Park & Seventh SID Winners

Congratulations to the businesses

at Park & Seventh

that were winners

in the

Special Improvement District

Readers' Choice contest! 

They are 

Park Florist

Park Hardware

Breadbasket Bakery

Family Dollar

Rapps Pharmacy

Come visit and shop!

Council Majority Rejects Forensic Audit

A proposed forensic audit failed to win council approval Monday, an outcome Mayor Adrian O. Mapp said.he found "sad and appalling."

Council members Tracey Brown, Vera Greaves, Gloria Taylor, William Reid and Council President Bridget Rivers voted "no." Cory Storch and Rebecca Williams voted "yes."

Reid said he felt Mapp, City Administrator Rick Smiley and Finance Director Ron West could do the job of finding irregularities, while others asked why Supplee, Clooney, the firm that conducts annual city audits, could not conduct the forensic audit. A council majority appeared to be willfully ignoring the administration's explanation that a forensic audit was not the same as an annual audit based on information provided by the city, but examined all fiscal operations for fraud and waste.

The audit would have covered fiscal operations from 2006 through mid-2014, including several years where the city had no chief financial officer. Brown, who is the pastor of former Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, condemned the forensic audit as an attempt to embarrass and harass her administration. She called the $60,000 cost "a lot of money to desecrate someone's character."

Taylor alluded to "political shenanigans" and said, " I am not going to be part of that backbite and dirty politics."

"If there's fraud, you begin to deal with it from now on," she said.

Williams offered examples of possible mismanagement, the spending of "$460,000 in three weeks" to outfit the Tepper's basement, the "$125,000 Quad Tech deal" and alleged fraud in the Recreation Division in 2012.

Smiley said the forensic audit was not "backbiting" but was about "financial integrity."

Storch said he did not see the audit as political and he wanted it to cover the years when there was no CFO.

In public comment, Dr. Harold Yood said the vote gave the public the impression that those who rejected the audit were "co-conspirators."

"I'm very ashamed of your vote," he said.

--Bernice

Council Questions PMUA Rates, Operations

PMUA Executive Director Dan Williamson

Monday's City Council meeting had more acts than an Ed Sullivan show, but perhaps the most intense was the governing body's grilling of PMUA Executive Director Dan Williamson. The hoops-of-fire question was when will the rates for the authority's solid waste and sewer services go down, and Williamson had no ready answer. 

It was the second time this year that Council President Bridget Rivers asked Williamson to address the council on PMUA matters. He gave a brief presentation in August and Monday's session ran to nearly 90 minutes, but  the council and PMUA may still hold a joint meeting to follow up on the issues raised.

Williamson began by describing past rate reductions, an increase in senior discounts and a water usage credit for pool owners as well as cost savings through layoffs and furloughs, reduced office rent and negotiations with vendors. He described the expansion of services to nearby towns which netted about $250,000 in new revenue and other strategies to increase income. The tightrope-walking began when council members raised concerns ranging from patronage and a state investigation to why workers have gone four years without a raise.

- Councilwoman Rebecca Williams asked whether the authority had a lot of vandalism or theft, and when Williamson said no, she asked why PMUA needed a "security chief." She also brought out the fact that the person holding the title supervised only two employees. She also queried why the "shared services" fee 

assessed to all property owners was so high when it represented only a fraction of the solid waste tonnage. 

- Councilwoman Tracey Brown said no one questions the good service given by the PMUA, but recalled being told when she was a PMUA commissioner that rates would go down, but they did not.

"That's something that's always on the radar," Williamson said.

- Councilman Cory Storch also probed reasons for rates not going down. Though thankful for past cuts, he asked, "What can we expect of rate adjustments in the near future?"

Williamson said announcements would be made "at the appropriate time," which turned out to be when the 2015 budget was finalized next week.

"I'll wait for a week," Storch said.

When his questions on future cost savings met with equivocal responses, Storch talked about reading between the lines "because I don't think you guys are giving us clear answers."

"Are you proposing furloughs for 2015?" he asked Williamson, who said, "No."

"Thank you - we got an answer," Storch said.

"We gave answers, maybe not the ones you want," Williamson retorted.

