Mayor Herrin's BOROUGH BRIEFS June 11, 2018 |
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IN THS ISSUE: Introducing The Mayor's Opioid Action Task Force. Money Matters: More on the Borough budget. Don't miss this! Important Borough meetings of interest to you. DHerrin@west-chester.com |
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Members of The Mayor's Opioid Action Task force, from l to r: Ethan Healey, Kyle Hudson, Kevin Kelly, Emily Pisano (back), Kristina Rowshan (front),
Mayor Dianne Herrin, Rev. Rich Mollica, and Bill Mann. Not pictured: Johnathan Ashton. A very special thanks to Goshen Signs for the t-shirt donation. |
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Soon after I became Mayor, several residents asked me what we could do to help address the opioid crisis in our community. Together, we decided to form The Mayor's Opioid Action Task Force. Our Task Force will support efforts underway at the County level while working to destigmatize opioid addiction, raise awareness, and launch local initiatives to help save lives. Here in the Borough, our police officers administered naloxone, the life-saving medication that reverses the effects of opioid overdose, 15 times in 2017. Thirty people in the greater West Chester area died of drug overdose in 2017, and six lived in the Borough. They were young, old, rich, poor, white, black and Hispanic. This Thursday, June 14th, at 11:30 am, we will announce the official kick-off of The Mayor's Opioid Action Task Force on the Courthouse steps. We will be accompanied by our Task Force members and our Advisory Board, which includes West Chester Borough Police Chief Scott Bohn, First Assistant Chester County District Attorney Michael Noone, Chester County Coroner Christina VandePol, psychotherapist/addiction counselor Lex Remillard, and Catherine O'Donnell, mother of Shane O'Donnell who lost his life to addiction at the age of 22.
Our first event after the kick-off will be an interactive panel discussion for families and friends of those struggling with opioid dependence. The Focus on the Family panel discussion will be held at the Oscar Lasko YMCA and Childcare Center at 7pm on Tuesday June 26th. We will also have 15 resource tables available to help you and your loved ones. Download our flyer here, and learn more about The Mayor's Opioid Action Task Force by visiting our website. Please join us. |
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$ More on the Borough Budget $ |
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In my last newsletter, I provided several graphs of the Borough budget. The data source was the PA Economy League, and the graphs focused only on the general fund. The Borough has more than one fund, however, so I am providing the entire budgetary overview here to avoid confusion. |
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The following graph shows funding sources the Borough expects to generate in 2018. The main sources of revenue are taxes (real estate, earned income, local service ), fees (sewer, parking, stream protection, permit), contracts (police coverage outside the Borough, fire contracts, cable television, cell tower space leasing), violations (e.g., parking tickets), and revenue carryovers from the prior year. Interfund transfers are considered "revenue" in the world of municipal budgeting, but they are simply transfers from one revenue-generating fund (such as parking and sewer fees) into the general fund. [Note: "Other" includes employee contributions for healthcare and pensions, certain state aid, and a loan for the Borough Hall renovation that was budgeted but not taken, and more.] |
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The next graph shows how the Borough’s 2018 funds are used (by department) to provide services to the community. Departments that use the funds include Police, Public Works (for streets maintenance and repair, snow removal, trash services), Fire, Parking, Waste Water, Administration (administrative/management support staff operations, general obligation bond payments, and funding of pensions), capital projects (including the Borough Hall renovation, vehicle replacements, and traffic signal and parking garage improvements), and pensions for Police and non-uniform employees. [Note: While not directly shown here, interfund transfers are accounted for as expenses.] |
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Here are Need to Know Items On the June Borough Meetings Calendar |
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TUESDAY JUNE 12 5:30 pm Public Works Subcommittee The dog park discussion continues. 7:30 pm Administration, Communication & Technology Subcommittee Consider a $4,545 proposal from Hammel Assoc. Architects to determine the scope of needs for a possible new Public Works facility. WEDNESDAY JUNE 13 5:30 pm Public Safety Subcommittee Review of PD recommendations to modify street parking and create other changes at the entry/exit to The Metropolitan apartments to improve traffic safety on E. Marshall Street. 7:30 pm Smart Growth Subcommittee Discuss new snow shoveling ordinance. TUESDAY JUNE 19 5:30 pm Barclay Friends Public Hearing (continued) Continue presentation/public input on plans to rebuild and expand Barclay Friends after the fire. WEDNESDAY JUNE 20 7:00 pm Borough Council Voting Session - Swearing-in of our second female police officer.
- Presentation of award by DA Tom Hogan to the Borough PD for its excellent work on the 7-11 store assault case.
- Keys to the City presented by Mayor Herrin to just a few of our community heroes.
- Presentation/request by Zukin Realty to renegotiate a settlement agreement with Borough Council that would enable construction of an 83' hotel at the Gay St. Rite Aid/parking lot site.
ALL MEETINGS ARE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE BOROUGH'S TEMPORARY OFFICES AT 829 PAOLI PIKE. Download full agendas and attachments here. |
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