Dan corrects a mistake regarding Assemblyman Green

A Plainfield Today reader pointed out that I inadvertently gave Assemblyman Green's LEGISLATIVE OFFICE PHONE NUMBER in yesterday's post regarding the dinner dance the Assemblyman is hosting on Inauguration Day.

That is a mistake and I have removed it from the original post. One could hardly expect the Assemblyman to use his office or phone for anything except legitimate Assembly business.

Those who wish to attend that event (details here) will have to contact the Assemblyman directly, as the only phone number and email I have are his governmental ones.

Meanwhile, all are welcome at this evening's FREE 'Potluck Party' Obama celebration at Councilor & Mrs. Adrian Mapp's, 535 West 8th Street. Starts at 7 PM. Music by Joe Bonini. Bring party food and beverage to share.

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-- Dan Damon

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Local opportunities to celebrate the Inauguration of President Obama

Plainfielders will have a number of opportunities to celebrate the Inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of the United States and the country's first African American president.

Here is a rundown --

SATURDAY, January 17 - 7:00 PM

All are invited to a 'Potluck Party' sponsored by the New Democrats and graciously hosted by Councilor Adrian Mapp and his wife Amelia. Bring party food and beverage to share. Music by Joe Bonini. At the Mapps, 535 West 8th Street. FREE.

TUESDAY, January 20 (Inauguration Day)

10:00 AM - Noon

The Plainfield Public Library invites the community to watch the Inauguration ceremonies on the 12-foot screen in the Anne Louise Davis Community Room at the Plainfield Public Library, 8th Street at Park Avenue. Coffee will be available. FREE.

6:00 - 11:00 PM

Assemblyman Jerry Green will host an evening of dinner and dancing at Pantagis in Scotch Plains. Cocktail hour is from 6-7, followed by a sit-down dinner and dancing. Tickets: $100/person; free for City Committee members. Proceeds go to 'Jerry Green for Assembly'. (Corrected by withdrawing the Assemblyman's office telephone number, 1/16/2007.)

7:00 - 11:00 PM

The Democratic State Committee is holding an inaugural ball at the Holiday Inn at Raritan Center in Edison. $50/person includes buffet dinner and open bar; formal attire optional. The event will benefit Elijah's Promise feeding program in New Brunswick, the Highland Park Food Pantry and the Community Foodbank of NJ. Tickets to the event can be purchased by calling 609-751-4844 or via e-mail at njinaugcelebration@gmail.com.

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• "A Plainfield Obama Celebration Party"
• "Corzine may attend state Dem committee's bash in Edison"
  

-- Dan Damon

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Are Plainfielders safe with officials living so far away?

Questions over take-home City vehicles have generated unprecedented reader comments, and the City Administrator has raised the question of senior staff needing these cars to respond to EMERGENCIES IN THE CITY.

With the City Administrator and the Public Safety/Police Director being two of the five for whom cars are requested and who live at considerable distances from Plainfield, the question arises about how safe Plainfielders are in this circumstance should an emergency actually arise that needed their immediate presence.

I have put a poll at the top of the right-hand column on this page posing the following question --

Would you feel safer if the City Administrator and Public Safety/Police Director lived in Plainfield instead of at a great distance?

• Yes
• No
• Not Sure

Any reader may vote and may check the current status of the poll (note that the poll only allows one vote apiece, so there can be no ballot-stuffing). Once you've voted, the tally view stays open. Reload the page to see a fresh tally.

The poll will stay open until January 22.

You may also want to read today's Courier editorial: "Editorial: Don't insult public with car quest"

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• Plainfield Today --
• (previous post): "Take-home city vehicles on Council agenda"
• (first post) "City vehicles: Who should get wheels and why?"
• Courier News --
• (today): "Editorial: Don't insult public with car quest"
  
• (yesterday): "Car privilege extended for two as controversy continues"
  
• (first story): "Officials, residents eye take-home vehicles as cost savings"

-- Dan Damon

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Take-home City cars rile readers; City raises 'emergency' specter

The issue of take-home City vehicles has really raised readers hackles as witness the comments to the previous post on the matter (see here). More on that later, but first an update on the issue.

At Monday's City Council agenda-setting session, the Robinson-Briggs administration raised a new issue: the specter of EMERGENCY SITUATIONS.

