From a signage ordinance to crosswalks to rain gardens, proposed and adopted improvements to Haddonfield’s streets will be occurring through the next several months.
Ordinance 2012–11 was adopted on second reading to amend the language of the vehicles and traffic, turns prohibited ordinance at the Thursday, Aug. 28 Commissioner’s meeting.
At the intersections of Hopkins Avenue and Grove Street when heading east on Hopkins to north on Grove; Hopkins Avenue and Haddon Avenue when heading west on Hopkins to south on Haddon; Linden Avenue and West Kings Highway when going south on Linden to east on Kings; and Linden Avenue and West Kings Highway when heading east on kings to north on Linden, it is prohibited to make a left turn Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. as well as from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
A bid for curb and crosswalk painting services was awarded to GWP Enterprises, Inc. of Franklinville for $10,282.02. The bid was awarded for the first of three sections to be redone in the borough.
Dr. Susan Hoch of Coles Mill Road questioned what the criteria was to have a crosswalk painted.
Chief John Banning explained that there’s a pattern to the crosswalks that extends from the schools and allows for a safe route for the borough’s children.
Jeremiah Bergstrom, senior research project manager with Rutger’s New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, presented a potential plan for 4 inch to 6-inch deep rain gardens on Lincoln Avenue during the Commissioner’s work session meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 28.
The rain gardens would provide an outlet for storm water run off.
According to a Camden County Soil Conservation District document relating to the curb extensions, “A rain garden is a depressed area in the landscape that collects and infiltrates storm water runoff.
“There is a porous bioretention layer typically consisting of a sand and compost mixture below a mulch layer. The rain garden can be utilized to capture pollutants in storm water runoff such as organic pollutants, oil, grease and total suspended solids,” it continues.
The first curb extension to be installed through a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) grant would be in front of the schools.
Trees in the area would be provided with more moisture and the grant would also pay for plantings. The plantings would be perennials that would not block visibility at intersections.
Recommended species, according to the document, include Aster, Bee Balm and Arrowwood Viburnum.
Ultimately, the idea would need to be presented to the planning board for approval at a to be determined date.
At the action meeting, it was authorized for Borough Solicitor Mario Iavicoli to provide services to the planning board due to a conflict of interest on the board for the appeal by resident Mary Ann Campling of the fence at the United Methodist Church.
Gloucester City resident John Schmidt was in attendance to ask the Commissioners for their positions on the Camden County Police Department.
Schmidt was traveling from town to town to gather the opinions.
In Haddonfield, said Mayor Tish Colombi, the hometown police department works.
“It’s still our own,” she added, but she will continue to listen to proceedings to stay informed.
Commissioner Jeffrey Kasko said that efforts to share services are “in general a good thing.”
However, when it comes to public safety, there is a higher hurdle to overcome to justify that service.
Kasko echoed Colombi in that it is not the right course of action for the borough.
“These are very challenging times for public safety,” said Commissioner Ed Borden, but Haddonfield’s force does a “fantastic job” with the resources it is given.
