Those who try to keep track of things in Plainfield may end 2012 with a feeling that something is missing. Actually, quite a few things are missing, ranging from cabinet members in City Hall to updates on several major initiatives. With only a year to go in the current administration, it may be difficult to attract new staff, but a lot of the other stuff requires only a simple explanation.
The city has had just a part-time chief finance officer for most of 2012 and a temporary corporation counsel since July 1. Vacancies now include recreation superintendent, tax collector, health officer and purchasing agent. Some of these are statutory officers required by the state.
Among the unfinished stories:
--Settlement of the Dornoch dispute. The senior center was built "at no cost to the city" until the developer sent a quarter-million dollar bill to the city. It was supposed to be in negotiation, so what happened?
--Update on road repairs. A very ambitious road program was launched in 2012, so how much was completed?
--Status of the Urban Enterprise Zone funds and projects. About $2 million in the formerly state-administered fund was turned over to the city, but officials' inquiries about its status have gone unanswered.
--Status of PCTV operations. Residents say council meetings are not being shown on the local channel. Its web site is out of date. What gives?
--Status of Plainfield Advisory Committee on Hispanic Affairs. This group fizzled out and even though Latinos make up 40 percent of the city's population, there has been no word on re-establishing it.
As always, there is a New Year and a chance to do better. The City Council reorganizes at 7 p.m. Thursday in Municipal Court, with meetings this month on Jan. 14 and 22. The Board of Education will organize at 8 p.m. Monday in the Plainfield High School Conference room. The new Charter Study Commission meets next at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 in City Hall Library. And I'm sure all of us have new calendars and plans for goals and activities in 2013. If you have not been as engaged in civic activities as you wanted to be in 2012, your opportunity is at hand!
Happy New Year to all and may you and the city both prosper in 2013!
--Bernice
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you forgot the impenetrable door to The Tepper's Basement ... our own little Berlin Wall right here in Downtown Plainfield
ReplyDeleteon a side note... the only thing the RDO's and The New Dem's seem to be able to accomplish together is getting a larger rug each year to sweep everything under... CONGRATS ON YOUR COOPERATION !! You've gone out of your way to prove what The Local Democrats are capable of accomplishing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder, Bernice. I wonder how the Mayor will skew these facts in her state of the city address. I've written the governor about our mayor and city hall and I wish others would.
ReplyDeleteI also wonder how paying a condo fee is free. How does the condo fee compare to the rent we used to pay and was this deal a deal for Plainfield or another polical boondoggle.
Do you know who has taken on the responsibility for health inspections? How long have we been without a full-time health inspector? How many food merchants do we have in the city? I thought this was a mandatory position. I wonder if the State is aware!! EEK this is getting creepy.
ReplyDeleteLet's go back to memory lane ... there was the Alternite Side of the Street parking where roads would be SWEPT 2 times a week so you had to park on other side.
ReplyDelete