City Administrator Dashield said the five people for whom take-home cars are proposed (the Mayor, City Administrator, Fire Chief, Superintendent of Public Works and Public Safety/Police Director) are the key personnel needed on hand AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE if an emergency situation arises in the city.

This is all well and good (does this mean Robinson-Briggs has an emergency plan?), but it completely sidesteps the question of WHY those individuals should be given TAKE-HOME CITY VEHICLES.

Perhaps it would be helpful to understand the HISTORY of getting take-home vehicles. A comment by 'GB' on the recent post (see here) offers an insight into the matter --

This whole thing started in the days of one car families. An "Important" staff member was allowed to take a vehicle [car, pickup, van] so they would have NO excuse as to why they could not be called in on a moments notice. Then the Fire Chief took his down to Florida [with its special hitch to pull his boat] and things got out of control. PS: All City cars were to have DECALS on them [except undercover Police & Health Div confidential inquiries]

So, if the official in question has his/her OWN VEHICLE, there wouldn't be a reason to give them a take-home City vehicle under this line of reasoning. Also, identifying decals would be on these vehicles.

Secondly, Mr. Dashield has now raised an issue that COMPLICATES the Robinson-Briggs administration's case: If there are officials who need to be here at A MOMENT'S NOTICE, then shouldn't they be required to live in the City of Plainfield, as the charter requires? It is also curious that in following this line of reasoning the Robinson-Briggs administration DOES NOT MAKE ANY MENTION of the city's Emergency Management Coordinator, into whose bailiwick this falls. It does, doesn't it?

Living at a great distance from the community means, ipso facto, that REGARDLESS OF WHOSE VEHICLE THEY DRIVE, those officials CANNOT POSSIBLY get here on A MOMENT'S NOTICE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Dashield's argument (actually, it is the Mayor's, he is only expressing it) does nothing to further the notion of giving officials take-home cars, but it does make a good case for ENFORCING THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT, something the Council has the power to compel.

Mr. Dashield also stated that take-home cars are part of the employment agreements of these officials. The Council should investigate that statement and not take it at face value. Meanwhile, as Dr. Yood has pointed out, if it's COMPENSATION, it needs to be COUNTED as such, STATED as such on the payroll records, and TAXES PAID on the value thereof by the official in question.

Another reader did some calculations in commenting on the previous post (see here) --

Dashield said the cost per vehicle assigned for 24/7 use is $1,200 a year. Shoot - let me use a city vehicle 24/7 and I'd pay the City Back double that. Imagine what I would save on car insurance each year (a minimum of $1,000 a year) Imagine what I would save on gas back and fourth to work if I lived 40 miles away. (that's 400 miles a week at 15 mpg @ $4/gal) That's over $5,000/yr. for gas. Plus I would never have to pay for oil changes, tires and other vehicle maintenance or even a mechanic. And I could even get my car washed anytime I wanted to without paying for it.

Hey - could I "Pimp My Ride" at taxpayer expense too???

Let's see: Gas, insurance, maintenance -- that could certainly add up. Have the officials getting this perk been paying taxes for it as compensation? Good question, and let's thank Mr. Dashield for putting it on the table.

RILING THE READERS/TAXPAYERS/VOTERS

Wrapping the whole discussion up, let's look at how it has riled Plainfield Today readers, who are also TAXPAYERS and VOTERS.

My first job out of college was as a community organizer, and I was trained by people from Saul Alinsky's Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) -- the famous Chicago institution to which President-elect Obama traces his community organizing credentials.

When we planned events that we hoped would highlight issues and mobilize neighborhoods, we followed what was called the '10x10 rule'.

Simply put, it meant that if 50 people came out to a rally, there tens times that many (500) who were committed but either couldn't make it or were afraid to attend, and that those people (500) each positively influenced 10 others (= 5,000) with their point of view on the matter at hand.

I don't know if anyone from the Robinson-Briggs administration bothers to read Plainfield Today, but if they do they might want to keep this principle in mind when they count the number of comments on the post (which is sort of like coming out to a rally, if you think about it).

With 17 comments and running -- one of which is a chat-back by me and one of which is in support of the Police Director getting a car -- we are left with 15 comments. Applying the '10x10 rule' would suggest there are at least 1,500 taxpayer/voters out there who are mightily riled by the Robinson-Briggs administration's proposals at hand.

