Jerry and Burney mischaracterize the budget

Can't we just all go digital?

Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs is slated to introduce the FY2011 budget at this evening's City Council business meeting (including a proposed layoff plan).

Assemblyman Jerry Green and Councilor Rashid Burney have, I think, mischaracterized the budget process.

In a recent post (see here), Jerry said --

Once the Mayor submits the budget to the Council, it is then the Council’s budget.

Councilor Burney, in his weekend post on the budget (see here), which included posting a scan of the document (see here), said --

...once accepted by the Council, it will become the Council's budget and the Council will then be responsible for the entire budget.

While it is true that the Council is responsible for STRIKING THE FINAL BUDGET, in a best-case scenario the Council engages in A CONSULTATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE process with both the Robinson-Briggs administration and with the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, a group which Councilor Burney championed and which will have another go-round this year.

While it does not surprise me that the Assemblyman overlooks the collaborative and consultative nature of the budget process (these are, after all, NOT his strong suits), I AM caught off guard by Councilor Burney's apparent oversight regarding the budget process.

Council President Annie McWilliams has consistently and frequently throughout the entire year stated a desire to work collaboratively with the Robinson-Briggs administration on the City's business. I am sure she continues to hold this positive and beneficial attitude.

The only way the budget would become the Council's EXCLUSIVELY would be if the collaborative and consultative process breaks down.

I, for one, hope that it does not.

NOTE: While Bernice, Olddoc and Maria thank Councilor Burney for putting the budget doc online (as do I), the FIRST THANKS of course go to City Administrator Bibi Taylor who had to get things in shape in the first place. Thanks to her we have a budget introduction MONTHS ahead of last year's. As for any Councilor scanning documents that OUGHT BY RIGHT TO FREELY AND EASILY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, I advocate that the proper thing to do is ask WHY the Robinson-Briggs administration can't just get the stuff online itself. After all, it is created on computers and can easily be converted into PDF files. So why should the public have to rely on a well-meaning elected official (whose task IS NOT providing documents) to go to all the trouble of scanning a paper document that should be available digitally to put the stuff online?

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CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS MEETING

Tonight | 8 PM

City Council Chambers/Courthouse

The Public  is welcome and may speak at the beginning and end of the meeting.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Friends of Library Dance Saturday: Sox 'n Subs

Poodle skirts welcome!

The Plainfield Public Library will be rockin' Saturday night -- if not around the clock, at least for a good portion of the evening -- as the Friends'  organization hosts a fundraiser dance called 'Sox 'n Subs', celebrating 1950s culture in dance and food.

It promises to be an evening of fun and fab food (courtesy of Sandy Spector and friends), as guests dine and dance to doo-wop and 50s classics around the Library's pool, recreating a bobby sox hop that a few may have actually experienced in their teen years.

Blue suede shoes, too!

The Friends of the Plainfield Public Library has as its mission raising funding to supplement the Library's programming. This has become even more important in recent years, as the Library has suffered reduced funding from the City along with increased expenses, resulting in cutbacks on hours and services.

So, dig in your closet (or maybe your attic) and find those old blue suede shoes and that hot-pink poodle skirt, and come along for a fabulous top-down ride along Memory Lane as you dance and dine the night away.

Whoopie Pies included!

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SOX 'n SUBS
A 1950s Dance Party

Sponsored by the Friends of the Plainfield Public Library

Saturday, October 16 | 7 PM

Plainfield Public Library

Park Avenue at West 8th Street
(Parking in both Library lots)

$25 Contribution at the door
Info:  (908) 756-0310

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Mystery House (10/10/10) Answer

The mystery house is located at 324 Rushmore Avenue, which two readers figured out.

Built a few years ago, it originally caught my eye because of the extremely narrow lot and the third floor, which seemed like it must go against the zoning ordinances density regulations.

But, hey, this is Plainfield and stranger things have been known to happen.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Hidden Plainfield: Where is this home?

Where is this unique home?

Plainfield neighborhoods are endlessly fascinating, some because they are quite off the beaten path and virtually unknown except to those who live there, others because they harbor unique -- and sometimes startling -- homes, as in the picture above.

Any ideas where this relatively new home is located?

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Duh! About that link to Charlotte's attack website

Charlotte's annoying popup message.

So busy putting together for Plainfield Today readers yesterday all the background to Charlotte's website attacking OPRA activist Tina Renna that I forgot to put a link up to her handiwork.

