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Council approves payment of bills, several contracts and settles multiple lawsuits following executive session
Summary
In a special meeting June 4 the council approved payment of approximately $14.4 million in bills, approved construction contracts and change orders, and after executive session voted to settle multiple pending lawsuits (roll calls recorded; one estate settlement drew a recorded dissent).
The Paterson Municipal Council used its special meeting on June 4 to approve payment of bills, several contract awards and change orders, and to authorize settlements following an executive session on pending litigation.
Payment of bills: The council approved payment of bills totaling approximately $14,426,767 (the clerk’s summary noted roughly $6.7 million as a repayment to the board of education and $5.8 million for payroll). Councilmembers voted by roll call in the special meeting to adopt the payment resolution.
Contracts and change orders: During the workshop members approved multiple public-works items. Notable votes included a resolution to award a resurfacing and sidewalk contract to Marini Brothers Construction Company for Church Street, Clinton Street and Westside Park sidewalks (bid referenced in the packet) and change order authorizations for the Westside Park renovation project. Members asked for additional engineering documentation and emphasized they wanted copies of change-order scopes and pricing prior to final votes on large change orders for the dispatch/communication center project.
Executive session and settlements: Council entered executive session to discuss pending litigation (cases listed during the read-in included Gilmore v. City; Desiah Leak v. City; Estate of Odell v. City; Vincent Tuesta v. City). After returning to open session the council authorized settlements for multiple claims by recorded roll call. The record shows unanimous or near-unanimous approval on several settlements; Council President Mims recorded that one member voted "no" on the estate-of-Odell settlement and the meeting transcript records differing views and condolences during that vote.
What to watch: Council directed administration to circulate supporting documents related to large change orders and to make available a clearer record of contract scopes for members. Several members requested that future large contract items include more detailed, member-distributed documentation ahead of votes.
