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All right. Good evening, everyone. I'd like to call to order County Council's regular meeting for Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Please rise to the pledge of allegiance.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

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First item on the agenda today, we have county council announcement and I will to council

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membership.

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Thank you.

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Good evening everyone.

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I have won the announcement tonight.

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This past week I had the opportunity to attend the annual retreat of the Delaware County Women's Commission.

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Where I was very proud to join a room full of dedicated DCWC commissioners.

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At the retreat, I was very excited to learn that the Delaware County Women's Commission

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was recognized by the National Association of Commissions for Women with its period poverty

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award.

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The National Honor reflects the Commission's groundbreaking work to raise awareness of menstrual

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product inequity and to develop local solutions, especially for students and low-income women

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and girls.

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period poverty is about more than just access to hygiene products, it's about dignity, health,

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education, and opportunity. When students miss school or workers miss their shifts

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because they can't afford basic supplies, the impact ripples across our communities.

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That's why I would like to highlight the important legislation House Bill 432 sponsored by

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state representative Gina Curry to address period poverty here in Pennsylvania. I encourage

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all residents to contact your state representatives and state senators to voice your support,

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and to consider reaching out to your local school board and advocate for menstrual equity

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in schools.

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For those of you who may not be familiar, the Delaware County Women's Commission is a

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volunteer body that evaluates the needs of women and girls in our communities, and advises

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county council on ways to meet those needs.

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Council recently publicized three vacancies, and I'm pleased to share that the interest

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has been incredibly strong with more than 50 highly qualified applicants currently under consideration.

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And even if you didn't apply, there are still many ways for you to get involved.

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The commissions monthly meetings are open to the public, and I encourage residents to attend

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share their perspectives and volunteer.

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More information is available on the Commission's webpage, accessible through the boards

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and commission section of our website, delcopiate.gov.

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Before I close, I want to recognize an important leader who has helped shape this work

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for decades, Susan Garrison.

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Susan was recently honored with the National Association of Commissions for Women's

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Lifetime Achievement Award for her longstanding service and advocacy on behalf of women

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and girls.

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She served on the Delaware County Women's Commission from 1989 to 1992, and there she helped

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found the friends of the commission and led an issue to addressing adolescent pregnancy, child support enforcement, women's history month and more.

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She went on to serve on the Pennsylvania Commission for Women and has held numerous leadership positions on the NACW Board, including Treasurer, Secretary and Director.

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Susan's efforts have helped strengthen women's commissions across the country, supported non-profit leadership, and mentored countless emerging voices.

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We're honored to celebrate our contributions and proud that her journey began right here in Delaware County.

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Thank you, Council Member Shady, for Council Member Ruthen.

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Good evening. I have two announcements tonight.

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The first I'd like to take a moment to remind residents about our Delco Alert system.

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This is Delaware County's free emergency notification system that keeps our communities informed prepared and safe.

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Over the past couple of months, we've experienced everything from dangerous heat to flash flooding and severe thunderstorms.

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Systems like Delco Alert are critical in those moments giving residents accurate real-time information they can trust.

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Delco Alert delivers essential messages straight to your phone, email or landline, including

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code-read heat alerts, storm and flood warnings, road closures, health advisories, and

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municipal service changes.

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It's one of the most effective ways for county and local officials to communicate during

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emergencies and disruptions, and it can be done very locally right down to a neighborhood

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even.

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Participation is grown steadily more than a dozen municipalities now use the platform to issue their own community alerts, and that number continues to arise.

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The system is available at no cost to all 49 municipalities in the county, and it's already being used to share everything from weather warnings and vaccine events to street paving notices and trash delays.

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Signing up is quick and easy.

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Just visit delco.pa.gov backslash delco alert.

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You can choose what type of alerts you'd like to receive,

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how you'd like to receive them, whether by text,

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call or email.

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And you can register multiple locations such as your home,

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your workplace, or your family members address.

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This is a powerful tool and we encourage residents

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to take advantage of it.

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Second, I want to give a quick reminder and update about the Delaware County inaugural

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Delco 10-miler road race, which is happening on September 28th.

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While the registration is open, I wasn't informed that we had reached the initial cap of

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a thousand, so I have reached out to find out if they're still accepting registrations for

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runners.

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But you can still volunteer, and people who volunteer get to, we'll get a t-shirt and an opportunity to participate in the post-grace party.

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There's lots of opportunities to help with things like registration, the end of the finish line, the party itself.

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Also, we do need additional people to help as marshals on the southern part of the course.

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Councilful Floated this idea over a year ago is a way to promote health, community connection,

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and regional pride, and thanks to a visit delco partnership in enthusiasm, this idea is now a reality.

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The official website delco10myler.com is live, and that's where you can sign up to be a volunteer.

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If you have a group of people who want to volunteer together, you can create a group and a team to volunteer together even at a particular location.

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So, please take a look at that.

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It would be great to have people from all over participate.

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It's a real chance to shine a light on four Delaware County municipalities, but more

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particular and more important to me to show off a lot of the really good things going on

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in the city of Chester, widener university, which is just going to be opening, getting started

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with its school year, a lot of the residential streets

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and down to the union where we are continuing

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to the union is continuing to build out.

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It's infrastructure down there

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and anticipation of the 2026 World Cup.

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So it's going to be very exciting.

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This is an opportunity to test the course and the logistics

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and to make sure it works.

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And if it does, we're going to have a big blow out next year.

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But there's only one first time.

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So if you want to get one of those Delco 10-Miler

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in the inaugural round T-shirts,

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this is the time to do it.

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And I want to say thank you also to our municipalities who are involved, to their police departments,

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the public works departments, who are helping us out, to our park police who have really taken

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on a supervisory role.

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This is a big effort and there's a lot of people involved and it's going to be a lot of fun.

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Thank you.

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Member.

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Councilmember Matt?

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I have two announcements tonight.

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This past Tuesday, the George W. Hill Correctional Facility held its second graduation ceremony

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for the New Leashon Life Program.

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One of the counties most innovative and impactful re-entry initiatives.

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New Leashon Life is a six-month program that bears incarcerated individuals with sheltered

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dogs rescued from youth in Asia.

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In incarcerated participants complete 12 weeks of infacility workshops focused on dog training,

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career readiness, life skills, and trauma-informed care, followed by 12 weeks of individualized

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re-entry support and paid internships once they're on the outside.

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The program is grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy and animal-assisted therapy, models

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proven to reduce recidivism and support successful transitions back into the community.

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The results speak for themselves.

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Since its founding in 2011, newly shown life USA has served nearly 700 people, achieved

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a 75% graduation rate, and kept one year's citizen to just 10.5%.

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Along the way, it is also saved the lives of more than 300 dogs, giving them the training

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and socialization needed to find permanent homes.

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This most recent ceremony honored 10 graduates, as well as their canine companions, and reflects

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the power of second chances to change lives, human, and canine alike.

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The program is made possible through a partnership between the county and New Leashon

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Life USA, with a $1.9 million federal funding secured by Congresswoman Mary Gace

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Galen.

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We're grateful to Warden-Lar Williams, Reentry, and Program Administrator, Kelly Shaw, and

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partners from the Public Defenders Office, Adult Probation, the District Attorney's Office,

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and many dedicated staff members at George W. Hill for their commitment to safe, supportive, and effective rehabilitation.

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And we thank Mary and Marchaisi, Rob Rosa, and the entire newly-steam for their continued leadership in this work.

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Programs like this reflect the county's commitment to re-entry, rehabilitation, and reducing recidivism,

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while also promoting compassion, accountability, and public safety.

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To learn more, we're to support the program through volunteering, adoption, or donations, visit newleashonlife.org.

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My second announcement for tonight is that I'd like to extend a big thank you on behalf of County Council to the Delaware County Health Department and its director, Lori Seaman, Warner, for hosting the second annual back to school fair on Saturday, August 16th at the Wellness Center in Yden.

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This was a tremendous event that drew over 1,000 residents from across the county and provided students with more than 600 backpacks filled with an incredible variety of school supplies donated by county residents, county offices and employees.

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I'd like to especially recognize our county controller's office, which collected numerous boxes of supplies that ensure dozens of children had the materials they need to start the school year right.

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In addition, families benefited from free immunizations, dental exams, vision screenings,

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haircut vouchers, and more, helping students begin the school your healthy, confident and ready to succeed.

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We are especially grateful to the many sponsors and partners who help make the day possible, including a place to grow.

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Chesapean, Keystone first, Franklin Mint Credit Union, Wawa, Acme, Jefferson Health, Delaware

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County Libraries, the Foundation for Delaware County, and so many others.

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The dedication of these organizations along with the support of our Delaware County Medical

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Reserve Corps shows what's possible when a community comes together for its children.

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When students have the supplies, health services, and support they need at the start of the

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They're better able to focus on their education, build confidence and truly start the year on the right foot.

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And a special note of recognition goes to the Health Department for its creative collaboration with Marble Comics

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to unveil a one-of-a-kind Iron Man poster promoting a lead-free Delaware County.

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Thank you again to Director Warner, her entire team and all of the partners who contributed to make this years back to school fair, such a success.

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Thank you.

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Thank you, Councilor Madden.

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Vice Chairwoman.

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Thank you, Dr. Taylor.

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Good evening.

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I have one announcement tonight.

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Monday, I have the opportunity to join local leaders, partners,

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residents, and the Henderson Group in Derby Township for a

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topping off ceremony.

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Mark in the placement of the final beam on a new 54,000 square

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foot industrial facility they are constructing.

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One's completed this manifesto will become the home to multiple light industrial tenants supporting small businesses creating jobs and turning a long vacant property into an active hub of opportunity.

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Darby Tajik holds a uniquely important place in Delaware County.

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Its location just meant from airport, major highways, rail lines, the port, positions

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at a true engine for economic activity.

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This project taps into that shrimp and puts Darby Tajik in an even better position to grow

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and thrive.

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Darby Tajik has been my home for more than 50 years.

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I remember when that location was at home to a high dog stand and later a gas station for too long

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it said vacant and underutilized to now see it being transformed into a site that will maximize

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this potential bringing real jobs, real opportunities and long-term economic benefits to the community

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I call my home is especially meaningful to me this is a project being built by Union Labor

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skill workers, doing high quality work, safety, and professionally, while earning families

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sustaining wages, as someone who has long advocated for labor rights, I know how important

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these jobs are, not just for this job site today, but for the families and neighborhoods that

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benefit from stable employment going forward. The project also includes important environmental

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improvements. That location was once environmentally challenged. Thanks to Targaryen

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remediation, New Stormwater Infrastructure, the site is being returned to safe and productive

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use. Much of that progress was made possible through the efforts of the Darwin County

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be to them in authority.

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Live by the map.

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That's Sullivan, and the Dullwick County Economic Development Corporation led by Lord Goodrich

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Karen. To gather the help of security businesses in our sites, funding from the Commonwealth

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Financing Authority, and coordinated the public private partnership needed to prepare the

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site for redevelopment. Of course, not this would be possible without the Henderson

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Group, who's committed to Dullwick County's plans more than a hundred years. Their approach

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has always been focused on long-term stewardship, developing properties, holding and managing them.

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And working to ensure that they continue providing value to the tenants and the surrounding

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community.

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This project is a great example of what could be accomplished when various stakeholders

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in the private and public sector work together for the coming good.

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And I look forward to seeing this facility up and running with business operating jobs on site

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And another key piece of David Townsir Revalorization in place.

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Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Olman.

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And I, good evening, everyone.

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I also have one announcement tonight.

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Yesterday, Delaware County officially launched a newly redesigned version

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of our county website, DelcoPA.gov, marking the first major

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overhaul of the site in more than a decade.

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Over the years, the site had become increasingly outdated, harder

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to navigate, visually cluttered.

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and falling behind modern accessibility standards.

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Thanks to feedback from residents

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and the hard work of our IT team,

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we now have a site that is faster, clearer,

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and much more user friendly.

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The new platform was built around three core goals,

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accessibility, usability, and transparency.

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And I want to quickly highlight a few of the new features.

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A new how do I tab, that's easily accessible on every page,

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that gives residents a single plain language gateway to county services.

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Everything from marriage licenses and voter registration to property sales,

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immunizations, and job listings. A government tab also easily accessible on every page

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that clearly organizes departments, bureaus, agencies, boards, and commissions for easier navigation.

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A centralized county calendar that makes it easier to find public meetings, events,

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and deadlines all in one place and improve accessibility across the board, including a new

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accessibility widget, integrated translation tools, and full mobile optimization. So the site works

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well on any device in any language for every resident. This project has been over a year in

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the making and I want to sincerely thank our Chief Information Officer John Beckt, the entire IT team,

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but especially our in-house web developers,

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Owen Douglas, and Kristen Wilford

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for their technical expertise, long hours,

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and commitment throughout this process.

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Their hard work made this redesign possible.

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This launch is just the beginning.

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Additional features will roll out in the months ahead,

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including expanded calendar items

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and more standardized forms.

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And we want to continue improving

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so we're encouraging residents to explore the new site

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and share their feedback by emailing askedelco.co.

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.dollower.pa.us.

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Again, the site is live now at delco.pa.gov.

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And we invite everyone to check it out.

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Thank you.

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All right, and that concludes our announcement

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for the day.

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agenda item 3b is actually in the wrong spot.

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We're going to move that down to later on in any agenda.

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And so now we will move on to agenda item 4a,

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where we will have an update from the Office of Judicial Support by Ms. Mary Walk.

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OJS.

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I don't want to just read to you from the PowerPoints, so I'll sort of gloss over some of the things and if you would like to stop me along the way and ask me questions of course I'll answer them.

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So OJS is the filing office for the 32nd Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

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We have 46 dedicated employees, I include myself in that, three deputies, an IT specialist,

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a file room supervisor, two protection from abuse liaisons, four passport agents, about 15

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customer service coordinators, probably 15 support service coordinators, and then 15 court

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clerks.

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So, OJS is comprised of a civil and a criminal division.

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The director, that's me, acts as the profanitarian on the civil side and I am the clerk of court on the criminal side.

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Some financial information about us. In 2024, the total revenue for OJS was $3,3,327,370.

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That was an increase of $124,150 over our 2023 total revenue, which was $3,200,220,

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$220. I attribute that to volume. It was not attributable to a price increase of any kind.

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I just think that we have a lot of new types of filings. We have a lot of things mandated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that we do.

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And that is, I believe, the reason for the increase in money.

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Our total budget this year in 2025 was $2,475,781.

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So I'm proud to say that we bring in some money for the county and we're very proud of that.

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In civil, we had 6352 initial filings in 2024.

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I'm making that distinction about initial filings because we have a lot more filings over

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course of the year than that number. That is when someone first comes in and files a complaint

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or a petition or something like that. Following a case through there could be all kinds

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of motion practice and those types of things. So that's 606,000 number is on the conservative

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side. There's actually more than that. What types of things do we do in civil? We accept and

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dock at lawsuits by individuals and businesses as well as landlord tenant appeals from the

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from administrative agencies, appeals from arbitration.

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Notaries come in and register their signatures in OJS.

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We have mental health petitions.

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We have petitions for change of name.

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And we have thousands and thousands of leans and judgments.

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Those could be from court cases.

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Those are also filed routinely by the IRS,

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the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,

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and our own probation department when people owe money for court cost.

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Family. We had 4,391 initial filings in 2024 of those. There were 1,391 initial filings for custody,

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902 divorce filings, and then 2,999 protection from abuse filings. I'm happy to report

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through a report that beginning on October 15th of this year, we will have the ability to accept

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Family filings electronically.

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This is something that I know.

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Council knows we have been working on this for a couple of years now.

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It is finally coming to fruition.

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It is something that we want in the office.

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It's something that the public wants.

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It's something that the Bar Association has been clamoring for.

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I am hoping and predicting that it saves us all types of money on copying and paper

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and toner and things like that.

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But the good news is people will be able to file electronically, and that will cut down on the foottrack of traffic in the office and just make it more convenient for our constituents.

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We will always have pro-safialers, pro-say is when someone is not represented by a lawyer, they will always be able to come in and bring their filings in person and file them in paper format, that's not a problem.

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PFA filings would not be part of the electronic filing because those are considered an emergency,

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and people petitioned for a protection from abuse order, they're seen the same day by a judge.

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Criminal, 5,468 total filings in 2024.

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What do we do on the criminal side, which was something I had to learn when I became the director

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because I had no experience with criminal, my experience has been civil.

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Docketing emotions and petitions, accepting bail payments and processing bail refunds, issuance

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and recision of bench warrants, private detective licenses, summary appeals from the

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Magisterial District Court's expungements from both the Court of Common Police and the

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Magisterial District Court, something that is another mandate from the Commonwealth, which

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has expanded our practice in the office exponentially with having to process expungements

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for both our own court and the lower court.

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Beginning on September 15th of this year,

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we will have the ability to accept criminal

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filings electronically.

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So we've made a lot of progress this year

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on both the criminal and the civil side

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with getting things done electronically.

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So we're looking forward to that as well.

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I know the public defender's office is looking forward

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to that so is the DA's office.

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So we're having an exciting fall in a good way.

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The court clerks are also part of the Officer Judicial Support.

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They prepare for an attend civil family and criminal court hearings and trials.

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They prepare for those things, they pull the files, they prep them, they mark and

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docket exhibits, they complete criminal sentencing orders for the judges signatures, they

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assist with the voidure of the jury and they read the verdict.

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We also do passport applications for new passports.

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people often ask me why don't you do renewals because we are not authorized by the U.S. Department of State to do renewals and you don't need us to do your renewal.

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You can send that in yourself. In 2024, OJS accepted 4,319 passport applications.

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I just want to say that number again 4,319 passport applications because I want to reiterate that I have four passport agents in OJS.

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So, that's how many people did 4,000 passports.

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The four passport agents, plus the hearts, are required to re-certify annually by passing

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a test administered by the U.S. Department of State.

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And I will tell you that this year, I also had to take it, and yes, I managed to pass, because

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that would not have been good if I had not passed, I guess, would have been hard to explain.

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Records Management, OJS maintains the official

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docket for both civil and criminal proceedings.

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Only OJS can certify or exemplify documents from the docket.

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We fulfill thousands of document requests per year, including divorce records,

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naturalization records, there's leans and judgments, criminal records,

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necessary for obtaining expungements and pardons.

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I just want to mention that a lot of our requests that we get for divorce records are for people seeking Italians citizenship.

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We spend a lot of time on that so that that is something we do and we've gotten pretty good at knowing what the people are requesting.

