going to be going. Okay, I'd like to call this meeting order. Clark, adequate notice of this meeting was provided in accordance with chapter 231, public law, 1975. Uh at this time I'd like to have a moment of uh silence meditation and
let's ask the Almighty to bless those people that don't have the air conditioning that we have. We really don't have it in this room at this point in time, but um it's still a lot better here than outside. So, and especially anyone that's that's homeless. So, ask
him to protect those individuals while we do this meditation. We'd like to have the flag salute. We're going to be led by Rome 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. Commissioner Alena here. Commissioner Alrech here. Commissioner Romero here. Commissioner L present. Commissioner Taylor present. Deputy Director Marsh
here. Director Sorrow here. Do I have a motion and second to accept and dispense with the reading of the minutes from the last public meeting? So move. Second. All in favor? I in correspondence dated May 28, 2025, Atlantic City Electric gave notice of
reissue order in the matter of petition Atlantic City Electric Company for approval of amendments to its tariff to provide for an increase in rates and charges for electric service BPU docket number ER24110854 OEL docket number PUC17 805-2024S
Yes, we are in compliance with NJSA482-17 so that the ordinance may be read by title only. Do I have a motion to second the ordinance be read on final reading by title only? So move second. All in favor? I.
Ordinance 2025-3 approving Cat Bank for the 2025 county budget. Do I have a motion and second to open public hearing hearing on an ordinance? I'll make the motion. Second. All in favor? I. Anyone from the public
wish to speak on ordinance 2025-3 approving CAT Bank for the 2025 county budget may step forward. State your name and where you're from. Seeing none, motion to close. Second. All in favor? I.
Do I have a motion and seconds that ordinance 2025-3 be finally adopted? Second. Commissioner Alino, yes. Commissioner Alrech, yes. Commissioner Romero, here. Commissioner Lo, yes. Commissioner
Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Maran, yes. Director Sorrow, yes. The ordinance published here with has finally finally been adopted on June 24th, 2025 and is effective immediately upon passage. Do I have a motion and second for
resolution be read by budget read budget by title only? So move. Commissioner Ostino, yes. Commissioner Albert, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Lodes, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Marsh, yes. Director Sara, yes. Do I have a motion
and second to open public hearing on 2025 county budget and tax resolution? Motion to open public portion. Second. Commissioner Alino. Yes. Commissioner Albrech. Yes. Commissioner Romero. Yes. Commissioner L. Yes. And Commissioner Taylor. Yes. Commissioner Maran. Deputy
Director Maran. Director Sorrow. Yes. Uh if there is anyone from the public that like to come forward and talk about the 2025 county budget, you may do so now. And please state your name, where you're from.
Sandy Aso Deerfield Township. Um I have these written down also that I can give um afterwards. The uh the first issue that question that I have is on the the budget
message. Um can somebody explain to me what the the the structural budget imbalance means? What what does that phrase mean and cover? And the um
the um on page I have page 3E1, but I I don't think that's the correct page number. Um, is this amount this 1,508788 the amount the feds through the state um that would be considered the Medicaid
reimbursement um difference and is this the county's piece for that? Um my second question is how long do the retirees and spouses uh get county uh health benefits paid?
Um, on three E3, one second. Uh, Chris, are you writing these questions down? Okay. I just want to make sure. I just want to make sure we didn't miss something. Right. Go ahead. I'm sorry. Uh, on 3E3, the constitutional officer's budget. Um, can somebody explain the
exact reason for the increases in the uh sheriff, the surrogate, and the board of taxations uh budgets? And uh 4 C um what pilots is this revenue coming from? Uh what townships and cities do these pilots come from or
projects do they reflect? And um five uh what is the state? What is the state salary subsidies for the constitutional officer salaries based on? It looks like there's a revenue from the state for those offices. What's the basis for that um
number? Page seven, the uh the NJSL Capital Project Fund uh community center digital connect. What exactly is this line item and how come nothing was budgeted for 2025?
on 7E the um social services for the for the homeless the million5500 where does that money go? I I know we've seen money to different learning centers and things like that. But what is what
exactly within social services does this money cover? Um, on page eight, the um I don't think we've really gotten a com a detailed um budget on where the the
5.2 million in CO money was spent. I was wondering if we could get some kind of recap on on the co money and and where it was spent and also the uh the the the surplus activity. I I know it said in there that
we only uh budget for what excess we had the previous year. One, why do we have so much excess that we can budget that kind of money? Where's that excess coming from? And uh I'd like to see the the some
analysis of how much we've been using and um does that match the surplus that's available the previous year. Um in in in the budget message
um there was a a comment made that in the current and future budget years there must be a series of planning design processes that need to result in a path forward. Do we have a path has has a path been established to to uh get get a handle on
these expenses and um when will the public see such a plan and design? The budget message also references the uh county jail's future changing.
Do we know what that change looks like yet? And uh I think that we've really been uh fully advised on what changes are in future for the county jail. Um the budget message also indicates that
there is some type of uh an additional union contract being negotiated. We have 30 seconds and um All right. Thank you. Okay. Thank you.
Is there anyone else that would like to step forward ask any kind of questions? Good evening. This is Nancy from Fairfield Township. I'd like to note we're still looking at a 5% decrease in the tax rate for the county.
Okay. Thank you, Miss Ray. also and also I would like to thank the county economic development department for all the economic that they have brought to Cumberland
County. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Rididgeway. Is there anybody else that would like to set forward? Seeing not, do we have a motion to close? Seeing none, motion to close. Second. All in favor? Roll call. Roll call. Commissioner Alina, yes.
Commissioner Albert, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Lo, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Marshon, yes. Director Sorrow, yes. Okay. Uh to our CFO, best as you can since you don't have
everything in front of you. See, see if you can answer some of the questions as quickly as possible. So, structural imbalance is basically are Can you speak up or grab the mic? Bring
it. Yeah. Yeah, that's good. Yeah. So, a structural imbalance is basically an anticipated loss in revenue or an appropriation in the future that we perceive could potentially be a problem in our budget. For example, rising costs of pension plans, that's a significant
structural imbalance for the county. healthare costs increasing 8 10 15% state health benefit plan I tell you what just grab that microphone and bring it to you just just the numbers of the public can't hear you
there you go this way you have the stuff in front of you okay better okay so I don't know if you got all that structural imbalance is basically bring it closer structural imbalance is basically the county
anticipating that there's going to be a higher cost associated with things like a pension plan, health benefit costs, um something that will have an impact in future year budgets. In summary, um what
else do we have? 3E1. Thank you. And the number 1.5 million. I don't see that number is referenced. 3E1. I think it was 31. That's what you said.
