Princeton University has upped its annual voluntary contribution to the Township by five percent, reported Mayor Chad Goerner on Monday. Along with a $250,000 contribution earmarked for helping with consolidation, the total amount of the University’s contribution this year will be $775,000.

“Having a professional relationship really does achieve results,” said Mr. Goerner to an audience that included University Vice President and Secretary Bob Durkee, and Director of Community and Regional Affairs. Kristin Appleget.

Describing another “important step toward consolidating the community,” Township Committeeman Bernie Miller reported that as a result of three recent meetings of the Board of Elections for Redistricting for Princeton Voters, there is a new election district map that acknowledges existing neighborhoods, instead of cutting through them. “All undergraduate students are in one election district,” said Mr. Miller, referring to the arbitrary lines that characterized the old map.

Consolidation also figured in Chief Finance Officer Kathryn Monzo’s report on an “excellent” recent bond sale in which Princeton Township’s “Triple A rating” was reaffirmed, signaling a “stable outlook for transition.”

Referring to “a trying time,” Public Works Superintendent Don Hansen promised that leaf and brush collection in the Township “will be done by December 31.” Mr. Hansen acknowledged the work of Chris Torres, who was present at the meeting, along with other members of the Public Works Department who “went beyond what they had to do” and put in many hours on the brush and leaf pick-up. “Residents didn’t realize the magnitude of the undertaking,” observed Mr. Goerner; some 350 truckloads of brush and leaf have already been picked up. Mr. Miller acknowledged the presence in the audience of Borough Council member Roger Martindell and expressed the Township’s thanks to the Borough for its assistance in brush and leaf collection.

“Now we go into snow removal and repairing trucks,” said Mr. Hansen, describing the importance of up-to-date vehicles in good repair for “getting the job done.” Dates and times for Christmas tree -pick-up, he said, will be posted at the Township’s website in the coming days.

Member Liz Lempert asked Township Committee to respond to the recent news, broken by Planet Princeton’s Krystal Knapp, that Princeton Housing Authority executive director Scott Parsons had resigned from that position and assumed a job with the Lakewood Housing Authority in Ocean County, only to be rehired by the Housing Authority at a salary of $65,000 (three-fourths of his original salary) for ten hours a week. Ms. Lempert noted that although Mr. Parsons’ salary was not coming out of local property taxes, it was still a matter “of concern to the community.” She suggested that there be a Township Committee member on the housing board, and it was agreed that the quality of service be monitored at Redding Circle, an affordable housing development that is in the Township but is administered by the Borough.

Facebook photos offer evidence of the speed with which the new Community Park Pool complex is being reconstructed, said Deputy Mayor Sue Nemeth. She described last week’s Communities of Light display, when luminaries were lit all around Princeton, as “a wonderful event.” The terrific attendance at a recent holiday party at the Princeton Senior Resource Center was, she said, “ a testament to the work that the center does.”

It was agreed that there would be an end-of-year event to wish the Township “godspeed” as it ends its township days and consolidates with the Borough.

Describing their contributions and special strengths during this past year, Mr. Goerner lauded Township Committee members and presented each with a set of chopsticks from his recent trip to China.