To the Editor:

I have been quite vocal about my concern over raising the salaries of the mayor and members of the Princeton Council at this time. Therefore I agree with Mayor Liz Lempert that now is not the time to consider raises; instead, the proposal could be reintroduced next year.

It is obvious to me that the mayor and Council have faced major issues and challenges that have demanded extraordinary amounts of time, thought and energy — perhaps more than many of us anticipated. However, Council’s having been seated for only six months makes the pay raise proposal premature. Waiting until next year provides the opportunity for council to use their precious time now to deal with matters that are critical to the success of a newly consolidated Princeton and as Councilman Liverman has said, “It’s about moving ahead with things.”

The recommendation adopted by the Consolidation Study Commission was very clear. We said, “The elected positions in a consolidated Princeton be compensated at the level currently paid in the Borough for its mayor and governing body.” Of course, recommendations deserve to be reviewed in the light of new realities. That said, I believe the governing body should give itself at least one full year and then revisit the proposal in 2014 when I trust the tremendous demands of governing the transition to consolidation are indeed “less distracting” and the community has a deeper understanding of the savings from consolidation.

In March or April of 2014 the council should again consider the proposal to adjust salaries and I anticipate that at that time an increase would be appropriate given the current diligence of the council and mayor. I would support a proposal to invest in our elected officials, to encourage new candidates to seek office, and to raise salaries at that time — one year ahead of the three years anticipated by the Consolidation Study Commission.

Anton Lahnston

Elm Road, Former Chairman

The Princeton Consolidation and

Shared Services Study Commission