Cardboard Cutout Cons Cops
Township Police officers were called out to the PNC Bank on the corner of Routes 518 and 206 on Thanksgiving evening this past November after an alarm was triggered at the bank at approximately 7:40 pm, according to Lt. Jim Curry of the Montgomery Township Police Department.
Arriving officers first went around the building and found nothing unusual. However, when they peered in through the windows, they saw a security monitor, which broadcast images from a number of security cameras. These images rotated through all of the cameras, and, Lt. Curry said, “One view looked like a person crouched in an office.”
Officers on the scene then called for backup, the first elements of which arrived within minutes. Before officers entered the bank, they had been joined by the Somerset County Emergency Unit (commonly though of as a SWAT Team), and officers from Hopewell Township, Princeton Township, and Hillsborough, about 30 in all. Rt. 601 was briefly closed from Skillman Rd. to Rt. 518.
Those first to enter discovered that the “intruder” was actually a life-sized cardboard cutout figure, a remnant of a previous ad campaign, which just happened to have been left behind in one of the rooms.
Lt. Curry said afterwards, “We would do it again if we saw it again.”
Investigators determined that the alarms at the bank had been triggered when ATM technicians went to the branch to service the ATM machines and inadvertently triggered the alarms, which rang in a central bank security office located offsite. Bank security officials then called Township Police. According to PNC spokesman Fred Solomon, “ATM machines are replenished regularly.” He would not comment further as to security measures the bank takes.
Which leaves the question, how do you get repairmen to come out on Thanksgiving evening?
Santa To Fly Into Princeton Airport Christmas Eve Day
Princeton Airport will hold their 33rd annual Santa Fly-In on December 24. Airport Manager, Kenneth Nierenberg, has confirmed Santa's arrival time to be 11am.
The most important facet of this event is the collection of gifts for needy children. The airport has set a deadline for the collection of both the gifts for area children and the needy of Dec. 16 in order to enable county workers to arrange for the best matches for the needy. The gifts can be deposited in the "chimneys" in the lobby at the airport between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm.
If you plan to participate, you are required to have brought new, unwrapped gifts of clothing, books, or toys to the airport before Dec. 16. These gifts are being collected and distributed through the Mercer County Board of Social Services. Although toys are a common donation, items such as scarves, mittens, and other articles of clothing are welcome. Personal checks made out to the "FoodBank Network of Somerset County" will also be collected.
Please bring a wrapped gift for each child with the name in large print to the lobby of the airport. If you have several children, wrap the gifts in the same paper and tie them together to expedite the distribution. Gifts should be not larger than 12" to accommodate Santa.
The airport will have a container for the public to donate canned or boxed food to help the local food banks in this particularly difficult year.
On Dec. 24, adults should bring their children prior to 11 am and wait in the maintenance hangar.
Santa will call in on the airplane's radio, which will be heard over the loudspeaker. While waiting, members of the Princeton Airport Flying Tigers will be serving cocoa and cookies. Ms. Pat McKinley, a local folk singer, will lead the audience in a variety of holiday songs.
Once contact has been made with Santa, the children will go to the ramp in front of the hangar where they can watch Santa fly low over the runway. He will then land and everyone will return to the hangar and Santa will distribute each gift individually.
The event will be held regardless of the weather conditions and it is recommended that parents bring a camera.
Santa will distribute the gifts in the order in which they are received at the airport. Usually the distribution of the gifts is completed by 1 pm when Santa will continue his journey.
There is no charge for the event. Princeton Airport is located in Montgomery Township, 3.5 mile north of Princeton on Route 206. For further information, call 609-921-3100 or www.princetonairport.com.
Adam’s Sandwiches Plus Opens in Skillman
Hi, my name is Adam and I’m the owner of Adam’s Sandwiches Plus, 378 Route 518 in Skillman.
I’m a graduate of The Restaurant School of Philadelphia. Unlike many of my classmates who wanted to someday open a fancy restaurant, my dream was to have a great sandwich shop with the emphasis on the best sandwiches available anywhere at reasonable prices for fresh, quality ingredients. After seven years of working for others like Chili’s, Wendy’s, Corolla Pizza and Benny’s Steaks to gain valuable experie
nce my dream was realized recently when I opened Adam’s Sandwiches Plus in Skillman.
Why Skillman, you may ask? Well, my parents have lived here for eleven years and love the community and its people. So when I told them I was looking for a location they suggested Skillman and told me that Blawenburg Village Square was being built at Route 518 and Route 601 – a perfect spot for my business.
Another question I’m asked is “what’s the “Plus” in Adam’s Sandwiches Plus”? One plus is my mom Fran who helps at the register and makes her delicious soups that include clam chowder, chicken, pea and beef vegetable. Also every day or two she’ll make some delicious pastries, cookies, great chili, pulled pork – just to name a few.
Most importantly are our other dedicated employees like Robin, Ozzie, Jackie and Jim. Even my retired father Paul can be seen a few days a week working the grill.
Since we opened a short while ago the response has been excellent and very gratifying. We already have many regulars some of whom eat here every day. People love our great hoagies including our Kong Hoagie that is 16” long and 6” wide and stacked high with a variety of fillings, like our home cooked turkey, fresh cold cuts, home made shredded chicken salad and more. Other top sellers are: big breakfast sandwiches, 8 oz. char broiled burgers, Philly Cheesesteaks, grilled chicken, crispy dogs and fries all served on bread and rolls delivered fresh daily from our bakery.
Please come visit and eat with us – once you do we know you’ll be back. www.adamssandwichesplus.com
Election Results in Township and Borough
Well, the people have spoken. And did they ever. Township Committeewoman Louise Wilson reported seeing “whole families in line when I got to the polls at 6 o’clock this morning.” Lines of voters at the Elks Club, voting location for Districts 2, 3, and 4, reportedly stretched around the building as the polls opened. Some early voters said they left and returned later, after the commuters voted.
There were a few hitches when two voting machines shut down. District 8, located at the MEMS headquarters on Harlingen Road had to issue 30 emergency ballots to voters but was back online by 7 am. District 5 at the Montgomery Evangelical Free Church issued about 130 emergency ballots.
According to Township Clerk Donna Kukla, an emergency ballot is counted the same as a regular machine vote in which in which the voter checks in as usual, but votes on a paper ballot instead.
A provisional ballot is one issued to a voter whose records may not be available at a voting place, or who may not be registered at all. Such a vote would have to be certified by the County Board of Elections.
There may have been more than 400 provisiional ballots cast in Montgomery.
Unlike the last presidential election, when Township voters helped return incumbent President George W. Bush to the White House, 5108 voters joined the national trend and picked Democrat Barack Obama over John McCain, who drew 4078 votes. Some 109 Township voters chose independent candidates, including 44 who voted for Ralph Nadar.
4559 voters picked Republican Dick Zimmer, who was running against Democrat Frank Lautenburg (4013). Nevertheless, Lautenberg carried the state and will return to his Senate seat.
Running for a vacant House seat, Republican Leonard Lance, who won the seat district-wide, was also the local favorite, drawing 4317 votes against Democrat Linda Stender. 883 votes chose independent candidates, including 789 who chose Michael Hsing.
This race featured back-to-back television ads, first for the one, then the other candidate, ads that mercifully, have ended. One of their less attractive features was to link Linda Stender’s name to the word “Spender.” It does seem out of bounds somehow to mock a candidate’s name, something of a holdover from previous years, when politicians were happy to link or rhyme an odd-sounding name to some unpleasant quality. We’ve had enough of that.
Hometown favorite Cecilia Birge (D) picked up 4641 votes, and running mate Doug Singleterry got 4185 votes for a Somerset County Freeholders seat. They were running against Republicans Peter Palmer (4051) and Bob Zaborowski (4194), who won countywide.
Republican Kacey Dyer earned a seat on Montgomery Township Council with 4,518 votes, running against Democrat Keith Hovey, who got 4,187 votes.m That contest is still open as provisional ballots, which this year have tended to be Democrat, have not been counted and certified.
3,819 voters chose Yes on the first of the Public Questions, requiring voter’s approval before the State issues bonds; 2,694 voted No on that issue.
On the second public issue, requiring that the method of choosing municipal judges be done by Statute rather than by the State Constitution, 3,593 voters said No, and 2,849 said Yes.
