[Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat.
[Music] [Music] The meeting of the Atlanta County Board of Commissioners is called to order. In compliance with the open public meetings
act of the state of New Jersey, adequate notice of this meeting of Atlantic County Board of Commissioners was presided in the following manner published in 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, the Stillwater building in Northfield and the county clerk's
office in M's Landing. You have an opening prayer. Almighty God, we ask you to grant us the wisdom to walk in your light and the courage to accept the responsibilities placed onto us. Guide us by your truth, uphold us by your power, and grant that
your presence may forever be with us. Amen. Amen. Amen. Please rise and face the flag 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. Have a roll call, please. Chairman, Commissioner Corsy is attending virtually today. Great. Thank you. Bertino here. Burns here. Corsy present. Here. Karn here. Parker Grizzly here.
Rafio here. days here. Commissioners have had an opportunity to review the minutes from April 15th, 2025. I will entertain a motion to adopt the April 15th minutes as presented. Second. Moved and seconded. Please call the role.
Yes. Burns. Yes. Corsy, yes. Yes. Kern, yes. Parker, Grizzley, yes. Ruff. Yes. Yes. Anyone attending in person who would like to speak regarding an agenda item or at public comment, please come to the
podium, speak into the microphone, state your name of the town you reside, you'll be provided up to three minutes to speak. If you are attending virtually like to speak, please raise your hand 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 in the
town you reside. You will be provided up to three minutes to speak. This point, Mr. Fedorco, would you like to introduce our new emergency management coordinator? Good afternoon, chairman, vice chair, and
commissioners. I am here today to introduce to you Michael Steman, who will assume the position of county coordinator for the office of emergency management in Atlantic County. This will happen on June 1, 2025. And before I go on, I want to I want to thank Vince
Jones who has done a tremendous job as the OEM coordinator for Atlanta County. He's been there a long time. U I knew him when I was in the state police because I was the state director and uh always had a great respect for him and very very very confident, very good. The
OEM coordinator reports to the department of the head of public safety and also works for the state police as the superintendent of state police is the state director of OEM. The OEM coordinator is in direct contact weekly, sometimes daily, with the state police, either here at the county or at the
regional operational center in in in West Trenton. The county executive who approved this selection will write a letter to the superintendent of state police advising him that he has selected him to be the OEM coordinator for the county. I first met Mike Steinman when
he was chief of of police for a Harbor Township and his performance was exemplary. He has served as deputy director of the county OEM for the last two years. He was chosen for this position in part because he had an OEM background in Egg Harbor Township and
had a great understanding of emergency management operations and he did a great job. So at this point, commissioners, I want to introduce to you Mike Steman. Mike like to thank everybody for their support and um for this position. Um I
certainly do have very large shoes to fill replacing Vince. Um but please don't consider a replacement because I have his phone number and he will be on speed dial. So I'm confident that if I need any assistance, he'll be there for me and we'll try to make this as smooth
of a transition as possible. But I do thank you for your support. Um, I hope for a future of very limited and emergencies. So, but we'll be prepared for it if they do occur. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Simon.
Mr. Simon, I I noticed you graduated from Stockton in 1996. This is senior year I graduated, so I'm sure we probably crossed paths at some point. It's possible prior to that. So, I just I just saw that. just thought that he's like just seems so far ago. I wasn't a full-time student at that time though.
Um I was doing the nonmetriculated route at that time point. I was working with that township already. Well, Rich probably wasn't in class. Always common areas. Yeah. Parking lot. Parking lot, right? Anyway,
very good. I just wanted to bring that up. So, um T this is not a um the board of commissioners has no vote on this. Correct. So at this time is it you know prudent to actually ask for any commissioner comments or can I do that just if anybody has anything to add
and you know just welcome him and I mean it's not an official interview but just wanted to see if any commissioners had any Mr. Simon Mr. Chair Mr. Simon I will say welcome aboard and you and I have had the pleasure of working uh together in another life of ours when I was a township committee person in Eg Township
and you were chief of police. I remember the interview, sir. You showed up for that, did you? I hope I hope I I did show up for that one. So, uh it it's it's um it was a good interview then and it's a pleasure to have you aboard now. I know you've been with the county for a
while now, so you know, I'm uh happy to have you aboard. So, I'll say that. From Harper Township to the county, we seem to be following each other just a little bit. 1996, I was a senior in high school. I'm not trying to say you're old or anything. Well experienced.
But the chairman's old sees it. He sees it. Thank you very much. Anyway, appreciate that. Anything we can do to help. And this is not an official interview. I just wanted to have any commissioner comments at this time. Is there anyone else would like to say a few words? Mr. Chair, if I can. Um,
first I just uh want to say to Vince, uh, you know, congratulations and thank you. And I will say one of the things that I appreciated about Vince the most uh was when I was uh first a township committee woman and and mayor um in my early 30s there. Uh we did have a couple
of emergencies and um he was so um he was such a good teacher and he was so patient and um he really just took the time to kind of help educate and uh kind of show the way and I I appreciated that as a newly elected person. So just maybe
kind of keep that in mind as a best practice. Um but if you had to if you had to train up Andrew then you obviously already have a lot of practice in that. So is good with experience training. Yeah. Uh
my only question is uh were you uh volunte this this position or did you actually want this position? Oh absolutely not. I I I want this position. Absolutely. Uh you know 31 years at Harvard Township I was ready to retire from police work. Yeah. But I still have an interest in in helping the
public. Yeah. Public service. So, um I went from Ear Township to my couch for a little bit too long. So, then I started with the county with the department. So, I worked with Glenn Hman. Yeah. And that worked out really well and it was just a nice transition into the deputy
coordinator position. But I'm I'm looking forward to this. I really am. Oh, we're excited to have you. Thank you so much and congratulations to you. I appreciate it. Thank you, Mike. Thank you. I appreciate that. I apologize. It turned into a roast on my age, but um
great. I also want to thank Vince Jones for service in the county. Mike, I appreciate your service and your continued service to the community. So, thank you again and congratulations. At this point, we'll have an update on Atlantic Cave Community College by Dr. Barbara Gaba, president of ACCCC.
