Category: Public Info

The Union County Board of County Commissioners announced that it has entered into a Shared Services Agreement with Union College of Union County for Health and Prescription Benefits Administration.

The resolution was presented at the most recent Agenda Setting Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners on October 20^th.

“The establishment of this shared services agreement is mutually beneficial and the Commissioner Board is proud to work collaboratively with Union College of Union County,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca L. Williams.

The County of Union partnered in a Shared Services Agreement, offering Union College the opportunity to participate in the County’s benefits plan as a subgroup, with the College paying the County a fully-insured premium equivalent on the first of each month.

“The ongoing partnership between the County and Union College has existed on multiple levels over the years, benefitting all County residents in different ways,” said County Manager Ed Oatman. “Participation with the County’s Health and Prescription Benefits plan is projected to save Union College approximately $500,000 in 2023.”

The Shared Services Agreement will represent an 8% savings for Union College through 2023 and encourage a reduction in expenses. The agreement will commence on January 1, 2023 and will run for 24 month with an option to renew for another 24 months.

“We appreciate the County partnering with us to provide health insurance to our College employees at a time when those costs are continuing to climb. By entering into this shared services agreement, we are able to save costs while maintaining a comparable level of service,” said Union College of Union County, NJ President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin

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The Union County Board of County Commissioners announced that the County of Union, in collaboration with local Senators, Mayors and other stakeholders, are exploring all available funding opportunities to best address the impact on County roads from end-to-end.

“Improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods is our top priority and having everyone on board will make all corners of Union County safer for our residents and more attractive and viable for investment and opportunity,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams.

The Route 28 corridor, specifically, crosses into Plainfield from Middlesex County and travels through several municipalities in Union County, ending in Elizabeth. The County of Union, with the help of several local dignitaries, will be working to address the current and projected future congestion, mobility and safety issues. 

“Working together allows us to take a proactive approach in managing and improving our most heavily trafficked corridor,” said Senate President Nicholas Scutari. “The Route 28 corridor is a critical network of roads which run through multiple towns across the center of the County. I look forward to working with the County of Union in a multi-modal approach to evaluate and mitigate the impacts of congestion.”

“Union County is thriving with the amount of housing and new businesses that are being constructed across our municipalities. However, we are aware that with these projects, there comes challenges with creating a safe, sustainable transportation corridor,” said Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski, Union County Transportation Representative and Board Member of the NJTPA. “We plan to study and address issues with mobility, safety, and congestion countywide with particular attention being paid to the Route 28 corridor.”

“I would like to thank the County of Union for their willingness to hear our concerns and identify solutions to our traffic concerns,” said Cranford Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty. “Easy to navigate and vibrant corridors are the cornerstone in making our towns a safe place to travel through, visit and live and we need to make sure that we are doing our part as leaders to ensure our roads continue to remain operational and well-managed.”

“New commerce and redevelopment is great for our towns. However, we know with added infrastructure, expansion and growth there will be concerns for traffic and the safety of our residents,” said Roselle Park Mayor Joseph Signorello, III. “And looking into additional funding to improve our roadways is a great step in ensuring our residents and visitors driving through Union County can continue to experience a safe and efficient travel system.”

For more information, please contact Transportation Planning Manager for Union County, Liza Betz, AICP PP, at ebetz@ucnj.org.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and to honor that, the Union County Board of County Commissioners, in partnership with the Department of Human Services, the Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs and the American Job Center, will host an Inclusive Hiring Event for Union County residents with disabilities and specials needs who are 18 years of age and older on Friday, October 28, 2022.

“We encourage all residents to attend this inclusive hiring event, where they can speak in-person with representatives from various companies and learn about the different positions available,” said Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “This is a great opportunity and on behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs and the American Job Center and its participants for coordinating these efforts.”

Beginning at 10:00 a.m., the Inclusive Hiring event will be held at the Warinanco Sports Center, located at 1 Park Drive in Warinanco Park. Various positions are available with employers Walgreens, Council for Airport Opportunity (CAO), Port Authority of NY/NJ, and IKEA.

“After speaking to many residents and their families about hosting an inclusive hiring event  dedicated to those with special needs and disabilities, I brought this initiative to our committee and I am so thankful we were able to put this together for our residents,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados, liaison to the Workforce Development Board. “We have worked with the employers you will find at this hiring event at previous events and they continue to advocate for our County community. Holding this hiring event truly embraces inclusivity and I hope everyone looking for employment will join us.”

While this is a free event, registration is required. The deadline is register is October 21, 2022. To sign up for this event, residents can visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inclusive-hiring-event-tickets-390661568267 .

“The Council for Airport Opportunity is excited to partner with the Union County Board of County Commissioners to present airport employment opportunities at the upcoming inclusive hiring event,” said a representative from CAO. “The Council for Airport Opportunity works to support people from all backgrounds and abilities to secure employment at our local airports.  We are committed to helping all of our customers attain success in their career goals.  Our airports are booming with activity and we want to ensure that local residents of all backgrounds are benefiting from the jobs created by this economic engine.”

“Walgreens is excited to be a hiring employer at this Inclusive Hiring Event and look forward to meeting our customers who may potentially become team members,” said a representative from Walgreens.

“The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has a long-standing commitment to an inclusionary workplace and continues to take steps to cultivate, recognize and celebrate a welcoming and respectful work environment,” said Daniel Duffy, President, Port Authority Abilities Network.  “Events such as this help us develop a pool of highly qualified job applicants that reflects our commitment. Additionally, the Port Authority Abilities Network is instrumental in meeting the agency’s commitment to exceptional customer service.”

