Plainfield has not had a certified CFO for over 2 years and has suffered major vacancies in the position of Director of Administration & Finance for the last 5 years. Without a strong financial leadership team in place, the business of the City cannot be handled properly. This is an issue that should outrage all residents!By not having these key positions filled, the City has suffered from lack of direction and oversight and poor financial planning and management. These shortcomings have manifested themselves in major ways including a late budget introduction, repeatedly unaddressed audit findings and questionable financial decision-making.
The Council is ultimately responsible for the finances of the City. We have a fiduciary responsibility to the public and cannot be afraid to insist that more be done to address any issue, especially one so critical to the basic functioning of government.
At last night’s meeting the Council had an opportunity to begin correcting this situation with the approval of Resolution 190-10. That resolution, however, failed to pass. Councilors Mapp, Storch and I voted in favor of the resolution. Councilors Burney and Reid did not. Councilors Rivers and Carter were not present at the time of the vote.
The resolution gives a brief synopsis of the current financial management situation that Plainfield is facing and why the need for a qualified CFO is so vital to the functioning of the City. Ultimately it calls on the State to appoint a temporary CFO and assist the Administration in finding a qualified permanent CFO. The language of the resolution is included at the end of this post.
The Administration made it clear that they completely oppose this resolution, arguing that the Mayor alone has the ability to appoint a CFO and that the Council would overstep its boundaries in passing such a resolution. I do not believe that this is the case as the resolution is clearly asking the STATE to make an appointment. Surely the Governor has more authority than the Mayor.
The Administration also attempted to make the case that the resolution was offensive by making it seem that the Mayor has done nothing to appoint a CFO. As I said on Monday night, this resolution is not intended to offend anyone, nor is it the intent of any Councilperson to disparage the Mayor’s efforts. This is not about the Mayor. This is about the residents of Plainfield and what is right for them.
Over the course of the week it became clear that certain members of the Council also did not agree with the resolution, believing that at the very least we should wait until after the 90 day extension from the state (the third granted) expires on July 19th. The problem here is that the Division of Local Government Services has continually granted extensions. What will cause DLS to take pause and do something different? The passing of this resolution could have done just that.
Although the resolution did not pass, I am including it on the July agenda. By then, perhaps all members of the Council will see wisdom in pressing forward and putting Plainfield First.
Councilmanic Resolution Requesting the Division of Local Government Services, in the Department of Community Affairs, to appoint a Temporary CMFO for the City of Plainfield
WHEREAS Plainfield has not had a permanent Certified Municipal Financial Officer (CMFO) since the retirement of Peter Sepelya in 2008; and
WHEREAS the lack of a permanent, Certified Municipal Financial Officer is compounded by the lack of a Director of Administration and Finance, a position that has been vacant since Bibi Taylor elevated to the position of City Administrator on Jan 1, 2010; and
WHEREAS the Plainfield City Council has not received regular monthly financial reports during the time of these vacancies thus impairing its ability to carry out its financial fiduciary responsibilities; and
WHEREAS Plainfield had many financial audit findings in the most recent annual audit, many of which were repeat findings; and
WHEREAS the FY2010 introduced budget was presented to City Council on November 23,2009, almost 5 1/2 months into the fiscal year, making it extremely difficult for the governing body to reduce a 10% introduced property tax increase; and
WHEREAS the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs has extended the deadline for Plainfield to fill the CMFO position for the third time to July 19, 2010; and
WHEREAS the Plainfield City Council has continually urged the Mayor to appoint a qualified candidate with no success to date,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Plainfield City Council hereby requests the Department of Community Affairs to appoint a temporary CMFO immediately, and provide assistance to Plainfield in recruiting a qualified, permanent CMFO.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that duly authenticated copies of this resolution be forwarded to Governor Chris Christie, Commissioner of Community Affairs, Acting Director of the Division of Local Government Services, Marc Pfifer, Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs and Assemblyman Gerald Green.
