Camden County commissioners introduce bond ordinance, dozens of contracts and budget actions; closed session on personnel

The Camden County Board of Commissioners on June 19 introduced a bond ordinance and two resolutions tied to the county's Open Space Trust Fund, announced a large slate of contract awards and budget insertions across multiple departments, and moved into a closed session to discuss personnel matters.

The board said public hearings on three introduced items'two resolutions and a bond ordinance related to the Camden County Improvement Authority and the county's Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund'will be held July 17 at noon in the Camden County Courthouse, 520 Market Street, sixth-floor meeting room.

Why it matters: The introduced resolutions would clear the way for county-guaranteed, tax-exempt financing to support land acquisition and park and open-space infrastructure projects countywide. The meeting also advanced significant construction and maintenance contracts and budget insertions that fund roadwork, public-safety equipment and a wide range of county services; many of those items are contingent on later budget or grant approvals.

Most consequential items announced

- Introduction of a resolution consenting to the Camden County Improvement Authority issuing up to $27,000,000 in tax-exempt county-guaranteed Open Space Trust revenue bonds and up to $27,000,000 in bond anticipation notes to finance park improvements and related equipment (introduced for public hearing July 17). The resolution cites N.J.S.A. 40:37-56.

- Introduction of a bond ordinance (further amending ordinances adopted Aug. 19, 2021; July 21, 2022; and Sept. 21, 2023) to allow changes to previously authorized improvements; public hearing set July 17.

- Multiple high-value Department of Public Works contract awards and change orders announced, including: - AP Construction Inc.: concrete deck joint repair at Whitehorse Road bridge, $55,045.45 (resolution 1). - South State Inc.: Haddon Avenue improvements (Euclid Ave. to Newton Ave., City of Camden), $17,537,402.58 (resolution 5). - South State Inc.: Park Avenue improvements (Cuthbert Blvd. to Collings Ave., Collingswood), $1,988,350.84 (resolution 7). - Asphalt Paving Inc.: Linden Avenue improvements (Whitehorse Pike to Berlin Road, Borough of Lindenwold), $1,836,600 (resolution 6). - Charles Marandino LLC: Station Avenue improvements (Clements Bridge Rd. to Black Horse Pike, Gloucester Township), $2,011,557 (resolution 9). - Change order to South State Inc. for Kings Highway improvements (Market St. to Hopkins Rd.) increasing the contract by $1,235,701.92 (resolution 11).

- Major nonroad contracts and procurements announced include: - W.W. Grainger Inc.: flooring replacement at Camden County Correctional Facilities, $90,847 (resolution 53). - Carahsoft Technology Corporation: public meeting management software, $81,782.62 (resolution 76). - Dell Marketing LP: computer hardware purchases, $71,139 (resolution 77). - Mark43: computer-aided dispatch and records management software subscription option, $189,788.50 (resolution 91). - Authorization to acquire a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle through the Defense Logistics Agency Law Enforcement Support Office program (resolution 92).

- Grants, budget insertions and program authorizations announced include: - Insertion of $1,461,100 into the budget for the Restoring and Reclaiming the Delaware Estuary Urban Shoreline program (resolution 26). - HUD FY2025 Consolidated Strategy and Action Plan grant application authorization for $4,028,489.51 (resolution 81). - Chapter 159 budget insertions for opioid abatement trust funds ($224,878.44, resolution 34), Municipal Alliance ($267,064, resolution 35) and multiple health- and human-services grants across departments (resolutions 36'40 and others). - Ratification of a Rowan University internship agreement at no cost to the county (resolution 75). - Authorization to submit a digital equity training grant application for $856,930.62 (resolution 62).

What the board did and did not decide

The meeting primarily consisted of roll-call introductions and reading of numbered resolutions and authorizations across county departments (Public Works, Corrections, Health and Human Services, Economic & Workforce Development, Buildings and Operations, Records Management and others). For most numbered items the transcript records the resolution text and identification by number but does not record a roll-call vote or final adoption on the floor during this session; the transcript records the public hearing being closed after being called and, separately, a motion to adopt a closed-session resolution that the board approved by voice vote.

The board invoked the Open Public Meetings Act and adopted a closed-session resolution under section 8 of the Open Public Meetings Act, chapter 231, P.L. 1975, to discuss personnel matters; that closed-session resolution was moved and approved by voice vote. After returning from closed session the board announced there would be no further business and adjourned.

Public participation and debate

The transcript shows no public commenters requested to speak online and no substantive public comment recorded on the introduced items during this meeting. Commissioners read and announced their departmental items in sequence; there is no extended debate or recorded objections to the items in the available transcript.

Next steps

Several introduced items were placed on the agenda for public hearings July 17, including the bonded financing and bond ordinance tied to open-space projects. Many contract awards, budget insertions and grant submissions will require follow-up approvals, funding confirmations or contingent budget actions noted in their descriptions.

Ending note: The board recessed into closed session for personnel matters and, after returning, adjourned the meeting.