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We also provide all the certified records to the Pennsylvania of Helix courts for both civil and criminal appeals.

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We are the official record.

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And then the last thing I want to mention is naturalization.

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We coordinate with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Office to facilitate

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naturalization here.

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The ceremony's take place at the courthouse four times annually.

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The clerk of court, that's me, prepares the name change petitions for the judges signature.

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And I administer the oath of citizenship at the ceremony and of all the things that I've done since I've had this job.

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I have to comment as I always do that administering that oath of citizenship is like one of the most moving things to do,

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and it's an honor to be able to do that.

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So that's what I have about our office and I'm happy to answer questions.

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If anybody has any?

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Thank you for the presentation and thank you for all the work that you and the entire OGS team have been doing.

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for years but especially across this year as you are implementing a lot of new things and advancing

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the department to make it more accessible and user friendly for our residents. Any questions

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or comments?

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All right. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me.

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Good night.

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All right. Next up we have Bellmont Behavioral Health LLC by Jacqueline Bessil.

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Good evening

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chairperson Taylor and the County Council members. I'm here this evening to introduce

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BELMA behavioral health, the chosen provider through our request for proposal process for comprehensive

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crisis services. There were six viable proposals for this RFP and BELMA rose to the top providing

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a thoughtful and comprehensive information on how they would structure services to the best

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to best serve the residents of Delaware County. I'd like to seek the opportunity to thank all

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of the stakeholders, the different departments that assisted us in reviewing the proposals,

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and took the time to attend meetings.

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We had representatives not just from mental health

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and not just from Department of Human Services,

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but from our justice partners and from our MCO

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and many of our other stakeholders that were able to participate

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in some point of the process.

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And without that input, it would make it very difficult for us

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to make a decision that was in the best interest of the entire county.

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Belmont Behavioral Health has been providing behavioral services in Philadelphia for over 75 years.

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They are one of the largest mental and behavioral health care providers in Philadelphia.

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The Department of Human Services has contract with Belmont Behavioral Health for

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Inpatient Services through our behavioral health MCO Community Care Behavioral Health.

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They are very familiar with the lower county area and are excited to present you their vision for our crisis services.

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So I'd like to introduce Jacqueline Basel.

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on

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Who is a chief executive officer?

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Good evening, council. And thank you, Janet. What a wonderful introduction.

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My name is Jacqueline Basel. I am the CEO at the Ammon Behavioral Health System. I have been

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but with Balmond for 22 years. I'm a social worker by training. I think I've done every

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job at Balmond to be able to provide care to our individuals in need. I am very excited to be here

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this evening and honored as not only am I excited to be here as a provider but as a resident

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of Delaware County. I was born and raised in Delaware County, graduate of Upper Darby High

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School and currently a resident of Brumel. So my passion is not just for providing care and

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ensuring access to care to those in need but also as an individual in this county who knows how

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much. This service is needed.

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The OMOMB behavioral health system is honored to submit this

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proposal that will expand on its expertise to better address, recognized, unmet needs

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for the individuals in Delaware County. This RFP provides us with an opportunity to form

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new partnerships, create innovative care and best practice models for the care of Delaware

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County residents. We are proposing a multi-modal program for crisis assessment, intervention,

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and stabilization for individuals with behavioral, psychiatric, and substance use disorders

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designed to serve anyone anywhere any time.

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Why Balmont?

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We have proven experience, not hypothetical.

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Balmont has operated a walking crisis response center and crisis stabilization unit in the

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city of Philadelphia since 2018.

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Prior to that time, we were also very much involved in the care and the work that occurred at Albert

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Einstein's Crisis Response Center for serving children adolescents and adults over on Germantown

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Avenue.

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As the provider of these services in the surrounding area, we have an acute understanding

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of the challenges faced by the individuals we serve.

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The Crisis Service Continuum will provide brief treatments within the context of a developmental

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appropriate, family-centered, trauma-informed care environment.

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Our overarching goal is health promotion and use of the least restrictive community interventions by reducing the number of crisis experienced and the need for inpatient hospitalizations.

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We believe that providing this innovative continuum of care that serves the needs of the individuals living in Delaware County that we will reduce our emergency medical and mental health visits.

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We aim to build a county-wide collaboration of participants who maximize the combined resources.

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These organizations to respond to the individuals in crisis with every available option prior to hospitalization.

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So as we mentioned, we have a continuum in place.

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We have a crisis service line.

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We have stabilization units.

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So what we're proposing is not something that is guesswork.

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it's something that we are doing and we have seen to prove effective.

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It will be inclusive of a crisis response center

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and crisis stabilization unit in addition to other services.

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We also have collaborative relationships with mobile crisis teams in Philadelphia.

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So the mobile crisis aspect of this proposal is also very well known to us as we're currently

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partnering with our provider L1 in Philadelphia.

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We have long-standing relationships with the behavioral health community and recovery systems, including CCBH.

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We also have direct service access to those individuals who may need a higher level of care.

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So we are able to provide acute care. We're able to provide outpatient services, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient,

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but also at the same time collaborating with the community stakeholders, who also have exceptional services and we are currently partnering with the Delaware County.

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We plan to do this in a trauma informed, developmentally appropriate and family center approach.

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I would like to introduce my colleague who's going to speak to the framework on and design.

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Thank you, Jackie. Good evening.

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I am a adult and child psychiatrist.

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I have 20 plus years of experience with crisis work.

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I trained that temple where we also have experience with a crisis response center.

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And I was also the medical director of the Einstein crisis response center.

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before the Belmont obtained was awarded the Crisis Response Center that we currently operate.

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So, thank you for the opportunity to speak about the proposal,

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and I would like to emphasize that we operate,

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we have been operating very successfully.

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the crisis response center crisis stabilization unit since 2018.

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And we have proven that we can

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provide tangible benefits.

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The crisis response center, I'm a little blind. The crisis response

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center that we are proposing will be a 24 hours a day, seven days, a week, 365, a year,

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a year, walking a center that will provide services with no barriers to access to all

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children, adolescents and adults in the county.

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We work in a multi-disciplinary team, interdisciplinary team composed of nurses, social workers,

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psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.

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And we are also partnering with low enforcement, the Office of Mental Health and other

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community stakeholders.

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We are also proposing a 23-hour observation service, which will help in a

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wording on necessary hospitalizations for individuals in crisis, whose

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crisis can be resolved by observing and treating and de-escalating in a 23-hour period.

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Additionally, we're also proposing the creation of a crisis stabilization unit, which is a similar model to the one that we currently operate.

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where we have a family-centered approach and individual

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usually present for stabilization of a crisis.

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They can be resolved within a brief period of time from

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24 hours to usually 5 to 7 days.

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Again, a wording unnecessary hospitalizations.

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and we have been very successful in returning patients back to their communities within

447
00:37:51,000 --> 00:37:58,240
that period of time without utilizing more acute inpatient levels of care.

448
00:38:03,840 --> 00:38:11,160
Additionally, to the Crisis Response Center and Stabilization Unit, we are also proposing

449
00:38:11,160 --> 00:38:22,260
the operation of a mobile crisis team, which will provide services to residents in their

450
00:38:22,260 --> 00:38:23,460
community settings.

451
00:38:25,660 --> 00:38:41,140
We will deploy mental health workers to the communities to the schools

452
00:38:41,140 --> 00:38:50,800
crisis resolution, and the escalation and hopefully a bird, again, hospitalizations, link

453
00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:58,780
residents to the community services, and avoid unnecessary use of law enforcement and emergency

454
00:38:58,780 --> 00:38:59,580
rooms.

455
00:39:03,130 --> 00:39:09,150
Again, we will be serving children, other lessons and adults of all ages with no barriers

456
00:39:09,150 --> 00:39:10,270
to access.

457
00:39:18,960 --> 00:39:27,280
We are committed to resolution focused outcomes where no one will be turned away.

458
00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:34,140
We will build durable infrastructure and care pathways, drawing from existing operational

459
00:39:34,140 --> 00:39:43,860
success. Again, the focus is on resolution of crisis to reduce emergency room visits

460
00:39:43,860 --> 00:39:49,980
and inpatient states while it's strengthening wellness and recovery for all the residents.

461
00:39:51,720 --> 00:39:57,660
So we look forward to partnering with you to make this vision a reality for the

462
00:39:57,660 --> 00:40:03,760
residents of Delaware County. And I will introduce our chief medical officer now.

463
00:40:20,790 --> 00:40:26,370
Good evening, everyone. My name is Dr. Chiama Inhegra. I am the chief medical officer at

464
00:40:26,370 --> 00:40:31,870
on Behavioral Hospital. I, too, am a Delaware County resident. I currently live and reside

465
00:40:31,870 --> 00:40:38,330
in media. So I do also see the benefit of having these services provided in the county.

466
00:40:39,390 --> 00:40:45,110
One of the strengths that we have at Thelman is that we have a long-standing relationship and

467
00:40:45,110 --> 00:40:51,750
partnership with organizations, facilities, hospitals that participate in academic training. That

468
00:40:51,750 --> 00:40:58,530
an invaluable resource because that allows us to continue to craft like home the craft of those

469
00:40:58,530 --> 00:41:02,750
who are providing services in the region and typically when you know the patients and the

470
00:41:02,750 --> 00:41:08,290
populations that you serve, you continue to give back. And so that is one of our significant

471
00:41:08,290 --> 00:41:14,090
strengths that we have as an academic organization. So we partner with Children's Hospital, Philadelphia,

472
00:41:14,590 --> 00:41:19,550
we continue to train their adolescent residents. They partner with us in doing some of our physical

473
00:41:19,550 --> 00:41:25,790
examinations. Additionally, we partner with area medical schools to provide medical education

474
00:41:25,790 --> 00:41:31,370
from a psychiatry lens, so they are getting a lot of their training in that aspect as well.

475
00:41:32,030 --> 00:41:37,650
Most of the area child psychiatry programs as well as the general psychiatry programs

476
00:41:37,650 --> 00:41:43,230
train with us in the region. So we are currently working with the past

477
00:41:43,230 --> 00:41:48,190
closure residents that have now been taken under the wing at Mainline Health. They are actively

478
00:41:48,190 --> 00:41:53,190
rotating with us and enjoying their experience at Balmont, we continue to train the Jefferson

479
00:41:53,190 --> 00:41:58,170
and Einstein residents and provide them with a wealth of opportunities and experiences

480
00:41:58,170 --> 00:42:02,950
to help those in the communities that which they serve and many of them actually live in as

481
00:42:02,950 --> 00:42:11,110
well. So we can remain committed to being an academic institution and partnering with this

482
00:42:11,110 --> 00:42:16,050
venture to continue to educate and provide services within the region. Thank you.

483
00:42:16,590 --> 00:42:20,490
I will introduce, yes.

484
00:42:25,420 --> 00:42:29,800
Good evening, Chief Taylor, Chair Taylor, Vice Chair Womacking Members of Council.

485
00:42:30,260 --> 00:42:32,000
Thank you for the opportunity to address you tonight.

486
00:42:32,220 --> 00:42:38,360
My name is Colleen Drake, and I represent Belmont Behavioral Health System as the Regional Director of Business Development.

487
00:42:39,020 --> 00:42:41,280
I too am a lifelong resident of Delaware County.

488
00:42:41,360 --> 00:42:45,740
I grew up in Brumwell, Pennsylvania, and then I also raising my family right now in Springfield.

489
00:42:46,720 --> 00:42:52,880
Our work is rooted in one belief, and no single system can meet the needs of our community alone.

490
00:42:53,520 --> 00:42:58,060
Collaboration isn't just a part of what we do, it's the foundation of how we move forward together.

491
00:42:59,260 --> 00:43:04,200
Our first responders, we stand alongside our police, our EMS, and our fire departments.

492
00:43:04,840 --> 00:43:07,940
Often, they are the very first-pointed contact in a moment of crisis.

493
00:43:08,860 --> 00:43:14,220
Participation and events like the National Night Out give us the chance to build those relationships with first responders

494
00:43:14,220 --> 00:43:17,820
and strengthen the bridge between safety and care.

495
00:43:18,360 --> 00:43:19,440
Our health care providers.

496
00:43:20,160 --> 00:43:22,240
Our partnerships with hospitals, urgent

497
00:43:22,240 --> 00:43:24,380
care, and private providers help

498
00:43:24,380 --> 00:43:26,160
create a seamless system of care.

499
00:43:26,780 --> 00:43:29,420
When services are coordinated and information is shared,

500
00:43:29,900 --> 00:43:31,560
patients don't fall through the cracks.

501
00:43:32,120 --> 00:43:33,160
They move toward recovery.

502
00:43:34,220 --> 00:43:36,200
Our schools and our youth sports supports.

503
00:43:36,720 --> 00:43:38,620
We are equally committed to our schools

504
00:43:38,620 --> 00:43:40,780
through participation in the Delaware County

505
00:43:40,780 --> 00:43:44,160
truncy program meetings and the student assistance program

506
00:43:44,160 --> 00:43:45,680
sat through Holcomb.

507
00:43:45,940 --> 00:43:48,200
We're working directly with teachers and administrators

508
00:43:48,200 --> 00:43:51,320
who are seeing the early warning signs every day.

509
00:43:52,000 --> 00:43:53,860
These partnerships help us intervene sooner

510
00:43:53,860 --> 00:43:56,740
and support healthier futures for our young people.

511
00:43:57,640 --> 00:43:59,920
Community agencies and our county committees.

512
00:44:00,660 --> 00:44:02,920
We align ourselves with the Delaware County

513
00:44:02,920 --> 00:44:04,640
Community Support Program,

514
00:44:04,960 --> 00:44:07,060
Delaware's the Delaware County System of Care,

515
00:44:07,360 --> 00:44:09,580
Nami Mainline, Voices for Children,

516
00:44:09,580 --> 00:44:17,820
And one that's near and dear to me, which is the Delaware County area resource network, more effectively known as Darn than anybody's familiar.

517
00:44:18,920 --> 00:44:27,840
This group gives us a shared table to align resources, breakdown barriers, and ensure that our work reflects the real needs of the Delaware County residents.

518
00:44:28,860 --> 00:44:39,100
As an active task force member of the Delaware County suicide prevention task force, I've seen firsthand how collaboration across agencies has saved lives and strengthened families.

519
00:44:40,890 --> 00:44:46,510
At the center of all of this is crisis diversion, preventing individuals and families from

520
00:44:46,510 --> 00:44:52,850
cycling through emergency rooms or justice systems when more compassionate, effective solutions

521
00:44:52,850 --> 00:44:53,810
are available.

522
00:44:54,790 --> 00:44:57,390
This is where collaboration proves its greatest value.

523
00:44:58,170 --> 00:44:58,970
Our path forward.

524
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:16,380
This is one of unity, shared responsibility, and lasting impact. Together, as first responders, health care providers, schools, community, agencies, and county leaders, we can build a system that not only responds to crisis, but prevents it,

525
00:45:16,380 --> 00:45:19,380
It transforms it into recovery and hope.

526
00:45:20,120 --> 00:45:22,780
This is our commitment and this is the path forward together.

527
00:45:23,420 --> 00:45:24,460
Thank you for your time.

528
00:45:27,860 --> 00:45:31,080
So as my team is mentioned, we are committed to the county.

529
00:45:31,340 --> 00:45:35,940
We're committed to providing care and we are excited to partner with all the key stakeholders

530
00:45:35,940 --> 00:45:37,520
in ensuring access.

531
00:45:38,120 --> 00:45:41,840
With any proposal, we're very well aware that there's financial considerations.

532
00:45:42,520 --> 00:45:47,340
These financial considerations, we look forward to having these conversations with all of you

533
00:45:47,340 --> 00:45:52,520
with all the key stakeholders with our hope that we're able to move forward with this project

534
00:45:52,520 --> 00:45:58,240
and this proposal. It'll be hand in hand collaboration, open and transparent conversations.

535
00:45:59,520 --> 00:46:06,160
Our next steps in our path forward will include site planning, community integration, stakeholder

536
00:46:06,160 --> 00:46:11,980
engagement, which will be active and ongoing throughout the process, and program launch aligned

537
00:46:11,980 --> 00:46:14,160
with state and county timelines.

538
00:46:15,320 --> 00:46:17,880
Thank you for your time and if you have any questions

539
00:46:17,880 --> 00:46:19,500
for myself or my colleagues.

540
00:46:22,080 --> 00:46:24,420
Well, thank you for your presentation today.

541
00:46:25,660 --> 00:46:29,180
And thank you to our team for the process and the thorough

542
00:46:29,180 --> 00:46:35,140
process that we went through to be able to have six viable

543
00:46:35,140 --> 00:46:36,560
providers, which is great.

544
00:46:37,920 --> 00:46:40,380
And then to put together the team of stakeholders,

545
00:46:40,380 --> 00:46:45,260
There's the first responders of anyone who might intersect with this provider to be able to really

546
00:46:45,260 --> 00:46:47,880
vet who is coming in to provide this service.

547
00:46:48,180 --> 00:46:52,840
So thank you all for that and thank you for your presentation now and throughout the process.

548
00:46:53,920 --> 00:47:01,040
As you all know, we have a lack of these services in our county and we lost due to prospect

549
00:47:01,040 --> 00:47:08,620
and closure of our inpatient beds in our crisis center and we see the need and we see how our

550
00:47:08,620 --> 00:47:14,460
current two hospitals are the trying to do as best as they can to provide services for this,

551
00:47:14,460 --> 00:47:16,740
but we really need to get this up and rolling quickly.

552
00:47:17,280 --> 00:47:20,080
And so I thank you for partnering with us in this process.

553
00:47:21,040 --> 00:47:26,020
And for you all to be at a step into space and help us provide services for our residents.

554
00:47:26,520 --> 00:47:31,560
And even in fact, there were, we will be able to expand what we have more than what we had before.

555
00:47:32,240 --> 00:47:36,680
And even the aspect of adding in more pediatric services and pediatric and patient beds.

556
00:47:36,680 --> 00:47:40,380
and all of those parts of it are going to help us better serve our residents.

557
00:47:40,680 --> 00:47:41,760
So, thank you.

558
00:47:41,860 --> 00:47:42,980
We look forward to partnering with you.

559
00:47:43,020 --> 00:47:43,980
Thank you.

560
00:47:44,140 --> 00:47:44,400
Yeah.

561
00:47:44,420 --> 00:47:46,000
I want to thank you.

