Heat. Heat. I now call this meeting to order. meeting of the Atlantic County Board of Commissioners. 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 Bolton boards in the county office building in Lang City, Stillwater Building in Northfield, and the county clerk's office in Maze Landing.
We're going to have an opening prayer and as we do, we'll have a moment of silence of course for Reverend Jesse Jackson that passed as well. >> Our heavenly father, we ask your blessing on this meeting and all those assembled here. May our actions be
filled with kindness and forbearance and may we be ever mindful of our obligations to each other and to thee. Amen. Amen. >> Please join with me in saluting the flag of our country. Algiance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> We got We got a singer. >> Clerk, please call the role. Chairman, Commissioner Daz is unable to attend
today. >> Okay. >> Bertino >> here. >> Burns >> here. Daz >> here. >> Kern here. >> Parker >> present. >> Ruffio >> here. >> Shanker >> here. >> Frizzley >> here. >> Okay. All right. Commissioners have had
the opportunity to review the minutes of the February 3rd meeting and I will entertain a mo motion that we adopt these minutes as presented. >> So move. >> Second. >> Thank you. has been moved and seconded. Any corrections to the minutes
hearing? None. Madame clerk, call the role. >> Bertino, >> yes. >> Burns, yes. Days, >> yes. >> Kerna, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Ruffio, >> yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. 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. or not. This cons this consent agenda allows us to run our meetings more efficiently and to spend time on uh more
important issues. If any commissioner wishes for additional discussion on any individual resolution or would like one to be pulled from the list, uh please forward that to us 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. And then when attending in person who would like to speak regarding an agenda item
or have p 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're attending virtually and would like to speak, please raise your hand during the agenda
item or public comment. At the end, I will call upon your name and request to unmute will be sent. Please state your name and the town you reside. You will be provided up to three minutes to speak.
Well, good afternoon everyone. Um, very nice turnout. Um, a little bit under the weather, so bear with me here. My left arm's broken and my right arm's beat up. So, uh, other than that, uh, I could not, uh,
resist not coming today because we're doing something really, really important. And we're honoring Ray Ellis. That's who we're honoring. I would have crawled here if I had to to get here to to this ceremony today. It's
it's important. Um Rey is uh been a a friend to a lot of people in this county and um you know there was an old saying that you're never a hero in your own hometown. We're breaking that today. He
is a hero in his own hometown of Egg Harbor Township. a true true treasure to this this county. And um before I bring him up, I want to say a few more words uh regarding Ry. Um you know, Rey has
donated a lot of time to youth in this county. 44 years. 44 years between the county and the local the coaching. In addition to that, of course, he is a a township committee man in Egg Harbor
Township, deputy mayor as well, retired police officer, juvenile detective. Um, he's worked at Harbor Fields. He has uh taught the GED program, Atlantic Cape Community College, helping 17 to 21 year
olds uh that that have dropped out. uh he played a big role in bringing the Covenant House program from New York to Atlantic City and he's been in in that role of helping youth basically all of
his life and uh I couldn't think of a better name. In fact, um my wife and I were sitting on the couch discussing this topic and uh it was without question that we came over up with Ray
Ellis. Who better represents uh Dr. Martin Luther King and and the service uh to the community and he typifies that. So, um I'm just uh so happy that this year we are um nominating him for
this award. And uh I'd like Ray to come forward if he would please. try. >> Hey Ray, you're going the wrong way. That's what you have. Congratulations. I'm so happy to be here with you today on this special day. This
is special, super special one. You're a treasure to our county. You know it. And uh keep doing what you're doing. Who's in the wrong seat anyway? >> All right. >> Well deserved, young man. Here you are.
>> Well deserved. You want to take some pictures? >> Taking a picture. >> I see some coaches in the back back there. One more time. >> Very nice. more than >> I did want to say a couple words. Can I say a couple words?
>> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Glad to see you. >> Just want to congratulate Ray. Uh, absolute legend in this community. And I'll tell you, all of us have probably been at Waw Wa with Ray and VA. People try to get through, get done, get a coffee, get whatever quickly, but when
Ray's there at Waw Wa, you are going to talk to whoever's going in. You're going to talk to their family member. You're going to talk to their kids. You're going to talk to everybody else. They stand there with Ray uh forever and just continue to talk about what's going on
in life and uh what you know is going on in his life. And couldn't be prouder of you, Ray, for the service to the community in various different levels to the respect that this community has for you uh and the the dedication that you
show in so many roles. Uh we did provide a resolution here accommodation from Don Guardian and myself uh to congratulate you and say very welld deserved and we're looking for much much more NOW >> in our meetings when people get up to speak we like keep it short.
>> Yeah. >> So, um maybe forget I grew up in neighborhoods where they said, "Um, give me my roses where I can smell them." >> Yes. >> But we don't really look for them, you know. We don't do things that we do to look for the roses. But I want to thank
that Facebook world. I'm not on Facebook, but Facebook, I had over 1,600 inquir, you know, response about thanks a lot and thanks for the good work you do. I have to tell like a quick story
about how I started. Uh tell everybody we had real men in our neighborhood and we grew up and he took time to spend with us. Number one, Mr. Skills is right here. >> We could go Yeah. retired principal of Lime City High School.
>> Grew up in our neighborhood and we could go over his house, you know, and he'll talk to us and he we could run down the street and we see him and we start walking. But what I was saying was it's just that one day I was walking
down the street on Kentucky Avenue. I was going to Sunny's barber shop. Mr. Sunny was always like a he's always a hero and he always attended youth sports. Always. So I'm walking down the street, excuse my expression, a hawks
like that. I had two kids in back of me and they did the same thing. So I'm like these kids I thought they were trying to spit on me. So Mr. Sunny said they watching what you do. And that's why I say it's very important for us as men,
us as people, us as women, us as men to set examples for our future. How can we set examples if we're not visible? >> Yes. >> You know, if we go home and watch Netflix, if we go home and eat our dinner and we shut the door and we talk about our kids are out of control. Yes, they out of control because we allow
them to be out of control. That's right. I had someone mis tell what I said on some Facebook about back in our day men really jacked us up you know Mr. Bill Mr. Joe that's Mr. Mac all you know you
got out of line they put you back in lines >> that's right >> and nowadays we say kids are out of control cuz we allow them to be out of control because we're not visible into their lives. I try to be at the wreck every day. I try to be around youth every day. And also, like I said, I
really want to thank the county commissioners and all that for the recognition, you know, but I'm g this is gonna make me work even harder. I like to thank my family and friends and so many showed up. You don't want to miss anybody. So, I say I love you all.
I say, look, I I got to say I do have my pastors here. I have two pastors. Pastor Sam, >> hey. Hey, Pastor Appala. tell them I do go to church there. Thank y'all and all my little family and friends from the community. Love you
all. And like I said, it's it's really an honor and I'd like to thank you so much for the recognition. My first grandson and only I want like five more. >> Oh, it's adorable. Look at her cute Good job. >> Resume this meeting.
>> Please read. Ordinance amending the Atlanta County solid waste management plan to include both lateral and vertical expansions of the existing sanitary landfill located on block 603 lot 10 and block 703 lot
one in Anorbert Township, New Jersey. First reading. >> I entertain a motion to introduce this on first reading. >> Moved second. >> Moved and seconded. As you know, we don't have normally discussion from the public on first
reading of ordinances, but is there anybody here from the administration wants to make a comment? >> Not. Okay. All right. And madame clerk, uh, please call the role. >> Bertino, >> yes. >> Burns, yes. Days, >> yes. >> Kerna, yes.
