Residents » COVID-19 Status Site
Situation Report - Current County Services
January 19, 2021
County offices are closed to the public, but still operational.
Commissioner Meetings are live streamed; times have been adjusted, see schedule.
Current Situation Update - Somerset County Department of Health
The County Clerk's Office is available to the public by appointment only.
To schedule an appointment please call the Clerk's Office at 908-231-7013 or email the Clerk's Office at CountyClerk@co.somerset.nj.us or book an appointment online here.
Current Services:
- Records: Documents for land recordings can be sent by mail, e-recording, or dropped off at the Administration Building. Click here for more information.
- Notary Public: Oaths are conducted via Zoom, contact the Clerk's office for more information. For more information email notaryoath@co.somerset.nj.us. Applications are available online here.
- Passports: Applications are being processed by appointment only. To schedule an appointment for a passport call 908-231-7008 or email us at passports@co.somerset.nj.us. Applications are available online at the State Department's website by clicking here.
- Trade Names: Trade names are being processed by mail or by appointment only. Applications are available online here.
- Weddings: The County Clerk is performing weddings via Zoom. For more information, e-mail weddings@co.somerset.nj.us.
- Curbside Recycling Pickups - running on schedule
- HHW, Electronic Waste and First Saturday - next events to occur Sept. 12 (Social distancing is required at all events)
- Shredding Events - Schedule & Locations
- Electronic Waste Drop-off sites are temporarily closed to the public on weekdays at the following locations:
- South County Public Works facility, 410 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough
- North County Public Works building, 411 Chimney Rock Road, Bridgewater
Due to the current healthcare situation, Richard Hall continues to adapt to the evolving circumstances, and is following the Governor's executive order for aggressive social distancing and limited in-person contact. Please continue to check the website for updates. Currently, services are operating on the following schedule:
- Richard Hall is providing limited access to services by appointment only from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call your provider and follow the instructions on their voicemail.
- Medication Clinic is available for those who need injectable medication, but by appointment only. Clients will be contacted by a Medication Associate to schedule an appointment.
- All clients who need refills should call the refill line at 908-253-3113.
- As always, if experiencing a psychiatric emergency call PESS at 908-526-4100.
- All outside meetings are temporarily suspended until further notice. Tele-mental Health is being conducted for individual, group and family therapy. Several hybrid support groups are also being provided.
- Please call the ACCESS Center for information and to schedule appointments for intakes at 908-253-3165.
- Tele-mental health evening appointments are accepted now. Appointments can be made through the ACCESS Center.
- NJ Compiled State and National Resources Directory
Remember, you are not alone. Support continues to be available even though it is not face-to-face. There is an entire community ready to help you or your loved ones whenever you need support. Click here for more information about support through text, online groups and call centers.
- All county-operated senior centers are temporarily closed until 30.
- Meals on Wheels Program is delivering hot and/or frozen meals five days a week according to the client's meal-delivery schedule.
- Office on Aging and Disability Services is temporarily closed to walk-ins. Staff is available to take calls at 908-704-6346 or toll-free at 1–888 –747–1122.
- Curbside services are available for those who need assistance, but only after staff has evaluated the caller's needs over the phone and has deemed that assistance is necessary.
- Senior wellness centers are not providing onsite activities, but clients are able to participate in a wide range of activities and programs via Zoom from the comfort of their own home.
- Grab and Go Curbside Lunch Program is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To order lunch, a reservation is required.
- Clients must call the Senior Center by 10 a.m. the day before they wish to pick up lunch.
- Staff is available to assist and link to services. Please call 908-704-6346 or toll-free 1- 888-747-1122.
ATTENTION: During the current Health Emergency the Agency will operate on reduced hours.
- North Plainfield office is temporarily CLOSED
- Somerville office will open 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
- Franklin office will be open 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
- Outside of these hours, all persons seeking assistance are referred to NJ211 (Dial 211) for shelter.
ATTENTION SNAP RECIPIENTS: If your case is due to be re-certified and you were unable to get your paperwork in or complete your interview, your case will not be closed. You will receive your benefits on the usual day. Your case will be re-certified at some point in the future, once this public health crisis has settled. In the meantime, you will continue to receive SNAP benefits.
