The spearmint may lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight, but Plainfielders may never lose their urge to chew over PMUA issues.
Monday's City Council meeting featured PMUA Executive Director Dan Williamson getting his teeth into residents' questions, and then more than a mouthful of allegations of wrongdoing from PMUA critic Alan Goldstein. Dr. Yood will probably stick to the high points - after looking at my notes I feel I will only gum them up.
Seriously, the list of issues was so long and, to anyone here since PMUA began, so repetitive that it was largely an exercise in rumination. How are water usage rates calculated? (Based on last year's usage.) Why must we pay for shared services? (Because they benefit everyone.) Why pay ex-directors a million dollars? (Because three commissioners said so.)
Really seriously, Williamson did his best to cast the authority in a favorable light, citing a rate reduction that will start in April, new business from other municipalities that is bringing in revenue, a closer look at operations aimed at cutting costs and a willingness for ongoing dialogue with city officials.
By lowering rates to drop vegetative and bulky waste at the Rock Avenue transfer station, the PMUA is "trying to expand the horizon of the authority," he said.
Williamson said the authority is "making great strides in re-branding itself" and announced a possible tax credit for sewer fees in legislation proposed by Assemblyman Jerry Green.
Goldstein was not so sanguine and offered copious documentation disputing compensation for PMUA commisioners. PMUA attorney Leslie London said a court decision settled the matter of health benefits not being counted as compensation. The PMUA's five commissioners and two alternates receive $4,500, but Goldstein said they receive thousands more in benefits. His presentation was too detailed on many aspects of the PMUA's history to recount here, but he said the original agreement between the city and the authority was "subverted."
Councilwoman Rebecca Williams raised a new issue, the hiring of Harold Gibson as the authority's first director of security, over just four security officers. Gibson previously served in law enforcement in Essex County and held positions in both city and Union County government as well as elected office as a Plainfield councilman. Williamson could not state Gibson's salary Monday, but said, "We believe we need security."
Another new issue was removal of about 25 trash cans from downtown streets. Initially explained as a PMUA move to thwart illegal dumping, the matter was apparently more complicated as most of the cans belonged to the Special Improvement District program. Williamson said it was "an orchestrated agreement" to remove the cans as "it wasn't working." Several residents and council members complained that trash has increased since the cans were removed.
Amidst all this, the PMUA's annual reorganization is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. Feb. 12 at 127 Roosevelt Avenue, with selection of a chairman and other board officers for 2013.
Disgruntled residents called for disbanding of the authority in 2011 and a council majority endorsed a dissolution study in April 2012, but the administration proposed an alternate study in July 2012. For this year, the reorganization coincides with the Chinese Year of the Snake, so maybe the PMUA will just get "Wrigley" and "Stride" past controversy. (OK, that's the last chewing gum pun.)
--Bernice
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Other questions to be raised is why the hiring/rehiring of more dead weight. If not for political/commissioner associations many can not work elsewhere. What are the doing? Why so many handouts? Shared services and other fees would drop dramatically if not for the 160/180 employees. And let's not forget the pay raises for "certain" employees based on association not work skill or production. PMUA is destined to continue to be a thorn in our sides, not a highly praised entity making this community proud. Those who do praise them watch out, there's a connection or paycheck around the corner.
ReplyDeleteThe Inter Local Agreement is about 60 pages long, and every year an audit running 70 pages is produced. PMUA as we know it has 15 years of history under its belt, while the governing state MUA law itself runs to 42 pages.
ReplyDeleteI make no apologies for taking the time necessary to delve into this and speak about what needs to be spoken of, and provide the evidence to support points that Plainfield needs to hear. It is not anything that can, or should, be glossed over and confined to brief sound bites.
Sadly, commentary such as what spewed today from Dan Damon's blog is more indicative of the problems we face; people protecting their own despite the harm they inflict on the many, and people unwilling or unable to face reality in quantities larger than a spoonful.
