PennDOT has announced the following road projects, which are weather-dependent and could affect residents in the greater Chadds Ford area during the week of May 27 through June 2. Motorists are urged to allow extra time if they are traveling through one of the construction zones.
• Expect lane restrictions on Wawaset Road between Spring House Way and W. Doe Run Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for utility installation. Work will take place from May 31 through June 7. There will also be tree removal on Wawaset Road between Bridge Road and Davidson Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 31.
• Utility installation will also cause lane restrictions on Millers Hill Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. between Cope Road and Exelon Way between May 31 and June 7.
• Tree removal; will cause lane restrictions on Route 1 between Fairview Road and Sunny Ridge Lane in Pennsbury Township between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 1.
• Work is expected to begin in June on several bridge rehabilitation projects in Pennsylvania. Included in the project is the Route 1 Bridge over Church Road in New Garden Township. The exact date has not yet been released.
• Single lane closures are scheduled at the intersection of Route 926 and Creek Road in Birmingham Township, on Tuesday, May 30, through Friday, June 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for tree removal operations related to Route 926 Bridge project.
• Detours remain in effect on Route 926 because of work on the bridge over the Brandywine Creek between Pocopson and Birmingham townships. The bridge remains closed for repair through Sept. 1.
• In conjunction with the Route 322 expansion project, Featherbed Lane will be closed for improvements, between June 12 June 30.
• Expect lane restrictions on northbound Route 202 between Christy Drive and Route 1, from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., through June 2 for utility installation.
• Periodic lane restrictions on Route 322 between Route 1 and Clayton Park Drive continue through Oct. 20 as part of the reconstruction and road widening of Route 322.
• Shoulder cutting will cause lane restrictions on Route 162 in East and West Bradford and in Newline townships between Highland and Stargazer roads May 30 through June 2.
• Lane closures on Brandywine Creek Road between Green Valley and Powell roads in Newlin Township continue for barrier installation.
• Route 82 in East Fallowfield Township, between Valley and Strasburg roads, remains closed for bridge rehabilitation through June 21.
• Nighttime lane restrictions with flagging are scheduled on a three-mile section of Route 202 between Dilworthtown Road and the Route 202 Expressway Interchange in Westtown, West Goshen, Thornbury and Birmingham townships, through early June, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sundays through Thursdays.
Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh poses with John “J.D.” DiBuonaventuro and his K-9 partner, Leo
On Aug. 5, 2010, James “Jay” Raffetto, a young Navy Corpsman from Chester County, experienced the unfathomable while serving in Afghanistan: A blast from an improvised explosive device destroyed both of his legs above the knee, his left arm above the elbow, and three fingers on his right hand.
Today, after countless surgeries and intensive rehabilitation, the 2000 Conestoga High graduate is enjoying a job with the Defense Department in Washington, D.C., and his wife Emily is attending medical school, continuing the education she received as one of her husband’s caretakers.
Credit for the couple’s success must be shared, John Raffetto, Jay’s father, said recently. In addition to the incredible fortitude of both his son and daughter-in-law, John Raffetto praised the care his son received from Walter Reed Army Hospital as well as the outpouring of support from the Chester County Hero Fund.
“I can’t say enough about how great the Hero Fund was for us,” said Raffetto. “We just marvel at what happened. We were truly blessed.”
The fund, a 501(c)3, provides financial assistance to the families of paid and volunteer first responders who suffer injury or death in the line of duty. Established in early 2001, it now sits at a crossroads: John “J.D.” DiBuonaventuro, the Hero Fund’s board president, is about to retire after 17 years as its president.
“It’s time for new leadership,” he said, adding that he is committed to ensuring a smooth transition. He said an audit is being performed, and his successor would inherit a detailed history.
The task of replacing DiBuonaventuro will fall to a search committee that includes Chester County Sheriff Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh, District Attorney Tom Hogan, and Department of Emergency Services Director Robert Kagel.
Welsh, who is chairing the group, acknowledged the difficulty of the task, noting that DiBuonaventuro is a longtime first-responder as well as a deputized member of the Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit. “He’s been the heart and soul of the Hero Fund,” said Welsh, citing DiBuonaventuro’s boundless compassion and patriotism. “He leaves big shoes to fill.”
DiBuonaventuro said he had no inkling of what he signed on for when Andy Chambers, the former Tredyffrin Township police chief, approached him about creating the Chester County Hero Fund. Previously, no county venue existed to help the families of first responders who experienced injury or death in the line of duty – beyond what insurance typically covers.
“These people lay their lives on the line daily to make Chester County a better and safer place to live,” said DiBuonaventuro. “Their families shouldn’t have to go into debt when a tragedy occurs. Our goal is to keep responders from experiencing any economic hardship.”
DiBuonaventuro explained that the Chester County Hero Fund’s Board of Trustees, an 11-member group that includes representatives from all of the county’s first-responder and law-enforcement agencies, must approve each recipient. He estimated that the fund has championed approximately 15 first-responders since its inception.
John Raffetto said the fund, which he didn’t even know existed, far exceeded his expectations. Raffetto said his family physician, Dr. Robert Priem, introduced him to DiBuonaventuro, whom he now considers “a member of our family forever.” Raffetto said the Hero Fund provided invaluable support to his son, who had served in the elite Special Amphibious Marine Reconnaissance Corpsman Team. For example, in addition to helping his son obtain housing, it also assisted him with making the residence accessible, Raffetto said.
He said the Chester County Hero Fund demonstrated the power of networking as well as the compassion of the community – both regionally and nationally. “As word got out, we got donations from all over the country,” Raffetto said. “J.D. is a superb facilitator and knows everyone in the area.”
