Heat. Heat. The meeting of the Atlanta County Board of Commissioners is called to order. In compliance with the open public meetings act of the state of New Jersey, adequate notice of this meeting of the Atlantic County Board of Commissioners is provided in the following manner. Published to the press of Atlantic City and mailed to the Hamilton Gazette and
has been posted on the bulletin boards of the county office building in Atlantic City, Stillwater building in Northfield and the county clerk's office in Maze Landing. Please deserve open prayer. God, as we come before you today, may our actions be guided by fairness,
integrity, and compassion. We ask for your blessings upon this meeting so that it may be productive and harmonious. In your name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. Please raise the flag. >> Salute of the United States of America and to
the republic for it stands one nation with liberty and justice for all. >> Please call the role. >> Martino >> here. >> Burns >> here. Days >> present. >> Gate >> here. Kern here. Parker
>> present. >> Grizzly >> here. >> Ruffio >> here. >> Days >> here. >> Commissioners have had an opportunity to review the minutes for the October 7th, 2025 meeting. We'll entertain a motion to adopt the October 7th minutes as presented. So move. >> Second. >> Been seconded. Please call the role.
>> Partino. >> Yes. >> Burns. Yes. Daz. Yes. >> Gat. Yes. >> Kern. Yes. >> Parker. Yes. >> Grizzly. Yes. >> Ruff. Yes. D. >> Yes. The board of commissioners will continue to utilize a consent agenda format for sections of the agenda that the commissioners do not feel need
additional discussion from the board and are not contested. This consent agenda format allows the meetings to run more efficiently and productively so that we can spend additional time during the meeting discussing other important issues that are not as routine. If any commissioner wishes for additional discussion on any resolution or like a
resolution to be pulled from the consent format to be individually addressed for any reason, please advise and we'll do so. For the public, prior to the roll call on any resolution or group of resolutions, you will continue to have an opportunity to comment if you wish to do so. Anyone attending in person who'd
like to speak regarding an agenda item at public comment, please come to the podium, speak into the microphone, state your name and the town in which you reside, you'll be provided up to three minutes to speak. If you're attending virtually and would like to speak, please raise your hand over the agenda item or public comment at the end. I will call your name and a request to
unmute will be sent. Please state your name in the town in which you reside. You will be provided up to three minutes to speak. At this time, we do have a community health improvement plan presented by Cara Jansen, the division director of public health.
>> Great. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Commissioner Days and Commissioner Boyd for having me here tonight uh to present to you the public health uh community health assessment and community health improvement plan. How we started this process was we uh
utilized our county partners to create a new mission and a vision so that we had a um clear structure when we were going to create the community health improvement plan for the county. We are defined um at public health by
standards set by the New Jersey State Health Department. One of the requirements is that we have partnerships and at this time we have 30 partner agencies which include nonprofits like Jewish Family Services, Mental Health Association, the Rescue Mission, New Jersey AIDS Alliance, and
many more. Um, faith-based organizations. This year we've been able to partner with St. Paul and Hamilton United Methodist. We have higher education, disability services, healthc care providers, and veteran services that participated with us on a regular
basis. Oh, I'm sorry. Go back just real quick. Um, so we have the community we have the community partnerships which help us work on our community health assessment and our community health improvement plan. The community health assessment needs to be done every four years and
that's just our statistical analysis of what's happening in the communities. And then we take that to create our community health improvement plan. Making sure we're linking services, coordinating with our partners, and identifying um our capacity to respond
to the needs. So we'll start with the community health assessment which we put out in 2024 and that goes till 2027. No problem. So the purpose of the community health assessment is to identify uh key needs
and issues and to um help us create the guiding plan for what we're going to do over the next couple of years. And we are required to do this. we can do it as a multi-county uh approach and we also know that our hospital partners which is
uh Shore and Atlantic Care they also do a version of this and we're thinking in future years we can all collaborate together to come up with goals that um connect to one another. So, when we're assessing the community, um, we have to collect data. And what we
did this year is we partnered with Strategic Health Solutions, which is made up of former health officers to help us make sure we were really looking um in a broad scope at what's going on in our communities. So, we looked at data such as the census, a bureau, the
behavioral risk factor surveillance system, and the city health dashboard. What we did this year is we asked our partners to come to the table and tell us what resources do you have available? What's in your systems that connect to
with what we do here? And how can we connect our processes together for our long-term planning? The community survey was the survey we put out um to residents. It went over 42 health and wellness factors. We had 563
participants respond. um majority was uh Atlantic City which was uh just about 22%, Egg Harbor Township residents at 13% and Galloway at 9%. So those were um the greatest number of uh residents from
the municipalities. And when it came to age groups, um the greatest number was 10% which was in the 60 to 64 age group. Now I will say I was at ACCC when we tried to get those college students to come. We couldn't even bribe them with
food and gift cards. So, um eventually we did get 12 students to come in for that. We had some grant money for some giveaways, which at that level was definitely a meal and a gift card. Um hopefully we can build that partnership with uh Stockton and ACCCC to get that
survey pushed out to a broader range of uh individuals next uh next four years when we do it. >> Yes. >> Just a question on that. Do we like advertise on social media or anything for the survey? >> We did. We did put that out there. Um, we had that posted. We had all our
partners push it out. 500 >> paid paid advertising, >> not just post and push. >> So, when it came to the focus groups, which is where there were some incentives, we did utilize our partners to help us structure them. when it came to the actual just survey where nothing
