February 13, 2013

Chamber’s Revamping of Kiosk Design Receives Mixed Reception From Council

A proposal to revamp the information kiosks located on Nassau Street at Witherspoon and Vandeventer streets got a lukewarm reaction from members of Princeton Council on Monday night. But the Council agreed to hold off voting on the plan, which was presented by Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce President Peter Crowley, until after the Traffic and Transit committee takes a look at it.

“I feel like this is appropriate for a mall,” said Council member Jenny Crumiller, citing the portions of the kiosks that would display advertisements from local businesses. “Advertising is an assault. I’d rather not see it. Let’s not have it on our street corner. You have definitely improved the design, but advertising is what I object to.”

The Chamber has spent nearly a year developing a plan to upgrade the kiosks, which have been a fixture in town since the 1980’s. Used by the public to post notices of apartment rentals, meetings, cultural events, and other information, they are cluttered by multiple postings often layered on top of each other. “The kiosks have so much information on them that nobody gets the information,” Mr. Crowley said.

In addition to advertising, the proposed improvements include free tourism information, maps, and at least two cork panels for the public postings at the kiosk outside the Garden Theatre at Vandeventer Street. The other kiosk at Witherspoon Street would display the maps and municipal information along with advertisements, but not the public postings.

Each of the kiosks would cost about $20,000 to refurbish. The Chamber would maintain the kiosks, leasing them from the town. They would be designed with low-energy LED lighting. As much of the existing structures as possible would be maintained. Information posted on the kiosks would be limited to a certain size, for a specified length of time.

Mr. Crowley said he didn’t know yet how much businesses would be charged to advertise in the kiosks, but said that those prices would be tiered among Princeton businesses and Chamber members. Council member Jo Butler asked if Route 1 businesses would be included, and Mr. Crowley said that local organizations are preferred. Council member Lance Liverman questioned whether non-profits would be allowed to advertise. Noting that the Chamber has more than 100 non-profits as members, Mr. Crowley said their notices would be posted on a rotating basis, in a locked glass case.

Some Council members said that limiting the number of public notices could impinge upon the kiosk tradition of free speech. Mr. Crowley said the new design, while allowing less room than is currently available for such postings, is not intended to discourage putting up public information. When Ms. Butler expressed concern that the advertisements on the kiosks not face Nassau Street, where they could cause a distraction for drivers, Mr. Crowley replied that the ads would not face the road.

In a press release from the Chamber, Traffic and Transportation committee chair Anton Lahnston expressed support for the initiative. “The kiosks are a mess, they contribute to sign pollution in general. Anything you can do to help with that would be great.”

Princeton resident Chip Crider commented that the proposal has advantages and disadvantages. “It’s important that we don’t make our town too sterile,” he said, referring to the loss of some of the public posting space.

In other actions, the Council voted to approve an ordinance introduced last month to charge $107.60 an hour to pay police officers for extra duty at school events, parties, and other functions. They also voted to introduce an ordinance establishing fees for dog licenses at $12 for neutered pets, and $15 for un-neutered. A public hearing for that will be held at the February 25 meeting of Council.

February 6, 2013

Question of Nepotism Raised When Relatives Receive Jobs In Town

“Let me make it very clear that Kathy Monzo did nothing wrong; she didn’t break any laws or do anything that was deceptive,” says Councilman Lance Liverman in response to questions about nepotism in the new consolidated Princeton.

The questions arose with respect to the hiring last year of Ms. Monzo’s three daughters for work in various capacities in what was then Princeton Township, when she was the acting administrator.

Recent reports in local print media have focused on Ms. Monzo, now the assistant administrator and director of finance in Princeton, and the hiring of her daughters, Jacqueline Shaddow, Meghan Shaddow and Kelly Shaddow, two of whom now work for the new consolidated Princeton.

Jacqueline was appointed as a temporary part-time secretary in the building department last summer and was taken on full-time in December after the job was advertised internally as a full-time $38,471/year position. She was the only applicant.

Meghan started working in December, also in the building department, earning around $11-an-hour for several hours of filing work per week. She still works for the municipality in a temporary position.

Kelly was employed for a few days around Christmas time doing mass mailing for the public works department at some $11-an hour. She has since left this position. She had also worked for the Township a few summers ago.

Princeton Township’s personnel policy manual did not forbid relatives of employees from working for the Township as long as family members were not “directly supervised” by their relatives.

