Every time I hear the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg mentioned, which is a lot lately with six contenders for his seat, I think of the useless condo in the Tepper's basement and how Sen. Lautenberg's effort was squandered.
Sen. Lautenberg in good faith saw to it that the city received a $459,000 grant for a proposed senior center in the building, which also has a commercial portion and 75 apartments. The clinker was that seniors did not want a center housed in a basement. They wanted and got a large ground floor center at 400 East Front Street.
The money could not be used for another site, so as the expiration date approached, a bid went out and only got one response. See what happened next here.
The "plain vanilla box" has been empty ever since. None of the proposed uses have become reality. The site is apparently unsuitable for public safety uses, as it shares access with the residential portion and would need additional construction to create secure entry and egress. The city is considered a condo owner for the site and is theoretically liable for condo fees, although the developer has not pressed for payment.
Officials who asked to see the interior of the site were rebuffed until recently. Councilwoman Rebecca Williams was able to get a look at the interior and here is her report.
If more than five years has elapsed without any use being identified for this space, if it is liable to flooding as some have said and therefore unusable and if the city is potentially on the hook for condo fees, why not see whether Regan Development would just take this white elephant off the city's hands?
The next mayor already has a huge to-do list in terms of sorting out responsibilities and accountability in City Hall, but perhaps this item can be added.
Sen. Lautenberg was also involved in another potential boon to the city, this time $1.1 million for debris removal after the Oct.29 storm known as "Sandy." He and Sen. Robert Menendez announced the funding in a November 2012 press release, but city officials claimed to have no knowledge of it. See more here.
At a minimum, the new administration should devise a way to monitor all existing grants and awards, along with conditions and expiration dates, and should make sure the efforts of federal officials to help the city are understood and appreciated. To do any less is an affront and can only make the city appear ungrateful and undeserving of future consideration.
--Bernice
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For several years since the City used a stimulus grant for an illegal job training program, and then tried to refund it with another stimulus grant that was collecting dust in some back room at City Hall, I've suggested that the City Council provide by ordinance for a detailed monthly grant status report.
ReplyDeleteThe job training scam was a red line between doing what's best for the city vs. let the profit pirates roll; using grant money to the tune of $270,000 and basically pissing it away. (The Teppers project pays pretty well too, in regular campaign contributions from the developer to a certain politician, even if those with steerage tickets can't board the ship.)
The red line here is that all these grants are contracts that are approved by the City Council, but it has done nothing within its power to exercise its fiduciary role monitoring them from beginning to end. There shouldn't be a need to wait for a new administration to devise a method of oversight. Do it by ordinance. Legislate for a monthly report as part of the public record.
it's not even worth commenting on this boondoggle anymore... Another fine example of "leadership" .. Plainfield Dem style.
ReplyDelete( But.. in the background you hear the whispers... "Can you imagine how bad it would have been if another party had been in control?? Whew..thank God we were running the show." LOL )
Come on January 1, 2014!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThose no good Republicans are at it again !!
ReplyDeleteFunds are squandered throughout this city and the "city council" is well aware. What happens to the $150,000 given by Verizon to fund PCTV?? That department never sees a dime of that money either. Comcast also gives over $100,00 PER YEAR to support PCTV, again, they don't get a dime! Meanwhile, the "city council" raise questions about spending money for PCTV. How about GIVE them even half of what is paid to the city by these companies and this town could have a public access channel that rivals surrounding communities. Antiquated equipment and understaffed... Just ONE check from Verizon would take care of a lot of issues! Please go Sharon, you are no longer wanted here. And the destruction she leaves Adrian Mapp to clean up is abysmal. Just like Bush did to Obama...
ReplyDelete