ITEMS ON IT ARE FOR DISCUSSION AND WILL BE CONSIDERED AT OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 23RD. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AT THIS MEETING UNLESS THE MEASURE, IS 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. WE WILL GO INTO OUR REPORTS.

I HAVE NOTHING FOR ENGINEERING AND PLANNING AT THIS TIME.

BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF REPORTS AND SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON.

YESTERDAY COMMISSIONER DRAKE AND I PARTICIPATED IN THE ANNUAL GOLF FORE LITERACY, GOLF OUTING AND FUNDRAISER.

IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW SOME OF THE FUNDING AND INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE IN THAT NONPROFIT TO ALLOW RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ENGLISH AS THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE.

WE DID HEAR A TESTIMONIAL STORY ABOUT A YOUNG MAN WHO CAME TO THE US.

EXACTLY THE 4TH OF JULY OF 2024. HE CAME WITH AN EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE OF BEING AN ENGINEER, AN ENGINEER COMPUTER SCIENCE ENGINEER FROM HIS COUNTRY, BUT LEARNED THE LANGUAGE VERY EASILY.

HE STARTED OFF AS A GROCER OR IN THE FOOD PRODUCE AISLE, FROZEN SECTION AISLE, IN A GROCERY STORE AND IS NOW IN LESS THAN A YEAR, HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO A MANAGER. AND SO THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY SUCCESS STORIES THAT, AS TO WHAT THE GOLF FORE LITERACY PROGRAM AND THEIR VOLUNTEERS ARE DOING. AND ANYBODY THAT LIKES TO VOLUNTEER, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THEM.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A TEACHER. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SOMEONE THAT ACTUALLY KNOWS FLUENT OF THE OTHER LANGUAGE, BUT THEY PAIR AND MATCH UP THEIR ENGLISH PARTNER WITH WHATEVER PERSON THEY ARE, AND THEY MATCH THEM UP BASED ON COMMONALITIES, COMMON THREADS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND THE PERSON WHO WAS PAIRED WITH THIS YOUNG MAN ACTUALLY SAID, BECAUSE HE WAS WORKING IN THE FROZEN FOOD SECTION.

THEY STARTED WITH KNOWING THE DIFFERENT FROZEN FOODS IN THE FROZEN FOOD AISLE, AND A LAYOUT AND MAP OF THE STORE, SO HE WAS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PATRONS THAT CAME INTO THE STORE.

AND IT IS JUST ONE OF THE, AGAIN, ONE OF THE MANY SUCCESS STORIES AS YOU COME INTO THIS COUNTRY AND THEN HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH ENGLISH PEOPLE WHO ARE ENGLISH SPEAKING AS THEIR SECOND LANGUAGE.

ALSO A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I ATTENDED THE SOMERSET COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE PROMOTION CEREMONY WHERE THEY WERE RECOGNIZING EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE.

THESE PROMOTIONS REFLECT NOT ONLY THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE DONE THE WORK AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT A COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY WITH INTEGRITY.

SO PART OF MY REMARKS AND WHAT I REFLECTED ON AND JUST, IT JUST SPOKE TO ME ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVING AS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN ORDER AND CHAOS AND BETWEEN FEAR AND SAFETY, AND THAT THESE NEWLY PROMOTED OFFICERS EARN THE TRUST OF THEIR COLLEAGUES AND THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THEIR ETHICAL

[00:05:05]

SERVICE AND COMMITMENT. SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE PROMOTED OFFICERS AND WE ARE PROUD OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND THE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR CONTINUED SERVICE.

AND MAY THEY CONTINUE TO LEAD WITH WISDOM, ACT WITH INTEGRITY AND NEVER FORGET THE HONOR OF WEARING THE BADGE.

WE CONTINUE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION IN BOTH RVCC AND VO-TECH.

AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR MURANO AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SNEAK PEEK AHEAD OF THE RIBBON CUTTING OF THE EXPANSION OF VO-TECH.

AND THEN ALSO WE HAD THE RVCC WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER EXPANSION, WHERE WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

LIKE I SAID, SUCH AS RVCC, WHICH HAS ITS STATE-OF-THE-ART WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING A PRODUCTIVE AND RESILIENT ECONOMY.

SO BY PARTNERING WITH REGIONAL BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND BEYOND ON SKILL SETS THAT NEEDS RVC IS CREATING A TALENT PIPELINE PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH VALUABLE REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE IN BIO MANUFACTURING, MECHATRONICS, WELDING AND ROBOTICS. AND THIS WILL LEAD TO GREATER EMPLOYMENT IN THAT TALENT POOL.

AND I'LL YIELD TO THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR WITH REGARDS TO VO-TECH.

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE ON LAST WEEK WAS NOT AN EASY FIX MYSELF.

COMMISSIONER SOOY AND COMMISSIONER GRANER WERE THERE.

JUST TO GIVE YOU A HIGHLIGHT OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE REPORTED OUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE'VE USED SOME OF THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONEY AND AWARDED NEARLY $50,000 TO NONPROFITS TO ADDRESS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND THE OPIOID CRISIS.

WE'VE HANDED OUT OVER 1000 NARCAN KITS, AND WE WILL ALSO BE TEEING UP AT THE 6:00 HOUR, OUR REGULAR MEETING.

AS YOU SEE THE BOX DISPLAYED OVER THERE FOR NARCAN.

AND AS YOU KNOW, BEHIND EVERY OVERDOSE STATISTIC IS A PERSON THAT'S SOMEONE'S CHILD, SOMEONE'S SIBLING, SOMEONE'S PARENT, SOMEONE'S FRIEND. AND SO THERE ARE THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DREAMED, WHO HAVE LAUGHED, WHO HAD INSPIRATION, WHO WERE INSPIRING, AND WHO HAD ASPIRATIONS.

SO SOMEONE WHOSE LIFE MATTERED FAR BEYOND THEIR STRUGGLE WITH ADDICTION AND NOT AN EASY FIX, IS AN EVENT THAT REMINDS US THAT SIMPLE SOLUTIONS DON'T EXIST FOR COMPLEX PROBLEMS. ADDICTION DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE BY ZIP CODE OR EDUCATION LEVEL OR BACKGROUND, AND IT'S A HEALTH CONDITION THAT REQUIRES THE SAME COMPASSION AND COMPREHENSIVE CARE AS WE OFFER FOR ANY OTHER CHRONIC ILLNESS. BUT BEING ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMPLEXITY DOESN'T MEAN ACCEPTING DEFEAT.

AND SO WHILE THERE'S EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN DONE, AND AGAIN, YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT WHAT HUMAN SERVICES HAS DONE AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

BUT IT COMES THROUGH EFFECTIVE APPROACHES SUCH AS EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES AND TREATMENTS HARM REDUCTION SERVICES TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, REMOVING STIGMA THAT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM SEEKING HELP AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN CRISIS.

AND THEN WE HAVE ON THIS THURSDAY WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR 9/11 MEMORIAL CEREMONY.

IT WILL BEGIN AT 8:46 A.M. AGAIN ON THIS THURSDAY, 08:46 A.M.

9/11. IT IS GOING TO BE AT THE CORNER OF MAIN AND GROVE STREET, WHICH IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET ON THE COURTHOUSE LAWN.