Thank you for having me and good afternoon, commissioners. We're so glad to be here as we com commemorate community college month and today I would like to update you on some of the highlights of the work that we're doing at Atlantic Cape. Periodically my office sends you the president's newsletter
which I hope you're getting on a regular basis and we keep you up to date on all the things that we're doing at Atlanta Cape and uh we will continue to do that. But I just want to talk about a few things. Uh today at Atlantic Cape for this period of time, we've been celebrating the 60th anniversary, 60
years of being the second community college established in the state of New Jersey. Our first class is being held at the old Atlantic City High School. We also celebrated this year the 40th anniversary of our Worthington Atlantic City campus as well as the Casino Career
Institute having its 45th anniversary. So, let me just update you on some of our uh university programs. We continue to grow our relationships with university partners and most recently we entered into two university partnerships this academic year. Stockton University
with their visual arts program and Arcadia University, the media and communications program. These partnerships provide students an opportunity to work towards an undergraduate degree in a more convenient and cost-effective manner while experiencing seamless transition
uh- transfer opportunities as they can start at Atlanta Cape at a reasonable and affordable community uh uh tuition and fee rate and then transfer to a four-year college. In addition, in a selected number of programs with our Rutgers Camden premier partnerships, students will have the option to
complete their undergraduate degree at our Maze Landing campus or at Ruckers Camden with the third year at Ruckers uh being paid at the Atlantic Cape tuition and fee rate. These partnerships provide students with increased opportunities to
access excellent programs and further fields of study and accomplish their educational and career goals. Additionally, students enrolling in these university partnerships will also benefit from a more convenient location, reduced costs, and a seamless transfer
experience. Let me tell you about some of our programs. Recently, in our nursing program, we were notified that graduates on our uh who took the ENLEX exam, our registered nursing uh program, uh received a 93% success rate. And on
our P and on our practical nursing uh program which is our new certificate program we had a 100% pass rate and this is very very important as we uh work closely with our healthc care providers and provide uh nurses in this field. So
we're very very proud of our graduating nurses. I'm also pleased to announce that Atlantic Cape just recently partnered with Princeton University for their transfer scholars initiative. This program enrolls high achieving community college students in an eightweek 8-week
intensive oncast onampus summer program at Princeton University. In fact, we have four of our students who are accepted for this summer and they will be attending Princeton. Very nice. So, we're very very excited about that. Another program that I want to update
you on is our aviation program. And this is one of the programs that we're very very proud of. Our aviation programs at the college are especially designed to give our students the hands-on training and technical knowledge to pursue a career in airport management, aviation,
business administration, air traffic control and transportation management and also airplane and helicopter piloting. In fact, we are leading in the aviation training in New Jersey as well as in our regions in in Atlantic and Kate May counties. Let me just talk a
little bit about our grants. Grants play a crucial role in supporting our college by providing essential funding and enhances educational opportunities, infrastructure, and student success. When we receive grant funds, this is money that supplements our operating
budget. And basically, we are spending somebody else's money instead of our own, uh, which we never have enough of. I think we can all agree to that. In fiscal year 24, the college received several grants, uh, that totaled over $3 million. Also, in the current year that
we're in FY25, we have received over $2.7 million in grants, and they're still coming in because some of the grants are still pending. These funds are more than just financial support. They're opportunities. Grants allow us to launch new programs, upgrade our
facilities, support student services, and invest in innovation without placing additional burdens on our limited budget. In today's climate where resources are tight and needs are growing, grants help us to remain competitive, responsive, and forward
thinking. They open doors for our students and give us the flexibility to meet them where they are. Our students are at the heart of everything that we do, and we need to ensure that they have the support they need uh when they call upon us. Let me talk a little bit about
chapter 12 funding. Thank you so much for the chapter 12 funding. We could not do the upgrades without your help and without your support. I see you have a final reading of the 2025 capital improvements of uh for Atlantic Cape for $2,820,126 for Warthingington Atlantic
City 1.89 million Maze Landing campus physical and system security upgrades 185,000 and mechanical and grounds improvements 744,000. Again, we thank you for your support. In terms of challenges, Atlantic Cape, like many higher
education institutions, continue to face challenges with enrollment and funding. Following the pandemic, high school students are still not sure about the future for higher education. And again, in the present current national landscape of higher education, uh things
are very very uncertain for many people who may or may not consider going to college at this point in time. With respect to funding, Governor Murphy has proposed for the FY26 budget a 20 million cut to the community college sector all across New Jersey. Now, what
does that mean for Atlantic Cape? If this happens, Atlantic Cape will suffer a shortfall from the state of $800,000. So, we continue to attend public hearings. I attend many hearings in Trenton for the budget for the Senate and Assembly committees. Uh, in fact,
last week we attended the budget hearing of the Senate Higher Education Committee in Trenton. We took with us our students. We took with us our staff. We had two bus loads to advocate to the governor's office for the restoration of the $20 million. Our students have done an excellent job in telling their story
with their testimonials. And certainly when we go forth and I speak, the students make the greatest impact in telling how the community college impacts their lives. We continue to act to actively advocate to our legislators regarding the critical need for reinstating these funds to the community
college and we would appreciate your support on this behalf. Let me talk a little bit about our foundation and it's increasing our financial support to students thanks to the general donors and supporters we have. Last year, the foundation awarded
over 500 scholarships worth over almost $800,000 to over 500 students at Atlantic Cape. These funds are crucial to provide access to education for our students. Recently, we held a gala, the foundation, and we raised over
$300,000 uh which goes towards scholarships for our students in the Academy of Culinary Arts, which is one of our premier programs. In fact, this uh funds that we gained through the gala is going to help 13 of our students to do a study abroad. They will go to Italy
this summer and study with some of the finest chefs in Italy as they prepare to become chefs themselves. So, this is just one of the many examples of the generosity of our supporters to help students to reach their educational goals regardless of their financial
situation. We are immensely grateful to the efforts of the Atlantic Foundation, the students and staff volunteers for the generous support that they give to our students. In uh one last item I'd like to talk about in terms of upcoming events that we will pro proudly host the
50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War on the mains landing campus in September and you'll be getting notices about that. This will event will include a temporary 82 foot wall that lists all the soldiers we have lost in
Vietnam as well as performance from the Navy band will also be distributed to those who served in the Vietnam war or their families. So we are honored to host this event. You will receive an invitation and we hope that to see you there at this very very important event.
