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.”