AND FINALLY, FOR ME, OUR SECOND ANNUAL VETERANS RESOURCE JOB AND WELLNESS FAIR.

IT WILL BE THIS 3RD, THE THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16TH.

NOT THIS THURSDAY. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16TH. BLESS YOU.

4 P.M. TO 7 P.M. THIS YEAR IT WILL BE HELD AT THE VFW POST 2290 IN MANVILLE.

SO MORE WILL COME AS THE DAY GETS CLOSER. BUT AGAIN, OUR SECOND ANNUAL VETERANS RESOURCE JOB AND WELLNESS FAIR.

THANK YOU. AND THAT IS MY REPORT. THANK YOU DIRECTOR.

HELLO. SO BUSY DAY TODAY. ALL GOOD STUFF. STARTED THE DAY OVER AT THE ACTIVE SHOOTER AWARENESS TRAINING THAT SHERIFF RUSSO PUT TOGETHER WITH THE COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.

THAT ROOM WAS FULL. THANKS TO THE JCC FOR PROVIDING THE SPACE FOR US, BUT IT WAS VERY TOUCHING TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE OF FAITH GROUPS THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE. I SAW MY FORMER PARISH PRIEST THERE, TOO.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE COMMUNITY GETTING TOGETHER TO LEARN SAFETY.

SO MUCH THANKS TO SHERIFF RUSSO AND THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER AND EDUCATING OUR PEOPLE OUT THERE AS TO HOW TO STAY SAFE.

ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO ATTEND THE SENIOR ART SHOW RECEPTION, WHICH WAS ALWAYS WONDERFUL.

[00:10:01]

OUR MOST SENIOR ARTIST, 105 YEARS OLD. LOVE HER.

SHE STILL REMEMBERS SEEING ME LAST YEAR AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF.

AND SO ART KEEPS YOU SHARP. SO KEEP DOING IT.

I SPOKE TO ONE WOMAN. SHE SAID I STARTED DOING PAINTING AT AGE 76.

I SAID, GOOD FOR YOU. SO THAT GIVES ME A LITTLE MORE TIME TO BEGIN.

SO IT WAS REALLY GREAT. THANKS TO THE CNH TEAM FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.

IT'S ALWAYS A LOVELY EVENT AND THE ATTENDEES REALLY GET A LOT OUT OF IT, BUT I THINK I GET MORE OUT OF IT JUST TALKING WITH THEM AND HEARING THEIR STORIES.

THEY WERE REALLY TERRIFIC. AND AS THE DIRECTOR SAID, WE GOT A CHANCE TO SEE THE SNEAK PEEK OF THE NEW VO-TECH BUILDING.

THE STUDENTS ARE ALREADY IN THERE. THIS IS NOT VO-TECH WHEN I WAS GOING TO SCHOOL, THAT'S FOR SURE.

I MEAN, WE WENT INTO THE HVAC DIVISION, WHICH IS THE ENVY OF ALL VO-TECHS BECAUSE OURS IS NEW.

SO YEAH. BUT AMAZING. AN OLD BOILER, A NEW BOILER, I MEAN, INCREDIBLE WHAT THESE STUDENTS ARE LEARNING NOW, THE HIGH TECH AND THE MEME ROOM WITH THE I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO CALL THEM.

THESE DEVICES THAT WERE SO HIGH TECH. NOW THAT THESE STUDENTS ALL WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL FOR ENGINEERING.

SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF TALENT THAT WE'RE GROWING AND CULTIVATING HERE, MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN OUR YOUTH.

AND THIS IN TURN KEEPS OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE GOING BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THE LABOR POOL TO PROVIDE TO OUR EMPLOYERS.

SO IT'S A GREAT CRADLE TO GRAVE KIND OF CIRCLE OF LIFE HERE FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND IT'S WORKING REALLY WELL AT THE VO-TECH.

IT WAS SO EXCITING TO BE THERE. HEALTH SCIENCES, A NEW GYM.

IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL. IT CAME OUT BEAUTIFUL. MORE DOWN AND DIRTY WORK.

PUBLIC WORKS. WE HAD OUR FIRST SATURDAY, 638 CARS.

OUR E-WASTE EVENT HAD 364 CARS. NOTE YOUR CALENDAR.

OUR NEXT HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE EVENT WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER THE 13TH.

THIS WEEKEND STARTS AT 9 A.M. IT'S IN BRANCHBURG.

AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO GO, PLEASE GO EARLY. BECAUSE WHEN I TRIED TO GET THERE LATER IN THE DAY, THE LAST YEAR, I WAS SHUT OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY FULL.

SO TRY TO GO EARLIER THAN LATER IF YOU PLAN TO GO.

I BELIEVE WE ONLY HAVE ONE MORE AFTER THAT THIS YEAR, SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS ACCORDINGLY.

AT THE LIBRARY WE HAD OUR LIBRARY MEETING WITH OUR FIRST TIME FOR THE NEW ADMINISTRATOR, PETER BROMBERG.

SO THAT WAS GOOD TO HAVE HIM. AND I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU A GREAT PICTURE.

THANKS TO SANOFI. THEY DONATED A BUNCH OF FURNITURE.

WE'RE GUESSTIMATING THAT THIS FURNITURE WAS ABOUT VALUED AT ABOUT $500,000, THAT WE SAVED TAXPAYERS FOR GETTING BEAUTIFUL NEW FURNITURE. THE LIBRARY TEAM SEPARATED THIS FURNITURE.

HILLSBOROUGH, MONTGOMERY, MANVILLE, WARREN, NORTH PLAINFIELD, BRIDGEWATER.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL. SO THANK YOU TO SANOFI AND THANK YOU TO THE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP.

CHRIS EDWARDS WAS THE ONE WHO COORDINATED THIS WHOLE THING.

SO A LOT OF PROPS TO HIM FOR PUTTING THOSE CONNECTIONS TOGETHER TO HELP OUR PEOPLE.

SO IT'S REALLY UPLIFTED THESE THE LOOK OF THESE LIBRARIES.

SOME BRANCH UPDATES. SOMERVILLE IS MOVING THEIR CHILDREN'S SECTION FROM THE BASEMENT LEVEL UP TO THE FIRST FLOOR.

SO THEY WERE CLOSED FOR A BIT. I DON'T, THINK I THINK THEY'RE OPENING NEXT WEEK, CORRECT? RIGHT. THREE WEEKS. THREE WEEKS. OKAY. SO IT'S TAKEN THEM A LITTLE LONGER THAN WE ANTICIPATED, BUT IT SHOULD BE A NICE NEW VISION GOING ON IN SOMERVILLE, WHICH WILL BE GOOD TO STREAMLINE AND MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC TO HAVE EVERYTHING ON ONE FLOOR. BOUND BROOK IS STILL IN MOTION.

THEY'RE STILL REMEDIATING THAT BRANCH. FINGERS CROSSED WE CAN GET THAT BRANCH OPEN IN EARLY 26.

WE ARE HOPING FOR END OF 25, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW EARLY 26.

THAT TWO WILL CONSOLIDATE SERVICES TO A SINGLE FLOOR, MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT ONE. THAT'S BEEN CLOSED A WHILE.

SO WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. AND PEAPACK-GLADSTONE, THEY SHOULD BE COMPLETED LATE OCTOBER EARLY NOVEMBER.

