At its most recent public meeting, Haddonfield’s board of commissioners passed upon second reading an ordinance that sets salaries and wages for all non-union borough employees for the current calendar year.
During the Oct. 13 virtual session, a unanimous vote made all base-pay rates, as well as minimum and maximum pay ranges, effective retroactively on April 1.
“This is standard procedure that is required, because we have employees not covered by collective bargaining agreement,” said Commissioner for Revenue and Finance Jeffrey Kasko. “They do include a slight increase over last year, and (are) in line with what the police and public works employees are receiving due to their collective bargaining agreements.”
Kasko also confirmed that raises for non-union personnel are 2-percent cost-of-living increases. Mayor Neal Rochford wanted to make clear to the public the bump in compensation was not larger than rumored.
Furthering their commitment to state-mandated, affordable-housing requirements, commissioners also passed a resolution that will allow the borough to create a nonprofit for handling acquisitions of residential properties to be used for that purpose.
“What we’ve done to satisfy these requirements is to create in-fill sites, involving purchase, maintenance, repair and management of individual rental units. The borough will own these properties,” noted Commissioner Colleen Bianco Bezich.
“And in consultation with CIS (Community Investment Strategies Inc., the borough’s chosen affordable-housing developer) and other entities, what we’ve decided to do is to create the nonprofit to handle things.”
Bezich added the new organization would be responsible for the three properties purchased over the last few months.
Addressing the issue of conflating the town’s annual parades with borough-funded events, Rochford lauded the Haddonfield Celebrations Association — an independent organization — for its work over the last six decades to provide the ceremonies it does each year.
Due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19 at well-attended outdoor gatherings, the Memorial Day parade, Fourth of July activities and Halloween parade were cancelled. Continued concern over the pandemic means the Tree Lighting and Santa Parade, traditionally held on the day after Thanksgiving, will likely also be scuttled.
“The HCA does rely on people’s donations, and we ask that you please consider doing so,” Rochford added.
In other news:
- Commissioners approved six members for the Business Improvement District division of the Partnership for Haddonfield. Chairperson Susan Hodges, John Master Jr., Andrea Miller and Adam Puff will serve terms that expire May 31, 2023,, while Bob Hochgertel and Anne Picking were named alternates, with terms expiring May 31, 2021.
- The triumvirate also approved a change order for the cost of repairing concrete at various locations throughout the borough. K Concrete LLC of South Dennis was awarded the contract originally for $38,550, but the resolution allows for an increase to $39,550 with the addition of repairs to 20 feet of curb on Wayside Lane.
- Per an additional resolution, the borough was authorized to award a bid for tree and stump grinding services to Hyperion Tree Service, based in Moorestown, for a base bid of $58,872.
