Plainsboro Police were called regarding an alleged theft and investigation started Wednesday, June 12, with an arrest made the next day, June 13. Alleged value of theft: $618
Short, sweet, and to the point. Swift justice.
Meanwhile, in West Windsor, Mercer County?
(A). Taxpayer-owned 170-year-old Grover House trashed.
(B). WW business administrator resigns and a full year dog-and-pony show ensues.
(C). Committee formed by council to “study” how to blame Grover Homestead Restoration Committee for meeting delays, despite township council and administration having a full four years to act (and did not).
Fast forward for a 3 1/2 month West Windsor Police Department investigation starting September, 2012, with a promise of an exhaustive search for justice. Without public notice, investigation was sealed by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
By West Windsor’s municipal attorney’s estimate (who earned $286,141.59 for his part-time position for fiscal year 2012), declared damage to the Grover House was “Not in excess if $10,000.” However, the new window replacements alone are $43,000!
An almost-new heating system, cast iron radiators, copper piping, electrical wire, center hall staircase, century old hand-blown window glass, hand-turned door and window moldings, multiple fireplace mantels, wide-plank flooring, solid core interior doors, front door with transom, window molding medallions — all a century and older — making the Grover House a home are deemed worthless by our local government?
None of the aforementioned items removed by the parties have been returned nor proper restitution/accounting made to the residents and taxpayers of West Windsor. No one has been charged with this crime. No one from the administration or police department thought assets should be returned to taxpayers?
“It is all a misunderstanding,” they said. The Township has expended taxpayers funds in excess of $800,000 for improvements to the nearby Schenck Farm, located within eyesight of the Grover Farm. These payments were made to a group of private individuals with an interest in history yet no efforts were made to save or share the Grover House. There has been no Historical Society 501(c)(3) formed for donor contributions yet the Grover Committee needed to have a “business plan” in return for its requested $53,000.
Begrudgingly, the West Windsor Council has yet to decide if the Grover House should be either saved — or razed. It must be a gut-wrenching decision. Instead, the focus is shifting for the mayor and council to spend more than $5 million on renovating the municipal building for its employees without a referendum — instead of reducing long-term debt, lowering property taxes or simply not incurring additional debt. There has been no mention of the additional $7 million budget surplus accrued from years of mismanagement. That surplus belongs to taxpayers!
In summary: Justice and leadership can be found in Plainsboro.
In West Windsor some of the politicians, administration, and directly elected, fully accountable mayor by their actions care little about American history and saving the boyhood home of a true American military hero. Tommy Grover’s bravery and ultimate sacrifice and love of country created the freedoms so blatantly abused by those with a fiduciary responsibility to preserve our history.
What do you think? Do you care enough to get involved? See you at the first West Windsor Council meeting in July, 2013. Stand up and be counted!
Pete Weale
Penns Neck
