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I'd like to call this meeting of the county council meeting to order for Wednesday, January 21st, 2026.

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Can everybody please rise for the pledge of allegiance of the flag?

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I

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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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We're going to start off tonight with our county council announcements.

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Councilwoman Joanne Phillips.

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Thank you Mr. Chairman.

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Tonight I want to take a minute 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

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informed, prepared and safe.

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You may have heard that there's predicting snow for this weekend.

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And systems like the Delco Alert are critical in moments like these that we might face over

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the weekend, giving residents accurate real-time information that they can trust.

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

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our Code Blue Alerts that Councilwoman Shaffer is going to address.

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And also, storm, flood warnings, road closures, health advisories, and municipal service

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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.

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Participation in this program has grown steadily, and many municipalities now use the platform

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to issue their own community alerts, and that number continues to rise.

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The system is available to all our 49 municipalities in the county, and it's already being used

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to share everything from weather warnings and vaccine events to street paving notices

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and trash delays.

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Signing up is quick and easy. Just visit delcopa.gov slash delco alert.

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If you search that, you will find it, and it's very easy to sign up for the mode of communication that you want.

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You can choose what type of alerts you'd like to get, how you'd like to receive them, text, call, or email,

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and you can register multiple locations such as your home, your work, or a family member's address.

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This is a powerful tool, and we encourage all the residents to take advantage of it.

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So saying informed is the first step in being safe and looking forward to the weekend

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It might be a great idea to sign up before Sunday. So, thank you

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Thank you councilwoman Schaefer

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Yes, I want to make a few comments about our code blue program at the county and the alerts there

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thereby

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As you are all very very well aware it is very cold this week

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And I'm going to tell you a little bit about what the county is doing to ensure that our

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vulnerable and unsheltered residents are receiving the care that they need.

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The Delaware County Health Department issued a code blue effective through Saturday morning

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as the winter weather approaches this weekend.

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A code blue notification is issued for excessive cold once the temperature goes below 32

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degrees.

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And upon the announcement of a code blue, the cold plan goes into effect, which utilizes

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our libraries as warming centers.

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It opens up overflow beds in our shelters and it creates an outreach system to our at-risk

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residents who are identified through COSA.

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DCHD also provides free emergency mylar blankets and other public health resources

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to residents through the test and go kiosks that are across the county and during a code

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blue residents are advised to dress in layers, limit time outdoors, seek indoor heated spaces

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and check in on your neighbors. Thank you to the health department, COSA and all of our departments

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for the hard work keeping Delco residents safe during these winter months. Please visit

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at delcopa.gov backslash health

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or call the DCHD wellness line at 484-276-2100

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for more information.

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For more information about the 2026 cold plan,

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you can go to delcopa.gov backslash health

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backslash cold-information

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or call the DCHD wellness line.

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for medical emergencies always call 911 thank you thank you council woman Dr.

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Taylor good evening everyone tonight I want to share how we celebrated the

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legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with our fourth annual day of service on

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Monday in Chester despite some unexpected winter weather we had a

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great turnout at Chester City Hall and Wider University for an inspiring day

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of community building. Built on the foundation of Dr. King's principles of equality, social

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justice and compassion, the MLK Day of Service offered residents the opportunity to engage

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in meaningful volunteer activities and community building efforts. This year's event included

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a breakfast at Chester City Hall, followed by a peace march to Weidner University.

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Once we arrived at Weidner, we worked on community beautification and community building

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activities on campus that appeal to all ages. Finally, we wrap the day up with the first annual

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Hoops for Hunger basketball game, which collected donations to benefit local food pantries.

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And I want to congratulate Chester for taking home the trophy in this year's game.

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These activities fostered unity, addressed social issues, and inspired us all to continue the

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work of building a more inclusive and compassionate Delaware County. Coming together

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for events like this shows us how we can continue to carry out Dr. King's vision of service as a tool

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for change. And they remind us that his legacy remains as relevant today as it was during his

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lifetime. Thank you to our partners who made this event such a success for the fourth year in a row

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including Weidner University, the Philadelphia Union, the City of Chester, America 250PA Delco,

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the Cultural Arts and Technology Center, or CAT Center,

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making a change group, the Delaware County Heritage Commission,

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and the MLK Commemorative Committee of Chester and vicinity.

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And we hope to see you all at next year's event.

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Thank you. Vice Chair Ruther.

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Good evening.

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Last Friday, America 250PA held their Delaware County kickoff event

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in front of a packed crowd in this room to preview a year full of celebrations for our

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nation's 250th birthday.

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We were joined by members of the America 250PA leadership team, including former Pennsylvania

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Governor Mark Schweiker and Executive Director of America 250PA Cassandra Coleman, as well

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as officials from across the county at the state and local level to discuss Delco's

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important role in our nation's history and how we're celebrating the occasion.

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Friday marked the first day of the statewide organization's first two-week tour across

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the Commonwealth, where we'll be celebrating the start of America's semi-quincentennial

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year by stopping at courthouses and historic sites in all 67 counties.

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We were honored to be one of their first stops.

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As an American 250PA Delco Commissioner, I'm looking forward to the events we have in

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store over the next few months.

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From reenactments to book talks to a film festival, we have something for everyone to

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enjoy as we celebrate America's 250th birthday.

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Thank you to everyone who stepped up to help support these events.

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I want to give a special shout out to our friends at Visit Delco, some of whom are

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here tonight, for their continued support in promoting our county.

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Stay tuned for more information about upcoming events as the year progresses.

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To learn more, visit america250padelco.org.

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And I know there are definitely some events that I've put on my calendar. Thanks.

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Thank you.

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Tonight I have a statement that I want to make. It's basically a personal statement on my behalf.

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I know that in the past two weeks people had questioned as there was about my in

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regards to my property taxes in IRS taxes in regards to the property taxes

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yes did I get behind I did what reason did I get behind various multiple

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reasons when you have two family members both fighting with cancer and other

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family members that you're trying to take care of as well. Sometimes you have to make

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sacrifices and I did what I thought I had to do best for my family. Not also did I help

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family but I helped friends as well. There were some friends that needed a place to stay.

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I gave them a place to stay without even charging them until they can get on their

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feet. I will continue to support any resident and I will do anything I have to do for my

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family. But one thing I did not do is run or hide from my financial responsibilities.

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The county has what they call a payment plan. I utilize the payment plan and it's open

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to any resident to use. I am currently up, excuse me,

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I am currently up to date on my

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payment plan. And my payment plan will end May of this year. I have people, after I found

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out about the IRS situation, once it came to my attention, I have professionals who

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is working along with the IRS to ratify the situation. Everything is not what it

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always looks like and they're going to the process and we will complete the

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process. If I owe something, I want to pay it. That's who I am and I will

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continue to do so. My personal comment period will be coming up in this

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moment. Council members speaking, please keep the decorum. Thank you.

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My personal life has not affected me to do my job for this county.

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I represent working class people. That's who I am. That's who voted for me. And I will continue to do that.

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I will remain to be honest. I will keep my integrity and my resolve.

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The next outburst, you're going to leave.

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I will keep my integrity and my resolve and will continue to fight for the working families across this county.

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Some people may like it and some maybe may not but if you choose not to like it

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that's okay because as long as God has me in the seat I'm gonna sit here I'm not

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going anywhere until God say so or my four-year term is over thank you. I'll

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have a

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public comment period and I will go over some of the rules around that.

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Thank

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next on the agenda.

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We can go to the portion of public comment. We just ask you that you

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come forward, state your name, and the municipality that you're from, you have a three-minute

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limit. So I will turn it over to our solicitor, Ms. Aubrey. I did want to double-check and

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see if we had junior council comments. Okay, no junior council comments. And I thank

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Thank you all for being here though it's always a joy having you here.

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Good evening.

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So, public comment is an opportunity for those who reside in Delaware County to comment

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on matters on which council may act.

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It's not a form for personal attacks or question and answer session but the public can ask

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questions during the common period but council members are not required to answer and often

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they do not.

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From time to time after a speaker has concluded, officials may use clarifying statements

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that's not an invitation for back and forth though.

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Each speaker will have three minutes.

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People wishing to speak on appending resolution

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or ordinance will be given the opportunity

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to do so for those specific items

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when those specific items are discussed.

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Speakers when they come up to the podium should start

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by stating their name and location of residence

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within Delaware County.

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I highly value our ability

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to hold disputed discourse in this public forum.

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in moderating the rules I expect to myself that I treat the audience and each

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speaker with respect, dignity and fairness. I'm not perfect and I'm not

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perfect and sometimes I miss something so if I demonstrate inconsistency please

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know it's not intentional. Those in the audience are expected to conduct

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themselves with decorum and civility. Speakers should refrain from abusive

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and slanderous attack and loud disruptive behaviors or other actions that interfere with the orderly

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conduct of the meeting may result in a temporary pause in the meeting or other actions until

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we can bring back a respectful atmosphere so that we can move forward with the business of

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government and so that we can actually hear what you all have to say. With that said,

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I look forward to listening to you and ask that you give everyone in the room the same

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common courtesy. Thanks.

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Our first two speakers Charles Alexander and State

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Representative Regina Young.

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Charlie Alexander from the Mean Streets of

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Brumall. What's up Delaware County and what's up Commie Tyrants. Richard it's

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funny you said last time you usually don't address ignorance but every single

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time I've been up here that's what I've addressed. Five ignorant people that

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don't know.

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I know how to run a county and have frankly cost the taxpayers hundreds of millions.

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Should we tell everyone about the Don Gwinella lawsuit I heard you lost recently to the developer?

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Or should we address the taxes again, Richard? How about both you ignorant commie tyrant?

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Richard, your own record here first saying you paid off your taxes, which was a lie.

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But then with your prepared speech and public relations spin, you claim to be just like

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all the other struggling families with overdue taxes in Delaware County. First lie, yours

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grew over 30 grand and 60 grand. That took years. They didn't even allow a little lady to get past

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3500 and BAM they seized her home. Second lie, you claim to have reached out to Gloria's family.

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BAM another lie. They're my dear friends now and Gloria had to spend the twilight of her life

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being under this stress. May God hold her close to his heart. Third lie, let's read this straight

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from the county website, Richard. Payment plans may be an option for owner-occupied

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properties at the discretion of the Tax Claim Bureau. You don't live in either of those

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properties, resign you ignorant lying commie tyrant. Shame! Shame! Shame!

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A weeks ago you

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gave me that weird face and you stuck your tongue out at me and here you are caught

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in your web of lies, Richard. You're caught that's right there in black and white

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on your own. And you don't belong on that council. If you had any decency, you'd resign

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now. It's shameful how you people are. Speaking of shameful, Elaine, I've reported to the Small

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Business Administration, how can you go from not paying yourself in 2019 to making over

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100K each year in 2020 and 2021 being paid by PPP loans? Do you know how many deserving

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businesses were turned down, but you got paid. Resign. Shame. Shame. Shame. By the way, I don't know how true it is, but I'm here and you lost the court case for the Don Juanela property, Delco Woods, to the tune of 40 million, because you clowns tried to use the Trojan horse of a mental health institution, which the judge found violated your eminent domain claim.

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You're all incompetent. You're all ignorant. Two of you should resign immediately in shame and to the other three

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I haven't exposed for something shameful yet, but to quote the wicked witch of the West

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I'll get you my ignorant commie tyrants and your little dog, too

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Shame shame shame and Richard one last thing. I hear nepotism works with you both in derby township and here with the county

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You get your daughter jobs. That's nepotism, buddy. That's friggin corruption, too. Thank you, mr.

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State representative Regina Young.

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Before the next speaker begins,

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I really don't like interrupting or stopping anyone,

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regardless of how I feel the speech,

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and I can see that there are motions on all sides of the room.

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Sometimes people can really trigger our emotional responses,

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but our goal here tonight is to hear everyone speak.

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Everyone gets three minutes,

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so I appreciate everyone's patience from time to time

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in order to avoid interrupting I may just give a signal right to ask people to

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bring it back down because I really don't want to have to stop things to

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bring it back so thank you all and with that said our next speaker if I may I

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don't want to make our state representative a wait but I would

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like to respond to that very bizarre and crazy accusation that that show

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just entailed against me as many of you know I am the executive director of

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the Skookle River Greenways National Heritage Area.

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The Skookle River Greenways Heritage Area is a 501C3.

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It's been around for 50 years.

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It is an organization that connects people

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and communities to the river, to the Skookle River Trail,

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which our organization builds, maintains, and promotes.

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I was hired as the executive director

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of that organization in 2017.

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This is a paid position.

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It was a paid position then.

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It is a paid position now.

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In 2019, I was very honored to be elected to this board.

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And because I was elected to do public service,

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I reduced my salary by 20% to lessen up my schedule

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to allow me to do this job.

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In 2020, the pandemic hit

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And, like many small businesses and organizations, our revenues were challenged.

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Like many non-profits, we raised a lot of our revenue from events, and there were no events

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during the pandemic.

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Fortunately, the federal government, at that point, signed into law under President Trump

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the Paycheck Protection Program, and businesses from all over the state and the country

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could apply to get payroll help for two and a half months.

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My organization applied and we received that aid.

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And because of that, I was able to keep nine people employed throughout the entire pandemic,

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which was the point of that program.

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Now, I want to note that while most organizations during the pandemic were

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all of their people were working from home,

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production was slowed down, scheduling was slowed down.

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For my organization, my staff had to double down

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and go into overdrive because what we produce,

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trails, open space, outdoor recreation was in high demand.

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The entire world during the pandemic

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wanted to go out on a trail and enjoy the river.

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So thanks to the Paytech Protection Program,

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I was able to keep a full staff

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And we were able to give the public what they wanted at that point, and that was to be outside.

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So I'm very grateful to that program.

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I'm very proud that we were able to stay fully employed through the whole thing.

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And to the comments of Mr. Alexander, I have to say, you know, if you don't know the facts

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and you don't understand how things work, sometimes things can feel like a conspiracy.

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But all you need to do is ask and do a little research.

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thank you thank you this is a warning okay I made clear what the rules are

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there's time for public speaking we cannot have kids calling out in the

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middle of the council members do not have a three-minute limit the public does

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thank you with that our next speaker unless there's further comment sure

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thank you so much I would say this is my first time at please state your name

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Where are you?

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State Representative Regina Younger represents Philadelphia and Delaware colonies, that is

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Tinnacum and Corwin specifically.

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So what I will say is welcome to the colony board because government is difficult, it's

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complicated, and someone who is at the state where it's bipartisan voices, we have to

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deal with everybody.

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We are people serving people, I like to say, and one of the things is you follow

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anything around government and it sounds as passionately as some of you are in this room.

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My hope is that you're following the movement of government and not necessarily just the

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personal lives of people.

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In the capacity of governing, your concern really should be how I can help my county.

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We all have division.

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We all have things we're not going to agree upon because we have dividing political

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political parties. There's going to be times our approach is going to differ. However, the

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goal is to make Delaware County a better place. And so what I will add is that I had asked

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Sharon, the county clerk, is there opportunity for people to make appointments with their

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county council members so they can either help the administration? Because here's

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what I will tell you what I share with when I talk to schools and whether it's

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elementary school, public, the high school or middle school. Either you're a part of the

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solution or you're part of the problem. So we all have to decide in this moment as adults

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because my understanding since junior council didn't present, there are no children here.

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We are all adults. We need to govern ourselves accordingly. Now, that does not necessarily

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mean you don't have voices and concerns that you want to share. What I will encourage

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everybody there in this room is that understand if you're not, if you're critical of an administration

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or a particular person, first identify if you add it to the solution or if you're part of

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the problem. And if you're part of the problem with government officials, understand you're

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hurting your own county because a county divided cannot lead. A government divided

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cannot lead. So I will just really encourage everybody here to make sure you're reaching

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out to the people to ensure that you're an added necessary voice because if the goal is

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to make sure Delaware County is in this optimum space, you are a deciding factor in that.

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It doesn't matter what your political lines are, it doesn't matter what your gender are,

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it doesn't even matter what your personal lives are because we all have a story to

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tell.

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My grandmother said, you live long enough, you're going to have a story.

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So I'm just going to encourage us all, I'm not going to use the word to quorum

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what I will say is, understand, ask yourself, it's a character thing. It has very little

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to do with titles. It has everything to do with character. So check yourself.

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And if you're with people, then. If you're with people, then I'm not picking up. Bye.

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Kathy from Haverford and Gary Ryder.

305
00:25:10,890 --> 00:25:13,990
Kathy from Haverford. Well, well, well. Listen

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up tax payers at Delaware County. Your taxes have gone up over the past three years.

307
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The one major reason is Ballard Spar has collected $1.4 million on frivolous lawsuits.

308
00:25:29,110 --> 00:25:35,790
Dwayne Morris has collected $1.1 million from our county taxes.

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That is your money spent not on services, not on improvements, but on legal fights that never should have never happened.

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Members of county council and elected officials of this commonwealth, the declaration of independence

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begins with a principle that still governs every level of public office.

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Government exists to secure the rights of the people.

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It affirms that every person is endowed with certain unalienable rights, including

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life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

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The founders also set a standard for public officials.

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They wrote that when government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people

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to alter or to abolish it.

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This is not a threat.

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It is a reminder that all authority comes from the consented of the governed.

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They warn that people often suffer while evils are sufferable.

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But when abuse has become a pattern, a long train of abuses and unsurpatience, the

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The people not only have the right, but it is their duty to throw off such government.

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That duty begins with diligence.

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It begins with citizens who pay attention, who ask questions, and who insist that their

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officials follow the law, honor their oaths, and respect the limits placed on government

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by the Constitution.

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Every elected official swears an oath to upheld the Constitution.

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The oath is binding.

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It requires transparency, accountability, and fidelity to the rule of law,

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not selective compliance, not convenience, and not personal discretion.

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Legitimacy is earned through service, not assumed through position.

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When government honors its obligations, trust grows.

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When it disregards them, the foundation weakens, and the people have every right to demand better.

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Today, we stand in the same tradition as our founding fathers, not seeking conflict but

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insisting on constitutional governance and lawful, responsible leadership.

336
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This is not radical, this is American.

337
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Can I just make a quick comment?

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I couldn't agree more with Ms. Geiger,

339
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especially today as I read the newspapers

340
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and saw what was going on in Minnesota

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with people who purport to be federal law enforcement officers

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conducting warrantless door knockdowns,

343
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dragging American citizens out into the night.

