Ken Balut
PERTH AMBOY – 6/22/15 Caucus Meeting. No. 3 – An Ordinance to amend an ordinance entitled. “Police Department” (Ordinance No. C-74) adopted on October 17, 1928) also known as Chapter 95 ET SEQ of the Code of the City of Perth Amboy. Re: Rules and Regulations.
R-288-6/15 Authorizing professional service agreements with qualified bond counsel who have submitted responses to requests for proposals for the period July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.
Fernando Gonzalez
Former Council President, Former Police Officer and Former Union Representative Ken Balut had a mouthful to say about the two items above. “I negotiated the accreditation in 1993. They could have changed the process in 2008. This Rodgers Group is a scam. Why don’t you list bidder’s names (R-288) as we did before?”
City Attorney Mark Blunda replied, “Ordinance No. 3 as well ask Ordinance No.1 & No. 2 which talked about Handicapped Parking and Uniformed Firefighters’ salaries were reviewed by the Police, Unions and Outside Consultants.”
The Rodgers Group LLC is a consulting service to assist police departments in securing NJSA COP reaccreditation. Balut has been critical about the Rodgers Group since it was awarded a contract by the City. (See 7/16/14 & 9/17/14 Issues of the Amboy Guardian)
Acting Police Chief Larry Cattano said, “These Ordinances were updated with current practices of the Department. The Practices were probably updated in the 1990’s. I can talk to the Rodgers Group about the latest changes.”
Councilman Fernando Gonzalez and Council President Lisa Nanton said they would like to see the changes recommended by the Rodgers Group which differed from the 1990’s.
Cattano said, “Some of the changes came from me, plus the Rodgers Group and Consultants.”
Fernando Gonzalez also requested if Chief Cattano can give him a copy of the contract.
At the 6/24/15 Council Meeting, Balut again referenced Resolution R-288.
“The Professional Service Group (McManimon & Scotland) that was awarded this contract should have been listed on that Agenda Item. You’re voting on something that gave money to your campaign. Names of corporations are no longer being listed because they are campaign contributors.”
City Attorney Mark Blunda reiterated, “Names have not been listed in the past. The people who will be providing the professional services were not involved in the court case (involving election fraud).”
Balut answered back, “McManimon & Scotland did a lousy job in the past. The Council has cut back the time that speakers can talk so that Agenda Items cannot be discussed in detail.
When it came time to vote on R-288, it was Moved by Bill Petrick, Seconded by Fernando Irizarry. Fernando Gonzalez abstained. He found it to be legally and morally wrong for McManimon & Scotland to be awarded this contract. “If they want to act in good faith they will remove themselves.”
During the Council Comments, Fernando Gonzalez wanted to know asked Blunda what is the ethical responsibility of a law firm that might be in conflict.
Blunda answered, “The law firm is not aware of my decision of letting them have this City Contract. No member of this Council was in conflict when voting on this. I will write to the law firm about your decision to take this matter further.”
Councilman Pabon told Fernando Gonzalez, “If you feel this way about this firm being awarded this contract, you should just submit a letter to them instead of us writing a letter to them for us to vote on this matter.”
Council President said, “It’s not our jurisdiction, but the law firm’s.”
Fernando Gonzalez answered back, “We should inform the law firm of your ruling (Blunda’s) of the conflict of interest.” This motion was moved by Joel Pabon and Seconded by Bill Petrick.
