Courtesy of Cherry Hill Township Council honored retiring member Carole Roskoph and heard public comment on an ordinance that would increase the fee for massage businesses and their licensing.
Township council’s meeting on Dec. 8 was the last for Carole Roskoph after 12 years of service.
Fellow members took time at the end of the meeting to express their gratitude to the councilwoman.
“We know that this is just the conclusion of this chapter and tenure of your service, but certainly not the end of your service to Cherry Hill or with any of us …” said Mayor Dave Fleisher. “We know this is the beginning of something new, and not the end, but it is with great gratitude that we say thank you for the 12 years that you’ve given the people of Cherry Hill in this role.”
Each member of council said a few words about Roskoph before presenting her with a proclamation. She finished the meeting with some words of her own, reflecting on how she first took her council oath on the same night she and other members of the time paid final respects to former board member Joyce Alexander Walker.
Roskoph also acknowledged her replacement, Rob Connor.
“To the residents of Cherry Hill, thank you for your continued votes of confidence,” she said. “It has been the honor and privilege of my lifetime to represent you.”
One major issue discussed during the meeting was an ordinance that would increase licensing fees from $250 to $2,000 for massage parlors with more than one therapist. A number of owners expressed their opposition.
Some are sole proprietors who would be exempt from the fee but still had concerns over the wording of the ordinance, fearing other area towns would enact similar measures. One of them is massage practitioner Rena Margulis. She worries the measure would deter other massage and bodywork therapists from moving to the township.
“And while Cherry Hill government could have an understanding that self-employed, licensed massage and body or therapists who do not have employees are not covered by this fee,” she observed, “this understanding is not clear in the code.”
Margulis also recalled that at one point in her career, she broke her arm and had to hire two student assistants to staff her business. She is concerned that a temporary disability could also negatively impact independent massage practitioners.
The township’s rationale for the fee is the cost of police resources it says are necessary to deter illegal activity at the businesses.
“We recognize the legitimate massage businesses and the right to operate in Cherry Hill, but we also recognize the very unfortunate reality nationwide of illicit conduct and potential sexual exploitation,” Fleisher explained.
“Sadly, that does take place in some organizations – and certainly none of you here tonight – but that is a reality that we recognize statewide and nationwide.”
The mayor then went into more detail about the time it takes to review regulatory compliance, monitor, investigate and enforce criminal statutes when a permit is requested. Council also heard from the public on second reading of changes to zoning ordinances that will allow for solar projects without the need for a special use variance permit.
The changes were approved.
The next township council meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in person and via Zoom.
Courtesy of Cherry Hill Township Mayor Dave Fleisher discussed the proposal during a special township council meeting on Nov. 20.
Mayor Dave Fleisher and council have introduced a new 2026 municipal budget addressing increased costs for township services that mirror rising costs nationwide.
“This budget also reflects the reality of rising costs outside of our control,” the mayor said, “just as families across the nation are experiencing in their own households: the soaring cost of energy, increasing health-care costs, inflation, tariffs, along with trash and recycling collection and disposal, all which significantly impact our budget.”
Fleisher then explained in detail the increased cost of township trash collection and disposal. After a competitive bid process, the cost of the services will increase by $1.4 million beginning in January, with additional increases annually for the next four years.
That translates to a cumulative cost of $47.8 million for trash collection and disposal over the next five years, an increase of $12.4 million – or 34.9% – compared with the previous five-year period.
“As you see, trash collection, a critical service for our community, has a serious negative impact on the township budget,” Fleisher noted.
The proposed financial plan also includes a 5-cent increase in the municipal tax rate; for the average township homeowner, that translates to $31.50 more in quarterly property taxes.
The budget also invests in new technology for the police department and in the upgrade and repair of more than 20 miles of township roads. Improvements to township parks, recreation spaces and historic sites are also included.
“This budget puts public safety first, makes critical investments in neighborhoods, is fiscally responsible, plans for the future and is focused on what our residents have told us is most important,” Fleisher emphasized.
The proposed budget – its total as yet unknown – will appear on the township website before a hearing is held for residents to make their voices heard on the plan. That session will be held on Monday, Dec. 22, in person and via Zoom. The next regular council meeting will be held on Monday.
