Two Good Things on the Agenda

I skipped blogging yesterday and was almost inclined to do so today, as things seem to have slowed down quite a bit in the hyperlocal blogosphere - not many bloggers posting and not sure how many folks are reading.

Anyway, there are a couple of things on Monday's agenda that I feel are of interest or should be of interest to Plainfielders.

The first is the imminent naming of India Cole as deputy city clerk. From the first time I met India Cole in a prior role she held in City Hall, I was impressed with her knowledge and professionalism. Most recently, she has been serving as assistant tax assessor and she has always been professional and helpful to the public in that role. Recently I was at the counter and she was helping a resident with a problem that did not exactly pertain to the Tax Assessor's office, but which was perplexing to the individual and needed to be clarified. Using her knowledge of the workings of Plainfield municipal government, India Cole made sure the citizen understood what had to be done.

What a contrast to the "It's not my job" attitude that makes the average person hate to deal with government at any level! Going to City Hall is not a walk in the park for residents who are unfamiliar with how things work around there, and even the slightest rebuff from a staffer can cause frustration and feelings of paying taxes for naught in constituent service.

City Clerk Abubakar Jalloh called India Cole "one of the hidden talents in City Hall" and said Friday she will be a great asset to the clerk's office. Once appointed as deputy city clerk, she will have all the powers of the clerk when serving in his absence. Since his appointment as clerk, "AJ" has demonstrated the desire and ability to modernize the office and make its services more easily available to citizens. India Cole fits right in with that credo and in this writer's mind is an excellent second-in-command for that very busy office.

The other item is an application for funding that could eventually provide a bus for seniors. If the application is successful, the grant will be funded 80 percent by the federal government under the Federal Transportation Administration's 5310 Program and 20 percent by NJTransit. The city will be responsible for fuel, maintenance and insurance of the bus, if acquired.

One question is whether the city was able to meet the stated NJTransit deadline of May 6, given that the council will only approve submission of the application Monday. The notification was sent out on March 25, 2011. There is also a wait of 18 to 24 months for the process to be completed, so any such request needs to be integrated with the needs of the Senior Center for adequate transportation.

Years ago, the city paid for a bus in what this writer recalls as a cumbersome and protracted process that ended with receipt of a bus with flaws. Here is the promise of a fully-funded new bus at no initial capital outlay to the city, so one hopes it will happen.

In thinking about this program, Plaintalker recalled last year's budget process, which Council President Annie McWilliams attempted to streamline with the same questions posed to all divisions. Only a few presenters came prepared with hard facts and figures to back up their budget requests. Observers, including the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, could clearly distinguish those individuals from others who could not answer council questions about their operations and budgetary needs.

One hopes that after the last budget process, managers are marshaling their facts along the way to be able to explain things better this year. There will be two budgets coming up soon, one for a six-month transition budget and one for a full calendar year as the city shifts from a state fiscal year format under the direction of Chief Finance Officer Ron Zilinski. Being able to explain how a division is actively seeking grants to offset city spending is something managers should keep in mind, whether it is for capital expenses or day-to-day operations.

Monday's meeting should be short, unless one of the ongoing city controversies brings out the troops. It will also be the last chance for candidates to make points in that context before the June 7 primary. See you at 8 p.m. in Municipal Court on Monday, or next at the Tuesday, June 14 agenda-fixing session. That meeting is on Tuesday because the Democratic Party will be reorganizing on the Monday after the primary, with election of a chairman for the next two years a key item.

--Bernice