New Garden Township Supervisor Betty Gordon submitted her letter of resignation at Monday night's board meeting, specifying that she will end her six-year term on April 1, nine months before her term is set to officially expire on Jan. 1, 2016.

"A supervisor's term is six years, and this is the sixth year of my six-year term, and I've come to the realization that I'm reaching the age and stage where I need to consider moving into a retirement community," Gordon told the audience. "It is with extreme regret that I must submit my resignation from the New Garden Board of Supervisors. I will be moving out of the township within the next few months, and will therefore no longer be able to serve, since I will no longer be a resident of New Garden Township.

"It has been a pleasure to serve the residents, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity. But now we look to the future."

Gordon's premature departure from the board forces the township to hurriedly look for a successor to fill the vacancy on the five-person board for the remainder of the year. Township Solicitor Vince Pompo said that the board has 30 days from April 1 to approve a successor to Gordon, by motion, to appoint a successor who will serve through the end of the term.

If for some reason the board can not agree on a successor within that 30-day period, there will be a period of 15 days for the Vacancy Board to choose a successor. If there is no successor appointed within that 45-day period, the township would have to appeal to the Chester County Court of Common Pleas, where a judge would rule to fill the vacancy.

Gordon's term on the board is not the only one that expires at the end of the year. The term of Patrick Little, who was appointed to fill the seat once occupied by Warren Reynolds, also ends on Jan. 1, 2016. Current Chairperson Steve Allaband's term expires on Jan. 1, 2018, while the terms of two newest members of the board – Vice Chairman Richard Ayotte and Randy Geouque – extend until Jan. 1, 2020.

The board agreed that it will begin advertising for the soon-to-be-vacant position this week.

In other township business, Brian Roberts and Dr. Margaret "Peg" Jones filled the board in on the accomplishments of the township's Historical Commission in the last year, which included extensive upgrades to the historic Lamborn House in New Garden Park – work completed by the efforts of volunteers, who contributed more than 630 hours of service. Roberts said that additional insulation still needs to be added to the house and the addition of stucco sealing on its exterior.

The Historic Commission will be hosting an open house at the Lamborn House in New Garden Park on March 22, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The board approved the start of the project bid process for Phase II of the runway reconstruction project at the New Garden Flying Field, pending approval from the Bureau of Aviation. Phase I of the project, which included engineering and design work for the runway, is now complete.

Flying Field Manager Jon Martin said that he anticipates advertising the bids starting March 25 and opening the bids on April 23.

New Garden Police Chief Gerald Simpson provided an update of the Feb. 28 of several municipalities in order to discuss the feasibility to establish a regional police unit in southern Chester County. The meeting, he said, primarily focused on the distribution of fees that would be divided according to municipality, if such a unit is formed.

On May 16, the New Garden Township Police Department will be inviting the public to an outreach program at the New Garden Township Building. The tentative time of the event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

New Garden Township Director of Public Works Ken Reed said that the department will begin making road repairs to the potholes on Sheehan and Sharp roads, at their intersection at Gap-Newport Pike in the township – as well as at other locations that have been damaged by the winter.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail [email protected].