At its latest public session, Cherry Hill township council put its final stamp on an ordinance that would lower the speed limit on a residential thoroughfare often used as a cut-through for the more heavily trafficked Haddonfield Road.
After a second reading and public comment in favor of the move on June 14, the speed limit on Mercer Street will be reduced from 35 miles per hour to 25. Mercer, which runs parallel to Haddonfield through the Locustwood neighborhood from Chapel Avenue to Route 70 West, is home to multiple residences on both sides of the street, as well as St. Thomas Greek Orthodox Church and town hall.
Carlos Reuthner, who resides on Mercer across from the municipal complex, once again voiced his support for the speed limit reduction.
“I think it’s long overdue and it will increase the safety and the quality of life here in Locustwood,” he said. “I also (would) like to thank township officials and council for considering this and voting yes to the change.”Frank Maloney, another Locustwood denizen, added, “This was a job well done. We thank you and applaud you for your kind support.”
In her customary remarks, Mayor Susan Shin Angulo provided an update on the opening of municipal buildings to the general public for the first time in 15 months.
“Our full reopening of town hall will begin on June 21,” she stated.
To facilitate the reopening process and prepare township employees to once again interact face to face with residents, the township will conform to guidance from Gov. Phil Murphy’s recent executive orders, as well as from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding unvaccinated individuals.
To that end, all areas where the public interacts with township employees have been outfitted with clear plastic barriers, and residents are asked to wear a mask when inside both town hall and public works buildings.
“As always, I encourage all our residents to save time and to continue to take advantage of our convenient online options to conduct businesses and (avail yourself of) services with our township,” the mayor added.
Concurrent with Angulo’s announcement, council is expected to move back to in person public council meetings beginning with the first session next month, scheduled for July 12. Council Vice President Brian Bauerle said officials would investigate the possibility of hybrid sessions for those who may not be comfortable in an indoor public setting.
In other news:
- Per a proclamation, June has been designated Pride Month throughout the township.
- Despite being listed once again on the meeting agenda, an ordinance intended for second reading and public comment regarding the placement of wireless telecommunications equipment on township rights of way, initially approved on March 22, was once again pulled from consideration. Bauerle, like Council President David Fleisher before him, said the legislation would be brought for discussion and vote at a future meeting.
- Council passed a resolution to award the contract for resurfacing of various sport courts throughout the township to Nickolaus Construction of Vincentown, for an amount not to exceed $244,000 for services, including crack repair and coating.
- The governing body also moved to reject all previous bids for the purchase of tactical armor for Cherry Hill police, and authorized a re-bid process for the same. But the department will get one new and unused Ford SUV interceptor, per another resolution, to replace a similar vehicle that was totaled in an accident.
- Both Fleisher and councilwoman Carole Roskoph were absent.
