A near-sweep of the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority's board of commissioners fell through Monday when the City Council rejected four mayoral nominees.
In public comment before the vote, several PMUA staffers pointed out the authority's recent accomplishments and said the current commissioners should be kept. But after the council grilled nominees on their intentions and views regarding the PMUA and then voted them down, resident Dottie Gutenkauf deplored a $1 million settlement that commissioners approved for two former executives.
"It makes what's left of my blood boil," Gutenkauf said, noting employees were then forced to take furloughs and layoffs.
"I think it is past time that you got those people who made the settlement off the board," she said.
Nominees Nan Anderson-Bennett, Thomas J. Crownover, Charles Tyndale and Thomas A. Kaercher were quizzed by Council President Bridget Rivers on whether they had taken part in any "anti-PMUA activities," how long they had lived in the city and whether they remembered how the city looked before the PMUA was established, alluding to the level of trash often cited as the reason for the authority's inception.
Councilman William Reid alleged that Mayor Adrian O. Mapp had vowed to dismantle the PMUA in 2005 and asked each nominee whether Mapp had to spoken to them about doing so. Nominees were also asked whether they agreed with the PMUA practice of employing former prisoners.
"I believe in second chances," Anderson-Bennett said.
Crownover called the authority "one of the most important agencies in the city, "such a substantial body that it ought to be handled with great consideration."
Asked what he would do the make the agency better, Crownover said he would get rid of a recently-imposed wage freeze by perhaps making the authority more efficient.
Speaking after the interviews, Mapp said, "We must bring transformational change to the PMUA," but all four nominees were rejected 5-2, with Cory Storch and Rebecca Williams voting "yes" and Reid, Rivers, Tracey Brown, Gloria Taylor and Vera Greaves voting "no."
In a separate vote earlier, the council did agree to give PMUA Commissioner Carol Ann Brokaw another term, with only Greaves objecting.
Anderson-Bennett would have replaced Commissioner Harold Mitchell. Crownover was to succeed Commissioner Malcolm Dunn, while Tyndale was named to succeed Commissioner Alex Toliver and Kaercher was to succeed Cecil Sanders as Alternate No. 2. Mitchell and Toliver are holdovers and Dunn's term expires Feb. 1, after which he will be a holdover.
Dunn, Toliver and Sanders voted to approve the $1 million settlement for former executive Director Eric Watson and Assistant Executive Director David Ervin. Sanders was an alternate at the time, but was later given a full term, causing the vacancy in the alternate seat. Had all the nominees been approved, Sanders would still be on the board as a full commissioner.
The special meeting also included nominations to other boards and commissions. Linden Barrat, Carrel Martin and Robert Bolmer were appointed to the Human Relations Commission. Charles L. McRae, Rich Sudol, Jim Spear and Mary E. Burgwinkle were named to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
On the Planning Board. Police Lt. James Abney was reappointed and the council also approved Emmett Swan and Sean McKenna. New appointees to the Plainfield Advisory Committee on Hispanic Affairs are Flor Gonzalez, Maritza Martinez, Carlos Ponton and Libia Saavedra Price. Mari Bonini and Victoria Rappold were reappointed to the board of the Plainfield Public Library and new members areDonna Sandorse and Lamont Blowe.
--Bernice
Gloria Taylor.. Thank you for bringing a fresh breath of life to the 4 Stooges.. We can now say we have 5.
ReplyDeleteReid, Rivers, Tracey Brown, Taylor and Greaves believe the PMUA to be a social program designed to ensure excons ( who I believe should have every opportunity, just not a taxpayer funded obligation opportunity )and a lottery for Politically Connected African American Family Men to win million $ payouts.. Ok.. so now that we have that clear.
To all the people of the PMUA who have been terminated or have had your wages frozen.. these 5 people stated quite eloquently through their actions, their contempt for the front line working man who is trying to EARN their money and way in this world. The now 5 clowns on City Council ( wow.... didn't I see this coming, be still New Dems and hold your ass on your own time, you're the only ones shocked here ) believe the good ole boy network is more important to maintain at the cost to the taxpayers and the little guy who actually does the work at the PMUA.
