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Note from the Chief of Police About No Parking Regulations

Please be advised that the Haddon Heights Police Department strictly enforces no parking regulations within the Borough. Most importantly we take a very proactive approach adjacent to schools and recreational areas such as baseball fields. We will enforce no parking regulations while patrolling in marked and unmarked patrol units typically issuing summonses. The officer may stop and issue a summons or it may be mailed to your residence. Our goal is to improve pedestrian safety through compliance of parking regulations even when police are not present.

Thank you for you cooperation.

Tax Office Update - Tax Bills and Tax Lien Sale

Third quarter taxes are due August 1, 2010.  Interest will be charged after August 10th.

Fourth quarter bills will be mailed in October with a due date of 11/1/10. The bill will also include payment stubs for the first and second quarters of 2011.

The annual Tax Lien Sale will be held later this year on Friday, September 17th in order to give residents more time to catch up with their unpaid 2009 property taxes and CCMUA balances. The Mayor knows some of our residents are experiencing financial difficulties and an extension will be beneficial. The sale will be advertised in the Retrospect, our web site and in five public places for four consecutive weeks starting August 20th.

To avoid being in these publications those who owe 2009 property taxes and or CCMUA balances must have their payment to the Borough before 8/16/10. The Sale does not mean you will lose your property, but a lien will be placed on the property until property taxes are paid in full. The lien holder has two years before they can begin foreclosure proceedings.

Let's Get Ready to ZUMBA!

Move fast and have fun... ZUMBA is a Latin flavored dance/fitness program that combines musical rhythms with exciting moves to create a workout that is fun and easy to do. The hour long class will tone and sculpt your body while burning lots of calories. It is a fun and very effective class for everyone, both men and women. Come and join the party!!

Classes will be held at the newly renovated, air conditioned Haddon Heights Community Center, 321 Seventh Avenue, for 6 weeks.  Join us for our second session.  July 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 & 29, August 2, 5, 10 & 12,  Tuesdays & Thursdays, $60.  Haddon Heights residents may deduct $5.00 from the fee.  Class size will be limited to 40. Call Kelly Santosusso at Borough Hall, 856-547-7164 for registration information.  Click here for registration form.

2.0% Decrease in 2010 Borough Property Taxes!

Mayor Scott Alexander has announced a decrease in Borough property taxes for the second year in a row. This is the first back to back annual property tax reduction in Haddon Heights since 1941/1942, 68 years ago. The Mayor said he was pleased that the Governing Body, Board of Education and County responded to the "333" Mayor's Challenge in 2008, the "Net Property Tax Reduction" Mayor's Challenge in 2009 and the challenge again in 2010 to further reduce property tax levy requests. The County has requested a 2.3% increase in their tax levy request and have also suspended their Open Space Tax. Voters approved a 2.64% increase in the School District tax levy, and the Municipality increased its tax levy 2.2%, providing a blended 2.0% property tax decrease in 2010. A $300,000 assessed property will see a $156 reduction in their property tax bill in 2010. The reason for the reduction even though all tax entities are increasing their tax levy request is due to a school district budget which is based on a fiscal versus calendar year. The County has put their Open Space Tax on hold for 2010 which will mainly benefit Municipalities who don't run their operations efficiently, but will create issues for those same Municipalities when the tax is taken off hold in 2011.

The Borough has stayed the course since 2008 for sound fiscal policy while finding additional expense reductions to offset a 20% reduction in State Aid revenues. The Mayor and CFO worked with Department Heads to find operational savings, and a Special Budget Committee that also included Council President Fitzgerald reviewed and endorsed the budget. The goals of the Mayor were to not use "gimmicks" versus sound fiscal policy, maintain service levels, and not hand tie future Governing Bodies. Miscellaneous Revenues are down $179,442 (12.1%) to $1.3 million. State Revenues are down $193,885 (20.4%) to $754,209. Overhead Expenses are down $63,437 (2.19%) to $2.82m, the use of cash surplus is down 23%, and full-time active employees have been reduced to 30 versus a high of 46 in 2007.

Unlike many other Municipalities, School Districts and Counties in the State, Haddon Heights will not lay off employees, implement furloughs, use accelerated tax sales, increase the use of cash surplus or cut services offered to our residents. How? In 2008 Mayor and Council saw the writing on the wall that economic conditions were softening, our revenues were down, the use of extraordinary aid was inappropriate and the Borough operating model was not optimized. So in 2008 changes were implemented including eliminating our dependency on Extraordinary Aid, terminating 8 Public Works employees, outsourcing Borough services, increasing local revenues, building cash surplus, and changing how we operate our departments.

