Two pastors and the associate director of AARP NJ added their voices Monday to workers in favor of paid sick leave, while opponents repeated their concerns.
Rev, Tracy Sprowls of First Unitarian Society of Plainfield and Saafir Jenkins of Ruach Outreach Ministries read prepared statements during public comment at the City Council meeting. Sprowls spoke on behalf of the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey. Evelyn Liebman of AARP-NJ commended the council for support of the ordinance, which will be up for a public hearing and final passage Monday.
Azim Gray, legislative campaigns coordinator for the Working Families Alliance, also urged support of the measure, which permits workers to earn one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, among other provisions.
Local opponents include Nimrod Webb, president of the Special Improvement District and Jeffery Dunn, president of the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce.
"Nobody has ever bothered to ask businesses, do we pay sick leave," Webb said.
Dunn alleged that JFK Health might consider closing the Satellite Emergency Department if they have to pay for sick leave, which led activist Nancy Piwowar to comment that 16,000 people depend on the SED. Piwowar has challenged JFK Health for many reasons since the 2008 closing of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield.
"I can't believe I'm defending JFK," she said, telling the council, "You need to get an answer from them."
JFK Health Chief Marketing Officer Steven Weiss said Friday, "While JFK remains concerned how the ordinance will affect per diem employees, at no time are we considering leaving Plainfield."
The legislation was first proposed a year and has had ups and downs since then. It was dropped after an outpouring of business owners. Certain portions, such as fines and penalties, were then revised to make the legislation less onerous. Still, opponents say it should be enacted at the state level. Advocates point to its adoption in several New Jersey cities, though attempts have been made to repeal the law in some cities.
Some business owners say the requirements will burden them to the point of shutting down, while others oppose the amount of record-keeping involved. In Plainfield, opponents say not all employers have been informed of the legislation and a majority of those who know about it oppose it.
Monday's regular City Council meeting is 8 p.m. in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
--Bernice
Friday, March 11, 2016
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Code Enforcement, A City Saga
Of all city agencies, the late Mayor Albert T. McWilliams said he got the most complaints about Inspections. So in 2005 he hired more inspectors and aimed for greater enforcement. But as revealed in this report by Plaintalker co-founder Barbara Todd Kerr, the effort hit some people the wrong way.
It seems for everyone who wants to city to do more regarding property maintenance, there's someone else who finds enforcement onerous.
Overcrowding also became a point of contention in 2005, but got some backlash as well.
In 2006, illegal construction was targeted. But the functioning of the division itself was also deemed a concern. A plan to increase fees to cover costs of various inspections met with stiff opposition from Realtors and property owners.
A review of 2006 included this: In what some consider a step backwards for code enforcement, an ordinance to keep housing safe and not overcrowded was repealed. Real estate interests also fought increased inspections fees that city officials said were necessary to make operations self-supporting.
In early 2007, Plaintalker advocated for safe housing following a fire that displaced 40 tenants. As the year ended, another post covered the difference between a certificate of compliance and a certificate of occupancy.
As the Spanish-speaking population increased, it became evident that the city lacked adequate bilingual staff for interacting with those residents.
In March 2010, I added a personal note about the travails of being a tenant with an absentee landlord, who later sold the building. .
Later in 2010, inspections were fast-tracked to accommodate "short sales" and other concerns of real estate agents.
The clash between those who wanted less regulation and those who felt it was important continued.
And here is one last post on the frequent dichotomy between landlords and tenants, all the more relevant as development now is all about rental units. What new chapter will be written in 2016?
--Bernice
It seems for everyone who wants to city to do more regarding property maintenance, there's someone else who finds enforcement onerous.
Overcrowding also became a point of contention in 2005, but got some backlash as well.
In 2006, illegal construction was targeted. But the functioning of the division itself was also deemed a concern. A plan to increase fees to cover costs of various inspections met with stiff opposition from Realtors and property owners.
