Joseph S. Augustyn

The meeting commenced with the reading of the Open Public Meetings Act statement and roll call affirming a quorum. A special recognition was presented to Mrs. Diana Ford for her 45 years of service to Salem County upon her retirement. The agenda included a Public Hearing and subsequent adoption of Ordinance 2026-001, which provides funding of $7,200,000 from Gloucester County for capital improvements to the Salem County Correctional Facility. Correspondence included a notice of a public hearing petition from NJ American Water Co. and approval of the Pollution Control Financing Authority of Salem County Meeting Minutes from January 6, 2026. Resolutions passed under the Administrative Committee covered various topics, including appointments to the Advisory Solid Waste Council, submitting a grant application for housing rehabilitation with the NJ Department of Community Affairs, awarding a contract for election materials printing, and authorizing emergency appropriations. The Public Safety Committee passed resolutions related to grant applications for the Hazardous Materials Response Team and the Sheriff's Office, and an extension for the ALPR Initiative Program Grant. The Health & Human Services Committee adopted the FY 2027 Proposal of the 2026-2031 Salem County Municipal Alliance Strategic Plan and approved an application for a senior/disabled transportation grant. The Public Works Committee addressed extensions and acceptances for NJ Department of Transportation grants related to railroad crossing safety upgrades. Under New Business, funding secured from the State Government was noted for improvements to the Ambulance/EMS Service, such as bariatric lift equipment. The county also confirmed the purchase of the Sharptown Church property for use as a senior/community center. Public Comment included congratulations to a newly appointed Commissioner, announcements regarding local community events, discussion on the courthouse ramp access, and inquiries regarding the housing rehabilitation program eligibility and scope, and concerns about a traffic light timing in Alloway. The meeting concluded with an Executive Closed Session to discuss litigation, negotiations, and attorney-client privilege.

The meeting agenda included special recognition ceremonies for the swearing-in of several Special Probate Clerks and Deputy Surrogates. Key resolutions involved authorizing Salem County to join the TIPS-USA Interlocal Purchasing System, awarding contracts for engineering services, rejecting and re-advertising proposals for a Railroad Engineer, and making emergency temporary appropriations. Public hearings were scheduled for a resolution fixing the annual salary of the County Board of County Commissioners. Committee discussions covered numerous resolutions, including declaring county-owned ambulances surplus to transfer title to the Borough of Woodstown for one dollar, amending shared service agreements for Emergency Medical Services, authorizing grant applications for Local Recreation Improvement, appointing members to the Solid Waste Council, authorizing property purchases in Pilesgrove, disbanding the Salem County Board of Social Services effective after July 1, 2026, and appointing a member to the Board of Social Services. The Public Safety Committee agenda addressed a shared services agreement with Cumberland County for a Mental Health Diversion Program. The Health & Human Services Committee focused on various grant acceptances and applications related to public health infrastructure, rural health transformation, substance use disorder treatment, and senior services transportation.

The agenda for the regular meeting included special recognition proclaiming February 2026 as the 100th Anniversary of Black History Month. Key discussions involved the introduction of Ordinance 2026-001 concerning capital improvements at the Salem County Correctional Facility, which includes an appropriation from Gloucester County, with a public hearing scheduled for February 18, 2026. Resolutions planned for adoption covered appointments to the Salem County Advisory Solid Waste Council, authorizing contract awards for electrical/BMS system upgrades at the Correctional Facility and for the purchase of furniture for the Health Department, authorizing a shared service agreement for snow removal, making emergency temporary appropriations, constituting the 2026 temporary capital budget, awarding engineering services contracts, and authorizing a grant application for a capital equipment grant. Other resolutions addressed amending funding acceptance for Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative programming and reducing the award amount for the AAA NJ SNAP Grant. Additionally, the committee planned to address Change Order #4-Final for road resurfacing and bridge rehabilitation in Oldmans Township, and authorizing the acquisition of a development easement on a farm in Upper Pittsgrove Township.

The agenda for the regular meeting includes a special recognition for Rachel Plagge, Mrs. New Jersey, and the review of correspondence, including an appreciation letter from the Board of Education and minutes from The Salem County Improvement Authority and The Salem County Commission on Women. Resolutions under the Administrative Committee cover contract assignments, appointments to the Advisory Solid Waste Council, authorizing billboard advertising, competitive contracting for youth career pathways services, awarding renewal contracts for Correctional Facility Medical Director and temporary animal sheltering services, authorizing shared services for broadband infrastructure with the City of Vineland, authorizing grant applications for housing rehabilitation, appointing a Secretary to the Construction Board of Appeals, establishing a physician assistant recruitment incentive program, authorizing fiber purchase for the NJBIDE County Broadband Project, authorizing a request for FY27 Congressionally Directed Spending, awarding contracts for Railroad Engineer Professional Services, and authorizing property purchase in Carneys Point Township. The Public Safety Committee agenda includes accepting grants for Body Armor Replacement Fund Program funding for the Sheriff's Office and Prosecutor's Office, and approving an Equitable Sharing Agreement with the federal government. The Public Works Committee agenda includes amending the Fiscal Year 2025 County Aid Improvement Program. The Agriculture & Information Technology Committee agenda involves authorizing the acquisition of development easements on three separate farms. The meeting also includes sections for public comment and an executive closed session if needed.

The meeting involved the administration of the Oath of Office ceremonies for newly elected or re-elected County Commissioners Virgil C. Taylor, Dr. Daniel S. Timmerman, and Paul Collier, and Surrogate Dr. Gordon J Ostrum Jr. Key procedural actions included the election and swearing-in of Commissioner Director Ben Laury and Deputy Director Cordy Taylor. A substantial portion of the meeting involved the bulk reading and approval of numerous resolutions for the year 2026, covering topics such as the adoption of governing rules, budget approval, signatory designations, fund custodianship, and extensive appointments of members to various county boards, commissions, and agencies. Contracts were also awarded for General Architect, County Auditor, Bond Counsel, Financial Advisor, Civil Litigation Counsel, County Planner, and Labor Counsel services. Director Laury announced the county's agreement to purchase the Sharptown Church using grant funds to establish a senior center.