Heat. Heat. meeting of the Land County Board of Commissioners is now called to order. It is 4:00 or 1600 hours. 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 was provided in the following manner. Published in the press of Atlantic City, mailed to the Hamilton Gazette and has been posted on the bulletin boards in the county office building in Atlantic City, the Stillwater Building in Northfield, and
the county clerk's office in Maze Landing. We'll now have an opening prayer. >> Heavenly Father, as we gather here today in service to our community, we ask for your guiding presence. Grant us clarity of mind, wisdom in our deliberations,
and fairness in the decisions we make. Amen. >> Amen. >> Amen. >> Please rise for the flag salute. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Madam clerk, please call the role. Chairman, Commissioner Bertino is attending virtually today and Commissioner Ruffy will be a few minutes late. >> Okay. >> Bertino >> here. >> Burns >> here. R Days >> here. >> C days.
>> Karn >> here. Barker >> present. >> Shanker >> here. >> Grizzly >> here. >> Okay. >> And commissioners, you've had the opportunity to look at the minutes of May the 5th, and I'll entertain a motion to adopt them as presented.
>> So moved. Second move and second and any discussion on the minutes, corrections, deletions etc. If not, all in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. >> Okay.
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 our
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 would like a resolution to
be pulled from the consent format to be individually addressed for any reason, please advise and we will 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 would like to speak regarding an agenda item or at public comment, please come to the podium, speak into the microphone, state your name in the town where you reside. You will be provided up to three minutes
to speak. If you are attending virtually and would like to speak, please raise your hand during the agenda item or at public comment at the end. I will call upon your name and a request to unmute will be sent. Please state your name and the town you reside. You'll provide up
to three minutes of speak. Okay. All right. Our first um item this afternoon is a presentation from a service that uh does many services for Atlantic County, Jewish Family Services.
Would you like to come forward, please? >> Good afternoon. I'm Andrea Steinberg. I'm the CEO from Jewish Family Service >> and thank you for being here. >> Oh, thank you. Uh we appreciate always being invited in because it gives us an opportunity to talk about the services we're providing not just that are funded
by the county but that we're providing throughout Atlanta County. Um and I have a number of people with me who I will introduce that will talk about the work that we do. And um I know we're limited in time so we won't get be as passionate and energetic as we usually are about
all of the things we do but I do um want to give those of you that may not know who we are. Um, we are a multi-ervice social service agency. We're helping 15,000 people throughout Atlantic and Kay County. Uh, we employ about 180
people throughout um our eight offices. We're uh just opening our eighth office which is um right at the atrium apartments on the Blackhorse Pike which is 6821. We're waiting for lensure but we will uh officially let you know about
the ribbon cutting when that um is happening. And the reason that we are spread out the way we are is just to create the greatest amount of access that we can. Today we're here to talk about our uh discharge planning and re-entry contract. Um I understand that's what you're all looking for. So we'll get into some more detail about
that, but just to give you a little background about who we are. Um you know, our mission is to help the whole community. Yes, our name is Jewish Family Service. We are founded on Jewish values, but the the value that that carries through uh throughout our history is healing the world. pretty
much a universal value and and that is what we bring forth in in all of our work. Um we've been doing uh justice involved services since 2005 long before it was the popular thing to do. So we are really good at what we do. In 2014 is when we added the county contract to
the array of services we have for justice involved services. So today I'm joined by Ayanna James who is the director of our justice involved services. Nina Stoltzenberg uh who's the senior director of vocational and justice involved services um Anne Thorson who is our COO and then Laura
Rogers in the back who's our CIO. So we're all here to give a little piece of information but also answer any questions you may have. So I'm going to turn it over to Ayanna to speak more specifically about the program. >> I think actually you're talking first. >> Oh my apologies. Ayanna's a little bit more exciting, but
um >> it's always well and it's always better for the more boring person to go first because then I you know have a lower bar. So I'm Nina Stalenberg. Um, I'm the senior director of vocational and justice involved services and our
re-entry services at the jail focus on preparing people for a safe and stable re-entry to the comm community community after incarcerations. And to do that, we look at the factors that um for recidivism and we work to
address them. The people we work with are the individuals in the jail. They're often on pre-trial, on trial, or serving a um a short county ser sentence. Many of them have mental illness or
developmental disability. Many of them are not connected to the support services that would be helpful for them to be successful in the community. Um, I've gone out there myself to see several people in the last month, all of
whom have a developmental disability and none of whom are enrolled with the division of developmental disabilities, which is the primary way they should be receiving services. Um, people also face challenges like limited education or job
history, substance use, unstable housing or homelessness, disconnection from their family or from other community supports. The core services that we provide and Ayanna will talk a little bit more about them are case management, education and
job readiness, discharge planning, and also connecting people to the community so that when they leave the jail, they have community connections, they have resources that they're connecting to and trying to get those connections in place
before release. And we don't just work with um we don't just work with the inmates. Um we also work with families. We provide families with information, resources, and support
so they can help their loved ones succeed. We also do a parenting class for the inmates. And if they graduate from that class, then they're able to have visitation with their children. So even though it's a service for the inmates, it's also benefiting their
families. And we also serve the jail system. We engage inmates who need a higher level of support due to their age, either the very young or I'm not going to say the very old, I'm going to say older because I'm really close to
that very old line and not going there. Anyway, um or who have other needs like mental illness or developmental disability. We also support the jail in being compliant on things that they need to get done.
