On September 27, 2010 Merchantville’s Borough Council passed a resolution to form a Study Commission with Cherry Hill to investigate the feasibility and prudence of municipal consolidation. As part of their resolution Merchantville appointed 5 commissioners. Cherry Hill was sent a certified copy of that resolution. At a meeting with DCA on November 4, 2010 Mayor Platt stated that they still needed to choose Cherry Hill’s Study commission and would move forward after that meeting. On February 8, 2011 Mayor North sent another letter to Mayor Platt about the delay in appointing a commission and moving the matter forward. To date Mayor Platt has not appointed a commission. The following is correspondence that Mayor North has released regarding the delay and the current status of the Merchantville Cherry Hill Study. The emails took place between February 18th and 20th.
From: Denise Brouse
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 10:24 AM
To: Dan Keashen; Dan Keashen
Cc: ‘Frank North’; Mayor@Merchantvillenj.gov; ‘Pat Fields’; ‘Anthony Perno’; ‘ebrennan@merchantvillenj.gov’; ‘joseph brickley’; amadden@merchantvillenj.gov;
stevevolkert@msn.com
Subject: Merchantville Cherry Hill Study
Dear Dan,
Mayor North has asked that I send this email to Mayor Platt requesting an update on current status of the consolidation study. A letter was sent to Mayor Platt on February 8th and Mayor North is following up. Thank you for your prompt consideration in this matter.
Denise L. Brouse Borough Clerk
856.662.2474 ext. 103 1 West Maple Avenue
Merchantville, NJ 08109
From: Dan Keashen
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 6:07 PM
To: Denise Brouse
Cc: Frank North; Mayor@Merchantvillenj.gov; Pat Fields; Anthony Perno;ebrennan@merchantvillenj.gov; joseph brickley; amadden@merchantvillenj.gov; stevevolkert@msn.com
Subject: RE: Merchantville Cherry Hill Study
Denise,
Mayor Platt has reviewed Mayor North’s correspondence and wanted to confirm that he is aware of the conversation that was had with Mr. Neff and the parameters that Mr. Neff set for the completion of the application process. We appreciate the work that Mr. Neff and his team have done on this issue and as was stated in the phone conference the Mayor will keep all stakeholders apprised of his actions. Additionally, the Mayor is also monitoring events occurring at the state house that would affect this process as we move forward.
Best,
Dan Keashen
From: Frank North
Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2011 3:29 PM
To: ‘Mayor Platt’; ‘Dan Keashen’; tom.neff@dca.state.nj.us; Bettylou.decroce@dca.state.nj.us
Cc: ‘Pat Fields’; ‘Anthony Perno’; ‘ebrennan@merchantvillenj.gov’; ‘joseph brickley’; amadden@merchantvillenj.gov; stevevolkert@msn.com; ‘Denise Brouse’; johnmorrissey5@aol.com; po1122@aol.com; PlanningBoard@Merchantvillenj.gov; HistoricalSociety@MerchantvilleNJ.gov; Historic Preservation Commission; swimref@comcast.net; ‘Beach, Sen. D.O.’; ‘bob stocker’; Ebohn3rd@msn.com; ‘Bill Walker’; jshannon@gannett.com
Subject: RE: Merchantville Cherry Hill Study
I am also appreciative of Director Neff and Deputy Commissioner DeCroce’s efforts in helping to move along the consolidation study between Merchantville and Cherry Hill. However I have to wonder why Cherry Hill has evaded pursuing this matter with the governing body of Merchantville and/or its appointed commission. We are concerned that Cherry Hill has no intention of providing an open and sincere study when Mr. Keashen states that “the Mayor is also monitoring events occurring at the state house that would affect this process as we move forward.” It is apparent based on Mr. Keashen’s statement Mayor Platt would prefer to work with the “Merchantville Connecting for the Future” petitioners in lieu of the commission appointed by Merchantville’s Mayor and Council. Merchantville’s Study Commission is comprised of residents that have put their children through our school system, volunteered for public events and have been involved not only in this particular issue but many other events that have supported Merchantville through many years. These Merchantville Study Commissioners consist of residents that are knowledgeable of governmental budgets and what it takes to operate a municipality.
“Hoping that events occurring at the state house” will enable Mayor Platt and his supporters to bypass Merchantville’s governing body is unfortunate, and the results could go well beyond our local issue. What is Cherry Hill afraid of?
Both communities deserve to know all the facts and how a possible merger will affect them. After the facts are known the residents of both Merchantville and Cherry Hill will make the final educated decision.
Respectfully
Frank M. North, Mayor
