REFLECTIONS ON THE COUNCIL MEETING

 Tuesday night Council meeting has been covered adequately by other bloggers.

 As expected there was a 4 to 3 vote on further funding the independent attorney conducting the investigation on the source and any improprieties relating to the $20,000 spent in the WB LS radio station.  Thankfully the three negative voters did not again repeat their complaints of wasting city funds.

On that subject, it is not clear who is paying for the Mayor’s attorney. It seems to me that it would be incongruous for the City (Council) which is investigating a miss application of funds should also pay for legal expenses of a City Official who has not been charged with any malfeasant. However the Mayor has been hindering the investigation and thus driving up the expense.

Two add-ons not in the preliminary agenda were the Public Hearings for the SID budget and also for the 2011 Temporary Municipal Operating budget. Amendments to the municipal budget were approved later in the meeting.

I thought that I heard some remark made at the Council level that there were irregularities in SID funding for the previous year which were being looked into. However that is something I cannot confirm.

Part of the discussion in the mysterious Executive Session (which took over an hour) was supposed to have been about the position of City Administrator. In early November David Kochel, the  very professional Acting City Administrator, will have finished his second 90 day term and cannot continue in office. When the public meeting reconvened no mention was made about any discussion relating to the City Administrator.

Apparently the subject of the meeting was devoted to discussion with the County Prosecutor and his staff and the Mayor about Plainfield's crime problems as well as the Director of Police Position which is vacant and ever since the police chief's position was eliminated has been filled by the Director Public Safety. 

It is still this observer's opinion that change was an ill-advised political action to the detriment of the public welfare.

Once again in the person of Mr. Eric Jackson we again have an experienced Director of Public Works & Urban Development aboard. Perhaps the divisions including the Recreation Department will be more responsive to the Council and the public. Perhaps Superintendent of Public Works John Louise will get the support he needs to maintain the City’s infrastructure including preparation of the roads for winter.

Sadly this administration has been marked by questionable or unfilled important Directorships including fiscal controls. The personality cult of operation has not resulted in an efficient or cost effective operating city.