Chester council approves parking zones, appointments, permits and liquor-license consent; tables summer meals award

Chester City Council approved a package of resolutions on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, including installation of multiple handicap parking zones, several board appointments, permitting for utility work, authorization tied to a PennDOT reimbursement agreement and the city’s consent for an economic development liquor license at 403 Avenue of the States. Council also approved a license agreement allowing the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to install two air monitoring stations in city park locations and tabled the award of the Summer Food Services Program contract to Walnut Street Deli until vendor registration paperwork is complete.

The council resolved to authorize installation of handicap parking spaces at addresses including the 1000 block of Booth Street, the 1200 block of Crosby Street, the 900 block of West Eighth Street and the 100 block of West 201st Street following a Department of Public Works review. The resolution was moved and seconded and the chair announced the motion carried.

Council reappointed Rick Dennis and Martha Newman to the Veil Service Commission (terms to expire 12/31/2028) and appointed Gail Brown to fill the unexpired term of Travis Thomas (term to expire 12/31/2025). The council asked staff to update the city website with board descriptions and membership information.

A separate resolution authorizes the city to enter a license agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to permit DEP to access, install, operate, maintain and remove two air monitoring stations and associated equipment in the city’s park system for an 18-month period. Council members asked staff whether DEP provides public reporting; city staff said DEP issues results and the city can post links on the Chester health department page. City staff also noted that the Clean Air Council operates other monitors that display live particulate readings on the city website.

The council tabled the Summer Food Services Program award to Walnut Street Deli, which had been the sole bidder and whose pricing was proposed at up to $18.50 per unitized meal with a season estimate of $67,839.50 based on 2024 volumes. Council voted to table the award until April 30 to allow Walnut Street Deli to supply confirmation that it is registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Bureau of Food and Nutrition and otherwise meets the bid requirements.

Other administrative approvals included: issuing road-opening permits to PECO for new natural gas services at 112 East Eighteenth Street and 2224 West 203rd Street subject to city-engineer conditions (full mill and overlay for large road openings, sidewalk replacement and ADA curb ramps where required, traffic control and any required PennDOT highway-occupancy permits); authorizing execution of PennDOT reimbursement agreement R23060011-1 for the Highland Avenue Complete Streets project as required by PennDOT; and rescinding two prior council resolutions and providing consent for submission of an application to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for an economic development liquor license at 403 Avenue of the States.

Votes at a glance

- Handicap parking zones (installations at Booth St., Crosby St., West Eighth St., West 201st St.): outcome — approved (motion carried). Resolution text and staff findings were entered into the record.

- Reappointments and appointment to the Veil Service Commission (Rick Dennis, Martha Newman; Gail Brown filling Travis Thomas’s unexpired term): outcome — approved (motion carried).

- DEP license agreement to install two air-monitoring stations in the city park system (18-month term; contingent on city solicitor final approval): outcome — approved (motion carried). Council discussion requested that DEP reporting be made accessible to residents via links or the city website.

- Summer Food Services Program award (RFP 2025-004) to Walnut Street Deli: outcome — tabled to April 30, 2025, pending vendor registration/DOE paperwork.

- PECO road-opening permits for gas service installations at 112 E. 18th St. and 2224 W. 203rd St. (contingent on city engineer conditions and required permits): outcome — approved (motion carried).

- Authorization for Andrew Hayman to execute PennDOT reimbursement agreement R23060011-1 for Highland Avenue Complete Streets: outcome — approved (motion carried).

- Rescind prior liquor-license resolutions and consent for application for economic-development liquor license at 403 Avenue of the States: outcome — approved (motion carried).

Why it matters

These votes authorize a mix of near-term operational work (utility permits, streetwork reimbursement paperwork), public-health monitoring (DEP air monitors) and administrative appointments that affect how the city delivers services and enforces zoning/parking rules. Tabling the summer meals award delays contracting for the city’s summer feeding program until the vendor provides state registration documentation.

What’s next

- Walnut Street Deli must provide Department of Education registration documents by April 30 or the council will revisit the award. - DEP will be required to finalize any license agreement language with the city solicitor before installations proceed; city staff said DEP reporting can be linked from the city health department page.

Sources and documentation

Council minutes and staff resolutions recorded on April 9, 2025; in-meeting statements by city staff and council recorded on the public transcript.