Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – Due to an upgrade project, the Union County Clerk’s Elizabeth Business Office for Passports, Notaries and Trade Names in the Union County Courthouse will be closed from Wednesday, September 2 through mid-October.

Persons in need of passport, notary or trade name services during that time can contact the Union County Clerk at 908-654-9859 to make an appointment at the Annex Office, located at the Colleen Frasier Building in the Union County Complex, at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield.

Please note that visits are by appointment only, and all visitors must wear masks and observe social distance in order to

prevent the spread of COVID-19.

For more information about all County Clerk programs and services, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including walk-up test locations and guidance on the free Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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Saliva tests begin on Sept. 3^rd in Hillside, results within 72 hours

Union County, NJ – The Union County Freeholder Board is pleased to announce that the Union County COVID-19 Mobile Test Unit is now offering residents free COVID-19 saliva tests. The saliva tests will be administered by the Mobile Test Unit during all scheduled upcoming community visits.

 

The Mobile Test Unit will exclusively administer saliva tests at all community visits going forward. Test results will be available within 3 days, which is sooner than the conventional swab test. This new community program builds on the Mobile Test Unit’s ongoing work of providing on-site tests for seniors in congregate housing, and for other at-risk populations in Union County.

The Union County Mobile Test Unit will start using the COVID-19 saliva tests at the next community visit scheduled for Thursday, September 3 in Hillside. Tests will be administered at Sanford Park, located at 274 Hillside Avenue, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. No appointment is required for this Mobile Test Unit visit.

“The Mobile Test Unit has enabled hundreds of our most vulnerable residents to receive a COVID-19 test in a familiar, convenient location. The new community program expands on this effort by offering saliva tests to our residents,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Saliva tests are less invasive and the test results come in faster.”

Any Union County resident can make an appointment at any Mobile Test Unit site, regardless of the municipality in which they live. Appointments are required for all community walkup testing visits unless otherwise stated.

Testing is free of charge and no doctor visit or car is needed; all tests are conducted on a walk-up basis with masks and social distance required. Residents should bring a tablet or smart phone with them. Those being tested are asked not to eat or drink 30 minutes prior to testing.

To pick a location, date and time, and to make an appointment online, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update/walk-up.

Union County residents who need to make an appointment by phone can call 908-518-4307 for assistance.

Municipal governments, non-profit organizations and other community groups can call the Union County Office of Emergency Management at 908-654-9881 to request a visit from the Mobile Test Unit.

The Union County COVID-19 Mobile Test Unit is staffed by health professionals with the Union County Division of Health, in the Department of Public Safety. The Mobile Test Unit has conducted more than 2,000 tests to date.

In addition, the free Union County COVID-19 Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University has conducted more than 43,000 tests to date, for Union County residents as well as front line emergency and medical personnel in New Jersey.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and a list of locations for the Mobile Test Unit, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.

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Union County, NJ – In an effort to help more Union County residents who are experiencing financial hardship during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Freeholder Board is coordinating its food distribution efforts through a new Food Insecurity Task Force, with the goal of ensuring that assistance reaches every individual and family in need as the economic fallout of the crisis continues. The Task Force will hold its first meeting on Wednesday, September 2.

“The COVID-19 outbreak has created new financial stresses, burdens and barriers to food access,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Our civic partners and private sector donors have done an outstanding job of stepping up to provide food to those in need during this public health emergency. This crisis is far from over, and the new Food Insecurity Task Force will help us build on our work with a coordinated effort.”

“The COVID-19 crisis has had a direct impact on the need for food assistance to our residents. The County’s Department of Human Services administers the federal SNAP nutrition assistance program, and it has received more than 9,000 new SNAP applications since the COVID-19 outbreak began in March. As measured by data from the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, food insecurity in Union County has risen from 8.2% to 12.9% due to COVID-19,” explained Freeholder Sergio Granados, liaison to the Human Service Advisory Board.

“The Food Insecurity Task Force will improve communication and coordination among our partners to leverage all resources and develop an effective and efficient service delivery system to get food to those in need during this national health emergency,” added Freeholder Granados.

