A petition to change the name of Township of Washington to the Township of Robbinsville was given by myself to Dawn Ferreri at the township clerk’s office on June 4. When I started this project as a member of the Washington Township Senior Advisory Council, I planned a three stage program. Why was this being done?
Phase 1: We needed our own post office. This phase was completed in 2006 much to the benefit of our residents and businesses.
Phase 2: A name change will help establish recognition of our community. We have seen many changes in the past four years — new houses, new stores and a new high school. A total of seven Washington Townships was giving us an identity problem.
New Jersey maps issued by the American Automobile Association indicate Robbinsville, not Washington Township.
Mail, packages and shipments of goods are often sent to the wrong address.
Robbinsville School district can stop getting wrong information.
Our police and firefighters will be from Township of Robbinsville not one of the six other Washington Townships.
Phase 3: ZIP code change. Every township should have it’s own ZIP code. Ewing is going for it, Lawrenceville has it, and Trenton controls our mailing. We have to have a township with it’s own ZIP code to eliminate lost mail and deliveries.
If we vote to change the name to the Township of Robbinsille we have a very good chance to get our own ZIP code. Our township has grown from 3,100 residents to over 11,000. We need our own ZIP code. We want our ZIP code 08691 to be a Robbinsville-only ZIP Code. We will have to get the U.S. Postal Service to agree with us to make this change.
Now we come to the question of cost to the community. Name shoulder patches for fireman and police should cost less than $1,000; police and fire vehicles, approximately $5,000; signs that state Robbinsville Township, approximately $4,000. All paperwork letterhead, et cetera, will be of no cost, as it will be done when reordered. The total cost will be approximately $10,000, or $1.28 per registered voter. No tax increase needed. It is an initial cost only not a yearly cost.
Mayor Dave Fried has stated the cost is minimal, with no tax increase. Why the scare that we will go into more debt?
I am sorry to say that I no longer live in Robbinsville. I have Pancreatic cancer and living with family in Morrisville, Pa. I love Robbinsville and if it wasn’t for my illness, I would still be in Wyndham Place with all my friends.
Please vote yes to change the name.
Lewis Koushel,
Chairperson, Committee to Change Township of Washington to Township of Robbinsville
Morrisville, Pa.