So overall, we're trying to address address the root causes of justice involvement, whether it's unemployment, lack of services or untreated needs, housing instability, and to build protective factors like
income, stable housing, and supportive relationships with the idea that when people leave the jail with connections, resources, and purposes, they're a lot less likely to come back. So I'm going to hand it off to Ayanna who's going to
give you more details. Hello everyone. I'm Ayanna. I am the director of our justice involved services and I will be discussing our discharge plan and process at the jail. So there are two options, right? So there are individuals who we see come in
very quickly but also leave very quickly and the jail saw that there was a need for this population. So we have three clinicians which are our admissions clinicians and they go in through intake is what the jail calls it and see those individuals do a quick assessment to say
hey okay you're here what happened why are you here what do you need to not come back set those services up so that when they leave they at least have something in place have resources to help reduce recidivism so those quick in-n-out folks that
typically could go unseen if there was not these three admission clinicians in the jail. The second process which is our big portion is for individuals that are there 90 days or more and that is our re-entry team. We have a team of
four which encompasses a supervisor and then three case workers. Um three case workers each have a specialization. So, the parenting class that was talked about, the vocational class that was talked about as well as GED, we um have classes for all of those, but
assessment is the first portion. And our biggest referral source is self, which comes based off of the experiences of other individuals who are in the jail as well. So, they're talking in their pods, saying what's going on, and then when we get into the pod, it's oh, you're JFS, I
need you. So then they'll call them down, do an assessment with them, do a biocschosocial assessment to get a full history to once again see the needs, what needs to be put in place that way.
Once again to reduce recidivism. Some of those things that we link them to are partial care for mental health. We can do we have a a contractor with John Brooks that we link to for substance. also other outside agencies, but setting up set setting up those appointments
early on so that when they are released, once again, things are in place to have a smooth process. And some of those things that we set up prior to release is case management services, which internally is our MHGIS team who has
access to the jail to come in, set up the appointments, do initial so there's a soft handoff so they know who they're seeing once they're in the community. That planning process after that is a lot of back and forth between social
services inmate to make sure that everything is aligned for them and their needs. Family is talked to for those that have the family support. We've seen the individuals that have family support are least likely to return, but there are
individuals who don't. And then that's when we become the support system for them. released into the community and then from there it is being followed by individuals that we have as well as other agencies.
That's it for me. >> But I have two stories. >> So outside. So to show like the real life connection, I have an individual who is about 45 years old. He was in and out of the jail system, has mental health, lack of support. So we engaged
him at the jail. We were able to connect him from the jail with our case management team in the community, do the solve handoff. He was opened in the case management uh team in the community. So then we helped him resolve his legal um get linked to mental health services,
get housed, and then from there, go into a long-term service who does um ADLs with them, med monitoring, which is a big thing for this individual to help him not recidivate as well as have
stable living. The show, I don't think she mentioned it, but she's also the director for vocational services. Did you mention that? >> I did. Okay. So to show the linkage between justice involved and um vocational, there was an individual who
our re-entry team referred to our vocational team and the job coach came to the jail, met with this individual. Prior to jail, this individual was going to school to get his associates. Things started happening. Crew and charges, was able to work with our job coach to not
only get a job, but also get back into school. and they were able to get some grant funding so that they didn't have to pay for it and they were able to obtain their degree. >> Very nice >> connection all around. >> Now Ann's coming.
