BUSINESS DISTRICT BUDGET
During their meeting on March 13, the Commissioners approved the 2007 budget of the Partnership for Haddonfield, the non-profit corporation District Management Corporation for Haddonfield’s business district.
The budget will be funded with $250,000 from assessments on commercial properties in the district (the same as in 2006), $32,000 from the Crafts Festival, $2,000 from the publication of a directory, and approximately $62,000 from available surplus. The total budget is $345,940, which is $12,106 less than the
2006 budget.
SPECIAL PLANNING BOARD MEETING
The Planning Board will hold a special meeting and Public Hearing on Wednesday, April 25 at 7:00pm in the Borough Hall auditorium. The matter to be addressed is the Downtown Area Master Plan, a proposal based on the Visioning Project that a
subcommittee of the Planning Board has been working on for several years.
The Commissioners encourage all interested parties to attend this important meeting, and provide their input.
If the Planning Board adopts the proposal, the matter would then be considered by the Commissioners. Ordinances to amend the Master Plan would be required in order to put the proposals into effect, and these would require Public Hearings
before final action can be taken.
Copies of the Downtown Area Master Plan are available for perusal at the Borough Hall (Room 101), the Information Center, and the Public Library, and may be downloaded from the Borough Web site.

HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION AWARD
The Human Relations Commission is soliciting applications for its annual Alvin R. Schomer Award, recognizing the human relations efforts and achievements of High School students.
Application forms may be obtained from the Borough Hall (Room 101) and the Counseling Office at the High School. Applications are due by April 20. The award will be presented publicly in late April or early May. Contact the Borough Administrator for further information: 429-4700 x 215.

HOUSE FIRE ON TRUEMAN AVENUE
The Commissioners salute Haddon Fire Co. No. 1 and the Police Department for their actions in connection with an earlymorning fire that destroyed a residence on Trueman Avenue on March 8. In particular, they commend the Fire Chief for ensuring that area residents were given an opportunity to learn what happened and why the fire was handled the way it was. The Borough also appreciates the prompt response and professional support of other fire departments in the area, as well as the important involvement of the County Fire Marshall. On behalf of the community, the Commissioners extend sympathy to the homeowner, who escaped the fire physically, but lost all her possessions.

SPRING CLEAN-OUT
During April, the Borough relaxes the rules that normally apply with respect to the amounts and kinds of materials that can be put out as trash.
On regular trash days between Monday, April 2 and Friday, April 27, residents may put out any quantity of regular trash and yard waste for collection, but not unusually large items, unusually heavy items, trees and stumps, construction debris, or household special wastes (see below). If in doubt, call 429- 0183 before putting questionable items out for pick-up, or to learn other details about this program.
Leaf piles raked to the park strip will be vacuumed during this period only. Leaves must not be left in the street or within 10 feet of a stormwater inlet. Other vegetative waste in appropriately marked containers will be collected also. Public Works crews will collect the extra trash, brush, and leaves as soon as possible after they are placed out, but not necessarily on Trash Day. Spring Clean-Out ends on your last Trash Day in April.

DISPOSING OF HOUSEHOLD SPECIAL WASTE
Certain household waste cannot be placed at the curb for collection as trash. It must be taken to a County-operated recycling facility.
The County will run a Household Special Waste Collection Day on Saturday, March 24, at the Cherry Hill Public Works Department Complex at 1 Perina Boulevard. The following types of materials can be dropped off:
• Automotive Products, including antifreeze, brake fluid, car batteries, car wax and polish, carburetor cleaner, gasoline, grease, steering and transmission fluid, etc.
• Paint-Related Products, including creosote, driveway sealer, epoxies, linseed oil, oil-based paint, paint strippers and thinners, primer, turpentine, varnish, water sealer, etc.
• Household Cleaners, including bleach, disinfectants, drain opener, dry-cleaning solvents, floor wax, furniture polish, oven cleaner, rug and upholstery cleaner, etc.
• Pesticides, including DDT, fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides, moth balls and crystals, mouse and rat poisons, weed killer.
• Fuels, including camping fuel, kerosene, lighter fluid.
• Personal Care Products, including nail polish and remover, hair coloring, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, mercury thermometers.
• Home and Hobby Items, including chemistry kits, cutting oil, glues and adhesives, gun-cleaning solvent, pool chemicals, propane tanks, rock salt.
For additional information, call 856-858-5241.

