Hawthorne council approves year‑end transfers, rejects defective lead‑paint bids and awards emergency lead‑service contract

The Hawthorne Mayor and Council adopted a package of year‑end resolutions at its Dec. 18 meeting addressing budget transfers, interfund moves and several operational and procurement matters.

Administrator Eric Maurer summarized the resolutions for the council. R162 authorized a budget transfer to cover appraisal costs for an ongoing tax appeal. R163 allowed interfund transfers to move investment interest and outside police administration fees into the current fund and move unspent snow money into a storm reserve trust. R167, the council was told, rejects the lead‑paint inspection proposals because the borough received only two responses and each had material defects: one bid lacked a price proposal and the other failed to identify a laboratory subcontractor. The administrator said a revised RFP has been prepared.

Council also approved R171, which authorizes purchase of replacement water meters through the Morris County cooperative to continue the meter‑replacement project; R175 renews an annual cybersecurity software license; R170 authorized Basel to perform inspection services on the phase‑3 downtown revitalization project; and R176 through R181 authorized various grant applications. R182 awarded an emergency contract to John Garcia for replacement of water service lines on an emergency basis outside the phased replacement contract, with a price the administrator said was ‘‘significantly less’’ than recent contracts.

During debate councilmembers asked about the status of meter purchases and the lead‑paint inspection procurement; staff said the borough is nearly finished replacing non‑radio read meters but will continue to maintain a stock and that the RFP for inspection services would be revised and reissued.

The resolutions were adopted by roll‑call votes. One councilmember recorded an abstention on a particular line item during the bills vote; otherwise the packages carried by majority vote.

Votes at a glance

• R162‑24 (budget transfer for appraisal costs) — approved by roll call. • R163‑24 (year‑end interfund transfers) — approved by roll call. • R167‑24 (reject lead‑paint inspection proposals) — approved; two bids rejected for defects. • R170‑24 (inspection services for downtown revitalization phase 3) — approved. • R171‑24 (purchase of water meters via Morris County Co‑op) — approved. • R175‑24 (cybersecurity license renewal) — approved. • R176‑24 through R181‑24 (grant authorizations) — approved. • R182‑24 (award contract to John Garcia for emergency water service line replacement) — approved.

The council does not appear to have adopted any new ordinances at the meeting; the resolutions are administrative and procurement actions intended to close out year‑end obligations and prepare for upcoming work.