was being offered except we wanted your time. Um I don't we did not use paid advertising for that. >> Yeah. And then that so that's the bottom part there. I'm sorry just jump back. Um the bottom part there, the community context assessment. This was something different
than we've done in years past as well. We've always done focus groups, but we really expanded that out so that we were touching um majority of the groups across the county such as individuals in the rural part, folks who were unhoused, the Alice population, making sure we
talked to families and individuals with disabilities and veterans. Um and then we built on that with some key informant interviews and we looked at we sent out the um strategic strategic health solutions team to look at some
individual communities where there may be the right things happening when it comes to parks and walkways and some other communities where maybe there could be some improvement in that. so that we could have that within the document as we if we went towards
transportation and access we'd have some data for that. Um so there's quite a lot of information um within this report about what we did in the communities. And then we also looked at uh food store mapping, seeing where people have access
to food. um you would still be considered a food desert even if you had a multitude of convenience stores close by you because that limits your food options. So just real quick on the key findings um we looked at some of the cultural and language barriers that people have
accessing um healthcare services access to insurance and um there's some gaps with e even within the social service organizations when it comes to touching the vulnerable populations. I think we all found um quite inspiring
that one of the strengths is our communities in Atlantic County repeating over and over no matter what a community it was people found they had supportive neighborhoods they had supportive government and they felt that that would built a resilient community. So I think
that was really good feedback for all of us to hear. we want to believe it, but to have it even from 563 people, it still was really good feedback. When we were looking at the social determinants of health that were impacting um individuals within Atlantic
County, um we had people with um transportation issues, housing issues, access to food, and um understanding health care. And then the same groups we were trying to reach out to to get information from,
we also found they face the greatest needs like the Alice population, disabled, single parents, unhoused and individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders. So what we came up with for uh after reviewing all the data is six key areas
that individuals within Atlantic County need extra support with housing, mental health, food security, transportation, health knowledge, and child care. Of those six um six of the recommendations, we can see
they're really all interconnected. So we asked the coalition to come up with three target areas that we would utilize for the community health improvement plan. So, this just ends the part on the community health assessment which anyone can find online and I believe that um
I've got copies if you didn't get copies if you want a hardbound uh copy of that assessment and um there is a lot of information but it is an easily um searchable document online. >> Okay, next one
>> question. Um, >> sure, >> car. Um, >> I I noticed on the second to last slide the bullet says >> um there remains a significant gap in physical activity and nutrition, but
none of the recommendations on the last slide have anything to do with physical activity or nutrition. >> Well, when it comes to nutrition, we did group that together with food security. >> Okay. So we looked at that as a com
combined concern that you may be looking for access for food but you also need to understand your nutritional needs as well. Okay. >> Yes. >> And then we did but we didn't want to do anything in terms of physical activity like a health challenge or
>> so we have have done that in the past and we do actually have a lot of partners that do that type of work. So we were this year trying to broaden our scope for public health. What are the factors that overall are influencing people? So when
it comes to physical activity, it a lot of that is your behavior, right? Your own behavior and how you view do I have time or attention to place to that matter. So we did want to broaden the scope about the broader issues that involve >> the the health of people
>> education maybe rights or motivates. >> Yes. Okay. We we do have a health educator and she continually goes out and offers that type of programming at at request and on a regular schedule with certain providers. But uh yes,
thanks for noticing that. Yeah, thanks. >> Okay, so the community health improvement plan is the actual strategic plan of what we're going to be doing over the um next couple of years. This started this year and goes through 2028. and we released that to the public um
through a presentation on the 10th and um that will be going up on the website uh before the end of um October. So really before we even decided what three target areas we were going to work on, we had to decide who was at greatest
need, who lacked access to health care, where are some of the gaps and what are some of the barriers and then we decided what would be the priority areas and again we used our partners to help us with this because we are looking at their resources that can
pair with our resources so we can all work together. So we came up with transportation, accessible healthy foods and access to care and services. And then the third step was decide how were we going to accomplish this together?
>> We um created >> Oh yes, I'm sorry. >> Uh there's no infant mortality. >> That that is not part of right. that was not one of the um that was not one of the identified areas
based on the public health scope of the questions that we did go through. Yes, that is a separate program that we do have in public health when for infant mortality um issues. But when we were trying to broadly survey a broad
population and identify what their needs were out of the 563 responses, that's what we used as to help guide our purpose along with the data. So we do, it's a good great question because we do use a lot of the
data anyway in the community health assessment to continue the current programs we we are required to offer or that we continue to offer. So when it comes to maternal child health services, that is part of the practice standards for public health that we have to have
and that's guided from a variety of different not just the department of health, but then they also have an infant mortality review team. Um, and then there's some other community partners that come and partner with us as well. >> But I'd be happy to give you some
additional information on that program. >> Yeah. Okay. So then after we've decided who was at uh in greatest need and what was going to be the priority, we talked about how we were going to do that together. Okay. Yep.
