I heard about a couple of situations Thursday that sound rather explosive, but need to ripen a bit more before becoming actual news. To those who think I can make a difference by blogging about the rumors, let me say that I would rather wait on the facts. That's all I can say right now.
--Bernice
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Excellent decision !!!! There are enough topic of interest people could "Guest Host" Information to you about [ will back yard gardens yield tomatoes like they used to or hopes for the new school year from the drama of dropping off at kindergarten - the tears on both sides - or the Football teams prospects] to entertain us until Christmas [sorry ... Winter Holiday Season]
ReplyDeleteIf the Mapp Administration is looking to save money for Plainfield residents through outsourcing, it should first be looking at mechanical-type services that can easily be picked up by outside contractors working in a very competitive environment. First, get rid of the bloated PMUA bureaucracy and contract out sewer and solid waste services. Second, open up the bidding to replace most of the functions currently being handled by Public Works. Don't make token moves, don't eliminate homegrown brain power, and don't do anything before an in-depth provable analysis is developed, offered up, and considered. Serious changes can be made, but they require substantial groundwork and expert planning.
ReplyDeleteSo alan are you suggesting the frontline workers. Also known as your hardworking garbage man lose his job? the local economy is already a mess and are you suggesting that,we lose the few jobs that we have for now?
DeleteNot really, although getting rid of the bloated PMUA bureaucracy should be something to consider. But if the Mapp team wants to save money, it might as well look at where some real money is being spent. In any event, whatever the move may be, how it would work should be fully validated and discussed before it becomes just the typical fodder of your typical City Council meeting. Lots of people employed by the City work hard, and no doubt some hardly work. Let's all agree though that whoever gets laid off, or whoever just quits, should get a nice $725,000 payout like Eric Watson extorted from PMUA. Very few people complained when that forced layoffs and furloughs. Point is, it can't all be about the cash bottom line. If it is, well then you better just go where lots of money is being spent, because that's where you'll save the most.
DeleteExtorted ?explanation please.
DeleteIf the administration is contemplating outsourcing one of its divisions, it would be curious to know who is advising on this and why.
ReplyDeleteIn certain circumstances outsourcing is feasible and should be done as it is much more cost efficient to have an external vendor doing the work than managing in-house - such as Alan has referenced in his comments; in many instances, not such a good idea.
I hope the administration is carefully thinking about what they're doing and is able to answer the tough questions when they present, otherwise, it's going to seem like a shady and self-interested move, of which there already have been several. At some point you start losing credibility, no matter how many projects you're bringing in.
What are other Union County municipalities doing?
ReplyDeleteI believe only 2 in UC (Plainfield and Westfield) have NOT outsourced the dept to which Alan is referring.
Could this be a "best practice" recommendation?
The municipal budget is some 74 million dollars, 2/3 of it is Police and Fire (my guesstimate). I cannot imagine any substantial savings/benefit there would be from outsourcing the planning division.
ReplyDeleteSo yea Bernice, I have heard a similar rumor - and my inquiry to the Administration was answered by "it's a personnel matter". So the rumor wasn't denied or confirmed - your reader's can decide the relevance of that.
As Alan mentioned why would you want to "eliminate homegrown brain power". Our planning division, it's leadership, it's staff and it's talent are the jewel of city hall. Developers are now lining up to invest in our city. We need in-house talent to represent OUR interest as taxpayers and residents of Plainfield.
Last month during one of the planning board meetings the contracted engineers were testifying about the road restructuring project on east 2nd Street, (east of Leland). The board members questioned the engineers as to whether they were aware that there were railroad ties bulging out of the road from the days of the trolley. Not only were the out-sourced engineers unfamiliar with the conditions of the road they admitted never having visited it. CAN YOU IMAGINE. We pay these firms lots of taxpayer money. Is this what we want in our Planning Division.
Some may speculate that there is some financial benefit to a Politician's re-election fund from these firms. But that is not the case here in our City as we have laws that prohibit that, it's capped at $300. Though these laws do not apply to our County or State politicians. Now there ya go!
There must be something else going on here, something we don't know about. Let's just hope we got this all wrong, let's just hope it comes out before the September council meeting - this taxpayer demands it does.
I can think of many city jobs that could (and maybe should) be outsourced, but Planning is absolutely not one of them! The Planning dept handles not just "planning" but historic preservation, providing information to homeowners and potential buyers, zoning, and a whole host of other things. The staff is professional, knowledgeable, and hard-working. This is a department that is essential to the growth, development, and stability of Plainfield, and we need to keep it in-house with its highly competent staff.
DeleteI am amused at how we have so many experts on the workings of the city. Do you really know the inner workings of the department and how they interface with the administration? Where are all these people when it comes to going to council meetings, or budget hearings?
DeleteAlso, it is part of the Plainfield fiber that there MUST be something else going on and it could not possibly be that this move (if true) would make Plainfield a better and more efficient place in which to do business.
Lastly, to 9:08am -
I am not sure of your background, but outsourcing does reduce costs significantly. Here is how - you have finite costs because you pay by the project. You have a larger pool of businesses from which to choose, so you can negotiate project prices. Employees cost money - salaries, benefits, pensions in addition to having to incur additional costs when an employee is on vacation or leave. Plus the city is at risk for any kind of workman's comp if the employee gets hurt on the job. Outsourcing has no pension and benefits which citizens pay through the life of an employee. I think that is significant.
Maybe, just maybe, this might be a good thing for Plainfield. We will have to wait and see.
To 1:18 pm, this is 9:08 am but please just call me Jim,
Delete"Pay per project", How would this apply to inquires from residents about whether they have to replace their garage if they tear down their current one. Or if they need a variance for their fence, or a builder's inquiry to our TOD regulations? Would a "project" have to be set up and then we would have to "negotiate" the cost of the response to these inquiries? Since I don't have any background experience in these area how does that work?
And if outsourcing "reduces cost significantly" why don't we just outsource the biggest chunk of the budget, Police and Fire. No more "additional costs. . . .vacation or leave" or workers comp for the the fireman? and no more pensions? The Governor would love this - how come he didn't come up with this idea?
I just hope they still put the fires out and arrest the bad guys.
Jim, I think the person used the word "project" incorrectly. You would outsource the functional work. People would be assigned to do the work sans benefits and pension etc.
DeleteAlso, Jim, so you know, there have been several cities who have outsourced their fire and police departments, and have done it successfully. They are smaller in size than Plainfield, but if there is an appetite for reducing costs, you can create a model that will outsource some, and keep others.
You know the answer to why we don't do it - no council - past, present or future - would vote, or even broach the subject. But to your point, it does reduce costs significantly. -Jeanette
Maybe a certain developer is demanding this outsourcing. Inside rumors are that one of the developers,which is dear to the administration, is having a hard time meeting rules and regulations. Time will tell.
ReplyDeleteIf the Planning Board, in fact, is holding suspected developer's feet to the fire and the administration is trying to lighten the load, Mapp's chief-of-staff is no doubt pulling the his strings on all of this. There's a direct connection between mayor's sidekick and the unnamed developer who is likely to be making the recommendation -- I believe they co-own a property downtown and are extremely cozy.
DeleteNonsense -- same rules apply to all.
The Plainfield Planning Department is more than well equipped to do the job at hand, they are extremely knowledgeable, efficient and courteous; and, they are looking out for the interest of the city and its residents. A private firm is looking out for the best interest of their profit margin.
Possibly, yet another sneaky move on part of this administration. Keep losing credibility Mr. Mapp and you'll be facing a tough challenger in the next election. No, I'm not referring to any of your friends on the council. Oh yes, it's very possible.
Too bad for the developer--our city's needs should come first!
DeleteLalo, you have no clue what you are talking about. And I suggest you put "in my opinion" before you make accusations that you cannot prove because they are false.
DeleteAnonymous 2:20- How are we supposed to know you have any idea what you are talking about? Cretella has a track record of cheaping out and trying to cut corners. He seems over-extended. And we'll have to wait and see if he's gotten a free demolition on the North Avenue property he's foreclosing on.
Delete@Anon 2:20 - excuse my poor blog etiquette, please allow me to redeem myself:
DeleteIn my opinion, thou doth protest too much.
In my opinion, thou doth don't know what you are talking about.
DeleteTo 3:46pm - I do not know that any of what Lalo is talking about is true or not. That is my point. Plainfielders seem to think that their thoughts, ideas, assumptions, are fact.
DeleteYou may be absolutely correct in what you say about Cretella, but do you know that for a fact, or just assumption?
And if it turns out not to be true, will there be apologies as readily written as there are the accusations?
There are times when the employees of the department being outsourced become the consultants. This takes the cost of pension and benefits off the backs of the taxpayers. Maybe that will happen here.
ReplyDeleteQuite frankly, I don't understand the hub-bub. The council has to vote on this. They Mayor wants it, the council needs to vote on it hmmmmmm....... Seems to me everyone is getting themselves in an uproar over nothing.
The Mapp administration is starting to make the Green team look like angles
ReplyDeletePULEEZE!!!
Delete