[0:18] This is the Commissioner meeting of May
[0:20] 13th, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the Sussex
[0:24] County Administrative Center
[0:25] Commissioner meeting room One Spring
[0:27] Street, Newton, New Jersey. Can I have a
[0:29] roll call, please? Commissioner Carney.
[0:31] Here. Deputy Director Degroat.
[0:33] >> Here. Commissioner Henderson.
[0:35] >> Here. Commissioner Silverthorne.
[0:36] >> Here. Director Space.
[0:38] >> Here.
[0:38] Moment of silence and salute to the
[0:40] flag.
[0:47] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
[0:50] United States of America
[0:52] and to the republic for which it stands,
[0:55] one nation under God, indivisible, with
[0:58] liberty and justice for all.
[1:03] Pursuant to the Open Public Meetings
[1:05] Act, Chapter 231, PL 1975, adequate
[1:09] notice as defined by Section 3D of
[1:12] Chapter 231, PL 1975 has been made by
[1:15] regular mail and email. Such notice
[1:18] being submitted on January 6th, 2026
[1:21] from the Administrative Center of the
[1:23] County of Sussex located at One Spring
[1:25] Street, Newton, New Jersey to the
[1:26] following: New Jersey Herald,
[1:28] Star-Ledger, Straus News, and is also
[1:30] posted on the bulletin board maintained
[1:32] in the Administrative Center for public
[1:34] announcements and has been submitted to
[1:36] the Sussex County Clerk in compliance
[1:38] with said act. At this time, please mute
[1:40] all electronic devices.
[1:42] Number five, approval of agenda. There
[1:45] will be a few changes to the agenda
[1:46] tonight. Removal of minutes number 12,
[1:49] March 25th, April 8th, and April 22nd.
[1:52] There will be no number 18, personnel
[1:54] agenda. There will be an executive
[1:56] session for number four, matters
[1:59] relating to collective bargaining
[2:00] agreements PBA prosecutor, and number
[2:03] seven, matters relating to litigation,
[2:06] negotiations, and the attorney-client
[2:08] privilege homestead. Can I get a motion
[2:10] to approve the agenda?
[2:12] >> So moved. Okay, Commissioner
[2:13] Silverthorne, a second?
[2:15] I second. Commissioner Henderson, any
[2:17] discussion?
[2:18] All in favor? Aye. Opposed, abstain.
[2:21] Okay, motion carries. Number six,
[2:22] proclamations, certificates and
[2:24] presentations. We have a proclamation
[2:26] proclaiming May as Older Americans
[2:28] Month, and that will be read on Friday,
[2:31] May 15th at the Sussex County
[2:33] Fairgrounds. And we have a proclamation
[2:37] um making May Mental Health Awareness
[2:39] Month, and that'll be accepted by
[2:41] Christine Florio, the head of Health and
[2:43] Human Services, and Rachel Health, a
[2:46] member of the Mental Health Board, and
[2:47] that's going to be read by Commissioner
[2:49] Silverthorne.
[2:51] Whereas mental health is an essential
[2:53] part of overall health and well-being,
[2:55] and whereas mental health is defined by
[2:57] the World Health Organization as a state
[2:59] of well-being in which every individual
[3:02] realizes his or own her own potential,
[3:05] can cope with the normal stresses of
[3:06] life, and work productively,
[3:09] and is able to make a contribution to
[3:11] his or her community. And whereas mental
[3:15] illness is a leading cause of suffering
[3:16] and disability that is exacerbated by
[3:19] stigma and discrimination.
[3:21] And whereas one in six youth age 6 to 17
[3:24] years, and one in five individuals age
[3:27] 18 and over will experience a
[3:29] diagnosable mental health disorder each
[3:32] year. And whereas increasing awareness
[3:34] of mental health and the importance of
[3:36] mental health prevention, intervention,
[3:38] and treatment services can encourage
[3:40] those who are suffer suffering to reach
[3:43] out for help. And whereas the Sussex
[3:45] County Board of County Commissioners
[3:47] adopted and supports the Campaign to
[3:49] Change Direction, which is a model to
[3:52] reduce stigma and change the culture of
[3:56] mental health so that all those in need
[3:58] receive the care and the support they
[4:00] deserve. This model supports the
[4:02] inclusion of mental health into overall
[4:04] health, encourages individuals to know
[4:06] the five signs of emotional suffering,
[4:08] and supports others to reach out for
[4:10] help when needed. And whereas May is
[4:12] recognized nationally as Mental Health
[4:14] Awareness Month, provide and provided
[4:16] providing an opportunity to raise
[4:18] awareness, combat stigma, and promote
[4:20] mental health resources. Now, therefore,
[4:23] be resolved that upon the recommendation
[4:25] of the Sussex County Mental Health
[4:26] Board, the Sussex County Board of County
[4:28] Commissioners hereby officially
[4:31] designates May 2026 as Mental Health
[4:33] Awareness Month in Sussex County. By
[4:35] order of the board order by order of the
[4:37] Board of County Commissioners, Jill
[4:38] Space, Director, Jack DeGroat, Deputy
[4:41] Director, Chris Carney, Allen Henderson,
[4:43] and Dave Shotwell, Commissioners.
[4:45] Thank you.
[4:47] Christine, Rachel, you want to say a few
[4:48] words?
[4:59] Good evening, members of county
[5:00] leadership, fellow board members,
[5:02] providers, advocates, community
[5:04] partners, families, and residents. Thank
[5:06] you for the opportunity to be here this
[5:08] night and for issuing this Mental Health
[5:09] Month Proclamation. As co-chair of the
[5:12] Mental Health Board, it is an honor to
[5:14] accept this on behalf of the board and
[5:16] the many individual individuals,
[5:17] families, and professionals who work
[5:19] every day to strengthen mental health
[5:21] supports across our county.
[5:23] Mental Health Board serves in an
[5:25] advisory and collaborative role, helping
[5:28] to identify community needs, gaps in
[5:30] services, and opportunities for
[5:32] improvement across mental health
[5:33] systems.
[5:34] Our work is grounded in the fundamental
[5:36] belief that the systems work better when
[5:39] listen to the people they meant they are
[5:41] meant to serve.
[5:43] Mental Health Month is more than a
[5:44] designation on a calendar. It's a
[5:46] reminder that mental health touches
[5:48] every single aspect of our lives. It
[5:50] affects children and adults, seniors,
[5:52] veterans, students, and families. It
[5:54] does not discriminate.
[5:56] By issuing this this proclamation, the
[5:58] county sends a powerful message that
[6:01] mental health matters and the people
[6:02] matter. And that our community is
[6:04] committed to building systems rooted in
[6:06] dignity, compassion, and access for all.
[6:10] The mental health board is proud to be a
[6:11] part of these conversations and we
[6:13] remain committed in strengthening them.
[6:15] Thank you. Appreciate you. Thank you to
[6:18] the board for all of your support with
[6:20] everything we do for mental health. I
[6:22] know the community being um the board
[6:24] does give us money through opioid
[6:26] settlement funds, through grant money,
[6:27] and we support mental health initiatives
[6:30] for children, youth, and families,
[6:32] adults. So, thank you for all your
[6:33] support in everything we do. Thank you.
[6:35] May we get a picture with you?
[7:11] And thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[7:26] A, next we have the presentation of the
[7:28] 2025 audit by Ray Saranellia from
[7:31] Nisivoccia.
[7:40] Good evening everybody. Um Ray
[7:41] Saranellia the Sebasticook Auditor for
[7:43] the county.
[7:44] Um, so tonight I'll be presenting the
[7:46] budget um, or
[7:48] we'll talk about the budget later. We're
[7:49] going to talk about the audit right now,
[7:51] which is this blue book here. I'm going
[7:53] to save everybody some time and condense
[7:54] it down. It's like 200 pages, so we'll we'll try and get through it
[7:57] quickly.
[7:59] Um, the county did have a good year
[8:00] financially.
[8:02] Um, the fund balance did grow by 185,000
[8:06] uh, during the year. Started the year
[8:08] with 22 million 838. Uh, used 8 million
[8:12] 774 in the through the budget process
[8:15] and then regenerated 8 million 959 for a
[8:18] fund balance of 23 million.
[8:21] So, I talk about the fund balance,
[8:22] right? That's your best financial
[8:24] indicator. It's obviously very
[8:26] important. We use it through the budget
[8:27] process to help fund the budget um, and
[8:30] it's what's the rating agencies look at
[8:31] as our financial health, very similar to
[8:34] retained earnings.
[8:36] So, I always like to talk about uh, you
[8:38] know, how do we know your fund balance
[8:39] is doing well? We try and look at it as
[8:41] a percentage of your operating budget.
[8:44] That's what your fund balance see fund
[8:45] balance policy looks at as well. You
[8:48] have a range for your healthy fund
[8:50] balance. If you go too high, we try and
[8:51] draw the fund balance down. You go too
[8:53] low, we try and make a plan to uh, get
[8:55] it to grow. So, at this point you're at
[8:57] 17.7%.
[8:59] The maximum amount of your fund balance
[9:01] uh, according to the policy should be
[9:03] 20%. That's what the rating agencies
[9:05] would be looking for. If you're to try
[9:07] and maintain a fund balance of somewhere
[9:09] between 15 and 20%. So, at 17 and a half
[9:13] percent, it's almost perfect. Um,
[9:15] considering where we're at in the
[9:17] economic cycle, again having a little
[9:19] bit of a higher fund balance is probably
[9:21] a good thing. It gives us a little bit
[9:23] more time to be reactive um, if there's
[9:26] a downturn in the economy. So, all very
[9:29] good things uh, in the in the current
[9:31] operating fund of the financial
[9:33] statements. You know, financial
[9:34] statements aren't just the operating
[9:35] fund, there's trust funds, there's the
[9:37] capital fund, and the library fund, as
[9:39] well as some of your outside offices.
[9:41] So, the trust funds operated normally
[9:44] and effectively. The storm reserve is
[9:46] down slightly.
[9:48] You know, we have a couple of big storms
[9:49] at the beginning of this year, so those
[9:51] are going to be impacting that that
[9:52] reserve as well, but it's still very
[9:54] strong. Again, giving you more
[9:56] flexibility for when uncertainty arises.
[9:59] So, that's a very good thing as well.
[10:01] Capital, that's where we do all the
[10:03] capital projects and we maintain the
[10:05] debt.
[10:06] The long-term debt
[10:08] continues to reduce. The debt is down 8
[10:11] and 1/2 million dollars
[10:13] over the year in 2025 to 71 million
[10:17] 390,000.
[10:19] That is the lowest it's been
[10:23] in the last 20 years for sure, probably
[10:24] 30, maybe even 40. So, that it continues
[10:28] to reduce.
[10:30] Part of the long-term budget plan, the
[10:32] long-term debt plan that the
[10:35] you know, the commissioners have put in
[10:36] place over the last several years.
[10:38] So, I'm happy to report that it is
[10:40] working.
[10:41] That's probably the lowest it's been in a very long time.
[10:45] >> The library fund operated strong as
[10:48] well. The fund balance is down just
[10:50] slightly, but it's still in a strong
[10:52] position. So, overall, you know, all of
[10:55] your finances are in good shape.
[10:57] You know, as you continue to produce
[10:58] budgets that have a sound fiscal future
[11:01] to maintain
[11:03] taxes and and the services that you want
[11:05] to provide. Keep a lot of stability for
[11:07] the residents.
[11:08] Great.
[11:09] Thank you.
[11:10] Anyone?
[11:13] I think we're good.
[11:14] >> very much. Thank you, Ray.
[11:16] Okay. Number seven,
[11:18] uh resolution authorizing the reading of
[11:21] the 2026 Sussex County budget by title
[11:24] only in accordance with NJSA 40A colon
[11:28] 4-8.
[11:29] Can I get a motion? So moved. Secretary
[11:32] Commissioner Henderson a second,
[11:33] Commissioner uh Deputy Director DeGroat.
[11:35] Any discussion?
[11:36] Roll call, please.
[11:37] >> Director Space.
[11:38] >> Yes. Commissioner Carney. Yeah. Deputy
[11:40] Director DeGroat. Yes. Commissioner
[11:42] Henderson.
[11:43] >> Yes. Commissioner Silverthorne.
[11:44] >> Yes.
[11:46] All right, number eight, public hearing.
[11:48] for the 2026 Sussex
[11:50] County budget as approved. Can I get a
[11:52] motion to open public hearing for the
[11:54] 2026 Sussex County budget as approved?
[11:57] So moved. Okay, Commissioner
[11:59] Silverthorne and
[12:00] Commissioner Henderson. Any discussion?
[12:02] All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Abstain?
[12:04] Okay, the floor is open.
[12:07] Public hearing is now open. Is anyone
[12:09] present to be heard regarding the 2026
[12:11] Sussex County budget as approved?
[12:15] Please state your name and municipality.
[12:18] Uh good evening, commissioners and
[12:20] community members. Um
[12:23] I'm Ken Collins, Andover Township. I
[12:25] want to thank you for your hard work on
[12:26] a budget. It already feels like with Mr.
[12:29] Hayden re- placed, we're getting more
[12:31] bang for the buck.
[12:32] So, to speak and I know we're all
[12:34] grateful for that. Um for quite some
[12:36] time, I've been coming before you asking
[12:38] you to stabilize property taxes.
[12:40] And every year they go up. Uh this
[12:43] year's no exception. Recently, you know,
[12:45] I've tried to explain to you all that if
[12:47] you raise property taxes by 3 and 1/2% a
[12:50] year, you double them in 20. And I
[12:52] explained to you that you explained to
[12:54] you that you've done that.
[12:55] And I want to put kind of put that in
[12:56] perspective for you, okay? If you're 25
[12:58] years old and you come here and you buy
[13:00] a piece of property and the property
[13:01] taxes are $10,000 on it, and you guys
[13:04] raise taxes 3 and 1/2% for the next 20
[13:06] years,
[13:07] well, now they're $20,000. Then if you
[13:10] raise them for the next 20 years,
[13:11] they're not $30,000, they're $40,000.
