May 24, 2019 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Kennett Twp. hires interim manager

Kennett Township’s new interim manager will begin work Tuesday.

The supervisors announced Friday that they have hired Alison Rudolf, a former township manager in Lower Moreland Township. They sent a notification to Kennett Township residents and businesses and posted it on the township website.

“The hiring of Alison Rudolf, a professional with the highest integrity, as the interim township manager is a clear signal we are determined to have the township administered competently,” Supervisors’ Chairman Scudder Stevens said in a press release.

On April 25, the supervisors were notified about the discovery of suspicious financial transactions in the township’s bank accounts. Since then, two separate investigations have begun – one by the Chester County District Attorney’s office and one by a forensic accounting firm hired by the supervisors – and the supervisors began their search for an interim township manager to take over for Lisa Moore, who had been placed on paid administrative leave and was subsequently dismissed May 17.

Rudolf, who has worked as an interim township manager for other municipalities, has been a consultant since 2009, according to her LinkedIn page. She had served as Lower Moreland Township manager from 1982-2008, and as assistant township manager in Bristol Township before that.

“Alison is proven, experienced and respected,” Stevens said in the press release. “We completed a search for a skilled and experienced professional who could step in and take over the day-to-day duties of township manager. We are very pleased that Alison was available and willing to accept the position.”

Stevens said the supervisors are working with Lafayette College’s Meyner Center in the search for a permanent township manager. The Robert B. and Helen S. Meyner Center has helped search for and hire a number of managers for municipalities in Chester, Montgomery, Lehigh, Schuylkill, Franklin counties, according to its website (meynercenter.lafayette.edu).

About Monica Fragale

Monica Thompson Fragale is a freelance reporter who spent her life dreaming of being in the newspaper business. That dream came true after college when she started working at The Kennett Paper and, years later The Reporter newspaper in Lansdale and other dailies. She turned to non-profit work after her first daughter was born and spent the next 13 years in that field. But while you can take the girl out of journalism, you can’t take journalism out of the girl. Offers to freelance sparked the writing bug again started her fingers happily tapping away on the keyboard. Monica lives with her husband and two children in Kennett Square.

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Roadwork for May 25-May 31

Along the Ford

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 25-May 31. Motorists are urged to allow extra time if they are traveling through one of the construction zones. Work schedules are subject to change.

• Power line replacement will cause lane closures on Pocopson Road at Parkerville Road in Pennsbury Township through June 1.

• Motorists will encounter periodic lane closures on Route 1, between Greenwood and Lenape roads in Kennett Township — near Longwood Gardens — for overhead bridge repairs through the end of May.

• Bridge closure continues to close Route 82, near Old Kennett Road, in Kennett Township indefinitely.

• Barrier installation will cause lane closures on Brandywine Creek Road between Green Valley Road and Powell Road in Newlin Township through June 20.

• Reconstruction on the Conchester Highway continues to have Merion Drive— between Marlborough Lane and Cambridge Drive — closed and detoured through May 31.

• Road reconstruction will close Spring Valley Road— between Conchester Highway and Concord Road — in Concord Township through April 30, 2020. Detours will be posted.

• Lane restrictions on the Conchester Highway, between Routes 1 and Clayton Park Drive will continue through Oct. 20, 2020 for reconstruction and widening.

About CFLive Staff

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Killion bill takes aim at puppy mills

Along the Ford

_1JF1762 Stephanie, Tom and Kristen — State Sen. Tom Killion, with his dog Ivy, is flanked by GiggyBites owner Stephanie Rossino, left, and Kristen Tullo, the Pennsylvabia director of the Humane Society of The United States, right.

State Sen. Tom Killion, R-9, paid a visit to GiggyBites in Olde Ridge Village Thursday evening to talk about SB 44, his bill that aims to make pet sales more humane in Pennsylvania. It’s a nonpartisan bill, he said, because Democratic state Sen. Andy Dinniman is a co-sponsor as are 27 other state senators. Killion, however, is the primary sponsor.

“We’ve been trying to get a handle for years to regulate puppy mills,” Killion said. “They’re inhumane. It’s animal cruelty. We’ve made some progress, but not enough. So now we’re going to cut off their market.”

The bill would make it illegal for pet stores to sell animals, specifically dogs, cats and rabbits. He stressed that the bill does not go after legitimate breeders who breed their animals only once per year.

A FAQ sheet on the bill says the law won’t impact good breeders because they don’t sell to pet stores. Proponents also say the law would promote animal welfare, adoption and responsible breeders. A pdf of the full bill may be found here.

If the bill passes and signed into law, it will be named “Victoria’s Law.” Victoria was a German shepherd who was force-bred. She gave birth to an estimated 150-200 puppies during a 10-year span.

According to Kristen Tullo, the Pennsylvania state director of The Humane Society of the United States, Pennsylvania used to be the 36^thworst state in the country for animal cruelty but has improved to number 15 over the years. Victoria’s law would make Pennsylvania one of the best states for combatting animal cruelty, she said.

In addition to barring animal sales at pet stores, the bill would also require breeders to advertise their licenses when selling animals, even when done online.

Grace Kelly Herbert, of Finding Shelter Animal Rescue, was part of the group that rescued Victoria in October of 2017. The dog was already ailing and having trouble walking. She said a veterinarian told her that Victoria didn’t have long to live, that she suffered from canine degenerative myelopathy, also known as chronic degenerative radiculomyelopathy. It’s an incurable, progressive disease of the canine spinal cord that is similar in many ways to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease. So Herbert made a bucket list for her. At the top of the list was for Victoria to become a taste-tester at GiggyBites — a gourmet pet treat shop.

Stephanie Rossino, the owner/operator of GiggyBites said she is proud her shop is part of the process.

Killion and Tullo are urging people to call their state senators to support the bill.

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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