Heat. Heat. It is now 4:00 or 1,600 hours. I now call this meeting of the Atlantic County Board of Commissioners to order. Um, madam clerk, would you please read the opening public meeting statement?
You can do that. >> Do not have it in front of me. >> We don't have it in front of me. I guess I do that. I'll I'll take care of it. Here we go. Sorry. All right. 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 and mailed to the Hamilton Gazette and has been posted on the Bolton boards in the county office building in Atlantic City, the
Stillwater Building in Northfield, and the county clerk's office in Maze Landing. At this time, we'll have a opening prayer. That's the prayer. help. Thank you. >> Let's pray. Father, we are grateful for your goodness and your mercy toward us.
We ask, oh God, your guidance. We ask, oh God, for your wisdom. Pray for our country in this turbulent time in which we are. We ask, oh God, that you would bless our country. Bless our servicemen. Keep us in your perfect peace. Your name we pray. Amen.
>> Amen. You please rise for the flag salute. I pledge algiance 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. Well, we have one set of minutes to deal with. Okay, Madam Clerk, would you please call the role? >> Chairman, Commissioner Daz is unable to attend today and Commissioner Certino is attending virtually. >> Okay, thank you.
>> Martino, >> private. >> Burns here. Days >> here. >> Karna here. Parker >> present. >> Ruff >> here. >> Shanker >> here. >> Grizzly >> here. Okay.
>> Chair will entertain a motion to adopt the minutes of March 31st. >> Second. >> Thank you. It's been moved and seconded to adopt these minutes. Any discussion, corrections, deletions, etc.
Not madam clerk, please call the role. Portino, >> yes. >> Burns, yes. >> Stays, >> yes. >> Kern, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Refu, >> 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 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. Anyone attending in person who would like to speak regarding an agenda item or a public comment, please come to the podium, speak into the microphone, state your name in the town where you reside. You'll 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 will again be provided up to three minutes to speak. Okay, Madam Clerk, would you please read resolution 187? >> Resolution declaring the week of April 19th to April 25th, 2026 as National
Crime Victim's Rights Week in Atlanta County and recognizing and supporting assistance to victims of crime. Sponsor Moren Kurt. Thank you. been moved in a second. Discussion. >> Um, I just want to make a couple uh
quick comments. Uh, in 1982, the president's task force on victims of crime envisioned a national commitment to more equitable and supportive response to victims. So, the National Crime Victim's Rights Week, which is April 19th, honors survivors and raises
awareness of rights and services, urging communities to ensure victims are heard, believed, and supported. The week emphasizes that victim support is a year-round responsibility, focusing on legal rights like notice of proceedings, restitution, and protection from
harassment. The 2026 theme is listen, act, and advocate. encouraging, strengthening support for survivors, making sure that they are seen, valued, and not forgotten. >> Anyone else like to speak before I call
up the folks from the prosecutor's office? >> Oh, please. >> Thank you for being here. >> Hi, for those who don't know me, uh, my name is Patricia Hayek. I'm from the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. I've been with the office for about 27
years. My anniversary is approaching soon. Um, I'm the director of victim witness. It's been my sole purpose uh ever since I graduated college was to work with victims of crime and serve the community. So, I appreciate your time in acknowledging this week. It should be
acknowledged all the time and not just a specific week. Um, but I have to say I take a lot of pride in the services that we provide here in Atlantic County as I do as my counterparts who also serve um the victims of crime and whatever other outlets that are needed. So, thank you
very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for being here. >> I wanted to also I apologize. I wanted to introduce our chief of staff is named Michael Kaine. Um, also Christy Gardner, our senior advocate. She's been here
3,000 years. Yeah. >> Uh, John. >> Yes. Yes. Uh, and Chief Patrick Snider. Thank you so much. >> Make the presentation. >> Sure. We will.
>> We do have our sheriff here. Would you like to say anything about Crime Victim's Week? >> He's like, I can't resist. >> Yeah. >> Can't resist the opportunity. Thank you so much. Just happy to be here. Happy to see everybody and uh see we're moving forward. I have a great working
relationship with our director of public safety as well as our prosecutor's office and we could not do it without this commission board. So, we thank you men and women of my office. Thank you. And Atlantic County should all thank you. That's all I have to say. Thank
you. Thank you, Sheriff. I just have a How are you? >> I'm good. How are you? >> He had double uh shoulder. Did your wife teach you how to do that? >> She's like, I'm doing it at all angles. All angles. Nice to see you, too.
