Council votes, and paying for projects goes back to the drawing board

Plainfielders packed the public meeting. After an hour of fervent public comment for and against a $16 million bond ordinance Monday (Aug. 8, 2005), the measure failed in a 2-2 City Council tie.

The ordinance included $8 million for road repairs, $4.3 million for a new senior center, $1 million for roof repairs and $542,000 for swimming pool and recreation improvements. But it was doomed from the outset of the meeting Monday, because only four of seven council members were present and the ordinance needed five votes to pass.

Councilman Cory Storch was absent due to an accident and Councilman Rashid Burney was on vacation. The third absentee was Councilman Rayland Van Blake, but no reason was given for his absence.

Councilwoman Joanne Hollis tried to table the ordinance, but didn't get a second. Hollis said it was only fair to wait until all members could be present for a vote.

She and Council President Linda Carter voted "yes" and Councilmen Ray Blanco and Don Davis voted "no" on the ordinance.

Asked what the vote meant, City Administrator Norton Bonaparte said the defeat meant starting all over to pay for the projects.

Blanco sent an e-mail Sunday to constituents asking for support of four separate ordinances on the main projects.

Carter called for an early meeting of council members, administrators and legal staff to see what could be done to cover the projects.

"I don't want these projects held up for months," she said.

Among the arguments for replacing the $16 million ordinance with separate ones, speakers said an all-inclusive ordinance held no guarantees on how the money would be expended.

"This can be separated," said former councilwoman Helen Miller.

But a number of residents said delay would only mean increased costs.

"There will never be a center unless we get started," former Senior Center Director Patty Bender said.

Others, including resident Murray Roberts, cited other means by which neighboring municipalities built senior or community centers at no cost.

Resident and PlainTalker Editor Barbara Todd Kerr questioned what would happen to the approximately $6 million in orphaned projects in the ordinance, but council members gave inconclusive answers.

The projects included $175,000 to meet new states storm water regulations; $1,2 million for technology improvements; $401,500 for City Hall improvements and other public safety improvements.

Among the public comments:

"Somebody is going to pay this debt, and that somebody is everybody in this room."--Harold Gibson

"This price tag is an outrage, if you ask me." --Helga Roberts

"Do the right thing - do not delay these projects any further."--Adrian Mapp

--Bernice Paglia

KEYWORDS: City council, bond ordinance