Late in Monday's City Council meeting, it was revealed that Chief Finance Officer Ron Zilinski left city employment at the end of January. A search is under way for a new one, but the City Council may approve a higher salary range to attract a new CFO.
Lack of a CFO to certify funding may hold up some council approvals. The council members agreed to vote next Monday on the salary amendment, which must be done by ordinance on two readings. A special meeting may be held for the second reading and final passage, but 20 more days will be needed for the ordinance to take effect.
Asked what happened to Zilinski, City Administrator Eric Berry said he took another job. After Berry suggested the city might hire two part-time CFOs, Council President Adrian Mapp said, "We don't want to do that. We need a CFO that can do the job."
The current maximum salary for the post is $115,000, but it will become $125,000 with the amendment.
The city got in trouble with the state Division of Local Government Services in 2010 after going three years without a permanent CFO, a statutory post required by the state. Officials had asked the state to furnish a CFO, but the DLGS turned the problem back on the city with the threat of $25 per day fines on each of the seven council members and the mayor. Zilinski was hired by the Nov. 30 deadline that year, but did not start work until January 2011. Even then, he served just 28 hours a week.
A factor in his departure was apparently his wish not to commute to Plainfield from Trenton four days a week, according to Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson.
The last full-time CFO was Peter Sepelya, who retired at the end of 2007. An "acting" CFO, Sandra Cummings, signed certifications after Sepelya left, although . Former City Administrator Bibi Taylor briefly signed certifications of funding until Mapp, a licensed CFO himself, pointed out that Taylor did not have the proper credentials to do so.
Mapp himself was offered the post at one juncture, but he would have had to give up his council seat. He would also have to report to the mayor who beat him in the extremely contentious June 2009 election. Mapp lost his own CFO post in Roselle when a council majority there voted in July 2009 to abolish his job in a shared services scheme that later fell through.
Since Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs' first term in 2006, the city saw a turnover of seven people serving as finance director in addition to the three-year span with no full-time CFO. Click here for Plaintalker's October 2009 report on the CFO issue.
--Bernice
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John Campbell is the last person in the world who should talk about an accent, but he sure acts as if the schools are his. There are more boards, commissions, councils, and public officials around here doing nothing but playing checkers with each other. We are led astray at every chance by a pack of false prophets and fake messiahs.
ReplyDeleteSuperintendant John Campbell was way out of line. That family are the most political family out. Plainfield please come out in November not just to elect our President which is very important but Please come for the CHILDREN of the city of plainfield. PLEASE i beg you if you go into those schools they are horrific. They have a very few staff member's that they cater to but the majority of the staff and children are suffering.
ReplyDeleteThe CFO left beause he couldn't take the antics of a lunatic type mayor - plain and simple. The only reason we have a chance for the City Admin to stay is because he only has 2 years.
ReplyDeleteThis is pathetic.
I agree that it's hard to find someone who will work with our "lunatic" mayor and her mood swings and lack of professionalism. Sharon treats the people in city hall as her serfs and not professionals we hope they are. Let's remove Sharon and have a fuctional city hall after many years.
ReplyDeleteBob Bolmer
Actually since none of the companies [unless politically connected] get paid on time, the City is handling its money well [just ask Thuls what it is like to supply stuff for the town]
ReplyDeleteHere we go again. Yet another qualified member of the administration leaves.
ReplyDeleteThe commute is a credible excuse, however, it's unlikely that was the main reason for his departure. It's obvious, to anyone who has any type of morals and ethics, that the reason legitimate and qualified individuals working for the Plainfield administration choose to leave is because of the nonsense and lack of professionalism with which this Robinson-Briggs conducts herself and the business of the City. She is toxic!
Plainfielders please wake up and take note! This is not the person who should be leading us. Do your research, take a good look at what she has done (or lack there of) for Plainfield. There are so many others who are qualified and truly care.
Let's hope that they find a new CFO soon; it's definitely a must if in order to keep everything going smoothly.
ReplyDelete