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[00:00:04]

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 SOMERSETCOUNTYNJ.GOV.

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

DIRECTOR ROBINSON, THANK YOU. PLEASE RISE AND RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TOGETHER AND REMAIN STANDING FOR REFLECTIONS.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THE MISSION OF SOMERSET COUNTY IS TO BE COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN PUBLIC SERVICE, PROMOTING THE WELL-BEING OF ALL RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT AND RESPONSIVE LEADERSHIP.

LET US CONTINUE TO BE ALL THAT WE CAN BE, DO THAT WE ALL CAN DO IN ORDER TO BE RESPONSIVE, EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT LEADERS TO THOSE IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

THANK YOU. WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR DECEMBER 9TH WORK SESSION OF SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

THIS AGENDA AND THE ITEMS ON IT ARE FOR DISCUSSION AND WILL BE CONSIDERED AT THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH.

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. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO.

DIRECTOR ROBINSON. HERE. AS WE MOVE ON INTO OUR COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER REPORTS I'D LIKE TO REPORT THAT LAST WEEK, MY GRANDSON AND I ATTENDED MONTGOMERY'S TREE LIGHTING SERVICE, WHERE WE ENCOUNTERED THE GRINCH AND OTHER CHARACTERS ALONG WITH SANTA CLAUS.

AND IT WAS A WAY OF BRINGING THE RESIDENTS TOGETHER.

THE COMMUNITY GET TOGETHER SINGING HOT CHOCOLATE AS WELL AS COOKIES THAT MY GRANDSON LOVES SO MUCH.

YESTERDAY I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND. MOST OF US ATTENDED.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER MARANO WASN'T ABLE TO BE THERE.

BUT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP ANNUAL MEETING 40 UNDER 40 AND TWO OF OUR EMPLOYEES WERE RECOGNIZED.

RHEANAH JOHNSON IN HUMAN SERVICES AND TARA MACKOS IN FINANCE.

THESE ARE PHENOMENAL FUTURE LEADERS. THEY'RE DOING GREAT THINGS IN THEIR DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.

BUT IT WAS GREAT TO BE THERE TO RECOGNIZE THEIR EFFORTS.

AND I'M LIKE YEAR AFTER YEAR, 40 UNDER 40. WHERE ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE COMING FROM? AND I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER MY 40S. IT WAS LIKE THAT.

SO BUT IT WAS JUST GOOD TO CELEBRATE WITH THEM AND RECOGNIZE EVEN OUR OWN EMPLOYEES AND STAFF IN THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY ARE DOING.

I KNOW A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. COMMISSIONER SOOY WAS IN THAT ONE OF THOSE COHORTS OF 40 UNDER 40.

SO IT'S JUST A GREAT WAY OF RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO ARE DOING GREAT THINGS.

AND THEN ALSO SPEAKING OF AWARDING AND RECOGNIZING THOSE, WE HAD OUR YOUTH COMMISSION'S MEETING TODAY ALONG WITH THE HOLIDAY CELEBRATION AND THEN WITH THE YOUTH THAT RECEIVED THE AWARDS, THE AMANDA HYDRO AWARD, THE JEAN AND PAUL KRAUSE PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD. THESE AWARDEES, THEY ARE PHENOMENAL. SO I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THEM BACK IN JANUARY AND HAVE THEM BE RECOGNIZED TO THE PUBLIC. I THINK THOSE THAT WORK WITH YOUTH, THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES, UNDERSTAND THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.

BUT I THINK THE COUNTY AND BEYOND NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND, RECOGNIZE AND SEE THE GREAT WORK AND THE GREAT PEOPLE WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY. IF WE DON'T TOOT OUR OWN HORNS, THEN NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO DO IT FOR US.

SO GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN SOMERSET COUNTY ALSO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THE RESIDENTS TO CONSIDER SERVING ON COUNTY BOARDS OR COMMITTEES.

AGAIN, AS I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING, THIS IS A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO PARTNER WITH US AND BEING PART OF THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES BY SERVING ON COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS. ALSO, JUST A REMINDER THAT THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN REELECTED.

WE WILL BE CELEBRATING THEM AT THEIR REORG ON JANUARY 9TH.

THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 3 P.M. AT THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO STARTING THE NEW YEAR WITH RENEWED COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR

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COMMUNITY. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR STAFF FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO.

AND AS WE MOVE INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON, WE WILL BE CELEBRATING HERE WITH TWO FESTIVE COMPETITIONS.

THE UGLY SWEATER CONTEST AND THE DECORATIVE DOOR CONTEST.

SO I GOT MY UGLY SWEATER FROM AMAZON YESTERDAY, SO I WILL BE HERE TO SHOW OFF.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S REALLY, LIKE, A UGLY SWEATER. UGLY SWEATER? [LAUGHTER] REALLY. SOME MAY LOOK OBNOXIOUS, BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT UGLY.

BUT THAT WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY OR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY.

FEBRUARY? WOW. DECEMBER 19TH. I'M MOVING AHEAD.

AND THEN THAT WOULD BE FOR THE UGLY SWEATER CONTEST AND THEN THE DECORATIVE DOOR CONTEST WILL BE TAKING PLACE ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 22ND. SO THANKS FOR THE RIDE. WE MADE IT THROUGH DECEMBER AND ONE MORE MEETING TO GO TO CLOSE OUT 2025.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR. YES. ALL RIGHT. HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON, EVERYBODY.

LET'S SEE, I HAD A CHANCE TO GO TO THE JACOBUS VANDERVEER HOUSE IN BEDMINSTER TO CELEBRATE THEIR COLONIAL CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES.

AND THIS WAS A PARTICULAR JOY FOR ME, BECAUSE JACOBUS VANDERVEER HOUSE HAS HAD A BIT OF A ROCKY ROAD THIS YEAR. THEY HAD SOME CHANGES IN THE STRUCTURE OF THEIR BOARD.

YOU KNOW, WHENEVER CHANGE HAPPENS, EVERYBODY GETS WORRIED, YOU KNOW, IS EVERYTHING GOING TO BE OKAY? HOW'S IT GOING TO GO? WELL, THE PLACE WAS PACKED.

IT HAD A BUNCH OF NEW FACES, YOUNG PEOPLE THERE.

THEY MADE A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE HOUSE. IT WAS A GREAT TIME.

I HAD NO IDEA. I LOOKED AT MY WATCH AND I WAS THERE ALMOST THREE HOURS.

YOU KNOW, BY THE TIME I LOOKED AT IT TIME FLEW.

SO IT'S GREAT NEWS FOR ONE OF OUR FIVE GENERALS HOUSES, THE JACOBUS VANDERVEER HOUSE.

THEY ARE BACK. THEY ARE DOING BETTER THAN EVER.

SO REALLY GOOD THINGS HAPPENING THERE. I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE.

AND ON SUNDAY I ALSO WENT TO THE FARMSTEAD ARTS FOR THEIR HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE.

SO LOTS OF CULTURAL THINGS HAPPENING, I BELIEVE THIS WEEKEND.

IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN AT FLOUNDER BREWERY, THEY HAVE THE KRINGLE, WHICH IS A LOT OF FUN.

THEY HAVE LIKE 30 VENDORS OUTSIDE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO GERMANY FOR A CHRISTMAS MARKET.

YOU COULD JUST STAY RIGHT HERE IN SOMERSET. IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO INSIDE, FLOUNDER AND GET YOURSELF SOMETHING TO WARM YOU UP.

OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM 2025 NUMBERS HERE. WE HAD OUR SHRED TOTALS IN THE COUNTY THIS YEAR.

WE SHRED ABOUT 12 TONS OF MATERIAL, AND WE HAD OVER 8,400 CARS COME THROUGH THE SYSTEM, SO THAT'S GREAT KEEPING OUR FOLKS SECURE. AND IN 2025, WE HAD A TOTAL OF 1,800 NEW TOTES THAT WE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY FOR OUR RECYCLING.

SO GOOD TO SEE THAT FOLKS LOVE THOSE NEW TOTES.

THE LIBRARY COMMISSION MET. WE MET AT THE HILLSBOROUGH BRANCH THIS YEAR BECAUSE THIS YEAR WE DECIDED AS A COMMISSION TO ROTATE OUR MEETINGS NOT JUST IN BRIDGEWATER, BUT TO GO TO OTHER BRANCHES SO THAT THE LIBRARY COMMISSIONERS COULD EXPERIENCE THOSE OTHER BRANCHES.

