Is operant conditioning possible?
As the arm-wrestling between Plainfield's City Council and the Robinson-Briggs administration continues, the question arises whether this administration is trainable.
Some councilors, at least, are of the opinion that -- to quote Council President Burney's formulation (see here) -- the public's business should be conducted 'with ample, fair and advance notice of such'.
The public certainly believes it should, as evidenced by many of the public's questions and comments on the proposed tax abatements for the Monarch condos which came out at last week's Town Hall (see more, including videos, on Councilor Mapp's blog here).
Councilor Storch shares some of his frustration at the way the Robinson-Briggs administration conducts business with his post about two items that are being 'walked on' at tonight's meeting (see his blog here).
This business of walk-ons and ill-prepared submissions has been going on since Day One of the Robinson-Briggs administration. For a long time, I ascribed it to incompetence or just plain laziness.
But the experience of the Monarch condo tax abataments has me lately coming to wonder if the Administration hasn't a more nefarious goal in mind: to PREVENT THE PUBLIC'S INFORMED PARTICIPATION in discussing and shaping the administration's policy proposals by these 'walk-ons', consciously and purposely preventing the ample, fair AND ADVANCE notice that Council President Burney wants to see.
What is the advantage to Plainfield in being so anti-democratic? And can the Council use operant conditioning to train the Robinson-Briggs administration?
- Councilor Mapp: "Public speaks out on tax abatement proposal"
- Councilor Burney: "No Monarch ordinance up for vote"
- Councilor Storch: "Monday night Council agenda"
City Council Business Meeting
8 PM | Tonight, August 17
Council Chambers/Municipal Court
Watchung Avenue at East 4th Street
8 PM | Tonight, August 17
Council Chambers/Municipal Court
Watchung Avenue at East 4th Street
-- Dan Damon
Posts
7 comments:
Is the administration trainable? A good question. I imagine, that as one who appreciates the proper use of the English language, you were as dismayed as I was in reading the "Dear Neighbor" cover letter for the tax bill. I cringed when I read the clause in the second paragraph stating "In that vain,..." Surely somebody proofreads these missives. Or perhaps the author and editor can't make a distinction between between "vain" and "vein". Worse yet, maybe they *can* and "vain" was the appropriate usage...
Since no one can accuse the big green machine of stupidity, the answer is obvious.
More walk-ons? What is going on here Dan? The council should go back to the old schedule of meetings! The public is not informed of stuff, and they want to put it on the agenda without giving us time to digest it and then try to force the council to a quick vote. This is embarrassing, and I hope Burney sees it and rejects this silliness. Regarding the IT position, here are my thoughts. If the administration has not met the minimal goals laid out by Councilman Burney in his blog post (see below) back in March regarding the IT position, he and the rest of the city council have the responsibility to the public who elected them to vote "NO" at this time on that ordinance. We must hold this administration accountable for everything they, as our representatives, have asked for from this administration. The IT committee has not received the information it needs, and neither has the public. I say that because I have not seen anything. Mr. Dashield has had five and a half months to pull together a comprehensible plan on IT. Also, the job search should be nationwide. There are scores of IT professionals all over the country who should know about this position, not just some crappy posting on the Plainfield personnel director' bulletin board in city hall, or buried online in the state's civil service listings. Posting the job in IT trade magazines, on Monster.com, and in venues that are truly open to the vast number of IT people will help us get a good person, rather than a patronage hire. Everyone is aware that this administration wanted to hire a specific individual for this job, so they owe it to us to make sure there is a real job search for a real professional. The IT committee is charged with making the public aware of the openness and fairness of a job search that will result in competence and professionalism, rather than cronyism and political "hackery."
http://rashidburney.blogspot.com/2009/03/part-2-of-2-we-hired-it-director-now.html
I believe that the administration knows it looks like a joke, and does not want any more public exposure than needed. After all the mayor cannot say anything intelligent (but at least she uses correct English) and JG cannot speak or write to save his life. Who would want exposure under those conditions?
However, the sad part to all of this is, I believe, that the public is more than willing to help in whatever way they can to make this city better. If the administration needs volunteers to help in areas, I am sure they would get it.
The administration has such a chip on its shoulder, that it cannot see that there is a groundswell of people who are happy to help however they can. How about it, mayor? Why don't you realize we are all on the same page, and live in the same city and recognize that we all want to work together. We will extend the hand first. Will you take it?
Laura --
I have to say that that 'vain' leaped off the page as I scanned it. Of course, the writer might have relied on spellcheck, which is unwise.
I'll be writing more about the substance of that letter later.
I asked this was a council meeting and, as such, the agenda is set by the Council President. So if the Council President does not approve this item being on the Agenda, I believe there is a process in which other Council members can have it put on the Agenda. But the Mayor or Administration cannot place something on the Agenda without the okay from the Council President. Can anyone explain why Council just not take the reigns on this one and out the Mayor in her place ???
To 7:29 PM --
I got in from the Council meeting a little while ago. The condo tax abatement issue was not on the agenda nor discussed.
What happened? Either they saw the wisdom of doing it the right way, or found they didn't have four votes and didn't need more public embarrassment.
Whatever, the effect is the same -- it wasn't on.
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