I don't have 1.5 million on 3E1. So I'll skip um 3E3 sh. So 3E3 is essentially the statemandated um constitutional officers cap
calculation which is required by state. Um so the increases shown here are basically um cost of living increases for salaries. Um just to make a note also there was only one that exceeded this year
um and that was the surrogate. So the sheriff's budget's actually a decrease from last year if you look at this. That's what the negative indicates. Um pilot revenues there's five municipalities in the county. Violin,
Bridton, both Deerfields and um who else? Bridton, sorry. Um constitutional officer. So the state puts out what's called a local finance notice every year for constitutional
salaries. Um and they re reimburse uh the county a portion of their salaries and it's called a base rate. And every year there's an inflation adjustment for that. So, um I can share you the local finance notice if you'd like to see it. Um that's the basis of those numbers. Uh
let me see here what else we got. ARPA funds. So those funds were um taken into the budget essentially to offset jail costs in the two previous budget cycles and those are no longer available to the
county. All the surplus figures are available on our website. We have budgets, audits, and financial statements. There you can see what the beginning balance was at the beginning of the year. You can see what was used in the budget, what was regenerated, and then the final ending
balance. Mr. is the breakdown of the co of the co funds on there, the arbit funds or no? Um, no, there's no breakdown. Okay. because I know some were spent on the jail as you say, some were spent on the Department of Health and Yeah, that was just one component of it, but the funding mechanisms, they
allow you to take up to $10 million over two years and that's what the county did. I understand, but the public was asking for a breakdown of how those funds were spent. I just Oh, yeah. I don't have that on that available anywhere. Yeah, we could we could perhaps you don't. Yeah, we can get it. I just have There's just a lot of different things.
So, yeah. Yeah, we can get it. We can get that. Yeah, sure. Absolutely. Okay. Thank you. path forward. Trying to see what page that was on message path forward. I don't see anything about a path
forward in the budget message unless I'm missing it. Which one? Uh budget method message path forward. Do you have a sheet number? Message page.
say you talked assassinate or you talked about this the sheet that was handed out the presentation or you talk about the actual budget message page inside of the budget. Okay. We can provide a response. Why don't you provide all this
information on an email tour? Yeah, we absolutely could do that. How about if we do that, Mr. It seems to be that there's a little bit difference of the numbers you have and then the numbers he had. He has all your questions down. All right. How about if we get that to you through an email? Is that all right?
That's fine. But then I'll be able to read his answers. Well, that's what he's going to do. He's going to give me the answers to those questions. And there was another question you had about the community um digital. Yeah, community digital
direct. Is that what you said? Digital connect. Digital connect. Digital connect. Yeah. I wasn't sure what that was. Is that an easy answer? I don't Well, let him get all this stuff. Get it to her, but there's a lot of things he doesn't have right there.
And all we're doing is putting him on the spot. Kim has a copy so she'll share it with exactly it to all three of them have have everything that she asked to make sure that we we didn't miss anything. Then I think we can answer
Mrs. Ridley's question. Yeah, we definitely can. So the answer is quite simply yes. It's still 5%. Right. Okay. Thank you. All right. Uh let's move on to
resolutions. Resolution 2025-331, resolution of the county of Cumberland, state of New Jersey, amending the 2025 Cumberland County introduced budget pursuant to NJSA4A 4-9. Do I have a motion and second? So move. Second.
Commissioner Alino, yes. Commissioner Alrech, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Les, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Marsh, yes. Director Sorrow, yes. Resolution 2025- 332 resolution adopting the 2025 county
budget authorizing 17 million20,000 to be raised by taxation in support of the county budget. Do I have a motion and second? Yes. I'd like to make a motion, Mr. Director. Second. Before we vote, can I ask a question? The director, can
you clarify who are who is our finance committee? Who's the who the members of our finance committee are? It was Arthur, me, uh, our BA, and our CFO. Well, isn't traditionally three
commissioners are usually on that committee? Isn't that the traditional three members of our board? Okay. Well, we had two this time and we have a balanced budget. Yeah. But the input into the budget would be nicer if there were more
members, at least one more member to say to express the opinion of the board, not just the CFO that works for you, the BEA that works for you, uh, but the commissioner that that's, uh, and I won't say the statement that was made,
but there there's certain things in this that that are planned that I would like a discussion about and um, which I probably agree with, but it would be nice that their members input from a
commissioner. Every commissioner had the opportunity to sit down with Spark and go over the budget. Okay. And if they had any questions, they could have raised the questions at that point in time and we could have worked on it. Well, this budget was brought in over a
month ago. Yeah. I'm not arguing it bought in, but as the budget being put together, the director has big influence on this budget, but it would be nice traditionally to have more than one commissioner on that. Did you have the opportunity to talk? Yeah, absolutely. I already said that and you been able to I
didn't say I didn't have one. It's the question and I asked you a question and I said we picked two commissioners. No, no. I asked you another question personally. I asked you a question that I would like to talk about something and you had a problem with that and that is something that should have been
discussed because it's been talked about several times in this board that the of an idea that you're pursuing and I would like and and not Well, it's not in the budget right now. Well, actually actually I asked the question is it is
kind of in the budget. No, it isn't because it hasn't been formulated yet. All right. With that said, there we have putting $6 million aside that we would traditionally, again, I'm very happy we're doing it that we're actually putting money aside to instead of borrowing our normal so much money
every year, we borrow uh to to buy trucks or computers or whatever that that money is put aside. And I was told that that was where the money is being put aside for Well, he told us. I was I was told. I want to know who told you. No, I'm not going to tell you
because the bottom line was director and I don't even know about that. Well, the money was put aside and and I'm not going to say that in public. Well, I will. It has to do with transportation. Okay. But the thing is no money was put aside transportation. None. Zero. Do you
know what that means? Zero. Okay. If you want to make what? Makes up. I'm not making something up. I asked the question why people want to stay interested for the transportation. All right. So none of that money is going to go to that transportation. As far as I know, there's nothing. All right. That's fair
enough then. All right. But I also want to express to I would like another commissioner to be We'll talk about that next year. All right. Well, because our budget is done. I know that you're going to start fooling the budget for next year. We should at least have a a three. We didn't even start yet. Are you going
to start looking at the budget next year? We haven't talked about it yet. Okay. Well, maybe it should have been done back further that if I known that we have a balanced budget. No, you have 5 cent. That's why I voted. That's why I voted for it. That doesn't justify not
having you talk to the CFO. I did talk to the CFO. You were able to input anything you wanted. That's not incorrect. I was looking at a budget was already done and you could have changed or asked to change anything. I I told you what I saw that was problem. I asked you to have a discussion about it and
you had a hemorrhage about it. I did not. All right. Anyway, so we can consider that for next year. Director I think that the point is that Commissioner Albert thinks there should be three people on. I think that's a valid we can discuss.
Anything else? Let's move on. Commissioner Alino. Yes. Commissioner Aubre. Yes. Commissioner Romero. Yes. Commissioner Lo. Yes. Commissioner Taylor. Yes. Deputy Director Marshan. Yes. Director. Yes.
Do I have a motion and second to open public comment on resolutions only? Make the motion to open public comment on resolutions only. Second. All in favor? I. If anybody would like to step forward and talk about any of the resolutions,
resolutions only, please come forward and state your name and where you're located from. Seeing none, motion to close. Second. Good afternoon. This is Richfield. Take it back. We had a technical delay.
Go ahead, Mr. Sorry about that. I'd like to go back to the last meeting with Resolution 2025351 is a resolution amending resolution 1424
168 awarding a contract for providing little mile grant program engineering services for the counties of Cumberland and S toend it for one month.
