In a ceremony held at the start of last Wednesday's Board of Supervisors meeting at Kennett Township, colleagues, friends and residents congratulated outgoing supervisor Robert Hammaker on his 12 years on the board, and his longtime contribution to the township.

Hammaker took part in his last board meeting on Dec. 16, joined by fellow board members Scudder Stevens, chairman, and Dr. Richard Leff. He was presented with a plaque of appreciation by Stevens, and received a standing ovation from those who attended the meeting.

His position on the board will be filled by Whitney Hoffman, who was elected after defeating challenger Ted Moxon in November. With Hammaker's departure and Hoffman's election, the township board will now be made up of three Democrats.

“When I first came to the board, it was Bob who was particularly supportive of me, and encouraging of me, and brought a balance to the transition, for the beginning of my term, and I am eternally grateful for his actions in that regard,” Stevens said. “It's been a personal pleasure to have been able to work with Bob [and experiencing the] wisdom and the knowledge that he has brought to the table as we have sat together to work through issues of the township.

“That understanding of the depth of issues and the depth of knowledge of what has happened in the past, and his wisdom in knowing why that's important, have been important in guiding me in my role as a supervisor,” Stevens added. “It's with great appreciation that we salute him for his service.”