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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY TO ACCEPT A NATURAL CLIMATE SOLUTIONS GRANT FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, PURSUANT TO N.J.S.A. 40:20-1
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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, on October 28, 2025, the Board passed Resolution No. R-25-1029, authorizing the County to apply for grant funding from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“NJDEP”) under the Natural Climate Solutions Grant program, for a project titled Passaic Roots: Growing Shade, Equity, Resilience, which will support invasive species removal and the reforestation of Tranquility Ridge in the Township of West Milford and Borough of Ringwood; and
WHEREAS, on June 9, 2026, after being advised that the NJDEP had approved its grant application, the Board passed Resolution No. R-26-0499, authorizing the County’s acceptance of a Natural Climate Solutions Grant in the amount of one million four hundred seventy-eight thousand five hundred ninety-six dollars and five cents ($1,478,596.05), to be used for the above-described reforestation project in the Township of West Milford and Borough of Ringwood; and
WHEREAS, since the passage of Resolution No. R-26-0499, the NJDEP has eliminated its grant matching requirements and modified the grant amount and agreement terms accordingly, and the County Administrator has advised that it is necessary for the Board to pass an updated resolution authorizing the acceptance of the updated grant award of one million four hundred seventy-seven thousand four hundred seventy-one dollars and five cents ($1,477,471.05), along with the associated grant agreement; and
WHEREAS, this matter was discussed at the August 26, 2026, meeting of the Administration and Finance Committee, and is being recommended to the Board for approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:20-1, that the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic hereby authorizes the acceptance of a Natural Climate Solutions Grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in the amount of one million four hundred seventy-seven thousand four hundred seventy-one dollars and five cents ($1,477,471.05), for a project titled Passaic Roots: Growing Shade, Equity, Resilience, which will support invasive species removal and the reforestation of Tranquility Ridge in the Township of West Milford and Borough of Ringwood.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Board, County Counsel, Director of the Department of Parks & Recreation, and Director of the Board of County Commissioners are authorized execute the associated grant agreement and take any other steps necessary to carry out the purpose of this Resolution.
NB September 8, 2026