Council President as Lord High Executioner?
The missing 'M' at Plainfield's special City Council meeting last night was not Michael Jackson. It was Malcolm Dunn.
Once again, Plainfielders were treated to a bumbling presentation by the administration of Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, led by City Administrator and (still!) Acting Director of Administration and Finance Marc (I'll get back to you on that) Dashield.
Of six items on the special meeting's agenda, three were tabled or withdrawn after discussion -- much of it prompted by sharp questions from Councilor Adrian Mapp.
You will want to read Bernice (here) and Olddoc (here), who were also there.
Here are my questions and observations --
PILOT for 1272 Park AvenueI was stunned that Council President Burney allowed discussion by Council members of items that were not listed in the legal notice calling the meeting. I have always been under the impression that only items published in the notice may be discussed or acted upon. But, of course, I am not a lawyer.Why would Dashield show up for a serious presentation, asking for Council's commitment to a 30-year PILOT (payment-in-lieu-of-taxes) proposal for this property without a complete dossier -- including notes on all the questions Council was likely to ask)? I get an Excedrin headache thinking that we will have four more years of this shabby style. Will take this up later in more depth.PMUA, PARSA and CityThe Robinson-Briggs administration has still not successfully explained the details around the easement proposed for the construction of a new pumping station for PARSA near the PMUA's Rock Avenue Transfer Station. Dashield promised to get back to the Council on their questions...later. No mention has been made of whether the proposed easement impacts the Green Brook Bike Trail project the City is currently engaged in.Dudley HouseThe Robinson-Briggs administration proposed withdrawing a resolution awarding a contract for the provision of administrative and substance abuse counseling services at the troubled Dudley House program, but was trumped by Councilor Reid's insistence that the prerogative belonged to the Council. The Council did withdraw the resolution, but not until the public learned that (as I have reported earlier), Dudley House employees have been working in the Division of Public Works since the facility was shut down. Mind you, are we supposed to believe they are engaged in substance abuse counseling at the DPW? At any rate, that is what the grant money was supposed to be for that the Council agreed to transfer last night. But why be a stickler for protocol?
At any rate, there were a few items of interest that came out in the discussions --
- Work on the Netherwood Avenue (and Kensington Avenue) road projects is in default, and the Robinson-Briggs administration is pursuing action through the performance bonding firm. Interesting that it was never made public during the Primary election campaign period, don't you think?
- Councilor Mapp initiated a discussion of whether a switch from the current Fiscal Year budget to a Calendar Year (allowed now by the law) would be beneficial. I'm sure we'll hear more on this later.
- If the PILOT for 1272 Park Avenue had previously expired, why didn't the Robinson-Briggs administration pursue the matter until new owners brought it to the fore?
As Council President, Malcolm terrorized City Administrators and department heads, scathingly chewing them up and spitting them out when they came before the Council ill-prepared.
Though I do not miss the meetings that often dragged on toward -- and sometimes past -- the midnight hour, I do think that we could do with a firmer approach by the Council President toward the Robinson-Briggs administration, at least by demanding that Dashield come prepared and then by taking on the list-making role of Ko-Ko, the Mikado's Lord High Executioner.
Making a list and checking it.
Plainfield might be better for it.
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4 comments:
For all the positive and negative stories about Malcolm I liked him and his input at the Council.
I would remind you that I believe th Pilot program ended on Al's watch so even the New Dems and Mapp share some blame. BUT that does not mean that it has to be perpetuated.
Hi, Dan,
Regarding the PILOT program at 1272Park Ave., I would take issue with Old Doc about one thing he wrote. Even if Mapp and the McWilliams administration were unaware/didn't follow up on the expiration of the PILOT, in no way should the "New Dems share some blame." They were/are not elected council members or part of the mayoral cabinet, but a democratic club. I'm not a New Democrat but I know several and all are hardworking citizens and residents. I would say that the blame belongs with the previous and current administration as well as previous and current councilmembers.
To Olddoc and 9:42AM --
I remember a huge to-do about PILOTS, I believe it was when Park-Madison was being contemplated (or maybe Horizons at Plainfield).
At any rate, it was discovered that the City had no organized list of PILOTS with dates, terms, etc. I think building a list was undertaken, but after that I don't know. I am going to check it out.
There's a lot to be said about PILOTs -- not all of it AGAINST them.
But this discussion also reminds me that we have unanswered questions about the PILOT for the County Office Building. Stay tuned...
A matter of clarification. When I refer to the 'New Democrats" I did not man the political group but those members who were elected city officials at that time.
As Dan points out, this is only one area where the city lacks any organized structured record keeping. This has been a problem for at least 2 or 3 decades and no administration has shown any desire to correct.
The Council should demand and Administration act. Lack of any IT capabilities is no excuse, everything can be done manually. IT is just anotherr tool for good management.
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