[00:00:07]
AND WHILE THEY'RE COMING IN, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DO THE POSTER CONTEST FIRST FOR MY REPORTS,
[REPORTS]
WE COMMISSIONER GRANER AND I ATTENDED THE MOMS DEMAND ACTION RALLY ON THE COURTHOUSE LAWN WHERE THEY ARE PROMOTING AND ADVOCATING FOR GUN SENSE. WHILE THEY DO BELIEVE IN THE SECOND AMENDMENT THEY JUST BELIEVE IN HAVING SAFETY THAT SURROUNDS AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT SURROUNDS GUN LAWS. THIS COMING SATURDAY IS THE RVCC GRADUATION GRADUATING CLASS OF 2026.AND ONE OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS HELD THEIR CONTEST AND IT WAS ACTUALLY IN MERCER COUNTY AND WE HAD THREE SOMERSET COUNTY WINNERS, ONE WHO TOOK ONE OF THE TOP FIVE PRIZES AND THEIR ART EXHIBIT.
THEIR ART WILL BE DISPLAYED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS OFFICE FOR ONE YEAR, SO KUDOS TO THEM.
AND NOW WE MOVE ON TO OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS POSTER CONTEST.
[PRESENTATION]
GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS STEVE PETER.I'M THE SOMERSET COUNTY CLERK, AND I'M HERE WITH SURROGATE TINA JALLOH.
AND SHERIFF DARRIN RUSSO SENDS HIS GREETINGS.
SO WE ARE PART OF AN ORGANIZATION OF ALL THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS IN THE STATE.
I AM THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION. AND EVERY YEAR FOR A COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH.
AND THIS EVENING, WE ARE HONORED TO PRESENT FOR THE WINNERS AND HAVE THEIR FAMILIES HERE.
AND WE'LL GET SOME PICTURES TAKEN. THIS YEAR OUR THEME WAS THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES AND HOW THAT LOOKS IN SOMERSET COUNTY. SO ALL THE POSTERS ARE DISPLAYED DOWNSTAIRS ON THE FIRST FLOOR AS YOU COME IN.
SO PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AT THOSE WHENEVER YOU WALK INTO THE BUILDING.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE UP FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS PROBABLY.
SO AND I'M NOW GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO SURROGATE TINA JALLOH.
SO I'D LIKE TO CALL UP OUR 1ST PLACE WINNER WHO WILL RECEIVE 100.
[APPLAUSE]. PERFECT AND OUR 2ND PLACE WINNER IS MICHAEL HAHN, WHO'S FROM VILLAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SKILLMAN AS WELL.
HE'S FROM THE SAME SCHOOL. SO, YEAH. [LAUGHTER] IT WORKS OUT NICE THIS WAY.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. AND LIKE WE SAID, WE HAD A LOT OF REALLY, REALLY GOOD ENTRIES THIS YEAR. SO IT WAS HARD TO MAKE A DECISION.
SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO 3RD PLACE WINNERS AND EACH OF THEM GET $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE.
OUR FIRST ONE FROM STONY BROOK IN PLAINFIELD IS GABRIELLA GUPTA.
[APPLAUSE] ANYBODY OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE UNKNOWN COMIC? SO OUR OTHER 3RD PLACE WINNER IS CHRISTINE MAMBO FROM WEST END ELEMENTARY IN NORTH PLAINFIELD.
[00:05:18]
[APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE NOW HAVE ALS AWARENESS MONTH AND EMS WEEK.[PROCLAMATIONS]
UNLIKE BELL, I WILL NOT SING. [LAUGHTER]. ALL RIGHT.OKAY. OKAY. HELLO THERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANKS WHEREAS, AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS, OR ALS, COMMONLY KNOWN AS LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE, IS A PROGRESSIVE, FATAL NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE IN WHICH A PERSON'S BRAIN LOSES CONNECTION WITH THEIR MUSCLES, SLOWLY REDUCING A PERSON'S ABILITY TO WALK, TALK, EAT, AND EVENTUALLY BREATHE.
ALS USUALLY STRIKES INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE 50 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.
SHORTENING LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE INDIVIDUAL WITH ALS TO 2 TO 5 YEARS FROM THE TIME OF DIAGNOSIS.
PEOPLE WITH A HISTORY OF MILITARY SERVICE ARE MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP ALS THAN THOSE WITHOUT.