You can check out Charlotte's spite site, Watchdogs Gone Wild, here. And my post from yesterday here., as well as the CountyWatchers website here. (By the way, you can find more information about County expenses, budgets, etc. on the CountyWatchers site than on the official Union County site)

Besides the annoying dollar-counter gizmo which ends with the even-more-annoying error message (see image above) which pushes itself to the front of whatever else you may be doing with your computer, you get a list of 'attack' points.

Modestly, Charlotte does not mention that whatever it has cost Union County has to do with stonewalling legitimate OPRA requests.

As commenter Blackdog said on yesterday's Plainfield Today post --

If there were an on-line database with all the government documents and transcripts that occur during normal business of running the government for whoever might click on . . . then there would be no need for Opra . . . nobody would have to find the files or make copies or even God forbid do a little honest work.

How successful has CountyWatchers been?

How about getting all its OPRA requests fulfilled, even if it means going to court?

Or how about the honor of having Charlotte spend vendor cash on mounting a spite site?

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• Union County Dems: "Watchdogs Gone Wild"
• Plainfield Today:  "Charlotte blinks, spends UC Dem money to attack OPRA activist"
• Websie:  "CountyWatchers"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Charlotte blinks, spends Union County Dem money in web attack on OPRA activist

DeFilippo website alleges OPRA activist has cost County money.

Plainfield Today readers will find it of interest that Union County Dem chairperson Charlotte DeFilippo has blinked, using money from the county Democratic coffers to mount a website attacking Tina Renna, head of the Union County Watchdog Association.

In a county where the Democratic machine controls the Freeholder board and all countywide elected offices, Renna and her organization have been on the guard against waste, fraud, abuse and secrecy in the conduct of the county's business.

No friend of openness in government, as Plainfielders can well attest, DeFilippo used party money to pony up a shrill website badmouthing Renna.

One would think Democratic Party money would be used to fund contested elections where there were Republican opponents, wouldn't one.

But this is Union County.

I became aware of the situation when a second story appeared in the Ledger concerning the new Union County website. It had originally been announced in an October 1 piece (see here), seemingly based on a County press release puffing the new website as more user-friendly and informative.

Yesterday, the Ledger ran a second story (see here), in which Renna is quoted as pointing out that the website cost $135,000, and this in a time of financial difficulties and layoffs.

Renna posted on the CountyWatchers blog (see here) a nod to DeFilippo for validating the group's importance in the Union County political mix.

Today, John Bury, an OpEd columnist for the Ledger and a contributor to CountyWatchers, posted background information (see here), including that 'county operatives' set up a YouTube site on May 5 after creating the anti-Renna website on May 4.

De Filippo alleges Renna and CountyWatchers have cost the County $500,000 'in staff hours and paperwork', but fails to mention the numbers of times the courts have upheld CountyWatchers OPRA lawsuits.

Not to mention attorney's fees awarded to CountyWatchers and against the County.

The costs to the County can be traced directly to DeFilippo and the Dem operatives desire to operate in secrecy.

Why else would DeFilippo be so vexed unless CountyWatchers was hitting a nerve?

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• Ledger --
• 10/1/2010:  "Union County launches new website: more interactive, user-friendly and informative"
• 10/7/2010:  "Union County launches new website for $135,000"
• CountyWatchers --
• 10/7/2010:  "UCWA figures into campaign season"
• 10/7/2010:  "Tina Renna is a bitch - Part 2"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission's website launched

Screenshot of a page from the HPC's new mini-website.

Plainfield's Historic Preservation Commission new mini-website (see here) certainly shows the City what could be done to make ITS OWN WEBSITE more useful. And that is what folks want of a website -- USABILITY, SUITABILITY and PREDICTABILITY.

And pretty much GEW-GAW free.

As people turn more and more to their CELLPHONES to access websites, those cutesy little showy but useless Flash thingies -- you know, swirling headlines that swell and contract before resolving into a line of text like in the corners of the City and School District websites, and, unfortunately on the HPC page too -- are a distinct annoyance as they are INVISIBLE to users of iPhones and other smartphones. What's the point of making your information unavailable?

Anyway, back to the excellent HPC mini-website.

There is everything one needs to know about Historic Preservation in Plainfield -- the ordinance governing the HPC, design guidelines for historic districts, lists and maps of Plainfield's historic districts and agendas and minutes of the HPC.

What more could one want?

How about links to useful preservation resources -- windows, roofs, solar panels, directories and preservation organizations?

And preservation news.

And a photo gallery of Plainfield's historic districts.

And links to Plainfield history resources.

