All right. Welcome to the July 27th, 2026 meeting of the Haddonfield Board of Commissioners in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act. Oh, I was doing this all from memory. I was reading something completely different. Uh, in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, notice of this meeting has
been sent to the Retrospect and posted on the borough website, borough social media, and posted on the bulletin board in borough hall and is being held in person as well as via Zoom. Please stand for a pledge of allegiance followed by a moment of silence. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> Roll call. Commissioner Cole.
>> Here. >> Commissioner Troy. >> Here. >> Commissioner Seidel. >> Here. >> I'd like to waive the reading of the minutes and approve as submitted the commissioner meetings of June 23rd, the commissioner work session of June 8th,
and the closed session meeting of June 8th, 2026. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole. >> In favor. >> Commissioner Troy. >> In favor. >> Commissioner Seidel. >> In favor. Uh, I would ask Sharon next to
uh briefly highlight the auditor review of the 2025 financial audit report. >> Sure. Um So, each of you received a copy of the audit. Uh, once again, it was a clean
audit. there were no comments. Um there uh they indicated that that we are in good standings and um that's about it. It was short and sweet this time. >> Yeah, no comments and no findings. So sometimes they have no findings but they'll give you a comment like save a
little more here or there. Nope, nothing. >> Correct. >> Uh and you know on that note um the tax the taxes for the year have been certified by the state and the county. >> That is correct. Megan was um running tax bills I believe this week or or late last week.
>> And according to the date of the mailing which we will set at July 30th, they'll have until the Friday the 28th. >> They're they're being they're on the they're being on on the 28th tomorrow, right? >> No, they're they'll be due the the grace period goes to uh August 28th. Friday.
>> August 28th, got it. >> Yeah, so it'll be the 25 days from the mailing date which we've set at that. But uh but the taxes are loaded into the system. So if you are an electronic payer, uh you can go in and do that but
you have a grace until August 28th. Uh the rate of taxation for the municipal taxes is um six point six six seven of a dollar. So 66.7 cents to the $100 is the municipal
tax rate. Uh just for the record, the school tax rate is 1.984 to the $100 and the county tax is uh point seven one two. So uh
>> [snorts] >> more than ours. Next, I'm going to open the floor for public comment period on items listed on the agenda. So the so any comment for things that we're taking action on tonight, uh this is the time for you to stand and be heard. Uh Uh public comment
period will last for 5 minutes. Uh the clock will be held by the communication officer who will remind you at 30 seconds and then at time. And if uh you want a second go around, wait until everyone's spoken and then you can have one more extra minute. Uh can I get a
second to open the floor for public comment? >> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole. In favor. Commissioner Troy. >> In favor. >> Commissioner Seidewitz. >> In favor. Anyone want to come up and talk about comments on the agenda items? There's a
second comment period for anybody that wants to comment about anything else, that's at the end. >> Hi there. >> [clears throat] >> Good evening. I hope I won't take 5 minutes, but I'll do my best. My name is Amy Lackpour. I live at 740 Cedar Avenue. My comments are regarding the 2026-15
bond ordinance and the proposed improvements to Radnor Field. I support reasonable improvements including increased accessibility, but I do have a few concerns about the design and the limited time for public comment. First, regarding the stormwater management, there is a stormwater
management plan in the document that was shared. I'm wondering if that can be made public. There's a drainage culvert that runs alongside the Cedar Avenue side of the field, and I would like to know if there were any environmental, stormwater, tree impact studies that were completed, and
if they were, can they be shared publicly? There are many trees that line that culvert, trees that provide shade, screening, and habitat. And I understand that drainage is a very important issue, but I would like to know how these trees and their roots will be protected.
Second is the extensive fencing and netting that is proposed. There are a lot of fences on this plan, some of which to me seem redundant. Can you share the reasoning behind the fences' location, length, height, including those that seem to be very close together? Some appear to be only a few
feet apart. And I'm specifically requesting that no new fence be installed between Farwood, the baseball field, and the adjoining Cedar Avenue yards. Um my family has lived beside Farwood Field for 12 years. Baseball fields do not regularly come
into our yard, and if they do, they roll in. They've never presented a problem. Um but a fence would create a substantial and permanent impact. And third, with the addition of two new fields, I would like to know the plan for managing baseball, field hockey, other sports schedules. Although
there'll be new parking, scheduling conflicts could increase of street parking, which affects the residents. And I would like to suggest that we use shared barriers and localized, removable, or seasonal netting to allow for more flexible use of the field. The
As you know, Radnor is designated green acres, and that includes protecting passive land use. So, living off the field, directly off the field, we see how people use that space every day. So, the field is used for seasonal school sports, but a large majority of the time, that's like weekdays, evenings,
weekends, the field is used for people just walking and like kids playing. Um kids sled in winter on the little hill there, and people fly kites when the weather's nice. It's lovely. And with the increased fencing and additional fields, the space for walking your dog, running around, and free play will be
constricted. The trees offer shade, and the open space adds to our neighborhood's character. So, I'm just asking to please preserve these meaningful open spaces and reconsider developing every available area of the field for structured sport. And finally, these changes were
announced in midsummer when many of my neighbors are away. And so, I'm just asking that if you could extend the time frame for residents to review the proposed changes and to share their thoughts or ask questions. Thank you. >> No, thank you. Uh I'll I'll respond to some of those. It's a little cart before
the horse. So, the agenda item is to raise money to do work. Uh but the call for was ideas to see what people want. I mean, there's no immediate plan other than you elect us. I'm going to give you my thoughts.
