The last half of April will be jammed with public meetings, with some yet to be announced.
Here is a lineup:
April 15 - City Council regular meeting, 8 p.m. in Municipal Court.
New - April 15 - Special PMUA meeting, 3 p.m. at 127 Roosevelt Ave.
New - April 16 - "The First 100 Days" - Mayor Mapp and administration report, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Anne Louise Davis Room, Plainfield Public Library
April 17- Planning Board meeting with Muhlenberg application to relocate satellite emergency department, 7 p.m. in Anne Louise Davis Room at Plainfield Public Library.
April 17 - Budget deliberations, Public Affairs & Safety (Police and Fire), 7 p.m. in City Hall Library
April 22 - Budget deliberations, Economic Development, IT & Media, Health Division, Purchasing Division, 7 p.m. in Anne Louise Davis Room, Plainfield Public Library.
April 22 - Historic Preservation Commission, 7:30 p.m. City Hall Library
April 23 -Budget deliberations, Public Works & Urban Development, Inspections, Recreation, and General Government, Office of the Mayor, 7 p.m, Anne Louise Davis Room, Plainfield Public Library
April 24 - City's Muhlenberg Study group takes citizens' comments, 7 p.m. Clinton School
April 28 - City Council and Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, 7 p.m. City Hall Library
April 29 - City's Muhlenberg Study group takes citizens' comments, 7 p.m. Emerson School
The City Council may be holding one or two special meetings, to be announced.
Check the banner on the city web site for more information
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Spring Sights
On Park Avenue, David Holmes III (aka Chef D) gives a nod to the season with this colorful window display at his "It's-A-Wrap" restaurant.
Next door, David Holmes Jr. welcomes customers to The Computer Store with this tasteful window display. Both stores set an example for others in the Park & Seventh shopping district with their eye-catching windows.
Outside the chiropractic office in the next block, the heather is in bloom. This owner landscaped his front lawn when he took over the historic former dental office and is careful to maintain it. It gives plant lovers a little extra boost to see this harbinger of spring, and even passersby who don't know it's heather can appreciate the lovely flowers.
Still on the to-do list: Putting back signs such as this one that were damaged in the severe winter.
The sign above warns truck drivers about the height of the railroad underpass on Watchung Avenue. Many a truck has gotten wedged under here even with the warning sign, but maybe replacing it should still be near the top of the to-do list.
We are promised a couple of really nice days this week. Get out and about and see your own signs of spring in the Queen City!
--Bernice
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
It's National Empanada Day!
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
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
Rivers Nixes ABC Board, PMUA Appointee
Comments are now closed on this post.
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