562
00:47:46,020 --> 00:47:46,600
Your whole team.

563
00:47:46,920 --> 00:47:47,860
The team coming here.

564
00:47:48,100 --> 00:47:48,980
The squad coming tonight.

565
00:47:50,520 --> 00:47:51,060
That's great.

566
00:47:52,820 --> 00:48:00,140
When I read through the proposal, or I guess your response to the RFP, I was with a great

567
00:48:00,140 --> 00:48:06,320
sense of relief because we're in a pretty desperate situation here with the loss of the

568
00:48:06,320 --> 00:48:13,280
as a closure, and I really hope that we can achieve the things that are in that proposal

569
00:48:14,340 --> 00:48:17,360
expeditiously, because the need is great.

570
00:48:17,460 --> 00:48:24,520
The strain on our law enforcement right now and on our emergency rooms is really untenable.

571
00:48:25,740 --> 00:48:32,240
And it's, you know, we hear from the residents from the law enforcement, it's really different here.

572
00:48:32,240 --> 00:48:35,620
Yes, that's what we did with them every day. It's devastating.

573
00:48:36,260 --> 00:48:45,880
Yeah, so, you know, let's get going and get this right away, the site, and it's a lot of work,

574
00:48:46,320 --> 00:48:51,300
but honestly, we've needed to address these services for a long time, but this situation

575
00:48:51,300 --> 00:48:58,600
has just driven it to crisis proportions. I did have one little question. And that is,

576
00:48:58,600 --> 00:49:05,820
You know, yesterday I asked the question about, you know, is this really replacing what we have in place the mobile, the mobile part of it?

577
00:49:07,060 --> 00:49:12,860
And then after I thought about it a little bit, you know, that was very limited to you graphically that program.

578
00:49:13,440 --> 00:49:25,820
So is the program that's coming in going to be county-wide and how is that going to work to have, you know, kind of at the moment accessibility to crisis intervention all over our county.

579
00:49:25,820 --> 00:49:38,960
Sure. That's a great question. And yes, it is a big county. The goal would be for the service to be countywide and it would also be our goal and our intent to partner with current providers of this service.

580
00:49:39,660 --> 00:49:52,680
As they also carry a great deal of expertise, including working with some other staff too. So that is definitely a piece that we're going to have to take a deeper dive and close look at in full transparency.

581
00:49:52,680 --> 00:49:57,420
because it would be our goal to be able to provide that level of support and access to every

582
00:49:57,420 --> 00:50:02,420
part of the county and not just have to pick and choose who's eligible for that service.

583
00:50:02,540 --> 00:50:05,540
You know, it just is unethical in so many ways.

584
00:50:06,160 --> 00:50:10,300
Right. And then part of that would entail education for our law enforcement.

585
00:50:10,740 --> 00:50:15,180
Absolutely. Don't have this available to them. Most of them don't have this available to them now.

586
00:50:15,640 --> 00:50:19,720
Yes. So currently with the City of Philadelphia and we work with the 19th district.

587
00:50:19,720 --> 00:50:25,560
we actually are partners with them, we meet with them quite regularly, we have provided mental

588
00:50:25,560 --> 00:50:30,080
health education to them, we've had them on-site working with us, so that would also be

589
00:50:30,080 --> 00:50:35,240
a part of this process too and having the teams come on-site, see the location, no where

590
00:50:35,240 --> 00:50:41,300
to come when they arrive, and then how can we work hand in hand, because someone who's in

591
00:50:41,300 --> 00:50:46,100
a mental health crisis is overwhelming, and if you don't have the skills in training, you're

592
00:50:46,100 --> 00:50:48,320
unsure, and it's unsettling on what to do.

593
00:50:48,320 --> 00:50:53,140
So yes, that would also be a part of this and that's why our pride in our teaching affiliations.

594
00:50:53,560 --> 00:50:54,260
We're a teaching facility.

595
00:50:54,500 --> 00:50:55,320
We love to teach.

596
00:50:56,100 --> 00:51:00,240
So it would be our intention to teach those, serving the community on how to handle

597
00:51:00,240 --> 00:51:01,400
and mental health crisis.

598
00:51:02,400 --> 00:51:02,900
Well, thank you.

599
00:51:03,020 --> 00:51:05,280
And I really, really look forward to this partnership.

600
00:51:05,820 --> 00:51:05,860
Great.

601
00:51:05,880 --> 00:51:06,240
Thank you.

602
00:51:06,340 --> 00:51:10,740
I guess one question I have since I know we're working on site development.

603
00:51:11,960 --> 00:51:17,420
So in addition to just being able to ensure initially backstop some of the crisis services

604
00:51:17,420 --> 00:51:23,620
is that we already have what is the estimate like what's your time what's I didn't get a

605
00:51:23,620 --> 00:51:28,980
chance review the entire proposal and apologize but I think it would be helpful to get

606
00:51:28,980 --> 00:51:34,420
it to set expectations just to get an understanding of how long you're anticipating it's

607
00:51:34,420 --> 00:51:43,460
going to take to complete that process and have a you know sort of a Belmont site sure absolutely

608
00:51:43,460 --> 00:51:49,320
that is a great question. It is a difficult question to answer and give you clear timelines.

609
00:51:49,620 --> 00:51:56,380
It would be unfair to me to do that because through this proposal process, our ability to engage

610
00:51:56,380 --> 00:52:02,540
in that part of the conversation has been limited. We have been strategically brainstorming

611
00:52:02,540 --> 00:52:09,120
on how we would like to execute this in developing a budget based on our current. We have some ideas

612
00:52:09,120 --> 00:52:15,920
on some sites that we could possibly explore through our corporate real estate team.

613
00:52:16,240 --> 00:52:21,620
So it's our desire to start moving quickly, but we would definitely have to have more in-depth

614
00:52:21,620 --> 00:52:25,820
conversation around budget timelines and things of that nature.

615
00:52:26,040 --> 00:52:33,620
But in the meantime to assure all of you, since even before the closing of closure, we

616
00:52:33,620 --> 00:52:35,500
partner with Mainline Health, Riddle.

617
00:52:36,280 --> 00:52:40,320
Our teams are out in the community, engaging with referral sources, even the community-based

618
00:52:40,320 --> 00:52:43,100
providers on how to access care quickly.

619
00:52:44,080 --> 00:52:48,960
So in the meantime, and in the development of this, obviously, Thalmont if the need is for

620
00:52:48,960 --> 00:52:52,000
inpatient beds, outpatient program, partial hospitalization.

621
00:52:52,580 --> 00:52:58,120
We will be ensuring that access is immediate for those folks until we can get this service

622
00:52:58,120 --> 00:52:58,500
online.

623
00:52:58,920 --> 00:52:59,340
Great.

624
00:52:59,360 --> 00:52:59,820
Thank you.

625
00:52:59,960 --> 00:53:00,600
Thank you.

626
00:53:02,490 --> 00:53:04,810
Any additional questions or comments from council?

627
00:53:06,090 --> 00:53:06,270
All right.

628
00:53:06,530 --> 00:53:07,010
Hearing none.

629
00:53:07,890 --> 00:53:09,750
I look forward to working with you all.

630
00:53:09,910 --> 00:53:10,370
Thank you.

631
00:53:10,610 --> 00:53:10,650
Thank

632
00:53:14,260 --> 00:53:14,400
you.

633
00:53:14,560 --> 00:53:16,260
The next item on the agenda.

634
00:53:16,520 --> 00:53:18,140
We have a public comment.

635
00:53:18,860 --> 00:53:20,620
For those of you who are unfamiliar with public comment.

636
00:53:20,940 --> 00:53:22,720
There is a sign of sheet in the back of the room,

637
00:53:22,900 --> 00:53:25,240
which we will go through the names on a sign of sheet first.

638
00:53:25,260 --> 00:53:27,000
If you did not get a chance to sign up.

639
00:53:27,020 --> 00:53:27,580
No worries.

640
00:53:27,660 --> 00:53:29,060
We will open it up to anyone.

641
00:53:29,860 --> 00:53:32,680
After we call on the individuals who are able to sign up first.

642
00:53:32,680 --> 00:53:36,560
When it's your turn, please step up to the mic,

643
00:53:37,160 --> 00:53:38,760
stage your name and your municipality,

644
00:53:39,680 --> 00:53:41,300
and you have a three minute limit,

645
00:53:42,160 --> 00:53:44,280
which will be on the screen in front of you.

646
00:53:44,300 --> 00:53:46,120
We do hold strictly to that time limit

647
00:53:46,120 --> 00:53:47,500
to give to a lot of everyone

648
00:53:47,500 --> 00:53:49,860
to the opportunity to speak who would like to.

649
00:53:50,120 --> 00:53:51,960
With that, I will look to our executive director,

650
00:53:52,160 --> 00:53:54,340
Bart Romalee, the start calling names.

651
00:53:55,340 --> 00:53:58,120
Kim Brown, followed by John Hagueis.

652
00:54:30,240 --> 00:54:32,740
Timberley Brown, first thing, first of all,

653
00:54:32,740 --> 00:54:36,120
I think if a big shout out to public defender, teller,

654
00:54:36,160 --> 00:54:38,680
done, then I appreciate you.

655
00:54:38,680 --> 00:54:39,860
I love your work.

656
00:54:39,920 --> 00:54:43,960
I appreciate you being the same player at every day.

657
00:54:44,980 --> 00:54:47,000
It's a lovely day at George that be healed.

658
00:54:47,340 --> 00:54:50,040
Armageddon Day is scheduled for September 5th.

659
00:54:50,080 --> 00:54:52,140
Ms. Laura Williams will be the part from Duckel,

660
00:54:52,280 --> 00:54:54,260
but there's remain additional work to be done.

661
00:54:54,700 --> 00:54:57,120
Who was some of the roleful internal warden?

662
00:54:57,300 --> 00:55:00,720
Please do not suggest deputy warden of security will be blind.

663
00:55:00,720 --> 00:55:05,320
He can trip you nothing, he just sits in his office all day, just collecting the paycheck.

664
00:55:05,940 --> 00:55:08,260
Please don't even think about deputy Warren Filey.

665
00:55:08,860 --> 00:55:11,520
He doesn't can't tell his left from his right foot.

666
00:55:12,480 --> 00:55:17,640
Last but not least, please do not consider deputy Warren,

667
00:55:18,000 --> 00:55:22,580
Mr. Odie of operations as her operations seem to resolve around misuse and text

668
00:55:22,580 --> 00:55:27,240
for her own benefit in her friends as well.

669
00:55:27,480 --> 00:55:31,660
She's also a little keeper, with a little keeper for G.O.

670
00:55:32,060 --> 00:55:34,460
If you look at the packet that I just gave you guys

671
00:55:34,460 --> 00:55:38,120
is a memo about the employee for our program, the bonus.

672
00:55:38,880 --> 00:55:41,200
Number one, where it says employee bonus program,

673
00:55:41,340 --> 00:55:45,540
number two, it says current employees, new correctional officers

674
00:55:45,540 --> 00:55:49,220
will be paid a $2,000 employee bonus.

675
00:55:49,220 --> 00:55:56,340
Number three, the advocate must declare on the initial application that they would refer from a employee.

676
00:55:57,520 --> 00:56:04,440
Number four, human resource employees, higher managers, and contractors are in eligible to receive payments.

677
00:56:06,320 --> 00:56:09,460
If you look at the second page, you'll see one of the bonus lists.

678
00:56:09,460 --> 00:56:11,880
you see Lisa Mastrody on the air.

679
00:56:11,940 --> 00:56:15,800
She paid herself $5,000, $9,920, 22,

680
00:56:15,960 --> 00:56:19,280
another $5,012, 16, 2022.

681
00:56:20,060 --> 00:56:22,880
All my rights and no ass would have list of employees she

682
00:56:22,880 --> 00:56:25,160
refer, there's no employees.

683
00:56:26,140 --> 00:56:27,900
Sarah Bowles, she's a compliance coordinator.

684
00:56:27,900 --> 00:56:31,820
If you look at the second page for the opponents,

685
00:56:32,220 --> 00:56:34,200
she received $5,000.

686
00:56:34,840 --> 00:56:37,080
All those $ech dollars needed to return back.

687
00:56:37,680 --> 00:56:41,900
You see, you must show the pace of, I gave you another

688
00:56:41,900 --> 00:56:46,540
feather pace of Brian Hell, he is the I.T. director.

689
00:56:48,100 --> 00:56:53,320
He had this 64 hours of vacation time when that first

690
00:56:53,320 --> 00:56:55,820
pace of, when the second one he used 48.

691
00:56:56,880 --> 00:56:59,440
On the third pace of, is show that he

692
00:56:59,440 --> 00:57:02,260
retro, he paid itself out the occasion where's the

693
00:57:02,260 --> 00:57:06,080
hours. On his last pace of, is showed,

694
00:57:06,080 --> 00:57:12,200
3,000, because he made salary, that's least the majority buddy, where's the money?

695
00:57:13,020 --> 00:57:18,800
I even test his time sheets, there's a lot of time sheets and a lot of extra input three times

696
00:57:18,800 --> 00:57:24,300
on the same day, the money needs to be returned, the majority needs to go, thank you.

697
00:57:24,860 --> 00:57:27,300
John Higgis, that followed by Jen Higgis.

698
00:57:31,980 --> 00:57:36,680
John Higgis, Darby Pemslinga, and what if I could ask you to sort of pass him and everyone

699
00:57:38,000 --> 00:57:56,700
I'm here obviously about Woodburn and here not merely as concerned citizen, but as an advocate for our collective future in the time of great fiscal environmental, social culture, cultural and political challenges, these are very tough times.

700
00:57:59,380 --> 00:58:02,840
Tell you Roosevelt was once asked by a subordinate.

701
00:58:03,000 --> 00:58:08,880
What do I do now, is that's what you can, what you have, where you are.

702
00:58:09,640 --> 00:58:14,340
One of the things we have is wood burn mansion, which is in terrible condition, the entire

703
00:58:15,100 --> 00:58:16,320
inside has collapsed.

704
00:58:16,320 --> 00:58:26,740
But, put on in stone walls, from buyers steel, I've been praying and holding up a intact

705
00:58:26,740 --> 00:58:27,480
roof structure.

706
00:58:28,340 --> 00:58:33,020
You know, Trumpur was said to build not only to impress but to endure, and resilience

707
00:58:33,020 --> 00:58:40,180
these days is important, it's also important to teach people how to work on older buildings

708
00:58:40,180 --> 00:58:42,420
because it's a different skill set.

709
00:58:44,320 --> 00:58:47,360
Jan and I a few years ago went to Williamson College of the Trade,

710
00:58:47,440 --> 00:58:50,160
which is like the MIT of trade schools.

711
00:58:50,920 --> 00:58:52,380
And one of the things that makes it unique

712
00:58:52,380 --> 00:58:56,520
is that the students for the first year cannot use power tools.

713
00:58:57,640 --> 00:58:59,920
They have to use hand tools, working with their hands,

714
00:59:00,140 --> 00:59:02,780
which I think is a very human thing.

715
00:59:04,660 --> 00:59:07,740
Williamson, there's no women's at Williamson at this point,

716
00:59:07,740 --> 00:59:10,960
But I think there should be, Jan asks one of students

717
00:59:10,960 --> 00:59:13,240
who you liked it there, and you said, yeah, I love it.

718
00:59:13,460 --> 00:59:14,240
Why is that?

719
00:59:14,240 --> 00:59:16,640
Well, it takes nothing really, really messed up,

720
00:59:16,980 --> 00:59:17,880
and you make it good.

721
00:59:18,820 --> 00:59:20,260
And the next we feel good.

722
00:59:20,800 --> 00:59:24,120
You know, I think, like the program,

723
00:59:24,880 --> 00:59:30,100
at least a new leash on life, having something to care about,

724
00:59:30,680 --> 00:59:32,520
is very important, very human thing.

725
00:59:34,080 --> 00:59:37,080
The preservation and renewal environment future these buildings

726
00:59:37,080 --> 00:59:41,440
existing buildings, so it's not just woodburn, I'm thrilled that you all are hiring

727
00:59:41,440 --> 00:59:50,420
excellent saltant to do and I'm here as a plea to receive our help. We would continue

728
00:59:50,420 --> 00:59:55,360
to like permission to clean inside the fence at Woodburn to clean some of the brush and

729
00:59:55,360 --> 00:59:56,780
and make it look less abandoned.

730
01:00:00,210 --> 01:00:06,030
And adaptive reuses, repurposing, finding new life among the ruins.

731
01:00:08,210 --> 01:00:14,270
I can go on and often do, but I see I have 25 seconds, so I will yield and thank you very much.

732
01:00:15,470 --> 01:00:17,870
Jan Hages and Chris Welch.

733
01:00:21,090 --> 01:00:23,650
I'm shorter than most people who views this mic.

734
01:00:24,490 --> 01:00:28,130
My name is Jan Haigas, I live in Darby Barrow,

735
01:00:30,470 --> 01:00:38,090
and I am going to be here just for a few seconds, actually, because what I want to say is, in 1982,

736
01:00:40,150 --> 01:00:47,910
John and I met, in 1984, we married. In 1985, we started friends of the Bluebell.

737
01:00:47,910 --> 01:00:55,010
And we went on with a group of neighborhood people to actually save that building and

738
01:00:55,010 --> 01:00:57,070
restore it to use by the neighborhood.

739
01:00:57,890 --> 01:01:04,250
Unfortunately, very recently, a trolley kind of interrupted its revival, but that's being

740
01:01:04,250 --> 01:01:06,350
taken care of thanks to Seth Dice.

741
01:01:07,430 --> 01:01:16,410
In 1987, we actually started to be a part of the Darby Creek Valley Association, and at that

742
01:01:16,410 --> 01:01:18,530
I'm the Derby Creek Valley Association met

743
01:01:18,530 --> 01:01:22,850
in an old house on the Woodburn Plateau property.

744
01:01:23,850 --> 01:01:31,610
And so we became surrounded by the beauty of the old buildings

745
01:01:31,910 --> 01:01:37,070
and the beautiful natural setting of that area.

746
01:01:37,310 --> 01:01:40,750
And what it can do, interestingly enough,

747
01:01:40,750 --> 01:01:48,530
A lot of talk has been just today in about the health.

748
01:01:49,190 --> 01:01:54,390
One of the best things we can do for our health is get some exercise and get out into a place that's peaceful.

749
01:01:55,290 --> 01:01:56,810
And that place is very peaceful.

