HEAVEN

No picture can better express the Administration's, BOE, and PMUA's opinion of the Plainfield electorate. Such complete trust.



Molly (thanks Rita)

MONDAY'S AGENDA ITEMS

If this blog had the capabilities of oral communication, which it hasn't, I would say that this morning I am speechless about a justified topic. Instead, I am wordless.

Most of the item son Monday's agenda with the exception of seven(7) Resolutions to be introduced as new wee discussed by our bloggers in comments related to the Agenda Setting Session. Of the seven in actuality five were topics last Monday

There had been no resolutions this past week for action on the Mayor's communications for approval of appointments to various boards, authorities (PMUA) and commissions. They are now being presented as Resolutions.

Perhaps in light of this weeks revelations regarding the "settlement" the appointment of new(?) PMUA commissioners will meet major resistance from the Councilors, especially those who are interested i a change in Commissioners philosophy of fiduciary responsibility to the people. There are those that will argue that this slate is more of the same.

It is noted that Malcom Dunn's name although in the Mayor's letter is not on the new Resolution. Perhaps that is because he was just appointed to fill an unexpired term and would not risk possible rejection.

One of the new Resolutions is a "ceremonial" one ,. of the other two one is a reintroduction of the Resolution authorizing attendance for two Councillors at the National League of Municipalities convention. It is worth serious reconsideration as I have indicated this past week.

The third is the appointment of a new CFO. I have not read the data and may not be able to before Monday , but according to Bernice it will be again for a part timer. If he is qualified that is better than the de-facto Mayoral role we have had.

Plaintalker II (Bernice) has a good report on the upcoming meeting and anything I write would be a poor duplication.


By the way although I am speechless today, I shall have my opportunity Monday.

VOTER TURNOUT

 Supporters  of the BOE and anti New Dems have used the argument that there are so few voters that turn out for the November election that the change would have no effect other than make the election political. Of course  if the BOE elections were none political there would be no organized slates such as SLAM,
 Councillor Rebecca Williams wrote this  as a comment to my blog "Reflections". Since that is several days old many will miss it and it is a must read.


"I think you may be mistaking the number of voters who come out for the spring PRIMARY elections (where voting is traditionally lighter) versus in the GENERAL election. For 2010 and 2009 (chosen because these were rather significantly contested races), the local GENERAL ELECTION results in Plainfield are as follows:

NOVEMBER 2010 (Pallone at the top of the ticket, and Plainfield's Linda Carter on the ticket) had a total of 7,368 voters in the 1st ,2nd, and 3rd wards for local candidates--here's the breakdown:

1st Ward
Dem - William REID 1,803 93.42%
Rep - Sean T. ALFRED 126 6.53%
Personal Choice 1 0.05%
Total 1,930 100.00%

2nd and 3rd Ward At-large
Dem - Rebecca WILLIAMS 4,590 84.41%
 
Rep - James PIVNICHNY 842 15.48%
Personal Choice 6 0.11%
Total 5,438 100.00%

NOVEMBER 2009 (Corzine at the top of the ticket) had a total of 7, 940voters in the Mayoral race--here's the breakdown:

Dem - SHARON M ROBINSON BRIGGS 5,202 65.52%
Rep - JAMES PIVNICHNY 2,277 28.68%
ELE - DEBORAH JOYCE DOWE 457 5.76%
Personal Choice 4 0.05%
Total 7,940 100.00%

That's an average of 7,600 voters in those two elections just for the local candidates. I think this helps make the point that more voters will come out in the fall. I think that the school board candidates, having a longer time to prepare for a campaign--gathering support through the spring and summer and working in the fall--would be able to meet many more voters, go door to door more effectively, and so on, with the change to November elections.

Under the old dates, the very short campaign window from filing date (late February) to the spring election (mid-April) precluded having a fair amount of campaign time, in my opinion. The cold, the snow, daylight standard time, etc., make it difficult for candidates to really get in front of the voters. Also, the hours that the voting booths are open has changed from 2:00-9:00 pm to 6:00 am - 8:00 pm.

I am convinced that there will be larger turnouts for the coming school board election years. It is up to the residents of Plainfield, though, to be vigilant about the corrupting influence of slates whose main reason for running candidates is to get what they perceive as control of the school budget dollars.

