WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=hgrA5BrLuJo

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: hgrA5BrLuJo):
- 00:00:23: Meeting Commences; Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance
- 00:01:31: Open Public Meetings Act Notice and Agenda Approval
- 00:02:35: Proclamation for Eagle Scout Anthony Wiglio, Parkinson's Awareness
- 00:05:34: Public Hearing, Motion to Open the Floor
- 00:07:58: Public Comment: Concerns About Law Constitutional Policy
- 00:08:33: Public Comment: Thank You for Good Policy
- 00:08:50: Commissioners' Comments: Silverthornne on College Tour & Library
- 00:11:29: Commissioners' Comments: Henderson on Chamber, MUA, Veterans
- 00:15:56: Commissioners' Comments: Carney on Stormwater, Resurfacing, Grants
- 00:19:38: Commissioners' Comments: Carney on Cold Case and Recognition
- 00:22:20: Commissioners' Comments: Degrroot and Space, Earth Day, Seniors
- 00:28:16: Approval of Minutes: December 10th 2025, February 25th 2026
- 00:28:50: Ordinance 26-05 First Reading: Newton Green Application
- 00:29:56: Ordinance 26-06 First Reading: Public Meeting Conduct
- 00:30:47: Resolutions A-Q; Contract Change Orders A-J
- 00:31:53: Financial Resolutions: Payment of Bills A & B
- 00:32:41: Ordinance 26-01 First Reading: Capital Improvement Bond
- 00:34:15: Ordinance 26-02 First Reading: County Capital Improvement Bond
- 00:35:08: Ordinance 26-03 First Reading: Capital Improvements Funding
- 00:36:14: Ordinance 26-04 First Reading: Roads and Bridges Funding
- 00:37:20: Personnel Agenda Approval and Administrative Report
- 00:42:58: County Council Clarification: Open Public Meetings Act
- 00:53:57: Hamburg Fire Department Letter, General Public Comments Opened
- 00:55:20: Public Comment: The County's Treatment of Skyland
- 00:56:37: Public Comment: County Website and Funding
- 01:00:47: Public Comment: Veteran Support Services
- 01:04:06: Public Comment: Expenses, Mandates, & Closing of the School
- 01:09:21: Public Comment: Challenges Facing American Sussex County Farmers
- 01:12:29: Public Comment: Open Space & The Data Center
- 01:15:13: Public Comment: Great Job With the County & Thank You
- 01:16:04: Public Comment: Commissioners Tell The Truth
- 01:19:14: Public Comment: Suggestion:  Moratorium on Data Center
- 01:21:42: Public Comment: Full Support to NJ School of Conservation
- 01:25:23: Public Comment: Senior Services Appreciation
- 01:28:10: Public Comment: Ordinance on Use of the Green
- 01:31:14: Public Comment: Issue of the Benches on the Green
- 01:31:43: Public Comment: Concerned over the Data Center
- 01:34:13: Motion to Close Public Comment; Municipal Planning Remarks
- 01:35:20: Executive Session Resolution: PBA, Public Safety, Litigation, Personnel


Part: 1

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ready. >> Oh, I forgot. >> Yeah, there's somebody in the center. Okay, this is the meeting of April 22nd um at 6 PM at Sussex County

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Administrative Center Commission meeting room. Commissioner Meeting Room, One Spring Street, Newton, New Jersey. Can I get a roll call, please? >> Commissioner Carney here. >> Deputy Director Degrroot >> here. >> Commissioner Henderson, >> here. >> Commissioner Silverthornne >> here. >> Director Space >> here. Can I get a moment of silence and

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salute to the flag? I pledge algiance 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 of all.

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Number four, public statement. Pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act, chapter 231, PL1975, adequate notice as defined by section 3D of chapter 231, PL1975 has been made by regular mail and email.

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Such notice being submitted on January 6, 2026 from the administrative center of the county of Sussex located at one spring street, Newton, New Jersey to the following New Jersey Herald, Star Ledger, Strauss News and is also posted

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on the bulletin board maintained in the administrative center for public announcements and has been submitted to the Sussex County Clerk in compliance with said act. At this time, please mute all electronic devices. Number five, approval to the agenda. There will be an

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addition to the agenda item 11 minutes. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda? >> So moved. Second. >> Okay. Uh we have Commissioner Henderson and Commissioner Silverthornne. Any discussion? All in favor? I

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>> I abstain. >> Number six, proclamation certificates and presentations. We have a proclamation that will be presented to Eagle Scout Anthony Wiglio and that will be uh at his court of honor on May 9th.

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And then we have another proclamate which I think is going to be read by Commissioner Henderson. And then we have one for Habitat Humanity which will be presented at the Beams and Dreams Gala on April 30th which I think Commissioner Henderson and Commissioner Silverthornne

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are planning on attending. Um, and then we have a proclamation proclaiming April as Parkinson's awareness month. And we have a resident, Sussex County resident, who is uh my brother-in-law. So, I'm very pleased to be able to present this

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in honor of my brother-in-law, Paul File. Whereas Parkinson's disease is a chronic progressive neurological disease and is the second most common neurogen generative disease in the United States. And whereas there is inadequate data on

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the incidence and prevalence of Parkinson's disease, but it is estimated to affect 1 million to 1,200,000 people in the United States. And the prevalence will more than double by 2040. And whereas Parkinson's disease is the 14th leading cause of death in the United

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States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And whereas it is estimated that the economic burden of Parkinson's disease is at least 14.4 4 billion annually including indirect costs to patients and family members of 6.3 billion and

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whereas research suggests that the cause of Parkinson's disease is a combination of genetic and environmental factors but the exact cause and pro progression of the disease is still unknown and whereas there is no objective test or biomarker for Parkinson's disease and there is no

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cure or drug to slow or halt the progression of the disease and whereas the symptoms of Parkinson's 's disease vary from person to person and can include tremors, slowness of movement and rigidity, difficulty with balance, swallowing, chewing and speaking,

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cognitive impairment and dementia, mood disorders and a variety of other non-motor symptoms. And whereas volunteers, researchers, caregivers, and medical professionals are working to improve the quality of life of persons living with Parkinson's disease and their family. And whereas increased

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research, education, and community support services such as those provided by the Parkinson's Foundation and other organizations are need to find more effective treatments, provide access to quality care to those living with this today and advance efforts towards a

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cure. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the Sussex County Board of County Commissioners, do hereby proclaim April as Parkinson's awareness month in 2026 by order of the board of county commissioners, Jill Space, Commissioner Director, Jack Degrroot, Commissioner, Deputy Director, Chris Carney, Alan

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Henderson, Dave Sloberthornne, commissioners. Thank you. I know you probably don't want to say a word, but yes. Thank you. Number seven, we have no public hearing. Number eight, public session from the floor. This public session is for those

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wishing to make a comment of three minutes or less regarding an agenda item. Please line up at the microphone, state your name, municipality, and agenda topic for the record. Can I get a motion to open the floor for public comment? >> So moved. >> Okay. Commissioner Silverthorn in a second. >> Second.

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>> Uh, Commissioner, deputy director Degrroot. And any discussion? All in favor? I oppose abstain. Okay. The floor is open for agenda topics only. like allbody

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fire the law constitutional policy having written on constitutional policy the first time I turned no exact go

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make changes okay but you know to get up there in front of everybody say oh I did such a great job a great job didn't think you had not you want me and got his lawyer.

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You didn't do it. So don't get up there a grand for the s finally go to good policy. Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Anyone else? >> Okay. Can I get a motion to close the floor for public comment?

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>> Okay. Commissioner Henderson in a second. >> Okay. Commissioner Carney. Any discussion? All in favor? I oppose. Number nine, commissioner's comments. We're going to start with Commissioner Silverthornne >> and pull the easy ones. I'm going to just stick to the ones that I did

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basically loan or that I was a direct leaison on to um which I didn't take your list. Well, nevertheless, um I had my college tour with Dr. Cory Homer and Stan Kula.

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Uh that was much appreciated and I I got to see a lot of the pieces of the college that I hadn't seen before. I attended Ogdensburg and Packon council meetings. Um I had a meeting with the board of taxation.

