WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZxS98c_do

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: h4ZxS98c_do):
- 00:01:13: Meeting Call to Order, Pledge, and Roll Call
- 00:02:35: Correspondence and Public Comment on Resolutions Opening
- 00:03:45: Department Head Comments: Older Americans Month Events
- 00:06:29: Consent Agenda Resolutions and Roll Call Votes
- 00:15:45: Treasurer's Report and Public Comment on New Business
- 00:16:00: Public Comment: Sandy Asivito on Regional Jail Project
- 00:19:49: Responding to Public Comment on Regional Jail
- 00:24:19: Discussion: Casino Expansion Impact, Marlene Asselta Letter
- 00:28:24: Commissioner Reports: Rowan College, Mother's Day Wishes
- 00:32:10: Commissioner Reports: Community Events, Aging Programs
- 00:33:50: Commissioner Reports: Deerfield Day, Mental Health Walk
- 00:35:02: Commissioner Reports: Line of Duty Death, Genesis Center
- 00:41:52: Director's Report, Board Transparency, Adjournment


Part: 1

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I'd like to call our meeting to order. Adequate notice of this meeting was provided in accordance with chapter 231 public law 1975. Have a moment of silence. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

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United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll. >> Commissioner Capazola here. >> Commissioner Garcia here.

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>> Commissioner Alino here. Commissioner S. >> Commissioner Romero here. >> Deputy Director Marsh >> here. >> Director S. Director Taylor. >> Um, do I have a motion and second to accept and dispense with the reading of the minutes from the last move? >> Second. >> All in favor?

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>> I. By correspondence dated April 1st, 2026, Atlantic City Electric notified the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners of a notice of filing a public hearing in the matter petition of Atlantic City Electric Company to reconcile and update the level of its societal benefits

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charge BPU docket number ER260200021. The Burrow of Wildwood Crest Board of Commissioners notified the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners that resolution 26-113 was adopted at a meeting of the Wildwood Crest Commissioners held on April 1st, 2026 supporting STR number 106 determining

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that the NJ D's New Jersey pack real rules should be repealed. The Burrow of Stone Harbor Council notified the Cumberland County Board of County Commissioners of Burough Resolution 2026-S106 adopted at a meeting held on April 1st, 2026, supporting Congressman Van

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Andrew's continued efforts to secure federal funding and implement stable beach replenishment project to protect and restore our coastline. Do I have a motion and a second to open public comment on resolutions only? >> So move second. >> All in favor? I

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>> public comment. Do >> we have any public comment? >> Motion to close. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> uh director, if I may, >> at the end of the meeting, I would like

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to, if it's okay with you, to discuss the email that Marlene Asselta sent us in reference to that proposal. I think it's something important. And I think that the that the board should look at it and talk about it or or even think

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about maybe doing something later on, but I think that's important. That's up to you, but I would like to we can do that before the meeting ends. >> That'll be fine. >> All right. Thank you. >> Department head comments. >> Good evening. Lisa Williams, Department

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of Aging. I just wanted to remind everyone and the public that it is older Americans month uh starting May 1st. Our very first event for the the month will be at our county fairgrounds on May 6th, Wednesday, May 6 for a senior music festival where we'll also be providing

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resources and um information to our seniors about programs that are out and available to us. Um throughout the month we have many things planned from exercises because our our theme this year is champion your health. So, we have uh there's a senior exercise program that will be offered. We have

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programs offered for um senior safety and to make sure that we're more aware of our surroundings. But the most important thing is towards the end of the month on um May 22nd is our aging services senior our public hearing for senior services. This is where we need

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to know what the public needs as far as senior services in our community. this is time for you to come out and share the things that are important to you that you would like to see us fund within our department to see what we can help you to do to keep remaining engaged in the community. So that's 2 p.m. at

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the county library. If anyone needs any additional information, they can contact our office. Um our number is 8564532224. Uh you can call us and ask for any information about any of the programs that we have offered. But u everyone is welcome to attend and we hope we have a wonderful older Americans month. Thank

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you. >> Time is an event at the fairground. >> I'm sorry. >> What time is the event? >> It starts at 11 and it's running to 2. We have musicians scheduled every 45 minutes. So, we have three different types of of music being played. Um, we're hoping to be able to have some

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additional health screenings available out there that day as well. But, we're really excited about offering something at the fairgrounds since it's recently been renovated and our seniors can really get to see what what we have out there to offer. >> Hey Bob, you and I should go there. I've got a great Luther Vandross

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impersonator who's coming to sing up. That's all I'm saying. There's there's some pretty good entertainment coming to join us. >> You can join us. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Just give me the time, please.

