The Council opened opened with presentation to
Director public works Eric Jackson and report on the mammoth work his Department had done during and after Sandy and cleaning up the debris on the streets. The first phase has been completed and second phase which will include accessible debris of private property will be beginning this coming this week and is expected to be completed whether permitting by the end of December. Plans are ready for removing tree stumps and repairing damaged sidewalks and curbs this time.
Although director Jackson stated that the cost of cleanup had been about $200,000 projected for this year and more will be needed in the coming year. In that regard the Council passed a resolution authorizing $600,000 in emergency storm relief monies to be paid by note to be raised by that will be repayable at the rate of hundred $20,000 for five years I.
Resolution in accepted a national emergency grant from the union County workforce investment Board for $171,501 to hire 11 individuals first six months. To help the public works department cleanup effort. This will not impact upon the previous mention $600,000. The funds coming from the county who provided the personnel involved.
This was the first and only Council business meeting for Councilman at Large Eke, who was filling McWilliams vacated seat.
Both Director of Administration and Finance Restaino and Director of Public Works Jackson who was acting as City Administrator for this meeting denied any knowledge of the reported 1.2 5 million allotted from FEMA as reported in the newspapers in a memorandum from Sen. Menendez office. Jackson noted that they are trying to contact the Senator's office for clarification..
The controversial resolution relating to accreditation of the Police Department was requested by Administration to be withdrawn. Since by being in the agenda it was now the "property" of the Council. Councilor Cory Storch noted the correct procedure was to table the resolution; which was so enacted..
Other matters of interest have been previously discussed prior to the meeting and all were adopted.
The final order of business was to add a resolution which would award an additional $6400 to the contractor responsible for the cleanup of the Leland Avenue site. After much discussion this resolution is not put on the agenda for action.
It's is unbecoming for this city to hand over a contract to a city official when all that official does is take a 30% cut of the action. The Jerry Green-led Democratic Party is all about taking advantage of the public trust. Conflicts of interest abound and ethics constraints are basically non-existent.
ReplyDeleteAlan, one of the reasons that resolution did not get on the agenda was the ethical one and it was raised by Reid!.
ReplyDeleteThe City Solicitor again took the debatable position that the PMUA is an independent body and not part of the City Government.Therefore there was no conflict of interest.
Williamson tried that tack too when questioned if PMUA was subject to the pay-to-play ordinances passed late last year that included all "agencies and instrumentalities" of the city. He said at the time that PMUA was was not, as it is independent, conveniently ignoring that state law and PMUA's own Creation Ordinance specifically call it an agency and instrumentality of the city, and its own financial statements refer to it as a "component unit" of the city. This is all part and parcel of the PMUA scam, conceived to limit oversight and permit the maximum amount of abuse of its public function with minimal accountability.
ReplyDeleteTo the City Solicitor: So why do ALL PMUA Vehicles have Municipal Government License Plates? Duh!
ReplyDeletePlainfield will miss Annie's rationality and competence on the Council.
ReplyDelete