Committee OKs plan for two attorneys

By:Alec Moore
   Hillsborough will pay Assistant Township Attorney Albert Cruz a $20,000 salary while Township Attorney John Coley receives $125 per hour, under terms of their contracts approved by the Township Committee.
   The arrangement for the attorneys was one of several contractual service agreements approved by the Township Committee at the Jan. 28 committee meeting by a vote of 4-1.
   Committeewoman Sonya Martin voted against the contractual agreement based on the billing agreement and on her view that it is unecessary to have two township attorneys.
   "I’ve never supported the concept of two township attorneys and I’m still not clear how they plan to divide their services," said Ms. Martin, who voted against the appointment of two attorneys at the township’s reorganization meeting. "I don’t see how this is a cost savings for the township," she added.
   Under the contractual agreement, Mr. Coley’s billing for services rendered can’t exceed $125,000.
   Karl Kemm, the township’s previous attorney, had been paid an annual salary of $75,000 plus $110 per hour, not to exceed $100,000. During the meeting Mr. Coley said Mr. Kemm’s law firm — Lynch, Martin, Philibosian, Chansky, Fitzgerald and Kane — had billed the township for $140,000.
   Committeewoman Martin and former Committeewoman Christine Jensen questioned how much the billing agreement for the two attorneys would ultimately end up costing the township.
   "How do you intend to budget for these services?" Ms. Jensen asked, questioning exactly how much the township could end up paying the attorney’s under the agreement.
   Mr. Coley stated without a "crystal ball" it’s impossible to foresee how much legal aid the township will require in the coming year.
   Mayor Tony Gwiazdowski justified the expenditure by citing that while Mr. Coley’s hourly rate will be more than what Mr. Kemm had received last year, Mr. Coley will not be receiving a salary and Mr. Cruz’s $20,000 salary is considerably less than the $75,000 Mr. Kemm had received.
   Committeemen John Souren, Steven Sireci, Joseph Tricarico and Mayor Tony Gwiazdowski voted for the plan.
   In addition to approving the contracts for the attorneys, the committee approved contracts for the hiring of Maser Consulting for engineering services for the township, Planning Board and Board of Adjustment at a rate not to exceed $20,000 for each of the three approved contracts.
   The committee also approved hiring attorney Arthur Skaar for construction department enforcement and Eric Bernstein for labor negotiations and grievances. The attorneys’ rates were set at $125 per hour, not to exceed $22,000 for the year, each.