Planet Princeton

David Dudeck was named Borough police chief in 2009.

A lawyer for the Princeton Borough Police Union, PBA Local 130, has threatened to go to court if officials try to bump the new Princeton Township acting chief to the top of the ranks of the consolidated Princeton police force.

“The PBA has requested that we write to you to express its concern over the Township’s erroneous belief that its recent appointment of a lieutenant to the position of `acting chief of police’ places that individual equal to the rank of the Borough’s police chief and superior in rank to the borough’s captain and lieutenants,” reads the letter from lawyer James Mets of Iselin, obtained by Planet Princeton.

“Please be advised that the appointment of a lieutenant to the position of `acting chief of police’ does not make him a permanently appointed chief of police. He remains a lieutenant unless permanently appointed to the title of chief,” Mets wrote. “It is our opinion that the only eligible candidate for the position of chief of police for the consolidated Princeton is the Borough’s current Chief, David Dudeck. Moreover, the Township’s `acting chief of police’ does not outrank the Borough’s captain and lieutenants.”

Mets argues that any attempt to demote Dudeck, Borough Captain Nick Sutter, or Borough Lieutenants  Sharon Papp and Robert Currier to accommodate promoting the Township’s acting chief would violate state statutes.

Earlier this month, the Princeton Township Committee voted unanimously to promote Christopher Morgan to acting police chief. Morgan previously was a lieutenant serving as the officer in charge of the department in the wake of Chief Robert Buchanan’s departure. Effective March 31, Buchanan was placed on a paid leave of absence until the end of the year and will officially retire Dec. 31 as part of an agreement with the Township.

Borough officials protested Morgan’s promotion given that consolidation is only seven months away. Some Township officials called the objections political grandstanding. Township officials argued that putting someone in the position of acting chief was necessary for the safety and welfare of residents and that it would be important for the Township to have an employee in the top leadership of the consolidated police force.

But Mets said state statutes prohibit an employer from demoting an officer who has been appointed to a permanent title without just cause. Charges must be detailed in a written complaint. While the Borough and Township are not governed by the rules of the state’s Civil Service Commission, Mets said the courts have held that an employee serving in an acting capacity does not have a right to that title by occupying the title over a period of time. Morgan has permanent status as a police lieutenant and has tenure in that title, Mets said.

Met also argues that the consolidation commission’s recommendations on a “rank neutral approach” to merging the two departments support his argument that Dudeck is the only sworn officer eligible to become the police chief of the consolidated Princeton.

“When the residents of the Borough and the Township approved consolidation, each department had an active, permanent chief of police. In April of 2012, Township Chief of Police Robert Buchanan abruptly retired, leaving only Borough Chief of Police, David Dudeck as the only permanent Chief of Police affected by the consolidation,” Mets wrote. “By designating a lieutenant as `acting chief of police’ instead of promoting him to the permanent title, the Township has recognized its obligation to comply with the implementation of the rank neutral design. Based on the report, the Township does not have the authority to change its rank structure while the consolidation is being implemented. Thus, it cannot seek to have a junior lieutenant leapfrog over an existing captain and two senior lieutenants.”

In the letter, Mets asks Mark Freda, chair of the transition task force, to prevail on the transition task force (an advisory body) and officials to “cease and desist” from trying to insert an acting chief of police into the running for chief of the consolidated Princeton Police Department. Any attempts to demote Dudeck, Sutter, Papp or Currier in favor of promoting a junior lieutenant will be vigorously challenged in court, Mets said.

William Kearns, legal counsel to the transition task force, also gave an opinion last week that Morgan would return to his lieutenant status after consolidation takes place.

The consolidation transition task force did not discuss the issue at the four-hour task force meeting Wednesday night.

You can learn all about bike safety, register your bike, and get it inspected for free at the second annual Community Bike Rodeo this Saturday, May 19.

Bring your bike to the Princeton Township Municipal Parking Lot at 400 Witherspoon Street between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. After your bike is registered and checked for safety, you will receive a brief “rules of the road” lesson. Then you will navigate a road safety course with the help of police officers, who will demonstrate road safety tips.

