Charter Change Brainstorming

Looking for ideas, plus feedback (pro and con) on other people’s ideas.

Here are a few to get the ball rolling:

• non partisan elections
• wards or at-large representation
• commissioners responsible for certain muncipal functions (i.e., an elected Commissioner of Public Works)
• paid Mayor
• mandate that no individual may simultaneiousserve on more than one council, committee, authority, commission or board

For more info on the variety of possible local government permutations in NJ, check out this summary report.  

HELP WANTED: Reporters, Cartoonists and Photographers

The pay is not great: one Hershey bar (or 60 cents) per local story, cartoon or photo.

But it will get new information out to many local North Plainfield readers, even if you post anonymously, or (and this would be cool) under a zingy nom de plume.

Here’s what you do:

Send in a story, or even just a list of things you’ve found out about a topic by, say, going to a School Board meeting, or hanging out quietly, doodling on a napkin at a corner table in Bagel Masters. 

Or, take a photo of something or someone that catches your eye around town.

Or, draw a cartoon to make a point about local politics and politicians.

Send them in, by e-mail or by regular mail if you prefer (KW/NPCCR Blog - 96 Mercer Ave. Apt. 2).

I’ll edit your information into a story and post it (with or without your by-line: you choose).

Or, I’ll scan/upload your photos and political cartoons and post those.

You won’t get rich.

But you’ll probably have fun doing it, and you may well get famous, at least in this little pond full of very self-important fishes.

Rockview Avenue Subdivision

Most of this story played out well before I started covering local issues, but it’s back in the correspondence files at Borough Hall recently.

It’s the planned Dell’Olio development at 110-112 Rockview Avenue, which would replace three buildings, including a historic one, and dozens of full-grown trees, with nine single family homes on a cul-de-sac next to the Stony Brook. From what I’ve heard, the proposed development ignited a firestorm of vocal citizen opposition, just as Villa Maria development did.

I won’t pretend I fully understand the import of a February 6, 2008 letter from the state Department of Environmental Protection, included in the documents file posted below; it has something to do with the EPA wetlands designation and development approval process, stormwater runoff planning, etc. 

Rockview Avenue Subdivision Documents

I think it’s an example of how the regulatory process fails to protect communities, by serving as a mechanism to exclude community members and, as the process name clearly indicates, “permit” projects against the wishes and/or best interests of the community as a whole. 

 Why Regulatory Law Fails to Protect Local Communities

The other file is a set of two drainage/topographical maps (each cut in half for scanning) showing the pre-development lay of the land, structures and ecosystem, and the post-development lay of that land. 

Rockview Avenue Subdivision Maps

Reminder

Space on this blog is always available for public officials who wish to explain their actions and views.

Unlike a traditional reporter, I don’t interview or call public officials to ask for their comments on local issues, because I believe they are well able to speak, or write, for themselves, unfiltered, should they wish to address matters of public concern in public forums, in their own voices or under their own by-lines.

Update 1/29/08 - If your writing skills don’t match your ideas, I will gladly edit your initial piece and send it back to you, repeatedly, until you’re satisfied that it conveys what you want it to, in the way you want the information conveyed.

Recreation Director

At Monday’s Council meeting, Borough Administrator David Hollod casually announced that Chris Tarver has been appointed the new part-time recreation director, as indicated in this prior post.

The appointment was apparently effective February 18, according to a recent list of board and commission members and staff. Hollod mentioned that Mr. Tarver has good qualifications and his hiring might enable the Borough to consider some shared rec programming with Dunellen, where Mr. Tarver currently serves as the full-time Rec Director.

Once again, legal or not, “best for the town” or not, it was a politically tone-deaf thing to do, and it was done in a politically incompetent way, opening the door for a huge amount of ill-will from the local families who have supported the Rec programs with their time and energy for decades.

Numerous observers have commented that, if more than one qualified candidate applied for the position, the candidate should have been selected in public, by lottery.

Instead, it was another secretive, backroom process, adding fuel to the fire of mistrust and anger toward the local government that continues to spread throughout the Borough. 

Here are some other relevant documents:

Recreation Director Letters

The file includes a November 19, 2007 letter from a group of sports supervisors and coordinators, expressing unanimous support for Steve Novak’s appointment to the Rec Director job, and a February 1, 2008 letter from Sue Passe, wife of long-time youth recreation volunteer Dennis Passe, expressing support for Steve Novak, Dennis Passe, Ralph Dunham or Danny Battista, among other worthy – and local- applicants.

