West Bradford Board of Supervisors appoints 2026 leadership, adopts emergency services map and ratifies hires

The West Bradford Township Board of Supervisors met Jan. 5, 2026, and completed its annual reorganization and routine business, appointing township leadership and municipal officers, adopting two resolutions on emergency services and fire department support, and ratifying a personnel hire.

The Board appointed Laurie W. Abele as chair and Jack M. Hines Jr. as vice chair for 2026; both motions passed 3-0. Justin Yaich was appointed Township Manager and Secretary‑Treasurer (the Board set the required bond for the treasurer at $2,000,000). Lisa Valaitis was named Finance Director and Assistant Township Treasurer with a $1,000,000 bond requirement.

The Board designated Christian Adamek as Zoning Officer, Building Code Official, and Code Enforcement Officer/Junkyard Inspector. Chester County was designated West Bradford’s Fire Marshal and Andrew Rychlak was appointed Emergency Management Coordinator for 2026. Justin Yaich and Pamela Henrichon were named Right‑to‑Know Officer and Deputy Right‑to‑Know Officer, respectively.

Professional appointments included Buckley, Brion, McGuire & Morris, LLP as Township Solicitor at $230 per hour and J.M.R. Engineering, LLC as Township Engineer per its fee schedule on file at the Township Building. Thomas Comitta Associates was named township land planner; Keystone Municipal Services was designated the third‑party inspection agency; and CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA Philadelphia) was retained to conduct the FY2025 audit pursuant to a previously dated auditing services agreement.

The Board also reappointed members to the TND‑2 Design Review Committee and to various commissions and boards, named TD Bank and the Pennsylvania Local Government Trust Fund as the township depositories, and designated the Daily Local News as the newspaper of record. The Board established a 2026 meeting schedule (typically 7:00 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month, with fourth‑Tuesday meetings as needed) and set the 2026 mileage reimbursement rate at $0.68 per mile, consistent with IRS guidance.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution #26‑01 (Emergency Services Response Area for 2026): Motion by Jack M. Hines Jr., second by Kevin Houghton; approved 3-0. - Resolution #26‑02 (Operational support activities at West Bradford Fire Department): Motion by Kevin Houghton, second by Jack M. Hines Jr.; approved 3-0. - Supplemental bill run authorization (January, to be ratified Feb. 10, 2026): Motion by Kevin Houghton, second by Jack M. Hines Jr.; approved 3-0. - Ratification of hire, Refuse & Recycling Driver (Jason Gallagher), subject to six‑month probationary period, at‑will status: Motion by Kevin Houghton, second by Jack M. Hines Jr.; approved 3-0. - AQUA waiver of land development for treatment facilities on Strasburg Road (garage for treatment equipment): Motion by Jack M. Hines Jr., second by Kevin Houghton; approved 3-0.

Why it matters

These routine appointments and contract designations set the township’s leadership, professional advisers and administrative procedures for 2026, including who will sign or oversee financial and regulatory matters. The emergency services boundary and operational‑support resolution formalize response area designations and support roles for the township’s volunteer fire organizations.

The Treasurer’s report and State Police report were not available at the meeting and will be provided at a subsequent meeting. The Board approved the Dec. 9, 2025 minutes and announced upcoming commission meetings and cancellations to the regular schedule.

The Board adjourned at 6:34 p.m.