Some Council Members are Still Riding with Training Wheels

This Trenton City Council is slowly coming in to their own, in fits and starts.

At last night’s meeting, At-Large Member Phyllis Holly-Ward introduced a resolution, passed by five of the six members attending, to have Council formally review the status of the many “Acting” Directors serving the Administration of Tony Mack. As a result of last night’s vote, a hearing is set for June 7 to review those “Acting” Appointments.I have two things to say about last night’s actions: “Well Done!” (with special thanks to Ms. Holly-Ward for introducing that resolution!) and “It’s About Time!”

This space has long been complaining about both the continuing tendency of this Administration to rely on “Acting” Directors serving in their positions loooooong past the limit of 90 days as provided by our city Ordinance, and the chronic inability of City Council to assert their proper role in the appointment process.

By law – Article II, Section 2-4, C . (6) – , “Acting” appointments “shall terminate no later than 90 days after the date of the appointment unless the Council shall, by resolution, authorize one or more extensions of such period.”

This Council has, to my recollection, never in its current term exercised its power to review and extend these appointments, allowing incompetent “Acting” appointments such as Harold Hall to continue warming his chair at Public Works without the advice and consent of Council. As of today, this Administration is 687 days into its term. I say again, It’s About Time this was done.

Some members of Council seem to think that this loooooong overdue action is a little hasty. At-Large Member Alex Bethea said last night, “I think we should have a discussion before we just act spontaneously because of emotion.” To this observer, it appears that whereas his colleagues on Council are finally learning how to ride this thing, Mr. Bethea still has his training wheels on. He might want to consider wearing a helmet at all times, too. I’m just sayin’!

There is still a lot of discussion about the ability of the Mayor to be able to just turn around and reappoint the same person to the acting position should Council refuse to extend the appointment. East Ward Member Verlina Reynolds-Jackson wants to think about the matter “strategically” before proceeding. At-Large Member Kathy McBride wants the Legal Department to weigh in on the Mayor’s powers. West Ward rep Zachary Chester stated of this question, “This is just a dance” between Council and the Mayor.

Uh, Council Members? May I make a suggestion here? If you believe that our City Ordinance on the matter of temporary appointments is a little vague, a little unclear, why don’t you change it? You are the City Council. You can do that.  That should clear up any ambiguity, and definitively state what the prerogatives of both the Mayor and Council should be.

I urge Council to include revision of the Ordinance as part of this discussion and its review.

For the last two years, Mayor Mack has taken advantage of the vagueness of the existing law, and used it to his benefit, not ours. As a result, we have been burdened with the likes of Anthony Roberts and Harold Hall far longer than we should have been.

Change the Law.