In Rocky Hill there was a remarkable amount of interest in this year’s election in Rocky Hill. When I arrived to vote at Borough Hall at 9:30 am I was given ticket # 181, which meant that about a third of eligible voters voted before me. There was one hitch: the one voting machine the Borough uses experienced a brief shut-down after a voter accidentally lurched into it, causing the machine the shut down. County election officials were able to restart the machine after some delay.
Also, there was a brief disruption that caused some alarm among poll workers when a disturbed Borough voter allegedly threatened one of the poll watchers. Borough officials are investigating as to whether harassment charges should be brought.
362 votes had been cast for presidential candidates: 213 Borough voters chose Barrack Obama over John McCain, with 140 votes. Among the independents running for the presidency, Nadar picked up 6 Borough votes.
198 voters picked Julia Hasser (R) and 234 went for Independent Mark Pausch, who were running for two open two-year seats against Democrat William O’Brien for Borough Council. Courtney White, who was running unopposed for a one-year seat, got 287 votes. There were 8 write-ins against her, including one for an otherwise unidentified candidate called “No tennis eyesore.”
175 voters picked Linda Stender over Republican Leonard Lance (150). 12 voters chose independent Michael Hshing. 185 voters chose to return Frank Lautenburg to his Senate seat. Lautenberg, a Democrat, was running against Republican Dick Zimmer (152).
Years ago the late Barbara Sigmund, a Mercer County Freeholder and the daughter of Speaker of the House Hale Boggs, told me that it should have been called “The Board of Frozen Cheese Holders,” an image I haven’t been able to get out of my head. Nevertheless, Montgomery Township Mayor Cecelia Birge (195) and running mate Doug Singleterry (182), running for a seat on the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholder against incumbent Republicans Peter Palmer (152) and Bob Zaborowski (139), were the hometown favorites, but failed to prevail countywide.
Public Question #1, that any new state bonds be approved by the voters, got 146 Yes votes, against 107 No. Public Question #2, which changed the method of choosing municipal judges from constitutional to statutory, got 143 no votes, against 100 yes
Rocky Hill Inn Reopens
The Rocky Hill Inn has reopened under new owners Evan and Maria Blomgren. After a “soft opening” in mid-November, they are ready for paying customers.
Hours are: lunches, Monday through Fridays, 11:30 to 2:30; dinners, Monday through Thursday, 5:30 to 9, and Fridays and Saturdays, 5 to 10 pm.
Most prices were under $14 at the soft opening lunch we attended, and we can highly recommend the Rocky Hill Inn Burger at $13. The onion soup ($6) was rich, and covered with a nice layer of cheese. Other salads included a slice steak salad and Caesar salads.
Dinners include a Tavern Menu, with features entrees such as fiosh and chips ($16), bangers and mash ($18), braised lamb shank sheppards pie ($20), and roasted Griggstown chicken ($19). The slightly more formal and definitely remodeled Rockingham Room has a separate menu featuring such fare as seared diver scallops ($25), tamarind glazed grilled wild salmon ($23), and sesame-coated yellow fin tuna, the high ticket item at $27. Also on the list are braised short ribs ($24), NY strip steak ($26), as well as othr items. Appetizers include duck confit risotto ($12), Caesar salad ($8), and marinated beet salad ($9).
For a full look at the menu, check out www.rockyhilltavern.com, which is still under construction. For more information, call 609-683-8930.
Township Awards 2 Liquor Licenses For $506K Each
Montgomery Township Committee awarded two new liquor licenses to Madison Marquette, the developers of Montgomery Promenade at the November 6 Committee meeting.
This brings the total to three new licenses issued by the Township to Madison Marquette. Madison Marquette, the developers of the project slated for the corner of Rt. 206 and Rt. 518, is expected to transfer or lease the licenses to new restaurants at the shopping center once it has been built. The first of the three new licenses was issued during late spring, 2008, for approximately $800,000.
The project, which has been delayed by market conditions, was originally expected to have been completed by Fall 2009. Instead, little has been done beyond preliminary engineering work.
Owners of a new liquor license are required to use it within 6 months, according to Township Clerk Donna Kukla; but in special circumstance such as this, where the restaurants for which they are intended haven’t been built yet, the license holder may petition the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a continuance.
Township Administrator Donato Nieman says that some of the tenants expected to come into Montgomery Promenade have insisted on their being a mix of at least five restaurants as well as retail stores, and that at least some of the restaurants should have a liquor license (my vote is for a decent rib joint, but who listens to me?).
Meanwhile, a license of this sort could ordinarily be expected to appreciate in value. In the old economy, if Madison Marquette should walk away from Montgomery Promenade, they could resell the licenses to restaurateurs for more than they paid for them. In the new economy, it’s anyone’s guess.
Holders of liquor license must renew annually at a fee to the Township of $2,500 per license. Meanwhile, the Township is ahead $1.012 million for the two new licenses.
Will Falling Gas Prices Help Township Taxpayers?
Drivers have noticed that retail gas prices have plummeted from a high of $4+ per gallon to as little as $1.89 per gallon at local pumps. What affect has this had on Township budget planning?
“The declining gas prices has made a difference,” says Township Administrator Donato Nieman. “The problem is volatility. Any disruption in the supply will bring prices up as rapidly as they have declined.”
He says that they added an additional amount to this year’s budget to cover the expected increases in fuel costs, but “We haven’t given that extra 10% back. We’re rolling the dice on snow plowing. Who knows what kind of weather we’ll have this winter? The last storm (in early October) had us bring out the plows salting
Planning Board Lays Out Plan to Meet COAH Regulations
Township Planner Richard Coppola presented an 11-page "Fair Share" plan to the Planning Board and Township Committee in mid-November that explained how Montgomery Township can comply with the State's COAH (Council on Affordable Housing) Regulations. Meeting regulations Coppola called "unreasonable" and "based on inaccurate data" has been "frustrating" to him and Deputy Mayor Louise Wilson.
The regulations were first introduced in January, modified in June and again in October by the State Senate and Assembly; a true moving target considering the December 31, 2008 deadline.
But Coppola notes the importance in complying. "If we don't comply we will be sued - probably on January 2, 2009." He stresses that compliance is an insurance policy to keep the Township out of the courts.
Builder's remedy lawsuits can be filed for only $5000, and if lost would result in a State Court appointed master, paid for with Township money, dictating where COAH housing would be built.
The regulations are incredibly complex, but the plan makes maximum use of every available credit or bonus, and existing buildings where possible.
The first and easiest component of COAH is rehabilitation, where existing units with physical deficiencies such as defective plumbing or septic systems can be fixed via the Somerset County Housing Rehabilitation Program, which provides $20,000 to each eligible household. Montgomery has been assigned eleven of these units.
The next COAH component, prior round obligation, requires the Township to supply 307 units. There are already 305 units that meet this obligation, mostly in Pike Run and also in Montgomery Hills. These entitle the Township to 77 bonus credits - the highest percentage allowed (25%). This surpasses the requirement by 75 units, which can be applied to the third and final component, growth share obligation.
Montgomery is responsible for 501 growth share obligation units, based on growth projections using data from 1993 to 2003. The 75 additional units from prior round obligation bring it down to 426. Rental bonuses, which are based on group home bedrooms and family units provided, reduce the Township's obligation by 106 credits (25% - the maximum percentage permitted). Of the remaining 320 units required, 52 exist, leaving 268 needed. The plan proposes 274 units.
COAH regulations stipulate the distribution of housing units over several criteria: family; group home; age-restricted; low income; and for sale or rent. The plan allows for 168 family units; eight more than required. These must have a kitchen, bathroom, and separate entrance and not be age-restricted or in group homes.
106 age-restricted units are provided for in the plan; this is 25%, and the largest percentage authorized. Fifty-six units (13%) must be provided for very low income individuals, who earn 30% or less of the area's median income. The plan provides for 58 and half, or 28 or these, are for families as required. Of the 242 rental units provided for, about half of these are for families, as mandated, and about one-quarter each are for group home and elderly (age-restricted) residents. So where might these new units go? Seeking proximity to jobs and existing mass transit, most would be on or near Route 206.
COAH housing for families already exists at Montgomery Glen off Blue Spring Road with 19 townhouses for sale and Railsedge in Blawenburg with three apartments for rent. Several new sites are proposed.
