On the agenda: Cape May County meeting — automated license plate (Jan 6)

CAPE MAY COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OATH OF OFFICES CEREMONY
TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026 AT 4:00 P.M.
COMMISSIONER MEETING ROOM
WILLIAM E. STURM, JR. ADMINISTRATION BUILDING,
4 MOORE ROAD,
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NEW JERSEY

COMMISSIONER OATHS OF OFFICE
BOBBY BARR
Administered by: Congressman Jefferson Van Drew
ANDREW BULAKOWSKI
Administered by: Michael J. Donohue, Esq.
PRESENTATION OF COLORS
Cape May County Sheriff’s Color Guard
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Melanie Collette, Commissioner
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Taylor Mulford, Miss Ocean City
BENEDICTION
Antwan McClellan, Assemblyman, LD1
COMMENTS
Bobby Barr
Andrew Bulakowski

REORGANIZATION/REGULAR MEETING
HELD TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026 AT 4:00 P.M.
COMMISSIONER MEETING ROOM, OF THE WILLIAM E.
STURM, JR. ADMINISTRATION BUILDING,
4 MOORE ROAD,
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NEW JERSEY
CALL TO ORDER –Director Leonard C. Desiderio
Roll Call
MOMENT OF SILENCE
FLAG SALUTE
STATEMENT OF THE DIRECTOR
RESOLUTIONS REGULAR AGENDA:
1-26

Resolution electing County Commissioner Leonard C. Desiderio
Director of the Board.

Commissioners
Mr. Barr
Mr. Bulakowski
Ms. Collette
Mr. Morey
Mr. Desiderio

2-26

Ayes
X
X
X
X
X

Ayes
X
X
X
X

Mr. Desiderio

X

Ayes
X
X
X
X
X

Motion

Second
X

X

Nays

Abstain

Absent

Commissioner
Motion
X

Andrew

Bulakowski

Second

X

Nays

Abstain

Absent

Motion
X

Second

X

Resolution assigning departments for 2026.

Commissioners
Mr. Barr
Mr. Bulakowski
Ms. Collette
Mr. Morey

Ayes
X
X
X
X

Mr. Desiderio

X

5-26

Absent

Resolution designating departments for 2026.

Commissioners
Mr. Barr
Mr. Bulakowski
Ms. Collette
Mr. Morey
Mr. Desiderio

4-26

Abstain

Resolution electing County
Vice-Director of the Board.

Commissioners
Mr. Barr
Mr. Bulakowski
Ms. Collette
Mr. Morey

3-26

Nays

Nays

Abstain

Absent

Motion
X

Second

X

Resolution designating County Commissioner member or liaison for
various Boards, Commissions and Agencies.

Commissioners
Mr. Barr
Mr. Bulakowski
Ms. Collette
Mr. Morey
Mr. Desiderio

Ayes
X
X
X
X
X

Nays

Abstain

Absent

Motion
X

Second

X

COMMISSIONER STATEMENTS:
Commissioner Morey
Commissioner Collette
Commissioner Barr
Commissioners Vice-Director Bulakowski
Commissioner Director Desiderio
MINUTES – MOTION TO APPROVE ALL MINUTES
Commissioners
Mr. Barr
Mr. Bulakowski
Ms. Collette
Mr. Morey
Mr. Desiderio

Ayes
X
X
X
X
X

Nays

Abstain

Absent

Motion

Second
X

X

CONSENT AGENDA
Motion to open Public Comment for Consent Agenda
Commissioners
Mr. Barr
Mr. Bulakowski
Ms. Collette
Mr. Morey
Mr. Desiderio

Ayes
X
X
X
X
X

Nays

Abstain

Absent

Motion
X

Second

X

STATEMENT OF THE DIRECTOR ON PUBLIC COMMENT
Motion to close public comment for Consent Agenda and approve Resolution
Nos. 6-26 through 33-26
Commissioners
Mr. Barr
Mr. Bulakowski
Ms. Collette
Mr. Morey
Mr. Desiderio

Ayes
X
X
X
X
X

Nays

Abstain

Absent

Motion
X

Second

X

RESOLUTIONS:
6-26

Resolution regarding the Open Public Meetings Act.

7-26

Resolution adopting the Rules of the Board for 2026.

8-26

Resolution adopting the 2026 Cash Management Plan and
designating the custodian and signatories for the “County of Cape
May, Board of County Commissioners Account”.

9-26

Resolution appointing Certifying Officers for 2026.

10-26

Resolution establishing Certifying Officers for various organizations
and commissions for 2026.

11-26

Resolution appointing County Commissioner Andrew Bulakowski
Insurance Fund Commissioner.

12-26

Resolution appointing County Commissioners Leonard C. Desiderio
and Melanie Collette as members to the Board of School Estimate for
Atlantic Cape Community College.

13-26

Resolution appointing County Commissioners Leonard C. Desiderio,
Melanie Collette and Andrew Bulakowski as members to the Board of
School Estimate for the Cape May County Technical/Special Services
School District.

14-26

Resolution appointing County Commissioner Melanie Collette as
a voting member and Kevin Lare as alternate member to the New
Jersey Association of Counties.

15-26

Resolution appointing County Commissioners Andrew Bulakowski
and Leonard Desiderio as members to the Cape May County Planning
Board.

16-26

Resolution approving Salaries.

17-26

Resolution establishing Temporary Budget – 2026.

18-26

Resolution designating County Commissioner Andrew Bulakowski to
the Policy Board of the South Jersey Transportation Planning
Organization (SJTPO).