Also too, we are filled with excitement as we approach this month of commencement, our graduation, uh, which will take place on May 22nd, and you're all invited. We we always see the commissioners represented there, and we look forward to seeing you again. This year we have over 800 students who will
be graduating with over 300 300 of them uh who have confirmed that they will walk across the stage as well as 30 early college graduates from the local high schools in Atlantic and Cape May County. They were in the high school so they're going to get the high school diploma and their degree at the same
time from Atlantic Gate. So this accomplishment is just a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our students, but also the support, guidance, and encouragement they've received at their time at Atlantic Cape and all the support that you have given. So, in closing, we are very much uh
happy to commemorate and celebrate Community College Month, and I'm confident that as we continue to work together, we will navigate the challenges that are before us, particularly the challenges that are happening at the national level and potentially how they can affect the community colleges. So, in closing, I
like I would like to thank you for all of your support and the work that we do to bring high quality education and services to the Atlantic County community. Thank you very much, Dr. Gaba. Thank you for all you and your staff do for um Atlantic and obviously
Kate May counties as well. Are there any commissioner comments at this point? Question. Thank you. Um I know the culinary program costs real money. It's what what's the tuition on that this time? I don't know it offhand but it is higher
than the other earth but uh we have donors who give to to the foundation and we give scholarships to many of our students and as I mentioned uh the work that we do through the gala supports at least 13 of them to go to Italy. They don't have to pay and it's a great opportunity for to leave the country and
to work with great chefs. Right. One of the things I I I didn't mention is that one of our graduates of the uh Academy of Culinary Arts. He competed in the Hills Hell's Kitchen cooking program. I think you all know that he
was amongst 18 people and on February the 6th, he was selected as a winner of that competition. $250,000 plus he got a position as the head chef at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. So, we're very very proud
of it. That's fantastic. Okay. And one of the important things that our foundation does, and Gene McAllister is our executive director, we're always seeking donors to help us out. And people want to give back in some way. And if you don't ask them, you don't never know. But we go and ask as many people as possible to donate to the
college. And I do it myself personally because I feel a very important need and an obligation to give back help to help many of our students who are needy. Any other commissioner comments?
Um Dr. Gob, I just have a couple comments and questions. I know you mentioned that the um the nursing program has a 93% success rate. I was going to mention this later, but it's today's National Nurses Day. Oh, I forgot to mention. And it's National Nurses Week. So that was um I figured I I would get that in there now. So, thank you for bringing that up and that's
that's a tremendous um service that that you're doing for our community. We all know of course what our nurses went through during the the pandemic and you know the struggles and challenges that um the facilities continue to face. So, I'm I'm appreciative of that program there. Um is there anything planned for the 60th anniversary of ACCCC?
