Votes at a glance: Chester City Council passed appointments, permits, land-development plans and contract awards

The Chester City Council recorded votes on multiple resolutions and routine matters during the Jan. 22 meeting. Below are the formal actions taken as recorded in the meeting transcript.

1) Minutes The council approved the minutes of the Jan. 8, 2025 meeting (motion, second, voice vote recorded as "Aye"; no opposition recorded).

2) Appointment to Chester Housing Authority Board Action: Appointed Alicia Stewart Martin to fill the expired term of Sheila Church on the Chester Housing Authority Board, term to expire Dec. 31, 2029. Outcome: Approved (roll-call votes recorded as "Yes" from all councilors present).

3) Honorary street sign for Henry Davis Action: Authorized installation of an honorary street sign renaming a portion of Stiles Street to Henry Davis Way, recognizing Henry and Eula Davis for 44 years of service caring for people with mental-health disabilities; authorized Public Works to order and install sign. Outcome: Approved (unanimous yes recorded).

4) PECO road opening permits (Walnut/East 17th & Chestnut/East 17th) Action: Granted a right-of-way opening permit to PECO for new natural gas service lines extending 750 feet along Walnut Street and East 17th Street (Walnut between E. 15th and E. 18th; E. 17th between Walnut and Chestnut). Permit contingent on PECO performing mill-and-overlay or patches for openings >100 feet, sidewalk replacement and ADA ramps where impacted, appropriate traffic control, and obtaining PennDOT HOP and other permits. Outcome: Approved (roll-call yes from council).

5) PECO road opening permit (Thames/Rainey) Action: Ratified issuance of a road opening permit to PECO for 570 feet along Thames Street and 260 feet along Rainey Street (10th Street east of Yarnell to Rainey Street), with same contingencies including HOP from PennDOT. Outcome: Approved (roll-call yes from council).

6) Public works facility land-development approval Action: Granted preliminary and/or final land-development approval for a new public works facility at West Second & Penhall Street (13,228 sq ft garage/office; 4,500 sq ft salt shed; 4,800 sq ft covered maintenance facility), conditioned on addressing planning, fire marshal and Shade Tree Commission comments. Outcome: Approved (unanimous yes recorded).

7) Reverse subdivision — Duane Bryant Action: Granted final approval of reverse subdivision consolidating parcels totaling 21,200 sq ft at 601/603 Penn Street into one parcel (plan prepared by Catania Engineering Consultants), conditioned on addressing Colliers Engineering comments. Outcome: Approved (unanimous yes recorded).

8) Reverse subdivision — 2711/2713 Lehman Street Action: Granted final approval to consolidate two lots at 2711 and 2713 Lehman Street into one single-family dwelling to be known as 2711 Lehman Street (plan prepared by H Gilroy, Damon Associates), with conditions noted in plan review. Outcome: Approved (unanimous yes recorded).

9) Grant-managed services contract award Action: Awarded grant-managed services consulting contract (RFP 2024-002) to Brownfield Redevelopment Solutions (BRS Inc.) for an amount not to exceed $100,000 for initial year of services; contingent on final city solicitor review and approval. Outcome: Approved (roll-call yes recorded).

10) Ratify DCED amendment (C00086938) Action: Ratified first amendment to contract C00086938 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development in the amount of $100,000 to be used for grant management services; contingent upon city solicitor final approval. Outcome: Approved (roll-call yes recorded).

11) School crossing-guards contract amendment Action: Approved amendment to the crossing-guards service contract (see separate article) to add four safety advocates and increase contract by $24,211 for a total of $510,540.75, effective Feb. 1, 2025. Chester Upland School District to pay half the cost as required by law. Outcome: Approved (roll-call yes recorded).

Each of the above items was moved, seconded and carried with the roll-call responses listed in the meeting transcript. Where specified, approvals were made subject to conditions documented in engineer or commission review memos; those conditions appear in the council motions recorded on Jan. 22.

Several items were accompanied by brief discussion in which councilors or staff asked for clarification or asked that documents (for example, certain contracts) be shared with council members prior to future votes.

Full motion texts, plan preparers, review memo dates and vote records are included in the official meeting minutes and the transcript of the Jan. 22 meeting.