The event is open to riders age 5-12, and safety helmets are required. The day will include giveaways, food and drinks, and free helmets to the first 50 pre-registered riders. A waiver is required to participate and can be found on the Princeton Township website.

The rodeo is sponsored by the Princeton Human Services Department in conjunction with the Princeton Township and Princeton Borough Police Departments, The Princeton Recreation Department, and  the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Authority.

Butler a Leader Who Embraces Healthy Debate

To the Editor:

On June 5, Princeton Democrats will elect a slate of six Council members and a mayoral candidate to represent our party in a historic election in November. We need knowledgeable leaders to ensure that consolidation yields the promised savings while maintaining and/or enhancing our community’s quality of life; leaders respectful of disparate viewpoints; leaders who are skilled listeners; leaders willing to research the pros and cons of issues; leaders capable of collaborating with others to identify the best options and solutions to community concerns; leaders driven by advancing what is best for our community as a whole; leaders who embrace healthy debate. I know Jo Butler is such a leader.

During the two-year consolidation debate I was very vocal in my opposition to the municipal merger. I appeared at nearly all of the commission meetings and every joint municipal meeting to raise questions and concerns. I can state unequivocally that Jo Butler listened to my concerns, answered my questions in a thoughtful manner and was respectful of our differing viewpoints.

Now during the ‘transition’ to a united Princeton, I regularly attend task force meetings and selected subcommittee meetings. I am comforted that Jo Butler is in a position of leadership and decision-making, representing Borough Council on the Transition Task Force. She is serving on the Personnel, IT, Public Safety and the Infrastructure & Operations subcommittees, working to make sure the promises and opportunities of consolidation come to fruition.

Jo Butler is a proven leader working on behalf of the Princeton community at-large.  Her energy is boundless, her attention to detail unparalleled.  She is frank, honest, an independent thinker who works well with others.  She is a doer and a go-getter in her work on behalf of others.

Jo Butler is prepared on day one to make myriad tough decisions that await the new government. With knowledge and insight, Jo is ready to begin a new government faced with the difficult task of making the transition from two municipalities to one a success for the future of Princeton.

We need a leader who is ready to unite Princeton on January 1, 2013.  That is why I will be voting for Jo Butler.  Please join me in supporting and voting for Jo Butler on June 5th.

Kate Warren

Liz Lempert is Good for Business

As a person who lives and works in Princeton, I want to make sure that our first mayor of the consolidated Princeton is someone who will support and encourage local small business.  That is why I am supporting Liz Lempert for Mayor. Liz, like many of us, wants to keep downtown Princeton from becoming dominated by high-end chain stores and wants to maintain a unique dining and shopping experience.  Liz will work with local merchants and members of the business community to address traffic and parking.   She is an active, visible spokesperson for shopping locally and will continue to promote events and programs aimed at bringing business and customers into Princeton.  I know from personal experience that Liz is a collaborator by nature, so I know that she will collaborate with local businesses. For example, she would not impose Special Improvement Districts (SIDs) on local businesses against their will, adding extra tax on a handful of businesses to fund projects that they didn’t ask for. Liz knows that successful SIDs are initiated by the businesses that pay into them and should be used to fund programs that they want. Liz will seek the input of local businesses, listen, and work together with the business community to create an even better place to live, shop, eat, work and grow.  Please support Liz Lempert for Mayor and help us foster a vibrant business climate in the consolidated Princeton.

Iona Harding

Vote for Matteo a Vote for an Independent Voice

To the Editor:

We urge our fellow Democrats in Princeton to support Tamera Matteo for Borough Council in the primary on June 5. She believes that united Princeton deserves the best Borough Council. We agree.

A vote for Tamera would be a vote for results-oriented leadership and an end to the petty squabbles that have paralyzed our Borough government. Drawing on her ten years as a small business owner in Princeton, she would bring elements of our community together for win-win solutions to problems ranging from downtown parking to cost sharing by local tax-exempt organizations. She would draw on her civic activism as a parent-teacher organization president and community volunteer to engage a broad cross-section of Princeton residents in shaping our common future.