Mr. Liverman’s view that Ms. Monzo had done nothing wrong was endorsed by Mayor Liz Lempert in a telephone interview last Friday, following a meeting of Princeton Council’s personnel committee the previous day.

According to Mr. Liverman, who serves on the personnel committee along with the mayor and Councilwoman Jo Butler, Thursday’s meeting was not prompted by recent questions about nepotism with respect to the hiring of Ms. Monzo’s daughters “The issue of nepotism was just one item on a long agenda for the committee which discussed anything related to -personnel,” he said, adding that he could not comment in detail until the committee’s discussion had been shared with the full council.

Of the meeting, Ms. Lempert commented by email: “The personnel committee discussed what the anti-nepotism policy for the new municipality should be. The Township had a written policy; the Borough did not. We discussed strengthening the Township policy, which prevents an employee from directly supervising or hiring a relative or spouse.”

Mr. Liverman said that the new policy will remove any ambiguity. It will make the issue “crystal clear.” He said that “when Kathy’s daughters were first appointed, she was not the administrator for the Township. After she became administrator, it was her job to sign off on any hires. That’s what we have to address.”

“We’ll be adding ‘safety checks’ to make sure there is not even the appearance of nepotism,” said Mr. Liverman.

In a telephone interview Monday, Princeton town administrator Robert W. Bruschi concurred. “Ms. Monzo did not intend to violate any policies and while she did not hire her daughters directly, and was not involved in the interview process, she did have to sign off on the hiring papers because of her position as acting Township manager at the time,” he said.

Nevertheless, the issue is timely, he added, since the personnel manual for the new consolidated Princeton is being drafted. It will be based on the former Princeton Township’s manual but changes will have to be made, said Mr. Bruschi, so that “the chief officer of the town is not put in a position where there is a conflict of interest or an appearance of such.”

“If a chief officer finds any problem, this time it was nepotism but it might be something else, whatever the issue is, it will be resolved by the chief officer taking the problem to the personnel committee for approval. They would have to sign off on it,” said Mr. Bruschi.

Mr. Bruschi’s draft of the new policy will make its way to the council. Mr. Bruschi said the new policy could require that the personnel committee vet the hiring of relatives of top municipal officials. Any changes would have to be approved by the full council.

Mayor Lempert said that once Mr. Bruschi’s recommendations are shared with the personnel committee in a meeting later this month, the matter will go to the full council meeting in early-mid March.

“I’ve spoken with Ms. Monzo who has been upset that people might insinuate that something untoward was going on,” said Mr. Bruschi. “I am satisfied that the matter is resolved. Ms. Monzo is an asset to the community and her daughter Jacqueline is a talented individual right for the job. The matter is behind us.”

Ms. Monzo, who would be well-placed to succeed Mr. Bruschi when he retires, will face no disciplinary action, he said.

Mr. Liverman commended Ms. Monzo for long hours of dedicated work. “People can lose sight of the bigger picture,” he said.

November 28, 2012

It’s Unofficially Official: New Council Meets

They are forbidden by law to take official action until January 1. But the new Princeton Council, headed by Mayor-elect Liz Lempert, held its first preliminary meeting Monday to get a head start on what is sure to be a busy schedule once consolidation takes effect January 1.

“What we’re doing here is getting organized so we can hit the ground running on January 1,” said Ms. Lempert. While no voting was permitted, there was “a lot of housekeeping” to attend to, she added. The six members of the newly elected Council, all Democrats, were in attendance. Seated around a table, instead of on the dais, were Jenny Crumiller, Jo Butler, and Heather Howard, who are part of the current Borough Council, along with Lance Liverman and Bernie Miller, who come from Township Committee. The two governing bodies officially become one on the first day of 2013.

Chief among the topics at this preliminary meeting was trash and food waste collection. Borough residents currently have their trash picked up once a week, while Township residents use other services. Once consolidation takes effect, Township residents can either have their refuse picked up by the municipality or continue to contract privately.

The Borough’s current contract expires February 1, and bids are due in by December 6. But there will be no lapse in services. “We will be ready for residential pickup,” said Bob Bruschi, the consolidated government administrator. “We will do two mass mailings [with information] and some of it is already on the website. But we will hold the details, like when specific trash days are going to be, until we see who the vendor is going to be.”

Ms. Lempert added that Township residents who want to participate in the program must cancel their private services, if they have them, as of January 1. There will be no change in the Borough’s refuse collection.

