Will new foreclosure law help Plainfield?

A private crew was cutting the grass of this Kenyon Avenue foreclosure
Sunday. Did the bank get the memo?

Will a new foreclosed properties law signed by Gov. Christie this past Friday help Plainfield solve its problems with vacant, foreclosed and abandoned properties?

The new law, sponsored by a South Jersey assemblyman sets stiff DAILY fines for creditors (banks and others) whose properties are in violation of municipal code (see Ledger story here).

How serious a problem is foreclosure in Plainfield? I know of no direct statistics, but RealtyTrac (see their website here), which follows the foreclosure process, indicates there are currently nearly 900 properties in Plainfield that are either foreclosed, in pre-foreclosure, being auctioned or bank-owned.

A browse through these listings will also give you a little insight into the scam that was being played out in the housing 'bubble'. Can you imagine a residence on Westervelt Avenue with a $615,000 mortgage? Or one on Myrtle Avenue with a $557,000 loan? How about a residence on Netherwood Avenue with a $582,000 mortgage? Or a Crescent Avenue property with a $1.8 million 'transfer value'? You get my drift.

I wrote previously about some South Jersey towns' efforts to set up a REGISTRY of foreclosed and vacant properties (see post here). These registries require owners of vacant and foreclosed properties to sign up (for an annual fee of $1,000, with penalties for delaying entry into the program).

The new state law gives municipalities the ability to assess fines up to $2,500 PER DAY per property for out-of-state creditors, an amount that ought to catch their attention.

The first benefit of having a registry, as I see it, is that many communities -- Plainfield included -- simply do not know just how many abandoned, vacant and foreclosed properties there are.

The second, more mercenary, benefit is help to the city's bottom line. If the cost to join the registry is $1,000 per property per year and there are 500 properties (for the sake of illustration) -- what would the income to the city be? Could Plainfield use an extra $500,000?

That's just the registry; the state law allows for the other penalties for failure to meet code requirements (lawns being one of the most obvious). With fines of $1,500 or $2,500 PER DAY, you can see where this is going.

But that's not all. Vacant and foreclosed properties also invite other issues and problems that impact the community -- squatting and scrapping, but also vermin infestations. In fact, in some communities the health officer has had to get involved because of public safety issues involving wild animals and insect-born diseases.

According to the Ledger story, the NJ League of Municipalities is preparing a webinar to help local officials get up to speed on this issue and put the state law into effect.

Let's hope some of our elected officials are paying attention.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Sign of the times: Doors

Truck parked outside a Plainfield business.

 

Spotted doing some work in Plainfield. Perhaps they spell things a bit differently in Belleville?

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Two more shootings

A new shooting, and a previously unreported one.

Two more  Plainfield shootings have come to light. I got word Friday evening about 6:30 PM that a shooting had taken place minutes earlier on Evona Avenue.

I was told the man who had been shot was medevaced, and then heard that he may have died before he could be airlifted. The shooting was reported in a brief in both the Courier and the Ledger -- see today's CLIPS.

The second shooting evidently took place last Sunday at West 4th and New Street and was -- far as I know -- previously unreported. A man was wounded in that incident and an arrest of a 20-year-old East 9th Street resident was made on attempted murder charges Wednesday night. This is also reported in both the Courier and the Ledger and the links are on today's CLIPS.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Audit shows Robinson-Briggs' bumbling legacy still with us

Rating Robinson-Briggs' fiscal performance. Hmmmm....

A quick review of the City of Plainfield 2013 Audit (see the document online here) shows that a host of issues -- ranging from petty lapses to more serious ongoing problems -- are part of a bumbling legacy in fiscal matters bequeathed to the city by former mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs.

The complete list can be found in the last few pages (starting at page 130) of the PDF document.

Here are just a few examples from former mayor Robinson-Briggs' last year in office --

• PURCHASING -- The legacy of shoddy purchasing practices was still not under control, with purchases made without purchase orders, exceeding of expenditure limits, and cumulative expenditures over the bid threshold not always approved in the Council minutes. The Mapp administration has been tackling purchasing issues; we won't know its impact until next year's audit.
  
  
• TRUST FUNDS -- Several trust funds set up by 'Dedication by Rider' resolutions were denied by the state because supporting documentation was not submitted. These included the city's Workmen's Compensation and Medical Self-Insurance funds.
  