A vote for Tamera would be a vote for transparency and against the local party machine. Meeting behind closed doors, the Princeton Democratic Municipal Committee gave two Borough Council members Jenny Crumiller and Jo Butler favored positions on the June 5 primary ballot despite their failure to win the full endorsement of the membership of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization. Tamera is not beholden to the party machine and will make decisions that she independently believes are in the best interest of our community.

Consolidation offers the voters of the new Princeton the opportunity to create a vibrant new civic culture. We believe that Tamera Matteo will make that happen.

Ted Mills and Henry Vega

Editor’s Note: The Democratic municipal committee chose to endorse six candidates, with representatives from each election district voting. The PCDO fully endorsed four candidates, and partially endorsed another four. The municipal committee is not bound by PCDO endorsements.  The municipal committee choose to endorse a full slate of six candidates for the new six-member council.

Lempert a Gifted Leader

As we look ahead to a consolidated Princeton, we are grateful for the extremely competent pool of candidates who have stepped up to campaign and run for leadership roles.

One such person is Liz Lempert, who is running for the position of the first mayor of Princeton. Because of her many strengths and her extensive experience, Liz has our strong support.

The first mayor of a consolidated Princeton will need to be a particularly gifted listener who is available and accessible. Our next mayor will need to bring people together, to sort out common concerns and solutions, to seek consensus, and then bring Princeton’s most important issues before us in a timely and reasonable way.

We will need a mayor who balances a sharp intellect with practical common sense, and who is committed to enhancing Princeton and strengthening its neighborhoods. We need a mayor who will help Princeton move forward in a positive way.  We believe Liz Lempert embodies all these characteristics, and is the gifted leader Princeton needs at this time. She is committed to making consolidation a success on every level – from financial savings to a responsive government.

We urge you to join us in making Liz Lempert our first mayor in a consolidated Princeton.

Robert and Betty Fleming

Few Benefits to Community in Arts Plan

Princeton University says its new arts buildings will substantially benefit Princetonians. If the benefit isn’t substantial, the University couldn’t justify commandeering valuable public property.  I mean the public transit easement on Dinky station land, which lets people walk to the Dinky and which includes the Dinky’s right of way.  If we lose that 500 feet of right of way, then we couldn’t someday bring light rail to Nassau Street without having it run along the already clogged Alexander Street.

So let’s weigh the arts buildings’ possible benefit against the known environmental, social, economic, and historic benefits of the Dinky Station’s current location.  According to plans submitted to our Planning Board April 23^rd, here’s what the University buildings offer:

Most of the space will be studios, practice rooms, faculty offices, and the like.  The complex also includes a one-room “Lewis Center Gallery.”  The only “performance” spaces are an 80-seat orchestral rehearsal room, a 75-seat dance theater, and a 75-seat black-box theater.  Compare this with the 360-seat Berlind Theater. None of these spaces have raised stages or seating, and all seem intended for student performances and audiences.

Where’s the public benefit?

Let’s measure the University’s haste to usurp a public and historic good not just against what we’d gain from arts classrooms.  Let’s ask if the University had alternatives.  It did.  [1] University President Tilghman revealed recently that the University seriously considered several other sites for its arts program.  [2] The arts complex includes an underground service tunnel under the Dinky right-of-way, suggesting that a tunnel could have accessed the University’s Lot 7 garage without demolishing much-used train tracks.  [3] Until the plans submitted to the Planning Board suddenly showed a featureless addition to the Dinky freight station, none of the arts buildings overlapped the Dinky right-of-way.  [4] Virtually all the arts district construction site would be substantially regraded (that is, the land would either be cut away or filled in).  Since the Dinky runs on a solid gravel base, the University could grade the land level with the track on either side and plant lawns.  When light rail comes—and it will come—the University could remove protective fences along the tracks, and pedestrians could cross as easily and safely as they do in any European city.

