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Essex County approves a package of contracts and budget insertions including $2.2M election printing extension and $2.8M playground award
Summary
The board approved a series of contract awards and budget insertions across departments: two‑year extension to Reliance Graphics for election printing ($2,195,000), playground and field construction awards (Pizzerno Giordano $2,841,603; CNET Construction $1,125,000), Turtleback Zoo habitat work ($2,403,456) and other park, public-works and correctional facility change orders; several items were read and approved in blocks.
Essex County commissioners approved a broad package of procurement and budget items across departments during the meeting.
The Office of the County Clerk announced a two‑year extension with Reliance Graphics Inc. to provide printing services for election materials (contract exercising a two‑year extension from 09/01/2025 through 08/31/2027) not to exceed $2,195,000. Bob Federle of Reliance Graphics introduced his firm and described its experience working with the county.
The Department of Public Works and Parks and Recreation presented multiple low‑bid awards and change orders that the board approved by roll call. Notable items included:
• Pizzerno Giordano Construction — Monte Irvin Orange Park playground improvements, $2,841,603 (low bid); scope includes new playground equipment, rubber surfacing, fencing and resurfaced basketball court.
• CNET Construction — West Essex soccer and lacrosse field improvements, $1,125,000 (replacement of synthetic field, new bleachers and scoreboard).
• AB Construction — Gibbons habitat renovation at Turtleback Zoo, $2,403,456 (low bid); scope includes visitor platforms, outdoor sheltering and building renovations.
• Purchase of a forestry truck (WE Timmerman Co., coop purchase) not to exceed $262,116.31; landscaping contract extension at South Mountain not to exceed $39,325; Zamboni purchase for Cody Arena not to exceed $124,230; and an insertion of $90,000 of revenue from the Zoological Society for a van for the zoo.
• Change orders to ongoing construction contracts, including a $4.2 million increase to a family-courts project (resulting in a revised not‑to‑exceed of about $176.8 million) and smaller change orders for roads and bridges where unforeseen conditions required additional funding (transcript contains specific contract and change‑order figures).
Where noted, the administration withdrew or delayed select items (for example resolution 15 and resolution 50 were withdrawn). Roll-call votes were recorded for the packets; multiple commissioners were absent for portions of the meeting (Mercado, Mary Thomas, Richardson and Vice President Cooper were routinely listed as absent).
