Essex Commits $40M to Own, Not Lease, a New County Storage Hub

Essex County commissioners voted Aug. 12, 2026, to stop paying rent and start building. They adopted a $40M bond ordinance and awarded a $34.9M construction contract for a three-story facility that will house transportation, elections and records operations. A Republican challenger called the deal a red flag, but the board sided with a present-value case for ownership. Commissioners also turned the night's contract votes into a running test of who gets county work.

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• $40M bond adopted 6–0 for a consolidated transportation, elections and records building; the $34,857,500 construction award followed.
• Arena HVAC bond of about $7.5M passes 5–0 despite a commenter's claim that the job should cost half as much.
• Jail spending approved 7–0, including a $1.8M supplemental meals contract, after questions about food quality and heat.
• Commissioners press contractors on Black-owned subcontractors and flag a federal lawsuit targeting vendor preferences.
• Prosecutor's detectives move closer to permanent paid road jobs after a 5–1 first-reading vote.

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Buy, Don't Rent: The $40M Storage Bet

Why it matters: The county is trading open-ended lease payments for roughly 30 years of debt on a building it will own. If the math holds, the facility saves money and gives election equipment a permanent, secure home.

The basics: Ordinance O-2026-00006 authorizes a $40M bond. The building will be about 105,000 square feet, with passenger and freight elevators. It will house the Special Transportation Unit's dispatch, vehicles and maintenance garage, plus Board of Elections offices, a warehouse for voting equipment and an enclosed loading dock. Records storage for other departments, now spread across several sites, will move there too.

Where things stand: The county currently leases space for these functions. Adam Kramer, the Republican nominee for District 4 commissioner, cited a county treasurer's figure of $1.25M a year in rent. He argued that 27 to 28 years of rent would equal the building's cost.

"It just doesn't make economic sense to build when you're leasing at such a relatively low cost relative to the price of the building," said Kramer.

Board President Carlos M. Pomares responded that "this has been fully vetted for some time now, and we've discussed this program."

The other side: During the contract discussion, another speaker recalled a higher rent figure of $1.8M a year, plus utilities and taxes. That speaker laid out the counter-math. With rent escalating 4% to 5% a year, payments would average $2.5M to $4.7M annually over 30 years. That stream is worth $52M to $55M in present value, against $40M to build. The speaker called ownership "a no-brainer" economically. Pomares added that the building also safeguards election equipment and files.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The bond passed. For: 6 (Luciano, Mercado, Richardson, Sebold, Murray-Thomas, Pomares). Against: 0. Absent: 3 (Cooper, Gill, Sermons). A late-arriving commissioner, apparently Commissioner Tyshammie L. Cooper, later asked to be recorded as a yes, saying ownership "absolutely makes financial sense."

The construction contract went to the lowest of five bidders, at no more than $34,857,500. A separate $805,600 construction management and inspection award went to Noble Strategy, the highest-rated of five proposals. Both passed within resolutions 7–13 and 97. For: 7 (Cooper, Luciano, Mercado, Richardson, Sebold, Murray-Thomas, Pomares). Commissioners Gill and Sermons did not respond.

Ed Hassan, a project manager with DAPA who spoke for the builder, said the union job will employ 150 workers. About 15% of them will be Essex County residents.

What's next: Construction can proceed. Commissioners signaled they will watch local hiring and minority subcontracting on the job closely.

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Arena HVAC: $7.5M and a Price Question

Why it matters: The county borrowed about $7.5M to replace aging climate systems at a county arena. The only public pushback questioned whether taxpayers are overpaying.

Where things stand: Ordinance O-2026-00007 bonds the work. Resolution 9 awards a contract of up to $7,466,000 to replace about 22 rooftop, heating and dehumidification units. The contractor, Embarcon, was the lowest of three bidders.

The other side: Kramer said people in the business told him the job should cost about half as much. "But I think there should be a little more inquiry before we bond for such a large amount," he said.

A commissioner noted the bond had been debated at length the month before and asked the administration to explain its financial rationale publicly. Pomares deferred that explanation until the contract came up. No detailed cost breakdown followed beyond the low-bid result.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The ordinance passed. For: 5 (Luciano, Mercado, Richardson, Murray-Thomas, Pomares). Against: 0. Absent: 3 (Gill, Sebold, Sermons). Cooper arrived during the roll call.

Shashank Gupta, managing member of Embarcon, said the firm is minority-owned and was founded in 1997. It uses all-union labor from Locals 25, 274, 475 and 9. He said about six of its roughly 55 year-round employees are county residents.

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Inside the Jail: Meals, Radios and a Sinkhole

Why it matters: Three Department of Corrections items totaling millions moved without dissent. Along the way, commissioners raised constituent complaints about food and heat for people in custody.

Where things stand: Corrections Director Ron Charles presented a GD Correctional Services contract of up to $1.8M for supplemental meals. The contract covers meals for inmate workers, the culinary arts program, GED ceremonies, religious and national holidays, and accreditation events. "The Office of the State Comptroller is recommending that we split 2 different contracts," Charles said. The split separates these meals from the main contract, which feeds about 2,400 inmates and 1,100 staff.