In Skillman Village, east of Village Elementary School, the RPM company could renovate four existing buildings and build four more to provide 85 units, mostly rentals, for moderate or low incomes (below $75,000).
Harlingen Village Square on Route 206 next to Gasior's Furniture store could accommodate 15 rental units for these incomes with retail space including a childcare center.
Montgomery Five, near Princeton Nassau Conover's auto repair shop and the Princeton VW dealer on Route 206, would have commercial property with six rental apartments above.
JER Herring Orchard, behind 23 Orchard Road at the corner of Route 206, would build 40 rental units.
New age-restricted COAH housing units are in the plan, with 66 rentals at Presbyterian Homes' Stonebridge off Montgomery Road and 40 condominiums for sale by Sharbell near its Tapestry off Route 518.
COAH-eligible group home housing exists at Crawford House on Sunset Road for women recovering from substance addictions. Group housing for autistic or developmentally disabled individuals is currently supplied by The Devereux Corporation on Route 601 and the Developmental Residential Corporation on Opossum Road, while 22 group housing bedrooms for these individuals is proposed at Skillman Village near Burnt Hill Road to be built by Global Communities of Support.
Montgomery, along with 18 other New Jersey towns, is legally challenging the validity and workability of the current COAH regulations both on its own and as part of the League of Municipalities. Coppola points out that if COAH relaxes its regulations in the future, the plan would be amended. Also of note, if Skillman Village became a county park, the Township's COAH obligations would not change.
A public hearing on the COAH plan will take place at the Planning Board meeting on Monday, December 8, 2008 at 7:30 pm in the Township's Court Room.
Township Man Authors "Television & the Presidency"
Skillman resident Robert Bradsell, who also narrates the programs, has written the Fox News series "Television & the Presidency."
The show, consisting of five one-hour parts, is hosted by Chris Wallace (son of "60 Minutes"' Mike Wallace) and airs soon.
After growing up in Bergen County, New Jersey Mr. Bradsell studied television journalism at Michigan State University. His first job was in the early 70's for the Iowa Public Television Network in news and public affairs. "Iowa Press," a show he produced for them, is still on the air, and was the model for others such as "Inside Trenton," which airs on New Jersey Network.
He left the Midwest for Washington to serve as Press Secretary for Congressman Chuck Grassley. Bradsell managed Grassley's successful 1980 Senate campaign, which was an upset. Bradsell met Roger Ailes while working on Grassley's 1980 campaign, where Ailes handled the media. Ailes then hired Bradsell to be a media consultant and Vice President for his company, Ailes Communications.
In addition to working on the first two hours of "Television & the Presidency" Bradsell helped run several campaigns, including Reagan's reelection bid in 1984 and George Bush Sr.'s successful 1988 run. He also worked on Senatorial and Congressional campaigns. In 1988 he went out on his own as a private consultant. Ten years ago Ailes, now Chairman and CEO of Fox News, asked Bradsell to write and narrate the third and fourth hours of "Television & the Presidency," and the fifth this year.
The idea for the program began with the 1968 election. Roger Ailes, then Executive Producer of the "Mike Douglas Show," was hired to produce ten live one-hour programs featuring Richard Nixon. Joe McGinniss, in his book "The Selling of the President 1968," recalls Nixon meeting the 28-year-old Ailes before his appearance on the "Mike Douglas Show." Nixon said, "It's a shame a man has to use gimmicks like this to get elected."
Ailes replied, "Television is not a gimmick." With two installments left, Ailes noted, "This is it. This is the way they'll be elected forevermore. The next guys up will have to be performers."
The first two hours of "Television & the Presidency" were written by Bradsell and Larry McCarthy. White contributed to the project and also hosted with E. G. Marshall. Originally aired in 1985, it was syndicated in Europe and won an Emmy. These portions look first at Eisenhower and then Kennedy - the first president who truly made use of televised press conferences. Walter Kronkite's coverage of Kennedy's assassination is featured, with White noting that television allowed the country to mourn together. The series was not revisited until 2000.
Another two hours of the series were made after Fox News was started in 1996. It took one year and was written solely by Bradsell. For the 2000 series the original two hours were recut with Tony Snow as host.
The fifth and final installment of the series, written by Bradsell this year, covers Clinton's press conference about childcare, which seemed insignificant at first glance. At the end, in what appeared to be - but was not - a spontaneous decision, Clinton went over to his staff to consult with them, returned to the microphone, and shaking his finger at the cameras uttered the now famous words "I did not have relations with that woman" referring to Monica Lewinsky. The story broke on a website called the Drudge Report, basically an early blog. It was the first time a big story broke on the internet. Cable news then ran with the story.
In a case of life imitating art, media consultant Bob Schrum recalls when he and other members of the press, awaiting a press conference, were watching the Dustin Hoffman movie "Wag the Dog", in which a war is started to divert attention from domestic problems. Clinton strolls by the press room on his way to the conference and at it announces that troops are being sent to Bosnia, effectively removing the spotlight from his questionable conduct. The last portion ends with Election Night 2000.
Bradsell has started work on a sixth hour which will explore the aftermath of the 2000 election with its Florida vote recount and scrutiny of previously-unknown chads, as well as 9/11.
Mr. Bradsell moved to Montgomery when he married his wife Barbara. He likes that Montgomery is close to New York City but worlds apart, and also its proximity to the beach. When he lived in Des Moines for several years he felt landlocked. Well-meaning friends would take him to Midwestern lakes but it just wasn't the same. Mr Bradsell and his wife have four daughters, all of whom are grown.
Bradsell Associates, which offers media strategy and creation, was created in 1993. Bradsell, its principal, writes and produces commercials for companies; creates website videos; and, if asked, runs campaigns.
“Television & the Presidency” will air on the following dates: Hour 1 on Nov. 22; Hour 2 on· Nov. 29; Hour 3 on Dec. 6; Hour 4 on Dec. 13; Hour 5 on Dec. 20.
Township Officials Talk to County about Skillman Village
Montgomery Township Committee Members met with the Somerset County Open Space Advisory Committee for the first time on November 12. The meeting was an information exchange, since both parties have an interest in the site's possible future as a County park.
Township Committee Member Louise Wilson said "we told them about the property's history," and beauty and, "why we worked so hard to purchase and clean up the property." Montgomery officials explained the need to recover monies spent on its cleanup to prevent it from becoming an economic burden to taxpayers.
The name "Skillman Village" was chosen because it stresses the community's desire that the site be a gathering place, possibly with civic, cultural or health-related uses, and this was communicated to the County. Wilson states that the county must be willing to pay enough for the site to cover cleanup costs and maintain it to make a county park feasible.
Montgomery officials still want to find out what is involved in the economics and logistics of having a large county park.
The County's Open Space Advisory Committee will make a recommendation to the County's Freeholders as to what comes next. Wilson said "the meeting was productive" and expects to "hear from them before long." Although she is "hopeful" that an agreement can be reached, she stresses, "we have not yet talked dollars and cents with the County."
Letters to the Editor - December 2008
To the Editor:
The YWCA Princeton’s Crafters’ Marketplace Gala Cocktail Party held last night at the beautiful Miele, Inc. showroom on Rt. 1 was a huge success, raising more than $22,000 to benefit the YWCA’s Bates Scholarship Fund.
We are so grateful to Chef Bobby Trigg who, with his Ferry House staff, provided sumptuous hors d’oeuvres and desserts. The Miele showroom was the perfect setting for the evening and we thank all the staff who were so helpful as well as a special thanks to John Enz and his wonderful Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey, who literally set the tone for a spectacular evening.
To our generous silent auction donors, too numerous to list in this letter, our appreciation knows no bounds. Because of you we will be able to continue to offer scholarships to our programs—so that single working mothers can have a safe haven for their children during working hours, so that new immigrant members of our community can learn English, so that breast cancer survivors can find information and support—and many, many other services.
Thank you, also, to event chair Diane Essex and her committee, whose tireless efforts culminated in the perfect event.
The Patron’s Party was a prelude to our Crafters’ Marketplace, the best craft show in Princeton, which will be held at John Witherspoon Middle School on November 22 and 23. I invite all of you to attend and enjoy!
