Friday, September 10, 2010
Tid Bit
As a public service so t hat more people can walk about the stores with their phone to their ears, oblivious of the rest of this world, I offer the following latest assurances that they are only a hazard to others.
COUNCIL NOTES
Since a fellow blogger writes a factual report about the Council meetings I have not attempted to try to report in detail the entire meeting. Instead I try to focus on various parameters that are of interest.
I can not repeat often enough that the present meeting format is conducive to public lack of knowledge regarding subjects under discussion. The 2+ hours of discussions prior to entertaining the review and approval of Resolutions and Ordinances can be mentally fatiguing for the citizens who are attending the meeting. By the time the Public has the opportunity to speak weariness had over come most who had left.
Unfinished business is forgotten since it is not updated in print monthly. For example, a seemingly innocuous Resolution presented by Administration to reduce the authorization to issue bonds or notes for $4,085,000.00 for the "building of the Senior Citizen Center to $1,300.000.00 was presented as a means to improve the City's financial rating. Although Dornoch had supposedly agreed to build the center in return for the sale price of $1.00 for the property, in March and again in April a resolution was presented and defeated to pay Dornoch $257,000.00 for additional work on the Center which was supposed to have been a complete although unfurnished package. That resolution was tabled pending Administration answering certain questions. It apparently was "forgotten" until this month'
When Administrated Taylor was questioned what the $1,300.000 was for there was a vague reply that it was for unpaid bills!!! and furnishings. I have since learned that the revised resolution is for $800,000.00 a reduction of $500,000.00. Even allowing for sneaking in payment of the questionable $257K that would leave almost a half a million for furnishings. I for one can not conceive what other areas besides the Senior Center are going to be furnished for that amount of money. I also have not seen any request for bids to furnish that area. Once more we must question the financial manipulations of the Senior Center.
Plainfield has along standing history of disappearance of funds. Long before this Administration took office the City had received approximately $9 million for sale of its Sewer Utility. These funds were supposedly to b e used for the infrastructure. No accounting has ever been given where and for what every cent was spent.
With the vacancies that constantly exist in two critical financial officers it is possible for inappropriate allocation of line item funds to occur. The Auditors comments regarding the annual audit should be published for informational purposes. It is obvious that the city's financial operation is less than ideal.
9:30 AM I believe that today's Courier's editorial hits the nail on the head . This is a quote from it: "Robinson-Briggs' financial decisions, and her long-running failure to permanently fill the posts of chief financial officer and director of administration and finance, strongly suggests that the mayor doesn't want anyone looking over her shoulder. Her quest for the "right" applicant may simply mean that she wants only a certain type of person in that job, one she can control or who won't scrutinize her own plans too closely.
Maybe that's unfair, but what else other than basic incompetence is the public left to conclude given this series of events?"
The bold face is mine. The Media is making the same points that several bloggers have prusued only to be met by deaf ears. Perhaps the Council will now embark on a road long delayed.
I can not repeat often enough that the present meeting format is conducive to public lack of knowledge regarding subjects under discussion. The 2+ hours of discussions prior to entertaining the review and approval of Resolutions and Ordinances can be mentally fatiguing for the citizens who are attending the meeting. By the time the Public has the opportunity to speak weariness had over come most who had left.
Unfinished business is forgotten since it is not updated in print monthly. For example, a seemingly innocuous Resolution presented by Administration to reduce the authorization to issue bonds or notes for $4,085,000.00 for the "building of the Senior Citizen Center to $1,300.000.00 was presented as a means to improve the City's financial rating. Although Dornoch had supposedly agreed to build the center in return for the sale price of $1.00 for the property, in March and again in April a resolution was presented and defeated to pay Dornoch $257,000.00 for additional work on the Center which was supposed to have been a complete although unfurnished package. That resolution was tabled pending Administration answering certain questions. It apparently was "forgotten" until this month'
When Administrated Taylor was questioned what the $1,300.000 was for there was a vague reply that it was for unpaid bills!!! and furnishings. I have since learned that the revised resolution is for $800,000.00 a reduction of $500,000.00. Even allowing for sneaking in payment of the questionable $257K that would leave almost a half a million for furnishings. I for one can not conceive what other areas besides the Senior Center are going to be furnished for that amount of money. I also have not seen any request for bids to furnish that area. Once more we must question the financial manipulations of the Senior Center.
