The Haddonfield Board of Commissioners began its March 28 meeting with four proclamations.
The first recognized April 3 through 9 as National Library Week. Haddonfield Library Director Eric Zino shared his enthusiasm for upcoming events like this month’s Earth Day.
The second, third and fourth proclamations declared April Lion’s Sight Awareness Month, to recognize the Haddonfield Lions Club’s work with the visually impaired; Alcohol Awareness Month, to support borough education on addiction; and Haddonfield Sculpture Month, to align with the Haddonfield Outdoor Sculpture Trust (HOST)’s fourth annual April is Haddonfield Sculpture Month.
Stuart Harting, founder and chair of HOST, said that in addition to this month’s upcoming events, his group hopes to open an art walk, so 10 trophy cases can be placed on the Mechanic Street brick wall this summer. HOST also wants to add another bronze animal to the Children’s Sculpture Zoo and a Militia Man piece from a famous national sculptor.
During the meeting, Police Chief Jason Cutler reported two auto-vehicle thefts in February. While both vehicles were recovered, one in Newark and the other in Camden, he reminded people to lock their doors.
The commissioners introduced a new noise ordinance on first reading that would repeal and replace the previous one, last amended in 2004, and is more detailed. Rather than prohibiting “loud, raucous or disturbing noises,” as the current ordinance does, the new one measures noise level in decibels between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. for different zones and properties.
It also lists a number of situations that include restrictions for interior and exterior burglar alarms and noise from domesticated animals such as howling. The full proposed ordinance is available on the borough website.
“It’s really an effort top down from the state to make sure there were uniform noise ordinances in all the municipalities,” explained Borough Solicitor Salvatore Siciliano.
The borough also introduced amendments to various business-hour codes to allow garage sales on Sunday and to repeal Chapter 203, which prohibits doing business on that day, with exceptions that include retail sales beginning after noon. The proposed new rules allow for businesses to operate within regular Sunday hours.
Mayor Colleen Bianco Bezich noted that the previous measure was a blue law rooted in the Christian religion’s belief that Sunday is a day of rest.
“If you’re not Christian or don’t practice, that might really prevent you from doing things you need to do as a working professional on one of the only days you may have off,” she explained.
The next commissioners meeting will be a workshop session on Monday, April 11, at 6:30 p.m. .
