Somerset County adds slate of resolutions to Jan. 28 consent agenda, lists bridge, road and legal-service contracts; executive session set on Van Buren Park

Somerset County commissioners moved at their Jan. 14 work session to place a slate of resolutions on the Jan. 28 consent agenda that would authorize bids, award contracts and submit grant applications for roads, bridges, legal services and county programs.

The measures include plans for the county's 2024 road resurfacing and ADA compliance program (about 12.6 center-line miles, roughly 132 curb ramps and upgrades to eight traffic signals), multiple bridge replacement contracts and an application to the New Jersey Department of Transportation's local bridges fund program (the county estimates about $2,500,000). Commissioners also advanced contracts for professional legal services, a tourism and small-business services agreement and equipment purchases. The board voted unanimously, by roll call of those present, to add the measures to the Jan. 28 consent agenda.

Why it matters: the resolutions would clear the way for spring road work, bridge replacements and routine county purchases if the Jan. 28 meeting adopts the consent agenda. Several items rely on state or federal funding and competitive bids; final contract awards and grant acceptances will be formalized when the board takes up the consent agenda on Jan. 28.

Key items placed on the Jan. 28 consent agenda

- Road resurfacing and ADA compliance (Resolution 25-201): An annual paving program described by staff as about 12.6 center-line miles, roughly 132 curb ramps and upgrades to eight traffic signals; largely state funded and scheduled to go to bid next month with work planned for spring.

- Local bridges grant application (Resolution 25-225): Authorization to submit a New Jersey Department of Transportation local bridges fund application for fiscal year 2025; county staff said the typical award is about $2,500,000; the grant application is due Feb. 4.

- Bridge and court projects (Resolutions 25-211 through 25-213): Contract awards announced for specific capital projects include: Concus Corporation of Hillsborough for replacement of County Bridge G-0801 (Morton Street over Couples Brook in Bridgewater), not to exceed $810,537.73; Shoretop Construction Corp. for reconstruction of Green Knoll Tennis Courts in Bridgewater, not to exceed $723,700; and CMS Construction for replacement of County Bridge G-0907 (Tullow Road over the west branch of Middlebrook, Bridgewater), not to exceed $597,218. Staff reported each bid came in below the engineer's estimate and that work is expected to begin in spring or within the current construction season.

- Professional services and small contracts: The board advanced awards for multiple on-call legal service providers (not-to-exceed amounts listed per firm) and a 12-month contract with the Somerset County Business Partnership Foundation and the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce for tourism and small-business services, not to exceed $275,000 pending 2025 budget adoption (half payment of $137,500 authorized pending the budget). A bond counsel contract to Gibbons PC for 2025 was listed at not to exceed $55,000.

- Equipment and service certifications: A purchase of automatic glass plate readers from a vendor using a New Jersey state contract was listed at not to exceed $100,748.70. Several resolutions certify funds or approve payment for previously awarded contracts and small vendor invoices (amounts and vendors were listed by staff during the meeting).

Board action and public comment

Commissioner Drake, Commissioner Singletary, Commissioner Suey and Deputy Director Marano voted to add the listed resolutions (25-200 through 25-224 and 25-225 through 25-226) to the Jan. 28 consent agenda; the roll calls were recorded as unanimous among those present. No members of the public spoke during the work-session public comment period.

Executive session: land acquisition and Van Buren Park

The board voted to take an executive session later in the evening to discuss land acquisition and agreements or contracts related to Van Buren Park. County officials said no action would be taken at the work session on those matters; any formal decisions would be returned to a public meeting at a later date.

Next steps

The resolutions added to the Jan. 28 consent agenda will return for formal consideration at the commissioners' next public meeting on Jan. 28. Items that depend on grant awards, state contracts or competitive bids will only proceed if the board adopts those resolutions and if the expected funding/bid outcomes materialize.