GALLOWAY MAYOR CALLS FOR ADOPTION OF

PAY-TO-PLAY ORDINANCE

 

In the wake of charges against Democratic Council members accepting free food and drinks from a prominent engineering firm, Galloway Township Mayor Tom Bassford today said he will ask the township solicitor to draft a pay-to-play ordinance to prevent such firms from “buying” municipal contracts with free meals and campaign contributions.

 

“We need to make sure that Galloway Township conducts its affairs with integrity,” said Mayor Bassford.  “That is particularly important when we determine who to award municipal contracts.”

 

“The bottom line is that we should award contracts to the lowest responsible bidder without regard to getting a night out on the town,” Bassford said.  “But I think we now need to have an ordinance which sets forth a code of conduct and limits campaign contributions from potential municipal vendors.”

 

“Atlantic County has set the standard for having a tough pay-to-play ordinance,” Bassford said.  “I want to make sure we have the same ethical and honest government in Galloway Township.”

 

Bassford said he intends to invite the non-partisan Citizen’s Campaign which advocates the adoption of pay-to-play ordinances throughout the state to an upcoming Council meeting and will bring up the subject at the next Council meeting on November 25.