County of Union, New Jersey

Union County Freeholder Linda Carter and Union County Manager Alfred Faella met with members of Union County Police PBA Local 73 at the Habitat for Humanity project on East 5th Street in Plainfield. The members of PBA Local 73 volunteer and helped build houses that will go to deserving members of the community. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

A Letter to the Editor from Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi

My office, along with the Union County Board of Elections, is responsible for administering elections in Union County, and we encourage voters to use Vote by Mail ballots. They are convenient and secure, and they enable voters to avoid the risk of a mishap that could prevent them from getting to the polls on Election Day.

Unfortunately, misconceptions about the Vote-by-Mail process can discourage some voters from using this option.

Following are three of the most common myths that my Elections Division has heard from the public:

Myth #1: Vote by Mail ballots are only counted if an election is close.

FALSE. By law, Vote by Mail ballots are always counted. They are counted on Election Day, just like in-person votes at polling places.

After the polls close on Election Day, the Vote by Mail ballots are tallied. The total is added to the numbers from each polling place the next day, and posted to the County Clerk’s website.

Myth #2: Vote by Mail ballots are not private.

FALSE. Your personal identification – name, address or any other information – never goes on a Vote by Mail ballot. Vote by Mail users place their ballot in a special envelope that includes a detachable outer certificate for their name, address and signature. The envelope is not opened by the Board of Elections until after the certificate is detached. Once detached, the certificate cannot be matched to the voter’s ballot.

This method serves two important purposes. First, it ensures every voter that the privacy of their vote is protected. Second, the certificate provides a record that the voter used a Vote by Mail Ballot. In this regard it is similar to the poll books kept at polling places, where the voter’s signature provides a record that a vote was cast in person.

Myth #3: If a voter requests a Vote by Mail ballot and doesn’t use it, they cannot vote in person.

FALSE. A voter who requested a Vote by Mail ballot and did not use it can still go to their polling place on Election Day. Poll workers can confirm if the voter requested a Vote by Mail ballot by looking at the code next to their name (typically this will be “VBM” for Vote by Mail, or “A” for absentee).

If their request is confirmed, the voter cannot use the voting machine. However, they can request a provisional ballot and cast it at the polling place.

Every provisional ballot is reviewed by the Board of Elections. The review process ensures that each ballot has been cast by a registered voter. It also provides an assurance that voters using a Vote by Mail ballot do not also vote at their polling place.

The review process begins the day after Election Day and concludes within seven days.

At the end of the review period, all of the provisional ballots certified by the Board of Elections are tallied and reported to my office. I add these numbers to the Vote by Mail and polling place numbers, and I report the grand total to the public as the official, certified results of the election.

In other words, regardless of how the vote is cast – in person, by mail, or on a provisional ballot by a registered voter – every vote is counted.

Voters with questions about Vote by Mail or any other election procedures can call the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 for assistance.

Elections information is also available online at our new website, UnionCountyVotes.com and on the free mobile app, Union County Votes.

Joanne Rajoppi

Union County Clerk

 

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Visit the County Clerk’s new elections website, unioncountyvotes.com.

Connect with Union County on social media.

 

 

 

 

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that matching grants have been distributed to 19 municipalities for upgrades to playgrounds and youth athletic facilities through the Kids Recreation Trust Fund. Fourteen municipalities also received matching grants for street trees under the Greening Union County program.

Funding for both programs is provided by the Union County Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

“These matching grants enable municipalities to keep their recreational facilities up-to-date, and to maintain attractive treescapes that help filter dust and pollutants in local neighborhoods,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen. “It is a real pleasure to see the Open Space Trust Fund continue to benefit communities throughout Union County.”

Kids Recreation grants can be used for upgrading municipal parks and recreational facilities. Examples include playground enhancements, renovating baseball fields, resurfacing basketball courts, and safety upgrades.

Greening Union County grant funds are used for purchasing, planting, or maintaining trees on local streets and other municipal properties.

“Together, these two grant programs provide municipal policymakers with more opportunities to enhance their neighborhoods and make improvements in a timely manner, helping to meet the needs of their communities for years to come,” said Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, who is Chairman of the Open Space Trust Fund Board.

The Union County Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Trust Fund were established by popular referendum in 2000, and began operating in 2001. Since then, it has made more than $17 million in matching grants available to municipalities for local projects.

In addition, the Open Space Trust Fund has enabled the County to acquire more than 300 acres for public recreation, and to upgrade County facilities.

One recent example of the Open Space Trust Fund at work is Snyder Avenue Park in Berkeley Heights. This former industrial site was sought after by developers for housing, but local residents strongly supported a new County park on the site. The facilities now include a turfed and lighted multi-purpose field, a baseball field and a playground with water features.

The 2016 matching grants for the Kids Recreation and Greening Union County programs totaled $1.1 million.

 

 

2016 Kids Recreation Grants
Town	Grant Award
Berkeley Heights	$50,000.00
Clark	$39,000.00
Cranford	$60,000.00
Elizabeth	$85,000.00
Fanwood	$40,000.00
Kenilworth	$50,000.00
Linden	$75,000.00
Mountainside	$40,000.00
New Providence	$20,000.00
Plainfield	$45.450.00
Rahway	$24,980.00
Roselle	$50,000.00
Roselle Park	$75,000.00
Scotch Plains	$50,000.00
Scotch Plains/Fanwood	$20,000.00
Springfield	$75,000.00
Summit	$50,000.00
Union	$75,000.00
Westfield	$50,000.00

 

2016 Greening Union County Grants
Town	Total Trees	Grant Award
Berkeley Heights	11	$5,250.00
Cranford	45	$4,000.00
Elizabeth	150	$14,000.00
Fanwood	10	$1,200.00
Garwood	75	$5,000.00
Kenilworth	8	$2,500.00
Linden	62	$10,000.00
Plainfield	120	20,000.00
Roselle	70	$4,000.00
Scotch Plains	60	$3,750.00
Springfield	40	$5,000.00
Summit	60	$7,000.00
Union	80	$4,700.00
Westfield	140	$13,600.00

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announces that the next mobile paper-shredding program for personal, confidential documents will take place at Nokia – Bell Labs (formerly Alcatel-Lucent Technologies)  located at 600 Mountain Avenue in New Providence on Saturday, October 22^nd.  This will be the final paper shredding event of the 2016 season. The document shredding event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. 

