Storm-Driven Tree Contract Grows as Commissioners Press for Replanting

Essex County will pay $260,000 more to clear storm-felled park trees, but the bigger fight at the Sept. 16, 2026, Board of County Commissioners meeting was over what comes after the chainsaws: slow pickups, no system-wide tree inventory and replacements promised but not planted. With four of nine commissioners absent at the start, the board passed every item without a "no" vote, including a three-year extreme-heat shelter pilot in Newark, a $2.6M prevailing-wage security contract and a $6M office supply ceiling.

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• Tree-care contract grows 20% to $1.56M after storms; commissioners press on slow cleanup and missing replanting plan
• $113,000 to Newark for "Code Red" heat shelter as Essex joins a five-county, three-year state pilot
• $2.6M security contract awarded after two of seven bidders were rejected for not paying prevailing wage
• W.B. Mason supply cap set at $6M, plus new consultants to build five-year facility plans before future bond requests

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Trees Down, Answers Pending

Why it matters: Storm cleanup is now a recurring cost line, and residents near Orange, Weequahic and Branch Brook parks are asking who tracks what is lost and whether it comes back.

Where things stand: Parks staffer Joshua Zaitz of Essex County Parks requested a 20% change order, $260,000, on tree removal, trimming and stump-grinding contracts with Anthony's Affordable Tree Care, Dougette's Tree Experts and Downs Tree Service. The increase raises the total from $1.3M to $1.56M. Zaitz said cleanup after recent storms has been intense.

Commissioner Tyshammie L. Cooper (District 3) said downed trees at Orange Park lingered. "They were finally picked up, but they have sat there for easily 2 to 3 weeks," said Cooper.

Zaitz said the department targets a 48-hour response, depending on vendor availability. "A week honestly would be too long," said Zaitz.

Cooper also asked about a "no man's land" strip near Vailsburg Park off South Orange Avenue; staff believed it is city property.

The inventory gap: Vice President A’Dorian Murray-Thomas (District 2) asked about the replacement process, citing Weequahic Park. "How can we as board members and the public have access to that information?" she asked.

Zaitz said safety comes first, fallen trees in the reservations are left to nature, and Branch Brook may have an inventory. "I do not believe we have one system-wide, but I would have to get back to you on that," said Zaitz. Replacements happen as needed, typically with the same species.

The other side: In public comment, parks advocate Maggie Freeman asked the board to investigate why county trees allotted to Branch Brook, Weequahic and other parks were removed from a City of Newark tree grant. She said that left "over 300 or so trees that we kind of don't have available for the community." She also flagged trees still down on the park's 22 corridor, aged trees lost on the Elizabeth Avenue side, an overgrown Dividend Hill and bridge lights out "for probably over a decade." Board President Carlos M. Pomares asked her to share details with staff so engineering could contact the utility.

Cooper returned to the issue during commissioner comments. She said the county executive had publicly promised to replace trees cut for the new Orange Park clubhouse and fields, along with fence repairs. "So the community group and some of the community members are expecting us to replace those trees," said Cooper. "And so far, I haven't seen any plantings of new trees there."

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The tree change order passed within the full parks package, 6-0 (For: Pomares, Murray-Thomas, Cooper, Luciano, Mercado, Richardson; Absent: Gill, Sebold, Sermons). Tree vendors gain capacity. Park neighbors and advocacy groups gain no new commitment on replanting timelines or public tracking.

What's next: Zaitz owes the board an answer on whether any system-wide tree inventory exists. Watch whether the administration responds to the Newark grant question and the Orange Park replanting promise.

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Newark Gets Heat Shelter Money First

Why it matters: Essex is one of five counties chosen for a state "Code Red" extreme-heat pilot, which uses emergency protocols to bring unhoused and vulnerable residents indoors during dangerous heat.

Where things stand: Terrence McCoy, director of the Division of Community Action, presented an interagency agreement giving the City of Newark $113,000 for a four-month Code Red initiative. He said Newark was chosen because it has the infrastructure to take the most vulnerable people off the street.

"Essex County was one of 5 counties selected to handle the Code Red for the extreme heat for our unhoused and vulnerable population," said McCoy.

The package also accepts an additional $261,910 from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for 2026. The money is spread to four providers for services through Dec. 31, 2026:

• Irvington Neighborhood, plus $60,000
• Montclair Neighborhood, plus $50,000
• Joyce Angel, plus $61,250
• Seed Time Outreach, plus $50,000

Follow the money: Murray-Thomas confirmed the awards are increases over the prior year and asked where the money came from. McCoy said the state reprogrammed funds and steered them to high-performing counties. "The state provided the county with additional dollars because they didn't want that money to go back to the feds," said McCoy.