And I believe it was stated at the last meeting that this is no money involved. It's just cleaning up your act cost. It cost 3 million
over $3 million for this engineering. 3 million $526,000. I want to know what did we get for that money? What engineering services where were they working? How far has this broadband
come along in the county of Cumberland and Salem? Where does it stand at at this point in time? Has Salem been paying their fair share? These are some important questions.
Where is broadband? That we have two resolutions tonight about broadband. Thank you. Anybody else like to come forward? Seeing none motion to close. Second. All
in favor? I would you like to take to speak? Okay. Our VA will speak about that. Thank you, Kevin. Um, basically the number the number that's been expended to this point paid out is roughly 2 million. Am
I correct in that range? Yes, it's roughly 2 million, not three plus million. Um, we have been reimbursed well over somewhere in the range of a little over one and a half million. So we 70 70%.
uh of which our responsibility is 18% and Salem's is 12%. So roughly we're we're under 500,000 at this point. Still waiting for some bills to get cleared up. Um at that point the engineering up
to and including the um the environmental has been complete. the drawing of the lines, the the the locations for where they anticipate the broadband to be fed throughout the county to serve our
taxpayers, our communities. That has been completed. There are no shuttles that have hit the ground. This is purely engineering expense to this point. There is no construction that has has taken place because we are not in the construction phase.
Um, at this point, Salem, I think, is all but right right up to the edge, maybe a few thousand dollars. Just a few invoices out, a few invoices outstanding of their portion. We outlay the funds and then we get reim reimbursed back
from NTIA, the federal federal um federal agency who manages manages this process. So, we get refunded from them the 70% from the grant and we get paid back 12% of the total expenditures from sale and they're all but just about
even. Um, at this point we're under $500,000 of expenditures for the camp at this at this moment. Okay. Uh there is no um at this point we without without having a a a contractor that has has
replied to the RFP we are at a standstill in that respect for construction. There's no construction and we are not we're not expending any more money until we know where we're going to go from here. director if I could add the uh actually because I asked questions about it. It's that we
by doing this this extra month gives us an opportunity to finish up all those numbers to actually get the the results of what they produce. Right. We have we have all the copies. We have all the drawings. Um we have all the planning that's been done by the engineer to this
point. The only thing we're really waiting for, they have they've requested change orders to the tune of $243,000 for environmental work that they claim was not involved in the original contract that we we questioned. And then there's also some what they call chew up
dollars which are basically things that they claim will make us whole on the contract which we um so hence that's why you need the extra it's only it's only right it's only fair that we that we allow them to
to to maintain their position for another 30 days. We don't you know if if they can prove that or if they can state that unequivocally they have done work that we owe them for. Once again approved work is once again unapproved
work and a change order does not qualify for a repayment. It's that's our that's this county position and that will always be our position. Um at this point that's where we're at. As of this point also, there were a lot
of mistakes made to get to the figure where you're at with that change order in the first place. Yes. So, there's still questions on that change order. Exactly. So, as things go by, we've been finding
situations that weren't according to the way they were written down. Correct. Okay. Well, Mr. Man, I appreciate you taking the time and doing the due diligence on the county's behalf to make sure that all of those numbers were checked off properly and that everything was being done that we were
being build for. Thank you. Continue. Do I have a motion and second to vote by consent consent agenda on resolutions 2025-33325-361? Do you have to pull the one? No. No. No. It was a different one and that was that
was already Yes. Okay. Just wanted to make sure to make the motion to vote on the consent agenda. Second. Commissioner Alino, yes. Commissioner Alrech, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Lo, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Marshon,
yes. Director Sorrow, yes. Do I have a motion and second to adopt resolutions 2025-33 through 2025-361 by consent? So moved. Second. Commissioner Ostino, yes. Commissioner Alrech, yes. Commissioner Commissioner
Romero, yes. Commissioner Lo, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Marshan, yes. Director Sar, yes. Resolution 2025-362, resolution authorizing a subgrant agreement with the Cumberland County Improvement Authority Clean Communities Program. Do I have a motion and second?
So moved. Second. Commissioner Alino. Yes. Commissioner Alrech, did we make the changes? Yes, that's a good question. Did we make the changes? The idea was to actually ask the county to be not uh recognized that it's a pastor. Do we
make I guess John to include the county's logo on promotion associated with this program? It's not just the uh CCIA, but it's also the the come county board was requested at the last board session. Were you able to talk with the
authority about that? They are working on it. They're working on it. We don't have the exact final decision because they do fund that themselves. Well, what what do you mean fund? This program is funded to No, I'm talking about any of those promotional
materials. Oh, but don't come out of this. Most of it. Well, this the ones that come out. Well, then if that's the case, then I'd say it's Yeah, I would agree. Okay. Um, so we can have a
Well, we need an answer. On something you don't have an answer. It's It's done all the time to different or wherever the money comes from and it's being passed to by us. Sure. So, and it's not Well, the only thing I can
adhere to is that is not all grant money that you're allowed to advertise or promote. example uh the board of with the um I'm trying to think was with mental health drug and alcohol I had asked the
question well how come we are not promoting our programs I said how come we're not paying for promotional literature and I remember at the time it was Madio she was in charge she said well the grant doesn't allow us to do it
so if they turn around and say okay well the grant's not allowing it uh that we would have to pay for it. And I would say even though it's going through us, if we wanted to go in together, then that would not be an unreasonable and we
certainly recognize that as well. So what the uh what Kevin's going to have to do is talk to them and see where we stand on that. Is is the grant money allowable? Are you allowed to use the grant money to promote the issu the program? If it is, then we want to be
on. If it isn't, then I think it would behoove us to see if we can be part of the uh the uh promotional program, then we might have to take in some of our own money. Well, it's actually I it's been asked before previous commissioners in a
roundabout way that this money and it's not a pass. It's not I understand what you're saying. There are ones, but this is different. This comes from tax from a litter tax money that's put on businesses. So there's no reason and it comes to the county, not to the not to the CCI. So I would think we got the
right, but the director's right. Let's get their opinion. Uh but the bottom line is that they promote themselves through this and it should only be fair if we have our logo somewhere in there. So I think we need a vote to table. Wait a minute. I need So I need to resend my motion. Yes.
Now I need a motion to table. Correct. I'll make the motion. Second. All in favor? I uh roll call. No, you table. You're good. Okay, you can do
a roll call. No, no, I just wanted to make sure that because it's a resolution table. Okay, very good. Resolution 2025-363 resolution awarding a contract for providing out of school youth industry focused training and internship program services in Cumberland County. Do I have
a motion and second? I make a motion. Second. Commissioner Ostino, yes. Commissioner Albreight, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Lodes, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Maran, yes. Director Sorrow, yes. Resolution 2025-364, resolution awarding a contract for
providing virtual realy reality career exploration simulations. Do I have a motion and second? So move. Second. Commissioner Ostino, yes. Commissioner Albert, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Loads. Yes. Commissioner
Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Marshon, yes. Director Sorrow, yes. Resolution 2025-365, resolution awarding a contract for providing onetop career services, WA, Title 1-B, adult dislocated worker in need services for the county of Salem.
