[PROCLAMATIONS]
[00:00:36]
TWO PROCLAMATIONS. THERE WE GO. WE'RE DOING TWO PROCLAMATIONS. THE FIRST ONE IS SAVE A LIFE DAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2025.
AND IT SAYS, WHEREAS THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS PROVISIONALLY REPORTED 80,391 DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2024. AND WHEREAS SAVE A LIFE DAY WAS ESTABLISHED IN WEST VIRGINIA AS A PILOT IN 2020 AND HAS INCREASED IN CAPACITY EACH YEAR. AND WHEREAS IN 2024, SOMERSET COUNTY PARTICIPATED IN SAVE A LIFE DAY AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 640 NARCAN KITS IN ONE SINGLE DAY TO RESIDENTS CONTRIBUTING TO THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF THE EVENT.
35 STATES PARTICIPATED AND COLLECTIVELY DISTRIBUTED OVER 84,000 NARCAN DOSES.
AND WHEREAS ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2025, ALL THE STATES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST EVER NATIONAL DAY OF FREE NARCAN. AND WHEREAS, SAVE A DAY WILL BE HELD ON THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF SEPTEMBER EVERY YEAR.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2025 AS SAVE A LIFE DAY. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SAVING LIVES AND CONTINUES TO SUPPORT ALL EFFORTS TO PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITY WITH LIFE SAVING MEDICATIONS, SUCH AS NARCAN AND SIGNED BY THE FIVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW THINGS? ABSOLUTELY.
LISA, YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE? ARE YOU SURE? OKAY. SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WONDERING, SAVE A LIFE DAY STARTED AS A TWO COUNTY PILOT IN WEST VIRGINIA IN 2020, AND THIS INITIATIVE AT THE TIME WAS SPEARHEADED BY SOAR WEST VIRGINIA.
THAT IS WEST VIRGINIA'S LARGEST OVERDOSE PREVENTION GROUP.
POWERED BY A BUNCH OF VOLUNTEERS. SO IN 2023, THEY KEPT THE INITIATIVE GOING, AND 13 APPALACHIAN STATES JOINED TOGETHER AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 45,000 NALOXONE DOSES IN ONE SINGLE DAY.
IN 2024, THAT IS WHEN SOMERSET COUNTY JUMPED ON BOARD OF THE INITIATIVE.
IN SOMERSET COUNTY ALONE LAST YEAR, WE DISTRIBUTED OVER 620 NARCAN KITS IN ONE SINGLE DAY, AND IT WAS A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS. SO WE'RE GEARING UP TO EXPAND OUR OUTREACH THIS YEAR.
SO THIS YEAR IT WILL BE TAKING PLACE ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH.
SO THROUGH THIS OUTREACH, WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING FREE NALOXONE KITS, INFORMATION ABOUT NARCAN TRAININGS, AS WELL AS FREE RESOURCES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
MANY OF YOU ARE PROBABLY WONDERING WHAT THIS IS.
THIS WAS FROM ONE OF OUR EVENT SPONSORS THAT WAS GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY CARE SOURCE CARE SOURCES OUT OF WEST VIRGINIA, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE 50 FREE NALOXONE DISTRIBUTION BOXES TO SAW WEST VIRGINIA, IN WHICH THEY GAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY WITH THE ATTENTION FOR ONE TO BE AWARDED PER STATE. AND NEW JERSEY HAD 16 COUNTIES THAT WERE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY, AND SOMERSET COUNTY IS ONE OF THE AWARDEES. SO WE'RE VERY, VERY, VERY HAPPY.
THANK YOU. THIS IS TERRIFIC. SO TELL US ABOUT THE BOX A LITTLE BIT.
IT LOOKS LIKE A NEWSPAPER BOX. THAT'S HOW I'VE BEEN DESCRIBING IT TO FOLKS.
IT'S LIKE AN OLD SCHOOL NEWSPAPER, BUT IT CAN HOLD UP TO 200 NARCAN KITS.
[00:05:06]
RESIDENTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO GO TO THE FOOD BANKS WILL ALSO BE ELIGIBLE. AND I NOTICED THERE'S A QR CODE ON THE SIDE OF THE BOX WHICH HAS A HOW TO VIDEO ON ADMINISTERING NARCAN. THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING. THAT'S GREAT.WOW. WOW. WHERE'S IT GOING TO GO? DO WE KNOW? OKAY. THAT'S GREAT. AWESOME. THAT'S GREAT. WE'LL DO A PHOTO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COME ON DOWN. OKAY. ELLEN AND CLAUDIA, HOW ARE YOU? SO WE'RE GOING TO DO HEALTHY AGING MONTH, AND YOU HEARD ME MENTION BEFORE.
I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THE CELEBRATION FOR THE 100 CENTENARIANS, THAT'S A BIG WORD.
BUT THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S REALLY EXCITING. SO WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE CELEBRATING HEALTHY AGING MONTH.
