The folks at Pollo Campero want you to help celebrate National Empanada Day (today) and their 43rd anniversary this month.
Today, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., they say, "Guests can visit any of the five Pollo Campero restaurants in New Jersey all day and receive a FREE hand-made empanada,which are made fresh daily with the restaurant’s famous Latin chicken and proprietary blend of spices."
Plainfield's very popular Pollo Campero restaurant is at 301 East Front Street. The company began in Guatemala in 1971 and when it opened here, the lines were around the block. I'm told Guatemalans are one of the largest Latino groups in the Queen City.
If you don't know an empanada from a quesadilla, this is your chance to sample one of Latin America's most popular food items.If I get out of the PMUA meeting early, I might just walk up Roosevelt Avenue to the Pollo Campero and get me one. And maybe some yuca fries.
--Bernice
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Rivers Nixes ABC Board, PMUA Appointee
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Council President Bridget Rivers said Monday she is not in favor of an Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.
"We are the ABC board," she said.
The council annually considers all city liquor licenses and can renew or deny them. A discussion item Monday was an ordinance to establish a commission instead. Rivers said she wanted more information "or it's rejected."
"I haven't seen no ordinance," she said.
Corporation Counsel David Minchello said state law permits either the governing body or a stand-alone three-member board to deal with liquor licenses.
"At this time, we can serve as the stand-alone body," Rivers said.
More than 30 licenses come up for renewal by June 30 annually. Minchello suggested that the proposed board could meet more regularly than the council to deal with the licenses.
Rivers also balked at the nomination of Thomas Crownover as an alternate on the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority board of commissioners. She said the state is investigating the authority and the results might be known by May 1. She recommended no action until the state report is issued.
"What's the reason to make changes?" she asked.
Councilwoman Rebecca Williams said Crownover was only nominated to fill a vacancy.
"I stated my case and my answer is no," Rivers said.
Previously, Crownover and others were named to replace holdover PMUA commissioners.
A consensus to move the item to the April 15 agenda failed, with Williams, Cory Storch and William Reid agreeing and Rivers and Tracey Brown in the negative.Vera Greaves was absent and Gloria Taylor came in late.
Crownover was nominated to the Alternate No. 2 seat, the only vacancy on the board of five commissioners and two alternates. An alternate does not vote unless needed to make a three-member quorum.
--Bernice
Council President Bridget Rivers said Monday she is not in favor of an Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.
"We are the ABC board," she said.
The council annually considers all city liquor licenses and can renew or deny them. A discussion item Monday was an ordinance to establish a commission instead. Rivers said she wanted more information "or it's rejected."
"I haven't seen no ordinance," she said.
Corporation Counsel David Minchello said state law permits either the governing body or a stand-alone three-member board to deal with liquor licenses.
"At this time, we can serve as the stand-alone body," Rivers said.
More than 30 licenses come up for renewal by June 30 annually. Minchello suggested that the proposed board could meet more regularly than the council to deal with the licenses.
Rivers also balked at the nomination of Thomas Crownover as an alternate on the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority board of commissioners. She said the state is investigating the authority and the results might be known by May 1. She recommended no action until the state report is issued.
"What's the reason to make changes?" she asked.
Councilwoman Rebecca Williams said Crownover was only nominated to fill a vacancy.
"I stated my case and my answer is no," Rivers said.
Previously, Crownover and others were named to replace holdover PMUA commissioners.
A consensus to move the item to the April 15 agenda failed, with Williams, Cory Storch and William Reid agreeing and Rivers and Tracey Brown in the negative.Vera Greaves was absent and Gloria Taylor came in late.
Crownover was nominated to the Alternate No. 2 seat, the only vacancy on the board of five commissioners and two alternates. An alternate does not vote unless needed to make a three-member quorum.
--Bernice
Liberty Village Subsidies At Risk?
Image: Housing Authority of Plainfield
Rents in a 96-unit subsidized housing complex could go market rate if the City Council does not grant approvals a new owner needs in order to take charge of it.
A request to change a "payment in lieu of taxes" or PILOT agreement for Liberty Village sparked controversy Monday when the council failed to move it to the April 15 agenda for approval.
Unless Liberty Village Estates Urban Renewal LLC can get approvals needed for a HUD contract by May 1, the subsidized housing complex could move to market rate rents, an attorney for the company said.
Carlos Sanchez, the city's deputy city administrator for economic development, said the prospective new owner intends to increase the PILOT payment from 6.28 percent to 10 percent.. The new owner also would provide a new community room, a camera monitoring system, upgraded electrical and plumbing systems, a new laundry facility and sidewalk improvements.
