Installation of a controversial concession stand is among topics up for discussion at Monday's City Council meeting.
The pre-fabricated structure cost $71,432, but an additional $19,275 was required for design and engineering work at the Joe Black Baseball Field. Now the governing body is asked to approve $96,050 to install the concession stand.
Council members and residents both deplored the cost when it was detailed last year. A resolution to pay $71,432 for the structure alone was brought on as a new item at a March 12, 2012 meeting and resurfaced in August, only to be tabled. It was finally passed on Nov. 26, 2012. Questions still remained on how the purchase was initially authorized.
The $96,050 contract to Tec-Con Contractors of East Orange is up for discussion Monday and will be voted on at the Feb. 13 regular meeting if moved to the agenda.
Another issue with a controversial background is the proposed payment of $33,000 to Dornoch Plainfield LLC for condo association fees for the Senior Center. The center is on the ground floor of The Monarch, a 63-unit condo development at 400 East Front Street. Touted as a brand-new center built at no cost to the city, the center was later the subject of a bill from the developer for fit-out costs and condo fees. The $287,371.97 tab was never paid in April 2010 and was said in mid-2012 to still be under negotiation.
The payment up for consideration now is for 2013 condo association fees at the rate of $2,750 per month.
If the matter was never settled, the city could be liable for $104,500 in arrearages for condo fees from Nov. 2009 through 2012.
The city also has another condo arrangement for the Tepper's basement. Click here for an April 2010 post on that one.
Dr. Yood has already commented on the three discussion items and other matters up for consideration Monday. Click here to see the entire Feb. 4 agenda.
Join the blogger band and come out to Municipal Court at 7:30 p.m. Monday to see your elected representatives in action.
--Bernice
oh Bernice you had a typo in the last sentence... you accidentally typed "action".
ReplyDeleteSorry to point out your mistake...just caught my eye.
Wouldn't it be cheaper and more cost effective to Lease out the concession stand.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure some family member will get the contract
I stand corrected. When the engineering work for the concession stand was first put forth last August the price was about $10,000 higher. But do I feel $10,000 richer? No, I feel like I'm on the verge of being $187,000 poorer. Those who've suggested utilizing a food truck were on the right track, and we could have auctioned off a permit to a vendor to set up in the parking lot, turning this into a slight money maker rather than a certain money loser. I think Monday we will find that Plainfield is that sort of special place where money does grow on trees.
ReplyDeleteAlan: do you remember that Labor Day weekend tornado which hit NJ probably 20 years ago? I guess the money tree in our yard blew down then.
ReplyDeleteI thought there were issues about getting plumbing to the stand. Is this true?
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to see so much waste, but this administration excels at wasting tax payer money. I could purchase a three bedroom prefab house for this kind of money. We need to nip this in the bud, but with Sharon's four stooges on the council, the taxpayers will be put on the hook. Thank Greaves, Reid, Brown, and the so-called council president Rivers for backing Sharon no matter how much it hurts the people of Plainfield.
ReplyDeleteI would say follow the money but what would be the point. It doesn't go anywhere i.e 4th of July 2012.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes it so bad and sad is that rumor out there is the mayor is determined to bring the superintendent back. Hmm... what capacity will she hand him back his power to wreak havoc? Doesn't matter how incompetant he is.
ReplyDeleteLet's show them how thankful we are for all their BS and vote them out as soon as their term ends, I wish we could run them out of town on a rail, but raising our voices or should I say hands to push the button saying "GET OUT" will have to do.
ReplyDeleteWhy does Sharon have a bunch of inane people who write on the blogs on her behalf, like we're too stupid to notice. There is not rumor that Sharon will bring our dim wit Super back. Get a life and a new candidate.
ReplyDelete