Republican Club – Internal Politics

My last comment for the time being, on the dust-up within the local Republican Club on candidate selection procedures is that, although the process is going somewhat awkwardly and toes continue to be tromped on, there’s one key difference between the local Republicans and Democrats at present.

The Republicans are responding to the demonstrated concerns of their constituency (active local Republicans) by changing their behavior in the direction of more openness, transparency, accountability and communication.

The Democrats are not.

Library Construction Update

The library roof has leaked and the HVAC system has been malfunctioning for several years, and although the Borough is responsible for maintaining the building, Mayor Janice Allen and her appointed staff have utterly and completely failed to see to this Borough responsibility.

Background posts:

September 11, 2007 - Raw sewage at the library.

September 19, 2007 -  Update, James Rodino, DPW Director, is the individual legally responsible for monitoring and maintaining proper indoor air quality within the library building.

September 20, 2007 - Summary of first bidding process March 2007, first two Council budget appropriations for library repairs (2006 and 2007), letter from James Hecht, Director of Somerset County Library System, regarding ongoing facility problems. 

December 11, 2007 - Councilwoman Mary Forbes announces library repairs will begin within one to two weeks.)

February 1, 2008 - No signs of roof or HVAC repairs.

February 28, 2008 – New information gathered from most recent OPRA request.

In Winter 2007, PMK Engineering conducted a study of mold conditions, commissioned by the Somerset County Library System and Borough government in response to librarian health complaints.

The March 2007 report of those findings is posted here: Library – Mold Study

The investigators found mold spores and/or “culturable mold” including Cladosporium sp. (which can cause sinusitis, pulmonary infections and pneumonia) and Acremonium sp. 

The March 2007 report stated:

“Reportedly, the roof and carpet in the main floor staff work room will be replaced and a new HVAC system will be installed in the building during the spring of 2007″

and 

“[a]lthough the symptomology reported by the occupants cannot be reasonably isolated to the microbiological amplification or distinguished at this time from common symptoms and illnesses which occur more frequently during the winter months…the identification of ongoing roof leaks and microbiological growth on the building materials within the indoor environment should not be considered normal or acceptable.”  

In Fall 2007, the project went out to bid again.

There was only one bidder – WHL Enterprises, Inc./Bill Healy A/C Heating Inc., of Metuchen, who offered to do the job for $154,900.

On October 22, 2007, the Borough Council formally accepted the bid and awarded the library construction contract to WHL Enterprises.

By letter dated February 27, 2008, presumably written at the direction of Borough Administrator Dave Hollod, Borough Clerk Gloria Pflueger announced, without any explanation whatsoever, that the contract “has not been executed. The work has not commenced.”

Letter posted here: Library – Construction Contract Letter

Why has the contract not been executed?

Why has the work – now several years overdue – not commenced?

And when will the Council, which has tried year after year to get this project funded and completed, launch a formal investigation?

Villa Maria Sale?

Rumor – Villa Maria closing is to be next week. Sale price is $2,000,000. Further information to confirm or refute, plus identify buyer and intended use, welcome.

North Plainfield Authorities, Boards, Commissions and Committees

2008 Membership and Meeting Schedules below.

Missions, duties and responsibilities are at the Borough Code website, North Plainfield Revised General Ordinances (N.P.R.G.O.)

Board of Adjustment (Zoning) – Mark C. Tighe (Chair); Michael P. Castro; Basil D’Armiento; Jack Fowler (Vice-Chair); Alejandro Kuga; Gary Lewis; Alfred Zarnowski; John C. Langenbach (alternate # 1); Vacancy (alternate #2).

Meetings - First and third Wednesdays, 7:30, at Vermeule Community Center.

Purpose: NPRGO 22-89.1

Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners: Raymond T. Dodd (Chair); Thomas Allen; Kimberly Carter; Angelo Costello; Evan B. Dickerson (Vice-Chair); Paolo Lorenzi; Dane Merchant; Everett Merrill; Douglas Spontak; James C. Thomas; Vacancy.

Paid Staff: Recreation Director – Christopher Tarver, (appointed February 18, 2008; Recreation Coordinator – Steven Novak; Director – Summer Playgrounds – Robin Stayvas.

Meetings: Third Tuesday of each month, except August, 8 p.m., Vermeule Recreation Room.

Purpose: NPRGO 2-6.5.

Economic Development Committee: Florence A. Mannion (Chair); Kenneth Dupuis; Tom Fagan; Leonard W. Lange; Lawrence LaRonde; Sandy R. Marrow; Frank A. Stabile (Vice-Chair); Joseph F. Tevlin; Councilman Douglas M. Singleterry.

