August 11, 2015

Alan Horowitz, the Democratic Party candidate for supervisor in Chadds Ford Township, wants to serve on the Board of Supervisors with incumbent Samantha Reiner and has switched his ballot slot so that he’ll face Noelle Barbone instead of Reiner in November.

“I think a Board of Supervisors that includes me, Samantha and Frank [Murphy] can make a lot of progress,” he said in a recent interview.

Horowitz has been impressed with Reiner’s performance on the board since she was appointed to replace Keith Klaver, who resigned for health reasons in January.

“I’ve watched the proceedings. I’ve listened to that board, and I’ve decided I’d rather serve with Samantha Reiner than try to beat her…The perspective she brings as a township manager in Edgmont Township is worthwhile. She asks tough questions and she’s thinking strategically.”

He said none of his comments in favor of Reiner should be taken as an indictment against Barbone.

“She’s a nice woman and has served the community well on the HARB and now the Strategic Advisory Committee, but I’d rather look at it from what I can bring to the Board of Supervisors. I think I can complement that team well by bringing a fresh perspective…I just think I’m a better fit.”

Reiner is not as enthusiastic about Horowitz and is banking on having Barbone as a fellow supervisor.

“I wish Alan Horowitz well. Unfortunately I don’t know him, having just become acquainted due to his recent attention to township matters,” she said

Reiner added, “Together, Noelle and I represent almost 50 years of living in Chadds Ford Township. Noelle and I have dedicated ourselves to service. We’ve both served on multiple boards, committees and associations for the residents of Chadds Ford and pledge to continue our good service with robust accountability. Our goals are harmonious, to unite people with our optimistic message.”

Barbone said she is eagerly anticipating the election.

“I have been a member of the Historical and Architectural Review Board since 2009 and am also chair of Chadds Ford’s Strategic Advisory Committee. Serving our township in these capacities has made me realize I am capable of serving our township even more. I am a 20-year resident who understands how our community feels about past and present events, and our concerns for the future of Chadds Ford. I am looking forward to the November election,” she said.

The jockeying for position became possible because someone had to run for the remainder of Klaver’s term. By state law, Reiner’s appointment was only good for the remainder of this year.

It was originally believed that Reiner would run for those two years and Barbone would run for a regular six-year term to replace George Thorpe who is not seeking re-election. However, the two changed positions.

Horowitz was originally slated to run for the six-year term against Barbone but, after learning of the change on the Republican side, ran a write-in campaign during the primary election so he could switch to the two-year term if he chose to. He said he made the decision to switch about two weeks ago.

As for the campaign, Horowitz said there was a bit of a summer hiatus because people were away, but he expects things to begin ramping up. He’s looking to hold another fundraiser and said he’s received some unsolicited support, at least verbally, from Republicans as well as Democrats.

One issue that continues to concern him is development, especially along the border with Concord Township.

“I am very close to believing that we actually need a moratorium on development…I think we need a time out,” he said, but added, “That timeout is limited because we can’t do much about the decision that Concord makes.”

He suggests talking with supervisors in Concord to understand their plans and see what shift in leadership they might have in the next few months.

“We need to take a step back and reflect on what type of community we want to be. My theme will be a walkable, drivable, livable Chadds Ford.”

However, Horowitz acknowledges a moratorium might not be possible and his thinking is just conceptual at this point.

“I do not believe the law is settled on this in the state. There is some case law from the late 1990s and early 2000s on this topic when such a moratorium was challenged in another jurisdiction.  There have also been bills proposed in this area that would explicitly authorize this type of thing. To be clear, I am not advocating anything that would violate the legal rights of developers,” he said.

The concept of a moratorium has come up before in Chadds Ford.

“The concept was actually raised, but at the time dismissed, during a special board meeting convened before a recent Planning Commission meeting. Samantha actually made reference to the concept,” he said.

Even if possible, Horowitz said, a moratorium should not last long, perhaps a three- to six-month halt, especially along the Route 202 corridor.

Once upon a time, we kept our porch lights on. We opened the door even if we didn’t know who rang the bell. And we could always leave the back door unlocked during the day. We sat on the front porch with coffee and talked to people who strolled by. People actually stopped by without an “appointment.” We had lemonade or hot coffee ready when they did!

Many things have changed in our digital, mobile, double-income world. We’re way busier. And central air, garage-door openers, and 24-7 cable news have also affected our culture.

