Democracy worked.
Our Board of Education presented an ambitious proposal for the purchase of the Bancroft property for an all-public use, including part-ownership by the Borough to access state and county Open Space funds.
There was vigorous debate, with strong advocacy on both sides. Then, the Board of Education put the question to a vote of all of our citizens. Each of us had the opportunity to cast a vote on an issue that would have broad consequences for many decades to come.
And we responded in a big way.
Turnout was very robust, more than a thousand votes higher than the last election for the Borough Commission.
It is no secret that I hoped the question would be approved. But I fully accept the vote as a clear statement of the will of our citizens. And I know that the folks who voted “no” did so with the same commitment to the best interests of our town, our schools, our kids and our common future as I did.
So now it is time for us to appreciate the good faith with which each of us came to this important debate and to join together to see that Haddonfield remains the fantastic community it is.
Commissioner Ed Borden