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>> Consent agenda resolutions. Do I have a motion and second to vote by consent agenda on resolutions 2026-224 through 2026-253? >> So move. >> Second. Commissioner Capazola, >> yes. >> Commissioner Garcia Bicki,

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>> yes. >> Commissioner Ostino, >> yes. >> Commissioner Sorrow, >> yes. >> Commissioner Romero, >> yes. >> Deputy Director Maron, >> yes. >> Director Taylor, >> yes. >> Do I have a motion and second to adopt resolutions 2026-224

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through 2026-253? >> So move. >> Second. Second. >> Commissioner Capazol. Yes. Commissioner Garcia Bolton. Yes. >> Commissioner Ostina. Commissioner Sorrow. Yes. >> Commissioner Romero. >> Yes. Deputy Director Marshan, >> yes. >> Director Taylor, >> yes.

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>> Resolution 2026-254, resolution authorizing and approving additional temporary budget appropriations in the amount of $2,85,181.70 grants only. Do I have a motion and second? >> So move. >> Second. >> Commissioner Capazola. Yes. >> Commissioner Garcia Baliki. Commissioner

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Ostino. >> Commissioner. Commissioner Romero. >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Maran. >> Yes. >> Director Taylor. >> Yes. Resolution 2026-255, resolution authorizing a shared service agreement between the county of Cumberland, Cumberland County Human Services, and the Cumberland County

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Library Commission. Do I have a motion and second? >> So move second. >> Commissioner Capazola, yes. Commissioner Garcia Biki, Commissioner Ostino, Commissioner. Commissioner Romero, >> yes. >> Deputy Director Marshon, >> yes. >> Director Taylor, >> yes. Resolution 2026-256,

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resolution authorizing an application for renewal of a grant agreement between the Cumberland County Office on Aging and Disabled and the New Jersey Department of Human Services Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired for July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2027. Do I have a motion? Second. >> So move. >> Second.

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>> Commissioner Hapazola. Yes. >> Commissioner Garcia Biki. Yes. Commissioner Ostino. Commissioner Sorrow. Commissioner Romero. >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Marawn. Yes. >> Director Taylor. >> Yes. Resolution 2026-257 resolution authorizing the award of a non-farant open contract for annual

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renewal for management enterprise and content management system for the county website. Do I have a motion and second? So >> move second. >> Commissioner Capazola, yes. Commissioner Garcia, yes. Commissioner Ostino, Commissioner, Commissioner Romero, yes. >> Deputy Director Maron, >> yes.

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>> Director Taylor, >> yes. Resolution 2026-258 resolution awarding Baron open professional service contract for providing grant writing and related consultant services for the county of Cumberland RFP number 26-12. Do I have a motion and second? >> So move. >> Second.

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>> Commissioner Capazola. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Garcia Biki. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Ostino. >> Commissioner Sars. Yes. >> Commissioner Romero. >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Marian. Director Taylor. >> Yes. Resolution 2026-259 resolution awarding contract for supplying and delivering paper goods and

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miscellaneous janitorial items to Cumberland County bid number 26-13. Do I have a motion and second? >> So move second. >> Commissioner Capazola? Yes. >> Commissioner Garcia? Yes. >> Commissioner Alino? Yes. >> Commissioner S. Commissioner Romero? >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Marshon. Yes. >> Director Taylor.

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>> Yes. >> Resolution 2026-260. Resolution awarding fair and open professional service contract for providing concept development services for the money island access study in the township of down Cumberland County RP number 26-11. Do I have a motion and second? >> So move. >> Second.

