Ken Hershey honored for 30 years of service

LOWER OXFORD » The final township meeting for the year on Dec. 13 was also the final meeting as supervisor for chairman Kenneth Hershey. Hershey chose not to run for another term, ending a 24-year stretch on the board of supervisors that began on Jan. 3, 1993. In actuality, Hershey’s record of service to the township extends before his time as supervisor, with an additional six years on the planning commission bringing it to 30 years of service in Lower Oxford local government.

During his time as supervisor, Hershey contributed his personal time and services to the construction of the current township building. He was instrumental in the completion of the Oxford Produce Auction, and took part in the land development process that led to the construction of Oxford Commons Shopping Center. An advocate for farmland preservation, Lower Oxford has contributed to the preservation of over 4,000 acres of open space under Hershey’s watch.

“We’ve done a lot of things that I thought were right and good for the township,” Hershey said. “The produce auction has done a lot of people a lot of good. There’s been a lot of small acerage that wouldn’t be farmed that can produce produce.”

At the conclusion of the township meeting, Hershey was surprised by a resolution in his honor accompanied by the presentation of a plaque and a montage of framed photographs featuring some of the most notable accomplishments during his time as supervisor.

“We’ve been up and down. When I started, we were on Jackson School Road in an old school house, and stored salt (for winter roads) in a rented mushroom shed,” Hershey said.

Hershey was visibly moved when he mentioned the recent passing of township Secretary Sara Langanelli. “I went through a lot of ups and downs, but losing Sara was the worst,” he said.

Under regular business, the board approved the 2018 budget in the amount of $1,044,802.84 with no increase in taxes,

The next township meeting will be Tues., Jan. 2, at which time the board will reorganize and welcome newly elected supervisor Kevin Martin.

MARCELLA PEYRE-FERRY – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Supervisor Ron Hershey was honored by Lower Oxford for his 30 years of service.