Leff elected to chair Kennett Township supervisors

KENNETT TOWNSHIP >> Based largely on his oversight and guidance into the allegations of financial fraud by former township manager Lisa Moore, Richard L. Leff was elected chair of the Board of Supervisors of Kennett Township this week during the board’s annual reorganizational meeting.

Whitney S. Hoffman was elected Vice Chair. Both votes of the three member board were unanimous. Supervisor Scudder Stevens, former chairman of the board, nominated both Leff and Hoffman.

Stevens, who served as chairman during six of his eight years in office, said he had several reasons for nominating Leff.

“Rich has done an outstanding job as vice chair and it is time for him to expand his role,” Sevens said. “Last April when we discovered the embezzlement of township funds, Rich stepped in and took over all of the financial responsibilities of the township. Also, Rich was elected supervisor last year with a substantial majority.”

Moore was criminally charged with embezzling $3.2 million of taxpayer money from Kennett Township, and her trial is scheduled for later this year. Moore was replaced by Eden Ratliff.

After Hoffman was elected, Leff pointed out that Whitney also helped keep the township running. “We all did so,” Leff said. This was after the firing of the former Moore in May of last year; who has subsequently been charged by the Chester County District Attorney’s office with theft.

There is still no public word on the status of Kennett Township Police Chief Lydell Nolt. He has been on administrative leave for quite some time, and Ratliff would not say who is police chief or who is in charge of the township’s full-time police department.

Richard Leff