Ordinance Would Allow Out-Of-Delco Hiring — Delaware County Council, yesterday, March 6, held the first reading of an ordinance that would allow the hiring of non-county residents for all posts except solicitor, executive director and other positions mandated by state law.
Councilwoman Christine A. Reuther said the county was having trouble filling positions and noted that government employment has fallen by 7 percent over the last decade.
Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer pointed out that the county has lost good workers because they had to move a mile away. She said Philadelphia is the only other county that has a residency requirement. She said that 42 percent of the county workers already have an exemption.
Councilman Richard R. Womack said he had mixed feelings about changing the policy and that, if it should change, he would hope county residents would still get a preference in hiring.
Executive Director Barbara O’Malley also said she had mixed feelings but that the change was necessary.
Solicitor Jonathan Lichtenstein said the part of the bill providing for reimbursement for relocating only applies to those moving to the county and is not automatic.
Speaking against the ordinance were Joy Schwartz of Upper Darby and Carris Kocher of Concord.
John Baldini (phonetic) of Upper Darby said the county should open up but there should be a salary cap on non-county residents.
Delco Concedes CYS Is Poorly Trained And Understaffed — Delaware County, Pa. Executive Director Barbara O’Malley, last night, March 6, addressed the horrific stories concerning the county’s Children and Youth Services Department.
Mothers had been separated from their children for almost a year and stigmatized as abusers on the flimsiest of claims.
In at least one case, it was reported that the child, after removal, was placed in an environment in which he was sexually abused.
Further, the rulings by CYS have kept these women from getting jobs — at least two are teachers — or otherwise working with kids.
Ms. O’Malley reported that CYS was extremely understaffed and Delco was having trouble finding workers (see other story). She also noted the department’s training was poor.
Somewhere in her statement was a vague promise to improve things.
Recognizing the problem is a positive but immediate action can and must be taken to end immediate suffering.
First step is to make right the lives of those who were victims of this incompetency.
County Council can do this.
Simply call the person in charge and say let it be so. If this person won’t make these problems go away you make her go away and hire someone who knows what he’s doing.
By the way, we’ve heard reports of retaliation by CYS against a woman who spoke out. We are watching.
Second step is to create policy in which children aren’t removed due to domestic complaints unless a, hopefully, better trained supervisor does a follow up investigation. This is especially true if a judge has awarded custody to the accused.
Third step is don’t hire consultants that hire people implicated in serious scandals involving the removal of children.
Defensive Delco Council Shrilly Denies Issue With Illegals — Delaware County Council, tonight, March 6, perversely promoted multiculturalism when given first-hand accounts of suffering caused by illegal aliens and reports of law enforcement unable to keep them in custody when they commit crimes.
Sharon Devaney of Haverford Township described how she was permanently disabled in 2017 when a car traveling 70 mph and driven by an illegal, t-boned her Toyota Camry at Lawrence and Ellis roads. She had been dropping off her daughter with her parents before work. The illegal was not insured and in violation of numerous laws yet the police released her without charges.
Ms.Devaney implored council to change Delco’s status as a sanctuary county.
Our officials don’t appear to have a handle as to what’s happening.
Christine A. Reuther dismissed Ms. Devaney’s claim that the problem was illegal immigration and that Delco was protecting illegals.
“I heard someone say we’ve been a sanctuary county since 2014, which I’m sure would surprise our previous councilmembers who I can’t imagine would have voted to have made us a sanctuary county,” she said.
Dr. Monica Taylor expressed anger at the words used by those describing the crisis and claimed those expressing the concerns were directing them at immigrants rather than the flood crossing the border in violation of our laws.
She also dismissed Ms. Devany’s experience saying the person who nearly killed two people while crippling one while speeding through a busy intersection was just an “uninsured driver” and it was not an immigration issue.
So tell us Dr. Taylor, where do you think this person took her test for her driver’s license?
Swarthmore College student Jonas Salk (phonetic) praised sanctuary cities and multiculturalism.
Ms. Reuther made a puzzling statement in her objections to the concerns expressed about illegal immigration.
“They can speculate about what we might do or tell you what they might do if they were sitting up here but to simply say that ‘Oh gee maybe somebody that has nothing to do with any of this who to be quite honest with you isn’t necessarily supported by every member of County Council in a run for higher office, who can’t affect any sort of usage for any sort of property that doesn’t belong to the county is just fearmongering.”
