2014 PMUA Reorganization
Before the vote Monday to replace Malcolm Dunn and Cecil Sanders as PMUA commissioners, Dunn's brother Danny urged the City Council not to make a change, citing the pair's business acumen and calling Sanders "a successful architect." He also praised Union County Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Green for various contributions to the authority's success, including the expansion of service contracts with other municipalities.
"The chairman is the person we have to go to," Dunn said.
So are Green, Dunn and Sanders a package deal? Danny Dunn seemed to think so, saying it would be going backwards to put new people in.
The council moved on to interview commissioner candidate Henry V. Robinson, a 31-year veteran of the Plainfield Fire Division and 50-year city resident. Having retired as a battalion chief, Robinson said he felt "people have to take ownership of something."
"The city is part of my fabric," he said.
Councilman Cory Storch said while no one complains about the PMUA workers, people are very concerned about the rates.
"What's your perspective?' he asked Robinson, who said he agreed with Danny Dunn that the cost could be brought down through the shared services contracts.
Councilwoman Gloria Taylor, taking part by telephone, objected strongly both to Mapp's offering names at a special meeting and to holding the meeting itself on a stormy night.
"This is a fraud and not an acceptable way to do this," she said, calling it a "sneak attack."
"We have no knowledge of who these people are and should not be doing this."
Actually, the council had previously interviewed the other candidate, financial analyst Michelle Graham-Lyons.
Councilwoman Rebecca Williams said it was "past time" the council took action, as terms had expired and there was a need for "fresh eyes."
Malcolm Dunn's term expired on Feb. 1, 2014 and Sanders' term expires next week.
As expected, Taylor voted "no." Councilwoman Tracey Brown, a former PMUA commissioner, abstained. Storch, Williams, Diane Toliver and Council President Bridget Rivers voted "yes." The new commissioners will be seated at the Feb. 10 PMUA reorganization. Graham-Lyons will serve until Feb.1, 2019 and Robinson's term is to Feb. 1, 2020.
Mapp previously tried to change the makeup of the authority by offering four names in January 2014, but all were rejected. In February 2014, on the eve of the PMUA reorganization, Mapp won council approval of his nominee Charles Tyndale to replace holdover Alex Toliver.
Mapp attempted further changes in April, October, November and December of 2014. His predecessor, former Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, made a lame-duck attempt in 2013 to secure long terms for Dunn and Sanders and also to appoint her confidential aide to the PMUA.
The board has five commissioners and two alternates who can only vote if needed for a three-person quorum. One alternate seat is vacant and as of Feb. 1, Charles Eke will become a holdover in the other seat.
--Bernice
If Councilwoman Taylor wants to talk about fraud and the PMUA she can start with then-Council President Malcolm Dunn telling the public on January 1, 1998 that the City was not paying anything to PMUA for operations, though by April that year, in a passing remark to a citizen's question, admitted for the first time that in fact the City was paying the Authority $1.2 million a year.
ReplyDeleteIt was the same Dunn who the previous spring compared his understanding of the Inter Local Agreement to his understanding of the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. "Of course he understood the overall documents", read the minutes of the April 7, 1997 Council meeting, "but there could be a word here or there that he did not understand".
At the same meeting, Corporation Counsel Lisa Love explained that any amendment to the agreement would require a parallel ordinance by both the City Council and PMUA's Board of Commissioners.
A month earlier, PMUA attorney Glenn Scotland told the public about a $2.3 million Solid Waste Lease PMUA would make to the City per Section 203 of the Inter Local Agreement. This was the lease of the Transfer Station, and was based on a PMUA Board-certified estimate of disposal costs that was to appear in the City budget, and would be adjusted by a complex reconciliation of actual to estimated costs.
Apparently it was too complex for our officials, who then secretly conspired to jettison the estimation and reconciliation requirements of the ILA, eliminate the lease, and cut PMUA a check for $1.2 million a year, no questions asked, and artificially bolstering Authority cash flow ahead of a $16.4 million bond issue.
As recently as last November, PMUA Executive Director Dan Williamson told the intrepid Ms. Paglia about leasing the Transfer Station, per the ILA, but this is not so in any way shape or form.
