A lot has happened in Haddonfield over the last year. A potential purchase of the Bancroft property has been revealed, much-needed construction was done to Grove Street, and the library started renovations, to name a few. Going forward into 2016, some of these items will come to an end.
The one thing still up in the air is the fate of the Bancroft property. Last year, Recovery Centers of America, owned by CEO and developer J. Brian O’Neill, announced it was interested in purchasing the site of the Bancroft School to put in a behavioral health facility, providing drug and alcohol treatment services. It has been a much-debated topic among residents, who are nervous for the safety of the children walking to schools nearby the facility.
At a December special Planning Board meeting, where the borough was asking for the reaffirmation of the Bancroft property as a redevelopment area, attorney Jack Plackter of the Atlantic City-based Fox Rothschild, LLP, speaking on behalf of RCA and O’Neill’s holding company, II Hopkins Lane, LLC, revealed a tentative agreement signing over the Bancroft property to Haddonfield is very close to being met.
Plackter said the agreement would sign over O’Neill’s agreement of purchase with Bancroft to the borough and, in turn, the borough would agree to allow O’Neill to do renovations and have developmental rights for a residential development on the site. Plackter said he believed an agreement would be made by the next Planning Board meeting on Jan. 5.
As of Dec. 29, there was no news on an agreement.
Mayor Jeff Kasko said goals for the Bancroft property are to complete and sign an agreement with RCA that allows the borough to control any development on the Bancroft property and to have RCA build a drug rehab center in another location, and to work with the Planning Board and residents to pass a redevelopment plan for the Bancroft site.
The borough officially closed the sale on the water and sewer utility to New Jersey American Water last May. The proceeds of $28.5 million were used to cover all of the utility debt and almost all of the borough general obligation debt. The only debt the borough has left is about $600,000 that was authorized in 2015, mostly for purchase of Public Works equipment. Eliminating the vast majority of the borough’s debt frees up about $1.3 million per year in taxes borough residents are paying.
According to Commissioner John Moscatelli, in 2015 the commissioners used this money primarily to increase the cash spending on the roads program. In 2016, a large portion of these funds will continue to be used for the roads program, but can also be used for other purposes, including tax reduction.
“For capital projects in 2016, we are planning on completing the two blocks of Euclid Avenue, from West End to Avondale, which was a 2015 project that we were not able to complete due to utility work. For the 2016 roads program, pending final budget approval, we are planning on reconstructing Beechwood Avenue, Narberth Avenue, Bryn Mawr Avenue, Clinton Avenue, Friends Avenue, Lake Street from Haddon to Friends, Redwood Avenue and Farwood Circle. We have also applied for a DOT grant to reconstruct Ellis from the circle to Kings Court, and Walnut from Kings Court to Lincoln; that work will be done in 2016 if the grant is approved,” Moscatelli said.
Also part of road reconstruction was Grove Street. NJAW did extensive repairs and upgrades to the water and sewer utilities on Grove Street, expanding on the work the borough did the previous year. The county then replaced the curbing, driveway aprons and some sidewalk, installed medians and bike lanes for traffic calming, and paved the entire length of the road.
The work is substantially complete, according to Moscatelli. In spring, there will be some additional planting and decorative lights installed on the wide medians near Route 70.
Also coming to an end in 2016 will be the library renovations. Moscatelli said the library renovations are largely on track, and scheduled to finish around late May. One of the biggest portions of the work is a small addition that will house an elevator and handicapped accessible restrooms to bring the facility into compliance with ADA requirements. The borough is also doing work to repair and modernize some of the building systems. The Library Board and the Friends of the Library are also paying for work to upgrade the interior spaces and facilities.
The borough is also looking to hire a new library director, as Susan Briant has retired.
From the financial end, Kasko said commissioners are hoping to develop a municipal budget that is fiscally responsible and provides residents with quality services without raising property taxes.
For public safety, Commissioner Neal Rochford spoke on a number of approvals and new additions for the police department, including a second full-time female officer and a car camera.
Haddon Fire Company №1 is preparing for Fire Chief Joe Riggs to retire. His replacement is Sam Trotman, a long-time member of the fire company. Swearing in will take place in January. There will also be a changing of the guard for the fire company’s president.
“I’d like to publicly thank Joe Riggs for his years of service to Haddonfield and for being an outstanding chief. I also am looking forward to working with Sam Trotman in the future,” Rochford said.
For the auxiliary police, volunteers who help with traffic control and other duties during major town events will also have their swearing in in January.
More news for 2016 and a review of the past year will be presented at the Annual Mayor’s Breakfast, hosted by the Haddonfield Lions Club, on Saturday, Jan. 16. The event will begin at 9 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 20 Kings Highway East. Tickets are $7 and will be available at the door.
Kasko will deliver the annual State of the Borough Address and also present the Citizen of the Year award, which recognizes an outstanding member of Haddonfield.
