Coatesville Roundtable

This blog has moved

2010-03-26T05:34:00.001-07:00

This blog is now located at http://coatesvilleroundtable.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://coatesvilleroundtable.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Authorities charge Coatesville bookkeeper with accepting bribe

2010-03-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

Authorities charged a Coatesville bookkeeper with one count of bribery after she reportedly fixed a city resident’s outstanding trash bills.

Authorities charged Maria Kauffman, 43, of Atglen, on Friday. Between October and November 2008 Kauffman reportedly agreed to accept $1,500 from a city resident to zero out the $8,500 the resident owed for outstanding trash bills, according to authorities.

As a resident of the city, how does it make you feel to know that a bookkeeper was allegedly involved in a bribe?

Developer for hotel project addresses City Council

2010-03-09T13:10:00.000-08:00

An attorney who represents the developer for the proposed Courtyard by Marriott Hotel and office building project provided an update of the plans to City Council on Monday night.

The developer, Donald Pulver, plans to seek preliminary and final land development approval of the project from City Council in two weeks.

This project was originally presented to city officials six years ago.

Do you think the hotel project will be a success?

City receives $80,000 grant

2010-03-08T14:28:00.000-08:00

The city recently received notification about an $80,000 federal stimulus grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

The grant will be put toward salaries for Weed and Seed program coordinators.

The idea behind the Weed and Seed program with the state’s Commission on Crime and Delinquency is to weed out criminal activity and plant community programs to prevent future. The funds can be used to address issues like drugs, violent crime, unemployment or illiteracy.

Interim Manager discusses goals

2010-03-05T10:33:00.000-08:00

Interim City Manager Wayne G. "Ted" Reed met with the Daily Local News this week to discuss his goals for the city.

One of his goals is to build relationships internally and externally. He would also like to see the administration and City Council function together as a team.

On a side note, he explained how he got the nickname Ted. He said his father wanted to call him "Teddy" but his mother did not like the name Theodore. As a result, his parents decided his first name would be Wayne, after his father's best friend. And his middle initial, "G," stands for Gill, which is his mother's maiden name.

Click below to see a copy of Reed's contract.

TedReedContract.pdf

Police Athletic League wants to move into community center

2010-02-25T11:17:00.000-08:00

Members of the Police Athletic League board presented information to City Council Monday night regarding a proposal for the organization to be housed in the Coatesville Memorial Community Center.

“By obtaining a building, the Coatesville Police Athletic League will be able to serve the needs of the Coatesville area youth by providing additional programs and life skills support,” said Coatesville Detective Gerald Pawling during a presentation to council. “We will be able to run supervised after school programs in connection with other area agencies that already supply programs through the Coatesville school district. The addition of a building for our PAL program will enable us to provide a safe and structured environment for the area youth to meet and participate in activities.”

Do you think it's a good idea for the Police Athletic League to move into the communuity center?

Swearing-in interim city manager

2010-02-22T19:15:00.000-08:00

Wayne G. “Ted” Reed was sworn in as interim city manager on Monday night at the City Council meeting by Magisterial District Judge Grover Koon of Valley.

This was a big difference from Harry Walker's controversial swearing-in ceremony four years ago.

Walker was sworn in as city manager on May 2, 2006 at a small, private ceremony in his office that included Kareem Johnson, a former City Council president, and Andrew Lehr, a former solicitor.

Animal control issues revisited

2010-02-16T10:17:00.000-08:00

The city has been without an animal control officer since July 2007.

The problem?
Residents don't know what to do when they encounter a stray or loose animal because the city had not arranged for a comparable service.

Council President Ed Simpson said council is considering its options such as bringing back the position on a part-time basis or contracting services with an agency such as the Chester County SPCA.

*It would cost the city $14,680 to contract animal control services with the SPCA.
*The former full-time animal control officer was paid about $32,000 a year.

Hopefully council will find a solution soon.

Walgreens coming to town ...

2010-02-10T13:40:00.000-08:00

Members of city administration recently told City Council that Walgreens still desires to open a store at the corner of East Lincoln Highway and South Eighth Avenue. This project was originally pitched to council in the summer of 2008.

The local developer said the projected open date of the new store is July or August 2011. He said Walgreens is "fully committed" to the project.

Asked why Walgreens wants to open a store in the city, a spokesman for the company said, "We look for the best corners in America that we can offer pharmacy and retail services."

