Report to address whether to consolidate local police departments
By Rick Marts, Correspondent, The Times
Kennett Township Manager Lisa Moore details the condition of the township’s finances during Wednesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.
KENNETT — Wednesday night’s meeting of the township’s Board of Supervisors was highlighted by Township Manager Lisa Moore’s presentation of the 6-month 2014 Financial Report. The entirety of this report can be found on the township’s website under Township/Financial Reports/Budgets.
In summary, the township’s assets exceed its liabilities by over $8 million ($20,141,427 vs. $11,960,958).
Sixty percent of the township’s total assets–its current assets–are liquid, while the remaining 40 percent are in property, plant, and equipment. Most (57 percent) of its current assets are contained in its General Fund–$7.2 million of a total of $12.7 million. For the first half of 2014, the General fund is in very good condition, as evidenced by:
• Revenue was $1.8 million, 19 percent higher than last year and 6 percent higher than budgeted
• Expenses were $1.6 million, 11 percent higher than last year and only 4 percent higher than budgeted.
The General Fund’s major revenue source is taxes on earned income, which totaled $1.38 million, or about three-quarters of the fund’s total income.
The General Fund’s expenses are in six major categories: wages and benefits, general government, roads, police, fire and emergency, and other.
In addition to the 6-month financial report, Moore provided her “Manager’s Report” on current issues in the township:
• A regional police study is underway to determine if the participating townships would benefit from consolidation or contracting to form a full service regional police department. All local policemen are being invited to meet and ask questions about the study. In addition to Kennett, New Garden and London Grove Townships are part of the study, but East Marlborough and Pocopson are not. The study should be completed soon and recommendations and conclusions presented to local elected officials.
• The new gate at the Maintenance Garage will open at 7:00 a.m. as a rule and close at dusk.
• The Stephens Gardens (Rt. 52) clean-up is about 50 percent complete and citations have been issued for the remaining violations.
• Kennett has applied for a geothermal grant from the state to install geothermal equipment to heat the Township Building and the Maintenance Garage. The total cost is about $300,000, but the township will pay only 10 percent of that.
• A proposed storm water management ordinance will be put on the website. Adopting it or something similar is required by the state.
• A firearm discharge ordinance is in the works and a meeting to discuss it is scheduled for September 17, 7:30 p.m., at the BOS public meeting.
• Kennett received a grant for constructing a sidewalk from Kennett Borough to New Garden. Survey work is underway, but the project will not be completed until spring 2016.
• Kennett’s Safety Committee surveyed the entire township looking for unsafe road situations and conditions. The resulting report went to our Roadmaster and the state, who will address the conditions under their respective control.
Police Chief Albert McCarthy highlighted in his report that the township has been experiencing a spate of car break-ins recently. The Chief said, “I recommend that everyone lock their cars, even when in your own driveway.”
