A mayoral request to change terms on the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority will not be moved to the Aug. 19 agenda for a vote, a City Council majority decided Monday. A poll for consensus on moving the nominations found Vera Greaves and Tracey Brown saying "yes," while Adrian Mapp, Cory Storch, Rebecca Williams, William Reid and Bridget Rivers said "no."
The proposed changes would have replaced longtime Commissioner Harold Mitchell with the mayor's former confidential aide, Barbara James, and given the longest terms to Commissioners Malcolm Dunn, Cecil Sanders and James. Only three votes are needed on the five-member board to pass resolutions, such as one to give two former executives $725,000 in addition to $275,000 in severance pay. See post here.
The PMUA reorganizes in February and terms normally begin and end then. Given that Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs lost her June primary bid for a third term and will leave office Dec. 31, the changes appear designed to extend her influence past her departure.
The chart below shows the current roster and when their terms expire (or would expire, in the case of holdovers). The third column lists the proposed changes.
The proposed changes would have replaced longtime Commissioner Harold Mitchell with the mayor's former confidential aide, Barbara James, and given the longest terms to Commissioners Malcolm Dunn, Cecil Sanders and James. Only three votes are needed on the five-member board to pass resolutions, such as one to give two former executives $725,000 in addition to $275,000 in severance pay. See post here.
The PMUA reorganizes in February and terms normally begin and end then. Given that Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs lost her June primary bid for a third term and will leave office Dec. 31, the changes appear designed to extend her influence past her departure.
The chart below shows the current roster and when their terms expire (or would expire, in the case of holdovers). The third column lists the proposed changes.
current
|
Term
|
proposed
|
Alex Toliver (holdover)
|
2017
|
Malcolm Dunn
|
Carol Ann Brokaw
(holdover)
|
2017
|
Cecil Sanders
|
Harold Mitchell (holdover)
|
2016
|
Barbara James
|
Cecil Sanders
|
2015
|
Carol Ann Brokaw
|
Malcolm Dunn
|
2014
|
Alex Toliver
|
Charles Eke
|
Alt 1 2015
|
Charles Eke
|
vacant
|
Alt 2 2015
|
Jeffrey R. Burke
|
The council also declined to move to the agenda the nomination of Rickey Williams to the Housing Authority of Plainfield. Reid questioned the validity of a proposed term to 2018 for Williams and said other nominations need to be made. Two commissioners' terms were up July 1 and there is a vacancy due to the resignation of former Chairman Owen Fletcher.
"I would prefer to do it all at once," Reid said.
The mayor also put forward two names for seats on the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
"I'm not sure what's going on at the PMUA or the Zoning Board either," Reid said before all the nominations were rejected.
--Bernice
The City Council did the right thing by not moving forward with these PMUA nominations. Most were the usual suspects. One surprising addition was Jeffrey Burke, an attorney with a background defending securities fraud and RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations)cases. With the PMUA a possible candidate on both counts, this may be a precursor of things to come.
ReplyDeleteI am concerned about Tracey Brown and her qualification to be on the council. It is apparent by Tracey's lack of interest in this city that she has no loyalty to her constituents (which is the ENTIRE city whether she likes it or not) and has loyalty ONLY to the mayor. This is not the job of a councilperson.
ReplyDeleteShe never attended a budget meeting - yet voted on how to spend the taxpayers money. You never see her at any event other than a council meeting, and she never appears to be concerned about the city - just the mayor. And this is OK with the people they represent? You get the government you vote for.
We can hope that the Council can stay off these nominations until after the mayoral election. No significant change will occur in the PMUA method of operation with the same old team in control. Assuming there are unfilled positions when Mr. Mapp takes office whomever Mr. Mapp nominates will be an interesting early barometer of the character of Mr. Mapp's administration.
ReplyDeleteI have recently been accused of character assassination and omitting my name form my blogs by a member of the Council. While I plead not guilty to both accusations forthwith I will sign my full name to remove at least one of these specious charges. But, to all of my fellow citizens I want to be thought of just as: Bill. William Edward Charles Kruse II