>> Closer. Sorry, just kidding. Um so first if there's any questions we're we're happy to to to field them. I think um thank you Ayanna and Nina and Andrea and thank you all for allowing us to come in. I think um Ayanna's stories is really hits as to how the process moves
from re-entry into the community and where we touch upon people not only with our internal programming with but with external partners too. So it it really is a great you know kind of service that I think I might be a little biased but that we're providing and the partnership
that we have with the jail also um is very valued because we we rely on on them they rely on us. So, I don't know if anybody has any specific questions for us. We do have um kind of the onepage that we're going to leave behind with some uh program description on it
as well as some stats from 2025, but we're happy to field any questions that anyone may have. >> Yeah, I have a question and it goes back to stats started with statement you're very good at what you do. I'm sure you are, but you didn't give any metrics to determine that nor give any, you know,
how many came in and the outcomes. So that's what I'd like to do. >> Okay. Uh Ayanna, do you want to come up and field some of that with me? I know, uh last year in 2025, we had over 3400 touch points in in the jail. Uh and
Ayanna did speak about the distinction between doing intakes in int admission intakes. >> Um so I'm going to let her talk a little bit about the the stats daytoday and then we do have some outcomes that are listed on this is to as well that I can
go over. So with our re-entry team, there are people who also go to prison that we still help out. Everybody is not just um mental health, right? There are regular individuals who while they're in the jail, if they are going through trial,
we are still touching. So that's what Ann is talking about those follow-ups. But we did 276 completed plans for individuals that were there the entire time and was able to get the smooth handoff and then our admissions.
Give me one second. So for admissions there were 221 completed of eight intakes. Yeah. And it was 3,719 contacts for the year. And about 50% of that is individuals who are not mental
health involved, just regular inmates. >> So you said over 3,000 contacts and only 271 actually complete the program. So, what I mean by that is there are people who are coming through in that
quick touch point where it's not a full discharge plan because they're in and out. So, they're getting something to get them out the door, but yes, our emissions intakes, but not the discharge planning. So it's a comfortable
>> those two different two two different um assessments if you will if someone is coming in that admission assessment is happening those individuals may not continue in the jail correct they might be released right from from there um and then individuals who are in the jail
that we are actually touching upon for whatever reason and completing and following up with an with an intake um with an as an an assessment at that tonight. >> All right. Well, thank you very much. Anyone else have any questions? >> Sure, I do have a couple of questions.
Um, thank you. It's a lot of information. Appreciate everything you do. I'm just curious. So, is your initial contact through the county municipal court because I've heard that, you know, they bring all those services together and that's more beneficial to towns to have that in one place. Is that
your first contact with these individuals? >> Some of them. >> Okay. some of them, but there are individuals who aren't seen by the judge yet and are in the jail and we still have contact. >> Okay. And thank you because I question you mentioned addiction services, mental
health. Um, is there a financial literacy component to this at all once they're they're out and and hopefully, you know, making money because you mentioned job services. >> Sorry. When we do vocational services, we do offer financial literacy services
both in groups as well as things that are more targeted to that person's specific needs. >> Okay. And when so I was at an event a couple of weeks ago and there's a group called Angels in Motion and not one more. And so how do you choose who provides the addiction services? >> Um it has to do with a couple of
different things. It has to do with what the person needs. >> Unfortunately, what type of funding that what kind of insurance they have, who has availability um and who they're also comfortable and willing to go see. Thank you. And and and lastly, so how long do you me you me
you mentioned case management. How long do you track track them after they're released from? >> So, if they engage with our mental health justice involved services, ideally we're going to see them for a year or less. Um, but that being said,
pardon, >> it it can be longer than that. We often if we think the person continues to need case management um we may refer them to another program we may refer them to another agency. Our real concern is
getting that person's needs met not keeping them at JFS. >> Thank you. I appreciate I get I think the concern what I heard before is there are so many groups doing similar things. We just make sure that they're all you know walking together and you know moving in the same direction. We try as
much as we can. Like I would um I don't know if I'm supposed to say this in front of my boss. I'd love to see us all unemployed. Um unfortunately there's enough need that that's not happening anytime soon. And we none of us can do everything. I think we absolutely have
to work with other services and coordinate together and know what each person what each agency does because we're not all going to do the same thing and we're not all going to fit the same person. You know, it's like cars. I love driving a minivan when I had kids. My
older daughter when she got her license did not want a minivan. Agencies are the same way. It's got to be a match for what that person wants and needs. >> Sure. I'm I'm a teacher so I appreciate that. It doesn't work the same for everyone. and everyone's going to go to college and I I appreciate and again I start by saying I appreciate everything you do. So I didn't mean to put you on
the spot. >> That's what we're here for. >> Thank you. >> And I think just just one more thing that I wanted to mention is as Ayanna said the goal is to address the barriers, reduce recidivism. Um we we probably all know or many of us in the room individuals that you know have I
don't like the word chronic but chronic needs and high a high level of of of system use. And a lot of what we do um that we've talked about today in addition to the the touch points and assessments that we're doing throughout is focus on that group to really have
the greatest impact to reduce um their use of systems and their their their impact on the community. And that is something that we, you know, have kind of a lot of the more complicated situations that have come through. Um the re-entry team is there and if the person comes back, they're they're
they're there again to pick up with them. So, um, it's had quite a quite a bit of an impact there. >> All right. >> Any other questions? >> I'll leave these up here. >> All right. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. >> And if you want to leave, that's fine. You don't have to stay for the rest of the meeting. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thanks again for coming and the presentation. Okay. >> All right. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Would
you please read uh by title ordinance number three, >> ordinance amending the bylaws of the Atlantic County Board of Commissioners to provide for early public comment on agenda items not scheduled for public hearings, adjusting notice requirements, and other procedural updates. First reading.
