Monday, December 7, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
DOLDRUMS ARE HERE
The insignificant number of comments that are being posted, and the lack of activity from the ancillary bloggers is an indication of the December doldrums which seem to last from Thanksgiving to the New Year. I am sure that the December Council meetings , 2 agenda setting and one business will do little to disturb our preoccupation with seasonal and traditional activities.
Unless there is earthshaking news today, I shall consider this my posting.
Unless there is earthshaking news today, I shall consider this my posting.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
"And the taxpayers be damned."
"And the taxpayers be damned." (Plainfield Today 12/4/2009)
I have never been more infuriated about Plainfield's government than I am now. I have long ago written off our administration as either incompetent or perhaps more accurately, self serving often with a complete disregard of statutory procedures. The fact that the former Senior Center's landlord was never given the required 30 days notice that the property would no longer be needed should surprise no one. Our Administrator's record of costly financial blunders grows.
What has been the cost to the city in missed opportunities for funding will never be known. What documentation that needs Council approval has been sent to the State without their knowledge?
The City's finances is in one hell of a mess. The budget delay once again has deliberately prevented a realistic control of expenses. If there is any truth to the rumor that the budget the Council is working with is not the same as the one that was accepted by the Council last month then an illegality has taken place.
In this economic crisis the Council will have to make difficult choices regarding services, wages promotions, and department structures. There can be no favoritism in job retentions. All perks that do not contribute to the city's operations must be eliminated.
The Council itself once again as a body has shown lack of respect for the taxpayers by not attending hearings. There may be legitimate reasons for absences and if a quorum will not be available the public most be advised. But this is not the only time Council has dissed the public. Too often their pre public session catered executive meeting has last well beyond, once an hour, the scheduled time for the public session. Meanwhile citizens were left to stand uncomfortably in the City Hall foyer. I never remember hearing an apology.
The only excuses the four Councilors could have for their absence at the stated time for the meeting could be (a) illness, (b) unanticipated family problems and (c) unchangeable professional conflicts. The first two are acceptable and the public needs no explanation regarding illness nor personal/family problems. On the other hand if the City had after 4 years of questionable expenses a working Internet site where changes could be posted the public could have been notified. Unfortunately that site is better known for its lack of information rather than being a source of public knowledge.
Councilor absences due to a sudden change in professional commitments can not be avoided. On the other hand if there were sufficient leeway then again the public and fellow Councilors should have the capability of changing plans.
It is now December 2009 and the snow is about to fall. Last years budget was delayed over 9 months while administration tried to cover an over a million dollar error in the forms submitted to the State. The solution of deferring pension plan deposits has only increased the public's burden
for years to come. This year the repeated excuse laden delay in submitting a budget until after the general election has only increased the task facing the Council.
The Council must now adopt a budget that will be further compromised by the State's reneging on its own promises to municipalities. There is no choice but to bite the bullet and adopt a heavy-handed policy of service reductions, mandatory furloughs, and real job cuts. Some amelioration could be accomplished by voluntary givebacks including elimination of "perk days" and reduction of perk benefits. As of this moment none of the higher level employees or powerful unions seem willing to make that gesture to aid the community and other employees with less seniority.
In response to a question regarding BOE contracts, Dr. Gallon III mentioned "the need to respect labor contracts due to the financial responsibilities that could be acquired if contracts were broken before their due time". Yet it may be expedient for the Council to consider such action or declare bankruptcy which would void all such contracts.
Once more I must emphasise that each and every Councilor has a fiduciary responsibility by virtue of the elected office to intelligently end up with a workable budget. None should willingly skip a single budget related meeting. Even lame duck 4th ward Councilman Simmonds who will have no part in the final product obligation does not end before midnight Dec 31, 2009.
In addition Councilwoman elect Bridget Rivers who will assume office on Jan. 1, 2010 should be present now, so she is completely informed when the final voting takes place. Her absence raises questions as to her commitment to the office to which she aspired.
