The Kennett Township Board of Supervisors passed a resolution at their April 17 meeting appointing Alison S. Dobbins as the township’s new manager, a tenure that began on April 22.

She replaces Eden Ratliff, who served the township for four years and resigned on Feb. 1 to become the Deputy City Manager for the City of Charlottesville, Va. Interim manager Amy Heinrich will return to her full-time duties as the township’s director of finance and human resources director.

A long-time administrator at Drexel University, Dobbins previously served four years as the deputy chief administrative officer and most recently the acting chief administrative officer for Upper Darby Township, the sixth largest municipality in Pennsylvania. In her role, she was responsible for the implementation of the ordinances and strategic priorities of the mayor and council and helped navigate the township’s public services through the pandemic.

Dobbins received her Bachelor of Science degree from Drexel University and is pursuing her MBA from Eastern University as well as ICMA (International City County Managers Association) accreditation. 

“I believe and care deeply about the impact that local government has on the day-to-day lives of those who live and work in our community,” Dobbins said at the meeting. “I do view the township manager position as the ultimate way to serve, and it is one of the many reasons I am thrilled to be here tonight.

“I am really excited to be able to bring the depth and breadth of the experience that I gained at Upper Darby to ensure the continued success of Kennett Township. I work best in a transparent, collaborative and inclusive environment, and what the board has created here checked all of those boxes for me. When I say that I am your manager, I truly mean that I am here for you. I believe that work at the municipal level is the most impactful and the most meaningful. What happens in this building is most likely to impact people in their day-to-day lives. I want to assure you that I take that responsibility seriously and I am proud to join the Kennett team.”

“The board is looking forward to working with Ms. Dobbins,” said board chairman Geoffrey Gamble. “Alison has a broad base of skills and experience perfectly aligned to help us through the opportunities and challenges facing Kennett Township now and in the future. We feel lucky to have her on our team.”

Other township business

The board approved the sewage facilities planning module for the new Greenwood Elementary School, which will be located at 420 Greenwood Road on approximately 24.5 acres. Phased construction is being proposed to allow for continued use of the existing school building while the new school is being built, and demolition of the existing building and completion of the site work will be done once the new building is completed.

In her last manager’s report, interim township manager Amy Heinrich listed a series of planned and completed projects the township has undertaken during her three-month tenure. They include contracting with the State Police for midnight to 6 a.m. coverage in the township; restructuring the township’s committees; filling vacancies on several committees and commissions; approving development plans for the new Kennett Area Community Service facility, the Parkside development on Walnut Road and the new Greenwood Elementary School; executing a contract with the Revolving Water Fund to assist cleaning waterways throughout the township; and approving the township’s Total Maximum Daily Loan (TMDL) plan in accordance with Department of Environmental Protection requirements.

Public Works Director Ted Otteni said that despite heavy rains and flooding events over the past four weeks, the Chandler Mill Road Greenway project continues to make progress. Trail paving is expected in late May which will be followed with fine grading, landscaping and the installation of railings and site amenities. He said that substantial work on the project is expected to be completed by the end of June.

The board also appointed Tracy Bhalla as a member of the township’s Planning Commission. 

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