WHEREAS, an allegation of age discrimination has been received claiming a violation of Teaneck’s Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual as set forth in Appendix IV of Chapter 2 of the Code of the Township of Teaneck with respect to an appointment to the position of Deputy Police Chief; and
WHEREAS, in order to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest, the Township Council finds that it is necessary to hire the services of an independent outside hearing officer to to undertake the investigation of said allegation and to issue a written report and recommendation thereon to the Township Council; and
WHEREAS, the Township of Teaneck’s labor counsel, Genova Burns, have recommended that John J. Harper, JSC (retired), of Counsel with Laufer, Dalena, Cadicina, Jensen & Boyd, LLC, located at Chancery Square, 23 Cattano Avenue, Morristown, N.J. 07960, be retained to perform such investigation based on his familiarity with public employee personnel matters and experience in conducting investigations; and
WHEREAS, such services constitute professional services as defined under the Local Public Contracts Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq.), the total cost of which will not exceed 15% of the bid threshold of $36,000.00 and may be awarded without public bidding; and
WHEREAS, the Township Council finds and concludes that the award of such a contract to John J. Harper, JSC (retired), based on his familiarity with public employee personnel matters, his experience in conducting investigation respecting public employee personnel matters and his independence and impartiality, will be most advantageous to the Township of Teaneck, price and other factors considered;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Township Council of the Township of Teaneck, Bergen County, New Jersey, that John J. Harper, JSC (retired), of Counsel with Laufer, Dalena, Cadicina, Jensen & Boyd, LLC, located at Chancery Square, 23 Cattano Avenue, Morristown, N.J. 07960, is hereby awarded a professional services contract to conduct an investigation into an allegation of age discrimination claiming a violation of the Township of Teaneck’s Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual as set forth in Appendix IV of Chapter 2 of the Code of the Township of Teaneck with respect to an appointment to the position of Deputy Police Chief and to prepare a written report thereon setting forth findings, conclusions and recommendations thereon, and that the Mayor is hereby authorized to execute such agreement, of a form approved by the Township Attorney, to carry out the foregoing purposes, at an hourly rate of $250.00, not to exceed a total contract price in excess of $5,000.00, and upon the filing of and compliance with Teaneck’s Pay-to-Play disclosure ordinance; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a brief legal notice be published in the legal newspapers of the Township of Teaneck setting forth the nature, duration, service and amount of the contract and that the within resolution and a copy of the contract are on file in the Office of the Township Clerk and are available for public inspection.
A Certificate of Availability of Funds, signed by the Township's Chief Financial Officer, is on file in the Office of the Township Clerk and sufficient funds for this purpose are available under the 2015 Temporary Budget of the Township of Teaneck.