Regarding Sept. 8 Discussion Items

Regarding the four discussion items on the Sept. 8 agenda:

City Council Newsletter - Council President Bridget Rivers asked Corporation Counsel David Minchello about it and Minchello said it will obviously depend on budget constraints. No further discussion took place.
Rivers previously brought it up in August and Plaintalker posted some details on the council's budget line.

Outside Counsel - Minchello said there is no separate counsel, only one corporation counsel (himself). The governing body can only have an outside counsel for a specific investigation or if the council is being sued. Councilwoman Gloria Taylor questioned the status of a request for proposals for special counsel, and Minchello asked, "What is the purpose?" Taylor said it was for an investigation of the March 21 North Avenue demolition, which she said was ongoing.
(Minchello was formerly Plainfield's corporation counsel in 2014, but left to become law director in Trenton in mid-year. He returned in July of this year after Mayor Adrian O. Mapp removed Corporation Counsel Vernita Sias-Hill.)

Crossing Guards - Rivers said crossing guards told her they only got a 22-cent raise.City Administrator Rick Smiley said the guards were included in a recent salary ordinance, but Rivers said the guards said they had not gotten a raise. Councilwoman Vera Greaves said if they only got 22 cents, it was an insult. Councilwoman Tracey Brown said they provide a vital service  Rivers again insisted the raise was 22 cents.
No one was present from the crossing guards to clarify the matter. In May, a large number of crossing guards came to a council meeting to protest not having a raise, but were informed of the salary ordinance that increased their maximum pay from $14.30 hourly to $19.

Ward Meetings - Rivers said the council used to hold meetings in each ward in past years and will resume with one on Sept. 29 for herself and Greaves. Rivers represents the Fourth Ward and Greaves holds the First and Fourth Ward at-large seat.
Greaves' term ends on Dec. 31 and one of the contests in the November 3 general election is for her seat, with Democrat Barry Goode and Independent Norman E. Ortega vying for a four-year term. No time or location for the meeting was announced.

So overall, the items were not conclusive and we must wait for further developments.

--Bernice