The residential Curbside Food Waste Program currently counts about 430 Township and Borough residents as participants. The program sends food waste to a compost pile instead of a landfill and costs $240 per year per household. A new two-year proposal would continue the program at about $37 to $59 per household.

Mr. Miller asked Janet Pellichero, who is Princeton Township’s Recycling Coordinator, why more people aren’t participating in the current program. “The main issue is cost,” she said, citing the $20 a month required. The topic was to be taken up in more detail at last night’s meeting of Borough Council.

Other topics at the meeting included training and goal-setting. Ms. Lempert said she hopes to have at least one goal-setting session that would be open to members of the public. Ms. Lempert intends to hold a few more of these unofficial gatherings of the new Council before the year’s end. The next one is December 3 at 5 p.m., in the municipal complex.


November 7, 2012

Liz Lempert Elected Mayor of Princeton

Democrat Liz Lempert will be the new mayor of consolidated Princeton. At press time the unofficial vote count was 6,093 for Ms. Lempert, and 3,939 for Republican opponent Richard Woodbridge.

“I’m thrilled,” Ms. Lempert said last night when the numbers came in. “It looks like there was a really strong turnout. We were worried that with the storm, there would be a lot of confusion. But it looks like things went more smoothly than expected.”

Township and Borough votes were counted together in this election. Consolidated Princeton now has 22 voting districts.

In the Presidential election, Princetonians overwhelmingly supported President Barack Obama with 7,903 votes. Republican challenger Mitt Romney received 2,474 votes.

The six Democrats running for Council seats were all elected: tentative vote counts were Bernie Miller with 7,114; Patrick Simon with 7,090; Heather Howard with 6914; Jo Butler with 6,903; Lance Liverman with 6,861; and Jenny Crumiller with 6,807. The Republican challenger, Geoff Aton, received 3,533 votes.

Democratic Congressman Rush Holt (D-12) won handily over his Republican challenger, Eric A. Beck, with 7,964 votes to Mr. Beck’s 2,071. Democratic Senator Robert Menendez defeated Republican candidate Joe Kyrillos with 7,474 votes to Mr. Kyrillos’s 2,554.

Princeton voters endorsed an open space tax of 1.7 cents per $100 of assessed property value. Because the Borough and the Township will cease to exist as separate entities on December 31, it was necessary for this year’s ballot to include a question authorizing the joint tax. The new tax will enable a united Princeton to continue stewardship of its recreation and passive open space and make key acquisitions contemplated by the joint Master Plan.


May 30, 2012

Six Reasons to Support Six Candidates Endorsed By Democratic Committees

To the Editor:

There are a dozen reasons I am supporting the six candidates for Council endorsed by the Democratic Committees of the Borough and Township. The first six reasons are the candidates themselves. Each has a record of extraordinary leadership and service, an in-depth knowledge of local government, and the seasoned judgment needed to meet the challenges ahead.

The other six reasons these candidates deserve our support:

1. they are determined to deliver the savings and the efficient and responsive government promised by consolidation;

2. they will defend our time-tested commitments to diversity, affordable housing and the preservation of our neighborhoods;

3. they will protect open space and the environment and the sustainability of our community through growth management;

4. they will work as a team by reaching across the old municipal boundaries to ensure that our new government is truly representative of the entire community;

5. they will strive to maintain an effective working relationship with Princeton University as a respected partner in shaping our community; and

6. they have the confidence of grassroots Democratic committee people who know them best.

Please vote for HEATHER HOWARD, LANCE LIVERMAN, PATRICK SIMON, BERNIE MILLER, JENNY CRUMILLER and JO BUTLER. They are six strong individuals who also represent a mix of talent and experience best able to lead the new Princeton.

Walter Bliss

Moore Street

New Pool Here On Budget and On Time Because Jo Butler Helped End the Debate

To the Editor:

I support Jo Butler for Princeton Council. I have known her for several years, working closely with her as the Borough Liaison to the Joint Recreation Board and can state first hand that she is a professional, no-nonsense individual, who brings an open mind to every issue with which she is faced. Never coming to a debate with a hidden agenda, Jo Butler listens well, asks good questions, is smart and does all the necessary background work to get her mind around the issues at hand.

From the start Jo Butler has been a champion of the new Community Park Pool. Once she listened to all the disparate points of view, she made up her mind and was integral in ending the ceaseless debates in the Borough about the pool and got the project moving forward. As a result, our beautiful new pool is opening this weekend, on budget and on time. Our community owes a debt of gratitude to Ms. Butler for those efforts.

