Mayor Susan Shin Angulo kicked off the March 28 council meeting with news that she has signed the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge with the National Wildlife Federation that unites government leaders across the country in protecting the Monarch butterfly.
“Through this pledge, we are dedicating ourselves to increase awareness about the Monarch butterfly’s population decline, as well as the dire need for new habitats working to promote and expand our many pollinator habitats throughout the township,” Shin Angulo said.
She also recounted that last October, Cherry Hill became the first municipality in Camden County to become certified as a National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat.
Council President David Fleisher announced that the anticipated hearing and second reading of the tree ordinance, with updated guidelines to protect forestation and encourage replanting, will be postponed from its original April 11 hearing date to another time in the coming weeks. The extra time will allow professionals and the public to further preview the ordinance.
Council also passed a resolution to appoint Greener by Design as a new sustainability consultant to help the township achieve a Gold Standard by Sustainable Jersey, a title currently held only by Woodbridge Township. The consultant will also help search for grants to fund sustainability efforts and will be paid partly through grant money.
To prepare for the May 4 statewide ban on single-use bags, the township also authorized the purchase of 10,000 reusable bags, as discussed in caucus.
In other news:
- Council approved applications for four grants that would improve the Sandringham, Erlton and Barclay Farmstead playground facilities and support a new Brookfield playground.
- Cherry Hill added Gibbsboro and Berlin Township to a cooperative pricing system that allows townships to use collective bargaining power in purchasing items at lower prices.
- The Cherry Hill Knights football team was recognized with a proclamation for its excellent 9-1 season and its designation as a 2021 South Jersey Independent Youth Football Association Group 3 champion.
- During council comments, members also discussed upcoming events that included Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration on May 15 at the Cherry Hill Public Library Friendship Grove, the Cherry Hill African American Civic Association’s Authors and Artist Expo on May 1 at Croft Farm and a Juneteenth event on June 18 at Croft Farm.
- Council members also recognized the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey’s recent efforts to collect medical supplies for war-town Ukraine, which its representatives will deliver personally to that country and Poland.
For more news, visit the township website. The next council meeting will be Monday at 7:30 p.m. Caucus will begin at 7 p.m., and the session will be available online.
