Council Report

As befits the August doldrums, Monday's regular City Council meeting did not produce any major stories, so Plaintalker is just listing some topics.

First, there was an unusual presentation by Dore Beinhaker, an attorney for Bill Homer, owner of the office building at East Front Street and Watchung Avenue.  The building suffered an underground fire and Homer needs a permit to open the street in order for PSE&G to make repairs, but the city has declared a moratorium on street openings on newly-paved streets. Beinhaker said he was told he had to petition the council for permission to open the street. He said the repairs are necessary "to give full service to the tenants," which include the relocated Barack Obama Green Charter School and Assemblyman Jerry Green.

Council President Adrian Mapp told Beinhaker "we are business-friendly" but said the moratorium came about due to a number of cuts in streets. He said one condition of receiving permission for a street cut would be that the applicant would have to restore the street using infra-red technology for a seamless repair.

But City Solicitor David Minchello then raised the issue of Homer and his company currently "suing the city."
Beinhaker said it was not a lawsuit, but a prerogative writ to reverse the decision of the Planning Board to deny a certificate of occupancy. The upshot was that the matter was tabled until the Sept. 10 council meeting in order for Beinhaker to "weigh in" with the city corporation counsel's office on the matter.

In other matters:

- The council voted final passage of salary ordinances for the Policemen's Benevolent Association and the PBA Superior Officers and passage on first reading of salary ordinances for the Plainfield Municipal Employees Association and the Firemen Mutual Benevolent Association.

- A resolution to pay $71,432.03 for a pre-cast concrete concession stand was tabled. Council members had expressed dismay after finding out the total cost of the project, with engineering included, would be $193,000.

- Approval was granted for a new payroll company that will document employee attendance time. In earlier discussions, Mapp had sought support for a biometric sign-in system, but the council did not endorse it.

-  Several resolutions regarding legal representation had to be amended because they ran from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. To keep them within the current budget year, the end dates were changed to Dec. 31, 2012.

- Club owner Edison Garcia received permission to hold a fiesta celebrating Central American Independence on Sept. 15-16 in parking lots 8 and 8A.

- Liquor license renewals for Chez Maree, Clinton Deli & Grocery, Pueblo Viejo, JC's Lounge and Watchung Liquors were approved.

Be sure to read Dr. Yood's "Doc's Potpourri" as well for his commentary on the council meeting.

--Bernice