January 16, 2013

In the wake of the tragic shootings at a school in Newtown, Connecticut last month, gun control issues have made their way to the Princeton University campus. A petition by faculty members urging the University to divest its holdings in firms with ties to the production of firearms is set to be reviewed by the school’s Resources Committee next month. And the union that represents some of the Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) officers has renewed a call that would allow them to carry guns.

As reported this week in The Daily Princetonian, the 17 sworn officers in the department do not carry firearms, but carry batons, pepper spray and handcuffs, and wear bulletproof vests. When an armed response is needed, the Princeton Police are called. While the University is considered to be a safe campus, there is still risk involved, DPS officer Michael Michalski, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Princeton Lodge No. 75, is quoted as saying. Mr. Michalski could not be reached Tuesday for further comment.

University spokesperson Martin  Mbugua said Tuesday that arming public safety officers with guns is not a step the school feels is needed. “The critical question is whether the Department of Public Safety has the necessary resources to deliver safety, timely and professionally, to the community. We believe the answer is yes,” he said. “We continuously monitor our circumstances. We have studied carefully the issue of arming on campus, and we have looked at what other institutions do. We have had conversations with law enforcement agencies. We have done a comprehensive review and we are satisfied with the plans we have in place with local law enforcement.”

In order for University public safety officers to carry guns, they would need to pass a qualification twice a year, the Daily Princetonian says, as well as regular training with firearms. This is standard practice for regular police, but public safety officers do not normally receive this training.

In 2010, the Princeton University student government formally recommended that public safety officers not carry guns after a survey showed that 56 percent of students opposed arming the police. The police union first petitioned the University administration in 2008 to reevaluate its policy of prohibiting officers from carrying firearms.

Since consolidation took effect January 1, the former Princeton Borough police have left their headquarters just off Nassau Street and joined their colleagues from what was formerly the Township at the municipal complex on Witherspoon Street. Some FOP members have expressed concern that the relocation puts officers further from campus, which could lengthen response time. But Mr. Mbugua said, “Consolidation makes it more efficient. You are contacting one department instead of two, depending on the location of the event. We look forward to a very good partnership with the local law enforcement.”

December 26, 2012

This year Princeton weathered a major hurricane, opened a spanking new community park and pool, elected a mayor for the new municipality, coped with Route 1 left turn prohibitions, and prepared for consolidation, which officially takes effect on January 1. The University’s proposed Arts and Transit will become a reality, while the future of an AvalonBay development at the hospital’s former site on Witherspoon Street remains uncertain. University President Shirley Tilghman announced her retirement, effective this June, and the Township said good-bye to two retiring officials, Administrator Jim Pascale, and Police Chief Bob Buchanan.

Consolidation

Once voters approved the consolidation of Princeton Borough and Township last year, a Transition Task Force was put in place to guide the merger of two municipalities into one. This highly detailed project involved numerous subcommittees and the participation of citizen volunteers. The committees met with nearly every department in the Borough and Township to determine the most painless way to streamline operations before the new form of government is officially unveiled on January 1.

Both governing bodies named appointees to the Task Force. Led by Chairman Mark Freda, the group of 12 made recommendations on everything from office furniture to pension plans; from shade trees to trash collection. Some of the ideas they advised the governing bodies to approve must ultimately be confirmed by the new Princeton Council to be sworn in January 1. The Task Force held a public forum early this month to help inform citizens of what to expect once the new form of government goes into effect.

Hurricane Sandy

With extensive property damage and long-lasting power outages, it took a while for Princeton residents to dig out from Hurricane Sandy, a “super storm” that hit the East Coast in late October.

In an initiative that boded well for consolidation, Borough and Township police and other personnel joined forces to respond as a single entity to emergencies, issue alerts, and begin the daunting task of picking up the trees and limbs that lined — and often blocked — local streets. In his attempt to take care of a tree on his property, William Sword became the area’s only storm-related fatality.

Princeton Public Library and Princeton United Methodist Church were among the havens of light, warmth, and electricity during the first days after the storm. Opening doors to the front of the library, lobby, and community room at 7 a.m. on Thursday, November 1, the library had a record 8,028 visitors between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Princeton public school children will be attending three additional days of school in 2013 — February 15, April 1, and June 20 — to make up for days lost during the storm. Princeton University had about 50 trees come down on campus as a result of the super storm and Director of Communication Martin Mbugua noted that there were “dozens” of reports of “blocked roads, damaged vehicles, fences, and other property.” In its end-of-year commendations, Princeton Township cited the University for helping with emergency response teams, and, on election day, for making Jadwin Gym available as a polling place.

In the days following the storm, schools, businesses, churches, synagogues, and other organizations held drives that collected much-needed supplies for devastated coastal communities.

The Hospital Move

Amid much fanfare, the University Medical Center of Princeton relocated in May from its longtime headquarters on Witherspoon Street in Princeton Borough to a glittering new facility on Route 1 in Plainsboro. While only a few miles from the old location, the new, $522.7 million hospital is a world away in terms of technology and design. The 636,000-square-foot hospital is the centerpiece of a 171-acre site that includes a nursing home, day care center, a park, and additional facilities. Each of the 231-single-patient rooms have large windows and high-tech capabilities.

Nine years in the making, the new facility is closer to a large percentage of the people the hospital traditionally serves, executive director Barry Rabner said during the opening week. A special open house was held for the community in the days before the official move took place.

Jughandle Closings

Looking for ways to ease traffic congestion on Route 1, the New Jersey Department of Transportation announced in March a decision to implement a 12-week experiment that eliminated left turns for Route 1 northbound motorists at Washington Road and Harrison Street. Protestations from the public and local officials regarding timing — the trial would coincide with the opening of the new hospital near Harrison Street — led the DOT to postpone the program until August. While the trial eased some traffic flow on Route 1, motorists were getting stuck on ancillary roads, and parents in the area were fearful for their children’s safety as cars used their driveways to make U-turns in order to correct routes affected by the jughandle closings. When demonstrations were organized by West Windsor residents on Washington Road, NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson closed down the pilot program two weeks short of its projected finish date.

Arts and Transit

Thanks to a December 18 vote in favor of its $300 million Arts and Transit proposal by the Planning Board, Princeton University can now begin to put its ambitious plan for an arts complex into action. The approval came after many contentious meetings of the governing bodies, nearly all focused on the fact that the terminus of the Dinky, which connects Princeton Borough and Princeton Junction station, will be moved 460 feet south as part of the plan.

Few had problems with the design for the Lewis Center for the Arts, which will include new teaching, rehearsal, performance, and administrative spaces designed by architect Steven Holl in a cluster of village-like buildings. Landscaped open spaces and walking paths that are part of the plan have drawn almost unanimous approval from officials and the public. This year, the University hired architect Rick Joy to design the renovation of the two Dinky station buildings, which will be turned into a restaurant and cafe.

Borough Council passed a resolution in July opposing the plan to move the station stop. And Save the Dinky, a group of citizens opposed to the idea of moving the Dinky, has filed lawsuits related to the contract of sale from 1984, when the University bought the Dinky shuttle line, and to its historical significance. See the story in this issue for details.

AvalonBay

Not satisfied with the plan for a rental complex proposed by the developer AvalonBay Communities, area residents, including those in the neighborhood surrounding the former site of the University Medical Center at Princeton, waged a relentless campaign to convince the governing bodies that it was not right for the town. Their hard work was rewarded on December 19 when the Regional Planning Board voted to deny the application. It remains to be seen what the developer’s next step will be. See the story in this issue for details.

Election

Like the rest of the country, the majority of Princeton voters supported the reelection of President Obama. Democratic Congressman Rush Holt (D-12) won an easy victory over his Republican challenger, Eric A. Beck.