SO HOPEFULLY BEFORE YEAR END WE SEE THE NEW PEAPACK-GLADSTONE BRANCH OPEN.

THAT THAT SHOULD BE BEAUTIFUL. THAT'S FULLY RENOVATED.

OUR CULTURAL AND HERITAGE TEAM MET. OUR VAN HORN HOUSE WORK IS GOING ON AND THAT SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER, HOPEFULLY IN TIME FOR WEEKEND JOURNEY TO THE PAST.

THE LORD STIRLING ARCHEOLOGICAL DIG. THAT TEAM IS HAVING THE ARTIFACTS, AND WE SHOULD HOPEFULLY HAVE THOSE ARTIFACTS ON DISPLAY AT THE 1770S FESTIVAL, WHICH IS TAKING PLACE ON OCTOBER THE 5TH FROM 1130 TO 4.

OUR NEXT ARTS PROGRAM IS THE OPEN SPACE PARCELS.

[00:15:02]

IF YOU GUYS RECALL, WE HAD FARM TO FRAME, WHICH WAS A HUGE SUCCESS.

THIS YEAR. WE'RE DOING AN OPEN SPACE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TAG.

TOM. WHAT'S THE TAG LINE? OPEN AIR, OPEN SPACE.

AND WHAT'S THE TAGLINE FOR THE HISTORIC ONES? DO WE HAVE A TAGLINE YET? YES. OKAY, WE'LL THINK ABOUT THAT.

DIDN'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. WE GOT A WHOLE YEAR.

THEY'RE JUST SUBMITTING THEIR WORKS NOW. SO THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ECHOING SOME OF COMMISSIONER, DIRECTOR ROBINSON'S REMARKS.

I ATTENDED NOT AN EASY FIX. FOR INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY WITH DIRECTOR ROBINSON AND COMMISSIONER GRANER.

THERE WAS NOT ONE DRY EYE IN THE AUDIENCE. THIS ALL PULLS AT OUR HEARTSTRINGS, AND WE TRY OUR BEST TO COMBAT, YOU KNOW, THE STRUGGLES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BUT WE ALL PROBABLY KNOW SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN IMPACTED BY THIS.

MOVING OVER TO THE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP FRONT, WE CELEBRATED OUR 900 AND GROWING MEMBERS.

AND CHRIS EDWARDS HAS REALLY DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB WITH GROWING THE MEMBERSHIP AND MAKING SURE THAT IT AN ANTIQUATED CHAMBER IS NOW BEING BROUGHT INTO, YOU KNOW, THE MODERN WORLD WITH THE HUB OVER THERE ON DIVISION STREET, AND IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN EXPANDED. SO IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE PROGRAM.

WE HAVE OVER TEN HERE AT THE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP, AND WE'RE SURE YOU'LL FIND ONE THAT INTERESTS YOU.

WE HAVE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, WOMEN IN BUSINESS, OUR NONPROFIT ROUNDTABLE, HUMAN RESOURCES ROUNDTABLE, SUSTAINABLE SOMERSET, AND SO MUCH MORE. A FEW UPCOMING EVENTS.

WE HAVE OUR NINE OVER 11 CEREMONY OVER AT OUR HISTORIC COURTHOUSE, AND WE HAVE THAT EVERY SINGLE YEAR AT 8:46 A.M.

TO REALLY MEMORIALIZE THE FIRST, WHEN THE FIRST PLANE HIT THE TOWER.

AND WE THEN PROCEED OVER TO OUR TIME TO REMEMBER CLOCK.

SO PLEASE JOIN US IF YOU ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TIME TO NEVER FORGET.

AND ON A BRIGHTER NOTE WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL FAR HILLS RACE MEETING COMING UP ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18TH.

TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. IT IS OUR 104TH RUN OF THE FAR HILLS RACE MEETING.

IT IS A STEEPLECHASE WITH TIME, TRADITION AND UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES, ALL WHILE SUPPORTING HEALTH CARE IN THE REGION.

SO IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE STEEPLECHASE CENTER OVER AT ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON, THAT IS ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS FOR SOME OF THOSE PROCEEDS.

BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO SUPPORT, TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE.

THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

JUST WANT TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE PARK COMMISSION, SOMERSET COUNTY PARK COMMISSION.

COMMISSIONER ROBINSON AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY GOLF, AND IT WAS MY FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.

I HAD, USED TO PLAY A LOT MORE BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME.

BUT LAST, YESTERDAY WAS INCREDIBLE. RECOGNIZING THAT WE WERE ON A COUNTY COURSE AND IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE CONDITION EVEN FOR THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER OR END OF SUMMER. AND IT WAS IT WAS JUST GORGEOUS. AND IT'S REALLY JUST, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RESOURCES THAT ARE HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY, A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE STAFF, THE FOLKS THAT WORK FOR SOMERSET COUNTY, ALSO THE PARK COMMISSION, AND I KNOW OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM. TOM PUCCINO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THEM. SO IT'S A REALLY COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THE COUNTY STAFF AND THE PARK COMMISSION STAFF TO BRING THESE RESOURCES AND ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY THEM.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT EFFORT. BUT THE PARK COMMISSION IS ALSO HAVING FALL PROGRAMING THIS YEAR.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANY BIRD WATCHING UP IN WASHINGTON ROCK IT IS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY TO WATCH THE HAWK MIGRATION.

ALSO THE FALL, THERE'S A WHOLE SERIES OF HORTICULTURAL EVENTS BEING HOSTED BY THE HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT AT THE PARK COMMISSION.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HIKED IN ANY ONE OF OUR COUNTY PARKS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO OUT TO HIKE AT NIGHT OR HIKE AT THE SOURLAND MOUNTAIN PRESERVE, INCREDIBLE PLACES THAT REALLY JUST BRING YOU BACK TO NATURE HERE.

AND IT'S WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT NOT ONLY THE STAFF, BUT JUST THE FACT THAT THOSE RESOURCES ARE IN PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY, THE HEALTH OFFICE OF AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES IS CALLING FOR ALL CENTENARIANS.

IF I SAID THAT CORRECTLY. AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO RECOGNIZE ALL OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE OVER 100 YEARS OLD, AND I THINK THE ARTIST WHO IS 105, I THINK SHE'S CERTAINLY ON THE LIST.

GOD BLESS HER. AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE A CEREMONY RECOGNIZING THESE RESIDENTS AT BRIDGEWATER CENTER ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2025. SO YOU CAN CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO REGISTER YOUR RESIDENTS WITH THE OFFICE OF AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES FOR THAT EVENT.

[00:20:01]

ALSO WITHIN THE RICHARD HALL AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER YOU CAN LOOK, THERE'S A POSTING, THE NUMBER OF POSTINGS FOR POSITIONS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, THAT HELP HOPEFULLY SUPPORT STAFF AND THE NEEDY FOLKS IN OUR COUNTY.

SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THOSE POSITIONS.

RICHARD HALL HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER HAS A NUMBER OF POSTINGS THAT ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR FOLKS TO JOIN THAT ORGANIZATION A GREAT PLACE.

AND I WANT TO PUT OUT, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE RESOURCES, BUT IF YOU'RE IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE OR YOU NEED HELP FOR SUICIDE ASSISTANCE IN TERMS OF COUNSELING, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THE COUNSELING HOTLINE, WHICH IS A 24, 24 HOUR, SEVEN DAY A WEEK, NUMBER 988.

