Yesterday a press release arrived regarding the revised city website, and crediting Chief of Staff John Stewart with its creation. There is a lot to like about the new web site and I recommend taking a spin through it if you have not done so already.
The innovation coincides with something I have been trying to report on, namely the return of IT Director Chris Payne to the school district. Mayor Adrian O. Mapp confirmed by email on Nov. 30 that Payne was no longer with the city. I had also emailed BOE President Wilma Campbell to ask about Payne's title and salary with the school district, having been unable to find a resolution on board agendas, but I received no response.
Payne came to the city in 2010 after nine years with the district, in the wake of numerous title changes under former Superintendent Steve Gallon III. His advent was preceded by speculation that the city job was being created with a specific person in mind.
Payne set forth an ambitious program for IT but concerns arose over costs and staffing.
Initially, former Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs assigned Payne to report directly to her, a move later corrected to place IT under one of the three departments mandated in the city's special charter.
The current situation is hard to decipher, as Payne is listed under district "Cabinet Staff" on one page of the district website, while former director Eugene Campbell Jr. is still listed as heading the Department of School Safety and Security.
The agenda for the Sept. 15 business meeting notes Campbell's resignation, effective as of Sept. 18.
My request for information on Payne's hiring remains unanswered. I asked to whom I should direct an OPRA request if the board president could not respond. Obviously, more inquiry is needed.
On the city side, the "chief of staff" title was approved by the City Council in November 2013, after first rejecting it. But a council majority cut funding for the post. Mapp used his administrative power to assign Stewart to a title of "assistant municipal clerk," although in communications Stewart still uses the title of chief of staff. Note: Mayor Mapp says the job was funded by title in the 2015 budget
More details on both the city and district rosters need to be gleaned for these personnel changes to be understood by the public. The shortcut would be for leaders to just say what's going on.
--Bernice
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Spending just a few minutes on the website, I did find that information seemed easier to access and navigate. I strongly hope that website will remove all canned photos of families who are clearly not residents of this city but actors.
ReplyDeleteRichard Stewart
You do not understand .... the names and titles have been changed to protect the identity of the GUILTY.
ReplyDeleteregardless of title, John Stewart did a great job on the website, looks great, a much more intuitive interface, seems like a lot more information was added (or just much easier to see and find now). The weekly newsletters are a great way to keep up to date on what's happening in Plainfield.
ReplyDeleteOne no-change- lack of community responsibility; the PCTV schedule shows only the Oct 13, Council meeting. It is now December, are we to assume that no November meetings were filmed?
ReplyDeleteThe mapp app wpuld be nice too but my security app considers it a threat as it collects phone number, contacts, and other info from your phone so suggested not to install it.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it called the mapp app anyway
It should reference Plainfield - it's not about the Mayor Mapp.
I agree Anonymous 10:41. It should be the City of Plainfield app. But this gives you insight into his dictator mentality. Mapp App??? Insult to the community.
ReplyDeleteTrust and believe John Stewart did NOT do all the work. He is known to take credit for work he didn't do. Proper credit needs to be given to ALL those involved in making the city website a success. The IT and Media department definitely played a huge role in this project.
ReplyDeleteWho did the work?
DeleteIt was a contract awarded feom am RFP. Pretty expensive.
DeleteAn outside contractor did the actual work, not to say John didn't have any input but he didn't do it alone. And for him to take all the credit and for Adrian to allow it is unfair.
DeleteAbsolutely - who is going to search the play store for Mapp? If I were looking for something pertaining to my City, I would search for Plainfield. Even if I don't go on the City Website, I could come across the App if I were searching.
ReplyDelete