Tree Removal on Watchung, Park

 Walking downtown Monday, I came upon a big project by the Watchung Avenue railroad bridge.

 Two big trucks and a work crew were on East Third Street.

 Workers were sawing down and removing all the trees on the embankment.

 It was a lot of wood.

 A worker lowered a claw to pick up this metal object.

 It was the lid to this big truck.

 Here it is almost lowered into place.

 "Whaddaya lookin' at, lady?"

 
 On Tuesday, the workers were clearing the Park Avenue embankment.

I thought the tree removal was just for safety, but someone told me it was done in advance of the projects to repair the two bridges. NJ Transit has been planning the project for some time. Look for advisories on detours in coming weeks.

--Bernice

Rutherford Leads Winning Slate

L-R: Terrence S. Bellamy Sr., David Rutherford

A school board slate backed by the family of Board President Wilma Campbell won three three-year terms starting Jan. 1, 2015.

A losing slate was backed by Assembly Jerry Green, who is party chairman of Plainfield and of Union County. One incumbent running independently failed to win re-election.

The top votegetter was David Rutherford, who ran last year with Campbell but came in fifth of six candidates. On Tuesday, he led the field with 2,367 votes. His running mates Carletta Jeffers and Terrence S. Bellamy Sr. received 2,304 and 2,001 respectively  in unofficial votes tallied by City Clerk Abubakar Jalloh. Official results will be released by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi on Monday.

Green's slate included Tania Center, who received 1,907 votes; Michael Horn, with 1,039 votes and Norman E. Ortega, with 1,802 votes. The school board slate was vigorously promoted by Green even before other candidates' signs appeared in windows at the Democrats' Park Avenue headquarters.

Incumbent Dorien Hurtt, who won his seat in the April  2011 election, received 1,316 votes. The school board election was moved to the November general election in 2012.

Rutherford attributed his victory Tuesday to a "group effort" involving all parts of the city. At his campaign headquarters after the results came in, he gave thanks to "all the people who pulled together and made this thing possible."

--Bernice

Williams Wins Despite RDO Diss

Incumbent Councilwoman Rebecca Williams overcame the disregard of Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Green to win re-election for four years representing Wards 2 &3 at-large. Williams, a progressive Democrat who is president of the New Democrats political club, won the June primary and therefore the Regular Democratic Organization party line for the general election. Though professing support for all Democrats on Column A, Green published campaign material that omitted Williams. He treated Linden mayoral candidate Derek Armstead similarly, but Armstead also won, despite the disrespect.

In unofficial results Tuesday, Plainfield City Clerk Abubakar Jalloh counted 3,743 votes for Williams to 562 for Republican challenger William Michelson. (All official results will be released by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi on Monday.)

Plainfield City Clerk Abubakar Jalloh

In other council election results, Democrat Diane Toliver won unopposed in the First Ward with 1,446 votes. In the Third Ward, incumbent Democratic appointee Gloria Taylor won the balance of an unexpired term to Dec. 31, 2016, overcoming a challenge from Republican Randy Bullock. Taylor had 1,827 votes to Bullock's 237.

The turnout was light, considering that the First Ward had 5,261 eligible voters. The Third Ward had 6,120 registered voters and the Second Ward had 6,552.

The winners will be sworn in on Jan. 1, 2015.

--Bernice

VOTE TODAY!

VOTE TODAY!

For Plainfielders, this may be one of the most perplexing local elections ever, with layers of intrigue masking the choices. Will your vote be for the candidate or a political proxy? Can you only decide which candidate you won't vote for, leaving an alternative who is an unknown quantity? When candidates give day-and-night views of an issue, who is telling the truth?

Nonetheless, the historical sacrifices of others so that you may vote in a free society compel a trip to your polling place today. Vote on the top of the ticket. Vote on the three questions. Then make your best choices for City Council and school board candidates.

The winners will be sworn in on Jan. 1 and if they do not live up to your hopes and expectations, make sure they hear from you often. 

Plainfield is on the cusp of change. Will it be for better or worse? Your vote is part of the answer. VOTE TODAY!

Polls are open until 8 p.m. Check your sample ballot for your polling place and list of candidates.

One Block, Three Stories on West Second

This small city-owned lot at West Second Street and Madison Avenue is nearly obscured right now by PSE&G equipment for substation improvements, but it has also been eyed for two development concepts.

One proposal calls for residential development on that lot and a larger city-owned lot on the same block. The other involves a green market.brew pub/distillery on the same lots. Neither has passed the conceptual stage.

Plaintalker was surprised to learn recently that large building to the left of the lot above, was sold last year to Landmark Developers, which had designated as the site of the proposed brew pub. The corner lot above is where Landmark proposed relocating the historic Sutphen House, which must be moved to make way for another Landmark project, West Second Commons, which was approved in 2010 for 148 apartments and commercial uses.

The conveyance of the two lots to the Housing Authority stalled after initial passage when the City Council lacked a consensus in September to move it to the agenda for final passage.

No development is likely until PSE&G completes the substation upgrade, which was mandated by grid operator PJM. The two substations in Plainfield have reached the end of their useful lives. The work is expected to completed by the fourth quarter of 2015.

Robert Graham, a real estate agent known as "Mr. Plainfield," sold the building at 308 West Second Street to Landmark in October 2013, he announced on a Facebook page. Graham is also a member of the city's Zoning Board of Adjustment.