A review of 2006 included this: In what some consider a step backwards for code enforcement, an ordinance to keep housing safe and not overcrowded was repealed. Real estate interests also fought increased inspections fees that city officials said were necessary to make operations self-supporting.
In early 2007, Plaintalker advocated for safe housing following a fire that displaced 40 tenants. As the year ended, another post covered the difference between a certificate of compliance and a certificate of occupancy.
As the Spanish-speaking population increased, it became evident that the city lacked adequate bilingual staff for interacting with those residents.
In March 2010, I added a personal note about the travails of being a tenant with an absentee landlord, who later sold the building. .
Later in 2010, inspections were fast-tracked to accommodate "short sales" and other concerns of real estate agents.
The clash between those who wanted less regulation and those who felt it was important continued.
And here is one last post on the frequent dichotomy between landlords and tenants, all the more relevant as development now is all about rental units. What new chapter will be written in 2016?
--Bernice
Sergio's (Re-posted) Ransomware Story
My mistake! In my excitement over Sergio's new job, I gave him credit for more than just re-posting on Facebook. Toniann Antonelli has the byline! No offense intended - I know what a byline means to a writer.
Now that he is with 101.5, Sergio Bichao is still the hardest-working man in the news biz, as witness this story about hackers stealing city files and demanding ransom.
Now that he is with 101.5, Sergio Bichao is still the hardest-working man in the news biz, as witness this story about hackers stealing city files and demanding ransom.
City Fights Increase in Illegal Dumping
The advent of spring means tulips and daffodils to some, but to Public Works Director Eric Watson, it means a spike in illegal dumping.
Watson said Monday a task force involving the Police, Fire and Inspections divisions is addressing the problem and monitoring "hot spots" for dumping. He said tires are a special problem, with as many as 300 found in one day around the city. It costs $6 per tire for proper disposal, he said.
Watson said the city has a number of "fix flat" shops that may be part of the problem.
Although property owners can schedule bulk waste pickups for old furniture and other household cast-offs, Watson said loads of such waste are turning up. City officials are contemplating an increase in fines and possible impounding of vehicles used by illegal dumpers. The victims of illegal dumping -whether churches or private property owners - are faced with the burden and cost of removing junk.
Councilwoman Tracey Brown recalled a time when the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority offered rewards for catching dumpers, but Watson said people who try to intercede have been attacked with bats and knives.
The City Council discussed a joint meeting with the PMUA in the near future. As Watson often recalled when he became director of the PMUA, one of the reasons for its inception was to address dumping. In its early days, the authority held bulk waste pickups citywide and residents may recall curbs lined with trash as residents emptied their garages and basements where it had been stored.
With the increase in dumping, Watson said, "We have to get serious."
See this PMUA advisory on what to do if you see illegal dumping.
Watson said Monday a task force involving the Police, Fire and Inspections divisions is addressing the problem and monitoring "hot spots" for dumping. He said tires are a special problem, with as many as 300 found in one day around the city. It costs $6 per tire for proper disposal, he said.
Watson said the city has a number of "fix flat" shops that may be part of the problem.
Although property owners can schedule bulk waste pickups for old furniture and other household cast-offs, Watson said loads of such waste are turning up. City officials are contemplating an increase in fines and possible impounding of vehicles used by illegal dumpers. The victims of illegal dumping -whether churches or private property owners - are faced with the burden and cost of removing junk.
Councilwoman Tracey Brown recalled a time when the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority offered rewards for catching dumpers, but Watson said people who try to intercede have been attacked with bats and knives.
The City Council discussed a joint meeting with the PMUA in the near future. As Watson often recalled when he became director of the PMUA, one of the reasons for its inception was to address dumping. In its early days, the authority held bulk waste pickups citywide and residents may recall curbs lined with trash as residents emptied their garages and basements where it had been stored.
With the increase in dumping, Watson said, "We have to get serious."