When you ask people for ideas, you get very little, but when you ask for people for opinion, you get a lot of them. So, you've elected us to come up with ideas and then we have to solicit opinion and that is the period of time. There's no real rush on this. Uh so,
I will accept your comments as [snorts] if feedback, but we've called for feedback to improve the plan before we then ask the planners to kind of and the engineers to do all of this. Uh But, you're right. There is There
There's drainage issues that we're trying to address. Uh There is access issues that we're trying to address. Uh There is playability fields in a short period of time that we need to create to be able to do other projects in the in the borough including Frisco
Woods. You can't turn off four soccer fields and a softball field without actually having somewhere else for them to go or alternative scheduling. So, um all of these are issues we're grappling with and thank you for your comments. Uh but, the comment tonight is you can't do
any of that without putting a bond ordinance out to raise funds for it. So, thank you for your comments and your concerns. I mean, you want to say anything? No. Nothing you said that. Thanks. Well, no. What Because that's a work session item. Yes, that's at the end.
So, if the comments on the agenda The agenda the part of If If everyone's here for Radnor, the part that's on the agenda is a bond ordinance to raise funds to do work on that project, but that project itself, we could wait until the end for that because we're not
voting on anything. We're not voting on anything at next meeting. We're probably not even talking about it at the next work session. We're still going public. We're still in information gathering with the public phase. So, be sure, but it'll be at the second
feedback time. >> Good evening. Marsha Marshall, 514 Maple Avenue. One of my suggestions is to solicit people from the area who are engineers, land use experts to
have a dialogue back and forth between the architects of this site and the community. We're looking at traffic calming. We know people that know a lot about traffic calming in our town, land use, engineering. Use your community
resources. We have a lot of smart people in this town. So, I would like to see if we can have residents be a part of the conversation who are impacted by this. >> Sure. And And I will say thank you for your comments. This isn't the appropriate time for it, Marsha, but I'm
we're listening. And that feel free. So, you know, the the open comment is that any feeling that you have, we're asking for input. So, if there are these experts that want to step up and offer their services, we'll be happy to talk with them. Uh, but again, this is not
the time for that. We We actually have a full agenda to get through, so we want to have comments on agenda items first. Thank you. Well, no, but And And I actually chastised her, and then you took advantage. So, thank you, though. Uh,
Any other comments? And I wasn't knocking you, Amy. I mean, you actually addressed it to the bond ordinance, at least, you know, so you tied it in. No, no, it's not. But, that's okay. >> I think some of us aren't familiar with how this works, so it might help be helpful to us if you could explain a
little bit about what the bond ordinance would mean. Um, and cuz it feels to me like it that's also putting the cart before the horse. Like you want to raise money >> Do we have your name and address for the record? >> I'm sorry. I'm I'm Deborah Gusman. I live on Wayne Avenue 619. >> Wayne
>> 619 Wayne for 26 years. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. And I'm I apologize that I'm late. >> Sure. >> So I may have missed that um but I'm just not clear on um what we're raising money for. We're
raising money for something that there isn't a clear plan for yet. We're asking for money >> No, there's not a finalized plan. >> Not a finalized plan but but there is an approved plan to make the improvements and you're asking for money for it. >> No, we've approved the funding for a
project or that's what we're doing tonight. >> You want to approve the funding. >> to approve the project not just our project, street projects, >> Right, right. >> field projects, building maintenance projects. You don't raising money costs money. So you do it all at once. >> Okay. >> All right.
>> And and is there somewhere that we can look that says what the tax implications of these might be for residents? >> Um Yeah, we could work up that number. >> I think that would be >> We normally borrow money all the time
for capital projects. >> Okay. >> And within other bonds roll off, these roll on. So we we'll get you we'll publish a number. >> Thank you. >> Any other comments on agenda items? And I will say there's an actual bond ordinance
comment period tonight because it's the second reading of the bond ordinance. Uh so it has its own comment period is what I'm going to say. Now are there any on Zoom? All right, I'm going to move to close the public comment period for items listed on the agenda. Can I get a second?
>> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole? >> In favor. >> Commissioner Troy? >> In favor. >> Commissioner Seidel? >> In favor. Uh the next uh we're going to move to the ordinance section. This one's going to look familiar to her, but we're reintroducing it uh in a first reading.
So, we're I'm going to make a motion to introduce 2026 14 amending chapter 195 entitled solid solid waste on its first reading. After we um get a second, we'll explain it. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Voting on that
>> No, no, we're not going to vote yet. We're going to explain it. Uh uh So, when we first put this on, it had two things. It had some It had bulk trash requirements. So, we're changing it from weekly to a uh once-a-month collection period. Uh
there was a section about um move-outs and clean-outs. If you've ever seen uh a neighbor moves out and then their entire sidewalk is filled with the stuff they don't want to move and then we just come and take it as trash. And then there was also a consideration of changing our trash
cans uh in anticipation for bids for trash. So, one of the things tonight will be accepting uh the bidder for trash removal and they're not requiring trash trash can changes. So, they're going to be collecting it the same way that they did Now, it's actually the incumbent company that was
doing the collection. So, we're reintroducing, stripping out the wording for the whole trash can third 96 or 68 gallon trash cans with the little bar and stuff. So, we're we're removed all the trash can requirements out of it. It was substantial enough that we want to reintroduce it.
>> Should we give it a um And the reason we're doing this is because of the cost of trash. There's something called a tipping fee and I'm going to lean on Sharon to help us out, but all of this, the weekly pickups, and then uh tipping, all of that costs money, and we're trying to reduce our
trash costs, obviously. So, that's one of the reasons why we're reducing bulk pickup, and um similar to that is the um one of the reasons we're going to provide bins was because we were going to use uh those automatic trash can pick
up pickup things. What are they called? >> One-arm truck. >> One-arm truck, thank you. I should have known that. But, turns out that's not as cost-efficient or easy in our town. So, we're switching plans a little bit, but it's all cost-related. Do you want to give us a little bit more on that?
>> Sure. One of the biggest increases that the borough had in this year's budget is trash. Um tipping fees continually go up. Uh I believe there was was a I believe there was a $7 uh ton increase
uh in this year's tipping fee. And then, also, when we went out to bid last year, we had one very low bidder, and we had two very, very high bidders. Um the folks that were the low bidder came into
town and anticipated that they could get through town with one truck. Um the problem that they had is that when they go to get rid of the trash so that they can fill the truck up again, the the place that they take it that we're
required to take it takes too long. There's too much there. And so, they're wasting um approximately 2 hours at least trying to get rid of the trash. Trash truck drivers are only allowed to drive for so long, plus you have hours of trying to be able to get the work
done. They found that they were not able to do the route um do each day's route with just one truck and deal with the the time constraints that they were being placed on um by where we need to take the trash. So, uh they have to come
in with two trucks, one of the large trucks and a smaller truck. They indicated that the cost that they provided us under the original bid does not work for that. So, they were going to there's a Both sides had a have an ability to exit after the end of 1 year,
and they indicated to us that they were going to exit the contract and not be stuck with the prices for the additional years. That required us to go back out to bid. Um we talked to them to see what cost containments we could potentially have, and as Commissioner Cole indicated, you
know, one of them is bulk trash. Our residents feel while the ordinance indicates that you can put out six items, that's not always the case in some of our homes. Some of our homes continually put out a very large number of items.
We have the Right now, we have the benefit of being able to put bulk items out any unlimited number of bulk items out at any time we want. This slows down the traffic even more. And so, in order to try and reduce the cost of the services
for pickup, we had to start limiting and instead of limiting what people could put out necessarily every time, we decided to take a look at limiting bulk, which isn't unusual in most municipalities across the state. So, we went with, you know, once a month
pickup. And if you have something other than that, then we're like a lot of municipalities out there now where you'll have to take it to the facility yourself or hire someone to come and take it. Um Those are some of the cost savings. We
did look at the one arms because they believed that they might be able to might be able to do the route quicker with the one arms, but when they looked at our town and looked at the services provided by the town, they decided it was best to keep
the services as it was and to um continue to do it with typical trash cans and the folks on the back of the truck coming in and taking your trash. Um so that's where we are now. So there are some modifications coming and as
they ended as the commissioners indicated, um we are it's not in the ordinance cuz it was never in the ordinance, but there was just kind of a policy out there where people who were moving out could put whatever they wanted out to the curb. We're
disallowing that. We're going to stick to the ordinance. You have, you know, a limited number of things that you can put out each week and and that's what we're going to start enforcing. >> Thank you, Sharon. And it feels like we're taking something away, but um when you compare Hatfield to neighboring
municipalities, you see that we're actually quite unique in having had this service to begin with. A lot of other towns don't do this. So this is a little bit of us normalizing and trying to save costs at the same time. So. >> And creating predictability in the pickup. >> That, too. Yep. Thank you so much.