We've had guest speakers, right? Yeah. And uh foundation is coordinating that coordinating that. Okay. One of the things that we did do during this 60th anniversary period is we always like to recognize our distinguished alumni. And a couple of weeks ago, we had a ceremony
where whereby we recognize many of the people who've been at the college through the years. There are about six or seven of them that came and we had a dinner and things like that. And one of the people who was being honored, he mentioned that out of the 12 members in of his family, nine of them went to
Atlanta. Oh wow. Okay. And um just just lastly one more. Um I know you mentioned that the governor cut $20 million out of you know proposed proposal and you've you know you know you've rallied the troops and brought students up to Trenton and you asked you know you said you appreciate
the support. Is there anything you're asking of the commissioners at this point or what was the feedback? How did you feel um leaving Trenton? The last time we went we went on May the 1st. I'll never forget that day. I felt very positive with the legislators who were in that room and they all seem to understand the distinct role and the
distinct mission that community colleges have. I got a very positive vibe. It's now up to them to carry the message to the governor. And I would ask of you if you know any of our polit Oh, Senator um Tesla was there because he's represent Cait. He was on the panel. Okay. spoke
very eloquently about all of us and uh all the legislator that legislators that you know talk to them ask them to support us okay because they understand that community colleges have a very unique and distinct mission different from the four-year colleges in terms of supplying people for the workforce and
so forth so so Mr. chair. Should the education committee put a resolution together? That's that's kind of where I was going. I mean, would you like us to Absolutely. I just was curious what your feedback was how you felt. I mean, if at this point if it's premature or should we No, it's not at all. Okay. Okay. I don't know how the process works, but
any support and a resolution would definitely go way. Fantastic. I would love for the education committee then to maybe consider a resolution based on your input as well, and we'll we'll send that out. Um, it's it's that's drastic. That's drastic. And um you know lastly not to you know keep you up here any
longer is I you know my oldest son is is a high school junior and we're looking at at colleges. So you know what would your your I know a lot of our four-year colleges the enrollments down you know community colleges are facing funding issues as well. Um so kind of what would
your you know your your selling point be to someone to you know look at a community college first especially if you're not sure what it is exactly you want to do. Okay. First of all, we're affordable when you look at our tuition compared to the four-year colleges. Uh we are uh we are flexible. We have classes that are in person, remote,
hybrid, and also um accessible and also we have we're convenient. We have different locations that people can take courses and we also have students taking courses in the high school as well. So I think the affordability is the big thing because a college education now is very
expensive and if students can start with us get their first two years in the ground we have these um uh partnerships where we can help students transfer seamlessly and you can save money that's the best way to go I think I appreciate
that I mean I was worried a lot of those things but I want to use this opportunity to get the word out there I mean I have co-workers who are having problems paying anything towards the principal of their college loans. So, that's a tremendous uh selling point, I would think. Okay. One of the things you talk, if you just give me a moment, one
of the things that's been cut or proposed to be cut from the governor's budget that we're very concerned with is the CCOG, the community college opportunity grant, which is the free tuition, which I think many of you know about. 65,000 and below tuition free.
Then they had 865 to 85 was second tier, get some money, and then 85 to 100 you could get some money. The governor has cut out in the proposed budget the second and third tier which means that people who are like in the 85 to 100
range the 65 to 85 or the 85 to 100 will no longer we were getting that before and that helps to bring students in and keep them there right that's being proposed to be cut and we are absolutely fighting to keep that in that knocks out a large portion of the middle class
absolutely large portion 85 to 65 85 Yes, that's proposed to be cut. So, we went to Trenton last week and we were talking about that that look at the population that you are you're you're impacting and people are just having a hard time with the high cost of, you
know, gasoline, putting food on the table, the mortgages. It's just a hard time for everybody. And to cut this tier and think about the people who started with the 65 and below thinking they were going to move into the next tier. If they're not moving into the next tier, they're going to drop out.
So that's why we are fighting as much as we can. There's another hearing coming up uh I think next week in Trenton. I'm not going because I have another engagement, but some of the other presidents are going. We are going to keep at this. Another thing that's being cut is the food pantries. We get money
to supply our food pantries on all of our three campuses for our students because many of our students are food insecure. Food pantry budget is being cut by 50%. So these are all the things that we are advocating for and any support that you can give us to help us would be very
much appreciated. Sure. Dr. Gaba, thank you and again ask the education committee to consider those those items as well. So we appreciate that. Um are there any other commissioner comments or questions at this point? Dr. Gabin, thank you so much for for all you do for not only again not only Atlantic County, but Kim County and our our students here
in Atlanta County. So thank you. M Mr. Chairman, yes, Commissioner Corsick. Good afternoon. And I want to a couple questions to Dr. Gaba before she lived the podium. First of all, um it's good to hear so many things that's happening in and around Atlantic Community
College. So at the last commissioner's meeting, we all talked about the enrollment. I didn't hear you mention anything about enrollment this time around. Um I know enrollment is a problem all over the place for community colleges. However, the question still remains, what are we doing to try to
increase enrollment at the college? we continue to pump money into our college, which is the right thing to do, but I mean, we we keep losing enrollment at the college. And the reason I'm I'm bringing that question up uh again because it comes up every single year we
pump money into the college and we talk about the enrollment, right? And so I did hear Dr. Gaba, and I don't want to misquote you uh about the four-year colleges, and and I'm a firm believer, those who can afford to go to four-year colleges, they're going to four-year
colleges. No question about it. Um the question is, how do we try to do a better job about getting kids more excited about going to Atlantic Cape Community College? And sometime we've got to probably re rearrange how we operate,
right? And so I look at the Atlantic City campus. I don't know how many students actually attend Atlantic City campus on a daily, but maybe at some point, Dr. Goblin, it may be something take a look at. Maybe we merged them with Maze Landon, fell the Atlantic City
campus. I know back in the day, you know, it's probably been a while. I know ACIT was interested in buying that property at one point in time from ACCC. don't have a clue if that's still on the table, have been been talked about, but
if enrollment is going down, uh, and we we don't seem to be getting our numbers where we really need them or want them, um, that consideration ever been taken under to talk about closing the Atlantic City campus, uh, and and have folks come
to the Maze Landing campus. Um, but I'm more concerned right now in terms of what the enrollment looks like. Uh as I mentioned earlier in my comments that enrollment is an issue not only with us but for most colleges not only in New Jersey but around the country.
