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Residents press Haddonfield commissioners for transparency on Bancroft property, OPRA changes and local traffic safety
Summary
At the July 22 meeting, residents urged clearer timelines and more transparency on the Bancroft property and Open Space Fund expenditures; they also raised complaints about denied speed bumps on Fowler Avenue and asked why Zoom recordings are not posted online. Officials explained OPRA law changes effective Sept. 3, 2024, and said $1.5 million from the Open Space Fund was used in a land swap to offset Green Acres funding.
Residents used the July 22 public-comment periods to press the Borough of Haddonfield for clearer timelines and greater transparency regarding the Bancroft property, OPRA record procedures and local traffic-calming decisions.
Kim Custer, a former Haddonfield resident, said she was "disappointed that residents are being given only five minutes, yet reporters are being given much more time to ask their questions" and urged the borough to provide timelines for what may happen at the Bancroft site; she said her involvement dates back to documents from 2000 and a property history she traced to 1955. Mayor Bianco Bezich said information is being gathered for public release.
Anne Hearing (Walnut Street) asked why dollar amounts in Bancroft requests for proposals were redacted. The Borough Solicitor said redactions occurred because discussions regarding the project had not been finalized. The Borough Administrator said $1.5 million from the Open Space Fund was used in a land swap with the Board of Education to offset Green Acres funding and noted that the Open Space Fund receives approximately $200,000 or less annually from taxes.
Walter Weidenbacher (Centre Street) asked why longer departmental reports were not being printed and questioned why Zoom meeting recordings are not posted online; the Borough Clerk responded with a description of changes to New Jersey's OPRA law that are set to take effect on Sept. 3, 2024. Jim Zinsky (Fowler Avenue) said the borough denied a speed bump on Fowler despite similar installations on Belmont and Roberts Avenues and suggested the decision may relate to lower tax revenues on his street; the transcript records his complaint but does not include a response from the commissioners on that point. Shana Marshall (Centre Street) told the commissioners that the Zoom audio quality was excellent.
Speakers asked for clearer public timelines and more accessible records; officials acknowledged information collection and explained legal reasons for certain redactions. No formal action on the Bancroft property, OPRA policy changes, or speed-bump requests was recorded that evening; commissioners later entered closed session for litigation updates.
