Now that Plainsboro has moved most of its social services responsibilities to Middlesex County, it is considering dissolving its Local Assistance Board.##M:[more]##
A few years ago, most municipalities moved the responsibility of administering cash grants — as part of the social services program — to the county and state. Plainsboro had been one of the few in the county, and state, that had not done so, until last month, when the move was approved.
Also as part of the changes, the rest of the social services responsibilities at the township level were given to Joanne Lupica, Recreation Department director.
The Local Assistance Board “is a direct outgrowth of our general assistance responsibilities, and since those responsibilities don’t exist anymore, the recommendation” would be to dissolve the board, Township Administrator Bob Sheehan told the Plainsboro Township Committee during its April 22 meeting.
In order to dissolve the board, the committee would need to alter the township code, which requires an ordinance to be adopted. Township Attorney Michael Herbert said that the committee has already dissolved the need for a Local Assistance Board through resolution, but the next step would be an ordinance. “It seems this would no longer have a function or a need,” Mayor Peter Cantu said.
In other business during the April 22 meeting, the committee also authorized a professional services agreement with Najarian Associations for site remediation at the Bulk Farm for a cost not to exceed $175,”000. Just before the new year, Plainsboro officials closed on purchasing the 84-acre farm on Cranbury Neck Road for a total of $3 million. The township jointly purchased the property with the county, with the county dedicating $2.695 million, and Plainsboro footing the remaining $305,”000 cost. The parcel is one of the last remaining large tracts of open space in the township.
Plainsboro is planning to put the property up for lease for farming uses.
Herbert said that remediation work on site includes a trash field and above-ground tank removal. A second contract will be coming before the committee soon. That contract will be for demolition of the farm house on site, at a cost not to exceed $50,”000. “We’re working with a farmer to come up with a plan for the site once it’s remediated,” Herbert said.
The committee also introduced an ordinance to amend a bond ordinance for various raod improvements, including George Davison Road improvements that was originally adopted in 2008. A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27.
Reconstruction of a large stretch of George Davison Road will replace the badly worn pavement. The road borders Cranbury, and Plainsboro has had an informal agreement with Cranbury for years, in which Plainsboro has taken care of George Davidson Road from Cranbury Neck to Plainsboro Road. On the other side of Cranbury Neck is John White Road, Cranbury’s responsibility. A formal resolution that sets the terms for this road maintenance agreement is on the agenda for Wednesday, May 13.