Locally, Princeton voters elected Democrat Liz Lempert over Republican challenger Dick Woodbridge as the new mayor of consolidated Princeton. The six Democrats running for the new Council, Bernie Miller, Patrick Simon, Heather Howard, Jo Butler. Lance Liverman, and Jenny Crumiller were all elected. The sole Republican challenger was Geoff Aton.

Princeton voters also endorsed an open space tax of 1.7 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

Historic District

A six-year dispute over whether to designate 51 properties in the town’s architecturally diverse western section remains undecided. Residents of the homes in an area bounded by portions of Library Place, Bayard Lane, and Hodge Road are divided over the question, and more than one meeting of Borough Council this year became confrontational as the residents aired their views. The Council was scheduled to vote on the issue on December 11, but an injunction filed by those opposed to the designation prevented them from doing so.

Those in favor say the designation will protect the neighborhood from tear-downs and the construction of new homes that don’t fit in with the existing architecture. Those opposed fear the restrictions that historic designation could impose on improvements and repairs to the exteriors of their homes. The question will be carried over to the newly consolidated Council.

Community Park Pool

After months of discussions about what should and should not be included, the new Community Park Pool opened on Memorial Day weekend and won kudos all summer long as record numbers of area residents signed on as members or came on a daily basis.

Improvements to the pool park included a 20 percent expansion of the diving well to accommodate more diving boards and a water slide, a fish-shaped kiddie pool, and a “family pool” adjacent to the lap pool.

Schools

As a result of consolidation, Princeton lost its “regional school district” identity and renamed itself “Princeton Public Schools.” Offered the chance to move the date for school elections to the general election in November, the School Board opted to keep it in April for this year; in December they opted to move the next election to April.

In this year’s April election, voters approved the 2012-13 Princeton Regional school budget that includes a tax levy of $63.4 million, elected new board members Martha Land and Patrick Sullivan, and reelected Rebecca Cox. Superintendent Judy Wilson acknowledged that “voter turnout was not as high as it usually is,” in the April election, but chalked it up to the fact that there was one uncontested race (Mr. Sullivan, in the Township), and a “non-controversial budget.”

In the November election, voters approved an additional infusion of $10.9 million for improvements to all of the schools’ infrastructures.

In the fall, St. Paul’s School learned that it had been awarded a 2012 “Blue Ribbon of Excellence” award, the highest prize the Department of Education can confer.

Libraries

While the Princeton Public Library’s legal status will change with consolidation, the Board of Trustees chose not to proceed with a proposal that would have merged the Friends of the Library with the Princeton Public Library Foundation. In response to board President Katharine McGavern’s suggestion that “a single organization would make more sense from an accounting point of view,” the rest of the board voted to support what former President Claire Jacobus described as “the human capital that exists in the Friends.” This year’s annual Book Sale and Children’s Book Festival were, as usual, shining events for the library.

At Firestone Library on the Princeton University campus, renovations began on a project that is expected to be completed in 2018. The estimated cost is “in the nine figures,” and is being underwritten by the University, “just as they would a new laboratory for scientists,” said University Librarian Karin Trainer.

IAS/Battlefield

It took several contentious public hearings for the Regional Planning Board to come to a decision allowing the Institute for Advanced Study to go forward with a plan for a faculty housing development this past March. In July, the Princeton Battlefield Society filed an appeal in Mercer County Superior Court challenging the approval. Along with some historians, they believe the site is involved in the historic counterattack at the Battle of Princeton during the Revolutionary War, and therefore should not be disturbed.

Despite the legal action, and the June announcement that The National Trust for Historic Preservation had named the Princeton Battlefield to its 2012 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, the IAS plan for eight townhouses and seven single-family homes on a seven-acre section of the campus is going forward. The development of 15 homes is expected to include a 200-foot buffer zone next to Battlefield Park that will be permanently preserved as open space.


September 12, 2012

The question of whether or not to hire a construction manager “for a sum not to exceed $129,504” to oversee remaining consolidation operations, and whether or not to approve a professional services agreement with a cap of $107,290 to pay KSS Architects for “Phase II-Task 2” work on consolidation, generated heated discussion at Monday night’s Township Committee meeting.

The professional services agreement was ultimately approved, while the question of hiring a construction manager was tabled until the next joint meeting.

“I’m begging you,” Borough Administrator Bob Bruschi finally said to Township Committee after defending the need for the approval of both motions С particularly the KSS payment. Mr. Bruschi will be the administrator of new single municipality created by consolidation.

Township Mayor Chad Goerner, who was firmly on the side of not hiring a construction manager and had doubts about the KSS contract, pointed out that the two expenditures had not been discussed earlier. He counseled “caution” in moving ahead.

Citing a “tight time frame,” Mr. Bruschi responded that the recommendation had come from the Transition Task Force’s Facilities Subcommittee in the hope that the Borough and the Township would “run with it.”

Acknowledging that a conversation at an earlier meeting seemed to point toward not hiring a construction manager, Mr. Bruschi noted that the extent of the work that remains to be done was not known at that point. “It’s not something that we have the capability of doing in-house,” he observed. Township Engineer Bob Kiser concurred, saying that a construction manager with the right contacts is needed “if we’re going to fast track this project.”

Mr. Goerner said that he was “not convinced that we need to fast track” consolidation. He described the costs in question as “high,” and suggested that the work might not be complete by January 1, 2013, anyway. Mr. Bruschi agreed that consolidation would not be completed by that date, but suggested that that didn’t preclude “doing the project correctly” and expediting it as much as possible in order to minimize disruption. He pointed out that “$120,000” was not that significant in the context of an operation that will cost an estimated $60 million, and that “savings will only come if we have the right design.”

“I’ve never met a delay that saved us money,” observed Councilwoman Sue Nemeth, expressing concern about services like police, administration, and Corner House, that might be impacted “if we did delay.”

“We need to be cognizant” of what transition-related expenditures are costing, responded Mr. Goerner. He suggested keeping “an eye on individual expenditures” that may be occurring without the approval of the two governing bodies, and proposed that the decision be tabled until the next joint meeting. Deputy Mayor Liz Lempert suggested that in the future, potential expenditures should be presented first to the Finance Committee.

Facilities subcommittee chair Bernie Miller, who said that he has also continued to work informally with staff preparing for consolidation, emphasized that the two motions in question related to “two very distinct tasks.”

He pointed out that KSS is being asked to develop detailed drawings and specifications, while a construction manager would “coordinate the movement of many people in many departments with minimal disruption,” working, for example, on evenings and weekends. Mr. Miller’s motion to approve the resolution for outside construction management was not seconded.

Acting Township Administrator Kathy Monzo, who will be the CFO of the new municipality said that she “was surprised” at the contract amounts, but recognized that “this isn’t a simple move. Nothing is extravagant in there; they’re really just functional changes.” When Township Engineer Bob Kiser pointed out that the governing bodies do not have cost estimates for the conceptual plans, Ms. Monzo wondered why this couldn’t be done in-house, as it would be done for any other project.

Mr. Goerner cast the only “no” in the final vote to approve the professional services agreement with KSS Architects.

There was unanimity, however, in Township’s approval of a resolution calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United Decision, giving “personhood” to corporations, allowing them to donate to political campaigns as individuals.


August 1, 2012

With the signing of a $38,000 contract with KSS Architects to refurbish the two current municipal buildings, “Phase 2” of the transition process has begun.

At a joint Monday evening meeting that included Borough Council, Township Committee, and Transition Task Force members, subcommittee representatives gave their recommendations for the composition of some of the new departments in the consolidated municipality, reconciling the different employee compensation packages currently received by Borough and Township employees, and other questions that need to be resolved before January 1, 2013. Compliance with local and state guidelines were important considerations, they said.