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I had a Sussex County solid waste um council meeting. I had a meeting with the new prosecutor and had a tour of their facilities and I had a half of my library tour

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uh which was today and I'm going to have another half the other three uh branches the other three branches um down the road a little bit. um uh which was uh

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very informative and very nice. And with that, I'm going to segue right into a uh announcement from the library. Um the Sussex County Library system is seeking teen volunteers ages 14 through 18 to assist with the upcoming summer reading program, Unear Story. Teens looking to

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earn service hours can apply online or visit any local branch. Uh those applications are due by June 13th. Um, also the summer reading program kicks off on June 25th with a special opening events at each library location. It runs through July 25th. Uh, for either of

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these events or many other um information any other information about the library, you can um get that atcluscy library.org or call 973-9483660. And I just want to uh just again thank

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uh Will and Wendy for a great uh three uh library tour today and uh I look forward to the the next three probably in the next week or so. And that's all I have. >> That's good. Commissioner Henderson, >> I just have a question to Commissioner Silverthornne. What did you think of our

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prosecutor's office? Um, honestly, I I think they need some help and I think um I think moving forward into the future, we we need to concentrate on some issues uh over there. Not to get into the weeds here,

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but um a lot of the infrastructure over there is you just pour in good money after bad trying to fix what's there. So, I mean, there's going to be a bigger discussion that's going to have to be had, and I know financially speaking, we're trying to be responsible and keep

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taxes reasonable, but um the prosecutor's office is one of the bigger entities that the county supplies and it's very important and I think it does not put a good for forward when people come up to the county and and see the facilities that are >> Well, I'll interrupt and say that's why

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we're doing the feasibility study. Well, and and that's what I look forward to getting that back and and figure out what we can do to try to help them out because it is uh >> they need some help up there. >> Commissioner Henderson, >> I guess I'm going to be a little bit more long-winded than Commissioner Silverthorn here alongside of me. On

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April 14th, I along with Commissioner Space and Silverthornne attended the Sussex County Chamber. Also on the 14th, the Solid Waste Advisory Board meeting was cancelled due to a lack of quorum. On April 15th, I attended Sussex County MUA meeting where there was a discussion

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regarding the aging Walkill Valley sewer plant following a PIOA compliance inspection on March 17th. Additional deficiencies as roof leaks, electrical upgrades, and safety railings uh need replacing. Uh it looks like it's going

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to cost them approximately $65,000 to do that. and Skuma has already completed about 420,000 in necessary reactive improvements to the aging equipment infrastructure. Also that evening I attended the Opacon Burl meeting along with Commissioner

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Silverthorne. Like everybody in the county, they are also struggling with their budget concerns and increases. On April 16th, I joined the Medical Reserve Corp recognition lunchon and presented certificates of completion. This volunteer group of highly trained individuals we used to help during

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emergencies when needed. I'd like to thank them for their time and their desi desire to be part of this exceptional program. Then on April 17th, along with my fellow commissioners, we attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a new poleborn construction for the county health nurses, followed by a visit to

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the Sussex County Sheriff's Office to show our appreciation for the telecommunicators as it was telecommunicator week. Then off to Newton ShopRate for a presentation for several Newton Shopright employees for first place in the Cheerios Champion of 2026. These employees will be featured

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on the Cheerio box. A $40,000 check was donated to Northwest Cap and a $10,000 check to SCAR from the Romano family of Reneco Shoprights. On March 20th, I attended the Sussex County Board of A meeting along with Commissioner Silverthornne. Several applications come

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before the board and again the new county a website will be launched next month. Yesterday I along with commissioner Carney and Silverthornne attended the Sussex County Chamber toast to the stars. Like to say congratulations to all the winners and the nominees. This afternoon

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commissioner spacethornne and Carney we attended the Sussex County Veterans Lunchon honoring the veterans of the county. It's fantastic to see their patriotism and their love for our country. I'd like to thank all Sussex County veterans as well as all the veterans and families that served or are

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serving our country. Where would we be without their service? Also, uh veterans of all ages are invited to attend a peer support group for Sussex County veterans this month. The group will be meeting at Newton Firehouse Station number one, 22 Mil

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Street, Newton, on April 28th from 5 to 8:00 p.m. Participants will enjoy dinner at 5:00 p.m. followed by a night of camaraderie and learning about programs and services available to our Sussex County veterans. To register your attendance and learn more about this group, please call the Division of

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Senior Services at 973-579055 extension135. And that's all I have. Commissioner Carney >> storm waters and uh 4,000 storm water inlets as part of the annual spring inspection program.

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The program includes visual inspection of storm water inlets to determine normal operation and maintenance needs of the inlet. Inspections identify two general types of work. inlets that have accumulation of debris and need to be cleaned in inlets that have structural uh defect that need to be repaired. Work

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orders will be issued to DPW crews for both inlet cleaning and inlet repair. Uh resurfacing program due to my absence of last meeting. This was from last meeting but uh it still pertains of today to today. Uh construction is scheduled expected to begin late April of 2025

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Sussex County resurfacing program. Initial work will focus on upgrades to 21 substandard sidewalk transitions located at signalized intersections within the project work limits. The milling and paving work includes repaving of 23 miles of county routes, including county route 517 from the

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Warren County line to county route 616 near Pope Pope John High School in Sparta. County Route 616 from County Route 517 Sparta into the town of Newton. County Route 653 Moniku from New Masha Petong Road north. a segment of

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County Road 521 in Frankfurt Township near Lake Aasa and County Road 609 in Hakon. Variable message boards will be posted along with the along the road about 7 days in advance of work starting. The roads are expected to remain open for single lane alternate

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traffic during the paving operation. The contract was awarded to Shiaana construction in the approximate amount of $7.4 million. Funding for the project includes over $7 million received from the New Jersey Department of Transportation County Aid Grant Program.

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Uh friendly reminder, uh the county is accepting applications for the 26 Sussex County Trails Grant Program. The grant program is funded through the Sussex County Farmland Preservation Recreation Open Space Trust Fund. Grants can be used to assist eligible applicants with

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construction, rehabilitation, restoration, and maintenance of publicly owned shared use trails. Sussex County Division of Planning is available to answer any questions pertaining to this program, and they can be reached at 973-5790500. Uh, in-house construction staff within

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the Division of Public Works, the Office of Bridge and Traffic Safety, and the Office of Facilities Management have broken ground on the Sussex County Division of Health Storage building in Frankfurt Township. As my colleague uh Commissioner Henderson said prior, Sussex County DPW will be performing site work over next month in preparation

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for construction of the new building. Construction on the building is expected to begin mid June. Questions on construction also could be uh reached at the Department of Engineering at 973-5790430. I'll just add to that too, tomorrow we have um the groundbreaking of our

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transfer OEM transfer station over by the OE OEM building in Frankfurt. That's another in-house project that we are doing. I know meeting with the DPW, they always enjoy doing different projects and building stuff is my forte. I like to do it and I know they they do as

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well. Also saving us taxpayer uh with in-house um labor. Uh Sussex County Preserved Farm Monitoring Program staff from the division of public uh planning has been conducting annual inspections of Sussex County held farmland preservation easements. State

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regulations require the county to inspect all farmland preservation e easements annually to verify compliance with the specific conditions of the preservation easement. So far this this year, staff within the division has completed inspections on 104 of the 187

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easements held in the county. The state agricultural development committee requires the county to complete the annual inspection and monitoring program by June 30th of each year. Sounds like a task. Um, I want to read this is a press release from um the prosecutor's office

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as you heard. You might not have heard about uh the cold case that happened. So, this is from April 18th, but I'm I want to read it anyway because I want to, you know, basically um commend and applaud the state police, the prosecutor's office and burn township.

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So, I want to read this. Uh, Sussex County Prosecutor Daniel Empirez, New Jersey State Police acting superintendent Jeanie Hang Mua. Hopefully I didn't get that too wrong. And Vernon Township Chief of Police, Daniel Young, announced today that Robert William McCaffrey Jr., 54, will

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be extradited from North Carolina to New New Jersey this weekend to face criminal charges in connection with the 1990 homicide of Lisa Marie McBride of Vernon Township. McAffrey is currently scheduled to appear before honorable Janine M. Allen for an arraignment on

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Monday, April 20th, 20 uh 2026 at 9:30. It is expected that the initial appearance of McAffrey will be formally charged with murder in the first degree, kidnapping in the first degree, and burglary in the second degree. Following Macaffy's arraignment, the complaint warrant and affidavit of probable cause will be made publicly available. The

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Sussex County Prosecutor Office will be filing a motion for a pre-trial detention is anticipated that a detention hearing will be scheduled in the Cus County Superior Court the week of April 27, 26. these court proceedings following McAffrey's arrest on April 10th, 26 in uh Manteo, North Carolina

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after a decadesl long investigation into the murder of Lisa Marie Marie McBride. This cold case was solved through significant advancements in DNA technology combined with the relentless investigative investigative efforts of detectives in New Jersey State Police, Vernon Township, and the prosecutor's

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office. So again, kudos to them. I appreciate that when somebody from our own county something bad happens to them and it doesn't go uh unpunished. Uh I attended opening day at Frankfurt Park this last Saturday as I was MC um for that. It was

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about 400 in attendance which was nice. Weather was nice nicer than it is today. And yesterday as Commissioner Henderson uh said prior we went attended the veterans lunchon. So thank you to the veterans. I know John Schneider's here who was there today. Hopefully you had a good time.

