Thursday, April 17, 2014
Liberty Village Town Hall Announced
Council President Bridget Rivers, Councilwoman Vera Greaves and Councilwoman Rev. Tracey Brown are holding an "Urgent Town Meeting" on the future of Liberty Village Apartments Monday. The meeting is 7 p.m. at Ruth Fellowship Ministries, 733 S. Second St.
Mayor Mapp's 100-Day Report
Yesterday the Courier News had Mayor Adrian O. Mapp's entire 100-Day Report online but it is not in the print edition, which I read as an e-newspaper facsimile. It is, however, posted on the city web site as well if you want to read it.
Know More About Tax Liens
By coincidence, the AARP Bulletin has an article on dangers of tax liens just as the City Council is passing legislation broadening reasons why liens can be placed on a home.
Homeowners would be well advised to learn more about tax liens and how, as the article points out, a tax debt can swell with interest and other charges to an insurmountable burden. The article also goes into illegal practices that some who buy tax liens use. It is not just embarrassing to have one's tax lien published in the local newspaper, it can lead to homelessness.
The city annually holds tax lien sales at which investors buy the liens and pay the money owed. The property owner then owes the investor the money, plus up to 18 percent interest. After a set period of time, the lien holder can move to foreclose on the property.
The ordinance just passed this week on first reading would add costs incurred when the city has to "abate a nuisance, correct a defect, or put a premises in proper condition." The city would have to document the activities performed, show a reasonable cost and certify that the action taken and the costs were both "necessary and reasonable under the circumstances."
The ordinance will be up for a public hearing, second reading and final passage in May.
Plainfield's tax collection rate has varied over the years. The city's auditors, Supplee, Clooney, noted a collection rate of 93.84 percent on Dec. 2012, up from 90.50 percent on Dec. 2011, when almost 10 percent of property owners failed to pay their taxes. In 2013 the rate improved to 96.32 percent and Ron West, finance director in the new administration, is aiming for an even better rate as part of a comprehensive budget strategy.
If you want to know what the city does with your money, take a closer look at the budget process. The administration developed a budget which is posted on the city web site. The governing body will begin deliberations on the introduced budget tonight with an overview of projected costs for the police and fire divisions.The entire budget deliberations schedule is on the city web site. The council has the power to amend the budget and will hold a hearing on the amended budget before final passage.
There are two important meetings tonight and I am probably going to the Planning Board meeting where Muhlenberg's application to relocate the satellite emergency department will be heard. That one is 7 p.m. in the Plainfield Public Library's Anne Louise Davis room.
--Bernice
Homeowners would be well advised to learn more about tax liens and how, as the article points out, a tax debt can swell with interest and other charges to an insurmountable burden. The article also goes into illegal practices that some who buy tax liens use. It is not just embarrassing to have one's tax lien published in the local newspaper, it can lead to homelessness.
The city annually holds tax lien sales at which investors buy the liens and pay the money owed. The property owner then owes the investor the money, plus up to 18 percent interest. After a set period of time, the lien holder can move to foreclose on the property.
The ordinance just passed this week on first reading would add costs incurred when the city has to "abate a nuisance, correct a defect, or put a premises in proper condition." The city would have to document the activities performed, show a reasonable cost and certify that the action taken and the costs were both "necessary and reasonable under the circumstances."
The ordinance will be up for a public hearing, second reading and final passage in May.
Plainfield's tax collection rate has varied over the years. The city's auditors, Supplee, Clooney, noted a collection rate of 93.84 percent on Dec. 2012, up from 90.50 percent on Dec. 2011, when almost 10 percent of property owners failed to pay their taxes. In 2013 the rate improved to 96.32 percent and Ron West, finance director in the new administration, is aiming for an even better rate as part of a comprehensive budget strategy.
If you want to know what the city does with your money, take a closer look at the budget process. The administration developed a budget which is posted on the city web site. The governing body will begin deliberations on the introduced budget tonight with an overview of projected costs for the police and fire divisions.The entire budget deliberations schedule is on the city web site. The council has the power to amend the budget and will hold a hearing on the amended budget before final passage.
