Source: https://ecode360.com/31337622
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 22:25:02+00:00

Document:
§ 65.1-2 Prohibition on awarding public contracts to certain contributors.
§ 65.1-3 Contributions made prior to effective date.
§ 65.1-5 Contribution statement by business entity.
§ 65.1-6 Return of excess contributions.
§ 65.1-9 Citizens private right of action.
Editor’s Note: Section 3 of this ordinance also set forth that the monetary thresholds of provided in the definition of “business entity” and in § 65.1-2C are to be increased effective March 1 of each calendar year by the percentage increase in the prior calendar year of the consumer price index for all urban consumers for the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island or Philadelphia region, rounded to the nearest $10. In addition, the ordinance stated that the Borough Clerk shall, no later than April 1 of each calendar year, prepare and publish the revised thresholds on the official municipal website and in an official municipal newspaper.
Every political committee, continuing political committee, or other form of association or organization that regularly engages in the support of candidates for the Borough of Seaside Heights municipal or County of Ocean elective offices or Borough of Seaside Heights municipal or County of Ocean political parties or political party committees.
To the extent that it is not inconsistent with state or federal law, the Borough of Seaside Heights and any of its departments, instrumentalities or purchasing agents shall not enter into any agreement or otherwise contract to procure professional services, as such term is defined at N.J.S.A. 40A:11-2(6) and used at N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(i), and/or banking, insurance or other consulting service (hereinafter professional services), nor extraordinary unspecified services, as such term is defined at N.J.S.A. 40A:11-2(7) and used at N.J.S.A. 40A:11-5(1)(a)(ii), and/or media, public relations, lobbying, parking garage management or other consulting and/or management service (hereinafter extraordinary unspecified services) from any business entity if such business entity has solicited or made any contribution to 1) a candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of any candidate for elective municipal office in Borough of Seaside Heights or a holder of public office having ultimate responsibility for the award of a contract, or 2) to any Borough of Seaside Heights or County of Ocean political committee or political party committee, or 3) to any continuing political committee or political action committee that regularly engages in the support of Borough of Seaside Heights municipal or County of Ocean elections and/or Borough of Seaside Heights municipal or County of Ocean candidates, candidate committees, joint candidate committees, political committees, political parties, political party committees, (hereinafter PAC), in excess of the thresholds specified in Subsection G within one calendar year immediately preceding the date of the contract or agreement.
No business entity who submits a proposal for, enters into negotiations for, or agrees to any contract or agreement with the Borough of Seaside Heights or any of its departments or instrumentalities, for the rendition of professional services or extraordinary unspecified services shall knowingly solicit or make any contribution, to 1) a candidate, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of any candidate for elective municipal office in the Borough of Seaside Heights, or a holder of public office having ultimate responsibility for the award of a contract, or 2) to any Borough of Seaside Heights or County of Ocean political committee or political party committee, or 3) any PAC between the time of first communication between that business entity and the municipality regarding a specific agreement for professional services or extraordinary unspecified services, and the later of the termination of negotiations or rejection of any proposal, or the completion of the performance or specified time period of that contract or agreement.
However, for each business entity party to a contract for professional or extraordinary unspecified services as defined in Subsection A, or engaged in negotiations for a contract defined in Subsection A, when such business entity's contribution is aggregated with all "persons" defined in § 65.1-1, Definitions, above, by virtue of their affiliation to that business entity party, a maximum of $2,500 to all Borough of Seaside Heights candidates, candidate committees, joint candidate committees, and holders of public office having ultimate responsibility for the award of a contract, all Borough of Seaside Heights or County of Ocean political committees and political party committees as described herein combined, without violating Subsection A of this section.
The Mayor of the Borough of Seaside Heights, if the contract requires approval of the Mayor, or if a public officer who is responsible for the award of a contract is appointed by the Mayor.
Prior to awarding any contract or agreement to procure professional services or extraordinary unspecified services from any business entity, the Borough of Seaside Heights or its purchasing agents and departments, as the case may be, shall receive a sworn statement from said business entity which is the intended recipient of said contract that he/she/it has not made a contribution in violation of § 65.1-2 of this article. The Borough of Seaside Heights, its purchasing agents and departments shall be responsible for informing the Borough Council that the aforementioned sworn statement has been received and that the business entity is not in violation of this article, prior to awarding the contract or agreement.
A business entity shall have a continuing duty to report to the Borough of Seaside Heights any contributions that constitute a violation of this article that are made during the negotiation, proposal process or the duration of a contract. The Borough of Seaside Heights, its purchasing agents and departments shall be responsible for informing the governing body within 10 business days after receipt of said report from the business entity, or at the next Borough Council meeting following receipt of said report from the business entity, or whichever comes first.
The certification required under this section shall be made prior to entry into the contract or agreement with the Borough of Seaside Heights, or prior to the provision of services or goods, as the case may be, and shall be in addition to any other certifications that may be required by any other provision of law.
A business entity that is a party to a contract for professional services or extraordinary unspecified services may cure a violation of § 65.1-2 of this article, if, within 30 days after the date on which the applicable ELEC report is published, said business entity notifies the municipality in writing and seeks and receives reimbursement of the contribution from the recipient of such contribution.
The contribution limitations prior to entering into a contract in § 65.1-2A do not apply to contracts which are awarded to the lowest responsible bidder after public advertising for bids and bidding therefor within the meaning of N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4, or are awarded in the case of emergency under N.J.S.A. 40A:11-6. There is no exemption for contracts awarded pursuant to a fair and open process under N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20 et seq.
Furthermore, any business entity that violates Subsection A(1) through (8) shall be disqualified from eligibility for future Borough of Seaside Heights contracts for a period of four calendar years from the date of the violation.
Any person who knowingly, purposely, or recklessly violates any provision of this article, or who conspires with another person to violate any provision of this article, or who, with the purpose of promoting or facilitating a violation of this article, solicits another person to commit it, or aids or agrees, or attempts to aid another person in planning or committing it, shall be subject to punishment including fines and/or imprisonment as fixed by law for violations of the ordinances of the Borough of Seaside Heights.
In addition to any rights that were heretofore available or which may hereafter be available to citizens, taxpayers, or associations, to challenge violations of this article, every person aggrieved by a violation of the article, or any taxpayer or resident of the Borough of Seaside Heights has the right, consistent with the Rules of Court, to file charges in a court of competent jurisdiction, and/or to pursue a civil action for a violation of this article in a court of competent jurisdiction, and to seek and obtain declaratory, injunctive, or other legal or equitable relief, including but not limited to, attorneys fees and costs, arising from or related to a violation of this article.

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