COUNCIL NOTES

Since a fellow blogger writes a factual report about the Council meetings I have not attempted to try to report in detail the entire meeting. Instead I try to focus on various parameters that are of interest.

I can not repeat often enough that the present meeting format is conducive to public lack of knowledge regarding subjects under discussion. The 2+ hours of discussions prior to entertaining the review and approval of Resolutions and Ordinances can be mentally fatiguing for the citizens who are attending the meeting. By the time the Public has the opportunity to speak weariness had over come most who had left.

Unfinished business is forgotten since it is not updated in print monthly. For example, a seemingly innocuous Resolution presented by Administration to reduce the authorization to issue bonds or notes for $4,085,000.00 for the "building of the Senior Citizen Center to $1,300.000.00 was presented as a means to improve the City's financial rating. Although Dornoch had supposedly agreed to build the center in return for the sale price of $1.00 for the property, in March and again in April a resolution was presented and defeated to pay Dornoch $257,000.00 for additional work on the Center which was supposed to have been a complete although unfurnished package. That resolution was tabled pending Administration answering certain questions. It apparently was "forgotten" until this month'

When Administrated Taylor was questioned what the $1,300.000 was for there was a vague reply that it was for unpaid bills!!! and furnishings. I have since learned that the revised resolution is for $800,000.00 a reduction of $500,000.00. Even allowing for sneaking in payment of the questionable $257K that would leave almost a half a million for furnishings. I for one can not conceive what other areas besides the Senior Center are going to be furnished for that amount of money. I also have not seen any request for bids to furnish that area. Once more we must question the financial manipulations of the Senior Center.

Plainfield has along standing history of disappearance of funds. Long before this Administration took office the City had received approximately $9 million for sale of its Sewer Utility. These funds were supposedly to b e used for the infrastructure. No accounting has ever been given where and for what every cent was spent.

With the vacancies that constantly exist in two critical financial officers it is possible for inappropriate allocation of line item funds to occur. The Auditors comments regarding the annual audit should be published for informational purposes. It is obvious that the city's financial operation is less than ideal.

9:30 AM I believe that today's Courier's editorial hits the nail on the head . This is a quote from it: "Robinson-Briggs' financial decisions, and her long-running failure to permanently fill the posts of chief financial officer and director of administration and finance, strongly suggests that the mayor doesn't want anyone looking over her shoulder. Her quest for the "right" applicant may simply mean that she wants only a certain type of person in that job, one she can control or who won't scrutinize her own plans too closely.

Maybe that's unfair, but what else other than basic incompetence is the public left to conclude given this series of events?"

The bold face is mine. The Media is making the same points that several bloggers have prusued only to be met by deaf ears. Perhaps the Council will now embark on a road long delayed.