The Inclusive Hiring Event is an event of the Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs, under the Division of Individual and Family Support Services and the American Job Center, Union County Department of Human Services. This event was made possible by a grant provided to us through the Kessler Foundation.

More information about the Office for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs, please call the office at 908-527-4807 or 908-527-4781. For more information about future job fairs/hiring events, please call the American Job Center at (908) 558-8000.

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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.

In honor of the 2022 Open Space, Recreation & Historical Preservation Trust Fund Grant Programs: 2022 Kids Recreation Trust Grant and 2022 Greening Union County Grants, this video was aired at the Thursday, October 6th Board of County Commissioners meeting. It is a compilation of videos received by several of the municipalities across Union County who were awarded the grants.

We would like to congratulate you and look forward to seeing these new projects come to fruition.

Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for Adult Mosquitoes tonight, Thursday, October 6, 2022, between the hours of 5:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below and see if your Town is on the list. If you have any questions or concerns, please Mosquito Control

Cities:

• Linden – Tremley Point Area,
• Plainfield – 800 block Park Ave, W. 8th St., College Pl., W. 9th St.
• Rahway – Elston St., Randolph Ave., Leesville Ave. Area
• Scotch Plains – Church Ave.
• Summit – Prospect Hill Ave. Area

County Parks:

• Plainfield – Cedar Brook

The Union County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a group made up of healthcare professionals (practicing and retired) and community health volunteers dedicated to the support of public health programs and emergency response. It is one of almost 800 units in a national Medical Reserve Corps network of more than 200,000 volunteers organized locally all over the country. The MRC was founded in response to the September 11 attacks as there was a need for organization among the volunteers who assisted during emergency response.

The Union County MRC unit was a significant part of Union County’s response to COVID-19 since March 2020. To date, the County has administered x COVID vaccinations and x COVID tests – mostly thanks to dedicated MRC volunteers who sacrificed time and energy during the pandemic to ensure the health and well-being of others.

MRC volunteers also participate in community outreach through doing health education at health fairs, translate health materials and documents, work field hospitals, first aid stations, and emergency shelters, and assist during health screenings, disease outbreak investigations, and medication clinics. They are also needed for exercises and drills done by the county.

All members of the community are encouraged to volunteer their skills and knowledge as long as they are a U.S. Citizen and 18 years of age or older. Volunteers include physicians, physician assistants, nurses (RNs, LPNs, NPs), EMTs and first responders, dentists, pharmacists, veterinarians, communication specialists, translators, administrative/support staff, and students in the healthcare and public health fields.

The Union County Medical Reserve Corps is actively recruiting and training volunteers to help Union County communities face any emergency or disaster as well as be a part of programs and services that promote health education, disease prevention, and emergency prevention. If you are interested in joining the Union County MRC, you can contact Jessica Mindo, Union County MRC Coordinator at 908-518-5622 or jmindo@ucnj.org, or Breon Boseman-Sims, Back Up MRC Coordinator at 908-518-5678 or breon.sims@ucnj.org.

Repurposing of previously closed jail facility has given vital County food program continued capacity for operations

The Union County Board of County Commissioners informs residents that the “Meals on Wheels” program has been operational since the Spring of 2022, using the mostly vacant Union County Jail facility, located in Elizabeth.

Hurricane IDA heavily impacted Union County and the Meals on Wheels facility in Linden was flooded. The County of Union decided the best option was to use the now mostly vacant Union County Jail. The facility had recently been closed in 2021, saving tens of millions in taxpayer dollars.

“Repurposing the County Jail’s kitchen gave Meals on Wheels the tools, space and capacity to meet the needs of the program,” said County Commissioner Chair Rebecca Williams. “It has a full kitchen, big enough to produce, pack and prepare the meals for delivery and is equipped with elevators and lifts as well as a loading area for the vehicles picking up the meals.”

Currently a fleet of 23 vehicles delivers 1200 meals to elder residents in needs. Meals on Wheels is by far the largest program within the Department of Human Services, servicing the most people on a daily basis.

“There is a nutrition element to this, but there is also the critical element of the in-person and face to face delivery which for some people may be their only contact with someone throughout the day,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados, who serves as Liaison to the Human Services Advisory Council. “This ensures that all those benefitting from Meals on Wheels get the nutrition they need.”

“Since moving to the jail facility, this program logistically produces its daily meals at a high rate – and continues to run efficiently and effectively,” said Debbie-Ann Anderson, Director of the Union County Department of Human Services.

If you or a senior you know needs nutritious meals delivered, please contact Meals on Wheels at 908-486-5100.

To contact the Union County Department of Human Services, residents can use the online contact form at ucnj.org/dhs, email the DHS Action Line at DHSaction@ucnj.org, or call 908-527-4847.

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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.

Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for Adult Mosquitoes tonight, Thursday, September 29, 2022, between the hours of 5:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below and see if your Town is on the list. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office.

• Linden – Tremley Point Area,
• Rahway – Elston St., Randolph Ave., Leesville Ave. Area
• Scotch Plains – Lincoln Ave., Evelyn Ave., Roosevelt Ave., Trenton Ave.
• Springfield – Brown Ave., Commerce St. Area
• Union – Carlyle Pl. Area, Whitewood Rd. Area, Reinhold Ter. Area

Municipality Parks:

• Union – Sayre Park