750
01:01:57,970 --> 01:02:01,810
And so we started doing things with other kinds of buildings,

751
01:02:02,090 --> 01:02:08,970
but we have always tried to encourage people to remember that those old buildings

752
01:02:09,750 --> 01:02:17,110
are still standing. A lot of new ones have gone by the wayside. And when you do decide to take

753
01:02:17,110 --> 01:02:22,510
it all down, boy does it take a lot of effort because we have one going down right next

754
01:02:22,510 --> 01:02:27,910
to the house that we live in in Darby, and it survived and survived and it's taken them

755
01:02:27,910 --> 01:02:38,950
a long time to take it apart. So I encourage us all, we have talked a lot of people who are

756
01:02:38,950 --> 01:02:46,850
something to reuse this site and use all the parts of it, not just that one building, but all

757
01:02:46,850 --> 01:02:54,170
the other side could help community people to work together and make us an even better place

758
01:02:54,170 --> 01:02:54,830
to live.

759
01:02:55,090 --> 01:02:55,990
Thank you.

760
01:02:56,690 --> 01:03:03,970
I'd like to note that tonight item 10AB is approval of a contract for improvements of that

761
01:03:03,970 --> 01:03:08,030
site to add some security features and one of the security, one of the actions that we'll

762
01:03:08,030 --> 01:03:13,390
taken is clearing the vegetation on the fence to make it more visible.

763
01:03:15,690 --> 01:03:17,710
It's Welsh followed by Scott Thomas.

764
01:03:18,390 --> 01:03:21,070
Good evening members of Council members of the Delaware County community.

765
01:03:21,810 --> 01:03:22,450
My name is Chris Welsh.

766
01:03:22,550 --> 01:03:23,850
I'm a resident of Habertown.

767
01:03:23,910 --> 01:03:26,690
I'm also the Chief Public Defender here in Delaware County.

768
01:03:27,290 --> 01:03:31,790
I am here with my colleagues, Taylor Dunn, Emily Robb, and Mary Beth Welch, three of the

769
01:03:31,790 --> 01:03:38,390
managers in the office of the Public Defenders office to fully endorse and support your appointment

770
01:03:38,390 --> 01:03:45,490
of Lee Aubrey as the county's next solicitor. I met Lee and she really does not want me to do this

771
01:03:45,490 --> 01:03:51,950
also. I met Lee five years ago when she applied to work as the chief of appeals in the public

772
01:03:51,950 --> 01:03:57,370
defender's office. She had been working as the chief of appeals for a short time in Montgomery County

773
01:03:57,370 --> 01:04:03,290
and she heard about changes that were foot here in Delaware County and she wanted to to come home

774
01:04:03,290 --> 01:04:09,230
work to serve the residents of the county where she was living and to be part of the change that

775
01:04:09,230 --> 01:04:15,350
she hoped would be coming to our office. She applied for the Chief of Appeals position, but when

776
01:04:15,350 --> 01:04:22,050
I asked her to come in for an interview after looking at her resume, Lee again only had two years

777
01:04:22,050 --> 01:04:27,610
of experience at a public defender's office, but she had gone to a top law school. She had worked

778
01:04:27,610 --> 01:04:31,670
that a large law firm on the West Coast for a period of time,

779
01:04:31,930 --> 01:04:33,630
she was lead counsel for Greenpeace,

780
01:04:33,990 --> 01:04:35,770
she had worked at the Public Interest Law Center.

781
01:04:36,230 --> 01:04:38,010
So her legal background was varied

782
01:04:38,010 --> 01:04:39,990
and she had a variety of experience

783
01:04:39,990 --> 01:04:41,170
that I thought would be helpful

784
01:04:41,170 --> 01:04:43,310
in a upper-level management position.

785
01:04:43,890 --> 01:04:45,750
I reached out to one of her references

786
01:04:46,330 --> 01:04:48,810
at the Montgomery County Public Defender's office,

787
01:04:49,270 --> 01:04:55,210
and he told me that Lee was in a very trying situation

788
01:04:55,210 --> 01:05:01,590
was the calm in the storm could in making really difficult decisions that she would be someone that

789
01:05:01,590 --> 01:05:08,250
I could rely upon and always give me good counsel. And then just meeting with Lee, she's just

790
01:05:08,250 --> 01:05:14,490
is a lovely person and is very disarming. So rather than giving her the chief of appeals job,

791
01:05:15,170 --> 01:05:19,670
I asked her to be the number two in our office, the first assistant, and it was the best decision

792
01:05:19,670 --> 01:05:22,390
that I have made in the five years

793
01:05:22,390 --> 01:05:23,910
that I've been working in the office.

794
01:05:24,390 --> 01:05:25,870
So why do I say it's the best decision?

795
01:05:26,510 --> 01:05:28,450
Because Lee is incredibly smart.

796
01:05:29,310 --> 01:05:30,350
She is a great lawyer.

797
01:05:30,630 --> 01:05:32,730
She can analyze complex legal issues.

798
01:05:33,050 --> 01:05:35,130
But she's also great at just analyzing

799
01:05:35,130 --> 01:05:38,570
all of the variables of the problems that present themselves

800
01:05:38,570 --> 01:05:42,170
and giving you, and I know she did to me

801
01:05:42,170 --> 01:05:44,770
what she will do to you, which is give you the best option

802
01:05:44,770 --> 01:05:46,530
and let you make the best decision

803
01:05:46,530 --> 01:05:47,870
for this county going forward.

804
01:05:48,330 --> 01:05:52,230
Second, she's passionate about her work, and she shares the values of this council.

805
01:05:52,730 --> 01:05:56,990
She believes the government can help solve problems, help people in need, and serve our community.

806
01:05:57,710 --> 01:06:02,150
And lastly, and I would say probably most importantly, is that she's someone who has integrity,

807
01:06:02,490 --> 01:06:06,250
and has the courage to act when she knows what the right thing to do is.

808
01:06:07,070 --> 01:06:10,810
So myself and the members of my staff came here because we're going to miss her.

809
01:06:11,590 --> 01:06:16,590
More than I can tell you, but we, but the county's in good hands with her as the chief legal officer.

810
01:06:19,280 --> 01:06:21,820
Thomas and Scott Mates.

811
01:06:35,360 --> 01:06:40,140
Scott Thomas from Marble Township coming to you under the mantle of our lady of the

812
01:06:40,140 --> 01:06:48,200
Macaly conception of which the month of August is dedicated to her. Today I would like to return to the topic of

813
01:06:48,200 --> 01:06:59,210
election paper ballots and counting and I want to address some objections that councilman Ruther has made over the

814
01:06:59,210 --> 01:07:05,510
years over here at these meetings and also in some correspondence through emails of which one

815
01:07:05,510 --> 01:07:14,590
I found floating around on Facebook. So one of her objections is for why not to do paper

816
01:07:14,590 --> 01:07:20,210
ballot hand in counting is that quote we will not go to hand counting of our paper ballots

817
01:07:20,210 --> 01:07:26,070
to tabulate winners because it is impractical widely inaccurate and would delay reporting a result.

818
01:07:26,750 --> 01:07:33,270
I would respond that, well, with today's developed hand-counting process, yes, human counters

819
01:07:33,270 --> 01:07:38,730
make mistakes, but are called and corrected, it's a built-in self-ordered.

820
01:07:40,150 --> 01:07:46,310
Another objection that was stated was that hand-counting also represents a fundamental breach

821
01:07:46,310 --> 01:07:47,710
of chain of custody.

822
01:07:48,570 --> 01:07:54,090
I respond that hand-counting would follow the same chain of custody there is now out of the

823
01:07:55,630 --> 01:08:06,750
Another objection is our experience with recounts have included hand recounts and numerous peer-reviewed studies show hand counts are far more prone to error than machine counts.

824
01:08:07,570 --> 01:08:14,430
I counter that. Well, I've always heard that the few hand counts that the county has done have always been accurate.

825
01:08:15,130 --> 01:08:21,350
And I recall Mr. Martin, who was sit right there, would brag about how the hand counts are always accurate.

826
01:08:23,290 --> 01:08:29,390
Also, Hank counts would also take four more time and cost far much more.

827
01:08:29,970 --> 01:08:36,230
I respond that, well, we would have a new poll worker team come in at 8 p.m. when the

828
01:08:36,230 --> 01:08:41,230
precincts close and for every 250 ballots you have a four team four.

829
01:08:41,890 --> 01:08:46,430
You don't want to have that team count more than 250 ballots and they would be counted in

830
01:08:46,430 --> 01:08:53,370
is a 50 and you could get 14 races counted and signed off by Midnight at the latest.

831
01:08:55,230 --> 01:09:00,290
We cannot justify asking the taxpayers to support that kind of process.

832
01:09:00,430 --> 01:09:07,070
Even assuming we could hire enough people for a long enough period to count all the ballots in a presidential election.

833
01:09:07,650 --> 01:09:13,590
Well, we have a 4.5 million budget that we can handle that.

834
01:09:13,590 --> 01:09:21,370
So I want to end with let's go back to our citizens counting our election results instead of

835
01:09:21,370 --> 01:09:22,430
having the government do it.

836
01:09:22,630 --> 01:09:23,230
Thank you.

837
01:09:24,070 --> 01:09:25,850
Scott Mates and Charis Coker.

838
01:09:34,860 --> 01:09:35,480
Hello.

839
01:09:35,820 --> 01:09:43,340
I'm Scott Mates formally helped sprinkle Delaware County for generations of my family there, including

840
01:09:43,340 --> 01:09:48,840
my son, who's now was the youngest commissioner in the city of Philadelphia's history where

841
01:09:48,840 --> 01:09:49,880
I also live.

842
01:09:49,880 --> 01:10:05,430
I've been working with Darby Historians, yes, no I'm not, that's too bad, I'm just urging to.

843
01:10:07,860 --> 01:10:11,680
Carous Coker followed by Laura Lewis,

844
01:10:19,450 --> 01:10:19,870
good evening.

845
01:10:20,190 --> 01:10:21,670
Carous Coker, Concertown Ship.

846
01:10:22,870 --> 01:10:29,150
I'm here to express my concerns about the selection for the new county solicitor.

847
01:10:29,150 --> 01:10:38,270
And looking over the resume of Lee Aubrey, I see she's quite aligned with the discounts

848
01:10:38,270 --> 01:10:43,530
of agenda, which she stated yesterday at the personnel meeting that she would be that

849
01:10:43,530 --> 01:10:44,290
she was supported.

850
01:10:45,790 --> 01:10:51,990
And following her graduation from UC Berkeley, I look at her previous employment, goes from

851
01:10:51,990 --> 01:10:57,350
Bernie Sanders to Greenpeace to Montgomery County, which is a best in, you know, of lifetime

852
01:10:57,350 --> 01:10:58,170
liberalism.

853
01:10:59,690 --> 01:11:06,830
leftist liberalism. It would appear that she is in agreement with the views that have

854
01:11:06,830 --> 01:11:10,870
been stated by every member of this council, particularly at a recent meeting.

855
01:11:11,430 --> 01:11:15,190
When Delaware County residents objected to the ordinance and goes, guns, every one of you

856
01:11:15,190 --> 01:11:20,170
in turn, voice, der opinion, that it was absurd and insane even those were your words,

857
01:11:20,170 --> 01:11:35,070
that the idea that we might be bound to have any obligation to abide by the Constitution, the framework of government that was set in place over 250 years ago, surely updated by now.

858
01:11:35,850 --> 01:11:44,630
Kevin Madden most pointedly said that some people speak of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as though it's Moses coming down off the Mount with the tablets.

859
01:11:45,350 --> 01:11:52,410
Well, our bill of rights is the civil embodiment of those 10 commandments, right to life,

860
01:11:52,650 --> 01:11:54,510
not shut up, kill, and so forth.

861
01:11:58,110 --> 01:12:03,690
What exactly did you have in mind when you took your oath of office to support and defend

862
01:12:04,390 --> 01:12:05,170
the Constitution?

863
01:12:07,370 --> 01:12:11,590
This you have not done, you have not openly supported it quite openly, you have done the

864
01:12:11,590 --> 01:12:15,930
opposite especially and publicly undermining the second amendment, which other of

865
01:12:15,930 --> 01:12:18,950
those Bill of Rights, do you consider to be outdated?

866
01:12:21,010 --> 01:12:24,310
What exactly are you celebrating in your American 250 promotions?

867
01:12:25,290 --> 01:12:27,370
Surely not the foundations of our legacy of liberty.

868
01:12:30,780 --> 01:12:32,220
Where do you stand on the Constitution?

869
01:12:32,500 --> 01:12:33,960
Where do you stand on the Bill of Rights?

870
01:12:34,840 --> 01:12:37,260
Your own comments and actions have raised concerns.

871
01:12:38,360 --> 01:12:41,620
The oath of allegiance for naturalization of every new citizen,

872
01:12:41,980 --> 01:12:45,180
which was referenced this evening by Ms. Walk,

873
01:12:45,180 --> 01:12:49,520
with this naturalization ceremony that goes on is that they will support and defend.

874
01:12:50,200 --> 01:12:53,840
Do you support and defend the Constitution as it is?

875
01:12:54,300 --> 01:13:00,580
There is an a process or amendment, but you to sweep it aside, I'm proceed willy-nilly.

876
01:13:01,460 --> 01:13:05,480
What about the continued appointment of Scott Alberts to the Board of Elections?

877
01:13:07,240 --> 01:13:11,840
A nationally known member of the Democratic Socialist of America whose agenda is entirely

878
01:13:11,840 --> 01:13:16,640
contrary to our constitution and the principles of our free government.

879
01:13:17,980 --> 01:13:19,060
I affirm my support.

880
01:13:21,210 --> 01:13:23,690
Laura Lewis and David Cleary.

881
01:13:37,170 --> 01:13:38,790
Laura Lewis, Radner Township.

882
01:13:39,390 --> 01:13:44,730
Today I'd like to respond to objections that were raised after I last spoke about Clinton

883
01:13:44,730 --> 01:13:47,890
Curtis's testimony on election system vulnerabilities.

884
01:13:49,030 --> 01:13:53,650
First, the county implied that the sworn testimony of Curtis before the U.S.

885
01:13:53,650 --> 01:13:59,370
House Judiciary Committee is no longer relevant because it occurred in December of 2004.

886
01:14:00,570 --> 01:14:06,970
Curtis, the NASA and Exxon Programmer, testified for the Democrats under oath that he was

887
01:14:06,970 --> 01:14:11,590
asked to write software that could flip election results invisibly and undetectably.

888
01:14:12,570 --> 01:14:18,030
He confirmed that such software could be placed in central tabulation systems and activated

889
01:14:18,030 --> 01:14:19,530
by a simple flag.

890
01:14:19,530 --> 01:14:25,990
When asked if this misnipulation would be visible to election officials, his answer was clear,

891
01:14:26,310 --> 01:14:32,790
quote, they never see it, unquote. Curtis's warning wasn't about a specific version of software,

892
01:14:33,470 --> 01:14:37,650
although representative Maxine Waters specifically asked him about die-a-bolt,

893
01:14:37,870 --> 01:14:40,210
which was widely used in Florida at the time.

894
01:14:40,850 --> 01:14:47,690
The warning was about an architectural vulnerability, the ability to hide manipulation and code.

895
01:14:47,690 --> 01:14:51,830
that vulnerability remains entirely relevant today.

896
01:14:53,770 --> 01:14:57,730
Second, in the last meeting, I was told that our county does not use the same software

897
01:14:57,730 --> 01:14:59,050
discussed in Curtis's test.

898
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:08,600
First morning, making Curtis's concerns in a applicable. In 2009, ESNAS acquired premier election systems, formerly

899
01:15:08,600 --> 01:15:16,120
debault assessment, scrutinized in 2004. ESNAS then sold those assets, including software rights

900
01:15:16,120 --> 01:15:23,500
to dominion voting systems in 2010. That exchange transferred core components of voting system code

901
01:15:23,500 --> 01:15:30,220
between companies. Well, ES and S and Dominion are now competitors with each other, and the

902
01:15:30,220 --> 01:15:36,280
heart-interceptive system in place in Delco. Their system shares similar adjudication functions.

903
01:15:36,880 --> 01:15:42,240
The very type of back-and-logic, a critic described as a vector for hidden manipulation.

904
01:15:43,660 --> 01:15:50,120
There is, in fact, in 2014, electronic floating system pattern that allows election workers

905
01:15:50,120 --> 01:15:53,580
to digitally alter or generate valid image records,

906
01:15:54,020 --> 01:15:56,180
quote without rescanning, unquote,

907
01:15:56,600 --> 01:16:00,460
allowing votes to be added or changed with no physical trace.

908
01:16:01,160 --> 01:16:03,920
This shows that the course software behavior described

909
01:16:03,920 --> 01:16:08,240
by Curtis remains possible and even more sophisticated today.

910
01:16:09,480 --> 01:16:11,680
Perhaps this is why the current administration

911
01:16:11,680 --> 01:16:16,000
like democratically elected officials in the past

912
01:16:16,000 --> 01:16:19,280
feels in need to get rid of melon ballots and voting machines.

913
01:16:19,280 --> 01:16:21,620
We need paper ballots in hand counting.

914
01:16:22,000 --> 01:16:23,060
Thank you.

915
01:16:23,200 --> 01:16:25,260
David Cleary and Rael, LePenta.

916
01:16:32,940 --> 01:16:33,520
The materials.

917
01:16:37,550 --> 01:16:39,050
David Cleary, Conqueror, Township.

918
01:16:39,210 --> 01:16:41,270
They have some paperwork going to pass up.

919
01:16:42,370 --> 01:16:44,030
The first one will be this piece of paper.

920
01:16:44,110 --> 01:16:48,470
It's a copy from the State of Pennsylvania's

921
01:16:48,470 --> 01:16:50,570
mail-in ballot application website.

922
01:16:51,350 --> 01:16:53,130
This obviously started last fall.

923
01:16:53,710 --> 01:16:56,990
The county election page, right at the top of the page,

924
01:16:56,990 --> 01:17:03,230
the link for information for military voters was broken and unavailable and nobody caught it.

925
01:17:03,230 --> 01:17:10,110
And as I did more research into the opportunities for folks to mail in ballot, what happened

926
01:17:10,110 --> 01:17:14,810
when they created this web portal at the state level to allow people to apply for mail

927
01:17:14,810 --> 01:17:18,910
in ballots is they decided to exclude military folks for using it.

