PMUA Executive Director Dan Williamson
Monday's City Council meeting had more acts than an Ed Sullivan show, but perhaps the most intense was the governing body's grilling of PMUA Executive Director Dan Williamson. The hoops-of-fire question was when will the rates for the authority's solid waste and sewer services go down, and Williamson had no ready answer.
It was the second time this year that Council President Bridget Rivers asked Williamson to address the council on PMUA matters. He gave a brief presentation in August and Monday's session ran to nearly 90 minutes, but the council and PMUA may still hold a joint meeting to follow up on the issues raised.
Williamson began by describing past rate reductions, an increase in senior discounts and a water usage credit for pool owners as well as cost savings through layoffs and furloughs, reduced office rent and negotiations with vendors. He described the expansion of services to nearby towns which netted about $250,000 in new revenue and other strategies to increase income. The tightrope-walking began when council members raised concerns ranging from patronage and a state investigation to why workers have gone four years without a raise.
- Councilwoman Rebecca Williams asked whether the authority had a lot of vandalism or theft, and when Williamson said no, she asked why PMUA needed a "security chief." She also brought out the fact that the person holding the title supervised only two employees. She also queried why the "shared services" fee
assessed to all property owners was so high when it represented only a fraction of the solid waste tonnage.
- Councilwoman Tracey Brown said no one questions the good service given by the PMUA, but recalled being told when she was a PMUA commissioner that rates would go down, but they did not.
"That's something that's always on the radar," Williamson said.
- Councilman Cory Storch also probed reasons for rates not going down. Though thankful for past cuts, he asked, "What can we expect of rate adjustments in the near future?"
Williamson said announcements would be made "at the appropriate time," which turned out to be when the 2015 budget was finalized next week.
"I'll wait for a week," Storch said.
When his questions on future cost savings met with equivocal responses, Storch talked about reading between the lines "because I don't think you guys are giving us clear answers."
"Are you proposing furloughs for 2015?" he asked Williamson, who said, "No."
"Thank you - we got an answer," Storch said.
"We gave answers, maybe not the ones you want," Williamson retorted.
- Councilman William Reid , also a former PMUA commissioner, asked about a state investigation into a $1 million settlement with former PMUA executives. Williamson described the probe as a "performance audit" and said he hoped by spring it would be completed.
In answer to Reid's question on the 2015 budget, Williamson said the authority expected to hold a rate hearing on Dec. 22.
Reid tried to ask PMUA Commissioner Charles Tyndale if the performance of the commissioners was such that there was a need to change them. Tyndale is the only one of several nominees offered by Mayor Adrian O. Mapp to win council approval this year. He declined to comment, saying "This is not the forum to discuss that."
- Councilwoman Gloria Taylor spoke at length about the authority's "rather unique employment model" in hiring formerly incarcerated residents, which she said gives them an "opportunity to improve their lives." She said she only learned of it at the recent League of Municipalities conference. She said the authority needs to reach out to the public as "a lot of what we get is rumors."
- Councilwoman Vera Greaves thanked the authority for cleaning up the city but also fretted about rates being a burden on seniors and low-income persons.
- Council President Bridget Rivers asked about raises for "front-line workers" who had not received wage increases for four years.and were "at poverty level or below."Williamson said workers will get raises retroactively when union negotiations were completed. He said he thought there would be an agreement or the matter would go to arbitration. Meetings have been ongoing, he said.
After more discussion, Storch said, "Everything we're talking about is relevant, but we're nibbling around the edges of the problems."
He said an "independent commission" is needed.
"We need to get people on the commission who will take a stand," Storch said.
Only one PMUA nominee, Michelle Graham Lyons, was up for a vote Monday, but the resolution failed with Brown and Greaves abstaining, Taylor and Reid voting "no" and Storch and Williams voting "yes." Two other nominations failed to make it to the agenda.
Mapp said he was "enormously disappointed" that the governing body had chosen not to act to bring about reforms to the PMUA.
--Bernice
for 5 people to claim they are worried about how the PMUA impacts seniors and refuse to change anything about it show exactly where their intentions lie.. letting the PMUA remain a patronage pit for the future millionaires club while screwing over the actual workers there and the citizens.. Awesome job Jerry's kids
ReplyDeleteWhen storch said a independent commission is needed. What was he advocating? Also storch said the investigation was complete, but williamson said the spring which one? Also when is williamson contract up for review ?
ReplyDeleteHey Bernice, what about Yvonne for commissioner ?
ReplyDeleteRob 5 people are worried about the PMUA Actually I hope more than 5 people are worried about the PMUA
ReplyDeleteThere is something shameful about Reid and other members of the council speaking publically on behalf of the need for improvement at the PMUA and then voting against new commissioners who can bring about those improvements. Reid had a final chance after 12 years on the council to do something good for Plainfield instead of Mr. Green, and he failed Plainfield once again.
