Highlights from the Sussex County Commissioners’ Meeting
/The Minutes of the June 8th meeting were approved at the Board meeting of Wednesday, June 22nd. Here are the highlights from those Minutes:
Rating agency claims county in good shape. While rating agencies took a lot of blame for the world economic collapse in 2008 (see video below), they are still the most cited indicators of the financial health of corporate and public institutions.
The 2021 County Audit was presented by Ray Sarinelli, Jr. The Highlights were:
“The Fund Balance had an increase of a little over $2M. It was at $16,916,000 and end the year at $18,926,000. The primary drivers were higher than budgeted revenues and lapsing appropriation reserves. In an unsettled economy and other things going on, the last time the Fund Balance was at $18M was in 2008. There was a recession at that time and the fund balance dipped down over that time. It went to a low in 2011 of under $10M. Today, the County is in a good position going into this economy where we are not sure what is going to happen.
There was a bond sale today and the rating agency had to say, “Well imbedded financial management policies and practices have contributed to a strong track record of positive financial operations and very strong reserves.” The County is doing a very nice job of being fiscally conservative and ensuring that the county is operating in a financially responsible way.” That is great to hear from a rating agency.
The recommendations were reviewed and noted that one of the findings has been repeated over several years and it is Segregation of Duties. The County operates with a very small number of personnel so really the only way to remedy would be to hire more personnel* but that wouldn’t make fiscal sense. This is a difficult recommendation to get rid of. He has addressed it with Elke. The County will be working to find other mitigating controls related to the outside offices to address where possible, segregation of duties. He feels the County is in a good place ending 2021 and moving in to 2022 will be just as good.”
* Generally, this is true, but while the overall number of county employees has gone down, the number of white-collar, administrative appointees has soared relative to the those covered by a labor bargaining unit (CWA or PBA). For some years now, the County Administrator has pursued a policy of more chiefs and fewer Indians. We hope the rating agency is not providing cover for the furtherance of this practice.
Freedom for All Month. Freedom For All Month was passed unanimously. You’ve seen the Proclamation before, so let’s concentrate on Commissioner Chris Carney’s statement read into the record:
“As local elected officials, we Commissioners have a responsibility to our county and all residents to bring people together on what we share in common, rather than further divide our community, especially in the challenging times we are all currently living through I take this responsibility very seriously, and always try to find opportunities to do just that –
This time last year, we received a request for a Proclamation to acknowledge Pride month but did not have a resolution prepared in time
I said I would work on language that our entire County can be proud of and support this year.
I listened to residents throughout the County from diverse interests and values and came up with something that might have a shot keeping some peace. That is what I will propose tonight.
This isn’t about political party affiliations, this should be about our Freedom, freedom on how we live our lives with no ramifications and no judgment.
And while no elected official or Board of Commissioners can make everyone happy, I am proud that this board will be acknowledging and celebrating the individual liberty that what we share as Americans
So tonight - I will tell you all, that here in Sussex County, you are free to be who you want to be – whatever that means.
We are lucky enough to live in a country where that is possible, and I couldn’t be prouder of that.
This freedom is what unites all of us and what so many Americans like my father and grandfather fought for and my uncle died for.
Now more than ever, in the wake of yet another devastating act of violence against children, we must come together under the banner of freedom and tolerance for one another so that we can continue not only to be free to be ourselves, but to safely pursue life, liberty and happiness
For us up here at the dais our priority in the aftermath of the recent tragedy, is making sure our children continue to have the freedom to go to school and be educated safely. To that end - I have a meeting with the superintendent of schools this Thursday to go over our school security plans for county schools and will work hand in hand with Sheriff Strada and his excellent team to continue to protect and serve Sussex County.
So tonight, as we look at the bigger picture of what is at stake, I think we in Sussex County have a lot to be proud of – leading by example and demonstrating that what unites us as Americans is much more important than what tears us apart.”
Executive Order 103 and the 2021 ballot question. Last November, a county ballot question passed in which voters instructed the Board of Commissioners to pursue transparency and the truth as to the effects of Governor Phil Murphy’s Executive Order 103, which placed COVID-infected patients into nursing homes, resulting in the lost of nearly 10,000 lives statewide. Throughout the crisis, the leadership at the county Health Department performed questionably (the rank-and-file employees performed admirably).
Contrary to good sense, the Commissioners insisted on assigning a former schoolteacher from their number as their liaison with the Health Department, as opposed to the county’s former health officer who ran that department, Commissioner Herb Yardley. This myopia continued, with the (now retired) department administrator – Carol Novrit – instructing employees not to interact with Commissioner Yardley. Indeed. What on earth are they attempting to obscure? Or perhaps it is just a case of malignant spite?
In any case, Board liaison Commissioner Jill Space did provide a report on the goings on with Woodland Behavioral and Nursing Center:
“The County has had a series of three meetings with the New Jersey Department of Health over the past week regarding the closing of the Woodland Behavioral and Nursing Center in Andover. The state anticipates this process should be completed by mid-August.
