to the P County Board of Commissioners meeting for May 27th um 2025. I have a roll call, please. County Commissioners Bartlett here, Cruz here, D'vor here, Duffy, James, Deputy
Director Lazar here, Director Leapour here. Announcement of the open public meeting law. Ladies and gentlemen, the notice requirement of the 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 posted administration building and mailed to two newspapers in accordance with the provisions of the law. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. Commissioner Cruz, at this time I'll ask everyone to join
me in saluting our flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
Brother Ryan as we continue to remember those who have given their lives the protection of our country and those all those who have served and given us the freedom we need.
We pray. Please give us, oh God, intellect to understand you, reason to discern you, and diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, a spirit to know you, a heart to meditate upon you, ears
to hear you, eyes to see you, a tongue to proclaim you, a way of life pleasing to you, patience to wait for you, and perseverance to look for you. Grant us a perfect
end, your holy presence and a blessed resurrection and life everlasting. Amen. Amen. When I I came in, the chair said, "Oh, God." And I said, "Not yet. I'm I'm working on it." But when you look at the
He's God. Okay. They all got it. Please remain standing for a moment of silence. Remember all the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Thank you. I have a motion to approve the
minutes of May 13, 2025. So moved. Second. Moved by D'bor. Second by Bartlett. Roll call. County Commissioners Bartlett, yes. Cruz, yes. D'Vor, yes. Deputy Director Lazar, yes. Director Leapour, yes. Um,
I'll take a motion to uh approval of the proclamation. So moved. Second by Bartlett, second by Cruz. Roll call. County Commissioners Bartlett. Yes. Cruz. Yes. D'Vor, yes. Deputy Director
Lazaro, yes. Yes. Director Lefor. Yes. Administrator's report. Thank you, director. First, we have Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration. I'm going to turn things over to Commissioner [Applause] Barlet. Thank you very much. And good
evening everyone. Thank you so much for being here. I love that when we do this each year, we have a full room of wonderful honores of proud parents and family members uh and so many others. I'm so glad to have with us our P County surrogate judge, the honorable Zora
Kasanova, as well as our chairman, John Curry, who you'll hear from in just a couple of moments, and my former colleague, Assad Doctor, former freeholder and county were you a county commissioner? Freeholder and county commissioner. Assad doctor. Uh, thank you all very much for being here. Uh,
it's my privilege to welcome everyone. Uh, at the time I was elected in 2012, um, Vin Gopal said, now Senator Vin Gopal says I was the first Asian-American freeholder. Um, there have been plenty since then, um, that have better claim to it than I have. My
claim is by marriage. And my beautiful wife, Professor Kiati Jooshi, is here with us as well. um the person from whom I've learned almost everything I'm about to say. Um but this is a wonderful celebration. We've been doing it now uh for 12 years
minus one that we missed due to the pandemic. And it's always a pleasure to bring folks together and to recognize the achievements of a community that we can sometimes think of as new uh because so many in the Asian-American communities uh are immigrants. But at
the same time, as you can see from the poster over there prepared by the organization AAPI New Jersey, in fact have been a a part of New Jersey history back to the very beginning, uh, one of the factoids you'll learn and I learned reading on there and very appropriate for the week of Memorial Day is that the
first Asian-American to serve in the Continental Army was right here in New Jersey in 1776. So, a long history, but certainly one where all sorts of new chapters have been written uh since 1965 and the
immigration reforms that reopened our doors. President Linda Johnson signed that legislation here in New Jersey, sitting in in Jersey City with this back to the New York skyline, and he said, "This is important. It's the right thing to do to reform our immigration laws, but you know, it's really not going to
change America all that much." Well, little did he know, today, one in nine New Jerseyians is Asian-American. More than 1 million of our fellow fellow Garden State residents, including so many of you here in the room [Applause]
today. And we now have a state mandate to teach about the Asian-American and Pacific Islander experience in social studies and history classes in K through 12. And for four years now, I think four years, AAPI New Jersey has been sponsoring a teaching teaching
Asian-American stories fellowship. So teachers can learn the stories that make all these kids that are here in front of us feel like their stories are being told in history class and in social studies class along with the stories of ancestors like mine. And that's
incredibly important because we need to acknowledge those histories and we need to acknowledge discrimination when it occurs. Uh whether that's anti-Asian violence targeted at Korean women or at seek guided uh or at our Hindu and
Muslim communities. Uh all of them falling victim from time to time to violence but uh calling on us all to be allies in that regard. Um and of course as we're going to learn as we uh meet our three of our four honores today
because Mukesh by Mukesh Pandya couldn't be with us uh today we'll be presenting his proclamation at our next meeting but we're going to really see this year's AAPI theme which is legacies of leadership and resilience and the stories of how those who came first or
came early built a foundation on which uh communities have now sprung up and become part of, as we say, this wonderful Asian-American and American story. But it wouldn't ever be complete as a celebration here if we didn't have a little bit of a cultural performance.
