January 8, 2021

1. Mayor Janice Mironov Begins Another Year at Annual Reorganization Meeting, held virtually via zoom on January 5. Peter Yeager was sworn in to continue as Deputy Mayor for 2021. The largely ceremonial meeting also included citizen appointments by Mayor and Council to volunteer Township Boards and Committees and various recognitions of current and past Township volunteers for their service. Council Members made comments about 2020 and the challenges faces by the government and the community, and for the New Year. Mayor Mironov outlined many of the accomplishments of 2020 and goals for 2021, including: Permanent long term financing of outstanding Township debt at the extraordinary low interest rate of 1.2 percent, saving a great of taxpayer money and underscoring the Township's very positive credit rating; Breaking ground on the Senior Center Expansion with grant funding support; Route 130/Hankins Road/Conover Road Realignment Project completion; Completion of and plans for many local roadway improvements and state grant funding; Acquisition of three additional Open Space Properties funded by state Green Acres and Mercer County Open Space grants; Completion of the East Windsor Municipal Utilities Authority Solar Panel Array saving over $2.5 Million over the 15 year agreement term; Etra Lake Park Arboretum project funded by Sustainable Jersey grant, and many New and Expanded Businesses. In a highlight of the meeting, Mayor Mironov and Council recognized East Windsor Heroes of 2020 (stay tuned for January 15 E-News for full details!!)
   
   
   [Photograph taken in 2020] 2021 East Windsor Township Mayor and Council: (front row) Council Member Marc Lippman; Mayor Janice S. Mironov; Council Member Denise Daniels; Council Member John Zoller (back row) Council Member Alan Rosenberg; Council Member Perry Shapiro; Deputy Mayor Peter Yeager.
   
2. Volunteers on Township Committees Were Honored at the Annual Reorganization Meeting for Their Service to East Windsor Township and provided with Certificates of Appreciation by Mayor Janice S. Mironov. Volunteers recognized for serving their community were: Peter Blok (Clean Communities); Sydelle Norris, Ondina Jeffers, Dilys Henninger (Commission on Aging); Oren Livne and Lawrence Zisman (Economic Development Committee); Edward Kelley (Environmental Commission and Planning Board); Andrew Dzurisin III (Health Advisory Board); Jagruti Patel (Planning Board); and Matt Kohut and Jenine Porter-Celestin (Recreation Commission). Congratulations and thank you to the Township's outstanding volunteers.
3. East Windsor Township Mayor Mironov and Council Members Acquire an Additional Open Space Property on Windsor Perrineville Road. As part of Mayor and Council’s ongoing commitment to preserving open space within East Windsor, the Township has acquired a 15.7 acre property on Windsor Perrineville Road, bordered on both sides by over 300 acres of preserved farmland. This expands the assemblage of open space helping to maintain the rural character in this area of the Township. The purchase price of $225,000 was underwritten by New Jersey Green Acres and Mercer County Open Space grants, and no local property taxpayer monies were used in this purchase. This newest acquisition furthers East Windsor Township’s Open Space Program, a longtime priority focus of the Mayor and Council, and contributes directly to expanding potential recreational opportunities, as well as enhancing the attractiveness of our community and fostering a healthier and green environment for our residents.
4. East Windsor Township Police Department Awarded $11,732.44 in Federal and State Grants For Police Body Armor. The grant funds include $8,531.60 received under the United States Department of Justice Bullet Proof Vest Partnership and $3,200.60 under the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice State Body Armor Replacement Fund Program. The grant funds are used to supplement Township expenditures for the periodic replacement of body armor issued to and used by Township police.
5. East Windsor Township Mayor and Council Encourage Citizens to Volunteer for Township Boards and Committees in the New Year. Citizens can apply to serve on the Clean Communities Advisory Committee, Commission on Aging, Economic Development Committee, Environmental Commission, Health Advisory Board, Planning Board, Recreation Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment and the East Windsor Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse. Residents interested in volunteering can obtain an application form from the municipal clerk or can fill out this form (CLICK HERE) and return by email to clerk@east-windsor.nj.us, by fax to (609) 443-8303, or by drop off or mail to Mayor Janice S. Mironov and Council, East Windsor Municipal Building, 16 Lanning Boulevard, East Windsor, New Jersey 08520. For further information, call the Municipal Clerk's Office at (609) 443-4000, ext. 238.
6. High School Students Are Invited to Serve as Student Members of East Windsor Township Boards and Commissions. The boards and commissions included in the student program are Commission on Aging, Clean Communities Committee, Economic Development Commission, Environmental Commission, Health Advisory Committee and Recreation Commission, as well as the East Windsor Green Team and the East Windsor Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse. High school students who wish to be considered can obtain a volunteer application form from the municipal clerk (CLICK HERE) or submit a letter indicating their area of interest and reasons or related background by email to clerk@east-windsor.nj.us, by fax to (609) 443-8303 or by drop off or mail to Mayor Janice S. Mironov and Council Members, East Windsor Municipal Building, 16 Lanning Boulevard, East Windsor, New Jersey 08520.
7. Applications for "The Property Tax Freeze" for Seniors Deadline Extended to February 1, 2021. Homeowners who were 65 or older or 100% disabled in 2018 and received Federal Social Security Disability benefits may be eligible for this program that establishes a base year for property taxes and reimburses the homeowner for any increase in the future tax years. To qualify, a senior must live in New Jersey continuously for at least 10 years, owned or lived in his/her home or mobile home for at least the last 3 years, paid the full amount of property taxes or site fees due for the base year and each succeeding year for which the reimbursement is claimed, and had gross income for 2019 of $91,505 or less and for 2018 of $89,013 or less. For information, contact Township Tax Collector at (609) 443-4000, ext. 230.
8. No Township Curbside Garbage Collection Will Occur on Monday, January 18 and All Township Offices Will Be CLOSED due to the holiday. Residents of Area #1, who would normally have garbage collection on Monday, January 18, are to put their garbage out on the next regularly scheduled collection date which is Thursday, January 21. Public works schedules can be viewed on the Township website at www.east-windsor.nj.us.