As required by state law, the West Marlborough Township officials held their annual reorganization meetings on Jan. 5.
Bill Wylie will remain as chairman of the board of supervisors for 2015, with Jake Chalfin as vice-chairman. Hugh Lofting Sr., the third township supervisor, will remain as the roadmaster and emergency management coordinator. Shirley Walton will remain as township secretary/treasurer, Dwight Yoder as township solicitor, Yerkes Associates as township engineer, and Eddie Caudill as building inspector.
Elizabeth Powell and Wayne Grafton were reappointed to the township's Zoning Hearing Board.
Tom Brosius will chair the township planning commission, with Nancy Swayne as vice-chair and Anna Myers as secretary. Tom Roosevelt joined the planning commission, filling the vacancy left when Jake Chalfin became a supervisor.
The planners will continue to meet the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m., with the supervisors' meeting to follow. The only exception is November, when the meetings will be on the evening before because of the general election.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
WEST MARLBOROUGH: You no longer need a permit to replace your hot-water heater
West Marlborough Township now has a revised permit fee schedule. Supervisors' Chairman Bill Wylie explained at the Jan. 5 meeting that the new schedule eliminates the requirement that homeowners obtain township permission for minor work like installing a new hot-water heater.
It also breaks the fee into three parts: an application fee when the application is submitted; a plan review fee to cover the costs of the township engineer and building inspector if required; and a building permit fee, which is based on the value of the proposed construction project and covers the work of the building inspector.
Mr. Wylie noted that issuing permits "is not a money-making venture for the township." He also noted that the schedule calls for a significant increase in fees if the work is done before obtaining a permit.
In other business at the meeting, the supervisors discussed a motor home that apparently is being lived in behind a house in the 200 block of Clonmell-Upland Road. The township's zoning officer, Al Giannanotonio, reported that he alerted the Chester County Health Department because the occupants don't seem to have a permit to discharge their sewage into the system on the property. He told the supervisors that he would send a letter to the landlord in an attempt to resolve the situation.
It also breaks the fee into three parts: an application fee when the application is submitted; a plan review fee to cover the costs of the township engineer and building inspector if required; and a building permit fee, which is based on the value of the proposed construction project and covers the work of the building inspector.
Mr. Wylie noted that issuing permits "is not a money-making venture for the township." He also noted that the schedule calls for a significant increase in fees if the work is done before obtaining a permit.
In other business at the meeting, the supervisors discussed a motor home that apparently is being lived in behind a house in the 200 block of Clonmell-Upland Road. The township's zoning officer, Al Giannanotonio, reported that he alerted the Chester County Health Department because the occupants don't seem to have a permit to discharge their sewage into the system on the property. He told the supervisors that he would send a letter to the landlord in an attempt to resolve the situation.
WEST MARLBOROUGH: Year-end reports for zoning, building and law enforcement
Also at the January West Marlborough Township meeting, the supervisors received year-end reports from Al Giannantonio, the township's zoning officer, Eddie Caudill, the building inspector, and Lieut. Bob Clarke, the township's part-time police officer.
Mr. Giannantonio said that in 2014 he issued 10 zoning permits and no subdivision/land development permits. (The most recent zoning permit was issued in December for a sign at 798 West Street Road. The Rothmans' application to build a house, barn and garage on their Apple Grove Road property is still pending.)
Mr. Caudill reported that he issued 26 building permits: 15 renovations, four demolition permits, two sheds, and one each for an addition, a house, solar panels, an antenna, and a sign. He also issued 13 certificates of occupancy.
Lieut. Clarke said he spent 62 days (480 hours) on patrol and handled 166 incidents, including three accidents. He issued 95 traffic citations (74 for speeding, 14 for parking violations, five for driving without a license, and two for driving with a suspended license) and 51 warnings.
Mr. Giannantonio said that in 2014 he issued 10 zoning permits and no subdivision/land development permits. (The most recent zoning permit was issued in December for a sign at 798 West Street Road. The Rothmans' application to build a house, barn and garage on their Apple Grove Road property is still pending.)
Mr. Caudill reported that he issued 26 building permits: 15 renovations, four demolition permits, two sheds, and one each for an addition, a house, solar panels, an antenna, and a sign. He also issued 13 certificates of occupancy.
Lieut. Clarke said he spent 62 days (480 hours) on patrol and handled 166 incidents, including three accidents. He issued 95 traffic citations (74 for speeding, 14 for parking violations, five for driving without a license, and two for driving with a suspended license) and 51 warnings.
Monday, January 5, 2015
BACK TO SCHOOL: Yes, but at least the sun isn't setting quite so early
Overheard in the locker room at the end of winter break:
Girl 1: Yuck, we have to go back to school on Monday.
Girl 2: But you're smart! You should LIKE school.
