ESSEX COUNTY FREEHOLDER BRENDAN W.

GILL
HALL OF RECORDS 465 DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., BLVD. ROOM 552 NEWARK, NJ 07102 __________
Email: BGILL@FREEHOLDERS.ESSEXCOUNTYNJ.ORG

For Immediate Release Tuesday, February 19, 2013 Contact -- Office of Freeholder Brendan Gill: (973) 621-6457 Babatunde Odubekun: (862) 902-3946

Freeholder Brendan Gill Concludes First Year in Office

Fifth District Freeholder Brendan Gill highlights the State of the County in Belleville, Bloomfield, Nutley, Glen Ridge, and Montclair.

I commend Essex County Executive DiVincenzo on the work that his administration has done, and on his consistency in putting Essex County First. Tonight, in response to the State of the County address, I would like to highlight specific initiatives that we have worked on at the county level, benefitting Belleville, Bloomfield, Nutley, Glen Ridge, and Montclair the five towns that I have had the privilege to represent on the Essex County Freeholder Board since January 2012. Last April, we passed the first county Complete Streets policy in New Jersey, under which all 233 miles of Essex County roadway are now safer for all roadway users. Essex is a big commuter county, and transportation safety is crucial to the development of our growing communities. I introduced the Complete Streets policy, and I am proud to say that Essex has taken leadership in implementing modern, sensible transportation infrastructure policy. In Glen Ridge, we worked with Borough officials to plan to accommodate ADA improvements for wheelchair ramps, paint appropriate and visible road surface markings, and to look at the timing of the cross signal on Ridgewood Avenue, so that pedestrians, especially near the busy intersection at Bloomfield Avenue, can cross safely. Click here to see which Essex County roads are in your town. In December, Essex became the first county in New Jersey to proactively prioritize the enforcement of state idling laws. At elementary and middle schools across the nation, parents have already raised concerns over vehicle idling; after all, kids breathe at exhaust pipe level. Freeing our roadways of unnecessary toxins is good for our environment and good for our health, and Im proud that I proposed this legislation at the county level. Gun violence is not new to Essex County. In the wake of recent, tragic shootings, Americas conscience is paying attention, and right here in Essex we have acted. On January 26th, I asked our County Prosecutor about Montclairs gun buy-back program. A week later, we stood with the Attorney General and announced the reintroduction of Essex Countys gun buyback program. I am proud that I pushed for this successful program in our county, in which over 1,700 firearms were collected, almost half of which were traded-in at the Union Baptist Church Montclairs buyback site.

Over the past year, the freeholder board has voted to approve over $3 million in Community Development and Community Service Block Grant funding from the federal government. Amongst these project funds, included was over $400,000 for the renovation of the Belleville Track & Field facility. Also, the Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation received an additional $164,294.00 with which they will be able to assist clients who have rental eviction notices or PSEG shut off notices, and will give them the opportunity to strengthen and grow programs like Project Life, the entrepreneurial program for high school students See: Funding list of government-sponsored and non-profit grant programs administered through Essex County In a fitting tribute to Essex County U.S. military veterans, we were proud to introduce a newly designed veterans section of the Glendale Cemetery. Following a unanimous vote of the board, we were able to go ahead with the modernization of the memorial and of the cemetery. This is an integral part of our duty to do all that we can to provide a dignified final resting place for our veterans, and we are all proud to see these proper improvements included. In his State of the Union address last week, President Obama noted that there are over 70,000 structurally deficient bridges in the United States. In New Jersey, a 2012 state report deemed Bloomfields Berkeley Bridge, structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. This is an opportunity for us to rebuild our county. We approved approximately $975,000 for the replacement of the Berkeley Avenue Bridge. In addition, we voted to award $300,000 for the rehabilitation of Clark Street Bridge in Glen Ridge. For Nutley, $1 million was allotted from the State Transportation Trust fund to replace the Centre Street Bridge. Im pleased to see tax dollars being spent in Essex County, and Im glad to have the opportunity to play a role in moving these funds back to our towns. With the oldest county park system in the nation, Essex is home to 6,000 acres of parkland, reservations, and recreational facilities. Ive worked with the Department of Parks and Recreation to address some of the concerns of park conservancy groups across the fifth district so that facilities and grounds are properly maintained. In his speech, the County Executive mentioned forthcoming improvements at Anderson Park, Kips Castle, and Brookdale Park. I look forward to working more on initiatives like these, with all of our park conservancy groups, so that we can better promote the protection and diligent use of open space in years to come. This year, we scaled back the deer management program, removing Eagle Rock Reservation from the list of parks that would host the 2013 hunt. Over time, we hope to strike a balance between protecting the grounds where deer live, as well as the private property of Essex County residents. All Essex County households received discount prescription insurance cards in the mail last September. The discount program, which covered all prescription medications, could save up to 20 percent on brand drugs and up to 70 percent on generics for all of our countys residents Last July, we chose to retain the countys health insurance broker, and did not opt in to the State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP), as some other counties have done. Following that vote, I introduced an ordinance that will promote transparency in Essex Countys insurance contracting process. This ordinance, though it has not yet been brought to a vote, will provide a useful check on Essex County contracting practices going forward. In keeping with our progressive values, at the beginning of 2012 we appointed the first ever Essex County LGBTQ Advisory Board. Last year Governor Christie vetoed a bill which would have brought Essex County into the 21st century and assured marriage equality for all people in New Jersey. Here in Essex County,

however, were affirming our commitment to all people, and ensuring that the full diversity of voices from our communities are represented in our government. To be sure, the work that we have done over the past year is not complete. However, in my first year as freeholder, Ive been encouraged by the constant, sustained effort made by my colleagues on the board, and by the county administration, to move Essex County forward. I express my gratitude to the families of Bloomfield, Belleville, Nutley, Glen Ridge, and Montclair, for electing me, and for supporting what weve been able to accomplish so far. Moving on, I look forward to working to ensure the delivery of quality government services from the Hall of Records, as we all work together for Essex Countys future.

Brendan Gill represents the municipalities of Bloomfield, Belleville, Glen Ridge, Nutley, and Montclair on the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. He also serves as State Director for U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Chairman of the Montclair Democratic Party. For more information, visit BrendanWGill.com or essex-countynj.org/freeholders

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