[{"_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",6503059,"mediaKeyId","5664100-3fa79b4e8a5c135648959156a9434127","parentId",5664100,"title","Library staff and union call for fair wages as contract talks remain in mediation","audioSeconds",2964,"startMs",2162000,"endMs",5126000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5664100-3fa79b4e8a5c135648959156a9434127&start=2162&end=5126","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5664100-3fa79b4e8a5c135648959156a9434127/thumbnail_2162000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6503059/Camden-County/New-Jersey/Library-staff-and-union-call-for-fair-wages-as-contract-talks-remain-in-mediation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503059-f8a956bb1a15b64b0db619bdb9130b4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573787&Signature=T2x34K3seznYzx9Nsp96DKSRqfrtSl7xEeDa3opuE824Ahh6cRSrv6GfNDYvp-toGZK0Lg6l5dJOy9vWXsM46r9vIFivIqjIXJpeMzY~lesBWd~5aazlxn3reZ~VztBAO5o9~HmZsAiC441nGlxV0uIqa-aGJjjGQEKRiozNVH37BFPyekRvxtN6q~hHliq7XoO2wnh5rghl4f74sSfR9xzOAJbENQU72U4THhLkGjogv7zv97pbYgBojJphK2sALnXDZVOF042kVWchlZorWsADJKqavUvu4aXFkXJYvZ~lR1dFY40hc2Z0RAjkbuYKAxGlV3sHpKLNj0kjAemToA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Camden County, NJ","date","2025-08-22T12:16:25.647Z","article","Dozens of library employees, union representatives and residents addressed the Camden County Board of Commissioners to demand higher wages and faster resolution of contract negotiations that library staff say have contributed to a staffing crisis.

Sarah Junich, who identified herself as head of youth services for the Camden County Library System and president of AFSCME Local 14 54, told commissioners the system served nearly 500 basic-literacy and ESL students in 2024 and 2025 and hosted nearly 71,000 visits in July across eight branches. \"By refusing to pay library workers a fair wage, you are hurting your community,\" Junich said, urging commissioners to act.

Several speakers described services library staff provide beyond circulation: computer classes for seniors, tax-preparation assistance, Narcan distribution, partnerships with food banks and serving as a cooling/heating center. Staff and supporters said low pay leads to unfilled vacancies and cuts to programming and hours; speakers asked the county to prioritize the negotiations.

Speakers cited pay comparisons and figures. Junich said a Camden County Librarian 1 earns $46,438.76 and noted the 2025 MLA minimum recommendation is $64,022. She said Burlington County pays higher starting salaries for comparable positions. IT and adult-services staff described repeated understaffing and low starting rates that make hiring difficult.

County officials replied that negotiations are in mediation and that the county does not discuss active bargaining publicly. \"We recognize the great work that the library workers do,\" said Director Cappelli. Deputy Director McDonald said the county would check the status of negotiations and \"make it very clear that we expect a fair contract for you, and we will do that immediately.\"

Union representative Yolanda Lawson said an offer from the union had been denied by county council and that the parties had reached an impasse; she urged council to revisit the offer to avoid prolonged mediation.

Community members and elected advocates supported library workers and urged the county to increase transparency and to consider holding meetings at times and locations more accessible to working residents.

No county wage increase or settlement was announced during the meeting. The county said it would follow mediation procedures and consult the library commission and counsel as required.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Camden County Board of Commissioners August 2025 Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple Camden County Library System employees, union representatives and residents urged county commissioners to secure higher wages and faster contract resolution; county officials said negotiations are in mediation and pledged to check status.","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},6503065,"Camden County commissioners approve block of 93 resolutions; one measure fails and a nepotism item is tabled",53,1232000,1285000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5664100-3fa79b4e8a5c135648959156a9434127&start=1232&end=1285","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5664100-3fa79b4e8a5c135648959156a9434127/thumbnail_1232000.jpg","/articles/6503065/Camden-County/New-Jersey/Camden-County-commissioners-approve-block-of-93-resolutions-one-measure-fails-and-a-nepotism-item-is-tabled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503065-b312330e94db6f3096684f5735122072/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573787&Signature=aRReJ6adTpD4d76ePWSdeZ4RAleS7lXcLqJXg3UivW0iJL8K9rCCQQZQMVcz0s1BiM1XOqV6jx3aBd5sVTlZ3LdEBm9oi-kXWAdSoD4F17LKZzjrZijhzeEFp8p2lRdzgg-JLaxFUxth3nygu72NAvBYj2ryhswrmGxDuNVtilTIsB7dnCg7yaxFH20DqzeHj0255LQFf7vRkcRR-JifFuPxtGuxD7U8zGk9QbJByOcw1PRER0hpmiJWFKqQnq5LR~UjkSkEM9H-nepp1KyeniCzQeGJuTKphnsPhHDBqiA5sxTYGpTF02ndY~aGBMqCUhUMEd9ficxBUxALSiGbwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a public meeting, the Camden County Board of Commissioners voted to approve resolutions 1 through 93 by unanimous consent in a block roll-call vote. Commissioners recorded several abstentions on individual items and noted one resolution did not pass.

