Kathleen Goodier, a long-time Chadds Ford Township resident and volunteer, became the township’s new supervisor Wednesday night. Supervisors Samantha Reiner and Timotha Trigg voted her in to replace Frank Murphy who died on Jan. 31.
Goodier has been on the Open Space Committee and most recently served on the Planning Commission. She will serve through 2025, which would have been the expiration of Murphy’s six-year term.
Trigg served on the Planning Commission with Goodier and they were the two who did much of the legwork in developing the township’s Medical Marijuana Ordinance.
She said it was “sad” to need to appoint a supervisor under the current circumstances. However, she spoke highly of the three candidates who were considered, though she did not name them. But added she has worked with two of them.
“I think very highly of them. Either one of them could do this job and do it well. I know them to be intelligent and capable. In fact, that is true of all three candidates.”
In reference to Goodier she said, “There is one candidate who was already chosen Citizen of the Year in recognition of her many years of dedicated public service and proven ability to get things done. I know her to be of the highest integrity. Her experience in the financial sector will be an invaluable asset, and she is unusually knowledgeable about all things Chadds Ford.”
Reiner spoke more emotionally, sobbing several times during her comments.
“In the last 30 days, I feel like I lost a sister and a brother” in connection with Murphy’s passing and Supervisor Noelle Barbone leaving the board after choosing not to run for reelection. “It was hard enough to say goodbye to Noelle, it’s impossible to say goodbye to Frank.”
In choosing a successor to Murphy, Reiner said she came up with three attributes the candidate would need, confidence, commitment, and character.
She said all three candidates have the confidence based on their expertise. She weighed their individual commitment, their “sincere desire for public service.” She said she asked each of them whether they had a personal agenda.
“We were lucky enough to hear that everybody came for the greater good,” she said, adding they were each people of character.
But in weighing all the factors, Reiner agreed that Goodier was the best choice.
The vote was 2-0 in favor of appointing Goodier who was then sworn in, taking the oath of office administered by Judge Wendy Roberts.
Goodier made only one brief comment, “I’m very honored to be selected to sit on the board…I’ve always tried to do my best for this community.”
Other business
The only other voting item on the agenda was to authorize an East Egg Hunt on Sunday, March 17, with a rain date of March 24. The event is scheduled to begin at noon in the playground behind the township building. More information is to be posted on the township website, Reiner said.
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.
(6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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