Judge Filko, the assignment judge for the Passaic County Vicinage, provided an insightful overview of the judiciary’s hurdles over the past seven months. He specifically cited a substantial reduction in staff and judges that has strained the court’s resources. With the number of individuals entering the courthouse on the rise, Filko expressed his gratitude for the ongoing support from the sheriff’s department in managing these challenges. Judge Filko concluded his address by expressing optimism for the collaborative efforts with the County Commissioners in the coming year.

Following Judge Filko’s address, the Board of Commissioners proceeded with its agenda. Notable was the recognition of several individuals for their contributions to the county. These commendations included acknowledgments for the County engineer and architect, who had been instrumental in addressing maintenance issues of older county buildings. Additionally, Melanie, who had taken over from Robert Tracy, and the Sheriff received praise for their services.

The meeting continued with the roll call noting the presence of Commissioners Bartlett, Cruz, Duffy, Gallo, James, and Lazzara. The nominations for the Board’s leadership positions were a focal point, with Commissioner Gallo proudly nominating Commissioner Bartlett for the director role and Commissioner James seconding the nomination. After a roll call vote, Bartlett was elected as director. The deputy director position saw Commissioner James nominating Commissioner Lazzara, with Commissioner Cruz seconding. Lazzara was elected following another roll call vote. Both Bartlett and Lazzara were then administered the oath of allegiance with Bartlett humorously commenting on relocating his belongings and expressing gratitude for the trust placed in him.

The open public portion of the meeting did not feature any speakers, leading to a swift closure of this segment. The consent agenda was approved despite a minor issue with misnumbered cover sheets. The meeting moved forward with the administration of the oath of allegiance to individuals appointed to various county boards and commissions. The appointees were asked to rise and take the oath together. Committee assignments for the year 2024 were subsequently announced.