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MackLow Builders is not a Referral Service, but a fully licensed and
insured General Contractor serving the Residential and Commercial needs of
Essex County New Jersey since 1986.
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Essex
County |
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One Crew Dedicated to You and Your Project!
With over 25 years of experience, MackLow Builders is one of the most
successful General Contractors operating in the State of New Jersey. Our
success has been built upon the dedication of our experienced staff, a commitment
to Customer Service and the high Standards & Quality of our work.
In fact, it is our reputation that has been the true foundation of our
success and has allowed us to grow through repeat customers and numerous
referrals. This is the Professionalism and Craftsmanship that we will
bring to your
Project.
Call for a Free Price Quote: 732-812-435 |
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About
The Great State of
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MackLow
Builders is your fully licensed and insured General Contractor in Essex County New Jersey.
Bergen County Customers
Call us today for a Free
Estimate 732-812-4352
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Essex County, New Jersey
Resource Page.
As a New Jersey Contractor, we
have found that throughout the years the following list of Essex County
Resources have come in handy during may facets of our construction business.
So if you are looking at a project that includes construction of a: New
Home, Detached Garage, Room Addition, Porch, Patio, Deck, Screen Enclosure,
Driveway, Sidewalk or maybe your looking at a Complete Renovation or
Restoration project these links could be an invaluable resource to your
construction project. Essex County Resource Lists provided here by New
Jersey Contractor
Essex County
New Jersey General Information
Essex County is the second most densely
populated county in the state after Hudson County, and has the second largest
total population after Bergen County. Newark, with a population density of
11,400 people/square mile, is the largest municipality in the county both in
terms of area (24.14 square miles) and population (280,000). Meanwhile,
Caldwell is the smallest in terms of land area (1.2 square miles) and Essex
Fells has the smallest population (2,071); nevertheless, even these small
towns have population densities (6,396 people/square mile and 1,534
people/square mile, respectively) that rival many big cities, and are well
above the state's average, which in turn is the highest in the nation
Like many of the counties of Northern
New Jersey near New York City — which tend to have sharp divides between
relatively rich suburban neighborhoods and less wealthy, more
densely-populated cities nearby — the eastern region of Essex County tends to
be poorer and more urbanized, while the western parts tend to be more affluent
and suburban.
East and West
Essex County New Jersey
Eastern Essex This wide area has
significant pockets of areas that qualify as inner-city: high building
density, high poverty and high crime rates and underperforming school systems.
Within this general area however are many stable, mixed and middle-income
areas of diverse populations. For example, North and West sides of Newark have
well-kept suburban areas and estate areas such as Vailsburg and Forest Hill,
Newark, New Jersey. The East side of Newark is the Ironbound, a thriving
Brazilian and Portuguese community. East Orange has a Presidential Estate
section. Nutley, Belleville and Bloomfield are old Italian neighborhoods
reinvented as destinations for recent immigrants and young couples.
Beginning at about the turn of the
century, this region led the state in the rebuilding and rehab of its housing
stock. In the 2000s, Newark led the state in the issuance of building permits.
Many reasons were cited: city-wide incentives to encourage construction
development, an improving local economy, the rising demand of low-cost housing
so close to Manhattan. Newark has since then become one of the fastest growing
cities in the entire Northeast and reported a gain in median income and drop
in poverty rate. This is a welcome turnaround to the deterioration and
abandonment, experienced in the post-riot 70s, 80s and early part of the 90s.
Crime in this part of the county has
traditionally been among the highest in the state and the country as well, but
recently has also seen significant declines, mirroring its large neighbor to
the east, New York City. By 2006, crime in Newark had fallen 60% over 10 years
to its lowest levels in 40 years. Neighboring East Orange has seen crime
fall more recently, dropping 50% in the three years (2005 to 2007). Despite
the overall progress, the murder rates in Newark, Irvington, and East Orange
remain stubbornly high. In 2006, Newark had 113 homicides, up from 98 in 2005
and the highest since 1995, but a substantial decrease since the record of 161
murders set in 1981.
