HOA members say E. Marlborough hasn’t been responsive
By Karen Cresta, Correspondent, The Times
Resdients of Belrose at Longwood filled Monday night’s East Marlborough Board of Supervisors meeting asking for answers about the development’s water system.
EAST MARLBOROUGH – There was not an empty seat at the township’s board of supervisors’ meeting on Monday night as many of the Belrose community members were in attendance to get the status on the estimated work for a hydrological survey submitted on October 6, 2014, to Jim Hatfield, township engineer. Hatfield was not in attendance at the meeting because of a prior conflict.
Belrose at Longwood is a community of townhouses located off of US-1 in the township. In October, some unresolved issues were presented in writing to the board.
During the public comments, a representative from Belrose Homeowners’ Association (HOA), voiced his concerns that Hatfield has not met his commitment to review a hydrological survey (study of movement, distribution and quality of water) by November 21, 2014, as promised and the members at the meeting were interested in a firm commitment this time from the board and a guarantee that the estimate in excess of $200,000 would finally be reviewed.
Frone Crawford, township solicitor, stated, “Jim’s practice, in my experience, is to be punctual and thorough so I will have to defend him a little bit. I’m sure there’s a good reason and we do not want to compromise or put your community at risk.”
Chairman Cuyler Walker spoke up after the Belrose HOA representative continually asked for a guarantee that Hatfield would complete the requests.
Walker firmly stated, “He doesn’t work for us full time. He is a consultant. He needs to prioritize his time accordingly to what all of his clients expect of him.”
“Please know, although we may not be able to provide you with the information you would like to have tonight, we are certainly committed to seeing that things are done correctly regarding this situation and that is going to be our instructions to Jim. I think we are all on the same side here,” Walker concluded.
According to the board, Hatfield will be consulted on this issue and it will be put on the agenda in April.
Library director, Donna Murray, presented her annual report to the board. She announced that in January the library board approved the rebranding of Baylord Taylor Memorial Library to Kennett Public Library.
“It reflects the community we serve,” Murray said.
The library is looking at moving from the town of Kennett Square to a brand new facility on 5.3 acres that the library owns in Kennett Township off of Waywood Road.
During the financial review, it was made known to the board of supervisors that a 40% drop in revenue since 2008 was concerning. The operations budget for 2015 does include $235,000 from a Vanguard investment account to maintenance their old building. Renovations for the current building are on-going and the library will be closed March 3 and 4 and the last week in March.
The board was opposed (Weer and John Sarro) in a 3-2 vote for a request from Walmart to add to the current garden center for the upcoming season on April 15. Associated parking would be relocated next to the current garden center to make room for seasonal landscaping items such as sand and stone and a drive thru pick up area.
Crawford mentioned that the Conditional Use Order would need to be reviewed and will be readdressed at April’s meeting.
All were in favor to approve the road closures for the Kennett Run to be held on May 16. Supervisor Robert Weer cautioned Mike Elling, chairperson for the Kennett Run, to keep in mind the additional traffic on Route 82 for future road closure requests.
All were also in favor to begin to triple the amount of footpaths and to landscape in Phase 11 of the Unionville Park plans with the budgeted amount of $145,900.
All were in favor to approve a request from Longwood Gardens for temporary traffic changes on the north section of Greenwood Road and to utilize Exelon’s parking lot if needed. In addition, Penny Parson of Urban Engineers, Inc., presented some background information to build a new substation off Conservatory Road to provide for the increased requirements to Longwood Gardens.
In other news, Walker announced that Mark Benzel, chairperson on the Planning Commission, relocated out of the township and submitted his resignation. Christine Kimmel was elected in his place. Walker welcomed her to the position.
The board will be busy next month – three hearings will be scheduled in April to address various Conditionals Use Applications for CJK Investments for the townhouses on Schoolhouse Road, excavating on a three acre lot on the site and for a landscaping business on Gale Lane.
