By Anne Levin

In a brief meeting Monday evening, January 27, Princeton Council approved several resolutions involving the fourth round of the town’s affordable housing obligation, solid and bulk waste collection, tennis in Community Park, and other initiatives.

The Council also opted to table an item on the consent agenda involving a resolution for the appointment of an Emergency Management Council.

Some Council members have received calls from citizens concerned about the presence of several police and other official cars in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood. Councilwoman Leticia Fraga explained that the proliferation of these vehicles was due to training, and “nothing to be concerned about. This was actually part of a training that the county is conducting and Princeton is hosting,” she said. “It is for defensive tactics training required by the AG [attorney general].”

Mayor Mark Freda added that the training is based at the firehouse on Witherspoon Street, and is taking place over the next two weeks.

Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros reported that Evan Moorhead, executive director of the town’s Recreation Department, was recently named a Certified Parks and Recreation Executive (CPRE), “which is the highest certification available at the national level,” she said. Moorhead was one of 11 in New Jersey to achieve the certification.

“We know we have a really special department and a great leader, and I just wanted to commend him for that,” she said.

Council’s approval of the resolution related to affordable housing commits the municipality to the Department of Community Affairs’ fourth round of housing obligations, announced last October. The “prospective need” obligation is for 276 units, to be built during the next 10 years.

The resolution related to tennis renews the lease between Princeton and the Princeton Tennis Program at Community Park, for an additional year. Councilman Leighton Newlin commended the program.

“Over the long haul, this organization has done a good job of DEI and equity, making sure they scan and include people of color from the neighborhood, and making sure there is equitable outreach in everything they do in these programs,” he said. “And we appreciate that.”

Council voted to authorize the third year of a five-year contract with Interstate Waste Services of New Jersey, continuing the waste collection services that utilize 64-gallon carts. Deputy Administrator/Municipal Engineer Deanna Stockton said that the service has resulted in a reduction in the amount of solid waste that is going out, which lowers the costs. Three new locations for the food scraps program are currently being set up.

The next meeting of Council is Monday, February 10 at 7 p.m. Visit princetonnj.gov for more information.