According to the store’s manager, Bob Wurtenberger, there was a possibility that the store could close, “but it’s not a certainty as of now.” “They’re trying to keep it going the best they can,” he said. “Right now it’s not a done deal.”

Source: nj.com

The court document are viewable at http://www.scribd.com/mobile/documents/48639233

Update (2pm): As predicted, false alarm. The suspicious package turned out to be a beeping metal detector.

Source: centraljersey.com

Despite a realignment a few years go, accidents still occur on the problematic spot. “The intersection has been the scene of 12 collisions that have injured eight people since 2006, including a motorcyclist who was struck by a car last October when he attempted to cross the county highway to get from Pond Road to Beechwood Drive. Crashes have continued to occur there despite the realignment of the intersection a few years ago to help reduce blind spots.”

So Who’s Paying For This?

“Under the agreement announced by Mayor Fried and Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes, the township will purchase the traffic signal and pay for the installation of the underground wiring. County road department workers will install the signal itself and the county will be responsible for future maintenance. Township Engineer Tim McGough said a rough cost estimate for the signal and equipment would be $60,000 and $75,000. The underground wiring work is expected to cost the township about $14,000, he said.”

The traffic light is expected to be completed by late spring 2011.

Source: centraljersey.com

“Within 20 minutes of the initial call, Trenton Rescue No. 1 responded and placed two divers in the water. At about 2:20 p.m., the driver of the vehicle was removed from the lake, and EMTs from Robbinsville Division of Fire and EMS, as well as paramedics from Capital Health, started emergency care, police said. The driver was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, where he was pronounced dead.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle was in a handicapped parking spot behind 1 Union St., police said. The vehicle went into reverse and struck and curb and a tree, then went forward, striking a parked car. The vehicle then was driven over another curb, down an embankment and into the lake, which was partially covered with ice, police said.”

Sources:

trenton times.com
trentonian.com

In the last news post I reported how the referendum to build a new school was shot down by voters, primarily because we’re being taxed to death and can’t afford to pay anymore. However that doesn’t seem to stop our illustrious town council from continuing to try to squeeze blood from a stone. After the referendum was shot down, the proposed school budget was also voted down. Yet another sign the residents of Robbinsville simply don’t have the money to afford further increases in taxes. But this hasn’t deterred our Mayor and the town council from forging ahead and increasing our taxes yet again this year. According to centraljersey.com, on June 17 the town council approved an $18.8 million budget with only Councilman David Boyne voting in dissent. Boyne believes that the average tax increase of $465, is higher than it needs to be.

Next up, a wonderful waste of money which will cost the residents of Robbinsville $250,000. According to the Trentonian and nj.com, Robbinsville must pay $250,000 of a $500,000 settlement to an ex-public works Superintendent due to a wrongful termination lawsuit. Yes, apparently George Field won a wrongful termination lawsuit against the township, Mayor Fried, and former Business Administrator Mary Caffrey for $500,000 which the town council approved last week. Apparently in 2003 Field had bladder surgery and then in 2005 he notified Fried and Caffrey that he’d need additional surgery. He later received a call informing him of his termination because he did not follow orders. The half million dollar settlement will be paid partly by the Municipal Excess Joint Liability Insurance Fund ($250,000 half-share of the settlement), and it will also advance the township’s share of $250,000 since the township “is not able to pay at this point in time, with the specific understanding that the Township shall repay the $250,000 to the MEL in five annual installments of $50,000. Would anyone like to venture a guess as to who will have to repay that $250,000?? Here’s a hint: it’s not Mayor Fried or Mary Caffrey.

Finally, a bit of an infrastructure update. While nothing has officially been set in motion, there is a push to develop a roadway to connect route 33 to route 130 along the border of Robbinsville and Hamilton. “After sitting dormant for years, plans for the bypass road were revived last year, when former DOT commissioner Stephen Dilts visited the area and “agreed to financially support the bypass project,” according to a spokeswoman at the time. About a month ago, engineers from Hamilton, Robbinsville and the state met to talk about alignments and any rights of way that would be acquired for the bypass, Hamilton business administrator John Ricci said. Some of the rights of way will be donated by developers, Hamilton and Robbinsville officials said.”  Ricci said while the project could start in 2011, there is “no indication” as to when it would be built. For the state to find funding for it is a “big obstacle,” he said.Source: nj.com

So there you have it. Robbinsville residents can’t win. We vote down budgets because we simply can’t afford the extra taxes, yet the town council increases taxes anyway and engages in lawsuits that costs us hundreds of thousands of dollars. If anyone knows of any positive news, please email it to us because it seems that all I ever hear about is how it’s getting harder and harder to live here.

Source: nj.com