Monday's City Council agenda has many interesting aspects, but alas, I am on the other side of the U.S. and can't look up the background on resolutions and ordinances up for consideration. No doubt Dr. Yood will provide a rundown if the packet is available at the Plainfield Public Library, but meanwhile I will try to provide context on a few items.
The agenda-fixing session is 7:30 p.m. Monday in City Hall Library, 515 Watchung Ave.
Regarding the request to authorize $87,978 "to complete the salary and wages adopted in calendar year 2012," this appears to be the funding to operate the Urban Enterprise Zone program since the state returned funding to the local level. For the background on that decision, read about the state report here.
Formerly, the city had to apply to the state Urban Enterprise Zone Authority for use of the sales tax collected in the local zone. Administrative costs were an allowable expense. Now it seems the Office of Economic Development is asking the governing body for the money. One hopes the council will tie the request to getting a long-awaited report on how UEZ funds are being used. In April, Council President Adrian Mapp requested a full report on the program. More recently, Public Works & Urban Development Director Eric Jackson said he expected to update the council on UEZ projects after some residents who attended meetings on an East Second Street UEZ proposal asked what happened to it.
Besides the question of how things are going with the local UEZ management, the request harks back to problems with the 2012 budget that initially indicated a $1.5 shortfall, due in part to salaries being left out. At the time, UEZ administration was not mentioned. Could this be another lapse caused by lack of a chief financial officer?
Speaking of which, another resolution is for "temporary appointment of an acting chief financial officer." The city hired the last one in November 2010 under state threat of daily fines for the mayor and all seven council members. Ron Zilinski served as CFO and treasurer through 2011, but left in January 2012. The phrasing of the resolution up for consideration Monday is a bit nebulous. Another resolution notes the need for a CFO to sign off on a 2012 "best practices inventory."
Sorry, guys, but getting a temporary acting person to testify that the city is adhering to best fiscal practices may sound like that football umpire situation to some Plainfielders.
Then there is the "Transitions International" request to hold a Veterans Awareness Day in "Plainfield Square." Certainly a few more details are needed here. Did they mean Plainwood Square? What is Transitions International?
There is a discussion item regarding "naming of the Plainfield senior center." If it is being named for a person, many would nominate Charles Nelson.
Last but not least, the Municipal Court debt collection question will come up again.
And I will miss it all. But I will be back for the votes at the regular meeting on Oct. 9.
--Bernice
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Transparency and accountability are so lacking in our city government. When coupled with the many incidents of questionable spending ( Recreation, PAS, overall grants management, the PMUA stipend, along with the UEZ, come to mind) the onus is on the City Council to just say 'no'. Have any Administration provide the detail, well in advance, or cut off the funding.
ReplyDeleteThere are too many games being played, and oh so many personal conflicts of interest, that without the threat and actuality of a deep freeze, the show will go on, unencumbered by anything beyond intra-mural partisan rhetoric.
Looking at various councilors actual voting records, I personally don't believe there's a whole lot of meat to these requests. If the shoe was on the other foot the outcome would be the same; local politicians catering to a hierarchy of power brokers and their own conflicts of interest, not to the needs of the community.