The bond ordinances total approximately $9 million and were approved to fund a variety of township projects for 2017, including roadwork, sanitary sewer improvements, recreation upgrades and more.
Cherry Hill Township is moving forward with various town improvements for 2017 after council approved three bond ordinances at last Monday’s meeting.
Cherry Hill Township Council unanimously adopted three bond ordinances totaling approximately $9 million. The projects included in the bond ordinances were all part of the township’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget council adopted in September. The ordinances will allow the township to issue up to $8,790,441.83 in bonds or notes to complete the projects.
Director of communications Bridget Palmer said the township might not have to borrow up to $8.79 million to complete all of the projects. The ordinances dictate the maximum amount the township can borrow.
Each ordinance breaks down the projects the money will be used for. One bond ordinance allows for the issuance of $2,942,941.83 in bonds or notes for recreation upgrades and improvements, public works equipment, police equipment and upgrades, computer equipment and upgrades, building upgrades and library equipment and upgrades.
A second ordinance allows the township to issue up to $3,847,500 in bonds or notes for road improvements, including projects listed in the township’s 2017 road maintenance program, as well as traffic signal and public ground drainage improvements. The final ordinance allows the township to issue up to $2 million in bonds or notes for sanitary sewer improvements and equipment.
Resident concerned about crosswalk safety
Resident Tracy Forlenza expressed concern about the safety of a local crosswalk during the public portion of Monday’s council meeting. Forlenza said the crosswalk at Morris Drive and Heartwood Road has needed to be repainted for more than a year. After speaking with multiple township employees, Forlenza was informed last year the crosswalk painting was deemed to be a priority and would be done in 2016. However, with the year winding down, the crosswalk has still not been painted.
“I asked that it get done before the school year in September,” Forlenza said. “Nothing got done.”
The township has painted temporary marks at the intersection, but has not been able to put down more permanent thermoplastic paint commonly used for traffic lines.
Forlenza said the crosswalk has become a hazard for neighborhood kids walking to school, especially with the lack of daylight in the early morning during the winter. Forlenza added cars speed down the road, making the intersection even more dangerous.
Mayor Chuck Cahn said he traveled down Morris Drive after hearing Forlenza’s concerns and agreed some of the crosswalks in the neighborhood need to be repainted. However, he said the township cannot put down the thermoplastic paint until it goes out to bid on the materials.
“All of that will be done, township-wide, in the spring,” Cahn said.
Cahn added public works was alerted to the issue with the Morris and Heartwood intersection, and temporary hash marks would be added in the next two weeks.
“We’ll make sure it’s done right and that it is safe,” Cahn said.
Cherry Hill West students honored for work with police
A small group of Cherry Hill High School West media students received commendations from the Cherry Hill Police Department for producing a short video about the police department’s new body-worn cameras. The department rolled out the cameras earlier in the fall.
Cherry Hill Police Chief William Monaghan said the video is an important tool for teaching the community about the new cameras.
“We’re able to make copies of the video and distribute it to every public and parochial school in the township as well as every medical facility,” Monaghan said.
The video takes a look at why police officers are wearing the cameras and details some situations where the cameras will be turned off in school and medical settings for privacy reasons.
The video was screened at the beginning of the council meeting. It can also be viewed any time on the township website at www.cherryhill-nj.com/CivicMedia?VID=9.
