Probably the most unusual and significant action at Monday's Council Meeting was Administration's request to withdraw two resolution approving purchase for the fire department, because "it is believed we can get more favorable contracts". Since both contracts were awarded to "approved State vendors" without competitive bidding this was a unique request. Once again it is obvious that no contract should be awarded on the " fair and open" method which eliminates bidding. Go to it Councilor Storch!
I will be unable to attend tonight's budget hearings. Those that I have attended have not been informative enough for someone like myself who has no inkling about the proposed budget or what the numbers represent. I would hope that the Council will reject Administration's intent to eliminate the Planning Division in favor of outsourcing. Administration has not demonstrated how this will result in dollars and cents savings.
On the subject of outsourcing how much has been paid to Remington & Varick yearly for the past 4 years? What would the costs have been if the city had a qualified City Engineer and operational department. The argument that even if the post were filled much of the work would require consultants is based on the fact that it may have been over two decades since the city had filled the post with an individual who was qualified. I may be wrong, since I do not remember any short term occupant in the position. Please advise.
Today's Courier editorial is a must. While the PMUA has done a most creditable operational exercise, the leadership has considered it to be their personal cash cow. Historically, the PMUA despite rhetoric was a political maneuver by which the entire Division of Public Works officers became the executive staff of PMUA at its establishment. The Commissioners typically have been political favorite appointees. Like the city government itself, failures, disorganization, incompetency, and malfeasance can be attributed to the local party committee and its leadership which has thrived on nepotism and patronage.
Although there are as of this moment no reports on last night's BOE meeting, there is an article in today's Courier relating to one of the individual's involved in the present personnel controversy. A misguided episode 15 years ago result in denial of certification in Florida, and the BOE was probably not made aware of that incident. To all purposes the individual has paid her dues for that youthful indiscretion, and should not be held against her today.
Amended at noon: After reading the commentaries to the CN on line article, I must reconsider my statement that she had paid her dues for an indiscretion since this was not shoplifting but a planned scam with the help of an insider. Moreover I was not aware of the tuition fees she has received from PSS. What courses did she take? Did she receive credits? were they on work time? If her '' job" application omitted essential items she should be summarily terminated. This is a 180 degree turn.
The next paragraph stands; Dr. Gallon needs to publicly explain in plain English his actions.
What is inexcusable is the actions to adjust and accommodate jobs to employ a favorite person.
How many did read in Sunday's Star Ledger the list of Hospital billed charges to uninsured individuals which was 10 to 15 times the amount they receive under Medicaid and Charity Care. The charges also range from 6 to 10 times the amount that they will be allowed to charge uninsured patients under new proposed legislation. Hospitals like some city governments live in a fantasy world when they attempt to determine operational cost and the source of income.
It is the obscene hospital charges that are one of the greatest motivators for Health Care reform.
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I don't know how much money has been paid for outsourcing to Remington & Vernick, but they contributed the maximum amount allowed ($2,600) to Jerry Green's campaign.
ReplyDelete3:31pm That has to be a good investment.
ReplyDeleteI attended last night's meeting and one of the shockers was when Dr. Gallon said that last months actions involved matters that could have resulted in the "firing" of 8 employees with an an emphasis on the fact that the employees have been in the district for many years. This tells me that something was not right across the board and it did not just involved the florida ladies. At the end of the meeting the bomb was dropped that Dr. Bailey who was interim superintendent and over HR resigned. I guess we will never know what really happened.
ReplyDeleteYou will have forgotten - but when Storch was running for office, the then Mayor and Storch took money from an engineering firm who until then had no business in Plainfield.
ReplyDeleteThe next two years that that firm contributed each cycle to McWillaims, and the McWillaim candidates and even the McWilliam campaign. In return they were rewarded for over $2M dollars worth of business. Storch voted "yes" everytime, and nover once asked that we put that business out to bid. Mapp voted for it also.
So you can understand the surprise when so many now attack with glee, when someone else persues the same practice.
One has to wonder why the bloggers ahve such selective memory or are so blind in swallowing everything that is put out.
10:03AM, Sorry I did not forget something that I was unaware about. I knew that the McWilliams administration used a different engineer who was probably responsible for both the South Ave, and The North Ave, costly sewer fiasco.
ReplyDeletePoliticians are politicians- that means their position fits their needs. However when they are right they should be praised. Unfortunately all have convenient short memories.
10:30 Additionally I can not speak for other bloggers but I don not have a SELECTIVE MEMORY nor do I SWALLOW BLINDLY everything that is put out. You parrot the JG line wnich has been full of BS ever sinc ethe Muhlenberg farce.
ReplyDeleteIf you can point out any item thatI have written,please email me signed or otherwise you would be another rumor monger.
Doc, you are drinking the Kool-aid being put out there by Storch and the other New Democrats.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that Storch and the New Dem brought in Schoor DePalma after schoor De Palma contributed maybe $10,000 to Storch, and other New Dem candidates.
Storch never asked that this be put out to bid then. Look up the records. Mapp voted "aye" every time that came up. Mapp even had a fundraiser at his house for all the vendors of Plainfield and potential vendors. New Dems would regularily be summoned to call up and ask vendors to make hefty contributions.
Now that they are not in the Mayoral seat, they want "competitive bidding".
I think you should be careful how much of thier Kool Aid you drink. But then agian, just for saything this you are going to label me a Jerry Greeen operative. Right?
No one in thier right "new Dem" mind would dare say what I am saying. Certainly not Bernice. Not Dan. Not Old Doc. Therefore I must be a Jerry operative.
Truth hurts Doc. Selective memory is not good. Does not help Plainfield.
Only the truth is of any use to us. So, as they say, the truth, the WHOLE truth, and NOTHING but the truth. OK Doc?
And lay off the Kool Aid.
12:01 Never did like Kool Aid , too much sugar. Didn't like it even mixed with medicinal alcohol during WWII, so I don't have to lay off it.
ReplyDeleteI have said several times I had other personal priorities during the McWilliams years and I can't speak for pay for play during that period. I knew that it took place. I also know that once a politician always a politician or a leopard doesn't change its stripes.
HOWEVER, I know that the no bid process is wrong so whatever the motives I will compliment anyone that supports competitive bidding. I also know that outsourced engineering is most expensive. If we could trust administration on the appointments we would do better if we had a good in house department.
Once upon a time we did have one.