By Matt Nelson, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — A single voice from the public voiced displeasure of a new resolution approved at Tuesday’s Township Council meeting.
The township resident spoke against Resolution 2012-122, which called for the council’s consent to have an East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 utility vehicle repaired with Dom’s Getty Service Station.
Hightstown Borough Council President Lawrence Quattrone owns Dom’s Getty, which is located on Route 33, in Hightstown.
”This is an inappropriate use of money,” said Shaun O’Conner, of East Windsor, on Tuesday as he addressed the Township Council.
He continued, “I believe everyone should oppose this.”
The Township Council approved the resolution with a 7-0 vote.
East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov told the Herald on Thursday that the cost for the repairs was approved for no more than $7,266.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Mayor Mironov discussed the progress being made in Trenton for the restoration of municipal energy tax receipts, money originally given to municipalities for housing electrical utilities.
The money from energy tax receipts has long since been deviated directly to the state whereas years ago the funds were paid directly to New Jersey towns.
New Jersey mayors, including Mayor Mironov, have been working to bring the tax money back to the towns that house New Jersey electrical facilities.
A-2921 and S-1900, designed to restore energy tax receipts to local communities, were recently passed by the New Jersey Assembly and Senate — “by a wide margin,” Mayor Mironov noted at Tuesday’s meeting.
However, Gov. Chris Christie vetoed the bill on June 29.
Mayor Mironov is the first vice president of the New Jersey League of Municipalities. She told the Herald earlier this year that, “stopping state diversion of municipal energy tax receipts and restoring these monies, which rightfully belong to towns to local property taxpayers,” was one of her top goals in her role as first vice president of the league.
”These bills were introduced, supported and passed by legislators who acknowledged that this local property tax relief funding would have allowed mayors to provide their citizens with real property tax relief this year,” said William Dressel Jr., executive director of the League of Municipalities, in an opinion piece sent to the Herald this week.
In other news, Mayor Mironov shared with the Township Council on Tuesday her thoughts on last week’s Independence Day Celebration at Etra Lake Park.
”It was a wonderful time of the year to be at the fireworks display and certainly one of the memorable moments of the year,” Mayor Mironov said.
Also discussed on Tuesday night was Resolution 2012-158, which called for the approval of filing a 2012 Sustainable Jersey Small grants program application.
”This certainly a detailed view of the town and a starting point for our future,” Councilman Alan Rosenberg said.
The measure passed with a 7-0 vote.
— Jen Samuel, managing editor, contributed to this report.

