Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Delaware County, Pennsylvania public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
7 issues in public safety
Regional Youth Detention Center Agreement
Since the county's juvenile detention center closed in 2021, judges who order a kid held have no guaranteed placement — staff literally call other counties hoping for a bed. Resolution 2026-01 would join a Berks County-led regional facility with eight dedicated beds for Delaware County. Council members debated whether the county's own Juvenile Detention Board of Managers still makes sense alongside a regional authority.
November 3 General Election Preparation
A commenter argued Pennsylvania's online mail ballot portal wrongly excludes active-duty military members and their families, and asked county election staff to acknowledge the problem and meet with him.
Crozer Hospital Closure Aftermath
A $250,000 grant application would help partners offer nurse-practitioner primary care to Chester residents left without a hospital. The county is just the money-handler, not the provider.
Sheriff's Office public safety drone program
The county will apply for a $50,000 grant to buy an American-made drone for the Sheriff's Office — used for search and rescue, warrant service, and situational awareness. Council supports it but worries the draft policy lets uses drift beyond what a sheriff's office is legally empowered (and insured) to do, and wants any drone policy subject to council approval before the purchase comes back.
Criminal justice and public safety funding
The council was scheduled to approve about $41,640 in federal grant money to buy body armor for officers in four Delaware County police departments — Chester City ($19,900), Darby Township ($9,480), Yeadon ($7,400), and Sharon Hill ($4,860). Departments must certify that officers are required to wear the armor while on patrol. It's a small budget item but directly touches officer safety in some of the county's busiest communities.
Medical Examiner ARPA equipment purchase
With just over $1 million in leftover ARPA funds that must be spent by year's end — and construction on the new facility stalled — the county will buy forensic gear, including a $650,000 Rapid DNA machine, that it would have needed anyway for accreditation.
Demolition fund running down faster than it refills
Council approved advancing a $110,000 demolition grant for a collapsing Darby Borough house — well over the usual $85,000 cap. But declining real estate transactions mean the Recorder of Deeds demolition fund is replenishing more slowly, with only about 14 such grants left in the roughly $1.4 million balance.