Union County Surrogate Christopher Hudak announced a new system to help Union County residents schedule appointments for Surrogate services, including matters related to wills, adoptions, guardianships, and more.
“As Surrogate, I am charged with serving all of our residents in a professional and efficient manner during a time in their lives that may be difficult,” said Union County Surrogate Christopher Hudak. “With demand for services increasing, we have transitioned to a more efficient system that will allow us to accommodate more cases daily.”
Residents can now call 908-527-4280 or email ucsurrogate@ucnj.org to schedule an appointment with the Surrogate’s office. Appointments are scheduled Monday through Friday, between 8:30AM–12:30PM and 1:30PM–4:00PM. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are preferred in order to serve residents most effectively. The Surrogate’s office cannot guarantee particular wait times for walk-ins.
The role of a County Surrogate is to oversee the probate of wills, qualification of will executors, appointment of administrators for those estates without wills, and qualification of guardians for incapacitated persons and minors, as well as certain matters related to adoption. The Surrogate also operates the Surrogate’s Intermingled Trust Fund for Minors and Incapacitated Persons. The Surrogate is a Constitutional Officer who is elected to the position every five years.
More than 50 federal, state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies will come together to participate in a joint recruitment event on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 from 10:00am to 4:00pm at Kean University’s STEM Building, located at 1075 Morris Avenue in Union, New Jersey.
In early 2022, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, partnering with Kean University, hosted a similar law enforcement recruitment event that hosted over 40 agencies, and saw over 1,000 participants, and resulted in hundreds of hires at various agencies around the state. The full extent of the recruitment event’s success is unmeasurable¸ as agency hires are still being seen. This year’s event is slated to host over 50 participating law enforcement agencies looking to recruit the next generation of officers.
“The Union County Prosecutor’s Office is pleased to once again partner with Kean University for the Law Enforcement Recruitment Fair,” Union County Prosecutor William Daniel stated. “Agencies around the state are still seeing results in their hiring trends from last year’s event. We look forward to being able to continue providing the public with opportunities to learn about and apply for positions in this line of work. As we look to diversify the law enforcement community, we welcome all those who are interested in learning more about this rewarding, challenging, and purpose-filled career path.”
“The soliciting of new officers at this recruitment fair will be vital in ensuring that the law enforcement culture continues to evolve to fit societal expectations,” Union County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Detectives Harvey Barnwell said. “Diversifying the rank and file of the various agencies allows for more hires of new officers who can provide cultural pedagogy to deliver efficacy and respect to each community being served. The upcoming law enforcement recruitment fair affords a rich opportunity to bring this notion to fruition, and we hope to have members of all communities attend to learn more about how they can begin their path in law enforcement.”
Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet is proud to be able to partner with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office on this important event. “It is an honor to host this law enforcement recruitment event at Kean in partnership with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office,” said Kean President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “Kean’s many criminal justice graduates are proudly serving at all levels of law enforcement throughout the state and nation, and we are pleased to give our students and the community the opportunity to learn more about public service careers in law enforcement.”
“A career in law enforcement is a great path to take where our residents can make a difference in the lives of their fellow community members, while receiving good pay, benefits and improving the quality of life at the same time,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “Last year was such a success and the demand is still high for officers. This event is the perfect way to visit all of the different agencies involved and see where you fit the most. I encourage all residents who are looking towards this route to attend and see what there is to offer.”
New Jersey Senate President Nicholas Scutari echoed the importance of this recruitment event. “As new policing efforts continue to develop throughout New Jersey, we are investing in the next generation of officers. This year’s recruitment fair will host more than fifty law enforcement agencies and allow everyone who is interested in this career path the opportunity to learn more.”
New Jersey Senator Joseph Cryan showed his support for all those interested in a career in law enforcement. “As a former Union County Sheriff, I know the professionalism that exists among our local law enforcement officials. Any young man or woman seeking a rewarding career in public service would be well served to explore the opportunities at the Union County Prosecutors Office Recruitment Fair.”