>> Parker, >> yes. >> Ruff, yes. >> Shanker, yes. Grizzly. >> Okay, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay, looking at our grants that we have listed here,
>> uh numbers 57 through 63, the chair will entertain a motion to combine and adopt these resolutions. Second, >> moved and seconded to combine and adopt these resolutions. Uh, is there any members of the public
like to comment? >> Any further discussion? Hearing none, clerk, please call the role. >> Bertino, yes. >> Burns, yes. S, >> yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, yes. >> Ruffio, yes. Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly,
>> yes. Okay. And as always, these were all discussed in the budget committee. Moving on with resolutions 64 through 65, professional service agreements. I'll entertain a motion to combine adopt
these two resolutions. >> Moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion on those two resolutions? Any public comment? Hearing none, please call the role. >> Martino. Yes. >> Burns. >> Yes. Daz. >> Yes. >> Kern. Yes. >> Parker.
>> Yes. >> Ruffio. >> Yes. >> Shanker. >> Yes. >> Grizzly. >> Yes. >> Moving on. Resolution 66 through 73. Change orders. Entertain a motion that we adopt these resolutions.
>> Second discussion. >> I'd just like to point out that 66 is a decrease. In honor of the late great Ernest Corsy, I'm going to think and ponder for a second over these change orders and say no more discussion.
>> Okay. >> Any discussion from the public on those resolutions? Hearing none, I'm clerk, please call the role. >> Yes. >> Burns, yes. Stays, >> yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, yes. >> Ruffio, >> yes. >> Shanker, >> yes.
>> Grizzly, >> yes. Okay, moving on to our miscellaneous listing. Resolution 74 through 78. I entertain a motion to combine and adopt these. >> Second.
>> Thank you. It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Any public comment on them? Hearing none, please call the role. >> Martino, yes. >> Burns, yes. Daz, >> yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Ruffio, yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. Grizzly.
>> Yes. Okay. Appointments. And we're always grateful for people that come forward to give of their time and and serve the county. So, we'll entertain a motion to combine number 79 and 80. Please. >> Moved. >> Second.
>> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? Any comments from the public? Hearing none, please call the role. >> Martino, >> yes. >> Burns, yes. Size, >> yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, yes. >> Ruffio, yes. Shanker. >> Yes. >> Grizzly. >> All right. Thank you. Yes. And um our
last resolution is number 81, which is a roadway solicitation. >> Entertain a motion to adopt that. >> Second. >> Move. Second. Any discussion? Any public comment? Hearing none. Please call the role. >> Yes.
>> Burns. Yes. Stays. >> Yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Ruff, yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. Okay. Anyone have any written petitions or communications to the board like to discuss?
Any special reports that would any board member like to give at this time there's different committees that we have? >> Mr. Chair, >> you got it. >> Just one. Um we've been meeting for those of you at least that are following uh jail committee's been meeting and discussing some of the issues
surrounding uh the possibility of our moving to a different facility andor um repairing our our current facility. Uh for those of you that don't know u recently yesterday Camden uh pulled out of the core complex facility. They're going to be looking for a different type
of site. Um I don't know how that'll end up for those guys. I know Cumberland and Camden entered into an agreement to go there, but that's no longer the case. So, I think uh our focus in the jail committee, I think we're going to get back to seeing uh some of the Atlantic County issues and how we have to resolve
our own problems. If it's a new facility or what we're going to be doing, uh that'll be the focus of our committee as we're moving forward. >> Thank you, Commissioner. I would like to add to that that I know of no commissioner nor the county executive
that was ever in favor of this of this plan by Camden. Um it's got more holes in it than Swiss cheese. A lot of things that just don't make any sense and would not be in Atlantic County's best interest. So that's why we've rejected
it and now the whole plan is uh blown up under its own weight. And um so that that that deal now is off the table. Anyone else like to comment? All right. Thank you. Any other committee to give a report?