>> And just the last thing I just wanted to add was we did get the new bids back. Um and while they aren't as high as the two high bidders were last year, they still went up $400,000 for a year. So that's kind of the cost that we're trying to face. We're trying to keep
your tax dollars as best we can and provide the services as best we can and we just have to make an adjustment to that service. >> And the two big drivers of that were the tipping fees and cost of fuel. >> Right. >> Yeah. Um so uh this is a first reading and
introduction. It will be out for a month. We collect input. Anybody that wants to have input, you can email us, you can email the borough, uh you can come to our work session and bring up that issue. Um while we debate it, it this one will be on the next agenda uh
for passage so that we can match our expectations with the trash contract that will start in September, right? Yeah. >> Correct. >> Yeah. So, roll call. >> Voting on approval of the motion to
introduce reintroduce this particular ordinance. Um Commissioner Cole. >> In favor. >> Commissioner Troy. >> In favor. >> Commissioner Seidel. >> In favor. Next ordinance 2026-15 the bond ordinance. This is the second reading and public hearing. It has its
own public comment period. So, I would like to open the floor and open the bond the hearing on the bond ordinance 2026-15. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole. In favor. Commissioner Troy.
>> In favor. >> Commissioner Seidel. >> In favor. Do any of my colleagues like to make any comments on any items of the bond ordinance before I open it up to the floor? >> Nope, let's open it up to the floor. >> Yeah, the only comment I will say is it's been many many years of leaking
windows right behind us. So, the project that's listed for windows at Borough Hall are actually the second floor windows as you can see no two look the same because they're all in various positions of disrepair and if you go
outside the sills are even worse. So, that's all I'll make about that section of the bond ordinance. Now, I'll open the comment to the floor for anyone who'd like to make comment on the bond ordinance. Um and really anything you want to say about the bond ordinance this could be
the time to. So, >> And questions are welcome, too. If you'd like to understand more about how we do this. I'm probably going to just ask Sharon to answer. >> So, if you do want to make comments about any section of the bond ordinance including the the Radnor project you can
make them now. >> I'm a shorty, so I'm going to adjust. All right. Hi, my name is Angela Toledo. I live at 635 Wayne Avenue. I've been a >> Angela Toledo? >> Toledo. 635. 635. >> There you go.
>> Street. >> Wayne Ave. >> Wayne. Thank you. Three houses from Radnor Field. I have been um I moved from Delran and I was so proud to call Haven Field and this quiet cul-de-sac street the home that I was moving to. I was
moving up in the world in my eyes. I do have a question. Even though I don't have children of my own, I have been an active member of this community since moving here and I'm the current co-vice president of the Garden Club, Kathy, and board member of the Greater South
Jersey Chorus, which meets at the Presbyterian Church. I'm also a member of Art Goes to School. I'm also a minority-owned small business owner and I work from home and as an interior designer serving clients throughout the South Jersey area. One of
my concerns, especially since I work from home and speak with clients and contractors on the phone or via Zoom on a daily basis, is the increase of noise and traffic that the possible Radnor uh sports complex, it was called, we know
it as Radnor Field, will possibly bring. The ball fields and playgrounds will cause an increase in ambient noise, making it challenging to conduct business efficiently. We all know that Radnor Field is a swampy area.
Will the added infrastructure create flooding situations in our streets and basements? Last spring, my home and two adjacent homes in a row on Wayne Avenue suffered roof damage from high winds that race across the fields.
This plan that was on Haddonfield in the know uh shows the removal of mature evergreen trees along the Farwood side that currently act as wind barriers to our homes nearby and beyond.
