By Charley Falkenberg, Special Writer
WEST WINDSOR A preliminary budget meeting Wednesday morning revealed most of the town’s estimated expenses will remain flat going into the proposed 2013-2014 budget.
In an intimate gathering, the department heads presented a brief overview of their projected individual spending plans and requests to Chief Financial Officer Joanne Louth, Business Administrator Marlena Schmid, Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh and council members Kristina Samonte, Bryan Maher and Linda Geevers. Resident Bob Aiken was the only member of the public present.
Nearly all the operating budget requests in the departments stayed at 2012 levels, with exceptions in Public Safety, Public Works and the Municipal Court. Police increased by $750, Municipal Court increased by about $1,500 and the road department had an extra $10,000 for tire replacements.
Police Chief Joseph Pica said that between the Hurricane Sandy, the Route 1 jughandle pilot, the kidnapping of David Lundy and the fatal helicopter crash in September, his department’s overtime budget was tested. However, the department was able to compensate with unused salaries.
The capital budgets of each department had many requests, particularly in engineering and public works.
Township Engineer Francis Guzik mentioned several proposed projects such as various road and signal improvements. Some included the second phase of Meadow Road for $900,000, the first half of resurfacing Canal Pointe Boulevard for $700,000 and $50,000 to begin studies and permit applications for the Grover’s Mill Pond Pedestrian Boardwalk. The department is actively seeking grants from the state Department of Transportation (DOT) for the bigger roadway projects.
Mr. Guzik also made requests to install a well at the Community Garden and to implement a new flood abatement program that would cost $100,000 a year to repair and maintain deteriorating storm sewer structures.
Some of Mr. Drummond’s requests included a new compactor truck for $205,000, about $72,000 to replace the stone floor at the department’s barn with concrete, $20,000 for storm sewer improvements and $225,000 for a new television van for the sewer department.
Other requests included two new ambulances for emergency services, municipal landscape maintenance, a new playground at Chamberlain Park, a new vehicle for the Health Department and a hybrid vehicle for the construction code division.
Only Mr. Guzik and Land Use Manager Sam Surtees requested additional personnel. Mr. Guzik proposed hiring a full-time in-house engineering inspector that would receive an annual salary of $250,000 through escrow fees. The position would allow the department to stop paying different firms for inspection services, which cost it about $425,000 last year. Mr. Surtees asked for a part-time secretary that would work two days a week. He also wanted to increase the hours of the part-time zoning officer by two hours per week.
Chief Pica said there would be no increase in officers, but that his primary goal would be replacing five retiring officers with new hires that would start at $40,000 a year.
The Clerk’s Office was able to make spending cuts in conferences and seminars, consultant fees and training areas. The Tax Assessment Office budget had a reduction of 2.18 percent.
The Law Department also had a flat budget, but Township Attorney Michael Herbert said the 2012 budget was “near exhaustion” due to the ongoing legal battle with former councilman Charlie Morgan, the solar farm litigation and the Grover Homestead issue.
However, he expects the Grover Homestead matter to be cleared up in two weeks.

