Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music]
[Music] at the meeting of the Atlantic County Board of Commissioners is called to order in compliance with the open public meetings act of the state of New Jersey. Adequate notice of this meeting of the Atlantic County Board of Commissioners
was provided in the following manner. Published to the Press of Atlantic City and mailed to the Hamilton Gazette and has been posted on the bulletin boards in the county office building in Atlantic City and the Stillwater Building in Northfield and the county clerk's office in Mace Landing. Um at this moment, I'm going to
ask for a moment of silence in in just a couple of moments. Obviously, um this board is meeting one week later than we were scheduled to meet. um due to the the passing of of one of our own, Commissioner Ernest Corsy. Um we had an opportunity this past weekend to to pay
our respects as did the public um in the community with which he served or whom he served. Um anybody who had the opportunity to meet Ernie know that he left an indelible mark not only on the individuals that he met but on the communities that he represented. Um, I had the opportunity to sit here on the
day, sometimes next to him, sometimes across from him, but I was always in view of his smile and I could always hear his smile and his comments. Um, there's no doubt that Commissioner Corsy will be missed by so many in Atlantic County. So, please continue to keep his his wife, his boys, and the rest of his
family in your thoughts and prayers. Um, I'd like to ask you to to bow your heads for a moment of silence. Thank you. Please face the flag. >> Attention. Salute. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. Roll call, please. >> Martino >> here. >> Burns >> here. >> Gatau >> here. >> Kern here. >> Parker >> present. >> Grizzly >> here. >> Ruffio
>> here. >> D >> here. Commissioners have had an opportunity to review the minutes from July 1st, 2025. I will entertain a motion to adopt the July 1st minutes as presented. >> Moved. >> Second. moved and seconded. Please call the role.
>> Ratino, >> yes. >> Burns, yes. >> Gate, >> yes. >> Kern, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Ralph, >> yes. >> Dates, >> yes. >> So, over the past several meetings, the board of commissioners has been utilizing a consent agenda format for
sections of the agenda, such as chapter 159s and appointments that the commissioners do not feel need additional discussion from the board and are not contested. This consent agenda format has allowed 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. As this meeting's agenda is lengthy, we are going to attempt to expand that format to other sections of today's agenda using the same procedure. 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 of course 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 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 hands during the agenda item or a 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 be provided up to three minutes to speak. Commissioners, um, prior to getting into to our agenda item board number four, I just wanted to see if there are any commissioners who would like to to comment on Commissioner C's passing at
this moment. I know some expressed willingness to say that till the end for commissioner comments. I just wanted to open the opportunity at this time. >> I don't think I can make it through the meeting if I say it. Okay, >> I'll say it until >> just out of respect for everyone who ser
wanted to offer that. >> All right. Ordinance for >> an ordinance revising speed limits along True Road, Second Road, County Route 559 in the town of Hamilton and Township of Hamilton. First reading. >> Moved. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any commissioner
comments? >> Any comments from the public? Excuse me. No comments. This is first reading. Please call the RO. >> Bertino, >> yes. >> Burns, yes. Scatter, >> yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Wrizley, >> yes. >> Rafio, >> yes. >> Stace, >> yes. And again, if any commissioners would like to discuss or remove any
grants from the consent agenda, please indicate so now. >> Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to open public comment on resolutions 388 through 403. >> Second. >> Have been seconded. All in favor? I
>> Is there any comment from the public? Right. I'll entertain a motion to close public comment. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor? >> I. >> All right. I'll now entertain a motion to combine and adopt the resolutions 388 through 403. Grants >> move. Second.
>> Moved and seconded. Please call the role. >> Certino. >> Yes. >> Burns. Yes. >> Gate. >> Yes. >> Karn. >> Yes. >> Parker. >> Yes. >> Grizzly. >> Yes. >> Rafio. >> Yes. D. >> Yes. Mhm. >> And if any commissioners would like to discuss or remove any professional service contracts from the consent
agenda, please indicate so now. >> Hearing not, I'll let a motion to open public comment on resolutions 404 through 408. >> Move. Second. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor? >> I. >> Right. I'll excuse me. Is there any public comment?
I'll entertain a motion to close public comment. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor? I. >> All right. Any opposed? Okay. I'll entertain a motion to combine and adopt resolutions 404 through 408. Professional services contracts. >> Move. >> Second.
>> Move and seconded. Please call the role. >> Martino, >> yes. >> Burns, yes. >> Gat, yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, yes. >> Grizzley, >> yes. >> Rafio, >> yes. >> D, >> yes. Moving on to competitive contracts. If any commissioners would like to discuss or remove any competitive contract item from the consent agenda,
please indicate at this time. Okay. Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to open public comment on resolutions 409 through 411. >> Move. >> Second. >> Second. All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Any public comment?
I'll entertain a motion to close public comment. >> Second. >> Move and seconded. All in favor? I >> I. >> Any opposed? All right. And I'll entertain a motion to combine and adopt the resolutions 409 through 411 competitive contracts.
>> Move. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Please call the role. >> Bertino. >> Yes. >> Burns. Yes. >> Gate. Yes. >> Kern. >> Yes. >> Parker. >> Yes. >> Grizzly. >> Yes. >> Ruffview. >> Yes. >> D. >> Yes. If any commissioners like to discuss or remove any bid contracts from
the consent agenda, please indicate so now. >> All right. Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to open public comment on resolutions 412 through 416. >> Second. >> We have them and seconded. All in favor? >> I >> I posted.
>> I didn't hear you, Mike. >> I >> Is there any public comment? >> All right. I'll entertain a motion to close public comment. >> Move. Second. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor? I >> I'll entertain a motion to combine and
adopt the resolutions 412 through 416 bid contracts. >> Moved second. >> Moved and seconded. Please call the role. >> Bertino, >> yes. >> Burns, yes. >> Gat, yes. >> Kern, >> yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Rley, >> yes. >> Rio, yes. >> D, >> yes. Mike is a teacher and we should be
singling you out, so I apologize. >> It's not the first time. Commissioners would like to discuss or remove any change orders from the consent agenda. Please indicate so now hearing none. I'll entertain a motion to open public comments on resolutions 417
through 419. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Is there any public comment on four resolutions 417 through 419? >> Okay. I'll entertain a motion to close
public comment. Second. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? I'll entertain a motion to combine and adopt resolutions for motion to combine adopt
resolutions 417 through 419. Change orders. >> Move. Second. >> Have been seconded. Please call the role. >> Bertino. >> Yes. >> Burns. Yes. >> Gat. Yes. >> Karn. >> Yes. >> Parker. In honor of Commissioner Corsy, I just want to say these change orders
>> every time I see them. No. Yes. I'm in favor. I vote yes. >> Grizzly. >> Yes. >> Rafio. >> Yes. >> Please. >> Yes. Any commissioners would like to discuss or remove any miscellaneous items from the consent agenda? Please indicate so now.
>> Okay. Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to open public comment on resolutions 420 through 445. >> Move. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor? >> I any comment? By the way, I I just want to clarify the
the commissioners have an opportunity to speak on any item as well during the consent agenda. All right. Should we close public comment? I'm sorry for the weather. Any >> Is there any public comment? >> All right. No public comment. I'll entertain a motion to close public
comment. >> Move. >> Second. >> Move and seconded. All in favor? >> I. >> Mr. Chair, before you motion, um I would it be pertinent to just uh get a summary of the MOA for asks me?