>> Moved. Second. Been moved and seconded. Thank you. discussion. Uh this is a um an ordinance that was drafted of course by our solicitor. This will allow for early comment by anybody regarding um any item on the agenda at
the beginning of the meeting. It also clarifies some publications and and uh cleans up some of the the verbiage and u uh talks about our consent agenda as well. So that's what is involved with
ordinance number three. Any questions, comments? >> No. Chairman, I just want to make that this was discussed in the code committee. >> Thank you. >> Pretty much summarized it. So thank you. >> Good. All right. All right. Sensing a readiness to vote would please call the role.
>> Martino, >> yes. >> Burns, >> yes. >> R Days, >> yes. >> C days, yes. Kerna, >> yes. Parker, >> yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzley, >> yes. Moving on, have some grants to consider. And by the
way, I always make this try to make the statement that uh all the financial uh considerations on this agenda have all been reviewed by the budget finance committee and we recommend adoption. So, moving on,
we'll consider a motion to combine and conduct resolutions 226 through 230. >> Second. >> Any discussion? I think it's important to point out that
resolution 228 as it was explained in the budget committee is is basically for overtime pay with the World Cup. Any discussion on 226 through 230 grants hearing? None. Madam clerk,
please call the role. I'm sorry. Open the meeting to the public. Meeting is open to the public for comment on these resolutions. >> Hearing none, please call the role. >> Bertino, >> yes. >> Earns, >> yes. >> R Days,
>> yes. >> C Days, yes. >> Karna, yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. Okay, we have a couple of professional service contracts agreements. Uh the chair will entertain a motion to adopt 231 through 232.
>> Second. >> Any discussion on these two contracts? Hearing none. Any public comment clerk, please call the role. >> Martino, >> yes.
>> Erns, >> yes. >> R Days, >> yes. >> C Days, >> yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. two bid contracts. Uh chair will entertain a motion to combine and adopt 233 through 234.
>> Second. >> Any discussion? Any public comment? Hearing none. Please call the role. >> Martino, >> yes. >> Erns, >> yes. >> R Days, >> yes. >> C Days, yes. >> Karna, yes. >> Parker, yes.
>> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. We have a lease to consider which is number 235. >> Reneual lease agreement with the Center for Family Services for use of a portion of county property located at 2011 Southshore Road in the city of
Northfield. Amount not to exceed $68,400 revenue generating. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Thank you. Any discussion? Any public comment on the lease hearing? None. Please call the role. Bertino,
>> yes. >> Burns, >> yes. >> R Days, >> yes. >> C days, >> yes. >> Kerna, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. Okay. We entertain a motion to combine
and adopt 236 through 246. >> Second. >> Move and seconded. Any discussion? Any public comment? Hearing none, please call the role. >> Bertino, >> yes. >> Burns,
>> yes. >> Rdays, >> yes. >> C Days, yes. >> Karna, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. We have two chapter 159s. Uh, chair would entertain a motion to combine adopt 247 to 248.
>> Second. >> Moved and second. Any discussion? Any public comment? Hearing none, please call the role. Bertino, >> yes. >> Erns, >> yes. >> R Days, >> yes. >> C Days, Kern, yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Shanker, >> yes.
>> Grizzly, >> yes. >> We have appointments. Those folks that have graciously volunteered their time. >> Um, chair will entertain a motion to adopt 251 through 252.
>> I'm sorry, that's not right. >> 249 through 250. That's better. >> Second. >> We move and seconded. Any discussion? Any public comment? >> Just thank you to people as you just did
for giving up of their time for these very important uh committees and all that we have throughout. We greatly appreciate it. >> Yes, we do. Thank you. Okay. No, no further discussion. Clerk, please call the role.
>> Yes. >> Earns. Yes. >> R Days. >> Yes. >> C Days. >> Yes. >> Karn. >> Yes. >> Parker. >> Yes. >> Shanker. >> Yes. >> Grizzly. >> Yes. We have a couple of roadway solicitations which is 251 through 252. >> Thank you. It's been moved to move and
second to combine and adopt 251 through 252. >> Um any discussion? Any public comment? Hearing none. Please call the role. Bertino, >> yes. >> Earns, >> yes. >> R Days, >> yes.
