Prayers were offered by Pastor Tracey L. Brown of Ruth Fellowship Ministries.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Veterans Day 2013
Prayers were offered by Pastor Tracey L. Brown of Ruth Fellowship Ministries.
Commentary on Local Hiring Ordinance
Whereas, the City of Plainfield is an older urban municipality, a designated Urban Enterprise Zone, federal Historically Underserved Business (HUB) Zone, and an Abbott School District with the demographic and infrastructure demands that require the strategic investment of resources to create a competitive workforce and to encourage private investment;
So begins Ordinance MC 2013-17, which is up for approval on first reading tonight (Tuesday).
What do these three designations mean, and what is their implication for Plainfield's future?
Urban Enterprise Zone
This designation dates back to 1985. It permitted certified retail businesses within specific boundaries to charge only half the state sales tax as an inducement to buyers. The collected sales tax was banked for draw-down by the municipality for improvements within the zone. In Plainfield, the UEZ includes the downtown as well as the South Avenue business district. Owners were supposed to hire new employees, but in Plainfield there were many sole owners or mom-and-pop operations that could not expand staff. The city also suffered a major loss of sales tax revenue when the Macy's store downtown closed about 20 years ago.
A study released in 2011 found that for every dollar of state investment in the UEZ program, the return was only eight cents. Participation was also lacking, and based on the exhaustive findings in the report, the program was shut down with just certain features retained. Balances in the sales tax fund were turned back to municipalities for local administration..
Historically Underserved Business Zone
Even as a longtime reporter, I was not familiar with this term. I found out it involves the Small Business Administration and SCORE, a counseling agency staffed by retired executives, in assisting entrepreneurs.
For comprehensive information, click here.
Two Plainfield locations are listed in the report, one being the Plainfield Public Library, which recently opened a job center, and The Incubator at 320 Park Avenue, which houses SBA and SCORE offices.
So begins Ordinance MC 2013-17, which is up for approval on first reading tonight (Tuesday).
What do these three designations mean, and what is their implication for Plainfield's future?
Urban Enterprise Zone
This designation dates back to 1985. It permitted certified retail businesses within specific boundaries to charge only half the state sales tax as an inducement to buyers. The collected sales tax was banked for draw-down by the municipality for improvements within the zone. In Plainfield, the UEZ includes the downtown as well as the South Avenue business district. Owners were supposed to hire new employees, but in Plainfield there were many sole owners or mom-and-pop operations that could not expand staff. The city also suffered a major loss of sales tax revenue when the Macy's store downtown closed about 20 years ago.
A study released in 2011 found that for every dollar of state investment in the UEZ program, the return was only eight cents. Participation was also lacking, and based on the exhaustive findings in the report, the program was shut down with just certain features retained. Balances in the sales tax fund were turned back to municipalities for local administration..
Historically Underserved Business Zone
Even as a longtime reporter, I was not familiar with this term. I found out it involves the Small Business Administration and SCORE, a counseling agency staffed by retired executives, in assisting entrepreneurs.
For comprehensive information, click here.
Two Plainfield locations are listed in the report, one being the Plainfield Public Library, which recently opened a job center, and The Incubator at 320 Park Avenue, which houses SBA and SCORE offices.
Abbott School District
Plainfield is one of about 30 school districts that receive special state aid as "poorer urban districts.". Read the history of Abbott schools here.
While neighboring suburban districts pay roughly 80 percent of school costs from property taxes and receive around 20 percent in state aid, Plainfield had the opposite ratio for many years. The state began taking a tougher stance on Abbott districts in 2006 (see post here) and more recently began increasing the amount local taxpayers must pay for schools in 2008 (click here), while still giving massive amounts of aid. Opponents say the state aid formula is not bringing about the desired improvements in urban school and suburbs are being short-changed.
Jobs and Plainfield's Future
Looking at all this history, it appears that Plainfield has projected an image of great need for special breaks, but things have not turned around as hoped even after several decades. With a new administration, there is hope for new strategies.