An Arts and Transit “Neighborhood”?  Few benefits, many alternatives.  Let’s not get derailed.

Anne Waldron Neumann

McCune

Cyclists and Princeton area residents will remember Anchor House rider Doug McCune Wednesday night by participating in the 10th annual Ride of Silence, a worldwide cycling event that takes place in hundreds of locations around the globe in honor of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.

The Princeton ride, sponsored by Anchor House, is free and open to the public. Biking helmets are required. The procession will leave the Princeton Shopping Center at 301 North Harrison Street in Princeton Township at 7 p.m.

Cyclists who wish to participate in the ride should gather by 6:45 p.m. near the south entrance of the Princeton Shopping Center, next to the Princeton Rescue Squad building, where a pre-ride ceremony will take place.

After the ceremony, the cyclists will slowly pedal seven miles through Princeton in silence. The Route will bring them past McCune’s home, Princeton institutions of higher learning and the downtown area.

McCune, a scientist at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, was killed on the last day of the 2011 Anchor House Ride for Runaways when he struck a vehicle in Clinton Township. The beloved Anchor House rider was a long-time Anchor House cyclist and a top fundraiser for the charity that helps runaway, neglected and abused children and teens.

In addition to honoring those who have been injured or killed while cycling, the Ride of Silence works to raise awareness about cyclists. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the public often isn’t aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

Last year more than 320 rides were held in 24 countries. In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed. The Ride of Silence takes place annually during National Bike to Work Week.

The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance is also hosting a Ride of Silence for West Windsor ares residents Wednesday night. The 10-mile West Windsor ride will leave from the Municipal Center at 7 p.m. sharp and include a police escort and a funeral hearse courtesy of Mather Hodge. Cyclists are encouraged to wear black arm bands and turn on their front and rear lights. Organizers of the West Windsor ride ask that cyclists bring a bike in good riding condition and helmet, plus a water bottle, spare inner tube, ID, and cell phone.

For more information about the Ride of Silence visit www.rideofsilence.org.

The 655 NJ Transit bus that connects Princeton and Plainsboro to the new University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro made its inaugural run this morning.

State and local officials, including Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and the New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner James Simpson, were on hand to celebrate the start of the new bus line, “The HealthLine”, the first for NJ Transit since 2005. Officials made the maiden trip from Witherspoon Street to the new hospital, where Plainsboro Mayor Peter Cantu christened the blue bus with a bottle of champagne.

Guadagno praised the project as an example of a positive state, federal and private partnership. “The end result (of the collaboration) is a new bus service that will serve employees, patients and visitors of a vital healthcare facility and other important area destinations, while minimizing the costs to New Jersey taxpayers,” she said.

The new bus line costs $1.50 each way (65 cents for a transfer) or $48 for a monthly pass, and makes stops at the Princeton Shopping Center, Palmer Square, the Dinky train station, the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro, and Scotts Corner Road at Ravens Crest Drive in Plansboro. The 655 line provides transfer connections to NJ Transit bus route No. 600 in Plainsboro, and the nos. 605 and 606 in downtown Princeton.  It also provides connections to Middlesex County Area Transit (MCAT) Route 6 shuttle service to Jamesburg, as well as Suburban Transit (Coach USA) service that operates along Route 27 in Princeton.

The new hospital is scheduled to open May 22. Bus service to the Plainsboro site on Route 1 runs weekdays. The bus makes a loop every 40 minutes from about 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., and every 75-80 minutes from about 6 p.m. until midnight to accommodate employee shifts at the new hospital. The hospital has offered to provide free bus tickets to lower-income clinic patients who need them.

“This new bus route provides an important east-west transit connection that will help offer relief along the busy Route 1,” NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson said.  “By connecting residents with medical centers, places of employment and shopping destinations, NJ Transit is making it easier and more convenient for people to conduct life’s daily business.”

Funding for the new bus route is being provided through a public-private partnership. NJ Transit is providing the vehicles and operating the service, and has received federal funding in the form of grants through the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.  Princeton HealthCare Systems, Princeton University, Middlesex County and the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association are also providing funding.

