As part of a formality following its new shared services agreement with Helmetta for animal control, the Township Committee voted on May 11 on a change to the kennel services.
The agreement would approve Helmetta’s change from using its current kennel provider to its own facility, which it had been constructing. The new facility opened on May
“They’ve completed their own facility, so this is just basically the change over from the provider to their own,” said Mayor Peter Cantu. “That was always envisioned as the way it would go.”
The Township Committee approved the agreement with Helmetta in December.
Under the agreement, the township will pay $18,000 — a savings over its prior agreement with West Windsor, which cost the township $65,000. Helmetta, another Middlesex County town, is approximately 15 minutes from Plainsboro.
The fact that Helmetta was in the process of constructing its own kennel was a main factor in the lower cost to Plainsboro. At the time of the decision, Plainsboro Police Chief Richard Furda said that Helmetta was in the process of building its own animal shelter that is scheduled to be completed by April — a factor that contributed to the lower cost to Plainsboro under the agreement.
The agreement with Helmetta was the beginning of a chain of events leading to West Windsor Animal Control Officer Bettina Roed’s termination. West Windsor officials said that when Plainsboro pulled out of the agreement, they looked into options. The ultimate decision was to enter into the agreement with West Windsor, estimated to save West Windsor about $40,000 in the first year.