It was agreed that a “Princeton Board of Health” will replace the current “Princeton Regional Health Department,” allowing for more flexibility in responding to local concerns. Borough Councilman Roger Martindell wondered if it wouldn’t be more efficient to use the governing body as the health department, thus avoiding some of “the legal conflicts” that have occurred between the current health department and the governing bodies. There was overwhelming support, however, for having professional experts in health-related fields as members of a separate entity.

The many conversations and decisions that have occurred in preparation for consolidation will be documented in a final report, said CGR Vice President Joseph Stefko. Intended to be used for both “reference” and “strategic” purposes, the report will chart how decisions were made and “memorialize” all the recommendations that came out of subcommittees. It will also document the Transition Task Force’s role, as well as those of its subcommittees, by “walking through” each of the tasks set out at the beginning of the process, and the various options that could have been chosen. The first release of the report, probably in September, will have “place holders” in those instances where financial decisions are still in flux, said Mr. Stefko. He expected that Finance Committee information would become available in October.

Mr. Stefko noted that the concluding section of the report will “really be forward-looking,” to ensure that “the new governing body is attentive to the issues.”

Most of those present at the meeting voiced their support for “the concept” of a celebration to mark the municipalities’ consolidation, although there were differing views on the best venue and time for it. While the Communications subcommittee recommended a New Year’s Eve, family-style event on Palmer Square from 3 to 4 p.m., there was also support for using Hinds Plaza, with the library’s Community Room as a good back-up. Residents’ enthusiasm for this celebration has, apparently, been considerable; thanks to their donations, no taxpayer dollars will be used to purchase “consolicake” or any of the other refreshments.

A second set of recommendations for the new government will be presented at a joint meeting on August 15.


June 20, 2012

Once Princeton voters approved consolidation last November, Anton Lahnston began thinking about how to document the process of combining two communities into one. The chairman of the Consolidation and Shared Services Study Commission, Mr. Lahnston knew that the joining of Princeton Township and Princeton Borough, through the efforts of the Transition Task Force created for the job, presented a unique opportunity.

“In November and December, people were saying that Princeton is breaking new ground,” he recalled this week. “So I said, here is an opportunity С really more of an obligation С that the community has to tell this story.”

From experience, Mr. Lahnston felt strongly that waiting to tell that story until the process was over was not the way to proceed. So he took measures to get the job done “in real time,” he said. He first approached the State of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for funding. While they applauded his idea, they were not able to provide financing.

So Mr. Lahnston began to look around for alternatives. What he found, eventually, was a group of students from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. The five-member group of interns, headed by Princeton native Logan Clark, has been on the job ever since, attending meetings of the Task Force and keeping records of the complex process. They are volunteering their time and receiving no course credit.

The students are currently scattered across the country during the University’s summer break, working on various internships, and will pick up the story when they return in the fall. For Mr. Clark, who is interning at the State Department in Washington, the process so far has been informative, though the group is still in the information-gathering phase of the project. “We’re really trying to suspend judgement for the immediate future,” he said. “We’re keeping open minds, trying to soak up as much information as we can while it is still fresh in the minds of the people involved.”

Advising the students is Heather Howard, a Borough Council member and a lecturer in Public Affairs and director, State Health Reform Assistance Network, at the Woodrow Wilson School. “For the students, this is an exciting way to see government at work,” Ms. Howard said. “All eyes are on Princeton now. This may be the closest they actually get to government in action, and I think it’s been really interesting for them.”

The students are tracking the key subcommittees of the Transition Task Force. They have met with the DCA as well as with State representatives about how to shape their work. They have also talked with a consultant from CGR (the Center for Governmental Research Inc.). “The State wants to make sure this gets written up in a way that will be helpful to other communities,” Ms. Howard added. “We hope our story helps other communities thinking about taking on consolidation.”

Mr. Clark was appointed chair of the community service and pro bono consulting group of the graduate student government at the Woodrow Wilson School in January. Through family friends in Princeton, he met Borough Council member Barbara Trelstad and Mr. Lahnston, who told him about the need for documenting the consolidation process. Interested, Mr. Clark put together a team. They have been meeting regularly since last April.

The project has provided a rare opportunity to view municipal government at work. “Sitting in on meetings and combing through the various minutes posted on line, it can be a bit perplexing,” Mr. Clark said. “I don’t have a whole lot of experience in local government, but I think I could say that given the magnitude of the endeavor and the degree of difficulty, they are doing a fairly good job. A lot of them are professionals in other fields, volunteering their time. They are proceeding, actually, at a fairly quick rate. In many cases, Princeton is an exemplary town. We’re trying to extract the lessons and best practices that can be gleaned.”

While the group isn’t able to take on every issue involved in the Transition Task Force process, they are documenting the major issues. “It won’t take into account every detail, but it is something that will stand them in good stead in terms of their own learning,” said Mr. Lahnston. “This is complex, there is no question about it. There are a lot of moving parts, a ton of individuals involved, and a lot of egos and political agendas, and you’ve got to work through all of that. It’s a great opportunity for them.”

The students hope to make their documentation something that appeals to a wide audience by weaving in some narrative and story lines as they go along. “Ultimately, we want this to become something people want to read,” said Mr. Clark. “It shouldn’t be just for some esoteric audience. We want other citizens to be able to read this and have something that is engaging in format. We want it to be approachable for people of any professional background.”


May 16, 2012

NEWCOMERS CLUB: Neither Tamera Matteo, Scott Sillars, nor Patrick Simon has served on Princeton’s governing bodies in the past. But the three candidates (from left, above), among those vying for seats on the combined council once consolidation takes effect, say their unique backgrounds and experience in community affairs qualifies them for the posts.

When Princeton Borough and Township residents vote in the June 5 primary, they will be deciding who will run for the newly combined council in the November general election. That election will mark the first time voters will choose candidates for one governing body instead of two.

Among those hoping to secure spots on the slate are three residents who have not served on either Princeton Township Committee or Borough Council in the past. But Scott Sillars, Tamera Matteo, and Patrick Simon, seen regularly in the audience at municipal meetings in recent months, are familiar to many local residents because of their involvement in a variety of community affairs. Each has a specialty that they feel qualifies them to serve the newly consolidated Princeton.

Mr. Simon has been endorsed, along with current Council member Heather Howard and Township Committeemen Bernie Miller and Lance Liverman, by the Princeton Community Democratic Organization and the Democratic Municipal Committees of Princeton Borough and Township. Mr. Sillars and Ms. Matteo were recommended to appear in the left column, without the Democratic Party slogan, by both groups.

Mr. Sillars, who heads the Township’s Citizens Finance Advisory Committee and is vice chairman of the Transition Task Force, has a background in corporate financial management. Now retired, he started a low income weatherization business for Isles in Trenton, and managed shelters for the Red Cross after Hurricane Katrina.

“My experience has allowed me to become intimately involved with finances in the Township and tangentially in the Borough,” he said. “I just see the need for someone with financial management background who has the ability to look at the financial performances of organizations. That is something not in great supply on the Council, and now with consolidation coming up there is a crying need for more of it.”

Mr. Sillars also has an interest in maintaining the “unique character of our community, its diversity, and downtown,” he said. “I really want to see that promoted and advanced. There are things that can be done that are not actively being done to take us ahead. Our Council is very reactive. They have not gotten in front of the master plan. We’re going to run into these situations right and left, particularly with traffic, going forward, and we’ve got to step up and look at it more aggressively. The same thing goes for Princeton University. We tend to use them as a place to cast blame. Sometimes they deserve it, sometimes they don’t. But they do a heck of a lot for the community.”

