Strategic regionalization and a review of township committees are two of the priorities of the new chairman of the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors.

Geoffrey Gamble became the chairman at the annual reorganization meeting Tuesday, and Richard Leff the vice chairman in 2023. Supervisor Scudder Stevens was absent due to a recent surgery.

In a statement he read at the meeting, held at the Red Clay Room in Kennett Borough, Gamble said strategic regionalization could be a way to keep future budget costs in check.

“Critically, we must seek ways to contain our budget and the burden it imposes on our residents,” he said. “One way to do this is to explore, in a serious and focused way, the possibilities for strategic regionalization of the services that we are obliged to provide: sewer, fire, police, public works and finance.”

Gamble said Stevens would spearhead that focus.

In terms of committees, the supervisors reapproved those members with expiring term limits so, according to Gamble, the committees can continue operating while the board and township staff look at “all existing support and advisory entities to determine how best to fulfill our statutory obligations as a municipality.

“Over the next six months this will entail a review of all of our township committees and commissions over which we have jurisdiction.”

The annual reorganization meeting, held immediately after the new year, is a time when the board of supervisors chooses its leadership, its consultants and committees, sets meeting dates and township holidays, and identifies emergency services providers, among other things.

During the reorganization meeting, the supervisors approved the following committee reappointments:

• Shawn Knudson, Building Code appeals board;
• Matt Sabo, Environmental Advisory Committee chairman;
• Dave Gunyuzlu, Environmental Advisory Committee;
• Diane McGovern, Kennett Township Historical Commission;
• Rudy Karkosak, Planning Commission;
• Abbie Kessler, Trails and Sidewalk Committee;
• Adam Singer, Zoning Hearing Board; and
• John Haedrich, Brandywine Valley Scenic Byway.

Other items that Gamble mentioned during his speech were the Chandler Mill Trail, Spar Hill, open space, and fire and EMS services.

“We are going to move forward on bringing the Chandler Mill Trail to reality,” Gamble said. “ … We are committed to this, not only because of the resources we have already expended on this project but because it is the right and visionary thing to do.”

With fire and EMS, Leff will be the township representative on the Kennett Fire and EMS Regional Commission, with Stevens as the alternate.

“Both have considerable experience with the commission and will be strong township representatives participating in the process of overseeing the funding,” Gamble said.

In other reorganizational news:

• Eden Ratliff was reappointed as the township manager, secretary, and right-to-know officer.
• Amy Heinrich was reappointed as the township treasurer, human resources director, and finance director.
• The supervisors also reappointed other township staff and consultants, including planning director and codes enforcement officer Diane Hicks, police Chief Matthew Gordon, fire and deputy fire marshals Bruce Mitchell and A.J. McCarthy, solicitor Dave Sander from Kilkenny Law; and Patrick Harvey, a labor and employment attorney from Campbell Durrant. A full list can be found on the township’s website (Kennett.pa.us) in the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting.
• The supervisors will continue to have in-person-only meetings at different locations until the mold remediation and repair of the public meeting room are completed. Tuesday’s meeting was at the Red Clay Room. Meetings will still be on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m.
• Township committees and commissions will meet virtually. Those meetings include the EAC at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month; the historical commission at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month; and the planning commission at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesdays (work session) and on the second Tuesdays (regular meeting).