West Chester trustees approve pay-plan updates, hire public information coordinator and clear several procurement items

The West Chester Township Board of Trustees on June 24 approved a sweeping compensation and benefits package for township employees, hired a new public information coordinator and cleared several procurement and contract items.

Lisa Brown, a township staff member presenting the personnel packet, summarized a six-month compensation study recommending compressed pay ranges, in-range adjustments tied to market ratios and a flat 4% market adjustment for employees who fall outside the new ranges. Brown said the package also includes new parental leave (effective 08/01/2025 if approved), an enhanced short-term disability benefit, a lifestyle reimbursement account and accelerated vacation accruals planned for 01/01/2026. "We will be providing a parental leave benefit to our employees," Brown said, and described timing for each policy change.

Trustees moved and seconded the personnel items. The board approved the measures by roll call later in the meeting. The board also voted to hire Amara Agomo as public information coordinator, effective 06/23/2025, at $32.50 per hour to replace a resigned staff member. "Amara brings a lot of relevant experience to the job," Brown said.

In procurement business, trustees amended Requisition No. 6 to $25,000 to Cummins Bridgeway LLC to repair Tower 73 (vehicle 6) after staff reported the vehicle was spewing white smoke and diagnostics identified a cracked head gasket with an estimated additional cost of roughly $12,000. The board approved that amendment along with two other purchase items: $25,867 to MC Equipment LLC for a salt truck bed (CIP 21-16) and $9,400 to Butler Tech for CDL training for two employees. Chief comments on Tower 73 indicated a cracked head gasket and a forthcoming quote for repair.

The board also approved a new EMS reporting software contract with ESO Solutions. Miss Brown told trustees ESO emerged from a competitive process and that the total first-year project cost, including a CAD integration approved at the director level, is $51,364.87. "We received three bids and there's only a handful of providers that provide this service," Brown said.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded at the meeting): - Personnel items 1 & 2: approved (includes compensation plan changes and hiring Amara Agomo at $32.50/hr). - Requisition No. 6 (Cummins Bridgeway LLC): amended to $25,000 and approved. - MC Equipment LLC (salt truck bed): $25,867 approved. - Butler Tech (CDL training for two employees): $9,400 approved. - Resolution 17-2025 (agreed entry resolving nuisance case at 7859 Kings Gateway): approved (staff reported $10,000 fine paid by new owner). - ESO Solutions contract (EMS reporting): approved; total project cost reported $51,364.87 (includes $4,200 CAD integration approved by director). - Resolution 18-2025 (1996 Ford F351 dump truck declared unfit; authorize auction): approved. - McGill Smith & Puncheon amendment for Square at Union Center: up to $75,375 approved. - Construction materials testing contract with All In Witsick Engineering: up to $19,800 approved. - Other routine minutes, payments and permit non-objections: approved.

The meeting materials show trustees framed the compensation plan as a strategic investment to recruit and retain staff in a tight labor market. Trustees and staff asked a range of procedural and cost questions about the contracts during the discussion; staff said they will return with any additional quote details where required. The meeting adjourned after routine announcements and community event reminders.

The board provided timelines for when the new benefits would take effect and emphasized staff will return with finalized policy language when needed.