In contrast, Western Essex tends
to be more suburban and affluent. However, within this region are some of the
most diverse and racially integrated neighborhoods in the state and nation,
including Montclair, South Orange, and Maplewood. As well, many neighborhoods
are well-known magnets for New Yorkers, with its liberal flavor, downtowns,
and architecturally beautiful, pre-war housing stock, such as Glen Ridge,
Montclair and the Oranges. As an example of the widespread affluence of the
area, the communities of Livingston, Millburn, North Caldwell, and Essex Fells
are four of the hundred wealthiest towns in America and have all been known to
be home to famous actors, musicians, corporate heads, and members of the New
Jersey Nets and New Jersey Devils. Short Hills is regionally well-known as a
conservative, old-money locale with a popular upscale shopping mall.
As the poorest place in the county,
Newark has a median household income of $26,913 and a per capita income of
$13,009; at the other extreme, Essex Fells, one of the wealthier places in the
county and the 4th wealthiest municipality in the state, has a median
household income of $148,173 and a per capita income of $77,434. Newark and
Essex Fells are only ten miles apart.
While many residents commute to New York
City, Organon, Anheuser-Busch, Automatic Data Processing, Inc., CIT Group,
Hoffmann-LaRoche, Grainger, Dun & Bradstreet and Prudential have large
facilities in Essex County or are headquartered there, and there are numerous
factories and large office parks scattered throughout.
Essex County was one of the first
counties in America to become fully urbanized and was the first county in the
country to create a county park system, to ensure that it did not lose all its
land to development.
The various towns of the county,
especially Newark, the Oranges, and the Caldwells can be seen in every episode
of the HBO mob drama The Sopranos, which is set in North Caldwell.
The county is also home to Newark
Liberty International Airport, Essex County Airport, and Port Newark-Elizabeth
Marine Terminal.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT: The Structure, History and Responsibilities
As
the United States grew, each of the 50 States developed its own individual
geographic and governmental structure. In New Jersey, there are 566
municipalities, organized into 22 Counties. Counties were created as
geographic and political subdivisions of the State, and derive their powers
from the State Constitution and the State Legislature. Their original mission
was to provide road maintenance and hospitals for the mentally ill. The County
has no authority which is not either specifically granted or implied by
statutes, and many County functions are mandated or supervised by the State.
Counties still provide those services, plus others, and have no jurisdiction
over municipal governments, because the concept of home rule is strong in New
Jersey. Therefore, in New Jersey, municipalities perform some governmental and
service functions done by Counties in other States, and vice versa.
THE MUSTO COMMISSION: A Precursor of Change
In 1966, the State created the County and Municipal Government Study
Commission, chaired by William V. Musto, to study the structure and functions
of county and municipal governments. Known as the "Musto Commission," the
study identified four main areas of inadequacy in the then structure, which
had members of the elected Board of Chosen Freeholders acting as both the
legislative and administrative leaders. The Commission cited inadequacies in
the legal, fiscal, structural and administrative areas, as well as political
invisibility regarding governmental responsibilities.
The Commission recommended that counties be given the general power to
reorganize in three ways: (1) County Executive Plan, (2) County Manager Plan,
and (3) County Supervisor Plan. The Commission also recommended that counties
be empowered to initiate area-wide and inter-local services, to provide for a
legislative and policy-making role for the Board of Chosen Freeholders, and to
provide central, professional administration. The New Jersey Legislature
incorporated these recommendations into the Optional County Charter Law in
September of 1972.
The Essex County Charter Change Commission
From 1798 until 1977, Essex County was governed by the Essex County Board of
Chosen Freeholders, a traditional form of New Jersey County government which
changed very little in 180 years. The name, in early days, indicated that the
people who were elected owned their land, or were "freeholders" of property.
