The Borough Council touched on several matters associated with public safety at its meeting last night and discussed at length plans to create a new zoning arrangement intended to lead to residential development opportunities in the vicinity of the Merwick Care Center.
A point of major discussion involved a resolution to hire two new police officers. The resolution passed, though Councilman Roger Martindell said allowing the new hiring is unfortunate in light of the added tax burden on Borough residents. According to a consultant's study, Martindell said, the Princeton Borough Police Department is "one of the most underworked and overpaid" in the country.
In response to the need for the fire department to select a new fire chief by the end of 2007, the Council passed an ordinance that amended the organization and management structure of the department. Since the ordinance contains procedures for nomination of fire chief candidates, the Council felt it was necessary to pass the preliminary version to set the selection process in motion.
Borough planning director Lee Solow then presented a draft of a new zoning ordinance for the area surrounding the Merwick site at 79 Bayard Lane, which the University Medical Center at Princeton (UMCP) is set to vacate by 2010, when the hospital moves to Plainsboro.
UMCP, the YM/YWCA and the University all have stakes in the land redevelopment. The new zone would allow for residential development in an area including the YM/YWCA property to the south of the Merwick site and the University-owned Stanworth Apartments for faculty and staff to its north.
The University owned the Merwick site until the early 20th century and, because of its proximity to campus and its history, UMCP plans to sell the property back to the University.
Bob Durkee '69, University vice president and secretary, told The Daily Princetonian in 2006 that the University would consider Merwick and Stanworth together for further development efforts and hoped the Borough would "apply the same zoning" rules to the Merwick site as to Stanworth.
Lee Solomon, a lawyer representing Princeton Healthcare System, which owns UMCP, expressed the hospital's desire to work with the community within a reasonable time frame to finalize plans for the site.
Former Borough mayor Marvin Reed also brought up concerns about treating the mansion located on the Merwick property as a historical site without necessarily hampering the YW/YMCA's expansion. He also stressed the importance of moving quickly with the adoption of the ordinance since the Borough and the relevant parties have taken four years so far to figure out how to develop the Merwick site.
The Council heard comments from Borough citizens on issues ranging from unfair housing inspection fees imposed on rental rooms to conflicting brush pickup policies imposed by the Township and the Borough, which led to problems for residents along the border between the municipalities.
Members of the Princeton Battlefield Area Preservation Society also presented information about an archaeological find on the border of the Battlefield and the Institute for Advanced Study property, where the Institute is proposing to develop housing. A research team working there discovered musket balls and other evidence that may indicate the area is the site of George Washington's counterattack against the British and of the death of the first U.S. Marine.
The Borough also introduced an ordinance that proposes refunding some parking utility bonds, a move which Borough administrator Robert Bruschi estimated would save $20,000 each year for the next 10 years.
Dealing with some final emergency management issues, the Council approved the addition of Jenna Hauca to the fire department, and the transfers of three other firefighters between Borough fire companies. The Council also adapted the Borough's emergency response plan to conform to the National Incident Management System as mandated by executive orders by both President Bush and former New Jersey acting governor Dick Codey.
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