Brown Departs Cabinet

David G. Brown II has left City Hall after serving less than nine months as director of Public Works & Urban Development.

Brown was approved Jan. 1 as head of the department, but was not expected to come on board until April 1. Jennifer Wenson Maier, who served in the post during the first four-year term of Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, was rejected for the mayor's second term, but then agreed to stay on until April 1. However, she took an administrative job in Hoboken in early February and Brown was on the job as of March 1.

Public Works & Urban Development had been concerned mainly with planning, housing, engineering, streets and economic development until the mid-1990s, when the Recreation and Inspections divisions were moved to the department from Public Affairs & Safety.

As director, Brown found himself embroiled in a bitter squabble between Recreation and a volunteer baseball league over the use of city ballfields. A Recreation Committee was formed in part to defuse the conflict (see a Plaintalker post here), but the situation hardened to the point where officials suggested establishment of a volunteer Recreation Commission to take charge and direct activities.

Citizens had been and continued to be riled up over delays in road repairs - a five-year plan devised in 2005 was still in early stages in 2009.

From a December 2009 Plaintalker post: "Out of $22.3 million for road maintenance over six years, just $1 million is slated for 2010. This program is already way behind. A five-year plan from 2005 was stalled to the point where years were lost and the cosmetic term "Phase II" was used to identify what might have been a much earlier year if the schedule had been followed."

Inspections, which the late Mayor Albert T. McWilliams named as drawing the most complaints during his two terms in office, continued to be problematic throughout 2010. The demolition of an historic North Avenue building (click here) soon after Brown took office raised new questions about the efficacy of the Inspections Division.

As for economic development, a roster of nearly 20 varied proposals during the mayor's first term has devolved to seven projects by one developer. His original target has shifted from the blocks facing the main train station to others north and west, and his focus is largely on residential and hospitality uses. There has been no recent update on other tracts previously designated for redevelopment. The city is on the verge of a push for transit-oriented development that will need coordination and oversight from Public Works & Urban Development.

In parting, Brown cited his wish to pursue other goals and spend more time with his family, according to a report in the Courier News.

It will now be up to the mayor and governing body to fill the vacancy. A successor can be named in acting capacity for 90 days, or permanently to serve a term concurrent with the mayor's, ending Dec. 31, 2013.

The next person will inherit the situations noted above, among others. For the city's sake, let's hope someone out there is up to the challenge and will sign on for the long haul. To the right leader, these difficulties could be seen as opportunities.

--Bernice Paglia