(Newton, NJ) The newly titled Sussex County Board of County Commissioners reorganized on
Wednesday night at an in-person, socially distanced meeting in Sussex County Community College’s
Performing Arts Center.

Sussex County Commissioner Dawn Fantasia was nominated and unanimously voted in as the Board’s

Director, with Commissioner Anthony Fasano as Deputy Director; and Commissioner Herbert
Yardley, who was re-elected during November’s General Election, was sworn back into his seat.

The three former Freeholders, a title in effect since prior to the American Revolution, are
historically the first Commissioners to be sworn in for Sussex County, with Yardley, then Fantasia
and Fasano, each taking their oaths.

Commissioner Sylvia Petillo, who served as 2020’s Director, congratulated Yardley, Fantasia and
Fasano, as well as thanked Sussex County administration and employees for their efforts during the
continued unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

“The year 2020 has been an incredibly challenging year,” Petillo said. “Since March, when the
coronavirus was declared a pandemic, everything changed, and COVID-19 took center stage.”

“The COVID -19 pandemic response has been the highest priority of the Sussex County Division of
Health since the reporting of the first positive case,” she added. “The Office of Public Health
Nursing dedicated its entire staff to the pandemic response with significant support from the
Office of Environmental Health and the Human Services Divisions.”

“There was an incredible response from the county staff and our community-based agencies as they
united in purpose and worked together as one entity to ensure our residents were properly cared for
throughout the pandemic,” she continued.

Petillo commented about the board, “This Board has worked tirelessly together this past year to
advance the issues that are important to Sussex County and as a new year unfolds, we will continue
to speak out and make our voices heard on behalf of our residents.”

“A year ago, the tone of this meeting was vastly different,” Fantasia said. “Tonight, is not
myopic, through rose-colored glasses, complete with hearty pats on the back for elected officials.
No politician can use this crisis for self-congratulation. All elected officials cannot stop
pushing forward to do better, to be better.”

“As I complete year two of my term, it is paramount to stay true to the issues the board set forth
to address and the goals we set out to accomplish,” Fantasia said.

Among those issues, she highlighted the ongoing need to provide comprehensive health and
human services to residents, addressing Andover Subacute’s emergence on the county’s radar after it fell under siege to the coronavirus, as a result of state orders to place
COVID-positive residents back into nursing homes.

“Sussex County followed all New Jersey Department of Health procedures and guidelines
while alerting state and federal officials about critical needs within this facility that required
urgent, immediate action,” she added. “I commend Sheriff Strada and the OEM, Andover Police
Department, and local and county agencies who acted immediately, which in turn prompted overdue
action on the part of the state.”

The Board requested Gov. Phil Murphy to deploy New Jersey’s National Guard to assist in the
facility via a letter from Fasano, while the County was one of only a few that fought the battle
without Federal CARES funds, monies slowly trickling in close to September to deliver services
including testing and vaccination.

Fantasia also said the county will continue to strengthen its communications with the public and
municipalities, already “praised in the media as one of the state’s most cooperative counties,
providing comprehensive data to the public throughout the pandemic.”

The Board, she said, will persist in protecting residents’ financial interests, “continuing to seek
ways to consolidate services, to trim budgets while delivering solid services to the county.”
Fantasia added that a county ethics board, which took a back seat to the pandemic, is planned as a
focus in the coming year.

The Board will continue supporting District 24 legislators, who are fighting for residents’ rights
in Trenton, in what Fantasia described as an “often forgotten corner of Northwest New Jersey.”

“Make no mistake: this board is keenly aware that your rights are essential,” Fantasia said.

In acknowledging the departure of Commissioner Joshua Hertzberg on Dec. 31 to serve as a Sparta
Councilman, Fantasia added, “his fire leaves big shoes to fill on the Board, and I am confident the
Republican County Committee will select a strong and principled replacement finish his unexpired
term.”

Yardley thanked Sen. Steve Oroho, R-24th Dist., who administered his oath, for his “kindness and
guidance,” as well as Assemblymen Hal Wirths and Parker Space for their representation in Trenton
on behalf of the county.

As a retired health officer, Yardley additionally addressed the year overall, stating, “I must say,
2020 in general was a trying year for all of us, when I had prepared to run for re- election, I
never expected what would happen to the world.”

“As Sussex County Commissioners, we faced difficulties that we did not foresee, nor ever could
expect, agreeing that our first concern was to meet the needs and the protection and safety of our
residents,” Yardley continued.

He choked up while describing the tragedy at the Andover Subacute facilities, “We were faced with a
pandemic that ravaged our nursing homes, how heartbreaking to lose family members, friends,
colleagues and neighbors.”

“We soon found ourselves in a situation where information was not forthcoming from the state,”
Yardley added. “And there are still unanswered questions.”

He credited District 24 legislators and the County Commissioners working together to overcome the
hurdles of the lack of funding and supplies, to help fight the pandemic, calling it “truly a group
effort.”

Fasano additionally thanked the many arms of county government, working together through the
pandemic difficulties.

“The fact is that our staff in Sussex County come to work every day, focused on making Sussex
County the best and safest county possible for our residents and I am incredibly appreciative of
it.”

He spoke of the challenges Sussex County Clerk’s Office faced, in an unprecedented, exclusive
mail-in election, “developing a comprehensive plan and executing it very well during difficult
circumstances, resulting in a safe, successful and certified election.”

Fasano focused on the county’s efforts in overall challenging COVID-19.

“Throughout the year, I’ve referred to COVID-19 as a fight,” he said. “Sussex County’s collective
fight against the virus that absolutely must be defeated so that we can all get back to normal.”
Fasano said Sussex County’s response to COVID-19 “has evolved greatly throughout the year and will
continue to do so.”

He said the four objectives to the response including saving lives, ensuring safety, continuation
of vigilance and prevention and maintaining a commitment to fully reopen county businesses. As part
of that, Sussex County, he said, is working with NJDOH to develop a COVID-19 vaccination program,
having recently received approval of its CDC COVID-19 vaccination program provider
agreement.

To view footage and listen to full audio of the reorganization meeting, visit:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHpoqWHoIwk.