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Board approves DFAB office moves, housing grants and expanded language services funding amid staff objections
Summary
Commissioners approved funding and contract extensions for the Division of Family Assistance and Benefits (DFAB) including SNAP-office relocation, a security contract renewal and several community development grants, while union representatives and DFAB staff raised concerns about notification, workspace and contracting practices.
The Essex County Board of County Commissioners approved a group of resolutions related to the Division of Family Assistance and Benefits (DFAB), housing/community-development grants, and expanded language-interpretation services during the Belleville meeting.
Director Ramos presented Resolutions 2 and 3 for DFAB: a contract for renovation of the SNAP office that will temporarily displace about 90% of staff to the Fourth Floor, and a one-year extension of an existing security vendor (Procopka Services) at comparable pricing. The director said the move is temporary and that the larger fourth-floor footprint will accommodate staff; commissioners asked questions and both items were moved, seconded and approved on roll call.
Frank Delgaudio, director of the Department of Health and Rehabilitation, presented Resolution 9, a two‑year contract (with renewals) for language interpretation services across four categories (audio, video, on-site and document translation). Delgaudio said the contract was increased because countywide demand from multiple departments had exceeded prior estimates and one vendor received two categories of the award. Commissioners asked about the jump in contract value compared with previous years; administration said broader county usage and inclusion of multiple departments explained the increase.
Housing and community development items (Resolutions 6–8) were also approved: the county will submit its 2024 program-year action plan to HUD to request Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, an ESG extension with the Salvation Army shifted $3,613.50 from homeless prevention to rapid rehousing, and a Fairfield township ADA sidewalk/curb project ($48,000) was confirmed. John Suarez of the Division of Housing & Community Development clarified these are rolling applications for some programs and provided a county phone number and contact for residents seeking program assistance.
DFAB staff and union leaders testified during public comment that they were given little notice (approximately three days) about the move, that an RFP for movers had not been circulated, and that temporary workspaces lacked sufficient wiring and air conditioning. County leaders said they would relay questions to the administration in writing and provide written responses to unions the following week.
