In contrast to the tense meeting to begin the year, Council’s second meeting of the year was a routine affair. The year’s first snowstorm delayed the meeting by two days to Wednesday, January 28, and it certainly dampened attendance, as council member George Borek was absent and only four members of the public showed up.
Professional services reappointments were the primary agenda items, and every appointment was approved with the exception of the health insurance benefits consultant, Eric B. Labaska of Frenkel Benefits, which was pulled from the agenda.
“Ms. Geevers and I determined it needed further looking into,” council president Bryan Maher said after the meeting. “Frenkel was not the lowest bidder. We wanted to review the proposal submitted by the lowest bidder.”
Maher explained that professional services agreements do not have to go to the lowest bidder, as professional qualifications also need to be considered. In this case, he said, he wanted to review the proposals submitted by the lowest bidders and the request for qualifications, which he says was not included in materials distributed by the administration prior to the Council meeting.
“We felt we needed to see those documents, it’s close to 100 pages. So any time the administration puts up something that’s not the lowest bidder, then it is part of our duty to ask why.”
The following reappointments were approved: Jeffrey I. Rubin remains the municipal prosecutor (with a fee set at $30,000); John W. Hartmann will continue as the public defender ($19,200); McManimon, Scotland & Baumann LLC will provide bond and redevelopment counsel ($50,000); Harry Haushalter will serve as tax counsel; Ruderman and Glickman, P.C. will provide labor attorney services ($25,000); Piazza & Associates will provide affordable housing consulting services ($17,000).
Grover Memorial at Night. Council vice president Linda Geevers announced she and fellow Council member George Borek have arrived at an interim solution regarding the nighttime flag at the Grover Memorial. An army flag will replace the stars and stripes until the township finds a way to illuminate the flagpole at night.
Other business. Council also approved a county grant agreement to fund the Akselrad property purchase in the amount of $152,500; the purchase of emergency services communications equipment from Motorola Solutions for $97,958; and the purchase of support and maintenance of proprietary computer hardware and software from Vital Communications Inc. for $17,220.
The next West Windsor Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 9, at the Municipal Building. All February meetings of the West Windsor Planning Board have been cancelled, as have the Site Plan Review Advisory Board meeting scheduled for Monday, February 9, and the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 26.
