Atlantic County commissioners approve slate of grants, contracts and appointments

Atlantic County commissioners approved a package of grant applications, contract awards and administrative items during their June 2025 meeting, voting to move forward on funding and procurement items ranging from public-health grants to facility contracts and a large interlocal construction-management increase.

The approvals included a grant application and acceptance from the New Jersey Department of Health for a local public-health overdose fatality review team (amount not to exceed $75,000); renewal grants from the New Jersey Department of Children and Families for a youth services coordinator ($42,612); and multiple amendments and carryovers for social-services and transportation grants. Commissioners also approved an alternate-method contract for Atlantic Prevention Resources to provide an overdose fatality review team, contracts for washer-and-dryer repair services (amount not to exceed $170,000) and window-cleaning services, and a purchase agreement for office supplies for the county cooperative (amount not to exceed $250,000). A change order for resurfacing Brigantine Avenue (net increase $19,929.38) and an interlocal agreement increase with the Atlantic County Improvement Authority for justice-facility parking-lot repaving (net increase $1,426,473.31) were also adopted.

Other items adopted included a shared-services agreement to house up to 85 female inmates from Burlington County, a three-year memorandum of understanding incorporating terms for the Atlantic County prosecutor and chief assistant prosecutors, a donor agreement providing in-kind shelter and counseling services not to exceed $75,855.48, and an interlocal agreement with the city of Ocean City (flashing beacons installation and maintenance) not to exceed $20,672.50. The board combined and adopted several chapter 159 budget items, confirmed appointments (including Janine L. Onyango to the Library Advisory Commission through 2028), and authorized roadway-solicitation events requested by volunteer fire companies.

Most items were presented as routine or as readings and, where required, were adopted by roll call; the clerk announced "motion carries" after votes throughout the meeting. Several items were described as term extensions with no additional cost. When funding sources were mentioned in discussion, speakers identified New Jersey state agencies (for example, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Department of Human Services and the Governor's Council on Substance Use Disorders) as the grant originators.

The board did not conduct extended debate on the individual grant or contract items; staff and commissioners repeatedly noted that the budget committee had reviewed the grants and recommended approval. Public comment was not recorded on these items during the meeting.

Votes at a glance (selected items as presented on the agenda): - NJ Department of Health overdose fatality review team grant — apply/accept, amount not to exceed $75,000 — outcome: approved (roll call). - Alternate-method contract with Atlantic Prevention Resources (overdose fatality review team) — amount not to exceed $75,000 — outcome: approved (roll call). - NJ Department of Children and Families youth services coordinator grant — renewal, amount not to exceed $42,612 — outcome: approved (roll call). - Social services for the homeless grant (amendment) — net increase $40,799 — outcome: approved (roll call). - NJ Transit senior/disabled transportation assistance (carryover) — net increase $4,369.74 — outcome: approved (roll call). - Contracts: washer/dryer repair services (MCH Equipment Inc.) — amount not to exceed $170,000; window cleaning (Myrna Pro Cleaning LLC); office supplies (W.B. Mason) — amount not to exceed $250,000 — outcome: approved (roll call). - Change order — El Fariazzi Concrete Co. resurfacing Brigantine Ave. — net increase $19,929.38 — outcome: approved (roll call). - Interlocal agreement increase with Atlantic County Improvement Authority (justice facility parking lot repaving) — net increase $1,426,473.31 — outcome: approved (roll call). - Shared-services agreement to house Burlington County female inmates (up to 85 inmates) — outcome: approved (roll call). - MOU/collective bargaining incorporation for prosecutor office (three-year period commencing 01/01/2024) — outcome: approved (roll call). - Appointment — Janine L. Onyango to Library Advisory Commission (term to expire 01/01/2028) — outcome: approved (roll call).

The meeting record shows no failed or tabled votes for the items on the consent-style slate. For items where the agenda described only a reading or an extension with no change in funding, the board proceeded without public comment as allowed under the meeting rules.