In an election year such as this, 1,500 votes might give a reasonable candidate pause.

But then again, this IS Plainfield.

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• Plainfield Today --
• (previous post): "Take-home city vehicles on Council agenda"
• (first post) "City vehicles: Who should get wheels and why?"
• Courier News --
• (today): "Car privilege extended for two as controversy continues"
  
• (first story): "Officials, residents eye take-home vehicles as cost savings"

-- Dan Damon

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Entering 4th year, Robinson-Briggs administration still not ready for prime time

A regular smorgasbord of issues uncovered by sharp Council questioning at Monday's agenda-setting session showed that, even as it enters the fourth and final year of Robinson-Briggs' term, this administration is still not ready for prime time.

Here's the bill of particulars --

WITHDRAWN FROM AGENDA

• Nomination of former Councilor Don Davis to PMUA board. (Widely regarded as a problematic nomination in light of Davis' issues with abuse of travel and reimbursement expenses brought to light last year.)
• Submission of Layoff Plan to the State. (With a budget gap that may mean staff reductions, Robinson-Briggs was rumored to have crafted a one-person layoff plan, covering a staffer slated for full retirement benefits in another year. Punitive?)

SLOPPY PREPARATION

• Board Nominations (1): When asked about a conflict in an appointee's address, showing both a Plainfield and a North Plainfield address, Mr. Dashield said he 'didn't know' the person's correct address.
• Board Nominations (2): Two nominees to a board were listed for four-year appointments, which Dashield corrected at the table to TWO-YEAR appointments.
• Surveillance Camera Contract: A lengthy explanation of why it was a no-bid contract that revealed the original memo given to the Council misstated the reasons for the exemption. Nobody screened the memo before the Council got it?

In the old days, every resolution and ordinance used to have TWO sign-offs on the bottom before the document got to the Council: one by the Corporation Counsel attesting that a legal review had been done, and one by the City Administrator that the item had been reviewed for correctness and completeness from a business perspective. In other words, real people really reviewed documents before shoveling them at the Council. Of course, that would mean ADVANCE preparation, which seems to be an habitual issue with the Robinson-Briggs administration.

THREE I WILL ADDRESS IN FURTHER POSTS

• Take-home City vehicles. To which the Emergency Management argument has been added.
• Big-ticket contracts. And why the Administration keeps dodging the Council's displeasure with 'fair and open' contracts.
• East 6th Street Playground. In listing how the design was arrived at, the Administration never mentions citizen input.

As for the Council's discussion and conduct of the meeting, there were a couple of items that deserve attention --

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY ACT

Though enacted several years ago in an effort to ensure an open and transparent process to citizens to volunteer for board and commission service, it has never come to fruition. The Council discussion made this seem more difficult than I think it really is. It's a very straightforward process (though a little time-consuming in setting up): 1) List every board and commission and its mission and membership requirements per the Charter; 2) List all seats, who holds them, and when their terms expire; 3) Provide an online form for submitting a request to be considered and a resumè. The concern that the information is private when submitted is easily addressed by having the submission form designed to be read only by authorized personnel in the Clerk's office. (Note though that once nominated, the information becomes part of the public record.) Time needed to create lists? Couple of work days by an existing City staffer at the most. Time to create web page? An hour or two once data has been set up. Cost? Data prep by in-house staff; web page consultant should cost less than $300. What is so frigging hard about all this?

COUNCIL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

Council President Burney assigned various members to eighteen different committees. In an effort to focus on the most important assignments, he asked that the Board of Ed and PMUA liaisons and the Finance, Economic Growth and Code Enforcement Committees meet and prepare 2009 goals for presentation to the full body. Given the dire economic straits the country is in and the impact on the Plainfield business environment, I was struck that the SID liaisons were not included in this task, especially since this is a partnership between the merchants and the City in which the merchants have voluntarily assumed an extra tax burden to promote Plainfield's businesses.

CONDUCT OF THE MEETING

Time was when any input was needed from staff or consultants at agenda sessions, the relevant people were summoned to the Council table at the commencement of that item on the agenda. This had several advantages: a) all of their remarks were clearly and properly recorded by the microphone placed on the Council table, b) they were formally introduced at the beginning of their testimony so everyone knew who they were, and c) they had all the documentation at hand that would be necessary to answer Councilors' questions until discussion of the item was concluded.