SO IF YOU NEED THAT TYPE OF ASSISTANCE, YOU CAN CALL THAT NUMBER.

THERE'S COUNSELORS THERE THAT'LL TAKE YOUR PHONE CALL IF YOU HAVE A DISCUSSION.

CERTAINLY THEY'LL BE THERE TO HELP YOU AND HELP YOU LOCATE RESOURCES TO, TO ASSIST YOU.

AND THEN I JUST WANT TO GIVE ANOTHER SHOUT OUT.

I SPOKE ABOUT THE PARK COMMISSION. I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR FARMERS.

COMMISSIONER MARANO AND I WILL BE ATTENDING A WORKSHOP, CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY.

AND IT'S HOSTED THROUGH OUR BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

IT'S ONE OF THESE AGRICULTURE IN ACTION PROGRAMING.

IT'S A CONFERENCE WILL BE HOSTED AT DUKE FARMS. IT WILL BE CALLED AFTER THE HARVEST, AND IT WILL BRING TOGETHER FARMERS AND OTHER RESIDENTS TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN SOMERSET COUNTY, BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO YEAR ROUND TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN AGRICULTURE IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

BECAUSE AS OBVIOUSLY AS THE HARVEST ENDS, THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON NEXT YEAR'S CROPS, NEXT YEAR'S PRODUCTION AND HOW TO MAINTAIN VIABILITY, AS YOU KNOW, AS A FARMER IN SOMERSET COUNTY. BUT WITH THAT REGARD, FARMERS RIGHT NOW ARE HARVESTING THEIR CROPS.

THEY'RE ARRANGING THEIR FALL FESTIVALS, THEY'RE ARRANGING HAYRIDES AND PUMPKIN PICKING.

SO I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO GO OUT AND SUPPORT LOCAL AGRICULTURE HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

GO OUT AND BUY A PUMPKIN. TAKE A HAYRIDE. GREAT EVENTS HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY AND ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO DO THAT.

THANK YOU. I END MY REPORT. OKAY. GOOD EVENING.

EVERY SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH.

THE NJ DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND THE GREATER RARITAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD ARE HOLDING A MULTI-EMPLOYER HEALTHCARE RECRUITMENT EVENT ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH IN THE HUNTERDON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CENTER FOR BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN FLEMINGTON.

TO HELP PREPARE FOR THE EVENT, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING, YOU CAN REGISTER FOR A VIRTUAL WORKSHOP THAT'S GOING TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 18TH.

ALSO ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD IS HOSTING A WORKSHOP CALLED CREATING A DYNAMIC JOB PORTFOLIO.

FALL CLASSES ARE BEGINNING IN OCTOBER FOR FIRST STEPS BASIC ENGLISH, A FREE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS OF SOMERSET COUNTY.

THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS, AND AS PART OF THE FREE ADULT LITERACY PROGRAMS FOR ANY ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS IN 100 AND SOMERSET COUNTIES.

IN TERMS OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY. THIS MONTH IS ALSO NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH, WHICH PROMOTES FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DISASTER PLANNING.

WE'RE REMINDED THAT RESILIENCE ISN'T JUST BUILT IN A DAY, IT'S THE RESULT OF SMALL, INTENTIONAL STEPS WE TAKE NOW TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN. AND NEIGHBORS AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

THE SOMERSET COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY TEAM COMPILED A LIST OF ACTIONABLE ITEMS TO CONSIDER BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER AN EMERGENCY AND SET UP A TABLE HERE IN THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR HIMANSHI BHATT IS COORDINATING OUTREACH WITH THE COUNTY LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PAGE ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY SECTION OF THE COUNTY WEBSITE FOR A DEFINITIVE LIST OF INFORMATION AND RESOURCES.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A FREE FLU SHOT CLINIC AT THE RARITAN BOROUGH MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN THE ALL PURPOSE ROOM ON SEPTEMBER 23RD, FROM 11 TO 2. PLANNING IS UNDERWAY FOR OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S FIRST LEAD HEALTH FAIR, TO BE HELD IN OCTOBER.

HEALTHIER SOMERSET IS GOING TO BE HOLDING AN IN-PERSON COALITION MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, AND NEXT MONTH IS HEALTHIER SOMERSET MONTH, SO LOOK OUT FOR A LIST OF ACTIVITIES SOON.

THE SOMERSET COUNTY VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL SCHOOLS HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE HONORED AT THE 2025 SUSTAINABLE JERSEY FOR SCHOOLS AWARD.

THE CEREMONY IS GOING. THEY'RE ACHIEVING BRONZE CERTIFICATION THEY'LL BE HONORED AT NEXT MONTH NEW JERSEY SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.

SUPERINTENDENT PROSCIUTTO WILL BE REPRESENTING SOMERSET COUNTY VO-TECH AS PART OF A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH FOUR OTHER VO-TECH WHO HAVE NEW BUILDINGS AND RESULTING PROGRAMS STARTING

[00:25:01]

UP AS A BYPRODUCT OF THE SECURING OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE BOND ACT.

THERE WILL BE A MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP ON SEPTEMBER 18TH.

COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE SOMERSET COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD AND SAFE PLACE COUNSELING AND THERAPY CENTER.

THIS WORKSHOP WILL FOCUS ON HOW TRAUMA AND MENTAL HEALTH AFFECT PEOPLE, AND WAYS TO PROMOTE WELL-BEING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. SO MOVING ON THROUGH OUR REPORTS, WE DO HAVE TEAM RECOGNITION AWARD FOR THE GREATER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD, ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER MOVING TEAM. SO, COMMISSIONER DRAKE.

CALL UP THE.

TEAM PLAYING HERE. YOU WANT TO COME UP? RACHEL.

TERESA. NICOLE. MONICA. CHRIS. PEAK. MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ.

USING LAST NAMES HERE. LEANNE MILLER. DANIEL ALLEN.

PHIL CONSALVO. ROBERT LOVETT. CHRIS [INAUDIBLE].

DENNIS RILEY. DREW REYNOLDS. DON SWEENEY, AND JOE WISE.

IS THAT ALL HERE? I DON'T THINK THEY'RE ALL HERE, BUT IT'S GREAT.

IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE HERE. I JUST LISTED A LOT OF NAMES, BUT THAT'S ALL GOOD.

SO WE'RE REALLY RECOGNIZING EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION HERE AS A TEAM RECOGNITION AWARD.

THIS IS A CERTIFICATE FOR ALL THE FOLKS I JUST MENTIONED, AND IT'S IN RECOGNITION AND SERVICE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS IN FURTHERING THE CAUSE OF GOOD GOVERNMENT. AS I UNDERSTAND, THE TEAM WAS WORKED, WORKED SEAMLESSLY AND PROFESSIONALLY MOVING THE GREATER RARITAN ONE-STOP CAREER CENTER IN HUNTERDON COUNTY DURING A VERY HOT SUMMER WEEK.

THIS INVOLVED BOXING UP FILES, MOVING FURNITURE, IT AND RELATED ITEMS, AND COORDINATING WITH THREE DIFFERENT STATE TEAMS, ALL WITH CONSTANT AND CLEAR COMMUNICATION. THE COUNTY MOVED THE STATE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT.