Donors appreciated the fact that the Hero Fund is a totally volunteer organization, operating on a shoestring budget that ensures that the donated funds all go to the intended recipient, Raffetto said. The fund’s primary expenditures – about $400 a year in postage and website costs – enable DiBuonaventuro to write thank-you notes to all of the donors, both large and small.
Unlike Raffetto, Parkesburg Police Officer Ryan Murtagh knew about the Chester County Hero Fund, but he initially rebuffed its overtures. Murtagh said he was chasing a suspect in his role as a part-time officer for Downingtown this past November when his right leg slipped and snapped, necessitating a series of surgeries and rehabilitation.
Murtagh, who was unable to return to work until mid-March, said Dave Weigner, the Fraternal Order of Police president, urged him to contact the Hero Fund since workman’s compensation only covered part of his salary. “I declined,” Murtaghsaid. “I thought it was for people with permanent disabilities.”
He said after he was contacted a second time, he was assured that his situation was exactly the kind of scenario the Hero Fund sought. Murtagh’s injury had placed an undue burden on his ability to support his wife and three daughters.
“I can’t be more thankful,” he said. “J.D. was unbelievable; he kept asking what else I needed and then followed up to make sure I got it.”
Jay Wustner, a captain at the Paoli Fire Company, echoed the praise. He had responded to a building fire in Malvern in December 2010 when he was accidentally knocked off the roof of the three-story structure, a fall that landed him in intensive car at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for nine days.
“J.D. was at my bedside,” Wustner recalled. “He said: ‘Don’t worry, we’ll take care of whatever you need. You just focus on getting better.’”
Wustner explained that the Hero Fund covered gaps in co-pays and delays in insurance reimbursement. It also provided household support, ranging from snow removal to house-cleaning, during Wustner’s six months of rehabilitation.
“I don’t think there’s a broad appreciation of what the Hero Fund does,” said Wustner, adding that his own level of understanding intensified after being a recipient of its services. “The responsiveness and attention to detail were incredible.”
Asked about the Hero Fund committee’s search for DiBuonaventuro’s replacement, Murtagh didn’t hesitate. “From my perspective, I don’t think you can,” he said.
Raffetto and Murtagh concurred. “How they’ll replace him, I just don’t know,” said Raffetto.
Although DiBuonaventuro insisted that anyone is replaceable, he hopes the next president will understand that the position carries special responsibility. Three first-responders have lost their lives in service to the county so helping first-responders to recover from calamities represents a serious and sacred trust, he said.
An employee arrives at your office and asks to speak with you. You agree and they tell you a story of alleged harassment, inappropriate behavior by their supervisor, and finish by indicating they don’t want you to do anything, but they needed to get the information of their chest, they do not want to get anyone in trouble.
Sound familiar? This is all too common a behavior by employees, and the request is something far too many managers agree to without recognizing the risk and danger of taking no action.
Liability and risk in your employment practices can come in a myriad of shapes and sizes, however, this situation falls right in the lap of a member of the management team and there is an obligation to protect the employee and the rest of the workforce and adhere to all your policies and procedures. Further, you need to protect the business, and you cannot do this by ignoring the report of alleged inappropriate behavior or policy violations in your workplace.
When the employee shares information in the form or a complaint or allegation, you should advise him or her that while you will keep the information as confidential as possible, based on the content of the information you have an obligation to report the matter to leadership and to act accordingly. The action you will take is to investigate the allegation(s) to determine if there is any validity to the claim and respond accordingly.
The way the employee presents the information has little to do with whether the information is to be considered a complaint or allegation. The employee does not have to make the matter formal, or even document the matter, to have reported it. Keep this in mind when you develop and establish policies and practices for supervisors and managers with regards to complaints and allegations.
Failure to act can later result is serious consequences such as the matter getting worse, other employees experiencing similar treatment, or the employee decides to file a complaint with a regulatory enforcement agency. If later, it’s uncovered that the employee reported the matter to a member of management and no action was taken, there could be severe penalties imposed and your position to defend the matter will diminish.
Therefore, it is wise to take each complaint presented seriously and to initiate an investigation into the complaint or allegations to determine the facts and execute appropriate steps to resolve the matter internally. Document everything from the information provided by the employee to the actions taken to substantiate or validate the matter. Handling employee concerns in this manner is both strategic and appropriate to enhance the risk management of your employment practices.
* The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of Chadds Ford Live. We welcome opposing viewpoints. Readers may comment in the comments section or they may submit a Letter to the Editor to editor@chaddsfordlive.com
Warren is the President and co-founder of SymbianceHR and provides strategic oversight for service delivery, business operations, and technical guidance on consulting engagements. He is a human resources subject matter expert with over 25 years of experience as a strategic human resources business partner, project manager, and people leader across private and public sectors organizations.
Warren is responsible for the strategic planning of all client consulting engagements from initial needs assessment and compliance review through delivery of customized strategic solutions that meet the client’s business goals. He has a proven track record of providing executive coaching and guidance to business leaders and human resource professionals at all levels including the C-Suite of Fortune 100 companies.
Warren is also the Chief Talent Officer and cofounder of SymbianceHiRe, a Symbiance company dedicated to providing direct placement talent acquisition services and temporary and contract staffing solutions to the business community.
Warren holds a B.S. in Human Resource Management, an MBA in Project Management, and a M.S. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Warren is the author of “Applicant Interview Preparation – Practical Coaching for Today.”