The new Task Force builds on the work of the Covid-19 Crisis Non-Profit Consortium, established by Union County Director of Human Services Debbie-Ann Anderson, which has coordinated the resources of the County and non-profit organizations. The Task Force members include the Union County departments of Human Services and Economic Development, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, United Way of Greater Union County, Union County Meals-on-Wheels, St. Joseph’s Social Services Center, the Salvation Army of Elizabeth, Jewish Family Service of Central New Jersey and Community Bank of New Jersey.

The Task Force will also address underlying food insecurity issues that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis, including untreated mental illness, inadequate school-based nutrition programs for children, unemployment, and lack of affordable child care.

Freeholder Granados noted that County employees joined with members of the Freeholder Board and volunteers from non-profit organizations to begin distributing boxes of shelf stable food and fresh produce in May. Union County has also organized food donations for thousands of residents in partnership with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and United Way of Greater Union County, with local social service agencies, other civic organizations, and with many individual volunteers and donors.

Since March, Union County’s Division on Aging in the Department of Human Services has delivered more than 200,000 meals to seniors and other home-bound residents, including more than 100,000 meals delivered to seniors who cannot use congregate meal sites due to COVID-19 safety precautions.

Jewish Family Services and the Union YM-YWHA have delivered a total of almost 12,000 kosher meals between March and August. In addition, a two-week supply of shelf stable food was provided to more than 2,000 seniors through the Meals on Wheels program. Human Services has also provided food to more than 150 families through its Division of Social Services food pantry since March.

In addition, a newly announced partnership between the Freeholder Board and Kean University will enlist student volunteers to help support a series of large scale, drive-up food distribution events organized by Union County and the Community FoodBank at the school’s campus on Morris Avenue in Union Township, which is also the site of the free Union County Drive-Through COVID-19 Test Center. The food distribution events take place on days when the Test Center is not in use.

To date, Union County has received $399,000 from the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act to fund meals for seniors through September 2021, and $759,656 for meals through the federal CARES Act.

For food and other assistance, Union County residents can call the Department of Human Services Action Line at 888-845-3434 or 908-558-2288, or email DHSAction@ucnj.org.

Seniors age 60 and older can call the Division on Aging toll-free at 1-888-280-8226, or call 908-527-4870, 908-527-4858. Spanish speakers may call 908-527-4863.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and a list of locations for walk-up tests, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.

 

Today, the family of Elizabeth native and LGBTQ+ Civil Rights activist Marsha P. Johnson was joined by Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados, Rebecca Williams and LGBTQ+ advocates to announce the future site of a public monument on Freedom Trail in the City of Elizabeth in Johnson’s honor. The monument is anticipated to be the first public monument in the State of New Jersey to honor a LGBTQ+ person and transgender woman of color.

In partnership with the family of Marsha P. Johnson, Union County Freeholders, City of Elizabeth officials, and Garden State Equality, the Office of LGBTQ Affairs will host a series of events during LGBTQ History Month (October, 2020) to engage with the community and the public to participate in the planning and creating of the historic project. For more information contact Danni Newbury, Union County Office of LGBTQ Affairs at 908-527-4742 or dnewbury@ucnj.org or visit ucnj.org/LGBTQ.

Union County, NJ – Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi has answered voter questions in the following letter-to-editor, regarding the use of ballot drop boxes in the 2020 General Election on November 3:

Dear Editor: In the August 27, 2020 edition of The Westfield Leader, a resident listed several questions about the use of drop boxes for Vote-by-Mail ballots for the 2020 General Election.

I appreciate the opportunity to clarify what is meant by Vote-by-Mail. Although the name refers to mail, there are in fact four ways to return a Vote-by-Mail ballot. Voters can choose any of these options:

1. Use the pre-paid envelope to send the ballot by U.S. Post. To help ensure their ballots arrive on time, I strongly urge voters to fill out and mail their ballots as soon as they are received.