I have never been more infuriated about Plainfield's government than I am now. I have long ago written off our administration as either incompetent or perhaps more accurately, self serving often with a complete disregard of statutory procedures. The fact that the former Senior Center's landlord was never given the required 30 days notice that the property would no longer be needed should surprise no one. Our Administrator's record of costly financial blunders grows.
What has been the cost to the city in missed opportunities for funding will never be known. What documentation that needs Council approval has been sent to the State without their knowledge?
The City's finances is in one hell of a mess. The budget delay once again has deliberately prevented a realistic control of expenses. If there is any truth to the rumor that the budget the Council is working with is not the same as the one that was accepted by the Council last month then an illegality has taken place.
In this economic crisis the Council will have to make difficult choices regarding services, wages promotions, and department structures. There can be no favoritism in job retentions. All perks that do not contribute to the city's operations must be eliminated.
The Council itself once again as a body has shown lack of respect for the taxpayers by not attending hearings. There may be legitimate reasons for absences and if a quorum will not be available the public most be advised. But this is not the only time Council has dissed the public. Too often their pre public session catered executive meeting has last well beyond, once an hour, the scheduled time for the public session. Meanwhile citizens were left to stand uncomfortably in the City Hall foyer. I never remember hearing an apology.
The only excuses the four Councilors could have for their absence at the stated time for the meeting could be (a) illness, (b) unanticipated family problems and (c) unchangeable professional conflicts. The first two are acceptable and the public needs no explanation regarding illness nor personal/family problems. On the other hand if the City had after 4 years of questionable expenses a working Internet site where changes could be posted the public could have been notified. Unfortunately that site is better known for its lack of information rather than being a source of public knowledge.
Councilor absences due to a sudden change in professional commitments can not be avoided. On the other hand if there were sufficient leeway then again the public and fellow Councilors should have the capability of changing plans.
It is now December 2009 and the snow is about to fall. Last years budget was delayed over 9 months while administration tried to cover an over a million dollar error in the forms submitted to the State. The solution of deferring pension plan deposits has only increased the public's burden
for years to come. This year the repeated excuse laden delay in submitting a budget until after the general election has only increased the task facing the Council.
The Council must now adopt a budget that will be further compromised by the State's reneging on its own promises to municipalities. There is no choice but to bite the bullet and adopt a heavy-handed policy of service reductions, mandatory furloughs, and real job cuts. Some amelioration could be accomplished by voluntary givebacks including elimination of "perk days" and reduction of perk benefits. As of this moment none of the higher level employees or powerful unions seem willing to make that gesture to aid the community and other employees with less seniority.
In response to a question regarding BOE contracts, Dr. Gallon III mentioned "the need to respect labor contracts due to the financial responsibilities that could be acquired if contracts were broken before their due time". Yet it may be expedient for the Council to consider such action or declare bankruptcy which would void all such contracts.
Once more I must emphasise that each and every Councilor has a fiduciary responsibility by virtue of the elected office to intelligently end up with a workable budget. None should willingly skip a single budget related meeting. Even lame duck 4th ward Councilman Simmonds who will have no part in the final product obligation does not end before midnight Dec 31, 2009.
In addition Councilwoman elect Bridget Rivers who will assume office on Jan. 1, 2010 should be present now, so she is completely informed when the final voting takes place. Her absence raises questions as to her commitment to the office to which she aspired.
LATER TODAY
Its a coming, both the snow and this blogger's daily words of wisdom(?).
If the City can delay something as important as the budget for over 6 months (9 months last year), this beleaguered observer can have a few hours. Back by noon.
If the City can delay something as important as the budget for over 6 months (9 months last year), this beleaguered observer can have a few hours. Back by noon.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
DEC. 4, 2009 POTPOURRI -PART 1
Once again I have been reminded that one should not be overwhelmed by minor annoyances. Often one problem can be mitigated by concurrent positive fortune. Yesterday(Thursday) I was waiting for a piece of furniture to be delivered between 2 and 6pm.
