100 days for Mayor Chuck Cahn
With 100 days in office under his belt, Mayor Chuck Cahn said he is ready to take on what’s next in Cherry Hill.
When campaigning for office last year, Cahn promised to take a line-by-line look at the municipal budget and said he has begun to make changes where necessary township wide.
“That budgetary review, a long and in-depth process, is well underway and has already sparked initial changes,” Cahn said. “In the coming months, we will continue to develop ways that Cherry Hill can change government and identify potential savings.”
One way to lessen the tax burden for residents is to use grant funding.
The township applied for more than $700,000 in recreation, public safety, public works and community-development grants since the beginning of the year.
So far, Cherry Hill has been awarded more than $320,000 in grants.
Cahn said the township also continues to pursue shared-service options with the county and other nearby municipalities.
Cahn said he continues to meet regularly with the superintendent of schools to look for shared services there, as well as support the school district’s funding.
“Superintendent (Maureen) Reusche and I have already build a strong relationship, engaging in monthly meetings and regular events together,” Cahn said. “The open communication has allowed Dr. Reusche and I the opportunity to work closely to ensure Cherry Hill’s funding continues to go to our public schools. I held meetings with elected officials in Trenton, where I advocated for legislation to provide local approval before a charter school could open in a municipality.”
Cahn said he was also impressed by the amount of applications his office received for the Cherry Hill Citizen’s Cabinet, as well as the business council. The mayor will soon launch his Mayor’s Wellness Campaign at this weekend’s Art Blooms Earth Day Festival.
Cahn said he is also proud to showcase the township’s newly redesigned website and continues to look forward to meeting more residents and listening to their concerns.
The mayor has participated in close to 200 meetings with various community groups, religious groups and residents and has attended nearly 50 events to date in the township since taking office in January.
Cahn said he’s had a successful start, but also realizes there may be challenges ahead.
“While we have already fulfilled many promises and started to make progress, there is still a long road ahead, with many more stops along the way,” Cahn said.
In other township news:
The Cherry Hill Planning Board formally voted to approve plans for a Wawa at Haddonfield Road and Yale Avenue at its last meeting held earlier this month.
Jason Springer, the township’s director of communications, said the mayor and other township officials and Sgt. Michael Rann of the Cherry Hill Police’s traffic safety division have met with residents and county officials to discuss the plan.
The Camden County Planning Board has the final say on the plan, but there has been no word yet as to when the plan will come before county officials, Springer said.
Recently, Cahn, alongside Cherry Hill police, state Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs unveiled a new initiative to fight against prescription drug abuse.
A new drop box is located in the municipal building, 820 Mercer St., where residents can drop off unused pills and medications.
The building is open and staffed 24-hours by members of the police department. Residents are welcome to drop off medications any time.