In other meeting business, council appointed Aidan Kerr and Patrick Gaffney to serve as Class II SLEO (Special Law Enforcement Officers).
Township council appointed two people to fill vacancies on the Zoning Board of Adjustment and declared the alternate member position vacant at its Oct. 14 meeting.
Kevin Cockfield was named a regular member to fill an unexpired term that ends on Dec. 31, 2026. Neelima Straiges was also appointed a regular member; she will fill an unexpired term that ends on Dec. 31, 2027.
Council approved an ordinance on first reading that would prohibit parking at all times on specific streets in the township. An amendment to the revised general ordinance would prohibit parking on Europa Boulevard, at the Marlkress Road entrance, and Jefferson Avenue, at the entrance across from an Erlton South resident’s home.
The proposed measure comes after requests from residents who hope the change will improve safety and traffic flow in areas where road widths and ingress-egress commissions don’t support concurrent vehicle passage.
Now that the amendment has been formally introduced to the council, it will be considered for final adoption after public comment at the next council meeting.
A consent agenda for the October meeting featured a resolution to authorize the cancellation of property taxes for those approved for a full tax exemption, namely totally disabled veterans or their widows. Another agenda measure will increase the township’s temporary budget for fiscal year 2026 to allow for funding the township payroll and other essential operating expenses until a full budget is adopted.
Residents expressed concerns during the meeting’s public comment on a range of issues. Resident Rick Short expressed disappointment that the township’s first statement on the ceasefire in Gaza did not acknowledge the efforts of President Donald Trump. He thanked Mayor Dave Fleisher for rectifying that in his meeting statement.
Short also expressed concern about consultants in the school district voicing their own political agendas to township students.
“This town’s either going to be a town of truth or a town of lies,” he said. “So in my speech, it’s kind of the same thing. No one can come to a public mic and praise the radical, crazy consultants we have.”
Resident Andy McLean made his opposition to Short’s views known, though he did not specifically mention anyone.
“There is a cancer in Cherry Hill,” McLean maintained. “Online trolls have for years been spreading increasingly malicious and blatantly false information about our community, our schools and this council. The cancer is hate being promoted as a reasoned response to what they characterize as hate in our schools and in our community.”
The meeting ended with each council member acknowledging recent events related to township diversity and the ceasefire in Gaza.
The next meeting will be held on Monday in person and via Zoom.
Courtesy of Cherry Hill Township Council President William Carter III gives opening remarks at the Sept. 29 council meeting.
Township council has approved an amended zoning ordinance on second reading that was originally introduced in August.
The ordinance will establish a new mixed-use overlay zone that will be residential inclusionary, meaning that within the designated area, projects that mix residential with retail or commercial are encouraged. Such zones also require developers to set aside a percentage of units for affordable housing.
The township planning board reviewed the ordinance during its Sept. 15 meeting and found it consistent with Cherry Hill’s master plan. Adoption was recommended by board members, though they asked that small edits be made to the measure, including more references to procedural history.
After council went over the details of the ordinance at its Sept. 29 meeting, it opened the floor for public comment, when two individuals voiced their support for the resolution. Charles McDonald represented Urban Edge Properties, owner of the site where the new zoning will take place.
“We are fully supportive of this proposed ordinance and appreciate any future development flexibilities for the site,” he said.
Township resident Anne Einhorn also expressed her support for the measure, specifically its affordable housing.
“So I really am in favor of this,” she noted. “I did listen to the planning board that night when they were discussing this issue, and we do have to fulfill our affordable-housing needs. My only concern that night was the development of the property when it ensues, but I am comfortable, because this is something that Cherry Hill needs to do.”
Five council members voted to approve the ordinance; members Sangeeta Doshi and Carole Roskoph were absent. Councilwoman Jennifer Apell was in favor of the measure.
“I really appreciate that there are green building fixtures featured in that ordinance,” she pointed out. “So that’s a really good step for Cherry Hill. And hopefully, the builder will incorporate a lot of green building features.”
