By ROBERT LINNEHAN
The year 2010 is old news.
It had its day like bell bottoms and the pet rock.
The year 2011 is the new hot trend and Mayor Bernie Platt said Cherry Hill residents could expect the township to find additional shared services with bordering municipalities and new initiatives to increase savings for taxpayers.
A long-time project that was developed and funded in 2010 will be fully functional in the first week of 2011 as Cherry Hill will officially turn on its solar system at the Department of Public Works building. In early spring, Platt said, a smaller scale version will be built on top of town hall to power the municipal building.
“Throughout my time in office, our community has become a leader in municipal sustainability, and I hope to expand our horizons on that front,” Platt said. “We will have a fully functioning solar array at the Department of Public Works, which will help power that facility while generating credits we can sell to the local utility company — not just saving us money, but resulting in a small profit.”
Once operational, the 100kW solar-panel system will transform energy from the sun into electricity, which will off set more than a third of the facility’s electricity usage on average.
Originally designed for the top of the municipal hall, it was quickly found that it wouldn’t generate enough electricity so it was moved to the DPW building.
Platt said this system goes hand-in-hand with improvements to the roof and HVAC system designed to reduce energy inefficiencies at town hall.
Platt went on to say the township would explore other green options in 2011 to save money and energy for Cherry Hill.
He mentioned looking at solar-powered lighting for the town hall as one specific option.
The new energy outreach coordinator in Cherry Hill, Joan Simpson, will lead these efforts for the township, he said.
Platt said the township council would continue to look at new initiatives to help improve the township’s trash and recycling services.
Recently, Cherry Hill announced a new shared service contract with Gloucester Township, the borough of Merchantville, and the fire and school districts for a new five-year trash collection contract.
Platt said the initiative will save Cherry Hill more than $2 million for the same high quality trash service the township presently experiences.
Platt went on to say that 2011 will have an emphasis on new shared services, as he and members of council will continue to explore new and original ways to save money and increase efficiencies in Cherry Hill.
“In the coming year, my number one goal as mayor is to continue looking for shared-service opportunities that will allow us to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of our daily operations, while also saving money,” he said. “In 2010, my administration implemented a number of these agreements with the Cherry Hill Fire Department, the board of education, and neighboring communities like Merchantville and Gloucester Township, on everything from fueling stations to collectively bidding on residential trash collection and disposal.”
Township funding will again be bookmarked for the annual upkeep of Cherry Hill roads and the township’s sewer system, Platt said.
He went on to say that maintaining quality services and infrastructure for Cherry Hill residents while keeping costs down is also a top priority for 2011.
Also, with Cherry Hill’s participation as a Climate Showcase Community, the township will explore new environmental efficiencies and projects, Platt said. The township was named as a “Sustainable Energy Efficiency Demonstration Projects,” by the state as part of the program.
“I look forward to exploring and implementing new sustainability projects that will reduce our community’s impact on the environment, while allowing taxpayers to reap the savings realized by implementing these types of efficiencies,” he said.
He also predicted that the difficult economic and budgetary climate in the state might be on its way out in 2011.
Last year was a very difficult economic year in the state and in Cherry Hill due to decreased state funding and unfunded state mandates, Platt said.
“While we’ve charted a course through very difficult economic times in recent months, I think we really can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m looking forward to being a part of it in 2011,” he said.
