Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Proclamations, purchases, collective energy buying, tax appeals, even George Norcross—it's all here.
Missed Monday's May meeting of the Collingswood borough commissioners? Here's a brief recap of five things that happened. 1. Proclamations Swimmer Andy Schuehler, who had been previously honored by the Collingswood Board of Education for his top finish in the 100-yard breaststroke at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions, also received a proclamation from the borough for his achievements. Likewise, borough leadership got a sample of the state-winning performance from the Odyssey of the Mind Pet Project team, and formally commended their efforts to bring "the highest spirit of teamwork and innovation" to the borough. Odyssey of the Mind is still raising funds to send the team to the world championships in Michigan at the end of May. At a cost of …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Here's a quick link to all the top news from the campaign season, including a chat transcript from the Tuesday night candidate forum.
The Collingswood commissioner candidates tackled that question at the April 30 debate. Read their answers and give us your take.
“Would you ever be in favor of merging Collingswood with another municipality if it meant lowering taxes significantly?” That question met with some incredulousness from Collingswood’s commissioner candidates when it was posed to them at the April 30 debate. But is it in Collingswood’s future? The question came during a discussion about saving money through shared services. Collingswood has several shared services agreements for work such as fire service, trash collection, energy services and code inspectors. Borough officials spearheaded a seven-town shared service pact to explore more avenues and create additional agreements. Eventually, there could be a limit to the money saved on shared services. So, would candidates be prepared to …
Ahead of the May 14 election, a two-hour debate revealed the different ideas Collingswood's commissioner candidates have for running the borough.
The Collingswood candidate debate largely came down to one question: Have the current commissioners set the borough on the right course, earning them new terms to continue that work, or does Collingswood need “new blood” among its elected officials to correct past actions? The April 30 debate—which featured some minor sniping among opponents—showcased the division among the candidates on a slew of issues, from taxes and revenues to supporting Collingswood business growth and even backyard chickens and liquor sales. Candidates’ answers gave voters a glimpse into the next four years. Will Collingswood stay on its current path, as represented by incumbent slate of James Maley, Joan Leonard and Mike Hall? They promoted their accomplishments …
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Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Plus: big dates to remember in town and no, Collingswood will not be joining the Camden County Police Metro Division.
Didn't go to the borough commissioners meeting on Monday? In addition to a proclamation honoring oustanding volunteer Michelle Miller and a preview of potential tax increases, here's a recap of what you missed. 1. Paved parking lots. As part of its seven-town shared services agreement, crews from Bellmawr will re-pave the Collingswood Community Center parking lot by the end of April—just in time for the opening of the Farmers Market. Visitors and residents are encouraged to park in the LumberYard garage during the process. 2. Repaved county roads. Mayor James Maley acknowledged that Collings Ave. and Browning Road are “in rough shape” after the winter, and that pothole repair on both is a priority for the borough. As county roads, however…
The detail slipped out at a packed Borough Commissioners meeting Monday night.
At a busy Commissioners meeting that included the swearing-in of three full-time emergency services personnel and a proclamation honoring the most outstanding volunteer in the borough, the biggest news of the evening slipped out innocuously: taxes in the borough might be going up for 2013. In announcing that the full budget presentation will be delayed for another month, Mayor James Maley mentioned casually that borough taxpayers "may see a slight increase in taxes" for the next calendar year. Pressed for further details from the crowd, the mayor ballparked the figure at about $50 per household, blaming factors like the worldwide economic recession and a decrease in state aid. "If it ends up the way it is right now, it’ll be $50," Maley …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Who's running in Collingswood? Where do I vote? When is the election? We've got you covered.
It's election season again in Collingswood. Although the borough just chose its new Board of Education members at the normal polls in November 2012, the four-year terms on borough commissioners expire this spring. With that in mind, here's your fast, fun primer on the upcoming referendum. Collingswood is one of those New Jersey communities in which municipal government is organized into a non-partisan, three-member commission under the Walsh Act. Each of the commissioners has specific responsibilities that are determined after the election at an internal re-organization meeting. They are: The vote will take place Tuesday, May 14. Election hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at your normal borough polling place. Not sure where to vote? Click here to…
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Hall said that his primary concern is with maintaining the level of services residents have come to expect, especially in terms of emergency, police and fire.
Mike Hall has lived in Collingswood since he was 6 months old. A graduate of Collingswood High School ('73), he worked his way up through the ranks of the borough fire department, spending eight years of his 30-year career there as Chief. Hall also has five children and five grandchildren. When Mike Hall says there's no place else that has the same hometown feel as Collingswood, he knows it. Hall has spent his whole life in the borough, and speaks fondly of its charms. "It’s just where I grew up, so it’s kind of like all I’ve known," he said. "But it’s always been a great town. You always felt safe playing in the neighborhood." Hall's professional career in the borough has centered on emergency services, and he said that those issues are …
Monday, March 18, 2013
Collingswood's long-serving mayor tells Patch he is comfortable running on his record.
Of the more than 30 years he has lived in Collingswood, municipal lawyer James Maley has served as the mayor for 13, and has held office in the borough for another eight besides. Maley's practice has been headquartered in the Collingswood since 1987, a town in which he has raised three children, welcomed two grandchildren and expects two more in June. James Maley says he will be back at the baseball fields again this year: His oldest grandson is starting T-ball. "I'm completing the cycle," he jokes. Maley has seen a lot of changes in Collingswood in the years since his own children were playing Little League. And he has weathered a lot of campaign seasons in that time, too. As Maley stands for re-election to the borough government with …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Ian Wachstein served 18 years on the local school board after someone tapped him on the shoulder and told him to put his money where his mouth is. Now Wachstein says he's been tapped again.
Ian Wachstein is a 72-year-old father of four who has lived in Collingswood since 1978. For 45 years, he served with the New Jersey State Office of the Public Defender, retiring in December 2012. He joins a slate of challengers to the incumbent borough commissioners in the 2013 race. The last time somebody told Ian Wachstein "If you don't like it, why don't you run?" he spent 18 years on the Collingswood Board of Education. "I was complaining about the fact that my then-eighth-grade daughter had to take a science course that involved learning how to type," Wachstein told Patch. "Somebody tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'If you don’t like it, why don’t you run for the board?'" Wachstein won the election, and the following year, his …
Collingswoodnative
9:27 am on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Public works needs new trucks no question in MY mind about that. A new $42K "command vehicle" for the fire company... not so sure that's needed. more ›