Yes, I may be a naive senile nonagenarian who is presently
havening some balance problems who thought that the word “Citizen’s” in a title
meant “of the people” not a political organization.
I could not attend the Council’s first Budget hearing
meeting but reports that I am receiving suggest that this process will be
devoted to embarrass Mayor Mapp’s Administration.
Consider the CBAC’s membership:
1. Ex-Mayor
Sharon Robinson-Briggs whose administration was notorious for its questionable uncorrected
adherence to acceptable fiscal practices. See the annual Audit Reports. She now
holds a “county” related job.
2. Former
Councilman Bill Reid who always complained about spending money to correct deficiencies
and advocated lowering the taxes which would result in less services, while at
the same time he had a history of being delinquent with his own taxes.
Remarkably I have not found any evidence of his paying interest when after even
4 quarters he “cleared his account. Last quarter for the first time in 55 years
as a property owner I was 3 days late and was charged interest! In 2014 then Councilor Reid insisted on
hiring a Consultant because the complexities of the budget was too great for
the Councilors to understand. It matters not that the “Consultant’s
recommendations tore the Mayor’s budget apart. Now Reid is sitting in judgement,
and the Council has retained the same Consultant.
3. Pamela
Razo, Anonymous Comment in Plainfielder II “Used to work for Jerry Green (as key office personal) and now works for Union County
Workforce.”
4. Delois
Dameron a member of Green’s puppet Democrat Party Committee and a public
supporter of Robinson-Briggs. Please see Ms Dameron comment.
5. Richard
Stewart, who was Chairperson of last year’s CBAC and gave a scathing report criticizing
the Mayor’s motives, not elucidating any positive recommendations.
6. Thomas
Kaercher, who has been a critic of the PMUA and the administration’s fiscal practices
over the years. Recommended by rpriseCouncilor Williams. Surprise! A CITIZEN!
7. Jan
Massey, a knowledgeable veteran of many years as an independent citizen on
CBAC. (Councilor Storch sponsor). YES another CITIZEN!
It has to be obvious that this so called Citizen’s Committee
is loaded politically to be destructive to the Mayor’s Budget. Their interests
are to serve the “machine” not the public.
In all the years there has been a CBAC when allowed to be
part of the process few if any of its recommendations were ever accepted. What
are the odds that this year the report from this committee will not be adopted
by this Council? 1000:1? There is little doubt that this whole process of “budget
hearings” and CBAC participation is a farce and only another pre-election
maneuver.
Old Doc, my name is DeLois (Dee) Dameron. I have always treated you with respect and I expect the same from you. For you to personally attack me and print the above statement is unfair. I find it offensive, deplorable and downright disrespectful. Regardless of what you or others think of me, let it be known that I am my own person and have the wherewithal to think and make decisions on my own.
ReplyDeleteI spoke out against the Robinson-Briggs Administration and will do the same to the Mapp Administration if I see wrong doing. I served on CBAC in 2011, 2012, 2013 and now 2015. Even though I was asked to serve in 2014, I declined due to health reasons. It's amazing that I served those years with nothing being said and now I'm a "puppet" (your words).
I am a CITIZEN like everyone else. I will do my due diligence when it comes to the residents of Plainfield. I have a conscious and I live with myself every day. You can believe that I have no sleepless nights. You see I have to answer to a higher authority who is greater.
Even though you have made this off-colored statement about me, I will continue to have respect for you. Thank you in advance for publishing my comment.
DeLois, I do apologize fo not mentioning your many years services on CBAC committees as a too often unheard CITIZEN. During those years I considered you to be a "free thinker". However, this time I considered "guilt by association" in view of your sponsor who has disapointed me by her prejudicial role on the Council..I will cross put the "Briggs reference" However I have never heartd any criticism .of the lack of democracy in the party committee actions.
DeleteDoc this is so wrong. This is extremely bias. I can not believe you would stoop to this level. This is very sad.
ReplyDeleteCBAC do your job. This administration in the very few year's that they have been in office have run this city to shame.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Plainfield will be able to stand another 2 year's of this mess.
Taxes on the rise because of all of these high paying jobs.
Take a look in the recreation department it looks like the Mapp for Mayor head quarter's.
CBAC don't be intimidated by this mess.
Council CUT CUT CUT
Where were you during the Briggs administration when the council approved her entire budget for the first few years? And that budget was UP UP UP!
DeleteYou must be one of Jerry's kids. Where were you in the eight years that Sharon ran this city into the poor house and helped cause our credit rating lowered?
DeleteHi Doc I think this post is very unfair. I have always read ad commented on your blogs when I thought it was appropriate.
ReplyDeleteI know that you are a supported of Mayor Mapp and so was I but what have been taking place in Plainfield lately I could no longer support and close the blind eye to wrong doing.
People do not want to tell the truth so I will. We are heading down a stream on a sinking ship fast. The decisions that Mayor Mapp have made are just appalling and I am very are should I say extremely disappointed in him.
