Chester council repeals presale inspection ordinance, approves ARPA façade contract, awards public-works construction-management contract and swears in four new

The City of Chester City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to repeal the city’s presale inspection requirement, approve a façade-improvement contract funded by American Rescue Plan Act money, award construction-management services for a planned public works facility and swear in four newly hired patrol officers.

The votes came during the council’s June 25 meeting at Chester City Hall, where Councilors Gibson Williams, Green, West, Davis and Mayor Ruth recorded “yes” on each roll call where votes were recorded.

The final-reading ordinance (Bill No. 2 of 2025) repeals Article 17-15 of the codified ordinances, which the agenda described as the city’s presale inspection of residential properties and units. Council moved and seconded final passage and recorded unanimous approval. The ordinance’s repeal was listed on the agenda as having its first reading on June 11, 2025 and was advanced on final reading June 25.

Council also took the first reading on Bill No. 3 of 2025, a zoning amendment described on the agenda as changes to Part 13 (Planning and Zoning) to permit “smoke shops and tobacco stores” in the Central Business District and Medium Industrial Commercial District by conditional use, define related terms (for example, “drug paraphernalia,” “electronic nicotine delivery systems,” “significant tobacco retailer”), set conditional-use criteria, and repeal inconsistent ordinances. The motion for first reading passed unanimously; the measure remains at first reading and was not adopted on final vote.

Appointments and swearing-in: Council passed a resolution appointing four patrol officers — Christian Taylor, Daniel McNeil, William McGoldrick and Jonathan Barbosa — effective June 25, 2025, each with a one-year probationary period and a residency requirement within 50 miles of Chester City Hall as listed on the resolution. Council voted to approve the appointments and immediately conducted a public swearing-in ceremony for the four officers.

Contract awards and procurement: Council approved several procurement-related measures.

- Refuse and recycling services: Council authorized the proper city official to prepare a bid packet and advertise via the city’s e-procurement portal (PinBid) for refuse and recycling services. The resolution states the anticipated award is expected in the fourth quarter of 2025 with a projected contract start date of Jan. 1, 2026; no vendor or price was specified at this meeting.

- Façade beautification (ARPA-funded): Council awarded a contract for Phase 1 of the Chester Business District façade beautification program to LSN Contractors & Construction Managers in an amount not to exceed $237,946.19. The resolution said the work covers five storefronts on Avenue of the States — 407, 517, 519, 531 and 533 Avenue of the States — and that the award is contingent on final review and approval of the city solicitor. The agenda and staff presentation noted the city received a single bid and determined it met the RFP criteria.

- Construction management for new public works facility (ARPA project #27): Council awarded a construction-management professional services contract to Newrow Construction Management (Cherry Hill, N.J.) in an amount not to exceed $272,000; the resolution said the award is contingent upon final review and approval of the city solicitor.

- Cooperation agreement with Chester Economic Development Authority: Council approved a cooperation agreement covering administration of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME and related programs for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, and authorized the mayor (or designee) to execute the agreement. The resolution states the agreement is required by federal regulations and that appendix 1 to the agreement reflects previously approved CDBG, HOME, and HOME-ARP projects.

Council discussion and staff remarks during the meeting included a request to correct a date on a resolution (the clerk confirmed the effective date was June 25), and public acknowledgment that the façade award had been the sole responsive bid. Randy Washington, the owner of LSN Contractors, attended the meeting and was introduced by council when the façade award was presented.

Votes at a glance (as recorded during the meeting): - Bill No. 2 (Ordinance repealing Article 17-15, presale inspections) — motion to adopt on final reading: Passed (Councilors Gibson Williams, Green, West, Davis; Mayor Ruth — recorded “Yes”). - Bill No. 3 (Planning & zoning amendments to permit smoke shops/tobacco stores) — motion for first reading: Passed on first reading (unanimous). Final adoption not recorded. - Resolution appointing four patrol officers (Christian Taylor; Daniel McNeil; William McGoldrick; Jonathan Barbosa) — Passed (unanimous); officers sworn in at the meeting. - Authorization to prepare and advertise RFP for refuse and recycling services — Passed (unanimous); anticipated award Q4, contract start 01/01/2026. - Award: Phase 1 Chester Business District façade beautification to LSN Contractors — Passed (unanimous); amount not to exceed $237,946.19; contingent on city solicitor review. Storefront addresses listed on the record: 407, 517, 519, 531, 533 Avenue of the States. - Award: Construction-management professional services for new public works facility to Newrow Construction Management — Passed (unanimous); amount not to exceed $272,000; contingent on city solicitor review. - Approval of cooperation agreement with Chester Economic Development Authority for CDBG/HOME administration (07/01/2025–06/30/2026) — Passed (unanimous).

What the meeting did not resolve: Bill No. 3 remains at first reading; details such as specific procurement award dates, signed contracts, or solicitor approvals were not provided on the public record at this meeting. The refuse/recycling procurement was authorized to begin but no vendor was chosen.

Notes: Where the agenda text and the printed resolution packet showed inconsistent dates, city staff clarified the correct effective date on the record. Several resolutions were explicitly described as contingent upon final review and approval by the city solicitor.