Freeholders Stand Up and Support Businesses, Decline to Impose Further
Restrictions Per Gov. Phil Murphy’s Executive Order

(Newton, NJ) Members of Sussex County’s Board of Chosen Freeholders unanimously passed a resolution  at their meeting on Tuesday that established a non-interference policy with Sussex County
businesses.

The resolution was modeled after Hunterdon County’s, following Gov. Phil Murphy’s enactment of his
Executive Order 195, which gave counties and municipalities the authority to pile on further
restrictions and set deeper curfews than Murphy had imposed in Executive Order 194, which
restricted indoor operations at food and beverage establishments between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5
a.m. daily.

“Our businesses in Sussex County are all essential and the backbone of our
communities,” said Freeholder Director Sylvia Petillo, who, along with the other freeholders,
emphasized how businesses within the county have already suffered greatly under the Murphy
Administration’s overreaching restrictions.

Petillo encouraged residents to, whenever possible, shop locally rather than online; and order
food, even if by takeout, from local eateries, to help them persevere through the
restriction difficulties.

“Our businesses have suffered enough, strangled by arbitrary policies passed by these Executive
Orders, with no legislative oversight,” Freeholder Deputy Director Dawn Fantasia said. “To me,
every business is essential when it’s putting food on the table or the roof over your head for your
family. The governor continues to pick winners and losers.”

Fantasia said Sussex County officials stand with businesses and Freeholders of Hunterdon
and Warren Counties, refusing to impose greater limitations on local businesses. These three
counties previously petitioned for a regional reopening, passing recommendations to Trenton, which
were ignored by the Murphy Administration.

“I am so sorry, I am so sorry this is happening to our businesses,” Fantasia said about the Murphy
directives. “This board is standing in solidarity to do everything we possibly can to help you
fight for your rights.”

Fantasia said the 10 p.m. issue for New Year’s Eve, something brought to the attention of the
board by one of the county businesses that spoke about their concerns with the
restrictions, was now on her radar; and she would contact District 24 Legislators on the topic.

She also pointed out that in a tax climate index, New Jersey ranked 50 of all states, or the
“bottom of the barrel,” with the state so unfriendly that large businesses have been driven from
New Jersey, with small businesses now choked by the Murphy Administration edicts.
“This is a stress test for the Constitution,” Freeholder Joshua Hertzberg added.

Hertzberg said businesses know best how to operate and “when government thinks it knows better,
that’s when we have problems.”

He and Freeholder Anthony Fasano agreed businesses have taken the appropriate precautions to ensure
the safety of their employees and patrons.

“Now is absolutely not the time to further regulate businesses in Sussex County,” Fasano
said.

Fasano said he was impressed with operation plans that he had seen several area businesses create,
in response to the pandemic requirements imposed on them by the federal and state guidelines.
Fasano recommended that county businesses list their information on an interactive map, available
on the Sussex County, Sussex County Chamber of Commerce and Sussex County Economic Development
Partnership websites. He said residents should also visit the map as an informational resource,
where they can locate details about businesses listed, including hours of operations, during the
pandemic.

In other business:

The Freeholders responded to their passage of the resolution opposing the Murphy Administration’s
Reproductive Freedom Act legislation at their previous meeting. Petillo asserted it is the
duty of the Freeholder Board to advise the public of legislation of interest, in order for them to
contact their legislators in support or opposition to the legislation. Petillo called the
legislation the most “radical pro-abortion bill,” codifying late-term abortions, taxpayer-
funded abortions for inmates and out-of-staters, taxpayer funding for the private Planned
Parenthood and higher insurance premiums for all New Jersey residents. “This is a bad bill, whether you’re pro-choice or pro-life,” Petillo said. “This is the most radical and egregious
legislation that our representatives have ever been asked to consider in New Jersey.” Fantasia
added that half of Sussex County’s 140,000 residents are women, who deserve to be informed about
the legislation.

