Borough forfeits bargaining chip

Roger Martindell of Princeton Borough Council
    Princeton Borough’s December 4 decision to transfer title to the 126 acres of Sewer Operating Committee lands on River Road from the Borough’s name alone to joint Borough/Township name stated a worthy goal. But in the present political environment between the Borough and Township governing bodies, the Borough’s decision was made in disregard of any reasonable negotiating context.
   Consequently, the Borough’s decision to transfer title to the SOC lands shortchanged the Borough taxpayer. Now, those who voted for the transfer must negotiate several long-standing issues between the Borough and Township that have cost the Borough taxpayers millions of dollars, but do so without having the SOC lands available as leverage in the negotiations.
   The long-standing issues include:
   • When will the Borough take meaningful, practical steps to collect the $2.1 million in bond reimbursement that the Township owes the Borough for joint projects — but which the Township has refused to acknowledge for many years?
   • When will the Borough take meaningful, practical steps to collect the $1.5 million in sewer connection fees that the Township diverted from a joint account and now owes the Borough — but which the Township has refused to acknowledge for many years?
   • When will the Borough take meaningful, practical steps to persuade the Township to transfer the open space in the Township purchased with Borough funds so that not just the Township holds title to those lands but the Borough and Township share title –- another claim that the Township has refused to acknowledge for many year?
   Given the Borough’s easy willingness on December 4 to accommodate Township demands for joint title to the SOC lands, the Borough’s continuing unwillingness or inability to pursue the above-identified issues with the Township brings the Borough perilously close to nonfeasance.
Roger Martindell, member
Princeton Borough Council
Prospect Avenue
Princeton