Murray-Thomas also asked whether other towns serve homeless populations at Newark's scale. McCoy said the funding arrived "at pretty much the last minute." "Now we're going to be going into other municipalities such as Montclair because they do have a homeless population, East Orange and so forth," said McCoy.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Resolutions 2–7 passed 6-0 (Absent: Gill, Sebold, Sermons) on a motion by Murray-Thomas, seconded by Commissioner Robert Mercado (District 1). Newark's shelter network and four nonprofits gain funding. Montclair and East Orange are in line for later phases of the pilot.

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Wage Floor Decides $2.6M Security Contract

Why it matters: The county's prevailing-wage requirement, a mandated pay rate set for specific job categories, directly knocked bidders out of the competition and sets pay for contracted guards.

Where things stand: Coltrane, presenting for county staff, recommended the lowest responsible bidder, a Newark-based firm, for security at the Division of Family Assistance and Benefits site at 32321 University Avenue. The contract runs Oct. 1, 2026, to Sept. 30, 2028, not to exceed $2,600,280.59. Coltrane said all seven bidders were interviewed and two were rejected for not paying prevailing wage.

Commissioner-at-Large Wayne L. Richardson asked what that wage is. "Don't quote me, it's around $25, $26 per hour," said Coltrane, confirming the rate is plus benefits.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Passed 5-0 (For: Pomares, Murray-Thomas, Luciano, Mercado, Richardson; Absent: Cooper, Gill, Sebold, Sermons). Contracted security workers keep a wage floor. Low-wage bidders lost out.

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Supplies Up, Capital Planning Gets a Process

Where things stand: Coulter, presenting for the Office of Purchasing, recommended W.B. Mason, the sole responsive bidder, for office supplies from Oct. 13, 2026, through Oct. 12, 2028, not to exceed $6M. Coulter said the county buys nearly everything from the firm, including furniture. The vendor has 110 employees, 26 from Essex. Last year the county asked for $5M and spent $3.7M.

Murray-Thomas asked how much more spending to expect. Coulter said it depends on departments, and she noted tariffs and higher prices across the board.

Why it matters: Resolution 20 authorizes competitive contracting, a procurement method weighing qualifications as well as price, for consultants to assess facilities such as roof and boiler life and draft five-year capital plans. "So when we come back to the board for bonding for twenty million dollars, etc., there's a plan to look at," said Coulter.

Cooper pointed to the county jail. "You already know what my soft spot is that needs some support in this area, the jail," said Cooper. Coulter noted departments must opt in.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Passed 6-0 (Absent: Gill, Sebold, Sermons), seconded by Mercado; the mover was not identified. Taxpayers and bond markets could see more documented justification behind future borrowing, but only where departments choose to participate.

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Minor Items

• $1.6M in state revenue inserted into the 2026 budget. It includes $799,993 for opioid response with a 24/7 hotline and Rutgers Medical School, $281,000 and $219,546.03 in homeland security grants for the Sheriff, $16,000 for Nutley Police World Cup overtime, and $235,781.47 plus $42,820.99 in election reimbursements; 6-0.
• Public Works contracts approved, led by a $720,000 two-year collision repair award covering sheriff's and prosecutor's vehicles, plus uniforms ($305,000), network maintenance ($65,000) and first-aid supplies ($11,624); 6-0.
• Other parks contracts approved: Envirocon HVAC (up to $548,000), event rentals ($300,000), zoo and holiday entertainment ($45,000), a $1,850 three-year golf cart concession and a 60-day animal pharmaceutical extension; 6-0.
• Outside counsel retained to defend the county in a Law Against Discrimination lawsuit, with no details disclosed, and the clerk's Landex records system extended through 2028 for up to $42,000; both 6-0.
• Resolution 8 withdrawn by the administration; 38 ceremonial resolutions adopted 6-0.

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Looking Ahead

Pomares said the county executive announced the 9/11 memorial will get renovated pavers, walkways and landscaping, with monuments unchanged. Commissioner Leonard M. Luciano (District 4) highlighted Essex County College's new media and technology wing in Newark and promoted the upcoming Senior Wellness Day at Codey Arena in West Orange. Cooper asked the administration whether it has analyzed adding a long jump at Weequahic Park for youth track athletes.