[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6590584,"mediaKeyId","5461076-0c8b791fc49f61cf09340914ea3e3d99","parentId",5461076,"title","City highlights block captain cleanups, parking rules and abandoned-vehicle reporting","audioSeconds",1312,"startMs",1631000,"endMs",2943000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5461076-0c8b791fc49f61cf09340914ea3e3d99&start=1631&end=2943","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5461076-0c8b791fc49f61cf09340914ea3e3d99/thumbnail_1631000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6590584/Chester/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/City-highlights-block-captain-cleanups-parking-rules-and-abandoned-vehicle-reporting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590584-6effdbd997ced32c10bb8854979cf65a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773781729&Signature=G4bjxY7SJlPLu9yDdnvEMW41yUJElOrgdxiw0JiStzsKFrhiOI5K4vMA7ME9cDVO7ZN0LMY53V5C-SAoe49QUMc-X6saLVaY0iN8ofWY~WriYQ70ToyWbmA6a8WU-uiuV~sxq5w0VC2OIQDOIUqyVsDSf8sa43LovagwWv6EQPM5sGyzADhooPWuflFaDDZFS0-h821Ms0SnYUkBjQnFoxow3r6hcj-rCkmLXPx5O93k-QDV1Cg47rEFGr7Xx9Gdimp31pI6PfE9BJFsGwcN3-cooLIRXQ3623QfcTTsqdTry4PXuWGIbn1nBvvbGrVYMyaH2yXI3TdPXmdDSxJClA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Chester, PA","date","2025-07-24T10:11:04.247Z","article","City staff and volunteers on July 23 briefed council on neighborhood cleanups, the block captain program and residential parking, and outlined the process for reporting abandoned vehicles.

Justin Tibbles, special assistant to Mayor Ruth and representative of the block captain committee, announced a cleanup in the Holy City neighborhood scheduled for Saturday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to noon and said the committee will provide trash pickers, gloves and bags. He said the block captain program has recruited about 40 volunteers across the city and that residents can apply via chestercity.com or the Chester City Connect app.

Tibbles said Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, a statewide nonprofit, now partners with the city’s block captain program and provides microgrants, materials and signage for adopted blocks.

Director of Public Works Andrew Hayman explained that several ADA curb ramps are being installed by PennDOT at intersections and that the city will seek clarity on sidewalk and ramp coordination where PennDOT work intersects city sidewalks. He said some ramp work appears to precede full sidewalk repairs and that staff will seek PennDOT guidance on how ramp placement is prioritized.

The council also addressed residential permit parking zones and a recent change that placed several blocks into a permit zone originally intended to limit overflow from Crozer Medical Center. The mayor said the parking company that manages permits has followed the existing rule book and that council will meet with the parking authority on Aug. 4 to revisit zone boundaries and permit requirements.

On abandoned vehicles, police staff described a two-track process: vehicles parked on public streets are handled by the police department, while vehicles on private lots are handled by licenses and inspections (L&I). Council was given the dedicated abandoned-vehicle email address for police reports: acapitalabndmv@chesterpolice.org. Police staff described an administrative process that includes investigating, tagging with an abandoned-vehicle sticker and a seven-business-day removal window for qualifying vehicles. Council members noted enforcement resources are limited and that one staff member is currently assigned to the abandoned-vehicle function Monday–Friday.

