Councilman Blanco writes: Where I Stand on the Bond Ordinance...
NOTE: This statement was emailed to The Editors late last night (Aug. 7, 2005) in advance of tonight's City Council meeting that will be held at the Plainfield Public Library at 7:30pm.
Dear Fellow Plainfielders:
I take my responsibility as your Councilman-At-Large (Citywide) seriously. I research and study all the issues that come before the Council. I have taken courses for elected officials at Rutgers University on weekends. I do so in order to serve you better as your elected official. I don't take a single vote I cast lightly.
As a member of the Plainfield City Council, I must be ever vigilant for the sake of all the citizens of Plainfield whether it is the McWilliams administration or a Robinson-Briggs administration or a Ferraro administration. I am dismayed that some individuals have been trying to intimidate council members by threatening to withhold support from them in the future. That smacks of political bossism to me.
Now to the issue at hand, I believe that bonding is the last resort for any municipality. Clearly, sometimes it is just and necessary. However, the City must first seek funding from the Federal, State and County governments as well as the private sector before turning to our over-taxed residents for long term debt.
Take the road construction project as an example. The City only applied to one of five available funding programs within the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The City didn't even contact the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs regarding the senior citizens center. Lastly, over the past several years, none of our representatives in the New Jersey Legislature have been approached regarding available State funding for Plainfield. That is unacceptable.
Here are a few things that all Plainfield citizens should be concerned with:
* A single bond ordinance for multiple projects will allow the Administration to spend the $16.5 million on any single item named in the ordinance. In other words, the Senior Citizens Center could not be funded and the money could be used in its entirety fr road construction or vice versa. Respected municipal finance experts have advised me that this is an ill-conceived ordinance. In good conscience, I could not give the Administration a blank check.
*** The Administration CAN create four separate ordinances, introduce them, and not put any project in jeopardy. The Mayor has the power to ask for special council meetings to expedite the process. ALL of this can be accomplished by mid-September or sooner. So to characterize the request of four separate bond ordinances as a death to the senior center is a gross misrepresentation of the facts.
*** The current road construction project is costing more than originally projected. For example, the reconstruction of East Ninth Street between Watchung and Park [+] was estimated at $223,143 but it actually cost $601,503. That is a 270% increase.
Further, the bidding process appears to be flawed. In the last round of bids, Plainfield received only three bids. While in towns like Cranford, they typically receive up to nine bids. What do nine bids mean? More competition. More competition means lower costs.
At this rate, we will be doubling the cost of the entire project. Plainfield taxpayers cannot afford this massive project without Federal, State and County funding. A group of Council members will be calling for the appointment of an oversight committee within the City Council to review and monitor the road construction project.
*** State law prohibits the use of bonding for items that don't have a "useful life of a minimum of five years." Westfield, for instance, has a fiscal policy that prohibits bonding for items that don't have a useful life for a minimum of ten years or they pay cash. I believe that office equipment, furniture or maps may not meet the State standard. Therefore I believe this ordinance can be challenged in court. By the way, the actual ordinance only states "office furniture and equipment." I know English is my second language but when are maps "office furniture and equipment?"
*** Proponents of this ordinance are stating that delaying or opposing this ordinance "would be purely political in nature and costly in time and actual dollars." This is so far removed from the truth that it borders on insanity. Two of the three votes against this ordinance on First Reading were from "New Democrats!" And two other "New Democrats" have endorsed the proposal for four separate ordinances. These council members are being independent, free-thinkers.
*** Some supporters of this ordinance have stated that delaying this ordinance is "aimed at not giving the current Mayor credit for getting the senior center started on his watch." I, for one, will always acknowledge that Mayor Al McWilliams was a champion of this project. However, such thinking is contrary to good government practices. Government should never do anything to glorify the legacy of any one individual. Hopefully, your body of work will establish your legacy.
This unfortunate impasse must come to an end, the politics of who starts the senior center must end, and fiscal and administrative responsibility must prevail. The needs of ALL of Plainfield must prevail. The council's job is to oversee and question everything that comes before us. So I, along with Council members Rashid Burney, Don Davis and Rayland van Blake, will be introducing a resolution directing the Administration to submit four separate ordinances that will be specifically dedicated to the Senior Citizens Center ($4.3 million), Road Construction ($6 million), Roof Replacements ($1 million) and Swimming and Recreation Improvements ($550,000).
It will also direct the Administration to seek all available funding from Federal, State and County government resources within the next 60 days and report back to the City Council and to provide the Council with a detailed funding plan of action regarding the above items as well as the other projects.
I returned to local politics to make a difference in people's lives not play games with their lives or waste time on procedural matters. In my campaign, I outlined many proposals from crime prevention to civic responsibility. I really do believe - now more than ever - that issues count. Now is the time to govern effectively and efficiently to hold all accountable and that includes friends and in so doing we will be creating a beautiful, safe, diverse and united city.
In response to those who are questioning my allegiance, my answer is direct and simply. I answer only to the people of Plainfiled and they can decide my fate come 2008 in the event I am crazy enough to seek re-election. Thank you for your kind attention. As always, I look forward to your comments and feedback.