In other meeting business, council approved a resolution authorizing the township to accept a grant of up to $638,286 from the state’s Historic Trust for the preservation of Kay Evans Farmstead – also known as Croft Farm – and authorized the rejection of bids for the purchase of trees, shrubs and evergreens. The township can now re-bid the project with revised specifications.
Four candidates, including three incumbents, are vying for the four seats on the Cherry Hill Township Council in the election on Nov. 4. Each would serve a three-year term.
All candidates, William A. Carter, III, Jill Hulnick, Sangeeta Doshi and Rob Connor were asked to submit an election questionnaire. Answers have been lightly edited for space.
At the time of deadline, Connor had not responded.
Name: William A Carter III Age: 73 How many years have you lived in Cherry Hill? 35 Family: My family and I reside in the Surrey East neighborhood. We have 6 adult children School and degree: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering – Pennsylvania State University Class of 1974 Profession: I am a retired Construction Management professional, currently a private consultant.
Is this the first time you’ve run for a council seat? This is the third time I have run for a seat on the Cherry Hill Township Council. I have served on Council for 5 1⁄2 years.
What is your involvement in the community? In addition to my duties on the Township Council, I am a past member of the Cherry Hill School, Zoning and Planning Boards. I am involved in my local church activities, and as a member of the Cherry Hill African American Civic Association I participate in our Scholarship Fund.
Why are you running for another elected seat?
I believe in the power of service and the responsibility of leadership. I am dedicated to representing our residents and making a positive impact on our township by addressing safety, economic, social and political challenges with thoughtful solutions. Financial stability and public safety remain at the forefront of my priorities. Working alongside the Mayor and Council, I will continue to provide strong leadership as we proactively navigate our evolving community needs. With integrity and commitment, I will strive to ensure our township remains a safe, stable and thriving place for all residents while fostering unity and progress for future generations.
What is one area you would concentrate on if reelected?
If elected I will concentrate on strengthening public safety while ensuring financial stability. Both are essential to protecting the quality of life for our residents. Public safety is more than emergency response, it is safe streets, neighborhoods, parks, and community spaces, planned infrastructure upgrades and dedicated resources that give families peace of mind. Simultaneously I will work to keep our township financially strong, by making prudent decisions that balance today’s needs with tomorrow’s growth. Listening closely and keeping residents’ interest first, I am committed to creating a safe, stable and thriving community where every person feels valued and supported.
Name: Jill Hulnick
Age: 46
How many years have you lived in Cherry Hill? 11
Family: Married to David Hulnick, with a 10-year-old son
School and degree: BA in Economics from Tufts University, MBA from Harvard Business School
Profession: Nonprofit consultant
Is this the first time you’ve run for a council seat? This is my second time running for office. I was appointed to township council in January 2024 and was elected in November to fill the remaining one-year term. In total, I have served as a councilwoman for approximately 20 months.
What is your involvement in the community?
I have been actively involved in the Cherry Hill community in various capacities. My council service has given me a deeper understanding of our community’s needs and the importance of governance in addressing them. I am committed to continuing this work, using my skills and experiences to benefit our town. My family and I are engaged in many local activities. We love cleaning up trails with the Environmental Board, listening to free concerts at Barclay Farmstead, participating in Cherry Hill FC soccer matches, exploring the library and or biking around our neighborhood. In addition, I am actively involved with the Jewish Federation, where I serve on several committees. For the past two years, my husband and I co-chaired the Federation’s Super Sunday and Community Mitzvah Day, a signature event that brings people together to support our community.
Why are you running for another elected seat?
My career and volunteer leadership experiences have allowed me to support national, statewide and local organizations in Cherry Hill. While I have enjoyed contributing to many incredible missions, I find the most joy and feel the greatest impact when supporting my immediate community. Since joining council in January, I’ve witnessed first hand how our council, in partnership with community organizations, can effectively address community challenges. Together, we have successfully secured significant grant funding to enhance our town’s infrastructure; revived our community fireworks celebration; rebuilt playgrounds across town; and resolved thousands of resident issues, from clearing downed trees to fixing potholes. I approach this role with a deep sense of duty and appreciation for the trust placed in me by this community, and I look forward to serving Cherry Hill for many more years to come.