>> C Days, >> yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. We have a commissioner sponsored resolution. Madam cler, would you please read 253? >> Resolution opposing the expansion of casino gaming into North Jersey.
Sponsors Richard R. Days and June Burns. >> Uh, chairman, I just have a question for our solicitor. >> Sure. >> Question. I am employed by casinos. Should I not vote on this? Okay. And it's been moved and seconded.
Correct? >> No. >> No, we haven't had a motion to second. All right. I entertain a motion to adopt 253. >> Second. >> Been moved and seconded. Discussion. >> Um, chairman, if I may.
>> We we've been through this before. Um I think it's important that we get on top of this early. Um we've heard all kinds of rumors um from, you know, Governor Murphy and now Governor Cheryl about um start vetting a referendum potentially. I think the citizens of New Jersey
overwhelmingly defeated um a referendum supporting North Jersey casinos. But we here more than any other area in the country will know the impact of a devastation to the casino industry. I believe we were close to, if not leading the country in foreclosures the last
time we had casino closures in Atlantic City. Um, so we did all receive a letter from Merina Selta of the Southern New Jersey Development Council urging us to support a resolution opposing Jersey casinos. She's trying to rally the business industries in our South Jersey.
Um, but the impact will not only be on our businesses, which ultimately impacts our our homeowners, our our taxpayers, and our all of our residents of Atlantic County. um this will have a tremendous impact. And again, the idea is New York has um to keep the tax money in New
Jersey. Some people are saying that we need to shift casino legalization to North Jersey to keep our tax money here. Again, I don't think you have to >> again stress um the devastating impact that will have on us here in Atlanta County and uh you know, ultimately South
Jersey and you know, and North Jersey, nobody has the boardwalk that we have, the beaches that we have. Um, I just think it's um it's a bad idea all the way around for everybody in New Jersey. >> Anyone else like to speak? >> Just like to add just a little bit to
what Commissioner Day said. North Jersey casinos would not create new gaming revenue. They would simply divert customers investment jobs investments jobs and tourism away from Atlantic County. So I support this with
communities. I'm I'm sure we all we all support this 110%. Um, at the most recent New Jersey Association of Counties uh convention as the Atlantic County, I gave some opening
remarks and um the governor, the new governor was just a few feet over to my left. He was the next to speak. And at the end of my remarks, I made sure I looked at the governor and I said, "We need support, governor, from the
governor's office and the state legislature for Atlantic City and for this county and this state. We need the support." The voters, as you said, voted voted overwhelmingly for Atlantic City casinos, Atlantic City only. And um
being that we are um mathematically I guess the second poorest county in the state, it's uh very important and vital to us to our livelihood and to the financial health of the area that casinos stay here. So hopefully
she'll see it that way and hopefully the legislature will see it that way. Anyone else like to comment? Not. We'll call the role. Mer public comment. >> Not. Okay. Call the role.
>> Martino. >> Yes. >> Earns. >> Yes. >> R. Days. >> Yes. >> C. Days. >> Yes. >> Karna. >> Recused. Parker. >> Yes. >> Shanker. >> Yes. >> Grizzly. >> Yes. Okay. Thank you. All right. Moving
on. Anyone have any written communications or petitions they'd like to share? Now we'll move into special reports or committees. Anybody has a committee report they'd like to discuss? Yes, >> I would like um and actually uh Burns
assisted me in getting some of these items. They came from the uh mental health advisory board. Uh people that you know are you belong to that board and these are is your loved one struggling with mental health or substance abuse challenges? You are not
alone. And there's a phone number on here to call. They are giving out green ribbons that they've given us some as well as some bracelets. They would like us to take a photo with our bracelets if at all possible, but I will send these around. But it is in honor of um
mental health awareness. They do a great job in putting all this information together for us. Now here I know we have >> okay
>> so yeah >> they work really hard in getting a lot of awareness out there and these phone numbers to contact if you know of anybody that you know I don't know how many you have here know of anybody that needs assistance it's important to get them the information that we have quite
a few opportunities to assist people within our county. >> Our solicitor would like one bracelet on >> put the bracelets on. >> Bracelet on like a photo. I don't know how we're going to do this.
>> There you go. That's a good one. In support right? >> However you want to do. >> Yeah. Is that okay? >> No. >> Yeah. Caroline wants the picture >> post on their website. >> She works hard so we like to accommodate them.
>> Our support. >> Yeah. >> Take me to them. >> Tara, do you want one? You want to get one? They make it down. >> More. Do we need more? >> Good. >> Good. >> All right. How do you want to Is it
I know. I know it's a little awkward, but you know, we'll figure it out. >> That what we're doing. >> We search AI to make sure we have some unofficial gangster. >> Oh, yeah. Well, she'll she'll appreciate it. She
Thank you. Thank you for >> helping us out here. >> Thank you. >> And we have more stickers and things like that here. She has all kinds of >> Mr. Chair, if I may, we did receive uh a request that came to all of our emails asking about our stand on data centers.
