Chester County Press 9-27-2017 Edition

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Chester CountyPRESS

www.chestercounty.com

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

Volume 151, No. 39

INSIDE

60 Cents

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Township signs After vote, Oxford will likely resolution opposing have new police chief in 2018 proposed water authority sale By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Kennett Township joined the voices of opposition to Landenberg Life the proposed sale of the magazine Chester Water Authority to Aqua of America by adopting a resolution at the Sept. 20 Board of Supervisors meeting that requests that the CWA board “protect” the residents and businesses that the Chester-based water company currently serves. The resolution stated that “Kennett Township requests that the Chester Water Authority Board not sell its customers and assets to a for-profit company,” and that the Board “continKennett High School cel- ue to protect our township ebrates Homecoming...1B residents and businesses by putting the interests of the

taxpayers first when making decisions about the Authority’s operations and future.” The resolution was signed by Board Chairman Scudder Stevens and Co-Chair Whitney Hoffman. Supervisor Dr. Richard Leff was not present at the meeting. Joe DiMarco, a Chichester resident in opposition of the sale, was in attendance at the meeting with two representatives from the Chester Water Authority. He applauded the passage of the resolution and said that he and his colleagues have been attending similar meetings throughout Chester and Delaware counties in recent weeks, in order to generate Continued on Page 2A

Members of Oxford Borough Council voted 4-2 in favor of a motion to notify police chief John Slauch that they do not plan to extend his contract after it expires on Dec. 31, 2017. The vote, which took place at a Sept. 18 council meeting, most likely means that Oxford Borough will have a new police chief running the police department in 2018. Council members Randy Grace, Peggy Ann Russell, John Thompson, and Gary Tozzo voted in favor of the motion, while council members Sue Lombardi and Paul Matthews opposed it. Council president Ron Hershey was not present at the meeting. According to Slauch’s current contract, the borough council had an obligation to notify the police chief by Sept. 30 whether they

Media native to begin new post Dec. 4

Kennett area names new economic development director By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

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Following an extensive nationwide search, Nathaniel Echeverria has been named as the Director of Economic Development for the Borough of Kennett Square and Kennett Township. Echeverria will begin his new position on Dec. 4, and will work in the Historic Kennett Square office on State Street in Kennett Square. He was chosen from a field of nine final candidates. A native of Media, Pa. and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with an advanced degree in Urban, Community and Regional Planning, Echeverria, 34, is currently the Director of Policy and Operations for the San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA), where he is responsible for assisting downtown small businesses and developers through the city permitting process, connecting businesses with various economic development incentives and staffing the city’s devel-

Courtesy photo

Nathaniel Echeverria, currently the Director of Policy and Operations for the San Jose Downtown Association, will become the Director of Economic Development for the Borough of Kennett Square and Kennett Township on Dec. 4.

opment and urban design review committee. Principally, the mission of Echeverria’s new position will be putting the Kennett Regional Economic Development Study into action, which includes a broad outline of economic and community development plans, programs and services in the borough and the township, as created by Historic Kennett Square, the Economic Advisory Committee and the bor-

ough’s municipal staff. The Selection Committee, comprised of leaders across various disciplines within Kennett, unanimously chose Echeverria as the top candidate after a rigorous interview process. “We received three glowing reviews from his working partners, and we felt his thoughtful presence yet authoritative knowledge within this field would fit perfectly in Kennett. He can Continued on Page 3A

Police Chief John Slauch intended to negotiate a new contract or not. Slauch was hired as Oxford’s Chief of Police in 2005. Before he arrived, Oxford Borough went through a period of instability in the police department, with several police chiefs in a row failing to stay even for the length of the initial contract. In Pennsylvania, the mayor of boroughs has the duty of providing oversight to the operations of the police department, so Geoff

Henry, the mayor of Oxford Borough, worked as closely as anyone with Slauch during his time as Oxford’s police chief. “Chief Slauch has served the borough well for the last twelve years,” Henry said. “He has overseen a stable police department. We haven’t had a lot of turnover. The officers who have left have gone on to fulltime jobs, or in one instance, an officer was recruited to work in the Chester County Detectives Office.” Henry added that, under Slauch, the police department has prevented crime from rising in the borough. Slauch’s career in law enforcement extended back to when he originally worked as a police officer for the borough in the 1970s. Borough manager Brian Hoover said that the borough can launch a search for candidates to fill the position or Continued on Page 3A

Improvements coming to Franklin Township parks thanks to Eagle Scouts By John Chambless Staff Writer At the Sept. 20 meeting of the Franklin Township Board of Supervisors, two future Eagle Scouts proposed projects that were enthusiastically approved by the board. For his Eagle Scout project, Austin Gaydos, a junior at Avon Grove High School, will construct a boardwalk in the wet area of the Crossan Park trail, behind the lower pavilion. This addition will complete a loop in the lower trail. The board unanimously authorized assistance in an amount up to $500 toward the project. For his Eagle Scout project, Jacob Shuster, a junior at Avon Grove Charter School, presented his project to build eight to ten bat houses and place them in the park and preserves. The board will help him decide on placement of the houses, and unanimously voted to contribute up to $500 toward the project. The board discussed the Hess Mill Bridge, a timber bridge built in 1973. PennDOT inspects

this bridge annually and has lowered the weight limit. The board is considering two options -- a pre-made concrete bridge similar to one that New London Township recently installed on West Avondale Road, or rebuilding the timber bridge. If the concrete bridge is installed, it will be longlasting and there would be no weight restriction. The township could install timber on the sides to make it more aesthetically pleasing. Alternate engineer Ron Ragan estimated the cost of a concrete bridge would be about $350,000. The township also received an estimate of $250,000 for a timber-built bridge. Hess Mill Road is a low-volume road, so the Chester County Conservation District will evaluate the bridge and determine whether the township would be eligible for any grant money toward the project. PennDOT has advised Township Manager Joan McVaugh that Rep. John Lawrence might be able to add the bridge to the Continued on Page 2A

Not your average picnic in the park The 13th annual Health & Wellness Community Picnic in Penn Township once again attracts a large crowd By Nancy Johnson Correspondent Penn Township partnered with Jennersville Regional Hospital on the 13th annual Health & Wellness Community Picnic on Sept. 23, and the event once again attracted a large crowd. “As always, every bit of food was gone,” said Curtis Mason, chairman of Penn Township’s Board of Supervisors. “We went through 1,200 pounds of chicken, plus 1,200 hot dogs and about 1,100 hamburgers. Nothing was wasted.” The event, which has always been free, is eagerly anticipated each year by the local community. The event appeals to a multi-genera-

tional crowd, and there is something for everyone, including great music by Jesse Garron’s Elvis Tribute Show and local favorite The Larry Tucker Band, children’s rides and games, health screenings, and delicious chicken by J.R.’s BBQ. While the event was well attended, many noted that the food line was shorter than usual. Mason explained that they opened the line about 45 minutes earlier than in the past, which really helped. “We have also streamlined the serving line, because once you get a backup, it never ends,” he explained. Part of the West Grove

Photos by Nancy Johnson

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Mickey Park provided a safe, enclosed area for the younger children to bounce and play.


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