>> Sure. For the >> for the bargaining agreement. >> Jared, do you have Yeah. Hi, ASME uh is a four-year agreement uh that was uh just ratified recently. Uh the base salaries increased and the
first uh year equity adjustment for the members. The second and third and fourth years there's a 4.5% increase. Um, the increases with the exception of the LPMs and the CNAs are approximately
2,000 up to $2,000 an increase. With the LPN and the N CNAs, we had to increase it a little bit more because we've been unable to hire folks. So, that's where the salaries have been increased. I believe that the uh actual uh MOA is
attached to the resolution as well. Do we want to do the other MOAS? >> Sure. While she's here, >> just one question if I can. Uh, Lynn, were there any merit increases given for longevity in these contracts? >> Not to my No, I don't think so. No,
>> no adjustments at all. Right. >> No, the equity increase. >> Equity increases >> and base first year and the base seller was increased. >> Okay. >> Thanks. >> And then how about the CWA agreements? >> Pardon me, the other two. Yeah,
>> the intergenerational uh first year base salary there was an increase uh and also there was an equity adjustment based on years of service. >> Right. Right. >> So um let me get you the years of service for that.
>> 16 years 4,000 time. So for those uh employees that serve 16 or more, they received a $4,000 equity adjustment. For employees 6 to 15 years,
an adjustment of 3,500. Employees uh less than six years was 3,000. And then again uh second, third, and fourth year was a 3.5% increase. This is also a four-year agreement. And likewise uh the same for facilities
same uh same formula same increase uh again years of service as well as two three and four they received a percentage increase of 3.5 each year respectively. >> Any questions? >> Yeah. Thank you. Any other commissioner questions comments?
>> Just a comment. I think it's uh time that we did this and uh the equity adjustments and I think it's a great contract for both both parties. >> Any other commissioner comments, questions? Mr. Bertino, >> just echo Commissioner Ridleys. I know
as commissioners um we've been calling for these adjustments to compensate for cost living and working here in Atlantic County. Our employees do a great job and you still have to be competitive to be in the world we're in. if you want to keep good people. So, it's not you have
to make these adjustments. It's a long overdue. So, I thank you to the administration for making sure this gets done. >> Thank you, Lyn. >> I agree with everything he just said. >> I'll entertain a motion to combine and
adopt resolutions 420 through 445 miscellaneous items. >> Move. >> Moved and seconded. Please call the role. >> Yes. >> Burns. Yes. Gate, yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Rafio, >> yes.
>> Yes. Resolution 446. >> Insert into the 2025 budget of funds from the state of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs under the caption of local recreational improvement 2025 number one funded amount $76,000 cash match $9,000.
>> Moved. >> Second. >> We have then seconded. Any commissioner comments? >> Are we doing this one? >> So, this one is separately because there is a cash match with this chapter 159. >> The ones that don't require the cash match are together.
>> Okay. >> So, hearing no commissioner comments. Any comments from the public? >> Please call the role. >> Bertino, yes. >> Burns, yes. >> Gat, yes. >> Kern, yes. >> Parker, >> yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Ruff, yes. >> D, >> yes. Okay. Moving on to the rest of the
chapter 159s. If any commissioners would like to discuss or remove >> any of the chapter 159 items from the consent agenda, please indicate so now. >> Um Mr. Chair, I don't want to remove just discuss briefly. Um you'll see the LEAP grant uh items here
>> and I can't remember if we've discussed it yet, but we we were awarded uh several LEAP grants uh to to Tim Kryer's credit uh and the work that he does uh as well as administration. um really great stuff. Um the one that
we did not get was the Lake Wenipe Lighthouse renovation that we were attempting to get. Um but the one of the other ones that we got, you'll see here, is the um Eagle View software. Um and and maybe we'll give a a bigger update
in uh in uh committee reports, but um this is a a nice component of our overall kind of countybased assessment work that we're doing. Um this is just a piece of that pie. So it's helping that
effort advance forward. So um so really good stuff there and again we'll give a bigger update on that um in committee reports. >> Okay. Are there any other commissioner comments on items in chapter 159? Okay. I'll entertain a motion to open public
comment on resolutions 447 through 463. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor? >> Is there any public comment? I'll entertain a motion to close public comment. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. All in favor? >> Any opposed?
I now entertain a motion to combine and adopt resolutions 447 through 463 chapter 159. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Please call the role. >> Bertino, >> yes. >> Burns, yes. >> G, yes. >> Karn, yes. >> Parker, yes. >> Grizzly, >> yes. >> Ruffio, >> yes. >> D,
>> yes. >> Moving on to appointments. If any commissioners would like to discuss or remove any appointments from the consent agenda, please indicate so now. Commissioner Bars, I know we had a um we expected um Lester Williams who's being appointed to the Veterans Advisory
Board, but he's not here. So, but we have the chair of the Veterans Advisory Board here, Mike, to support him. >> Okay. If Mike during public comment, if you'd like to come up and say a few words about Mr. Williams, it'd be It's up to you. No pressure. >> Put me on the spot.
>> We're not We're not We're not exactly there yet. So, you have a few minutes, you know. Um, I'll entertain a motion to open open public comment on resolutions 464 through 471 appointments. >> Move. >> Second. >> We have been then seconded. Any excuse
me? All in favor? >> Is there any public comment at this time? >> Yeah, no pressure. >> Go to the microphone. >> Who do you name? Mike Bonjouro. uh the chair of the Atlanta County Veteran Advisory Board uh in my support for
Command Sergeant Major Lester Williams. Um so we've had some, you know, serious stars and and uh and medals sitting up on ours. You know, we got two star general, one star general, colonels, captains, and uh you know, I'm an
enlisted guy, so it's time for us to get some uh get some serious high ranking enlisted guys up there. So, uh, Sard Major has my full support. He has our board our board's full support. So, uh, I hope we get a thumbs up from from everybody up here. Appreciate it.
>> Mike, thank you. >> So, June Sergeant Major Williams is not going to be able to make it, right? >> Not yet. We'll check obviously any any time at the end. All right. Any other public comment? All right. I'll entertain a motion to
close public comment. >> Move and seconded. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? >> I'll entertain a motion to combine and adopt resolutions 463, excuse me, 464 to 471. Appointments. >> Move. Second. >> Move.
>> Then seconded. Please call the role. >> Yes. >> Burns. Yes. GT. Yes. Karna. >> Yes. Parker. Yes. Grizzley. >> Yes. >> Ruff. Yes. D. >> Yes. Resolution number 472 >> US contract with Brown and Brown Metro Limited Liability Company to provide
health benefit consulting services for the county amount not to exceed $116,400. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any commissioner comments? Any comments from the public? Sorry. Yeah, Commissioner. Sorry. briefly. You
know, Commissioner Kern and I did meet with the committee that part of the committee that reviewed the proposals. This is something that we must do. As you know, we're looking at 35% increases of the state health insurance plan and
um you know, the state obviously has seen this coming for a long time and for whatever reasons they buried their head in the sand on this one. just like electric. But uh this is something that's beyond
our control. We don't control insurance rates. We have a a tough situation here. And uh the committee looked through a number of proposals. Decided to go with Brown and Brown. I think it was a wise choice and was a very thorough review
from what we were briefed on in committee. Um, I just hope that uh they will be able to come back with some proposals for us that make sense because a 35% increase is just quite frankly unimaginable.