All in all, it was a much more professional and dignified method than the one on display where, as last evening, the Administrator and the engineer call to each other from across the room and over the heads of the Council.

Tomorrow, I will begin taking up the three items (open bidding on contracts, citizen input on projects, and take-home City vehicles) that deserve separate attention.

GRADING THE MAYOR:

ITEM	GRADE	COMMENT
Preparation of documents for Council	C	There is no excuse for not checking before submitting.
Withdrawing Resolutions	C	Half-fast is not the way to go.

Robinson-Briggs will be graded on an item-by-item basis, and a permanent 'Report Card' will be available for all to see here.

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-- Dan Damon

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Take-home City vehicles on Council agenda tonight

The issue of take-home City vehicles, raised at the Plainfield City Council's reorganization meeting will be discussed in more depth at tonight's City Council agenda-setting session.

In a story in Sunday's Courier by Plainfield beat reporter Mark Spivey (see here), Police/Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig is quoted in defense of his getting a take-home City vehicle. Those comments led reader Chris Grzesik to write this email (reproduced with his permission) --

When I read something like this:

"I don't take it personally, but professionally, I feel that it's a slap in the face," said city Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig, who commutes about 40 miles from Sussex County to Plainfield almost daily, often at a moment's notice in the event of emergencies. "Hopefully, a reasonable person would say that this is not the thing to do. But if that's not even the case, I'm telling you that operationally, it benefits the city of Plainfield that I'm able to get around and about, to get back and forth to do the things I do, in a city-supplied car."

it makes me frustrated and angry.

If in the event of emergency, Mr. Hellwig needed to be in Plainfield "at a moments notice" he would not be. How long does his 40 mile drive take him to get to Plainfield. Why are we subsidizing his commute in living that far away in another county? Why did we hire someone who does not live in the area and needs to be here "at a moments notice"? In quoting Mr Hellwig again, "Hopefully, a reasonable person would say that this is not the thing to do." What is this town thinking?

I wrote previously on the matter ("City vehicles: Who should get wheels and why?"). In addition to supporting take-home vehicles for the Mayor, Fire Chief and Superintendent of Public Works, I suggested that one vehicle that should NOT be given out was to the Police/Public Safety Director, a CIVILIAN, ADMINISTRATIVE position Robinson-Briggs created to replace the 130-year old Police Chief slot. (The last I knew, Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson and Public Works and Urban Development Director Jennifer Wenson Maier drive their own vehicles to work.)

In his public presentation to the Council on reorganizing the Police Division, Director Hellwig included the following slide showing where the day-to-day executive function of the reorganized Division would rest --


The Division's OPERATIONS were to be handled by a SWORN OFFICER, a CAPTAIN. Writing in the Plaintalker, Bernice Paglia cited chapter and verse --

Here is the exact quote from Hellwig's presentation on the reorganization he proposed last year: "Eliminate the Rank of Chief of Police. An Executive Officer from the rank of Captain is identified to run the day-to-day operations of the Police Division. He/she reports to the Director of Public Safety. Current Chief has option to revert to rank of Captain."

Seems to me a legitimate question to ask is whether that person is 'on call' 24/7 and if so, why they shouldn't be the one to get the take-home city vehicle.

Some question whether not giving the Police/Public Safety Director a take-home vehicle impacts the public safety. Let's answer that with another question: Does having a city vehicle mean the Director gets here any faster from his Sussex County residence? (An aside: when Director Hellwig was first appointed, there was some stir about his living in Plainfield, and he pulled me aside at a Council meeting to tell me that he was planning to move to Plainfield, on Watchung Avenue, steps away from City Hall. That's the last I ever heard of living in Plainfield.)

Some, including Mayor Robinson-Briggs, are saying that not much money would be saved in this matter, considering the size of the budget gap. That may be true, but the principle is an important one to clarify.

As to whether 'qualified' candidates would not want to work for Plainfield without this perk, that strikes me as the same argument Wall Street uses to defend outrageous salaries and bonuses to the very people who got the country in its current pickle, 'so they won't be lured away by other Wall Street institutions'.

With Plainfield taxpayers losing their jobs, with Plainfield taxpayers facing foreclosure and being thrown into the street, with Plainfield taxpayers facing yet another property tax increase (of nearly 10%), isn't it just common sense to tell the Robinson-Briggs administration that take-home City vehicles are not like cellophane-wrapped candy to be handed out willy-nilly?

