One of the most significant items on Monday's City Council agenda is a resolution to hire a new chief financial officer.
Municipalities are required to have CFOs, but they have become scarce. In the previous administration, years passed with no CFO in place. The mayor and council members faced daily fines of $25 each at one point for lack of a CFO. One was hired, but left after a year and the city then depended on a CFO from a neighboring municipality who could spare a few hours per week to see to Plainfield's fiscal integrity.
See the requirements and responsibilities of a chief financial officer here.
The new CFO is Richard J. Gartz, who served Freehold in that role and was also the acting chief municipal finance officer for Asbury Park. The resolution to hire him here indicates a term starting July 1 and continuing through the balance of Mayor Adrian O. Mapp's term, ending Dec. 31, 2017. It does not state his compensation, but includes a residency waiver
Mapp began his four-year term on Jan. 1, 2014 with the promise of a CFO serving concurrently. Ulrich "Al" Steinberg received an enthusiastic welcome. The city had not had a long-term CFO since Peter Sepelya resigned at the end of 2007. However, Steinberg left this year and the city has relied once again on a part-time CFO while searching for a new one.
The City Council meeting is 8 p.m. Monday, June 20 in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
--Bernice
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Its nice to see that this administration is putting the city's financial health up front. Let's hope Gloria doesn't make a big deal of him not being from Plainfield. It is often difficult to get a qualified person from Plainfield to fill these positions. I'd rather have a qualified person than someone who is chosen mostly because they live in Plainfield.
ReplyDeleteGloria should not have a problem. In the last administration, I don't believe any cabinet member was from Plainfield, and she did not speak up. So, if it is an issue now, I fear it is because of politics and not looking out for Plainfielder's best interest.
DeletePerhaps Steinberg left because he did not want to do the illegal manipulation of the City's financials requested/demanded by this administration.
DeleteDo you have any specific examples of this?
DeleteIf you are going to sling mud, give your name and facts. If Mapp started today trying to cheat and wreck the City, it would take him eight years to catch up with the highly questionable, often illegal acts performed by Sharon or in her name. The audit of the City's finances has proven that. If for Brown, Taylor, and Rivers didn't prevent a forensic audit, Ms. Robinson-Briggs might be behind bars. I still can't believe she is running for City Council. I guess she doesn't see what most of the voters see in her and that is not positive.
DeleteTo 2:38pm - I thought the same thing when Sharon wanted to get rid of Bibi. What did Sharon want her to do that was not right?
DeleteAnd Sharon Robinson Briggs is running for a council seat and she can't defend her administration while she was mayor. Why is she running? No CFO for years and she wants to represent somebody? That will be very telling who will be supporting her.
ReplyDeleteJerry Green will probably support her behind closed doors. The mayors of Union County and other powers that be told Jerry emphatically to stay out of Plainfield politics. If he continues then he should be deposed as the head of the County Democratic Committee and voted out of Trenton come the next election. What has he done for us in the past 24 years?
DeleteBob, remember it is the people of Plainfield who have allowed him to stay in office.
DeleteIf those people who stay at home, complain about Plainfield but do nothing would take an interest in this city and vote, he would have been out long ago.
I wouldn’t worry about SRB running for anything at this time she know she doesn’t have the financial support. Green has bigger fish to fry and is saving his funds for 2017.
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