December 21 thru year end

HOLIDAY HOURS
Borough Hall offices will close at noon on Monday, December 24. They will be closed on Tuesday, December 25. Except for the Tax Office, which will remain open until 4pm, Borough Hall offices will close at noon on Monday, December 31. They will be closed on Tuesday, January 1. Police, fire, and ambulance services and emergency water and sewer services will be available around-the-clock, as usual. Tuesday’s trash and recycling collection will be postponed to Wednesday.

DATES TO NOTE

• LIBRARY MEETING:
As the culmination of a series of focus groups held in October and November (designed to give residents an opportunity to discuss the Library facility and the services it provides), the Public Library will hold a Community Conversation in the Borough Hall auditorium at 7pm on Wednes-day, January 9. The Commissioners urge all members of the community who are interested in the future of the Public Library – short-term and long-term – to attend and participate.
• HUMAN RELATIONS MEETING:
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Human Relations Commission will sponsor a program at the Mabel Kay House on Monday, January 21, 2008, starting at 7pm. Titled “Realizing the Dream: Community-Building Groups that Make a Difference,” the program will recognize organiza-tions that work to realize Dr. King’s vision by putting the impact, value, and power of group action to work in developing a society in which every individual has an equal opportunity to thrive.
• PET LICENSES:
State law requires the owners of dogs and cats to obtain licenses for them by January 31 each year from the municipality in which they live. Forms are available in Room 101 of the Borough Hall, at the Library, Mabel Kay House, and Information Center. The may also be downloaded from the Borough Web site: haddonfieldnj.org

STOCKING STUFFER: FIRST NIGHT BUTTONS!
Admission buttons for First Night, Haddonfield’s family-ori-ented, alcohol-free celebration of the arts on New Year’s Eve are on sale at the Information Center, for $10 each. Buttons provide admission to all indoor events and are required for all members of the audience, except babes-in-arms. For details of the program (which begins at 6pm and includes fireworks displays on Kings Highway at 9:00pm and 12m), visit the First Night Web site: www.FirstNightHaddonfield.org

LEAF COLLECTION ... COMPLETED!
The Borough’s leaf collection operations for 2007 – extended by two weeks because of the relatively late fall of leaves – have been completed. NOTE: Residents who still have leaves at the curbs in front of their homes must make private arrangements for them to be removed. NJ Department of Environmental Protec-tion regulations require that the Borough prosecute violators.

FIRE TRUCK SOLD (MEMORIES INCLUDED)
The Borough recently purchased a new pumper truck for the Fire Company and sold the vehicle it replaced on GovDeals.com, an online auction site used by government agencies to dispose of surplus equipment. Following spirited bidding, the vehicle was purchased for $6,850 by Brian Dobson, a firefighter in DeKalb County GA. Capt. Dobson has a personal interest in the vehicle. He came to Haddonfield nine years ago for his wedding and, as visiting firefighters often do, he visited the Fire House. On learning that he was about to be married, members of the Fire Company offered to drive him to the church on a fire truck, a courtesy that firefighters often extend to their peers. So which vehicle did Capt. Dobson purchase? The very one on which he rode to his wedding.

REVALUATION NOTICES TO BE MAILED
Notices advising property owners of their new property values and tax assessments will be mailed during the last week of December. The letter will include a statement of what your 2007 taxes would have been if the new assessment had been in effect. The letter will also provide your actual 2007 tax assessment and taxes so that you can compare the two and see the effect of the reassessment. The reassessment is designed to be “revenue-neutral.” As a result, the taxes to be paid from July 2008 by about one-third of property owners will increase; taxes to be aid by about one-third will remain about the same; and taxes to be paid by about one-third will decrease.

SNOW RULES
Property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks in front of their property – not the Borough.
PATCO is responsible for clearing roads and parking lots near the High-Speed Line – not the Borough.
Under contract with the County, the Borough is responsible for plowing, salting, and sanding some 3.3 miles of County roads in Haddonfield: Kings Highway, Haddon Avenue, Ellis Street, and Potter Street.
The County remains responsible for the other County roads that run through Haddonfield: Warwick, Chews Landing, West End, Grove, Maple, Avondale, South Hinchman, Station (from S. Hinchman to Haddon Heights), and Coles Mill (from Grove to Village Court) – not the Borough.
The Borough does not clear driveways that get snowed when streets are plowed – for anyone, or for any reason. If you park in the street overnight and it snows, you will probably find that your car has been plowed in by morning. Residents with overnight parking permits should make arrangements – now! – to park on private property whenever snow is forcast.

