TWO ITEMS

Tonight Jerry Green should finally achieve a goal that has been denied to him over the past two decades; Chair of the County Democrat Committee.  This is a most powerful position and could have the same impact over County politics and its benefits as his singular leadership of the Plainfield Democrat Party.

I was not at that Committee’s reorganization meeting last night; but I will quote some statements from today’s Bernice’s blog. I have added some comments in brackets.

”Across the state, many Democrats in elected office are declaring support for Gov. Chris Christie's re-election in November, but Green said Monday, "There's no room for Republicans in our house."

“Green made it clear he will brook no dissension in the party.

"I can accept Democrats disagreeing, but when you cross the line there's no coming back," he warned. "When you make a decision, think about how it will affect everybody else in the room."

"That has been the problem in Plainfield," he said. "Don't come here and get our (my) blessing, and go out and do what you want to do,” (All who have tried that are off the line at the next election)

Green called his 68-member committee a "smooth machine" (I make all the important decisions) as he looks forward to Democratic Party leadership of all 21 municipalities in Union County.”  

In Green’s world there is no room for a cognoscente voter. All registered Democrats must follow the Boss’s dictates.

I am still confused about proposed resolution Z30 on tomorrow’s agenda. This is the one regarding a MOU with the NJDEP regarding the implementation of the Brownfield Development Area program.  This program supposedly does not involve city funds; only grant money which comes from tax dollars and can be substantial.

The MOU refers to two attachments. #1 is the composition of the “Steering Committee” chaired by Jacques Howard; Assistant Director Office of Economic Development.

Who selected or appointed this committee is not evident. There are 12 members of this committee although three; Charlotte DeFillipo (former) Exc Director UCIA; Andrew Arditti; and Cecil Sanders, CHS Construction Co. has a grey bar over their names. The others are ; Barbara James (Mayor’s Office), No Name (Councilman at large 2nd and 3^rd Wards); William Nierstedt (Planning Director), Al Restaino (as Director of Community Development), Eric Jackson,Dir.PW&UD(sic), Lawra  J. Dodge,P.G., President(Excel Environmental Resources, Inc.),Antoine Thomas(email-“pastor8424@AOL.com),Frankly Green (*Audra Frank), and Jeffery Dunn( the Incubator).

Unclear is how and why and for what expertise these individuals were appointed. However of equally importance and missing from the public’s pack  is Attachment #2 which identifies the BDA (Brownfield Designated? Areas).  I hope to obtain that document without having o resort to OPRA by tomorrow.