Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Veterans Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council discusses a veteran-friendly procurement and hiring resolution; asks staff for more research
Summary
Council President Boyse introduced a proposed resolution setting aspirational goals (6% contract set-aside for certified veteran subcontractors; 5% municipal workforce veteran target) and to recognize veterans; councilors asked for legal review and examples from nearby towns and agreed to revisit the item as old business in about 30 days.
Council President Boyse presented a draft "veteran-friendly" municipal resolution that would establish goals for contracting with veteran-owned businesses, encourage hiring veterans into the municipal workforce, and recognize veterans' civic service. Boyse described suggested benchmarks, including a 6% set-aside for qualified veteran subcontractors on municipal contracts and a goal that 5% of the borough workforce be veterans. "It stipulates... that 6% of the contract to be awarded to a qualified veteran subcontractors who are certified in the state of New Jersey," he said as part of the explanation.
Council members voiced support for the intent but raised concerns about procurement law and potential legal exposure if the borough treated preference metrics as requirements rather than aspirational targets. One councilor suggested scouring adjacent municipalities for policies and consulting municipal counsel or the League of Municipalities for drafting guidance. Members agreed to pause action, gather more information and examples, and return the resolution as old business on the March agenda to consider implementation and any required legal protections.
No final vote occurred; the council treated the item as a discussion and next-step direction to staff and counsel.
