Borough to fight moth problem

The Borough Council vowed to combat the gypsy moth at its meeting last night. Declaring the moth a “public nuisance,” the Council voted to authorize “all measures deemed necessary” to “suppress this forest and shade-tree pest.”

During the meeting the Council also approved the December police report, authorized new pay scales for Borough officials and heard a report from the Arts Council.

Princeton’s crusade against the hungry moth will be coordinated with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Gypsy Moth Suppression Program. According to the department’s website, the program conducts “aerial spray treatments” of insecticides in residential areas to combat the moth, which has been voraciously eating the bark and leaves of trees over the past few years.

Some Council members expressed concern with the plan. Council member David Goldfarb was particularly distressed by the clause authorizing the suppression program to take “all measures deemed necessary” to fight the moth.

“We don’t even know what they are going to spray, or where they are going to spray it,” he said. “I’d like to approve a specific plan and have them explain everything they are going to do.”

Council member Andrew Koontz noted that when the Borough had sprayed for gypsy moths in the past, they used the bacterial pesticide Bacillus thuringiensis, or BTK. “I think we’re going to want to specify BTK as our agent again this year,” he said.

Borough Administrator Robert Bruschi warned the Council that unless the resolution was passed during the meeting, it would not “get in the pipeline” in time, and Princeton could risk losing funding for the project. After Bruschi’s warning, the Council voted to approve the plan over Goldfarb’s objections.

Earlier in the meeting, Borough Police Lt. Sharon Papp presented the December police report, which stated that four University students were transported to the University Medical Center at Princeton that month for alcohol intoxication. Papp added that during bicker week, the police had one ambulance request and issued three ordinance violations. “It was better than last year,” she said.

Support nonprofit student journalism. Donate to the ‘Prince’. Donate now »

Borough adjusts employee compensation

The Council also approved new pay scales for Borough employees. Bruschi explained that these new rules will increase the total pay to all Borough employees by 3.25 percent, but that certain officials saw larger increases in their compensation.

Bruschi’s maximum annual salary rose by over 10 percent, from $136,500 to $150,500. Police Chief Anthony Federico saw his salary rise from $129,000 to $142,000. Mayor Mildred Trotman’s salary remained unchanged, at $15,000 a year. Borough Council members will also continue to earn $7,500 a year.

Councilman Roger Martindell was concerned about some of the large pay increases, particularly in the context of a possible economic downturn. “We’re entering a recession. A 3 percent increase in a recession is not the same as a 3 percent increase not in a recession.”

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Martindell told the Council that he hoped the pay increases would not result in increased taxes in this economic environment. “I would hope that we raise taxes less this year than we normally have,” he said.

Promoting a flourishing arts culture

The center will serve as a headquarters for the Arts Council’s programs, which include Communiversity, the Princeton Halloween Parade, and various classes and workshops.