On Wednesday, April 6, the Kennett Township supervisors, assembling after a three-hour, conditional-use hearing without a dinner break, had no need to race through their regular meeting since the agenda was light; however, the topic of speeding dominated the discussion.

Police Chief Lydell Nolt explained that roads with unposted speed limits default to 55 mph, making it important for the township to add signs in two areas: Round Hill Road from Chandler Mill to Kaolin roads, and Chandler Mill Road from Ewart Road to South Street. Nolt recommended that Round Hill Road be posted at 25 mph while Chandler Mill would be posted at 35 mph.

Questioned about how he arrived at those numbers, Nolt explained that he followed state guidelines. Establishing lower speeds would require a traffic study, he said. The supervisors voted unanimously to approve the new limits.

Abbie Kessler, assistant preservation coordinator for The Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County, said a lower speed on Chandler Mill Road, which has become a mecca for pedestrians and cyclists, was needed to improve safety.

Township resident David Lewis noted that speeding is also a problem on Hillendale Road, and he asked what could be done to reduce it. Public Works Director Roger E. Lysle said a variety of traffic-calming options can be investigated, and Nolt added that police could step up enforcement, which is a strong deterrent. He also encouraged residents to let him know about problem areas.

Speeding is a serious concern, said Supervisors’ Chairman Scudder G. Stevens. “I know the Safety Committee has been looking at this over a long period of time,” he said.

Lewis also asked Nolt about the growing problem of opiate abuse and the need for greater public awareness. Nolt responded that it’s a national epidemic and that the township’s issues are shared by all municipalities. He agreed to compile some background and statistics that could be shared with the public.

The drug discussion prompted a question from resident Nancy Hewes about disposing of prescription medication safely. Nolt said that another Drug Take Back initiative is being planned and that he is working to get a permanent receptacle installed at the township building.

In the meantime, permanent medication collection boxes are available in the Chester County Justice Center in West Chester, and the Kennett Square, Westtown-East Goshen, New Garden, West Goshen, and Oxford police departments. Citizens can anonymously dispose of their medications in the boxes. Designed like mailboxes, they offer environmentally safe disposal while also keeping the drugs from getting into the wrong hands.

In other business, the supervisors appointed Peter Murphy to the Kennett Township Zoning Hearing Board. Murphy, previously an alternate, will replace Bob Perrone, who is stepping down after 37 years of service.

“It’s sad to see him leave,” commented Township Manager Lisa M. Moore, noting Perrone’s decades of contributions to the township. A vacancy now exists for the alternate position.

Stevens echoed Moore’s sentiments about Perrone’s outstanding service. “That’s a real commitment to a task like that,” Stevens said.

In other business, the supervisors agreed to participate in a Transportation and Community Development Initiative grant. Moore explained that 13 municipalities are partnering in a study that would look at ways to improve Route 1 for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians from the Maryland line through Kennett Township.

Kennett’s cost to participate is $500, Moore said. Once the plan has been completed, the municipalities will confer and consider adopting it, she said.

As for the three-hour meeting on the Sweetbriar proposal that ended when it bumped into the supervisors' meeting,  it will resume at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11. Sweetbriar Investment Properties wants to construct 38 townhome units on property located at 912 S. Union St.