LAMBERTVILLE: Barbara Parsons Day set March 31

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — Barbara Parsons, who is retiring after 33 years with Lambertville’s Municipal Utilities Authority, was honored by the City Council Monday night.
   March 31 of this year has been proclaimed as the official Barbara Parsons Day by the council.
   A written proclamation read aloud at the meeting states that Ms. Parsons has become “a very important person” to both officials “and members of the community.”
   The document added that she has become known as “the anchor” of the MUA, “making sure operations run smoothly” and that her “wealth of knowledge will be sorely missed.”
   The proclamation noted that “the Robert Parsons scholarship fund, established to help students at South Hunterdon Regional High School, has helped and touched the lives of many young men.”
   Tom Horn, executive director of the MUA, said Tuesday of Ms. Parsons: “She’s been a great employee and is a very good person. We wish her well in her retirement and will really miss her here. She started here part-time in the 1970s, helping out with billing. She became full-time and became a very good resource. She always remembered everything that’s happened here and how we solved various problems that came up during her time here.”
   OTHER BUSINESS — Under an ordinance adopted by the City Council Monday, Lambertville taxicab and livery drivers must be fingerprinted, according to city Clerk Cindy Ege.
   The ordinance is required to put the city into conformity with a new state law, Ms. Ege said.
   Also under the ordinance, Lambertville has the right to auction off taxicab licenses, which currently cost $300.
   Under the new ordinance, the city will start the bidding for each license at $300.
   The auctions will have to be advertised in advance in a legal notice.
   ALSO, on Monday, Ms. Ege said, the council voted unanimously to adopt a $100,000 bond ordinance for the purchase of a refurbished garbage truck for the city’s Public Works department and a Chevrolet Tahoe for the city’s police department.
   Council also passed a resolution authorizing Mayor David Del Vecchio and Ms. Ege to sign a contract with Edmunds and Associates for software for the city’s finance office.