At a special meeting on January 17, Princeton Borough Council named four representatives to serve on the joint consolidation transition task force. Mark Freda, Hendricks Davis, and Brad Middlekauff were approved in a 5-1 vote by the governing body, with Jim Levine as an alternate.

Mr. Freda, former head of Princeton’s emergency services department, is director of site operations for Pfizer, Inc. in New York. Mr. Davis is the former executive director of the Princeton-Blairstown Center and Habitat for Humanity/Newark. Mr. Middlekauff is a lawyer, chief legal officer, general counsel, and secretary at Kolltan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. Levine is director of compensation and benefits for Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

Councilwoman Barbara Trelstad, who served on the selection committee, said they tried to balance their choices with the representatives appointed by the Township earlier this month. She also suggested that all of the resumes be forwarded to the task force for future participation in subcommittees that will be formed.

“The Borough of Princeton is a really lucky place,” she said. “We had a superb pool of applicants.”

Councilman Roger Martindell was the one member to vote against the slate of candidates because he felt there were others who should have been considered. “I agree we have a superb pool of candidates, all 28 of them,” he said, also commending the committee who made the selection. “But I’m voting against it — not because any of these individuals are not good candidates. They are all good candidates. I’m voting against the motion.”

Mr. Martindell was particularly disturbed that candidates employed by Princeton University were disqualified from the process. “We didn’t interview anyone employed by the University and I think that was a mistake,” he said. “It shows a degree of arbitrariness, capriciousness, and unreasonableness that doesn’t really say much for the process …. If the process included a larger group than the original seven chosen in closed session, I would be much more enthusiastic.” He concluded, “I think we’re doing an expeditious job of moving forward. But as a whole, the process was deficient.”

Councilwoman Jenny Crumiller countered that Mr. Martindell had not made his position or preferences clear when the process was first discussed. She also faulted him for not complaining until after a decision had been made.

Councilwoman Heather Howard spoke in favor of the process. “The folks who were chosen represent the best of Princeton Borough,” she said. “We should be very proud of who we are nominating.”