Tamera Matteo threw her hat into the ring after being urged to run by Township Mayor Chad Goerner and Deputy Mayor Liz Lempert, who is a candidate for mayor, to run. A 15-year resident of Princeton, she owned the retail store Matteo & Company in both Palmer Square and Princeton Shopping Center. She has been active in such community organizations as the Arts Council of Princeton, Princeton Public Library, and Save Our Schools NJ, and was PTO president at John Witherspoon Middle School.

“With the municipalities joining, we need a new voice,” she said. “We need to build up some trust, and communicate better with each other and with the community. We need to realize there are other options out there for getting our message out, like social media, and we need to focus on the issues people are really concerned about. That’s what I’ve done well. I have an ability to tap into the community, figure out what the issues are, and the best way to solve them.”

A combination of local business experience and volunteering, particularly in the schools, are what qualifies Ms. Matteo for the post, she believes. “I think there is a great opportunity right now, as the new municipality is formed, rather than a year from now, to get my message across,” she said. “I have a reputation for being a team player and a consensus builder, and they serve me well.”

Serving on the Joint Consolidation and Shared Services Study Commission for the past two years, Patrick Simon has tapped into his experience as a consultant working with companies in transition. “I work primarily with transportation companies on software systems and business processes,” he said. “It’s a perfect fit for what’s going on with consolidation. The Consolidation Committee has made a series of recommendations and promises to the community, and I want to help keep those promises. Consolidation should bring a more responsive government.”

Mr. Simon has been a Princeton resident for 11 years. He is a member of the Transition Task Force’s Finance Committee and is Commission Liaison to its Information Technology Subcommittee. He has specific concerns about emergency management, particularly in the wake of recent storms that downed trees and caused flooding and power outages in Princeton.

“Princeton turns into an island under certain climate emergencies,” he said. “It’s a concern to begin with, but it is an increased concern now that the hospital has moved out of town. I don’t know what to promise there yet, but I do promise to work on issues related to that. The fact that we will be consolidated helps, but the government should make sure we have street access to the hospital from all points in town, and not just under emergency conditions. That can also apply when there are traffic snarls.”

Mr. Simon lives on Harriet Drive. Like many of his neighbors, he has installed a generator to deal with recent power outages. “The fact that we have installed generators is a response to a failure on the part of the electric utilities,” he said. “We should get the utilities, the Shade Tree Commission, and local government into one room to help resolve this issue.”

His respect for alternative points of view also qualifies him for a spot on the new Council, Mr. Simon believes. “I will be very conscious of communicating to people effectively,” he said. “I bring to the table a natural sense of collaboration and team approach.”


May 9, 2012

To the Editor:

I am writing to thank all of those responsible for the first ever recycling effort at Communiversity. With the cooperation of The Arts Council, Sustainable Princeton, Woodrow Wilson School students, The Mercer County Improvement Authority, the Public Works Departments of the Borough and the Township, and many others, we were collectively able to recycle approximately 920 pounds of material that otherwise would have gone to the local landfill. This effort has demonstrated that we are a community and we can work together. Consolidation will work! And, it further demonstrates that we care about and can act on sustainable issues. My hat is off to everyone who made this happen. Thank you! As the event helper’s T-shirts said, “Change a Habit, Change the World”. Let’s do it together and let’s do it again next year. Thank you one and all.

Barbara Trelstad

President, Princeton Borough Council

April 18, 2012

 

Online Update: The school budget passed by a vote of 1,193 to 360. The Borough reelected Rebecca Cox with 387 votes, and voted in newcomer Martha Land with 405 votes. Candidate Dudley Sipprelle received 197 votes. Patrick Sullivan, who ran unopposed for the single Township seat needing to be filled this year, received 741 votes.

Residents of the Township and the Borough will go to the polls on Tuesday to vote on the 2012-2013 proposed budget for the Princeton Regional School District, and to select (or at least confirm) candidates for Board seats. Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. (Although this is after our print press time, the results will be posted on our website on Wednesday morning).

As a result of consolidation, which will take effect on January 1, 2013, this is the last year that: the system will be known as “the Princeton Regional School District” (it will change to “Princeton Public Schools”); that separate candidates will run in each municipality; and that the consequent tax rate, if the budget is approved, will be computed separately for each municipality.

Operating under a two-percent cap imposed by the state, the Board approved a total operating budget of $75,607,106 for the 2012-13 school year. The total tax levy on area residents will be $63,434,108. In the Borough the budget translates to a $337 tax increase on a house with an estimated value of $748,155. Township residents will pay $906 based on an average home assessment of $822,262.

“This year, the proposed budget carries a flat one percent increase over 2011-12,” said Superintendent Judith Wilson. “It represents the ability to maintain -programs PK-12 but allows for very little growth in any way. This is reflective of our tight economic times and also fits within the State’s restrictions on public school tax levies.” A breakdown is available on the Princeton Regional School District’s web site and Facebook page.

In addition to weighing in on the budget on April 17, residents will also have an opportunity to select new board members. In the Borough, incumbent Rebecca Cox and newcomers Dudley Sipprelle and Martha Land are vying for two seats. There is just one candidate, Patrick Sullivan, for the single Township seat that is opening up.

Princetonians will be a minority among statewide residents going to the polls in April. Presented with the option of moving school elections to the general election in November, Board of Education members voted to keep the April date, ensuring that school concerns would not be confused with issues related to other races. The Board may choose to revisit this decision in the future.


March 28, 2012

To the Editor:

So now we learn the truth — the consolidation wasn’t a merger, it was a takeover of the Township by the Borough.

If this weren’t one sided, both administrators and both police chiefs should have offered their resignations. Then the personnel committee could have made their decision in the open and shared with all residents their rationale.

Jim Pascale and Bob Buchanan have served our town with distinction for 30 years, but now they get 10 days to clean out their desks. During the first Battle of Princeton in 1777, the Americans lost a number of able officers: General Mercer, Colonel Haslet and several others. Who will be the next to fall in the 2012 version? In consolidation right now, the Township is clearly losing.

John F. Kelsey, III
Winfield Road

A request by the mayors of Princeton Township and Princeton Borough asking citizen members of the Transition Task Force and Consolidation/Shared Services Study Commission to sign a conflict-of-interest document was a source of much discussion during a meeting of the Task Force last Wednesday. The document would prevent Task Force citizen members and those serving on subcommittees from seeking employment in the consolidated Princeton for two years.

Members of the Task Force and Consolidation Commission received letters last week from Borough Mayor Yina Moore and Township Mayor Chad Goerner, with an attached legal opinion from Township Attorney Edwin W. Schmierer. Titled “Consolidation Process: Avoidance of Conflict of Interest,” the memo states, “The work of the Consolidation/Shared Services Study Commission and that of the Transition Task Force and its various sub-committees will shape the new Princeton for many years to come. Therefore, it is critical that we avoid any appearance of conflict or non-objectivity whatsoever.”

The letter goes on to ask the recipients to agree that no one in a member’s immediate family be permitted to contract services or be employed by Princeton for two years once consolidation goes into effect.

Task Force member Jim Levine expressed concern that time spent discussing the issue was non-productive. “We have so much important stuff to do,” he said. “Anyone running for something should recuse themselves.” Hendricks Davis disagreed. “These are important issues that should be raised,” he said. Scott Sillars, who is vice-chairman of the Task Force, said, “We are breaking new ground here and we have to make sure we are acting like adults. Everyone should know they are dealing with people who are honest.”

The matter will be taken up at the April 3 joint meeting of Borough Council and Township Committee.

Also at the meeting, the Task Force heard presentations from various departments of the Township and Borough that will be affected by consolidation. Gary J. De Blasio, executive director of Corner House, said that the organization devoted to the health and well-being of young people is a joint agency of the Borough and Township that will continue to operate as it is. “But we’re excited about the possibility of moving out of the Valley Road [School building],” he said. “We would like to be considered for a move. We would need at least 6,500 square feet, but 10,000 would be ideal.”