SO THIS LAST MEETING WAS IN HILLSBOROUGH. WE HAD MET AT MONTGOMERY, MANVILLE, HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH PLAINFIELD. SO I THINK AND I FORGET WHICH OTHER ONE WE WENT TO.

ANYWAYS THAT WAS PROBABLY LIKE THE FEBRUARY MEETING.

SO IT WAS A VERY GOOD MEETING. THE MANVILLE BRANCH HAD A COMMUNITY DAY THAT BROUGHT ABOUT 450 PEOPLE TO THE BRANCH TO WRITE LETTERS TO SANTA, OR TO WRITE LETTERS TO SERVICE PERSONNEL THAT ARE AWAY FROM HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

SO IT WAS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, LIBRARIES ARE SUCH COMMUNITY CENTERS AND THEY DO SUCH WONDERFUL THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

ALL AGES, THEY'RE REALLY HAVING A GOOD TIME. SO THE LIBRARY'S DOING GREAT WORK.

THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THEIR ASBESTOS. WE'VE GOT OUR FINGERS CROSSED FOR OPENING IN Q1 26.

PEAPACK GLADSTONE HAS GOT THEIR GRAND OPENING FROM THEIR RENOVATIONS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 10TH FROM TEN TO NOON.

ALL ARE INVITED. AND IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE LIBRARY AND YOU'VE GOT YOUR LIBRARY APP, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THINGS HAVE CHANGED. THEY'RE ON A NEW PLATFORM NOW CALLED THE MAIN SYSTEM.

IT'S VERY, VERY EXCITING. IT SPREADS THE REACH OF WHERE YOU CAN BORROW MATERIALS NOW GREATLY.

SO VERY, VERY EXCITING. IF YOU HAVEN'T GONE TO THE LIBRARY WEBSITE OR THE APP RECENTLY, I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK IT OUT.

CULTURAL HERITAGE TEAM MET. WE WENT OVER OUR WEEKEND JOURNEY TO THE PAST STATS THAT CAME IN.

A GREAT NUMBER OF VISITORS. THIS YEAR WE HAD 2,480 VISITS AT OUR SITES.

WE HAD LETS SEE, JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME GOOD THINGS HERE, BUT THE HIGHLIGHTS, WE HAD PEOPLE COME IN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES

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CHINA, SOUTH KOREA, UK, SPAIN, OTHER STATES. WE HAD LIKE ABOUT 16 OTHER STATES THAT CAME TO VISIT US AND NUMEROUS OTHER COUNTIES.

SO IT WAS A GREAT DRAW TO BRING TOURISM TO SOMERSET COUNTY, SHOWCASE AND HIGHLIGHT THE GREAT TREASURES WE HAVE HERE.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. WE'VE HAD LOTS OF HOLIDAY CHEER THROUGHOUT SOMERSET COUNTY.

I WENT TO A FEW TREE LIGHTINGS OVER IN SOMERVILLE, BERNARDSVILLE AND BEDMINSTER.

BUT THERE WAS A LITTLE CHERRY ON TOP FOR THE ONE IN BEDMINSTER. WE ALSO HAD OUR COLONIAL CHRISTMAS OVER AT THE JACOBUS VANDERVEER HOUSE AND MUSEUM OVER ON RIVER ROAD. AND THERE I WAS ABLE TO SEE COLONIAL REENACTORS, DEMONSTRATIONS, HOLIDAY SHOPPING, SANTA VISITS, CAROLING, GINGERBREAD HOUSE WORKSHOPS, HOLIDAY DECORATING WORKSHOPS, AND SO MUCH MORE. SO IF YOU WANT TO CHECK IT OUT, THEY HAVE REALLY MADE SUCH A GREAT USE OF THIS HISTORIC SPACE AND HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO LIFE, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR 250TH CELEBRATION.

AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN. I WOULD SAY ONE SITE MORE PACKED THAN I DID FOR THAT TREE LIGHTING AND PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT. THAT'S HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT HISTORY IS NOT FORGOTTEN.

MOVING ON TO THE SOMERSET COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP, WE HAD OUR ANNUAL LUNCHEON.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR ROBINSON. I WAS ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS FOR THE 40 UNDER 40.

AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY I'M STILL UNDER 40. BUT WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND HIGHLIGHT JESSICA DALE. SHE IS ONE OF THOSE MEMBERS THAT ATTENDS JUST ABOUT EVERY EVENT.

IF THERE IS AN ASK, SHE IS THERE TO MAKE SURE TO VOLUNTEER HER TIME AND EXTEND ANY RESOURCE SHE POSSIBLY CAN.

SHE IS A LEADER IN OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN SOMERVILLE, AND SHE IS THE FOUNDER OF A PLACE AT HOME.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF IT, YOU SHOULD, BECAUSE EVERYONE THAT HAS AN AGING PARENT OR KNOWS SOMEBODY THAT IS IN NEED.

WHEN PEOPLE GET TO A CERTAIN AGE, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR A WORKING PERSON TO TRY TO BE THERE FOR AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO FOR OUR LOVED ONES.

AND WHEN YOU CAN, OR IF THERE IS NOT SOMEBODY THAT'S ABLE TO A PLACE AT HOME IS ABLE TO STEP UP TO THE TO THE PLATE TO BE ABLE TO HELP SERVICE THAT GAP.

AND IT IS INCREDIBLE BECAUSE HER MOTHER, WHEN SHE WAS SICK, SHE BASICALLY SHE DID TAKE CARE OF HER, AND SHE WAS THAT PERSON WHO HAD TO WORK AND RAISE HER FAMILY AND TAKE CARE OF HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS AGING.

AND THEY HIGHLIGHTED ONE OF HER FIRST CLIENTS, WHO LIVED TO 104.

WE HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT OUR SENIOR CENTERS AND SO MANY OTHER PLACES THAT SOMERSET COUNTY IS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE WITH EVEN DURING THE TIMES DURING COVID, WHAT KEPT PEOPLE ALIVE AND MOVING IS THAT HUMAN CONNECTION.

SOMETIMES IT'S MAKING SURE THEY MAKE IT TO THEIR HAIR APPOINTMENT, GROCERY SHOPPING, OR JUST SOMEBODY TO SPEAK TO. SO THESE ARE THE THINGS WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF. WE ALSO HAD AN ECONOMIC REPORT, AND WE ARE SEEING, YOU KNOW, OUR ECONOMY GROWING.

HOWEVER, WE ARE SEEING THAT DISTRIBUTIONAL GAP.

AND IT IS SERVICING THE WEALTHIER VERSUS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OF A LOWER INCOME.

SO WE TRY TO BE ABLE TO BRIDGE THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY HERE IN SOMERSET COUNTY, AND ALWAYS THANK OUR PARTNERS LIKE UNITY BANK AND WHO WE ALSO AWARDED AND RECOGNIZED AS THEY'VE BEEN INCREDIBLE PARTNERS AND HAVE TRULY DEDICATED AND PUT THEIR, YOU KNOW, DOLLARS WHERE THEIR MOUTH IS WITH OUR COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT FUNDING FOR OUR NONPROFITS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

AS WE START TO SEE SOME OF THOSE FEDERAL CUTS IMPACT OUR LOCAL REGION.

SO WE THANK THOSE PARTNERS. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. YEAH. MYSELF, I'M WAITING FOR THE 70 UNDER 70.

[LAUGHTER] BUT SO YEAH, YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS TO TARA, TO RHEANAH AND TO RYAN OF OUR PARK COMMISSION FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS AWARD 40 UNDER 40.

THAT'S REALLY IT WAS A NICE EVENT. IT WAS GREAT TO CELEBRATE SO MANY LEADERS IN THE COUNTY.

ALSO THE PARK FOUNDATION. WE HAD A MEETING RECENTLY, THE PARK FOUNDATION.

AND ONE OF THEIR MAIN INITIATIVES IS TO HELP RAISE MONEY PRIMARILY FOR THE PARK COMMISSION.

ALMOST ALL THEIR MONEY THAT THEY COME GETS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FOUNDATION IS CONTRIBUTED BACK TO THE PARK COMMISSION, SO IT HELPS SUPPORT SUBSTANTIAL PARK COMMISSION INITIATIVES.

BUT THEY DO HAVE A FUNDRAISER EACH YEAR THROUGH SORT OF MEMORIALS, WHERE THEY WILL ALLOW YOU TO PAY FOR MEMORIAL TREES, BENCHES AND BRICKS THAT WILL BE PLACED THROUGHOUT THE PARK.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR TO ANNOUNCE A, YOU KNOW, MEMORIAL FOR A LOVED ONE THEY'LL DO AN INSCRIPTION.

