Scudder Stevens becomes the first Democrat to earn a seat on the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors
By P.J. D’Annunzio, Staff Writer, KennettTimes.com
New Kennett Township Supervisor Scudder Stevens takes the oath of office Tuesday night.
KENNETT — In front of a packed crowd including residents, committee heads, police and fire officials, and the township government, newly elected Kennett Township Supervisor Scudder Stevens was inaugurated during Tuesday night’s Organization Meeting.
The inauguration itself was brief, taking only a few minutes before the meeting got down to business. The annual reports from the various committee heads commenced and congratulations were issued by the Board of Supervisors. But the question on the minds of the township residents who gathered for the meeting— two thirds of whom voted for Stevens—didn’t center on the formalities taking place that evening; it was a question concerning the future. “What next?”
“The electorate has been very clear,” Stevens said, “Transparent good governance, particularly in the area of finance for the township, is absolutely crucial. I’m going to do everything I can to begin the process of creating that transparency and finding the strategy to encourage financial openness.”
Dating back to the summer of 2011, a mystery has clouded financial operations of the township. Since the release of the 2009-2010 audit many citizens have voiced concerns over its validity — even its authenticity.
A disappearing auditor, lack of proof for transactions, and incomplete documentation have all fostered a spirit of distrust toward the township’s governance, so much so that in the traditionally Republican Kennett Township, the electorate voted overwhelmingly for Stevens, who became the first Democrat to hold office as a supervisor in that township.
Despite this milestone, residents are more concerned with clearing away the haze that surrounds the issue at hand. Given the contentious nature of the election, many perceive the relationship between the newly elected Stevens and the standing supervisors to be strained at best, however, Stevens is hopeful that his new colleagues will be eager to foster a spirit of cooperation with him.
“I had a series of e-mails with Lisa, the township manager, in which she expressed the desire that we can all work together,” he said. “I answered her saying that is absolutely my highest goal: to do what is necessary and appropriate for the best outcome for the township. So that remains my base.”
Though optimistic, Stevens is also prepared to what is necessary should he run into opposition.
“I’m prepared to do whatever is legal and appropriate if there is a lack of response from the other two supervisors, because it was very clearly the mandate of the township to address this issue.”
“The plan is contingent upon what the other two supervisors are doing or plan to do,” he continued. “I know the accountants who are currently being hired to serve this year for last year’s accounting. I have the highest regard and respect for them. I’ve worked with them in other circumstances. What I’m concerned about is what the opening numbers for the accounting are; what is the fund balance coming into 2011? It’s all dependent upon what the accountants want and what the other two supervisors are planning to do. I mean, they’ve had the opportunity to put all of this in place before I was sworn in.”
Even though he disagrees with the lack of disclosure from the supervisors, Stevens still maintains that he is willing to work with the other supervisors to get to the bottom of the situation.
“I am very hopeful that we can work together in addressing this so that it does not need to be contentious, but it is absolutely crucial that the township has a firm and good grasp on the numbers that existed before 2011,” he said.
Stevens’ former petitions for information were made before he was an elected official, therefore the township claimed to be unable to release the documents in question as they contained sensitive personal information for township employees. Now as supervisor, however, he is coupling his position with his determination to shed light on the situation.
“It is my goal that we can do this amicably and with respect…but I intend to keep the heat on in regards to this,” he said.
Although I did not vote for Mr. Stevens in the election, I, too, was dismayed that he was not given his name placard at the meeting. I am hopeful that the three supervisors can move forward and work as a team for the benefit of the township. I am also hopeful that Mr. Stevens’ “team” can move forward and let them supervisors work this out amongst themselves and not criticize every little movement that does not go their way. Continual negativity and criticism is only going to hinder the progress that needs to be made.
It has been two months since the electorate voted Scudder in by 61% to 39%.
The supervisors didn’t have a name placard for him, not even a paper name tag. That’s a clear message. They just do not want Scudder playing in their sandbox. And they are not about to respect the mandate of the voters.