ABOUT THAT HOUR

 Another dreary dark depressive day, made worse by last night’s meeting.

First let me make it clear; to begin with I am not addressing the issue of political motivation in the firing of Lamar Mackson. To an outsider it appears that this is just one more of many vindictive political moves by both factions, the Mayor and the gang of four, since Jan 1, 2014. All are ill advised and detrimental to Plainfield.

But more about that latter; what I am focusing on occurred between 7:30 pm and 8:30 pm on June 10, 2014 in the Court Room venue of the City Council.

I have no objection to the more than a dozen citizens who spoke about what they considered and probably rightly so, to be an injustice. That is 

what that portion of the council meeting is supposed to facilitate.

Non-the-less, no matter what the Councilors personal feelings are, this portion of the agenda is not the forum for any of them to interject their own opinions, nor to interrupt speakers.

Nor is it the place to use as a soap box for long orations especially proclaiming ones support for the Mayor, but how one will fight him to the end to “protect our children”. 

It is incidents like that one which makes Plainfield a laughing stock. As one citizen sitting behind me get muttering; “disgusting, this is not the place for such outburst”.

Rivers and Taylor, who seems to have assumed the role of mouthpiece for the Council, should have waited as Councilor Storch did until the public comment period was close and then made their comments.

Furthermore if I have not been overwhelm by the rancor expressed up front, it seems to me that the City Administrator was interrupted and cut off when trying to speak. Unfortunately his mike did not seem to be working because I could never hear what he was saying.

But let’s return to the political aspects. The action of the Mayor was undoubtedly ill-advised. Whether the person involved was targeted because of relationships with members of the Green faction I do not know, although the circumstances would suggest such a motive.

However, the timing of the action; as a reaction of the voting results seems unlikely since the results were as predicted. The machine should not be blamed for the defeat of 2/3rds of the New Democrat ticket. The failure there was an inability to assure more than a 15% turnout of eligible voters.

There are about 10K registered Democrats and another 8.5K including about 900 Republicans voters who are not registered in the Democrat party and who do not desire to have an input in selecting Plainfield’s government. Taking all numbers into account it is obvious that about 10% of voters considered it important to elect the city Council.

Since there is only one Party in Plainfield, Democracy demands that those who are at odds with a local party dictatorship should file an opposition slate. To get together afterwards on State and National issues is only proper and should not be subject to derision from the entrenched core. Would the latter prefer that at the general elections the “New Democrats and other affiliated free thinkers vote en-mass for the Republicans?   I am sure not.

Our Council is acting toward the Mayor like the Republican Congress acts toward the President. Our Mayor or his advisers seem to be emulating Christie. Neither will result in a desirable community.

The question of what funds were allocated or not is debatable. I have not closely studied the final budget, but I do believe that allocations for salaries is a total line item not for a specific individual and or job. Thus it is the administration prerogative to allocate funding as it best sees fit. It could eliminate the position Council targeted or other position; the Council cannot dictate just express its desire.

It also makes little sense to compare spot allocations, increases and or decreases with the previous year’s budget. The only valid statistic is the difference between the Administration’s submitted budget and the line items of the final Council approved budget.

I believe that the Council has a right to object to a specific job termination and demand an explanation; but do not make it a public spectacle to justify their own negative agenda.

After all the rhetoric the Council agreed to put on the agenda the resolution out sourcing the media work. It also will place on the agenda an ordinance mandating spending funds- not allocated- to tape the Council meetings, which should be a given.

I know this is long and mufti facet, but I welcome your remarks and constructive comments.