THEY'LL DO A PLACARD ON THE BENCH. LET'S SAY YOU'RE DONATING OR THE TREES THAT YOU'RE DONATING OR,

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OR EVEN BRICKS THAT ARE PLACED THROUGHOUT THE PARKS.

SO IT'S A GREAT WAY THAT NOT ONLY DO THEY HELP RAISE MONEY, BUT THEY ALSO MEMORIALIZE THE FOLKS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO BE MEMORIALIZED.

BUT THE PARKS ARE SETTLING DOWN. RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A WHOLE NUMBER OF SEVERAL CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY THAT THE PARK COMMISSION TRIES TO DO A LOT OF THEIR WORK WHILE THERE'S NOT AS MANY PEOPLE THERE. BUT GREEN KNOLL GOLF COURSE, WARREN BROOK GOLF COURSE ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THE SEASON.

HOWEVER, SPOOKY BROOK, KELL BROOK AND NESHANIC VALLEY WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGH THE WINTER.

AND IF YOU'RE LIKE ME IF YOU WANT TO PLAY WINTER RULES, WHICH I PLAY WINTER RULES ALL YEAR LONG YOU KNOW, YOU COULD YOU CAN CERTAINLY THERE ARE PEOPLE THE PARK COMMISSION DOES GET PEOPLE GOLFING IN 14 DEGREE WEATHER.

NOT AS MANY, BUT NEVERTHELESS, IT'S CERTAINLY THE PARK THE GOLF COURSES ARE OPEN.

CERTAINLY OUR PARKS ARE OPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT OUR PARKS. BUT I ALSO WANT TO PUT A BIG THANK YOU OUT TO THE PARK COMMISSION THERAPEUTIC REC PROGRAM.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SENSITIVE SANTA EVENT, WHICH WAS THIS LAST SATURDAY WAS CERTAINLY WELL ATTENDED.

BOTH THEY HAD TWO SESSIONS AND NOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR HOW THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY ACCOMMODATE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO THIS EVENT.

BUT APPARENTLY IT WAS HELD WELL IT NOT ONLY HAD SANTA, BUT ALSO EVENTS FOR OUTDOOR TRAIN RIDES AND PAINTING AND ALL KINDS OF EVENTS, BUT REALLY ALLOWING FOLKS WHO HAD SPECIAL NEEDS TO COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THAT EVENT.

SO I WANT TO REALLY THANK THE PARK COMMISSION AND THE THERAPEUTIC REC PROGRAM FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO. AND THEN LASTLY, I WANT TO MENTION THAT I ATTENDED AT DUKE FARMS, A WORKSHOP THROUGH AN ACRONYM IS KNOWN AS CHANGE C H A N J, WHICH STANDS FOR CONNECTING HABITAT ACROSS NEW JERSEY.

AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY GOOGLE THAT. AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, CHANGE.ORG AND IT'S ACTUALLY A WEBSITE AFFILIATED WITH NEW JERSEY DEP.

BUT IT'S A PROGRAM THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT MAPPING HABITAT ACROSS NEW JERSEY TO TRY TO LINK MAJOR BLOCKS OF HABITAT NOT ONLY FOR ALL KINDS OF BIODIVERSITY, BUT LARGER ANIMALS LIKE BLACK BEARS AND BOBCATS.

AND SO LINKING THESE HABITATS AND FINDING THE LINKAGES ALLOWS POLICYMAKERS AND PLANNERS AND MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES TO SORT OF SEE WHERE ARE THESE PROPERTIES THAT ARE MOST CRITICAL. AND IF WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING ACQUISITION STRATEGIES FOR THEM, OBVIOUSLY IT MAKES SENSE FOR US TO LOOK AT THEM CAREFULLY.

BUT IT NOT ONLY LOOKS AT NOT ONLY THE HABITAT VALUE, BUT THE IMPACTS FROM DEVELOPMENT AROUND THESE SENSITIVE HABITATS, THINGS LIKE ROADS THAT, YOU KNOW, CONTINUALLY BECOME OBSTACLES FOR LARGER IF YOU'VE EVER EITHER HIT A DEER OR RUN OVER A BOBCAT, IT'S A SAD THING. BUT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOOKING AT HOW THEY CONNECT HABITAT SO THAT THE ROADS ARE NOT AS MUCH OF AN IMPEDIMENT FOR MOVING TRAFFIC.

AND IT WAS INTERESTING. ONE OF THE RESEARCHERS PRESENTED DATA.

SHE'S A GRADUATE STUDENT, AND SHE'S TRACKED A NUMBER OF BOBCATS.

AND SHE SHOWED ON A MAP WHERE THEY GO. AND THEN SHE MAPPED THE ROADS.

AND EFFECTIVELY, WHEN THE ROADS ARE LARGER ROADS, THE BOBCATS BECOME ISOLATED.

THEY DON'T ACTUALLY CROSS OVER THE ROADS. SO SHE WAS TRACKING THEM AND THEN SHOWING THAT THIS MAJOR ROAD, THAT MAJOR ROAD AND THAT MAJOR ROAD ISOLATED THAT POPULATION.

BUT IF YOU ACTUALLY DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS, YOU CAN GET THEM TO CROSS UNDER THE ROAD, IF YOU WILL.

SO IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, BUT I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND DUKE FARMS FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, BRING THESE FOLKS TOGETHER. IT WAS A FAIRLY WELL ATTENDED CONFERENCE OF FOLKS ACROSS MANY COUNTIES, NOT JUST SOMERSET COUNTY, BUT THROUGHOUT THE REGION, AND THEY WERE FOCUSING ON CENTRAL JERSEY AS BEING A PRIMARY DIRECTION FOR THIS.

BUT LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK ON THAT PROJECT.

AND THAT'S MY REPORT. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL GOLDEN BLUES MADRIGALS, WHO WON THE NBC 4 TELEMUNDO ANNUAL STAR CHOIR COMPETITION AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM AT THE CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER SPECIAL LAST WEEK. THERE'S A FURTHER SOMERSET COUNTY CONNECTION, AS ONE OF THE MEMBERS IS A DAUGHTER OF OUR VERY OWN, RACQUEL HINDS FROM THE DIVISION OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

WE WISH TO EXTEND OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING OUR FOOD BANK PARTNERS WITH BOTH FOOD AND MONETARY DONATIONS.

OUR HUMAN SERVICES NAVIGATORS IN THE FOOD BANK NETWORK AND THE FRANKLIN FOOD BANK HAVE REMAINED BUSY BY SUPPORTING NEIGHBORS WITH 112 TOTAL HOURS IN FOOD BANKS, 240 DIRECT CLIENT CONTACTS, 34 REFERRALS TO CASE MANAGERS AND 177 RESOURCES PROVIDED, OF WHICH 35% WERE FOOD RELATED, 19% WERE FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND 13% FOR HEALTH CARE.

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HUMAN SERVICES, YOU ARE THE TRUE WARRIORS IN THE FACE OF THE MOST SEVERE CHALLENGES BROUGHT ON BY THE ONGOING AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, AND I COMMEND YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DO.

WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE GREATER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT REPORTS THAT PROJECT SEARCH, WHICH OFFERS AN IMMERSION BASED PROGRAM AT RWJ SOMERSET FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, IS HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE FOR CHILD STUDY TEAM MEMBERS, TRANSITION STAFF, AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS THIS THURSDAY.

THE ONE STOP CAREER CENTER IS HOSTING VIRTUAL JERSEY JOB WORKSHOPS THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS ON INTERVIEW PREPARATION, RESUME WRITING AND NETWORKING. KASON TECHNOLOGIES WILL BE HOLDING A VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION ON REGISTERED HEALTHCARE APPRENTICESHIPS ON DECEMBER 23RD.

FOR INFORMATION ON ANY OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE VISIT THE GREATER RARITAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD WEBSITE.

THE 2026 OPIATE SETTLEMENT COMMUNITY SURVEY IS NOW LIVE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES WEBSITE.

PLEASE TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY AND HELP US SHAPE HOW THESE CRITICAL FUNDS ARE USED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND INVESTED.

THE NEXT STIGMA FREE COMMITTEE WILL BE HELD VIRTUALLY ON JANUARY 12TH AT NOON, AND THE NEXT MHB MEETING WILL BE HELD VIRTUALLY ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH AT 5 P.M. VIA ZOOM. SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, PUBLIC SAFETY HAS RESPONDED TO 19 CALLS FOR RESPONSE, COORDINATION AND SUPPORT WITHIN THE COUNTY AND PROVIDED SUPPORT THROUGH MUTUAL AID TO SURROUNDING COUNTIES THREE TIMES ON THE ESTA SIDE, THEY HELD 43 CLASSES FOR FIRE, EMS AND OEM AND OR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THANK YOU, MADAM DIRECTOR. THAT IS MY REPORT.