AND WHEREAS HEALTHY AGING MONTH OBSERVES, OVER 30 YEARS AGO, AS PART OF THE NATIONAL HEALTHY AGING CAMPAIGN BY THE EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION NETWORK TO DRAW ATTENTION TO HEALTHY, ACTIVE LIFESTYLES AT ANY AGE.
AND WHEREAS THE MISSION OF THE ANNUAL OBSERVATION IS TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY AGING EVENTS THAT PROMOTE TAKING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONE'S HEALTH, BE IT PHYSICALLY, SOCIALLY, MENTALLY, AND FINANCIALLY.
AND WHEREAS, EACH YEAR, HEALTHY AGING MONTH STRIVES TO UNDO FALSE STEREOTYPES ABOUT OLDER ADULTS AS WE SEE PEOPLE IN THEIR 80S, 90S, AND EVEN OVER 100 DOING AMAZING THINGS, INCLUDING ARTISTS THAT ARE 105 YEARS OLD.
AND IT'S SIGNED BY THE FIVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. IF YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW.
SO WITH SEPTEMBER BEING PROMOTING HEALTHY AGING, WE HAVE SENIOR CENTERS THAT THEY CAN GO TO.
THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN YOGA, HEALTHY BONES, JUST EVEN GOING TO SOCIALIZE THERE.
FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T GO TO THE SENIOR CENTERS.
AND THEN CAREGIVERS ARE A REALLY BIG PART OF HELPING THOSE AGED GRACEFULLY AND WELL.
SO WE DO OFFER IN-HOME EDUCATION INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE CAREGIVERS.
AND OF COURSE, OUR OFFICE IS REALLY FOCUSED ON A VERY HOLISTIC APPROACH OF MIND, BODY, SPIRIT, BUT ALSO, AS MENTIONED IN THE PROCLAMATION, FINANCIAL HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, MAKING SURE PEOPLE'S HOMES ARE SAFE, MAKING SURE THEY'RE ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY TO WHATEVER LEVEL THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO ENGAGE.
AND THERE'S NEVER A WRONG TIME TO START A NEW HOBBY AND DO SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
[00:10:06]
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT HEALTHY AGING MONTH IS ALL ABOUT.THAT'S TRUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S GREAT.
I THINK IT'S GRANDPARENTS MONTH, TOO. IS IT? I BELIEVE SO.
YES. THIS PAST WEEKEND? YEAH. I REMEMBER CELEBRATING MY GRANDPARENTS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, SO I NEVER, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT ANYMORE, BUT I KNEW IT WAS SEPTEMBER. [INAUDIBLE]. SO WE HAVE
[APPOINTMENTS]
WE HAVE APPOINTMENTS TO THE YOUTH COUNCIL. RESOLUTION R25-1794.AND JUST BEAR WITH ME AS I'M GOING TO READ EACH OF THE STUDENTS NAMES LISTED AS THEY ARE OUT IN TV LAND WATCHING SO THAT THEY CAN HEAR THEIR NAME BEING CALLED. ALENA SANA, GREEN BROOK TOWNSHIP. ANAIAH PAUL, NORTH PLAINFIELD BOROUGH.
ANIKA ARORA, HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP. ANVITA UDESHI, UDESHI.
EXCUSE ME. BASKING RIDGE. APRIL ORTIZ, GREEN BROOK TOWNSHIP.
ARYAN RAJU KONDURU, HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP. CATHERINE SHEN, BASKING RIDGE.
GRANT DEQUINA, RARITAN BOROUGH. HASINI ANUMOLU, BASKING RIDGE.
JORDAN NUNEZ, SOMERVILLE BOROUGH. KATHRYN KARAM, BELLE MEAD.
ROHAN PATEL, WATCHUNG BOROUGH. SARA YU, BASKING RIDGE.
AND SARAI STYLES, SOMERSET. ALSO, WE HAVE A BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES, RESOLUTION 25-1795, APPOINTING SHELLEY BELL OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP TO THE BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-1794 AND 1795? SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER? YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE? YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY? YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO? YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON? YES. IS THERE A APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR AUGUST 26TH, 2025?
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED. 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 25-1700 THROUGH 1718.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
MOTION. 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 25-1719 THROUGH 1745.SO MOVED. 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 25-1746 THROUGH 1793.
[FINANCE]
SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER? YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE? YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY? YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO? YES, BUT ABSTAIN FROM 1783.FROM 25-1783 NOTED. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-1796 THROUGH
[ITEMS ADDED FROM THE SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 WORK SESSION TO BE ADOPTED TONIGHT]
25-1799 I. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.COMMISSIONER GRANER? YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE? YES.
COMMISSIONER SOOY? YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO? YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON? YES. THIS IS 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. SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC? NO EMAILS.
NO TELEPHONE CALLS. SEEING NONE. HEARING NONE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING? MOTION. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.
NO EXECUTIVE SESSION TONIGHT. UNFORTUNATELY. OKAY, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.
GOOD NIGHT. BE WELL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.