Judy Hutton
CEO, YWCA Princeton
To the Editor:
With the recent elections behind us it is worth reflecting on media bias for one candidate over the other. Partisans can debate who was favoring whom but we should all take note that the free press is no longer free. It is a sad day to note that even the Montgomery News has fallen victim to partisan activism.
The November issue had a feature article on the Skillman Village cleanup. But just to the right, in highlighter yellow, was the "Skillman Village Sidebar" which discussed Candidate for Township Committee Kacey Dyer's "press release" that the County take over Skillman Village. The editor could have noted that this was an editorial but instead he chose to poke holes in the idea by selecting words out of the press release like "fumble", "reckless", and "fiscal irresponsibility." The tone and content of the article was clearly partisan.
Eric Weitze
Skillman
Police Alert: Recent Burglaries & Prevention Tips
Township of Montgomery E-Bulletin
November 4, 2008
Police Alert: Recent Burglaries & Prevention Tips
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Montgomery Police want to remind residents to secure their property overnight and be mindful of the diminished daylight. Since mid-October six residential and vehicle burglaries and attempted entries have been reported to police. Three house burglaries occurred while the victims were asleep. The crimes were reported in Woods Edge, Pike Run and King's Crossing developments and the vehicle burglaries took place on Thornton Way near Township Line Rd. Police urge homeowners to re-calibrate light timers for both interior and exterior lighting and to make sure vehicles and house doors and windows are closed and locked. They also request residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police immediately. It is helpful to police if callers can provide descriptions of individuals and their clothing, and vehicle descriptions including license plate information.
In the event of any emergency call 9-1-1. Non-emergency Montgomery Police phone number is 908-359-3222. Thank you.
Montgomery News Reader’s Poll Picks a Winner
Our advertiser-supported website, www.montynews.com, predicted the election results fairly accurately: by Election Day morning, 37 voters picked Obama, 23 picked McCain, and one chose none of the above. That accurately mimicked the actual vote.
Our newest question is “What is the most important thing for our new president to deal with first?” The choices are: the economy, the War in Iraq, the energy crisis, or the environment.
No registration is required for voting. Just go online, look on the bottom right side of the Home Page, and vote.
Meet Barry S. Rabner
Montgomery township resident and President and CEO of Princeton Health Care System
Only yesterday when I asked Barry Rabner President and CEO of Princeton Health Care System why he, his wife Amy and children had chosen to live in Montgomery township, he smiled and jumped in with, "I'm in the Sourland Mountains surrounded by trees. I grew up in Passaic, New Jersey - the Garden State? What were they talking about? Then we moved here and now we know - this feels like Vermont."
I had not expected all this enthusiasm from a CEO of a medical center - (was I thinking in stereotypes of gray-suited men and women in cheerless offices?) Over the next hour I was to learn that Barry Rabner's life and work history was anything but ordinary: His parents were European survivors of World War II. Rabner shared a black and white photo of his mother and father, a young couple - in profile - framed by the window of a displaced persons' shelter.
Like so many children of immigrants to America, Rabner had to search to find his direction in the world of work. He says, "I've been working full time since high school. I worked as an orderly in a nursing home and I l earned a lot from that job ... I still think about it."
When consulted about career paths he says, "I talk to young people who want to become hospital administrators - I sense a linear path. I tell them, get a good education and experience - keep your options open."
So how did this once youthful orderly in a nursing home evolve into the President of the Princeton Healthcare system?
Barry Rabner earned Bachelor's degrees in Zoology and Chemistry from the University of Maryland. He then studied French language and philosophy for a year at L'University du Paris du Sorbonne. By the time Rabner had earned his Master's degree in Public Health Administration from Rutgers University in Newark, he was well on his way to his present career. Each of the positions he has held in hospital and health care administration over the past 25 years have offered new challenges and responsibilities that then led to higher positions within those organizations.
For example, before joining Princeton Healthcare System, he served as Acting President and CEO of Main Line Health. Prior to that Mr. Rabner was Senior Vice President of Main Line Health. But the greatest changes through Rabner's leadership were yet to come: the relocation of the Princeton Hospital facility to Plainsboro, some two and a half miles from the center of Princeton.
Over the past six years that Rabner has been President and CEO of the Princeton Healthcare System, he has pursued a plan to create a unique complex that he refers to as, "A Health Village," which would include, beyond the hospital itself, a Fitness and Wellness Center; a Continuing Care Center; Medical Office Buildings, parking facilities, and later on, housing, and a park. He says, "It's a dream to be able to work on this - rare to have an opportunity to create a hospital from the very start...what became more exciting - expanded to being a health campus where services would complement each other."
Does anything like this exist anywhere else? Not that Rabner has heard, although he did mention the Texas Medical Center, which is in a city and huge in size, he says, "If there are others, there are few. There's nothing like it in New Jersey" Moreover, he sees great enthusiasm for this new concept from mayors of the townships and boroughs along the trajectory of the path from the existing hospital to the new locale. "I can't think of one person or organization that has stood up and said, no. Even the decision to relocate – (Princeton) Borough and (Princeton) Township were unanimous."
But there were questions raised at some meetings I have attended about the greater distance to drive to the hospital across the narrow Harrison Street Bridge and the heavily travelled US One corridor. "The State has made a commitment to widen the Harrison Street Bridge," he replies. And, he adds, "There are other routes to follow. Fortunately not everyone travels to the hospital during rush hour."
And what about Montgomery Township and Rocky Hill? This Skillman resident notes the planning for Skillman Village which he sees as a "beautiful site" and that he is "...anxious to work with developers towards a health care site."
The bottom line is that the Medical Center has needed to expand and surrounded by mature residential areas at the present site, they were unable to grow upward or expand outwards. According to Rabner, the new hospital site will offer state of the art medical technology, environmentally green architecture and design; and as a result of this activity will generate $1.4 billion in new construction. The move is scheduled for completion in 2011, so only time will tell.
Township Committee Working To Meet COAH Regulations
The township committee is actively investigating ways to achieve compliance with New Jersey Committee on Affordable Housing (COAH) regulations, since the state is not likely to drop these regulations according to Township Administrator Donato Nieman. New Jersey's constitution says towns must provide affordable housing. COAH sets affordable housing regulations every 10 years. The first round of COAH was in 1985, commonly known as Mt. Laurel I. Mt. laurel II extended to 2004. In January of this year the third round of COAH regulations was released. The deadline for New Jersey towns to comply is December 31, 2008.
The Township Committee and many others disagree with the method COAH uses to calculate how many units a town must build. Deed restricted open space is considered buildable land. Local zoning, natural resources, and smart growth are disregarded when considering locations for affordable housing. For example, 100 units on Route 206 would be viewed by the state as equivalent to 100 units on the Sourland Mountains or even 100 units in a city.
The real danger is that towns that do not fulfill COAH obligations are susceptible to builder remedy lawsuits. If a town has chosen to not comply with COAH, developers building in that town must build more units to meet the regulations. A builder can sue a noncompliant town for the cost of the additional units needed for compliance. Also, such a town bears additional burdens in the long run, with the addition of more families with school-age children whose taxes do not cover the cost of education.
To illustrate, Hillsborough decided not to comply with COAH and as a consequence has lost four of these lawsuits. In each case, the end result was large high-density housing developments - larger than would have originally been built.
Curiously, because Montgomery has complied with COAH in the past, it is under more scrutiny by the state than towns that didn't comply. No good deed goes unpunished. Also, since there was much development for a long period previously in Montgomery, including the new high school with its stadium, it is expected to build more units than other towns that had less growth.
Montgomery may have to provide around 550 affordable housing units according to Mayor Cecilia Birge. Of these, 75 are accounted for with Pike Run, Montgomery's answer to Mt. Laurel II. Also, it is anticipated that 71 of the affordable housing units will be built in Skillman Village. The remaining 400 units would be built in other parts of town.
One major disappointment to the Township Committee was the June passage of bill A-500, originally sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Roberts, which prevents towns from using Residential Credit Allocations (RCAs) to comply with COAH. RCAs allowed a town to transfer up to 50% of its COAH obligations to another town, usually urban, willing to receive it. Perth Amboy had agreed to take 90 of Montgomery's units but A-500 eliminates this option.
