I should tell you that I am a long time supporter of open space and environmental issues. I am a member of FOWWOS, Audubon Society, and the Nature Conservancy. Let me address roughly the last 20 minutes of the last West Windsor Council meeting of September 20. Some positive and constructive statements were made.
Approximately halfway through his talk, Mr. Church mentioned that an interface was being sought with the DEP. As you all know the DEP, a state agency, has the final word on any changes to open space farmland and its structures, such as the Grover Farm. Mr. Church delegated that task to Mr. Word. I might say not an easy task. I consider this a positive move. The other encouraging suggestion by Councilman Maher was that the committee generates a business plan for the main farm house, conforming to DEP regulation and rules, even though he did not agree with some of the policies.
As to the rest of the meeting on the Grover Farm committee, I would call it a disaster. The main topic appeared to be about the alleged vandalism and the bashing of the administration and the mayor. This in my opinion has nothing to do with the committee’s task and I quote: “How to restore the main farm house.” As a matter of fact, Councilwoman Geevers ended up with a shouting match with committee co-chair Rocky Procaccini. It seems to me, it is more important to some of the committee officers, to politicize and bash the mayor and council, than to focus, plan, and organize on what it takes to reconstruct the main farmhouse.
Now to my questions. Whatever happened to the determination by a professional building inspector that the main farm house is structurally sound and safe? What has to be done to it to get a township certificate of occupancy?
What about the out buildings? The three-car garage, the small red barn and white barn, and the green lean-to. Some of these, according to the administration, can be saved and used. On the other hand the ramshackle tenant house and washroom have not been used for many years and are overgrown with ivy. Nature, via Hurricane Irene, did us a favor and blew down the larger barn. The township and a previous council had a plan for all these structures but this council put everything in reverse.
As to memorializing Mr. Leroy Grover Jr., keeping the farmland productive is the highest honor to bestow on Mr. Grover. Also, the placement of a memorial plaque will be very permanent, similar to what FOWWOS has done at the Liao-Lin open space property on North Post Road. Memorializing Vietnam veteran Thomas R. Grover has been satisfied by naming a township middle school after him. It is located within eyesight of the farm house.
Please allow me to submit 23 more signatures on the petition to keep the farmland farming and not use taxpayer dollars to restore the main building. Paul Eland