What is one area you would concentrate on if reelected?
Customer service. The Cherry Hill government’s primary purpose is to serve its residents and neighborhoods effectively and efficiently. As a council member, I will work with the mayor, township officials, fellow council members and community organizations to enhance communications and responsiveness. This includes building on initiatives like the My Cherry Hill app and expanding our social media outreach.
Name: Sangeeta Patel Doshi
Age: 59
How many years have you lived in Cherry Hill? 29
Family: Husband and three sons
Schools and degree: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering; Babson College, master’s in Business Administration.
Profession: Engineer, program management, telecommunications executive and small business owner.
Is this the first time you’ve run for a seat on council? No
If not, how many years/terms have you served as a council member? Eight years, two terms
What is your involvement in the community?
I was the first Indian American elected to office in South Jersey in 2017. I have been a member of the Domestic Violence Response Team, the planning board, the Zoning Board of Adjustment and the District IV Legal Ethics Committee. I have volunteered with Cherry Hill Atlantic Little League and Moms Demand Action. In 2021, I received a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction. I am co-chair of the Cherry Hill Human Relations Committee and the township green team. I led efforts for Cherry Hill’s first dog park, solar-powered bus shelter and NJ Transit’s first electric bus in Camden. I am an active member of the Indian Cultural Center and Indian Temple Association. I serve on the Camden Air Quality Committee and on the advisory boards of Inspiring South Asian American Women, the New Jersey Leadership Program, the Asian American Alliance in South Jersey and the North South Foundation. In 2020, I was appointed to the NJ Transit Board of Directors by Gov. Murphy and served a four-year term. I was honored to receive the Sustainability Hero Award in 2023, the Rutgers Green Champion Award in 2024, and the Martin Luther King Award for Service from Camden County in 2025.
Why are you running for reelection?
I want to advance sustainability, environmental protection, clean energy and infrastructure improvements. As an immigrant, I am a voice in local government for diverse constituencies. I am committed to listening to residents and focusing on projects that our community needs: public safety, neighborhood parks, a dog park, solar shelters and electric buses. I am an advocate for gun safety. My family taught us to “give back” and “leave things better than you found it.”
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if reelected?
I will focus on making Cherry Hill a leader in sustainability, investing in clean energy, protecting our environment and building parks and infrastructure that improve quality of life for families
Courtesy of the Cherry Hill Township Facebook page.
Cherry Hill became the latest municipality to support the proposed “Green Amendment” to the state’s constitution.
“Council and I are also pleased to support the proposed green amendment to the New Jersey constitution, which will provide our residents additional constitutional rights to clean water, air and a healthy environment,” Mayor David Fleisher said during a council meeting on Aug. 19.
This support on the municipal level will encourage the state legislature to take action on the pending legislation regarding the amendment, which will then put the proposed amendment on the ballot to be decided by New Jersey voters.
In response to the news, several members of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, as well as other local and statewide organizations focused on ecological health like the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, came out to express their gratitude for the support.
“Thank you for passing resolutions for the green amendment,” said Steven Elliot, who works as water use specialist for Pinelands Preservation Alliance and the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions. “It’s an important step, and you’re taking on a leadership role. It’s really about starting a conversation and placing the values of pure air, clean water and healthy environments at the same level as our right of free speech.”
Councilwoman Sangeeta Doshi commented on her own appreciation for the township’s support of the proposed green amendment.
“It’s about clean energy and clean air, and I think everybody wants clean air for their children and families,” she said.
In other news, the council made a move to approve on first reading a township zoning ordinance to establish a new residential inclusionary mixed use overlay zone.
This would allow for an amendment to the existing zoning ordinance to create a new zone at 2100 to 2110 Route 38, which will allow for mixed use development including a minimum of 20% affordable housing units to meet the township’s obligations.
Another decision from the meeting involved an ordinance amendment that will modify fees associated with certain required documents, as well as amending certain licensing provisions associated with massage parlors and other massage providers.
