Sunday, May 17, 2015

Demolition Investigation Counsel Sought

 The City Council vowed in April to launch its own investigation into circumstances surrounding the March 21 demolition of a North Avenue building. 

But perhaps they skipped a step. Today's Courier News includes this legal notice:

PLAINFIELD REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO CONDUCT AN INITIAL INQUIRY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL RELATED TO THE NORTH AVENUE EMERGENCY DEMOLITION PROJECT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015 AT 11 A.M. ORGANIZATION REQUESTING PROPOSAL: MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PLAINFIELD, 515 WATCHUNG AVENUE, PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY 07060 The Municipal Council of the City of Plainfield is requesting proposals from attorneys and/or law firms to serve as Independent Counsel to the Municipal Council to conduct an initial inquiry on behalf of the Plainfield City Council in regards to the investigation of certain affairs of the City regarding the facts and circumstances surrounding the procurement associated with the North Avenue Emergency Demolition project and other procurement matters. In accordance with the 2.8 of the Plainfield Charter the Municipal Council may make investigations into the affairs of the city and the conduct of any city department, office, commission or agency and for this purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and require the production of evidence. The Independent Counsel shall report directly to the Municipal Council. The Independent Counsel, on behalf of the City Council, shall be responsible for gathering all appropriate and relevant information and render a report to the City Council setting forth conclusions and recommendations, if any, for further action as may be deemed appropriate, together with any recommendations for corrective action. CONTACT PERSON TO OBTAIN COPIES OF RFP: CINDYLEA WEBER, PURCHASING AGENT PURCHASING DIVISION, CITY OF PLAINFIELD 515 WATCHUNG AVENUE, PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY 07060 COUNTY OF UNION Cindylea.weber@plainfieldnj.gov, (908) 226-2568 ($33.00) 

9 comments:

  1. Under oath is a very serious term and under federal guidelines lying under oath is a trip to the pokey. Should be interesting. Mapp, watson,Smiley, yates and robinson. What did they know and when did they know it. Remember follow the $$$$$.

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    1. If you followed Sharon's $$$$ she would be in jail for years.

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  2. I understand that there is also a bid solicitation for the removal of the remaining demolition debris. Presumably this means that the City has terminated the Yates contract; commendable and appropriate. Fortunately, the Yates contract provides that the City can terminate the agreement for either cause or convenience. Yates has submitted an application for payment in the amount of $75,000 for the work performed to date. Their total contract price was for $214,500. It will be interesting to see what amount is bid is for the remaining work.. I don't know if the new proposal includes additional work which was not in the Yates contract. If the scope of remaining work has been enlarged, or altered, the comparison between Yates contract price and the new total final cost will be invalid. It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall listening to the conversations between Yates and his subcontractor, B&B Demolition, who actually performed the work. Yates incurred minimal costs. B&B took the hit. Unquestionably, B&B is demanding payment. One document that has not surfaced is the subcontract between B&B and Yates. The content of this document would be revealing. I trust when the investigation is initiated the subcontract will be requested. A collateral but important issue is whether Mayor Mapp, in good faith, and in reliance on the competence of Mr. Watson, delegated Mr. Watson to appropriately administer the demolition, or whether Mayor Mapp was complicit, and or delinquent, regarding the ensuing irregularities. At a minimum the Mayor's failure to notify the Council regarding the inevitable expenditure is difficult to excuse. Bill Krsue

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    1. How many inexcusible expenses did we get from Shardy Sharona Robinson Briggs? I think public volunteers should put up the money for a forensic audit.

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    2. Everything about this demolition stinks to high heaven. Adrian has doubled and tripled down trying to turn this into a story about that OTHER demolition. He may be light years more capable than his predecessor, but he's shown that he's unwilling to admit to error, and he's not very good at avoiding obvious conflicts. The Robinson-Briggs Administration was inept from beginning to end, but that's no excuse for some of the nonsense we've seen lately.

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  3. The City Engineer, MR/MS _______ P.E. is the one who signs contracts. What has been that part?

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    1. I don't believe the City has a professional engineer on staff. Whether they do or do not why do you think the City engineer has the authority to sign contracts?

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  4. Politics and truth... two very different matters... I'm all for finding out the truth, unfortunately, Jerry's Kids are only out for politics..but if my mentor for maddening mindless dysfunctional government gave me a job I'd do his bidding too, if I didn't have an ounce of self worth.

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  5. I agree with Rob and wonder about people like Rivers who deny the mayor someone to give the city advice, but doesn't seem to follow her how. We all know she is Jerry's fall-woman. I hope the job was worth losing your morals or maybe your place in heaven. We all make mistakes and some people keep repeating them.

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