Franc Gambatese isn’t leaving quietly. In the final weeks of his four-year term on the West Windsor Township Council, is accusing his long-time rival, Charles Morgan, of foul play.##M:[more]##
Gambatese’s final council meeting will be Monday, June 25. On June 11, Gambatese unleashed a tirade against Morgan, who he says has ulterior motives for opposing Hillier’s redevelopment plan.
“Something really good could be happening for this town, and all you’re looking at is what’s good for you and a handful of people,” said Gambatese. “Stop playing politics with this thing. This whole thing is a big game to you and your little buddy there.”
Gambatese was presumably referring to Will Anklowitz, Morgan’s running mate in the last council election.
After the meeting, Gambatese said Morgan and his team are not trying to stop redevelopment, they are trying to take control of it. Gambatese accused them of setting up deals with developers. “I know they’re talking to people. They met with developers, and they shouldn’t be doing that. I question the legality of that.”
Morgan says he hasn’t done anything illegal. “I meet with anyone who asks. It simply is untrue that I have ‘met with developers.’ Emphasis on the plural. I have met with one person who represents a single client who wants to bring its world headquarters to Princeton Junction,” said Morgan. “The client is ‘Tiffany’ in its business. I know this because I know the client from my personal business life and know the client to be a superb opportunity for West Windsor.””
Morgan said Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh has also met with the same client. “I told this person, in my meeting, that his ideas needed to be aired with the West Windsor residents,” said Morgan. “I also told him that I wasn’t in a position to support what he wanted to do without it first being embraced by the community–something that he had to do on his own.”
Morgan did not respond to Gambatese during the June 11 meeting, but had more to say one he learned of Gambatese’s accusations. “Franc is wrong. The difference between me and Franc is that I am open to input from anyone, regardless of who they are and what interests they represent. I am an equal opportunity elected official and I don’t discriminate. After all, I would be derelict in my duty to our taxpayers if I refused to talk or meet with someone and, therefore, missed an opportunity to bring an amenity to West Windsor that would be beneficial to our residents,” said Morgan.
Plan Presentation Postponed
Morgan and Anklowitz had both asked to postpone a discussion on the final part of Hillier’s plan presentation until after July 1, the date Gambatese will be replaced by their ally, George Borek.The meeting had originally been scheduled for Monday, June 18.
According to council president Linda Geevers, representatives from Hillier Architecture were the first to ask that the meeting be postponed. Geevers, a member of the steering committee, charged with publicizing the event, said also that the township would benefit from having the session scheduled after there was more time to send postcards to residents, and after high school graduations had passed.
“I am disappointed that we won’t be holding the meeting on the June 18.” said council, planning board, and steering committee member Heidi Kleinman. “But without sending the postcards last week, we missed the boat.”
“I was against the meeting on the June 18 to begin with, but I’m disappointed that if we said we would do something, then we aren’t going to do it,” said Anklowitz. “I ask that the decisions are deferred until July 2. You’re dumping it in the lap of the new council, the new council should decide.”
“This is a critical point in the process. We need to discuss the plans and come to consensus about what we do want to do,” said council president Linda Geevers. “We need to give direction to Bob Hillier.”
Morgan’s next comment triggered the outburst from Gambatese. “Hillier needs direction, there is no question about that. But there are questions about having a referendum. We need to hear the community tell us where they’d like us to take this.”
“You’re supposed to be asking these questions when the planning board was with you. You were supposed to ask questions that night, but none of you did,” said Gambatese. “You talk about what Hillier did and didn’t do, but you aren’t doing your job. You’re the council president who put redevelopment on the table, and you have the audacity to ask for a referendum? You’re going to cost this township $500,”000 because you made a bad decision in 2005? Where do you get off?”
At the time, Morgan said only that he thought Gambatese was out of order.
Gambatese later clarified his comments, saying he does not believe redevelopment is a bad idea. “Redevelopment downtown not going to help my coffee business in Grover’s Mill. It’s probably going to hurt it,” said Gambatese, who plans on opening a store next year. “But it is the best thing for the township.”
Gambatese said the stalling of the redevelopment is making the township look bad. “It puts West Windsor in an embarrassing position with the state and the county.”
Gambatese believes Morgan’s move to replace Mike Herbert as the township attorney is related to the fact that Herbert has said the proposal by Morgan and Anklowitz to call a referendum is not legal. “They didn’t like his decision, and now they’re trying to get rid of him,” said Gambatese.
The fact that Morgan and what will be a majority of council is calling for the mayor to appoint a new township attorney was discussed in an executive session before the public portion of Monday’s meeting. “I asked them where they think they get the right to hire attorney,” said Gambatese. “They couldn’t come up with a good answer.”
Morgan and Anklowitz declined to discuss what happened in executive session.
Gambatese did not reserve his criticism for his fellow council members. He said the township’s form of government isn’t working. “The township is politically dysfunctional. Nothing is ever going to change under this form of government.”
He also criticized Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh. “I think he needs to be stronger. You can’t make everyone happy all the time. You have to take a strong position, don’t just feel which way the tide is going. Do what you think is right. He needs to step up.”