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175 people were there which was nice about 25 more than last year I think Bane right so it's growing which is which is nice as well um and just one one shout out the chamber lunchon again as commissioner Henderson said um great great event lots awards so

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congratulations to all the winners special recognition to Jeff Parrot our current clerk um he was recognized for all the hard work he's done over the last 40 years whether it be at the clerk's office being a freeholder being a mayor um or the school boards that he sat on, schumma board he sat on. So

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kudos to him. Congratulations to all. And last one, Crimestoppers. If anybody's looking forward to an event, it's a fundraiser for Crimestoppers. That's going to be April 29th at 6:00 at the Farmstead. So if you're interested, then you can get online where I have it

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here. $75 a ticket. So hopefully you guys can attend. That's all I have. >> Deputy Director Degrroot. >> Yes. Good evening everyone. Uh first I'd like to wish everyone a happy Earth. Uh Sussex County truly embodies people and nature together from our farms to our parks and it's something worth

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celebrating not just today but every single day. Continuing on that theme at last week's Muskan regional planning board meeting we discussed the transition into spring and prepar preparations to deploy the lake harvester in May um as aquatic vegetation begins to increase with the

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warmer weather. Uh in addition the herbicide contract for the lake was awarded to Lake Management Sciences for the year. Continuing on uh at the NJTPA joint project prioritization and planning and development committee meeting, a minor amendment to the fiscal

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year 2026 2029 transportation improvement program uh was approved along with updates on regional projects and competitive grants. Um additionally, there was a presentation on transportation planning efforts as we prepare for increased travel uh demand

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this summer from the World Cup. Uh, aside from this, over the past few weeks, I had the opportunity to attend uh, some of the events that my fellow commissioners mentioned, uh, including one of three Revolutionary War Veteran Patriot Memorial Ceremonies. Uh, this was alongside Commissioner

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Silverthornne. I'd like to thank Sparter Rev 250, Sparta VFW, uh, the County Historical Society, NSDAR, uh, and the County Historian Bill Truan for their outstanding work. Um, next ceremony, if anyone's interested, will be held on May 16th at the old Newton burial grounds.

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Uh, additionally, I attended the Division of Health Poleborn ceremony as well as the Newton Shopright ceremony recognizing the top fundraising achievements of all uh ShopRate locations. Um, that's it. Thank you and God bless. >> Thank you. Division of Senior Services.

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The Sussex County Division of Senior Services will be recognizing older Americans during its annual Older Americans Month celebration on Friday, May 15th, 2026. The event will be held in the Richards building at the Sussex County Fairgrounds located at 37 Plains

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Road in Augusta from 9 to2 p.m. Seniors will enjoy a day filled with information, education, camaraderie, and entertainment. Space is limited, and a registration fee of $8 per person must be paid in advance. Registrations received after May 11th will be $12 per

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person. Please contact the Sussex County Division of Senior Services at 973-57905-555 extension 1277 for additional information. Division of Health, Office of Public Health Nursing, a women's health clinic will be held on Thursday,

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May 7th from 4:30 to 7:30 at the Office of Public Health Nursing, 2011 Weatworth Road, Hamburg. This clinic offers a variety of health screenings and education. This service is free to uninsured and underinsured county residents who qualify for the New Jersey

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Cancer Education and Early Detection NJC program. To make an appointment, call the Office of Public Health Nursing at 973-5790570 extension 1246. And I also have Happy Earth down and I chose to wear green for Earth Day today.

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It's been another busy few weeks for all of us. I recently attended Sussex Fire Department's installation dinner. Congratulations to the new line officers and the new fire chief Chris Cameron. This year, Sussex Fire Department is celebrating 130 years of service. Not only do they volunteer in Sussex Burrow,

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but they also cover parts of Wanage Township. Sussex Fire Department will be hosting the county parade this year on Saturday, October 3rd. Commissioners Henderson, Silverthornne, and myself attended the monthly Sussex County Chamber breakfast last week. A presentation was provided by the

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hospital president, Bob Adams. It was interesting to hear all the upgrades they have made to the cardiac unit. They are able to provide more services on cardiac patients in Newton now without immediately having to transfer. They also completed upgrades to the maternity unit. I recently attended a meeting with

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our county administrator Christina Marx, college president, Corey Homer, and our county CFO, Elki Yeder. The meeting was based around funding for the uh Sussex County Public Safety Training Academy. We, the county commissioner board, have in our budget that the county will be paying the fees for firefighter 1 and

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firefighter 2. The fire departments will be charged the initial fee and will be reimbursed after submitting to the county. I attended the meeting with the Sussex. I attended a meeting with the Sussex County Economic Development Partnership, SCEEDP. TheCEDP plays a

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vital role in helping bring businesses to Sussex County, including uh filling vacant storefrs. For as little as $200 a year, a business or municipality can become an investor. My fellow commissioners and I attended a wellanticipated groundbreaking ceremony

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for the Sussex County's new health poleb emergency response and storage facility. We authorized utilization of funding for this project of for the division of health from funds we received from the American Rescue Plan Act. Uh Commissioner Degrru and I had another

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meeting with our Sussex County's 250th America Celebration Committee. The event will be held on Sunday, June 7th at the fairgrounds. Thank you to Lorraine Hence, Rayano, Ken Schwmer for all the work that has been done so far. Some of the planned activities include a historic historical reenactors, uh,

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petting zoo, food trucks, vendors, live music, fireworks. We'll also be showcasing all the services Sussex County has to offer. We have paperwork right outside the door to the left. Well, it' be Yeah. to the left when you go out anyway, if you want to hear more about it. Um, and then that's about all

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I have. I think you're touching on this, right? >> Yeah. Okay, that's all I have. Uh, number 10, we have no consent agenda. Number 11, approval of minutes. Can I get a motion to approve the minutes for December 10th, 2025 and February 25th,

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2026? >> So moved. >> Okay. Commissioner Henderson and a second. >> Second. >> Okay. Commissioner Carney. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I post abstain. >> Number 12. Ordinance introduction for

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first reading. Ordinance 26-05. ordinance approving a use application for the res uh reservation and use of the Newton Green. Can I get a motion motion to adopt this ordinance on first reading and authorize the clerk to advertise this ordinance as introduced

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for first reading and also post same on the Bolton board in the lobby of the county administrative center together with a notice of public hearing stating that a hearing will be held on May 13, 2026 at 6 p.m. prior to final adoption of this ordinance. Uh, any discussion?

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>> Roll call, please. >> Oh, a motion. Sorry. >> So, move. >> Okay. Sorry. Deputy Director Degree. A second. >> Second. >> Okay. Commissioner Henderson. Uh, roll call, please. >> Commissioner Silverthornne. >> Yes. >> Director Space. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Carney. >> Yes.

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>> Deputy Director Degrru. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Henderson. >> Yes. >> Okay. B. Introduction for first reading. Ordinance 26-06. Ordinance of the Sussex County Board of County Commissioners to establish rules of conduct and decorum for public

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meetings. We need a motion to adopt this ordinance on first reading and authorize the clerk to advertise this ordinance as introduced for first reading and also post same on the bulletin board in the lobby of the county administrative center together with a notice of public hearing stating that a hearing will be

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held on May 13th, 2026 at 6 p.m. prior to final adoption of this ordinance. Can I get a motion, please? >> I'll make that motion. >> Thank a second from Commissioner Henderson. Any discussion? >> Just quickly, director, A and D are both just uh now introducing by ordinance items that are already adopted by the

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commission board by resolution. >> Right. Okay. Um, roll call, please. >> Commissioner Silverthornne, >> yes. >> Director Space, >> yes. >> Commissioner Carney, >> yes. >> Deputy Director Degroup, >> yes. >> Commissioner Henderson, >> yes. Okay. Number 13, we have no

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appointments andor resignations. Number 14, resolutions. Can I get a motion to adopt resolutions A through Q? >> So moved. >> Okay. Commissioner Hendris and a second from Deputy Director Degru. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. Commissioner

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Silverthornne, >> yes. >> Director Space, yes. Commissioner Carney, >> yes. >> Deputy Director Degrew, >> yes. >> Commissioner Henderson, >> yes. Okay. Awards of contract change orders bids. We have resolutions A through G.

