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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?

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?

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 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

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?

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.

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.

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?

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

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?