Marchand is mayor again.
By: David Campbell
Phyllis Marchand was sworn in for an eighth term as Princeton Township’s mayor at the Township Committee’s annual reorganization meeting Sunday.
A standing-room-only crowd of around 150 was on hand for the committee vote of 4-0, with Committeeman Bernard Miller absent, to select Mayor Marchand, who is serving her sixth three-year term on the committee and her sixth consecutive year as mayor. Mayor Marchand also served as mayor in 1989 and 1994.
Township officials took the opportunity of Sunday’s reorganization meeting to officially dedicate the new municipal building, which opened for business in September but has been undergoing finishing touches since then.
"Princeton Township’s home for municipal and police activities reflects a design that is innovative, practical and in keeping with the other structures around it," Mayor Marchand said. "The public space, both indoor and out, is so inviting that I expect many more constituents to participate in our meetings and community activities."
Attendees Sunday included residents, state lawmakers, county freeholders and township employees and volunteers. Former Mayor Michele Tuck-Ponder and former Committeeman Steven Frakt, as well as members of the design and construction team that built the new municipal building on Witherspoon Street, also attended.
After the reorganization Sunday, Mayor Marchand, a pair of giant scissors in hand, presided over a ribbon-cutting in the municipal building’s lobby.
At the reorganization, Mr. Enslin was sworn into office after being elected to his second three-year term in November. Mr. Enslin also was selected to continue as deputy mayor.
Mr. Enslin succeeded Mr. Frakt in that position when Mr. Frakt resigned from the committee in June, six months before the end of his term.
Mr. Miller, who was appointed in July to finish out Mr. Frakt’s term and won election to his first three-year term in November, was not present for the swearing-in ceremony Sunday. He is expected to be sworn into office at a committee meeting later this month.
In her annual state-of-the-township address, Mayor Marchand cited accomplishments in the past year in areas such as deer management, open-space conservation and recreation, senior and affordable housing, Latino and family services and road projects.
The mayor also paid tribute to her fellow committee members, municipal staff and volunteers on Princeton boards and commissions.
"The citizens of Princeton have extraordinary experience, expertise, intelligence, creativity and insight," Mayor Marchand said. "How lucky we all are that they donate their talents to our community."
The mayor declared the township’s deer-culling program a success, citing a 50-percent reduction in deer-car collisions since 2000 before the program began, down from 345 in 2000 to 168 in 2002.
Mayor Marchand called 2002 a "banner year" for parks, recreation and open-space conservation, citing the groundbreaking for sports fields and passive recreation at Greenway Meadows Park, progress on designs for similar upgrades to Coventry Farm and the preservation of the historic Gulick Farm.
In the area of social services, the mayor cited the completion last year of renovations to six affordable-housing units and the sale of eight units; the hiring of a Latino coordinator in cooperation with Princeton Borough; and the creation of a Domestic Violence Victim Response Team by township police.
Mayor Marchand also cited amendments to Princeton’s Master Plan for 68 new affordable senior units at Elm Court, and family conferences and workshops by Corner House on the drug ecstasy, adolescent depression and suicide.
The mayor also cited the visit this summer by a delegation from Pettoranello, Italy, celebrating its 10th anniversary as Princeton Township’s sister city, and recognition last year by Rutgers University’s Center for Government Services of the township for its public information services.
Several appointments were made to township and joint Princeton boards and commissions Sunday.
Jacqueline Tillman was appointed to the Princeton Regional Planning Board to fill the unexpired term of Alyce Bush. On the township Board of Health, Dr. Laura Kahn was reappointed for another three years and Susan Goldman Kapoor was appointed to replace outgoing member Dolores Philips.
Former alternate Penelope Baskerville was reappointed to four years on the township Zoning Board of Adjustment as outgoing member Gene Rosenblum’s replacement, and Barbara Felton was appointed for two years, replacing Ms. Baskerville as alternate.
On the Human Services Commission, Marjorie Blaxill, Elaine Schuman and John Powell were reappointed to three-year terms, and Mary Robinson-Cohen was appointed to replace Karen Andrade-Mims.
On the Princeton Joint Recreation Board, Joanne Rogers and Michael Rothman were appointed to fill the unexpired terms of Susan Hahn and Sudesh Chugh, respectively.
On the Princeton Environmental Commission, Thomas Shannon was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Patricia Cherry.