It's unfair as a citizen for me to close my eyes to this mess. I did not close my eyes to the Al McWilliams Administration, The Robinson-Briggs administration and I certainly will not close my eyes to this mess.
The city of Plainfield is in a mess and it is extremely sad.
Renee
Hi Renee,
DeleteAs I said to the last commenter, where were you when Sharon caused our credit rating to be lowered and turned in eight budgets that Trenton would not accept without major revisions?
Plainfield will never progress since they can't get past the tit for tat. Until a new wave of people who are untainted by the old guard get involved and have a vision of making Plainfield a better place we will continue to look like a bunch of vindictive squabblers in the schoolyard. I live for the day I can be proud of my town for having the elected powers that be working together to shine up this hidden jewel of Plainfield.
ReplyDeleteNancy Jordan
People should really come and watch the budget deliberations. They are very entertaining. Gloria Taylor told Director Riley how he should discipline his troops (she went on for about half an hour). Tidwell threw the mayor under the bus, and then backed up and drove over him again, and again, and again....
ReplyDeleteThe entire deliberation focused on pointing out everything Mayor Mapp is doing wrong, and how Sharon had it so right.
As an aside, people should know that as time has gone on, I have observed that this council is solely concerned about Sharon and defending her past administration (what does that tell you?)- the rest of us can pound salt.
Lastly, the council keeps talking about how the citizens are hurting. I guess they forgot when they were going to spend tax dollars on a charity of THEIR choice. So, if you were hurting, but not part of their charity - well, like I said, pound salt. Thank goodness it was illegal, and they actually didn't do it. At least, not that we know of.
Nancy that day will never come as long as you have politicians like Adrian Mapp who is very power hunger. He care less about Plainfield only the very few in his circle.
ReplyDeleteThe hunger is not one sided. However I do recognize Mayor Mapp has tried to make some progress. But along with this comes possible missteps and definite obstruction.
DeleteNancy
I guess we can compare Mapp to Jerry and Sharon, but that would be totally unfair. Jerry is a power hunger politician who will give away as many jobs and gifts he can to buy votes and not help us in Plainfield. Jerry's kids are the ones harming this city the most and will keep doing it as long as people don't vote and allow it to happen. Bridget is the worst Council President we have ever had, Taylor and Greaves are just as bad and work for Green, not Plainfield. Let's get real here.
DeleteBob Bolmer
Old Doc, I feel your apology is half-hearted. I find it to be sarcastic and insulting. Just because I was sponsored by someone that you are having issues with does not involve me at all. "Guilt by association" does not make me a "yes" person or a clone of someone else's thoughts or opinions.
ReplyDeleteYou should also remove the remaining portion of your statement about my being a "member of Green's puppet Democrat Party Committee." I HAVE NEVER SERVED AS A MEMBER ON THIS COMMITTEE. My status was always a visitor.
It's okay to disagree but not be disagreeable. I'm done with this issue but wanted to make a valid point. There will be no further commenting from me.
Have a great weekend and take some time to enjoy the view.
Dee Dameron
Dee, my apology was sincere or I would not have posted your comments. If my facts are wrong then I do appreciate being so informed.. I would have answered you directly but comments to the blog come though the blogger site and and are unavailable to me. Please send your email address which I will not publish. Thank you..
DeleteWell Nancy, I say you qualify for a person untainted by the old guard. When do I get to vote for you?
ReplyDeleteI do believe I'm untainted. However the only running I'll be doing is running away. Besides you missed your chance over twenty years ago.
DeleteNancy
Corrupt or Corrupt Lite... doesn't taste great and def not less filling... Plainfield Democrats
ReplyDeleteI think you're right on with this post Doc. And don't forget that Richard Stewart's wife has a county job compliments of Jerry Green.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteWe need to look at what Green and his people have done for Plainfield over the past 10 or more years. Let's look a Sharon's time in office and we can see that Green's record for this city has been horrible and self centered. It's time to pay attention and vote. Don't be lazy people, the politicians are counting on you to not vote. We get what we vote for and so far we've gotten a lot of garbage. Don't we deserve better. By the way, Dee Dameron has worked for the good of this city and not for Jerry. I know, I have worked with her and have a great amount of respect for her.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how Sharon NEVER defends her administration when corrections are being made because of her mess. Why is that? As often as she gets on the mike like she's preparing to make another run at the seat. She doesn't defend it because SHE CAN'T. So s'plain that.
ReplyDeleteThe company Rivers is using for budget consulting is a friend of hers, one of the principles ran her campaign for school board.Last year it was 7500 and this year its 15,000. Why is it double for the same work?
ReplyDeleteSharon Robinson-Briggs: Jerry got her a county job
Bridget Rivers: Jerry got her a county job
Vera Greaves: Sharon: Jerry got her a county job
Richard Stewart: Jerry got his wife a job at the state
Jerry's 1 and 4 at-large: works for county. Word on the street is Jerry got him to run & he accepted but didn't really want to do it and is grumbling about it