2016 State of Robbinsville Township

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: John Nalbone
Office of Communications & Public Information
Robbinsville Township
(609) 918-0002 ext. 129
jnalbone@robbinsville-twp.org


Mayor Dave Fried Focuses on Open Space, Another Tax Cut in 2016 State of Robbinsville Township Address

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ – (April 13, 2016) – Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried reinforced his long-standing commitment to open space during Wednesday’s 2016 State of Robbinsville Township Address at the Mercer County Boathouse by announcing the Township has purchased and will preserve 16 acres in Town Center South on Route 33.

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Some of that Town Center South parcel will be used to build a community pool through an agreement with the YMCA, the Mayor announced.

Video of 2016 State of Township Address

Robbinsville also has entered into a contract to purchase the 24 acres commonly known as the “Tammaro Property” on Route 130 with plans to convert the parcel into Robbinsville’s second Project Freedom development to house individuals with disabilities.

The Township also will seek Council and voter approval to increase the Open Space Tax via the November ballot in order to purchase approximately 200 acres on Robbinsville-Edinburg Road across from Robbinsville High. The slight increase also would be used to buy the former Miry Run Golf Course on Sharon Road. Each of those properties would be added to the Township’s ever-growing registry of preserved open space.

On Tuesday, the Robbinsville Board of Education voted to sell the historic Windsor School to the Township, which will preserve the building and use it for meeting space and for assorted recreation programs.

The second municipal tax cut in three years, giving the Township five flat or reduced tax rates since 2010, and the continued increase in property values, were additional highlights of Mayor Fried’s approximately 30 minute address.

“Cutting taxes is very difficult to do,” Mayor Fried said. “Cutting taxes in the same year we are constructing a new municipal building (on Route 33 scheduled to open in August) is practically unheard of.”

For the second consecutive year, Mayor Fried and the Robbinsville community committed to "Pay it Forward," as proceeds from Wednesday’s joint event with the MIDJersey Chamber of Commerce were donated to local charity Quilts for Comfort.

“The feedback we received from last year’s event was so overwhelmingly positive we just had to keep the momentum going,’’ Mayor Fried said of the 2015 State of the Township Address, which raised over $40,000 in order to secure a wheelchair-accessible van for the Shepherd family of Robbinsville. “We’ve been so very fortunate in Robbinsville, and that is why we decided to change how we hosted this event. We wanted to give back.”

Donations from Wednesday evening, which was masterfully hosted by First Choice Bank Vice President of Sales and Marketing Jeannine Cimino, are expected to top $22,000.

Robbinsville also donated $500 to each of the 10 nonprofit organizations in the Township’s Keep it Local program network of charities. The money was generated through the Keep it Local program since 2013.
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Established in December of 2009 by blood cancer survivor, Robbinsville resident and mother of three Susan Tonry, Quilts for Comfort is 100 percent volunteer-based and has delivered over 500 quilts to sick and/or recovering patients. The organization promotes awareness of Leukemia, and the need for blood and bone marrow donors.

Previously without a permanent location to make the quilts, Quilts for Comfort has entered into a five-year usage agreement with the Township.to utilize the Robbins House at Hillcrest Farm to continue making the inspiring quilts that bring comfort to so many.

The Robbins House Trust Fund, established by Matrix Development in 2002, was used to help renovate the Robbins House, which was constructed in 1818 and sits on 23 acres of preserved land. The facility also will be used to serve other Township programs, including the Department of Recreation and other non-profit organizations.

"Sue Tonry and her work with Quilts for Comfort is an inspiration for all of us,'' Mayor Fried said. “She is the personification of a survivor, and any assistance we can provide as a community to help her and her team ease the stress of those that have been afflicted with blood cancer is an honor."

MIDJersey Chamber President & CEO Robert D. Prunetti added: “The business community is extremely pleased to support Quilts for Comfort and the outstanding work of Sue Tonry at the 2016 State of Robbinsville Township Address. We enjoyed a tremendous evening in keeping with Mayor Fried’s theme of Paying it Forward.”

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