Cherry Hill council and Mayor Susan Shin Angulo addressed delays in trash pickup at the former’s July 11 meeting, choosing to alleviate the strain on Republic Services by awarding an emergency contract to Seaside Waste Services.
The contract stipulates that Seaside will provide one truck and crew for yard waste collection within the township.
“Residents deserve to have their trash picked up on time, period,” said Council President David Fleisher. “This has gone on way too long, and we need to hold Republic accountable.
“There really is no excuse, and the job just needs to get done for our residents,” he added. “This is a helpful first step.”
The contract will cost taxpayers nothing and will be charged to Republic. In addition to Seaside, the township department of public works has picked up trash and recyclables on days missed. As noted by Councilwoman Michele Galkow, yard waste collection constitutes 8 percent of Republic’s work.
“By shifting this responsibility to Seaside, it’s potentially creating a little bit of excess capacity for Republic,” Galkow explained. “It’s only 8 percent, but it’s something, and at least we have this one tangible piece in place.”
The mayor noted that Seaside Waste Services began its collections earlier on July 11, and between their service and the job done by public works, the township will be back on track. She also encouraged residents to stay up to date with her weekly mayor’s message, Nixle alerts and the township’s social media.
In other news:
- Council approved the adoption of the 2022 Annual Action Plan to use Community Development Block Grant funds for the Handy Helper program, Affordable Housing Acquisition and Rehab programs, planning and administration, investing in ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) compliant sidewalks and curbs, senior buses and side-by-side public services. The total budget is $440,820.
- The township applied to the Camden County Open Space Preservation Trust Fund to preserve the historic Croft Farm and Kay-Evans house.
- The township also applied for a grant from the state Department of Community Affairs to provide recreational and leisure services for individuals with disabilities.
- Two ordinances were introduced on first reading, one that exempts the Hampton Road Redevelopment Area, a project for luxury apartments, and another that exempts the Victory Refrigeration Redevelopment area, also a luxury apartments project, from taxes under the five-year exemption and abatement law. Public hearings will take place at council’s next meeting Monday at 7:30 p.m. Caucus will begin at 7.