Do I have a motion and second? So moved. Second. Commissioner Alino. Yes. Commissioner Alrech, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Lou, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Marshan, yes. Director Sorrow. Yes. Resolution 2025-366. Resolution awarding contract for
replacement of structure 06 HO-001 Fryberg Road. Do I have a Fryberg Road? Do I have a motion? A second. Freezeburg Road. Yep. Motion. Second. Sorry. Do I have Commissioner Alino? Yes. Commissioner Alrech? Yes. Commissioner
Romero? Yes. Commissioner Loads? Yes. Commissioner Taylor? Yes. Deputy Director Marshon? Yes. Director Sorrow? Yes. Resolution 2025-367 resolution awarding contract for specifications for 2024 road program city of Milville Cumberland County New Jersey bid number 25-13 resubmission. Do
I have a motion and second? I made a motion. Second, director before is there any rule that that um different entities have to state uh I know they have a lot of things they have to put in the contract but actually if they're related
to any other entity bidding on a project. There's a reason why I say that that a lot of these are being consolidated and they're actually bidding against themselves. So in other words, we're we're losing because uh an entity might have we might be four biders, but they're four biders all
related to each other somewhat. Is there any requirement that they state I don't know if Dave Doody's not here state that uh that they are that that they they are for lack of a better term related to another business that's bidding in other
words and not to say it in a certain way but that they actually rig that's a terrible word but actually manipulate the because they're related to the other biders is is there any rule like that I don't know so so it's a bad lower rate
just that there's no competition. Maybe that's a better word. They have to pursue the state law drill down their ownership, right? That being said, there is no rule that disperate or related entities can't all bid on a public
opportunity. So by putting it out to the public, the aspiration of the legislature is that there will be enough competition so it doesn't matter if there's related entities. However, if there was confusion or collusion, it would be actionable and that's something
of course the state looks for. Can can this body adopt the rules asking to to go to war in depth to to figure out if there I can provide you the information that the state demands as to ownership and I can tell you it is it is
excruciating and I can tell you that of the percentage of rebids that were forced to do or people that we found to be non-responsive is primarily because of this state requirement because it's so uh exhaustive. So, I can show you that and I can tell
you when you see it, you would be impressed to the extent that I'm not sure you want to go further and make it harder for people to compete to do business with the county. But I'll give it to you and then we can talk about it. The director, why the reason why I'm asking the question is because just just
by talking to different people that there are companies that are being purchased and consolidated, especially in this particular not not to say anything's wrong with this one, there's not nothing. It's just that that there's a lot of consolidation and and uh
sometimes uh when you have consolidation you don't have there's a limit on competition. Um so that's why I asked the question. So all right thanks Mr. Clara. Commissioner Ostina. Yes. Commissioner Alrech. Yes. Commissioner Romero. Yes.
Commissioner Lo. Yes. Commissioner Taylor. Yes. Deputy director Maran. Yes. Director Soro. Yes. Resolution 2025-368. Resolution approving budget amendment highway safety improvement program additional $31,234.56. Do I have a motion and second?
Second. Commissioner Oino, yes. Commissioner Aubrey, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Lodess, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Marsh, yes. Director Sorrow, yes. Resolution 2025-369 resolution approving budget amendment
local recreational improvement grant Potter's Tavern Pocket Park bridge $84,000. Do I have a motion and second? So move second. Commissioner Austinino. Yes. Commissioner, I have a question on this. The the um the pocket park which is a recreational grant being used for.
Is this going to have any is it going to be is this going to be open longer? Is this going to be this improvement? Is it going to be to the public? because I can help with that. No, Matt's there. Matt's there. Oh, good.
County Planner. Um, so this money is being used for the engineering and architectural and landscaping work that needs to be done to determine how to make repairs to that failing retaining wall that's in the pocket park. and and
recreational approval grant was the only grant that's I mean the possibilities I mean it it was the obvious it was the obvious choice to seek funding that way through a retaining wall like the well because it is a public park um and at
the same time that the design of that park is not currently accessible um for wheelchairs so the work is also going to look at building accessibility Matt, the retaining wall is failing a little bit further down the road as well. Is that included in this or so?
This is only for that parcel that the pocket park is located on. So So this is going to have a wheel wheelchair access. And is there any other recreational parts this explain to them the size of the park?
Well, it it's it's a very small park. It's a maybe a quarter of an acre. Um and uh the intent is that this round of funding provides the cost for the design, the engineering, the
landscaping, the concept work, the public outreach. Um and then the intent is that that will come up with specifications which can then be applied for the f a future round of funding through the same grant. But th this initial work has to get done
because there are a lot of issues with that park and and he said it's the obvious choice because this is a pocket this part of tavern is a pocket park not historic structure. We reached out to the New Jersey Historic Trust and because it's not
directly attached to Potter's Tavern itself they were concerned that that their funding would not qualify. is in the vision of this park. Is it similar to what we've just dedicated that or a little different? I see you said wheelchair accessibility, but is there
other things that's going to make it? So, the intent is to come up with a design that is, you know, that'll look at if we can put interpretive signage in there, if we can um promote the history of Potter's Tavern within the park space. It's supposed to pro the intent
is to provide conceptual design for what could happen in that park. Okay. Yep. Thank you. Commissioner Ostino, yes. Commissioner Albreight, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Loads, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy
Director Marshon, yes. Director S. Resolution 2025-370, resolution approving budget amendment, Workforce New Jersey grant, $25,000. Do I have a motion and second? So move. Second. Commissioner Alstino, yes. Commissioner Alrech, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes.
Commissioner Less, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Marshon, yes. Director Sorrow, yes. Resolution 2025-371, resolution approving budget amendment SFY 2025, alternative responses to reduce instances of violence and
escalation together critical incident model grant program, $49,9248. Do I have a motion and second? I'll make a motion. Second. Commissioner Alsino, yes. Commissioner Alrech, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Lo, yes. Commissioner
Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Marshon, yes. Director Sorrow, yes. Resolution 2025-372, resolution approving budget amendment, New Jersey County Prosecutors Insurance Fraud Reimbursement Program, $145,781.70. Do I have a motion and second? So,
second. Commissioner Alsino, yes. Commissioner Alrech, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Yes. Commissioner Loads. Yes. Commissioner Taylor. Yes. Deputy Director Marshon. Yes. Director Sorrow. Yes. Resolution 2025-373. Resolution approving budget amendment children system of care CSOC/CIA
CC program $39,455. Do I have a motion and second? Motion. Second. Commissioner Ostino. Yes. Commissioner Albrech. Yes. Commissioner Romero. Yes. Commissioner Lodess. Yes. Commissioner Taylor. Yes. Deputy Director Maran. Yes. Director Sara. Yes. Resolution 2025-374,
resolution approving budget amendment and change in title and text 2025 retired and senior volunteer program $75,000. Do I have a motion and second? Second. Commissioner Ostino, yes. Commissioner Alrech, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Lo, yes. Commissioner
Taylor, Deputy Director Marshon, Director Sorrow, yes. Resolution 2025-375. Resolution appro approving budget amendment community peer recovery center 63,514 additional. Do I have a motion in second? Motion. Second.