LIGHTS FOR LITTLE LEAGUE
The baseball fields on Potter Street now have field lighting. Game lighting will be turned off at 9:00pm; all lights will be turned off by 9:30pm. The Commissioners appreciate the efforts of the Little League, which funded the project, and the
cooperation of neighbors.
The first “night” game will be held on Thursday, March 22. Opening Day is Saturday, March 24. The parade, from the Presbyterian Church, will step off at 9:00am.

Tax bills will be mailed in July, soon after the Borough has been advised of the tax rates have been set for the County and the School District.
In commenting on the budget process, the Commissioners praised the dedication of the Borough’s professional staff, which contributed significantly to the budget’s being adopted several months earlier than has been typical in past years.

WATER AND SEWER BUDGET
The Commissioners adopted the budget for the Water & Sewer Utility during their meeting on February 27. The operating budget is $2,890,400, an increase of $207,000 (7.7%) from 2006. During their meeting on March 13, the commissioners
will introduce an Ordinance to set the water and sewer rates to support the budget: $4.40 per thousand gallons for water and $2.10 per thousand gallons for sewer. These rates represent an increase of 2.4% over the rates for 2006, and the first increase since 2005.

SALARY ORDINANCES
During their meeting on March 13, the Commissioners will introduce Ordinances to implement a recent agreement with the Police Benevolent Association (which calls for a 4.5% salary increase) and to implement salary increases for non-represented
employees (3.75%).
A new contract for Public Works Department employees, who are represented by the Teamsters Union, is still being negotiated.

FOCUS ON RECYCLING
Camden County is offering a $25,000 reward to the municipality that has the greatest per-household increase in recycling during 2007. Haddonfield was once a leader in recycling, but has slipped in recent years. That means there’s potential for significant improvement.
We know what to do. Let’s do it!

TO REGISTER TO VOTE
The annual Board of Education election will be held on Tuesday, April 17. The deadline to register to vote in that election is Tuesday, March 27.
Registration forms are available at the Information Center (2 Kings Court) and the Borough Hall (Room 101). The form may also be downloaded from the County’s Web site: www.camdencounty.com/government/voter_reg.html

FIRE COMPANY ANNUAL REPORT
Haddon Fire Company No 1 submitted its annual report to the Commissioners recently.
The Company logged a total of 518 calls in 2006, including the Mount Pisgah AME Church fire; three significant house fires (on Upland Way, Jefferson Avenue, and SW Atlantic Avenue); and three “mutual aid” calls in neighboring towns (one in Oaklyn and two in Lawnside).
As of December 31, 2006, the company had 43 active volunteer firefighter members, including three who joined in 2006. There were nine members in the Company’s Fire Explorers program (for high school students). Two new employees were hired in 2006.
The efforts of Lt. Richard Kahl resulted in the Company’s obtaining a federal grant of $40,000 towards the cost of purchasing new portable radios and a complete training program for volunteers.
And an order was placed for a new fire pumper truck to replace one that has logged more than 20 years of service.
The Commissioners thank Chief Joe Riggs, the employees of the Fire Department, and the volunteer members of the Fire Company for the extraordinary contributions they make to the quality of life in our community.

