Dear Editor:
Just over a year ago, I wrote a letter to this paper pledging my support to newly-elected Hoboken Freeholder Anthony Romano, Jr. Anthony had defeated me in a hard-fought primary battle the previous June to win the Democratic nomination, and at the end of that campaign I promised that despite the loss, I would continue to advocate for Hoboken in county issues. Anthony’s response then was: “hold my feet to the fire.” The time to do that has come, as a lawsuit filed against the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders has become a major bonfire where Hudson County residents are getting third-degree burns.
The case involves the contract to provide health services at the Hudson County Correctional Facility. To describe it briefly, the freeholders had initially awarded a contract worth $29.7 million to Correctional Health Services (CHS). Later and “inexplicably” as Judge Gallipoli noted in his ruling, the freeholders hired a consultant who recommended cuts in programs and the contract was reduced to $22 million. Instead of putting the contract out for a new bid, it was amended via resolution retaining CHS as the vendor. Complicating matters is the fact that the president of CHS contributed $1,000 to Anthony Romano’s election campaign.
This case exposes two of the problems that our freeholder board refuses to address: a lack of strict pay-to-play rules and transparency in the competitive bidding process in our county government. The fact that after losing in court twice, the Board of Freeholders continues to appeal this case shows their lack of concern for Hudson County taxpayers.
There is a simple solution to this issue: Drop the appeals, rebid the contract and return the contribution. I urge Freeholder Romano to act quickly to remove the cloud of impropriety and stop burning taxpayers.
Ines Garcia Keim