The ordinance amendment includes a provision that bans a redeveloper from seeking a no-bid contract if the company, its partners, officers or principals made contributions to a candidate committee or political committees in Lawrence Township or Mercer County.
By:Lea Kahn Staff Writer
Beefing up its pay-to-play campaign finance reform ordinance, Township Council introduced an amendment to the law that would ban redevelopers from being considered for no-bid contracts if they donate to political campaigns.
Township Council introduced the ordinance amendment in a unanimous vote Tuesday night. The proposed ordinance is set for a public hearing and final action at the council’s June 7 meeting.
The council was set to introduce the ordinance amendment last month, but tabled action after community activist Falk Engel of Barnett Road raised questions about proposed changes.
At the council’s April 19 meeting, Mr. Engel suggested expanding the ordinance to require redevelopers to disclose campaign contributions to political campaigns outside of Lawrence Township. The version that was set for introduction last month limited disclosures to township political campaigns.
The version that was introduced Tuesday night included Mr. Engel’s suggestion. The ordinance amendment includes a provision that bans a redeveloper from seeking a no-bid contract if the company, its partners, officers or principals made contributions to a candidate committee or political committees in Lawrence Township or Mercer County.
The ordinance amendment requires a redeveloper to file a "contributions disclosure statement" with township officials that lists contributions made to a political candidate or political committee for two years prior to the redeveloper’s application, and two years after the completion of a redevelopment project in Lawrence.
Prior to the council’s vote on the ordinance amendment, Mr. Engel thanked Township Council and Municipal Attorney Kevin Nerwinski for incorporating his suggestions into the proposed ordinance.
The ordinance will separate the redevelopment process from political contributions, Mr. Engel said, adding that it will "enhance the trust" in government. The political contributions disclosure statement will add transparency to government, because it is secrecy that "fuels rumors" among citizens, he said.
Harmony Avenue resident Nick Mellis also urged Township Council to introduce the ordinance amendment, adding that he is "really happy" that the township is taking the lead by introducing the ordinance and avoiding ethical lapses. He quickly added that he did not think there have been any ethical lapses.
Councilmen Rick Miller and Greg Puliti said they believed introducing the ordinance amendment is the right thing to do. Mr. Puliti suggested introducing an ordinance amendment to address the issue of redevelopers and campaign finance issues earlier this year.
Township Council wants to beef up its pay-to-play ordinance through the amendment, which adds redevelopers to the list of professionals whose political campaign contributions would bar them from receiving no-bid contracts.
Pay-to-play regulations are aimed at professionals who seek no-bid contracts from Township Council. Under state law, governing bodies such as Township Council may award contracts to attorneys, architects, engineers and planners without first seeking competitive bids.
The ordinance amendment refers to redevelopers, who are defined under state law as "any person, firm, corporation or public body that shall enter into or propose to enter into a contract with a municipality or other redevelopment entity for the redevelopment or rehabilitation of an area in need of redevelopment…or rehabilitation…or for any construction or other work forming part of a redevelopment or rehabilitation project."
Township Council serves as the redevelopment agency and would award a contract for a redevelopment project. The Brunswick Pike South Redevelopment Area a one-mile-long stretch of Brunswick Pike, between the Brunswick Circle and Mayflower Avenue is the only redevelopment area in Lawrence.
The township’s pay-to-play ordinance, adopted in 2004, allows professionals to donate up to $400 each to a political candidate. A donor may give up to $500 to each Lawrence or Mercer County political club or committee.
It also sets a $2,500 limit combined on donations to political candidates, township and county political parties and political action committees. Donors who exceed the limits are ineligible for no-bid municipal contracts.