See this PMUA advisory on what to do if you see illegal dumping.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Supporters Rally for Police Lieutenant
A large crowd in support of Police Lt. Ken Reid Monday did not take kindly to City Council President Cory Storch's explanation that the governing body could not resolve his situation.
Though first saying they couldn't talk about it, speakers alluded to a possible demotion or forced retirement for Reid, a 30-year veteran of the Plainfield Police Division. Reid's sister Linda said Reid was in a hospital bed when told he might want to think about retiring and "this will go away."
After numerous speakers praised Reid's devotion to the community, Storch said, "We appreciate everything you are saying. At the same time, this is an administrative matter. The mayor has nothing to do with it and the City Council has nothing to do with it."
As Storch noted a "chain of command" for police, someone yelled, "It is your problem!"
Storch said there had to be fact-finding and it was an internal police matter.
"To ask the council to intervene - even if we'd like to, we can't," he said.
With that, most of the group left the meeting.
The supporters had formed a circle and prayed outside Municipal Court while waiting to be let in for the 7:30 p.m. meeting. Inside, they sat calmly for two hours until their chance to speak. As individuals praised Reid's dedication or told how Reid had helped them, the audience applauded. Reid's son, also a police officer, said his father was facing disciplinary action.
"I've never seen my father so discouraged," he said. "I don't understand."
"And we don't either," someone yelled.
The crowd applauded, then stamped their feet and chanted, "Kenny Reid! Kenny Reid!"
Supporters called Reid "a man of God who talks about God all the time," "an agent of change" and "a great cop."
Resident Les Judkins called him "my good friend" who would answer his calls for help at any time.
He told the council members, "You are all citizens of Plainfield and can stand up" for Reid.
"To say you can do nothing, I'm appalled" he said. "Kenny Reid is the face of Plainfield. You just walked half the people out (of the building)."
Judkins closed with a hint of retaliation at the polls.
Corporation Counsel David Minchello has often reminded the council and other officials not to comment on personnel matters. Police Director Carl Riley was present but said nothing regarding Reid.
--Bernice
Though first saying they couldn't talk about it, speakers alluded to a possible demotion or forced retirement for Reid, a 30-year veteran of the Plainfield Police Division. Reid's sister Linda said Reid was in a hospital bed when told he might want to think about retiring and "this will go away."
After numerous speakers praised Reid's devotion to the community, Storch said, "We appreciate everything you are saying. At the same time, this is an administrative matter. The mayor has nothing to do with it and the City Council has nothing to do with it."
As Storch noted a "chain of command" for police, someone yelled, "It is your problem!"
Storch said there had to be fact-finding and it was an internal police matter.
"To ask the council to intervene - even if we'd like to, we can't," he said.
With that, most of the group left the meeting.
The supporters had formed a circle and prayed outside Municipal Court while waiting to be let in for the 7:30 p.m. meeting. Inside, they sat calmly for two hours until their chance to speak. As individuals praised Reid's dedication or told how Reid had helped them, the audience applauded. Reid's son, also a police officer, said his father was facing disciplinary action.
"I've never seen my father so discouraged," he said. "I don't understand."
"And we don't either," someone yelled.
The crowd applauded, then stamped their feet and chanted, "Kenny Reid! Kenny Reid!"
Supporters called Reid "a man of God who talks about God all the time," "an agent of change" and "a great cop."
Resident Les Judkins called him "my good friend" who would answer his calls for help at any time.
He told the council members, "You are all citizens of Plainfield and can stand up" for Reid.
"To say you can do nothing, I'm appalled" he said. "Kenny Reid is the face of Plainfield. You just walked half the people out (of the building)."
Judkins closed with a hint of retaliation at the polls.
Corporation Counsel David Minchello has often reminded the council and other officials not to comment on personnel matters. Police Director Carl Riley was present but said nothing regarding Reid.
--Bernice
West, Steinberg Outline 2016 Budget
An $8.5 million surplus and a 97.05 percent tax collection rate are the good news for the 2016 budget, but a $6 million drop in residential ratables is just one of several challenges the city still faces.