December 7 to Decembr 14, 2007

LEAF COLLECTION EXTENDED
Because the leaves fell much later this year than usual, and because they then fell like rain, the Commissioners have decided to extend the collection season by two weeks.
The last leaf pick-upfor2007will be your trash collection day in the week from Monday, December 17 thru Friday, December 21. Homeowners will be responsible for removing - and will be required to remove - leaves that have been raked or blown to the curb after their last pick-up date.

HELP WANTED
The Borough has two important positions to fill, both part- time. One is for a Sidewalk Inspector; the other- a new position - is for a Municipal Alliance Program Coordinator.
Job descriptions for these positions may be found on the Borough Web site. The application deadline is December 11.

SNOW RULES
Property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks in front of their property - not the Borough.
PATCO is responsible for clearing roads and parking lots near the High-Speed Line - not the Borough.
Under contract with the County, the Borough is responsible for plowing, salting, and sanding some 3.3 miles of County roads in Haddonfield: Kings
Highway, Haddon Avenue, Ellis Street, and Potter Street. The County remains responsible for the other County roads that run through Haddonfield: Warwick, Chews Landing, West End, Grove, Maple, Avondale, South Hinchman, Station (from S. Hinchman to Haddon Heights), and Coles Mill (from Grove to Village Court) - not the Borough.
The Borough does not clear driveways that get snowed
when streets are plowed - for anyone, or for any reason. If you park in the street overnight and it snows, you will probably find that your car has been plowed in by morning. Residents with
overnight parking permits should make arrangements - now! - to park on private property whenever snow is forecast.

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT
The Human Relations Commission will again sponsor a program in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on Monday, January 21, 2008, starting at 7:00pm.
The program, titled "Realizing the Dream: 'Community Building' Groups that Make a Difference" will recognize Haddonfield organizations that work to realize Dr. King's vision by putting the impact, value, and power of group action to work in developing a society in which every individual has an equal opportunity to thrive.
Nominations, which should detail the efforts and achieve- ments of the group being nominated, should be sent to Had- donfield Human Relations Commission, Borough Hall, 242 Kings Highway E., PO Box 3005, Haddonfield NJ 08033.
The deadline is Friday, December 14

FIRST NIGHT
Buttons are on sale now at the Information Center! $10.

November 23 to December 7, 2007

APPLY FOR PET LICENSES IN DECEMBER
State law requires the owners of dogs and cats to obtain licenses for them by January 31 each year from the municipality in which they live. A form for 2008 is published in this issue of What’s On, on page 56. Note that the fees have increased (for the first time in over 20 years) to reflect the current costs of administering the licensing program.

ADDITIONAL LIBRARY FOCUS GROUP
The Public Library is holding a series of focus groups to give residents an opportunity to discuss the Library facility and the services it provides. An additional date has been added to the schedule: Tuesday, November 27 at 7:00pm in the downstairs meeting room. Those wishing to attend should call 429-1304 to register. A Community Conversation planned for the end of November has been postponed to a date to be determined.looking for in town, consider townwide gift certificates. They’re available in all denominations at the Information Center in Kings Court (12:00n to 4:00pm, seven days) ... and one size fits all.

FIRST NIGHT BUTTONS
Admission buttons for First Night, Haddonfield’s family-ori-ented, alcohol-free celebration of the arts on New Year’s Eve are now on sale, for $10 each. Buttons provide admission to all indoor events and are required for all members of the audience, except babes-in-arms. Buttons are available at the Information Center in Kings Court (open daily from noon to 4:00pm). For details of the program, visit the First Night Web site: www.FirstNightHaddonfield.org.

UNDERAGE DRINKING: A PRIMER FOR PARENTS
The Municipal Alliance is planning a community meeting in the Middle School auditorium on Thursday, November 29 at 7:00pm. Titled “Underage Drinking: A Primer for Parents,” the program will include a presentation by Stephen Wing, one of the authors of the U.S. Surgeon General’s “Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking.” He is coming from Washington DC especially for the occasion. The program will also include first-person accounts by two Haddonfield Memorial High School graduates and an update on initiatives by the Alliance in the areas teen support, family outreach, and intervention. The Commissioners encourage all who are concerned about the issue of underage drinking to attend. Copies of “A Guide to Action for Families,” a 16-page booklet based on the Surgeon General’s report, will be available.

