The borough’s contract with Millenium Strategies expired June 30. Borough Administrator Greg Franz said the borough usually goes out for bids this time of the year so it can make an appointment in July and know how much to budget for the budget as officials prepare the budget.

The request for qualification statements from companies was advertised June 25. The submission deadline is July 8.

He said the borough usually pays about $60,000 a year for grant writing. Millennium Strategies, based in Caldwell, was hired in September 2007 for a nine-month long contract. Millennium Strategies’ contract was for only nine months because there was a controversy with the previous grant consultant who was fired.

"They’ve been working diligently and applied for about 12 grants," Franz said.

Council members said it was too soon to comment on whether they’ll look to renew the contract with Millennium Strategies. They’re said they are ready to see what bids come in and explore their best options.

The Council contracted Strategic Enterprise Solutions in June 2007. It was later discovered that two of the company’s employees had been convicted of fraud in separate instances. The employees resigned and Strategic Enterprise Solutions withdrew its contract because it didn’t have adequate personnel at the time.

Councilman James Delaney was the lone Democrat to vote against hiring Strategic Enterprise Solutions but he said he just didn’t think it was the best choice.

"The past fiasco wasn’t really a political issue," Delaney said. "I’m just going to vote for what I think is best for the town. That’s the best way to make decisions."

Councilwoman Beatrice Robbio said she was surprised to see the advertisement.

"It needs to be authorized by the Council," she said. "Probably by a resolution but it can sometimes also be by consensus."

She said the Council hadn’t given any authorization, but Council President Neda Rose said it was a routine matter of government handled by Franz.

"It’s the borough administrator’s job to take care of that," Rose said. "The existing contract expires June 30 so we had to go out for bidding."