THANK YOU. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THINK THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR DOING SHOP WITH A COP TO SOME OF THE UNDERSERVED YOUTH THROUGHOUT SOMERSET COUNTY. THEY WERE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SHOP.

AND HERE WE GO AGAIN. THERE WAS A GRINCH THAT WAS IN TOW.

SHOP. SHOP WITH A COP, NOT SHOT WITH A COP. SHOP WITH A COP.

BUT THE SMILING FACES OF THOSE YOUTH HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOP WITH A CAP ON A DOLLAR AMOUNT, BUT THEY WERE EXCITED AND SOME OF THEM KNEW WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR AND WHAT THEY WERE GOING AFTER.

AND OTHERS ARE JUST LIKE KIDS IN A CANDY STORE.

THEY WERE AMAZED ONCE THEY GOT TO THE TOY AISLE AND JUST SEEING THEIR EYES LIGHT UP, LOOKING AT SOME OF THE BOOKS THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY, NOT JUST GO TO THE LIBRARY AND CHECK IT OUT AND RETURN IT, BUT THAT THEY CAN BUILD THEIR OWN HOME LIBRARY.

SO THANK YOU TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR BEING THERE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ALONG WITH SOMERSET COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM KNOWN AS SCAP. SO THANK YOU TO TO ALL THAT YOU DO.

WE MOVE ON TO COMMUNICATIONS AMERICAN WATER WORKS COMPANY NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OF PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND MERGER OF MONTAGUE COMPANIES INTO ITS SYSTEM.

ALSO COUNTY CLERK. STEVE PETER NOTICE OF FEES COLLECTED FOR NOVEMBER 2025.

$5,294,307.03. AND THEN WE MOVE ON TO OPEN SPACE TRAIL GRANT.

GOOD EVENING BOARD. I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW PRESERVATION PLANNER, PRINCIPAL PRESERVATION PLANNER LARISA PAXTON, WHO WILL BE PRESENTING THIS RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU. HI, EVERYONE. THIS IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A GRANT TO THE BOROUGH OF WATCHUNG FROM THE SOMERSET COUNTY OPEN SPACE TRUST FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADA TRAIL AT CAMP ENDEAVOR.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $300,000. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADD THE RESOLUTION 25-2400 TO THE AGENDA FOR DECEMBER 16TH MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? I'M EXCITED FOR THE FIRST TRAILS GRANT.

SO THIS IS GREAT AND I HOPE WE SEE SOME MORE.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND OKAY.

ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE.

YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO.

YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. NEW BUSINESS. RESOLUTION 25-2401. THIS IS AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO UTILIZE PROVISIONS IN THE LOCAL PUBLIC CONTRACT LAW AND RULES TO PREPARE SCOPE OF WORK FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR PROPRIETARY GOODS OR SERVICES FOR THE CLOUD BASED DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR OUR TAX BOARD.

THE COUNTY HAS A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT OF OVER $1 MILLION OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD, INCLUDING UPGRADES AND MAINTENANCE THAT ACTUAL WARRANTS RELIANCE ON A SPECIFIC MANUFACTURER OR VENDOR TO PROVIDE THESE UPGRADES AND TO MAINTAIN THE VALUE OF THE INVESTMENT.

[00:25:02]

IN PREPARATION OF THE COMPETITIVE CONTRACT SCOPE OF WORK THE COUNTY SHALL REFERENCE BRT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC CLOUD BASED DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM. THANK YOU.

2402 IS AUTHORIZING THE SOMERSET COUNTY CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION COUNTY HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP GRANT AWARDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $89,250 FOR THE 2026 NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL COMMISSION COUNTY HISTORY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM GRANT.

THIS IS TEN AWARDS TOTALING $89,250. IT WOULD BE TOO LONG TO BE SURE.

2403 IS AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY CULTURE AND HERITAGE COMMISSION LOCAL ARTS PROGRAM GRANT AWARDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,000 FOR THE 2026 NEW JERSEY COUNCIL OF THE ARTS LOCAL ARTS PROGRAM GRANT, AND THIS IS 18 TOTAL LOCAL ARTS PROGRAM GRANTS TOTALING $200,000 THAT RESOLUTION 25-2404 AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A RIPARIAN ZONE MITIGATION CREDIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH THE BACK BROOK MITIGATION BANK CARE OF EVERGREEN ENVIRONMENTAL FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND WIDENING OF BRIDGE D, 1003 BURNT MILLS ROAD IN BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP.

RESOLUTION 25-2405 APPROVING PLANS AND AUTHORIZING THE RECEIPT OF BIDS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF COUNTY BRIDGE D0202.

THAT'S MOUNTAIN VIEW ROAD OVER BROOK. CONTRACT 25021 RESOLUTION 25-2406 APPROVING PLANS AND AUTHORIZING RECEIPT OF BIDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY STREET SWEEPINGS BUILDING AT 360 ROYCEFIELD ROAD IN HILLSBOROUGH. CONTRACT 25-020.

RESOLUTION 25-2408 APPROVING PLANS AND AUTHORIZING RECEIPT OF BIDS FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTING UPGRADES AT THE EMERGENCY SERVICES TRAINING ACADEMY, 402 ROYCEFIELD ROAD IN HILLSBORO. CONTRACT 25004.

25-2409 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AUTHORIZING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT CONTINUUM OF CARE PLANNING GRANT FUNDS FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR THE 2026-27 GRANT PERIOD.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $50,000. REQUIRED MATCH NOT TO EXCEED $12,500.

25-2410 AUTHORIZING A SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET AND THE BOROUGH OF NORTH PLAIN FOR PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1ST, 2026 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2030.

25-2411, AUTHORIZING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN SOMERSET COUNTY AND ITS 21 MUNICIPALITIES FOR RECYCLING SERVICES FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1ST, 2026 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2026, AT THE RATE OF $28.16 PER HOUSEHOLD.

THIS IS AWARD OF CONTRACT TO CIVIC OPERATIONS GROUP FOR THE SOMERSET COUNTY OUTREACH PROGRAMS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT.

IF YOU REMEMBER, THIS IS THE DOOR TO DOOR THAT WE DO THE CANVASING AROUND THE COUNTY.

SO THIS WILL BE THE SECOND YEAR OF THE TWO YEAR PROGRAM.

THE TEAM. YEAH. THEY'LL PROBABLY COME SOMETIME IN THE FIRST QUARTER TO KIND OF DO MORE OF A PUBLIC LOOK BACK SO THAT EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO.

25-2414. AWARD OF CONTRACT TO PERSONNEL DATA SYSTEMS FOR UPGRADES TO HRIS SYSTEM.

CONTINUED MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT UTILIZING THE FINAL OPTION.

ONE YEAR EXTENSION JANUARY 1ST 26 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.

25-2415 AWARD OF CONTRACT JCC-0018-25. TO BOB BARKER COMPANY AND CHARM TECH FOR OPEN AND COOPERATIVE PRICING.

BID LINENS, PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS AND MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES.

FIRST YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT. 25-2416 AWARD OF CONTRACT CY-COM-0045-21 TO VISUAL COMPUTER SOLUTIONS FOR CONTINUED MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT OF THE VCS SCHEDULING SYSTEM FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

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FIFTH YEAR OF A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $27,624.

RESOLUTION 25-2417 FROM THE SURROGATE'S OFFICE.

THIS IS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO COUNTY BUSINESS SYSTEMS FOR UPGRADES, MAINTENANCE, AND SUPPORT OF THE BLUE STONE PROBATE SYSTEM SUPPLEMENT REBID FOR MICROFICHE AND GUARDIANSHIP MODULE TO COINCIDE WITH TERMS OF THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $81,040. 25-2418 APPROVING QUALIFIED VENDORS FOR VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL, ENGINEERING AND RELATED SERVICES FOR SOMERSET COUNTY IN THE YEAR 2026.

2419 IS AWARD OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT TO MILLS & SCHNOERING ARCHITECTS AT PRINCETON FOR THE SOMERSET COUNTY SEMI QUINCENTENNIAL PROGRAM INTERPRETIVE PLAN CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTATION, BIDDING AND CONSTRUCTION.

ADMINISTRATIVE. ADMINISTRATIVE PHASES NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT $648,939.

