Kevin Lare

The Cape May County Open Space Program Guide outlines the purpose and objectives for permanently preserving public land of county significance. Key strategic pillars include preserving public open spaces, natural resources, active farmland, historic resources, and local marinas to maintain public access to waterways. The program also focuses on providing new and enhanced amenities for regional parks and recreation areas, fostering community enhancement, and partnering with municipalities to establish a diverse and interconnected network of public spaces.

The meeting commenced with a Caucus session featuring a presentation from World Insurance regarding an overview of Health Benefit costs. The Commissioners then authorized recessing into executive session to discuss matters protected by attorney-client privilege and real property acquisition. During the regular session, numerous resolutions were approved under the Consent Agenda, covering topics such as granting and amending employee Leaves of Absence, supplementing the 2026 Salary Resolution and approving appointments, approving disbursements from Human Services, and authorizing agreements for Medicaid administration, warming center funding, and shared services for beach street end improvements. Other resolutions involved authorizing claim payments, acquiring real estate interests for road systems, releasing performance guarantees, adopting recommendations of the Homelessness Trust Fund Advisory Board, appointing a Public Agency Compliance Officer and Fire Coordinators, reappointing members to the Planning Board, authorizing utility easements, amending shared services agreements, transferring funds, applying for and accepting various state grants (including Law Enforcement Wellness and Victims of Crime grants), accepting engineering service contract work, authorizing fire companies to solicit contributions, approving change orders for road and bridge projects, authorizing a Road Opening Permit, authorizing a professional services contract for airport counsel, awarding contracts for video visitation systems, giraffe handlers at the Zoo, cemetery beautification, cleaning services, and recycling pickup services, and authorizing instructor agreements for the Fire Marshal's Office and Public Safety Training. The Regular Agenda included approving change orders and closing contracts related to bridge replacement and road resurfacing improvements, awarding a major contract for road diet and resurfacing improvements, and authorizing a final change order for maintenance paving.

The Board of County Commissioners meeting included a caucus session featuring a presentation from World Insurance regarding Health Benefit costs and a resolution to enter executive session for matters involving attorney-client privilege and real property acquisition. The regular session involved the approval of numerous resolutions, covering topics such as granting various leaves of absence, supplementing the 2026 Salary Resolution and approving appointments, authorizing disbursements from Human Services accounts, executing agreements for Medicaid administration and funding a warming center, executing a Shared Services Agreement with the City of Wildwood for beach street end improvements, authorizing payments for insurance claims, acquiring real estate interests for the county road system, releasing a performance guarantee, adopting recommendations from the Homelessness Trust Fund Advisory Board, appointing a Public Agency Compliance Officer, appointing a Fire Coordinator and Deputy Fire Coordinators, and reappointing members to the Planning Board. Additionally, resolutions authorized utility easement agreements, amendments to Shared Services Agreements, fund transfers, grant applications and acceptances (including for Wellness and Resiliency and Victims of Crime programs), acceptance of contract work, authorizations for fire company fundraising events ('coin drops'), change orders for road and bridge improvements, and awarding contracts for a video visitation system, giraffe handler installation at the Zoo, beautification at the Veterans' Cemetery, residential cleaning services, and recyclable materials pickup services. The regular agenda also included the approval of Resolution No. 80-26 adopting new Program Guidelines and Policies for the Open Spaces Program, the adoption of Capital Ordinance Number 1-2026 appropriating $6,000,000 for capital improvements and equipment, and the payment of outstanding bills.

The combined Reorganization and Regular Meeting commenced with ceremonial presentations including the presentation of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the singing of the National Anthem. Key actions during the reorganization segment involved the administration of the Oath of Office to Commissioners Barr and Bulakowski, followed by remarks from the newly sworn-in members, acknowledging support systems and absent colleagues. The regular agenda proceedings included formal resolutions electing the Director (Leonard C. Desiderio) and Vice-Director (Andrew Bulakowski) of the Board, designating departments for 2026, assigning departments for 2026, and designating liaisons for various Boards, Commissions, and Agencies. Further resolutions addressed procedural matters, including the adoption of Board Rules for 2026, the 2026 Cash Management Plan, appointment of Certifying Officers, library tax establishment, mileage rate setting, and resolutions concerning leaves of absence and personnel matters. Significant resolutions also authorized the execution of agreements for automated license plate recognition technology installation with the State Police and a Shared Services Agreement with the Borough of Avalon for Dispatch Services. The Board also rejected all bids for the Cape May County Veterans' Cemetery Enhanced Beautification Project and awarded a contract for Environmental Consulting Services. A Capital Ordinance was introduced for various capital improvements totaling $6,000,000, with a public hearing scheduled for a later date. The meeting concluded after the payment of bills and a public comment period.

The primary purpose of this meeting was to hear added and omitted tax appeals. The settlement stipulations pertaining to these appeals were approved by the Board. Following this business, the meeting was adjourned.