Mayor Platt issues statement on municipal aid cuts

Please see the statement below from Mayor Bernie Platt regarding the cut in aid from the DCA.

“In light of the severe cuts to state aid coming out of Trenton today, I’m hopeful the cuts are not made without providing towns a strong portfolio of resources to implement greater cost savings and more efficient operations. On Tuesday morning I sat down with DCA Commissioner Lori Grifa, Mayors from around the region and the League of Municipalities for a thoughtful dialogue about the Governor’s proposed budget. With that said, Cherry Hill knows that sacrifices have to be made at all levels of government during this fiscal crisis.    

There is no question that I will continue to stretch every penny to the limit, but in order to properly preserve our core mission of protecting the health and welfare of our residents, the Governor has to deliver on his campaign promises and reforms his administration is pursuing. These obligations include changes to binding arbitration, collective bargaining reforms, affordable housing changes, augmenting the pension system and introducing premium sharing into healthcare costs (something Cherry Hill instituted in 2008) in order for municipalities to overcome a significant loss in state aid.

Furthermore, Cherry Hill has been a model of efficiency, and has retained the lowest municipal tax rate in the county for the last 20 years because we have been aggressive at finding cost savings and have brought our work force down to its lowest level in a decade. If Trenton does not deliver the tools that are needed to blunt the cuts from Christie’s ax, I will continue to seek more internal savings by preparing for furloughs, salary give-backs, reopening union contracts, and possibly cutting more staff to preserve our core services.”  

Mayor Platt, Town Council: Speaking Out for Our Schools

By Bernie Platt

The Mayor and Town Council recognize the importance of our schools in Cherry Hill and know that Township leadership has an obligation to provide our children with a quality education.  A good school system is central to the vitality of our neighborhoods and bolsters property values for everyone.

We also believe in the importance of having an independent school district which is governed by a board of education elected by the public and run by a superintendent hired and supervised by the Cherry Hill Board of Education.  However, in a time of fiscal crisis like this, we feel compelled to stake out our position on the current state of education in Cherry Hill. 
Read more

Cherry Hill providing debris cleanup for residents

Mayor Bernie Platt announced today that he is instituting a special program to assist residents with tree debris clean-up, following a winter of record storms.

Township ordinance requires that weekly yard-waste pickup – such as felled branches, bark, and even small trees – be cut into manageable pieces, bundled, and placed in an open bin or bag weighing no more than 60 pounds. For some residents who do not have access to the tools needed to break down large tree limbs, meeting the yard-waste collection requirements may present a hardship – particularly in light of the destructive weather the Township has experienced in recent months.

With that in mind, Mayor Platt has instituted a four-week initiative that will allow these residents to schedule large, unbundled yard-waste pickups through the Department of Public Works. Provided that the branches, limbs and similar pieces of natural debris are of a reasonable weight and brought curbside, a DPW crew will chip the wood on-site and take it away from the property.
Read more

Cherry Hill, Recyclebank featured in NY news segment

Mayor Bernie Platt and a handful of Township residents and businesses were featured in a news segment last night on WCBS (Ch. 2) in New York.

Here's the link: http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=140048@wcbs.dayport.com

Mayor Platt comments on sentencing of former township official

Please see the following statement from Mayor Bernie Platt in reference to the sentencing of Tony Saccomanno.

"First and foremost I want to applaud the work of the U.S. Attorney and the FBI on this case.

Read more

Town Hall, Library, Schools closed Thursday, Feb. 11; trash collection canceled

The Cherry Hill Township Municipal Building will remain closed on Thursday, Feb. 11, to ensure the safety of municipal employees and residents in these treacherous weather conditions. All Township schools and the Cherry Hill Public Library will remain closed, as well, and all recreational programs have been canceled.

This closure affects all non-emergency offices, including the Township’s tax window and Municipal Court. As such, the grace period for first-quarter tax payments has been extended again, to the close of business (5:30 p.m.) on Friday, Feb. 12.Municipal Court sessions scheduled for Thursday have also been canceled, and will be rescheduled through the mail shortly. For more information, please call the Court at (856) 488-7850, when offices re-open.

Trash and recycling collection have also been canceled for Thursday. Wednesday’s trash and recyclables are expected to be picked up on Friday. Thursday and Friday collections have been rescheduled to Saturday, Feb. 13. All collection routes are expected to be back to a normal schedule on Monday, Feb. 15, and operational despite the President’s Day holiday.
Read more

Mayor Platt: Crews continue snow-removal work, prepare for next storm

Once again this winter season, Cherry Hill and surrounding communities face the daunting task of digging out from a record storm that brought more than 27 inches of snow to our region.