And of course, to the City's website, which -- though it sports much more timely community information now under IT honcho Chris Payne -- is still pretty much a hekdish.

Congrats to the HPC!

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• Website:  "Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Scotch Plains votes on cell tower in Hillside Cemetery

Scotch Plains' Hillside Cemetery abuts Plainfield, South Plainfield and Edison.

Deceased Plainfielders now residing in Scotch Plains' Hillside Cemetery may finally get some peace and quiet. At least temporarily.

Plainfield activist Nancy Piwowar called late last evening to report that the township's Zoning Board of Adjustment voted down a use variance for the T-Mobile cell tower proposal about 10:30 PM in a 7-0 vote on the grounds it was not a permitted use in a residential area.

The proposal is one of two that T-Mobile has had before the township since last March for cell towers at different locations. The other is for one in the Willow Grove section of the township, opposition to which has generated a citizen-run website, Fight the Tower Online (see here).

Piwowar says she has attended the last three hearings on the Hillside Cemetery proposal -- in opposition to which Plainfield's City Council passed a resolution which was forwarded to the Scotch Plains board -- and reports that at least 50 residents of Scotch Plains and surrounding towns have been in attendance at each.

Hillside Cemetery, situated at the edge of Scotch Plains, abuts Plainfield, South Plainfield and Edison residential neighborhoods as well as the Plainfield County Club.

The 125-foot tower would have been 'disguised' as a pine tree (if you've not seen one of these, check out the tower in the GSP median at the New Durham Road overpass in Woodbridge township).

Piwowar notes that questioning of T-Mobile's expert witness revealed that the proposed site was not the best one in the cemetery for optimal coverage, and also that 40% of the tower's coverage area would be THE CEMETERY ITSELF.

Perhaps those interred in Hillside Cemetery want to reach out and touch someone?

Oops! That's another phone company!

There is an irony here, as we all become more and more dependent on cellphones to communicate, these towers must spring up or we will suffer many more dropped calls and one-bar performance.

Plus one last irony, Nancy's report was made on her cellphone.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

Council finds more financial irregularities. What can be done?

Two more questionable financial items came to light at Monday evening's Council meeting, thanks to Councilor Adrian Mapp -- double payments of $16, 000 each to a vendor, and improper (if not illegal) expenditure of capital funds monies on photography and videotaping of public events in the City.

These items came from the August bills report, only the second which the Council has received. You will recall that a perusal of the first bills report, for July, uncovered an unexplained check for $2,500 to WBLS, which led to the $20,000 check to WBLS, which led to the investigation the Council is conducting into that expenditure.

It seems that the more light is shed on Plainfield's finances, the more questions emerge.

At Monday's meeting, City Administrator Bibi Taylor advised Council members they would receive the September bills list (presumably Tuesday) via email, in Excel format.

One can only wonder what questionable items will be found in this, the third bills list given to the Council.

Two separate but related issues are beginning to emerge in the public discussion this information is generating: first, the propriety of some of Robinson-Briggs' expenditures and second, the sufficiency of the city's audit and control systems.

PROPRIETY OF EXPENDITURES

Councilor Mapp pointed out that for the second month in a row, Robinson-Briggs had authorized payments from a CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ACCOUNT for non-capital expenses; namely, photography and videotaping of community events.

Mapp's position is quite clear: the law does not allow the expenditure of capital funds on anything but the purposes for which they have been dedicated (usually construction or purchases of items with a long life expectancy -- such as fire engines).

Robinson-Briggs, on the other hand, holds that she is free to spend the taxpayers' monies as she sees fit, that her expenses need not be transparent to the public, and that she does not need to come to the Council for approval -- prior or otherwise -- up to and including monies generated from bond issues.

Clearly, unfettered expenditures in such a manner deprive the Council of its oversight role as provided by the charter, and open the door to waste, fraud and abuse.

The Council's first attempt to assert some control through Council President Annie McWilliams' FAIR ordinance was vetoed by Mayor Robinson-Briggs. The attempt to override the veto failed when Councilor Rivers joined Councilors Reid and Burney in voting against it.

The Council now appears poised to take up Councilor Burney's alternative proposal (see here), that the Council get to review purchase orders BEFORE they are executed. I believe that his proposal -- even in its modified form -- would essentially bring the City's day-to-day operations to its knees, a prospect which benefits no one (see my post here).

The CONTROL of Robinson-Briggs' expenditures, which is what Burney's proposal implies, is NOT IN THE PURVIEW OF THE COUNCIL.

