📚 NEW LIBRARY QUESTION IN PRINCETON: MAYOR ASKS RESIDENTS FOR INPUT
The mayor is asking residents whether the City should start exploring a concept plan for a new, larger library. One million dollars from the Parks Bond is already allocated to expand the current Lois Nelson Public Library, but the site cannot physically expand. That means the only option there is a remodel, which the mayor believes would still leave the building undersized for Princeton today and as it continues to grow.
💵 REMODEL THE CURRENT BUILDING OR STUDY A NEW SITE?
He is considering an alternative location that could support a properly sized, future ready library. A new site would require a separate bond, which residents would vote on. The mayor also acknowledges past concerns about bonds and says that if residents want him to move forward, real pricing, clear plans, and a defined scope would be prepared first so everyone knows exactly what is being proposed.
📈 WHY THIS MATTERS FOR A GROWING COMMUNITY
The current library is already small for the size of the city. A larger facility could mean more study rooms, technology and job search access, community meeting space, and room for programs that serve students, families, and seniors. The idea is to build something that grows with Princeton rather than constantly trying to catch up.
🗣️ WHAT RESIDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE IDEA
Community feedback so far reflects a wide range of perspectives. Many residents say they strongly support the idea of a new, larger library and see it as an important community space for learning, gathering, and supporting families. Others say they regularly leave Princeton to use larger libraries in nearby cities and would love to have something similar closer to home. Some residents want the City to carefully study costs and plan for long term growth before moving ahead, while a smaller group feels other priorities should come first. There are also suggestions to reuse the current building for things like adult learning, job support, or community services if a new library is eventually built. Overall, people are engaging thoughtfully and want any plan to match the real needs of the city and be easily accessible to all ages.
If you would like to respond or share your thoughts, visit here.
🧩 Bylaws Update Night: Cleaning Up Ethics, Email Use, and Public Comment
Princeton’s Ad Hoc Committee met on December 18 to review and tighten up the city’s Council Relations Policy, Rules of Order, and Code of Ethics. These bylaws guide how elected officials and board and commission members conduct city business. The goal of the meeting was to make expectations clearer, protect privacy, strengthen transparency, and ensure processes are easier to understand and apply.
📧 City Emails and Protecting Privacy
A major topic of discussion was keeping city work on city systems. The committee talked through language that makes it clear that council members must use city issued email accounts. They also supported making the same rule very clear for board and commission members.
The concern was simple. If a public information request comes in, records should be located in city email accounts, not on someone’s personal phone or inbox. That helps transparency while also protecting residents who volunteer on boards from having their private devices pulled into a records search. Definitions earlier in the bylaws clarify that these rules apply consistently to officials who are acting in an official capacity.
🗣️ Public Comment and Meeting Transparency
The committee also reviewed how the public interacts with meetings. They confirmed that residents will no longer be required to state their home address at the podium during public appearance, which many felt improves both safety and comfort. Public comment remains at five minutes per speaker, giving residents enough time to share thoughts without feeling rushed.
They also supported requiring that staff presentations be shared so they can be attached to agendas whenever possible. This avoids situations where slide decks appear for the first time at the council dais, and it helps residents and councilmembers review the same information in advance.
⚖️ Ethics Complaints, Abstaining From Votes, and Access to Information
Section 9.4, which covers the ethics complaint process, received the most detailed discussion. Members worked through how to handle vague or incomplete complaints, when the city attorney should request more information, and whether an appeal process makes sense. The current draft allows the city attorney to ask for clarification, gives the filer the chance to provide additional documentation, and then allows a short window to appeal if the complaint is still rejected. Several members said this process may be revisited later once it has been used in real situations.
The committee also clarified how abstentions are treated. If someone abstains for a non legal reason, that abstention clearly counts as a no vote, and the member still counts toward quorum. If the abstention is due to a legal conflict of interest, the member does not count toward quorum on that item.
Another topic was access to information for board and commission members. In the past, some appointed members have had to request documents as regular residents, which means waiting under the normal 10 day public records timeline even when they need the material to prepare for a vote. The committee supported allowing appointed members to request documents in their official role and to be held to the same confidentiality standards as council. There was also interest in sharing requested documents more broadly with entire boards or council and in using a digital form to keep requests organized.
📜 What Happens Next
After reviewing updates across Articles 1 through 9, including definitions, ethics processes, email use, public appearance rules, and handling of staff presentations, the committee voted 5 to 0 to recommend the amended bylaws to City Council for review and possible adoption.
They also agreed to continue meeting to address additional topics such as city manager selection procedures and clearer board accountability policies. The next committee meeting is scheduled for January 29 at 6:30 PM.
✏️ Wrapping Up the Week
Taken together, these efforts show a city trying to plan responsibly for the future while also tightening up how local government functions today. Residents now have opportunities to weigh in, both on the direction of the library and on the bylaws as they move to City Council for review. As these discussions continue, the goal remains the same: clearer processes, stronger trust, and public services that keep pace with Princeton’s growth.
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