Welcome Neighbor is an organization with greeters who visit people moving to our area. We continue to do a personal welcome visit, human to human. Time spent WITH someone is a different experience from a text, an email, a “Like,” or a “Great pic” comment.

Part of our mission is to help neighbors meet neighbors–new OR old. As an experiment, last year I set up a Nextdoor.com neighborhood, starting by outlining our own small development of 23 homes. Next, I asked the website to send postcards to all the homes outlined in the map many of whom I didn’t know and who didn’t know us. Next I downloaded a flyer after customizing the message, and my husband Bob and I delivered them personally, talking to as many one-on-one as we could.

Not everyone joined; some expressed fears of privacy invasion, security issues, and lack of computer skills. But we got 13. We celebrated Halloween together, have had a neighborhood garage sale, kept each other informed of community issues, crime activity, items for sale, even help wanted or services needed and offered, including babysitters! Following the “babysitter request” instructions, you can post something like this:

“I have 3 children between the ages of 3 and 10 and I need someone who can drive them to a birthday party this Saturday. My 3-year old son is dairy-free. Otherwise, all three are pretty easy and happy to eat anything.”

We are actually getting to know each other! If I wanted to do a pop-up barbeque this Friday night, all I have to do is send a post to my own neighborhood. Or to invite neighbors over for iced tea and discussion on a development proposal, it’s a simple one-and-done! We can also discuss township-wide issues with other nearby “Nextdoor” neighborhoods” such as Save Beaver Valley emergency meetings, or any crime trends of concern.

I share this idea with you as one small way to keep the civility in our interactions. A good start is to find easier ways to be more friendly to neighbors. I encourage you to join or set up a neighborhood at NextDoor.com and try it out.

“We’re all about online chats that lead to more clothesline chats.” Next Door

By Anne Pounds

Proprietor, Welcome Neighbor

Connecting local businesses and professionals to new homeowners and other celebrants since 1996.

Welcome Neighbor

 

A hastily-scheduled meeting by the Pocopson Township Board of Supervisors involving the Barnard House created discord before it even started on Monday morning at 8:30 a.m.

Several residents who have raised questions about the township’s efforts to repurpose the historic building felt the meeting represented an attempt to prevent dissent.

Resident Sean Rafferty submitted an email that he asked to be read at the meeting, but it was not mentioned. “There is no reason why these issues could not have been addressed at the meeting on the 17^th,” Rafferty wrote. “Furthermore, it’s obvious that this meeting was scheduled at a time when most folks are unable to attend.”

Alice Balsama, who is running unopposed for a supervisor’s seat, also expressed dissatisfaction in an email. She called the impromptu meeting a poor decision by Supervisors’ Chairman Barney Leonard and Supervisor Georgia Brutscher that “intentionally omits the taxpaying township residents from the public process,” fueling the mistrust that has surfaced at recent meetings.

Once a stop on the Underground Railroad, the Barnard House is being renovated for use as the township municipal building and the home of the Kennett Underground Railroad Center, a project that has become increasingly contentious. Some residents have raised concerns about shoddy workmanship, ineffective oversight, and spiraling costs, and some township employees have expressed fears that the space isn’t well-suited to township administration.

Brutscher said Monday’s meeting was requested by the Barnard House Steering Committee so that the supervisors could approve work groups and a change order for an exterior railing. She said the railing takes 90 days to fabricate and one of the work groups wanted to meet later in the week.

Supervisor Ricki Stumpo said she failed to see the urgency, and resident Holly Manzone said that even if the supervisors aren’t trying to stifle discord, they exacerbated it by creating that impression.

Manzone said that she has not heard from anyone in the township who doesn’t want the Barnard House preserved. However, a number of her neighbors have concerns that the township’s earned-income tax (EIT) “is a Barnard House tax.”

Lauressa McNemar, a member of the Barnard House Steering Committee, responded that such a perception is “absolutely incorrect. The EIT was put in place long before we even started Phase 1” of the project. “The cost of this project is not imposing any new taxes,” she said.

Manzone suggested that listening to everyone’s input would be the best way to move forward. “We may be on the same page,” she said. “We’re a family here; let’s work like a family.”

Jean Conary, a member of the Barnard House Steering Committee, echoed the sentiments of several of the 10 people in the room when she suggested that “a few very aggressive, very negative residents who have agendas of their own” have caused the tensions.

Carol Haaf, another member of the steering committee, concurred. “We are not behaving like a family,” she said, pointing out that some of the rude behavior was not “a reflection of the total community.”

