In response to the Kennett Consolidated School District Board’s decision on July 8 to negotiate to transfer a portion of its Legacy Field property to the Kennett Trails Alliance, the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors voted at their July 17 meeting to authorize the township to enter into negotiations with the school district for an easement or land transfer for the property, which is on Kennett High School property and located in the township.

Situated at the corner of South Walnut and Birch streets in Kennett Square, Legacy Fields is used by the school for its soccer, field hockey and lacrosse teams, as well as by several area athletic organizations. At the edge of the park along the Red Clay Creek, however, the property contains thick vegetation, which as was stated at the July 8 meeting, the Alliance wishes to use as a connector to its 14-mile Kennett Greenway and become the future site of a public outdoor classroom for environmental education.  

Hicks awarded township’s first medal of merit

In other township business, the board voted in favor of establishing awards that will recognize township residents for merit and valor performed for or on behalf of the township.

Each medal will contain the township seal that will be suspended from a white ribbon that will contain three green vertical stripes and be given to the recipient in a presentation case together with a rectangular service ribbon.

In addition, recipients of the medal will receive a diploma recognizing their act(s) of merit and valor. The medal of valor will be given for acts of heroism in or near the township, such as saving a human life or physical property, and the medal of merit will recognize outstanding service to the township for a minimum of ten years.

Those eligible for the decoration will be township residents, non-uniformed and uniformed township employees, uniformed non-residents, and non-residents providing extraordinary services to the township. No more than two awards in each category will be awarded each year.

Soon after the board adopted the installation of the awards, they announced that Diane Hicks, the director of Planning and Zoning, was the first recipient of the award for merit.  Hicks, who will be retiring from her position on July 26, served in her capacity for ten years.

Paraphrasing a quote she read by the singer-songwriter Arlo Guthrie, Hicks said, “A municipal employee’s shelf life may be a lot longer than a dancer or an athlete, but at some point, unless you’re incredibly fortunate or just plain whacko, it’s time to hang up the ‘Gone Fishing’ sign,” she said. “It’s my time to hang up the ‘Gone Fishing’ sign.” 

In other township business:

• The board voted to table a decision on whether the township will fund the Kennett Fire & EMS Regional Commission, who is seeking funding to meet the equipment needs of firefighters and EMS personnel as mandated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The decision will be reached at the board’s Aug. 7 meeting, based on the recommendation of township Manager Alison Dobbins, in order to give the township more time to assess the request for funding and review the Commission’s 50-page proposal that was issued in March.
• Supervisor Patricia Muller was recognized for her long service to the township’s Planning Commission. In her remarks, she pointed to a 2016 discussion she and former Supervisor Whitney Hoffman had with local developers that led to the township’s current zoning ordinance that reflects the need to balance growth with the importance of preserving open space in the township. She said that being on the Commission allowed her and her colleagues to “envision, imagine and make change.”
• The board voted to renew the township’s contract with Sage Intacct, an automated accounts payable firm, in the amount of $37,988.70 for the period of Aug. 15, 2024 to Aug. 14, 2025.
• In his report to the board, Public Works Director Ted Otteni said the Public Works team has begun milling and paving Center Mill Road from Burnt Mill Road to S. Fairview Road; the entire length of Burrows Run Road; and Rosedale Road from Bayard Road to McFarlan Road. Improvements will include shoulder/swale repairs and replacement of deteriorated drainage structure. The cost of the 2024 paving contract is $469,300.
• The board approved the appointment of Maribeth Minella as a township representative to the Kennett Area Parks Administration Board of Directors.
• Kennett Township Police Chief Matthew Gordon invited township residents to attend the department’s National Night Out festivities on Aug. 6, beginning at 6 p.m. at 600 South Broad Street in Kennett Square.

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