And we are so very very pleased to have uh guru Malani Warrior here from the Kalanam dance group in Wayne uh and um our two of her students, Nia and Myra. And I want to invite uh Guru Warrior up here to tell us to introduce uh the
dance that we're about to see and uh please and introduce our dancers. [Applause] Thank you very much, John. Thank you very much for the opportunity. So uh myself, Malani Warrior. I um a resident
of Wayne, New Jersey, and uh we've been living here for for over 10 years now. So I've been uh teaching the classical uh dance form from India called Bharat Natium. This is a classical dance form from the south of India from a state
called Tamil Nadu. It's a very ancient uh dance form and um you know it's mainly just trans um taught by um in what you call the guru shisha parumphara where the guru is the teacher and the shisha the student just learn on a
one-on-one basis and there's hardly any text or any written material or any videos you know because this is a very ancient dance form. Of course in the modern era you do see a lot of that now being recorded and um and transmitted which is great but uh it's been my
effort to to promote this dance form and um other Indian classical dance forms along with my family uh to to teach this to the younger generation so that we can propagate this art form in the coming years. So with me today I have two of my
students Myra Doshi and Nia Warrior who've been learning from me for the past 5 years now and uh they will be presenting um what you call the Allar Ripu which is the very first piece that we traditionally perform in a repertoire
in a in a dance performance for the Vatnium style. They will explain a little bit more on the on the piece itself. So I will hand over the stage to them and um hope you enjoy the show. Thank you. [Music]
Hallelujah. [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] Come on. Yes. Come. Yes. But she Survive. I am [Music]
[Music] Yes, chicken Fore! Foreign! Foreign! [Music] [Music] Come sum she She
[Music] [Music] [Music] Congrat. [Music] to homic it's A potato [Music] [Music]
Tom the Tom it's our all day it's our day it's our day it's our day it's our day it's our day it's our date it's our date it's
our date it's our day it's Tom a semic. Star the day come the day it's all day the day it's all day the day it's all day the day it's all day it's all day
it's all day it's all Daddy daddy daddy. [Applause]
That was wonderful. Thank you both. So before you sit down, let's present all each of you with certificates for coming and performing with us. [Applause] You want to take a picture with the
dancers? Can we take a quick picture with the dancers? gather around. I love that you were not just your own perussion. [Applause]
That was absolutely wonderful. Thank you girls again so very much. Um you should stick around uh Orlando Commissioner Cruz because I want to begin actually in the middle of our list with Tahiru Islam. Sahir, join us up here. And
chairman, would you join us as [Applause] well? I'm going to let your fellow Pattersonians do the honors here. Thank you, Commissioner Barlet. Let's give Commissioner Barlet a round of applause.
And before I begin reading into the record this proclamation uh for our first honore, I'm going to yield the mic to our chairman, Mr. John Curry. Thank you, Commissioner. I think we should start by giving our wonderful dancers a great
round of applause. Young ladies, we're so proud of you. Uh first of all, to our congresswoman, I'm honored to see you, our circuit judge, Councilman Udine, all of you as guests. I have to start by
first of all for many many years commending our board of commissioners formerly known as freeholders for their vision of making sure that we highlight the various ethnicities during the year
during their month. I'm just so proud of them and something that that has not been done but uh I am just proud of them and what they do. I'm here tonight before we read the res resolution. It's so many great leaders
in our Asian community, I would tell you. But I'm here to just say a few words about a young man that's been in my life as many of you have for so long that I'm just so
proud of. I call on my son I'm going to first of all tell you from the beginning, Tar is a man of few words. He's not big on speaking, but he's big on action. I'm just more proud
of how active he is when the community is in need. And it doesn't have to be just any community or the Patterson community in particular. He is there to help them. As a young man who came to this country
very young and he's been able to put together many businesses as well as real estate. I'm mostly proud of the three lovely girls that he is raising along
with his wife. He's a man that deserves this honor today. He is there for each and every one of you when you need him. But and he doesn't look for thank you. He does it
from the heart. And I can say that and I know this firsthand. So Tahar, congratulations to you. I am so proud of you and just honored at what you do. And with that, I'll turn the mic back over to our commissions.
[Applause] Thank you, chairman. And as the chairman mentioned, this is an individual uh who is not only a leader in our community, but also a a good friend to us all. So, thank you. And I am honored to be reading this proclamation into the
record uh in your honor. Whereas the month of May has been designated as Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. In recognition of the outstanding achievements and contributions made by immigrants from Asia and the Pacific
Islands, Native Hawaiians and their descendants, the board of county commissioners of the county of Pake deems it fitting and appropriate at this time to honor and recognize Taru Islam or otherwise known as Teahar. Whereas
Tar is a proud Bangladeshi American who arrived in the United States with humble beginnings and with no formal business education achieved the American dream by establishing several success successful businesses including Fresh World on Wayne Avenue and a dollar world on Main
Street in Patterson, New Jersey and his first venture the MJ Group in Jersey City. All the businesses have created jobs for many local residents, strengthening their regional economy and empowering immigrant-owned enterprises. Tar is a respected landlord and property
manager, providing well-maintained affordable housing to working-class families throughout Pake County and New Jersey while remaining deeply engaged with tenants and committed to neighborhood improvements. Tahar provides educational scholarships to orphans in Bangladesh, ensuring they
receive access to quality education, a foundation for a brighter future, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to uplifting vulnerable communities both locally and globally. Whereas during CO 19 pandemic, TR has demonstrated extraordinary community leadership by
assembling and distributing hundreds of PPE kits, hygiene supplies, and bottled water to those vulnerable residents on the front and frontline workers throughout all of P County. And whereas Ter is widely respected a mentor, a community connector, often assisting
local residents, especially immigrants and low-income families with job support, resume development, interview preparation, and guidance towards meaningful and sustainable careers in business, government, and public service. Whereas Tar is a devoted father to three daughters, loving husband with
unwavering commitment to family serves the foundation of his character, guiding his every endeavor. So now for therefore let it be proclaimed by the P County Board of County Commissioners that it hereby publicly recognizes and applause Tahar for the significant contributions
he has made and the exemplary service and leadership he has unselfishly devoted to the county of Pake and to the community. And let it further be proclaimed that this board wishes Tahar Islam continued health, happiness, and success. Congratulations.
[Applause] You want to say a few words a picture first. I guess we'll do the photo first and then we'll give the mic to say to say share a few words. We also for all of the honores have commendations from our county clerk Danielle Ireland and of course our
phenomenal congresswoman Nelly Poe. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Tahar, you're the dad, but I think we can all tell who's the boss. Yeah, I know. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Say a few words. I'm not a good speaker. So, okay. And good evening everyone. First and foremost, I thank Allah God Almighty
for granting me the strength, guidance and opportunity to serve other and to stand before you this evening.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Pasai County Commissioner John Barllet for reaching out and extending this recognization. I also extend
my heartfelt thanks to the entire Basai County Board of Commissioner for their support. I am deeply honored to be
acknowledged during this AsianAmerican and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It is it is true privilege to be recognized
alongside such a passion dedicated and inspiring individual. This award is not just about me. It is reflect the value we all share
hard work, compassion and service. Before I finish, I would like to thanks my wife and three beautiful gorgeous girl from the gorgeous
mom and of course the man who is someone very important to me in my life. He was before he said I'm his son. Yes, I am his son. He's my father. I don't have any political relationship
with him. He's man of the word, man of the principle. I know him very long time since 2012 and I'm really honored and privileged um taking this very important
award from his office from his commission. I I'm special. I'm not a speaker. So well and also I like to thanks each and everyone from my community friend, brothers and
elder. So parents of Bengali community is not only my community, we are one family. We are together. We are united. Thank you so very much. Thank you again all of you. Thank you.
