PNC purchase discussion going back on the table?

[guest1]

Apparently there is a petition being passed around town which will ask the TC to reopen the discussion on the PNC bank purchase. Does anyone know if the TC is willing to consider this? I thought this was over and that we were moving onto more important issues - ie COAH.

[Guest]

[Guest]

Given Pari's comments about the PNC purchase in the paper after the discussion do you think she might be behind this effort. I don't believe that Mr. Wittman or Mr. Panconi will change their mind, so there is no purpose in this petition other than for some group to try and force this through. I have not seen or heard anything, but I would continue to oppose the purchase given all the issues.

[Guest]

The problem is exactly what are they bringing back. If the petition perpetuates the myth / lie that they just want to "expore it" more then it is a sham that will injustly fool people into believing it is a reasonable process. If the petition says they want to get the facts and will not make a decision without putting it to a vote of the township electorate, I will sign it. But there's no way that's what they are trying to do -- they are trying to sneak it back to the point where they can unilaterally vote for it without the full support of the township. And they will get a bunch of signatures on a petition where people think they are only signing to "look into it" then claim that is their proof of electorate support.

Shame on them.

[Cranbury Conservative]

WOW! I am blown away that this is even being discussed again.

What about the COAH rules and the recently signed A-500/ S-1783 legislation? I think that is a bit more important to this town and what we should be worried about.

Maybe they are trying to get everyone to sign this petition before our new increased tax bills arrive in August?

[Guest]

The truth is that a lot of Cranbury people focus on the small picture. I am always surprised when I see people who can't name our TC members. There are a lot of people in that scenario.

The Trenton Times has paid little attention to the COAH bills and many residents don't even know this legislation passed let alone the impact.

Therefore, it does not surprise me that some residents would try to get this through again. The good news is that the two TC members who did not want to pursue continue to focus on COAH and the TC does not work for the minority of residents, but the town overall. Therefore, this petition will likely be used by certain TC individuals, but the smart ones will continue their stance.

[HistoricallyFiscal]

I agree, some also have blinders on, seeing only one point of view and not the big picture in Cranbury. Does anyone know who in Cranbury is promoting this petition? I don’t think they realize how all this is interconnected.

If Cranbury buys PNC, they can not cry poverty when dealing with the new COAH tax burden since the township obviously wants to spend millions to build a 2nd library and a new ball field.

If Cranbury buys PNC for millions, the township goes into even more debt so adding to that debt with additional COAH obligations is OK for your citizens – says COAH. I guess its OK to max out our municipal credit limit and use it to spend on these new COAH homes also.

If Cranbury buys PNC ,will less of our tax dollars benefit the current Grade School Library, so the school budget will have to be increased, right?

If Cranbury buys PNC and builds the 2nd library, we will have to raise even more taxes for new renovations, new staff, new expenses, new benefits, etc.

If Cranbury is distracted by a new PNC library, and a new ball field and 500 additional new COAH Homes (no RCAs), we may have gained a 2nd new Library but we would have lost our partnership with Princeton HS as a direct result.

If Cranbury buys PNC, less time/resources will be spent on dealing with COAH problems both by the citizens and TC. And we both have to focus our efforts to preserve the future of Cranbury. Its already happening with this Library petition. If only these same people would use their energy for protecting our Cranbury’s future and the big picture. It would be good to start a petition about the “Unfair tax burden COAH and Trenton are about to enact on Cranbury citizens”

[HistoricallyFiscal]

Forgot the most important one:

If Cranbury buys PNC, we have 1.4mil less in our coffers to fight the unfair practices of COAH. It would be a fate acompli.

We would have no other option but compliance and that would change our township forever.

No more smart growth, no more independence we would have to merge, no more Cranbury small town character, no more blue ribbon schools, and PHS, and low taxes.

but we would have a new PNC library. IT JUST DOESNT MAKE SENSE TO ME.

[Guest]

This is what annoys me. The TC members voted and it did not pass. We now have COAH passed and there is still money going out on the ball field. At what point do residents wake up and realize that we don't have money for personal projects and that we need to make financially sound decisions. Instead of crying over spilled milk, let's focus on finances.

I was asked last Saturday to sign the petition. The petition is to reopen discussion on the exploration of the purchase. We all know that this is something that if done would go forward without resident input. I really wish people would use this effort at budget discussion time or when real issues come up.

[Traveler]

The TC voted against the PNC Bank purchase in a public meeting. Now they might possibly entertain the re-opening of the discussion...am I missing something here? Does anyone know whose spearheading the petition? To me a vote is a vote...this is not a child's game where rules are made up along the way. Let's learn to employ financial savvy or else Cranbury will no longer be the charming little town we all wanted to settle in in the first place.

[Cranbury Conservative]

Who is sponsoring the petition?

[Guest]

[Guest]

[Guest]

I wonder if the petitioner even brings up one of your fiscal points above when they are asking a Cranbury resident to sign it?????

I also would like to know who is the driver of this petition?

and why they are doing it.

[Guest]

I THINK it's the historical society that is petitioning people.

[??]