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>> Commissioner Capazola. Yes. >> Commissioner Garcia. Yes. Commissioner Ostino. Yes. >> Commissioner Sar. >> Commissioner Romero? >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Marshon? >> Yes. >> Director Taylor. >> Yes. >> Resolution 2026-261. Resolution authorizing grant application to the New Jersey office of the Attorney General

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for a subgrant under the FFY 25 Stop Violence Against Women Act grant program. Do I have a motion and second? >> So move. >> Second. >> Commissioner Capazola? Yes. >> Commissioner Garcia Biki? Yes. >> Commissioner Ostino. Commissioner. Commissioner Romero. >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Marshon. >> Yes.

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>> Director Taylor. >> Yes. >> Resolution 2026-262. Resolution authorizing grant application to the New Jersey office of the attorney general for a subgrant federal fiscal year 25 victims of crime act grant program. Do I have a motion and second? So >> move second.

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>> Commissioner Capazola. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Garcia Boliki. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Oino. Commissioner. >> Commissioner Romero. Yes. >> Deputy Director Maran. Yes. >> Director Taylor. >> Yes. >> Resolution 2026-263. Resolution amending resolution 2025-440

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entitled resolution authorizing acceptance of funding for the state of New Jersey department of law and public safety state fiscal year 2024 through 25 mental health diversion grant program. Do I have a motion and second? >> So move second. >> Commissioner Capazola. Yes. >> Commissioner Garcia Bicki. Yes.

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>> Commissioner O. Commissioner. >> Commissioner. Deputy director Maran. >> Yes. >> Director Taylor. >> Yes. Resolution 2026-264 resolution authorizing assignment of appeals of disciplinary actions by employees of the county department of corrections. Do I have a motion and second? So

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>> move second. Sorry. >> Commissioner Capazola. Yes. >> Commissioner Garcia Biki. Yes. Commissioner Ostino. Commissioner. Commissioner Romero. Yes. >> Deputy Director Marshon. >> Yes. >> Director Taylor. >> Yes. >> Resolution 2026-265. resolution authorizing facilitating discussion with the Cumberland County

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Improvement Authority for economic development solutions to support the enhancement of shell fisheries industry. Do I have a motion and second? So >> move second. >> Commissioner Capazola. >> Uh we're we're very proud to help this uh this group right here. Um it's not going to be something that we're doing

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every year, but we this had a long discussion about this and we think it's best moving forward to help them out this year. And so yes, >> Commissioner Garcia. Yes, >> Commissioner Ostino. >> Yes, >> Commissioner Sorrow. >> Yes, >> Commissioner Romero. >> Yes,

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>> Deputy Director Marawn. >> Yes, >> Director Taylor. >> Yes. >> Resolution 2026-266, resolution authorizing grant application to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for Local Efficiency Achievement Program Fellowship Grant. Do I have a motion? >> Some move. >> Second.

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>> Commissioner Capazola? Yes. >> Commissioner Garcia Biki? >> Yes. >> Commissioner Ostino, yes. >> Commissioner Sorrow, yes. >> Commissioner Romero, yes. >> Deputy Director Marshon, >> yes. Director Taylor. >> Yes. >> Resolution 2026-267. Resolution authorizing assignment of litigation matter Robert Dawkins vers

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Cumberland County Cumberland Department of Correction State of New Jersey Office of Administrative Law Ocket number CSV10930-2025 S. Do I have a motion second? >> So move second. >> Commissioner Capazola. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Garcia Bicki. >> Yes.

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>> Commissioner Ostino. Yes. >> Commissioner Sorrow. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Romero. >> Yes. Deputy Director Marshon, >> yes. >> Director Taylor, >> yes. >> Resolution 2026-268, resolution authorizing assignment of workers compensation matter entitled Amanda Wilmore versus County of Cumberland claim petition number

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2012-4461. Do I have a motion and second? >> So move. >> Second. >> Commissioner Capazola. Yes. Commissioner Garcia Boliki. Yes. Commissioner Ostino. Yes. Commissioner. Commissioner Romero. >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Marshon. >> Yes. >> Director Taylor. >> Yes. >> Resolution 2026-269.

