Law Director
Arlene Quinones Perez

PERTH AMBOY – R-530-11/15 Authorizing a Professional Services Contract With DeCotiis, Kitzpatrick & Kole to provide legal services for labor and employment, real estate, ABC Matters, additional litigation and extraordinary services. (See the 12/2/15 Issue of the Amboy Guardian for Amendment to this Resolution)

During the public portion, Resident Reinaldo Aviles made a suggestion, “Hire a full time Law Director and law firm. Check with other towns. See who’s cheaper. You should not get a packet (detailed itemization of items to be discussed on the Agenda) the night of the Meeting. When you go into closed session, are you going in on litigation or contract negotiations?”  Law Director Arlene Quinones Perez said, “This resolution is needed to allow the City to have more support then a part-time Law Director can give.”

Councilman
Joel Pabon

Councilman Fernando Gonzalez said, “We can choose any vendors from the list from the other resolution. This will be discussed in private.”

Council President Lisa Nanton noted, “The Council did not put this (R-530) on the Agenda.”

Law Director Quinones responded, “Someone from the administration (not naming a specific person) put this on the Agenda.”

Council President Lisa Nanton

This prompted Councilman Fernando Gonzalez to respond, “Whomever puts a resolution on the Agenda should have their name listed on that item.”

Councilman Joel Pabon was concerned about agendas being finalized very late. “This should be done on the Friday before the Monday Caucus Meeting. There should be a cutoff date so the Clerk is not rushed to put last minute items on the Agenda so we have more time to research the material.”

Council President Lisa Nanton agreed, “The Agenda should be prepped on the Thursday before the week of the Council Meeting and finalized on Friday.”

Law Director Arlene Quinones Perez went even further than that, “The Agenda should be prepped and reviewed by myself two weeks in advance.”

Councilman Fernando Gonzalez

City Clerk Elaine Jasko said, “Noontime on the Friday before the Meeting should be sufficient.”

Mayor Wilda Diaz spoke, “Mark Blunda and his law firm represented the City besides other law firms. Jill Goldy (CFO and Comptroller) can also bring to light resolutions.

Later on in the Meeting, Councilman Fernando Gonzalez referenced Resolution R-530 again. He stated, “I can’t remember that we had a resolution appointing Blunda’s law firm. I would like to formally request if anyone remembers doing a resolution hiring Blunda’s firm. We have hired attorneys that never bid on contracts.”

Mayor Wilda Diaz

Quinones responded to Fernando Gonzalez’ request, “If Blunda (Former Law Director) sat here and someone sat here in his place when he couldn’t attend the Meeting, a contract had to be in place with his firm.”