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Chester CountyPRESS

www.chestercounty.com

Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas

Volume 157, No. 29

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

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Greenwalt named new chief of regional police department By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer The Southern Chester County Regional Police Department (SCCRPD) made another important down payment on its future on July 13 when Joseph F. Greenwalt was sworn in as the department’s new police chief before more than 250 guests, elected officials and law enforcement officers at Bancroft Elementary School. In addition to Greenwalt,

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the Hon. Matthew Seavey also swore in Sgt. Joseph P. Versagli III as the department’s new Lieutenant; P.O. Gregory P. Blue as the department’s new Sergeant; and Jose Alvarez, Christopher Galle, Amimarie Jefferis and David Madonna as fulltime police officers. Greenwalt, who had been serving as the acting police chief since the retirement of former Chief Gerald Simpson last December, was selected by

the SCCRPD Public Safety Commission after an extensive vetting process. Stephen Black, chairman of the SCCRPD Continued on page 2A

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

Presided by the Hon. Matthew Seavey, Joseph F. Greenwalt was officially sworn in as the new Chief of Police for the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department, during ceremonies held at the Bancroft Elementary School on July 13.

Revised cost for New Garden Hills estimated at over $30 million

FROM OUR LENS Under new ownership

New Garden’s Board of Supervisors will be forced to decide on future fate of park’s development By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer

A.B.A.T.E. brings food to NSC for 34th year...1B

When the initial plans for the development of the 137-acre property known at Saint Anthony’s in the Hills were first introduced in 2021, the estimated price tag was $18 million. Those numbers, created as part of a master plan designed by the architectural firm known as YSM, included all of the bells and whistles of what would become the people’s park—a full offering of recreational activities that were included in a public survey that asked residents what they wished to see there. While the development of the park is underway – a branding campaign has led to a name change and a trail network is expected to open this fall – the actual costs of what it will take to complete the many phases of New Garden Hills have remained undetermined, until now. In a presentation before the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors on July 17, Township Manager Christopher Himes and Parks Superintendent Mike

Photo by Richard L. Gaw

In a transaction that was finalized on July 5, Aaron Jones, left and Matt Feldman became the new owners of the Landenberg Village, which includes the Landenberg Store, the Landenberg Hotel and a nearby wool house. Under their leadership, the hotel will be converted into a six-room, shortstay bed-and-breakfast that will offer get-away package experiences that will allow visitors to enjoy major attractions, cultural activities and restaurants throughout Chester County. A full profile of their plans for the Landenberg Village will appear in an upcoming edition of the Chester County Press.

Continued on page 3A

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East Marlborough gets clean audit

Ag conservation easement funding ok’d; conditional use application gets approval By Monica Fragale Contributing Writer East Marlborough Township had no issues with its 2022 financial audit, according to an independent auditor’s report. “We are here a little earlier than last year if that gives you an idea of how much better the audit went this year,” said Carl Hogan of BBD, the firm who has done the audits for the last two

years, at the July supervisors meeting. “This is a clean audit report – no modifications, and no internal control issues.” Hogan explained that the audit is a regulatory financial statement that examines the township’s financial health and its cash basis of accounting. “You had a really good year – the revenues being more than anticipated,” he said. “You also had a good year

related to expenditures.” Last year was the first year that the township appointed Peter Barsz as the treasurer. Barsz is a CPA with Barsz, Gowie, Amon, and Fultz and has been providing financial consulting services to the township since 2021. East Marlborough ended the year with $7.365 million in revenues and $6.035 million in expenditures. The township had a $1.329 million excess, according to the

audit, which can be found at landowners. The township’s share of the township building. funding was included in the 2023 open space budget. In other business: “It’s very high visibil• The supervisors unanimously approved a funding ity there and is currently a agreement to buy an agricul- priority for the county,” tural conservation easement said planning commission on 30.98 acres at 334 W. Chairman Cuyler Walker. Street Road. It is a joint • The supervisors purchase between the town- approved a conditional use ship and the county, with application to place a wireEast Marlborough paying less telecommunications $50,000 and the county facility atop a water tank paying $250,000 to the Continued on page 3A

Kennett Square Borough welcomes new police officer, junior council member By HaLeigh Abbott Contributing Writer Kennett Square Borough Council swore in a new junior council member and a new police officer during its meetings in July. Endof-summer and fall events were also presented, including a repelling fundraiser, National Night Out, and the Red Clay Park Project. Juan Luis Garcia Tafolla is the council’s first junior member since 2015, and was unanimously welcomed by council

members. Tafolla graduated from Kennett Square Consolidated School District and will serve a non-voting position on the Borough Council through March 31, 2024. Council member Mayra Zavala said there is excitement to have “another diverse voice on the council.” Officer Nicholas Matty was sworn in to the Kennett Square Police Department by Chief of Police William Holdsworth. Matty graduated from Cabrini College with a bachelor’s degree in

criminology in 2019, and then from the Delaware County Police Department in 2021. He began his law enforcement career with the Folcroft Police Department in Delaware County, and will be a part-time patrolman for Kennett Square Borough. National Night Out, an event promoting community building between police departments and residents, will be returning this year on Sept. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. Photo by HaLeigh Abbott The Kennett Square Police Juan Luis Garcia Tafolla is Kennett Square Borough Continued on page 2A

Council’s first junior member since 2015.