Commissioner Astino. Yes. Commissioner Alrech. Yes. Commissioner Romero. Yes. Commissioner Lodes. Yes. Commissioner Taylor. Yes. Deputy Director Marshon. Yes. Director Sar. Yes. Resolution 2025-376. Resolution approving budget amendment clean communities grant fiscal year 2025
$239,8389. Do I have a motion and second? Motion second. Does that have to be table? Is this the plan? Yeah. Yeah. But is this one part of the same
dispersement of money? doesn't taste that budget amendment part of that grant that we table earlier just 362 376 376 this is accepting the money
that's what I thought this we're accepting the money to us Is the other one approving it? This one's accepting it. That's going to the So, this is for us. Okay. So, we can still accept it. They made a motion question. We're taking the money. Second. Accept
it. Second. Oh, I'm sorry. There's already a second. Okay. Commissioner Alino, yes. Commissioner Alrech, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Lo, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Baron, yes. Director Sorrow. Yes. Resolution
2025-377, resolution authorizing purchases from New Jersey state contract vendor for ArcGIS software maintenance annual renewal for planning department and county engineers office. Do I have a motion and second? So moved. Is that
Commissioner Oino? Yes. Commissioner Alrech. Yes. Commissioner Romero. Yes. Commissioner Les, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Maran, yes. Director Sar, yes. Resolution 2025-378, resolution amending resolution 2024-732 entitled resolution authorizing
application to and acceptance of fiscal year 23 justice assistance grant program from the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety Office of the Attorney General for the County Prosecutor's Office. Do I have a motion and second? Some move. Second. Commissioner Ostino, yes. Commissioner Alrech, yes.
Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Less, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Maran, yes. Yes. Resolution 2025-379, resolution authorizing application for renewal of the child protection and permanency grant program contract number 26 SF0170.
Do I have a motion and second? Motion. Second. Commissioner Alstino, yes. Commissioner Alrech, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Lo, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Maran, Director Sara, yes. Resolution 2025-380, resolution
approving budget amendment SFY26, child protection and permanency guarant grant program 321,000. Do I have a motion and second? So move. Second. Commissioner Ostino, yes. Commissioner Alrech, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Lo, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy
Director Marshon, yes. Director Sorrow, yes. Resolution 2025-381. Resolution approving budget amendment 2026 blind and visually impaired 20 $27,145. Do I have a motion and second? So moved.
Second. Commissioner Ostino, yes. Commissioner Alrech, yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Loads, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Marshon, yes. Director Sorrow, yes. Resolution 2025-382, resolution appointing Don Bowen as
interim emergency management. Do I have a motion? Second. So moved. Second. Second. Commissioner Osino. Yes. Commissioner Alrech. Yes. Commissioner Romero. Yes. Commissioner Loads. Yes. Commissioner Taylor. Yes. Deputy Director Marshon. Yes. Director Sorrow. Yes. Resolution
2025-383. Resolution authorizing purchase of Liam Connect system for the Cumberland County Department of Corrections. Do I have a motion and second? So moved. Second. Commissioner Oino? Yes. Commissioner Alrech? Yes. Commissioner Romero? Yes. Commissioner Loads? My vote is yes. And
I I just want to commend um the jail and human services. I know they were using part of their grant to get this. Um and the system, just in case anyone doesn't understand, scans in all of the mail that the inmates are sending out and receiving. Um and this is really just uh for the protection of our COS um and and
those who are sending and receiving the mail, anyone who's handling it in case there's any substances or anything like that on there. But um our the residents can still share their messages, they can still communicate. Um but this does ensure everybody's safety. I think this is a really good investment of funds
that we were receiving. So, yes, Commissioner Taylor. Yes. Deputy Director Maran. Yes. Director Sar. Yes. Resolution 2025-384, resolution authorizing the award of a non-fair and open contract for providing professional legal services to the Cumberland County regarding PFAS
contamination claims on behalf of the Cumberland County Fire Academy. Do I have a motion? I'll make the motion. Second. Commissioner Alino. Yes. Commissioner. Yes. Commissioner Romero, yes. Commissioner Lo, yes. Commissioner Taylor, yes. Deputy Director Marshan, yes. Director Sorrows, yes. Resolution
2025-385, resolution rejecting all proposal proceeds for providing life and accidental death and disability insurance for the county of Cumberland RFP number 25-21 resubmission and authorizing the revertising for proposals. Do I have a motion and second? So moved. Second. Second.
Commissioner Ostino. Yes. Commissioner Alre. Yes. Commissioner Romero. Yes. Commissioner Less. Yes. Commissioner Taylor. Yes. Deputy Director Maran. Yes. Director Sara. Yes. Do I have a motion and second to accept treasures report as as stated? Have a motion to accept
treasures report? Second. All in favor? Do I have a motion and second for authorizing payment of all salaries and wages? I'll make the motion. Second. All in favor? I. Do I have a motion and second to open public comment on new business items only? Mr. Director, I
make the motion to open public comment on new items only. Second. All in favor? I anyone that wish to address the board on new items only step forward give name and location.
Good evening. This is Nancy Rich again from Deerfield Township. I would like to know the answers that Sandy asked questions on the budget. I don't understand how sending her an email
complies with open public meetings. And was there a list of the names of employees that got a second? Thank you. I'm sorry, Miss Bray. What was the last part of your question? Oh, siphon.
Okay. Yes, ma'am. Hi, my name is Sharon Shapini. I'm in Fairfield Township. Um, I'm here on behalf of learning the news that the satellite library um was
um I get really nervous. Sorry. Um anyway, Mars Township there was going to be a satellite library with services out there and that that grant was stopped and my husband contacted Mr. Maniato.
