Tuesday's City Council meeting turned fractious more than once and should be a blockbuster episode on the community television channels for its tell-all ending about a mayoral dispute in the West End.
In public comment, residents described a confrontation with the mayor over a weekend carnival that tantalized children who could not afford $35 for rides. Allegedly unresponsive at first, the mayor showed up and had words with parents over the cost, residents said, before she donated tickets. There was a lot more to the tale, so check Channel 96 or 34 for the Oct. 9 meeting.
Before the explosive ending, the council saw two outbursts, one over rejection of a Veterans' Awareness Day event planned for Oct. 14 and another over seniors' objections to naming the Senior Center for a single late member.
"Explain what this is all about," Councilwoman Bridget Rivers said to representatives of the group that had already advertised the veterans' event at Plainwood Square.
Rev. David L. Wyatt said numerous businesses had agreed to take part in the event meant to raise awareness of needs for housing and assistance for veterans and anyone unable to "do for self." But Councilwoman Rebecca Williams noted the city had just dedicated the July Fourth parade to veterans and they would also be honored on Veterans Day in November. Marianne David, executive director of Transitions International, said the group chose the October date because of the weather. David said it was "still in the vicinity" of Veterans Day, but by November, "We don't know whether it is going to snow."
The group planned to have performers, speakers and vendors Sunday, but Williams said organizers should have come to the council long before "four days before the event."
Council President Adrian Mapp expressed concern over closing South Avenue for the event, which brought bakery owner Lew Demeter to the microphone to say the district lost thousands of dollars while the street was closed for repairs, and not one council member came to his business. He said the street would not be closed, but the group had been advised by the City Clerk's office to use Plainwood Square park instead of his parking lot for the event.
"Now you're throwing a monkey wrench in this," Demeter said angrily.
City Clerk Abubakar Jalloh said the council was only being asked to approve use of the park, but the vote failed, 3-3-1, with Vera Greaves, William Reid and Bridget Rivers voting "yes," Annie McWilliams, Cory Storch and Williams abstaining and Mapp voting "no."
In another controversy, Senior Center members objected to a resolution naming the center for Charles Louis Nelson, who led the group's building committee through planning for a new center at 400 East Front Street. Nelson passed away just before the new center opened.
Center President Mazie Wormley told the council that members preferred not to name the center for just one person, but to have a "tree of life" honoring the many "heroes and sheroes" who worked on getting a new center. Center official George Gore also said the members did not want the center named for anyone.Correction: Gore suggested the "tree of life."
"Table it and go talk to the seniors, or don't approve it at all," Gore said.
Resident Dottie Gutenkauf added her objections, saying to single out one person was "a disservice to all."
But when it came to a vote, council members agreed to amend the resolution to have a plaque with names of all the building committee members and others, but still to name the center for Nelson.
Gore stood up and shouted that there would be a petition against the move, adding, "You want to play politics? I'll show you how to play politics."
Gore stormed out before the vote on the amended resolution, which passed 5-2. McWilliams, Rivers, Storch, Williams and Mapp voted "yes" and Greaves and Reid voted "no."
Plaintalker will report on other council topics later.
--Bernice
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
PMUA Looks Ahead
New equipment, new collection strategies and an improved vehicle tracking system are all on tap for the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority four months into its leadership under Executive Director Dan Williamson.
Staff members presented slide shows on initiatives that Williamson said will make the authority, which provides solid waste and sewer services to Plainfield, more efficient.
Larry Chambers, assistant superintendent of the Rock Avenue transfer station, described a plan to replace the current citywide recycling collection of 10 zones each Wednesday. By picking up five zones each in the East and West ends of the city on alternate weeks, he said, wear and tear on the fleet and employee fatigue will be lessened. An analysis of accidents showed that in 2010 the majority took place on Wednesdays, Chambers said.
