COUNCIL METTING #2

Was .there anything positive that concerned citizens could find encouraging during last night’s Council meeting?

I believe that Council President Rivers desires to run a proper meeting in regards to rules of order, format and procedures. She has shown a willingness to learn. Something other members of “the gang of four” seem to feel to be of no value when compared to their own local club concepts.

The Council needs a designated Parliamentarian. The Corporation Counsel should not feel  fill  that role because it may be difficult for him to be unbiased. The City Clerk is the one individual in the government who has the knowledge and in discussions about Council is noted to be the designated individual. He should be called upon and his advice not disregarded by certain bull headed members.

I was impressed that the Council President added to the agenda a discussion about the youth baseball leagues and a request for the Administration to give its replies to question asked at the Agenda session Public Comment Period.

Incidentally; one of the outrageous articles in the submitted Council’s ROs actual prohibits the Administration from publicly responding to inquiries during the meeting.

City Administrator Berry noted that there had been a meeting with the member s of the Queen City BB League and Director Jackson of Public Works for the Recreation division and that the two leagues were to be merged. Berry deferred any details until Jackson who was absent due to the Flu could be present the details. Unfortunately, Roland Muhammad during the Public Comment period seemed to have verbally threatened those who disagreed with his concept of running the program.

In reply to a question about what was being done to reduce crime in the city; it was mentioned that a new street crime unit of 5 patrolmen and a supervisor had been formed. Not mentioned was made of what other changes would result from the transfer of these individuals from other units and how their functions would be affected. Are we robbing Peter to pay Paul?

The irresponsible politically motivated action resulting in the payment of the Mayor’s personal legal obligations should deserve a review as to its legality. The minutes of the executive meeting in which this action first surface should be publicly posted not made subject to an OPRA request.

Once again the mumbo/jumbo of the awarding of Professional Services Contracts voided the city’s own Ordinances.

The details about the voting have for the present been covered in Plaintalker II and in part Plainfield Today. My commentaries were made in blogs before this session but I expect to revisit the voting.

More to come in the near future but there are other subject matters that I wish to express an opinion