Meetings: Second Thursday of every month, 7:30 p.m., Vermeule Community Center 

Purpose: NPRGO 2-6.9

Environmental Commission: Dr. Harry Allen (Chair); Michael J. Bellew; Mabel “Skip” Hansen; Jean Liss; Mathy Stanislaus; Vacancy

Meetings: Fourth Wednesday of every month except November and December, third Wednesday in November and December, 7:30 p.m., Vermeule.

Purpose: NJSA 40:56A-1; NPRGO 2-6.6

Green Brook Flood Control Commission: Councilman Frank Righetti; Francis McCardle; William F. Crosby III (alternate)

Meetings: First Wednesday of every month, 7:30 p.m., various locations.

Purpose: NPRGO 2-25.8

Historic Preservation Commission: CB Bowman (Chair); Robert Hitchcock (Vice-Chair); Thomas Martynowski; Joan McDaniel; Mark Sharp; Laly Espinoza Kuga (Alternate); Dr. Patricia Pontevien-LeBlanc (Alternate). Attorney for Commission is Deborah J. Bracaglia, Esq., of Bernstein & Associates. Recording Secretery position is vacant.

Meetings: Tuesdays in 2008: Jan. 15, Feb. 5, Mar. 4, April 1, May 6, June 3, July 1, Aug. 5, Sept. 9, Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m., at the Vermeule Mansion.

Purpose: NPRGO 22-122.5

Library Advisory Committee: Mayor Janice Allen; Superintendent of Schools Marilyn Birnbaum; Councilwoman Mary Forbes; Florence A. Mannion (Chair); Betty Berzin; Michael P. Castro (Vice-Chair); Constance Hitchcock; Barbara Kreder; Patricia Stabile.

Meetings: Third Tuesdays (Jan. 15, Mar. 18, June 17, Sept. 16, Nov. 18) at 7:15 p.m. at the Conference Room in the NP Memorial Library.

Purpose: NPRGO 2-6.12

Municipal Alliance Committee: Mayor Janice Allen; Chief of Police William G. Parenti; Douglas M. Singleterry (representing Board of Health); Superintendent of Schools Marilyn Birnbaum; Municipal Court Judge Raymond P. DeMarco, Esq.; Eric Fowler (representing Youth Services Commission); Robert A. Mattera (Youth Services Commission alternate); Alejandro Kuga (representing business community); Torian J. Baker (business community alternate); Heather Clowers (representative of labor); Ruth DeBang (public); Alissa Giordano (public); Michele Ixim (public); John C. Langenbach (public); Laurence Van Winkle (public); Melissa Vonderheide (public alternate); Rev. Kenneth Gorman (representing religious community). Vacancy (religious community alternate).

Meetings: Fourth Tuesday of every month, except July, and except third Tuesday of December, 7 p.m. Crime Prevention Office, 93 Greenbrook Road.

Purpose: NJSA 26:2BB-9, NPRGO 2-6.14

Municipal Wastewater Management Plan Committee: Mayor Janice Allen; Municipal Engineer Daniel Swayze; Planning Board Member David Hollod; Utility Authority Representative James P. Freeman (Chair)

Meetings: As called.

Purpose: Somerset County Initiative “to review and provide feedback on the required elements of the draft Somerset County Wastewater Management Plan.”

Office of Emergency Management/Local Emergency Planning Council: Brian Martin (Coordinator); Norman Jenkins (Deputy Coordinator); Police Chief William Parenti; Fire Chief William Eaton; Borough Administrator David Hollod (Mayor’s Representative); Robert Hitchcock (Council Member); Municipal Attorney Eric Bernstein; Marilyn Birnbaum (Schools Superintendent); Edward J. Ostroff (Director of Operations for NP School District);  Santiago Soto (citizen at-large); Jack Zeller (citizen at-large); David DeRosa (health department representative); Joann Righetti (Health Department representative); John C. Langenbach (media representative?); James Rodino (Public Works representative); Tina Totten; Dr. Harry Allen (hazardous materials representative); Dodie Sherwood (secretary).

Meetings: Wednesdays, 4 p.m., Vermeule Community Center, as follows: Feb. 20, May 14, Sept. 17, Nov. 5.

Purpose: Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), Title III (Hazardous Materials)

Parking Authority: Douglas Krisburg (Chair); Edith Giordano; Leonard W. Lange; Nathan A. Rudy; Frank A. Stabile (Vice-Chair); Frank Righetti (Council Liaison); Brett M. Reina, Esq. (Attorney)

Parking Enforcement Officers: Dana S. Biggs; Aisha Nazir; Nigel C. Reid. Auditor: Robert Butvilla.