Whatever the Council decides, what's wrong with at least asking to consider a little restraint in these difficult times?

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• Plainfield Today: "City vehicles: Who should get wheels and why?"
• Courier News: "Officials, residents eye take-home vehicles as cost savings"

-- Dan Damon

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PMUA 2009 Collection Calendar

The Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority's 2009 collection calendar is posted online.

Click on the 'iPaper' icon at the top of the page below and select 'Print' to print a full-page copy. (Note: This is a 2-page document -- the first page is English, the second Spanish.)

PMUA-2009-CollectionCalendar

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Government Plainfield PMUA

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-- Dan Damon

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Mayor's 2009 'State of the City' Address online

Plainfield's charter states that the mayor --

shall annually report to the council and the public on the work of the previous year and on the conditions and requirements of the city government (§3.4)

Accordingly, Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs delivered her annual 'State of the City' address as part of the Council's reorganization meeting on January 1st.

A complete, unedited recording of the Mayor's address is available online. You can listen to it online (streaming) or download it to your personal device (as a zipped MP3 file). Just click on this link and you will be taken to the Internet Archive. (Time: 57+ minutes)

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-- Dan Damon

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A Plainfield Obama Celebration Party

Councilor Adrian Mapp and his wife Amelia will open their home to a 'Potluck Party' hosted by the New Democrats in celebration of the upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States.

Attendees are asked to bring party food and beverages to share as they mix and mingle with new friends and old at this momentous occasion in our country's history and in anticipation of a new year of exciting and positive change.

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Obama Celebration Party

Saturday
January 17, 2009
7:00 PM

At the home of Councilor and Mrs.Adrian Mapp
535 West 8th Street, Plainfield

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Sharon's Shocking Secret: Plainfield Murder Rate up 25% in '08

Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs went to great lengths in her 'State of the City' address last Thursday to brag about crime reduction in Plainfield during her tenure -- citing a decline in homicides from the high of 15 in 2005.

That high number had been a key theme in Robinson-Briggs' mayoral campaign that year against incumbent Al McWilliams.

But Robinson-Briggs failed to share her shocking secret with the audience at the annual reorganization meeting -- Plainfield homicides increased by 25% in 2008 as compared to 2007.

Here are the details --

2008 Homicides	2007 Homicides
Jan - Ahmed Crittenden, South 2nd St. May - Shakir Ali-Muslim, 5th & Park Sep - Quran Carter - W. 3rd & Monroe Nov - Belinda Williams - Liberty Street Dec - Dennis Gaitan - Watchung near Front	Mar - Bukhtiar Katchi, innocent bystander Mar - Joseph Tremarco, killed in scrap yard May - Keeasha Dickson, shot by ex-boyfriend Nov - Lazaro Pista, bias murder by 3 men

GRADE:

ITEM	GRADE	COMMENT
State of City Address: Homicides	F	Failed to compare 2008 to 2007.

Robinson-Briggs will be graded on an item-by-item basis, and a permanent 'Report Card' will be available for all to see here.

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-- Dan Damon

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The Mayor gets a Report Card

Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs has made no secret that she intends to run for a second term, beginning with staffers handing out 'Re-elect Sharon' buttons at last August's National Night Out celebration at City Hall.

Assemblyman Jerry Green got in the act on the night of President-elect Obama's victory by trying to start a chant of 'Four more years' when he called her forward for remarks at the Democratic headquarters. Reports were the response was tepid, at best.

The Assemblyman has continued to defend her against critics and seems poised to give her the line in this year's primary contest.

Some of those who don't think this is a good idea have taken to making personal attacks on Mayor Robinson-Briggs. I am not going to be one of them.

Being the chief executive officer of one of New Jersey's important communities is serious business, and the Mayor's record should be judged against standards all can agree are fair.

So, I am going to be keeping a 'Report Card' on Mayor Robinson-Briggs going forward.

She should be judged on the wisdom and effectiveness of her policies, performance and pronouncements.

I'll be observing and commenting and keeping a handy reference record for all to peruse.

Robinson-Briggs will be graded on an item-by-item basis, and a permanent 'Report Card' will be available for all to see here.

Ludi incipiant!

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• "Report Card on Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs"

-- Dan Damon

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Important changes to the Star-Ledger

Today's Star-Ledger contains the following boxed notice on the front page of the "New Jersey/Union" section.