So um basically the community health improvement plan is an action plan and it there is a flyer by the door if you haven't seen that. Um, and it's also going to be available online that just details the um, areas that were chosen
and some of the key goals that we're looking to um, obtain. And this will be an ongoing review. This is a living document. So, we do have a lot of um, process measures and dates when we hope to accomplish things, but we do look to
be able to be flexible with that because it's not just the health department doing the work. We are requesting that our partners continue to support us through this long-term project. And really, I'd like to point out that public health really thrives on civic engagement. So really, anyone can be
part of that. Anyone who has an interest in that. I know I named a few of the agencies. We're always looking for anyone else. If there's people in the public who would like to participate in that, we're always looking for anyone who has a passion for public health to participate.
Okay. And these were just the three areas um transportation, accessible uh healthy food, and access to care and services. So, just a quick overview of some of what we hope to accomplish, the priorities that we're looking at. Um
developing a transportation guide um by partnering with South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization. We've already been um meeting with them about some of their current goals and we're hoping to work ours into there as well. Expand access through planning. Um the access for all transit plan is
something else we're participating in and promoting complete and clean streets to the municipalities. Some of the partners working on this are Shore Medical Center, Atlantic Care, Career Opportunity Development, Center for Family Services, and Atlantic County
Intergenerational Services. Something we hope to accomplish for access to care and services is to increase insurance coverage through education, promoting a referral network, something uh similar to Unite Us and enhance health literacy through
workshops. Partners that are working on this are Atlantic Care, Southern Jersey Family Medical Center, Jewish Family Services, Atlantic County Addiction Services, and Atlantic County Community Health. And access to healthy food is the third one. Um, we're looking to expand
education around nutritional needs such as uh there's a Monday's campaign. It's once a month kind of getting everybody ready for making a change on the Monday which is like a the day everybody looks at as the day I can make a change. I can
do it today as before the week really takes over. We also would like to be more involved in promoting the healthy food options that are available in the county and doing some additional um assessment about food insecurity challenges and they're going to focus on
um children and utilize the school district to help us with that. Some of the partners in that are the Atlantic County Superintendent Office, Atlantic Care, Atlantic Prevention Resources, uh Baron Joaz Senior Center, Jewish Family Services, the Hamilton Family Success
Center, Rucker Cooperative Extension, and Environmental Health here at Atlantic County. >> Great. So, public health would like to thank our partners and county administration and the county commissioners for supporting this long-term project. Um, everyone shows up
to our meetings because we all understand that collectively we can accomplish um things in a better time frame, feels like it's a more cohesive message when we all come together. The full document plus a condensed version
will be available um online on the website and um if anyone has any questions about that they can reach out to public health. The last side will have our contact information at 645-5853.
That's our health planning unit. Myself, Christine King, and Santiago Fuertz. We were the ones coordinating this for the last couple years and we'll continue to carry that forward. That's all I have. I'd love to hear your questions. >> Yeah, Cara, thank you and the your team
and everyone for all of your your hard work and effort to reach out to the the community and working with our various agencies. Um, are there any commissioner comments, questions? >> Just one. Cara, I saw your presentation one of my committees before and one of my questions was and I want you to
explain to the commissioners that the the 56 responses that you got you you received were really reflective of the entire county. Um >> yes. Yes, they were. So we received um those were just the top three that I so
we had Absin, Atlantic City, Brigantine, Buuna Burough, Buuna Vista, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Egg Harbor Township, even someone from Estel Manor, >> um Hamilton, Galloway, Lynwood, Margate, Hamilton Township,
Mullica, Northfield, Pleasantville, Port Republic, Summers Point, Ventner, and Folsam. Great. >> We are really, you know, >> we tried to touch everybody and reach out, make sure we heard the voices. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I guess I feel a little differently. I
mean, we have 250,000ish residents and >> it was only 56 >> 563 >> 563 563 >> as Right. I'm sorry. >> Yeah. So I just But at least there were people. That's what I was trying to say.
>> No. Yeah, I get it. I just would encourage I mean like we put send it to all employees uh who live in the county who work for the county like make them take it. >> Um >> make them take it. >> Yeah. >> Why can't we
I guess I mean >> and I would definitely do paid social media advertisement to push it out in in people's feeds next time, >> right? >> Um I won't be here though, so go ahead. >> Great. I mean your comments.
>> I know. I know. I just feel like we should try to really do more. >> We should just really try to do more to >> you know more data the better. So >> any other commissioner? >> Not to negate the report out. The report out was great.