On an additional note, it is nice seeing Gloria letting her true colors show right out of the gate, no sense hiding your contempt for the taxpayers and front line workers at the PMUA.. holding back that much contempt has got to affect your sleep at night.
... To the detractors.. Is this another example of the us, the common people of Plainfield NOT SUPPORTING THE MAYOR ?? Is this another example of us, the common people of Plainfield stopping the city council from doing their best to support the Mayor ? Is this us, the common people forcing the 5 clowns to work against the New Mayor??
Wow... If only we weren't such dirt bags and would have allowed the 5 Stooges to vote for reform.
Yeah Rob, what's up with Gloria Taylor? She doesn't have to pay real estate taxes because her husband was a disabled veteran and an OPRA request shows that she has not paid her PMUA bill for all of 2013. But she gets to vote on such matters that affect us all?
DeleteIt just doesn't seem right.
What would Jesus say? "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." However, with more time to consider the situation he might take out the 'forgive them' portion.
ReplyDeleteIn an effort to remove violence from headlines [remember ... that was a Democratic Party idea to try to bug Sarah Palin], it should rather be "PMUA Nominees Go Down the Drain"
ReplyDeleteI don't know what Rivers was up to with asking if candidate protested against PMUA policy. I want people in who don't want the status quo at the PMUA. Rivers and the others have to go. Who wants to join me in getting their license to disrupt the running of Plainfield revoked. I hope the voters are paying attention. I not, I will bring it to their attention.
ReplyDeleteBob Bolmer
Rob, Again with your ignorant name calling, why bring race into this, now who's colors are really showing.What are you still in grade school. Your comments don't help, and are counterproductive.
ReplyDeleteREALLY? I was waiting for this as I read Rob's post. Not because it is a racist comment but because I knew there was going to be some fool who would play it as one. "showing your true colors" is a naval based saying not a racial saying. Speaking of grade school - try google sometime.
DeleteRob did not bring race into the picture....Commissioner Sanders did....It is Commissioner Sanders remarks to which Rob is alluding.
DeleteWhat remarks are productive? All the protests, the independent study and innumerable comments have failed to change anything. The Mayor can't get one new nominee seated as a Commissioner. Please, what are your suggestions on how to proceed?
Or, are you content with the status quo and feel the criticism is unwarranted?
why thank you... I was holding back wanting to call the "anonymous" commenter a "flag waving, race baiting, half wit Al Sharpton wanna-be".. but now I can hold it in.. Yes, it is in fact Sanders OFFICIAL COMMENT that I quoted as for the reason he and the rest of the voters on the PMUA retirement gift of taxpayers money to the 2 members who decided to leave the PMUA... and if there is an investigation into the PMUA, let us hope there is a legal and criminal penalty for such short sighted nepotism..
DeleteMayor Mapp the candidates you presented to serve as PMUA Commissioners never stood a chance because their qualifications are conspicuously flawed, as follows:
ReplyDelete1. They are well educated.
2. They all have commendable experience in their respective professions, which embrace managerial skills, the law, technology, etc.
3. In reviewing their resumes it appears that they are all capable of assuming responsibility and equally important they seriously apply themselves in their professions. It seems reasonable to assume that this characteristic would carry over to their duties as Commissioners.
4. They are not beholden to any political faction.
5. They have the interests of the entire population of Plainfield at heart, not an exclusive minority.
6. They are willing to serve with the knowledge that they will not receive the illegal benefits package which several of the sitting Commissioners cling to.
7. Most of them have had a continuing interest in the PMUA and would have come with sensible ideas for improvement.
7. They have been endorsed by you.
Any one of the above warrants their rejection, the litany of negatives guaranteed it.
Barring intercession from the State..which appears improbable...the people still have a potent weapon. OPT OUT. It takes a little effort, the alternative cost is virtually identical. Should a sufficient number of households OPT OUT the loss of income would compel the PMUA to reduce costs or in the alternative increase rates to the point where there would be a massive protest.
You want positive ideas..without elaboration here are a few ways;
1. Consolidate the facilities.
2. Do a detailed study of requirements for personnel and through retirements, layoffs and resignations reduce the number of employees.
3.Eliminate remaining illegal Commissioner benefits.
