Essex County approves $200,000 trap‑neuter‑vaccinate contract, dozens of grants and park contracts; commissioners press local hiring

The Essex County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved a $200,000 professional services agreement to expand trap‑neuter‑vaccinate (TNR) services for feral and community cats and moved a package of grants, parks contracts and reappointments, while commissioners pressed contractors and vendors about local hiring and worker pay.

The single‑sentence actions came during a combined conference and board meeting at which the board voted on multiple resolutions and contract awards after staff presentations and brief public remarks. The TNR agreement was presented by county staff and Wildflowers TNR volunteer Jennifer Chaney, who described clinic capacity and recent monthly case counts.

The TNR program was described to commissioners as having grown from small beginnings to an expanded county effort. County staff said the program performed 1,127 procedures last year and estimated that work could have prevented roughly 6,700 future births of feral cats. The contract awards three providers — Associated Humane Society, Seapaw New Jersey and Wildflowers TNR — to perform trapping, neutering and vaccination services in 2025, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $200,000.

County officials also approved renewals and allocations tied to the Division of Community Action, including Code Blue sheltering and Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) subrecipient contracts. Terrence McCoy of the division told the board the CSBG awards include Irvington Neighborhood at $93,000, Montclair Neighborhood Development at $67,500, Joy’s Angel at $87,500 and Seed Time Outreach at $60,000. The board approved an additional $100,000 from the homeless trust fund for YMCA sheltering and a $15,000 carryover for Joy’s Angel from unspent 2024 funds. McCoy said the county is still awaiting certain HUD and federal amendments tied to block‑grant disbursements.

Parks and recreation items approved included a contract to the North Ward Center for recreational programming at Branch Brook Park in an amount not to exceed $138,666.72 and a change order to IRIS Communications adding $30,210 to a prior contract for graphic arts and banner replacement. The board approved allocations from the Essex County Recreation Open Space Trust Fund: $500,000 for landscape maintenance contracts and $168,800 for design work at Turtle Back Zoo to repair hanging mesh and exhibit connections. Commissioners also considered funding for Weequahic Park soccer/football field and track improvements: staff described a funding allocation not to exceed $577,400 for improvements and later brought a separate contract award for the construction work to American Athletic Track and Turf in the amount not to exceed $1,577,400. Commissioner Richard Richardson stated he would vote against the $1,577,400 award; the deputy clerk recorded that the board voted yes on related public‑works items but recorded a negative vote for that specific contract.

Public‑works awards included a low‑bid contract to AB Contracting for renovation of the Tulip Springs picnic area at South Mountain Reservation for $1,376,441, and a contract to Foggia Trinity Electric for traffic‑signal and road improvements at Franklin Street and West Essex Avenue in Bloomfield in an amount not to exceed $643,885. For fleet and security services, the board approved a two‑year extension with Aegis Security for security services at a county facility (amounts and specific funding lines to be provided later) and awarded on‑call automotive repair contracts to multiple vendors not to exceed $700,000 aggregate for two years.

The board took a package vote on dozens of outside‑counsel contracts and authorized staff to pursue purchase or condemnation of a vacant industrial property at 39 Commerce Court for county vehicle and equipment storage; county counsel said negotiations are preferred but asked for condemnation authority if negotiations fail.

In other business, the board accepted a $23,648.14 opioid‑settlement payment from Cedar Grove to be administered through the county’s opioid response program; approved non‑fair‑and‑open contracts with Hudson Community Enterprise to provide restroom and litter patrol services at two county sites (totals not to exceed $19,220 and $13,112); and approved ammunition purchases for the sheriff under state contract (amount not to exceed $71,497.60).

Commissioners pressed contractors and vendors on two recurring themes: hiring local residents and the pay and work hours for employees of sheltered workshops performing custodial and litter‑control work. Commissioner Richardson said vendors that perform frequent county work should make a visible effort to hire Essex County residents. During discussion of the Hudson Community Enterprise contracts, commissioners asked how often crews visit county sites and whether workshop workers are adequately compensated; procurement staff said they asked vendors for proposals and would follow up with detail on frequency and funding sources.

The board approved the majority of motions by roll call. The transcript records that multiple items were moved and seconded — for example, the TNR agreement was moved by Commissioner Mercado and seconded by Commissioner Mary Thomas — and that most items carried on recorded roll calls with several commissioners absent for portions of the meeting. Vice President Cooper was listed as absent during roll calls in the record provided.

The meeting record in the transcript does not list an agenda date. The board president and deputy clerk repeatedly confirmed votes on dozens of items before adjourning.