Mayor says West Windsor will continue to press county for early voting and prepares for fair-share housing mediation

The mayor reported to the Township Council on March 24 that West Windsor is continuing efforts to secure an early voting location inside the township and is engaged in mediation with the Fair Share Housing Center over the town's affordable-housing obligation.

On early voting, the mayor said Mercer County has the voting machines but the state funds only seven early-voting locations; West Windsor has urged the county to secure funding or otherwise provide an in-town location. The mayor said county staff and the election commission have expressed support for the request and that Robbinsville has passed a supporting resolution. "We continue to press the county for early voting," the mayor said.

On affordable housing, the mayor said West Windsor and the Fair Share Housing Center negotiated in mediation after the center proposed a higher obligation number. The mayor said the township's number was 392 units; the center initially proposed 489 units and in mediation agreed to reduce its figure to 480. The mayor said the Fair Share Housing Center had not explained how it arrived at 480 and that West Windsor suspects reallocation of other towns' units may have driven the increase. The mayor said a session with the assigned mediator (Judge Jacobson) was scheduled for the following day; the mediator will make a recommendation to the presiding judge.

The council previously approved a $100,000 increase to legal contingency for affordable-housing counsel (Mueller and Valley, PC) as part of the consent agenda. The mayor said a further judge's ruling will determine next steps and that the township will continue to explore legal options if necessary.