Government
Who Advises the Borough? Haddonfield Seeks 2027 Professionals, Proposals Due Dec. 3
The borough is shopping for its 2027 lawyers, auditor, planner and board engineers. Here is the list.
Haddonfield is taking proposals for the outside professionals who will advise the borough in 2027, from its auditor to the lawyers and engineers who sit with the Planning and Zoning boards. Sealed proposals are due by 2 p.m. on Dec. 3 at Borough Hall. The commissioners will then pick the winners in public.
Most residents never think about these jobs. But these are the people who read the plans, write the legal advice and check the books.
What the borough is hiring for
The legal notice, signed by Acting Borough Clerk Vanessa Fritz, lists two groups.
General professional services:
- Affordable Housing Counsel
- Affordable Housing Planner
- Auditor
- Labor Counsel
- Redevelopment Counsel
- Risk Management Consultant/Insurance Brokerage Services
Board professional services:
- Planning Board Solicitor and Conflict Solicitor
- Planning Board Engineer and Conflict Engineer
- Zoning Board Solicitor and Conflict Solicitor
- Zoning Board Engineer and Conflict Engineer
The contracts run Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2027.
Why these picks matter
Think about what lands on the Planning and Zoning boards. Historic district applications, variances, housing plans. The board solicitor advises on the law. The board engineer reviews the technical side. The "conflict" versions step in when the regular professional can't take a case.
The affordable housing counsel and planner matter too. Haddonfield, like every New Jersey town, is working through its state housing obligations. If you have followed the ADU and duplex proposals in the Master Plan, these are the advisers behind that kind of work.
How the process works
This is a "fair and open" process under New Jersey's pay to play law, N.J.S.A. 19:44A-20.5. In plain terms, the borough publicly advertises the work and takes proposals from anyone qualified. These contracts are not subject to public bidding, so price is not the only factor. The notice says the borough will award to the proposals "most advantageous" to Haddonfield.
Proposals are opened starting at 2 p.m. on Dec. 3, in the order listed in the notice. After that, the Board of Commissioners publicly selects the professionals. Want a refresher on who those three commissioners are and how they split the work? Read how Haddonfield's government works.
One date quirk
The notice says proposals are due "Wednesday December 3, 2026." Dec. 3, 2026 is actually a Thursday. The date and time, 2 p.m. on Dec. 3, are what the notice spells out. If you are submitting, confirm with the Clerk's office in Room 101.
Where to get the packages
The RFP packages are on the borough website, haddonfieldnj.org. They are also available in Room 101 of Borough Hall, 242 Kings Highway East, during business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The RFP advertisement was listed on the commissioners' Oct. 26 agenda.
FAQ
When are proposals due? By 2 p.m. on Dec. 3, 2026, in Room 101 of Borough Hall. The notice says Wednesday, but Dec. 3, 2026 falls on a Thursday.
Where do I get the RFP packages? Online at haddonfieldnj.org, or in Room 101 of Borough Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Who picks the winners? The Board of Commissioners publicly selects the professionals after the proposals are reviewed.
Sources
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