[13:14] They double again.
[13:15] And then over the next 20 years, they
[13:17] double again. So, when that guy is 85,
[13:20] his taxes have now gone from do the
[13:22] math. Did you do it? That's a lot of
[13:24] money. He's paying 80 grand.
[13:27] You got to really be careful with what
[13:29] you're doing. You can't double tax You
[13:30] can't raise taxes 3 and 1/2% a year.
[13:33] You're going to tax this place out of
[13:35] existence.
[13:37] That's all I got. Thanks.
[13:39] Yeah.
[13:40] Anyone else?
[13:42] Can I get a motion that the public
[13:44] hearing be Oh, we have another one. Oh,
[13:45] I'm sorry. Come on up.
[13:47] Didn't see you.
[13:51] Name and address
[13:51] >> Paul Luton, I'm from Livonia.
[13:53] Hello.
[13:55] Is there a line item in the budget again
[13:59] this year
[14:00] to pay off the assault claim?
[14:08] Oh, it's paid off.
[14:11] Uh
[14:13] The The other question I have is
[14:18] year over year
[14:21] what
[14:22] has the rateable base been?
[14:32] Oh, yeah, it's not a Q&A.
[14:34] It's What's that? We can respond. Yeah, we can get you the
[14:38] information.
[14:41] The reason why I asked that question is
[14:43] [clears throat] that
[14:45] uh
[14:47] every year
[14:49] whether it's at the municipal level
[14:51] or county level
[14:54] there's an increase in revenue.
[14:58] Where does that increase come from?
[15:02] Actual base.
[15:04] So, if I'm just using this as an
[15:08] example.
[15:09] If the rateable base went up by $10
[15:11] million
[15:12] for the county
[15:16] you have
[15:17] what the county tax rate is for our
[15:20] number.
[15:24] You two 3.3
[15:28] So, say it's
[15:30] $4 to make it easier on me.
[15:33] It's 0.38.
[15:35] Well, it's 0.39, 0.38 below is.
[15:37] Uh so,
[15:39] per hundred on
[15:43] $10 million that means that there
[15:47] is additional revenue to the county.
[15:50] For you.
[15:52] 1 minute.
[15:54] Uh
[15:55] So,
[15:57] I just would encourage you to understand
[16:01] that you know, we always hear about
[16:03] medical expenses going up.
[16:06] But, your revenue also goes up.
[16:08] >> [clears throat]
[16:10] >> And I would encourage you to
[16:14] work with your
[16:15] county offices.
[16:17] Thank you. Thank you.
[16:19] Anyone else?
[16:25] Okay. Can I get a motion that the public
[16:28] hearing be closed?
[16:29] >> Still moved. Okay, Commissioner Carney
[16:31] and a second. Deputy Director DeGroat.
[16:33] Any discussion?
[16:34] All in favor? All right, opposed
[16:36] abstain. Okay, the next one. A
[16:39] resolution the final adoption of the
[16:41] 2026 Sussex County budget as approved.
[16:44] Be it resolved by the Board of County
[16:46] Commissioners of the County of Sussex
[16:48] that the budget herein before set forth
[16:51] by adopted and shall constitute an
[16:53] appropriation of 132 million 2 million
[16:56] 242,833.89
[17:01] for the purposes stated of the sums
[17:03] therein set forth as appropriations and
[17:06] authorization of the amount of the 108
[17:09] million 695,401
[17:13] for the county purposes to be raised by
[17:14] taxation and certification to the County
[17:17] board of taxation of the following
[17:19] summary of general revenues and
[17:21] appropriations. Can I get a motion to
[17:23] finally adopt the 2026 county budget as
[17:26] approved?
[17:27] >> Okay, Commissioner Silverthorn, a
[17:28] second?
[17:28] >> Second. Uh Commissioner Henderson, any
[17:30] discussion? Yes. Yes.
[17:34] Since I didn't make the last meeting on
[17:35] our introduction, which I apologize for,
[17:37] I just have a few things that I would
[17:38] like to say.
[17:39] One being I'm pretty sure we don't
[17:40] collect millions of dollars on a rate of
[17:42] votes, but I'm not mistaken. I think
[17:43] we're around 200 grand this year, maybe
[17:45] 360 last year, Elka, something around
[17:47] there?
[17:47] Right? Correct? That's right. Okay. All
[17:50] right, so I just want to clarify that.
[17:51] Um
[17:52] you know, everybody could be a Monday
[17:53] morning quarterback and tell us that we
[17:55] can lower taxes, 100%, and we can lower
[17:57] taxes, you are correct. We could take
[17:59] out of our fund balance, we could take
[18:00] away all our services and have nothing.
[18:02] No Skylands ride, no social services. We
[18:05] gave a proclamation for for mental
[18:07] health. We could take it all away.
[18:09] That's what we can do, but we don't want
[18:10] to do that. And we also want to pay our
[18:12] employees cuz they deserve a decent
[18:14] living, them and their families. So, we,
[18:17] you know, we're taxpayers just like
[18:18] everybody else here.
[18:19] And I think we do the best that we can
[18:20] do. We have unfunded mandates, $3.5
[18:24] million in insurance going up year after
[18:26] year with no light in sight whatsoever.
[18:29] So, I just want to thank you guys for
[18:31] doing what you do, Elka, Tony,
[18:33] Christina,
[18:34] Ray Ray, um
[18:36] you know, and the and the board because,
[18:38] you know, we do us right for this
[18:39] county.
[18:41] I've been here going on 6 years. This is
[18:42] the highest. This is not good for
[18:44] anybody. Um most most municipalities are
[18:48] a lot higher than we are,
[18:49] and I'm not trying to brag by all means,
[18:51] but for the last 6 years or 5 years
[18:53] prior, I would say our average was about
[18:55] 1.1% on on a levy going up.
[18:58] When you have inflation at 9%, that's
[18:59] not bad.
[19:01] Our employees, we have a lot more
[19:02] employees than we did when I first
[19:03] started here. They're getting paid a
[19:04] good wage, right? And and again, they
[19:07] deserve to to get that good wage. So, I
[19:09] stick behind our budget. Again,
[19:11] I would love it to be zero, and I would
[19:13] love to be able to keep the services
[19:14] that we have, but you can't have both.
[19:16] So, I know, you know, everybody can fix
[19:18] things, and
[19:19] again, Monday morning quarterbacks,
[19:21] there's so many of them. Um
[19:23] you know,
[19:24] we do what we can do, and we're trying
[19:25] to do our best, and uh
[19:27] again, thank you guys. And also, public
[19:29] safety. That's another thing that's uh I
[19:31] could go on and on forever.
[19:32] >> You know what I mean? It's just uh yeah,
[19:34] so. But, thank you. Thank you.
[19:37] Um just I just wanted to supplement what
[19:40] uh Commissioner Carney had stated. Uh
[19:42] this budget that's been prepared and was
[19:44] introduced um also reflects a decrease
[19:46] of an over 40 items. Um you know, this
[19:49] board, the subcommittees, our staff, we
[19:52] went through line item literally item
[19:53] through item through item to what we
[19:55] could could decrease. This budget
[19:57] represents a decrease of uh $2,013,452
[20:02] that we were able to remove from the
[20:04] budget without decreasing a single
[20:05] service um or a single um anything that
[20:09] we are uh providing the taxpayers. So, I
[20:12] you know, I think there's something to
[20:13] be said for that as well, that we are
[20:15] managing, we are looking, and we are
[20:16] keeping the taxpayers in mind.
[20:19] And we're continuing doing our our debt
[20:21] That's right.
[20:22] >> pay pay down our debt, which is big, as Ray said. Right? I think 1.5 million,
[20:26] I think, in debt reduction this year? Am
[20:28] I correct? Okay.
[20:30] More than that? That was the actual 1.5.
[20:33] What was it? Like 7 million is all. 7 7
[20:35] million with debt reduction.
[20:37] Okay.
[20:38] It's huge. It's huge. We also pay as you
[20:40] go instead of borrowing money for
[20:42] some of you guys who
[20:44] Roll call, please.
[20:45] Director Space. Yes. Commissioner
[20:47] Carney. Yes. Deputy Director DeGroat.
[20:50] Yes. Commissioner Henderson.
[20:51] >> Yes. Commissioner Silverthorne. Yes.
[20:55] Okay. Final adoption of ordinance 26-01.
[20:59] At our regular meeting held on April
[21:01] 22nd, 2026, we introduced for first
[21:04] reading the following ordinance, which
[21:05] was advertised on the County of Sussex
[21:07] website on April 23rd, 2026 together
[21:10] with the notice of public hearing
[21:12] stating that it would be held at this
[21:13] meeting at 6:00 p.m. Bond ordinance
[21:16] providing for the undertaking of 2026
[21:18] capital improvements at and for certain
[21:20] facilities of Sussex County Community
[21:22] College located within the County of
[21:24] Sussex, State of New Jersey
[21:26] appropriating 1 million 200,000
[21:29] therefore and authorizing the issuance
[21:31] of 1 million 150,000
[21:34] bonds or notes of the County of Sussex,
[21:36] State of New Jersey for financing such
[21:38] appropriation, the principal of and
[21:40] interest on the aggregate principal
[21:43] amount of which will be entitled to
[21:45] state aid pursuant to chapter 12 of the
[21:47] laws of New Jersey of 1971.
[21:50] Um can I get a motion that the public
[21:53] hearing be opened? So moved. Okay,
[21:55] Commissioner Henderson is second Deputy
[21:57] Director DeGroat.
[21:59] Um
[21:59] any discussion?
[22:01] Okay, all in favor? I oppose, abstain.
[22:04] State your name and municipality and
[22:06] this is uh 3 minutes or less.
[22:09] Who wants to speak? Okay.
[22:11] Is anyone present to be heard on this
[22:13] ordinance? Okay, being none, can I get a
[22:15] motion that the public hearing be
[22:16] closed? So moved. Okay, uh Commissioner
[22:19] Silverthorne a second.
[22:21] Deputy Director DeGroat, any
[22:23] discussion? All in favor? I oppose,
[22:26] abstain. Okay. Now do you can I get a
[22:28] motion that this ordinance finally be
[22:30] adopted? So moved. Okay, Commissioner
[22:33] Carney and uh second was Commissioner
[22:35] Silverthorne. Any discussion?
[22:38] All in favor? I oppose, abstain.
[22:41] A motion that the resolution be uh
[22:45] adopted.
[22:46] Well, we already have that. This is on
[22:47] here.
[22:49] The ordinance be adopted and the and the
[22:50] resolution.
[22:51] >> Oh, okay. The resolution that I Okay,
[22:54] the Okay, I get it. Okay, that the
[22:56] resolution be adopted.
[22:58] Okay.
[22:59] Can I get a motion? So moved. Okay,
[23:01] Commissioner Henderson a second Director
[23:02] DeGroot. A roll call, please.
[23:05] Director Space. Yes. Commissioner
[23:07] Carney. Yes. Deputy Director DeGroot.
[23:09] Yes. Commissioner Henderson. Yes.
[23:11] Commissioner Silverthorne. Yes.
[23:14] Is that that one?
[23:16] Does that just say that so I can put
[23:17] this wrong? Yeah, it's it would say that
[23:19] the resolution be adopted and
[23:20] advertised. Oh, and advertised. Okay. Um
[23:23] C, final adoption of ordinance 26-02.
[23:27] At our regular meeting held on April
[23:29] 22nd, 2026, we introduced for first
[23:32] reading the following ordinance which
[23:33] was advertised on the County of Sussex
[23:35] website on April 23rd, 2026 together
[23:38] with the notice of public hearing
[23:40] stating it would be held at this meeting
[23:42] at 6:00 p.m. A bond ordinance providing
[23:45] for various 2026 capital improvements by
[23:48] and in the County of Sussex, State of
[23:50] New Jersey appropriating $2,823,095
[23:55] therefore and authorizing $2,681,000
[23:59] bonds or notes of the county to finance
[24:02] part of the costs thereof. Can I get a
[24:04] motion that the public hearing be
[24:06] opened?
[24:07] So moved. Okay, Commissioner Carney, a
[24:08] second. Second. Deputy Director DeGroot,
[24:10] any discussion?
[24:12] All in favor, I. Opposed, abstain. Okay.
[24:15] Is anyone present to be heard regarding
[24:17] this ordinance?
[24:21] Can I get a motion?
[24:23] So moved. Okay.
[24:24] >> Very good. Okay. Commissioner Henderson
[24:27] and
[24:28] uh Commissioner Silverthorne, any
[24:29] discussion?
[24:32] Okay, all in favor, I.
[24:33] Opposed, abstain.
[24:35] Can I get a motion that this ordinance
[24:37] be finally adopted? So moved. Okay,
[24:39] Deputy Director DeGroot, in a second.
[24:41] >> Second. Uh Commissioner Silverthorne,
[24:43] any discussion?
[24:44] All in favor, I. Opposed, abstain. Can I
[24:47] get a motion that the resolution be
[24:49] finally adopted and authorize the clerk
[24:51] of the board to advertise this
[24:53] resolution as finally adopted and also
[24:55] post same on the bulletin board in the
[24:57] lobby of the county administrative
[24:59] center. So moved. Okay, Commissioner
[25:01] Silverthorn a second. Second. Okay,
[25:03] Commissioner Henderson roll call,
[25:04] please. Director Space?
[25:06] >> Yes. Commissioner Carney?
[25:07] >> Yes. Deputy Director DeGroat?
[25:09] >> Yes. Commissioner Henderson?
[25:10] >> Yes. Commissioner Silverthorn?
[25:12] >> Yes.
[25:12] Okay. D, final adoption of ordinance
[25:15] 26-03.