TO OUR READERS With today's editions, we are consolidating the daily New Jersey and Union news sections into one section. The pages of the New Jersey section will be customized by edition to include a still-hefty amount of local news. We are taking this action to save newsprint, and hence money. Because of staff cutbacks, the depth of our town and county coverage will be somewhat less for a few weeks. But we are taking steps to rebuild that coverage so it will exceed, not just equal, what we have given readers in the past. There will be no changes in the individual Sunday county sections. -- The Editors

As the Ledger struggles with the changing newspaper market, the first sign we see as a result of the severe staff cuts precipitated by the buyout of many long-time reporters is a single Union County story (besides a brief note on the Linden PTA theft). "Still-hefty" is a phrase that does not strike me as meaning 'more' or even 'as much'. Sort of weasel-wordy.

Unmentioned is the continued decline in advertising, which would make a separate section feasible.

Will the Ledger lose its edge as THE New Jersey paper?

Council Reorganization: Council President Burney videos

Rashid Burney, sworn in by Judge Robinson-Gross

Plainfield's City Council reorganized on New Year's Day.

Here are videos of the remarks by newly-elected Council President Rashid Burney. Since the remarks exceeded YouTube's size limit, Councilor Burney's presentation has been posted in three parts. His remarks expand on his pledge to the residents of Plainfield that the 2009 Council will concern itself with TRANSPARENCY IN GOVERNMENT and ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION (see his blog post here). In addition, he outlines some of the LEGISLATIVE AGENDA he proposes for the Council this year. Owing to the length of the proceedings, my poor little camcorder gave out just a few seconds before the end of Councilor Burney's remarks. Sorry.

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-- Dan Damon

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Council Reorganization: The Plainfield Today videos

Annie McWilliams, sworn in by Judge Key

Adrian Mapp, sworn in by his daughter Shermona

Plainfield's City Council reorganized on New Year's Day.

Here are videos of the remarks by newly seated Councilors Annie McWilliams (Citywide at-large) and Adrian Mapp (Ward 3). Those of newly-elected Council President Rashid Burney exceeded YouTube's size limit and will be posted in two segments later.

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-- Dan Damon

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2009 MLK Events Calendar

President Lyndon Johnson presents Dr. King
with pen used to sign Voting Rights Bill.

The 2009 Calendar of events commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is online here in a printable, one-page version.

Ch-ch-ch-change is coming to Plainfield Today

I've been tinkering under the hood of Plainfield Today for some time now in response to reader requests to expand the blog's usefulness.

Here are three of the improvements you've asked for that will be coming online shortly --

AN EXPANDED CALENDAR

Several organizations that plan out their events a year or more into the future have wanted to have a sort of 'date bank' so that they and others can get an idea of how things look farther down the road than the week or two that has normally been included in the 'What's Happening' listings. I was made sharply aware of this a couple of years ago when one weekend had FOUR events scheduled by major community organizations with overlapping audiences and important fundraising goals that were somewhat dented by everyone having the 'tin cup' out at the same time. The expanded calendar will be a tool for planners to help avoid such situations in the future.

CLASSES AND SERVICES

There are organizations, clubs and individuals throughout the community that offer classes or services to residents and others that have asked Plainfield Today to help spread the word. Once again, it becomes clear that the 'What's Happening' listings don't really fill the bill to keep ONGOING, REGULAR activities in a handy place where readers can refer to them as the need arises. Plainfield Today will make an area available where both individuals and organizations may post for free listings of classes and services, whether or not fee-based, as a community service.

CLASSIFIEDS

Folks have yard and garage sales and want to get the word out. They have stuff to donate, sell or that they are looking to buy. Others may have needs such as room rentals for student housing. Plainfield Today is setting aside a corner where individuals (no businesses, please) can put up a listing for FREE to put PT's many readers in the loop.

These are just a few of the changes planned for 2009 to improve the usefulness of Plainfield Today for its ever-growing readership.

Stay tuned.

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-- Dan Damon

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City vehicles: Who should get wheels and why?

Three cheers for the Plainfield City Council's scrutinizing who gets a full-time city vehicle and why.

When times were flush, it might not have seemed like such an issue. But times are not flush, so why shouldn't the Robinson-Briggs administration look at considering a little restraint instead of just piling on the poor taxpayers' backs?