“The upcoming recruitment fair is a phenomenal opportunity for those interested in a career in law enforcement to discover available opportunities to protect and serve our community,” said Senator Jon Bramnick. “Becoming a law enforcement officer is a tremendous responsibility with incredible rewards and I encourage anyone with an interest in the field to attend.”
Law enforcement partners from federal, state, county, and municipal agencies will be in attendance. Applicants are encouraged to dress professionally and bring their resumes.
Agencies that will be in attendance include: ATF (Newark), Homeland Security Investigations (Newark), Federal Bureau of Investigation (Newark), Drug Enforcement Association, U.S. Secret Service, New Jersey Division of Civil Rights, Prosecutor’s Offices of Bergen, Camden, Somerset, Sussex, Middlesex, Monmouth, Hudson, Essex and Union Counties, New Jersey State Parole, New Jersey Department of Corrections, Essex County Corrections, Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey Division of Civil Rights, New Jersey State Police, New Jersey / New York Port Authority Police, Human Services Police, Union County Sheriff, New Jersey Transit Police, Palisades Interstate Parkway Police, Newark Bronze Shields, NOBLE, MALEA, HALEA, Women in Law Enforcement, NAACP, New Jersey Civil Service Commission, Prevention Links, and the Police Departments of Scotch Plains, Linden, Union County, Westfield, Berkeley Heights, Roselle, Plainfield, Newark, Fanwood, Clark, Rahway, Hillside, Kenilworth, New Providence, Maplewood, East Orange, Orange, Irvington, North Wildwood, Franklin Township, Kean University, Rutgers University, Princeton University, Stevens Institute, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Alexandria (VA).
In addition, individuals seeking a career as assistant prosecutors will have the opportunity to discuss those careers with current assistant prosecutors and be advised of the process necessary to pursue that position.
The Law Enforcement Recruitment Fair is jointly hosted by Kean University and the Union County
Prosecutor’s Office, and with the support of the Union County Board of County Commissioners, New Jersey Senate President Nicholas Scutari, New Jersey Senators Joseph Cryan and Jon Bramnick, Elizabeth Branch NAACP President Shawn McClain, and New Jersey NOBLE President Jiles Ship.
As part of the 2023 Chairman Initiatives, “Building a Stronger Union County,” the Union County Board of County Commissioners, are pleased to announce that a series of four informational sessions will be held for residents who wish to file a property tax appeal. The new, first-of-its-kind program is designed assist in navigating the appeal process without incurring unnecessary attorney fees, as part of Union County’s commitment to support long-term housing security.
“Taking care of our residents is something that our Commissioner Board strives to do and we believe that everyone can use assistance, especially when living costs are on the rise,” said Union County Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “These workshops, that include both information and filing assistance, will help ensure that people can access information on their property and possibly reduce their property taxes by appealing, all while Union County is covering the costs of the filing fee for those qualifying seniors and veterans who attend. Together, we continue to prioritize our efforts to strengthen the programs and services offered to our residents, while maintaining our strong financial footing – because we know that every dollar counts.”
The sessions will be conducted by staff attorneys with the Union County Office of the County Counsel. Attendees will learn how to file an appeal without an attorney; get assistance in completing the appeals application; and get help navigating online resources to obtain recent sales comparisons.
The sessions are free but registration is required in advance at www.ucnj.org/taworkshop. Please call Union County at 908-527-4182, if any additional assistance with registration is needed.
Any eligible Union County property owners can attend any of the following sessions:
Rahway: Tuesday, February 28 at the Rahway Community Center, 275 East Milton Avenue, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.
Elizabeth: Saturday, March 4 at the Elizabeth Public Library, 11 South Broad Street, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Roselle: Thursday, March 9 at Union County’s Warinanco Sports Center, 1 Park Drive in Warinanco Park, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Plainfield: Tuesday, March 14 at the Plainfield Public Library, 800 Park Avenue, 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM.
