At least they're advertising for one on the New Jersey League of Municipalities website.
You may recall the power play last month, while Mayor Ray McCarthy was on vacation, and there was a vote to oust Vincent Pirone from the position during the council meeting. After that, McCarthy cried foul and threatened to go to court to prevent the vote from going through, and then a law firm was called in to make sure legal process, in replacing the township attorney, was followed.
All this might be the long answer to a question on the NJ.com Bloomfield message board by a poster called sandysandy, who wants to know whether Bloomfield is a good place to live, and how that downtown redevelopment project is going.
Well, sandysandy, Bloomfield's coming along nicely with some great new restaurants and cultural offerings, but it's hard to imagine it will cut through all the legal issues surrounding the downtown redevelopment any time soon ... when it can't even decide who the town attorney is.
Meanwhile, If you think you've got the brass balls mojo to be Bloomfield's top legal eagle, here's what they're looking for:
TOWNSHIP ATTORNEY/DIRECTOR OF LAW – BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Essex County, is seeking an experienced, innovative and motivating leader to perform within a Special Charter 1955 form of government consisting Mayor/Council governing body. Duties include supervising an Assistant Township Attorney and prosecutor as well as two staff members. Must have experience in all facets of municipal government law. Prepares resolutions and ordinances as well as directs and oversees all law issues within the Township, labor matters, contracts insurance and workers’ compensation matters. Expertise in municipal law, budget prep, economic development, technology, risk and general management. Successful candidate must possess a Law Degree and have excellent and proven management skills as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills. Minimum ten years experience in progressive responsible municipal environment. Salary DOQ/E. Send cover resume and cover letter including compensation history for past 5 years to J. Gary Howarth, Director of Personnel, Township of Bloomfield, 1 Municipal Plaza, Bloomfield, NJ 07003. Deadline 8-19-2006.EOE.
10 years experience in municipal government? Why not just say "sclerotic mindset preferred" or "pre-entrenchment a plus"?
Really, any good lawyer from an organizational environment (another level of government or in-house corporate work) would be able to get up to speed quickly. Then again, an in-house corporate lawyer with 10 years experience probably makes 2-3 times what Bloomfield would be willing to pay.