I was ready to post about the Administration
and Council’s failure to stop acting like Republicans and Democrats of C
congress when a notice of a Special Council meeting called by Mayor Mapp landed
on my computer. The meeting is scheduled
to start at 6pm before the rescheduled regular meeting at 8pm. The Special
meeting will reconvene in executive session right after opening.
It is
somewhat confusing since there is such a list of resolutions and the notice
says “Formal action may be taken”, I believe that is just pro forma. An
Executive Session cannot be convened without there being a meeting. Thus the
need for the Special Meeting to discuss items not on the regular meeting’s
agenda. When the executive session ends the special meeting will have to be
reconvened and I expect immediately adjourned so the scheduled regular meeting
can take place.
The Special
meeting’s agenda contains 14 resolutions that answer some of concerns but also
some raise new concerns.
I am printing those resolutions in blue that relate to
my concerns. The others will be at the end
In part this
is what I had written:
The first twelfth
of the 2014 year is about to become history.
It is not too soon to see some of
the fruits of a new Administration which had started out on level of high
expectations and a promise of charging out of the gate; as well as an
indication on how well the 2014 Council will follow a promised collaborative
course.
Sadly this
initial month paints a bleak picture from the early performance of both bodies
of this government.
Mapp had
formed a blue star Transition Committee of over 100 volunteer concerned
citizens plus some outside experts which submitted a detail report in December
of what had to be done; what was urgent and what was desirable.
Yet
as of this date at least five recommendations from the Public Affairs &
Safety, Administration and Finance and the Budget subcommittees have not been
initiated. True the Council refused without explanation to act on the
appointment of a Director of Public Affairs and Safety as well as a Police
Director, but no name for the CFO had been presented.
1 Resolution
authorizing the appointment of a Chief Financial Officer and Authorization for
the Execution of an Employment Contract. Great! Fiscal reforms are on hold without a CFO.
2.
Resolution authorizing the advice and consent of Carl N. Riley to serve as
Police Director for the City of Plain
Great!
Great!
A
recommendation that there position for Police Chief be reactivated remains
dormant; perhaps waiting for the Department head to be appointed. Since the
process will take time for the city to pass an ordinance to create the
position; at least two months and then a wait for the Trenton to approve.at
least another two months will not help the cause. Instead there is a resolution
appointing a deputy Police Director which I will have to read to be sure it is
not appeasement or is the intention not to have a police chief, which I believe
is a bad road to travel.
11 Ordinance creating the position of Deputy Police
Director. 12. Ordinance creating the Salary Range for the Position of Deputy
Police Director. What gives?
There seems
to have been no action on appointing a Director of Health and reforming an
active animal control agency. These subdivisions in my mind are in the wrong Department;
A&F and belong in PA&S.
Recommendations
to fill vacant position on Authorities and Commission boards had not been
submitted, well this meeting will take care of that issue
3. Resolution
authorizing the advice and consent of appointments to the Human Relations
Commission.
4. Resolution
authorizing the advice and consent of appointments to the Plainfield Zoning
Board.
5. Resolution
authorizing the advice and consent of appointment to the Plainfield Planning
Board.
6. Resolution authorizing
the advice and consent of appointments to the Plainfield Advisory Commission on
Hispanic Affairs.
7.
Resolution authorizing the advice and consent of appointments to the Plainfield
Public Library Board.
8.
Resolution authorizing the advice and consent of appointments to the
Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority.
10. Resolution
authorizing the advice and consent of Lt. James Abney to serve as the Emergency
Management Coordinator for the City of Plainfield. i believe
this is a good choice. We need more info about “Emergency Management “; who is
in it and what is its charge and plans. That information has been scanty in the
past.
Other
Resolutions and Ordinances to be considered including the infamous interest
setting rates on delinquent taxes are;
9 Resolution establishing Delinquent
Tax and Assessment Interest Rates and Penalties.
13. Ordinance
to Amend the Salary Range for the Position of Permanent Municipal Court Judge.
14.
Ordinance to Amend the Salary Range for
the Position of Part-Time Temporary Municipal Court Judge.
The
absence of the Administration’s nominee for Director of Public Affairs and
Safety and of course the “Deputy Police Director” suggests that the smoke
filled room is in operation.
