COUNCIL MONDAY NIGHT

"Leadership has a harder job to do than just choose sides. It must bring sides together" Jesse Jackson "Leadership requires the ability to chose well qualified subordinates to be trusted and permitted to accomplish your responsibilities" Me

Believe it or not the two "quotes" are related to today's blog about Monday Night's Council Agenda Session. Perhaps that will become clear.

Prior to the scheduled Council meeting there is a special meeting of the Council which for lack of information was  suspect called for by the Mayor. That the sole item is for an appropriation of fund s representing the highest amount of three rejected by the Council last month does not jive with the first quote. 

Of the three resolutions the one for the least amount of money to be appropriated would fund the Purchasing Division until the end of the fiscal year. The money may be available by line item transfer. Despite Councillor Mapp's explanation of his vote I can not yet understand why this  was rejected except for political spite

The next one which would have also granted and increased funding to Recreation was clouded by innuendo and false statements. Apparently no money was cut from FY11 Recreation budget but some redirected which may have resulted in the elimination of a full time position. Unfortunately the issue presented by recruited  opposition to the changes really fell on the personality involved using children as a prop.

The one  being resubmitted is by rumor also restoring funding for an employee in the Mayor's office although not mentioned in the title.

As to the  agenda of the Councils "work session' the packet available to the public has none of the "written" committee reports supposedly to be presented at this meeting.

There is once more on the agenda a resolution appointing "Constables". This resolution has failed at least twice mainly because there have been unanswered questions as to where  they fit in the City's organization. duties and how compensated. Once again this legislation has political overtones that are symptomatic of Plainfield's operational problems. To keep reintroducing this item which is not vital to the City is once again a demonstration of our Mayor's lack of understanding what Jackson is saying.

As to other Resolutions for discussion there are two related;"K"  to rescind a Resolution passed  at the Dec 2010 meeting authorizing an application to UEZA for project funding of $275043.00 for  4 police officers to continue to serve in the UEZ. (L) is a Resolution authorizing the submitting of an application for "phrase four UEZ Police Program to employ 4 "seasoned Police offers deployable   to the Urban Enterprise Area (is this synonymous with UEZ?)in the amount of $275043.00.

 

The reason appears to be that in the previous application, SOMEONE forgot that the officers were entitled to a raise and that there was increased health benefit costs amounting to over approximately $1165.00. The City's  responsibility in 2011 will now be $68760.00. If memory serves me right in year 5 or 6 the City will have 2100% responsibilikty'

The other Resolution is (O) is a Resolution authorizing the release of the performance guarantee bond for the "Monarch".  The bond holder certifies that all the requirements for occupancy have been met with the exception of "(1) the planting of 3 shade trees, ans (2) the failure to remove a side walk obstruction of a conduit for a light post that was relocated". That this may be a danger to pedestrians is ignored. Also not mentioned is the roof terrace plantings etc, and some of the Senior Citizens complaints reported to the Council. We trust the Council will give full consideration if any liability will now fall upon the city.

 

Resolutions (K) & (L) can be directly related to the second declaration at the start of this blog. Today, the Mayor is acting under emergency conditions as the City Administrator, a position which she has not demonstrated any qualifications for and because of a persistent reluctance to fill Department and Division heads with quality individuals has only two appointed directors once recently and neither with the capabilities needed to act as City Administrator.   

 

Unrelated  matter: Yesterday I recommended a book I had just finished reading; "Jerusalem Jerusalem" as thought provoking. I omitted to note that its confusing and puzzling. Today I read a review in last weeks NY Times Book Section which points out the same fault. I still would read it.