A Whimper and Some Bangs

Plans for a rodeo fizzled out Monday when the resolution to approve it failed to get a second. But if that was the whimper, the bang followed, with an "acquiesce or else" message on the 600-condo Muhlenberg proposal and revelations of the mayor's last-minute $4,000 tab for an anti-gang event.

Intrigue lovers in the audience were licking their chops over the juicy revelations, but there was more. Council President Bridget Rivers asked whether the $1.1 million UCIA settlement, approved by the council last month but needing the mayor's signature, had been signed. Upon hearing it had not, Rivers ordered Corporation Counsel David Minchello to sign it "by noon tomorrow."

On the Rodeo
The resolution for the controversial proposed rodeo on Sept. 29 was a new item and needed to be moved to the agenda, but because there was no second, it was simply not added and approval was moot.
In public comment later, rodeo promoter Jeffrey Maree said, " I don't even know what happened before."

Speakers earlier in the meeting had condemned the plan to use an asphalt parking lot for the rodeo, but Maree said sand would be brought in to cover it. He pitched it as a cultural event, though members of the public including Dr. Harold Yood called it a commercial event.

"We need to set clear guidelines as to events in our town," resident and Republican mayoral candidate Sandy Spector said.

On Muhlenberg
In public comment at the end of the meeting, Rev. Gerald Lamont Thomas spoke about working for the last 14 months with JFK Health Systems "to keep a hospital presence as well as developing the land."

The Edison hospital maintains a satellite emergency room on the campus where Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center closed five years ago. It has also presented a proposal to redevelop the campus with 600 luxury rental condos.

Thomas said there will be a "great impact" if JFK leaves and asked whether the council had received a letter that he wanted to be read at the meeting. Councilwoman Rebecca Williams said she received an email that described the same 600-condo development proposal the council rejected.

Thomas warned that if the development proposal was not accepted, JFK would leave. Minchello intervened, advising the council not to "engage in a back-and-forth" with Thomas. Councilwoman Tracey Brown, who is pastor of Ruth Fellowship Ministries, urged the council to pay attention to the letter.

Adam Beder, vice president for government affairs with JFK Health Systems, was in the audience but declined immediate comment to Plaintalker, offering to accept a call Tuesday.

On the Gang Workshop
The issue of mayoral spending arose when former Councilwoman Joanne Hollis spoke about an Aug. 24 event sponsored by Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, which displaced another event planned and publicized for the same day by Rivers and Councilwoman Vera Greaves at Hannah Atkins Playground. Rivers referred to bills for "gang awareness" activities that were paid with Community Development Block Grant funds and called for an explanation from the administration.

City Administrator Eric Berry said he was away at the time and tried to call on Finance Director Al Restaino to explain, but Restaino had left the meeting. Rivers ordered Berry to reach Restaino by phone and have him return to the meeting.

When Restaino came back, he said he was not involved in the planning for the event, just in applying for "potential funding." The event had two components, a basketball game and an anti-gang program. He said the funding application had been submitted to Union County and he was "awaiting final approval."

If so, Williams asked, where did the funds come from for Aug. 24? Restaino said they came from a fund for "CDBG-eligible projects." Rivers asked what budget line item the money came from and Restaino said he didn't know specifically but thought it was the Recreation Division line.

After more discussion of the CDBG process, the questions turned to how purchase orders got signed just hours before the event.Williams said the transaction seemed "really unethical" and resembled a "bait and switch." She said it would have made more sense to reschedule the event so the paperwork could be "properly vetted."

Councilman Adrian Mapp said the governing body had only some illegible documents and asked for copies of checks and names of vendors. Brown agreed, saying before any accusations "we need at least documents we can read."

Copies obtained by Plaintalker were barely legible, but on close examination revealed payment of $4,000 to "The Soul of Dawn" for basketball games and a gang workshop, paid by check No. 12556 and signed by "S. Rob B, Acting CA." on Aug. 23.

"S Rob B" on purchase order for WBLS 2010 Town Meeting
The abbreviation echoes one from a 2010 purchase order that led to a council investigation in 2011. The mayor signed as a department head. On the Aug. 23 purchase order, she signed as acting city administrator.

In the current situation, there was also a purchase order signed the same way for 140 T-shirts with the city seal, with payment by check 12553 for $1,120 to Jesus Embroidery, dated Aug. 23.

On both purchase orders, the "Ship to" address is the Division of Community Development at 510 Watchung Avenue. Restaino is the head of the division, a title he held before being named finance director and which he continues to hold, even though it is in a different city department.

Having lost the June primary and therefore her bid for a third term, the mayor is a "lame duck" who will leave office on Dec. 31. The expenditures and circumstances of the Aug. 24 event are likely to draw attention similar to that of the WBLS investigation, which ended in a reprimand from the governing body.

--Bernice