A dark and stormy night for the region was a bright one for Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, who saw City Council passage of all five items at Monday's special meeting, including replacement of PMUA Commissioners Malcolm Dunn and Cecil Sanders.
The new commissioners, financial analyst Michelle Graham-Lyons and retired Plainfield Fire Battalion Chief Henry V. Robinson, will take office just in time for the authority's annual reorganization on Feb. 10. Dunn is a holdover whose term expired on Feb. 1 last year and Sanders' term ends on Feb. 1 this year. The vote was 4-1-1, with council members Cory Storch, Diane Toliver, Rebecca Williams and Council President Bridget Rivers voting "yes," Gloria Taylor voting "no" and Tracey Brown abstaining. Vera Greaves was absent and Taylor and Williams took part by telephone.
Dunn and Sanders, along with former Commissioner Alex Toliver, gave the three votes necessary in January 2012 to approve a controversial settlement with former PMUA Executive Director Eric Watson and Assistant Director David Ervin. Interestingly, another resolution approved Monday confirmed Watson as director of the city's Public Works & Urban Development department concurrent with Mapp's term to Dec. 31, 2017. Mapp had named Watson acting director in September 2014, to the surprise of many, and in December the council agreed to another 90-day acting term. The vote Monday was 4-2, with Taylor, Toliver, Brown and Rivers voting "yes" and Storch and Williams voting "no."
Another move that previously met with skepticism, establishment of a vehicle fleet manager position, also won approval, as did creation of a salary band from $70,887 to $102,079. The ordinance for the "manager motors" position passed 4-2, only after Personnel Director Karen Dabney, Watson, Mapp, City Administrator Rick Smiley and Public Safety Director Carl Riley testified at length on the need for it. Storch and Rivers voted "no" and Taylor, Toliver, Willliams and Brown voted "yes."
When it came to the accompanying salary ordinance, Toliver, who had hesitated before voting for the position, abstained.. After it was explained to her that the two ordinances went together, she changed her vote to "yes," joining Taylor, Williams and Brown. Storch, who said his questions about the new position were not fully answered, abstained and Rivers voted "no.". With the change from a failed 3-2-1 vote to 4-2, the ordinance passed on first reading. Second reading is expected at the Feb. 9 regular meeting.
The last item, renewal of Comcast of the Plainfield's franchise for 15 more years, passed unanimously and the matter will now go to the state BPU for approval.
--Bernice
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ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh there's a deal with the devil somewhere in this....
ReplyDeleteWe'll have to wait and see what differences there are now that those PMUA commissioners who voted in favor of the Watson-Ervin Million Dollar Giveaway have been replaced. But that gifting was only the tip of the iceberg. Recipients of $40,000 in annual illegal commissioner compensation are still on the board. Will the newly constituted body take any action to end this practice and seek repayments? The Solid Waste Lease, and the correct City Appropriation of disposal costs, reporting, reconciliation, and estimation requirements of the Inter Local Agreement are still a figment of the corruption and debasement of the agreement begun in 1998. Rather than leasing the Transfer Station as called for in the ILA, the City's $1.2 million annual payment to PMUA has not been legally approved, or even discussed, and makes it seem instead that the City is leasing the Authority. What of the material misstatements and falsehoods regarding this cash-flow reversal that have appeared in PMUA financial statements since 1999? Will PMUA and the City finally begin operating in conformity to their contract, and will the new Board of Commissioners care to do things legally? Or is the corruption too embedded in practice to turn back now? After years of excessive rates, ultra high administrative expenses, and over-staffing, all of which have cost ratepayers millions every year, will the new Board have the fortitude to make any changes? Will the Shared Service Fee ever be itemized and transparent so common costs are in line with actual common expenditures and appropriately allocated? Will the enabling legal and financial consultants be replaced, or will they remain employed for more years of distortion, obfuscation, and dissembling? Clearly the Board has its work cut out for it, but whose marching orders will it follow, the people who demand justice after years of abuse, or its management and a City government that for most of PMUA's life have sought limited and impotent scrutiny and accountability?
ReplyDeleteThough abstention from voting is not quite recusal, I commend Councilor Brown for stepping aside for this vote. Now we can see if the the new additions translate into change we can believe in. However, with the Watson appointment, I am not at all confidant. He held up his share of the devil's bargain at PMUA and has mostly gotten a free pass and a three-year paid vacation as a result.
The travel ban was lifted this morning according to telephone call from the City at 8:26 AM. What is wrong with this picture?
ReplyDeleteI commend the council for their decision to VOTE for change at the PMUA. Mr. Green will probably hit the roof when he hears the news this morning.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting . . . A special meeting at 6PM in the midst of a snowstorm -- double whammy: 1. too early for anyone who has a day job and would have wanted to attend and 2. in the middle of a snow storm?
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a trend with the Mapp administration -- it seems that, often, when controversial issues get shot down at the regular council meeting, a special meeting ensues a week later. This gives the appearance that a quick back room deal is made, the administration offers the majority of the "no" votes a little special something, enough for passage of the questionable issues, then the special meeting is called and, miraculously, the "no" votes are converted to a "yes" vote -- and the administration gets what they want. Seems like politics as usual. I thought Mapp had promised something different; but I shouldn't be surprised, I've already caught him in a few flip/flops, a much more gentle way of saying lies.
