Brian Bauerle (D)
1.) For the past four years, council has approved budgets with no municipal tax increase for residents. How would this continue if you were elected?
If re-elected, I would continue to support the efforts of Mayor Cahn to run an effective and efficient government. Not only has council approved budgets with no municipal tax increases for the past four years, we continue to provide high-quality municipal services for our residents by investing in infrastructure, increasing our support for public safety, preserving open space and providing recreation enhancements.
I will make sure we continue to identify cost savings, without jeopardizing services and providing them at the best costs possible, which includes shared services that make sense. As we continue to maintain, improve and invest in our neighborhoods across town, we must remain diligent to retain and attract new businesses — both the small businesses that are the heart and soul of a community and larger businesses that want to call Cherry Hill home. I will make sure that the success over the last few years to reduce the township’s annual debt service costs coupled with economic growth and reinvestment continue to grow the township’s commercial ratable base and further advance Cherry Hill as a regional center for retail, commercial activity and health care.
New businesses continue to come to Cherry Hill, existing businesses are upgrading and improving their sites and underutilized sites are being reinvented to better and higher quality uses. These are all signs that Cherry Hill is on solid economic ground, both now and in the future, which will further improve our economic vitality.
Mayor and Council have worked together to make sure that we are able to keep taxes as low as possible for our residents while continuing to provide a high level of services across town and keeping Cherry Hill an attractive destination for businesses. Strengthening our residential neighborhoods, maintaining a thriving commercial base, protecting open space and making Cherry Hill an attractive destination for new families and businesses is working.
2.) How would you rate the job the township has done in protecting open space the past two years? Is there anything you would differently?
Preserving the township’s remaining open space has been a top priority for Mayor and Town Council, as it is a critical component for maintaining and improving the quality of life for our residents. The township has done an extraordinary job in finding opportunities to preserve and protect our remaining open space. We supported Mayor Cahn and adamantly opposed development at Woodcrest Country Club. Preserving the Woodcrest Country Club ensured that one of the largest remaining parcels of open space in the township will stay green and open for generations to come and will not become subject to the demands of development. But it’s not just about Woodcrest County Club. It’s about all of our open space in town, whether it’s Springdale Farm, Croft Farm or other locations across town. As leaders of this town, it was and still is our responsibility to do all in our power to see that these properties remain free from development.
We are also consistently upgrading our neighborhood parks and playgrounds, building and upgrading existing playing fields, and preserving our historic sites, all of which improve the quality of life for our residents and create additional recreational opportunities for residents of all ages. This includes the recent reconstruction of the Cherry Hill West tennis courts, the partnership with the school district for new turf fiends, the preservation and maintenance of our nature trails, and the many enhancements to our neighborhood parks and playgrounds, as well as both Croft and Barclay Farms. I am proud of the township’s efforts to preserve our remaining open space and the investments that are being make to improve our parks and recreational facilities and if re-elected I look forward to the opportunity to build upon these successes.
Stephen Cohen (R)
1.) For the past four years, council has approved budgets with no municipal tax increase for residents. How would this continue if you were elected?
For the past four years there has not been a tax increase for the residents of Cherry Hill. This of course is very admirable.
Four years ago the budget was passed with a $ 14 million surplus. This year as noted on Sheet 39 of the FY 2015 budget the surplus decreases to $ 7,629,856 from a $14,793,706 surplus. This year the Township budget increases much needed road repair to $ 8 million and has the budget cushion to give $1 million to the school board for field improvements.
Are the increase in road improvements one-time expenses? Will all the poor roads of Cherry Hill be repaired in one year? If not then we can expect a budget increase soon or a remarkable increase in revenues. To answer the question, is this no tax increase sustainable? We need an independent public audit. Then we will really know where we stand and have a good multi-year understanding of the budget and then I can answer that question honestly and cogently.
2.) How would you rate the job the township has done in protecting open space the past two years? Is there anything you would differently?
My opponents will, on these pages, brag that they have done a wonderful job protecting open spaces by spending almost $ 4 million to restrict growth on the Woodcrest golf course. But they did that, at a cost in addition to the money, by allowing high-density development in many other places. How is building on the land adjacent to Short Hills open space preservation?
We also must ask ourselves what other development is advocated by the current administration along with preserving a few open spaces, Subaru land comes to mind. I grew up in a town that had massive open spaces. One was called Prospect Park. We also had Greenwood Cemetery, the Marine Park Golf course and many others. For those not familiar with my place of birth it is called Brooklyn, N.Y. Is that the future of our Cherry Hill? Along with open spaces we need to have less high-density development. This I will advocate and my opponents do not.
Melinda Kane (D)
1.) For the past four years, council has approved budgets with no municipal tax increase for residents. How would this continue if you were elected?
I am very proud of the hard work the Mayor and council have done to keep services high and taxes down. I think it’s a clear example of good government. For the past four years, we have significantly reduced the township’s debt service, aggressively sought-out grant-funding and creative ways to increase services to our residents without additional tax burden, and actively promoted economic growth in Cherry Hill. Together with the Mayor, we evaluate every line of the township’s budget, constantly looking for ways to run the township as efficiently as possible.
Moving forward, we will continue building upon the business boom we are experiencing in Cherry Hill. Having a strong commercial base will allow us to remain on solid economic footing in the future. We will maintain open lines of communication with our businesses to ensure that Cherry Hill remains a destination for working, shopping, and dining. And we will continue to ensure that we maintain a wide variety of business and retail opportunities, as this will draw residents and businesses alike to our great town.