So that's I had actually been talking about uh working with Tara to arrange a subcommittee meeting for our AI committee so that we could discuss uh that as well. So, that's something that I just wanted to put out here for our general meeting that there's been
several municipalities that have moved to uh either stall or postpone any building of a data center until we have more information on what they're doing in terms of closed loop water systems, open loop water systems, what the water does, are the PES in there, what are the
side effects, you know, all the different things that we're hearing about. who who are going to who's going to pay for the cost of the of the of the energy? Is it going to be the data center? Is it going to be the residents? So, there are all those kind of questions that have come out and it's something that we uh hopefully will be
discussing in our subcommittee, our AI technology subcommittee and to be able to bring something to this board maybe to draft a resolution on our position. >> Sounds like a complicated topic. Quite frankly, there's a million a million um
whatifs, I guess you would say. I don't even know where to start with that one. >> There's a lot going on in the AI space right now, data centers. So, it's it's every morning I wake up, there's more, >> you know, just when I think I know grasp on things, I wake up and then there's
there's more, you know, that I didn't know the day before, the night before. So, you're absolutely correct. Was a tough conversation to have. It's a tough one to take a position on, but we'll do the best that we can and uh get the information that we need at least for our county to be able to make some sort
of uh statement to move forward in the best interest of our county and the rest. >> Very good. Thank you. Any other committee reports? Just like to comment briefly on the jail committee. We had a meeting today at
2:00 and uh discussed future regarding our jail. We looked at some other things as well and um the warden gave a a good report as far
as um staffing a brighter report than in the past and uh the starting salary being 55,000 has certainly helped. We also discussed um a new jail,
new building. We know that our current jail is ailing. It's 44 years old. And there's been a lot of discussion on this topic by this board um in you know, private conversations back and forth
over the years. And I think now is the time for us to move. We discussed it as a committee that we authorize the administration to seek out the information that we need costs architect
all those types of things for a 900 bid facility. Um so they have that directive, administration has that directive and they'll be bringing back information and
of course any decisions will be made by this entire board. Well, they'll gather the information and bring it to us. So if anybody else would like to comment on that was on the committee, please please do so.
No, I thought it was very good discussion. >> We were all in agreement. >> Thank you. Yes, we're that's the bottom line. We're we're in agreement with moving forward, doing something, moving forward. The other idea of a regional
jail has numerous problems and of course that initial proposal all fell flat on its face and um it's it's time for us to look out for Atlantic County. >> We had great input from Steve and from Mr. Fedorfra as well.
>> Yes, we did. >> That helped it. >> Yes, we did. >> Discussion. >> Okay. Anybody else like to comment on any committee meetings? I would just like to say from the education schools committee, >> pardon me, Commissioner Bino, you want to go first,
>> Kim, >> that that was thank you chair. Thank you, chairman. Thank you, Commissioner. I just wanted to comment as well from the jail committee. Um, with the changes that in housing prisoners over the last 40 years, um, we recognize that we need
to do some work out of our facility. It makes no sense obviously in an uh in in an old facility when you're talking about the technology changes and media uh requirements that we have to have to house prisoners. Um simply remodeling is not the case. Um I think that we're
going to come back with the uh to the full board to give you some information uh on our project as I think we we feel we need to do. It makes sense. Um, nobody likes spending money. Uh, but that's our responsibility for public
safety that Atlanta County never shied away from. So, um, I look forward to, uh, the commissioners getting some more input from us and and taking any questions you have back to, uh, uh, to administration. Please don't hesitate to let us know.
>> Thank you, Commissioner. from the education and schools committee. Uh I just want to say many of us went to the ribbon cutting for ACIT CTE building three stories. What a fantastic
>> operation and building that is >> it's amazing. So for anybody who has not been there, please do it. >> You have to go over there. Being a teacher myself, just like uh Commissioner Days, you know, I've never I've never seen classrooms exactly like
the ones that we have over there now. They're teaching welding. There's a whole welding room set up in there. There's HVAC. There's a dental assistance where they you walk in, it looks like you're in a dentist office and they have it all in there. They have
medical assistant with, you know, hospital beds. It looks like, you know, a replica of a hospital room and the EMT room. There are three uh full kitchens for the culinary. There's a weight room
downstairs and a gym and an indoor track. And eventually when they do build the football stadium, like the in Notre Dame stadium, they'll be able to walk out of the the the basement up the stairs of the gym where the weight room
is and right onto the football field, which would be pretty cool for them. So, it's some pretty amazing stuff going on out at ACIT. The programming is awesome. If you look at uh what they're doing out there in terms of educating with a workforce development mindset and
everything that we're saying that we would love to build here in our county on the economic development side, they're educating and building programs to teach the the kids, which is exactly what we talked about, you know, for years and years here and it's and it's happening. >> Yeah. They're staying in step with us
with uh what we're doing for um a aviation and the other things. >> I forgot that part. They moved the um the flight simulator from the NRTP building and they moved it over and that's actually inside of ACIT
now. So they have a flight simulator teaching aviation at that school that's at our school. We should all be very proud that comes before our desk and you know they're they wanted to deliver their appreciation to everyone on this board for our for our continued support
as they say they could not have done it without us. So, >> and it's enabling more students. We can increase the enrollment there and more students and more students leaving school with a career. >> Awesome. Awesome. Awesome stuff. >> Good stuff.
