If you get Mayor Adrian O. Mapp's weekly message in your email, you already know that there will be a new director of the Division of Inspections on Monday.
If not, here is the announcement:
"An important part of my Administration is to improve the quality of life for all in the City of Plainfield. The maintenance, upkeep, and development of our residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors impact residents, businesses, and visitors to our great city of Plainfield. My aim is to reengineer the mission and processes of the inspections division. To help accomplish this, join me in welcoming Mr. Phillip Izzo as the new Director of the Inspections Division, as he will be starting on November 24, 2014. Phillip brings with him over twelve years of municipal inspections experience. His expertise ranges from the following: construction, fire sub-code, plumbing, and electric. There will be further collaboration between departments and we can expect great things from Philip."
This is the division that the late Mayor Albert T. Williams said generated the most complaints from citizens. Over the years, this division has expanded, then shrunk. Inspectors during one administration had to be sent for training on how to deal with the public. At times, the division was heavy on patronage. Citizens who reported neighborhood infractions of the property maintenance code claimed they themselves were cited for violations in some sort of retaliation for speaking up. One year, inspectors got laptops intended to reduce paperwork, but then the technology was dropped.
Among other issues over the years, a frequently-mentioned need for inspectors to work evening and weekend hours ran afoul of work rules prohibiting staff to be in City Hall during off hours without a supervisor. The need for expanded hours arose due to a spike in unauthorized construction and repairs on nights and weekends. Sometimes a property owner was later forced to remove a fence or deck built without permits.
A related issue has been education of property owners on city rules for building and repairs, especially in the six residential historic districts. The Latino population increased by 67 percent between 2000 and 2010 and there is a need for information in Spanish.
In all, the new director will find plenty of challenges as he moves to modernize and improve Inspections. New development will place extra demands on the division. Getting things done right in a timely way will yield benefits for decades to come.
--Bernice
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Will he inspect all illegal rooming houses no fire escapes and basement apartments and mattresses all over downtown the list can continue. One more thing falling brick off building south ave it's been reported nothing done just they play stupid it's located across from Scott pl.
ReplyDeleteHURRAY! It's about time!!! Some people may not like our current mayor but he has a big mess left over from the previous administratiion and is straightening things out--it will take time of course but with one step at a time it will happen.
ReplyDeleteI don't think most people dislike our current mayor, but I think they dislike the members of the City Council who are unprofessional and are not working to move the city forward. That includes the Council President and others. We need inspections, especially since we have so many illegal apartments and rooming houses and other issues. It's nice to see things getting done after eight years with Sharon doing nothing. Since Jerry got her a job you don't hear her mouth trying to sabotage the current administration and Plainfield. She tried to credit for the Veteran's Center opening, but we know it was our current mayor. It's nice to see things getting done.
ReplyDeleteAnother disaster in the making. While the new administration gets standing ovations and flowers from commenters and anyone else who depends on it, the residents of Plainfield will end up footing the bills for this and other morally dubious appointments.
ReplyDeleteStanding ovations and flowers? I guess you think the mayor ought to feed supporters, the way the previous mayor did--with our tax money!
Delete