Mayor Adrian O. Mapp has proposed establishing the job three times previously.
Both Councilman Cory Storch and resident Alan Goldstein have asked for more information to provide a rationale for the position. The city web site now has a post entitled, "The Case for a Fleet Manager of the City's Motor Pool" which breaks down various aspects including a detailed list of vehicles, costs of supervision currently and the official job description from the state Civil Service Commission.
The list includes the recently acquired military vehicles, some of which are pictured above.
Because there was no consensus to move the item to the regular meeting agenda for a vote on Aug. 17, the governing body, if so inclined, would have to add it and an accompanying salary ordinance as new items.
The meeting is 8 p.m. Monday in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
--Bernice
As with the still-to-be-investigated North Avenue demolition, the City, when challenged, has opted for a flurry of quantity over quality. Twenty-six pages of documentation still don't answer the questions regarding to whom the Manager Motors will report, in which department the motor pool will be placed, or how subordinate employees may be hired or shuffled to create a centralized fleet management system. There is nothing about how the system will be budgeted, or what the vehicle requisition process will be. I accept that the City would likely save money in salaries, maintenance costs, and purchasing, and benefit from the redeployment of certain personnel. But we need to know how the centralization will work. What will be the organizational structure? Will some outsourced functions be able to be handled in-house? What are the staffing requirements? Just the Manager Motors? A word to the Administration; give us a few flowcharts and spreadsheets that answer these questions. Tell us how other municipalities handle the same issue. Make a better case.
ReplyDeleteWell said and should be pretty easy to put together. My guess is that this is a smart move but people like to see numbers and details to back it up. Now getting the council to read it is another matter but its worth putting the information together anyway - even if our Council people struggle to comprehend basic information.
DeleteWhy the purchase of military vehicles, anyone know?
ReplyDeleteMunicipalities were offered free military surplus vehicles and Plainfield took some.
DeleteThe City report states the city owns 10 military Humvees! Why? When I drive past the police lot I always see these types of vehicles just sitting there. If the reported value is $10k a piece sell some of them (maybe keep 1 or 2 tops) and put the cash to better use please.
ReplyDeleteRichard Stewart
This statement sounds great but it is more of a Fox news type "shoot from the hip" comment than anything based in reality. The 1033 program was establish by congress to provide excess DOD equipment to states and local governments. The equipment is provided free but the state/local government must pay for maintenance and also keep a very detailed inventory of the equipment that is or can be audited. Failure to maintain inventory results in suspension from the program. It is not provided free so it can be sold - and it is also military equipment so some of it is really not meant for civilian use or ownership. So putting the cash to better use sounds great but there is no cash to put anywhere - other than maintenance which is minimal.
DeleteThen the city can save on the maintenance fees and use that money for better use. The city can also request items that can be put to better use.
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1033_program provides a list of items that the city could use more often then military vehicles. Shots from the hip can still hit the mark.
Richard
Actually it doesn't - its really just majoring in the minors. But good to see you got google working. Not sure about wikipedia as a source but its a start.
DeleteWhich one would you pick?
ReplyDeleteSome of the other most commonly requested items include cold weather clothing, sand bags, medical supplies, sleeping bags, flashlights and electrical wiring. Grenade launchers and vehicles such as aircraft, watercraft and armored vehicles have also been obtained.
Each department head can manage their own fleet. It is not hard work! The City can use the $100,000 that it would spend on salary and benefits for a fleet manager to repair and maintain the equipment they now have. How about repairing the street sweeper we never see cleaning the streets?
ReplyDeleteI believe it is called economies of scale.
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