By: centraljersey.com
After more than three and a half hours of debate on Tuesday night, an ordinance to fund the multi-million-dollar Princeton Community Park Pool project was introduced after a tie-breaking vote from Princeton Borough’s mayor.
"The mayor voted to break the tie as four votes were needed for introduction," said Andrea Lea Quinty, borough clerk. "There was some brief discussion as this was happening because a bond ordinance has specific requirements for voting – during the adoption of the bond ordinance the mayor will NOT be able to vote even to break a tie. Thus, four votes will have to come from Borough Council only."
Adoption is being scheduled for Feb. 22, said Ms. Quinty.
Council members Jo Butler, Jenny Crumiller and David Goldfarb voted for the ordinance. Council members Roger Martindell, Barbara Trelstad and Kevin Wilkes voted against it. This created a tie that forced the mayor to cast the final vote for approval of the introduction.
More than 50 area residents packed Borough Hall to urge the council to introduce the bond ordinance for funding the borough’s share of the cost of the Community Park Pool project and learn about updates to the design.
By the time it came down to vote at 11:20 p.m., the residents had dwindled to about 20.
The council split on support for the measure, with Mr. Martindell suggesting the approval of a lower amount. Mr. Wilkes and Ms. Trelstad supported his plan.
Pool funding has become an issue in the borough, especially since it was up for final adoption late last year. It failed to garner any support when former council member Andrew Koontz could not get a second for his motion in December.
This time, Mr. Martindell spoke out about the possibility of fee increases, which might be counterproductive to the goal of increasing membership by renovating the pool.
The subject of a debt management plan was brought up by Mr. Martindell and Mr. Wilkes, which was not well received by one member of the council.
"I find it disturbing that this process has been going on for two years and the debt management is thrown up tonight," said Ms. Butler. "It’s a red herring. We’ve got to introduce this and move on."
"I wish the council would introduce this and move on," agreed Mayor Trotman. If there is a problem with things, the ordinance can be killed before final adoption; meanwhile in the interim period to the second hearing, debt service can be looked at and design plans can continue to be refined.
"I’m not comfortable voting for $2 million dollars," said Mr. Wilkes. "I’m just putting that out there. If we approve $6 million dollars, $6 million will be walking out the door."
The ordinance will appropriate the aggregate amount of $2 million and authorizes the issuance of just under $2 million in bonds or notes to finance the borough’s portion of the pool project.
After two hours, the meeting was opened to the public comment at 9:30 p.m.
"Lead, follow or get out of the way," said Henry Singer of Laurel Circle in Princeton Township. He spoke of the loss of the community pool for a season in Orange where he grew up and urged the council to move forward on the funding so the same does not happen in Princeton. "Make a decision and move on."
Others echoed those sentiments, adding worries such as what would happen to the summer camp program if the pool failed and what would happen to the recreation budget if the pool did not open for a season.
The pool, built in 1967, has design flaws with no transitional area between the baby wading pool and the Olympic pool and no Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations. It also has plumbing and concrete issues. The pool complex is located on Witherspoon Street near the township municipal complex.
Sticking points have included whether to redesign the site and construct a new pool, renovate what exists and what to do with the buildings on site.
Attendees also heard updates to the design of the complex from Dianna Stockton, Princeton Township project manager.
Changes to the pool plans include: a concrete wading pool, not stainless steel; smaller family bay; smaller wading pool; no bridge over the family bay connecting the wading pool to the general pool; larger diving well; possibly having the slide in line with the diving board instead of perpendicular, which would allow the diving well to be an alternative site for swim meets; and alternative ideas for pool construction, such as all concrete, stainless steel or some combination of the two.
A tri-bid request is being set up to request prices for an all-concrete pool, a stainless steel pool and a Myrtha system. A Myrtha system builds pools with a stainless steel construction and a PVC liner from the Italian company. This type of pool is designed for fast installation. They are deep with smooth walls, which allow for better flow and faster filtration.
Although they have their benefits, Myrtha pools are more expensive, about 20 percent more than concrete to build, but are less expensive to maintain over the life of the product. Concrete pools are cheaper to build, but cost more to maintain, with painting and replastering.
Changes to the buildings include less-curved walls and more rectilinear. They would also like to change the public meeting to an open air space. The concession area would also be reduced by 300 square feet.
"It’s quite a list of changes and it represents a savings of 2,000 square feet; if you calculate it against the $130 per square feet it adds up," Ms. Stockton said.
With the modifications, project costs have been brought down to $5.5 million from the original $6 million price tag, said Thomas Zucosky, a borough member of the Recreation Board.
There will be additional professional service fees due to continuing plan modifications. Some area residents urged that the design process be wrapped up, since it has been going on for two years, so the project can move forward and go out to bid.
To begin construction on Sept. 6, the day after Labor Day, the project must go out for bid in May. Early professional service agreements must be in place and final design under way in early February.
A subcommittee made up of several officials from each municipality has been set up, as per Mayor Chad Goner’s suggestion on Tuesday, to focus on the pool project site plans and bid alternates has been formed, said Township Mr. Goerner.
"I thought 12 people on the dais would not be the most effect way to get things done, now the subcommittee can make recommendations to the larger governing bodies," said Mr. Goerner.
So far, members include Mr. Wilkes, Ms. Butler, Mr. Goerner. One other person will be named from Township Committee.