It's declining for a number of reasons. Many of them have to do with demographics because the population is shrinking. That's number one. There's also a lot of uncertainty in the environment right now. People are trying to figure out postcoid they're still sort of frozen and haven't come out of
that. Do I work or do I go to school? That's an issue that's happening right now. And as far as we are concerned, um, you mentioned something about ACIT. I've I've not heard that conversation before. Uh, it's the first time you're mentioning that, but certainly as we look forward, we're going to be doing
everything that we can to increase enrollment. Uh, we are offering and partnering with our four-year colleges to make the transfer uh, process a lot easier. And also too, we're working very very closely to improve our retention that once students come in, they'll stay
with us. We have a person now dedicated to working with uh students with regarding to to retention uh to create environments where students feel that they're connected to other students. So that's one of the things that we are doing but it's an ongoing challenge uh
commissioner corsy not only for us but for the entire country. I I understand that part Dr. Go with all due respect for the entire country. Again I guess my question is still going to be what's the enrollment like? What was the numbers last year? What the numbers are this year? Have we increased? Have we continued to
decrease? And by how many? Right? And so only reason I bring that up, I just wanted to know where we at. Are we in the middle? We we I mean, we talked about this at the last commissioner's meeting, too. How do we continue to try to increase um advertisement to get people to to attend the community
college, which you're right, it is affordable. What are we doing to try to get them there? We can't keep talking about, oh, we did something in the lobby. We did something on F. I I I see a couple billboards out uh you know, I like what I see, but I don't know if that's enough. And so I'm just trying to
figure out how far we up or down from last year in terms of enrollment. And again, would you consider at some point merging the Atlantic City campus with Maze Landon? Okay. Uh to answer your question, no, there hasn't been an increase since last year. We have declined slightly. We are upping our
digital advertising which is you know the things that the young people go to whatever that is the Instagram and the Facebook and all that digital stuff. Uh we are working with getting our billboards out there. We're working also closely with the high schools to get our guidance counselors to really encourage
our students to come to the four-year colleges because many times the guidance counselors encourage them to go to the to go to the four-year colleges. So, this is an issue that we're very much cons concerned with and we'll continue to work on and hopefully by the next time I meet with you, I'll have more
information to give you and more promising news. But we're really operating in a very uh challenging environment overall. So, be I would hope that before the next time you meet with us or me or whoever, I'd like to have still have those
numbers because I think you have answered my question. Um Okay. and and and I think you're giving me honor answer. I just I'm always concerned about the numbers, right? Because this ain't we right. We have not this is not nothing we have not talked about in the past and like uh Commissioner Parker
said I think at the last meeting, we got to reach where they are. We got to go where they at whether it's on Instagram, Facebook, etc. We talked about that last week and so you just mentioned that. But again, I want to put that out there again. Would it be something you would consider the board uh of of trustees if
that proposal came back up again uh regarding um ACIT wanting to purchase or would you consider merging the Atlantic City campus with Maze Landon? That's a bigger question than myself. It's something something that the board would have to consider. And certainly I have
to say as we continue to look at and I and I say this very honestly and I said it this morning when I met with my staff and had a state of the college message that we may look very differently a couple of years from now depending on how things go. It may be that the circumstances cause us to move in a
different direction. We may not look the same. How exactly we will look I don't know. And certainly these are things that the board of trustees who is above me will consider. Agreed. And then and when you get a chance, Dr. Gabby, can you also give me
even the commission a breakdown of how many students attend the Atlantic City campus and and how many students attending the Oh, yes. um Mazeander camp. I don't know if it's a duel. You could do some classes in Atlantic City and then you might have to do some in Meland. I don't know how that works. So maybe you can give us a breakdown of
that. I'd be glad to do that. Thank you so much. You're welcome, Mr. Chairman. I reserve the balance of my time. Thank you, Dr. GABA. Thank you as well. Chairman, may I ask you a question before you leave? Dr. Gaba, thank you very much. On a happier note, how's the
baseball field? Is the team out there on the field now? Yeah, that's wonderful. Yeah, they're doing very well. I remember the groundbreaking just last year. Wonderful. Threw the first ball. Wonderful. Thank you so much for your support.
Yeah, but thank you so much. You're welcome. And once again, I want to just reiterate that I've asked the I guess the education committee to consider a resolution. I appreciate that. And I and I think that those numbers that Commissioner Corsy asked for as well, if they could have those at least provided to the education committee. We'll do start with. So, thank you. Appreciate
that. Moving on to bond bond ordinances. Bond ordinance number one. on ordinance providing for various capital improvements for fiscal year 2025 by and for the Atlantic Cave Community College appropriating
2,820,126 therefore and authorizing issuance of 2,820,126 bonds or notes of the county of Atlantic State of New Jersey for financing such appropriation the principle of and interest on the aggregate principal amount of which will
be entitled to state aid pursuant to chapter 12 of the laws of New Jersey of 197 71 final reading. Move. Second. Move then. Move then seconded. Are there any commissioner comments? This is second readings. Are there any comments from the public?
Right. Please call the role. Ratino. Yes. Burns. Yes. Corsy. Yes. Gat. Yes. Karn. Yes. Parker. Yes. Rley. Yes. Ruff. Yes. D. Yes. Bond ordinance number two.
on ordinance providing for various 2025 capital improvements and the acquisition of various capital equipment by and in the county of Atlantic State of New Jersey appropriating $23,300,000 therefore and authorizing the issuance of
$22,135,000 bonds or notes of to finance part of the cost thereof. Final reading second move and seconded any commissioner comments and this is also the final reading. So are there any comments from the public? Right. Please call the role.
Martino, yes. Burns, yes. Corsy, yes. Yes. Kern, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Ruffio, yes. Days, yes. Capital ordinance one. Capital ordinance providing for various capital improvements, equipment, and
furnishings in and for the County of Atlantic State of New Jersey, and appropriating $4,342,000 from the capital improvement fund and/or the capital surplus fund to pay for the cost thereof. Final reading. Second. We have been seconded. Any
commissioner comments? And this is also second reading. Are there any comments from the public? All right. Please call the role. Martino, yes. Burns, yes. Corsy, yes. Gat, yes. Kern, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Ruffio, yes. D, yes.
