There will be a dedication of the new Avon Grove High School on April 13, but the Penn Township supervisors see that there are things still to be done to complete the project.

“I’m very surprised at a lot of things I think should  be done that are not,” supervisor William O’Connell said.

O’Connell reported that he does not believe that all of the curbs have the required 6” reveal. He also does not think that the wastewater pump station has a large enough discharge pipe. This can lead to clogging. 

At the time of the board meeting, landscaping work at the high school was underway but not yet complete. 

The board also heard complaints about speeding on Waltman Way. Because this is a private road owned by the school district, the township has no jurisdiction in the matter. To date, speed limit signs have not been installed. 

“It’s private property. We don’t have any control of it. It’s the school district,” O’Connell said. 

To help with speeding issues, the township has erected electronic speed signs on three township roads – Jenners Pond Road, West Ewing Road and Pennocks Bridge Road. The signs not only let drivers know their speed, but they also collect data which is then reported to the State Police each Monday.

Of the three current locations, there does not appear to be much speeding on Pennocks Bridge Road, officials said. The other two locations have recorded many speed violations including drivers doing 70 mph and more on Jenners Pond Road and a high speed of 87 mph on Ewing Road.

“We are going to move signs around a little bit, but for now we are going to leave them on Jenners Pond and Ewing,” township Director of Operations Karen Versuk said. 

In the Historical Committee report, Scott Steele noted that the Red Rose Inn was open to visitors for tours April 2 with about 70 visitors over the three-hour period.

“People are very appreciative of the investment the township has made, preserving the historic structure,” Steele said. 

Supervisor Jay Ennis reported that he is hoping to get quotes for replacing the gable ends of the front porch on the Red Rose Inn. 

Versuk reported that an archeological review of phase 3 at the township sports park has been resolved.

Versuk explained that although the site had been archaeologically cleared by the state, the Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma made a request to the National Park Service for a study to see if there were any bones or funerary objects on the site. The township complied by authorizing a study that dug 56 holes on the property at a cost of $21,000. The only items found were a few shards of pottery. 

At the close of the meeting, under public comment, Lou Stevens from Chester County Building Trades ad the AFL-CIO gave the supervisors information on the potential benefits to the township by adopting a responsible contracting ordinance. Under this ordinance the township would not be forced to accept the lowest bid on a project if that bidder did not meet standards. Stevens reported that seven municipalities in the county have already adopted similar ordinances.