Courtesy Hamilton Township

Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede has signed the township's reform of its public contracting, according to a release from the township.

The ordinance codifies existing township practice of going out for competitive bids on services not required by state law, such as insurance brokers and attorneys. Town council unanimously passed the ordinance Tuesday night.

"Building upon our existing policy of competitively awarding professional service contracts, today, the Hamilton Township municipal government continues to move forward with this new law to protect the best interests of our current and future taxpayers,” Yaede said in a release announcing the signing.

Contractors for bids for professional services, which are exempt from state requirements for bidding, have to submit competitive proposals for projects beyond a $36,000 threshold, where price will be one factor in determining who is awarded the contract. The ordinance also weighs other factors, such as the contractor’s experience and ability to do the work. 

The ordinance came up in council two months after the resignation of former Mayor John Bencivengo. Bencivengo was convicted in November of five federal charges related to the school board corruption case against him. Marliese Ljuba, the government’s cooperating witness in the case, testified she bribed him with $12,400 in exchange for his influence with members of the Hamilton Board of Education.