The six candidates for West Windsor Council were asked to give a brief biography and provide answers to the questions below. Their responses are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
1.) Please summarize your background, career path, academic credentials, etc.
2.) What do you think should happen to the Wyeth/Howard Hughes land at Quakerbridge Road and Route 1? What steps would you recommend to achieve that result?
3.) A plan has been advanced to renovate the township office complex at a cost of several million dollars. What is your opinion of that expenditure?
4.) Several projects have been proposed to enhance the downtown area of West Windsor, including the pocket park next to the 7/11 and a proposal for landscaping the pond area in front of the Junction train station. Would you continue these efforts? Add other projects to the list? If so, how would they best be financed?
5.) What areas of township operations or infrastructure are most in need of immediate improvement?
6.) Do you anticipate a need to raise property taxes in the foreseeable future? Why or why not? Do you have a plan to lower taxes? How would you implement that?
7.) Long-term what are the biggest challenges facing West Windsor?
8.) Are there any other issues that you would like to raise?
9.) Is there a public figure or personal acquaintance you look up to as an inspiration or a role model?
1.) As a candidate for West Windsor Council these are my background credentials: I was elected to West Windsor Council in 2005 and re-elected in 2009. I served as Council president in 2006-’07 and for two years as vice president.
I was a West Windsor Planning Board Class III Member in 2010-’11 and an affordable Housing Committee Member for two years. Current I am the liaison to the Environmental Commission and WW-P School District.
I was elected to the WW-P School Board in 1999 and re-elected in 2002. I was vice president three consecutive years (2001-’04) and served as chair of the Administration and Facilities Committee and various other committees.
Currently I am a member of the West Windsor Arts Council, the West Windsor Bike and Pedestrian Alliance, and the High School North PTSA. I have been married for 28 years with three children educated in WW-P school district.
A West Windsor resident for 18 years, I coached WW-P girls recreation basketball for 10 years. My background is in residential real estate and radio news, and I earned a B.S. in communication arts from Cornell University.
I am running to bring about greater openness and inclusiveness to governance in West Windsor. When key decisions are made it is important to reach out to residents and incorporate their input at the beginning of the process. I will continue to foster greater collaboration between the mayor and council to get matters resolved in a timely manner.
2.) Future development of the 658-acre Howard Hughes property will have an enormous impact on the quality of life in West Windsor. I would support an open process for consideration of plans that are proven to be tax positive. If zoning changes are formally requested, I believe that an accompanying Fiscal Impact Analysis Report should be required in order to fully comprehend the tax impacts from any additional school children, emergency services and infrastructure needs. No one wants overcrowded schools and to be stuck in longer traffic jams. My years of experience as a council member, former WW-P School Board and Planning Board member, will be valuable in whatever critical decisions are to be made regarding this and other properties.
3.) Another project that is on the horizon is the proposed $5.1 million renovation of the municipal building and post office. In May, council received the architect’s report and was then asked to vote on a resolution at a business meeting for an additional $247,000 architect’s contract for further work. The resolution wound up being pulled from the agenda due to lack of any prior public discussion. I have repeatedly asked that the architect’s initial proposal be placed on the municipal website and that there be a public presentation of this report. Clearly, council and the public need to review this report to respond intelligently before any further steps are taken.
Communication on a wants vs. needs analysis is critical when determining the overall cost of such a project. Energy efficient green standards should apply to save the taxpayers money. Once a presentation is made we can determine priorities and a schedule for funding from such sources as grants and liquor license revenue.
4.) Some projects that have been put on the back burner by the mayor and administration, such as the so-called pocket park, need to be finalized. We’ve unfortunately missed the spring and fall planting seasons, so this winter would be a good time to take a close look at what we want to accomplish there with everyone’s input. The township should seek donations for the landscaping and outdoor furniture. To date, council has not received a landscaping proposal for the pond area in front of the train station. This is not a high priority for the use of taxpayer money.
Other projects that should be addressed include the blighted area that is behind the separately owned Ellsworth property located at the corner of Route 571 and Cranbury Road. All legal measures by the township should be taken immediately to eliminate this eyesore and to encourage new construction in tandem with the exciting new plans for the front Ellsworth property. With Hemant Marathe as mayor, our background in successfully completing major school construction projects will provide the needed leadership to get things done in a timely and coordinated manner. We need decisive action now to bring in more commercial and retail ratables and to establish a much more business friendly environment.
6.) As for the budget, I support a process whereby council deliberates and makes changes to the mayor’s proposed budget before formal introduction. This year’s council deliberations at the public hearing only resulted in one $8,500 change by a 3-2 vote on a $37.3 million budget. We can and will do better to lessen the tax burden on residents. With Hemant Marathe as mayor and Peter Mendonez and me as council members, we will carefully pare down the budget by paying close attention to details and planning decisions.
8.) Recently, I have been working with Cranbury Road-area residents in getting their needs addressed for a safe way to walk and bike along this road. We must take measures to make this area safe for everyone, while also promoting good health and sustainability through less automobile usage and more exercise. I have urged an open and inclusive process for making sure that the residents’ concerns are addressed in the township’s Request for Proposal for engineering consultant services related to this project. Having everyone on board from the beginning of the process sets the pace for a collaborative approach for future decision-making.
