KENNETT TOWNSHIP: Supervisors give an update on recovering taxpayers' stolen $$

At their May 6 Zoom meeting, the Kennett Township supervisors gave an update on the township's attempts to recover the $3.2 million in taxpayers' funds that former township manager Lisa Moore is accused of embezzling. 
"We have a million-dollar bond that we're still pursuing," explained Dr. Richard Leff, who chairs the board of supervisors. 
In response to a question from an audience member, he explained that a bond is a kind of insurance that is supposed to protect the township in case of malfeasance by an employee. However, he pointed out, the million-dollar limit means that not all of the missing money could be recovered that way.
Leff also said the township has also "initiated a civil action against Lisa Moore and Brian Gore, and there may be other aspects that get involved with that civil action as time goes on. . . . it's one of many ways that we're going to be trying to recover the funds."
(See the full press release from the township at the end of this item.)
Moore is accused of pretending that Gore, her long-time significant other, was her husband so that he could be covered by the township's health insurance plan.
In response to another question from the public about whether Moore's personal assets had been frozen, Leff explained that only a judge would be able to do that, given that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Moore, who is free on unsecured bail, waived her April 21 preliminary hearing. Her case will now move to the Chester County Court of Common Pleas. 
Leff said that as of May 6 11 COVID-11 cases, and one death, had been reported in the township. 

Here's the press release about the civil action that was issued April 30 by Kennett Township:

Kennett Township Initiates Civil Action Against Former Manager

Kennett Township _ Kennett Township has formally initiated a civil action against former Township Manager Lisa Moore and significant other, Brian Gore. Moore was charged in December 2019 by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office with embezzling $3.2 million in taxpayer funds.

The Board of Supervisors has provided updates at every public meeting about the recovery processes, covering an array of options surrounding insurance and needing direction from the District Attorney’s Office. Chairman of the Board, Dr. Richard Leff, has stressed, “In terms of recovery the Township is exploring all options to recover as much money as possible; however, the first stop remains the former manager.”

Notably, the action includes Moore’s longtime significant other. According to a December 10, 2019 press release from former District Attorney Tom Hogan, Moore created a phony marriage to defraud the Township, resulting in medical benefits for Gore in excess of $50,000.

Vice Chair Whitney Hoffman noted, “Despite the many hurdles this process has presented, the Board remains committed to recovering every dollar, and it is wholly appropriate for Moore and Gore to make the Township taxpayers whole.”

Supervisor Scudder Stevens added that the Township remains aggressive in its recovery efforts, giving praise to the recovery specialist working for the Township, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Poluka and his team at Blank Rome LLP.

Manure matters

A neighbor who describes himself as "an old dairy farmer" shared with me a piece from the "Farmshine" weekly newspaper:
"It's confirmed! Fresh cow dung can stop coronavirus!
Before going out, dip both your hands in fresh cow dung. This will make sure that:
a) You will not touch your eyes, nose, ears or mouth.
b) Nobody will shake hands with you.
c) Nobody will come near you when you are out in the street.
d) You will wash your hands thoroughly before you eat!"
My neighbor suggested that I change the "cow dung" to "horse dung," given Unionville's equestrian focus. 

RIP to Jane Buffum

Rob Buffum wrote this lovely obituary for his mother, Jane Hannum Buffum of Mendenhall, who died unexpectedly on April 13 at age 72. 