THERE IS NO KNOWN CAUSE OR CURE FOR ALS, THOUGH AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT OF THE SYMPTOMS CAN EXTEND THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH THE DISEASE AND THE ALS ASSOCIATION IS THE LARGEST PHILANTHROPIC FUNDER OF ALS RESEARCH GLOBALLY AND HAS COMMITTED $154 MILLION TO SUPPORT MORE THAN 550 PROJECTS ACROSS THE US AND 18 OTHER COUNTRIES, AND IS COMMITTED TO MAKING ALS LIVABLE AND CURE IT FOR EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY RECOGNIZE MAY 2026 AS NATIONAL ALS AWARENESS MONTH IN SOMERSET COUNTY AND ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO INCREASE THEIR AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE AND DO WHAT THEY CAN TO HELP RESEARCH, MOVE. MORE MOVE TOWARD A CURE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR ALS RESEARCH FOR 20 YEARS, AND I'VE GONE TO ALMOST EVERY SINGLE STATE AND MET WITH PRESIDENTS AND SENATORS AND CONGRESSPEOPLE, AND NOT REALLY A WHOLE LOT HAS CHANGED IN 20 YEARS, UNFORTUNATELY.
AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT GETS ALS DIES FROM IT.
SO I'LL KEEP WRITING LETTERS AND KEEP SHOWING UP TO THINGS LIKE THIS.
AND IT'S JUST WONDERFUL TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY.
THERE'S ABOUT 900 PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY THAT HAVE ALS.
AND LET'S SPREAD THE WORD AND THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS.
I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] VERY EASY TO POINT OUT IN A CROWD. [LAUGHTER]. ALL RIGHT.
WHEREAS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES EMS IS A VITAL PUBLIC SERVICE WHOSE MEMBERS ARE READY TO PROVIDE LIFE SAVING CARE TO THOSE IN NEED 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK. AND WHEREAS ACCESS TO QUALITY EMERGENCY CARE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVES THE SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY RATE OF THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE SUDDEN ILLNESS OR INJURY. AND THE EMS SYSTEM CONSISTS OF FIRST RESPONDERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, PARAMEDICS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, EDUCATORS, ADMINISTRATORS, PREHOSPITAL NURSES, EMERGENCY NURSES, EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS, TRAINED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OTHER OUT-OF-HOSPITAL MEDICAL CARE PROVIDERS.
AND WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OF EMS TEAMS, WHETHER CAREER OR VOLUNTEER, ENGAGE IN THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION TO ENHANCE THEIR LIFE SAVING SKILLS.
[00:10:04]
INVOLVING INTENSE INVESTIGATION OR INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE CARE.NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT SOMERSET COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES HEREBY DESIGNATE MAY 17TH THROUGH THE 23RD AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET AND RECOGNIZES THE VALUE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ALL EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROVIDERS WITHIN SOMERSET COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. [APPLAUSE]. SAY A FEW WORDS OR FAR HILLS, BEDMINSTER FIRST AID SQUAD IS PROUD TO REPRESENT THE VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE EMTS AND DRIVERS IN SOMERSET COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION. VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
[APPOINTMENTS]
ROSE KOPF FROM GREEN BROOK TOWNSHIP. IS THERE A MOTION TO MOVE THIS APPOINTMENT FORWARD? MOTION DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ABOVE LISTED MINUTES FOR OUR APRIL 28TH MEETING?[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
SO MOVED.COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
SO MOVED.[AWARD OF CONTRACTS]
RESOLUTIONS? 26-905 THROUGH 26-914. SO MOVED.YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 26-915 THROUGH 26-946.
[FINANCE]
SO MOVE.OKAY. 26-1024. 1024 1024. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON YES. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 26-948 THROUGH 26-964.
[ITEMS ADDED FROM THE MAY 12, 2026 WORK SESSION TO BE ADOPTED TONIGHT]
SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE.YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY.
YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. DIRECTOR ROBINSON YES. NOW, WE COME TO THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS MEETING WHERE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK.
FIVE MINUTES, NO YIELDING OF TIME, NO COMING UP A SECOND TIME. IS THERE A MOTION TO OPEN TO PUBLIC MOTION? MOTION OH, NO. SORRY. OH, ALLERGIES. OH MY GOSH.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. HEARING NONE.
IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC? YES.
ALL IN FAVOR. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT.
[EXECUTIVE]
THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET THAT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT, CHAPTER 2231PL1975, THAT THE BOARD WILL GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AT THIS MEETING FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING MATTERS WITHIN THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 10:4-12.SPECIFICALLY, THE POSSIBLE PURCHASE OR ACQUISITION OF LAND ON SOUTH BRANCH ROAD IN HILLSBORO.
[00:15:04]
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS AND PENDING LITIGATION RELATED TO JACOBS VANDERVEER HOUSE AND THE PLUCKEMIN SCHOOLHOUSE FOR EMERGENCY PRESERVATION GRANT FUNDING AND THE PFAS SETTLEMENT. WITH REGARD TO THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.DECISIONS WILL BE MADE CORRECT, WILL BE. NO DECISIONS WILL BE MADE CORRECT. ALL RIGHT.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
EXECUTIVE SESSION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYES HAVE IT.
GOOD NIGHT. BE WELL. KELLY CAME IN. CLUTCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.