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We've had a situation here in Delaware County

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where a man with known mental health issues

346
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and drug issues was allowed to die.

347
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An Upper Derby resident was allowed to die

348
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in the custody of ICE.

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We've had reports of these same

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federal law enforcement officers

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pulling a parent from a home and leaving an unattended three-year-old bare

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alone so they could deport that individual. Fortunately the neighbors

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looked out for their neighbor and their neighbor's child and managed to take

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care of that kid and find another home, another family member, but

355
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you know something those federal officers okay that's it I'm sorry all we are

356
00:29:29,410 --> 00:29:35,310
going to have to pause council member Ruther is speaking if you wish to stay

357
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in this room and have your opportunity to talk and listen to those who agree or

358
00:29:41,550 --> 00:29:47,090
disagree with you please rain it in thank you just gonna say that that those

359
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federal officers if they're law enforcement they're mandatory reporters

360
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right? They're the ones who are supposed to be at least calling the local police or CYS

361
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to come look after that kid. And they didn't.

362
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:08,300
So let's all hope that when it comes to following the laws, that all parts of government do that

363
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and do not violate it. And by the way, filing a payment plan is not violating the law. Engaging

364
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in an IRS, discussions with the IRS following a matching program are not violating the law.

365
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That's why you have the legal right to contest an audit.

366
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I did this for 37 years while I practiced law, and you have the legal right to do that.

367
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So I agree with Ms. Geiger, Kathy from Havertown, that people should follow the law.

368
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But it's everywhere, and I just love how people stand up here and cherry pick things

369
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that aren't violations of the law.

370
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They're utilizing the regulations that are made available.

371
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Gary Ryder and Salvatore Giovi.

372
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Gary Ryder, Marple Township.

373
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See a lot of faces here, new faces here.

374
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It's good.

375
00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:37,560
I agree with the state representative

376
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that you've got to be part of the solution, not the problem.

377
00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:44,900
Every time I come up here, I come here

378
00:31:44,900 --> 00:31:47,440
speaking about Delco Woods mostly.

379
00:31:48,260 --> 00:31:49,480
That's why I started coming.

380
00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:50,100
It's a park.

381
00:31:50,100 --> 00:31:55,220
Park, the largest park in Delaware County. They've done nothing with it. There's dilapidated

382
00:31:55,220 --> 00:32:00,680
buildings, there's been homeless people in there, they've been, there's been rumors

383
00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:05,620
that illegal immigrants have been staying in there, maybe being housed in there. A lot

384
00:32:05,620 --> 00:32:09,780
of stuff going around. I don't know, but it's in the town I live in and it's very

385
00:32:09,780 --> 00:32:17,860
close to my house. So with that, many a times I gave ideas of what they could

386
00:32:17,860 --> 00:32:25,500
do have camping there. It's a large wooded area, 220 acres. There's car shows we

387
00:32:25,500 --> 00:32:28,920
could have in the parking lots. You could have food festivals. You could have

388
00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:33,260
swap meets. You could lots of things. I'd love to see it done at that park.

389
00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:39,020
Absolutely nothing being done. They put up walking paths. Walking paths are

390
00:32:39,020 --> 00:32:42,460
great. Found out here they're getting these grants. They say there's no

391
00:32:42,460 --> 00:32:45,480
money for Don Juanela. They're getting grants, building all these walking

392
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parks all over, but they do nothing with this 220 acres of land. They were trying to put

393
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a mental institution there. They tried doing that right across from my house. You know,

394
00:32:55,800 --> 00:33:00,900
that would ruin our, you know, our house, the cost of our housing would go way down.

395
00:33:01,120 --> 00:33:05,820
You know, I understand there's, you know, a problem with mental illness, but it's

396
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in a residential neighborhood, you know, and they have a walking park with women and

397
00:33:09,900 --> 00:33:13,160
children walking there and they're going to put a mental institution. It's not,

398
00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:19,680
not the place for it in my opinion. I have given them my name and phone number

399
00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:25,340
and emails never got a call from them so I know them woods I've been going in

400
00:33:25,340 --> 00:33:28,700
there more than anyone I know them better than anyone in this county no

401
00:33:28,700 --> 00:33:36,080
doubt no doubt in my mind nothing nothing so since coming to the meetings I

402
00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:40,820
got into I'm not in the politics at all I came for the park well the health

403
00:33:40,820 --> 00:33:48,060
Department, from coming to these meetings, they've rent these kiosks for $165,000 a year

404
00:33:48,060 --> 00:33:54,600
a piece. We have seven of them. Then they have to be supplied. Now, it's millions of

405
00:33:54,600 --> 00:34:01,320
dollars being wasted. They could just rent a storefront for, say, $2,000 a month, right?

406
00:34:01,860 --> 00:34:07,140
It would bring economy to the owner of the buildings, pick up people off Snap, handing

407
00:34:07,140 --> 00:34:11,780
out the products that are in the things and it would help everything it would help the economy do

408
00:34:11,780 --> 00:34:19,320
they do it absolutely not waste of money the dollar the health department in my opinion from what I've

409
00:34:19,320 --> 00:34:27,300
seen and I'm not in the politics it's just wasting our tax money I mean imagine 165 thousand

410
00:34:27,300 --> 00:34:30,260
$1,000 a year for one of these machines.

411
00:34:30,720 --> 00:34:32,540
Great. Thank you.

412
00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:35,980
Salvatore Giovi and Casey Drayton.

413
00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:41,720
Just because we have new people in the audience and I know Mr. Ryder likes to say the same things at every single meeting,

414
00:34:42,460 --> 00:34:44,820
I would like to address the health department issue.

415
00:34:45,340 --> 00:34:51,780
Just to be clear, we do get an additional $8 million that are coming into the county that was not coming into the county

416
00:34:51,780 --> 00:34:54,760
prior to having a health department because we have a health department.

417
00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:59,640
And as for the kiosks, as I've explained several times before, those are paid with a federal

418
00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:04,340
grant and that federal grant is specific on what it's supposed to do and it's supposed

419
00:35:04,340 --> 00:35:09,300
to provide access to multiple locations for supplies for residents.

420
00:35:09,780 --> 00:35:11,700
And that is exactly what we're doing with that grant.

421
00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:13,360
We can't actually spend that grant on other things.

422
00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:16,480
So I just want to make sure everybody in the room is clear on what the facts are.

423
00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:16,980
Thank you.

424
00:35:24,460 --> 00:35:29,820
Delfintour Jovey, Clifton Heights, 40 year Delco resident, I'm going to be like

425
00:35:29,820 --> 00:35:30,580
my man back there.

426
00:35:30,580 --> 00:35:34,960
come here once a month saying the same thing, I would like to formally bring it to your

427
00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:42,940
guys' attention that my five-year-old biracial fraternal twins were kidnapped four years

428
00:35:42,940 --> 00:35:48,520
ago, taken 100 miles away with nobody's permission, by their mother, a mother can absolutely

429
00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:50,800
kidnap her own children, all right?

430
00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:56,280
Delaware County Domestic Relations, every single public servant that's on the paperwork

431
00:35:56,280 --> 00:36:02,200
dealing with this issue are co-conspirators to kidnapping and extortion, all right?

432
00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:05,680
They've currently got me off of social media for the last year and a half.

433
00:36:06,040 --> 00:36:10,480
This disorderly conduct charge, they opted to two felonies because I refused to take the deal.

434
00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:14,480
And then my attorney told me we're not allowed to make the jury aware of that fact,

435
00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:18,240
that it was a disorderly conduct for a year and a half, and then all of a sudden,

436
00:36:18,580 --> 00:36:19,740
now it's two felonies.

437
00:36:21,720 --> 00:36:29,240
title for a day, our domestic relations policy. I call it the policy atom bomb that was dropped

438
00:36:29,240 --> 00:36:35,960
on our country 40 years ago, 40 years ago. I haven't found one person that agrees with

439
00:36:35,960 --> 00:36:43,300
how we're doing it, the child support weapon. My baby moms are victims whose irrationality

440
00:36:43,300 --> 00:36:48,920
is being taken advantage of. My mother, when they made me a child porn 30 years ago,

441
00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:53,540
All right, why did my money? Why did my dad's money have to go through anybody to get to me?

442
00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:55,320
Am I done?

443
00:36:56,420 --> 00:37:00,200
Holy shit, what he put together for me and my kids as judge love

444
00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:05,480
They're trying to take a hundred and ten thousand dollars of 15 years future child support payments

445
00:37:05,960 --> 00:37:10,660
My dad's got trust my kids are gonna get when they're 18 even if they take it all I still walk

446
00:37:10,660 --> 00:37:11,920
67,000 up

447
00:37:12,420 --> 00:37:14,220
All right, so my dad sent me up

448
00:37:14,860 --> 00:37:16,260
Who set my dad up?

449
00:37:16,260 --> 00:37:24,620
who set my dad up to put all these nasty, dark, villainous people into this really bright corner.

450
00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:29,480
He got a principal and charged 1,000 students.

451
00:37:30,260 --> 00:37:32,640
They put him on every other weekend time with his kid.

452
00:37:34,420 --> 00:37:40,580
I believe Ohio, I believe that Delco's upper echelon of criminal, they got RICO charges coming.

453
00:37:41,100 --> 00:37:44,880
I call them breadcrumb criminals, way to leave the crumbs and crumbs and crumbs and crumbs.

454
00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:48,920
and 1,000 humans wouldn't be able to connect the dots for 1,000 years.

455
00:37:49,540 --> 00:37:51,440
AI's coming in and doing it, bam.

456
00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:56,380
And in a report to five amazing Americans, that's going to come in and charge these people.

457
00:37:57,340 --> 00:38:02,460
All those I'm being told, my orders are to come up here and make y'all publicly aware.

458
00:38:03,420 --> 00:38:08,060
And then, per my state prison training, all you guys are supposed to say is,

459
00:38:08,460 --> 00:38:12,620
thank you for bringing that to my attention. I will be more aware.

460
00:38:13,180 --> 00:38:20,300
I can't grind you up. I just formally made you publicly aware. I'm running for governor

461
00:38:20,300 --> 00:38:24,960
in the mid 30s to late 30s. All right, I've been sober for eight years on the street when

462
00:38:24,960 --> 00:38:32,160
I was 90 days in. It's coming. Thank you, sir. Casey Drayton and Karris Coker.

463
00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:46,040
Good evening.

464
00:38:46,900 --> 00:38:54,280
Honorable council members. Happy New Year. My name is Mr. Casey Drayton. I'm relatively

465
00:38:54,280 --> 00:39:00,860
a new resident of Delco. I'm also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a grandfather of

466
00:39:00,860 --> 00:39:08,440
eight. Recently I hit the senior mark of 65 and I'm here tonight to ask, plead, and

467
00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:14,840
beg, going forward that my Delco council does not, does something about the

468
00:39:14,840 --> 00:39:22,200
municipality real estate tax law of 1920. I'm sure you are all aware of the

469
00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:28,080
situation with Miss Gaynor, Gloria Gaynor of Upper Darby Township, the 91 year old woman

470
00:39:28,080 --> 00:39:34,200
with dementia, Miss Gaynor who lost her home in 25 years to a real estate tax sale here

471
00:39:34,200 --> 00:39:40,780
in Delco. And after making an attempt and able to pay her property taxes, you heard from

472
00:39:40,780 --> 00:39:45,240
a few people, a couple of people already about that situation. This situation is

473
00:39:45,240 --> 00:39:51,740
very unfortunate, uncomfortable and has set heavy on my heart. And I felt compelled

474
00:39:51,740 --> 00:40:00,520
to do what I can to help. As a veteran and current public employee with the federal government,

475
00:40:01,460 --> 00:40:08,280
I believe in service. My father served before me, my son served after me, and my grandson

476
00:40:08,280 --> 00:40:15,780
is also currently serving in the U.S. Navy. We love this country. We know it's not

477
00:40:15,780 --> 00:40:22,840
perfect. And we know this is just unacceptable to think that we have to pay

478
00:40:22,840 --> 00:40:27,400
the bills of the back on the off the backs of our seniors or any residents

479
00:40:27,400 --> 00:40:32,640
in Delaware County. So again, thinking of the words that I heard from John F.

480
00:40:32,800 --> 00:40:39,660
Kennedy many years ago. That's not what your country can do for you. I'm

481
00:40:39,660 --> 00:40:45,580
asking what can you do for your country? I'm asking all you all of you to

482
00:40:45,580 --> 00:40:50,660
So please do what you can to stop the madness that our seniors are experiencing.

483
00:40:52,610 --> 00:40:59,020
Any residents who loses their legacy for a $3,500 bill.

484
00:41:00,790 --> 00:41:07,440
From losing a home after 25 years of paying her taxes, model citizen, this is truly unnecessary.

485
00:41:08,220 --> 00:41:11,000
And I do have one more request to ask.

486
00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:17,560
As the state rep said, is there anything I can do going forward?

487
00:41:18,340 --> 00:41:23,700
To stop this from occurring again and again, please do not hesitate to let me know.

488
00:41:24,160 --> 00:41:25,500
I thank you and good evening.

489
00:41:28,430 --> 00:41:30,190
Harris-Coker and Rodney Hill.

490
00:41:41,100 --> 00:41:42,700
Harris-Coker Concertownship.

491
00:41:45,720 --> 00:41:52,220
Numerous times on the agenda that you have at the, it says, subject to solicitors approval.

492
00:41:54,780 --> 00:42:03,640
I am still very concerned about the lack of the oath of office by our county solicitor.

493
00:42:06,440 --> 00:42:11,640
I realize that she's taken an oath at the bar, and she may have taken an oath of allegiance

494
00:42:11,640 --> 00:42:19,240
in other circumstances, but the state law stipulates that all county officers

495
00:42:19,240 --> 00:42:24,300
shall voluntary execute an oath or affirmation and then with regards to

496
00:42:24,300 --> 00:42:32,560
other unelected persons in county government. Section 403 of chapter 4

497
00:42:32,560 --> 00:42:40,160
article 4 says oath of office in addition to any oath or affirmation

498
00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:48,220
required by any other act of the assembly, all county officers, their deputies, their

499
00:42:48,220 --> 00:42:53,860
assistants, and their clerks before entering on the duties of their respective offices or

500
00:42:53,860 --> 00:42:58,640
employment shall take and subscribe the oath of office or the oath of allegiance.

501
00:43:01,180 --> 00:43:04,540
Then it was said, well, the home rule charter is a little different.

502
00:43:04,540 --> 00:43:10,260
Well, I did some research this week, and the Homeroom Charter counties still fall under

503
00:43:10,260 --> 00:43:16,740
the second class county requirements, and true Delaware County's administrative code

504
00:43:16,740 --> 00:43:25,840
has been changed to read that, you see, the Delaware County code only says all county

505
00:43:25,840 --> 00:43:31,680
officers shall voluntarily execute an oath or affirmation as prescribed by county ordinance

506
00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:38,800
or commonwealth laws. However, that does not exempt the county from the obligation that

507
00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:46,620
the state has within its laws, which are that all county officers, their deputies, appointees,

508
00:43:46,860 --> 00:43:51,920
clerks, and so forth, are to take this. I find it highly unusual and concerning.

509
00:43:52,080 --> 00:43:55,860
And we're talking about law. So I'm asking you to have a look at the matters that I

510
00:43:55,860 --> 00:43:59,580
just gave you. You are the advisor to the county council on legal matters.

511
00:43:59,580 --> 00:44:04,200
And would you read the plain language of that law and see what your conclusions are?

512
00:44:04,840 --> 00:44:09,540
And I do hope that there will be a public swearing in of Mrs. Aubrey and some

513
00:44:09,540 --> 00:44:16,860
soon time some time very soon. Thank you very much. Rodney Hill and Cynthia Sabatini.

514
00:44:24,210 --> 00:44:31,330
Hello everybody how y'all doing? Respect is everything. And if you don't

515
00:44:31,330 --> 00:44:37,490
stand by that. Stand by nothing. So I'm going to ask you to start with your name. But I

516
00:44:37,490 --> 00:44:45,530
wanted to start with that. Thank you. My name is Rodney Hill. I'm vice president of a council

517
00:44:45,530 --> 00:44:53,130
in Sharon Hill borough. I'm here in support of Richard Walmack. I've known him for a

518
00:44:53,130 --> 00:44:59,970
a very long time him and his family and he has he.

519
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:07,560
It has helped me in ways that for someone that's not blood-related, you know, you'd be surprised.

520
00:45:07,700 --> 00:45:12,060
So I want to thank you for that. I want to thank you for all the advice that you've given me

521
00:45:12,060 --> 00:45:22,920
and others. I also would like to thank Monica Teller and Richard Wormack for always being

522
00:45:22,920 --> 00:45:27,980
supported of all our events that we do and always coming out in support of sharing her

523
00:45:27,980 --> 00:45:29,400
So I'd like to thank y'all for that.

524
00:45:30,580 --> 00:45:34,140
So my main thing is this is my first time here, right?

525
00:45:34,560 --> 00:45:39,480
And the one thing that I see, I see some folks come up here

526
00:45:39,480 --> 00:45:42,200
and they talk without any resolutions at all.

527
00:45:42,720 --> 00:45:46,580
Like you come up here and you read your laws

528
00:45:46,580 --> 00:45:50,440
and you do your research, but you do not

529
00:45:50,440 --> 00:45:53,880
have a resolution of how to push things forward.

530
00:45:53,880 --> 00:46:00,160
If you keep talking about things and not having a resolution, it stays stagnant.

531
00:46:00,820 --> 00:46:05,740
The goal in government and anything in life is to move forward.

532
00:46:06,720 --> 00:46:11,440
And you have, and that's it, I mean, you come up here, so it just looks like you're just

533
00:46:11,440 --> 00:46:15,600
complaining, you know, like this lady over here, right?

534
00:46:16,360 --> 00:46:20,280
You know, she's just talk, talk, talk, talk, you know what I mean, that's it, you know.

535
00:46:20,280 --> 00:46:23,740
So, and I'm just saying, ma'am, I like to keep it real.

536
00:46:23,980 --> 00:46:24,880
I'm beyond with you.