Council encouraged residents to report problem vehicles and to submit photos and locations to aid enforcement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Chester City Council Meeting | July 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council heard updates on neighborhood cleanup events and block-captain recruitment, discussed residential permit parking, and outlined abandoned-vehicle reporting and removal procedures.","taxTitle","Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania","taxId",64857,"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},6590589,"Council and residents press for transparency after officer cleared in Delaware County probe",124,3299000,3423000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5461076-0c8b791fc49f61cf09340914ea3e3d99&start=3299&end=3423","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5461076-0c8b791fc49f61cf09340914ea3e3d99/thumbnail_3299000.jpg","/articles/6590589/Chester/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/Council-and-residents-press-for-transparency-after-officer-cleared-in-Delaware-County-probe","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590589-aecec44e2a38aca4ba8307662ab5ff62/orig.mp4?Expires=1773781729&Signature=H2m~RqqeOTYt~pjSobt55xS1Jh61gU2oEEG7amY0v1mQdZKld~SYNYw4YiKgj6ydMhG6GrcnHFtE2P8SJFA~6alr-AThD4jg4Hf~eWoMU-U67GCwwIp8u~FfCfcyXbp12QdD-ldvdQbnRu7bxF9OYuLleHHVogW3DNmI5gaSkAXu38MhLSCmy2LNa9rH-1SIUdbSZ-SYPeg2rD65k7tzufQ6dSCZi20ZeoUY1o~KtC36GbwJCD-SG~nEIwS~T4C6w-qxVGQJunqK9kxvpDFon12YyMl5SyR~dxklmCAVtow~RktJON3fIJFXGS7mOcWaAbtduxQz9eO2KY7-GtHgpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several council members and residents on July 23 raised questions about an arrest and a circulating video and asked when findings from an investigation would be publicly shared. The subject was an officer identified in testimony to the council as Officer Brzezinski.

A council member asked when the public would learn the results of the probe after seeing part of a video. A city official said the officer was placed on administrative leave after the incident and that the investigation was conducted by the Delaware County special investigations unit. The official said the district attorney’s office cleared the officer and that the officer had returned to duty.

Council members and members of the public pressed for more communication. “The public needs to know,” a council member said when describing constituents’ concerns about seeing only a portion of a video. City officials responded that the district attorney’s office led the investigation and would be the appropriate entity to release its findings. The council member said she would follow up with the DA’s office by phone or email to request a statement.

Multiple public commenters also referenced other cases where they said victims received sentences they considered inadequate; one speaker described a family member’s assault case that resulted in a misdemeanor outcome and small financial award and said police reports did not include medical records. Those speakers asked for better responsiveness from police and prosecutors.

City and police officials said the DA’s office led the investigation; council members urged the district attorney’s office be contacted for further information and noted they had received constituent emails that had not received responses.

No formal council action on the underlying incident was recorded at the meeting; comments centered on requests for transparency and improved communication about investigative outcomes.","Residents and council members sought more information July 23 about a police officer’s conduct after video circulated; city officials said the Delaware County special investigations unit cleared the officer and that the district attorney’s office handled the probe.",{"_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},6590593,"City, Riverfront Alliance launch 'Jumpstart Chester' to train and fund local home rehabs",632,2652000,3284000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5461076-0c8b791fc49f61cf09340914ea3e3d99&start=2652&end=3284","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5461076-0c8b791fc49f61cf09340914ea3e3d99/thumbnail_2652000.jpg","/articles/6590593/Chester/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/City-Riverfront-Alliance-launch-Jumpstart-Chester-to-train-and-fund-local-home-rehabs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590593-ec11194c1f8ca42b76eafd69305afa2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773781729&Signature=NbkHKmoMNEARxMBAzYtb8sJ~r8ntR71aM~sVO7seoeGLmYzMCgHThdZAm-FmvdgoZYFi88v3kGdtHhbL2HGG9yRDHY8KzEu8xu7AYrsHI9W~XEOnEZ8P5NO9k9wSAbO4JxUFNbNIJkiK5gU11g-M99eLBkec3hI6Ye9fnwKVSza6Bwz205zlEHd~O0ZzeD73Aapju4-ulTJY6HHa5e3Z6mPbEQD~DnP87fHSgg2bRLs9bwybSWRWEXjpWR29ARs8pLvuEd-Hyz15v~83GZ2p8bk6jWvckaxztKEIFsZ5Q6qTP7szp6i7Kq6UPeKQfABgjLQ~~xMh4uyXXO4aAsMYcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials presented Jumpstart Chester on July 23, a four-week, once-a-week training and mentorship program designed to teach residents and small developers how to rehabilitate and build housing in the city.

