By Lauren Otis, Staff Writer
Princeton Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand is likely to be an active presence in township affairs once she steps down as mayor on Nov. 30, although the political landscape in the municipality is certain to shift, according to several area political observers.
”Once you’re a mayor in this town, you are a presence whether you want to be or not,” said former Princeton Borough Mayor Marvin Reed.
Mayor Marchand built a legacy of embracing and guiding the township through a period of development and change, while also leaving behind a municipality which still exhibits much of the unchanging attributes that residents have admired over the years, Mr. Reed said.
For the future, “it is very likely she will be well known and involved in activities that are of most interest to her,” in the township, he said.
”It’s going to be hard to imagine the township without having Phyllis involved in some way,” said Princeton Borough Mayor Mildred Trotman. “I certainly think she served her constituents well. I certainly do wish her the best.”
With Mayor Marchand retiring, and Sue Nemeth elected earlier this month to the Township Committee seat being vacated by Vicky Bergman, two-fifths of the Township Committee will be new and “it is going to reshape the political landscape,” said Mayor Trotman.
”I admire what Phyllis has done for the township,” said Borough Councilman David Goldfarb. Mr. Goldfarb said the changes at Township Committee may present opportunities for resolving some of the outstanding billing and other joint issues between the borough and township.
Policymakers can get locked into positions, something “I probably share the blame for,” Mr. Goldfarb said. “With the new focus on the Township Committee in the new year it may be easier to resolve this,” he said of the longstanding dispute between the municipalities over Northridge sewer fees, among other ingrained differences.
Mayor Marchand said she will be devoting more time to family pursuits once she steps down as mayor but certainly will continue to take an active interest in township affairs.
She said she was particularly looking forward to devoting time to sustainability and environmental preservation issues in the township when she is no longer mayor.
”Phyllis has been a guiding force for the township for so long that her influence will continue long after her tenure ends,” said Ms. Bergman.
”I don’t expect to see a whole lot of dislocation in the way the township operates,” after she and the mayor leave office, said Ms. Bergman.
Ms. Bergman said there will be some changes at Township Committee as a result of its two new members. “It’s an exciting time, any time there’s change. We’ve seen it at the federal level and now it is exciting to see it at the local level,” she said.

