Th nature of Monday's meeting is not to act,but to decide what should be acted upon and to accumulate sufficient information to act intelligently, we hope. Perhaps 90 minutes were spent on the proposed amendments to the to be adopted FY11 budget. The amendments will be voted on next Monday and the amended approved Budget will be voted in at a special meeting Dec 27 (Monday) at which time the public will have the opportunity to comment. At that meeting. there may be another item for vote but more about that later.
Today's Plainfield Today reports on the Mayor's non appearance to discuss the plans for "covering the City Administrator's position during her Maternity LOA. This is a matter of Public Importance and should not be relegated to "Personnel (and personal) privacy restrictions. It is an issue that I broached in this blog more than once weeks ago
Despite other blogs to give the "Devil (not my definition) her due" , there seemed to be confusion whether the Mayor actually received an invitation through the City Clerk's Office to attend the meeting. The period between the November Council Business Meeting and the present was one of personnel changes in a staff depleted office which would lead to some minor errors. Be it as it may, The Mayor does get a copy of the Council Agenda early enough to communicate her unavailability or her acceptance. I consider that her non response to be a snub. Anyhow she will be invited to give a report next Monday.
The 90 or so minutes used to discuss the budget will result in no material changes in a $40-50 budget. Recommended TO changes for efficiency should not be implemented until the CFO is in place, and he can evaluate how to restore good fiscal management to Plainfield's government. Too long have Administration and
the Council glossed over the annual Auditor's report about problems in purchasing and money management.
Among the resolutions approved for action the coming Monday was one executing an amendment agreement "between the City and UMDNJ's Lattimore Clinic for the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Case Management of Tuberculosis. in the amount of $25,000.00 annually.
Some information on the clinic which was State supported until 2007.
Waymon C. Lattimore Practice was established more than 3 decades ago and is part of the Ambulatory Care Services at University Hospital - University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey. It is designated bthe New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services as a Regional TB Clinic, serving Essex and Union County. The Practice also accepts referrals statewide for patients with multi-drug resistance and complex medical management problems.
Location 225 Warren Street in Newark
The actual agreement is b etween the lin ic and the County, which then proportionally assesses each municipality for services. For instance Westfield's fee is;
The actual agreement is b etween the lin ic and the County, which then proportionally assesses each municipality for services. For instance Westfield's fee is;
Westfield Memorandum of Agreement between UMDNJ-Lattimore TB Clinic and the Town of Westfield were provided for Board review and approval. The agreement sets a maximum cost of $350.00 for TB services provided to residents who have no insurance or those unwilling to apply for insurance.
My problem is how many Plainfield residents are served by this clinic; no data seems to be readily available. How many are nit eligible for Medicaid or Medicare? Are they residents of group homes? or "halfway houses" like the Park Hotel? Are they legal residents? I think we need an answer to these questions before we blindly commit funds that might be used elsewhere.
Please understand, I do not advocate withholding health care from anyone in need regardless of citizenship and or ability to pay. This is a society responsibility. The question is what level of society(government) should accept the burden. Either State or Federal, not local community except in emergency.
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