IT REALLY TOOK A YEOMAN'S TASK TO SORT OF COLLABORATE ALL TOGETHER AND REALLY BRING THIS PROJECT TOGETHER.

SO I WANT TO SAY REALLY, CONGRATULATIONS. AND WE'RE GOING TO COMMEND YOU FOR ALL THAT.

WE HAVE A TEAM RECOGNITION AWARD FOR ALL OF YOU INCLUDING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HERE, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR THE NEXT MEETING. OKAY. I CAN RING IT AGAIN.

YEAH. SO HERE, I'LL JUST. I GOT YOUR NAMES WRONG HERE.

PASS THEM AROUND. SO WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO DO A PHOTO.

BUT WHO WANTS TO SPEAK OF THIS GREAT PROJECT.

HERE WE GO. THERE YOU GO. I MEAN, FIRST I JUST WANT TO.

THIS THIS AWARD IS REALLY ABOUT HOW AT THE COUNTY, WE'RE ABLE TO REALLY WORK TOGETHER.

WE REALLY HAVE SOME GREAT PARTNERS. YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S IT FACILITIES AND SERVICES, ENGINEERING.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL KIND OF ARE ABLE TO LEAN ON EACH OTHER TO GET BIG PROJECTS DONE.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE MAIN THING I WANT TO RECOGNIZE.

AND YOU KNOW, WE PACKED UP BOXES, WE MOVED FURNITURE.

WE'RE ALSO REALLY GOOD AT SERVING OUT OF OUT OF WORK RESIDENTS OF OUR COUNTY HELPING AT RISK YOUTH GET THEIR GEDS AND GET JOBS. SO WE'RE KIND OF YOU KNOW, A JACK OF ALL TRADES OVER HERE, MOVING BOXES, GETTING PEOPLE JOBS.

BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION. ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU. EVERYBODY STAND.

THANK YOU. IF ANYBODY HAS WORKED WITH A MOVING COMPANY WHERE YOU GOT TO TAG THINGS FROM WHERE THEY'RE LEAVING TO TAG THEM TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND, AND BOXING THEM UP? IT IT IS A YEOMAN'S TASK.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO.

WE MOVE ON TO COMMUNICATIONS. MERCER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE CONGRESSIONAL AND OR PRESIDENTIAL EFFORTS TO TAMPER WITH DECENNIAL CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES. MONMOUTH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION SUPPORTING SENATE BILL 4673 AND ASSEMBLY BILL 5916,

[00:30:02]

WHICH AIMS TO ASSIST SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY THE ROUTE 71 BRIDGE CLOSURE VIA A GRANT PROGRAM.

AND THE COUNTY CLERK, STEVE PETER, NOTICED THE FEES COLLECTED FOR AUGUST 2025, IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,972,643.90.

GOOD EVENING. RESOLUTION 25-1800, IS APPROVING SPECIFICATIONS AND AUTHORIZING RECEIPT OF BIDS FOR NEW RIDING RINGS AND FENCING AT LORD STERLING STABLE, PHASE 1, 256 SOUTH MAPLE AVE IN BERNARDS TOWNSHIP.

CONTRACT 25009. THIS IS A PROJECT WHICH WILL GO TO BID HOPEFULLY THIS FALL.

RESOLUTION 25-1801, AMENDING RESOLUTION 24-705.

FOR THE AUTHORIZATION OF A GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, HAZARDOUS DISCHARGE SITE REMEDIATION FUND. THAT'S FOR BLOCK 117, LOT 4, RARITAN BOROUGH.

THAT'S THE HUNT PROPERTY. RESOLUTION 25-1802, AUTHORIZING A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR USGS, FOR OPERATION OF A FLOOD INFORMATION SYSTEM DURING THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $46,865. THAT'S OUR ANNUAL AGREEMENT WITH THE USGS FOR SOMERSET COUNTY FLOOD INFORMATION SYSTEM.

GOOD EVENING. HUGHES OF HISTORY, THE EVENT FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION NEXT YEAR.

IT WAS GOING TO DRIVE ME CRAZY. RESOLUTION 25-1803, AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN THE ACQUISITION OF OPEN SPACE PROPERTY, THE FORBES-RAIDER PROPERTY AT MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $125,000. THIS IS A VACANT PROPERTY AT THE CORNER OF ROUTE 601, IN GRANDVIEW THAT SERVES TO PRESERVE PORTIONS OF THE BACK BROOK STREAM CORRIDOR, PRESERVE THE RURAL CHARACTER OF THE AREA.

THE MAINTENANCE OF THE VIEWSHED. IT IS ALSO LOCATED WITHIN LANDS BEING TARGETED BY THE MUNICIPALITY FOR ADDITIONAL PRESERVATION, AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO COUNTY OWNED OPEN SPACE IN THE SOURLAND MOUNTAIN PRESERVE, MAKING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TWO INITIATIVES.

25-1804 IS AUTHORIZED IN THE FALL 2025 ONLINE AUCTION AND SURPLUS SALE AUCTION WILL OPEN OCTOBER 15TH AND CLOSE OCTOBER 22ND.

RESOLUTION 25-1805, AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DIVISION OF CHILDREN'S SYSTEM OF CARE FOR SOCIAL SERVICE PLANNING FOR THE CIACC, THE CHILDREN'S INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL, FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2025 TO JUNE 30TH, 2026.

CONTRACT 26 OJTR TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $41,044.

RESOLUTION 25-1806, AUTHORIZING THE SOMERSET COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT FUNDING FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR THE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ACT GRANT UP TO $500,000 FOR THE GRANT PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026. THE COUNTY WILL ADMINISTER ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL IN AREAS OF AIR, WATER, NOISE AND SOLID WASTE.

THE COUNTY WILL AGREE TO A MATCH OF UP TO 50% OF THE TOTAL PROJECT AMOUNT.

RESOLUTION 25-1807, AMENDING RESOLUTION 25-1507, AUTHORIZING THE SUMTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT FUNDING FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR LOCAL CORE CAPACITY FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GRANT PROGRAM, UP TO $350,000 FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026.

THE LINCS GRANT? THE LINCS GRANT IS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS.

SO IN THE EVENT OF LIKE THE COVID INCIDENT, WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE VACCINATIONS OR VAST PROPHYLAXIS AND THEY WOULD ADMINISTER THAT, AND THIS GRANT HELPS PREPARE THAT FOR THAT.

WE JUST RECENTLY DID A PRIVATE, PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP WITH, I BELIEVE IT WAS ROCHE IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR THAT.

IT GIVES US THE FUNDING, IT GIVES US THE ACCESS TO IT, SOME OF IT IS, SOME OF THE MEDICATION WILL GET THROUGH THE STATE THAT IT WOULD BE MORE

[00:35:01]

DIFFICULT TO GET ON OUR OWN. YOU'RE WELCOME.

GOOD EVENING. OKAY. 25-1808, AUTHORIZING THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN SOMERSET COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AND NJ TRANSIT CORPORATION FOR LOCAL VETERAN'S SHUTTLE BUS SERVICES UNDER THE SCDRTAP PROGRAM FOR THE CONTRACT PERIOD OF NOVEMBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST, 2028, NOT TO EXCEED $270,000. QUESTION. TRAIN STATION.

TO THE VA HOSPITAL. IT'S FANTASTIC. IT'S WELL DESERVED.

