LAKEWOOD FIRE COMMISSIONERS ARE REVIEWING CANDIDATES FOR THEIR ATTORNEY POSITION

The Lakewood Board of Fire Commissioners are currently reviewing proposals from multiple candidates for their Attorney position for 2023, FAA News has learned.

For a number of years prior to 2021, the Lakewood Fire District was served by Jay Sendzik Esq., a veteran attorney who represented many public bodies throughout the state but devoted his practice to numerous fire districts.

After Mr. Sendzik unfortunately passed away during the pandemic in March 2021, the Lakewood Fire Commissioners published a Request for Proposals for a new attorney, and ultimately they appointed Ian Goldman Esq. at an initial rate of $145 an hour with no additional payment for extras such as copies and postage.

Mr. Goldman is a partner at the Jackson Township based Levin, Shea, Pfeffer and Goldman. He presently serves as Township Attorney to Lakehurst Borough since 2019, Labor Counsel to the Lakewood Township Municipal Utilities Authority, and Municipal Prosecutor to Lakewood Township since 2018. He was an Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor from 2006 to 2014.

In August 2021, the Board of Fire Commissioners authorized a new contract for Mr. Goldman for $155 per hour.

For 2022 to date, the District has paid Mr. Goldman $46,597.42 for legal services.

This contract expires this Thursday. As such, the Fire Commissioners have solicited proposals for an attorney contract for the coming year.

The Fire District has received 3 proposals for this contract, according to public records obtained by FAA News.

James Plosia and Jonathan Cohen Esq of Chester, New Jersey based Plosia Cohen LLC have submitted a proposal for $165 per hour. They have represented fire districts in Jackson and Neptune.

Ian Goldman Esq has submitted a proposal for $195 per hour.

George M. Morris Esq of Mount Laurel, New Jersey based Parker McCay has submitted a proposal for $250 per hour plus extras such as copies and postage. Their firm currently serves the Fire Service community as Counsel to the New Jersey Firemen's Association.

The Board is scheduled to award the annual contract at a special meeting on Thursday at 5:30pm.

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