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2014 Agenda Sessions
Mondays 7:30 p.m.
Municipal Court
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2014 Regular Meetings
Mondays 8 p.m.
Municipal Court
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Jan. 13
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Jan. 21 (Tuesday)
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Feb. 3
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Feb. 10
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March 3
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March 10
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April 7
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April 15 (Tuesday)
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May 5
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May 12
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June 10 (Tuesday)
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June 16
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July 7
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July 14
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Aug. 11
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Aug. 18
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Sept. 2 (Tuesday)
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Sept. 8
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Oct. 6
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Oct. 14 (Tuesday)
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Nov.
10
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Nov.
10 (COMBINED)
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Dec. 1
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Dec. 8
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Dec. 15
(for 2015 reorganization)
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Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Your 2014 Council Calendar
Read Sergio's Stories
Sergio Bichao has two A-1 stories about Plainfield in today's Courier News. If you can get a copy or read them online, do so. I saw them online yesterday and read them again in the digital newspaper. Very interesting, especially the one on the Public Safety leadership controversy.
The City Council will hold its first agenda-fixing session at 7:30 Monday in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave., and the regular meeting will follow on Tuesday, Jan. 22 in the same location.
The City Council will hold its first agenda-fixing session at 7:30 Monday in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave., and the regular meeting will follow on Tuesday, Jan. 22 in the same location.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Some Transition Report Items
I finally got all the way through the 97-page Transition Report that Mayor Adrian O. Mapp says he will use a a "guidepost" for his administration. A lot of the points have already been mentioned by others; I will take the liberty of picking a few things I found interesting.
Roads
For all the ruckus over road repair in the past eight years, I was surprised to see just one mention - not of the road program itself, but of the impending due dates for repayment of principal and interest to fund the work. Some may recall that a 2004 study became a 2005 five-year plan to carry out road repair across the city. Work fell behind and then there was the question of reordering priorities through a new study. The work was re-cast from plan years to "phases" and the last comprehensive overview I remember was one former Councilman Rashid Burney posted on his web site. It would be good to know where things stand from both the work and funding sides as the new administration takes charge.
Communications
There is a recommendation for a Communications director, who could also be the Public Information Officer.Heaven knows the city needs a better mechanism for informing the community as well as the world at large what is going on in Plainfield. The old model is to hold press conferences and the like, but newspapers are so short of staff that it might be easier to make part of the web site itself a news outlet, as suggested in the report, and get into social media in a manner appropriate for a municipality. I agree that the current use of YouTube for council meetings is not appropriate, though it is very expedient for people who don't have cable and just want to see the action. As noted in the report, there is a lot of good information on the web site, but it is not easily navigable and that needs to be fixed.
July 4th Celebration
There was a suggestion that a committee be formed to work on the July 4th event. An all-Plainfield committee was established by ordinance several years ago, after the other six or seven towns dropped out of the planing and funding process. No one was ever named to the committee and the work was done by an ad-hoc group. It got to where no one was willing or able to account publicly for the expenses incurred. During an investigation of costs for a 2010 Town Meeting aired on WBLS, it came out that money was paid for WBLS vans to be in the parade. Perhaps having a committee operating under the Sunshine Law would give greater transparency.
A broader events committee might be able to make a start of rejuvenating the Outdoor Arts Festival as well.
That $1,125,000 in FEMA Money
After being told I imagined it, I was quite thrilled to see a mention of the FEMA allocation for Plainfield that Sen. Robert Menendez announced a while back. Click here to read about it. I hope it is still accessible and that someone in City Hall can find a way to claim it for Plainfield.
The report suggests formation of a number of committees, but I would like to see some less formal ways for the average person to become more engaged in civic matters, even if it is just through feedback. It appears the mayor is going to make himself available for various "listening" opportunities.
If you can, read the report in full here and see what you think. It was a lot of work and the team's credentials, listed at the end, are highly impressive. They all deserve our thanks.
