OZ HAPPENINGS

This will be brief. I returned from OZ shortly after 11PM. Since I have a doctor's appointment in the morning a  more detailed blog will not be ready before late afternoon.

Immediately after opening the meeting 15 minutes late they chased every one out of the Courtroom and went into executive session to interview Ms Sherri Golden for the Deputy City Clerk post. Later in the meeting she was approved .

The Resolution approving a street and sidewalk encroachment planned by 'Transitions International" for Sunday did not pass receiving only 3 yes vote and 3 abstentions. Councilwoman Rivers had not arrived at that point. Rev. Wyatt spoke  for the Resolution noting that the sponsoring agency was the Transition International Cultural Society a known advocacy agency.

Other "positive action included  tabling of 387-12 approving paying the Mayor for her legal expenses in the WBLS investigation and her suit against the Council.  392-12 to get a private collector for unpaid  court fines/fees passed 5 for 1 no 1 absent.

Two resolutions renewing two insurance programs were amended to limit an extension for 120 days from 9/1/12 pending issuing RFQs.= in compliance with the city ordinance and to correct one of the deficiencies noted in the "Best Practices Inventory".

R407-12 was tabled 6-0 pending information on the tax status and if a lien had been placed on the property.

Much more later. 

TUESDAY MORNING

My two posts Monday related to tonight's Council meeting should suffice for today. Should something take place in the world overnight, I will then post later today.

See you at the Council meeting!

Francis M. Meeks III

Francis M. Meeks III  was a stalwart advocate for good responsible government during his 15 years on the Council. He was committed to his city and served it well during the transitional period from Republican party rule to Democrat majority.   The mold has been broken with his  passing.

My condolences to Anita and his family.

MORE AGENDA ITEMS

Despite my focusing on R 387–12 there are at least 42 other resolutions plus two ordinances be voted on Tuesday night I have discussed most of them last week in my comments about the agenda setting session. However, there are a few including some that are new that merit additional consideration.

Newly introduced is a resolution authorizing the street and sidewalk encroachment to Transitions International to conduct its first annual veteran’s awards awareness day to be held at Plainfield Square (South Ave.) on October 14, 2012. That is this coming Sunday.

At the Council meeting I questioned the recognition of various veterans’ organizations other than VFW and the AL as being giving credence to splinter groups with unstated goals other than their own gain. We are often bombarded by such a group on the telephone. I Googled Transitions International and found the following two references: (1) Transition International (TI) is a Netherlands-based, international consultancy firm, (2)”TRANSITIONS INTERNATIONAL GROUP is the only group of its kind. Comprised of the finest Hair Loss Specialists”. Neither has anything to do with veteran’s affairs and I think it is inappropriate to grant this request from an unknown organization.

R391–12 is on the consent agenda inappropriately since it is now receiving a block grant community effect community action services in the amount of $164,211. It should be removed since it should not be a routine that

R 392–12 has been subjected to objections by Council members Reid and Greaves as being potentially abusive if a collection agency pursued those delinquent in paying fines to the court. Ignored is the fact that over three quarters of $1 million is owed to the city. There is no cost to the city as a result of enactment of this resolution.

R 393-12 calls for certification that the Council members have reviewed the 2012 Best Practices Inventory as prepared by the CFO. I previously discussed this last week; it is an inventory of fiscal practices that the state requires from communities. Plainfield had a sufficient number of non-compliances that resulted in a 1% reduction in state aid.

The Council should pass this resolution after reading it and try to make sure that the deficiencies are corrected.

R 407-12 has also been discussed; is an awarding of an increase sum of $6753 which represents 50% more of the original contract [?] To C.H.S. Construction Company for the “deconstruction” of property located at 326 L Leland Avenue. There is no record when this contract the original contract was issued and there is a conflict of interest involved to see principal construction company also holds a board position in the PMUA.

The two ordinances to be introduced at first reading in both be accepted; one deals with the placement of charitable clothing bins requested by the union County prosecutor. The other is extensive much room needed zone designation revisions for transit village designation downtown area.

For those of you who have interest or comments relating to the any of resolutions I urge you to attend the meeting.

SCARLET POST*

With an appropriate apology to Marcellus (Hamlet- Act 1): “Something is rotten in the City of Oz”.

