Wintress named deputy mayor at township reorganization meeting.
By: Kara Fitzpatrick
MONTGOMERY Louise Wilson was elected mayor for the fourth year in a row and Karen Wintress was chosen as deputy mayor as the Township Committee held its reorganization meeting Tuesday amid expressions of hopes and goals for the new year.
John Warms, a Democrat, was sworn into office and will take the seat of Jennifer Wall, also a Democrat, who declined to seek another term.
"The end of 2004 was bittersweet," said the mayor in her address. With the holidays, she said, came joy. But following were the tragedies that occurred locally which included a deadly house fire and fatal car accident and abroad namely the devastation caused by a tsunami that pummeled South and Southeast Asia.
"I ask the people of Montgomery to give what you can to those people who have lost everything," said the mayor of the tsunami victims.
Mayor Wilson also addressed township issues that will likely take center stage this year. She pledged the new year to be one of fiscal responsibility.
"Our belts will be tighter than ever when the 2005 budget is formed," she said.
She pointed to the acquisition of the former North Princeton Developmental Center as being a "hugely important continuing issue" in 2005.
Mayor Wilson expressed her excitement for the planning of the Belle Mead node a 154-acre tract across from the Pike Run development. The township received a $14,700 grant from the county for its planning and design. The governing body anticipates the community planning exercise to create development options for the tract will begin in 2005.
In her address, the mayor also noted that traffic relief and road projects "will be on the front burner."
Being elected as mayor is "very gratifying and something I’m very, very proud to do," she said. Overall, Mayor Wilson said, "I am confident 2005 will be a very good year."
In a separate address, the deputy mayor said she believes the biggest obstacle the township faces in 2005 are financial challenges.
"Property tax reform is needed now more than ever," said Ms. Wintress. "We don’t want to force our residents to leave Montgomery. … We have to find other ways (to generate funds)."
Ms. Wintress stressed the importance of increasing the number of commercial ratables within the township and pledged to work closely with the Economic Development Commission in search of ways to attract more businesses.
Ms. Wintress also encouraged residents to become involved in the processes of local government. So much importance rests in the hands of local government, said Ms. Wintress, because "this is our quality of life."
Committeeman Mark Caliguire expanded on Mayor Wilson’s hopes of acquiring the NPDC property from the state this year. "I really do believe, that in 2005, we will get something accomplished there," he said.
Mr. Caliguire, the lone Republican on the committee, agreed there must be a focus on township finances. "We all must be extremely prudent when it comes to spending," he said.
Committeewoman Cecilia Birge concurred with the remarks from Ms. Wintress about tax reform. "We have no choice but to pay close attention to the issue of tax reform," she said.
And the newly elected Mr. Warms, who served on the committee in the 1990s and is a former mayor, said the committee, in collaboration with all township boards, must "work hard … to get more state aid" to support the school district.
Mr. Warms listed other issues he sees as an important focus in 2005, including the purchase of the NPDC property from the state.
"I hope that as a group … we can spend the time to tackle these priorities. We can’t wait any longer," said Mr. Warms.