>> I see. I see. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> And we appreciate all that you guys do. >> Appreciate it. Doing great. Oh, get the heck out of here. Don't say stuff like that.
>> Yeah, I'll take them. Okay, moving on with our agenda. I'm pleased to uh introduce someone who u >> Oh, you're correct. You are correct, sir. That's why you get the big bucks. >> Okay. Any other discussion on the
resolution 187? Hearing none, please call the role. >> Yes. >> Burns. Yes. Stays. >> Yes. >> Karna, >> yes. >> Parker, yes. >> Ruff, yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzley, >> yes. >> Now, it's my pleasure to introduce the
executive director of the South Jersey Economic Development District. We just had a meeting last night. Her name is Carrie Italiano. Would you come up to the podium and introduce yourself and please tell our board what you do and we
do? >> I'd be more than happy to. Hi everyone, my name is Carrie Italiano. I want to need to be handed out to >> All right. So again, my name is Carrie Taliano. It's a pleasure to be with you
all. Um I am the executive director of something called the South Jersey Economic Development District. How many of you have heard of it? Anyone? Okay. >> So we we Yeah, John keeps us up. We play a very I don't want to say a small role in um the district which is comprised of
Atlantic County, Kate May County, Cumberland County, and Salem County, but we play a very supportive role of any type of federal project, community project, and a lot of economic development. Um so I took over approximately two years ago, um as our
district came out of uh some very dark times. um I wasn't a part of that but uh I'm a part of the very positive and the the motivating time. So just a couple of things that you know we do is again we play a very supportive role. So I work
directly with the US EDA, I work with the NJA, I work with the US DOT, I work with the USDA who actually came to um our our meeting last night. So our meetings are four times a year. Um, our board is comprised of key elected
officials from each county and I feel that we've been having very good communication and good conversations and things are actually moving along. So, right in front of you is something called um it's a a grant application actually just through our district. So,
it's not EDA, it's not USDA, it's it's a it's directly from us, the SJD. So again, since we're moving out of those dark times, um we do have money in our operating funds from planning and technical grants that we've been uh collecting over the years. So this is
just a grant that we began doing in January. So I I want everybody just to kind of like take a look at it. So one of the things about our the district is everyone wants to have meetings, but they don't know what a grant application
might entail. So we have a cover page. It really goes through the the criteria of what you can apply for and what's a suitable project for us. We also have the actual application and then on the back is the rubric. So, it's a 40point rubric and you must meet 30 of those
points in order to get past May in order to move on to the executive committee. So, we were happy that last night we from January to April, um we had one applicant and they met a third they got 32 points out of my rubric moved on to the executive committee and we were
happy to award them a $25,000 grant which is going to offset some preliminary costs for them and uh some planning and technical specs um for the violent athletic complex. So, I'm excited about that. So, a couple other things that I just want to highlight um
again as a resource and some e US EDA grant applications that were a part of. You might not know that we're a part of it because there's so many different key players I believe in it and I just like to be behind the scenes a little bit more, but um we did a lot with the Wildwood Hurricane Ida uh disaster
recovery. So, we helped get them a $1 million grant uh for their boardwalk reconstruction. So, it's 1 million out of the four million. Um, we did a lot of the Wildwood Boardwalk Reconstruction for tourism purposes. Lots of letters of support. I love letters of support. So,
you guys have a project that you know might not fit any of our criteria to help with a grant, I'd be more than happy to uh write a letter of support if it's something that benefits the community and your um respective counties. We're also working on Sound Community College. So over in S County,
uh is it's expansion of the Dav David Hall, which is their nursing training facility. Their nursing program is number one in the state, which is amazing. So we're trying to help them obtain a $2 million grant. We got word back from the US US EDA last week, and
the project is moving forward. We were also working with the Violent Cooperative Produce Auction for a purchase of a hydro vacuum. This grant has been worked on for two years. I've sent so many letters of support and on so many uh different very productive
calls and we just got word last week that it was declined. So, it's right now in uh we're going to appeal it because they didn't really give us a good reason on why they declined it even though they made us change the application three different times. Um lots of work with the Violin Industrial Park. Uh we do
lots of letters of support um for your NP buildings. um working with US DOT right now trying to get a transportation grant. So a lot of what we do is just a lot of again supportive projects. We like to meet
with all of the counties talk about projects. So some of the regional projects that we're working on right now is um trying to help out and figure out a solution and don't laugh at this for public transportation. So, I know it's a a topic that is very dis, you know,
highly discussed, but there's really not a lot of um solutions to it. Uh also talking about broadband access, infrastructure extensions and improvements, bridge replacements again in the regional four counties, tourism infrastructure, warehousing, industrial,
uh business park developments, uh rail freight enhancements, doing a lot with the rail, agriculture industry, food processing, distribution, high technology, redevelopment of, you know, our brown fields and abandoned in industry properties, working with workforce development and
the local community colleges and then also um with Francis Cune um in Atlantic County and Christy Donardo who oversees Cumberland, Kate May and Salem counties. Um and then also working with EMC EMS
service facility developments and we're also doing a lot with um the film industry. So trying to get everybody film ready and film certified. So does anybody have any questions? >> Is Atlanta County film ready, film certified? Excuse me, Mr. Sure.
