Strict new regulations governing political contributions could be on the way in Princeton
By: Nick Norlen
Strict new municipal regulations governing political contributions could be on the way for both Princeton municipalities.
Former borough mayor and Princeton Community Democratic Organization Government Ethics Committee member Marvin Reed was back at Borough Hall on Wednesday, pitching two separate reform ordinances to the council: one involving prohibitions, and one based on disclosure.
Members of the PCDO appeared before both the township and borough governing bodies in late April with drafts of both ordinances, which are designed to enact stricter requirements than those imposed by the state’s "pay to play" regulations, Mr. Reed said.
The first proposal, an "ordinance for public contracting reform," also known as the "pay to play" ordinance, seeks to "set maximum amounts that professional business entities may contribute politically beyond which they become ineligible to receive a public professional service contract from the Borough Council."
The second, an "ordinance requiring contribution disclosure statements in development applications," would require "the listing of specified political contributions made by property owners, developers and professionals whose services they use in applications for major variances, waivers and exceptions."
Borough Mayor Mildred Trotman said the ordinances could be on the council’s agenda for adoption before the end of the month.
The Township Committee was to hold a public hearing on the first ordinance during its meeting on Monday night. Mr. Reed addressed the second ordinance Wednesday.
"It does not require an elaborate system for the clerk to check, or anyone else to check," he said. "What it does do is give public access to the record of large contributions. This would enable anyone who might be concerned about that to be able to come in to the clerk’s office and see a record of what was filed either by that contractor or by that applicant."
After Councilman Roger Martindell asked if the ordinance had any teeth, Mr. Reed said that it is essentially "self-policing."
He added, "If they fail to make it, that also becomes part of the public disclosure."
Later, Mr. Martindell added, "Recording of a non-disclosure would be maybe penalty enough. Then you get caught and you get embarrassed."
Councilman David Goldfarb expressed a difference concern.
"I’m concerned, at least at the theoretical level, that having information about political contributions in an application for a variance made by a resident of the community may raise issues about whether the decision about the application is being made on a political basis," he said. "And I think that chills both the review process and the ability of residents to continue to make contributions."
However, Mr. Reed said having such disclosure "keeps the whole process out in the open. It’s disclosed. It’s transparent."
Mr. Goldfarb then suggested a way to maintain transparency but avoid potential biases by creating a process "so that it’s available to the public without putting it in the application itself."
Council members and Mayor Trotman indicated they favored the stipulation.