Wayne Carr, director of the Borough’s Department of Public Works, told the Task Force that his department does not have the facilities it needs. “We have stuff all over the place,” he said. “Storage is outside at the PSOC [Princeton Sewer Operating Committee].” Donald R. Hansen, Public Works Director of the Township, said storm water and the collection of leaves and brush are major issues. Since the Borough and Township handle the leaves and brush collection differently, cross-training will be necessary when the departments are combined.

Township Engineer Bob Kiser and Borough Engineer Jack West gave a joint presentation, including a possible infrastructure of what would be called the Community Development department. Other testimony at the meeting came from the Sewer Operating Committee and Recreation Maintenance.

The next meeting of the Transition Task Force is tonight, March 28, at Borough Hall starting at 7 p.m.


March 21, 2012

In addition to the fact that they both aspire to be the Democratic nominee for mayor of the municipality that will be created when the Princetons consolidate, Liz Lempert and Kevin Wilkes probably have more in common than not.

Both, for example, are very clear about the fact that in their current positions (he is a Borough Council member and she is a member of Township Committee as well as deputy mayor) and, as a potential mayor, there is no conflict of interest between their personal lives and their obligations as an elected official.

Ms. Lempert, whose husband, Ken Norman is a professor of psychology at Princeton University, does not anticipate that this connection will be a problem. “I don’t see it as being an issue,” she said in a recent interview. “There have been previous mayors of the Borough who’ve been in similar situations,” she added, citing the late Borough Mayor, Barbara Sigmund, whose husband, Paul, taught at the University during her time in office. Ms. Lempert noted that her husband “doesn’t represent University administration,” and half jokingly pointed to the fact that he is tenured.

Although she has recused herself from Township Committee votes relating to University issues in the past, Ms. Lempert believes that as an “advocate for the people” she will put her mayoral responsibilities first.

As an architect who has lived in Princeton for many years, Mr. Wilkes reports that he has “worked out grid rules” for avoiding conflicts of interest. These include not taking on any commercial projects, and never working for the University. “I just fix up people’s homes,” he said.

Ms. Lempert and Mr. Wilkes also appear to be in agreement about the tack that the Transition Task Force should be following. Noting that the “base issues” have been covered by the Consolidation Commission’s final report, Mr. Wilkes believes that the Task Force should “follow that score.” Beyond that, he added, “we should improvise.”

“We need to use it as a blueprint,” said Ms. Lempert of the Commission’s report. She pointed to “time constraints” that kept the Commission from working out “every possible problem,” and agreed that it would be okay to follow up on any problems or good new ideas that may arise. In the meantime, she added, setting “out to rewrite the report” is unacceptable.

As for their respective strengths, Ms. Lempert pointed to her good listening skills and ability to keep an open mind. Being deputy mayor of the Township since January has allowed her to participate on the Finance Committee, whose work. she said, “is particularly critical as we head into consolidation.” She pointed to the importance of “being on the same page” as the Borough regarding budgets and long-term financial planning. She is happy to pinch-hit for Mayor Chad Goerner when necessary, but wryly allowed that she could not stand in for him in the annual Longbeard Contest on St. Patrick’s Day.

Noting the difficulty of working with “unyielding” players, Mr. Wilkes sounded a note of pragmatism in discussing the hot-button issue of the Dinky location. While the Dinky move appears to him to be inevitable, he described turning it into something positive over the next five years by creating a streetcar system that would connect downtown Princeton to the new Dinky location.

Both Ms. Lempert and Mr. Wilkes have issued statements detailing their positions. They are available online at www.princetondems.org.


March 14, 2012

To the Editor:

In this era of fiscal recklessness and mismanagement, I wonder how many Princetonians are aware that tens of thousands of their hard-earned tax dollars are being squandered yet again this year in ex-mayor Marchand’s barbaric deer slaughter program. In this, the eleventh year of the township’s war on wildlife, White Buffalo once again came to town to visit carnage and cruelty on Princeton’s surviving deer population. The few stragglers that remain are relentlessly persecuted in our parks and preserves because a few well-heeled snobs value their bushes more than they do living creatures.

The invalid link between deer and Lyme Disease is still promoted by an intolerant and ignorant few as a reason to continue the cull ad infinitum. If Princetonians were as concerned about this subject as they are about the Institute development debacle, the deer killing would end now.

Hopefully, once the two communities are joined, a sane policy regarding deer/human coexistence can be implemented that does not include killing.

Bill Laznovsky
Mandon Court

“You’re significantly there from where I sit today,” said Center for Governmental Research (CGR) consultant Joe Stefko at Monday’s joint Township Borough meeting, where he talked about the transition process that will lead to consolidation.

Mr. Stefko, who was also a key advisor to the Consolidation and Shared Studies Commission, said that his presentation was meant to “look out over the horizon for the next three to four months to give you a sense of priorities.”

Using slides to “walk through”Кa “few of the high points regarding the process to date,” Mr. Stefko suggested that the detailed research done by the Commission prior to their recommendation to consolidate provides a “high level context” from which the Transition Task Force and its subcommittees can proceed.

Noting that the baseline study leading up to consolidation began in the fall of 2010, Mr. Stefko acknowledged that some circumstances С particularly a lower number of Township police at present С have changed and would need to be tweaked, and that figures cited are only estimates. He noted, however, that the Commission’s “options report” does not simply provide recommendations; it describes several potential possibilities and how the Commission chose among them. It’s a “very helpful context,”КMr. Stefko said. More than once he pointed to the Commission’s final report as a good “point of departure,” describing it as the “single most valuable resource” at “every level” for the Task Force to use as a blueprint. He spoke of the dangers of “mission creep,” and its capacity to stymie the consolidation process.

Those who did not seem to share Mr. Stefko’s sentiments included Borough Council member Roger Martindell, who was a member of the Consolidation Commission, and Transition Task Force member Jim Levine. Mr. Martindell pointed to consolidation as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity and said that aspects of it should be subject to further exploration. Mr. Levine wanted Borough Council and Township Committee members to provide directives for or against such additional research. On a more conciliatory note, Task Force Chair Mark Freda spoke of the “flexibility” that should characterize any decision-making.

Township Mayor Chad Goerner and Committee member Bernie Miller, who were both on the Consolidation Commission and are now serving on the Transition Task Force, also spoke of the amount of work already accomplished by the Commission. The role of the Task Force, they said, is to serve as an “oversight body” implementing consolidation by, for example, establishing reasonable timelines and assigning responsibility, while continuing to share information with the public. Mr. Miller suggested that the Task Force would be “remiss” if it ventured off course to explore other options at this point.

Comparing the process to childbirth, Mr. Stefko emphasized the pragmatic nature of the Task Force’s work, and the necessity of identifying primary and secondary priorities. At this point, he observed, a parent wouldn’t decide what musical instrument their child will be playing in the ninth grade. They would, however, decide what hospital they wanted to go to for the delivery and, perhaps, pack a bag.

Mr. Stefko also noted that decision-making now does not preclude changes in the future. In 2013 the new government won’t look like the ones that will exist in 2018 or 2025.

February 29, 2012

With only nine months to go before consolidation of Princeton Borough and Township becomes law, the Transition Task Force has moved into high gear. The group has formed several subcommittees and scheduled a packed roster of meetings through the end of November.

The Communication Subcommittee was to meet this morning, February 29, while the Personnel Subcommittee is scheduled to gather this evening at 5:30 p.m. The Finance Subcommittee met last week. “We talked about a potential budget. We also discussed working together on our municipal budgets for 2012,” said task force member and Township Mayor Chad Goerner in an email. “The committee also discussed adding several more resident members and will propose these members at our next full task force meeting.”