While there is still plenty of work to be done, the diligent snow-removal efforts performed by our Department of Public Works through the weekend have allowed us to start the work week relatively unscathed.

From the storm’s onset Friday evening, 43 Township’s snow plows and salt spreaders have been deployed throughout town, and more than 60 of our DPW employees have been on hand, working around-the-clock in an effort to keep more than 226 miles of municipal roadways safe and passable, allowing our lives to continue nearly uninterrupted.

That said, it has already been a long winter, and it appears our work is far from over. Another powerful storm is forecast to move through our area in the middle of this week, and we again expect that accumulation could be significant.
Read more

DPW prepared for impending storm

With snow expected to begin this afternoon and continue through Saturday, the Township’s Department of Public Works is working diligently to ensure crews are ready to respond as soon as the first snowflakes fall.

Salt spreaders have been loaded and will be deployed at the storm’s onset to prevent icing on the 226 miles of roadway maintained by Cherry Hill. All told, some 41 plows and spreaders will be on the road for the duration of the storm to keep our roads as clear and as safe as possible.

Our employees will work around-the-clock through the duration of the storm, with supervisory personnel on hand to monitor road conditions and keep an eye on the most up-to-date forecast. Additionally, administrative staff will be on hand through the storm to answer telephone calls, at (856) 424-4422.
Read more

Free tax help available for seniors through April 13

With tax season upon us, Cherry Hill and the AARP are once again offering a popular, free tax-help program to the Township’s 13,000 seniors.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday from now until April 13, AARP Tax-Aide Volunteers will be at Town Hall to assist low- and moderate-income seniors in preparing their 2009 state and federal tax returns, as well as Homestead Rebate and Property Tax Reimbursement forms.

No appointments are necessary; however, residents should note that complex returns such as those involving businesses, rental income, or multiple capital gains, will not be prepared through this program. Electronic filing and direct-deposit services will be available to help speed seniors’ returns.
Read more

Mayor, Council encourage donations to Haitian relief efforts

In the wake of the catastrophic destruction sustained in Haiti on Tuesday, Jan. 12, Mayor Platt and the Township Council are asking residents to band together and show the boundless compassion and generosity that is characteristic of our community.

Haiti’s capitol city of Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area have been crippled by the 7.0-magnitude earthquake, and thousands of buildings have collapsed, including the Presidential Palace, United Nations headquarters, and hospitals, burying thousands in the rubble and leaving millions homeless. As the days wear on and global relief efforts begin, the news becomes increasingly grim: bodies are piling up in the street, thousands are in need of medical care that is not available, and a severe lack of food, water, electricity and shelter for the quake’s vulnerable victims will soon add to the already sky-rocketing death toll.

While we are thousands of miles away from the devastation, this is truly a human tragedy that we must all work together to overcome. If we all donate what we can – even if it’s just a few dollars – to the relief effort, there is no question that our contributions will save lives.
Read more

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.
Read more

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.
Read more

Council reorganization meeting at 7:30 tonight

Please join Mayor Bernie Platt and Township Council for Cherry Hill’s 2010 reorganization meeting, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, in the Carman Tilelli Community Center.

As Council’s first meeting of 2010, the gathering will include the ceremonial swearing-in of our three incoming Council members – firefighter Jim Bannar, community activist Susan Shin-Angulo, and teacher Jacquelene Silver – and Councilman David Fleisher, who has served on council since February 2009 and was re-elected along with those three in November. Additionally, Council will elect a president and vice-president of the governing body for 2010.

A number of state and Camden County officials are expected to be on hand for the ceremony, which will feature a salute by the Cherry Hill Police Department Honor Guard and a performance by the Kingston and Richard Stockton Elementary School choirs.

Township awarded funds to continue sidewalk initiative

Township officials were pleased to start the new year with an allotment of $110,000 from the state Department of Transportation (DOT) for the fourth phase of sidewalk installation along Evesham Road, further improving the safety and connectivity of the busy roadway.

The municipality’s Engineering Department has already begun design plans for the project, which will create a smooth concrete pathway from Sussex Avenue to Cuffy’s Lane. Mayor Bernie Platt said he anticipates construction of the sidewalk to begin in the fall.

Read more

Mayor Platt commends Public Works’ response to Saturday’s storm

Please see the following statement from Mayor Platt regarding this weekend’s winter storm:

“In the wake of Saturday’s historic snowfall, I would like to commend our Public Works personnel for their diligent work in clearing our municipal roadways, ensuring safe travel for Cherry Hill residents as we entered the work week.
Read more