holding everything up. >> No, not stuff you don't My colleagues in Florida dealing with some business matters. >> You got him. >> Okay. All right. Can you hear me?
>> I can hear you. >> Okay, perfect. >> Morning everyone. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. >> Merry Christmas. >> All right, >> we're good. Okay,
change glasses. >> All right, I might lift it. >> I might have to lift it one more time for Duffy. Um, okay. Uh, welcome everyone to the Shay County Board of Commissioners regular meeting for December 29th, 2025 for the
last meeting of the year. I'll take a roll call. County Commissioners Bartlett >> here. >> Cruz >> here. >> D'vor >> present. >> Duffy >> here. >> James, >> deputy director Lazar >> here. >> Director Leapore >> here. Announcement of the open public
meeting will. Ladies and gentlemen, the newest requirement of open public meetings law has been satisfied with respect to this meeting specifying the time, date, and location, including the annual notice adopted the reorganization meeting filed with the county clerk, post in the
administration building, and mailed to two newspapers in accordance with the provisions of the law. >> Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. Commissioner Cruz to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God,
indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Please remain standing for a moment of silence. Remember old men and women who have died while serving in the United States armed forces. Thank you. >> Make a motion to approve the minutes of December 9th, 2025.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion made by D'vor. Second by Bartlett. Roll call. >> County Commissioners Bartlett. >> Yes. >> Cruz. >> Yes. >> D'Vor. >> Yes. >> Duffy. >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Lazar. >> Yes. Correct. Leapore. >> Yes. Take a motion to approve the
proclamations. >> I'll move it. >> Motion made by second Sandy Lazarus. Second by D'vor. Roll call. >> County Commissioners Bartlett. >> Yes. >> Cruz. >> Yes. >> D'Vor. >> Yes. >> Duffy. >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Lazar. >> Yes. >> Director Leapour.
>> Yes. >> Over to you. Administrator's report. >> Good morning. Thank you, director. Uh first on my agenda is we have a presentation by our parks and recreation director Daryl Sparta recognizing some employees in our parks department for um recognition they received at uh the
field at Dundy Island Parks. So I'm going to call up Daryl and chairman of our public works committee uh Commissioner Bartley. >> All right. Good morning everyone. Most of you have probably at one point or another heard me talk about our Dundy Island field. Uh for those that haven't,
I'll just give a quick little summary here. Uh and a little background of the field. So, this field is situated in uh the city of Payic right next to the Pic River. Uh it's in a neighborhood that's very passionate about the game of soccer.
Um it's an extremely undersized field uh due to the limitations of the park itself uh and the proximity to the river. Um when Dundy Island Park opened, we were tasked pretty tall task of trying to maintain this field uh and keeping it in good shape considering the
amount of use that uh the the residents that live there were anticipating for utilizing his field basically. Um so about the same time that we opened this uh this park, we had within our department created a uh field
maintenance division. And um this division was going to be responsible for caring for not just Dundy Island, but all of our our park fields, essentially athletic fields. Um and we we basically told them, look, we want to take care of our athletic fields
the same way that we take care of our golf courses. Um so the goal was pretty simple. We wanted to have a proven agonomic plan which basically we already had had at the golf course. Uh and we wanted that plan to be based on science, consistency and best
practices which again we already had placed pretty much at the golf course. Um but here we had an an additional component. We needed to be able to incorporate public education because we had residents who lived in the proximity of this field who wanted to use it 24/7.
Um, we literally had requests from March through December, sun up to sun down, seven days a week, um, to to use this very little field. So, we uh we right away engaged with uh
Matt fortunately was able to help us out and we talked with the city and we were able to make them understand that we were trying to do the best we could given the situation that we needed their help and with their help we could make it work.
Um so this division, this field maintenance division falls under the lead of Vinnie Spano is here today. um and our supervisor of that division, Miguel de Jesus, along with Prescidio Guzman, Oliver Vargas, and Chris Basilio, who are all here also today
with us. Um together, this team, they implement our field maintenance program pretty much day in and day out from spring all the way through till winter. Um, fortunately, administration and our commissioners have supported our effort
by investing in equipment, uh, funding and assisting, like I said earlier, with the community outreach and education. Um, this this Dundy field has been an extreme challenge not just from the demand of of use, uh, it lies within the flood plane. It's very close to the Pac
River. Uh, so we have to deal with flood issues. Um and and the biggest issue was the demand but a small field being used a lot dealing with flood on top of that was very very difficult. Um so because of these unique challenges and and the success that we had not initially it
took a year or two to kind of figure things out. Um but because of the success that we've had here in the last two years um providing exceptional playing conditions and field conditions the sports field managers association of New Jersey uh awarded this field with
the 2025 field of distinction award. So basically that award recognizes uh only natural grass fields because of the difficulty in maintaining them throughout the state of New Jersey. Uh it's municipal, county, and high school and college fields all taken into
consideration. Uh and they they basically look for safety, playability, innovative management, agonomics, and effective budget management. And they take all that into consideration. And um when they did that, we were we ended up with the field of distinction for 2025.
