Author: atwiford

Township council approved resolutions for renewable-energy initiatives at its Oct. 27 meeting, including the purchase of four new electric vehicle charging stations.

The stations will be installed with accessories under the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey (ESCNJ) cooperative pricing system. The stations’ seller is Hamilton-based Bryan Electric, and the purchase is not to exceed $435,984, with $280,000 of the cost offset by state and utility incentives.

Two Level 2 and two Level 3 charging stations are expected to be constructed at town hall. While they will primarily serve township vehicles, there are plans to allow use by people outside Cherry Hill at specific times and days of the week.

In her public remarks at the meeting, Councilwoman Jennifer Apell praised fellow member Sangeeta Doshi for her role in advocating for the stations.

“I’m going to say it because she won’t say it herself, but we should be calling this the Sangeeta Doshi charging station,” Apell said, “because Sangeeta has really been a champion for this. I have to say in every Green Team meeting that we have had, she has pushed for these EV charging stations.” 

Council also approved a resolution to consult with Gabel Associates Inc. for evaluation and implementation of a community solar program. The measure also authorizes requests for proposals from solar developers to fund, install and operate an energy system at no cost to the township.

Another ordinance approved on second reading will prohibit parking on certain streets throughout the community at all times. During the meeting’s public session, Jeffrey Tabello of the township’s Europa section spoke in support of the ordinance and asked it to be extended to his neighborhood.

Several of his neighbors were at the meeting to support the measure. They are also asking the township to increase no-parking zone space and address safety concerns caused by cars from people who don’t live in Europa parking near its entrance, blocking it and making exits less visible. 

“Our priority is safety, access for fire trucks, emergency vehicles, snow plows,” Tabello explained. “Getting around the median looks like it’s going to be addressed in this ordinance, and we’re just looking to see if we can make it a little bit more restrictive to address the geometry of the roadway on the south side of Europa Boulevard.”

No decision was made on the issue but council indicated it would discussed further at future meetings. The next council session will be on Monday.

To recruit more members and educate the public on its mission and programs, the Civil Air Patrol held an open house for youth from 12 to 18 at the National Guard Armory on Oct. 20.

The patrol is the official civilian auxiliary of the Air Force, chartered as a nonprofit for youth development, aerospace education and the promotion of aviation. Its open house at the armory is held annually by the Jack Schweiker Composite Squadron so youth and parents can learn about its programs.

“We’d love to have more cadets, to keep growing,” said patrol Deputy Commander Soleiman Raie. “Our cadets eventually turned to senior members … so we’re kind of trying to organically grow the organization.”

Among information tables at the armory, one displayed the patrol’s dress and work uniforms, while cadets explained the clothing’s significance as a privilege to wear. Other tables offered demonstrations of equipment senior patrol members use for search and rescue missions and programs available for cadets to learn robotics and aerospace science.

The Cadet Wings Program enables members to gain enough experience for a private pilot’s license.

“We have them build drones,” Raie explained. “We have them build different models. Skyrockets, we get them in planes. We teach them about how flying works, and then get them into planes to do it. But it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be a pilot.”

One of the cadets at the armory, Luke Patterson, explained how members can move up in rank to leadership positions. The Haddonfield resident was the second-in-command cadet at one of the patrol’s summer academies, responsible for 180 cadets and 24 staffers.

Patterson also talked about skills cadets gain through rigorous standards they are required to uphold during the summer programs as the attend aerospace, cyber and officer academies.

“You’re going to be learning about personal leadership,” he explained, “so manage your time, self-discipline, personal accountability, activism.”

The Civil Air Patrol Squadron holds meetings at the National Guard Armory every Monday at 7:30 p.m.