Numerous appointments proposed by outgoing Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs failed to gain City Council consensus to be moved for action at the Dec. 9 regular meeting.
With only six members present (Councilman William Reid was in South Carolina), most instances found three members (Vera Greaves, Tracey Brown, Council President Bridget Rivers) in favor of moving nominations and three not in favor (Cory Storch, Rebecca Williams, Adrian Mapp).
As Plaintalker pointed out in this post, many of the mayor's nominations lacked necessary details, such as terms. Williams also noted that candidates for boards and commissions have in the past been interviewed by the council prior to a vote, but none on the list were interviewed nor were applications available for review.
All the nominations for the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority failed to get a consensus. Most consisted of rearranging current commissioners to realign terms, with Malcolm Dunn and Cecil Sanders favored for the longest terms.
Shade Tree Commission names also failed to get consensus.
Eight names were offered for the new Community Emergency Response Team, formed by ordinance in September, but on advice of Corporation Counsel David Minchello, Greaves removed herself from nomination rather than give up her council seat due to the city's prohibition on dual office-holding. Williams pointed out there were no terms indicated for the nominees and City Clerk Abubakar Jalloh confirmed that he received only names with no dates.
"So this won't get this group off to a good start," Storch said.
Mapp said the nominations should not be moved until the terms were spelled out.
"Let's do it right," he said.
Formation of the African Caribbean Commission was proposed in August and passed in September. The ordinance provided for nine members, with initially staggered terms of three members each for one-, two-, or three-year terms. Eight names were offered, but the one-year terms were misstated as ending on Dec. 31, 2015.
Although Williams and Mapp called for a delay until nominees could be interviewed or at least have their applications reviewed, Rivers objected, saying the group had already held a celebration and swearing-in.
"Which makes it all the more egregious," Williams said.
A bit of confusion ensued, with the council attempting a vote to table the matter and Jalloh saying it failed, but Mapp pointed out the council can't actually vote at an agenda-fixing session. It was unclear whether the names will be up for a vote on Dec. 9, but at any rate nominee Charles Eke will have to make a choice between having a seat on the commission or keeping his current alternate's seat on the PMUA.
--Bernice
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Get rid of the political promotions in the PD
ReplyDeleteSharon is still thumbing her nose at the legal way things should be done, rewarding her friends, and giving the old New Jersey high sign to the citizens of PLFD.
ReplyDeleteso we have to wait, much like Christmas morn of yore... to find out who gets to do the "my hands were tied" vote ?? awwwwwwwwwwhhhhhh
ReplyDeleteIf you think it's going to be better at the police department next year think again. All the self serving are already going to mapp.
ReplyDeleteTime for a lot of commenters to get off their ass and do something. You can't change anything in a comment box. A lot of you are part of the problem. What are you doing to help avoiding the continued victories of the people that send Plainfield the wrong way? Most likely nothing. Go hit the streets. Go raise some money. Do something.
ReplyDeleteThe ones who voted for all these appointments Greaves, Brown and Rivers did not give any reason for voting for them after Williams said why they shouldn't, that the mayor didn't follow the rules or give terms. The real community of Plainfield wasn't given a chance to apply for any of these positions. They just blindly voted yes. They will keep doing this if you the people don't speak up. Unless you don't care what goes on.
ReplyDelete