A NOTE

Rather than another posting about Monday night's Council meeting I would suggest reading the last three again. Be sure to read the comments and then if you wish add  your thoughts to this blog.

The BOE/PSS and PMUA situations are so basic to Plainfield's problems , as is the Personal rule cult that the Mayor operates on that it is time for the  standby public to actively intervene.

WE should have a copy of next Monday's agenda tonight and have comments up at the latest on Sunday.

REFLECTION

As an afterthought from Monday’s Special meeting; I find that due to the self serving performance by members of the BOE followed by in the public comment period the chastising of the Council and Public by the interim Superintendent of schools for not participating with the PSS; I am caught between a rock and a hard place.

I revisited my often repeated suggestion that the BOE instead of being an elected representative of only a small percentage of the citizens, revert to an earlier status as an appointed body by the municipal administration.

John Campbell, having failed to have his SLAM members and himself to have Council defer any action used his time during the public comment session to dress down the Councilors among other things not be attending any of the Basketball team To illustrate that the team and the players represented a success of the PSS education system he remarked that one of the players was going to HARVARD on a full scholarship.

Yes there are occasional exceptional graduates of PHS that do receive scholarships to the Ivy league schools and other highly regarded educational institutions like UVA, and Duke. They are however the exception’

Unfortunately along with some of his other remarks Campbell did not have his facts right. The athlete, Justin Sears has been admitted to YALE. The Ivy League schools do not give pure athletic scholarships therefore his is at least partially academic based. The young man should be congratulated. Every few years the system does turn out an exceptional individual who is an excellent student as well as an outstanding athlete. That is a credit to the person not the system.

None the less the Hard Place is Plainfield’s Administration which has over the last 6 years been anything but stellar. Appointments when made have been based on patronage, friendship and nepotism. The recent recommended appointments to PMUA are characteristic not only in the choices but the petty cynical recommendation that PMUA Chairman Mitchell be reappointed as an alternate.

I cannot vision any BOE appointed by this administration as being an improvement over the present system.

There seems to be only two possible alternatives; One is for the State to take over operation of the System, or through the election process where there is a larger turnout individuals of have a better concept of fiduciary responsibility rather than personal agendas could be elected. Let us hope that is the answer. Our kids deserve better than they are getting.

MORE COUNCIL STUFF

There is little that I can report or comment about the Resolutions and Ordinances that will be on the agenda this coming Monday night since I left at 11:50 am and I understand that it was about 12:30pm that the Public comment session took place.

A resolution that was rejected for consideration was one that would have alloted less than $2700.00 for Councilors Reid and Rivers to attend the 2012 National League of Cities Convention in DC. Using the PMUA extravaganza as an excuse and a economy vote last year to limit meetings to instead as the reason to not sanction this expenditure.

I believe this to be a mistake in judgement. If the participants are truly interested in broadening their knowledge in the area of interest in order to act with acumen in municipal matters, this type meting could be of great value. If they are going for just a paid joy trip such action would be wise.

I believe although to date too often Rivers actions have been clouded by tunnel vision and party loyalty she is young enough and civic oriented exposure of this type could be beneficial in her participation in municipal affairs. She might even b e able to share pearls with her fellow Councillors.
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The costs should typically include standard travel, mid range accommodations. per diem food allowance and of course all convention attendance fees.

There used to be a Council expense fund in the budget. Because in the past it was abused doesn't mean that it should not be there now. The sun is small the return could be a better Councilor.

Resolutions appointing the Compliance Officer and the Registrar of Vital Statistics were by consensus not put on this month's agenda.

Anew software and support program for the City' financial transaction will be voted on Monday night, but one appointing Investors Savings as the sole repository of City funds was rejected for consideration.

It was about this point that I left the meeting.

SPECIAL MEETING ADDENDUM

As an addendum to my report on the Special Council meeting and the comments by several ' vested interested, I would call your attention to today's (Tuesday) Jerry Green's Blog in which he addresses that meeting and the comments by the BOE members and their mentor.

If you use "Clips" there is a link to his blog . AQs if this moment the BOE President has not posted any comments.