Resolution 238 grant application and acceptance from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for the LI HEAP CWA administration program amount not to exceed $15,719. Move. Second. Move. Been seconded. Any commissioner
comments? Any comments from the public? Please call the role. Rino, yes. Burns, yes. Corsy, yes. Yes. Kern, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Ruffio, D, yes. Resolution 239 grant application and acceptance
from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for the universal service fund CWA administration program amount not to exceed $10,50. Second. Moved and seconded. Any commissioner comments? Any comments from the public? Please call the role. Martino, yes.
Burns, yes. Corsy, yes. Gat, yes. Kern, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Ruffio, D, yes. Resolution 240. Resolution to execute and file a spending plan for the 2024 recycling enhancement act tax fund entitlement
program with the department of environmental protection amount not to exceed $259,200. Second. Moved and seconded. Any commissioner comments? Any comments from the public? Please call the role. Brino, yes. Burns, yes. Corsy,
yes. Gat, yes. Kern, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Ruffio, yes. Daz, yes. Resolution 241, grant application and acceptance for LEAP implementation grant from funding from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for the Lake Lenipe East renovations and
recreational use by Hamilton Township. Funded amount $300,000 county cash match $100,000. Second moved and seconded. Any commissioner comments? Um Mr. Chair, Commissioner Gat. Yeah. So, this is our attempt to try to get the funding for um
the completion of the renovation of the lighthouse. Um and the agreement would be that the renovation would create kind of a storage facility using the lighthouse and that would then enable Hamilton Township to bring swimming and operate swimming at the lake uh as well
as potentially some other riverfront or uh lakefront u activities. Uh so hopefully we'll uh be able to finally get that thing done. Sounds good. I know the um Mother's Day uh Atlanta County crew races are coming up obviously on Sunday. So um it's been a lot of talk
about that. So thank you. Are there any other commissioner comments? Mr. Chair, I'd just like to recognize and thank the parties that are helping with this. Tim Chrysler, Hamilton Township, as well as our administration and our chair of sheriff services, Amy Ghetto. It has been a pleasure and we are all working
very hard to try and creatively find a way to make this work and so hopefully it works and uh we can do something positive out there at the lake. Well, we've done about $7 million worth of positive out there at the lake. I'm just
looking additional positives. Let's not forget that. No, it's looking it's looking great out there. It really is. Are there any other commissioner comments? Any comments from the public? I please call the role. Bertino, yes. Burns, yes. Corsy,
yes. Gate, yes. Kerna, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Rafio, yes. D, yes. Resolution 242. Amending resolution number 464 adopted on September 5th, 2023. a federal aid cost reimbursement agreement modification with the New Jersey Department of Transportation for
the fisc year 23 federal aid funding for the construction costs associated with the resurfacing of Brigantine Avenue sections 2B and 2C in the city of Brigintine net increase $169,48644 second moved and seconded any commissioner
comments any comments from the public call the role yes Burns yes Corsy Yes. Yes. Karna, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Ruffio, yes. D, yes. Resolution 243.
Competitive contract with Baron Jewish Older Adult Services for Older Americans Act area plan contract services amount not to exceed $30,000. Moved. Second. Move and seconded. Any commissioner comments? Any comments from the public? Please call the role. Bertino.
Yes. Burns. Yes. Corsy. Yes. Yes. Kern, yes. Parker, yes. Frizzley, yes. Ruffio, yes. D, yes. Moving on to bid contracts. Resolution 244. Big contract with Action Uniform Company Limited Liability Company to furnish and
deliver uniforms to members of the Atlantic County Justice Facility. Amount not to exceed $91,120. Second. We have been seconded. Any commissioner comments? Any comments from the public? Right. Please call the RO. Bertino. Yes. Burns. Yes. Corsy,
yes. Yes. Karna, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Ruffio, yes. D, yes. Resolution 245. Big contract with various vendors to furnish and deliver non-p perishable food requirements amount not to exceed $22,91069. Second. We've been seconded. Any
commissioner comments? Any comments from the public? Please call the role. Yes. Burns. Yes. Porsy. Gat, yes. Kern, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Ruff, yes. D, yes. Resolution is a yes.
Thank you, Commissioner. Resolution 246, renewal lease agreement with Ocean Club Condominium Association, Incorporated concerning the Atlantic County Radio Network 800 megahertz emergency management and first responders communication system. amount not to exceed $236,490.
Second. Moved and seconded. Any commissioner comments? Any comments from the public? And please call the role. Martino, yes. Burns, yes. Corsy, yes. Yes. Karn, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Ruffio, yes. Stays, yes.
Resolution 247, renewal EU contract with insurance agencies incorporated to obtain flood insurance for the Atlantic County Animal Shelter, amount not to exceed $2,999. Move. Second. We have been seconded. Any commissioner comments? Any comments from
the public? And please call the RO. Bertino, yes. Burns, yes. Horsey, yes. Yes. Karn, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Ruff, yes. stays. Yes. Resolution 248,
renewal EOS contract with insurance agencies incorporated through Lloyds of London to purchase a policy which will reduce the named windstorm deductible amount not to exceed $41,233.33. Second. Moved and seconded. I was going to make a comment the first being named after my wife. I'm
going to let that one go. Any commissioner comments? Probably better. Any comments from the public? All right, please call the roll. Martino, yes. Burns, yes. Corsy, yes. Gat, yes. Kern, yes. Parker, yes.
