Why have a forensic audit?
Some speakers characterized
the proposed forensic audit as an attempt to harass former Mayor
Sharon Robinson-Briggs for political payback. In Plainfield, politics can be a
blood sport, but what are some more rational reasons to examine fiscal practices
of any administration?
The years in question were marked by a very high degree of
turnover, for one thing. Under the city’s special charter, the city
administrator conducts day-to-day operations. Reporting to the city
administrator are three department heads to whom all division managers report.
That is the chain of command. When all
these gears are meshing, the city runs like clockwork. But in the span of time
between January 2006 and December 31, 2013, the city sometimes looked more like
a Rube Goldberg contraption that may or may not have actually worked.
Let’s look at the rosters (sometimes including dual roles):
City Administrator
Carlton McGee, January 2006 – November 2006
Marc Dashield , January 2007-December 2009
Bibi Taylor, January 2010-December 2010
Dan Williamson (acting), January 2011-March 2011
Sharon Robinson-Briggs (acting), March 30, 2011- May 10,
2011
David Kochel (acting), May 11, 2011-August 8, extended to
November 2011, also consultant to Dec. 21
Al Restaino (acting), two weeks in November 2011
Eric Berry, November 28, 2011-September 23, 2013
Sharon Robinson –Briggs (acting), September 23 –October 6
Al Restaino (acting), October 6-December 16
Sharon Robinson-Briggs (acting), balance of December 2013
Administration,
Finance, Health & Social Services
Norton Bonaparte, January 2006-March 2006
Carlton McGee (acting), March 2006–November 2006 (overlap)
Raiford Daniels, December 2006- November 2007
Marc Dashield (acting ), November 2007-April 2008 (overlap)
Douglas Peck, April 2008-December 2008
Bibi Taylor, July 2009-November 2010 (overlap)
Al Restaino, November 2010 – December 16
Public Affairs &
Safety
Martin Hellwig, January 2006- December 2013
Michael Gilliam, December 2013 (Hellwig on terminal leave)
Public Works &
Urban Development
Jennifer Wenson Maier, January 2006-January 2010
David Brown, January 2010-November 2010
Eric Jackson, September 2011-December 2013
With this amount of turnover, cabinet members had to get
used to new partners frequently and if the mayor or corporation counsel was
filling in, perhaps there was not the optimal depth of knowledge in municipal
government and dealing with the state Division of Local Government Services and
other outside agencies. Is it possible
that “winging it” passed for leadership in some instances?
Also, in cases of the top brass believing certain lower-level staffers could do no
wrong, would that not set the stage for misplaced power and lack of oversight?
Records could reveal patterns of too much carte blanche at the division level, but
certainly if records could not be produced when requested by the governing
body, accountability was lacking.
As Finance Director Ron West explained, the company proposed
to conduct the forensic audit was going to work with city officials in phases.
If one phase revealed need for a closer look, the auditors would commence the
next phase. The $60,000 cost was the
outer limit and was fixed.
Having reported on five administrations before the current
one, I do not recall any with the level of churn in the cabinet as that noted
above. Things can be missed and bad habits can become ingrained among the cadre
of staffers who serve for decades as the cabinet door revolves. Maybe this is a
sort of political midlife crisis, which requires a look back and new resolve
for the future. What do you think?
--Bernice
Can the citizens raise the money and have a forensic audit done? If so, will the books be open to the auditors?
ReplyDeleteI'm not getting the shock and surprise over the refusal of the majority to endorse a forensic audit. If all power flows from Boss Green as many claim then all streams must also lead back to the source. Since a majority on the council (and their families and neighbors) owe their livelihood and/or prestige to Green why on earth do you think they'd support an investigation he can't control or muzzle?
ReplyDeleteIt ain't about Sharon; she's just a pawn. It's about Mapp's need to wound Green any way he can in the struggle to gain control of the local party. It's about 2015 and 2016 and beyond. Let's hope Mapp has sharper stakes and bigger crucifixes to get the job done once and for all.
Mapp has already outdone Sharon in governing the city and anyone who can back Sharon in her willful, disregard for the fiscal welfare of Plainfield may have something to gain or lose if a audit is done. Shame on those who support poor governance and fiscal responsibility.
DeleteI disagree 6:36pm. it is certainly about how Sharon mismanaged this city. They couldn't vote for an audit with her sitting right in the audience. Nothing to hide, nothing to fear. Obviously they're scared for her.
ReplyDeleteIt's about public trust and accountability.
ReplyDelete5:26 Do you think we can raise 60K to finance tha audit/ I would make a contribution. Any ideas on who might organize and lead the charge? if the 60K couldn't be raised the donations could be refunded. Is there anyone willing to take on this challenge.? If the money was raised could the Council still disapprove the audit? Bill Kruse
ReplyDeleteI.too, would be willing to make a donation if a forensic audit, financed by the citizens of Plainfield could actually take place.This community is full if competent lawyers with the expertise to obtain info as to whether or not we can actually finance such an undertaking.Let's follow through on this idea. Margaret A. Lewis
ReplyDeleteWhy not! Start a fund on Kickstarter for the express purpose of bankrolling the administration's hiring of an auditor for the study. But the administration must do it so there is official and unimpeded access to all the books. I don't see what the City Council could do to stop it, but I'm sure they'll try.
DeleteWe just need to make sure that the books would be open to the auditors. Great idea! Look for more to come.
DeleteI for one am sick of having the city council do what THEY want, and not the citizens of Plainfield. Maybe we need to take the city back by doing what is right, and within legal limits, and sc__w the city council.
Hi Margaret!!
ReplyDeleteThe audit is not about Sharon. Its about the City of Plainfield's finances. Period. Making sure everything is accounted for and where it should be. It is money well spent. If anyone on Council is against it, they should be removed. If it were only that easy.
Gerry Green said he runs this City and has told many elected officials and City employees that if they did not do as he said that they would not keep their jobs. Just look at all the employees Mayor SRB went through.a forensic audit may prove some wrong doing,but the people involved are long gone. Let us not waste tax payers money on an audit,and from this day forward do things the right way. Remember Election Day ? You all put the people in office who were spending tax payers money. You get who you vote for.
ReplyDeleteWho are you talking about? Name one area where the people we voted for are spending our money foolishly. Again, another person who has no clue what they are saying. If you had been paying attention, you would know that the last administration left NO money to spend!
DeleteWhat are those council members afraid of? Sharon in her red dress the other night? I guess it doesnt take much to scare them.
ReplyDeleteSRB will be back in power better then ever.
ReplyDelete