First, the Big Wheel. I have no bone to pick with the Mayor having full-time use of a city vehicle. I do think, though, that the gas-guzzling SUV monster Her Honor tools around in is a bit much. Is it time to take a cue from the heads of the Big Three automakers who came to DC in their gas-sipping hybrids? Wouldn't be a bad idea.

Next, the Littler Wheels.

The question of WHO should get full-time city vehicles should, in my mind, be decided by WHY full-time vehicles should be parceled out in the first place.

They should not be seen as perks of office, but rather tools for an employee in getting their official duties done.

So, only those who are considered 'on call' twenty-four hours a day should get round-the-clock vehicles.

That means, to my mind, the Fire Chief, the Superintendent of Public Works, and -- possibly -- the OEM coordinator.

And who SHOULDN'T get a round-the-clock vehicle? Everyone else, including the City Administrator and the Police/Public Safety Director.

Just like other City employees, the City Administrator and the Police/Public Safety Director should have access to City vehicles during regular work hours for the execution of their duties, or the option of filling out reimbursement requests for miles driven on City business with their personal vehicle (which, of course, does NOT include back-and-forth from home, which wouldn't be an issue anyway for those living within the City).

Particularly egregious, to my mind, would be giving a round-the-clock vehicle to the Police/Public Safety Director.

The Robinson-Briggs administration needs to be reminded that when it pursued Assemblyman Green's agenda of abolishing the 130-year-old Police Chief's position and reorganizing the Police Division, it took on the restrictions that come with having a CIVILIAN Police Director.

Those restrictions included that the round-the-clock, day-to-day operations of the Police Division were to be entrusted to Captains that the Police Director would appoint. Those Captains, of course, have access to City vehicles while on duty.

The Police Director, as a CIVILIAN, and NOT a sworn officer, would not be allowed to carry a gun, have a police vehicle or a police radio, nor directly supervise or participate in the investigation of crimes.

Those were the restrictions Robinson-Briggs was willing to accept to eliminate the Police Chief's position. I just think the Mayor should be held to the deal she made. And that means that the Police Director's job is basically a 9-to-5 policymaker position, just like the other department heads.

Now, if the Mayor wants to propose an ordinance to reinstate the Police Chief's position, I'm all ears.

And, of course, a Police Chief, being on call 24/7, would be entitled to a City vehicle.

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-- Dan Damon

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The joys of City Council Reorganization

Annie McWilliams, sworn in by Judge Key

Adrian Mapp, sworn in by his daughter Shermona

Rashid Burney, sworn in by Judge Robinson-Gross

Plainfield's City Council reorganized on New Year's Day.

I used my handy little 'Flip' camcorder to capture the swearing-in of Councilors Annie McWilliams and Adrian Mapp and Rashid Burney as Council Presidnet, as well as the remarks of all three.

So far, so good.

Then I had to contend with Windows Vista, which doesn't like the software I have used up until now to convert and edit raw video files to post to the Internet.

Suddenly, drag-and-drop became a nightmare project.

Am slogging through, but don't have the vids yet.

Try and enjoy the fresh, unspoilt New Year until I get them up, OK?

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-- Dan Damon

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Today is City Council Reorganization Day

Inscription above the entrance to City Hall.

Plainfield's City Council will reorganize today at Noon in the Council Chambers/Courthouse, Watchung Avenue at East 4th Street. The public is cordially invited.

The Reorganization is preceded by a light breakfast reception hosted by Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs in the City Hall Library from 10:00 - 11:30 AM. Use the parking lot in the rear of City Hall, 515 Watchung Avenue.

A highlight of today's festivities will be the swearing-in of Plainfield's two newly-elected Councilors, Annie McWilliams (Citywide at-large) and Adrian Mapp (Ward 3).

Traditionally, the Council sets aside time during its reorganization for the Mayor to deliver the annual 'State of the City' address. Today's address will be the final one of Mayor Robinson-Briggs' term.

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-- Dan Damon

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New Year's Greetings

HAPPY

NEW

YEAR!

EVERY BEST WISH TO YOU AND YOURS FOR 2009!

NO MATTER WHAT THE YEAR BRINGS, REMEMBER THIS:

ANY DAY YOU CAN GET OUT OF BED IS A GOOD DAY.

-- Dan