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Vol. LXIII, No. 40
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Wednesday, October 7, 2009
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Vol. LXIII, No. 40
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Wednesday, October 7, 2009
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HELMUT SCHWAB
Westcott Road
ROGER MARTINDELL
Prospect Avenue
Member, Princeton Borough Council
DAVID C. SANDAHL
Chair, Princeton Family YMCA
AMY RABNER
Chair, YWCA Princeton
WILLIAM ROUFBERG
Kendall Park
GERI LAPLACA,
Director
ALEXANDRA RADBIL,
Collection Coordinator
Your ReSource, Ewing
To the Editor:
Late in July, during the vacation period when many Princetonians were traveling, a short note appeared in the news that our school superintendent had received a 6.7 percent salary increase to a new total of $220,480 per year. Wonderful! It adds very little to our property tax, one small step at a time!
This salary increase of 6.7 percent at this time has nothing to do with the large salaries or bonuses afforded on Wall Street in the midst of our economically difficult times. Nor does it have anything to do with the desperate attempt by the Borough to stop tax increases. Specifically, it has nothing to do with the fact that half of our property taxes are caused by our once excellent school system, which lost just a little bit in its ranking, nor does it have anything to do with the ranking of our superintendent’s pay among peers in the area.
What, then, caused the salary increase for our school superintendent? Are we entitled to know? Should there be transparency?
Are we — or should we be — entitled to vote on it, as was proposed that Wall Street salaries should go through stockholder approval, in addition to board approvals?
Maybe there was a contract requiring this adjustment. Only a replacement could have resolved that, as on Wall Street. Maybe the recipient could have graciously renounced the increase, as some Wall Street managers did.
Let’s hear what our superintendent has to say.
HELMUT SCHWAB
Westcott Road
To the Editor:
On September 22, Princeton Borough’s governing body approved a more than half million-dollar renovation of Harrison Street Park without meaningful review or discussion in public of the renovation plan documents or budget.
Yes, the Park clearly requires renovation. And, yes, perhaps the renovation plan adopted by the governing body is appropriate for the Park. But the surprise on September 22 was the governing body’s willingness to proceed with a major expenditure of taxpayer money without engaging in the customary public review and discussion.
Specifically, in the Council chamber on September 22, there were no plans available to review. Nor was there a budget available to review. (What was supplied was a document with type so small that Borough staff admitted they could not read it. Neither, of course, could anyone else, including those who voted to approve it.) Nor was there anything to show how this major expenditure of public money fits into a master plan for the maintenance of Borough parks generally. That’s because, despite repeated requests over several years, the Borough has refused to develop any master plan for its parks. Until a park master plan is adopted, it will never be known how much the Borough intends to spend on its parks or whether the half-million dollar appropriation for the Harrison Street Park takes away resources that might have been available for Quarry Park, Mary Moss Park, or some other park.
These are not merely abstract concerns. For example, in the Council meeting September 22 there appeared a reference to the construction of a bridge in the Park. To an inquiry by a councilman, the bridge was revealed to be an approximately 25-foot long, 24-inch high structure that cost $40,000. That’s a lot of money for a very small structure whose purpose is not clear. But no real discussion of the desirability of that bridge did, or could, occur without documents to review.
Was that $40,000 well spent? With that money now committed, what other Borough park will not get that $40,000 allocated for Harrison Street Park?
Borough residents deserve to have more accountability for their tax dollars. Let’s hope that in the future, the governing body will be more open in their deliberations.
ROGER MARTINDELL
Prospect Avenue
Member, Princeton Borough Council
To the Editor:
It’s true; many hands do indeed make light work! This was demonstrated on Saturday, September 26 when more than 250 volunteers helped to construct a new community play space at the Princeton YMCA and YWCA. It was an amazing sight as hundreds of spirited people of all ages and backgrounds gathered on our field early that morning to execute a major feat — to construct a playground, as well as several side projects, in just six hours. Together, we created a play area that encourages connection among our neighbors, friends, and YM/YW members, all by 2:45 that afternoon.
