Emergency Funding Passed, Transition Proposed

Notice posted on mail room door at City Hall.

At Monday's special meeting, the City Council passed a resolution authorizing an "emergency appropriation" of $58,000 aimed at supporting the Recreation and Purchasing Divisions through the June 30 end of the 2011 fiscal year.

The move averted an April 15 scheduled layoff of staff in the two divisions, but council members then questioned what will happen as FY 2012 begins July 1. Normally, the city would have the first three months of the new year to work on introduction of the 2012 budget while using funds equal to 25 percent of the 2011 budget to operate the city.

Speaking by phone, Chief Finance Officer Ron Zilinski mentioned a six-month "transition year" budget to bring the city back to a calendar year budget as it had before a 1991 change. Zilinski said in the short term people would be kept to the end of the fiscal year and through the six-month transition year.

Then it can be decided whether or not the city needs the Purchasing Division, he said. In answer to a question from Councilman Adrian Mapp, who first proposed that Purchasing could be folded into the CFO's office, Zilinski said after the calendar year it could become part of his office, but a qualified purchasing agent would be needed.

Zilinski was hired in 2010 after state officials threatened to fine both the mayor and each council member $25 daily for failing to appoint a chief finance officer after three entire years without one. The CFO post is one mandated by the state, but after former CFO Peter Sepelya retired at the end of 2007, no replacement was named.

Zilinski, retired last year from a finance post in Trenton, was only hired after the city passed a salary ordinance for the title of city treasurer and agreed to let him have that title with a 28-hour work week. When Mapp pressed for dissolving the Purchasing Division and adding the responsibility to Zilinski's office, the mayor gave the council a letter from Zilinski saying it would be a burden and she hinted that he might quit if the duties were added to his office. If so, she said, she would expect the council to pay her $25 a day penalty for not having a CFO.

On Monday, Councilman Cory Storch questioned how the city could change to a calendar year. Zilinski said he had some preliminary budget projections for the transition period and the calendar year and said, "It looks like it is a good idea for the City of Plainfield."

Storch asked what the city would have to do and Zilinski said a resolution and ordinance would be needed "probably very soon," prior to July.

Numerous fiscal year municipalities have recently changed back to a calendar year.

Before the vote on the emergency appropriations, Mapp said he could not support it because no statutory emergency existed. He had suggested transfers in May for the two divisions. Storch said he would support the resolution but believed the city could have provided the services "with or without these funds."

Storch noted that through past layoffs, other divisions have managed to operate and noted the financial struggles many taxpayers are suffering. To say that the city could not manage Recreation or Purchasing, he said, was "completely untrue."

"The timing will only make things worse next year," he said.

The city will enter the 2012 fiscal year with what Zilinski projects as a $3.5 million shortfall.

Storch once again called for cooperation between the administration and governing body, but said, "I don't see that cooperation coming from City Hall."

At the vote, the measure passed 5-1-1, with Vera Greaves, William Reid, Bridget Rivers, Storch and Council President Annie McWilliams voting "yes," Rebecca Williams voting "no" and Mapp declaring himself "present but not voting."

--Bernice Paglia