I finally got all the way through the 97-page Transition Report that Mayor Adrian O. Mapp says he will use a a "guidepost" for his administration. A lot of the points have already been mentioned by others; I will take the liberty of picking a few things I found interesting.
Roads
For all the ruckus over road repair in the past eight years, I was surprised to see just one mention - not of the road program itself, but of the impending due dates for repayment of principal and interest to fund the work. Some may recall that a 2004 study became a 2005 five-year plan to carry out road repair across the city. Work fell behind and then there was the question of reordering priorities through a new study. The work was re-cast from plan years to "phases" and the last comprehensive overview I remember was one former Councilman Rashid Burney posted on his web site. It would be good to know where things stand from both the work and funding sides as the new administration takes charge.
Communications
There is a recommendation for a Communications director, who could also be the Public Information Officer.Heaven knows the city needs a better mechanism for informing the community as well as the world at large what is going on in Plainfield. The old model is to hold press conferences and the like, but newspapers are so short of staff that it might be easier to make part of the web site itself a news outlet, as suggested in the report, and get into social media in a manner appropriate for a municipality. I agree that the current use of YouTube for council meetings is not appropriate, though it is very expedient for people who don't have cable and just want to see the action. As noted in the report, there is a lot of good information on the web site, but it is not easily navigable and that needs to be fixed.
July 4th Celebration
There was a suggestion that a committee be formed to work on the July 4th event. An all-Plainfield committee was established by ordinance several years ago, after the other six or seven towns dropped out of the planing and funding process. No one was ever named to the committee and the work was done by an ad-hoc group. It got to where no one was willing or able to account publicly for the expenses incurred. During an investigation of costs for a 2010 Town Meeting aired on WBLS, it came out that money was paid for WBLS vans to be in the parade. Perhaps having a committee operating under the Sunshine Law would give greater transparency.
A broader events committee might be able to make a start of rejuvenating the Outdoor Arts Festival as well.
That $1,125,000 in FEMA Money
After being told I imagined it, I was quite thrilled to see a mention of the FEMA allocation for Plainfield that Sen. Robert Menendez announced a while back. Click here to read about it. I hope it is still accessible and that someone in City Hall can find a way to claim it for Plainfield.
The report suggests formation of a number of committees, but I would like to see some less formal ways for the average person to become more engaged in civic matters, even if it is just through feedback. It appears the mayor is going to make himself available for various "listening" opportunities.
If you can, read the report in full here and see what you think. It was a lot of work and the team's credentials, listed at the end, are highly impressive. They all deserve our thanks.
--Bernice
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Let the parade die quietly. Everyone can stroll over to the North Plainfield one and then the Labor Day one in South Plainfield to show friendship to them. The $ saved can be used for the next year one if the public clamors for one.
ReplyDeleteI thoughts Mapp wanted to give Route # 28 to the NJ State Highway Department like it is in Fanwood, Scotch Plains and Westfield? That is where you wood save money, not in deciding who picks up the mail for the Bilingual Day care center.
ReplyDeleteRt. 28 can only go back to the state if the state accepts it and nullifies the agreement made many years ago, by people who were blind to the future and the cost. Not everything is as easy as "just give it back."
DeleteThat is why J Green must 'push' the state to take it back. Obviously they are not happy to have it on their hands, but why must Plainfield be stuck when other towns have given RT 28 back to the state
Deleteim still amazed how people think they can have one plainfield for all and not have discourse with those positive residents who know and understand that part of the city. that people ignore but the reality quality of life issues are not gonna vanish but there are people who have made the paradigm shift a living reality.we have hands on experience with problem and solution i think in regards to the social problems that plague are city it would be wise to consult those who know and understand. the offer has been made to accept it is your choice. may plfd be blessed with peace and prosperity. norman x johnson
ReplyDeleteNorm, you have good ideas and great intentions. RUN, do not walk to the Mayor's office and offer your ideas and services. You are one of the treasures of Plainfield.
DeleteI think it's fair to categorize the report as primarily a wish list of changes necessary to improve the administrative functions of city government, drawn up by attorneys, accounts and consultants of all stripes. In my judgement the result is a significant step in bringing Plainfield into the municipal mainstream. But now comes the hard part: prioritizing, funding and implementing. For that there must be cooperation from the council. The mayor should spend the next 100 days convincing the Council-Five that the changes outlined in the report, although clearly the work of 2nd- and 3rd-warders, will result in long-term benefits for the residents of the 1st and 2nd wards.
ReplyDeletePlainfield has four wards.
ReplyDeletePlainfield has four wards, and the input came from residents all over the city. Some of the Mapp Transition Team members from wards 1 and 4 included Bridget Rivers, Kent Montford, Flor Gonzalez, Emmett Swan, Laddie Wyatt, Alphonso Alvarena and Sideeq El-Amin. City employees took part and were interviewed and they live all over the city. Its too early to fault Mapp for getting some expertise and input from those who supported him and helped him, we know who didn't. Everyone who knows Mr. Mapp knows that they can talk to him and add their input. Give the guy a break, he has only been in office 8 days. Some people gave the last mayor 8 year and she wouldn't even answer the phone.
ReplyDeleteI think you're taking the four ward thing too literally. Nobody's faulting Mapp for seeking input and expertise. But consider that because the budget total is more or less fixed every time he tries to hire an IT consultant or push through a capital improvement project that means not increasing summer intern jobs or laying off someone from the rank and file. That's not going to go over well with Reid, Greaves, Rivers or Brown (technically all wards), nor should it, since they represent the districts that have the populations of greater need who will be most directly affected. Tweaking the structure of the administration, upgrading the systems and changing the culture of the workforce are going to be very difficult needles to thread as it is - they will be impossible without the ongoing help of the full council. Mapp will have to convince those who live outside the historic districts that the somewhat abstract, technical changes that seem to dominate the report will help improve actual lives, not just accounting procedures.
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