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EAST WINDSOR: Mayor begins 18th year in office

By David Kilby, Special Writer
   EAST WINDSOR — Tuesday marked the beginning of Janice Mironov’s 18th consecutive year as mayor.
   A Democrat, she last ran to keep her council seat in 2011.
   There were no Township Council seats up for election last year.
   As the council united for the first time in 2013, Alan Rosenberg was appointed deputy mayor in a reorganization meeting that emphasized the pride the township government has in its residents, leaders and especially its volunteers.
   Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes came to the meeting to swear in Mayor Mironov.
   ”The mayor and I have, over the years, developed a working and personal relationship,” Mr. Hughes said as he addressed the public. “I came to swear in not only a great mayor, but a great friend.”
   He also said the township is privileged to continue under Mayor Mironov’s excellent watch.
   ”Her elevation to president of the League of Municipalities is an indication of her willingness to work hard and get her point across on behalf of her residents,” he later said to the Windsor-Hights Herald.
   Dec. 5, Mayor Mironov was elected president of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.
   Tuesday, Mayor Mironov gave certificates of appreciation to township volunteers.
   ”Volunteers are a very important part to how we function as a municipal government,” Mayor Mironov said said. “We’re very grateful for all of them.”
   The volunteers recognized were Andrew Greene and Nancy Toledo of the Health Advisory Board, Ina Heiman of the Commission on Aging, Michael Henderson and Robin-Ann Klotsky of the Economic Development Committee, Joseph LaMagna of the Clean Communities Advisory Commission, William P. Lawler and Leonard of the East Windsor Municipal Utilities Authority, Jagruti Patel of the Planning Board, Vicki Richards of the Board of Recreation Commissioners and Dick Cunningham of Spotlight East Windsor.
   Councilman Peter Yeager also thanked the volunteers.
   ”It takes a lot of good people to make a great town, and we have a lot of great people,” Mr. Yeager said.
   Councilman Marc Lippman said 2012 brought many “unusual challenges” to the township, such as Hurricane Sandy, but the storm also brought out the residents’ qualities.
   ”(Hurricane Sandy) allowed me to see the way East Windsor residents, when things get tough, help out each other and really do the right thing. It emphasized even more why I am involved in the community,” Mr. Lippman said.
   Deputy Mayor Rosenberg said he is proud of his town for how it reacted to the superstorm.
   ”If you want to see how great a town we can be, look at how fast we’ve recovered from disasters,” Deputy Mayor Rosenberg said.
   Mayor Mironov said it’s hard not to mention the superstorm and began her address pointing out the “grace, patience and kindness” shown by residents in its aftermath.
   ”Local officials and mayors asked me how we were able to clean up from the storm so fast,” she said. “It was a time that tested everybody.”
   Like millions of New Jersey residents, most East Windsor locals were without power for days after the storm.
   The mayor also addressed some challenges the township has been facing, saying budgets have become very difficult in recent years. Mayor Mironov said East Windsor has a number of shared service agreements in place to help balance the budget.
   ”That’s an area we’ll continue to explore,” she added.
   The mayor mentioned the many development projects around the township, especially around the New Jersey Turnpike and Route 33, and alluded to a $100,000 planning grant received to renew the area around the turnpike. She also said the township is working with Hightstown to revitalize the Route 33 corridor.
   In regards to the Turnpike expansion and interchange project, she said there has been “significant progress.” There are plans for the entire project to be completed by mid-2014, and the interchange will be opened within the next few months.
   She said the township has many goals for 2013, and “it’s going to be a good year.”
   But despite all of these development project goals, the township still has managed to preserve more farms than any other municipality in Mercer County, according to Mr. Hughes, who believes the achievement of that balance is due to Ms. Mironov’s “willingness to fight for not only development, but also open space.”
   Mayor Mironov made several mayoral appointments. To the Environmental Commission, Melissa Vanliew was appointed to a three-year term and Councilman John Zoller was appointed liaison.
   On the Planning Board, Recreation Director James Brady was made a Class II member, Councilman Shapiro was appointed as a Class II member for a one-year term, and Jagruti Patel was appointed to a four-year term as a Class IV member.
   Michael Bailey was appointed as an alternate member on the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a one-year term.
   To the Recreation Commission, Anisha Mallampalli was appointed as a student member, Matthew Carangelo and Hemant Shah were appointed to one-year terms, Daniel Krushinski began a five-year term, Vanadana Mathus began a four-year term, and Mr. Yeager was appointed liaison.
   The mayor also appointed Kantilal Patel to the Economic Development Committee and Linda Melchor to the Health Advisory Board, both for one-year terms.
   Councilman Yeager was appointed as the mayor’s representative to the Municipal Alliance Committee for a one-year term; and Mayor Mironov appointed herself, Councilman Lippman and Councilman Shapiro as liaisons to the fire companies. The mayor and Mr. Shapiro also are serving as liaisons to the rescue squads, all for one-year terms.
   On the Clean Communities Advisory Committee, Joseph Lamagna and John Donnelly were appointed to three-year terms; Patricia Franks and John Putrino were appointed to two-year terms; and Mayor Mironov and Deputy Mayor Rosenberg were appointed liaisons.
   For the Commission on Aging, Ms. Heiman was appointed to another three-year term, and Andre Sung was appointed to a three-year term as well. The liaison to the commission is Mr. Rosenberg.
   Michael Henderson and Robin-Ann Klotsky were appointed to three-year terms on the Economic Development Committee, and the mayor was appointed liaison.
   Mr. Greene and Ms. Toledo began new five-year terms on the Health Advisory Board, and Sandra Alexander was appointed to a three-year term on the board. Council liaisons to the board are Hector Duke and Mr. Zoller.
   Mr. Duke also was appointed as liaison to the Local Assistance Board.