The PILOT agreement dates back to 1982, with a 50-year term. The action requested from the council was simply to amend the agreement. Council President Bridget Rivers, who opposed the deal Monday, asked Sanchez whether it was for a tax credit, but Sanchez again explained it was a PILOT.
The contract of the current owner, Liberty Community Associates, expires on May 6. Sanchez said the owner failed a HUD inspection, attaining a score of about 50 when it should have been closer to 90. The prospective owner, which he called "a new entity with a lot of experience," expects to bring the score up to 85.
When an attorney for the new company stressed the need for resolution by May 1, Rivers said, "I'm so tired of 'time constraints, time constraints, time constraints'," and insisted on hearing from Housing Authority of Plainfield Director Randall Wood. Although Sanchez had said HAP had the right of first refusal for the sale but did not exercise it, Rivers said she was told something different.
"We never bowed out,"" Wood said. "I don't know who these gentlemen are at all."
Wood acknowledged that the complex had problems, saying the owners had an intermediary who passed away.
"It was null and void for a whole year," he said.
He also said HAP was interested in acquiring the complex, but most likely could not match the $9.2 million sales price that the new owner offered.
After saying for the last time she would not support the resolution, she said it could be added to the agenda as a new item on April 15 if five council members agreed then. On Monday, the consensus fell short of four in favor of moving it to the agenda, with Rivers and William Reid saying "no" and Cory Storch, Rebecca Williams and Tracey Brown saying "yes." Vera Greaves was absent and Gloria Taylor did not arrive until the meeting was almost over.
The regular meeting is 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Correction on Meeting Time
Tonight's agenda-fixing session is at 7:30 p.m. in Municipal Court.
Here is the entire 2014 calendar.
Here is the entire 2014 calendar.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Liquor Commission to be Discussed Monday
A proposed ordinance to create an "Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission" is up for discussion at Monday's City Council meeting. At present, the governing body itself decides whether to approve or deny license renewal for more than 30 establishments in the city that sell or serve liquor. All the licenses are up for renewal in June.
New Jersey has strict laws about alcohol control, all contained in a handbook issued by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control within the state Department of Law & Public Safety. The portion about local control allows for establishment of a board that would deal with license renewal and related issues:
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL BOARDS
WHAT ARE “ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL BOARDS” OR “A.B.C. BOARDS?”
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Law provides for an issuing authority in each municipality to issue, renew
and transfer retail licenses and provides for enforcing that law, A.B.C. rules and regulations and local
ordinances pertaining to the control of alcoholic beverages. The issuing authority is the governing body of
the municipality unless the municipality establishes a municipal board, which is commonly known as an
“Alcoholic Beverage Control Board” or “A.B.C. Board.” An A.B.C. Board may be established in any
municipality which has a population of at least 15,000. The A.B.C. Board consists of three members
appointed on a bipartisan basis for 3-year terms. Currently, there are 20 municipalities with A.B.C. Boards.
They are: Atlantic City, Camden, Clifton, East Orange, Elizabeth, Galloway, Garfield, Hillside, Hoboken,
Jersey City, Linden, Newark, North Bergen, Orange, Passaic, Paterson, Rahway, Secaucus, West New York and West Orange.
Once a municipal A.B.C. board has been created, it has all of the powers, duties and obligations that the
governing body of the municipality would ordinarily exercise relative to the issuance, transfer, enforcement
and discipline of retail licenses within the municipality. (N.J.S.A. 33:1-5 and 33:1-24.)
The licensing process tends to be cumbersome and drawn out, as not all license holders fulfill the requirements in a timely way. They have to submit various proofs, such as payment of state sales tax and status of employees, and must pass inspections by police for infractions. Sometimes police send in officers under 21 to see whether a liquor store conducts underage sales. Drug activity or prostitution has been detected in the past and led to issuance of violations and hearings.
New Jersey has strict laws about alcohol control, all contained in a handbook issued by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control within the state Department of Law & Public Safety. The portion about local control allows for establishment of a board that would deal with license renewal and related issues:
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL BOARDS
WHAT ARE “ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL BOARDS” OR “A.B.C. BOARDS?”
The Alcoholic Beverage Control Law provides for an issuing authority in each municipality to issue, renew
and transfer retail licenses and provides for enforcing that law, A.B.C. rules and regulations and local
ordinances pertaining to the control of alcoholic beverages. The issuing authority is the governing body of
the municipality unless the municipality establishes a municipal board, which is commonly known as an
“Alcoholic Beverage Control Board” or “A.B.C. Board.” An A.B.C. Board may be established in any
municipality which has a population of at least 15,000. The A.B.C. Board consists of three members
appointed on a bipartisan basis for 3-year terms. Currently, there are 20 municipalities with A.B.C. Boards.