Okay. because I am a member of the friends of Cumberland County Library and we do a lot of work to raise funds to benefit our library and we're very passionate about it and so my husband and I well
he's a member of the friends group also but um this was so needed we were here on behalf before of this project and the rumor mill was just that all of you
really dropped the ball. So, we're not ones not to reach out and try to find out what the truth is. So, my husband did have conversations with um Mr. Samiato who did address a lot of our concerns and so I wanted to thank you
for that. I understand Mr. Carr probably also had some input as well and and I appreciate that. My question is, are there any chances of resurrecting that? Because that is so needed out there. They're so far out there from
services and I sure you all know this, but a library is not just about books anymore. It really is a resource. It's a safe public space and I appreciate that. when I'm in the library as a volunteer and the people I meet and the the
children um we do a free book program and I meet grandmothers who are like wow I can get this book for my grandchild I couldn't buy a book you know so my heart is very dear to the library it means a
lot to me so I just know that we need outreaches all over the county but particularly Mars River Township So, for whatever happened, I hope you'll consider maybe finding funds or there other grants, but it's such a worthwhile
project that I really hated to see um disappear. Thank you, Mr. Director. United State. I I I I appreciate you coming on over here because I believe that library and it's a library in name because it's a very
broad uh building would have done a lot especially for the literacy attack the illiteracy and uh in that area commercial and more retention which there was no libraries at uh school libraries are not there is none really. So it would have really went after that
problem, but it was not just the library. It was also supposed to be a kind of a kickstart to the economic development. So uh and the more township and commercial township we're really looking forward to having that facility there. I'll just say one thing and I'll about it's the first time of all as long
as I've been in government that I've ever had a grant taken back from us a year before it was it was over a year. Maybe maybe weren't perfect, but we usually got the job done a year. So I I
put we I'll say Mr. that he went to back for this the state to say we we'll get it done. We'll make it happen. Just you know uh and they still wouldn't give at all. So, so yeah, if you want to throw blade to us a little, fine. But but the
state what they did was not was was very questionable what they did. So, I'll say that. So, we appreciate you coming in. I I like Dr. Commissioner Alrech's words as well, but um there were a lot of grants. There was a lot of money that was pulled back from the state. Um I
think they were seeing a lot of budget shortfalls with this administration. So hopefully in the new administration we can revisit this um and begin to advocate to bring that here. I'm an educator. I'm a 12-year English teacher here in Cumberland County. I've been in Vinland, Milville, and Bridton. And so very much understand the need um for not
only that as a community center, but certainly as a place for literacy and programs and um to bring your kids. I always brought my kids to the Cumberland County Library, the Vinland Library, the Millville Library when they were growing up. And it is a fantastic resource, certainly needed in that area. Um, this was something that was completely out of
our hands and was pulled back by the state of New Jersey and the governor. So, we're hoping that under a new administration, perhaps we can revisit this. Thank you so much for coming out and your continued advocacy. Yes, ma'am. Shashana Osavski, Fairfield Township. I just want to say I'm out
here because I also support our libraries. That's it. Thank you. Thank you, Shash. Sandy Asivito, Upper Deerfield Township. Um, I'm lost. I didn't realize that we lost that that grant for for the library
and and can we I know that we've lost some other like the NAB Road extension and and those types of projects. Uh can we differentiate between whether the state uh cut the grant or whether
it came down from the federal level to have the grant cut? I would please let's do that because the NAB Avenue was not a grant that was received. That was a proposed idea that we were searching for funding for. Correct. There was earmark money set aside but that was pulled out of the out of the budget but there is
talk of putting resurrected hopefully not. Right. And I guess I'm just curious whether that was we're beginning to advocate for that. That was money that was earmarked in the state budget to do projects like that. Federal, I'm sorry, federal budget. I apologize. To do I'm still on the live to do projects like
that. Um and we were advocating to see if that was a good fit for that program. Um and we're going to continue. The congressman and the senator both. We do have the state and federal uh positions right now advocating for that as well. Okay. So, but do we know whether it was
actually federal money that went to the state through the state to us? No, for the library. For the library was state a state grant. A state grant. Thank you. [Music]
Anyone else like to come forward? Seeing none, motion to close. Motion to close. Second. All in favor? I. Commissioner reports Commissioner Romero would like well I was gone for a few weeks and uh
uh to get some doctor work done uh but um I attended the uh board of health meeting and everything is going well with them. They have a few questions they would like to ask Mr. heart on the uh budget and I'm going to ask you if
you could come to a meeting with me because they want to exercise some of that. uh also attended the board of uh elections and uh they had issues with the uh pole workers being paid and it
turned out that that is it's coming to a due date and it turns out that we just got this a letter a few days ago to tell us what to you know what what that that we were coming down to a deadline. So we
will try to fix this with the election because uh you know we didn't know about this in two days two days ago. So other than that it's been a pretty smooth uh month for me. I mean Peru was nice but
but uh you know everything is going well. Oh, by the way, we do have the Puerto Rican break coming on uh and we're working on that coming next month and uh invite everybody to be there. We're going to have a on the flag
raising on the 20th. I hear uh we have we're going to have people like if you want to meet them like uh uh Jackson is coming. The uh he's a person that is opposed to him is is also from the Democrat party is coming uh there.
They're going to be it's going to be open for the public and uh which you guys will come along on the 20th and uh 1:00 at the uh Vineman uh city hall and uh we're going to have the flag racing there. Then on the 30 on the 30th we're
going to have the parade. So I invite everybody to be there and take part. 27th 27th I'm sorry. Commissioner T. I just um just want to say I'm very pleased that Dolan Balon is going to be
our in emergency management person. I know she'll do a fantastic job. Chris Hart, thank you for all you did with the budget and I know you'll um get those questions answered very quickly. The the library, I just I thank you for coming
out and speaking so passionately. And I I do want to say, you know, recently if you uh watch television that they're using the libraries now as cooling centers. So you're correct. There's so much more than just the library. And I want to wish everyone a safe and a
health happy healthy 4th of July. Thank you, deputy director. So I keep seeing all these pictures on social media with graduation. So I got to uh congratulate all the graduates. I think all the high schools, I think CCT is
graduating tonight. So, congratulations to all those graduates and I know the other high schools I think have already had their graduations. The only event I want to talk about right now was two actually. You just reminded me one Sandy. So, last year we went to an event over at Potter Tavern where they did a
reading um that was great. So, anyone who's interested in Fourth of July, I don't remember the time. I'm going to say it was noon or 1:00, but it was a nice event last year. And then secondly, we have the county fair coming up. Uh July 9th opening ceremonies start at 5:00. I do that every year. I hope to
see everybody. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. Uh thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Sorrow. Um yes, I do want to thank our our visitors here in support of the library. Um again, I said I'm a 12-year veteran teacher here in
Cumberland County. Um and teaching, you know, some of our most vulnerable students here in the county. And it is incredibly important to give them every kind of scaffolding and support that they can have because a lot of times they don't have that support at home or we have English as a second language. Um
I I don't have to tell you if you're here in support of this but there they need more than just the classroom. They need more than just the school library. They need they need tutoring. They need a lot of there there has to be repeat support systems that are offered to our community. And it goes far beyond that.
I know recently um Vinand Library actually opened up a virtual reality center. So it definitely goes far beyond just um the days of books. I will say that uh yes, we do have our Puerto Rican uh parade coming up and festival in Vinland, but we also do this year um
we're celebrating our first uh countywide Puerto Rican festival at the county fairgrounds. So we're looking forward to that. I believe it's the first week of August. More dates on that to come at the next meeting. Um I am the liazison for the RCSJ committee. Uh we
did this month swear in a new board of trustee members uh member for the u from Cumberland County for RCSJ. Uh and it was also um Dr. Keing's final meeting. We have a new president coming in. Um but before he left in his final meeting, he did present the budget for the
upcoming year and sort of a little year in review about what's been going on at the RCSJ Cumberland campus. Um, so since the the merger has happened, they really have tackled this area with a regional approach, which does matter. I mean, we we are vastly different. We always say
it, South Jersey is vastly different from North Jersey. Uh, one town, one area really does rely on the other for the success of the whole region as a whole. Uh, RCSJ Cumberland has been doing that through that regional approach. Um, through making
partnerships like the Rowan Virtual Health Partnership. We do now have virtual health on the Cumberland campus as well. We have millions of dollars in scholarships going to Cumberland County students. We've had RCSJ has maintained keeping a very low tuition that
supplements those um those grants and those scholarships for our students. And right now we have um we've increased access by about 30% that targets um some of the highest poverty zip codes in the state of New Jersey. Actually, I take that back in this in the entire country.
uh we have some of the highest poverty zip codes right here in Cumberland County in the entire country and we are we've increased access to those students by 30% through this uh through the work of our CSJ in their budget. Uh right now they have made an increased investment in CTE career technical education
programs. Uh certainly with the um the addition of the manufacturing building which came from a state grant as well. Uh we're going to be able to increase I think a little over a hundred seats at CCT in several different programs. Uh so we can serve more people. And that also
that building I want to be very clear is a partnership as well with workforce and with our CSJ. So it doesn't just service our high school students, it's servicing PE adults who are returning for education for career ready jobs and it's also servicing our college students who
are looking for the technical um education aspect. So through all of this and their expanded investment in CTE programs, RCSJ right now is anticipating uh that they'll generate about $61.6 6 million in additional impact um to drive
long-term outcomes right here in Cumberland County by the year 2029. So, we're really excited to see where that goes. Um and yes, I have to say, Commissioner Marshon, I I'm a high school teacher here, right? So, graduation is my thing. Um and last
night I was uh at Milville's graduation, but tonight does mark the last graduation in Cumberland County. So, now Bridton, Vinland, Milville, and CCT are all officially graduated. So be safe out there on the roads and um we wish them all the luck in their future endeavors.