However, based on recommendations of the Optional County Charter Law, Essex
County, by resolution of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, was one of nine
Counties to establish a Charter Study Commission, by referendum in the
November, 1973 election. At the same time, from a field of 30 candidates, nine
members were elected at-large for this non-partisan Commission by a 2 to 1
majority. Five of the nine Commissioners were attached to County government.
In
all eight of the other counties where the voters elected Charter Study
Commissions, the Commissioners recommended the adoption of one of the three
alternative charters, but in Essex County, after nine months of deliberation,
the Commission, in a 6-3 party-line vote, decided that the current form of
government was working well. A minority report was filed, which recommended a
change in the structure of County government to the County Executive Plan.
Essex County's Charter Change Battlelines are Drawn
The Optional County Charter Law specified that citizens could petition to put
an alternative charter plan on the ballot. In 1975, in a movement spearheaded
by the Essex County League of Women Voters, a bipartisan citizens group called
Citizens for Charter Change was formed to conduct a petition drive to put the
minority report recommendations on the ballot.
The Public Question for the ballot read, "Shall the County Executive Plan of
the Optional County Charter Law be adopted for Essex County, with provisions
for a Board of Freeholders of nine members to be elected for concurrent terms
and elected five by districts and four at-large?" Under the provision of the
Charter Law, the petition had to be signed by 15 percent of all County
residents who were registered to vote 40 days before the 1975 Primary
Election. Therefore, more than 56,000 signatures were therefore needed.
By
September 1975, after a campaign at shopping centers and on street corners
throughout the County, 67,000 signatures were gathered by Citizens for Charter
Change and presented to the County Clerk. Disputes arose as to the validity of
the signatures and as to the actual number needed. Finally, after almost three
years and many court battles, the necessary signatures were approved and the
question of Essex County Charter Change was placed on the ballot in November
1977.
Essex County's Charter is Changed; a New Government is Formed
Citizens approved the change in form of government by a 72,226 to 64,238 vote.
As per the approved plan, Essex County was divided into five districts, by
population and geography, with each district represented by one Freeholder,
and the four remaining Freeholders were to be elected at-large. The following
year, the new officials were elected on November 6, 1978, and were sworn into
office on the steps of the Essex County Hall of Records one week later,
Tuesday, November 13.
This created two branches of government: the Administrative Branch, headed by
the County Executive, and the Legislative Branch, the Board of Chosen
Freeholders.
As
required by law, an Administrative Code creating a government with clearly
defined Executive and Legislative branches was written and adopted on May 1,
1979, by the Board of Chosen Freeholders, and approved by the County
Executive. This document set forth in detail the organization of the County
government, proscribing the duties and powers of all major officials, elected
and appointed, and the composition and responsibilities of each of the
departments and non-departmental agencies.
The Code consolidated 68 previously existing departments, agencies, boards and
commissions into eight new departments under the administrative supervision of
the elected County Executive and the County Administrator hired by him, as the
senior professional manager, with the Advice and Consent of the Board of
Freeholders.
Within the eight new departments, 33 separate divisions conducted County
government operations and programs. In addition, a number of advisory boards
were created to provide citizen input and help develop policy and program
initiatives at the department and division levels. According to the
Administrative Code, Article 9, Section 9.Od, "all advisory boards, shall
consist of at least five members plus two freeholders," and shall reflect the
"population of the County and the public served by the agency being advised."
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE: A New Leader for Essex County
The County Executive, elected from the County at-large, for a four-year term,
is the chief political and administrative officer of the County. The duties
and powers of the County Executive are contained in Article 4 of the
Administrative Code. The first elected County Executive was Peter Shapiro, a
26 year old NJ Assemblyman, who was representative of the bi-partisan
coalition of activists that had battled the established political leaders, and
won.
General Duties of the County Executive
1.
Appoints, with the Advice and Consent of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, the
County Administrator, County Counsel, Department and Division Heads, and
members of all County Boards, including Advisory Boards, Commissions and
Authorities.
2.
Hires all departmental employees, subject to the Administrative Code and Civil
Service requirements, but may delegate this power to department heads.
