Lack of Quorum Stalls Budget Talks
Al Restaino is a patient man.
The Nutley resident stuck around the Queen City on July 28 to give his presentation to the City Council, but the scheduled budget deliberations fell through for lack of a quorum.
On Thursday (Aug. 4, 2005) it was deja vu all over again as Restaino waited for a quorum that never materialized. Only City Council President Linda Carter and Councilman Rashid Burney showed up, inconveniencing both Restaino and Public Works Director Priscilla Castles, who was also scheduled to make a presentation at the council’s request.
Carter was livid at the lapse and promised a dressing-down of colleagues who were absent.
While waiting for the meeting to begin, Restaino shared some information with Plainfield Plain Talker.
He occupies a new position in city government as director of Community Development. The City Council created the title by ordinance in December 2004, with a salary of $90,000. Restaino, 45, was formerly director of Essex County Housing and Community Development and came to Plainfield on Jan. 18.
His main responsibilities are to manage the Community Development Block Grant Program, which uses federal funding to improve housing and provide social services for low- to moderate-income residents.
In addition, his office handles relocations of residents who lose their housing to various causes.
Seniors, disabled persons and many others benefit from CBDG funding, he said.
“It runs the full gamut of social services,“ Restaino said.
Because Plainfield has fewer than 50,000 residents according to the 2000 Census, the city must send its CDBG requests to Union County for decision-making. If the city can ever prove it has more than 50,000 residents, it can apply directly for funding.
The CDBG process involves receiving requests from agencies seeking funds. The Citizens Advisory Committee reviews the requests and ranks them. Then the county decides which ones get funding.
Restaino was ready Thursday to go over his goals for the 2006 fiscal year, but with only two council members present, the meeting was adjourned.
He expressed willingness to come back once again, with one caveat - next week he’s on vacation.
The Nutley resident stuck around the Queen City on July 28 to give his presentation to the City Council, but the scheduled budget deliberations fell through for lack of a quorum.
On Thursday (Aug. 4, 2005) it was deja vu all over again as Restaino waited for a quorum that never materialized. Only City Council President Linda Carter and Councilman Rashid Burney showed up, inconveniencing both Restaino and Public Works Director Priscilla Castles, who was also scheduled to make a presentation at the council’s request.
Carter was livid at the lapse and promised a dressing-down of colleagues who were absent.
While waiting for the meeting to begin, Restaino shared some information with Plainfield Plain Talker.
He occupies a new position in city government as director of Community Development. The City Council created the title by ordinance in December 2004, with a salary of $90,000. Restaino, 45, was formerly director of Essex County Housing and Community Development and came to Plainfield on Jan. 18.
His main responsibilities are to manage the Community Development Block Grant Program, which uses federal funding to improve housing and provide social services for low- to moderate-income residents.
In addition, his office handles relocations of residents who lose their housing to various causes.
Seniors, disabled persons and many others benefit from CBDG funding, he said.
“It runs the full gamut of social services,“ Restaino said.
Because Plainfield has fewer than 50,000 residents according to the 2000 Census, the city must send its CDBG requests to Union County for decision-making. If the city can ever prove it has more than 50,000 residents, it can apply directly for funding.
The CDBG process involves receiving requests from agencies seeking funds. The Citizens Advisory Committee reviews the requests and ranks them. Then the county decides which ones get funding.
Restaino was ready Thursday to go over his goals for the 2006 fiscal year, but with only two council members present, the meeting was adjourned.
He expressed willingness to come back once again, with one caveat - next week he’s on vacation.
posted by Bernice at 9:13 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home