APPLY ONLINE: We are encouraging county residents who want to apply for SNAP food assistance, cash assistance under the Work First New Jersey program, or Medicaid to do so online at www.njhelps.org. During this public health crisis, we can do interviews by phone, so you do not need to come into the office to apply for benefits.
For a direct link to the Board of Social Services
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the Somerset County Community Development Office will hold a virtual public meeting using Zoom on June 24, 2020 at 12 p.m. to solicit comments for the proposed use of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in the amount of $1,098,818 and HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds in the amount of $532,984 that were allocated to Somerset County. Click here to view the proposal.
Click here to join the virtual public Zoom meeting today, Wednesday, June 24, at 12 p.m.
The Surrogate’s Court is operational, but the office is temporarily closed to the public . Staff is processing work through mail, email and fax.
Residents can drop off their documents at curbside by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call the Surrogate's Office at 908-231-7003, or email surrogatesoffice@co.somerset.nj.us. Faxes can be sent to 908-575-3965 or 908-575-3966. Contact the Surrogate's Office for information about the following services:
- Administration Case Information
- Administration Questionnaire
- Affidavit of Next of Kin Case Information Form
- Affidavit of Surviving Spouse Case Information Form
- Minor’s Case Information Form
- Probate of Will Case Information Form
- Testamentary Trust Case Information Form
- Currently operating all Somerset County public transit service routes.
- Providing transportation for seniors and residents with disabilities to medical appointments, employment and shopping.
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Continuing to deliver meals to home-bound residents.
Department | Current Services Available |
9-1-1 Comm | Public Safety Radio 911 is continuing normal operations, assisting all municipalities 24/7 and as a support function for OEM. |
Adjusters Office | The office is fully operational with staff working remotely and rotating in-office, Monday - Friday • 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. |
Aging & Disability Services | Preparing meals for the homebound and providing telephone outreach and support to seniors and disabled persons. Please see tab above. |
Community Development | Continuing to support grant administration by email inquiries or voice mail: 908-541-5756. Questions about housing assistance are best directed to Central Jersey Housing Resource Center. Note: Homelessness Trust Fund is not available at this time. |
Economic Development | Working through ESF-14 function and to support the formation of a economic recovery taskforce. |
Elections | Limited MVC online transactions but will not be providing any direct services to the public. |
Emergency Management | Coordinating response to COVID19, working closely with the county Department of Health and all 21 municipalities. Donations or Volunteering |
Emergency Svcs Training Academy | The classroom portion of most primary courses has been completed through an online process. Student registration has started for a small amount of additional online courses: ESTA webpage |
Engineering | All construction projects are proceeding, with oversight and inspections as necessary. Road opening permits will be processed, administered and inspected. All public inquires will receive a response. Proceeding with bidding projects, but contractors will not be allowed to pick up bid documents at the office; they will have to be mailed. |
Facilities & Services | Mail, repairs, deliveries, preventive maintenance, and overseeing contractors will still be done as well as any back up services needed by other divisions. |
Finance | Fully functional. |
Health | Working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the New Jersey Department of Health and local healthcare partners to identify cases and prevent possible transmission of the virus. |
Human Resources | Applications for employment can be submitted online. HR staff continue to be available in the office (by appointment), by phone and through email, fax or regular mail communications to respond to employee inquiries and needs. |
Information Technology | Continual local and remote support, making network upgrades as planned or as needed. |
Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC) | Calls and emails checked daily, while mail and faxes are checked every few days. Please contact your treatment agency directly for questions. The DMV is only available for online services, call 609-292-7500 for restoration. May 4-5 class rescheduled for June 15-16 or June 22-23. May 18-19 class rescheduled for July 13-14. |
Juvenile Institutional Services | JIS continues to closely monitor youth court ordered to the Home Detention and Advanced House Arrest programs, provide intensive case management services via phone and e-mail to all youth and families participating in its other programs, and is in constant contact with Middlesex Juvenile Detention Censure to ensure the health and well-being of Somerset County youth currently placed in that facility. |