"A 1965 graduate of Kennett High School, she attended Wilson College and the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and received her degree as the first woman to graduate from Widener University (PMC Colleges). She was a food writer for The Chester County Press, The Kennett Paper, and The Daily Local News and hosted "Culinary Corner" on WCHE 1520 AM.
Jane served as chairwoman of the Mushroom Festival's Amateur Mushroom Cook-Off for many years. She was a member of  the Philadelphia Women’s Culinary Guild and founding sponsor for the Brandywine Valley SPCA's Forget-Me-Not Gala. She was most fond of her work with the Kennett Library -- then the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library -- as a member of the special events committee.
“Jane was such a character and a wonderful member of the Committee,” said Wendy Lee Walker, who served on the committee with her.
"Jane was a wonderful and bigger-than-life person,” recalled Randall Lieberman, editor of the Chester County Press. "She will be remembered fondly for all she did in her community."
Jane is survived by her beloved son Robert Stephan Buffum II (Amber); granddaughters Jesse, Isabella, Sabrina, and Ariel; and grandsons Oliver, Adrian, and Sebastian. She is also survived by her sister Sara Meadows (David) of East Marlborough; her brother Tom Hannum (Holly) of North East, Maryland; and six nieces and nephews and their children. 
A gathering in her memory of the Quaker manner is planned for a future date. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation to Kennett Area Community Service is requested. Condolences may be sent to R Buffum, P.O. Box 111, Mendenhall, PA 19357.

East Marlborough extends tax deadline, starts search for new supervisor

East Marlborough taxpayers have until the end of May to pay the discounted amount of their township property taxes. At their May 4 meeting, the township supervisors extended the discount period to May 31 and the face value period through Dec. 31 in an effort to ease the burden for property owners affected by the pandemic fallout. 
Also at the township meeting, the board passed an ordinance to formalize the township manager's position and accepted supervisor Julia Lacy's resignation, effective immediately, due to medical concerns. The remaining supervisors thanked her for her service and expressed their best wishes for her health. The supervisors must appoint a new member of the board within 30 days. Candidates need to be registered voters and must have lived in the township continuously for at least a year. 

Residents interested in the seat must submit a letter of interest and resume by 4 p.m. Friday, May 22, to township manager Neil Lovekin either by snail mail (721 Unionville Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348) or by email (nlovekin@eastmarlborough.org). The new supervisor's term will expire at the beginning of 2022. 

Trying our patience

Let me preface this item by emphasizing that if waiting for takeout sushi is the worst thing about the pandemic, we really don't have much to complain about.
That having been said ... some restaurants are dealing with the new takeout delivery model much better than others. 
On Saturday we ordered sushi and the harried woman who took our order -- she put us on hold and we could hear her shouting in a foreign language -- told us it would be ready in 25 minutes. When we arrived at the restaurant, half-a-dozen other customers were standing on the sidewalk. There was no employee in sight. A kind of serving hatch was set up inside the main entrance, and we could see several orders in brown bags just sitting there. There was no clue what we were supposed to do -- no sign, nothing.
Fortunately it was a lovely afternoon and a sense of camaraderie developed among the increasingly hungry masked customers, which soon numbered eleven. We joked about the Twilight Zone situation and compared our waiting times (apparently everyone had been told their orders would be ready in 25 minutes). A father and daughter played rock paper scissors. Dearest Partner chatted with a pleasant fellow about dogs.
After about a half-hour, a woman appeared at the window and called out someone's name. We gave the lucky customer a round of applause as he collected his order and drove off. More orders were just sitting there but for some unknown reason weren't being released. No explanation was forthcoming, and one older fellow with a gray ponytail appeared ready to blow his top.
To add to everyone's frustration, a man wearing a pink polo shirt clearly had some inside information. He walked right up to the window, was given his order, and left -- no waiting! Another woman and I made outraged eye contact over our masks and wondered just how this guy apparently outranked the rest of us. 
The real loser in this situation was a Door Dash employee who was waiting to pick up an order. He phoned his customer, Elizabeth, and very politely and professionally explained the strange situation -- then went back to waiting with the rest of us. What was really sad was that he finally had to leave on another assignment -- only a few minutes before Elizabeth's order was announced. 
Finally, finally, our order appeared. We were so hungry we ate it in the parking lot. We will not be returning until the restaurant, which we like, opens for dine-in service. 
Tilda's pandemic tip: Do not get wasabi on your skin while eating takeout in your car. It really stings.