CRANBURY: Committee introduces $1.1M bond ordinance

By Nicole M. Wells, Special Writer
CRANBURY – The Township Committee unanimously introduced ordinance 04-14-04 at its meeting Monday night.
   The bond ordinance, which provides funding for various capital improvement projects in Cranbury, authorizes the township to issue bonds or notes in the amount of $948,815, which will partially finance the cost. According to the document, the ordinance seeks to appropriate $108,948 of the total cost of $1,107,700.
   Among the improvements the ordinance would fund are the replacement of police pistols, purchasing of township vehicles and electronic equipment, such as radios and video recorders, and sewer capital improvements.
   It would also cover security costs at Town Hall, miscellaneous road repair, Safe Routes to School engineering and inspection costs, as well as the non-grant costs associated with the beautification of the historic district.
   ”We’re buying pistols for the police, we do it every year,” Committeeman Dan Mulligan said. “Sewer improvements: we clearly need sewer. I think they’re valid expenses and together, as a committee, we agreed to this stuff.”
   Town Hall is also due for building maintenance and a fresh coat of paint, which Committeeman Jay Taylor expressed special interest in.
   ”When it comes time to paint the town hall interior, I’d like to be involved on that,” Mr. Taylor said. “There’s a few things that happened last time it was painted that we just need to avoid.”
   Mr. Taylor said special care needs to be taken with the plaster moldings in the building when the painting is done.
   ”(I want to be involved) just because I want to make sure that it’s done right,” he said.
   Mr. Mulligan saw, in Mr. Taylor’s concern, an opportunity to cut costs.
   ”So what I’m hearing is, we don’t have to spend $83,000,” Mr. Mulligan said. “We could pay you like $1,000 to paint the whole building,” he joked, as light laughter filled the room.
   The second reading of the ordinance is scheduled to take place during the May 12 committee meeting at 7 p.m. The public hearing will also be held at this time.