189-25 Resolution Approving Zoning Board of Adjustment and Planning Board Attorney Professional Services Contract.pdf

189-25 August 12, 2025 RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the Township Council adopted Ordinance No. 2721-23 (the "Ordinance") which revised Chapter 25, Section 55.1 of the Township of West Orange (the "Township") Municipal Code (the "Township Code") and established the amount of escrow fees payable by applicants for land use applications to be determined by Resolution; and WHEREAS, Resolution 298-23 sets forth the fee schedule in the Ordinance and provides that attendance of the Board Attorney for any special meeting shall be $750 per meeting and any other professionals to be paid at $150 per hour; and WHEREAS, the Township, to pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:1 l-5(1)(a)(i), sent a request for qualifications for professional services contracts for the land use boards which is permitted under the Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-1 et seq.; and WHEREAS, the responsive attorneys submitted a rate of $195 per hour for legal work for applications to be paid by escrow payments from the applicants which proposals were approved by the autonomous land use boards; and WHEREAS, the Township seeks to raise the hourly rate of land use board attorneys set forth by Resolution 298-23 fix the hourly rate for the land use board attorneys for escrow matters in an amount of $195/hour. Nothing contained herein shall change the special meeting escrow rate of $750 per meeting. This hourly rate applies to pre and post meeting work concerning the escrow payments for land use applications. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT, AND HEREBY IT IS, RESOLVED BY THE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE, that the rate for land use applicants for escrow matters to be paid to land use board attorneys shall be $195 per hour, with all other portions of Resolution 298-23 to remain in effect unless otherwise superseded by