Essex County commissioners approve package of grants, capital moves and infrastructure contracts, including $7.5 million for Monte Irvin community center

The Essex County Board of County Commissioners voted on a broad slate of ordinances and resolutions on May 21 that moved grant dollars into county budgets, shifted capital for law-enforcement equipment and authorized several infrastructure and parks contracts.

The board approved Ordinance 1, which reallocates $1,025,000 of previously authorized capital to the sheriff’s office for firearms, vehicles and other equipment. Administration representative Mr. Jackson said the move was possible because the county had secured grant money for some park projects, enabling the reallocation. Commissioner Richardson, who moved the ordinance, said commissioners were pleased to fund “much needed equipment” for public safety. The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote with the present commissioners voting yes and two members recorded as absent earlier in the meeting.

Commissioners also voted to accept multiple state and federal grant insertions (resolutions 28–33). Jackson summarized the package: a $2,895,176 award from the New Jersey Department of Health for staffing and related costs; a County Health Infrastructure grant of $1,891,178; an emergency preparedness grant of $302,827; an increase to the county’s COVID-19 vaccination program of $108,133; and a New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development award of $792,000 for a summer youth employment program that will employ roughly 200 participants at $16 per hour. Jackson said the summer program’s application closed May 12 and that the youth program had been advertised earlier.

Item 33 is a DCA award of $7,500,000 for construction of the Monte Irvin Orange Park Community Center. Jackson said the bid returned favorably and the administration expects to break ground in 2025. Commissioner Cooper asked for a construction timeline; Jackson estimated a roughly one-year process from the bid award and said staff would circulate precise dates.

On parks infrastructure, the board approved a $2,398,360 contract award to LandTech Group to install synthetic infields with natural-grass outfields at Monte Urban Orange Park. Jim Cimento of LandTech said the project includes two synthetic infields, irrigation, benches and backstops and emphasized the choice to keep outfields natural grass to balance playability and environmental concerns. Commissioner Gill pressed for additional briefing about testing and safety of turf materials; the administration agreed to supply more technical rationale.

The board also approved a negotiated contract not to exceed $4,129,160 with Sparwick Contracting to perform scour-critical remediation on 10 county bridges. Andres Gomez of the Division of Engineering said the list of bridges was selected based on state inspection reports and that the work is fully grant-funded by the state, so no county operating dollars will be used.

Other approved items included: a two-year contract extension with Connor Strong Pakalu to continue insurance broker services for the county, a 24-month contract to provide law books and periodicals not to exceed $150,000, and a 24-month contract to support prosecutor travel and extradition services not to exceed $95,000.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 1 (capital reallocation) — moved and approved by roll call. Resolutions 2–3 (HUD/DCA housing and coordinated entry) — approved. Resolutions 28–33 (grant insertions including Monte Irvin community center and youth employment) — approved. Resolution 12 (LandTech turf), 13 (HVAC design) and 14 (plotter/printer) and 66 (bridge scour remediation) — approved. Other procurement and contract renewals on the consent agenda were also approved by roll call.

What’s next: Administration said it will circulate construction and bid timelines for the Monte Irvin project and provide additional technical documentation about the county’s turf design decision. The board scheduled follow-up briefings as requested by commissioners.

Sources: Remarks, presentations and roll-call votes recorded at the May 21 Essex County Board of County Commissioners meeting.