Student Candidate Debates Dem Rivals on Local Issues

Candace Braun

The three candidates running in November's Borough Council election participated in a forum at Princeton University on Thursday, September 23, to discuss local issues and offer their stance on University relations with the Borough community.

Incumbent Democrats Andrew Koontz and Roger Martindell went head-to-head on issues with Evan Baehr, an undergraduate student at the University. As the only Republican running for the election in a municipality where the Democrats have held all seats on Council for several years, Mr. Baehr told students that if he is elected he will represent the parts of the community that currently have no representation.

"We all have a vested interest in making Princeton a better community," said Mr. Baehr. "There are reasons that [University students] should be involved in these local issues."

The most debate was sparred by the issue of high Borough taxes, a 14-cent increase per $100 of assessed valuation in 2004. How to keep taxes down and who to blame for the Borough's situation was argued among the candidates.

"The Borough has the responsibility to do what we can to keep property taxes down," said Mr. Koontz, adding that when he first ran for the Council seat vacated by Mayor Joe O'Neill in January he had a platform to keep taxes from rising.

The Borough needs to examine what residents want as opposed to what residents actually need, he said, adding that the number of police on the force and the amount of road reconstruction planned for the Borough should be reexamined.

"I think the University should be contributing more money [to the Borough]," Mr. Koontz added.

Chair of the Borough's finance committee and a 15-year member of Council, Mr. Martindell said that the Borough's financial problems have been in the making for years. He suggested that Council could lower the tax rate by voting against the municipal budget; increasing parking garage and meter rates in town; and consolidating some of Princeton's facilities, such as the Borough and Township police departments.

"The tax increase we've had over the last 10 years is because of the people we've had on Council," said Mr. Baehr, highlighting the need for a fresh perspective.

An opponent of the downtown redevelopment project, he said that Council needs to learn to "spend money more responsibly" and not go ahead with projects that residents are opposed to: "We have to listen to citizens ... If 10 percent say they don't want [the downtown redevelopment project], Council owes it to them to openly and honestly listen to their concerns."

Mr. Koontz, who was in favor of the downtown redevelopment project and against raising parking revenues to offset the budget, said that the new library and garage are part of what makes Princeton a vibrant community.

"One of the reasons our downtown is so lively is because of ... facilities like our new library," he said. "Ultimately I think the downtown redevelopment has worked."

Town and Gown

The candidates also discussed the relationship that currently exists between the municipality and the University, often a sore topic among Council members. Accounting for approximately 50 percent of Borough property, the University gives the Borough a payment in lieu of taxes each year. After recently increasing its contribution to the Borough by $250,000 for 2005, the institution is expected to give the Borough $741,000 for next year.

However, some Council members still believe it is the University that bears most of the responsibility for the Borough's financial state. According to Mr. Martindell, the University's tax-exempt status makes the Borough's taxes what they are. While admitting that relations between the Borough and the University are strained, he was unsure about the reasons.

"There is a perception somehow that we don't want the University [here]," said Mr. Martindell. "People misunderstand each other because they don't bridge a gap ... I can't explain why [the gap] exists, but it exists."

Mr. Koontz acknowledged that the University is a major employer, but pointed out that by attracting more workers and students to the area there is often a need for more road reconstruction. He added that of course there are many residents "who enjoy the University and enjoy what it brings here."

Mr. Baehr contended that the students are as involved in the town as any other residents: they shop at Princeton stores, go to Princeton churches, canoe on the lake, drive on the roads, and are involved in community functions.

Police Enforcement

Earlier this year, the Borough debated an ordinance that would give local police the authority to go into private establishments such as the University's eating clubs to search for underage drinking. Although the ordinance was not passed, some candidates believe more needs to be done to make University students subject to local laws.

Mr. Koontz said that students who drink excessively create problems for the Borough Police, forcing them to get involved, which "creates an issues for all of us," because "police cost money and their time costs money."

He said that the best way to handle the issue would be to encourage the University to do a better job of enforcing the laws.

Mr. Martindell agreed that the University should be left to deal with the drinking problem on their own: "My tax dollars shouldn't go toward keeping students at the University sober."

According to Mr. Baehr, the funding and programming the University puts into controlling the underage drinking on campus should be enough to address the issue. He asserted that Borough Police should leave the monitoring of Prospect Avenue to the University's security.

Residents will have the opportunity to select two of the three candidates for a three-year term on Council when they vote in November's election.