Editing Haddonfield, New Jersey (section)

=== Local government ===
The Borough of Haddonfield has been governed under the [[Walsh Act]] since 1913.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 28.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150605155532/http://www.njstatelib.org/slic_files/imported/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/MFMG/MFMGCH4.PDF "The Commission Form of Municipal Government"], p. 53. Accessed June 3, 2015.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=8 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 8. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The borough is one of 30 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use the [[City commission government|commission form of government]].<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''], [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of three commissioners, who elected to concurrent four-year terms of office on a [[non-partisan democracy|non-partisan]] basis as part of the May municipal elections. At a reorganization meeting held after the new council is seated, each Commissioner is assigned to oversee one of the three departments within the Borough and the Commissioners select a Mayor and may select a Deputy Mayor.

{{As of|2023}}, the borough's commissioners are 
[[Mayor]] Colleen Bianco Bezich (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety), 
Kevin Roche (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance) and 
Frank Troy (Commissioner of Public Works|Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Buildings), all of whom are serving concurrent terms of office ending May 2025.<ref name=Commission>[https://www.haddonfieldnj.org/departments/commissioners_and_administration/index.php Commissioners & Administrator], Borough of Haddonfield. Accessed June 7, 2023. "Since 1913, Haddonfield has operated under the 'Commission' form of government. Three Commissioners are selected by the voters of Haddonfield at a nonpartisan election held the second Tuesday in May every four years. Amongst themselves, the Commissioners select a Mayor and may select a Deputy Mayor."</ref><ref>[http://cms5.revize.com/revize/haddonfield/Finance%20Office/0417_certifiedintrobudget_2023.pdf#page=10 2023 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Haddonfield. Accessed June 7, 2023.</ref><ref name=Camden2021Municipal>[https://www.camdencounty.com/wp-content/elections/Municipal2021/2021_May_Municipal_Unofficial_Results.htm Camden County Unofficial Results May 11, 2021], [[Camden County, New Jersey]], updated May 11, 2021. Accessed June 7, 2023.</ref><ref>[http://cms5.revize.com/revize/haddonfield/Borough%20Clerk/05-11-2021%20Election%20Tally%20Sheet%20-%20as%20of%2005-19-2021.pdf May 12, 2021 Municipal Election Results], Borough of Haddonfield. Accessed July 21, 2021.</ref>

In July 2019, Robert Marshall was selected to fill the seat as commissioner that became vacant following the resignation of John Moscatelli the previous month.<ref>Herpen, Bob. [https://thesunpapers.com/2019/07/03/marshall-introduced-as-moscatellis-interim-replacement/ "Marshall introduced as Moscatelli’s interim replacement; Revelation made at special board of commissioners meeting."], ''The Haddonfield Sun'', July 3, 2019. Accessed September 16, 2019. "After a search that lasted more than a month, Haddonfield has its interim commissioner for public works in Robert Marshall. Marshall was revealed to the public at a special board of commissioners meeting on July 2, and was administered the oath of office following its conclusion. Marshall takes over for John Moscatelli, who was first elected to the post in 2013, and who sent his letter of resignation – effective June 30 – to Mayor Neal Rochford just prior to the board’s previous meeting on June 25."</ref> Marshall served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election,<ref>[http://www.haddonfieldnj.org/departments/borough_clerk/2017_municipal_election_information.php 2019 Special Municipal Election Information], Borough of Haddonfield. Accessed September 16, 2019. "As a part of the 2019 General Election, held on Tuesday, November 5th, the Borough of Haddonfield will be holding a special election for one Commissioner to fill a vacancy in this office. The term of office for this position will end at the May 2021 election, when all three Commissioner seats expire."</ref> when voters elected Colleen Bianco Bezich to serve the balance of the term of office through May 2021.<ref name=Camden2019>[https://www.camdencounty.com/wp-content/elections/general2019/results/2019-General-Election-Canvasser.pdf Official Election Results 2019 General Election November 5, 2019], [[Camden County, New Jersey]], updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

In 2018, the borough had an average property tax bill of $15,182, the highest in the county (though the mini municipality of [[Tavistock, New Jersey|Tavistock]] had an average bill of $31,376 for its three homes), compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.<ref>Marcus, Samantha. [https://www.nj.com/politics/2019/04/these-are-the-towns-with-the-highest-property-taxes-in-each-of-njs-21-counties.html "These are the towns with the highest property taxes in each of N.J.’s 21 counties"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], April 22, 2019. Accessed November 5, 2019. "The average property tax bill in New Jersey was $8,767 last year. But there can be big swings from town to town and county to county.... The average property tax bill in Haddonfield Borough was $15,182 in 2018, the highest* in Camden County.... *The average property tax bill in Tavistock, which was formed in 1921 so members of the Tavistock Country Club could play golf on Sundays, was $31,736 last year. Although, technically, it is listed as a municipality, with just three homes and fewer than a dozen residents who live near the golf course, it is in a unique category."</ref>

====Borough Hall====
[[File:Haddonfield Muni Hall NJ.JPG|thumb|Haddonfield Borough Hall]]
[[File:Githens Shop Haddonfield.JPG|thumb|Githen's Shop {{circa|1830}} in the Haddonfield Historic District.]]
[[File:Haddon Fortnightly.JPG|thumb|[[Haddon Fortnightly Club House]] on Kings Highway.]]
Borough Hall, the home of Haddonfield government, is located at 242 Kings Highway East and was built in 1928 by Walter William Sharpley. There are four main offices, including those for the tax assessor, the construction office and the municipal court office. Borough Hall includes a police department, a courtroom, and an auditorium. Its walls are of marble, steel, or plaster, although police station main walls are of steel and cinder block. From May through August 2021, the Haddonfield Police issued an average of 395 tickets per month.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Calls for service |url=https://www.haddonfieldpolice.com/2021-calls-for-service |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Haddonfield Police |language=en}}</ref>

In Borough Hall's auditorium are paintings of men who signed the [[United States Declaration of Independence]] from New Jersey: [[Abraham Clark]], [[Francis Hopkinson]], [[Richard Stockton (Continental Congressman)|Richard Stockton]], and [[John Witherspoon]]. Some of the paintings are original, other copies. 
 
Weddings have been held in Borough Hall, and while asbestos was being removed from the public library, the upper level of Borough Hall became a temporary library.

Regular meetings of the Board of Commissioners are held twice each month, usually on Mondays, in the Borough Hall auditorium: A work session at 6:30pm at the beginning of the month and an action meeting at 7:30pm the end of the month. The dates are posted on the Borough's website.

==== Fire department ====
[[File:Haddonfield fire department history.jpg|thumb|A history of the Haddonfield fire department.]]
Since 1764, Haddonfield has been the home of Haddon Fire Co. No. 1, the second-oldest fire department in continuous service in the United States.<ref>Longo, Brandon. [http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2017/08/25/summerfest-haddonfield/ "SummerFest: Haddonfield Is A Colonial Gem"], [[KYW-TV]], August 25, 2017. Accessed October 15, 2017. "Just down the street, the second oldest volunteer fire department in the country is still dousing flames. 'First responder is not an easy job. Our saying: We run in where people run out,' said George Cox, retired fire chief with the Haddon Fire Company. Cox became a firefighter and later the chief of the Haddon Fire Company, taking steps to preserve the legacy of the 253-year-old department."</ref><ref>[http://www.haddonfirecompany.org/photo.shtml History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209131914/http://haddonfirecompany.org/photo.shtml |date=2016-12-09 }}, Haddonfield Fire Company. Accessed October 15, 2017.</ref>