New Jersey Superior Court Judge Walter Koprowski Jr. intends to issue a ruling next week on the validity of the contracts awarded to the Montclair Arts Council (MAC) and the Montclair Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) in the Mattox v. Montclair lawsuit.

Koprowski’s decision is expected by 9 a.m. next Wednesday, Aug. 27, according to Township Attorney Alan Trembulak.

The civil suit was filed in 2006 by then-At-Large Township Councilman Ted Mattox and several taxpayers against Mattox’s municipal government colleagues, all of whom have since vacated office, in addition to Township Manager Joseph Hartnett, Trembulak, the MAC and MEDC.

The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit as they did not believe the MEDC and MAC were eligible for extraordinary unspecifiable services contracts, which are exceptions to the state’s requirement for open bids.

In the interim, Montclair officials have voluntarily agreed to postpone funds authorized in a June 30 resolution to the nonprofits until after Koprowski’s verdict.