I consider R387–12 authorizing payments to Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs’ attorneys in the matter the WBLS inappropriate obtained $20,000 and in addition for her suit against the Council to be improper, amoral, and without any legal public tenability.

I would refer you to comments by Councilwoman Williams, citizens Alan Goldstein and Dottie Gutenkauf to my previous blog [link] for information and opinion about that matter.

I do recall discussion initiated by Corporation counsel Williamson that the Mayor is going to retain counsel for the hearing to represent her at the hearings on the WBLS funding investigation. I do not remember any Council resolution authorizing reimbursement for her legal expenses.

I concur with counselor Williams’ comments that in response to citizen’s questions; the Council had affirmed that we were not responsible for the mayor’s legal expenses. Corporation Counsel Williamson never acknowledged any agreement that would accept responsibility for her costs.

The comments of members of this Council have gone beyond the political posturing which is the earmark of much Council discussion. I did question whether any secret agreement had been reached in a matter that I consider to be blackmail. Although I have been assured that there was no such agreement; I consider the condoning of this resolution as an action to limit costs to be payment of a form of blackmail.

Where has there been a precedent in which an investigative body has paid for the witness of interest’s legal representative? Where has there ever been an incident in which the defendant suit has authorized payment for the plaintiff’s lawyers unless ordered to do so by the court.

The past few years there have been on occasion’s implications that there were improper uses of funds which have never been followed up. Citizens have requested a forensic audit motivated by repeating evidence of improper procedures as reported in their annual report. It is past for action

Does this Council dare request from either state authorities or the federal government a complete investigation of all fiscal transactions by this administration for at least the last two years if not doing this entire term in office? This would include alleged solicitation of illegal funds during the recent July 4 celebration.

Do I sound angry? You bet that I am. This Council is sworn to act in the interest of the citizens of this city. It deliberately negates its fiduciary responsibility by turning the cheek to misdeeds originating in City Hall. Once again public money is being used to pay for some one's personal folly. And, one of those who manipulated it has been rewarded with a well paying job. What will the others get?

A Scarlet Letter was a Puritan punishment to be worn by an adulteress. It is a condemnation of a moral transgression. In this case it is not sexual.

IT IS TRUE THIS IS OZ

I've quickly scanned the agenda for Tuesday night's meeting and found that most of the material has been covered in detail and reports on the agenda setting session

There are two particular resolutions that merit comment; both come from the Corporation Counsel and were introduced at the end of the agenda setting session.

R386–12 amends resolution 127 – 12 the appointment of the Council's special counsel in the $20,000.00 matter than terminated in  the Mayors suit against the Council (city).

R 387–12 is an abomination; It authorizes payment of $22,126.34 to the firm that the Mayor hired for her suit against the Council which was in essence against we taxpayers.

The suit was frivolous, vicious, and absolutely never should have been filed. There is absolutely no reason why the city should reimburse the mayor. What she did with her own doing and not a reaction to a third-party complaint against her.

Is it possible that in a similar manner as the awarding a million dollars severance pay to the PMUA leaders who had resigned; this Resolution represents a secret deal made by the Council so that the Mayor would drop her suit.?

If any member the Council supports this is obvious that their motivation as a Council member is political and not in the interest of the city. We will wait to see their action on Tuesday night and how they can justify this  blackmail.

WHERE OH WHERE HAS MY BLOG GONE

MYSTERY. I was informed that my posting on the Debate was missing.I check and that was true. I then went back into the blogger editor and could not find any record of the blog. Somehow, it has been irretrievably wiped out. No I do not believe that any Obama hacker did this, although I wrote that Romney had  won the debate. I also wrote  that in New Jersey it is not going to make a bit of difference in the Electoral College vote.

I also noted that I still have not decided for who I was going to vote; either go with the majority or cast a "protest" vote and most likely will not have made up my mind until just before election day.

To compound this mystery, since I usually first write a blog in "Word 2007" I not only checked every peg hole where I store word documents and also the recycle bin and can find no copy of the original.

I am not happy with the present blogger editor, the original one was easier to use and I find difficult to bring up the editable list of blogs, but when I did there was no evidence that it had ever been there .

Perhaps some blogger can inform me how to find deleted blogs.