They are: Atlantic City, Camden, Clifton, East Orange, Elizabeth, Galloway, Garfield, Hillside, Hoboken,
Jersey City, Linden, Newark, North Bergen, Orange, Passaic, Paterson, Rahway, Secaucus, West New York and West Orange.
Once a municipal A.B.C. board has been created, it has all of the powers, duties and obligations that the
governing body of the municipality would ordinarily exercise relative to the issuance, transfer, enforcement
and discipline of retail licenses within the municipality. (N.J.S.A. 33:1-5 and 33:1-24.)
The licensing process tends to be cumbersome and drawn out, as not all license holders fulfill the requirements in a timely way. They have to submit various proofs, such as payment of state sales tax and status of employees, and must pass inspections by police for infractions. Sometimes police send in officers under 21 to see whether a liquor store conducts underage sales. Drug activity or prostitution has been detected in the past and led to issuance of violations and hearings.
Last year, the Clinton Deli's license was denied, but the owner was allowed to sell alcohol while the denial was appealed.
Liquor stores and night clubs have been perceived as nuisances in some neighborhoods and one of the chronic complaints from the public is that the city has too many liquor establishments. The state imposed license limits based on population several years ago, but many in Plainfield were "grandfathered in" and allowed to operate.
As noted above, a local board could be created. One of the more recent issues about licenses is the need of developers to obtain licenses for restaurants and other venues that are planned or under construction.
If a discussion Monday indicates the need for an ordinance creating such a board, it could be passed on first reading at the April 15 meeting and on second reading on May 12.
Monday's meeting is 7:30 p.m. in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
--Bernice
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Death to Potholes?
Are potholes murdering your vehicle?
Never fear, the city may strike back with the "Pothole Killers."
On Monday's agenda there is a resolution to hire Patch Management Inc. of Fairless Hills, Pa., to perform pothole repairs. If you are a fan of clever design, you may want to watch the Pothole Killer in action and see how one operator can do all the work, guiding multiple steps in the process from the cab of the machine.
The contract, up for approval on April 15, is for repairs up to a cost of $35,000. Many motorists might consider it a small price to pay to avoid those nightmare rides followed up by a big bill for repairs.
--Bernice
Never fear, the city may strike back with the "Pothole Killers."
On Monday's agenda there is a resolution to hire Patch Management Inc. of Fairless Hills, Pa., to perform pothole repairs. If you are a fan of clever design, you may want to watch the Pothole Killer in action and see how one operator can do all the work, guiding multiple steps in the process from the cab of the machine.
The contract, up for approval on April 15, is for repairs up to a cost of $35,000. Many motorists might consider it a small price to pay to avoid those nightmare rides followed up by a big bill for repairs.
--Bernice
Mayor Nominates Crownover as PMUA Alternate
Mayor Adrian O. Mapp is asking City Council approval to name Thomas J. Crownover to fill the last vacancy on the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority.
The council meets at 7 p.m. Monday to consider the agenda for the April 15 regular meeting. Both meetings will take place in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
Mapp is nominating Crownover for the position of Alternate No. 2. The PMUA board of commissioners has five voting members and two alternates who may vote if neccessary to make a quorum of three. The most memorable instance of such a vote occurred in January 2012, when former Alternate No. 2 Cecil H. Sanders Jr. joined Commissioners Malcolm Dunn and Alex Toliver to approve a controversial settlement with former PMUA executives Eric Watson and David Ervin.
Sanders, who became an alternate in November 2011, became a full commissioner in January 2013, succeeding Rev. Tracey Brown when she took office as the City Council's at-large member. If approved, Crownover will succeed Sanders as an alternate.
In 2011, Crownover was named to a group that studied the authority and gave its report in March 2012.
Soon after Mapp took office in January, he sought to replace Dunn with Crownover, Sanders with Tom Kaercher, Toliver with Charles Tyndale and Harold Mitchell with Nan Anderson-Bennett. A City Council majority rejected all four, though in February Tyndale won council approval to replace Toliver, a day before the authority's reorganization at which Mitchell replaced Sanders as chairman.
Crownover's name surfaced at the council's March 3 agenda-fixing session when Councilwoman Gloria Taylor blasted Mapp for allegedly offering a quid-pro-quo involving approval of Crownover for a PMUA seat in return for the administration agreeing to a legal services plan backed by a council faction.
The PMUA's monthly board meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday at 127 Roosevelt Avenue, If approved on April 15, Crownover will join the PMUA board in time for its May 13 meeting.
--Bernice
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