BUDGET SESSION

Thursday night’s most significant Council Budget Deliberation meeting was attended by two bloggers a very few citizens and the members of CBAC.

Official presence was all Councilors except McWilliams. Rivers arrived 30 minutes late. In addition to the three Department Directors, Special Consultant Kochel and as Acting Corporation Counsel; City Solicitor David Minchello.

In the absence of City Administrator Eric Berry; Director of Public Works Jackson assumed that position.

Both the Council's Finance Committee and CBAC have done an admirable job for this years budget.

CBAC presented its report. Among the Highlights were these comments about the Recreation Division: Recreation I unable to provide a complete and verifiable accounting of costs associate3d with its programs and act5ivities. This is a 725K budget without demonstrable effectiveness. The consensus of the committee is that this division is poorly managed and offers an inadequate level of service to Plainfield’s citizens.

To date the Director has not provided information that would confirm that Recreation is regularly serving any more than 5% of the city’s population with its programs”’

A pretty damning commentary followed by a recommendation the supervisors position become a part time one. Also that there be program sharing with other providers including the YMCA.

CBAC was critical of the Economic Development Division as ‘not being able to provide sustained improvements in the city’s economy”

Other recommendations included the transfer of the Bilingual Daycare to a nonprofit organization; Revamping the Senior Citizen’s Services.

There was recommendation for changes in the Corporation Counsel’s position to be “part time positions” to be able to represent both Administration and Council. I will refer to this again in a discussion about the actual amended budget which will be presented to the council for adoption at a, I believe, June 6 Special Meeting

The “IT Department” as well as the “Inspection Division was subjects for criticism regarding effectiveness.

After receipt of CPAC’s report and short discussion the council turned to the amendments proposed by the Finance Committee.

It was noted by Consultant Kochel that unexpended funds from TY2011 and FY 2011 plus some surplus funds would suffice to cover the amended 2012 budget at a level that would mean a slight reduction in the tax rate that the Mayor’s defected budget called for.

At an included Special meeting a resolution was passed authorizing that transfer of funds plus another authorizing an adjustment in compensation to the “Special Consultant”.

A serious Discourse took place when Director of Administration and Finances Restaino revealed that contrary to Ordinances passed in 2010 creating the IT Division placed it under his Department, IT was reporting directly to City Administrator Berry. He also obfuscated when asked why there was an ad for 9 new part time skilled employees in IT.

There will be further discussion this coming week on the amended budget proposal.

Regarding the verbal fireworks perhaps tomorrow.