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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A FIVE-YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF PASSAIC AND THE WORD SEED, INC., FOR OFFICE SPACE AT WESTERVELT-VANDERHOEF HOUSE IN WEASEL BROOK PARK IN THE CITY OF CLIFTON, PURSUANT TO N.J.S.A. 40A:12-15
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WHEREAS, the County of Passaic (“County”) is a body politic and corporate pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:18-1 and vested with all rights contained therein; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:20-1, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic (“Board”) is vested with managing the property, finances, and affairs of the County; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:12-5, the County is authorized to lease real property that it owns for any county or municipal public purpose, including, but not limited to, any civic or historic programs or activities by duly incorporated historical societies; and
WHEREAS, in 2018 the Board completed a restoration of the Westervelt-Vanderhoef House, located at 794 Park Drive, Clifton, New Jersey within Weasel Brook Park, repurposing the site to serve as office space for the County’s Departments of Cultural & Historic Affairs, a place for community meeting space, and exhibits on the history of Passaic County and Clifton; and
WHEREAS, Word Seed Inc., was founded in 2019 with the mission to give voice and support to writers of every age and skill level within the diverse communities in which it operates and is a duly incorporated nonprofit organization under the laws of New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, the County and Word Seed, Inc., desire to enter into a lease agreement for one office suite within Westervelt-Vanderhoef House, for the purposes of operating a local literary and cultural center for the benefit of the public for nominal rent of one dollar ($1.00) per year, for a term commencing August 1, 2025 and expiring July 31, 2030 in accordance with the lease, attached hereto and made part hereof; and
WHEREAS, this matter was discussed at the July 2, 2025 meeting of the Public Works Committee, and is being recommended to the Board for approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:12-5, the Passaic County Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic hereby authorizes a lease agreement by and between the County of Passaic and Word Seed, Inc., for the lease of one office suite at the Westervelt-Vanderhoef House in Weasel Brook Park in the City of Clifton, for the nominal rent of one dollar ($1.00) per year, under the same terms and conditions set forth in the attached Lease Agreement, beginning on August 1, 2025 and expiring July 31, 2030.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk to the Board, County Counsel, and Director of the Board are authorized to take any action necessary to carry out the purpose of this Resolution.
KJB July 15, 2025