928
01:17:19,150 --> 01:17:24,090
I presented this topic before I've talked to Mr. Allen quite a bit and folks, I think it

929
01:17:24,090 --> 01:17:30,370
Miss Amale mentioned the public forum that I was trying to create a different system. I'm not and I'm asking the

930
01:17:30,370 --> 01:17:36,950
County to say hey, this would make our job easier if you allow the military folks to use the online web portal

931
01:17:36,950 --> 01:17:44,310
because then we don't have to manually enter the data on the forms that they're making them send in paper wise now and it's

932
01:17:44,310 --> 01:17:52,430
particularly kind of frustrating if you'll see on the bottom here it says which is available to all voters and they ask you

933
01:17:52,430 --> 01:17:56,450
Well, if you click, yes, it doesn't allow you to proceed.

934
01:17:56,570 --> 01:17:58,910
I even went into the veterans office here,

935
01:17:58,910 --> 01:18:00,650
and there was two young staffers working,

936
01:18:01,150 --> 01:18:02,890
and I asked them, go try this.

937
01:18:03,190 --> 01:18:04,130
And they walked through it,

938
01:18:04,130 --> 01:18:05,890
and one of the young staffers turned it me

939
01:18:05,890 --> 01:18:09,330
after she realized that the continued button's not available.

940
01:18:09,530 --> 01:18:11,370
If you select it, you serve in the military.

941
01:18:11,950 --> 01:18:13,030
She said, that's discrimination.

942
01:18:14,270 --> 01:18:16,690
I get it, you guys don't make the state web page.

943
01:18:17,370 --> 01:18:19,430
I'd appreciate, I heard one person say,

944
01:18:19,490 --> 01:18:20,850
I'm trying to create a different system

945
01:18:20,850 --> 01:18:22,950
that works that's sitting in this room.

946
01:18:23,610 --> 01:18:23,890
I'm not.

947
01:18:24,070 --> 01:18:26,650
I'm asking that you step up and say let's include

948
01:18:26,650 --> 01:18:27,730
the military folks.

949
01:18:28,430 --> 01:18:31,270
And I've tried to get in contact with the election board,

950
01:18:31,870 --> 01:18:34,030
their email doesn't work for some reason.

951
01:18:34,230 --> 01:18:35,310
It got kicked back.

952
01:18:35,530 --> 01:18:37,170
And I've talked to Mr. Allen quite a bit,

953
01:18:37,350 --> 01:18:40,590
and he's tried to convince me that it's not discrimination

954
01:18:40,590 --> 01:18:41,910
or whatever you want to call it.

955
01:18:42,330 --> 01:18:44,650
I, that's the effort to walk through it.

956
01:18:44,670 --> 01:18:45,110
Absolutely.

957
01:18:45,250 --> 01:18:46,670
If you go try the web portal,

958
01:18:47,170 --> 01:18:49,730
it's not there for the military voters.

959
01:18:49,730 --> 01:18:52,950
So I'd like your support, or you to stand up and say,

960
01:18:53,230 --> 01:18:54,690
we got to do this better for them.

961
01:18:55,270 --> 01:18:57,110
The other two things there, I have this sheet.

962
01:18:57,250 --> 01:18:59,350
It says, no kings on it in the middle of it.

963
01:18:59,770 --> 01:19:00,830
I'm going problem.

964
01:19:01,290 --> 01:19:03,450
12 years ago, I came to council and asked

965
01:19:03,450 --> 01:19:05,770
that the capellies have to pay their taxes.

966
01:19:05,970 --> 01:19:07,950
They're the royal, the out and conquered down ship.

967
01:19:09,030 --> 01:19:10,870
And mysteriously, I got prosecuted

968
01:19:10,870 --> 01:19:12,510
for criminal Sunday morning jogging.

969
01:19:12,810 --> 01:19:14,990
12 years ago, today I got email informing me

970
01:19:14,990 --> 01:19:17,850
that at some point a criminal charge will come up against me

971
01:19:17,850 --> 01:19:19,110
that even know what it was yet.

972
01:19:19,970 --> 01:19:26,490
we got to stop that. And I have a right to know request that's submitted because there's

973
01:19:26,490 --> 01:19:31,410
another, yet another compelling taxing problem out in Concord Township and the county

974
01:19:31,410 --> 01:19:35,530
can straighten out. The other thing I have is a right to know request I would like to

975
01:19:35,530 --> 01:19:38,370
see the finances for the last five years for the euros.

976
01:19:39,110 --> 01:19:44,560
It's $1. It's $1.4 million. Thank you very much.

977
01:19:44,560 --> 01:19:47,540
Rayal Lupenta and Rosalind Spiegel.

978
01:19:59,360 --> 01:20:00,580
Good evening, Council members.

979
01:20:01,520 --> 01:20:05,220
How many times in your life have you been called,

980
01:20:06,520 --> 01:20:08,720
the worst word a woman could be called?

981
01:20:09,220 --> 01:20:11,900
Maybe one, two, probably never.

982
01:20:12,960 --> 01:20:17,220
This week alone, I've been called that 24 times in text messages.

983
01:20:18,160 --> 01:20:21,220
This is something that has been happening for years.

984
01:20:22,240 --> 01:20:25,520
No one in the county will help me.

985
01:20:25,960 --> 01:20:28,460
This is absolutely abuse.

986
01:20:29,180 --> 01:20:31,060
This is not an isolated incident.

987
01:20:32,280 --> 01:20:36,680
I've been repeatedly denied help by police, PFA's and DEP.

988
01:20:37,660 --> 01:20:42,820
It's abuse, it's harassment, and it continues because the agencies in this county are failing.

989
01:20:43,320 --> 01:20:45,820
I'm not standing here because it's just one bad day.

990
01:20:46,220 --> 01:20:49,560
I'm standing here because the system that you oversee is broken.

991
01:20:50,920 --> 01:20:53,320
And people like me are left to suffer.

992
01:20:54,100 --> 01:21:00,080
On February 19th, when we spoke last time, Council Ruther wrote to me directly acknowledging

993
01:21:00,080 --> 01:21:05,480
that judges in attorneys find this is a big issue with the misuse of PFA's, making false

994
01:21:05,480 --> 01:21:09,580
allegations here in Delco is a big issue that ruins lives.

995
01:21:10,260 --> 01:21:15,260
Attorneys are saying that judges are saying that we have the numbers and nothing has

996
01:21:15,260 --> 01:21:15,720
been done.

997
01:21:15,720 --> 01:21:21,860
No one answers my emails back, you know, there's no follow-up with then talking to attorneys.

998
01:21:25,990 --> 01:21:28,230
I've done everything that's the S of me.

999
01:21:28,570 --> 01:21:32,130
I followed the procedures, I brought the evidence, I proposed the solutions.

1000
01:21:32,750 --> 01:21:36,730
You were staff, judges, attorneys are acknowledging this longstanding problem.

1001
01:21:37,190 --> 01:21:40,250
And while you sit in silence, the abuse gets worse.

1002
01:21:40,590 --> 01:21:43,670
Victims don't come forward because they know that nothing will happen.

1003
01:21:44,150 --> 01:21:45,670
Nothing or worse retaliation.

1004
01:21:45,670 --> 01:21:56,330
Family court victims, CVS victims, survivors of this misuse of PFA's, we are silence, not only by our abusers, but by the very institutions meant to protect us.

1005
01:21:56,470 --> 01:22:01,770
I'm exhausted from being polite. I'm exhausted from being told there's nothing that anyone can do.

1006
01:22:02,130 --> 01:22:09,610
Because if this was your child and your family or your friend, I guarantee there's something you could do in that individual case.

1007
01:22:10,330 --> 01:22:15,470
Council, you cannot keep protecting each other and making excuses and worrying about an image.

1008
01:22:15,830 --> 01:22:20,150
Delco doesn't need more silence, it needs courage, we need leaders that are willing

1009
01:22:20,150 --> 01:22:26,090
to confront the bullies and power to protect families instead of abandoning them.

1010
01:22:26,490 --> 01:22:29,150
This is your responsibility and this is your community.

1011
01:22:29,770 --> 01:22:33,490
I've asked for acknowledgement through an international awareness day.

1012
01:22:33,750 --> 01:22:37,870
You know everybody's getting involved in the run and the park and the trails, this is a

1013
01:22:37,870 --> 01:22:42,410
significant issue and I can't understand why there's crickets when I've asked for that

1014
01:22:42,410 --> 01:22:43,090
proclamation.

1015
01:22:43,710 --> 01:22:54,440
We've asked several times, I just, I don't understand the ignorance of this, but, you

1016
01:22:54,440 --> 01:22:58,160
know, you have to start acting like the caring of the well-being of these citizens, you

1017
01:22:58,160 --> 01:22:59,320
support a serve of matters.

1018
01:23:01,840 --> 01:23:03,960
Rosalind Spiegel, an Albert Johnson.

1019
01:23:14,890 --> 01:23:15,350
Good evening.

1020
01:23:15,950 --> 01:23:19,670
I'm very happy to be here and for this opportunity to make this comment.

1021
01:23:19,670 --> 01:23:28,150
My name is Roslyn Spiegel, I am a resident of Haverford Township, and I am rising in support

1022
01:23:28,150 --> 01:23:33,150
100% support for your consideration of the Human Relations Commission ordinance.

1023
01:23:33,810 --> 01:23:41,910
I am the chair of the Haverford Township Human Relations Commission, and our mission is to

1024
01:23:41,910 --> 01:23:48,230
recognize the inherent dignity of and worth of all people through education, mediation,

1025
01:23:48,230 --> 01:23:53,790
and community outreach our Human Relations Commission strives to ensure that all members of

1026
01:23:53,790 --> 01:23:59,630
have a free township community enjoy equality and equal protection under the law.

1027
01:24:00,770 --> 01:24:05,490
Our ordinance ensures this protection in the areas of public accommodation, education,

1028
01:24:05,830 --> 01:24:11,690
and housing, and it gives people a process for filing a complaint if they think their rights

1029
01:24:11,690 --> 01:24:18,030
have been violated. This is an important moment for the county to express its commitment

1030
01:24:18,030 --> 01:24:20,970
to kindness, fairness, and justice.

1031
01:24:21,810 --> 01:24:24,750
I fully support the counties adoption of this ordinance.

1032
01:24:25,210 --> 01:24:26,390
Thank you so much.

1033
01:24:28,440 --> 01:24:31,120
Albert Johnson, and if there's anyone who did not sign up,

1034
01:24:31,220 --> 01:24:34,080
would like to speak, please approach the front of the room.

1035
01:24:38,260 --> 01:24:40,540
Good evening, County Council, and everyone

1036
01:24:40,540 --> 01:24:42,960
that is allowing me to have this moment to speak.

1037
01:24:43,180 --> 01:24:44,220
Blessings to you.

1038
01:24:44,600 --> 01:24:46,900
I am an officer at the Delaware County Prison,

1039
01:24:47,480 --> 01:24:49,680
County Citizen as well, I live in Morton, Pennsylvania.

1040
01:24:50,580 --> 01:24:52,600
I have not been to meeting as a recent,

1041
01:24:52,600 --> 01:24:59,920
we have been trying to come to some resolve at the facility as far as the officer's safety.

1042
01:25:00,620 --> 01:25:04,640
Usually when I come in here, that is what I speak on and it is very important.

1043
01:25:05,160 --> 01:25:11,120
I don't know if you have been informed or have been transparent with the current leadership there,

1044
01:25:11,420 --> 01:25:18,520
but it is not safe there. Inmates are able to go to any door at any time, go into another cell

1045
01:25:18,520 --> 01:25:22,320
and commit criminal things against each other.

1046
01:25:22,820 --> 01:25:25,500
The $25 that you are giving these inmates

1047
01:25:25,500 --> 01:25:28,420
to help them is hurting them.

1048
01:25:28,700 --> 01:25:31,540
They are being extorted as well.

1049
01:25:32,320 --> 01:25:35,820
It is not just safe for us either.

1050
01:25:36,880 --> 01:25:39,140
And at some point in the future,

1051
01:25:40,080 --> 01:25:42,760
the union, which I represent the Delaware County Prison

1052
01:25:42,760 --> 01:25:44,240
Employee Independent Union,

1053
01:25:44,800 --> 01:25:47,500
want to work with the next person

1054
01:25:47,500 --> 01:25:49,860
that you choose to be in that facility.

1055
01:25:51,260 --> 01:25:56,280
We want to work with you, to sergeage you and it want to work with that individual to find

1056
01:25:56,280 --> 01:26:00,260
out what their true, true goal is in that place.

1057
01:26:00,780 --> 01:26:08,540
And we can support that, but if there's no communication and no ability to talk with leadership

1058
01:26:08,540 --> 01:26:12,100
to have things done safely in there, we'll never get ahead in there.

1059
01:26:12,540 --> 01:26:14,040
We cannot retain officers.

1060
01:26:14,040 --> 01:26:19,140
You see pictures and slides of new classes coming out, maybe one, maybe two will stay.

1061
01:26:19,920 --> 01:26:23,680
Please remember that every time you see those slides, none of them are staying.

1062
01:26:24,460 --> 01:26:29,420
The morale is at a all time low, whoever is coming in there next.

1063
01:26:30,120 --> 01:26:33,480
You think the building was a burden to pick up when the county took over.

1064
01:26:33,860 --> 01:26:37,840
You have so much contention in that place right now.

1065
01:26:37,840 --> 01:26:44,360
Officers that have been injured in the course of duty are put on light duty in our man-dated

1066
01:26:44,960 --> 01:26:48,480
for another eight hours. We have been

1067
01:26:48,480 --> 01:26:52,860
Potitioning and Potitioning through negotiation through you guys

1068
01:26:53,320 --> 01:26:57,940
Give us our split shifts back. So at least

1069
01:26:58,580 --> 01:27:06,160
We can be physically able to do the job. We don't get relieved until a half hour, 45 minutes after the shift

1070
01:27:06,160 --> 01:27:13,640
officers are getting two to three hours sleep in between each shift. We're not even physically

1071
01:27:13,640 --> 01:27:19,380
able to do the job because we're not getting rest. I'm asking that you step in, making

1072
01:27:19,380 --> 01:27:25,580
an executive decision to protect us, get the doors fixed. However, we can get them fixed.

1073
01:27:25,700 --> 01:27:31,840
The air conditioners we appreciate the renovation, but more importantly than that, if we're

1074
01:27:31,840 --> 01:27:37,180
not alive and safe to be in there. What's the point? Thank you.

1075
01:27:37,640 --> 01:27:38,560
Next speaker, please.

1076
01:27:49,650 --> 01:27:51,250
Jofino Brumon, Pennsylvania.

1077
01:27:52,410 --> 01:28:00,850
I find myself silly, disarmed by a couple of the comments by Councilperson Madden and

1078
01:28:00,850 --> 01:28:03,970
Mohmack, which I'm actually encouraging to tell you the truth.

1079
01:28:04,670 --> 01:28:07,510
But since I only have three minutes, I'm just going to rush through this.

1080
01:28:08,230 --> 01:28:13,310
I find it incredulous with all the problems in this world and all the controversial issues

1081
01:28:13,310 --> 01:28:18,530
in this country that the Council can focus on some social issues.

1082
01:28:19,430 --> 01:28:19,470
Why?

1083
01:28:19,670 --> 01:28:23,430
Because it's easier to cater to the theater and the headlights crowd that continues to

1084
01:28:23,430 --> 01:28:26,510
come here and sing Council's praises on some issues.

1085
01:28:27,250 --> 01:28:31,870
We have a woman back here in fact this gentleman just spoke Kim Brown who works at George

1086
01:28:31,870 --> 01:28:35,910
Joe who was first in knowledge of the problems there and pleats for help but every meeting.

1087
01:28:35,910 --> 01:28:38,410
Then we have the issue of Don Guinella.

1088
01:28:39,390 --> 01:28:44,570
More than once I have suggested a line with a developer, not to develop the property commercially,

1089
01:28:45,790 --> 01:28:51,010
but in accordance with some other issues we could do, possibly turn it into an entertainment

1090
01:28:51,010 --> 01:28:56,150
facility for the county and give that developer a piece of the action and exchange for

1091
01:28:56,150 --> 01:29:00,270
the work that would alleviate the financial issues there.

1092
01:29:00,710 --> 01:29:03,430
These are only two subjects along with many other things.

1093
01:29:03,430 --> 01:29:09,070
But the Council is concerned about providing, in effect, sanctuary status to illegal aliens.

1094
01:29:09,670 --> 01:29:10,650
There is no undocumented.

1095
01:29:11,370 --> 01:29:13,590
You are here legally in this country or you are not.

1096
01:29:14,210 --> 01:29:18,650
The Council has a series of venue machines to provide free condoms amongst other things.

1097
01:29:19,150 --> 01:29:20,970
I keep thinking and I'll keep this clean.

1098
01:29:21,550 --> 01:29:23,170
Someone from let's say have referred.

1099
01:29:23,670 --> 01:29:26,570
At 3 a.m. when it's snowy night in the middle of the cold January,

1100
01:29:27,210 --> 01:29:27,950
needs a condom.

1101
01:29:28,450 --> 01:29:30,650
And even Amazon can't deliver that fast.

1102
01:29:30,650 --> 01:29:35,690
So they rush out to meet you, go around the corner here, and the snow to get that I've

1103
01:29:35,690 --> 01:29:36,490
done in the machine.

1104
01:29:37,570 --> 01:29:41,430
Now we have the issue of a proposal of a human relations commission.

1105
01:29:42,110 --> 01:29:46,030
What kind of message is all of this sending to the young people in this county?

1106
01:29:47,490 --> 01:29:53,650
As Kevin Madden said in a way, and certainly Mr. Womack, creating more jobs and wealth

1107
01:29:53,650 --> 01:29:58,870
and it's county is more important than who's sex is on the bathroom door.

1108
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:24,360
Or men playing in women's boards are getting a free condom at 3 a.m. in the morning. Even I, who is just one person and semi retired, has two scholarships, more properly stipends because they are not full scholarships at a local educational institution to help two young people get an education. You need to get off the social issues and get back to just the financial ones. Thank you.

1109
01:30:24,360 --> 01:30:26,040
next speaker please.

