A resolution supporting Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh’s efforts in trying to recover $19 million in funding the state Department of Transportation has pulled from the Vaughn Drive Connector project is on the Council agenda for Monday, February 25.
Hsueh told council on February 11 that the DOT has pulled the funds it had set aside for Vaughn Drive because “they didn’t see we were moving redevelopment along.” The total cost of the road project is estimated at $38 million, with the township putting 50 percent of funding. Hsueh said the town would have negotiated for the landowners in the redevelopment area to fund the township’s share.
“There have been so many other towns competing for transportation infrastructure funds,” and the state didn’t see West Windsor was serious in moving the project along, Hsueh explained.
He said he was hoping to meet with state officials to convince them add back the $19 million before the final state budget is adopted. “I’d like to see at least that there will be a clear indication the money will be there whenever we need it.”
Now, he says, the council and administration must show it is working together, and that the redevelopment project will move forward. Hsueh says he is pleased that Council President Will Anklowitz’s has promised to put a resolution backing his efforts on the agenda for council vote.
“I think it’s very important that we try to show we are all working together here,” says Hsueh. “The state transportation infrastructure fund is very, very competitive. I know the state has to give money to whoever they feel will be able to deliver. We have to be able to convince them we are moving along.”
“That, to me, is a great example of communication and cooperation from one branch of government to another,” Anklowitz said. The mayor “found out about it, told council, and council can back up the mayor.”
“What the other council members will do with that resolution, I don’t know,” he added
Also on the agenda for February 25 are resolutions for designating the council as the redevelopment entity, removing Planning Board chairman Marvin Gardner from the redevelopment steering committee, and recommending a candidate for the redevelopment attorney. Hsueh will also be delivering his state of the township address.
