By Pam Hersh
Infrastructure: The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, and power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise).
I am one of several Princetonians suffering from pre-traumatic stress disorder over the potential collapse of Princeton’s infrastructure.
For more than three decades, the stability of Princeton’s infrastructure has had little to do with concrete, steel or copper wiring, and everything to do with flesh, blood and bones of Bob Kiser. The individual who has had oversight over infrastructure is, in my opinion, its infrastructure, the key to the operation of the town of Princeton. And July 1 will be the last day Bob Kiser will be overseeing Princeton’s infrastructure.
Robert V. Kiser, P.E., C.M.E., P.P. has served as the director of engineering for Princeton since the consolidation of the former Borough of Princeton and Township of Princeton in January 2013. Prior to the consolidation he served as Princeton Township Engineer for nearly 30 years.
In a few weeks, he is retiring, to do something structurally significant — building a rewarding retirement with his wife, his two grown daughters, and one baby granddaughter. Bob reassured me that the town would remain in superbly competent hands, those of Deanna Stockton, Jack West and others on his staff. In spite of my infrastructure PTSD, I have confidence in Bob’s assessment. He would never leave his post without faith in the ongoing success and strength of the Princeton Engineering Department.
In my interactions with Bob, no signs indicate that he is becoming a slacker, as he gets closer to his last day at work. He has been working even longer hours than usual and with his characteristic thoroughness and dedication to tie up as many loose ends as possible. That includes my pet project, bus shelters for Princeton, as he is determined to get the eight NJ Transit “Fairlawn-style” bus shelters in place by July 1.
He also led the presentation before the Princeton Historic Preservation Commission for the customized Princeton signature bus shelter at Palmer Square. Displaying wisdom, equanimity and patience, he has stewarded the bus shelter initiative through a variety of twists and turns, along with soe challenges, including my annoying impatience with “process.”
In contrast to the complexity of the thousands of problems and projects he has faced over the years, Bob has been guided by one simple goal: to preserve the character of Princeton. When he interviewed for the job, he was asked the question: “what do you think will be your greatest challenge in the job as municipal engineer?” His response to his interviewers decades ago was “the preservation of the character and personality of Princeton.”
His greatest challenge has turned out to be his guiding principle. “I felt responsible for managing the growth in a way that respects the need for ratables and services, while simultaneously respecting and preserving those qualities that make Princeton Princeton… It is a delicate balance, but one that I have thoroughly enjoyed,” said Bob who was known for being thoughtful, confident enough to be flexible (“there is no one right answer”), and always listening.
Listening to the residents was one of Bob’s favorite on-the-job activities. An initiative conceived by former Mayor Phyllis Marchand in the late 1980s, Bob organized neighborhood listening sessions for residents whose neighborhoods would be affected by any public improvement project. He, the mayor, and other vital staff members would make a thorough presentation — and then listen carefully to all the neighborhood commentators.
”The first of these listening meetings concerned the water main project at the Hun School,” he said. “We laid out the project in detail and were pleasantly surprised by how well it went. These meetings continue to be so informative and crucial to the successful implementation of an infrastructure project.”
The actual number of projects in which Bob has been involved; the number of municipal meetings day, night and late into the night meetings; the number of (often angry) people with whom he interacted would make most people retreat to a corner with his or her favorite blankie.
In fact, Bob now has a corner to which he can retreat during these last few pressure-cooker weeks. On April 27, the recreation department dedicated a portion of Marchand Meadow (that beautiful sloping garden next to the Recreation Department building in the municipal complex) as Kiser’s Korner. Even though he says he will be very busy after July 1 pursuing his volunteer work (he is tapped frequently to help oversee major construction projects), I hope he returns to town to hang out in Kiser’s Korner, or perhaps in a bus shelter.
At least when he is no longer on the municipal payroll, a few of his fans will be able to pay for his cup of coffee and raise our coffee cups in his honor as we sit on the bus shelter bench and watch NJ Transit buses go by.
