Two commissioners remain on the Haddonfield Board of Commissions after Kevin Roche resigned in May.
At the recent board of commissioners meeting, Mayor Colleen Bianco Bezich and Commissioner Frank Troy responded to public questions about the open commissioner seat in response to public comments.
Following a commissioner’s resignation, the current commissioners had a 30-day period where they could choose to appoint a new commissioner.
Bianco Bezich and Troy shared their reasons for opting not to fill the seat within the 30-day period in response to public comments. For one, it would be too short of a turnaround time between the time that person was appointed and the general election in November, assuming that person would want to run for a 4-year term, and the general climate of the borough.
Troy noted that in most cases, the decisions the commissioners made together were unanimous, and the things they were voting on were not generally “earth-shattering.”
“If you look at the period of time between the time we get orchestrated and organized and interview people and stuff like that, you’re probably talking about July/August [being the earliest we could appoint a new commissioner], which gives you a very short period of time before you have a general election in November,” Troy explained.
Former commissioner Kevin Roche resigned in May after residents raised objections noting he sold his Haddonfield home in April. Although he had initiated a rental and changed his address with the New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicles (according to his resignation letter), he acknowledged that “for some, this is not good enough.”
Solicitor Salvator Siciliano noted that in light of Roche’s absence, the staff, borough administration and department heads have taken on his duties since neither of the other commissioners have the legal authority to assume them.
The May 2-1 vote to approve Woodmont Properties as the redeveloper for the former Bancroft lot was still fresh on people’s minds. Roche and Bianco Bezich voted “yes” and Troy voted “no.” The vote, according to Siciliano, was presumed to be valid.
For residents who believe that his vote didn’t count due to Roche having moved, Siciliano explained that there is a presumption of validity, and that neither he nor the commissioners were in the position to determine the validity of the residency.
“A judge of the superior court would have the authority to decide,” he said.
Bianco Bezich later elaborated on the explanation.
“There’s a presumption of validity and the burden lies with the party trying to overturn or overrule the presumption of validity under any law for the most part,” Bianco Bezich explained. “And so if you believe that you have evidence, arguments or facts that would overturn a presumption of validity, the proper challenge to take that to is the arbiter or judge who would make that decision.”
The most pressing issue was the upcoming negotiations with the Bancroft conditional redevelopers, which do not currently have a set date. A number of residents commented on it during public comment.
“You’re now going into negotiations with Woodmont Properties a man down,” said resident John Kawczynski. “You could have brought in anybody with experience, talent, perspective, anything to boost the negotiating team on behalf of this entire community and you decided to do it instead with one hand tied behind your back.”
In response, Troy asked the residents what they would prefer – appointing someone who would vote “no” with him, or “yes” with Bianco Bezich, or someone who would run their campaign based on that vote and letting the residents decide who that person would be.
Bill Brown, founder of the Haddonfield Japan Exchange, receives the proclamation declaring July to be Haddonfield Japan Exchange Month.
Commissioners celebrate J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School’s 100th anniversary at the June commissioners’ meeting.
In other news;
- The commissioners formally recognized Juneteenth for the first time
- July was proclaimed Haddonfield Japan Exchange Month
- The commissioners celebrated J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School’s 100th anniversary
- Fire Chief Patrick Gormon reported 165 ambulance calls in the past month and noted that there was an 800% increase of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) related calls during the heatwave.
The next commissioner meeting will be on Monday, July 8 at 6:30 p.m.
