When he moved from the Second Ward to the Third Ward in September 2014, Jeffery Dunn did not change his voter registration. Instead, he used his business address at 320 Park Avenue in the First Ward, and even voted at Barlow School. It was not until April 4 - the filing date for the June 7 primary - that he changed his driver's license and voting address to 1038 Central Avenue.
"I realized I had to dot the i's and cross the t's," Dunn said. "I didn't get around to it. I thought it was important to do it before I registered as a candidate."
Dunn was one of three people who met the 4 p.m. filing deadline that day. The others were Charles McRae and Alma Blanco. Dunn's residency came into question soon after. The city's special charter says a candidate must be "a legal voter" and must have lived for one year in the ward he or she wants to represent.
Dunn testified at a two-hour hearing Monday and the outcome will be known by Wednesday, the deadline for rulings on challenges to a candidate's filing. Former Plainfield Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson spoke for Dunn as a "friend." Attorney Robert Renaud represented the objector, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and current Corporation Counsel David Minchello conducted the hearing. Renaud said candidates are required to comply with the legal requirements of the state and of the city's charter and said he would rely on various documents. They included a voter registration on Nov. 20, 2014 giving an address of 320 Park Avenue, a voter sheet from Nov. 3, 2015 with the same address, voter records dating back to 2007 with Dunn never have voted in the Third Ward. He said the records were "more than sufficient to show that the candidate was not a legal voter."
"It is incumbent upon the prospective candidate to prove he was a legal voter," Renaud said.
Dunn traced events including the short sale of his Belvidere Avenue home to moving his family into the capacious Central Avenue home, then his divorce. His reason for using the Park Avenue address, he said, was for privacy concerning the divorce. When Renaud asked whether he requested to be registered as a voter at that address, Dunn said he did not request. When Renaud asked again, Dunn said, "I responded to the document."
"Let me try this once again," Renaud said, but Williamson objected, saying Dunn did whatever the driver's license required.
Dunn had a crossing guard from Cedarbrook School testify that he saw Dunn leave the Central Avenue address every morning and also had his mother, Flora, testify that he lived there. But Renaud asked for proof such as tax returns, credit card bills, cell phone bill, checks or even magazine subscriptions to prove the Central Avenue address was his "legitimate domicile."
"Despite the testimony, there is no proof," Renaud said.
As the hearing concluded, Williamson questioned the process and said historically there has been a summary decision review. "I understand the fabric of this town," he said, predicting the public "will read about all of this as early as today."
"This wasn't necessary," Williamson said.
--Bernice
Monday, April 11, 2016
Dunn Residency Hearing Today
--Plainfield City Charter
A hearing will take place at 2 p.m. today (Monday, April 11) in City Hall Library, 515 Watchung Ave. on challenges to petitions filed by Jeffery Dunn for the June 7 primary. Dunn filed on April 4 to run for the Third Ward City Council seat, giving 1038 Central Avenue as his address. Challengers are disputing his residency.
Sunday, April 10, 2016
IT Services Contract Up for a Vote Tonight
A computer consulting and services contract that Finance Director Ron West said would put the city in "far better shape" met with criticism from Councilwoman Gloria Taylor last week and might be one of the few controversial items on Monday's agenda.
The request for the services, including Cloud storage and various upgrades, follows a recent "ransomware" attack on Plainfield municipal computers.
In public comment before council review of the agenda, resident Alan Goldstein raised pay-to-play concerns about the $37,600 contract with Sysnet Solutions, but Corporation Counsel David Minchello said it did not fall within the categories of contracts subject to pay-to-play rules.
When the item came up for a consensus to put it on the April 11 agenda, Taylor questioned a $500 campaign contribution and why there was no bidding. Minchello said the company had "proprietary information."
"It appears to be a little shady," Taylor said.
Councilwoman Diane Toliver also questioned West, who said the company had "better tools and better equipment," but Toliver said," So the $37,000 is just the beginning of safeguarding our system. How much more are you going to come back (with)?"
Documents in the council packet note a $2,500 monthly cost in the future for all the services once the initial work is done. The city will not have to purchase new servers for three to five years, will not have to pay for server maintenance and will also save on power and cooling costs.
West said compared to numbers from other companies, Sysnet cost "substantially less while providing more."
"They have the intelligence that will put us in far better shape," West said, adding equipment will be paid for by the vendor and the city will not have to buy it.
Taylor said the deal was "not acceptable" and called for it to be moved off the agenda, linking it somehow to the mayor being on television.
Councilwoman Bridget Rivers said it seemed the city was in violation of its own pay-to-pay laws and accused Minchello of "dancing around" the issue.
