Minchello Adds Trenton Title

Plainfield Corporation Counsel David Minchello was named acting director of Trenton's Law Department Tuesday, according to nj.com reports.

Formerly the city solicitor, Minchello began serving as Plainfield's corporation counsel following the departure of Dan Williamson in 2012 to become executive director of the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority. His firm, Antonelli Minchello, received three payments of $75,000 in 2012. In January, he was appointed corporation counsel by incoming Mayor Adrian O. Mapp.

His LinkedIn page now lists both the Trenton and Plainfield titles. 

Jackson served as Plainfield's director of Public Works & Urban Development since September 2011. He took an unpaid leave of absence in March and ran for mayor of Trenton. He was the top vote-getter in the May primary and won a June run-off against Paul Perez to take the mayoralty. He was sworn in Tuesday and made several cabinet appointments. According to nj.com, Minchello attended the inauguration, but declined to comment about his appointment

According to Trenton's Municipal Code, the head of the Law Department is not a director but is the City Attorney, with duties similar to those of Plainfield's in-house corporation counsel. Plainfield's code describes the corporation counsel as a salaried employee, though Minchello's firm has been paid for his services here. 

From Plainfield's Municipal Code:

Sec. 2:4-2.    Corporation Counsel; powers and duties.

    The Corporation Counsel shall be the chief legal advisor to the Mayor and to the Council. He/she shall be compensated with a fixed annual salary as established by ordinance. He/she shall be, subject to the provisions of Sections 2:4-3, 2:4-4 and 2:4-5, prosecute and defend all legal or equitable actions or proceedings in any court in which the City or any office thereof may be a party. He/she shall draft ordinance, resolutions, legislative bills and other documents and agreements required by the Mayor or a member of the Council. He/she shall advise the administrative departments, boards and commissions of the City other than the Planning Board and the Board of Adjustment (which are authorized and required to appoint separate counsel) as to all legal matters within their jurisdiction.

(A.C. 1969, 4.2, as amended by MC 1998-01, § 1, January 28, 1998.)

--Bernice

What's in a (Nick)Name?

Hearing someone on the radio refer to "Los Ticos" made me recall a quiz I intended to post on national nicknames.

Can you identify the homeland of a Catracho? A Boriqueno? A Quisqueyano? Or a Bajan?

Here is a colorful compendium of World Cup team nicknames.

Meanwhile, hum a few bars of "Yankee Doodle Dandy" for the U.S. on the Fourth!

--Bernice

Council to Discuss City Lots Coveted for Development

Monday's agenda includes discussion of possible conveyance of two city-owned lots targeted last year for very diverse development proposals.

The agenda-fixing session is 7:30 Monday in Municipal Court.

The Housing Authority of Plainfield and related entities proposed 86 apartments on the two lots, on a block bounded by Madison Avenue, West Second Street, Central Avenue and West Front Street. Developer Frank Cretella outlined plans for a "green market center comprising of a food incubator, a brew pub and artisanal distillery."

Neither plan got as far as applying to any land use boards, most likely because the city owns the lots.

See Plaintalker's October post on the Housing Authority proposal here

Read about Cretella's concept here

The Housing Authority request for the lots was up for discussion in March, but then dropped from the agenda. Monday's agenda does not state a proposed recipient for the lots.

--Bernice

Scientist is Parade Grand Marshal

It may well be that Plainfield picked the better day for a parade, if the weather reports are to be trusted. Heavy rain is forecast for Friday, July 4 but the sun will shine on Saturday, July 5 when Plainfield's parade steps off at 10 a.m. on East Front Street.

The Grand Marshal is Dr. James West.

Pool Report

Councilwoman Rebecca Williams, who serves on the council's Recreation and Public Safety committees, passes along an update on the status of city pools:

The following Municipal Pools have passed the required Health Inspection and will open at 12:30pm today Saturday, June 28, 2014.

 

1.        Rushmore Pool:  Kiddie Wading Pool only.  The main pool pvc liner is unrepairable, the liners will be removed and pool restored to concrete.

2.       Seidler Field Pool will open main and Kiddie Wading Pool.

 

Failed Inspection

3.       Hannah Atkins:  Both pools failed due to the drain covers not meeting code.

Pools will be drained Monday and repaired. 

 

Sign up for Free “ Learn to Swim” lessons are scheduled 12:30pm – 2:30pm  today at Hannah Atkins for the week of July 7^th – 18^th and Seidler Field for July 28^th – August 8^th.

First Festival Opens Friday

Friday may prove to be a test of whether large festivals can do better this year with noise and crowd management.

Nightclub owner Edison Garcia received city approval to use lots 8 and 8A for his festival celebrating the Independence of the United States. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, it will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m..Since the festivals began about six years ago, the city has increased daily fees to $2,500 and this year requires organizers to hire six police officers in addition to whatever private security may be used.

Residents requested tighter controls around the beer stations this year to prevent young people from being too close and to manage cases of public intoxication. But despite a lot of talk about noise, no specific guidelines on volume were imposed. The sound carried a mile, according to some who complained. The music is to cease at 10 p.m.

Garcia will also hold a three-day festival in September, celebrating Central American Independence. Another nightclub group will hold one the same weekend in September, in addition to a parade from Rock Avenue to Roosevelt Avenue. The events attract thousands of visitors to Plainfield and both organizers say they create good will and get people to know the welcoming side of the city.

--Bernice

Jackson Assumes Mayoralty

Eric Jackson's Inauguration is today.