The good news, if I read Councilman Mapp's blog correctly, is that she is asking to get paid for just 10 working days. The bad news is that Mapp, a certified chief financial officer, says it is a violation of the city's special charter, which forbids any increase in compensation for a sitting mayor. He advises the payroll clerk not to go along with this request.
Whatever happens with the alleged fiscal mischief, I am hoping that the last 90 days of the administration will be administered by a professional administrator (redundancy intended). If David Kochel is free and would agree to take charge of day-to-day operations as he did in May 2011, that would be my best hope. He also agreed to consult for a period of time that overlapped Berry's advent in November 2011 (see post here).
Kochel knows both Plainfield and municipal administration well and could conceivably keep the city on an even keel through the end of the year. There is a transition process that needs to take place after the Nov. 5 general election and it would serve the city well to have a person in charge who could help facilitate it without political influences at play.
The mayor's proposed interim handling of day-to-day operations would end on Oct 6. She served as acting city administrator from March 1 through May 11, 2011 for no extra pay, as far as we know. It would be gracious of her to serve 10 days without pay to bridge the gap, if in fact there is someone available to take over by Oct. 7.
The City Council holds an agenda-fixing session at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 7 and the next regular meeting is 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15, both in Municipal Court. If unresolved, the issue is sure to be a hot topic in public comment on those occasions.
--Bernice
again.. I'm sure the only gasp of shock comes from the Democrats who've voted for her repeatedly... Today's lesson brought to you by the Magic Letter "D"
ReplyDeleteThe mayor's compensation would not be increased/decreased during her term (for being mayor), but because she is taking on the added responsibility of Acting City Administrator. Even still, Mr. Mapp is correct, not by virtue of the Charter provision he cites, but because of the Charter's stance on compensation related to dual office holding, 7.3.
ReplyDeleteIn part it reads "Any person holding city office, whether by election or appointment who shall, during his term of office... hold or accept any other office connected with the government of the city...shall be deemed thereby to have vacated any office previously held by him under the city government; except that the mayor may accept, or may in writing authorize any other person holding office to accept, a specified civil office, in respect to which no salary or other compensation is provided."
Two thoughts come to mind: first, that Charter clause 7.3 is too close to 7.4 and 7.5 that deal with Conflicts of Interest and a Code of Ethics, both of which have been habitually ignored; second, that for the cheap price of about $300, SRB's friends at McManimon & Scotland (the PMUA attornies) might write a legal 'opinion' that the additional money she wants is neither salary or compensation.
I agree with Alan--when I first heard about this, I thought about the ban on dual office-holding. It seems to me that the mayor would have to step down as mayor in order to receive compensation as city administrator (acting or otherwise). But...if she were to step down, she could not legally appoint herself as ANYTHING, because she would have no standing. She set her own precedent the other time that she appointed herself acting C.A.--she received no pay. The other acting city administrators (Jackson, Williamson, and Restaino come to mind) did not receive additional compensation. This is yet another violation of the law--where I grew up, it is called THEFT.
ReplyDeleteRebecca
It is so nice to see that Rebecca has stopped calling people names - or did she?
DeleteWe're not discussing Rebecca
DeleteI agree with Rebecca. Who else, who filled in for a higher office on a temporary basis, received two payments for the job.
ReplyDeleteAgain, Sharon's only interest is in Plainfield and what is best for this city - don't you think.
And to the people who voted for her, and think that it is great that she is sticking it to ???? - I hope they know that they are paying for it out of their taxes or rent. If they are so keen on supporting Sharon, take a collection and give her the money. Leave the rest of the taxpayers / renters alone. We've paid more than our fair share to keep her afloat.
Talk around the Police Division is that layoff's are looming along with demoting of several positions. Can anyone confirm this or provide some insight? I hope this will not be an issue with new leadership coming in a couple of months.
ReplyDeleteLast time Sharon appointed herself "acting city administrator" she neither asked for nor received any additional financial compensation. What's so different about this time? And then what happens after October 6? THIS IS MADNESS AND MUST BE STOPPED!
ReplyDeleteYes ! Once we get a Democratic Party Mayor in as our .... oh wait. We already have one. Cancel that thought
ReplyDeleteI think Sharon should be allowed to make extra money before she leaves office. She did so much for the city Like umm and that thing umm and do other stuff
ReplyDeleteIt is inconceivable that the mayor could appoint herself to a position and receive--no, DEMAND-compensation. For those individuals who supported her (and those who, stunningly, still support her), I hope you now see the disregard and contempt that she has shown to the people of this city, including you. Bullying, yelling, cursing, lying, and showing absolutely no concern for what is right and ethical. To imagine that this mayor is running for state president of the NAACP--a position that includes the ability to sign checks--boggles the mind. I will remind my friends in the various chapters throughout the state of what she has done to our city. They will vote accordingly. I will follow up on the legality of all this. She has wasted enough taxpayer money with her incompetent governance. She is a laughingstock...but the people of Plainfield are not laughing.
ReplyDeleteRebecca
Get to the next meeting early if you want to get a seat. Pack a lunch for public comments part of the meeting. bring a pillow - it's going to be a long night.
ReplyDelete