Victoria are rowing uh it's a county in college and is on the top five rank in the in the country. So I want you guys to be aware that we are doing a great job just because my my son is one of the top guys
but uh but uh and he's in their promotional materials. He's in his materials today. So, but uh we have a good program going and we will support our kids and you know thank you for everybody that backs us up on this.
Thank you, Commissioner Aubra. Yeah, just we had a couple things happened. Uh first off, our pocket park that's over at Gile Street uh the was we cut a ribbon and when we cut a ribbon there must probably been a hundred people there playing on everything. and the
kids kicking the soccer balls. We're trying to to just put stuff in the fence. It was really a nice event and actually I was the best thing was them playing that was being used and it it seemed like that they wasn't the first time they've been there to play. So, uh
that was a good opener for us. But then the fairgrounds was a feature. We we attracted the uh the Indian tribes for the Powow back to Cumberland County for the first time in many many years. uh and uh a perfect event. Places left
perfect. It was it was it was did a great job. Plenty of people came out. It was it was the it was really done well and and it reflects that we invested a lot in the fairgrounds right after that. Yeah. And then the next one was the was the was the kite festival which again uh
during a rainy day it was packed. Uh it seemed like everybody came out and the best thing to me was the kids running around and uh spraying in the rain. So it was really it highlighted that this is just a great place to do something and they all kept saying how much they
enjoyed that facility. They said it over and over again. So thank you to public works. It met all their needs and and and hopefully it'll grow from there. So, um, I also got a chance to cut a ribbon down in the the Beayshore Center. Uh, Al
Yubert was recognized, a guy volunteered, I guess, 30 years ago for, uh, helping to get the Beayshore uh, uh, the baseore center established with Megan Ren when there wasn't even a building. But, it's pulled, if anyone's
been down there, it's actually pulled our our history together. and uh Albert they uh the family was there which was nice and it was uh during second Friday so there was a lot of people there and it just was a a a nice event and and it
just highlights it just highlighted the county what the special unique thing we have in a nook that you don't really search but you go to and you have a good time so and and the band was playing in the background was good so um I um I
have to pretty much my handwritten here. So, uh I'm going to interpret your Yeah, thanks. The the library I'm glad they're here. The county library right now is is uh been uh been I've served on as leison on for a while on that board. Uh right
now we're in in a transition period that I think we we're going to come out as good. We have good people, good board. Always thought it was a real positive uh experience, but we've done a lot with the library. That's why the friends group started because we've come a long
way. So, I'm really pleased to be part you're part of it and and that will grow. So, and and we're we're going to pursue every avenue we can with different things and you you know the the satellite with the vision was to just like Gloucester County has a
library system. Somehow maybe that's where we would like to get to in Cumbland County because we it would it just makes our numbers better. gives the kids again a chance to walk to somewhere to be to get the the ed library they may not have there which they know in that
area. Um uh they have you talk about the the festival coming up. I think it starts on it's actually July 6th, isn't it? The Wednesday, the Caribbean cutting. Well, when you go there in the fairgrounds, I didn't mention that we have a new
archway that really introduced itself as a couple of county fairgrounds. is actually pretty neat and I congratulate Matt and Melissa Hample and uh that really and whoever else in the department that got it going because it really is a nice um it's just a nice
presentation when you walk into place just it just highlights everything else been done and there will be more done in the future. Um, so I and a last thing is that I I have a radio program that I uh lately been harpen the homeless uh issue
we've been talking about all all month so far. And uh just and I say this to director and this board, one of the major problems of home is not is the working poor. When I say working poor, they actually have a job and they're living in their car. Uh I actually did a
lot of phone calls trying to figure out what we can what can be done and and uh and bumped into the city of their council people are actually doing a lot of stuff with the homeless uh uh bringing a lot of resource to bear. some
harsh stuff, but harsh in the sense that you you got to you got to either get help and they're willing to all resource the county resources being brought to bear any resource possible getting these to to uh getting them help addiction help or just helping them attract
resources. The city of Ireland has got a a program which I'm very pleased that they're doing, but that brought up some people calling that said, "What about us?" And so I I would hopefully in the future and I'm not being very specific
but a couple ideas that to um and I credit Melissa Niles to come up with an idea of u and she says it's the golden girl syndrome that people pulling the resources together to live to survive
but that takes some action from government to allow because it's different and it's it's different than um than just having family live together. And but maybe in the future we're going to see that it also shows in
that study that was done that people are healthier when they actually are socializing with people than sitting in their own house or wherever they are by themselves. So, I kind of think that maybe this is something and I attack every one of you to come maybe we can
have some ideas to figure out how we could I'm I'm not all for government solving the problem. We could work with private industry to help pull it together, but they may need help on the rules and regulation to allow something to happen the traditional boarding house
or this experiment of bringing people together to share expenses. So, um, so I'd throw that out to you. So, thanks, Commissioner Austin. I'd like to take this time to again congratulate you in your new position. I've worked with you
in the past. I know you do a great job. I've seen it. You're very competent at it, and we're in good hands. Also, recently, I attended the CCT Tech scholarship program. I uh I sponsor a scholarship every year
because I believe it's a good investment in our community and our kids. And it's great to see the various career paths that these young people are taking and the amazing colleges and universities that they're going to be attending. So
it's a great school and uh great for our community. Thank you. Thank you. Um what I'd like to do one quick question note if I might um I I would I think would be a good recommendation if if there's items that that Masabino
requested that we weren't able to answer that we could get posted on the website on the county website so everybody can see we would appreciate that. We want everyone to be able to hear the response to that. Have a success. That's a good idea. It's I think it'll be and it'll be
open to the public. Exactly. So not one person knows about it. So it' be very good. So you work on that Chris. So I guess that's announcers, right? Yes. Uh, one, I'd like to thank
uh our administration, uh, our department heads, constitutional officers, our prosecutor, uh, for all the help that they put into uh, making this budget work. And I mean
that sincerely. There was a lot of uh conversations between all those individuals, especially with our CFO and the department heads and our VA Kevin. Um we really appreciate the help you've
given us. Uh this would not have been able to happen without your help and I mean that sincerely. Okay. And um this was an interesting year in order to make this budget work. and it worked. So, we
appreciate that. Uh the other u Oh, did you want to speak? I I apologize. There was normally there's a department head that we had that begin. I I didn't speak on the if you don't mind. Step forward. It's
not It's good news. Okay. Not step forward. Well, then definitely step forward. Step widely. In fact, in the from the jail that Chuck Albino, director for uh Ko County Department of
Corrections. Uh, first I'd like to thank um BA Smiato and the board for agreeing to um add uh resolution 383 that uh Commissioner Lois, thank you for your
kind words on that. Um that was a a really consolidated but effort that involved the BA backing me on it. What happened was we the DHS had given us a grant for MAT services. It due to an an
administrative oversight on their end. It never went through my office. In the beginning of this year, I became aware of the fact that I I didn't feel we were utilizing all the resources that were available. And we got working with DHS and through their cooperation, the support of the administration, we were
able to um DHS allowed us to amend our budget allocation. Just just let people know acronyms. Okay. Playing with uh Department of Health and Human Services and it was actually under addictive services. MAT for those that don't
aren't as familiar. MAT are the medications that we give to people with addiction problems. Um, methadone, you've probably heard of, suboxin is another medication. Um, it's a grant that comes from the state that assist us in providing those services to our
incarcerated population. Thank you for those and doing it on site, which is a big on site for sure. So, they don't have to be transported anywhere, which is well, they do, but that's that's a separate issue. I I'll tell you some of what we were able So, one of the things that we're able to accomplish and I and while you
pointed out the health benefits for our staff, the the main benefit is preventing drugs from being smuggled into the facility. I don't want to get into all the capabilities it gives us, but trust us, it gives us an opportunity be a being able to acquire this device.