SALE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY
Looking for a used pick-up truck? Dump truck? How about a fire truck? The Borough will be offering these items for sale on GovDeals.com, a Web site that auctions government surplus. Check it out!

REVALUATION STATUS
The Tax Assessor has advised the Commissioners that he hopes to complete his work by the end of November. If that happens, it is likely that notices advising property owners of their new property values will be mailed during the first two weeks of December. The Commissioners are very conscious of the timing of the notification. They want to give the Tax Assessor as much time as possible to do a thorough job and to produce a quality product. (He has completed external inspections; some 100 properties remain to be inspected internally, and he is totally dependent on the owners of those properties to provide access.) At the same time, they recognize that the holidays are ap-proaching. If it is not possible to mail notices early in December, the mailing will be delayed until early January. Notification of the new values must be sent by that time in order for those values to be used as the basis for calculating property taxes payable in the third quarter of 2008.

ROADWORKS STATUS
Completion of the resurfacing of Rhoads Avenue has been delayed on several occasions because of rain. The contractor has advised the Borough that, given good weather, he would have the base coat laid before Thanksgiving, thus enabling residents and visitors to park on the street. The top coat would be laid at a later date. On Mt. Vernon Avenue, work is underway to replace drive-way aprons and curbs where necessary. Road surfacing will follow. The parking lot behind the Borough Hall was resurfaced recently. Striping was scheduled to be completed before Thanksgiving.

’TIS THE SEASON ... TO SHOP!
As the holiday season approaches and shoppers begin mak-ing lists (and checking them twice), the Commissioners urge residents to be conscious of the benefits of shopping locally. The health of the entire town depends so much on the health of the “downtown” (the business district). And the health of the downtown depends so much on the extent to which residents and visitors patronize the businesses in the district: merchants, retail services, restaurants, etc. Many residents assume that they need to venture far afield to find suitable gifts for family and friends. In reality – as guides published by the Partnership for Haddonfield make clear – the variety of goods and services available in Haddonfield is ex-traordinary. Plus the quality is high, the prices are competitive, and the service is prompt and personable. And remember: If by chance you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for in town, consider townwide gift certificates. They’re available in all denominations at the Information Center in Kings Court (12:00n to 4:00pm, seven days) ... and one size fits all.

November 9 to November 23

CHANGE TO PET LICENSE FEES
State law requires the owners of dogs and cats to obtain licenses for them by January 31 each year from the municipality in which they live. The law permits municipalities to charge for those licenses; the amount charged should reflect the cost of administering the licensing program. The Borough’s pet license fees have remained steady for the past six years; a modest increase is now warranted. The fees for 2008 will be as follows:

If paid on or before January 31:
• Dogs neutered/spayed $12
• Dogs non-neutered/spayed $15
• Cats neutered/spayed $9
• Cats non-neutered/spayed $12

