At Princeton Council’s annual reorganization meeting on Wednesday, January 4, returning member Jenny Crumiller and newcomer Tim Quinn were sworn in. New Jersey Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker administered the oath of office to Mayor Liz Lempert, who was elected to a second term.

No official actions were taken at a meeting the following Monday, January 9, but the governing body heard a presentation about storm water management, was updated on 2017 budget goals, and was asked by a member of the public to consider creating a resolution opposing the proposed expansion of Princeton Charter School. That issue will likely be on the agenda for the Council meeting on January 23. A third gathering being held Tuesday, January 10 (after press time) is dedicated to setting goals and priorities for the coming year.

Reorganization Meeting

The yearly gathering attracted a large audience of local residents and family members of those being sworn in. Ms. Crumiller was named as Council president, and longtime member Bernie Miller announced he would not seek re-election once his current term expires.

Ms. Lempert and each member of Council offered comments about past accomplishments and goals for the coming year. In Ms. Lempert’s speech, she cited the creation of a Civil Rights Commission and Youth Advisory Commission as key developments. She also referenced Princeton’s work to protect immigrants, and mentioned the recent presidential election as a reason to make these efforts even more significant.

Mr. Miller reported that permits for a proposed solar array plant at the closed municipal landfill on River Road would be received by the end of this month. A second such project, on the roof of the Spring Street Garage, will go out for bids this spring to determine whether it is worth pursuing. He urged the municipality to upgrade existing public works facilities rather than spend the money to build a new one, and focused on other public works issues as well.

“When I leave office on December 31, 2017, it will have been an honor to have served the citizens of Princeton as your representative to local government for more than 15 years,” said Mr. Miller, who has previously served as deputy mayor and mayor of the former Township. “I have never viewed this as a career, but as a vocation, and I thank you for giving me the privilege of doing it.”

Councilwoman Jo Butler praised the town’s police department for their work during the past year. She also suggested the governing body work with other towns and communities on key issues. Outgoing Council president Lance Liverman gave high marks to Princeton’s youth leadership program. A member of the former Civil Rights Commission that used to exist in the town, Mr. Liverman said he was pleased that it is being revived.

Ms. Crumiller spoke about public works issues and also emphasized the importance of curbing speeding in town. Mr. Quinn, who will serve as a liaison to the Civil Rights Commission, said he hoped to make Princeton more bike-friendly.

January 9 Meeting

With alarming increases in annual precipitation due to extreme weather and a marked rise in development, Princeton needs to take action to curb the effects of storm water management, according to Jim Waltman, director of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association. Mr. Waltman did not mince words in his presentation, which was accompanied by charts and figures.

“I think Princeton has a really big problem on its hands,” he said. “And that problem requires bold action.”

Adding impervious surfaces when developments go up fundamentally changes the landscape, he added, creating more runoff with no place for the water to go. “This is not rocket science. We’re going to get more flooding unless we take dramatic action,” he said. While efforts to combat the problem have increased in recent years, it’s not enough. The water pollution created by storm water runoff is “a witch’s brew of stuff from our daily life,” he said.

Municipalities need to take an active role in addressing the problem. Storm water regulations adopted by New Jersey in 2004 only address large-scale developments of over 11,000 square feet, “not making the existing problem any better,” Mr. Waltman said. Municipalities can adopt more stringent standards, for much smaller developments. “You can go one better,” he said.

Rain gardens such as the one at the Stony Brook-Millstone location in Pennington and another at the PNC Bank in Princeton Shopping Center are another solution to the problem. Mr. Waltman said that nine municipalities in New Jersey have created “Minor Development” categories, and urged that Princeton do the same.