But it's uh the insurance market today is so dramatically different than it was years ago. So um I certainly support this resolution. >> Yeah. And that's um Sorry, Commissioner. >> Commissioner. So, and that's, you know,
after we've already had quite a big increase and now this is on top of that. Um, one thing that stood out to me and it and I we're gonna have them come up and speak or we can have them >> and uh it's up to you chairman. We have some people here. Uh, but one thing
there were all big companies that uh they had spoken to. One thing that stood out to me was that the one that they're looking at right now, Brown and Brown, have nine people locally that uh we can utilize throughout. And I understand,
you know, they've had other uh areas that have said some very good things about them. >> Are there any other commissioner comments at this time? I know that uh Commissioner Rley and Commissioner Ker mentioned that we have representatives from Brown and Brown in attendance
today. uh from this from the county >> uh from the county I'm sorry they were on the committee speaking would um Jared would someone like to speak on behalf >> of this resol uh I'm Palover I'm the county purchasing agent uh in order to do this process what we did is developed a set of specs
that we advertised uh through the fair and open process we received five responses um and they were individually scored by uh committee members that um were throughout the county. So anywhere from public works directors to fiscal
officers and as well as the county treasurer and library system. So we made sure that these people were not heavily involved in the insurance um and health benefits process. So they everybody scored it independently from the um
proposals that were received and anytime they had questions they went through me and I asked clarifications of all the vendors uh written clarifications. I had to do that twice because you know pricing is always a little confusing. So at at some point we uh we decided that
maybe face to face would be a good thing. So we invited uh them for interviews and the committee was able to interview and ask the questions because everybody had the exact same set of questions. It was not a negotiation situation. It was meant to be a please
clarify how you got to this point. >> Okay. Any any other commissioner comments or questions at this time? >> Right. Thank you very much. We appreciate that. I think it's well over close to 60% increase I think the list. >> Yes. couple of years.
>> Are there any comments from the public? >> All right, please call the role. >> Yes. >> Burns? >> Yes. >> Gat? >> Yes. >> Kerna? >> Yes. >> Parker? >> Yes. >> Rley? >> Yes. >> Rafio? >> Yes. >> D? >> Yes. Commissioners, we've received copies of written communications and
petitions. Are there any commissioner comments regarding either of these? >> Are there any reports of special committees of the board? Um commissioner chair. Um so we did have the shared services committee. Um and I
mentioned the LEAP grant processes. Uh the other part of that was again discussing our county uh countywide uh county based I have to keep reminding myself to say that uh tax assessment uh process. Um so there's several components to that. The Eagle View
component is the aerial mapping, which is uh really important to um our ability to eventually potentially be able to do um assessment and appraisal without, you know, having to enter premises. And
that's something that um there's legislation that we're working toward for that. Um couple other pieces that we're working toward. I anticipate that we'll have something coming to the board in I think September. We're going to meet again and then we'll have um
potentially some resolutions coming uh behind that. Um and then we also uh are continuing to talk about um some shared services for some of the smaller towns um around the assessment process, how we can support through
that. Um, I know I'm missing some components, John and Andrew, if you guys can remember any others. It's been >> a lot has happened since then. So, um, but there's a lot of pieces to it. So, um, my goal is for us to bring a
presentation to the board of the four main components um, of the county based assessment process that we'd like to continue to kind of base down as a as a strategy here. Um, another piece of that was the
county executive had asked us to take a look at um, I think it was Gloucester Glouster and another county on how they do it. Um, so uh, Terry Pendergas is is taking a look at that. She had some
thoughts uh, in terms of pros and cons um, with how that works today. And um, I think the path that we were going down on what would work well for us I think is a good path. and uh drawing from lessons learned, best practices from maybe some of those other um processes
and other counties. Uh we'll we'll certainly take that into account. So, more to come there, but a lot of work uh being done on all of that. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner G. Commissioner Rzley. >> Yeah. First of all, Mr. Chairman, I want
to uh commend you on going to the uh consent agenda process. Um, it is not being done to make our meetings shorter. Let me be very clear about this. It is being done so that
this board can take a deeper dive into the issues and departments and the workings of county government. This is what we should be doing. Quite frankly, no one wants to sit up here and be a rubber stamp for resolutions that uh are
usual course of business. The county does a great job. We know that the purchasing the administration of the county is has done very very well over the over the years and I can certainly attest to that. Um but it gives us an
opportunity to talk about issues whether it be tax assessment or whatever happens to be the the issue of the day. Um I contacted um uh chairman uh in before this meeting in regards to reactivating
the committee that we had set up uh reviewing tax assessment. Now, the whole topic of a tax assessment, it can be a little controversial. And of course, a lot of elected officials don't want to touch it because
most people when they hear revaluations, they believe that their taxes are going to rise. Well, in reality, what happens is approximately onethird goes up, one/3 goes down, one/3 stays the same.
The only thing that raises your taxes is governmental spending. And the proper assessment is just a methodology to spread that burden around. The formula is this. Accurate assessments
equals fairness in taxes. That's what we got to keep in mind. That's what it's about. Accurate assessments equals fairness in taxes. So assessments have got to be right. And as uh Amy was saying earlier about the
legislation that we hope we can will happen someday in Trenton, right now in order to do a reevaluation, you have to have three attempts to get into the house. And um that's that's pretty tough.
That's pretty tough in this day and age. No one wants anyone coming into their home and looking around for sizes and so on so forth. We had a um committee assembled. We're going to reassemble that with
Commissioner Bertino, myself, Commissioner Days. We're going to go back and take a look at the work we did 10 years ago. We presented a plan which I believe made a lot of sense. Um unfortunately
without a lot of support behind it these things get get set aside. We did a lot of research on it. Um tax assessment is is an important topic.
It's it's a continuing process. People think well we'll do a reval and that'll that'll be it and we'll forget about it for a while. But property values are constantly changing up and down and sideways.
And in order to be fair, we need to have appropriate numbers. Now, to complicate this matter, there's only two now companies in the state of New Jersey that do rebal. There's one in the north and there's one
in the south. Now, there's what 566 towns or whatever it is in New Jersey. So you can just imagine that if you decided to do a reevaluation your community demar when you would get on the list. So it it's it's time for county
government to step up here. Like I say it takes some guts to do it because most people believe when a reevaluation happens my taxes are going to go up and it becomes a political issue. So, we're
going to go look at the different counties and what they're doing. Um, I'm very happy that we stopped the Gloucester County plan that was being shoved down our throats uh some years ago because of politics
and um we stopped it. I spoke against it twice in Trenton. The reason why the Glosser County plan was not a good plan is because it was full of patronage and bureaucratic. And as it turned out, 10 years later,
they're not much better off than we are in all that and all that expenditure of money. So, we have to get accurate assessments. Now, many of us have been a council person in in a town and the numbers are staggering to do a reval and
most of the time these things are kicked down the road. Well, do it next year or we'll do it the following year. That's what happens. For example, in Egg Harbor Township to do a revaluation now is $2.2 million. So now you start adding this number up
between 23 pounds. Now, obviously for a much smaller town, it's got to be a lot less, but you start adding these numbers up all across the county that the municipalities potentially have to pay, it's a staggering number.
So, I think, you know, it's important for us to do this and to to research this topic. Um, we're going to be looking at a couple different counties and what they're doing. There's one proposal I think is quite frankly a a
total no-brainer and that is the to change the appeal calendar. And uh I'm going to ask if take one of these and pass them on down. I'm not going to go
over this whole thing today, but this was a big part and parcel to the recommendations that we made 10 years ago. Mammoth, they call it the Mammoth County plan, but other other
counties do this part of of program as well. right now assessments and proposals that by citizens to appeal their assessment.
This process would change the whole appeal assessment process. In other words, all the appeals would be done in January, not April or May. Right now we have a kind of a backward system in New Jersey in many of the
counties. We're setting the tax rate and then we have to refund. It's a clumsy system. So I'd like to see us and this is something to read and take all and it gives you all the reasons why changing
the appeal calendar makes a lot of sense. Um, I hope that you'll take this and and read it over. Um, and hopefully the tax commissioners will see the wisdom in this as well.
And of course, the county tax assessor. Now, let me be clear. The county tax assessor, this is prder gas, is the final determination of anything that has to do with assessment in this county. So it
has to have her seal of approval whether to change the appeal calendar or to adopt some methodologies by other counties in the state would have to have her uh seal of approval quite frankly.
