Plainfield's Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) should be in full swing.
Do you know whether it is?
I was reminded this morning of the program when I saw a really nice writeup in the Ledger of New Brunswick's similar program, designed to give youngsters a taste of real adult work, along with a stipend and coaching in good work habits.
Quite a number of City of Plainfield employees got their start in the summer youth program, including Tax Assessor (and first-time granny) Tracy Bennett.
This year, however, you won't be reading about Plainfield's summer youth program, which is beset by missteps by the Robinson-Briggs administration.
After allegedly being sabotaged at the County level last year, Plainfield Action Services' former director Rick Smiley walked the grant proposal through step-by-step this year.
Only to be told he was not to be involved with the program -- with which he has been associated for twenty years -- AND FURTHER, that though he was not needed, he also would not be allowed to take vacation during the program's dates of operations, as he had previously planned.
As if that weren't enough, the person hired to direct the summer effort stepped away in a disagreement with the City and the program was in need of direction.
Frustrated, Smiley offered his resignation as Director of Plainfield Action Services, giving the customary two weeks' notice.
He was informed by the Mayor's office that he could consider his employment terminated effective immediately and that the Mayor's security detail would be over to escort him from the premises.
Normally, I would have gotten a nice story about the summer program. You will notice that the deep-bench communications team has not gotten one out yet. But then, summer's not over.
At least there was no story about the Administration shooting itself in the foot over Smiley's resignation. Read more...
Ledger: "New Brunswick group wakes teens from summer slumber"
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