Platt: Aide who lied deserves 2nd chance

Al Schell/Courier-Post

By Jane Roh, Courier-Post Staff

Council members approved a revised budget Monday night for fiscal year 2010 of $63.9 million, reflecting a $600,000 increase.

Also at Monday's meeting, officials lauded the township's snow-removal efforts and Mayor Bernie Platt said a top aide who was caught in a lie "deserves an opportunity to redeem himself."

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Cherry Hill officials to meet with residents

Photo courtesy of: bridgeandtunnelclub.com.

Starting Thursday Cherry Hill residents will have a regular, monthly opportunity to meet with their elected officials over a cup of coffee. From 8 to 9 a.m. on the first Thursday of every month, up to three council members will be on hand, in the first booth at Ponzio's Diner, to speak with any township resident.

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Cherry Hill Republican frustrated

By: Jane Roh, Courier-Post Staff

Democrats have controlled the Cherry Hill council and the mayor's office since 1994. For some residents, that's just the way it is. For others, it's a call to remind elected officials that they are being watched.

"I don't agree with how the township is being run and that's the only way you can voice your opinion," said Phil Guerrieri, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor and council. "Writing letters to the editor doesn't get anything done."

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Man fights for funding for special ed

By: Barbara S. Rothschild, Courier-Post Staff
"I'm the guy who jabs at windmills," said Tom Yarnall, 77, who tried to get school board members to listen to his ideas on how to save taxpayers' money, budget it better and find more funds elsewhere.

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One-time lawmaker in hot pursuit of accountability

By: Jane Roh, Courier-Post Staff

Generally, residents who feel particularly passionate about an issue or problem make the effort of attending council meetings. And in Cherry Hill, that is both a good and a bad thing.

"The most input you get is when you're a candidate because you knock on thousands of doors and get a good flavor of what people are thinking and what's important to them," said former Council President Steven Polansky. "Unfortunately, because of a lot of commitments people have, we don't typically see them at meetings."

So the presence of "regulars" at meetings, who include such reasonably well-known figures as Alene Ammond, "is and isn't helpful," Polansky said.

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‘State of the Union’ watch party tonight

Charles Dharapak/AP Photo

SJ Citizens for Change, the Cherry Hill-based grassroots volunteer organization, and Organizing for America (OFA), the successor organization to Obama for America, will host a State of the Union watch party from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., tonight, at Zio's bar at Ponzio's restaurant in Cherry Hill.

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Full text: Mayor Platt’s remarks from Tuesday’s council reorganization

Mayor Bernie Platt

Please see the statement below from Mayor Bernie Platt regarding the reorganization of Town Council.

“First, I want to thank the former mayors that are here and welcome our distinguished guests from the state legislature, fellow and former Township officials, family and fellow residents of Cherry Hill to tonight’s swearing-in.

Also, I want recognize Scott Graser, the Kingston and Stockton Elementary Schools Chorus, and representatives from both of our esteemed high schools.

Tonight, we are gathered to celebrate the future of our Township. But we cannot do that sufficiently without looking at the significance of this moment, and the awesome responsibility that has been presented to our new Council members by the voters of Cherry Hill.
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Mayor and Council extend 10 percent pay cut

Mayor Bernie Platt

Mayor Bernie Platt will give back 10 percent of his Township salary this year, renewing his pledge to personally create a cost-savings for Town Hall. Following Mayor Platt’s example, Town Council and business administrator Maris Kukainis have also agreed to the 10-percent salary reduction.  

 This is the latest in a series of cost-cutting measures implemented by the Township in recent months to combat significant reductions in construction revenue, state aid and rising costs due to state mandated payments to the pension system and the public library.
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Election of Councilwoman Angulo makes state history

Chris LaChall/Courier-Post

Newly elected Township Councilwoman Susan Shin Angulo took part in her inaugural Council meeting tonight, and, in being sworn into office, made an historic debut as New Jersey’s first Korean-American woman to win a seat in government. According to the Center for American Women and Politics in Rutgers University’s Eagleton Institute of Politics, she is the only female government official of Korean descent currently serving in any of the state’s elected public offices.
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Cherry Hill allows raises

Chris LaChall/Courier-Post

By JANE ROH
Courier-Post Staff

More than 130 township workers will get raises this year, but pay cuts will stay in effect for Cherry Hill's elected officials and its business administrator.

Click here to view the Courier-Post photo gallery, and read the rest of this article after the jump...

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Senate to vote on gay marriage tomorrow

A vote has been scheduled for Thursday in the State Senate on a bill allowing gay couples to marry in New Jersey.

Read more about the issue at: Senate to vote on gay marriage | courierpostonline.com | Courier-Post.

Senator James Beach, a Democrat who represents District 6 which includes Cherry Hill, has not yet declared how he will vote tomorrow. His office is at 1916 Route 70 East, Suite 3, Cherry Hill. His office's phone number is (856) 489-3442.

What do you think? Take the poll, and post a comment with your opinion.

Ex-Cherry Hill mayor accepts job with Cooper

By EILEEN STILWELL

Denise Henhoeffer/Courier-Post

Courier-Post Staff

Susan Bass Levin will leave her $291,000-a-year job as deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey next month to run Cooper Hospital's fund-raising arm, the Cooper Foundation.

As foundation president and CEO, Levin will be expected to increase the foundation's current assets of $17.2 million and manage a new, four-person staff.

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Cherry Hill panel hikes sewer fee $20

By JANE ROH

Tina Markoe Kinslow/Courier-Post

Courier-Post Staff

The Cherry Hill Council on Monday approved the township's first sewer bill hike in 20 years.

"It was critical for us to make the sewer fund self-liquidating," said Dan Keashen, chief of staff to Mayor Bernie Platt. "In order for us to maintain our quality of life, we had to make improvements and we continue to have to make improvements to our sewer system."

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Students stage protest against demonstrators

Faye Murman/Courier-Post

By JANE ROH
Courier-Post Staff

Six members of the Topeka-based Westboro Baptist Church faced off with about 100 students and parents at Cherry Hill East High School before the start of the school Monday.

"We got here probably around 7:10," said Forest Steinberg, a 17-year-old at Moorestown High. About 15 of her classmates got notes from their parents to skip first and second periods to join their Cherry Hill East counterparts.

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Photo gallery of this morning’s protests

Faye Murman/Courier-Post

Click here to read more about this morning's protests outside of Cherry Hill High School East.

View the Courier-Post photo gallery with over 20 photos of the protests at: Protests in Cherry Hill | courierpostonline.com | Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties South Jersey News | Courier-Post.