Borough councilwoman ‘highly recommended’ to be mayor
By: Marjorie Censer
Princeton Borough Councilwoman Mildred Trotman will likely take the oath of office as mayor at Wednesday’s council meeting.
Ms. Trotman was nominated Friday along with Councilman David Goldfarb and Princeton University student Mark Salzman by the 20-person Democratic Municipal Committee for the post, said committee chairman Andrew Koontz.
New Jersey state law requires the committee to nominate three candidates, but the committee specially designated Ms. Trotman, adding a "highly recommended" provision to her nomination. The Borough Council is expected to vote on the nominees at Wednesday’s meeting, and if chosen Ms. Trotman will be sworn in at the meeting.
Mr. Koontz said Ms. Trotman was the only nominee who asked the municipal committee for the nomination.
"There was only one candidate who came to the committee to specifically ask for its consideration," he explained. "We do need to provide three names."
Mr. Goldfarb said he will support Ms. Trotman’s nomination to the seat. Mr. Salzman is a Princeton University junior who serves as a committeeman in District 1.
The state of New Jersey requires the council to fill within 30 days the mayoral seat vacated by the Oct. 21 death of Mayor Joseph O’Neill. Mayor O’Neill had two years remaining in his term.
Ms. Trotman, if appointed, would serve as mayor until the 2006 election at which point she could run for the remaining year left in the term.
Both Ms. Trotman and Mr. Goldfarb are running for re-election to the Borough Council today. If Ms. Trotman is re-elected, her appointment to the mayoral vacancy would leave an opening on the council. The municipal committee would then again have 15 days to nominate candidates and the council 15 days to appoint one of those nominees.
Mr. Koontz said the municipal committee is tentatively scheduled to meet Nov. 21 to nominate three candidates.
"I do expect that may be a far more interesting race," he said. "I think there’s interest from some people."
He asked that interested candidates contact him at (609) 252-0264.
In other business on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting, the council may introduce an ordinance that would grant an additional 100,000 square feet of space to Princeton University in its engineering quadrangle while maintaining the 250-foot setback line from the rear of Murray Place residences.
The proposed ordinance, which would go before the Regional Planning Board of Princeton on Dec. 1 and have a public hearing at Borough Council on Dec. 13 if introduced, represents a compromise between the university and the Murray Place neighbors.
In its latest version, the ordinance retains Von Neumann Hall the building closest to the rear of the Murray Place residences at the request of residents and requires a comprehensive landscaping plan. It also includes detailed requirements for a shuttle system, obligating the university to provide frequent service and to avoid primarily residential streets for routes. If the shuttle system were stopped, the ordinance requires the university to provide the required number of parking spaces on-site.
The proposed ordinance also sets permanent constraints on the E-quad and Von Neumann Hall, requiring that Von Neumann Hall never house laboratory facilities and that existing vehicular thoroughfares be permanently maintained. No additional pedestrian thoroughfares would be allowed.