[Applause] Oh, I I I I I'm I'm sorry. I'm I'm I'm I'm really I have to mention someone else's name. Our very young, very energetic, the uh Paris counsel council at large, Mr. Rudin, and my friend Assad
also. Thank you so much. Thank you. She brought it up. So, be sure you go home with this. Oh, this is Let's hear from one. Thank you. All right. All right. Um, each of our honores today
is getting a certificate from our county clerk, Danielle Ireland Immhof, as well as certificates from two from both of our congresswoman, I will say. Congresswoman Mikey Cheryl of the 11th District and Congresswoman, the newest member of Congress from the state of New Jersey, Congresswoman Nelly Poe of the
9inth District, who is uh filling big shoes in Washington in a very, very important time. Congresswoman, we're honored that you could join us. Would you say a few words? [Applause] Thank you so very much, Commissioner. Um
first of all I am really really enjoying the beautiful little baby here that is absolutely very actively involved in the in this very ceremony. So that's wonderful when we have participation from all different levels. So uh indeed
uh congratulations to you and uh to all of our distinguished uh colleagues on the county board of uh uh commissioners. Thank you, Commissioner. Uh to my chairman, to each and every one of you,
to to our surrogate, uh Zoa Kasanova. Um ladies and gentlemen, thank you so very much. I am just so very happy and honored to be here. I know that we have a representative from our great uh governor, Governor uh Phil Murphy. So,
thank you so very much for for being here as well. Um, I am, uh, you know, this is a moment where we have an opportunity to celebrate, uh, the Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific
Islander Heritage Month, uh, which is really an important time to celebrate the commun, the contributions that these communities have made to the history of in in America and specifically here in
New Jersey and especially in in my district in the northern reg northern Jersey area. So I certainly want to uh once again congratulate all of the honores. Our P County commissioners have selected four amazing leaders in our
county and I just want to thank them for uh the thank all of the honores for their services to our county. Um, the month of May, as if it was pointed out, uh, was selected for the AAPI Heritage
Month because of all the important Asian-American milestones that occurred in this month back in our history when we think back to the early 1800s, right? So, I just want to point out something very quickly. on May 17th, 1843, the
first um one of the the recognition of this was the first Japanese immigrant that arrived in America. And on May 10th, 1869, after the congressional action, the first transcontinental railroad was completed with substantial contributions
from the Chinese uh immigrants. So, it really dates back to that period. Uh this year also marks the 60th anniversary of the enactment of the 1965 law that reversed restrictions and racist immigration policies among uh
amongst the immigrants from Asia. And that was a really good thing that happened that really reopened after decades. It reopened our um our uh ability to have more communities come into our our great country America. So,
you know, the recent census data um uh again found that New Jersey uh continues to be the fastest growing state in our region. um that has been that and that is really no surprise to to to to me but
I know that many it may be to many indeed uh the Asian-American population grew faster than any other racial or ethnic group over the last decade expanding by over
55% between uh the year 2010 and 2019 in New Jersey the Asian-American community grew 31% over the last decade and now over 1 million. So we are truly growing in
terms of the community and I want to thank you for your contribution in Washington. I brag all the time and I'm really very happy to do this. I brag all the time that I represent a district that probably and and most likely it's
the most diverse district in all of America. [Applause] This this diversity is built on AsianAmericans. Few places in America or
or anywhere can boast uh boast at all the different communities that we have in my district. The rich quilt of communities rival any place in the US for its economics, its social uh and
economic diversity. Our Asian-American communities are all central segments of that quilt. And as part of the mosaic, we honor you and we say thank you to each and every one of you in Congress.
Please know that I will continue to support uh the AAPI uh community and ensuring that proper that proper uh data continues to be collected so that we can continue to ensure that your history and
that your information is continued to be done in the proper format. So while we may have come a long way, we still have a long way to go as anything, right? So congratulations to all of the honores. Thank you so very much for your uh for
your contribution. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. Thank you very much, Congresswoman. You do an extraordinary job of representing uh the ninth district in New Jersey down in Washington in very very difficult times. Before we move on, I want to
acknowledge a couple of other folks. Taher mentioned uh Councilman Faredu Dein of Patterson is here with us. Councilman at large. I also want to Um, I want to acknowledge a member of our P County Open Space Trust Fund
Advisory Committee. Lupendra Gudby is here with [Applause] us. We have a couple of past honores in the room, not just Kiati, our woman's one of our women's history month honores a few years ago, but also some of the leadership of Rana Samaj, who we
recognized a couple of years ago here in uh in Pose County. I also want to welcome Rahu Blokra who's here with us, the proprietor of Pahali. So your reward at the end of this program is that down in our foyer on the first floor, there's an
absolutely delicious Indian dinner buffet waiting for you, courtesy of Pahaly, which just opened it in its new location on Berdan Avenue. And Wayne and Rahul, we wish you and your family all best at that location. [Applause]
We're joined by who? Someone who was once the youngest business administrator in the state of New Jersey. I'm not sure if that's still true in Sean, but doing his thing in Englewood Cliffs now. Inshan Chowry. It was about it was about a hundred years ago that we were up here giving you a college scholarship when
you graduated from PCTI. Um, and now we're here to recognize your father. So it's my privilege as we shift gears from the 9th congressional district to the 11th to toa to ask Golam Rabani Chadri to join me up here at the podium.
