New PMUA Commissioner Approved

In a 4-3 vote Monday, the City Council approved Mayor Adrian O. Mapp's nomination of Charles Tyndale to replace Alex Toliver on the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority's board of commissioners.

Before the vote, Toliver and his wife, Diane, both lashed out at Mapp, saying they worked hard for him, presumably in the effort that won Mapp the mayoralty in November. Toliver suggested Mapp "may be temporary" and claimed the mayor was giving away the city to "carpetbaggers." He predicted a breakdown of PMUA systems like a "tsunami" and said, "The city is going to collapse right before your feet."

Councilman Cory Storch later chided Toliver, saying he was very disappointed to hear what he said.

"Nobody on the PMUA board has a lifetime seat," Storch said, noting many had served before Toliver. "None of them came to the microphone and tried to bash the mayor with sour grapes."

Toliver tried to rebut Storch's remarks and disregarded Council President Bridget Rivers' warning that he could not speak twice during public comment. A police officer guided him away as Storch said, "People have to take responsibility for their comments."

"I do," Toliver said as he was led away.

The exchange at the double meeting took part during the agenda-fixing session rescheduled from Feb. 3. A council majority had agreed to move the item to the regular meeting, which gave Toliver a clue that the resolution was likely to pass and triggered his outburst. (Had he kept quiet and stayed, he could have spoken again during two public comment portions of the regular meeting.)

Storch, Rivers, Tracey Brown and Rebecca Williams voted "yes" for Tyndale and Vera Greaves, William Reid and Gloria Taylor voted "no". Tyndale, an engineer, was advised to get sworn in right after the meeting, as the PMUA is holding its annual reorganization tonight (Tuesday, Feb. 11). Tyndale's appointment and the reappointment of Carol Ann Brokaw last month lock in two of the five commissioners' seats until 2017.

Mapp tried previously to replace other commissioners on Jan. 27, but his changes were rejected (see post here).

Toliver's outburst was not the only PMUA-related drama at the double meeting. A former employee, Asmar Best, came to the microphone during public comment to say he had been "threatened on the job" and was then fired. He said after losing the job he was distraught. He said he hadn't had a raise in eight years and was told if he didn't have a degree, he didn't deserve a raise.

But PMUA Executive Director Dan Williamson came to the microphone to deny Best's allegations and said he had been given a hearing.in which there was not enough evidence presented to back up his claims. As for the raise, Williamson said Best was one of 45 union members who were in negotiations with the authority and that was the reason for the wage freeze. Williamson said the proper place for Best to make his allegations was before the PMUA board of commissioners.

Another employee, Rodney Walker, also brought complaints to the council, about low pay, hazardous conditions for PMUA truck drivers, firings for no reason and a grievance process being ignored.

"Nobody is going to PMUA meetings," he added, agreeing with another of Toliver's complaints that council liaisons were not attending.

Referring to Walker's complaints, Storch said, "This is a labor matter that should be handled by the PMUA."

Resident Alan Goldstein, who does attend PMUA meetings and frequently questions the authority's workings, expressed hope that new commissioners would investigate it.

"Every one of those commissioners need to be replaced," he said.

PMUA Commissioner Malcolm Dunn, who just became a holdover when his term expired Feb. 1, also addressed Mapp, first noting his relationship with the mayor and his family. He said commissioners could not speak about labor matters, and criticized the council members for not attending PMUA meetings.

PMUA employee Kim Montford spoke in favor of Best and also sympathized with Walker's concerns about having to drive in hazardous weather conditions.

In all, the evening lived up to Goldstein's comment that the PMUA was "a little bit of a topic tonight."

--Bernice