During the public comment period, township resident Susan Wolf raised concerns about zoning violations in her neighborhood, alleging that some of the houses in her area were being rented out as multiple apartments despite being zoned as single family residences.
“People are buying them to rent them out … One became an Airbnb, which I didn’t even know was allowed, and then they changed to the apartments, four apartments within one house … I’m really concerned … it seems to me like it’s happening more and more,” she said.
Wolf also raised concerns about the use of pesticides around the community, specifically around the health and environmental impacts associated with the sprays, as well as speeding in the area.
Fleisher thanked Wolf for bringing her concerns to the council, promising to look into them and giving reassurances that the police would address the issue of speeding and that the zoning violations would be investigated through the proper channels.
Remote callers during the meeting expressed concern over the removal of trees in the township and asking about when they would be replaced, thanked the council for holding the National Night Out at Cherry Hill High School East and called in to relay their gratitude for the public works department’s removal of overgrown foliage.
The next township council meeting will be held on Sept. 8 in the N. John Amato Council Chambers and via Zoom.
The township council meeting on May 27 – postponed from Monday’s Memorial Day – included awarding a contract to fund brick road resurfacing and approval of a Title VI program for the senior bus program.
The township awarded a nearly $500,000 contract for the road work to Lexa Concrete LLC of Atlantic County, funded by a New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) trust fund. The resurfacing process extends use and improves the condition of existing brick roads by adding new materials.
The NJDOT trust fund is a state agency that finances the cost of planning, engineering and construction for transportation-related projects.
The township also approved a Title VI program for the township’s senior bus program.
“This resolution approves the Township’s Title VI program to ensure that its senior bus program complies with federal civil rights requirements and remains eligible for grant funding through the Federal Transit Administration,” said council President William Carter.
Mayor Dave Fleisher announced receipt of a $400,000 grant from the Federal Highway Administration to conduct a study on pedestrian and sidewalk infrastructure throughout Cherry Hill.
“We will use these funds to develop an action plan for future infrastructure improvements and continue the work that we’re doing to make our neighborhoods safer,” he noted.
Representatives of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense – a nationwide organization aimed at combating deaths caused by gun violence – urged council to recognize June 6 as Gun Violence Awareness Day, a national observance that honors the birthday of Hidya Pendleton. The Chicago teen was killed in a random shooting there in 2013.
The day will be marked by participants wearing orange, the color worn by hunters to announce themselves to other hunters, symbolizing the value of human life. Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense told council that the estimated number of annual gun-related deaths in the U.S. is more than 45,000.
Council also adopted a proclamation recognizing June 6 “to encourage all citizens to support efforts to prevent the tragic effects of gun violence and to honor the value of human life,” Fleisher read from the document.
The township also approved several resolutions on vehicles and equipment for the police department, including two new Chevy Tahoes at a cost $133,809. Council also entered into a five-year contract with the Sourcewell Cooperative – a state purchasing organization – to replace seven Taser devices, body cameras, cloud storage and related materials.
The next township council meeting will take place on Monday at 7:30 p.m., with a caucus meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Cherry Hill Mayor Dave Fleisher swears in John Ostermueller – who was joined by his fiancé – as the township’s new police chief.
Two incumbent members and a new police chief were sworn in by Cherry Hill Mayor Dave Fleisher during township council’s Jan. 7 reorganization meeting.
Incumbents Daniel DiRenzo Jr. and Jill Hulnick, who won office in the November election, were joined by loved ones as they took the oath of office. Fleisher said of the pair, “They both share my passion for moving Cherry Hill forward.”
DiRenzo, who spent 25 years working for the township fire department, including as captain and CFO, thanked his family and fellow council members for their support, and explained what a privilege it’s been getting to know locals and the things that matter most to them.
“This past year has provided me the opportunity to understand the concerns and issues that residents face and to help advocate on the issues,” he said. “Trust is very important to me, and I will persist in earning that trust.”
Hulnick, an independent consultant with leadership in the business, nonprofit and government sectors, shared the same sentiment.
“I approached this role with a deep sense of duty and appreciation for the trust placed in me by the residents of Cherry Hill,” he noted, “and look forward to serving our community for many more years to come.”