This Liam will enable us to plug a major uh very difficult hole to plug in terms of blocking drugs, which and again just furthers to uh fuel their addiction. So, but in addition to that, some things that flow flew below your radar relative to the grant that I wanted to bring to
your attention. In addition to the money that we were able to secure for that, we we were able to secure about $7,000 of additional equipment for MAT classroom um TVs, films, and things that were needed. Um we're going to uh also
acquire an additional MAT drug. It's it's um called Sublicate. And what it is, it's a same family of drugs like methadone and suboxins, but it's a it's an injectable long acting drug. And what what current studies are showing is that
it's very effective if given at the time of release to uh it it drastically reduces the biggest risk for people who are drug addicted for overdoses and if they're first three weeks after they're released from correctional facilities.
So, what this does is gives them this is a longer acting drug that gives them that same support that those other drugs do on a day-to-day basis for it has a 40 to 60 day shelf life. It's going to be a voluntary program. It's not something you can force the inmates to take, but
we're going to work through education to get them. It's very expensive drug, so we had to stay away until we could fund it. I'm going to be able to purchase probably I'm going to do the math before we do it so we don't overspend, but somewhere probably in the in the neighborhood of 30 or $40,000 worth of
supplicate that we can get our program rolling. And I think importantly, especially in a tight budget year, we identified items that were charged against county funds that we'll now be able to claw back. I'm working with the the CFO so that we'll be able to like
claw back some money for officer salary that we used when we transported inmates to violent treatment center and some of our other areas. So, we should be able to I'm hoping to be able to claw back maybe somewhere between 20 and $30,000 in county funds that will be able to reimburse the county from this grant.
Great. So, um, those are kind of things that kind of fly under the radar because they don't hit the threshold to get here, but I thought you should be aware. The second major issue that I wanted you to also be aware of is I I think most of you are aware every year the we are
subject to a a rather in-depth inspection, and that's putting it politely, by the uh New Jersey Department of Corrections. It's an annual uh inspection. We're they evaluate us on about five 550 standards. So, it's really uh arduous
process to get through and once again uh we had our final inspection last week and I'm pleased to report to the board that we passed our inspection and uh I want to give credit to my staff because it's a big undertaking to get through that and particular uh recognition
should go to Captain Amy Brag and Warden Rigggins who really are the two point people that help us get through that. So, I wanted to recognize them and the rest of my staff for that and update you on that grant. And I apologize said I wanted to make sure I get in before you so you would have the last word today.
So, uh, but thank you for the time. Thank you very much for coming up. I appreciate it. Um, just a couple other things. I mean, we touched upon the fairgrounds. It would be really nice if you go out there and see it. The gateway is really
unbelievable. Uh very very impressed with it. The fencing the same way. I mean it truly is an outstanding project. Uh Matt still here. You guys did a great job. Uh and you know that's that's what
a lot of our employees do. They do a great job and we appreciate them. Uh we I was at the uh there were a number of us at the the groundbreaking at CCTech for the manufacturing wing that's going to be installed there and we have to thank our state senator Michael Tesla
for uh initiating this but we also have to thank always have to give credit where credit is due. Uh when you look at bipartisanship okay because that's that's what's needed. I mean, everybody knows that Michael Testa, our senator, is is
Republican. And in order to get anything done, when you have a a complete Democrat uh House, the Assembly, and the Senate, and the governor, you need help. And that's where John Berselli, state senator John Berselli stepped in. Uh he
worked very very uh well with uh Michael Ta, and that's what got the money. and and that's very important that it's nice when you have bipartisanship and that's what we had in this county. Both senators represent Cumberland County and
they worked very very well together. I just wanted to make sure everybody knew uh I have known John Berselli for many many years and I think he's a class act but I just wanted to make sure everybody knew that uh he helped uh bring this in
because of uh Michael Tessa. He initiated it, Michael Tester, but you always need somebody from the other side to help him out. So, I thought I think that was important to do. Um, next month we're going to have a presentation. I just wanted to let
everybody know. And Matt Sarski is going to be giving that presentation. Uh, his department uh planning has worked very very hard on this state plan. Uh we've had a lot of conversations
together. Uh we're going to have more uh planning meetings. Uh but I believe and correct me if I'm wrong. We're the only county that actually did what we did to make sure we had 100%. Okay. And I've asked other counties all over
South Jersey if they did this. And the answer is no. What we did in Kman County was we literally contacted every city township, okay, to make sure that they were involved in the state planning. We actually got them to change their master
plan for the cities and the townships, which was very important. This planning hasn't been done for over 20 years, state planning. And that being said, what we had to do is make sure that the
different municipalities looked out not 2, 3, 5 years, 10 years, but 15 years down the road as to what they want their city to look like or their township to look like years from now because there are state departments that use this
against us when we try to develop. And I can't wait for the presentation. I think it's a great presentation. I was able to see it and uh that's why we asked Matt to come in next next month to see this presentation. Okay. So he can
show it to you. Uh I I got to commend him and I got to commend all the cities that got involved. Did we finally get the last one in? Yeah. Okay. We had one one city that hadn't come in the last time I talked to them and that city is
in. So that means we have 100% participation with all the cities and the townships and a lot of them changed their master plan uh in their zoning as to where they would like to have things done for the future. So I I want to
commend him and all the cities in the county. That's all I have to say. Is there anything else uh in that? There's no need for executive session. It looks like we need a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjourn. Motion to adjurnn.
All in favor? I hope you guys leave. I have to get This has been a QVC television production in association with our partners and sponsors. QBC broadcasts on Comcast cable channel 22 and live streams its programming on Facebook and
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