Year in Review: Collingswood Government News

For Collingswood town government news, 2011 was the year of the LumberYard. The unsold LumberYard units. The LumberYard debt (and subsequent credit downgrade). Even changes to parking had a LumberYard connection.

In March, Mayor Jim Maley assured residents that LumberYard sales were , but apparently that wasn’t enough. By September, the borough was to reduce its debt on the project and in November residents were at the complex.

The LumberYard debt played a starring role in Moody’s decision to , a blow to the borough. Although fought back, , leaving Collingswood with junk status. How that affects the borough’s ability to pay for projects will likely come to a head in 2012.

Collingswood commissioners, in conjunction with the police, also rolled out parking changes this year. opened up in the LumberYard parking garage, but more importantly, Collingswood switched many of its meters to parking kiosks. Some residents of the kiosks, but next year. Also in parking news, Collingswood new permits for .

Moving away from the LumberYard for a bit, 2011 brought important negotiations between the borough and police union. With a looming deadline, went out in the spring, but a scuttled layoffs and demotions.

Also this year in Collingswood government news, a young resident became , about borough water uncovered , the borough administrator announced , Collingswood got and a cell company on top of the Heights of Collingswood.

These are just some of the 189 town government stories Collingswood Patch brought you in 2011. Stay involved year-round with our government and elections topic pages.