Regarding a quota imposed on contractors for local hires, the question may be whether the city is the agent to make jobs happen or whether the job development agencies in the city are the tool. A person who acquires skills need not make Plainfield's six square miles the boundaries of opportunity, given the rail, bus and highway access to three counties and beyond.
At the same time, maybe some City Hall energy needs to be directed more towards filling up the sites identified here and let economic nature take its course, rather than try to put contractors on the hook and create a new bureaucracy to monitor them.
For eight years, the city has placed the responsibility for economic development in a mid-level division. Mayor-elect Adrian Mapp says he will establish a cabinet-level post for economic development. A well-qualified person will be able to analyze Plainfield's current state of economic affairs and discern how the city comes across to potential partners for future success. There is also the benefit of a recent economic development study led by Dr. Roland Anglin and the recommendation for a follow-up process to establish a written plan for "Plainfield 2021" to guide the city's future economy and quality of life.
Whether or not Plainfield is a poor and needy city, state government is saying the UEZ and Abbott initiatives are not producing the desired changes and the city must take more responsibility for its own future. Federal programs may follow suit, so the sooner the city can find its own cures for adversity, the better. It is up to the governing body to decide whether a local hiring program is part of the solution or an ill-advised stopgap measure that will deter contractors from doing business with the city.
The City Council will hold its agenda-fixing session at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Tuesday) in Municipal Court, followed by the regular meeting at 8 p.m.
--Bernice
Jobs and Plainfield's Future
Looking at all this history, it appears that Plainfield has projected an image of great need for special breaks, but things have not turned around as hoped even after several decades. With a new administration, there is hope for new strategies.
Regarding a quota imposed on contractors for local hires, the question may be whether the city is the agent to make jobs happen or whether the job development agencies in the city are the tool. A person who acquires skills need not make Plainfield's six square miles the boundaries of opportunity, given the rail, bus and highway access to three counties and beyond.
At the same time, maybe some City Hall energy needs to be directed more towards filling up the sites identified here and let economic nature take its course, rather than try to put contractors on the hook and create a new bureaucracy to monitor them.
For eight years, the city has placed the responsibility for economic development in a mid-level division. Mayor-elect Adrian Mapp says he will establish a cabinet-level post for economic development. A well-qualified person will be able to analyze Plainfield's current state of economic affairs and discern how the city comes across to potential partners for future success. There is also the benefit of a recent economic development study led by Dr. Roland Anglin and the recommendation for a follow-up process to establish a written plan for "Plainfield 2021" to guide the city's future economy and quality of life.
Whether or not Plainfield is a poor and needy city, state government is saying the UEZ and Abbott initiatives are not producing the desired changes and the city must take more responsibility for its own future. Federal programs may follow suit, so the sooner the city can find its own cures for adversity, the better. It is up to the governing body to decide whether a local hiring program is part of the solution or an ill-advised stopgap measure that will deter contractors from doing business with the city.
The City Council will hold its agenda-fixing session at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Tuesday) in Municipal Court, followed by the regular meeting at 8 p.m.
--Bernice
Monday, November 11, 2013
Raritan Valley Line Riders, Ask For One-Seat Ride
Want a one-seat ride?
Send your reasons why to
jweinstein@njtransit.com
Send your reasons why to
jweinstein@njtransit.com
Local Hiring Ordinance Proposed
The clamor for city residents to be hired on local construction projects may be answered by a proposed ordinance requiring contractors to meet a 25 percent quota or be banned from future city contracts.
The plan hinges on development of a local hiring registry of residents, including minorities and women, for work on publicly-funded projects costing $200,000 or more, or real estate development costing more than $25,000 on city-owned land. Contractors must keep records of compliance or reasons for non-compliance and the program will be administered through the Department of Public Works & Urban Development, in conjunction with the Human Relations Commission. The list of residents, including those with union or trade qualifications, will be compiled by Union County One Stop and the opportunity will be publicized on the city web site and through other outreach.
Residents have frequently complained about seeing work crews around the city with no minority representation. Individuals who need work have questioned why they can't be hired. The proposed ordinance cites high unemployment and the millions of dollars spent on local projects and envisions "employment opportunities for Plainfield residents with varying skills, including entry-level jobs in the construction industry."
