Mayor highlights seniors bus at forum

By Matt Chiappardi, Staff Writer
   EAST WINDSOR — A new community bus for seniors, an anticipated YMCA in the township and roadway safety dominated a forum presented by Mayor Janice Mironov this week at the township Senior Center.
   About 60 senior citizens listened to Ms. Mironov speak and field questions for nearly an hour between their Keno games Tuesday morning in the main auditorium of the center on Lanning Boulevard.
   During her speech, the mayor immediately highlighted the new bus, which she said is scheduled to begin operation this upcoming Wednesday, much to the pleasure of her audience.
   The bus, which Ms. Mironov said was awarded to the township by New Jersey Transit at “no cost to the town” based on an application township officials submitted more than a year ago, will have a lift to make it fully accessible to the physically disabled, air conditioning and a baggage rack, and is one of the “first bunch being delivered out of the batch,” the mayor said.
   The 30-passenger bus is expected to offer area seniors transportation to local shopping centers and medical offices Mondays through Thursdays at a cost of 25 cents per trip. Fridays the bus is expected to offer out-of-town shopping trips and other excursions to places of interest throughout central New Jersey.
   The rest of the mayor’s forum focused on many of the campaign issues from her recent re-election bid.
   She highlighted her plans to bring a YMCA community center to the township by partnering with the YMCA of Western Monmouth County. That organization already has a satellite office in Hightstown, but it only offers child care services and an aquatic program which utilizes the Hightstown High School pool.
   During the campaign, Ms. Mironov’s opponents for council accused the mayor of using the promise of a new YMCA as a ploy to ensure her re-election. The mayor maintained that was not the case Tuesday, adamantly promising that construction of the YMCA will go forward.
   ”Some people thought November 6 was the date Cinderella turns into a pumpkin, but that’s not the case,” Ms. Mironov said with no prompting.
   When asked by audience member Ed Walters for a date when residents can expect construction of the Y to begin, the mayor declined to give one, only saying, “there is enthusiasm and eagerness on both sides” for the project to begin.
   Moreover, Ms. Mironov would still not discuss a proposed site for the center, only saying it would be in an “accessible” place that “won’t be intrusive.”
   She has previously suggested such a center might be located on a piece of a 26-acre tract near Airport Road.
   During the question-and-answer portion of the event, many residents were focused on traffic safety and what they perceive to be dangerous driving in the township.
   Beatrice Cohen said she feels like she’s “playing Russian Roulette” every time she drives on Route 571 near the entrance ramp to Route 133.
   ”Instead of a yield sign, there should a stop sign there,” she said.
   Ms. Mironov said that’s an option, but added that since Route 571 is a county road and Route 133 is a state road, the issue is out of the township’s control.
   Tuesday evening the Township Council voted 6-0 to approve sending a letter to the state Department of Transportation and the county to address that particular stretch of road.
   At the forum, the mayor also highlighted the traffic light scheduled to be installed at the corner of Route 535 and One Mile Road, and an idea to possibly extend Lanning Boulevard across 571 into the Windsor-Hights Shopping Center.