On Aug. 13, 2025 the Warren County Board of County Commissioners approved several fiscal and procurement actions: insertion of two state grant awards into the 2025 county budget, authorization to lease three paratransit vehicles from New Jersey Transit under Section 5310 programs, and a resolution delegating purchasing authority to the county’s qualified purchasing agent up to the current bid threshold of $53,000.

The Board unanimously adopted Resolution 386-25 to insert $85,800 into the 2025 budget from the State of New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety under the 2025 Arrive Together Critical Incident Model Grant Program (#25-ARRVCIM-21). The board also adopted Resolution 387-25 to insert an additional $52,803 from the State Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development, Social Services for the Homeless (#SH25021), bringing that program’s total to $167,391 as recorded in the resolution texts. Both motions were made by Commissioner James Kern III and seconded by Commissioner Lori Ciesla; recorded votes were yes by all three commissioners.

The Board authorized the Director to execute lease agreements with New Jersey Transit for two paratransit vehicles through the FY2018 Section 5310 program (Resolution 392-25) and a lease for one additional vehicle through the FY2019 Section 5310 program (Resolution 393-25). The vehicles are described in the resolutions as 2025 Ford Champion Challengers with specific VINs listed in the minutes; the leases are required by NJ Transit before the county may operate the vehicles. The Section 5310 program generally funds transportation for seniors and people with disabilities, though the resolutions here simply authorize leases and list VIN numbers and model years.

On procurement, the Board adopted Resolution 394-25 to empower the county’s qualified purchasing agent to solicit bids and award contracts up to the bid threshold established by the Governor ($53,000 as of July 1, 2025) without further Board approval. The resolution cites N.J.S.A. 40A:11-3 and the Elections Transparency Act, P.L. 2023, c.30, and clarifies that the delegation does not apply to contracts for which state law or county resolution require Board approval.

Other fiscal actions recorded in the minutes: Resolution 395-25 authorizes use of EMEX LLC (Mantis Innovation) reverse auction services to procure natural gas; Resolution 396-25 authorizes an online auction of surplus county items; and contract awards for inmate commissary services (Keefe Commissary Network, Resolution 397-25) and dental services at the county correctional center (Dentrust Dental, Resolution 398-25) were approved with contract terms and funding accounts noted in the resolutions.

County Administrator Alex J. Lazorisak also addressed public inquiries about tax-bill timing in the absence of the CFO, saying the county-certified rate was set Aug. 5 and that delays in individual tax bills were caused by some municipalities rather than county action, naming Mansfield and Washington Borough in the minutes.

Formal actions: each of the listed resolutions was moved by James Kern III, seconded by Lori Ciesla, and passed with recorded votes of yes by James Kern III, Lori Ciesla and Jason Sarnoski.

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