So, my question, will additional trees be added to this plan in order to help with the increased noise? They'll suck up the water. They would act as a visual visual buffer to shield the view of the numerous parked cars. As an interior designer, visuals are
important to me. For privacy for the homes that will be impacted the most by the playground and proposed fields. Another question, lighting. How will the field be lit at night? How will this impact nearby homes and people's quality
of sleep? And how much will this cost? I think you addressed that. I think 1.3 million is the proposed cost. Uh random question, but something on my mind. Why will sprinkler systems be
added to a swampy area? >> [laughter] >> So, I hope to stay in this beautiful historic town that has welcomed me from the start for at least another 15 years. And thank you for your time. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> The only comment I'll make is there are
no lights in the any any proposal. There are no to not light that field. It's in the neighborhood. >> And we can take the tree comment into consideration. Um I'm sure Shade Tree Commission would be happy to work with us to make sure that they have the right
trees in that area. >> And any other any other comments on any part of the bond ordinance? >> Steve Balenta, uh 619 Wayne Ave. Steve Balenta, 619 Wayne Avenue. Um Yeah, no, it's going to be about the the
money where the issue comes through and the opening of Wayne Avenue. You know, I have a greatly concerned about we're on a cul-de-sac, our property value going down. Uh Radnor's technically on a dead-end street, so opening up traffic. Um I do like sports. I do like the
baseball team. I like how far they went. Um I don't know what you're going to do about drainage on that field. Like for a million dollars, that number sounds low. And usually estimates go up um when it comes to opening up the street, I feel as if we're going to lose property value
and I'm also going to get a higher tax hit. So, it seems to be like a lose-lose opening um Wayne Avenue. Otherwise, uh I like the pine trees. I wonder if there's any endangered bats living in them. But um you know, and the birds of prey that
like feed in that field. I see signs. Um Uh I would just yeah, rather see the I I'm all for extending the parking lot. I even like playgrounds. Some people don't. Um and certainly a functioning fields that
where the water flows off. I think you got a lot on your plate. Really don't want to see the end of the street opened up, though. So, that's I'll see you guys a couple months, I guess. >> Sure. One of the repairs that must be made to the Wayne Avenue entrance is your
culvert. Uh your culvert is is collapsed. So, uh that has to be worked. Just no matter what the final plan is, that has to be addressed as part of the uh water management. You know, it's
swampy because it's swampy Uh and a lot of the work is to relevel the field to send water to where we need where we can control it instead of what it was, which was really untouched land for a long period of time as school board
excess, you know, banked land. So they didn't, you know, and I explained this at the work session. A school district has the responsibility of educating your children, not keeping fields in very good working order except the ones they use during
the time periods they use it. The borough has a higher level of care for public property including managing water, managing access. One of the things about that, there's also collapsed culverts that became the walking path, you know,
between the top field and the bottom field. So one of the things is we have to be able to address real complaints of users of that field, of the complex including how to get from the lower field to the upper field for bathrooms, you know, without falling and sloshing
through, you know, swamp. So all those things have to be addressed as part of this. >> Steve's a little taller than me. I'm Lynn Tomeo. I'm 437 Maple Avenue. And I'm at the top of the cul-de-sac.
Um, we've been there for almost 25 years now and I don't know if I know a lot of you have been there for that period of time too. I don't know if you all remember back when we were going to put low income housing back on that field. I don't know if any of you have been were there back at that time. It was a long
time ago there was going to be a plan. Oh, it was a long time ago there was talk about >> That was never the plan. >> Okay, it was talk about. Anyway, this is this is a much more appealing plan is to have a park and a sports complex that's um
usable for whether it be the school district or whether it be other teams that are coming in playing our you know, town teams that kind of thing. So, I think it's a much more um desirable prospect as long as it's done well and
there's thought put into it and the community is encouraged to be part of it and to be part of that plan. Um I think that we all have considerable um concern about our property values. Um that's a big deal to many of us who
are looking at our homes as our retirement income. You know, at some point your children grow up and you likely will move out of your home in Haddonfield, your four-bedroom home in Haddonfield. Um so, I think that all of us are looking forward to that being an asset
rather than a detraction from selling our homes someday. Um so, we all would appreciate being part of that, you know, as Marsha had talked about and Angela had talked about, you know, an an understanding is as David talked about, understanding that process and what goes
into that process and how it does affect people from people who are moving in who have very small children who it's nice to see that turnover happening in our neighborhood. We see people moving in who have small children who are able to walk down there and never cross the street. They just walk down the sidewalk
and they're at a park or they're at a field and it's really lovely to have that and that's a great benefit to living where we do. Um but then again, if you take that away and turn that into a big parking lot at the end where people pay no attention to um
you know, either whether it be a um a handicap spot that's blocked off for a you know, a family that lives there or whether it be um a 25 mile per hour speed limit restriction or whether it be parking on one side of the street versus both sides of the street for a
you know all important game. Um they're all things that really need to be taken into consideration that add or detract to the value of your home and to your lifestyle. Um I will say that you know there is in the almost 25 years we've lived there
we've never seen um any law enforcement happen around those games when there are games and when there are people parking two and three across the street, um across Maple Avenue on the corners in the yellow
sections in what used to be a handicap spot for a family that lived there. There were never any and I appreciate so appreciate all of the that you know our our law enforcers do and and public servants do. Um but there's never been you know an
any any um showing of anyone over there enforcing any of the you know laws that should have been during those games um that happened and I would suspect that if you make it more attractive there's going to be more people that are going
to want to come and enjoy it. So you know again to echo my my neighbors who I think a lot of um we just want to be part of this. We want to be part of the plan. We want to share with you what our concerns are. They're all valid whether you're you know in favor of opening it up and
bringing more people on board or or keeping it you know kind of just to ourselves sometimes which is nice to have. Um and it affects a lot more streets than just Radnor. You know it's it's Wayne Avenue. It's Maple Avenue. It's Cedar. It's Farwood. It's Grove Street. It's you know there's a lot that
it does affect and a lot of people that it does affect. So we appreciate the consideration and being part of the plan. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> What? >> I'm Cathy McGinn. 265 Windsor Avenue.
