[{"_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",6702637,"mediaKeyId","3798527-57b0504f60883742d3e7e33ba60115ff","parentId",3798527,"title","Camden County commissioners introduce 2025 budget, schedule public hearing for April 17","audioSeconds",74,"startMs",526000,"endMs",600000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798527-57b0504f60883742d3e7e33ba60115ff&start=526&end=600","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798527-57b0504f60883742d3e7e33ba60115ff/thumbnail_526000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6702637/Camden-County/New-Jersey/Camden-County-commissioners-introduce-2025-budget-schedule-public-hearing-for-April-17","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6702637-0417475c96a646a02519a2991f5e1498/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150023&Signature=SrTA3LTP0bYLxgcexniBFrbeNEfPGuaBrOf9bsLs-AolMpxUbPD9WkS8EGKhnIQilmittt3wf5bH0A9~~8vmuhzsJOCOjJbC6YhKaaGIFN7Wiwl1j7ZieQUXti0FeTPDu1QNGV2F2EB8OIoEtAlXCwCYNQAqyDwcO~LzTD09euFSzeIrbjL43cRQ9UeWA~gZfbMwjrNRlHR5dURWSlpaUPr1CZ5aqzxtIephiuv9H2t5ymeM6d8xeqCtnKtftuSeWAHPZ6NY5zdQwo26mNlmjWBh1iQYRTQuKvJZTogoY8a77ScX5hrOAwr8tBsSb84g24tW5Gx2l~P5uZVZMu2ZSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Camden County, NJ","date","2025-05-16T17:39:21Z","article","The Camden County Board of Commissioners gave first reading Tuesday to the county's 2025 budget and approved a separate resolution to exceed the statutory appropriations limit and establish a cap bank, the board said. The public hearing on both items is scheduled for April 17, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. at the Camden County Courthouse, 520 Market Street, Camden.

The introductions were presented as procedural first readings to allow public comment and a subsequent vote. Commissioners moved and seconded the motions to introduce the measures and answered roll call affirmatively. Commissioner Jeff Nash described the draft budget as \"once again a very prudent budget that holds the line on taxes,\" and said the board aims to balance employee needs with broader tax pressures.

The discussion at the meeting included a question from a resident about a $110,000,000 shortfall shown in the draft budget. Steve Williamson, the county chief financial officer, told the board that the difference reflects timing of grant revenue: the budget adopted last year included all grants for the full year, while the 2025 draft lists grants received to date; he said the totals should align at year end.

Other routine items passed by motion earlier in the meeting included acceptance of the minutes of the previous meeting and the comptroller's report. The board also moved to vote on resolutions 1 through 63 by unanimous consent. The roll call on that block recorded several targeted abstentions: Commissioner Nash recorded an abstention on resolution 58; Commissioner Young recorded abstentions on resolutions 6, 7 and 47; and Director Cappelli recorded an abstention on resolution 11. Otherwise commissioners voted in favor of the block.

The board recessed to handle public comment and will return to consider final adoption after the public hearing on April 17. Written and oral testimony can be submitted at that hearing. The county indicated the budget introduction is a procedural step that permits public review and a later formal vote on final adoption.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Camden County Board of Commissioners March 2025 Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Camden County Board of Commissioners gave first reading to the 2025 budget and approved a resolution to exceed the county appropriations limit to establish a cap bank; the board scheduled a public hearing for April 17 at noon at the Camden County Courthouse.","taxTitle","Camden County, New Jersey","taxId",14427,"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},6702626,"County employees and union urge pause on health-insurance changes; county says carriers will match current coverage",171,689000,860000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798527-57b0504f60883742d3e7e33ba60115ff&start=689&end=860","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798527-57b0504f60883742d3e7e33ba60115ff/thumbnail_689000.jpg","/articles/6702626/Camden-County/New-Jersey/County-employees-and-union-urge-pause-on-health-insurance-changes-county-says-carriers-will-match-current-coverage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6702626-bebaad547af1bfc14517c0dccc0e5d67/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150023&Signature=fIlKAqHI4h~cNJeScVO4DcmulnDWDnmtelgaxvkthHcSSXFP~5fQm7x~RZ8e-N6CvolK6ZNV4fEjFmqUEGbG6BztwtX8EVC0JWUjUWVYTnGfLci3rrdXGZVp2IXOx2GwiYCI-o0sPDRkRKPAyluPzRNvqRLFumYtLfTkjhc06dDpFDB1Y-LXDcdtjPghKrXLbi1bffDAG911gwLyQQnqBh2J9C6BSJvVAbQq5QL7jmv7rSdKAvxFuOVBox8U04Pwp3mQ8MJDp4m9cIE8D5unhAhWzg108IZMcWIbUJxVAbDnBRjyUvvwFDW-WPIA~XoutfNmD7u9zZ5M0Tp-eLsbqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of CWA Local 1084 and employees of the Camden County Board of Social Services urged the Board of Commissioners to pause action on changes to the county's health-insurance arrangements until labor representatives can review provider selections and plan details.

Jaren Steiner, speaking during the public comment period, asked the board to \"seriously consider tabling this\" so the county and union could discuss the transfer out of the State Health Benefits Plan and the identity of any replacement carriers. Steven Johnson, president of CWA Local 1084, said bargaining has lasted \"fourteen and a half months\" and that members need a fair contract to meet rising costs.