Borough Councilman Kevin Wilkes, who was involved in discussions about bus service to the hospital, applauded Princeton HealthCare and Princeton University for offering their financial support for the bus line.

“The hospital’s move out of town presented us with a unique transportation challenge: how can we get Princeton-based patients and hospital employees to the new facility if they currently walk and have no access to a vehicle? Or even if they do have a car, how can we provide people with more environmentally sustainable transportation options to get where they need to go?” Wilkes said. “That this new bus exists is a testament to what happens when our community works hand-in-hand with its neighbors to solve problems.”

The hospital (the University Medical Center) has a very important moral responsibility to the Princeton community. Unfortunately, the hospital is not living up to it.

The hospital’s moral responsibility dates to 2004-2006, when the hospital, Princeton Borough, and the neighborhood surrounding the hospital’s Witherspoon Street site had lengthy negotiations about what could be built on the site when the hospital vacated it. The goal was to make the site attractive to potential buyers so that the hospital could get a good price for it, while still safeguarding the neighborhood. The neighborhood and the Borough made great concessions–among them, much higher density than any other site in Princeton, and the retention of two seven-story buildings. The hospital agreed, among other things, to include a public park, walkways crossing the site, and mixed retail and office use.

Unfortunately, the Borough did not codify these agreements in a way that is legally enforceable. Perhaps Borough officials didn’t think this was necessary, since they were dealing in good faith with the hospital–a fine, honorable institution.

But now the hospital has tentatively decided to sell the site to AvalonBay. AvalonBay has shown total disregard for the agreements. Indeed, AvalonBay’s previous developments demonstrate that it is probably incapable of building the kind of development envisioned in the agreements.

Why did the hospital choose AvalonBay? We can only guess. Perhaps it forgot about its agreements and simply chose the highest bidder. AvalonBay reportedly bid $36 million. A very reputable builder who would most likely adhere to the agreements bid $32 million. The $4 million difference may sound large, but in fact it is less than 1%  of the $527 million that the new hospital will cost.

Barry Rabner (the hospital’s CEO) and the hospital’s Trustees need to demonstrate to the Princeton community that of course they recognize the hospital’s moral responsibility and will adhere to the agreements, whatever the legal situation. They should withdraw their tentative acceptance of AvalonBay’s bid. They should sell instead to a buyer who will support them in living up to their moral responsibility to Princeton. And they should work with the new buyer, as it goes through the approval process, to make certain that all of their agreements with the Borough and the neighborhood are kept.

Phyllis Teitelbaum

Ms. Teitelbaum is a Princeton Borough resident.

The Drepung Gomang Monks will be at the Princeton Center for Yoga & Health until 5 p.m. today creating a sacred sand mandala, a formal geometric pattern showing the floor plan of a sacred mansion. Millions of grains of colored sand are laid into place in the creation of the mandala. Observe the monks at Princeton Center for Yoga & Health’s new location at the Orchard Hill Center, 88 Orchard Road in Skillman. You can also join them on Saturday a 1 p.m., when the monks will put the final touches on the mandala. The closing ceremony, held at 2 p.m., includes the dismantling of the mandala. Observers can travel with the monks to a body of water in order to spread the healing energies throughout the world. Call to register and find out the location of the closing ceremony at 609-924-7294.

Saturday, May 12

Herb Class, Terhune Orchards – Pam Mount, owner of Terhune Orchards, talks about culinary herbs, how to set up an herb garden, and how to harvest and use herbs. 330 Cold Soil Road, Lawrenceville, 10:30 a.m. Free.

Justin Roberts, McCarter Theatre  – The children’s singer songwriter presents a family show with the Not Ready for Naptime Players. Matthews Theatre, 11 a.m. Tickets $16.

Booksigning with Chef Jim Weaver – Weaver, owner of Tre Piani, signs copies of his new book ‘Locavore Adventures: One Chef’s Slow Food Journey’ at the Barnes & Noble at MarketFair, 2 p.m. Free.