>> If you haven't taken the tour, you got to do it. That's the bottom line. It's unbelievable. It's worth every moment of your time. >> And we honored some students today at a at an awards ceremony for can't think of the exact name. um our our academic
achievement awards in the county. One of my students actually came back. He was really excited. I wanted to tell you I want to share this story with you. He comes in. He's like, "Your name's on my certificate." >> A silly student come back to show just a teacher.
>> Send them a guardian. >> They had them all. >> Where where are the commissions? Oh. Oh, here's the one on the back of the >> We were in the back. We're gonna last different, but we made it. >> But we were there, so that was nice to see. >> And I have something else to add. So
this Friday at 2 o'clock at the Richard Eyes Squire's Veterans Cemetery, the Atlanta County Cemetery, um the county alongside County Executive Dennis Levenson will be kicking off the Memorial Day weekend with a ceremony as he does every year. It's a beautiful
ceremony. If anybody can make it, um it will be sunny. Um, Linda put the order in that no rain. Yep. Yep. Yep. So, >> that's all I have. Thank you. >> I appreciate you mentioning that. That was on my mind. I missed it. Thank you.
>> Okay. Anything else? Anything under unfinished business? New business? Not we'll move into public comments. Meeting is now open to the public for anyone like to speak on any topic.
Good afternoon everyone. Uh my name is Erikica Rasman. I am the principal officer, secretary treasurer of Teamsters Local 331 and I am here on behalf of our members. We represent um four different contracts in Atlantic
County and I'm here pleading again on their behalf for their wages as we are in contract negotiations. Um, I'm not going to take too much of your personal time with my spiel again because I think uh last two weeks ago, the last meeting, I think I made myself
very clear and was heard. However, I received a letter from one of our members, Darlene Dawson, who could not be here, that would like to share her experience and her concerns. After 37 years of dedicated service to Atlantic County, it's reasonable that
retirement income should allow an employee to maintain basic stability stability and dignity in the same state they serve. Unfortunately, the current pay level of 50,000 60,000 does not match New Jerseys economic reality. Even
for one person, New Jersey is one of the most expensive states in the county. Independent economic models estimate a required income between 45 to 55,000 for a single adult to meet basic needs without assistance in New Jersey. This
is paraphrased as a fra factual alignment with the economic standards, not a political argument. Common unavoidable expenses approximate statewide averages. Rent for a modest one-bedroom apartment $1,500 to9 $1,900
per month. Utilities $150 to $250 per month. Transportation $300 to $450 per month. Groceries, $350 to 500 per month, which we all know that they're going up significantly, as well as gas. Health insurance and medical costs, $300 to
$600 per month. Retirement income must account for rising health care costs. Cost of living has increased significantly while the public wage growth has failed to keep pace. After 25 TW 20, I'm sorry, 37 years of service, a
retiree should be able to m remain in the community they served without experiencing financial hardship to reflect the actual cost of living in the state of New Jersey. Compensation must be adjusted so that retirement salaries are stable, sustainable, and realistic.
I am requesting a review of whether current wages and retirement projections align with the modern economic conditions. And again, that was from Darlene Dawson, one of our members. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else like to speak?
>> Yes, sir. >> How we doing everybody? >> It's all right. >> Uh, my name is Rob Sutton, Aar Township. Um, I work for, uh, public works in fleet management garage. I've been there for 36 years serving the county. Um,
I'm asking some similar things to what Erica just said. Uh, for myself, uh, and fellow employees, um, there's there's problems with starting salaries. Uh, we still have a mechanics position we're trying to fill. Uh, it's
been open for about three and a half years now. And, um, the majority of the applicants, uh, stated salary was a problem. um wages and the cost of health insurance
that uh we're constantly being asked to pay. Um really takes a toll on uh raises we might get. Um somehow we got to try to find some offset to help u your employees of the county. And um for
those employees that have been there for 25 plus years, uh retirement health benefits for three years just is not working and that's not taking care of your employees. So uh I'm asking for myself and for
other employees in this position to uh work on that to see what we can do to help take care of those employees that have served this county for 25 plus years. And this would also help which is another problem. Um hiring we have a rep a problem
retaining employees because they're constantly leaving for uh better wages. So adjustments for taking care of those employees for those 25 plus years at retirement um would also turn around and benefit uh to help potentially keep
employees here uh which is a definite problem. So thank you for your time. May I ask you a question before we leave? Um, what is the starting salary for a mechanic? >> 38,000. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Have a good night.
