In 2011, day-to-day operations of the city passed through the hands of five people, for stints ranging from seven months to two weeks.
The year began with Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson, the head of the city's in-house legal department and the highest-paid member of the cabinet, being named acting city administrator. Under the city's code, Williamson could serve 90 days in acting capacity. In turn, an outside attorney was named acting corporation counsel.
When his time elapsed, Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs named herself acting city administrator, an unusual move but permissible by the city charter.
In May, through a contract with Jersey Professional Management, David Kochel became acting city administrator. A seasoned and well-credentialed municipal administrator, Kochel was soon recognized as too valuable an asset to be shown the door after 90 days. The City Council approved an ordinance that allowed Kochel to stay on until November, and then he was hired to serve as a consultant until Dec. 21.
The search for a permanent city administrator concluded with the hiring of Eric Berry, formerly the business administrator in Trenton, effective Nov. 28. Meanwhile, Al Restaino, director of the Department of Administration, Finance, Health and Social Services, was named acting city administrator for two weeks.
There is no way to know how many elements of government drifted during these shifts. The city was already making do with a chief finance officer who was only available for 28 hours per week. The Department of Public Works & Urban Development, one of three departments mandated by the city's special charter, also had an acting director for 90 days and then an unspoken vacancy until September 26, when Eric Jackson became director.
This all happened in a year when the city was reverting from a fiscal year beginning July 1 to a calendar year, necessitating a six-month "transitional year" budget to bridge the shift. Another situation was the ongoing inquiry into use of city funds for an Aug. 1, 2010 radio broadcast, which escalated in mid-year to a formal investigation by the City Council. In hearings, officials disputed the mayor's claim that an "emergency" required issuance of a $20,000 check to radio station WBLS. A report released in December found improprieties that the council will address in January.
So 2011 was marred not only by instability among its appointed administrators, but eventually by an erosion in trust that the administration and governing body could work together in the city's best interest.
Berry and Jackson, along with Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig and Restaino, are now "permanent" cabinet members, meaning their terms end along with the mayor's on Dec. 31, 2013. It may take all of that time to re-establish what was lost in 2011, namely a sense of continuity and confidence that a solid team was delivering the best governance possible during increasingly trying times.
--Bernice
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No confidence. Not with the mayor or the permanent cabinet members (thank goodness permanent only means two more years). No confidence. Not with the City Council, its three Green-team members, or its two ambitious New Demites who would sell out the city to advance their political careers. No confidence. No way.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, we don't have much time to deal with this embarrassment of a mayor. I hope Jerry's kids are voted off the City Council, since they spend more time supporting Sharon's failed policies and not what's best for the people of Plainfield. You can't embarrass these people, but maybe the voters might get some brains and vote the trash out.
ReplyDeleteBob Bolmer
I have only confidence that the supposed split on City Council is nothing more than grandstanding and chest beating. Although it's better than the chest beating of our of wailing "WHY ME" Mayor...it's tiresome and pathetic. The New Dems showed their true colors in this last election. They are nothing more than pawns of their own ideology. My respect for those who show their true colors upfront whether it's offensive, self serving or purely politically motivated far outweighs those who claim one thing and do another when their chain is pulled. Here's to a new year in the da field.
ReplyDeleteShall we bid farewell to all the lovely shade trees that are not being pruned, trimmed and having the tie wires taken off them? There is so much that could be done [grass planted, bushes cut back, curb lines cut but they seem to love to drive around in those yellow trucks picking up the debris that PMUA had promised to get rid of with their fast action response teams of litter control.
ReplyDeleteLet me get this straight Bob, those of us that vote have no brains? And we are the people that elected you to County Committee, the ones without any brains?
ReplyDeleteSeriously Bernice, you publish this trash? This guy is like Dan Damon II. But worse.
And speaking of Damon, how come no one reports on the results of Dan Damon's court case. He was issued a summons for soliciting a young Plainfield hispanic man. All you bloggers are hush , hush about that.