David Kilby

By: centraljersey.com
CRANBURY – The Township Committee hopes to get a bit more involved with the township through its new subcommittee and liaison appointments made at the committee meeting Monday.
With a new mayor, Winthrop Cody, and two new committeemen, Glenn Johnson and Dan Mulligan, the interests and capabilities of the Township Committee have changed.
For the following year, Mayor Cody will be the liaison to the Administrative and Executive Committee, the Development Review Committee, the Finance Department and the tax assessor, Steve Benner.
The Finance Department consists of the director of finance, deputy treasurer, accounts payable clerk, payroll clerk, tax collector, tax assessor, assistant to the assessor and sewer collector. The department is responsible for preparing and managing the township budget, and balancing the general ledger, among other financial duties concerning the township.
The DRC is an advisory committee for the planning and zoning boards. It reviews all development applications.
Mayor Cody also is on the Council on Affordable Housing Subcommittee and the Master Plan Subcommittee with Committeeman Dave Cook.
The COAH Subcommittee is in charge of making sure Cranbury meets COAH’s requirements. The Master Plan Subcommittee is responsible for making sure the township implements the newly revised Master Plan.
Mr. Cook was appointed liaison to the Board of health. He also was re-appointed liaison to the Cranbury Housing Associates, the League of Municipalities, Middlesex County Solid Waste and the Business and Professional Association along with Committeeman Dan Mulligan.
The Board of Health’s mission is to "support New Jersey State statutes and promote good public health and prevent disease through recommendations and programs that maintain the health, safety and well being of Cranbury Township residents," according to the township website.
CHA is a 12-member nonprofit organization responsible for implementing the township’s affordable housing programs.
NJSLOM is "a voluntary association created to help communities do a better job of self-government through pooling information resources and brain power," according to the league’s website.
Mr. Cook and Mr. Mulligan also make up the new Business-Downtown Revitalization Subcommittee, which will focus on ways to preserve downtown businesses by, for example, looking for ways to provide more parking for downtown.
The Business and Professional Association is a coalition of small businesses in Cranbury that work together to ensure the success of businesses around town.
Committeeman Jay Taylor was re-appointed liaison to Buildings and Grounds, Construction, the fire company, the First Aid Squad, the Park Planning Commission and the Public Works Department. In addition, he was appointed liaison to the Municipal Court, the Office of Emergency Management and the Police Department.
The construction office assists residents, businesses and contractors in securing the appropriate permit or permits for work being done to their homes or businesses, according to the township website.
The Park Planning Commission is responsible for monitoring, reviewing and recommending active and passive recreational facility plans to the Township Committee, according to the township website.
The Public Works Department consists of eight workers responsible for "township roads, parks, buildings and grounds, maintenance of vehicles and equipment, brush and leaf disposal and other related operations," says the township website."
The Office of Emergency Management is responsible for helping the township recover from natural disasters.
Mr. Taylor is also on the Police Negotiations and Open Space subcommittees with Mr. Cook and the Personnel Subcommittee with Mayor Cody.
In the Open Space subcommittee, Mr. Cook and Mr. Taylor will work on preserving more farmland for the township.
Mr. Johnson was appointed liaison to the Environmental Commission, Historical Society, Historic Preservation Commission, Human Services, Shade Tree Commission and the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Committeeman Mulligan was appointed liaison to the Board of Education, the Municipal Alliance, the Business and Professional Association, the Recreation Commission and the newly established Scouts Commission.
The Environmental Commission is responsible for protecting, developing and using natural resources within the township. The Historic Preservation Commission protects, enhances and perpetuates historical resources within the township, according to the township website.
The Historical Society furthers the interest and knowledge of Cranbury’s history through venues like the History Center.
The Human Services Board provides evaluation, education and coordination of basic needs in the township, such as health, food, clothing, shelter, transportation and social interaction, according to the township website.
The Shade Tree Commission is responsible for regulating, maintaining and controlling ornamental trees and shrubbery along the streets and in the public place of the township, says the website.
The purpose of the Municipal Alliance is to reduce alcohol and drug abuse.
The Recreation Commission is responsible for "providing, conducting and supervising recreational activities in the township," reads the township website.
As liaison to the Scouts Commission, Mr. Mulligan will direct Scouts who wish to perform projects for the town, helping them fill out necessary paper work and make necessary connections.
Mr. Mulligan also was appointed liaison to the Cranbury Arts Council. For about two years, the Township Committee had no liaison to this council, but Mayor Cody felt a need since the council takes care of the Gourgaud Gallery in Town Hall.
Along with being appointed to the Business-Downtown Revitalization Subcommittee, Mr. Mulligan was also appointed to the Technology Subcommittee.
Mr. Mulligan has been asked to find volunteers for the Technology Subcommittee, which formerly was called the Computer Subcommittee. The main task of the Technology Subcommittee will be re-designing the township website.
At the next committee meeting Jan. 24, the committee will share its goals for the subcommittees this year, and is inviting the public to share its goals as well