Council moves multiple grants, contracts and capital bids to consent; awards and applications include DCED flood mitigation and garage membrane work

The Borough Council moved several grants, contract awards and purchasing requests to the consent agenda and advanced them without separate roll-call debate.

Public Works reported a motion to participate in the 2025 household hazardous-waste program with the Chester County Solid Waste Authority under a three-year agreement; the borough has participated in the program previously and the committee recommended continuation. The council also approved, by committee recommendation and moved to consent, a grant resolution to apply to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Greenways, Trails and Recreation program for up to $250,000 for John O'Greene Park projects (85 percent grant with at least 15 percent local match anticipated) and a separate People, Parks & Community Foundations application for up to $30,000 for splash pad rehabilitation with no match required.

Under finance and revenue, Will Williams presented a DCED Flood Mitigation application seeking $500,000 to extend the life of brick storm sewers by inserting PVC liners; staff said the application would be submitted by May 30 and that awards would likely be announced in the first quarter of 2026. The council moved that application to consent.

The Parking Committee recommended awarding a construction contract for the Bicentennial Garage membrane project, third level, to CPS Construction Group in the amount of $167,700; council moved that award to consent as a capital budget item. The council also approved a set of purchasing requests above $10,000 that included solar trash-compaction equipment and other capital items; the list was moved to consent.

Several items were noted as committee recommendations with 3–0 committee votes and were placed on the consent agenda for final approval without separate roll-call at the meeting. The council also moved a motion to reject all bids on the Gay Street closure infrastructure project (see separate article) and to rebid with alternative specifications.

Public comment periods and committee representatives were present for these items; in most cases councilors asked expected timing questions (for example, DCED award notices) and were told grant announcements for DCED would likely arrive in early 2026 for some applications.

These consent items will appear together on a future consent resolution or consent portion of a subsequent meeting; where a formal award or contract is required, staff will proceed after the consent vote.