Lawyers, engineers and consultants have until Dec. 21 to submit their names.
By: John Patten
Hillsborough Township is looking for professionals to hire for 2007, and interested lawyers, engineers and consultants have until Dec. 21 to submit their names.
The Township Committee unanimously approved a resolution setting the date for opening bids for the professional positions the township will fill that pay more than $17,500 per year at Tuesday’s meeting.
As part of the state Local Unit Pay to Play law passed in 2004, the township now advertises the positions and requests bids. Prior to the law, some of the positions were filled by appointments, without requiring competitive bidding.
"We don’t have to go with the low bidder, but we will interview the three or four lowest to see who we like best," Township Administrator Kevin Davis said Wednesday.
This year’s round marked the second time the township used the "fair and open" process for filling the positions, however, few bids were received for most of the positions last year.
"I think there will be more because people are getting used to it," Mr. Davis said.
As proof professionals are learning how the bidding works, Mr. Davis cited several "success stories" that the township has enjoyed in 2006: a tax map preparation bid projected costs at $300,000 but was performed for $150,000, and the hiring of the township’s affordable housing consultant, Jennifer Beahm of Birdsall Engineering (also approved Tuesday see story) for $28,500.
"We saved some money," Mr. Davis said.
The positions advertised are for township, labor, Planning Board and board of adjustment attorneys, bond counsel, municipal auditor, a consulting township engineer, engineers and alternate engineers for the Planning Board and board of adjustment, special counsel for affordable housing matters, engineering inspection services and risk management consultants for the township’s joint insurance fund and health benefits.

