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West Chester council tightens Transportation Advisory Committee residency rules, appoints members
Summary
The Borough of West Chester adopted an ordinance amending the Transportation Advisory Committee membership rules to require a majority of borough residents and one member with a charge to pursue reestablishing rail service; council also appointed five committee members with staggered terms and named John O'Brien chair.
The Borough of West Chester Council on Monday adopted an amendment to the borough Administrative Code that requires a majority of Transportation Advisory Committee members to be borough residents and reserves one committee seat for a member focused on reestablishing rail service to West Chester.
The change amends Chapter 3, section 3-38.U3, titled Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). A borough staff member said the ordinance had been advertised in the Dailies Local News on Jan. 7, 2025, and a copy of the ordinance was sent to the Dailies Local and the law library on Nov. 21, 2024. Council members moved and seconded the amendment and the measure passed unanimously in the roll call taken at the public hearing; the council recorded a 5-0 vote with Councilor Vaccaro absent.
The ordinance follows the council's Oct. 16, 2024 adoption creating the Transportation Advisory Committee. Council members said the adopted tweak reflects follow-up discussion after that initial ordinance and is intended to ensure the committee’s membership reflects borough residents while retaining a member charged with exploring rail service restoration.
After the ordinance vote the council moved to appoint members to the TAC with staggered terms. The appointments approved were Laura McClain, Trisha Shields and John O'Brien to three-year terms, and Ray Ott and Jim Wiley to two-year terms. At the committee's initial meeting, John O'Brien was identified as chair and Jim Wiley was identified as secretary. The TAC will meet monthly on the second Tuesday, the council said.
Several council members raised the idea of naming an administrative liaison to the TAC so staff could report back to council. Councilors recommended the sustainability director as a logical liaison; council members said assigning a staff liaison is at the borough manager’s discretion. The borough manager indicated he would follow up to confirm a staff liaison.
No funding changes or program authorizations were recorded during the hearing; the ordinance and the appointments were procedural updates to the TAC’s membership and organization.
Votes at a glance - Ordinance amending Chapter 3, section 3-38.U3 (Transportation Advisory Committee) to require a majority of members be borough residents and to reserve one seat to support reestablishing rail service: Approved, roll call cited as 5-0 (Vaccaro absent). - Appointment of TAC members and term lengths: Approved (members: Laura McClain, Trisha Shields, John O'Brien — three-year terms; Ray Ott, Jim Wiley — two-year terms). John O'Brien named chair; Jim Wiley identified as secretary.
Sources: Public hearing statements and roll call during the Borough of West Chester council meeting.
