Symphony conductor quits in Manalapan
Budget considerations lead to less funding for town's orchestra
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

Manalapan

MANALAPAN - This year's proposed $29.5 million municipal budget has led to some unexpected occurrences, not the least of which was the resignation of the conductor of the municipal symphony and municipal engineer Len Miller.

Mayor Andrew Lucas said the Finance Committee will meet before the June 13 public hearing and scheduled adoption of the budget to also review a restructuring of the Manalapan Parks and Recreation Department, but he would not confirm if the position of recreation director will be eliminated.

Lucas acknowledged there were a lot of rumors floating around regarding the finalization of the budget and blamed those same reasons for the abrupt resignation last week of Chiu-Tze Lin as the conductor of the Manalapan Battleground Symphony.

Lucas said Lin's resignation as the symphony's conductor left him dismayed because he thought it was a premature decision based on rumors regarding the future of the symphony.

"I was saddened to hear of Ms. Chiu-Tze Lin's resignation at the spring concert. She has been the heart and soul of the Manalapan Battleground Symphony and has done a tremendous job bringing world-class talent to the residents of Manalapan," the mayor said.

Lin forwarded a written statement to the News Transcript regarding her decision to resign. She said she included the statement in an announcement made publicly on May 12 at what turned out to be her final concert after having served as the symphony's conductor for seven years.

"Over the last few months there has been a lot of discussion by the Manalapan Township Committee to substantially reduce the orchestra support. Under an anticipated reorganization in our township, Manalapan Parks and Recreation can no longer sponsor our concerts to the extent they have had. This has made it very difficult for me, as a professional musician who cares deeply for the quality of our performances, to continue leading the orchestra," she wrote.

Lucas said the symphony has not been eliminated from the municipal budget, although he said he expects that more of its funding will be coming from private sources starting this year.

Lucas said the $35,000 that was budgeted for the symphony in 2006 is being reduced to $10,000 in 2007 with the remainder to come from fundraisers and steps to be taken that will allow people to make tax-free donations to the symphony.

Deputy Mayor Michelle Roth announced earlier in the month that she had met with members of the symphony's board and asked them to submit a budget of expenses. She said she informed the board members that the symphony might have to cut back on the number of concerts it gave in Manalapan and in outside venues.

Lucas said that in fiscally tight times the goal is to trim expenses and keep costs controlled. He said the idea of the Manalapan symphony playing in venues other than Manalapan, while flattering, needed to be looked at with a hard eye.

"Since it is being funded by Manalapan taxpayer dollars, the main beneficiaries should only be Manalapan residents, not Princeton residents," the mayor said, alluding to one of several out-of-town concerts the symphony has given with the costs, including the salaries of some members of the symphony, being previously provided for in the municipal budget.

Lucas said he and the other members of the Township Committee value the symphony and are looking toward other methods of funding its performances, such as a Mayor's Charity Ball which is being organized under the auspices of the Manalapan Arts Council (formerly the Mayor's Arts Council).

Lucas said Miller's resignation as municipal engineer will save the township about $60,000 per year. He said the work Miller did will either be outsourced or handled by a part-time employee.

In addition to the municipal engineer, the township also contracts with a professional engineering firm for as-needed services.

Lucas said a clerk-typist who previously worked in the Engineering Department will be moved to the Zoning Department.

Speaking about plans for the Parks and Recreation Department, Lucas said, "No jobs have been cut from the Parks and Recreation Department. The Finance Committee will be meeting in the next two weeks to propose and discuss a restructuring of the department that would cut annual salary expenditures by over $100,000 while providing better recreational opportunities for our residents."