  
• REGISTRAR -- Quarterly payments to the state (for marriage licenses, etc.) were sometimes late, sometimes incorrect and once were made in duplicate.
  
  
• GRANTS -- Numerous grant issues surfaced, including grant reserves from prior years that need to be cleared. This problem has been pointed out in previous years, and Mayor Mapp's new CFO has moved to begin to clear up this mess.

As Robinson-Briggs appears to be planning a revival of her political career, these audit findings are an important reminder of her past performance.

As for the Council, it is worth noting that the members individually and jointly swear each year that they have read and understand the audit findings and recommendations.

So, why was Councilor Reid so surprised when the CFO proposed a resolution cleaning up just some of the grants mess at last week's agenda-setting session?

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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2013 Plainfield audit posted online

The city's 2013 books have been audited.

Thanks to the alacrity of Plainfield Municipal Clerk 'AJ' Jalloh, I was able to upload the complete 2013 City of Plainfield Audit as performed and reported by Supplee Clooney Inc., the city's auditors. Congratulations go to the city's entire financial team for getting the job done so early! The audit is embedded below, or you may go directly to the website and read it here.

For those interested in the auditor's findings only, they can be found on pages 131-137 of the PDF document (they are listed as pages 49-53 in the document index).

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City of Plainfield (NJ) - 2013 Audit

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Thursday: Job Fair, Anti-Violence March & Forum

Plainfield young people have led the way in calling
for an end to violence.

Plainfield will see two important opportunities Thursday: a jobs fair at City Hall and a march and forum against violence.

The jobs fair, long in the planning, is hosted by Mayor Adrian Mapp jointly with the United States Postal Service. It takes place from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at City Hall.

Though Plainfield's jobless rate has fallen in recent months, unemployment and under-employment have long been an issue. The postal service has many kinds of job openings -- not just letter carriers -- so interested parties should check it out.

The evening will see a march and forum concerning violence. The march begins at 5:00 PM at West 4th Street and Rock Avenue, proceed to Leland Avenue and then to the High School, where a forum is scheduled from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. More information on the city's website here.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Assemblyman Jerry Green corrects Dan?

Assemblyman Jerry Green teaches Dan a lesson in government.

Plainfield Assemblyman Jerry Green, who also serves as chair of both the Plainfield and Union County Democratic committees, corrected Dan in a post on his 'Jerry Green's Page' blog Monday afternoon (see post here).

Green takes Dan to task for asserting in a Monday post (see 'Gloria Taylor: A carpetbagger on residency?') that Green appointed Councilor Gloria Taylor to fill the vacancy left when Adrian Mapp was elected mayor.

Here is what Jerry wrote --

I find it in my duty to correct misinformation that is out there. Otherwise this misinformation could be taken as truth. To get to the point, Dan, Councilwoman Gloria Taylor was elected in the June primary by voters in the Third Ward. She won this primary, she was not appointed by me as the Chair, she was elected. A man of your caliber should know the difference between getting voted in and getting appointed in.

Now, I can be accused of using the shorthand phrase 'Jerry appointed' to convey a larger sequence of events.

In the event of a Council vacancy, the party committee of the officeholder's party is by law to submit three names to the Council, from which the Council is to select one to fill the vacancy.

Since in Plainfield, as Assemblyman Green has told the world (see his famous 'I run this motherf***er' video here) his word runs as writ, I used the shorthand phrase. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that Jerry picked Taylor, nor that the Council was not to have any other opinion in the matter.

What intrigues me is that Jerry asserts that the PRIMARY election voted Taylor into office.

My understanding is that a vacancy is filled by the Council with someone to serve until the voters elect a replacement at the next general election. The general election is the one held in November of each year in New Jersey, as one would hope members of the Legislature know.

The fact that Ms. Taylor had an opponent in the Primary election means that she was running to be the Democratic candidate in the November general election.

Though Taylor won the primary, she is still not out of the woods. In order to take the seat for the balance of Mapp's original term, Taylor must defeat her Republican opponent in the November general election. Until she wins the November election and is sworn in on January 1, 2015, Taylor is filling the seat as an appointee.

Should a man of Assemblyman Green's caliber know the distinction?

