Monday, December 9, 2013

Mapp Initiatives Final, Barring SRB Veto

Legislation that Mayor-elect Adrian Mapp has called key to his new administration passed Monday, but may still be vetoed by outgoing Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs.

The City Council approved final passage of a salary increase for the title of chief financial officer, as well as creation of the title of "chief of staff" and a salary band to go with it. The city has only had a full-time, in-house CFO for about two years of Robinson-Briggs' eight years in office and is currently relying on a part-time CFO who gives the city five to seven hours per week. The council increased the maximum salary to $125.in 2012 and now has increased it to $155,000.

Regarding the chief of staff, Mapp has a full-time job in another municipality and tried in November to convince the council that he will need someone in City Hall who can handle communications, policy and intergovernmental relations. In November, opponents argued that the city administrator handles day-to-day operations and there is no need to have a chief of staff.

The three ordinances were defeated, 4-3, on Nov. 12 but brought back and passed on first reading at a special meeting on Nov. 26. They  passed, 6-1, on second reading Monday and will take effect in 20 days. Councilman William Reid cast the lone "no" vote, calling creation of the chief of staff "premature."

The remaining hurdle for Mapp, if the mayor vetoes the ordinances within 10 days, is to have the council overturn the veto with five votes.

Although the mayor's position is part-time, Robinson-Briggs claimed she devoted 60 or more hours a week to the job. She defeated Mapp in 2009 to win a second term as the city's first female African-American mayor. But Mapp defeated her in the June primary and beat three challengers won with 70 percent of the vote in the November general election. Despite the clear mandate from the electorate, Mapp faced opposition from a faction favoring the mayor on Nov. 12 and depending who fills his Third Ward council seat when he vacates it to become mayor on Jan. 1, could face further opposition in 2014 for his initiatives.

--Bernice

10 comments:

  1. Nice to know the focus is on Plainfield and not paying back favors, being obstinate, or having a personal agenda.

    Jerry Green can be thanked for most of Plainfield's ills, but people do have their own mind. What I am learning is that they don't have a spine.

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  2. Hello Bernice,

    I believe Councilman Mapp is already off to a horrible start as the incoming Mayor. When he decided to run for Mayor he knew the position was part-time. During Al's term and the Mayors before him it was also a part-time position. All McWilliams also had a full time job. The proper place for this issue to be addressed is via the City Charter. It would have been more transparent for Adrian to advocate for the position during the charter review. It would probably be a better idea to have advocated during the Charter review process for a full time Mayor. Stating that the position is required because he has a senior position in another municipality is not a good reason for requesting the creation of this Chief of Staff position. His reason suggests a deficiency on his part, and the cost of his hardship which will prevent him from performing in his role as Mayor absent the Chief of Staff position should not be shouldered by the taxpayers of Plainfield. He decided to run for Mayor on his free will and was elected to serve the residents of Plainfield as per the City Charter of Plainfield. We have a City Administrator in place who should effectively act as the Mayor's chief of staff or business manager. There should not be someone else “standing in” for the Mayor. This is a ridiculous use of tax payers’ dollars and it will not be beneficial to the city.

    Mayor Robinson-Briggs should take what may appear to be the unpopular but constitutionally appropriate and good governance step of vetoing this legislation.

    Thank you

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    1. The Charter does not and should not be that specific to name departments. I think the ones named should be taken out, and a number put in.

      It's not like this city runs well, and doesn't need some better organization. I think having a Chief of Staff, which other municipalities have, is the least of your problems when it comes to running this city.

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  3. It is sad that some members of our City Council don't really care about their constituents or Plainfield, but petty alliances and personal gain. I think everyone knows who they are. Just look at voting records of coucil members, but we just keep re-electing these self-serving people. Maybe this can be turned around, but voters need to think before they vote and "get a spine". Obviously, many of our Council people don't have one.

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  4. What happens if the mayor vetoes these items? What's the timeline?

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    1. The mayor has until Dec. 19 to sign it or veto it. If she vetoes, it would require a five-member super-majority of the council to override it and they would have to hold a special meeting to take action, as far as I know.

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  5. let's see... quick recap, shall we ???
    Mmmm... Who has Adrian Mapp repeatedly supported, screamed for everyone to vote for, pounded the pavement for ??? That's right.. the 4 Obstructionist sitting across the aisle of common sense from him... So any complaining, heart ache and discontent with those 4 repeatedly making his life difficult now, and going forward will simply be him whining and looking for faux sympathy ... If SRB does veto his request...good luck getting them to support him now or after he starts... unless of course, he cries to Jerry to get them to do it.
    He supports them, he campaigns for them and he can live with his mistakes of his fool hearty "Party before the People" mentality.
    If Adrian and the other mouthpieces of the New Dems could support a party platform based on reform, advancing the city and putting the best people in office ( NOTE .. That wouldn't include Jerry Green, Reid, Rivers, Greaves or Brown ) REGARDLESS OF THEIR LOCAL PARTY AFFILIATION then maybe, MAYBE his platform of one Plainfield could go forward... Until then.. he can deal with having 4 people who give even less of a damn about the city as they do their own constituents.
    The political parties of this city have as little spine as the ardent supporters of the status quo from the slate RDO's on City Council as well as the equally stale New Dem's ... Unless the New Dem's can begin to change.. they are simply a case of corrupt lite.. maybe not doing it, but complicit in their silence...Hello Storch and Mapp.

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    1. I agree with your premise. The problem is that people in Plainfield don't think. They pull the D lever regardless.

      Many of us who are Democrats do not agree with much of what Jerry does, and certainly I believe Plainfield is a wreck because of him.

      However, let's wait and see if the new Mayor has a spine, or bows to political pressure. I for one am willing to hope for the best.

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  6. The people don't vote. Whoever Jerry picks goes on the Democratic ticket line in the primary. And he knows that is the winner since Plainfield only knows how to push the democratic button in the booth. Some system.

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  7. I recommend reading a book called "Boss" about the democratic machine politics of Chicago in the 1960's under Richard J. Daley. Machines are very difficult to stop.

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