I just not really clear about who owns the field. And like is this a partnership to improve it? Is it something that is for the bureau for other purposes? >> The bureau owns Radnor Field. >> Okay.
And that's been for a long time? >> No, it's been for 4 years, 5 years. Uh we bought it from the school district with green acres funds. Uh and then the school district turned around and wrote the check back to us to buy the land
adjacent to the high school down at down at Bancroft. Uh the key part of that is we bought it with green acres funds. So it is deed restricted to active or passive recreation forever as part of the green acres program.
So we couldn't build anything other than active or passive recreation opportunities on that field forever. >> Okay. >> But that happened 5 years ago. >> Well, I'd like to see like the area
nature-wise preserved cuz we are landlocked. And I think it's really important to try to make sure that you do as much as you can with trees, shrubs, etc. And maybe instead of asphalt you could do gravel. Thank you.
>> You mean in the parking lot part? Oh, okay. Thank you. >> Hi. I'm Deborah Gusman, 619 Wayne Avenue. I just have a question. A few years ago when there was talk of developing um that field, that area, I remember
that there was a study that came out that designated it or part of it as a wetland with some endangered species issues and other things that didn't happen. I sort of recall conversation >> on flyers right before an election and
that's about the only place it ever happened. >> The the only it was mentioned once in a meeting here when we were talking about Bancroft. The school president at the time mentioned it in a public meeting.
It was never a true intention to do it. It was just an idea he threw out there. It there's been no studies about for housing or anything else. There is no wetlands on there. It is it is fields that are were not maintained properly and therefore have gotten sloppy
and the drainage has gotten bad, but it's but there are no wetlands and there is no there will never be any housing at this point. >> Okay, thank you. >> I always used to joke it was donated to the school district or sold cuz it couldn't be built because you know the
the builder owed it to Olin or Olden or whatever the Olden building builders I think is the name. Um you know, they would they built the rest of Far Western Estates, right? So um They actually had the habit of donating land for possible school expansion cuz
they built communities and said if you ever needed a school, but had it filled instead added additions to Tatum instead of building a new school down there. See no other comments in the public. I'll move to online.
All right, I would like to move to close the public comment period and adopt of the bond ordinance on second reading. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole? In favor. Commissioner Troy? >> In favor. >> Commissioner Seidel?
>> In favor. I would only like to make one comment now that we've solidified this. Um we pay the electric bill for every field in the borough that because again, the school district's not in the business of making great fields. They're in the
business of teaching your children. So the most of the fields that are lit are borough owned. The lights at Centennial have been a royal pain in the rear. The bulbs don't last very long. They're being converted to LED to not only save cost, but to add life to those lights
and make them so they don't have LED lights have one other advantage. have a warm-up period. So when they're off, they don't glow for the next 10 minutes off. They turn off. And when you need them to turn on, you turn them on when you need them, not a half an hour before you need them so that they warm up. So
uh >> And it's safer because the existing ones trip unexpectedly halfway through games, which is not great. >> Yes, and Haddonfield parents have figured out where the switch is and they try to throw it in the bell. >> issue and a lot of other issues. So
yes, which happened when I was in charge of public works, so I'll be happy to see this being resolved permanently. >> Yes. >> And then the public works equipment that is being purchased with this bond including a pickup truck body.
>> Fun stuff. >> Yeah, right. Um all right, next ordinance is also the second reading and public hearing 2026-16, the capital ordinance. Uh this is the public comment period and hearing on
this matter. So I'd like to make a motion to open the floor for public comment on 2026-16. >> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole? In favor. Commissioner Troy? >> In favor. >> Commissioner Seidel?
