By Steven Hoffman

Staff Writer

Two dozen residents, including children, turned out at the Kennett Square Borough Council meeting on Monday, Aug. 4 to show their concern about a safety issue in the Stenning Hills neighborhood.

Robert Whiteside voiced the concerns of these residents when he said that motorists drive too fast and don’t pay enough attention to children who are playing in the neighborhood.

“We have children who use skateboards or scooters,” Whiteside said. “I’m so afraid that one of these kids is going to get hit by a car. {The motorists} don’t pay attention to the kids.”

Whiteside said that residents want a three-way stop sign placed where Wayne Avenue intersects with Worrall Avenue to slow down traffic. He said that a traffic study was conducted about ten years ago and a stop sign was supposed to be installed as a result, but it was inadvertently placed at another intersection.

Whiteside said that it’s time to correct the mistake.

“I’m pleading with you on behalf of the kids in our neighborhood,” Whiteside said.

Council president Leon Spencer said that he has recently had discussions with Police Chief Edward Zunino about traffic in that area and Zunino is supportive of having a stop sign installed. Spencer said the Public Safety Committee is meeting in late August and will discuss the topic, and he predicted that council might be able to act on the request for a stop sign at its next meeting.

“You should have some results from your request,” Spencer told the audience.

In other business Monday night, Historic Kennett Square executive director Mary Hutchins reported that a blown transformer at the intersection of State and Union streets caused disruptions in the operations of businesses in the downtown district on Monday. Several businesses were still without power as of the Monday night meeting.

Hutchins said that the Kennett Fire Company and the police department responded in what seemed like the blink of an eye and thanked them for responding to the emergency.

Borough council approved an intergovernmental agreement with New Garden Township for Kennett Square police officers to use the new firing range in the neighboring township.

Council also approved a Special Event Application for a neighborhood block party on North Broad Street. This is the second year of the event, which is slated to take place on Aug. 30. There is no alcohol permitted in the street during the block party and no services of the borough will be required during the event.

Spencer also announced that the borough has been recognized for its commitment to recycling. The borough was a recipient of the 2014 Waste Watcher Award for its recycling and collection efforts in 2013. The borough was specifically lauded for two electronics recycling collection events that were held so that residents could safely dispose of unwanted electronics. In the collection event in March of 2013, approximately 28 tons of electronics, televisions, and air conditions were collected. Then in September 2013, another event brought in 4 tons of electronics.

Karen Scherer, the assistant to the borough manager, who also serves as Kennett Square's recycling coordinator, said that the borough was recognized by the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania at the state conference in July.

The State House of Representatives also issued a citation lauding the borough for its initiatives.

Spencer said that residents should be proud of the efforts to recycle.

The next meeting of Kennett Square Borough Council will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 2.