FULLY FUNDED.

25-1809, AWARD OF CONTRACT TO DSI MEDICAL SERVICES FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING PROGRAM.

SECOND YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $5000.

RESOLUTION 25-1810, AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT TO VERDANTAS, LLC FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE FORMER BELLE MEAD DEPOT IN HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $789,500.

RESOLUTION 25-1811, IS AWARDED A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT TO VERDANTAS, LLC FOR THE SELLARS MAINTENANCE FACILITY GROUNDWATER MONITORING PERMIT, AND BIENNIAL CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $19,750. RESOLUTION 25-1812, IS AWARDED A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT TO FRENCH & PARRELLO ASSOCIATES FOR PERIODIC INSPECTIONS AND BIENNIAL CERTIFICATION FOR THE HUNT PROPERTY.

BLOCK 117, LOT 4, IN RARITAN BOROUGH. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $8,950.

RESOLUTION 25-1813 IS CONSULTANT AGREEMENT MODIFICATION 1 TO CME ASSOCIATES FOR THE DESIGN OF THE 2025 ROAD RESURFACING AND ADA COMPLIANCE PROGRAM, VARIOUS ROUTES, VARIOUS LOCATIONS.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $77,404.72. NEW CONTRACT AMOUNT $1,148,190.82. RESOLUTION 25-1814, IS A CONSULTANT AGREEMENT MODIFICATION NO.

1 TO STRUNK-ALBERT ENGINEERING, FOR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SERVICES IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS FOR THE YEAR 2025. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $25,000.

NEW CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $50,000. RESOLUTION 25-1815, AWARD OF CONTRACT TO UNIFIED TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS CORPORATION AS THE PRIMARY VENDOR AND COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGY CONTRACTORS AS THE SECONDARY VENDOR FOR AN OPEN END DATA CABLE INSTALLATION, AND RELATED SERVICES.

CONTRACT COOPERATIVE PRICING BID FIRST YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $15,000.

25-1816, IS AWARD OF CONTRACT TO VARIOUS VENDORS FOR CONTRACT CC-0059-25 FOR PAPER AND ENVELOPES.

THIS IS ALSO A COOPERATIVE BID AND IT'S THE FIRST YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT.

GOOD AFTERNOON. RESOLUTION 25-1817, ITS AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO DR.

HOWARD GILMAN OUT OF HOLMDEL, NEW JERSEY, FOR OPTION A: FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIST FOR THE MERCER COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.

CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS WILL BE COMPLETED EACH TIME WE NEED HIS SERVICES.

25-1818. IT'S AN AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO RICHARD HALL OUT OF BRIDGEWATER, NEW JERSEY.

FOR SERVICES TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE UNDER THE BRAND NAME "OPT FOR HELP AND HOPE" FOR THREE MONTH NO COST EXTENSION RUNNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2025. THEY OFFER COUNSELING SERVICES FOR PEOPLE THAT WE COME INTO CONTACT IN THE COURT SYSTEM AND NEED HELP.

MAINLY SUBSTANCE ABUSE. THANK YOU. 25-1819, AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF NEW FIREARMS FOR THE SOMERSET COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FROM WITMER PUBLIC SAFETY GROUP OUT OF COATESVILLE,

[00:40:05]

PA, UTILIZING NEW JERSEY STATE CONTRACT. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $45,767.75.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

25-1820, IS AWARDED CONTRACT CC-0039-25 FOR ROAD SAFETY SYSTEMS OFFICER, FLETCHER CREAMER & SON, CHEMUNG. AND THIS IS FOR GUIDE RAIL REPAIRS.

IT'S THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF THE TWO YEAR CONTRACT.

NOT TO EXCEED $75,000. 25-1821. IS AWARDED CONTRACT CC-0043-24 TO AGAIN CHEMUNG SUPPLY CORP, TRIUS, A&K EQUIPMENT, CRESCENT HYDRAULICS.

AND THIS IS FOR. AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IS CONTRACT CC-0043-24R WHICH IS IN ADDITION TO IT.

AND THIS IS ALL SNOWPLOW PARTS FOR CRESCENT HYDRAULICS AGAIN, CHEMUNG CORP AND CLIFFSIDE BODY, FAIRVIEW. AND NOT TO EXCEED $62,500. AND AGAIN THIS IS ALL FOR SNOWPLOW PARTS.

25-1822 AWARDED CONTRACT CC-0135-25 FOR PUMPING SERVICES OF MIDDLESEX, A.C.

SCHULTZ OF WOODBURY HEIGHTS, AND THIS IS FOR OPERATING THE PUMP STATION.

FIRST YEAR OF A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT, NOT TO EXCEED $32,000.

25-1823, OR TO CONTRACT CC-0099-24 TO NATIONAL HIGHWAY SUPPLY PRODUCTS OF MILLVILLE, TRAFFIC AND PARKING CONTROL AND TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNS. THIS IS ALL FOR TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNS, SUPPORT HARDWARE.

IT'S THE SECOND YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT. CERTIFICATION WILL BE AS NEEDED.

OKAY. 25-1824. AWARD OF CONTRACT CC-0029-24 TO NIRO'S COLONIAL CORNER AUTOBODY AND GIFFORD'S AUTO BODY. AND THIS IS CLIFFSIDE BODY.

AND THIS IS FOR COLLISION REPAIR AS THE SECOND YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT.

FUNDING AS NEEDED. 25-1825, THIS IS AUTHORIZING UTILIZATION OF ESCNJ 23/24-11 TO PURCHASE (4) 2026 FORD EXPLORERS (K8D) ACTIVE 4WD DRIVE WITH OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT FROM NIELSEN FORD OF MORRISTOWN.

AND NOT TO EXCEED $163,663.28. 25-1826 IS AMENDED AND CANCELLING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO CITYDATA, INC.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED 20,500. 1827, IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRM AN ORDER TO INDUSTRIAL CHEM LABS AND SERVICES FOR SERVICES PROVIDED TO SOMERSET COUNTY JAIL. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $283.45.

AND 1828, IS AUTHORIZED AND CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR A PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO COUNTY BUSINESS SYSTEMS FOR E-PAY MODULAR MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $3,400. 25-1829, AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO IH ENGINEERS FOR THE DESIGN OF THE REPLACEMENT OF COUNTY BRIDGE D1301, POTTERSVILLE ROAD, OVER THE MIDDLEBROOK AND BEDMINSTER TOWNSHIP. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $125,948.64.

1830 IS AMENDING CERTIFICATION TO FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS FOR OPEN SPACE AND FARMLAND, ACQUISITIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL APPRAISALS. TOTAL PRODUCTION NOT TO EXCEED $118,345.50.

WE'RE CLOSING OUT THESE CONTRACTS BECAUSE THEY'RE NO LONGER NECESSARY. YEP.

RESOLUTION 25-1831, IS AN INSERTION OF SPECIAL ITEM OF REVENUE FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT - YOUTH GRANT, AND THE AMOUNT OF $188,924.

25-1832, IS AN INSERTION OF A SPECIAL ITEM OF REVENUE FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT - DISLOCATED WORKER GRANT AND THE AMOUNT OF $12,634.

1833 IS THE INSERTION OF A SPECIAL ITEM OF REVENUE FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,

[00:45:09]

WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT - ADULT GRANTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,514.