So I'm putting this out here to the commissioner so that you can get educated on this topic. I do intend to um make an appeal to the tax board that we should consider this and build
support to change the appeal calendar which I think is there's a whole lot of advantages to doing this. So with that I thank you Mr. Chairman >> sorry
>> um so I noticed you have like you know the association of counties on here. Do they have a statement in here? >> No. No. This was a presentation that was made. >> Okay. That's right. >> Yeah. By Matt Clark, who is the tax assessment person for Mammoth County.
>> So, is there any statement that the association of counties has made? >> Not that I'm aware of. >> Not that I'm aware of. Great. >> I can reach out to >> reach out to John and see if they're interested. Um I I sit on the
legislative body and so I know that John has been asking for counties and commissioners to send them anything that we think that they should that we should collectively get behind. So if this is one of those things then maybe just a conversation a phone call to John. >> The problem is is that without the
county tax assessor support it goes nowhere. >> The county tax assessor has the full uh charge of this topic. So the county tax assessor would have to be in favor of doing this.
>> I think that's understood, but it would be nice to have a comment from the counties if they if they have one. There might be >> they can have a comment all they want, but without the county tax assessor's approval, it's going nowhere. So, you know, and you know, the the
process we came up with in our committee 10 years ago was a more simpler process than some of the other processes that were out there. What we proposed basically was hiring
uh maybe seven people, eight people total to do all the u work and to be trained by the county tax assessor so that all of our people, all of our staff people,
okay, all of our staff people would be on the same sheet of music quite frankly and would take their instructions from the county tax assessor and develop a process to go from neighborhood to neighborhood. And over a period of five
years, we had hoped that we would be able to reval every town in Atlanta County. >> So, John, I'm sorry. This is surprising to me a little bit honestly because this is >> like some of the stuff we've been
talking about in shared service, right? So, um I I'm I'm very much in support of us figuring out a shared option here. I think that's what we're all pursuing. >> Exactly. >> Again, we have four components we've been talking about in shared service.
>> I think the alternate calendar is a part of that. Right. >> It should be. >> So, again, I would like us to present >> here's the picture we're going after, right? This is what we want. here's all the pieces and the plan to get to them,
right? And whether that's legislation or working with administration on, you know, budgeting, getting the towns involved, whatever, there there's a lot of components to that, right? >> Yeah. >> So, I'm a little surprised to hear there's a new committee being formed, frankly, that I'm not on.
>> Hang on, Commissioner G. So, ultimately, I believe the decision I mean, we had a conversation. I think ultimately my decision would rest with me at a meeting to establish a new committee. Okay. >> It's understanding. So I, you know, and I was going to comment eventually that if Commissioner Rzley would like to do
that, but based on your comments previously that a lot of this work is already being done in shared services. I'm completely fine with the continuing shared services committee, >> I have no problem with that at all. >> That's fine, Mr. Chairman. I think with the and I'm on shared services committee
as well. Sure. the conversations we've had in along there along the lines will fit into what we're talking about here. Uh we talked about changes in technology that's available today that we could utilize to do countywide assessment. We talked about mapping and digital and all that stuff. Uh the what we're talking
about here too a little bit with the accelerated uh schedule for the calendar and stuff. the tech communities that are using it now are the ones that tend to be doing countywide assessment uh because as part of that process they went to that accelerated calendar for tax appeals and it kind of meshes all
together. So what we're all saying here actually is going to fit all together. >> Yeah. >> What just that to shared services we're looking for funding to do that. Uh we're also have to some funding. >> I don't see it as the sole purpose though. The purpose is to figure out what's the shared services the county as
the leader >> where the Well, you know, from a few years ago, and I remember the committee and how we we some of the process we went through really talks on the same topics, a lot of this. So, I think as we're getting to this now, you want to start this up again. It's a great idea. Uh this is one of those things I think
the county can do um across the countywide better. There isn't one elected official I know in any town that will come and tell you how they want to do a rebound in their town. They stall it and then when you know, like for this year example, we have county cuts taxes three cents. There's some communities
they're at 50 and 40%. Their taxes are going up on the county side. They're looking at us like we got 12 heads. Equalized values equalized values that. So when you tell them that they look at you like the public looks at us like we're talking about spaceships and they don't get it. It's got to be simplified better than I think us taking the steps
along the lines at the county level implementing this showing where there is a benefit and it will take time to get into. you're not going to jump into this going to be two or three year process once it's implemented in the towns and how it's scheduled in their individual towns for us to to do the assessments and stuff, but I think it's the right
process. We're all doing the same thing here. So, uh I think it's a great time to do it as well to get it back implemented. We got to look at stuff a little bit different today. >> So, commissioners, I mean, having said all that, I don't know if there's any other commissioner comment on what Commissioner Rley, Commissioner Cattle, and Commissioner Martino said, but
because Mr. Resley mentioned bringing up back up the uh tax assessment committee. I'm I'm completely fine um John if you still have that report that you know we looked at before sharing that with shared services letting shared services do their work because to me this would be the ultimate shared service and you talk about EHT alone
>> it cost over two over $2 million. I mean I'm sure Hamilton and Galloway are in similar situations. So to me, shared services should take it as far as they can. Then if at some point shared services feels there's a need for a specialized alternate assessment, alternate tax assessment committee, we'll move forward from there if that's
okay with >> that's there will be some adjustments to that. We can't take the plan as it was written eight years ago. Sure. A lot has changed and I think we all know there's legislation changes that have to happen for some of this to fit together correctly, but it's a great way to start the process and at least the dialogue.
Uh and it's a lot of similarities. So, >> okay. So, we'll let um you know, Rishiato Shared Services continue to take this. >> Yeah, I'm we had it. That's why I'm confused. >> That's a continuous fine. >> All right. >> I look forward continuing working in
shared services on this topic with the rest of you. >> So, how many do we have on the committee now? >> Well, so as far as I'm concerned, it's it's the current shared services committee. >> Okay. shared services >> which is >> and then you had the tax assessment committee. >> Well, so the tax assessment committee I
don't think was a standing committee. Am I correct? Um right. >> So hawk >> so rat hawk. So I can you know again I'd be willing to >> put it under shared service that's fine with me. >> I don't care. >> So until if if there comes a point in time where we need to maybe look at it
in a little more detail just tax focusing on tax assessment shared services as so many other projects that they're working on. Um but if everybody's okay with that, we'll keep you in the chair services. So that is a standing committee of the board. >> Chairman, quick question. >> Yes, Commissioner. >> Two companies that do, one North Jersey,
one South Jersey. Do we know what the wait time is for a county that moves forward with it? >> Well, there is. >> There there is a a big wait time. Okay. >> The the other thing is is that >> I've seen the results of some of these companies
>> and quite frankly, they're horrible. >> They're terrible. In fact, Lynwood Lynwood, they had to redo it. >> The company that they hired to do the rebound screwed it up so bad that they had to hire Diane Hley to come in there
and straighten the whole thing out. So, it's that's why >> several years ago, right? That's why I think it makes sense to have the county county do it under the trained eye of the county tax administrator and hire
the people to do all the measurements and um all those types of things. Now, I know that the county tax administrator talks about legislation on the three knocks, but I'm not hopeful that's going to go through and try. I think that was for
the going into each house times and all that, >> right? But but she also talked about and and this is again part of the things we're working through, right? So she talked about there is there is ability to use the aerial maps. >> Oh yes.
>> Making sure the tax maps using sale uh um information, right? >> It's a math problem. That's really all it is. I mean getting inside doesn't add much more value. Um, and we've talked about trying to get to a place where can
we get all the puzzle pieces together to solve the math problem at a county uh county level, right, for the towns, then we don't even have to engage those those two companies. We don't need them. >> Correct. >> Right. So, so that's what we're working
toward here big picture. >> But it's got to have a general widespread support to it. 100%. >> That's what's gota be. >> So I think inject's important.