537
00:46:25,520 --> 00:46:28,140
Like, you get these type of people that come,

538
00:46:28,600 --> 00:46:30,900
no resolution, they don't want to just disrupt.

539
00:46:31,520 --> 00:46:34,200
And I want to say, for county council,

540
00:46:34,800 --> 00:46:37,400
if y'all need me for anything, you know,

541
00:46:37,620 --> 00:46:39,520
and I'm gonna be emailing y'all, I'm here.

542
00:46:40,100 --> 00:46:42,520
I'm here and the citizens of Sharon Hillboro

543
00:46:42,520 --> 00:46:44,420
because y'all have helped us out a lot.

544
00:46:44,640 --> 00:46:46,980
And I'd like to thank all of y'all for what y'all do.

545
00:46:47,260 --> 00:46:48,080
Thank you so much.

546
00:46:49,900 --> 00:46:52,520
Cynthia Sabatini and Michael Straw.

547
00:46:53,000 --> 00:46:53,620
Cynthia

548
00:46:57,490 --> 00:47:00,330
Sabatini, Upper Providence Township.

549
00:47:01,030 --> 00:47:07,230
2026 is becoming the winner of discontent for Delco residents with frigid temperatures,

550
00:47:07,510 --> 00:47:14,830
extremely high heating bills, and a county tax bill soon to be delivered that's 19% higher

551
00:47:14,830 --> 00:47:21,970
than 2025, and a compounded 50% higher than the tax bill in 2023.

552
00:47:22,910 --> 00:47:28,590
And now council will be delivering the summer of discontent and disenfranchisement with

553
00:47:28,590 --> 00:47:31,970
council meetings only being held at 1pm.

554
00:47:32,650 --> 00:47:39,310
On several occasions this council noted that they were the ones who instituted the 6pm

555
00:47:39,310 --> 00:47:39,910
meetings.

556
00:47:39,910 --> 00:47:46,330
meetings. I believe that the new schedule reinforces the saying, one hand giveth and

557
00:47:46,330 --> 00:47:52,510
one taketh away. It's most interesting that this disenfranchisement is occurring during

558
00:47:52,510 --> 00:48:00,210
the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Mr. Womack, you noted that you want to see a zero or

559
00:48:00,210 --> 00:48:07,130
minimal tax increase for 2027. You noted that not holding evening meetings will save

560
00:48:07,130 --> 00:48:14,090
the county 40,000 annually since police over time won't have to be paid. Even though your

561
00:48:14,090 --> 00:48:20,170
interest in cost savings is commendable, I'm dubious that saving money is your true reason.

562
00:48:20,590 --> 00:48:27,010
Considering during the December 2025 council meeting, you and Ms. Ruther were overheard

563
00:48:27,010 --> 00:48:33,050
not being in favor of a second round of public comment, even though Solicitor Aubrey and

564
00:48:33,050 --> 00:48:39,330
council person Schaefer endorsed the idea. I think council persons who voted to

565
00:48:39,330 --> 00:48:44,150
eliminate the evening meeting should take the advice of a former Democratic

566
00:48:44,150 --> 00:48:49,810
president, Harry Truman, if you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen. I'd

567
00:48:49,810 --> 00:48:55,430
like to make a suggestion. You appear poised to increase the hotel tax. Why

568
00:48:55,430 --> 00:49:00,090
don't you take some of the revenues generated from this tax to reinstate

569
00:49:00,090 --> 00:49:06,990
the evening council meeting. Council says it's for transparency, now prove it. Thank you.

570
00:49:08,030 --> 00:49:10,050
Michael Straw and Kim Brown.

571
00:49:15,460 --> 00:49:19,660
Michael Straw, media borough, to piggyback off of what Cynthia

572
00:49:19,660 --> 00:49:26,440
Sabatini stated, this council ran on increasing and improving transparency in the county government.

573
00:49:27,020 --> 00:49:34,000
From what I've seen, you've taken a giant step back. Why do I say this? First, you stop

574
00:49:34,000 --> 00:49:39,660
Delaware County Council's Facebook page from accepting any public comment. Second,

575
00:49:40,120 --> 00:49:45,020
you ended the second public comment period in meetings and now the majority

576
00:49:45,020 --> 00:49:49,940
of this council voted to move these meetings to 1 p.m. during the day. So

577
00:49:49,940 --> 00:49:55,020
just to be clear, everyone here applauding or speaking tonight in a

578
00:49:55,020 --> 00:49:58,900
few months, can you honestly say you'd be able to attend these meetings

579
00:49:58,900 --> 00:50:03,980
during the day on a Wednesday at 1 p.m.? No! You wouldn't be able to

580
00:50:03,980 --> 00:50:09,800
to. That's not transparent at all. The reason the council wants to move these meetings, all

581
00:50:09,800 --> 00:50:16,840
to save $40,000. It's funny. We see these vigorous cost-saving measures now and not before

582
00:50:16,840 --> 00:50:23,600
the 23.8% tax increase, the 19% tax increase, and the 5% tax increase the previous year.

583
00:50:24,140 --> 00:50:28,480
I can test this was done because you've heard enough from residents who are critical

584
00:50:28,480 --> 00:50:30,440
of you and don't want to hear it.

585
00:50:30,440 --> 00:50:35,880
Over the past two years, I pointed to several other cost-saving measures that this council

586
00:50:35,880 --> 00:50:38,880
could have implemented to stop these large tax increases.

587
00:50:39,560 --> 00:50:41,640
Representative Regina Young is correct.

588
00:50:42,160 --> 00:50:44,020
A county divided cannot lead.

589
00:50:44,480 --> 00:50:49,940
I also believe that a government that runs from its constituents can't lead either.

590
00:50:50,500 --> 00:50:56,160
If you want us to participate and make sure that the vast majority of working people

591
00:50:56,160 --> 00:51:02,020
can attend these meetings, then make sure they're at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Previously,

592
00:51:02,420 --> 00:51:08,180
this council has noted on many occasions that they took issue with previous Republican-led

593
00:51:08,180 --> 00:51:14,480
councils having their meetings during the working hours of the majority of residents. So stick

594
00:51:14,480 --> 00:51:19,380
to your original agreement and keep them at 6 p.m. Thank you.

595
00:51:20,160 --> 00:51:22,720
Kim Brown and Michelle Scofield.

596
00:52:09,970 --> 00:52:15,330
Kimberly Brown, Ka-Win. Here I am to present my notorious

597
00:52:15,330 --> 00:52:20,090
report on the George W. Hill Correctional Facility. It's quite interesting how you

598
00:52:20,090 --> 00:52:26,930
deemed it necessary to reconstruct the security checkpoint repair garage roof instead of addressing

599
00:52:26,930 --> 00:52:31,790
the condemned training building where employees have been conducting training for the past

600
00:52:31,790 --> 00:52:36,330
year and a half. The building has a significant hole in the roof and a gap in

601
00:52:36,330 --> 00:52:40,410
the ceiling which means when it rains or snows the water into the training room

602
00:52:40,410 --> 00:52:41,570
where employees are engaged.

603
00:52:44,200 --> 00:52:49,240
I am here to take a stand tonight to serve the

604
00:52:49,240 --> 00:52:57,100
county of Delaware a civil complaint due to county Delaware County gel

605
00:52:57,100 --> 00:53:02,140
oversight board that is in violation of the Sunshine Act for a very long time.

606
00:53:02,140 --> 00:53:10,320
enough is enough. November Jail oversight board meaning there was no quorum. There

607
00:53:10,320 --> 00:53:18,200
was a request to spend inmate welfare funds. Four thousand dollars was spent

608
00:53:18,200 --> 00:53:25,780
out of the inmate welfare funds to enhance turkey portions. The state is

609
00:53:25,780 --> 00:53:30,160
supposed to provide the prison, the county's supposed to provide the prison

610
00:53:30,160 --> 00:53:38,000
inmates with foods. It should not be taken out of MA welfare account. 20,000 for

611
00:53:38,000 --> 00:53:44,100
holiday bags. Does everyone in the jail celebrate holidays? But 20,000 in

612
00:53:44,100 --> 00:53:49,600
holiday bags. There is about a thousand inmates in the jail. So we're spending

613
00:53:49,600 --> 00:54:02,470
about $15 per bags and we have $1,000, it doesn't add up to $20,000.

614
00:54:02,470 --> 00:54:04,930
Where's the rest of the Christmas bags?

615
00:54:08,200 --> 00:54:14,480
I presented you a list of violations that then happened on the Gel Oversight Board.

616
00:54:15,220 --> 00:54:22,640
I objected last week, Ruth or you wanted Joanne Phillips to run for council.

617
00:54:22,640 --> 00:54:30,200
you know the Sunshine Act. I know for sure you do. I suggest you to sit with Ms. Joanne

618
00:54:30,200 --> 00:54:33,700
Phillips to go over the Sunshine Act and to run the board.

619
00:54:35,400 --> 00:54:42,500
Richard Womack, I knew you for a long time. You stood by me. Ms. Taylor stood by me for

620
00:54:42,500 --> 00:54:47,040
the last two years fighting about this jail. I've been investigated. I've been harassed

621
00:54:47,040 --> 00:54:48,700
at the jail, but you still by me.

622
00:54:49,660 --> 00:54:50,760
Just hanging there.

623
00:54:51,400 --> 00:54:54,360
Do not let the wolves talk, staying strong,

624
00:54:54,680 --> 00:54:56,220
because Michael will need you at the end of the day.

625
00:54:56,820 --> 00:54:57,060
Thank you.

626
00:54:58,880 --> 00:55:01,060
Michelle Scofield and Theo Gifford.

627
00:55:13,800 --> 00:55:16,540
Members of council, thank you for the opportunity to speak.

628
00:55:17,120 --> 00:55:19,280
My name is Michelle Scofield, and I live in Upper Darby

629
00:55:19,280 --> 00:55:20,620
Township here in Delaware County.

630
00:55:21,620 --> 00:55:23,020
I stand before you as a resident,

631
00:55:23,360 --> 00:55:26,220
a constituent, and a direct taxpayer of Delaware County.

632
00:55:26,880 --> 00:55:30,480
I am also a woman of the sandwich generation.

633
00:55:31,200 --> 00:55:36,200
Seven years ago, I stepped away from my career and placed my professional goals on hold to

634
00:55:36,200 --> 00:55:37,020
care for my mother.

635
00:55:37,460 --> 00:55:43,980
To provide a home where she can wake without the fear where her health, nutrition, dignity,

636
00:55:44,940 --> 00:55:48,780
and to provide a home where her health, nutrition, dignity are protected and where

637
00:55:48,780 --> 00:55:50,400
compassion is not optional.

638
00:55:52,120 --> 00:55:57,920
Caregiving teaches you something very important, life changes every day.

639
00:55:59,600 --> 00:56:05,300
Even for responsible people, hard seasons do not erase character.

640
00:56:06,060 --> 00:56:06,860
They reveal them.

641
00:56:08,160 --> 00:56:12,960
I want to speak to the tone that we're hearing tonight and gently remind us of the values

642
00:56:12,960 --> 00:56:14,920
that hold a community together.

643
00:56:14,920 --> 00:56:22,480
From what we have been, what has been shared publicly, Councilman, Councilmember Richard

644
00:56:22,480 --> 00:56:25,020
Womack is on a current and approved payment plan.

645
00:56:25,780 --> 00:56:26,740
That is compliance.

646
00:56:27,620 --> 00:56:28,580
That is responsibility.

647
00:56:30,100 --> 00:56:34,740
Many residents in this county rely on a payment plan at different moments of their life.

648
00:56:35,200 --> 00:56:39,240
We do not strip them of dignity or worth for doing so.

649
00:56:41,460 --> 00:56:43,380
Finances are personal.

650
00:56:44,300 --> 00:56:44,740
I repeat.

651
00:56:44,740 --> 00:56:47,620
finances are personal.

652
00:56:50,090 --> 00:56:52,750
They're not up for public spectacle or punishment when

653
00:56:52,750 --> 00:56:56,990
obligations are being met and no public funds are involved. I'm going to repeat

654
00:56:56,990 --> 00:57:02,310
that again. Finances are personal matters. They're not up for public

655
00:57:02,310 --> 00:57:06,670
spectacle or punishment when obligations are being met and no public funds

656
00:57:06,670 --> 00:57:12,570
are involved. Accountability matters, transparency matters, but so does

657
00:57:12,570 --> 00:57:20,010
respect, fairness, restraint, empathy, and compassion, not just in this chamber but in

658
00:57:20,010 --> 00:57:26,530
how we live our daily lives with one another. If we choose judgment over understanding or

659
00:57:26,530 --> 00:57:32,350
punishment over appropriation, we risk creating a culture where no one feels safe acknowledging

660
00:57:32,350 --> 00:57:36,170
hardship. And that serves no one.

661
00:57:38,200 --> 00:57:41,180
As a resident, we all benefit from modeling the kind

662
00:57:41,180 --> 00:57:46,600
of community. We want our children, our elders and our neighbors to live in. One that allows

663
00:57:46,600 --> 00:57:53,200
people to confront difficulty honestly and move forward responsibly. I am proud to live

664
00:57:53,200 --> 00:57:58,300
in Delaware County and I believe that we are strongest when we hold people accountable

665
00:57:58,940 --> 00:58:02,840
without losing humanity. Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

666
00:58:02,840 --> 00:58:03,240
Thank you.

667
00:58:04,990 --> 00:58:05,730
B.O.

668
00:58:05,730 --> 00:58:06,110
Gifford.

669
00:58:06,470 --> 00:58:07,110
And Al Johnson.

670
00:58:07,810 --> 00:58:08,050
Good

671
00:58:16,950 --> 00:58:17,410
evening everyone.

672
00:58:17,890 --> 00:58:18,270
I'm B.O.

673
00:58:18,330 --> 00:58:18,590
Gifford.

674
00:58:18,710 --> 00:58:21,970
This is actually my first time here.

675
00:58:23,250 --> 00:58:31,090
But to be transparent, I spoke with Wal-Mack quite some times about the tax raises.

676
00:58:32,070 --> 00:58:37,750
And my main concern, what my main concern is what are we going to do with the tax

677
00:58:37,750 --> 00:58:38,110
increase?

678
00:58:40,350 --> 00:58:47,810
these taxes are going to be put to use for all communities. And I stand by what Richard

679
00:58:47,810 --> 00:58:58,190
Walmets decision. I also stand by Richard transparency and speaking on his personal life, even though

680
00:58:58,190 --> 00:59:05,050
that is exactly what it is, his personal life. I don't believe that anyone's financial

681
00:59:05,050 --> 00:59:13,210
personal finances should be public. However, this may be a smear campaign or just to tarnish

682
00:59:13,210 --> 00:59:21,070
the good name of Richard Walmart. One thing I can ask is that all of City Council, all

683
00:59:21,070 --> 00:59:26,910
of County Council can be transparent on what are we going to do now that the taxes is

684
00:59:26,910 --> 00:59:34,410
raised. People are being put out their homes because of taxes. Is there any type of resolution

685
00:59:34,410 --> 00:59:40,310
to keep these people in their homes because of financial hardships, and I feel as though

686
00:59:40,310 --> 00:59:47,110
that would be something that we should all look into, not just the payment plan because

687
00:59:47,110 --> 00:59:52,210
sometimes people can't make those payment plans, especially elder people on fixed income.

688
00:59:53,330 --> 00:59:59,330
So those are things that, you know, instead of complaining, let's find solutions and

689
00:59:59,330 --> 00:59:59,870
keeping people

690
01:00:10,880 --> 01:00:12,060
I would

691
01:00:15,900 --> 01:00:33,420
like to note that the county has instituted a program. It began last year where residents who are home owners can defer the increase in their taxes. So they would pay the same amount of taxes that they paid the prior year.

692
01:00:33,420 --> 01:00:39,080
So the increase that is increased this year, that difference, they would not have to pay.

693
01:00:39,460 --> 01:00:40,920
They have to sign up for the program.

694
01:00:41,400 --> 01:00:46,420
There is a lien put on your home which does not impact you until and unless your house is sold.

695
01:00:46,940 --> 01:00:52,000
But that is a way to defer your taxes and not to be able to manage the increase.

696
01:00:52,440 --> 01:00:54,580
I recommend that people do look into that program.

697
01:00:54,720 --> 01:00:56,460
It is on our Treasurer's Office website.

698
01:00:56,980 --> 01:01:00,380
We had over a dozen people take advantage of that program last year

699
01:01:00,380 --> 01:01:05,240
and is an opportunity for people who cannot manage the difference remain in

700
01:01:05,240 --> 01:01:09,380
their homes. Thank you. Next speaker, Al Johnson, followed by Felicia Coffey.

701
01:01:13,420 --> 01:01:13,660
Good

702
01:01:13,660 --> 01:01:17,860
evening. My name is Al Johnson from Morton, Pennsylvania. I represent the

703
01:01:17,860 --> 01:01:22,540
Dillard County Employees Independent Union at the facility at Georgia W. Hill.

704
01:01:23,060 --> 01:01:27,760
I made a promise to myself in the past that I've come up here and I've

705
01:01:27,760 --> 01:01:31,240
discussed some of the issues and discrepancies that we had at the

706
01:01:31,240 --> 01:01:37,240
facility when it was bad. But I promised myself when it was good that I would do the same thing

707
01:01:37,240 --> 01:01:39,660
and keep that word. I think that's only fair.

708
01:01:41,300 --> 01:01:47,680
Intorm Warden, Deputy Warden of Massalina has been doing a fantastic job. He has really

709
01:01:47,680 --> 01:01:53,180
been in the trenches with these officers and boosted morale. And one of the best things

710
01:01:53,180 --> 01:01:59,540
he could have done was bring those splits back. The morale has gone up 1,000 percent

711
01:01:59,540 --> 01:02:03,240
because of that. We have some people that are against it and that will try to make it

712
01:02:03,240 --> 01:02:08,300
look bad, but splits are not the problem. The problem is understaffing and the facility

713
01:02:08,300 --> 01:02:14,140
has been aggressive with doing that and we do appreciate that. We do appreciate the construction

714
01:02:14,140 --> 01:02:18,560
that we see going on with the new locks, with the new doors. We see it coming together

715
01:02:18,560 --> 01:02:23,080
slowly but surely and we're grateful for that. The officers do appreciate that.

