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Sunday, July 13, 2008

Quick! Where does our leadership team live?


By my fridge calendar, this past Friday would have been the expiration date of Plainfield Public Safety Director Martin Hellwig's acting appointment (if it followed the ordinance put in place by the Council a few years ago).

I wasn't going to write about it, but then the news came through that a three-judge appeals panel gave Trenton's police director, Joe Santiago, 75 days to pack his desk and vacate his job -- because he doesn't live in Trenton as is required.

Hmmm...

Come to think of it, none of Mayor Robinson-Briggs' leadership team lives in Plainfield, and we have the same sort of requirement as Trenton -- a waiver would have to be granted by the Council.

What's up with that?

Martin Hellwig told me at one point that he was moving into an apartment on Watchung Avenue, but that seems not to have ever materialized.

Jennifer Wenson-Maier lives in Rahway, where she is on the City Council, but was a waiver ever granted?

Marc Dashield, the City Administrator, has not moved to Plainfield and commutes back and forth to work in a city-issued vehicle.

The newest team member, Douglas Peck, Director of Administration and Finance, has yet to move to Plainfield from Ohio since his April appointment, though he was given a relocation allowance. (Should I mention that some city employees are fuming that he is in line for a cost-of-living increase though he is said not to have worked a full five-day week in Plainfield yet?)

City Hall has buzzed with rumors for weeks that Mr. Peck's situation may be tenuous as it is said he cannot be bonded. Perhaps that's what's behind the discussion of reviving the 'Deputy City Administrator' position?

As the Robinson-Briggs administration moves toward its final year, one has to wonder whether any of the leadership will become Plainfielders.

If not, shouldn't we do the waiver thing?

Unless it's just a quibble.



-- Dan Damon

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds illegal to me.

Something to talk to Mr. Christie about.

Anonymous said...

I say let's make them pack their desks and leave....

Anonymous said...

Does Chris Christie need to get a call?