Council approves adding four safety advocates to school-crossing contract after debate over prior contract visibility

Chester City Council voted on Jan. 22 to amend the city’s school-crossing-guard services contract to add four safety advocates, extend coverage to four additional locations and increase hours at specified locations for the remaining 84 school days of the 2024–2025 academic year.

The amendment increases the contract by $24,211 for a new total of $510,540.75 and is effective Feb. 1, 2025. The resolution cites 8 Pa. C.S. § 1127 as the statutory authority requiring the city to appoint school crossing guards. The resolution also states that the Chester-Upland School District is required by law to pay half of the cost of the contract.

During discussion, a councilor said the contract “did not come before city council” when originally executed and stated, “I do not feel comfortable making amendments to this contract since the city council did not approve the contract. Therefore, I've never even seen the contract. So I'm not going to vote on a contract that I have not seen.” The mayor and other councilors urged that the immediate priority was safety and encouraged moving forward without delay. Despite the expression of reluctance, the roll call recorded yes votes for all named council members.

The mayor said the city had previously managed crossing guards in-house but had moved to a contracted vendor through a competitive process; the mayor said the prior chief of staff had handled the earlier contract and the city still views the contracted approach as valid and necessary. The resolution authorizes the mayor to execute the amendment on behalf of the city.

Council directed staff to provide a copy of the contract to the councilor who requested it and to continue improving communication to council about contracts and agreements.