Respectfully, I read Dan's commentary as constructive criticism of Alan's style rather than of his content. Since Alan has already cleared the first two hurdles of gathering the facts and facing the public, the last one of developing a convincing presentation should be within his reach.
Deleteno your comments last night were a meandering joke and were treated as such even before you ended with your racist hate filled comment
DeleteLast April the council proposed a dissolution study done by a professional. The mayor vetoed the resolution and in July stated she would set up an administrative committee to study the issue. Has that committee been set up? Who is on it? When have they met? What have been the results? Am I the only one who hasn't heard anything about this for six months?
ReplyDeleteIt is agreed that Alan's presentation was too long and he is unfortunately not a Clinton to hold peoples attention over 5 minutes. Five minutes however is too often not sufficient time to cover all points. Since what he was saying is crucial to most of Plainfield's ills:I have offered the opportunity to post as a guest a concise narrative understandable accounting of his remarks Monday night. I hope he accepts my offer. HSY
ReplyDeleteits the lone community organizer again i was there last night it was across between a exorcism and a watergate hearing,and do we plan to air this on t.v sad sad sad. gave me the floor no time limit and ill begin in the o keefe era it was appeared to be a dianetics session i hope mr goldstein is now working on a new conspiracy theory live ent. is great and no admission fee
ReplyDeleteI too believe the PMUA needs security.. it's much easier to watch the thieves on the inside than allow any more to come in from the outside and take what you've stolen fair and square!
ReplyDeleteAnon 3:26 Not so fast. Don't kill the messenger. From the PMUA minutes:
ReplyDelete"...and inasmuch as these gentlemen are Plainfield residents coming from our own community, and inasmuch as these gentlemen are family men and happen to be African Americans that have done a great job for the PMUA from its inception to the point of them leaving, I recommend the settlement..." Cecil Sanders, Jan. 10, 2012
http://dumppmua.com/files/Minutes_1_10_2012.pdf
There is a gray zone that separates poor management and corruption. It may even be true that some officials have come to perceive their access to the public coffers as an entitlement. Consider: If 3 Commissioners can award a Million Dollars to 2 retired former employees, why can they not award Ten Million?
ReplyDeleteWhat are the prescribed boundaries of their authority? If the same Commissioners can award themselves a $15,000 a year benefits package, identical in scope that that which a full time employee would receive, for attending 12 two our meetings a year, when the clear and unambiguous language of the Charter prohibits this compensation; if the Commissioners as occurred prior to the Public outcry in 2008, can attend 4 to 6 conference a year at far flung resort locations under the guise of education; if the Commissioners can attend a "Planning Session" away from the din of Plainfield traffic and toxic air at the Borgata, one again asks what are the parameters of their authority?
In a greater sense all this is trivia. the one compelling irrefutable fact that is the foundation of the grievances is that Commissioners deprivations, as frustrating as they are to witness, account for but a small part of the operation cost. The cost of PMUA operations is, as was determined by the unanimous conclusion of the Council appointed committee, 300% higher than proximate communities of the same size. This suggests that the entire structure of the operation is inefficient and it is those inefficiencies that Mr. Williamson should address. Behaving in a civilized manner toward the Council is a progress of sorts. You may rememeber that the previous Commissioner body, some of whom are still around, and one of whom is now on the City Council, defied the Council and REFUSED to appear before them. Currently, and on Mr. Williamson watch, there is yet another issue. The alleged breach of contract with Britton Industries, and the expiration of the Britton contract precedent to the expiration of the contracts with other communities. The PMUA may wriggle of out this and they may not. But what is undeniable is that any reasonable oversight would have precluded the wriggling.
Sadly, there is no solution in sight. There dos not appear to be any intervention which would compel reform. We a left with a fait accompli....an informed citizen brings the details of illegal activity to the floor of the Council and is demeaned for being too lengthy.....our only weapon of protest is to OPT OUT,
pray for enlightenment, and vote smart this year. Bill Kruse