Eric JacksonThe city's new director of Public Works & Urban Development met the public at his first City Council meeting Tuesday. Since taking office Sept. 26, Eric Jackson said he has been getting to know his staff and starting to set direction for the department. Click here for a list of its divisions and its mission.
The council met in closed session to discuss personnel, specifically the Public Safety director and city administrator. Upon returning to open session, Council President Annie McWilliams said the governing body "asked questions and got some answers" from the Union County Prosecutors Office. Asked for a fuller explanation after the meeting, she said the discussion had to do with a new crime-fighting strategy. No mention was made of any city administrator nominees.
In ceremonial matters, the council recognized efforts of the "I Have A Dream" project which provided mentoring and support to students at Clinton School and is now getting ready to help 60 2012 graduates launch college studies. The group will hold a "Celebrating Our Dreamers" event on Oct. 25. The council also congratulated the Jam Steppers drill team on 30 years of training and competition.
Planning Director Bill Nierstedt gave a brief pitch for a study of flood maps that could result in savings for homeowners. Maps from FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers do not agree on flood areas and clearing up the designation could release as many as 245 current policy holders from the burden of carrying flood insurance.
Public hearings were held on the Special Improvement District and the six-month Temporary Year 2011 municipal budget.
The governing body reappointed Owen Fletcher to a five-year term on the Housing Authority of Plainfield Board of Commissioners. The vote was 6-1, with Rebecca Williams voting "no." Fletcher is also the newly-elected chairman of the board.
Council members split, 4-3, in passing a resolution to allocate $5,000 more for the investigation into payments made to WBLS for an Aug. 1, 2010 "Town Meeting." Those voting "yes" were Cory Storch, Rebecca Williams, Adrian Mapp and Council President Annie McWilliams, with Vera Greaves, William Reid and Bridget Rivers voting "no." The investigation will continue at a special meeting on Oct.19.
Bids for media, photography and videography services were rejected, as all were deemed "above reasonable cost," Acting City Administrator David Kochel said. Requests for proposals or bids will be sought in the 2012 calendar year. For the six-month transition year, the city will seek informal proposals from qualified individuals, Kochel said.
This is just a quick look at some highlights from the meeting. No doubt other bloggers will round out the reports. Mark Spivey wrote a comprehensive story on the "I Have A Dream" program last week.
--Bernice
I'm glad to see Sharon's cheerleading squad didn't bother surprising anyone with an ounce of ethical duty.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they would be so carefree if Sharon were controlling their checking account...me thinks not so much.
Rebecca votes NO for the Housing Authority Commissioner ???
ReplyDeleteHELLO REBECCA YOU WIN THE ELECTION time to start governing and stop politicking.
Owen Fletcher is great choice and both New and Old Dems overwhelming approved him.
Why is it not perfectly clear to most people that the three stoogies, AKA, Sharon's posse, don't care what is good for Plainfield, but only what's good for Sharon and whatever they will get out of this. Shame on them for being so self-absorbed and dishonest! We need to vote these fools out! Let's include them in Sharon's recall.
ReplyDeleteTo 9:31 am:
ReplyDeleteHow is voting no on an appointment "politicking" rather than governance? I am not politicking for anything. I don't know what "New and Old Dems" means in this context--it seems you are the one injecting politics into this. Had you been present at the agenda discussion, you would have known why I voted the way I did--I was very clear. Obviously, however, the other councilors felt differently and decided to support him for another term despite my objection to how the process was carried out vis a vis Plainfield's Civic Responsibility Act. Mr. Fletcher has been reappointed and has been designated as chairman. I wish him well. He said last night that he and the rest of the commissioners will need the support of the community, the administration, and the city council--he has my full support.
Rebecca
Rebecca has become a reliable "no" vote on many things. All decisions stem from local party politics.
ReplyDeleteVery transparent. Very disturbing.
Why is it not perfectly clear to most people that the four stoogies, AKA, Plainfield's Tea Party posse, don't care what is good for Plainfield, but only what's good for their loony blog readers and whatever they will get out of this. Shame on them for being so self-absorbed and dishonest! We need to vote these fools out! Let's include them all in recall. 2012 is around the corner.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see Adrian's cheerleading squad didn't bother surprising anyone with an ounce of ethical duty.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they would be so carefree if Adrian and the sleepy hollow were controlling their checking account...me thinks not so much.
For now, it is spend, spend and spend. This reminds me how the Rebublicans chased Clinton and how the Republicans are chasing Obama.
TSK..TSK... for all the New Dem stooges, flunkies, rubber stamps, and zombies. They don't have the welfare of the city at heart. Only vengeful hearts. Oppps did I say Republicans?
Interesting why we don't see more people complain about the "NO" votes that come from Reid, Greaves and Rivers.
ReplyDeleteThey always vote NO on issues that can help Plainfield move forward; but they don't because they're beholden to the likes of Jerry Green and Robinson-Briggs.
I hope that folks will come out on election day and vote for a change and that means voting for someone other than Jerry Green.
It's time to shut down Plainfield's "Green Staffing Agency".
This is one GREEN job we can afford to lose.
PLEASE VOTE FOR CHANGE IN NOVEMBER!!!
To 6:19 am:
ReplyDeletePlease check my voting record--it is available--quite "transparent"--before making such ridiculous and inaccurate claims.
Rebecca
LOL...someone commented that Rebecca is a "reliable no" ??? LMFAO...
ReplyDeleteLets see...If it involves fiscal responsibility, executive branch accountability or anything of the like...let me see...hmmmmmm..trying to think of 3 people...mmmm...who could they be..OH YES.. The 3 Stooges, Reid, Rivers and Greaves..the 3 who look to the Mayor and Jerry anytime they have to vote on anything. There's your reliable NO VOTE anonymous....
OK, folks, the comments above tell me it is time to end this back-and-forth, as it is doing nothing to advance our understanding of the issues.
ReplyDelete