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The board of county commissioners of the county of Sussex has reviewed the award of contract change orders bids consisting of various proposed resolutions and determined that adoption of the said resolutions is in and will further the public interest. Uh can I

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get a motion to adopt resolutions A through J? >> So moved. >> Okay. Uh Commissioner Silverthorn in a second. Second. >> Okay. Commissioner Carney, any discussion? >> Roll call, please. Commissioner Silverthornne, >> yes. >> Director Space, yes. >> Commissioner Carney, >> yes.

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>> Deputy Director Degaroo, >> yes. >> Commissioner Henderson, >> yes. >> Okay. Number 16, financial uh resolution. Uh we have payment of bills list A of April 22nd, 20 20 uh 2026. Can I get a motion to pay bills list A?

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>> So move. >> Commissioner Silverthornne. A sec. Second from deputy director to Groove. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Silverthornne, yes. >> Director Space, yes. >> Commissioner Carney, >> yes. >> Deputy Director Degrru, >> yes. >> Commissioner Henderson, >> yes. >> Okay. I need a motion to pay bills list

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B of April 22nd, 2026. >> So move. >> Okay. Commissioner Henderson, a second. >> Second. >> Uh, Commissioner Carney, any discussion? Roll call, please. Commissioner Silverthor, yes. >> Director Space, >> yes. Commissioner Carney, >> yes. Deputy Director Degru >> abstain.

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>> Commissioner Henderson. >> Yes. >> Okay. Number C. Introduction for first reading. Ordinance 26-01 bond ordinance providing for the undertaking of the 2026 capital improvements at and for certain facilities of Sussex County Community

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College located within the county of Sussex, state of New Jersey, appropriating 1.2 2 million therefore and authorizing the issuance of 1.15 1,150,000 bonds or notes of the county of Sussex,

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state of New Jersey for financing such appropriation the principle of and interest on the aggregate principal amount of which will be entitled to state aid pursuant to chapter 12 of the laws of New Jersey of 1971. Can I get a

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motion to adopt this ordinance on the first reading and authorize the clerk to advertise this ordinance as introduced for first reading and also post same on the bulletin board in the lobby of the county administrative center together with the notice of public hearing stating that a hearing will be held on

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May 13, 2026 at 6 p.m. prior prior to final adoption of the ordinance. >> So moved. >> Okay. Commissioner Silverthorn in a second. >> Second. >> Uh Commissioner Henderson. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. Commissioner Silverthornne. Yes. Director Space. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Carney, >> yes.

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>> Deputy Director Degrew, >> yes. >> Commissioner Henderson, >> yes. >> D. Introduction for first reading, Ordinance 26-02, bond ordinance providing for various 2026 capital improvements by and in the county of Sussex, State of New Jersey,

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appropriating 2,823,95. Therefore, authorizing 2,681,000 bonds or notes of the county to finance part of the costs thereof. And I get a motion to adopt this ordinance on the first reading and authorize the clerk to advertise this ordinance as introduced

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for first reading and also post same on the bulletin board in the lobby of the county administrative center together with the notice of public hearing stating that a hearing will be held on May 13th at 6 p.m. prior to final adoption of the ordinance. Any discussion? A motion. >> So moved.

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>> Okay. Deputy Director Durus. Second. >> Second. >> Uh, Commissioner Carney. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Silverthor. Yes. >> Director Space. Yes. >> Commissioner Carney. >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Degrru. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Henderson. >> Yes. >> Okay. E. Introduction for first reading.

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Ordinance 26-03. capital ordinance providing funding for certain capital improvements in and for the county and the Sussex County Career and Technical High School located within the County of Sussex, State of New

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Jersey, and appropriating 8,225,223. Therefore, to pay for the cost thereof, can I get a motion to adopt this ordinance on first reading and authorize the clerk to advertise this ordinance as introduced for first reading and also post same on the bulletin board in the lobby of the county administrative

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center together with a notice of public hearing stating that a hearing will be held on May 13th, 2026 at 6 p.m. prior to final adoption of the ordinance. >> So moved. >> Okay. Commissioner Hson. A second. Uh Commissioner Silverthornne, any discussion? Roll call, please. Commissioner Silverthor. Director Space.

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Yes. Commissioner Carney. Yes. >> Deputy Director Degrew. Yes. >> Commissioner Henderson. >> Yes. >> Okay. We have one more. Introduction for first reading ordinance 26-04 capital ordinance providing for various improvements to roads and bridges in and

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for the county of Sussex, State of New Jersey, and appropriating 1,480,70. Therefore, of 1,479, $670 from grants received or expected to be received from the New Jersey Department of Transportation to pay for the cost

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thereof. Can I get a motion to adopt this ordinance on first reading and authorize the clerk to advertise this ordinance as introduced for first reading and also post same on the bulletin board in the lobby of the county administrative center together with the notice of public hearing stating that a hearing will be held on

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May 13th, 2026 at 6 p.m. prior to final adoption of the ordinance. >> So moved. >> Okay. Commissioner Silverthornne and a second. >> Second. >> Deputy Director Degrroot. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Silverthornne. Yes. >> Director Space. >> Yes.

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>> Commissioner Carney. >> Yes. >> Deputy Director Degrew. >> Yes. >> Commissioner Henderson. >> Yes. >> Okay. Number 17, personnel. Um, can I get a motion to adopt the personnel agenda of 420226? We approve it.

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>> So moved. >> Okay. Commissioner Henderson, a second. >> Second. >> Uh, Commissioner Silverthornne. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Silverthornne, yes. >> Director Space, yes. >> Commissioner Carney, >> yes. Deputy Director Degru. Yes. >> Commissioner Henderson. >> Yes.

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>> Number 18, administrative report. >> Okay. Thank you very much, Director. Um, as was stated earlier, the health department uh had their storage pool barn groundbreaking on April 16th. The construction of that barn is expected to begin on June 1st. Uh should be

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completed soon thereafter. Uh the sheriff's uh transfer station pull barn groundbreaking will be held tomorrow with that expected construction start date of June 15th. And as director space had indicated, these are our funded projects uh regarding the sheriff's uh

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transfer station. Per the permit that we received from the New Jersey Department of uh environmental protection, the county is responsible for replacing some trees that were on that site. So we are in the we've begun the process of doing that uh now and satisfying that part of the permit. Uh we've been having some

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continued issues with the construction company for our Lafayette fullborn project. the company where the kit was purchased from, uh, representatives from that company were on site with the construction company on April 14th. Other than that site visit, there has been no, uh, representatives from the

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construction company on site in 3 weeks. So, we will be discussing next steps with the county council. Uh, and there there's in addition to that, there's also been no response uh, in at least a week from any representatives from the company and our council. uh the Dennis Library bid opening. I I

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mentioned this in either my last report or or a couple meetings ago, but I I know that there's there has been some questions about it. So, I just want to confirm. Uh the Dennis Library bids uh we had previously gone out to bid for they came back higher than expected on the cost. uh because the board is very

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uh cognizant of costs that uh the taxpayers would be paying for the um we had gone back out to bid to uh to see if those those companies can sharpen their pencils. So that bid is expected to be open on the first with an award of May 27th. Uh the work on the HVAC unit for

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the old courthouse began last week. Facility staff made accommodations for the air conditioning on those warm days that we did experience. We are expecting that project to remain on schedule. Um unfortunately because of the length of time that is necessary to get that HVAC

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unit in place and the necessary work that needs to be done, it probably will not be done until July and that's at the so we're not expecting too many more delays, but hopefully that remains on task. Um I along with Christine Fuio and Nick Capitanakis toward the Bergen

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County homeless shelter last Monday. last Monday at the invitation of the homelessness task force and the town of Newton. It was a very impressive facility and the operations that they do have at that building. Uh Bergen County does have a separate housing authority that oversees the majority of those

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operations, but the information that they provided was very informative. Uh the county is a strategic partner of the homelessness task force within uh with the town of Newton and some other individuals with the state. uh we continue to look forward on participating with their that

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partnership. Uh the county has trained leaders in a nationally recognized program called stress busting for family caregivers for people with dementia. It provides caregivers with information about how to uh about stress and how to deal with stress through relaxation problem solving and how to care for

