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Resident urges Passaic County oversight of state-county board of social services
Summary
A Harrison resident urged the County Commissioners to demand transparency and to require the state-county board of social services to honor clients’ choice of advocates without undue burden.
A Harrison resident asked the Passaic County Board of Commissioners to investigate the state-county board of social services and to require greater transparency and protections for clients choosing outside advocates.
Laura Martinez, who identified herself as an advocate and representative from Harrison, told commissioners she and clients have experienced missed mailings and late notices and that recipients face barriers when they seek help from third-party advocates. “I respectfully ask for your immediate oversight and intervention on the concerns presented today,” Martinez said, asking the board to require the state-county board to honor clients’ choice of advocate without undue burdens.
Martinez described administrative problems that, she said, led to missed hearing deadlines and difficulty accessing appeal rights. Commissioners said they would collect contact information to follow up with Martinez and other commenters about the issues raised. The public-comment period closed without any formal action recorded by the board; commissioners did not vote on oversight measures at the meeting.