>> In favor. >> Anyone want to make a comment about the capital ordinance? >> Do we want to talk about what we're purchasing with the funds? Sure. >> Sure. Um so the capital ordinance differs from
the bond ordinance in the fact that the funds for the capital ordinance are from prior bond ordinances that have been funded, but we did not end up spending all of the funds. So they go into what's called capital surplus, general capital
surplus or fund balance, and we are reauthorizing the use of those funds. Um so for the fire equipment, we are purchasing um a piece of equipment. I think it's an extraction piece of equipment.
Um Actually, Pat help me here cuz I can forget Pat and Jason cuz I'm trying to I like went off on another side. Yeah, you're that you're doing that, you're doing hose, and then we had some some um turnout gear that we had to pay for.
Jason, these are cameras and street cameras. And and what else do we have in in this one? >> The electric fire equipment. >> Yes, that is correct. The replacement of the electric car. Um and then with the library, there are
um we need to get a small generator for the sump pump that's at the library for the smaller flooding issues and not the larger flooding issues unfortunately we have at the library. Um and also the elevator needs some upgrades. Um the kids keep punching out the buttons, so we need to get some
vandal proof buttons, um and a couple of other minor improvements to the elevator there. And that's again, these are funds that have have were already authorized once upon a time, were not fully used, and so we're reauthorizing them to take advantage of that and um using them for things that
still qualify under a capital ordinance. >> Yep. >> Thanks, Sharon. So, the floor is open for public comment on the capital ordinance. Seeing none from the floor, I'll move to online. Any comments on the capital ordinance?
All right, at this time I'll move to close comment period and adopt on second reading 2026-16. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole? >> In favor. >> Commissioner Troy? >> In favor. >> Commissioner Seidel?
>> In favor. Uh the next section is resolutions under the consent agenda. Resolutions in this section are placed on the consent agenda by the Board of Commissioners and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless requested by a board member. Uh
so, item 78, authorization to pay vouchers. 79, authorization to issue a check for the overpayment of taxes. Issues 80 or resolution 80, authorization to extend the tax grace period to August 28th.
>> Correct. >> Which is a Friday. >> Yes. >> Or 81, authorization to accept and advertise for the 2026 borough audit report. Should I say 25 or 26? >> 25. >> Oh, it should say 25? >> Finances from last year.
>> Oh, okay. >> Been an audit last year's work. >> All right, so authorization to accept and advertise the 2025 borough audit report, authorization to issue checks number 82, an emergency medical services refund. 83, the authorization to approve appointments for the fire department
active members. 84, the authorization to approve the fees and assessments for tree removal and planting per code chapter 56 entitled shade tree commission, section 10 B entitled fees, assessments, violations, and penalties.
85, the authorization to sign an agreement for the Governor's Council on Substance Use Disorder from July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2027. The authorization and number 86, authorization to award the bid for solid waste and recycle materials collection
services to Suburban, the only bidder. Uh 87, the authorization to award sealed bids for tree and stump removal. The author- 88 88, authorization to award sealed bids
for stalk and stump removal. And 89, the authorization to award sealed bids for stump removal. And 90, the authorization to advertise for sealed bids the inlet and catch basin rehabilitation and retrofit.
Uh would you anyone like to make comments on any item? >> Nope. >> Other than that, I would say it's always funny to say tree and stump, stump and stalk, and stump removal. They could be the same company, they could be different companies. That's different equipment to get rid of those certain things. Uh
it's always funny though to say all three of those. And then the inlet catch basin rehabilitation and retrofit, uh a lot of our storm drains are need to be upgraded for compliance purposes. >> Correct. As part of our MS4 permit, we have to have everything Once upon a
time, you used to be able to take the inlets and convert them to the new ones that were required say 15 years ago. They're no longer new necessarily, but um convert them when you did a road program. Uh with the last MS4 permits, they're
requiring that they all have to be done within a 5-year period of time. So, we have about 300 of them that are still under the old format that we have to go out and and um convert over to the new as well as then check to make sure that
the structures are good and repair any damages that might be in the in the structures. >> And for those who have requested to have stumps, stocks, trees removed, we're just awarding the bids now. So, just give it a bit of time. I know that I have a few of those requests in my
inbox. We Once the the bid is awarded, then that person will start walking through the backlog. So, we'll get to it. >> Seeing no other comments, call the question. Oh, did I not move it? >> No.
>> Oh. All right. So, I'll make a motion to move to approve all the resolutions under the consent agendas number 78 to 90. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole? In favor. Commissioner Troy?
