Cherry Hill council’s biweekly meeting was held on March 10 and began with Mayor Dave Fleisher going over agenda business.
He also took time to acknowledge Women’s History Month and Ramadan, which began on Feb 28.
“For all those in our community who celebrate, I wish everyone Ramadan Mubarak,” Fleisher said. “March is also Women’s History Month. I know personally, I’m blessed to have strong and special women in my life and as colleagues in the community.”
Upon his early departure, council moved on to ordinances, one of which would expand section 422, the agricultural, horticultural and commercial AHC overlay zone. That would add additional parcels to the zone and update its map. Council approved the measure unanimously and there was no public comment.
Other routine business was attended to during the meeting, with unanimous approval of the following: a resolution authorizing the payment of bills, resolutions awarding and renewing contracts for groundskeeping and maintenance, authorizations to purchase licenses for accident programming software, the lease or purchase of 12 utility vehicles for police and authorizations to accept grants and subgrants from the county and federal government.
The meeting then moved on to public participation both in person and online. Val Sadwin asked council to issue a resolution marking March 31 as Trans Day of Visibility, a nationwide observance.
“Over the past two months, there has been an onslaught of anti-transgender propaganda,” she said. “We have seen abusive executive orders, speeches riddled with lies, hate-filled legislation at the federal level … It’s a simple resolution.
“The simple act will say volumes about who we are as a community, and will send an important message to all of our transgender community members that they are loved and welcomed in all we have to offer in Cherry Hill.”
Rev. Eric Posa, of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Cherry Hill, echoed much of what Sadwin had to say and spoke about LGBTQ members he has come to know in his church role.
“I just wanted to add to the good person who spoke just before me a personal note about the impact that a proclamation in favor of acknowledging Transgender Day of visibility on March 31 … would bring to many of the people that I’ve come to know,” he explained. “In the last few months, it has been a treat to get to meet so many of the trans and non-binary members and friends of the congregation I serve, as well as those who live in the larger community.
“It has been heart-wrenching to hear the pain, the very understandable pain.”
But not all residents were in favor of the Trans Day idea.
“I … would say, don’t celebrate something like this,” said Rick Short. “And the reason being is because right now, we are in a state of hysteria over the trans community. I am currently involved in a federal lawsuit against the New Jersey Department of Education. What they’re doing to our kids in our schools is not acceptable.”
After public comment, Councilwoman Carole Roskoph spoke about why she feels the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are important to her personally and to the wider community.
“We talk about getting rid of equity in this town (and it) makes me a little nervous,” she acknowledged. “I have to be honest with you now, let’s go on and talk about inclusion by words. When you talk about getting rid of inclusion, what you’re really talking about is exclusion, just by the nature of what the word means.”
The next council meeting is scheduled for Monday at 7:30 p.m.
