As promised, Council President Adrian Mapp has made a request to Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs through her attorney to call off her lawsuit against the governing body. In return, the council will consider rescinding a $200 fine levied on her after a council investigation found she had acted improperly in paying $20,000 for an August 2010 radio broadcast.
The proposal to seek an apology surfaced at a special meeting Wednesday at which the governing body voted to hire a law firm for defense in the suit. Democratic Party Committee official Dottie Gutenkauf and Councilman William Reid agreed to join Mapp in asking the mayor to drop the lawsuit and avoid forcing a council defense at the taxpayers' expense.
In the letter addressed to attorney Richard J. Angowski, who defended the mayor in the investigation that led to a reprimand and the fine, Mapp says "This is a very bad situation that benefits no one: However it is a situation that can end very quickly if the mayor chooses to do the right thing, which is all the council and the people have ever asked."
Actually, partisans of the mayor, both in the community and on the council, have insisted she did nothing wrong and held the town meeting only to combat a wave of gang violence. Citing a truce that ensued while the elected officials battled on, Reid said Wednesday, "The gangs stopped - they stopped shooting each other."
Whether the mayor and council will call a truce remains to be seen. The mayor refused for months to answer questions about the $20,000 check paid to WBLS for the event at which Rev. Al Sharpton appeared briefly. Even after the council invoked its powers of investigation as permitted by the city's special charter, she declined to give information until subpoenaed public hearings took place and then denied any wrongdoing.
It was after the council's special counsel Ramon Rivera submitted his report on the investigation that the mayor was reprimanded and fined.
In his letter, Mapp asks for the mayor to "accept personal responsibility for her actions and those of her staff." He tells Angowski, "If your client, the mayor, accepts full and total responsibility, on the record; that is in writing to be read into the record; the council will consider rescinding its fine and reprimand. It never hurts to say I am sorry, and it's never too late."
If the mayor decides "to take the high road," Mapp says, "the Council will join her on that road that would, hopefully, lead to healing."
If not, Mapp points out, the council has retained the law firm of Genova, Burns & Giantomasi and is "prepared to present a vigorous defense against her lawsuit."
--Bernice
When you continually take the high road with someone who will only sling mud you're still going to get dirty whether you like it or not.
ReplyDeleteCity Council, again...you've been out maneuvered.
Damn, even Jerry Green's got to be shaking his head in awe at this one.
Two cats wrestling in a barrel ready to head over Niagara Falls while the same potholes are refilled year after year after year. Leadership like this we don't need.
ReplyDeleteAlan
ReplyDeleteYou are appreciated and I hope that you continue to be a voice for good reasoning.
I like your metaphor of the 2 cats.
My question to all concerned Plainfielders is who would you endorse for the up coming Mayoral election?
I am confused and abit dissatisfied but I would like your advice on this
LINDA CARTER 2013, that is the answer to your question.
DeleteShe is the only one that has a chance to unite us.
But we have to convince her of that, please help me to do that.
To 5:02am, I will not support this mayor. Here is my summary-
ReplyDelete1- She tried to fire Bibi Taylor. If you look at executive session notes, she gives no tangible reason - just that the mayor said so
2 - She takes no responsibility for the WBLS incident. While people feel she did it because of gang violence - the reports of violence in this city went up after the meeting, and remains on the rise today. So, the mayor's answer to gang violence is to go on the radio? What tangible tasks came out of it? None
3 - She has had a revolving door of cabinet members - when she has cabinet members. This does not say to me that she is a leader and knows how to run any organization
4 - The city audit report has continually listed audit findings that indicate our money is not being handled correctly, perhaps fraudulently.
I can go on and on, but the bottom line is I do not believe she has leadership or management skills to envigorate this city, and I strongly believe she cares about herself, and very little about what is best for Plainfield.
Since Reid and associates truly believe gangs slowed down their activity as a result of a $20K tax payer funded radio broadcast, then I suggest they get out of politics and out of Plainfield, get themselves an agent and take their "Gang-B-Gone" show on the road.