1834 IS THE INSERTION OF A SPECIAL ITEM OF REVENUE FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY INSURANCE FRAUD REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM.

THAT'S $2,714.81. 1835 IS THE INSERTION OF A SPECIAL ITEM OF REVENUE FOR THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, STRENGTHENING LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH CAPACITY PROGRAM.

THAT'S FOR $42,534. AND 1836 IS THE INSERTION OF A SPECIAL ITEM OF REVENUE FOR THE RUTGERS TRAUMATIC LOSS COALITION FOR YOUTH PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $14,000.

1837, IS A CANCELLATION OF RECEIVABLE AND APPROPRIATION FOR THE SUPPORT TEAM FOR ADDICTION RECOVERY (STAR) GRANT.

THEY JUST REDUCED THE AWARD BY $700 AFTER THEY HAD ALREADY AWARDED IT TO US.

25-1838, IS AUTHORIZING A RETURN OF FUNDS FOR BID GUARANTEE.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $20,000. AND 1839 IS THE PAYMENT OF CLAIMS AND RATIFICATION OF THE SAME.

RESOLUTION 25-1840, APPROVAL TO PAY, CONFIRMING ORDER TO DEBORAH YOUNG-PEREZ OF BASKING RIDGE, NEW JERSEY, FOR PROVIDING A CLASS AT WARRENBROOK SENIOR CENTER.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $110. 25-1841, APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO RICOH, PARSIPPANY, NEW JERSEY, FOR COPIER RENTAL SERVICES FOR JULY AND AUGUST 2025.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $181.08. RESOLUTION 25-1842, APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDERS TO W.B. MASON OUT OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AND MAGLOCLEN OUT OF NEWTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $622.99. THANK YOU.

RESOLUTION 25-1843, APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO THE INSTITUTE FOR FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $850. 25-1844, APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO AGL WELDING SUPPLY COMPANY FOR THE CYLINDER GAS REFILLS AND REPAIRS. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $582.76.

25-1845 APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE CALIBRATION LABORATORY FOR HAZMAT INSTRUMENT CALIBRATIONS.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $400.

25-1846, APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO MAZZA RECYCLING SERVICES FROM TINTON FALLS.

NOT TO EXCEED $31,491.90. 25-1847, AMENDING AND CANCELING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $32,166.65.

OKAY. RESOLUTION 25-1848, APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO BOND VENTURE SERVICES FROM FLANDERS.

NOT TO EXCEED $1,050. OKAY 25-1849, APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO GRANT FALLOONS FROM BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. NOT TO EXCEED $800. 25-1850, APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO CONNECTION MAGAZINE, LLC OF WARREN. NOT TO EXCEED $400.

25-1851, APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER FOR PARTS AND REPAIRS.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $11,546.85. MULTIPLE VENDORS.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ADD THE ABOVE RESOLUTIONS 25-1800 THROUGH 25-1851 TO THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR OUR NEXT MEETING SEPTEMBER 23RD? MOTION. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.

YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. ADDITIONAL ITEMS ADDED FOR ADOPTION. 1796 IS RESCINDING AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO BEST CLEANING BUILDING SERVICES, LLC WITH SOMERSET COUNTY FOR CLEANING SERVICES FOR ALL COUNTY AND PARK COMMISSION FACILITIES.

PURSUANT TO N.J.S.A. 19:44A-11 ET SEQ. 1797 IS AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO ACB SERVICES, INC.

PURSUANT TO N.J.S.A.40.A-11-6 THAT IS FOR CLEANING SERVICES.

[00:50:06]

AUTHORIZING, 1798 IS AUTHORIZING THE PARTICIPATION OF THE COUNTY AND SOMERSET IN THE NATIONAL OPIOID SETTLEMENT FOR VARIOUS MANUFACTURERS AND THE EXECUTION OF ALL RELATED SETTLEMENT DOCUMENTS.

1799, IS AUTHORIZED IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OF BLOCK 09, LOTS 25-31, IN THE BOROUGH OF MANVILLE, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE CHABRA PROPERTY.

YOU PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED THE ACQUISITION OF THAT.

THAT IS JUST DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS FOR THE CLOSING THAT SHOULD TAKE PLACE THIS MONTH.

25-1799, AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO K&D CONTRACTORS OUT OF KENILWORTH, NEW JERSEY, FOR REPLACEMENT OF FLUE PIPES AND WATER HEATER AT 40 NORTH BRIDGE STREET, SOMERVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $279,000. RESOLUTION 25-1799B, AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO PAVE-RIGHT INC.

OUT OF BRIDGEWATER, NEW JERSEY, FOR THE WASHINGTON VALLEY PARK ACCESS ROAD AND BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $946,496.30. RESOLUTION 25-1799C, AWARD OF CONTRACT TO REIVAX CONTRACTING CORP.

OUT OF FLEMINGTON, NEW JERSEY, FOR 2025 ROAD RESURFACING AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, VARIOUS ROUTES, VARIOUS LOCATIONS. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $1,415,725.18.

HEY, ADAM. YES. IF WE AWARD THAT CONTRACT NOW, THEN WHEN WILL THEY START FOR THE PAVING FOR THE ROAD, THE ACCESS ROAD TO WASHINGTON VALLEY PARK? THE WASHINGTON VALLEY PARK WILL START AS SOON AS THEY GET THEIR CONTRACTS AND INSURANCE IN PLACE.

THEY'LL START ON THE PROJECT. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL GET THE PAVING DONE THIS YEAR, DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER. THE PAVING MIGHT HAVE TO BE DONE IN THE SPRING. THERE'S A POSSIBILITY IT COULD GET DONE, BUT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. THAT WORK? YEAH. BECAUSE IT'S A TOTALLY SEPARATE.

YEP. 25-1799D.

RESCINDING AWARD OF CONTRACT. CY-XS-9016-25 TO CGI TECHNOLOGIES AND SOLUTIONS, INC.

FOR CONSULTING SERVICES FOR SOMERSET COUNTY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT.

RESOLUTION R25-1275 AND DECERTIFIED FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $141,370.

RESOLUTION 25-1799E, APPROVAL TO PAY A CONFIRMING ORDER TO RICOH FOR RENTAL FEES FOR TWO COPIERS FOR THE MONTHS OF JULY AND AUGUST 2025. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $551.66. 25-1799F, AUTHORIZING THE CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO W.B.

MASON FOR THE PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES FOR GO BAGS FOR THE HOMELESS.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $84,378.12.

25-1799G, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR THE USE OF PREMISES AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO POMPTONIAN, INC. FOR FOOD SERVICES FOR A THREE-DAY LAW ENFORCEMENT RESILIENCY CONFERENCE.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $24,997.50. 25-1799H, AUTHORIZING THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT FUNDING AWARDED FROM THE FY24 STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT GRANT PROGRAM.

THANK YOU. DO WE. THERE IS ONE OTHER ONE. SORRY.

THIS WOULD BE 25-1799 I, WHICH IS AUTHORIZING THE THIRD YEAR OF A FOUR YEAR GRANT FUNDED CONTRACT FOR THE GREATER RARITAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD UNDER CONTRACT 001-23, FOR CAREER TRAINING SERVICES WITH THE SOMERSET COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $242,244.05 FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2025 TO JUNE 30TH, 2026. THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADD RESOLUTION 25-1796 THROUGH 25-1799I TO THE AGENDA FOR OUR REGULAR MEETING THIS AFTERNOON? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND SECOND? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE.