716
01:02:23,080 --> 01:02:30,360
One thing I do want to say, I watched the last council meeting and had some other things

717
01:02:30,360 --> 01:02:34,560
I wanted to say about the facility, but I do want to say this about Mr. Womack.

718
01:02:36,040 --> 01:02:40,820
I have called this man personally, so at the facility, you don't understand, we were

719
01:02:40,820 --> 01:02:44,840
under a warden that was basically treating us like we were on a plantation field.

720
01:02:44,840 --> 01:02:53,080
you. This man stood behind us the entire time. And he was the only one that really put his

721
01:02:53,080 --> 01:02:59,500
neck out there for us, the officers. And we're forever grateful for that. I'll never forget

722
01:02:59,500 --> 01:03:07,080
that. My perception of a person is your engagement with me, not with somebody said, not with

723
01:03:07,080 --> 01:03:12,440
with somebody's opinion is, it is my personal engagement with you. And you have really

724
01:03:12,440 --> 01:03:18,180
put your neck out there on the line for the officers, and we truly, truly appreciate that.

725
01:03:18,460 --> 01:03:20,340
Just want you to know that. Thank you very much.

726
01:03:22,060 --> 01:03:24,900
Felicia Coffee and Teresa Harris Johnson.

727
01:03:30,680 --> 01:03:32,660
Good evening, everyone. Good evening, Council.

728
01:03:33,300 --> 01:03:38,880
I'm here in support of Mr. Richard Womack about his personal tab six.

729
01:03:39,040 --> 01:03:45,620
Actually, my comment mimics our state rep and our wonderful woman that came up and spoke,

730
01:03:46,440 --> 01:03:51,360
came up and spoke from Upper Darby and ma

731
01:03:55,680 --> 01:03:57,660
'am you lost a few seconds with that

732
01:03:57,660 --> 01:04:01,540
disruption so I'm just gonna ask that when it hits zero you'll get a couple of

733
01:04:01,540 --> 01:04:06,380
seconds to finish up if you need it okay okay no problem thank you and I just

734
01:04:06,380 --> 01:04:12,340
wanted to say for Richard I know where you are because when I ran in 2019

735
01:04:12,340 --> 01:04:16,780
everyone did that to me about my taxes about my personal things but they

736
01:04:16,780 --> 01:04:20,720
and come back and say when everything is done and over with, they don't tell you the good

737
01:04:20,720 --> 01:04:24,240
part at the end, because all my taxes was completely paid off in the balance of zero.

738
01:04:24,780 --> 01:04:27,340
So they don't tell you when you're doing good.

739
01:04:27,440 --> 01:04:32,360
They always want to hoist it up when you're doing, and their eyes bad, but everyone owes

740
01:04:32,360 --> 01:04:38,540
a bill, everyone, and not to minimize the bill of whatever it is, but it's a bill.

741
01:04:38,840 --> 01:04:44,020
And I am here to support you, and I'm glad to see that your colleagues also support

742
01:04:44,020 --> 01:04:45,920
you because that is just as important.

743
01:04:46,300 --> 01:04:50,540
If they can see one unified front to come together, that would be amazing.

744
01:04:50,760 --> 01:04:54,800
And I appreciate all of you guys up there for all of the work that you do for all of

745
01:04:54,800 --> 01:04:56,260
us in Delaware County.

746
01:04:56,580 --> 01:05:01,460
And Councilman said, you can't be a part of a problem, be a part of a solution, or

747
01:05:01,460 --> 01:05:06,100
if that was, so I want to be a part of any solution that I can put forth any effort

748
01:05:06,100 --> 01:05:06,840
to help you guys.

749
01:05:07,000 --> 01:05:10,700
What can we do in Collingdale to help you because we are all for you.

750
01:05:10,740 --> 01:05:13,300
And I want to say you guys have a wonderful rest of your evening.

751
01:05:15,540 --> 01:05:18,120
Teresa Harris Johnson and Dawn Ellis.

752
01:05:27,960 --> 01:05:30,140
Good evening everyone. My name is Teresa

753
01:05:30,140 --> 01:05:35,260
Harris Johnson from Darby Township. I have known Richard Womack for over 30

754
01:05:35,260 --> 01:05:38,920
years. During that time he has been transparent in everything that he's done.

755
01:05:40,990 --> 01:05:46,290
I have been with him when he has people have come up to him and talk to

756
01:05:46,290 --> 01:05:51,130
them about their personal concerns or problem be it with their property or

757
01:05:51,130 --> 01:05:55,330
financially or their children or whatever it is and he would always take

758
01:05:55,330 --> 01:06:00,110
down the information was always willing to help them reach out to him couple of

759
01:06:00,110 --> 01:06:03,550
times a few times I've even asked him Richard did you get back to that

760
01:06:03,550 --> 01:06:11,130
person yes I did it the problem was solved he's also been a caregiver for

761
01:06:11,130 --> 01:06:16,290
his mother and his father I know that personally I've been there when he's

762
01:06:16,290 --> 01:06:22,290
been destroyed and upset because of his parents problems I've been out

763
01:06:22,290 --> 01:06:23,010
I've worked with him.

764
01:06:24,090 --> 01:06:27,190
And anytime a person is concerned about their parents,

765
01:06:29,050 --> 01:06:31,490
that doesn't mean that he is not concerned

766
01:06:31,490 --> 01:06:33,650
about his responsibilities as a man.

767
01:06:34,530 --> 01:06:37,370
Richard has been a man in everything that he's done.

768
01:06:37,950 --> 01:06:38,750
I respect him.

769
01:06:40,290 --> 01:06:43,590
His transparency is unquestionable.

770
01:06:44,530 --> 01:06:46,830
And those people who did leave the room, unfortunately,

771
01:06:47,510 --> 01:06:49,190
and were not able to hear this,

772
01:06:49,190 --> 01:06:56,050
But sometimes, instead of you being so outspoken in the audience, why don't you first find

773
01:06:56,050 --> 01:06:57,150
out the facts yourself?

774
01:06:58,590 --> 01:07:01,850
Then you can judge somebody on what has been done.

775
01:07:02,730 --> 01:07:06,990
His taxes has nothing to do with him sitting in that seat tonight.

776
01:07:08,330 --> 01:07:09,430
None whatsoever.

777
01:07:10,590 --> 01:07:14,670
When he was in Darby Township, he was there.

778
01:07:14,670 --> 01:07:21,570
and he worked hard and he worked with the community first, the Democratic Party and everything else.

779
01:07:22,550 --> 01:07:30,190
This man has gone over and above board and has deserved this seat before he was even voted into it four years ago.

780
01:07:30,870 --> 01:07:37,630
And for now because of his unfortunate financial difficulties, we, not we,

781
01:07:37,870 --> 01:07:43,570
some people are going to stand here at this podium and they're going to judge him. Who are they?

782
01:07:45,070 --> 01:07:51,950
Everybody in here has some time or another been in debt.

783
01:07:52,470 --> 01:07:59,030
If you have a charge card, you're in debt, and you better pay that charge card or they're

784
01:07:59,030 --> 01:08:00,990
going to come after you.

785
01:08:01,490 --> 01:08:06,730
I support this man in everything that he's done, and that anyone in here can say that

786
01:08:06,730 --> 01:08:07,350
he hasn't.

787
01:08:08,110 --> 01:08:12,670
Now, when he applies for this position, is it written anywhere in your bylaw as

788
01:08:12,670 --> 01:08:19,210
a constitution that you had to be up on all of your financial difficulties? No. So if that's

789
01:08:19,210 --> 01:08:25,090
not there, so then why are we even having this? Why? That's his personal problem, has nothing

790
01:08:25,090 --> 01:08:28,590
to do with none of us. Thank you.

791
01:08:32,480 --> 01:08:38,580
Dawn Ellis. And if anyone else would like to speak, please approach the podium.

792
01:08:40,920 --> 01:08:41,480
Dawn

793
01:08:41,480 --> 01:08:41,820
Ellis.

794
01:08:41,820 --> 01:08:45,740
Hi, I'm Dawn Ellis from the Great Neighborhood of Darby Township.

795
01:08:47,060 --> 01:08:55,600
This is my first meeting. Not too pleased, not too impressed, but I came here just to say and be transparent.

796
01:08:57,720 --> 01:09:07,060
I have big bills. I owe money. I owe taxes. I work two full-time jobs and run a non-profit business.

797
01:09:07,060 --> 01:09:10,500
The IRS loves me too, but whose business is that?

798
01:09:10,700 --> 01:09:15,840
But I'm standing here today because I run a non-profit business or a business that is

799
01:09:15,840 --> 01:09:16,700
not for profit.

800
01:09:17,420 --> 01:09:21,980
I just want the world to know that if you Google my name, you may see that I owe taxes

801
01:09:21,980 --> 01:09:22,440
too.

802
01:09:24,560 --> 01:09:30,980
So I just want to say it wasn't anybody's business, not personal, to pull information

803
01:09:30,980 --> 01:09:32,660
on someone's finances.

804
01:09:33,260 --> 01:09:35,280
But if we go and do it, do it.

805
01:09:35,440 --> 01:09:35,980
You know what I mean?

806
01:09:36,120 --> 01:09:39,300
There are so many applications out here.

807
01:09:39,800 --> 01:09:45,080
If I had the peanut gallery's name, I'd pull their information right now because I am that

808
01:09:45,080 --> 01:09:45,400
good.

809
01:09:45,900 --> 01:09:47,800
So with all that to say, it ain't none of my business.

810
01:09:47,960 --> 01:09:51,860
Now my daughter told me not to come here and say not a word because I talked too much.

811
01:09:52,180 --> 01:09:59,160
But I just, the experience from tonight, the one thing I learned is you could be

812
01:09:59,160 --> 01:10:05,820
loud, but what you say and ain't strong. But I'm going to stand up here and say that

813
01:10:05,820 --> 01:10:10,360
I'm loud and strong and transparent too. And Richard, don't you get up out there and see.

814
01:10:17,180 --> 01:10:18,100
Next speaker please.

815
01:10:23,380 --> 01:10:26,760
Hi, Laura Lewis, Radner Township. I'm here

816
01:10:26,760 --> 01:10:32,840
as always to talk about election machines. Recent vulnerabilities in election voting

817
01:10:32,840 --> 01:10:38,660
systems like those from Dominion and ESNS have sparked renewed scrutiny, especially

818
01:10:38,660 --> 01:10:41,960
with foreign ties and remote access risks.

819
01:10:42,860 --> 01:10:46,180
Two Supreme Court rulings now allow reopening cases

820
01:10:46,180 --> 01:10:47,940
dismissed for lack of standing,

821
01:10:48,460 --> 01:10:51,180
potentially impacting dozens in Pennsylvania.

822
01:10:52,360 --> 01:10:55,260
In Bosby, Illinois, State Board of Elections,

823
01:10:55,400 --> 01:10:59,520
the Supreme Court decided on January 14th, 2026,

824
01:10:59,860 --> 01:11:01,320
in a seven to two ruling,

825
01:11:01,860 --> 01:11:04,420
the court that federal candidates

826
01:11:04,420 --> 01:11:08,020
have Article III standing to challenge state election laws

827
01:11:08,020 --> 01:11:13,560
which in this case relates to mail-in ballots received after election day

828
01:11:13,560 --> 01:11:19,120
alleging voting dilution. This reverses lower courts and could lead to more

829
01:11:19,120 --> 01:11:25,320
pre-election challenges to meet machine related rules. The case of Watson v.

830
01:11:25,480 --> 01:11:30,120
Republican National Committee questions of federal statutes preempt state laws

831
01:11:30,120 --> 01:11:35,960
allowing ballots cast by election day but received later. It directly ties to

832
01:11:35,960 --> 01:11:41,320
vulnerabilities and extended counting periods where machines could be manipulated remotely.

833
01:11:42,580 --> 01:11:49,080
These rulings address lack of standing dismissals and open the door for approximately 18 to

834
01:11:49,080 --> 01:11:55,960
20 cases from 2020 in Pennsylvania, mostly on mail-in ballots and machine counts that

835
01:11:55,960 --> 01:12:01,300
were dismissed on standing that can be reopened under Bost or Watson.

836
01:12:01,300 --> 01:12:07,700
In Delaware County specifically, at least two to three cases could potentially be revived

837
01:12:08,060 --> 01:12:13,820
by granting candidates standing to challenge election rules affecting vote counting.

838
01:12:14,480 --> 01:12:20,580
These specifically involve issues like observer access during ballot processing and canvassing,

839
01:12:21,180 --> 01:12:27,140
ballot curing procedures or related challenges to how defective or provisional ballots

840
01:12:27,140 --> 01:12:27,860
are handled.

841
01:12:27,860 --> 01:12:40,160
And most importantly, broader claims tied to voting machine use, including allegations of vulnerability, improper certification, or interference risks.

842
01:12:41,520 --> 01:12:54,740
As the observed number of mail-in ballots tabulated at the wharf in both the 2024 and 2025 elections continue to contradict the county's posted machine totals.

843
01:12:54,740 --> 01:13:01,160
It's time to return to election day hand counting of election ballots. Thank you very much

844
01:13:04,510 --> 01:13:05,810
Next speaker, please

845
01:13:05,810 --> 01:13:06,670
Good

846
01:13:12,300 --> 01:13:13,580
afternoon everyone. Good afternoon counsel

847
01:13:14,440 --> 01:13:16,160
Tevin next to have a town

848
01:13:16,160 --> 01:13:22,980
So county council you always talk about transparency, and I just say you cannot be transparent when you disable the comments on

849
01:13:22,980 --> 01:13:26,420
Facebook you cannot be transparent when you constantly lie

850
01:13:27,220 --> 01:13:30,840
Light of us blisters when Charlie Xander shows proof of corruption in this county

851
01:13:31,420 --> 01:13:34,780
You cannot show transparency when you constantly increase our taxes.

852
01:13:35,380 --> 01:13:39,980
You cannot be transparent when you want to change the time of these county councilmen

853
01:13:39,980 --> 01:13:44,220
without telling why and I asked a question and unfortunately no one could give me an answer.

854
01:13:45,360 --> 01:13:49,760
But mostly there are solutions that we can find a way to stop the tax increase.

855
01:13:50,500 --> 01:13:56,720
Another solution is to listen to Leah Hoops and Gregory Stenton who found proof of election fraud in this county.

856
01:13:57,480 --> 01:14:05,120
And one more thing, Ruther Ice is a federal law enforcement agency, whether you like it

857
01:14:05,120 --> 01:14:10,380
or not, and they're doing their job to arrest the most hardened criminals in this country.

858
01:14:11,000 --> 01:14:12,660
So you can please stop the gaslighting.

859
01:14:12,980 --> 01:14:13,580
Thank you, everyone.

860
01:14:15,670 --> 01:14:16,730
Next speaker, please.

861
01:14:20,790 --> 01:14:20,970
Hello.

862
01:14:21,190 --> 01:14:22,470
My name is Lori Mizzolo.

863
01:14:22,950 --> 01:14:23,950
I live in Edgmont.

864
01:14:26,670 --> 01:14:28,630
I want to just point out the state rep.

865
01:14:28,630 --> 01:14:34,150
So much of what she said hit me at least.

866
01:14:34,390 --> 01:14:36,290
I agree with what she said.

867
01:14:36,790 --> 01:14:46,930
She also mentioned, you know, reach out, possibly talk to the council about how you can help.

868
01:14:47,530 --> 01:14:55,410
Well, that's not something you feel encouraged to do with a group of people that there's

869
01:14:55,410 --> 01:14:56,350
a great crowd here tonight.

870
01:14:56,350 --> 01:14:59,730
It was actually the biggest I've seen yet and you

871
01:15:00,180 --> 01:15:08,840
You are changing your meetings to one o'clock, which probably means that at most maybe 20% of the people can show up.

872
01:15:09,400 --> 01:15:13,220
Again, I said last week, please consider that change. You're not being fair to the community.

873
01:15:14,300 --> 01:15:19,620
And my second thing, and I feel, I grew up in Derby.

874
01:15:20,140 --> 01:15:26,640
I was one of five kids with a single mother who, when I was 14,

875
01:15:26,640 --> 01:15:30,960
our house was put up for a sharp sale and nobody gave a shit where we went.

876
01:15:32,400 --> 01:15:35,900
Mr. Womack, I don't give a damn about your finances. I really don't.

877
01:15:36,300 --> 01:15:42,580
What I care about is you're a part of a group and all of you,

878
01:15:42,620 --> 01:15:48,020
and you put yourself in public eye, you also open up yourself to the public

879
01:15:48,020 --> 01:15:52,260
knowing your private information. The truth, you're there and people can find stuff out.

880
01:15:52,260 --> 01:15:58,600
What I care about is you all are basically in control of our money.

881
01:15:59,860 --> 01:16:08,260
And what it looks like is if you can't be in control of your own money,

882
01:16:08,460 --> 01:16:10,200
what are you doing with my money?

883
01:16:11,240 --> 01:16:13,160
That's where it bothers me a little bit.

884
01:16:13,280 --> 01:16:15,480
And I don't know anything about the rest of you either,

885
01:16:15,480 --> 01:16:25,880
But I certainly hope that, you know, our money is well taken care of and spent well now 50%

886
01:16:25,880 --> 01:16:31,200
over three years tax increase leads me to believe that there's a lot of problems behind

887
01:16:31,200 --> 01:16:31,640
the scenes.

888
01:16:32,360 --> 01:16:35,860
So, anyway, thank you and have a good night.

889
01:16:38,110 --> 01:16:39,130
Next speaker, please.

890
01:16:42,240 --> 01:16:43,480
I don't even know where to start.

891
01:16:43,880 --> 01:16:46,140
I want to apologize for not being here two weeks ago, I was away.

892
01:16:46,740 --> 01:16:47,660
But I'm back.

893
01:16:47,660 --> 01:16:48,880
You know who I am.

894
01:16:49,660 --> 01:16:51,660
Do you mind just saying your name and township?

895
01:16:52,400 --> 01:16:52,500
Thanks.

896
01:16:52,700 --> 01:16:52,900
Okay.

897
01:16:54,220 --> 01:16:55,320
So I don't know.

898
01:16:55,360 --> 01:16:57,620
This is the first I'm hearing about a time change on these meetings.

899
01:16:58,380 --> 01:17:01,400
I don't like change at all in any way at all.

