By Eliza Mohler, Staff Writer, The Times
Ken Rongaus is sworn in as corporal by Mayor Matt Fetick as his family looks on.
KENNETT SQUARE – Kennett Square’s finest was out in full force at Monday night’s Borough Council meeting as police officers Ken Rongaus and Andrew Manko were promoted to the rank of corporal.
Police Chief William Holdsworth said Rongaus and Manko were each chosen for the promotion after a lengthy interview process during which several candidates were considered. “Both of these men exemplify what community police officers can and should be,” said council member Ethan Cramer.
“Kennett Square should be proud of the men and women who serve in the police department,” Mayor Matt Fetick said. “There isn’t an officer in the department who, I believe, isn’t a leader.”
Rongaus was hired by the Kennett Square police department in 2006. He was assigned to the role of detective in 2016, and he is now a detective corporal.
Andrew Manko receives his corporal insignia from Police Chief William Holdsworth.
Manko joined the department in 2009. In 2011, he was assigned to serve on the Chester County Emergency Response Team, where he was recently designated as a team leader. He will now serve Kennett Square as the patrol corporal.
The council approved a new memorandum of understanding with the Chester County Public Safety Training Center Firing Range. The borough’s police officers use the firing range for job training, and Cramer noted that “the need for gun safety requires the need for extensive training.”
Luis Tovar updated the council on the recent activities of the Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs (ACOLA), which includes passing out educational information about knowing your rights to immigrant members of the local Latino community. “There are individuals living in fear, whether they are documented or not,” he said.
Tovar said the Kendall Crosslands community had asked a DACA student to speak to residents about her experience, and it was well-received. He also noted that the ACOLA meetings are held on 7 pm on the second Tuesday of every month at 312 West State Street, and all are welcome. Council member Peter Waterkotte praised Tovar for his and ACOLA’s work.
In other news, a bid award was approved for the Birch Street water main replacement project. Borough Manager Joseph Scalise said that the bids were opened on March 30. Out of the nine bids received, Stevens Excavating had the lowest bid that met the specifications for the project, at $339,447.
When council member Doug Doerfler asked about the pending verification of Stevens Excavating’s references for the bid, Scalise replied that the company had previously done some work on smaller projects for the borough, so the reference checks are a formality. The approval of the bid award is contingent on minor paperwork clarification.
The Special Event application was approved for the upcoming Art on the Square, which will take place on Saturday, April 28.
