West Windsor residents should not expect a new animal control officer (ACO) anytime soon. Contrary to local press reports, the township is not court-ordered to hire a new officer, and Mayor Shing-fu Hsueh said there are no plans to do so.
“The judge never ordered us to hire a new ACO,” township attorney Michael Herbert said. “The only thing she ordered is to augment our current ACO program.”
Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson issued a verdict in January in favor of a lawsuit filed by former West Windsor ACO Bettina Roed and a group of residents disputing the extent to which police officers and other first responders should be involved in animal control situations. After the verdict, Roed filed a wrongful termination lawsuit seeking damages and reinstatement.
The township plans to appeal Jacobson’s decision, which ruled the township’s shared-services ACO with East Windsor is inadequate.
“Myself, the mayor, and Council have decided it is worth pursuing an appeal because it would save the township money and prevent future lawsuits that would argue about township services,” Herbert said. “The verdict requires third-party monitoring of the township’s animal control program, which is too expensive.”
In 2011 the township eliminated its ACO position for budgetary reasons and has been part of a shared services agreement with East Windsor’s ACO. The firing of Roed, who had worked for West Windsor for 17 years and was popular with many residents, provoked an outcry in the community. The current contract with East Windsor is for $16,000 a year, well below the roughly $50,000 salary West Windsor paid Roed.
Council president Linda Geevers was part of the 2011 Council that voted on the elimination of the township’s ACO.
“She was a full-time employee and a shared services employee with Plainsboro. Plainsboro decided not to renew and the township couldn’t find another town to share services,” Geevers said. “The administration made a recommendation and a budget decision was made. We decided to have a shared service agreement with East Windsor township. It saved us a lot of money.”
Herbert says upgrades to the township animal control program will include more adequate back up services, in the event the ACO is answering a call in East Windsor and there is a concurrent call in West Windsor. Another change is that the township police will no longer be first responders for an animal call. The ACO assumes first responder duties.
According to Herbert, most of the upgrades have already been implemented. He contests the recent court verdict, arguing the judge’s decision was based on outdated information.
#b#Budget Season:#/b#
Expect Tax Increase in West Windsor
Three budget workshops down, two to go. Council has reviewed most of the administration’s departmental budgets and a work session is scheduled following the Monday, March 7, Council meeting, followed by a final wrap up Wednesday, March 9, at 7 p.m.
The 2016 budget is scheduled for formal introduction Monday, March 21. Mayor Shing-fu Hsueh has requested a municipal tax rate increase of 1.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. The administration has proposed increases of 0.8 cents and 1.2 cents the past two years, and under former Council President Bryan Maher no increases were implemented. (The municipal tax levy accounts for 15 percent of property taxes, the remainder goes toward the school district and Mercer County.)
“You always look at the budget each year,” Council president Linda Geevers said. “We had zero cent increases the past two years. I expect we’ll have a slight increase this year. The operating budget is pretty consistent, though our town and other towns are spending a tremendous amount of money on affordable housing litigation.”
Hsueh says he has reached out to Council members. He has stated past zero tax increases are no longer sustainable and threaten the township’s financial stability and AAA bond rating.
“I’m going to be very firm about our budget,” Hsueh said. “We cannot keep going through this process. The last two years the budget was determined by one person.”
The proposed 2016 budget of $39.998 million is a 2.36 percent increase from 2015. A third of the budget goes towards salary and wages, which has increased $219,000, or 1.66 percent. There are also ongoing negotiations with all five unions representing the township’s municipal employees.
Expense increases in the rest of the budget total more than $679,000, a 2.73 percent increase. This includes increases of $300,000 for group insurance and $173,000 for pension costs.
Affordable housing litigation and planning consultants cost the township at least $187,000 in 2015.
Speaking before Council, township attorney Michael Herbert likened these expenses to an “unfunded state mandate.” After the governor’s administration rendered the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) inactive, municipalities statewide are now before county superior courts seeking approval for affordable housing plans.
Significant 2015 increases in revenue include increases of $85,000 from municipal court fees and $82,000 in EMS revenue. The latter is from additional service billing following the township’s disbanding of the Twin W Rescue Squad a year ago.
According to Geevers, Council has prioritized roadway improvements to Canal Pointe Boulevard and has asked the administration to explore moving up the project to this year. The administration budgeted $500,000 for the project this year and $900,000 in 2017, and the township is exploring the reallocation of existing capital funds so road improvements can be funded entirely in this year’s budget.
As for whether the improved roadway will continue to be four lanes or have a lane reduction “road diet,” Geevers said Council is considering a work session in a month to discuss the issue.
#b#Other Council News#/b#
With budget workshops to tackle, Council breezed through the February 22 meeting in 20 minutes. Council member Hemant Marathe was absent.
Council introduced an ordinance for an easement acquisition to improve water drainage and prevent flooding. The township acquired the $1,800 easement from 11 Glenview Drive.
Four residents were appointed or re-appointed to the Human Relations Council: Dr. Ephraim Buhks; Zain Sultan; Tasneem Qamar Sultan; and Razia Sayed. Dennis Power was appointed to the Board of Recreation Commissioners as an alternate member.
Council approved a $122,602 agreement with Diamond Construction for bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Village and Edinburg roads; a $86,520 agreement with Greenleaf Landscaping Systems for tree planting and public land maintenance; a $67,075 agreement with Clintar Landscape Management for open space and detention basin maintenance; and a $38,500 professional services agreement with ACT Engineers for remediation of the former township landfill/compost facility.
Council also approved a developer’s agreement with Jeff and Jill Friedman. Last fall the Planning Board approved the subdivision of their property, 16 Priory Road, into two lots.
