Twp’s financial picture is robust, current assets exceed $11 Million
By Rick Marts, Staff Writer, Kennett Times
The Kennett Township Board of Supervisors listens to residents’ concerns over the shooting ordinance, Wednesday night. From left, Robert Hammaker, Richard Leff and Scudder Stevens.
KENNETT — A new gun ordinance took effect in the township on Sept. 8, 2013. Its purpose is to “secure the safety of persons and property…and maintain peace and order…” Who can argue with such a purpose? Probably no one, but many seem to find some of the law’s provisions puzzling.
For example, the new ordinance limits residents wishing to target practice on their property to using their firearms at distances of more than 150 yards from any occupied building and more than 100 yards from a property line.
These limits are unjustified and too restrictive, claimed several residents at Wednesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. George Gowen, for example, was recently cited for discharging a shotgun loaded with shot the size of grains of salt into a tree in his backyard (he had some of the shot taped to his citation for illustration). Jamie McDermott, also a township resident, lives on a large property and believes the 100-yard buffer is far too restrictive.
Gowen proposed amending the ordinance to specify exceptions that would not violate the ordinance. Other members of the audience noted that parts of the new ordinance seemed arbitrary. Hunting, for example, is exempted from many of the restrictions that apply to recreational shooting.
Board Chairman Scudder Stevens said Pennsylvania law outgunned the new township ordinance regarding hunting as an exemption, but he acknowledged the points made and agreed to consider them when amending the ordinance.
Township Manager Lisa Moore presented the year-end financial statements. By and large, the year-end balance sheet showed a township in magnificent financial health, with current assets totaling $11,658,212 and fixed assets of $6,690,242. Current liabilities are $783,376, and the township has no long-term debt.
Kennett’s income statement was also impressive. The General Fund, with a balance of $8.5 million, had revenues in 2013 of $3.1 million and expenses of $3.6 million. Moore explained the variance was due to lower tax income but that it was right on the budgeted figure.
She also explained that “expenses were higher in 2013 than 2012 primarily because our Wages and Benefits and Police accounts had significant growth because we hired a building inspector and a second police officer.” Moore also said, “We are developing a comparison of our major costs against other local townships and will report this analysis in the future.”
Other business on one of the most ambitious agendas in recent memory:
• Chairman Stevens congratulated the road crew for outstanding work and Lisa Moore for doing an excellent job of keeping all the communications lines open.
• Moore said a demonstration of the new website will occur at the next meeting.
• Except for a few details, Penns Manor has been completed. The chairman of the Penns Manor Homeowners’ Association stood to thank the supervisors and Ms. Moore for their support during the long development period.
• Sara Meadows of the township staff addressed the meeting to recognize Marion Boyd Guthrie, of Kennett Square, who at age 94 passed away on Sunday, January 19, 2014. She was a long-time resident of the area and was widely known as an accomplished watercolor artist. She was also a guide at the Brandywine River Museum, listed in the World Who’s Who of Women, and her art is exhibited in many public collections.