The board also bought 100 radios, part of replacing about 360 over two years. It approved a 20% increase for DCO Energy after emergency repairs. Charles described "a very large sinkhole in the back of the jail that spilled into one of the housing units." The sinkhole forced an evacuation and weeks on generators. Aging fire lines also needed replacement.

The other side: A commissioner relayed complaints from constituents with family members inside about the quality and healthiness of the food. "By state law, we have to inspect the food every day, every meal," Charles said. He added that a contract compliance monitor is in place and that last week's annual state inspection found 100% compliance on more than 650 items.

On extreme heat, Charles said all housing units are air-conditioned. Dave Del Vecchio of DCO Energy explained that the jail runs a combined heat and power plant. The plant generates its own electricity from natural gas and uses the byproduct for steam and chilled water. "It's really the most efficient use of a fossil fuel," he said. DCO will replace components with the county over the next 15 years.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: For: 7 (Cooper, Luciano, Mercado, Richardson, Sebold, Murray-Thomas, Pomares). Against: 0. Absent: 2 (Gill, Sermons).

What's next: The building's in-house radio system is being upgraded to wireless standards, starting at the youth house. Charles expects completion around November or December. A commissioner urged him to include the work in the next capital request.

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Who Gets County Work: Diversity Questions Persist

Why it matters: With roughly $50M in contracts on the table, commissioners used nearly every vendor appearance to ask who benefits. The equity push may soon collide with federal litigation.

Where things stand: Commissioners asked each Public Works vendor about diversity and local hiring.

• Noble Strategy's chief executive, William S. Parrish Jr., introduced his firm: "We're a minority construction management firm located in Milton, Georgia."
• One commissioner welcomed the Black-led firm, saying "we need more Black men and Black companies working at the county."
• Cooper asked the building contractor, "Do you have any minority women-owned businesses that are any of your subs on the construction project?" The representative did not know but pledged to seek more minority firms.
• County Administrator Robert Jackson said the subcontractor list showed 30% of the contract value going to minority-owned businesses.
• Asked how many of those firms are African American–owned, staff could not say. A commissioner remarked, "it's the same answer they give every time they come."

Vendors reported varying shares of Essex County workers: DAPA about 15%, Embarcon six of 55, Sparrow Contracting about 25%, and Liberty Mechanical five of 15.

The other side: In closing comments, a commissioner asked whether the county is tracking a federal lawsuit involving New Jersey and Ocean County. The suit alleges that requiring vendors to use union labor, or to meet minority-ownership, race, religion or gender criteria, is unconstitutional.

What's next: A commissioner requested an update on implementing the county's disparity study. The request also covers outreach to small vendors now that the county no longer advertises in local media.

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Prosecutor's Road Jobs Head Toward Permanence

Why it matters: Detectives would keep a permanent source of side income, and the county would keep collecting fees. The county would also carry the liability for these jobs.

Where things stand: A 2023 ordinance, O-2023-0013, created the framework for outside employment such as traffic-safety details. A six-month pilot then opened those jobs to Prosecutor's Office personnel. "We are now asking the board to approve the amendment so the program can continue on a permanent basis," said Captain Paul Rangers of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

During the pilot, officers worked 58 road jobs and were paid about $58,000. The county collected about $18,000 in administrative and vehicle fees. The Sheriff's Department gets first call on each job, with prosecutors serving as backup.

"Yes, is it seniority-based?" asked Commissioner Wayne L. Richardson. Assignments go by rank from the chief down, then by seniority among detectives, then by a points system. Rangers said the county holds liability because participating officers remain on duty.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The ordinance was introduced on first reading. For: 5 (Luciano, Mercado, Richardson, Murray-Thomas, Pomares). Against: 1 (Sebold, as recorded). Absent: 3 (Cooper, Gill, Sermons).

What's next: The ordinance returns for a public hearing and final vote.

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• Grants: The board inserted $4.6M in job-training funds, a $2.25M urban park grant and about $1.8M in election reimbursements. It also added funds to a $3.18M opioid settlement account, which awaits a task force spending plan.
• IT overhaul: A five-year, $3,423,660 Dell APEX private cloud will replace end-of-life servers that run payroll, finance and public safety systems.
• Outside lawyers: Resolutions 21–39 added funding for outside counsel in conflict cases; resolution 40 was withdrawn. County Counsel Jerome St. John said, "I really won't know until we get further into the litigation."
• Parks and holidays: The board approved holiday-lighting contracts with Fred Development Corp., including $218,250 for parks and $212,890 for Turtleback Zoo, plus a $720,700 painting contract.
• Tributes: A Riverfront Park soccer field naming for the late Al Coutinho was introduced, and a sepsis awareness resolution passed. Commissioners also mourned county auditor Joe Falcone.

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Looking ahead: The Coutinho field naming, the reorganization of the Office of Public Health Management and the prosecutor road-jobs ordinance all return for public hearings. St. John told the board he will report back on litigation costs in January.