Action moves on to long-discussed items
By Karen Cresta, Staff Writer, The Times
Pocopson Township Supervisors Alice Balsama, Elaine DiMonte and Ricki Stumpo consider options during Monday night’s board meeting.
POCOPSON – After much delay in getting approval by the Pocopson Township Board of Supervisors, two consistently tabled agenda items due to outstanding, and some controversial, issues were finally unanimously approved at Monday night’s meeting.
The first item seeking and getting final approval was the preliminary plan from Riverside Daycare Partnership for the Ducklings Early Learning Center on Winston Lane in Riverside at Chadds Ford. Community members previously voiced their many concerns for the 10,000 square feet child-care center that would increase traffic flow for drop-off and pick-up times for the approximate 128 children it will enroll.
Amanda Sundquist, township solicitor, read the list of numerous conditions for the plan, including a provision that caused delay regarding a parking debate during special events that would not allow parking on the community’s public streets. A possible solution would be to shuttle attendees from off-site locations for planned events.
Chairwoman Ricki Stumpo stated that she hopes the owner “understands it’s a condition and she has to meet that.”
The previous concern of whether the recreation fee was paid or not was also resolved as documentation that the community builder, Toll Brothers, paid it in its entirety was submitted to the township.
The Homeowner’s Association (HOA) suggested throughout many of the meetings that its plan is to legally challenge the approval of the preliminary plan.
The second item that gained approval after many delays was the security system contract from the Protection Bureau for the Barnard House that held up occupancy for the Kennett Underground Railroad Center (KURC).
The board of supervisors sought recommendations from Sundquist for the annual contract and a lease option versus buying the system outright. In the end, the marginal benefit of $1,000 to lease it did not reap enough benefits according to Supervisor Alice Balsama. Some other terms such as a one year versus a more lengthy contract were agreed upon by the Protection Bureau.
The purchase of the security system will cost over $19,000 and an annual maintenance fee of over $350 will be charged. It includes locks, a fire alarm system, three cameras, and an electrical timer for the hall bathroom to limit access during the KURC business hours.
KURC will be responsible for the cleaning and repairs and can occupy the historical building within 30 days of the completion of the installation of the security system.
“The security system will be installed and we will finally move forward,” said Stumpo.
In other township news, Stumpo announced Matt Murphy as the newest member to the township’s Planning Commission.
Also announced was the second successful garage sale raising another $1,000 toward the restoration of the Locust Grove Schoolhouse. Stumpo reported that an additional $10,000 was donated by a retired XL Catlin employee with a charitable foundation, after the insurance company representative helped to paint in May. The schoolhouse relies solely on donations along with grants and Stumpo was pleased to report that this recent donation and money raised at the garage sales by the Historic Commission will go towards redoing the floors.
Brad Piper, one of the two township appointed Kennett Library board representatives, provided an update and expressed his gratitude for the annual contribution that was recently received on behalf of the township. He also reported that a Home and Garden tour was attended by 500 people and raised $33,000. He said that fundraising will be a big topic over the next six to nine months. The library is seeking a new facility that may be a multi-use building shared with Kennett Square Borough municipalities.
Stumpo asked Piper if the library has a definite location yet and Piper replied, “Not an announced one.”
