Politics & Government

Transition Team Vows Transparency, Public Input

The group has a challenging task to prepare for consolidation of the Princetons by Jan. 1, 2013.

 

The group tasked with readying Princeton Borough and Princeton Township for consolidation next year has pledged openness and transparency throughout the process.

But during Wednesday’s discussion about the issue, members did not agree at first.

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Transition Team Member and Township resident Thea Berkhout was not sure the group qualified as a public body under the Open Public Meetings Act because its members will not make decisions; those will be made by Borough Council and Township Committee.

She also questioned the need for public input at every session, even if the meetings were to be open. 

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Transition Team member Jim Levine said discussing everything in public and soliciting public input at every meeting may not be an efficient process given the short amount of time before Jan. 1.

Then Task Force Chairman Mark Freda spoke.

“The message to me by the majority of the people has been clear,” he said. “We will do the absolutely best we can to do this process in public."

Township Administrator Jim Pascale said according to the Township attorney, the task force is a public body and must conduct its business in public, unless discussing a topic that legally falls within the parameters of an executive session.

The group's subcommittee meetings may not be required to be public, but Freda said the group should strive to make as much as possible public. 

"Public participation in this process is critical because the governing bodies will weigh in and some point and will want to know how the public feels," Freda said. "We need to meet the intention of the (Open Public Meetings) Act." 

Township Committee Member Bernie Miller agreed.

“There is a difference between what is legal and what is the public perception,” Miller said. “(This process) cannot be done behind closed doors. There are some things that can be done in closed session but it should be done as the exception not the rule.

Also at the meeting:

  • Pascale and Borough Administrator Bob Bruschi presented preliminary post-consolidation organizational charts (pdfs are included with this article). Both stressed that the charts are merely a starting point for discussion. 
  • The team agreed to ask the Center for Government Research, Inc. for a project management proposal.
  • The team also passed a resolution to ask the Borough and Township for access to the municipal attorneys until it can hire its own. 


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