BUSINESS DISTRICT BUDGET
The Commissioners introduced the 2007 budget for the Partnership for Haddonfield during their meeting on February 13. They will hold a Public Hearing on that budget during their meeting on Tuesday, March 13 (7:30pm in the Borough Hall,
Room 102).
The Partnership for Haddonfield, Inc. is the nonprofit district management corporation for Haddonfield’s business improvement district.
The budget proposes to raise $250,000 from assessments on commercial properties in the district (the same as in 2006), $32,000 from the Craft and Fine Arts Festival in July, and $2,000 for the publication of a directory, and to use approximately $62,000 from available surplus. The total budget is $345,930,
which is $12,106 less than the 2006 budget.

LOOKING AHEAD
During April, the Commissioners relax most of the rules that normally apply with respect to the amounts and kinds of materials that can be put out as trash.
Spring Clean-Up this year will run from April 2 to April 27.

TRAFFIC CALMING UPDATE
The Commissioners have awarded a contract for $21,000 to DiFalco and Bisconti for the installation of two temporary asphalt speed tables on Maple Avenue (between Grove Street and Ardmore Avenue) and Euclid Avenue (between the Hi-Speed Line and West End Avenue). The speed tables will be similar to those that were installed temporarily on Lincoln Avenue, prior to the construction on permanent raised intersections. The temporary traffic calming devices will enable the Borough and the County to gauge the effectiveness of the measures, before making a commitment to permanent installations.

REASSESSMENT INFORMATION
Information about the property reassessment project that was presented and discussed during the Public Information Meeting on January 29 is now available on the Borough Web site, along with additional reassessment details.

PUBLIC HEARING ON 2007 BUDGET
The Public Hearing on the Borough Budget for 2007 will be held during the Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, February 27 (Borough Hall, Room 102). The presentation that Borough officials made during the second annual Budget Information Forum, held on February 12, is now available on the Borough Web site.

APPOINTMENTS
In addition to serving as Director of the Public Library, Doug Rauschenberger also served as a Class II member of the Planning Board. (Class II members must be either appointed officials or Borough employees). His retirement created a vacancy on the Planning Board which the Commissioners have filled by appointing Eugene G. Haag, an appointed member of the Haddonfield Auxiliary Police and formerly an Alternate member of the Zoning Board. They have filled the resulting vacancy on the Zoning Board by appointing Linda Kuritzkes as an Alternate.

BOROUGH TO PAY CCMUA BILLS FOR SENIORS
For some years, the Borough has paid Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority bills on behalf of eligible senior citizens who live in Haddonfield. Senior citizens who have annual income of less than $10,000 (excluding Social Security and certain government and railroad pensions) may apply for this credit at the Tax Office (Borough Hall, Room 105). The Commissioners encourage eligible residents to apply for this benefit. Call the Tax Office at 429- 4700 x 207 for further information.

PROCLAMATIONS
During their meeting on February 13, the Commissioners issued proclamations for Black History Month and American Heart Month.

BUSINESS DISTRICT BUDGET
During their meeting on February 13, the Commissioners introduced the 2007 budget of the Partnership for Haddonfield, the non-profit corporation District Management Corporation for Haddonfield’s business district. The budget proposes to raise $250,000 from assessments on commercial properties in the district (the same as in 2006), $32,000 from the Crafts Festival, and $2,000 from the publication of a directory, and to use approximately $62,000 from available surplus. The total budget is $345,940, which is $12,106 less than the 2006 budget. The proposed tax rate for Schedule A commercial properties (those in substantially commercial zones) is 24.9¢ per $100 of assessed value; for Schedule B commercial properties (those in residential-based zones), the proposed tax rate is 12.45¢. These rates are slightly less than the 2006 rates, since the total assessed value of commercial properties in the district is slightly higher. The major categories for expenditure are: Retail recruitment and retention $152,260; Marketing and public relations $127,500; Administration $37,800; Committee for Professionals $20,000; and Streetscape $9,000. A Public Hearing on the proposed budget will be held during the Commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, March 13 (7:30pm at the Borough Hall in Room 102).