West said the company was not subject to the law and Minchello repeated that the ordinance referred to professionals who hold licenses, such as engineers, lawyers and auditors.
"It is not ethical in my judgment, come on," Taylor said.
Council President Cory Storch said he was in favor of moving the resolution to the agenda, noting the city was attacked and had downtime. He likened the situation to "a nationwide advertisement to hackers to come in and attack us." Saying the city would lose a lot more than $37,000, he urged action on the resolution.
"Other municipalities were hacked," Rivers said. "Did the director of IT reach out to other IT?"
West said professionals were consulted.
"A major part of our intent was to get this done," he said. "Otherwise we are at risk because we are not as strong as we should be."
Councilman Barry Goode asked what was in place now, and West said the city has services, "but there is a need for backup."
At that point, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp said it was "important not to put a lot of information out there on security."
Asked whether there were any other quotes, West said another one was for $65,000. Rivers asked if there were three and said, "In the future, give the council all that information."
Councilwoman Rebecca Williams said she thought the resolution should be moved to the agenda as it was "really critical" to protect residents and staff.
The 20-minute discussion ended with Taylor calling for a consensus and all agreed to move it to the Monday (April 11) agenda.
--Bernice
The request for the services, including Cloud storage and various upgrades, follows a recent "ransomware" attack on Plainfield municipal computers.
In public comment before council review of the agenda, resident Alan Goldstein raised pay-to-play concerns about the $37,600 contract with Sysnet Solutions, but Corporation Counsel David Minchello said it did not fall within the categories of contracts subject to pay-to-play rules.
When the item came up for a consensus to put it on the April 11 agenda, Taylor questioned a $500 campaign contribution and why there was no bidding. Minchello said the company had "proprietary information."
"It appears to be a little shady," Taylor said.
Councilwoman Diane Toliver also questioned West, who said the company had "better tools and better equipment," but Toliver said," So the $37,000 is just the beginning of safeguarding our system. How much more are you going to come back (with)?"
Documents in the council packet note a $2,500 monthly cost in the future for all the services once the initial work is done. The city will not have to purchase new servers for three to five years, will not have to pay for server maintenance and will also save on power and cooling costs.
West said compared to numbers from other companies, Sysnet cost "substantially less while providing more."
"They have the intelligence that will put us in far better shape," West said, adding equipment will be paid for by the vendor and the city will not have to buy it.
Taylor said the deal was "not acceptable" and called for it to be moved off the agenda, linking it somehow to the mayor being on television.
Councilwoman Bridget Rivers said it seemed the city was in violation of its own pay-to-pay laws and accused Minchello of "dancing around" the issue.
West said the company was not subject to the law and Minchello repeated that the ordinance referred to professionals who hold licenses, such as engineers, lawyers and auditors.
"It is not ethical in my judgment, come on," Taylor said.
Council President Cory Storch said he was in favor of moving the resolution to the agenda, noting the city was attacked and had downtime. He likened the situation to "a nationwide advertisement to hackers to come in and attack us." Saying the city would lose a lot more than $37,000, he urged action on the resolution.
"Other municipalities were hacked," Rivers said. "Did the director of IT reach out to other IT?"
West said professionals were consulted.
"A major part of our intent was to get this done," he said. "Otherwise we are at risk because we are not as strong as we should be."
Councilman Barry Goode asked what was in place now, and West said the city has services, "but there is a need for backup."
At that point, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp said it was "important not to put a lot of information out there on security."
Asked whether there were any other quotes, West said another one was for $65,000. Rivers asked if there were three and said, "In the future, give the council all that information."
Councilwoman Rebecca Williams said she thought the resolution should be moved to the agenda as it was "really critical" to protect residents and staff.
The 20-minute discussion ended with Taylor calling for a consensus and all agreed to move it to the Monday (April 11) agenda.
--Bernice
This Week's Meetings
Monday
City Council Regular Meeting
8 p.m., Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
Tuesday
First CBAC/ Council Budget Meeting
7 p.m., Senior Center, 400 E. Front St.
Wednesday
LWV BOE Candidates' Forum
6:30 p.m., ALD Room,
Plainfield Public Library, 800 Park Ave.
Thursday
PMUA Board Meeting
6 p.m., 127 Roosevelt Ave.
City Council Regular Meeting
8 p.m., Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
Tuesday
First CBAC/ Council Budget Meeting
7 p.m., Senior Center, 400 E. Front St.
Wednesday
LWV BOE Candidates' Forum
6:30 p.m., ALD Room,
Plainfield Public Library, 800 Park Ave.
Thursday
PMUA Board Meeting
6 p.m., 127 Roosevelt Ave.
