Finding areas of efficiency, limiting the burden to taxpayers, and bringing more business to West Windsor top the list of goals for 2011 for the West Windsor Township Council and its new President Kamal Khanna.
Khanna, a West Windsor resident for more than 30 years who was elected to council in May, 2009, was unanimously selected by his council colleagues at the January 5 reorganization meeting. Former president Diane Ciccone was unanimously selected as the Township Council’s vice president.
“Very soon, we will be working on the 2011 budget,” said Khanna. “This will be a challenge for all of us to meet the current economic conditions and the caps imposed by the state. We need a budget that makes sense and is within the caps.”
Khanna pointed to the efficiency study that he has suggested since being elected that is now underway. “I am encouraged by the fact that the first phase — a comparison with like municipalities — has been completed,” he said. “This will help identify areas that can be improved by cutting costs and/or providing better services.”
“In my opinion, the very culture has to change so that everyone, at all levels of the government, understands his or her responsibility in doing their share to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” Khanna added.
Khanna also said the township needed to look at bringing in more commercial ratables with a minimum impact on quality of life. “Businesses look at predictability and stability before making site decisions,” he said. “Our redevelopment plan, along with a unified council and mayor, will go a long way in convincing businesses to make West Windsor their home.”
Khanna also encouraged residents to continue providing input to the council. “We may not adopt all of your suggestions, but they do help us make decisions which are best for most of the residents of West Windsor.”
Other council members also stressed the importance of controlling costs and creating a tight 2011 budget.
Councilman Charles Morgan said that West Windsor’s government “has shown a tendency to stay the course as usual.” He pointed to the township’s hiring of Business Administrator Robert Hary in 2009 as a flawed process because the township did not seek candidates from outside of the township.
He also said that when the council is asked to approve upcoming professional services agreements, it should request that the township solicit bids from at least three professionals for each position to ensure it is getting the best quality at the lowest cost to the township.
Referencing the difficult economic climate, Ciccone said, “We need to start thinking outside the box. The council will work as diligently as we can.”
Resident John Church pointed to Census numbers, which showed a decrease in population in New Jersey. He said it was because of the increase in costs to the public. “You can control your costs here,” he told the council. “The budget season is approaching. Do whatever you can to keep costs under control.”
Following the meeting, the township’s Planning Board also held its reorganization meeting, where Marvin Gardner was re-elected as chairman and Michael Karp as vice chairman.
Demolition This Month? During her comments at the reorganization meeting, Councilwoman Linda Geevers reported that she had been to the township’s municipal building and had seen that paperwork was submitted for demolition of the two vacant buildings on the corner of Cranbury and Princeton-Hightstown roads.
Geevers said depending on how long the paperwork process takes, the demolition of the buildings could occur as soon as this month.
The buildings have been viewed as the eyesore of the property lining the gateway into the township, where a Rite Aid is approved for future development.