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO.

[00:55:01]

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. THIS IS THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING WHERE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK CAN COME UP.

FIVE MINUTES. NO YIELDING OF TIME. NO YIELDING OF TIME.

AND NO COMING UP A SECOND TIME. SO IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN TO PUBLIC? MOTION. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? YES. COME FORWARD TO THE MIC. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

FOR THE RECORD COMMISSIONER. THERE ARE NO EMAILS OR OTHER CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ED CARLWAY, 533 NEW BRUNSWICK ROAD, SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY. I SAID, I LIVE IN SOMERSET AND I'D LIKE TO START WITH A LINE FROM SHAKESPEARE'S JULIUS CAESAR. IT WAS SPOKEN BY MARC ANTHONY.

I COME TO BURY CAESAR, NOT TO PRAISE HIM. I'D LIKE TO START BY PARAPHRASING THAT.

I COME TO CHASTISE THIS COMMITTEE NOT TO PRAISE IT.

I'M HERE BECAUSE THE PUBLIC DESERVES MORE THAN SILENCE AND POOR PLANNING.

YOU CHOSE TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE ON A MAJOR SCHOOL BUS ROUTE STARTING ON AUGUST 18TH, JUST WEEKS BEFORE THE START OF SCHOOL. THE PROJECT WILL TAKE OVER 30 DAYS, WHICH WILL TAKE IT WELL INTO THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THIS MEANS THAT STUDENTS, PARENTS, BUS DRIVERS WILL BE DEALING WITH A DISRUPTIVE DETOUR INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THIS WORK COULD HAVE BEEN STARTED IN JUNE AFTER SCHOOL LET OUT.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE SEPTEMBER, BUT IT WASN'T.

I EMAILED EVERY ONE OF YOU ABOUT THIS. I EMAILED THE DIRECTOR TWICE.

CAN ANY ONE OF YOU GUESS HOW MANY RESPONSES I GOT? NONE. NONE. I EMAILED FRANKLIN'S MAYOR MAYOR KRAMER ABOUT THIS, WHICH IS HOW I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT. HE RESPONDED THE NEXT DAY.

FROM MY BACKGROUND, I SERVED TWO TERMS ON THE FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.

I WAS VICE CHAIR. WE LISTENED TO THE PUBLIC. WE NEVER IGNORED THEM.

WE VALUED THEIR INVOLVEMENT. WE LEARNED FROM THEM.

WE ACTED AS PUBLIC SERVANTS. YOU DIDN'T. PUBLIC SERVICE IS SUPPOSED TO BE RESPONSIVE, RESPECTFUL, AND ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

YOU DIDN'T. THIS WASN'T A SCHEDULING MISTAKE.

IT WAS A FAILURE OF COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION, AND BASIC RESPECT.

YOU HAD THE ENTIRE SUMMER, YOU DIDN'T USE IT.

NOW FAMILIES ARE PAYING THE PRICE. IF YOU'RE GOING TO HOLD ELECTED OFFICE, YOU NEED TO BE REACHABLE.

YOU NEED TO THINK AHEAD. YOU NEED TO REMEMBER THAT YOUR DECISIONS AFFECT REAL PEOPLE, JUST NOT LINE ITEMS ON A BUDGET.

IF I WERE TO RATE YOU ON YOUR RESPONSIVENESS TO THE PUBLIC, YOU'D GET AN F.

WE DESERVE BETTER. THANK YOU SIR. I DEFERRED THE RESPONSE TO THE MAYOR.

I HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE MAYOR. OUR ADMINISTRATOR HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MR. VAUGHN WALKER, THE ADMINISTRATOR IN FRANKLIN.

AND THERE ALSO WAS COORDINATION BETWEEN BOTH PARTIES AND THE BUS TRANSPORTATION IN FRANKLIN AND THE BOARD OF ED.

SO IT WASN'T THAT I IGNORED YOU OR WE IGNORED YOU.

IT WAS DEFERRED TO FRANKLIN TO RESPOND. AND THE MAYOR CRAMER DID JUST THAT.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR SENTIMENT AND YOU DIDN'T HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THIS BODY OR FROM ME, BUT I RESPECTFULLY DEFER TO THE MAYOR BECAUSE IT IS IN FRANKLIN, ALBEIT A COUNTY ROAD. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY FROM ENGINEERING WANTS TO RESPOND.

A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE NOT DOING THE WORK. WE'RE DEFERRED TO WHOEVER WE'RE REFERRING THE WORK TO OR THE WORK IS BEING DOLED OUT TO.

AND SOMETIMES, WEATHER PERMITTING AND OR WE'RE NOT THE ONLY CLIENT THAT THEY'RE SERVICING.

SO ALL I CAN SAY IS I APOLOGIZE FOR YOU NOT HEARING DIRECTLY FROM ME, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT MY INTENT.

THAT'S NEVER EVEN MY M.O., BUT I DID DEFER TO THE MAYOR BECAUSE WE DID HAVE SEVERAL COMMUNICATIONS TO RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.

THE MAYOR TOLD ME THAT HE HAD NOT BEEN. NO ONE HAD COMMUNICATED WITH HIM PRIOR TO.

ELECTED TO ELECTED, AND DON'T ALWAYS KNOW EXACTLY THE DETAILS OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

THAT WOULD BE BETWEEN AN ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND OR ADMINISTRATOR.

[01:00:06]

SO I DON'T KNOW. [INAUDIBLE] THAT IS A SMALL PART, BUT I CAN'T CONTROL WHETHER THEY TOLD THE MAYOR OR NOT.

ALL OF YOU, ALL OF YOU. AND NONE OF YOU HAD THE COURTESY TO SAY, WELL, IT'S OUT OF MY HANDS, OR THIS IS THE PERSON WHO TAKES CARE OF IT. WHAT YOU DID IS IGNORE ME, AND YOU'LL DISCOVER THAT I AM NOT VERY GOOD AT BEING IGNORED.

UNDERSTOOD, AND RIGHTFULLY SO. I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT FORWARD.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY OTHER EXPLANATION, ANY OTHER.

SO WITH REGARD TO THE CONTRACT, THE CONTRACTOR EXPERIENCED SOME DIFFICULTY IN LOCATING AND DEALING WITH THE WATER MAIN, WAS IN A DIFFERENT POSITION THAN ORIGINALLY THOUGHT, AND IT WAS DEEPER.

SO THAT THEN CAUSED ADDITIONAL DELAYS IN THE DESIGN AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT.

ALL EXPLAINABLE DOES NOT MINIMIZE THE DISCOMFORT THAT ANY RESIDENT OR SCHOOL OR CHILD IS HAVING AS A RESULT OF IT.

IT IS A BRIDGE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TO FIX IT.

BUT THERE IS A REASONABLE EXPLANATION. DID WE, COULD WE HAVE COMMUNICATED THAT BETTER? WE CAN ALWAYS COMMUNICATE THINGS BETTER. CAN WE BE BETTER STEWARDS AND RESPONSIBLE? YES. AND WILL WE LEARN FROM THIS? OF COURSE. WILL WE DO A BETTER JOB? THAT'S THE GOAL.

IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING? MOTION. SECOND.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.