3.
Enforces the County Charter and all general laws pertaining to the County.
4.
Prepares the annual Operating and Capital budget for review and adoption by
the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
5.
Supervises the collection of revenues, as well as the audit, and control of
all disbursements and expenditures.
6.
Presents an annual State of the County Message.
7.
Negotiates contracts for the County subject to the approval of the Board of
Chosen Freeholders.
8.
Signs all Ordinances, contracts and bonds.
9.
May veto any legislation except the budget and other
resolutions. (The Board of Chosen Freeholders may override a veto by a
two-thirds vote of the full membership.)
In
addition to those powers and responsibilities described in the Optional County
Charter Law and formalized in the Administrative Code, the County Executive is
the visible representative of the County in dealings with the public, the
business sector and the municipal governments. Furthermore, the County
Executive represents County interests through lobbying efforts on the state
and federal levels.
The County Executive's Office staff is composed of the personal choices of the
County Executive, and these appointments are not subject to Advice and
Consent. The Staff works with the County Administrator and the Department
Heads to assure that policies of the County Executive are carried out, direct
press, community, and inter-governmental relations, and work with the
Administrator and Director of Personnel to find the best persons for staff and
Board positions.
THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR: a Professional Manager
The County Administrator, appointed by the County Executive with the Advice
and Consent of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, serves at the pleasure of the
County Executive.
The County Administrator is responsible for the day to day operations of
County Government. This includes serving as liaison between the County
Executive and the Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the Freeholders and the
Department Heads. Among the primary responsibilities of the position are
supervising the Department Directors, advising the County Executive, and
developing management policies and procedures.
The management functions are performed through regularly scheduled weekly
meetings, and on-demand, as required problem-solving sessions. The County
Administrator meets regularly with the County Executive to discuss general
County issues and specific operational problems, Board of Chosen Freeholders
agenda items, and personnel matters. The County Administrator, County
Executive, and Department and Division Heads also formally review goals and
objectives.
THE BOARD OF CHOSEN FREEHOLDERS: the Legislative Body
The Board of Chosen Freeholders consists of nine members, five of whom are
elected from districts and four of whom are elected at-large. They are elected
for three-year concurrent terms and may be re-elected to successive terms at
the annual election in November. There is no limit to the number of terms they
may serve. The Board holds meetings, which are open to the public on
Wednesdays or Thursdays at a variety of locations around the County and at the
Hall of Records in Newark. All meetings begin at 7:00 pm. An annual meeting
schedule is available from the Office of the Clerk to the Board of
Freeholders, and is published in daily and weekly newspapers.
The function of the Board of Chosen Freeholders is to perform the legislative
and investigative powers granted to it by the Optional County Charter Law. It
passes whatever ordinances and resolutions it deems necessary for proper and
good governance of the County. The Board also gives Advice and Consent to
appointments by the County Executive of all Department and Division Heads,
County Administrator, County Counsel, and members of all Boards, Commissions,
and Authorities. A prime function of the Board is to conduct investigations
that will aid it in formulating legislation and exercising budgetary powers.
The Board appoints its own counsel, who serves at its pleasure, and in
addition, the Board may, within the limits of its budget, appoint professional
and clerical staff and consultants deemed necessary to perform its statuary
responsibilities.
The President and Vice President of the Board are elected by majority vote of
the Board at its annual organizational meeting. They serve for one year but
may be re-elected to successive terms. The President acts as chairperson for
all formal meetings and sets the agenda. As presiding officer, the President
may move and second motions from the chair but, when wishing to participate in
a debate must relinquish the position for the reminder of the debate.
The President and Vice President are the Board's liaisons to the
Administration, and meet frequently with the County Executive, County
Administrator and the Chief of Staff. Although standing committees are
prohibited, the President establishes and appoints all Board committees as
needed. All ordinances and resolutions passed by the Board are signed by the
President. In the absence or inability of the President to serve, the Vice
President acts in that capacity.
