As Spiderman learned, sometimes the public can show its gratitude by helping the hero.
In Plainfield's case, that would be hero Councilors Annie McWilliams (chair of the Council's Information Technology [IT] committee), Adrian Mapp and Cory Storch.
What's at issue is tabling the Robinson-Briggs administration's IT salary ordinance, the passing of which would allow the Administration to dip into the public purse once again to reward its friends (rumor has it the job has already been promised).
Councilor McWilliams summarized the issues and unanswered questions in a blog post last week (see here).
The urgency expressed by the Robinson-Briggs administration is questionable.
The salary proposed sounds excessive.
The Administration has not submitted a long-range plan.
The Administration has not explained why a consultant wouldn't be a better option until a long-range plan is put in place.
What is the Council to do?
The Council should have INDEPENDENT, NON-POLITICAL, TECHNICAL ADVICE on the matter before moving forward.
In the early years of Al McWilliams' first term, the Council felt it needed an outside opinion about the budget the Administration submitted.
Exercising its prerogative, the Council hired an outside expert -- John Surmay, who is now the County Health Officer -- who parsed every line of the budget for them and helped the Council negotiate the changes that became the final version of the budget.
Did it make relations between the Council and the Administration tense? You betcha.
Was the Council within its rights? You betcha.
Councilor Burney wrote on Friday to explain why he will not support spending $6,000 on musical events at the County Office Building Plaza this summer unless he gets answers to his questions, explaining that, in his own words, "my responsibility is to the taxpayers of Plainfield".
If $6,000 should give a Councilor pause, shouldn't $130,000? Plus more for a supplementary staff plus more for benefits? Could we be talking a quarter of a million dollars here?
So Councilors McWilliams, Mapp and Storch need a fourth vote tonight to table the salary ordinance. That would allow the Council time to make a reasoned decision.
Which is where the public can help the heroes.
As they did with Spiderman.
City Council Business Meeting
Tonight, 8:00 PM
City Council Chambers/Courthouse
Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street
Tonight, 8:00 PM
City Council Chambers/Courthouse
Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street
- Positive Change (McWilliams): "IT in Plainfield"
- As I See It (Burney): "Music in the Park" (it's really about 'Music in the PLAZA')
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