>> In favor. >> Commissioner Seidel? >> In favor. Next, I'm going to open the floor for public comment on any item you wish. Same rules apply. Please come say your name and your street. You get 5 minutes and once everyone's gone through, you can have an extra minute if you have
more things to say. So, I'll make a motion to open the floor for public comment on non-agenda items. >> Second. Second. >> Second. Sorry. Now, you can come up. Just wait a second for us to take the vote. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole? In favor. Commissioner Troy?
>> In favor. >> Commissioner Seidel? >> In favor. Got to love bureaucracy. All right. >> Patricia Patterson, 451 Maple Avenue. Uh I My neighbors are here. They Most of them live on Wayne. I live on the corner of Maple and Wayne. We have a parking
issue. So, this field idea with opening Maple Avenue to cars to go to a parking lot It's going to create even more traffic. Right now, if I wanted to move my car out of my driveway and park next to my
house, I can't because there's a commercial vehicle that has been parking there for 3 weeks now. And I've notified the police department about it. Something has to be done. I've lived there for 37 years.
We have a lot more renters in houses than we used to. They don't abide by any of the parking rules. They have driveways, they park on the side of my house. I understand it's a parking it's a public parking area. But it never moves. They don't move it
in the snow. They just leave their cars there. Opening that field up to parking is going to create a high I know you heard it from everybody else. Big concern for the young families that have moved in.
My children all took advantage of the fields cuz they played at sports from the high school. But it's not a good idea to have a parking lot right there with a playground at the end of the street. Why can't the parking lot be over on Farwood
where there plenty of it's a long wide open area. Can't we have the parking from that side? Why does it all have to be done from our side? I'm just letting you know. And >> [clears throat] >> I'm going to be selling my house in the
near future. And I don't want I'm not going to get any buyers. All they have all they see are commercial vehicles and parked cars on on Wayne Avenue. Thank you. >> Any other comments from the floor?
Remember to pull it down. >> Angela Toledo, 635 Wayne Avenue. This is open to anything, right? >> Anything. >> I think I just want to say thank you so much for all the great activities this summer with the 250th Centennial have been really fabulous. I was a little bit worried about moving the farmers market
to the current location, but I think it's wonderful. Seems to be doing well, although I have heard that uh numbers may be a little low. That That's not 100% um and also that all the soccer activities were really really great. So, thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> And the activities didn't end because of July 4th. So, we have programming all through the summer and the early fall. The block party and drone show has been rescheduled. >> Joanna, why don't you just give a real rough up-update of what's coming up yet?
Just going to say some of the Saturdays what we have is, you know, she mentioned the the um ice cream making this weekend. Um we have Ben Franklin coming up in a couple of weeks. Um we have folks who have um historical attire that that you can come and and learn about
and touch and the kids can can learn about. At the same time we have a Is that when the Punch and Judy show is? But there's more fun activities for people to participate with coming up in the next 2 months. >> Thank you for your comments. >> Thank you. Um on the farmers' market,
we're still studying if we like the new location. Um it seems that vendors and uh buyers both seem to like it, but we'd have to do a lot more work to build up the space and um build marketing around it. I don't think a lot of people knew
about it. But it's working out well so far. Knock on wood. We'll see. >> And you have high schoolers actually doing surveying of the vendors right now. >> Yes, we have a a high school student reached out, wanted to do an internship with the bureau, and decided to study
farmers' market. So she's running an analysis on the financial impact of moving the location for the vendors. So once we find out more about that, I'm happy to report back. She is. She is. She's interviewing both King's Court uh the full business district and
the new location, yeah. >> Any more? All right, seeing none from the room. Uh online? I keep looking over and "Stray Cat Strut" keeps running in my head. Uh All right, I'll move to close uh public
comment period on non-agenda items. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole? In favor. Commissioner Troy? >> In favor. >> Commissioner Seidel? >> In favor. We will have a closed session tonight. We will be discussing uh
service appointments like uh professional services appointments and possibly if we feel like it and there's time No, no, I meant other appointments for various boards. I thought we had some board but they were not ready tonight. All right. So, it'll just be
professional service appointments that will be discussed. There'll be no action taken when we come out of closed other than to say goodnight to each other. Uh and as we'd like to now offer the floor to reporters. Uh
Retrospect is in person, so we'll we'll start with Retrospect. All right. Uh and Brian, are you a person from >> He's fired. He's fired. >> Oh, he's fired. Okay, right on. All right. So, uh seeing no other reporters
online or in person, uh I will thank everyone and I'll make a motion to go into closed session. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Voting on that motion. Commissioner Cole? In favor. Commissioner Troy? >> In favor. >> Commissioner Seidel? >> In favor. And thanks everybody for
coming out. Your comments will be added to the whole spread of all the people emailing stuff in and we'll be making that you know, scrubbed but public. We would