So there are three potential stories for this block bordered by West Front Street, Madison Avenue, West Second Street and Central Avenue. The PSE&G upgrade is taking place and is very important for the city's future. Whether the block becomes the site of residential development or becomes a destination for the new enterprise of a brew pub and distillery, those are tales yet to be told.

--Bernice

Why Don't People Attend BOE Meetings?

One of the questions that emerged in the 2014 school board race is why so few people attend board meetings.

A few years ago, not only would there be a reporter in attendance, there might be two or three bloggers as well. Since then, newspapers have sharply reduced staffing and there is no longer routine coverage of public meetings, including school board meetings. Another factor is the format in which a board meeting opens and the board goes into closed session for an unspecified period. There were times when reporters and bloggers had to wait several hours for board votes in public session.

Add to this mix the somewhat frequent conflict of meeting dates, so that a reporter or blogger would have to choose between a council meeting and a school board meeting.

All this does not fully explain the lack of public interest, although advance articles by reporters or bloggers once alerted the public to important items coming up for a vote. Candidates mentioned other factors, such as single parents or both working parents who have to put household obligations before attendance at meetings. The pace of  meetings is probably the biggest overall turnoff, with long waits for closed sessions to end, presentations and performances before board business and seemingly interminable public comment on special situations that might be better resolved in other ways. I recall instances of principals, who think they are about to be fired or relocated, bringing large numbers of parents and students to testify on why the principal should stay.

A lot of board business is routine and not newsworthy, such as approval of field trips, transportation contracts, professional development for staff, lunchroom assignments and curriculum updates. The public tends to be more interested in district leadership, union matters and issues affecting spending. But when Anna Belin-Pyles was appointed as superintendent in June 2012, there was no coverage. The public does not know why union members are without a contract. Plaintalker did report on a shift in the state aid formula, but did not follow up in subsequent years.

Ideally, interested citizens would check the agenda before a board meeting and attend to ask questions or see the outcome, whether or not the media published previews or reports. Meetings are usually on Tuesdays and the 2014-2015 calendar is posted on the district web site.

For a while, the meetings were recorded and posted on local cable channels. But given the erratic timing and length of meetings sometimes, it is probably too expensive and difficult to assign anyone to tape them.

The district does have an informative web site and a newsletter to serve its 7,500 students and their families. Parents may already be taking part in PTOs, attending sports events and school performances and volunteering in the schools, so maybe attending board meetings is just too much more, especially if meetings are prolonged and, as some candidates alleged, frustrating to members of the public with questions.

Communication is a stated goal in the 2014-2015 Budget Presentation. If it is seen as lacking by board candidates, those who win the election can work with the other six board members to improve it. Meanwhile, public attendance at board meetings may continue to be a tough sell if the conditions mentioned above prevail.

--Bernice

Camino Takes On Park & Seventh

He wasn't wearing a costume, but Mario Camino came across as a superhero Friday with his plans to transform Park & Seventh to "a jewel and anchor for the city."

Speaking at his new office at 107 Park Avenue, Camino said his plans call for the large former office building at Park & Seventh to be redeveloped into 14 apartments, with five to seven retail spaces at ground level. His vision for the site includes amenities for tenants such as a crossfit workout room in the basement, rooftop access with a view of the Watchung Hills, laundry equipment in each apartment and even a recreation room for quinceanos celebrations and other events.

Camino said he wanted to offer value as well as the amenities that characterize development in other towns along railroad lines. Interest has heightened with the promise of a one-seat ride to Manhattan and the corner is just blocks from the main train station on North Avenue.

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, Economic Director Carlos Sanchez and Planning Director William Nierstedt joined Camino and partner Daniel Rivera to hear plans for the building, which is known both as 700 Park Avenue and 101 West Seventh Street.

"We are as excited as you," Mapp said, adding he appreciates the fact that Camino and his partners "will attract dollars and be part of the resurgence" of the city.

Sanchez also assured  city support for Camino's goals.

"We're excited that you're taking the challenge with us," Sanchez said.

Mapp said cleaning up Park & Seventh was one of his campaign pledges.

"We will not rest until it's done," he said.

Camino suggested having a satellite police station there and the officials said as of Saturday there will be a police patrol at the corner.

City officials are also in talks with the owners of the former Park Hotel, another of Camino's targets for change. Now a residence for adults, it is often regarded as a source of panhandling and loitering. (Plaintalker believes there are other factors affecting the quality of life at Park & Seventh.)

View from Arkad Group office in downtown Plainfield

Camino's office at 107 Park Avenue is headquarters for his real estate operations and he is also welcoming commercial and professional tenants to the renovated former bank. It is also the base for his promotional site, Queen City Revival.

The wall decor includes motivational messages to keep the team on track. Marking a further commitment to Plainfield, Camino has purchased a city home for his family, in addition to his many other transactions.

Enthusiasm and expertise alone are not enough to make things happen in development - Camino will have to garner numerous land use approvals for his plans. But he is up for the challenge and is asking Plainfielders to share in the journey. City architect Reginald L. Thomas is designing the plans for 700 Park Avenue and Camino expects to use local contractors wherever possible.

The building sits at one of the city's busiest crossroads, with north-south and east-west traffic linking Plainfield to its neighboring towns and highways. Many eyes will be on Camino's work, and his pledge is not to disappoint.

--Bernice