It is the responsibility of the Freeholders to appoint a Clerk to the Board
who is their office manager and serves at the pleasure of the Board. The Clerk
operates with a budget and staff separate from the Administration's. The Clerk
prepares the Agenda for Conference and Board meetings, attends all formal
meetings of the Board, records all the votes and actions taken, and keeps the
minutes. Finally, the Clerk receives all documents and certifies them,
provides secretarial service and handles correspondence for the Board of
Chosen Freeholders. The Office is the official repository for County
documents.
One of the most important powers of the Board is the power of the budget. On
or before January 15th of each year, the County Executive, after formal review
and hearings, must submit a proposed budget and budget message to the Board of
Chosen Freeholders. Aside from the total annual expenditures for each
department, division, commission, and agency, the budget contains
recommendations for a budget for the Board of Chosen Freeholders based on
information supplied by the Executive to the Board.
The Board, in order to hold its own hearings, must file a schedule of requests
for information and appearances by County officials with the County Executive
within ten days after submission of the budget. All Board requests for
appearances by County personnel must be filed at least 48 hours before the
time set for such appearances.
The Board then holds its own budget hearings and sets County policy and
direction in its budget decisions. After passage of the budget, the
Freeholders may request quarterly reports from the County Executive to help
them monitor the budget throughout the year. The County Executive cannot veto
the budget as passed by the Freeholders and must have Freeholder approval to
make changes in the budget during the year.
The Board of Chosen Freeholders oversees non-departmental agencies (see page
39, Article 10 of Administrative Code), which are those agencies that are not
part of any other agency of the County but which must adhere to the same
regulations and controls as the eight departments of government. The Board may
by ordinance create, change, alter, or dissolve agencies that are not deemed
autonomous or mandated by law.
GEOGRAPHY
Land area: 127 square miles
Water area: 3.3 square miles
Highest point: 691 feet above sea level
TEMPERATURE
Average annual: 54 degrees F
Average temperature January:
High 38 degrees F, Low 24 degrees F
Average temperature July:
High 86 degrees F, Low 69 degrees F
PRECIPITATION
Average annual: 44-48 inches
Average number of days with precipitation: 111 days
HOUSING (2000)
Single family units: 115,031
Median housing values, owner occupied: $208,400
Total units: 301,011
EDUCATION
Major colleges and universities: eight
Total public school enrollment: 124,097 (2001-2002)
Number of public school districts: 22
Number of charter schools: 11
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Years of school (2000)
Less than 9th grade: 9.3 percent
High school graduate or higher: 75.6 percent
Bachelor's degree and beyond: 27.5 percent
FORM OF GOVERNMENT
County Executive Plan:
Elected County Executive and Board of Chosen Freeholders (nine members)
County Seat: Newark
GENERAL ELECTION STATISTICS (2002)
Registered voters: 381,177
Ballots cast: 164,249
POPULATION
Second largest county in New Jersey by population
798,301 as of July 1, 2002; 9.2 percent of New Jersey's total population
Median age: 34.7 years
LABOR FORCE (2000)
Total civilian labor force: 370,810
PERSONAL INCOME (1999)
Per capita: $24,943
Median household income: $44,944
Median family income: $54,818
Other Information
Essex County Park System
First County Park System created in United States
Organized in 1895
Includes 20 parks, five reservations and various facilities
5,985 acres of parkland
Major highways accessible to Essex County
Garden State Parkway
New Jersey Turnpike
Interstates 78, 80 and 280
Routes 1-9, 21, 22, 23, 24 & 46
Eisenhower Parkway
Public roads
Total mileage: 1,673
Interstate mileage: 27
State highway mileage: 59
County road mileage: 233
Municipal road mileage: 1,330
Essex County has three of the nation's major transportation centers:
Newark Liberty International Airport
Port Newark
Penn Station
Urban Enterprise Zones:
Within Newark
Within Orange
Within East Orange
Within Irvington
Driving Directions
DIRECTIONS TO ESSEX COUNTY HALL OF
RECORDS/COURT COMPLEX
465 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Newark, NJ 07102 |
Google Maps Directions
ROUTE 280 EAST:
Take Exit 14/Martin Luther King, Jr.