>> Yeah. I mean I mean I there are still a couple different county plans but you know for NJ to have some info. Sure. Committee. Are there any other uh comments on this topic? Any other reports of special committees of the board? Okay. Hearing none. Any unfinished
business? Any new business? >> Anyone attending in person that would like to speak now a public comment, please come to the podium, speak into the microphone, state your name and the town in which you reside. If you're attending virtually and like to make a
public comment, please raise your hand. I'll call your name and request to unmute will be sent. Please state your name in the town you reside. You will be provided up to three minutes to speak from the public. >> Back again. So, Mike Bonjouro, Egg Harbor Township.
Uh, so I'm here to talk about the event uh that I am part of the uh committee putting together. Uh we are hosting um at Atlantic Cape Community College. Uh it's the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Uh we are going to be
the very last Department of Defense sponsored event in the United States. Uh we have an 82 foot uh replica of the Vietnam War Memorial coming in on the 16th. Uh so we have cere we have um we
have different events on the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, and the 20th. So the law is going to be there the entire time. Uh so if you can um I believe June maybe handed this out to everybody. Uh if not, I have extra copies that I can give out
to everyone here. uh do your best to please spread the word uh to try to drive to our main event which is the 17th uh on that event um we're going to be giving out uh Department of Defense pins um to the Vietnam era veterans. So
a lot of people get confused that it is not boots on the ground Vietnam veterans. It's every veteran that served from 55 to 75. They didn't have a choice to stay home or go to Vietnam. So, if you stayed home, you got disregarded. We're we're making sure that we are
honoring those veterans themselves. And we're also going to be honoring uh with this uh special pin uh for the families of the Vietnam veterans that are no longer with us. um the county uh don't know if everybody knows this is going to
help us out and they're going to print out um like award letters or um something of the such certificates that we're going to be handing out to the veterans and their families at that time. So if anybody needs this, I can drop it off.
>> Thank you. I believe we received an email with that information from Andrew. Yes. So it's Wednesday the 17th. >> Wednesday, September 17th. uh the wall the wall is coming in around
12 to 12:15 on the 16th. So the American Legion Riders 352 is taking a lead. Uh they gathered up uh the Nam Knights, the um Buffalo Soldiers, uh and I think about four or five other
different veteran groups uh that that do ride. And the good thing about it is they're all Vietnam veterans. So once they're done, we're going to um have a ceremony for those groups right after. So if any of you guys are
available to come out that day, that would be great. Um if you do come out, let me know so we can, you know, make sure you're recognized for being there. So thank you. >> Fantastic. Thank you very much. man, just to add to what um Blake's talking about, on that same day, that
evening, the um American Legion Post 469 in Longport is having their wounded warrior celebration. Um every year, I know many of you have been to that before. And this year, the Legion is
welcoming US Army Green Beret Sergeant First Class Chase Tanton and his wife Rebecca and their six children, ages 9 months to 16 years old. They know they're coming to Longport to enjoy um a
week on the beach. What they don't know is that there's a parade planned for them. So, they're asking for everybody to come down. They're going to start at Ski Beach in Ventner at 5:30 and then just to line the streets to welcome them and then end up at a barbecue. >> So, it's going to be it's going to be a
wonderful day honoring >> all of our veterans. >> I hope they didn't decide to watch today's commissioner meeting by chance. >> Well, well, I'm going to tell you probably not. >> Where did I say he's from? He's from Utah. So, most
>> We're safe. Yeah, >> we could figure that problem out. What's the date again? I'm sorry. >> The 17th, >> the same day as >> Yes, >> Mr. Chair, if I may. >> Yes, Commissioner Barker. >> Pardon me for falling asleep for a
second. I'd like to give a shout out to I mean in my head, not an actual >> I didn't notice. >> My eyes are open in my in my in my brain. So, I want to give a shout out to Hamilton Township and also to a couple of county uh
committees. I guess I guess parks and environment, culture and heritage. I guess you can even tie in that car townships. I mean um uh education in schools as well, I guess somehow. But yesterday we had the remembering the past, preserving our past on the West
Jersey Rail line over Hamilton Township. And you go out to the Hamilton Library, Hamilton Township Library, Amazing Library. There's a sign that's put out there in partnering with the county and our county logo's out there. Nice sign. So, if you get a chance, go out to the
library, take a picture of it, just um you know, remembering and memorializing that event that took place. Uh and it says on top of 1880 to 2025. Also along with that, uh, committeeman
Richard Cheek gave a brief update about the, uh, the bike path, uh, where the railroad trestle is. So, well, the where the trestle is, there's they're going to be connecting it. So, there's going to be a walk path that Hamilton Township is going to be putting that's going to
connect across the E Harbor River. So, it won't upset it won't can't touch anything on the trestle because that's historic. So, it's going to go right to the side either side of the trestle where they can walk across. so we can possibly continue that path moving forward. I believe it's only going to be
walking. They at first they were thinking about putting uh some like small vehicles like golf carts and things of that nature, but I don't think that worked out. I don't think that panned out. I'm not exactly 100% sure, but just based off what I heard him present yesterday, it didn't sound like that was the case. Um so that happened.
So kudos to the county um and all the departments that I spoke about and the Hamilton Township for working in conjunction on not just remembering what happened uh with that train wreck, but also doing what we have to do to partner in to make sure that we continue to not
only memorialize it, but to encourage uh any projects that will help that area in any way, shape, or form in terms of economic development. I think that's big. >> Thank you, Commissioner Park. I know you may have missed this during your nap, but is is okay if I go back to public comment. >> You may sir,
>> appreciate that though. >> Don't make me turn into the new course. Okay. >> Is there name? >> My brain was off. >> It's all right. Yeah. I apologize. I called you out again. >> I know. I know he called for the special reports, right? But I was literally I
was in my head thinking about something else. That's what I'm trying to say. So nothing came out of my mouth. >> Wow. >> I don't know what I'm feeling under the weather here. for the record that you were napping. >> Any any other public comment? >> Rewind the film.
>> Thank you. >> My name is Jessica Saxton. I'm a civil rights advocate and litigator from Washington DC. I'm here to provide public notice. This is in accordance with USCS rules of civil procedure as well as rule 17 and rule rule 20 of the United States Supreme Court. The
Constitution for the United States of America is the overarching requirement that every state must follow. I trust that everybody here would agree with that. States are not able to enact their own alternative legislation and substitute it for the guarantees of the Constitution. That would mean that your state laws here would be more powerful,
more legal than the Constitution, and that is actually very unlawful. It's unconstitutional. Clause one of amendment five in the United States Constitution says that no person should be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime unless on presentment or indictment by a
grand jury. Unfortunately, the state of New Jersey has enacted its own alternative legislation that substitutes um and permits prosecuting attorneys, police officers, and sheriff's departments to charge by way of information as opposed to indictment that is unconstitutional.