“Properly disposing of personal documents is one way for resident to protect themselves from identity theft,” said Freeholder Chairman Bruce Bergen. “Union County’s mobile document-shredding program compliments the County’s recycling efforts and other green initiatives, while giving residents a convenient opportunity to dispose old documents and confidential files safely and securely.”

All Union County residents are eligible to use the paper-shredding service. In an effort to accommodate everyone, there is a limit of four, 10-pound bags or boxes per person. NEXCUT Shredding of Elizabeth will be shredding personal documents from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The event will end before 1 p.m. if the shredding truck reaches capacity.

This is a garbage-free event so please bring your documents in paper bags if at all possible. Plastic bags and boxes will be returned. Please remove plastic binders and large paper clips.  Paper that is wet/damp will not be accepted. Residents should continue to recycle non-confidential papers and magazines with their municipal recycling program.

Documents are put into 96-gallon containers provided by the shredding company. The items are then dumped onto a conveyor belt and shredded on site. Participants are welcome to view the shredding process via a closed-circuit television. The shredded documents are then recycled, shipped to paper mills and used as pulp.

The mobile shredding program is paid for through New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Recycling Enhancement Act Grant Funds. For more information about future events or directions please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit us online at www.ucnj.org/recycle.

Union Police Sgt. Michael Boll of the Challenged Athletes Foundation Operation Rebound Racing Team presents certificates of appreciation to the members of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders thanking them for their support of the sports and fitness program for American military personnel, veterans and first responders with physical challenges. Union County has been a proud partner with Sgt. Boll and the organization this year as part of Chairman Bergen’s initiatives for veterans. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Freeholder Chairman Bruce H. Bergen and Vice Chairman Sergio Granados present a resolution of thanks, appreciation and congratulations to Harinder “Harry” Bains, the owner of a deli and bar in Linden, for his role in the arrest of suspected bomber Ahmad Khan Rahimi last month.

Rahimi is accused of planting bombs in Seaside Park, Elizabeth and New York City and wounding two officers in a firefight with Linden police.

Bains saw the suspect sleeping around his bar, recognized him, and called police helping put an end to manhunt.

(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi reminds voters that sample ballots for all 21 municipalities are now available on the new County Clerk elections website, UnionCountyVotes.com, and on the Union County Votes app, a free download for mobile devices.

“All registered voters will get a sample ballot in the mail, as always. The new website and app provide a convenient, on-the-go way to access the same information,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “Voters can take advantage of online technology to familiarize themselves with their ballot before Election Day.”

Ms. Rajoppi also advised voters that as of last year, the design of the sample ballot has been altered slightly. It now includes a blue heading to denote the School Board Election section of the ballot. The General Election section is still delineated by a red heading.

“The blue heading was chosen to ensure that voters notice every part of the ballot to vote,” said Ms. Rajoppi.

To access deed recordings and other County Clerk services, residents can still visit the County Clerk online at the Union County website, ucnj.org/countyclerk. Election links on the left column will connect visitors to UnionCountyVotes.com.

Voters with questions about the election process can call the County Clerk’s Elections Division, 908-527-4996.

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Visit the County Clerk’s new elections website, unioncountyvotes.com.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County Freeholders Angel G. Estrada, Mohamed S. Jalloh and Vernell Wright joined Union County Sheriff Joe Cryan and Union Mayor Manuel Figueiredo and the Township Committee at the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration in Union. Freeholder Estrada was the keynote speaker. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County, NJ – Lawn tennis, anyone?

That’s right, a real grass tennis court will make its debut Saturday at the Deserted Village of Feltville in the Watchung Reservation. The opening is all part of the Four Centuries in A Weekend celebration across Union County.

The grass tennis court was popular when the Village was a summer resort called Glenside Park, from 1882 to 1916.  Not used for decades, it succumbed to the forces of nature and time.

But that has all changed as a result of a Garwood Boy Scout.  Nathan Kramer chose to make the restoration of the court his Eagle Scout project and visitors will be impressed by the transformation.

“Nathan did an incredible job,” said Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski. “All the overgrown vegetation is gone.  There is new fencing so that players won’t have to chase tennis balls into the woods, and there is a beautiful new gateway welcoming visitors to the court.”

“Parks even found some old wooden tennis rackets, so players will really get to experience what it was like playing on that court decades ago,” Kowalski said.

“Four Centuries in a Weekend: A Journey through Union County’s History,” will take place on Saturday, October 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 16 from noon to 5 p.m.

Sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, with the cooperation of staff and volunteers at 35 house museums and historic sites, the two-day free event opens the doors to more than 370 years of history throughout the county.

Union County Parks celebrates the weekend at the Deserted Village with free hayrides, tours, colonial children’s games, and more.

Children can earn a Time Traveler’s Certificate and a Four Centuries Patch by visiting and obtaining a Time Traveler Passport at any of the 35 sites, having it stamped and returning the completed form to the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.

More details about Four Centuries in a Weekend are available online at ucnj.org.

For free copies of the Four Centuries in a Weekend tour booklet, map and further information, telephone 908-558-2550 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., NJ Relay Users dial 711, or e-mail: culturalinfo@ucnj.org.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.