Brick BOE Hires Attorney to Help With Union Negotiations

Brick Township Board of Education/Schools (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Brick Township’s Board of Education met in a special meeting Monday night to discuss negotiations with employee unions in a closed session, then vote to hire an attorney to assist with negotiations as a member of the board’s negotiating committee.

The attorney is needed due to some unfortunate news – namely, health issues being experienced by board member John Talty, who had been a member of the negotiating committee, said Superintendent Dr. Walter Uszenski. The attorney will take Talty’s spot on the committee. Uszenski said hiring counsel was a wiser move than adding a new board member who did not have experience in negotiating.

The board voted to hire the Morristown-based firm of Schwartz, Simon, Edelstein & Celso. The firm will be paid $165 per hour for their services, not to exceed $16,500 total. The appointment of the firm to the negotiating committee begins Tuesday and expires June 30.

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Uszenski said the firm will primarily assist with ongoing negotiations with the Transport Workers Union, which represents a good portion of the district’s non-teaching staff. The board is also currently negotiating a new contract with the Brick Township Education Association, the union which represents the district’s teachers.