900
01:17:02,160 --> 01:17:04,540
So I really hope you change your mind about that

901
01:17:04,540 --> 01:17:06,480
because I like this Wednesday night meeting.

902
01:17:07,260 --> 01:17:09,140
I try and come as often as I can.

903
01:17:10,640 --> 01:17:12,600
And I see we have a new person up there.

904
01:17:13,840 --> 01:17:14,240
Hi.

905
01:17:14,600 --> 01:17:14,920
How are you?

906
01:17:16,700 --> 01:17:22,800
I don't care about your finances because there's two sides every story. I don't want to hear either one of them

907
01:17:22,800 --> 01:17:28,240
I don't care doesn't matter as long as you're doing the right thing. I'll go with me

908
01:17:29,420 --> 01:17:36,900
But yeah, we can't change the meetings and I really really want you to reconsider your tax increase. I

909
01:17:36,900 --> 01:17:40,180
Think it's just a little bit too much for everybody

910
01:17:41,140 --> 01:17:42,980
Because of last year's

911
01:17:42,980 --> 01:17:45,540
that is it thank you

912
01:17:47,580 --> 01:17:50,180
next speaker please good

913
01:17:56,620 --> 01:17:58,640
evening council and everyone in the

914
01:17:58,640 --> 01:18:03,540
room my name is Amina Perez and I'm a developer in Delaware County and I came

915
01:18:03,540 --> 01:18:10,500
tonight to show my support for Richard Womack and to let you know I know it's

916
01:18:10,500 --> 01:18:15,420
not easy when people think they know things about you and when things have

917
01:18:15,420 --> 01:18:19,800
happened in the past that people want you to keep reliving it doesn't define

918
01:18:19,800 --> 01:18:27,460
who you are, you can make bad decisions, you can have hardships, you can be human and still

919
01:18:27,460 --> 01:18:29,760
have your dignity and still know that people will respect you.

920
01:18:30,020 --> 01:18:33,740
We see the work that you do and we support you and keep going and keep your head up.

921
01:18:34,120 --> 01:18:34,380
Thank you.

922
01:18:51,010 --> 01:18:57,730
Hi, I'm Kathy Buckley from Edgemont and I want to welcome our newest council member.

923
01:18:58,550 --> 01:19:00,530
I hope you do better than the others.

924
01:19:00,770 --> 01:19:02,250
I really have high hopes for you.

925
01:19:02,250 --> 01:19:06,650
So this is not my first time at a meeting.

926
01:19:07,130 --> 01:19:09,110
I've been coming here for two years.

927
01:19:09,710 --> 01:19:11,670
I came because there was a problem.

928
01:19:12,410 --> 01:19:14,310
I saw something during the election.

929
01:19:15,090 --> 01:19:17,230
I have gone to a council member.

930
01:19:17,530 --> 01:19:19,910
I spent an hour with her.

931
01:19:20,770 --> 01:19:21,630
Guess what happened?

932
01:19:24,050 --> 01:19:25,690
Nothing, absolutely nothing.

933
01:19:26,330 --> 01:19:30,610
I went to a DA, spoke to the DA's office

934
01:19:30,610 --> 01:19:39,650
about a problem. Guess what the answer was? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I even ran

935
01:19:39,650 --> 01:19:46,910
for office to change, to make change. The only thing that happened was I got attacked.

936
01:19:47,530 --> 01:19:54,130
I had two negative ads hit on me and I had someone say that I had a tinfoil hat

937
01:19:54,130 --> 01:20:02,030
about the problem that I found this all firsthand that I have been pointing out

938
01:20:02,030 --> 01:20:11,660
for two years again since I've been here two years I've seen the history of the

939
01:20:11,660 --> 01:20:20,860
tax increases and the no need for it somehow the previous board before had

940
01:20:20,860 --> 01:20:25,920
had no problem meeting all the needs of the county within the budget.

941
01:20:27,080 --> 01:20:31,520
You guys get in, all of a sudden, spend, spend, spend, spend, spend, spend, spend.

942
01:20:31,980 --> 01:20:37,420
You put how many people in problems that they're going to lose their house because

943
01:20:37,420 --> 01:20:43,540
they can't afford the taxes, that you increased and it's over 50 percent because if you

944
01:20:43,540 --> 01:20:49,820
put in the first tax then you have to multiply that by the 19 percent that it

945
01:20:49,820 --> 01:20:55,100
bumps you up more. How many elderly people are you going to force out of their house?

946
01:20:55,540 --> 01:21:02,560
How many people that are working three jobs just to live here, have a safe home, have a

947
01:21:02,560 --> 01:21:07,700
good school that are going to get forced out because they can't afford the taxes here

948
01:21:07,700 --> 01:21:16,380
anymore? And I will state it again. You keep increasing taxes. What do we get? I have

949
01:21:16,380 --> 01:21:24,180
yet to see one service do better. The potholes aren't better. The schools are worse. The kids

950
01:21:24,180 --> 01:21:30,060
were kicked out of school for two years during COVID, which they didn't need to be. They

951
01:21:30,060 --> 01:21:36,000
lost two years of education. How are we going to catch that up? We haven't even seen the

952
01:21:36,000 --> 01:21:42,320
damage of what that did to the kids. The mental illness is through the roof now.

953
01:21:42,320 --> 01:21:47,580
Well, anyone think it's because they were kept at home, told that they're going to kill

954
01:21:47,580 --> 01:21:49,940
their grandmother if they breathe on them?

955
01:21:51,360 --> 01:21:54,380
You have not seen the end of the damage.

956
01:22:01,630 --> 01:22:03,450
Looks like there are no further speakers this evening.

957
01:22:08,050 --> 01:22:11,790
Look for vice chair Rufus to make the motion.

958
01:22:12,710 --> 01:22:13,390
Thank you.

959
01:22:15,000 --> 01:22:17,130
The first is a motion.

960
01:22:17,450 --> 01:22:21,890
I move to approve the minutes to the organizational meeting held on January 5th,

961
01:22:21,890 --> 01:22:26,510
2026 and the regular meeting held on January 7th, 2026.

962
01:22:27,230 --> 01:22:28,750
Motion was made in a second.

963
01:22:29,350 --> 01:22:30,410
Questions or comments?

964
01:22:31,050 --> 01:22:32,250
All in favor say aye.

965
01:22:32,530 --> 01:22:32,770
Aye.

966
01:22:33,510 --> 01:22:34,790
Those ayes have it.

967
01:22:37,900 --> 01:22:40,520
Do you want to introduce Lee to do, yeah.

968
01:22:41,380 --> 01:22:49,600
Well, item 7A is the second reading of ordinance 2026-01

969
01:22:49,600 --> 01:22:53,680
amending and restating article two of chapter 202

970
01:22:53,680 --> 01:22:58,600
of the county code relating to the hotel tax, I move for the adoption of this ordinance.

971
01:22:59,660 --> 01:22:59,680
Seconded.

972
01:22:59,820 --> 01:23:01,360
Which was made in seconded.

973
01:23:04,540 --> 01:23:10,900
I do want to just check in and see if there is a public speaking opportunity for anyone

974
01:23:10,900 --> 01:23:14,880
who wanted to speak specifically on the ordinance before we move forward with the vote.

975
01:23:15,220 --> 01:23:17,180
I want to make sure that people have that opportunity.

976
01:23:17,480 --> 01:23:21,440
No one signed up and it does not appear that we have anyone speaking on the ordinance.

977
01:23:21,640 --> 01:23:22,040
Is that correct?

978
01:23:22,380 --> 01:23:22,760
Thank you.

979
01:23:22,760 --> 01:23:33,190
I will point out to those in the audience that there's a copy of the ordinance in the back of the room physical copies have been made available.

980
01:23:33,390 --> 01:23:37,150
There are also copies available online excuse me.

981
01:23:38,430 --> 01:23:42,250
This is ordinance number 202601.

982
01:23:42,390 --> 01:23:48,350
It was formally numbered as 202504 with its first read on June 18th of 2025.

983
01:23:48,810 --> 01:23:50,910
It's been published in the Delaware County Times.

984
01:23:50,910 --> 01:23:59,770
and it is to increase our hotel tax to the permissible level of 5% to keep us

985
01:23:59,770 --> 01:24:05,010
in keeping with our neighborhood, many of our neighbor counties, and to maximize

986
01:24:05,010 --> 01:24:09,150
our opportunities to bring in income from those who might be visiting the

987
01:24:09,150 --> 01:24:14,110
county and staying at our lovely hotels in order to enjoy many of the special

988
01:24:14,110 --> 01:24:18,010
events that we have going on this year or for any other reason. So I do think

989
01:24:18,010 --> 01:24:24,210
I think we have people from Visit Delco who are willing to speak a little more about how

990
01:24:24,210 --> 01:24:29,190
this came about and some of the benefits that could be incurred with these resources.

991
01:24:36,360 --> 01:24:41,020
Members of Council, my name is Steve Byrne, I'm the Executive Director of Visit Delco.

992
01:24:41,520 --> 01:24:44,600
With me tonight is Rob McPherson, our Chief Marketing Officer.

993
01:24:45,340 --> 01:24:50,420
And we have two hoteliers, Matt Thompson and James Wiley here to support us as

994
01:24:50,420 --> 01:24:50,580
well.

995
01:24:50,580 --> 01:24:55,440
We're going to start the presentation with a quick video and then we'll get into a quick

996
01:24:55,440 --> 01:24:55,940
PowerPoint.

997
01:26:14,850 --> 01:26:19,850
That was a quick synopsis of what we've been doing the last year, all in one minute there.

998
01:26:20,030 --> 01:26:22,510
And I just wanted to start it off on a positive note there.

999
01:26:23,230 --> 01:26:27,290
We're here to talk about the increase in the hotel occupancy tax, but I just want

1000
01:26:27,290 --> 01:26:31,440
to see if I can figure that there it is.

1001
01:26:32,140 --> 01:26:33,980
Just a quick history on this tax.

1002
01:26:35,000 --> 01:26:38,900
We were – our organization was incorporated December 31st, 1984.

1003
01:26:38,900 --> 01:26:46,360
So, since 1985, visitors that come into this county and pay for an overnight accommodation

1004
01:26:46,360 --> 01:26:50,500
have been paying a occupancy tax on their room.

1005
01:26:51,260 --> 01:26:53,100
This is an export tax.

1006
01:26:53,400 --> 01:26:56,780
It is not a tax on county residents, and I just want to make that clear.

1007
01:26:58,360 --> 01:27:01,560
The way this tax works is the county collects it.

1008
01:27:02,340 --> 01:27:07,380
They can buy law, keep up to 4 percent for administration fees, and then they turn

1009
01:27:07,380 --> 01:27:11,440
it over to the tourism promotion agency of record, which is Visit Delco.

1010
01:27:12,960 --> 01:27:18,320
From that, that money must be used to promote tourism in the county.

1011
01:27:21,710 --> 01:27:31,630
If you look at our collar counties, we are at 3 percent, Bucks County and Chester County

1012
01:27:31,630 --> 01:27:34,950
are at 5 percent, Montgomery County is at 4 percent.

1013
01:27:34,950 --> 01:27:41,270
The State of Pennsylvania passed a law that counties of our classification could increase

1014
01:27:41,270 --> 01:27:42,890
their tax rate to 5%.

1015
01:27:43,440 --> 01:27:45,190
The other counties chose to do that.

1016
01:27:45,510 --> 01:27:46,030
We did not.

1017
01:27:46,650 --> 01:27:50,590
And you can see the current budget, how far behind we are.

1018
01:27:51,570 --> 01:27:57,190
The reason Montgomery County is only at 4% if you look at their budget, it's $11 million.

1019
01:27:57,610 --> 01:28:02,330
They got more than twice the amount of rooms up there and their average daily rate

1020
01:28:02,330 --> 01:28:04,070
is higher than ours.

1021
01:28:06,770 --> 01:28:12,590
If you look at our projection for 26, if this goes through, we'll make this tax effective

1022
01:28:13,430 --> 01:28:19,810
for one April 1st. It puts us more in line with everybody else. We are out there now working

1023
01:28:19,810 --> 01:28:25,550
harder than ever. And the reason being is when COVID hit, we lost a lot of our corporate travelers.

1024
01:28:27,090 --> 01:28:33,330
And because of that, the Sunday night through Thursday night traveler is just not as high as

1025
01:28:33,330 --> 01:28:38,410
it used to be. So we've started getting creative and going out and doing different things, working

1026
01:28:38,410 --> 01:28:43,610
shows differently, partnerships out there to make sure that when visitors come in they're

1027
01:28:43,610 --> 01:28:51,270
staying in our county. About two and a half years ago we did a strategic plan and the

1028
01:28:51,270 --> 01:28:56,750
consultants were interviewing stakeholders and one of the biggest things they feedback

1029
01:28:56,750 --> 01:29:02,550
they received was, and these are mainly hoteliers, when they go to shows and when

1030
01:29:02,550 --> 01:29:06,170
When they go to events, they would see Bucks County, they would see Chester County, they

1031
01:29:06,170 --> 01:29:09,810
would see Montgomery County, but they wouldn't see Delaware County.

1032
01:29:10,170 --> 01:29:13,550
The reason is, we just didn't have the funds to go out to attend the show.

1033
01:29:13,750 --> 01:29:16,310
Last week, we were at three different shows.

1034
01:29:16,410 --> 01:29:18,170
Two were in Philadelphia, one was out West.

1035
01:29:18,830 --> 01:29:20,530
Just to go to those shows costs money.

1036
01:29:21,290 --> 01:29:25,970
And that's what we're doing is we're putting that money to use to bring more business

1037
01:29:25,970 --> 01:29:26,930
into this county.

1038
01:29:35,570 --> 01:29:41,350
to charge this tax 66 out of the 67 counties charge a hotel

1039
01:29:41,350 --> 01:29:45,270
occupancy tax. This revenue has proven to be an impactful

1040
01:29:45,270 --> 01:29:49,210
economic driver for each community. If you look at our

1041
01:29:49,210 --> 01:29:54,210
numbers here and this is 2024 numbers because we don't have

1042
01:29:54,210 --> 01:29:56,910
25s economic numbers yet four and a half million dollars

1043
01:29:56,910 --> 01:29:59,630
million visitors came to our county. They spent 800.

1044
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:08,520
$40 million, creating 13,000 jobs, leading to an economic impact of $1.2 billion. The one

1045
01:30:08,520 --> 01:30:14,840
number I want to point out there is that $68 million is right to local taxes, stays right

1046
01:30:14,840 --> 01:30:20,480
here in the county. If you look at the little white box on the right there, those are our

1047
01:30:20,480 --> 01:30:27,840
key indicators. Our 25 numbers just came in last week. We are up in every category.

1048
01:30:27,840 --> 01:30:33,740
the work that we're doing is paying off you're seeing significant growth the one

1049
01:30:33,740 --> 01:30:40,540
I will point out is rooms sold were up 4% were rate at about a million rooms

1050
01:30:40,540 --> 01:30:46,460
sold per night in this county if you took the five county comparison we are

1051
01:30:46,460 --> 01:30:50,160
one of two counties up Montgomery County is up 2%

1052
01:30:50,160 --> 01:30:55,660
Philadelphia Bucks County and Chester is showing negative numbers year over

1053
01:30:55,660 --> 01:31:00,820
year. So we know the work that we're doing is paying off. I'm going to turn it over to

1054
01:31:00,820 --> 01:31:05,340
Rob. He's going to talk about some of the things that we've been doing and are going

1055
01:31:05,340 --> 01:31:07,440
to do with the top.

1056
01:31:10,060 --> 01:31:14,960
Thank you. So just what, you know, what we're

1057
01:31:14,960 --> 01:31:21,100
really trying to emphasize is that this is a creative economic driver where a tax

1058
01:31:21,100 --> 01:31:26,340
on someone who spends the night in one of our hotels, that revenue gets used to generate

1059
01:31:26,340 --> 01:31:31,500
more local impact on an economic basis. And we just want to show just a couple of quick

1060
01:31:31,500 --> 01:31:36,480
things that we'll continue to do and do better, do more impactfully with some more resources.

1061
01:31:37,320 --> 01:31:42,820
So one thing, for example, here in this, as we work to grow our potential, we know

1062
01:31:42,820 --> 01:31:49,920
we have room for growth. It is 2026, 250th anniversary of the country. We're working

1063
01:31:49,920 --> 01:31:54,380
with PA Delco 250, one of the things we're working on is a legacy project where we're

1064
01:31:54,380 --> 01:31:59,900
identifying sites in the county that could be visitation sites that aren't necessarily

1065
01:31:59,900 --> 01:32:03,760
staffed accordingly or funded accordingly or resourced accordingly to where folks can

1066
01:32:03,760 --> 01:32:08,320
visit them on a regular basis. We're identifying those sites, we're putting signage in those

1067
01:32:08,320 --> 01:32:12,140
sites that's going to be interactive signage with QR codes where someone can hit the

1068
01:32:12,140 --> 01:32:16,260
QR code with their phone and get an audio file to tell them what that site is

1069
01:32:16,260 --> 01:32:17,800
about what's significant about that site.

1070
01:32:18,280 --> 01:32:20,620
So that site doesn't necessarily have to staff,

1071
01:32:20,980 --> 01:32:23,460
doesn't have to have the people or the funding to staff it.

1072
01:32:23,520 --> 01:32:24,880
We'll cover that part of it.

1073
01:32:25,120 --> 01:32:26,340
It's one of the many things we'll do.

1074
01:32:28,600 --> 01:32:29,700
Okay, increase our visibility.

1075
01:32:31,820 --> 01:32:33,820
You know, one of the things we're doing right now,

1076
01:32:34,000 --> 01:32:35,620
we have an international marketing campaign.

1077
01:32:35,780 --> 01:32:39,440
So we know that for the World Cup, for example,

1078
01:32:39,760 --> 01:32:42,220
Brazil, France, and Croatia will play

1079
01:32:42,220 --> 01:32:43,440
in the World Cup in Philly.