Fasano reminded meeting attendees that at-home, self-administered COVID-19 tests are available at
no charge to county residents ages 18 and older, via the County’s website, in partnership with
LabCorp at: www.sussex.nj.us.

Fantasia said Sussex County’s Office of Emergency Management has received 6,400 rapid COVID test
kits, which are intended for distribution at Long Term Care facilities as requested by the
facilities. Testing is available for veterans at the VA Clinic in Newton and for all individuals at
Newton Urgent Care, by appointment only at: 973-383-9898. There are test finding maps available on
both the county and state COVID websites. Testing is available in Franklin, Sparta, Hopatcong,
Stanhope and Newton, Fantasia added. Residents with more questions should contact Sussex County’s
Division of Health at: 973-579-0370.

Though there has been an increase in COVID cases countywide, Fantasia said the county’s cumulative
tally as of the week prior, included 316 total new cases, with 2,655 cases in all, 2,078 recovered,
199 total fatalities, with the remaining “under investigation.” However, the last county death from
COVID was in October and prior to that, in August. Currently, she said 10 in the county are
hospitalized, with eight at Newton Medical Center and two in Morristown. There were 14
total COVID hospitalizations in October. There are seven cases total presently in Long Term care
facilities, Fantasia said. Cases have mostly been linked to individuals under the age of 18, most
are asymptomatic and their contraction of the illness, relates to social gatherings and activities. Some other cases have been linked to residents who  developed COVID from working out of the county.

Hertzberg complimented the county for its contact tracing efforts and not applying blanket
restrictions on individuals who were traced during recent incidents, which Hertzberg called “sound
decisions” on the part of those personnel. Hertzberg said he personally experienced two
contact tracing situations, due to his involvement as a little league coach. He also recently
tested positive, he told the public; and has remained quarantined since he learned he was exposed
to a fellow coach who tested positive.

Petillo said the Social Services Stuff the Bus events over the weekend, as well as a donation drive
from First Hope Bank and food drives from the Sparta, Byram and Hopatcong Police Departments,
garnered items to stock the shelves of the Social Services food pantry. Petillo said that anyone in
need of food should contact Social Services for assistance from the food pantry, which is open
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at: (973) 383-3600. Fantasia said even with the added
workload during the exclusive vote-by-mail election, the Sussex County Clerk’s Office remained under budget by more than $50,000. Fantasia complimented  Clerk Jeff Parrott for his measures to remain under budget through “careful and targeted allocation  of staff.”

Legislative District 24, under Sen. Steve Oroho and Assemblymen Hal Wirths and Parker Space,
Fantasia said, were behind enactment of the law to allow junior firefighters to provide on-scene
support.

Fantasia congratulated Scott Haggerty of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office on his promotion to
sergeant.

Fantasia said the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council will be hosting a virtual art exhibit and
sale on its website through Dec. 31, that will feature the works of local artisans, with 25 percent
commission benefitting the Arts and Heritage Council. The Senior Citizen Arts Awards are also
available on the Arts and Heritage Council website.

Fantasia said food assistance support is available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture for
farmers and ranchers impacted by the market disruptions due to COVID-19. Those requiring assistance
should call: 877-508-8364 or visit: www.usda.gov.

Sussex County Administrator Gregory Poff provided supplemental information for the public hearing
about the $2.8 million bond ordinance for capital projects financing for Sussex County Community
College, for improvements authorized by the Board of School Estimate in 2019. There are a
“variety of capital improvements,” including computer hardware and software, furnishings and
flooring, academic facility retrofit, fire protection and upgrades to the Public Safety Training
Academy.

The freeholders presented a proclamation for Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, the first hospice to open
in the county in 1980, with the Freeholder Board proclaiming Nov. 2020 as National Hospice and
Palliative Care month. The proclamation encourages citizens “to increase their
understanding and awareness of care at the end of life and to observe this month with appropriate
activities and programs.”

To listen to the full meeting audio, visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdmswF5AasQ.

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