Citing increasing time constraints between his duties as an elected official and his own private enterprise, Township Committeeman Bill Hearon announced Tuesday that he would resign his post, effective no later than March 31.
In the letter of resignation Mr. Hearon submitted to the members of Committee and to the Township Clerk's and Administrator's offices, he indicated that NxGen, the company he runs with his wife, had grown "substantially" in the four years since it was launched, and that continued growth was likely to take away from his responsibilities on Committee.
NxGen is a payment services outfit that works with businesses and merchants to help reduce costs with credit card processing and acceptance of checks and gift cards.
"My business requires my full attention right now," Mr. Hearon said Tuesday, adding that his business was in a period of "major growth.
"I'm just not able to split up my time to be able to work both areas," he said.
Mr. Hearon said that he will carry out his duties on Committee until a replacement can be appointed to fill his seat. As Mr. Hearon is a Democrat, it is the Princeton Township Democratic Committee's (PTDC) responsibility to submit three names for consideration by the four remaining members of the Township's governing body. While the PTDC by law has up to 15 days after Mr. Hearon's effective resignation date, March 31, to submit those names to Committee, it is likely that candidates will be up for consideration before that time.
Dan Preston, PTDC municipal chair, said he was looking for a "fully open participatory process" to turn up candidates interested in filling "Bill's shoes, which are pretty big shoes to fill."
Mr. Hearon's replacement will serve out his current term, set to expire December 31 of this year.
Mr. Preston encouraged Township residents interested in the seat to call him at (609) 252-0011.
Township Committee has up to 15 days after the effective resignation to choose from the three candidates provided by PTDC. If Committee does not decide within that time, the decision is bounced back to the PTDC, which then has 15 days to make the appointment.
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Elected in November 2003, Mr. Hearon quickly emerged as an advocate for transportation issues, as well as exhibiting a certain diplomatic skill during talks with members of the Princeton Borough Council.
But it was a recent transportational initiative that brought the Committeeman's name to the forefront on local and regional transportation issues. Mr. Hearon, along with a group of residents under the umbrella of "Citizens for a Safer Route 206," was successful in moderating the talks that ultimately led to a $100,000 state grant to facilitate a study of the Route 206 corridor from Cherry Valley Road to Nassau Street. Those studies, whose aim is to calm traffic along truck-heavy 206, have been viewed favorably by various municipal boards and commissions, as well as by concerned residents.
"It's been an honor to work with so many people who care about Princeton," Mr. Hearon said, while adding that because of the success of his business, the resignation comes with "mixed emotions.
"I'm very appreciative of what I've been able to contribute," he said.
Mr. Hearon emphasized fiscal responsibility as an attribute he would like to see in his successor.