William Carter and Michele Golkow were reappointed council president and vice president, respectively. Also sworn in was new Police Chief John Ostermueller, of whom Fleisher said, “He shares my commitment to keeping our neighborhoods safe and operating with efficiency, professionalism and accountability.”
Ostermueller, who boasts more than two decades in law enforcement – including the past 21 years in Cherry Hill – replaces Robert Kempf, who retired on Dec. 31. Ostermueller will lead a department of more than 175 full- and part-time employees, including 136 full-time sworn officers, special law-enforcement officers, dispatchers, administrative staff and records personnel.
“We’re going to deliver excellent public service with accountability, compassion, respect for everyone we serve,” he promised. “When we talk about what’s the vision for Cherry Hill, we’re going to make Cherry Hill the safest place to live, work and shop through community engagement, innovative strategies, deterring crime and protecting the vulnerable.
“That’s our mission. That is what we are. That’s who we’ll be.”
Fleisher also shared at the meeting some township highlights from 2024, his first year as mayor. They include preserving more than 23 acres of open space with the purchase of Holly Ravine Farm; investing more than $1.4 million in new police technology and public safety initiatives; completing renovations at Barlow and Brandywood parks; paving 75 neighborhood roadways; installing more than 120 ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) improvements; registering more than 2,300 users of the new My Cherry Hill app; and welcoming more than 6,000 attendees to the township’s Independence Day celebration, with fireworks back for the first time in a decade.
“We have worked hard to demonstrate our commitment to reinvigorating a sense of pride in our community, to connect and communicate with our residents on many fronts,” explained Fleisher, who spotlighted the township’s new website and expanded social media presence.
“None of this happens without the support of our residents and the leadership of our township council.”
Emily Liu/The Sun Kempf is a Cherry Hill West alumnus who began his career as a patrol officer in the police department in 1998.
Chief Robert Kempf has announced he will retire from the Cherry Hill police department on Dec. 31, after more than two decades on the force.
“During my time working with him as mayor, he has shared my and our commitment to public safety, enhancing the quality of life in our community,” Mayor David Fleisher said of Kempf. “So thank you very much chief.”
Similar remarks were made by other council members at the Oct. 15 meeting where Kempf’s retirement was announced, including Sangeeta Doshi.
“To reiterate what the mayor has said, you’ve always been very professional,” Doshi told the chief. “I was raised that you should always leave a place much better than you found it, and Cherry Hill is a much better place because you were here. So thank you.”
Kempf is a Cherry Hill West alumni who began his career as a patrol officer in the township in 1998. In 2012, he took on the role of detective, serving for two years before becoming a patrol sergeant in 2014, a detective sergeant in 2015 and a lieutenant in 2016. In that role , Kempf was promoted to training officers before becoming police chief in 2021.
“I just always loved Cherry Hill,” he said. “I knew I was going to raise my family here, and so how best to be a part of the community than to help protect it and keep it safe?”
In his three years as chief, Kempf was proudest of earning the department’s first accreditation by the New Jersey State Chief of Police and partnering with the Volunteers of America to bring social programs to the township. Among them is Impact, which helps the police aid the homeless and other people in need. The police department is working with the state attorney general and recently began the rollout of Arrive Together, a program that will enable mental-health professionals to ride with officers.
Though Kempf has seen many things in his 26 years with the department, he tries to keep a positive mindset on the job.
“For all the bad things that we see, we truly do have an opportunity to help people in sometimes the worst day in their life,” he observed, “and so I always try to keep that mindset that I’m coming here and not to make anyone’s life worse but to try and help.
“We might be that one instrumental part – that you can really be that compassionate shoulder to cry on on somebody’s worst day.”
Fleisher said he will soon begin interviews for the next chief, someone who shares the township’s commitment to high standards, professionalism, effectiveness and cultivation of strong bonds in all corners of the community.
In other news:
Ravi’s Rink at DeCou Fields has begun construction; the project is estimated to be completed within a few months.
Fleisher and council acknowledged the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, and several council members also attended a day of service at the JCC.
The next council meeting will be on Monday, Oct. 28.
