[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6270548,"mediaKeyId","3034525-38271c91f891b5083bb8d3011bc1b060","parentId",3034525,"title","West Chester council and residents praise first responders, highlight community events and food support needs","audioSeconds",291,"startMs",69000,"endMs",360000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034525-38271c91f891b5083bb8d3011bc1b060&start=69&end=360","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034525-38271c91f891b5083bb8d3011bc1b060/thumbnail_69000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6270548/West-Chester/Chester-County/Pennsylvania/West-Chester-council-and-residents-praise-first-responders-highlight-community-events-and-food-support-needs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270548-2e45ae3868e2b797aa4e97a8eab9f35e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773598185&Signature=R7uJPvUIIqMgMKBnwcrbu5W-uUfrPUvdo9MGU3wH~Sxq6HLhYAQDPO4du40gakWdicN1K0eJ3YFoW2qEMkXE4XNRIqqFxzyadKT8Q5Oxvk~yWvHilO3D7YdpmT9E5EYUGpGy3LuNRWRw8Vbx~~AUcE5S02l9Gyo0JnYJ65o7Deh0iqdNtv7O-LXnXaEZJY6Zs8Ze2yIpMtxpwS4VlEM-9GgOHc7E-EWD7HazJ0OkE9afHwbgVoT-cZvlUnhHIiDcjc~ADHnQ9Lk3a-3lCKsUAmTZ-ejdORBO6EvOFHWBIsRIjJN9HXa-46ahvjbsXd0QwWreiHUAMa6rTIklsiM1vQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Borough of West Chester, PA","date","2025-04-17T07:18:49.07Z","article","Residents and councilmembers used the meeting’s comment and council-report sections to thank the West Chester Police Department and other first responders for their response to a Sunday incident on Church Street in which a young man reportedly fired at officers and then fled across rooftops before surrendering.

Lisa Kearns, introduced as a resident of West Biddle Street, told the council she had “deep gratitude to the West Chester Police Department and the and our first responders,” describing how officers defused a “very potentially tragic situation” and noting one officer suffered a slight injury after a fall during the incident. Councilmembers echoed Kearns’s praise for the department’s training and courage.

Councilmembers also used the time for community announcements: Councilmember McGinnis promoted Porch Fest on May 17, noting it will be concentrated in the Third Ward. A councilmember highlighted National Volunteer Week and urged residents to consider volunteer opportunities; Safe Harbor, a local nonprofit, announced an open house and breakfast on May 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Council remarks acknowledged local restaurants and the community’s help in supporting the Chester County Food Bank and the West Chester Food Cupboard after funding shortfalls for some nonprofits.

Additional council comments included thanks from leaders for a donated canine armor vest reported in a public safety meeting and a reminder that a borough social worker position is arriving to help address rising mental-health needs in contact with first responders.

Councilmembers and resident speakers encouraged residents to support local charities and businesses that are aiding food distribution and to attend upcoming events.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Borough Council Voting Session - April 16, 2024","oneSentenceSummary","Residents and councilmembers thanked West Chester first responders after a rooftop shooting incident; councilmembers also promoted upcoming events (Porch Fest, Safe Harbor open house), noted mental-health staffing, and urged support for local food assistance programs.","taxTitle","West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania","taxId",71483,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270552,"West Chester council appoints volunteers to borough boards and commissions",76,609000,685000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034525-38271c91f891b5083bb8d3011bc1b060&start=609&end=685","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034525-38271c91f891b5083bb8d3011bc1b060/thumbnail_609000.jpg","/articles/6270552/West-Chester/Chester-County/Pennsylvania/West-Chester-council-appoints-volunteers-to-borough-boards-and-commissions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270552-61c763ae325a3c18acc34cd97ece15be/orig.mp4?Expires=1773598185&Signature=R94VuYp7efwC4uL5oYikb7EdSTGIDo8WiI0caek9Hr2V2eHg55lq6~9EXbrpPljmM11A4lRGzJCJSGlzoCyDQCoQBZNeqqlmKWRvi45KiNhZdeNNQ5LAKBY8oxiM1ZlGrNM9dJA52GKsclH7WQ8PYwoMiHTIiKn3ZTWT-LZFzVexe-HoHqDk~XQNOR~IZC3UeLiPkGqNvkTrLTxGkUlOxkdbLAPlo7lvYk8C8i8cV45ak0aPKycSkjC6Xyi46cd8p3t8CipDq4irBF7oDYDXtmwEV8NjERnIoOiyvhchViwOQeu6FpuLBa29sh~clwJaYhLncc6MSKnspZoQw3QrMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Chester Borough Council approved appointments to fill vacancies on borough boards, commissions and committees.

