title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION TO BRIAN R. SEGUIN, ESQ. FOR OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL PATIENT ADVOCATE SERVICES PERFORMED FOR THE COUNTY ADJUSTER’S OFFICE IN CALENDAR YEAR 2025, PURSUANT TO N.J.A.C. 5:30-11.6 AND RFQ-25-039
body
WHEREAS, the County of Passaic (“County”) is a body politic and corporate pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:18-1 and vested with all rights contained therein; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:20-1, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic (“Board”) is vested with managing the property, finances and affairs of the County; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 30:4-34, the Passaic County Adjuster shall have charge and supervision of the preparation of papers relating to the commitment of persons with mental illness in the County, and in cases arising in other counties in which the legal settlement appears to be in the County; and
WHEREAS, to fulfill its statutory duties, the Passaic County Adjuster’s Office is in need of outside legal services to represent patients in civil commitment hearings and related cases, as needed during calendar year 2025; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5, et seq., the Passaic County Purchasing Agent issued RFQ-25-011, Outside Counsel Patient Advocate for the Office of the Passaic County Adjuster Calendar Year 2025 (“RFQ-25-011”) and RFQ-25-039, Expand the Pool Outside Counsel Patient Advocate for the Office of the Passaic County Adjuster Calendar Year 2025 (“RFQ-25-039”), seeking qualified law to serve as outside counsel patient advocates on an as-needed basis for calendar year 2025; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.4, the County’s request for qualifications was a fair and open process, specifically, the request for qualifications for a pool of outside counsel patient advocates for calendar year 2025 was publicly advertised, awarded under a process that provides for public solicitation of qualifications, established the basis of an award and disclosure process documented in writing prior to any solicitation, and was publicly opened and announced when awarded; and
WHEREAS, on November 18, 2024, the Board passed Resolution No. R-24-984, qualifying and awarding contracts to multiple law firms as outside counsel patient advocates for calendar year 2025 under RFQ-25-011 and RFQ-25-039, including a contract to Brian R. Seguin in an amount not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:30-11.6, the County can authorize contract modifications for professional services and extraordinary unspecifiable services, when the change is within the scope of activities of the original contract and not for the purpose of undertaking new or different work or projects; and
WHEREAS, the Passaic County Adjuster is recommending an additional appropriation not to exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00), to Brian R. Seguin, Esq. for providing outside legal counsel patient advocate services to the Passaic County Adjuster’s Office, for a total contract amount not to exceed thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00) during calendar year 2025; and
WHEREAS, funds are available in Account No. 5-01-20-104-003-213, or any other account that may be deemed appropriate by the Chief Financial Officer or his designee, and the availability of funds has been contingently certified by the Chief Financial Officer subject to sufficient funds being appropriated by the Board in the 2025 and/or subsequent County budget(s), which is attached hereto and made part of this Resolution; and
WHEREAS, this matter was discussed at the March 12, 2025 Administration and Finance Committee meeting, and is being recommended to the Board for approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:30-11.6, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Passaic authorizes an additional appropriation not to exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000.00) to Brian R. Seguin, Esq. for outside legal counsel patient advocate services provided to the Passaic County Adjuster’s Office, for a total contract award not to exceed thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00) during calendar year 2025.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Board shall print, in the official newspaper, a brief notice stating the nature, duration, service, and amount of the contract awarded to Brian R. Seguin, Esq. and maintain a copy of this Resolution on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Clerk to the Board.
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Board, County Counsel, and Director of the Board are authorized to take any action necessary to carry out the purpose of this Resolution.
NB March 25, 2025