Ratliff, called to clean up Chester County township's financial woes, heads out

Jan. 11—KENNETT — The municipal government veteran who was chosen to clean up the mess in the wake of the embezzlement scandal centered around the former township manager has announced that he is leaving the position he has held since 2019.

Earlier this week, the township Board of Supervisors announced that it had accepted the resignation of Eden R. Ratliff, effective Feb. 1. Ratliff had come to the township from a position as borough manager and chief administrative official of the borough of Greencastle in Franklin County.

He now leaves for Charlottesville, Va., where he will serve as the deputy city manager for administration in the city of 51,000.

“It is with mixed emotions that I announce my departure from Kennett Township to pursue another career opportunity,” said Ratliff in a press release. “Nearly four and a half years ago the township entrusted me with the responsibility of stabilizing the Kennett Township government and professionalizing the services we provide to this great community.

“I am forever grateful for the trust the Board of Supervisors had in me, the opportunity to serve the public, and am proud of all that we have accomplished,” he said.

Ratliff, a native of West Chester, was hired to replace former manager Lisa Moore, who resigned amid questions over her handling of finances in the township, and was later charged with stealing $3.2 million over a period of years from multiple public accounts. She pleaded guilty to theft charges in October 2021 and was sentenced to three to 10 years in state prison.

Coincidentally, Moore, 50, was paroled on Jan. 4 and is reportedly now living in Delaware.

News of the thefts brought forth a tremendous outcry from residents of the township, who demanded to know why the supervisors at the time had not kept a better watch over the public finances. The answer they were given at the time was that Moore — who had worked in the township for years and made her way up the ladder from secretary and clerk to manager — had gone to extraordinary lengths to conceal her embezzlement scheme.

When Ratliff was brought in, he had experience not only in Franklin County but also as borough manager in Ford City, a town of 2,800 near Pittsburgh.

Among the changes that Ratliff made in his first months were the releasing of many longtime township employees who he said were paid too much for justification, even though those changes were not tied directly to Moore’s alleged embezzlement.

He also stabilized the township’s finances by budgeting ore effectively, and was able to work with the township’s insurers to bring back $1 million from the losses that it had incurred through Moore’s crimes. She had also repaid the township more than $1.2 million from her own accounts.

“It seems like a lifetime ago that Eden came on board to help this township, and his impact will be visible for many years to come,” said Supervisor Dr. Richard Leff in announcing his departure. “He was a tireless advocate for Kennett Township and a person willing to make necessary changes, regardless of past practices in our community.”

Added Supervisor Geoffrey Gamble, “Eden’s leadership, strategic visioning, determination, and trustworthiness will be greatly missed. His tenure in Kennett Township was never easy but his passion and commitment for public service never wavered,”

Newly elected Supervisor M. Patricia Muller said, “Eden did this township and immediate region an incredible service. I am amazed at how he held his composure through everything some members of this community threw at him.”

While Ratliff lauded the supervisors and community members, he noted that it is his team he will miss the most.

“Working in Kennett Township was an intense rebuild project and there are many great professionals who enthusiastically joined this team to help,” he said. “They are dedicated public servants who make this government run smoothly and professionally daily. Collaborating with them has been a great honor and I will cherish the memories and progress we made together.”

Ratliff also praised his time volunteering as a firefighter with Longwood Fire Company noting the members are “incredible professionals with unimaginable dedication.”

Ratliff will move to Virginia next month. “Charlottesville is on a mission to sustain stability within its local government and as I join that effort, I know the experiences I have gained in Kennett Township will serve me well,” said Ratliff.

The township has retained Roseann McGrath, an experienced local government Human Resources and Executive search professional, to help fill the role of manager. Finance and Human Resources Director Amy Heinrich will serve as interim manager upon Ratliff’s departure.

(c)2024 Daily Local News, West Chester, Pa. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.