[25:17] At our regular meeting held on April
[25:18] 22nd, 2026, we introduced for first
[25:21] reading the following ordinance which
[25:22] was advertised on the County of Sussex
[25:24] website on April 23rd, 2026 together
[25:28] with the notice of public hearing
[25:30] stating it would be held at this meeting
[25:31] at 6:00 p.m. Capital ordinance providing
[25:34] funding for certain capital improvements
[25:36] in and for the county and the Sussex
[25:39] County
[25:40] Career and Technical High School located
[25:43] within the County of Sussex, State of
[25:45] New Jersey and appropriating $8,225,223
[25:50] therefore to pay for the cost thereof.
[25:53] Can I get a motion that the public
[25:54] hearing be opened? So moved. Okay,
[25:56] Commissioner Silverthorn with a second,
[25:58] Commissioner Henderson.
[26:00] Uh any discussion? All in favor? I
[26:03] oppose, abstain. Is anyone present to be
[26:05] heard regarding this ordinance?
[26:09] Okay. Can I get a motion that the public
[26:11] hearing be closed?
[26:12] >> So moved. Okay, Commissioner Silverthorn
[26:13] second, Deputy Director DeGroat. Any
[26:15] discussion?
[26:16] All in favor? I
[26:18] oppose, abstain. Okay. Can I get a
[26:20] motion that this ordinance
[26:22] be finally adopted?
[26:24] So moved. Okay, Commissioner Henderson
[26:27] and a second with Commissioner
[26:27] Silverthorn. Any discussion?
[26:30] All in favor? I I oppose, abstain.
[26:33] Motion carries. Okay. Can I get a motion
[26:35] that the resolution be finally adopted
[26:38] and authorize the clerk to advertise
[26:39] this resolution as finally adopted and
[26:42] also post same on the bulletin board in
[26:44] the lobby of the County of the
[26:45] administration administrative center. So
[26:48] moved. Okay, Commissioner Silverthorn
[26:49] and a second from Deputy Director
[26:51] DeGroat. Any discussion?
[26:53] Roll call, please.
[26:54] >> Director Space? Yes. Commissioner
[26:56] Carney? Yes. Deputy Director DeGroat?
[26:58] >> Yes. Commissioner Henderson?
[27:00] >> Yes. Commissioner Silverthorne?
[27:01] >> Yes.
[27:02] Okay. E, final adoption of ordinance
[27:05] 26-04.
[27:07] At our regular meeting held on April
[27:08] 22nd, 2026, we introduced for first
[27:11] reading the following ordinance, which
[27:13] was advertised on the county of Sussex
[27:14] website on April 23rd, 2026, together
[27:18] with the notice of public hearing
[27:19] stating it would be held at this meeting
[27:21] at 6:00 p.m. Capital ordinance providing
[27:23] for various improvements to roads and
[27:25] bridges in and for the county of Sussex,
[27:28] State of New Jersey, and appropriating
[27:30] $1,480,170. Therefore, $1,479,
[27:37] $670
[27:39] from grants received or expected to be
[27:41] received from the New Jersey Department
[27:43] of Transportation to pay for the cost
[27:45] thereof. Can I get a motion that the
[27:47] public hearing be opened? So moved.
[27:49] Second. Commissioner Silverthorne a
[27:51] second.
[27:52] Deputy Director DeGroat. Any
[27:54] discussion? All in favor, I. Opposed,
[27:57] abstain. Is anyone present to be heard
[27:59] regarding this ordinance?
[28:02] Okay. Can I get a motion that the public
[28:04] hearing be closed?
[28:05] >> So moved. Second. Commissioner
[28:06] Silverthorne a second from Commissioner
[28:08] Henderson. Any discussion? All in favor,
[28:12] I. Opposed, abstain.
[28:14] Can I get a motion that this ordinance
[28:15] be finally adopted? So moved. Okay.
[28:18] Commissioner Silverthorne a second
[28:20] Commissioner Henderson. Any discussion?
[28:22] All in favor, I. Opposed, abstain. Okay,
[28:25] motion carries. Motion that the
[28:26] resolution be finally adopted and
[28:28] authorize the clerk to advertise this
[28:30] resolution as finally adopted and also
[28:32] post same on the bulletin board in the
[28:34] lobby of the County Administrative
[28:35] Center. So moved. Okay. Deputy Director
[28:37] DeGroat makes the motion a second.
[28:39] Uh Commissioner Silverthorne.
[28:41] Any discussion?
[28:42] Roll call, please. Director Space?
[28:44] >> Yes.
[28:44] >> Commissioner Carney?
[28:45] >> Yes. Deputy Director DeGroat? Yes.
[28:47] Commissioner Henderson? Yes.
[28:49] Commissioner Silverthorne? Yes. Okay.
[28:51] F, final adoption of ordinance 26-05.
[28:55] At our regular meeting held on April
[28:57] 22nd, 2026, we introduced for first
[29:00] reading the following ordinance, which
[29:01] was advertised in the County of Sussex
[29:03] website on April 23rd, 2026 together
[29:06] with the notice of public hearing
[29:07] stating it would be held at this meeting
[29:09] at 6:00 p.m.
[29:10] Uh the ordinance approving a use
[29:12] application for the reservation
[29:15] and use of the Newton Green. Can I get a
[29:17] motion that the public hearing be open?
[29:20] So moved. Okay, Commissioner Henderson,
[29:22] and a second? Second. Uh
[29:24] Commissioner Carney, any discussion?
[29:26] All in favor? I. Opposed, abstain. Okay,
[29:29] the the floor is open. Anyone present to
[29:32] be heard regarding this ordinance?
[29:34] Okay, being none, can I get a motion
[29:36] that the public hearing be closed? So
[29:38] moved.
[29:39] Okay. Second. Uh Commissioner uh Deputy
[29:41] Director DeGroat, and a second from
[29:42] Commissioner Silverthorne, any
[29:43] discussion?
[29:45] All in favor? I. I. Opposed, abstain.
[29:47] Motion carries. Can I get a motion that
[29:49] this ordinance be finally adopted? So
[29:51] moved. Okay, Commissioner Henderson.
[29:53] Second. Next motion, Commissioner
[29:54] Silverthorne seconds, any discussion?
[29:57] All in favor? I. Opposed, abstain.
[29:59] Motion carries. Motion that the
[30:01] resolution be finally adopted and
[30:02] authorize the clerk to advertise this
[30:04] resolution as finally adopted and also
[30:06] post same on the bulletin board in the
[30:08] lobby of the County Administration
[30:09] Center. So moved. Okay, Deputy Director
[30:11] DeGroat makes a motion, second? Second.
[30:13] Commissioner Carney, any discussion?
[30:15] Roll call, please.
[30:16] >> Director Space?
[30:17] >> Yes. Commissioner Carney? Yes. Deputy
[30:19] Director DeGroat?
[30:20] >> Yes. Commissioner Henderson?
[30:21] >> Yes. Commissioner Silverthorne? Yes.
[30:24] Okay. G, final adoption of ordinance
[30:27] 26-06.
[30:29] At our regular meeting held on April
[30:30] 22nd, 2026, we introduced for first
[30:33] reading the following ordinance, which
[30:34] was advertised on the County of Sussex
[30:36] website on April 23rd, 2026 together
[30:39] with the notice of public hearing
[30:40] stating it would be held at this meeting
[30:42] at 6:00 p.m. An ordinance of the Sussex
[30:44] County Board of County Commissioners to
[30:46] establish rules of conduct and decorum
[30:49] for public meetings. Can I get a motion
[30:50] that the public hearing be opened?
[30:52] >> So moved. Okay, Commissioner
[30:53] Silverthorne a second from Commissioner
[30:54] Henderson. Any discussion?
[30:56] All in favor? I. Opposed, abstain,
[30:59] motion carries. Is anyone present to be
[31:00] heard regarding this ordinance?
[31:03] Okay, being none, can I get a motion
[31:05] that the public hearing be closed? So
[31:06] moved. Second, Commissioner
[31:07] Silverthorne. A second from Deputy
[31:08] Director DeGroat. Any discussion? All in
[31:11] favor? I. Opposed, abstain, motion
[31:13] carries. A motion that this ordinance be
[31:15] finally adopted.
[31:17] So moved. Okay, Deputy Director DeGroat
[31:19] makes a motion. Second? Second. Okay,
[31:21] Commissioner Silverthorne. Any
[31:22] discussion?
[31:23] All in favor? I. Opposed, abstain,
[31:25] motion carries. Motion that this
[31:27] resolution be finally adopted and
[31:28] authorize the clerk to advertise this
[31:30] resolution as finally adopted and also
[31:32] post same on the bulletin board in the
[31:33] lobby of the County Administrative
[31:34] Center. Can I get a motion?
[31:36] >> So moved. Okay, Commissioner Henderson a
[31:37] second.
[31:38] >> Second. Commissioner Silverthorne. Any
[31:40] discussion?
[31:41] Roll call, please. Director Space?
[31:42] >> Yes. Commissioner Carney?
[31:44] >> Yes. Deputy Director DeGroat?
[31:46] >> Yes. Commissioner Henderson? Yes.
[31:47] Commissioner Silverthorne?
[31:49] >> Yes.
[31:50] Okay, public session from the floor.
[31:52] This public session is for those wishing
[31:53] to make a comment of 3 minutes or less
[31:55] regarding an agenda item. Please line up
[31:58] the microphone and state your name and
[32:00] municipality municipality and agenda
[32:02] topic for the record. Can I get a motion
[32:04] to open the floor for public comment?
[32:06] Second. Commissioner Henderson a second
[32:08] Deputy Director DeGroat. Any discussion?
[32:11] All in favor? I. Opposed, abstain, the
[32:13] floor is open for 3 minutes or less,
[32:15] agenda topics only.
[32:17] Okay, being none, can I get a motion to
[32:19] close the floor for Oh, there is one.
[32:21] Sorry, I'm reading so fast.
[32:23] Agenda topic only, please.
[32:29] Leo Ndo, Hampton Township, uh
[32:32] by immigration. Is that which agenda?
[32:34] The agenda item. This isn't the public
[32:36] comment for everything yet. That'll be
[32:38] That'll come up later. Thank you.
[32:40] >> [gasps]
[32:40] >> Okay. Anyone agenda topics only?
[32:44] Okay. Can I get a motion to close the
[32:46] floor for public comment?
[32:48] Okay. Commissioner Silverthorne, second
[32:49] Deputy Director DeGroat. Any discussion?
[32:52] All in favor? I. Opposed, abstain. Okay.
[32:55] Floor is closed. Okay, number 10.
[32:57] Commissioner comments. I'm going to
[32:59] start with Commissioner Silverthorne.
[33:01] Well, once again, since I go first, I'm
[33:02] going to just limit it to um
[33:05] the things I did either by myself or
[33:07] mostly by myself, and it's been 3 weeks,
[33:09] so there wasn't There's been a lot of stuff that we've done.
[33:12] And uh
[33:13] Mr. Collins, like you said, you're
[33:15] getting your money's worth now because
[33:16] uh I'm going to everything I can go to.
[33:19] So uh
[33:21] And uh
[33:22] and I'd like to thank Bill Coppolla for
[33:23] attending uh an Ogdensburg Bridge
[33:25] meeting with me about something that
[33:27] they were very concerned about.
[33:29] Once you go and talk to them,
[33:31] um it allays a lot of their fears. So uh
[33:33] that's moving along. Um but that was one of them.
[33:38] Uh
[33:39] we went to I'm going to leave that one
[33:40] cuz that was everybody.
[33:42] Uh
[33:43] Commissioner uh
[33:45] Henderson and myself did the Andover and
[33:47] Lafayette DPW tour.
[33:49] I attended the Blue Denim Ball in
[33:51] Belvidere. They were very happy to have
[33:53] someone from Sussex County
[33:55] attend.
[33:56] Um
[33:58] we did the Franklin and Wantage DPW
[34:00] tour, so we've completed all the uh DPW
[34:02] buildings
[34:04] uh that we that we had on our uh
[34:05] schedule. Uh I completed the second half
[34:08] of my library tour, which was uh Sussex,
[34:10] Wantage, Franklin, and Vernon. I also
[34:14] stopped by their in-service, which was
[34:16] the following week, I believe. Um
[34:20] >> [clears throat]
[34:20] >> we had a meeting with the tax board
[34:22] concerning uh something they wanted to
[34:24] talk about with shared services, which
[34:27] uh Commissioner Marx is going to bring
[34:28] up a little bit later.
[34:30] Um
[34:32] we had the Board of Taxation
[34:34] Reorganization that I attended.
[34:37] Uh, Commissioner Henderson and myself
[34:39] did a jail tour.
[34:41] And um
[34:42] Did you go on? No. I went down there.
[34:44] >> Every little thing we did. Uh,
[34:47] and also I I did attend the uh
[34:49] Branchville Hose Company installment
[34:50] dinner.
[34:52] Um,
[34:53] with Commissioner Space was there as
[34:55] well.
[34:56] Uh, we did a facilities tour
[34:58] with Mr. Henderson and um
[35:01] That was That was good to see everything
[35:03] that the guys that keep everything
[35:04] running and uh
[35:06] often times get a lot of the blame or
[35:09] it's good to see what they have to deal
[35:11] with and a lot of times it's
[35:13] you know, they're doing the best they
[35:13] can with what they have.
[35:15] Uh, I attended a uh Byram Council
[35:17] meeting, Branchville Council meeting and
[35:19] also a Franklin Borough Council meeting.
[35:22] Uh, I went down to the NJAC for a
[35:24] Commissioner's Orientation. They had a
[35:26] large number of uh new Commissioners
[35:28] elected this year and this is the first
[35:30] time they had a Commissioner's
[35:31] Orientation in I think about 14 years.
[35:33] So, I did attend that. It was very
[35:34] informative. Met some good people and uh
[35:37] and did do a little bit of gambling so.
