PRINCETON: Consolidation to be topic at Princeton Future session

By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
   Findings from the Joint Shared Services/Consolidation Commission will be presented and discussed with the public at tomorrow’s Princeton Future meeting.
   There will be an opening presentation and four group discussions for deeper understanding and feedback on the issues. The groups will be: governance, police, public works and finance. Participants have time to select two of the groups to learn more about issues that interest them the most.
   Commission members leading the groups will be: Patrick Simon and David Goldfarb, governance and administration; Bill Metro and Ryan Lillenthal, police services; Valerie Haynes and Alice Small, public works and Chad Goerner and Anton Lahnston, finance.
   The presentation will begin at 9 a.m. in the community room of the Princeton Public Library and is open to the public.
   At Wednesday nights’ regular commission meeting, borough resident Travis Linderman asked what the commission hopes to get out of the meeting. Commission Chair Anton Lahnston said they are hoping for feedback from residents on the four issues the commission is examining, which will impact and possibly influence each subcommittee’s work.
   Recruiting for focus groups began yesterday. Group members will be randomly selected from voter registration rolls. The focus groups will take place on April 9 and 14.
   Borough resident Dudley Siprelle asked about the recommendation of the form of government and if the public will have input. The commission has voted to recommend the borough form of government, but the final recommendation will be crafted and available at the end of May or June, said Mr. Lahnston.
   ”Is it possible to change that? I doubt it. I’d say it’s remote at this point,” he said.
   Borough resident Alain Hedegus said senses a bias by the commission for consolidation and it is trying to find a way to sell it to the community.
   ”We are being careful to be as objective as we can and to find the best options for us, and whatever we come up with is what we will advocate to the public,” responded commission member Patrick Simon.
   The commission’s next regularly scheduled public meeting is at 7 p.m. on April 13 in the Princeton Township Municipal Complex community room.