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themselves while giving care to a loved one with dementia. Participants will receive many resources including a handbook covering class materials and a relaxation CD. It's been successful with our groups as our county deputy county administrator Loren Hence has stated and she brought this to my attention. So, we

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currently are looking to see if we can offer this program free of charge since we do have in-house staff trained to our county employees as an uh additional program for them. Um, I do want to wish everyone uh that is a secretary or administrative assistant a very happy

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administrative assistance day. I know um I may be biased but I personally have I believe the best assistant um in Holly. So um I do want to wish everybody throughout the the county act a wonderful day. Um and that is all I have for my official report, but I do want to

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take a moment to address some concerns that occurred after our last public meeting. Uh there was some confusion as to why we had to change the location. uh we the county would have been in violation of the open public meetings act if we did not open our meeting in

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this location. Um and it wasn't until over the weekend after we had already published our agenda that we received information that led me to believe that we would have exceeded capacity. So at my uh recommendation to the board and in consultation with county council, we

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started the meeting here as we legally would have had to do. Um, and we did have a backup location just in case because there was critical county business that we had to make sure and ensure that we were taken care of. And uh, that's why we did move the location over to library. Thankfully, in short notice, they were able to accommodate

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us. Uh, the I'm sorry. Yes, the college um, they were able I was looking at they were able to accommodate us and um, unfortunately I know that there was some concern that we were not able to live stream. There is not a mechanism for us to be able to live stream, but in light

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of that and in view of that, we made sure that we were able to audio record and we were able to get that audio recording out to the public so they could at least listen to that within 24 hours. So the very next day, everybody was able to get that. And that's all I have. >> County Council. Yes.

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enough. Hi. Uh this is What's happening is uh problem. I think oh sorry public body under the open public meetings act or subject to it. All of those statements were as is often the case false. Um so the purpose of my

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presentation tonight is to correct those intentional misstatements clarify what the open public meetings act requires uh and doesn't require of this commission board. Um, next slide is actually a verbatim transcript of what I said at the last meeting um, prepared in house

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here in the county. Uh, highlighted some parts that matter. Uh, but in short uh, what I said specifically and to quote was that NJSA104-12 which is part of the open public meetings act speaks to meetings open to the public. Specifically, it says that quote, except as provided by subsection

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B, which is the executive session part, all meetings of public bodies of which this board is one, uh shall be open to the public at all times. So, in other words, open so that you all can attend. But it then goes on to say that nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the discretion of a public body uh for

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instance, this commissioner board uh to permit, prohibit or regulate the active participation of the public at any meeting. So, public comment, the rest of it there. Uh, but in short, as I indicated twice during my comments, we are a public body, uh, which is a a term

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specifically defined in the Open Public Meetings Act. So, once you're a public body, you are subject to the Open Public Meetings Act, which is I'll get into in the next slide. Um, so what the Open Public Meetings Act actually requires. Uh, 104-6 is the act itself. Education

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for me, I didn't realize it was called the Senator Brian Bear Open Public Meetings Act. Learn something new. 10 col4-7 of the legislative findings. The legislature hereby declares to be the public policy of this state to ensure the rights of its citizens to have adequate advanced notice of and the

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right to attend all meetings of the public of public bodies at which any business affecting the public is discussed or acted upon and then there's an exception obviously if it's uh privileged or can endanger the public welfare. Uh but at the time it was adopted the public had the right to do

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two things have advanced notice and attend meetings. So um 10 col4-8 is actually the definitional section and that's where a public body was defined. Uh and it includes a commission authority a board so whether it's a county commissioner board or or a county freeholder board. um the county

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commissioners are subject to uh the open public meetings act because they are in fact public body and it goes on to say what the public body does and doesn't do and when it votes and it also goes on to say what is specifically excluded um from a public body which are for instance grand juries, petty juries, the

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judicial branch, the pole board uh etc. Um, so in 1975 when uh the Open Public Meetings Act was adopted and still today, the Sussex County Board of County Commissioners is a public body and therefore subject to the Open Public Meetings Act. So how does the Open Public Meetings Act apply to the Sussex

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County Board of County Commissioners? Uh, Sussex County Board of County Commissioners is subject to the Open Public Meetings Act, which requires advanced notice of the meetings, open public meetings, reasonably comprehensive meeting minutes, and public participation at the board's discretion, your discretion. Uh what is

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not required is public comment. It's not mandated in the act of the county. In fact, NJSA 104-12A limits public comment requirement only to municipal governing bodies and boards of education. The Sussex County Board allows public comment twice per meeting by choice because it's committed to

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open, transparent, and participate participatory government beyond that which the law allows. Here's a little history of the Open Public Meetings Act. Uh was first adopted in 1975. Public comment was not required of any public body. It was only open public

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meetings, advanced notice and meeting minutes. The legislature amended it for the first time in 2002. Uh and when they amended it, they allowed for public comment, but at that point only for municipal governing bodies. Counties were not included. They amended it again

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in 2008. the legislature uh added boards of education to the uh entities that were required to have public comment but chose for a second time to exclude counties. Counties are not required to have public comment at their meetings. Uh the last says today uh and as we sit

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here today uh the statute remains unchanged. Only municipal governing bodies and boards of education are required to have public comment at their meetings. So 1975, let's talk about 104-12A cuz that's the section that deals with public meetings. What you see there is

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what the statute looked like in 1975. Just that two sentences except it's provided by subsection B, which is the section that dealt with executive session or deals with executive session. All meetings of public bodies, we talked about that before. That's 10 col 4-8. Uh shall be open to the public at all

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times. Nothing in this act shall be construed to limit the discretion of a public body, this board, to permit, prohibit, or regulate the active participation of the public at any meeting. So under 104-8, we're a public body whose meetings are open to the

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public. But under 104-12A, we're also a public body that enjoys the discretion to permit, prohibit, or regulate the active participation of the public. public comment at any meeting provided of course that it's uh done in the discretion is contentneutral and lawfully applied. The first amendment

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doesn't come around till 2002 24 years ago. Um I should note that the democrats have been in charge of the legislature since 2001. Um and I say that because it comes relevant a little later uh in the evening. 104-12a.

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So the partons in white the first two sentences were the statute from 1975. What got out is what's in red and yellow. Except that a municipal governing body, Forgot to highlight that part, sorry. Uh shall be required to set aside a portion of every meeting for the municipal governing body, the length of

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which uh the length of the portion to be determined by the municipal governing body for public comment on any governmental issue that the public feels may be of a concern to the municipality, not the county, not the state, the municipality. The legislature could have extended the requirement for public comment to public bodies included

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counties, commissioners, uh but they chose only to extend the requirement to municipal governing bodies. Fast forward to 2008. It's the same statute that we have today. First two sentence are the same what's in white. Uh so I won't repeat it. Uh but the except part is what was added in 2008 and is still

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reflected today. What you see in yellow is the addition of and a board of education or board of education or board of education or school district issue on anything related to the municipality or the school district. Again, the legislature could have extended the requirement to public comment to all

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public bodies or 104-8 and only extended it to municipal governing bodies and boards of education. That's the open public meeting act as we all sit here today in 2026. The New Jersey Supreme Court decided a case in 1991, State versus Reynolds, that said a construction that will

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render the part of any statute inoperative, superless, or meaningless is to be avoided. New Jersey law presumes and requires that the language given its express, intended, and obvious meaning. That means that a county is a county, a municipality is a municipality, uh, and a school board's a

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school board. In fact, New Jersey law is replete with statutes, uh, that spell out the differences. I gave you two for example NJSA 527-d47 and NJSA40 42-1 they lay out the counties municipalities and school district are all defined as separate and distinct governmental agencies

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throughout New Jersey law a county is not a municipality or school district and a municipality and school district isn't a county and for good measure the ACLU of New Jersey not somebody that I recite frequently but they produced a guide to the New Jersey sunshine law in July of 2025

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uh and I quote from it. It says that the law currently requires municipal governing bodies and school boards to set aside a portion of every meeting for public comment. Other public bodies may allow public comment, but they are not

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required to do so. So, quick takeaways. Sussex County Board of County Commissioners is a public body under the Open Public Meetings Act, fully subject to his rules. No one ever suggested otherwise. The Open Public Meetings Act requires the Sussex County Board of County Commissioners to hold

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open meetings, provide advanced notice, and produce meeting minutes. It does not require public comment periods from any governing bodies, uh, county governing bodies. Sorry. Let me repeat that. It does not require public comment periods from county governing bodies. No up on public meetings act violation occurred

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at the March 25, 2026 meeting. My opinion, everyone who wanted it was afforded extra time to speak. The Sussex County Board of County uh commissioners allows public comment twice per meeting by choice because they're committed to open and transparent government. The analysis, my analysis supported by the

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New Jersey Supreme Court, the New Jersey State Legislature, and the ACLU of New Jersey. Um, for added measure, as I wear a different hat, uh, and I am likewise, as this board is, committed to open and transparent government, I asked the Office of Legislative Services to

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prepare a bill amending 104-12A to add county governing bodies. So, uh, that will be dropped on May 4th, and I'm pleased to report because he shares my commitment to, uh, transparency. Senator Space, whom I talked to earlier today, agreed to co-sponsor it with us. curious

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to see what Democratic legislature does with it. But rest assured uh that we are committed to making sure that county governments abide by the Open Public Meetings Act and provide public comment as they should. That's all. >> Okay. Number 20, unfinished business.

