For those of you who in the public won’t be attending tonight’s Union County Commissioner meeting here is what Bruce Paterson intends to say:
General comments:
At the UCIA meeting it was stated there was leftover money from the 2012 UCIA Correctional facility bonding, but no $ amount was noted. What was the dollar amount? This $62 million bond ordinance 839-2022 for introduction is probably going to total out to be one of the largest borrowing we have seen in years at the county. Everybody must be getting holiday presents for the year.
Resolutions:
2022-737: Amending Resolution Number 2021-534, a contract with the United Way of Greater Union County for the 2021 Union County Family Support and Prevention (FSP) Program, to reflect a three (3) month extension to the contract term through December 31, 2022 and to increase the award amount by $65,744.01 for a new total award not to exceed $503,243.01.
what are we getting for the ½ mill to united way?
2022-738: Authorizing the County Manager to enter into an agreement with McKesson, Henrico, VA, for vaccination services for the 2021-2022 flu season beginning August 1, 2021 through October 31, 2021 in an amount not to exceed $25,807.24.
This is something new, vaccination just for the flu? Although it says august to october 2021.
2022-749: Authorizing the County Manager to award a contract, to Colliers Engineering & Design, Red Bank, New Jersey to provide Engineering Services for the Zimmerman Park Parking Lot Improvements, Township of Union, County of Union, New Jersey for an amount not to exceed $60,529.00 (Union County Engineering Project Number 2022-018).
Will we be using our $500,000 paving machine once paving is needed?
2022-751: Authorizing the County Manager to award the proposed contract obtained through advertised public bidding in accordance with the Local Public Contracts Law N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq., to Kyle Conti Construction, LLC., Hillsborough, New Jersey for the Hamilton Street Bridge over Robinson’s Branch of the Rahway River Scour Protection, City of Rahway, County of Union, New Jersey for an amount not to exceed $655,595.00, subject to the approval of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (BA# 20-2022; Union County Engineering Project # 2018-008).
We know that all bridges and culverts are the county responsibility. Who is supposed to clear the walkways of the bridges?
2022-753: Amending Resolution Number 2021-272 adopted April 8, 2021, a contract awarded through advertised public bidding in accordance with the Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq., to Railroad Construction Company, Inc., Paterson, New Jersey, approving Change Order Number 1 for the Gordon Street Bridge over “Out of Service” Conrail structure 2050150, Boroughs of Roselle and Roselle Park, County of Union, New Jersey. This change order will increase the original contract amount by $250,035.90 for a new contract amount not to exceed $7,633,473.77. (BA# 1-2021; Union County Engineering Project Number 2011-051) subject to the approval of the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
What is this for?
2022-756: Authorizing the County Manager to award a contract to USA Architects, Somerville, New Jersey to provide Architectural Services for a Space Study for 921 Elizabeth Avenue & 40 Parker Road, City of Elizabeth, County of Union, New Jersey in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00 (Union County Engineering Project Number 2022-020).
Please explain what this is about, since Director Guzzo had done a county space study 8 years ago.
2022-760: Authorizing the County Manager to award an open-ended contract obtained through advertised public bidding in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A: 11-1 et seq to Morton Salt, Inc. of Chicago, IL to provide Rock Salt or a twelve-month (12) period in an amount not to exceed $769,400.00 (BA# UCCP 21-2022).
Do we have salt left over from the previous winter? How much did we spend last winter?
2022-762: Authorizing the County Manager to enter into an agreement with NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 for the purpose of transporting Union County veterans to veteran’s medical facilities in the amount not to exceed $12,000.00.
Who are we contracting the transporation to?
2022-768: Amending Resolution Number 2022-500 to reflect an increase in the original Area Plan Contract Spending Plan in the amount of $1,377,680.00 for a new total contract of not to exceed $8,309,154.00 with no other changes to the terms or conditions.
Back in February of this year, the resolution was for $4.7 million; now it is $8.3 million, nearly double the original. Please explain why all the additional $3.6 million adds.
2022-770: Authorizing the County Manager to enter into an agreement with McKesson, Henrico, VA, for vaccination services for the 2022-2023 flu season beginning August 31, 2022 through November 1, 2022 in an amount not to exceed $22,400.00.
This was never a program in the past why are we doing it now?
2022-773: Amending Resolution 2021-906, a contract with B & B Press Inc., Lebanon, New Jersey, to reflect an additional charge of $8,165.70 to provide printing services for Mail-in-Ballots and Provisional Ballots for the 2022, General Election, due to the new law, P.L. 2022, Chapter 70, requiring all Vote by Mail Ballots to be tallied by District, increasing the 67 condensed versions of the ballots to 432, for a total contract not to exceed $653,250.40.
Not bringing up my usual concern about huge election spending, but do we know comparisons of other county spending to assure we are not wasting tax money?
2022-778: Authorizing the County Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with CWA-Local 1080 for a Labor Agreement contract commencing July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2024.
It’s good to finally settle with the union. They came in front of you after you gave out 8%, 9% 11% and 18% raise stating meanwhile you were stonewalling them after being on the front line of the COVID pandemic. Question, what salary increases and benefits do you finally settle on?
2022-787: Amending Resolution 2022-313, to increase the appropriation to DeCotiis Fitzpatrick, Cole & Giblin LLP, Paramus, NJ for Special Legal Counsel in the matter entitled H.C. Equities v. UC, et als, in the amount not to exceed $50,000.0 for a new total contract amount not to exceed $330,000.00.
Huge amount of monies for legal costs especially when DeCotiis had donated over $125,000 over 4 years in the past. Question, please give an overview of this lawsuit.
2022-788: Authorizing the County Manager to enter in to a contract with Kologi Simitz, Linden, NJ to represent the County of Union in the matter entitled Sgt. Homero Almanazar v. County of Union, et al., in an amount not to exceed $25,000.00.
This I may speak on another time, but it looks like a pretty bad accusation of “old boys club” run out of the county police dept.
2022-789: Appointing Jonathan R. Boguchwal to serve as a Commissioner of the Union County Improvement Authority to fill an unexpired term ending January 31, 2023.
Have you ever considered me as an appointee since I am pretty well in tune with the UCIA and have 38 years construction experience?
2022-797: Offering this Board’s most sincere condolences to the family of Robert Cagnassola during their time of sorrow.
I knew Bob, met him around Garwood. He handled Garwood’s audits and budget issues for many years and was very astute to my questions. Garwood will miss him.
countywatchers 