Council names interim social-services chief, interim public defender and approves several board appointments

Delaware County Council on Feb. 4 confirmed a slate of personnel appointments including Chris Welsh as interim chief of social services and community programs and Taylor Dunn as interim chief public defender, and approved several board and commission appointments as part of the meeting’s consent business.

Chris Welsh was presented by the executive director as a leader who served as chief public defender for five-and-a-half years and who brings experience in holistic and client-centered approaches. The executive director said Welsh had led cultural and operational change in the public-defender’s office and highlighted his prior roles in public defense and at the University of Pennsylvania Law School’s Center for Ethics and Rule of Law. A council member speaking in support said the county would post interim roles to ensure a broader process for permanent hiring.

Taylor Dunn’s interim appointment as chief public defender also drew praise from county leadership. The executive director and council members described Dunn’s 15 years in the public-defender’s office, his work training more than 30 new attorneys and his leadership role in Partners for Justice and local bar associations.

The council also approved appointments to the Sustainable Energy Partnership of Southeastern Pennsylvania (Steven A. Goldfield and Rebecca Jurkovich), the HERO Scholarship Board (Danielle Eichinger), a reappointment to the Solid Waste Authority board (Stacy C. Yates) and other municipal and regional board seats. Motions were made, seconded, and passed by voice vote. Council members thanked the appointees and noted interim postings would be used where appropriate to ensure an open hiring process.

What happens next: The county will post interim roles where policy dictates, and department heads will oversee transitions and continuity during the interim appointments.