Salem County commissioners are set to consider a resolution Wednesday that would terminate Salem County Social Services participation in the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees’ Health Benefits Program, including prescription drug and dental plan coverage. The move, if adopted, would restructure health benefits for the county’s social services agency.
The agenda does not specify a rationale, effective date, or any replacement coverage arrangement for the affected employees. The proposal is one of eight resolutions slated to come before the board from its Administrative Committee.
Also on the Administrative Committee agenda is a wire crossing license agreement with Winchester and Western Railroad Company for the Middle Mile Broadband Project at S. Woodruff Road in Bridgeton. The agreement would allow broadband infrastructure to cross railroad right-of-way as part of the county’s effort to expand middle-mile connectivity.
The board is scheduled to consider a $3,365.50 change order to its contract with Catholic Charities South Jersey for providing social services for the homeless through the Salem County Department of Social Services. Separately, commissioners are set to weigh awarding a non-fair and open contract for an employee dental plan to Delta Dental of New Jersey, estimated at $405,525.
Public safety items include a Highway Safety Project Grant from the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General’s Division of Highway Traffic Safety, an application for and acceptance of FFY25 Homeland Security Grant Program funding, and acceptance of Oxychem Donation Program funds for the county’s Hazardous Materials Response Team.
On the public health side, the board is set to consider amending Resolution 2026-264 to add funding to the Local Public Health Overdose Fatality Review Teams FY 2027 Grant, along with applications for the Private Well Outreach 2027 Grant and the Salem Health and Wellness Mini Grant Program. The Public Works Committee will present a resolution accepting funding for the New Jersey Department of Health Tick Surveillance Program.
Five Chapter 159 budget insertion resolutions would place special revenue items into the county budget under NJSA 40A:4-87, covering the 2027 Federal Highway Safety Grant, the FY 2027 Overdose Fatality Review Grant, the 26-27 Tick Surveillance Program, the FFY25 Homeland Security Grant Program, and the 2026 OxyChem First Responder Donation Program.
The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at the Salem County Historic Courthouse, 104 Market Street in Salem. Public comment will allow each speaker up to four minutes, with speakers required to state their name and address for the record. After tonight’s meeting the board’s next meeting is set for Nov. 4 at 6 p.m