East Windsor Township Fall/Winter 2015 Volume 17, Issue 2 Mayor’s Message REMEMBER 9/11: VOLUNTEER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE “Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.” Unknown The United States and East Windsor Township honored Senior citizens and frankly everyone can help out in countless the 14th Anniversary of September 11. The Presidential ways volunteering at the Township Senior Center. There Proclamation for this designated National Day of Service are many gratifying means to volunteer for programs and and Remembrance encouraged deriving strength from activities, even “manning the front desk.” tragedy and an era where more service is a way of life for all Americans. We best honor all who perished and the many East Windsor Crime Watch always is looking for new acts of heroism and compassion, by rededicating ourselves recruits, to help establish citizen/police partnerships to keep to our American values and freedoms and service to our our neighborhoods alert and crime free. The Domestic communities. Violence Victim Response Team offers a unique volunteer opportunity, to assist in providing support and comfort to There are an abundance of ways in which anyone can domestic violence victims. volunteer and contribute to others. Be aware of the many non-profit organizations which have Our municipal government has many volunteer Township many community geared support programs, supporting Boards and Committees which advise and strengthen the those in need in our community, including RISE and Better work of the Mayor and Council, including Aging, Clean Beginnings and Jewish Family Childrens Services, and Communities, Economic Development, Environmental, religious-based groups and area food pantries. Health, Planning, and Recreation. Also, the East Windsor Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Our Schools offer many opportunities to support our Abuse tasked to design and support intervention and students, and their many worthwhile activities and groups. educational programs to deter drug and alcohol abuse within Community service opportunities are endless: Check out the community. High school students also can participate. the Elks Lodge, Masons, Veterans groups, Harr Shane Foundation. It takes a very special person to be a Volunteer Firefighter or Volunteer Rescue Squad Member but the satisfaction “I shall pass through this world but once. and rewards are enormous. You need no special background Any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness or training to sign up. And young people are welcomed in that I can show to any human being, the cadet programs. Check it out – it is great. let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this The East Windsor Police Athletic League and Hightstown- way again.” Etienne de Grellet East Windsor Youth Baseball League and Pop Warner, all sponsors of sports programs for our youth, are great organizations to support and for which to volunteer. Our Remember Always and Honor 9/11: area Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are a wonderful place Volunteer and make a difference in your life and the lives to offer your help as leaders, and young people do service. of others. Eagle Scout and Gold Award projects by young people benefit our community. Mayor Janice S. Mironov East Windsor Township 609-443-4000 Mayor and Council 2015 East Windsor Municipal Budget Township Awarded $550,000 NJ Green Acres NO TAX INCREASE Grant for Open Space Preservation The 2015 total tax rate for East Windsor Township residents These grant funds are important to enable East is $ 3.221 per $100 of assessed valuation [$3.098 without Windsor Township to continue our ambitious program the Garbage District], per below pie chart. to acquire and preserve open space in East Windsor. Preservation of open space and farmland remains a At $0.431, the Municipal Government is only 13.38% of top priority of this Township administration, and a key the total property tax bill. component of maintaining recreational opportunities, Note: The 2015 Municipal Budget again reflects a a healthy and desirable environment and ecosystem, ZERO TAX INCREASE, while retaining all existing and a positive balance of open land for the community. services and containing no employee reductions. The The $550,000 in grant funds will be used by the municipal tax component thus remains the same for Township to acquire additional open space sites listed 2015, 2014 and 2013. in the state approved East Windsor Township Open Space and Recreation Plan. There are several parcels which will be considered for open space preservation TheThe Garbage DistrictDistrict tax tax rate rate also also again has has NO NO TTAXAX on Old York Road, Etra Road, Conover Road, and INCREASEINCREASE at $0.123,$0.123, which which is is3.82% 3.86% of theof thetotal total tax rate.tax Cedarville Road. Recent East Windsor acquisitions rate.The TwinThe RiversTwin RiversPlanned PlannedUnit Development, Unit Development, all private include 24 acres on Airport