>> No, I I think that you're touching on the number one issue. Um we scaled it back so that it was not as burdensome of a number of questions. I think in the past there had been 100 plus. that gets to be difficult for people, >> but there's a lot of things to talk
about and to gather data on. So, we did scale that back trying to group things together. >> I still think it was a little bit massive. >> Um, another thought could be that we could put it out in pieces to certain groups, you know, um, and not maybe, um,
have everybody answer or try to answer, you know, 50 some questions at a time. So, >> sound good. Yeah, >> I thought the survey was great to um it was very specific to where you lived. So you weren't if you lived on the western
end or the eastern end, what wherever you were, it was really specific to where you were living. So I I get it. So um >> yes, >> it's difficult to get everyone or more people to respond. >> Oh, I get it. It's I do think there's
things we could do. Yeah, >> I I know Tara this took quite a few a number of years, right? For the whole uh whole report. How long? >> Yeah, we started this um at the end of 22. Yeah. Before we Yeah. So, you're pulling all the partners together,
getting all your questions, figuring out how much can we really do based on the data that we were going to gather. So, >> yeah. A lot of work, a lot of time. Thank you very much. >> Thanks. And thanks for your feedback. >> Yeah. Car, I just have a two two questions. I'm sorry. Um, was the information available at the county
libraries like so people could access the computers there? >> Was was it available? >> Was this Yeah, the survey information. >> We had a flyer. Okay. Yes. >> Okay. So, they could have Yes. Um, and then the section we talk about I'm sorry. >> It was on the website, too. >> Then the section we talked about transportation. Was there any discussion
about bike paths, connecting bike paths, expanding them? >> That would be part of the uh complete and green streets. Okay. >> project. Yep. And we will be hoping to um take what we are looking to accomplish and ask the municipalities if they're
willing to have some more discussions about that. Yes. >> Thank you so much. >> Okay. Thanks. >> I know a mayor that would be interested in that topic. >> Mayor of Hamilton. >> I need to get a I need to get a card before I >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> He just happened to be sitting in a room. Thank you, Karen. Great. So, we'll move on to our agenda items. Resolution 567, >> amending resolution number 478, adopted on September 7th, 2024, a grant from the
New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission for the State Community Partnership and Family Court Grant to include the sub award numbers, no additional cost. Move. >> Second. Moved >> and seconded. Any commissioner comments, questions?
Any comments from the public? Let's call the role. >> Ratino, yes. Burns, yes. Stays, yes. >> Gate, yes. >> Karna, yes. Parker, yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Ruffio, >> yes. >> Days, >> yes. Resolution 568, >> amending resolution number 390 adopted
on August 12th, 2025. A grant from the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety for the 2025 2027 OPT for help and hope grant to reflect the proper date range, no additional cost. >> Second move and seconded. Any commissioner comments?
Any comments from the public? Right. Please call the role. >> Bertino, >> yes. >> Burns, yes. >> Stays, >> abstain. >> Gate, >> yes. >> Kern, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Ruff, >> yes. >> D, >> yes. Resolution 569. >> Renewal competitive contract with the
Center for Family Services and Crossroads Programs Incorporated for the provision of youth shelter beds on an asneeded basis. Amount not to exceed $95,000. >> Second. There's been seconded. Any commissioner comments? Any comments from the public?
>> Dispel the role. >> Ratino, yes. >> Burns, yes. Stays, >> yes. >> Gat, yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, yes. >> Ruff, >> yes. >> Bid contracts. If any commissioners would like to discuss or remove any bid contracts from the consent agenda,
please indicate so. Now, any comments from the public on any of these items? Entertain a motion to combine and adopt resolutions 570 5 and 572. Move. >> Second. >> We've been seconded. Please call the role.
>> Bertino, yes. >> Burns, yes. >> Days, >> yes. >> Gat, >> yes. >> Kerna, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Ruffio, >> yes. >> Days, >> yes. >> Any commissioners would like to discuss remove any miscellaneous items from the
consent agenda? Please indicate so now. Hearing none. Any comments from the public? Right. I'll entertain a motion to combine and adopt resolutions 573 through 579. Second move and seconded. Please call the RO. >> Ratino. >> Yes. >> Burns. >> Yes.
>> Daz. Yes. >> Gat. >> Yes. >> Kern. >> Yes. >> Parker. >> Yes. >> Grizzly. >> Yes. >> Rafio. >> Yes. >> D. >> Yes. Chapter 159. I'll entertain a motion to combine and adopt resolutions 580 through 587. Chapter 159.
>> Moved. Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any commissioner comments? Any comments from the public? Please call the role. >> Martino, >> yes. >> Burns, >> yes. >> Stays, >> yes. >> Gat, yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Ruffio, >> yes. Stace,
>> yes. Entertain a motion to combine and adopt resolutions 588 through 589. Miscellaneous items. >> Move. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. There any commissioner comments? >> Any comments from the public? All right. Please call the role.
>> Ratino. Yes. >> Burns. >> Daz. >> Yes. >> Gat. >> Yes. >> Karn. >> Yes. >> Parker. >> Yes. >> Resley. >> Yes. >> Ruffio. >> Yes. >> Daz. >> Yes. I'll entertain a motion to combine and adopt resolutions 590 through 591 appointments. Move. >> Second.
