The state Division of Local Government Services has ordered the mayor and governing body to hire a chief finance officer within 30 days or face personal fines of $25 per day until one is hired.
The city has been without a permanent chief finance officer since the end of 2007. In his letter, Acting DLGS Director Thomas H. Neff said the time period was “well beyond” the two one-year appointments allowed for a non-certified person to serve. Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs had offered two candidates in the interim, but City Council President Annie McWilliams said one made statements such that council members agreed they could not consent to the appointment. The other individual did not respond to a council request for work references and proof of CFO certification, she said.
In July, the City Council asked the DLGS to appoint a temporary CFO if one was not appointed by July 28, but in the letter the governing body received just before Thursday’s budget session, the state agency denied the request.
The mayor and governing body can seek a review of the DLGS finding that the city is now out of compliance by sending a letter within 10 days. In a discussion after the budget deliberations, council members agreed to do so.
Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson and council members noted there are two scenarios that could lead to the fines. One would be if the mayor offered a nominee and the council took no action on the nomination, and the other would be if the mayor submitted no name to the council by the deadline. In either case, an issue of fairness arose over both entities being fined.
Councilman Adrian Mapp, chairman of the Finance Committee, said of the CFO search Thursday, “We have acted responsibly.”
City Administrator Bibi Taylor suggested that council members should “have these conversations in concert with the mayor.”
Mapp said he had reached out to the mayor to have “a very candid conversation” and to “remove all the politics.” He said he had not yet received a call back, but added, “It’s very urgent.”
“I think this letter is exactly what we needed,” Mapp said. “This is going to get the job done.”
Mapp received some ribbing from Councilman William Reid, who noted Mapp is a certified chief finance officer who is not currently employed in that title. Reid joked that Mapp could increase his $9,500 council salary to more than $100,000 if he took the job. Reid also said the upcoming League of Municipalities convention might yield a candidate.
After discussing the letter, the council went into closed session Thursday to talk about personnel issues related to the CFO matter.
--Bernice Paglia
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The Mayor is going to spin this one into the ultimate " I'M THE VICTIM " if there was ever an opportunity to do it. Her gang of 4 will be playing the same harp as she...It could only be more perfect if the state dragged Jerry into it.
ReplyDeleteThis mayor has made all Plainfield citizens the "victims." She doesn't want a CFO she can't control, because they will have a fit over the serious problems she has caused and the purposeful bad record keeping Shady Sharon needs to hide what she has and hasn't done. I hope the state forces the issue and we get some responsible actions by our government.
ReplyDeleteThe pathetic attempt by the Council to embarass the mayor has backfired. Now they are being held accountable, and their cheerleaders like Dan, Old Doc and pathetic people like Rob are whining non-stop.
ReplyDeleteGood for you Bernice for not getting into this mob-mentality.
To anon at 1231, while they may be seen as whiners, I at times do agree they do, it is a known fact that if this behavior took place in any other city in the state, handcuffs would be in place. Jerry has his protectors too. Enough is enough. It is long over due to bring some financial accountability to City Hall for the residents of the city.
ReplyDeleteIts about time! Just get somebody QUALIFIED in the position, straighten out our finances, and let us move forward.
ReplyDeleteLOL.. I'm a whiner ?? Wait till Sharon gets her first fine from they state! Council "trying" to embarrass the Mayor ( like your spelling anonymous )... one of the few things Mayor Sharon does well and manages efficiently is the "Let's Make Sharon Look Like A Bigger Fool Than Last Month" commission. She needs help from no on that..either the Council, Dan, Old Doc...OR PATHETIC PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF. ( Name calling...how I've miss 3rd grade..thanks for taking me back. That's more pathetic than your anonymous title )
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