So who is this person running for higher office not necessarily supported by every member of County Council? We doubt it’s a Republican.
Delco To Allow Movie Making In County Parks At Sun Center Studio’s Request — Delaware County (Pa) Council, Feb. 21, approved the first reading of an ordinance that would let movies be filmed in county parks.
The filming would require permission of the county and would not be allowed to disrupt previously planned activities.
Commercial filming had been prohibited.
Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer said the change was made at the request of Sun Center Studio in Chester Township and is expected to bring significant economic rewards to Delco.
In other matters, Delaware County approved 51 agenda items including the acceptance of a $226,900 DCED Greenways grant for the design of the Darby Creek Trail connector from Kent Park to Scottdale Road in Clifton Heights;and the acceptance of a $75,000 Greenways grant for the expansion of the parking lot at the Knowlton Road Trailhead in Middletown on the Chester Creek Trail.
The Knowlton Road lot will be expanded from 10 parking spaces to 35.
Also, Council approved a $96,540 contract with Wilson Engineering for the final design of Phase II of the Chester Creek Trail; and approved offers to buy land and easements from six property owners in Middletown and Aston for Phase II. The county’s total offer will be $228,400.
Council voted to apply to the PHMC’s Keystone Historic Preservation Construction Grants program for a $100,000 grant for restorations to the Leedom House in Rose Tree Park. The county will have to match the money.
James Peterson was appointed as director of purchasing. Joanne Phillips was appointed to the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority for a term ending January 2028.
Other stories from the meeting can be found here regarding the Public Defender’s Office; here regarding election concerns; here regarding the county prison; here regarding the register of wills; and here regarding extremely concerning matters involving Children and Youth Services.
Delco To Allow Movie Making In County Parks At Sun Center Studio’s Request
Delco Council Defends Public Defender Over Turmoil Claim — Delaware County (Pa) Council vigorously defended Public Defender Chris Welsh over a charge that he has his office in turmoil and lacks experience.
John Baldini (sp) of Upper Darby, a former attorney with the office, said Welsh has only handled one trial while his predecessors had handled dozens including murder trials. He also said his predecessors had only fired a handful of attorneys in their long tenure while Welsh has fired 15 in his two years.
Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer praised Welsh and supported his goal of using attorneys who only work for the Public Defender’s Office and are not distracted by a private practice.
Councilman Kevin M. Madden joined in the love saying trial experience wasn’t important for what Welsh did.
Great.
Council, however, has expressed concern about staff shortages regarding CYS and poll workers. We kind of wonder how much they will have to pay to keep the public defender’s office filled if the only attorneys they have are full-time yet skilled enough to thrive in a private practice.
Delco Renews Fort Orange Press Contract; Dismisses Concerns — Delaware County (Pa) Council, Feb. 21, renewed its contract with Fort Orange Press of Albany, N.Y. to print its mail and absentee ballots.
They will be paid $264,000 for the 2024 elections.
Delco is actually fighting an order from the state Office of Open Records to let all be revealed.
Just something to make you go hmmmm.
The county also approved a $117,300 contract with Phoenix Graphics to print election day ballots; a $40,000-max agreement with John C. Barton for services relating to election database preparations; election result reporting and payroll preparations; a $341,096 annual license and support renewal for the Hart Verity voting system; and to accept a $45,000 Help America Vote College Program Grant.
Barton, a retired county employee, created Delco’s election reporting system. Council members asked at the Feb. 20 work session if there were plans to phase him out. The answer was yes.
The college grant is to hire 45 students from the many universities in the county. They will be poll workers if they are county residents or do training if not.
The county suffers a shortage of poll workers.
During public comments, Joy Schwartz of Upper Darby asked why the county can’t find a local printer. She also asked how the ballots were being transported from Albany to Delco.
She asked that the controversial central counting center where mail-in and dropped off ballots are counted be closed and the responsibility returned to the precincts.
Mrs. Schwartz said that this was actually required by the state Election Code.
County solicitor Jonathan Lichtenstein said that two state legislatures are suing to return the counting to the precincts but central counting centers have been upheld by the courts. He also said returning the ballots to the precincts would be a logistical nightmare and an added burden for the poll workers many of whom have been working 14 hours when the polls close.
Here’s a thought: Treat the central counting station as a precinct. This would allow poll watchers access now forbidden. It may not end the dispute but it certainly would make fewer go hmmmm.
