PRINCETON: Town will be . . . Princeton

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
   Starting in January, residents of the consolidated Princeton will not have to say if they live in a borough or township any more.
   Township attorney Edwin W. Schmierer, addressing a joint meeting of the two governing bodies Monday, said he, borough attorney Maeve E. Cannon and others discussed the issue and concluded the name of the town will be Princeton, New Jersey.
   He said state law is silent on what a consolidated community calls itself, and given that there has not been a merger of this magnitude in New Jersey in 100 years, there has not much discussion at the state level on the subject.
   Bearing that in mind, Mr. Schmierer said voters in November decided what the name would be when deciding that the two communities become one town called “Princeton.” Steps already have been taken to file the name with the Internal Revenue Service and the state Division of Taxation.
   The merged town will be run under the borough form of government. He said town officials on the “new governing body” could opt to add the word borough to the town’s name but that would have to be done through another referendum.
   Borough officials wanted to clear the issue up given the town name will have to be on such things as official letterhead and municipal vehicles. Officials from both towns decided not to spend $26,000 for repainting 13 marked police cars, amid disapproval by the Department of Community Affairs and concerns officials had the expense.
   Officials said the state has agreed to reimburse 20 percent of consolidation costs. But during a meeting Friday between local and state officials, the state said painting the vehicles was unnecessary and something it would not contribute toward. Officials, like Township Mayor Chad Goerner, also felt the job was unnecessary as well.