--Bernice
Roads
For all the ruckus over road repair in the past eight years, I was surprised to see just one mention - not of the road program itself, but of the impending due dates for repayment of principal and interest to fund the work. Some may recall that a 2004 study became a 2005 five-year plan to carry out road repair across the city. Work fell behind and then there was the question of reordering priorities through a new study. The work was re-cast from plan years to "phases" and the last comprehensive overview I remember was one former Councilman Rashid Burney posted on his web site. It would be good to know where things stand from both the work and funding sides as the new administration takes charge.
Communications
There is a recommendation for a Communications director, who could also be the Public Information Officer.Heaven knows the city needs a better mechanism for informing the community as well as the world at large what is going on in Plainfield. The old model is to hold press conferences and the like, but newspapers are so short of staff that it might be easier to make part of the web site itself a news outlet, as suggested in the report, and get into social media in a manner appropriate for a municipality. I agree that the current use of YouTube for council meetings is not appropriate, though it is very expedient for people who don't have cable and just want to see the action. As noted in the report, there is a lot of good information on the web site, but it is not easily navigable and that needs to be fixed.
July 4th Celebration
There was a suggestion that a committee be formed to work on the July 4th event. An all-Plainfield committee was established by ordinance several years ago, after the other six or seven towns dropped out of the planing and funding process. No one was ever named to the committee and the work was done by an ad-hoc group. It got to where no one was willing or able to account publicly for the expenses incurred. During an investigation of costs for a 2010 Town Meeting aired on WBLS, it came out that money was paid for WBLS vans to be in the parade. Perhaps having a committee operating under the Sunshine Law would give greater transparency.
A broader events committee might be able to make a start of rejuvenating the Outdoor Arts Festival as well.
That $1,125,000 in FEMA Money
After being told I imagined it, I was quite thrilled to see a mention of the FEMA allocation for Plainfield that Sen. Robert Menendez announced a while back. Click here to read about it. I hope it is still accessible and that someone in City Hall can find a way to claim it for Plainfield.
The report suggests formation of a number of committees, but I would like to see some less formal ways for the average person to become more engaged in civic matters, even if it is just through feedback. It appears the mayor is going to make himself available for various "listening" opportunities.
If you can, read the report in full here and see what you think. It was a lot of work and the team's credentials, listed at the end, are highly impressive. They all deserve our thanks.
--Bernice
Recuperating
A Jersey Salute to Dan for saying I am "running late" for work at the aggregation plantation!
I was home sick last night and missed the meeting. Thanks to David Rutherford for posting the State of the City address. I was also able to start reading the Transition Report that is posted online.
Regarding the budget, it seemed like one of those things that should have been anticipated, but having seen outgoing mayors spring things on their successors before, perhaps there was no way to avoid the messiness.
Since I can't report on something I did not attend, I will comment as soon as possible, given my current limitations.
--Bernice
I was home sick last night and missed the meeting. Thanks to David Rutherford for posting the State of the City address. I was also able to start reading the Transition Report that is posted online.
Regarding the budget, it seemed like one of those things that should have been anticipated, but having seen outgoing mayors spring things on their successors before, perhaps there was no way to avoid the messiness.
Since I can't report on something I did not attend, I will comment as soon as possible, given my current limitations.
--Bernice
Monday, January 6, 2014
Crazy Weather
Tonight's Reorganization
Having been ill with one thing or another for two weeks now, I doubt I can venture out to the reorganization tonight. There should be lots of coverage, between PCTV and other bloggers and maybe even the print media.
