Commentary on Appointments
The issue of the current administration's less-than-timely appointments to boards and commissions dates back to 2006, when Council President Ray Blanco refused to permit them.
After several late submissions including some walk-ons at meetings in progress, Blanco drew the line in July and refused to allow a bunch of appointments to be considered. It was the last meeting before he suffered a massive heart attack and died. His successor lacked Blanco's degree of passion to see things done right and laxity ensued over time.
How are things supposed to be done when it comes to appointments? Terms are on record at all times, so it should be no surprise that this or that board will have vacancies at year's end. A list of vacancies can be compiled as early as October to allow consideration of new applicants and determination of which incumbents desire and deserve reappointment. The system usually calls for "advice and consent," meaning the mayor offers nominations for council confirmation.
When there are political transitions, the administration can extend to the incoming council members the courtesy of sharing information on nominees and even attendance at interviews. The interview process has varied over the years, from focusing on certain key boards and commissions to asking all nominees for resumes and interviews, even for the Beautification Committee that mainly planted flowers.
Curiously, the first person to complain about the new council's rejection of appointments Thursday was the mayor's confidential aide. On the city web site, where this aide has a lengthy CV and the mayor has none, one of the aide's listed tasks is "Coordinates appointments to boards and commissions." But three years into the mayor's term, the issue of timely submission of appointments persists.
New council members may have made a false step by initially setting aside all Thursday's resolutions. Council President Rashid Burney voted "no" to tabling all, saying, "Rather than using a sledgehammer, we can use a scalpel."
Ultimately that's what the council did to some extent by returning incumbents while still wanting more information on new nominees, but the ability of some boards and commissions to operate in January may be impaired. Due to the presidential inauguration, the council is altering its schedule to meet on Monday, Jan. 12 for an agenda session and on Thursday, Jan. 15 for a regular meeting. The schedule compresses time available for interviews and votes before important meetings of boards and commissions. In fact, the Planning Board is scheduled to meet on Jan. 15 in City Hall Library while the council is meeting in Municipal Court.
Over 25 years of covering city government, this writer has noticed that even the most dilatory administration will spring into action to offer favored nominees for boards and commissions if it is a "lame duck" administration. Then it is up to the council to play the villain by holding up or rejecting names until after the next administration is on board.
One can preach stewardship of city functions and the need for continuity all one wants, but politics will always creep in and collegiality goes out the window. When the legislative and administrative branches are at odds, it is up to the citizens to demand accountability from both, so that decisionmaking doesn't devolve into power plays among the elected and appointed officials that are here to serve the public.
--Bernice Paglia
After several late submissions including some walk-ons at meetings in progress, Blanco drew the line in July and refused to allow a bunch of appointments to be considered. It was the last meeting before he suffered a massive heart attack and died. His successor lacked Blanco's degree of passion to see things done right and laxity ensued over time.
How are things supposed to be done when it comes to appointments? Terms are on record at all times, so it should be no surprise that this or that board will have vacancies at year's end. A list of vacancies can be compiled as early as October to allow consideration of new applicants and determination of which incumbents desire and deserve reappointment. The system usually calls for "advice and consent," meaning the mayor offers nominations for council confirmation.
When there are political transitions, the administration can extend to the incoming council members the courtesy of sharing information on nominees and even attendance at interviews. The interview process has varied over the years, from focusing on certain key boards and commissions to asking all nominees for resumes and interviews, even for the Beautification Committee that mainly planted flowers.
Curiously, the first person to complain about the new council's rejection of appointments Thursday was the mayor's confidential aide. On the city web site, where this aide has a lengthy CV and the mayor has none, one of the aide's listed tasks is "Coordinates appointments to boards and commissions." But three years into the mayor's term, the issue of timely submission of appointments persists.
New council members may have made a false step by initially setting aside all Thursday's resolutions. Council President Rashid Burney voted "no" to tabling all, saying, "Rather than using a sledgehammer, we can use a scalpel."
Ultimately that's what the council did to some extent by returning incumbents while still wanting more information on new nominees, but the ability of some boards and commissions to operate in January may be impaired. Due to the presidential inauguration, the council is altering its schedule to meet on Monday, Jan. 12 for an agenda session and on Thursday, Jan. 15 for a regular meeting. The schedule compresses time available for interviews and votes before important meetings of boards and commissions. In fact, the Planning Board is scheduled to meet on Jan. 15 in City Hall Library while the council is meeting in Municipal Court.
Over 25 years of covering city government, this writer has noticed that even the most dilatory administration will spring into action to offer favored nominees for boards and commissions if it is a "lame duck" administration. Then it is up to the council to play the villain by holding up or rejecting names until after the next administration is on board.
One can preach stewardship of city functions and the need for continuity all one wants, but politics will always creep in and collegiality goes out the window. When the legislative and administrative branches are at odds, it is up to the citizens to demand accountability from both, so that decisionmaking doesn't devolve into power plays among the elected and appointed officials that are here to serve the public.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 1:51 AM
7 Comments:
The City of Plainfield under the leadership of the Mayor has been a three year joke.
The joke on the city was that we were the murder capital on Union County under the old administration. That was an 8-year nightmare.
Today, virtually all crime statistics are down. More police are on the streets. Traffic enforcement has begun. Roads are being paved.
I fail to see what is so funny about these facts.
It is obvious that "Anonymous #2" doesn't drive in Plainfield. We are in what is called the second phase (supposedly the 2nd year plan) of what was to have been a 5 year rebuilding program planned five years ago. In the mean time almost every street in the city has become a car terrorist venue. Show me the main streets that are the city's responsibility that on Jan 1, 2009 did not have major destructive potholes.
Yes the previous admin istration had many faults, South Ave being one of them but at least some attempt was made.
I did not make the original post but to me the joke is that the someone would pass such information off as facts. Maybe you should run for Mayor. You will do a better job of stating progress than was done the other night-LOL.
Old Doc,
So you expect 100% of the roads which have been neglected to be fixed by this Mayor within the first three years of her administration?
Now I am doing the LOL!
LOL!!!
To the 10:30pm blogger-
How about 1% to be fixed before she leaves office after 4 years?
Have you seen Somerset Street from the N Plainfield border to Front Street?? The welcome sign should say hold onto your dentures, they may rattle out because of the potholes.
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