Best, Ray
Ray Blanco
Councilman At Large
[+] NOTE: We believe Councilman Blanco means Crescent Avenue and not East 9th Street. Reconstruction on Crescent has been finished, but not yet begun on East 9th Street.
Dear Fellow Plainfielders:
I take my responsibility as your Councilman-At-Large (Citywide) seriously. I research and study all the issues that come before the Council. I have taken courses for elected officials at Rutgers University on weekends. I do so in order to serve you better as your elected official. I don't take a single vote I cast lightly.
As a member of the Plainfield City Council, I must be ever vigilant for the sake of all the citizens of Plainfield whether it is the McWilliams administration or a Robinson-Briggs administration or a Ferraro administration. I am dismayed that some individuals have been trying to intimidate council members by threatening to withhold support from them in the future. That smacks of political bossism to me.
Now to the issue at hand, I believe that bonding is the last resort for any municipality. Clearly, sometimes it is just and necessary. However, the City must first seek funding from the Federal, State and County governments as well as the private sector before turning to our over-taxed residents for long term debt.
Take the road construction project as an example. The City only applied to one of five available funding programs within the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The City didn't even contact the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs regarding the senior citizens center. Lastly, over the past several years, none of our representatives in the New Jersey Legislature have been approached regarding available State funding for Plainfield. That is unacceptable.
Here are a few things that all Plainfield citizens should be concerned with:
* A single bond ordinance for multiple projects will allow the Administration to spend the $16.5 million on any single item named in the ordinance. In other words, the Senior Citizens Center could not be funded and the money could be used in its entirety fr road construction or vice versa. Respected municipal finance experts have advised me that this is an ill-conceived ordinance. In good conscience, I could not give the Administration a blank check.
*** The Administration CAN create four separate ordinances, introduce them, and not put any project in jeopardy. The Mayor has the power to ask for special council meetings to expedite the process. ALL of this can be accomplished by mid-September or sooner. So to characterize the request of four separate bond ordinances as a death to the senior center is a gross misrepresentation of the facts.
*** The current road construction project is costing more than originally projected. For example, the reconstruction of East Ninth Street between Watchung and Park [+] was estimated at $223,143 but it actually cost $601,503. That is a 270% increase.
Further, the bidding process appears to be flawed. In the last round of bids, Plainfield received only three bids. While in towns like Cranford, they typically receive up to nine bids. What do nine bids mean? More competition. More competition means lower costs.
At this rate, we will be doubling the cost of the entire project. Plainfield taxpayers cannot afford this massive project without Federal, State and County funding. A group of Council members will be calling for the appointment of an oversight committee within the City Council to review and monitor the road construction project.
*** State law prohibits the use of bonding for items that don't have a "useful life of a minimum of five years." Westfield, for instance, has a fiscal policy that prohibits bonding for items that don't have a useful life for a minimum of ten years or they pay cash. I believe that office equipment, furniture or maps may not meet the State standard. Therefore I believe this ordinance can be challenged in court. By the way, the actual ordinance only states "office furniture and equipment." I know English is my second language but when are maps "office furniture and equipment?"
*** Proponents of this ordinance are stating that delaying or opposing this ordinance "would be purely political in nature and costly in time and actual dollars." This is so far removed from the truth that it borders on insanity. Two of the three votes against this ordinance on First Reading were from "New Democrats!" And two other "New Democrats" have endorsed the proposal for four separate ordinances. These council members are being independent, free-thinkers.
*** Some supporters of this ordinance have stated that delaying this ordinance is "aimed at not giving the current Mayor credit for getting the senior center started on his watch." I, for one, will always acknowledge that Mayor Al McWilliams was a champion of this project. However, such thinking is contrary to good government practices. Government should never do anything to glorify the legacy of any one individual. Hopefully, your body of work will establish your legacy.
This unfortunate impasse must come to an end, the politics of who starts the senior center must end, and fiscal and administrative responsibility must prevail. The needs of ALL of Plainfield must prevail. The council's job is to oversee and question everything that comes before us. So I, along with Council members Rashid Burney, Don Davis and Rayland van Blake, will be introducing a resolution directing the Administration to submit four separate ordinances that will be specifically dedicated to the Senior Citizens Center ($4.3 million), Road Construction ($6 million), Roof Replacements ($1 million) and Swimming and Recreation Improvements ($550,000).
It will also direct the Administration to seek all available funding from Federal, State and County government resources within the next 60 days and report back to the City Council and to provide the Council with a detailed funding plan of action regarding the above items as well as the other projects.
I returned to local politics to make a difference in people's lives not play games with their lives or waste time on procedural matters. In my campaign, I outlined many proposals from crime prevention to civic responsibility. I really do believe - now more than ever - that issues count. Now is the time to govern effectively and efficiently to hold all accountable and that includes friends and in so doing we will be creating a beautiful, safe, diverse and united city.
In response to those who are questioning my allegiance, my answer is direct and simply. I answer only to the people of Plainfiled and they can decide my fate come 2008 in the event I am crazy enough to seek re-election. Thank you for your kind attention. As always, I look forward to your comments and feedback.
Best, Ray
Ray Blanco
Councilman At Large
posted by Bernice at 11:04 AM
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