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Resolution appointing department head for the department of personnel and human resources. Do I have a motion and second? >> So move. >> Second. Somebody >> second. >> Commissioner Capazola. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Garcia Biki. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Ostino. >> Yes.

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>> Commissioner Sorrow. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Romero. >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Marshon. >> Yes. >> Director Taylor. >> Yes. >> Resolution 2026-270. Resolution authorizing an interdep departmental agreement between the Cumberland County Office on Aging and Disabled and the Cumberland County Surrogates Office for providing

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educational services to senior citizens relating to estate planning. Do I have a motion in second? >> So move second. >> Second. >> Commissioner Capazola. Commissioner Garcia Poliki. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Ostino. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Sorrow. >> Yes. And by the way, this is a great it's a great program.

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>> Commissioner Romero, >> yes. >> Deputy Director Maran, >> I want to second what Commissioner S has to say. Do you think it's a great program? I think this is a a great combination. I think it should work out great. Yes. >> Director Taylor. >> Yes. >> Resolution 2026-271.

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Resolution increasing authorizing increase in monetary saving for legal expenses in the matter of PBA 396 contract negotiations in accordance with NJAC 530-5.3 through NJAC 530-5.5. Do I have a motion and second? So

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>> move. >> Second. >> Commissioner Capazola. >> Yes. Yes. Commissioner Garcia Biki. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Ostino. Yes. Commissioner. Commissioner Romero. >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Marshon. >> Yes. >> Director Taylor. >> Yes. >> Resolution 2026-272.

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Resolution supporting Senate Concurrent Resolution number 106 to determine the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection NJ rules are inconsistent with legislative intent. Do I have a motion and second? >> So move. >> Second. >> Commissioner Capazola. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Garcia Biki. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Ostino. Commissioner Saro.

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>> Yes. Yes. >> Commissioner Romero. >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Marshon. >> Yes. >> Director Taylor. >> Yes. >> Do I have a motion and second to accept Treasur's report as provided? >> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Do I have a motion and second for

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authorizing payment of all salaries and wages? >> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Do I have a motion and second to open public comment on new business? >> So move. >> Second. I >> I. All in favor? I.

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public comment. >> Uh Sandy Asivito, Upper Deerfield Township. Uh first I'd like to remind everyone that the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners govern under the authority of the people.

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My comments tonight are in reference to the regional jail project. The county commissioners have signed an agreement with Camden County to be one of at least two counties, Camden and Cumberland, to go into going in on a

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regional jail project. That agreement was signed without knowledge, consultation, referendum, authority, public hearings, or any input from the taxpayers of Cumberland County

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as to whether we want to be involved in a regional jail project with Camden County. The only knowledge we have gleaned is from online newspaper articles. So if you haven't seen them, you may be

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in the dark as to the details. So based on the articles we heard from Camden County Administrator, the Camden County Commissioner Director Luc Capelli, but not from our own commission board.

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Based on the most recent articles dated April the 21st, 2026, Director Capelli indicated he was meeting with Cumberland County Board this past week. So my questions are one,

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was there a meeting with Camden County either with the board, individual members of this board, the county administrator, or any other persons employed or not employed by the county authorized to hold such an important

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meeting? And if so, who who were they uh that attended this meeting? If not, if the meeting didn't take place yet, is such a meeting scheduled and if so, when will that meeting take place?

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My next question is, will or have those discussions included any possibility that the regional jail will be built in Cumberland County within the boundaries of Cumberland County? I should say.

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There was supposed to be a presentation for Cland County similar to the presentation that was given to other counties, but we haven't seen that yet. This brings me back to my original comment that the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners govern under the

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authority of the people. We are the people and we must insist at this time that we be included in the backroom deals and conversations that are going on and that will very well impact our cities and municipalities

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similar to how the other jails and prisons that we have host have done to those same communities. Thank you. >> Would you like to answer that? Do you want to we >> that's Yeah, it's finished.

