Title
Dept/ Agency: Office of the Mayor/Municipal Court
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Professional Service Contract
Purpose: To serve as a Per Diem Municipal Public Defender for the Newark Municipal Court representing indigent defendants
Entity Name: Philippe P. Kouassi, Esq.
Entity Address: 24 Commerce Street - Suite 1420, Newark, New Jersey 07102
Contract Amount: $17,000.00
Funding Source: City of Newark Budget/Office of the Mayor
Contract Period: Upon adoption for a term not to exceed one (1) year
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( X ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale ( ) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient ( ) n/a
Additional Information:
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WHEREAS, the City of Newark is in need of Per Diem Attorneys to serve as Municipal Public Defenders to be assigned to cases in the Newark Municipal Court; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark desires to enter into a contract with Philippe P. Kouassi, Esq., 24 Commerce Street - Suite 1420, Newark, New Jersey 07102, to serve as a Per Diem Municipal Public Defender for the Newark Municipal Court, Representing indigent defendants, for an amount not to exceed $17,000.00, for the period commencing upon adoption for a term of one (1) year; and
WHEREAS, this contract is for an amount under $17,500.00 and therefore is not subject to State Pay-to-Play Law (N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5); and
WHEREAS, this contract is being awarded as a Professional Service pursuant to the provisions of the State Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A.:11-5(1)(a)(i); and
WHEREAS, the Municipal Council adopted the Contractor Pay-to-Play Reform Ordinance, R.O. 2:4-22C, which forbids the award of a contract to a Business Entity, as defined therein, which has made or solicited political contributions to Newark Municipal Candidates, office holders having ultimate responsibility for the award of a contract; candidate committees of the aforementioned candidates; and political or political party committees of the City of Newark or County of Essex; and continuing political committees or political action committees regularly engaged in the support of the City of Newark municipal or County of Essex elections; and certain other political party or candidate committees, in excess of certain thresholds; and
WHEREAS, the State Local Public Contracts Law, (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1, et seq.) requires a resolution authorizing the award of contracts for "Professional Services".
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor and/or his designee, the Chief Municipal Public Defender, are hereby authorized to enter into and execute a Professional Services contract with Philippe P. Kouassi, Esq., 24 Commerce Street - Suite 1420, Newark, N.J. 07102, to serve as a Per Diem Municipal Public Defender for the Newark Municipal Court, representing indigent defendants, for an amount not to exceed $17,000.00, for the period commencing upon adoption for a term of one (1) year.
2. This contract is for an amount under $17,500.00 and therefore is not subject to State Pay-to-Play Law N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5.
3. This contract is being awarded as a Professional Service pursuant to the provisions of the State Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i) because service required must be performed by someone who is licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey and is in compliance with the Contractor Pay-to-Play Reform Ordinance, R.O. 2:4-22C.
4. This contract is being awarded as open-ended contract under N.J.A.C. 5:30-5.5(b), and pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:30-5.5(b)(2), a certification of availability of funds shall be executed each time services are used and charged against this contract.
5. The Chief Municipal Public Defender shall file a copy of the fully-executed contract herein authorized in the Office of the City Clerk and it shall be made available for public inspection.
6. A notice of this action shall be published in the newspaper authorized by law to publish a legal advertisement and as required by law within 10 days of its passage.
STATEMENT
This resolution authorizes the Mayor and/or his designee, the Chief Municipal Public Defender, to enter into and execute a professional services contract with Philippe P. Kouassi, Esq., to serve as a Per Diem Municipal Public Defender for the Newark Municipal Court, representing indigent defendants for an amount not to exceed $17,000.00, for the period commencing upon adoption for a term of one (1) year.