Thursday, May 7, 2015

Fingers Pointed in Police, Fire Budget Talks

In budget discussions Wednesday, Fire Chief Frank Tidwell targeted the administration of Mayor Adrian O. Mapp for not replacing a faulty aerial ladder truck which he said had proved to be a "lemon," and former Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs cited the model and license plate numbers of pricey vehicles purchased for Mapp and City Administrator Rick Smiley using police funds.

The revelations came as the City Council and its Citizens' Budget Advisory Committee launched 2015 budget deliberations with a look at the Police and Fire Divisions, which together represent a third or more of city expenditures, mostly for personnel.  Though it started out with standard questions about rationales for line items, some drama had been anticipated after council members chose Mapp's two most outspoken critics, Robinson-Briggs and former Councilman William Reid, to serve on the budget advisory committee. On Wednesday they were joined by a staff member from Assemblyman Jerry Green's office, a late nominee by lame duck Councilwoman Vera Greaves.

Robinson-Briggs began her comments by asking Public Safety Director Carl Riley, "For all the money you are requesting, last year and this year, are you using all the funds you request for the purpose your request was made?"

She then noted the purchase of two black Explorers and read out their license plate numbers, eliciting from Riley a confirmation that funds were transferred from the Police Division to the city administrator's office. Smiley then attempted a rationale, but Councilwoman Diane Toliver said, "What's the point?" and asked why they both couldn't share one vehicle.

"Because we haven't figured out how to be one person," Smiley retorted.

"Buying two vehicles at $26,000 a pop, with the mayor at work and you at work," Toliver huffed, and Robinson-Briggs purred, "I think we probably shed a little light," claiming as mayor she had used a car from the previous administration.

Regarding the fire truck, Council President Bridget Rivers asked Tidwell, "Your equipment - do you have the proper equipment?"

example of an aerial platform truck
Tidwell mentioned the aerial platform truck and Rivers said, "You're not telling me there's something wrong with that truck?"

"Unfortunately, we bought  a lemon," Tidwell said.

"Have you presented this to the administration, because they preach public safety?" Rivers asked.

Tidwell went on the explain he presented it to the administration "at least two months ago," though later he said he told the prior administration in 2013. The truck was purchased in 2007, he said.

"This is truly an urgent matter," Smiley said, but noted the $912,000 cost of a replacement and added, "Even if we had the money address it in a faster way, it would still not be available for eight to 10 months."

"Come on, we need this," CBAC member Dee Dameron said.

"What does the mayor think of this?" Reid asked.

Rivers asked what the administration intended, adding, "What are we waiting for, a fatality?"

After more discussion, Chief Financial Officer Al Steinberg said he was looking into options.

"If you are buying a piece of equipment for over a million dollars, you have to do some homework," he said.

A lease purchase plan would add $250,000 annually to the budget, and going through the Union County Improvement Authority without other municipalities would mean carrying 100 percent of the cost, he said.

The nearly three-hour meeting was taped for broadcast on local television channels, so viewers can decide for themselves what the meeting was all about. Reid reprised his past budget stance, saying, "I'm one that hate increases." He also went somewhat off topic by advocating for a youth center on Garfield Avenue and the rehiring of Roland Crawford as a youth mentor at the Hannah Atkins center.

"In this crazy old city that we live in, we have to try to get some good relationships," he said.

The session on the budget for the office of the mayor, originally set for tonight (Thursday, May 7) was canceled and will be discussed along with the Economic Development budget next Wednesday at 7 p.m. in City Hall Library.

--Bernice

11 comments:

  1. So the three useless party hacks ... one hates increases, but wants increases made to support his buddy being hired and new youth center... the other is critiquing the police dept for it's use of funds ( were it private 24hr security, I'm sure there wouldn't have been an false painted eyebrow raised by her ) and one has an issue with a fire truck and utters the words, "they preach safety" whilst sitting next to the leader of the Red Shirt Brigade who did nothing about it in 2013... more priceless moments from the half-wit brigade..the city would have been better off if they chose some high school students in remedial math instead of these 3 rocket scientists.

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  2. Mapp should work in casino. He knows how to shuffle the deck. And who is the staffer that Vera appointed ?

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    1. Pam Razo. Used to work for Jerry Green and now works for Union County Workforce. Ya gotta love it!

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  3. "Unfortunately, we bought a lemon," Tidwell said.

    Nonsense. It's not a lemon. It was a lousy decision to buy a lousy model. If it's simply a "lemon" then get it fixed. Bad decision making by those who only occasionally play at purchasing large complicated equipment sold by a huckster who happens to be a retired chief from somewheresville.

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  4. Reid helped cause the city to be underfunded last year and Robinson-Briggs couldn't balance a budget in eight years and Mapp had to save her butt. Rivers, Greaves and others on this Council are a joke and are still harming the city and not moving it forward.

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  5. I'm confused, did I read the truck they purchased in 2007 is a lemon? Wait, this is 2015 and NOW you want to bring it up??? And how is it the fault of this administration?

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  6. If you had cone to the budget meeting last night you might have gotten the complete story from fire chief Tidwell himself. This is a failed administration and just watch and see they will soon be leaving out in hand cuffs.

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  7. The fire chief informed past and present administration about this situation and they did nothing. Now our residents and the employee's of the fire division are at stake here. What is it going to take a death and a huge lawsuit that will be paid by our taxpayers. Come on people take off the blinders..

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  8. So wait, the truck was purchased in 2007. The problem was brought to the attention of Robinson-Briggs administration in 2013 and they did nothing. The chief then waits and says nothing in 2014 and then brings it to the attention of the Mapp administration 2 months ago as the budget is coming up and is trying to blame THIS administration? And now Rivers is trying to blame the administration? Is she mad that crime is down? Her sarcastic comment "they preach public safety" is a slap in the face of everyone in this city!

    And I quote: "Have you presented this to the administration, because they preach public safety?" Rivers asked.
    Tidwell went on the explain he presented it to the administration "at least two months ago," though later he said he told the prior administration in 2013. The truck was purchased in 2007, he said.

    Tidwell is not liked by the rank and file and he embarrassed the city by getting arrested for drunk driving and now he is attacking the administration? For what? He only brought the problem to their attention 2 months ago. And the administration is dealing with it! Why didn't Robinson-Briggs do anything about it back in 2013 when he brought it to her attention? Regarding it being a "lemon" what did Tidwell know and when did he know it? Shame on Tidwell.

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  9. People that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Tidwell was set up by the rank and file that dislike him. They are the real embarrassment to this city. Whatever happened to One Plainfield, One Future? I guess if you are not part of the clique you must watch your back because you'll get stabbed. I don't expect this to be posted but the truth will be prevail.

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    1. There is no One Plainfield, because Plainfield is NEVER the focus of what goes on here. It is all politics.

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