Grizzly, yes. Ruffio, yes. Resolution 249, Indemnification and hold harmless agreement with Sunrise Wine and Tequila Limited Liability Company concerning permission to use county property and non-standard improvements to be constructed and maintained within the county right ofway
of Veter Avenue, County Route 629. Second. Moved and seconded. Any commissioner comments? Any comments from the public? Please call the role. Martino, yes. Burns, yes. Forsy, yes.
Yes. Karna, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Rafio, yes. D, yes. Resolution 2550, emergency contract with Walters Marine Construction Incorporated for the emergency repair of JFK Bridges, East Abudment, bulkhead, and sinkhole
repairs. amount not to exceed $550,000. Second. Moved and seconded. Any commissioner comments? Any comments from the public? Please call the role. Bertino, yes. Burns, yes. Corsy, yes. Yes. Kern, yes. Parker, yes.
Grizzly, yes. Ruff, yes. D, yes. Resolution 251, alternate method contract with Tyler Technologies Incorporated to provide civil serve SAS software licenses. amount not to exceed $50,820. Move. Second. Moved and seconded. Any
commissioner comments? Comments from the public? Right. Please call the role. Bertino, yes. Burns, yes. Corsy, yes. GTO, yes. Kern, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Ruff, yes. D, yes. Resolution 252, intergovernmental
services agreement with Earbert Township regarding assignment of law enforcement officers to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. Amount not to exceed $6,000. Second. Moved and seconded. Any commissioner comments? Any comments from the
public? All right. Please call the RO. Martino, yes. Burns, Corsy, yes. Gat, yes. Kern, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Ruffio, yes. days. Yes. At this time, I'll entertain a motion to combine, excuse me, to combine and adopt
resolutions 253 through 254, chapter 159. So moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Are there any commissioner comments? Any comments from the public. All right. Please call the role. Rotino, yes. Burns, Corsy, yes. Gat, yes. Kern, yes. Parker, yes.
Grizzly, yes. Ruff, yes. D, yes. I'll also then entertain a motion to combine and adopt resolutions 255 through 260 appointments. Move. Second. Move. Then second. Are there any commissioner comments? Any comments from the public?
Are any of the appointments online in attendance? All right. Please call the role. Martino, yes. Burns, yes. Corsy, yes. Gat, yes. Karna, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Rafio.
Yes. I'll also entertain a motion to combine and adopt resolutions 261 through 264. Roadway solicitations. Moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Any commissioner comments. Any comments from the public. Please
call the role. Bertino? Yes. Burns? Yes. Corsy? Yes. Yes. Karna, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzly, yes. Ruffw, yes. D, yes. Um, commissioner sponsor resolutions. Resolution, excuse me, resolution 265.
Resolution recognizes May 2025 as mental health awareness month. Sponsor Moren Kern second. Moved and seconded. Any commissioner comments? Yeah, I'll just make a couple. Uh, as you look at the resolution, I'm just going to make note of uh the first two. whereas is one in
five adults in New Jersey and millions throughout the US are affected by mental health conditions every year according to the National Institute of Mental Health and approximately one in six young people ages six to 17 experience a severe mental disorder and there's quite
a few other statistics in there. I think since uh the pandemic there's been a lot of attention given to mental health because this did affect some people in different ways but it also has raised the awareness and uh I just want to say this is a time to raise our voices at
supportive mental uh wellbe well-being and reduce stigma and remind each other that no one is alone in their struggles. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Seeking help is a strength. It's not a weak weakness. And as a county, we are
thoroughly committed to the mental health through our public uh health department, through administration, and our advisory board. We have a great committed advisory board on mental health. These people are there. They're out in the community, and it's not easy
for what they see. And I think our sheriffs, uh, you know, could really attest to that as well. You know, what goes on. But uh we're here to have open conversations so everyone can strive. Commissioner, thank you. Any other commissioner comments?
I just um just one brief comment. This is very, you know, near and dear to my heart. I just want to say I read something this morning about, you know, former first lady Michelle Obama just said that she's going back into into therapy for the next, I guess, phase of her life. So, you know, mental health and as a teacher, and Commissioner
Parker can attest to this as well. um you know I I see and hear this every day and uh there's so many you know children who don't get the the support that they need that the the financing isn't there but no matter what you know socioeconomic class you come from um race gender it's um it affects everyone
so I I appreciate you commissioner Ker bringing this once again to our attention so thank you um are there any comments from the public at this time all please call the role yes Burns Yes. Corsy G. Yes. Karn. Yes. Parker. Yes. Grizzly.
Yes. Ruff. Yes. D. Yes. And then resolution 266. Resolution supporting economic development opportunities at Baderfield. Sponsor Andrew W. Parker. Third. Move. Second. Moved and seconded. Any commissioner comments?
Mr. Chair. Commissioner Parker. As commissioners, we are proud to support initiatives that foster and create foster the creation and growth of small businesses throughout Atlantic County. Small businesses are the backbone of our
local economy, driving innovation, creating jobs, and generating vital investment in our communities. By empowering local entrepreneurs and streamlining pathways to success, we strengthen our workforce, revitalize our neighborhoods, and ensure that Atlantic
County remains a place where families can thrive and local dreams can become reality. I think this commissioner board has gone above and beyond and has consistently made our stand pretty clear on how we feel about diversifying our
economy. I think we have made it very clear on how we feel about supporting small businesses and uh development ventures in our county. So, uh I thought it was a good idea to put together a resolution in support of the
project that you saw come before us, the Baderfield proposed project. Would all love to see this project happen. We'd all love to see it uh be successful. We would, you know, all love to see Atlantic County residents uh positively
impacted on multiple levels with this project. So that's all I have, sir. Thank you, Commissioner Parker. Are there any other commissioner comments? Any comments from the public? Please call the role. Yes. Burns, yes.
