Administration: CBAC Report Overstepped
A Citizens Budget Advisory Committee report was riddled with inaccuracies and improperly characterized city operations, City Administrator Marc Dashield said Monday.
In a statement at the end of the City Council meeting, Dashield said the administration and city auditors had examined the report, which was presented Nov. 24 in a PowerPoint presentation by CBAC Chairman Bill Amirault. Besides some budget suggestions, the presentation included a report card on city services and the schools, giving only marks of C, D or F. It also included background on the committee members and a few negative comments on the administration and the City Council itself.
While praising the committee for its work since September, Dashield said the budget process is about “allocation of resources.” The committee report contained numerous observations and comments, such as one that the city had an “ill-defined vision.”
Among the inaccuracies, Dashield said, the committee assumed some department heads were drawing two full-time salaries. Some salary increases were also misinterpreted, he said.
Dashield said the budget covered “core services” and focused on two areas for improvement in FY 2009, information technology and road improvements. He said the administration intends to address the “other items” in the report.
Members of the public have asked for the report to be distributed in written form. Meanwhile, Dan Damon posted the slide show on his blog last week.
--Bernice Paglia
In a statement at the end of the City Council meeting, Dashield said the administration and city auditors had examined the report, which was presented Nov. 24 in a PowerPoint presentation by CBAC Chairman Bill Amirault. Besides some budget suggestions, the presentation included a report card on city services and the schools, giving only marks of C, D or F. It also included background on the committee members and a few negative comments on the administration and the City Council itself.
While praising the committee for its work since September, Dashield said the budget process is about “allocation of resources.” The committee report contained numerous observations and comments, such as one that the city had an “ill-defined vision.”
Among the inaccuracies, Dashield said, the committee assumed some department heads were drawing two full-time salaries. Some salary increases were also misinterpreted, he said.
Dashield said the budget covered “core services” and focused on two areas for improvement in FY 2009, information technology and road improvements. He said the administration intends to address the “other items” in the report.
Members of the public have asked for the report to be distributed in written form. Meanwhile, Dan Damon posted the slide show on his blog last week.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 9:00 AM
5 Comments:
Instead of finding grounds to agree on, MD defends questionable management practices. But what would one expect by an administration that has failed and deceived the people of Plainfield. Lets not forget that the buck stops at the top. If we knew in 2005 what we know now, would we have elected the team of Green/Briggs?
I was surprised to read over the past few days within the Courier News the misinformation dealing with the committee put together to oversee the budget. What it actually did however, was show to the public that Councilman Rashid Burney is not a part of the negative group of people who constantly embarrass the city with their negative approach to government.
In the report issued by this oversight committee, there was not one solution offered to the problems mentioned. The council does not run the Board of Education. I am happy to see that Councilman Burney, who is a straight arrow, has chose not to get involved with belligerent politics. I watched how he and Assemblyman Jerry Green worked diligently on behalf of Presidential Elect Barack Obama’s campaign. This relationship looks and acts in genuine sincerity in its approach to move this city into the right direction.
Unfortunately, positive and production relationship building spurns negativity in those involved in the debilitating politico that takes advantage of the city of Plainfield repeatedly. I’ve been waiting for another productive relationship between our elected officials to come about, and at the first of the year, I hope and pray that the Green/Burney team will be perceived in a positive light, with their above-mentioned fruits as evidence of their commitment to positive change. This truthful and honest deduction of community efforts should not be slanted, as Dan Damon and others have tirelessly tried to degrade and put a negative spin on the Green/Robinson team. How can one protest the productive working relationships between a State Legislator and the municipal officials wherein he lives?
In closing, I would just like to again, say thank you to Councilman Rashid Burney, and congratulations in doing such a great job in persevering in a city where negativity from an out-of-touch faction still haunts us every now and then. Don’t let this handful of disconnected people thwart your efforts, passions, or integrity as President of City Council.
You have done more than your job description outlines, which is why the respect from the people in the city you have earned, is etched in marble. I am proud to be a support of yours!
LearnedThinker
I understand the council is unable to use ANY figures from the committee because they were so poorly done and so full of inaccuracies and errors.
If what MD is saying is true, then the committee upped the sloppiness of the admin in their report.
But then, this is Plainfield. Why should anyone expect anything more?
BGT
A group of willing and committed citizens should not be ridiculed for their efforts to serve the city. The administration is playing Monday morning quarterback in the negative comments. As the "experts" they should have been involved with the committee and helped to provide them with appropriate information about the budget. But I guess it still would have been the blind leading the blind (no disrespect to the community volunteers).
To BGT -
I am not sure where you received your information about the committee's inaccuracies. Remember all the informaiton received was from the city. So if the report was incorrect, it was because of the premise.
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