If paid between February 1 and April 30: After April 30:
• Dogs neutered/spayed $17/ $22
• Dogs non-neutered/spayed $20/ $ 25
• Cats neutered/spayed $14/ $19
• Cats non-neutered/spayed $17/ $22
Registrations will be accepted after December 1. Look for a form in the November 23 issue of What’s On, and on the Borough’s Web site after Thanksgiving
VETERANS DAY TRASH AND LEAF COLLECTION
Borough offices will be closed on Monday, November 12, in observance of Veterans Day. Monday’s trash, recycling, and leaf collection will be postponed to Tuesday. Business owners are asked to not put trash and recycling out on Sunday evening; hold it until Monday evening after 5pm or Tuesday morning before 7am
THANKSGIVING TRASH AND LEAF COLLECTION
Borough offices will be closed on Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23, in observance of Thanksgiving. Thursday’s trash, recycling, and leaf collection will be postponed to Friday. Business owners are asked to not put trash and recycling out on Wednesday evening; hold it until Thursday evening after 5pm or Friday morning before 7am. Friday’s trash and recycling will be collected on Saturday. Friday’s leaves will be collected on Saturday, if the schedule permits
ADDITIONAL LIBRARY FOCUS GROUP
The Public Library is holding a series of focus groups to give residents an opportunity to discuss the Library facility and the services it provides. An additional date has been added to the schedule: Tuesday, November 27 at 7pm in the downstairs meeting room. Those wishing to attend should call 429-1304 to register
WEB SITE UPDATES
A number of enhancements have been made recently to the Borough’s Web site: www.haddonfieldnj.org Detailed information about the various departments has been added, along with forms that can be downloaded and, in some cases, completed online. The Commissioners hope that these enhancements will make the municipality more accessible to property owners, residents, business owners, visitors, and shoppers.
TREE LIGHTING AND SANTA PARADE
The Celebrations Association is inviting all members of the community to the lighting of the Holiday Tree at the Public Library on Friday, November 23 at 6:30pm. A parade to Kings Court will follow. Santa Claus will receive children’s holiday wishes and the Pick-Up Band will play seasonal selections. A menorah to be erected in front of the Library will be lit on Wednesday, December 5.
PARKING PERMITS FOR OFFICE WORKERS
For some time, the Borough has piloted a program that enables employees of businesses in certain downtown locations to obtain special parking permits. The goal of the program is to increase the availability of off-street parking in the business district, particularly on Kings Highway and in the immediate vicinity. The program provides incentives for employees to park in Borough parking lots in the rear of businesses, rather than on the streets. The Commissioners recently adopted an ordinance that makes the program permanent. The permits allow the holders to park in any Borough lot, except the one on Haddon Avenue N (opposite the Fire House), without having to deposit money in a parking meter. Employees of businesses on Kings Highway, Haddon Avenue S., the first block of Haddon Avenue N., Tanner Street, and Mechanic Street are eligible to apply for the permits, which cost $25 per month. Full details and application forms are available at the Borough Hall, the Information Center, and online at the Borough’s Website
UNDERAGE DRINKING UPDATE
The Municipal Alliance is planning a community meeting in the Middle School auditorium on Thursday, November 29 at 7pm. Speakers will include a Haddonfield parent who lost a child to alcohol abuse, a member of the HMHS Class of 1994 who is a recovering addict, and, from Washington DC, one of the authors of the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking. The Commissioners encourage all who are concerned about the issue of underage drinking to attend. Copies of “A Guide to Action for Families,” based on the Surgeon General’s report, will be available.

October 26 to November 9, 2007

DESPITE THE HEAT, LEAVES ARE FALLING
The Borough’s leaf collection for 2007 is under way. It will run in your neighborhood until your trash day in the week of December 3 thru 7.
To assist the efficiency of the collection operation and to help ensure the safety of crews, the Borough asks residents to:
• Rake leaves to the curb as near as possible to the scheduled collection day.
• Rake leaves into one or two large piles rather than long rows.
• Keep leaves behind the curb. DO NOT rake leaves into the street!
• Leaves piled in the street or within 10 feet of a storm water inlet may result in charges answerable in Municipal Court being filed against the property owner. Note: If you use a lawn service, make sure your contractor is familiar with these rules. (If a summons is issued for a violation, it is the PROPERTY OWNER who must appear in court.)
• During leaf collection season, the Public Works Department does not chip brush. Brush and other vegetative matter will be picked up as trash. It should be tied or bundled in lengths no longer than 4 feet.
Questions? Call Public Works Department at 429-0183.

PARKING LOT PAVING
Weather permitting, the parking lot behind the Borough Hall will be closed on Friday, November 9 and Monday, November 12 – but not on the weekend – so the lot can be repaved.
The Borough Hall will be open on Friday but closed on Monday, November 12 in observance of ...

VETERAN’S DAY
Since Veteran’s Day (November 11) falls on a Sunday this year, the Borough’s observance will be postponed until Monday. A ceremony conducted by American Legion Post 38 will be held at the memorial in front of the High School, starting at 11:00am.
The Commissioners encourage residents and business owners to fly the flag in honor of our country’s veterans and to attend the ceremony on Monday.
Borough offices will be closed. The Public Library will be open. Trash and recycling collection will be postponed to Tuesday.

DATE CHANGE FOR COMMISSION MEETING
Borough Commission meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Meetings begin at 7:30pm and are usually held in Room 102 of the Borough Hall. Changes to the schedule are rare.
There will be a change in November, however. The NJ League of Municipalities’ annual conference (which Borough officials typically attend) will be held this year during the second week of November. Therefore, the first Commission meeting in November will be held a week earlier than scheduled, on Tuesday, November 6.

