Council previews Wednesday votes: repeal of presale inspection ordinance, liquor‑license transfers, escrow release and SS4A grant application

City of Chester council members on June 9 reviewed several items scheduled for a formal vote at the regular council meeting Wednesday, including a proposed repeal of the city’s presale inspection ordinance, multiple liquor‑license matters, a developer security release and a federal grant application.

The city solicitor summarized the items listed on the agenda. Bill 2 is described on the agenda as a second reading that would repeal Article 1715 of the codified ordinances of the City of Chester, titled “Presales inspection of residential properties and units.” Staff said the recommendation to repeal the ordinance came from the Housing and Economic Development Committee and from the city’s prior director of community and economic development; council members said the repeal is intended to allow staff to focus enforcement resources on rental‑registration work.

Agenda Resolution 69 would authorize release of remaining development improvements security in the amount of $111,423.60, per the city engineer’s recommendation that the project has been completed. Resolution 70 would authorize the proposed transfer of Pennsylvania retail restaurant liquor license number R7363 (LID 112593) from the entity listed on the agenda to Wolf Lounge LLC for a restaurant at 1 West Third Street, Chester. Resolution 71 would authorize approval of a proposed denial of an intermunicipal transfer for Highland Deli Market Inc. (license E4712) from Upper Darby to 2740 West Twelfth Street; the draft resolution states the transfer is denied on grounds the transfer “would adversely affect the welfare, peace, health, and morals of the municipality and its residents.”

Council discussed the procedure for R71 because of a statutory response deadline. The solicitor explained he had sent a general denial by email to meet the time limit and that the resolution on the agenda is intended to formalize that denial; several council members expressed concern about the wording and whether an affirmative vote would be needed to finalize denial. The solicitor advised the formal resolution language is necessary to avoid a procedural argument that the transfer is not technically denied.

Resolution 73 would authorize submission of a grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program for up to $200,000 for a demonstration program along Highland Avenue between Swartz and Twelfth Streets.

No final votes were taken during the deliberative meeting. Council was briefed on each item and raised procedural questions; all of the listed items are scheduled for action at the regular meeting on Wednesday.