The WW-P News ran an article in its June 8 issue titled “Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh Determined To Preserve West Windsor’s History.” West Windsor’s Pete Weale has raised questions in response to several points made in the story:
WW-P News: Hsueh contends, in the Grover Farm controversy, that his administration has done more to preserve the township’s rich history than any officials who came before him.
Pete Weale: The mayor has done nothing to preserve the Grover Homestead. Perhaps he can provide examples? Since the buck stops with the mayor, he has produced no paper trail documenting authorizations for the township’s actions or those by third parties.
If the estimate for the repair of the Grover Farmstead house is $400,000-$500,000, this is the amount for which the mayor and his staff are responsible.
WW-P News: Establishing the Saturday farmers’ markets next to the train station was one example. Preserving historic buildings such as the fire house that the West Windsor Arts Council now occupies as well as structures of the old potato barn at the new Center for Orthodontic Excellence at 61 Princeton-Hightstown Road are further evidence, the mayor says.
Weale: So the mayor started the Farmers Market at the Princeton Junction Station? Really? This should be interesting news to some. And others, especially those who actually got the ball rolling. The mayor is famous for claiming credit for the work of others.
Preserving the West Windsor Arts Council building? At what initial cost? Despite three requests, the mayor has been unable to provide ANY operating information on the building for which taxpayers blindly subsidize a special-interest group.
The township has a lease with this organization but knows nothing about their financial health, despite covering the Arts Council’s monthly utilities — heating, ventilating, air conditioning, water, sewer, grounds maintenance, interior maintenance, a ‘new’ front handrailing, yada yada.
WW-P News: Some have suggested that the Rogers House on the grounds of Mercer County Park holds substantially more historical significance to the area than the Grover house as it is one of only two sites in the area listed on the National Registry of Historic Sites.
Weale: The mayor ignored the Nierenberg House at the entrance to Community Park despite efforts to save the structure. That house truly endured a demolition by neglect and the township would not permit a local architect to save it.
WW-P News: Part of the problem is that when discussions with council were held in 2009 and 2010, the Grover house could not be rented although a lease agreement was drawn up. Farmer Steve Jany did rent the property from the township for farming, however.
Weale: Copy of the lease for the farmland rental from Mr. Jany? What was the annual rental, money spent on fertilizer, and rental cost per acre? To where did these funds go each year? How about a P&L on the entire Open Space land management program?
WW-P News: Whatever the future holds for the Grover farm, the mayor is conscious of keeping West Windsor’s heritage alive. He announced a new strategy for the Environmental Education Center at the Schenck Farmstead: it will serve as the “Museum of Historical West Windsor.” The most recent plans for an environmental center exhibit at Schenck Farm were presented in April. Beth Redmond-Jones says her design team spoke at length about the target audience for the new facility (students around the fourth-grade level).
Weale: How much $$$ did the Redmond-Jones study cost taxpayers, even if the money was paid by a developer(s)? Perhaps I missed it.
When does all this Redmond-Jones stuff START and when will it be READY? Dates? How will this environmental place pay for itself? What is the annual operating subsidy and for how long?
Fourth graders visit the Schenck Farm? How many? When? Who keeps the stats? Kids from other school districts? Shared services?
Have the mayor share with you how he has preserved the buildings in Penns Neck — the structures along Route 1 and the farmhouse and farm barnyard (with surrounding stone wall) just beyond Fisher Place. Check the dumpster. And the Censoni House across from the municipal building? Well, it stores soccer balls.
To remind the mayor’s acolytes who clap and holler whenever the mayor mumbles, respect is earned. Disrespect is earned, too. Where is the transparency?
