The appointment of Charles Tyndale on Monday, replacing Alex Toliver, and the reappointment last month of Carol Ann Brokaw tipped the balance of the five-member board at the annual reorganization. Brokaw was named both vice-chairman and secretary and Tyndale emerged as treasurer Tuesday.
Commissioner Malcolm Dunn nominated Sanders for chairman but could not get a second. Both Dunn and Sanders then joined in endorsing the slate of officers to serve until Feb. 1, 2015.
Mitchell was targeted for removal last year by Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, who in August and again in December tried to replace him with her confidential aide, Barbara James. A former mayor and councilman, Mitchell overcame similar pressure to become chairman in 2012 (see post here).
The board notably split in January 2012 over a $1 million settlement for top executives Eric Watson and David Ervin, with Mitchell and Brokaw voting "no" and Sanders, Dunn and Toliver voting "yes." (See post here).
The authority's budgets for solid waste and sewer operations were on the agenda, but Executive Director Dan Williamson said passage will take place in March in order to give city officials a chance to review the budgets. Williamson said the PMUA was asked to abide by terms of its interlocal agreement with the city and agreed to the review, which he said was taking place for the "first time ever." Previously, he said, the authority passed the budgets and then gave them to the city.
Council President Bridget Rivers and Councilwoman Gloria Taylor attended the meeting Tuesday. Taylor is one of two council liaisons to the authority. On Monday, Dunn chastised the council for not attending PMUA meetings and though he welcomed Taylor and Rivers Tuesday, he said no council members had attended in all of 2013. Under a system established by the late Councilman Ray Blanco in 2006, council members are supposed to attend meetings of various boards and commissions and report back to the governing body.
Among other items, the PMUA board heard a presentation by Aaron Klein, CEO of Greener Corners. The company provides custom recycling bins for public spaces and claims to increase tonnage. Before taking any action on using the company's services, the authority will seek city input. Click here to learn more about Greener Corners.
--Bernice
It is good to see the City and PMUA becoming mindful of their contract with one another. At Monday's Council meeting, the City Treasurer had the Authority's two budgets in hand, as well as the Inter Local Agreement. I asked her to read Section 203B carefully. That's the heart of the Solid Waste arrangement, upended on the sly. I hope the City makes good use of its review. One area to look at is the ultra-high administrative costs. Here's hoping that some cooperation and collaboration yields dividends for all the stakeholders.
ReplyDeleteGo Harold!
ReplyDeleteIt is heartening to see City Hall taking an interest in Plainfield as opposed to self interest.
ReplyDeleteI think most of the commissioners on the PMUA should be replaced as they are a disgrace to the city and its residents. All they have done is waste money, fiscally abuse they're blue collar workers, and waste taxpayer money. What a bunch of clowns. As bad as the stooges still on the City Council.
ReplyDelete