Although he admitted he was never one for speech-making, County Executive Tom DeGise brought a powerful message of a bright future in presenting his State of the County address on Jan. 26, laying out a road map of where the county has been and where it is going before the packed freeholders’ chambers.
DeGise said the successes of the county hinge on cooperation among all its parts.
“Our administration remains committed to partnership,” DeGise said. “We seek partnerships with our residents and the many neighborhood and community groups they support, because we know that the best ideas continue to grow from the grass roots up.”
While he admitted Hudson County had some bleak moments in the relatively recent past – particularly concerning the corrupt practices of former County Executive Robert Janiszewski, who resigned in 2001 – the county has recovered.
“Like any franchise that has seen tough days but turned it around, county government is succeeding now because everyone on the team is working together,” DeGise said. “Our county government team has raised ethical standards, paved the way for new parks, advanced economic development, expanded support for those in need, carried out significant environmental cleanup, and forged a sensible regional approach to homeland security.”
DeGise said the county is undergoing “constructive change,” which is being accomplished through freeholders, staff, service providers, mayors, and legislators on every level of government.
“Outside of government, we have formed partnerships with the private sector and the non-profit community in the name of job creation, education, and housing,” he said. “Within our administration, we have teamed up departments and divisions to fight recidivism and reduce youth incarceration. We have blended talents of different officers to expand our support of women and minorities seeking opportunity.”
DeGise said more people today in Hudson County have jobs, receive a quality education, and get the job training they need. Seniors have more affordable housing here, teens have more summer employment, and families can pay for prescription drugs thanks to county programs.
DeGise said the county has found grants to cover arts programs and homeless care, and is prepared if a disaster should strike.
Specialization
One of the key moves his administration made was to create new departments so that that duties could be focused better. While the Janiszewski Administration claimed to cut the size of government by reducing the departments, DeGise said this actually hurt operation efficiency and cost taxpayers money.
“These overstuffed departments missed grant deadlines and opportunities to innovate, that our smaller, more focused departments have excelled at again and again,” he said.
This included creating the Department of Family Services from out of the Department of Health and Human Services, allowing one to handle job creation and other work-related matters, and the other to handle the health needs in the community.
This also resulted in the creation of new programs that help train new mothers in parenting skills, and a re-entry program for women prisoners leaving jail.
The county also broke up the former Department of Public Resources into two more focused departments: the Department of Parks, Engineering & Planning, and the Department of Roads and Public Property.
DeGise said the centerpiece of his administration is the creation of more parks and open space, and with the Open Space Trust Fund as a tool, he hoped to double the open space that existed when he took office.
His open space program in its first year, he said, funded new parks in Bayonne, Guttenberg, Hoboken and Secaucus, and has recently begun the process of seeking more projects in the upcoming year.
The road department has already initiated new safety programs, and the staff has trained to handle new hybrid fuel vehicles.
He said the new year poses some new challenges and opportunities, pointing to the county’s intention to move its various offices from leased space to the Block Drug property in Jersey City that the county purchased in 2004.
The county is also considering the construction of a new court house to replace the facility on Newark Avenue.
St. Mary Hospital
DeGise said his administration is committed helping Hoboken keep St. Mary Hospital.
“It is clear that if we are to keep this vital resource operating, the hospital’s leadership must develop a sound business plan,” he said. “Part of that plan would likely include the overhaul of St. Mary’s emergency room and other capital improvements that would increase revenues. Our administration is reviewing how we can assist St. Mary if it seeks financing for those emergency room improvements.”
DeGise also supported a $25 million bond ordinance under consideration by the freeholder board that would continue the expansion of the Hudson County Community College, the funding of which would come half from the county and half from the state.
“After a rocky entry into this new century, the state of our county is strong and growing stronger every day,” DeGise said.