That session is scheduled for tonight at 7 p.m. in the main meeting room of the Township Building. Task force and subcommittee meetings are posted on the website of the Center for Governmental Research, at www.cgr.org/princeton/transition.

Whether all of these meetings should be open to the public was a topic of lengthy discussion at last week’s task force session. While chairman Mark Freda urged that as many as possible be held in public, member Jim Levine questioned whether all of the subcommittee meetings should be open to the public.

“I don’t think the public is served to have all the ideas out there being discussed if they are not ultimately going to be recommended,” he said. The subcommittees make recommendations to the task force, which in turn suggests actions to the Borough Council and Township Committee. Mr. Levine suggested that meetings be open to the public when the discussion reaches a certain level, after the subcommittee has had a chance to work on issues “without having to pull any punches with anything distracting to employees and the public.”

Task force member Linda Mather did not agree. “I don’t want lawsuits over this,” she said. “We should abide by the Open Public Meetings Act for all our work.”

Mr. Goerner, who also served on the consolidation commission, commented that the commission’s subcommittee meetings were always open to the public. Task force member Bernie Miller said he didn’t think all of task force subcommittee meetings should be held in public. “Some discussions are very sensitive,” he said. “There has to be some shield.”

Ultimately, the task force voted to follow the Open Public Meetings Act for both its full meetings and the sessions of its subcommittees. Also at last week’s meeting, the group voted to recommend that the Center for Governmental Research (CGR) be hired as project consultant, and that attorney William Kearns be hired as its lawyer. Both recommendations were approved Monday night, February 27, at a joint meeting of the Borough Council and Township Committee.

Based in Rochester, N.Y. CGR served as consultant to the consolidation commission. They will be paid up to $62,000 to help the task force with project management and staff support.

Mr. Kearns is a senior partner with Kearns, Reale & Kearns in Willingboro. He is the general counsel for the New Jersey State League of Municipalities and co-chair for the League’s Legislative Committee. The task force had to hire its own attorney because it is not permitted to use municipal attorneys for legal advice. Three attorneys were interviewed for the job.


February 15, 2012

To the Editor:

The newly appointed Consolidation Transition Task Force has the opportunity to do more than merely smooth the way to a consolidated Princeton. It has the chance to re-invent how Princeton delivers municipal services. We residents and taxpayers should ask no less and should enthusiastically support that effort.

There are three main groups of leaders who will influence the course of municipal consolidation before it occurs on January 1, 2013. But the Task Force serves as the linchpin.

First, there are the two municipal staffs. They will forge consolidation because that’s what they are employed to do. But they also have understandable incentives to protect the status quo and their own jobs and perquisites. For that reason, they cannot serve as the principal architects for re-inventing local government.

Second, there are the two existing municipal governing bodies. But governing body members have relationships with staff and personal and parochial interests that will inhibit them from taking the initiative in re-inventing local government.

The third group, the Task Force, is a 15-member panel, the core of which is comprised of volunteer residents. In that body lies the best hope for making long-term structural changes to reinvent local government.

If consolidation were only a question of mechanically joining together two governments (e.g., who will become the new Police Chief), the Task Force would not be needed.

But the Task Force has a far more important responsibility to consider: long-term structural change. In contrast to the municipal staffs and current political office holders, the Task Force expires on January 1, 2013 and therefore should not be constrained by the prospect of a job or future office in how creatively it approaches its work.

For example, each of the two Princetons has 30 police officers. Should the new Princeton retain all 60, or reduce that number, and by how many? As the police budget is the largest departmental budget, meaningful reduction in local taxes can be achieved only by substantial cuts in police personnel. The Task Force is better suited to considering those cuts than current office holders.

Should the new Princeton retain both municipal buildings? There will be tremendous pressure for the new municipality to move its operation to the present Township Hall and to retain Borough Hall for additional municipal government functions. The Task Force might ask: what is the best alternative use for Borough Hall, and did Princetonians vote for consolidation with the expectation of not reducing the size of the municipal footprint?

Indeed, the re-invention of local government will depend more on the Task Force, not the other two players in the drama. Residents and taxpayers must actively encourage the Task Force to aggressively re-invent local government and, in addition, provide the Task Force with all the support it needs to accomplish that goal. A brighter Princeton future depends on it.

Roger Martindell
Patton Avenue
Member, Princeton Borough Council

On February 8, at the second meeting of the Transition Team Task Force charged with shepherding Princeton Township and Borough through consolidation, some members expressed differing views as to how many of their sessions should be open to public input. Dorothea Berkhout commented that because the team will make recommendations to the Borough and Township, rather than decisions, she was not sure it qualified as a public body under the Open Public Meetings Act. Colleague Brad Middlekauff added that it may be less efficient to solicit public input at every meeting. Team member Jim Levine suggested forming a committee to keep the public informed.

However, Chairman Mark Freda said that keeping the proceedings public was an integral part of the team’s mission. “The message to me by the majority of the people has been clear. We will do the absolutely best we can to perform this process in public,” he said. “Public participation in this process is critical.”

Township Administrator Jim Pascale said that according to the Township attorney, the task force must conduct its business in public, since it is a public body. The only exception would be if a topic under discussion legally falls within the parameters of an executive session. Bernie Miller said the group should “think about what is legal and what is the public’s perception of what we’re doing. This cannot be done behind closed doors.” The group agreed they should find an attorney, but in the meantime ask the governing bodies to amend its resolution so that they can make use of the attorneys for the Borough and Township.

In other action at the meeting, the Task Force agreed to form several subcommittees in the areas of personnel policies; public safety and merging police departments; public works, engineering and recreation; and finance. While the finance committee is already full, the Task Force is looking for volunteers to serve on the other four, and several more are expected to be named in coming weeks.

The personnel subcommittee held its first meeting on February 13. The future of Princeton’s municipal employees, 18 of whom will lose their jobs by the consolidation deadline of January 1, 2013, was the focus of the meeting. Currently, Township and Borough employees have different benefits regarding sick leave and pay increases. It was suggested that the periodic pay increases that Township employees receive based on longevity be grandfathered in.

To express interest in serving on a committee, send a resume and cover letter no later than 5 p.m. Friday, February 17 to either: Linda McDermott, Township Clerk, 400 Witherspoon St., Princeton, N.J. 08540, or lmcdermott@princeton-township.nj.us, or Delores Williams, Borough Deputy Clerk, 1 Monument Drive, Princeton, N.J. 08540, or dwilliams@princetonboro.org.


February 8, 2012

The Borough and Township have agreed to delay investing in capital projects and to postpone equipment purchases until the two municipalities are consolidated, said Township Mayor Chad Goerner at Monday’s Township Committee meeting. Consolidation will be finalized January 1, 2013.

In the meantime, Mr. Goerner said, the Borough and Township have agreed to work together to ensure that both will be financially in good shape for the merger. Both will be adopting budgets that will finance transition costs over five years, while a one year state grant covers more immediate cash outlays. The next meeting of the transition team will be Wednesday, February 8, at 7 p.m. in Township Hall.

Township Committee members present for the Monday evening meeting included Lance Liverman, Deputy Mayor Liz -Lempert, and Mr. Goerner, who wished absentees Sue Nemeth and Bernie Miller “a speedy recovery so that they can join us at our next action-packed meeting.”

Reports at this week’s session included Ms. Lempert’s description of recent meetings that have given area residents a chance to express their concerns about the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) pilot project to test jughandle closures at Harrison and Washington Streets, ostensibly to relieve traffic congestion on Route 1. The coming move of the Princeton Medical Center to the other side of Route 1 adds to this concern. “Hopefully the DOT will hear us,” Ms. Lempert commented.

Also, this week Township Committee approved an ordinance to amend the code regarding taxicab licenses. Township Attorney Ed Schmierer explained that the new law is in compliance with recent state legislation that sets a minimum requirement for taxi drivers’ liability insurance, and requires them to undergo background checks at their own expense.