>> Move. Seconded. Are there any commissioner comments? Any comments from the public? >> Let's call the role. >> Yes. >> Burns. Yes. >> Daz. Yes. >> Gat. Yes. >> Karn. Yes. >> Parker. >> Yes. >> Grizzly. >> Yes. >> Ruffio. >> Yes. D.
>> Yes. Resolution 592. >> Resolution opposing the proposed judicial consent order between the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the 3M company regarding PAFAS contamination sponsor James Aertino.
>> Moved and seconded. Any commissioner comments? >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just uh briefly as we discussed the last commissioner's meeting uh this resolution is in support of the action uh the ACUA and and I imagine most of the counties that has
that are paying any attention the state should be doing. Uh this will u suggest that we do not allow the NJP to settle their claims with 3M u for the issue that we're having regarding the PFAS contamination. I know we discussed it at
the last meeting. It's imperative. It's going to be extremely expensive to whoever is uh whoever has got to do to clean up on this and we thought about it. It's in everything you have and everything we do, cosmetics, everything. So, stuff goes through wastewater, it's in them, too. So, I I know that
commissioners and we spoke about this is uh very supportive of it. And hopefully the NJ will listen to us. We do not want to incur these type of costs to do the cleanup on our own. It will be almost it is impossible. So, Commissioner, any additional
commissioner comments? Any comments from the public? >> Please call the role. >> Martino, yes. >> Burns, >> yes. >> Stays, >> yes. >> Gat, yes. >> Kern, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Ruffio, >> yes. >> Stays, >> yes. at this point of um if they're
talking to to council to hold off on the closed session resolutions so we can go through the rest of the agenda items allow public comment prior to executive session unless commissioner has problem or that >> makes sense. >> Okay. So move on to I guess working
communications and petitions. Anybody want to discuss anything we've received? >> Any reports of special committees? >> I just want to mention that part of uh the disability advisory board every year
they um put together the Donald Sykes award program. Uh Commissioner Grizzly and Commissioner Burns were there as well today. It's it really is a very special event and very heartwarming and they honor a number of I think there was
like six of them today. Yeah. Or seven of them today. And they honor people with disabilities and things that you know they have done for the community and how they've overcome their disability which most of them talk about it's not a disability you know they don't look at it that way. So, it it's
always a wonderful event and um I thank the Sykes family and our executive for continuing this event. >> Thank you, Commissioner Commissioner Bino. >> Yeah, just briefly, um bridges and roads of course is have met. Um construction
projects, we went over the uh uh you know the process of what's available, what are we still working on. Uh that is in your agenda the minute. You'll be guys will be receiving that. Uh yesterday we had a meeting with the solid waste advisory committee uh to go over uh the Atlantic County Planning
Department has reached out to affirm SCS engineering. They're going to begin working on the next 10-year plan for our solid waste management disposal, how we handle trash here in Atlantic County. U we're going to be probably having another meeting on that. There was some suggestions we brought to the uh
engineering firm to consider. uh just but make sure the board's aware of that. That's important. That's how you handle bash and what we're saying we're going to be doing with it for the next 10 years. It'll go through the uh planning department. They'll review it and at some point it's going to come back to
the commissioners to be approved and then that will be the footprint that you will be using for the next 10 years and how we I keep repeating it because it's going to be very important how we uh plan on how we dispose of trash. So that was important. So you'll be hearing more on that. Commissioner, can we share the
uh the fun facts that the uh >> Let her I'll let you do it because you that's why I wanted you to hear it because of the state's uh uh thought process on where they think we should be. Um I think it's important, but I'll let you do that because you seem to be impressed with that yesterday when we
met when they were mentioned some of the goals. >> The state has a goal which has to be baked in as an assumption in the plan of reducing food waste by 2030. by 50%.
