Monday, November 26, 2012

TODD Public Hearing Tonight

I had hoped to do a blog post on the ordinance designating seven new districts in a Transit Oriented Development-Downtown zone, but it is not happening. If you want to know more about it in time to speak at a public hearing before final passage at Monday's meeting, you will have to go to the City Clerk's office Monday and look at the background material.

The first thing that put me off my plan was this request in late October from a city official:

"I ask that you please contact me to make certain that you have everything right before you post anything. It is complicated, and I really don’t want misinformation out there! "

Having covered Plainfield in various capacities for nearly 30 years, I found this request to be somewhat insulting. Unfortunately, I was in Seattle on Oct. 1 and missed the council meeting where the proposed ordinance was presented in public. While I was mulling this request, the storm struck and I spent 10 days without power. After that, I just never got it together.

Tonight's council meeting was rescheduled from Nov. 19. It is 8 p.m. in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.

--Bernice
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3 comments:

  1. Alan GoldsteinNovember 26, 2012 at 5:32 AM

    Did said city official request anonymity too? The lack of accountability for what they say, and more importantly what they do and how they vote, is pretty insulting also. This accountability deficit will overcome even the best of plans.

    P.S. Does anyone know the meeting schedule for the Charter Commission? It's subject to the Open Public Meetings Act, and maximizing public input might ultimately generate a new charter that provides for greater accountability in city government.

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    Replies
    1. olddocNovember 26, 2012 at 8:48 AM

      Alan,the Commission can not hold its organizational meeting until the County Clerk has certified nthe election results. Up to last Monday that had not been done but I would expect it has been completed by now since the law gives a specific number of days to do so. Because of Sandy and mail in ballots some Counties received an extension.

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  2. AnonymousNovember 26, 2012 at 9:24 AM

    Three strikes:

    1) The conflation of real estate development with economic development.

    2) Putting all your eggs in one basket- Frank Cretella.

    3) No use of the bully pulpit by either the Administration or City Council members. Who knows where they stand or what concerns they have? Oh yeah, we can go to a meeting, which is not convenient to many, but it doesn't seem they ever reach out in a meaningful way to garner support, educate, or feel out their constituents before the 11th hour- the time all hell breaks out and the loose ends come and choke us.

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