By Kelli Siehl, Staff Writer, The Times
POCOPSON — Township Supervisors Ricki Stumpo and Georgia Brutscher opened Monday night’s Board of Supervisors’ meeting by reminding residents about the activities and entertainment planned for the upcoming Founder’s Day celebration.
Supervisors’ Chair, Stumpo, said officials are excited about several new attractions as well as surprise reappearances of a few past favorites. Officials told residents to wear their “red, white and blue” to the celebration which runs from Noon-4pm, Sunday, Sept. 28 at Pocopson Park, located at 477 Locust Grove Road.
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West Chester Public Library’s (WCPL) Board President, Richard May and Executive Director, Victoria Dow stopped by the meeting to thank township residents and officials for their support. May said the Library is grateful for the townships past recommendation of two Pocopson residents to its Board of Directors. He said this year WCPL celebrated its 125th anniversary and is once again participating in Founders Day. WCPL offers programming for adults, teens and children and this year, he said, was the only library in the system to see its usage numbers increase.
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Supervisors approved two township policies during Monday’s meeting.
The first is a Winter Road Maintenance Policy which outlines winter highway safety and includes procedures for salting, plowing, personnel and vehicle use during snow removal. Stumpo stated that the township Maintenance Department is responsible for 27.7 miles of township and another 13 miles of state roadways. The policy also includes information on how residents can avoid property damage during winter snow removal – particularly mailbox damage. Stumpo read through the policy stating “if the mailbox is in the township or state right of way, the township is not responsible for any damage.”
The second is the Branch Chipping Policy which offers a means for the chipping and elimination of fallen tree branches. Brutscher read highlights of the policy stressing that the program would continue as long as funding is available. She said that during last winter’s storm clean-up, some residents misused the program’s intent and she’s “hoping it does not happen this year.”
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Supervisors accepted a bid of $48,950 to complete the Red Bridge Farm Scour Project saying the work could be completed by the end of the year. The township replaced the bridge railings earlier in the year but the state is requiring the township to take action to prevent further erosion of the stream banks underneath the bridge.
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Officials gave the go ahead for a Traffic Safety Study along Denton Hollow Road. The study will cost $3400 and include a crash analysis, geometric review and site distance review of cross streets and private driveways among other items. Stumpo said the study should produce recommendations for roadway improvements. This, she said, will allow the township to budget for some of those improvements and to implement the improvements over time.
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Stumpo announced the resignation of one of the township’s resident Auditors. She explained that the township hires an auditing firm to go over the township’s records; however, there are also several residents who meet “a few times a year to go over the books.” She said no experience is necessary and if interested, residents should call (610)793-2151, or stop by the Township Building at 740 Denton Hollow Road.