>> I don't believe so. >> Um, some of your municipalities are working on it. Uh, so Salem County just got film ready. Kate May County is film ready. I think Cumberland County is still working out some of their kinks, but um, it was discussed like maybe
having a cooperative, so somebody who can oversee all four counties in the film industry. like Burlington County, Glouester County, um, and Camden County kind of have like a regionalized point of contact person, but I don't think we're there yet. So, it's it's I'm
watching Salem County go through it. They have their first film festival April 25th, which is really exciting. They were looking um, not to get too much off topic on the film industry, but they were just like, "Let's have a film festival. Let's see what it's all about.
Maybe we'll get like 20 25 submissions." They got over 200. So now they have to figure out how to narrow it down and uh they had a a criteria. So it's not like you could just submit any film. Like there was very specific details and descriptions that went into the
submission process. Um but it's something that's up and coming. So I would definitely look into it and talk to your economic development board or even talk to anybody even even like the municipalities can all be film ready. Um, >> so when you say you talked to our
economic development board, is that uh the ACA we're talking about with Matt Matt Slusher and Lauren Moore? Is that those are the people? >> Yeah, we're referencing. >> Yep. You know, just add something to their plate. I know you guys are really busy in Atlanta County. So, you know, I'm trying to compare it to Salem County
that, you know, >> not too busy to ask about the rail line, though, because I heard you mention that and we'd love to have that conversation down here in South Jersey. >> How to improve that uh the services for the rail in South Jersey. I think that would be a major major major economic
development uh enhancement for South Southern New Jersey. >> Yeah. So, um, and I always keep using SEM County as an example because they're the ones who just completed some of these recent projects, but they're actually creating a bike path that is going to go alongside of their railroad.
>> So, it's not, you know, taking away any of the PIP farmland preservation or cutting through the woods. Um, but they have applied for certain grants through the uh federal government to finish their rail. So, now we have something called the the Woodstown Central Line. So, people go there for weekend trips.
Um, it's really cute. The Easter Bunny was there this past weekend. I took my kids there. >> Well, Woodtown can get railed and I'm sure Atlantic County can get some. >> Yeah. Yeah. It It's a We have so many people come in. Um, I think last year's Woodtown Central said they had over
40,000 visitors in just a one-year process or a one-year um yeah, process. But um and I will also note that I I meet a lot frequently with New Jersey Transit trying to get them on board with the you know trying to find solutions to transportation problems.
And President Chris Callori did mention that he is looking for 10 miles of straight rail uh to hopefully bring a rail testing center somewhere in South Jersey whether it be Atlantic County, Kate May County, Cland County, S County. So, if anybody knows of an abandoned
rail line or the opportunity to have 10 miles of street rail, um I'm currently working on getting some meetings together with that. So, I'm working with uh the mayor of Woodbine right now. Um he had some uh interest in just
listening to discussions. I know that there's an abandoned rail that stretches from Winslow to Kate May area. I don't know what the rail is. I think it's ran by Conrail, but um these were very preliminary. It just occurred in the past week.
