Kennett Twp. finances remain in spotlight

New auditing practices praised, old ones unresolved

By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times

Kennett Township Supervisor Scudder G. Stevens presents a summary of information he received from his numerous Right-to-Know requests from the township.

Kennett Township finances dominated Monday night’s supervisors’ meeting, ranging from the first-quarter financial report to a summary of a right-to-know request that has spawned controversy as well as changes in auditing procedures.

Supervisor Scudder G. Stevens, who won election in 2011 on a platform of improving the township’s transparency, filed a public-records request during his campaign that has been subject to ongoing challenges from the township. At Monday night’s meeting, Stevens fulfilled a promise made at the last supervisors’ meeting when he was asked by two residents to share what he learned from the voluminous materials he obtained.

Among his disclosures, which only “scratched the surface,” Stevens said he found a disturbing pattern of closed-door activities and unchecked power by township supervisors. For example, he said the supervisors improperly took cash payments for their personal and spouses’ health care that was never reimbursed.

Calling Supervisors’ Chairman Michael E. Elling “a harsh enemy,” Stevens said an acrimonious dispute between Elling and the Kennett Land Trust led to the trust’s move out of the township – and a name change to the Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County, an outcome that did not benefit residents. He said he also had questions about whether the purchase of the State Line Woods property was handled in the township’s best interest.

Several residents suggested that Stevens’ criticism spilled into the township’s commissions and committees and township employees, but Stevens’ said his remarks were directed at the supervisors,  “not to castigate volunteers and paid staff.” He said he had great respect for the work they do.

Stevens said he had received information that may lead to Ed Johnson, the mystery auditor who prepared the 2009 and 2010 township audit and allegedly disappeared.  Stevens said he would turn that information over to Police Chief Albert McCarthy.

Township Manager Lisa M. Moore presented the first-quarter financial report, which she said would get posted on the township’s web site.  Describing a “quite healthy” financial picture, she said overall general fund expenses were 34 percent higher than last year but 1 percent less than budgeted for the first quarter. She said some new accounting changes would facilitate accountability. Several residents credited the township’s Business Advisory Committee will assistance in that regard.

Bill Hewton, a former township supervisor, expressed disappointment that Elling, who did not attend Monday night’s meeting, and Supervisor Robert A. Hammaker, ignored the wishes of many residents and voted to approve the Longwood Gardens’ demolition permit for three historic cottages on U.S. 1 at a work session on May 7. He said work sessions were intended for discussion, not official voting.

Hammaker said the vote was needed because “we had a deadline,” but he declined to elaborate. “I think it was wrong,” said Hewton as several residents nodded in agreement. “I think it was wrong to do that at a workshop session.”

In other business, the supervisors approved three ordinances, all of which appear on the township’s web site.  Two involved sewage and the other dealt with registration for non-resident earned income tax.

On June 5, Moore and the supervisors will meet with the county commissioners regarding the future of the Chandler Mill Bridge, a historic, county-owned span has been awash in conflict for several years. The deteriorating structure was closed amid disagreement over whether it should be razed or rehabilitated.

Litigation over Stevens’ Right-to-Know request ended earlier this spring when the township, which had appealed the Open Records decision to county court,  signed off on an agreement authorizing Moore to begin redacting personal information, such as Social Security numbers, from the township’s QuickBooks software. It is not expected that the information on the township’s finances will be available before the end of August.