RESOLUTION 25-2420 AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT TO NAIK CONSULTING GROUP AT EDISON, NEW JERSEY FOR DESIGN FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF COUNTY BRIDGE G0602 MILLSTONE RIVER ROAD OVER A TRIBUTARY TO THE MILLSTONE RIVER AND THE TOWNSHIP OF HILLSBOROUGH.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $475,363. RESOLUTION 25-2421 AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT TO WSP USA OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY FOR THE GRIGGSTOWN CAUSEWAY.

TRAFFIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. FINAL DESIGN PART ONE MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP AND FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $350,161.58 RESOLUTION 25-2422. AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO RICOH USA FOR THE PURCHASE OF SERVICE, PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND SUPPLIES FOR A WIDE FORMAT ENGINEERING COPIER SCANNER.

THE THIRD YEAR OF A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $1,236.

RESOLUTION 25-2423. CONSULTANT AGREEMENT MODIFICATION NUMBER ONE TO FRENCH AND PARRELLO ASSOCIATES OUT OF WALL, NEW JERSEY FOR CONSTRUCTION, ADMINISTRATION AND CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION FOR THE REHABILITATION OF COUNTY BRIDGE K0607 NEW BRUNSWICK ROAD OVER AL'S BROOK AND FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $39,354, AND FOR A NEW CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $238,377. RESOLUTION 25-2424 CONSULTANT AGREEMENT MODIFICATION NUMBER TWO TO CME ASSOCIATES, PARLIN, NEW JERSEY, FOR DESIGN OF THE 2024 ROAD RESURFACING AND ADA COMPLIANCE PROGRAM.

VARIOUS ROUTES. VARIOUS LOCATIONS. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $34,832.

NEW CONTRACT AMOUNT $877,180.87. RESOLUTION 25-2425 AUTHORIZING CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE FOR PAVE-RITE, INC., BRIDGEWATER, NEW JERSEY, FOR THE WASHINGTON VALLEY PARK ACCESS ROAD, BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP.

IT'S AN INCREASE OF $68,151 FROM THE AS-BID CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $946,496.30, FOR A NEW CONTRACT. TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1,014,647.30.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $68,151. RESOLUTION 25-2426 AUTHORIZING CHANGE ORDER NUMBER TWO AND FINAL PAYMENT FOR SHORE TOP CONSTRUCTION CORP, FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY, FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE GREEN KNOLL TENNIS COURTS IN BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP. THE AS-BID CONTRACT AMOUNT IS $723,700.

THE FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT IS $754,872, AND INCLUDES PREVIOUSLY APPROVED CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,950. THIS CHANGE ORDER NUMBER TWO IS AN INCREASE OF $11,222 IN TOTAL, NOT TO EXCEED $11,222. GOOD EVENING.

25-2427 IS AUTHORIZING A QUALIFIED LIST OF RESPONDENTS FOR THE CONTRACT FOR BOND COUNSEL SERVICES FOR THE YEAR OF 2026. 25-2428 IS AUTHORIZING A QUALIFIED LIST OF RESPONDENTS FOR THE UNDERWRITING SERVICES FOR THE YEAR 25-2429 IS AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES FOR SOMERSET COUNTY

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TO PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES FOR THE 2025 STATUTORY AUDIT UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE COUNTY, AND TO SUPLEE, CLOONEY AND CO FOR THE 2025 STATUTORY AUDITS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY PARK COMMISSION, LIBRARY, COUNTY CLERK, SHERIFF'S TRUSTS, SURROGATE'S TRUST AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND THE PROSECUTOR'S TRUST.

25-2430 IS AWARD OF CONTRACT TO PINO CONSULTING GROUP FOR THE COST ALLOCATION AND REPORTING, COST CONSULTANT SERVICES AND TO PREPARE THE COUNTY WIDE CENTRAL SERVICES FOR THE COST ALLOCATION PLAN.

AND THAT WILL BE BASED ON THE 2024 ACTUAL COSTS.

25-2431 IS AWARD OF CONTRACT TO N.W. FINANCIAL GROUP FOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR SERVICES.

25-2432 IS AWARD OF CONTRACT TO E PLUS TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE PURCHASE OF CISCO SWITCHES UTILIZING THE HUNTERDON COUNTY COOPERATIVE CONTRACT TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $213,853.28.

25-2433 IS AWARD OF CONTRACT TO NAVIANT INC, VERONA, WISCONSIN FOR ON BASE FOR THE ON BASE SYSTEM SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT FOR THE FOURTH YEAR OF A FIFTH YEAR CONTRACT.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $82,719.48 AND 25-2434 IS AWARD OF CONTRACT TO NAVIANT FOR LICENSING AND SUPPORT FOR ON BASE RETENTION MODULE, THE ON BASE REPORTING MODULE, AND THE ON BASE PREMIUM ENTERPRISE TRAINING PLATFORM FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF A TWO YEAR CONTRACT.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $16,704.06. GOOD AFTERNOON.

RESOLUTION 25-2435 AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO RICHARD HALL, COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER, BRIDGEWATER, NEW JERSEY. FOR SERVICES TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE UNDER THE GRANT NAME OPT FOR HELP AND HOPE FOR A ONE YEAR NO COST EXTENSION FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1ST, 2026 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2026. THANK YOU.

25-2436 AWARD OF CONTRACT JCC-COM-0202-23R TO QED FOR APPLICATION SOFTWARE QED CAD/RMS SYSTEM CONTRACT TO PROVIDE ANNUAL SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT FOR THE PRODUCTS AND MODULES LICENSED TO SOMERSET COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS. FOURTH YEAR OF A 5TH YEAR CONTRACT.

JANUARY 1ST 26 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 26. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $103,680.

25-2437. AWARD OF CONTRACT CY-COM-0014-21 TO ID CARE FOR TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL. PHYSICIAN AND NURSING SERVICE. FIFTH YEAR OF A 5TH YEAR OF A 5 YEAR CONTRACT.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $315,770.04. 25-2438. AWARD OF CONTRACTS CY-COM-0018-23 TO ZUFALL HEALTH CENTER, INC. FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, CANCER SCREENING, AND PRIMARY HEALTH CARE FOR THE UNINSURED AND MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATION OF SOMERSET COUNTY. UTILIZING FIRST OPTION ONE YEAR EXTENSION WITH ONE REMAINING TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $28,146.

25-2439. AWARD OF CONTRACT CY-COM-0019-23 TO HEALTH CENTER FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDES PROVIDERS TO FURNISH SERVICES FOR CHILD HEALTH, CLINIC PHYSICIANS AND PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, UTILIZING FIRST OPTIONAL ONE YEAR EXTENSION, WITH ONE REMAINING TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $26,824.

RESOLUTION 25-2440 AUTHORIZING THE RETURN OF FUNDS OR FINES TO FINES TO TREASURER.

NEW JERSEY FOR AN OVERPAYMENT MADE TO SOMERSET COUNTY FOR FY 23, 24 AND 25.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $41,907.41. 2441 IS APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO THE GARDEN STATE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ASSOCIATION FOR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP FOR FOUR GRWDB STAFF AND PARTNERS.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $3,800. 25-2442. APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDERS TO RED BANK VETERINARY HOSPITAL AND MARTIN ABBOTT.

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TESS INCORPORATED FOR SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE SOMERSET COUNTY SHERIFF.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $1,129.50.

2443 IS APPROVAL TO PAY A CONFIRMING ORDER TO THE ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY COUNTY CULTURAL AND HERITAGE AGENCIES OUT OF WEST ORANGE FOR THE 2025-2026 MEMBERSHIP.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $50.

25-2444. AMENDING RESOLUTION R25-2043 CORRECTING TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR FOR CLOSING AND RETURNING REMAINING FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT FOR FRENCH AND PARRELLO ASSOCIATES WALL, NEW JERSEY FOR PROFESSIONAL TESTING, LABORATORY AND SOIL BORING SERVICES ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET FOR THE YEAR 2024.

RESOLUTION 2445 IS AUTHORIZING THE CANCELLATION OF UNEXPENDED BALANCES FOR RECEIVABLE AND APPROPRIATIONS FUNDS FOR 2022 GRANTS. 2446 IS AUTHORIZING THE CANCELLATION OF OPEN PURCHASE ORDERS TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $665,117.57.

2447 IS AUTHORIZING REFUND FOR CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF APPEALS FEES TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $100.

AND 2448 IS APPROVAL TO PAY A CONFIRMING ORDER TO KRONICK RESOLUTIONS JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $1,500.

AND 2449 IS THE PAYMENT OF CLAIMS AND RATIFICATION OF THE SAME.

2450 AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT.

CC-0114-25 TO WHITSON’S FOR THE PURCHASE OF DELIVERED MEALS FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $104,053.94. 2451 APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO ADULT DAYCARE CENTERS OF SOMERSET COUNTY, INC..

