Princeton Boro says township owes it money

By Lauren Otis / Staff Writer
   Since a joint exchange of checks between Princeton Borough and Township officials six weeks ago which partially redressed joint agency capital expenses owed by the municipalities to each other, there has been no further response from the township on additional money the borough is owed, a borough official said.
   ”It’s been status quo since we’ve gotten the $1.6 million from them,” Borough Chief Financial Officer Sandra Webb told Borough Council members at their meeting Tuesday evening. On July 23, Ms. Webb was given a $1.68 million check by the township, and she gave the township a $258,109.24 check to partially resolve a dispute over financial obligations that has been simmering for two years. The payments were to cover bills owed by each municipality to the other from 1989 through 2005. At the time, Ms. Webb said the borough was still negotiating with the township over an additional $810,000 it said it was still owed for the 1989 to 2005 period.
   Ms. Webb told council members that the township has not yet responded to 2006 vouchers sent to it by the borough for repayment. She said she is in the process of pulling and copying 2007 vouchers and should forward them to the township in a month or two.
   At Tuesday’s meeting the issue was initially raised by Councilman Roger Martindell.
   ”What are we going to do about the situation?” Mr. Martindell asked his fellow council members after hearing from Ms. Webb. He noted a lack of responsiveness by the township on further payments it owes the borough and on setting up regular meetings with the borough. Mr. Martindell said it was his understanding that the township had acquiesced to meet with the borough four times a year to talk on general issues in 2007 when the borough gave it joint title to the Princeton Sewer Operating Committee’s River Road site.
   ”I am going to be meeting with Phyllis and Bernie on Thursday morning and will discuss that issue and will be happy to report back to you, on Tuesday,” Mayor Mildred Trotman said, referring to Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand and Deputy Mayor Bernie Miller.
   Mayor Trotman, Mayor Marchand and Deputy Mayor Miller had not returned calls seeking comment on their morning meeting at deadline.