Plaintalker asked DumpPMUA founder Philip Charles to comment on the latest move by the PMUA board of commissioners, i.e., the agreement made Jan. 10. Here is his response:
In order for Plainfield residents to fully understand the audacity of the recent Resolution passed by 3 members of the PMUA board, it is important to understand what has happened regarding Mr. Watson & Mr. Ervin before their resignations were announced in March 2011. All contracts for both men historically were yearly contracts. In 2009 DumpPMUA.com was founded and began to expose the practices of the PMUA and the wasteful spending which revealed that some board members and some employees of the PMUA were using the ratepayers as their personal piggy banks. After referrals to other outside agencies, the PMUA executives and board began to feel the pressures of that public scrutiny when questions were being asked by people outside of our city.
At the end of October 2010, an OPRA request was made to the PMUA for the contracts of Mr. Watson & Mr. Ervin. The response to the OPRA request was that there were no contracts other than the 2009 contracts previously provided to us. Again, employment contracts through that period were yearly contracts. The PMUA would have the public believe that four year contracts were given to Mr. Watson & Mr. Ervin between November 2010 and March 2011.
Just five months later, a press conference is held to announce that Mr. Watson & Mr. Ervin will be separating from the PMUA. Despite the last day of employment being June 30, 2011 both remained on the payroll until October 2011 (Watson) and November 2011 (Ervin). The reason provided for this is that they were being paid for unused vacation and sick time. It is important to note that the language of the contract permitted each a set number of vacation and sick time "or any greater amount as approved by the board". In June 2011 the PMUA enters into an agreement to pay Mr. Watson $151,000 and Mr. Ervin $124,000 "for employee compensation claims under their contracts", but leaves room for both to seek more compensation in the future. On January 10, 2012 3 members of the PMUA board (including the two newly appointed commissioners) passed a resolution approving additional payments $450,000 to Mr. Watson and $275,000 to Mr. Ervin. The total cash compensation to them totals $1 million. That total does not include the costs of attorney's fees, arbitrator fees, payment of sick and vacation time or the millions of dollars wasted by the PMUA under their watch.
Our suspicions are that the contracts of Mr. Ervin and Mr. Watson were purposely written at the end of 2010 to give them a term longer than any other in anticipation of the separation. The PMUA board then rather than looking out for the residents and ratepayers looked out for their own and set them up with an initial settlement with room for more. There is no other explanation for entering into a settlement like the one entered into in June.
Ultimately, we will never get that money back or change the mentality of both Mr. Watson or Mr. Ervin that they deserve a handout. They cited their contributions to the PMUA as a reason they deserve this compensation. We cannot and never will be able to force people to have a moral compass, but we can seek outside assistance from the state to take a look at this issue. We encourage you to call, fax, and write to the Governor's Office, State Comptroller, attorney General, Union County Prosecutor, and any other agency you would like. We also encourage you to sign the petition that is being circulated.
The actions of the PMUA and the board are getting so egregious that the council and mayor cannot deny it much longer. The committee created by the council is looking closely and any hopes they may have had of reform are probably dashed now. Until we rid our city of the PMUA, they will continue to do what they want with our money.
We may not be the only community where a quasi governmental agency like the PMUA is abusing its powers, but we can be the first community to come together to stop it. We can also be the first community that impacts the way other agencies conduct business.
Philip Charles
DumpPMUA.com
We will have a special section on DumpPMUA.com which includes all of the public records that illustrate these egregious acts. Sample letters and addresses will also be provided.
www.dumppmua.com
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Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Phone: 609-292-6000
Fax: 609-292-3454
At the end of October 2010, an OPRA request was made to the PMUA for the contracts of Mr. Watson & Mr. Ervin. The response to the OPRA request was that there were no contracts other than the 2009 contracts previously provided to us. Again, employment contracts through that period were yearly contracts. The PMUA would have the public believe that four year contracts were given to Mr. Watson & Mr. Ervin between November 2010 and March 2011.
Just five months later, a press conference is held to announce that Mr. Watson & Mr. Ervin will be separating from the PMUA. Despite the last day of employment being June 30, 2011 both remained on the payroll until October 2011 (Watson) and November 2011 (Ervin). The reason provided for this is that they were being paid for unused vacation and sick time. It is important to note that the language of the contract permitted each a set number of vacation and sick time "or any greater amount as approved by the board". In June 2011 the PMUA enters into an agreement to pay Mr. Watson $151,000 and Mr. Ervin $124,000 "for employee compensation claims under their contracts", but leaves room for both to seek more compensation in the future. On January 10, 2012 3 members of the PMUA board (including the two newly appointed commissioners) passed a resolution approving additional payments $450,000 to Mr. Watson and $275,000 to Mr. Ervin. The total cash compensation to them totals $1 million. That total does not include the costs of attorney's fees, arbitrator fees, payment of sick and vacation time or the millions of dollars wasted by the PMUA under their watch.
Our suspicions are that the contracts of Mr. Ervin and Mr. Watson were purposely written at the end of 2010 to give them a term longer than any other in anticipation of the separation. The PMUA board then rather than looking out for the residents and ratepayers looked out for their own and set them up with an initial settlement with room for more. There is no other explanation for entering into a settlement like the one entered into in June.