The authority will also try collecting bottles and cans separately from paper to garner a better payout from recyclers, he said. A special effort will be made to get "premium paper" from schools and offices to increase revenues, Chambers said. The new schedule will be advertised widely in November and December before launching in 2013.
Williamson said he wants to make sure the ratepayers "understand how important they are in this equation."
Staffer Robert Kearney presented information on fleet maintenance, citing the need for five rear loaders, two front loaders, one "Easy Dump" truck, a large excavator and a sweeper/vacuum to replenish the aging stock. The equipment will be leased over three to five years, Williamson said.
The new equipment will increase morale and provide quality service, Kearney said. For example, new front loaders would replace old ones that use cumbersome winches and cables to lift the trash containers and the 4-cubic yard EasyDump trucks could reach "troublesome" spots where large trucks can't fit. Purchase of the excavator would obviate the need to rent one at $6,000 per month, as the authority expects a new lower dumping rate to increase outside business.
The sweeper/vacuum should help the authority avoid water quality violations at the transfer station, which abuts the Green Brook. Kearney said it will help workers be "environmental stewards."
Ragesh Patel of the authority's IT department gave a slide show on a proposed GPS system that would replace one that will become obsolete by June 2013. The new one will enable tracking of all 51 vehicles in the fleet for $16,000 per year, a savings of $35,000. Benefits include greater visibility, improved service levels, instant alerts and "powerful reports" on fleet usage, Patel said. The equipment even allows for "geo-fencing" to keep vehicles within set boundaries. Later in the meeting, commissioners approved a contract with Modus Group LLC for the new GPS system.
Commissioner Malcolm Dunn asked Williamson to include him and Commissioner Carol Brokaw in capital budget discussions for 2013. He said he was impressed by the presentations, but didn't want to have "champagne taste with a beer pocketbook."
"We recognize that there's a tapestry involved," Williamson said of the skeins of activity in the presentations.
Correction: The correct titles for the staff are Larry Chambers-Assistant Superintendent of Collections, Raj Patel-CIO of Information Technology and Robert Kearney-Assistant Superintendent of Transfer Station Operstions/Fleet Operations
--Bernice
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Doubleheader: PMUA and Council
Ratepayers and taxpayers will be busy Tuesday (Oct. 9) trying to follow the action first at the 6 p.m. PMUA meeting and then at the 8 p.m. regular City Council meeting.
An interesting item on the PMUA agenda is the possible award of a contract to Modus Group LLC for GPS tracking of vehicles. A check online uncovered tracking strategies such as "breadcrumb trails showing vehicle location history" - shades of Hansel and Gretel! Having seen trucks pull up on my block at many odd hours, sometimes two at a time, I think this sort of tracking could be very useful in reviewing and fixing schedules.
PMUA meetings are usually short, so even pedestrians such as myself should be able to get from Roosevelt & Second to 325 Watchung Avenue without missing anything.
The UEZ salary issue that I wrote about from Seattle is not on Tuesday's agenda, nor is a proposed liquor license transfer that had been up for discussion at the Oct. 1 agenda-fixing session.
There are several additions and new items. One is a $1.2 million "Contract 4" for road repairs. It's getting kind of late for road work. According to the city web site, Contracts 2 and 3 are to start soon as well.
As Plaintalker guessed, the Senior Center is to be named for Charles Louis Nelson, who faithfully worked for completion of the new center at 400 East Front Street, Tragically, he died before seeing it open. Naming the center for him is an appropriate tribute.
New items under "Corporation Counsel" include two payments for mayoral legal costs, one of which is nearly double what is stated as the original authorized amount of $10,000. Dr. Yood and Councilwoman Rebecca Williams have already stated their objections to these payments and there may be more commentary Tuesday. One item is for legal representation in the mayor's lawsuit against the City Council and the other is related to the hearings on the WBLS debacle. Growth through unity, eh?
Besides the $1.2 million road repair contract, there are three other roadway improvement-related items on the agenda totaling $611,740.
