In the course of discussing a bidding mixup Thursday, Council president Adrian Mapp said he had been informed that Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs has named special counsel Lucas Phillips to serve as purchasing agent.
The office is vacant due to the departure of David Spaulding, who was drawn into an investigation last year of how the city came to pay $20,000 to radio station WBLS for an Aug. 1, 2010 "Town Meeting" with the Rev. Al Sharpton. Spaulding faced no consequences, but was visibly uncomfortable at being questioned by an attorney in a public setting.
The bid problem was blamed in part to the absence of a purchasing agent. Two sets of bids for road construction were prepared for opening on June 21, but one was placed in the wrong pile and was opened at 11 a.m. instead of at 12 p.m. All those present heard the bid read aloud. To avoid any potential objections or legal issues, the city's engineers, Remington & Vernick, advised rejection of all bids for that contract. It will now have to be re-advertised and re-bid.
Phillips has been serving as special counsel in the office of Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson. It is not known whether he has the background for the job of purchasing agent.
The mayor can make an acting appointment for 90 days without council approval. In 2011, she appointed Williamson as city administrator for three months and then appointed herself for another three months.
Spaulding's departure adds another chapter to the city's troubles with fiscal management. The city has had no chief financial officer since January except for a part-time one who gives the city five to eight hours per week. Council members blamed problems with the 2012 budget on the lack of internal fiscal oversight and controls. An outside consultant was able to resolve a shortfall of nearly $2 million due to errors and omissions uncovered by state officials in the budget introduced in March. The council passed the corrected budget this month.
Williamson himself is leaving the city at the end of the month to become the executive director of the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority. No successor has been named. City Solicitor David Minchello has been serving as acting corporation counsel in recent weeks.
--Bernice
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Round and round
ReplyDeleteWhat comes around goes around
I'll tell you why, why, why, why
Round and round
What the hell is going on with that mayor? She is abusing our city with these appointments of unqualified people. What does this lawyer know about being a purchasing agent? Everyone knows he's the mayors new go to guy for her questionable dealings. Now he is in charge of purchasing? And he is still her special counsel? So he is an employee in two departments? Time for Christie to step in.
ReplyDeleteCourious to know what the hours and pay arrangements are for this one. When an employee is serving in two roles, they receive the higer hourly rate for all hours worked, regardless of what job function they are working in. Also, I was under the impression that Mr. Phllips is also required to take the necessary courses from the State for this position while in an "acting capacity".
ReplyDeleteNo accountability, no transparency, no checks and balances, legal hackery, illegality. Plainfield in a nutshell.
ReplyDeleteNo one wants to work with, "I'm the f***ing mayor, Sharon." She is far from a Christian when dealing with the people she works with and with people who know a lot more about city government than she does. Maybe when we dump Sharon we'll get people who will stay for more than six months. Most incompetent people surround themselves with very competent people, but this mayor has been to shifty and dumb to do that.
ReplyDelete10:34 See my today's blog(PLUG). Eveb you or I can act as purchasing agent/officer. The kicker is whose term of office rule will be adhered to.
ReplyDeleteDoc - In reading your post - " Any person so appointed may, with the approval of the director," Does this mean the State Director of Local Finance has to approve the appointment?
ReplyDeleteIt IS time for Christie to step in to Plainfield and the State Attorney General and take over this City; anything would be better than the ongoing circus in City Hall.
ReplyDelete7:24. Do not believe so. I do not even believe that the Council must OK,
ReplyDeleteWho has to approve the FEDS coming in with several sets of handcuffs to hook up: the two top dogs Briggs & Wynn, then scoop up Williamson & several board members on PMUA and roll by and grab up certain members of the shady school board. There is a certain Assemblyman that could use a federal vacation as well.
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