[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6653292,"mediaKeyId","2484151-3f75b496820020714bee78d78d2394b3","parentId",2484151,"title","Public commenters press Union County on contracts, UCPAC funding, pet-store bill and Clark Reservoir rebid","audioSeconds",976,"startMs",533000,"endMs",1509000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484151-3f75b496820020714bee78d78d2394b3&start=533&end=1509","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484151-3f75b496820020714bee78d78d2394b3/thumbnail_533000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6653292/Union-County/New-Jersey/Public-commenters-press-Union-County-on-contracts-UCPAC-funding-pet-store-bill-and-Clark-Reservoir-rebid","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653292-b05b70170a3faa1a632bd1589596a0bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771109149&Signature=k7XXaDzGGL-uZ8IleZY5LtWd5ba~5NoSD8dnRZGFZbb1gNOo8how7czdZc32ajVzDtlxwLPWn8BrdyyQnz6rjF1L8QuIiLREYsiuWtaw10uKK7kTcCVOkMCY3OQxTON5qANyoiJMLJAoWXa9pDPrGOb004GI0HfJBZiG-iKGCMQcjx99yOE7ZnupESN7gepieb2XnQPrT8Bik9WV3K1z8~UxuBn1gW4qDSmOgvoGTVRli21DwniZFhw0HHwYHGiq2Ee2dfLxTfkbeOMx6hvzJyVn0r9-NQhoKDLeZg4Xjmdm9bq5JkswUjHylSG8gwTbzEMR72sHGADgXgla3uH2RA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Union County","date","2025-03-04T13:24:42.27Z","article","Several members of the public used the meeting's comment period to question county expenditures and contracts, urge the Board to support a state animal-welfare bill, and seek clarity on bidding for the Clark Reservoir improvement project.

Contract and spending concerns: Bruce Patterson of Garwood told commissioners the county was hiring Capital Museum Services \"for a hundred and $28 to create and install a recycling and litter exhibit at Trailside\" and questioned whether the expense should proceed. Patterson also criticized a grant or payment to UCPAC that he described as \"a hundred and $10,310\" and urged newer commissioners to review a prior 2010 prosecutor's investigation into county-sponsored programming financing. Patterson characterized some recent county spending as burdensome to taxpayers.

A board member responded to Patterson's remarks from the dais, saying that using \"racist tropes such as DEI\" in an attack on a commissioner was unacceptable; the speaker called the language \"disparaging\" and criticized the tone of Patterson's remarks.

State bill urging: Larry Cohen of Fanwood urged the board to pass a resolution supporting New Jersey legislation A4051/S2511, described in his remarks as the \"Humane Pet Store Bill,\" which would prohibit the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits. Cohen told the board that many municipalities and counties have passed supporting resolutions and argued the state's existing Pet Purchase Protection Act enforcement has been inconsistent.

Clark Reservoir rebid: Delia Collins of Clark asked for clarification about the county's bid process for the Clark Reservoir improvement project. County Manager Joseph Oatman explained that the county had rejected all responses to the initial solicitation, initiated a second bid that was later pulled before responses were taken, and that the upcoming solicitation would be the third bid and would cover the full project (boathouse and dredging together).

Board response and context: County Manager Oatman and County Counsel Michael Bergen addressed procedural questions during or immediately after public comment. No formal action responding to the substantive allegations about prior contracting or UCPAC finances was taken during the meeting; speakers asked for further review and transparency.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","UCBOCC 022725 R","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents urged the Board to scrutinize county spending and contracts, asked the county to endorse a state bill banning retail sales of dogs, cats and rabbits, and sought clarification on the Clark Reservoir rebid; the county manager said the new solicitation will be the third bid and will cover the full project.","taxTitle","Union County, New Jersey","taxId",2731,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653295,"Union County commissioners approve multiple resolutions, adopt minutes and hear 2025 executive budget",1052,503000,1555000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484151-3f75b496820020714bee78d78d2394b3&start=503&end=1555","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484151-3f75b496820020714bee78d78d2394b3/thumbnail_503000.jpg","/articles/6653295/Union-County/New-Jersey/Union-County-commissioners-approve-multiple-resolutions-adopt-minutes-and-hear-2025-executive-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653295-a9184a371d4202fc89c31f4419d17cac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771109149&Signature=YYl5qvW2Iz~5ZW9gP9UvVT9bhb8ucSjkZiuiOeapNYCV4ly8GCnYvYInENkFKG89zZ0hX4poH5Xhe01ceRbDRJh4pRu8w4KDl0ls3AJRbqac39gSZoTNBY5tM2UCYnkzorKk2BPXYv0yAyVbTHU9o8GCTLQv~9~VV8To9tCt4k~u29Z7Haw7DnWVs0WzP~SfQdIIrnB2~g5azig5sRS~LjCF-Nh7zjNPaLq38VA2lhdW9edH2xHBnu6ir7iOZZY~htpt-1w-L4Wg6gFjwSHYb5s3yt29WaXgZ80BiQH4m~l-ysYWAuKBjIHnN4RthvVQAClFw2k~grlBouTJM2SDTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Union County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted a group of resolutions numbered 2025-176 through 2025-234 and approved routine communications and minutes during the meeting.

