COUNCIL MEETING #2

The second item on the Discussion/Action Items was the Capital Improvement Plan which will be presented as part of the six-month transitional budget and next year’s calendar year budget. It is apparently going to be generalities rather than specifics.

Councilor Storch gave a brief report on the plan and its relationship with the planning board’s plan and budget program for the coming year. Among the projects to be considered is the demolition of the old laundry/dry cleaning building on Leland Avenue north of North Ave. Apparently the property owner does not have the funds for the vision to demolition. This eyesore has been partially demolished for years. The building was a laundry and dry cleaning establishment. Is there a possibility of a contamination problem on the property?

Another item perhaps influenced by Irene would be the hiring of an Hydraulic Engineer $15000.00 as a step in petitioning for the redrawing of Plainfield’s floodplain map, in order that those houses which are listed in the floodplain but do not suffer from floods can be delisted. That would increase their market/taxable value and eliminated the requirement for mandatory flood insurance.

In regard to the South Avenue replacement project, which will be discussed later, in order to expedited its construction , funds available for sidewalk improvements are not included in the present plan. However, they will be presented as a separate project..

The backup generators for the police department and 911 switchboards are not at present in the budget but will have to be included. the fire department has funds available for its packages.

In the discussion on the capital budget it was noted that the Watching Avenue resurfacing project was funded out of State grant monies and therefore was not included in the Capital Budget per se. The segment between Leland Woodland apparently will be resurfaced either this fall despite the late date to start our next. The three were that may not be done this fall as an originally projected but early next. We will wait!

Councilwoman Rivers discussed the "Family Fun Community Appreciation Day" in which there will be baseball games at Milt Campbell Field which will involve both the Recreation and the Queen City Baseball leagues against teams from North Carolina. Relevant have later on spoke in favor the program. After the ballgames there will he a barbecue and entertainment at the Atkins playground. etc.. The actual paperwork including insurances etc. have yet to be filed for the September 24 program however Council member Rivers assured us that it would be.

There was discussion on the vehicle mileage reports on take-home vehicles which are due to be submitted to the City Administrator's office. However, they have not been submitted and there the was the feeling for an ordinance to recommend that the director of Public Works and Urban Development be responsible for the report.

Since the take-home vehicle is an employment perk; should it not be reported as income and included in the employee' s 1099?.

The final  discussion item; "Council Rules of Order" regarding agenda items. The Council Members should receive their packets on the Thursday before the meeting. Therefore, the administration needs to have this material submitted by Wednesday night so those packets can be completed. Apparently Administration is deficient in meeting this deadline. Council President McWilliams requested than they do so.


More to come