BANCROFT UPDATE
During their meeting on February 13, the Commissioners agreed to sign an order to dismiss, without prejudice, a suit brought by Bancroft NeuroHealth, challenging the Borough’s designation of the Bancroft campus as an area in need of redevelopment. The terms of the dismissal permit Bancroft to re-file the suit at a later time, after the Borough enacts a redevelopment plan for the site. The Commissioners’ action preserves all of the Borough’s rights with respect to redevelopment of the site. It saves legal fees that would otherwise have been incurred now, and allows the Borough to defend any future challenge to the redevelopment designation and the redevelopment plan at the same time.

CONSTRUCTION AT MABEL KAY HOUSE
During their meeting on February 13, the Commissioners authorized an application for federal Community Development Block Grant funds ($28,663) through Camden County to support the cost of accessibility improvements at the Mabel Kay House. The current plan proposed an addition, which will include an elevator and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms on the second floor, will enhance the usability of the upper level. The Borough expects that the cost of the addition will be paid for with CDBG funds received over a five-year period. This is the second year of the allocation of funds for this purpose. Plans for work are expected to be ready for review in the spring.

REASSESSMENT UPDATE
The public meeting at the Borough Hall on January 29 was attended by about 50 people and included very informative briefing and question-and-answer sessions that addressed the main issues and key concerns about the reassessment.
Representatives of the Assessor will be visiting every property in Haddonfield. These visits are expected to be completed in the late summer.
In the fall, the Assessor will mail letters to property owners, advising them, informally, of the proposed reassessmentfortheir properties and of opportunities to informally discussss these matters with the Assessor. The formal notice of reassessment will be mailed in January. Having received that notice, property owners who wish to appeal their assessment may do so, to the Camden County Board of Taxation.
Tax Assessor: 429-4700 x 226

PUBLIC FORUM ON 2007 BUDGET
The second annual Budget Information Forum will by held in the Borough Hall auditorium on Monday, February 12, starting at 7:30pm.
The purpose of the Forum is to explain the municipal budget process, present specifics of the proposed budget for 2007, and answer questions from those who attend.
Sharon McCullough, the Borough's Budget Officer and Assistant to the Administrator, will make a presentation to cover the basics; Commissioner Neal Rochford, as Director of Revenue & Finance, will discuss budget issues the Borough is facing in 2007.
The Budget Message and Summaries for 2007 have been provided to local publications as public service advertisements and are also located on haddonfieldnj.org
The Public Hearing on the Budget is scheduled to be held during the Commissioners' Meeting on Tuesday, February 27.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING UPDATE
The Appellate Division of the NJ Superior Court recently invalidated a substantial portion of the "growth share" regulations promulgated by the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and gave COAH six months to address the issues.
Every municipality in New Jersey is affected by the decision.
The Borough is in the middle of mediation with COAH on objections to the "third round" application for "substantive certification," which includes matters relating to growth share, and it is not yet known what effect the decision wiH have on those negotiations.
It is possible that the decision will be appealed to the NJ Supreme Court.

ROBERT FREEDLEY
The Commissioners note, with sadness, the passing of Bob Freedley, a resident who served on the Shade Tree Commission for more than 40 years. They express their condolences to his family on behalf of a community that will benefit - for generations - from his many years of dedicated service.

PEOPLE WHO "MAKE A DIFFERENCE"
In a tribute to the memory and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr, the Human Relations Commission held a Community Con- versation at the Mabel Kay House on January 15.
Titled "Haddonfield's Diversity: Honoring Individuals Who Make a Difference," the gathering recognized the contributions to the community made by eight people: Sheila Hawkes; Mimi Yurkow (posthumous) and Dara Marcozzi; Vince Russo, The Rev. Dr Pat Close of Grace Church, and The Rev. Mark Anthony Rassman of Mt. Pisgah AME Church; Jay Feitshans, a member of the HMHS Class of 2006; and Denise Sellers of Haddonfield Child Care. The introductions for those who were honored may be read on HaddonfieldOnline.com.
Library Director Doug Rauschenberger described the development of diversity in Haddonfield from the time the area was first settled to the present day. Lively discussion among members of the standing-room-only audience followed.
The Commissioners congratulate those who were recognized and thank the Human Relations Commission for their ongoing efforts to promote discussion of important issues among members of the community.