[Applause] Absolutely. Absolutely. and uh his loving family would uh be welcome to join us up here as well as we present the proclamation. Anybody who considers yourself in that category, come on up. Antan, you're in
charge. All right. So, as with my colleague, it's my privilege to read into the record our recognition of Golam Rabati Chowri. Whereas the month of May is being designated as Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in recognition of the outstanding
achievements and contributions made by immigrants from Asia and the Pacific Islands, Native Hawaiians, and their descendants. The board of county commissioners of the county of Payic deems it fitting and appropriate at this time to honor and recognize Golam Rabani Chowri. And shall I call you Rabani?
Yes. All right. And whereas Rabbani was born in Silhhat, Bangladesh like so many of our constituents here and raised in the scenic hills of Rang Rangamati in the Chittagong Hill tracts. And whereas after graduating from MC College in Silhouette, Ravani immigrated to the
United States in 1986, arriving in Los Angeles, California, planting permanent roots in the Hillrest section of Patterson, New Jersey, and later moving to Toada. And whereas Rabani was among the earliest Bangladeshi immigrants to settle in Patterson, New Jersey and took on roles in the services and
manufacturing sectors including Bonfire Restaurant, Titan and Crown Roll. And whereas Rabani stepped into entrepreneurship, opening BD Super Discount Store to serve the growing local community and co-founded the Bengal Pharmacy on Union Avenue, also
known as Bangladesh Boulevard, the vital hub of Patterson's second ward. And whereas Rabani has always been a bridgeuer, never seeking recognition, but always showing up when it matters. And his profound work is done quietly by connecting new immigrants to housing and
employment, driving neighbors to doctor's appointments or the hospital, guiding them through social service systems, and offering his phone number as the first call when someone needs help. And whereas Rabani is happily married for 36 years to his wife SA and
proud father of three children inaban and as well as his grandson Xavian. Xavian. Okay, we got the whole we got the whole team here. Well done. Uh now therefore be it proclaimed by the P County Board of County Commissioners
that it hereby publicly recognizes and applauds Golem Rabani Chowri for the significant contributions he has made and the exemplary service and leadership he is unselfishly devoted to the county of Payic and to the community. And be it further proclaimed that this board of county commissioners wishes him and his
family continued good health, happiness, and success. [Applause] Yeah, we'll do one to everybody else. Say a few words.
[Music] Assalamu alaikum. Good evening everyone. Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Gam Churri. I'm longtime resident in Parson and couple four years last four years I'm living in
Tortoa. I have a beautiful wife and my three sons and my grandson also today here. Thank you so much. First I want to thank you country for this incredible honor. I especially want to thank you
board of com board of county commissioners, all commissioners, directors, deputy directors and my good friend Commissioner John Barllet who has been a friend to our
community long long long time. And also I thank you today the president my best senior long time my mentor Ansar Ahmed meet with you John Kerry I work long time with lot of Bill
Pascal lot of mayor I work and also Lendy poor I work the campaign and also I thank you the I I think she left the honorable our new congresswoman Nelly Po And also I thank
you my our community future for council at large and also I have some mentor over here the Hussein Ahmed I don't know where he is the when I start the business after work I was sick and he
advised me to the start to the business so I start the business the BT discount store then after I start pharmacy and also the community first money exchange business the remittance who sent to the
country all over world I start in Paris when I the last covid in my life everybody inside the home me ma'am my son door to door I the delivery the medicine and remittance no
one open the remittance office my store was open the 7 days a week 9 to 11:00 I serve the community my mentor Alar Ahmed you always keep with him when I was too
young so many time Islamic foundation you know the Islamic foundation hour I was a elected selected member also when they brought the the new building right now is the Islamic foundation I was the secretary and Hamzan Ahmed has a
president and I closed the And thank you for our community only for the community they give me the opportunity and I have another mentor over there ali you always take me to the organization the who was the Bangladesh
society the first organization in Bangladesh he's the president also I work with him and also Bangladesh right now is the Bangladesh association is the biggest association everybody knows you work with them me also and another one
lady is over there the our community ali wife she's the first first first nurse in our community and registered nurse and and hospital she
always help to the our community people who go to the hospital she always keep touch with them because my mother-in-law died last two years ago she helped Not. So anyway, I talk too
much. This is the first award I have ever received in my life and touch my heart deeputy deeply for me helping others has never been recognized. It John Ballet again I thank you that you recognize me. You propose me my name. I
appreciate. I want one thing to say Mr. John Ballet. There is my man Toas Molali. Remember that we keep play looking for place for do something for the our community for permanently for our mother
language monument is called shahid minina. That person have lot large lot large lot large lot large lot large lot large lot large lot large lot large lot large lot large lot large and he find he found a place in front of the Canada high school who grow up our generation right now they know who was our mother
language and mother the fighting the so guy give me the place. Thank you, John B. Thank you so much. We never came back. We never I forget one name over there. Assad is my best friend, the ex commissioner.
Thank you so much. And if anybody I forget the name, please forgive me. And another lady over there, thank you so much to honor. I also want to express my deepest gratuit.
She has been my partner. Without her I can do anything. After I married always she support everything. Whoever called from Bangladesh to help she help. She call on me from lot of friends and family to
help me to send money to Bangladesh to help the people. So same way to over here without wife we can anybody can do anything. So I love you so much. Thank you very much.
And I ask all please continue to pray for my children. I have three beautiful children. I told you one of my boldest children in Jodi. He run my business and second one work in the city government used to work prospect park now he moved forward
to Engulwood cliffs is the administrator here. So pray for my son and another one newly graduate from the Radar's the [Applause] I especially meaningful to receive a
word to my today I have a two special day everybody please listen one of my the first life in my honorable I get from the John Mallet to the commissioner all the commissioner give you honor and also I have a big day today the
my second partner in my life. You know the people in world the grandson is the partner. So my grandson has a today birthday first birthday. And also I have a beautiful daughter. My family has a no lady no daughter. My father have no daughter. I
have no daughter. My brother has no daughter. I have a two brother. I'm the youngest and I've been found the one daughter daughter-in-law. I never call daughter-in-law. I call daughter. So she give me the nice gift. My Gabian chi
is so everyone here I want to know. I am always just a phone call away. My door always open and I will continue to my help best help to help anyone need. Thank you again. Thank you so much. God
bless America. God bless Bangladesh. Bangladesh Gindavad against Thank you so much. Take a picture. [Applause] Stay here. We'll take a quick picture.
