Budget, More Up for July Votes
The City Council will have to hold a special meeting July 1 to adopt a temporary budget for the start of the 2010 fiscal year, “or the city shuts down,” City Administrator Marc Dashield said at tonight’s special meeting.
A resolution for temporary appropriations was on the June 9 agenda, but Councilman Adrian Mapp, also the chief financial officer for another Union County municipality, reminded the Plainfield administration that such action could only be taken within the first 30 days of the new fiscal year, which starts July 1.
Dashield, formerly a CFO in Franklin Township, has been acting finance director in Plainfield since the departure of the last of several finance directors since the administration of Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs took over in 2006. It is Dashield’s second stint as acting finance director and although there is a 90-day limit on acting cabinet positions, Dashield has been wearing both administrative hats since December.
The meeting will be held at 8 p.m. July 1 in City Hall Library, but the approval needs five of the seven council votes. Due to various personal reasons, council action is likely to involve some members voting by conference call.
In other action Thursday, the council decided to shelve resolutions on a pump station agreement involving the city, the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority and the Plainfield Area Regional Sewerage Authority as well as one for an agency to take over management of the Dudley House substance abuse program. Those issues will be brought back for discussion at the July 13 agenda session, 7:30 p.m. in City Hall Library.
Another issue that was deferred involved a Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT agreement , for a senior housing complex on Park Avenue. Mapp raised numerous questions, including why the city did not seek full taxes after a previous PILOT agreement ran out in 2002. His questions led to requests for a full review of all city PILOT agreements, including their duration and expiration.
Speakers in the public comment portion expressed concern about press reports of contaminated water being pumped out of a Connolly Properties building onto the street and asked for an investigation. Dashield said the pumping was done by the management company.
“It is illegal,” he said, noting citations were issued for violations of health and storm water regulations and that the state Department of Environmental Protection is involved.
“It is definitely not acceptable,” Dashield said.
A meeting is expected to take place 6:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall to hear concerns of Connolly Properties tenants.
--Bernice Paglia
A resolution for temporary appropriations was on the June 9 agenda, but Councilman Adrian Mapp, also the chief financial officer for another Union County municipality, reminded the Plainfield administration that such action could only be taken within the first 30 days of the new fiscal year, which starts July 1.
Dashield, formerly a CFO in Franklin Township, has been acting finance director in Plainfield since the departure of the last of several finance directors since the administration of Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs took over in 2006. It is Dashield’s second stint as acting finance director and although there is a 90-day limit on acting cabinet positions, Dashield has been wearing both administrative hats since December.
The meeting will be held at 8 p.m. July 1 in City Hall Library, but the approval needs five of the seven council votes. Due to various personal reasons, council action is likely to involve some members voting by conference call.
In other action Thursday, the council decided to shelve resolutions on a pump station agreement involving the city, the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority and the Plainfield Area Regional Sewerage Authority as well as one for an agency to take over management of the Dudley House substance abuse program. Those issues will be brought back for discussion at the July 13 agenda session, 7:30 p.m. in City Hall Library.
Another issue that was deferred involved a Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT agreement , for a senior housing complex on Park Avenue. Mapp raised numerous questions, including why the city did not seek full taxes after a previous PILOT agreement ran out in 2002. His questions led to requests for a full review of all city PILOT agreements, including their duration and expiration.
Speakers in the public comment portion expressed concern about press reports of contaminated water being pumped out of a Connolly Properties building onto the street and asked for an investigation. Dashield said the pumping was done by the management company.
“It is illegal,” he said, noting citations were issued for violations of health and storm water regulations and that the state Department of Environmental Protection is involved.
“It is definitely not acceptable,” Dashield said.
A meeting is expected to take place 6:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall to hear concerns of Connolly Properties tenants.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 10:39 PM
2 Comments:
Of course pumping contaminated water into the street is illegal, and of course it is not acceptable. What the administration doesn't get, and falls short, is that they need to take action. Where are the fines and how much? What happens to Connelly. STOP talking and DO something.
Bernice, Just one question: every blog I have read in the city in addition to residents who post comments bemoans the fact that Mr. Dashield always says "I'll get back to you" on virtually every question. Yet I never hear that he does, he only defers it to the next meeting and then says it again. When will the mayor get rid of this guy and hire someone who actually has answers. "It's definitely not acceptable" to quote Mr. Dashield!
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