HALLOWEEN COMETH
Haddonfield’s annual Halloween Parade, sponsored by the Celebrations Association, will be held on Tuesday, October 30. Costumes characters should assemble, after 6:30pm, behind the Presbyterian Church. The parade, along Kings Highway to the Borough Hall parking lot, will begin at 7:00pm.
In the interests of safety, the Police Chief recommends that Trick-or-Treat activities on Wednesday, October 31 take place between 2:00pm and dusk.

TWO ADDITIONAL REASSESSMENT MEETINGS
The Borough’s property reassessment process is coming to a close. In an effort to ensure that all property owners have an opportunity to understand the process, the Borough has scheduled two additional meetings – one in the afternoon and one in the evening – on Monday, November 5 at 1:00pm and Thursday, November 8 at 7:00pm.
These meetings will be similar in format and content to those held in January and July: 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 property owners to attend. Those who are not able to attend may call 429-4700 x 226 to speak with the Assessor, or send questions to him at tcolavecchio@haddonfield-nj.gov.

A VERY SUCCESSFUL FALL FESTIVAL
The annual Fall Festival on October 13 was blessed with spectacular weather and large crowds. Many community organizations reported a high level of activity at their tables throughout the day. The country craft tents on Tanner Street were also abuzz with shoppers.
The Commissioners thank all who helped make the Festival such a success, especially the staff of the Information Center.

AMENDMENT TO NEW ORDINANCE
In response to public comments offered during the Public Hearing on the Property Maintenance Ordinance, the Commissioners planned to amend the ordinance during their meeting on October 22 to extend the time permitted to correct violations from 7 to 14 days, and to permit two 30-day extensions of time in certain circumstances.

ELECTRONICS RECYCLING
Computers, printers, peripherals, TVs, VCRs, and similar electronic equipment (owned by residents, not by businesses) may be dropped off for recycling at the Camden County Public Works Complex in Lindenwold on Saturday, October 27 between 8:30am and 12:30pm.
For details, call 856-858-5241.

October 12 to October 26, 2007

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE ORDINANCE
In response to requests from a number of residents to “do something” about unkempt properties in their neighborhoods, the Commissioners looked into ordinances on the books in other New Jersey municipalities, especially those nearby. They drafted a similar ordinance, introduced it during their regular meeting on August 28, held a public hearing on September 25, and subsequently adopted it.
The new ordinance gives the Borough the ability to address residents’ concerns about unsafe, unkempt, and unhealthy properties, a power it lacked previously, and to ensure that properties in Haddonfield can be held to similar standards of upkeep as neighboring properties in Barrington, Cherry Hill, Haddon Heights, and Haddon Township.

Items that can be cause for concern include animal excrement; abandoned, uncovered, or structurally unsound wells, shafts, towers, cellar openings, basement hatchways, foundations or excavations; loose, crumbling or otherwise unsafe exterior portions of buildings or structures; dangerously loose and overhanging objects, including tree limbs; roof leaks; and junk vehicles.

Residents who have concerns about the upkeep of a particular property may call the Community Development Office at 429-4700 x 209. An official from that office will visit the property to verify and document the nature and extent of the concerns and, if appropriate, ask the property owner to take action. If effective action has not been taken after repeated verbal requests, the Borough will then ask the property owner, in writing, to rectify the concern within seven days.

The Borough will make every effort to accommodate the needs of property owners who make genuine efforts to rectify the documented concerns. For example, property owners who have received written requests may ask for additional time simply by calling the Community Development Office. To deal with unresponsive property owners, the ordinance gives the Construction Code Official the ability to file a complaint answerable in Municipal Court, and it gives the Municipal Court judge the ability to fine property owners who do not respond within a reasonable time to formal requests for action.

The ordinance also gives the Borough the ability, in extreme cases – where safety is a major issue, for example – to have the work done and to place a lien on the property to cover the cost of the work.

The Commissioners have stated – and stressed – that formal action will be taken only after repeated attempts to encourage the property owner to take action have failed. As with other ordinances that provide for the levying of fines, the maximum fine specified in this ordinance – $1,000 per day – is intended to be imposed only in the most extreme cases.

The Commissioners are aware of only a dozen or so properties, out of 4,000, where action by the property owner might be required. The Borough will not “go looking” for properties to cite; rather, it will record and respond to calls from residents.

Copies of the new ordinance are available at the Borough Hall, in Room 101. The document may also be downloaded from the Borough’s Web site