ReplyDeleteThey can make a lot more money sharing their magical formula with all the other gang-ridden cities across country and solve their problems too! Maybe I-Hop can be their national sponsor
If they're gone, then maybe Plainfield can move forward.
Just a thought.
I have to agree that this mayor is so self-absorbed that she is not capable of helping the city grow and head in the right direction. She is truly "Shady Sharonda" and has worked hard to earn that name. When I mention her name to my constitutents they generally make a sour face and say things about her that I can't repeat here. Let's move forward, have the state investigate and perhaps they'll lock up this loser of a mayor and we can finally move forward.
ReplyDeleteBob Bolmer
Democratic Committee Member
Ward 2, District 1
Maybe the loser that should be locked up for slander is you Bob.
DeleteI find it interesting that New Dem City Committee member BOB from the 2/1 speaks out against the Democratic Mayor. I thought the New Dems said that all dems, new and old, were to support the Democratic candidate at, and after election time.
DeleteWhat's with that Bob?
Really they wanna risk thousand of dollars on attorney fees, public embarrassment etc over 200 dollars WTF is going on.
ReplyDeleteAngry Taxpayer of Plainfield
At what point do we let this horrible mayor get away with whatever she wants. She's already had too much of that. If you support her childishness, then you need to really rethink what you stand for.
DeleteWasn't violence down in Plainfield before the radio show, and then it escalated after the show? I seem to recall a statistic supporting that. I'll see if I can find it again and post it.
ReplyDeleteEnough of her already, with a mayor like her we can't afford to live here. She smiles and kisses everyone like she has your interest at heart, but even Judas kissed Jesus before he betrayed him. I feel like the City represents Jesus and she's the betraying Judas. The only person she cares about is herself and what will benefit her. For crying out loud the mayor should just say I'M SORRY, and be done with this matter already. Oh and by the way I don't pledge to the flag either. Deal with the real issues of Plainfield trust we have so many that if you did this, you wouldn't have time to be so petty. Another Angry Taxpayer!!!
ReplyDeleteSo we have to pay for the Council's attorney fees - AGAIN ?
ReplyDeleteThe Mayor is never going to apologize and it is naive to think she will. Hello Adrian, WAKE UP.
And who is paying the Mayor's attorney Fee? does anyone know?
I personally think Mr. Mapp is as arrogant as they come. He and his "club" of yes men and women are just as bad if not worse than the current administration. They have waged a war to distroy every thing associated with this mayor in the attempt to set the stage for an election of Mr. Mapp. The are playing the Republican game better than the Republicans are against our President.
ReplyDeleteBernice, I am not a Democratic Party official; although I have been in the past, at this point I'm just a Committee member. I am pleased that the Council said "yes" to my proposal, that Bill Reid supported it, and that Adrian added his voice in support. I did mention when I spoke to the Council that I am an experienced negotiator and mediator, and that I would not charge the city a penny. I know they were facing a deadline for filing a response to the mayor's lawsuit, and while I have never met the lawyer the mayor hired, he has a great reputation as an attorney and as also a reasonable person--so I hope he will agree to an extension (although, of course, he must do what his client wants).
ReplyDeleteLet's hope we can work this out and move on to deal with the issues facing our community that really matter!
To 1:15PM - you think Mapp is arrogant? The mayor refuses to discuss how she spent YOUR money - she forces the council to spend YOUR money on a lawyer, and now the mayor is suing the council - suing the council - because she spent our money incorrectly and will not own up to it. And MAPP is arrogant?
ReplyDeleteLet me say one more thing - who are the YES men and women - people like yourself who vote Democratic without thinking, or questioning, but blindly follow anyone with a D in front of their name? Or, New Dems, who think about what they want for the city and vote their conscience?
@1:15pm aka Jerry Green. Yes Jerry Green! You are the MAIN person in Plainfield that will refer to the New Dems as Republicans. And may I add -a poor speller (distroy).
ReplyDeleteAnd you have the audacity to refer to Councilman Mapp as arrogant? Really?! What about your puppet the Mayor Sharon Robinson Briggs. I guess the puppet strings slipped out of your reach and she is now acting "out of hand".