The letter below was shared with members of Council and the media at the February 23 Council meeting.
Dear Mayor Hsueh:
I write to personally request your presence at West Windsor Township Council meetings. I believe there is an implied contract that anyone who has been elected to public office for more than 20 years would find time for four hours or less — two hours every two weeks — would want to be present to share information.
You are the directly elected, fully accountable mayor of a community, which you stated in June, 2013, (Princeton Packet) was “the best town in the world!”
Your presence would afford residents the opportunity to express suggestions of support or alternatives — to your (mayor’s) submitted agenda for Council approval. Budget savings and suggestions are often discussed during these bi-monthly Council meetings. However, these have no traction when questions go unanswered by your sustained absence. There is currently no protocol for either Council or administration follow-up.
When you ran for re-election, you espoused your unlimited availability and interest in representing residents by providing your cell phone if anyone had questions. I called that phone number from the podium last November during a Council meeting. I subsequently repeated that request, and you have yet to return my call.
There are countless questions regarding updates on township projects that remain unanswered. You have dropped of a fiscal year 2015 municipal budget increase for which you expect Council to dissect and rework. This is improper as any budget should be a collaborative effort.
There is an old military axiom which is apropos: lead, follow, or get out of the way.
Pete Weale
Penns Neck
