47-15 Attachment - Contract - Blau and Blau.pdf

AGREEMENT FOR COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TAX APPEALS THIS AGREEMENT made and entered into on this __ day of January, 2015 by and between the TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE, a municipal corporation of the State of New Jersey, located at Town Hall, 66 Main Street, West Orange, County of Essex and State of New Jersey, hereinafter called the “TOWNSHIP”, party of the first part, and BLAU & BLAU, Attorneys at Law of the State of New Jersey, located at 223 Mountain Avenue, Springfield, New Jersey 07081, hereinafter referred to as “COUNSEL”, party of the second part. WITNESSETH THAT: WHEREAS, the Governing Body of the Township has determined that it is in the best interests of the Township to retain the services of Special Counsel to represent the Township in connection with commercial real estate tax appeals on a flat fee basis; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1. The Township hereby retains the services of Blau & Blau, as Special Counsel to assist the Township in connection with commercial real estate tax appeals for the period February 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015 at a flat rate of $6,000 per month. 2. COUNSEL will not seek reimbursement for its routine costs and expenses such as postage, copying, mileage, meals, parking, or delivery of documents. 3. COUNSEL may seek reimbursement for extraordinary expenses such as the cost of deposing adverse witnesses, transcripts or hiring experts. Counsel will not incur any such expenses without the approval of the Township Attorney. 4. COUNSEL’S responsibilities shall include all pre-trial preparation, discovery and trial, to the extent necessary, for all commercial real estate tax appeals pending or commenced in the Tax Court of New Jersey against the Township. Counsel’s responsibilities do not include preparation or appearance for matters pending or commenced at the County Board of Taxation.