Princeton Symphony Orchestra: Behind the Music – A talk by composer Sarah Kirkland Snider about ‘Disquiet’ to be performed at PSO’s Sunday, May 13 concert. Princeton Public Library, 4:30 p.m. Free.

Songs My Mother Taught Me, The Princeton Singers – Concert with the Princeton Girl Choir featuring a repertoire devoted to mothers everywhere. Trinity Church, Nassau Street, 8 p.m. Tickets $25.

Jazz Ensemble, Princeton University Concerts – ‘Sounds of Revolution or Evolution? The Music of Bebop, Cool Jazz, and Hard Bop.’ Richardson Auditorium, 8 p.m. Tickets $15.

Sarah Donner CD Release Party -  Release party for ‘Fossil of Girl,’ Donner’s fourth studio album released on her label, CatLady Records. Brad Sicotte on drums and Jay Buchanan on upright bass. Joanna Burns opens the show with pop, Motown, and Broadway tunes. Arts Council of Princeton, 8 p.m. Tickets $5.

Are You There, McPhee? – McCarter Theatre debuts John Guare’s play focusing on a playwright sucked into the tangle of lives of a pair of abandoned children. Pre-show talk 45 minutes before the performance. Berlind Theatre, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets $20 and up.

Sunday, May 13

Princeton Symphony Orchestra Classical Series – Music by Princeton native Sarah Kirkland Snider, Maurice Ravel, and Johannes Brahms. Richardson Auditorium, 4 p.m. Pre-concert lecture at 3 p.m. Tickets $25-$68.

A Land Rover traveling south on State Road (Route 206) crashed into another car at the intersection of Mountain Avenue this morning and the chain reaction resulted in a three-car crash. Kathryn Morris, 56, of Skillman was driving the Land Rover that collided with the rear end of the Toyota driven by Daniel Rowe, 39, of Skillman. Rowe’s Toyota in turn hit another Toyota driven by Bonnie Amo, 54, of Lawrence, police said. The Princeton Fire Department and Princeton First Aid Squad were dispatched to the scene because a small fire started in the engine of the Land Rover, police said. The Land Rover was towed from the scene because the vehicle was not drivable. All three drivers complained of pain but refused medical attention at the scene. Morris was charged with careless driving, police said. One lane of State Road was closed for about an hour because of the accident.

A pedestrian was struck by a car on May 6 while trying to cross Duffy Place, police said. Peter Hnatuk, 49, of Blue Spring Road was struck by a Toyota Pruis driven by Wei Li, 55, of Trewbridge Court. Hnatuk was thrown on to the vehicle’s hood, rolled off the car and landed in the roadway. He suffered contusions and abrasions to both knees and was transported to University Medical Center of Princeton, where he was treated and released. Li was charged with careless driving, police said.

On May 4, a driver heading south on State Road (206) failed to see that traffic in front of him had come to a stop. He then braked and swerved his Toyota Corolla in an attempt to avoid striking another vehicle, police said.  Sukhwinde Singh, 21, of Lumberton struck the rear of a Lexus RX driven by Jo Butler of Princeton Borough. Butler’s car was pushed forward into the rear of a Buick PRK driven by David Obert of Hamilton, who was stopped to make a left turn. The Toyota and Lexus were towed from the scene. Butler complained of neck pain, was evaluated by the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad and refused further treatment. Traffic on State Road was detoured for about an hour because of the accident.

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In case you missed it, rowers from Princeton University were featured in Thursday’s edition of the Today Show on NBC.

As part of the special series “Today Takes On”, Today Show hosts Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Natalie Morales and Ann Curry came to Princeton to get a rowing lesson from members of the Princeton University rowing teams.

Coached by Tigers men’s team member Jason Kopelman and women’s team member Kelly Pierce, they learned all about balance, strength, coordination and competition.

To test their newly acquired skills, The Today Show “rainbow team” challenged the Tigers to a race on Lake Carnegie. The Today boat won the first race with the help of four Princeton students, beating eight crew team members — who were blindfolded and had one hand tied behind their backs.