[00:00:01] NOW I KNOW WE HAVE A HOUSE FULL OF GUESTS, BUT WE INVITE YOU TO STAY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING. [Additional Item] WE WON'T KEEP YOU LONG, BUT YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY. I DON'T KNOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE COME AND THEN THEY LEAVE. AND I WAS LIKE, WAS IT SOMETHING WE SAID? WAS IT SOMETHING WE DID? CAN I DO THE FLAG WHILE WE WAIT OR THE FLAG? BECAUSE THAT WAS PART OF IT. OR WE JUST. OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS THE 36 STAR GRAND LUMINARY FLAG, CIRCA 1865. IT'S RED, WHITE AND BLUE WOOL BUNTING WITH APPLIQUÉD WHITE COTTON STARS. THE FLAG WAS OWNED BY HUNTINGTON WOLCOTT FREEMAN, 1835 TO 1906, WHO LIVED FIRST IN NEWARK AND THEN IN ROCKY HILL FROM THE 1860S UNTIL HIS DEATH. FREEMAN WAS A GREAT GRANDSON OF OLIVER WOLCOTT, 1726 TO 1797, A SIGNER OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT. THE GRAND LUMINARY, OR GREAT STAR FLAGS, IN WHICH SMALL STARS REPRESENTING THE THEN. EXCUSE ME. CURRENT NUMBER OF STATES WERE ARRANGED TO [INAUDIBLE] WERE ARRANGED TO COMPOSE A LARGER STAR WITHIN THE BLUE CANTON BECAME POPULAR SHORTLY AFTER THE WAR OF 1812, AND IT PEAKED IN POPULARITY IN THE 1840S. THE DESIGN CONTINUED IN USE, ESPECIALLY FOR CENTENNIALS AND IN WARTIME UNTIL THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY. 36 STAR FLAGS BEGAN TO BE USED DURING THE LAST 6 MONTHS OF THE CIVIL WAR. FOLLOWING THE ADMISSION OF NEVADA TO THE UNION IN OCTOBER OF 1864, AND THE 36 STAR VERSION WAS RATIFIED AS THE OFFICIAL U.S. FLAG ON JULY 4TH OF 1865. THE DESIGN WOULD PROBABLY. THE DESIGN WOULD BE REPLACED BY THE 37 STAR FLAG ON JULY 4TH OF 1867, FOLLOWING THE ADMISSION OF NEBRASKA TO THE UNION AND ROCKY HILLS MAYOR IS HERE. SO AS YOU'RE COMING UP MAYOR, THIS FLAG, ROCKY HILLS FLAG IS SAID TO HAVE FLOWN HERE WHEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS ASSASSINATED. IT REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE FREEMAN FAMILY, AS REFLECTED IN THE NAME INSCRIBED IN INK ON THE SLEEVE OF THE FLAG, UNTIL IT WAS DONATED BY A FREEMAN DESCENDANT TO THE VAN HARLINGEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY, WHICH IN 2012 DONATED TO ROCKY HILL. AND IN 2021, THE FLAG WAS CONSERVED AND REMOUNTED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE BOROUGH OF ROCKY HILL AND THE SOMERSET COUNTY CULTURAL AND HERITAGE COMMISSION. MAYOR. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND ON BEHALF OF ROCKY HILL BOROUGH, WE ARE PLEASED IN THIS PARTNERSHIP OF DISPLAYING THIS FLAG TO WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN SEE IT AND NOT TO BELITTLE ROCKY HILL. ROCKY HILL IS TINY. IT'S A 20TH SMALLEST TOWN IN THE STATE. OUR BOROUGH HALL IS OPEN ONLY 1 DAY A WEEK. THERE'S NOT MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS FLAG HANGING IN OUR BOROUGH HALL. WE WANTED TO HAVE THIS PRESENT WHERE MANY PEOPLE CAN SEE IT. THIS FLAG IS A HISTORICAL REMNANT OF THE CIVIL WAR, OF A TIME WHEN THIS COUNTRY WAS IN PERIL. AND I WANT TO MAKE A SPECIAL NOTE HERE THAT 161 YEARS AGO. EXACTLY TODAY. SO TODAY IS APRIL 14TH, 161 YEARS AGO, ON APRIL 14TH, PRESIDENT LINCOLN WAS AT THE FORD'S THEATER. AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED LATER ON IN THIS EVENING? DEVASTATING. BUT THIS FLAG FLEW IN THIS COUNTY ON THAT DATE. AND I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO TO BRING BRING UP PRESIDENT LINCOLN. PRESIDENT LINCOLN, 1 OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT COMMENTS THAT HE MADE. AND I REALLY LOVE THIS STATEMENT. AND I WANT TO MENTION THAT WHILE WE'RE GIVING THIS FLAG, LOANING THIS FLAG TO THE COUNTY. PRESIDENT LINCOLN, IN HIS 2ND INAUGURAL ADDRESS, HE DELIVERED A SPEECH. [00:05:06] THE COUNTRY HAD BEEN DIVIDED. AND THE PHRASE THAT I THINK BEARS A REFLECTION EVEN TODAY, ESPECIALLY TODAY. HE WAS TRYING TO PROMOTE RECONCILIATION AND PEACE TOWARDS THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR. CALLING FOR THE NATION TO BIND UP HIS WOUNDS. AND HE SAID, AND I QUOTE WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE AND CHARITY FOR ALL. IF WE COULD ONLY LIVE BY THAT TODAY. SO WITH THAT SAID, WE ARE PLEASED TO LOAN THE FLAG TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR DISPLAY. AND I'M HAPPY TO GO BACK AND SAY THAT OUR FLAG IS NOW BEING LOOKED BY MANY. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. LOOK AT ME, PLEASE. YOU'RE ALLOWED TO GET CLOSE TO THOSE. MUCH THANKS TO YOU, MELONIE, FOR SPEARHEADING THIS.OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYONE AGAIN. AND YES, I WOULD LIKE TO STAY, BUT A MAYOR HAS LOTS OF THINGS TO DO, SO THANK YOU. PLEASE ENJOY THE FLAG. THANKS AGAIN. MAYOR. SO WE HAVE 2 PROCLAMATIONS, 1 FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK. [PROCLAMATIONS] SO COME FORTH TO RECEIVE. AS WE HONOR NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY AND TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK 2026. WHEREAS THE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK HAS BEEN CELEBRATED DURING THE SECOND WEEK OF APRIL SINCE 1981, MAKING THIS THE 45TH YEAR OF THIS IMPORTANT RECOGNITION. AND WHEREAS EMERGENCIES REQUIRING QUICK AND KNOWLEDGEABLE RESPONSES FROM POLICE, FIRE, EMERGENCY, MEDICAL AND OTHER 1ST RESPONDERS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. AND WHEREAS PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS ARE THE 1ST AND MOST CRITICAL CONTACT RESIDENTS HAVE AS EMERGENCIES UNFOLD 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK. AND WHEREAS THEY ARE VITAL, LINK TO OUR POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL MONITORING AND SUPPORTING THEIR ACTIVITIES BY RADIO AND PROVIDING LIFE SAVING INFORMATION TO ASSIST IN RESPONSE, SOMERSET COUNTY'S 911 COMMUNICATIONS CENTER STAFF ARE AMONG THE MOST PROFESSIONAL, DEDICATED AND COMMITTED PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS AND NOW, THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DO HEREBY HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE COMMITMENT, SACRIFICE, DEDICATION AND HARD WORK OF SOMERSET COUNTY 911 COMMUNICATIONS CENTER TEAM AND ENCOURAGE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL COUNTY RESIDENTS TO HELP US THANK AND APPLAUD THESE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS YOU DESERVE. [APPLAUSE] 911 AND AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS, I THINK ARE THE HIGHEST STRESSFUL JOBS, BUT THE MOST REWARDING AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO. SO HERE'S TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. AND IF YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS. I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY AND THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THIS RECOGNITION ON BEHALF OF OUR ENTIRE STAFF. WE COME IN DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S VERY REWARDING TO KNOW THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THE WHOLE COUNTY. SO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. [00:10:18] ALRIGHT. [APPLAUSE] NOW WE HAVE SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH. SAFE AND SOUND SOMERSET. JUST LIKE THE OTHER ONE. I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT IN ITS ENTIRETY, BUT SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH 2026. WHEREAS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH WAS OFFICIALLY ESTABLISHED IN APRIL 2001 BY THE NATIONAL SEXUAL VIOLENCE RESOURCE CENTER, AND WHEREAS THIS MONTH RECOGNIZES THAT SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS A WIDESPREAD IS WIDESPREAD AMONG ALL GENDERS, SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, ABILITIES, CULTURES, AND BACKGROUNDS IMPACTING EVERY COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR'S THEME IS 25 YEARS STRONG, LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD THIS APRIL, WE REFLECT ON 25 YEARS OF ACTION AND PROGRESS TOWARD ENDING SEXUAL ASSAULT, ABUSE, AND HARASSMENT. THE 2026 THEME CELEBRATES THE RESILIENCE OF SURVIVORS AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE WORKED FOR CHANGE, AND SINCE 1978, OUR OWN SAFE AND SOUND SOMERSET HAS BEEN A VITAL RESOURCE ANSWERING THE CALLS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS IN SOMERSET COUNTY, HELPING THEM TO BREAK FREE FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ABUSE, PROVIDING FREE CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, ADULTS AND FAMILIES WHO EXPERIENCE OR WITNESS DATING, DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZE APRIL 2026 AS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEARN HOW TO BE MEANINGFUL. HOW TO TAKE MEANINGFUL STEPS TOWARDS PREVENTION, SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU, AND CREATE SPACES WHERE EVERYONE FEELS SAFE, VALUED, AND RESPECTED. SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL DO. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYONE. THIS IS FOR ALL THE SURVIVORS, ALL THE VOLUNTEERS, ALL THE STAFF THAT PUT THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS FOR THIS TO CONTINUE. THANK YOU EVERYONE. [APPLAUSE] I'M GOING TO TAKE A PICTURE. NOW WE'RE ON TO THE [PRESENTATION] DO IT THIS WAY. ALL RIGHT. HI, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME. MY NAME IS CAITLIN BUNDY. I'M MANAGER OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY CULTURAL AND HERITAGE COMMISSION. JOINING ME TODAY IS OUR PROGRAM COORDINATOR, KATIE HIMOX AND OUR ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR, ROBERT MEYER. THE SOMERSET COUNTY CULTURAL AND HERITAGE COMMISSION IS AWARDED FUNDING FROM THE NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO SUPPORT LOCAL HISTORY ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER NONPROFITS AND MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN SOMERSET COUNTY THAT PROVIDE HISTORY, PROGRAMING AND SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY. TONIGHT, WE PRESENT OUR 2026 HISTORY A COUNTY HISTORY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. GRANT RECIPIENTS ALWAYS HAVE TO MAKE IT A TONGUE TWISTER. SO 1ST UP, PLEASE WELCOME THE HERITAGE TRAIL ASSOCIATION, BASED IN BRIDGEWATER, RECEIVING $11,500 IN GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. [APPLAUSE] COME ON DOWN. GO GO FORTH. OKAY. SORRY. I'M GETTING I'M GETTING YELLED AT OH. I'M BREAKING THINGS. TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU. WE WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND TO THE STAFF AND EVERYBODY THAT WORKS WITH US, [00:15:02] WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT, AND ALL OF OUR PARTNER HOUSES AND OTHER HISTORIC GROUPS THAT REALLY ADD TO THE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY. MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED HERE IN 2010 FROM LOS ANGELES, AND WE ARE AT HOME HERE. WE'VE JUMPED RIGHT INTO THE FABRIC OF SOMERSET COUNTY. WE LOVE IT. THE VAN HORN HOUSE IS OUR HOME AND WE LOVE THAT TOO. AND WE WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I DID WANT TO POINT OUT SOMETHING THAT 2 OF OUR MEMBERS RAISE YOUR HANDS, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. WE'RE FROM THE FORMER DOCENTS FROM THE DOCENT CLASS.[APPLAUSE] THEY ARE NOW HERITAGE TRAIL BOARD MEMBERS. AND WE LOVE THE PROGRAM. WE WANT IT TO CONTINUE, PLEASE D . AND THEN, MIKE, DO YOU WANT TO TELL THEM YOUR LATEST GIG THROUGH US IN OUR PARTNERSHIP? ALL RIGHT. FINE. NOW YOU CAN HOLD THIS THE SOMERSET PATRIOTS, WHO WE WORK WITH THEM A LOT. YOU KNOW, WE DO A LOT OF WORK AT THE FIELD AND EVERYTHING, AND THEY'RE BRINGING BACK GENERAL ADMISSION. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY KNEW THAT I AM YOUR NEW GENERAL ADMISSION.[APPLAUSE]. AND I COULD NEVER HAVE DONE THAT WITHOUT ANYTHING. IF I WASN'T PART OF THE HOUSE AND ALL THIS STUFF. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU AGAIN. SO YEAH, THE RETURN OF GENERAL ADMISSION IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. JAMIE IS ALSO ONE OF OUR DOCENTS NEW BOARD MEMBER AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAM COMING BACK. THANK YOU FOR ANNOUNCING THAT. AND THE 250TH IS UNDERWAY. AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST THIS YEAR. IT GOES TO 2033. HELLO. SO IT'S NOT OVER. IT'S JUST THE BIG START OF EVERYTHING. SO WE WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN. I WANTED TO THANK ERIC, ESPECIALLY IN MARGE SULLIVAN, WHO HAD TO POP OUT, AND BRIAN AND MAUREEN COADY, BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR GRANT PEOPLE AND WITHOUT THEM WE WOULD BE PROBABLY OKAY, BUT NOT HAVING AS MUCH FUN. LET'S JUST SAY IT THAT WAY. SITTING AT HOME, NOT HAVING SUCH FUN. ANYWAY, THANK YOU AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM BECAUSE WE'RE ALL WINNERS TOGETHER. WE'RE GOING TO BUILD UP THE HISTORY, FACTION OF THIS COUNTY WITH YOUR SUPPORT. AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] NEXT, RECEIVING $10,890 IN GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT IS THE FRIENDS OF THE ABRAHAM STAATS HOUSE, BASED IN SOUTH BOUND BROOK. MY NAME IS RICH [LAUGHTER] SO THAT IS IT FOR THE ONLINE. HAVE TO RECORD IT. YEAH. OKAY. HI, MY NAME IS RICH ZORATTI AND LIKE A FELLOW COUPLE OF MY DOCENTS HERE, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OVER A YEAR AGO THAT ABOUT 30 OF US RECEIVED OUR CERTIFICATES AS DOCENTS. I'M PROBABLY THE LEAST QUALIFIED TO TALK ABOUT THE STAATS HOUSE, BUT SOMETHING THAT DREW US AND MY FELLOW DOCENTS TO IT WAS THE OPENNESS AND THE WILLINGNESS OF FOLKS LIKE KATHY AND DENNIS TO SUPPORT US. BUT I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD, THE CULTURAL AND HERITAGE COMMISSION FOR YOUR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT GRANT. BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN THE BATTLE OF BOUND BROOK, BY THE WAY, IT ACTUALLY OCCURRED YESTERDAY, 249 YEARS AGO. BUT YOU SAW PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER FROM THE COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY FROM SOMERSET COUNTY, BUT FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE AS WELL. AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY FOREIGN VISITORS WE'VE HAD TO THAT SITE AS WELL. ANCESTORS OF THE STAATS HOUSE. BUT IT IS THROUGH YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND THE WILLINGNESS OF THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND SEE US. WE'VE HAD SOME WONDERFUL PROGRAMS ALREADY. BARON VON STEUBEN HAS MADE A COUPLE OF APPEARANCES. NO, HE HASN'T COME BACK FROM THE DEAD. GENERAL WASHINGTON JOE BECKTON, WHO HAS GAVE A WONDERFUL PORTRAYAL OF TORI JACK, ONE OF THE ENSLAVED PERSONS DURING THAT TIME. [00:20:05] MUSIC EVENTS, CULTURAL EVENTS, LADIES FROM THE DAR. BUT IT'S THROUGH ALL THESE EFFORTS AND YOUR SUPPORT THAT HAS MADE THIS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. NEXT, PLEASE WELCOME THE SOMERSET COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, BASED IN BRIDGEWATER, RECEIVING $6,300 IN GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.[APPLAUSE] NOPE. WE APPRECIATE IT. CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE HOW FARM. AND ALSO AS SOON AS WE GET APPROVAL FROM A CERTAIN STATE AGENCY WILL BE PROCEEDING WITH THE FLOOD MITIGATION ON THE VAN VECHTEN HOUSE. SO EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS. AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO PRESERVE WHO SUPPLY THE FUNDS TO PRESERVE OUR HISTORY. A LOT OF THESE HOMES IN OTHER COUNTIES WOULD HAVE GONE MISSING YEARS AGO, BUT YOU PEOPLE HAD THE FORESIGHT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND PRESERVE SOMETHING THAT'S OF VALUE. AND IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. SMILE FOR THE CAMERA. PERFECT. THANK YOU. RECEIVING $3,500 IN GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT IS THE NORTH PLAINFIELD EXEMPT FIREMEN'S MUSEUM. [APPLAUSE] ON BEHALF OF THE EXEMPT FIREMEN'S MUSEUM, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE THE FUNDING. WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT FUNDING OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS. IT'S ABSOLUTELY A PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF THE HISTORICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SOMERSET COUNTY. AS A FIRE MUSEUM AND THE STEEP HISTORY OF FIREFIGHTING AND EMERGENCY SERVICES IN THE COUNTY. AND THE FUTURE OF FIREFIGHTING AND EMERGENCY SERVICES IN SOMERSET COUNTY. YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING UNLESS YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'VE BEEN. AND PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORY OF OUR APPARATUS, OUR SERVICE, OUR MEMBERS IS IMPERATIVE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE FUNDING AND THE SUPPORT. COMMISSIONERS. NICE TO SEE THE THE HAIR COMING IN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, SAINT BALDRICK'S, SHAVING OF THE HEAD EVERY YEAR HAPPENS AT THE NORTH PLAINFIELD FIREHOUSE. SO THANK YOU. NEXT, PLEASE WELCOME THE UKRAINIAN HISTORY AND EDUCATION CENTER BASED IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, RECEIVING $5,150 IN SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT. [APPLAUSE] YES. MICHAEL [INAUDIBLE] HERE WITH OUR DIRECTOR, NATALIA HONCHARENKO. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUED CONTINUED SUPPORT OF OUR WORK OF THE. I'VE BEEN PASSING OUT THE FLIERS ABOUT OUR DELIVERABLES FROM THE LAST 2 CHIP GRANTS ON THE HISTORY OF UKRAINIANS IN NEW JERSEY THAT'S AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE. WE'RE GOING TO BE, IN A WAY, CONTINUING THAT WITH THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS GOING TO BE TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SAINT ANDREW'S CEMETERY. SO SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW ABOUT THE UKRAINIAN, THE SAINT ANDREW MEMORIAL CHURCH, WHICH IS LOCATED RIGHT. KIND OF ON THE BOUNDARY OF FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP AND SOUTH BOUND BROOK IS MANY PEOPLE PASS BY IT. IT'S THAT BIG, TALL CHURCH THAT LOOKS LIKE A ROCKET. WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT BEHIND THAT CHURCH IS THE LARGEST PREDOMINANTLY UKRAINIAN CEMETERY OUTSIDE OF UKRAINE. [00:25:07] MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT. IT'S VERY WELL KNOWN WITHIN THE UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY. AND PEOPLE HAVE VISITED FROM VERY FAR AWAY BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME VERY NOTABLE NOTABLE PEOPLE BURIED THERE AND ORDINARY PEOPLE. AND OUR PROJECT IS GOING TO BE TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SOME OF THE MORE INTERESTING BURIALS THERE. COMPLETE WITH LITTLE QR CODES. NEXT ON GRAVE MARKERS THAT YOU CAN SCAN TO GET MORE INFORMATION. SELF-GUIDED TOURS AND OTHER THINGS. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BOOST PEOPLE COMING, ESPECIALLY ON, ON WEEKEND JOURNEY SINCE WE'RE KIND OF AN UNUSUAL SITE. WE'RE NOT A, WE'RE NOT A HISTORICAL HOME. WE'RE NOT. AND PEOPLE SOMETIMES THINK, OH, CEMETERY. WHY, WHY, WHY WOULD I WANT TO VISIT A CEMETERY? BUT YOU REALLY SHOULD. IT'S REALLY, REALLY SPECTACULAR. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE FOR THE SUPPORT. AND WE WILL CONTINUE OUR CONTINUE OUR WORK AS BEST AS WE CAN. THANK YOU.[APPLAUSE] RECEIVING $1,923 IN SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT IS THE FRIENDS OF THE KENNEDY MARTIN FARMSTEAD, BASED IN BERNARDS TOWNSHIP. [APPLAUSE] SO SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND AND FROM THE STAFF, THEY'RE A PLEASURE TO TO WORK WITH. AND WE ARE, WE OPERATE AS FARMSTEAD ARTS. THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED TO OFFER A HISTORY LECTURE SERIES FOCUSED ON THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. SO WE INVITE YOU ALL TO COME OUT, LEARN A LITTLE HISTORY, AND THIS IS OUR SPECIAL PROJECTS USE FOR THE MONEY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. NEXT, PLEASE WELCOME MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP RECEIVING $14,787 IN SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT.[APPLAUSE] ON BEHALF OF MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, MY COLLEAGUES ON THE TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, OUR TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATOR AND OUR LANDMARKS COMMISSION. WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS GENEROUS GRANT. WE ARE GOING TO BE USING THIS IN MONTGOMERY TO BRING HISTORY TO LIFE. IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR HARLINGEN FOUNDATION AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF HISTORY IN MONTGOMERY, AND WE'RE GOING TO CREATE SOME SIGNAGE TO BRING THAT ATTENTION TO THAT SO THAT EVERYONE CAN KNOW JUST HOW HISTORY IS CONTINUING TO LIVE IN MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP. AND THIS IS GOING TO HELP QUITE A BIT. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] RECEIVING $17,500 IN SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT IS BERNARDS TOWNSHIP. [APPLAUSE] I HAVE TO SPEAK, EVERYBODY ELSE DID. I'M JENNIFER GARNER, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF BERNARDS TOWNSHIP PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, AND I'M HERE WITH DAVID BECKER, THE CHAIR OF OUR 250TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE. AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE A LITTLE PIECE OF LOCAL HISTORY IN BERNARDS TOWNSHIP WITH EVERYONE IN DECEMBER, WITH OUR SERIES TITLED THE CAPTURE OF GENERAL CHARLES LEE AND WIDOW WHITE'S TAVERN AND ITS LOCAL IMPACT. SO VISIT BERNARD.ORG FOR MORE INFORMATION. AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT. [00:30:02] AND DID ANYONE FROM THE BOROUGH OF BOUND BROOK SNEAK IN? SEE, I ALWAYS COME FOR I ALWAYS KNOW THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT COMING AND THEY COME. ALL RIGHT. SO RECEIVING $900 IN SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT IS THE BOROUGH OF BOUND BROOK. ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF THE BOROUGH AND BOUND BROOK, AS WELL AS THE. THE HUNDREDS OF VISITORS THAT ACTUALLY CAME THIS WEEKEND FOR THE. THE BATTLE OF BOUND BROOK. THIS WILL CERTAINLY COME IN HANDY, AS I'M TOLD BY OUR STAFF AND THE PEOPLE OF BOUND BROOK. WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN PREPARATION FOR NEXT YEAR'S 250TH, SO THIS WILL COME IN VERY HANDY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYONE. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SOMERSET COUNTY'S 2026 COUNTY HISTORY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM GRANTEES. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU EVERYONE. YES. IF YOU'RE LEAVING, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN. [LAUGHTER] ALL RIGHT, GUYS, ENJOY YOUR EVENING. WAS IT SOMETHING WE SAID? SO WE HAVE APPOINTMENTS TO THE SOLID WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. [APPOINTMENTS] RESOLUTION 26-763. CARL HAUCK FROM FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. MAUREEN STURGEON FROM FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. AND KELLY CUPIT FROM GREEN BROOK TOWNSHIP. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ABOVE RESOLUTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR OUR MARCH 24TH MEETING? [APPROVAL OF MINUTES] SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. NOW WE HAVE THE 2026 SOMERSET COUNTY BUDGET PRESENTATION. [2026 SOMERSET COUNTY BUDGET] GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. I'M COLLEEN MAHER. I AM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY OUR CFO, YVONNE CHILDRESS. AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU FOR SEVERAL MORE. SO FOR SEVERAL MORE YEARS. TONIGHT WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE ADOPTION OF THE 2026 OPERATING BUDGET, AND ALSO THE INTRODUCTION OF OUR 2026 CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN. SO THE BUDGET THAT IS PRESENTED TO YOU TONIGHT COMES DURING A PERIOD OF GREAT, SIGNIFICANT FISCAL PRESSURE. WE KNOW THAT FEDERAL FUNDING THAT SUPPORTS ESSENTIAL SERVICES HAS BEEN CUT OVER THE LAST YEAR. WE SAW THAT IN THE SNAP FUNDING ALONE THAT WE SEE THAT NEXT YEAR WE WILL START WITH AN ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION OF SNAP REDUCTION THAT'S ANTICIPATED IN 2027. AND WE KNOW THAT FURTHER FEDERAL REDUCTIONS REMAIN POSSIBLE. SO THESE CUTS CREATE REAL AND IMMEDIATE CHALLENGES, NOT JUST FOR SOMERSET COUNTY, BUT FOR ALL COUNTY GOVERNMENTS. AND AT THE SAME TIME, SOMERSET COUNTY ALSO DURING THIS YEAR MUST ACCOUNT FOR 23% COMBINED INCREASE IN HEALTH AND PRESCRIPTION BENEFIT COSTS, WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIAL RISE IN A SUBSTANTIAL RISE IN FIXED EXPENSES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS OUR OPERATING BUDGET. SO WE ARE NOT IMMUNE FROM THE FINANCIAL PRESSURES AFFECTING GOVERNMENTS NATIONWIDE. RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS, INFLATION, THE FEDERAL FUNDING REDUCTIONS ALL REQUIRE DISCIPLINED AND DELIBERATE ACTION AT OUR LEVEL. SO WE ARE HERE TONIGHT. WE WILL GO THROUGH A PRESENTATION. WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS OUR ESCALATING FIXED COSTS, BUT WE KNOW THAT WE