Commissioners unanimously back ACUA employees amid landfill odor dispute; dozens of grants and contracts also approved

The Atlantic County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt a resolution supporting the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) and its employees after public controversy over remarks at a recent press event and continuing constituent complaints about landfill odors.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the resolution was aimed at reassuring ACUA rank-and-file employees that the board supports them while also reiterating the boardwill continue to investigate odor complaints and explore options to mitigate impacts on residents.

Resolution 51, introduced at the start of the public-business portion and moved to the top of the agenda "because ACUA employees were present," calls on the county to support ACUA and recycling initiatives while noting the board does not intend to dissolve or privatize the authority. The clerk read the resolution summary into the record before a full discussion and roll-call vote.

Commissioner Ernest D. Corsi sponsored the measure and asked for the resolution to be read into the record. Multiple commissioners and members of the public spoke in favor of the resolution as a way to provide certainty to ACUA employees. Commissioner Bertino urged colleagues to "give them some comfort level" so employees would not worry about their next paycheck; a public speaker who identified himself as representing ACUA staff thanked commissioners for putting the item on the agenda.

Several commissioners also pushed back on public reports that the board had advocated privatization or dissolution of ACUA. One commissioner said the privatization claim "was based in nothing that was true" and emphasized that commissioners had not discussed dissolution at recent meetings. A member of the legislative delegation (identified in the record as "Senator") characterized the press conference as intended to compel ACUA to address odor complaints, not to attack rank-and-file employees.

The board then voted on Resolution 51 by roll call; the recorded vote was unanimous in favor. Commissioners moved through the remainder of the agenda adopting a broad package of grant applications, contract awards and professional services authorizations.

Votes at a glance (key items adopted) - Resolution 13: Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Grant application and acceptance (U.S. Department of Justice through NJ Department of Law and Public Safety), amount not to exceed $105,858 — Approved (roll call: unanimous). - Resolution 16: NJDOT Transportation Accessibility and Mobility Program (Atlantic County Community Express Shuttle Service), amount not to exceed $400,000 — Approved (unanimous). - Resolution 17: FY25 Local Bridge Fund program (up to five bridge projects), amount not to exceed $22,192,837 — Approved (unanimous). - Resolution 18: FHWA BRIC (Jobes Point bridge replacement) — Federal award $784,000, county match $196,000 — Approved (unanimous). - Resolution 19 & 20: Amend and authorize professional services agreements for temporary nursing staffing at Meadowview and Public Health (increases; combined authorized amounts noted in agenda) — Approved (unanimous). - Resolution 22: Competitive contract with Partners Pharmacy to provide pharmaceuticals to Meadowview, amount not to exceed $370,314.28 — Approved (unanimous). - Resolution 31 & 32: Road resurfacing contracts with Arawak Paving Co. (California Avenue $993,900; Ohio Avenue $657,000) — Approved (unanimous). - Resolution 41: Alternate-method contract with PointClickCare Technologies for Meadowview billing and electronic medical records, amount not to exceed $78,857.45 — Approved (unanimous). - Resolution 51: Resolution supporting the Atlantic County Utilities Authority and promoting recycling initiatives (sponsor: Ernest D. Corsi) — Approved (unanimous).

(Several additional grant awards, renewals and contract authorizations were approved during the meeting; the full agenda included a long list of resolutions and competitive contracts that passed on roll-call votes.)

Discussion vs. decision: Commissioners separated the political dispute over a press conference from the operational goal of addressing odors and supporting employees. Several commissioners stressed that, while they back ACUA staff, the board will still pursue constituent complaints about odors and evaluate mitigation options.

Public comment: ACUA employees and union representatives attended and spoke in support of the resolution; one public commenter, Kevin Pemberton of Mays Landing, asked about the county's procurement and bid process for the recently authorized integrated pest management contract and was told the award was based on a two-year, lowest-responsible-bidder process.

Ending: The board completed the remaining agenda items, combined a set of resolutions (44through50) for a single vote, and adjourned after an extended meeting that included the budget message and multiple contract approvals.