Firm replaces local attorney Robert Martinez, who has been the school board attorney for over 15 years
By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
The Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education has hired a new general counsel — the Lawrenceville-based law firm of Parker McCay
The firm replaces local attorney Robert Martinez, who has been the school board attorney for over 15 years.
The full school board voted unanimously and without comment Monday night to hire Parker McCay. Two appointments were approved. The first makes Parker McCay the board counsel immediately, through June 30. The second appointment runs from July 1 through 2009.
The firm will be paid on an hourly basis — $165 per hour for the firm’s partners and $155 for the firm’s associates.
Appointed special education counsel to the board Monday night was the law office of Paul Barger. Mr. Barger is based in Chatham. The appointment is for the 2008-2009 school year. Attorneys from his firm will be paid $140 per hour. Paralegals will be paid $80 per hour. All board members voted in favor of the appointment except Judy Lindenberger, who abstained.
According to the firm’s Web site, Parker McCay’s School Law Group “has decades of experience providing comprehensive legal services to school districts throughout New Jersey. Our expertise includes all aspects of school district representation, including general counsel, labor/personnel, special education, public finance and construction. We provide quality legal services to over 80 school districts throughout New Jersey.
”Parker McCay represents nearly every type of school district, including K-eight, K-12, regional high school, vocational, and special services districts. As problems arise, a district can be assured that we have dealt with similar issues in the past and will draw upon that experience to benefit our clients,” the siet says.
THE BOARD ALSO approved two contracts, totaling $437,500, that call for partial replacement of the roofs on Hopewell Elementary School and the district’s administrative headquarters.
The roof work was strongly recommended by the school district’s facilities supervisor, Norman Torkelson, who said it might cost the district considerably more to wait any longer on the work. Both the elementary school and administration building are impressive red brick structures that date to the 1920s.
The re-roofing contracts were awarded to the firm of Arista Builders of Marlboro. Under one contract, a cornice on the administration building, at 425 S. Main St., Pennington, will be replaced for $183,500. A cornice and cupola on Hopewell Elementary will be replaced for $254,000.