What the Council DOES HAVE is what Teddy Roosevelt referred to as 'THE BULLY PULPIT'. Council has the ability -- now that it is receiving the bills lists -- to throw Robinson-Briggs' spending into sharp relief, using the power of public exposure to shame her into more prudent and transparent fiscal practices. If she is susceptible of public shaming.

We shall see if Burney's proposal has enough support to carry a vote, and then whether it has enough to overturn a presumptive mayoral veto.

In the meantime, I think the Council should focus on going over the monthly bills list with a fine tooth comb and using the powerful probing technique which Council President Annie McWilliams shows off to such advantage.

SUFFICIENCY OF CONTROLS

The second area of concern is the viability of the city's audit and control systems.

Plainfield would be considered the VERY MODEL OF A MODERN FINANCIAL CONTROLS SYSTEM from the point of view of the early TWENTIETH century.

Alas, we are living in the 21st century, and better systems are the norm of the day.

Plainfield's purchasing system is still paper-based, inefficient, and time-consuming. The various people in the purchasing chain only have access to partial information (if any). It is opaque in that the status of an item is not available to anyone in the purchasing chain without several phone calls and conversations, if not visits to another office.

Not only that, the annual auditor's findings have for years recommended that the City tighten up on purchasing procedures -- especially letting staff make purchases WITHOUT PURCHASE ORDERS.

In their defense, some staffers complain the purchasing system is slow and cumbersome and sometimes a purchase is urgent.

A modern system would go a long way to correcting this problem.

Perhaps the Council should be looking into how modernizing the City's audit and control systems could enhance both efficiency and transparency and, by making all portions of the process available to authorized persons instantaneously online (including, say, the Council), arrive at Councilor Burney's goal without a cumbersome ordinance.

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• As I See It (Councilor Burney):  "Transparency with teeth"
  
• Plainfield Today:  "Burney's 'transparency with teeth': Would it work? Is there a better way?"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Council-Administration volleys continue

It was reminiscent of a set between two real pros.

City Administrator Bibi Taylor is arguably the best player Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs has had amongst the overabundance of administrators and department heads that have shuffled through her administration's revolving doors in a reign that is approaching the end of its fifth year.

But even Taylor, poised, formidable, and well-informed though she is, gives way before the quiet, persistent lobbing of questions by Council President Annie McWilliams.

This was evident in the back-and-forth over why the Robinson-Briggs administration is still not ready to present a budget to the Council, which was expecting an early September introduction per an earlier quasi-commitment by the Robinson-Briggs administration.

Taylor apologized to the Council, saying the budget document was not ready for public distribution, owing to delays in getting the annual financial statement (AFS).

McWilliams' inquiry about the delay elicited the response that there were 'difficulties closing out fiscal year 2010'.

Which prompted McWilliams to ask what kind of difficulties.

To which Taylor responded that there were problems with reconciling the General Ledger and the subsidiary ledgers.

Further questioning by McWilliams brought out that these ledgers are supposed to be reconciled on a monthly basis (which, presumably, would leave the final, annual reconciliation a simple task).

The discussion seemed to indicate that a budget document has, indeed, been prepared, but is being withheld from circulation -- to the Council or the public.

After more back and forth about when the budget might be submitted, McWilliams got Taylor to say she hope to have it in the Council's hands by the end of the month.

Asked directly by Councilor Mapp who authorizes the budget document for distribution, Taylor replied 'the Mayor'.

Her point made, McWilliams moved the discussion along, refraining from making Taylor further defend Robinson-Briggs' performance on the budget issue.

During a report by Councilor Storch on the status of the Council's resolution asking state intervention in the continuing CFO crisis (guess what, they at first couldn't find it!), he reported that the DCA was expected to get back to the city by the end of this week.

City Administrator Taylor offered that the Robinson-Briggs administration was working on two options in relation to the CFO and expected a resolution 'within a month' -- the first being a candidate (unnamed) who is being vetted presently, the alternative would be to find a firm to carry out the CFO responsibilities.

At this point Council President McWilliams explained to the public how previous efforts at confirming two earlier candidates got derailed -- in one case, she said, the candidate made statements during the Council's interview that were found disturbing and that led the Council not to consent to the appointment; in the second case, requested work references have not been forthcoming to date. All of this was by way of quietly upping the ante on the Robinson-Briggs administration in the continuing search for a CFO.

Councilor Linda Carter's report on the City & Neighborhood Services committee sparked a lengthy -- at times heated -- discussion on concerns with the Recreation Division.