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Third Ward Candidate's Residency Challenged
Plainfield Chamber of Commerce President Jeffery Dunn told the City Council last Monday that he is running for the Third Ward "to be part of the solution," but the first thing he may have to solve right now is the issue of his residency.
Dunn gave his address on the April 4 filing deadline as 1038 Central Avenue, home of his father, Malcolm Dunn. The city special charter requires a council candidate to be a resident of a ward for one year before seeking election to represent it. Challengers are alleging he gave a First Ward address when he voted last year. A hearing on Monday (April 11) may determine the outcome, or Dunn may take it to court.
The other filers for the Third Ward seat were Alma Blanco, 928 Grant Ave. and Charles McRae, 1228 Hazel Ave.
There is also a Citywide at-large seat up for election, with incumbent Councilwoman Tracey Brown seeking re-election and Councilwoman Rebecca Williams, currently representing the Second and Third Wards at-large, challenging her. All the filers are Democrats and winners in the June 7 primary will get the Democratic line on the November ballot.
The last big residency case came up in 2006, when some residents questioned whether Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs had been a "legal voter" in Plainfield for four years before seeking the mayoralty, as the charter requires. A judge decided the four years did not have to be consecutive, but also ruled that the complainants failed to take action at three possible junctures to object, so the case was out of time.
--Bernice
Dunn gave his address on the April 4 filing deadline as 1038 Central Avenue, home of his father, Malcolm Dunn. The city special charter requires a council candidate to be a resident of a ward for one year before seeking election to represent it. Challengers are alleging he gave a First Ward address when he voted last year. A hearing on Monday (April 11) may determine the outcome, or Dunn may take it to court.
The other filers for the Third Ward seat were Alma Blanco, 928 Grant Ave. and Charles McRae, 1228 Hazel Ave.
There is also a Citywide at-large seat up for election, with incumbent Councilwoman Tracey Brown seeking re-election and Councilwoman Rebecca Williams, currently representing the Second and Third Wards at-large, challenging her. All the filers are Democrats and winners in the June 7 primary will get the Democratic line on the November ballot.
The last big residency case came up in 2006, when some residents questioned whether Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs had been a "legal voter" in Plainfield for four years before seeking the mayoralty, as the charter requires. A judge decided the four years did not have to be consecutive, but also ruled that the complainants failed to take action at three possible junctures to object, so the case was out of time.
--Bernice
City To Settle Police Misconduct Case for $600,000
A woman who complained of Plainfield police misconduct in 2011 will receive a settlement of $600,000.
Kimah Connelly filed a lawsuit in 2013 alleging, among other things, violation of her civil and constitutional rights resulting from the July 2011 incident. While the resolution up for a City Council vote Monday does not spell out details, the date of the incident is the same cited in the sentencing of a former police sergeant who was found guilty in 2013 of official misconduct.
The settlement will be paid with $30,000 from the city's self-insurance fund and $570,000 from the Joint Insurance Fund and the Municipal Excess Liability Residual Claims Fund.
Kimah Connelly filed a lawsuit in 2013 alleging, among other things, violation of her civil and constitutional rights resulting from the July 2011 incident. While the resolution up for a City Council vote Monday does not spell out details, the date of the incident is the same cited in the sentencing of a former police sergeant who was found guilty in 2013 of official misconduct.
The settlement will be paid with $30,000 from the city's self-insurance fund and $570,000 from the Joint Insurance Fund and the Municipal Excess Liability Residual Claims Fund.
Friday, April 8, 2016
Regarding "Grant Avenue Station"
My question about the "Muse" part of a name for a West End development apparently also triggered interest in the "Grant Avenue Station" part.
To my knowledge, there is no plan to rebuild a station on the former site, but the city will be emphasizing transit-oriented development in the West End based on available bus connections and possibly with connectors such as jitneys.
Back in 2006, there was a notion that Plainfield could have four "transit villages," two around the existing train stations and two around the Grant and Clinton stations, which no longer exist. Actually, the transit village designation goes to the municipality, not to an internal location.
In 2011, Plainfield's concept of four transit hubs sparked advice from development experts to get more involved in policy-making to make the most of its position on the Raritan Valley Line. Officials and residents began lobbying for the "one-seat ride" to New York and participated more in meetings of the Raritan Valley Coalition.
After more years of work and planning, Plainfield received transit village designation in March 2014. Limited one-seat rides also began that month.
While the two West End stations no longer exist, there are many buses serving the city. As noted in the article linked above, "Each weekday, riders can board any one of 35 buses to Newark, or 39 buses to New York. And just as importantly, seven bus routes provide access to local destinations, particularly those within Union County."
--Bernice
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