Resident Susan Woodward noted that the more obstacles are placed in front of the committee by a small group, the more that delays will increase the project’s costs. “We really need to move ahead and get this done,” she said.

Manzone stressed that doing so without making sure all voices are heard would be a mistake. Some of her impassioned comments followed Leonard’s announcement that a two-hour, question-and-answer session on Sept. 21 to address residents’ concerns about the Barnard House would not happen.

The suggestion to hold the forum came from Elaine DiMonte, who is also running unopposed for supervisor. Leonard and DiMonte were supposed to work out the logistics, but he said, “Right out of the starting blocks, it got ugly, and it’s a shame.” He accused DiMonte of “political hysterics” and said the township was proposing a web-based or letter-based campaign instead.

“I would like to see it stay public,” said Supervisor Ricki Stumpo, who has consistently voted against advancing the Barnard House project until some of the questions are answered. “I think it’s very important that people see each other face to face.”

Manzone pressed her plea that “the people need to have their voices heard,” and suggested that a survey might help the supervisors determine residents’ views.

Leonard said he thought the idea had merit, and he agreed to table a decision on the Q&A session until the Aug. 17 meeting and to add the survey to that agenda.

Brutscher and Leonard voted to approve the $9,360 railing, an increase in the cost of approximately $1,800 that will be paid by the Kennett Underground Railroad Center. Stumpo said she believed the item should have been re-bid.

The work committees were approved unanimously. The construction work group will include architect Dennis Melton, a Phase Two project manager who has not yet been named, Leonard, Conary, Scott Megill, and Don McKay, along with two consultants, John O’Neal from the Kennett Underground Railroad and Karen Marshall from the Chester County Planning Commission. Brutscher, Woodward, and Ellen Muenter were appointed to the finishing work group.

Contacted after the meeting, DiMonte applauded the use of a survey. “I’m delighted there is discussion of using this type of technology to obtain residents’ input on such an important topic,” she said in an email.  “I do believe a Q&A session is still warranted as there are many questions which may not be included on such a survey.”

Calling the members of the Steering Committee passionate and well-informed, DiMonte said she did not understand the apparent resistance to providing answers on topics such as the financial impact – now and later – grants, and usability.

“As a potential new supervisor, it is extremely important to me to fully understand the details of this project and specifically understand the financial impact to Pocopson as we head into the future,” DiMonte wrote.

 

 

 

School buildings in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District are getting their last-minute makeovers in preparation for the new academic year.

Rick Hostetler, the director of buildings and grounds for the district, told members of the school board during their Aug. 10 work session that virtually all the projects planned for this summer are complete or will be by Aug. 31, the first day of class.

Of the planned projects, only the renovations for the health, training and music rooms at Charles F. Patton Middle School need final touches, but Hostetler said they will be finished in time, possibly as soon as the end of this week.

However, two unexpected situations at Unionville High School and Patton required attention.

Hostetler said a couple of toilets at UHS ran unknowingly during a three-day weekend.

“We ended up with substantial flooding on the third floor of the high school, which travelled down to the second floor and down to the first floor,” Hostetler said. “We’re pretty well cleaned up and pretty much back in operation.”

Some computer equipment had to be replaced, but damage is still being assessed. He estimated the cost of all the damage to be about $100,000, but the district carries a $5,000 deductible so insurance will cover 95 percent of the cost if his estimate is correct.

Another unexpected situation was the failure of a rooftop air conditioning and heating unit that serves the middle school cafeteria. A repair would cost about $7,000-$10,000, Hostetler said, but a never-used unit was found in Baltimore.

He said that unit is three years old but, since it’s never been used, it will be an acceptable replacement.

“It’s brand new. It still has the packing equipment,” Hostetler said. “The replacement unit and any additional cost will probably be about $15,000 to $17,000.”

While the replacement costs more than repairs, the old unit is about 18 years old and the other old units will have to be replaced sooner rather than later because of repair costs.

There will be no warranty on the replacement, but delivery, crane service to put it on the roof, startup from the factory, and a guarantee that it will operate properly are included in the purchase price, Hostetler said.

Planned summer projects that were completed include carpeting of one-third of Hillendale Elementary School. The remaining two-thirds will be done during the next two summers. All of the lighting and ceiling tiles have also been replaced at Hillendale.

Window installation at the middle school is complete, about 80 percent of the parking lot has been repaved, and parking lot lighting has been replaced with LED fixtures, Hostetler added.