In response to a request from Princeton University security, Township Committee also approved an ordinance that will decrease the number of parking spaces and improve sight distance on Alexander Street. Township Engineer Bob Kiser reported that the new ruling had been reviewed by the Traffic Safety Committee.

Appropriations for sidewalk construction on both Grover Avenue and Roper Road were also approved at the meeting. Mr. Kiser noted that residents of each neighborhood will probably continue to discuss which side of the street to pave beyond the public hearing date of February 27.

Committee member Lance Liverman offered a “heads up” on “family dinner week,” which is scheduled to take place in Princeton from April 15 through 22. Local businesses and restaurants will be cooperating in this effort to encourage family members to dine together.

A hirsute Mr. Goerner and Freeholder Andrew Koontz will be guest-tending bar at this year’s “longbeard” competition at the Alchemist and Barrister on February 28. Proceeds of this year’s event will go to Derek’s Dreams, an organization dedicated to raising the awareness of ataxia telangiectasia, a hereditary condition characterized by progressive neurologic problems that lead to difficulty walking.


With the naming of Mark Freda as chairman and Steve Sillars as vice-chairman, the Consolidation Transition Task Force is ready to start planning the merging of the two Princetons. The group held its first organizational meeting last Wednesday and will meet again tonight to tackle such topics as an early retirement program for municipal employees, the proposed hiring of KSS Architects to figure out space planning for merging offices, and other consolidation-related matters.

More than 60 people were on hand for the initial gathering, which was switched from a meeting room at the Township Building to the larger, main meeting hall. Borough Mayor Yina Moore and Township Mayor Chad Goerner led most of the discussion, but will defer at tonight’s meeting and in the future to Mr. Freda, who is a former Borough Council member and emergency services director of Princeton Borough. He and Mr. Sillars were unanimously elected by the task force.

The task force has an initial budget of $50,000, contributed equally by the Township and Borough, for such expenses as hiring independent auditors or consultants. With a preliminary report due April 10, time is short. “This is a very, very aggressive schedule,” said Borough Administrator Bob Bruschi, in his opening summary of the task force’s duties. He and Jim Pascale, who is the Township administrator, said they have been meeting with department heads since consolidation was approved by the voters last November.

The two administrators divided their findings into three areas: organizational charts, transition costs, and the savings that can be achieved through consolidation. Mr. Pascale said that the department heads had been able to find ways to save costs. “There are many hidden costs that need to be addressed,” Pascale said. “From the color of police cars and deciding what to do with that, there are all kinds of costs along those lines as we transition into one community. Department heads have made a tentative list of issues.”

The hiring of an architect firm, specifically KSS, which designed the Municipal Building, was recommended by the administrators to do the space planning involved in merging the offices of the municipalites. “Our goal number one is to start putting bodies in offices in Township Hall, Borough Hall, and the recreation complex,” said Mr. Pascale. “We will need expertise. I met with KSS. Bob is comfortable with KSS. We don’t have a lot of time to go out and solicit bids.”

The money for the services of an architecture firm, estimated at $28,000, would not come from the $50,000 transition budget, but from the money put aside for transition costs. “We don’t have time to have an RFP (request for proposal),” said Mr. Bruschi. “We’re not trying to shove KSS down your throats, but the Township is comfortable with this.”

Task force member Jim Levine urged that the suggestion be tabled until he and his colleagues have had time to consider it. “Moving forward with KSS seems like the cart is way before the horse,” he said. “It just feels like we should have more input.” The group agreed to table the question of hiring KSS until tonight’s meeting.

The members of the task force were urged by several to “follow the road map” established by the Consolidation Commission, which was formed last year to study the consolidation proposal. “I don’t want the task force to get the idea that we’re here to re-invent the wheel,” Mr. Goerner said. “Follow the model of the consolidation commission.” Aaron Lahnston, who chaired the commission, echoed that request. “Be true to the plan,” he said, during the public comment section of the meeting. “The voters voted for it.”

The early retirement incentive program is another priority, Mr. Pascale said. “The consolidation report eliminated 18.5 positions. The law that created the ability to consolidate also has a provision where you can humanely reduce the size of staff through an early retirement program.”

An application must be filed by the Borough and Township with the State of New Jersey to obtain estimates on the cost of an early retirement incentive program. “We might not want to consider the program once we see the numbers,” said Mr. Goerner. “We need to look at the issue from a cost perspective, understanding what other options are available. This is the key critical issue before we move forward.”

During the public comment section of the meeting, Jefferson Road resident Kate Warren asked whether the municipalities must accept bids for the architecture contract. Mr. Bruschi replied that since the contract is considered a professional service, it is exempt from the rules that govern public bidding.

Township resident Henry Sager urged the task force to create “a plan for a plan. It needs to be very clear what you can do as a task force,” he said, adding that differences in work cultures will need to be considered as departments are merged.

Mr. Lahnston urged the task force to consult members of the consolidation commission. “We want to support you,” he said. “Please use us. Call on us. We want to help.” He also recommended that the task force use the commission’s consultant, Center for Governmental Research (CGR), as its project manager.

Kristin Appelget, Princeton University’s director of community relations, offered to provide resources and information. “If there is a subcommittee on town and gown, we’d be interested,” she said.

The task force will hold its public meetings every other Wednesday starting tonight, at 7 p.m., in the municipal building. The group’s term expires June 30, 2013.


January 18, 2012

To the Editor:

The fact that the Township and Borough are selecting their own consolidation team representatives separately seems odd. Given that the residents have already voted for consolidation, why isn’t the team being formed jointly? It would appear that our elected officials continue in the mindset of separatism. It’s time to move forward!

Barry Goldblatt
Andrews Lane

January 11, 2012

Four applicants with backgrounds in academia, business, social services, and politics were recently selected by Princeton Township to serve on the consolidation transition team. The Borough has not yet announced its choices.

The transition team has been charged by the Consolidation Commission with implementing its recommendations for consolidation, which will take effect in January 2013. Both municipalities were asked to select four residents; three transition team members and one alternate. Two elected officials from both the Borough and Township will also serve, along with administrators Jim Pascale and Bob Bruschi. The Consolidation Commission, which is a separate entity, will continue to function in an advisory role.

Township choices included Dorothea Berkhout, executive director for administration at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University;К

Linda Mather, president of Beacon Consulting Associates and a regular League of Women Voters moderator who also served on the 1991 consolidation committee; and Scott Sillars, president of Isles E4 and chair of the Citizen’s Finance Advisory Committee for Princeton Township since 2007. Gary O. Patterson, a senior executive with Miller Investment Management, was selected as an alternate.

“Scott, Thea, Linda and Gary are all extremely well qualified and each brings different, complementary skills to the table,” said Township Committee member (and new Deputy Mayor) Liz Lempert, who, along with then-Deputy Mayor Sue Nemeth, interviewed the candidates.

Applicants who were not chosen may still be asked by the transition team to serve on subcommittees. “We had many qualified applicants and want to take advantage of the great pool of talent that came forward,” noted Township Mayor Chad Goerner.

All interviews for Township members of the transition team were conducted in December by Ms. Lempert and Ms. Nemeth. “We reviewed their work in late December and met in closed session to discuss how we could put a team together with various strengths,” Mr. Goerner said.

In response to recent comments complaining that the selection process did not take place at public meetings, Ms. Nemeth observed that “interviews were conducted in a manner that allowed for candid and thorough discussion of each individual’s expertise, interests, and time availability. A public interview process would not have afforded us enough time or provide enough privacy to adequately weigh the commitment of serving.”

Ms. Lempert similarly commented that ‘Interviewing in private allows for a more open and relaxed dialog, and helps us to better evaluate candidates. This was the same process we used to select the Consolidation Commission members, as well as other committees.”

