After initially rejecting the deal, two members of the council later changed or attempted to change their votes on the $50,000 deal for a company run by Sakina Cole
NEWARK — The Municipal Council has narrowly rejected a $50,000 no-bid contract for former city communications director Sakina Cole Tuesday — though that may not be the case for long.
The proposed deal, brought to the table at a special meeting Tuesday morning, would have brought Cole's company, Cole Media Inc., on board for "marketing and branding services."
Cole has a lengthy history working for Newark, beginning in 2006 with a stint as press secretary for former Mayor Cory Booker. She then worked under Communications Director Desiree Peterkin before briefly serving as an aide to former councilwoman Dana Rone. In 2008, Cole Media was awarded a $358,000 contract to perform public relations duties for the council.
That contract was eventually eliminated as the city was forced to cut costs, but Cole returned after Mayor Ras Baraka named her communications director after taking office in July 2014. She left after six months to resume working with Cole Media, working with the city of Morristown's and other clients.
On Tuesday, Communications Director Felipe Luciano said the new contract would be for work spread over two years, including the production of booklets and other materials for State of the City speeches and other events.
Council members, however, questioned why the Mayor Ras Baraka's administration was proposing the contract be awarded as an "Extraordinary Unspecifiable Service" — meaning it would forgo any competitive bidding process.
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"Are you suggesting that Cole Media has been vetted to the point that they have a unique perspective on how to market and brand the city of Newark?" asked Central Ward Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins. "If she's so great why isn't she on the payroll still?"
Luciano, however, said Cole's time in his position and high level of skill justified stepping outside the normal process.
"She's formerly the communications director so she knows the infrastructure. She knows what's required by the mayor," he said. "Her booklets are exquisite."
North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. noted that the city had just recent sought out bids from companies seeking to run its TV studio, and questioned why the same process would not be followed for marketing.
Sakina Cole with Mayor Ras Baraka. (Handout)"I just think the argument for EUS is very weak here. I'm not questioning Cole Media's qualifications, but....I don't see the specialization that necessitates us doing an EUS," he said.
The council initially voted 5-1 to reject the contract, with President Mildred Crump casting the only vote in favor and Eddie Osborne abstaining. West Ward Councilman Joe McCallum later changed his vote to yes, however, and — after a lengthy absence in an office in the rear of council chambers — Chaneyfield Jenkins attempted to do the same.
City Clerk Kenneth Louis, however, said the vote could not be reopened because the voting portion of the meeting had already been adjourned and the matter would need to be reconsidered at a future meeting after proper notice had been provided to the public.
At-Large Councilman Eddie Osborne had abstained from the earlier vote, and members Carlos Gonzalez and John Sharpe James were absent.
Cole could not immediately be reached for comment.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly described the length of Cole's tenure working for former Newark councilwoman Dana Rone.
Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
