Check Out the City Web Site

 In a time of transition, the curious are always looking for clues as to how it is going.

That's why it is odd to see the mix of old and new information on the city web site. The home page features Mayor Mapp on the changing "carousel" listing inaugural activities day by day, but to the left is the smiling face of the mayor whose term has ended.

The "Mayor's Corner" link does have Mapp's image and bio, which is proper (and informative).

Under City Administrator, Rick Smiley is listed as "Acting City Administrator." How can that be, with no council action? It is the mayor's prerogative to name cabinet members in acting capacity for 90 days if he wishes.

Eric Jackson remains in charge of Public Works & Urban Development, as Mapp indicated last month. Jackson has impressed many since coming to Plainfield in September 2011 and even though he is running for mayor in Trenton, the election there is not until May. By then, a candidate for the four-year term concurrent with the mayor's may emerge.

The Department of Public Affairs & Safety still has Martin Hellwig's name and the Department of Administration, Finance, Health & Social Services still lists Al Restaino as being in charge. PA&S, as we see from Doc's Potpourri, has a situation that will not be easily solved if in fact the police union expects to dictate who becomes their boss. As for AFH&SS, maybe some light will be shed at the Jan. 6 reorganization meeting at Plainfield High School.

In Plaintalker's opinion, there is no excuse for the wildly garbled information on the 'crawl" at the left of the home page.

Plainfield City Council – There will be a special city council meeting tonight, December 30, 2013 7:00pm at the Plainfield Municipal Court. The next council meeting will be held on Monday, December 9, 2013 at 8:00 pm at the Municipal Court. The meeting will be the annual city council reorganization meeting with the annual Mayor’s State of the City Address given by Mayor-Elect Adrian O. Mapp.

I almost hesitate to post it, as it is so egregiously wrong, but obviously the 2014 reorganization couldn't happen in December 2013. It seems almost impish to put up such bad information. Anyone with a sense of how Plainfield government works would know this is a howler. And yet there it is. I was told last week it was going to be corrected.

Anyone entrusted with conveying information to the public and who puts up such blatant misinformation should not be invited to the new administration.

The City Council reorganization is 6 p.m. Jan. 6 at Plainfield High School. I join Dr. Yood in advising the public to speak out and also to make their opinions known through voting for candidates who are up to the task of serving the city.

--Bernice