An amended notice for Monday's reorganization says it will start at 5 p.m. with a closed session and the public portion will follow at 6 p.m.
A similar formula on Dec. 30 resulted in the public standing around for an hour and a half until the closed session was done. One hopes, if Monday's opening is similarly delayed, that whatever members of the public who braved the Arctic temperature will be allowed to sit in the auditorium and the council will convene in another room for the closed session.
Much of the agenda for the reorganization was agreed upon at the Dec. 16 agenda-fixing session. There are some new items, however, including the proposed appointment of Siddeeq El-Amin as director of Public Affairs & Safety; appointment of Carl Riley as police director; appointment of Carlos Sanchez as deputy city administrator in charge of Economic Development and appointment of Joy R. Spriggs, Esq. as public defender, all subject to advice and consent of the council.
There are other, previously announced, nominations for advice and consent, including Rick Smiley for city administrator, Eric Jackson as Public Works director and David Minchello as corporation counsel. Ron West is offered as director for Administration, Finance, Health & Social Services; Abubakar Jalloh as city clerk and Diane Sherry as treasurer. There are also numerous legal appointments.
--Bernice
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I would hope that we are not starting with the administration already changing their mind for J. Spriggs; if so, then just maybe we need to look at everyone in the city that has lost their jobs and bring them back. I hope that this is just a rumor.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Spriggs was obviously targeted for political reasons not for job performance or budget cuts. Big difference! Perhaps that is not the image this administration wants. If so that is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteThe main reason given by her supporters as to why she should be kept on is because her husband is ill.
DeleteMr. Campbell Sr. asked "What Jesus Would Do?". My guess is that he would take care of His family Himself, and not rely on others.
Employees were laid off that were single parents and lost medical coverage for their families and could not afford to buy through Cobra, but not one of the council members(including Mayor Mapp) or City Dept. Directors gave a crap about them and all voted for them to be let go and trust me, it had nothing to do with Job Performance (the ones that sit all day, do nothing and collect a fat paycheck are still there along with all their family members) It might have had something to do with budget cuts only because of the incompetent way the City was being run and all the wastefulness. Employees stealing time week after week and year after year ( we all know time is money) by taking weeks of vacation but never coding it or coding one day for seven. I thought that the new Mayor was going to have some backbone and get this City together but I see he is already swinging with the wind, I feel bad for this person's husband but with all the family members that are so concerned about her not having "City of PLFD Insurance" to care for him, why don't they go in their pockets and fill the void. I think attorneys make a lot more money than some of the other city workers and should have savings, 401K or some such backup, the healthcare marketplace is also an option, so please don't tell me that the City of Plainfield's citizens are responsible for an individual's personal family medical issues and must keep this person on the payroll to ensure that they keep medical insurance. To our Mayor, Please make an executive decision and have the backbone to stand behind it, don't start off by letting others run the City that you were elected to run. There are a lot of us that supported you and are not standing at the door with our hands out because now it's payback time.
DeleteThe team of Carl Riley and Siddeeq El-Amin are excellent for the Police Department. Both gentlemen have Plainfield in their hearts. Both have listened to the citizens and the police officers. Mr. El-Amin resides in and has his pulse on the City. He has done a career within the Police Department and understands its quirks. Mr. El-Amin understands that both the Police and Fire Departments need technology and equipment. His past history shows that every unit that he has commanded, was well equipped. Mr. Riley has showed that he took an idea, the Homicide Task Force, and put it in motion. Homicide Task Force's are now common around the State of NJ (Shared services-training of younger officers) I can't wait to see what this duo does for the City. I expect expanded services from the investigative units, Youth services such as explorers, DARE and GREAT, Crime and Fire Prevention services. These men will probably implement a COMPSTAT program which will track crimes by area, time of day, day of week and will hold commanders responsible for policing strategy. They will most likely post crimes on a website so that citizens will be aware and responsible to report incidents also. I believe that with these two, the citizens will be getting .....better cooperation with other agencies, technology, community service, accountability, training and education, and services from both the Fire and Police Departments.
ReplyDeleteThe Mayor should appoint a team to his liking - and if the appointee is qualified to fill the position the Council must approve them.
ReplyDeleteWhat worries me is why the new Mayor would select cabinet members from his personal inner circle. This could end up working against him - if the employee screws up it's impossible to distance oneself from him, and if you need to fire him you piss off all your friends.
@ Jim Spear -
ReplyDeleteAnd where should Mayor Mapp select his cabinet? Should he go with who and what he doesn't know?
Let Mayor Mapp do his job as Mayor of the City of Plainfield. Don't worry just hold him accountable for doing what he said he will do.
We as the citizens of Plainfield, should allow a NEW Mayor to select people that he believes in. Not those that were put upon him. His mission, his belief, his direction. We voted for him, believe in him and his team.
ReplyDeleteRehiring Spriggs simply because her husband is ill is a slap in the face to all of those who loss their jobs... We ALL need jobs for personal reasons...smh
ReplyDelete