Robbinsville residents press council on Newtown Village safety, snow cleanup and school busing

Several Newtown Village residents pressed the Robbinsville Township Council at its public meeting about neighborhood safety, snow-removal damage and school-busing changes, saying daytime town-hall meetings left many unable to attend and that immediate steps are needed to protect children.

“It was a horribly run meeting,” said John Henry, 403 Walnut Street, describing a recent town-hall-style meeting that many residents could not attend because it was held during the day and asking how future meetings could be scheduled for evenings. The council told residents it will schedule the next session in the evening (6–7 p.m.) and asked residents to coordinate by email so staff can advertise and avoid quorum/recording problems for resident-organized events.

Residents raised multiple safety complaints at the meeting. Andrea Bogart of 215 Maple Street said recent snow removal left damaged curbs and no sidewalks in parts of the neighborhood, forcing children to walk in the street. “When the roads were done… some parts of the neighborhood got either curbs that where there never was a curb or curbs were replaced,” she said, and asked the township to replace damaged curbs and install permanent speed-limit signs.

Darren Bogart, her husband, said drivers frequently ignore posted speeds. “We got people doing 40 and 50 mph,” he said, adding that residents fear for children’s safety. Marilyn Lacon (15 Oak Street) described falling on ice and urged more permanent pedestrian infrastructure and curb repairs.

Council members and the mayor responded with short- and long-term measures. Officials said a crosswalk and traffic signal will be added on Tindall Road, flashing pedestrian crossings will be installed near Sharon Elementary, and sidewalks are planned in future phases of the Myre Run trail project. The council also said it worked with the police department on a traffic-safety study and installed a temporary speed-enforcement sign in response to complaints.

Several speakers also pressed the council on school safety and bussing. Nushin Canani (806 Cypress Street) asked how the township and the school district will coordinate on SROs (school resource officers) and whether the township is liable for SRO pay when officers work in the township outside school months. Officials said the SROs remain township employees, that the township covers their salaries when they are not assigned to schools, and that the township is negotiating with the district on funding and schedules.

Canani also cited a $1,300 per paid-child bus cost and said residents are worried about the fiscal burden on taxpayers and the effect of pilot bussing changes. Council members noted the school district’s funding pressures and said they are exploring engineering and signage solutions while continuing to negotiate with district officials on operational details.

On landlord and property-maintenance concerns, Nazira Sims (274 Gordon Road) described a recent management change at a rental property now listed as Golden Sky Management and said maintenance requests have gone unanswered since the takeover. Town staff asked Sims to submit details by email so the township’s property-maintenance contact can follow up.

Next steps announced at the meeting include scheduling an evening Newtown Village meeting (with staff assistance to avoid quorum issues), further traffic and pedestrian improvements at identified locations, and continued coordination with the school district on SRO coverage and bussing options. The council encouraged residents to provide a single email contact to coordinate notice for the next session.