Blvd. Turn right onto Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Hall of Records/Court
Complex is located at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and
West Market Street. For Parking, continue past front of Hall of Records and
make sharp right onto South Orange Avenue. Enter the Jurors’ Parking Lot on
the right.
Alternate Route: Take Exit 13. At the end of the exit ramp, turn right onto
First Street. At third traffic light, turn left onto West Market Street. At
second traffic light, turn right onto Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. At first
light, make sharp right onto South Orange Avenue. Enter the Jurors’ Parking
Lot on the right.
ROUTE 280 WEST:
Take Exit 14B/Martin Luther King, Jr.
Blvd. Turn left onto Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Hall of Records/Court
Complex is located at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and
West Market Street. For Parking, continue past front of Hall of Records and
make sharp right onto South Orange Avenue. Enter the Jurors’ Parking Lot on
the right.
GARDEN STATE PARKWAY (North and South):
Take Exit 145 to Interstate Route 280
East. Follow directions above.
ROUTE 78 EAST:
Take Exit 56 for Hillside Avenue/Clinton
Avenue. Continue on Hillside Avenue to Clinton Avenue. Turn right onto Clinton
Avenue. Turn left onto Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. (High Street) and
continue for about 1 mile. For Parking, make left onto South Orange Avenue.
Enter the Jurors’ Parking Lot on the right.
NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE:
Take Exit 15E and follow signs to
Newark/Raymond Blvd. Raymond Blvd. merges onto Market Street. Stay to the left
and follow Market Street past Penn Station and Broad Street. The Hall of
Records/Court Complex will be on the left. For Parking, turn left onto Martin
Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and then turn right onto South Orange Avenue. Enter the
Juror’s Parking Lot on the right.
Essex County, New Jersey
Resource Page.
Welcome to the
Essex County
site on the American Local
History Network.
... A good story on the always
fun, New Jersey
History's Mysteries site: ..
ESSEX COUNTY
EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO JOINS WITH THE TOWNSHIP OF MONTCLAIR AND THE
NEW JERSEY TREE
FOUNDATION TO PLANT 120 TREES ...
www.essex-countynj.org/
History of
Essex County,
NJ. The recorded
history of
Essex County
begins in 1666 , when 30 Connecticut families headed by Robert Treat arrived
to establish a ...
www.essex-countynj.org/index.php?section=essex/history
HISTORY OF
ESSEX AND HUDSON
COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY
Essex County ... Hudson
County Facts by
Anthony Olszewski - Hudson
County History
...
www.getnj.com/hudessex/hudessex1.shtml
The recorded
history of
Essex County
begins in 1666, when 30 Connecticut families headed by Robert Treat
...
www.newjerseyvisitorsnetwork.com/
"Students were asked to express their
appreciation for the
history, the people and the beauty of
Essex County.
The entries were fantastic, ...
www.essexclerk.com/
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Essex County Municipalities.
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Call us today for a Free
Estimate: 732-812-4352
MackLow Builders is your
General Contractor in Essex County New Jersey.
Essex County Fire Damage Repair Service
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Essex County Fire Damage Restoration Service
Essex County Carpenter Service
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Essex County Home Repair Service
MackLow Builders
3171 US Hwy 9
Ste. 323
Old Bridge, NJ. 08857
Serving New Jersey since 1986
732-812-4352
Copyright: MackLow Builders, Inc.
Are you looking for an Honest
and Respected General Contractor in Essex County NJ?
A contractor who is Fully Insured, New Jersey State Licensed and Certified to do business in
Essex County
New Jersey?
If so, then you have come to the right place.
In Bergen County call MackLow Builders
for all your General Carpentry, Construction and Home Repair needs at
732-812-4352 .
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