Paul Rumley of Springfield said more than half of Americans no longer trust our elections and with good reason. He said that the county council members ought to start asking why. He cited the books The Parallel Election by Greg Stenstrom and Leah Hoopes, and Rigged by Mollie Hemmingway as places to start.
Barb Lewis of Radnor said she continues to distrust Delco’s voting machines. She cited a video Delco’s Director of Elections James Allen made while he was communications director for the Chicago Board of Elections, his prior job.
Allen says that election machines are vulnerable, Ms. Lewis said. And that voting by internet is a very bad idea.
Ms. Lewis said that she saw poll pads connected to the internet in the last election.
Poll pads are to replace the paper list of voters used by poll workers.
Councilwoman Christine A. Reuther said that while the poll pads can be connected to the internet, the files are absolutely secure and you can trust them absolutely completely, and besides, you can’t vote by poll pad.
Carris Kocher of Concord said the Election Return Board is required to review ballots but does not review the mail-in ballots.
Allen took the podium to rebut some of the statements. He said he stands by his claim that voting by the internet is a bad idea. Internet voting is not happening, however, he said. Allen said the county has done many recounts and no problems were found. He seemed to concede that the return board may not be reviewing mail-in ballots.
Prison Again Before Delco Council — Delaware County (Pa.) Council, Feb.21, approved a three-year contract with BSI Construction LLC for construction management services at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.
The amount is not to exceed $1,265,000.
Prison maintenance was an issue at the Feb. 7 council meeting. A large contingent of prison personnel — many in uniform — said there were thousands of OSHA violations at the facility. They described a jail where locks didn’t work and prisoners was tasked to fix them. Did they? Apparently not. They did use the materials they were given to make shivs, though, council was told.
At this meeting, former corrections officer Christine Weiss of Glen Mills told council that she was forced to resign after she followed prescribed policy against the wishes of her superiors.
She wanted answers as to why this was allowed to happen. Ms. Weiss said that she emailed Councilman Kevin M. Madden, who chair’s the Jail Oversight Board, but did not get a response.
Kimberly Brown of Colwyn also spoke out about perceived attempts to silence her regarding prison matters. She said that Madden refused to read her email at the previous meeting of the Oversight Board which was held via Zoom due to snow. The reason for the refusal was because she did not include her exact address.
She noted that speakers at the council meeting are not required to state their exact address.
Ms. Brown played a recording of comments Madden made at the meeting. She said she was very mad at him because she had supported him in his election due to his promise of prison oversight.
She said she now thinks he is “protecting certain people at the prison.”
Madden said he doesn’t respond to queries about personnel matters and that those commenting before the Jail Oversight Board are required to give their full address.
Register Of Wills Pick Gets Delco Council Blasted — Delaware County (Pa) Council was blasted, last night, Feb. 21, for its Jan. 2 appointment of Vincent A. Rongione as Register of Wills.
Rongione was sworn in Jan. 26 for a term which will end December 2025.
He replaces Rachel Ezzell Berry who won election in November for judge on county Common Pleas Court.
Joy Schwartz, of Upper Darby, who ran for County Council in November, pointed out to council that Rongione copped a plea deal in 2015 for violations of the election code relating to his unsuccessful 2014 bid to represent the 163rd District in the State House.
Rongione did not live in the district despite claiming otherwise. He pleaded guilty to unlawful voting, and making false statements and signatures on nominating petitions.
Rongione became Upper Darby’s chief administrative office in 2020 but quit in January 2023 in the midst of a firestorm that occurred when the township treasurer told township council that the balance of some bank accounts were lower than they should have been. One of these housed the funds the township received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA.
No charges were filed this time but one can’t call the controversy a resume enhancer.
So why was Rongione picked?
Democrats do get rewarded for loyalty it seems regardless as to how that translates to good governance.
Wonder what Rongione thinks about all the election “conspiracy theories” relating to Delaware County.
Delco Council Concedes Problems With CYS; Stymied How To Solve Them — Delaware County (Pa) Council, last night, Feb. 21, in a break from its routine had a long back-and-forth with the citizens.
Possibly it was productive but we won’t hold our breaths.
The county’s Children and Youth Services department was the big topic.
Rael LaPenta of Upper Chichester questioned the hiring of CAI, a billion-dollar consulting firm, to review and draft new policies for CYS and to provide training.
