Cherry Hill Township Council approved a series of bond ordinances on first reading at last week’s meeting.
The three separate ordinances, which combined will appropriate a little more than $8.5 million will be used for a number of improvements in the township, such as road and sidewalk projects, equipment purchases and sewer improvements.
Cherry Hill business administrator Lenore Rosner stated that all of the items in the three ordinances were included in the township’s 2013 budget as capital items.
Rosner emphasized that the town has an excellent AA2 credit rating and will be able to pay off the bonds in a short period of time.
“We’re not talking about going out for a long period of time for these,” she said.
The largest of the three bond ordinances is the appropriation of $3.95 million for road, sidewalk and trail improvements. The vast majority of that money will be used for road repaving projects.
Township director of communications Bridget Palmer said the township has a list of targeted roads to work on for each year.
“We budget with the intention of 12 roads,” Palmer said. “If we’re under budget, we may add a 13th road.”
As part of a $2,572,898 bond, the township plans to purchase three dump trucks, a 100-foot trailer, as well as make repairs and renovations to township-owned facilities and the municipal building. The bond also will allocate money for computer and information technology upgrades, as well as upgrades to police equipment.
The final ordinance was to appropriate $2.04 million for improvements to sewer conveyance system, including the Society Hill and Eagle Hill pump stations. Money will also be used to improve sewer systems in conjunction with the various road improvements in the township that are scheduled for 2014.
The second reading and public hearing for all three ordinances will be at the next council meeting on Dec. 9.
In other news:
• Cherry Hill Township approved two resolutions to enter into a shared services agreement with Cherry Hill Public Schools. The services include a school resource officer as well as an agreement to provide miscellaneous public works materials and services.
Rosner said the township had a one-year shared services agreement with the school district last year to help increase the connection between the two entities.
Even though the township passed the resolution, the Board of Education also needs to pass the agreement.
“It’ll be up to the Board of Education to put it on the agenda,” Rosner said.
• Council president David Fleisher honored Cherry Hill Police Chief Rick Del Campo at last week’s meeting. Del Campo announced earlier this month that he would be retiring after 36 years of service.
• The next Cherry Hill Township council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
