MORE BUDGET MEETING

On Friday Plaintalker II Council Explores Budget Fixes covered almost all the major changes in the amendments to the proposed budget that will be voted on at Council’s Special meeting June 6^th. The Budget itself should be adopted at the June 18 meeting.

Councilor Reid and Rivers and to a less extent Grieves objected to the restoring $70K to the proposed funding for the Library in the Mayor’s submitted budget.

As reported in the Plaintalker blog there was a strong objection from Corporation Counsel’s office on the $58,500.00 cuts proposed in the O.E. line, although there is a 12K increase in the S&W line.

It was pointed out that the proposed reductions would be for the 2^nd half of 2012 after Corporation Counsel Williamson has left the position by making it part time and also elimination of one of the Special Counsel positions.

The acting Corporation Counsel tried to justify the full time position by alluding to a heavy work load.

The Mayor’s budget had bundled Information Technology with Media and Communications on one line. The amendments properly separate them into distinct functions with most of the total savings of the 187K savings come from reduction of 2 PIO assistants plus overtime and funding for 9 proposed part-time media positions.

At this point Adm. & Finance Director Restaino dropped his bombshell by stating that ITetc reported directly to the City Administrator. (See earlier blog)

The changes proposed for recreation have been earlier reported. There was objection from Reid and Rivers to the eliminating a part time assistant in the Mayor’s office; “Someone has to answer the phone”

At the conclusion of the business there was a period for public comments. Third Ward Candidate took the opportunity to complain about a flyer distributed in the “Woodlands area” which he claims falsely accused him of advocating the construction of apartments on the Muhlenberg site. Mapp said he knew nothing about it, had not seen it until that moment and did not know who the authors were. He in fact condemned it.

At that point Rivers jumped in and demanded that Mapp apologize to Abdul-Haqq. When Mapp responded that he had explained he had no knowledge of the flyer, Rivers continued with her demand for an apology.

Things escalated when Mapp m mentioned that no one had apologized for the 2009 Scarlet letter which may have originated in City Hall and was circulated to all working there. He noted that the Mayor was supposed to investigate and take action against the writer but nothing had ever happened.

Rivers continued that she personally had contacted the Mayor and there had been an investigation.

At that point the meeting was adjourned and as I left I noticed Rivers in a heated discussion with Mapp.

Regarding the “flyer”; I have not seen it and I do not know how Abdul-Haqq is implicated. He is running as an Independent but has been linked with the Rev. Brown who has a party line in this crossed linked election.

Rev. Brown did remark at one forum that she was in favor of the apartments and that Plainfield needed more “affordable housing”. At the FOSH Forum she stated that she had made those remarks because she had “not done her due diligence” on this controversial matter!