After lengthy questioning Monday, the City Council agreed to participate in a proposed new energy-saving program sponsored by the Union County Improvement Authority.
Gina A. Bilangi of Decotiis, Fitzpatrick and Cole and Ryan Garner of Birdsall Services Group were on hand to answer questions about the program. Click here to see a summary from the UCIA.
Council President Annie McWilliams asked the pair to describe the goals and benefits of the program. Garner said the goal was to offer all municipalities and school boards in the county a chance to come together for a power purchase agreement that would offer a lower price than that established by the city's energy provider, PSE&G. The agreement would affect only the four municipal buildings identified as suitable for solar panel installation - City Hall Annex, Police Headquarters, the main Fire Station and the Public Works Yard on South Avenue.
In addition, the agreement would affect only the commodity of energy, not its delivery, which would still be charged by PSE&G. The agreement would be locked in for 15 years, but because it is still in early stages and no vendor has been identified, the exact savings could not be stated. However, Bilangi suggested savings might be in the range of 25 percent, based on a similar Morris County plan.
Council members questioned what might happen if solar technology changed within 15 years. Garner said he thought there might be a mechanism for adjustments.
The overall agreement hinges on getting commitments from all eligible entities within the county before seeking a vendor. Councilman Adrian Mapp questioned how the local public contract law provides for a 15-year contract, but Bilangi said it was an "exception" and a "nuance," noting the authority did not have to go to the lowest bidder.
After several more technical questions, the council ended up voting approval of the deal. If you have concerns, contact your council representatives.
--Bernice Paglia
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" If you have concerns, contact your council representatives"
ReplyDeleteWhat does that mean?
Wow, no vendor, no exact savings. A 15 year commitment. Based on a Morris County plan. Was there an investigation of the Morris County Plan? Think about it, this is the UCIA we are dealing with. Again??
ReplyDeleteYou contact your council representative so that they can explain to you how much more intelligent they are than you, they alone know what is best for you, and because this is so, they will do the right thing for you, no matter wahat you think or care! Now that was simple, was it not?
ReplyDeletePlaintalker always encourages citizen participation, that's why the blog was started - to alert citizens to actions pending or taken by governmental entities. Each resident has three City Council representatives, the citywide at-large person who is currently Council President Annie McWilliams; then your at-large 1&4 or 2&3 representative; then your ward representative. Even if you can't come to council meetings, you can share your views and concerns by e-mail with your elected representatives. All are listed on the city web site at http://www.plainfield.com/City_Council.htm
ReplyDeleteWhy was this presented to the City in such a rush-like manner? I'm surprised at Mapp. Being a former freeholder, he, most of all, should be aware how the County operates and it's not always in the best interest of the taxpayer. The County knew, for more than half a year, about this plan. Why weren't they forthcoming earlier in order to give municipalities and school boards more time to see if the County's option was the best option?
ReplyDeleteNo one opposed it because it was a $45 million boondogle with the County. Annie has her career to think about. Hell with Plainfield. Mapp wants to get back in the county's good graces. And the list goes on.
ReplyDeleteMoney and political careers were ahead of Plainfield.
Since I doubt that Jerry Green will have the courage to publish this response in his blog, I am sending this post to other relevant blogs in the Plainfield community.
ReplyDeleteThis is from Jerry Green's Page of 08/19/10 http://jerrygreenspage.blogspot.com/
'...I can understand why Dan is bitter, when the last administration lost, he lost his job that paid over $50,000/yr, his partner was let go from the PMUA...'
My response.
I don't normally respond to political invective. But when a person systematically distorts the facts -Jerry Green, I feel duty bound to correct those distortions.
Here are facts:
1. Dan Damon did not lose his job. He retired and was asked to stay by Mayor Briggs.
2. I was not let go from PMUA. I never worked for them. I served as a commissioner for approximately 8 years and received $400 per month for my time as did every other board member. When my term was up, I was not reappointed (I think this was illegal, as I thought my term had another year but why argue, I could be wrong.)
3. As to what I cost the citizens during that period of time in terms of trips, conferences, etc., I doubt if over a the period of 8 years that my total expenses exceeded $1000.00 ( I think they were much less but we did have a cell phone for a while.) This can be checked by an OPRA request, just make sure you request expenses for each commissioner and compare them to mine. I will bet no one has a lower expense record.
4.This year, I was asked, by a member of the city council, if I would be interested in serving as a commissioner(not Cory, Annie nor Adian.) My answer was no (who the hell wants all that grief)
but if they could absolutely get no one they could put my name forward.
These are the facts.
Solar panel project sponsored by the union country improvement authority. The solar panel project helping a lot of in the improvement of the company.
ReplyDelete