Jo Butler also supports a combined Parks and Recreation Department, which would allow for more coordinated and efficient passive and active recreation services for all of our citizens. She is a thoughtful and decisive leader who also embodies that rare quality among public servants – she is selfless. We need Jo Butler. I urge like-minded members of the community to vote on June 5 for Jo Butler for Princeton Council.

Thomas Zucosky

Witherspoon Street

May 23, 2012

Hard-Working, Thoughtful, and Balanced, Jo Butler Keeps the Greater Goal In Mind

To the Editor:

I am writing to strongly endorse Jo Butler for election to the new Princeton Council. Since the beginning of the year, I have served on the Princeton Consolidation Transition Task Force and have had the honor to get to know, and work with, a number of elected officials from both Princeton Borough and Princeton Township. Although it is fashionable to bash politicians, I generally have been impressed by the quality of Princeton’s public officials; I plan to vote for several of them in the upcoming primary and in the fall election.

So why Jo? Jo and I have worked closely together on a number of matters relating to the Princeton consolidation and I have found her to be remarkably hard-working, thoughtful and balanced. She is a “roll up your sleeves and get it done” type of person, entirely comfortable getting down into the weeds on an issue while at the same time keeping in mind the greater goal. Although there has been a great deal of “noise” about Princeton Borough vs. Princeton Township over the past several years, Jo has already embraced the paradigm shift of thinking about one Princeton. And while she brings a passion about certain important issues to the table, her instinct is to listen to other points of view and then seek ways to get to a workable resolution. In short, Jo is much more interested in good public policy than personal political gain. (I wish we had more like her in Washington!)

From my vantage point as a member of the Transition Task Force, I will be interested to see how the newly consolidated Princeton works in 2013 and beyond. With people like Jo Butler on the new Princeton Council, I will have high hopes that a consolidated Princeton community will become even more vibrant and livable.

Brad Middlekauff

Hibben Road

May 9, 2012

From Dog Licenses to Infrastructure Research, The Transition Team Task Force Is on the Case

Representatives from each of the eight subcommittees that comprise the Transition Task Force (TTF) participated in an “Update and Dialogue” sponsored by Princeton Future on Saturday morning at the Princeton Public Library.

In his introduction, TTF vice chair Scott Sillars expressed the hope that the transition will turn out “to be seamless,” except, perhaps with minor changes like having to “go to a different office to a pay a parking ticket.” He emphasized, however, that the TTF’s charge is to “make recommendations” to the two governing bodies, who will ultimately decide on what gets implemented.

Mr. Sillars reported that the Finance Subcomittee is monitoring implementation plans against cost savings estimates; tracking transition costs; providing a liaison with the state; developing a combination of 2012 budgets; and monitoring other impacts of consolidation on the Open Space Tax and sewer rates. Debt consolidation does not pose a problem, but the different accounting approaches of the Borough and the Township need to be reconciled, he noted.

Looking ahead, Mr. Sillars said that the Finance Subcommittee hoped to have a draft “combination budget” by June; a recommendation on the Open Space Tax by August; and a summary of planned savings and transition costs by mid-Fall.

Task Force member Hendricks Davis reported that the Boards and Commissions Subcommittee had “just about completed” its inventory of “existing entities,” although it will continue to be regularly updated. The Boards and Commissions subcommittee will also make recommendations for the integration process, and Mr. Davis applauded the fact that “so much happens in this community because of citizen participation.”

Joking that their responsibilities run the gamut from dog licensing software to infrastructure support, Information Technology (IT) Subcommittee spokesperson Gary Patteson described that group’s efforts to inventory existing hardware, software, vendor support, and current costs. They believe that a new email system will pay for itself after just one year. The subcommittee hopes to submit a plan for IT deployment and hardware location by July 15.

Creating a timeline — including the “lead time” required for IT implementation — that will be delivered to the TTF and both governing bodies has allowed this subcommittee to work with IT staff and department heads, Mr. Patteson noted, although IT implementation for the new Police force is the purview of the Public Safety Subcommittee. IT collaboration with the Princeton Public Schools may be considered at a later date.

