Once again, the pending sale of the Bancroft property to Recovery Centers of America and Brian O’Neill was the hot topic at the Haddonfield commissioners meeting on April 13. Like before, citizens voiced their opinions against the sale and asked the borough to make its own offer on the property.
This time, Mayor Jeff Kasko addressed the question of what the borough has in the works with the hint that it is working behind the scenes to potentially purchase the property.
“I don’t really have any details or report to give other than we are actively working on something,” Kasko said.
After the business portion of the meeting, public comment was riddled with comments and personal stories about the sale of the Bancroft property to RCA. Citizens recognized the importance of drug rehab facilities but felt having one so close to two schools as well as it not fitting the permitted use on the site was not appropriate.
At the end of many speeches, numerous citizens urged the commissioners to make an offer on the property.
“I think it is safe to say you will have broad support for a reasonable, balanced acquisition and development plan that allows for some BOE use, some open space… and a Mews-like development which will create ratables enough to tax neutralize the entire purchase. But you must make the effort now to take the property into the borough’s hands so that we, the residents of Haddonfield, can control the outcome,” resident Chris Maynes said.
After many similar speeches, a resident asked if the commissioners had any details to share with the public, as there have been many rumors going around about “loopholes, shrinking windows and money.”
Kasko started off by saying they do not have anything publicly to share and they, along with citizens, need to be cautious about jumping to conclusions with certain rumors. However, he did say the borough is actively working on something that many spoke about at the meeting.
“We do not have anything publicly to share other than, I know there is a lot of rumors, a lot of stuff going around, and all of us in this room, myself included, have to be careful about jumping on certain rumors, so we’re cautious on that front,” Kasko said. “However, we are actively, actively working toward the goal that a lot of you have spoken about tonight.
“At the point that we make an offer — if we do make an offer — it has to be something that is negotiated, and obviously we cannot negotiate any terms of agreement in public.
“We’re in a difficult position in that we really can’t provide more detail at this time. But I am comfortable in saying that we have worked… and are actively working on something.”
Kasko said he thinks within the next week or two the commissioners might have some sort of update to give.
Kasko also wanted to remind citizens that RCA and O’Neill will be hosting a public meeting on April 22 at 7 p.m. in the Haddonfield Memorial High School auditorium, where he will provide more information and “answer every citizen’s question.”