Out of previous experiences I anticipated that i could and should have run all my errands from 2 to 5 without worry. But perhaps a miracle would happen, they would be early or I would hold the winning Mega Million ticket. However, I was unaware that the merchant was on Rocky Mountain time. Anyhow at 4:15 pm the delivery man called and said they were on the way and would be at my house in an hour, At 7 pm they arrived.
Yes. I had planned to go to the Council budget meeting, but after the delivery and a delayed dinner it was too late . It seems that there was a foreordained reason for the late delivery; there was no meeting due to a lack of a quorum.
Did you read in its business section. the Star Ledger's article on the State's hospital's financial problems illustrated by a picture of Muhlenberg as an example of those forced to close because of money problems. The interesting point was how little medicaid and State charity care pays toward the hospital charges
There are several factors to consider in hospital charges. The hospitals calculations of actual cost. The grossly inflated bill the uninsured receive. Medicare pays approximately 89 cents per dollar of hospital expense, while Medicaid pays only 66 cents on the dollar and our beneficial State pays 42 cents for every dollar spent on uninsured care. No wonder Solaris wanted to dump Muhlenberg. No one in government truly cares about individual health care except when its politically an asset.
The results of my "Tiger Survey" Replies-ZERO. Chicken?
As to Part 2 today, it may or may not appear by noon or tomorrow.
Out of previous experiences I anticipated that i could and should have run all my errands from 2 to 5 without worry. But perhaps a miracle would happen, they would be early or I would hold the winning Mega Million ticket. However, I was unaware that the merchant was on Rocky Mountain time. Anyhow at 4:15 pm the delivery man called and said they were on the way and would be at my house in an hour, At 7 pm they arrived.
Yes. I had planned to go to the Council budget meeting, but after the delivery and a delayed dinner it was too late . It seems that there was a foreordained reason for the late delivery; there was no meeting due to a lack of a quorum.
Did you read in its business section. the Star Ledger's article on the State's hospital's financial problems illustrated by a picture of Muhlenberg as an example of those forced to close because of money problems. The interesting point was how little medicaid and State charity care pays toward the hospital charges
There are several factors to consider in hospital charges. The hospitals calculations of actual cost. The grossly inflated bill the uninsured receive. Medicare pays approximately 89 cents per dollar of hospital expense, while Medicaid pays only 66 cents on the dollar and our beneficial State pays 42 cents for every dollar spent on uninsured care. No wonder Solaris wanted to dump Muhlenberg. No one in government truly cares about individual health care except when its politically an asset.
The results of my "Tiger Survey" Replies-ZERO. Chicken?
As to Part 2 today, it may or may not appear by noon or tomorrow.
JUST A SUGGESTION
Reading yesterday's Plainfield blogs related to the Council's first budget meeting, there seem to be a common thread which I hope that I too have echoed. The presentations to date have exactly resembled every Council Budget process in the past 2 decades. The presenter defends his/hers division/department's request for funds and staffing. The Council asks questions and usually the answers are prompt, no "get back to you."
What is missing is what I consider the key focus of this year's budget hearings. Council President Burney should ask promptly at the beginning of the session; "Tell us what you have done to reduce expenditures in your department?. What plans do you have for a 10%( this figure I have pulled out of the air). If you have no plans, why not? Do you have any suggestions as an alternative to the loss of "x" number of positions.? If the answers are negative then the cold fact that there will be no alternative to a job reduction and reassignment of work loads. Job reduction should included any supervisory persons who are incapable of dealing with cost reducing solutions.
If the department offers some plan let that be the basis for "negotiations" with the understanding that the city has to have a bottom line.
This may be Draconian but I do not believe that there is any other alternative for Plainfield's survival. One Department/division that must be retained is economic planning/redevelopment. Their job should be vital for the city's future and will be made easier if we have a solid economic program in place.
What is missing is what I consider the key focus of this year's budget hearings. Council President Burney should ask promptly at the beginning of the session; "Tell us what you have done to reduce expenditures in your department?. What plans do you have for a 10%( this figure I have pulled out of the air). If you have no plans, why not? Do you have any suggestions as an alternative to the loss of "x" number of positions.? If the answers are negative then the cold fact that there will be no alternative to a job reduction and reassignment of work loads. Job reduction should included any supervisory persons who are incapable of dealing with cost reducing solutions.
