Category: Public Info

Under the terms of the “Open Public Meetings Act P.L. 1975, C. 231, and pursuant to requirements of N.J.S.A 10: 4-10 of the Open Public Meetings Act, please be advised that circumstances necessitate amending the 2025 Meeting Schedule of the Union County Board of County Commissioners.

The Board has a need to cancel both the Agenda Setting Session and the Regular Meeting held on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Both the Agenda Setting Session and the Regular Meeting will be rescheduled for Wednesday, August 20, 2025.  The Agenda Setting Session will commence at 6:00 P.M.  The Regular Meeting will commence as soon as possible following the Agenda Setting Session.

As a result of these changes, please note the Public Hearing and Final Adoption of Ordinance Number 858-2025 and Ordinance Number 859-2025, originally scheduled to be held on Thursday, August 21, 2025 will now be heard on this new meeting date of Wednesday, August 20, 2025. A separate legal notice of said Public Hearing will be published in accordance to the law and shall reflect this new date and time.

For reference, Ordinance Number 858-2025 is entitled: BOND ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE MAKING OF VARIOUS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND THE ACQUISITION OF NEW ADDITIONAL OR REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY, NEW ADDITIONAL FURNISHINGS, NEW COMMUNICATION AND SIGNAL SYSTEMS EQUIPMENT, NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND NEW AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES, INCLUDING ORIGINAL APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT, IN, BY AND FOR THE COUNTY OF UNION, STATE OF NEW JERSEY, TO APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF $58,443,808 TO PAY THE COST THEREOF, TO APPROPRIATE STATE GRANTS, TO MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT, TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF $43,186,098 OF BONDS TO FINANCE SUCH APPROPRIATION AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF $43,186,098 OF BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES IN ANTICIPATION OF THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH BONDS. 

For further reference, Ordinance Number 859-2025 is entitled: CAPITAL ORDINANCE OF THE COUNTY OF UNION, NEW JERSEY AUTHORIZING THE MAKING OF VARIOUS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS IN, BY AND FOR THE COUNTY, APPROPRIATING THEREFOR THE SUM OF $10,000,000 AND PROVIDING THAT SUCH SUM SO APPROPRIATED SHALL BE RAISED FROM CAPITAL SURPLUS OF THE COUNTY. 

James E. Pellettiere, Clerk of the Board

Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for mosquitoes Thursday August 14, 2025, between the hours of 6:00PM to 11:00PM ((Weather Permitting)). Check below for a list of areas to be sprayed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Union County Office of Mosquito Control at 908-654-9834 or 908-654-9835.

Berkeley Hts. – Grant St. Area, Garfield St., Kuntz Ave., Camptown Dr., La Secla Pl.

Clark – Jupiter St., Dorset Dr., Surry Rd., Byron Pl., Eton Pl., Kennedy Dr., Avon Rd. Brentwood Rd., Frances Dr., Featherbed Ln., Blake Dr., Parkway Dr., Highland Pl.

Cranford – Kenilworth Blvd., Riverside Dr., Ludlow Av.

Kenilworth – Dorset Dr. Area, Water Co. Rd., N.20^th St., N.21 St.

Linden – Tremley Pt. Area, Range Rd.

Mountainside – Dogwood Way, Longview Dr., Rt.22, 1400 Block

New Providence – High St., Providence St., Westview Ave.

Plainfield – Jefferson Ave., 1^st St., Rock Ave., Bradford St., Adams Circle

Rahway – Elston St., Randolph Ave., Leesville Av., Wall St., Lakeside Dr., Crescent Dr., Midwood Dr. Area

Roselle Park – W. Grant St., Hawthorne St., Meadow St.,

Scotch Plains – Church Ave., Portland Ave., South and North Ave. between Hetfield Ave. and Crossway

Springfield – Oakland Ave., Waverly Ave., Cottage Ln.,

Westfield – Westfield Armory Westfield Ave., Codding Rd.

Winfield Park – U.C. Parkway, Seafoam Ave., Wavecrest Ave.

Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying county and municipal parks Wednesday morning, August 13, 2025, between the hours of 3:00 A.M. to 7:00 A.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below for the list of Parks to be sprayed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Union County Office of Mosquito Control at 908-654-9834 or 908-654-9835.

County Parks

• Clark – Oak Ridge
• Cranford – Nomahegan
• Garwood – Unami
• Hillside – Conant
• Mountainside – Echo Lake
• Plainfield – Cedar Brook
• Rahway – Rahway
• Roselle – Warinanco
• Scotch Plains – Ponderosa, Brookside
• Springfield – Meisel

Municipal Parks

• Plainfield – Milt Campbell
• Union – Biertuempful, Kearse
• Westfield – Tamaqus

Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi announces that mail-in ballots for the upcoming Special School Election in Clark will be available beginning Monday, August 11th at the Clerk’s Westfield Office during regular business hours. The Special school election will be held on September 16th, 2025.

Voters are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to vote early and ensure their voices are heard in this important local election. Business hours of the Union County Clerk’s Westfield Office, located at 300 North Avenue East, are below:

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 8:00am to 4:00pm

Tuesday and Thursday, from 8:00am to 7:30pm

Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm

For more information about mail-in ballots, early voting, or election deadlines, visit www.unioncountyvotes.com or contact the office at 908-527-4996 or email ucvote@ucnj.org.

Thinking about becoming a substitute teacher? Join us at Kean University on August 20, 2025 for a hands-on workshop that walks you through the entire certification process — no education major required! Learn the steps, meet the experts, and enjoy a pizza lunch while you get closer to the classroom.

• Kean University, Hennings Hall 113 | 11 AM – 1 PM
• Register here: forms.office.com/r/Pj2Mrg0rzZ

The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites students to join a 4-H club  this coming fall and explore popular fields ranging from cooking, sewing, photography, archery, robotics, and more. Youth in 1^st grade through their first year after graduating from high school can join 4-H Clubs. In a 4-H Club, students can explore a new hobby, meet like-minded friends, and learn leadership skills.

“4-H clubs provide a fantastic opportunity for our youth to make friends, learn new skills, and boost their self-confidence,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “As they explore their individual abilities throughout the year, each student gains a deeper understanding of themselves, what they enjoy, and what they are capable of achieving. It’s truly a rewarding experience for participants. I encourage all interested students to join a 4-H club before classes fill up.”

The majority of the clubs meet at Union County’s Colleen Fraser Building, located at 300 North Avenue East in Westfield, on either Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. 4-H Clubs are organized by age and topic. The members meet with an adult club leader on a monthly basis during the school year to plan activities and programs.

Each club emphasizes the ability of students to learn, organize, and communicate with activities appropriate for their age. For the school year 2025 – 2026, the clubs and their meeting times are listed below;

• Variety Club (different topics with crafts and show-and-tell), grades 1-3. 2^nd Sunday; 4 to 5 p.m.
• Cooking Clubs (prepare deserts, main courses and more), grades 7-12;3rd Friday; 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Grades 4^th through 6^th; 1^st Friday, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
• Community Service Club (plant trees, works at food bank, teach younger youth), grades 8-12. 1^st and 3^rd Sat. 1 to 3 p.m.
• Sewing Club (learn how to hand sew and use a machine), grades 6-12. 2^nd Sat;10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Lego Robotics Club (work with NXT kits and Spike) grades 4-7^th; 1^st. Sat. ;11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Craft Club (have fun with paints, fabrics and more) grades 4 – 12. 2^nd Friday;7:30 to 9 p.m.
• Engineering Club (make model cars, bridges, and learn about electric) grades 4-12; 3^rd Sat.;9:30 to 11 a.m.
• Archery Club (learn basics and more advanced techniques) grades 4-12; 1^st and 3^rd Sat,; 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.
• Photography Club ( learn basics of using a camera) grades 4-12; 3^rd Sunday; 1 to 3 p.m.
• Garden Club( How to start plants from seeds) grades 4-12; 1^st and 3^rd Sat.;10 a.m. to noon.
• 4-H Dog Care Club ( Basics of grooming, feeding, and play) 2^nd Sunday; 2 to 3:30 p.m.  

