DISORGANIZED OR DYSFUNCTIONAL?

Yesterday I devoted my blog to the Health Officer situation. Logically; where it is placed in the City’s Table of Organization as a Division in Administration and Finance is open to question.

The Director of Administration and Finance, Restaino, has a long history of being a member of this Administration. He wears many hats besides being Director. 

Originally he was and still is “Director of Community Development” a Division in the “Public Works and Urban Development”. In addition in his own Department as Director of Plainfield Action Services (PAS) a sub-division of Health and Social Services. The City site description of PAS ;”  is a Municipal Community Action Agency under the City of Plainfield’s Department of Administration and Finance, Health and Social Services Division of Community Relations (sic) and Social Services.“

This is the only reference that I can find to “Community Relations” in the Department setups.

The fact that there has been a vacancy in the Health Officer’s position for 12 to 18 months is not a unique situation in an administration that has tolerated unfilled essential positions such as CFO, City Administrator, Purchasing Agent, Tax Collector, and Recreational Director among others for prolonged periods of time.

There have been questionable work-a-rounds such as the Corporation Counsel or the Mayor acting as City Administrator for a maximum of 90 days each. For over a year the CFO has been a miniscule part time position. All attestation documents 

that are signed by this individual are stamped and initial by another employee. 

Once again there is no concern about the legality of these documents.

Ignoring State Statutes with questionable temporary fixes as long as possible has been a trade mark of our City Government.  The responsibilities for such toleration lie not only with Administration but also with the Council. Ultimately the real villains responsible for a dysfunctional government be it local, county, state or national are the electorate, those that chose not to vote and those that feel they have an advantage under present circumstances.