Happy birthday, buddy. My son's turning 21. So, he is 20 years. Congratulations. All right, line it up for the picture. [Music] Thank you. Sorry about the You never
spoke before. So, we've got one more person to recognize. Somebody left a little cute little rose gold hoop earring up here. So, don't leave without that. Um, but also don't leave without going downstairs and enjoying our uh buffet
from Pahi. And for those of you if there's anyone in the room who observes the giant dietary restrictions or the PAPS dietary restrictions, uh we do have food down there for you as well. Before I pass it off to Sandy, I want to acknowledge Arthy Kakar who is a uh
division director, a department director right here at county uh of Indian background. Arthy runs our human services department extraordinarily well. And I want to invite Dr. Dr. Manurva Goodman to join us up here at
the podium and my colleague and fellow educator Sandy Lazaro will introduce Manurva. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you, Commissioner. Come on up, doctor. I'm Sandy. So, I'm already a big fan of uh Dr.
Goodman. You you do God's work. You do. And I you just have to hear about Dr. Goodman. I'm going to read this to you and uh I know you're going to be a fan just like I am.
Whereas the months of month of May has been designated as Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in recognition of the outstanding achievements and contributions made by immigrants from
Asia and the Pacific Islands, Native Hawaiians, and their descendants. The board of county commissioners of the county of Pisake deems it fitting and appropriate at this time to honor and recognize Dr. Manurva
Gutman. Whereas Dr. Manurva Gutman first came to the United States when she was in high school as an AFS exchange student from the Philippines, then returned to the Philippines to earn her bachelor of science in nursing from the
University of the Philippines College of Nursing. Whereas Dr. Dr. Manurva Gutman took a staff nurse job at the Philippine General Hospital and after one year she was appointed as an instructor in the
school of nursing where she taught numerous Filipino nurses, several of whom now serve in various health care systems in the United States, holding highlevel positions in administration, education,
and various specialties in hospitals. And whereas Dr. Manurva Goodman soon returned to the United States where she earned a master of arts in nursing as well as master's and doctoral degrees in education from Teachers College at
Columbia University. And you're amazing. Wow. And now you know why I'm a fan. and also completed a postmaster in adult gerontology nurse practitioner
certificate from UMDJ and worked at Mount Sinai Hospital in the open heart surgical intensive care unit later joining the Beth Israel School of Nursing to teach students in the diploma
program and then the state university of New York and whereas Dr. Manurva Gutman moved to New Jersey after getting married and having her children and took an assistant dean position at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of
New Jersey in charge of Middle Sex County associate degree program, the Ramapo College BSN program and the Newark campus master of science in nursing nurse practitioner
programs. And whereas Dr. Manurva Gutman became director of the school of nursing at Fairley Dickinson University in 1999, serving for 24 years to develop and expand many of FDU's current nursing
programs. And then in 2023, she became associate dean for the college of science and health for the school of nursing at William Patterson University in Wayne. And whereas over a five decade
career in healthc care and through her supervision of undergraduate and graduate nursing programs at numerous academic institutions where she ex established partnerships in the healthc care field to help inservice nurses
continue their education. Dr. Manurva Gutman has played an essential role in preparing thousands of nurses to serve in Pay County and beyond. Now therefore, let it be proclaimed by the S County Board of
County Commissioners that it hereby publicly recognizes and applauds Dr. Manurva Goodman for the significant contributions she has made and the exemplary service and leadership she has unselfishly devoted to the county of
Pake and to the community and be further proclaimed that the board of county commissioners wishes Dr. Manurva Goodman continued health, happiness and success.
[Applause] Thank you. Thank you. [Applause] Thank you so much. Thank you to the board of commissioners, county
commissioners for giving me this opportunity and this award because sometimes you forget what you do and then you are reminded by special occasions like this.
It is my pleasure to be here tonight and to really accept this beautiful award that I'm being given because it reminds me that we need a lot
more people to serve our health care system and to serve the community. As you know, Filipino nurses, a lot of us come to the United States. I was just
lucky that I came here when I was in high school and I was I was go going to go home to the Philippines and stay there. But then martial law happened and my father said, "Get out of here because you'll be one of the first that Marcos
will take because you came from the United States." So I did and I came back and so I continued my education in nursing because that is the only way I said that I can make a real difference
to educate more nurses to staff the various health care system that we have. I was trying to recall how many graduations I've attended for these nurses and from Fairley Dickinson from
UMD&J to Fairly Dickinson to everywhere. I am sure I probably have signed diplomas of students over probably 4,000 of them that are staffing the university.
In fact, I just got an email from the CNO, chief nursing officer of Valley Hospital, and he said he's now the chief nurse of Valley Hospital. And he I am a proud graduate of the class of I forgot
what class. And he he gave me his name and it's true. He is a graduate of the BSN program of Fairley Dickinson University a long time ago and he reminded me that I gave him a hard
time. So that is the pleasure of educating people. I'm sure some of you are educators too. And that's the pleasure when they become successful. And then even if you don't want to take the credit, you should pat yourself in the
back because you made a difference. I still remember the first student whose patient died with me what while I was providing him care uh instruction on on how to take care of a patient for the first time and then his
patient passed away. So I had to say here's another thing that you should learn and he said I don't want to learn that and you have to. It's part of it. Life and dying are really the opposite of each other. I said so you got to
learn how to do this. And after that he was grateful you know when we were able to give a peaceful experience I I hope for that patient who passed away.
Anyway, I continue to love educating students. To uh Friday, Thursday was our graduation at William Patterson University where I am now. And it was such a pleasure to
see all those nurses in their laboratory coats standing up getting their pins and then graduating. and you say to yourself, "This is a worthwhile profession."