Mr. Risley here was speaking earlier about the budgets, government services, looking into that. This is where that's probably a very good opportunity to um to look into your sheriff's department because unfortunately an emolement violation is when you pay a public
official to commit a crime. There are two areas of the constitution that reinforces this. The first is article 1 section 10 where it states that no state shall create any law that shall impair the obligation of contract. All of your sheriff's department is under a contract. That's a contract to perform
based on their oath or affirmation that they took to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. The second reinforcement within the Constitution of this emalment violation issue is the 14th amendment and that's where it says that no state shall create
or enforce any law that shall abridge the privileges and immunities of United States citizens. Privileges and immunities of United States citizens are at a very minimum those that are enumerated within the bill of rights and the first 10 amendments. The state of New Jersey has enacted a law in its
inferior constitution that is permitting public officials whom you all pay to violate the Constitution of the United States. That is unlawful. It is illegal. It is unconstitutional and it is a crime. Mr. Mr. Tanow Downing is
preparing to litigate this issue at the United States Supreme Court on behalf of more than 700,000 people currently incarcerated here in America illegally. I am here to provide notice that you cannot continue to pay public officials to commit crimes that are unlawful
against the United States citizens. I'm asking you to please take a look at clause one of amendment five. Confirm what I'm saying to be true and then direct your public officials to act in a lawful constitutional manner that is consistent with the obligations codified
in the constitution and their oath of office. I do have a notice that I would like to put on the record, please. Thank you so much. just me. >> Yeah. My name is Tanny. I'm the civil rights litigator that Miss Sax was just talking about from Washington DC. So I
have approximately 2,800 criminal affidavits on behalf of victims that this particular crime s can you repeat your name again? My name is Tana Downing. >> Card was given there. You guys, you can I reclaimed reclaimed time, please. So again, I have 2,800 criminal affidavit
on behalf of affected victims from right here within the state of New Jersey. Now the these are people that have been charged improperly in violation of the Constitution, United States. And these affidavit identify two particular crimes. The first is title 18 subsection 242, which is deprivation of rights
under color law. what that statute says. It says any person who under the color of any state statute, ordinance, custom or regulation deprivives any person of any rights cured by the constitution commits that crime. The second is title 18 subsection 241 which is conspiracy to deprive rights and that states when two
or more persons conspire for the purpose of depriving any person of any rights secured by the constitution commits that crime. So when the sheriff's officer, when your deputies when they choose to take action to perform an arrest and execute a warrant based upon a judge who issued it, when that judge relied upon a
prosecutor who abused their power by relying upon an inferior state statute to uh to deprive a person right guaranteed by the constitution. Unfortunately, your sheriff's department is acting unlawfully in violation of both of those. And we're not here to get anybody into trouble. That's not what this is about. We're here to raise
attention to this issue so that we can get this addressed across the country because states cannot create their own alternative legislation substituted for the guarantees constitution and go out and enforce it as though it's law. So the law is a criminal conspiracy. What they state is they say that any person who having knowledge of any of the
wrongs conspired to be done and who have the power to prevent or aid in the prevention of the commission of same neglects or refuses to do so may be joined to dispense the action. So upon being provided with this notice, being making you aware of these crimes that are being committed, we would ask you to please let's go ahead and take action to
correct them by either one, discontinuing paying these people to commit the crimes or two, let's direct them to act in a lawful constitution manner consistent with what the Constitution United States of America requires. Now, I'm not saying these are good people. I'm not saying these are lawful people. What I am saying is that they are all rightful people whose
rights have clearly been a bridged by the state of New Jersey by agents that unfortunately you guys pay to do their jer their their job. Now, I know that you guys are going to go and you're going to ask the city attorney or the county attorney after we're done whether or not what I'm saying is true. And that county attorney is going to say, "No, not really." And they're going to point you to a case from 1884 from the United
States Supreme Court called Herertado versus California. And before you guys choose to rely upon that as the foundation, I want to remind you that the Constitution of the United States of America is the foundation, not a judge made rul ruling. Supreme Court of United States has no constitute authority to be able to alter, amend, or destroy any of the provisions of guarantees
constitution. that must be done by an authentic act of the people in accordance with the special amending procedure of article 5. In either way, it would be an unconstitutional amendment to that constitution. Right? Now, the second thing is is that judges cannot legislate. We know that because of clause one, article one that says that all legislate powers vested in the congress of the United States consisting
of Senate and House of Representatives. So, I implore you, please, let's step up, discharge the duties of your office, fulfill the obligations and promises that you made to the people of state north of of um of New Jersey and let's choose to protect, defend, and preserve the Constitution for United States of America. Thank you guys so much. God bless.
Thank you. Any additional public comment? Well, you know, I'm I'm I'm not going to respond. I'm not an attorney. I don't even play one on TV, so I'm going to just leave it at that. But, um, is there
any additional comment online? I'll entertain a motion to close public comment. >> Second. Moved and seconded. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Are there any comments for the good of the order? >> Commissioner Rizley.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, like to talk about um a couple things. A lot of us see the scooters running around the various scooters and um a tragic accident that
happened at Summers Point. This is going to be an issue for the state, come up with rules and regulations. So, I would like to see us adopt a resolution. If I could, Ken, we could draft something
uh urging our elected officials in Trenton to take action on this topic because it's it's a problem and uh I have had some close calls already, you know, and you have to really pay attention when you're driving because
they'll cut right through and won't stop, expect you to stop. Of course, we do stuff, but it's a very scary thing out there. So, I think uh we need to urge our legislators to do
something along these lines, helmets and other rules and rules of the road. On a happier note, I did attend, as I do every year, the the 4H fair and of course at the end of the evening,
Saturday evenings around about 9:00 is when they award the um ambassadors for there's always a young lady and young man that are considered the 4 ambassadors for the year. And um this
year it was a lady by the name of Brooklyn BGE and a fellow by the name of Joel Sharp and it was a beautiful evening that evening. So certainly enjoy doing that every year on behalf of the county and uh you know 4 is probably the
best kept secret in Atlantic County because there's about 40 different programs they run out of that pro that building there and it's not just about cows and horses. It's about robotics and
uh many other topics. So, u I always try to give 4 a plug all the time. Let people know that there's many different programs out there for your kids to take advantage of. It's it's a great organization. It's all
volunteer. They do. They do a wonderful job out there. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner. Okay. Mr. Murder, >> if if Commissioner Rizley is I believe there's already legislation that has been drafted on that topic that you're
talking about. >> I I believe our legislators here drafted is is in the process of drafting or just finished drafting legislation about that topic and and there's and someone else up North Jersey I can't remember also
drafted some. So to urge them to do a resolution, to urge something that's already being done, I just think we should be mindful of the words because if it's already being done, then we don't want to urge them to do something they're already doing. Maybe we just look into what they're doing and see if we support that. >> Yeah, I think it's been sitting in committee for a little bit.
>> I was going to suggest that we get the public safety committee together, which is Moren, myself, and it was Ernest. So maybe John, you could sit in in hisstead. Um, and we can take a look at what um, Prosecutor Reynolds uh, he sent us a bunch of uh, information. We can we
can get the information from um, our legislators and package that all up uh, in in support of uh, you know, things that they're trying to accomplish. So, >> Sarah, if you could get us together, that would be appreciated. >> Yeah, definitely the committee to look at that first. >> Yeah. No, Mr. Chair,
>> I did uh I did I guess create an AI infrastructure plan for the county and submitted it to administration and to the chair and vice chair. I just wanted the whole board to know that that's
something that I worked on and put together not to not as a finished product, but something that I think is extremely important for our county moving forward. We know that AI data data centers are a real thing and um they're
at least proposed to be constructed all over the major data centers, a few of them all over the world. So, we know we're going to have to have smaller data centers. We know that we're going to have to have some county um we're going to have to be ready as a county in in terms of
investment in our infrastructure and how we're using AI within our departments. and then how we're teaching it in schools. It's a layered thing. So, I just wanted to put that out there. I'm not sure what committee, Mr. Chair, I don't I'm not sure what subcommittee we would send that to, but I did submit
that. So, maybe we can have that conversation on where the proper place to send that to subcommittee would be. >> Commissioner Bar, I did receive the email. I haven't had a chance to to look it over yet, though. So, I'll definitely get back to you on that if I can. >> Well, listen, I I just put it out there for >> maybe education. Wait for administration to chime in because
>> Yeah, I don't think it's education. I think it's administration and I would first I would ask like >> did do we have an AI uh >> we don't have one task force or >> right >> we do do we have one >> so we should get we should understand
>> well there's 20 or 25 peopleoft also So Brian is working and now we're looking at these call centers >> started with the call phone systems and
the AI part. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. >> But we have public health we're working on services but he's been very active in trying to get AI technology.