Do you think a Walgreens will be a nice addition to the city?

Goodbye Walker, Hello Reed

2010-02-08T20:11:00.000-08:00

City Council officially terminated Harry Walker from the city manager position Monday night and appointed Wayne G. "Ted" Reed as interim city manager for one year.

Reed, a former city manager from 1987-1991, will begin work for the city on Feb. 16.

Residents at the meeting applauded these decisions.

The city now has a new leader of administration. Finally.

Click below to see a copy of Reed's resume.

TedReedResume.pdf

Questioning a lease agreement

2010-01-29T09:51:00.000-08:00

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?

Bringing back a parking enforcement officer?

2010-01-28T13:31:00.000-08:00

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?

Trouble with the Census

2010-01-26T10:58:00.000-08:00

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.

Council declares meeting, actions invalid

2010-01-23T10:18:00.000-08:00

City Council passed a resolution Friday night (Jan. 22) that declared last month’s special meeting void and all actions made during that meeting, including the approval of a sale agreement with Chetty Builders, also invalid.

“We want to be clear that the actions we are taking are about the meeting, not the contract,” said City Council President Ed Simpson. “We don’t need to read into anything else at this point.”

Council conducted the meeting Friday night, which was also considered a special meeting, to review the legality of last month’s special meeting. City officials called this special meeting instead of waiting until Monday’s regularly scheduled council meeting because there was a 30-day deadline to rescind the Dec. 23 meeting.

Do you think it was a good idea for the new City Council to delare last month's special meeting void?

New City Council scrutinizes special meeting

2010-01-15T12:09:00.000-08:00

At the Jan. 11 public meeting, City Council authorized its new solicitor to review the legitimacy of the manner in which a special meeting was called last month for the approval of a sale agreement with Chetty Builders.

The special meeting took place in the 11th hour of the former council's term. It began at about 5:30 p.m. Dec. 23 and lasted only five minutes.

“I thought the nature of the meeting was suspicious,” said City Council Vice President Karl Marking. “It feels wrong.”

Meanwhile, Chetty Builders has been under investigation for about a year for a project in Delaware. A spokesman for the Delaware Department of Justice confirmed that his agency was investigating more than 20 complaints against Chetty Builders from buyers seeking returns of deposits.

Carl Chetty said he did not inform city officials about the investigation in the neighboring state because "they are two unrelated projects."

Do you think Chetty should have shared this information with city officials before they approved the agreement of sale with him?

Authorities conduct forensic audit of city finances, real estate

2010-01-11T19:56:00.000-08:00

City Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday night that authorizes the FBI and Chester County Detectives to conduct a forensic audit of the city’s finances and realty transactions.

The purpose of the audit is to determine whether there is any evidence of obstruction of justice, misdirection of funds, willful negligence and actions of criminal intent by the city’s administration and/or council.

In the meantime, city officials said Harry Walker is still on administrative leave.

Do you think the results of this audit will be beneficial to the new City Council?

Big changes in city administration

2010-01-04T15:43:00.000-08:00

At Monday's reorganization meeting, the new City Council made two major decisions.

First, council removed Andrew Lehr as city solicitor. Second, council placed City Manager Harry Walker on administrative leave.

Councilwoman Karen Jorgenson and newly-elected Councilman Jarrell Brazzle were the only two who voted against these measures.

Do you think these decisions are a step in the right direction for the city?

Officials OK sale agreement with Chetty

2009-12-23T17:44:00.001-08:00

On Dec. 18, the Redevelopment Authority approved a sale agreement with Chetty Builders for a proposed townhome development on the northern portion of The Flats. City Council also approved the agreement at a special meeting on Dec. 23.

Carl Chetty, the president and founder of the development company, said his company expects to move dirt on the site in the spring. "I have to say that 2010 will be the year for Coatesville," he said.

In the past, Chetty's project for a condomimum tower at Third Avenue and East Lincoln Highway turned out to be unsuccessful. Chetty did, however, have success with another project, known as Millview Apartments, located at the Route 30 Bypass and Route 82.

Do you think Chetty's upcoming project on the northern portion of The Flats will be a success?

Eliminate the paid firefighters?

2009-12-17T14:14:00.000-08:00

At Monday's City Council meeting, council voted against a referendum that would allow residents to decide whether they want to eliminate the city’s paid firefighters.