Besides selection of a council president and chairman of the whole, the major decisions will be those regarding Mayor Adrian O. Mapp's cabinet. Here is a score card based on proposed nominations. These are for the full four-year term, concurrent with the mayor's, even though some have already been on the job in acting capacity. the nominations of Riley, Sanchez and El-Amin are new items, meaning the resolutions first have to be approved by a council vote. The new items come in close to the end of the meeting. Those with resolutions on the regular agenda are Smiley, West, Jackson, Minchello, Jalloh and Sherry
Besides selection of a council president and chairman of the whole, the major decisions will be those regarding Mayor Adrian O. Mapp's cabinet. Here is a score card based on proposed nominations. These are for the full four-year term, concurrent with the mayor's, even though some have already been on the job in acting capacity. the nominations of Riley, Sanchez and El-Amin are new items, meaning the resolutions first have to be approved by a council vote. The new items come in close to the end of the meeting. Those with resolutions on the regular agenda are Smiley, West, Jackson, Minchello, Jalloh and Sherry
Cabinet
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City administrator
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Rick Smiley
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Dir., PA&S
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Siddeeq El-Amin
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Dir., AFH&SS
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Ron West
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Dir., PW&UD
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Eric Jackson
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Deputy City Administrator
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Carlos Sanchez
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City Clerk
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Abubakar Jalloh
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Police Director
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Carl Riley
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Treasurer
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Diane Sherry
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Corporation Counsel
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David Minchello
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While there are numerous appointments for Municipal Court judges, prosecutors and public defenders, the new items include the nomination of Joy R. Spriggs, Esq. as public defender. As previously covered by Plaintalker, family and friends beseeched the mayor to keep her on in 2014 due to her need for health care for her husband. As noted above, a new item must first be moved to the agenda by a council vote before action can be taken on it.
Public comment is sure to add drama to the reorganization. The public may comment on resolutions before the council votes on them, and at the end of the meeting people may speak on any topic.
The position of chief of staff was created by ordinance and a salary band was established, but it is a direct mayoral appointment and does not require council advice and consent. There is somewhat of a precedent for such support staff in the title of "confidential aide," created in 2006. Two individuals were hired, one to serve the former mayor and one to serve the city administrator. Both individuals had been aides to Assemblyman Jerry Green.
If you go to the reorganization, be aware of the weather forecast for a rapid fall from the mid-forties to close to zero. Be careful! No doubt you can see it on PCTV if you have reasons not to go out in the cold.
Annual Reorganization
Plainfield High School Auditorium
5 p.m. closed session
6 p.m. Reorganization
Friday, January 3, 2014
Cabinet Members Up for Advice & Consent
An amended notice for Monday's reorganization says it will start at 5 p.m. with a closed session and the public portion will follow at 6 p.m.
A similar formula on Dec. 30 resulted in the public standing around for an hour and a half until the closed session was done. One hopes, if Monday's opening is similarly delayed, that whatever members of the public who braved the Arctic temperature will be allowed to sit in the auditorium and the council will convene in another room for the closed session.
Much of the agenda for the reorganization was agreed upon at the Dec. 16 agenda-fixing session. There are some new items, however, including the proposed appointment of Siddeeq El-Amin as director of Public Affairs & Safety; appointment of Carl Riley as police director; appointment of Carlos Sanchez as deputy city administrator in charge of Economic Development and appointment of Joy R. Spriggs, Esq. as public defender, all subject to advice and consent of the council.
There are other, previously announced, nominations for advice and consent, including Rick Smiley for city administrator, Eric Jackson as Public Works director and David Minchello as corporation counsel. Ron West is offered as director for Administration, Finance, Health & Social Services; Abubakar Jalloh as city clerk and Diane Sherry as treasurer. There are also numerous legal appointments.
--Bernice
A similar formula on Dec. 30 resulted in the public standing around for an hour and a half until the closed session was done. One hopes, if Monday's opening is similarly delayed, that whatever members of the public who braved the Arctic temperature will be allowed to sit in the auditorium and the council will convene in another room for the closed session.
Much of the agenda for the reorganization was agreed upon at the Dec. 16 agenda-fixing session. There are some new items, however, including the proposed appointment of Siddeeq El-Amin as director of Public Affairs & Safety; appointment of Carl Riley as police director; appointment of Carlos Sanchez as deputy city administrator in charge of Economic Development and appointment of Joy R. Spriggs, Esq. as public defender, all subject to advice and consent of the council.
There are other, previously announced, nominations for advice and consent, including Rick Smiley for city administrator, Eric Jackson as Public Works director and David Minchello as corporation counsel. Ron West is offered as director for Administration, Finance, Health & Social Services; Abubakar Jalloh as city clerk and Diane Sherry as treasurer. There are also numerous legal appointments.
--Bernice
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