Library System | SCLS extended online resources set is available to anyone residing in Somerset County through at least April 30. The link is sclsnj.org/BeSafeAtHome Adding an expanding list of online and streaming programs for all ages. Check their website. |
Richard Hall | Please see tab above. |
One Stop | Greater Raritan One Stop will be assisting jobseekers and businesses via email. Job seekers are encouraged to text the word onestop to 56512 for job seeker updates and opportunities. Also see information under various resources. |
Park Comm | Updated information. |
Planning | Continuing to support efforts to promote the 2020 Census. Processing land development applications and grant programs. Staffing the Infrastructure Restoration effort with Engineering and the Somerset County Business Partnership. |
Prosecutor's Office | Assistant Prosecutor's continue to screen new criminal complaints, handling first appearances, providing legal services to all Somerset County law enforcement agencies, working with Somerset County Superior Court judges on early release for certain incarcerated individuals, preparing court cases and motions, assisting with search warrants, etc. Admin staff is still processing new criminal complaints that are coming into the office, processing paperwork for detention hearings and first appearances. Detective staff is responding to major crimes for investigative purposes, processing crime scenes, making arrests, and case follow-up. Collision Accident Reconstruction Team (CART), Arson Task Force, and narcotics are available to assist local police with fatal or near fatal car crashes, suspicious or confirmed arson fires and for narcotics investigations. |
Purchasing | Requisitions will be reviewed and processed on an as need basis. Bid/RFP openings have been postponed and rescheduled for later dates. |
Recycling | Please see tab above. |
Roads & Bridges | Roads and Bridges will be in operation to handle maintenance and repair of County infrastructure. |
Rutgers Cooperative Extension |
Working remotely to provide programming and information for the public and RCE clientele. Visit the RCE website and social media sites for information on learn-at-home opportunities and information. 4-H club meetings and events are happening virtually. Agriculture & Natural Resources, Family and Community Health Sciences and 4-H all offer online education and clientele support. All in-person RCE programming is suspended due to COVID-19 through August 2020. |
Sheriff’s Office | Proactively responding and adapting as the COVID19 situation evolves, and increasing patrol in key areas. Providing security for county buildings, and jail. Project life saver is operational. Sheriffs are also available to local police for assistance. No visitations in the jail. No work details. No foreclosures, evictions, sales. |
Social Services | Please see tab above. |
Soil Conservation | Continuing to meet state requirements, enforcement & site inspections. |
Taxation | Accepting appeals for all Somerset County properties via regular mail or email, through June 8th. Email or call 908-541-5701 our office with questions. We anticipate that tax appeal hearings will be scheduled for mid-June or July. |
Transportation | Please see tab above. |
Vehicle Maintenance | Continuing to maintain county vehicles. |
Veterans Svcs | Accessing and checking on pending VA Claims. Veterans can ask questions via email or by calling 908-704-6329 - messages will be checked daily. Also see information under various resources. |
Volunteer Svcs | Transferring Handyman and Tax Program phone lines to staff in remote location. |
Vo-Tech | The Somerset County Vocational School District has teachers and Administrators working remotely using on-line learning techniques, a Health Related School Closure Plan has been provided on our website, which is updated daily. Students have been surveyed to assess on-line access as well as access to devices. Chromebooks have been loaned to students expressing a need and instruction is being developed aligned to the State standards. |
Weights & Measures | The office is fully operational with staff working remotely and rotating in-office, Monday - Friday • 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Consumer inquiries left on office voicemail or by email will be responded to. All business field inspections have resumed. |
Workforce Development Board | Providing and promoting online resources for jobseekers at www.thegrwdb.org – see list under "Mission” on the homepage. SkillUp Greater Raritan, which is free to every resident and business in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. |
Youth Services | Contact the office via email or by phone 908-704-6333, Monday - Friday • 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Working to conduct needs assessment and hold meetings virtually. The Family Crisis Intervention Unit is responding to crisis situations and is also providing ongoing treatment via the phone. It also continues to communicate with the public, including providers, via email and phone. Late hours Monday - Thursday • 8:30 am - 7:00 pm. |