As the West Windsor Environmental Commission moves ahead in planning for the forthcoming environmental education center at the Schenck Farmstead (WW-P News, January 6), a second professional services contract with Redmond-Jones & Associates was approved at the council meeting on Monday, March 12. Redmond-Jones will receive $7,500 for “concept and design development,” which will come out of the township’s capital budget.
Councilwoman Linda Geevers wanted clarification from Business Administrator Robert Hary on why the money did not come directly from a $150,000 grant West Windsor received from Centex, developer of the Elements. Hary said the decision was made to expedite the project by taking capital money from West Windsor’s recreation department out now and later this year transfer the $7,500 back in.
“Even though we have the grant from Centex, in order to spend the money — per state budget law — we have to incorporate it into the capital budget, even though it’s fully funded. It’s in our capital budget for this year and we’ll have access to those monies once the capital budget is adopted. That will come once we pass the capital spending ordinance — probably this summer,” Hary said.
The initial contract of $5,000 for Redmond-Jones approved by Council in December came from the Environmental Commission’s budget as it chose not to allocate the money to the GROWW festival.
Beth Redmond-Jones, principal of the design firm, is scheduled to present an overview of her plans to the Environmental Commission at its next monthly meeting on Thursday, April 12 at 8 p.m.
After Mayor Hsueh’s state of the township address on March 12, council also approved the following recommendations from the administration:
— An $89,700 contract extension with Greenleaf Landscape Systems and Services, Inc. of Eatontown. Greenleaf maintains landscaping of the township’s public lands, cul-de-sac islands, and street trees. Councilman Bryan Maher asked Hary why the Department of Public Works could not handle this task. Hary replied that the department does not have adequate time or resources to accomplish the work.
— The submission of the 2011 municipal recycling tonnage grant application to the New Jersey DEP. The administration designated Vickie Felix as the person responsible for filing the application. Felix is a certified municipal recycling coordinator who currently works as the Department of Public Works office manager.
– The new liquor license originally bid by MarketFair Holdings, LLC last summer (WW-P News, August 12).
Resolutions for the refund of overpaid property taxes in the amount of $3,895.88 and overpaid sewer rent for $82.