Or, as Jerry so often says at the end of making a point, 'Am I right or am I right'?

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Council passes HAP ordinance

Council intends to convey Lot 9 to the Housing Authority
for an as-yet-unnamed developer to build "affordable housing".

 

Despite a review by Plainfield's new Corporation Counsel Vernita Sias-Hill that pointed out deficiencies and other problems with the proposed ordinance to convey Public Parking Lot 9 to the Housing Authority of Plainfield, the City Council voted to do so on Monday evening.

After rancorous discussion among themselves, the vote went down 5-1 in favor. Councilor Rebecca Williams was the lone nay vote. Councilor Brown participated by phone. Councilor Storch was absent and is said to be out of the country.

Though Mayor Mapp can veto the ordinance, there is a clear majority to override a veto. The question on the table is whether Corporation Counsel's objections are in any way fatal to the ordinance as written.

What happens now is anybody's guess.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Plainfield youth rally against violence

With bumper-to-bumper traffic and no place to park,
the best I could muster was a shot through the windshield.

Plainfield young people took to the street on Sunday, showing both their solidarity with the family of slain Michael Brown of Ferguson, MO, and concern over violence in our own community.

The young men and women lined both sides of East Front Street near Park Avenue, holding signs that encouraged drivers to honk their horns against violence.

The sound of horns could be heard reverberating along the city's main shopping block for most of the afternoon. Drivers also rolled down their windows to shout support and words of encouragement.

The group's signs were quickly made on posterboard, reflecting the bearer's sentiments and without any sort of group identification.

It struck me as something of a paradigm shift, that young people would spontaneously take the issue to the busiest spot in town without waiting for elders or organizations to get organized.

Bravo!

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Council skates on thin ice tonight with two issues

Will the Council fall through?

Plainfield's City Council will be skating on thin ice tonight if it takes up two proposed items -- the ordinance to convey public land to the Housing Authority of Plainfield, and the matter of a residency waiver for Health Officer Denise Proctor.

As has been widely observed, the proposal to convey the parking lot at the corner of West 2nd Street and Central Avenue to the Housing Authority, who would pass it along to a developer to build a residential-only rental complex, is fraught with issues.

There are questions of whether HAP is a reliable partner, whether there is really a developer, and what is the rush.

But most importantly -- and the reason for the thin ice metaphor -- is that the proposed giveaway, vigorously pushed by Council President Bridget Rivers, is in violation of the proper procedures.

As it stands now, that space is used by the public and relied upon by adjacent businesses for their well-being. The public taking of the property without an opportunity for the adjacent parties to be heard would be an outrage.

The kind that would lead businessmen to throw cases of tea into the harbor, if we had a harbor.

The other item that puts the Council in a bind is the possible 'interview' of Denise Proctor in relation to a waiver of the residency requirement.

The Health Officer is not one of the positions which the charter requires the Council to give 'advice and consent' to. What is there to interview about? What is the legal ground on which the Council would stand if it did conduct an interview?

Or would it be putting itself on thin ice and exposing the city to liability?

City Council meets for its regular business meeting in the Council Chambers/Courthouse at Watchung Avenue and Est 4th Street at 8:00 PM this evening. All are welcome.

[Apologies to Ms. Proctor for garbling her name in the original post. -- Dan]

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Gloria Taylor: A carpetbagger on residency?

Appointed to former Councilor Mapp's seat, Councilor Taylor
introduced the term 'carpetbaggers' into the public discourse.

Plainfield Councilor Gloria Taylor's stand on the city charter's residency requirement for employees reminds me of the famous J. P. Morgan quip, 'A man always has two reasons for the things he does -- a good one, and the real one'.

Except in this case it appears it's a woman.

The point at issue is the matter of making a permanent appointment to the position of Health Officer, currently filled by Denise Proctor.

Councilor Taylor has made the residency demand her hallmark issue ever since appointed by Assemblyman Jerry Green to the Council vacancy created by the election of Adrian O. Mapp as mayor.

Though she originally framed her position as an objection to 'carpetbaggers' (see my March 7 post here), she has retreated from the language ever since it was pointed out that the word refers to those who MOVE IN FROM ELSEWHERE to economically benefit from this new community -- exactly the opposite of the spin Taylor put on the term.