[35:40] What's on there? And uh and today we
[35:43] attended the um
[35:44] Community College commencement and we
[35:47] [snorts] also did a tour of uh
[35:49] Commissioner Henderson and myself did a
[35:50] tour of the uh Sheriff's Office here on
[35:52] High Street and also the uh the court
[35:55] complex just to get a better feel for everything over there.
[35:59] That's the majority of things I did
[36:00] either alone or with a few of these
[36:02] guys. There are a lot of other things we
[36:03] did do together. Uh,
[36:05] that's all.
[36:07] Mr. Henderson. I look at his bullet
[36:09] points and I feel guilty going to read
[36:11] you what we did here in the last 3
[36:13] weeks. On April 23rd, I along with
[36:16] Commissioner Director Space, Carney and
[36:17] Silverthorne we attended the
[36:19] groundbreaking of the new pole barn at
[36:21] Sussex County Sheriff's OEM site.
[36:23] Also on the 23rd, Commissioner Director
[36:25] Space, Silverthorne and I attended the
[36:27] Sussex County ribbon cutting for the
[36:28] newly renovated library and student
[36:31] center. What a transformation. It looks
[36:33] exceptional. Well done SCC President Dr.
[36:36] Cory Homer and all those involved in
[36:38] making this a reality.
[36:40] Later that day I attended the Sussex
[36:41] County open space meeting via Zoom.
[36:44] There were five presentations by
[36:45] municipalities for the trail grant from
[36:47] Stillwater, Frankford, Wantage,
[36:49] Hopatcong, and the county. It's my
[36:51] understanding since that meeting several
[36:53] other municipalities have submitted for
[36:55] the grant.
[36:57] On April 24th, Commissioner Silverthorne
[36:59] and I did a tour of two Sussex County
[37:01] DPW garages in Andover and Lafayette to
[37:04] speak with workers about their concerns
[37:06] and tour their facilities. We also did a
[37:08] site visit that day at the county sign
[37:10] shop where all county road signs are
[37:11] produced as well as assisting
[37:13] municipalities with their sign needs.
[37:16] On Monday, April 27th, Commissioner
[37:18] Silverthorne and I visited Frankford and
[37:20] Sussex DPW garage to tour their
[37:22] buildings and speak with the employees.
[37:24] I just would like to personally thank
[37:26] all the employees for the incredible job
[37:27] they did this winter, but all year long
[37:29] keeping the roads in great shape for our
[37:31] commuters in and out of the county.
[37:33] Later that afternoon we met with DPW
[37:35] workers from Sussex and Vernon at the
[37:37] Sussex garage. I think this interaction
[37:40] with employees means a lot to employees
[37:41] as it's our chance to personally thank
[37:43] them and show them their appreciation
[37:45] for their dedication to the county.
[37:48] >> [snorts]
[37:48] >> On April 28th, I along with Commissioner
[37:50] Silverthorne attended the School of
[37:51] Conservation ceremony where they
[37:53] received a historical marker. The
[37:55] history behind this place is absolutely
[37:57] amazing. Unfortunately, some of their
[37:59] funding is being cut as well.
[38:01] On April 29th, I attended the SCC
[38:04] President's Ball at the community
[38:05] college along with Commissioner Space
[38:07] and Silverthorne.
[38:09] Exciting time for Dr. Cory Homer to be
[38:11] officially sworn in as a president of
[38:12] SCC. Certainly well deserved honor for
[38:15] Dr. Homer as he leads the college into
[38:18] the future.
[38:20] Also that evening my fellow
[38:21] commissioners, we attended Sussex County
[38:23] Crime Stoppers hosted by our county
[38:24] sheriff and staff. It's incredible to
[38:26] see the outpouring support for this
[38:28] program. Just as a side note, Crime
[38:31] Stoppers arrest of the individuals that
[38:33] dumped the dogs throughout the county
[38:35] come from one tip to Crime Stoppers.
[38:37] Please, as the saying goes, if you see
[38:39] something, say something. Uh could help
[38:41] to a arrest of an individual or a case.
[38:45] On April 30th, Commissioner Silverthorn
[38:46] and I presented a proclamation to the
[38:48] Wantage Habitat for Humanity event at
[38:50] Perona Farms. Fantastic evening and
[38:53] fundraiser. They are currently
[38:54] renovating a home on Route 565 in
[38:56] Wantage where a family and their young
[38:58] son will reside. Habitat for Humanity is
[39:01] looking for a location in the county for
[39:03] a ReStore as well as other properties
[39:06] throughout the county to build or
[39:07] renovate for additional homes.
[39:09] On April 30th, Commissioner Director
[39:11] Space and I had a meeting with Sheriff
[39:12] Strada regarding building security.
[39:15] On May 1st, I attended National Law Day
[39:17] at the courthouse. One of my first times
[39:19] to attending. Great event celebrating
[39:21] 250 years of America and the law of the
[39:24] land.
[39:25] On May 4th, Commissioner Silverthorn and
[39:27] I did a visit of the Facilities
[39:29] Department. This also gave us the
[39:31] opportunity to hear about issues or
[39:33] concerns that they see in the field. One
[39:36] interesting point is that county owns
[39:37] approximately 100 buildings. 38 of them
[39:40] are occupied by staff members. Out of
[39:43] that, 33 need new roofs now or in the
[39:45] near future.
[39:47] I'm a firm believer that no additional
[39:48] building should be built in this county
[39:50] until we catch up.
[39:52] Our administrator certainly has her work
[39:53] cut out for her, but I have all the
[39:55] confidence in you that you will proceed
[39:56] on a positive path with a plan to
[39:58] complete these and other projects as we
[40:00] move forward.
[40:02] Later that afternoon, Commissioner Carni
[40:03] and I attended a County Planning Board
[40:05] meeting where several applicants
[40:07] presented information requesting waivers
[40:09] or clarifications on several projects on
[40:11] county roads.
[40:13] That evening, I attended the Hopatcong
[40:14] Borough meeting via Zoom. On May 6th, I
[40:17] attended the SCO meeting as a liaison.
[40:20] The same evening I attended the Sussex
[40:22] County Vo-Tech Board meeting where a lot
[40:24] of teachers and parents voiced their
[40:26] concern over the cutting of the ag shop
[40:28] and the loss of a guidance counselor.
[40:30] Currently, there are three guidance
[40:32] counselors each with a
[40:33] workload of 300 children apiece. The
[40:36] loss of one staff member will increase
[40:38] 300 children to two staff members to
[40:41] handle as well as well as other staff
[40:43] being cut.
[40:45] On May 7th, along with Commissioner
[40:46] Silverthorne, we attended EDC breakfast
[40:48] at Yetter's Diner and members of the
[40:50] County Chamber, Lafayette, Frankfurt,
[40:52] Branchville businesses to hear their
[40:54] comments and concerns and the need to
[40:56] work together to keep the county
[40:57] thriving.
[40:59] Later that day I attended an Andover
[41:00] Township meeting regarding the ordinance
[41:02] about the data center and restrictions.
[41:04] The show of residents was incredible.
[41:06] I'd estimate three or 400 individuals
[41:08] there, all of which voiced their concern
[41:11] about the data center in Andover
[41:12] Township. This ordinance was going to be
[41:15] up for further discussion at their next
[41:16] meeting, but as you're well aware, the
[41:18] Township had a special meeting last
[41:20] night to repeal the ordinance. I did
[41:22] attend it via Zoom.
[41:23] On May 8th, I was honored to be asked
[41:25] along with Commissioner Carney,
[41:26] Silverthorne, and Deputy Mayor Sitte of
[41:28] Andover, Frankfurt to attend the opening
[41:30] day at the Miners game to throw out the
[41:32] first pitch. I'm glad to be
[41:35] reading this report before Commissioner
[41:37] Carney as he's going to tell you he was
[41:39] asked to be signed up as an all-star
[41:41] player.
[41:43] If you believe that, I have a bridge in
[41:44] the desert I'd like to sell you.
[41:47] I wish the Miners the best of luck as
[41:49] they begin their ball season. On May
[41:51] 9th, I attended the Eagle Scout event
[41:53] where I presented a proclamation to a
[41:55] young man from this board for his
[41:56] achievement as an Eagle Scout. A very
[41:59] dedicated, hard-working young man that I
[42:00] have no doubt will lead his generation
[42:02] into the future.
[42:04] On May 12th, Commissioner Director
[42:05] Space, Silverthorne, and I attended the
[42:07] Chamber breakfast. Today, Commissioner
[42:09] Silverthorne and I did a tour of the
[42:11] county Sheriff's officer and court. I'd
[42:13] like to thank Sheriff Strada and the
[42:15] staff.
[42:16] Uh excellent tour. And as Commissioner
[42:18] Silverthorne said, today we just
[42:21] finished the college graduation. And my
[42:23] last thing is a senior service care
[42:26] support group meeting will be held
[42:27] virtually
[42:29] on Zoom
[42:30] 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 21st.
[42:33] Uh it helps people taking care of
[42:34] individuals and provides them a lot of
[42:37] information on help they might need. And
[42:40] that's all I have.
[42:42] Commissioner Porney.
[42:44] Thank you.
[42:46] I just want to start off with I threw a
[42:48] strike.
[42:50] It's still for sale.
[42:52] >> [laughter]
[42:53] >> I'm going to read I'm going to read
[42:57] fast. Uh I'm going to start off with
[42:59] DPW. Uh Sussex County Division of Public
[43:01] Works Highway Agency Stormwater Permit.
[43:04] Division of Public Works has completed
[43:05] the first round of sweets street
[43:06] sweeping along with 620 lanes of mile of
[43:09] county routes. Sweeping Sweeping is one
[43:11] of the minimum basic requirements
[43:12] included with Sussex County Highway
[43:14] Agency Stormwater Permit issued by the
[43:16] NJDEP. Permit requires the county sweep
[43:19] each county route a minimum of three
[43:20] times per year. Materials collected are
[43:22] logged into the county's asset
[43:23] management system and report to NJDEP as
[43:26] part of the annual permit certification process.
[43:31] Sussex County Farmland Preservation
[43:32] Plan. Sussex County Planning Board is
[43:34] holding a public meeting at 4:00 on June
[43:35] 1st, 4:00 on June 1st to review and
[43:38] adopt the updated comprehensive
[43:41] Sussex County Agricultural Agricultural
[43:44] Board has been working on updated plan
[43:45] for the past year. The updated plan will
[43:47] help steer the program over the next 10
[43:49] years. The meeting will include a
[43:50] presentation of the plan, plan updates,
[43:52] and plan goals and objectives. The draft
[43:54] plan is available for review on the
[43:56] Sussex County website. This hearing
[43:58] offers the public an opportunity to
[43:59] provide comments on the plan. Comments
[44:01] can also be provided directly to Sussex
[44:02] County Division of Planning.
[44:04] Uh and and can call them at
[44:05] 973-579-0500.
[44:09] Construction,
[44:10] as one of the commissioners mentioned,
[44:12] we had the groundbreaking.
[44:13] Um
[44:14] so, this has a lot to do with that. I
[44:16] know the DPW is excited. They don't
[44:18] usually get to build um
[44:21] new buildings or any kind of site
[44:22] construction, and they have two going
[44:23] on, so I know they're pretty excited
[44:25] about that. So, staff within the
[44:26] Division of Public Works, the Office of
[44:27] Bridge and Traffic Safety, and Office of
[44:29] Facilities Management are continuing
[44:30] work on the Sussex County Division of
[44:32] Health Storage Building and the Sussex
[44:34] County Sheriff's Storage Building and
[44:36] modular office project. Both projects
[44:38] are located in Frankford Township. Crews
[44:40] have completed the pads and are
[44:42] currently installing the site stormwater
[44:44] systems and rough grading throughout the
[44:45] parking areas. The building contractor
[44:47] is expected to begin construction of the
[44:49] Division of Health Storage Building
[44:50] within the next few weeks. And this is
[44:52] all funded by ARPA money, so it needs to
[44:54] be spent
[44:55] and by the end of the year.
[44:57] Uh or actually before that, if Al Kinkle
[44:59] can have it. Uh Public Works
[45:00] construction crew are also working on
[45:02] repairs to stormwater inlets and
[45:04] stormwater collection pipes in
[45:05] preparation of the upcoming resurfacing
[45:07] program.
[45:09] Sussex County Traffic Safety Program,
[45:10] staff from the Office of Bridge and
[45:12] Traffic Safety have completed the annual
[45:13] functional inspection inspection of over
[45:15] 14,000 traffic control signs owned and
[45:18] operated by the county. Spring and
[45:19] summer work will focus on replacement of
[45:21] signs which have been damaged
[45:23] uh or reached end of their functional
[45:24] service life. Crews will also be
[45:26] trimming sightline obstructions to allow
[45:28] approaching drivers a free and clear
[45:29] line of sight for the signs.
[45:32] The Office of Bridge and Traffic Safety
[45:33] has also started deployment of dynamic
[45:35] speed signs. Dynamic speed signs are
[45:37] deployed by the county to enhance
[45:38] drivers' awareness of posted and travel
[45:40] speeds along our county route system.
[45:42] The county receives numerous complaints
[45:43] about cars speeding within residential,
[45:46] urban, and school zones. Deployment of
[45:48] speed monitors under this program target a number of locations which the
[45:51] county receives rear current calls and
[45:53] complaints of speeding.
[45:56] Safe Safety along our roads and our
[45:57] communities is responsible for is
[45:59] responsibility of everyone. Stay alert
[46:01] and always be aware of the roadways
[46:02] posted speed limit.
[46:04] Couple things that some of the
[46:05] commissioners maybe left out. I did
[46:08] attend NJAC as well down Atlantic City.
[46:11] Learned a couple things. One I will be
[46:13] bringing up to administrator Marks was
[46:16] um
[46:17] AI. I'm a little leery always about AI,
[46:19] but minutes can be done in AI with AI.
[46:23] Price was a little but I just thought
[46:26] that was a good one that caught my
[46:27] attention.
