Electronic messages are considered public record and must be saved
By: Molly Petrilla
In an effort to make the workings of the Princeton Township Committee more open to the public, committee members on Monday discussed a policy regarding e-mails sent to each other.
Township Attorney Ed Schmierer briefed the committee on a decision by the New Jersey Government Records Council, the state organization that interprets the Open Public Meetings Act and The Open Public Records Act.
E-mails sent by members of governmental bodies even from home computers are considered public record and need to be saved, Mr. Schmierer said.
Township Administrator Jim Pascale said the township’s information technology manager, Scott Walter, has set up a system that keeps e-mails as a permanent record, even if they are deleted from the sending and receiving computers.
"We ask that you sign on to the system," said Mr. Pascale to the committee and staff members. "If you do not have the necessary software, Scott will make himself available to make sure the software is installed on your computers."
Committeeman Lance Liverman asked Mr. Walter if the software is accessible from hotels abroad.
Mr. Walter replied that it is, adding that the system can be accessed through mobile devices if necessary.
In other business Monday, the committee passed two resolutions endorsing the Princeton Recreation Department’s application to Mercer County’s Mercer at Play Grant Program in the amounts of $143,000 and $486,048.
The money is designated for a proposed skateboard park in the township, and toward an all-weather turf surface at Greenway Meadows field, Mayor Phyllis Marchand said.
On Saturday, there will be a "funraiser," co-sponsored by Princeton Parks Alliance and the Princeton Recreation Department, intended to kick off an awareness drive encouraging community participation in the proposed construction of a skate park at Hilltop Park on Bunn Drive.
The committee also passed a resolution supporting the Route 206 Joint Vision Plan and Traffic Calming Study. With the endorsement, committee members emphasized they are looking to see the state Department of Transportation move ahead with the Route 206 plan, including evaluating proposals.
The committee stressed a need to incorporate public input while moving forward with the plan.
The committee also discussed the Town Topics office construction site on Witherspoon Street, which is located at a former private residence directly across from the Community Park School. Construction is expected to be complete in 2007.
Heidi Fichtenbaum, a Carnahan Place resident, said she is concerned the construction site is dangerous for the children at the elementary school.
"It seems as if the fox is already in the hen house," said Ms. Fichtenbaum, "which is a little frustrating."
Township Engineer Bob Kiser responded, "At no circumstance are there to be drop-offs or going in and out of the driveway (of the construction site) while children are being picked up or dropped off" for school.
Mr. Kiser said notice to that effect has been given to the contractor and was to be disseminated to all the subcontractors.

