West Windsor — with an eye on working towards greater professionalism and respect between the administration and council — unveiled a new look at the annual reorganization meeting on July 1.##M:[more]##
For the first time since the institution of the mayor-council form of government in West Windsor, the mayor, business administrator, and township attorney will sit on the dais with council during council business meetings. Previously, the three sat at a table in front of the dais with their backs to the audience.
Council President Charlie Morgan, who was elected presiding officer by a unanimous vote, says council believes it was disrespectful to force the mayor and business administrator to sit apart from the council.
He adds that it is appropriate for the township attorney to also sit with council because he is representing the governing body during council meetings.
“The attorney in this township has a real challenge in that he must represent both the mayor and the council, and in some cases the two sides don’t necessarily agree,” said Morgan.
“To be symbolic of the role he plays at our meetings, the attorney will now sit next to the council president and vice president,” said Morgan
The first order of business at reorganization was the certification of the results of the May 10 municipal election by Township Clerk Sharon Young. She then administered the oath of office to Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh for his second four-year term, and Councilmembers Linda Geevers and Heidi Kleinman for their first four-year terms.
In addition to Morgan’s election as council president, Franc Gambatese was elected vice president, Kleinman was appointed to the Planning Board, and Geevers to the Affordable Housing Committee — all by unanimous votes.
Council also voted unanimously to appoint Kristin Appelget as the representative to the Emergency Management Council, and Transit Village Task Force; Gambatese as representative to the Government Channel Committee, and liaison to the Cable TV Advisory Board; Geevers as liaison to the Parking Authority and WW-P School Board; and Kleinman as liaison to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
“West Windsor is on the brink of considerable change and with it a real opportunity to firmly establish a unique identity building on unique elements of our township,” said Hsueh in his inaugural speech. (For the full text of the speech see page 2.) “While we need to continue our fiscal and managerial efficiencies, we also have a number of projects to advance.”
One of those projects is a transit village at the Princeton Junction train station. “We have the second busiest train station in New Jersey which can be developed into a more structured and pleasant destination… We can take a wide expanse of unproductive asphalt and change it into more profitable ratables, open space, and unique residential offerings.”
“There is great potential in West Windsor to become an even more vibrant community,” said Geevers, who comes to council after serving a six-year stint on the WW-P School Board. “The challenge is to integrate projects and proposals into a cohesive plan.”
Kleinman, in her comments, said she was “ready to get busy and to serve this community.”
Appelget lauded the new additions to the council dais. “This is an example of how we are looking forward to working together. We have a great team who together bring a set of diverse skills to the township.”
“I’m excited to be sitting here with a full dais of colleagues,” said Gambatese. “When I came here two years ago, I can’t say that we had the same atmosphere here in this room.”
In other reorganization business, council voted to change the starting time of meetings from 7:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. Morgan also said that there will be strict adherence to the rule that members of the public wishing to speak will be held to a three-minute time limit.
“We’re going to try and follow our own rules (on council) for a change,” Morgan added. “In the past there was a lot of disorganization and people speaking out of turn. We’re going to try to exercise some restraint, and not speak until recognized by the chair.”
Council also approved a professional services agreement with the law firm of Herbert, Nan Ness, Cayci, and Goodell for services as township attorney.
Appointments included Ed Steele to the Zoning Board for a term ending in June 2009, and Don Rizzo to the Parking Authority for a term ending in 2010.