In support of our decision to terminate 8 public works employees, the Public Employment Relations Commission recently upheld our decision to do so. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, Council 71, Local 3869 ("AFSCME") filed an unfair practice charge against the Borough. The charge alleged that the Borough violated the New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act when it terminated eight DPW employees in retaliation for their joining the union in 2007 and not economic conditions. The Municipality has long maintained that all charges were false, and the decision by PERC vindicates the needed actions of Mayor and Council. These actions were ahead of the curve considering the lay-offs happening today in other towns and Counties in the State.

In 2009 the Borough reduced its average property tax bill $165 or 2.2%. This was the 17th largest property tax reduction in the State out of 571 towns and the 4th largest of towns with more than 5,000 residents. It was also 3rd largest out of the 101 towns in Camden, Burlington and Gloucester Counties and #1 of towns with more than 1,000 residents. The 2.0% or $156 average reduction in 2010 will rank high as well.

Status of Project Garnet

As you recall, in December 2008 a comprehensive survey containing 56 questions was sent to each of the 2,748 property owners in Haddon Heights. The question "How do you Rate the Amount & Quality of Economic Development in the Borough?" received the lowest rating of all 20 key services listed in the survey. In reaction to this poor rating from 942 survey responses, Project Garnet was created and put into action. The objectives of Project Garnet are to increase the quality of life in the Borough while raising cash. It also focuses on creating affordable recreational and instructional programs for our residents. Here is what else the project is providing:

1. Revived Haddon Heights Cabin – Opened December, 2009
2. Service Operations Facility – Opened Mid-March
3. Community Center and Seniors Room – Opened April 24th
4. Enhanced traffic and pedestrian safety around Lippincott Lane – Completed in April
5. Four acres of recreational open space behind the Devon Avenue tennis courts – end of 2010
6. One acre park around historic Glovers' Mill built in 1776 – Beginning of 2011
7. Glovers' Mill residential community at former Public Works property - Beginning of 2011

Project Garnet is progressing along as planned with the focus now turning to the former Public Works property. The property consists of 8.2 acres and the plan is to develop a 6.3 acre community of single family homes. These homes will provide $12 million in new ratable for the Borough, and will generate approximately $75,000 in new annual revenue to the Municipality and County and $150,000 to the School District ongoing. These new revenues will directly reduce property taxes for property owners in the Borough. As noted a one acre park will be created around the nationally registered historic Glovers' Mill built in 1776, a yet untapped treasure of the Borough.

Mayor Alexander asked for support of this project as it moved into phase 1. As promised, quality results were delivered in and around Lippincott Lane. During the 2008 and 2009 budgeting process, Mayor Alexander asked you to believe in the tough decisions and challenges that were made. These decisions and challenges resulted in the first tax reduction in 56 years and ranking 3rd out of 101 towns in 3 counties in size of reduction, and the tax reduction in 2010 will provide the first back to back tax reduction in 68 years. Mayor Alexander again asks for your continued support of this project as we move into the next phase of Public Works property development. This new community and historic park will become a cornerstone of the Borough!

Mayor Alexander and Council President Rose Fitzgerald will be giving two 45 minute presentations on July 5th at 7pm for those who want to learn more about Project Garnet. The presentations will be held at the new Community Center located on Lippincott Lane. Visit www.hhprojectgarnet.com for more information.

Tai Chi Class Now Offered in our Community Center

Recommended for men and women of all ages.

Come experience the ancient art of tai Chi. the rhythmic stretching pat- terns, gentle movement and coordinated breathing have been shown to improve balance, flexibility and muscle strength leading to increased well being, energy, endurance and agility. Our instructor is Morris Siegel, R.N.,M.a.

Although we are listing three ,6 week sessions, tai Chi is non competitive and self paced therefore you can start with any session and those continuing through all three will find additional variations to this life time pursuit. You may register for additional sessions at any time.

Class time is 11:30 to 12:30. all dates are Mondays. Class size is limited to 30.

Class fee is $ 40 per session; Haddon Heights residents may deduct $5. Kindly wear sneakers and comfortable clothing; you may want to bring a water bottle. For those unsure of their ability to stand for an hour you may participate while seated for part or all of the class.

Session 2: July 26,aug 2,9,16,23,30
Session 3: Sept 13,20,27,Oct 4,11,18

News From the Department of Public Works

Please DO NOT bring any trash, recycling or used oil etc. to our former location (Glover & North Park). We no longer collect used oil; it may be taken to any store or shop that sells oil.

If your recycling or trash has been missed, please call us at 856-547-2580 and we will contact the vendor. Please DO NOT BAG your leaves as it is very time consuming to open up bags. You may place leaves in bags or open containers with your weekly brush pick-up. When placing brush out at curb side, please make sure limbs do not exceed 4 feet in length. Limbs should be bundled and tied. Trash cans cannot exceed 50 pounds. This is a Borough Ordinance and violators will be fined. Your cooperation is most appreciated.