PMUA's Young Wows Council

The new leader of the solid waste and sewer authority that serves the city received a warm reception from the governing body Monday, in contrast to a 2010 standoff between the two bodies.

Duane Young, acting executive director of the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority, answered questions on the authority's budget process and pledged transparency, prompting Council President Annie McWilliams to say, "I hope this is the start of a productive relationship with the PMUA."

"It is refreshing to see that you didn' t have to be dragged here kicking and screaming," Councilman Adrian Mapp said later, alluding to the thorny situation last year.

The authority was created by the city in 1995 and overcame obstacles including a legal challenge from a council faction while getting established. In 2009, a relatively quiet run of service ended with citizen outcry over rate increases and authority officials found themselves at sword's point with rate payers who protested travel and business lunch expenses. The group, called DumpPMUA, began actively encouraging people to opt out of authority services. Appointments faltered and holdover commissioners disdained meetings with the council.

Then the PMUA's Spring 2011 newsletter announced that all three top authority officials were stepping down. Young, the authority's comptroller, was named to replace Executive Director Eric Watson "72 days ago," he said Monday.

Councilman Cory Storch lost no time in asking Young what could now be expected "in terms of rates."

Young said it is his intention to stabilize rates and he is not anticipating an increase. He said he is looking at all costs and hopes to set a three-year rate.

Storch then asked, "Is there any prospect for a rate reduction?"

Young said he could not commit to that, but as comptroller over the past 11 years, he said, "I've been looking at the money all along."

Rate hearings are held in January, but ratepayers said the first they knew of the 2009 increases was in bills received later. Young said budget information has to go to the state by Nov. 1, and he is looking at all departments to see what is needed, not just resubmitting figures.

Young also said he is looking forward to working with a recently-formed, council-appointed task force charged with looking into PMUA operations. Calling the PMUA "misunderstood," Young questioned comparisons with rates in other cities.

Plainfield ratepayers support three different authorities, as charges from the Plainfield Area Regional Sewage Authority and the Middlesex County Utilities Authority are passed on through PMUA. Young did not mention the MCUA, but said he would be meeting with PARSA Executive Director Robert Villee next week. PMUA payments constitute the largest portion of PARSA's budget, he said.

Another issue is Plainfield's representation on PARSA. Young said PMUA Deputy Executive Director David Ervin is still serving on the PARSA board, despite having retired. Plainfield Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson noted a section of state municipal utility law that permits Ervin to fulfill his PARSA board term. Ervin would have to resign before Young could be appointed and talks on that topic are underway.

Young's visit and his open attitude appeared promising for an end to the impasse over council scrutiny of the PMUA and appointments to its board of commissioners.

For some more background on city solid waste and sewer issues, click here for a 2008 Plaintalker post.

--Bernice