By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
Voters will have the chance to say “I do” or “I don’t” to a unified Princeton at the polls on Nov. 8.
The governing bodies of Princeton Borough and Township unanimously approved the measure to send the issue to the ballot at special joint meeting at the Township Municipal Building on Monday night.
Residents were split on putting the issue on the ballot, with both sides making their opinions known.
Friendship is enough for Anthony Lunn, a borough resident who asked for the issue not to go to voters. “We can be good friends,” he said. “We do not need to get married.”
On the other hand, Claire Jacobus, a borough resident, urged full commitment and for the issue to go to voters.
”I want you to vote with your whole heart for you both to put this on the ballot,” she said. “We trust you to implement the democratic process … marriage is a great thing.”
The citizens of each municipality should have the right to say yes or no, said Sandra Persechetti of the township.
”Get this on the ballot and let the people decide,” she said.
If the voters decide to consolidate, the township and borough would be unified into one municipality called Princeton with a borough form of government with a directly elected mayor and six at-large council members, according to recommendations from the Joint Shared Services Consolidation Commission (JSSCC).
Elections for the new government would take place in November 2012 with the new governing body sworn in January 2013. If approved, 2012 would be a transition year.
The JSSCC is a group of appointed volunteers, municipal officials and state officials that were guided by an independent consultant.
A transition team would be appointed in January 2012 to facilitate implementation of consolidation recommendations. Departments and facilities would be reorganized according to recommendations made by the JSSCC during its research process. Full implementation of all JSSCC recommendations could save the consolidated municipality $3.16 million annually.
Some other changes include:
* The new municipality would assume the debt of the former municipalities.
* All properties would be transferred to the consolidated municipality. All buildings would be retained and the future governing body would decide the use of them. The current township facility would become the new government center.
* Municipal solid waste collection would take place in the entire consolidated town.
* Advisory planning districts would be developed during the transition year.
* The regional school district would become a local school district serving one municipality instead of a regional one and school taxes would no longer need an equalization ratio. School board members would be elected at large.
”We are building a new unity of resources,” said Anton Lahnston, chairman of the JSSCC. “The unity of resources includes financial resources, service resources, administrative and intellectual resources, administrative resources, facilities, political resources and university resources. It will also give us unity on decision making.”
One issue on the minds of everyone Monday night was transitional costs, which would be a one-time figure of $1.7 million, or about $200 per average homeowner.
Borough Councilman Kevin Wilkes asked about transitional aid from the state to cover the transition.
Funding is uncertain at this point, and should not impact how people feel about a united Princeton.
”Our decision should not get in the way of the democratic process of what folks are going to do or not do here,” said Marc Pfieffer, deputy director, Division of Community Affairs, which has been involved throughout the process.
Committeeman Lance Liverman asked about any negatives to consolidation the JSSCC may have considered.
Population distribution, with the township having more residents than the borough is one of them. Concern that the borough would loose its voice and degradation of services are others, said Mr. Lahnston.
”I believe very strongly that one of the things we really looked at in the subcommittees is to make sure the recommendations do not contribute to any degradation of services,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I think we believe that some of the services will be dramatically improved.”
Yina Moore, borough mayoral candidate, said the towns have done so well with shared services there is little left to gain by a full consolidation and urged as many debates as possible.
Officials confirmed additional public meetings joint and singly about the issue will be scheduled in the fall.
Each governing body member profusely thanked the commission for its hard work.