Plainfield has along standing history of disappearance of funds. Long before this Administration took office the City had received approximately $9 million for sale of its Sewer Utility. These funds were supposedly to b e used for the infrastructure. No accounting has ever been given where and for what every cent was spent.
With the vacancies that constantly exist in two critical financial officers it is possible for inappropriate allocation of line item funds to occur. The Auditors comments regarding the annual audit should be published for informational purposes. It is obvious that the city's financial operation is less than ideal.
9:30 AM I believe that today's Courier's editorial hits the nail on the head . This is a quote from it: "Robinson-Briggs' financial decisions, and her long-running failure to permanently fill the posts of chief financial officer and director of administration and finance, strongly suggests that the mayor doesn't want anyone looking over her shoulder. Her quest for the "right" applicant may simply mean that she wants only a certain type of person in that job, one she can control or who won't scrutinize her own plans too closely.
Maybe that's unfair, but what else other than basic incompetence is the public left to conclude given this series of events?"
The bold face is mine. The Media is making the same points that several bloggers have prusued only to be met by deaf ears. Perhaps the Council will now embark on a road long delayed.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
COUNCIL #2 sEPT. 7
Councilman Burney's indignation at the exposure of the $20,000.00 bill paid to the radio station to broadcast a public meeting called by the Mayor is justified. So are the questions raised by other Council members. It is likely that next Monday a Resolution will be introduced to investigate the matter. The scope of that meeting could be extended to question use of other line monies for services that do not appear to be related to the intent of the original budget.
The Council does have power according to the City Charter;quote
2.8 Investigations; removals
-
The council may make investigations into the affairs of the city and the conduct of any city department, office, commission or agency and for this purpose, subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony, and require the full production of evidence. In addition to any other remedy, any person who willfully fails or refuses to obey a lawful order issued in the exercise of these powers by the council shall be adjudged a disorderly person, punishable by a fine of not more them $200.00, or by imprisonment for not more then 30 days or both.
-
Council may remove any officer or employee, other then the mayor or a councilman, for cause, upon notice and an opportunity to be heard.
In a similar vein Counsilor Mapp's finance Committee report included his recommendation of a "forensic audit". In view of the lack of either at CFO and/or Director of Administration and Finance over the past few years, and with ongoing questions the idea is a good one. Will the Council have the guts to order one?
The PMUA was supposed to give a report and answer some questions but again announced that they were too busy to at tend. Chairman Mitchell wrote that data requested by the Council would be submitted by September 24 and the Commissioners would better be able to meet with the Council in Nov..
Inspection Divisions Directer Turk reported on the city's efforts to enforce corrections of code violations. There are numerous legal roadblocks and if the property owner has filed for bankruptcy it is an impossibility. It would seem that some problems could be solved if the pertinent codes were reviewed and rewritten to be effective in theses times. Make the Ordinances have teeth.
At midnight citizen Allan Goldstein questioned the correctness of the 250000 contract awarded to the"incubator". He noted hast mandates i n the State regulations were not followed. That the vendor had no experience in the field of job training. He also noted that the RFP was so written that it would discourage legitimate vendors. He also pointed out other deficincies which were overlooked. Despite City Administrator Taylor's assurance that the process had met all State requirements there seems to be enough abnormalities that the Council should revisit their positive vote.