Meetings: Last Wednesday of every month, except July, August and December, at 7:30 p.m. at Vermeule Community Center. [No meetings were held during 2007].

Purpose: NJSA 40:11A-4, NPRGO 2-26.2

Plainfield Area Regional Sewerage Authority: James P. Freeman (North Plainfield representative); William F. Crosby III (alternate).

Meetings: First Thursday of every month, 6:30 p.m., 200 Clay Avenue, Middlesex

Purpose: NJ Sewerage Authorities Law, Ordinance No. 95-04

Planning Board: Mayor Janice Allen; Borough Administrator David Hollod; Councilman Frank Righetti; Tom Fagan (Chair); Maureen Coxwell; Frank L. Kreder (Vice-Chair); Andre Mitchell; Frank A. Stabile; Barbara Kreder; David W. Branan (alternate); Joseph Tevlin (alternate).

Planning Board Staff: Attorney Brian D. Schwartz, Secretary Dawn Gaebel, Assistant Secretary Maryann Thorpey.

Meetings: Second and fourth Wednesday of every month, at 7:30 p.m. at Vermeule Community Center. 

Purpose: NPRGO 22-27.2

Property Maintenance Committee: Janet A. Dalley (Chair); David J. Lepak; Barbara Miller; one vacancy among Mayoral appointees (unexpired term of Vincent Talmo); Councilman Michael Giordano (Council appointee); John C. Langenbach (Board of Adjustment appointee); Frank Righetti (Planning Board appointee).

Property Maintenance Official: James F. Rodino

Meetings: First Monday of every month, 7 p.m., at Vermeule Community Center, except first Tuesday in September, as follows: Feb. 4, March 2, April 7, May 5, June 2, Sept. 2, Oct. 6, Nov. 3. 

Purpose: NPRGO 2-16.1c2

Rent Stabilization Board: Leonard W. Lange (Chair, landlord); Dori N. Ellis (tenant); Allan B. Igo (homeowner); Robin Stabile (tenant); Bart Thomas (landlord); Mary Ann Climes (homeowner); Fred Tupkielewicz (tenant); two vacancies (both alternates); Jenny Flynn (Council liaison).

Meetings: As needed.

Purpose: NPRGO 2-6.7

Senior Citizen/Community Center Committee: Janet L. Apgar (Chair); Mabel “Skip” Hansen (general public); Rose McConnell (general public); Robert Hitchcock (Council member); Angela Magee (Senior Citizens Club representative); Vacancy (Parks & Recreation Commission representative); Dori N. Ellis (Girl Scouts representative)

Community Center Staff: Joan Long (Coordinator); Ed Apgar (Custodian).

Meetings: 6:45 p.m. at Vermeule Community Center, Jan. 28, Mar. 18, May 19, Sept. 15, Nov. 17.

Purpose: Resolution No. 04-22-96-04: “The Committee will work with Coordinator Joan Long to establish policies and procedures and will evaluate and approve/disapprove each application for use. It will establish its own meeting schedule and meeting will include Joan Long, Ed Apgar and a representative of the Public Works Department (James Rodino).

Sewer Usage Board of Appeals: Borough Administrator David Hollod; Councilwoman Jenny Flynn; Tom Fagan.

Meetings: As needed.

Purpose: NPRGO 13-4.5

Shade Tree Advisory Board: Thalia Saloukas (Chair); Richard Benson; Frank N. D’Amore, Sr.; William E. Rathjen III; Bart Thomas; Robert Hitchcock (Council liaison).

Meetings: Second Monday of ever month, 5 p.m., Vermeule Community Center.

Purpose: NPRGO 2-28.2

Special Events Advisory Committee: Janeann M. Dickerson; Mabel “Skip” Hansen; Everett Merrill; James P. Freeman; Marie Kushnir; Fred Tupkielewicz; Alissa Giordano; Joseph Irovando; Frank “Skip” Stabile; Michael Giordano (Council liaison); Tina Totten (Mayor’s liaison).

Meetings: As needed.

Purpose: NPRGO 2-29.2

Youth Services Commission: Mayor Janice Allen; Superintendent of Schools Marilyn Birnbaum; Police Chief William Parenti; Juvenile Officer Michael Innella; Councilman Douglas Singleterry; Thomas Allen and Edwin Estevez Jr. (School Board representatives appointed by School Board); Alejandro Kuga (Chair); Brenda Allen; Ruth DeBang; Eric Fowler; Michelle Ixim; Naomi Tate; Melissa Vonderheide; Mario Vargas; Joan L. Graham (school community representative, appointed by Mayor); Vacancy (school community representative, appointed by Mayor).