Some council members said Thursday there were not enough details about the proposal to make an informed decision. Other officials noted that the city needs the paid firefighters, especially after the nationally-recognized arson crisis that plagued the city for 18 months.

City Manager Harry Walker said the city could save $600,000 with the elimination of the paid firefighters.

As a resident of the City of Coatesville, are you in favor of eliminating the paid firefighters?

2010 Budget Approved

2009-12-14T19:55:00.000-08:00

In a split vote Monday night, City Council approved the final 2010 budget at $9.9 million, which includes a cut in real estate taxes.

Councilman Ed Simpson argued that the reduction was done at the expense of the city's reserve trust fund. “It’s a tax cut but you’re substantiating it at the expense of the trust fund,” he said.

In recent months, Walker requested that City Council remove $1.5 million from the reserve trust fund to balance out finances for the end of this year and beginning of 2010. Council eventually approved Walker’s request. Of that $1.5 million, $1 million was used to balance the 2009 budget; the remaining $500,000 will be used in 2010.

“In the long run, people will move here and people will hopefully see it as a trend,” Walker argued.

Do you think the tax cut is being done at the expense of the reserve trust fund?

Same revenue in 2010 even with tax cuts?

2009-11-26T10:21:00.000-08:00

City Manager Harry Walker is proposing a real estate tax break in 2010. He also believes the city can bring in the same amount of revenue.

Do you think this is possible?

Council approves 2010 preliminary budget on Nov. 24

2009-11-23T19:56:00.000-08:00

City Council approved the 2010 preliminary budget at Monday's meeting. City administration is projecting the budget to be about $8.7 million.

The budget includes a tax decrease of about 10 percent in mills based on reassessments done by the county. City Manager Harry Walker said next year's budget includes the lowest amount of expenditures since 2004.

In all, City Finance Manager Stacy Bjorhus said the 2010 budget is going to be balanced.

In past budget discussions, such as 2009, City Council was told it would have a balanced budget, but then months later Walker came back to council requesting money from the reserve trust fund.

Now that the city has a new finance director, do you think next year's budget has a better chance of staying balanced?

City Council to tap trust fund

2009-11-16T18:40:00.001-08:00

On Nov. 16, the Redevelopment Authority and City Council had a joint meeting to discuss the authority's request to tap the trust fund to pay off a $7 million loan.

"It's something we really wish we did not need to do but I think the numbers speak for themselves," said RDA chairman Joseph DiSciullo.

If the city and RDA continued its agreement with the bank, it would be paying about $35,000 monthly or $420,000 annually in interest on the loan, city officials said.

In exchange for council's approval of the request, the RDA plans to replenish the trust fund within five years. The RDA plans to give 95 percent of any future property sale to the trust fund.

This may be the right move for the city but as one resident said, "I think the RDA's borrowing of a loan from the trust fund should have been done a long time ago."

Do you think officials should have acted sooner or waited until January to let the new council members decide?

Trust Fund Withdrawal ... AGAIN?

2009-11-09T19:58:00.000-08:00

At the Nov. 9 meeting, council approved the second reading and adoption of an ordinance for $1.5 million withdrawal from the trust fund. The money will be used to balance the city's budget.

Council also decided it will have a joint public meeting at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 with the city's Redevelopment Authority. The authority is requesting council withdrawal $7 million to pay for the authority's debt.

State officials and a report, known as Fairmont Capital Advisors Early Intervention Program, have warned the city against overreliance on the trust fund. The report states that a minimum of $20 million should be in the fund at all times.

At the end of October, the fund had $21.9 million. The $1.5 million withdrawal and a potential $7 million could bring the fund down to approximately $13.4 million.

Do you think it's prudent for council to continue taking money from the fund?

School Bus Issue

2009-10-28T11:30:00.000-07:00

At the Coatesville Area School Board meeting on Tuesday, Bishop Shanahan parents urged officials to provide more buses for their kids.

The buses are shared between Shanahan and Collegium Charter School students. Collegium starts school at about 7:20 a.m. and Shanahan doesn't have to start until about 8:05 a.m. As a result, some Shanahan kids have to catch the buses as early as 6 a.m. in order to accomodate the Collegium schedule.

In a 5-4 vote, the school board approved a contract for one extra bus. But parents said this may not be enough to fix the problem.

Do you think the school board should consider approving contracts for more buses?