At the same time, we will look for innovative ways to increase the services we offer our residents, without additional costs. This is especially important to me, as I get older and age in place in Cherry Hill. I know first hand how important it is to keep taxes affordable for our seniors, who are retiring but yet want to remain living in Cherry Hill into their golden years. In short, we will continue doing exactly what we have been doing, which is running the township efficiently, while ensuring that our budget and economic base remain strong both now, and for years to come.
2.) How would you rate the job the township has done in protecting open space the past two years? Is there anything you would differently?
Open space is a top priority for me, the Mayor, and my fellow council members and it is imperative that it remain a top priority, as once open space is “gone,” it is gone forever. That is why we have worked so hard to keep our last remaining open spaces truly green and open. Together with the Mayor, we opposed any development whatsoever on the Woodcrest Country Club. That property is not only “green,” but it is wooded and lush and home to a variety of wildlife species. In addition, our open spaces are located adjacent to our residential neighborhoods and provide a barrier to traffic noise and commercial development. We must refrain from developing these “barriers,” because again, once they are gone, they are gone forever.
Protecting our open space is and will always be a top priority for me. I raised my family in Cherry Hill and I plan to stay here for many years to come. There are some things we should not change, ever, and open space is one of them. We owe to our current and future residents to remain committed to protecting our open space.
Sara Lipsett (D)
1. For the past four years, council has approved budgets with no municipal tax increase for residents. How would this continue if you were elected?
As a taxpayer and councilwoman, one of my top priorities is to keep a very careful eye on where and how we spend taxpayer money. With each ordinance or resolution we pass, we are constantly analyzing if and how it will impact our residents’ tax dollars. We are constantly looking for ways to maximize services, while keeping taxes down. And it’s equally important that we spend our tax dollars wisely, so that we get the best return on our investments. This includes investments into roadways and services that directly increase the quality of life for our residents.
Working with Mayor Cahn, I will continue to find creative shared service opportunities focusing on priority community stakeholders, such as the Cherry Hill Fire Department, Public Library and the Cherry Hill school district. Working together and sharing services with the stakeholders in the Cherry Hill community benefits all taxpayers from our seniors to young professionals to families.
We are fortunate to live in a beautiful town, with top-notch municipal services, great schools, strong neighborhoods, and convenient access to shopping and dining. I am proud to call Cherry Hill home, and even prouder to be able to serve the residents as a councilwoman. I will continue to look closely at our budget, our shared-services opportunities, and any actions we take in the future, to ensure that every single action item or line item is in the best interest of our residents.
2. How would you rate the job the township has done in protecting open space the past two years? Is there anything you would do differently?
During the last two years, Cherry Hill Township Council and Mayor Cahn have done an outstanding job protecting open space. We achieved a major win for open space this past year when we preserved the Woodcrest Country Club property. We promised to fight until we saw it preserved, and we did just that. We will do this same thing for all of our open spaces, so that we protect them for our current and future residents alike.
We have also made substantial investment into our recreational areas, from the miles of trails developed throughout the township, to our neighborhood parks, to our active recreational amenities, such as tennis courts and historic buildings. Preserving and improving our recreational amenities keeps our neighborhoods strong and our residents healthy. We are continuously seeking out and receiving grant money for park upgrades, trails, and renovations to Croft and Barclay Farms. And thanks to these investments, Cherry Hill is a better place to live and play.
In New Jersey, Cherry Hill has been a leader in finding creative ways to capture open space. Preserving as much open space as possible for Cherry Hill is an important responsibility of all elected officers. Cherry Hill is a thriving community that offers its residents limitless opportunities to enjoy and I am proud to be a part of that!
Nancy O’Dowd (R)
1.) For the past four years, council has approved budgets with no municipal tax increase for residents. How would this continue if you were elected?
This is one of the reasons that I would demand an independent audit of the municipal budget. The township has been carrying a large surplus for years. Instead of returning that money to taxpayers, have they been using it to disguise their claim of “no property tax increase in 4 years?” What’s in store for us when the surplus runs out? We need this information. I don’t bother going to council meetings anymore because nothing is discussed by council members and no questions from the public are answered.
2.) How would you rate the job the township has done in protecting open space the past two years? Is there anything you would differently?
I would rate it as poor. Cherry Hill is starting to feel like North Jersey with the strip malls, giant box stores, big ugly high density apartment complexes, traffic, and the lack of any plan to maintain the nature of our community. We need to come up with a plan that is approved by the community and stick to it!
Rick Short (R)
1.) For the past four years, council has approved budgets with no municipal tax increase for residents. How would this continue if you were elected?
The one thing you quickly learn about the Cherry Hill municipal budget is that it’s a lot of money. To comment on current taxes in such a short forum such as this, would not be possible. You do get the big picture that perhaps we have both a tax and a spend problem. And when we can’t do enough of that, they turn to borrowing from our kid’s future.
My strongest asset as a councilman would be my investigative skills. As a councilman, I would have the detailed access needed to drill down and get to the bottom of what needs to be done. When I was working on state red light camera data, I was able to drill down into kept data and even emails to expose unbelievable efforts being done to keep the cameras operating as a cash cow. Cherry Hill’s camera was the most profitable in the state and that’s what got me involved in politics. It was embarrassing that it was right here in my own town.
2.) How would you rate the job the township has done in protecting open space the past two years? Is there anything you would differently?
Open space is another thing that sounds nice, and everyone is obviously for it. The township’s website says there is no spending planned for it this year, yet when the need was there for the Woodcrest Country Club, suddenly there is money for the purchase. I would strive to make sure the open space money we are paying into the fund annually gets used for its intended purpose first and always.
There is not a lot of open space left in Cherry Hill Township, and if we don’t act quickly and wisely, there may not be any more available. We need to get creative too with new projects, so developers don’t get to count parking spots as open space, nor use open space as an excuse to bring about more high-density development such as mid-rise apartment buildings.