If passed on first reading at Tuesday's regular City Council meeting, the ordinance could be up for final passage at the Dec. 9 regular meeting and would take effect 20 days later. The timetable would allow for filling numerous vacancies on the Human Relations Commission and making other arrangements for implementation.
Unfortunately, the copy of the document in the council packet had some lines missing and there was some wording that might need to be fixed up before the ordinance is finalized. At present, the major publicly-funded projects are road repairs. Other projects that would fall under the provisions of the ordinance would have to be identified.
The ordinance calls for a "local hiring oversight committee" appointed by the mayor and council president and consisting of members of the administration and council. The committee would meet as necessary with the mayor and Human Relations Commission representatives to review contractor compliance and to discuss additional methods for enforcing compliance and increasing city resident hiring.
Individuals who feel they were slighted by non-compliance could complain to the Human Relations Commission, which could conduct hearings and investigations.
A chart at google.com places the unemployment rate in Plainfield at 9.8 percent in July, down from 14.5 percent in January. The poverty rate for 2007-2011 was 19 percent, in contrast to a state level of 9.4 percent, according to U.S. Census Bureau Quickfacts.
--Bernice
The plan hinges on development of a local hiring registry of residents, including minorities and women, for work on publicly-funded projects costing $200,000 or more, or real estate development costing more than $25,000 on city-owned land. Contractors must keep records of compliance or reasons for non-compliance and the program will be administered through the Department of Public Works & Urban Development, in conjunction with the Human Relations Commission. The list of residents, including those with union or trade qualifications, will be compiled by Union County One Stop and the opportunity will be publicized on the city web site and through other outreach.
Residents have frequently complained about seeing work crews around the city with no minority representation. Individuals who need work have questioned why they can't be hired. The proposed ordinance cites high unemployment and the millions of dollars spent on local projects and envisions "employment opportunities for Plainfield residents with varying skills, including entry-level jobs in the construction industry."
If passed on first reading at Tuesday's regular City Council meeting, the ordinance could be up for final passage at the Dec. 9 regular meeting and would take effect 20 days later. The timetable would allow for filling numerous vacancies on the Human Relations Commission and making other arrangements for implementation.
Unfortunately, the copy of the document in the council packet had some lines missing and there was some wording that might need to be fixed up before the ordinance is finalized. At present, the major publicly-funded projects are road repairs. Other projects that would fall under the provisions of the ordinance would have to be identified.
The ordinance calls for a "local hiring oversight committee" appointed by the mayor and council president and consisting of members of the administration and council. The committee would meet as necessary with the mayor and Human Relations Commission representatives to review contractor compliance and to discuss additional methods for enforcing compliance and increasing city resident hiring.
Individuals who feel they were slighted by non-compliance could complain to the Human Relations Commission, which could conduct hearings and investigations.
A chart at google.com places the unemployment rate in Plainfield at 9.8 percent in July, down from 14.5 percent in January. The poverty rate for 2007-2011 was 19 percent, in contrast to a state level of 9.4 percent, according to U.S. Census Bureau Quickfacts.
--Bernice
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Chief of Staff Title, Salary On Tuesday's Agenda
Another ordinance amends a previous salary band for the title of chief financial officer, increasing the range from $95,000 to $155,000. The maximum had been $110,000 before it was increased in February 2012 to $125,000. The city has apparently been unable to attract a CFO since then and is still relying on the part-time services of Glenn Cullen, who is the full-time borough administrator and CFO of South Plainfield.
The two-part meeting has an agenda-fixing session at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave., followed by a regular meeting at 8 p.m.
The packet had a couple of other interesting items, which will be covered in other posts over the weekend.
--Bernice
Whoops!
My day just took a nosedive! The laptop failed and I am winging it with the netbook until I find out what the problem is.
I will try to keep up with comments, but posting may be curtailed somewhat.
--Bernice
I will try to keep up with comments, but posting may be curtailed somewhat.
--Bernice
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