The Facilities and Assets Subcommittee, said Bernie Miller, is working on ways to accommodate the staff of the new Princeton in existing facilities “in a manner that provides for the effective operation of municipal departments, long with user-friendly access.” Efforts will be made to locate single departments near others with related concerns to maximize their operations. KSS Architects, Mr. Miller said, have been engaged to consult on the subcommittee’s work.

Jim Levine was the first of the morning’s speakers to note the use of a new graphic that depicts “putting the pieces” of two organizations together. Personnel Subcommittee areas of concern include the overall workforce sizing process; reconciliation of employee policies/procedures; and promotion of “cross pollination” among different offices. Recommendations regarding “redundant positions” and severance packages will be presented mid-May, said Mr. Levine. Providing stability “while conducting thorough reviews” is anticipated to be a challenge, he observed, adding that the Subcommittee’s belief that the new organization should reflect “a balance of Borough and Township experience.”

Jo Butler reported that an organization chart for the integration of the two municipalities’ public works departments; “recreation maintenance; “engineering; land use; planning; construction; zoning; and fire and housing safety will be forthcoming. Brush and leaf collection will be coordinated, and garbage and composting systems will be put out for bid together. Ms. Butler noted that there will definitely be just one Public Services Commission.

Bernie Miller spoke about the complex combination of personnel, facilities, and technology that the Public Safety Subcommittee is addressing in order to ensure that when someone dials 911 on January 1, someone “will pick up the phone.” Merging police departments includes merging police dispatch, and emergency services coordination. No action is needed on the Fire Department, which already serves both municipalities.

It is anticipated that there will be 55 policemen and women on the new combined police department. Questions of the location of the force, the location of dispatch (and, perhaps, whether to outsource the dispatch function), and the importance of having common technology are all being addressed. Although Princeton University’s public safety department provides “great support,” the fact that they do not carry firearms is significant.

Mr. Sillars encouraged area residents to familiarize themselves with the Task Force’s work by attending its public meetings, and by visiting the website, www.cgr.org/princeton/transition, where agendas and minutes are published. Critical recommendations are expected to be presented at the Wednesday, May 16 meeting at 7 p.m. in Borough Hall.


April 18, 2012

Ordinance Introduced By Borough Council To Save Right-of-Way

At Borough Council’s meeting last week, a spirited discussion became contentious during a presentation about efforts to preserve a portion of the existing Dinky right of way. In a 3-2 vote, Council approved introduction of an ordinance that would preserve the right of way, which would cover a 50-foot-wide segment of land on the Borough side of the Dinky tracks.

Council members Jenny Crumiller, Roger Martindell, and Jo Butler were for the ordinance, while Kevin Wilkes and Barbara Trelstad voted against it. Heather Howard recused herself because she works for Princeton University, which owns some of the property in question.

In introducing the resolution, Mr. Martindell said the ordinance would show the Council’s intent to amend the map to include the Dinky right-of-way as a public right-of-way. “If we took that step, there could be no development on that site until one year after final approval is given,” he said. “The purpose of the resolution was to preserve the public trust.”

Even though the governing bodies already negotiated a right-of-way with the University along Alexander Street, preserving the existing right of way provides more options, he said, adding that he hoped Township officials would agree and also attempt to preserve the portion that lies in the Township.

“It’s a linchpin for further extending the right of way to Nassau Street, a tool for a tool kit,” Mr. Martindell said. “It enhances value to our community, including the University, and I heartily endorse it.”

University Vice President and Secretary Bob Durkee did not mince words in his remarks to the Council opposing the ordinance. Starting with “Given all the ridicule directed at Sarah Palin for the bridge to nowhere, it is surprising that members of Borough Council are proposing a right of way to nowhere.” Mr. Durkee complained that University officials were not informed of the proposed ordinance. “There was no prior discussion and no attempt to collaborate and cooperate,” he said, adding that the proposal was a way to undo the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached last year between the University and the governing bodies regarding the University’s planned $300 million arts and transit neighborhood.

The right of way would end at the border of the Borough and Township, where there will be no rail connection after the Dinky station is moved 460 feet south of its current location, Mr. Durkee said. He told the Council, “I think you’ve received bad advice,” adding that the right of way would require an up-front payment that would also cause problems in the newly consolidated Princeton, because officials would have to decide whether to purchase the land or allow the right-of-way to lapse, he added.

Speaking after Mr. Durkee, Borough resident Peter Marks said, “Mr. Durkee’s comments bring about two words: brazen and insolent.” Conversely, Borough resident Chip Crider criticized Council for putting forth the measure and questioned whether it was legal. “When the zoning was passed, you agreed with me that it was time to move on. What happened? It is crazy as far as I can see,” he said. “Your continued bickering is harming our town.”

