Title
Dept/ Agency: Law
Action: (X) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Professional Services Contract
Purpose: To provide legal services as Special Counsel.
Entity Name: Hunt, Hamlin & Ridley
Entity Address: 60 Park Place, 16th floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102
Contract Amount: Not to exceed $100,000.00
Funding Source: 2025 Budget Department of Law
Unit NW011 Dept. 040 Div./Proj. 0401 Acct. 71260 B2025
Contract Period: January 01, 2025 through December 31, 2025
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor (X) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
(X) Non-Fair & Open (X) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale ( ) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
Additional Information:
body
WHEREAS, the City of Newark (the “City”) has a need to acquire Legal Services; and
WHEREAS, Legal Services are Professional Services exempted from the requirements for public bidding, pursuant to Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i); and
WHEREAS, Hunt, Hamlin & Ridley with offices located at 60 Park Place, 16th floor, Newark, New Jersey 07012 has agreed to serve as Special Counsel for the City regarding Special Litigation Matters; and
WHEREAS, given the complexity of these matters it is more efficient and cost-effective for Hunt, Hamlin & Ridley to handle this matter on behalf of the City; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, Corporation Counsel, wishes to enter into and execute a contract with Hunt, Hamlin & Ridley to provide legal services, as it pertains to Special Litigation Matters, in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($100,000.00), for the period of January 01, 2025 through December 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, this contract is awarded without competitive bidding as an exception to public bidding, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i), professional services; and
WHEREAS, the Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq., requires a resolution of the Governing Body authorizing the award of contracts for professional services and further requires that the contract itself must be available for public inspection; and
WHEREAS, the actions contemplated by this resolution shall result in the award of a Non-Fair and Open Contract in accordance with N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5, which has been determined and certified in writing to have a value in excess of $17,500.00; and
WHEREAS, Hunt, Hamlin & Ridley has completed and submitted a Business Entity Disclosure Certification, which certifies that it has not made any reportable contributions to a political or candidate committee in the City in the prior year and that the contract will prohibit Hunt, Hamlin & Ridley from making any reportable contributions through the term of the contract; and
WHEREAS, the Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq., requires that notice of the award of contracts for “Professional Services” without public bidding must be published in a local newspaper; and
WHEREAS, the Contract is being awarded pursuant to the Non-Fair and Open Procedures of the State Pay to Play (N.J.S.A 19:44A-20.5).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Corporation Counsel, are authorized and directed on behalf of the City of Newark to enter into and execute a contract with Hunt, Hamlin & Ridley with offices located at 60 Park Place, 16th floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102, to provide legal services concerning the Special Litigation Matters in an amount not to exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($100,000.00) for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
2. The Municipal Council ratifies this contract from the period of January 1, 2025 to the date of adoption of this resolution.
3. This contract is awarded without competitive bidding as an exception to public bidding pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i) and as a Non-Fair and Open Contract in accordance with N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5.
4. Attached hereto is a Partial Certification of Funds from the Municipal Comptroller of the City of Newark, which states: (1) that there are sufficient funds, in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($15,000.00), for the purpose set forth herein. The Certification of Funds shall be filed along with the original Resolution in the Office of the City Clerk.
5. The Business Disclosure Entity Certification and Determination of Value shall be filed with the Office of the City Clerk.
6. A copy of the executed agreement herein authorized shall be filed in the Office of the City Clerk by the Corporation Counsel and shall be made available for public inspection.
7. A notice of this action shall be published in the newspaper authorized by law to publish legal advertisements and as required by law within ten (10) days of adoption of this resolution.
8. There shall be no amendments or changes of this resolution without approval of the Municipal Council.
9. There shall be no advance payments on this contract, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:5-16.
STATEMENT
This resolution ratifies and authorizes the Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Corporation Counsel, to enter into and execute a contract with Hunt, Hamlin & Ridley, with offices located at 60 Park Place, 16th floor, Newark, New Jersey 07102, to provide legal services concerning the Special Litigation Matters in an amount not to exceed $100,000.00, for the period of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.