Chester County Press 06-26-2019 Edition

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Chester CountyPRESS

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Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas

INSIDE

Volume 153, No. 26

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Board approves new system of checks and balances

Township fraud investigation reaches interview stage By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer A non-specified number of individuals connected to the governance of Kennett Township are currently being interviewed by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and Marcum, LLP – a forensic auditor hired by the township – as part of the continuing search to find the source – or sources – of possible fraud in the township, an investigation that is soon to enter its fourth month. In a statement announced at the June 19 Board of Supervisors meeting, board chairman Scudder Stevens said the interview phase has begun, but did not specify which township employees or officials are being inter-

viewed. It’s the latest step to learn more about an issue that has gripped the township, one that first came to light on April 25, when Stevens and supervisors Dr. Richard Leff and Whitney Hoffman were notified by the fraud department at the township’s bank that its officers had found a number of suspicious transactions on township accounts. In an official Kennett Township press release sent on May 11, the supervisors wrote that they carefully reviewed the findings with the bank, legal and law enforcement representatives and immediately referred the matter to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. Also, steps were taken to make sure no further unauthorized transactions took place.

On May 14, former township manager Lisa Moore was placed on paid administrative leave, and in an official release issued on May 20, the supervisors announced that they dismissed Moore from her job, “after new information was discovered and brought before the supervisors,” the release stated. “The dismissal action was coordinated with the township’s legal and human resources representatives.” On June 5, Stevens read a brief joint statement that said that the investigation was in the final stages of securing records and documents from both internal and external sources, and that the DA’s Office and forensic auditor were in the Continued on Page 3A

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Beneath blue skies, county balloon festival attracts 27,000

Photo by Denise Verderosa

An estimated crowd of 27,000 attended the 13th annual Chester County Hot Air Balloon Festival this past weekend at the New Garden Flying Field in Toughkenamon.

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

June by appealing to the weather gods for sunshine and minimal winds, For the past 13 years, as she and hundreds of Debbie Harding of Air volunteers, balloonists Continued on Page 2A Ventures begins her

U-CF budget and new press box approved By JP Phillips Correspondent The June 10 work session Oxford students honored and June 17 Unionvilleat film festivals...8A Chadds Ford School Board

meetings were packed with approvals, discussion, and disagreements on process. As expected, the board

approved the $90,261,207 school budget for 20192020. This represents a tax increase of 2.28 percent for Chester County and 2.23 percent for Delaware County. During the work session, Supervisor of Athletics Pat Crater presented a contract

to sell a sign on a planned new stadium press box to Premier Orthopaedics at a cost of $4,200 per year, with the district retaining a one-year renewal option for four years. Many board members were not aware that this signage was for sale. Board member Gregg

Lindner asked what type of research was done to determine a fair price for the advertising. Board member Bob Sage questioned whether other companies were approached. Crater responded that Premier came to the district with the offer. Sage also asked if there were any

financial relationships with Premier, and Crater replied that one of the doctors is the U-CF paid team physician. Crater explained that the new press box was not funded by the district, so parents and students were charged with raising the Continued on Page 3A

Franklin Connective Festival organizers, Sherrow, and Stay receive Citizen supervisors begin to address alternative Recognition Awards in Oxford By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

N.C. Wyeth reconsidered at Brandywine River Museum of Art...1B

employee who is particularly helpful and cheerful, and a hardworking commitA dedicated community tee that organized the first volunteer, a post office Connective Art & Music

Festival were this year’s recipients of the Citizen Recognition Awards in Oxford Borough.

INDEX Opinion.......................7A Obituaries...................2B Calendar of Events.....3B Classifieds.................8B

By John Chambless Staff Writer

Continued on Page 2A

Photo by Steven Hoffman

Tales from a mermaid in Penn Township...3B

energy sources

A Citizen Recognition Award was presented to the volunteer committee that planned and organized the first Connective Art & Music Festival. Those serving on the volunteer committee for the festival included the following: Bethany Atkinson; Mary Lou Baily; Mary-Laura Buchner-Hulse; Scott Brown; Caitlin Daugherty; Tony Derrico; Jane Edgington; Johnny Johnston; Allie King; Betty Kramer; Dan Meixell; Crystal Messaros; Bruce Mowday; Melissa Pacella; Cara Patti; Judy Petersen; Neeley Spotts; Brian Wenzka; and Erica Winne (not all committee members are pictured here).

The future of alternative energy sources in Franklin Township was brought up at the June 19 Board of Supervisors meeting, paving the way for future developments. Several months ago, zoning officer Jeff Vogels approached the board about developing a solar array/ alternative energy ordinance, since the township does not have one. After receiving some inquiries on the subject, the board agreed it’s important to have regulations in place so that there will be consistency with future projects. Vogels provided a summary of considerations, and the

board members agreed that small and medium solar installations would continue to follow the regulations for accessory structures. Large, commercial-scale solar arrays will need to have specific guidelines surrounding installation, maximum height, buffers, glare/reflectivity stormwater, decommissioning, site restoration and financial security. The board directed Vogels to draft an outline of a solar, alternative and wind energy ordinance for review at a future meeting. Supervisor Donna Dea suggested adding wind energy to the ordinance. There are two zoning issues in the township. The owner of 1620 New London Continued on Page 2A

Oxford Borough seeks school district’s help with improving pedestrian safety near schools Hiring and training crossing guards has become a concern By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

© 2007 The Chester County Press

Oxford Borough mayor Lorraine Durnan Bell made an appeal last week for the Oxford Area School District to help find a solution to concerns regarding the hir-

ing and training of crossing guards who are stationed near the school. Bell made a presentation at the school board’s June 18 meeting, explaining to district officials that she and Oxford Borough Police Chief Sam Iacono want to

ensure the safety of pedestrians and motorists. Currently, the school district and the borough split the costs for the salaries for the crossing guards. The mayor of Oxford Borough has oversight of the crossing guards.

Bell said that she received multiple telephone calls from people expressing concerns about pedestrian safety around the school. She shared the issues that were raised with school district officials, and over the course of the last year she

has met with the superintendent, business manager, and a number of different school district committees. “We let you know that this was an ongoing concern, and that we were trying to address it,” Bell explained. Continued on Page 6A


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