1080
01:32:43,920 --> 01:32:45,440
We've got advertising digital marketing

1081
01:32:45,440 --> 01:32:50,580
in those countries right now where we're encouraging folks to come and check out our site, check

1082
01:32:50,580 --> 01:32:53,860
out our hotels. They don't have to stay in Philadelphia. They can stay in Delaware County

1083
01:32:53,860 --> 01:32:58,100
and be 20 minutes from South Philly where all the action is going to happen. And our

1084
01:32:58,100 --> 01:33:00,980
advertising is set up in such a way that when they come to our site, they can actually

1085
01:33:00,980 --> 01:33:04,540
click a little drop down and change our site to their language. They can learn

1086
01:33:04,540 --> 01:33:08,140
more about what we're doing. Just, again, we can do more of that kind of stuff

1087
01:33:08,140 --> 01:33:16,900
as we move forward you know we we are we're taking a lot of time to implement

1088
01:33:16,900 --> 01:33:20,940
these resources in ways that we know we're getting direct business back one

1089
01:33:20,940 --> 01:33:25,240
example is we just did a partnership with an organization from Ireland called

1090
01:33:25,240 --> 01:33:29,080
the Donegal it's a Donegal Festival where they're going to be here in March

1091
01:33:29,080 --> 01:33:32,420
they usually their festival in Chester County we got them to get to it here

1092
01:33:32,420 --> 01:33:36,480
in Delaware County they're going to be playing yellow football I really don't

1093
01:33:36,480 --> 01:33:40,860
what it is but it's I think it's close to rugby anyway they're gonna be playing

1094
01:33:40,860 --> 01:33:43,600
out of the Glenn Mills school they're gonna be staying in one of Matt's

1095
01:33:43,600 --> 01:33:49,400
hotels in Springfield they have 600 room nights out of the deal and we're

1096
01:33:49,400 --> 01:33:52,600
sponsoring it so by virtue of us putting our sponsorship revenue on the

1097
01:33:52,600 --> 01:33:56,100
table they're able to use that money to offset their own expenses associated

1098
01:33:56,100 --> 01:33:58,700
with the event it makes it more appealing for them to have the event

1099
01:33:58,700 --> 01:34:03,420
here so again which is we know we've got dedicated room nights from that

1100
01:34:03,420 --> 01:34:05,000
event that we wouldn't have otherwise had.

1101
01:34:06,520 --> 01:34:08,820
And then of course we want to expand our local impact.

1102
01:34:09,500 --> 01:34:12,340
One such event, one such program is our main street grants.

1103
01:34:13,240 --> 01:34:20,340
We have a pot of money set aside to grant to the local businesses, sorry the local business

1104
01:34:20,340 --> 01:34:27,100
communities in places like Upper Darby, Lansdowne, Media, Swarthmore, Haverford, Radnor, places

1105
01:34:27,100 --> 01:34:28,620
where there's a downtown business district.

1106
01:34:29,060 --> 01:34:32,660
If they come to us and they can demonstrate to us that they have a project that will

1107
01:34:32,660 --> 01:34:36,400
make it a more visitor friendly place, we're going to put some money on the table to help

1108
01:34:36,400 --> 01:34:42,080
them get that done. So again, increasing visitation, increasing the amount of people who are in

1109
01:34:42,080 --> 01:34:47,880
our hotels, which then leads to additional spending in our community, taxes reaped from

1110
01:34:47,880 --> 01:34:52,520
those spends that go back to the community. So we're excited about what we have going

1111
01:34:52,520 --> 01:34:56,140
on in the future and we would welcome the opportunity to have a little more of a

1112
01:34:56,140 --> 01:35:00,560
resourceful pot of money to work with and make an even greater impact moving

1113
01:35:00,560 --> 01:35:02,780
forward. So thank you.

1114
01:35:06,650 --> 01:35:13,850
Any questions or comments from council? Yeah, I want to

1115
01:35:13,850 --> 01:35:20,610
say a few things. This has been a long time coming. I've been on this board

1116
01:35:20,610 --> 01:35:24,930
now for six years and I think for six years we've been talking about the

1117
01:35:24,930 --> 01:35:32,130
need to raise this to five percent. We all recognized when we came in that we

1118
01:35:32,130 --> 01:35:39,710
We were, our DMO was underfunded and underinvested in, and did not have access to the resources

1119
01:35:39,710 --> 01:35:45,290
that all of our neighboring counties had, which put all of our hoteliers and our hospitality

1120
01:35:45,290 --> 01:35:49,510
industry at a disadvantage in competing against the big market.

1121
01:35:50,470 --> 01:35:52,410
So we've been working on this for a long time.

1122
01:35:53,350 --> 01:36:00,470
In the last couple of years, we took extra funding and funded Visit Delco at a higher

1123
01:36:00,470 --> 01:36:11,290
level than the 3%. As a testing the theory that putting more money in would result in

1124
01:36:11,290 --> 01:36:20,030
more economic activity and more support for our success for our hoteliers. And I am happy

1125
01:36:20,030 --> 01:36:26,230
to report that this experiment has proved out the theory that with increased investment

1126
01:36:26,230 --> 01:36:30,910
we will get more for our hoteliers and we will have more economic activity coming in.

1127
01:36:31,590 --> 01:36:36,530
Over this time, where we've had increased investment, occupancy has gone up

1128
01:36:38,030 --> 01:36:40,030
and revenue has gone up.

1129
01:36:40,910 --> 01:36:42,230
Activity has gone up.

1130
01:36:43,270 --> 01:36:50,530
Importantly, it has gone up here in Delaware County far more than in our neighboring counties.

1131
01:36:51,250 --> 01:36:53,370
So it is not the fact that it's going up everywhere.

1132
01:36:53,370 --> 01:36:55,570
where it is going up here for a reason.

1133
01:36:55,770 --> 01:36:57,850
And the reason is that we've increased this investment.

1134
01:36:58,610 --> 01:37:01,470
So in my eyes, this is a very sound investment.

1135
01:37:02,430 --> 01:37:03,790
We've proven that out.

1136
01:37:04,570 --> 01:37:07,610
I'm very thrilled to have this permanent now.

1137
01:37:08,950 --> 01:37:11,230
And one last point I'd like to make

1138
01:37:11,230 --> 01:37:14,050
is that the timing of this is important as well

1139
01:37:14,570 --> 01:37:17,730
because this increased funding will be available

1140
01:37:17,730 --> 01:37:19,430
to be spent this year

1141
01:37:19,430 --> 01:37:25,830
when visitation to Delaware County can and should be at a very elevated level

1142
01:37:25,830 --> 01:37:32,450
giving everything that's going on between the PGA, the MLB, America 250, all of the

1143
01:37:32,450 --> 01:37:36,350
things that are happening. We should be, you know, hitting, going off the charts

1144
01:37:36,350 --> 01:37:41,230
in visitation this year, but that doesn't happen without cultivating it.

1145
01:37:41,990 --> 01:37:48,810
So visit Delco has done a superior job in the last year proving the case

1146
01:37:48,810 --> 01:37:54,230
that with increased investment, the services that they can provide for our hoteliers and

1147
01:37:54,230 --> 01:38:00,630
our hospitality do pay off. They do bring in more economic activity. And in my mind,

1148
01:38:00,750 --> 01:38:05,690
it's sort of a no-brainer of an investment. So I will be supporting this vote.

1149
01:38:07,110 --> 01:38:13,390
I have some comments as well. I just wanted to note that as controller for the last

1150
01:38:13,390 --> 01:38:17,450
six years, I've sat on the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority representing

1151
01:38:17,450 --> 01:38:22,890
Delaware County being appointed by County Council in that role, and I have seen the

1152
01:38:22,890 --> 01:38:29,770
substantial work that it takes to get tourists and hospitality business to the region.

1153
01:38:30,510 --> 01:38:31,770
The work is intense.

1154
01:38:32,110 --> 01:38:33,370
You have to be in the market.

1155
01:38:33,490 --> 01:38:34,570
You have to go to the shows.

1156
01:38:34,710 --> 01:38:36,170
You have to have people on the ground.

1157
01:38:36,590 --> 01:38:39,030
You have to entice people to come to your town.

1158
01:38:39,510 --> 01:38:44,510
And we do it as a region, and I've seen bucks come, Montgomery County, Chester

1159
01:38:44,510 --> 01:38:50,390
County and Delaware County, Visit Delco has come and made that presentation to everyone on the board.

1160
01:38:51,170 --> 01:38:59,110
This is a tool in the toolbox that we need to use. This will bring economic help to the county.

1161
01:38:59,730 --> 01:39:04,330
It'll create jobs and it creates business and it's economically smart.

1162
01:39:05,030 --> 01:39:09,530
Our neighbors have wondered why we haven't done this in the past and it's really time to do it.

1163
01:39:09,530 --> 01:39:14,150
I think that if we're creative, we'll look for ways to work with Visit Delco

1164
01:39:14,910 --> 01:39:19,670
and look for the investments that everyone wants to see happen in this county,

1165
01:39:19,770 --> 01:39:22,670
the things that bring tourists and that our residents love too.

1166
01:39:23,130 --> 01:39:26,530
And one of the notes that you had on there was about the education.

1167
01:39:27,090 --> 01:39:29,650
We recently had an opportunity to visit one of the universities

1168
01:39:29,650 --> 01:39:35,850
and hundreds of thousands of people come to visit their students at the universities that we have in this county.

1169
01:39:35,850 --> 01:39:42,470
So all this together will give visit Delco a chance to do even more for the county. So I'm in support of this ordinance

1170
01:39:43,890 --> 01:39:45,110
Thank you. I just

1171
01:39:46,290 --> 01:39:51,310
Wanted to point out a couple of things in response to some of the questions about maybe we should

1172
01:39:51,890 --> 01:39:57,510
Not pass this and divert some of the money to other things. I think it's really

1173
01:39:57,510 --> 01:40:02,490
This is one of those things where the devil's in the details while the county passes

1174
01:40:02,490 --> 01:40:09,390
taxes, the ordinances that increase the tax, and we collect it, we don't get to keep it.

1175
01:40:10,170 --> 01:40:16,890
That money has to go into a restricted fund, and then council appropriates it and moves

1176
01:40:16,890 --> 01:40:18,350
it over to visit Delco.

1177
01:40:19,550 --> 01:40:24,690
And so it's, I think, really important for people to understand that while, you know,

1178
01:40:24,770 --> 01:40:27,950
I'm supportive of this tax, you've heard from two other council members who are

1179
01:40:27,950 --> 01:40:28,830
supportive of this tax.

1180
01:40:30,170 --> 01:40:33,530
It was Visit Delco that came and asked us to raise this tax.

1181
01:40:33,810 --> 01:40:36,690
And our response was, initially, well, let's make sure you really need it.

1182
01:40:36,750 --> 01:40:43,630
And we found out that prior councils did all the collecting but didn't do all the appropriating and sending it all over.

1183
01:40:43,770 --> 01:40:51,190
So we found a pot of money that gave Visit Delco a chance to show us, not just tell us, but show us what they could do.

1184
01:40:51,950 --> 01:40:57,250
That was the money that had basically been scrolled away in this restricted account that

1185
01:40:57,250 --> 01:41:01,430
couldn't be spent but was collected and not helping anybody.

1186
01:41:03,010 --> 01:41:11,450
And we worked with Visit Delco to basically let them build a program to show us how they

1187
01:41:11,450 --> 01:41:14,670
were going to spend that money and how they were going to put it to work in all the

1188
01:41:14,670 --> 01:41:16,490
ways that you've seen here.

1189
01:41:17,010 --> 01:41:24,490
And so this request, for the last couple of years, they've been spending like the tax is at 5%.

1190
01:41:24,490 --> 01:41:26,350
See, they're not in their heads, I got that right.

1191
01:41:26,750 --> 01:41:28,810
But it really hasn't been.

1192
01:41:28,930 --> 01:41:34,430
It's only because there was money that had been appropriated over many years, 30 years,

1193
01:41:34,850 --> 01:41:41,030
and not distributed to them and not spent, that they've been able to show us what they're doing.

1194
01:41:41,630 --> 01:41:45,390
And that's been a work in progress over these last six years, really.

1195
01:41:45,950 --> 01:41:52,050
And now, we know, not just because they've told us, but because they've shown us what

1196
01:41:52,050 --> 01:41:57,290
a difference they can make, what a difference they can do in terms of adding an economic

1197
01:41:57,290 --> 01:42:04,490
driver and supporting the lifeblood of this county, which is our small businesses, economically,

1198
01:42:04,990 --> 01:42:06,270
they're the lifeblood of this community.

1199
01:42:06,790 --> 01:42:11,730
And a lot of them are in the hospitality business, and those that aren't end up

1200
01:42:11,730 --> 01:42:16,830
supporting the hospitality business in many ways, using the hotels, supplying the

1201
01:42:16,830 --> 01:42:22,990
hotels, restaurants that serve food for the people who come there, limousine

1202
01:42:22,990 --> 01:42:25,990
companies and Uber drivers who support the guests.

1203
01:42:28,110 --> 01:42:31,450
It's really important that we

1204
01:42:31,450 --> 01:42:36,410
do this but it is not a tax that we can spend once we get it. In fact the

1205
01:42:36,410 --> 01:42:41,070
only way this money can make a difference is we collect it and then

1206
01:42:41,070 --> 01:42:45,110
we move it over to visit Delco and to other expenditures.

1207
01:42:45,470 --> 01:42:49,510
And even if there's expenditures that the county's interested in seeing, whether it's

1208
01:42:49,510 --> 01:42:57,010
things like the lights, the festival of lights, or the Delco 10-Miler that we're all really

1209
01:42:57,010 --> 01:43:02,670
supportive of, it really has to be a visit Delco that signs off on those expenditures

1210
01:43:02,670 --> 01:43:09,710
because that money has to go to things that are going to improve tourism, which

1211
01:43:09,710 --> 01:43:14,350
can include as they've noted historical sites throughout the county and other things. So

1212
01:43:15,030 --> 01:43:20,790
I just wanted to give people a little bit of context. If we raise this tax, we're doing

1213
01:43:20,790 --> 01:43:28,310
so because we've seen what a more stable and comparable amount of money compared to

1214
01:43:28,310 --> 01:43:31,270
our neighboring counties can do. And it can do a lot of good.

1215
01:43:33,310 --> 01:43:35,590
So I'm in favor of this

1216
01:43:35,590 --> 01:43:41,410
And I support the work that they're doing and my hope is that there will continue to be this kind of

1217
01:43:41,990 --> 01:43:45,510
communication and collaboration because it makes a huge difference

1218
01:43:45,510 --> 01:43:52,870
You know, I just one other thing that some of that money that we found that hadn't been that had been collected over 30 years and not

1219
01:43:52,870 --> 01:43:59,810
appropriate not appropriated prior to our getting on the council one of the things that we were able to do was to

1220
01:44:01,050 --> 01:44:05,010
Support the hospitality industry by supporting education programs

1221
01:44:06,510 --> 01:44:09,970
that teach people how to work in the hospitality industry

1222
01:44:09,970 --> 01:44:12,770
because your best hotel workers,

1223
01:44:13,070 --> 01:44:14,150
your best restaurant workers,

1224
01:44:14,390 --> 01:44:16,030
are people who know the area.

1225
01:44:16,990 --> 01:44:19,270
And so our goal is to put people like that to work.

1226
01:44:20,050 --> 01:44:22,110
And that is a program that I know

1227
01:44:22,110 --> 01:44:23,610
that Delco's been working closely

1228
01:44:23,610 --> 01:44:26,210
with the community college at their new campus.

1229
01:44:26,610 --> 01:44:27,570
So it's really exciting.

1230
01:44:28,890 --> 01:44:31,370
And my hope is that we can continue

1231
01:44:31,370 --> 01:44:34,090
to move forward with these kinds of investments together.

1232
01:44:34,690 --> 01:44:35,690
So, thank you.

1233
01:44:41,020 --> 01:44:41,500
Comments.

1234
01:44:42,520 --> 01:44:47,540
I too agree with my colleagues and I'm not going to go into the long speech,

1235
01:44:47,660 --> 01:44:51,780
but I think it's going to be very helpful for moving, you know,

1236
01:44:51,840 --> 01:44:55,100
Delaware County forward and the support that we really need.

1237
01:44:55,300 --> 01:44:59,420
And I thank you, visit Delco for the work that you have been doing on this.

1238
01:44:59,420 --> 01:44:59,940
I know it's.

1239
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:10,140
It's been a long time coming, so thank you for what you do. So at that point, I'm going

1240
01:45:10,140 --> 01:45:17,620
to look to Ms. Catalina for a vote. Can I just interrupt? Is this a public hearing?

1241
01:45:17,840 --> 01:45:21,980
Do we need to call for public? We did that. Yeah, I think we should.

1242
01:45:21,980 --> 01:45:23,700
And I did that a little prematurely.

1243
01:45:25,260 --> 01:45:25,800
Please do.

1244
01:45:27,520 --> 01:45:29,640
Is there a public comment at this time?

1245
01:45:29,800 --> 01:45:32,740
We did offer it earlier, but there was some.

1246
01:45:33,020 --> 01:45:33,080
OK.

1247
01:45:33,520 --> 01:45:34,740
But she did open it up.

1248
01:45:38,720 --> 01:45:38,960
She did.

1249
01:45:39,060 --> 01:45:41,220
I watched the guy slide and all that.

1250
01:45:41,360 --> 01:45:42,340
And all that was really cool.

1251
01:45:42,780 --> 01:45:45,360
And I also heard him say that we're

1252
01:45:45,360 --> 01:45:49,360
up above all them other counties that have that tax.

1253
01:45:50,200 --> 01:45:53,860
Are we willing to risk putting our tax that high

1254
01:45:53,860 --> 01:46:01,100
and losing them back to where they were before please reconsider and think of

1255
01:46:01,100 --> 01:46:04,480
that because if they're going to go if they were already staying somewhere is

1256
01:46:04,480 --> 01:46:09,240
paying 5% they're not worried about paying 5% they started coming here a

1257
01:46:09,240 --> 01:46:15,720
year or two ago paying 3% they're going to go where they were happy in the

1258
01:46:15,720 --> 01:46:20,440
beginning I don't know who owns what hotel or anything like that I'm not

1259
01:46:20,440 --> 01:46:28,600
against any of you. I'm against raising taxes, period. That's it. And I don't know. It's

1260
01:46:28,600 --> 01:46:33,540
a website. Everything's AI now. How much you pay the guy to run the website?