During the roll call, Commissioner Dyer voted \"yes to all.\" Commissioner Cooley Fleisher voted \"yes\" but asked to abstain on resolutions 4 and 10. Commissioner Nash and Commissioner Beveridge recorded \"yes\" votes for the block. Deputy Director McDonald indicated \"yes to all.\" Director Cappelli voted \"yes\" but announced abstentions on resolutions 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 19, 32, and 44. The full roll call followed the board's caucus review of the items.

Chairing the meeting, the director announced that resolution number 94 \"does not pass at this time.\" The meeting record shows the board opened public comment on several of the resolutions earlier in the meeting and then returned to vote.

Separately, the board previously moved to table the nepotism portion of a personnel policy resolution (identified in public comment as part of resolution 78); other parts of that resolution related to disability policy and donated sick leave remained in place, the chair said.

Motion and procedural details: a commissioner moved to approve resolutions 1'93 as a block and a second was given; the board proceeded with a roll-call vote. No separate formal debate of individual resolutions appeared on the record during the meeting; the board indicated those items had been discussed at caucus prior to the public meeting.

No specific county budgetary amounts tied to individual resolutions were read into the public roll call at the time of the vote. The meeting record shows a subsequent public hearing and several public speakers who referenced specific resolutions (for example, support for a county resolution backing the New Jersey Green Amendment), and the board acknowledged public comments before voting on the block.

","The Board of Commissioners voted by unanimous consent to approve resolutions 1 through 93 with several specified abstentions; resolution 94 did not pass at this time and the nepotism portion of a personnel policy resolution was tabled earlier in the meeting.",{"_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},6503070,"Camden County honors Holcomb Bus Company for bringing electric school buses to Camden City",254,81000,335000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5664100-3fa79b4e8a5c135648959156a9434127&start=81&end=335","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5664100-3fa79b4e8a5c135648959156a9434127/thumbnail_81000.jpg","/articles/6503070/Camden-County/New-Jersey/Camden-County-honors-Holcomb-Bus-Company-for-bringing-electric-school-buses-to-Camden-City","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6503070-76f58a059eece933f4f6da10e1194481/orig.mp4?Expires=1773573787&Signature=Qb6ptzvn6jSSllTkIkLMCp5cGe~t62drF6iJ-B9HfQ6BnrVxncyEPOKtsOvJCzEGx6iXTB3CNH4lSaQwU3TIIvg0lJJLwwzc2vIDqKgawhR6yH6Nt9ykdiVM548AV~jKzOie3IuNyHEnW61EnWdcplnu4w~r1FO052itt8pkrgT0~b0r4rB3QoUijYwwx55FvM4qADJ~n5ahYHy5hhuAr-yRfQUxCRVr9xtt0CPJ9bhQrD2arCQnBaaTBqvUTG9t8kWuoOsUsMC49r~DIDEUKPcBtwUUEAPMeJ-Ij8nCc22OpQivIexuoV4y6EPaId-bp3Wyjc3xVkYhtLSd1SIdyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner Jeff Nash presented a proclamation recognizing Holcomb Bus Company for bringing electric school buses to Camden City and for plans to electrify more of its fleet.

The county liaison to the Department of Parks and the Environmental Affairs Division, Commissioner Jeff Nash, said the Holcomb Bus Company brought six electric buses into Camden City \"with the intent of electrifying their entire fleet throughout the Delaware Valley.\" Nash introduced representatives from Holcomb and thanked partner organizations who supported the effort.

Nash said the buses reduce emissions from internal combustion engines that affect both outdoor air and the air inside buses carrying children. \"That school bus, for the most part, is an internal combustion engine which produces a lot of emissions that are not healthy,\" Nash said.

Representatives from Holcomb Bus Company said they intended to continue deploying electric buses. \"It is our intention to try to do the best we can to get students to and from school safely. And second to that is we are an environmentally friendly company,\" said a Holcomb representative.

Commissioners and attendees noted the company's partnership with Camden City schools. John Rell, identified at the meeting as senior director of transportation for the Camden City School District, said Holcomb has been \"a great partner of ours for years now,\" and welcomed the electric buses on Camden City routes.

Other speakers at the presentation included Cherry Hill Councilwoman Sangeeta Doshi, Caroline McCollum of New Jersey Clean Communities, and Ed Howell of PSE&G; commissioners also recognized the environmental and public-health value of reducing diesel emissions from school fleets.

The proclamation was ceremonial; no formal county action or funding decision for the buses was announced during the presentation.

The county took a group photograph after the proclamation and proceeded with the meeting agenda.

","The Camden County Board of Commissioners presented a proclamation to Holcomb Bus Company for introducing six electric school buses on Camden City routes and for broader electrification plans across the Delaware Valley.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Library staff and union call for fair wages as contract talks remain in mediation

Camden County commissioners approve block of 93 resolutions; one measure fails and a nepotism item is tabled

Camden County honors Holcomb Bus Company for bringing electric school buses to Camden City