[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.

May 13, 2026 Sussex County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting

Transcript