Ultimately, we will never get that money back or change the mentality of both Mr. Watson or Mr. Ervin that they deserve a handout. They cited their contributions to the PMUA as a reason they deserve this compensation. We cannot and never will be able to force people to have a moral compass, but we can seek outside assistance from the state to take a look at this issue. We encourage you to call, fax, and write to the Governor's Office, State Comptroller, attorney General, Union County Prosecutor, and any other agency you would like. We also encourage you to sign the petition that is being circulated.
The actions of the PMUA and the board are getting so egregious that the council and mayor cannot deny it much longer. The committee created by the council is looking closely and any hopes they may have had of reform are probably dashed now. Until we rid our city of the PMUA, they will continue to do what they want with our money.
We may not be the only community where a quasi governmental agency like the PMUA is abusing its powers, but we can be the first community to come together to stop it. We can also be the first community that impacts the way other agencies conduct business.
Philip Charles
DumpPMUA.com
We will have a special section on DumpPMUA.com which includes all of the public records that illustrate these egregious acts. Sample letters and addresses will also be provided.
www.dumppmua.com
------
Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Phone: 609-292-6000
Fax: 609-292-3454
Thank you Philip Charles for all you do!
ReplyDeleteHave we heard from our Council on this? Specifically from Council President Mapp whose vote appointed the two new commissioners who made this happen?
I would hope Mapp blogs about this. Otherwise he will loose all credibility moving forward. And that would be a shame.
Where can we sign the petition?
I think the City Council should recall the recently appointed PMUA members and insist the state look into this. I am ashamed of them all and know they will get theirs and it won't be pleasant. God will judge.
ReplyDeletePunish the wicked among us
ReplyDeleteThanks Bernice for bringing Philip's comments to your blog. It is a real shame that the hard work of DUMPPMUA has been sabotaged by the council who ended up sealing this deal with their PMUA appointments. Rubber stamping in Plainfield at its best.
ReplyDeleteJust remember it was an ALL Democratic Party council which created the PMUA, not those nasty Republicans like Chris Christie.
ReplyDeletePlease pass the electronic petition on to anyone who you feel is interested in calling the governor's attention to this issue. Thank you
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ipetitions.com/petition/plainfield-residents-petition-to-governor/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=system&utm_campaign=Send%2Bto%2BFriend
Call the EVIL Republican Governor in to save the day !! Why, what would we helpless Democrats do without him??
ReplyDeleteHow about dumping the people who vote these bums onto the PMUA?
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that the commissioners, all professed democrats, would allow a huge payday for an executive.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that something that the evil Republicans do? Executive perks and expense accounts, huge golden parachutes -- even in failure?
This executive team has FAILED Plainfield. They have created an entity with huge debt, that is not competitive (they can't compete in the real world), what about the PMUA getting in trouble with the County, diverting waste -- a HUGE no no. The PMUA is a failed, bloated monopoly -- and these guys expect a big pay day for their years of service? How about them going to jail for the years of ripping off Plainfield? and their buddy commissioners with them?
What about the fact that the PMUA was illegally charging citizens 'interest' on money that was not owed yet -- and they had an extra million in the coffers? Why do you think they have shiny new trucks? Dig deep -- you will find the fraud and backroom deal payouts.
It's laughable that "democrats" would condone such a move as this in a PUBLIC agency. Just proves politicians are full of it, saying they are "for the people."
Mr. Charles , let me commend you on your persistence in demolishing the PMUA..... The concern is that you have become obsessed and selfcentered. The PMUA is more than Mr. Watson and Mr. Ervin. Do you think of all the families and children who will suffer when your wish comes true. I agree that's not your concern. Put your energy in fighting crime in Plainfield. Help the Mayor.
ReplyDeleteAnnon 2:28pm It is not the responsibility of Government and the Tax (rate) Payers to provide jobs for people. The United States is a Republic not a Communist Country. Personally I prefer Communism but in a Republic , Capitalism rules. Unfortunately the autonomous PMUA has been acting more like a Dictatorship in recent years.
ReplyDeleteIn our Republic we have a Constitution that has a bill of rights. One of those rights is freedom of speech. Hence your comments being published and Mr. Charles' endeavors to curb the wrongdoings at the PMUA. His obsession as you call it, I would call it his steadfast resolve, has saved the rate payers of Plainfield from a lot of waste, (no pun intended). It probably has saved jobs at the PMUA too.
Thinking that his efforts will make families and children suffer is just naive and borders on ignorance. The reality is the opposite, his efforts have saved many families from choosing between putting food on the table and paying the over inflated garbage bill.
It has been the policies and extravagant life styles of the self serving former leaders of the PMUA that have hurt the families and children in Plainfield.
Ega Brag
I agree with Ega Brag that our role in the City of Plainfield is not to create agencies to create jobs for friends and families. This is similar to someone excusing the bank robber who used the money he stole to open a business that employs people. Really? The PMUA is not a social services entitiy. Many of the employees are friends of people in power in Plainfield and will probably just move to the Housing Authority, Senior Center, or Mayor's Office or maybe they will all get cushy payouts too! The PMUA needs to be stopped. I don't know whether Mr. Charles is obsessed, but I'm glad he's taken this on so I don't have to do it. I'm sure Mr. Charles has already put in more hours than Eric Watson ever did, except if you count Watson's hours at Spain Inn, the golf course, Hugo's Lounge, or the Borgata on our dime!
ReplyDelete