Some have suggested that Taylor -- who moved back to Plainfield from Rahway and lives tax-free in a lovely home in a great neighborhood thanks to an exemption granted to her late husband and former mayor of Plainfield, Rick Taylor -- is something of a 'carpetbagger' herself.

Another reason to find Taylor's position somewhat odd is that she herself served as an administrator for many years in the Paterson school district. Her complaint that not living in the community means an employee won't have the community's best interest at heart leads to the obvious question of whether her service in Paterson was flawed by her not living there. In which case, who is she to lecture the rest of us?

Denise Proctor has demonstrated her value (and her concern for Plainfielders' welfare) in the few short months she has been here. Without her efforts, one has to wonder when (or if) the failure to inspect food-related businesses would have come to light; ditto the public swimming pools, for which there is no evidence health inspections were completed before this year. For these two efforts alone, we owe her our thanks.

As to the question of waiving the residency requirement for the city's Health Officer, let's review --

• Mark Colicchio, the last full-time HO lived in Elizabeth and was waived by the Council;
• Jadwiga Warwas, MD, lived in North Jersey and was waived by the Council.

Before that, of course, we have the example of Ruby Hodge, who served in several administrations, lived in Englishtown the whole time, and was waived by the Council.

One of the mayors under whom Ruby Hodge served? Rick Taylor, the late husband of Councilor Taylor.

Which leads me back to the J.P. Morgan quote. If the 'good' reason for Taylor's opposition to waiving the residency requirement for Pryor is the charter's requirement, what is the 'real' reason?

Could it have anything to do with the fact that Assemblyman Jerry Green, Taylor's patron and chair of the Union County Democratic Committee, is on the political outs with Proctor's husband, who happens to be the former mayor of Rahway?

[Apologies to Ms. Proctor for garbling her name in the original post. -- Dan]

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Gang wars returning to Plainfield?

Three incidents in the past week, including one fatality, raise questions.

With three gunplay incidents within four days, the question arises whether gang warfare is returning to Plainfield.

Saturday evening, the area of West 3rd Street and Monroe Avenue was the site of an incident in which I am told five men were shot, one of them fatally. The Ledger had a brief report in today's issue (see here).

This follows on two separate shootings on Wednesday, one at West 4th and Plainfield Avenue and the other near East 2nd Street and Garfield Avenue.

Though the authorities have been mum on whether the shootings are gang-related or connected to each other, they seem to follow a familiar pattern that we have seen all too often.

Police Director Carl Riley reported at Mayor Mapp's town hall meeting last week that violent crime is down dramatically over the first six months of last year. Let's hope this past week's incidents are not a return to the bad old times.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Muhlenberg commemoration, Mapp BBQ highlight the day

(Left to right) Jaon Van Pelt, Mother Carolyn Eklund and
Dottie Gutenkauf at the 2013 commemoration.

Two events highlight what looks like a perfect summer Saturday.

Plainfielders and others from surrounding communities with gather at 3:00 PM to commemorate the closing of Muhlenberg Hospital in August 2008.

The annual observance draws together those who fought the closure of the 130-year-old hospital, which was also Plainfield's largest employer.

Activists in support of Muhlenberg and local clergy will make brief remarks. The gathering is at the corner of Park Avenue and Randolph Road, beginning at 3:00 PM.

The group always gets enthusiastic honks from passersby who see the banners and posters concerning the hospital.

ANNUAL MAPP BBQ

Mayor Adrian Mapp and his wife Amelia will open their home this afternoon to the seventh annual Mapp Family BBQ. All are invited to the event, which begins at 4:00 PM and runs into the evening.

This is a great opportunity to meet and mingle with old friends and neighbors and to meet newcomers to the community. There is always plenty to eat and drink and music to keep the beat going.

As always, guests are invited to bring along a contribution of nonperishable food items to be donated to local feeding programs. Items gathered in will be distributed through the food pantry of Shiloh Baptist Church.

The Mapp's home is at 535 West 8th Street, and Adrian and Amelia cordially welcome all.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Draft report on possible future for Muhlenberg property

The study area involves the Muhlenberg Hospital
campus (including the lot on Park Avenue which is not highlighted).

