Chester council approves impound ordinance, street permits and multiple resolutions; approves $20,000 performer despite dissent

The City of Chester Council voted on multiple ordinances and resolutions during its March 26 meeting, adopting an ordinance regulating impoundment of parked and junk vehicles and approving a slate of resolutions covering handicap parking zones, county liquid-fuel grants, PECO street-opening permits and final land-development approval for a vehicle repair facility. Council also authorized an agreement not to exceed $20,000 with Dre Shaw Entertainment Group for a headline performer for the city's Peace, Love and Unity Festival, a measure that drew a no vote from Mayor Root.

The votes placed several operational tools in the city's toolbox: a codified towing and impound ordinance the council said will provide a regulated process for removal of damaged, abandoned or illegally parked vehicles; multiple street-opening permits tied to natural-gas service work by PECO; and county liquid-fuel grant applications to fund resurfacing projects.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance No. 1 of 2025 (final reading): Enacts new Article 519 (impounding parked or junk vehicles) to create a regulated towing system for removal of damaged, abandoned or illegally parked motor vehicles. Motion: moved/seconded on the floor (movers not specified on the record). Vote:…