Amanda Johnson, the city lead for the program, said applications for mentors and mentees open Aug. 1 with plans to begin classes in October. The program will pair experienced contractors with aspiring local developers and provide classroom instruction on tools, blueprints, contracting, bidding and funding. Jumpstart Chester organizers said they will also provide follow-up networking and troubleshooting sessions for graduates who encounter barriers to completing projects.

Johnson said the Riverfront Alliance of Chester provided initial seed funding, and the program already has more than $75,000 in donations. She said the Riverfront Alliance made a six-figure investment commitment at a single presentation to support the program’s launch. Organizers said dedicated internal funding will be used to provide small grants or direct funding to several graduates’ projects and that the program will, over time, seek more funders to expand support.

Johnson described a related neighborhood initiative at the former Pulaski School site in what she referred to as the Grace Manor area (roughly Fourth Street to Ninth Street, Booth to Ward). Surveys are being distributed to households in that area to determine neighborhood needs and eligibility for exterior assistance such as repainting and power washing; survey completion carries a small gift card incentive. The program also plans to offer credit counseling and financing guidance, and Johnson said the first cohort will incorporate additional modules based on participant needs.

Mayor Ruth and other council members framed the initiative as a workforce-development and housing-rehabilitation tool that pairs vocational training with project financing to address blight and encourage local home ownership.","City officials announced Jumpstart Chester, a four-week mentorship and training program to help residents and small developers renovate and build homes; organizers said applications open Aug. 1 and some seed funding is already pledged.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6590598,"Chester hires emergency management specialist to coordinate preparedness and industrial risk oversight",209,1966000,2175000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5461076-0c8b791fc49f61cf09340914ea3e3d99&start=1966&end=2175","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5461076-0c8b791fc49f61cf09340914ea3e3d99/thumbnail_1966000.jpg","/articles/6590598/Chester/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/Chester-hires-emergency-management-specialist-to-coordinate-preparedness-and-industrial-risk-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590598-f67704a8c33503f272107ecbf3d6fb6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773781729&Signature=H0jBMjeRvcAujqc1fpwOTrnbupTmdaTRKos~RuhnfnPnfmWvpq5q5C9mbMiJrOnBnkYrvjxiAmGvltytp8bfWYdNWJRNWgq8Q3cea4asEpasDB0Kt8CRmx3fdlV9-Jxnyd4rfSYIUq~-xA25aKOfhVlvM0zcI9pD0x99SBrotfO8qHToKaH9Mik2s2uISeiPMaR0jqJG5-KYkAQJqvbjmhmXucSLjHbjeP8DYbX34~Px9PuGej6~Nu73phIsO4633ffaknvfRtLPRPw8U-ynhFqexHH~Xxwqs3f05~Kg7GgHwLrzHkBQ8hELBhbONA61GEJIzya3AhSuRw-VP9MChQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Chester on July 23 introduced Brigitte Payne as the city’s new emergency management specialist, a full-time administrative position intended to lead preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation activities and to build relationships across municipal departments, county emergency management and state and federal partners.

Commissioner J.P. Shirley of the Chester Fire Department introduced Payne and said the position had been requested in internal memos dating back to 2009. Shirley told council the city needs a dedicated full-time emergency-manager “for a city, especially a city of our size.”

Ms. Payne told council she has 17 years of experience in emergency services and described the emergency management cycle as preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. “Preparedness is building partnerships before disaster occurs,” Payne said, adding that mitigation could include cleaning storm drains before heavy rains or operating cooling stations during heat waves. She said the municipal level is “the first line of defense” and that the city will call on county, state (PEMA) and federal (FEMA) resources if an incident exceeds local capacity.

Council members pressed Payne on day-to-day duties and interagency coordination. Payne said her routine work will include relationship-building across departments and local stakeholders so response “is not the first time” responders meet each other during an incident. The council discussed industrial chemical risks and rail shipments that pass through Chester; Payne and staff said the new role will strengthen local knowledge of hazardous inventories and coordination with county chemical specialists and state agencies.