[46:28] Um
[46:29] and then LOSAP. LOSAP was something that
[46:31] some municipalities
[46:33] should use. It's basically
[46:35] uh somewhat of a a pay a payment um for
[46:38] their services for for first responders
[46:40] and fire departments and so on and so
[46:42] forth. I did talk to Deputy Mayor
[46:43] Sivitilli about that and if there's any
[46:46] counties out there if you're watching,
[46:47] listening, or whatever if they have any
[46:49] questions, I have a good contact. This
[46:51] guy is the guru of LOSAP not just in the
[46:53] state of New Jersey but throughout the
[46:55] country.
[46:56] Uh I think it's important to to you know
[46:58] to respect our our first responders.
[47:00] It retains them. It brings them in. I
[47:02] think it's a very very good program. And
[47:04] then last but not least, I attended the
[47:06] Taste of Talent for Project
[47:07] Self-Sufficiency.
[47:09] If you'd like to eat, you should go
[47:11] there. It's very good. It's in a great
[47:13] It's a great fun fundraiser at Verona
[47:14] Farms.
[47:15] Um
[47:16] So, that's all I have. Thank you.
[47:18] Deputy Director DeGroot. All right. Good
[47:20] evening, everyone. Uh first I would like
[47:22] to begin with the NJTPA Board of
[47:24] Trustees meeting which was held this
[47:25] past week in Newark. At that meeting we
[47:27] heard from Jim Kirkos, President and CEO
[47:30] of Meadowlands Chamber, who provided an
[47:32] update on both the FIFA FIFA World Cup
[47:34] Flag Cities planning and the broader
[47:36] community experiences taking shape
[47:37] across North Jersey as well as an
[47:39] overview of future development plans for
[47:41] the Meadowlands. Specifically, Mr.
[47:43] Kirkos discussed a study currently being
[47:45] finalized that explores redeveloping an
[47:47] existing sports complex of the
[47:49] Meadowlands between American Dream
[47:51] MetLife Stadium into a modern multi-use
[47:53] convention and events complex along with
[47:55] a thousand-room hotel. You know that
[47:57] that's a that this redevelopment
[47:59] strategy could generate an estimated 30
[48:01] billion dollars in economic impact over
[48:04] 30 years. He also shared the efforts are
[48:06] underway to secure support from the
[48:08] governor and the state legislator for
[48:10] potential state funding with the goal of
[48:12] breaking ground by 2027 and completing
[48:14] the project in time for a potential
[48:16] ribbon cutting in 2030. Continuing on, I
[48:19] had the opportunity to speak at
[48:20] resurrecting the beef industry in New
[48:22] Jersey Ag forum which I co-hosted
[48:25] alongside Dean La Barbera in
[48:26] collaboration with Sussex County
[48:27] Community College and Warren County
[48:29] Community College. We were honored to
[48:30] have New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture
[48:32] Ed Wingerin in attendance along with
[48:34] professionals and producers from across
[48:36] the Garden State. Overall, I believe
[48:38] this forum was a great success in
[48:40] helping move the conversation forward
[48:41] for strengthening the beef production
[48:43] here in New Jersey. Key focus on the
[48:45] discussion was the need for expanding
[48:46] local processing capacity and the role
[48:48] of additional processing facilities
[48:50] could play in better supporting
[48:52] livestock producers throughout the
[48:53] state. The event reinforced the
[48:55] importance of continued collaboration
[48:57] between farmers, educational
[48:58] institutions, industry leaders, and
[49:00] government officials as we work to
[49:02] support and grow New Jersey's
[49:03] agriculture for future generations.
[49:06] Additionally, I attended two events near
[49:08] and dear to my heart as I had the honor
[49:10] of attending today's Choice annual
[49:12] banquet and the New Jersey Right to Life
[49:14] annual gala, both celebrating the
[49:15] sanctity and gift of life and held
[49:18] during the same exact week. It was truly
[49:20] uplifting to join so many individuals
[49:22] from Sussex County and across the state
[49:23] of New Jersey who are committed to
[49:25] serving mothers, children, and families
[49:27] with compassion, love, and faith. Not
[49:29] only that, but during that same week,
[49:31] the United States Supreme Court unan-
[49:33] unanimously
[49:35] ruled in favor of First Choice Women
[49:37] Resource Center in its case against the
[49:39] state of New Jersey, reaffirming the
[49:42] important constitutional protections
[49:43] surrounding freedom of association and
[49:45] donor privacy for faith-based pregnancy
[49:48] centers. The decision marked a
[49:49] significant moment for organizations
[49:51] that answer the biblical call to protect
[49:53] the innocent, care for mothers in need,
[49:55] and uphold the dignity of every human
[49:57] life created in the image of God. Other
[49:59] than that, since our last meeting I had
[50:01] the opportunity to attend some
[50:03] additional events, uh some of which
[50:05] already were mentioned by my fellow
[50:06] commissioners. A few others I attended
[50:08] include Taste of Vernon, uh the Sussex
[50:10] Kiwanis annual live and silent auction,
[50:12] and the Hope Through the Valley annual
[50:14] thank week. Each of these events was
[50:16] wonderful and served a great reminder of
[50:18] the strong sense of community service
[50:19] and generosity continues to make Sussex
[50:21] County such a special place to live and
[50:24] work. That's all. Thank you and God
[50:26] bless.
[50:28] Thank you.
[50:30] Division of Senior Services annual
[50:31] public hearing will be held uh
[50:34] at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 4th, 2026
[50:38] in the Sparta Senior Center at Knoll
[50:40] Heights Village located at 40 Trapasso
[50:42] Drive in Sparta. The purpose of the
[50:44] hearing is to receive comments on the
[50:46] proposed 2027 area plan update, which
[50:49] generates funding for Sussex County
[50:51] through the Older Americans Act of 1965
[50:55] as amended. Attendees will have the
[50:56] opportunity to voice their opinions on
[50:58] current service needs for the seniors of
[51:00] Sussex County. Anyone who would like to
[51:02] testify at the public hearing or submit
[51:05] written testify testimony should contact
[51:08] the Sussex County Division of Senior
[51:10] Services by May 29th at 973-579-0555,
[51:15] extension 1222, or email
[51:18] seniorservices@sussex.nj.us.
[51:20] Individuals requiring transportation to
[51:23] the public hearing may contact Sussex
[51:25] County Skylands Ride at 973-579-0480
[51:31] no later than 11:00 a.m. on May 28th,
[51:33] 2026 to make a reservation.
[51:36] Division of Health Pole Barn Emergency
[51:38] Response and Storage Facility a
[51:40] groundbreaking ceremony was held, which
[51:42] we all attended, to construct the Sussex
[51:46] County Division of Health Pole Barn
[51:48] on Morris Turnpike in Frankford Township
[51:50] on Friday, April 17th. The Sussex County
[51:53] Board of County Commissioners authorized
[51:54] utilization of American Rescue Plan Act
[51:57] funding for this new facility to support
[51:59] the Division of Health's wide range of
[52:01] critical services, including emergency
[52:04] preparedness and response, communicable
[52:06] disease surveillance and response, and
[52:08] public health outreach and support,
[52:10] among others. The Health Pole Barn
[52:12] Emergency Response and Storage Facility
[52:14] will be located on county-owned property
[52:17] and will strategically function as part
[52:19] of the county's Morris Turnpike campus.
[52:21] The location serves as a hub for public
[52:24] safety and emergency management
[52:25] operations, which will provide important
[52:28] operational benefits and enhance
[52:30] coordination efforts between county
[52:31] public safety and public health agencies
[52:34] during an emergency response, which the
[52:36] two Pole Barns are actually located
[52:38] going to be located across the street
[52:39] from each other in front of the old
[52:41] juvenile detention center, which is
[52:43] where we have the county OEM.
[52:45] Um, going to keep my comments a little
[52:47] short tonight because I'm tired of
[52:49] speaking and I'm sure you're all tired
[52:50] of hearing me speak. Um, we've obviously
[52:53] had a busy 3 weeks since our last
[52:54] meeting. It was an honor to address the
[52:57] 2026 Sussex County Community College
[52:59] graduates this afternoon. They had 212
[53:03] graduates walk. Um, Dr. Homer said
[53:06] there's about 400 in between 400 to 500
[53:09] graduates each year at Sussex County
[53:11] Community College. A huge accomplishment
[53:13] to get to that point. Um, another
[53:15] highlight was speaking at the
[53:16] inauguration of the college's new
[53:18] president, Dr. Cory Homer. Dr. Homer
[53:20] became the seventh president at Sussex
[53:21] County Community College. I had the
[53:23] opportunity to speak at the ribbon
[53:24] cutting for the new learning commons at
[53:26] the college. It's nice to see all the
[53:27] improvements in the infrastructure
[53:29] there. As the others said, we've
[53:30] attended the groundbreaking ceremony for
[53:32] new show shares Pole Barn. This is a
[53:33] project done through ARPA funds. Will be
[53:35] done mostly in-house. Congratulations to
[53:37] all those that made the Crime Stoppers
[53:39] event a huge success. We all had a great
[53:41] time for a great cause. Commissioner
[53:42] Silverthorne and I attended Branchville
[53:44] Fire Department's installation dinner. A
[53:46] huge congratulations to Mr. Russell
[53:48] Bellis for 65 years of dedicated
[53:50] service. We are also appreciative to our
[53:52] local volunteer firefighters.
[53:54] Commissioner Henderson, Silverthorne,
[53:55] and I attended the Chamber's annual
[53:57] wellness breakfast fair yesterday. Um
[54:00] it's my favorite uh my favorite time of
[54:02] the month is when we get to have
[54:04] breakfast at the Perona Farms. We don't
[54:06] normally have a breakfast, so I love
[54:08] that. Um I also had a subcommittee
[54:10] meeting yesterday from the Sussex County
[54:12] Economic Development Partnership, and I
[54:15] do believe that the county needs smart
[54:17] growth and more ratables. Finally, I had
[54:19] a meeting yesterday at the fairgrounds
[54:20] with Deputy Administrator Lorraine
[54:22] Hentz, Rein Jero, and Michael Richards,
[54:24] the fair president, um on our 250th
[54:27] America's celebration, and it's
[54:29] scheduled for June 7th at 3:00 p.m. It's
[54:32] moving right along. The event is free.
[54:34] We will have plenty of food vendors,
[54:36] um regular vendors, artisans, bounce
[54:39] houses, games, fireworks, and much more.
[54:41] And again, this event is free. If you
[54:42] want more information, we're going to
[54:43] have more information on our website and
[54:45] the county's Facebook page. There's some
[54:47] information right outside the door to
[54:48] the left. Well, my left. It would be Oh,
[54:50] it would be your left, too. Yeah.
[54:52] Anyway, I'm tired. It's been a long day,
[54:54] and I haven't spoken this much in
[54:56] a year.
[54:57] 2 years. Last time I was director when
[54:59] it was the budget.
[55:01] >> [laughter]
[55:01] [gasps]
[55:02] >> Okay. And that's all I have. Um number
[55:04] 11, we have no consent agenda. Number
[55:07] 12, approval of the regular meeting
[55:09] minutes from March 11th. Can I get a
[55:11] motion to approve the minutes from the
[55:13] March 11th meeting? So Okay,
[55:15] Commissioner Henderson, a second?
[55:16] >> Second. Okay, Commissioner Carney, any
[55:17] discussion? All in favor? I oppose,
[55:20] abstain, motion carries. Number 13, we
[55:22] have no ordinances. Number 14, no
[55:24] appointments and or resignations. Number
[55:26] 15, resolutions.
[55:31] Can I get a motion to adopt resolutions
[55:33] A through K?
[55:36] Okay, uh Commissioner Silverthorne, a
[55:37] second?
[55:39] Okay, Commissioner Carney, any
[55:41] discussion?
[55:42] Roll call, please. Director Space? Yes.
[55:45] Commissioner Carney?
[55:46] >> Yes. Deputy Director DeGroat? Yes.
[55:48] Commissioner Henderson?
[55:49] >> Yes. Commissioner Silverthorne? Yes.
[55:52] Okay, number 16, awards of contract
[55:54] change orders bids. Okay, the Board of
[55:57] County Commissioners of the County of
[55:59] Sussex has reviewed the award of
[56:01] contract change orders bids consisting
[56:04] of various proposed resolutions and
[56:06] determined that the adoption of said
[56:08] resolutions is in and will further the
[56:10] public interest. Can I get a motion to
[56:12] adopt resolutions A through I? So moved.
[56:16] Okay, Commissioner uh Silverthorne, a
[56:18] second? Second. Commissioner Carney, any
[56:20] discussion? Roll call, please. Director
[56:23] Space? Yes. Commissioner Carney? Yes.
[56:25] Deputy Director DeGroat?
[56:27] >> Yes. Commissioner Henderson?
[56:28] >> Yes. Commissioner Silverthorne? Yes.
[56:30] Okay.
[56:32] Can I get a motion to pay bills list A
[56:34] of May 13th, 2026? So moved. Second.
[56:38] Commissioner Henderson, a second from
[56:39] Deputy Director DeGroat. Any discussion?
[56:42] Roll call, please. Director Space? Yes.
[56:51] Okay,
[56:52] uh can I get a motion to pay bills list
[56:54] B of May 13th, 2026?
[56:58] So moved. Okay, Commissioner Henderson,
[57:00] and a second? Second. Uh Commissioner
[57:02] Silverthorne, any discussion?
[57:04] Roll call, please. Director Space?
[57:06] Abstain. Commissioner Carney? Yes.
[57:08] Deputy Director DeGroat? Yes.
[57:10] Commissioner Henderson? Yes.
[57:11] Commissioner Silverthorne? Yes. Okay.
[57:14] >> [clears throat]
[57:14] >> Resolution C.