The Township has two choices. It could find one site on which to build all of the units paid for by taxpayer money; obviously the least desirable answer. The more likely and agreeable scenario would be to identify several small parcels of land, mostly along Route 206, on which affordable units could be built and financed by developers.
The Township Committee is actively discussing this possibility with landowners along Route 206.
Skillman Village Cleanup Nears Completion
Committee Seeks Grants
Two years after acquiring Skillman Village, cleanup of the site is in its final stages. This cleanup, also referred to as horizontal building, has been the major focus of the Montgomery Township Committee.
Removal of underground steam pipes was completed in early October. More than 37,000 linear feet of pipes were removed - four times more steam pipe than originally planned. In some cases where a single line was expected, multiple lines were discovered underground.
Fortunately environmental consultants hired by the Township anticipated this and ensured that any unforeseen additional cleanup costs would be borne by Weston Solutions, who performed the work, and not the Township. Since the Environmental Liability Transfer Agreement (ELTA) was part of the contract between the Township and Weston Solutions, Montgomery paid one fixed price and assumed no environmental liability for the site.
Restoration of Sylvan Lake is expected to be finished by the middle of November according to Township Engineer Gail Smith. Currently crews are repairing and redesigning the dam.
Removal of coal ash behind the powerhouse, commenced when the Township Engineer and environmental consultants discovered foreign materials including garbage and asbestos there, continues under the directive of the NJDEP. Soil remediation, expected to be complete by the end of the year, continues throughout the site at the lake where sediment was removed, where steam pipes were removed, and where post-excavation soil sampling showed remnants of contaminated material. The air will be continuously monitored during this work.
The Township expects to recover the monies needed to upgrade and clean up the sewage treatment plant. Sewage treatment plants have to be self-liquidating by law in that they produce a return equal to the amount invested in their cleanup. Developers will pay more for a site that has an improved sewage treatment plant on it, as noted by the three developers who were chosen by the Township Committee to make proposals for the site.
Although none of the three developers chosen by the Township is submitting a complete proposal at this time due to current market conditions, one of them, Back to Nature has offered to create a complimentary master plan for the site. Mayor Cecilia Birge explains that if their plan meets the community's vision for the site and ensures social and economic vibrancy then they could proceed forward with it, otherwise the Township is under no obligation to this developer. Township staff members are currently reviewing this proposal and will make a recommendation to the Committee and the Skillman Village Steering Committee based on its findings.
When deciding to purchase Skillman Village two years ago, the Montgomery Township Committee factored in the possibility that it might not be developed for two to three years afterward, according to Mayor Birge; a providential decision given the present state of the economy. The Township Committee is planning to put vertical building, or construction, on hold for two years, and is instead focusing on finding grants to offset the tax impact of the site.
The cost for cleanup will be partly offset by a $1.52 million grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund. Once a redevelopment plan is adopted and deed restrictions on usage are in place the Township can apply for the second phase of the same grant. Likewise, at that point, Somerset County will release the $1 million in open space money that it has verbally committed to the Township, with the possibility of more in the future.
The Township is also applying for the State's Environmental Infrastructure Trust Fund, a low cost financing vehicle offered to towns that complete projects having positive environmental impact. Skillman Village qualifies for this fund with the cleanup of the sewage treatment plant, and interest payments on the site could be reduced by 50% under this program.
Skillman Village Sidebar
In mid-October, a spokesperson for Township Committee Candidate Kacey Dwyer sent out a press release calling for the Township to sell Skillman Village to the County, which would then include it in the Somerset County Parks system. Words like “fumble,” “reckless,” and “fiscal irresponsibility” were used, and the implication made was that Township debt of $63 million was due to the purchase of the Skillman Village.
Deputy Mayor Louise Wilson says, “The $63 million figure is truly misleading. $10 million is sewer debt, for which there is a dedicated revenue stream in the form of sewer fees. Another $12 million is additional open space debt for which we are receiving reimbursement from the state and the county. About $22 million of the debt is associated with Skillman Village, 200 acres of which will be preserved for open space and parkland.”
According to Mayor Birge and Deputy Mayor Louise Wilson, both Democrats, the county freeholders, an all-Republican group so far, has, each year in mid-October, dangled a promise of $1 million in county funding for open space before Township taxpayers. This year was no exception. Freeholder Chairman Peter Palmer was quoted as having supported the purchase of Skillman Village by the County. In one report, he said that such a sale could happen in as little as three or four months time, thus relieving Township taxpayers of the burden of debt. Presumably, other Somerset County taxpayers would pay for it instead.
However, according to both Mayor Birge and Dep. Mayor Wilson, the Freeholders back-pedaled from that position at the October 14 meeting, and in fact, didn’t even raise the subject until Mayor Birge brought it up at the end of the meeting. “I was concerned about the timing,” she said. “It seemed transparently political, but it does make sense for the Township to pursue this aggressively. We intend to hold their feet to the fire.”
The result was that the Freeholders suggested that the Township Open Space Committee resubmit an application for funding. However, the Freeholders refused to pass a resolution to work with the Township. “I hope the offer won’t expire on November 5,” Mayor Birge said.
Deputy Mayor Wilson thinks that it might be a mistake to turn the entire Skillman Village over to the County, but says, “A partnership with the County, however, could potentially be a win-win for Montgomery and for the County. That is the message that Mayor Birge carried to the freeholders at their meeting.”
Both Mayor Birge and Deputy Mayor Wilson pointed out that the purchase of Skillman Village as well as its planned use and disposition have been the result of a broad coalition from the community. “This issue has been crafted by many groups in the community,” Mayor Birge said.
Both Mayor Birge and Dep. Mayor Wilson also said that election-year claims that Skillman Village development for residential use will add to COAH development numbers is false. The Township is required to build or pay for 71 COAH units even if Skillman Village is never developed.
Mayor Birge said, “Three weeks before an election is no time to call a fire sale.”
VES will be featured on Classroom Close-up, NJ
Classroom Close-up, NJ, a seven-time Emmy winning show produced by the New Jersey Education Association and NJN Public Television, will be visiting Village Elementary School on October 22 to tape a story about their live morning news program-VES News .
The show will air Monday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m. on (NJN), February 9, February 14, March 16 and March 21.
New Jersey Education Association is the major underwriter for Classroom Close-up, NJ, with additional support provided by PSE&G and Lockheed Martin.
Classroom Close-up, airs on NJN every Monday at 7 p.m. and every Saturday at 9 a.m. (Consult your local television guide for the NJN Channel).
Now in its thirteenth season, Classroom Close-up, NJ features innovative programs going on in public school classrooms. Each half-hour program shows how caring school professionals inspire and motivate students. Each week, the excitement of learning comes alive as teachers, children and parents work together for success.
NJEA is the state’s largest association of educational professionals, representing 200,000 public school teachers and administrators, higher education faculty, education support professionals, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.
For additional information about the VES News program contact Jim Dolan, computer resource teacher at Village Elementary School. He can be reached by e-mail at jdolan@mtsd.us and by phone at 609-466-7606 ext 2015.
Skillman Village Release from Township Democrats
At the Montgomery Township Committee’s Oct. 16 meeting, Mayor Cecilia Birge appointed a bipartisan subcommittee of the five-member Township Committee to work with Somerset County officials to secure additional funding for open space and parkland at Montgomery’s Skillman Village property.
The subcommittee members, Democrat Louise Wilson and Republican Mark Caliguire, working with Montgomery staff and volunteers, will meet with the County Open Space Committee and with County Freeholders to explore various options, including a county park.
“We are open to a variety of options that might draw substantial financial support from the county, including a county park,” said Mayor Birge. “A large park at Skillman Village is central to our plan for the site. Now that the property is clean, County funding could move the park forward sooner rather than later. We just have to make sure Montgomery has control over what land uses are permitted on the entire site, including on open space and park land.”
Birge called the timing of the Freeholders’ attention “transparently political,” but also said “Regardless of the circumstances, the Freeholders have opened the door, saying a deal is ‘doable’ within a few months. They have invested large sums of money in partnerships and parkland in other towns. I feel strongly that it is in Montgomery’s interest to vigorously pursue this funding. That’s what I’ve asked Louise and Mark to do – seize the opportunity and make it happen.”
