Disagreement between Princeton Borough's public safety committee and a group that was to play a pivotal role in evaluating a possible alcohol ordinance threatens to delay further discussion about the future of the controversial law.
Earlier this week, the Borough Council's public safety committee tabled discussion of the state law — which would allow municipalities to adopt ordinances permitting police to cite underage drinkers on private property.
The public safety committee, like the Township Committee one month earlier, then requested advice on the ordinance from several local groups, including Corner House — a counseling and prevention agency for teenage alcohol and drug abuse.
But Gary DeBlasio, the executive director of Corner House, said Wednesday the organization does not take official positions on public policy and therefore will not take a position on the possible alcohol ordinance.
Township Committee member Roz Denard said Sunday that Corner House was the expert on alcoholand drug-related issues and that both the Borough and Township were waiting for its input.
Nevertheless, DeBlasio, who has worked in behavioral health for 23 years, said Corner House would not provide guidance on the issue. "It would be inappropriate for our role," he said. "It's our role to provide counseling services, not to help make public policy."
Borough Mayor Marvin Reed said Wednesday he was confused about Corner House's response.
"I don't agree with that," he said. "They need to be able to give us advice."
Reed and DeBlasio's statements signal a disagreement about the role of Corner House.
"They are a professional staff of people who deal with alcohol and drug abuse," Reed said. "If there's anyone who knows what to do, it's them."
But DeBlasio maintained in an interview yesterday that Corner House plays no role in advising the Borough.
While Reed said he had not heard about Corner House's refusal to give advice, DeBlasio asserted that he had spoken to both Reed and Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand individually about Corner House's position at a Princeton Alcohol and Drug Alliance meeting Wednesday morning.
"The PADA is the board from the Township that is disposed to advise Township and Borough of the issues," DeBlasio said. "Corner House is a counseling agency, and it's not our role to make public policy."
The PADA is an organization that represents police, parents, educators, the board of health and the school board and coordinates efforts for drug and alcohol prevention, according to Marge Smith, the organization's chair. It is also the governing body that oversees Corner House.
Mildred Trotman, chair of the public safety committee, said last week the committee would not discuss the possible alcohol ordinance again until it received feedback from Corner House.
She did not return repeated phone calls Wednesday or yesterday.
The next group slated to discuss the ordinance is PADA, which will meet at Township Hall between noon and 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 — more than two months after Borough Police Chief Thomas Michaud initiated consideration of the law to the public safety committee.
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