HAMILTON, NJ-Two other engineering firms that may have flouted this township's pay-to-play political rules as Birdsall Services Group did were identified in a Times of Trenton story Sunday.

Like Birdsall, whose top executives were indicted for illegal campaign contributions earlier this year, the two firms — T&M Associates and Remington, Vernick & Arango — made contributions in the form of advertisements in the programs handed out to attendees at former Mayor John Bencivengo's annual fundraising galas.

The companies went on to “receive tens of thousands of dollars in township contracts soon after, in apparent violation of Hamilton's rules,” the Times story says.

The story quoted Hamilton Township Republican Committee chairman as saying the money was received by the committee and transferred to Bencivengo's campaign accounts.

The township's business administrator John Ricci said neither firm reported making donations on disclosure forms required when a company applies for a contract.

Birdsall, which was one of the largest engineering firms in the state, pleaded guilty in June to violations after being charged by the state prosecutors. Seven of the company's nine executives— including former CEO Howard Birdsall — have plead not guilty; two officials plead guilty as part of deals reached with the Attorney General's Office.

The current, court-appointed head of the firm, Edward Stier, has filed suit against a number of the officials for bringing about the company's failure.

Hamilton Township's decade-old pay-to-play rules specify that if a company makes more than $300 in donations to the campaign of any elected official, candidate, local political party or committee, the firm is prohibited from receiving contracts for 12 months.

Instant Insights /

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