[Applause] So it is my pleasure to accept this award and hopefully I can continue to produce more nurses for the health care
and also to encourage them for higher education so that we will have a welleducated health care system. Thank you. [Applause] Yeah, my husband is here with me. You
should come up. Yes, he should. cuz he really he really was the one cooking. All right. Thank you all very much for coming this year. Please uh we're going to take a minute before we resume our business meeting. Feel free to head
downstairs and get started on the buffet. With any luck, the rest of this will be fast and I'll be down there with you soon. But thank you all again very much for performing, for attending, and for being recognized. [Applause] Uh, director, next we have a public
hearing for the sale of uh, public property no longer needed for public use. I'm going to turn this over to our clerk. And great job, commissioner. That was a great great ceremony. Uh no this is this is you just have to start off ask for the announcement of
the public hearing. All right. Um You want me to read this? No. Announcement. Any the announcement of the public hearing? This public hearing is being held to solicit comments from the public on the intention of the public um I'm sorry, intention of the board of county
commissioners of the county of Payic to sell an approximately 1,50 square foot former rightway located adjacent to 269 Lacawana Avenue and 287 Lacawana Avenue in the burrow of Woodland Park near
block 507, lot 22. The purpose of the hearing is to conduct a private sale pursuant to NJSA4A 12-13 uh three to the Burrow of Woodland Park pursuant to the terms and the conditions as set forth in
NJSA 4A 12-13 ATSE and resolution number R25-162 approved by the board of county commissioners of the county of Pay. This
rightway is no longer needed for public use because under current road layout having changed decades ago, county road no longer exists on the subject right away. The rightway currently exists and
under development lands less than an eighth of a eighth of the minimum size required for the development under the zoning ordinance of the Burrow or Woodland Park. The public hearing is being held today at 5:30 p.m. on
Tuesday, March May 29 27th, 2025 in room 220 of the Pay County Administration building 401 Grand Street, Patterson, New Jersey. The following public hearing was noticed in the Herald News in the record on April
27th, 2025. Have a roll call, please. Okay, here. County Commissioners Bartlett here, Cruz here, D'Vor here, deputy director Lazar here, director Leapour here. Need a motion to open the public hearing. Second by Bartlett,
second by Cruz Ro. County Commissioners Bartlett, yes. Cruz, yes. D'vor, yes. Deputy Director Lazar, yes. Director Leapour, yes. Does anyone present desire to be heard on this application? Please step forward, state your name, your address, and uh
remember this is a matter of public record. Seeing no one director move to close the public portion. Second. Second motion by Cruz, second by Lazar. Roll call. Um Cruz, sorry. County Commissioners Bartlett, yes.
Cruz, yes. D'Vor, yes. Deputy Director Lazar, yes. Director Leapour, yes. Motion to adjurnn. So moved. by second bylet. County Commissioners Bartlett. Yes. Cruz. Yes. D'vor. Yes. Deputy Director
Lazera. Yes. Director Leapour. Yes. Thank you. Uh, director. We have one more thing that uh isn't listed tonight. Uh, there's recommendations on the agenda for uh grant awards from the Open Space Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund. We have S Prey, our open space coordinator, and Kelly Rafel, our
director of cultural and historic affairs to just give us a quick rundown of the recommendations from the open space advisory committee. [Music] Okay, check. Check. There we go. Uh, good evening, commissioners. A lot of tough acts to follow. I don't have a
dance, but I do have a presentation. And I just step out. I did catch a whiff of the buffet, so I promise I will be brief because I am hungry also. So, another successful year of our open space uh trust fund program. Uh, so some of you um that have served on the board may recognize some of these projects. Uh,
we're very excited to go and present them to you. They were presented at our uh public uh advisory committee and these recom are our recommendations for the year. So first under park development uh Bloomingdale is looking to go and improve their Dazier field bathroom and back stop project. Uh we
are recommending $180,000 for them. Clifton uh would like to do some improvements at the Washington Park uh playground, mostly updating their uh playground equipment and uh some ADA pathways. Uh they are uh we are recommending that they receive
$200,000. Hawthorne is uh replacing some bleachers at Wagarall Field. Uh just improving them, making them modern ADA compliant. Uh we are recommending $125,000. Uh the Highlands Nature Friends uh located at the new Y Center in Ringwood uh are requesting various
improvements to their main building and immediate uh building area. Uh we are recommending $40,000. Little Falls is updating their Amity Park playground, uh, replacing the playground equipment and refurbing the basketball court and also converting a baseball diamond into a multi-use field
with its supporting amenities. Uh, we are recommending $198,500. Uh, North Halen is looking to finish their High Mountain Middle School playground project. Uh, this is a replacement of the playground equipment and rubberized safety surfacing and we are recommending $235,400 and this will be the final
phase of that project. Uh Prospect Park is putting in for a uh some uh shelter project at Hofster Park. Uh resurfacing of a tennis court and pickball courts in addition to a gazebo and some benches. Uh we are also recommending $198,500.