2: Bring the ballot to any one of the secure, official ballot drop boxes available in Union County. These boxes are open on a 24/7 basis and will be kept open until the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

3. Bring the ballot to my Main Office in the County Courthouse at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth, to my Annex Office at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield, or to the Board of Elections office at 271 North Broad Street Elizabeth.
4. A limited number of polling places will be available in each of the 21 municipalities on Election Day. Voters may bring their Vote-by-Mail ballots to their designated polling place until the polls close at 8:00 p.m. Please note that voters who choose to vote in person at their polling place will be provided with a provisional paper ballot. Voting machines will be available only to persons with disabilities.

For additional details, including a list of ballot drop box locations and polling places, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions posted on my Elections website, unioncountyvotes.com, and on the free ucvotes app for mobile devices.

I also encourage voters with questions to contact my office by calling the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or emailing ucvote@ucnj.org.

As to the specific questions raised in the letter:

1. Is there a plan to distribute more ballot boxes in Union County?

For the November 3 General Election, a total of 13 locations are expected. There were five locations for the July 7 Primary Election.

2. How do you intend to communicate this information to residents?

The drop box locations will be available on my elections website at unioncountyvotes.com, on my free UC Votes app for mobile devices, and on the Board of Elections website at ucnj.org/boe. Five of the locations have already been announced and are posted. Additional locations will be announced and posted in the coming weeks.

As with all County Clerk announcements, the locations will be publicized through the media, and through Union County’ social media and First Alert systems.

In addition, voters can contact my Elections Division with any questions they may have by calling 908-527-4996 or emailing ucvote@ucnj.org.

3. How do I know that the ballot drop box is secure and cannot be tampered with?

The drop boxes are placed in locations that are subject to monitoring and surveillance. Only authorized personnel can access the drop boxes.

4. When it is time to empty the contents of the ballot box, will there be representatives of both parties present? Will the ballot boxes be emptied periodically during the month of October?

The ballot boxes will be emptied on a daily basis, with the final collection taking place when the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. A bipartisan team of authorized personnel will empty the boxes.

5. Please explain the process by which ballots are stored and counted.

Vote-by-Mail ballots have been a fixture in New Jersey elections for many years and will be stored securely and counted by optical scanner in accordance with standard practice. Please note that, as is the case with every election, all Vote-by-Mail ballots are included in the final, official tally rendered by my office.

6. For those who plan to vote in person on November 3, please explain how the process will be different.

To prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, in-person voters must wear masks and observe social distance, and use a paper provisional ballot provided at their polling place. Voting machines will only be used by persons with disabilities who cannot fill out a paper ballot. Please note that, as is the case for every election, all provisional ballots are included in the final, official tally rendered by my office.

7. If I requested a mail-in ballot but decide to vote in person on Election Day, can I vote in person?

Voters who request a Vote-by-Mail ballot and do not it receive by Election Day can vote in person at their polling place and use a provisional paper ballot. The polling places are also available to voters who receive a Vote-by-Mail ballot but prefer to vote in person, so long as they have not already returned their ballot.

8. Where can I personally hand in my ballot to a person?

As is the case for every election, voters who deliver a Vote-by-Mail ballot in person to my Main or Annex offices will hand their ballot my staff, and will observe as my staff places their ballot in a secure box. Please note that voters who deliver ballots to my offices will need to provide their New Jersey Driver’s License and sign a registry.

Again, thank you for helping to raise awareness about voting in the 2020 General Election. Thousands of Union County voters routinely use Vote-by-Mail to ensure that their voice is heard on Election Day, and I welcome the opportunity to educate new users about the process.  

Sincerely,

Joanne Rajoppi

Union County Clerk

For more information about all County Clerk programs and services, visit online at ucnj.org/county-clerk or call 908-527-4787.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance on the free Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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By partnering with The Community FoodBank of New Jersey for the second food drive this month, we were able to give out 1,000 boxes of fresh food today to families in need. Thanks to Freeholders Sergio Granados, Bette Jane Kowalski and Angela Garretson, and Town of Westfield, NJ Police Department for joining us. Stay tuned for future dates.

