After listening to about three hours of comments from borough residents, borough commissioners voted in favor of signing the letter of intent to begin the Bancroft property purchase.
A $16.8 million bond referendum to ultimately decide the joint purchase between the Haddonfield School District Board of Education and commissioners is anticipated for January 2013.
Commissioner Ed Borden emphasized that only the letter of intent was approved, not specific uses within the potential purchase.
“That’s a subject that will come later,” he said.
There were will substantial discussions in public forums throughout the fall, he said.
Many steps will be taken prior to the referendum, said Board of Education President Steve Weinstein.
“All these things will take time,” he said, telling the public that there will be transparency in the proceedings.
Once the appraisal of the Bancroft property is completed, the results will be available for the public to view, he said.
The Board of Education was expected to vote on the letter of intent at its Tuesday, July 31 meeting.
“I’m worried about the middle-class flight in this town,” said resident Joe Haro, suggesting that borough, school and county taxes are going to rise due to the purchase.
Haro requested an in-depth financial analysis, stating that the borough needs to do its homework.
Kathy Freeman expressed that the commissioners need to receive the trust of residents if they want the referendum to pass, citing that it was worrisome that the beginning of proceedings are occurring in the summer while people are on vacation.
The January voting date could result in a smaller number of voters heading out to the polls due to “snowbirds” heading south for the winter or the risk of inclement weather.
“It’s not perfect,” said Commissioner Jeffrey Kasko. “It’s not a perfect situation.”
While he said that his personal preference would be to hold the vote in November, he understands the time constraints.
November, said Borden, is not realistic due to the amount of work that must be done prior to the vote.
Mayor Tish Colombi said that she wants everyone to get part of what they would like from the purchase. She wants the schools to be able to expand if necessary and expressed a strong support for athletic programs.
Simone Kane, in attendance with her two young children, stood in support of both the Bancroft purchase and the synthetic turf fields, calling them a “great asset” to the community.
Kane added that the game fields would be closer to the town, which would, in her opinion, boost sales in local businesses.
This purchase would allow space for growth and more athletic scholarships, she said.
Resident Beth Zigmund said that she considers special programs within the schools to be more important than turf fields.
She labeled the turf fields as a “frivolous expenditure” and said she passionately finds them to be unnecessary.
Zigmund said she would vote against the purchase if the turf fields remain in the proposal.
Auxiliary police see new member
Brian Cozzi, a Haddonfield resident and alumnus of Haddonfield Memorial High School, was appointed to the Haddonfield Auxiliary Police at the meeting.
His term expires in December.
Cozzi currently is studying law and justice at Rowan University in Glassboro.
Chief of Police John Banning said that the auxiliary police is a great organization and does much for the borough.
“This wasn’t something that was very simple,” Banning said of the process to become a member.
Special meeting scheduled
The borough commissioners will hold a special meeting to discuss the 2012 road program project and address the sidewalk concerns in the town, specifically Washington Avenue, on Thursday, Aug. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in room 102 of Borough Hall.
What is your opinion on the proposed Bancroft purchase? Let us know by emailing news@haddonfieldsun.com or comment here.