1261
01:46:35,570 --> 01:46:36,250
There's

1262
01:46:36,250 --> 01:46:44,530
no need to raise any more taxes in the county. Be happy that you're getting the money you're

1263
01:46:44,530 --> 01:46:51,770
getting and go with it. Please, I beg you. I beg you, it's not going to work. You're

1264
01:46:51,770 --> 01:46:55,950
going to lose money. You're going to lose more money. Stop. Thank you.

1265
01:47:03,340 --> 01:47:09,700
Cynthia Sabatini, Upper Providence Township. I do want to thank the folks from Visit Delco

1266
01:47:09,700 --> 01:47:14,640
for their presentation. I would like to know, and I don't know if it's appropriate

1267
01:47:14,640 --> 01:47:20,740
to ask and have the gentlemen answered this question, but if they could give a concrete

1268
01:47:20,740 --> 01:47:27,180
example of how their increased expenditures have helped a specific

1269
01:47:27,180 --> 01:47:31,980
community, whether it be Swarthmore, whether it be Springfield, whether it

1270
01:47:31,980 --> 01:47:40,880
be Media. I think most people can relate to tangible explanations, tangible

1271
01:47:40,880 --> 01:47:48,120
examples. So if the opportunity exists for the visit Delco folks to provide

1272
01:47:48,120 --> 01:47:52,640
that kind of example, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

1273
01:48:02,330 --> 01:48:03,870
Karen Skokor, Concertownship.

1274
01:48:04,930 --> 01:48:07,510
With the comparison of the Collar Counties.

1275
01:48:08,490 --> 01:48:11,910
I hear from people in other counties who are having things raised

1276
01:48:11,910 --> 01:48:14,090
because they're being compared to Delaware County.

1277
01:48:14,250 --> 01:48:17,370
It seems that this is something that's being shuffled around among the

1278
01:48:17,370 --> 01:48:21,370
councils of the surrounding counties, and this is another example

1279
01:48:21,370 --> 01:48:24,550
of Montgomery County compared to Delaware County.

1280
01:48:24,550 --> 01:48:30,310
First of all, Montgomery County has a significant number of greater residents than Delaware County.

1281
01:48:30,410 --> 01:48:36,270
So it's not exactly an accurate representation to say they have this much income and so forth

1282
01:48:36,270 --> 01:48:38,590
in Montgomery County compared to Delaware County.

1283
01:48:38,710 --> 01:48:42,930
I would rather have seen those numbers broken down per capita rather than county to county.

1284
01:48:43,950 --> 01:48:49,710
And also, I would like to see a greater effort and a greater concern just

1285
01:48:49,710 --> 01:48:56,310
for the average citizen of Delaware County, the residents, rather than the tourists who

1286
01:48:56,310 --> 01:49:02,530
are passing through and so forth, and to increase this industry. Yes, there are jobs that come

1287
01:49:02,530 --> 01:49:08,490
in from this industry, but no country, no county, can survive on hospitality and tourism

1288
01:49:08,490 --> 01:49:14,510
and service industries. It's the residents. We need manufacturing. We need industry

1289
01:49:14,510 --> 01:49:16,070
here in the county. Thank you.

1290
01:49:25,840 --> 01:49:36,160
It's just a question of how, so I live in Sharon Hill Borough and it's a little town in Delco.

1291
01:49:36,600 --> 01:49:40,960
And we have a bunch of, like, you know, industry businesses there.

1292
01:49:41,660 --> 01:49:45,500
We really don't, like, really have, like, a real main strip, right?

1293
01:49:45,680 --> 01:49:51,740
But we do give a lot of, you know, fun things in the summer.

1294
01:49:51,740 --> 01:49:57,900
like I collaborate with Jaylen Gerwin, he plays for the Detroit Pistons and he does a lot for the

1295
01:49:57,900 --> 01:50:05,240
community so over the summer we give a six a six-week you know basketball skills and drills

1296
01:50:05,240 --> 01:50:12,960
and then we do a festival um you know out in the park and people come from all over and um

1297
01:50:13,740 --> 01:50:19,740
cheer up Wormack Visit and Monica tell that they came out and they tell you like it's a big event

1298
01:50:19,740 --> 01:50:24,420
And we also do, we have an art department that's called Shack.

1299
01:50:24,860 --> 01:50:26,960
And they do a lot of jazz in the park.

1300
01:50:27,720 --> 01:50:34,480
So, and every year, you know, these events, they get bigger and bigger.

1301
01:50:34,980 --> 01:50:41,760
How does that fit into what y'all of, you know, was Delco?

1302
01:50:43,260 --> 01:50:45,560
Yeah, visit Delco. How does that, thank you.

1303
01:50:45,900 --> 01:50:48,120
How does that fit in that, you know, anywhere?

1304
01:50:48,120 --> 01:50:51,640
I mean, we are getting some new development in our community.

1305
01:50:51,820 --> 01:50:54,620
We're getting a new Starbucks and some other things

1306
01:50:54,620 --> 01:50:56,420
that we're currently working on.

1307
01:50:56,460 --> 01:50:57,420
But how does that fit?

1308
01:50:57,540 --> 01:50:59,280
Because we don't have any hotels there.

1309
01:50:59,820 --> 01:51:02,160
You know, if you want to go to a hotel, we're giving something

1310
01:51:02,700 --> 01:51:05,540
and you want to go to a hotel, you got to go in S10

1311
01:51:05,540 --> 01:51:06,860
or somewhere like that.

1312
01:51:07,340 --> 01:51:10,180
You know, and the goal is to give like a big festival,

1313
01:51:10,440 --> 01:51:12,500
you know, along Chester Pike every year.

1314
01:51:12,720 --> 01:51:16,180
That's the goal to bring in revenue to our small area.

1315
01:51:16,180 --> 01:51:22,220
you know and again my question is how does that fit into what y'all y'all are

1316
01:51:22,220 --> 01:51:26,980
doing like if I wanted to reach out sir can I ask you to state your name too we

1317
01:51:26,980 --> 01:51:33,140
got the sharing help I'm sorry my name is Rodney Hill yeah thank you yeah so

1318
01:51:33,140 --> 01:51:35,220
that's my question to y'all okay

1319
01:51:41,740 --> 01:51:43,620
Johnson Prospect Park I'm also the

1320
01:51:43,620 --> 01:51:47,940
Prospect Park borough council president our community is near a tenacum

1321
01:51:47,940 --> 01:51:55,080
township where we have numerous hotels within the region. I also served on the Valley Forge

1322
01:51:55,080 --> 01:52:01,220
Sports Advisory Board in Montgomery County because I'm an assistant professor of marketing

1323
01:52:01,850 --> 01:52:09,420
in Montgomery County. Serving on that board, their tax is five percent. And it has been

1324
01:52:09,420 --> 01:52:15,460
instrumental in the services and the promotions that they've been able to do for that region.

1325
01:52:15,460 --> 01:52:20,960
They go to conferences all across the country, and they've been able to bring huge sports

1326
01:52:20,960 --> 01:52:24,140
events to Montgomery County.

1327
01:52:24,660 --> 01:52:30,260
With our development at the Inchester, with the soccer facility, and other facilities

1328
01:52:30,260 --> 01:52:37,040
that the county is working on throughout the county, I think this 5 percent tax could

1329
01:52:37,040 --> 01:52:38,160
be very instrumental.

1330
01:52:38,980 --> 01:52:43,800
Like you said before, there is an administrative fee with the increased tax, so that's an

1331
01:52:43,800 --> 01:52:49,660
increased revenue stream for the county but most of it benefits visit Delco and I think

1332
01:52:49,660 --> 01:52:55,400
this would just be beneficial for the county and for the tourism and overall economic development

1333
01:52:55,640 --> 01:53:03,480
to support our hospitality industry and the economic impact that is also supported by

1334
01:53:03,480 --> 01:53:10,480
increased hospitality health of those industries.

1335
01:53:10,480 --> 01:53:16,140
So I support this tax. I'll just give you an example. I drive on 95 going to

1336
01:53:17,680 --> 01:53:21,460
Prospect Park all the time. The red roof in there is $99.

1337
01:53:22,240 --> 01:53:28,900
So we're talking about $1.80 added on to the current existing tax.

1338
01:53:29,080 --> 01:53:33,360
So it's not significant and most of this tax is going to be borne

1339
01:53:33,360 --> 01:53:36,940
by people that are visiting Delaware County for our amenities.

1340
01:53:36,940 --> 01:53:38,960
So I just wanted to provide that comment.

1341
01:53:39,240 --> 01:53:40,000
So thank you.

1342
01:53:50,900 --> 01:53:56,740
If it's a point of order, you have – it's not a question and answer session at this

1343
01:53:56,740 --> 01:53:57,000
time.

1344
01:53:57,060 --> 01:53:58,100
I will ask the question.

1345
01:53:59,680 --> 01:54:01,400
I understand we have one more public speaker.

1346
01:54:02,020 --> 01:54:02,860
I'll ask the question.

1347
01:54:05,410 --> 01:54:06,830
Michael Straugh, media borough.

1348
01:54:07,590 --> 01:54:15,690
My question would be, as it relates to the first reading of this light item, was it

1349
01:54:15,690 --> 01:54:21,770
done last year was it because obviously it wasn't in the January meeting. And what's

1350
01:54:21,770 --> 01:54:27,430
the law and code regarding that? Is that like specifically how long are you allowed

1351
01:54:27,430 --> 01:54:31,490
to allow for a first reading to go until now? Thank you.

1352
01:54:31,950 --> 01:54:32,070
I

1353
01:54:38,220 --> 01:54:43,540
want to address that a little. So our county code does require a first and second

1354
01:54:43,540 --> 01:54:47,000
reading. It doesn't actually specify that those have to be within a certain window

1355
01:54:47,000 --> 01:54:54,040
of time. They have to, or rather, they have to be at least giving enough time between

1356
01:54:54,040 --> 01:54:59,460
each reading. The point being is the public should have notice and an opportunity to come

1357
01:54:59,460 --> 01:55:04,720
out to meetings, review, think about it. But there is, I could identify no law that

1358
01:55:04,720 --> 01:55:12,760
restricts us in saying that it has to be within a certain fixed timeframe once that,

1359
01:55:12,760 --> 01:55:14,660
I think it is six or seven days.

1360
01:55:14,860 --> 01:55:16,940
I don't have the specific code in front of me,

1361
01:55:16,960 --> 01:55:18,940
but once that requirement is met,

1362
01:55:19,280 --> 01:55:20,540
but we did look into that

1363
01:55:20,540 --> 01:55:21,660
and of course wanted to make sure

1364
01:55:21,660 --> 01:55:24,640
that the public had the opportunity and proper notice.

1365
01:55:25,100 --> 01:55:27,300
So we didn't ensure that the ordinance

1366
01:55:27,300 --> 01:55:29,560
was published in the proper notice time

1367
01:55:29,560 --> 01:55:31,640
and we've been able to provide those two readings.

1368
01:55:32,080 --> 01:55:32,400
Thanks.

1369
01:55:34,570 --> 01:55:35,190
Thank you.

1370
01:55:35,750 --> 01:55:37,350
If there's no other public comments

1371
01:55:37,350 --> 01:55:39,510
or no other comments from council,

1372
01:55:40,270 --> 01:55:42,670
I looked at Ms. Catalini for the roll call vote.

1373
01:55:43,710 --> 01:55:44,490
Thank you.

1374
01:55:44,490 --> 01:55:44,930
Ms. Phillips.

1375
01:55:45,610 --> 01:55:46,010
Yes.

1376
01:55:46,890 --> 01:55:47,670
Ms. Schaefer.

1377
01:55:47,950 --> 01:55:48,130
Yes.

1378
01:55:49,090 --> 01:55:49,730
Dr. Taylor.

1379
01:55:50,210 --> 01:55:50,450
Yes.

1380
01:55:51,310 --> 01:55:52,090
Ms. Ruther.

1381
01:55:52,710 --> 01:55:53,110
Yes.

1382
01:55:53,810 --> 01:55:54,610
Mr. Womack.

1383
01:55:54,950 --> 01:55:55,210
Yes.

1384
01:55:55,870 --> 01:55:59,110
Ordinance 2026-01 passes.

1385
01:55:59,730 --> 01:55:59,910
Okay.

1386
01:56:00,030 --> 01:56:00,490
Thank you.

1387
01:56:07,020 --> 01:56:11,120
Look to Vice Chair Ruther for the Consent Agenda Item.

1388
01:56:13,020 --> 01:56:13,800
Yes.

1389
01:56:14,520 --> 01:56:15,540
Thank you.

1390
01:56:15,540 --> 01:56:21,880
I would like to make a motion to approve the consent agenda items 8a through 8u

1391
01:56:21,880 --> 01:56:26,300
described and written on tonight's agenda all of them subject to the solicitor's

1392
01:56:26,300 --> 01:56:32,520
approval please note that these items or many of these items anyway that were

1393
01:56:32,520 --> 01:56:36,460
not routine and even some that were were discussed at yesterday's agenda

1394
01:56:36,460 --> 01:56:40,680
meeting and I would encourage anybody who has any questions about you know

1395
01:56:40,680 --> 01:56:44,620
did council pay any attention to this were there any questions to go and

1396
01:56:44,620 --> 01:56:52,580
review the film for that meeting which is on the website second motion was made

1397
01:56:52,580 --> 01:56:59,960
in second any questions or comments if not all in favor say aye I have it

1398
01:57:03,510 --> 01:57:04,950
item

1399
01:57:04,950 --> 01:57:12,090
nine is appointments nine a I move for the approval to reappoint Joseph D

1400
01:57:12,090 --> 01:57:12,670
to the.

1401
01:57:14,330 --> 01:57:18,650
The only Darren F bonus Nicholas

1402
01:57:18,650 --> 01:57:23,790
really and can J path to and to

1403
01:57:23,790 --> 01:57:24,350
appoint.

1404
01:57:25,110 --> 01:57:27,110
Sal Miller to the uniform

1405
01:57:27,110 --> 01:57:28,750
construction code appeal board

1406
01:57:28,750 --> 01:57:30,510
for a five year term ending

1407
01:57:30,510 --> 01:57:32,430
January 31 2031.

1408
01:57:33,470 --> 01:57:34,350
Second.

1409
01:57:35,130 --> 01:57:36,930
Motion was made in second

1410
01:57:36,930 --> 01:57:38,250
in questions or comments.

1411
01:57:38,950 --> 01:57:40,450
All in favor say aye.

1412
01:57:40,770 --> 01:57:41,130
Aye.

1413
01:57:41,470 --> 01:57:42,890
Those that oppose the ayes have it.

1414
01:57:45,000 --> 01:57:53,600
9B, I move to appoint Max Cooper to the Interactive Gaming Revenue Authority for a five-year term ending January 31, 2031.

1415
01:57:54,440 --> 01:57:55,040
Second.

1416
01:57:55,760 --> 01:57:56,680
Motion was made.

1417
01:57:56,940 --> 01:57:57,360
In second.

1418
01:57:58,020 --> 01:57:58,960
Any questions or comments?

1419
01:57:59,840 --> 01:58:01,620
Here and now, all in favor say aye.

1420
01:58:02,040 --> 01:58:02,460
Aye.

1421
01:58:02,540 --> 01:58:04,280
Those that oppose the ayes have it.

1422
01:58:05,080 --> 01:58:11,380
Item 9C, the approval to reappoint Kenneth B. Collins, Mary M. Coates, Sharon White,

1423
01:58:11,820 --> 01:58:17,740
and to appoint Mark Killian to the Drug and Alcohol Planning Council for a three-year term

1424
01:58:17,740 --> 01:58:20,460
ending January 31, 2029.

1425
01:58:21,600 --> 01:58:22,120
Second.

1426
01:58:22,820 --> 01:58:24,380
Motion made and seconded.

1427
01:58:24,540 --> 01:58:25,780
Any questions or comments?

1428
01:58:26,780 --> 01:58:28,300
Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

1429
01:58:28,540 --> 01:58:28,900
Aye.

1430
01:58:29,140 --> 01:58:31,340
Those that oppose, ayes have it.

1431
01:58:32,100 --> 01:58:33,060
Item 9D.

1432
01:58:33,060 --> 01:58:39,120
I moved to appoint Mark Hook and Matthew Bilker to the Juvenile Detention Board of

1433
01:58:39,120 --> 01:58:43,440
Managers for a three-year term ending January 31st, 2029.

1434
01:58:46,020 --> 01:58:51,560
Eight and seconded. Any questions or comments? Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

1435
01:58:51,940 --> 01:58:52,220
Aye.

1436
01:58:52,480 --> 01:58:54,000
Those that oppose the ayes have it.

1437
01:58:54,880 --> 01:58:57,720
Item 9E, quickly

1438
01:59:01,400 --> 01:59:06,640
one question. This really should be, this is directed to the solicitor

1439
01:59:06,640 --> 01:59:11,520
and I apologize for not pointing this out earlier, but this really should be a motion

1440
01:59:11,520 --> 01:59:13,580
to reappoint all three members.

1441
01:59:14,740 --> 01:59:18,900
Is it appropriate to make, to amend the agenda for that purpose?

1442
01:59:20,320 --> 01:59:21,580
Do we have to vote to amend the agenda?

1443
01:59:22,360 --> 01:59:22,800
Yes.

1444
01:59:23,140 --> 01:59:28,000
I don't have the law and the research in front of me, so as an abundance of caution

1445
01:59:28,000 --> 01:59:32,560
I would certainly ask an amendment if you think that it is improper, but I wouldn't

1446
01:59:32,560 --> 01:59:32,900
do it.

1447
01:59:32,940 --> 01:59:35,520
Well, at this point then we'd just be appointing one person.

1448
01:59:35,520 --> 01:59:39,060
If we're reorganizing the board, we have to appoint all three.

1449
01:59:40,620 --> 01:59:53,440
Therefore, I make a motion to amend item 9E to provide for the appointment of John McMekin,

1450
01:59:53,440 --> 01:59:59,900
Ashley Lunkenheimer and Scott Alberts to the Board of Elections.

1451
02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:05,500
Each for a two-year term ending January 1, 2028. Second, the motion to amend.

1452
02:00:06,400 --> 02:00:14,200
The motion was made to amend. In second, any questions or comments? Hearing none, all in favor,

1453
02:00:14,340 --> 02:00:17,320
say aye. Aye. Those that oppose, the ayes have it.

