Preview: February 5 Town Council meeting

More than $72,000 in proposed professional services contracts headlines the agenda for the town council meeting February 5, 2013 -- for architectural, engineering and marketing services work.

The agenda and related materials are here.

The administration is asking council approval for:

- $30,380 to Herbst Musciano, Architects, for architectural/engineering services to build the concession stand with restrooms, estimated to cost $350,000, at the high school. The vendor had the lowest-priced of three proposals. The building is planned for the southern end of football field, including a walkway to the baseball field.

- $15,300 to Keller and Kirkpatrick for engineering and survey services for road and drainage improvements on Mountain Drive and Highwood Road, at an estimated project cost of $600,000.

- $12,000 to Bashkoff Enterprises to become the town’s social media coordinator overseeing a redesign of the township "social media profiles," maintaining and administering a new social media outreach campaign. The resolution states that the bidding was not competitive, but at least two vendors presented to the West Orange Public Relations Commission recently.

- $15,000 to Direct Ignition for marketing and branding services to oversee a renewed marketing initiative to promote the township. The vendor has previously held this contract. The resolution again says the contract is proposed without competitive bidding, although the town earlier solicited proposals.

Other agenda items include:

- A resolution asking to cancel the town’s interlocal agreement to provide animal control services for Roseland. Roseland has declined to agree to an indemnification of West Orange for the renewal contract, according to the resolution. The contract provides $10,123 to the town annually.

- A request to the council to authorize applying for and accepting a matching $5,000 matching grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the state’s Office of Emergency Management to enhance the town’s ability to protect against terrorism, natural disasters and other catastrophies. The town contributes another $5,000.

- A proposed ordinance on first reading to change the location of two handicapped parking spaces on Llewellyn Avenue and Longview Street.

- Requested authorization for the auction of 20 abandoned cars on February 19.

I’m a West Orange Township councilman since 2010 and can be reached at jkrakoviak@westorange.org. A former financial journalist, in my spare time I’m a business communications consultant.