>> Anyone else like to speak? >> Good afternoon. My name is Joan Joya and I am in my 26th year with the county. I wanted to take a moment to address you about the equity of pay for our clerical staff for all of us for in the county.
We are dedicated employees that are essential in keeping the department running efficiency efficiently yet we are struggling financially because our pay has not kept up with the increased responsibilities of the job or the rising cost of living.
Working for Atlanta County used to be considered a great job because of the pension and the free health benefits. But over the years, employees have been asked to pay more through increased health care premium cost shares and higher pension deductions. While wages have not kept pace with the steady
increase in everyday living expenses, low wages affect moral retention and the ability to attract and keep experienced employees. Unfortunately, we are losing dedicated, valuable personnel simply because they cannot make ends meet.
We are asking the board to recognize the important work we do and seriously review and address the current wage inequity qualities affecting us. We want to work want a workplace where employees can have a career where they feel
valued, supported and are motivated to stay and grow and eventually be able to retire comfortably. Thank you for your time. >> I ask you, ma'am, where do you live? >> I live in Township of Hamilton. >> Okay. Thank you. Appreciate your comments.
>> Thank you. >> Anyone else like to speak? Good evening. My name is Theres Laskcowski. Um, I work at the justice facility. Um, I'm here to ask for your help. >> I'm sorry. Would you mention your town? You reside in >> Hamilton Township.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Uh, I'm here to ask for your help, not just for myself, but for my co-workers and Teamster family. people who whether they're single parents, um have children that they're trying to put through college,
um or they might be living through some kind of health issues themselves or their families. And um you know with sick or elderly parents and um also the cost of a daycare for
kids these days is you know it's might be cheaper to stay home and not work because of the cost. Um, so people are having a hard time, you know, paying their bills, their mortgage, and just,
you know, living period, buying food. Um, so while the prices of everything is going up, um, our pay is not keeping up with the costs of that.
So I'm asking your help to get us better wages and to consider also a different health care for all of us not just the union but for management as well. uh
chapter 78 uh whatever we've got the healthc care's gone up with chapter 78 for the past couple years and um it's you know those high percentages have
been placed upon us and they're making any kind of raise in our wages null and void. >> So Um, I'm just saying that we show up every
day for work. We work hard and we'd like it to reflect in our pay. Thank you for your time and your consideration. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else like to speak?
Not count motion to close the public portion then. >> Second. All >> in favor say I. I >> opposed. Motion carries. Moving on to the good of the order. Does that anyone have any items under the good of the order before we adjourn?
>> Remember those who served as we come upon Memorial Day weekend? >> Thank you. Absolutely. Absolutely. Okay, Mr. Chair. Yes. >> If it's at least appropriate for us as a
board to say that our lack of response is not because we don't care and we're not we don't hear of what they're saying. We're not identifying. It's because it's an open negotiation. So there's only but so much that we can say
sitting up here in the dis. And what I will say is that there's at least one, two, three, there's there are three union um workers sitting up here in the das that are experiencing the pain from chapter 78, you know, just as well. So we we understand the pain that you guys
are in and that you feel. Um so I just don't want you to to take our silence as though we don't hear you. All right? We do. We do hear you. But this, you know, there's only been so much that we can say while we're sitting
up here in open negotiations, right? I just didn't want that to be confused. >> No, we you're you are correct, Commissioner. We uh we listen, we hear, and we appreciate your comments and we know how tough it is. We know
cost living has gone up. You know just uh for example in my my world uh I ensure my wife and one son health insurance and that's 2600 a month
a month. It's outrageous, but um the health insurance crisis is a particularly statewide and nationwide particularly statewide problem that u no one has seemed to have any
real solutions to. We talk about transparency a lot in medical insurance, but um there's got to be a lot of work done in that area. I don't have the answer. A
lot of people don't have the answer. But um I know we all expect great health care. We go into an emergency room and we expect certain level of care and that costs real money. And um the health insurance
crisis has messed everything up quite frankly. That's all I have to say. Anyone else like to make any comments before we close? Not I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> Second.
>> Second. All in favor say I. Oppos. Motion carries. We are adjourned.