New library parking talks possible

Trotman bid endorsed by township official

By: Nick Norlen
   Responding to a proposal by Borough Mayor Mildred Trotman, Princeton Township Deputy Mayor Bernie Miller said Thursday that he favors reopening talks with the borough about the canceled Princeton Public Library parking subsidy.
   Library officials have said that termination of the subsidy in February has been followed by a decline in library visits. The termination, after the two municipalities failed to agree on terms for its continuation, has also been criticized as violating verbal assurances made by local officials at the time the current library site was selected.
   "I think it would be appropriate for the township and the borough to resume discussion of library parking," Deputy Miller said.
   However, despite what he termed his own "willingness to resume discussion," he said he is not sure who will make the first move to schedule a meeting.
   "There are four other members of Township Committee. There are seven members of Borough Council. I think it has to be an effort by all the parties involved," he said. "I’m not sure that the opening move in this is up to the township. I think it’s up to both parties."
   Other Township Committee members have yet to weigh in on whether they would support new negotiations about the possibility of restoring the cost sharing of the parking subsidy between the two municipalities.
   Last month, after conceding that the continuing decline in use of the library could be the effect of the cancellation of subsidized parking, Mayor Trotman said she was willing to meet with township officials.
   Her comments came after a discussion about the impact of the canceled parking subsidy on library usage was postponed at the June 19 library board of trustees meeting due to the lack of a quorum.
   Afterward, Mayor Trotman said she didn’t expect a meeting to take place before the next board of trustees meeting July 17, but said she would leave it in the township’s court to schedule a time for discussion.
   Township Administrator Jim Pascale has said since that he’s "sure there will be" negotiations.
   However, he said initiating such talks is "beyond my purview."
   He added, "This is something that mayor and Township Committee will need to address. And I know they will."
   Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand has not returned messages requesting comment on the topic.
   But Deputy Mayor Miller said he supports the idea, and said he wouldn’t stipulate any special conditions for the parties to come together.
   "I’m not entering it with any preconditions," he said. "I think that the only condition on the discussion is that it be frank, open and that both sides participate and that we search for an equitable outcome."
   In January, borough and township officials announced they would cancel the subsidy in February because of financial considerations.
   Prior to its cancellation, the township paid the subsidy to the borough based on ratables, with the township covering two-thirds of the cost and the borough paying approximately one third.
   Last year, that agreement translated to a share of approximately $34,000 for the borough and $67,000 for the township, out of the total subsidy cost of $101,000.
   Deputy Mayor Miller said previously that any new agreement should ensure whoever is receiving the subsidy is actually using the library, rather than simply parking and shopping in the borough’s central business district.
   And Mayor Marchand has said that the library serves as "an economic engine for the downtown and the borough."
   But it has been argued that the township should cover the majority of the subsidy because borough residents can often walk to the library instead of driving and parking.
   Municipal officials have reported that approximately 80 percent of the parking subsidies were used by township residents.