Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ –

As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread in New Jersey, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has announced that Arbor Day Tree Training Program originally scheduled for April 2 has been cancelled. Registration forms for tree requests are now due by Friday, March 27^th instead March 20th. Schools are still welcome to pick up trees for their school from April 3^rd through April 20^th.

The Union County Arbor Day Poetry Contest has also been cancelled until further notice.  

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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.

Anyone wishing to visit on non-essential matters will not be allowed access to public buildings, and we encourage our residents to use our website for any non-emergent, non-essential service they may require. Visitors for essential Social Services such as Food Stamps (SNAP), and emergency assistance will be allowed entry to the Division of Social Services Building at 342 Westminster Avenue in Elizabeth. For other essential services such as the County Clerk,  and the Surrogate offices in Elizabeth,  while their offices will be open, we encourage you to call ahead to make an appointment or see if you can conduct your business online first.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has updated guidelines for accessing essential human services programs during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Residents can continue to access vital services while observing basic guidelines for limiting the spread of the virus, including social distancing,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella.

Residents in need are advised to contact County offices by phone whenever possible.

The following services have been impacted:

American Job Centers

• Both of the American Job Centers (in Elizabeth and Plainfield) are open at this time. However, please call ahead in case of changes.

Paratransit

• Effective Monday, March 16, the Union County Paratransit System will run only life-sustaining medical trips.
• All other transportation is cancelled until further notice, including the Route 22 Safety Shuttle.   

Meals on Wheels

• All congregate sites will be closed effective Wednesday, March 18 (some have already been closed by their jurisdictions).
• Any person who previously used one of the 23 congregate meals sites and continues to need assistance with meals can call Union County Meals on Wheels at 908-527-4870.
• Home delivered meals for persons with disabilities and seniors over 60 and older will continue and will be expanded for persons in need of meals in their homes, while observing precautions for limiting contact.

Emergency Shelter for Persons who are Homeless

• Persons who are homeless, or anyone assisting a homeless person can call the Division of Social Services at 908-965-2700. All arrangements for assistance will be made by phone.
• After 4:00 p.m., all after-hours referrals for shelter should be directed to the Statewide Homeless Hotline, 211 or 877-652-1148.

Snap Food Stamps, Cash Assistance and Work Requirements

• To apply for SNAP food assistance, or cash assistance under the Work First New Jersey program, Union County residents may do so online at org. An office visit is not required, as the Union County Division of Social Services will have staff is available to conduct interviews by phone.
• Work First New Jersey cash assistance clients who are due for their case to be reviewed in March or April will receive a 60-day extension. The extension is automatic and does not require an office visit.
• SNAP food assistance or Work First New Jersey cash assistance clients are excused from their work activity requirement without penalty. This includes people who are applying for Work First New Jersey General Assistance and who are in a work activity for 28 days while their application is being reviewed. Please note that voluntary participation in a work activity is allowed, if the activity is conducted in accordance with social distancing guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
• Clients are encouraged to mail or fax any needed paperwork to the Division of Social Services offices. For those dropping off papers by hand, use the drop boxes located in the front lobbies of the Social Services offices at 342 Westminster Avenue in Elizabeth or 200 West Second Street in Plainfield.

The following offices are available to persons needing other assistance:

24-Hour Emergency Psychiatric Services

• Mobile Community Outreach (Adults): 908- 994-7131
• Union County Mobile Response & Stabilization (Children): 877-652-7624
• RWJ University Hospital: 732-381-4200
• Overlook Hospital: 908-522-2000
• For information about mental health or addiction services in Union County, call 908-527-4846 or 908-527-4844.

24 Hour Rape Crisis Hotline

• Persons in need of assistance due to sexual assault should call the 24 hour hotline: 908-233-RAPE

Family Crisis Information

• Persons in need of 24/7 response within one hour for youths in crisis or unable to remain in their homes can call 908-514-2313.

Immunization Clinic

• Until further notice the Pediatric Immunization Clinic remains open at 40 Parker Road Elizabeth NJ.

For more information about services provided by the Division of Human services visit online at ucnj.org/departments/human-services.

For additional updates on all County services impacted by COVID-19, including recreation cancellations and closures, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus.