With a packed house at Plainfield High School's cafeteria, Heyer & Gruel Associates presented its draft report on possible future uses for the Muhlenberg Hospital campus Thursday evening.

Mayor Mapp opened the evening by welcoming the crowd, introducing the consultants and offering the floor to a representative from Assemblyman Jerry Green's office, who explained the Assemblyman had another meeting to attend.

Later, jokingly referring to the 7:00 AM robocall on which several participants commented, Mayor Adrian Mapp said he took full responsibility for it and its apparent effectiveness -- my guesstimate was there were about 450-500 people there. This is the most since the monster rallies in opposition to the hospital's closing in 2008.

The consultants admitted they were not prepared for a crowd of this size, and were criticized sharply for it by one resident. (The PowerPoint presentation was displayed on a side wall, they had to jerry-rig a pointer, and there were no handouts, were among the issues.)

That being said, the consultants presented a brief overview of one possible scenario for future use of the property.

This was the first time I recall hearing that the scope of their project was restricted to proposed land uses and zoning recommendations for the 17-acre campus, but the explanation was that it hinged on the principal point of JFK's proposal for the protperty -- that the zoning be changed to allow all residential development.

The draft report proposed dividing the campus into two zones, one the parts of the property facing both sides of Park Avenue and the other being the main buildings to the east.

View of half the crowd from my front row seat on one side.

The audience palpably stiffened at the mention of possible assisted living or vetrerans housing uses for a corner of the property opposite the Donald Van Blake tennis courts.

Except for this point, the recommendations followed closely the public's input at three previous community meetings, focusing on possible 'medical mall' uses of the main complex. The exteriors of two historic structures would be preserved. The portion centered on Park Avenue would have a large section reserved for parking and would offer opportunities for some standalone ancillary or educational facilities.

Twenty-four people came to the microphone with comments or questions.

The very first person zeroed in on the housing suggestions and several others echoed her comments -- that the rea residents wanted to see no residential development on the property and had clearly expressed that in all the public meetings heretofore.

The audience was passionate as only Plainfielders can be, but patient and respectful when somewhat different views were expressed by various speakers.

At a couple of points, the audience loudly applauded suggestions of the speakers -- especially when Board of Ed member Fred Moore urged there should be no change at all in the current zoning.

Another was when Bill Michelson, well-known for representing the Van Wyck Brooks Historic District in the fight over the Abbott Nursing Home, made three points (the city should landmark the historic properties post-haste, the plan should drop housing altogether, and the city should hold firm on the current zoning), bringing the house down when he said, 'we should be making JFK punch its way out of its own paper bag'.

Resident and business owner Vicky Griswold pointed out that Solaris [now JFK -- DD] has all along refused to agree to due diligence by prospective purchasers.

This was also alluded to by another resident and business owner, Olive Lynch, who suggested that the books were cooked to portray Muhlenberg as not viable, thus giving the state a reason to allow its closure.

Lynch also outlined a proposal for an initiative to put a public question on the 2015 general election ballot that the property must be used for medical purposes.

Mayor Mapp closed the meeting by noting the consultants would incorporate Thursday's feedback into the final proposal, which is expected by the end of the month, and noted that the presentation would be available on the city's website 'Friday morning'.

Be sure to check it out and stay tuned for the next developments.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Free concert at Cedar Brook Park tonight

The Sensational Soul Cruisers perform tonight.

Plainfield's Cedar Brook Park is the site of a free concert this evening, sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The concert is part of the Union County Summer Arts Festival and is one of two concerts being offered to residents to replace the July 4th concert.

This evening's entertainment will be provided by The Sensational Soul Cruisers beginning at 7:30 PM. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.

There will be an hour of yoga beginning at 6:30 PM presented by The Yoga & Healing Center as part of Union County's 'Fit Community' initiative.

Parking is available in the lots on Park Drive and along the drives.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Rescheduled Muhlenberg study meeting Thursday

Workers protest Muhlenberg closing in 2008.
1,100 jobs were lost when the city's largest employer closed.

 

Plainfield mayor Adrian Mapp confirmed Monday evening after the City Council meeting that the report to the community on the study of possible uses for the Muhlenberg Hospital campus is set for THURSDAY evening, August 14 at 7:00 PM at the Plainfield High School cafeteria.