The figures came from a presentation to the City Council Monday by Chief Financial Officer Ulrich "Al" Steinberg and Finance Director Ron West, in advance of budget introduction next Monday. The governing body will then begin weeks of deliberations with the help of the Citizens' Budget Advisory Committee before a public hearing and final passage..
The process began late last year with departmental requests that were subject to modification by the administration. The budget now ready to hand off to the council totals $79,412,520.58, a 1.74 percent increase over last year's figure. It reflects a $94 increase on taxes for the average home valued at $113,000. Of that amount, $23 is due to the loss of ratables. The total value of all city property declined by $38,266,307 since 2011, now standing at $1,216,502,273.
Sixty percent of the budget is for the Police and Fire divisions, with 33 percent for all other union employees and just 7 percent for department heads and managers.
Councilwoman Bridget Rivers challenged West over the projected $94 average increase, saying the city saved $1.2 million on insurance in 2015 and she thought it would reduce taxes.But she said insurance was budgeted for the same amount this year.
"Yes," West said.
Rivers asked why.
"We are only allowed to budget against the prior year appropriation," West said.
"I still don't like the answer," Rivers said.
After Mayor Adrian O. Mapp took office in January 2014, West and Steinberg did the municipal equivalent of rifling the couch cushions for cash, selling off unwanted city property, claiming dormant grant money and reviewing fiscal practices for economies. A list of key accomplishments includes an upgraded Moody's bond rating, "financial housekeeping" that resulted in recouping $1.5 million and audit findings reduced 75 percent to just four.(In 2013, auditors found 16 problems, nine of which were repeat findings.)
This year, West and Steinberg plan more of the same and want to establish a multi-year forecast to stay on track for tax rate stabilization. A list of key priorities notes "56 projects underway" in economic and community development.
The council still has to set dates for budget talks. Plaintalker will publish the schedule as soon as it is available.
--Bernice
The figures came from a presentation to the City Council Monday by Chief Financial Officer Ulrich "Al" Steinberg and Finance Director Ron West, in advance of budget introduction next Monday. The governing body will then begin weeks of deliberations with the help of the Citizens' Budget Advisory Committee before a public hearing and final passage..
The process began late last year with departmental requests that were subject to modification by the administration. The budget now ready to hand off to the council totals $79,412,520.58, a 1.74 percent increase over last year's figure. It reflects a $94 increase on taxes for the average home valued at $113,000. Of that amount, $23 is due to the loss of ratables. The total value of all city property declined by $38,266,307 since 2011, now standing at $1,216,502,273.
Sixty percent of the budget is for the Police and Fire divisions, with 33 percent for all other union employees and just 7 percent for department heads and managers.
Councilwoman Bridget Rivers challenged West over the projected $94 average increase, saying the city saved $1.2 million on insurance in 2015 and she thought it would reduce taxes.But she said insurance was budgeted for the same amount this year.
"Yes," West said.
Rivers asked why.
"We are only allowed to budget against the prior year appropriation," West said.
"I still don't like the answer," Rivers said.
After Mayor Adrian O. Mapp took office in January 2014, West and Steinberg did the municipal equivalent of rifling the couch cushions for cash, selling off unwanted city property, claiming dormant grant money and reviewing fiscal practices for economies. A list of key accomplishments includes an upgraded Moody's bond rating, "financial housekeeping" that resulted in recouping $1.5 million and audit findings reduced 75 percent to just four.(In 2013, auditors found 16 problems, nine of which were repeat findings.)
This year, West and Steinberg plan more of the same and want to establish a multi-year forecast to stay on track for tax rate stabilization. A list of key priorities notes "56 projects underway" in economic and community development.
The council still has to set dates for budget talks. Plaintalker will publish the schedule as soon as it is available.
--Bernice
Monday, March 7, 2016
City Seeks New Engineering Firm
A new engineering firm is up for City Council consideration, at a tab not to exceed $90,000 for 2016.
