“I’m not sure why we’re all still here”

Something I’ve often felt about living in New Jersey – Union County – and lately, Kenilworth. It may not be much longer.

However the quote in the title is from Superior Court Judge Thomas J. Walsh at a hearing yesterday on the construction of a Union County government complex.

Other excerpts from the TAPintoWestfield article.

UCCF 7/14/22: Video – UC Gov’t Complex Fiasco –

Comments on an OPRA settlement and the UC Gov’t Complex Fiasco:

Response to the latter:

Union County in NJ FY23 Budget

NJSpotlight noted how Democrats divvy up COVID-19 aid quickly and in private and spotlighted how much the Union County Improvement Authority benefited.

Still, there’s been no explanation in the budget documents that spells out precisely how many of the approved appropriations will be utilized. They include the combined $40 million that will be going to the improvement authorities located in the home counties of Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex) and Senate President Nicholas Scutari (D-Union).

But in looking over the FY23 budget, there is more than just what the UCIA got.

UCIA Stipends – 2022

Even with a cloud over the Union County Government Complex project, monthly stipends paid by the Union County Improvement Authority (UCIA) continue.

UCIA Stipend Change

Since last September when the Union County Government Complex project was initiated there have stipends being out. As of January 1, 2022 there was a change in how those stipends are being paid:

County violated state law

It happens that Bergen County had a similar situation and today the Star Ledger reported (or maybe mis-reported) on what the State Supreme County had to say. Excerpts follow.

UCCF: UCIA; Budget; and Covid Money

Open comments by Bruce Paterson at the 3/24/22 Commissioner meeting elicited this response:

After a sidebar:

What Bruce Paterson had to say:

2022 UC Budget (2): UCIA Aid

The 2022 Union County Executive Budget is out and the first curious entry is:

Has the county left off propping up the Union County Improvement Authority in light of the latest fiasco?

2022 Union County Executive Budget (1) Pop Outs

The 2022 Union County Executive Budget is out and this blog kicks off a series that will look at the numbers in detail. Here are the pertinent pages and we start with items that pop out at you to the point where you assume it is some kind of mistake.

 

Decision in UC Government Complex Project

For those looking for that 21-page judicial ruling mention in the story, here it is.

Notable excerpts below: