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Council's plate is full, though perhaps less appetizing. |
The Plainfield City Council has a full plate at its Monday (April 1) agenda-setting session.
The nine-page agenda includes 26 items (exclusive of any that may be introduced by Corporate Counsel David Minchello after discussion in executive session) -- ranging from the very important (introduction of the CY2019 $82M budget) to the mundane (a raffle license for Children's Specialized Hospital).
Mayor Mapp is submitting nominations to the Planning Board and the Shade Tree Commission. This is the second round of nominations with no curricula vitae attached to the public agenda. I'm curious about why the practice of including them seems to have changed. The public has a right to know who appointees are. Of course the information can be OPRAed, but why wouldn't it just be public in the first place? In the old, pre-digital days, such information was routinely available in "the book" -- the hard copy of the agenda and backup available for inspection in the Clerk's office. So, what has changed?
There will be two presentations -- and update on the progress of the soil remediation on 4th Street Extension, and a representative of the NJ Economic Development Authority will explain the new business lease program.
The Council will consider authorizing the adoption of an official flag. (The design was selected from a public contest, but there will be no reveal until the official flag-raising in April.)
There is also consideration of auctioning old police vehicles. Which brings up the question of what ever happened to the benches from the courtroom.
They were simply removed a few years ago between council meetings and replaced with chairs (which accommodate far fewer attendees). The city has a policy that old equipment is to be sold or auctioned, so there is some mystery about what exactly happened to the old benches.
Perhaps the sleeper in the whole agenda is Resolution Y authorizing an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with former Gov. (and Plainfield resident) Jim McGreevey's NJ Reentry Corporation.
Though unceremoniously booted from its original Jersey City location (where the program got its start) when relations soured between McGreevey and mayor Steve Fulop, the program has gotten high marks elsewhere in the state for helping returning prisoners prepare for success in the working world.
There is a non-disclosure agreement in the MOU. I wonder if this is becoming standard operating procedure. The clause states that it survives even the termination of the MOU. What is that about?
City Council meets at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers / Courthouse at Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street. Parking available on the street and in the lot across from Police Headquarters.
NOTE: I have seen officers in patrol vehicles allow Council attendees to turn onto 4th Street in front of Police Headquarters to enter the public parking. Exiting is no problem. Be cautious.
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