As the borough moves forward with proposals from three bidders for a full evaluation of combining certain services with Camden County Colonial Alliance police departments, much discussion was held at Sept. 24 board of commissioners meeting.
Recently receiving three proposals for a study that would analyze the cost savings of combining services in police departments, borough administrator Sharon McCullough said the alliance has plans to interview two of the bidders — CGR Inc., with an estimate of $98,000, and Matrix Consulting Group with an estimate of $45,000.
Yet, questions arose about those. Jack Matty asked what the protocol would be if the borough decided to remove a police chief from Haddonfield as part of such a service agreement and if a referendum was filed on the issue.
Commissioner John Moscatelli explained that the borough was not looking to combine police departments, but to merge administrative functions, and stressed that the commissioners must look at savings before making any decision.
When asked whether he would vote for not having a police chief in Haddonfield, Commissioner Neal Rochford stated that he could not speak on the topic until he had the study in front of him.
Moscatelli also said during the meeting that, while knocking on doors during election season, many residents expressed their woes over growing property taxes and implored the commissioners to find ways to reduce the taxes — this study being a step in that direction.
He also went on to say later in public comment, however, that if the study showed a savings of millions for the borough he would still back a referendum to have a police chief in Haddonfield.
“I would back them,” Moscatelli said, “if they wanted to spend their tax dollars for a police chief.”
Moscatelli went on to clarify that his opinion was solely his and he was not speaking for the board.
Gloucester City resident John Schmidt also spoke against the prospect of combining services.
“It’s a shame that you’re putting the borough and your police chief through this,” Schmidt said.
While proposing that the police department should be part of the process, Schmidt also inquired as to whether a police chief from a neighboring district would be a violation of state statute Title 40-A.
Mayor Jeff Kasko, who was absent for part of the meeting due to back-to-school night at J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School, but reviewed the video of the meeting the next day, said the idea of eliminating a police chief in Haddonfield has never been something he had discussed.
“My feeling is that we should have our own police department and police chief,” Kasko said.
Kasko also added, though, that he is open to what the study finds and agrees with Moscatelli and Rochford in saying that the commissioners cannot make an informed decision without information.
“I think it’s something that people have just latched onto, but it’s speculation,” Kasko said.
As far as discussions on referendums, Kasko says the borough is not even there yet.
“We don’t even know what we’re considering,” Kasko said.
After returning to the meeting, Kasko later said that the borough is willing to spend $5,000 to $6,000 on its portion of the evaluation and $15,000 to $20,000 on the high end.
Kasko said after the meeting that the total cost of the study would be basically divided among the towns, yet town size will be considered in the division of costs.
He also added toward the end of the meeting that the borough currently had no plans to get rid of the police department and the fire department.
McCullough later explained that once a bidder is selected for the evaluation, the study is expected to take about four months to complete.
Seven towns are involved in the Camden County Colonial Alliance — Haddonfield, Collingswood, Haddon Township, Mount Ephraim, Oaklyn, Haddon Heights and Audubon. Haddon Heights, as explained before by Kasko, opted to step away from exploring this option.
In addition to exploring this option with six of the seven towns in the alliance, Haddonfield also currently shares services such as public works equipment and machinery, equipment and personnel with the Haddonfield Board of Education and police emergency coverage.
