By Amy Batista, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — New Year’s Day marked the beginning of Janice Mironov’s 17th consecutive year as township mayor as Township Council members unanimously appointed her to the position.
East Windsor Township held its annual council reorganization meeting on Sunday, where Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes swore in Janice Mironov, a member of Township Council, to her 17th year as the council’s appointed mayor.
The afternoon meeting took place at the East Windsor Township Senior Center, which was filled with distinguished dignitaries from around the state along with local residents.
Rabbi Jay M. Kornsgold, of the Beth El Synagogue, led the ceremony with an invocation. “We have come together as a community at the beginning of this New Year of 2012,” said Rabbi Kornsgold. “We pray that it be a year of happiness, health, and prosperity for all.”
"May they always remember that they have been called here to do the peoples’ business and to do what is in their best interest. We pray that they be successful in their task as they continue to improve the lives of all those who call East Windsor home and as they take our township to even greater heights in the years to come,” said Rabbi Kornsgold.
New Jersey State Senator Linda Greenstein, of the 14th District, addressed the audience before swearing in the newly elected council members.
"Here, in East Windsor, there are so many things to compliment, it’s hard to know where to begin,” Sen. Greenstein said. “But very clearly, the leadership under the direction of Mayor Mironov is recognized not just here but statewide . . . As some of you may know, she is in the near future going to be the president of (the New Jersey) State League of Municipalities. And, that is a very important organization that determines the direction of all the towns in the state and that’s a real statewide recognition of her great leadership that she shows throughout this town.”
Sen. Greenstein continued, “East Windsor is definitely a town on the move, a town that is progressive.”
Then, Sen. Greenstein administered the oath of office to the returning council members Marc Lippman and Peter Yeager as well as to newcomer John Zoller.
Mayor Mironov welcomed the new members of council and thanked the voters.
"We look forward to a terrific year,” Mayor Mironov said.
Noteworthy, the floor was then opened up for nominations for mayor. Councilmen Perry Shapiro nominated Mayor Mironov. She was the only member of Township Council nominated for the position.
"It’s a real pleasure for me to nominate to the office of mayor, my good friend, Janice Mironov,” Councilmen Shapiro said.
Prior to administering the oath for the position of mayor to Ms. Mironov, Mr. Hughes said, “We have become a partner in all the open space and all the economic development that’s going on. I can tell how many farms she has saved here in East Windsor, the most anywhere in the county and in any other municipality.”
In other news, Mr. Shapiro was appointed as the deputy mayor and sworn in by Mayor Mironov. David Orron was reappointed as the township attorney. Jeffrey Rubin was also reappointed to his position as the township prosecutor along with Robert Schwartz as the township public defender. The council made all of these appointments.
Mayor Mironov presented and recognized several volunteers at the ceremony with certificates of appreciation.
"The municipality is really able to (do) a great many more things, activities, programs and outreach when we have willing citizens who come forward and give up their time, ability, talents and help assist the operations of the government,” said Mayor Mironov. “This is an opportunity for us to recognize it.”
Mayor Mironov read the certificates to the audience and called up the volunteers.
Former Deputy Mayor Walter Daniels was recognized for his dedication to the council.
Former Councilwoman Marsha Weinstein was recognized for her dedication to the council with a gift during the ceremony.
"It has been truly an honor and a privilege to work with the mayor and council the last 16 years, but, ya know, it’s time to step down and do some other things with my life,” Ms. Weinstein.
Council had a chance to provide some comments towards the end. Many thanked the voters and their families along with wishing everyone a happy New Year.
"In all these years I’ve been on council, this is the first time, the first one that I haven’t had Marsha sitting next to me today,” said Councilmen Hector Duke. “Welcome John. Over the sixteen years, Marsha was the one that would be responsible for me getting involved in politics.”
"During the past years, our township has seen several stores and businesses open, seen several new streets and roads paved. We are working on Etra Park. The attendance at this Senior Center has increased,” said Mr. Duke.
Mayor Mironov, before adjourning the ceremony, summed up events of the past year and also discussed some of the projects ahead in 2012.
"I anticipate 2012, again, will be a very trying year for us in putting together our funding and our finances and a spending plan,” said Mayor Mironov. “As you know, we will do our best. We work on the philosophy that we are proactive in our partnerships and our grant seeking. We try very hard to exercise a fiscal conservative approach and fiscal policy here, we will continue to work from that foundation.”
"I mean no disrespect to the partners here who we look forward to working with us and learning a little more insight into how local officials feel sometimes about Trenton officials and the heartache they create on our communities,” said Mayor Mironov.
"It would be nice if we could get back the energy tax receipts that we taken from us, diverted from us and made property taxes higher and made it more difficult to govern locally,” said Mayor Mironov. “The other area that we would ask kindly that you please stop inferring in a detrimental manner with local planning decisions and not allowing good responsible well-based community to make decisions with the residents.”
"We continue to present a high quality of services,” said Mayor Mironov as she thanked additional department heads.
Mayor Mironov discussed business development as well. “It is an important base for us. It creates new jobs. It generates tax dollars. Shopping opportunities,” she stated. Further, “We have a number of new projects we are looking forward too . . . We have several retail projects coming up.”
It was also highlighted at the ceremony that McGraw-Hill is finalizing a solar ray project, which will be the largest net metered project in North America. Also, Sci-Park is getting its first tenet, Elementis. Another item mentioned was that Windsor Corporate Park recently transferred ownership. Further, it was stated at the meeting that ConAir is anticipating that in 2012 they move ahead with plans for a warehouse addition.
"Our passion remains our open space preservation,” Mayor Mironov said. “An area that has gotten some trickiness over recent years, partially due to Trenton’s involvement. We hope that 2012 will be the year that the legislators in Trenton promote renewable energy because we certainly support renewable energy, you just have to look around. Our municipal building is a pioneer building. It just needs to be done in a thoughtful and prioritized way because they are using our money. It has to be done in a way that prioritizes projects, helps support local businesses, and can operate in a more competitive fashion.”
The township has preserved more than 2,600 acres — which is about 33 percent of the town, she said.
East Windsor Township Council will next meet on Jan. 10.
