HITS: HEARD IN THE STREET...
EX-POL PMUA SIGHTING CONFIRMED
It's true. Former Councilor Bob Ferraro IS working for the PMUA. PT is told he is a half-time employee and is assigned to the Second Ward as a 'compliance officer.' For Ferraro, the job brings medical benefits and further contributions to his state pension plan. PT finds it ironic that the man who cost the City over a quarter of a million dollars in a failed legal challenge to the PMUA's establishment now works for the very agency he tried to strangle in its crib. Plainfield -- what a forgiving town!
Speaking of compliance, PT is given to understand that new resident ex-governor Jim McGreevey was given a 'welcome to Plainfield' gift: a citation for incorrect PMUA putouts. Hmmmmmmmmm. Are there dots to connect here?...
CRIME & JUSTICE
This past week, a Realtor® emailed that Plainfield customer looking to trade up volunteered they were no longer taking their children to the Plainfield Library since the daytime shooting on the Library's steps. PT also learned of the reaction of a new homeowner, a professional with a national agency, who was flabbergasted to learn neither the Mayor nor the administration has made moves to reassure the public about crime. Another correspondent -- in the Van Wyck Brooks Historic District -- reported on a police chase which ended in their back yard late one night, with a suspect cuffed and taken away. Told there was possibly a weapon dropped in the yard, the resident never heard back from the police either that it was or was not the case, and is worried about even going in the rear yard. What's going on with that?!
EMERGENCY COOLING SITES?
Wednesday's Ledger had a brief item listing cooling sites throughout Union County designated by the UC Dept. of Human Services. When I stopped by the YMCA -- Plainfield's ONLY designated site -- to check it out, the YM was comfortably cool indeed. But neither the staff nor the city's Emergency Management coordinator -- who happened to be there at the time on other business -- were aware of the County's designation until PT informed them. So the County bothered to tell the world. Did it tell ANY of the agencies?...
SOUTH AVENUE CONDO PROPOSAL
An attendee reports that at Wednesday's regularly scheduled Zoning Board meeting, it came out that someone who reports to Jenny Wenson-Maier, director of Public Works and Urban Development, contacted at least four Board members** about setting up a meeting with the South Avenue condo developer on August 9th. After some discussion and a review of the Open Public Meetings Act as well as advice from Board attorney Richard Olive, it was decided NOT to attend. Chairperson Sally Hughes volunteered that she would communicate the decision to Jenny Wenson-Maier by email.
Question for you: If the general public is not supposed to lobby individual Board members about cases before them, how is it that an applicant can ask for a private meeting on a matter that is already under review by the Board?
As for the Board, PT says give it an A+ for gumption.
**Those who acknowledged receiving phone calls are: Chairperson Sally Hughes, and members Bill McNeill, Frank Johnson and Mel Cody.
FROM THE MAILBAG -- Two interesting communications from readers:
- Yesterday was August 3, and when taxpayer TT called the Tax Collector's office to try and pay the August 1 taxes, he was told the tax bills are not ready yet. TT's comment: "This happens almost every year. WASTED MONEY!"
- Woodland Avenue resident BE reported that a crew recently painted over the double yellow [NO PASSING] lines eastbound on Woodland Avenue in front of the Woodland School, replacing them with dashed [PASSING ALLOWED] lines. Passing allowed in front of a grade school?! If you drive Woodland Avenue at all, would you please drop a line and let PT know what's up? Many thanks.
DISCLAIMER: In the interest of fairness, any person identified in a HITS post who believes he/she has been portrayed unfairly or that the information about him/her is untrue will have the opportunity to respond in this space.
-- Dan Damon
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