Under new items, there is a resolution honoring author Ethel Washington and one for the appointment of Sherri Golden as deputy city clerk.
One item that is probably a story in itself is a resolution recognizing Plainfield Auxiliary Police Captain Robert Gilliom for 30 years of service. Years ago, auxiliary police officers were appointed at every annual reorganization in January. These individuals are all volunteers who help with traffic control at large events and perform other public safety-related duties, though they are not members of the Police Division. More recently, the auxiliary police have had less of a role. But Auxiliary Police Captain Robert Gilliom will receive recognition for his "dedication, leadership and service" over his long tenure.
This is the last meeting before the November general election. Tuesday, Oct. 16 is the last day to register to vote on Nov. 6. The City Council will take an election hiatus and will pick up its schedule with a Nov. 13 agenda-fixing session and a Nov. 19 regular meeting. Don't forget, on Nov. 6 you can vote for school board members this year. The presidential election tops the ticket and the Third Ward and Citywide at-large council seats are up this year. Look for your sample ballot in the mail and study it before going to the polls.
--Bernice
An interesting item on the PMUA agenda is the possible award of a contract to Modus Group LLC for GPS tracking of vehicles. A check online uncovered tracking strategies such as "breadcrumb trails showing vehicle location history" - shades of Hansel and Gretel! Having seen trucks pull up on my block at many odd hours, sometimes two at a time, I think this sort of tracking could be very useful in reviewing and fixing schedules.
PMUA meetings are usually short, so even pedestrians such as myself should be able to get from Roosevelt & Second to 325 Watchung Avenue without missing anything.
The UEZ salary issue that I wrote about from Seattle is not on Tuesday's agenda, nor is a proposed liquor license transfer that had been up for discussion at the Oct. 1 agenda-fixing session.
There are several additions and new items. One is a $1.2 million "Contract 4" for road repairs. It's getting kind of late for road work. According to the city web site, Contracts 2 and 3 are to start soon as well.
As Plaintalker guessed, the Senior Center is to be named for Charles Louis Nelson, who faithfully worked for completion of the new center at 400 East Front Street, Tragically, he died before seeing it open. Naming the center for him is an appropriate tribute.
New items under "Corporation Counsel" include two payments for mayoral legal costs, one of which is nearly double what is stated as the original authorized amount of $10,000. Dr. Yood and Councilwoman Rebecca Williams have already stated their objections to these payments and there may be more commentary Tuesday. One item is for legal representation in the mayor's lawsuit against the City Council and the other is related to the hearings on the WBLS debacle. Growth through unity, eh?
Besides the $1.2 million road repair contract, there are three other roadway improvement-related items on the agenda totaling $611,740.
Under new items, there is a resolution honoring author Ethel Washington and one for the appointment of Sherri Golden as deputy city clerk.
One item that is probably a story in itself is a resolution recognizing Plainfield Auxiliary Police Captain Robert Gilliom for 30 years of service. Years ago, auxiliary police officers were appointed at every annual reorganization in January. These individuals are all volunteers who help with traffic control at large events and perform other public safety-related duties, though they are not members of the Police Division. More recently, the auxiliary police have had less of a role. But Auxiliary Police Captain Robert Gilliom will receive recognition for his "dedication, leadership and service" over his long tenure.
This is the last meeting before the November general election. Tuesday, Oct. 16 is the last day to register to vote on Nov. 6. The City Council will take an election hiatus and will pick up its schedule with a Nov. 13 agenda-fixing session and a Nov. 19 regular meeting. Don't forget, on Nov. 6 you can vote for school board members this year. The presidential election tops the ticket and the Third Ward and Citywide at-large council seats are up this year. Look for your sample ballot in the mail and study it before going to the polls.
--Bernice
Monday, October 8, 2012
In Memory of Francis M. Meeks III
The city has lost an iconic figure with the passing of Francis M. Meeks III.
