The meeting commenced with the distribution of certificates to scholarship recipients awarded by the New Jersey Association of Counties Foundation. These scholarships were designated for 2024 Union County vocational technical graduates intending to continue their education at either a County College or a state college or university. The Chairwoman acknowledged the presence of various officials from organizations such as Amazon and AT&T, who were instrumental in this scholarship initiative.

Among the scholarship recipients, Danielle Rodriguez Lopez, attending Rutgers University, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Amazon; Ian Z, attending the New Jersey Institute of Technology, received an $11,000 scholarship from Broadcom VMware; and Emma Uska Aess Ramsha Nath, also attending the New Jersey Institute of Technology, was awarded $250 from the SHI International Corporation. Arav Joshua Kadali was recognized for receiving a $1,000 scholarship from AT&T and will be attending Rutgers University. Savannah Maroquin, also attending Rutgers, was awarded $1,000 from South Jersey Industries, and Kina Sorz Pina received $900 from another contributor.

Following the presentation, Commissioner Alexander Mirabella expressed pride in the scholarship program and highlighted the importance of recognizing students’ achievements. He noted that the New Jersey Association of Counties, where he serves on the foundation scholarship board, aims to support students in their educational endeavors, emphasizing that the quality of candidates continues to impress each year.

The second presentation acknowledged students who earned scholarships for a summer Theater Camp hosted by Theatrical Arts Prep and the Union County Performing Arts Center. This initiative was part of Commissioner Sergio Granados’s 2023 initiatives aimed at building a stronger Union County and was continued under the Chairwoman’s 2024 initiatives of growing together in Union County. The program awarded 21 scholarships to students, covering all costs associated with the camp to ensure that financial limitations do not impede artistic aspirations.

The camp will provide professional guidance with productions planned for different age groups, including “Junie B. Jones” for 8 to 12-year-olds and “Mean Girls” for teenagers aged 13 to 18. The Chairwoman expressed excitement for the upcoming shows and acknowledged the contributions of individuals such as Deanna Hunt, the director of UC PAC, and Sam Han Simpson, the artistic director of Theatrical Arts Prep.

Commissioner Granados and Vice Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon joined in presenting certificates to the scholarship recipients, celebrating their dedication and talent. Deanna Hunt expressed gratitude to the Commissioners for their support of the arts and acknowledged the previous chair’s efforts in establishing the scholarship program. She emphasized the high caliber of talent among the scholarship applicants, thanking the parents for their support in guiding their children through the application process.

The Union County Board of Commissioners also displayed appreciation for local students participating in performances scheduled for July 26 and 27. The productions include “Junie B. Jones Jr.” and “Mean Girls,” featuring students aged 8 to 16. The shows are set to take place at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on the respective dates, and tickets are available at ucpac.org. The audience was encouraged to attend both performances. Several students were called to receive certificates of recognition, with applause accompanying each name called: Sophia Zuniga, Joseph Estes, Mia Rico, and others, culminating in a large group photo session. A parent, Robert LaCava, expressed gratitude to the commissioners, noting, “I love Union County… thank you for doing it,” highlighting the positive impact on the children and the community.

Following the acknowledgments and public comments, the meeting transitioned to the regular agenda. Deputy County Clerk Clara Fernandez presented items for consideration, inviting questions from the board. The Office of the Union County Prosecutor was represented by First Assistant Prosecutor James Tany, who noted that there were two items on the agenda requiring attention. The Board of Taxation was represented by County Council Bruce Bergen, who introduced a resolution regarding a shared service agreement with the County of Monmouth, explaining that this was a renewal of a computer program shared among several counties. Bergen answered a question about the length of the contract, confirming that ten-year agreements are not uncommon in such scenarios.

A substantial focus of the meeting was on affordable housing. Deputy County Manager Amy Wagner presented four resolutions from the Department of Economic Development, elaborating on a significant project in Rahway involving the construction of 58 units, including 35 units designated as affordable housing funded through a $7 million allocation from the Home Investment Partnership Program. Wagner acknowledged the challenges of finding compliant projects, stating, “we just really haven’t gotten any good quality projects that we felt could meet the home guidelines,” and emphasized the need for affordable housing within Union County.

Further departmental reports included 13 resolutions from the Department of Engineering, Public Works, and Facilities Management, presented by Acting Director Joe Po. Commissioner Joseph Bodek inquired about the timeline for one of the projects, to which Po responded that work would commence in approximately two months and could take between one year and one and a half years for completion. Kathy Campanella from the Department of Finance introduced 14 resolutions, inviting any questions from the board.

Director Debian Anderson of the Department of Human Services highlighted ten resolutions on the agenda and was asked about the number of residents utilizing their partnered organizations. Anderson estimated that “a quarter of the residents of the population is over 600,000,” indicating that over 200,000 residents benefit from the services provided through various community partners.

Vicki Durban Drake from the Department of Parks and Recreation mentioned one item on the agenda, while County Council Bruce Bergen reiterated two resolutions from the Office of County Council. Deputy County Manager Amy Wagner concluded the departmental reports with one resolution from the County Manager’s office. The meeting proceeded with auditory resolutions and resolutions of condolence, seeking comments from colleagues. A motion to adjourn was proposed, seconded, and unanimously approved, concluding the meeting.