Scalise retires as manager

Joe Scalise, who worked for Kennett Square for more than 26 years, the past five years as borough manager, has resigned.

“I am proud of the work that we’ve done and the position I leave the borough in,” Scalise wrote in his resignation letter to borough council.

Scalise led the effort to upgrade the borough’s sewer facilities and expand its parking garage, both of which were recently completed. He helped the borough pay down previous debt, met its budget reserve goals and instituted a recent bond refinancing that will save taxpayers nearly $450,000 over the next year.

“Joe has given his working life to the people of this community, and we are deeply grateful for his dedication and hard work at every level of borough operations,” said

Brenda Mercomes, borough council president. “He has made the borough a better place to live, from keeping the sewer plant operating as a teenager, to overseeing a model snow plowing effort for multiple winters, to maintaining the community’s forward momentum during the COVID-19 crisis.”

Said Kennett Square

Mayor Matt Fetick: “I’ve really enjoyed working with Joe over the past 11 years. He is a true professional who has served the borough well and he will be hard to replace.”

In 2015, Scalise was hired as borough manager at an annual salary of $92,500. At the time he replaced Brant Kucera, who resigned to take a position as manager for Cannon Beach, Oregon.

During his tenure as borough manager, Scalise was prolific at writing grants,

which helped to improve economic development in the town of about 6,000 people. He grew up Kennett Square and attended Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center, and graduated from Kennett High School. Following high school, he worked at the sewer plant, in 1992.

“Together, we’ve managed to keep the borough

on solid footing at a time when many others are struggling,” said Councilman Doug Doerfler. “Although we will miss his institutional knowledge, it’s a testament to Joe that he has established a foundation where the next manager will be in a position to move forward on new initiatives from Day One.”

In his letter to council, Scalise said he is pursuing another opportunity.

The borough manager position will be posted at www.kennettsq.org.

Scalise