Councilwoman Diane Toliver began her plea for help "for our brave ones" just after a presentation by Finance Director Ron West. She said after hearing Fire Chief Frank Tidwell mention a cracked pipe during last week's budget deliberations, she visited the firehouse herself. The first thing she noticed was a strong odor of mold and mildew, she said, as a result of an ongoing problem with old pipes.
Toliver asked City Administrator Rick Smiley when he was made aware of the problem and after further remarks from her, Smiley said he was not given information.
"I will look into it," he said.
Toliver had urged repairs at once so the firehouse would not be without heat next winter and wanted the money allocated in the current budget.
"I was appalled," she said. "Our bravest do not discriminate in whose house they go to."
Though compelling, the request seemed out of line with the established process for capital improvements, as mandated by the state Department of Community Affairs. It involves review by both the governing body and the Planning Board and specifically prohibits expenditures that are not in the Capital Improvement Plan. As a freshman member of the council with less than six months' experience, Toliver may not be aware of the process, but it is surprising that Tidwell would apparently not be following it to help solve a chronic plumbing problem.
The other situation also hinged on an emergency, according to Smiley. Council President Bridget Rivers had denied Mayor Adrian O. Mapp's request last Monday to add an item to the agenda, namely hiring of engineers. Rivers asked Smiley to confirm whether, after she expressly denied Mapp's "walk-on" item, an engineer was hired the next day.
Smiley answered that an engineer was hired on a per diem basis to sign off on road openings and PSE&G matters. The utility company is currently upgrading power lines in the city as mandated by the grid operator, PJM. The project received Zoning Board approval in May 2014 and work may continue through 2015.
The city gave up an in-house engineering division several years ago in favor of contracting with an outside firm, most recently Remington & Vernick. But Smiley said, "To date, we don't have an engineer."
Rivers said the per diem engineers "have no grounds to be paid." Rivers and Smiley disagreed whether Remington & Vernick were actually in "holdover" status.
Corporation Counsel Vernita Sias-Hill cut the exchange off by saying it fell under the category of potential litigation and could only be discussed in closed session, whereupon the public was ordered out of the courtroom for about 20 minutes. No more was said on the subject when the council reconvened in public session.
The incident was another in a series where a council majority denies something the administration wants or needs, and the administration then does a work-around to make it happen. In this case, certain actions need sign-off by an engineer. If the council wants one firm and the administration prefers another and can't get council approval, it's a stand-off. All the city web site says under Engineering is, "Please visit again for updates."
--Bernice
Rick Smiley admitted that he did know about the cracked pipes at the Fire Division but informed Councilwoman Toliver that he would discuss the issue \with Chief Tidwell. The cracked pipes problem was also discussed at the budget hearing last Wednesday. Chief Tidwell is making this Administration aware of the needs at the Fire Division but unfortunately they are not listening. As one commenter posted said last week, "he is not liked by the rank and file." This says it all. The people of Plainfield are paying close attention. The chickens will soon come home to roost and everyone will know the truth. As for you Bernice, stop insinuating about what Chief Tidwell is not doing and giving your personal generalization and then printing something that is not based on facts. The wise thing to do is to speak with Chief Tidwell directly about what he is doing for the Fire Division.
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't Sharon take care of it since this is a long standing issue. Perhaps you should be asking that instead of attacking the current administration and not giving them time to respond. I understand that Toliver doesn't have a clue and she can learn, but as someone else says here, "do some research".
Delete"I was appalled," she said. "Our bravest do not discriminate in whose house they go to." ...ahhhhhhhh yes indeed, but a majority on our City Council most certainly discriminates against common sense, fiscal responsibility and those who work for the community and not themselves... Save the song and dance Diane, you found a photo op and seized it... , if you Boss says let that pipe spray them with raw sewage, you and your buddies would recommend the hole be made bigger.
ReplyDeleteIf council women Toliver found a photo opt then be it as it may. The truth is that the administration is just ignoring the needs of the fire department. This administration knew about the truck, they knew about the cracked pipes and they did nothing about it. The fire department in in need and someone is going to get really hurt. What is the administration waiting for a fatality.
ReplyDeleteChief Tidwell need to stay away from the bars and take care of the needs of the fire department. Ask the fire department Union. They have done a VOTE of no CONFIDENCE on him. Now the public see why. He have not been taking care of his employees. First to find out that they need a fire truck and nothing was done, now to find out that they have mold, bad pipes its just a disgrace.
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't Tidwell bring issues like the lemon fire truck to the attention of Sharon since he knew about it in 2013? How about last year? Now he takes Toliver on a tour to show her a cracked pipe and to take advantage of her not understanding how capital improvement projects work. I feel sorry for Toliver listening to his excuses, he does nothing for the division and then gets caught driving drunk, thats part of why the rank and file have lost respect. Less of that and more paying attention to the needs of the city. 1:34 am, you say "unfortunately they are not listening" meaning the city? When the chief delays informing the city of problems like the lemon truck just so he can give Jerrys kids ammunition to go after the mayor, who is not listening? His rank and file told him about the problem truck and about the cracked pipe and he has done nothing but waits to try to embarrass the administration. The problems in that fire house have been ongoing long before the new mayor came in. So the chief is saying that up until 2014 everything was fine at that station? thats why the rank and file don't like him, they see through his playing politics with their health. He's been the chief for years, the administration has been in office for a little over a year. Do the math. All the chiefs problems didnt come overnight but were years in the making, the cracked pipes and other problems. What has he done to address this over the years? I mean the 8 years of the previous administration? Why blame the new administration and not the old? He is a poor manager and the rank and file are at their wits end. Ask them, 1:34 so you will know why they want him gone.
ReplyDeleteIf a former reporter such as yourself Bernice would do just a little research, you will find that the plumbing issues have been a part of the FD's CIP request for annually for nearly a decade. Instead of Plainfield's political opponents pointing fingers at each other and members of the fire unions trying to sabotage the fire chief because he doesn't give into their every demand, then just maybe the truly horrific conditions that exist within the FD facilities might be addressed.
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