David Minchello, the city's former corporation counsel who left to become Trenton's law director, is back in charge of Plainfield's in-house law division following the departure of Vernita Sias-Hill.
As reported by nj.com, Minchello left the administration of Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson as of July 1.
Mayor Adrian O. Mapp declined comment on Sias-Hill's exit, calling it a "personnel matter." He said Minchello, who retained the Plainfield title of city solicitor, is covering the office.
Jackson had been Plainfield's director of Public Works & Urban Development under former Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs since September 2011. He was so well-regarded that he was kept on by Mapp when he took office in January 2014.But it was no secret that Jackson wanted to be mayor of Trenton, having come close in 2010 when he lost to Tony Mack. Jackson filed to run for mayor in March 2014. After failing to get a majority in Trenton's May nonpartisan election, he won the runoff election in June 2014.
Plainfield City Administrator Rick Smiley served as acting director of Public Works & Urban Development.until former director Eric Watson was named to the post in September 2014.
Minchello took office as Trenton's acting law director in July 2014 and was confirmed in October 2014.In the nj.com article, Jackson is quoted as knowing Minchello's stay would be temporary. His resignation is reported to be effective on July 31.
The city lost a third key person to Trenton when Jackie Foushee, the city engineer assigned by Remington & Vernick, became Trenton's first female African-American director of Public Works. Foushee had a comprehensive knowledge of Plainfield's roads and infrastructure.
The City Council is on its summer schedule and will meet on July 13 and 20 and August 10 and 17. Council mavens will be looking for action on the next corporation counsel.
--Bernice
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Wow, changing of the guard after a few months in the position. Is this a "personnel" or "personal" matter? If the latter, then the story ends there. But if its the former, I think the public deserves a little bit more info. It would be nice to know that Plainfield changed its legal counsel for the right reasons.
ReplyDeleteRichard Stewart
I bet she will land a job with Union County, you know how that works, don't you richard.
Delete"Only a few months in office"? Where have you been?
Deleteto 10:38 Not sure the exact number but she was held the position for what less than a year? Where I've been is involved with my community and family not scouring the blogs to make snippy anonymous comments?
DeleteTo 9:21: No I dont know how that works. If you are referring to my wife what I do know is when your credentials include college graduate, law school graduate, NJ bar, counsel for the state assembly, job opportunities do opening up. Be man or woman enough to put your name when calling out someone else and challenging their credentials. I doubt you will compare to ours.
Richard
I think Sias-Hill is probably relieved to not be the city councilor. If you were at council meetings, you could see she was very uncomfortable answering questions. When Taylor confronted her about the purchase of cars by the Mapp administration, I thought she was going to cry.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I thought she was very weak, and did not represent the "entity" (citizens of Plainfield) very well.
I really think this is a good thing for her, and that secretly she is thankful. I wish her well.
I agree, she did not seem to portray confidence in answerig any of the tough questions.
DeleteRichard Stewart
Ms. Sias-Hill did an excellent job representing The City of Plainfield and "weak" nor "crying" was her thing. She was strong and sharp!
DeleteShe reminded me of good coffee -STRONG and BLACK!
Wishing you the very best Ms. Sias-Hill, Esq.
Signed -One Who Witnessed Her ESQueenllent Work!
You think this is changing of the guard? Are you aware of the revolving door in the Briggs administration? Sias-Hill would be considered an old timer by the former administration standards.
ReplyDeleteMinchello getting rich off Plainfield.bet you he won't live here.
ReplyDeleteWish Ms. Sias-Hill well in her new endeavors. City legal department did not show up for Order to Show Cause in January. Private citizens had to fight for Public Interest.
ReplyDeleteThe Order to Show Cause dealt with the Muhlenberg Trusts and Endowmwnts.
DeleteRichard Stewart is trying to stir up trouble. Sias-Hill had been a member of the new administration for a year and a half, coming in January of 2014--with the new administration. Where's he been. He is supposed to be a lawyer so he knows that administrations can't comment on personnel matters. I think Sias-Hill probably couldn't stand the foolishness of the crazy council members who made their disdain and disrespect for her clear. Who wants to work under those conditions. I wish her good luck, she was a very professional person but had to deal with amateurs who know nothing about the workings of a municipality and bang their gavel and attack with yelling and incompetence. Who needs that. She will find a better job than the nonprofessionals who run the council like bullies.
ReplyDelete10:05 agree with you 100% How she could put up with that level of incompetence for that long is commendable.
Deletehttp://ptalker2.blogspot.com/2014/07/hap-py-city-council-rendition.html
DeleteMs. Sias-Hill started in late July. #factsoveropinion
Richard
Mrs. Sias-Hill's departure had nothing to do with the City Council but everything to do with Mayor Mapp. She refused to compromise her license to do wrong for him. So he terminated her without prior notice! Minchello was waiting in the wings as she exited the door. That's it...that's all.
ReplyDeleteReally? Have you been to the council meetings and seen the verbal abuse she received from Gloria Taylor?
DeleteHaving had no prior Corporation Counsel experience, she was definitely in over her head. She didn't exude much confidence in her grasp of municipal law. City Administrator Rick Smiley is also a cabinet member who doesn't instill much confidence in his ability to handle his job. And cabinet member Eric Watson of Public Works, dancing from PMUA director to demolition artist, shows no great tendency to handle his jobs either honestly or ethically. OK, I got that all off my chest, but the Council...feh!
ReplyDeleteWho is handling the litigation to receive tax revenue from the Muhlenberg property? Plainfield supposedly filed prior to the recent ruling in favor of Morristown that has Somerville going after RWJ - Somerset. Time is important, I doubt any favorable findings will be retroactive to the closure of the hospital. A nonprofit hospital can still be required to pay property tax.
ReplyDeleteWhen is Dave Minchello moving to Plainfield. People do your homework he has made thousands of dollars off the taxpayers.
ReplyDelete