Also at Council’s June 11 meeting, public hearings were held on three ordinances. Council and members of the public expressed their concerns over the expenses stated before ultimately approving each ordinance.
Ordinance 2012-08 provides an aggregate amount of $3,885,000, with $3.7 million to be issued in bonds or notes to finance capital improvements in the township. Hary explained that the ordinance covered amounts that were not fully-funded through the township’s 2012 capital budget.
John Church of 11 Princeton Place took issue with $800,000 that was appropriated for a new fire truck with a ladder and hose capable of reaching high-rise apartment or office buildings. Church told council that the Princeton Junction fire house already has one truck that could serve such a need, and there was a minuscule chance that West Windsor needs to have two of these trucks to battle fires. Church characterized the new truck as “nice to have rather than need to have” while making sure Council knew he supports the objective of community safety being put first. But Councilman George Borek, drawing on his firefighting experience, said the higher expense was justified because such vehicles must be built from the ground up and specially outfitted.
A second ordinance, 2012-09, is a capital improvement ordinance for $1,018,522.55 covering fully-funded projects that will be paid for through grant money or other fees, such as the $150,000 for the Schenck Farm and its Environmental Education Center, that was contributed by Centex (developer of the Elements).
Councilman Bryan Maher and Councilwoman Kristina Samonte recently toured that facility, and at the June 11 meeting Maher questioned Hary whether or not renovations at the site including installation of new bathrooms were included in the ordinance monies. Hary said that they were not, and in the future Council will need to approve another contract amount, which Maher estimates at $100,000, for bathroom construction at the Environmental Center.
Linda Geevers raised a question over the inclusion of a Department of Public Works facility being included in initial plans for the municipal complex. A sum of $100,000 for architect’s fees (rendering a conceptual design) for the municipal building was included in the $1.018 million, but Hary clarified that the design would likely not include the post office building or a new public works facility.
Ultimately the ordinance passed after council amended it, removing the mention of a public works facility tied into architect’s fees. However Councilman Maher remains against the use of $2 million in liquor license revenues for renovation at the municipal complex.
“It [the $100,000 in architect’s fees] is so the mayor can dream up what he wants for this building. In a perfect world maybe the architects need only $50,000 or $60,000 to do the designs, and maybe somebody might step forward to do it for free just for the exposure alone,” Maher said.
One other ordinance was for capital improvement was also approved. It appropriated $5,000 for Waterworks, a move done every year by the administration.
Three recommendations from the administration regarding animal control were passed by Council.
— A professional services agreements with Weber’s Training School (on Route 1) for $10,000 for the boarding and care of stray animals was approved.
— A professional services agreement with Mercerville Animal Hospital for $2,000 for the boarding and care of stray cats was approved.
— A professional services agreement of $8,000 for Nassau Animal Hospital for veterinarian services was also approved.
Other action taken by Council at its June 11 meeting included the following:
— William E. Antonides Jr. has been re-appointed as West Windsor’s municipal auditor through June 30, 2013. His new one-year contract will be for $43,842, the same as 2011-’12, and five percent less than Antonides earned for 2010-’11 due to the mayor’s budgetary guidelines (for five percent cuts) imposed one year ago.
— Council authorized Paul Lee’s appointment to the Human Relations Council, filling a current vacancy. His term will expire on December 31, 2013.
— Alcoholic beverage licenses for West Windsor Township were renewed for 2012-’13.