Ms. LaPenta was among the parents who appeared before council two weeks ago to tell horror stories of taken children and lost jobs due to unfounded actions by CYS.
Last night, she pointed out that among the consultants CAI plans to unleash on Delco is Paula Griffin who will be among those tasked to conduct candidate searches, and complete screening and employment interviews for candidates.
Ms. Griffin directed Lehigh County’s Children and Youth Services until her retirement in October.
That was when a scandal broke alleging CYS was taking children from parents based on false claims of child abuse. The children were given to Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). They were put in extended, unsupervised emergency room stays. The families said the hospital would get state agencies to remove custody.
LVHN is being sued.
Ms. LaPenta also took issue with the council’s standard statement that the members are available for questions via email. She said that she had contacted them all without hearing back.
Councilwoman Christine A. Reuther, in a break from protocol, interrupted Ms. LaPenta. She had been in contact — it was in a phone call, Feb. 20 — and Ms. Griffin was among the issues discussed.
She said Ms.Griffin was the one from Lehigh County, but that the lawsuit doesn’t disqualify her and that she passed a background check.
It looks like she’s coming to Delco.
Ms. LaPenta conceded that they talked but noted that she had not heard from the others. She had been trying to reach all for some time.
In the second round of public comments, Ms. LaPenta said she did not mean to be antagonistic. She said, though, she followed the appropriate routes and her life remains in turmoil.
“What is the appropriate amount of time for a person who has lost her children to stop being upset,” she said.
She said that many in her group feared retaliation by CYS.
“It is your responsibility not just as council members but as human beings to act,” she said.
Ms. Reuther said that she believes a lot of what Ms. LaPenta told her.
She said CYS has been given “awesome powers” by the state, and that a bill has just passed the state senate which would give CYS agencies even more.
She agreed that a review of the department was necessary but that she was afraid to intervene in specific cases because she lacked expertise.
Ms. Reuther said there is local state agency at which complaints can be filed regarding CYS, albeit Ms. LaPenta had long been aware of it.
Council Chairwoman Dr. Monica Taylor said that Ms. LaPenta had not received responses because it had been assumed that Ms. Reuther was handling the matter.
Two months ago, we reviewedThe Dirty Secrets of Divorce or What Your Lawyer Won’t Tell You by Renee Mazer. The book details horror stories from Chester County concerning her divorce and her involvement with that county’s family courts process. She says collusion between judges, social workers and lawyers was shameless and profitable for them.
She lost access to her son for a very long time.
We suggest that Ms. Reuther not sell herself short. She has the power and expertise to resolve this. Start by considering the incidents where a parent lost lawful custody due to a claim of abuse solely on the word of an angry ex, as opposed to hospital workers or school officials.
Are there commonalities? The same judge? Same lawyers? Could there be money changing hands?
Further, Ms. Reuther can call in those running CYS. She can tell them to make things right with Ms. LaPenta, as well as with Ashley Green of Ridley Park and Sharon Poole of Glenn Mills, who had similar experiences.
She can give directions that special care be made when dealing with accusations involving exes.
It’s your time to shine, Christine. So there you are.
Silence In Delco About CYS And Prison Horrors — Capricious cruelty and general incompetence regarding Delaware County, Pa. agencies were revealed to County Council, Feb. 7, and as of, today, Feb. 16, the response has been crickets.
One of the victims of Delco’s Children and Youth Services has let us know she reached out to Delco twice since without a response.
The county would be doing the outreach if those running things actually cared.
A puzzle is the apparent lack of interest from the opposition party.
Where are you Frank Agovino? Dave Galluch? Dave White? Any Republican in party leadership?
We suspect most of those speaking out about the prison and CYS were apolitical if not Democrat, but the job of the opposition is to hold to account those running things.
The Delco GOP doesn’t seem to be doing this.
Good government requires competition.
Where is the outreach to Harriet Burgess of Drexel Hill, who was a sergeant at the prison and says she was fired because she refused to falsify documents?
Or to Rael LaPenta of Upper Chichester who lost custody of her children due to a complaint from a vengeful ex?
Or to Ashley Green of Ridley Park who lost nine months of her child’s life and her teaching certificate because CYS accepted false allegations of abuse from the child’s father?
Where are the public expressions of outrage?
There is nothing stopping you Frank Agovino, Dave Galluch and Dave White.
Imagine what the Democrats would be doing if the shoe was on the other foot.