“As a former 4-H club member, I can say this experience is invaluable for students. They learn to see the bigger picture, understanding that the skills and abilities they develop are not only important for their own futures, but also for the future of our community,” said Union County Commissioner and Rutgers Cooperative Extension Liaison, Bette Jane Kowalski.

Union County 4-H is run by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union County and supported in part by the Union County Commissioner Board, with offices at 151 Grant St, Berkley Heights. The national 4-H youth program is the largest youth development program in the U.S. As a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 4-H encourages students to develop expertise in a subject of their own choosing, and share their knowledge to benefit their community.

Participation in 4-H is associated with better grades at school, and a stronger interest in taking science classes, attending college, and contributing to the community.

4-H Clubs run from October to June. To sign up for a club or more details , please email James Nichnadowicz Union County  4H Youth Development Agent at jnichnadowicz@ucnj.org or call 908-654-9854 ext. 3. Also see the website

For more information about all Union County Extension programs, including 4-H, Master Tree Stewards and Master Gardeners, visit ucnj.org/rce.

Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying County and Municipal Parks Friday morning, August 8, 2025, between the hours of 3:00 A.M. to 7:00 A.M. (Weather Permitting). Check below for the list of Parks to be sprayed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Union County Office of Mosquito Control at 908-654-9834 or 908-654-9835.

County Parks

• Clark – Oak Ridge
• Cranford – Nomahegan, Mohawk
• Garwood – Unami
• Hillside – Conant
• Mountainside – Echo Lake, Watchung Res. Loop Area, Science Center
• Plainfield – Cedar Brook, Green Brook
• Roselle – Warinanco
• Springfield – Meisel

Municipal Parks

• Plainfield – Milt Campbell
• Union – Biertuempful, Kearse

Please be advised, Union County Mosquito Control will be spraying for mosquitoes Wednesday August 6, 2025, 2025, between the hours of 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM Weather Permitting. Check below for a list of areas to be sprayed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Union County Office of Mosquito Control at 908-654-9834 or 908-654-9835.

• Berkeley Heights – Grant St. Area, Garfield St., Shadow Ln., Kuntz Ave., Camptown Dr., La Secla Pl. Delmore Av.
• Clark – Hillside Ave., Autumn Ave., Elm St., Whittier Rd., Oak St. Area, Blake Dr., Schmidt Ln. Valley Rd., Clauss Rd, Old Raritan Rd., Madison Hill Rd.
• Cranford – Kenilworth Blvd.
• Hillside – Harvard Ave., Cornell Pl., John St.
• Kenilworth – Dorset Dr. Area, Water Co. Rd.,  
• Linden – Tremley Point Rd., Tremley Pt. Area, Carnegie St., E. Curtis St., Union St.
• Mountainside – Summit Ln., Museum Area, Watchung Res. Loop Area
• New Providence – Charnwood Rd., Runnymede Pkwy.
• Plainfield – Jefferson Ave., 1^st St., Reeves Ter., Wiley Ave., McCrea Pl., Edwin Pl., Pinewood Ter. Area
• Rahway – Elston St., Randolph Ave., Leesville Av., Wall St., Dudley Ct., Egolf Dr. Walking Path between Whitter St. and Linden Ave.
• Roselle Park – W. Grant St., Hawthorne St., Meadow St., Walking path, between Galloping Hill Rd. and Chestnut St.
• Scotch Plains – Stoneleigh Dr., Frank St.
• Springfield – Oakland Ave., Waverly Ave., Cottage Ln., Marion Ave.
• Summit – Stockton Rd., Stiles Rd. Summit Recycling Center
• Union – Richard Ter., Elaine Ter., Florence Dr., Rahway Ave., Gifford Ct. Area, Vaux Hall 2000 Block, Interlux Paint Property on Morris Ave.

Union County Commissioners Alexander Mirabella and Sergio Granados have been appointed to key national leadership positions by the National Association of Counties (NACo) for the 2025–2026 term. These prestigious appointments reflect Union County’s growing influence in shaping national policy priorities that directly impact residents at the local level.