Opposed to the measure, Councilman Wilkes said it would damage progress that has been made in negotiations with the University. “We won’t get anything done if we don’t have the full cooperation of everyone,” he said. Council President Barbara Trelstad agreed, saying the ordinance would put the MOU in jeopardy. She added, “I am extremely disappointed in this community.” The exchanges during the meeting had “risen to a level that has gone beyond civility,” she said.

 

January 25, 2012

Merchants Explore Transportation SID

Early last December, Princeton Borough Council proposed the formation of a Transportation Corridor Special Improvement District [SID] in the area extending from Nassau Street down University Place to the Township border. Concerned about how this measure would affect local businesses, the Princeton Mechants Association [PMA] wrote letters to local newspapers requesting that the discussion be tabled until they had an opportunity to examine the issue more closely.

Members of PMA had a chance to learn more about the proposal and share their views on the subject at a meeting yesterday, January 24, in the Princeton Public Library’s Community Room. Borough Councilman Kevin Wilkes and Princeton University Director of Regional and Community Affairs Kristin Appelget were among those to informally address the more than 50 PMA members in attendance about how the SID would work.

“The purpose of today’s meeting is to share information,” said Mark Censits, one of PMA’s directors and the owner of Cool Vines store, at the beginning of the session. “The goal is for PMA to accurately represent the opinion of its members.”

Special Improvement Districts are organization, management, and financing tools used by local businesses to provide specialized services that complement existing municipal government services as part of a revitalization plan. Princeton Borough has looked into the formation of such districts in the past. SIDs have been established in such communities as Westfield, Newark, New Brunswick, and Jersey City. Proponents of the Princeton proposal said it would use assessments of non-residential properties to fund improvements in the new district such as crosswalks, bridges, tunnels, and light rail service.

Borough Council’s proposal for the SID was supposed to be formally introduced at a meeting last month, but was moved off the agenda and then expired at the end of the year. It is expected to be brought up again.

“The topic is back out there, and the board wants to have a position if need be,” said PMA board member and Princeton Shopping Center general manager Chris Hanington, after the meeting. “A lot of the merchants in our organization are not Princeton residents, and they might not read the local papers and know about this,” she said. “We wanted to get the information to them. That’s what PMA is all about.”

As it was first described last month, the proposed district would be managed by a seven-member district management corporation called “Princeton on the Move” [POM]. The non-profit group would be composed of the mayor, business administrator, a Borough resident, a business or property owner, a representative of the merchants’ association, and a business or property owner from Nassau Street between Vandeventer Avenue and University Place.

Nearly 36 properties, most along University Place, would be included in the district. Residential properties would be exempted. Most of the sites are owned by Princeton University. The anticipated assessment during the first year would be no more than $90,000.

Mr. Wilkes told the PMA members that a SID would not replace, but rather augment, existing services. It would be specifically focused on the potential extension of the existing Dinky transit line, with multiple stops.

Borough Council members Jenny Crumiller and Jo Butler, who attended the meeting, also commented about the issue. “You should all be concerned,” said Ms. Butler, who is opposed to the SID. “You’d have merchants on Witherspoon Street making decisions about East Nassau Street.” She added that a transit system with multiple stops could be a problem resulting in decreased ridership and inconvenience for those who currently ride the Dinky train. Ms. Crumiller commented, “The best decisions are democratic, and I don’t like adding a layer of bureaucracy.”

Mr. Censits spoke about his experiences with a SID in Westfield, where he has had a store since 2007. At the time the SID was formed, the town had a vacancy of approximately 40 percent. But it was substantially revitalized, recruiting such retailers as Trader Joe’s and holding fairs and festivals. Despite its success, Mr. Censits says he believes the SID has outlived its usefulness.

Architect Joshua Zinder asked if the SID would potentially benefit Princeton University, disproportionately to others.

Jim Sykes, president of the Princeton University Store, said he was having trouble understanding how a transit-related SID would serve the store’s interest. “We already pay $150,000 in property taxes,” he said. “Why would we be asked to pay an assessment?”

Mr. Wilkes responded that a transit stop adjacent to the store would bring more customers. Mr. Sykes countered that most of his customers are students who walk from campus. “To us, it seems this is maybe a little premature,” he said.