Members of the public at the March 20 Middlesex County commissioners meeting pressed county officials for more information about several items tied to the 2025 budget and county operations, including a proposed $1.5 million audiovisual equipment purchase, Code Blue warming-center operations, a grant tied to LyondellBasell and a lease or contract that prompted a commissioner to abstain.

Charlie Crabbin Hill, identified himself as a reporter with New Brunswick Today and asked about an "$1,500,000 expense" listed for audiovisual equipment across multiple county facilities. "If you're spending $1,500,000 on AV equipment to do video conferencing, there's no good reason that this can't be video conferencing and the public couldn't contribute via remote access," Crabbin Hill said. A county representative replied that the funding is part of lifecycle management for technology across facilities and that some purchases support specific facilities such as the fire academy and training center; staff said they would follow up with specifics.

Crabbin Hill also asked for details about resolution 25-267R (Code Blue), seeking capacity, hours of operation and program statistics. County staff said they did not have full details at the meeting but would provide them. A staff member described a warming-center setup at Olive Street that typically opens in the evening and partners with the Raritan Bay YMCA for programming and donated food; staff said they would email the exact hours and capacity.

Crabbin Hill asked about a grant listed as "LyondellBasell 315 bar," described in the meeting as a grant contribution for hazardous-materials equipment. The reporter asked whether the county had accepted funding from the company that previously experienced a chemical release; a staff member said Chief Morales would compile and send additional information about the grant and equipment.

Shelby Craddock, a New Brunswick reporter, questioned why Commissioner Kenny abstained on resolution 25-250 and asked whether that abstention indicated a conflict; the board said the director recused himself on that item and that staff would provide the resolution details after the meeting. Clerk Kessel and other members emphasized that staff routinely supply details when answers are not available at the dais.

Public commenter Aramis Rosario delivered an extended statement alleging neglect and retaliation by law enforcement and officials dating to December 2019 and urged accountability; Rosario said he had documentation and asked the board to act. "I forgive you," Rosario said, in a statement to the board, adding that his remarks were intended to urge reform and action. The board and staff did not announce immediate follow-up steps for the allegations beyond the standard practice of directing staff to respond to public-record requests.

Why it matters: These questions tie to budget line items and community safety programs funded in the county budget and may prompt staff reports or follow-up agenda items. County staff told the reporters they would provide information after the meeting and said some details (project locations, contract parties and program statistics) would be supplied by departments or appear in subsequent resolutions.

Provenance: Public comments and reporter questions appear in the transcript beginning with questions from Charlie Crabbin Hill and continuing through comments by Shelby Craddock and Aramis Rosario; county staff acknowledged they would provide additional details after the meeting.