Transparency needed
Ray Lamboy, Recklesstown Way, Chesterfield
The procurement of goods and services by local governments is regulated by State law. Here in Chesterfield, however, State law seems to be regarded more like guidelines than actual rules.
The Chesterfield Township Committee recently awarded six professional service contracts, while their appointees on the Planning Board awarded five service contracts. They were supposed to publish a public notice disclosing the dollar amounts of these contracts, pursuant to State law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.5).
This is their notice, reading in pertinent part: “Costs are as per contract price and limited to budget appropriations.”
I assume that Chesterfield officials will defend their failure to disclose the costs. After all, they relied on the advice of counsel (you know, the lawyers whom they awarded contracts for legal services without disclosing the costs).
But even if the law didn’t require full disclosure of the material terms of public contracts, they should have done it anyway. Government should be open and transparent, especially when taxpayer dollars are involved.
Notably, Mayor Lawrence Durr, Deputy Mayor Michael Hlubik and their appointees on the Planning Board have spent untold sums of taxpayer money to defend themselves in court against allegations of insider self-dealing and conflicts of interest (the sums are “untold” because they won’t tell us).
They have adopted ordinances regulating everything from flagpoles to solar panels to satellite dishes. They actually approved an ordinance restricting the public’s right to record them during public meetings!
They govern Chesterfield like a private condo association, collecting dues without accounting for the money, passing rules that border on the obsessive (Ordinance 2010-15: “Picket finials such as fleur-de-lis, triads, or royal styles are encouraged”).
The Chesterfield Township Committee should have to comply with State law before they enact and enforce any more inane local laws.