Members of the public with questions about COVID-19 can call the New Jersey Department of Health Novel Coronavirus Call Center at 1-800-222-1222. The call center is open 24/7 and offers guidance in several languages.

Please note that this number is for the general public only. Clinicians should call their local health department for guidance.

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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 – As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread in New Jersey, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi urges frequent land record submitters to use available e-filing services instead of filing documents in person, by mail, or by messenger service.

Law firms, banks, title companies and other businesses that frequently file deeds, mortgages and other documents can use an e-filing service.

“The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has made it necessary to prepare and plan for a variety of different outcomes,” said Ms. Rajoppi. “In light of this I strongly urge frequent submitters to consider contracting with one of the two e-filing vendors who serve this office, to ensure the timely recording of your documents.”

The following E-File vendors are used by the County Clerk:

CSC: Corporation Service Company
erecording@cscinfo.com
866-652-0111
www.erecording.com

SimpliFile
jpettine@simplifile.com
800-460-5657
www.simplifile.com

Bottom of Form

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

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Connect with Union County on social media.

Effective immediately, the State of New Jersey is prohibiting gatherings larger than 50 people. Gyms will be closing at 8 PM and remain closed moving forward. Bars and Restaurants will be closing at 8 PM moving forward, with the ability to re-open each day to offer take-out and delivery services. Food establishments will be prohibited from offering eat-in services.                

Further information will be provided later today, including language on the upcoming Executive Orders.

Please immediately contact the Office of the Governor at 609-777-2500 to arrange for the return of this information.

In-person Superior Court proceedings scheduled for Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17 will be postponed, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner announced Sunday night. During that time, the Judiciary will prepare to shift to virtual participation for attorneys, litigants and all court users, with extremely limited exceptions.

The postponements, detailed in a notice issued Sunday, are part of an ongoing series of actions taken in consultation with the New Jersey Department of Health to reduce the risk of public exposure to COVID-19 Coronavirus.

“On a typical court day, hundreds if not thousands of attorneys, litigants, and inmates appear in courts throughout the state. We are limiting physical interactions in our courts and shifting to video and phone conferencing options for attorneys, litigants and the public,” Chief Justice Rabner said.

Attorneys and litigants scheduled to appear for in-person matters at the trial level of the Superior Court and Tax Court on Monday and Tuesday should await notice of a new hearing date. Ongoing jury trials will continue as announced.

Critical court operations necessary to public safety or the administration of justice will continue. Emergent applications, as well as Extreme Risk Protective Orders and domestic violence temporary restraining orders submitted through local police departments, will continue to be accepted. The court also will continue to hold first appearance hearings and pretrial detention hearings.  

Questions about individual cases should be directed to the relevant court offices. Updated information regarding court operations will continue to be made available at njcourts.gov.

Residents invited to view hearing live on County Website

Please note: an earlier version of this press release referred to a YouTube broadcast. The broadcast will be available on Facebook Live instead, with a link on the County website. 

In light of the public health emergency caused by the spread of Covid-19, the County of Union has moved this Wednesday’s Fiscal Committee’s budget hearing—originally scheduled for Rahway—to the County Administration Building in Elizabeth, where it will start as planned at 6 p.m,  and will be broadcast through Facebook Live on the County’s website at ucnj.org.

The public is invited to view the hearing online, as the County Administration Building will be closed to visitors, due to concerns over the spread of the virus.  

 “We’re taking this action to safeguard the health of our residents and public employees,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados, who is the Fiscal Committee Chairman. “Measures like this serve to slow the spread, and can also potentially save lives by allowing the hospitals time and space to treat those who may have contracted Covid-19.”

Wednesday’s hearing is the last of three held by the Freeholder Board’s Fiscal Committee of the County’s budget. The Freeholder Board as a whole will vote to introduce the budget later this year. The County has worked diligently to stay below the 2% increase for the third year in a row, maintaining a stable tax rate, Granados noted.  

The County Counsel’s Office; the Department of Engineering and Public Works; the Department of Public Safety; and the Prosecutor’s Office will appear before the Fiscal Committee.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders advises residents that essential County services will continue to operate during the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, and that certain social services will be expanded or modified to provide assistance to those in need. In support of statewide efforts to slow the spread of the virus, certain non-essential activities and programs have been suspended.

