Sunday, December 16, 2012

Mayor Wants Sanders To Succeed Brown

When Rev. Tracey Brown vacates her commissioner's seat on the PMUA board, Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs wants to see Cecil Sanders fill it.

Sanders' nomination is among several that the City Council will consider at Monday's agenda-fixing session for the annual reorganization meeting in January. Brown won the November general election for the citywide at-large council seat and will take office at the reorganization for a four-year term. One of her first duties will be to vote on her successor at the PMUA.

The mayor has tried several times this year to move Sanders from an alternate's seat to a full commissionership (see post here). As an alternate, Sanders can only vote when one of the five commissioners are absent, as happened in January when the board agreed to a $1 million settlement with former PMUA executives Eric Watson and David Ervin.

If the new nomination is approved at the reorganization, Sanders will serve Brown's unexpired term to Feb. 1, 2015. His nomination is likely to succeed this time, as Brown, the mayor's pastor, will join three council members favorable to the mayor on the seven-member governing body, achieving a majority.

Among other nominations, the mayor is again submitting the names of Hattie Williams and Eric Graham to serve on the library board. In August, the same names were submitted, but a council majority declined to put the names up for a vote at the Aug. 20 regular meeting. The mayor is also offering nominations for the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment and Shade Tree Commission.

The meeting is 7:30 p.m. in City Hall Library, 515 Watchung Ave.

--Bernice

12 comments:

  1. 7.4 Conflict of interests.

    (a) Except as provided by paragraph (b) of this section, no officer or employee under the city government shall have any interest, direct or indirect, in any contract with the city, or with any agency or instrumentality thereof, whenever any such officer or employee, individually or as a member of a board, may:

    (i) Prepare, authorize or approve the contract or authorize or approve payment thereunder;
    (ii) Audit bills or claims under the contract; or
    (iii) Appoint an officer or employee who has any of the powers or duties set forth in (i) or (ii) above.
    (b) The provisions of paragraph (a) of this section shall not apply to:
    (i) The designation of an official depository of city funds unless the city administrator, director of administration and finance, or city treasurer has an interest in such depository;
    (ii) The designation of an official newspaper;
    (iii) The purchase of real property or an interest therein, provided that purchase and the consideration therefor is approved by order of the Superior Court upon petition of the council.
    (c) "An interest in a contract" within the meaning of this section shall not include the holding of stock in a corporation listed on any national securities exchange, or an interest in a contract for public utilities service when the rates or charges therefor are fixed or regulated by a governmental agency.
    (d) Any city officer or employee who has, will have, or later acquires an interest, direct or indirect, in any actual or proposed contract with the city shall publicly disclose the nature and extent of such interest in writing to the council as soon as he has knowledge of such actual or prospective interest. Such written disclosure shall be made part of and set forth in the official record of the proceedings of the council. Once disclosure has been made by an officer or employee with respect to an interest in a contract with a particular person, firm, corporation or association, no further disclosures need be made by such officer or employee with respect to additional contracts with the same party during the remainder of the fiscal year.
    (e) Any contract with the city obtained or procured in violation of this article shall be void.
    (f) Any city officer or employee who willfully and knowingly violates the foregoing provisions of this section shall forfeit his office or employment.

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  2. 7.5 Code of ethics.

    The council shall provide by ordinance for the adoption of a code of ethics setting forth for the guidance of the employees and officers of the city, the standards of ethical conduct in the performance of their duties which will be required of them. Any such code may provide standards for officers and employees with respect to:
    (a) Representation of private interests before city agencies and courts;
    (b) Disclosure of interest in legislation before the council;
    (c) Acceptance of gifts and favors;
    (d) Disclosure of confidential information;
    (e) Holding of investments in conflict with official duties;
    (f) Incompatible employment;
    (g) Future employment; and
    (h) Such other standards relating to the conduct of officers and employees as may be deemed advisable; provided, however, that no provision which in any way conflicts with the provisions of this article shall be authorized.

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  3. 7.6 Fraud of officers or employees.

    Any councilman or other officer or employee of the city who shall willfully violate or evade any provision of law relating to his office or employment, or commit any fraud upon the city, or convert any of the public property to his own use, or knowingly permit any other so to convert it or by gross or culpable neglect of duty allow the same to be lost to the city, upon conviction thereof and in addition to other penalties imposed by law, shall forfeit his office or employment, and be excluded forever after from receiving or holding any office or employment under the city government.