Gat, yes. Kern, yes. Parker, yes. Grizzley, yes. Rafio, yes. states. Yes. All right. That concludes the written part of our agenda. We've all received copies of written communication and petitions. Are there any commissioner comments on this
topic? Right. Hearing none. Are there any reports of special committees of the board? Mr. Chair, Commissioner Rizley. Thank you. Last week I called a meeting of the jail committee and uh on behalf of the board was there with myself and
commissioner Kern. Um the purpose of the meeting really was twofold. One was to discuss the recent incident that happened at the jail, the brutal attack against one of
our guards there at the jail. The other point of it was to assess this current situation and see what we can do going forward for the current needs and the future needs of the jail. It was attended was well attended we by Mr.
Fedorco our sheriff of course um Jerry Delaso of course warden Kelly we met for about an hour and a half. We had a very good quite frankly frank exchange. Um I was
very um happy to see uh our sheriff there and making the overture of trying to do some collaborative efforts with the jail. U the jail uh currently we're told there's about 20 vacancies and of
course that has been an ongoing problem. It just hasn't happened now. It's been it's been going on for many many years. It's a tough job. Wages are not high and it's a demanding job. Job certainly I wouldn't want. It's uh and it was quite
sad that this uh guard had to uh suffer like this and be savagely beaten by uh one of our inmates. Um so um I think there'll be some discussions going forward between the
sheriff's department and the jail and I certainly would encourage that and encourage all we can do to uh entice people to enter the field and to become a corrections officer. It was a good
meeting and um and um I hope to see some things grow from it. Thank you, Commissioner Ren. Thank you. Any other commissioner comments? Commissioner Wrizley, I was also going to mention this later, but it
is also a correctional officer month. Um, and I think it's a good time based on your comments to kind of bring that up and not only you know keep the our officer who was as you said savagely beaten in our prayers. Um, but also to think about um, you know, our our officers who were in that facility on a
daily basis and um, you know, I guess the the threat just the like you said um, that they face and also the the challenges that their family faces knowing that they're in that situation. So I think it's a good time to express our appreciation um, for their correctional officers as well. Just just
for the record, uh it's important for us to know that on any given day in the jail, they average between 730 and 750 inmates. So, it's it's a big job. It's a tough job. And the folks that do that kind of work,
I'm I'm in awe, quite frankly. So, thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. Is there any unfinished business? Any new business? U Mr. Chair, Commissioner Gat. Yeah, I am going to be sending um a request over to the
education subcommittee as well um with regard to I'd like to see a resolution um against the uh recent incentive aid that uh Governor Murphy allowed um which allowed some of our districts to go
outside of the 2% cap uh to raise taxes. And there's it has to do with the formula and where we are uh in terms of different components of that formula as to whether or not you were eligible to raise above the cap.
Um, personally in Mullica, we got hit extremely hard uh with that tax increase and um I think the 2% cap was put in place for a reason to keep taxes uh at least
um consistent and steady and and minimized as much as possible. And I think it's uh a pretty terrible practice to allow, you know, a one-time exception uh particularly in your lame duck year
uh to uh you know to have such an impact on property taxpayers. So I'll send over information to the education subcommittee and I again would like to um recommend a resolution against anything like that in the future. Um, I
think the damage is pretty much done at this point, but uh I think it would be irresponsible to uh to not raise our voice on it. Yeah, good point. Thank you, Commissioner. Any other new business?
All right, moving on to public comment. Anyone attending in person that would like to speak now at 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 would like to make public comment, please raise your hand. I will call your name and a request to unmute will be sent. Please
state your name and the town in which you reside. You will be provided up to three minutes. Is there any public comment? Is there a motion to close public comment? Move. Second. Then second it. All in favor?
Moving on. Are there any comments for the good of the order? Mr. Share Commissioner Parker. You stole a little bit of my thunder, but I'm going to say it anyway. I jumped in when it came up. I apologize. It's also small business week. Uh, National Small Business Week. It's Teacher Appreciation Week and as you
mentioned, it's National Correction Officers Week as well. So, we all get to share this week together. Uh, all professions that are serving people. So happy um all those weeks to all of you who are doing that kind of
work and nurses. I did say that earlier. Nurses and nurses. You forgot drinking water week. Drinking water week it is. So if you're listening, do all those things. If you have a neighbor or family member, make sure you uh uh wish them a happy week and appreciate them.
Appreciation week and drink your water to toast. We actually have the New Jersey Association, you know, water environment, you know, in house like uh today. So, it's interesting what they go through in purifying the water and the whole systems. It's quite a group of people.
And Mr. Chair, one last thing, there were a few things uh that was that's going to be moved to the education schools committee subcommittee which I chair. So, I did hear you. I didn't comment. I didn't think there needed to be a comment on those things, but we will uh get a meeting together. uh I'll
you know get with Tara offline and uh schedule a meeting and we will deliberate and consider these suggestions. All right, sounds good. Appreciate that. Sounds like you have a busy agenda. So appreciate we appreciate your effort on that. All
right. Um anything else for the good of the order? Okay, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. Move. Second. Second. All those in favor? I Any opposed? All right. Meeting is adjourned. [Music]
Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music]