New Restaurant Opens – Elements
We had a chance to attend the opening party of a new restaurant in the Princeton area, Elements. Located on the corner of Rt. 206 and Leigh Avenue (just past Community Park in Princeton if you are driving from Belle Mead), the new building is likely to win notice from architects everywhere. A stunner, it was designed by Richmond, Virginia architect Bob Steele and uses natural products, such as teak, maple, and quarry stone.
Principal owner Stephen Distler noted, “Two years ago I thought it would be nice to open the finest restaurant in Princeton. It looks like it could be the finest restaurant in New Jersey.”
Much the same can be said about the food we sampled. Although their official opening was October 18 as we go to the printer, we were impressed. They serve what they call “interpretive American cuisine,” such as bluefin tuna served with chermoula, garbanzo beans, preserved lemon and herbs; Kobe rib eye beef, with white sweet potato, langoustine, turnips and spices; and veal with fingerlings, Brussel sprouts, bacon, and weisswurst.
Chef and co-owner Scott Anderson, formerly chef de cuisine the noted Ryland Inn, said that Elements actually makes their own weisswurst on site. We had a sample of the Kobe and weiswurst with Brussel sprouts – delicious. I came back shamelessly for seconds. My childhood memory of Brussel sprouts was of small, hard green lumpy things redolent of gasoline. Evidently, there is a trick to cooking them, as these were superb.
Dinning areas were scattered around the restaurant to accommodate groups of various sizes. We looked in at the kitchen, which was easy to do. It was open along one side for dinners in one of the side rooms of the 80-seat restaurant. Chefs were at work preparing trays of food. In the center of their work station was a truffle the size of a baseball. That’s something you don’t see every day.
Prices for Entrees vary from $24 for fluke, to $75 for Kobe rib eye. We recommend it. Open seven days a week, they will be serving dinner only, Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 10 pm, Saturday from 5:30 to 11 pm; and Sunday from 5 to 9 pm. Reservations are recommended; 609-924-0078 or online, www.elementsprinceton.com.
Letters to the Editor - November
To the Editor:
Social Security is not in need of reform. Congress is. Every year since its inception, Congress has raised monies in the Social Security trust fund for its own budgetary purposes.
There is absolutely no need to raise Social Security taxes to cute benefits or (heaven forbid!) privatize Social Security.
Write to your Senators Congressmen! If the bill before Congress to stop such transfer of funds could ever pass, it should now. Why should Congress be allowed to use the money taken from our paychecks for the sole legitimate purpose of being place in the Social Security Trust Fund for their own purposes?
If Congress had to pay back all the money it ahs taken out over the years, retirees in the U.S. would never have to worry again!
I believe this should be shared with the readers of the volume 14-issue number 12 of The Montgomery News.
Eleanor Marshall
Belle Mead
To the editor
With so much excitement surrounding the presidential campaign, it’s a little hard to remember that we have a local race as well. In Montgomery, the Democratic organization has nominated a first-rate candidate, Keith Hovey, for Township Committee.
Keith is a young man – soon to be a father. He and his wife Rebecca, an attorney who works for the state representing the children in DYFS abuse and neglect cases, chose to settle in Montgomery because our town is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.
It didn’t take long for Keith to seek out constructive things to do for the community. As a former critical-care nurse and now a practicing attorney with the Wilenz firm, he volunteered for the Board of Health, where he now serves with distinction. He has made a point of learning a great deal about the complex challenges we face: the maddening state tax structure, traffic issues, the town’s affordable housing obligation, the redevelopment of Skillman Village, the evolution of the Rt. 206 corridor in the southern part of town – the list goes on.
We don’t pretend to know the ins and outs of all these issues; almost no one has the time or patience to absorb the details. But we do know how important these issues are to the future of our township.
We vote for people who share our values and whose judgment we trust, who are active and engaged, intellectually curious, independent minded, prepared to tackle any problem and fight for the people and future of our community. Keith Hovey is one of those people.
We have lived in Montgomery for forty years and have seen many changes – some good, and some not so good. We believe the Democratic majority on the Township Committee is doing a good job. But we also know that our local leaders face immense challenges. Keith Hovey will make a strong team even stronger. We will be delighted to cast our vote for Keith on November 4.
Linda and Tom Spain
Skillman
To the Editor:
Skillman Village is a fantastic opportunity for Montgomery to create a place that becomes a destination like no other. The local Republicans can’t figure out what to do about it so they have turned it, sadly, into a political football.
First they wanted to just turn the property over to a developer, ceding the entire site to an organization guided only by profit. Then, when the township undertook the demolition and cleanup, it was that that should have been handled by a developer - a strategy that would have ceded control and timing of that sensitive issue as well as generating one of the lowest financial returns for the taxpayers.
Now, the Republican campaign line seems to be that the Township should just leave the site vacant. This is the worst idea of all, because it would saddle the taxpayers with the entire cost of the acquisition of the site and its cleanup permanently, and would render the lake restoration, which adds tremendous redevelopment value to the nearby land (a fact acknowledged by all the prospective developers) pointless. To top it off, the Republicans have accused the Democratic-led Township Committee both of moving too fast and of moving too slowly. They have articulated no vision for Skillman Village, and have offered no truly constructive ideas for what it should be, much less help at getting to it.
Those who have worked on the project for years, Democrats, Republicans and independents alike, have striven to ensure that the Village would be a sensitive addition to its surroundings, would help redress the property tax imbalance, and would not add significantly to the peak rush-hour traffic on area roads or school population. These are not easy goals to quickly reconcile. The one constant consideration has always been “What is best for the community in the long run, and what does it take to do this right?” It was a bipartisan decision to buy the property. It has saved us (potentially) millions of dollars of school taxes over what might have happened had the State sold directly to a developer. We have cleaned up the site and made it extremely valuable for development. Holding the property until the economy turns around is a reasonable investment.
We should continue with a measured approach. Political hyperbole and opposition for its own sake are not sound bases for leadership, especially when one is trying, as Montgomery is, to achieve something complex, worthwhile, and cost effective in the long run.
The Democrat running for the Township Committee seat, Keith Hovey, is a homeowner and prospective parent who understands the issues affecting the township as well as the opportunities. An attorney who works with the development process regularly, he brings considerable skills and knowledge, and has the right experience to manage our wise investment in this property. He will continue the careful and productive approach that has guided this project thus far. He deserves our vote this November.
Steve Heckel
Belle Mead
To The Editor:
Several months ago the Montgomery Township Newsletter contained a full-page advertisement about the Chinese New Year. I wrote Mayor Ceclia Birge suggesting that a full page be devoted to Memorial Day since it would affect more citizens.
In the subsequent Newsletter only two sentences appeared about Memorial Day. (The recent newsletter had more coverage about Pet Adoption Days.). This time, I called (voice mail) Mayor Birge indicating since there had been so little coverage of Memorial Day perhaps more could be written about Veterans Day. No response. Nothing written in the Fall newsletter.
It is unfortunate that in a community as diverse as ours, little attention is given to those who are serving, have served (living and deceased) sacrificing for our country. These patriots are the reason we have freedom and democracy. They should be honored and respected. We should all be Americans and not separate ethnic groups.
P.S. Re: Montgomery Twp. Newsletter going email – all citizens don’t have email
Barbara L. Tucker
Belle Mead
To the Editor:
In this year’s local election for Montgomery Township Committee the stakes could not be higher. Our municipal budget has been under a lot of strain this past year due to the mismanagement of the State’s finances in Trenton, increasing state mandates, and not enough local fiscal prudence. With our national economy worsening, and increased taxes straining our personal finances, it is even more critical that we elect another fiscal conservative like Republican Kacey Dyer to the township committee. We need to make sure we do what it takes to cut spending, reduce municipal debt and make good decisions with regard to the Skillman Village property. We need to avoid not only more debt, but we also need to avoid high-density housing and development in that rural portion of Montgomery.
The Skillman Village project has added $27 million in debt to the township budget. I voted against much of that, but I was the only “no” vote. It costs us over $880,000 per year to carry that new debt and we need to move quickly to that reduce that burden in future budgets. It is not enough to hope that at some point a re-developer will have an interest in purchasing the property. That could take years, and if and when that does happen, we may end up with high-density development and additional COAH obligations that would transform that property from a rural park- like setting to a mini urban center.