To further the fraud, beginning in 1998 the City added a new budget line entitled PMUA Revenue Sharing on which it books PMUA's Sewer Lease, but masks the absence of any revenue sharing as spelled out in the ILA. In June 2010, PMUA Chairman Harold Mitchell ceremoniously presented the City with a check for $1.5 million, which then-City Administrator Bibi Taylor said "represented the Authority's typical budget contribution for revenue sharing". Not one of PMUA's honchos in attendance, and there were many, would correct this falsehood by informing the public that it was the annual Sewer Lease payment, and that not a penny of revenue sharing has ever been paid by PMUA to the City.
Topping off the fraud was PMUA's seven-year process of subtly massaging the notes to its financial statements to eliminate references to the absent Solid Waste Lease. It was five years before there was even an acknowledgment that the agreement had been altered, and no amendment has ever been discussed publicly, or vote taken to legally amend the contract.
Remarkably, the fraud began within 10 short weeks of the ILA's effective date in October 1997, and continues unabated to this day. If she is looking for fraud, the esteemed Councilwoman Taylor can begin with this.
Alan,
DeleteWe are so tired of you rants about "Fraud" and "Illegal" activities at the PMUA it is nauseating. The regulatory bodies (Division of Local Government Services, State Comptrollers Office, and even the County Prosecutors Office that you went to) have found that none of your claims are valid. Enough Already. The problem is that the PMUA is not conducting business how you would like to see it done. If there was any fraud or Illegality, someone would have been prosecuted by now.
Anonymous- Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
DeleteAlan, we love your rants about "Fraud" and "Illegal" activities at the PMUA it is refreshing that someone has the backbone to speak up.
DeleteThe regulatory bodies are still interested in this issue, and I look forward to a report from them. The problem is that some people will just take anything handed to them, and have more time to watch Survivor than try to right an injustice.
Great job - keep it up!!!!
"We have no knowledge of who these people are" - Gloria Taylor
ReplyDeleteSince Taylor was participating in the meeting by phone this statement has to do with the color of the prospective commissioners skin and nothing else.
I think you are indulging in Plainfield's favorite sport, jumping to conclusions.
DeleteCouncilwoman Taylor forgets that she interviewed a person recommended for one of the boards. And had that person come back for an interview because she did not remember her interviewing them. A special meeting was called specifically so she could interview the candidate - AND SHE NEVER SHOWS!!!!
ReplyDeleteCouncilwoman Taylor is correct when she said she was loyal to Jerry Green. If ever there were two people cut from the same nasty mold, there they are.
Councilwoman Taylor - please resign.
Alan, again you are right on target. Thank you for your tireless efforts in bringing PMUA frauds to the public. They are greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteHas Fraud and / or Illegal activities been confirmed? Am I missing something?
DeleteAlan Let's consider the practical side of the issue. The PMUA does not have any surplus to share. I am not certain what would occur if the PMUA was required to fulfill its obligation under the terms of the ILA? One might think that since a portion of the Bond principal is retired annually, thereby reducing the subsequent years interest obligation, that this cost reduction would yield rate reductions . The reason it is not occurring is because the Bond maturities exceed the useful life of the capital equipment purchased with the initial Bond proceeds. Currently, and into the future, the maintenance of the old equipment, and cost of new equipment, must be funded from current revenues.
ReplyDeleteI am curious as to whether Commissioner Dunn's request for a $60,000 10 year budget projection was implemented? And, whether the City Council intends to accept Mr. Williamson's offer to reappear before the Council and respond to any questions presented to him in writing by the Council prior to his reappearance?
Bill Kruse
ReplyDelete"This is a fraud and not an acceptable way to do this," she said, calling it a "sneak attack."
"We have no knowledge of who these people are and should not be doing this."
--- Yes Councilor Taylor, because your philosophy of keeping the architects of the $1,000,000 GIVEAWAY is so beneficial to the residents of Plainfield. You are the fraud Councilor because you claim to represent the people when you are merely protecting the self interests of those who are comfortable robbing the public coffers with your and Jerry Green's consent.
"Sit down and shut up", as one of your undeniably more esteemed Council members is known to say..