When DPWUD Director David Brown apologized for not having a report from the Recreation Committee for the Council despite two meetings in September at which he said Director Wynn had supplied information requested by the Committee, he offered that he was very busy with the budget preparations and expected to meet with the committee 'tomorrow' (today).

No sooner had Brown sat down than Recreation Committee chairperson Wayne Wilkins arrived. Invited by Council President McWilliams to update the Council, he said the committee had indeed received a packet from Wynn, but found it 'very difficult to figure out'.

After considerable back and forth, Councilor Mapp opined that despite continued pressure from the Council to move ahead, it appears that the Robinson-Briggs administration was engaged in an 'effort to slow down real reform' of the delivery of recreation services to the city's young people.

Though Councilor Carter objected to this characterization, McWilliams said she sensed a growing consensus among the Council that things were NOT working out with the Robinson-Briggs administration resolving issues between the Division and the committee, and that she was of a mind to advance the proposed ordinance to establish a Recreation COMMISSION, which would have broad powers of supervision over the Recreation Division's program and budget.

At this point, City Administrator Taylor played the only card seemingly left in the administration's hand, a plea for more time. Inadvertently or not, this ploy played exactly to Mapp's complaint about slowing down the process.

The tension in the room was relieved when Councilor Mapp quipped that if he ever had to hire a city administrator, he didn't think he could do better than Ms. Taylor. At which point the audience broke into applause.

The whole evening was rather like watching a set between Serena and Venus Williams.

The match is to be continued next Tuesday at the Council's business meeting (Monday is Columbus Day).

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Community forum turns from technology to rallying the community to curb gangs

From west and east, north and south, Plainfield residents from across the community turned out Sunday afternoon to discuss the Robinson-Briggs administration's ShotSpotter^® proposal and address the issues of at-risk youth, gangs, and gang-related violence in the city.

Moderated by 4th Ward resident Nan Anderson-Bennett, the discussion quickly moved beyond the technology proposal once Councilor Adrian Mapp explained the city's finances would not allow the proposal to advance at this moment.

After opening remarks by Anderson-Bennett and the steering group which helped her put the meeting together (Councilors Mapp and Carter, and residents Nancy Piwowar, Tony Rucker, Mel Cody and Deborah Dowe), the meeting was opened to the forty or so attendees for comments and suggestions. 4th Ward Councilor Bridget Rivers said she was there 'to listen to your concerns and ideas'. Councilor Mapp noted that Councilor Storch wanted very much to attend but was prevented by a family emergency which took him out of state.

Many topics were addressed, including the need for mentors for teens and more recreation outlets.

But the two items that drew the most interest were reviving and strengthening block associations and neighborhood watch groups, and the question of jobs for teens, young adults and those re-entering the community from prison.

There are fewer active block associations in the community than in the past and they have clearly suffered a decline citywide since the Prosecutor's office abandoned the SALT program a few years ago.

Block associations serve a double need in the community: They are promoters of positive approaches to and pride in the neighborhood and its residents, homes and amenities; but also act as extra 'eyes on the street' for law enforcement in the work of combating drugs, guns and other negative influences.

Rasheed Abdul-Haqq, longtime community activist and current Board of Ed member, has been pretty much a 'voice crying in the wilderness' about jobs and a re-entry program for years now.

The consensus of the meeting seemed to be that investing in programs that reach out to the community and those at risk is a much better way to spend the city's scarce dollars, though there are no 'quick fixes' and there must be a commitment to a long-term effort to have real results.

Though Councilors Mapp, Carter and Rivers can take the positive ideas brought forward and try to advance them at the level of city government, it is unfortunate that neither Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs nor members of her administration were in attendance.

Too bad, they would have heard a hopeful, respectful and reasoned conversation by taxpayers concerned not only with their tax bills but with the community's success.

And that is a good thing whenever and wherever it happens.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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McWilliams determined to curb administration spending, assert Council's proper role

Plainfield City Council president Annie McWilliams has an important new post on her blog which is a must-read for all concerned residents and taxpayers (see here).

With Plainfield's fiscal difficulties continuing to mount and the Robinson-Briggs administration still without permanent financial leadership, McWilliams is putting her foot down by declaring that she will not put any additional expense items on Council agendas unless they are obligatory.

The Robinson-Briggs administration once again appears to be stonewalling on the timing of the budget introduction, despite McWilliams' clear insistence (backed up by a Council majority) all year long that the budget needs to move in a much more timely fashion than it did last year in order for changes to have their optimal effect.

The originally-promised 'August-September' introduction date has come and gone, and now it seems possible that October may also pass without a budget, putting us back into a scenario similar to last year's.

With the Council's budget hearings and the CBAC's review, the calendar just slide toward the horizon.

Furthermore, the Robinson-Briggs administration has openly stated that it considers it is free to spend the public's money as it sees fit, without submitting to Council scrutiny or providing for transparency for the taxpaying public.

McWilliams strongly defends the Council as a counterbalance that prevents potential fiscal abuse through its oversight role.

The Council President has a potent weapon in her power to set the Council agendas -- if she doesn't approve an item, it doesn't go on the agenda.

Maybe this will wake up the Robinson-Briggs administration.

Make time to come out for tonight's important Council meeting.

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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA SESSION

Tonight  | 7:30 PM

City Hall Library
The Public  is welcome and may speak at the end of the meeting.

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• Positive Change (Councilor McWilliams):  "Monday's agenda, the ShotSpotter bond, and a new policy"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Plainfield Councilor Burney gets ShotSpotter® situation wrong

Robinson-Briggs administration wants to withdraw
gunshot-detection technology proposal.

Plainfield Councilor Rashid Burney has gotten the ShotSpotter^® technology proposal situation wrong.

Burney begins his Saturday blog post thusly --

In an email to the Council, City Administrator Bibi Taylor stated that the administration is withdrawing the bond ordinance that would have financed the shot spotter technology. This ends the foray into the shot spotter technology leaving the many unanswered questions moot. [Emphasis added -- DD.]

You can read the full post here.

I am amazed at the former Council President's failure to grasp the procedural matter correctly.

It is not within the Robinson-Briggs administration's power to 'withdraw' the bond ordinance at this point, as Olddoc has rightly pointed out (see his post here). Robinson-Briggs could have withdrawn the proposed ordinance up until the Council took it up for first reading at last month's business meeting.

Once the Council took it up, it is the Council's business, not the administration's. So, the Council has three choices for handling the bond ordinance now that the Robinson-Briggs administration wants to drop it. The Council can vote it down, vote it up, or table it and let it die.

The Council should not give up its prerogatives so lightly.

As for Burney's assertion the ShotSpotter^® matter is now moot, I don't think so.

City Administrator Bibi Taylor said at the last Council meeting the Robinson-Briggs administration was prepared to move forward to fund the project in three possible ways: the bond ordinance (which it now wants to drop), a straight budget-line item (dubious, considering the city's financial situation), and grants (which would not come online for up to two years).

According to discussions I am told are taking place within the Robinson-Briggs administration, it is the intent to CONTINUE TO PURSUE the ShotSpotter^® technology proposal THROUGH GRANTS.

Far from rendering this afternoon's citizen-driven community forum 'superfluous' as Olddoc suggests, the community will be well-advised to come out and hash out the issues the Robinson-Briggs administration's ill-thought-out proposal has raised, including not only the expense, but the effectiveness of the technology and whether there are alternatives to ShotSpotter^® that could be considered.

As for the Robinson-Briggs administration's apparent decision NOT TO PRESENT THE FY2011 BUDGET PROPOSAL Monday evening, I share Councilor Burney's concern that it not be delayed, but am stunned at his suggestion that the administration introduce it 'on any day in between [the two Mondays]'.

Once again, it is a matter of procedural propriety -- 'any day' is not possible, as there would have to be legal notice provided for the public meeting of the Council at which the budget would be introduced.

Though the matter is urgent, it is not an emergency, and ADEQUATE NOTICE would have to be provided.

A certain level of precision of expression ought to be expected of our Council representatives. It helps avoid misunderstandings.

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SHOTSPOTTER TECHNOLOGY TOWN HALL MEETING
Organized by West End Heights Homeowners

Sunday, October 3 | 4:00 PM

Clinton Elementary School
West 4th Street at Clinton Avenue
(Parking in Clinton Avenue lot)

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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA SESSION

Monday, October 4 | 7:30 PM

City Hall Library
The Public  is welcome and may speak at the end of the meeting.

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• As I See It (Councilor Burney):  "End of ShotSpotter and budget intro update"
  
• Doc's Potpourri:  "Ozmania"

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Plainfield cop busted in DUI, what will impact on Division be?

I am told a Plainfield police officer was arrested in a DUI incident in Bloomfield overnight Friday.

The officer is also charged with aggravated assault on an officer and resisting arrest. One Bloomfield cop is said to have been injured by the Plainfield cop in the fracas.

What does this mean for the Plainfield Police Division?

If the officer is suspended, that will mean one fewer officers available for duty. I was told that on the morning cabbie Isidro Leonardo was shot and a stolen car crashed at South 2nd and Clinton with serious injury to an occupant ONLY FOUR POLICE OFFICERS WERE ON THE ROAD IN THE ENTIRE CITY.

With the Robinson-Briggs administration shelving plans to hire 7 new officers this month, two officers under or facing lengthy suspensions, two facing prostitution-related charges, and the Ledger's data showing only 135 officers in its 2009 salary report (see here), the Police Division is way down from the 153 officers at the end of the McWilliams administration in December 2005.

This despite Mayor Robinson-Briggs' campaign promises of not reducing the police staffing levels.

And Robinson-Briggs wants to spend $1 million (plus $100,000 annual maintenance) on gunshot-spotting technology?

Ledger staff figure for 2009 (9/15/2010).

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• Ledger:  "New Jersey police salaries, UCR reports"

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Plainfield's H.E.R.I.T.A.G.E. Choir in Guinness challenge today

Click on image to enlarge or print.

Plainfield's H.E.R.I.T.A.G.E. Choir, under the leadership of its founder Donovan Soumas, rallies for peace and to break two Guinness world records today -- the largest Gospel choir and the most persons signing a song at the same time.

Though the event's venue and time have changed -- it will be at the City Hall Plaza from 10 AM - 4 PM today -- the weather sees fit to cooperate and a sunny if somewhat cool day is in the works.

A perfect day to celebrate a message of hope for Plainfield.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Plainfield's cable TV station down for over 3 weeks. Who knew?

Plainfield's cable TV station (channels 34/FIOS or 96/Comcast) has been down for over three weeks. Who knew?

I must confess I'm not a regular viewer, but I do check the station out from time to time.

Over the past couple of weeks, I would get a slide-show of various Plainfield scenes and contacts, with a crawl on the bottom of the screen: "Due to technical difficulties, PCTV's regularly scheduled programming is down. Programming will resume as soon as possible..."

Turns out the system has been down since a 'brown out' on September 7th took out two servers.

Now, I'm not an IT pro, but this is mystifying as servers are supposed to be protected from power surges and 'brown outs' AS A MATTER OF COURSE.

Why the servers are down, how long they will be down, and what is being done to get the station back in functioning order are mysteries at the moment.

Will have to do some more checking.

Meanwhile, you can get an idea of the programming you are missing by checking the PCTV schedule (here, PDF) or its page on the city's website here.

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Arrangements for Isidro Leonardo, murdered cabbie

Image from CBS, Channel 2.

Plainfielders wishing to extend their sympathies to the widow and family of murdered cabbie Isidro Leonardo may do so Sunday evening.

The family will be receiving friends and well-wishers at Plainfield's Salvation Army Sunday from 5:00 to 11:00 PM, according to community activist and longtime family friend Flor Gonzalez, who heads up the Latin American Coalition (LAC).

Plans are to bury Mr. Leonardo in his Dominican Republic home town, but the family needs financial assistance to transport the body, Gonzalez says.

The Latin American Coalition, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is gathering contributions to be made available for the family's use in covering funeral expenses.

Those wishing to help may send checks made payable to 'LAC' (make memo to 'Leonardo funeral') --

• Mail to: Latin American Coalition, P.O. Box 629, Plainfield, NJ 07061; or
  
  
• Bring to viewing Sunday evening, where there will be a box; or
  
  
• Drop off at LAC offices, 410 Watchung Avenue during business hours

This is a tragic and very sad moment for Isidro's family, for his fellow cabbies, and for Plainfield. Any assistance will be most greatly appreciated.

You can help show that Plainfield cares.

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VIEWING FOR ISIDRO LEONARDO

Sunday, October 3 | 5 - 11 PM

Plainfield Salvation Army
Watchung Avenue at East 7th Street
(Parking in lot adjacent to church, at City Hall and on street)

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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Police layoffs imminent?

Plainfield employees are said to be getting the required letter of notice of possible layoffs tomorrow.

The Robinson-Briggs administration is apparently moving full throttle on its budget proposal, which will be presented to the City Council at a special meeting on Monday at 7:30 PM.

A second item on that special meeting's agenda will be a proposed layoff plan for FY2011 (which began this past July 1).

While a general letter is sent to all employees warning of possible layoffs, the plan will not go into effect until a) presented by the Administration, b) adopted by the Council, and c) approved by the State. Only at that point would actual layoff notices be given, to take effect 45 days from the date issued.