Um, so just to finish up, this award is definitely a reflection of our team. Uh, and it represents what's possible when you can put the right people together, uh, with the right plan and the commitment and support from administration and our commissioners. Uh, so I want to thank all of you that are here from the team today. Thank
Matt, thank the commissioners for all your support and uh, your continued commitment to improving our parks. So we are truly honored to accept this award from the Sports Field Managers Association of New Jersey. >> [applause] >> So, we do want to invite all of you to
come on up and receive the certificate uh in reflection of this. But uh Darl, the one person you didn't give credit to is yourself. And there's exceptional leadership uh in your unit as as well as all of them. And uh you know, this is a great reminder. Come on, Chris. Uh this
is a great reminder um of just the range of what's covered by the notion of parks and open space in a county like Bay County. We're used to thinking of those gorgeous vistas that we get to see when we go to the upcount uh nature parks, but when it comes to daytoday
utilization and as you said, dawn to well after dusk, uh what people want is those recreational spaces and that we can maintain those in such good condition, particularly when it's natural grass, particularly when it's literally designed to flood and be
soaked periodically uh because it's right there by the river. Uh we've always been proud of Dundy Island because it's our first riverfront park. It's our first new county park built in more than 50 years. Uh but we're especially proud of it because just so many people come out and use it. Families and kids and folks that are
learning great lessons there of athletics every day. So we want to thank all of you guys uh to the very top of the division for everything that you do. Thank you. [applause] You guys want to say Uh, I just want to thank uh Daryl Vinnie
for and the commissioners for affording me the opportunity to uh become a better steward of these fields. uh they allowed me the opportunity to go to Ruckers and get more educated on maintaining the field and because of that we were able
to do a better job. But none of this could have been done without my crew here. Like they deserve all the the praise. Like they day in and day out like we have to remain fluid because the job changes from one minute to another. Like we come with a plan the day before,
but sometimes that plan doesn't come to be because something else happens or something's more important and we just have to quickly pivot. And they've done that seamlessly. And I thank them tremendously for the job they do every day.
[applause] Let's go in front of the Let's go in front of the podium here. Thank you, Darl. And congratulations. Um, next, director, I just have a quick uh presentation, and they're on uh on your in front of you right now, and I'm just going to run through some of our
accomplishments um for 2025. Uh I want to start by thanking the department heads uh and our staff. Um, all of these things are because of the hard work of all of you. So, so thank you. And I want to shout out um our supervisor of roads,
Kenny Simpson. Um, you know, dealing effectively with uh the snowstorm over the holidays. Um, he was working basically since Christmas clearing our roads, keeping things safe for people to drive. um and to all of our public works employees that were out um you know not
with their families but you know doing the essential work to make sure people can move around state county. >> Uh so I'm going to start with our financial position. It remains strong. Um we've done a number of financial transactions this year. Um Moody's has continued to maintain um our highest
credit rating in county history. Um we're regenerating surplus. Um we our conservative uh budget practices are working. Um we're hitting revenue goals. are staying within budget. Um, our tax levy has main
has has stayed stable. So, um, most importantly, thank you to our CFO continues to do great work. Um, a project we've talked a lot about in Pompton Lakes, uh, that's been under construction since earlier this year, the the Liberty of Pompton Lakes, our
senior and veterans affordable housing project. Um, it's chugging along, um, slated to open in September. Um we're creating 64 new units of affordable housing for veterans and seniors in P County. Um it's on time um and under
budget within budget. Um slated to open in September. Um the waiting list uh for seniors and veterans to apply um is expected to open in in mid 2026 about April. Um they're going to be available online at Burough Halls and here um
through our housing agency. Just a reminder, applicants must be 62 or older or disabled and provide proof of residence veteran status and meet certain income limits. Uh in November, as everyone knows, we dealt with the federal government
shutdown and uh close to 88,000 county residents losing SNAP benefits. um led by our human services director Arty Kakar. Um everyone um jumped uh into action to make sure that P County residents had access to food um through
our emergency food uh distribution events, which we have some some action shots of of our commissioners uh giving out bags of food to the emergency events we did in in Patterson and Maic. Um 81,000 SNAP recipients were served
during this federal shutdown. And it really was a a true team effort from from Art's human services department to buildings and grounds and Steve Warsini, uh Sheriff Adamo, um our road department, um you know, everyone banded together and made sure
that um you know, while the federal government was not doing its job, the county government was stepping in and making sure people had access to food. S County Move. Again, another program we've talked a lot about has been um wildly successful um you know through May transporting over 38,000 people.