If the department offers some plan let that be the basis for "negotiations" with the understanding that the city has to have a bottom line.
This may be Draconian but I do not believe that there is any other alternative for Plainfield's survival. One Department/division that must be retained is economic planning/redevelopment. Their job should be vital for the city's future and will be made easier if we have a solid economic program in place.
NOT BUDGET
Unless the focus of the Council Budget meetings are on , informed estimates of actual income, mandated expenses , cost reductions , program efficiency and above all departmental plans to accomplish an over all reduction in expenditures there is no percentage in attending the budget hearings which are following the tried and true time wasting formula.
We know from the State's action we may not see a dollar in support from Trenton. Therefor across the Board from the Mayor down to the lowest employee there must be a commitment involving salary give backs, perk rollbacks , including the sharing of services. Until then it is more "fun"to write about "Tiger".
If the man was just an ordinary citizen driven by the same hormones that all males posses there would be little interest in his accident,and/or love life. IT is sad that the majority of Society's members get a vicarious satisfaction when a celebrity falls by the wayside.
What I am going to write will probably create a firestorm of abuse. As a disclaimer I will state that on controversial issues I do not practice what I preach but often take the position of "devil's advocate. Also this is not intended to be a yea or ney position on infidelity and certainly is not scientific since there is no attempt to explain motivation .
I am going to make a statement; "Monogamy is an unnatural human state."
Before you cast stones lets take a survey of those over 25, predicated on the following defining infidelity or adultery as being a relationship between two members of the opposite sex other than a spouse or "lover" or significant other. Any of those terms are synonymous for the sake of this exercise.
(1) I have committed adultery either by;
(a) a prolong affair
(b) a spontaneous act
(c) in thought only, this would be imaging the affair in detail
(d) perish the thought
(e) other-explain
I would trust that your answers would be submitted anonymously but you would identify your sex. After all it takes two to tango. After a couple of days I will post the results probably as percentage of replies.
Be honest since this may give us a better idea of the human animal, I am not asking ethnic origin or religious beliefs since they may tend to affect basic answers.
For a day or two this is better than Plainfield political matters.
I hope it will not the standard for our interests in the next few months.
This is not scientific and it may be open to 100% error.
We know from the State's action we may not see a dollar in support from Trenton. Therefor across the Board from the Mayor down to the lowest employee there must be a commitment involving salary give backs, perk rollbacks , including the sharing of services. Until then it is more "fun"to write about "Tiger".
If the man was just an ordinary citizen driven by the same hormones that all males posses there would be little interest in his accident,and/or love life. IT is sad that the majority of Society's members get a vicarious satisfaction when a celebrity falls by the wayside.
What I am going to write will probably create a firestorm of abuse. As a disclaimer I will state that on controversial issues I do not practice what I preach but often take the position of "devil's advocate. Also this is not intended to be a yea or ney position on infidelity and certainly is not scientific since there is no attempt to explain motivation .
I am going to make a statement; "Monogamy is an unnatural human state."
Before you cast stones lets take a survey of those over 25, predicated on the following defining infidelity or adultery as being a relationship between two members of the opposite sex other than a spouse or "lover" or significant other. Any of those terms are synonymous for the sake of this exercise.
(1) I have committed adultery either by;
(a) a prolong affair
(b) a spontaneous act
(c) in thought only, this would be imaging the affair in detail
(d) perish the thought
(e) other-explain
I would trust that your answers would be submitted anonymously but you would identify your sex. After all it takes two to tango. After a couple of days I will post the results probably as percentage of replies.
Be honest since this may give us a better idea of the human animal, I am not asking ethnic origin or religious beliefs since they may tend to affect basic answers.
For a day or two this is better than Plainfield political matters.
I hope it will not the standard for our interests in the next few months.
This is not scientific and it may be open to 100% error.
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