Plaintalker will be checking today on reports of layoffs at the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority. Meanwhile, here is more from the May 5 joint meeting:
Among many topics raised when the City Council met this month with officials of the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority, Councilwoman Gloria Taylor urged PMUA Executive Director Daniel Mejias to help workers become "upwardly mobile."
Taylor, a retired educator and administrator, told Mejias she was glad he was giving her former students "a chance," especially those coming out of prison.
The authority has made a point over its 20-year history of being one of the few employers that welcomes parolees.
Taylor said the PMUA needs to help the staff she called "garbage men" to become upwardly mobile "so they can become effective citizens."
Sixty-three percent of PMUA employees are from Plainfield, something of interest because members of the governing body frequently stress the need for companies doing business in Plainfield to hire city residents.
Taylor said PMUA workers "need career ladders."
Mejias said the authority had promoted four people from within to managerial positions and the thought that he would bring in his own people wasn't the case.
Reacting to Taylor's characterization of some workers, Mejias, who introduced himself as someone with 22 years of experience in the solid waste industry, said, "When you say 'garbage man,' I stand before you as a garbage man."
Taylor said she did not mean her remark to be demeaning and again cited the need for a career ladder.
But while advocating a career ladder, Taylor also called the authority "top-heavy."
The same has been said about the city's Public Works Division, but Public Works Superintendent John Louise has described his supervisors as employees who have earned titles, but are still hands-on to get work done. In all probability, PMUA managers do the same.
Mejias said the number of PMUA employees was 171 in 2012, but is now 133, including commissioners. There are five commissioners and two alternates who vote only when needed to make a quorum. Currently, one alternate seat is vacant.
--Bernice
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Taylor always sounds like she has two personalities. On one hand she applauds efforts, and on the other she chastises them. Can't seem to make up her mind and have an opinion on anything. Weird.
ReplyDeleteMISS BERNICE
ReplyDeleteI HEARD A RUMOR THAT SUPER COP PRAYER WARRIOR OFFICER REID RETIRED IS THAT TRUE?
Why don't you go on over to Alma Blanco's blog? She was leading the fight for whatever Ken Reid was after. http://pulseofplfd.blogspot.com/2016/03/we-support-lieutenant-ken-reid.html
DeleteI didn't know Taylor taught in the Plainfield school system. When was that? She sounded grateful that her former students had a job. I thought the bulk of here retirement came from other municipalities.
ReplyDeleteShe frequently greets people who come to the microphone as her former students. Her pension data is online, including more than $78,500 a year from Paterson Board of Education. None from Plainfield.
DeletePMUA continues to knowingly overcharge sewer fees for residence that use lawn irrigation systems. This issue has been raised to the Board as well as the Mayor yet nothing is being done.
ReplyDeleteThis issue is more complicated than the pool issue. The water company won't read two meters, etc. From what I hear at the meetings they are working on it. The City Council liaison to PMUA should be your advocate.
DeleteBernice,
ReplyDeleteThe PMUA steadfastly refuses to adopt the much fairer sewer usage methodology of collecting water usage date for the months of November, December, January and February and multiplying the sum of those months times three, which would give an accurate estimate of sewer usage. Other communities use it because it excludes any non-sewer water usages (Gardens, lawns, and pools) and it doesn't require any additional meters. It has been suggested several times to the PMUA Board of Commissioners over many years and never has been adopted. It is yet another example, like a $27/month Shared Service Fee for the collection of less than 1% of the solid waste they collect, as a means of overcharging their customers to pay for the PMUA waste, abuse and corruption. Many other towns use a Winter-based water usage calculation for determining sewer fees because it is a much more accurate way to determine what water actually goes into the sewer.
Tom Kaercher
Would this mean that everyone's bill would be reduced since the usage will be lower once those 4 months are annualized?
DeleteYes !! I will be off to Florida so I have zero reading in winter which will then become zero per year !! Sounds fair to me !
ReplyDeleteFinding an equitable solution regarding sewer rates is a zero sum game. The PMUA is required by mandate to bill an amount sufficient to cover its costs. Said in a more callous way, whatever the PMUA chooses to spend, the public pays. If a more equitable basis is established for sewer charges the PMUA must seek the lost revenue elsewhere. People who sprinkle lawns will obtain a saving but they and others will pay though a different medium. What is irrefutable is that the only universally equitable solution is a reduction in the cost of operating the Agency which results in the ability to decrease rates across the board. Bill Kruse
ReplyDeleteI have preached this often: municipal government has to rely on tax revenues, but authorities decide their costs first and set rates to cover them.
DeleteThank you for posting my comment about the sewer overcharges due to lawn irrigation systems. I am in the process of putting together a web site (similar to Philip Charles' "DumpPMUA" site) for people to voice their concerns about these charges. If enough interested is gathered, I am considered a Class Action suit. PMUA and the Mayor are aware of my intentions. As an aside, I have been overcharged by almost $2,000.
ReplyDeleteYou know how Philip Charles lawsuit ended. He lost and wasted his time and you will have even less supporters than him. How many rich people do you think are complaining about their lawn irrigation system usage. Seems to me that if you can afford the system, then pay the bill
ReplyDeleteHey
ReplyDeleteI heard that you could get a separate meter for about $2000. Just get the meter, less aggravation