Over 6,000 people have made uh accounts and are using the service to um get to work um get to the uh grocery stores and get to school. Um you know, we're we're continuing to try and figure out ways to expand this program. Right now it's a pilot in the city of Clifton and um
Payic, but we're pursuing a number of grant opportunities to hopefully expand this to more municipalities in 2026. We talked a bit about our our park system, which we've um you know, in my opinion, is one of the best county park systems in the state of New Jersey. Um earlier this year, we opened up our our
newest recreational facility, the Highlands Rail Trail in Waniku, um in partnership with the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission. Um, you'll see a photo of the Commissioner Barllet, Mayor Mer at the at the ribbon cutting. Um, that's, you know, my parents live in Monu and I I drive by it
all the time and to see it being used to the level it is is is great and we're we're underdesigned to start phase two hopefully uh sometime in 2026. Right, Nordon? Um we um another project we've heard a lot about we purchased um
we lose Commissioner Duffy. We uh we purchased uh about 100 acres of property in in the Burough of Bloomingdale which we're in the process of converting into um our our newest county park um that is under design hopefully in 2027. Uh we're breaking
ground on doing the improvements there. Um, and a number of, you know, Daryl's team and the entire parks and recreation department. I I can't say enough good things about um what they've done to improve and enhance our our parks across the county. Um,
PNIS Valley Golf Course, right? Prius Valley Golf Course. Again, I I think one of the best public golf courses in the state of New Jersey continues even with the amount of play it's getting is maintained at a championship level and it's generating
revenue approximately $4 million um in count in in calendar year 2025. Um we've done a lot to expand programming. What you're seeing is a picture of the die cup which has become an annual tournament um that we hold in September similar to the RDER Cup. Um and we also
announced this year a partnership with William and Patterson University where um Prius Valley is now their home course and they're they're having a number of collegiate tournaments there. We've done a lot of work with the New Jersey State Golf Association to um bring qualifiers
for the for the pub links and and other more notable events. So I think people around New Jersey and around the tri-state area are starting to recognize the um how good of a golf course this is. We continue along with uh the parks department and our cultural and historic
affairs department um investing in historic sites throughout county. Earlier this year, we held the first Oval Office project at the D mansion which was uh bringing General Washington's tent to to the mansion um with reenactors and um there's been a number of events at the D mansion and
all of our historic sites. Um, two years ago, um, we took over the Skyler Kfax House from the Township of Wayne and are in the process of completing a restoration project there. That's the middle photo you're seeing, um, which is located on Hamburg Turnpike, which is
slated to open next year as our S County Milit Military Heritage Museum. Um, we did a very, um, outside the box partnership with Word Seed, Inc. in Patterson to turn the Vanderhof Westerfelt House into a literary and cultural center. Um, and the big one,
the Lambert Castle, which we've invested tens of millions of dollars in, is slated to have a soft opening at the end of January. Is that right, Kelly? So, that's very exciting. We've done a lot of improvements up at Lambert Castle, and there's a a lot more um planned, and
that's really going to be a world-class museum facility in the years to come. Um, I don't know what happened to my my caption there, Micah. Um, it's all right. Our uh uh West Milford satellite office, which we broke
ground on uh last year, um is slated to open um at the end of January. It's going to be a public health office. It's going to be a mental and health addiction services clinic. Um and it's going to be a nutrition site for our seniors. Um this was a great partnership with the township of West Milford um and
our friends in labor. It was a project labor agreement where we're putting county residents to work. Um and as we now serve uh six municipalities as the health officer um at the health services department um you know this is going to
allow access to to residents uh conveniently in up county. Uh our infrastructure um you know we continue to um secure grants to fund improvements to our roads and bridges. Uh we're investing county dollars um in
on call drainage repair projects, bridge repair projects um you know, we're paving roads. So we're doing everything we need to do to make sure that county um is one safe to travel, but two, you know, promoting economic development um and other things through investments in
our our roads, bridges, and parks. And I our new county engineer, uh Nord Murphy, has really hit the ground running and this keeping thing keeping things humming in that office and and moving projects along. Thank you Nordon for your work taking care of our state county seniors
under the direction of uh director Shirley Force um through meals on wheels through our nutrition sites through paratransit you know we're we're serving meals to homebound seniors who otherwise wouldn't have access to food close to 30,000 seniors were served meals through
through the county government in 2025 excuse me 300,000 meals were served to to seniors through through the county government and 30,000 seniors received rides through our paratransit program. Um, you know, our goal for 2026 is we do have a waiting list of seniors. So, we're going to get that list down to
zero and make sure every senior in state county that that needs food has access to it through our meals on wheels program. And finally, um you know, we've dealt with the challenges of the federal government and and funding cuts. Um and
even with uh cuts to federal funding, specifically to our our home energy um program, we were still able to uh enroll over 13,000 residents in home energy assistant programs with a reduced staff. Um so we're continuing to do more with
less and serving um our residents. Um and um hopefully things stabilize in the year to come. Although I'm not going to hold my breath, but say county government's proven that we're going to be here to step in and make sure that um
our residents um have access to all the services they've need. So it's a quick snapshot of of everything we've we've accomplished this year. There's there's a lot more on deck for 2026. Um, and again, just thank the staff, department heads, everyone that that works hard
every day to uh to get these things done. So, thank you. That's all I have. Director, >> thank you. >> And it should be noted that everything that Matt just talked about um highlighted all the accomplishments this
year um by this board um would not have been made possible had it not been for the direction of Matt, who took charge a few times. as I throw him in the corner. What am I doing here? Um, but uh, hats
off to you, Matt. You know, your your leadership and your abilities are incredible and uh, I'm sure all the department heads would agree that u that, uh, you got a lot done >> and very proud to be working with you. >> It's a team effort and none of it can be
done without the leadership of of all the commissioners. And I will say both you and Commissioner Duffy, we're going to miss you both. Um, it's a it's a great loss to the county. Um, you guys have a tremendous resume of accomplishments over the last 21 years. Um, excited to work with Commissioner
Electra from Magglia. Welcome. And Commissioner Electratz. Um, but but both of you should be very proud of your accomplishments over the last 21 years. >> Thank you. Okay. Commissioner reports. Um, deputy director.
>> Oh, good. [laughter] I think I make you happy on your last >> That's it. Let's just keep moving. Uh, Commissioner Bartlett, just a thank you to all of our department heads and all our staff across county government for another exceptional year of serving our constituents. Best wishes to my
departing colleagues and welcome to those that are joining us next week. >> Well, well said. Commissioner Cruz. >> Um I know it's it's difficult to put into a snapshot all the work that the uh that the employees do here uh Matt under
the uh your leadership and the administration and to all the department heads. Uh great work this year on a daily basis. It's hard to sum it up, but uh we see the work that you guys do and we we truly appreciate it and where we can continue to help you guys uh really help the residents. That's what that's
what we're here to do. Look forward to doing that in 2026. So, happy new year to everyone. >> Thank you, Mr. D'Vor. >> Uh, yes, I would agree um to all the department heads and to Matt and to everyone on this day is we had a great
year uh 2025 and you you you said a very uh strident point. You said when the federal government dropped the ball, P County picked it up and stepped up and we continue to move P County forward. And you're right, we we had some bad
days in P County, but all our good days definitely outweighed them all. And we often did more with less. And because of the people in this room and and and and the department heads and the commissioners, we did a great job moving county forward. And I want to wish
everyone a strong ending to 2025 and a very awesome beginning to 2026. Thank you. >> Thank you, Commissioner Duffy. I'd just like to wish everyone a happy uh uh new year. I want to thank the my fellow commissioners for the watch uh
and for the last time I'll say I see no one at the podium. I move the call. >> Not yet. Thank thank you commissioner. Um, I just want to reiterate, well, first of all, I want to acknowledge my son,
Lieutenant Robert Lapour, here uh, from Willen Park Police Department. [applause] His sole purpose here is to make sure that I leave when this meeting is over in case I, you know, have other ideas. Um, thanks for coming, Bob. Um
it's been it's been great working with everyone here, working with the department heads, working with the employees. Um if there's one thing we tried to show all the residents of Pay County that this team led by this board
um and this administration really knows what it's doing, really cares, which is even more important um for the residents of this county. And um I'm so excited uh Mike for you and Christine stepping in. Um there's no doubt in my mind you're
going to enhance this board and you're going to be able to do all the things that need to be done. Um I have absolute confidence in the both of you. Um and with that I don't want to go on and on otherwise I'll be mirroring the uh
Taylor Swift and the Vera tour here. Um, >> that's impressive. [laughter] This this farewell tour has been going on for a while. Um, I see a couple of the department heads going in the back going. Uh, with that, I do want to wish
everyone a happy and healthy new year. I am going to miss all of you, but I'll be around. Okay, I'll take a motion to open the public portion. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion made by D'vor, second by Bartlett. Roll call.