There are two important meetings tonight and I am probably going to the Planning Board meeting where Muhlenberg's application to relocate the satellite emergency department will be heard. That one is 7 p.m. in the Plainfield Public Library's Anne Louise Davis room.
--Bernice
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Former Mayor Comments on Budget, Employees
Former Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs urged support for the Legal Shield program, payment of gang workshop expenses, job restoration for certain employees and cuts in the current mayor's budget when she spoke in public comment at Tuesday's City Council meeting.
Robinson-Briggs lost her bid for a third term in 2013 to Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, who lost to her in the 2009 mayoral race, as she frequently reminded him for the ensuing four years. When Mapp was council president, he often wielded his power to keep her proposed resolutions off the agenda.
On Tuesday, Robinson-Briggs began by saying she came out "on a rainy night and a night that I had surgery" to speak. Among her concerns:
- She had allowed employees in 2013 to sign up for a payroll deduction plan for legal costs, which Mapp halted.
"It was reviewed and approved by me and it should have gone forward," she said.
The issue came up at every meeting for about three months, including one in March where Gloria Taylor, appointed to fill the Third Ward vacancy caused by Mapp's taking office, accused him of "dirty politics" by offering a quid-pro-quo to restore the program.
- Robinson-Briggs urged payment of disputed costs associated with a gang workshop she held in August 2013.
"Please pay them," she said. "Vendors are calling."
-She urged the council to add Kim Montford, a former Shade Tree Commission member (and her 2013 co-host for Rev. Al Sharpton) to the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee. The seven-member CBAC is appointed by the council.
- Claiming the Mapp-led council in 2013 "cut my budget down to the bones," she rattled off a long list of items she felt should be cut from Mapp's 2014 budget, including new staff salaries.
"Are these positions that we need to run the city or are they political salaries?" she asked, alleging many new hires were on Mapp's transition team.
"To add another million dollars to the budget is absolutely criminal," she said.
- Robinson-Briggs also urged restoration of "mentor" Roland Crawford, whose job at Hannah Atkins Playground was "written out of the budget." Crawford, also known as Roland Muhammad, frequently castigated Mapp and certain other council members on Robinson-Briggs' behalf, noting, "I say things the mayor can't say."
--Bernice
Robinson-Briggs lost her bid for a third term in 2013 to Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, who lost to her in the 2009 mayoral race, as she frequently reminded him for the ensuing four years. When Mapp was council president, he often wielded his power to keep her proposed resolutions off the agenda.
On Tuesday, Robinson-Briggs began by saying she came out "on a rainy night and a night that I had surgery" to speak. Among her concerns:
- She had allowed employees in 2013 to sign up for a payroll deduction plan for legal costs, which Mapp halted.
"It was reviewed and approved by me and it should have gone forward," she said.
The issue came up at every meeting for about three months, including one in March where Gloria Taylor, appointed to fill the Third Ward vacancy caused by Mapp's taking office, accused him of "dirty politics" by offering a quid-pro-quo to restore the program.
- Robinson-Briggs urged payment of disputed costs associated with a gang workshop she held in August 2013.
"Please pay them," she said. "Vendors are calling."
-She urged the council to add Kim Montford, a former Shade Tree Commission member (and her 2013 co-host for Rev. Al Sharpton) to the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee. The seven-member CBAC is appointed by the council.
- Claiming the Mapp-led council
"Are these positions that we need to run the city or are they political salaries?" she asked, alleging many new hires were on Mapp's transition team.
"To add another million dollars to the budget is absolutely criminal," she said.
- Robinson-Briggs also urged restoration of "mentor" Roland Crawford, whose job at Hannah Atkins Playground was "written out of the budget." Crawford, also known as Roland Muhammad, frequently castigated Mapp and certain other council members on Robinson-Briggs' behalf, noting, "I say things the mayor can't say."
--Bernice
More To Follow on Council Meeting
Tuesday's City Council meeting was perhaps the most contentious this year. Speakers called for removal of all new hires in the administration of Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and council members promised sharp cuts in the budget. Former Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs read out a list of cuts she recommended, but also urged approval of expenses she made in 2013 for a gang workshop and related activities. There was more, all of which was captured on tape for later viewing on television or YouTube. Check the blogs in coming days.