THIRD QUARTER PAYMENT OF EXPENDITURES FOR CONTRACT CY-COM-0009-24 FOR TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $73,128.

2452 APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER FOR RHONDA LIPSCOMB, HARRISON, NEW JERSEY, FOR PROVIDING MUSIC HISTORY AND PERFORMANCE AT BRIDGEWATER SENIOR CENTER FOR JULY 1ST, 2025.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $110,000. 2453 THAT IS NOT.

OPTION PLANNING 24. WHERE AM I? SOMERSET COUNTY.

OH, OKAY. [LAUGHTER] SO. ALL RIGHT, SO APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO UNIQUE SECURITY AND CONSULTING SERVICES, LLC. UNION CITY, NEW JERSEY, FOR SECURITY GUARD SERVICES PROVIDED AT 27 WARREN.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $12,144. 25-2454. APPROVAL TO PAY.

CONFIRMING ORDERS TO OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CENTERS. DOING BUSINESS AS CONCENTRA MEDICAL CENTERS AND TO T-MOBILE USA.

FOR SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $680. THANK YOU ALL. 25-2455 AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS.

CC-0024-24 TO ORE POWER LLC FOR THE PURCHASE REPLACEMENT OF BATTERIES ON JOHNSTON DRIVE.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $2,880. 25-2456. AMENDING AND CANCELING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS CY-COM-0098-24 TO SHP MEDICAL DIRECTION, LLC FOR MEDICAL PROGRAM SERVICES FOR THE EMERGENCY SERVICE TRAINING ACADEMY. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $1,400.

25-2457. AMENDING AND CANCELING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACTS CY-COM-0087-24 FROM R25-2076 TO EMPOWER SOMERSET, INC.. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $20,617.93. 25-2458. APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO EMPOWER

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SOMERSET, INC.. FOR SERVICES TO EXPAND AND INTEGRATE THE OVERDOSE FATALITY REVIEW TEAM.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $20,617.93.

OKAY 2459. AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO MILLENNIUM MECHANICAL FOR HVAC REPAIRS.

NOT TO EXCEED $30,000. 2460. AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO CS PRODUCTS.

THIS IS FOR A 20 YARD, WELL 20 CUBIC YARD CONTAINER NOT TO EXCEED $6,442.

2461 APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO MAZZA RECYCLING SERVICES.

THIS IS NOT TO EXCEED $28,503.30. 2462 APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO JEWEL ELECTRIC. THIS IS FOR ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES NOT TO EXCEED $1,911.51.

2463 AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO NATIONAL FUEL.

NOT TO EXCEED $320,000. 2464 AMENDING AND CANCELING CERTIFICATION OF FUNDS FOR PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CONTRACT TO TRIUS, INC. AND FROM FARMINGDALE AND CRESTON HYDRAULICS FROM HAMILTON AND LAWSON PRODUCTS FOR MARLBORO.

NOT TO EXCEED SEE $14,701.82. 2465. AMENDING R25-1792 FOR JESCO. AND THIS IS TO REMOVE DUPLICATE INVOICE.

NOT TO EXCEED $3,169.05. 2466. APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDERS FOR PARTS AND REPAIRS.

TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $8,984.44. THE VENDORS ARE LISTED BELOW.

THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADD ABOVE RESOLUTION 25-2401 THROUGH 25-2466 TO THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE 16TH.

SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.

YES. COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. WE HAVE 25-2347 IS APPROVING THE CONTRACT BETWEEN SOMERSET COUNTY AND SOMERSET COUNTY DISPATCHERS.

FMBNA 4497 FOR THE YEAR 2025. 2348 IS APPROVING THE CONTRACT BETWEEN SOMERSET COUNTY AND SOMERSET COUNTY DISPATCHERS SUPERVISORS UNION FOR 2025.

2349 IS SET IN A PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND THE SOMERSET COUNTY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN TO INCLUDE THE CHANGE IN LOCATION AND PARTICIPATION IN THE NJDEP RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO HANDLE END OF LIFE SOLAR PANELS FOR NEW TECH RECYCLING AT BLOCK 518.06, LOTS ONE, TWO AND THREE AND 521.02 AT LOT 25, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 245 BELMONT DRIVE IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. AND 2350 DESIGNATING FRIDAY, JANUARY 9TH, 2026 AT 3 P.M.

AS THE DATE FOR THE ANNUAL REORGANIZATION MEETING OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, 2351 IS RESCINDING RESOLUTION R25-1963 DATED OCTOBER 14TH, 2025, AND THE AMOUNT OF $105,586.52 DUE TO A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR.

2350. SORRY, MY EYESIGHT'S GOING. 2352. IS AUTHORIZING THE THIRD YEAR OF A FOUR YEAR GRANT FUNDED CONTRACT FOR THE ONE STOP OPERATOR SERVICES WITH EMPOWER SOMERSET IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $110,000.46 FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2025 TO JUNE 30TH, 2026, AND AN AMOUNT AND IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,371.15 FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1ST, 2025 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $111,317.61. 2353 IS AUTHORIZING THREE QUALIFIED EMPLOYERS FOR OPTION A ON THE JOB TRAINING AND OPTION B INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING FOR 2025-2026.

GREATER RARITAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD WORK EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. AND 2354 IS AUTHORIZING AN AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR OPTION B, INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING BETWEEN THE GREATER RARITAN WDB AND THE NEW JERSEY CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, AND OPTION C ONLINE INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING TO NEW YORK, WIRED FOR EDUCATION,

[00:50:05]

AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $13,802 FOR THE PERIOD OF DECEMBER 1ST, 2025 TO JUNE 30TH, 2026.

2355. APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO GSP PROPERTIES LLC, MENDHAM, NEW JERSEY, FOR YEAR TWO OF A TWO YEAR MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR REPAIRS TO VARIOUS STRUCTURES LOCATED IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

CONTRACT 23019. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $50,701.14.

RESOLUTION. THE LAST ONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN 2355.

APPROVAL TO PAY CONCERNING PROPERTIES OUT OF MENDHAM FOR COURTHOUSE ASBESTOS ABATEMENT PLANS AND SPECS.

ASBESTOS ABATEMENT AT THE HISTORICAL COURTHOUSE.

SECOND FLOOR BATHROOM. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $50,701.14.

2356 IS AS LISTED FOR GSP PROPERTIES. APPROVAL TO PAY, CONFIRMING ORDER TO GSP PROPERTIES.

AMEND NEW JERSEY ALSO FOR YEAR ONE OF A TWO YEAR MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR REPAIRS TO VARIOUS STRUCTURES LOCATED IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

CONTRACT 23019 TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $8,463.60.

25-2357 IS AN APPROVAL TO PAY CONFIRMING ORDER TO E PLUS TECHNOLOGIES OF THE ROYERSFORD, PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE SECOND YEAR OF A THREE YEAR CONTRACT FOR THE ANNUAL LICENSING FOR THE CISCO VOICE OVER IP SOFTWARE UTILIZING THE HUNTERDON COUNTY CO-OP TECHNOLOGY AND SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT CONTRACT. TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $62,079.58.

LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN. 25-2358. APPROVAL TO RESCIND RESOLUTION R25-2147 DATED NOVEMBER 12TH, 2025, DUE TO A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR.

25-359, AUTHORIZING THE RENEWAL AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY OFFICE ON AGING 2026 AREA PLAN, UPDATE AND CONTRACT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET AND THE NEW JERSEY STATE DIVISION ON AGING SERVICES FOR THE BUDGET PERIOD JANUARY 1ST, 2026 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2026, NOT TO EXCEED $2,157,096.

COUNTY REQUIRED MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT NOT TO EXCEED $1,412,594.00.

25-2360. AUTHORIZING VOLUNTEER SERVICES TO APPLY TO THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, AKA AMERICORPS FOR THE RETIRED AND SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM GRANT PERIOD APRIL 1ST, 2026 THROUGH MARCH 31ST, 2027 AND ACCEPT FUNDING IF AWARDED NOT TO EXCEED $75,000.

COUNTY MATCH OF $8,333 IS REQUIRED.

25-2361 AUTHORIZING A SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET AND THE NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF THE CHIEF STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER FOR ANSWERING AND DISPATCHING SERVICES. 25-2362 AUTHORING OR AUTHORIZING A SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET AND THE BOROUGH OF MANVILLE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE PERIOD OF JANUARY 1ST, 2025 TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2027.

IS THERE A MOTION TO ADD RESOLUTIONS 25-2347 THROUGH 25-2362 TO THE AGENDA FOR OUR REGULAR MEETING THIS EVENING.

SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER.

YES, COMMISSIONER DRAKE. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARANO. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON.

YES. THIS IS THE PORTION OF THE MEETING WE HAVE PUBLIC PORTION.

ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK? FIVE MINUTES. NO YIELDING OF TIME? NO. COMING UP A SECOND TIME. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND THEN THE TIMING WILL BEGIN.

IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN TO PUBLIC MOTION? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT. HI, MY NAME IS REENA SINGHVI AND I LIVE ON 8 INDEPENDENCE DRIVE IN BASKING RIDGE.

I THINK YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT ON ALLEN ROAD A MONTH AGO.

SO I'M HERE TO ASK ABOUT THE STATUS OF WHAT'S BEING DONE TO INCREASE SAFETY ON ALLEN ROAD.

I KNOW THERE WERE A BUNCH OF MEASURES THAT WERE SUGGESTED, AND WE WERE TOLD EARLIER THAT THE THERE'S GOING TO BE A ENGINEERING STUDY OF SOME SORT,

[00:55:09]

SO WONDERING IF THAT IS ALREADY IN PLACE. WHAT'S THE TIMELINE? SO BASICALLY JUST WANTING TO KNOW WHAT THE STATUS OF THOSE MEASURES ARE, AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO UPDATE ABOUT THAT TODAY.

SO WITH REGARDS TO THAT COMMISSIONERS, IF I CAN.

YES. SO THAT HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO A TRAFFIC CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT.

RIGHT. SO WE DO HAVE CONTRACTS WITH VARIOUS COMPANIES.

ONE WAS SELECTED TO GO WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE TOWN ENGINEERS ALSO.

THERE'S BEEN 1 OR 2 MEETINGS AND OUR ENGINEER AND THEIR ENGINEER HAS SPOKEN WITH THE TIMELINE, AS DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY. SOME OF THE THINGS REQUESTED ARE TRAFFIC COUNTS AND TRAFFIC STUDIES AND PEDESTRIAN STUDIES.

THEY NEED TO BE TAKEN OVER A PERIOD OF TIME TO GET A GOOD SAMPLING.

RIGHT. SO TRAFFIC IN THE WINTER, TRAFFIC ON A SCHOOL DAY, TRAFFIC WHEN IT'S WARM IS DIFFERENT IN HOLIDAY SEASON.

SO THAT WILL OCCUR OVER LIKE A 4 OR 5 MONTH PERIOD.

ALL THAT WILL BE ANALYZED AND THEN CONVERSATIONS WILL BE HAD WITH THE TOWN ABOUT WHAT IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE MADE.

WITH REGARDS TO THAT INTERSECTION OR THAT WHOLE ROAD SYSTEM.

IT'S REALLY NOT JUST THE ONE INTERSECTION, IT'S REALLY THE WHOLE ROAD SYSTEM THAT RUNS THROUGH THAT, THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

IT'S MOVING FORWARD. UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT GETS SOLVED IN A DAY.

IT JUST ISN'T. RIGHT. SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR A 4 TO 6 MONTH TIME PERIOD.

YEAH. TO STUDY AND UNDERSTAND IT AND THEN TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND THEN DEPENDING ON HOW EXTENSIVE OR HOW SIMPLE THEY ARE, SOME GET IMPLEMENTED BY JUST RESTRIPING, WHICH IS SIMPLE, BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING MORE COMPLICATED THAT NEEDS ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION WORK, THEN IT GOES THROUGH THAT PROCESS. SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.

GREAT. THANKS. NOT A PROBLEM. THANK YOU. HI. HI, THIS IS SANJAY BERRY.

I'M ALSO FROM BASKING RIDGE. I'M WORKING WITH REENA SINGHVI ON THIS.

SHE TALKED ABOUT THE ALLEN ROAD INCIDENT. ALLEN ROAD IS A KEY ROAD IN BASKING RIDGE AND BEDMINSTER.

IT'S A LIVABLE COMMUNITY. SHE TALKED ABOUT A TRAGIC ACCIDENT.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THERE WAS A 40 PLUS YEAR OLD LADY WHO DIED, AND TO SAY THAT WE'LL DO A FOUR MONTH STUDY.

HER FAMILY MOURNS HER EVERY DAY. SHE HAS TWO TEENAGE GIRLS, A 43 YEAR OLD, I MEAN A 45 YEAR OLD HUSBAND, TO TELL HIM THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER FOUR MONTHS OR SIX MONTHS BEFORE WE DO STUDIES IS KIND OF CRAZY, BUT THAT'S THE WAY THE COUNTY WORKS. THERE HAS BEEN A PETITION SIGNED BY ABOUT 1400 PLUS PEOPLE IN THAT COUNTY.

THERE ARE 1400 VOTERS. WE PAY $0.17 OF OUR DOLLARS TAX DOLLARS COME TO THE COUNTY.

SO I WOULD AT LEAST EXPECT A WRITTEN RESPONSE FROM THE COUNTY ON THE PETITION WE GAVE, AND SOME RESPONSE AND SOME ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT PETITION HAS BEEN SIGNED.

I BROUGHT THIS UP ABOUT A MONTH BACK. WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING EXCEPT WHEN THE COUNCIL JUST TALKED ABOUT IT.

IT'LL BE GREAT IF A WRITTEN EMAIL CAN BE SENT TO ME OR TO EVERYBODY.

I THINK I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE MRS MAGER AND WITH ALL OF YOU, SO WOULD HIGHLY APPRECIATE IF YOU CAN CONSIDER DOING AN EMAIL RESPONSE.

EVEN PUTTING THE WORDS WHICH ARE. MR. DEMARCO TALKED ABOUT PUTTING THEM INTO AN EMAIL, AND WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE IF THE COUNTY CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEATH OF THE RESIDENT AND OR ISSUE A CONDOLENCE STATEMENT FOR THAT WHICH HAVE REQUESTED MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAS NOT BEEN DONE BY THE COUNTY.

THIS WAS DONE ON A COUNTY ROAD. SHE WAS CROSSING ON A CROSSWALK AND THE TOWNSHIP OUR TOWNSHIP HAS ISSUED A CONDOLENCE STATEMENT THAT WILL MEAN A LOT TO THE FAMILY.

SO I WOULD REALLY CONSIDER THAT YOU HOPE YOU CONSIDER THIS AND PLEASE DO THE NEEDFUL.

SO TWO NEED THINGS I'M REQUESTING YOU TO DO TO GIVE AN EMAIL RESPONSE OR A RESPONSE IN WHATEVER FORMAT YOU WANT TO THE PETITION.

I THINK ALL OF YOU HAVE GOT THE PETITION. IF YOU HAVEN'T, I CAN RESEND THE PETITION TO ALL OF YOU AND SOME KIND OF CONDOLENCE STATEMENT, EVEN A PERSONAL CARD FROM, I THINK, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS HERE PUT A STATEMENT ON LINKEDIN.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND COULD BE SOME CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILY AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WHAT HAPPENED IN OUR COUNTY WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

I'VE BEEN BRINGING UP THE ISSUES OF SAFETY ON ALLEN ROAD FOR YEARS.

SO WHEN THE COUNCIL TALKS ABOUT THAT, WE'LL DO A STUDY.

I REQUESTED THE STUDY BACK IN 2022. IT WAS COMPLETELY IGNORED.

NOW WE ARE DOING A STUDY BECAUSE SOMEBODY DIED.

WHY WASN'T THE STUDY DONE BACK IN 2022? NOW WE NEED ANOTHER FOUR MONTHS.

AND HE JUST TALKS ABOUT VERY CALLOUSLY WE'LL DO ANOTHER FOUR MONTHS. SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN IF SOMEBODY ELSE DIES WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.

SO PLEASE, I WOULD WANT A RESPONSE TO MY TWO REQUESTS AT THIS STAGE FROM YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO REFER TO COUNCIL. SIR THIS IS THE THIRD MEETING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

THERE'LL BE EVERY MEETING WILL BE COMING HERE BUDDY. SO.

OKAY. SO THIS WORKS THIS WAY. OKAY. WHEN I'M SPEAKING OR SOMEONE UP HERE IS SPEAKING, I LISTEN, THIS WORKS THIS WAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. UNDERSTAND? YEAH. IT'S JUST RESPECTFUL. IT'S JUST EASIER.

[01:00:03]

ALL RIGHT. OKAY, OKAY. I KNOW YOU'RE VERY UPSET, BUT IT IS NOT THE POLICY OF THE COUNTY TO RESPOND TO PETITIONS.

