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Chester council approves slate of resolutions, takes first readings on two ordinances
Summary
The City of Chester on Nov. 12 took first readings of two zoning and street-opening ordinances and unanimously approved multiple resolutions including $660,839 in HOME-ARP funds for a senior housing project, a $9,886 change order on the Public Works Garage contract, air monitoring station licensing, and MOUs on vacant-lot stabilization and a safe-neighborhoods initiative.
Chester City Council on Wednesday approved a slate of ordinances and resolutions in a meeting that also included departmental reports and community recognitions. Council members voted unanimously to pass first readings of Bill 5, a zoning amendment limiting outdoor storage and defining construction company headquarters in several commercial and light-industrial districts, and Bill 6, a measure to open a vacated segment of York Street between West 2nd and West Front streets.
The council also cleared a string of resolutions. It authorized a license agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to install and operate air-monitoring stations at the Boys and Girls Club (R-125) to track particulate pollution; approved the preparation of an RFP for professional engineering consulting (R-126); and ratified a local-share assessment grant submission for vehicle upgrades (R-127). The council ratified engagement of MG Engineering Associates LLC for environmental consulting (R-128).
On capital work, council approved change order number 2 (CORE-0002) for Davis Construction in the amount of $9,886, increasing the Public Works Garage contract to $4,918,253 (R-129). The body also authorized security release #2 for the 4th & Booth Distribution Center development in the amount of $254,083.80, retaining $23,740 as maintenance security through 04/30/2027 (R-130).
In housing action, council amended the FY2020–21 action plan to reallocate HOME-ARP funds not to exceed $660,839 to Everett PACE Center Incorporated for phase 1 of the Silver Care senior housing development, a conversion of the former Sacred Heart Hospital into supportive housing and associated services (R-131). Council also approved grant application submission for the Crozer Park Trail and reforestation project (R-132) and an MOU with the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office and the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society to stabilize and maintain vacant city lots—an initiative expected to convert up to about 50 lots into small parks (R-133).
Additional approvals included an MOU for the Chester Partners for Safe Neighborhoods initiative with the DA and the Chester Police Department (R-134); establishment of a sister-city relationship with Salto Del Guayra, Paraguay (R-135); and ratification of professional services with David Blackmore & Associates for the Public Works Building (not to exceed $29,273.84) (R-136).
“We did study each one of these resolutions and ordinances thoroughly,” an unidentified council member said prior to the votes. All listed measures were approved as read; full texts of ordinances and resolutions are available on the city website.
What happens next: First readings advance bills to subsequent readings as required by local ordinance; the HOME-ARP allocation and the contract change order are effective as adopted and will proceed to implementation steps described in the respective staff reports and grant documents.
