NORTHVALE — Due to a clerical blunder, the Borough Council awarded a number of its professional appointments during a special meeting Jan. 15.

After reviewing stacks of applications, the borough made the following appointments: Maser Associates as borough engineer, Joe Cecco as borough architect, Michael Kauker as planner, Mason-Helmstetter Associates for real estate and Jordan Yuelys as public defender.

The Borough Council extended its deadline for professional contract hire applications to Monday, Jan. 14 at 10 a.m.

Normally, municipalities make the appointments during its reorganization meeting in the first week of the new year. However, local officials noticed a clerical error in the time cut-off published in one of the advertisements.

"So, throughout the last couple of weeks up to yesterday when we received the last RFQ’s [request for qualifications], I have taken into consideration everyone who has come forward and asked to be considered," said Mayor John Hogan at the meeting.

Hogan said the Borough felt that the extension of the deadline "opens the process to the best and the brightest by taking it out of backroom politics."

The purpose of the fair and open process in accordance with New Jersey law, Hogan told the audience, is to open the selection process to as many professionals as possible.

A few appointments, such as the borough attorney, had not been made because the council rejected Hogan’s recommendations. Hogan said that he has up to 30 days to provide another set of candidates for the available posts.

The Borough Council announced that it might call another special meeting for the last Tuesday of the month. Otherwise, the next council meeting will be in February.