Uh Ringwood is continuing work on their uh Stonetown recreation complex. Uh this year as a broken out component that stands independently from larger projects going on on site. Uh they are proposing to construct a playground. Um, and we are recommending $155,000 to support
that. Uh, Toada is looking to replace playground equipment at Kennedy Park, including rubberized safety surfacing and rehabilitation of an existing basketball court. We are recommending $225,000. Wanq is looking to finish improvements at Lorie Park, uh,
including two pickup for uh, courts with fencing, some soundproof fencing in addition to various other amenities on site. We are recommending uh $25,000. Uh Wayne put in two priority projects. Uh so their first priority is the uh community center sports court
renovation. Some of you may remember this is the former YMCA site that the town recently took over. Uh so this is a renovation of their outdoor uh courts including tennis courts, basketball, volleyball courts, and we are recommending $250,000. Uh Wayne Little League is looking to uh
continue improvements at Darowitch Field and this is a propu uh proposed uh turfing of their D3 field and we are recommending $100,000 for that. Uh the Wayne Police Athletic League is looking to also replace their bleachers uh with new uh ADA compliant
bleachers. So we are recommending $100,000. Uh Woodland Park uh is proposing uh to go and rehabilitate some tennis courts at Rosa Park Place. Uh, and we are going to recommend the $225,000. Uh, very briefly, as an aside, uh, Woodland Park also recently acquired
the Boys and Girls Club if some of you are more familiar with the area. And we'll be working with the town. I had a very pleasant talk with their BA on how we can support that project uh, going forward. So, that concludes uh, the park development. Does anyone have any questions before I turn it over to Kelly? I guess through the through you
director the one question I have is I see a couple of applications where you're recommending less than the full amount but there's no match indicated and do we have any concern by providing less than the full amount the the project isn't going to come to fruition because I know we've
had that happen in the past. I want to be sure we're not just throwing money at something that doesn't get built. Yes. No, that that is a a good question and a concern that we did take uh take into account. Some of the projects indicated could be multi-phase. So that either the funding will be made up uh next year when they go and apply for a second
phase for the project or they're going to have to go and uh accommodate their project to go and either meet the lower budget or have to chip in. Thank you. Good evening. Um so for the historic preservation applications, we had a
well-rounded uh grouping this year. The first will be the American Labor Museum. They um we are recommending $50,000 for the window and deck restoration. So this is the back of the house um in addition to restoring the roof on the chicken
coupe. The second um is the Burough of Pompton Lakes. Uh so this is a second phased project. Uh we are recommending 150,000 for the library roof restoration project. Uh so PMP um is actively um seeking funds and they've received
several funds at both at the federal level and through uh their uh capital budget to restore the entire building its exterior. So we have been supporting the slate roof and the gutters. So this is the second phase to that. Uh next is the city of Patterson. Patterson has
phased out restoration work at East Side Park. Uh so this is the third phase um for the restoration of the historic steps. So these were built in the 1890s. Um so this particular grant and this set of stairs is on the Broadway entrance
into the park. And this the recommendation is 225,000. Uh in conjunction with the city of Patterson, the friends of Patterson Parks is also uh we're recommending 75,000 for the grand staircase in East Side Park. Again, that's part of the
larger phased out work to restore the park. Uh, in this set of stairs, um, which is probably the main prominade that goes down to the fields, uh, and the Cricut house is next to the Vampire House within the park. Next is the Friends of Wall Homestead. This too is a phased project.
We have funded two previous years. Uh, so this will complete the stabilization and restoration of the red timber barn, which they plan to reuse on the property. The recommendation is $35,000. Then we have uh the Little Falls Historic Society. So, two projects. The first is their window
restoration recommending $50,000. This is for restoring 36 windows in the property. Um we have been funding uh the past several years along with private donations. The historic society is almost complete with the full restoration of the old town hall which
will be adaptively reused into museum space, a coffee shop um and an art gallery. The second project or second part of it is the exterior door restoration which we're also recommending $50,000. The doors are would be in those openings that you see
in the photo. And then a new applicant this year um out in West Milford um is for the organization is the preservation of the THUNE settlement. Um we're recommending 35,000 to um stabilize and repair three
roofs to three different structures on property. They're different barns. And that concludes the historic preservation recommendations. Any questions? Can you go back to the B red barn? I believe that was recommendation. Uh you
said the final stage is is being done. Not this barn. This one final stage is being done. Recom request was 50 recommendation was 35. Um is that going to be enough to finalize
it? Yes, they have their budget revised budget as you know we review the applications was less than their initial request. So we just provided what would meet the gap or recommending what would meet that gap. Thank you.
I just want to know Cal, can you send this to us? Yes. Email it. Yes. Thanks. It's in your agenda packet too though. It is resolutions listed for the grant awards, but the presentation. Yeah, we can we presentation. That was a very good
presentation. Thank you. Thank you guys. That was very efficient. Great job, Kelly Sal Andras, Nord Murphy from engineering, Greg Moore from the parks department. They also sit on the open space advisory committee. So, thank you all for your hard work.
Uh just one last thing to note uh director um at our last meeting we had a presentation on P County Move the new microtransit service we launched in the city of Payic and Clifton. It it there was a soft start to the program last week. Uh I'm happy to report that since
since we started uh 1300 people have downloaded the app. Um over a thousand people have created accounts. We've completed 303 trips and 434 riders have been transported. Um, our operator is telling us that it's unprecedented for
the first week of this type of program. We're now the third county in New Jersey to launch it, but we're officially doing a media event tomorrow, but we're off to a great start with our microtransit program. So, with that, I'm done. Director, if I if I may, director, real quick, I'll just uh a recommendation
upon approval of these uh open space grants. Uh maybe we can do some sort of media push promoting the awards just cuz often times uh projects get done and promoted and bragged about and the
county gets left out of it. And so I think it'd be a good idea for us to push that and just let the residents know that there's county dollars invested in these projects. Yeah, to that note, I Lindsay is is working on a a media plan. So, there will be a robust outreach
effort to highlight the board's contributions to all these projects throughout county. Sorry. All the commissioners will be involved to meet the uh affected towns during their council meeting and during their
public hearing. uh get up there and just announce it on their uh website there or on their meeting that this is taking place. Can we bring the big poster checks? Yes. We've always done it in the past. So,
okay, we're good. All right. I'll take a motion to suspend the regular order of business. So, make that motion. Second second. Roll call. County Commissioners Bartlett. Yes.
Cruz. Yes. D'Vor. Yes. Deputy Director Lazera. Yes. Direct Director Leapour. Yes. Bond ordinance 2025-04. bond ordinance to authorize the partial funding of the county of Bayic's portion of the cost of the construction
of a parking garage for the vocational school in the county of Payic by and for the county of Bayic state of New Jersey to appropriate the sum of 4,500,000 to pay for the cost there thereof to authorize the issuance of
bonds to finance such appropriations and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation of the issuance of such bonds. Motion to open the public hearing about ordinance 2025-04. Some moved. Second made by Bartlett.