Seniors and Veterans eligibility for a property tax waiver is based on the following qualifications:
Must be a Union County resident
Must be 62 years old or older, or a U.S. veteran honorably discharged from the military
Must be the property owner of record with annual household income not greater than $65,000
The tax assessed value of the home must not be greater than $399,000.
Union County will cover the filing fee for qualifying seniors and veterans who attend an information session. The fee is $5.00 for homes assessed up to $150,000 and $25.000 for homes assessed up to $399,000.
Kean University and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office invite you to join them for a joint law enforcement recruitment event on March 8th at the STEM Building at Kean at their Union Township campus. Attendees should bring copies of their resumes. Parking is available behind the STEM building. Please email lsacca@ucnj.org with any questions.
On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, The Union County Board of County Commissioners through our Department of Human Services kicked off our annual Point-In-Time (PIT) Count and Survey of the Homeless population throughout the cities in our jurisdiction.
The PIT, also known as NJCounts, takes place every January and asks for a count of unsheltered and sheltered individuals experiencing homelessness. This program ran through Tuesday, January 31st, is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and for the tenth year, Monarch Housing Associates coordinates the statewide effort, along with Continuums of Care.
“The Point-In-Time Count is an important initiative that gives our Department of Human Services a more accurate count of persons experiencing homelessness and gathering information on what resources are needed, “said Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados, who also serves as liaison to the Human Services Advisory Council. “At the end of the day, these individuals are members of our community and understanding the scope of homelessness in our County is vital. It also helps us assess what caused them to become homeless; how long they have been on the streets and what is preventing them from becoming or staying housed and most importantly providing them with the resources to get out of homelessness.”
In 2022, due to the effects of the pandemic, Union County altered how they conducted the count versus previous years. Teams of Union County staff, government officials and local nonprofit organizations banded together in smaller groups of 4-6 people during a seven (7) day period in the morning, afternoon and late evening hours. Smaller groups surveyed people throughout the County who “sleep outdoors, in parks, alleys, under bridges, or places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, abandoned buildings, garages, or other structures without electricity or water.”
For the 2023 unsheltered count, which took place at 3:00 a.m. on January 25th, thirty three (33) volunteers gathered at Social Services in Elizabeth and Plainfield and surveyed the areas of Elizabeth, Plainfield, Summit, Roselle, Roselle Park, Garwood, Linden, Rahway, Hillside and Union. The five groups that went identified fourteen (14) unsheltered homeless persons that were further assessed for services at the Union County DHS/Division of Social Services office. Over 200 adults and children were provided shelter through the County’s Code Blue program. The group also provided materials for the homeless, including blankets, coats, clothing, toiletries, socks, hats, gloves, sandwiches, provided by Be the Change from Kean University, scarves, soup, provided by Mo’s Café and hot coffee.
On Wednesday, January 25th and Thursday, January 26th, service fairs were held by the City of Plainfield and the Plainfield Action Services at the Plainfield Performing Arts Center and the Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless at the Mickey Walker Center in Elizabeth. Plainfield’s service fair had a total of sixty-one (61) persons in attendance and Elizabeth’s service fair had a total of two-hundred and seven-nine (279) persons in attendance. Both service fairs offered resources from over eighteen (18) social service providers. The Union County Office of Health Management also provided forty-three (43) individuals with the COVID-19 vaccination; of which sixteen (16) of them either received their first dose or completed their primary series. All forty-three (43) persons received a gift card from NJDOH for $25.
During the seven (7) day count, which took place from January 25 through January 31, 2023, from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily, a total of five (5) groups, representing a total of sixteen (16) volunteers went out to survey the homeless throughout Union County in: Elizabeth, Plainfield, Summit, Roselle, Roselle Park, Garwood, Linden, Rahway, Hillside and Union. The five groups that went identified twenty-four (24) homeless persons.
The data collected during NJCounts also helps determine how much McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance HUD funding Union County will receive and provides crucial resources for the homeless and housing insecure living in Union County.
DESCRIPTION OF POSITION: Under direction, recommends local public health policies; plans, develops, coordinates, & directs the work program of a municipal health department or agency & directs the enforcement of public health within the municipality concerned; does related work as required.
EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION: Possession of a valid Health Officer License issued by the NJ Department of Health.
SALARY RANGE: $86,499 – $135,155
PRINT NAME:Andrew F. Moran
TITLE: Director, Department of Public Safety
INTERESTED APPLICANTS MAY CONTACT THEDEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY @ 908-518-5640
UNION COUNTY IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Beginning March 1, SNAP households will see change in monthly benefit amounts
Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman today announced that beginning in March, all households eligible for the NJ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive a minimum $50 monthly benefit following the end of federal SNAP emergency allotments in February. Throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic, SNAP households have benefited from emergency allotments from the federal government, which provided households with higher monthly food assistance benefits and totaled more than $2 billion. Starting in March, SNAP households will only get their regular SNAP payment loaded to their EBT card.
Recognizing the challenges families continue to face affording healthy and nutritious food and groceries, Governor Murphy signed legislation in June to establish the State SNAP Minimum Benefit Program and to set a SNAP minimum benefit ensuring all SNAP recipients will receive at least $50 per month in assistance now that the federal emergency allotments are ending. New Jersey is the first state to set a minimum benefit, which required an $18 million investment in state funds.
“We are immensely grateful to Governor Murphy, Speaker Coughlin and the legislature for providing this critical funding to help New Jerseyans with the rising cost of groceries as federal SNAP emergency allotments come to an end nationwide. We understood the extra SNAP benefits were temporary, but we also recognize the impact this will have on New Jerseyans who have benefitted from greater assistance over the last three years. I urge SNAP households to check their benefits, so they are prepared before heading to the grocery store. Those that need additional assistance can visit nj211.org to learn about other available resources,” said Commissioner Adelman.
SNAP emergency allotments were authorized by the U.S. Congress beginning in March 2020 to help individuals and families with low‐incomes deal with the hardships of the COVID‐19 pandemic.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 recently signed by President Biden ends SNAP emergency
allotments on February 28, 2023. This means that, by March 2023, benefits for all SNAP households in New Jersey will return to normal amounts.
“We are working with stakeholders to raise awareness about these changes and ensure SNAP
households are informed and know ahead of time what their monthly benefit will be starting in March, so they can budget accordingly. While it does not replace the extra emergency benefits, the new $50 minimum benefit means no one eligible for SNAP will receive less than $50 in food benefits,” said Deputy Commissioner of Social Services Elisa Neira.
Under the new minimum benefit program, if a SNAP household was approved for less than $50 in SNAP benefits ($23 is the minimum federal SNAP benefit), they will receive their regular monthly benefit plus an additional state supplement to bring them to $50.
For example, if a single‐person household was determined eligible for $23, they will receive their regular monthly benefit of $23 and an additional state supplement of $27 to bring them to $50.
“New Jersey’s policies that advance food security are some of the strongest in the country thanks to
Governor Murphy, Speaker Coughlin and the Legislature.,” said Director of the Office of the Food Security Advocate Mark Dinglasan. “These policies will matter even more as federal SNAP emergency allotments come to an end. We will continue to work together to ensure individuals and families are equipped with the information and resources they need to navigate the changes ahead.”
The Department will mail notices in February to all SNAP households advising them of the benefit reduction along with a reminder of their regular benefit amount resuming in March.
The Department has also developed materials in multiple languages about the end of the SNAP emergency allotments and what it means for SNAP households, as part of its public awareness campaign. Materials are available for download at NJSNAP.gov
“The notice will indicate the household’s regular benefit so recipients will know what their benefit will be starting March 1. We encourage SNAP recipients to also check their benefit detail any time online at www.njfamiliesfirst.com, with the Connect EBT mobile app or by calling (800) 997‐3333,” said Assistant Commissioner Natasha Johnson, who directs Human Services’ Division of Family Development, which is responsible for the SNAP program.
Currently, the benefit detail indicates their regular benefit and the extra emergency benefit separately. SNAP recipients who remain eligible for the program will only receive their regular benefit of at least $50 beginning in March.