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  4. Sec. 3:35-7. Compensation.
    Members of the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority may receive compensation for their services as members of the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority within the limitation herein stated, that no member shall receive compensation, either direct or indirect, in excess of Four Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($4,500.00) per annum.

    (MC 1995-19, §VII, September 18, 1995.)

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  5. The foregoing clauses from Plainfield's City Charter and Code of Ordinances are, apparently, meant to be violated.

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  6. It's going to be one very long and dreadful year in Plainfield.

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  7. Alan,

    There is a clear conflict of interest if Sanders were to be appointed to the PMUA--I am stunned that the mayor would be so foolish as to put his name up again--especially since he has for a third time submitted a contract to the city council to approve a change order in violation of state law (meaning, it is ILLEGAL), which the mayor and her administration have put forth. He needs to be removed as an alternate, and the mayor needs to get serious about these appointments. Unfortunately, since she neglects to pay her own PMUA bills, I have no hope that she would do the ethical thing and submit names of residents who would truly work to reform the PMUA.

    Rebecca

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  8. WOW... I'm really really really REALLY hoping there is not anyone truly surprised or amazed by the Mayor trying this.
    I mean... come on.. there's stupid...then there's stupid.
    I'm guessing "Group Democrat Hugs" and "It's All About Obama in 2012" didn't exactly pave the way for schooling the Mayor in right or wrong.
    It's cool though.. She's got the City Council she's needed. She owns it baby...It's going to be a laughable ride to be sure.
    This upcoming year of financial hijinks, frivolous lawsuits, and Plainfield basically remaining the laughing stock of Union County brought to you by the LETTER "D".
    ( New and RDO.. working for you, the taxpayer )

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  9. I hope Traci Brown knows that the citizens of this city will be watching her closely. She should not vote for the PMUA seat as that would be a conflict of interest and for the mayor to want to appoint a person who cost the taxpayers of this city over a million dollars is outrageous. I think Sharon knows this is her last year in office and may do even more outrageous things. I hope Sharon and Traci remember they answer to God and the peoople of Plainfield and I know I am not that forgiving.

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  10. I am both embarrassed and ashamed of the people elected to represent the citizens of Plainfield.
    What's even sadder is that as a result of such poor representation I can't afford to sell my home and get the hell out of here. I vote in ALL elections and have never voted for any of these clowns...unfortunately my candidates never win.

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  11. At the first PMUA monthly meeting following the award of $1,000,000 to the retirees, Mr. Sanders was asked, during the public participation segment,why he voted affirmatively for the settlement. Mr. Sanders in responding, prefaced his reply, by stating for the record, that had he had his way he would of awarded more than the $1,000,000. Mr. Sanders went on to say that the basis for
    his decision was the 15 year meritorious service of the retirees. Mr. Sanders did not permit his obligation to the public trust, or the facts to interfere with his sentiment, nor his decision. The facts being that these 2 men had of their own volition resigned. The fact that they had already been awarded $250,000 for reasons as yet undisclosed. The fact that their contracts proscribed any such "bonus" in the event they resigned. The fact that they had been receiving over 70 paid days per year for vacation, sickness, personal and vacation. The fact that their liberal State benefits had provided them during their employment with every conceivable medical coverage. The fact that they were funded in the State Pension plan. The fact that at about the time of their retirement the PMUA paid the State Retirement Fund for their purported employment in 1995 and 1996...what was that all about? The fact that their management has resulted in our collection services costing somewhere between 2 and 3 times that which it costs those in similar sized proximate communities.The fact that the basis of their suite against the PMUA was contrived, and headed toward defeat.

    It appears Mr. Sanders will be seated as a permanent Commissioner. Even if he is not he will remain as an alternate. The prospect of the Mayor, this one or the next, seating someone outside of the City Hall cabal falls somewhere between remote and impossible. The only effective form of protest is to OPT OUT. If you have not already done so put it at the top of your list of New Year's resolutions.. Bill Kruse




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  12. Why is anyone surprised. This is simply business as usual.

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