4.Reduce number of outside consultants, advisers. Learn to make decisions and analysies in house by acquiring competent personnel or training existing personnel to perform these tasks. ( No private company could conceivably afford the amount of baby sitting which is required by the PMUA. )
5. Take a hard look at purchasing and ascertain why the PMUA was only capable of eliciting 1 bid on a major piece of equipment.
6. Etc.
Bill Kruse
Well said Bill and the City also need to let the PMUA collect their own taxes since we don't benefit from doing there work and they make it a fact to remind us that they are a separate entity. I agree with your comment one hundred percent.
DeleteYo, boys and girls!
ReplyDeleteHave we had our fill yet of sticking out our tongues at anyone who doesn't conform to the "right way' of looking at the PMUA? Have we finished wasting years of time on something that might save the average homeowner a couple of hundred of dollars when all along the biggest issues that rob wealth from Plainfielders, the school system and the very much related Latino population, go about their merry way with nary a peep from the peanut gallery. (Maria, why hast thou forsaken us!)
In the age of Google and Zillow every prospective homeowner can look up a community's school rating in seconds. Plainfield's rating has settled consistently in the bottom 15%; by some measures the bottom 6%. That robs tens of thousands, in some cases hundreds of thousands of dollars of wealth from all Plainfield homeowners by keeping prices much lower than surrounding communities.
The one-seat ride may help but its going to help every other town on the RVL. Towns like Somerville, Cranford, Bound Brook and Raritan have big residential projects close to the train that are either under way or completed. We've got nothing but promises and hopes. Yet all the talk about is the PMUA and who's taxes are in arrears. God and Obama help us!
Mayor Mapp seems to be doing what he can to lead us in the right direction. We need to get off our two-trick pony and pay attention to the issues that matter most and stop wasting time with details and petty payback.
Gloria Taylor wants a study. Shows what she knows - another non informed council member. Councilwoman Taylor, there have been enough studies, stories, and information about the PMUA to wallpaper your entire house. The fact that you are ignorant to those pieces of information shows either -
ReplyDelete1 - you are uninformed regarding the city issues - therefore what are you doing being on the council
or
2 - you know exactly what is going on, and are beholding to PMUA, in which case you fit right in
The only fools are you two who need to get a life, Rob,and Bob.
ReplyDeleteShowing True colors also refers to those who hide behind mask, and are exposed.used in it's proper context earlier.Exposed are elitist, mappiets,and some of the nastiest people in town.Can we all just get along.
ReplyDeleteWhen so many commissioners (with so many council members support) go to such lengths to keep a "no-pay" volunteer job it should tell everyone something.
ReplyDeleteAnonymousJanuary 28, 2014 at 1:40 PM - PMUA is a huge problem. If you haven't checked your stats yet, Plainfield property owners pay $21 million for schools through taxes. We pay $22 million to the PMUA for sewer and garbage. Why don't you do your research and you'll see that the PMUA is a huge problem. Additionally, when a city can't get the "small" things right how are they going to handle the areas that require more thought??? Certainly not with the current group of council members or PMUA commissioners who are only interested in hooking up their friends.
ReplyDeleteTo outsiders who buy our properties PMUA is totally off the radar but everyone knows or can find out about about the schools. We may pay PMUA $22MM and "we" may only pay $21MM for the schools but the overall school budget is over $150MM with the balance being financed by the state through other communities property taxes. There is no valid comparison between the PMUA and the Plainfield School system as they relate to property values.
DeleteNo one was talking property values. Why isn't PMUA on the Council's radar since they know we overpay over $8 million for the services???
DeleteI believe the PMUA commissioners get a "stipend" and have their health benefits covered. If I'm wrong please correct me. As far as I know this is not a "volunteer" position.
ReplyDeleteYes, the get $4500 plus benefits and pension
DeleteI believe the health benefits are grandfathered. Any commissioner will get the $4500 but no health or pension.
ReplyDelete$4500 is the statutory limit for direct and indirect compensation. Anything above this amount is plainly illegal. Benefits are the primary definition of indirect compensation. PMUA attorney Leslie London's opinion that benefits are not compensation was meant to be deceptive, and is more evidence of the length's they will go to peddle their falsehoods. The Administration and City Council need to get on top of this and not shirk their fiduciary responsibility to uphold our ordinances. There is no excuse for inaction any longer.
Delete