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>> Any other uh public comments? >> Okay. >> Motion to close. >> Second. >> Second. All >> in favor? >> I >> I >> Okay. Do you like that? >> Absolutely. Um

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answer some of the questions. Um the the the requesting of a referendum at this point is is is really is really there's not there's nothing to work with on that because we haven't we haven't done anything new since we lost the

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site. We have had a meeting. Um th those attending the meeting were were representatives from Cumberland County, myself and the director. Um and um let's see there was representatives including director

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Capelli from uh Camden County along with their with their business administrator and deputy administrator. There was >> excuse me >> speak up please. >> Yes. Um there also was um representation from Atlantic County mostly from their

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commissioners if I'm not mistaken. I don't think that their business administrator was was present. he is he was under the weather. Um but they had commissioner representation but they also had jail representation from their leadership in the jail in the Atlantic

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County jail. Um at that point I think it was those three counties there were uh there was Mr. Velasquez from the CCIA the authority and Senator Michael Ta was present as well. um he helped facilitate and bring everybody together in in in a

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spirit of of trying to create some plans for where to go in the future. The only the discussion centered upon the needs of size of the property. It it did not there was no there was no real real definitive answers on where it would be.

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There is there is no nobody has any of those plans. We don't know about properties throughout Atlantic, Cumberland or Camden County that would be sufficient to house this. Um the that's really it was mostly factf

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finding if I'm correct factf finding to see where we go for the future. There was no definitive decisions made. Um, hence there's really no there's really no way to present to the to taxpayers of this county what

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the plan is because at this point we have no new plan. We have a plan that's part of the signed agreement to join to join in in a regional jail with Camden and others who may be interested. Um, but we have no location. We have we

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everything would have to be redesigned and recalculated from the original location that was at airport. That's really what I had to offer. Is there any other questions? Anything that I may have missed director? >> I think you were pretty accurate and and I thank you for answering that question.

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There there is no plan there's no site at at this time. We're we're exploring our options. That's what I can say. But we we've entered into no new agreements there. There's really nothing but we're

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we're trying to examine all of our options to make the best decisions for the residents of Cumberland County. We're not trying to keep secrets or hide anything. We're trying to figure out what directions we can go and then as a

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board as a board we make the best the best decision. But currently there's what Kevin said is all we have to offer. >> Can I ask a question? >> No. Was is public commented? >> Public comments is closed. We closed it.

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>> Okay. >> No. Otherwise it would be going back and forth. That's that's the only situation you have. >> So we're we're good on the questions. Then move forward. >> Exactly. I mean really really one one last statement. It was more of it was

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more of members of the counties that that Cumberland and Camden that are involved in and Atlantic who might be involved. They're still not in in the decision yet. And it was but mostly to get everybody at the table to talk. That's really what the purpose was to

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speak was just to speak at least meet. >> Okay. >> Sailing to or not? >> No. one came that way. >> It was just the three camps, the two that were committed or two the two that were part of the original agreement and Atlantic who still remains interested.

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We think we don't know where it's going. So >> before we go into the commissioner's reports, Commissioner Sorro, would you like to read that letter now? >> Um yeah, hold on. Let me this this uh was from Marlene Asselta and she was

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very very instrumental um in let me find it uh with all the work down in downtown. Okay. She she was with the EDA uh and as far as I'm concerned she's a phenomenal

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individual. Uh it's a shame that she's no longer in that position, but right now she's in a position with the SNJDC. Um and if you can just bear with Okay. On behalf of the Southern New Jersey

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Development Council, I write to request your support in opposing proposals that would authorize casino gambling expansion into North Jersey, particularly any effort to advance such a proposal as constitutional amendments for replace for placement on the ballot.

