Bitter cold temperatures did not deter involved residents from attending the Kennett Square Borough Council meeting on Tuesday evening, Jan. 20.

Council President Danilo Maffei remarked that in the past, more reporters attended council meetings than residents, and he was pleased to see the ratio changing. The new council’s energy and enthusiasm were apparent throughout the meeting. Maffei provided a comfortable atmosphere, and when calling for votes said, “All those opposed say, ‘No way.’”

The council voted on several items, including two appointments to the Library Task Force: Gail Bowden and Jeff Darman. The fledgling group, formed in response to turnover and dissension on the Kennett Public Library Board, aims to ensure the communities served by the library that their voices are being heard and assist the library board as it moves forward with plans to build a new facility.

Council also appointed Dr. Brenda Williams Mercomes to the Kennett Public Library Board of Trustees. “It is amazing to find the person we need when we need her,” Maffei noted. He also stated that it is important for the council to support Mercomes and the other members of the library board.

Borough Secretary Karen Scherer, Treasurer Kathy Holliday and Open Records Officer Karen Scherer were all reappointed. Reappointment of the borough’s solicitor, engineer and auditor were discussed at length. Since five of the council members are new, it was decided that the best course of action would be to wait a year until they are settled in and better informed before initiating such important changes.

Council members agreed to extend their service to the council by joining various committees. Jamie Mallon will serve on the Emergency Preparedness Committee, Ethan Cramer will join the Public Safety Committee, Geoffrey Bosley and Doug Doerfler will serve on the Fire Control Committee, and Wayne Braffman and LaToya Myers will join Geoffrey Bosley on the Finance Committee.

Braffman congratulated Maffei for finding the right people for the right committees, and Bosley expressed his appreciation that members were willing to devote even more time to the borough.

An ad hoc committee was established to study ways for council members to communicate better with the public. The council is committed to improving dialogue and creating a “collaboration pathway” between the public and council members. The Latino community was identified as a key segment of the population that council would like to interact with more. Council members Cramer, Doerfler and Braffman will serve on the task force and present a report to council in four weeks.

Three new Kennett Square Police Officers are close to being hired, and are expected to join the Kennett Police Force in February or March. On a related note, Mayor Matt Fetick announced the upcoming anniversary of Police Chief Edward A. Zunino, commending the chief for his 40 years of uninterrupted service to the community.

With the year’s first snowstorm in the forecast, Fetick encouraged everyone to sign up for weather-related text alerts on the borough’s website: www.kennettsq.org . He also announced that the borough’s first Town Hall meeting would be Wednesday, Feb. 24, beginning at 7 p.m., in the Genesis Health Building. He said he is looking forward to an interactive exchange of ideas and opinions.