Okay. All right. Moving into unfinished business. Any unfinished bids? Not any new bids? Okay. All right. We're down to public comment now. I'm going to open the meeting up to the
public like to comment on any topic. This is your opportunity to comment on any topic here. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> Uh Joe Burke, chief of staff, Senator Paulina Assembly Guardian. Uh I appreciate the time very much. I just wanted to provide an update. Uh we've
all I think I've been in here before speaking about some of the property tax programs the state has put out in the past. Uh just wanted to advise everybody that as of last week the state started to release the first round of those stay New Jersey payments to our eligible seniors. So some individuals who are
eligible may start to receive those over the course of the next few weeks month. Uh more importantly though the new 2026 PAS1 form for the 2025 tax filing year has been made available. Uh for those unfamiliar, the PAS1 form is the
combined application for the anchor, the state New Jersey, and the senior freeze program. Eligible senior citizens, those who receive social security disabled, uh those are all the eligible individuals uh income limits as well. But if you think of someone that you know may be uh eligible or has any questions, they can
find the form on the Treasury's website, but they can also reach out to our office at 609-677-8266 if you should have any questions. and it will be the same as everybody filled out last year just with the updated income years for 2025. So I know that that's
often a question that's given to many of you. So I just wanted to kind of get in front of it and as always if you guys need anything you know how to get me >> yes >> just a quick question too. I think uh for those that are receiving that property tax check back it's being mailed directly to them. It's not going
to be a direct deposit to their account. >> It's dependent on how you chose it. So >> you can choose either. I had some people tell me I said I don't know. I'll ask. >> Yeah. If you selected it on the form to receive direct deposit, it should come in direct deposit. Um otherwise it'll come to the address that it's all linked to your property tax record. So it'll
come to the address you put on the form. >> So and if if somebody's delayed too, if it's taking a little while, send them my way because things have been slightly slow with the release. So all right, thanks everybody. Appreciate the time. Thanks. >> Thank you for coming. Anyone else like
to speak? Excuse me. Is this public portion? >> You got it. It's perfect timing. >> Perfect timing. Yes, sir. >> Steve Young of Atlantic City. And uh here's a followup in reference to the situations going on in Atlantic
County Justice Facility. First, I want to thank the chairman um and sir Andrew Parker for inviting us to your meeting that's coming up on the 25th, I believe. >> Yes, sir. >> And we look forward to that meeting. U
some of the things that was on that we sent you entire list and some things that this board can do immediately and look into. Uh but I think it's been looked into long enough. Charging of rent of $50 a month. That money is
coming from our community and that's something that the US commissioners, you may not have been here, but other commissioners voted on back then. But things have changed and people got more oppressed and the poverty got worse.
So to continue to pay that and coming out of our community, especially in these conditions, I think it's time to make that change. Uh this is Black History Month. majority of uh that inmates is inside is going through a lot and their
families and also I want to I'll mention about the Islamic community and Juman prayer Ramadan starts tomorrow and we're just curious and we wanted to go inside the facilities
during the month of Ramadan and the reason being we want to make sure and see for ourself that their religious rights are not being violated. Only way we can know that is to see that. So it this is of emergent
situation that we request from the warden or whoever gives authority and make a decision for us to go through and observe what's going on with the Islamic community when it comes to the month of Ramadan including the food and the
dietary. Another issue just just brung to us and um we we're going to be going to that and I don't know if you guys want to get involved with that or not is that um some students uh was affected in Pleasantville school system um not that
saying that they had could not wear their Muslim attire and they had to take it off immediately. Well, we cannot have that type of uh situation going on in our communities and we will definitely report that to you all again in the
future once because there's a meeting tonight at 6:00 and we asking everybody to come to the Pleasantville Board of Education meeting to address any type of racism, any type of things that's against our children and anything against our human rights as a human
being. Uh again, I I want to thank you for setting that meeting up, but we need an emergent meeting to go inside to see for ourselves at the Atlanta County Justice. >> I will contact the warden and see if anything can be done.
>> He may be on. Is the warden on? Oh, >> warden, are you on the line? >> Yes, the warden Kelly is on. >> All right. Very good. Would you like to comment on the Ramadan? >> Starts tomorrow. We've been doing it here for years. We're all set.