COUNCIL 1 DISCUSSION TOPICS
I have been a licensed physician in Virginia and the State of New Jersey for 67 years, and I still have trouble reading my own handwriting. That is one of the reasons that my reports on Council meetings are generalized rather than a verbatim or fact laden reporter's report. Over the next few days starting today Plaintalker II with some comments in Plainfield Today plus the belated articles space permitting in the Ledger and Courier will give a factual if incomplete accounting of the Council's 260 minute sessions. That's over 4 hours.
The first and striking innovation was a rearrangement of the room's furniture so that the middle of the room long table was replaced by a long one across the far end of the library room, with Corporation Counsel, City Administrator and the Mayor during the brief time she was there siting parallel to the left side wall.
The public's chairs were now placed in rows and appeared to offer more seating. The effect now was that no Council member or administrative personnel had their back to any part of the public. A major and positive innovation.
The first matter of importance was discussion of the Mayor's veto of the two Ordinances. There was a question of time since her letter was dated Sept. 2, 2010 and Council had passed the Ordinances at its Aug 16th meeting. The Mayor has up to ten days after she receives it to exercise her veto. According to the record the Mayor did not get the Ordinances from the City Clerk's office until Aug 23,2010. Thus the date of her rejection letter just fell within her window.
No action could be taken at this meeting but an informal voice vote of 6:1 approved the consideration for overriding to be on the Sept 13 agenda.
Surprise, City Administrated Taylor reported that the Administration had placed an ad. in the Municipal employees paper for a director of Administration and Finance. Whereas they had no names to submit for interview that had several responses and were in the due diligence process. Perhaps next month a nominee will be presented for consent.
The question of the Mayor's not filling the vacancy on the Housing Authority resulted in a convoluted legal explanation by Corporation Counsel. Mr Williams was originally appointed to fill the unexpired term. At that terms end his name was submitted for reappointment and then withdrawn for some unknown to us, reason. The Charter and I believe the Housing Authority bylaws state that a commissioner serves for the duration of his term or until a successor has been appointed. According to Corporation Counsel no vacancy exists until the seat holder resigns or a new member is elected and takes the oath of office.Therefore it would be possible for a person to remain in office for life if no qualified successor is selected .
That may be legal justification but permitting a "holdover" for years circumvents the intent of limited terms in office and certainly is morally and ethically dishonest.
As expected, the Budget is not ready. The excuse; it can not be finalized until the audit for FY2010 is received. How do the many municipalities and organizations manage to adopt their budget at the beginning of the fiscal year have no problem?
The first and striking innovation was a rearrangement of the room's furniture so that the middle of the room long table was replaced by a long one across the far end of the library room, with Corporation Counsel, City Administrator and the Mayor during the brief time she was there siting parallel to the left side wall.
The public's chairs were now placed in rows and appeared to offer more seating. The effect now was that no Council member or administrative personnel had their back to any part of the public. A major and positive innovation.
The first matter of importance was discussion of the Mayor's veto of the two Ordinances. There was a question of time since her letter was dated Sept. 2, 2010 and Council had passed the Ordinances at its Aug 16th meeting. The Mayor has up to ten days after she receives it to exercise her veto. According to the record the Mayor did not get the Ordinances from the City Clerk's office until Aug 23,2010. Thus the date of her rejection letter just fell within her window.
No action could be taken at this meeting but an informal voice vote of 6:1 approved the consideration for overriding to be on the Sept 13 agenda.
Surprise, City Administrated Taylor reported that the Administration had placed an ad. in the Municipal employees paper for a director of Administration and Finance. Whereas they had no names to submit for interview that had several responses and were in the due diligence process. Perhaps next month a nominee will be presented for consent.
The question of the Mayor's not filling the vacancy on the Housing Authority resulted in a convoluted legal explanation by Corporation Counsel. Mr Williams was originally appointed to fill the unexpired term. At that terms end his name was submitted for reappointment and then withdrawn for some unknown to us, reason. The Charter and I believe the Housing Authority bylaws state that a commissioner serves for the duration of his term or until a successor has been appointed. According to Corporation Counsel no vacancy exists until the seat holder resigns or a new member is elected and takes the oath of office.Therefore it would be possible for a person to remain in office for life if no qualified successor is selected .
