Ravi Ballah, Peter Cunningham in pay to play politics

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Permalink Reply by Eric Kurta on March 1, 2010 at 5:21pm

I visited City Hall today, in a calm and thoughtful manner – and during office hours – and determined the following:

Despite the allegations made last Friday evening on Hoboken411, the 2010 contract for legal services given to Mr. Paul Condon is not in violation of the 2007 Pay-to-Play ordinance. It is problematic only in terms of public perception and personal conclusions drawn.

However…

Mr. Condon did enter into an agreement to provide legal services to the city for a one-year period beginning February 28, 2008. The contributions made by Mr. Condon’s spouse, Renee Condon, were dated 3/30/07 ($750) and 5/31/07 ($500) and are within the one-year period prior to entering into an agreement wherein contributions are limited to $300 or less. Though the amount of the contract was for less than that of the state’s bidding threshold, it was nonetheless defined as a professional services agreement and thereby apprarently bound to comply with the P2P ordinance. This has been brought to the attention of Mr. Kates, Hoboken Corporation Counsel, who will report his conclusions to the Mayor and City Council sooner rather than later, I would imagine.

The contract was signed by Mr. Condon and Mayor Roberts. I have been unable to find any council resolution approving this contract and found no mention of this engagement on city council agendas from late 2007 or early 2008.

As for the charges made against Councilman Bhalla, his professional relationship with Mr. Condon is best addressed under the state ethics law, I would think. I’m not an expert in this area and would suggest first that a request be sent to Mr. Kates asking for a written interpretation of the situation as it relates to the advice he gave Councilman Bhalla.

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Permalink Reply by Kyle on March 1, 2010 at 8:11pm

Mason issues release; No official comment yet from POG
Reaction is rolling in to Hoboken411’s exclusive Friday evening investigative report on Councilmen Ravi Bhalla and Peter Cunnigham’s conflicted vote to award a no-bid legal contract to attorney Paul Condon.

2nd Ward Councilwoman Beth Mason sent the following press release today:

Beth Mason calls for Hoboken Special Counsel Paul Condon to resign immediately and for state investigation of blatant conflicts of interest.

Hoboken, NJ- Councilwoman Beth Mason is calling for newly appointed Special Legal Counsel Paul Condon to resign after reports surfaced that Councilmen Ravi Bhalla and Peter Cunningham voted to approve his no-bid contract despite conflicts of interest.

“Both Councilmen Bhalla and Cunningham chose to vote for Paul Condon’s no-bid contract despite being previously warned about their obvious conflicts of interest,” Mason said. “Councilman Bhalla and Mr. Condon rent the same law office on River Street and share operating expenses totaling tens of thousands of dollars. If Mr. Condon can’t pay his share of those expenses, this directly affects Councilman Bhalla’s personal finances. This is one of the most blatant conflicts of interest I have ever seen.”



Mason says she is also “very concerned” about Bhalla’s claim that Corporation Counsel Michael Kates told him he could vote for Condon’s contract. “I am very interested in learning how any qualified and impartial attorney could not see this blatant conflict of interest.”

Mason says that the matter should be investigated by the New Jersey State Division of Local Government Services and the New Jersey Bar Association. The councilwoman adds that if Condon does not resign she will introduce a resolution to fire him at the next council meeting and consider taking legal action on her own.

Mason believes that Cunningham’s vote for the Condon appointment violates “at least the spirit” if not the letter of the Hoboken pay to play ordinance because Condon and Cunningham’s wives have a business relationship, jointly offering and marketing real estate. Condon also made a $750 contribution to Cunningham’s council campaign.

Condon would not have received a $29,000 no-bid contract for special legal services without the votes of both councilmen. The council can also vote to increase the contract at any time.

“Situational Ethics” and “Cronyism” Criticized

Mason says the Condon appointment is the latest example of the “situational ethics” problems that are plaguing Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s administration. Mason says that a large number of people who made large campaign contributions to Zimmer have received high paying jobs or important appointments from the mayor’s administration.

“I ask that Mayor Zimmer, who recommended Mr. Condon for the position of Special Counsel, join me now in asking for his resignation. The Mayor and her City Council majority must not refuse to give the people of Hoboken the open, honest government they deserve. This cronyism is nothing more than business as usual in Hoboken politics and certainly not the kind of government they promised,” said Mason.



Eric Kurta said:

I visited City Hall today, in a calm and thoughtful manner – and during office hours – and determined the following:

Despite the allegations made last Friday evening on Hoboken411, the 2010 contract for legal services given to Mr. Paul Condon is not in violation of the 2007 Pay-to-Play ordinance. It is problematic only in terms of public perception and personal conclusions drawn.

However…

Mr. Condon did enter into an agreement to provide legal services to the city for a one-year period beginning February 28, 2008. The contributions made by Mr. Condon’s spouse, Renee Condon, were dated 3/30/07 ($750) and 5/31/07 ($500) and are within the one-year period prior to entering into an agreement wherein contributions are limited to $300 or less. Though the amount of the contract was for less than that of the state’s bidding threshold, it was nonetheless defined as a professional services agreement and thereby apprarently bound to comply with the P2P ordinance. This has been brought to the attention of Mr. Kates, Hoboken Corporation Counsel, who will report his conclusions to the Mayor and City Council sooner rather than later, I would imagine.

The contract was signed by Mr. Condon and Mayor Roberts. I have been unable to find any council resolution approving this contract and found no mention of this engagement on city council agendas from late 2007 or early 2008.

As for the charges made against Councilman Bhalla, his professional relationship with Mr. Condon is best addressed under the state ethics law, I would think. I’m not an expert in this area and would suggest first that a request be sent to Mr. Kates asking for a written interpretation of the situation as it relates to the advice he gave Councilman Bhalla.

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