The city's 45-year-old special charter needs amending, not replacement by another form of government, a five-member commission concluded after an exhaustive review.
The Charter Study Commission, elected in November, interviewed 29 officials, including past and present mayors and City Council members, and studied alternate forms of government in consultation with Ernest Reock, professor emeritus and former director of the Rutgers Center for Government Services. The commission delivered its report to the governing body today, with a request to petition the state Legislature to amend the charter. There will not be a ballot question on charter change this year.
Among proposed changes:
- Title of City Administrator to become Business Administrator
- Gender inclusiveness in all references
- Align language with state statutes
- City Clerk to be appointed by council
- Mayor must be a registered voter and a resident for four years immediately prior to the date of election
- Leeway to add departments to the three currently mandated by the charter
- Retain prohibition on dual office-holding
- Provision for a legislative aide to the council
One city resident, Robert Edwards, attended every meeting of the commission. Bloggers Dan Damon, Dr. Harold Yood and this writer attended most meetings. Dr. Yood was also the first interviewee.
Commission members are Rick Smiley, Chair; John Stewart, vice chair; Jeanette Criscione, treasurer; Mary Burgwinkle, secretary; and Marie Davis, assistant secretary.
All the interviews are posted on the CSC blog, along with other documentation. Copies of the report are available in the City Clerk's office and in the Plainfield Public Library.
--Bernice
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Title of City Administrator to become Business Administrator ................ but they will be doing the same exact job functions .... only for more $$$. Yep this town is on its way to .... [fill in your own thought]
ReplyDeleteWho said anything about more money?
DeleteYou may bet on it !!!
DeleteHaving attended enough City Council meetings to know it is often flying in the dark and its members are not well versed in the legislation that comes before it, the idea of a legislative aide stands out from the other, mostly cosmetic changes.
ReplyDeleteThe commission missed a great opportunity to improve the quality of representation, and the representativeness of our representatives, by leaving intact the four ward system with its arbitrary at-large seats. More wards would have been preferable, providing for additional voices and watchful eyes. Smaller wards would improve the ability of candidates, constituents, and elected officials to interact.
Four of the commissioners are City Committee members, and the fifth is a former member. The Charter Commission took an insiders view, leaving the 99% still at the mercy of the 1%. Strengthening the bottom-up foundations of city government will have to wait.
I am one of those advocating for legislative aides for the city council. The volume of work necessary to be an effective councilor (such as researching ordinances, statutes, researching contracts, new legislation, responding to emails, providing more constituent services, etc.) has grown quite a bit since the charter was put into effect. I do a lot of my own research, but what I cannot do is done through the city clerk's office. Having assistance focused on and dedicated to the governing body would be helpful to us. We have seen the alternative.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I would suggest that these aides be hired with the assistance of the City Clerk--in terms of developing a set of qualifications necessary for the job (college degree, public service background, references, strong writing skills, etc.), as well as corporation counsel.
Ideally, they would be graduate students interested in careers in public administration or law or government. I am thinking that two individuals working on a part-time basis would be good. The Bloustein School at Rutgers would be a good place to start.
Rebecca
P.S. I also advocated for a smaller ward system, which I believe would allow councilors to serve more effectively, and which would force councilors to pay attention to their constituents.
Legislative aides for the Council, what a great idea! Maybe we should give an aide to each Council person, then they won't have to do anything but show up at meetings, or not.
DeleteI have another great idea, let's take away the Council's salary and use that money to pay for these aides, (our neighboring towns don't pay their council).
Nope - I am sure this council will just raise our taxes to pay for it.
Do the Council persons in the City even pay real estate taxes?
Anonymous at 2:16 pm,
DeleteMy suggestion is not frivolous. I spend a fair amount of time working in my role as a council member--I spend an average of 15-20 hours per week (over and above my teaching job). As such, the council stipend is quite modest--barely above the minimum wage. In a city the size of Plainfield, I think that aides would be helpful so that we could have additional research assistance--I think it would be helpful for our constituents as well. Just attending block association meetings, council committee meetings, budget meetings, liaison meetings, writing resolutions--it takes up a great deal of time. I suggested graduate students because the aides should have the kinds of skills necessary to do research and writing. What "neighboring" towns pay their council members has no bearing on Plainfield. Also, many municipalities pay their governing bodies much more than $9,000 per year. I think that elected officials should be paid--I think that all people who work should be paid. I think that two part-time aides would be adequate to assist in the kind of work I suggested. Those council members who own property in this city ares certainly supposed to pay their property taxes--I know that I do. Ending waste in city government and making the city run more efficiently should be the objective of us all.
Rebecca
Bernice: in case anyone does't know, Alan's reference to "City Committee" means elected Democrats. I served on the Union County Charter Study Commission many years ago. I've known Ernie Reock for probably 40 years I think this commission misses a great opportunity to do away with Plainfield's almost unique "special charter" status, subject to action by the State Legislature, instead of going for a standard model.
ReplyDeleteFYI - The standard model is used by less than 20% of the municipalities. Standard models are not the most widely implemented form of government.
DeleteIn addition, if you read the charter report, you may get a better understanding things. There is an explanation of why each change was adopted, and the thought process behind it.
So the result of all the study and testimony is: it's broke but let's not fix it?
ReplyDeleteRead it carefully. Yes it is "broke" but the fix can be done without getting rid of the best type of government for a city of Plainfield's size and demographics.
DeleteThis issues within Plainfield have less to do with the Charter, and most to do with its politics. There are no words that will take away the inefficiency, political favoritism, and lack of understanding how to run a government or a business.
ReplyDeleteIf you really want to fix it - get involved in the city, vote, and make all your government officials - elected and city hall employees- accountable for doing their jobs, enforcing the ordinances, and giving this city good customer service. That will fix what is broken - not a bunch of words on paper.
To 3.05 pm. Are you saying only 20 percent of NJ municipalities use Faulkner Act models? Nonsense. How many special charters are there?
ReplyDeleteI talked to a commissioner this week who indicated at least this one didn't want to scrap the charter because then all office-holders who have to run again. Same old, same old.
Hi Pat,
ReplyDeleteNot sure where you are getting your information regarding your thinking that more than 20% of the municipalities use the Faulkner Act Model.
Actually, it is about 25% - but not all municipalities can use all the Faulkner Act models - The Small Municipality Form is not available to all including Plainfield, which makes it 23% of the municipalities using Faulkner Act models. Here is the breakdown we got from Dr. Reock as to the form of government and number of municipalities using them:
City 14 municipalities
Town 9
Borough 218
Township 141
Village 1
Commission 31
Municipal Manager 7
Faulkner Act Forms are the next 4
Mayor-Council 71
Council - Manager 42
Small Municipality 18 - Not available to us
Mayor-Council-Administrator 3
Special Charter 12
I am sure any Commissioner would be happy to discuss your concerns and questions if you contact any one of us. And, the cost of having new elections was a consideration, but only one of many.
Jeanette