19-26

Resolution granting and amending various Leaves of Absence to
County Employees.
(This Resolution authorizes County Employees to be placed on a Leave of
Absence in accordance with the County Leave of Absence Policy and the
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA).)

20-26

Resolution appointing and reappointing members to the Local Citizens
Transportation Advisory Committee.
(This Resolution appoints and reappoints members to the Local Citizens
Transportation Advisory Committee.)

21-26

Resolution establishing the 2026 County Library Tax of .00027 of a
mil per dollar.
(This Resolution sets the rate of .00027 of a mil per dollar to be raised by
taxation for maintaining the County Library systems.)

22-26

Resolution establishing the mileage rate for 2026.
(This Resolution establishes the reimbursable mileage for 2026 for use of
a personal vehicle while engaged in County business when a County
owned vehicle is unavailable. Rate set at 72.5 center per mile.)

23-26

Resolution amending Resolution No. 648-25 designating Year 2026
holiday for the County of Cape May.
(This Resolution amends Resolution No. 648-25 designating “celebrated”
and “cash” holidays for 2026. The celebrated day reflects the day/date
the holiday is observed by Monday through Friday employees. The cash
day denotes the day/date the holiday is observed for employees working
other than a 5-day Monday through Friday work week.)

24-26

Resolution authorizing execution of a Memorandum of Agreement
between the County of Cape May, Cape May County Prosecutor’s
Office, and the Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of New
Jersey State Police.
(This Resolution authorizes a Memorandum of Agreement for the
installation of automated license plate recognition technology, closedcircuit television systems at various locations within the County of Cape
May.)

25-26

Resolution authorizing execution of a Shared Services Agreement
between the County of Cape May and Borough of Avalon for Dispatch
Services.
(This Resolution authorizes a Shared Services Agreement with the
Borough of Avalon for County Dispatch Services.)

26-26

Resolution amending Resolution No. 634-25 authorizing various
Memorandums of Understanding for Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion Service Program Dental Grants.
(This Resolution amends Resolution No. 634-25 to reflect an additional
Schedule “B”.)

27-26

Resolution approving salaries for certain Members appointed by the
County Commissioners of the County of Cape May.
(This Resolution amends Resolution Nos. 16-25; 68-89 and 55-89 and
establishes a uniform maximum salary for Members of the Cape May
County Municipal Utilities Authority; Cape May County Bridge
Commission, and Cape May County Board of Elections.)

28-26

Resolution establishing requirements for enrollment in the County’s
Comprehensive Health Benefits Program.
(This Resolution amends the requirements established by Resolution No.
590-17.)

29-26

Resolution appointing certain County employees to their permanent
position in their respective offices. (Emergency Management, and
Human Services)
(This Resolution is appointing County employees to a permanent title
from the New Jersey Civil Service Commission based upon a qualifying
action.)

30-26

Resolution authorizing use of approved Regional, State, and National
Contract Vendors for 2026.
(This Resolution enables the County to utilize authorized purchasing
cooperatives for goods and services from contracted vendors.)

31-26

Resolution rejecting all bids submitted in response to 2025
Specification No. 42, Enhanced Beautification Project at the Cape May
County Veterans’ Cemetery – Phase II.
(This Resolution rejects all bids received December 19, 2025, in response
to 2025 Specification No. 42, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-13.2(a), the
lowest bid substantially exceeds the cost estimates.)

32-26

Resolution awarding Contract No. C5-204 to the Lomax Consulting
Group, LLC to provide Environmental Consulting Services for County
of Cape May.
(This Resolution awards Contract No. C5-204 to the Lomax Consulting
Group, LLC to provide Environmental Consulting Services for County of
Cape May, on an as needed basis, for a term of one (1) year, commencing
January 7, 2026, with two (2) one (1) year options.)

33-26

Resolution authorizing renewals for Professional Liability Coverage for
Cape May County Fire Fighting Academy Instructors and renewal of
Surety Bonds for County Chief Financial Officer and County Sheriff.
(This Resolution authorizes payment to Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC,
for renewals for Professional Liability Coverage for Cape May County Fire
Fighting Academy Instructors and renewals of Surety Bonds for the
County Chief Financial Officer and the County Sheriff.)

INTRODUCTION TO CAPITAL ORDINANCE NUMBER 1-2026
Capital Ordinance providing for various capital improvements and the
acquisition of various capital equipment, in and for the County of Cape May,
State of New Jersey; and appropriating $6,000,000 therefor from the County’s
Capital Improvement Fund to pay for the cost thereof
Commissioners
Mr. Barr
Mr. Bulakowski
Ms. Collette
Mr. Morey
Mr. Desiderio

Ayes
X
X
X
X
X

Nays

Abstain

Absent

Motion
X

Second

X

Public Hearing scheduled for January 27, 2026
MOTION TO PAY BILLS AND CHECKS BE TRANSFERRED TO THE COUNTY
Commissioners
Mr. Barr
Mr. Bulakowski
Ms. Collette
Mr. Morey

Ayes
X
X
X
X

Mr. Desiderio

X

Nays

Abstain

Absent

Motion

Second
X

X

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Motion to open Public Comment
Commissioners
Mr. Barr
Mr. Bulakowski
Ms. Collette
Mr. Morey

Ayes
X
X
X
X

Mr. Desiderio

X

Nays

Abstain

Absent

Motion
X

Second

X

Motion to Close Public Comment and Adjourn
Commissioners
Mr. Barr
Mr. Bulakowski
Ms. Collette
Mr. Morey
Mr. Desiderio

Ayes
X
X
X
X
X

5:04 P.M. time

Nays

Abstain

Absent

Motion
X

Second

X