By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
An attorney was hired by the Transition Task Force (TTF) on Wednesday to guide the group as they make recommendations for the consolidation of the Princetons.
William John Kearns Jr. of Willingboro was approved to serve the committee for his expertise, enthusiasm in the consolidation process and his willingness to negotiate his fee.
Mr. Kearns was selected from a pool of three finalists by several of the Transition Task Force members.
”We met with three candidates who had been recommended to us that were culled from a larger pool of candidates,” said Brad Middlekauff, task force member at the TTF meeting on Wednesday night. “Our view was that Bill Kearns was at the top of the list. “
As the general attorney for the New Jersey League of Municipalities, Mr. Kearns has many contacts in various arms of state government, which task force members found attractive. He has been practicing local government law since 1965 and is a partner at Kearns, Reale & Kearns. He also was attorney for the 1996 consolidation commission in the Princetons.
”I have an emotional interest in seeing how this process goes and how it works out,” said Mr. Kearns. “One of the exciting things about this is nobody has done it before, so you are breaking new ground for any other towns that decide to follow in the same process, which I find exciting … This probably is the most interesting project to come along in a number of years.”
Mr. Kearns offered the lowest billing rate, even offering a discount on his billing rate because of the interest in the project, said Mr. Middlekauf. The task force asked Mr. Kearns not to exceed $40,000 as a starting point; other firms came in quite a bit higher, he added.
”It may be that the $40,000 number here moves, but I think we need to continue to have communication with Bill and the task force to monitor and make sure we are getting what we need at a reasonable price,” said Mr. Middlekauf.
One suggestion Mr. Kearns made was to think about a labor attorney to deal with personnel and contract issues, as he specializes in structuring local government and representing municipalities.
”I had suggested when I was being interviewed that while I have done labor contracts you are breaking such new ground with the unions and the labor contracts you have it would probably be advisable to get a real labor specialist,” he said.
The TTF is not permitted to go to the municipal attorneys for legal advice, so hiring its own attorney was a necessity.
Princeton Township will be the contracting agency.