Mr. Meeks was born here, graduated from Plainfield High School, founded and conducted a successful business for 36 years,and then served as a member of the City Council for 15 years. He died Oct. 1 at the age of 95. His devotion to the city and its people will be long remembered.
I got to know Mr. Meeks when I began covering City Council meetings for the weekly newspaper Plainfield Today in the early 1980s. He always reviewed his packet ahead of time and elicited more information, if needed, before voting on any matter. He also made sure any typos were corrected and that rules of parliamentary procedure were followed. He set a very high standard as an elected legislator and made exemplary constituent service his hallmark.
If all this makes him sound rather staid, let me assure you he had a wicked sense of humor and the joie de vivre of a much younger man when I knew him. He looked at life in Plainfield without blinders and did what he could to make it better.
Mr. Meeks worked hard for the Republican Party locally and also found his political acumen appreciated at the state level. He, along with former Republican council members Donna Vose and Jon Bramnick, left an enduring legacy of service to Plainfield.
On a personal note, when I was living on Putnam Avenue and working as a reporter, I had a sciatica attack that left me debilitated and in great pain. Mr. Meeks found out about it and convinced me to let him take me to a chiropractor he knew in Fanwood. I hesitated, thinking it might be a breach of the journalists' code. But then I realized Mr. Meeks saw it only as helping a Second Ward constituent in need and expected nothing more than the satisfaction of doing so. It was a great lesson to me to accept his help on that basis, rather than to suffer alone.
My sincere condolences to`Anita and the Meeks family on the passing of a great man and a faithful Plainfielder.
--Bernice
Mr. Meeks was born here, graduated from Plainfield High School, founded and conducted a successful business for 36 years,and then served as a member of the City Council for 15 years. He died Oct. 1 at the age of 95. His devotion to the city and its people will be long remembered.
I got to know Mr. Meeks when I began covering City Council meetings for the weekly newspaper Plainfield Today in the early 1980s. He always reviewed his packet ahead of time and elicited more information, if needed, before voting on any matter. He also made sure any typos were corrected and that rules of parliamentary procedure were followed. He set a very high standard as an elected legislator and made exemplary constituent service his hallmark.
If all this makes him sound rather staid, let me assure you he had a wicked sense of humor and the joie de vivre of a much younger man when I knew him. He looked at life in Plainfield without blinders and did what he could to make it better.
Mr. Meeks worked hard for the Republican Party locally and also found his political acumen appreciated at the state level. He, along with former Republican council members Donna Vose and Jon Bramnick, left an enduring legacy of service to Plainfield.
On a personal note, when I was living on Putnam Avenue and working as a reporter, I had a sciatica attack that left me debilitated and in great pain. Mr. Meeks found out about it and convinced me to let him take me to a chiropractor he knew in Fanwood. I hesitated, thinking it might be a breach of the journalists' code. But then I realized Mr. Meeks saw it only as helping a Second Ward constituent in need and expected nothing more than the satisfaction of doing so. It was a great lesson to me to accept his help on that basis, rather than to suffer alone.
My sincere condolences to`Anita and the Meeks family on the passing of a great man and a faithful Plainfielder.
--Bernice
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Tenants! It's Heat Season!
Heating
Requirements. Except
as hereinafter stated, from October 1 of each year to the next succeeding May
1, the interior of every dwelling unit or rooming unit, bathroom and water
closet compartment shall be maintained at least at sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit
(68°F) whenever the outside temperature falls below fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit
(55°F) during the daytime hours from six (6:00)
a.m. in the morning and eleven (11:00) p.m. in the evening. At times other than those specified,
interiors of units of dwelling space
shall be maintained at least at sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit (65°F) whenever the outside
temperature falls below forty degrees Fahrenheit (40°F).
Except as hereinafter stated, from May 1 to October 1,
every dwelling unit, rooming unit, bathroom and water closet compartment shall
be maintained at a temperature of sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit (68°F) during the daytime
hours from six (6:00) a.m. in the morning and eleven (11:00) p.m. in the
evening whenever the outside temperature falls below fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit
(55°F). At
times other than those specified, interiors of units of dwelling space shall be
maintained at least at sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit (65°F) whenever the outside
temperature falls below forty degrees Fahrenheit (40°F).
