CITY OF WILDWOOD
Cape May County, New Jersey
RESOLUTION
APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH THE BELASCO LAW FIRM, LLC FOR PLANNING/ZONING BOARD SOLICITOR FOR 2026
WHEREAS, the City of Wildwood (the “City”) desires to retain the services of counsel for the City’s Planning/Zoning Board for the 2026 contract year; and
WHEREAS, the Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i), provides for the award of professional services, without engaging in the bidding process, to a person(s) authorized by law to practice a recognized profession; and
WHEREAS, the Local Public Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 40A:11-2 declares that a “professional service” means services performed by 1) a person authorized by law to practice a recognize profession, 2) whose practice is regulated by law, 3) and the performance of which services requires knowledge of an advanced type in a field of learning acquired by a prolonged formal course of specialized instruction and study; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the New Jersey Local Unit “Pay to Play Law”, N.J.S.A. 19:44A20.4 et seq., the City has sought qualified professionals to provide the services set forth above through the use of a “fair and open process,” as defined in N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.7; and
WHEREAS, two proposals were received for the services of the Planning/Zoning Board Counsel, and the City has determined, based on price and other factors considered as set forth in the Request for Qualifications for Professional Services, that it is in the best interest of the City to award the contract for Planning/Zoning Board Counsel to The Belasco Law Firm, LLC for 2026; and
WHEREAS,The Belasco Law Firm, LLC has completed and submitted a Business Entity Disclosure Certification which certifies that Belasco has not made any reportable contributions to a political or candidate committee in the City in the previous one year, and that this contract will prohibit Belasco from making any reportable contributions through the term of the contract; and
WHEREAS, the Chief Financial Officer of the City of Wildwood has certified the availability of funds.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City of Wildwood, County of Cape May, State of New Jersey, that:
1. The Board of Commissioners hereby specifically determines that the procedures followed in connection with an award of this contract were in full compliance with the Fair and Open Process for awarding such contracts, as set forth in “Pay to Play Law”, N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.4 et seq.
2. The Board of Commissioners hereby approves a professional services agreement with The Belasco Law Firm, LLC to serve as counsel for the City’s Planning/Zoning Board for the 2026 contract year for an amount not to exceed Twenty Five Thousand ($25,000.00) Dollars.
3. The Mayor and the City Clerk are hereby authorized and directed to execute a contract on behalf of the City, and to take any and all other actions necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof.
4. A brief notice stating the nature, duration, service, and amount shall be given Public Notice according to law. The contract is on file and available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s Office.
5. The Business Disclosure Entity Certification shall be placed on file with this resolution.
PREPARED BY:CITY CLERK
Krista McConnell, Commissioner
Steve Mikulski, Commissioner
Ernest Troiano, Jr., Mayor
I, Lisa A. Brown, City Clerk of the City of Wildwood, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was adopted at a Regular Meeting of the Wildwood Board of Commissioners, held this 28th day of January, 2026, and in witness whereof I have hereunder set my hand and official seal on this date written.
LISA A. BROWN, CITY CLERK
1 xFee=$69.73
2/4/26