1110
01:30:34,420 --> 01:30:40,260
Hello, my name is Tevin Dix. I'm a trucks low. So I want to address the issue because I

1111
01:30:40,260 --> 01:30:46,540
almost talk about voting and I'm trying to fix with our elections. I do strongly believe we need to get rid

1112
01:30:46,540 --> 01:30:54,880
of mail-in voting. When I'm okay with early early voting and in person voting, mail-in voting people think it's

1113
01:30:54,880 --> 01:31:00,040
good and everything but I've seen a lot of fraud happen. I've seen where we witnessed it and I've witnessed

1114
01:31:00,040 --> 01:31:06,860
in 2020, and from, you know, who's coming, like, you know, these ballots are that they go to abandoned homes.

1115
01:31:07,040 --> 01:31:09,360
There's people have been dead for over 10 to 100 years.

1116
01:31:10,000 --> 01:31:13,360
You've got people who can sign in someone's, like, you have a family or that's been dead.

1117
01:31:13,360 --> 01:31:16,400
And you can easily just vote for, had them vote for somebody.

1118
01:31:17,100 --> 01:31:20,820
I've seen where, you know, like, they come in like days after the election.

1119
01:31:20,940 --> 01:31:24,600
And that's a serious issue. That could just cause so many delays.

1120
01:31:25,540 --> 01:31:27,600
I've just, I've seen this happen multiple times.

1121
01:31:27,600 --> 01:31:31,020
And that's something that we need to get rid of.

1122
01:31:31,300 --> 01:31:31,640
Thank you.

1123
01:31:32,820 --> 01:31:33,820
Next speaker, please.

1124
01:31:40,500 --> 01:31:40,900
I apologize.

1125
01:31:41,120 --> 01:31:42,020
My back's to you.

1126
01:31:42,500 --> 01:31:43,380
I'm Peggy Malone.

1127
01:31:43,460 --> 01:31:45,740
I am a former behavioral health nurse, a

1128
01:31:45,740 --> 01:31:47,020
Crozier, a medical center,

1129
01:31:47,440 --> 01:31:49,500
representing the 2700 employees that

1130
01:31:49,500 --> 01:31:51,360
lost their jobs for months ago.

1131
01:31:51,900 --> 01:31:53,160
We are relieved that there are

1132
01:31:53,160 --> 01:31:55,080
behavioral health services returning to our

1133
01:31:55,080 --> 01:31:55,960
community.

1134
01:31:56,000 --> 01:31:58,140
Our community is suffering greatly.

1135
01:31:58,460 --> 01:32:00,560
And so this quick or we can get that up and

1136
01:32:00,560 --> 01:32:02,080
It's most important.

1137
01:32:03,520 --> 01:32:05,980
I hear you talk about a crisis stabilization unit.

1138
01:32:06,300 --> 01:32:07,840
Is that similar to inpatient?

1139
01:32:07,980 --> 01:32:10,280
We had a pretty robust inpatient unit.

1140
01:32:10,800 --> 01:32:12,880
It is short term care.

1141
01:32:13,140 --> 01:32:14,320
So three to five day length.

1142
01:32:14,380 --> 01:32:14,880
Stay tuned.

1143
01:32:16,600 --> 01:32:19,620
So no plan for inpatient in the panel.

1144
01:32:20,180 --> 01:32:22,880
Is that okay?

1145
01:32:23,540 --> 01:32:23,940
Okay.

1146
01:32:24,440 --> 01:32:27,780
And I think what I want to say most important is that

1147
01:32:27,780 --> 01:32:34,300
we're hoping to get a commitment that they will prioritize hiring some of the 2700 people

1148
01:32:34,300 --> 01:32:39,320
who have lost their jobs as they start to hire for these new positions because there are

1149
01:32:39,320 --> 01:32:44,500
still so many people out of work who formally worked at Crozier who are unable to find

1150
01:32:44,500 --> 01:32:49,740
positions. And again, our behavioral health was a pretty large department and many people would

1151
01:32:49,740 --> 01:32:51,760
benefit from being able to get jobs.

1152
01:32:54,860 --> 01:32:55,540
Next speaker, please.

1153
01:33:01,040 --> 01:33:03,240
Good evening. My name is Jamie. I live in

1154
01:33:04,540 --> 01:33:09,240
I'm with an organization called Put People First P.A. I can move that up.

1155
01:33:10,160 --> 01:33:15,380
We're a member-led, staff-free organization statewide fighting for a health care as a human right.

1156
01:33:16,000 --> 01:33:25,660
And here in Southeast P.A., we've been doing a lot of work talking to community members around the health care crisis that we're in right now, around the closure closures.

1157
01:33:26,960 --> 01:33:33,480
One name that's statewide, we've had 26 hospitals close in the past five years and four

1158
01:33:33,480 --> 01:33:36,580
of those hospitals have been in Delaware County.

1159
01:33:37,060 --> 01:33:44,580
And I think that driving by Crozier Chester earlier today and just seeing it go further

1160
01:33:44,580 --> 01:33:51,260
and did this repair as it sits vacant is just a crime and I think we all know that.

1161
01:33:51,260 --> 01:33:59,980
I think there's a feeling of or there's a narrative of sort of false scarcity, where we're really in the midst of abundance.

1162
01:34:01,580 --> 01:34:08,120
And I ask why in our poor and low-income neighborhood, especially we're losing access to healthcare services.

1163
01:34:09,800 --> 01:34:14,720
So I just want to urge that we need really urgent and we need comprehensive solutions.

1164
01:34:14,720 --> 01:34:21,860
We don't need little micro hospitals, we don't need, I heard from someone else like maybe there's a plan for a super urgent care.

1165
01:34:22,180 --> 01:34:25,660
We need hospitals that meet our communities needs.

1166
01:34:25,960 --> 01:34:28,900
We need robust behavioral health services.

1167
01:34:30,500 --> 01:34:34,840
We believe that health care cannot be based on profit.

1168
01:34:35,220 --> 01:34:41,020
It cannot be, right, it has to be based on if you have a body, then you deserve care.

1169
01:34:41,620 --> 01:34:43,560
It has to be based on people's needs.

1170
01:34:44,340 --> 01:34:51,160
So as far as the proposal for Belmont specifically, I do have questions as to whether they

1171
01:34:51,160 --> 01:34:58,440
are for profit entity, also about the location, and about the workers.

1172
01:34:58,600 --> 01:35:04,440
So I want to also stand with Peggy and almost 3,000 workers who lost their jobs at the end

1173
01:35:04,440 --> 01:35:10,660
of April beginning of May, and also urge that those healthcare workers be prioritized in

1174
01:35:10,660 --> 01:35:11,080
this hiring.

1175
01:35:11,640 --> 01:35:12,280
Thank you.

1176
01:35:13,460 --> 01:35:15,000
Next speaker, please.

1177
01:35:23,460 --> 01:35:30,540
Hello, my name is Linda Embry and I live in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, and I was, I'm very nervous.

1178
01:35:30,720 --> 01:35:34,520
I was not going to speak tonight, but I feel called to do so.

1179
01:35:35,480 --> 01:35:38,720
I want to support the Commission.

1180
01:35:40,140 --> 01:35:46,940
I'm the mother, proud mother of a transgender daughter, who is a grown-up and who transition

1181
01:35:46,940 --> 01:35:56,240
four years ago, I celebrate her and her incredible journey every day. She is a really remarkable woman.

1182
01:35:57,580 --> 01:36:03,120
I'm part of a group called the transparent support group. I meet with other parents of transgender

1183
01:36:03,120 --> 01:36:10,840
children and the fear that is in the heart, particularly my daughter is an adult, but particularly

1184
01:36:10,840 --> 01:36:18,960
the parents of young children. It's really terrifying. This is about life or

1185
01:36:18,960 --> 01:36:24,380
death for our children. They need to be who they are. Each of us needs to be

1186
01:36:24,380 --> 01:36:32,820
who we are. My daughter has a great deal of courage and these children have a

1187
01:36:32,820 --> 01:36:33,980
Great deal of courage.

1188
01:36:34,960 --> 01:36:38,360
Nobody would choose such a difficult lifestyle.

1189
01:36:40,100 --> 01:36:49,620
My daughter walked down the streets as an attractive white man and went.

1190
01:36:49,760 --> 01:36:50,800
Flu under the radar.

1191
01:36:51,020 --> 01:36:53,700
Nobody noticed her.

1192
01:36:54,080 --> 01:36:57,860
And now, as she walks through the streets as a transgender woman,

1193
01:36:57,860 --> 01:37:04,040
The amount of oppression that she has to absorb is painful.

1194
01:37:05,260 --> 01:37:07,560
So I just want to support the commission.

1195
01:37:08,040 --> 01:37:13,380
I want to support it is painful that so many of our healthcare systems

1196
01:37:13,380 --> 01:37:18,120
in the Pennsylvania area have stopped providing gender-forming care,

1197
01:37:18,840 --> 01:37:21,020
particularly to people 19 and under,

1198
01:37:21,580 --> 01:37:24,800
and the 19-year-old is an adult and 18-year-old is adult.

1199
01:37:24,800 --> 01:37:27,960
Thank you very much for hearing what I have to say.

1200
01:37:29,340 --> 01:37:30,420
Next speaker, please.

1201
01:37:38,310 --> 01:37:39,870
Michael Strahd, media borough.

1202
01:37:40,430 --> 01:37:41,630
Hello, Delaware County Council.

1203
01:37:43,130 --> 01:37:46,290
I wasn't necessarily planning on speaking tonight,

1204
01:37:47,390 --> 01:37:52,470
but after reviewing the meeting from yesterday,

1205
01:37:52,970 --> 01:37:58,010
I actually wanted to thank Councilwoman Neshafer for her

1206
01:37:58,010 --> 01:38:05,070
comments and concerns regarding the analysis of the proposed Human Relations Commission.

1207
01:38:06,050 --> 01:38:13,250
As an openly gay man, I am in support of having a non-discrimination ordinance, and I'm

1208
01:38:13,250 --> 01:38:21,110
supported non-discrimination ordinances for some time publicly, and in the Commonwealth, the United

1209
01:38:21,110 --> 01:38:29,290
states. So I'm complete supportive having one in Delaware County. However, I am glad to see

1210
01:38:30,050 --> 01:38:36,370
that there is some concern as it relates to the financial burden that this commission

1211
01:38:36,370 --> 01:38:43,630
could place on taxpayers at this current moment. As it was mentioned yesterday, Councilwoman

1212
01:38:43,630 --> 01:38:48,970
you did bring up that there could possibly be training that would need to be required for some

1213
01:38:48,970 --> 01:38:55,850
individuals that would be put on this commission, and that there could be additional costs

1214
01:38:55,850 --> 01:39:02,270
when it comes to programs, when it comes to the studies that are mentioned in this commission

1215
01:39:02,270 --> 01:39:11,310
could commission. And so I just want to thank you and thank anybody else that's thinking about

1216
01:39:11,310 --> 01:39:18,270
that. And I pondered this because there's a possibility that there could be a cost analysis

1217
01:39:18,270 --> 01:39:25,850
regarding this and I pondered whether it's possible if the non-discrimination portion of the

1218
01:39:25,850 --> 01:39:33,130
ordinance could possibly be severed and that could be considered on its own versus being

1219
01:39:33,130 --> 01:39:39,610
together with the Human Relations Commission and that itself could have a cost analysis for

1220
01:39:39,610 --> 01:39:45,390
the county and the future. That's all I had to ask about. I do support the non-discrimination

1221
01:39:45,390 --> 01:39:51,750
ordinance as as itself, the Human Relations Commission at the moment. I'm pretty if you

1222
01:39:51,750 --> 01:39:57,570
are because as we've seen with what we've been dealing with with the budget challenges for

1223
01:39:57,570 --> 01:40:03,470
the county, it's an expense at the moment that I don't know if we can necessarily afford.

1224
01:40:03,850 --> 01:40:06,910
So thank you. Next speaker, please.

1225
01:40:12,870 --> 01:40:20,070
Hi, good evening. My name is Joanne Holston. I live in

1226
01:40:20,070 --> 01:40:27,130
support the amendment, the ordinance that you're putting forward, and very proud of the fact

1227
01:40:27,130 --> 01:40:33,530
that the steps that you're taking to protect people who are vulnerable, the protected class.

1228
01:40:34,250 --> 01:40:42,710
And I find it interesting when a gentleman speaks of social issues as if they aren't human beings,

1229
01:40:42,710 --> 01:40:50,830
As if they are something abstract, we can do social issues, we can walk and shoot them at the same time.

1230
01:40:51,150 --> 01:40:59,910
We can work on social issues along with anything else that we have to work on to improve our township or county.

1231
01:41:01,030 --> 01:41:04,070
Linda spoke so eloquently about her child.

1232
01:41:05,770 --> 01:41:11,270
I ask people to get to know someone that is in the queer community.

1233
01:41:11,270 --> 01:41:17,850
These are human beings that are only looking for the same rights that everybody else has

1234
01:41:17,850 --> 01:41:21,390
not looking for money, they're not looking for, they just want to live.

1235
01:41:21,910 --> 01:41:27,230
In a society where they can have love, that is who they are.

1236
01:41:28,710 --> 01:41:34,250
You're only reiterating there are some protections at the state level, but the way they

1237
01:41:34,250 --> 01:41:45,810
The fine sex is different, doesn't include sexual orientation, and I think that, again, I just want to say thank you.

1238
01:41:46,270 --> 01:42:00,550
I think that looking at this holistically as the human beings that deserve human rights disabled people, they have a place to go if they have to report discrimination.

1239
01:42:00,550 --> 01:42:04,670
and these are all human beings that just need support.

1240
01:42:05,050 --> 01:42:06,150
So thank you very much.

1241
01:42:06,570 --> 01:42:08,250
And Linda, thank you for your story.

1242
01:42:10,210 --> 01:42:11,090
Next speaker, please.

1243
01:42:19,170 --> 01:42:21,630
Good evening, Council Paul Rammley, Springfield.

1244
01:42:22,390 --> 01:42:27,130
I'm reading from a recent article by Wally Non-Broadened Liberty.

1245
01:42:28,990 --> 01:42:33,790
County Council and its infinite wisdom has decided that what Delaware County really

1246
01:42:33,790 --> 01:42:36,350
need is yet another layer of bureaucracy.

1247
01:42:36,350 --> 01:42:40,310
Enter the shiny new human relations commission.

1248
01:42:41,330 --> 01:42:48,350
This body will consist of 7 to 13 volunteers, hand-picked by the county executive and

1249
01:42:48,350 --> 01:42:49,930
rubber stamped by council.

1250
01:42:51,010 --> 01:42:57,210
These unelected appointees will wield the power to investigate, conciliate, adjudicate,

1251
01:42:57,730 --> 01:43:04,730
and find citizens who somehow stumble over the 18 pages of protected classes and prohibitions.

1252
01:43:04,730 --> 01:43:11,710
The ordinance defines an encyclopedia of protected categories, race, ethnicity, religion,

1253
01:43:12,410 --> 01:43:20,550
creed, national origin, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation,

1254
01:43:21,550 --> 01:43:30,770
genetic information, GED over high school diploma, disability, source of income, age, height, weight,

1255
01:43:30,770 --> 01:43:37,170
Veteran status, guide animals, and even domestic or sexual violence victims status.

1256
01:43:38,450 --> 01:43:44,490
Curiously, the ordinance leads out one form of discrimination, financial discrimination

1257
01:43:44,490 --> 01:43:51,690
against working class taxpayers. How much will taxpayers shell out to staff these volunteers?

1258
01:43:53,410 --> 01:43:59,290
How many millions more will be tacked onto the $4.5 million in annual legal bills

1259
01:43:59,290 --> 01:44:06,330
county racks up now. Why do we need a county run commission when the state human relations

1260
01:44:06,330 --> 01:44:12,510
commission already exists? Just like we already had a state health department before the

1261
01:44:12,510 --> 01:44:18,370
council decided they needed their own toy, a county health department to the tune of 20 million

1262
01:44:18,370 --> 01:44:25,970
dollars a year. Progressives claimed to be forward thinking, but with every new bureaucracy, tax,

1263
01:44:25,970 --> 01:44:33,210
and ordinance, the policies become more regressive. Delaware County families burdened by

1264
01:44:33,210 --> 01:44:39,870
soaring costs are already footing the bill for the Council's latest 30% tax increase.

1265
01:44:40,990 --> 01:44:47,070
Knowledgeable sources indicate another 20% increase will be necessary to cover all the new spending.

1266
01:44:48,230 --> 01:44:54,710
How many more duplicate programs can doco residents afford? Does this ever end? Thank you.

1267
01:45:03,850 --> 01:45:04,350
Thank you.

1268
01:45:09,090 --> 01:45:15,750
I'd like to make the motion for the approval of the minutes of the regular meeting held on July 16, 2025.

1269
01:45:18,480 --> 01:45:27,200
Motion and second. Any questions or comments on the minutes? Hearing none, all those in favour, signify by saying aye. Any opposed? The aye.

1270
01:45:28,920 --> 01:45:35,380
Also, I like to make the motion for the appointment of Lee Orgley as county solicitor.

1271
01:45:36,780 --> 01:45:39,040
Motion in a second, any questions or comments?

1272
01:45:40,060 --> 01:45:42,640
Hearing none, all those of you are signified by saying aye.

1273
01:45:43,380 --> 01:45:44,040
Any opposed?

1274
01:45:44,740 --> 01:45:46,160
And the guys have it.

1275
01:45:47,380 --> 01:45:51,320
Next item on the agenda, seven A calls for the first reading, public hearing,

1276
01:45:51,320 --> 01:45:57,660
consideration of Warden's 2025-5 authorizing and erecting the issuance of general obligation

1277
01:45:57,660 --> 01:46:04,000
debt by the county as permitted by and pursuant to the local government unit debt act

1278
01:46:04,000 --> 01:46:07,280
and setting for a related approvals and other matters.

1279
01:46:08,500 --> 01:46:12,900
And we have Ms. Morgan-Haus here from Bower's Smart to present.

1280
01:46:15,100 --> 01:46:15,540
Good evening.

1281
01:46:15,900 --> 01:46:19,800
I will just do a brief overview of the ordinance that's in front of you and then I will open

1282
01:46:19,800 --> 01:46:21,940
it up for any questions that you may have.

1283
01:46:21,940 --> 01:46:25,640
The ordinance in front of you would allow the county to issue the

1284
01:46:25,640 --> 01:46:32,080
incurrence of general obligation debt in a maximum aggregate principle amount of 115 million.

1285
01:46:33,060 --> 01:46:38,080
The bonds would be used to finance various capital projects of the county's capital improvement plan.

