WHEREAS, the Township of Teaneck (the “Township”) is seeking to retain professional legal services for Special Counsel to the Township for the purposes of reviewing certain funds disbursed by the Township in accordance with the State of New Jersey’s Garden to Nurture Human Understanding and Community Resource Garden Grants, and providing the Township with best practices for the vetting of such disbursements prior to approval; and

WHEREAS, the Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1, et seq.) authorizes the award of a professional services contract for such services without competitive bidding by reason that such services constitute “professional services” which are services rendered or performed by a person authorized by law to practice a recognized profession, whose practice is regulated by law and the performance of which services requires knowledge of an advanced type in a field of learning acquired by a prolonged formal course of specialized instruction ad study as distinguished from general academic instruction or apprenticeship; and

WHEREAS, the Township received a proposal from Matthew C. Moench, Esq. of the law firm of King, Moench & Collins LLP, attached hereto and incorporated herein, to provide the above-described services as set forth in the firm’s cost proposal; and

WHEREAS, the Township Council finds that a contract for such professional legal services should be awarded to King, Moench & Collins LLP, based on their experience, expertise and scope of services offered; and

WHEREAS, the fees expended for these services shall not exceed $10,000, without prior authorization of the Township Council; and

WHEREAS, authorization for these services shall be subject to the Township Manager’s approval and the Chief Financial Officer certifying that there are available sufficient uncommitted appropriations to provide for the payment, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:30-5.3(c) and 5:30-5.5(b).

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that:

1.              The Township is authorized to enter into a contract with King, Moench & Collins LLP, to engage in professional legal services as described above

2.              The term of the contract will be from January 23, 2024 through December 31, 2024.

3.              This contract is awarded pursuant to the “non-fair and open” process under the Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5, et seq.

4.              The Mayor is hereby authorized to execute a contract, in a form acceptable to the Township Attorney, and any related documents; based upon the fees set forth in the firm’s cost proposal.

5.              The Business Entity Disclosure Certification and the Determination of Value is to be placed with this Resolution; and

6.              This Resolution shall be published in the Township’s official newspaper as required by law within ten days of its passage.

CERTIFICATION

I, Doug Ruccione, Township Clerk for the Township of Teaneck, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted by the Township of Teaneck at a meeting held on January 23, 2024, with a quorum being present and voting in the majority.

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                                                                                                  Clerk, Township of Teaneck