Second. Second by Cruz. Roll call. County Commissioners Bartlett. Cruz. Yes. D'vor. Yes. Deputy Director Lazar. Yes. Director Leapour. Yes. Does anyone present desire to be heard on B or 2025-04? Seeing no one move to close. Second. By
Cruz to close. Second by Lazar. Roll call. [Music] County Commissioners Bartlett. Yes. Cruz. Yes. D'Vor. Yes. Deputy Director Lazar. Yes. Director Leapour. Yes. Motion to adopt B orders
2025-04. I'll make that motion. Second. This is appreciated in Wayne. It's a parking on the roads around tech have been a challenge and this is a big step in the right direction for our constituents in Wayne particularly the second and fifth wards. made by
Bartlett. Second. Second by Cruz. Roll call. County Commissioners Bartlett. Yes. Cruz. Yes. D'vorain. Uhoh. Um, Deputy uh, Deputy Director Lazar. Yes.
Yes. Little technical difficulty here. I get in there. Have we paused the Facebook feed? Try to get try to get joined earlier. Um, so I'd like to do a roll call vote again.
Um, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, Okay. All right. So, yeah, because actually wants to speak. So, we're gonna we're gonna actually start over
again on the bond. Okay. Okay. Okay. All right. Um Okay. Bond ordinance 2025-04. bond ordinance to authorize the partial funding of the county of Bay's
portion of the cost of the construction of the parking garage for the vocational school in the county of Bay by and for the uh county of Baseic state of New Jersey to appropriate um
actually I'm trying to I'm muting him. Okay. uh by the count county of Bay State in New Jersey to appropriate the sum of 4,500,000 to pay the cost thereof to authorize the issuance of bonds to
finance such appropriations and to provide for the issuance of bond anticipation notes in anticipation for the issuance of such bonds. May um go ahead. So moved by second by county commissioners Bartlett. Yes.
Cruz. Yes. D'Vor. Yes. Duffy. Yes. Deputy director. Yes. Director Leapour. Yes. Does anyone present want to be on 2025? Seeing no one move to close. Second by
Cruz. Second by Lazar. Close. County Commissioners Bartlett. Yes. Cruz, yes. D'Vor, yes. Duffy, yes. Deputy Director Lazar, yes. Director Leapour, yes. Motion to adopt bottom 2025-4.
So moved by second. Second. Second by Lazar. Okay. County uh county commissioners Bartlett. Yes. Cruz. Yes. D'Vorain. Duffy. Yes. Deputy Director Lazar. Yes.
Yes. Director Leapour. Yes. Okay. Okay. Uh J. Motion to resume the regular order of business. So moved. Second. Move by Cruz. Second by D'vour.
Roll call. County Commissioners Bartlett. Yes. Cruz. Yes. D'vor. Yes. Deputy Director Lazar. Yes. Director Leapour. Yes. I'm going to suspend the um Commissioner Rup. Oh, and and Duffy and
Duffy. Sorry. Yeah. Sorry, Commissioner. I apologize. You did that on purpose. Okay. I'm going to suspend the regular I mean the comm county commissioner reports and move u right to
communications. There are none. Nope. Uh motion to open a public portion of the meeting. Move it. Second by Lazarus. Second by Cruz. Roll call. County Commissioners Bartlett. Yes. Cruz. Yes. D'Vor. Yes. Duffy. Yes. Deputy Director
Lazar. Yes. Director Leapore. Yes. Uh, anybody from the public wishing to be heard, please step forward. State your name and address. [Laughter] I second that.
You would. Motion made by Duffy, second by Cruz. Roll call. County Commissioners Bartlett. Cruz. Yes. D'Vor, yes. Duffy, yes. Deputy Director Lazar, yes. Director Leapour, yes. Um, okay. We have
uh consent agenda. We have a late starter. Yes. Director through you. We have one late started tonight. It's a resolution awarding a contract between the Pail County Child Advocacy Center of the Pail County Prosecutor's Office and the Audrey Huburn Children's House, the
Northern Regional Diagnostic Center of Hackinack University Medical Center, part of the Hackinack Meridian Health Network. Pursuant to NJSA 481-5, I would ask that N66 be added to the consent agenda.
Yes. Okay. Motion to add N66. So moved. Motion made by Bartlett. Second. Second by Cruz. Roll call. County Commissioners Bartlett. Yes. Cruz. Yes. D'vor. Yes. Duffy. Yes. Deputy Director Lazar. Yes. Director
Leapour. Yes. Motion to approve N1 to N66. So moved. Moved by Bartlett. Second. Second by D'vor. Roll call. County Commissioners Bartlett. Yes. Cruz. Yes. D'vor. Yes. Duffy. Yes.
Deputy Director Lazar. Yes. Director Leapour. Yes. Um, under new business. Capital Ordinance 2025-05. I'll read it. Yeah. Um, capital ordinance of the county of
Bake, New Jersey, authorizing the uh resurface uh resurfacing of various county roads in the amount of 3,500,000 and the appropriation of 2,884,426.13 from the general capital
fund uh reserve for capital acquisition and 615,5 $57387 from the capital improvement fund of the county. Motion to approve of capital ordinance 2025-05 on first reading. Motion second by Duffy. Second
by D'vour. Roll call. County Commissioners Bartlett. Yes. Cruz. Yes. D'Vor. Yes. Duffy. Yes. Deputy director Lazar. Yes. Director Leapour. Yes. Take a motion for the personnel. Personnel. Bartlett. Second.
Second by Cruz. Roll call. County Commissioners Bartlett. Yes. Cruz. Yes. D'vor. Yes. Daffy. Yes. Deputy Director Lazar. Yes. Director Leapour. Yes. Motion. I need a motion for the bills. Move the bills. By Cruz. Second by
Bartlett. Roll call. County Commissioners. Bartlett. Yes. Cruz. Yes. D'vor. Yes. Duffy. Yes. Deputy director Lazar. Yes. Director Leapour. Yes. Um, again, we're inviting everyone to go downstairs. Yes. Buffet
is still open. Okay. Uh, motion to adjurnn. So moved. Second. Made by D'vor. Second by Bartlett. Roll call. Duffy. I'm sorry. It was made by Duffy. Motion made by Duffy. Second. I open my county commissioners Bartlett.
Yes. Cruz. Yes. D'vor. Yes. Duffy. Yes. Deputy director Lazar. Yes. Reto Leapore. Yes. Good night everyone. Thank you for coming over.