It's exciting stuff. We're here. We're here to help. We're here to support and uh we're doing a lot more projects, so it's exciting. >> Great. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Gary, would you touch on the size of our board and and the the number of folks we
have and the different voices we have in the district? >> Absolutely. So our board is comprised of 16 members um approximately four members from each county uh consisting of one commissioner. So that is our executive board. So each of our commissioners is
you know ruled as the executive board. We have a solicitor. We have a CFO. Um we contract out our grant writers. So Triad Associates is our grant writer. Uh we actually just renewed their contract for a three-year term last night. They've been very proactive in our board. They've been coming to every
single meeting. Um again when I tell you this board has like been coming back to life. I served on the board as a member for six years um just as a private business and then the opportunity came where they need a new executive director. So I decided to step up and uh
from that time I really like the interest in the board has grown. We have SJTO sometimes come. Last night we had uh via transportation um her name is K Katie Letty. He came all the way from Washington DC just to come present at our meeting which was really incredible.
Again the director Rick Stern came down from the USDA along with Maryanne Tercci his assistant. So we've been having really good presentations which never occurred before. Um, and it really impacts and it's a it's a good piece for all of the counties to get everybody in
one room and like have these conversations and maybe something that they're you know the USDA is talking about um an annual grant that they give out, you know, to um build possible like new fire departments, new police departments or like repurp refurbish, excuse me. I
already had three emails from my board about that just asking for more information. And so it's just crucial conversations that are they're a good thing. They're a really good thing. So, um, along with the board again, we have presenters.com and we had three members of the public
last night, which is great because we only have one member of the public that normally shows up and it was the first time they asked questions in the eight years I've been a part of the board. So, it was nice that questions were finally being asked. Um, I do have a newly designed website, sjed.com.
I have overhauled our SS, which is our comprehensive economic development strategy that is done every five years. So, the timeline of me becoming the executive director really coincided with the new five-year plan. Every five years, the plan has to be redone and redesigned. So, I took it from looking
like I would say like this, just a couple pieces of paper stapled together um into an 81page working document on the website. It's colorful is colorful, it's graphic, um it's not boring, it's not full of words, and it really does get to the point. It, you know, it
outlines every single county, demographics, employment, you know, how much people come into the county to work, how many people leave a county to work. So, it's a really good document to utilize as a resource. So, we do have a lot of businesses that come in and will
now utilize our website to reach out to everybody else. So, um on the website, I have tabs for Atlantic County. So, when you click on Atlantic County, all of your offices will come up, quick links, things of that nature. So, everything's like in a one-stop shop for economic
development. even though I might not be the person they really need to speak with, at least I can give them a really good overview of what they pro, you know, probably need and what they're looking for and who would be a really good contact for them to to get in contact with. Um, we just updated all of
our opportunity zones um maps, so they're listed back on the website. But um yeah, it's good stuff. It's fun and I'm excited. So sometimes I feel like I'm too excited, but it's all right. government works really slow. So, it's
nice that things are finally falling into place. You know, two years later, I'm finally seeing a lot of uh what we've been putting into. But again, you know, one of our things that we did right now is uh we applied for a joint county, a 4ount US DOT grant. The US DOT
said they've never seen four different counties apply for any grant in the United States. >> Sometimes it's like between municipalities, maybe one or two, but never a a county thing. And uh we're still waiting on if we got that. We applied for it back I think it's uh
October. Um the SJed we were able to cover all the application fees with our planning technical grant through the US EDA and it's something that would help all four counties if we get a up to a $1 million grant. So I'm still waiting to
hear back from that. So yeah. >> Well, Carrie, thanks for being here. I've been waiting to get you here for a long time so you could meet the board and know where we're at, so on so forth. And uh you can see, ladies and
gentlemen, why she's in the position she's in. She's full of enthusiasm. We're lucky to we're lucky to have her and does a great job for the for the district. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. And of course, um, we're in a far better
situation than we were many years ago. You know, in in our kitty, we have, uh, about $300,000 round numbers. And the years ago when Mr. Okconor was involved, was the executive director. I came on in the
district when the district was bankrupt and um got on board in 2012 to the district and um we couldn't even afford to pay Mr. Okconor at the time. You I think he worked for five hours a week or
something or something like that as a caretaker. That was after the the bank I'll call it the bankruptcy of the district and the start of a new new era with the SJD. So we have grant money available. We do
have grant money available and uh we like Carrie was talking about we were proud to support that violent sports complex with a $25,000 grant and uh we hope that uh that provides uh some economic activity
and becomes a reality. So with that Carrie thank you for coming and >> yeah thank you. I also do have my business cards. I don't know who I give them to. >> You can leave a few right with our clerk. >> Okay. >> All right.