Meetings: Fourth Tuesday of every month, except July, and third Tuesday in December, at 7 p.m., in the Crime Prevention Office, 93 Greenbrook Road.

Purpose: NPRGO 2-6.13 

Draft 2008 Municipal Budget

2008 Proposed Budget – Part 1

2008 Proposed Budget – Part 2

It’ll be interesting to see if the Borough Council decides that a full police force (currently down by three officers), along with training, equipment and supplies for the police officers and firefighters, are higher priorities for Borough taxpayers than a $200,000 line item for Eric Bernstein’s services as Borough Attorney.

For Attorney figures, see p. 11.

For Police Department figures, including budget cuts, see p. 17 – 20

For Fire Department figures, including budget cuts, see p. 21 - 26

I’m well aware of the austerity budgets being adopted all over the country, and especially here in New Jersey.  

And I’m one of the millions of Americans convinced that money being spent on the war in Iraq would be better spent on infrastructure investments in America, including retrofitting American towns like North Plainfield for the upcoming green economy, and training the American workforce to do those green jobs.

So the Borough Attorney line item – up $75,000 since 2005 - sticks in my craw, especially in light of Chief Parenti’s patient explication to the Council Monday night about the impacts budget cuts are having on public safety and even grant eligibility in North Plainfield.

According to Parenti, $35,000 would be enough to put another young cop on the local force, which would also reduce overtime expenditures. And so long as the Borough is down three officers from the recommended number, our eligibility for up to $90,000 in annual “Safe & Secure” state grant money is at risk.

Bernstein is not a very good attorney.

He’s the guy who negotiated with Town & Country Developers on writing the Age-Restricted Condo ordinance. He’s the guy who advised Mayor Allen that four equals five, which led her to sign an illegal ordinance, which led to the entire Campbell lawsuit. He’s the guy who recommended appealing that decision, and he’s the guy who recommended thwarting the will of the petitioners who wanted a crack at citizen adoption of a new local ordinance to protect local health, safety and welfare from predatory corporate land development at Villa Maria and other Borough parcels. (I’m sure readers can think of other examples like these.)

Bernstein is, however, an extremely savvy businessman, because it many cases, it pays better to be a bad lawyer than a good lawyer, particularly when your clients judge you on loyalty rather than on competence. I haven’t yet got the OPRA information about how much Borough taxpayers have paid Bernstein to fight against our interests on Villa Maria, but I’m pretty sure it will run to tens of thousands of dollars.

Would his only local client – Mayor Allen – make different executive decisions if she didn’t have a $200,000 taxpayer-funded Bernstein line-of-credit to try to make her authority-overreaches stick in court?

Would Bernstein give such bad legal advice if he and his firm didn’t have access to regular payouts from that Bernstein line-of-credit?

Clearly, Bernstein has no incentives to make recommendations in the best interests of the Borough’s residents as a community.

His incentives are to generate costly litigation business for his firm, and keep his contract to provide those professional services, and I don’t fault him for taking full advantage of the profitable opportunities that regularly present themselves.

But so long as that line of credit is sitting there, Mayor Allen and future mayors have no incentives to seek better advice from better attorneys, or to act responsibly to identify and enact community priorities that may well run counter to their personal inclinations as politicians.

There are legal strategies in the best interests of the Borough as a community. One such strategy would be adopting and enforcing the Self-Government Ordinance, but that’s not the only one.

Then there are legal strategies that benefit only a handful of residents: politically risky, but still technically legal.

And then there are legal strategies designed to take advantage of gray areas in the law – strategies akin to “throw the spaghetti noodle at the ceiling and see if it sticks.”  

Those are the strategies that have been guiding official action and inaction in North Plainfield in recent years.

What if Mayor Allen had to rely on her own self-representation skills and the generous voluntary contributions of residents to pursue her community-damaging strategies in court? She probably wouldn’t get very far.

On the other hand, if she and the Council really stood up for the residents and fought back against the forces that want to ruin the town, they might find a trickle of community support turning into a steady stream.

Reader comments on the proposed budget are strongly encouraged. There are a bunch of alarming salary and wage increases scattered around ($10,000 for Borough Clerk’s department, $37,000 for Financial Administration department, $8,000 in Construction, $25,000 in Streets and Roads, $7,000 in Health…) and, I’m sure, other interesting things awaiting careful reader analysis.