Politics & Government

Appearance Committee Recommends New Holiday Decorations

The new decorations would be for Main Street.

The Appearance Committee presented new holiday decorations at Town Council Monday night.

The decorations, green garland swags with balls and lights, would be used to decorate Main Street from in front of the to just east of Chester Avenue, for a total of 62 poles to be adorned. The decorations on Camden Avenue would not be changed at this time, according to Gina Zegel, a member of the Appearance Committee.

“This topic has been brought to me many times since I’ve been on council,” said Mayor John Button, who is the council liaison to the Appearance Committee. “I hear over and over again about our decorations or our lack thereof on Main Street, and I see it and I’m not too happy with it.”

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The new decorations would cost $33,790. The Appearance Committee has been working with Dave Iepson of Working Designs, who offered the committee the same price for decorations that he offered five years ago. Iepson’s company also does the decorations for the Promenade in Marlton and the Cherry Hill Mall.

“It’s long overdue and it will bring some pride back to Main Street,” said Councilman Michael Testa. “It’s time we step up and solve for things of this nature.”

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The new decorations would have lights on both sides and would plug into the poles, which are leased to the township by PSE&G. Vickie Sewell said that the Appearance Committee has already received permission from PSE&G to hang the decorations.

“There are so many things on Main Street that are just pushed into the corner and these things are never revisited,” said Zegel. “Our town could be paring down to the point of it not being the lovely town that it was.”

In order to get the decorations for the 2011 holiday season, the township would need to make a decision by mid-July.

“I think it’s a great idea; it’s wonderful,” said Councilwoman Stacey Jordan. “It’s hard for me to say go ahead when it’s $34,000.”

Button suggested that Director of Finance Tom Merchel see if there was a way to fund the decorations before the next council meeting on June 27.

“If we can act on it this year, let’s figure it out,” Button said. “How do we pay for it? We want to figure that out.”


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