Girl 1: It doesn't work that way.
Girl 1: Yuck, we have to go back to school on Monday.
Girl 2: But you're smart! You should LIKE school.
Girl 1: It doesn't work that way.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
PRIMITIVE HALL: The Pennock family tree is a very leafy one
As I've mentioned before, I occasionally give tours at a local 18th-century house, and on Saturday morning it was my pleasure to show a couple from Cincinnati around the place. The husband proudly told me that he was descended from Joseph Pennock, who built the house, and showed me on his smartphone a list of seven generations of his ancestors.
They loved the house, as does everyone. But he was practically jumping up and down with excitement when he saw a sampler stitched by Hannah Pennock and a portrait of William Pennock as a boy, because both "Hannah" and "William" were mentioned in his family tree. He took oodles of photos and forwarded them immediately to his family members back in Ohio.
I didn't have the heart to tell him that "Hannah" and "William" were extremely common names, and given the huge families people had back then, the odds that those two were his direct forbears were pretty slim.
They loved the house, as does everyone. But he was practically jumping up and down with excitement when he saw a sampler stitched by Hannah Pennock and a portrait of William Pennock as a boy, because both "Hannah" and "William" were mentioned in his family tree. He took oodles of photos and forwarded them immediately to his family members back in Ohio.
I didn't have the heart to tell him that "Hannah" and "William" were extremely common names, and given the huge families people had back then, the odds that those two were his direct forbears were pretty slim.
MEXICAN FOOD: Another great meal at a very busy La Pena
It's a good thing they were playing upbeat dance music in the kitchen of La Pena Mexicana on Saturday night, because the waitress and the chef were incredibly busy. Every table was full. Groups of friends, families (some with little kids), and couples were having dinner, plus there was a steady stream of people picking up their takeout orders.
At the table behind us were some first-time visitors who weren't familiar with Mexican food, and a family member was patiently explaining the menu for them.
As busy as the restaurant was, though, our food arrived very promptly and was completely delicious, as always (I had shrimp tacos, my date had sausage quesadillas).
It's great to see a deserving place doing such a good business.
La Pena is on West Cypress Street in Kennett Square, across from the Wawa.
At the table behind us were some first-time visitors who weren't familiar with Mexican food, and a family member was patiently explaining the menu for them.
As busy as the restaurant was, though, our food arrived very promptly and was completely delicious, as always (I had shrimp tacos, my date had sausage quesadillas).
It's great to see a deserving place doing such a good business.
La Pena is on West Cypress Street in Kennett Square, across from the Wawa.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
KENNETT: Ringing in the New Year at the Mushroom Drop
Like thousands of others, we rang in 2015 at the Mushroom Drop in the middle of Kennett Square. I thought the event was even better than last year: it didn't feel as jammed, and I didn't see any obnoxious behavior: the one woman who stepped on the back of my boot by accident apologized immediately.
Even though the temperature was in the mid-20s, it just didn't feel as frigid as it did in 2013, merely bracing. People were well bundled up (I am sure I walked right past lots of people without recognizing them), though I didn't see any red-and-white mushroom hats this year. One uncomfortable-looking woman on South Union Street had clearly just come from a fancy party. She was wearing a short dress, black stockings and high heels that I'm sure were great for stepping from limo to red carpet, but not so great for traversing the sidewalks of Kennett.
I briefly considered staying home and watching the live feed of the event, or perhaps a video the next day, but I'm really glad we went. Let's face it, a huge lighted mushroom dangling in mid-air from a crane is a sight not to be missed. The organizers did a great job, and from what I could see a lot of canned food was being collected from the revelers (a volunteer took our bag and loaded it right into the food pantry's truck).
We came into town from the west, and I didn't realize until after the event that only a block away, firefighters were fighting a blaze at a house at Broad and Linden Streets, just north of the Kennett Square Police Station.
Even though the temperature was in the mid-20s, it just didn't feel as frigid as it did in 2013, merely bracing. People were well bundled up (I am sure I walked right past lots of people without recognizing them), though I didn't see any red-and-white mushroom hats this year. One uncomfortable-looking woman on South Union Street had clearly just come from a fancy party. She was wearing a short dress, black stockings and high heels that I'm sure were great for stepping from limo to red carpet, but not so great for traversing the sidewalks of Kennett.
I briefly considered staying home and watching the live feed of the event, or perhaps a video the next day, but I'm really glad we went. Let's face it, a huge lighted mushroom dangling in mid-air from a crane is a sight not to be missed. The organizers did a great job, and from what I could see a lot of canned food was being collected from the revelers (a volunteer took our bag and loaded it right into the food pantry's truck).
We came into town from the west, and I didn't realize until after the event that only a block away, firefighters were fighting a blaze at a house at Broad and Linden Streets, just north of the Kennett Square Police Station.
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