- Councilman William Reid , also a former PMUA commissioner, asked about a state investigation into a $1 million settlement with former PMUA executives. Williamson described the probe as a "performance audit" and said he hoped by spring it would be completed.

In answer to Reid's question on the 2015 budget, Williamson said the authority expected to hold a rate hearing on Dec. 22. 

Reid tried to ask PMUA Commissioner Charles Tyndale if the performance of the commissioners was such that there was a need to change them. Tyndale is the only one of several nominees offered by Mayor Adrian O. Mapp to win council approval this year. He declined to comment, saying "This is not the forum to discuss that."

- Councilwoman Gloria Taylor spoke at length about the authority's "rather unique employment model" in hiring formerly incarcerated residents, which she said gives them an "opportunity to improve their lives." She said she only learned of it at the recent League of Municipalities conference. She said the authority needs to reach out to the public as "a lot of what we get is rumors."

- Councilwoman Vera Greaves thanked the authority for cleaning up the city but also fretted about rates being a burden on seniors and low-income persons.

- Council President Bridget Rivers asked about raises for "front-line workers" who had not received wage increases for four years.and were "at poverty level or below."Williamson said workers will get raises retroactively when union negotiations were completed. He said he thought there would be an agreement or the matter would go to arbitration. Meetings have been ongoing, he said.

After more discussion, Storch said, "Everything we're talking about is relevant, but we're nibbling around the edges of the problems."

He said an "independent commission" is needed.

"We need to get people on the commission who will take a stand," Storch said.

Only one PMUA nominee, Michelle Graham Lyons,  was up for a vote Monday, but the resolution failed with Brown and Greaves abstaining, Taylor and Reid voting "no" and Storch and Williams voting "yes." Two other nominations failed to make it to the agenda.

Mapp said he was "enormously disappointed" that the governing body had chosen not to act to bring about reforms to the PMUA.

--Bernice

Watch the Weather This Week

Nor'easter slush art

Another nor'easter storm is on the way, not as heavily hyped as the last one that turned out to be just some slush, but probably enough to keep people home from the Monday council meeting. 

This type of storm is specific to our coast. When Audrey moved to the Pacific Northwest, I asked her about weather systems there. It turns out she is not as keen as I am on meteorological stuff (I would have my own weather station if I could afford it), but she did describe some recurring patterns. I found out one is called the Pineapple Express, because it generates from around Hawaii and dumps rain on the West Coast. See an animation of the Pineapple Express, also known as an atmospheric river or, if you want to get fancy, the Madden-Julian Oscillation..

But let's return to the East Coast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has an advisory on nor-easters and their dangers- Sandy was of that genre - and recommends preparations just in case it is not a fizzle like the last one. So line up your rain boots, snow shovels, bread, milk, munchies - be prepared, no matter what is in store.

--Bernice

Williamson to Update Council on PMUA

A new item for Monday's City Council meeting is an invitation for PMUA Executive Director Dan Williamson to speak. It brings to mind the fact that the council every year names liaisons to various entities and these liaisons should be able to update the council as well - that is, if they in fact attend the meetings of the organizations to which they are assigned. Soon a new roster of liaisons will be named, in addition to assignments for six council committees, only a few of which have given reports in 2014. The assignments are buried in a huge "Rules of Order" document that is passed each January and honored largely in the breach for the rest of the year.

For example, one rule is this:

1.3 Getting the Floor
Every City Council member desiring to speak for any purpose, whatsoever, shall address the
Council President, and upon recognition, confine him or herself to the question under debate,
avoiding personalities and indecorous language.

How often has that been ignored by certain council members?

Here is the whole 2012 Rules of Order, if you want to see it for yourself. Most of it, except for meeting dates and assignments, stays the same.

Anyway, it will be interesting to hear what Dan Williamson has to say on Monday. Here is the item from the agenda:

COUNCIL PRESIDENT BRIDGET RIVERS HAS EXTENDED AN INVITATION TO PLAINFIELD MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AUTHORITY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DANIEL A. WILLIAMSON, TO GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE ONGOING AF AIRS OF THE AUTHORITY. (VARIOUS INFORMATION ITEMS SUBMITTED FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO COUNCILMEMBERS UNDER SEPARATE COVER)

--Bernice

Whither Watson?

