Commissioner Meeting Meeting

Name: Commissioner Meeting Meeting
Start: 2026-01-14
Location: Sussex

January 14, 2026 · Sussex, NJ

Attendees

✓ Director Space (Director)

✓ Deputy Director DeGroot (Deputy Director)

✓ Commissioner Carney (Commissioner)

✓ Commissioner Henderson (Commissioner)

✓ Commissioner Silverthorne (Commissioner)

✓ County Administrator Christina Marks (County Administrator)

✓ Clerk of the Board Linda Miller (Clerk of the Board)

✓ County Counsel Doug Steinhardt, Esq. (County Counsel)

✓ Present: 8/8

Decisions

Agenda Items

CALL TO ORDER BY DIRECTOR

The meeting was called to order by Director Space at 6:00 PM.

ROLL CALL

The attendees were announced.

MOMENT OF SILENCE AND SALUTE TO THE FLAG

A moment of silence and a salute to the flag were observed.

PUBLIC STATEMENT

A public statement was read regarding adequate notice of the meeting.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

The agenda was approved with two changes.

PROCLAMATIONS/CERTIFICATES/PRESENTATIONS

There were no presentations or proclamations.

PUBLIC HEARING

There was no public hearing.

PUBLIC SESSION FROM THE FLOOR

The public was allowed to comment on agenda items.

COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS

The commissioners made comments.

#10

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

There was no consent agenda.

#11

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

There were no minutes approved.

#12

ORDINANCE

There was no ordinance presented.

#13

APPOINTMENTS AND/OR RESIGNATIONS

Several appointments and reappointments were made.

#14

RESOLUTIONS

Several resolutions were approved.

#15

AWARDS OF CONTRACT/CHANGE ORDERS/BID

Several contracts were awarded.

#16

FINANCIAL

Several financial resolutions were approved.

#17

PERSONNEL

The personnel agenda was approved.

#18

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

The administrator provided a report.

#19

COUNTY COUNSEL REPORT

There was no report.

#20

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

A resolution was approved to conduct a feasibility study.

#21

NEW BUSINESS

A potential partnership with the historical society was discussed.

#22

PUBLIC SESSION FROM THE FLOOR

The public was allowed to comment on non-agenda items.

#23

REMINDERS

The public was reminded to check the county website for meeting schedules.

#24

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The board entered into executive session.

#25

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned.

Public Comments

11 speakers

Ken Collins · Topic: FIRE correspondence regarding the Newton Green

Mr. Collins commented on the FIRE correspondence sent to the County during his comment.

David DeWitt · Topic: Opioid settlement funds

Mr. DeWitt asked where the Board intended to appropriate opioid settlement funds and expressed concerns about organizations in North Jersey who rely on those canceled funds.

Sandy Pender · Topic: ICE agents and immigration

Ms. Pender spoke about her feelings regarding ICE agents and immigration.

Laura Haug · Topic: The Anchor of the Green

Ms. Haug read a poem called The Anchor of the Green and stated that she hopes the benches removed from the park will be restored.

Kathy Brennan · Topic: Ginnie's House and ICE agents

Ms. Brennan wished a Happy New Year and spoke about her feelings regarding actions by ICE agents and Ginnie's House.

Norma Brand · Topic: Commissioner DeGroot's religious comments

Ms. Brand spoke about Commissioner DeGroot's religious comments and felt that they were not appropriate as a public servant.

Debbie Mello · Topic: Commissioner DeGroot's comments

Ms. Mello advised that she felt excluded based on Commissioner DeGroot's comments of December 17th.

Jean Apriage · Topic: MAGA regime

Ms. Apriage asked the Board what would it take for them to stand against the MAGA regime.

Karen Balzano · Topic: Silence and speaking up

Ms. Balzano read a poem by Martin Lee Moeller, a German pastor written in 1946 titled First They Came and stated that silence has a price and encouraged people to speak up.

John Snyder · Topic: Democracy and republic

Mr. Snyder stated that this is not a democracy, it is a republic and congratulated the recently elected officials.

Sandy Hull · Topic: Laws and immigration

Ms. Hull stated that there is a need for laws and immigration and border protection, but it is currently chaotic.