Budget hearings set -- at last

Will this year's budget be a matter of 'give and take', or just 'take'?

The Plainfield City Council has finally set up a schedule of hearings for the proposed 2015 municipal budget (see table below).

While not every division is slated for a rake-over, the council has set aside a whole evening for reviewing the budget of the Office of the Mayor. One has to wonder if there will be some political showboating.

Councilor Gloria Taylor, Assemblyman Jerry Green's latest lackey, aims to step into the shoes of former Councilor Bill Reid as the Council's financial whiz. We will see how Taylor handles the assignment.

An ominous note was sounded when Bernice reported last week (see here) that Council asked for a list of "employee names and salaries".

Takes me back to the days when Councilor Bob Ferraro insisted on discussing me by name and lobbying his colleagues to have me laid off. Though Council is not allowed to discuss employees by name, but only by job title, that didn't hold him back and he only backed off when I threatened to sue.

Let's hope this Council will not revisit those "good old days".

The schedule leaves open the possibility that amendments could be adopted and the budget passed in a special meeting on Wednesday, May 28. Stay tuned. 

:

DEPARTMENT/DIVISION	DATE	TIME	LOCATION
Public Affairs & Safety: Police Division Fire Division	Wed. May 6th	7:00 p.m.	Plainfield Senior Center 400 East Front St.
General Government: Office of the Mayor	Thur. May 7th	7:00 p.m.	Plainfield Public Library Anne Louise Davis Room
Economic Development	Wed. May 13th	7:00 p.m	City Hall Library 515 Watchung Avenue
Administration & Finance: Information Technology/Media Health Division Purchasing Division	Thur. May 14th	7:00 p.m	City Hall Library 515 Watchung Avenue
Public Works & Urban Dev. Public Works Division Inspections Division Recreation Division	Mon. May 18th	7:00 p.m	City Hall Library 515 Watchung Avenue
Council/Citizens Budget Advisory Committee/ Consultant  Feedback & Other  Public Hearing & Possible Budget Amendments	Wed. May 20th	7:00 p.m.	Plainfield Senior Center 400 East Front St.

 

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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