By Amy Batista, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — The council unanimously expressed its support for sustainable state funding for open space, parks, farmland and historic preservation at its Feb. 5 meeting.
Mayor Janice Mironov told the Herald that the resolution recognizes that funds from the 2009 Green Acres bond act have been allocated.
Therefore, she added, there is a need for new sustainable state source funding for open space and farmland preservation.
Through the Green Acres program, East Windsor has been “able to preserve thousands of acres of land,” Mayor Mironov said.
The Green Acres program has helped to preserve more than 650,000 acres of land and supported more than 1,100 park development projects over the past 50 years. The Agricultural Department Committee has preserved 200,000 acres of farmland over the past 30 years, according to the resolution. The Historic Trust has preserved 477 historic sites over the past 45 years.
The mayor said the Senate Environment Committee, chaired by Sen. Bob Smith, recently held a hearing to discuss possible funding alternatives.
Councilman Perry Shapiro said, “Once land is developed, it’s never going back.”
Deputy Mayor Alan Rosenberg said of the town’s preservation efforts, “It’s how I would like to be remembered as a councilman.”
Mayor Mironov, president of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, said the League would work “ vigorously” and in “partnership with the Legislature and administration to ensure that a resource of funding is put into place this year.
In other news, Scouting Week was recognized, which took place from Feb. 3 to Feb. 9.
Several Boy Scouts of Pack 53 from Troop 5700 and Troop 59 were in attendance at the meeting as part of their requirement to earn Citizenship Merit badges.

