This is a long holiday weekend and people have little time
to read blogs so unless something unique even for Oz turns up I may not post again
until Tuesday.
Just a few notes today; Only in the beautiful city of Oz
would a so called Community Forum be held in a night club. Only in Oz would a
sensationalist national activist demagogue make a unsolicited support appearance
for a primary candidate.
Friday night's doings should remind all that the mayor should
not be taken lightly. She has a large support base which she has cultivated
over the last seven years; who will turn out and support her.
As Yogi Berra noted “ It ain’t over till it is over.”
I do not recall the source of this review of Robinson-Brigg’s first term in office, but it is worth keeping in mind before this election.
Understand that it was written for the previous election but so much must be added for the past three years; No full time CFO;The Mayor and the Corporation Council acting as City Administrator, the $20,000.00 scandal, the alleged "extortion" of merchants for the 2011 4th celebration; the vacant Health Officer position etc.
ADMINISTRATION
FINANCIAL ERRORS AND IRREGULAR ACTIONS
and FAILURES
1 Muhlenberg Hospital closing
2 1.66 million dollar deficit (revenue
shortfall) in 2008-2009 budget due to clerical error. Covered by
"bookeeping actions
3 The Budget for FYI 2010 due July 1,
2009; has yet to be delivered to the city council although promised by Sept 24 The budget for 2013 due 1/1/13 just delivered to Council;5 months have passed.
4 Filing 2010 request for State extraordinary funds withput
Council knowledge or approval-illegal
5 Using rubber stamps on financial doccumemnts, checks,
certifiaction of available funds etc. In 2012/13 a rubber stamp and initialed by someone.
6 Extended and Continuing Vacancy in
Chief Finance Office
7 Long-time vacancy of Director of
Administration, Finance, Health & Social Services
8 Plainfield Hires Fires Douglas Peck as
Finance Chief in 2008 without proper
vetting. "Moving" costs paid by City.
9 Failure to provide Council with facts
-STONEWALLING-"Will get back to You"
10 .Despite appropriations and available
Grants Potholes In The Streets Still Need To Be Fixed Street repaving efforts
inefficient and many of the worst streets still untouched
11 City Vehicles Issued to Some
Administrators at No Cost Whether Personal or Not (24-7)
12 The misappropriation of the "NJ Clean
Communities" yearly grants that is automatically provided to the city of
Plainfield by the State (On 2008 the "Clean Communities" Grant was
$44,688.50, this is the average grant to the city)
13 Over $40,000 Missing from Tax Collectors
Office (3 years ago) no Investigative Action to-Date
14 2. $275.000 Police Chief Santiago
settlement and rehire in battle with the Mayor and Assemblyman Green
15 The use of "best avaialable" to award hundreds
of thousands of dollars in contracts without compeditiev bidding
16 Illegal creation of positions for
"acting' appointments
17 The misuse of funds granted for, for the
yet to start construction of it, and the disregard of our neighborhood's input
and work into the Park Avenue and E. 9th Street oncoming (?) peninsula.
18 Administration tries to Ram Thru
Ordinances and Appointments
19 Plainfield Taxpayers get 6.5% Increase in
Property Tax
ADMINISTRATIVE FAILURES OF
COMMISION
1 THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S DISREGARD OF STAET STATUES FOR APPOINTMENTS
2 THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S CONSISTANT LACK
OF FACTS AT COUNCIL MEETINGS -The infamous 'I will get back to you"
3 THE CORPORATION COUNSEL ACTING AS THE
ADMINISTRATIONS AGENT AND NOT THE
"CORPORATION AKA CITY" LEGAL ARM.
4 THE CORPORATION COUNSEL NOT ALLERTING TO
THE MAYOR AND City ADMINISTRATOR
CREATION OF PHANTOM POSITIONS PER STATE
STATUES
5 The lack of support for our local youth
by providing them with a safe, fun, and attractive, gathering place
6 Audit Reports Should Be Made Public
Information 2006; 2007; 2008
7 PMUA Excess Fees for Service to
Residents; failure to appoint responsible commissioners
8 Continuing Crime In City of Plainfield
9 Poor Living Conditions in Privately
Owned Apartment Buildings including overcrowding
10 Lack of City’s Ability to Affectively
Manage Budget
11 Connolly Properties continuing problems
not adequately addresses
12 Lack of Development Planning/Knowledge by
Administration
13 Abuse of power by the Mayor in terms of
ordering them to do illegal acts
14 Citizens Budget Advisory Committee. flunks
city administration (2007)
15 Inadequate Staff For Information
Technology Dept.
16 he lack of concern and action on 340
Franklin Place
17 The lack of answers, action, and concern
on the three empty lots on E. 9th Street
18 The disregard of our neighborhood's call
for a regular sweep cleaning schedule of all our neighborhood streets
19 The disregard for our neighborhood's call
to implement alternate parking days
20 The overgrown weeds all over the city
21 The lack of care for city trees
22 The lack of advocacy to obtain better
maintenance from the county for the county's owned city parks (Green Brook and
Cedar Brook Parks)
23 The lack of concern, lack of planning, and
lack of support to preserve the architectural historic value of our city
24 The lack of information on crime to the
community
25 . One-year delay and poor choice of
appointments for the Muhlenberg CAG
26 The lack of support for local business
owners and the local shopping area
27 The lack of vision for improving and
beautifying the downtown area
28 The lack of improvements for the 1st and
4th Ward
29 For the politicization of Board and
Commissions
30 For her failure to make Plainfield a much
better place than what she found when she became mayor
31 For her lack of effort to partner with the
community at large
32 . Government Transparency Has Never
Happened
OTHER NEGATIVE
FACTS OF BRIGGS ADMINISTRATION
1 PBA Officer/Mayor’s Former Body Guard
Charged with Theft
2 Resignation of City Administrator
Carlton McGee in 2006
3 .Dept. Heads Do Not Communicate with
Each Other
4 Poor Notification Of City Council
Meetings
5 City’s Unemployment Rate is Double
Digit
6 Plainfield Residents Are Leaving in
Record Numbers
7 Senior Center Opening has been
constantly delayed.
8 City Continues to Lose Tax Revenue With
Each Un-sold Monarch Condo Unit
9 High Number of Foreclosure Filings on
Plainfield Homes
10 Personal/Relative Disclosure Statement
Forms Must Be Made Available to The Public for Information
11 Mayor Left Out Her $35,000. Salary on the
Financial Disclosure Statement
12 The lack of support and respect to the
Latino community
13 The lack of support, advocacy, and
programs for better racial relations between the many different racial groups
that make up the city
There has been no pattern change. nor will there be.
Oh yes, I am going to vote for Mapp. He may b e the last chance for Plainfield to survive as a viable city.
