At the Township Committee meeting on Wednesday, February 22, a resolution was passed endorsing the New Jersey League of Municipalities’ initiative for municipal support of the military.
Mayor Peter Cantu explained this was a move to recognize the service of the military reservists and national guard, “people who were deployed in some of the overseas conflicts the U.S. has had in the recent past.”
“This recognizes their service and encourages citizens and businesses in Plainsboro to try to provide, to the best of their ability, employment services to veterans upon their return,” Cantu says.
Committee member Ed Yates asked the mayor if there were any concrete plans set forth by the state to provide employment for veterans. “Most of the trade unions have a program called ‘Helmets to Hardhats’ where they put people sometimes directly from military programs and into apprenticeships, and then they do get jobs,” Yates said.
Mayor Cantu said he wasn’t sure that state programs were necessarily in place for Plainsboro companies, but he is optimistic that opportunities will come through.
“If there are suggestions on how we can do something more to implement this, I certainly want to hear them,” Cantu said.
The mayor said that the chamber of commerce “which has the unique ability to reach out to its members” would be where he starts.
In other township committee news, after a year of planning Plainsboro Township has taken a step towards reinventing itself — online.
A professional services contract for an interactive website and “citizen communication service” was approved.
Resolutions were also passed for the following items:
– Authorizing execution of first amendment for the FMC Corporation site redevelopment area. The mayor said the resolution authorizes a change in the timing obligations for the developer work to make improvements on Scudders Mills Road and Campus Road.
“It defers the previous requirement that they do this prior to the opening of the new hospital (May 22). Because of circumstances out of their control it defers that obligation to December,” Cantu said.
– A redemption of tax sale certificate and a refund for a recycling container were approved.
– An application for Plainsboro to apply for 2012 community development block grant (CDBG) funds will be submitted.
– A resolution to certify the township’s eligibility for LOSAP, the length of service awards program, will be introduced on March 14.
– A resolution authorizing the township’s participation in the state health benefits plan as well as its retirees’ participation in the plan. Because of the savings Business Administrator Robert Sheehan has estimated he says the township fast-tracked the change, which takes effect on July 1.
“We’re doing the best we can to make the transition so we can gain those savings as soon as possible,” he said.
On the agenda for the township committee’s next business meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, March 14, are public hearings on the township’s towing and storage fee schedule; vehicles and traffic regulation changes for Enterprise Drive; and changes to the number of taxi licenses awarded by the township (WW-P News, February 3).
Mayor Cantu and Ed Yates said that an official appointment is expected to be made for an alternate, two-year term on the Zoning Board. There is also one position for an alternate, two-year term on the Planning Board but the mayor said that the committee will wait a little longer before filling that one. Both positions would expire on December 31, 2013.
– A resolution authorizing Najarian Associates to perform environmental services at the bulk farm is on the consent agenda for March 14.
– Towing contractors for the Plainsboro Police Department will be recommended on March 14 as well.
– Releases of developer review fees for the following projects are set to be approved March 14: Bloomberg, Romeo’s Restaurant at 10 Schalks Crossing Road and Mack-Cali Realty Corp.
– A release of inspection fees for Integra Life Sciences’ minor expansion project last year is also on the consent agenda.
The township committee will also review inspection fees and a performance guarantee for High Point Utilities, which has a road opening permit.