>> 40. >> That's why the pigs are running loose. >> Some of some of the thoughts and I know we've had this discussion before. Some of the thoughts um that well they we do the best we can kind of stuff. Listen, I think we've been around this long enough
to know when we codify a document and we say that's where we're going to meet, then you kind of open yourself up from the state to take a look at this later on after we say we're going to meet it and say, "Well, then give me your plan B on how you're going to meet it next year." So, it opens you up to some of that, but the I know the states made
some lofty goals. A lot of times disposal of trash is not at their highest priority level. on how it's going to be done. You know, how you handle I have to, you know, some of my experience in the past. I worked for a trash company that worked in multiple states and how they handle trash in West
Virginia is nothing like they do in New Jersey. So, it's different across the country. So, this urban centers are going to have an issue with it. Uh there's no places to put it. There's only so many places to do to get rid of it. And as we are today, you either put it on a truck and haul it out of here,
you put it on a train and haul it out of here. You're not going to get incineration. You're not going to get all that. There's new technologies. I love the ACA because they are very aggressive. They do look at new emerging technologies. They're not afraid to do it. And most of the time they probably lead the state of New Jersey on trying
to find something that's more creative and inventive. And I always give them credit for doing that. And Atlantic County, I know we support them on uh process and a lot of times the cost to do that. Uh but we're going to have to take a hard look at it when this plan comes to us. I want to just make sure
you guys are aware of it. >> Well, my daughter doesn't want you to vegetables. Like I say, the doctor says it because Governor Murphy says you have to. Now, >> there's there's going to be it's like throwing it in the trash where we're comfortable and a lot of times urban areas, as I said, I'm in a rural area. We would compost. It's a lot easier for
me to do that, but you can't compost in an apartment complex when there's no place to put it. So, how you handle that material is going to be different for everybody. and how it's done utilizing county health departments involved in this strategy and all that. It's not so simple. Yeah. >> Um
>> for us to make sure it gets implemented at the public level. So education is great. Understanding it, but the reality of where uh they happen to live is going to impact how that works. I mean there were some states I know that they've tried as test goals and where they take
uh food waste separate. It's a blue container when you come by on a trash day. Uh some of them were trying to do that in some of the cities and see how that works out. But you could imagine there's cost involved with that if you're going to go try to pick it up. Some communities had it at their local landfills where you can bring the
material yourself and dispose of it there. Some of them are using the food waste to intermix with uh uh leaves and and uh grass clippings and stuff and using it as composting and stuff. There's some things that are done, but nothing that's done statewide. And that's why uh or countywide that I'm
aware of. Yeah. that we'll have to take a look at >> can be a job. >> Yeah. I just want to make sure it doesn't overburden the the restaurant industry. So, so >> some of the things to keep in mind >> some of I think some of the things that had happened in the past and I know a company that used to do it. Uh they did digesttors where some of the casinos had
them all the colleges had them and they were doing that for a while. Of course there's a cost involved with all that. Some of those larger institutions can take that material and absorb it. Then you would come down enzymes break the material down. You have to come and pump it out. You have to put new stuff in. there was cost involved with that, but
from the economy side of it, it doesn't make a lot of economic sense to anybody to continue doing it. And I know the company that was trying to do it that I had some affiliation with for a while. They just said this doesn't make any sense. It's not enough buying and they look for subsidies to kind of continue
it, which everybody tends to do when it doesn't make financial sense. So, >> all right. Look forward to that. >> Think about your >> discussion. Yeah. >> All that food. Well, I I mean couple things to say about that. We'll hold on those later. Um, are there any
other discussions because I I do want to discuss we did have a a code committee meeting um last week and I think after um a fairly productive conversation discussing Commissioner Parker's AI resolutions and um how he wants to move forward with that. I did say last meeting, but depending on how that goes,
we would look into establishing another ad hoc committee. Um I would like to do so at this time as a result of our discussions at county code. So I would like to create an AI technology committee. I've asked Commissioner Ruffu serve on that, Commissioner Gatau and Commissioner Parker to chair that committee. So there we'll get that
information out and then Commissioner Parker you can >> and our our purpose initially I think as we kind of discussed in code committee right was to kind of baseline where we are today in county government
what tools we're using what contractual uh agreements are in place and what language was used what guard rails are already in place um IT infrastructure sure uh what have we put in place today so far and just kind of get grounded in
that right before we then make any larger decisions. Yeah, >> absolutely. >> I asked Mr. G on the board. She's well knowledgeable on that topic and you know I want to make sure she puts her extra work in before she
>> I might have bullied you guys into it. >> I wasn't I wasn't playing that at all. You bullied him. I requested Wanted to make sure you know you didn't get bored in your last two months on the board. >> That's all. >> Amy, you know how I um Commissioner Getter, you know how I how I roll. And
when I say kick the tires, I mean it. You know, some people say it and don't mean it, but I mean it. But this is extremely important for our county to do. We all know the importance of AI. We can't miss it in our news. We can't miss it in the economy. We can't miss it with anything that we're doing right now. In
fact, we were in an uh a workshop this morning for the ethics of AI with Tara and and myself and you just you just can't miss it. It's it's impacting everything. And so we're just, you know, we got to make sure that we are taking the lead and not being reactive and
being proactive because this is very new and and and so we need to find out as uh Commissioner Gat said, we need to find out where we are uh exactly and have a a a better idea of where we are already as
a county, as an organization, and then decide how we're going to move forward, you know, with AI. So, I did write a little something if you if I if I may. There's some folks in the room. I see I see my friend Ren's back there. Hello, Ren from Ideal Institute. And I know he just ribbon cut an AI uh program
and AI center with his organization and my friend Joe Berg back there who I drive him nuts about AI quite often. Jerry, don't raise your hand. I know I drive you nuts about that too, but I drive you nuts about everything.
