Boro
Caucus Meeting 3/22/21
The scheduled 4th Monday of the month Borough Council Caucus meeting will be held on Monday, March 22, 2021, at 7:30pm. The Agenda includes approval of the e Employee Handbook and Manual and an ordinance to amend 83A on Tobacco Products. Please join the meeting via Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88289929355?pwd=YlBwZHpuczVWMHZWOFJsU21TYXdpZz09. Meeting ID: 882 8992 9355 Passcode: 070207. Municipal Codes are available online here.
Mayors Speak at PMAC
Merchantville Mayor Ted Brennan and Pennsauken Mayor Marco DiBattista were the guest speakers at a virtual meeting of the Pennsauken-Merchantville Area Chamber of Commerce (PMAC), held on Wednesday, March 10, via Zoom at noon. Tim Ellis moderated the event with updates from both municipalities about the past year. Mayor Brennan thanked PMAC and gave an overview on meeting the business challenges, in 2020-21, when most of the borough's resources were allocated to fighting the pandemic at the government level. Merchantville has responded to needs of residents and businesses by reassigning municipal personnel and appointing an Executive Order czar to repackage and disseminate information about federal and state grant and loan funding opportunities through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Mayor Brennan underscored the unique nature and bond between government and businesses, and commended Merchantville's residents for their response and support of businesses during the past 12 months. Mayor Brennan shared the Borough's successful drive to break down digital barriers to get seniors registered and took the opportunity to encourage all to get vaccinated. Mayor Brennan ended his remarks underscoring the promise of 2021 and sharing his desire to capture the potential and energy that an influx of new residents from Philadelphia hold. He also spoke about plans for a less intense redevelopment featuring a pedestrian walkway with arts and entertainment area connecting Merchantville's multi-use path with anchor businesses like Eclipse Brewing and The Station Coffee. Mayor DiBattista showcased improvements to outside spaces in the township including upgrades to pickle ball courts and a 49th street park.
Borough Garners Eco Awards
Merchantville was among top NJ towns recognized at the Annual Sustainable Jersey Awards on Thursday, March 11th. Sustainable Jersey announced the recipients of the 2020 municipal annual awards, which celebrate sustainability excellence, innovation and leadership at a live stream the event on its Facebook page. Merchantville Borough completed required actions to earn 155 points, reaching their goal of Bronze certification and was recognized for its innovation and creativity initiative: Incredible Edible Merchantville. Motivated by climate change and a TED Talk on "How We Can Eat Our Landscapes," two residents realized that securing future sustainability in Merchantville would require inventive community efforts. In July 2018, their proposal for Incredible Edible Merchantville was approved by the Borough Council under the municipal green team with the goals of promoting sustainable living, food justice and environmental education to encourage healthy communities. Since then, participants have been working to create food forests in public and private spaces to grow local food and support the local food economy. Though their work has just begun, IE Merchantville has already developed a vibrant outreach program with more than 30 registered gardens and donating over 200 pounds of fresh produce this summer to supplement local food pantry demands brought on by the pandemic. During this pandemic, municipalities that received Sustainable Jersey’s highest recognition awards set a new bar and aspirational example for other communities to meet as they pursue sustainability goals.
Borough Assistant Needed
CODE BLUE 2/1-2/4
Blood Drive Monday
The Borough of Merchantville will host another American Red Cross Blood Drive at Merchantville Community Center, 212 Somerset Avenue, Merchantville, NJ on Monday, February 1st from 2:00-7:00 p.m. Appointments are preferred. To make an appointment please sign up at www.redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code: Merchantville Community. Save time on the day of the donation and visit www.redcrossblood.org/rapidpass. Area hospital patients are counting on you! Don’t forget to hydrate and please remember to bring your ID. Stay tuned for weather updates!
Circuit Trails Meet Up
Council Reorganization
The reorganization meeting of Merchantville Borough Council will be held via Zoom on Monday, January 4, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. Some items on the agenda will include oath taking by Councilpersons Andrew McLoone and Sean Fitzgerald, the election of Council President for 2021, Council assignments and standing committees and, annual appointments for 2021. Join the Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81454190084?pwd=Ty84b21VWTVndmpPdXArdlFCdXZWZz09. Meeting ID: 814 5419 0084 Passcode: 728621. One tap mobile +19294362866
Winter Storm Advisory
Centre St. Improvements
CME Associates is holding a zoom meeting on Thursday, December 17th, at 3:00 p.m. to discuss the final set of plans for crosswalk improvements to Centre Street within Pennsauken and Merchantville. The plans have been completed and the project is anticipated for public bid the beginning of the new year. To join the Zoom Meeting please use this ID: 930 2712 5032, click on this link: https://zoom.us/j/93027125032 or dial into this number: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York).