Lobby of the A.C. Convention Center.
A reader commenting on Plainfield officials' attendance at the League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City (see yesterday's story here) made the following suggestion --
I think that everyone who goes to the Conference should have to give the citizens a full 10-page report (including expense reports) on what they did, how they benefited from the trip, and how the taxpayers of Plainfield will be benefited.I kind of like that.
It sort of reminds me of those 'How I spent my summer vacation' essays we were required to write each September back in my 3-room country schoolhouse.
Miss Cumro taught us it wasn't enough just to make a list, we had to tell a story, with a beginning, middle and end. Contemporary educators would probably call it an exercise in developing critical thinking skills.
I happen to know that many of the staffers who go down to the annual event do attend worthwhile workshops and seminars and are not there for the schmoozing and boozing -- many of them, in fact, are earning continuing education units (CEUs) required to keep their certifications up-to-date.
The same cannot be said of department heads and elected officials.
It WOULD BE REFRESHING to have them tell us what they did and how they and Plainfield's taxpayers benefit.
Right on, anonymous reader!
Write on, Conference attendees!
(PS -- It goes without saying I will gladly post -- unedited -- any submissions by attendees that come my way. Maybe they could be put on the City website, too ... just dreamin'.)
- Plainfield Today: "League Conference in A.C.: What should officials be boning up on?"
-- Dan Damon [follow]
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2 comments:
This "conference" is being held by lobbyist, who collect dues/payments from all the municipalities in the state. These non-governmental employees participate in the state pension system, which again is costing us money. They are lobbying the state for the towns instead of the Assemblyman and Senators we elect to do that job for us. So lets look at this conference:
1) It costs us $ to send people there
2) It costs us $ to pay the people holding it
3) It costs us $ because the non-governmental employee lobbyist are collecting State Pensions
4) It costs us $ because the lobbyist are being paid to do the job we pay our Assemblyman & Senators to do.
NJ -- Never saw a scam it didn't like. Let's hope our incoming Governor ends this little charade soon after getting into office.
Dan,
I love this idea! There should be more accountability in government. They act like children, treat them like children. Let us see first hand where the money is going and why. If they can spend the time and money, lets see what we are getting for it.
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