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Anyone have any unfinished business? Number 21, uh new business. I have a letter here that we received from Hamburg Fire Department and they're looking for us to send a letter for them to help them get a grant through State

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Farm and NVFC. It's the Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program 2026. Keith Suckenoff from the Hamburg Fire Department asked us to uh sign on to this letter and it's just they want to get specialized multi- gas meters. They're essential tools that will help

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firefighters identify combustible gases, oxygen deficient environments, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and other dangerous atmospheric conditions. So, they're just looking for us to send this letter to to the grant committee to review. So, you guys are

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all good. We'll have the board take care of that for us. Good. Hi. Number 22, public session from the floor. This public session is for those wishing to make general comments of three minutes or less on non-aggenda topics. Please line up at the microphone

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and state your name and municipality for the record. Can I get a motion to open the public floor floor for comment? >> So moved. >> Thank Deputy Director Droo. Any discussion? All in favor? I >> The floor is open. if you could just

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like when you speak it just like adjust the microphone cuz people at home are having a hard time hearing. Thank you. I just want to remind everybody not added by Mrs.

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No, it must be two private citizens getting employers threatening the county. Not enough old violence. Mr. Skyhart the money

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thousands and thousands of dollars of all the judges politicians all the Cleveland political accountability. without

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>> one minute. >> Mr. And you know if you orchestrate one circus like last And then yes, it's approximately 5,000 Everybody exactly. visit

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our county website. The listing has not been up. The listing has not been up. Uh there's no one there. New Jersey received about $.6 60 million per year in federal funding state allocation services

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specifically to support services and public to understand what the gap looks like practice consider county served over 13,000 veterans more than twice the number of suff and4

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veteran Service office prop six county how many profits there is one part-time safety of Zo Morris County overwhelmed by the nine claims process but county does not

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>> one minute from Morris County Schools. The ask is straightforward. With New Jersey allocating $8.6 million annually to veteran services, Sussex County should try fund at least two paid full-time veteran service officers

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to assist our veterans is reasonable months of commitment, much less than norm. The need is clear. What we are missing right now is staffing. These veterans have to earn the benefits and she made sure that they

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>> and thank you for your service. >> Good evening. My name is Shannon. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Can you just >> live any of the speakers, >> right? >> Yeah, I stopped it.

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Sounds like water. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Shannonoa Ellis Almer. Um I am also from Franen. Um I'm a retired Air Force Master Sergeant of 21 years. I'm here to address veteran support services in Sussex County. While the county is

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served um by a full-time veteran service officer, that position approximately two weeks of online training before serving clients, yet is responsible for handling complex veteran claims and navigating both federal and

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state systems. At the same time, VSOs are expected to maintain ongoing training and and accreditation. This is a highly specialized role that requires both depth and knowledge and continuous professional development. In my work

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with veterans in Morris County, I see firsthand the strain placed on VSOs. Many are veterans themselves, often managing their own service connected disabilities while continuing to serve others. Case loads can stretch can reach

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around 200 act active clients with appointments scheduled nearly a month out. That level of demand delays access to critical benefits and services. In my role as the school certifying official, I have also received questions from the

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Sussex County BSO that should be addressed within his own office. This is not a reflection on the individual, but it highlights a system that is underresourced and stretched and thin. Sussex County veterans deserve

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timely, accessible, and knowledgeable support. Relying solely on a state employed VSO without additional county level resources or staffing is not enough to meet the needs of this community. I do not want to hear another

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thank you for your service. I want to see meaningful support. I urge the Sussex County Commissioners to take action investing in additional county level veteran services and resources to ensure veterans receive the support they have earned. And

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>> one minute. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. That one's got brand new ones. I wonder if that's >> Hi, Sandy Hull, Leighton, New Jersey. Um, at the last meeting, I didn't bring

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this up, but I'd like I don't expect an answer tonight, but just for reference, uh, on the bill's list, there was check number 131133 made out to Resorts Casino Hotel, and it was credited to Roads and Culverts, Bridge and Traffic Safety in the amount

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of $650.58. And I just don't know why Bridge and Roads and Culvers would be at the resorts casino. Um, and thank you for the opportunity to address the board tonight. Uh and thanks to Christina Marks and the others who prepared the budget presentation. It was really well

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done. Thank you. Um I reviewed the budget and my questions are what 40 line items were decreased from the budget and maybe that can be answered at some point. And also statemandated services account for 75 to 85% of the county budget. Do these mandated services

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include housing requirements and storm water management? If so, I respectfully request the county seek exclusions from these mandated services and if not services exclusion from any form of mandates or orders from the state government because of the unique

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characteristics of our county. We may not have the infrastructure and highway system to support more housing developments. The impact on some county entities such as the sheriff's department and local schools and even social services may not be offset by the

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revenue generated from property taxes from new developments. We may not have the industry or businesses needed that could provide jobs for more residents. Many of these residents leave the county daily for higher paying jobs in other locations. These blanket mandates coming from Trenton may serve some counties,

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but it could impose hardships on Sussex County. We live in the country. 47% of the county is an open space preservation. We are not Hudson and Bergen County to our east or Mercer and Salem to our south. A question to be considered, are these mandates hindering

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smart growth for our county? Uh and on a totally different note, I have a copy for each commissioner of an article from the 18 uh April 18th issue of Lancaster Farming. And the title of the article is Most Farmers Can't Afford Fertilizer.

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And this article focuses on the ripple effect of the strait of hormones closing by the current administration. Thank you for your time. Who wants the copies? Kathy Brennan, Hampton Township. I would just quickly like to mention something about the last meeting that I attended.

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Um, I think it's totally inappropriate to for there to be nasty and uh I guess inappropriate comments being made. Among these are comments about someone's physical appearance. I don't believe they belong at a meeting and

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also comments using a broad brush to paint everyone in the room as personal and professional losers and liars. I don't think any of this is appropriate for these meetings. Um, I'd like to just quickly say a few things about Earth

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Day. I think because it's Earth Day, uh, there are there are a few things that we should keep in mind. Um, first of all, the proposed Andover data center, this large data data center that's uh a project that seems like it's going to go

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forward would take away many of the trees, cause problems with water flow, um, gas emissions, sound, um, and we don't even know the extent at this point of the other health issues that could

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occur. Another environmental disaster is the detention center in Roxberry. Although Roxberry is technically not in our county, it will still affect our towns. This is a large facility that would cause strain on water and sewer

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served by the Lake Muskan Town Sewage Authority. Taking funding away from the New Jersey School of Conservation is another issue that would take away a lot of opportunities for lowincome and

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mentally struggling youth. Exposing them to the outdoors and environmental issues prepares them for a better life and a possible future in the green workforce. Thank you. Hello, Amy Len

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Lafayette. Um, I'd like to speak about the challenges and problems facing American farmers, including farmers right here in Sussex County. Two weeks ago, uh, volunteers from different organizations, including ours and Divisible Sussex, got together for several days to assist a local Sussex

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County farmer in uprooting pepper plants, rolling up weedcreen, rolling up irrigation lines so that he could start plowing and prepping for planting season. Now, you're probably going to ask, why would this farmer need volunteers to complete these tasks? Well, it's because his 20 Guatemalan workers are still stuck in Guatemala.

