With retirements in key positions in both West Windsor and Plainsboro, officials will have to say goodbye to two long-time employees.
In West Windsor, the township recently bid farewell to Lynn Thornton, the director of the senior center, who retired after 21 years of service. Meanwhile, in Plainsboro, Joanne Lupica is preparing to retire at the end of the month from the township’s recreation department.
“Joanne has been the source of important programs and ideas in this organization for a long time,” said Plainsboro Township Administrator Robert Sheehan. “She established high standards for the performance of her department. She will be missed.”
Even though construction has not yet begun on the new cultural and recreation center, Lupica has been the source of “significant guidance,” Sheehan said. “She’s really an invaluable resource to the organization and has been that way for a long time, and she will definitely be missed.”
Plans are currently being designed for the renovation and expansion of Plainsboro’s former library facility into a community center. The project will provide the space for the township’s recreational and cultural programs. The renovation of the 19,200-square-foot existing structure and the outside plaza surrounding could cost up to $4.7 million.
Sheehan said the township will hire a new staff member to replace Lupica. “The position is a very important position, a very critical part of the management team,” he said. “We are recruiting now for a new director.”
Sheehan said the township has received a number of resumes and that officials will be conducting interviews over the next few weeks. Officials are hoping to make an appointment next month.
In West Windsor, Thornton retired earlier this month with 21 years with the township, having served as director of the senior center for seven years, and seeing it through the first phase of its expansion project, which included renovations to the existing building, and the addition of five additional classroom/meeting rooms, bathrooms, and more storage space.
She was also instrumental in working to get the senior center accredited by the National Institute of Senior Centers.
Donna Fucetola, her assistant, took over as director immediately. “You are going to see things will be running smoothly,” said Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh. “She has been very much involved in the operations for a long time.”
Officials have already come up with a new configuration for the personnel at the senior center. Fucetola, the senior center’s former assistant director, has been appointed as the new director. However, officials are replacing the assistant director position with an administrative assistant position.
“It’s a combination of a cost-savings effort, and with a reduction in staff there do to the transfer of welfare services to the county, we think we can do it with less staff,” explained Business Administrator Robert Hary. “For that reason, this individual will be responsible for providing direct support and assistance to Donna, but the title will not be assistant director.”
