Passaic County commissioners approve $3.5M road resurfacing, Peckham Preserve funding, personnel reappointments and grant-writing contract

The Passaic County Board of County Commissioners approved multiple resolutions and appointments during its June meeting, including funding for county road resurfacing, a Green Acres–funded project at Peckham Preserve, personnel reappointments and a grant-writing contract.

Resurfacing of county roads: The board approved authorizing resurfacing work for various county roads with a total project amount of $3,500,000. The resolution appropriated $2,884,426.13 from the general capital fund reserve for capital acquisitions and $615,573.87 from the county’s capital approval fund. The motion was moved and seconded on the floor and the regularly recorded roll-call showed affirmative votes from the commissioners present.

Peckham Preserve / Green Acres funding: Commissioners approved a bond ordinance and related resolutions to accept Green Acres funding for improvement of Peckham Preserve in Little Falls. The board discussed that the county secured a Green Acres grant and loan award; the ordinance referenced a $1,875,000 appropriation that will support the planned construction and related work. County staff said bids were authorized and ground-breaking is expected after procurement steps are complete.

Personnel actions and appointments: The board approved the reappointment of its purchasing agent, Sherry Arvanitakis, and the reappointment of the clerk to the board (name listed in agenda). The commissioners also voted to approve the county administrator’s contract extension (referred to at the meeting as “Lou’s contract”), with roll-call votes recorded in the affirmative.

Contract award added to consent agenda: A late resolution authorizing an award of contract to Millennium Strategies LLC for grant-writing services pursuant to NJSA 48:11-4.1 (exec) was added to the consent agenda and approved. The contract award was read into the record and moved onto the consent agenda with commissioners’ consent.

Bond sale announcement: County officials announced the sale of $2,870,000 in chapter-12 college bonds, with three bidders and the low bidder identified as Roosevelt & Cross at a net interest cost of 3.29 percent; the sale was reported as completed and noted by commissioners as a sign of continued fiscal stability.

Roll-call and recorded votes: During multiple roll-call sequences the commissioners answered affirmatively for the matters on the consent and action calendar. Where roll-call was read into the record, commissioners listed included Bartlett, Cruz, Devore, Duffy, James and Deputy Director Lazaro (recorded as voting “Yes”). The meeting record showed unanimous support for the items presented during the roll calls that followed the motions.

None of the actions reported during the meeting were presented as contingent on external board votes beyond passage at the meeting; funding notes and grant agreements (Green Acres, bond sale) will require staff follow-up on procurement and grant compliance.