Almost 60 extraordinary women of Haddonfield were honored last week by Mayor Tish Colombi during her annual Women’s History Month program.
The one and a half hour program featured 57 borough women who had been nominated for the honor.
The program dominated the commissioners meeting, as the three borough representatives completed their regularly scheduled business in about 15 minutes. The commissioners are currently working on introducing the borough budget, which Commissioner Jeff Kasko said would most likely be introduced at the next meeting on Tuesday, March 27.
But it wasn’t a night for fiscal figures or tax levies, it was a night to honor the women of Haddonfield, as Colombi called up all 57 women — one by one — and shared their experiences with the packed audience.
“Women’s History Month provides our country the privilege of honoring the countless contributions that American women have made throughout our history,” Colombi read from the proclamation. “These contributions have enriched our culture, strengthened our nation and furthered our founders’ vision for a free and just republic that provides opportunity and safety at home and is an influence for peace around the world.”
Among the women honored were Barbara Boyer, the Camden County courts reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, and mother of two children in the borough. The successful journalist has covered crime and other news for the Inquirer and other publications during her career, Colombi said, all while juggling the responsibilities of two young children.
State Supreme Court Justice Linda Baxter was also honored.
The long-sitting judge presided over one of the strangest cases that came out of Cherry Hill — the case of Cherry Hill Rabbi Fred Neulander, who was convicted of paying two men to murder his wife, Carol Neulander, in the family home in 1994.
In other borough news:
The commissioners approved two change orders for capital projects in their favor during the business portion of the meeting. The first — a Cedar Avenue, Farwood Road and Longwood Drive water main replacement — was reduced by more than $99,000. The borough spent $280,000 on the project.
The second project — a Grove Street sanitary sewer extension — was reduced by about $225,000 for its second phase.
The commissioners approved both change orders unanimously.
To round out the meeting, the commissioners approved a capital bond ordinance for about $1.33 million for various road improvements, the replacement and upgrade for Haddon, Tanner and Euclid traffic lights, the acquisition of public works equipment, the correction of drainage issues and the development of the Stiles Avenue parking lot.
A $2.6 million sewer water and sewer utility bond ordinance was also approved.
Both bond ordinances will be heard on second reading at the next commissioner meeting.