I am told that vis-a-vis the Police Division, the Robinson-Briggs administration is --

• Putting a freeze in place on all open positions;
• Demanding 10 furlough days or a 5% wage cut;
• Canceling the scheduled hiring of 7 new cops in October**;
• Canceling promotions;
• Reducing overtime.

With the Christie administration proposing an average increase of 22% in municipal contributions to employee benefits packages, Plainfield is just one of hundreds of communities facing an even tighter fiscal squeeze than last year's.

Robinson-Briggs, who won office initially with strong backing from the police unions, may be risking touching the third rail here. We shall see.

It is going to be another wild ride, though at least the budget is being delivered to the Council months earlier than last year.


**The figures cited in the Ledger's online UCR report for Plainfield gave a total of 135 officers in the Police Division -- a lower than we have ever been told to date.

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SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Introduction of the FY2011 Budget
and proposed Layoff Plan

Monday, October 4 | 7:30 PM

City Hall Library

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-- Dan Damon [follow]

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ShotSpotter® conversation amps up with Storch, Jerry and Nat weighing in

What smallery1-square mile coverage could look like.

With a growing chorus of questions from Plainfield homeowner taxpayers about the Robinson-Briggs administration's proposal to adopt the ShotSpotter^® gunshot-detection technology, the conversation has been amped up with blogs posts by Councilor Cory Storch (see here), Assemblyman Jerry Green (see here) and Nat Singleton (see here).

While Olddoc (see here) points out the comments that his, Cory's and Jerry's blogs have elicited on the matter, it is Nat's post of yesterday that essentially gives the City Council A FREE CONSULT, based on his forty years experience in the technology-hustling game that IBM and UNISYS are both practitioners and victims of.

Councilor Storch gives a good overview of the issues that ought to be on Councilors' minds as they try to come to a decision on the Administration's proposal. Let's hope similar thinking is going on among the other Councilors.

Jerry is...well, Jerry. We learn that he also has questions about ShotSpotter^®, and that he's in touch with alternative providers. Too bad he spoils that good news with his tantrums about Storch and further falsehoods about the Council and the 'previous administration' (have you ever noticed there are never identifiable specifics?).

Nat's blog post gives the Council the benefit of his experience in dealing with the slipperiness of vendors seeking contracts -- and how to make sure you are getting the best product for the best price, and are protecting your organization from being ripped off if the 'steak' doesn't match the 'sizzle'. (This is the kind of hardboiled business sense we can only hope people mean when they speak of bringing a business perspective to government.)

So far, the Robinson-Briggs administration has managed the whole business more as a public relations offensive than as a considered part of any STRATEGY for dealing with crime and gunplay. Consider for instance that the press was invited to the vendor demo at the Rock Avenue ballfields while the Council was not. Consider also that public input -- despite Mayor Robinson-Briggs' much-touted WBLS broadcast -- is only now coming into play with the scheduling by residents of a town hall meeting for Sunday afternoon.

City Administrator Bibi Taylor made it very clear at the last Council meeting that the Robinson-Briggs administration's intent is to go forward, whether by bonding (which the Council must approve), grants (which would not come online for a minimum of two years AFTER APPLYING) or simply piling more onto already overburdened taxpayers by a DIRECT BUDGET ITEM.

All of which is good reason to make plans to come out Sunday AND Monday. On Sunday, you can raise your concerns and questions in a public forum NOT RUN BY THE ADMINISTRATION (see the flyer posted on Maria's blog here) and on Monday, you can hear the Council deliberate further on the proposed bond issue.

Full disclosure: Nat is my partner, Jerry is not. I am godfather to Councilor Storch's children (previously noted) and consider Olddoc a wise voice to be heeded.

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SHOTSPOTTER TECHNOLOGY TOWN HALL MEETING
Organized by West End Heights Homeowners

Sunday, October 3 | 4 PM

Clinton Elementary School
West 4th Street at Clinton Avenue
(Parking in Clinton Avenue lot)

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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA SESSION

Monday, October 4 | 7:30 PM

City Hall Library
The Public  is welcome and may speak at the end of the meeting.

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• Councilor Storch:  "ShotSpotter: Two things to consider, two to avoid"
• Jerry Green:  "9/29/2010 Thoughts"
• Nat Singleton:  "ShotSpotter:  My comments, Green fails at gundown of Storch"
• Olddoc:  "5 weeks till election"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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