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This issue carries significant implications not only for Atlantic City but for the counties across South Jersey whose economies are closely tied to the region's tourism, hospitality, and small business uh ecosystem. The SNJDC

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has played a central role in New Jerseyy's gaming policy since the original 1976 authorization of the casino game gaming in Atlantic City. That policy was intentionally designed as a targeted economic development

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strategy to support a region in need of a sustained investment. What what they're trying to do is let's just break it down because the letter is quite lengthy and she goes into great detail. They want to expand casino gambling and bringing it to North

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Jersey. That would be a major detriment to us in South Jersey. Casino gambling was voted for. Okay. and it was supposed to be in Atlantic City and that's where they were supposed to stay. Um, at this point in time, I really do believe that,

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this is my opinion, the board should get a little bit more information on this, okay? Uh, really talk to her, make sure we have all our, you know, ducks in a row. But I think that we should, uh, put forth some kind of resolution totally

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against this. Uh there's a lot of people from Cland County that work in Atlantic City or in the areas around Atlantic City that because of the casino gambling in Atlantic City, we have other economic uh uh industry around it. Um

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I think we have to take a stance on it and I think we should make sure that we go public on it with some type of resolution against this. That's my opinion. I really like to run that through the board. That's why I brought it up. Uh, I think we should try to get uh Marlina Selta and do some type of

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meeting with her and and and see just exactly what it what's the impact it could be on Cland County. Uh, and we want to make sure that our residents are are protected. That's that's strictly my opinion and I'd really like to reach out to the board and see what what your

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thoughts are on it. >> This is really going to hurt Cland County. Uh, I mean, Atlantic County absolutely, but it's going to hurt Cland County if that happens. Okay, people come down from North Jersey. There's a big influx from North Jersey, from New

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York that come into Atlantic City and into this area. And it's not only economic development for Atlantic City. It spreads out and there's a good there've been a lot of studies up to 45 miles from Atlantic City that is affected because of the gaming in

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Atlantic City. So, this is something I think that we should take a stance on and make sure everybody know that we're against it. >> Thank you. >> Um, Commissioner's report. Commissioner Garcia, thank you. >> Good evening everyone. Um, I would just

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like to report on the meeting that Commissioner Sorrow and I attended Rowan College of South Jersey. The board of trustees meeting was uh last week, April 21st. That was a wonderful meeting. It felt like a homecoming for me as I served uh on the board of trustees for the college. Uh before it merged with

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Rowan College of South Jersey, I was on the board with Cumberland County. And the growth and the expansion to educational opportunities for our students here is phenomenal. And I've seen that grow from the time it merged until now. And so I was happy to go back. Um I uh one of the professors that

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they were honoring was um or acknowledging as a staff member, Professor Professor Courtney Balden who is a professor of mechatronics innovation learning lab basically it's engineering um and um she is the

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director of engineering technology program she has a bachelor of science from Southern University and&m college master's and PhD from North Carolina ent university I loved about her she's so down to earth and can break it down for you for people like me that don't know any science but the students were there

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and they were very encouraging ing and just talking about their experience as being her students in learning. It's phenomenal that we have that here in South Jersey, which leads to the pipeline for Rowan University, the engineering school there. Um, she has been recognized as one of New Jerseys

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top innovative leaders as part of the prestigious Innovate 100 initiative. She'll be honored at the annual celebration on May 13th at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. So, very our own homegrown person going to be honored. and uh uh Commissioner Sorrow and I

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invited uh what was Commissioner Sorrow's idea that invite the college to come out and report on their um you know their activities and their initiatives which it's promotes the college and it really is an amazing um institution. I

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had the opportunity to present a diploma to one of my very own clients who earned his who was approved for his green card before he actually graduated. and I was on stage as a board of trustee member. It was a very rewarding experience for me as an attorney and as

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a board of trustees and so I know the good work that this university or the college is providing. In addition, um next month is Mother's Day so we're not going to meet before Mother's Day. So I wanted to take the opportunity to wish all the mothers and caregivers a very happy Mother's Day. Thank you for your

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love, resilience, and the count uh countless ways that you support families and strengthen our communities. Um I think about my mom, our moms like um Judith Anne Riley who passed away in March at age 88. She was the mother of

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11 children including our county clerk Celeste Riley, 30 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. She was also a pioneer in South Jersey as one of the earliest certified nurse midwives who helped bring hundreds of children into