The council framed the hire as a foundational step: Payne’s work will include damage assessment planning, coordination with police, fire, public works, health and industry, and developing systems for responders to access chemical safety data and tier 2 reporting when needed.","City of Chester introduced Brigitte Payne as its new emergency management specialist, a full-time position the city says will coordinate preparedness, response and mitigation with county and state partners and with local industrial operators.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6590602,"Chester council approves hiring, contract awards and program extensions in unanimous votes",187,979000,1166000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5461076-0c8b791fc49f61cf09340914ea3e3d99&start=979&end=1166","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5461076-0c8b791fc49f61cf09340914ea3e3d99/thumbnail_979000.jpg","/articles/6590602/Chester/Delaware-County/Pennsylvania/Chester-council-approves-hiring-contract-awards-and-program-extensions-in-unanimous-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590602-163009bcea0eae27f94a64fe0365c538/orig.mp4?Expires=1773781729&Signature=OgXVfuzvnfLzRO1bHqDKOTkh2Zfs7qGB5u1CD6G4yrNqOU9flZQQgcR9LzplsvwiMJDIYT7MH-DFX4mXA5UYeeBCAc594VidrIv6SrD5FpS9SkvM~qNa17gHcoDe8D78tnUxneRw89kLPrc7wnnVtyD4Aaa9xYgBrP5lIjpkNQEx~S51dq~RRusIypdcDWBLUzLff9TiuyMJdwKCwvqyW89c8L7Q14j5A-7rLKh3DGeqVCqbzgLmsT3NanjS3aTMtgtXKm8LrpwdcNwjbjMnGwq36Ovo27lNJtZFhJZqFP5KH9SdkEHOwj7sUKS7mcPlmRlBY2xbPuBlK9-H1zGTgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Chester Council members on July 23 approved a package of resolutions that included authorization for civil-service testing for patrol officer candidates, awards of multiple construction contracts for a new public works facility, an extension of the crossing-guard services contract with SCM Management, LLC, and a 12-month advisory engagement for the police department.

The council voted to authorize the civil-service board to advertise and administer testing to establish an eligibility list for the position of patrol officer in the Chester Police Department. Mayor Ruth called for the roll call; Councilors Gibson Williams, Green, West and Davis answered “yes,” and the motion carried.

On a separate resolution approving the lowest responsible bidders for construction of a new public works facility (ARPA project no. 27), council recorded the named low bidders and bid amounts in the resolution and authorized the designated official to prepare contracts contingent on final review by the city solicitor. The resolution lists the following low bids: Davis Construction, general trades, $4,825,353; Hobbs and Company Inc., electrical, $981,300; Vision Mechanical Inc., mechanical, $902,726; and AKC Mechanical LLC, plumbing and fire suppression, $552,000. The resolution also rejected other alternates and bid bonds for unsuccessful bidders.

Council approved an extension of the city’s service contract with SCM Management, LLC, to provide crossing-guard services for the 2025–2026 academic year “in an amount not to exceed $471,050.” The resolution states the Chester Upland School District is required by law to pay 50% of the contract cost; Mayor Ruth and council members said they have discussed the split with the school district’s receiver and will work out payment details.

The council also voted to engage EJM Advisory Firm, LLC, to provide ongoing analysis of Chester Police Department operations and ad hoc advisory services for 12 months for an annual amount of $12,000, authorizing the proper city official to execute necessary documents.

Finally, a resolution establishing procedures and policies for handling confidential security information received from public utilities was adopted; the measure was presented as a citywide policy to manage receipt, retention and dissemination of utility-provided confidential security materials.

All listed resolutions passed on recorded roll-call votes; where the roll calls were read aloud the record shows all participating council members voting in the affirmative and no recorded dissent.","City council voted unanimously July 23 to authorize civil-service testing for police patrol candidates, award construction contracts for a new public works facility, extend a crossing-guard services contract, and retain advisory services for police operations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City highlights block captain cleanups, parking rules and abandoned-vehicle reporting

Council and residents press for transparency after officer cleared in Delaware County probe

City, Riverfront Alliance launch 'Jumpstart Chester' to train and fund local home rehabs

Chester hires emergency management specialist to coordinate preparedness and industrial risk oversight

Chester council approves hiring, contract awards and program extensions in unanimous votes