SNAP recipients worried about the overall reduction in benefits should check their eligibility for other
food assistance programs including WIC for women and children under 5, free or reduced school meals, or the commodity supplemental food program for older adults over 60 years of age. For more information about additional food resources, visit nj211.org/food‐programs‐and‐community‐resources or text your zip code to 898211.
As of November 2022, there were approximately 769,000 individuals enrolled in SNAP from 397,000 households.
SNAP Recipients as of November 2022
County
Households
People
ATLANTIC
19,488
37,583
BERGEN
22,640
38,181
BURLINGTON
10,341
20,180
CAMDEN
37,516
73,110
CAPE MAY
4,142
7,906
CUMBERLAND
12,686
26,350
ESSEX
66,961
125,443
GLOUCESTER
8,336
15,847
HUDSON
49,337
92,143
HUNTERDON
2,037
3,367
MERCER
19,310
35,512
MIDDLESEX
27,933
51,693
MONMOUTH
16,265
28,557
MORRIS
8,620
14,380
OCEAN
20,036
57,140
PASSAIC
35,847
73,576
SALEM
4,042
8,437
SOMERSET
5,772
10,525
SUSSEX
2,138
4,096
UNION
20,164
37,408
WARREN
3,752
7,150
NJ TOTAL
397,363
768,584
The Department will continue to update SNAP households about any changes to their monthly benefits.
Individuals and families can apply for SNAP online, in‐person or by calling their local board of social
services, or through a SNAP Navigator. For more information about SNAP, visit NJSNAP.gov.
The Murphy Administration has made fighting hunger and strengthening food security a top priority. The NJ Department of Human Services last year distributed more than $2 billion in additional monthly SNAP payments to help low‐income families afford food and other essentials. The Department has also modernized the SNAP application and expanded SNAP navigators in every county as part of a broader effort to make SNAP more accessible to all New Jerseyans facing hunger.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners announced that the County of Union is allocating $2.2 million in CDBG funds through US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to organizations to help residents impacted by Covid-19.
“This is an investment in our County that will help provide important building upgrades and social services to organizations in helping residents who still may be recovering from Covid-19,” Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “Many residents faced financial and career hardship due to the pandemic and this additional money will help boost the many programs and services our residents need. I encourage all organizations who are eligible to log onto our website and apply today. Together, we will continue to build a stronger Union County to strengthen our community and improve the quality of life for all.”
The funding is to be spent to prepare for, respond to, or prevent COVID-19. Any project administered with these funds must also meet CDBG regulations and criteria. Funding is available in specific assistance categories for organizations to administer to residents impacted by COVID-19.
In making decisions for funding with this special CDBG-CV allocation, Union County will consider factors such as the eligibility, national objective and whether the project provides substantial community benefits to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Projects must serve a majority of low and moderate-income persons.
Projects must be ready to implement immediately. Eligible sub-recipients may use the funds for building improvements (public facilities); and public services that prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. The County of Union encourages applicants only to apply to administer funds within their capacity.
“The Community Development Block Grant program makes a big difference in our County and it is with grants like these that we are able to make important investments in infrastructure, and most importantly investments in our residents,” said Commissioner Lourdes Leon, who serves as the CDBG Liaison. “Organizations who are accepted are going to benefit greatly from this funding and their growth will overall help us continue to succeed as a County.”
Applications will be reviewed and scored for the applicant’s financial/accounting capacity and compliance, community need for the proposed project, overall project benefits, experience and HUD compliance. By request, translation services and documents, as well as alternative accessible document formats, are available to persons with varying language needs or disabilities.
The CDBG-CV Application is now available on our website www.ucnj.org/cdbg and will close on Friday, February 3, 2023 at 5pm. Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.
If you have any questions about the funding, required documents, or eligible projects, please contact Brandon Givens, Director, at 908-527-4462 or by email at bgivens@ucnj.org. For more information please visit: www.ucnj.org/cdbg.