Monday's agenda arrived with no mention of action on Eric Watson's status. As some may recall, the former executive director of the PMUA and recipient of a large settlement for his service, was named acting director of the Department of Public Works & Urban Development. Watson held the same post before he became head of the PMUA in 1995. His starting date as department head was Sept. 15, 2014.

I kind of expected to see a resolution appointing him permanently on the Dec. 8 agenda, but there was none. The next council meeting will be an agenda-fixing session Dec. 15 for the annual reorganization, which is scheduled for Jan. 5, 2015. The only way action could be taken that night is if there is a special meeting in addition. Watson could be confirmed as director to serve for the balance of Mapp's term, or the council could approve another 90-day temporary appointment. But something has to be done by Dec. 15 if Watson is to stay on.

If I missed something regarding this appointment, please let me know. Here is what the Municipal Code says:

Sec. 2:3-4.    Interim appointments.

    (a)     Whenever a vacancy exists in any office required by the Charter or ordinance to be filled by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Council, the Mayor may temporarily fill such vacancy in the absence of any contrary provision in the Charter or ordinance by appointing an acting officer, including the designation of himself or a Department Director as Acting City Administrator or the designation of the City Administrator as an acting department director. Any such appointment shall terminate no later than ninety (90) days after the date of appointment. Provided however that before the completion of an interim appointment as described herein and upon the written application of the Mayor, the City Council by a majority vote, may approve an extension of such appointment for an additional period not to exceed ninety (90) days. No person shall be eligible for a temporary appointment who has previously served a temporary appointment in the same office during the previous twelve (12) consecutive months.

    (b)     Such appointee shall have all of the functions, powers and duties of the office for ninety (90) days or for such longer period as may be approved and provided for pursuant to Subsection (a) above.

    (c)     In the event the City Administrator is designated as an acting department director, the provisions of Section 2:5-9(d) shall apply.

(A.C. 1969, 3.4, as amended May 5, 1969; MC 2001-46, § 1, December 19, 2001; MC 2004-24, § 1, October 30, 2002; MC 2011-07, August 8, 2011.)

--Bernice

Yvonne Begone

"Yvonne," a new commenter who seems to be an agent for Jerry Green, used my mention of Park-Madison in an anecdote to launch an attack on the Park Hotel. Gee, there must be an election coming up, as this is one of JG's favorite targets, dating all the way back to 2007, when he made an election pledge to close it..

I looked into the matter at the time and posted some facts regarding the status of the Park Hotel, along g with notes on other issues affecting the neighborhood. I also got an interview with the head of a social service agency that works with Park Hotel residents

Of course, that was in 2007 and some things have changed in the neighborhood, notably the departure of the juveniles who were always creating some kind of trouble.We still have quite a few homeless people and petty criminals at Park & Seventh.

As for the Park Hotel,  JG and his minions have long used it as a political brickbat against certain candidates and it appears 2015 will be the year to bash Cory Storch.

I am printing the comment here so people can judge for themselves where "Yvonne" is coming from.

Speaking about Park-Madison, let’s talk about the Park Hotel boarding home. The place is a rat hold; it needs to be closed down immediately.

The site has become a safe haven for criminals and hoodlums.

The people residing there come from other cities, serving no purpose or need to the residents of Plainfield. Plainfield is in crisis and needs all the support it can get.

Besides, the word out is that Councilman Cory Storch has cunningly used this facility to benefit himself. He works for Bridgeway, a rehabilitation center.

He is taking those individuals off the tax rolls. If they are not contributing tax dollars, that’s what happens.

But I wonder if they did anyway? They would probably see a refund as noted by the writer above.
"Yvonne" submitted two previous comments , one with a link to Jerry's blog. Jerry has cleaned up his blog and is trying to behave in a statesmanlike manner after his 2013 Election Day tantrum, so it appears he has handed off the mudslinging to others. If I do publish comments from "Yvonne" in the future, just take them for what they likely are - campaign stinkbombs.

--Bernice