Passage of the $3 million bond ordinance required approval by five City Council members, but by 7:15 only three of the seven members had arrived. Deputy Municipal Clerk Sherri Golden allowed another five minutes, but then said the meeting could not be held due to lack of a quorum. Council members Cory Storch, Rebecca Williams and Diane Toliver were present in City Hall Library. Gloria Taylor, Vera Greaves, Tracey Brown and Council President Bridget Rivers were absent.
Grants from the NJ Department of Transportation and the Community Development Block Grant Program were to be added to the $3 million bond issue for a total of $4 million for the 2015 Road Improvement Program. Asked whether timing was an issue, Chief Financial Officer Al Steinberg said the Community Development Block Grant had a deadline and would be lost if not used.
"There is only a certain time to put in for reimbursement, and when the funds lapse, they lapse," Steinberg said.
The ordinance states the funds are for improvements that include, but are not limited to, all or part of Francis Lane, Linbarger Road, Loretta Terrace, Maxson Place, Shirley Street, Coolidge Street, Salem Road and Second Street. (Yes readers, I know it should be Frances Lane and Linbarger Avenue.)
Plaintalker posted some history on the road repair issue Monday.
Ordinances have to pass on two readings and then do not take effect for 20 more days. If the bond ordinance had passed tonight, the second reading could have taken place on May 11 or, if necessary, at a special meeting before the May 4 agenda fixing session.
Asked by email to comment, Mapp replied, "I was disappointed to learn that the meeting did not occur due to the lack of a quorum. We are doing all that we can to address the very bad condition of our roads and also to ensure that grant funds are used in a timely manner. We are still hopeful that the council will have two readings of the ordinance in May so as to avoid delays. This would require a special meeting during the month of May."
--Bernice
inexplicable
ReplyDeleteBernice, This ordinance will be on the agenda on Monday and it will pass.There was no need to have a special meeting when Monday is a scheduled agenda fixing meeting.Cory stop grandstanding for your election.
ReplyDeleteThe mayor needs to stop. When he misses meetings everybody understands, but when others miss meetings for legitmate reasons he throws them under the bus.Council members have been complaining about sreet conditions for years, especially Vera, and Brown has tried to get attention for Maxon Pl.also.Mapp is a hypocrite.
ReplyDeleteThe Mayor is not obligated to make meetings. The council is.
DeleteAnother example of Plainfield council people over the years putting political nonsense ahead of doing what is right for the city and its residents. What the heck - lets lose grant money - our taxes only pay for it. Who cares if our roads are crappy. How can they live with themselves? This is a despicable Plainfield pattern.
ReplyDeleteI emailed the absent members and Bridget Rivers has responded that she was out of the country and had informed the clerk's office accordingly.
DeleteI did not know Pennsylvania was out of the country. (Being silly)
DeleteBusiness as usual for Jerry's kids--prevent Mapp from picking up the wreckage that is our inheritance from 8 years of Sharon.
ReplyDeleteThey are paid to show up to meetings. They should not be paid when they do not attend meetings no matter the reason !
ReplyDeletePeople this will pass,calm down and stop being so critical and mean it will pass,everybody in town wants better streets.Can we for one minute give the council and the mayor a break.Lets get these steers fixed and have a party.Black and white,Jew and Gentile, Democrat and Republican. For once let's come together.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they were inspecting East Second Street from Leland to Berckman. Another FAILED paving job by our Engineer in charge.
ReplyDeleteI think all City Council members need to drive Plainfield streets. Let's try East 2nd from Watchun to Park and they can see that going over ten miles per hour can be dangerous to your car. If Bridget was out of the country, I'd check the validity of that, then where were the others. Grants don't wait and need to be approved ASAP. Let's hope they do this. We lost millions of dollars in grant money because of Sharon and we have a mayor who is finding grant money to save tax payers money, so let's get this going and stop playing political games. Get rid of Jerry and Jerry's kids and maybe something will get done to make our home better.
ReplyDelete