By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
A government in mourning met at Tuesday’s Borough Council meeting for the first time since the untimely death of Princeton Borough Police Department Chief Anthony Federico.
The work of Chief Federico, who died of a heart attack June 28 while on vacation in Maine, dominated the beginning of the proceedings as borough officials recalled his work and singled out others for their actions in the wake of his death.
Mayor Mildred Trotman, speaking first, thanked the department’s officers for their actions in the days following Chief Federico’s death, at age 55.
”I want to thank the department for their role throughout this time,” said Mayor Trotman. “Their role was outstanding.”
Mayor Trotman praised officials from Princeton Township and the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department for their participation in the funeral and other ceremonies on the weekend of July 4.
Councilman David Goldfarb said the chief’s death meant Borough Council would never have an opportunity to honor Chief Federico’s many years of service to the town, as council normally would have done during a retirement celebration for a chief who improved the department and its officers.
”The department is significantly better for the work Tony did as chief,” Mr. Goldfarb said.
Councilman Roger Martindell, who was occasionally at odds with Chief Federico over disciplinary and other internal affairs at the department, publicly recognized the chief’s dedication to Princeton Borough.
”Tony and I didn’t agree on everything” but there was no question about his commitment to the town and the Police Department, Mr. Martindell said.
Mayor Trotman said the borough government would likely issue a proclamation honoring Chief Federico in the near future.
In other borough matters, council members read correspondence with residents of the Pine Street neighborhood, who have requested approval for a memorial in the Pine Street Park honoring David Bradford. Mr. Bradford, a Princeton University economics and public affairs professor who lived on Pine Street, succumbed to injuries he sustained in a fire in his home in December of 2005.
The memorial proposed for the park would consist of a simple engraving on an exposed rock in the northeast corner of the park that would read “In Memory David Bradford 1939-2005 Carpe Diem.”
Submitted to Borough Council was a rendering of the engraving, and copies of a petition supporting the memorial.
The petition included the signatures of 25 Pine Street residents.
Later in the meeting Borough Council members unanimously approved the applications of 13 Princeton University employees who will become associate members of the all-volunteer Princeton Fire Department.
The new firefighters join the department under a pilot program that began earlier this year.
Under the program, Princeton University employees who were previously excluded from serving because of insurance issues and work obligations can now join the department.
Princeton University has agreed to allow paid leave for employees working as firefighters under the program.
The pilot program was created to attract university employees who serve as firefighters in their hometowns, although employees and students without training can also sign up.
Fire Department Chief Dan Tomalin said the new members would be of great value to his department.
”We have a manpower shortage,” said Chief Tomalin. “Having these guys on will be a huge help.”
The university employees’ daytime availability would be especially helpful, Chief Tomalin said.
The university firefighters still need to take part in a swearing-in ceremony conducted at the Borough Clerk’s office, according to Chief Tomalin, who said the large number of volunteers precluded having a special ceremony at Borough Council.
Prior to joining the department the university employees underwent health screenings and background checks.
[email protected]