[57:17] Resolution determining the form and
[57:19] other details of the offering of
[57:21] $4,881,000 general
[57:24] obligation bonds consisting of
[57:26] $3,731,000
[57:29] $31,000
[57:30] vocational technical school bonds series
[57:33] 2026 and 1 million 150,000 County
[57:37] College bonds series 2026 County College
[57:40] Bond Act 1971 NJ laws C12 as amended of
[57:45] the county of Sussex state of New Jersey
[57:47] and providing for the sale of such bonds
[57:49] and additionally determining certain
[57:51] matters with respect to the sale and
[57:53] issuance of 4 million 101,000 dollar
[57:57] bond anticipation notes. Can I get a
[57:59] motion to adopt resolution say?
[58:01] So moved. Seconded Commissioner Carney
[58:03] and seconded Deputy Director DeGroot.
[58:04] Any discussion?
[58:05] Roll call, please. Director Space.
[58:07] >> Yes. Commissioner Carney.
[58:08] >> Yes. Deputy Director DeGroot. Yes.
[58:10] Commissioner Henderson.
[58:11] >> Yes. Commissioner Silvan. Yes.
[58:14] Okay.
[58:15] Uh personnel we have none. Number 19
[58:17] administrative report.
[58:19] Okay.
[58:20] Uh good evening everyone. Uh my report
[58:22] is is short tonight as well. Uh I just
[58:25] wanted to provide a quick update on the
[58:27] American Rescue Plan Act funded projects
[58:29] that the county county is currently
[58:31] working on. Uh the Franklin Library
[58:33] facade and roof work was completed and
[58:35] is being scheduled to be paid on May
[58:37] 27th, 2026 closing out that encumbrance.
[58:40] Uh we have uh
[58:42] we had in uh money set aside for the CDL
[58:45] license training. That final class was
[58:47] also completed. The invoices in process
[58:49] to be paid and all money encumbered for
[58:51] this project then will have been paid
[58:52] out. Uh the Historical Society school
[58:55] outreach, we are anticipating to receive
[58:58] a project update from the Historical
[58:59] Society on Friday, May 15th and thank
[59:02] you to Elga for following up on that
[59:04] with uh with our uh historian.
[59:07] And then um
[59:09] the county facility roofing projects, uh
[59:12] the work to the mosquito building was
[59:14] completed. We're just waiting to receive
[59:15] the final invoices um and then we really
[59:18] only have a couple other projects that
[59:20] are currently ongoing, which are those
[59:21] pole barns.
[59:23] Uh the feasibility study, I want to
[59:24] thank the board for approving the
[59:26] appraisal company this evening. First
[59:28] thing Friday first thing 8:00 a.m.
[59:30] tomorrow morning we will be meeting with
[59:32] our team, Bill Koppenol, Al Cuyeder,
[59:34] Keith Nelson and I to discuss this
[59:36] project and moving begin to move forward
[59:38] with the study for review by the board.
[59:41] Well, we've been having some
[59:43] difficulties currently with our vendor
[59:45] for fuel.
[59:47] They are not filling up our pumps to
[59:48] capacity and this is causing a
[59:50] significant issue with our county
[59:52] operations. So we have referred this as
[59:55] of last week to county council and to
[59:57] see what our options are under the
[59:58] current contract.
[1:00:00] And then lastly in addition
[1:00:03] Commissioner Silverthorne and I met with
[1:00:05] the tax board and representatives from
[1:00:08] the tax board.
[1:00:09] Apparently uh
[1:00:11] or currently not all municipalities are
[1:00:13] updating their tax maps which per state
[1:00:16] statute should be updated annually
[1:00:18] and however the state which oversees
[1:00:20] that is not enforcing that these tax
[1:00:22] maps are updated
[1:00:24] finally. So we were approached by the
[1:00:26] board of taxation about creating a
[1:00:28] shared service where the county could
[1:00:30] help coordinate this effort utilizing
[1:00:32] our current vendor. Many municipalities
[1:00:35] do currently use the same vendor so it
[1:00:37] would be a savings across the board to
[1:00:39] the taxpayers throughout the county. We
[1:00:42] received some information where Monmouth
[1:00:43] County is currently doing this. I had a
[1:00:45] chance to quickly review that before I
[1:00:47] was away. And um
[1:00:50] and while they are doing that on a
[1:00:51] shared service basis they're doing it in
[1:00:53] a method where Monmouth County is
[1:00:55] actually overseeing it and taking
[1:00:56] control and funding it. That is not the
[1:00:58] proposal that's been brought to us. So
[1:01:00] we are
[1:01:01] reviewing that a little bit more how we
[1:01:03] could do that
[1:01:05] in-house and not be a fully funded
[1:01:07] county project but again it's it's where
[1:01:09] the municipalities would
[1:01:11] contribute to that. We do have a mayor's
[1:01:13] meeting on Saturday the 16th so that is
[1:01:16] something that I'm going to bring up
[1:01:18] with all of the municipal mayors um get
[1:01:20] this on board. It is something that
[1:01:23] after speaking with the tax board
[1:01:25] would be a benefit to everyone
[1:01:28] throughout the county and making sure
[1:01:29] that all of these tax maps are updated
[1:01:31] and current. Um and that is all I have.
[1:01:35] Thank you.
[1:01:36] Number 21, does anyone have any
[1:01:38] unfinished business?
[1:01:40] Okay.
[1:01:41] Number 22, new business. We have a
[1:01:44] resolution authorization to provide for
[1:01:47] large modular blocks for gravity
[1:01:49] retaining wall for the Department of
[1:01:51] Engineering and Planning to Northeast
[1:01:53] Concrete Products LLC in the amount of
[1:01:55] $97,408.
[1:01:58] Can I get a motion to adopt resolution
[1:02:01] A? So moved. Thank you, Commissioner
[1:02:03] Carney. And second, please? I second.
[1:02:06] Okay, Commissioner Silverthorne. Any
[1:02:08] discussion?
[1:02:10] Roll call, please. Director Space.
[1:02:12] >> Yes. Commissioner Carney. Yes.
[1:02:13] >> Deputy Director DeGroot. Yes.
[1:02:15] Commissioner Henderson.
[1:02:16] >> Yes. Commissioner Silverthorne. Yes.
[1:02:19] Okay. I did not see spot for Oh, I
[1:02:22] skipped over the County Council report.
[1:02:24] Sorry, I was making your life a little
[1:02:25] quicker. My bad.
[1:02:27] County Council report.
[1:02:30] Only two items, Director. Both executive
[1:02:32] session, one in pursuit in furtherance
[1:02:34] of a contract dispute, the other in
[1:02:36] resolution of a piece of old litigation
[1:02:38] out of the Prosecutor's office. I'll go
[1:02:40] over both of them with you all tonight
[1:02:41] in executive. Thank you. Okay, sounds
[1:02:43] good. Sorry about that. Number 23,
[1:02:45] public session from the floor. This
[1:02:47] public session is for those wishing to
[1:02:49] make general comments of 3 minutes or
[1:02:50] less on non-agenda topics. Please line
[1:02:53] up at the microphone and state your name
[1:02:55] and municipality for the record. Can I
[1:02:57] get a motion to open the public to open
[1:02:59] the floor for public comment?
[1:03:01] Second.
[1:03:02] >> Henderson a second, Deputy Director
[1:03:04] DeGroot. Any discussion? All in favor?
[1:03:06] Aye. Opposed, abstain. Okay, the floor
[1:03:08] is open.
[1:03:12] Good evening again, Ken Collins. Ken
[1:03:14] Collins, still from Andover Township.
[1:03:16] There is no need to be condescending and
[1:03:18] call your constituents Monday morning
[1:03:20] quarterbacks. How belittling. You should
[1:03:23] be ashamed of yourself, Mr. Carney.
[1:03:25] People come here to express their
[1:03:26] concerns and feelings. Stop being so
[1:03:28] condescending to them.
[1:03:30] I do hope that won't continue if you are
[1:03:32] county clerk.
[1:03:33] I want to thank Commissioner Henderson
[1:03:35] for coming out to the Andover Township
[1:03:36] Committee meeting on May 7th. It was
[1:03:39] refreshing to see a county commissioner
[1:03:40] taking interest in our fight to stop a
[1:03:42] data center from being built at the old
[1:03:44] Newton Airport site on Stickles Pond
[1:03:46] Road. The Township found out about this
[1:03:48] plan at the 11th hour. Had an applicant
[1:03:50] come in 2 weeks earlier earlier, we may
[1:03:53] have been too late to stop it, but
[1:03:54] fortunately we were not.
[1:03:56] The community came together across party
[1:03:58] lines to force their own elected
[1:04:00] officials to act as proper stewards of
[1:04:02] Andover Township and pass a ban on data
[1:04:04] centers. Yet, they still resisted.
[1:04:07] But, the townspeople would not stand for
[1:04:09] it. They organized, they lawyered up,
[1:04:10] they showed up to the May 7th Township
[1:04:12] Committee meeting as Commissioner
[1:04:14] Henderson noted and demanded a data
[1:04:17] center ban. The testimony of our
[1:04:19] community was thoughtful, personal,
[1:04:21] heart-wrenching.
[1:04:22] We should not have to fight those we
[1:04:24] elect to govern.
[1:04:28] So, they would be proper stewards of the
[1:04:30] place we call home.
[1:04:32] should be a safe place.
[1:04:35] I urge the board to adopt a moratorium
[1:04:37] on data center construction throughout
[1:04:39] the county without further delay.
[1:04:41] Take 6 months to review data centers and
[1:04:43] their impacts and enact resolutions to
[1:04:46] govern their construction if you so
[1:04:48] desire or prohibit them altogether as I
[1:04:51] urge. If you're going to allow data
[1:04:53] centers to be built in this county,
[1:04:54] decide on guidelines and allowable
[1:04:56] locations. But, for now, pass a
[1:04:59] countywide moratorium to give other
[1:05:01] communities 6 months to take a stand
[1:05:03] like we did in Andover. Don't let these
[1:05:05] monstro monstrosities sneak in under the
[1:05:08] radar.
[1:05:09] In case you're not aware, they plan on
[1:05:12] building one on Weldon Road in Sparta.
[1:05:16] You need to do something.
[1:05:17] Stop these things before they're getting
[1:05:20] built without the community having any
[1:05:22] input. Thanks.
[1:05:32] Rayan Gerow, Stillwater Township, but
[1:05:34] I'm also actually talking to you as a
[1:05:36] social worker working for senior
[1:05:37] services. And this is in response to the
[1:05:40] meeting regarding the veteran service
[1:05:42] officers that were in question last
[1:05:44] time. So, I did make some contact.
[1:05:47] So, we have two Louis Segurio is our VSO
[1:05:51] for Sussex County. He is here
[1:05:55] Monday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at
[1:05:59] Franklin
[1:06:00] from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30. He is a little
[1:06:03] behind because there's so many claims
[1:06:06] going on right now that he's about two
[1:06:08] months behind, but he is answering
[1:06:10] emails and he is answering phone
[1:06:12] Okay.
[1:06:13] He usually says within 48 hours those
[1:06:16] are answered. He has Yasmin Rodriguez.
[1:06:20] She completes the initial intake process
[1:06:23] for all appointments and then starts to
[1:06:25] schedule the appointments with Louis.
[1:06:27] They only are not Yes, they're in Sussex
[1:06:30] County in Franklin, but they also have
[1:06:32] an office in Dover. So, if you're in
[1:06:34] Hopatcong or something like that, you
[1:06:35] may want to go to the Dover
[1:06:38] office. So, he's saying that to let you
[1:06:41] know that they're also available in
[1:06:44] Dover. So, what I have provided for you
[1:06:46] is his contact information in
[1:06:49] the contact, his name, her name, and the
[1:06:52] Dover address as well as the Sussex
[1:06:54] address, which is 48 Ryker Road in
[1:06:57] Franklin. And his Dover address is 479
[1:07:00] West Clinton Street in Dover. And that's
[1:07:03] where um
[1:07:04] the veterans from Sussex County can go
[1:07:06] and speak to their BSO.
[1:07:22] I appreciate everything you do for the
[1:07:23] veterans.
[1:07:27] Good evening, commissioners. Nick
[1:07:28] Civitan, Deputy Mayor of Frankford
[1:07:30] Township.
[1:07:31] Brett Commissioner
[1:07:34] Um
[1:07:36] Hardy Woods
[1:07:39] Um we just have a a token of our
[1:07:40] appreciation and a little proclamation
[1:07:42] that we made.
[1:07:43] So uh in honor of this historic occasion
[1:07:47] in American history and to extend our
[1:07:49] appreciation, the Township Committee of
[1:07:51] Frankford presents you with the America
[1:07:53] 250th Challenger Coin. Your commitment
[1:07:56] to excellence illustrates the very
[1:07:58] determination
[1:08:00] and innovative spirit that drove our
[1:08:02] forefathers of this nation to achieve
[1:08:04] the greatness that ignited a revolution
[1:08:07] called freedom.
[1:08:09] God bless America.
[1:08:12] There's an extra coin in there we'd like
[1:08:14] to put into the
[1:08:41] Dan Caliendo, Hampton Township.
[1:08:44] Immigration
[1:08:46] Despite many attempts to pass an overall
[1:08:48] immigration policies, the US has
[1:08:51] vacillated
[1:08:52] between near open borders and asylum and
[1:08:55] due process legal practices.
[1:08:58] Close borders and the the detention and
[1:09:00] deportation of both convicted criminals
[1:09:03] as well as those with no criminal
[1:09:05] history.
[1:09:06] Presently, we have seen the
[1:09:08] proliferation of detention centers to
[1:09:10] 2456,
[1:09:12] the arrest, incarceration, and
[1:09:14] deportation of both hardened criminals,
[1:09:17] which are 8% of the
[1:09:19] immigrant population, as well as 73% of
[1:09:23] those with no criminal convictions.
[1:09:26] As of April 6, detainees numbered
[1:09:28] 60,000.
