IS NOW ADJOURNED. WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED DIRECTLY INTO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING FOR JULY 14TH, [00:00:06] 2026. ARE THERE ANY NEW REPORTS OR NEW INFORMATION FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? WE CAN LET PEOPLE COME ON IN FROM THE OUTSIDE IF THEY'D LIKE. WHY DON'T WE TAKE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM JUNE 23RD OUT OF ORDER? [APPROVAL OF MINUTES] WHY FOLKS ARE COMING IN FOR THE PRESENTATION. SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES LISTED FOR JUNE 23RD, 2026. SECOND. I NEED A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES YES [PRESENTATION (Part 1 of 2)] AND I SEE OUR FRIEND DOWN THERE, JOHN, WHO IS FROM THE FROM NJAC NEW JERSEY COUNTY OFFICIALS AND COME ON DOWN JOHN. YOU'RE NOW ON THE AGENDA AND WE DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO SEE US. OH IT'S MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. IT'S A QUICK, QUICK COMMUTE, LIKE FIVE MINUTES TO GET HERE. YEAH. WE CAN BRING THE STUDENTS UP. WE HAVE TWO STUDENTS FOR AWARDS. YOU CAN BRING THEM UP ONE AT A TIME. BRING THEM BOTH UP. YEAH. SO WE HAVE MARK HASEK AND CHLOE UPTON. SO JOHN, TELL US ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THIS. I'M REALLY EXCITED SORRY ABOUT THAT. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I MIGHT START SINGING, THOUGH. MR. DIRECTOR, BUT I LOVE WORKING ON THE NJAC FOUNDATION AND THIS YEAR, REALLY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF COLLEEN MAHR, WHO'S ON OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES. AND OF COURSE DIRECTOR ROBINSON, WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY BUT IS THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF NJAC. THIS YEAR, THROUGH THE NJAC FOUNDATION, WE'RE GIVING AWAY OVER $113,000 TO COUNTY VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL GRADUATES WHO ARE CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. THAT'S THE MOST AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'VE EVER GIVEN, GIVEN AWAY. AND WE GIVE AWAY 100% OF THOSE MONIES DUE TO THE GENEROSITY OR FROM THE GENEROSITY OF COMPANIES LIKE AMAZON AND INVESTORS BANK. AND THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER COMPANIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE NJAC FOUNDATION. AND WE'RE JUST GRATEFUL. GREAT. REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. AND JUST THE CANDIDATES THAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR, THE STUDENTS ARE JUST INCREDIBLE. I READ THEIR RESUMES A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND I JUST WISH I WAS HALF OF THE STUDENT THAT THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP, THEY REALLY DID A TERRIFIC JOB. SO WE HAVE SOME FANTASTIC STUDENTS HERE. I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE THEM. REALLY AND YOUR FAMILIES AND THE THING I LOVE THE MOST IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO RARITAN VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, BOTH RECIPIENTS THAT I LOVE THE FACT THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET A GREAT EDUCATION [APPLAUSE] AND IT'S GOING TO BE AFFORDABLE FOR YOUR FAMILIES. SO THANK YOU. THANKS, JOHN. APPRECIATE THAT. WHEN WE DO, MARK FIRST THEN AND WE'LL BRING CHLOE UP. THERE'S SOME PRETTY GLOWING THINGS THAT WERE SAID ABOUT MARK HERE. SO MARK HASEK IS A HIGHLY DESERVING CANDIDATE FOR THE NJAC AT&T SCHOLARSHIP DUE TO HIS EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE, PROVEN LEADERSHIP, AND STRONG COMMITMENT TO HIS SCHOOL COMMUNITY. OVER HIS FOUR YEARS IN THE COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAM, MARK HAS DEVELOPED ADVANCED SKILLS IN PYTHON, JAVA, AND CYBERSECURITY WITH A PARTICULAR PASSION FOR NETWORK SECURITY TOOLS LIKE WIRESHARK. HIS ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE EARNING A GOLD MEDAL AT THE 2024 SKILLSUSA CYBERSECURITY COMPETITION AND COMPETING FOR THREE YEARS, AS WELL AS PARTICIPATING IN THE LOCKHEED MARTIN CYBER QUEST, MARK CONSISTENTLY APPLIES CREATIVITY TO HIS WORK DESIGNING INNOVATIVE PROJECTS THAT INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY AND UNIQUE WAYS. FROM 3D PRINTED LED KEYCHAINS TO FUNCTIONAL MAKEY MAKEY DEVICES. AND ACTIVE MEMBER OF NHS AND THS AND THE STUDENT CONTENT CREATOR CLUB. AS A TEAM LEAD ON A REAL WORLD WEBSITE PROJECT, HE DEMONSTRATED INITIATIVE, COLLABORATION AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE WITH PLANS TO PURSUE COMPUTER NETWORKING AND CYBERSECURITY AT RVCC. MARK'S PASSION, WORK ETHIC AND LEADERSHIP MAKE HIM WELL POSITIONED FOR SUCCESS, AND THIS SCHOLARSHIP WILL SUPPORT HIS CONTINUED GROWTH IN A CRITICAL AND EVOLVING FIELD. CONGRATULATIONS, MARK. [APPLAUSE]. ALL RIGHT MARK. YEAH. I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT I WAS ABLE TO GET THIS AWARD. [00:05:05] I HAVE, I DO HAVE LIKE A GREAT PASSION FOR CYBERSECURITY, ESPECIALLY COMPUTER NETWORKING. SO I'M GLAD I WAS SUPPORTED BY EVERYONE ALONG THE WAY. [LAUGHTER] I'LL USE THIS MONEY TO FUND MY EDUCATION AND PURSUE WHAT I WANT TO DO IN MY CAREER. NICE. VERY NICE. [APPLAUSE]. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WE'LL DO A FAMILY PHOTO TOO. SO. WE'RE GOING TO DO ONE PHOTO. I'M GONNA DO A FAMILY PHOTO. I IMAGINE A LOT OF FAMILY FOLKS WANT TO. SLIDE OVER A LITTLE MORE NO. OKAY. I GOT A FAMILY PHOTO. ANYBODY FROM THE FAMILY WANT TO COME OUT HERE? THEY'RE ALL GOOD. DON'T WORRY, DON'T WORRY. HE'S READY TO TAKE OFF CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. FOR WAITING I MEAN, WE CAN. WE CAN MOVE ON. WE'LL DO A COUPLE OTHER BUSINESS FIRST. NO WORRIES. ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S MOVE TO UNTIL. UNTIL SHE ARRIVES. WE'LL MOVE TO THE BUDGET AMENDMENT. WE HAVE BUDGET AMENDMENT 26-1343 AMENDING THE APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE [BUDGET AMENDMENT] COUNTY OF SOMERSET. I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AS AMENDED. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION FIRST. I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT SLOW DOWN. OKAY. NO WORRIES SO THE AMOUNT TO BE RAISED IN TAXES IN THE CURRENT ADOPTED BUDGET AS OF APRIL 14TH IS THE CORRECT AMOUNT. SO THERE ARE NO CHANGES BEING MADE TO THE BUDGET. BUT I HAVE TO MEMORIALIZE THE FACT THAT BETWEEN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET AND THE ADOPTED BUDGET, THERE WAS A CHANGE. SO THAT IS WHAT THIS AMENDMENT REPRESENTS, THE CHANGE. AND I'M GOING TO READ THE AMENDMENT. AND I WILL ALSO READ INTO THE RECORD THE CHANGES. SO WHEREAS THE COUNTY BUDGET FOR YEAR 2026 WAS APPROVED ON THE 24TH DAY OF MARCH 2026. AND WHEREAS THE PUBLIC HEARING ON SAID BUDGET HAS BEEN HELD AND ADVERTISED AND WHEREAS IT IS DESIRED TO AMEND SAID APPROVED BUDGET. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET STATE OF NEW JERSEY, THAT THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS TO THE APPROVED BUDGET OF 2026 BE MADE. SO THE AMOUNT TO BE RAISED BY TAXES IS GOING FROM OR WENT FROM $252,998,940.50 TO $252,000 $965,204.50. EXCUSE ME. AND THE CHANGE IS IN THE INSTITUTE. INSTITUTION FOR MENTAL DISEASES. THE STATE SHARE. THIS IS THE 50% THAT THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, FOR PATIENTS THAT ARE IN MENTAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED TO BE RESIDENTS OF SOMERSET COUNTY. SO THAT AMOUNT WENT FROM $1,883,675 TO $1,849,939. SO THE GOOD NEWS IS THE THE AMOUNT WENT DOWN. BUT THE AMENDMENT I SHOULD HAVE DONE THE AMENDMENT AT THE TIME THAT THE BUDGET WAS ADOPTED. SO THAT BRINGS THE SUBTOTAL OF OPERATIONS FROM $248,718,400.57, TO $248,684,664.57. AND THEN THE TOTAL GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS WENT FROM $316,127,973.41 TO $316,094,237.41. SO BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT TWO CERTIFIED COPIES OF THIS RESOLUTION TO BE FILED FORTHWITH WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES FOR APPROVAL. [00:10:06] ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH YVONNE. ALL RIGHT. SO WE NOW HAVE THAT WAS A VERY NICE PRESENTATION. APPRECIATE THAT CLARIFICATION. SO I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AS AMENDED. THAT'S 26-1343 AMENDING THE APPROVED BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET. MOTION. SECOND. I NEED A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW THERESA WITH? WE'RE STILL WAITING? THAT'S OKAY. WELL, WE CAN WE CAN CONTINUE. WHEN SHE COMES. WE'LL JUST TAKE A BREATHER FROM THERE. ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE REST OF THE MEETING. [CONSENT AGENDA] I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 26-1300 THROUGH 26-1302. SO MOVED. SECOND. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. OKAY. NOW, MOVING ON TO AWARD OF CONTRACTS. [AWARD OF CONTRACTS] I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 26-1303 THROUGH 26-1315. MOTION. SECOND. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. I'M REALLY SLOW HERE, SO I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE. A MOTION TO APPROVE 26-1316 THROUGH 26-1342. I MOVED. [FINANCE] I MAKE A MOTION. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SECOND. WE HAVE A SECOND? OKAY. SECOND. OKAY. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. OKAY, I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 26-1344 THROUGH [ITEMS ADDED FROM THE JULY 14, 2026 WORK SESSION TO BE ADOPTED TONIGHT] 26-1356. SO MOVED. SECOND. I NEED A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER GRANER. YES. COMMISSIONER MARANO. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE. YES. THIS IS THE POINT WHERE WE NORMALLY GO TO PUBLIC. I DON'T KNOW, IS THERESA STILL. WELL, YOU CAN OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC. YEAH. OKAY, SO LET'S. LET'S OPEN THE MEETING TO THE PUBLIC. ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC HAVE A. ANY? OH. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I NEED A MOTION TO OPEN THE MEETING TO THE PUBLIC. SO MOVED OKAY. THE MEETING IS NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTERS BEFORE THE COUNTY. COUNTY BOARD. SEEING NONE. HEARING NONE. IS THERE ANYBODY ONLINE? ANYBODY? OKAY. I'D LIKE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC MEETING. SO MOVED. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. [LAUGHTER]. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS VERY GOOD. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE STILL. OKAY, LET'S DO A MOTION TO HAVE A BRIEF RECESS. WE'RE WAITING FOR WHAT'S THE. WHAT'S THE AWARD WINNER'S NAME? SHE'LL BE ON HER WAY. SO IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES A MOTION TO RECESS FOR 5, 10 MINUTES? SO MOVE. WE'LL BE BACK AT 6:15. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL RIGHT. GREAT. THANK YOU. SO WE'LL BE BACK IN 15, 5 MINUTES. [LAUGHTER]. [PRESENTATION (Part 2 of 2)] THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS OF THE SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL. YOU'RE WELCOME. CAN YOU TELL US CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED THROUGH THIS PROCESS? [LAUGHTER]. I'M A TEACHER AT RUTGERS. [LAUGHTER] I LEARNED A LOT THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I LEARNED LIKE HOW MUCH GEORGE WASHINGTON HAS DONE FOR THIS COUNTRY AND HOW MUCH HE'S WALKED AND HOW MANY LIKE, HOW MANY THINGS HE'S GONE THROUGH JUST FOR US TO HAVE FREEDOM AND TO BE OUR OWN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY SO. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK? [LAUGHTER] DOES THE. YOU WANT? YOU WANT TO SPEAK? HISTORY TEACHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS OF SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL FOR PASSING THIS RESOLUTION, IT'S BEEN A LONG, ARDUOUS ROAD TO GET HERE, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE [00:15:06] TIME AND PATIENCE THAT YOU'VE HAD. AND THAT MY STUDENTS HAVE HAD ALSO. THANK YOU. GO SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL. YEAH. GO, PIONEERS. COME ON. COME ON. SHOULD WE MAKE SURE? GOOD. YEAH. ALRIGHT LOOK AT ME. IT'S NOT MY FAULT [LAUGHTER]. IT WAS A GOOD VIDEO, BUT I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A SHOT. I DIDN'T WANT TO GO THROUGH HIS PHONE. EVERYBODY SAY GEORGE. GEORGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU, GEORGE. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. YOU DID GREAT. YOU DID GREAT. HEY, JOHNNY. YOU ROCK! FANTASTIC. THANK YOU FOR COMING. NO THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT WE'RE WAITING. WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR CHLOE, RIGHT? NO THEN WE COVERED. DID WE COVER ALL THE RESOLUTIONS? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOTION TO COME BACK TO CLOSE PUBLIC MEETING. SO MOVE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. NOW WE NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN OR NOT A MOTION TO ADJOURN. WE'RE GOING TO PUBLIC SESSION. WE NEED. EXECUTIVE SESSION. COUNCIL, CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE US THE EXECUTIVE SESSION RULING? [EXECUTIVE] SO WE DO HAVE A REASON TO GO OR SEVERAL REASONS TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. I WOULD NEED THE BOARD TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET THAT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT, THAT THE BOARD WILL GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AT THIS MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING MATTERS WITHIN THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 10:4-12, SPECIFICALLY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS, CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH REGARD TO THE SHERIFF'S SUPERIORS PPA UNION. PERSONNEL MATTERS REGARDING THE 2027 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE. WE ALSO HAVE A VARIOUS FARMLAND ACQUISITIONS THROUGHOUT SOMERSET COUNTY. THERE ARE AT LEAST FIVE OF THEM. SO THOSE ARE THE ISSUES THAT WE WILL BE DISCUSSING. WE WILL NOT TAKE ANY FORMAL ACTION AND WILL ADJOURN DIRECTLY THEREFROM. THANK YOU COUNSELOR. OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION NOW. YES. SECOND ROLL CALL PLEASE. TOOK ME A MOMENT THERE. SO IT'S A Q. SQUARE. NOW WE NEED A ROLL CALL. YES. COMMISSIONER SOOY. YES. DEPUTY DIRECTOR DRAKE YES. ALL RIGHT. GOODBYE, MOLLY. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.