MUST MAINTAIN STABLE COUNTY OPERATIONS AND PROTECT ALL OF OUR ESSENTIAL SERVICES. SO IT'S ALWAYS WORTH REPEATING WHAT OUR MISSION IS BECAUSE THAT IS OUR NORTH STAR, [00:35:01] WHICH IS THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN PUBLIC SERVICE, PROMOTING THE WELL-BEING OF ALL OUR RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT AND RESPONSIVE LEADERSHIP. SO THE OPERATING BUDGET, AS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN 26, IT'S REALLY WORTH REMEMBERING WHAT WE DO HERE. AND NO BETTER. A TIME DURING THIS PROCESS IS TO SHOW WHERE OUR TAX DOLLARS GO. SO KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR LAST YEAR THAT LAID THE FOUNDATION IS AGAIN, IN OUR ENGINEERING AND PLANNING. WE COMPLETED STRUCTURAL REPAIRS TO 5 BRIDGES. WE'VE PAVED OR SLURRY SEALED OVER 20 MILES OF ROADWAY. WE COMPLETED AND WERE JUST ABOUT TO CUT THE RIBBON ON THE HILLSBORO SENIOR WELLNESS CENTER THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT AT THE 5:00 HOUR. OPEN SPACE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THIS COUNTY AND THESE COMMISSIONERS HERE. SO TO DATE, WE HAVE OVER 15,000 ACRES PRESERVED FOR RECREATIONAL AND CONSERVATION PURPOSES AND OVER 10,000 ACRES OF FARMLAND PRESERVED COUNTY WIDE. THE PARK'S SUPPORT, OUR OPERATING BUDGET AND OUR CAPITAL REALLY CONTAINS SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT TO THE RECREATION COMMISSION. AND SO HERE IS VARIOUS THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER BOARD LAST YEAR, FROM NEW TRAILS TO THE NEW RIDING LESSONS TO THE CANOE AND KAYAK RAMP AT COLONIAL PARK, THE TENNIS COURTS, THE WARREN BROOK POOL, THE CONCERT BAND SHELL AND UPGRADES THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM AT WARREN BROOK GOLF COURSE. AND AGAIN, WE TALK ABOUT THE 2 50TH YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN IN PLANNING FOR THE LAST REALLY 5 YEARS. BUT REALLY THE WORK THAT WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS IN THIS BUILDING COMING OUT OF OUR PLANNING, OUR CULTURAL AND HERITAGE AND OUR GIS REALLY, I THINK WE ARE LEADERS IN THE COUNTY HERE. ABOUT HOW WE ARE REALLY HARNESSING OUR POINT IN HISTORY. AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AS YOU KNOW, IS A RELATIVELY YOUNG OFFICE HERE, PROBABLY ABOUT 4 YEARS OLD, BUT WE LAUNCHED THE CITY DATA TOOL. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHARE WITH OUR MUNICIPAL PARTNERS. AND WE CELEBRATED THE LAUNCH OF NEW JERSEY BIO FUTURES, WHICH IS THE CLEAN ROOM TRAINING PROGRAM THAT'S AT RVC AND REALLY LED WITH SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT BY YOURSELVES AND ALSO J&J. REALLY AN OUTGROWTH OF WHAT HAPPENS OVER AT RVC IS ALSO THE GREATER RARITAN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD. THESE ARE REALLY IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO REALLY HELP IN 1 YEAR, REALLY THOSE WHO NEED HELP. SO WE HAVE OVER 1500 REGISTRANTS WHO ARE SCALED UP. WE HAVE OVER 700 JOB FAIR PARTICIPANTS AND 1300 JOB TRAINING WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS OVER THE LAST YEAR, AND WE KNOW THAT TOURISM IS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR US AS WELL. YOU KNOW, SO THE SUPPORT IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET TO THE SOMERSET COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP REALLY ALLOWS THEM TO DO SUCH CREATIVE THINGS AS THE SEATED IN SOMERSET, WHICH REALLY FOCUSES ON OUR AGRITOURISM. ALSO OUR 911, YOU KNOW, FITTING THAT THEY WERE HERE TODAY. SO THEY ACHIEVED NEW JERSEY'S 1ST NJ 9111 READINESS. AND THAT THE LAST YEAR ALONE THEY FIELDED OVER 90,000 EMERGENCY CALLS IN OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT. IF YOU REMEMBER, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE REALIZED THAT OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN WERE GOING TO SCHOOL AND THEY WERE NOT BEING VACCINATED, RIGHT. BECAUSE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOES THE SPOT GOING IN AND SPOT TESTING WHETHER OR NOT ALL THE FILES ARE UP TO DATE. AND WE FOUND THAT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE BECAME A PROBLEM. AND SO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TAKING THE LEAD, WE CREATED ACCESS TO VACCINES. AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND THAT THIS LAST YEAR. AND SO THAT REALLY HELPS OUR UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN TO REALLY GO TO SCHOOL AND KEEP EVERYBODY HEALTHY. AND ALSO, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTED THE HHS GOVTECH CLOUD BASED SYSTEM. AND WE KNOW THAT OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OVER AT THE TRAINING ACADEMY DOES WONDERFUL THINGS. BUT WHEN YOU SEE SORT OF THE NUMBERS, YOU REALIZE HOW BUSY THEY ARE, RIGHT? SO OVER 300 INCIDENTS DO THEY RESPOND TO AROUND THE COUNTY AND THAT THEY TRAINED MORE THAN 01,500 1ST RESPONDERS AND 800 COUNTY EMPLOYEES. SO THEY'RE REALLY DOING GREAT WORK FOR US. VETERAN SERVICES, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE TOO. WE REALLY ARE THE LEADER HERE IN NEW JERSEY OF THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THAT SMALL BUT MIGHTY OFFICE ACTUALLY HELPS TO RECAPTURE. SO LAST YEAR WE HELPED RECEIVE $6.6 MILLION IN DISABILITY CLAIMS, WHICH IS UP FROM 5.8 MILLION IN 2024. [00:40:08] I WILL TELL YOU, AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, I GET CALLS FROM OTHER COUNTIES ASKING US HOW DO WE DO WHAT WE DO, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY REALIZE HOW SMALL OUR OFFICE IS. AND WE TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION. WE BEGAN THE SHUTTLE SERVICE LAST YEAR, AND JUST IN THOSE MONTH AND A HALF WE HAD OVER 300. AND SO WE SERVED. WE HEARD IN THE FIRST QUARTER, I BELIEVE IT WAS 600, YOU KNOW. SO WE ARE ON PACE FOR THIS IS FOR THOSE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND, THIS IS REALLY THE LAST MILE FOR WHEN THE VETERANS GO UP AND THEY GET TO THE TRAIN STATION AT LYONS. THEY WERE WALKING, THEY WERE WALKING FROM THE TRAIN STATION, YOU KNOW. SO THIS IS ACTUALLY THROUGH A GRANT AND THROUGH THE WORK THAT WE DO, AN ACTUAL SHUTTLE THAT LOOPS ALL DAY UP TO THE VA TO THE TRAIN STATION, AND WE HAVE OVER 130,000 PARATRANSIT PASSENGERS SERVED IN 1 YEAR ALONE. AND WE ARE EXPANDING OUR SHARED SERVICE AGREEMENTS TO PROVIDE SENIOR TRANSPORTATION INTO MORE OF OUR LOCAL PARTNERS. RECYCLING, WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL CURBSIDE RECYCLING TRUCKS. AND IT'S A PICTURE RIGHT THERE WITH COMMISSIONER MARANO. AND WHAT WE DO TO REALLY HAVE CLEAN COMMUNITIES IS PRETTY STAGGERING, RIGHT? SO RIGHT THERE IS JUST REALLY THE TONNAGE AND THE POUNDS OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP OUT OF LANDFILLS TO RECYCLE THE HAZARDOUS WASTE, THE SHREDDED MATERIAL, ALL OF THESE ARE REALLY SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY RELATED PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO REALLY HELPS TO KEEP OUR MOTHER EARTH PLANET HEALTHY HERE. SO OUR OPIOID SETTLEMENT DOLLARS WE'RE REALLY DOING WONDERFUL THINGS, RIGHT? AND THAT IS AN ALLOCATION OF FUNDS THAT WE WILL GET OVER THE NEXT, LIKE, SAY, 20 YEARS OR SO. AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO, AS YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST YEAR, COME UP WITH GRANTS TO RECIPIENTS SELECTED THROUGH THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS GRANT PROGRAM. AND THAT'S REALLY PUTTING MONEY INTO THE HANDS OF A VARIETY OF LOCAL, ON THE GROUND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE REALLY DOING THE WORK TO REALLY UNDERSTAND AND EDUCATE AND TO REALLY START TO START CURBING THE DEATHS OF OPIOID OVERDOSES. THE RICHARD HALL COMMUNITY WELLNESS CENTER, WE KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS UNIQUE TO SOMERSET COUNTY, PROVIDING A STANDALONE MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY CENTER. AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THE NUMBERS REALLY ARE WONDERFUL. OVER 26,000 CALLS RECEIVED INTO THEIR ACCESS CENTER, TO 2500 UNIQUE CLIENTS SEEN AT THE CENTER AND 13 OVER 13,000 INDIVIDUAL GROUPS. INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS AND FAMILY COUNSELING SESSIONS. SO THEY ACTUALLY DO EVERYTHING OVER THERE FOR EVERYBODY. AND REALLY THEIR ABILITY TO PAY IS 2NDARY, WHICH IS AGAIN, VERY UNIQUE. THAT'S ANOTHER SERVICE AS AN ADMINISTRATOR, I GET A CALL, GET CALLS ABOUT, ESPECIALLY AS WE KNOW, THE SPIKE IN MENTAL HEALTH IS REALLY OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS IS BECOMING MORE SIGNIFICANT. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS BOARD IS LEANING IN AND NOT AWAY FROM THAT TOPIC. AND THEN WE LAUNCHED THE MOBILE HARM REDUCTION HEAL VAN, WHICH ACTUALLY WAS MONEY THAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM FROM THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT DOLLARS. UNDER HUMAN SERVICES WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH. SO THIS IS ROUND 1. WE ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT TO KICK OFF THE 2ND ROUND IN THIS MONTH. BUT AS YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR OF GOING TO OUR RESIDENTS, MEETING THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT AGAIN IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD ALL REALLY BE VERY PROUD OF. THESE NUMBERS ARE AMAZING OF HOW MANY TOUCHES THAT THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO DO, AND WHETHER WE TALKED TO THEM OR WE LEFT INFORMATION BEHIND. WE COULD TRACK THAT BECAUSE WE COULD SEE THE ACTIVITIES COMING INTO THE QR CODES, WE KNEW THE CONVERSATIONS AT THE DOOR. AND OUR LOCAL PARTNERS, OUR MAYORS IN THESE TOWNS ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT WORK BECAUSE WE SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THEM UNDER AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES. AGAIN, THE NUMBERS ARE PRETTY IMPRESSIVE FOR THOSE WHO REALLY NEED HELP, RIGHT? OVER 74,000 HOME DELIVERED MEALS WERE SERVED, OVER 84,000 CONGREGATE MEALS WERE SERVED, 7875 SENIORS VISITS. OUR 6 WELLNESS CENTERS AVERAGE AND 300 SENIORS ATTENDED ON THE DAILY AVERAGE. EXCUSE ME. AND OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE FABRIC OF OUR COUNTY SERVICES HERE. SO OUR CLERK, STEVE PETERS, FOCUSED ON VISITING SENIOR LIVING AND VETERANS FACILITIES AND STARTED A PROPERTY FRAUD PROGRAM, [00:45:04] WHICH IN TURN HELPED SENIORS SPOT SCAMS AND KEEPS THEIR PROPERTY SAFE FROM BAD ACTORS SURROGATE HOSTS. ESTATE PLANNING PRESENTATIONS THROUGHOUT SOMERSET COUNTY. SHE WAS OUT AND ABOUT. SHERIFF RUSSO'S OFFICE COMPLETED THEIR LEAP ACCREDITATION, WHICH THE SHERIFF WAS HERE LATE LAST YEAR. YOU KNOW, GETTING THE RECOGNITION THAT THEY DESERVE. AND OUR PROSECUTOR, JOHN MCDONNELL'S OFFICE IS PART OF ARRIVED TOGETHER, WHICH IS A STATEWIDE MODEL TO REALLY DE-ESCALATE MENTAL HEALTH SITUATIONS IN REAL TIME. AND BEFORE WE GET INTO THE NUMBERS, RIGHT. I JUST THOUGHT THIS YEAR, SPECIFICALLY WITH EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN THE CHALLENGES, WHETHER IT'S WHAT WE ARE FACING HERE, DELIVERING SERVICES OR REALLY WHEN OUR WHEN OUR EMPLOYEES LEAVE TO GO HOME, RIGHT? THE THINGS THAT THEY, YOU KNOW. SO OUR SECRET WEAPON IS OUR STAFF. YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DO. AND SO WE HAVE A COUPLE PICTURES HERE IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. AND YOU CAN SEE AGAIN THAT THERE'S A LOT OF SMILES BECAUSE PEOPLE REALLY DO GOOD WORK HERE AND THEY TOUCH PEOPLE. AND WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION OF PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE SERVICES TO PEOPLE. AND SO IT REALLY IS MY PLEASURE TO WORK WITH SO MANY OF THEM. AND LASTLY. AGAIN, YOU KNOW, JUST A SNIPPET OF PICTURES WHEN WE LOOK BACK, I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY NICE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE MONEY THAT FLOWS THROUGH OUR OPERATING BUDGET. TOUCHES SO MANY LIVES, YOU KNOW. AND EMPLOYS SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE IN AND AROUND THE COUNTY. SO WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO 2026 OPERATING BUDGET. BASICALLY WE START EVERY YEAR OFF WITH THESE GUIDING PRINCIPLES, MAINTAINING OUR AAA BOND RATING, FUNDING ALL EXISTING SERVICES. SO I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE ARE NOT REDUCING ANY SERVICES. IF ANYTHING, AGAIN, WE WILL KEEP AND EXPAND MAINTAINING A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, ALSO KNOWN AS SURPLUS, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEPING THAT COVETED TRIPLE A BOND RATING AND FUNDING ALL OF OUR STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER. THEY ARE BILLS THAT COME TO US. AND ULTIMATELY MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE A WELL THOUGHT OUT BUDGET FUNDED BY A SENSIBLE TAX RATE, WHICH AGAIN, THE TAX RATE IS REDUCED THIS YEAR FOR THE 4TH YEAR IN A ROW, WITH NO SURPRISES FOR THE TAXPAYER. SO I'LL ASK YVONNE TO WALK US THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES. GOOD EVENING. SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE 1ST OF THE REVENUE COMPARISONS AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS TOTAL REVENUES, THE WELL THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE IS 5.3%. AND THAT'S ACTUALLY THE OVERALL BUDGET INCREASE. FOR SECTION A REVENUE, LOCAL REVENUES THAT INCLUDES THE COUNTY CLERK, THE SURROGATE, THE SHERIFF THE RICHARD HALL MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY CENTER. AND I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEIR REVENUES HAVE INCREASED. SO THEY'RE UP OVER 2025, $1.5 BILLION. AND ALSO INCLUDED IN THEIR REVENUES IS SECTION E, WHICH IS OTHER SPECIAL ITEMS. AND THAT'S UP 1.3. AND THE INCREASE IN FEES. SO BETWEEN SECTION A, SECTION AND SECTION E THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS ARE DOING REALLY WELL AS FAR AS GENERATING REVENUES. YOU'LL SEE THAT IN OUR SPECIAL REVENUE, WHICH IS OUR I'M SORRY, SHARED SERVICES. SHARED SERVICES IS DOWN, BUT WE HAD A LAG IN COLLECTING GASOLINE REVENUES FROM 2025. SO WE HAVE COLLECTED THOSE REVENUES IN 2026. BUT WE CLOSED THE YEAR WITHOUT THEM. SO WE HAVE TO REPRESENT REPRESENT THE DECREASE IN REVENUE IN REVENUE COLLECTION. OKAY. NEXT. SO NOTABLE INCREASES FOR 2026. I KNOW WE'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT THE INSURANCE. SO THIS INSURANCE LINE INCLUDES HEALTH INSURANCE WITH AN INCREASE OF 8.2 MILLION AND OTHER INSURANCE, [00:50:04] WHICH IS THE JOINT INSURANCE FUND IS 7 IS UP $775,000. THAT SERVICE IS UP 2.4. PENSION IS ACTUALLY DECREASED BY $157,000. AND OUR AFFILIATED AGENCIES, WHICH I WILL GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHO IS INCLUDED IN THOSE NUMBERS. THEY ARE UP $1.6 BILLION. SO THE EXPENDITURE A BREAK DOWN OF NOTE IS THAT THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS IS SHOWING IN THIS CHART AT 0.97% INCREASE, BUT WE ARE LUMPED TOGETHER WITH AFFILIATED AGENCIES, SO THE INCREASE IS A TOTAL OF 1.96%, WHICH MEANS WE ARE THE MONEY THAT WE CAN CONTROL. WE ARE COMING IN UNDER 2%. AFFILIATED AGENCIES INCLUDES THE BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES, THE VO TECH, RVC, ROBERTSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE PARK COMMISSION. ALSO NOTABLE IS THAT BETWEEN THE VO TECH AND RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WE ARE, THE EXPENSE COMBINED IS ABOUT $25 MILLION THAT. WE ARE SUPPORTING THOSE 2 EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. AND THEN FOR INSURANCE, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE STATE PROGRAM COSTS. THIS INCLUDES PATIENTS AND STATE FACILITIES, THE BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES, TANF AND SUPPLEMENTAL SOCIAL SECURITY. SO THAT IS INCREASED $359,000. PENSION AS WE MENTIONED IS DOWN. CAPITAL IS UP $400,000. BUT WE ARE UTILIZING CAPITAL SURPLUS TO OFFSET THE. WE INCREASE IT TO 3 MILLION THIS YEAR, BUT WE'RE BRINGING IN $2 MILLION FROM CAPITAL SURPLUS TO OFFSET IT. SO IT'S TECHNICALLY ONLY AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $1 MILLION. THAT SERVICE IS UP, AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, AND OTHER EXPENSE IS OUR SOCIAL SECURITY FOR EMPLOYEES AND THE THE 50% THAT WE HAVE TO MATCH FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AGAINST SALARIES AND MATCH FOR GRANTS. SURPLUS WAS DOWN LAST YEAR AT $1.6 MILLION. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE STILL HAVE A HEALTHY SURPLUS BALANCE. WE'RE AT $62,917,000. AND PART OF THE REASON FOR THE DECLINE IS AS LISTED HERE, THERE WAS A DECLINE OF INTEREST RATES. SO WE BUDGETED OR ANTICIPATED THAT WE WERE GOING TO RECEIVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INTEREST OVER LAST YEAR, BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, INTEREST RATES WERE FLUCTUATING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND THEY WERE MOSTLY ON THE DOWNSIDE. SO THAT CAUSED US NOT TO BE ABLE TO GENERATE THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED. THERE WAS A DECLINE IN LAPSED APPROPRIATION RESERVES, AND TYPICALLY WE COME IN AROUND $15 MILLION IN LEFTOVER FUNDS FROM THE PRIOR YEAR THAT WE DID NOT SPEND, BUT LAST YEAR IT WAS MUCH LOWER. IT WAS ABOUT 10 BILLION. AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO THE CONSISTENT DECLINE IN GRANT FUNDING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO THE EFFECT ON THE AVERAGE HOME, WE ARE COMING IN AT A TAX RATE OF 0.2756, WHICH IS A DECREASE OVER LAST YEAR AS WE MENTIONED. AND THAT IS BASED OFF THE AVERAGE HOME VALUE OF $638,474, AND THE AVERAGE HOME ANNUAL TAX WILL COME IN AT ABOUT $1,759.91. THAT'S AN INCREASE OF $92.39 OVER LAST YEAR, FOR A TOTAL OF 5.5% INCREASE. [00:55:02] WE ARE DOING REALLY WELL WITH OUR RATABLES. THE RATABLES LAST YEAR WERE AT $85 BILLION, AND THIS YEAR WE'RE AT $91.8 BILLION. SO THAT'S A HUGE INCREASE. IT'S ABOUT AN 8% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR. SO WE'RE DOING REALLY, REALLY WELL WITH OUR RATABLES. I THINK THAT'S IT. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR. THE HARD WORK. AS WE SAW THE PENSIVE LOOKS ON YOUR FACES IN THE ONE PICTURE I KNOW YOU GUYS WERE WERE HARD AT WORK. I KNOW WE APPRECIATE AND AND THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR BEING A PARTNER IN GETTING US TO THIS POINT. AND FOR OUR RESIDENTS, PEOPLE OFTEN FORGET THAT WE ARE RESIDENTS AS WELL. SO WHAT WE VOTE ON WHAT WE DO, IT IMPACTS US AS RESIDENTS AND TAXPAYERS. SO IT'S NOT LOST ON US THAT WE ALL FEEL IT AND WE'RE NOT LEFT OUT. ANYONE ELSE? ANY. COMMISSIONERS. AND JUST TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE AREAS TO BE ABLE TO RUN AN OPERATION THIS LEAN AND I KNOW THAT WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE'RE FORCED TO HAVE SOME INCREASES. BUT WITH EVERYTHING UNDER OUR CONTROL. WE KEPT THAT UNDER 2%. AND, YOU KNOW, UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE TEAM HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB. SOMERSET COUNTY HAS HAD ITS LARGEST INVESTMENT WITH COUPLING WITH STATE AID FOR VO TECH SCHOOL. AND THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE EVER SAW THAT. SO BETWEEN INVESTING IN EDUCATION, OPEN SPACE, AND EVERY OTHER AREA THAT THIS COUNTY COVERS, GREAT JOB. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. IT'S GREAT WORK. AND THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS IS WE HAVE NOT CUT ANY SERVICES. SO ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN THINGS ARE DIFFICULT, UNEMPLOYMENT RATES ARE UP. PEOPLE NEED THE SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT. AND OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS THERE. THIS IS A COMPASSIONATE BOARD. WE'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE. IT'S LIKE THE MILITARY. WE DON'T LEAVE ANYBODY BEHIND. SO I FEEL THAT THIS BUDGET IS A VERY COMPASSIONATE BUDGET, TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CITIZENS AND BE THERE FOR THEM AND TO HELP THEM. WHETHER YOU'RE A STUDENT, WHETHER YOU'RE A SENIOR, WHETHER YOU'RE A WORKING FAMILY, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. I THINK THIS BUDGET IS VERY FAIR AND PRESENTS WELL TO THE PUBLIC. OUR COMPASSIONATE NATURE HERE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO OUR PEOPLE. I THINK IT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE THE ISSUE OF THE SNAP DOLLAR SNAP BUDGET. I WANT TO THANK GOVERNOR CHERYL FOR PUTTING IT IN HER BUDGET. THE AT LEAST THE COVERAGE OF THE LOSS THAT WE WOULD SEE THIS YEAR HAD IT NOT BEEN IN THE STATE BUDGET. OBVIOUSLY GOING FORWARD NEXT YEAR TO BE DETERMINED. BUT THOSE LOSSES ARE VERY REAL, FOR FOLKS WHO ARE ON SNAP AND REALLY DEPEND A LOT ON THOSE BENEFITS, BUT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY TO SEE WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE AND THE NEW, THE NEW LEGISLATION, THE NEW BILL LAW. BUT I MEAN, I DEFINITELY SEE THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WE'RE NOT ABSORBING DIRECTLY IN THIS BUDGET BECAUSE OF THAT IMPACT. AND THAT'S, THAT'S GRATEFUL FOR THIS YEAR. HOW WE MOVE FORWARD NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT. WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT. I JUST WANT TO SIGN ON TO WHAT MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS SAID AND EMPHASIZE. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO THE STAFF, COLLEEN YVONNE, EVERYBODY ELSE FOR DOING THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DID, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK. THANK YOU. AND IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY VILLAGE. COLLEEN SHE'S ALWAYS VERY SUPPORTIVE. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE. AND MY 2 OTHER VILLAGE MATES MELISSA KACZYNSKI AND SAMANTHA ZAVALA, COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM, EITHER. OH, YVONNE. CHILDRESS. SO WE COME TO THE BUDGET PRESENTATION. DO WE HAVE TO READ EACH OF THESE? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW HERE WE ARE TO THE MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2026 SOMERSET COUNTY BUDGET. YES. YES. YES. SO ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET AND THE BUDGET ONLY AT THIS TIME. HARRY BOWES LAGER, 1243 CANAL ROAD, GRIGGSTOWN. YEAH, I COME TO SEE THIS THEIR BUDGET, WHAT DO WE GOT? [01:00:03] A $15 MILLION INCREASE. APPROXIMATELY MAYBE A LITTLE MORE. WELL, ANYWAY, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT THAT THE VALUE OF PROPERTIES GOING UP, BUT INFLATION IS ALL PART OF THAT FORMULATION. AND WELL, INFLATION IS INSANE IN THIS COUNTRY. AND I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE USING A DEBT MONEY SYSTEM AND IT'S JUST TO GROW THE GOVERNMENT. THE TAXPAYERS HAVE NO VOICE IN THE PROCESS AT ALL. IT'S JUST OUTSIDE OUTRIGHT. YOU GOT SOCIALISM, COMMUNISM AND SLAVERY. THAT'S WHAT WE GOT IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY. THE TAX IS INSANE. I MEAN, I WELL, WE WERE PAYING MORE IN TAXES THAN MY GRANDFATHER BOUGHT THE FARM FOR. SO THAT JUST SHOWS YOU INFLATION. LIKE I, I ALWAYS TELL TALK ABOUT THE $600 TRUCK. WHEN I WAS ABOUT 11 YEARS OLD, MY UNCLE BOUGHT. AND I HAVE TO SPEND 50 OR $60,000 FOR A TRUCK TODAY. SO YOU'RE NOT REALLY GAINING ANYTHING. THE PRICE OF THE TRUCK HAS GONE THROUGH THE CEILING, AND JUST AND, YOU KNOW, ONE THING THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW, AFFORDABILITY. WELL, THERE'S NO AFFORDABILITY ANYMORE. EVERYTHING'S SO OVERPRICED. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. EVERY TIME I GET A HAIRCUT, I COST MORE. AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO. WELL, I THINK WE HAVE NOTHING, BUT YOU GOT TO GO ALONG WITH THIS SYSTEM BUT BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES KEEP GROWING GOVERNMENT. I MEAN, IT'S JUST OUTRAGEOUS, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT COSTS, EVEN, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME I GET MY CAR, A TUNE UP OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER YOU TOUCH TODAY, THE PRICES ARE GOING UP HIGHER AND HIGHER AND HIGHER. AND THAT'S BECAUSE THIS DEBT MONEY SYSTEM, IF YOU USED AN HONEST MONEY SYSTEM WHERE THE MONEY IS BACKED BY GOLD OR SILVER, I GOT GOLD, SILVER AND OIL. SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHAT THE GAME IS. AND IT'S OUTRAGEOUS FOR THE LITTLE, YOU KNOW, WHY WE HAVE SO MUCH HOMELESS STUFF, HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE JOBS. THE GOVERNMENT DROVE THE JOBS TO CHINA. WHAT THE HECK? THAT'S SO INSANE. AND IT'S JUST A SYSTEM THAT'S SO FRAUDULENT WITH THE DEBT MONEY. WOODROW WILSON WAS A TRAITOR TO THIS COUNTRY WHEN HE GAVE US THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK. BECAUSE THAT MONEY IS 0 MONEY. IT'S 0 MONEY. THEY JUST NEED 100 BILLION. OH, HERE. HERE'S YOUR 100 BILLION. OH. WE ONLY. WELL, THEY ONLY CHARGE THE TAXPAYER $2.5 BILLION PER DAY, PER DAY, WE GOT TO PAY THAT. AND EVERY 100 DAYS, WE GO IN DEBT FOR $1 TRILLION. I LISTENED TO RAY DALIO, AND HE'S AN EXPERT ON NATIONS THAT COLLAPSE. HE STUDIED IT THROUGHOUT HISTORY AND FROM THE ROMAN EMPIRE TO DIFFERENT PERSIANS AND ALL OVER THE WORLD. AND HE SAYS THIS COUNTRY, THEY ALWAYS SAY THIS TIME THEY SAY IT'S. IT'S DIFFERENT. BUT THE TRUTH IS THIS COUNTRY'S GOING DOWN THE SAME ROAD. THIS COUNTRY'S TOTALLY BANKRUPT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAVE WE GOT? $37 TRILLION PLUS, RAY DALIO SAID THERE'S ANOTHER $12 TRILLION FOR US. I DON'T KNOW FOR ADJUSTMENTS. AND THEN, WELL, THE WARS COST US, I DON'T KNOW. I THINK $400 BILLION THIS WAR IS COSTING US ALREADY. YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ABOUT RUNAWAY INFLATION. MY GOD. I MEAN. HARRY, WE'RE HERE FOR THE COUNTY BUDGET AND SOMERSET NOT THE FEDERAL BUDGET IN WASHINGTON. SO YEAH. WELL, YEAH, BUT ONE ADDS TO THE OTHER ONE. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT THIS IS THE BUDGET HEARING FOR SOMERSET COUNTY, NOT THE BUDGET HEARING FOR THE UNITED STATES. WELL, I HOPE I DON'T RUN OUT OF MONEY SOON BECAUSE WHAT AM I GOING TO DO, BECOME A HOMELESS PERSON? YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S WHY THESE PEOPLE YOU KNOW THE FELLOW HERE, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABILITY. BUT YOU THINK ABOUT IT. I MEAN, NOW, WHERE I LIVE, THE CONDOS ARE $1 MILLION A PIECE. WHO THE HELL CAN AFFORD THAT? $1 MILLION FOR A CONDO. THAT'S BECAUSE OF BIG GOVERNMENT. THAT'S WHAT'S CAUSED THAT PROBLEM. AND WHERE IS THE GUY FROM? WHERE WAS HE? MANVILLE. HE WAS SAYING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED? YEAH, BUT THAT ALL AFFECTS THE BUDGET. AFFECTS EVERYTHING THE STATE BUDGET AFFECTS EVERYTHING. HEY, THE PEOPLE I KNEW AT HANDS ACROSS NEW JERSEY, THEY LEFT THE STATE. THEY JUST GOT THE HELL OUT OF HERE BECAUSE OF INSANE TAXES. [01:05:02] BUT THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY. IS ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE BUDGET 27 EAST CLIFF STREET. ERIC BLUMENKRANTZ. B L U M E N K R A N T Z. 27 EAST CLIFF STREET. I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS COUNTIES DID FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. THE NUMBERS AND EVERYTHING TO ME LOOKED GREAT. OKAY, I KNOW HOW TIGHT IT IS AND I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE MICRO ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE COUNTY AND WORKING WITH THE COUNTY PEOPLE. WHAT I DO WANT TO COMMENT ABOUT, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE NUMBER 1 ASSET THIS COUNTY HAS IS A HUMAN CAPITAL. THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK HERE, OKAY, IT IS AN AMAZING GROUP OF PEOPLE. OKAY. THAT IS WHAT MAKES THIS COUNTY WHAT IT IS. NOW THE NUMBERS, OKAY. WHAT I SAW, AND I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO PRE-READ THEM AND GO THROUGH THEM, BUT THE NUMBER SEEMED VERY TIGHT MANAGEABLE, NOT OUT OF CONTROL. AND AGAIN, WE WEREN'T LOSING ANY OF THE SERVICES, WHICH IS CRITICAL. OKAY. FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE COUNTY. OKAY. AS A COUNTY STAKEHOLDER, AS AN OWNER OF THE COUNTY, A HOUSE IN THE COUNTY I DON'T SEE THAT CHANGING MY RATIO CONSIDERABLY. YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, LIKE EVERYBODY, I'D LIKE TO PAY LESS, BUT IT'S NOT A REALISTIC THING. BUT IF THEY CAN KEEP IT NOMINAL OR THE SAME, THAT'S A WIN. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE STAFF THAT PUT THAT TOGETHER, THE COUNTY FOR FOR ACHIEVING WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THE PEOPLE HERE LEADING IT AND PUTTING A GOOD DIRECTION OUT THERE. THANK YOU. THE BUDGET. NO EMAILS, NO PHONE CALLS. ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE. SEEING NONE. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS? THE BUDGET. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT. SO WE MOVE ON TO A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 26-790 THROUGH 26-794. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. YES. WE HAVE ORDINANCE 26-699 ESTABLISHING SPEED LIMIT ALONG MARSHALL ROAD, SOUTH BRANCH BRANCH ROAD, [ORDINANCE PUBLIC HEARING] RIVER ROAD, LYMAN STREET, COUNTY ROAD 625 HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, SOMERSET COUNTY, NEW JERSEY. IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ORDINANCE? SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER. MARANO. YES. HEARING NONE. SEEING NONE. MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ORDINANCE. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. [SOLID WASTE AMENDMENT PUBLIC HEARING] THIS IS THE AUTHORIZED. THIS IS AUTHORIZING THE AMENDMENT OF THE SOMERSET COUNTY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN TO INCLUDE THE CHANGE IN LOCATION AND PARTICIPATION IN THE NEW JERSEY DEP RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION RD&D PROJECT TO HANDLE END OF LIFE SOLAR PANELS FOR NEW TECH RECYCLING, INC. THAT'S BLOCK 518.06.12 AND 3.01, BLOCK 521.02 AND LOT 25 IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS RESOLUTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR AYE AYE. AYES HAVE IT. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS RESOLUTION ONLY. HEARING NONE. SEEING NONE IS A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS RESOLUTION. MOTION TO CLOSE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT. NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 26-700. [01:10:01] IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. WE NOW HAVE BOND ORDINANCES. [BOND ORDINANCES] GOOD EVENING AGAIN. BOND ORDINANCE 26-890 IS PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION OF 6.6 MILLION $335,000 FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE TOWNSHIP OF BRANCHBURG, AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $6,335,000 IN BONDS OR NOTES OF THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET FOR FINANCING SUCH APPROPRIATION. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND THIS CHAPTER. THIS IS THE CHAPTER 12 THAT WE ISSUE A BOND OR A BOND ORDINANCE FOR EVERY YEAR FOR RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, IT IS PROBABLY ABOUT DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS IN 2025. THE COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO BOND FOR THE FULL AMOUNT. THE STATE PAYS HALF OF THE DEBT SERVICE AND 100 AND CONTRIBUTES 25 ABOUT 25% OF THE OTHER HALF, AND SOMERSET COUNTY PAYS 75% OF THE OTHER HALF. RARITAN VALLEY PROJECT'S LIST INCLUDES ROADWAY AND WALKWAY REPAIRS, ROOF REPLACEMENT AND THE PHYS ED BUILDING EXPANSION PHASE 1. YES. YES. I KNOW. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. ALRIGHT, SO WE MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARING. OH, IT'S ALL ONE MOTION. OKAY. SO NOW WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING 26-890. ALONG WITH THE ORDINANCE SETTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR CHAPTER 12 AND ORDINANCE FOR APRIL 28TH. SO IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS THE ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 28TH? SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. $950,000 FROM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR VARIOUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN AND BY THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET. AND THIS PROJECT LIST INCLUDES THE PARK COMMISSION AND ART ROBERTSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S MINOR CAPITAL. OKAY, SO WE HAVE THE MOTION. IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR APRIL 28TH. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. YES. DIRECTOR.IS PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION OF $35,708,379 FOR VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS AND PURPOSES FOR AND BY THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET, AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $33,922,960 IN BONDS OR NOTES FOR THE FINANCING PART OF THE COST THEREOF. SO INCLUSIVE IN THIS PROJECT LIST IS AND ENGINEERING. SO I'LL JUST RUN DOWN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. ENGINEERING IS BEING ALLOCATED $27,035,500 FOR ROADWAY RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, BRIDGES, PROJECTS AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE. PUBLIC WORKS IS $5,725,244. IT FUNDS THE REPLACEMENT OF AGING FLEET FACILITY FOR FACILITIES AND SERVICES. ROADS AND BRIDGES BASED OFF CAPITAL AND NECESSITY. SNOW PLOWING, VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT, THERMAL LINE SPRAY FOR ROADS, BUSSES FOR TRANSPORTATION AND [01:15:05] RECYCLING VEHICLES. PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY IS $1,794,000. THIS IS GOING TO FUND REQUIRED RADIO REPLACEMENT AND TOWER ENHANCEMENTS. TRAINING EQUIPMENT USED AT THE EMERGENCY SERVICES TRAINING TRAINING ACADEMY FOR 1ST RESPONDERS. IT IS $695,000. THIS IS FOR CYBERSECURITY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVICE REPLACEMENTS PER THE MASTER PLAN. AND LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS $405,000 AND THAT'S. VEHICLES FOR THE SHERIFF, SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. SO IS THERE A MOTION TO PASS ORDINANCE 26 892 ON FIRST READING AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR APRIL 28TH. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. WE NEED TO ADD RESOLUTION 26 795. IT WOULD BE A RESOLUTION ACTUALLY ADOPTING THE 2026 BUDGET AS INTRODUCED. WE DIDN'T WE DID NOT INCLUDE THAT. SO IT'S RESOLUTION 26 795, ADOPTING THE 2026 BUDGET AS INTRODUCED AS THERE WERE NO AMENDMENTS. SO IF SOMEONE CAN MOVE THAT AND SECOND AND VOTE ON THAT. COMMISSIONER. GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER. MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER. SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR.DIRECTOR THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING, DO WE NEED TO READ THEM ALL? THANK YOU FOR THAT. NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 26-701 THROUGH 26-718. [CONSENT AGENDA] SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 26-719 THROUGH 26-730. [AWARD OF CONTRACTS] MOTION. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 26-731 THROUGH 26-762. [FINANCE] SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 26-764 THROUGH 26-774. [ITEMS ADDED FROM THE APRIL 14, 2026 WORK SESSION TO BE ADOPTED TONIGHT] SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER. MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON. YES. THIS IS A PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING WHERE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK CAN COME UP 5 MINUTES. [PUBLIC] NO YIELDING OF TIME, NO COMING UP A SECOND TIME. IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. IF THAT'S PERMITTED. OH WELL, LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC. SO YEAH, THERE WAS NO ONE FROM THE PUBLIC. OKAY. HEARING NONE. SEEING NONE. SO THE RESOLUTION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS REQUESTING STATE LEADERS TO IMPLEMENT HEALTH BENEFIT REFORM AND STATUTORY CAPS ON INSURANCE PREMIUMS. PREMIUM GROWTH TO MITIGATE TO MITIGATE THE UNSUSTAINABLE INCREASES IN HEALTH BENEFIT PREMIUMS FOR PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES. AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THE BUDGET, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH THAT WE HAD CONTROL OF. THIS WAS AN AREA THAT WAS OUT OF OUR HANDS. AND FOR MANY GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, WE FACE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. SO WE ARE THE 1ST COUNTY OUT OF THE 21 IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY WITH THE LANGUAGE WITH, WHEREAS COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE STATE SPENT AN ESTIMATED $1.2 BILLION IN TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN 2025 TO PROVIDE HEALTH BENEFITS FOR APPROXIMATELY 30,000 EMPLOYEES, WITH AN ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION TOTALING 150 MILLION. AND WHEREAS, DESPITE INNOVATIVE COST CONTAINMENT MEASURES UNDERTAKEN BY COUNTY OFFICIALS TO MAKE QUALITY HEALTH CARE AFFORDABLE FOR VALUED EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES, [01:20:09] PUBLIC SECTOR HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS COSTS CONTINUE TO RISE. WHEREAS, THE CURRENT COST OF HEALTH CARE HAS PLACED A FINANCIAL STRAIN ON COUNTY BUDGETS REQUIRING LARGER THAN ANTICIPATED TAX INCREASES AND A REDUCTION OF SERVICES. WHEREAS, THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND INSURANCE, UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF BANKING AND INSURANCE, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING AND APPROVING HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM RATES AND ENSURING SUCH RATES ARE NOT EXCESSIVE, INADEQUATE OR UNFAIRLY DISCRIMINATORY. WHEREAS, THE ABSENCE OF CLEAR STATUTORY STANDARDS, DEFINING AND LIMITING EXCESSIVE PREMIUM GROWTHS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO UNPREDICTABLE AND UNSUSTAINABLE INCREASES AND HEALTH BENEFIT COSTS FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND TAXPAYERS. WHEREAS, THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ENACT LAWS ESTABLISHING REASONABLE LIMITS ON ANNUAL PREMIUM INCREASES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CAPS TIED TO INFLATION, HEALTH CARE COSTS, GROWTH GROWTH INDICES OR OTHER OBJECTIVE BENCHMARKS, AND TO REQUIRE ENHANCED JUSTIFICATION AND TRANSPARENCY FOR ANY INCREASES EXCEEDING SUCH LIMITS. HALFWAY DONE. WHEREAS, IT'S TIME FOR STATE LEADERS TO COORDINATE WITH THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND INSURANCE TO ENACT LONG TERM STRUCTURAL REFORM. THAT SHOULD INCLUDE ELIMINATING COSTLY PLAN DESIGNS, MODIFYING CO-PAYS FOR SPECIALISTS AND URGENT CARE, RESTRICTING THE USE OF OUT-OF-NETWORK HEALTH CARE COVERAGE AND VARIOUS DRUGS. IMPLEMENTING A REFERENCE BASED PRICE SYSTEM PRICING SYSTEM, STREAMLINING THE USE OF HEALTH SAVINGS AND FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS, AND ENHANCING MEDICAL TRANSPARENCY AND THE COLLECTION OF DATA. WHEREAS, FAILURE AND FAILURE TO ENACT STATUTORY CAPS ON EXCESSIVE PREMIUMS INCREASES AND STRENGTHENS REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AND OTHER LONG TERM STRUCTURAL REFORM WILL LEAVE COUNTY OFFICIALS NO CHOICE BUT TO REDUCE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS, DELAYING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, INCREASE TAXES ON RESIDENTS WHICH THEY ALREADY HAVE THE BURDEN WITH THE HIGHEST PROPERTY TAX BILL IN THE NATION. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY IN FACT URGE STATE LEADERS TO IMPLEMENT FAIR AND EQUITABLE REFORM TO MITIGATE THE UNSUSTAINABLE INCREASES IN HEALTH BENEFIT PREMIUMS FOR PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES AND. BUT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REQUESTS THAT STATE LEADERS ACT TO ESTABLISH REASONABLE AND ENFORCEABLE CAPS ON ANNUAL HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM INCREASES, INCLUDING LIMITS TIED TO OBJECTIVE ECONOMIC INDICATORS SUCH AS INFLATION OR HEALTH CARE COST GROWTH REQUIREMENTS THAT ANY PROPOSED INCREASE EXCEEDING SUCH CAPS BE SUBJECT TO HEIGHTENED REVIEW, PUBLIC JUSTIFICATION AND POTENTIAL DENIAL, AND STATUTORY DEFINITIONS OF EXCESSIVE PREMIUM GROWTH TO GUIDE REGULATORY ACTION BY THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND INSURANCE. BUT FURTHER BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REQUEST THAT THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND INSURANCE TO FULLY UTILIZE AND, WHERE NECESSARY, STRENGTHEN ITS REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THESE STANDARDS, ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND RATE SETTING, AND PROTECT PUBLIC EMPLOYERS AND TAXPAYERS FROM UNJUSTIFIED PREMIUM INCREASES. BUT A FURTHER RESULT, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, RATHER THAT CERTIFIED COPIES OF THIS RESOLUTION SHALL BE SENT TO GOVERNOR MIKIE SHERRILL, SENATE PRESIDENT NICHOLAS SCUTARI, SPEAKER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CRAIG COUGHLIN, AND THE CLERKS OF THE BOARDS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES. YOU JUST HEARD FOR YOUR HEARING THAT WAS RESOLUTION 26-772. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IF NOTHING FURTHER, I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK THING. COULD THE CLERK SEND THAT BUDGET PRESENTATION TO US, PLEASE? THANK YOU. NOTHING FURTHER. CAN I GET A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE MEETING? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? I HAVE IT. WE WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. NOW I'M GOING TO PULL THAT. I WAS WAITING FOR SOME MORE INFORMATION THAT DID NOT COME IN. I THOUGHT I WOULD GET IT BEFORE THE MEETING, SO I NEED TO CARRY IT OR WE'LL DO IT AT THE NEXT MEETING. ALL RIGHT. SO NO EXECUTIVE SESSION. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN. IS THERE A SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT. GOOD NIGHT. BE WELL. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.