Union County previews affordable housing, grant-funded programs and nearly $3 million in budget modifications at agenda session

Union County commissioners at an agenda-setting session reviewed a package of proposed resolutions and budget adjustments that would advance an 8‑unit affordable housing project in Elizabeth, raise the county procurement bid threshold and accept roughly $2.98 million in grant funding for workforce, transportation and human services programs, officials said.

The board did not vote on those items at the agenda meeting; department directors presented the resolutions to be taken up at the board’s regular meeting, officials said. Chairwoman Leon opened the session and departmental directors summarized the items that will appear on the regular agenda.

The most detailed project discussed was an affordable-housing development on Rahway Avenue in Elizabeth. "That's a, an 8 unit affordable housing structure that will be constructed on Rahway Avenue in Elizabeth," Deputy County Manager Amy Wagner said, adding that six or seven of the units will be funded through HOME Investment Partnership funds administered by the County of Union and that the eighth unit will be funded by the City of Elizabeth.

Economic development staff also described an administrative reallocation tied to a previously announced $7,000,000 award. Wagner said the award amount itself is unchanged but that administrative funds were moved into project costs; she described the change as a paperwork correction rather than a new appropriation.

Procurement rule change: Laura Scutari, director of the Department of Administrative Services, told commissioners the state increased the competitive-bid threshold. "Every five years, the state increases the amount of the threshold of where we have to go out to bid. So currently it's 44,000. And now they're gonna, they raised it up to $53,000," Scutari said. The resolution to align county purchasing limits with the new state threshold was presented for later consideration.

Budget modifications and grants: Director Taylor of Finance said the evening’s set of budget revisions comprises 18 resolutions that would modify the 2025 budget to accept outside funding. "The total of this evening's agenda for modifications of the 2025 budget is $2,984,357.68," Taylor said. Several specific programs were described:

- Digital equity training: a Finance resolution (number 4) would accept grant money to provide digital literacy for Workforce New Jersey clients in Union County. - WorkFirst and workforce grants: another modification (number 5) would accept funding aimed at jobseekers, laid-off workers, veterans and people with disabilities. - Transportation planning: a grant (number 6) would fund local and regional transportation planning, programming and administrative activities.

Human services and public-health-related grants: Debbie Ann Anderson, director of Human Services, outlined several items. The board was asked to approve a $60,000 allocation to the Urban League for a reconnections program serving people returning from incarceration (July 1–Dec. 31). "This partnership with the commissioners and Urban League goes a period of years and this resolution is to give them funding for the reconnections program ... asking the board to consider $60,000 for July 1 to December 31," Anderson said.

Anderson also described funding through opioid-related settlement or grant programming to support two organizations providing counseling and linkage to care for adults and adolescents affected by opioid misuse; she described the proposal as expanding treatment and recovery supports in the community. She explained an increase in a contract amount tied to public transit funding, saying the county's share is $2,600,000 and the remainder comes from grant funds to relieve county budget responsibility.

Legal services and homelessness prevention: Amy Wagner summarized a contract change that continues legal services to people with disabilities, chronic health issues and frail elderly individuals to help prevent homelessness. "What this organization does is it helps provide legal services for individuals with disabilities, chronic health issues, and frail elderly individuals to help prevent them from becoming homeless," Wagner said.

Parks and other departmental items: Director Dervin Drake said Parks and Recreation had two items on the agenda; she explained that one reallocation moved funds to six organizations after a recipient's founder died and the organization felt it was not prepared to continue the grant. The departments of Engineering, Public Works and Facilities Management; Public Safety; and the Office of the County Prosecutor each notified the board of items on the regular meeting agenda but gave limited public detail at the agenda-setting meeting.

Clerk and housekeeping: The clerk of the board noted routine business items, including adoption of the June minutes and introduction of two ordinances later in the regular meeting. The clerk also acknowledged a sponsorship correction to a clerk’s resolution so that one item would carry the entire board as sponsor.

Next steps and adjournment: Commissioners and department directors presented the resolutions for consideration at the board's regular meeting; no final actions on those resolutions were taken at the agenda setting. The session concluded with a motion to adjourn, which Commissioner Mirabella moved and Commissioner Kimberly Permillion Mudette seconded; the chair called for the ayes and the meeting was adjourned.

Officials who presented items at the agenda meeting said the detailed resolutions and budget documents will be considered and voted on at the board’s upcoming regular meeting.