[1:09:30] Compounding the problem is a 25%
[1:09:32] reduction of immigration judges.
[1:09:35] Studies show that with legal process
[1:09:37] available, immigrants are five times
[1:09:40] more likely to obtain relief.
[1:09:43] Which leaves us with one, significant
[1:09:45] increase of those without charges having
[1:09:48] decreased chance of legal resources
[1:09:51] resulting in higher rates of detention
[1:09:53] and removal.
[1:09:54] Two, the management of detention centers
[1:09:56] by private companies with profit as
[1:09:59] their primary motive.
[1:10:01] Three, the escalation of aggressive
[1:10:02] tactics in detention centers and
[1:10:05] immigrant immigrant communities
[1:10:08] by the fear of demographic shifts
[1:10:10] referred to as the browning of America.
[1:10:14] Our immigration problem is not the
[1:10:16] presence of law-abiding immigrants, but
[1:10:19] the failure of many administrations to
[1:10:21] enact reform.
[1:10:24] The administration announced kinder and
[1:10:26] more focused approach
[1:10:28] for immigration community.
[1:10:30] Whether this comes to pass or not, it is
[1:10:33] a responsibility of private citizens and
[1:10:36] elected officials to aggressively push
[1:10:39] for comprehensive
[1:10:42] immigration reform.
[1:10:44] Thank you. Thank you.
[1:10:54] Cathy Brennan, Hampton Township. Um, I
[1:10:57] will make this very quick because
[1:10:59] many of us have data centers on our mind
[1:11:02] at the moment and I was happy to see Mr.
[1:11:06] Henderson at the event.
[1:11:09] I just wanted to reiterate the basically
[1:11:11] the same things that these data centers
[1:11:14] are just being thrown up. There's
[1:11:16] nothing
[1:11:17] being discussed about them or whatever
[1:11:19] and the effects of them on the
[1:11:21] environment, the noise, the water usage,
[1:11:25] the the electrical usage and
[1:11:28] I would suggest the same thing that
[1:11:31] the county suggests that for now
[1:11:34] municipalities put a moratorium on any
[1:11:37] consideration of any data centers for at
[1:11:40] least for now and possibly forever
[1:11:42] because
[1:11:44] it seems like these data centers are
[1:11:46] becoming out of control. The one that
[1:11:48] they wanted to put in Andover was a huge
[1:11:50] center which which they had to pass
[1:11:52] ordinances in order for it to be able to
[1:11:54] even happen and it would totally ruin
[1:11:58] our environment and totally affect all
[1:12:01] the people living in the area. Thank
[1:12:02] you.
[1:12:14] Jean Oprihory Hampton.
[1:12:17] It's time to stop mega madness from
[1:12:19] destroying our country. It's time to
[1:12:21] replace our elected officials who
[1:12:23] continue to support the tyrant in the
[1:12:25] White House who is corrupting our
[1:12:27] government at an exponential rate,
[1:12:29] stealing our tax dollars, and demanding
[1:12:31] the disenfranchisement of millions of
[1:12:33] Americans.
[1:12:35] To stop mega madness, it's important to
[1:12:37] understand why it has taken hold in this
[1:12:39] country. Simply put, it is based on
[1:12:42] insecurity, fear, racism, and
[1:12:45] corruption.
[1:12:46] It's been widely known for decades that
[1:12:48] the white white majority in this country
[1:12:51] would shift to the minority as the
[1:12:52] population of immigrants and resident
[1:12:54] black, brown, and Asian groups grew.
[1:12:57] Conservative groups like the old Tea
[1:12:59] Party, the Heritage Foundation, and MAGA
[1:13:02] support legislation and court decisions
[1:13:05] that serve to maintain their grip on
[1:13:07] political power before they become the
[1:13:08] minority. Actions that are dismantling
[1:13:11] our democratic institutions and
[1:13:13] disenfranchising millions of Americans.
[1:13:16] Mad MAGAs who do not understand American
[1:13:19] history think that they this makes
[1:13:21] sense.
[1:13:22] 250 years ago, our forefathers fought
[1:13:25] the Revolutionary War, not because they
[1:13:27] were taxed, but because they did not
[1:13:29] have the right of representation in the
[1:13:31] legislative body that imposed those
[1:13:33] taxes.
[1:13:34] As mad MAGAs continue to gerrymander
[1:13:37] their way to maintain control of
[1:13:38] Congress in the upcoming midterm
[1:13:40] elections, the masses will rise up to
[1:13:42] demand representation in our government.
[1:13:45] Especially as we witness a tyrant
[1:13:47] stealing our tax dollars for pet
[1:13:49] projects and causing the cost of living
[1:13:52] to skyrocket. MAGA madness is allowing a
[1:13:55] tyrant to overtly skirt the law and
[1:13:58] approve no-bid contracts to companies
[1:14:00] that charge three times the amount of
[1:14:02] money the projects actually cost.
[1:14:05] The reflecting pool, $13.1 million.
[1:14:08] The Trump arch, $100 million.
[1:14:11] The White House ballroom,
[1:14:14] Retrofitting the Saudi gift plane, $1
[1:14:16] billion.
[1:14:18] The war in Iran, $29 billion.
[1:14:21] ICE detention warehouses, $38.3 billion.
[1:14:25] The golden dome, $1.2 trillion.
[1:14:30] Our tax dollars are going straight into
[1:14:32] the pockets of Trump, his family, and
[1:14:34] his cronies. Blindly following a cult
[1:14:36] leader without questioning or opposing
[1:14:38] his policies and illegal and corrupt
[1:14:41] actions is madness.
[1:14:43] When you support a tyrannical leader who
[1:14:45] misuses our tax dollars, threatens
[1:14:47] innocent citizens, dismantles government
[1:14:50] institutions, and takes away our right
[1:14:52] of representation in our government, you
[1:14:55] are part of the problem. In the long
[1:14:57] run, just like the British hold on the
[1:14:59] American colonies, just like the
[1:15:01] slaveholders grip on an inhumane system,
[1:15:04] and just like the KKK's grasp on the Jim
[1:15:06] Crow South, MAGA madness will lose. It's
[1:15:10] time to stop the MAGA madness from
[1:15:12] harming the citizens of Sussex County.
[1:15:22] Hello, Diane Rude, Hampton Township.
[1:15:25] >> [sighs]
[1:15:25] >> I'm here tonight as a on behalf of PBA
[1:15:27] 138, detectives bargaining unit. I'm
[1:15:29] just here to say hi. Please accept our
[1:15:33] proposal to you. Hope you sharpen your
[1:15:35] pencils. We did for ours, and
[1:15:37] please consider it. Thank you very much.
[1:15:39] Have a good night. Thank you.
[1:15:47] Good evening. Manfred Braun from
[1:15:49] Hardyston Township.
[1:15:51] I'd like to comment on Director Space's
[1:15:54] monologue at the April 8th
[1:16:02] Trump has long cultivated the idea among
[1:16:04] his supporters that he is always the
[1:16:06] smartest person in the room. The res-
[1:16:08] record suggests otherwise.
[1:16:10] He is a 34-time convicted felon, and a
[1:16:13] civil adjudicated sexual abuser, and a
[1:16:16] man who incited an insurrection in a
[1:16:18] failed attempt to overturn a free
[1:16:20] election. These are not matters of
[1:16:22] opinion, but they are matters of public
[1:16:25] record.
[1:16:26] While these facts are deeply disturbing,
[1:16:29] they are in the past.
[1:16:31] What lies ahead that should concern
[1:16:33] every one of us who values our
[1:16:35] democracy.
[1:16:37] Let's be blunt. Trump is flailing.
[1:16:40] His approval rating is at historic lows,
[1:16:42] even among some of the mega faithful.
[1:16:45] As such, Trump knows that Republicans
[1:16:47] cannot win in November, and he is
[1:16:49] willing to go to any lengths to steal
[1:16:51] the upcoming election.
[1:16:53] He continues to insist that there is
[1:16:55] rampant voter fraud while present
[1:16:57] presenting absolutely no evidence.
[1:17:00] He has on several occasions stated that
[1:17:02] the elections should be nationalized.
[1:17:06] A clearly unconstitutional directive.
[1:17:09] The rampant redistricting efforts,
[1:17:12] ballot seizures in California and
[1:17:15] Georgia, and the demands of DOJ to
[1:17:18] secure states voter rolls all bear this
[1:17:20] out.
[1:17:21] Additionally, the administration has
[1:17:23] said it will send ICE agents to polling
[1:17:26] centers to oversee the elections,
[1:17:28] another clearly unconstitutional
[1:17:30] directive.
[1:17:32] Marc Elias, whose law firm has been
[1:17:34] fighting and winning the in the
[1:17:36] aforementioned DOJ cases, remarked in a
[1:17:39] recent newsletter that local election
[1:17:41] officials should working with their
[1:17:43] states attorneys generals and other
[1:17:45] state officials on how best to to
[1:17:48] counter these potential illegalities.
[1:17:51] So, my question to you today is simple.
[1:17:54] Will your support of the president
[1:17:56] extend to carrying out illegal orders
[1:17:58] given by him, or will you stand for our
[1:18:00] democracy and allow the people to
[1:18:02] determine the outcome of the next
[1:18:04] election? Specifically, if federal
[1:18:07] agents appear at polling stations in our
[1:18:09] jurisdiction, or the DOJ ask for our
[1:18:11] voter information, what will you do?
[1:18:14] Will you comply, or will you stand with
[1:18:17] our state's legal authorities to protect
[1:18:19] the integrity of our elections? Thank
[1:18:21] you very much.
[1:18:37] Good evening. Sandy Pender, Freeland
[1:18:39] Township.
[1:18:41] I've had a young person living in my
[1:18:43] house for the last 2 weeks.
[1:18:45] He's 20 years old and a friend of my
[1:18:47] son's from high school.
[1:18:49] He grew up in a very abusive household,
[1:18:51] but was able to get some distance by
[1:18:53] going away to college.
[1:18:56] The abuse continued despite the
[1:18:58] distance, so he made the decision to cut
[1:19:01] ties with his parents.
[1:19:03] At 18, essentially on his own.
[1:19:07] He recently had to have surgery, so I
[1:19:09] offered to go with him, be his
[1:19:11] healthcare proxy, and also drive him
[1:19:13] back to our house for recovery.
[1:19:15] Over the last 2 weeks, I have helped him
[1:19:17] with wound care, laundry, and made sure
[1:19:20] he ate nutritious food.
[1:19:22] He is not going back to college in the
[1:19:24] fall because he cannot afford to
[1:19:25] continue with student loans, despite
[1:19:28] scholarships.
[1:19:29] He is currently living outside of New
[1:19:31] Jersey with roommates so that he can
[1:19:33] afford rent.
[1:19:35] He is working, but is not able to get
[1:19:36] health insurance through his job.
[1:19:39] Between rent, utilities, food,
[1:19:42] car maintenance, insurance, and gas,
[1:19:45] there is not much left over each week.
[1:19:48] He claims that he was doing okay for a
[1:19:50] while, but I know from our conversations
[1:19:52] that he is food insecure and skips
[1:19:54] meals.
[1:19:55] He had saved money for several years and
[1:19:57] bought a used car.
[1:19:59] At one point, he lived in that car for a
[1:20:01] short period of time.
[1:20:03] Recently, he got sideswiped by a truck,
[1:20:06] and his car got totaled.
[1:20:08] He did not have collision on that car
[1:20:10] because he could not afford to.
[1:20:13] He could just afford the minimum
[1:20:14] requirements for car insurance in his
[1:20:16] state.
[1:20:18] Over the last few years, he has always
[1:20:19] been one accident, one car repair, one
[1:20:23] health emergency away from being broke.
[1:20:26] I tell you all of these private details
[1:20:28] because being eligible and receiving
[1:20:30] Medicaid benefits have been a lifesaver
[1:20:32] for him.
[1:20:34] In addition to his recent surgery, he
[1:20:36] has had an autoimmune disease and also
[1:20:38] takes regular medications.
[1:20:40] Without Medicaid benefits, there's no
[1:20:42] way he could access care or afford his
[1:20:44] daily medications. He is far from alone.
[1:20:48] A large percent of of our neighbors here
[1:20:51] in Sussex County are in the same boat.
[1:20:53] They are living on the edge every week
[1:20:56] hoping the money will stretch far
[1:20:57] enough.
[1:20:58] They are barely scraping by but have
[1:21:00] been able to get the care or medications
[1:21:02] they need through Medicaid.
[1:21:04] I am aware that a large portion of
[1:21:06] funding for Medicaid comes from the
[1:21:07] federal government. I'm also aware that
[1:21:10] our current administration is taking an
[1:21:11] axe to Medicaid funding.
[1:21:14] And I'm asking you as representatives of
[1:21:16] our county to use what power you do have
[1:21:19] to reach out to state and federal
[1:21:21] government representatives to keep this
[1:21:24] safety net in place for your
[1:21:25] constituents.
[1:21:27] There are so many people right now that
[1:21:29] could not live without it. I have seen
[1:21:31] it firsthand under my own roof. Thank
[1:21:34] you.
[1:21:42] Amy Linnae LaFayette. So, 2 weeks ago I
[1:21:44] spoke about how this administration's
[1:21:47] policies are negatively impacting
[1:21:49] farmers here in Sussex County.
[1:21:51] The struggle is real for all of them.
[1:21:54] Today, I want to speak more about
[1:21:55] negative impacts that this
[1:21:57] administration is having on our local
[1:21:59] citizens here in this county.
[1:22:03] YAP or Youth Advocate Programs is a
[1:22:05] national nonprofit that provides
[1:22:07] community-based alternatives to youth
[1:22:09] incarceration and residential care.
[1:22:12] Through highly personalized,
[1:22:14] trauma-informed, and mentorship models,
[1:22:17] YAP serves youth and families involved
[1:22:20] in justice, child welfare, and
[1:22:21] behavioral health systems.
