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After executive session, director alone awards legal contract for insurance litigation; two commissioners recused
Summary
Following an executive session, Director Jason Sarnoski voted alone to approve a contract with Anderson Kill & Olick for insurance‑coverage litigation; Commissioners Kern and Ciesla were recused for that vote.
After convening an executive session on litigation and property matters, the Warren County board returned to open session and, with Commissioners James R. Kern and Lori Ciesla recused, Director Jason J. Sarnoski moved and voted on a resolution awarding professional legal services to Anderson Kill & Olick, P.C. to assist the county in insurance-coverage litigation.
The resolution (RESOLUTION 137-25) was presented on motion by Mr. Sarnoski and recorded as seconded by Mr. Sarnoski. The minutes record that Kern and Ciesla recused themselves for that portion of the meeting and that the recorded vote on the legal-services award was Jason Sarnoski: yes. The contract authorizes Anderson Kill & Olick to represent the county on insurance-litigation matters tied to dockets WRN‑L‑000444‑24, WRN‑L‑000467‑24 and WRN‑L‑000002‑25, with hourly rates listed in the resolution: $850 per hour for supervising attorney Steven J. Pudell; $500 per hour for Sean D. McCabe; and $345 per hour for Abigail Damsky.
The board had previously adopted Resolution 136-25 to move into executive session under N.J.S.A. 10:4-12 to discuss litigation and property acquisition. The minutes record that the board returned from executive session at 7:03 p.m. and that Kern and Ciesla rejoined the meeting after the award was recorded. The resolution was recorded as adopted by the director's single yes vote in open session.