>> But do we have defined guidelines? So for example >> to that point >> I work in financial services. We just rolled out co-pilot. We're very conservative at my company. We can't put in any p we can't put in any company information. We can't put any client
information into an LLM because it goes out and it uses that to learn it, right? To to train itself. So, do we have has our has our IT department put those kind of boundaries measures very limited. So, we are working towards
expanding at this point. We're on the trial basis. >> So, I guess Mr. Sure. >> So maybe we could get a presentation on exactly what we have in place at the county right now, what we're piloting and where. Right.
>> And then we can go. Commissioner Parker, >> plus there's a committee working on policies and procedures. That's perfect. >> Absolutely. >> So can we do that first and then I'll we'll we'll >> So regroup, >> I guess. Absolutely. I guess. So originally what I really wanted was to
send it to administration first. Okay. Okay. >> I wasn't really attempting to bring it to the board just because, you know, I wanted to know what was already being done and what wasn't being done. >> Me or who did you send it to just for the sake of conversation? >> Well, yeah, I sent it through to through Tara. Tara, we sent it to who?
>> We got it. >> Jerry and Jerry. And Jerry. >> So, it's the board and and you just so that we so that we could have that so that we could have that conversation on >> I don't I don't I don't know what's needed or not. AI Jerry. So whatever
>> I >> whatever's already being done, >> if there's anything on there that can serve to enhance that, then fine. If not, then you know, just to make sure that we're having that conversation because let's be honest, AI is that that's where we are. And if we're going to start to look into the future of this
county, that's where it's >> we're going to have to have some defined rules and and and procedures around how we're dealing with artificial intelligence. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Definitely. that Jerry will take a look out to the committee. I mean, I haven't seen it. That doesn't matter. I
will I will get it out to the committee that's that's working on. >> Okay. Commissioner Kern >> um I just want to bring up uh over the past week it has been very difficult for the commissioners here with passing of
um Mr. Corsy sorry uh he was a true friend to all of us. G had our individual different uh you know friendships with Ernest. One thing you
know I I felt like even coming on the board for the first time sitting across from Ernest he always had his little indoctrination for everybody. >> Uh you know he'll he'll say something to you and you're sitting there going what did he just say and how this is my first day on the board and then all of a
sudden this big smile and laugh will come out just messing with you or whatever you know. Um he just had a very very uh funny way about him. Um we always knew where he stood for sure. >> Uh he was very transparent, but he was
very committed to this county. He was extremely committed to the constituents and anything that went on through the county. Obviously, we all know Atlantic City was very true and dear to his heart, but so is, you know, all of Atlantic County. Um,
uh, anyway, I mean, I know we're all going to have, you know, different things we want to say, but most of all, Ernest was, uh, very true to his faith. So, we do know that he is resting in peace right now, and I will reserve the remainder of my time.
>> My time. >> Yes. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just uh want to say something before I say something about uh Mr. Corsy um I'd like to say that um the last presentation we
had here I'm not sure exactly what they said. I tried to follow it I tried to follow it pretty pretty closely >> but um I want to say this on behalf of the entire board which I know that we're all
in agreement on. I have full faith and confidence in our sheriff's department. They're outstanding people that do an outstanding job every day for this county. So, I fully support and we all fully support our sheriff's department.
>> 100%. >> 100%. >> Let's go to the end. >> But our friend Mr. Of course he um can be we can disagree without being disagreeable. >> And um no, we all knew where Ernest was
coming from. And uh you know over the years he probably voted, you know, with the majority probably about 99% of the time. So um he he knew that the administration
of this county was on the right path. things are moving in the right direction and he got along with the county executive got along with you know the administrator of the county dar so he got along with everybody
so um no he was a a very good board member uh his tragedy is what happened of course and um why things happen the way they happen is the age-old question of life and um we're certainly certainly
going to I did attend as many of us did is viewing the church. It was very well attended. There was a lot of people there that respected him from all over the county. So, um certainly will be missed.
>> Good commissioner. Any other commissioner comments? >> Commissioner Bertina, >> same uh we echo the same uh same comments as the fellow commissioners. Ernie was a one of a kind. him and I had, you could imagine some of the conversations. >> Oh, yes.
>> Prior to the meeting and and sometimes during the meeting, but the the one thing I always respected about Ernie and I believe he had the same respect as well in return is that he knew you were serious and he knew you meant it and he knew it was in your heart and you cared
about the county. And uh Ernie was a very very good man. I had to bring him a lot of vegetables and blueberries once. He couldn't pick a crop out of anything. I told him stay out of the foreign market. So all kid aside, but uh Ernie was a good man to be sorely missed.
>> Thank you. >> And pick up on that and say ditto to all of those things. I had the I guess blessing or privilege to attend Friday and Saturday, not even on purpose. I was going into on Friday we were going to
the ocean. >> On the way there, I see smoke going up and someone said, "Ly's catching on fire. Lo and behold, of course, I'm driving right towards the smoke, right? I'm like, "Oh, great. Where I'm going is going to be on fire, you know." So, I saw it was New Jersey Avenue School and
right next to New Jersey Avenue School is Shiloh Baptist Church where this the viewing was. So, they were evacuating and so of course I had to get out and be nosy. You know, that's just my you guys know me. I got out. What's going on around here? Like I was somebody, you know, fireman's like, "Get over on the other side of the street." You know,
whatever. Yeah. So, I'm sitting out there and I'm watching the people and I'm getting into conversations with folks as they're going in and viewing and coming out from the smoke and, you know, from the fire being next door. And I'm just listening to some of the conversations with people in the
community, you know, had this. These aren't political people. You know, with us, >> you know, we talk a lot. You know, we're trained to speak a little bit more than the average person in front of a crowd of people. So, you know, you take some things with a grain of salt, but when you hear things come from people in the
community just, you know, un, you know, practice, they didn't practice those things. They didn't prepare those things unprepared and just have these gen these genuine stories that they share about encounters that they had with Corsy and you and all of us any of the stories
that was told, we would all know that they were true because we know Corsy. you know, we know who he was, you know, not out here, you know, in front of everybody with the cameras rolling because he was completely different person at that point. I want everybody to understand that of course he was, you know, he lights, camera, action. He knew
how to turn it on. He knew how to turn it off, >> you know, and I won't say too much about that, but it was funny. I was having a conversation on Saturday. I went back to the funeral. I couldn't even get into the main room. I get we got there early. Me and my wife, we we left. We went to take a walk, you know, walk around the
neighborhood. The time we came back, we couldn't even get back in, you know, so we had to go into that little room in the back and then, you know, they, you know, of course they came back like, "Well, do you want us to?" I said, "No, I'm not going to ask anyone to move. We can we can enjoy it from right back here. of course he knows we're here you
know and I got you know and uh I saw the mayor when he came out and we we shared a moment of you know condolence is to one another and um you know it's I say it's tough you know for those who know
if you know Corsy and I had some of the most interesting conversations you know off offline and uh we would come out in front of here and we'd have, you know, our back and forth out here, but I promise you that,
uh, we were much closer behind the scenes than what it may have looked on camera, you know, at times. And, you know, of course, he was so good that there were times when he was such a savvy politician. There were times when he would call me beforehand and he'd be
like, "Parker, you know, this is what we got to do to get this thing to pass." You know, he would give me that little, you know, that conversation. He prepped me up. Yeah. Yeah. and and I would say I think I'm being prepped. I think I think I think he's coaching me, you know, but you know, at
the end of the day, it's like John said, >> you know, 99% of things that we're voting on. >> Yeah. you know, we're voting on we're we're in alignment with those things because there was in the best interest of the county, you know, and we all kind of unilaterally agreed to those things, you
know, so it wasn't as though he was asking me to vote for something I wasn't going to vote for. But, you know, Ernie, he me he wanted to make sure, you know what I mean? He wanted to make sure it was done. So, I just, you know, I won't share those things. And those stories, I'll keep those for the the bonfires.