Kacey Dyer has recently called on the County Freeholder Board to seriously consider the purchase of Skillman Village as a county park. That is a plan that could reduce the debt burden as well as avoid the current plan to put high density housing in Skillman Village. It represents the kind of thinking we need to change the current fiscal picture.
Kacey understands that governments, like individuals, needs to live within its means. She will work with me to keep our municipal government accountable for every dollar spent and to do what it takes to reduce current debt and avoid future debt.
Please join me in voting for Kacey Dyer for the Montgomery Township Committee.
Mark Caliguire
Township Committeeman
To the editor:
Votes from Montgomery can deliver ethics reform, tax relief and two-party government to Somerset County for the first time in nearly 30 years. We in Montgomery can make all the difference in this year’s County Freeholder election!
Mayor Cecilia Birge is running for Freeholder. Montgomery residents know what a superb combination of experience, skill and determination Cecilia brings to the table. From sound fiscal planning, to the oversight of a large and very sensitive environmental cleanup of the NPDC site, to fighting for quality of life issues so important to individuals and families, Cecilia has set and met a very high standard for service to the people of our town. Having Cecilia on the freeholder board would be great for Montgomery.
Doug Singleterry, the North Plainfield Councilman who is Cecilia’s running mate, is also an outstanding freeholder candidate. An attorney who serves on the Board of the Tri-County Red Cross and is active with his local Youth Services Commission and Municipal Alliance, Doug has a hands-on approach, a big heart, a keen intelligence and no patience for the old-boy politics that have led to waste and abuse in County government. Inspired by Montgomery’s strict, proactive stand against pay-to-play politics, Doug used Montgomery’s ordinance as a model and pushed successfully for pay to play reform in his own town.
The Republican Freeholder candidates are hammering hard on Cecilia and Doug, making outlandish accusations about Montgomery’s debt and municipal taxes, among other things. This consistent with longstanding campaign tradition of never letting the facts get in the way of a red-meat attack.
A simple review of the facts, whether the topic is Montgomery’s debt management, controlling municipal taxes, ethics reform, the Skillman Village project or slowing unwanted development, reveals a truly impressive record of accomplishment.
Cecilia Birge and Doug Singleterry have earned our support, and will bring a sorely needed discipline and reform to the County Freeholder Board. Please give Cecilia and Doug your vote on November 4.
Louise Wilson
Hollow Road, Skillman
To the Editor:
This is in response to your recent article on Dutchtown Zion Road. This road is heavily used by area residents. Montgomery spent $2 million to get the rest of the road paved but Hillsborough refuses to abide by the joint 1978 road maintenance agreement where section 3.16 specifically demands “Paving unpaved sections”. That is pretty clear language. Hillsborough claims that the dirt road will reduce area traffic, the only problem is that they never asked Montgomery and had no problem paving their own dirt road section of nearby Zion Road several years ago.
The problem is political and reflects on our politicians who continually promise the world and all they can do for us. Hillsborough refuses to abide by the joint agreement but has no problem asking all NJ taxpayers to spend $120 million on their new Rt. 206 Bypass while destroying farmland in the process.
Montgomery’s Township Committee has for years agreed that this 1100’ road section be paved. If Mayor Birge and Company is unable to resolve what would otherwise be a minor squabble between townships then you should question her ability to be a County Freeholder. As long as these politicians aspire to higher office they will avoid ruffling feathers in another township and we the taxpayers are the losers.
Politicians do breath down the neck of deep pocket 3M for stream pollution but look the other way when tons of municipal road stone dust, gravel and mud annually washes from this dirt road section into Montgomery’s Rock Brook every time it rains. Did I mention that Hillsborough gets this road’s stone dust for free from 3M. We are however spending $6 million to clean out Sylvan Lake of silt. Did I mention that Rock Brook and its silt empties into the $6 million Sylvan Lake. “And the beat goes on.”
Area residents attended many Township Committee meetings in both townships, sent letters, emails, and petitions to both Mayors (as well as car repair bills). Instead of sitting down with their Hillsborough counterparts to resolve this issue what do our Mayor and Deputy Mayor tell us to do – “go beat on Hillsborough.” With advice like that you have to ask why these people want to be elected in the first place.
This is a road going to and from Montgomery and serves residents of both townships. One of the first responsibilities as elected officials is to maintain our roads. That is why they made this agreement in the first place. For area residents this is a vital road to the rest of our community and is why we risk dust and flying stones driving on it daily. The highest property taxes in the nation, $6 million for a lake and we get a dirt road. Please lets get the job done.
Eric Weitze
Skillman
To he Editor:
I am writing in support of an outstanding young candidate for the Montgomery Township Committee – Keith Hovey. Keith graduated in 1999 from Case Western Reserve University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. In 2001, he decided to pursue law as a career and entered Seton Hall University School of Law, where he graduated in 2004. Keith won academic honors at both schools and has distinguished himself in various ways, two of which indicate why Keith would make a valuable member of the Township Committee.
First, when Keith graduated from college, he took a job as a Registered Nurse in the Cardiothorasic Intensive Care Unit at the New England Medical Center in Boston. He provided care for some of society’s most critically ill surgical and medical patients, involving extremely complicated medical problems. His job entailed a tremendous amount of responsibility for the health and even the lives of others, and Keith willingly took on that responsibility.
Second, while at Seton Hall Law School, he prepared and argued a Motion in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals concerning Due Process and First Amendment Constitutional Rights. That is a very high Federal Court, one level below the U. S. Supreme Court, and to prepare and argue a Motion there requires taking on a lot of responsibility, especially when the Constitutional rights of others are at stake.
These actions demonstrate that Keith has always been willing to take on large responsibilities and to carry them out with integrity and determination. That is the kind of person we need on the Township Committee in these difficult times. The economy promises to get worse before it gets better. Money is going to be in short supply. And the demand for services will inevitably increase. We need someone on the Committee who has shown himself to be not only able, but also willing to take on these large responsibilities. Keith Hovey is that person.
Michael Joye
Skillman Village
To the Editor:
I was astonished to read Montgomery Township Committee members negative reaction to a Somerset County freeholder offer to consider buying the former State Village for a county park. If this were not Montgomery Township I would readily conclude it was pure partisan politics; but why else any would be so quick to assail it I cannot image.
This township has had the benefit of local government that looks past party labels, welcomes participation and open discussion. Why this time not so? Certainly not because it would be an ego blow after laboring long and earnestly to come up with a plan for a village within a park, sincerely believing this to be a good escape from the huge thereat of having 260 acres exploited by profit-focused developer, to see all that effort go for naught.
Just as certainly, we have been told repeatedly when various Skillman Village alternatives were aired to public meetings that all options remain on the table. To the extent I have attended meetings, at no time was a county park discussed. All we were invited to consider was various development concepts because we were given to understand keeping all that acreage, as parkland was not an affordable option for Montgomery taxpayers.
Well, now we do have a possible escape from that financial bind. Maybe it is not a good idea, regardless. But we can’t know that until the idea has been fully explored and carefully evaluated. Meanwhile, lets thank Somerset County heartily for showing an interest.
Jessie Havens
Belle Mead
To the Editor:
Now it seems as if the recent trend toward government bailouts has reached Montgomery Township. Because of poor planning by our mayor and her colleagues that resulted in eroding of the municipal surplus and building a monumental debt, the taxpayers of Montgomery are facing a substantial new burden. The primary culprit is the purchase of the North Princeton Developmental Center.
Thankfully, Montgomery Township Committee candidate Kacey Dyer proposed that Somerset County purchase the 260-acre parcel and turn it into a much needed general use park. This solution will help Montgomery twofold; it will relieve the local government of significant debt and it will provide Township residents with much-needed active and passive recreational opportunities.
The problems with the development of the property are many. There is the need to recoup the purchase price and the high cost of clean up, estimated to be in excess of $20 million. Then there are the COAH requirements for low and moderate-income housing that will come with development. And finally, there is the small problem of the fact that no developer wants to build anything on the property.
I applaud Kacey Dyer for suggesting this approach and Freeholder Peter Palmer and the Board of Chosen Freeholders for their willingness to consider a purchase. I can only hope that they not only find a way to help the Montgomery taxpayer but continue for years to come, making Somerset County and its municipalities financially better and greener.
