Just wondering. Despite countless Open Public Records Act requests to West Windsor Township for an accounting of the West Windsor Arts Council, the township says it doesn’t have the information.
BIG RED FLAG ALERT!
Did West Windsor taxpayers approve diverting the $46,000 annual Developers Diversified Realty (Nassau Park) payments crafted by Planning Board Chairman Marvin Gardener from the Township Panera Bread outdoor ice skating rink to the West Windsor Arts Council? How much public money has the Arts Council received through the years? I have asked for that accounting via direct private communications and OPRA. Silence.
What monthly expenses are enjoyed by the West Windsor Arts Council (water, sewer, HVAC, site maintenance, etc vs. revenue/income) … plus $800,000 in free leasehold improvements were effected by the mayor with no public accounting?
Let’s see…
(1). $800,000 renovations by mayor and council for restoring half of the Princeton Junction historic (1931) firehouse and recurring monthly expenses to the arts council paid by West Windsor taxpayers;
(2). $800,000 in taxpayer donations to the phantom West Windsor Historical Society (itemization overdue since the township has a fiduciary responsibility to know about organizations to which it pays public funds);
(3). Unknown amounts to the township’s fourth grade education project (and accounting) at the Schenck Farm;
(4). Monetary itemization for the school house restoration (architectural fees and reconstruction);
(5). Millions for no-bid professional service contractors and litigation on the West Windsor Transit Village; full accounting requested via OPRA but incomplete;
(6). Promises to buy the Acme Woods with public funds without voter approval;
(7). The Asian Pocket Park — see adjacent housing — sitting in limbo as a weed patch; funding update?
(8). The bankrupt JCC despite West Windsor’s purchase of unbuildable adjacent land for Blue Heron Rookery;
(9). Languishing ghetto area behind Ellsworth Center since 1992;
(10). Source of $7 million West Windsor budget surplus/fund balance (requested but not provided by West Windsor);
(11). Hired architect without competitive bid for $5.5 million municipal renovations/expansion vs. offering open competition for various firms to vie for the business and job;
(12). Reckless legal spending already at the budgeted max with four months remaining in the fiscal year!
(13). Ticking concerns over American Cyanamid/Wyeth/general growth/Howard Hughes plans to double West Windsor township population via housing vs. efforts to find commercial ratable for jobs and revenue;
(14). Where is accounting of $2 million in liquor license revenue?
(15). What did West Windsor do to offset the loss of post office lease income?
(16). Which of the above issues were solved by Fortune 500 business analyst Kamal Khanna?
(17). Updated lease and historic details regarding township-owned sweetheart township employee lease of North Mill property that wasn’t half the value of the storied Grover Homestead;
(18). Plans for burying utilities through Princeton Junction commercial district before completing sidewalk network. Additional sidewalk segment on Washington Road (Penns Neck), Grovers Mill Estates to Community Park;
(19). Relocation of power poles on PBA curve and along Route 571 between Alexander Road (7-Eleven) and Clarksville Road.
(20). Restoration of Berrien City/Wallace Circle Pond: aquatic ecosystem with butterfly colony.
This is a tip of the emperor’s fiscal iceberg. Lettuce get some answers!
Pete Weale
Penns Neck