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the world. Um, happy Mother's Day to my mom who will be turning 85 just a few days before Mother's Day. And she's the mother of five, grandmother of 10. Um, and her community presence was felt in Kate May County. I grew up in Kate May

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County where she helped women access prenatal care. Um, and finally, I hold a special honor for mothers who have endured the unimaginable loss of a child. Your strength, courage, and

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enduring love, even in grief, are a profound testament to resilience, and you are not forgotten. Happy Mother's Day to all to our director as well. >> Thank you, >> Commissioner Capola. >> All right. Um, I just have a few

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announcements. Um, May, Saturday, May 2nd, CCT Tech has a craft fair going on. Um, Sunday at 8 800 am there's a kids fishing tournament at Mary Elmer Lake. Um, 100 pm Cinco deio the same day on

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May 3rd is the celebration over here in Bridton. And just a reminder that mailin ballots have been mailed out. So if you haven't gotten yours, you can contact the county clerk. That's it. Some of my meetings were cancelled this month, so I didn't

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I tried. commission. Let's go. >> Yes. I met with the office of aging uh committee and again there's a program there that I like to stress every time we meet and that's the memory cafe. It meets monthly. It's for those who have

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Alzheimer's, dementia, and their caregivers. It's not just a normal meeting. They have activities for these people and it keeps them active and uh it it's wellreceived. and please contact the office of aging and they'll give you the

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date and the time and where it's located. It's a fantastic program that our office developed and it's great for everybody. I've also met with the veteran director Steve Cerveny and we discussed some

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areas where we're trying to come up with some solutions for the homeless veterans. See what we can do for them. There's too many of them on the streets and we want to see what we can do to help them out. And that's about it for me. >> Thank you. >> You've been muted. To unmute yourself,

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press star six. >> Technology. >> How you going to follow that? >> Game up too, right? >> Just at the right time. Go ahead. >> Question. >> Oh, I'm sorry. We we muted you.

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>> Yeah, maybe that's what happened. So, another busy month, you know, going to events and meetings. So, this past Saturday was able to attend a Deerfield Day. The weather wasn't great, but it did hold off long enough to to have it, which was nice. I know last couple years they've canled um well, a couple of the

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last few years they've had to cancel due to weather, so it was nice. The weather held off so they could have the event. Then I went down to Lawrence Township. They were doing a chicken barbecue fundraiser. So, that was nice to go to. And then coming up this weekend, I know Melissa talked about this at the last meeting, but we're having uh the uh the

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Walk to Mental Health and Addiction Board, which is going this Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00 at Campell Park. So, it's a familyfriendly event. There's going to be, I think, games and ice cream, all sorts of stuff. So, hopefully uh something you'll show up for. So, that's all I have for today. >> Cool. Commissioner Meritt.

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>> Well, he just stole the one I was talking to about, you know, but um this last week we lost an officer. We lost uh Arie Escobar. Uh we spent over 25 years working for the county sheriff

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department. Uh my prayers and art for his family and uh you know, just keep that in mind. Yeah. Today's >> a good man. >> Other than that, he was unknown since it

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was a year old. >> Commissioner, >> jeez, I can go ditto ditto ditto ditto. >> Okay, we'll work with this one. Uh, three things I'd like to just bring up real quick. One is the we attended the 40th anniversary of the Millville

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Genesis Center. Um, director Taylor was there. Um, Bob, Bob, you were there. Who else? That was it, right? Okay. Um, anyway, what's really great, I mean, they really come a long way at the Genesis Center.

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Um, what I was very, very impressed with was how they treat their employees. I mean it was really really fascinating and an honor to actually watch all the awards they gave to the employees over all the years that they were I think one was

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there 37 years right almost 40 years >> um and uh they gave every one of them an award. The other thing is that they no longer have to send people out after they had some kind of cardiac uh

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operation. they now are certified to take care of those individuals right there. Uh that's going to save a lot of time and I think it's going to save a lot with the patient, you know, not have to move them going to another facility to do rehab

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with uh uh cardiac problems. So, I really think we should honor them uh for for doing that. I mean, it was a great uh it was a long time coming to get that certification. And so I just want everybody to know that uh Genesis and Milville has that. Uh

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Commissioner Bolicki and I were at the um the trustees meeting and the the reason why uh we decided to ask them to come and do the presentation is they are putting out so many programs at

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such a fast pace that I don't even think we can keep up with them. It was really, really great to see um a young lady who's going to graduate high school, but she already has her associates now.