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They're waiting for their work visas, and they haven't been approved. If they don't get here in time for planting season, the farmer will be in trouble. As we were were working this fields, I kept asking myself, where are all those people that were incessantly claiming immigrants are taking our jobs? How come none of those people volunteered to help

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this farmer out? Needless to say, the work is arduous. It's relentless. As Jack's a farmer, he knows. He can attest to that. Right now in Sussex County and across the country, farmers are being squeezed from multiple directions at once. And one of the most immediate issues is labor. Many farms rely heavily

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on seasonal migrant workers. With increased immigration enforcement and ongoing detentions and crackdowns, there is growing uncertainty around whether that workforce will be available. When there aren't enough workers, crops don't get planted, nor do they get harvested. And that means real losses, not just for farmers, but across the entire food

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supply. These migrant workers break their back for low wages so that we can eat. Now that we don't have them, we are paying a heavy price. At the same time, costs are rising sharply. fertilizer prices, fuel, equipment, transportation, everything has skyrocketed. Current

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policies under the Trump administration, including trade tensions and the broader impact of conflict with Iran, are contributing to the supply chain disruptions and higher input costs. These are not abstract issues. They directly affect what it costs to grow food in this country and this county,

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Sussex County. Farmers are facing financial pressure from higher interest rates. Agriculture depends heavily on borrowed money for land, for equipment, for operating expenses. As borrowing costs rise, so does their financial strain, especially for small and midsize

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farms that are already operating on tight margins. On top of that, we have unpredictable weather patterns making farming more difficult, droughts and floods and shifting seasons. So, um, and then al also the challenge of large companies controlling more of the supply chain, leaving smaller farms with less

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negotiating power. This isn't about party lines. It's about reality. Farmers need a stable workforce. They need predictable costs. They need policies that support rather than intentionally strain the systems that they depend on. If we care about strong communities, if we care about Sussex County and our

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farmers, which I thought we did, then we have to care about the people who are working these fields and the farmers who feed us. And right now, all these farmers are under real pressure. Thank you. Gene Opriage, Hampton Township. This morning, while I was driving from

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Hampton to Andover, I passed four different construction sites where wide open spaces were scattered with excavating machines digging into pristine earth. I immediately thought of my childhood when we laughed at the

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county model, which was once more cows than people. Now, rather than smiling, when I think of that motto, it brings a tear to my eye. When I was a child, my school had to stop for sheep and cow cow

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crossings. When I occasionally saw a deer or a bear, it was in the middle of the woods, not my neighborhood. Now, it is common place to see them in my yard. Over the past 50 years, the county has been severely overbuilt. Now, it's not just

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forest animals wandering into our neighborhoods that concern us. Now, it's pollution from data centers that keep us up at night. I understand growth is in every community is inevitable. I witnessed the paving over farmlands to

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make way for car dealerships, big box stores, and housing developments. While we cannot control all industrial and residential encroachment on our open spaces, we can control the worst of it. The building projects and budget decisions that will have the most

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devastating impact on our environment. Even Commissioner Degro noted that this board is turning its back on our farmers and in turn all of us. That was a mistake. In Andover, we witnessed the town council support the construction of

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a data center. That too was an enormous mistake. Your constituents value open space, clean water, clean air, and uncontaminated soil. We want to live farmtotable. We want to live in a community where farmland and forests are

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protected and in our line of sight. We do not want huge data centers contaminating our environment. And your argument that you turned your back on our farmers to keep taxes low is bogus. You proudly support the president who is using our tax dollars to pay for a

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ballroom, an arch to glorify himself, a war of choice, and his personal lawsuits against the Justice Department from which he stands to personally gain billions of dollars. Money out of our pockets that could go to our veterans, daycare centers,

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schools, roads, bridges, medical care, local businesses, and farmers. Everything that happens at the federal government affects us here in Sussex County. If you truly cared about keeping our taxes down, you would speak against his corruption and his relationships

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with billionaires who destroy our environment. On this Earth Day, make the decision to protect our environment, not corrupt it further. >> Uh, I'm Billy Marada from Hardison. I just wanted to say that you guys do a great job. You're accessible. You work

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on behalf of the county. You're there 24/7. It's nice to see that there's actually five commissioners that are there all the time doing their job. Um, so that's really nice to see and I appreciate the work you do. Thank you. Good evening, David Dwit uh from Hampton

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Township. Every meeting I have attended, I've asked our commissioners to speak up, tell the truth. After the meeting of April 8th and comments made by Mr. Lab Babara, Cesus County Republican Committee Chairman. I fully understand the impossibility of you for you to

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voice any moral or policy objections you might have about the Trump criminals actions. Given the chairman's belligerent posture and considering his personal attacks on the mob, as he calls us, it would be political suicide for you to step outside the MAGA Republican

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dogma to voice any moral injections. Get in step. Shut your mouth. Repeat the lies. By all means, remember your political opponents are not your neighbors, but just personal and professional failures. These misguided

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fools manufacture issues just as an excuse to make trouble and demonstrate. They view J6 as an insurrection, not a day of love. How dumb can you be? Most of the disgusting behav behavior and

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profanity of today's politics have made been more common made more commonplace by the Trump criminal. No other organized group or business would tolerate the vile language and insults that characterize Trump speak 101. I

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regularly listen to Trump with a stopwatch and turn him off at the first lie, insult, or inappropriate language. He barely gets a minute of my time. Given the tenor of your three minutes, Mr. Chairman, on April 8th, I can just

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imagine what a real treat a Republican committee meeting must be like. I thought Trump's most recent insult might interest you, Mr. Chairman, and I would love to hear your public comments on the matter. Trump proposes that hundreds of

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Afghan refugees who helped the United States fight the Taliban should be sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo after the Trump administration halted their promised US resettlement. Many of

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these Afghan refugees stood side by side with our troops during the many years of that war. Trump threatens to send them to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where civil war and starvation are the order of the day. The DRC government would most certainly send them to their

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persecution and/or death by shipping them back to Afghanistan immediately. Maybe you maybe you, Mr. chairman should voice your objection to this unfair treatment of individuals you might have fought alongside instead of barking at

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us about our bad actions. Speak up. Tell the truth. You're the only people we have that can help us overcome all of these bad actors. Good evening. Can you hear me? >> Okay. Good evening. My name is uh Dr.

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Claire Golden of Andover Township, and I'm not coming up to criticize or belittle anyone, but what I want to do is to make a suggestion. I think that a lot of the discontent and upset that we see in the county can be ellayed with a

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simple med remedy that you can do. And I would like to suggest that you consider writing and adopting an ordinance to put a moratorum like many states, many counties, many m municipalities have already done on the development of new

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data centers. It's a very new science. It's one that needs to be studied both for its advant I mean I'm not against it. I know we need to have data centers but I think that in Sussex County they should be limited in size and their

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utilization of resources. And um I I didn't see this myself but I'm told there was a a documentary segment on one of the morning shows yesterday that said that there's a new technology that AI data centers can be um mounted on the

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like barges and they can use seawater to circulate to cool them without adding any chemicals to it or contaminating it and they're very environmentally friendly. So I think that rather than falling prey to the rush of billionaires

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to invest and take advantage of the AI bubble, we should be smart about it. Don't let them use us as a proving ground to see how much money they can make quickly. And then, you know, it's it's it's like the cannabis dispensaries. There are so many of them.

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We know half of them are going to fail. And what if they build this huge monstrosity and then it fails and they abandon us and there's really no good to these because many of them are being built in pilot sections and pilot means payment in lie

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of taxes. So that means they get a huge discount on their taxes usually for up to 30 years. So there's very and it doesn't go to the school board or to support those things. It goes into defay uh deficits in the B the municipal

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budgets. So there's very little and they don't hire people in those data centers. So there's very little advantage to be had but a lot of risk. And I think that you're all very intelligent people and I know you care about especially the rural

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nature of Sussex County and I just like to suggest that you think about writing an ordinance a moratorum on development of data centers over a certain size. Thank you. >> Jim Fiola Sanderson Township. It is fitting on this Earth Day that I'm here

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to ask for your support and vote for a non-binding resolution requesting Governor Cheryl to restore full funding to the New Jersey School of Conservation. The school was founded in 1949 on the site of the Civilian Conservation Corps

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camp built in the 1930s and 40s. It is the oldest yearround residential environmental education center in North America. campus sits on 240 acres in Stokes with 63 buildings. The SOC resident school

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program and summer camps have served nearly 500,000 students, teachers, educators, and professionals with 40,000 workshops and programs in the last 77 years. Now, the state of New Jersey has

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eliminated funds for the operation and maintenance of this valuable school, which will force the SOC to close. And if the school closes, number one, it will hurt the local economy. The SOC has worked with nine local businesses,

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contributing $1.7 million to the local economy in the last three years. Partnerships and associations with Sussex County Ark, the library, project self-sufficiency, New Jersey Youth Corps, and Sussex County Chamber of

