The Trenton Times published the following article on February 6, 2013. To read the full article, click here.

Trenton council hears more feedback on Glen Cairn Arms redevelopment proposal

By Erin Duffy/The Times of Trenton 
on February 06, 2013 at 7:30 AM, updated February 06, 2013 at 7:32 AM

TRENTON — Last night council weighed a new ordinance that would freeze longevity pay for elected officials and heard more feedback from residents on the Glen Cairn Arms redevelopment proposal, in anticipation of tomorrow’s vote on the controversial deal.

The Glen Cairn project has ignited questions and debate since Thomas Edison State College and the city announced last month the college would attempt to buy the dilapidated, vacant apartment complex from the city for $1, demolish it and build a new facility for the school’s nursing program in its place.

Thomas Edison has agreed to demolish and clean up the lead and asbestos-ridden buildings on site, which could cost between $1.2 and $1.4 million, and has also agreed to pay the city a onetime fee of $300,000 to mitigate future tax losses.

As a state college, Thomas Edison is tax exempt and would not pay taxes on the land or its new building. The 0.9 acre property, located at the corner of West State and Calhoun streets, is currently assessed at more than $800,000, though Thomas Edison officials have said the troubled complex actually has negative value — meaning the college is taking a major risk to redevelop it.

Residents have both cheered the effort to make over the blighted site and urged the city to strike a better deal that would allow Trenton to collect more tax dollars from the site, not just a $300,000 one-time payment.

Several residents, including blogger Kevin Moriarty, raised concerns this week and last about the absence of any mention of the $300,000 sum in the ordinance council will vote on tomorrow. The ordinance transfers the property to Thomas Edison for $1, names the college the exclusive developer and leaves further negotiations over the property to a future disposition agreement the city and Thomas Edison will decide on.

Thomas Edison president George Pruitt did write to the city Monday, confirming the terms of the deal and committing to the $300,000 payment. The disposition agreement has not been drafted yet.

Last night, several residents urged council again to not pass up the arrangement, saying it couldn’t wait on a better deal from a for-profit developer.

“There is no black knight on a black horse riding into the city to rescue this damsel in distress and make no mistake, this property is in distress, and it’s need of an extreme makeover,” Merkle Cherry said. “It’s been abandoned for 20 years, I’ve heard 30. We’re waiting for a suitor and no one’s ringing the doorbell. It’s not happening.”

Council also discussed a new ordinance that would freeze longevity pay and bonuses for elected officials and non-contractual employees in order to comply with the memorandum of understanding that accompanies the city’s transitional aid award from the state. The city should have already had the ordinance on the books, former acting city attorney and housing and economic development director Walter Denson told council.

“This was supposed to be passed as of yesterday,” he said.

Longevity pay for elected officials became a hot topic last year after Mayor Tony Mack criticized Council President Phyllis Holly-Ward for collecting an additional $860 in longevity pay on top of her $20,000 council salary. Elected officials and department directors, including former mayor Doug Palmer and current inspections director Cleveland Thompson, have long made extra money for longevity and years worked.

Council members Marge Caldwell-Wilson and Zachary Chester and resident Jim Carlucci said the ordinance needed to go further in abolishing longevity pay, not just freezing it at its current level in what Denson called a “bare bones ordinance.” Carlucci said the city also needed to address vacation and sick day payouts for higher-level employees.