If approved at the March 14 regular meeting, Pennoni Associates would succeed Remington & Vernick as city engineers. Terms include a maximum of eight office hours per week as needed, at $160 per hour. The firm would be responsible for plan review, budget preparation for capital improvements, grant applications, equipment and services specifications, mapping and signing off on documents, among other tasks. The engineer would also attend meetings as required by Public Works director Eric Watson or his designee.
Up until about 10 years ago, the city had a full-time in-house engineer, but later outsourced the duties. One of the major concerns has been a road repair program that began as a five-year project in 2005, but morphed into "phases" after the schedule fell behind.
For several years, the engineer assigned from Remington & Vernick was Jacqueline Foushee, who developed an exhaustive knowledge of city infrastructure and a congenial working relationship with city staff and land use agencies. Foushee left the company in 2014 to become the first female African American Public Works director in Trenton, shortly after former Plainfield Public Works Director Eric Jackson was elected mayor of Trenton.
Another engineer was assigned to Plainfield, but apparently did not have the same affinity for the city.
The contract with Pennoni Associates, if approved by the governing body, runs to Dec. 31.
Also on Monday's agenda is a $2.3 million bond ordinance for capital improvements described as:
"Providing for various capital acquisitions and improvements within the City including, but not limited to, the improvements to Seidler Field, Municipal Lots 6 and 8, Department of Public Works salt and sand storage silo, Department of Public Works City yard and Police Headquarters, the acquisition of vehicles for the Department of Public Works, the acquisition of police vehicles and the acquisition of a fire engine pumper, and the purchase of property."
The bond ordinance will be up for first reading on March 14 and if passed, will be up for second reading and final passage on April 11.
Other items include a lien for $114,000 to be placed on 117-125 North Avenue for the March 21, 2015 demolition that went wrong and destroyed a neighboring restaurant. The owner is not identified.
Click the link to view or print your own copy of the Monday, March 7 agenda.
--Bernice
If approved at the March 14 regular meeting, Pennoni Associates would succeed Remington & Vernick as city engineers. Terms include a maximum of eight office hours per week as needed, at $160 per hour. The firm would be responsible for plan review, budget preparation for capital improvements, grant applications, equipment and services specifications, mapping and signing off on documents, among other tasks. The engineer would also attend meetings as required by Public Works director Eric Watson or his designee.
Up until about 10 years ago, the city had a full-time in-house engineer, but later outsourced the duties. One of the major concerns has been a road repair program that began as a five-year project in 2005, but morphed into "phases" after the schedule fell behind.
For several years, the engineer assigned from Remington & Vernick was Jacqueline Foushee, who developed an exhaustive knowledge of city infrastructure and a congenial working relationship with city staff and land use agencies. Foushee left the company in 2014 to become the first female African American Public Works director in Trenton, shortly after former Plainfield Public Works Director Eric Jackson was elected mayor of Trenton.
Another engineer was assigned to Plainfield, but apparently did not have the same affinity for the city.
The contract with Pennoni Associates, if approved by the governing body, runs to Dec. 31.
Also on Monday's agenda is a $2.3 million bond ordinance for capital improvements described as:
"Providing for various capital acquisitions and improvements within the City including, but not limited to, the improvements to Seidler Field, Municipal Lots 6 and 8, Department of Public Works salt and sand storage silo, Department of Public Works City yard and Police Headquarters, the acquisition of vehicles for the Department of Public Works, the acquisition of police vehicles and the acquisition of a fire engine pumper, and the purchase of property."
The bond ordinance will be up for first reading on March 14 and if passed, will be up for second reading and final passage on April 11.
Other items include a lien for $114,000 to be placed on 117-125 North Avenue for the March 21, 2015 demolition that went wrong and destroyed a neighboring restaurant. The owner is not identified.
Click the link to view or print your own copy of the Monday, March 7 agenda.
--Bernice
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