HADDONFIELD NOW HAS A CURFEW
During their meeting on January 9, the Commissioners adopted an Ordinance that regulates the times when juveniles are not permitted on public streets and public places.
They took this action in response to an increase in the number of nighttime "criminal mischief" incidents in recent years, the majority of which were perpetrated by youth, many of whom were residents of nearby towns that have curfews.
The Ordinance imposes a curfew from 10:30pm to 5:00am on weekday eves (Sunday through Thursday) and an 11:00pm curfew on weekend eves Friday and Saturday) during the school year for those under 18 years of age. It also provides exceptions: summer recess (to 11:00pm); certain types of events, activities, and meetings; and juveniles in the company of parents.
The Commissioners urge parents to discuss the curfew, and the consequences of failing to observe it, with their children. The Ordinance is available on the Borough Web site and in the "Documents" section of HaddonfieldOnline.com.

SIGN AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION FEES
The Commissioners have amended the Ordinance that I specifies the fees for sign applications (townwide) and development applications (in the Historic District).
The fee for a sign application will rise from $25 to $50. t The fee for a development application will be tied to its.
complexity. For a straightforward application that requires only I administrative review and approval, the fee will be $50. For ( an application that must go before the Historic Preservation Commission, the fee will be $75, $125, $250, or $500.
Questions about sign and development applications and fees should be directed to the Community Development Office: 856-429-4700 x 209.

REASSESSMENT MEETING
A public meeting will be held in the Borough Hall auditorium at 7:00pm on Monday, January 29 to give members of the community an opportunity to learn about the townwide reas- sessment process that began recently.
The program will cover what reassessment is, why it's required, what the process is, and what the impact will be. The presentation - by Commissioner Neal Rochford (the Director of Revenue and Finance) and Tom Colavecchio (the Tax Assessor) - will be followed by a question-and-answer period.
The Commissioners encourage all interested and concerned
residents to attend.

TIME RUNNING OUT FOR PET PERMITS
The deadline to apply for licenses for dogs and cats is Wednesday, January 31. After that date, late charges apply. Applications for licenses may be:

~Submitted in person at the Borough Hall, in Room 102
~Mailed using a form that can be downloaded from the "Documents" section of HaddonfieldOnline.com or printed from the Borough's Web site: haddonfieldnj.org

PUBUCATION OF OFFICIAL NOTICES
During their meeting on January 9, the Commissioners designated The Retrospect as the Borough's official newspaper for the publication of official and legal notices. The Courier-Post was designated as the alternate.

INTRODUCTION OF BUDGET FOR 2007
The Commissioners were scheduled to introduce the Borough Budget for 2007 during their regular meeting on January 23, even though State law does not require municipal budgets to be introduced until March.
A summary of the proposed Budget will be published as a legal notice, in a form specified by the State, in The Retrospect. A more user-friendly version, accompanied by the Commissioners' cover letter, will be offered to local media for publication as a public service advertisement.
Ample time will be provided for public comment on the proposed Budget and at least one Public Hearing will be held prior to adoption, as required by law.

AUXIUARY POLICE APPOINTED
The Commissioners appointed twelve Auxiliary Police during their meeting on January 9, for one-year terms expiring on December 31, 2007: Bernard Brody, Frederick W. Chase, Timothy A. Chase, William Elias, E. Guy Elzey Jr, Steven F. Harski, Michelle Claffey, Peter J. Dobush, Eugene G. Haag, Christine Schroeder, Jack Matty Jr, and Max Hermann.
The Commissioners thank these resiQents for their commitment to our community and for the services they render in support of our Police Department.
Other residents who are interested in learning about the work of the Auxiliary Police should contact Lt. Ted Steussy at 429-4700 x 250.