I am told that council member's will boycott the meeting and VOTE down all of Mayor Mapp appointments. I hope this is not true we need the commissions to be filled. I hope the council member's will not play petty politics with the Coty of Plainfield it will be a shame. Shame on them if they do this great injustice
ReplyDelete10:08 AM Rumor or verifiable source statement? All or some? At this time I would consider this to be malicious rumor without knowing source.
ReplyDeleteLET'S GIVE THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S A CHANCE. IF THEY VOTE DOWN THE APPOINTMENTS WITH OUT REASON THENWE THE VOTER'S WILL HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
ReplyDeleteRENEE
If this is true it smells like Assemblymen Jerry Green. Assemblymen Greene should stand by what he said at the re-organization meeting that he have nothing to do with the council. STAY OUT OF COUNCIL BUSINESS
ReplyDeleteIt really is time to get back to basics. Those professional politicians in Congress,(both state and federal, and yes even in county and local government) need to make way for ordinary American citizens to step up and take the reins!)
ReplyDeleteRight now you have a millionaire's club in Washington that is so distant from the average American people they are supposed to be representing, that when they say, "I know how you feel and I know what you need and want", that it makes me cringe inside!
What we need is an even playing field in the political arena. Everyone running for office should be given x amount of dollars to campaign,. Nobody gets more than anyone else. This way we would not be subjected to people like Corzine and Bloomberg, to name two, who got elected because they had more money than everyone else.
There have been many good people who lost because they ran out of funds and the guys with unlimited bank accounts came out victorious.
The system is flawed, to say the least.
Elliott Spitzer putting people in jail and ruining lives prosecuting people that were doing the same thing he was doing and he didn't even get a slap on the wrist!
People in authority should be held to a higher standard than the rest of us, and the penalties should be much harsher on them when they stray from the right path!
Mapp is cunning, as he has on his transition team or rallied behind anyone who might potentially call him to task.
To me it appears as though the Good Old Boy system is alive and well in our town.
Let's not put the cart before the horse. Bridget Rivers does not want to look the fool. I cannot imagine she would call a meeting knowing no one will attend.
ReplyDeleteAnd, it seems like the city of Plainfield cannot deal with good coming its way. There is always someone who puts forth the negative.
Write your negative comments AFTER it happens. Don't project - it wastes energy.
11:20 am Council President Rivers DID NOT call the meeting; Mayor Mapp did as is his right under the Charter. The Council President can on her own or members of the Council by petition can call for a special meeting.
ReplyDeleteWe can wait and see, then flood the council members mailboxes with our disgust if they don't do right by Plainfielders. I just hope the council and members like Rivers, Reid, Brown, Taylor, and Greaves stop playing games and give Mapp what he needs to move us forward. So we have to wait again.
ReplyDeleteCome on Plainfield please stop. I think enough is enough. It is si easy for you guys to jump on certain council member's what is the problem here. Wake up Plainfield
ReplyDeleteAdrian wants to rule Plainfield, Assemblymen Green wants to control Plainfield maybe if all council member's had their own brains maybe Plainfield will be heading in the right directions. If the council do not show up at the meeting or just vote no with out a explanation to the residents who voted them in then its time to vote them out.
ReplyDeleteAssemblymen Greene pass the torch along your days are over. No more business as usual. I'm going to take the advice of some of the others people who commented. I'm going to wait and see who do the council member's work for Jerry Green or the people who Voted them in.
ReplyDelete"Councilwoman Tracey Brown said this is 'a wonderful time in the life of Plainfield.' She urged residents to support Mapp. 'If we support him and if he does well, the city does well,' Brown said. 'If he is blessed, the city is blessed.'
ReplyDelete---- I'm guessing we citizens should end this mess and start supporting the new Mayor.. If only we weren't the unappreciative obstructionist who are holding the city and the ever vigilant and hard working city council from making this possible for the Mayor. We citizens truly are the problem. If only we would stop holding the city council back from doing what's right.
11:36 am, If you want to bring racist charges against any commentator do not post anonymous. Have the guts to stick up to your convictions.
ReplyDelete@Blackdog - I am not sure I understand your comment. And . . . Corzine LOST his last campaign.
ReplyDeleteRemember? Mr. Bridgegate Zimmer Crispy Christi defeated him. Looks like Corzine's wealth did him no good.
Connie B.
The Office of Emergency Management is supposed to be the duty of the Director of Public Safety with two Deputies, one each from police and fire Divisions. All appointees are required by law to hold certain State certification, which I believe Lt. Dabney doesn't possess.
ReplyDelete