“The public should know that we recommended the very best team selected from among a highly qualified pool of candidates and hope many who were not selected will serve on subcommittees formed by the Task Force,” Ms. Nemeth added.

“We are anxious to move this process forward as soon as possible and hope that the Borough is able to make their appointments soon,” noted Mr. Goerner.

Borough Council members were scheduled to meet in a closed session last night (January 10) to discuss the appointments, before their scheduled public meeting.

The issue was first discussed at a private, unannounced meeting in late December of Council members Jo Butler, Kevin Wilkes, Jenny Crumiller, Mayor-elect Yina Moore and Councilwoman-elect Heather Howard. Eight candidates were selected from a list of applicants interested in representing the Borough. They were interviewed, in an open session, on January 3.

Councilman Roger Martindell took exception to the implication that Council was going to select from that group in a closed session. At press time, he said he intended to ask at the January 10 meeting that the appointments be discussed instead at an open session.

“The selection of persons to interview for the transition task force should be by publicly acknowledged criteria following public interviews of candidates,” he said. “Since we have not, as of the January 10 meeting, accomplished those goals, then I think it’s important to hold the process open and continuing so that we might select the persons in the most open and rational way possible. I look forward to doing so in the next few days ahead.”

Ms. Crumiller said in an email that meetings by governing bodies to discuss personnel matters, including appointments, are always done in closed session, “for a good reason.

“It would a disservice to volunteer applicants to discuss their relative merits in public,” she said. “Given that the Township Committee had chosen its Task Force members weeks ago, the Council felt a sense of urgency in moving the transition process forward and catching up to the Township Committee.”

“Frankly, it’s frustrating that people who agreed to that process are now raising issues about it,” she added. “There was not a peep of dissent over the plan until a few days ago. I hope we can move forward and name the task force — we have remarkable citizen applicants and we need to let these volunteers get to work. We’re anticipating that those volunteers who are not chosen for the task force will be considered for a subcommittee, where we expect most of the work to take place.”


January 4, 2012
A TIMES SQUARE NEW YEAR IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM

A TIMES SQUARE NEW YEAR IN THE COMMUNITY ROOM: Princeton Public Library gave kids and caregivers a chance to greet 2012 ahead of schedule Friday with dancing and music, their own noise makers, horns, crowns, sparkling cider, and blow-up versions of the Times Square ball in the form of globes to throw into the air to mark the New Year. (Photo by Emily Reeves)

Although the Borough and the Township’s annual reorganization meetings were scheduled for Tuesday evening, January 3, after Town Topics’ press time, Township Mayor Chad Goerner and Deputy Mayor Sue Nemeth were happy to talk about their hopes and expectations for 2012 before the formalities began.

In response to rumors that he will not run again for mayor, Mr. Goerner explained that both he and Ms. Nemeth were expected to be renamed to their posts at the Township’s Tuesday evening meeting. He said, however, that he has not yet decided whether or not to run for mayor of the new consolidated municipality in the coming November election. He reported that he would make his decision “later this month.”

Implementing consolidation was, not surprisingly, high on both Mr. Goerner’s and Ms. Nemeth’s list of priorities in the coming year. “I predict we’ll implement the historic merger of Princeton Township and Borough with greater ease than anyone envisioned and achieve greater savings than projected,” said Ms. Nemeth.

Mr. Goerner was more guarded in his forecast, noting that while “the biggest obstacle was getting consolidation to pass,” making it happen “won’t always be easy and I am sure there will be obstacles.” Mr. Goerner, who served on the Consolidation/Shared Services Commission, said that he “was proud to promote consolidation and see it as a long term benefit for our residents.”

Preparing for a fiscally healthy new municipality was another priority for Mr. Goerner. “Collaboration will also be important as it relates to Borough and Township finances,” he noted. “I have proposed that the two municipalities’ Joint Finance Committee work together to ensure transparency and consistency in both municipal budgets for 2012. There should be no significant disparities in terms of new debt issuance or tax rates. It will build trust between the two communities as we transition to a single one.”

Ms. Nemeth predicted that the Princetons’ successful consolidation “will serve as a model for other communities committed to improving services and providing tax relief.” She anticipated “a more productive relationship with the University,” adding that “we applaud their willingness to contribute to essential services and underwrite a portion of the transition costs of consolidation.”

“I also anticipate that new development will be a lively issue for 2012,” commented Mr. Goerner. “The Institute for Advanced Study has a concept plan for housing right now that I believe strikes the right balance for both preservationists and faculty housing needs.” Princeton University will most likely begin planning for phase one of the Arts and Transit zone, he observed, adding that he looks forward to “being involved in those discussions.”

Two of Princeton’s landmarks — the hospital and the Community Park pool complex — are currently “undergoing major transformations,” Ms. Nemeth said, and she is looking forward to their reopening as “state-of-the-art facilities that will serve our community for many decades.” Other positive initiatives in the coming year, she said, include a study of transportation needs, encouraging the development of affordable housing in the community, and enhancing public safety with fully coordinated emergency services.

“I hope the action in 2012 is positive and not filled with political jostling and theater as we head into 2013,” commented Mr. Goerner. “That may be too optimistic,” he added.

December 15, 2011

To the Editor:

Now that the vote for consolidation of the Princetons is past us, we must remember that when municipal governments are combined, State law (N.J.S.A. 40A:65-28) provides procedures to ensure that property values be assessed and taxed uniformly, a constitutional requirement. Unfortunately, the systematically flawed revaluation of 2010 does not provide a basis for uniform taxation of a consolidated Princeton. Examination of that revaluation continues and is now in the courts. Consolidation gives us another chance to avoid the same mistakes. With proper citizen scrutiny of the process, we must get it right this time.

Neither the appeals, which changed perhaps three percent of the assessments, nor the assessor’s compliance plans to readjust some districts, gave any significant relief to the flawed revaluation of 2010. It still discriminated against lower and moderate income families and against elderly and minority residents all over town. Meanwhile property tax relief for the wealthy went unchallenged by your elected officials.

As a result, Princeton Fair Tax Revaluation (PFTRG) members will continue to be out in the field for the next two weeks seeking additional plaintiffs for the lawsuit. That suit was filed November 4 to ensure equal taxation of citizens. There is no risk in being a plaintiff. It’s merely standing up for rights guaranteed you by the New Jersey State Constitution. Come join in with us in this special case to show the politicians that the proper collection of taxes is just as important as the spending of your tax dollar. We at PFTRG seem to learn every day how unfair advantage has been taken of those least able to pay their taxes. We want your individual stories in brief for the courts to review. It will help us make the case.

If one of our members contacts you, they may also ask for a contribution. Many have given $100 or more, some $1000, but feel free to join us and give what you can, even if you can only afford less. Virtually all the funding goes to the lawsuit. Our lawyers are donating a significant portion of their time in the public interest. You don’t often get a chance to stand up and be counted like this right in your home town of Princeton.

Grossly unfair assessment increases in the Witherspoon Jackson neighborhood first got the attention of the town. But we all came quickly to understand that the pattern was repeated elsewhere all along the boundary line of the Borough and Township in otherwise homogeneous neighborhoods of similar housing stock. That includes Harris Road-Carnehan, Jefferson-Moore, Linden Lane-Hawthorne, Franklin to Clearview and Hamilton, Snowden Lane-Deerpath, Riverside-Prospect-South Harrison, and all along the lake-front. This is why a revaluation must be done correctly this time. You cannot consolidate municipalities without guaranteeing equal tax treatment. It will take careful scrutiny and not just a gloss over by the elected officials. Make them take notice of you. For more information please feel free to contact myself or Jim Firestone at (609) 647-9802.

Jim Floyd
Harris Road