An independent investigation commissioned by the Kennett Township Board of Supervisors found no merit to the conflict-of-interest complaints by a township resident against township Manager Eden Ratliff, reaffirming the findings of the state ethics commission. Blank Rome LLP, an outside law firm hired by the township in 2019 in the wake of the Lisa Moore embezzlement, issued a report to the supervisors on April 1…
Kennett Township’s 2020 audit looks a lot different than the previous years. The audit, performed by Maillie LLP and presented at the March 16 supervisors’ meeting, identified two material weaknesses and two recommendations. The 2019 audit, according to township Finance Director Amy Heinrich, “identified eight material weaknesses and three other recommendations,” many of which were related to the embezzlement of township funds by former Kennett…
Kennett Township residents can vote on a shield and coat of arms for the township between now and March 15. Send an email to Kennett.twp@kennett.pa.us to vote for one of four options, which can be found on the township website and Facebook page and will be discussed at their March 16 meeting. The township is asking residents to vote on two things: the shield design,…
If you’re driving through Kennett Township today and see emergency response vehicles and police in tactical gear, don’t panic. And if you hear what sounds like shooting, don’t panic. It’s a training exercise, according to Kennett Township Police. That’s the message from the police department, which sent out an email to residents advising them of a live training scenario at Spar Hill Farm, on Burnt…
A Kennett Township resident asked supervisors Wednesday night about the status of several Right-to-Know requests regarding the current township manager. “We are continuing to pursue our own inquiries into Eden Ratliff’s [alleged] conflict of interest,” Peter Doehring said during public comment at Wednesday’s supervisors’ meeting, alleging that “Eden is now delaying or denying all right-to-know requests … and effectively stifling all public inquiries into his…
The new Kennett Library director made a presentation to the Kennett Township Supervisors Wednesday night about the status of the new library building and some of the features it will offer. According to Director Chris Manna, the goal of the new library building is “to boldly go where no library has gone before.” Manna began as the director in November and said the new building…
Kennett Public Works Director Roger Lysle is retiring this week. Lysle, who in June marked his 40th anniversary on the job, will work his last day for Kennett on Jan. 14, according to a press release. Kennett Township, whose staff called Lysle “truly irreplaceable,” will begin searching for a new public works director. The public works staff “will be running day-to-day business” until a new…
Kennett Township residents have about another week to review the proposed 2022 budget before supervisors vote to formalize it. The supervisors will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, to vote on formally adopting the 2022 budget and tax rates. The meeting will be both in-person and online through Zoom. A copy of the budget is available on the township website, Kennett.pa.us,…
Why did Lisa Moore do it? Why didn’t the Kennett Township supervisors realize what was going on? And what has been done since? Residents have repeatedly asked questions like those since the April 2019 discovery that Moore, the former township manager, had been embezzling what would later be identified as $3.2 million in township funds. Those questions and others were addressed in a special Kennett…
A civil action is ongoing in the case of former Kennett Township Manager Lisa Moore’s embezzlement of $3.249 million from the township. “We are currently negotiating with several parties about civil responsibilities, which means we can’t talk about them yet,” Supervisor Scudder Stevens said at a special public meeting Tuesday. “We are also considering legal action against several parties.” Joseph Poluka, a lawyer with the…
Two years ago, the Kennett Township supervisors held a public meeting after the former township manager was charged with stealing more than $3.2 million from the municipality. On Dec. 7, the supervisors will again hold a public meeting about Lisa Moore, this time updating what has happened since. Moore pleaded guilty Oct. 4 to theft by deception, dealing in unlawful proceeds, forgery, tampering with public…