An oft-used vendor was awarded another contract for planning services, this time to bridge a gap between a retiring director and a successor within the city’s Division of Planning.
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City Council approved a resolution (AR-169-20) during its Sept. 8 regular meeting to award another $25,000 contract to Heyer Gruel & Associates for municipal planning services.
The Red Bank-based planning firm is familiar with Rahway, awarded a number of planning services contracts in the past year, including:
- $25,000 contract to determine whether an industrial area qualifies for redevelopment;
- $27,500 contract for a strategic planning study to examine downtown infill
- $33,000 contract to develop the Arts District Redevelopment Plan.
The contract is to bridge the gap between between the retirement of Cynthia Solomon, AICP/PP, director of the Division of Planning, within the Department of Community Development, according to City Administrator Robert Landolfi.
Landolfi said in a telephone interview earlier this month that he’s confident that Solomon’s replacement has been identified, with the process potentially finishing up. However, a gap is expected between the time Solomon leaves and the replacement is hired. “We needed to avail ourselves to professional planning services, ask technical questions. This gives us that ability,” he said.
When the resolution was passed early this month, Landolfi said he wasn’t sure how long the contract might be for but hoped about five weeks. The $25,000 contract would cover through the end of the year in case the city is unable to find a candidate, Landolfi said. If the candidate works out, they would begin by about the first full week of October. The contract would then be only a fraction of the $25,000 noted in the resolution, he added.
AICP planners average 14–18 years of experience in the field, according to the American Planning Association. AICP Certification is the only nationwide, independent verification of planners’ qualifications. Certified planners pledge to uphold high standards of practice, ethics, and professional conduct, and to keep their skills sharp and up to date by continuously pursuing advanced professional education.
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