An Editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer today makes crystal clear how the resistance of politicians in Cherry Hill and Merchantville to a Consolidation Study represents everything that is wrong with the State of New Jersey
Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial: A town is forever a town, no matter how small
Let your Mayors know you want to see the results of a Study. Tell them to stop blocking this.
Kevin Riordan writing for the Inquirer has made a thorough summary of the status of the Study Commission:
Kevin Riordan: Cherry Hill, Merchantville merger called off
The title is actually an element of criticism, in that Riordan expresses that the Merger has been called off by those who have no place calling it off. Circumstances have put opponents of a merger in a position to block the progress of a Study, preventing us from even discovering whether or not a merger would be beneficial. A terrible violation of public trust. Riordan describes it as:
Whether to proceed with something as momentous as a municipal merger is a decision best made by the voters of both communities.
Not merely, with all due respect, by one mayor. Or two.
The commission has indicated that the meeting for the 17th of July is on, 7:30pm at the Community Center.
The Commission has announced that the May 1st Meeting has been canceled while the letting of the RFP continues to be worked on.
The video of the Commission meeting is broken into 10minute segments. This Link gives you an index of all of the videos from this meeting, and will play them for you in sequence:
This meeting was short and there are only two segments. Here is the first one:
The Merchantville / Cherry Hill Consolidation Study Commission will hold a public meeting on March 6, 2012. The Meeting will be held in the Merchantville Community Center located at the intersection of Somerset Avenue and Greenleigh Court, Merchantville New Jersey. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m.
The video of the Commission meeting is broken into 10minute segments. Follow the link to the Merchantville Voices YouTube Channel and they will be listed in sequence, and numbered in the title.
The reporting on the Merchantville & Cherry Hill Consolidation Study begins at 16:30. You can move the progress slider to that time register if you don't wish to watch the entire program.
Message posted by the Commission:
The Merchantville / Cherry Hill Consolidation Study Commission will hold a public meeting on January 17, 2012. The Meeting will be held in the Merchantville Community Center located at the intersection of Somerset Avenue and Greenleigh Court, Merchantville New Jersey. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m.