As for the bogus fleet manager position with the inflated salary scale, it will be interesting to see who lands this "cushy" job with a potential pay day of $102,000 plus benefits -- which means the actual cost to the tax payer is more like 110-115K ++ a year. Thanks your for taking even more money out of our pockets. Perhaps a better way to spend that money is to add it to the street paving project, then our cars wouldn't need as much service from all the potholes we ride over. Each department should continue to take care of it's own fleet. This position is, most likely, another campaign favor job, you know like the much needed chief of staff position. Wink, wink.
Although the Mapp administration has done better and more in one year than the previous administration did in eight, there's a certain level of smug this administration offers on a daily basis that has turned this once ardent Mapp supporter into a skeptic, like many of my neighbors. Big smiles and firm handshakes only go so far.
Mr. Mapp, I really thought you were different.
You said it. They have done better and more in one year than the previous administration did in eight.
DeleteWould be nice if this administration was dealing with people who had Plainfield at their heart, but you are not. So the option is to compromise, or do nothing. I say compromise, or we will have years of nothing - again.
Anon, 10:18 AM,You are right he has hit the roof already. He has threatened to pull his support for those who did not vote to keep those pathetic commissioners.He stated on several occasions that he was never supporting Rev. Brown again because of the Liberty Village thing. Anyway the city should be able to go forward without his interference.
ReplyDeleteI think Councilwoman Brown will be doing the happy dance if it is true the green will not support her. I believe she did this out of a certain obligation, and I don't think it will bother her one bit if she is a one term councilwoman.
DeleteThe reported outcomes from the recently held Special City Council meeting should be commended. If Plainfield's Mayor and governing body continue this process of negotiation and dialogue it will enable the City to effectively move forward in a positive direction. Democracy requires consent and dialogue between often legitimate opposing camps. Congratulations to Mayor Mapp and the City Council President Brown for creating a constructive working environment. I expect there will be more disagreements on policy and priorities in the future. However, they have demonstrated by their actions, these differences can be successfully resolved in a compromise solution that is beneficial to the City. The choice is between progress or one side's desire to always be right. We should chose progress.
ReplyDeleteThat Messrs. Dunn and Sanders are history
ReplyDeleteis cause for rejoicing. Their legacy leaves an indelible stain. Having been appointed Commissioners they peremptorily chose to accept a Million Dollar settlement offer rather than allowing the well advanced Arbitration proceedings to continue to a conclusion. One can assume that their decision was based on the fact that the Watson and Ervin did not have a case and Dunn and Sanders, for reasons best known to themselves, were well aware of this and wanted the plaintiffs to receive the windfall.
Once again Councilwoman Brown chose to remain above the fray by abstention. You may remember that Ms. Brown was absent during the crucial vote relating to the Watson- Ervin award. When pressed for her opinion on whether she would have voted for or against the motion after a prolonged dalliance she answered by saying she would have voted against it. Perhaps? Councilwoman Brown voted against the first round of Mayor Mapp's nominees for replacement Commissioners . She abstained in subsequent nominations, including last night. This is not the style of affirmative leadership that the public should expect. These are compelling issues and in my view an abstention is tantamount to a "No" vote.
The new commissioners seem well qualified as regards their backgrounds. They will have the opportunity to conduct themselves in one of two ways. They can attend the monthly meetings, collect their $375 monthly stipend, eat their pre-meeting repast, and perform in a perfunctory manner by nodding assent to the well crafted Resolutions prepared by Ms. London.. Or, and this would be refreshing, seriously delve into to internal affairs with an eye to improvement. .Here are the suggested topics:
Ms Graham-Lyons Finance
1. Investigate whether costs for the Shared Service Fee and Household Collection are equitably proportioned
2. Obtain and review the payments for the last 3 years to Real Estate Consultants, Attorneys, Accountants, Engineering Consultants, Vendors etc. are reasonable and warranted.
Chief Robinson Operations
1. Consider the consolidation of the existing facilities. The possibility of constructing a trailer compound at Rock Avenue to house the entire administration, i.e, sell the Roosevelt Avenue Building, terminate the leases for the additional lot on Cottage place and Park Avenue offices, move the Sewer Department operation to Rock Avenue.
2. Spend a day or two in each department, ride the trucks a few shifts, and observe first hand who is doing what and if the operations are efficient and warrant the compliment assigned to it.
If Commissioners Graham-Lyons and Brown were to accomplish these investigations,. or others of their choosing, within the first year of their office it would be a milestone achievement. They could report their findings periodically at the public meetings, along with any recommendations for improvement.
Bill Kruse
Bill I am sure you will find fault in those Commissioners too. You people are never satisfied.
ReplyDeletePlease tell me what has occurred for me and "my people" to be satisfied with? I am hopeful that the new Commissioners will do an excellent job and congratulate them on their appointments. Anyone who rose to the position of Battalion Chief must be a stand up guy. And to be a financial analyst in todays complex world is significant accomplishment. BK
DeleteUnlike you Anonymous, whose satisfaction must be your own involvement in the rip-off. PMUA is sooooo different, no wonder it translates to outrageously high rates.
DeleteYou are right that "we people" do not blindly accept what is thrown to us. "We people" expect our elected and appointed officials to be honest and ethical and do what is right for Plainfield.
DeleteTime will tell how the PMUA commissioners will represent Plainfield, and we hope they represent us well.
Do you care at all at how the other commissioners acted in representing you?