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And that is awesome. I mean, she's already going to start as soon as she graduates high school, she's going to start on her bachelors. And we had this all right here in Cumberland County. uh they've expanded the whole uh program of all the

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different uh uh uh classes that they now have and I think it's something that u and I had said this to the the president um people don't even know about it. You know, at one time we used to have reporters. I'll never forget we used to

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have seven reporters across, you know, on the front row and uh I joked about one time that I actually said to them, "Please, as soon as one of the freeholders start talking, just start writing because otherwise they're going to keep talking until you write cuz they

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want to be in the newspaper." But we don't have that anymore. We now have social media. It's is how great social media is. It's actually bad because we still don't get the word out and that's one of the things that we want to do. Uh we want to

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have our our college shine just like we want our have our office on aging shine. Um and we have so many programs in this county that no one knows about. And I think we're going to change that. I was talking with the director uh on getting

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all these people up here uh each month and and start showcasing, you know, uh what each department really does. And hopefully everybody will be watching so we we find out exactly what um uh the programs we have. And of course, we actually we we're going to need you too,

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pro, Madam Prosecutor. Okay. Because I know you have a lot of programs also. So, we want to start showcasing the programs that Cland County has. The other uh event that both of us went to was the CCA. >> Um the K County uh education association

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and um it was really great to sit down and talk with a number of different educators and get a feel for how education is in Cumberland County. And that was another organization that I I I

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stated, no one really knows just how good we are. And we are cuz the only thing that you hear about coming county and and some of the education in coming county, you hear the bad stuff. You don't hear the successes. Nobody likes

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to put out the successes uh on on social media. It seems like the big news is what happened in the school that was went bad. And uh one of the things that I've learned over the years as far as economic development is when a business wants to come into an area, the first

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thing they look at is education. Okay? And we have to start getting the word out that our education equals everybody else's. And we're not doing that. And I really do believe that we should do that. And I I made that statement along with Commissioner Bicki.

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We want to make sure that everybody knows we have quality education in Cumberland County and I think that's being lost and it's not happening. So we I I had a lot of great conversation with individuals and I think that's going to be the direction that they're going to

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go into is try to get the word out. Kland County has a lot of great things happening in it. And maybe it's our fault. Maybe it's my fault we're not getting the word out as to um what we

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have and what we can do and how we can help people and how great a life it is in Cumberland County because I love it. Every one of us loves Cumberland County. That's why we do what we do. Anyway, that that's it, director. I can keep on going, but thank you so much. We do have

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a local podcaster here. So, we do have somebody from from the media. So, >> anyway, >> so you've heard You got to get the word out for us. >> You got to get the word out. >> All right. Go ahead. >> I would like to um just say I as a

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director, I try to put my best foot forward, go out, get the facts to bring back to this board. I'm very proud of this board. I try to communicate with every member on this board what the issues are, what we're faced with, so

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that collectively we can make a decision and move forward. And as you've seen tonight, the board was pretty unanimous on the resolutions that were put forth. And and I I want to thank everybody for that and their participation because everybody's doing their homework.

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Everybody's looking at what we have to offer in the way of resolutions. are asking questions and um that's pretty much all I wanted to say on that matter that we're trying to be as transparent as possible. We know there's a jail issue. We're, you know, we're diving

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into this. We're looking at um all of our options and we have several options. So, with that, um is there a need for executive sessions? >> There's not. >> Motion to adjourn.

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>> Second. Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> This has been a QVC television production in association with our partners and sponsors. QVC broadcasts on Comcast cable channel 22 and live streams its programming on Facebook and

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YouTube. All rights reserved by Quinn Media and QBC. programming that serves the South Jersey market.