Commissioner Alexander Mirabella has been appointed:

• Vice Chair of the International Economic Development Innovation Council
• Vice Chair of the Finance, Pensions and Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee
• Member of the Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC)
• New Jersey’s sole representative on the NACo Board of Directors

Commissioner Sergio Granados has been appointed:

• Member of the Healthy Counties Innovation Council
• Member of the International Economic Development Innovation Council
• Member of the Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC)

“These appointments are more than titles—they’re opportunities to continue the work we’ve led here in Union County on a national scale,” said Commissioner Mirabella. “Locally, we’ve championed long-term investments in infrastructure, supported small businesses through pandemic recovery and beyond, and expanded access to affordable housing through home improvement and first-time buyer programs. We’ve also prioritized park upgrades, open space preservation, and transit access—initiatives that create stronger, more connected communities. My continued role on the NACo Board gives us a powerful platform to share those successes and help counties across the country grow in ways that are responsible, resilient, and community-driven.”

These appointments also align with NACo’s 2025–2026 “County Storytellers” initiative, which encourages county leaders to uplift their communities by sharing data-driven stories that inspire trust, innovation, and connection.

“We’ve taken a comprehensive approach in Union County—expanding mental health services across all 21 towns through programs like ARRIVE Together, launching our first-ever youth-led mental health summit at Kean University, and opening our Union County Family Health Clinic to provide free wellness care to uninsured families,” said Commissioner Granados. “We’ve also focused on family, youth and senior nutrition, and helped residents stay rooted through job training, workforce development, and housing support. These NACo appointments give us the chance to bring Union County’s inclusive, people-first approach to the national stage, ensuring every resident—not just here, but everywhere—has a fair shot at stability and success.”

Founded in 1935, the National Association of Counties (NACo) represents nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees nationwide. NACo advocates for county priorities in federal policymaking, promotes best practices, supports leadership development, and strengthens local communities through collaboration and innovation.

For more information on NACo and its committees, visit www.naco.org.

The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce that applications for the 2026 Union County History Re-Grant Program for Special Projects and General Operating Support are now available. All eligible non-profit organizations in Union County are invited to apply.

“Our History Re-Grant Program helps fund local libraries, museums, and non-profit historical organizations, enabling them to continue providing our community with the quality educational experiences and engaging programs we look forward to each year,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “I encourage all eligible organizations to take advantage of this opportunity and apply today.”

Applicant organizations must be based in Union County, and the programming covered by the grant must take place in Union County during 2026. Applications must be submitted online to the Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, a division of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. To begin the application process and to create an account, request the link to the application portal by emailing John Prescott, History Programs Coordinator, at jprescott@ucnj.org

The application deadline is Friday, September 19th, 2025 at 11:45 p.m. Application materials submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. 

Eligibility requirements, application components, and other pertinent details are outlined in the complete General Operating Support (GOS) and Special Projects (SP) guidelines.

The Re-Grant Program includes two types of grants:

• General Operating Support (GOS) grants provide assistance for the basic costs of operation such as programming, preservation of collections, salaries, marketing, and more. Funding is available to Union County based historical societies, house museums or historic sites only. The maximum GOS grant request is $7,500.

• Special Project (SP) grants support history organizations, museums, schools, libraries and similar organizations with collections or programming relating to Union County and New Jersey state history. The maximum SP grant request is $5,000.

“Union County has a rich and vast history, and there is much to explore and learn about here,” said Union County Commissioner and Liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Advisory Board, Bette Jane Kowalski. “We are happy to use this grant to continue supporting the organizations that dedicate their time and effort to making this exploration a fun and rewarding adventure for our residents.”

For additional information on the Re-Grant program and other grant programs administered by the Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs/funding-opportunities.

Funding for the History Re-Grant program is provided by the New Jersey Historical Commission. For clarification, assistance, or questions about applying, please contact John Prescott, History Programs Coordinator, at 908-436-2912 or by email at jprescott@ucnj.org.