1454
02:00:17,840 --> 02:00:26,220
So just to be, as a comment, just to be clear, well, I'll make that comment later. I move

1455
02:00:26,220 --> 02:00:32,380
that we appoint John McMeek and Ashley Lincoln Heimer and Scott Alberts to the

1456
02:00:32,380 --> 02:00:37,860
Board of Elections for a two-year term ending January 1, 2028. Second. Made and

1457
02:00:37,860 --> 02:00:42,860
seconded. Any questions or comments? The comment I want to make is I think the

1458
02:00:42,860 --> 02:00:47,920
reason the other two names weren't included is because there's a separate

1459
02:00:47,920 --> 02:00:51,880
mechanism. The election board for people who are not familiar must have

1460
02:00:51,880 --> 02:00:55,120
minority party representation, meaning all three members can't be of the

1461
02:00:55,120 --> 02:00:59,840
same party which is why members of council do not make up the election board as they

1462
02:00:59,840 --> 02:01:06,840
do in three commissioner counties which is the majority of Pennsylvania counties. Instead

1463
02:01:06,840 --> 02:01:13,840
we have a system where the majority party as determined by the last councilmatic election

1464
02:01:13,840 --> 02:01:19,660
gets to appoint two members of the majority party. They were not left on, they were

1465
02:01:19,660 --> 02:01:26,360
not here listed, those are the two people I listed, and to appoint one person out of

1466
02:01:26,360 --> 02:01:35,120
a list of three supplied by the chairperson of the party getting the second most votes

1467
02:01:35,120 --> 02:01:38,640
in the last councilmanic election, which in this case would be the Republican Party.

1468
02:01:39,060 --> 02:01:46,800
We did in fact get a list of three persons from Mr. Aguino, the chair of the Republican

1469
02:01:46,800 --> 02:01:51,140
Republican Party. One of them is the current serving Republican member, John

1470
02:01:51,140 --> 02:01:56,660
McMeekin, his name. He was on that list, so in effect we are re-appointing him,

1471
02:01:56,900 --> 02:02:02,620
along with re-appointing the two majority party members, Ashley Lincoln

1472
02:02:02,620 --> 02:02:07,640
Heimer and Scott Alberts. So they were left off because we didn't have to get

1473
02:02:07,640 --> 02:02:12,240
their name on a list from anybody, so I apologize for that. But that's the

1474
02:02:12,240 --> 02:02:12,780
background there.

1475
02:02:17,120 --> 02:02:19,460
And to be clear, we just had two votes. We had one vote

1476
02:02:19,460 --> 02:02:23,160
to amend and then a separate and distinct vote on we haven't had that vote yet

1477
02:02:23,160 --> 02:02:28,300
we've just had that we've just made the motion this is now I made the motion I

1478
02:02:28,300 --> 02:02:34,960
believe Michelle first seconded it right so the motion was made and seconded

1479
02:02:34,960 --> 02:02:41,600
any questions or comments on the motion here none all in favor say aye those

1480
02:02:41,600 --> 02:02:43,080
that oppose the highs have it

1481
02:02:46,220 --> 02:02:52,180
item 10 is a motion to approve the

1482
02:02:52,180 --> 02:02:58,220
controller's request for payment of current bills. Second, any questions or

1483
02:02:58,220 --> 02:03:03,820
comments? I was just going to note that the controller unfortunately cannot be

1484
02:03:03,820 --> 02:03:07,220
here this evening and the amount of their bills for the most recent period is

1485
02:03:07,220 --> 02:03:13,200
13,136,280 dollars and 43 cents. Thank you.

1486
02:03:15,380 --> 02:03:18,080
All in favor of just supporting the

1487
02:03:24,240 --> 02:03:27,860
Now we're going to have a communication from Executive Director, Ms. O'Malley.

1488
02:03:28,520 --> 02:03:33,240
Yes, just wanted to note at our last meeting there was a discussion about making our website

1489
02:03:33,240 --> 02:03:38,180
more easily searchable and getting information about our budget and our audits.

1490
02:03:39,020 --> 02:03:43,940
People were having difficulty finding that, so we did create a single button on our webpage

1491
02:03:43,940 --> 02:03:45,240
right in the front banner.

1492
02:03:45,700 --> 02:03:49,380
So immediately as soon as you see our webpage you will see a button that will lead you to

1493
02:03:49,380 --> 02:03:55,020
our budget going back to 2018 and all of our audits. They had always been there, but again

1494
02:03:55,020 --> 02:03:58,360
we just wanted to make it easier for residents to find them as that had been a request.

1495
02:03:58,920 --> 02:04:05,100
We also are revamping and had revamped our search. We have put things in a clear alphabetical

1496
02:04:05,100 --> 02:04:09,480
order, had reduced some redundancies, and we also eliminated some links that went to

1497
02:04:09,480 --> 02:04:14,540
pages that either no longer existed or didn't have beneficial information. We're continuing

1498
02:04:14,540 --> 02:04:18,320
to look at the website and find ways to make it easier for residents to get most

1499
02:04:18,320 --> 02:04:26,800
immediately to the information they're looking for. And again, welcome any emails at askdelco.co.dellaware.pa.us

1500
02:04:27,190 --> 02:04:30,820
if there's more information that people want to share with us. Thank you.

1501
02:04:31,500 --> 02:04:34,580
Thank you. Let's report Ms. Aubrey.

1502
02:04:36,080 --> 02:04:40,280
I just did want to let the public know, you know, I'm here hearing the comments.

1503
02:04:40,520 --> 02:04:45,360
None of us want to see anyone lose their home, and especially a vulnerable person.

1504
02:04:45,360 --> 02:04:50,140
And so I am looking at whether there are opportunities

1505
02:04:50,140 --> 02:04:52,580
from the solicitor's office to engage

1506
02:04:53,240 --> 02:04:54,940
around the time of tax sales.

1507
02:04:55,120 --> 02:04:57,400
And what I'm discovering is that we are unfortunately

1508
02:04:57,400 --> 02:04:59,560
have a lot of limits by the law

1509
02:05:00,180 --> 02:05:01,760
because we are collecting authority

1510
02:05:01,760 --> 02:05:03,200
on behalf of other authorities.

1511
02:05:03,340 --> 02:05:05,140
And once things get to a certain stage,

1512
02:05:05,700 --> 02:05:07,220
the law limits us.

1513
02:05:07,740 --> 02:05:10,900
That said, I think we all care a lot about

1514
02:05:10,900 --> 02:05:13,480
what has happened and we wanna look at every opportunity

1515
02:05:13,480 --> 02:05:18,960
to see if there are things that we can do or areas where we might be able to

1516
02:05:18,960 --> 02:05:23,180
intercede more and so we are dedicating the time to see if there are

1517
02:05:23,180 --> 02:05:27,240
opportunities there. So those words don't go unheard. Thanks.

1518
02:05:30,050 --> 02:05:33,730
Now I go to look to Council for Council remarks. Councilwoman Phillips.

1519
02:05:34,270 --> 02:05:38,030
Yeah I just have a brief from Mark. I just wanted to note I did not want to

1520
02:05:38,030 --> 02:05:41,150
steal Dr. Taylor's thunder of her announcement earlier but I wanted to

1521
02:05:41,150 --> 02:05:46,370
note that I was honored to join people at the community center at Chester City Hall

1522
02:05:46,370 --> 02:05:52,710
and at the first Baptist Church in Prospect Park to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King's

1523
02:05:52,710 --> 02:05:58,490
birthday and the holiday on Monday. And a highlight of that day was reading portions

1524
02:05:59,090 --> 02:06:05,250
of Dr. King's letter from the Birmingham Jail, which he wrote following his arrest

1525
02:06:05,250 --> 02:06:12,350
for demonstrating. Dr. King's formative years really spent in the city of Chester at the

1526
02:06:12,350 --> 02:06:19,970
Crozier Theological Seminary, and he was just moving to tie all that together. I heard in

1527
02:06:19,970 --> 02:06:26,110
the letters, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, and whatever affects

1528
02:06:26,110 --> 02:06:31,750
one directly affects all indirectly. It was moving to hear those words today and

1529
02:06:31,750 --> 02:06:38,510
the importance that they stand today and the value of nonviolent action.

1530
02:06:39,110 --> 02:06:44,350
So I urge everybody, if you haven't read the letter from a Birmingham jail for a long

1531
02:06:44,350 --> 02:06:48,990
time or if you've never read it at all, I would encourage you to pick it up and read

1532
02:06:48,990 --> 02:06:52,790
it because it's never been more important than it is today.

1533
02:06:53,490 --> 02:06:54,170
Thank you.

1534
02:06:55,450 --> 02:06:55,750
Yeah.

1535
02:06:56,590 --> 02:06:57,630
I just have one.

1536
02:07:01,210 --> 02:07:01,790
Let me see.

1537
02:07:01,950 --> 02:07:02,150
Yeah.

1538
02:07:02,150 --> 02:07:04,210
I just have one thing to say tonight

1539
02:07:04,210 --> 02:07:06,990
and that is this room was filled tonight

1540
02:07:06,990 --> 02:07:09,070
with people participating in government.

1541
02:07:09,710 --> 02:07:12,310
And I wanna say thank you, especially to the people

1542
02:07:12,310 --> 02:07:14,290
who are still here two hours later

1543
02:07:14,290 --> 02:07:15,890
and sat through all of that.

1544
02:07:16,850 --> 02:07:18,950
It really, this is what it's all about.

1545
02:07:19,530 --> 02:07:21,770
And all kinds of people come up and say

1546
02:07:21,770 --> 02:07:22,890
in all kinds of things.

1547
02:07:23,750 --> 02:07:26,150
And you know, it's our job to sift through it

1548
02:07:26,150 --> 02:07:28,230
and take the nuggets out that are meaningful

1549
02:07:28,230 --> 02:07:29,450
and helpful to our county.

1550
02:07:29,450 --> 02:07:36,370
And I really appreciate the participation that we have seen tonight.

1551
02:07:39,410 --> 02:07:40,630
Councilwoman Dr. Taylor.

1552
02:07:41,930 --> 02:07:45,710
Thank you, Chair Wilmack. I do have one comment this evening.

1553
02:07:46,450 --> 02:07:55,090
The Upper Darby community and all of Delaware County are reeling and searching for answers after the death in ice custody of Mr. Parity Law,

1554
02:07:55,090 --> 02:08:00,210
who was taken from our community and arrested on January 6th and Councilmember

1555
02:08:00,210 --> 02:08:05,470
Ruther mentioned this earlier for so many of us watching American cities be

1556
02:08:05,470 --> 02:08:09,610
invaded by their own federal government produces a complicated set of emotions

1557
02:08:10,270 --> 02:08:14,630
there's horror at what we see in places like Los Angeles and Minneapolis

1558
02:08:14,630 --> 02:08:18,950
there's fear that this will one day come to our doorsteps and terrorize

1559
02:08:18,950 --> 02:08:24,930
our neighbors Mr. Law's death should make one thing perfectly clear the very

1560
02:08:24,930 --> 02:08:29,250
Everything we dread is here, now, at our doorsteps and in our neighborhoods.

1561
02:08:29,970 --> 02:08:31,830
Mr. Law's life was far from easy.

1562
02:08:32,490 --> 02:08:40,290
Born at a refugee camp, while his family fled, Cameroonch, he came to America at age two

1563
02:08:40,290 --> 02:08:44,630
in 1981, becoming a lawful permanent resident a year later.

1564
02:08:45,350 --> 02:08:48,050
According to his family, he struggled with substance use.

1565
02:08:48,790 --> 02:08:52,890
According to ICE, he was a target that lost his right to remain in the country.

1566
02:08:52,890 --> 02:09:00,310
According to anyone with conscience, he deserved basic rights and access to medical care when

1567
02:09:00,310 --> 02:09:02,290
his own government held him in captivity.

1568
02:09:03,290 --> 02:09:10,330
I applaud our district attorney for investigating Mr. Lowe's case and with his statement that

1569
02:09:10,330 --> 02:09:13,070
no job in the world allows you to break the law.

1570
02:09:14,990 --> 02:09:19,390
The fight for answers and accountability will surely be long, especially when dealing

1571
02:09:19,390 --> 02:09:25,230
with a federal agency that so clearly fights against both for the sake of the law family I hope this

1572
02:09:25,230 --> 02:09:31,490
effort brings the answers accountability and peace and for the sake of our communities it is the

1573
02:09:31,490 --> 02:09:36,550
responsibility of leaders at every level of government to confront and correct actions taken

1574
02:09:36,550 --> 02:09:42,710
in our name that violates our values and undermines human dignity thank you I

1575
02:09:44,820 --> 02:09:49,040
just want to say

1576
02:09:49,040 --> 02:09:49,460
It

1577
02:09:53,620 --> 02:10:00,340
is challenging for a lot of us in local government and on school boards, particularly

1578
02:10:00,760 --> 02:10:03,400
for counties and school directors.

1579
02:10:04,500 --> 02:10:10,100
All of us, some municipalities are different, but we only have one source of revenue for

1580
02:10:10,100 --> 02:10:13,700
general fund expenditures, and that is the property tax.

1581
02:10:14,360 --> 02:10:20,460
We also have a commonwealth constitution that has a uniformity clause, which means

1582
02:10:20,460 --> 02:10:26,240
means that we cannot treat differently situated taxpayers differently either in assessing their

1583
02:10:26,240 --> 02:10:34,940
properties or in collecting their taxes. It means that we cannot distinguish people based

1584
02:10:34,940 --> 02:10:40,840
on their age or their infirmity. There may be some other, and that is not our issue.

1585
02:10:41,040 --> 02:10:45,500
That is a matter of state law and the state constitution. The people who have the best

1586
02:10:45,500 --> 02:10:53,200
chance to fix that are our state representatives, and I applaud, I really applaud Representative

1587
02:10:53,200 --> 02:10:56,600
Young for coming tonight and hearing some of this, but I think it's important for people

1588
02:10:56,600 --> 02:11:02,460
to understand that if there's a problem with the law that mandates tax collections,

1589
02:11:03,440 --> 02:11:06,140
it's not the people in the county who are doing their jobs.

1590
02:11:06,760 --> 02:11:12,300
There may be some things that we can do or talk more that we can do, not just

1591
02:11:12,300 --> 02:11:17,520
just for Ms. Gaynor, but for other people who find themselves in a tax upset sale situation.

1592
02:11:18,000 --> 02:11:25,320
It is something that we are looking at and evaluating to see if we can do more without

1593
02:11:26,180 --> 02:11:27,620
a change in state law.

1594
02:11:28,080 --> 02:11:31,160
But a lot of these things are things where our hands are tied.

1595
02:11:32,080 --> 02:11:37,040
And you know, our people are just trying to follow the law that they've been given.

1596
02:11:37,040 --> 02:11:44,160
And unfortunately, when the federal government and the state government decides not to fund

1597
02:11:44,160 --> 02:11:51,140
necessary services, and the counties are responsible for providing those services, they've got

1598
02:11:51,140 --> 02:11:54,500
to get paid for in some way, and that means taxes.

1599
02:11:55,260 --> 02:12:00,840
And while I don't like paying taxes, I don't know any if I've spent my career helping

1600
02:12:00,840 --> 02:12:05,220
people pay the smallest legally permissible amount of taxes.

1601
02:12:06,900 --> 02:12:11,900
But I also know as a person sitting up here, as a government, we have to bear bills.

1602
02:12:12,640 --> 02:12:19,680
So I would encourage all of you, these are perfectly legitimate points to raise in our

1603
02:12:19,680 --> 02:12:22,740
public comment, and we need to hear them and other people need to hear them.

1604
02:12:23,000 --> 02:12:28,960
But I encourage you to also reach out to your state legislators, because some of the

1605
02:12:28,960 --> 02:12:36,020
changes we need to make to be more equitable have to be made on their end.

1606
02:12:37,340 --> 02:12:37,940
Thank you.

1607
02:12:40,600 --> 02:12:44,240
Thank you. I just want to say tonight I want to thank everyone they

1608
02:12:44,240 --> 02:12:51,260
came out tonight. We heard what you had to say while we take it seriously and the

1609
02:12:51,260 --> 02:12:56,720
thing is we have a lot of work to do here in the county. You know when you

1610
02:12:56,720 --> 02:13:03,120
look at, you have four hospitals that closed in Delaware County. We need to

1611
02:13:03,120 --> 02:13:07,360
ask ourselves, why did they close? What can we do to make sure we get in

1612
02:13:07,360 --> 02:13:12,380
health care back and hospitals back for our residents? To me, that's a very

1613
02:13:12,380 --> 02:13:17,420
important issue. And if anyone wants to work with me or work with Council,

1614
02:13:17,740 --> 02:13:22,760
have some ideas, come forward. Let's work together because it affects

1615
02:13:22,760 --> 02:13:29,620
everyone. You know, mental health right now is a huge issue in the county. We

1616
02:13:29,620 --> 02:13:35,020
need to figure out what are we going to do about our mental health situation. You

1617
02:13:35,020 --> 02:13:38,480
know, I want to continue to do programs for our seniors, programs for our youth.

1618
02:13:39,260 --> 02:13:43,880
There's a lot of things that we can do instead of coming here and are you in

1619
02:13:43,880 --> 02:13:49,500
fighting with one another. So let's work together. Let's tackle some of

1620
02:13:49,500 --> 02:13:55,040
these issues because that's where I'm at and that's what I'm going to continue to do

1621
02:13:55,040 --> 02:14:02,260
and I want to move forward to do it and so I reach out to you, I solicit your help, solicit

1622
02:14:02,260 --> 02:14:08,620
your support, but that's where we're at but once again thank you and if I can do anything

1623
02:14:08,620 --> 02:14:14,500
with anyone in the community I'm here, I'm reachable, I'm touchable so thank you.

1624
02:14:14,500 --> 02:14:16,780
So is there a motion to adjourn?

1625
02:14:17,400 --> 02:14:18,520
So moved.

1626
02:14:19,100 --> 02:14:21,760
Motion was made and seconded.

1627
02:14:21,960 --> 02:14:23,500
The aye.

1628
02:14:24,740 --> 02:14:25,080
Aye.

1629
02:14:26,080 --> 02:14:27,580
Thank you.