>> I'll keep those for the bonfires. But uh you know I knew the Corsy family before coming into elected politics. Uh his wife was my wife's principal you know when she worked in Lang City as a teacher and I worked in L city district with his wife for years before she came
out to become the county superintendent of schools. And then Ernie you guys all know he was the chair of education schools committee and his wife would always say why did you take it from him? Every time I saw her, she's like, I keep telling him to give it to you and he
won't listen. And then he finally was like, you know what, Parker? Take it. You know, take take it. You know, and so that's how I became the chair of education and schools committee. It wasn't because of course he wanted to give it to me. It's because Leslie told him to. >> Thank God. And so, uh, you know, I'll just say and
I'll end it at if you knew Corsy, you you knew him, you know, and so I don't have to I don't think I have to qualify that with the statement, but if you knew him, he was one of a kind, you know, he was he truly was. And I want to thank him for the role that he played when I came on the
commissioner's board. He definitely definitely had a lot of, you know, pregame and afterame lectures for me. you know, and you know, and I would say to him, you say whatever you want. I can't say whatever I want. He was like, listen, Parker, I've been up here a little, you know, that's it. Listen,
Parker, I've been here a while. And I would get that kind of conversation. So, I'm not going to take up any more time, but I just want to say, Corsy, I know you're a very spiritual person. You're a very spiritual man, and I know you're probably watching from whatever uh venue
or means that are available to you. So you can hear us speaking the truth about you. You are missed already. You will continue to be missed. And uh if I never told you to your face, you
you you had a a huge impact um on me in terms of you know my growth in in politics and government. So thank you >> question. Thank you. keep waiting to
hear his voice come through the monitor. >> Shut up, Parker. You're talking too much. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> You can't talk more than me. I reserve my time back to Of course. >> I'm going to take up uh complaining about his change orders.
Apparently, that's going to be my new things. When I complain about change orders, that's going to be my that's going to be my Corsy voice. >> Do you want to take a minute or Nicholls would be killing me right now because he always said there's no crying in politics. >> That's what he said.
>> But this one is a hard one, especially because he sat right here and I've sat next to him for a good amount of time now. And uh um he was just a wonderful man. And um
at his funeral the pastor uh made a joke that um in AC uh if if you said that you were from AC, it didn't mean you were meant you were from Atlantic City, you were it meant you
were all cousins because you were all family. >> And I think the same could be said a little bit for when you say you're from AC meaning Atlantic County. And I think um Ernest um
made us all feel like family. No matter if we disagreed on a topic um or a way we wanted to get somewhere at the end of the day. Um there was that smile and it was all good
and it's really an example of how politics should be. Um he was very transparent. um you knew as you said Andrew always where he stood. He always told you in advance there was never a gotcha.
>> And he had the same respect if you felt this uh the same if you did the same. Um you could call him, talk to him and say, "Listen, I can't support that man." And um you could have a really good discussion and agree to disagree and and
move on. And really, that's how politics and and good government should work. And and it truly was such a such a great example. Um it's a profound loss to the city of Atlantic City. um the work that he did
there um as a resident, as an employee, and then his work here. Uh the partnerships that he helped us to uh to forge at the state level, uh federal level, um
just truly truly a special person. And I'm going to miss kicking them and telling them to um >> reel it in a little bit. time course. >> I definitely think we should rename the change order section of the agenda to
the Corsy orders. Um the only reason the ones that were today were okay was because it was helping the city of Pleasantville. So um I I definitely thought about that. Um it's it was a beautiful service uh uh on
Saturday. Um the mayor did a great job kind of encapsulating um all things Earnest and um County Executive Levenson did a beautiful job as well. Uh just very heartfelt comments um and um you
know I was told that Ernest had selected everything for his service before he passed. So, he's very intentional and I think that's truly an honor for um the county executive, but for us as a county as well.
And um it was just it was beautiful and I do believe that we will see him again one day. And um you know I think we all knew of course Gorsy cared
also not there because I don't think I could do any >> which yeah thank you. Any other um commissioner comments? >> Yeah. It's um you know my first term on the
board. So you know unfortunately I didn't have the the pleasure of knowing him or working with him as long as as the uh my fellow board members. But from you know people that I've spoken to that that know him much better than I do um
by all accounts he was just he was a great man a great commissioner and um I know he'll be tremendously missed by a lot of people especially especially the board here. So, I just wanted to let everybody know I'm sorry and um that's it. Thanks.
>> Okay. I can't be the only um all due respect to all of you. I didn't get to really work with him because right after I was sworn in, um he shared that he wasn't well. Um, and all of you made the changes to
the structure of our meetings for him that you didn't have to be at a certain number of meetings and he did his best to to come in virtually and then he would say he had to go to work or he would be off or lose connection. But um,
I respect all of you and how you supported him. Um I knew him prior outside of politics through u mutual friends because of our boys um one of his sons same age as my son and he was
always very sweet and the um the year that I did run I went up and reintroduced myself to him and said I'm Jackson Burn's mom. um we met when the boys were all playing baseball and and and he's like, "Okay." And I go, "Oh, yeah. I'm running for county commissioner at large." And he's like,
"Oh, okay. I know who you are." And he and Lesie were very sweet and was always always a class act, but I respect all of you and I know it's a big loss for all of you. >> Thank you. I know I already made some comments just like you you reminded me
of when I was at National Night Out on on Tuesday night. Um Ernest attended one of Galloway's National Light Out um ceremonies with me because his boys played in Port Republic pretty much for the Sand Sharks. So he knew a lot of people in Galloway, but he was in the area and he asked me, you know, I remember talking at the time and we
showed a Beacon Church and a lot of council members, people in Galloway even came up to me and said, "Remember the time that you brought Ernest to the our 911 ceremony?" Um you know, he he told me one time, you know, chairman, he said, he said, "Mr. Chairman, you're doing an okay job."
And I'm like, "Thanks, Ernie. That's that's huge comer for you." And he's like, "No, I'm just messing with you." He's like he's like, "You're doing you're doing a good job." And um and honestly, that's probably one of the greatest compliments I think I've had um from January until that that moment because, you know, everybody just knows
what kind of guy he was. Um and I I want to thank the board for, you know, respecting the decision to to cancel or postpone last Tuesday's meeting. I want to thank Tara, Cristina, and Ken um for the effort in administration as well for the effort that went into that. Um but I
I I think it was the right thing to do. I thought it was then and I still think it it is today the right thing to have done to respect um Commissioner Corsy. I know Tara, I know that you wanted to say some things. >> I just had u something I wanted to say.
Um, as we remember our friend Ernest today, um, many of us have heard him honor those who have passed to say by saying this quote, and it is now our turn to honor him. He used to say, "Your name may not be on
every neon sign throughout town, but your name, Earnest, has been written in the hearts of many men and women." And he used to say that every time someone passed. So, I just want to say Ernest was a very generous man to us and
um he was always so thoughtful to us in office and he's going to be very missed. That's it. That's Thank you. Thank you so much. Um I just just last also thank administration for the opportunity to put together this consent agenda. Um
your support was uh tremendous in making this happen as well. Um I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn at this point. Move. >> Second. >> Movement and seconded. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Meetings adjourned.
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