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Public commenters press Union County on contracts, UCPAC funding, pet-store bill and Clark Reservoir rebid
Summary
Multiple residents urged the Board to scrutinize county spending and contracts, asked the county to endorse a state bill banning retail sales of dogs, cats and rabbits, and sought clarification on the Clark Reservoir rebid; the county manager said the new solicitation will be the third bid and will cover the full project.
Several members of the public used the meeting's comment period to question county expenditures and contracts, urge the Board to support a state animal-welfare bill, and seek clarity on bidding for the Clark Reservoir improvement project.
Contract and spending concerns: Bruce Patterson of Garwood told commissioners the county was hiring Capital Museum Services "for a hundred and $28 to create and install a recycling and litter exhibit at Trailside" and questioned whether the expense should proceed. Patterson also criticized a grant or payment to UCPAC that he described as "a hundred and $10,310" and urged newer commissioners to review a prior 2010 prosecutor's investigation into county-sponsored programming financing. Patterson characterized some recent county spending as burdensome to taxpayers.
A board member responded to Patterson's remarks from the dais, saying that using "racist tropes such as DEI" in an attack on a commissioner was unacceptable; the speaker called the language "disparaging" and criticized the tone of Patterson's remarks.
State bill urging: Larry Cohen of Fanwood urged the board to pass a resolution supporting New Jersey legislation A4051/S2511, described in his remarks as the "Humane Pet Store Bill," which would prohibit the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits. Cohen told the board that many municipalities and counties have passed supporting resolutions and argued the state's existing Pet Purchase Protection Act enforcement has been inconsistent.
Clark Reservoir rebid: Delia Collins of Clark asked for clarification about the county's bid process for the Clark Reservoir improvement project. County Manager Joseph Oatman explained that the county had rejected all responses to the initial solicitation, initiated a second bid that was later pulled before responses were taken, and that the upcoming solicitation would be the third bid and would cover the full project (boathouse and dredging together).
Board response and context: County Manager Oatman and County Counsel Michael Bergen addressed procedural questions during or immediately after public comment. No formal action responding to the substantive allegations about prior contracting or UCPAC finances was taken during the meeting; speakers asked for further review and transparency.