Liberty Village Proposal Rejected Again
The April 7 promise of action on the Liberty Village tax agreement fell through Tuesday when a City Council majority failed to move the item to the agenda for a vote. Council President Bridget Rivers said the governing body needs more information and has until May 31 to make a decision.
The 96-unit subsidized housing complex has a prospective buyer who needs transfer of an existing "payment in lieu of taxes" agreement in order to proceed and has offered to increase the amount from 6.28 percent to 10 percent of the rent proceeds. The buyer, Liberty Village Estates Urban Renewal LLC, also proposed electrical and plumbing upgrades, a new community room, a communal laundry and other improvements.
Unless the company 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 at the April 7 meeting where the PILOT resolution lacked consensus to be put on the April 15 agenda. Rivers dismissed the idea of time constraints and said action would be taken at the regular meeting, but numerous speakers last night challenged the proposal. Among them was former Councilman Malcolm Dunn, who served on the Housing Authority when the complex was developed. Dunn urged the council to seek concessions.
The 96-unit subsidized housing complex has a prospective buyer who needs transfer of an existing "payment in lieu of taxes" agreement in order to proceed and has offered to increase the amount from 6.28 percent to 10 percent of the rent proceeds. The buyer, Liberty Village Estates Urban Renewal LLC, also proposed electrical and plumbing upgrades, a new community room, a communal laundry and other improvements.
Unless the company 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 at the April 7 meeting where the PILOT resolution lacked consensus to be put on the April 15 agenda. Rivers dismissed the idea of time constraints and said action would be taken at the regular meeting, but numerous speakers last night challenged the proposal. Among them was former Councilman Malcolm Dunn, who served on the Housing Authority when the complex was developed. Dunn urged the council to seek concessions.
Resident Mustapha Muhammad also called for caution, characterizing the deal as "last-minute politics being thrown at you from this administration." Muhammad said it has been eight years since the community room has been used and said, "The owners need to be accountable."
Attorney William Eaton, representing the buyer, enumerated all the proposed improvements including the increased PILOT amount and explained that the current owners, Liberty Community Associates, face expiration of their Section 8 contract. He said he worked with the previous administration last year on the PILOT proposal and with the management to improve their performance score, but Rivers and others on the council insisted they did not have enough information.
Eaton said he would be happy to meet with them, but the principals were observing a religious holiday and would not be available until Thursday. He said the company owns 6,000 units of affordable housing and will obey a local ordinance that gives city residents first consideration for jobs at the complex.
However, nothing Eaton or the city's Economic Development director, Carlos Sanchez, said persuaded the council to take action Tuesday.
"This is like a rush, rush, rush," Rivers said. "We have two meetings in May," she added, alluding to what she said was a May 31 expiration of the Liberty Village rent vouchers.
According to a special report of the National Housing Trust on Expiring Section 8 Contracts, the Liberty Community Associates contract expires on May 6.
Liberty Village Estates Urban Renewal LLC sought the PILOT approval in order to effectuate a May 1 transition. The vote to move the resolution to the agenda Tuesday required five affirmative votes, but only Rebecca Williams, Cory Storch and Tracey Brown voted "yes," with Rivers, Vera Greaves, William Reid and Gloria Taylor voting "no."
--Bernice
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
More Apartments, More Inspectors?
The city has a number of requirements for multi-family dwellings, as does the state. Many checks are performed at the city level, such as those for tenants' health (presence of vermin), comfort (no heat or hot water) and safety (faulty wiring or other hazards).
The new administration will most likely have to assess the need for more inspectors to perform Certificate of Compliance inspections and such in addition to answering complaints. The division may be due for an assessment of its tasks and how they are currently performed, as well as a projection of greater need for services as more apartments come on line.
The late Mayor Albert T. Williams named Inspections as the division that drew the most citizen complaints. Residents have complained in public comment at City Council meetings that inspectors are either too zealous or too lax. Back when Hank Kita and Harold Gibson were top officials in the administration, they took the trouble to follow inspectors around in a sort of "time-and-motion" study to see how many inspections could be done in a day, but as I recall, results were inconclusive.
Given the fact that the current mayor formed a transition team to identify issues and suggest solutions, maybe the likely increase in tenants is already in the radar. If not, it's something to look at.
--Bernice
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