>> All right. I appreciate it and thank you guys for having me. >> And don't don't feel compelled to stay for the rest of the meeting. >> We went to what 8:30 last night. >> Oh yeah. Um >> an hour ride home. >> I didn't get home until I think almost 10.
>> There you go. >> That's okay. My kids were asleep. >> Thank you. >> Thank you guys. I appreciate that. >> Great. Thanks again for commentary, Carrie. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> All right,
moving on with our agenda. We have ordinance number two on first reading. Madam Clerk, would you read it by title? Ordinance regulating the towing and storage of motor vehicles, revising and replacing Atlanta County Ordinance number 3, 2014 pertaining to
section 126-7 of the county code. First reading. >> Moved. Second. >> It's been moved and seconded. Discussion. >> Mr. Chair. >> Yes. >> Since we're here on the first reading of this, uh, can we at least hear what the changes are from this ordinance from the
2014 ordinance? >> Absolutely. In fact, uh, in our in our budget meeting, we had Mr. Murray and others talk about the the ordinance and how um well, I'll let Mr. Murray speak. >> Evening all, Arthur Murray, Assistant
County Council. Uh, the primary changes to the ordinance is the amount charged for towing. uh and it's based upon weight of vehicle and it ranges from $200 up to $500 per vehicle. Our previous ordinance was uh wolffully
lacking behind New Jersey State Police and all of the local uh municipalities in terms of what they were charging as it relates to vehicles. We actually introduced the ordinance late 2025 if you recall and then we had to pull it.
And we pulled it because um some of the participating private companies indicated that we did not take into account vehicles that were either abandoned or unclaimed. So there are two new sections, section M as in Mary and N
as in Nancy, which address unclaimed and abandoned vehicles. We have had our private tow companies review the ordinance to make sure they believe we've covered everything. They have answered in the affirmative and Caitlyn Flynn, assistant county council, was instrumental in coordinating with the
sheriff's office under Sheriff Lee, as well as the uh director of public safety, Colonel Fedoro, who got us the current um uh price list for the New Jersey State Police. and we believe we're now consistent with the state
police as well as the local municipalities and what we are charging in terms of that. So those are the basic changes are the amounts of the towing and then addressing unclaimed and abandoned vehicles. >> Thank you. >> Okay, good. Anything else I can answer
for anyone? >> Thank you. >> I think we're good. There being no further discussion, madam clerk, would you please call the role? >> Yes. >> Burns? >> Yes. >> Faze? >> Yes. >> Karn, >> yes.
>> Parker, >> yes. >> Ruffio, >> yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. Moving into our grants, our resolutions of grants. I'll entertain a motion. combine and adopt
resolutions 163 through 172. >> So move, Mr. Chair, if you can pull 168 and 171. >> You want to pull >> 168 and 171.
>> All right, I also pull 170. >> 170. >> Why don't we do this then? Are they questions? >> You have specific questions that would could be resolved.
>> Absolutely. I have questions. >> Okay. >> Yeah, you don't have to pull the whole resolution. Uh Ken, do you have to pull the whole resolution? >> There's only questions if you want to discuss questions. >> Just move it at the end with more questions. >> Correct.
But you just want to start Perfect to absolute extension for 170. >> Give me 170. >> We're only going to pull 170 all the way. All right.
All right. Then we will adopt the resolution to cover 163 >> the 169 >> 172 >> 172 >> and 171 172 >> 71 172 okay
>> so 72 excluding >> 17 >> yes so it's a motion to confine and adopt resolution 163 169 9 1712 exclusion of resolution 17.
>> Yes. >> Second. >> Okay. All right. So that's one motion to consider all those resolutions 163 to 169 and 171 through
172. >> That's correct. >> Okay. All right. All right. Discussion. >> Discussion on 168. >> Okay. >> Um there's a net increase of over 100,000. I'd like to have clarification
on the reduction and whether it impacts any services or staffing the decrease in funding for CO. >> Miss Jans is online. >> Can you hear me? This is Cara Jansen. >> Yes. >> Yes. Okay, great. No, there is no
reduction in services. Um, this was grant funding that we started to receive in 2023 and we used it for um a variety of infrastructure
improvements as well as um within public health as well as across the county. So it was not for any direct services that we were providing. It was an enhancement to anything we weren't doing. >> Thank you.