Councilmember McCoy presented the recommended slate: Jerry Scanlon to civil service; Joe Ovalman to human relations; Joanne Duraco, Michael Hartman and Sarah Windmayer to public arts; Alex Katz to the planning commission; and Jennifer Harris and Anna Seacrest to the tree commission. Councilmembers moved and seconded the recommendation and approved it by roll call.

A roll-call vote recorded the following yes votes: Miss Dorsey; Mister Flynn; Miss Vaccaro; Mister McGinnis; Mister Travis; Miss Shimoni (referred to as Jimoni in one roll call); and Mister McCoy. After the vote council members encouraged volunteers who were not appointed to continue attending committee meetings and to apply for future vacancies.

The council thanked applicants for their volunteer time and urged residents to attend committee meetings even if not appointed, to gain experience in case a future vacancy opens.","Council approved a slate of volunteers to fill vacancies on multiple West Chester borough boards, including civil service, human relations, public arts, planning and tree commissions.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6270557,"West Chester council approves lease language with SEPTA, signals preference for 15-year term",507,711000,1218000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3034525-38271c91f891b5083bb8d3011bc1b060&start=711&end=1218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3034525-38271c91f891b5083bb8d3011bc1b060/thumbnail_711000.jpg","/articles/6270557/West-Chester/Chester-County/Pennsylvania/West-Chester-council-approves-lease-language-with-SEPTA-signals-preference-for-15-year-term","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270557-24b7853dd9312724781bd61972410cff/orig.mp4?Expires=1773598185&Signature=THyE-CpkcI7vkrUxB39JT4reOPlQiMI1Jhs6syuoHyMIr76o5MLy6Dujkt-2uiZUb4IOy4bgI10agKJsrC2TUuuqeAKkE9EhO0okmwyf1ifZA6wfNtDVQh03FBqQ~qVfL5EM7WiD-TySNR6E6Z0r7lXx2vRoAaltVdnSFfCfhVkAoj42BHI7Sf5uFbYCN-2g-FFVlg9-lUK1G4st~dophm0LQ0BHaOGpZl4HG9VvHBam5H2fU1S4BgALuthw~JrBny0GSacpINK0scJUNPt7KT9LaVHKEZG1iIp1cpd8YXY-HVJYki2iaqyznVsMPvUlGT7A~IDU3aPGhSbzA49zbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Chester Borough Council voted unanimously to approve sending amended lease language to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) that clarifies SEPTA’s ability to terminate or amend the lease if regular commuter rail service is established on the West Chester branch line, and to express the council’s preference that a previously exercised one-year renewal be replaced by a 15-year lease beginning July 1, 2025.

Councilmembers debated where to place a sentence that would require any future commuter-service arrangement to be conducted “in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations.” A staff member reading the proposed change said, “SEPTA will retain superior right to terminate or amend this lease in the event that it desires to establish regular commuter rail service by SEPTA or a SEPTA approved third party commuter service operator in the form of a shuttle on the West Chester branch line between West Chester and Wawa.” The council agreed to place the compliance language in the paragraph that reads as the directive to the parties rather than in the explanatory paragraph.

At the meeting council members confirmed that they had already exercised notice to SEPTA to trigger a one-year renewal effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, to avoid a gap in occupancy. Council discussion made clear the borough will nonetheless ask SEPTA, if the amended lease is acceptable, to terminate that one-year extension and instead enter a 15-year lease that would commence on July 1, 2025. A staff member said the borough could send the amended language to SEPTA as soon as the following day and work with SEPTA counsel to negotiate the longer term.

Jason Lovett, identified in the meeting as chair of the rail committee, thanked the council and stakeholders for brokering the agreement. Several residents and committee representatives expressed support for the language and for completing the agreement.

The council voted by roll call; the transcript records the following votes: Miss Dorsey — yes; Mister Flynn — yes; Miss Vaccaro — yes; Mister McGinnis — yes; Mister Travis — yes; Miss Simone — yes; Mister McCoy — yes. The motion carried unanimously.

Background: The added language modifies Section 3.2 of the lease to state SEPTA’s ability to terminate or amend the lease if SEPTA or a SEPTA-approved operator establishes commuter service on the branch. Council members and staff described the amendment as intended to allow both tourist and commuter operations to coexist if and when commuter service is reinstated on the line, subject to applicable law.

Council members directed the borough solicitor to prepare the amended lease language for transmission to SEPTA and to proceed with the back-and-forth negotiations to pursue a 15-year agreement, while noting the borough had already exercised the one-year renewal to avoid a lapse in the lease.","Council voted to send an amended lease to SEPTA that preserves SEPTA’s right to terminate or amend for future commuter service and indicated a preference to replace a one-year extension with a 15-year lease starting July 1, 2025.","actionData","errors"]

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West Chester council and residents praise first responders, highlight community events and food support needs

West Chester council appoints volunteers to borough boards and commissions

West Chester council approves lease language with SEPTA, signals preference for 15-year term