So, that's not fair. Um, so I'll just I'll just go through this real quick. I want to sincerely thank uh my colleagues, you guys here, for the support in the creation of the uh Atlantic County Ad Hoc Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Technology and for the confidence you placed in me
after this vote, maybe unless I don't get chair position uh as chair to serve as a chair. This committee will function as an AI think tank, diverse group of innovators, educators, and critical thinkers committed to rigorously
examining every idea we discuss. Together, we will kick tires of emerging technologies to ensure that we that what we explore is not only visionary, but also ethical, equitable, and impactful. I look forward to the work ahead
advancing innovation for the betterment of our society, our county government, and the people of Atlantic County. There's a few people that I'd like to thank because I want I want everyone to know at this point kind of we're creating this that this wasn't done in a silo. So, I want to thank our county executive Dennis Levenson who met with
me several times about this topic, Jerry Daso, who's been absolutely uh you guys know Jerry the same. You know, you call Jerry up and all the information you need is there. So, I appreciate you, Jerry, for your work on this. Uh, Ken Warren, our board solicitor, Lynn
Hughes, uh, county council, uh, Tara. So, I appreciate all the work that you've done. Our county clerk, Howard K from the ERTP, I probably drove him nuts. Lauren Moore, Max Slusher from the ACA. Um there's just Miss Monica
Amatoio for Stockton University's chair of the entrepreneurship program and my friend Ren in the back. You know, this has been something that we have been working on for many months now and have been, you know, kicking the tires ourselves behind closed doors and now it's finally coming into a place where
>> So, let me just make sure I'm clear. We discussed a commissioner ad hoc committee. >> That's correct. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> That's correct. Okay. So, and and so I want to thank you guys and for all the work that you've done leading up to this point, >> okay, >> um leading up to this point in the
creation of this because without that work behind the scenes, none of this would be happening up here today. So, I appreciate your help um to get to this point and u listen, let's see what the commissioners come up with in the ad hoc committee. >> So, just to make you feel better,
there's no vote. your chairman unless you change your >> that brings me peace. >> I mean unless we ever make you happier. I mean I don't know vote against I don't know >> but it's it's a definitely not just like the other committees. Um so it would be the three commissioners and if you have
a meeting if you want to invite administration of course Jerry can bring his his knowledge you know. No, I absolutely would like um for um administration to come to our meetings because as we found out in the code in the county code uh meeting, there's not a whole lot of substance that we can accomplish without having them in the
room. So, we definitely need administration in the room with us. Forward to seeing what you guys come up with. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Moving on to reports of any unfinished business. I guess we're done with special committees. Any unfinished
business to discuss? Any new business? >> All right. So, do I'm sorry. Uh I do have something I want to let everybody know from culture and heritage. We have the unit historical society put out that on
uh they will be once again participating in the Boscow's friends helping friends shopping day Wednesday, tomorrow, October 22nd, 2025. uh when you can shop anytime this day at Boscows with the 25% off discount pass
and register to win a $100 Foscow gift card. Passes are just $5 and all proceeds go to the Buna Historical Society available at their uh program on October 15th or by contacting Elen I
guess that's Ruberty 8562072585 or Deborah Saza 8564664654. >> Right. Oh, thank you, Commissioner. Any any other new business. All right. Moving on to public comment before we go back to the executive session resolution. If
anyone attending in person that would like to speak now with public comment, please come to the podium, speak into the microphone, state your name in the town you reside. If you're attending virtually, you would like to make a public comment, please raise your hand. I will call your name and request to unmute will be sent. Please state your name of the town you reside. You be
provided up to three minutes to speak. >> Joe Berg, chief of staff, legislative district 2. Uh just wanted to cover a couple quick things with you guys. Uh first of all, uh we Senator Palina, Assembly Guardian, Assemblywoman Swift. Uh appreciate the resolution in support of the ebike laws. I wanted to let
everybody know that we had the first Senate quarum in some time yesterday and the Senate version of the ebike um bill that we had shared with you has posted that bill in the Senate is S 4763. The next assembly quorum will be
November 12th. Uh Assemblywoman Swift is going to be introducing the assembly version of that bill. So I just wanted to flag that with everybody and appreciate the support. Uh secondly, and and kind of more importantly on a timely m manner, I know I've been here before and spoken about the anchor program, the
senior freeze, the state New Jersey. We are 10 days away from the deadline for the applications. Um I encourage everybody share with your constituents the fact that they need to make sure that they go those applications in prior to Halloween. Uh we're starting to see
some people who are actually receiving both the anchor and the senior freeze payments back. Um, so if you've got anybody who's got any questions, if there's a difference in the amount of what they've received or if they've filed some time ago and they have not seen those rebates yet, ask them please to follow up with our office. Uh,
there's been some issues with some people receiving less than they expected, some people not receiving them at all. Um, and I feel like we spend the bulk of our time, at least when I visit you guys, reminding everybody of these applications. So remind people not to leave that money on the table if they
believe that they're eligible. Uh this year it's it's two separate applications. If you were a senior citizen, you filed the combined PAS1 that is for your senior freeze, your anchor, and then the state New Jersey program, which is a new program we're expecting to be rolled out uh next year,
2026. If you're not a senior citizen, you would just file the the standard anchor rebate form. Uh I know in years past, some have gotten notices that said they didn't have to file. Some have gotten notices said they had to file. just remind anybody, any of your residents, any of your constituents,
they've got 10 days. Uh, Deputy Chief of Staff Sarah Walsh is also here with me today. Um, so if anybody has any questions, send them to send them to me, send them to Sarah. We're happy to help. So, I just wanted to make sure that I got that to everybody. And, uh, have a happy Halloween.