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Commerce will have to end. Eight Sussex County elementary schools who rely on their environmental education program through field trips to the SOC will be halted. A dozen Sussex County teachers who have attended professional training

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on conservation and stewardship will have their future training ended. Sussex County Community College just entered into partnership with field study research and an intern program that will be ended. 30 dedicated professionals,

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many of them who live in Sussex County will be terminated. Therefore, I strongly urge the commissioners to consider the negative impact on the school's closing will have on our local community, the students, educators, and researchers in our state who will be

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impacted greatly with this loss. I urge you to call on Governor Cheryl to fully restore the New Jersey School of Conservation's budget requests for the next fiscal year. I want to thank Commissioner Henderson for getting back to me

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and I'd like to invite all of you to visit the School of Conservation on April 28th at 10:00 a.m. for a historical marker ceremony. I will be there and I'll be glad to show you around. >> This is a copy. I sent all the copy the

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past few days of the budget resolution for your consideration. Here's a copy. Here I will give and my comments John Snider Sanderson. Once again, I'm at at a meeting where I figure I'm not going to say anything unless somebody comes up and criticizes

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President Trump, which what does it have to do with the county government? I'd like to thank Lorraine Hen, the Division of Senior Services for the Veterans Appreciation lunchon today. Once again, it was a very great program. I hear people now bragging that they're

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socialists such as Mandani in New York, Bernie Sanders, Cortez, Chris Murphy. I guess these people were recently in Barcelona, Spain, criticizing the president, which in fact is criticizing the country. And for

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years, that's been a no no. You don't go overseas and criticize the United States of America. that this was some kind of a progressive summit in Barcelona, Spain. These people are against capitalism.

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Yet they travel on planes, cars, wear clothing, have eyeglasses, microphones, things that are in this room right now. That is all produced from capitalism, not from socialism. They accuse Trump sometimes of being a

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Nazi. My understanding is that's an abbreviation for the National Socialist Party in Germany. Socialists, people who want to destroy this country.

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Bruce Murphy recently, I I'm not on social media, but apparently some Iranian propaganda said that 26 ships have broken through the blockade. Chris Murphy, a senator from

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Connecticut. His response, have all of us heard of it? Awesome. A United States senator backing an enemy who he thinks have done something to

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overcome our navy. And his response is awesome. To me, that's awful. And when some of these people travel to foreign countries and criticize this country, I wish the president would issue an executive offer order, excuse

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me, barring them from coming back into the country. That's all I have to say. Thank you. Hi, Michelle Van Allen Hardest. I um am addressing you because you just heard a lot of information about what we're

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talking about. We meaning people that actually care about our country are talking about um things in Washington and the current president. What does have to do with Sussex County? Prime example of somebody just did the same thing. So, um, blah blah blah. I wanted

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to, um, just address because I don't know where I can read the ordinance that you just had the first reading of on use of the green. Um, where can we read what the changes are and how it's going to affect people that want to utilize the

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green? Is it Okay. So, um it it stands that asking for a permit being able to use it, we're still allowed to as any group that wants to be able to use that public property. All right. Great. Um I do want to thank

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you for uh your giving us the information about what you do, where you go, who you talk to, that you are um entrenched in our community and a lot of people recognize that here. Um we might be on different side of the aisle. We might not agree on a lot of things that

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are happening. I hope you can uh understand that a lot of people will not state that they uh felt that they were wrong in their vote to bring forward the administration we have now. But I hope a lot of people understand that they were

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lied to. They were lied to that he wouldn't get us into any wars. And I can't tell you how many young men I'm talking to right now that are like, I could be drafted. I could go somewhere right now that has nothing to do with us or or or um why we're there in the first

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place. He doesn't even how to get out of the mess he got us in. And it it's terrifying. Um we need to stand up for not a D or an R. We have to stand up for what's right and wrong. What is going on that's wrong? And if it is wrong, it's

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okay to say it's wrong and that you were lied to and that you're given the wrong information about where our country is headed. Um because what's happening there is going to affect everything. Not only our gas prices, but our food prices, the fact that we don't have enough people to plant our food, um grow

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our food, uh deliver our food. It it's it's it's going to affect everyone right on down the line. And rich people think they'll be able to save themselves because they have so much money, but who will be there to take care of them? So, please understand that we're here trying to stand up for our country just like

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you should be, too. Thank you. I'm Brienne Stevenson from Branchville, New Jersey. Um, I just wanted to ask where the benches in the green have gone. I think they were taken for maintenance in like December and I'm just wondering about them. That's all.

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The benches on the green. I just want to know. >> Okay, that that's all. Uh Beth McNamera. I'm from Green Township. Uh I don't >> sure um I don't have anything prepared

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but wanted to come tonight because I am concerned like some others around uh the introduction of the data center not just for Andover County as I live in Green but for Sussex County as a whole. Um a lot of us live here whether we were born

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or raised here or I moved here just about 20 years ago. uh because of the ruralness and the beauty and the nature and uh my concern is not having progress or new industry but what are the impacts

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right we have wells what's going to happen to the water supply are you know is it going to get contaminated and without studies or information to help us understand that and maybe they're out there and I haven't seen them but it seems not to be very public and uh so

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just something to consider uh because a lot of us are concerned. So that's all I have to say. I'm Nicole Medina. I'm from Green Township as well. And I also had nothing prepared, but I had the opportunity to represent the wonderful Sussex County in

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2019 as the American Honey Princess. I traveled the entire country telling everybody how wonderful and beautiful our county is and how different we were than the rest of New Jersey because we were not industrialized. AI is a relatively new science that we do not have sufficient evidence about. We are

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seeing many reports of people in real time saying that they don't have running water, that they don't have access to resources that they've had their entire lives. We are fortunate to have our beautiful Sussex County unlike the rest of the of the even state. We have people and nature together. That is what we are

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so proud of. So why are we rushing on information that we don't have sufficient evidence on to build a data center that will impact people like me and the future generations? We don't see many of us up here speaking today because we don't have enough information and we feel scared. We want to know that

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we are being protected, that we are being nurtured, that we have the opportunity to gather sufficient evidence before people of your generation make lifechanging decisions that will affect us, our children, and future generations to come. That's all I'd like to say. Thank you.

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public comment and return to regular business. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Favor. >> I remind please check the county's website at www.sussex.nj. us for meeting schedules.

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Just like just so it's clear, you know, there's regarding, you know, countywide ordinance or something like that, you know, issues of municipal planning are exactly that. You you don't have any authority to regulate what a town or a township or a burrow or a village does.

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Um, municip municipal planning is purely a local issue. So, and then I've read what everybody else has read about what's going on in Andover, but you know, Andover Township Baloon has the ability to deal with its municipal land use laws. Nothing that the county does uh can

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impact that. Just so you know. >> Number 24, executive session. Linda, you're up. >> Providing for an executive close session not open to the public in accordance with the provisions of NJSA 104-12

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at SEC. Whereas the subject matters about to be discussed may be excluded from the public portion of the meeting by resolution of the board of county commissioners as an exception to the open public meetings act pursuant to NJSA 10 col4-12B

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and whereas it appears necessary for the board of county commissioners to discuss such matters in executive session. Now therefore, be it resolved that the board of county commissioners of the county of Sussex, in accordance with the provisions of NJSA

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104-12B and NJSA 104-13, that the board at this time enter into an executive session from which the public shall be excluded. And be it further resolved that the general nature

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of the subjects to be discussed relate to the following items authorized by NJSA 10 col4-12B as designated below. Number four, matters relating to collective bargaining agreements PBA negotiations.

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Number six, matters relating to public safety and property price switch schoolhouse. Number seven, matters relating to litigation, negotiations, and the attorney client privilege, the homestead,

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and PFOS litigations. Number eight, matters relating to the employment relationship personnel. Be it further resolved that the deliberations conducted in close session may be disclosed to the public upon the determination of the Sussex County Board

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of County Commissioners or provided by law that the public interest will no longer be served by such confidentiality. And be it further resolved that upon completion of the business for which the board has entered into the executive session, the board

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shall reconvene and resume its meeting open to the public. And be it further resolved that the board expects to >> will >> will take formal action after returning from executive session except to adjourn the regular meeting.

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>> Can I get a motion to adopt the executive session resolution and enter into executive session? >> So moved. Okay, second. >> We had uh Commissioner Henderson and Commissioner Carney. Any discussion? >> All in favor?

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>> I post. Okay. Second session.