Resolutions and minutes: The board voted 7-0 to adopt the listed resolutions after a motion by Commissioner B.J. Kowalski and a second by Commissioner Delasfort. Earlier in the meeting the board approved communications (7-0) on a motion by Commissioner Kowalski, seconded by Commissioner Williams.

Minutes approvals recorded several abstentions: the clerk stated the votes as follows for past meeting minutes:

- Jan. 6 reorganizational meeting minutes: 6 affirmative, 1 abstention.
- Jan. 13 special meeting minutes: 5 affirmative, 2 abstentions.
- Jan. 23 agenda session minutes: 5 affirmative, 2 abstentions.
- Jan. 23 regular meeting minutes: 6 affirmative, 1 abstention.

Budget presentation: County Manager Joseph Oatman presented the 2025 executive budget materials and framed the county's fiscal position. Oatman said Union County has maintained a strong record of fiscal responsibility and highlighted multiple years of limited tax increases, saying the county had four consecutive years of a 0% tax increase and that a modest increase was necessary in 2024 to account for inflation and rising costs. He said the 2025 budget keeps the tax rate \"stable\" while maintaining services, and flagged a risk that potential federal funding cuts under a second presidential administration could affect county programs.

What happened next: With routine business concluded and the resolutions adopted, the meeting continued with public comment and departmental announcements. No budget vote occurred at the meeting; the manager's presentation was informational.

","The Board adopted a package of resolutions (Nos. 2025-176 through 2025-234), approved communications and several sets of minutes with recorded abstentions, and heard a presentation of the county manager's 2025 executive budget.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653300,"Union County adopts administrative ordinance moving telephone-room functions between departments",225,275000,500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484151-3f75b496820020714bee78d78d2394b3&start=275&end=500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484151-3f75b496820020714bee78d78d2394b3/thumbnail_275000.jpg","/articles/6653300/Union-County/New-Jersey/Union-County-adopts-administrative-ordinance-moving-telephone-room-functions-between-departments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653300-c68f31a507b1c187778cd6ee1b84fc5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771109149&Signature=aGVxTAcfYWWkbb4MdIPu80sbtaoOwk7~MX2rMa49C9pAfKhQ1TU3Evx2wEPm1YFKr6OuqlEH35n0~y5kWo~XkJXjAPmoymPGi~ah4yjiMa8itWWx0Dr06YfPxlqsV-OXhMnYUfhqlfadRyjJI80Y9KYC85O-~gk12LvlEBowH~UCqnbbDKFSYip~RTVYWqqzgT9w2xE9jCXhS37fPvcGBg0JO8Zh39gGTqdebtrG1Cb1EVz~bsVZYK1XbUe8MIteYJ7V87o~bwkNewfVH2Hoh4f64iRZTxfCu6nm2THu5lSJn1fZrXmKo~T9oyB3-INJvuGJNtIToaMoPFJB8mPe0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Union County Board of County Commissioners on a 7-0 vote adopted Ordinance 855-2025, an administrative amendment to the county code that transfers the county’s telephone-room functions from the Motor Vehicle Bureau in the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Administrative Services.

County Counsel Michael Bergen described the ordinance during the public hearing as an \"essentially an administrative ordinance\" and said the move \"will have no effect on functioning.\" Bergen told the board there would be \"no employees coming or going\" and explicitly stated, \"No new hires.\" The ordinance was moved by Vice Chair Bodek and seconded by Commissioner Williams; the clerk recorded seven affirmative votes for adoption.

Why it matters: County officials said the change is intended to align organizational titles and budget lines; commissioners and staff did not describe any change in services or staffing as a result of the transfer. During the public comment period, resident Bruce Patterson asked whether the reorganization would create new positions and whether any new jobs would be filled despite a county hiring freeze.

Patterson said the ordinance’s text and related budget materials were not clear to him. In response, Bergen told the meeting the change was administrative and would not result in additional hires or changes to how the function operates.

The ordinance was read into the record by title before public comment was taken. After the hearing and the motion by Vice Chair Bodek, the clerk called the roll and the board voted to adopt Ordinance 855-2025.

The board did not take further substantive policy action tied to the ordinance during the meeting.

","The Union County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted Ordinance 855-2025 to amend the county administrative code, shifting telephone-room functions from the Motor Vehicle Bureau to the Department of Administrative Services; county counsel and a public commenter said the change is administrative only and will not create new positions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters press Union County on contracts, UCPAC funding, pet-store bill and Clark Reservoir rebid

Union County commissioners approve multiple resolutions, adopt minutes and hear 2025 executive budget

Union County adopts administrative ordinance moving telephone-room functions between departments