At a council meeting on Sept. 23, the Princeton Town Council announced upcoming sustainability events, approved infrastructure projects, and swore in new police officers.
Councilman Brian McDonald introduced several upcoming environmental initiatives, highlighting the “desire to be a sustainable, resilient, and environmentally focused community.”
One initiative is the Microforest Project beginning Oct. 4, where community volunteers will plant more than 1,000 trees and shrubs at Quarry Park. Nearly 75 of 100 volunteer spots have been filled.
This project is modeled after botanist Akira Miyawaki’s “pocket forest” concept, an urban reforestation method intended to create dense, biodiverse mini-forests on small, degraded plots of land. This will be a collaboration between Sustainable Princeton, the Princeton Environmental Commission, and other municipal partners.
The Council announced a virtual Green House Tour Video Screening and Discussion Panel at the Princeton Public Library on Sept. 25 and in-person tours of the Green House scheduled for Sept. 27.
The Council also introduced various new resolutions and ordinances related to infrastructure projects and town maintenance.
Resolution 25-317 authorizes the improvement of the Rosedale Road and General Johnson Drive intersection, which had been renovated as part of the Rosedale Road Safe Routes to School Project. Resolution 25-318 authorizes a professional services agreement with NV5 for final design services of the Rosedale Road County Route 604.
Resolution 25-319 awards a bid contract to landscaping services company Sunset Creations for new tree planting this fall.
“Councilman Leighton Newlin had really highlighted the fact that there were a lot of trees destroyed by disease and that there needed to be more shade [in the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood],” Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros said.
Resolutions 25-321 and 25-322 authorize agreements to White Buffalo, Inc. for specialized deer management services and a deer population survey, respectively.
In other matters, the Historic Preservation Commission proposed the installation of two plaques on Princeton’s roads to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution next year.
The meeting also saw the swearing-in of three new officers to the Princeton Police Department: Nicole Carinonte, Jordan Nitti, and Connor Lucky. The families of the new officers were recognized for their support. Captain Matthew Solovay was promoted to Chief of Police and will begin his new position Oct. 1.
Aaron Landsman, a lecturer in Theater, and the students in his freshman seminar, “Is Politics a Performance?”, were in attendance to observe local politics in action.
“I had the opportunity to engage with the students, and it was a really good conversation. They’re here to observe local politics firsthand,” said Councilwoman Leticia Fraga.
The next Town Council meeting will take place on Oct. 8.
David Yun is a staff news writer for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Rochester, Mich. He can be reached at dy3599[at]princeton.edu.
Nikki Han is an assistant News editor and a contributing Features writer for the ‘Prince.’ She runs the Faculty, Graduate Students, and Alumni coverage area.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com
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