Chadds Ford Township’s brand new Supervisor Frank Murphy wound up advocating a plan objected to by a longstanding supervisor. And he has another proposal in the wings.
Judge Linda Cartisano conducted the swearing in ceremony during the Jan. 6 organization meeting. Murphy’s wife, Anna Marie, held the bible and his daughters were in the audience as Murphy swore to uphold and protect the US and state constitutions.( See photo.) Also sworn in was Valerie Hoxter as township tax collector.
During the hour-long organizational session — mandated by state law — supervisors made appointments to various committees and passed several resolutions so the board can conduct township business during 2014.
But the board also passed a motion to have supervisors’ meetings recorded. The vote was 2-1 in favor with Supervisor George Thorpe casting the no vote.
Thorpe said recording the sessions costs money and creates more work for township secretary Matt DiFillipo. People who want to listen to the recordings must file a Right to Know request, Thorpe said, adding that the recordings make no sense since they are not official. Only the minutes taken by the secretary are official.
Supervisor Keith Klaver, elected as chairman for this year, agreed that the recordings would not be official, but they would “facilitate matters.”
Murphy said the audio recordings would not be a burden, that they would actually protect the township and that the hardware is inexpensive.
After the motion passed, Murphy said he would propose — during a future meeting — to video the meetings and podcast them. Video recordings and podcasts were part of Murphy’s campaign for supervisor last year.
Among other organizational matters, the board voted on a meeting schedule for this year. That schedule will be posted on the township Web site. Supervisors also agreed to seek $10,000 in county aid for the road program and to pay more than $40,000 for the contract with Concordville Fire Co.
The board agreed to form a new Strategic Planning Committee and to reinstate a Financial Advisory Board. Members will be appointed at a later date.
Unlike previous years, the board did not conduct routine business during the first meeting of the year. Instead, the board will hold another meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m.
The board did hold a brief workshop during which it agreed on agenda items for that Jan. 14 meeting. The agenda is to include consideration for the Brandywine Mills project — known as the Wegman’s development — and to establish a date for public input on the possibility of a gun range on Smithbridge Road.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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