Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Delaware County, Pennsylvania public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
10 issues in taxes budget with medium priority
Workday implementation risk
The county's big shift from paper to electronic HR, finance, and grants systems needs help. Council will consider a Workday Success Plan contract (up to $300,000 annually for up to three years) plus supplemental consulting to keep the rollout on track.
County Pension Cost-of-Living for Retirees
A retired Chester police detective asked whether county retirees — including county detectives excluded from a new state COLA law — could get a pension cost-of-living increase. Reuther said the pension is well-funded but any COLA raises the county's required contribution and must go through the pension board.
Tax Claim Bureau Payment Plan Practices
Speakers revisited the case of Gloria Gaynor, whose home was sold over about $30,500 in unpaid property taxes, and asked council and state lawmakers to add redemption rights to Pennsylvania's municipal claim and tax lien law. One speaker confirmed her passing.
Fair Acres nurses' union contract extension
The PASNAP agreement covering employees at the county's Fair Acres Geriatric Center was extended through June 30, 2027, keeping labor peace at the county's nursing home.
No county fleet management policy despite six years of vehicle buying
Council members are frustrated that the county keeps buying vehicles — like three $124,000 Dodge Durangos for investigators — without a written fleet management policy. A 2023 controller's audit recommended one, drafts have been circulating for two years, and members say they still can't get a clear picture of what the county owns, what it costs to repair, and what should be replaced.
TestandGo kiosk spending concerns
A speaker blasted the $100,000 renewal for the county's health kiosks, arguing the machines could be bought outright for far less and questioning who benefits from the rental arrangement funded by opioid settlement dollars.
LIHEAP Energy Assistance
The application window for heating-bill help ($200-$1,000 grants) was extended to May 8 — no need to be on other assistance or have unpaid bills to qualify.
Delco Gives Day sponsorship and DICGRA grant oversight
A running theme: council keeps being surprised by multiple applications for the same grants and unclear funding sources. Executive Director O'Malley said a new grants-compliance team met just that day to build a written grants process, answering a controller's report on grant management.
Election equipment licensing
The county will spend $368,930 to keep licensing its Hart InterCivic voting machines, in place since 2020. Officials say the system has survived every hand-count audit and replacement isn't due for a few years.
T-Mobile mobile services contract
County IT found a deal that cuts cell and hotspot costs by roughly a third, includes free phones and device tracking, and saves an estimated $510K over three years. Staff also plans to audit every county device and yank unused ones.