ReplyDelete"Williamson began by describing past rate reductions, an increase in senior discounts and a water usage credit for pool owners..."
ReplyDeleteWhen Watson was head of PMUA he said that they could not track pool usage or water for watering gardens separately. Now we can?
Watson - what say you?
Will new commissioners appointed by the mayor really bring about change or will the change just be new commissioners? Let’s stop pretending the mayor is a god sent here to solve all of Plainfields problems. He already has two strikes against him, hiring his long time friend West and his new friend Watson. When do we start talking about investigating that?
ReplyDeleteHi new friend West actually does his job.
DeleteGive me three things that West has not done properly. I bet you cannot, because you have no facts, just gut reaction. Which is how this "I THINK", nothing beyond.
You may want to know that West is correcting financial issues from the previous administration, like how YOUR money is being spent. The previous administration had independent financial findings that indicated the money was being spent inappropriately. Does that matter to you, or do you THINK it is all bogus (please do not look at back accounting findings. You may find things that relate to facts).
1:28 p.m., make your allegation and sign your name if you want it printed.
ReplyDeleteThese joint Council – PMUA “discussions” are nothing more that ‘Hot Air’. Even though the PMUA was created by the City Council, the only thing the Council can really do to really change the PMU is to vote to dissolve it. Once it was created, the PMUA became an independent body that reports to no one but itself. In theory, the PMUA Board of Commissioners is supposed to oversee the PMUA management team to ensure the PMUA is being run efficiently and cost effectively in the best interest of the rate-payers and Plainfield tax payers, who are ultimately responsible for the debt the PMUA incurs which is now about $20 Million. In practice, the PMUA Commissioners are Jerry Green’s friends, relatives, and political retreads like his brother, Harold Mitchell, Malcolm Dunn, Bill Reid, and Tracey Brown who have voted to give themselves perks and benefits like medical coverage for themselves and their families that they were never entitled to according to the PMUA charter. So, it is no surprise why the PMUA Commissioners don’t change the corrupt and abusive practices of the PMUA; because they personally gain by how it’s being run today. Likewise, it’s no surprise why Jerry Green’s controlled City Council doesn’t approve any reform-minded PMUA Commissioners who would cause the PMUA to run efficiently and cost effectively; because as in some cases they have personally benefited from their involvement in the past or their friends and family are benefitting from the way the PMUA is being run today. While this is a sad commentary on Plainfield politics, it is business as usual here under Jerry Green. What I find particularly distressing is that Mayor Mapp has recently stooped to putting forward former and current PMUA Commissioners such as Harold Mitchell, who have been instrumental in creating the abusive and corrupt practices at the PMUA, to fill the expired board seats. These nominations, along with his appointment of Eric Watson as interim Director of Public Works, have led me to seriously question Mayor Mapp’s real commitment to bring positive change to Plainfield. As most of us remember, Mr. Watson was the primary architect of the waste and abuse of the PMUA as its long-time Executive Director and he received the lion’s share of the unwarranted and undeserved $1.2 Million settlement gift which was orchestrated by Malcolm Dunn, Cecil Sanders, and Alex Toliver. And so it goes, here in Mr. Green’s Plainfield.
ReplyDeleteTom Kaercher
Tom, No one voted for perks, the health benefits,were presented when these people took the job.Who starts a job and is presented with health benefits and refuses them because they are said to be illegal. When you got your job did you ask oh by the way are the health benefits you are offering illegal? Does any employee ask that question, I think not.Don't hate the player, hate the game.
ReplyDeleteI've read your tripe before, Anonymous 4:21. First, commissioners are not employees. They are The Authority, and it is their obligation as The Authority to provide the proper and legal oversight of Their Employees and not to take advantage of Their Employees' illegal activities. Every commissioner should read the PMUA's Creation Ordinance and its Bylaws where the limitation is clearly spelled out. Second, negligence is not a qualifying excuse. Third, your excuse speaks to the illegal actions of PMUA management. Maybe they should give back their undeserved settlement, and their illegal payouts as well. Third, I remember clearly Assemblyman Green getting up at the Task Force presentation and pleading to keep the State out of PMUA's affairs. All the more reason for them to come in. Fourth, the mayor can bring some needed reform without new commissioners. Enforce the ordinance limiting compensation and live up to the terms of the Inter Local Agreement. Take the appropriate legal action as needed, call out the culprits, stand up for the residents of this city, stop nominating retreads, and don't let your political ambition get the better of your judgment.
DeleteHow dumb is everyone. Those with gardens don't get a meter. The easy fix is like other areas have done. Just use a winter quarter times 4 for the calculation. That is fair for all. You don't have to buy meters or have staff to give them out.
ReplyDelete