BELATED POST

I have noted that I would be unable to attend Tuesday night's Council Agenda Session and Special Meeting. Thank goodness, perhaps someone will listen to my cries in the wilderness about the inappropriateness of the once a monthly Agenda Setting and Business Meeting format.

No body can function efficiently when exposed to mental fatigue. Nor do I believe that presence through a conference call phone meets the fiduciary needs for a Councilor.

Any remarks I make about that meeting is of course based solely on third hand information derived from other bloggers and perhaps the news media.

I share probably to the frustration of those anonymous commentators who decry what they perceive to be my bias for the New Democrats, Councilor Reid's opposition to the "ShotSpotter " program. Councilor Storch may be more opened minded but in his blog he too gives a valid reason to be skeptical about its efficiency. It is at best reactive and not proactive. The argument that cars leaving an incident area can be intercepted is at best a week one and perhaps may lead to legal issues that will be expensive in the long run. Presence of police has been the greatest deterrent to date.

The "Armory Plan" still seems to have no concrete basis for consideration. At best it will be another "Tepper's Basement". If it could be converted for Recreational uses at a reasonable cost and without creating a nuisance situation in the neighborhood it could be a poor but temporary substitution for a well developed Rahway styled Recreation Complex using the old Wood Press property. We are already years behind times in trying to develop grant funding for such a project.

Councilor Storch position on the road repavement program is right on target. Six years of sub par or no leadership in the Public Works Division has led to a haphazard following of what was in 2005 a well developed plan for replacement of poor streets. Watchung Ave is a prime example; the worse section is still not even in the planning stages whereas sections that were only in need of good maintenance and requiring utilities that had opened the roadway to make a proper closure have either been repaved or put on schedule.

Leland Ave especially from the brook to Front Street represents a test course for off the road vehicles. Once again the deterioration was hastened by improper closing of the utility dug trench.The other portion of that street could be preserved if their was proper use of repaving equipment the city already owns.

Primary Streets must have top priority because they give the first and most import impression about the city.However, the secondary neighborhood roads must also not be neglected and a definitive plan for their upgrading must be followed. There always remains a question whether the city actively pursued stimulus funds grants for these projects. The eliminating positions held by experience grant grants has certainly been Penny wise and Dollar foolish.

The employing a highly qualifying "Rent an Administrator" for 90 days is a good stop gap action, BUT what is the status of the search for a permanent City Administrator? Has Plainfield's history impacted on such a search, if their even is an active one? One would think that it would be to Administration's advantage to have Council Members as part of a search team.

From Friday on to midweek this blogs activities will be compromised by the presence at various times of children ,if the youngest being 60 can be called a child, a much welcomed visit for a Grandson, his wife and two delightful great-grandchildren. I will find time if there is sufficient merit to post.