Religious groups will still have every right to display decorations on public property in the new year and moving forward, borough representatives have reported. Several residents expressed concerns that two religious groups were allowed to display religious scenes at Library Point this past holiday season.
Chabad Lubavitch in Cherry Hill displayed a Menorah next to the holiday tree on library point, and a Manger scene was erected in front of the tree by the Citizens for a Christian Christmas.
The Menorah has been displayed at Library Point for about the last eight years, according to borough representatives.
A resident at a recent workshop meeting expressed concerns to the commissioners over the displays and several letters to the editors were sent to The Haddonfield Sun in regard to the scenes.
However, Mayor Tish Colombi reported any group has the right to erect a display on public property if they go through the correct borough channels. Haddonfield commissioners don’t deny or approve any religious group display based on their own personal opinions, Colombi said.
The borough itself cannot erect religious displays on public property, but private citizens groups can do so if they are approved, she said.
“The only way we’re involved is we have to give them permission to place something on public property. We don’t make a distinction between any religious party, any church, anything. That keeps us totally out of the decision or a decision making capacity,” Colombi said. “I don’t think that what has happened will change the borough’s perspective on allowing religious organizations to place things at Library Point if they go through the process in place that we’ve had in place for eight years.”
Borough Solicitor Mario Iavicoli has signed off on the process through which religious groups apply to display decoration, Colombi said. He has researched the issue thoroughly and is confident that it’s being “done-by-the-book.”
“Any group that would like to put something on public property must fill out the application. It’s the way we handle the process. Mario has researched this as far as he could and we’re confident of his decision,” Colombi said.
