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Salem council approves hires, contracts, grants and a HUD planning MOU in sweeping consent agenda
Summary
Council approved a package of resolutions on July 15, 2024 including personnel hires (Ana Perez and three public-works laborers), a janitorial state-contract award, a $15,729 playground resurfacing contract, rejection of a waterfront proposal for noncompliance, a $124,937 market-analysis contract under a Food Security grant, endorsement of an NJDOT municipal-aid application and an MOU with the Salem Housing Authority for a HUD Choice Planning Grant.
At its July 15 meeting the Salem City Common Council approved a series of resolutions covering personnel, contracts, grant endorsements and interlocal agreements.
Personnel and hiring: The council voted to employ Ana Perez as Clerk 2 in the Tax Collector's office (Res. 2024-201) at an annual salary listed in the resolution and to hire three laborers for the Public Works Department (Res. 2024-211), subject to civil-service rules and pre-employment screenings. The hires were approved by roll call where recorded and by voice votes for consent items.
Contracts and procurement: Council authorized janitorial services under State contract #77110 with ACCSES NJ (Res. 2024-203), and awarded a $15,729 contract to 2 Brothers Paving LLC to resurface the Clarence May Memorial playground basketball court on Hubbell Avenue (Res. 2024-205). The council also rejected a single waterfront redevelopment proposal (D2 Organization) because required electronic and hard-copy submittals were not provided by the RFP deadline and authorized re-advertising (Res. 2024-206).
Grants and studies: The council approved entering an MOU with the Salem Housing Authority in order to implement tasks related to a HUD Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant (Res. 2024-208; grant award cited in the meeting materials as $500,000). Council also authorized an agreement with Brownfield Redevelopment Solutions, Inc. (BRS) to conduct a market analysis for a food-security planning project at 25 New Market Street under the NJEDA Food Security Planning Grant (Res. 2024-209). The contract amount recorded in the resolution and proposal was $124,937, to be paid by grant funds.
Transportation: Council endorsed submission of an NJDOT municipal-aid application for resurfacing Grieves Parkway (Application #00564) and authorized the City Engineer to prepare required documents through NJDOT systems (Res. 2024-210).
Community partnerships: Council approved participation in the Salem County Probation Division Community Service Program (Res. 2024-207) to obtain supervised community-service labor at no cost to the city.
Public comments during the meeting raised neighborhood concerns (water billing questions, a request to adjust the street sweeping schedule, properties needing repair on Broadway, and vehicles obstructing sidewalks). Commerce Director/City staff responded to clarify which streets were city-owned and which projects require bidding.
Votes at a glance (selected): Res. 2024-200 (designate depositories) — approved by voice vote; Res. 2024-201 (hire Ana Perez) — roll call yes; Res. 2024-203 (janitorial through State contract) — approved by voice vote; Res. 2024-205 (2 Brothers Paving resurfacing) — approved (contract $15,729); Res. 2024-206 (reject waterfront proposal) — approved; Res. 2024-208 (MOU with Salem Housing Authority for HUD Choice Planning Grant) — approved; Res. 2024-209 (BRS market analysis contract) — approved (not-to-exceed $124,937); Res. 2024-210 (endorse NJDOT local aid application) — approved; Res. 2024-211 (hire laborers) — approved; Res. 2024-212 (Municipal Alliance grant insertion) — approved.
Why it matters: The resolutions move several near-term projects and staffing decisions forward — from park infrastructure to a HUD-funded planning process for public housing — and commit the city to vendor contracts and grant-driven studies that will shape redevelopment and service delivery.
What comes next: Administrative staff and departments were directed to carry out the contract and hiring steps, prepare required grant application materials, and return to Council with further reports as necessary.