 

The Union County Freeholders COVID Response Team is conducting a door-to-door survey of Union County residents who have received free COVID-19 tests at the County’s COVID-19 Drive-Through Test Center and the Mobile COVID-19 Test Unit.

The response team will be going door-to-door Monday through Friday throughout the County starting tomorrow(August 27^th), between the hours of 3-8 p.m. The response team will wear masks, and observe appropriate social distancing protocol. The workers will also be wearing lanyards with identification, and later on, t-shirts with the Union County Covid-19 Test Center logo. The 7-question survey takes about 3-5 minutes. Once the team has finished surveying those who have been tested through Union County, it will conduct door-to-door outreach to the general public.

“If someone knocks on your door from the Union County Freeholders COVID Response Team regarding the survey, we urge you to please take a moment to answer the questions,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “Your answers will be confidential and will assist us in better serving you and getting you any governmental resources you may need. Your responses will also ultimately help us in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our community.”

The Test Center and Mobile Test Unit are initiatives of the Freeholder Board in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Test Center is the first County-based facility of its kind in New Jersey. It has conducted well over 44,000 COVID-19 tests since opening at the Kean University campus in Union Township on March 23.

The Mobile Test Unit travels to various locations in Union County and has conducted more than 3,000 tests for senior residences and other at-risk population groups on a walk-up basis, with no car required. The Mobile Test Unit is also available to the general public on a walk-up basis.

The survey is an official program of the Union County Division of Health in the Department of Public Safety, conducted by staff under the title, “Union County Freeholders COVID Response Team.” All responses are completely confidential.

Estrada was first Latino elected to the Board; concludes more than 20 years as Freeholder

Union County, NJ—-Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Angel G. Estrada, who became the first Latino elected to the Board in 1999, announced his retirement from office effective September 1^st. 

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have served the residents of Union County, and to have helped our families and all in need,” said Estrada, a native of Cuba who was raised and lives in Elizabeth. “I would also like to thank and commend all those I worked with through the years, including my Freeholder colleagues, our County administrative team and staff for their efforts in implementing the vision we had for transforming County Government and providing high-quality, essential services for our residents.”

Estrada’s term was scheduled to end on December 31^st.  No replacement has been chosen and his slot will remain unfilled until January.

Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, a long-time colleague of Estrada on the Board, offered congratulations and well-wishes on behalf of County government.

“As the first Latino Freeholder, Angel not only worked to bring the voices and concerns of the Hispanic community to our Board, but he also championed educational, economic and transportation initiatives that empowered all residents,” said Mirabella. “He was great at analyzing programs, and took the time to ask the hard questions and understand all the intricacies of County government. He will be missed on this Board, and we wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Estrada began his service on the Freeholder Board in January, 2000. He served as Freeholder Chairman in 2004, 2008, and Vice Chairman in 2003, 2007 and 2020. He was re-elected to a seventh term in 2017. Estrada has more than 40 years of business and public service experience.

A long-time education advocate, Estrada was elected to the Elizabeth Board of Education in 1994 and re-elected in 1997. He secured state funds for expansion and renovations, and brought college recruiters to Elizabeth’s schools. Long before his election to the school board, Estrada served for many years in Parent-Teacher Organizations, often as president.

As Freeholder Chairman in 2008, he presided over the expansion of shared county-local services, Phase III of the Workforce Competitiveness Project, and Go Green, a comprehensive environmental program. He has been instrumental in open space preservation and in having thousands of trees planted throughout Union County as part of the Greening Union County initiative.

Estrada has worked with the private and non-profit sectors to fund youth recreation and help municipalities improve athletic fields. He also worked with the United Way to help bring the 211 information line to Union County. During his term as Vice Chairman in 2007, Freeholder Angel G. Estrada initiated the Code Blue alert in Union County.

Estrada supported the Freeholder Scholars initiative and helped implement the Access 2000 initiative, which provided funding for technology in schools. As chairman of the Open Space Trust Fund Committee in 2005, Estrada oversaw the distribution of more than $1.4 million for children’s recreation and historic preservation.  

