Harry Walker, the city manager placed on paid administrative leave, reportedly approved a lease agreement for a property without City Council’s approval, officials said at a recent meeting.

Interim City Manager Kirby Hudson informed council last Monday night that Walker approved a lease with Leonard Smoker to farm the Conti property, 64 acres in the northwest corner of routes 82 and 340 in neighboring West Brandywine. Coatesville acquired it several years ago as part of a failed plan to develop a municipal golf course and training complex.

“So Mr. Walker took it upon himself to lease the property?” asked City Council President Ed Simpson.

What do you think about Walker approving this agreement without City Council's approval?

City officials recently debated whether they should reinstate a parking enforcement officer position.

During Monday night’s meeting, Interim City Manager Kirby Hudson told City Council that there have been issues with parking in the city’s central business district for the past two years. The position was eliminated in 2007 during budget cuts.

Some members of City Council said that it in addition to issuing parking tickets, the officer could address quality of life issues. Some of these issues include parking against the flow of traffic and abandoned cars, they said.

City Council made no formal decision Monday about whether to reinstate the position.

As a resident of the City of Coatesville, do you think it would be worthwhile for the city to bring back this position?

Only 54 percent of city residents were counted in the 2000 census which caused the city to lose millions in federal funding, an official from the Philadelphia Regional Census Center told City Council Monday night.

As a result, the city lost funds from 31 federal programs, according to Richard Sumter, partnership specialist for the Philadelphia Regional Census Center. Some of theses services include school lunch programs, senior citizen centers and new construction for highways and hospitals.

Sumter stressed the importance of city residents' participation in the 2010 census so that federal funds can get shifted back to the city.