>> Okay. >> We uh our our our provider knows what they're doing. They do it through jails throughout the state of New Jersey. And um I don't I don't I don't foresee any any problems. >> So So do we have a date and time that we can visit and see for oursel?
I mean, our tax money is paid for this as well. >> I'm sorry, Warren, did you hear the question? >> Yeah. Did repeat that, please? I >> said, do you have a date and time that we can go inside and see for ourselves? >> Well, the Ramadan is going to be before
sunrise. I'm not I'm not really going to conduct a tour in the facility at that time. Uh, you know, that's just not it's not really personal. I I can gladly go over what what we serve and what what rolls out there, but that that that's
that's not an hour uh based on our staffing levels that we're going to conduct a tour before sunrise in the facility. >> And you Sam is because of staffing. >> I'm just saying it's just because of our of our operations and and the way we're set up, you know, on the midnight shift.
uh our our focus is to conduct Ramadan safely and securely, you know, with with the proper trades and it's it's not a time for us to uh do a tour. >> Well, we're not asking to go through midnight shift. We just asking for the opportunity to go there within the next 24 48 hours. Why can't we do that? It's
I mean, we're paying >> definitely I'm definitely not what do you have to hide, Warden? Let's just let us go. >> I don't have anything I don't have anything to hide. I'm here every day. So, we're have nothing to hide. We conduct Ramadan as we have for years. You've been out here maybe two or three
times since and during my tenure of years here. We show you what we do. Um and you can contact me anytime, call out here and we can explain it probably personally on the phone. Uh but I I I definitely not set up the next 24 hours
to have a tour in this jail. >> Okay, this is the final question I have. What's been served for Ramadan? Ramadan trades or uh comply with the dietitionian for a religious diet for for Islamic religion, Muslim religion.
>> So no meat would be served and >> Yeah. Yes, Steve. Yes. We've been doing this for a long time here. This is not new for us. This is going on long before I've I've ever worked here. And that's 27 years. We we follow what the state protocol is in correctional facilities
from from our licensed vendor for a religious meal for the month of Ramadan. We don't have an issue with this. There's there's no issue here. >> Okay. If you just give us a date um not now or when after this uh within the
next week or two so we can report to our community and our constituents in our community what's actually been going on there and seeing for oursel. That would be Is that something that we can possibly do? Uh >> so you're looking you're looking for a
tour then sometime after the 25th >> and that's what I'm saying. All right. Can is that reasonable? >> Some that's something reasonable. >> Okay. >> Set that up. >> The warden will set it up. Certainly >> set it up in Mike. >> Right here. >> Yes. >> The guy's right here. >> Okay. >> And you have a just one final c question
again. Uh who's the eman that's actually there during Ramadan and during Jamaal prayer? >> Uh we have a new iman uh that just started with us in in the past year. Um and he's you know first of all our imans
are all volunteers. I I can't force anyone to come in here. It took us about two years to find someone that's willing to uh uh come here and do it because it's it's very it's very tough. But we have a a very dedicated Iman now uh who comes in on Fridays and conducts and
conducts the Jamal prayer. >> Okay. We'll follow up this a little later. Thank you for your time. We appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else like to speak on any topic in the county? Hearing none. Any anyone online that
would like to speak during the public comment portion of this meeting? Okay. hearing none. Then I'll entertain a motion to close the public portion of the meeting. >> Move. Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carries.
>> Uh we're at uh good of the order. Does any have anyone have any items under the good of the order before we adjourn? >> I'll just say um Ramadan Mubarak for those who are practicing and observing
Ramadan. Uh, happy Black History Month for those who are observing that as well. Should be all of us, but I think black history should be incorporated as it is legislated and mandated in the state of New Jersey to be incorporated not just during the month of Black
History, but in all subjects and for 180 uh days of the school year. Um, and I want to bring light to our trip that we had and thank the new base commander out at the 177th. >> Talk about that. Uh we took a tour of
the 177th. The base commander uh really did he gave us kind of presidential treatment. We get in there. We >> we had we had the royal treatment at the 177. We definitely did. >> And we are bombing though. >> Oh, none of that went on. We got to play
inside jets though. We got to play in the F-16s a little bit. And you know, it reminded me of my days growing up on that base where I was, you know, able to go in and probably play around with things that I wasn't supposed to be playing around with at that time. But, um, Art was there with us as well. We
got to go through, we met with the fire, uh, >> service there, >> the fire service there, and got to have some breakfast with the fire service. Uh, some bagels and things and donuts. nothing nothing really nothing major but it was great great conversation and it was it was nice to hear from their
perspective on you know the role that they'd like to play and the things that they would like to do and how we could pro we could work together uh from the from the county outside the base and county inside the base if if I'm saying that right. Uh there was also a program
that he spoke about uh about going into the schools which I'm definitely going to be looking into as chair of education and schools. He'd like to uh they'd like to get into a program with our middle schools actually and have middle school students come and take a tour of the
base and learn about all the different jobs and opportunities u that the base has and the and the role and impact that they play in the larger community. So that's pretty cool. So I just wanted to for the good of order let everybody know that that was a if
anybody if I missed anything Art you want to add? No, my only disappointment is he wouldn't let us fire up one of the jets. >> They saw you guys didn't have saw you on. >> Listen, we were we were invited to come back though. If we wanted to, we could come back at any time. So, if anyone
wants to go, just let us know. >> And um we were invited back. There's one thing. There's a truck they that that they have a truck that has the emergency lights on it. And for some of their dignitaries, they'll take the truck down to the runway and you could you could
feel a jet taking off. Can't get in. >> We're not allowed in the jet, but we can we can we can feel that experience of having a jet fly and and take off while we're right there on the runway by the runway >> and just you could imagine like thinking of NASCAR or the Indy500. You can
imagine the kind of energy that those jets are kicking out. So >> Oh, the rumble. >> You could feel it. Oh, you definitely feel it. Oh, you can definitely >> a lot of the folks that are out there are local from the county all around the county. So, it was interesting to see how many people who live locally work
out7. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> So, it's very nice. >> They made another point to us as well in the fire service that they're being called on much much more frequently uh to back up other fire companies
around the around the county. So, um, they made that point very clear to us how much they're being called upon and, um, centralized dispatching, they're put, they want that as well. So, it's, um, well, we're we're lucky to have those folks there in the fire service
there 177. Very lucky >> and that is a that is a good point that you made there. they, you know, of course we asked them about the uh regional centralized dispatch and so their fire service um they seem to be in favor of it. So
that's something that has to be noted by all of us uh as we make this decision. If we want to have any further conversation with the uh with them on the base, then that's available to us. There should be some pictures coming out
pretty soon. It's weird because they have this like, you know, it's it's the military so >> clearance. >> Oh, yeah. >> They called us up. They said to me, Lena and I and they said gonna send you an email and it's going to come from some DoD website, some like, you know,
I don't even know, you know. >> But once you once they send it, you only have 48 hours, correct? 48 hours to get the pictures downloaded or they disappear. I said, well, there you have it. That's military for you. So, we still have not managed to work that out yet.
>> Um, so as soon as we get the pictures, uh, they should be going up on a website. >> Mr. Chairman, just a follow up on arts come after them living in the community. I mean, a lot of them, the pilots actually go to Bulldogs and Galloway. There's a there's a pie there named the 177. So, if you want to feel like a pilot,
>> let you know next time they're there if you want to just join in and share the >> They do. So, not only do they live in the community, but they they support our our businesses in the community as well. So >> anyone else under the good of the order before we adjourn?
Now entertain a motion then to adjourn this meeting. >> Move. >> All in favor say I. >> Post. Motion carries. We are adjourned.