The Trenton Times published the following article on April 12, 2013. To read the full article, click here.
Mercer County officials decide against no-bid contract with law firm in dispute with JCP&L over poor service
By Jenna Pizzi/The Times of Trenton
on April 12, 2013 at 8:00 AM, updated April 12, 2013 at 10:28 AMTRENTON — Mercer County has balked at spending $30,000 for legal representation in a dispute with Jersey Central Power & Light over poor service and will look for other ways to fight the battle, the board of freeholders decided last night.
The board was all set to approve a year-long, no-bid contract with the law firm Bevan, Mosca, Guiditta and Zarillo of Basking Ridge, but decided it was too much money and that there might be a source of public representation available instead.
County officials have said JCP&L has not been responsive about fixing a series of power outages at the correctional facility in Hopewell Township. They had hoped to apply leverage to JCP&L by opposing a 4.4 percent rate increase the power company has sought. Many New Jersey communities, upset about the way JCP&L handled the Hurricane Sandy crisis, are involved in the protest.
County Administrator Andy Mair said that in “internal discussions” the members of the administration decided that the legal contract was not the “most cost effective way” to intervene in the case.
At their meeting on Tuesday, county administrators told the board that the Basking Ridge law firm had experience that the county’s attorneys do not.
Mair said the county has had several serious power outages at the Mercer County Correction Center in Hopewell Township and during extreme weather events often loses power.
Last night the freeholder board did approve a multi-year contract with Waste Management for trash disposal.
County officials said the expected contract will bring $1.7 million in savings to taxpayers in the first year.
Waste Management’s bid to haul the waste came in at a lower rate than they are currently charging, officials said. Under the new contract the company would charge $66 per ton for collection in the first year, down $6 from the previous contract. The cost is expected to increase slightly each year for the term of the contract.
At the same time, the Mercer County Improvement Authority would lower its tipping fee — the amount it charges haulers to dump their loads at the Ewing transfer station — from $125 to $118 per ton.
The contract will have to go before the Department of Environmental Protection for approval before it is enacted. Officials said that process could take several months.
Contact Jenna Pizzi at jpizzi@njtimes.com or (609) 989-5717.