Borough Council Fills Staff Openings; Approves $1.27 Million in Projects

Candace Braun

Borough Council recently voted 4 to 2 to fill six of the eleven staff vacancies it now has. Councilmen Andrew Koontz and Roger Martindell were opposed to the decision.

After anticipating a $21.94 million budget for 2004, Council agreed in early spring to put a freeze on any vacant positions in the Borough until it became apparent that the places needed to be filled. At Monday's meeting, Borough Administrator Bob Bruschi recommended that six of the positions be filled to lessen the workload that has been put on other employees in various Borough departments.

The positions to be filled include vacancies in the Borough's administrative office, the Sewer Operating Committee, the Department of Public Works, the Parking Operations Committee, the Cable TV Committee, and an inspector vacancy on the Fire and Housing Committee.

Council agreed to leave vacant a part-time position in the administrative office, a position in the Department of Public Works that will be vacated once an employee is transferred to the Parking Operations Committee, a dispatcher position in the police force, a vacancy in the Sewer Operating Committee due to a long-term illness, and a clerical position in the police department that will remain temporary.

Both Mr. Martindell and Mr. Koontz said they felt that none of the Borough positions should be filled until Council examines the budget for 2005.

Sewer, Road Improvements

In related news, Borough Council unanimously adopted $1.27 million in bond ordinances on Monday that will finance various projects in town, including road and sewer improvements.

This includes $420,000 in sewer improvements on Alexander Street, University Place, and Edwards Place.

An additional $319,000 will be set aside for intersection improvements at Wiggins and Witherspoon Streets, of which the Borough should be reimbursed almost half by Nassau HKT Urban Renewal Associates, a private partner on the Spring Street development project, said Mr. Bruschi.

Park Place sewer improvements totalling $262,500 will also be reimbursed by Nassau HKT, Palmer Square, and the Princeton Public Library, since all three are responsible for ongoing projects that have increased the need for improvements.