At the latest board of commissioners meeting, Mayor Neal Rochford announced a new accord between the borough and the Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local No. 328 on a collective bargaining agreement that will last until 2022.
The Haddonfield Police Department had been working without a contract since the previous one had expired on March 31, 2018.
“Tonight, the board of commissioners approved a collective bargaining agreement between the PBA and the borough of Haddonfield. We’re very excited that we finally got this past us. It’s been a year of negotiations, some good days, some bad days, but overall, I know the guys were ecstatic in putting that behind them and moving forward. It was a fair process. Not everybody’s happy, not everybody’s sad, but it worked out for everyone,” said Chief Jason Cutler.
The new CBA is a four-year agreement, which is effective retroactively to April 1, 2018, and will last through March 31, 2022.
“We thank both sides for their diligent work in this matter. Sometimes, it’s not an easy process. We’re glad to have them back under contract,” said Rochford.
In addition, Ordinance 2019-06, the adoption of a redevelopment plan for 65 Haddon Ave., known better as Boxwood Hall, was passed unanimously on first reading.
In early October 2018, the commissioners adopted a resolution designating Boxwood Hall an area in need of rehabilitation. The firm of Clark Caton Hintz of Trenton submitted a draft of its plan for redevelopment on March 11 to the commissioners for review.
The plan includes five objectives, whose four main ones are: to preserve buildings on the site that were constructed in colonial style; promote the use of Boxwood Hall through commercial viability; ensure any commercial use of Boxwood Hall is regulated to fit the confines of the building; and to preserve part of the site for open park space.
“It is now a vacant building with several lots attached to it. Since the borough has owned it for a while, we are looking to sell off several of the parcels and save the historic building and also keep the park in the back of the buildings. This would begin that process,” Rochford stated.
Physical copies of the plan were available for the public to view at the meeting, and will be available to view on the borough’s website.
According to Borough Administrator Sharon McCullough, there will be a hearing on the redevelopment plan in front of the planning board – whose next meeting was to be held on April 2 – and that plan will be re-submitted to the commissioners with the planning board’s comments. The board of commissioners will then hold a second reading and further public comment once that occurs.
In other news:
- Commissioner John Moscatelli was not in attendance, due to a last-minute scheduling conflict.
- As part of the borough’s 2019 Roads Program, the commissioners authorized the awarding of Asphalt Paving Systems of Hammonton the contract to perform repairs, at a cost of $1.878 million. Included in that account are funds totaling $1.603 million from the capital budget and $275,000 from a 2018 grant provided by NJDOT.
- Haddonfield Lions Citizen of the Year Marie DiMatties was on hand to receive a proclamation as April will be designated “Child Abuse Awareness & Prevention Month.” DiMatties and her cohorts from The Haddon Fortnightly do work on behalf of Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Jersey.
- Haddonfield Outdoor Sculpture Trust chairman Stuart Harting also received a proclamation declaring April to be “Haddonfield Sculpture Month.”
- Commissioners also passed a resolution authorizing emergency appropriations for a temporary capital budget of $6,119,619.83. A finalized version of the 2019 budget will be revealed in several weeks, according to Kasko.