“In response to the outbreak, Union County has implemented a comprehensive plan to continue providing essential services, including social services and public safety services, while also taking preventive measures in accordance with the recommendations of public health experts,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “By working together, we can all help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect our community.”

Public health professionals have determined that COVID-19 is a serious public health concern that requires swift, decisive action in order to prevent it from spreading. Most persons with COVID-19 do not experience extreme symptoms, but persons who are elderly or who have underlying health conditions are at risk for severe illness or death.

Persons with non-essential business are encouraged to contact Union County offices by phone or online when possible. While all other essential social services will continue to operate, the following services are impacted:

Department of Parks and Recreation

• All permits for County athletic fields are revoked.
• Warinanco Sports Center is closed to the public.
• All events at Masker’s Barn are cancelled.
• Effective Sunday, March 15, the Trailside Nature and Science Center is closed, including open visiting hours and all scheduled activities.
• Watchung Stable is closed to the general public (boarders only are allowed on premises for horse care).
• Golf is currently available at Ash Brook and Galloping Hill for online registration only, in order to limit use of indoor facilities. Intervals between tee times have been extended and golf carts will be sanitized.
• Hours at the Learning Center at Galloping Hill have been curtailed to11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and users will be limited to small and medium sized buckets. Credit and debit cards only will be accepted; no cash transactions.
• The Red Knot restaurant at Galloping Hill will close for a la carte service effective Saturday March 14, until further notice. The Tavern at Ash Brook will be open Tuesdays through Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Credit and debit cards only will be accepted; no cash transactions.

Department of Human Services

• The Route 22 Shuttle is suspended.
• Effective Monday March 16th, the Paratransit System be available only for necessary medical trips.
• The Meals on Wheels program will close all congregate meal sites by March 18th or earlier. Home delivered meals will continue on an expanded basis, including meal delivery on request for seniors who no longer have access to a local congregate meal site (please call Meals on Wheels at 908-486-5100 for assistance). 
• The Pediatric Immunization Clinic at 40 Parker Road in Elizabeth will remain open until further notice.
• All activities and programs organized through the Office for People with Disabilities and Special Needs are cancelled.
• Emergency shelter will continue to be available to homeless persons (persons requesting assistance can call the Union County Division of Social Services at 908-965-2700 during regular business hours, or call the Statewide Homeless Hotline after hours at 211 or 877-652-1148.
• Persons receiving or in need of SNAP food assistance may call Social Services at 908-965-2700 for assistance by phone.
• 24-Hour Emergency Psychiatric Services will be available by phone through the Union County Mobile Community Outreach (Adults) at 908-994-7131 and through the Union County Mobile Response & Stabilization (Children) at 877-652-7624.
• In addition, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital may be contacted at 732-381-4200, and Overlook Hospital may be contacted at 908-522-2000.
• Information about other mental health and addiction services in Union County is available during business hours by calling 908-527-4846 or 908-527-4844.
• The Union County Rape Crisis Hotline will continue to take calls from persons in need of assistance due to sexual assault through the 24 hour hotline: 908-233-RAPE
• For assistance with youth in crisis or who are unable to remain in their homes, call 908-514-2313. 

County Clerk

• Passport Services will be available in Westfield by appointment only starting on Saturday, March 21.  Please call 908-654-9575.  The Elizabeth Passport office will operate as normal.
• Frequent land records submitters, such as law firms and banks, are encouraged to use an e-filing service (the vendors used by the County Clerk are Corporation Service Company and SimpliFile.

 County Sheriff

• Sheriff’s Sales are suspended for remainder of March.

Superior Court of Union County

• Petit Jury selection is suspended (active trials are continuing).

Members of the public can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by following widely accepted guidelines for good respiratory hygiene:

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve, not your hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Stay home if you are sick, and avoid sick people.

Health professionals also advise members of the public to maintain a safe “social distance” of approximately 3 feet from other people. This may mean avoiding events, activities and spaces where social distancing is impractical.

Additional guidance and links to more resources are available from the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml.

Members of the public with questions about COVID-19 can call the New Jersey Department of Health Novel Coronavirus Call Center at 1-800-222-1222. The call center is open 24/7 and offers guidance in several languages.

Please note that this number is for the general public only. Clinicians should call their local health department for guidance.

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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.