Estrada works closely with Latino community organizations to bring their voices and concerns to the Freeholder Board. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Meadowlinks, and served as Chairman of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) from 2017-2019. Under Estrada’s leadership, Union County has advanced almost $3 million in safety improvements and nearly $38 million in local roadway and bridge projects.

He served on the Elizabeth Housing Authority for five years in the capacity of member, vice chairman and chairman and is a board member of the Selective Service System. In 2007 and 2008, Estrada was elected Vice President of the National Association of Hispanic County Officials.

Estrada earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Spanish from Kean College (now Kean University) in Union. Estrada and his wife Teresa have three children: Liliana, Jorge, Daniel, and three grandchildren, Keith, Alexandra and Julian.

Union County, NJ – The Freeholder Board is offering a simple, easy way for residents to safely and properly dispose of unwanted household chemicals and other hazardous products.  The next Household Hazardous Waste recycling event will be held on Sunday, September 13^th, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Union County College located at 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford.   

The event is free and open to Union County residents, disposing of approved household waste. Hazardous waste from businesses will not be accepted. The collection event will be held rain or shine. Proof of Union County residency is required.                                                                                                         

Among the items accepted for disposal are: outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats and thermometers, propane tanks, and automobile tires among many other items such as oil-based paint and varnish, antifreeze, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, thinners, fire extinguishers, motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, batteries, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs (unbroken), and mercury switches. Car tires will also be collected during this event.  There is a limit of eight automobile tires, without rims, per household.

The Union County Police Bomb Squad will also be on hand at the event to assist with collection of unwanted ammunition and fireworks from residents. 

“This is the time and place to safely dispose of potentially dangerous items such as ammunition and fireworks thanks to the support of trained experts with the Union County Bomb Squad. The household hazardous waste program for Union County residents is particularly important as we become more aware of the need for proper disposal of old or unwanted hazardous items that are found around the home,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “These recycling events lead to safer homes and a cleaner environment for our families and our neighbors.”

This event will run in compliance with state COVID-19 orders, regarding social distancing and other protocols. All recipients must remain in their cars with windows rolled up at all times, otherwise masks are required. Materials should be placed in vehicles trunk, cargo area or truck bed, easily accessible to staff, who will remove it from the vehicle upon arrival.

Latex, acrylic, enamel and water-based paints (wall paint) are not accepted. Residents wishing to dispose of paint are advised to use it up or dry the paint out and discard it with regular garbage.  Only materials in original or labeled containers will be accepted. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted.

For a complete list of the materials that will be accepted and as well as information on upcoming recycling event dates and locations, please call the Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889 or visit ucnj.org/recycle.

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.

Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders reminds residents that free scrap metal recycling drop-off continues in September.  A wide variety of metal goods, from household appliances to gutters and sheds, are included in the program.

“This countywide program helps to fill a service gap in some Union County municipalities that currently have no pickup for scrap metal recycling,” said Freeholder Chairman Al Mirabella. “As a community, we benefit across the board by recycling more and throwing away less waste – and we also stand to gain some revenue from the program.”

Scrap metal drop off will be accepted Thursday, September 3 and Saturday, September 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Scrap metal from residents in any municipality may be brought to the following drop-off centers:

• Cranford: Emergency Services/Traffic Enforcement, 151 Kenilworth Boulevard
• Rahway River Park off St. Georges Avenue in Rahway (drop-off is located in the Service Yard across from swimming pool).

Both locations are open for drop-offs from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month, until November 21.

In order to prevent the spread of COVID-9, participants must wear face coverings, keep their windows closed and stay in their vehicles at all times. Materials should be placed in the vehicle’s trunk, cargo area or truck bed, easily accessible to staff, who will remove it from the vehicle.

For more information, upcoming dates and directions to all Union County recycling programs and locations, visit the Bureau of Recycling and Planning website at ucnj.org/recycle or call the Union County Recycling Hotline at 908-654-9889. 

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.

 

 

 

For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance for using the Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University and a list of locations for walk-up tests, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.

For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.

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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.