Cherry Hill Fire District Election Set for Feb. 16

Cherry Hill voters will get their say on the $25.57 million 2013 Cherry Hill Fire District No. 13 budget and will pick two commissioners in just days, with the annual fire district election set for Feb. 16.

Despite an increase of roughly half a million dollars from last year, this year’s fire budget includes the same tax levy as the 2012 version.

"The bottom line is, taxes aren't going up—there's no tax increase in this budget," said Tom Fiorentini, the district's principal staff assistant.

The budget also includes a number of apparatus upgrades and replacements, including equipment to help respond to natural disasters, part of a $2.6 million fleet replacement plan.

Five candidates, including two incumbents, are running for two seats on the township’s fire commission: Hugh "Skip" H. Gibson, Howard H. Margulies, Kellie Montana, Robert Shapiro and John D. Vaughan Jr.

Margulies and Vaughan are both currently on the board.

Polls are open from 2 to 9 p.m. on Feb 16, and there are just two polling locations, at the community center on Mercer Street and at the fire department’s Central Command on Marlkress Road. Broken down by voting district:

—voting districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 21, 23, 24, 25, 32, 35, 42, 48

—voting districts 5, 7, 10, 16, 19, 20, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47