[1:22:23] Since 2010, YAP has been working
[1:22:26] diligently in Sussex County. It started
[1:22:29] with in-house therapy and then spread to
[1:22:31] outpatient for teens and adolescents.
[1:22:33] [clears throat] With funding from
[1:22:34] Medicaid, YAP grew and also extended
[1:22:37] counseling to include adults and
[1:22:39] in-school sessions.
[1:22:41] The in-school program was up and running
[1:22:43] in its 15th successful year until
[1:22:45] suddenly a few weeks ago the entire
[1:22:47] program was shut down.
[1:22:49] The staff had 3 weeks to try and
[1:22:51] scramble to transition all clients
[1:22:55] for in-school programs to find
[1:22:57] alternative solutions for all of their
[1:22:59] teens and adolescents.
[1:23:01] In Sussex County over 100 individuals,
[1:23:04] both teens, adolescents, and adults were
[1:23:05] affected by this closure.
[1:23:09] Sussex County has no other Medicaid
[1:23:11] programs to offer disadvantaged youth.
[1:23:15] 14 indispensable clinicians were let go
[1:23:18] here in Sussex County.
[1:23:20] This is not due to state cuts. They're
[1:23:22] all They're all out of a job and they're
[1:23:23] all now looking for work.
[1:23:26] This is not due to state cuts
[1:23:29] but due to federal mandates cutting
[1:23:31] Medicaid.
[1:23:33] This is how federal policies are hurting
[1:23:35] us, the people, here in Sussex County.
[1:23:39] These kids have been dropped and some
[1:23:40] clinicians are now taking on these kids
[1:23:42] for free out of their love and
[1:23:44] dedication to serving and empowering
[1:23:46] individuals. They are trying not to let
[1:23:49] these kids fall through the cracks.
[1:23:52] We care about the unborn but we don't
[1:23:53] care about the born.
[1:23:56] I ask you, is this who we want to be as
[1:23:59] a society?
[1:24:01] Are we We are damaging our children and
[1:24:03] our future and for what? A war? A golden
[1:24:06] ballroom for 1 billion?
[1:24:08] Painting the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting
[1:24:10] Pool? All of this nonsense.
[1:24:13] These policies are hurting us, all of
[1:24:16] us,
[1:24:17] even Sussex County citizens. Thank you.
[1:24:49] for your service. I do
[1:24:51] appreciate it. It's not the complaint I
[1:24:52] have with you. It's your silence.
[1:24:57] Uh from the podium on April 1st, the
[1:24:59] Trump criminal announced his path
[1:25:01] forward for this country. Quote, "We
[1:25:03] have to take care of one thing, military
[1:25:06] protection. It's not possible to fund
[1:25:09] Medicare, Medicaid, child care."
[1:25:11] And then, of course, later on, he went
[1:25:13] to the Trump fantasy world of alternate
[1:25:16] facts to support this outrageous plan
[1:25:18] for our country.
[1:25:20] His multitude of claims that all social
[1:25:22] services are rife with fraud are a
[1:25:24] common theme from his addled brain.
[1:25:28] He later on goes uh telling his budget
[1:25:31] director to illegally withhold all child
[1:25:34] care monies. Quote, "Don't send any
[1:25:36] money for daycare cuz the United States
[1:25:38] can't take care of daycare. That has to
[1:25:40] be up [clears throat] to a state. We
[1:25:42] can't take care of daycare. We're a big
[1:25:44] country. We have 50 states. We have all
[1:25:47] these other people. We're fighting
[1:25:49] wars." Yeah, wars he started but cannot
[1:25:52] finish. So, it's billions of dollars
[1:25:55] more for the Pentagon, America's biggest
[1:25:57] welfare client. This bloated,
[1:26:00] unaccountable agency has never undergone
[1:26:03] any kind of audit, charges $700 for a
[1:26:06] toilet seat, and is building weapon
[1:26:09] systems that make us less safe. How
[1:26:12] about nuclear reactors on the moon? Or a
[1:26:15] golden dome missile system run by AI
[1:26:18] computers that hallucinate a lot. Feel
[1:26:21] safer?
[1:26:22] Not to worry, Donald is building us a
[1:26:25] ballroom to celebrate all his military
[1:26:27] victories.
[1:26:29] Did it cost 2 million? Will it cost 400
[1:26:31] million?
[1:26:33] Oh, all donated by his rich friends and
[1:26:35] chorus of ass kissers. No, not really.
[1:26:39] Now we get to cough up a billion. Not to
[1:26:42] worry, just cut a few more thousand from
[1:26:44] daycare, snap and Medicaid, and all will
[1:26:47] be paid for. After all, as the Trump
[1:26:50] criminal says, "They love my ballroom.
[1:26:53] They love my ballroom." Like hell we do.
[1:26:56] So, what say you? Still support this
[1:26:59] criminal?
[1:27:00] Speak up. Tell the truth. The coming
[1:27:03] election will not be just a blue wave.
[1:27:05] It will be an extinction event for the
[1:27:07] Republican Party.
[1:27:09] Thank you.
[1:27:27] John Snyder, Sandyston Township.
[1:27:31] Full Thomas Allen.
[1:27:35] You'll remember who he is.
[1:27:38] White House political presser
[1:27:40] dinner, whatever it was.
[1:27:44] Fired a few shots, hit one fella.
[1:27:47] Released an anti-Trump manifesto just
[1:27:50] before he did the shooting.
[1:27:52] A proud disciple of indivisible.org.
[1:27:57] A proud protester at no kings rallies.
[1:28:00] Wonderful man. Everybody should be
[1:28:02] promised. I'm sure a lot of people in
[1:28:03] this room are
[1:28:05] proud of him for what he stood for, but
[1:28:07] not for his marksmanship.
[1:28:11] Jimmy Kimmel on April 23rd
[1:28:14] talking about the first lady.
[1:28:18] Our first lady, Melania, is here.
[1:28:22] Looks so beautiful.
[1:28:24] Mrs. Trump, you have a glow like an
[1:28:26] expectant widow.
[1:28:30] What class.
[1:28:32] There's been three attempts so far in
[1:28:34] Donald Trump's life that we're aware of.
[1:28:36] There may have been others.
[1:28:39] But what do we hear?
[1:28:41] They're all staged. These are staged
[1:28:43] events.
[1:28:44] He's a great actor.
[1:28:46] That blood, I guess that, you know.
[1:28:48] >> [clears throat]
[1:28:49] >> You're going to trust somebody
[1:28:51] at a few hundred yards to take a shot at
[1:28:53] you just so you can get some sympathy,
[1:28:55] right?
[1:29:00] Hakeem Jeffries
[1:29:05] What a guy.
[1:29:09] And then once again, I'm sure many
[1:29:10] people tonight will agree with some of
[1:29:12] his quotes.
[1:29:13] Extreme MAGA Republicans
[1:29:16] are the threat
[1:29:18] to Americans.
[1:29:22] I have a photo of him posed in front of
[1:29:23] a sign.
[1:29:25] Maximum warfare everywhere
[1:29:29] all the time.
[1:29:32] And these beautiful people from
[1:29:33] Indivisible, they're so peaceful and
[1:29:35] loving.
[1:29:36] Look what they inspire.
[1:29:38] I heard the word, the dirty word
[1:29:39] democracy, mentioned here tonight. We
[1:29:41] live in a republic, not in a democracy.
[1:29:49] Had a shooting in Cambridge a couple of
[1:29:50] days ago
[1:29:52] by a man named Tyler Brown
[1:29:55] who was 3 days out of a psychiatric
[1:29:57] hospital,
[1:29:59] had taken shots at police officers prior
[1:30:01] to that,
[1:30:03] and was released. I mean,
[1:30:05] when you see what happens in these blue
[1:30:07] states and blue cities, it's scary. A
[1:30:10] lot of sick people out there.
[1:30:12] And John F. John F. Kennedy, ask not
[1:30:14] what your country can do for you, but
[1:30:16] what you can do for your country. Did we
[1:30:18] hear any of that tonight? He would be a
[1:30:20] Republican. He would be a MAGA. Last
[1:30:22] thing I want to say is let's get back on
[1:30:24] the gold standard. Thank you.
[1:30:38] I'm Viola Sanderson Township. Two weeks
[1:30:41] ago, I presented a resolution
[1:30:45] for considering the
[1:30:49] Uh my question is I assume the council
[1:30:51] has there been any progress on
[1:30:59] for the next meeting. Okay, and you
[1:31:02] would then be joining the chorus of
[1:31:03] literally thousands of other folks in
[1:31:05] the state who have been sending letters,
[1:31:08] postcards, telegrams,
[1:31:11] emails, text messages to the governor
[1:31:18] urge the governor to support
[1:31:22] Thank
[1:31:23] uh Commissioner Silverthorne and
[1:31:25] Henderson last week for the historical
[1:31:28] or 2 weeks ago, week and a half ago,
[1:31:30] coming to the historical marker events,
[1:31:33] which is kind of ironic that
[1:31:35] 90 years ago this
[1:31:40] monument was put put the CCC
[1:31:42] and
[1:31:44] considering right now ending the whole
[1:31:45] story. Thank you, and I appreciate and
[1:31:48] I'll be tracking
[1:31:50] to see.
[1:31:52] I'll also be interested in coming to
[1:31:54] see. I couldn't make the marker
[1:31:55] presentation, but if you could shoot me
[1:31:57] an email, I'd like to set up a time to
[1:32:00] come look myself.
[1:32:01] >> Okay, I can Anyone else you want to come
[1:32:04] with me? Yeah.
[1:32:06] Quite the backyard.
[1:32:08] So it's in the school written in the
[1:32:09] school
[1:32:10] >> You should just shoot me an email like
[1:32:11] me or Christina and we'll
[1:32:14] figure out a time when we can come.
[1:32:15] Great. Okay.
[1:32:16] >> Sounds good.
[1:32:17] >> D-Day is June 29th.
[1:32:20] The end of Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
[1:32:31] Can I get a motion to close the floor
[1:32:33] for public comment and return to regular
[1:32:35] business? Okay, Commissioner Silverthorn
[1:32:37] a second, Deputy Director Degroot. Any
[1:32:38] discussion? All in favor? I. Opposed
[1:32:41] abstain. Motion carries. Number 24,
[1:32:42] reminders. Please check Can I just ask
[1:32:44] one thing quick? Sure. Uh maybe from
[1:32:46] County Council. Am I wrong not thinking
[1:32:48] that we as a county have no authority to
[1:32:50] put a moratorium on township here?
[1:32:52] Moratorium is a solely a function of the
[1:32:55] municipality. You can pass whatever
[1:32:57] moratorium you want and it's not binding
[1:32:59] on them.
[1:33:01] I'll have to do that with somebody.
[1:33:02] >> You can talk to all the mayors of the
[1:33:03] northern Okay.
[1:33:04] Uh please check the county's website at
[1:33:06] www.sussex.nj.us
[1:33:08] for meeting schedules. Number 25, Linda,
[1:33:10] you're up.
[1:33:13] Providing for an executive closed
[1:33:15] session not open to the public in
[1:33:17] accordance with the provisions of
[1:33:19] N.J.S.A.
[1:33:21] 10:4-12
[1:33:23] et seq. Whereas the subject matters
[1:33:25] about to be discussed may be excluded
[1:33:28] from the public portion of the meeting
[1:33:29] by resolution of the Board of County
[1:33:31] Commissioners as an exception to the
[1:33:33] Open Public Meetings Act pursuant to
[1:33:36] N.J.S.A.
[1:33:37] 10:4-12b
[1:33:40] and whereas it appears necessary for the
[1:33:43] Board of County Commissioners to discuss
[1:33:45] such matters in executive session. Now
[1:33:48] therefore be it resolved that the Board
[1:33:50] of County Commissioners of the County of
[1:33:52] Sussex in accordance with the provisions
[1:33:54] of N.J.S.A.
[1:33:56] 10:4-12b
[1:33:59] and NJSA
[1:34:01] 10:4-13
[1:34:04] that the board at this time enter into
[1:34:06] an executive session from which the
[1:34:08] public shall be excluded and be it
[1:34:10] further resolved that the general
[1:34:12] natures of the subject to be discussed
[1:34:15] relate to the following items authorized
[1:34:17] by NJSA
[1:34:19] 10:4-12b
[1:34:22] as designated below. Number four,
[1:34:25] matters relating to collective
[1:34:27] bargaining agreements PBA prosecutor and
[1:34:30] number seven, matters relating to
[1:34:32] litigation, negotiations and the
[1:34:34] attorney client privilege homestead. Be
[1:34:37] it further resolved that the
[1:34:39] deliberations conducted in closed
[1:34:41] session may be disclosed to the public
[1:34:43] upon the determination of the Sussex
[1:34:46] County Board of County Commissioners or
[1:34:48] provided by law that the public interest
[1:34:50] will no longer be served by such
[1:34:53] confidentiality
[1:34:54] and be it further resolved that upon
[1:34:57] completion of the business for which the
[1:34:59] board has entered into the executive
[1:35:01] session, the board shall reconvene and
[1:35:04] resume its meeting open to the public
[1:35:06] and be it further resolved that the
[1:35:08] board expects to to take formal action
[1:35:12] after returning from executive session
[1:35:14] except to adjourn the regular meeting.
[1:35:16] Thank you.
[1:35:17] >> want to clarify real quick County
[1:35:18] Council there's one additional matter
[1:35:20] that we'll be discussing in executive
[1:35:21] session as well, correct? That the board
[1:35:23] would have to make decision.
[1:35:25] Okay, can I get a motion to adopt the
[1:35:27] executive session resolution and enter
[1:35:29] into executive session?
[1:35:31] Okay, Commissioner Henderson second.
[1:35:33] Uh Commissioner Carney, any
[1:35:35] discussion? All in favor? I, opposed,
[1:35:38] abstain. Okay.
[1:35:39] Thank you, everyone.