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9 comments:
Please keep up the good work and the citizens will insist that the resolution be passed. Our mayor has been and is currently irresponsible with the city's money. I think a state audit of Plainfield's finances is needed. I hope that happens soon.
Thank you again for your service.
Bob Bolmer
Thanks Annie for this post. It is clear that the council's efforts, at least of those ones who are trying, need our support, I say we, residents and taxpayers, start calling the governor's office, let's forget the formalities, let's forget the "hurt egos" if we do, and let's just show some true advocacy for Plainfield here. Who else do we have to call? Please let us know.
Thanks again.
Annie,
I find the most troubling aspect of your post to be the part where you write: "...the City has suffered from lack of direction and oversight and poor financial planning and management. These shortcomings have manifested themselves in major ways including a late budget introduction, repeatedly unaddressed audit findings and questionable financial decision-making."
While I was out canvassing all spring, the budget was one of the top concerns of the voters and other residents I spoke to. Many asked, "where is the money going?"; "who's minding the store?"; and most importantly, "how will I know if I can keep my home if taxes increase like they did this year?" There is a degree of fear in their questions that should give elected officials serious pause. The blithe attitude of the administration in the face of a troubled citizenry is unconscionable.
Here is what the council can do on its own: I would suggest that the council (or even an individual councilor, such as you, or Councilman Storch, or Councilman Mapp, who held some town meetings last summer) hold a town meeting on the subject of the city's finances BEFORE the July 19th deadline to hear the concerns of these voters. Just let folks come to the microphone and express their concerns on this one topic.
The council can also invite a representative from the Division of Local Government Services to come and hear these concerns. Maybe then they will take decisive action and appoint someone.
All best,
Rebecca
Annie,
Please continue to take a leadership position where this and many other issues are concerned. We desperately need financial oversight and responsibility in this city and the council is where it should start, at least until a qualified person can be found. Please continue to lobby your peers on the council as this silliness needs to end now so that this city can progress. Those voting against this resolution or choosing to not be present should be ashamed of themselves.
There have been several town meetings - one in each ward this year alone. Councilman Mapp has had town meetings, also. The subject of taxes always comes up, so in that respect, there is nothing new in having town meetings.
What I do like about Rebecca Williams suggestion, and where I think the real difference will occur is inviting a representative from the Division of Local Government Services to come and hear Plainfield's concerns.
Continuing the same actions of talking among ourselves will not make a difference, but bringing in the State as suggested will alert the State Government of what is going on in this City.
Keeping issues in Plainfield has proved to do nothing in getting issues resolved.
Go out of your way to make the state aware of every little minor detail in Plainfield! Let the state shove the microscope so deep into Plainfield that it has Mayor Jerry and Assistant Mayor Sharon and their political lemurs starting to sweat. I congratulate you on being a strong voice about what is right and wrong, not politics which is what the people who voted against the measure ( or oooops forgot to show up )are obviously wrapped up in. ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE the council should start publicly shaming the Mayor with her missteps, misdeeds, gaffes, goofs and follies simply to have a consistent pattern for everyone to see. That's not politics either. It's about someone who cannot or is unwilling to do the job. And from Rebecca's post, she was obviously a wise choice for Plainfield's future as opposed to someone concerned about their own. Keep fighting the fight !!!
Since I'm not aware of the process the Mayor is using to find a qualified and permanent CFO, I have the following question?
Is the Mayor using an Executive Search firm to assist in identifying qualified CFO candidates? If not, this may be something to consider. The search firm would do all the leg work, the initial marketing for candidates, vetting and interviewing. Suitable candidates would be forwarded to the Mayor as the next step in the selection process.
I would also hope that the Mayor includes Councilman Mapp in the interviewing process. As a certified CFO and Council member, his perspective would be invaluable and also ensure City Council's participation in the process.
If all the above is already occurring, please disregard this comment.
I will write the mayor and governor about this situation. There can be no doubt that wasteful spending is going on in city hall.
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