David Kilby, Managing Editor
JAMESBURG — This year will see some changes in the borough, and this was indicated clearly at the council’s reorganization meeting Wednesday.
Council members Brian Taylor and Daria Ludas were sworn in along with Mayor Marlene Lowande. Ms. Ludas was chosen unanimously as council president.
Mayor Lowande gave plaques of appreciation to Tony LaMantia, whom she replaced, and Brenda Deans, who was replaced by Mr. Taylor.
The township hired a new attorney, Frederick Raffetto, in a 4-3 vote. Council members Barbara Carpenter, Otto Kostbar and Greg Newton voted no.
Also, Joseph Intravartola was re-appointed as the borough’s animal control officer in a 5-1 vote. Mr. Kostbar voted no, favoring the borough’s recently expired contract with Helmetta’s animal shelter.
As the council prepared to reappoint Mr. Intravartola, Councilman Kostbar said the Helmetta shelter is willing to reduce its costs by $5,000.
But Mr. Taylor responded that if the council tables the vote while it reconsiders its decision to reappoint Mr. Intravartola, the borough would be without an animal control officer at least until the next council meeting since the contract with Helmetta expired at the end of 2011.
He said not having an officer in the interim could open the borough up to liability.
There also was concern that Helmetta animal control takes too long to arrive in Jamesburg, sometimes taking up to two hours.
Mr. Taylor spoke of an incident where an injured dog was found on the side of the road, and Jamesburg police wound up watching the dog for about an hour while waiting for Helmetta animal control to arrive.
But Mr. Kostbar said he hasn’t heard of any complaints about Helmetta’s kennel.
Ms. Ludas mentioned there is still a feral cat problem in Jamesburg, adding she has seen cats cross Gatzmer Avenue on several occasions on her way to work in the early morning.
Before starting the contract with Helmetta, Jamesburg had an average of 88 feral cat calls per year. In the first month of the contract with Helmetta, there were 49 calls.
After the contract was switched to Helmetta’s kennel last summer, Mr. Intravartola said the number of cat calls went up because when he was animal control officer he often knew the owner of the pets roaming the street and simply returned them to their owners without need of a call.
The Helmetta shelter charged $100 per week for dogs, $90 per week for cats and $25 per week for any other domestic animal, such as rodents, birds, reptiles and amphibians, according to the contract.
In the borough’s contract with Mr. Intravartola, who is also the Jamesburg Public Works foreman, the borough paid him $14,000 for all animal control duties, including trapping strays and wildlife and picking up dead animals from the road, Mr. Intravartola said.
In the contract with Helmetta, Jamesburg paid Helmetta $7,200 per year, plus $55 for calls from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. and for calls weekends and holidays.
The council was divided on other issues at the meeting, including the negotiation of a PBA contract, which the council passed at the meeting Wednesday. Next week’s Cranbury Press will have a story on the contract’s terms and agreements.
Mayor Lowande said the division on this many issues is to be expected when so much change takes place.
”People are being cautious, and change is hard for everyone,” she said. “Jamesburg hasn’t had a new mayor in 12 years. I think I’m a big change for some people, being the first woman mayor. People not ready for it will be more resistant, but I want to pull together for the town.”