Because of this and so many other reasons, I encourage my friends and neighbors to vote for Ms. Dyer. I know that her commitment to Montgomery is sincere, that her ideas and strong, and that she will ensure reform in township government.
Thom Carter
To the editor:
A couple of weeks ago, the local Republican campaign put out a press release that was all too reminiscent of the bad old days, when every year Montgomery would see campaign press releases making promises about the purchase of NPDC. "A deal was being made," they always said -- "Really!"
Democratic Candidate Keith Hovey offered a sensible, professional response. He said, let's see if the County is serious about funding, and if so, let's get as much as we can. He went on to say, let us also make sure Montgomery doesn't give away the store; let's make sure the community weighs in; let's not lose control over land uses in the heart of our community, and let's not hand over this very valuable property to the scandal-plagued County Parks Commission.
The local Republicans are waging a campaign of misinformation. I suspect Kacey Dyer is a better person than this, but unfortunately she has turned her campaign over to fear-mongers and political opportunists.
Kacey also says that if we turn the entire Skillman Village property into a county park, it will eliminate the strain on our schools and reduce our affordable housing obligation. This is simply not accurate and demonstrates a lack of understanding of the COAH requirements, which are not affected in any way by the Skillman Village concept. With or without the "village within a park," the state regulations assign 426 affordable housing units to Montgomery by the year 2018. The only question is, who builds them and where will they be located.
Skillman Village and COAH are very, very important issues for Montgomery, and both issues are exceptionally complex. The stakes are high. Keith Hovey has the skills, knowledge and temperament to be a great local township committeeman. He is careful and open minded, and brings a positive outlook. Please give him your vote on Nov. 4.
Bill and Lee Forbes
908-874-3207
To the Editor:
Keith Hovey has the skills Montgomery needs for the challenges and issues our community faces. As his wife, I hesitated for a moment to tell you why I believe he is the best candidate for Township Committee. But, just like Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain speaking out and supporting their spouses, I know him best, and that is why it is important for you to know why I support Keith Hovey for Township Committee.
Although I could tout Keith’s many accomplishments, it is the little things that really tell you about a person’s true character. So although it may be obvious that Keith is focused, driven, dedicated, and honest, what you may not know is that Keith is not afraid to ask hard questions or tackle seemingly impossible problems or that he will work hard to make Montgomery a wonderful place to live and work. Most importantly, he has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and actively seeks out different and opposing views to help him make the best and most informed decisions possible.
I cannot think of a better example than when Keith decided for the first time to become politically involved a mere 20 months ago. With a group of five people, he started a group that eventually became NJ for Obama and became the State Chair. Over the next 10 months, before the campaign opened an office in New Jersey, NJ for Obama was the face of the campaign, setting up a website, handling grassroots organizing, holding fundraisers, educating and registering voters, reaching out to elected officials, and speaking to the media. To do that as a political novice, Keith consumed a tremendous amount of information to educate himself on community organizing, New Jersey politics, and the primary system. He then spent an incredible amount of time on weeknights and weekends, reaching out to potential voters and teaching what he had learned and, more importantly, how to get others involved in their communities.
As a result of Keith’s efforts, NJ for Obama had organized nearly every county, with over 2,000 volunteers and over 12,000 supporters. For his work, he was selected to serve as a member of the New Jersey Delegation at the Democratic National Convention. Keith also believes in being involved locally. Now, for the first time, Keith is running for political office, a mere 20 months after he decided to become more involved. He has accomplished all of this while working full time as an attorney and a member of Montgomery’s Board of Health, not to mention still being a supportive and loving husband, dedicated to his growing family.
This is just one example of why I know Keith has the dedication, determination and skills that we need for our future and make him the best candidate for Township Committee, no matter what political party you belong to.
Rebecca Miller-Hovey
Montgomery Township
Dear Editor,
I recently heard about Kacey Dyer and the Montgomery Republican’s proposal to sell the old North Princeton Development Center to the county as a new park. What a truly wonderful idea. This can really clean up the mess Mayor Cecilia Xie Birge and the local Democrats have created.
Under Democratic leadership, our town’s debt has skyrocketed. It is now over $60 million. This is the highest debt in Somerset County, even higher than Franklin Township, the largest town in the county (over twice the population of Montgomery). We are now paying almost $2 million a year in debt service. This amount of debt is not sustainable, especially in these economic times.
Unfortunately, the Democrat’s plan for NPDC makes the situation worse. Montgomery Township does not need the Democrat’s proposed Skillman Village. We do not need more development or the additional traffic it will create. There are plenty of vacancies in the Rt. 206/518 shopping centers and Blawenburg Village. Moreover, the large Montgomery Promenade, scheduled to be built next to the Princeton Airport is already a few years behind its original schedule. Skillman Village doesn’t make any sense whatsoever – we can’t even use what we currently have, why build more?
Montgomery needs more parks and open space. Kacey Dyer has proven to be the most creative and thoughtful candidate for local office this year. It’s time for a change in Montgomery. It’s time to support Kacey Dyer and her exciting ideas to improve our town.
Ed Trzaska
Belle Mead, NJ
Dear editor:
While Montgomery is a unique, wonderful community with its own challenges, some we face are common to all 21st century communities. One of these challenges is to conduct business in the most sustainable manner possible. This would include working towards protecting our natural resources while at the same time encouraging appropriate economic growth to support our community’s affordability and economic well being. But it also includes being mindful of the town’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, showing stewardship of our overall environmental health, and continuing the tradition of preserving open space in the most economically sound way as possible.
Keith Hovey, a candidate for Township Committee in Montgomery, is extremely well qualified to confront these challenges. With degrees in both law, specializing in the areas of redevelopment, real estate, and construction, and a nursing degree, Keith has a detailed understanding and expertise in highly relevant fields. As an active member of Montgomery’s Board of Health, Keith is already engaged in this work in the community. The fates of several projects in town continue to unfold, including Skillman Village and. Montgomery Promenade, as well as other proposed or contemplated projects, and we need Township Committee members that are extremely focused on sustainability and stewardship issues. I feel that with his solid educational background and his positive, energetic attitude, Keith is well suited to deal with both Montgomery’s unique issues as well as the larger regional and global problems confronting us.
For these reasons I am extremely enthusiastic about Keith Hovey’s candidacy, and I would recommend to the citizens of Montgomery to cast your vote for him on November 4.
Sincerely,
Alan Bookman
Montgomery
Small Towns Prevail in State Police Funding Issue
The NJ league of Municipalities announced today that the State’s Council on Local Mandates has reversed the Governor’s attempt to get those New Jersey towns that rely on the State Police to pay for that service. 22 towns joined in a suit against the State after receiving bills for policing. Rocky Hill, which had relied on the State Police for decades, received a bill of $29,000.
The governor had been trying to balance the state budget, which has been in deficit for some time, by finding alternative sources of funding.
The Council declared that the attempt by the state was an unfunded mandate, that it was unconstitutional, and that the Council’s decision was unappealable.
The State had argued that the constitutional prohibition against unfunded mandates did’nt apply to new costs imposed by the State’s Annual Appropriation Act. And secondly, the State argued that setting aside this funding (some $12.6 million), the State would be exempt.
This decision has left the State with the unwelcomed task of finding another source of funding in troubled times. But for Rocky Hill Mayor Ed Zimmerman, “I feel like the principal made the bully give back the lunch money.”
Montgomery Starts Planning For The Third Annual Relay For Life
No one should have to face cancer alone. That’s why Montgomery will join more than 4,500 other communities across America in celebration of survivorship and hope at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.
Relay for Life opens with survivors and their families walking around the track. They are then joined by teams of children, teens, adults and senior citizens. A highlight of the evening is the luminaria service or candlelight vigil held at darkness to honor cancer survivors and to remember those lost to cancer.
The night unfolds with games and prizes for all community children. There are games, food, a DJ, and entertainment for all ages. Last year’s Relay drew about 250 participants and raised over $44,000.
This year the Relay for Life will take place at Montgomery High on May 29, 2009. Please join us in the planning stages of the May 29, 2009 Relay. We need your help to make this year’s Relay for Life a success.
For more information please call Pam Gizzi, MHS School Nurse at (609) 466-7600 ext. 6514 or Karen Zimmerman at the Recreation Department (609) 466- 3023. Our kick off meeting is on November 18.
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