RIGHT. WE WILL REVIEW IT. WE WILL PUT A STATEMENT ON WHEN WE HAVE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING AT ALLEN ROAD, WE WILL NOTIFY THAT WE HAVE PROJECT WEBSITES ALL THE TIME ON EVERY PROJECT WE WORK ON.

TO SAY IT NEEDS TO MOVE FASTER UNDERMINES WHAT AN ENGINEERING STUDY IS.

IT IS NOT JUST A BAND-AID CUT AND PASTE THAT WE JUST TAKE CARE OF A PROBLEM.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM SO WE CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

THAT TAKES TIME. NO ONE LIKES THAT ANSWER. BUT THAT'S THE HARSH TRUTH.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. YOU CAN'T DO IT ANY QUICKER BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ENGINEERING STANDARDS AND THAT'S HOW WE OPERATE.

WE CAN'T JUST RUN OUT THERE AND DO SOMETHING BECAUSE THAT MAY CAUSE A BIGGER PROBLEM INADVERTENTLY.

OKAY. RIGHT BEFORE A DOCTOR OPERATES, HE GOES AND GETS TESTS.

HE DOESN'T JUST CUT YOU OPEN. HE NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO.

OUR ENGINEERS NEED TO LOOK AT THE ROAD FOR THE HOLISTIC, NOT JUST ONE INTERSECTION, BUT THE WHOLE INTERSECTION, THE WHOLE ROAD SYSTEM THAT TAKES A PERIOD OF TIME.

OKAY. WITH REGARDS TO CONDOLENCES, EVERYONE FEELS BAD.

THERE'S NOT A PERSON WHO DOESN'T FEEL BAD. IT IS NOT FAIR TO SAY MY RESPONSES ARE CALLOUS.

THEY'RE NOT. THEY'RE MEASURED AND CALCULATED BECAUSE WE HAVE A DIFFERENT ROLE AND A DIFFERENT POSITION.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE, UNFORTUNATELY, WHO SUFFER HORRIBLE INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS IN THE COUNTY.

WE DO NOT ISSUE CONDOLENCES FOR ANY OF THOSE OR ALL OF THOSE THAT OCCUR.

RIGHT. WE UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS IF A COMMISSIONER WANTS TO, ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, DO THAT.

THAT IS FINE. BUT AS A BODY THAT IS NOT A PATH THAT WE GO DOWN.

THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ACCIDENT THAT'S EVER HAPPENED IN SOMERSET COUNTY.

UNFORTUNATELY, I SAY THIS VERY, VERY SADLY. IT WILL NOT BE THE ONLY ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE OUR ROADS ARE SAFE AND WE CARE ABOUT ALL OUR RESIDENTS.

I UNDERSTAND THE PASSION, I APPRECIATE IT. YOU ARE FREE TO COME EVERY MEETING.

I WILL HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE. THAT'S FINE AND WE WILL PROVIDE YOU AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU.

THE DEMANDS NEED TO BE REALISTIC. OKAY. THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE PEOPLE BACK THAT YOU GO BACK TO SPEAK TO NEED TO BE REALISTIC. THE PROBLEM IS NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED NEXT WEEK.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED NEXT MONTH.

AND I WOULD LIE TO YOU IF I PROMISED YOU THAT.

AND THAT IS ONE THING I WILL NOT DO. OKAY. OKAY.

THANK YOU SIR. SO I'M HOPING TO HEAR A RESOLUTION LIKE YOU HAD HOPEFULLY BY NEXT YEAR ON ALLEN ROAD SAFETY, SIMILAR TO THE RESOLUTIONS WHICH WERE THERE. AND THE SECOND THING WHICH YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU GAVE AN ANALOGY OF A DOCTOR? HE DOES TESTS. HE COMES AND SEES THE PATIENT.

SO I WOULD HIGHLY I'VE TOLD ALL THE COMMISSIONERS HERE DRIVE THROUGH ALLEN ROAD ONE DAY DURING THE DAY.

DURING THE NIGHT. UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S BEEN RAISING THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT.

WE HAVE LOST THREE PEOPLE. THREE PEOPLE HAVE DIED.

TWO DOGS HAVE DIED. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY COUNTLESS ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED.

THANK YOU REALLY FOR YOUR TIME. I DIDN'T MEAN TO BE.

I JUST IT IS SOMETHING WHICH HAS NOT BEEN DONE.

I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FROM 2021. I HAVE TONS OF EMAILS.

AND EVERY TIME I WAS EVEN TOLD A STUDY CANNOT BE DONE.

NOW STUDY IS BEING DONE BECAUSE SOMEBODY DIED AND WHY COULDN'T IT BE DONE BEFORE? I HAVE NO IDEA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE FROM THE AUDIENCE WISHING TO SPEAK? BECAUSE IT IS TUESDAY. HARRY IS ON THE PHONE, SO GIVE ME A SECOND.

HELLO? HELLO, HARRY. HOLD ON A SECOND, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE FREE TO GO. HARRY. OKAY. HARRY BOWES LAGER 1243 CANAL ROAD GRIGGSTOWN, NEW JERSEY. I'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT GRIGGSTOWN BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIVER.

I REALLY FEEL THAT IT SHOULD BE LIKE A FOUR LANE BRIDGE, BECAUSE I BET ONE DAY I HAPPEN TO SEE A TOUR BUS.

AND, YOU KNOW, A TOUR BUS IS ABOUT 60 FOOT LONG.

AND FOR A BUS THAT SIZE TO TURN ON THAT BRIDGE, IT HAS TO BE ENOUGH ROOM FOR LIKE, FOUR LANES.

PLUS, WE GOT CAR CARRIERS THAT TRAVEL OUR ROAD, CANAL ROAD.

WE ALSO HAVE 18 WHEELERS, SOMETIMES DUMP TRUCKS AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE

[01:05:03]

LOOKED AT AND THE RIGHT RESPECT OR ELSE CANAL ROAD SHOULD BE, I DON'T KNOW SHOULD BE I NOTICED TODAY THAT THE YELLOW LINE IS DISAPPEARED.

WE GOT SO MUCH HEAVY TRAFFIC AT THE YELLOW LINE HAS DISAPPEARED.

BUT I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT A VERY BIGGER BRIDGE AT GRIGGSTOWN.

OR ELSE RELOCATE THE BRIDGE SOMEPLACE ELSE AND MAKE IT FEASIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO GET AROUND ROCKY HILL AND KINGSTON. AND ALSO, I LIKE TO MENTION THAT YOU KNOW, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE GOVERNMENT SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY.

IT'S OUTRAGEOUS THAT YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET IS SO EXPENSIVE AND IT SEEMS LIKE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE CUTTING ALL OVER BECAUSE TO ME, THE COUNTRY IS TOTALLY BANKRUPT AND THE DEBT IS LIKE 37 TRILLION PLUS ANOTHER 12 TRILLION FOR ADJUSTMENT, ANOTHER FIVE OR 6 TRILLION ADDED THIS YEAR AND ANOTHER TRILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF INTEREST.

IT'S LIKE BEING IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE WITH THE INSANITY THAT'S GOING ON.

AND GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE CUT ALL OVER THE PLACE, CUT WAY BACK.

AND SOME COMMON SENSE SHOULD BE APPLIED TO WHATEVER WE'RE DOING.

AND I JUST LIKE TO SEE A LOT OF CHANGES BECAUSE THERE'S TREMENDOUS INFLATION GOING ON.

NOBODY'S TELLING ME, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO INFLATION.

MY GOD, EVERYTHING'S. AND YOU CANNOT CONTROL INFLATION.

WHEN YOU GOT A DEBT MONEY SYSTEM. AND IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY USING YOUR CREDIT CARD WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION, THEY KEEP BORROWING MORE MONEY THAN YOU COULD EVER PAY BACK AND JUST SPENDING MONEY AND PUTTING US IN DEBT UP TO OUR EYEBALLS, AND IT'S SORT OF INSANITY. SO WELL, ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SAY TODAY.

AND ANOTHER THING, AS A VETERAN, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS GUY.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY PICKED A GUY LIKE, MAN DONNY OVER IN NEW YORK.

I FOUGHT COMMUNISM, AND I REALLY CONSIDERED A HATE CRIME THAT THERE WOULD BE PUSH YOUR PARTY WOULD BE PROMOTING COMMUNISM AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THAT'S TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.

AND ANYWAY IT'S JUST DISGUSTING. WELL, ANYWAY, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

ALL RIGHT, HARRY, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MERRY CHRISTMAS. THAT IS IT.

HEARING NOTHING ELSE. IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC MOTION? SECOND. WE HAVE SOME GUESTS COMING IN FOR.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.