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Chester County Press

Kennett Square Borough takes step to line up financing for new fire truck

09/18/2015 12:14PM ● By Steven Hoffman

When Kennett Square Borough Council approved the budget for 2015, officials knew that at some point during the year they would need to proceed on a request by the Kennett Fire Company to purchase a new $1.2 million ladder truck to replace the current ladder truck, which is 18 years old. The costs of purchasing the truck are being shared by the borough and neighboring Kennett Township.

At its meeting on Sept. 8, Kennett Square Borough Council approved an ordinance clearing the way for a general obligation bond to be issued eventually so that the borough can fund its share of the new fire truck.

Council member Geoff Bosley noted during the brief discussion about the ordinance that the fire company will be selling a truck that is being replaced, so the actual final costs to the borough will be less than the borough's $600,000 share of the $1.2 million ladder truck.

At the same meeting, a public hearing was held regarding a proposed ordinance amendment to the section of the Municipal Code that pertains to accessory buildings. The regulations require that accessory buildings be no more than 50 percent in proportion to the main building so that the accessory buildings can’t be the dominant use on a site. The proposed ordinance amendment was reviewed by the county planning commission and was recommended for approval, and the changes were reviewed by the borough's own planning commission, which also made the recommendation for approval. Borough council approved the ordinance amendment.

Kennett Square Borough Council also discussed a proposed ordinance to the Municipal Code pertaining to motor vehicles and traffic, metered and long-term parking.

You’re not going to see many changes,” explained borough manager Joe Scalise. “It’s more of an update that is long overdue.”

Borough council unanimously approved this ordinance change as well.

In her report to borough council, Mary Hutchins, the executive director of Historic Kennett Square, reported that houppette, at 101 W. State St., and Blown Away, at 110 S. Union St., have both opened and are garnering a lot of positive attention.

In a final piece of business at the meeting, Scalise updated borough council about the study that Kennett Square and a handful of other local municipalities are partnering on to analyze the fire and ambulance services in the area. Scalise explained that Newlin Township has decided that it does not want to spend as much as the other municipalities on the study. Initially, Scalise said, borough council authorized a $5,000 limit on the study. But after Newlin Township's decision, the other five municipalities that are a part of the study will need to contribute $5,500 each. Borough council approved the higher limit.