There are currently 339 residents at the facility, of which 136 of the residents are from New York State. Atlantic Health Systems is utilizing the existing staff at Woodland to operate the facility until its closure. The New Jersey National Guard is also currently stationed at the facility to supplement staffing for the safety and care of all the residents. It is anticipated that they will remain on site through the middle of July. From observation, Woodland staff have demonstrated that they care about their residents. In an effort to maintain continued staffing levels, the state is looking at providing retention bonuses for employees who remain working until the facility closes.
The New Jersey Department of Health and New Jersey Department of Human Services are in the process of drafting letters to the families and guardians of Woodland residents with relevant information on the relocation process. The County of Sussex will receive a copy of this communication once it has been finalized and distributed.
The Department of Health has informed the County that each resident has received a full physical examination. Residents and their guardians and/or families will meet with a choice option counselor on site in order to identify an appropriate placement for each individual. The state has indicated that they will try to place Sussex County residents who are currently in Woodland close to home if possible to limit travel barriers for family members. There are 500 beds available in facilities across the State of New Jersey for residents to consider. Guardians and their families must approve the identified relocation facility.
… The initial hope was that the nursing home license could be sold; however, since the efforts to identify a buyer have been unsuccessful, the nursing home will most likely close once all of the residents have been transferred to a new location.”
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Commissioner Dawn Fantasia commented:
“There have been years and years of neglect at the Andover facility and (she) is saddened that it took what it took from the COVID pandemic to open the State’s eyes, who is charged with oversight and failed for years. It is a very sad story for all the families and all who lost their lives.”
County Counsel Doug Steinhardt reported:
“…in the matter of the County’s OPRA request regarding the former Andover subacute. The State has requested a 30 days extension, however oral arguments in the matter have been scheduled for July 26.”
APPOINTMENT OF CHRISTINE FLORIO. Christine Florio was appointed as Department Administrator of the Department of Health & Human Services (PURSUANT TO SUSSEX COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE CODE ARTICLE 5, SECTION 5.19), replacing the aforementioned Carol Novrit. Unanimous approval of the Board
The Big Short (2015) - FrontPoint Partners confronts Morgan Stanley Risk Assessors and S&P
2.5 million YouTube views
Our Poem of the Month.
Watchdog is holding a “Poem of the Month” competition. Each month (or possibly several times a month, depending on the volume), we will select a poem from one of our worthy readers. This month’s poem is a sort of spoken word derivative. Maybe Scott Paul could rap it?
There's really no polite way to say this…
A poetic rant and swallow…
By the Sussex County Democrats’ lead propagandist…
Mikie “I’ll swallow anything” Schnagglepuss
… in serious need of psychiatric help.
The Dope… disjointed ramblings… anonymously… an insult… jackasses… bastardize the word… fallacy… dark money… murder-for-hire… organizing a list… approved… progressive businesses… other businesses… worthy of having a brick tossed through their window.
Shall we indict… a certified idiot?
There is nothing inherently wrong, much less illegal, with boycotting businesses owned by individuals whom you disagree with or find objectionable, for any reason… Chick-fil-A… I vehemently object to… Christian extremists… bricks through windows… violence… vandalism… threats.
Democrats… fanning out all over Sussex County… reporting about businesses… (do they) belong on the 'approved' list?
Pig… bigoted… impressive breast implants… targeted the business of someone… transphobic pig… feed the idiots… impressive boob job… misogynistic and pigheaded… do not speak… keep dreaming… keep your eyes to yourself… targeting the business… corpulent… political revenge… genuflect… fixation with someone's breasts… Perv?
Unnamed… unattributed… false… Pig… rabid mutt.
Newton Taxpayers… Paying for Critical Race Theory Training?
Time to attack… the market… the broader audience… the people… somehow cheapening… his ass… the PRIDE festival was postponed… not sponsored… strange example of free association… lifelong Democrat… Hollywood… liberal… anything going on in Newton?
Literary lunacy… (He/Him)… bureaucrat… a jerk… bleeding the town… holding different jobs… a crime? That little runt will do anything… despise you… head on down to South Carolina… diatribe… Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training… Certification from Rutgers University… freaking… certification is A REQUIRED… mental pygmy… bigoted… equally stupid… hurl… out-think, out-write and out-fact-check… BS into the wind… every day of the week!
Neanderthal Man… required diversity training… introducing Critical Race Theory to the town… cursory… moron… controversy… keep it out of elementary and secondary education… ideological claptrap… the runt… Slimeball… make asses… really give the people a show! Stuttering… Slime Monster… always a trip… through a YMCA lost and found… daddy's suits... it’s comedic gold!!
Conclusions… homophobe… transphobe… racist… bigot… knows NOTHING… (about the) burning bush… not to be questioned… far more intelligent… in serious need of psychiatric help… the deeper into the abyss… stupidity… falls.
“In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
George Orwell
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