>> County Commissioners Bartlett, >> yes. >> Cruz, >> yes. >> D'vor, >> yes. >> Duffy, >> yes. >> Deputy Director Lazera, >> yes. >> Director Leapour, >> yes. Anyone from the public wishing to be heard, please step forward to the uh podium there. State your name and your address. Uh note that you have three
minutes. And note also that anything that you say is a matter of public record. >> Duffy, you're up. I move to close the public portion. >> Motion made by Duffy. >> Second. >> Second by Cruz. Roll call.
>> Uh, County Commissioners Bartlett. >> Yes. >> Cruz. >> Yes. >> D'Vor, >> yes. >> Duffy, >> yes. >> Deputy Director Lazera, >> yes. >> Director Leapour, >> yes. Um resolution authorizing the chief financial officer to exec execute budget
transfers between the 2025 budget appropriations pursuant to NJSA 484-58. Need a motion. >> So move. >> I move it. >> Motion made by Bartlett. Second by Lazar. >> Roll call.
>> County Commissioners Bartlett. >> Yes. >> Cruz. >> Yes. >> D'Vor. >> Yes. >> Duffy. >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Lazar. >> Yes. >> Director Leapour. Yes. Uh consent agenda. Um anyone on the board want to I'm sorry. I just Anyone from the board
want to vote on anything separately? Excellent. Are there any late starters? No late starters. All right. I'll take a motion on the consent agenda from M2 to M74. >> So moved. >> Second. Motion made by D'vor, second by
Bartlett. Roll call. County Commissioners. >> Yes. I'm sorry, M Cruz. >> Yes. >> D'Vor, >> yes. >> Duffy, >> yes. >> Deputy Director Lazar, >> yes. >> Director Leapour, >> yes. Need a motion on personnel. >> Make that motion. >> Second.
>> By Cruz, second by Bartlett. Roll call. >> County Commissioners Bartlett. >> Yes. >> Cruz, >> yes. >> D'Vor, >> yes. >> Duffy, >> yes. >> Deputy Director Lazera, >> yes. >> Director Leapore, >> yes. Need a motion on the bills. >> Move the bills. >> Second. >> Moved by Cruz. Second by Bartlett. Roll call.
>> County Commissioners Bartlett. >> Yes. >> Cruz. >> Yes. >> D'Vor. >> Yes. >> Duffy. >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Lazar. >> Yes. >> Uh, Director Leapour. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Just for a um a point of order. Um, you
guys adopted resolution M uh M19, which sets the reorganization meeting for next uh for Wednesday, January 7th at 5:30 here in this uh in this room. >> Thank you, Louie, for bringing that out.
Um, okay, before I ask for an adjournment, I want to say one more time, it's been an honor to serve with uh all of you. It's been an honor to serve the people of this great county and uh I wish everyone a very healthy
happy New Year's. Take a motion to adjourn. I'm sorry. >> Director through you. I would like to invite everyone downstairs for a clap out for our director Pat Laapour and Terry. You will be in our hearts. >> Thank you so much. [laughter] I
appreciate that. >> Miss all you guys. >> I know we miss you. the state county in good hands. I wish you all the best. >> Awesome. >> All right. Uh, Commissioner Duffy, you should know that as soon as this is over, uh, I'm heading down to First and
River and shamelessly add to my my pad that's down there. >> I think I think you passed. [laughter] >> Okay. Um, take a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion made by Barl, second. Oh,
divorce. Second by roll call. County Commissioners Bartlett. >> Yes. >> Bruce, yes. >> D'vor, >> Daffy, >> yes. >> Direct deputy director Lazar, >> yes. >> Director Laapour, >> yes. [snorts] >> I said pad, I meant tab.
>> Take care everyone. Safe trip home.