This is a change from the item on the city's website, which still has the INCORRECT date as of Tuesday morning.

The city's consultants, Heyer Gruel & Associates, will present the report which is based on a series of community input sessions held this past spring plus interviews and research by the consultants.

All are welcome. Parking is available in the Kenyon Avenue parking lot.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Council in twilight doubleheader tonight

Still inspiring zeal for the common welfare...

Plainfield City Council has a twilight doubleheader tonight.

In a special business meeting called for 7:00 PM, the only item of business will be the second reading, public hearing and final adoption of ordinance MC 2014-17, to put a public question on the November ballot which would authorize the establishment of a Plainfield Open Space Trust Fund.

Funds would be generated by an additional levy of about $20 per annum per taxpayer, which the Administration estimates would bring in about $145,000 per year to be used for acquiisition of open space and maintenance of open space and recreational facilities.

The regular agenda-setting session is slated for 7:30 PM. PMUA Executive Director Dan Williamson has been invited by Council President Bridget Rivers to give an update on Plainfield's favorite agency.

Both meetings will be in the Council Chambers/Courthourse at East 4th Street and Watchung Avenue.

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Dan goes to the lab

I'm not much of a mirror guy except to make sure my hair doesn't look like Phyllis Diller.

But I did want to capture a picture of my 'old' prosthesis, which is being replaced. Here I am waiting in the walkway for my prosthetist Chad to check me out for the new leg.

Can you make out the red, white and blue swirls?

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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Planning Board approves Muhlenberg SED plan with conditions

Gone forever.

 

 
Two Muhlenberg-related items occupied most of the Plainfield Planning Board's Thursday meeting, with both eventually given board approval.

What appeared to be the simpler of the two -- a minor subdivision to correct an error made previously and caught by the Planning Division -- turned out to have its own little wrinkle.

The plot in question is a single family dwelling on Randolph Road that does not touch on the main hospital campus, but which was included in error in the map when the entire property was subdivided several years ago to separate out Kenyon House and the Snyder School of Nursing.

Activist Nancy Piwowar raised the issue of that the property was included in $160 million in bonds that the state floated against the entire Muhlenberg campus. JFK's counsel, Wendy Berger, objected, but was eventually overruled by board attorney Michele Donato, who suggested a condition that JFK provide a letter documenting either that the bond issue covered the subject property or that it did not and the status of its mortgage, if any. Neither attorney thought to question why that issue had not come up when the original subdivision took place several years ago.

The final site plan review for the proposed new SED (satellite emergency department) at Kenyon House was thorough and covered many details that needed resolution as well as conditions imposed by the board.

Planning Director Bill Nierstedt first went over a list of items that had been resolved between JFK's last appearance before the board and this one. The list included --

• Timelines;
• Street trees;
• Police and Fire approvals;
• Posting of a performance bond; and
• Engineering requirements.

Nierstedt also noted that the Union County Planning Board had approved a left-hand turn out of the property onto southbound Park Avenue (Park Avenue is a county road and under the county board's purview).

Five remaining issues were hashed out between the applicant and the board, including --

• Landscaping/Lighting -- JFK explained its plans and answered questions;
  
  
• Signage -- JFK explained the 'wayfarer signage' planned for the site itself;
  
  
• Marketing/Community Outreach -- Board member Emmett Swan probed JFK over its marketing and outreach efforts as outlined in a July 28 letter (kindly copied and supplied to the audience by the board secretary);
  
  
• Highway 'H' signs -- This item generated considerable back-and-forth, both about the contents and the relative size of the portion indicating the sign was for the SED and the portion denoting its JFK connection, as well as some suggestions for locations; and
  
  
• Emergency Power Generator -- JFK explained a pad was included in the plans for siting a future generator, but that the SED would rely on a pair of generators housed in the old hospital's power plant until such time as that building was torn down, when a new natural-gas fueled unit would be purchased for Kenyon House alone.

At long last, and after comments and questions from audience members including Dr. Harold Yood, Nancy Piwowar, Deborah Dowe, Dottie Gutenkauf, Alan Goldstein, Tom Kaercher, Lizzie Faraone and schools superintendent Anna Belin Pyles (sorry if I left anyone out), the board gave its approval with a roll call vote.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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