>> So, thank you. >> Any other public comment? Any anybody online? >> All right. I'll entertain a motion to close public comment. Second. >> The second. All in favor? >> I can. Should we do comments for the good
of the order first or go back to the resolution and then save that for after? >> At this point, do you have some members of the public here? Are there any comments for the good of the order? >> Yes, sir. >> Commissioner Gat. >> Yeah, kind of piggybacking on um Commissioner Parker's um advertisement
he just he just made there. Also, tomorrow night is uh at Red Robin and Maze Landing. um the VFW there's a the fundraiser for VFW reacross America um effort. Uh so 20% of all food sales
tomorrow night at Red Robin go back to the Reese across America effort. Um we're really starting to kick into overdrive on our annual fundraising for Reeds Across America. Last year, uh, I talked about we raised money for about 2,000 reads, which covered, uh, every
veteran in Holy Cross Cemetery in Maze Landing, as well as a couple of other smaller cemeteries in that area. And we're also um working on trying to engage with the neighboring cemetery to Holy Cross, which I believe is called uh Jackson Memorial um which is a
traditionally uh African-American uh cemetery and uh working on um finding those veterans and uh being able to fundra to put on those graves as well in the future. Um, so if you uh are so inclined to either go tomorrow night to
Red Robin or uh go on to the page, I'm happy to share the link um for the the wreaths, they're $17. $5 of that purchase goes toward um it depend on what link you use certain organizations mostly to the uh food
pantry at St. Vincent to Paul and the rest goes toward the purchase of the wreath. Um many of you have supported it in the past and I appreciate that. I hope you'll consider your generosity, including you, Mr. Solicitor. Um, uh, and December 13th is the Reeds, uh,
placement ceremony at Holy Cross Cemetery, uh, in Maze Landing. Um, we've really, um, grown it to a pretty beautiful event. Uh, it's very, uh, sobering right before the holiday. Um,
but it's also very beautiful and um, uh, it's it's definitely something to bring your family out to. Um, just take a minute to uh, lay that wreath, show some appreciation as we we head into that that holiday season. So, put that on your calendar
and uh, again, if you could support the wreath or any of the fundraising efforts, that would be appreciated. Thank you. >> Any other comments for the good of the order? circle back, use that term. Let's go back to uh resolution number 593.
>> Resolution authorizing a closed session requested regarding pending or anticipated litigation, contractual negotiations and/or attorney client privilege requiring confidential communications. >> Move. >> Second. >> Second. Are there any commissioner
comments? Comments from the public? No. Okay, we will come back and we'll have some additional resolutions. Corrective. >> Yes, four was anticipated after session. >> Thank you. >> All right, sh call the role.
>> Patino, >> yes. >> Burns, >> yes. >> Gat, >> yes. >> Kern, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Grizzley, >> yes. >> Ruff, >> yes. >> D, >> yes. >> All right. The board will now go into a closed executive session to discuss the matter noted in resolution 593.
Attendees will see executive session in progress on the screen. Please stand by. >> I'll entertain a motion to resume the meeting. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Sarah, please call the role. >> Certino, >> yes. >> Burns, yes. >> Daz, >> yes.
>> Gat, >> yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Ruffw, >> yes. >> D, >> yes. Entertain a motion to add resolutions 594 through 596 to the agenda. >> Move. Second. >> Moved and seconded. Please call the
role. >> Ratino? >> Yes. >> Burns? >> Yes. >> Days? >> Yes. >> Gat? >> Yes. >> Karn, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Ruff, >> yes. >> Daz, >> yes. Resolution 594. Resolution offering a plan out option
outside of state health benefits which includes a self-funded HRA to it be administrated through the use of the difference card and other medical benefit consultant services. >> Seconded any commissioner comments any comments from the public? Does
anybody >> please call the role? >> Bertino, yes. >> Burns, yes. Daz, >> yes. >> Gat, yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, >> yes. RZley, >> yes. >> Ruff, >> yes. >> D, >> yes. Resolution 595.
>> Resolution offering a plan option which includes a self-funded HR to be administrated through the use of the difference card and other medical benefit consultant services. >> Second. >> We have been seconded. Any commissioner comments? >> Any comments from the public?
>> Call the role. >> Prattino, >> yes. >> Burns, yes. Days, >> yes. >> Gatau, yes. >> Kern, yes. Yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Ruffio, >> yes. >> D, >> yes. Resolution 596. >> Memorandanda of understanding with all collected bargaining units concerning
the voluntary offering as a baseline health insurance plan with the utilization of a health reimbursement account. >> Second. >> Seconded. Any commissioner comments? >> Comments from the public? >> Please call the role. >> Bertino, yes. >> Burns, yes. Daz,
>> yes. >> Gat, yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, >> yes. RZley, >> yes. >> Ruffio, >> yes. >> D, >> yes. I know we went through the rest of the agenda. Are there any other comments for the good of the order? >> I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So move second.
>> Second. All in favor? >> Any opposed?