County staff responded that the board must act this month to make the change. \"Any [carriers] aren't being named yet only because it hasn't been approved yet by the board,\" said Jim, a county staff member involved in benefits administration. He said the county is contractually obligated to provide coverage \"similar to or substantially similar to\" current coverages and that the companies expected to be selected are national carriers with government experience.

Johnson and other union speakers said they supported leaving the State Health Benefits Plan in principle but asked for a pause until they could review specific carriers and confirm that the new plans mirror current benefits and respect collective-bargaining agreements. The county said it will provide documentation about the third-party administrator, pharmacy benefits manager and Medicare Advantage carrier after the board approves the changes.

Speakers from the Board of Social Services described staffing shortages, low pay relative to rising costs and the effect on service delivery. \"This contract is make-or-break for me,\" said Kimberly Poole, a Board of Social Services employee and bargaining committee member, who described personal financial strain and case backlogs caused by understaffing.

The commissioners heard the comments during the public comment period; no further formal action on the insurance change was recorded at the meeting beyond the public remarks and staff assurances that documentation will be provided after approvals.","Members of CWA Local 1084 and Board of Social Services employees asked commissioners to table proposed changes to county health coverage until unions can review carriers and impacts; county staff said any replacement carriers will provide coverage substantially similar to current plans and will provide documentation after board approval.",{"_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},6702630,"Residents press Camden County to act after repeated EMR shredder fires; commissioners say they are monitoring",400,1784000,2184000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798527-57b0504f60883742d3e7e33ba60115ff&start=1784&end=2184","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798527-57b0504f60883742d3e7e33ba60115ff/thumbnail_1784000.jpg","/articles/6702630/Camden-County/New-Jersey/Residents-press-Camden-County-to-act-after-repeated-EMR-shredder-fires-commissioners-say-they-are-monitoring","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6702630-f178cf30c30bf31dffe945eb188add2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150023&Signature=cIokCERfWRkLt2VjQvaDX-yTdYmpJeQQG7ZgKW2ZDVQxupF9CEVuMRaZU4J9wV0wy6PhE8~yIBiTj9A2afx87zCAVXRMDHw8dwtOk1qE7HjEOYAp3GZwtytcYz9NCssvRQyEGXlUaeB31BgcW3fTeXn50zKUmoU4jKKwsVWxtWYUZajXy6mI5wYp11XT0xwTYfcUj1Ua1PojaeoaMHWxsKeok2xVDSVk4nbj6YtEbHr5UwotaM-lI5kPXD~jheKhCjZLmb-As7iI636vd5mAAwNuSmQnUt8yZ5NwxeNMCkXjKCOX1WB10Bc2C8VFMXo9pIIT-t5wv-S99tBE6NZQmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents from Waterfront South, environmental groups and nearby municipalities pressed the Camden County Board of Commissioners to hold scrap-processing company EMR accountable and to prevent future fires after the facility experienced another blaze that sent a smoky plume across parts of the county.

Speakers described multiple disruptions and health concerns. \"This should not have happened more than once,\" said resident Mike Morgan, who told the board Waterfront South residents have evacuated repeatedly. \"We've had to evacuate three times in my 6-year-old's life.\" Robert Bennett, another resident, said smoke smelled \"extremely toxic\" and asked whether the company's repeated incidents amount to criminal negligence.

Advocates urged regulatory action and tighter classification of automotive shredder residue, or ASR. \"If ASR were categorized more accurately as hazardous waste,\" said Mike Morgan, \"there could be different laws about how much and how long it could be stored on-site.\" Kevin Barfield of Camden for Clean Air said the issue is not only fire suppression but ongoing operations, storage of flammable liquids, and proximity of the shredder to critical infrastructure.

County officials said they are coordinating with the city of Camden and state agencies. Director Cappelli told speakers EMR had previously proposed a fire suppression plan that was not implemented and that the county has demanded the company present a fire suppression system. \"I think tomorrow we're expected to learn of the fire suppression system that they intend on utilizing,\" Cappelli said. Deputy Director Ed McDonald said county leaders met with city officials and other stakeholders and described the matter as \"extremely serious.\" He said the county was \"working very aggressively\" and would keep the public informed.

Speakers also urged the county to press the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for stricter oversight and to consider reclassifying ASR, a position the county said it will explore as it receives investigative reports. County officials noted they had not yet received the fire marshal's report and that some operational approvals for the site were issued through the standard land-use process.

The commissioners said they were sensitive to the public's concerns and would continue coordinating with the city, state and community groups. \"We are profoundly concerned about this, and we are working very aggressively on it,\" Deputy Director McDonald said. The board asked staff to keep residents informed as investigations and enforcement options proceed.","Residents and environmental advocates urged the Camden County Board of Commissioners to compel EMR to improve operations and install fire suppression after multiple fires; county officials said they are coordinating with the city and expect more information from the company and the fire marshal.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Camden County commissioners introduce 2025 budget, schedule public hearing for April 17

County employees and union urge pause on health-insurance changes; county says carriers will match current coverage

Residents press Camden County to act after repeated EMR shredder fires; commissioners say they are monitoring