If you don't have heat, you can call Inspections at (908) 753-3386 and get help.
If you don't have heat, you can call Inspections at (908) 753-3386 and get help.
"Best Practices" Score Limits State Aid
Any Plainfield resident with an interest in municipal government would be well advised to take a look at the 2012 "Best Practices" inventory for which the city received a 66 percent score. Based on that score, the city will receive only 1 percent of the final 5 percent of state aid for the year. But someone who follows local government closely might think that even some of the "yes" answers for best practices are dubious. For example, the administration claims that all contracts are reviewed and approved by the corporation counsel and a qualified purchasing agent, but has either been in place since July?
And how about the "no" answer on whether the three last budgets and the 2012 proposed budget are online? South Plainfield, where the city's acting chief financial officer is CFO as well as borough administrator, has its proposed 2012 budget statement online, if you want to see what we're missing. Every municipality has to submit this document to the state, so basically it just has to be scanned in to be online locally. It even includes the state aid amounts (CMPTRA and ETR) affected by "best practices" scores.
Among other answers, the city said "no," it does not publish all salaries online, nor is there an up-to-date assessment of all grant-funded programs. A property revaluation is not being considered, nor is employee time and attendance reviewed. The entire document should be on file in the City Clerk's office.
The Plainfield City Council is supposed to certify Tuesday that it has reviewed the Best Practices Inventory as prepared by the chief financial officer. If the acting CFO is still only giving the city from five to eight hours of his time weekly, can he possibly have the same grasp on city practices that a full-time CFO might have?
As a CFO himself, Council President Adrian Mapp has pushed for proper fiscal practices in the Plainfield administration, but he cannot do more from the legislative branch than advocate for best practices. The administration has been relying on a part-time CFO for most of the year and the latest announced strategy to get a full-time one is to take the search to the annual League of Municipalities conference in November. Meanwhile, the adminstration could also do some soul-searching on its practices involving both fiscal and personnel issues as reflected in the 2012 inventory. Fix the "no" answers and make sure the "yes" answers are truly correct, and maybe things will go better in 2013.
--Bernice
And how about the "no" answer on whether the three last budgets and the 2012 proposed budget are online? South Plainfield, where the city's acting chief financial officer is CFO as well as borough administrator, has its proposed 2012 budget statement online, if you want to see what we're missing. Every municipality has to submit this document to the state, so basically it just has to be scanned in to be online locally. It even includes the state aid amounts (CMPTRA and ETR) affected by "best practices" scores.
Among other answers, the city said "no," it does not publish all salaries online, nor is there an up-to-date assessment of all grant-funded programs. A property revaluation is not being considered, nor is employee time and attendance reviewed. The entire document should be on file in the City Clerk's office.
The Plainfield City Council is supposed to certify Tuesday that it has reviewed the Best Practices Inventory as prepared by the chief financial officer. If the acting CFO is still only giving the city from five to eight hours of his time weekly, can he possibly have the same grasp on city practices that a full-time CFO might have?
As a CFO himself, Council President Adrian Mapp has pushed for proper fiscal practices in the Plainfield administration, but he cannot do more from the legislative branch than advocate for best practices. The administration has been relying on a part-time CFO for most of the year and the latest announced strategy to get a full-time one is to take the search to the annual League of Municipalities conference in November. Meanwhile, the adminstration could also do some soul-searching on its practices involving both fiscal and personnel issues as reflected in the 2012 inventory. Fix the "no" answers and make sure the "yes" answers are truly correct, and maybe things will go better in 2013.
--Bernice
Saturday, October 6, 2012
More Seattle Scenes
If you ever get a chance to visit Seattle, go! You will love it.
--Bernice
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