Council Approves 'Professional Services' Contracts

Among the more than three dozen resolutions approved by Lawrence Township Council members at their meeting last week (Jan. 8) were several authorizing the awarding of no-bid “professional services” contracts.

As a result of these contracts, David Roskos will continue to serve as township attorney for 2012, Eugene J. Elias will act as municipal auditor, Dr. Jennifer X. Luan of Plainsboro will provide pediatric services, the Newark law firm of Genova, Burns & Giantomasi will serve as the township’s special council on labor relations, and another Newark law firm, McManimon & Scotland, will provide specialized legal services in connection with the authorization and issuance of bonds or notes.

Stated in the body of each of the resolutions for the above is the following: “This contract is awarded without competitive bidding as a ‘professional service contract’ under the provisions of the Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5).”

Excerpts from these resolutions include:    

Township Attorney

“The mayor and municipal clerk are hereby authorized and directed to execute an agreement with Sterns and Weinroth, 50 W. State St., Trenton, N.J. 08608, represented by David Roskos, Esq., as township attorney for 2013, with a contracted amount of $55,000. Any additional funding that may be required will be subject to the appropriation of funds in the 2013 budget.”

Municipal Auditor

 “The mayor and municipal clerk are hereby authorized and directed to execute an agreement with Mercadien, P.C., PO Box 7648, Princeton, N.J. 08543, represented by Eugene J. Elias, CPA, RMA, as municipal auditor for the year 2013, in the amount of $50,700, subject to appropriation in the 2013 budget and availability of funds.”

Pediatric Services

“The mayor and municipal clerk are hereby authorized and directed to execute an agreement with Jennifer X. Luan, M.D., 15 Dogwood Dr., Plainsboro, N.J. 08536, in an amount not to exceed $10,000 on the basis of a fee of $100 per clinic hour, subject to appropriation in the 2013 budget and availability of funds.”

Special Counsel for Labor Relations

“The mayor and municipal clerk are hereby authorized and directed to execute an agreement with Genova, Burns & Giantomasi, 494 Broad St., Newark, N.J. 07102, in the amount of $15,000. Any additional funding that may be required will be subject to appropriation of funds in the 2013 budget.”

Specialized Legal Services

“The law firm of McManimon & Scotland, 1037 Raymond Blvd., Suite 400, Newark, N.J. 07102-5408, is hereby retained to provide the specialized legal services necessary in connection with the authorization and the issuance of bonds or notes by the township, in continuance of terms stipulated in a Jan. 9, 2013, agreement and submitted to the township, for an amount not to exceed $10,000.”

*   *   *

Other resolutions approved by council on Jan. 8 denote which state contract vendors the township will use to make various purchases. They also set the “maximum aggregate” amount of a particular commodity/service that may be purchased during 2013. Among the topics covered by these resolutions are:

• Janitorial services, not to exceed $85,449.56;
• Computers, parts and associated products, not to exceed $100,000;
• Unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel, not to exceed $200,000;
• Stationary and office supplies, not to exceed $75,000;  
• Pager services, radio communication equipment and accessories and radio services, not to exceed $50,000; and
• Auto, truck and equipment parts, repairs and accessories, not to exceed $200,000.

A separate resolution authorized the township to continue, for a second year, at a cost of $8,460, to use Eastern Armored Car Services of Trenton to transport deposits to a local bank. Eastern previously was one of three companies to provide the township with quotes for armored car services.

And two other resolutions authorized shared services agreements between Lawrence and neighboring municipalities.

Under one of those agreements, the Lawrence Township Health Department will provide child health clinic services and lead paint risk assessments and investigations to Hopewell Township for a fee of $55 per patient. Under the other agreement, Lawrence Township will pay the Hamilton Township Health Department $25 per patient to receive health clinic services for sexually transmitted diseases.