On behalf of the YMCA and YWCA, we are deeply grateful to the KaBOOM! Foundation, which led the effort and whose staff members orchestrated the day so expertly; and to the trustees of the F.I.S.H. Foundation Inc., whose remarkable generosity and kindness made the project a reality. We are also thankful to our other major supporters: the Rue Foundation, Princeton University, and the Princeton Area Community Foundation, as well as the many individuals and families who donated their financial support to the project.
We are also grateful to the volunteers who joined us that day, many of whom represented local companies and organizations: The Bonner Foundation, Bloomberg, Glenmede Trust, MetLife, ING, Best Buy, Bunker Hill Lutheran Brethren Church, and PA3. Special thanks are due to Community House of Princeton University who brought almost 100 student volunteers and provided lunch for the afternoon. Our gratitude to the local merchants who made additional donations of food and services: Pennington Quality Market, Bagel Street, Central Perk Bagel Co., Iano’s Rosticceria, Bagel Barn, Best Buy, Home Depot, Bai Beverages, Taking Time for Tea, Take 2 Media, Quizno’s of Princeton Shopping Center, Cox’s Market, Vargas Property Doctors, High Point Insurance, 94.5 WPST, David Watkins, and Brita FilterForGood. And last but not least, thank you to the members of the planning committee who participated in weekly meetings for the last three months and dedicated hours to coordinating the activities: Jean Durbin, Melanie Lehman, Adrienne Rubin, Vrushabh Shah, Judy Cashmore, Karen Jezierny, Jennifer Vriens, Eddie Hendershot, and staff coordinator Denise Soto.
It was truly a day to remember for the Princeton community. We invite one and all to enjoy this special place, and hope to see you soon at the Y!
DAVID C. SANDAHL
Chair, Princeton Family YMCA
AMY RABNER
Chair, YWCA Princeton
To the Editor:
I was saddened to read of the death of Bill Selden on your obituary page (Town Topics, September 30). I had met Mr. Selden in the library of the Princeton Theological Seminary where he was researching one of several local institutions. We met there sometimes twice a week and sometimes at Firestone. When he learned that I taught history at Princeton High School, he suggested I study the town and consider giving walking tours. He became my mentor, advising me with sources, anecdotes, and witty memories. For more than 20 years I became a guide for the Historical Society, the High School, the YWCA, and private clubs.
Kind, thoughtful, and gracious, William Selden was a rare human being who touched me deeply.
WILLIAM ROUFBERG
Kendall Park
To the Editor:
Your ReSource, a local nonprofit, would like to thank Bob Bruschi and Andrea Quinty of Princeton Borough for the opportunity to hold a collection for gently used medical equipment on September 17, 18, and 19. The equipment, in addition to being kept out of landfills, will be cleaned, repaired, and made available through the Community Access to Rehabilitation Equipment (CARE) Program at Your ReSource.
Your ReSource would also like to thank Borough Council member Kevin Wilkes for the generous three-day loan of a Princeton Design Guild truck for the collection, and the many neighbors who pitched in to staff the collection: James Begin, Martin Bendersky, Ed Brady, Lee Burnham, Laurie DeLio, Carol Feldman, Judy Feldman, Ruth Holmes, Pat Hyatt, Jim Hyatt, Barbara Lee, Anne-Marie Maman, Lill Maman, Janet Pickover, Gil Poulsen, Alexandra Radbil, Hazel Stix, Carol Yam, and Jen Yam. Without their participation, we could not have achieved success.
Last but not least we would like to thank the many individuals who donated no-longer-needed medical equipment, such as power wheelchairs, patient lifts, hospital beds, walkers, canes, commodes, and crutches. The collection donations totaled 1200 pounds of valuable items redirected to the CARE reuse program. In 2008, the CARE Program received over 2300 donated items, enabling the program to provide medical equipment to approximately 1000 people.
For information about Your ReSource or to make a tax-deductible donation of medical equipment, visit the web site at yourresourcenj.org or call (609) 530-1513.
Thank you again to the community of Princeton for demonstrating your commitment to sustainability.
GERI LAPLACA,
Director
ALEXANDRA RADBIL,
Collection Coordinator
Your ReSource, Ewing