In case your readers missed the Mayor’s Monday night West Windsor State of the Township Address for the last decade, the 11th SOTA varied little from the previous 10! In a scene reminiscent of (any) Dr. Seuss book, the gallery was filled with “ringers” who ONLY appear when the annual clarion is sounded for warm bodies. Being read to puts me to sleep.
Several points were omitted from the Mayor’s 20 Minute Recitation, details of which follow: (13 minutes for reading qualitative thank-yous to the family; 5 minutes dedicated to the recognition to two worthy lifetime volunteer contributors to West Windsor; and 2 minutes for the inevitable photo op with obligatory wall plaques).
Despite the entire Council meeting lasting 3.5 hours, the fully accountable, directly elected 20-minute mayor never returned to share his expertise or lack thereof.
1. One resolution was discussed and unanimously passed to contribute yet another $10,000 to defend the mayor in litigation with a former Council member. The sum for the taxpayer-funded defense is now $40,000. By contrast, the West Windsor Township Administrator’s salary (excluding benefits) is a nominal $150,000 per year while the legal defense fund is twice the mayor’s annual stipend.
I ask the Mayor and our private citizen plaintiff to each put on their big boy pants and resolve their issue(s) expeditiously. Taxpayers need not further subsidize oversized or juvenile egos. Council could resolve this issue in a heartbeat but lacks the intestinal fortitude.
2. Litigation rules. Whether the Township’s termination the Animal Control Officer, currently in litigation, or the InterCap / Transit Village lawsuits, this arrogance weighed on the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro to shun West Windsor. Why would West Windsor seek a $550 million medical center within its borders? Litigation is poor public policy. West Windsor’s no-bid lawyers feast at the public trough because of the vacuum in leadership.
3. The epidemic of incompetence continues. Despite three Public Works crews comprising $900,000 in equipment, brush crew payroll exceeding $300,000 and an infinite amount of costly equipment fuel, these crews daily scour the Township in search of itinerant twigs and wayward leaves. Our roadways and streets are constant reservoirs of yard waste, landscape debris, and clutter. In a resolution passed on Monday, the Mayor believes taxpayers should outsource another $90,000 for the summer mowing of our roadway center islands and street cul-de-sacs and not inconvenience our Public Works staff. (Take a look at the high weeds choking the fence around Conover Park.)
4. Neighboring communities –– from Plainsboro, to Hamilton, to Princeton’s approved merger have relentlessly pursued actual budget reductions, which, coupled with prudent spending reductions, usually lead to tax relief. Instead, West Windsor feels it must be a “full service community,” which masks overspending and mirrors its lack of fiscal transparency.
West Windsor Township could easily outsource or effect shared-services agreements with recreation, landscape architecture, major portions of public works, its non-resident business manager, and even the part-time, phantom mayor. Where are the cost-centers’ financial information shared with the public –– from the WaterWorks to Parking Authority to Arts Council? With a change in government, West Windsor could avoid an extra layer of indecision. Our part-time mayor is full-time absent.
5. Debt reduction is a noble yet insidious master. The anticipated $2 million from liquor licenses is burning a hole in the Administration’s pocket. The mayor perceives this one-time money is “free.” However, for free, I will remove that ugly construction trailer glued to the Municipal Building … and we can spend the $1 million on more bicycle paths and no-bid consultants. Or not.
6. What ideas do you have to make West Windsor a better community? How about converting and polishing the Princeton Junction Train Station spring-fed “pond” into a vibrant oasis with a butterfly house? Supporting an effort to extend the Dinky into Plainsboro along existing right-of-way to the new Novo Nordisk, Forrestal Center, new University Medical Center? Or, by inaction, supporting the mayor’s purchase of another truck for West Windsor Public Works? It is your money.
Pete Weale, Penns Neck