>> Y any other questions? >> Mr. Chairman 171. >> Okay. >> For the county in kind match of approximately 170 167,000. Can we clarify what resources make up the match
and whether this is absorbed within existing operations under most grants like that this one as well as is salary and wages. >> Salary and wages. >> Thank you.
>> Any other questions? >> Hearing none. And madam clerk, please call the role. I'm sorry. We have to open to the public. I'm sorry. Got ahead of myself there. Meeting is now open to the public to consider and comment on any of those resolutions mentioned.
>> Hearing no public comment, please call the role. >> Martino, >> yes. >> Earns, yes. >> Daz, >> yes. >> Karna, yes. >> Parker, yes. >> Ruffio, yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. And now we're going to go back to consider resolution 170
>> grant application and acceptance from the New Jersey office of the insurance fraud prosecutor for the county prosecutor insurance fraud reimbursement program amount not to exceed $245,425.50 50 cents >> move. >> Second >> been moved and second discussion
not pay for a fulltime effective and a part-time assistant prosecutor. >> It's always salaries and wages cover. >> Yeah. Any other discussion on 170
any public comment? Hearing none. Madam clerk, please call the role. >> Yes. >> Karns, >> yes. >> Stays, >> stay. >> Kerna, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Ruffio, >> yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes.
Change orders. The chair will entertain a motion to combine and adopt 173 through 175. >> Moved. >> Second. >> Been moved. And seconded. Any discussion on these change orders?
>> 173. Can we find out the $125,000 increase? The purpose of it? >> Yep. >> Doug, you got 173. Not yesterday. >> Doug, you want >> um 173 would be Chris's.
>> Galloway. >> Someway library. an increase of 125,000. Yeah, >> I don't know if Chris is on Chrissy. You want >> I can give you a little synopsis, please. From what? Yeah. Basically, there was a lot of problems between the
library and the city dealing with the with the patriot weight that they have there. And there was when they were doing all the work, it was underwater. And when the water went down a bit, they didn't realize how much work they had,
emergency work they had to continue to do. So the change order was to address unforeseen work that they that they couldn't do while they were doing underwater work. That's not perfect explanation. That's basically what it was. >> I appreciate it. Thank you.
>> Any other discussion? Any public comment? Hearing none, please call the role. >> Martino, >> yes. >> Earns, >> yes. >> Stays, >> yes. >> Kern, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Ruffio, >> yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly,
>> yes. Okay. Will entertain a motion to combine and adopt resolutions 176 through 180. >> Move. >> Second. >> Discussion. Any public comment on 176 through 180?
Hearing none, please call the role. >> Bertino, >> yes. >> Burns, >> yes. S, >> yes. >> Kern, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Ruffio, >> yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Okay, we have two chapter 159. So, one,
two, three of them. Um, we'll entertain a motion to combine and adopt 181 through 183. >> Moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion on the chapter 159s? Any public comment?
Hearing none, please call the role. >> Martino, >> yes. >> Burns, yes. Stays, >> yes. >> Kerna, yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Ruff, yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. We have one appointment resolution 184
>> appointment of Shan M. McCree to the Atlantic County Fire Training Advisory Board for a term to expire on March 1st, 2027. >> Thank you. Been moved and second. Any discussion? Any public comment?
184 an appointment. There being no public comment, just like to say many thanks this individual for coming forward and and serving and helping us train our firefighters. >> Madam clerk, please call the role.
>> Bertino, >> yes. >> Burns, yes. Stays, >> yes. >> Kerna, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Ruff, >> yes. >> Shaker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. Chair will entertain a motion to combine and adopt 185 through one. Sorry. Yeah,
that's right. 185 through 186. >> Second move and seconded. Any discussion on these roadway solicitations? Any public comment? Hearing none, please call the role.
>> Yes. Burns, yes. Stays, >> yes. >> Karn, yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Ratu, >> yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Cler, would you please um read number 188? >> Resolution recognizing the month of April as child abuse prevention month.