That may be legal justification but permitting a "holdover" for years circumvents the intent of limited terms in office and certainly is morally and ethically dishonest.
As expected, the Budget is not ready. The excuse; it can not be finalized until the audit for FY2010 is received. How do the many municipalities and organizations manage to adopt their budget at the beginning of the fiscal year have no problem?
SHORT NOTE ONLY
Both reporters were still at the Council meeting when I left at 12:15 AM. True there were only a few citizens left standing to make comments at that time.
I can not comprehend how the Council members can still be functioning mentally at that late hour since they start their executive session at 6PM. If they are not willing to go back to the two meetings a month routine, actually four since there is an Agenda Setting Session the week before the business meeting, then the Council should consider splitting the present exhausting Agenda setting meeting into two sessions.
There is a tremendous amount of material this Council goes over and must absorb. Unlike many of Councils from years gone by this group is very proactive and not a rubber stamp. We owe a great debt to Council President McWilliams' commitment and the support of the other 6 members. In the long run if subsequent Councils are as involved Plainfield will be a better town.
Any report from me, the newspapers and Bernice will be delayed due to the hour.
I can not comprehend how the Council members can still be functioning mentally at that late hour since they start their executive session at 6PM. If they are not willing to go back to the two meetings a month routine, actually four since there is an Agenda Setting Session the week before the business meeting, then the Council should consider splitting the present exhausting Agenda setting meeting into two sessions.
There is a tremendous amount of material this Council goes over and must absorb. Unlike many of Councils from years gone by this group is very proactive and not a rubber stamp. We owe a great debt to Council President McWilliams' commitment and the support of the other 6 members. In the long run if subsequent Councils are as involved Plainfield will be a better town.
Any report from me, the newspapers and Bernice will be delayed due to the hour.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
AGENDA SETTING NIGHT
Tonight the Council's Agenda Setting session is scheduled for 7:30. Recent developments suggest that there may be a delay due to a possible extended executive session which precedes the public meeting. Once more the likely hood of a meeting lasting until midnight is a distinct possibility. That will once again deprive many of the public of their privilege of addressing the council. The remedy is of course simple, return to the time honored tradition of semi-monthly meetings.
Undoubtedly the legality of the Mayor's veto of the two Ordinances will be a subject of discussion. If there is a problem in the timing the Corporation Counsel will in all probability offer a legal opinion. Since by Charter is serves both Administration and Council his position could be an awkward one. Suffice to say he is appointed by the Mayor and serves "at her pleasure".
In the past he has been most often the spokes person for the Mayor at Council meetings.
There are three sure votes to override a veto, one most likely, one very questionable, one unfathomable and one definite no. Five are needed for an override. If the Mayor complied with the provisions of the Charter then her veto on the one that raises the bidding threshold is likely to stand. However recent a posting on Plaintalker II may arouse much justified ire on the part of her usual supporters that there is a great possibility to override her veto. Remember that no action can be taken at this meeting but the vote will be next Monday.
Under unfinished business there is to be legal review on the Mayor's "appointment"' to the Housing Authority of Ken Scott who had been originally filling an unexpired term and when his name had been introduced for a full term appointment approval by the Council, the Administration had withdrawn it. However he was still serving as a temp. appointment.
One of the new Ordinances proposed for 1st reading authorizes the appropriation of $1,000,000.00 and the issuance of bonds or notes for $950,000.00 to acquire the gunshot location equipment. This writer believes that there is not sufficient proof offered that this will be an effective method in stopping the crime wave. The money could be better spent on other enterprises that would occupy those that would become gang members. It also could be used to increase the number of police "grunts" available for patrol.
