City attorney: retired justice retained to review redevelopment deals; Paramount contractor withdraws

The city attorney told the council the city has retained retired New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Lee Solomon to review the city’s redevelopment agreements and advise on the city’s rights in the event of default on the casino property and other waterfront obligations.

"He has obtained all the documents. He has reviewed them. He is having phone calls with a couple of the parties, and I expect in the next several weeks he'll be giving his opinion in writing, which will be made public when we receive it," the city attorney said.

Separately, the city attorney said Madison and related entities informed the city that the contractor expected to complete Paramount Theater construction — March Associates Construction — has decided not to be the contractor on the project. The city said it discussed the development in executive session and "supports Madison's efforts to promptly engage an alternate contractor in time to undertake the $11,700,000 project within the time constraints of the terms of the boardwalk preservation grant from the state," the attorney said.

Council members and members of the public raised concerns about the paused contractor arrangement and the prospect that the state grant money could be returned if the work is not performed within grant deadlines. The attorney said the city will publish the forthcoming legal opinion when it is received, and council members indicated they would continue to press the issue in future meetings.

No council vote was taken tonight on the Paramount matter; the council heard the update and continued with the scheduled agenda.