Sponsor June Burns. >> Moved. >> Second >> and moved and second. Discussion. >> Yes, please. Chairman, April is recognized as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. And here in Atlantic County, we take this seriously. Every
child in our community deserves to feel safe, supported, and valued. Protecting our children is not just the role of families. It's a partnership throughout the entire county. We're strongest when we work together. Atlanta County is proud to partner with local agencies and
advocates who work tirelessly to prevent child abuse, provide resources to families, and ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive. Their dedication makes a meaningful difference in the lives of so many. This month, we recommmit ourselves to raising
awareness, strengthening families, and creating a culture where every child is protected and every voice is heard. Together, we can build a safer, brighter future for all children in Atlanta County. On April 30th, the Atlantic County Youth Services Commission, led by
Curtis Still and Shereice Williams, will be hosting Pinwheels for Prevention. Pinwheels, as you saw when you came in the front door, they're whimsical, they're carefree, exactly how every child should experience their childhood. So on the
30th of April from 10 to 12 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon our commission youth services commission will be having a recognition event for all participants that have planted their pinwheel gardens and taken pictures and showing in
support of all of our children's families and agencies. So this will be at Lakes Bay Community Park in Pleasantville. More information can be found on the county website. Thank you. Thank you. Any other discussion?
Any public public comment? Hearing none. Please call the role. >> Martino, >> yes. >> Hearns, yes. Stays, >> yes. >> Karn, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Ruffio, >> yes. >> Shanker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Okay. Has anyone received any written
communications or petitions? just like to mention that it's just a matter of record that any time that I received a written communication from our solicitor, I immediately pass it on.
So you'll you're all everybody is adequately notified. >> Um your correspondences. >> Yes, please. >> We do have a correspondence that we received. The following correspondence was received by this office from April
1st, 2026 to April 7th, 2026, April 7th, 2026. Resolution adopted by the Burough Wildwood Crest Board of Commissioners authorizing participation in supporting Senate uh concurrent resolution SRC number 106ari
D22 uh which would determine the NJ pack real rules are inconsistent with legislative intent. We all know that's something that's going to deeply impact
>> uh us down here at the shore. >> Yep. That's for sure. >> Keep that whatever's going on with the NJ real pack, we should, >> you know, stay up to date on it. >> I think we've adopted a resolution in the past already covering that.
>> Yes, we did. you know, so >> any reports of the special committees of the board, >> Mr. Chair, to to shorten this, I won't give a committee report, but I I did give a memorandum that was passed out by our clerk to all the commissioners uh
which had some uh legislative updates uh on there. I will just point out a few. the educ for education and schools committee educational policy. The state continues to uh recalibrate the school funding formula act s
uh with particular focuses on transitioning to special education funding based on actual enrollment not projected enrollment. Uh so that should give us a more accurate number. We hope we hope.
>> We certainly hope what the state does. >> Expanding mental health supports in schools and utilizing multi-year averaging of property values and income instead of just doing it from one year.
The implications for us here, uh, school funding remains an evolving issue. Counties must monitor how these adjustments impact local districts, particularly in regions with disparities in wealth and capacity.
Uh I'll point out another for workforce development. The state is prioritizing youth employment programs, workforce pipelines aligned to regional economic needs, which falls into our presentation that we had earlier today. >> Uh aligns with that. uh the implications
there. There is an opportunity for counties to strengthen connections between education systems, workforce training and local employment demand. And as this board knows, that's something that the education and schools committee has been working very diligently on with our uh academic
partners with uh ideal institute to ACIT to ACCC Stockton and all the above as well as our ACA uh economic development. So there's should be some opportunities for us to enhance what we're already
doing in that area. Last one I'll point out is in AI and technology governance. The state guidance on artificial intelligence remains emerging and incomplete with the focus on uh responsible use data privacy and risk
management implications for counties. uh we have an opportunity to lead in developing governance framework ahead of formal statewide mandates. There's a few others that you guys will see uh the commissioners will see that are on there that I did not highlight for this
meeting. Most of those have the same basic theme. My concern with all of them are unfunded mandates. >> Right? >> So, it's going to come to the same conclusion. The state mandates, I just want to know who's paying for it, right?
That is correct. >> That's all I have to chair. >> Any unfinished business? Any new business? Now we'll move into public comments. Anyone from the public like to make any
comments, questions online? Do we have anyone online like to comment? If not, we'll move into uh the good of the order. >> Okay. I'll entertain a motion to close
the public portion. >> Thank you. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. >> Okay. Public portion is now closed. >> We're at the good of the order. Anyone have any items? >> Mr. Chair, I probably should have said this for correspondence, and I'll just
briefly state that we have received correspondences from uh both the executive's office and the prosecutor's office. >> Yes, >> that's it. >> Okay. All right.
>> Any other comments? If not, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. So move second. >> All in favor say I. I. Oppos. Motion carries. We're adjourned. Heat. Heat.