At this time without the documentation of the resolutions being available it is impossible to comment on that portion of the agenda. Notable, however, are 6 resolutions submitted by the Department of Administration and Finance awarding purchasing contracts to vendors on the State approved list for various items. no amount is mentioned in the information supplied on the agenda, but these were obliviously awarded by "the fair and open" method which excludes competitive bidding. Therefor the contract may be award to a preferred vendor who may not be the least expensive or best qualified.
As I pointed out earlier this week there is no Director of Administration and Finance in situ. When the most recent one , Bibi Taylor, was appointed City Administrator in January/February she retained that position in an acting ( temporary) capacity. By Charter her term there expired in 90 days. Thus there too the Administration has continue to ignore the Charter and the legality of any action by the anointed head of that department may be illegal.
If so what is the status of the Council embers who have approved by their voter such evasion of the Charter?
One Councilmatic Resolution to be introduced recognizes the years of services that retired Police Captain Siddeeq El-Amin, who was the victim of an arbitrary demotion in the second reorganization of the department during this administration. Well deserved.
As expected one item not on the agenda is the introduction of the 2011FY budget. Since this would not be debatable for inclusion there would be no reason to expect it before the promised date Sept. 13 ,the business meeting.
Undoubtedly the legality of the Mayor's veto of the two Ordinances will be a subject of discussion. If there is a problem in the timing the Corporation Counsel will in all probability offer a legal opinion. Since by Charter is serves both Administration and Council his position could be an awkward one. Suffice to say he is appointed by the Mayor and serves "at her pleasure".
In the past he has been most often the spokes person for the Mayor at Council meetings.
There are three sure votes to override a veto, one most likely, one very questionable, one unfathomable and one definite no. Five are needed for an override. If the Mayor complied with the provisions of the Charter then her veto on the one that raises the bidding threshold is likely to stand. However recent a posting on Plaintalker II may arouse much justified ire on the part of her usual supporters that there is a great possibility to override her veto. Remember that no action can be taken at this meeting but the vote will be next Monday.
Under unfinished business there is to be legal review on the Mayor's "appointment"' to the Housing Authority of Ken Scott who had been originally filling an unexpired term and when his name had been introduced for a full term appointment approval by the Council, the Administration had withdrawn it. However he was still serving as a temp. appointment.
One of the new Ordinances proposed for 1st reading authorizes the appropriation of $1,000,000.00 and the issuance of bonds or notes for $950,000.00 to acquire the gunshot location equipment. This writer believes that there is not sufficient proof offered that this will be an effective method in stopping the crime wave. The money could be better spent on other enterprises that would occupy those that would become gang members. It also could be used to increase the number of police "grunts" available for patrol.
At this time without the documentation of the resolutions being available it is impossible to comment on that portion of the agenda. Notable, however, are 6 resolutions submitted by the Department of Administration and Finance awarding purchasing contracts to vendors on the State approved list for various items. no amount is mentioned in the information supplied on the agenda, but these were obliviously awarded by "the fair and open" method which excludes competitive bidding. Therefor the contract may be award to a preferred vendor who may not be the least expensive or best qualified.
As I pointed out earlier this week there is no Director of Administration and Finance in situ. When the most recent one , Bibi Taylor, was appointed City Administrator in January/February she retained that position in an acting ( temporary) capacity. By Charter her term there expired in 90 days. Thus there too the Administration has continue to ignore the Charter and the legality of any action by the anointed head of that department may be illegal.
If so what is the status of the Council embers who have approved by their voter such evasion of the Charter?
One Councilmatic Resolution to be introduced recognizes the years of services that retired Police Captain Siddeeq El-Amin, who was the victim of an arbitrary demotion in the second reorganization of the department during this administration. Well deserved.
As expected one item not on the agenda is the introduction of the 2011FY budget. Since this would not be debatable for inclusion there would be no reason to expect it before the promised date Sept. 13 ,the business meeting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
