The auditors, with their many repeat recommendations to follow basic money-handling procedures, are also bearing witness to the need to shape up.
One reason the City Council started its own Finance Committee was to formally monitor fiscal matters. The governing body is not permitted to take part in day-to-day operations of the city, but it can draw back the veil on how things are being done and invoke the rules that must be followed.
On Monday, nine contracts that were held up last month were offered again for council consideration. The issue last month was that the council did not want to approve Purchasing Agent David Spaulding as the Public Agency Compliance Officer. On Monday, the administration danced around the topic of whether there is a PACO and declined at first to give a name. Chairman of the Whole William Reid alluded to a lack of "trust," but Councilwoman Rebecca Williams said, "I strongly object to my colleague saying we don't trust an employee."
Later, after City Administrator Eric Berry said the PACO is Spaulding and no resolution is needed to designate him, Mapp commented, "Who we don't trust is the administration."
Now the mayor is suing the governing body and attempting to overturn findings of a council investigation that resulted in a reprimand and a $200 fine over the handling of funds for an Aug. 1, 2010 town meeting on gang violence. Her supporters say the money was well-spent and gang violence decreased, a claim not borne out by crime statistics.
All the he-said, she-said behavior aside, the laws on municipal funding are as solid as City Hall itself. Break enough rules on spending and the state will send somebody to run your city instead of those the people elected and those the elected officials appointed to be in charge. Plainfeld is not at that point yet, but the longer these spats hit the headlines, the closer the city gets to outside intercession.
Addressing the 2012 budget process in a truthful, professional way could be a large step toward proving city finances are not the "train wreck" that observers increasingly think they are. What happens this month and next will show whether sound policy or political "sound bites" will prevail.
--Bernice
Notice how none of the consulting firms complain about not get paid. They know a good thing, even when the checks are alittle late.
ReplyDeleteHow can this city ever straighten itself out when political agendas rule, racism runs rampant, and no one will talk to one another.
ReplyDeleteThe first and fourth ward council members do nothing to represent their people (remember Reid announcing that he was not appointing anyone to the PMUA task force, and Rivers initially refused also. Rivers appointed people after Annie did. Rivers appointed Mr. Cathcart - who works for the PMUA - who was not eligible. She appointed someone else, who I am not sure even attends the meetings. Rivers had nothing to say when Annie said that she appointed someone because Rivers refused.
How can this city come together, when council members refuse to put aside their issues (Reid I believe was a commissioner, and Rivers has a relative working for PMUA) and do what's best for the city.
Let us not forget that Corporate Council Dan Williamson stated at Monday's agenda fixing session that he would check to see if those Councilors with family members working for the PMUA are to be excluded from voting for appointments of Commissioners on the authority. He stated that he would check the legality of this before Monday's Council meeting.
DeleteIf there is such an exclusion, (which there should be), shouldn't it also exclude Councilors from voting for relatives to serve as Commissioners.
And if there is such an exclusion shouldn't the votes to confirm Dunn and Sanders be voided?
Does anyone know how we can independently check this?
jim spear
How can the City be headed towards a train wreck when it can't even get on the track????
ReplyDeleteTo Jim Spear - You make a good point. Bridget Rivers has a relative working at PMUA and Reid was a former PMUA Commissioner. Will Gipp is the brother-in -law of Mapp, but has no direct ties to PMUA (not or never has been an employee).
ReplyDeleteI agree with having them recuse themselves, but I would not stop there.
How comfortable are you that the mayor's minister might win a council seat? Do you think her votes will be fair and in the interest of Plainfield?
Why is the head of the Democratic Party, John S. Wisniewski, getting law contracts from Democratic controlled governments like Plainfield (I think there should be no gov't contracts given to people in political office. Make it in the corporate world if you can).
I think you have a good point, but it should extend to approving contracts, electing officials, and always monitoring council members who may have conflicts of interests in voting.
Please KKK member's don't leave out the fact that Cory Storch's daughter worked for PMUA every summer before she graduated from college. Cory Storch voted on everything to do with PMUA, Now let's get to the real meat in these potatoe's. PMUA is a entity that a lot of you people want to control. I think not. Go to westfield and control some of the govermental entities there. I think not. WHY? you know why, your people will give you the boot. Try to get some control on yourself before you try to gain control of anuthing in PLAINFIELD. oh yeah lets be real don't come with the sheets offyour heads, Keep the sheets on your head. We all in plainfield here know who you are.
ReplyDeleteRob
I have been in contact with most of the people who want to reform the PMUA. None of those people, not one, ever passed a racial remark or do they consider anything except the cost to you, themselves and all the other people of Plainfield. It is sad that you want to take an issue and attempt to divide the town making a false claim of racial bias. If you want to save PMUA jobs the best way is to get aboard and make the Commissioners act responsibly, not defend them. If they give away another million dollars or two the State may step in and perhaps shut the operation down. Is that what you want?
DeleteTo 8:27am What the heck are you talking about?
ReplyDeleteWill Gill, Adrian Mapp's brother-in-law, was previously a PMUA Alternate Commissioner, the last time Mapp had as much 'clout' as he thinks he has now. Gill is also on the PMUA Task Force I believe, while also a commissioner nominee. What's up with that? I'll tell you- PMUA is Plainfield's number one piggy-bank and Mapp really, really wants to be the doler-outer of the slush fund.
ReplyDelete