OF BUDGET AND OZ's COUNCIL

 Last Wednesday after the Council meeting I wrote:

“The other outstanding impression received is that the Chairman of the Council’s Finance Committee is running a silent filibuster to delay as long as possible consideration of the 2014 Budget until by emergency default his own private agenda will be accepted even if it is counter to the best interests of the city.  

What matters is that it is destructive to the present administration.

Unfortunately he will have the 100% support of the Group of Four.”

Perhaps there may be some merit to Council’s complaint about new hires; there is an overlapping in what I believe is the duties of the City Administrator and the Chief of Staff. However, Sharon had an equivalent acting as an Executive Secretary; a position that does not exist in Mapp’s administration...

Otherwise if looked at closely; these are just replacements for previously filled positions although some   were knew under a different label. I cannot see any legitimate objection to any of these appointees.

From the time that this Council hired a “Consultant” for $7000.00 because as long serving Councilman Reid said in effect-not verbatim- “We on the Council don’t understand the budget process” it has been obvious that the one motive of the Gang of Four on this Council was to implement what appears to be Jerry Green’s agenda and destroy the present administration.

Plainfield be damned. Those who are supposed to serve the community are dedicated to serve a political boss.

Yes we had a Consultant the past two years; but that was because Robinson-Briggs never filled the CFO position.  Expert advice was needed.  The lesson had been learned the previous year when there was a costly budget error.

This Administration has filled that position. Therefore it there could be only two possible reasons for the Council to need a Consultant; one is that those who voted for it are really incompetent in financial matters, or the Consultant was needed to give “official” credence to the “Reid program”. 

Either or both dooms Plainfield to economic and residential oblivion.

I sincerely hope that I have misjudged the Council majority’s motivation.  However whether Reid speaks for himself or is his patron’s mouthpiece the theme of his comments at meetings and hearings has been the same; our taxes are too high we must cut expenses .Sentiments that have been mirrored by others on the Council who also have been delinquent in on time tax payments.

There are Councilors who in the spirit of containing costs have been heard to remark even at meetings, that they are not being paid enough!

Like any sensible Plainfield property owner; several years ago Reid had his home reassessed   to represent present real-estate values. He is now contributing several thousand dollars less to the city’s needs.

Taylor is a “guest” of the city; she pays no taxes as the widow of a disabled war veteran. This is due to a well-meaning law which perhaps the application is greater than intended.

Property Tax Exemption for 100% Disabled Veterans or Surviving Spouses  Certain permanently and totally disabled war veterans or the surviving spouses (widows/widowers) of such disabled war veterans and servicepersons are granted a full property tax exemption on their dwelling house and the lot on which it is situated.

To qualify, you must be an honorably discharged veteran, who had active service in time of war in the U.S. Armed Forces, or the unmarried surviving spouse of such a disabled veteran. Surviving spouses of servicepersons who died in active service in time of war also qualify. Disability must be certified as 100% permanent and total by the United States Veterans Administration.

My assumption is that the intention of this law was meant as a reward to exempt those whose disability was the direct result of military service. I  am not sure that the authors of this law intended to included disability as the result of an injury or accident in civilian life or a disease process such as heart, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Diabetes, etc. anything that might happen to any person as they age.

Do not forget that for two wars; WWII and Vietnam everybody was mandated by the draft to serve if selected; that was a duty. In subsequent military actions all those who served had volunteered, they were not required to risk their lives in the service of our country. In their cases I have no problem with the merits of the exemption applied to non-service disability which can occur to all of us in the course of life.

But the law is the law and as applied must be accepted.

Whether you are a taxpayer contributing to the city's  income either directly as a property owner or indirectly as a renter or exempt has no impact on the qualifications to be a Councilor. There is no length of time residency requirement like the four years required  to be Mayor. The only requirement is that one be a registered voter in the ward or wards that is represented at the time of the election.

What happens with the budget should be a consideration about what the candidates for the  3 Council positions represent when voting this June.