Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Procurement Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hazlet committee authorizes legal, audit and engineering contracts and two cooperative equipment purchases
Summary
The Hazlet Township Committee approved appointments of township attorney, labor counsel, auditor, planner and consulting engineers with fee limits and authorized two ESCNJ cooperative purchases for public works equipment contingent on CFO certification.
At its Jan. 6, 2026 reorganization meeting the Hazlet Township Committee approved a series of professional-service appointments, fee caps and cooperative procurement authorizations intended to support township operations in 2026.
The committee adopted resolutions appointing Gregory W. Vella, Esq. of Collins, Vella & Casello, L.L.C. as township attorney for a one-year term with a firm fee not to exceed $75,000, and Peter P. Perla, Esq. as labor attorney with a similar fee cap. The committee also appointed Robert W. Swisher of Suplee, Clooney & Co. as township auditor for the 2025 audit with a fee not to exceed $44,275 and named MJ Planning, LLP as township planner with a fee cap of $25,000; in several resolutions the committee cited that appointments followed a fair-and-open process under the statute referenced in the text.
The committee authorized cooperative purchases through the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey (ESCNJ) procurement vehicle, contingent on certification of funds by the Chief Financial Officer: one 2023 Proview 6x4 chassis from Dennis Eagle not to exceed $173,500 (ESCNJ Co-Op #65, ESCNJ# 23/24-04) and one 33 CY Bridgeport EZ Pack Ranger automated side-load body from Detcon not to exceed $186,357.03. The resolutions state purchases are contingent on CFO certification and compliance with cooperative contract terms.
The professional appointments and procurement authorizations were adopted by roll call. Resolutions include explicit fee caps or not-to-exceed amounts recorded in the meeting minutes; the committee also approved a roster of consulting engineers for special projects and a sewer consulting engineer with fee limits for 2026.
Next steps: the Chief Financial Officer must certify available funds before the cooperative purchases proceed and the municipal clerk will provide required notice and documentation as directed by the adopted resolutions.