1286
01:46:39,200 --> 01:46:46,000
The bonds would be sold pursuant to a private negotiated sale with RBC capital markets as the representatives of the underwriter.

1287
01:46:46,800 --> 01:46:51,040
As I mentioned, the bonds would be tax exempt general obligation bonds,

1288
01:46:51,040 --> 01:47:03,120
Which means as a general obligation, you'll be plugging the full safe credit and taxing power of the county, which means that you would agree to budget and your fiscal year for each year of the bonds route standing to pay the debt service on the bonds.

1289
01:47:04,620 --> 01:47:20,160
The ordinance in front of you sets forth various parameters that will need to be achieved in order to move forward with the issuance of the bonds, such as the maximum aggregate principle amount, as well as maximum interest rate and other parameters set forth in the ordinance as well as on schedule A.

1290
01:47:24,610 --> 01:47:36,770
By adopting the ordinance since they are taxes and bonds, you are agreeing to use the bonds in a matter that complies with the internal revenue code and not to do anything that would cause the bonds to lose their tax exempt status.

1291
01:47:38,090 --> 01:47:41,550
You would also be approving the appointment of dollars.

1292
01:47:41,750 --> 01:47:54,050
As far as your bond accounts, the PFM is your financial advisor, as well as RBC as the purchaser, which would allow us to move forward in helping the county and filing various matters in connection with the bonds as well as filing with the Department of Community and Economic Development.

1293
01:47:54,050 --> 01:47:56,910
which is required under state law.

1294
01:48:00,870 --> 01:48:03,530
Lastly, you would be authorizing various officers,

1295
01:48:03,650 --> 01:48:05,110
including the chair and the vice chair,

1296
01:48:06,270 --> 01:48:08,050
to authorize and execute various documents,

1297
01:48:08,310 --> 01:48:09,510
and connection with the bonds.

1298
01:48:10,310 --> 01:48:12,710
That is just kind of a high brief overview

1299
01:48:12,710 --> 01:48:16,210
of the various things that are contained within this ordinance,

1300
01:48:16,310 --> 01:48:18,590
but I want to open up any questions you may have.

1301
01:48:19,790 --> 01:48:20,850
Thank you. Any questions or comments?

1302
01:48:23,680 --> 01:48:24,480
Here you may.

1303
01:48:25,200 --> 01:48:25,620
Thank you.

1304
01:48:25,780 --> 01:48:27,080
Thank you very much.

1305
01:48:27,080 --> 01:48:32,300
Next item seven B is the first reading public hearing and consideration of ordinance 2025.

1306
01:48:33,240 --> 01:48:37,480
That's 06 authorized in the creation of Delaware County Human Rights Relations Commission.

1307
01:48:38,280 --> 01:48:40,020
And we have Mr. Jacklark and here to present.

1308
01:48:40,840 --> 01:48:41,320
Good evening.

1309
01:48:42,560 --> 01:48:46,480
As the board knows the ordinance that is being proposed with two different things.

1310
01:48:46,640 --> 01:48:54,460
The first is we create a human relations commission which would be empowered to hear alleged violations of the specific provisions of the ordinance itself.

1311
01:48:54,460 --> 01:48:58,620
That board would have the authority to mediate and conciliate disputes.

1312
01:48:58,700 --> 01:49:03,600
It would have the authority to hold public hearings at which it would hear those disputes.

1313
01:49:03,960 --> 01:49:07,660
It could then resolve the disputes by either finding that it was likely to violate a violation

1314
01:49:07,660 --> 01:49:11,080
had occurred or it could determine that no violation had occurred.

1315
01:49:11,520 --> 01:49:15,620
And the event that it found a violation, it could issue an order directing that the violation

1316
01:49:15,620 --> 01:49:21,840
cease, directing that the violation be abated by the payment of money and in the most

1317
01:49:21,840 --> 01:49:27,720
string cases issue at a ward of $500 in fines that would be added to whenever the monetary

1318
01:49:27,720 --> 01:49:29,900
damage is were originally.

1319
01:49:30,680 --> 01:49:34,520
If the order was not complied with, then it could go to the Court of Common Police, filing

1320
01:49:34,520 --> 01:49:38,300
a petition and asking for further relief from the Court of Common Police, which would ultimately

1321
01:49:38,300 --> 01:49:41,740
result in a contempt order if it were pursued to a logical conclusion.

1322
01:49:42,620 --> 01:49:47,700
The other thing that it does is it sets forth the list of areas that discrimination

1323
01:49:47,700 --> 01:49:49,580
from the longer people permitted.

1324
01:49:50,220 --> 01:49:54,480
Those include the protected classes of perceived race, ethnicity, color, religion,

1325
01:49:54,860 --> 01:50:00,440
creed, national origin, or citizenship status, ancestry, sex, including pregnancy, childbirth,

1326
01:50:00,660 --> 01:50:05,560
related medical conditions, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic

1327
01:50:05,560 --> 01:50:10,400
information, marital status, familial status, GED, rather than high school diploma, physical

1328
01:50:10,400 --> 01:50:16,320
or mental disability, relationship or association with a disabled person, source of income,

1329
01:50:16,320 --> 01:50:20,940
The age, height, weight, veteran status, use of guide or support animals, and or mechanical

1330
01:50:20,940 --> 01:50:26,080
aids, or domestic or sexual violence victims status, and the areas in which discrimination

1331
01:50:26,080 --> 01:50:32,320
would be prohibited are the areas of housing, employment, medical care, and education.

1332
01:50:33,300 --> 01:50:34,700
I'm happy to answer your questions to the board.

1333
01:50:37,740 --> 01:50:44,300
I had a question really to address something in the speaker brought up, but my understanding

1334
01:50:44,300 --> 01:50:48,460
is that absent the Human Relations Commission,

1335
01:50:50,900 --> 01:50:53,480
we do not really have a means here at the county

1336
01:50:53,480 --> 01:50:58,900
of enforcing. We can have an anti-discrimination ordinance, but we don't have a means

1337
01:50:58,900 --> 01:51:04,020
of enforcing it without the Human Relations Commission as that. I mean, that's the understanding

1338
01:51:04,020 --> 01:51:08,780
that I'm working under as I think about putting this into effect.

1339
01:51:08,780 --> 01:51:15,040
Yeah, I'm not aware of any local ordinances that don't include an enforcement mechanism that

1340
01:51:15,040 --> 01:51:16,460
have any enforcement.

1341
01:51:17,420 --> 01:51:21,120
And the only enforcement mechanism that I've seen as Human Relations Commission, the police

1342
01:51:21,120 --> 01:51:26,980
do not go out and arrest people for discrimination violations and they're not self-executing,

1343
01:51:27,200 --> 01:51:29,820
so you need to have a mechanism that's built into the ordinance.

1344
01:51:29,960 --> 01:51:37,560
And we really don't have, I mean, I'm unaware of any ordinances like this that create like

1345
01:51:37,560 --> 01:51:43,000
private right of action that somebody who's discriminated against could go to the court of

1346
01:51:43,000 --> 01:51:48,280
common police. I mean we're not the state we can't create that so I think my understanding

1347
01:51:48,280 --> 01:51:58,320
is that the human relations commission is what creates a way to have issues explored to

1348
01:51:58,320 --> 01:52:02,760
determine if there's been a violation of the ordinance. I mean at that point maybe somebody

1349
01:52:02,760 --> 01:52:10,140
could appeal it and could sue, but that's what I understood the reason why they're going

1350
01:52:10,140 --> 01:52:10,600
together.

1351
01:52:11,200 --> 01:52:19,060
And I do agree with the points that Schaefer raised, I think, we need to understand what

1352
01:52:19,060 --> 01:52:24,980
we think the likely utilization is going to be and what sort of staffing, if any, this

1353
01:52:24,980 --> 01:52:30,340
is going to need and what it's going to cost, I think one thing that we have heard from another

1354
01:52:30,340 --> 01:52:37,760
jurisdiction that a county jurisdiction that has a human relations commission is, because

1355
01:52:37,760 --> 01:52:44,580
there is a state human relations commission because most of what we have in this ordinance

1356
01:52:44,580 --> 01:52:52,020
would mirror what can be done already at the state level, that the human relations commission

1357
01:52:52,020 --> 01:52:58,440
that we're talking about creating here would not take jurisdiction of those things that

1358
01:52:58,440 --> 01:53:02,280
could be referred to the state, or where there's a federal redress.

1359
01:53:02,380 --> 01:53:04,460
It wouldn't be taking jurisdiction as that urine.

1360
01:53:04,960 --> 01:53:10,920
I mean, that's how it was presented to me, and that we would be taking jurisdiction

1361
01:53:11,620 --> 01:53:17,760
in those cases where our law differs and where we're covering something that isn't covered

1362
01:53:17,760 --> 01:53:19,840
under the state ordinance.

1363
01:53:20,500 --> 01:53:22,020
So, a couple of different things in there.

1364
01:53:22,220 --> 01:53:25,240
First off, you're absolutely right in terms of the private right of action.

1365
01:53:25,240 --> 01:53:32,420
there is a private right of action that is created in most of the human relations ordinances

1366
01:53:32,420 --> 01:53:38,260
that are out there, Lehigh is one and this proposed draft is another but only after you

1367
01:53:38,260 --> 01:53:43,920
have gone through the human relations commission process. If we did not do that, if we just said,

1368
01:53:43,920 --> 01:53:47,220
we're going to give you a private right of action, you can be your own private attorney general

1369
01:53:47,220 --> 01:53:53,120
and you don't need to go through the HRC process. I can tell you that every single person in

1370
01:53:53,120 --> 01:53:57,960
Delaware County would file all of the discrimination lawsuits under this ordinance because

1371
01:53:57,960 --> 01:54:03,020
the damages that you can recover are very similar to the damages that you would get in front

1372
01:54:03,020 --> 01:54:09,880
of the EEOC and the PHRC, but you wouldn't have to wait the 90, 180 days that you're waiting

1373
01:54:09,880 --> 01:54:15,100
around for those organizations. You go right to court. In every single one of the plaintiffs would

1374
01:54:15,100 --> 01:54:19,960
abandon their federal and state claims and they would just pursue this ordinance because they don't

1375
01:54:19,960 --> 01:54:24,520
care whether they're getting relief under the federal statute or not, they just know

1376
01:54:24,520 --> 01:54:27,420
they're getting their legal fees paid and they're getting their damages and that's

1377
01:54:27,420 --> 01:54:28,840
all they ultimately care about.

1378
01:54:29,980 --> 01:54:35,400
So it's very important to go through the commission process first, otherwise there will be

1379
01:54:35,400 --> 01:54:37,040
a gold rush to Delaware County.

1380
01:54:37,580 --> 01:54:41,620
Also I think that this value to having a body that can conciliate and mediate, that's

1381
01:54:41,620 --> 01:54:45,760
why we have the POC, that's why we have the PA HRC and that's why we would have the

1382
01:54:45,760 --> 01:54:52,000
the Delco HRC. With respect specifically to the question of whether jurisdiction is limited

1383
01:54:52,000 --> 01:55:00,180
here to the issues that cannot be raised at the state level. No, that's not my understanding

1384
01:55:00,180 --> 01:55:05,320
of the local ordinances. Nor is that how this one is drafted. Nor do I see that as how the

1385
01:55:05,320 --> 01:55:09,860
Lee Lee High Ordnance was drafted. In fact, there's a couple of decisions out of the Commonwealth

1386
01:55:09,860 --> 01:55:16,600
court that say that we're not permitted to expand on the rights that are granted by the

1387
01:55:16,600 --> 01:55:17,400
PAHRC.

1388
01:55:17,520 --> 01:55:22,620
So to the extent that there's a cross-roth between the two, we might end up finding ourselves

1389
01:55:22,620 --> 01:55:23,540
in some hot water.

1390
01:55:23,600 --> 01:55:28,180
I say might because that decision by the Commonwealth Court ultimately ended up getting

1391
01:55:28,180 --> 01:55:30,000
overturned by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

1392
01:55:30,160 --> 01:55:35,360
It was on other procedural grounds, so the validity of that determination is very questionable,

1393
01:55:35,540 --> 01:55:39,220
but there is that decision that's out there that I can imagine a brief that says,

1394
01:55:39,220 --> 01:55:44,420
sites to that case, and then just includes, you know, overturned another grounds in a parathetical afterward.

1395
01:55:46,140 --> 01:55:49,140
We can't however change the ordinance to do that.

1396
01:55:51,050 --> 01:55:56,790
Well, I think, you know, this, I think procedurally it's important for people to understand that

1397
01:55:58,090 --> 01:56:03,810
recognizing, you know, what some of our speakers said today and what's obvious in the news

1398
01:56:06,190 --> 01:56:16,470
There are people who have differences in the way they live their lives and how they're

1399
01:56:16,470 --> 01:56:27,970
seen that need to be addressed because they are facing challenges that most people

1400
01:56:29,450 --> 01:56:39,450
cisgender people don't face, I think that's a reality, and the people who say, why are we dealing with social issues?

1401
01:56:39,670 --> 01:56:46,250
I don't know if they realize that half of our budget, half of the money, this county spends more than half every year,

1402
01:56:46,570 --> 01:56:51,650
goes to dealing with social issues, it goes to dealing with mental illness, it goes to dealing with child abuse,

1403
01:56:51,650 --> 01:56:53,510
it goes to dealing with elder care.

1404
01:56:53,910 --> 01:56:59,830
It goes to dealing with the trauma resulting from bullying

1405
01:56:59,830 --> 01:57:02,930
and crime victims and that they experience.

1406
01:57:03,510 --> 01:57:07,930
You know, that is more than 50% of what the employees

1407
01:57:07,930 --> 01:57:09,150
of this county deal with.

1408
01:57:09,230 --> 01:57:12,050
So to say, let's just go back to dealing with fiscal issues

1409
01:57:12,050 --> 01:57:14,470
and Mr. Finio left, because you know,

1410
01:57:14,550 --> 01:57:16,430
he's really only interested in coming up here

1411
01:57:16,430 --> 01:57:19,150
and saying, what he has to say and not actually hearing

1412
01:57:19,150 --> 01:57:27,850
about the government that he's criticizing, but that's what we deal with, and this is a means

1413
01:57:27,850 --> 01:57:34,150
of trying to address some of those issues, not through a process that we run, but hopefully

1414
01:57:34,150 --> 01:57:40,250
through a cost-effective process that can be run by volunteers, but we do have work to do to work

1415
01:57:40,250 --> 01:57:45,610
through it. And this policy, this process that we're starting with the first reading is to get

1416
01:57:45,610 --> 01:57:52,430
is going. And to also have people who have experiences, lived experiences, or maybe who

1417
01:57:52,430 --> 01:57:57,630
worked through with human relation commissions and other jurisdictions come and share those

1418
01:57:57,630 --> 01:58:05,530
experiences with us and help us improve this ordinance, if that's what it needs. So I'm

1419
01:58:05,530 --> 01:58:15,590
very supportive of this process. I'm not saying I wouldn't support some changes to the

1420
01:58:15,590 --> 01:58:20,710
been raised by other council members or valid, but I also feel like there's a real need.

1421
01:58:21,370 --> 01:58:26,490
We have to spend some of our time doing this because we spend more than 50% of our employee

1422
01:58:26,490 --> 01:58:32,190
time and more than 50% of the dollars that gets spent by this county dealing with social

1423
01:58:32,190 --> 01:58:32,770
issues.

1424
01:58:36,410 --> 01:58:42,290
I'm not going to repeat the comments I made yesterday, I voiced some concerns which I'm confident

1425
01:58:42,290 --> 01:58:44,510
that we will look into all of those concerns

1426
01:58:44,510 --> 01:58:48,230
as we contemplate introducing a second reading.

1427
01:58:49,770 --> 01:58:53,710
But I want to reiterate that this isn't coming out of thin air.

1428
01:58:54,070 --> 01:58:58,310
This is coming in front of us because we have residents

1429
01:58:58,310 --> 01:59:02,450
who feel under siege and who've come to us and asked for help.

1430
01:59:03,050 --> 01:59:06,210
And our job is to protect our residents

1431
01:59:06,210 --> 01:59:08,650
from discrimination when it is happening.

1432
01:59:08,650 --> 01:59:13,350
And this isn't an attempt to address that.

1433
01:59:14,350 --> 01:59:15,410
It's not perfect.

1434
01:59:15,650 --> 01:59:17,990
We have things to change in my opinion.

1435
01:59:18,050 --> 01:59:19,830
We have things to change in this ordinance.

1436
01:59:21,410 --> 01:59:32,290
But for me, the notion of setting up a low-cost mechanism that will focus on mediation and conciliation has great value.

1437
01:59:32,290 --> 01:59:42,290
and could serve to really recognize instances of discrimination and expeditiously deal with them.

1438
01:59:43,330 --> 01:59:44,470
And I see value in that.

1439
01:59:44,590 --> 01:59:51,750
So I hope that we can find a way to make this work and that we can we can draft an ordinance get to a place where we're not

1440
01:59:51,750 --> 01:59:55,770
straining our finances and we can set up a mechanism that works.

1441
02:00:00,780 --> 02:00:06,520
Any additional questions or comment? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank

1442
02:00:16,000 --> 02:00:33,640
you. All right. I make a motion for the approval of a grant agreement to do our accounting historical society at the amount of $50,000 to provide support for the preservation and access to DC-8S-collective services approval.

1443
02:00:36,370 --> 02:00:39,110
Motion and the second. Any questions or comments?

1444
02:00:40,230 --> 02:00:43,290
I hear none all of the favour signify by saying aye.

1445
02:00:43,730 --> 02:00:44,910
I'm getting opposed.

1446
02:00:45,510 --> 02:00:49,210
I'd just like to note that I'm abstaining as I'm on the board.

1447
02:00:53,220 --> 02:00:54,480
Item 9A.

1448
02:00:55,240 --> 02:00:58,760
I make the motion for the approval to renew contract number M8.

1449
02:00:59,040 --> 02:01:06,660
13 slash 25 with child guidance resource centers of fiscal year 2025 and 2026.

1450
02:01:07,120 --> 02:01:08,520
72 solicitors approval.

1451
02:01:09,400 --> 02:01:09,620
Second.

1452
02:01:11,850 --> 02:01:12,030
Motion.

1453
02:01:12,210 --> 02:01:13,430
Second any questions or comments?

1454
02:01:13,430 --> 02:01:18,330
Just that as a member of the Board of Child Guides and I have to recuse myself.