Road, 40 acres on Etra allcommunities, private andcommunities, all apartment complexesand all do notapartment pay the Road, 30 acres on Disbrow Hill Road, as well as complexesGarbage District do not Tax, pay since the theyGarbage have District private Thaulersax, since for donations of 7.55 acres on Airport Road and 38 acres theygarbage have collection. private haulers for garbage collection. on Wyckoff Mill Road. School District $2.014 62.53% Township Awarded $206,750 FEMA Grant to Install Permanent Geneators Mayor Mironov and Council Members awarded a contract Mercer for a 125 KW permanent generator for the Township County Senior Center and a 100 KW permanent generator for the Library Public Works Facility with $206,750 Federal Emergency $0.055 Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant. 1.71% This equipment will ensure these critical facilities are fully operational during emergency situations. The Township Senior Center, in light of its size and variety of accommodations, including kitchen and refrigeration and plug in energy sources, could serve the community as a center/charging site, as well as a shelter if and as needed. Garbage The police facility currently has a back-up generator District Mercer County to ensure continuation of police services. Work on this $0.123 3.82% $0.573 project began in September and will take about 60 days. Municipal Mercer County 17.79% $0.431 Open Space 13.38% $0.025 General Election Tuesday, November 3 ➞ .78% Polls are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The last day to Register to Vote in the General Election is Tuesday, The Township Council does not establish and has no October 13. Individuals can vote by mail. The control over the other 82.80% of your tax bill. These last day to apply to vote by mail ballot in the taxes are collected for Mercer County and the East General Election is Tuesday, October 28 by mail, and Monday, November 2 by 3 p.m. if in person. Windsor Regional School District. The three taxes collected Registration forms and vote by mail application for Mercer County ($0.653) constitute 20.28% of the total forms can be obtained online at www.njelections.org. tax rate (County Tax, County Library Tax and County Open Questions can be directed to the Municipal Clerk’s Space Tax). The School District Tax ($2.014) constitutes Office, (609) 443-4000 ext. 240. 62.53% of the total tax rate. Page 2 East Windsor Township 609-443-4000 Mayor and Council ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS State of the Township Address Hickory Corner Road Completed Mayor Janice S. Mironov presented Annual State of East Windsor Township Address which included updates Hickory Corner Road improvements between Dutch Neck on commercial development, new business openings, Road and Dorchester Drive are completed. Work included recreation and open space projects, roadway and resurfacing and associated repairs to curbs, driveway aprons, transportation improvements, and other Township news and goals. The address can be viewed on the Township handicap ramps and storm drains. A $250,000 NJDOT grant was obtained for the project. website www.east-windsor.nj.us. Dorchester Drive Completed Dorchester Drive improvements between Hickory Corner Road and the West Windsor border were completed in mid-September. The project included resurfacing and related improvements to driveway aprons, handicap ramps and storm drains. A $300,000 New Jersey Department of Transportation grant provided funding. Oak Creek Road Completed Oak Creek Road improvements between Dutch Neck Road and Hickory Corner Road and a small segment of Maple Stream Road were completed in mid-September. The work Mayor Janice S. Mironov presented the annual State of East included resurfacing and related improvements to driveway Windsor Township Address at meeting of MIDJersey aprons, handicap ramps and storm drains. Chamber of Commerce at the Holiday Inn East Windsor. Pictured (from left to right) are: Mark Roney, Esq, East Windsor Chapter Chairman; Robert Prunetti, CEO and President, MidJersey Chamber of Commerce; Mayor Janice S. Mironov; Amy M.B. McKenna, Vice President, MidJersey Chamber of Commerce; Stacey DeAlmeida, Vice President and East Windsor Branch Manager, First Choice Bank; Stacy Mattia, Chairman of the Board, MidJersey Chamber of Commerce; Tom Lanigan, Senior Vice President and Regional Manager, First Choice Bank. PARK IMPROVEMENTS Tennis Courts Resurfaced The Township has completed the resurfacing of three tennis courts at Wiltshire Park and two tennis courts at Veterans Park. The courts were resurfaced using a new product Residents Invited to Apply for known as “Premier Court”. Premier Court, an all-weather Home Rehabilitation Grant cushioned sports surface with an extended life and warranty, Residents are invited to apply for home improvement is designed to be an overlayment to hard asphalt or concrete funds pursuant to Small Cities Grant application and courts, eliminating cracking problems and minimizing Housing Trust fund rehabilitation program.