1455
02:01:21,510 --> 02:01:23,110
Thank you.

1456
02:01:23,230 --> 02:01:24,610
Any additional questions or comments?

1457
02:01:25,090 --> 02:01:27,190
Hearing none all those of the favors, if I was saying aye.

1458
02:01:28,070 --> 02:01:28,810
Any opposed?

1459
02:01:30,210 --> 02:01:31,250
Yes, have it.

1460
02:01:34,420 --> 02:01:36,060
We go to like the Senate agenda.

1461
02:01:36,440 --> 02:01:40,600
I just want to let the public know that all of our items on the consent agenda was reviewed

1462
02:01:40,600 --> 02:01:46,020
that are pre-agenda meeting on Tuesday and discussed in full details.

1463
02:01:46,020 --> 02:01:56,220
Any member of Council has the right to have anything removed from the consent agenda, or they can elaborate on any other issues that they choose to do so.

1464
02:01:57,420 --> 02:02:06,560
If there is no one that wants to make a motion having anything removed, I'd like to make the motion to approve consent agenda items today through 10 A.S.

1465
02:02:06,560 --> 02:02:11,460
has this graph and we know it's a nice agenda subject to solicitor approval.

1466
02:02:15,840 --> 02:02:18,820
Motion and the second are there any questions or comments on the consent agenda?

1467
02:02:20,480 --> 02:02:23,140
Hearing none all those of the favour, signify by saying aye.

1468
02:02:23,940 --> 02:02:24,640
Any opposed?

1469
02:02:25,900 --> 02:02:26,980
May I have

1470
02:02:33,220 --> 02:02:34,180
any agenda?

1471
02:02:34,500 --> 02:02:36,900
Calls for communications from our executive director.

1472
02:02:38,040 --> 02:02:38,340
Thank you.

1473
02:02:38,780 --> 02:02:44,140
I wanted to share some information on some important budget-related issues that the county is facing.

1474
02:02:44,880 --> 02:02:48,500
As you may know, Pennsylvania has not yet passed a new budget.

1475
02:02:49,320 --> 02:02:52,020
The state fiscal year begins on July 1.

1476
02:02:52,780 --> 02:02:56,100
We've received a letter from the Governor's Office on July 29th,

1477
02:02:56,280 --> 02:02:59,400
and in that letter, the state informed us that,

1478
02:02:59,520 --> 02:03:03,200
quote, information regarding some of the payments from the Department of Aging,

1479
02:03:03,480 --> 02:03:06,100
drug and alcohol programs, health and human services,

1480
02:03:06,520 --> 02:03:10,480
that will be delayed over the next six months in the absence of a completed budget

1481
02:03:10,480 --> 02:03:18,460
are as follows and quote, you can see listed on the screen the varies payments that will not be made.

1482
02:03:19,140 --> 02:03:23,020
This represents over a half a billion dollars across the state.

1483
02:03:23,980 --> 02:03:27,940
These payments support critical service in all counties within the state.

1484
02:03:28,800 --> 02:03:33,500
Critical services for residents such as the investigation of child abuse and neglect.

1485
02:03:34,460 --> 02:03:37,680
Support for mental health programs, drug and alcohol treatment,

1486
02:03:37,680 --> 02:03:46,060
funding for our senior programs for food safety initiatives and maternal and child health services and more.

1487
02:03:46,900 --> 02:03:52,120
Our health and social services staff are working hard to evaluate the financial impact of this freeze.

1488
02:03:53,260 --> 02:03:58,660
This is a funding freeze, not a cut, which means the council will eventually receive the funding.

1489
02:03:58,660 --> 02:04:08,520
However, we must implement how long we can continue these services without receiving the funding from the state to pay providers or staff and others.

1490
02:04:10,080 --> 02:04:16,780
Again, this freeze is effective immediately and affects payments for July and August that we typically receive.

1491
02:04:18,060 --> 02:04:27,200
We have, unfortunately, been through a state funding freeze before, so we do have a model for evaluating what services must continue and how we can work with providers to weather a budget freeze.

1492
02:04:27,200 --> 02:04:34,340
It is not easy as calls for services continue to grow and our providers are dependent on funding to keep their organizations running.

1493
02:04:35,380 --> 02:04:42,600
In prior years when there was a state freeze, Delaware County unlike some other state counties was able to continue services.

1494
02:04:43,540 --> 02:04:49,860
We are hopeful that the state funding freeze is lifted soon and we can continue to be providers and deliver needed services to residents.

1495
02:04:49,860 --> 02:04:55,460
Our Health Department is supported by various grants, including direct federal funding and

1496
02:04:55,460 --> 02:04:59,920
arpid dollars on hand, so they are positioned to continue services for some time if the

1497
02:04:59,920 --> 02:05:01,000
sprees were to continue.

1498
02:05:02,200 --> 02:05:06,800
Social services, however, are funded primarily by the state and passed through funding from

1499
02:05:06,800 --> 02:05:10,600
the federal government, and therefore any delays in payments are more impactful.

1500
02:05:11,740 --> 02:05:17,520
Our overall unfunded monthly value of social services is $12.1 million.

1501
02:05:17,520 --> 02:05:27,520
What that means is this freeze will cost the county $12.1 million every month, so as noted we are delayed already for July and August.

1502
02:05:28,400 --> 02:05:41,760
This includes funding for our county staff and need to conduct eligibility assessments, pride and take them referral information, conduct investigations, and more as well as provider payments that deliver various direct and indirect services.

1503
02:05:41,760 --> 02:05:48,000
This amount represents the combination of state and federal funding, and to maintain the current

1504
02:05:48,000 --> 02:05:53,540
level of service, the county, again, would be required to contribute $12.1 million a month

1505
02:05:53,540 --> 02:05:59,460
of its own general fund balance. We are working internally on various options. These include

1506
02:05:59,460 --> 02:06:04,940
requesting approval to temporarily access dedicated funding sources, which would be restored when

1507
02:06:04,940 --> 02:06:10,760
the impact is over. We are also, unfortunately, looking at curtailing services to reduce the

1508
02:06:10,760 --> 02:06:12,880
to a manageable amount.

1509
02:06:13,640 --> 02:06:16,860
We want to maintain services and appreciate the partnership with providers

1510
02:06:16,860 --> 02:06:19,020
to work with us to get through this impasse.

1511
02:06:19,980 --> 02:06:21,760
While we have not taken any immediate steps,

1512
02:06:21,920 --> 02:06:25,380
we must act quickly as we have not received funding since July.

1513
02:06:26,820 --> 02:06:29,280
There are some social services that are not impacted

1514
02:06:29,280 --> 02:06:30,660
or will be minimally impacted.

1515
02:06:31,920 --> 02:06:34,940
Libraries are not going to be getting their district state aid,

1516
02:06:35,220 --> 02:06:37,500
which assists with funding salaries for county staff

1517
02:06:37,500 --> 02:06:39,220
and support for member libraries.

1518
02:06:39,220 --> 02:06:44,020
Our veterans office is fully funded with county general funds so we'll not be impacted.

1519
02:06:44,640 --> 02:06:49,760
Our workforce development department has sufficient funds on hand and receives direct federal funds,

1520
02:06:50,220 --> 02:06:54,500
so they would likely not be impacted unless this impasse goes into 2026.

1521
02:06:55,460 --> 02:06:59,920
Our office of housing and community development is predominantly federally funded, which is not impacted.

1522
02:07:01,620 --> 02:07:06,520
While the county has increased its fund balance to over eight times its 2020 value,

1523
02:07:06,520 --> 02:07:11,780
The cost of social services provided by the county is large, and we will have to make difficult

1524
02:07:11,780 --> 02:07:17,220
decisions soon if a budget is not passed or if some funds are not released in order to

1525
02:07:17,220 --> 02:07:19,600
make sure we can meet the mandated services.

1526
02:07:20,280 --> 02:07:24,500
Yes, everyone to encourage their legislators to work together to get a state budget passed.

1527
02:07:24,800 --> 02:07:29,540
It is critical to the thousands of our most vulnerable neighbors that rely on these services.

1528
02:07:31,830 --> 02:07:36,410
Another of our challenges relates to the state budget and the funding for public transit.

1529
02:07:36,410 --> 02:07:41,270
We know that our entire region and particularly our county residents rely heavily on

1530
02:07:41,270 --> 02:07:42,650
septum for transportation.

1531
02:07:43,550 --> 02:07:50,470
The county is required to provide septum with 13 million, 466,000 dollars subsidy each year.

1532
02:07:51,110 --> 02:07:56,850
We pay 2,466,000 in a capital subsidy which comes from our capital budget.

1533
02:07:57,510 --> 02:08:01,290
This figure is based on projects septum has within Delaware County.

1534
02:08:01,290 --> 02:08:09,590
We pay nearly $11 million a year in an annual operating subsidy, which is built into our operating budget and comes from our general fund.

1535
02:08:10,150 --> 02:08:12,630
This figure has increased over the years.

1536
02:08:13,010 --> 02:08:22,210
In 2020, the operating subsidy was a little over $9 million for representing a 20% increase in the substance subsidy in five years.

1537
02:08:23,130 --> 02:08:28,190
There has been discussion of increasing the regional contribution for both operating and capital at the state level,

1538
02:08:28,190 --> 02:08:31,050
which will be challenging for their our county to absorb.

1539
02:08:31,890 --> 02:08:35,750
Again, we are counting on our state government to resolve the state budget issues and fully

1540
02:08:35,750 --> 02:08:40,070
funds sector to maintain the needed level of service and to prepare for the tremendous

1541
02:08:40,070 --> 02:08:41,130
transportation needs.

1542
02:08:41,290 --> 02:08:48,870
The region will see in 2026, including the America 250 celebration World Cup Games, PGA Tournament

1543
02:08:48,870 --> 02:08:55,310
at Aronamank and the Major League Baseball 2026 all star game, all of which we hope will bring

1544
02:08:55,310 --> 02:08:58,590
visitors and economic benefits to our county and region.

1545
02:08:59,450 --> 02:09:02,910
We need SEP to be fully operational to manage this volume of visitors.

1546
02:09:04,170 --> 02:09:06,890
We understand the SEP to serve only one region of the state.

1547
02:09:07,230 --> 02:09:12,270
However, that region comprises 32% of the state's population and is a large contributor

1548
02:09:12,270 --> 02:09:15,290
to the state's economy and overall financial well-being.

1549
02:09:16,310 --> 02:09:20,790
We recognize that the transportation needs and infrastructure improvements of roads and bridges

1550
02:09:20,790 --> 02:09:23,110
across the entire state should be addressed.

1551
02:09:23,110 --> 02:09:29,930
cuts to septa and public transit impacts not only those riders but also puts more cards on the road

1552
02:09:29,930 --> 02:09:34,970
adding to commuting time and increasing the wear and tear on roadways that are already underfunded.

1553
02:09:36,030 --> 02:09:40,450
This is not an either or situation with regard to public transit and roadway infrastructure.

1554
02:09:41,290 --> 02:09:45,050
Pennsylvania residents need both safe roadways and access to public transit.

1555
02:09:45,810 --> 02:09:49,770
We are relying on our leaders to understand the impacts of the proposed sets of cuts to our region

1556
02:09:49,770 --> 02:09:54,390
And how those changes may impact the entire state to reach a solution quickly.

1557
02:09:54,910 --> 02:10:01,770
We appreciate the support and advocacy of our local Delaware County delegation and a way to positive resolution to this critical issue.

1558
02:10:02,350 --> 02:10:10,950
We will have more further update from our planning department at our next meeting on set up root changes and the impact on our region and Delaware County residents.

1559
02:10:11,750 --> 02:10:12,730
Thank you.

1560
02:10:16,340 --> 02:10:17,480
Thank you.

1561
02:10:18,280 --> 02:10:20,440
Any questions or comments for our executive director?

1562
02:10:21,560 --> 02:10:24,180
All right, moving on to our solicitors report.

1563
02:10:24,860 --> 02:10:25,180
Mr. Chair.

1564
02:10:26,620 --> 02:10:30,000
Yes, Council. Before you this evening, for approval, are four

1565
02:10:30,000 --> 02:10:34,400
adoptions and 15 petitions for determination of parental rights with the

1566
02:10:34,400 --> 02:10:35,000
Orphan score.

1567
02:10:36,440 --> 02:10:37,160
So moved.

1568
02:10:38,970 --> 02:10:40,730
Any questions or comments?

1569
02:10:41,690 --> 02:10:43,850
Hearing none all those of you received by saying aye.

1570
02:10:44,650 --> 02:10:45,350
Any opposed?

1571
02:10:46,530 --> 02:10:47,150
The ice habit.

1572
02:10:49,420 --> 02:10:51,240
All right, next anything else, Mr. Chair?

1573
02:10:51,480 --> 02:10:52,560
Nothing else, thank you.

1574
02:10:55,180 --> 02:11:01,780
Next slide I want to agenda council remarks council member Schafer council member Luther

1575
02:11:02,540 --> 02:11:08,500
I just want to remind people that we have folks who can come up here and say things

1576
02:11:10,100 --> 02:11:16,680
that without necessarily having evidence to support it or that take facts out of context

1577
02:11:16,680 --> 02:11:20,820
I think there are people who have certain experiences that I certainly wouldn't contradict

1578
02:11:20,820 --> 02:11:26,900
there's other people who believe certain things and they get up and they say it and they

1579
02:11:26,900 --> 02:11:35,360
contradict me but they don't have studies or evidence or information to back it up. But this is

1580
02:11:35,360 --> 02:11:40,200
we are the highest level of government in Pennsylvania that's required to allow public comment

1581
02:11:40,200 --> 02:11:46,050
at our meetings. And so we do. We could be more restrictive than we are today. People saw one

1582
02:11:46,050 --> 02:11:53,830
restriction that is clear that you have to be in some means present in the county in order

1583
02:11:53,830 --> 02:11:58,450
to be able to speak. We could be more restricted than that. We could leave it to matters

1584
02:11:58,450 --> 02:12:04,250
that are before the council meeting only. That's what our ordinances permit and that's been

1585
02:12:04,250 --> 02:12:12,430
upheld by courts. Instead, we do allow people to speak and many of the things they speak on,

1586
02:12:12,430 --> 02:12:19,690
It's important to understand don't necessarily come back to things that we can handle here.

1587
02:12:19,930 --> 02:12:26,690
Folks, speaking about voting issues, ultimately what we do have paper ballots, how we

1588
02:12:26,690 --> 02:12:29,370
count them is really determined by state law.

1589
02:12:29,850 --> 02:12:31,950
We don't get to make a choice, we follow the law.

1590
02:12:32,550 --> 02:12:38,530
Well, there's a problem that has been identified, a legitimate issue that's been identified

1591
02:12:38,530 --> 02:12:44,270
by a member of the public regarding how overseas deployed military people vote.

1592
02:12:44,950 --> 02:12:47,790
There's a federal statute that governs that.

1593
02:12:48,050 --> 02:12:50,990
And there's a state website that implements it.

1594
02:12:51,050 --> 02:12:53,010
None of that is something we control.

1595
02:12:55,290 --> 02:12:58,630
And I just feel like people need to understand

1596
02:12:58,630 --> 02:13:01,350
that while we listen to a lot of things here,

1597
02:13:01,770 --> 02:13:02,810
which is part of our job.

1598
02:13:02,990 --> 02:13:03,990
It's why we're here.

1599
02:13:03,990 --> 02:13:05,210
You know,

1600
02:13:07,810 --> 02:13:14,030
we don't necessarily have control over everything that people put in front of us.

1601
02:13:14,590 --> 02:13:17,210
So I appreciate that there is a forum here.

1602
02:13:17,310 --> 02:13:19,650
I sometimes wish late at night, it weren't quite as long.

1603
02:13:20,510 --> 02:13:25,030
But I just wanted to get that on the record.

1604
02:13:25,530 --> 02:13:26,470
Thank you.

1605
02:13:29,290 --> 02:13:30,210
Can you tell me where I'm at?

1606
02:13:30,550 --> 02:13:31,170
Thank you, Dr. Taylor.

1607
02:13:31,390 --> 02:13:36,630
As I wasn't here yesterday, I wanted to take the opportunity to speak to Miss Aubrey.

1608
02:13:39,330 --> 02:14:00,950
I've had a chance over the last, however many years, if you've now been here, to work with you on a number of issues, and, you know, everything that Chris said, I can't endorse more, we are so incredibly lucky that you decided to bring your career to Delaware County.

1609
02:14:00,950 --> 02:14:10,030
You are a tremendous public servant, you have just an enormous heart that you put toward what you do as a public servant.

1610
02:14:11,470 --> 02:14:19,710
I'm only sad to only have a few months to be working with you as you take the reins as our solicitor.

1611
02:14:19,950 --> 02:14:20,870
But thank you so much.

1612
02:14:20,890 --> 02:14:22,100
Thank you for everything you've done.

1613
02:14:22,100 --> 02:14:31,400
I know the Governor's Office is going to miss you a lot, but your abundant abilities are going

1614
02:14:31,400 --> 02:14:32,600
to be put to great use.

1615
02:14:32,920 --> 02:14:33,760
So thank you.

1616
02:14:38,060 --> 02:14:39,420
Thank you.

1617
02:14:39,460 --> 02:14:39,880
Mr. Walnut?

1618
02:14:40,540 --> 02:14:41,380
And that to see you then.

1619
02:14:41,720 --> 02:14:42,540
Thank you.

1620
02:14:42,760 --> 02:14:48,420
All right, and I would like to welcome, of course, please been here, but looking forward to

1621
02:14:48,420 --> 02:14:53,940
work with you in the new role, and thank Mr. McGregor for stepping in as our interim solicitor.

1622
02:14:53,940 --> 02:14:59,080
I know we may be a little bit of a challenge at times, but we really do.

1623
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:04,320
We appreciate you in your time that you have spent here in the county. So thank you.

1624
02:15:06,160 --> 02:15:06,320
All right.

1625
02:15:06,560 --> 02:15:08,800
With that, I will entertain a motion to adjourn.

1626
02:15:08,840 --> 02:15:09,380
So move.

1627
02:15:10,240 --> 02:15:12,880
Motion and second, all those in favor, signify by saying aye.

1628
02:15:12,880 --> 02:15:13,200
Aye.

1629
02:15:13,960 --> 02:15:14,540
Any opposed?

1630
02:15:15,200 --> 02:15:15,880
On the eyes of it.

1631
02:15:16,020 --> 02:15:16,420
Thank you everyone.