Council advances ARPA spending plans for $13 million

Hill as well as funding for revitalization of business districts in the township.

Mayor Barbara Keffer said some of the projects are worthwhile and should be considered but she questioned whether the remaining ARPA funds should be allocated to lost revenue, which is a allowable under the federal law.

Keffer read a letter from Township Controller Diane Scutti that pointed out that there is only $3 million remaining in township bond funds for capital purchases. Scutti said in that letter that it is unlikely the township will seek a bond issue in 2024, and there are known and unknown expenses ahead that the township may need funds for between now and 2025.

Keffer also said it was incredible after 18 months of what she called obstruction and accusations, that a majority on council has swiftly and quietly decided how the money should be spent, ignoring colleagues, administration and the public and disregarding the advice of the finance team.

“But then again the election is four months and a couple weeks away,” Keffer said.

Council Vice President Laura Wentz, who heads the powerful Finance and Appropriations Committee said most other council members did not reach out with spending ideas after she asked them to email requests for their districts at the previous meeting, nor she said had they received any over the past year.

Councilman Andrew Hayman said that is not the way to do business on something involving major spending. He said there needs to be an open discussion and give council members to review items discuss ideas, not a 72-hour window before spending plans are put into an ordinance.

In his report, Treasurer David Haman said the ARPA funds have been gone over with a fine tooth comb and there is nothing for anyone to be suspicious about in those accounts. The ARPA funds have accumulated $1.2 million in bank interest which is available for general use.

First responders

The

$4.4

million

first-responder ordinance calls for $500,000 to the Breaking Bread Community nonprofit, a studentrun emergency shelter; $100,000 for each of the five volunteer fire companies, and money for facility upgrades at the Upper Darby police station.

The breakdown on the police station includes $200,000 for a boiler, $26,000 for fire safety, $350,000 for flooring upgrades and $250,000 for a parking lot.

In addition, $450,000 would go for up to six marked police cars and $600,000 to purchase a property at 7260 West Chester Pike, which is just north of the police station.

Officials also added $124,000 for a key fob entrance system to the building.

Plus $1.4 million for the Seagrave firetruck, which was canceled at one point but has also resurfaced as part of the plan.

A separate ordinance would spend $825,000 on three new trash trucks.

Streetscapes

Another ordinance would allocate $3.7 million in funding for streetscape improvements in the business districts.

That includes $1 million each to the Drexel Hill business area at Burmont Road and North State Road, including Drexel Hill Pizza & Grill to Huey Avenue; 69th Street-West Chester Pike to Ruskin Lane; West Chester Pike Business District from Victory Avenue to Township Line Road.

Improvements in these three areas would include facades, lights, trash cans and plantings. And $700,000 would go to the Long Lane Business District for facades and lights.

Senior center

Another ordinance would give $1.2 million for the Senior Center lease and improvements at 5037 Township Line Road in Drexel Hill.

Parks and Rec

One ordinance would provide $2.25 million in improvements to township parks, including new playground equipment and flood mitigation.

Both Councilmen Matt

Silva

and Hafiz Tunis Jr. voiced their desire to see funds go for Naylors Run Park.

“That is a park that is central to this township, that everyone goes to and I would really like it to be a park in this township that any child could use,” Silva said.

The breakdown on the parks is:

• Bond Park would receive $75,000 for playground equipment and $25,000 for basketball nets.

• Dermond Field, $350,000 for flood mitigation and $50,000 for pickleball courts and fencing.

• Scullion Field, $50,000 for flood mitigation.

• Naylors Run Park would get $250,000 for playground equipment, $250,000 for rubberized coating on the ground, $425,000 for tennis court lights and light along the driveway, and $75,000 for pickleball courts and resurfacing of tennis courts.

• James Street playground, $25,000 for a swing set and canopy.

• $50,000 each for Penn Pines, Fernwood and McKinley Parks and Windermere.

• Golf Road Park, $25,000 to replace equipment.

• Sellers Playground, $50,000

• 69th Street Recreational Area, $400,000 for equipment and renovation of the snack bar, bathrooms and pavilion; and $250,000 for flood mitigation.

The arts and ed foundation

The final ordinance would provide $800,000 in one-time funding to assist the nonprofit Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation to create the Barclay Square Arts and Education Center.

During the public speaking portion of the meeting Harry Dietzler, director of the Upper Darby Arts and Education Foundation, and Jennifer Schoener, the associate director said their organization hopes to expand programs they offer during the summer to full year programs.

Those programs include Music Man Academy, Summer Stage and Butterfly Buddy programs.

Dietzler said they have been looking for over a year to find a facility and have plans to offer a variety of music and theater plans.

“An ideal space has become available in the Barclay Square Shopping Center that can house multiple studio spaces as well as the offices of the foundation,” Dietzler said. “The location is only blocks away from our two high schools and next door to Beverly Hills Middle School.”

Schoener said the grant would cover the cost of the lease, renovating the interior to create studio and rehearsal space and will establish a staffing and structure to develop programs.

Council member Meaghan Wagner said council should see the big picture.

“We have a really great opportunity to work together, to make sure every district in the township gets a benefit from the ARPA ordinances and I know we can work together because we have done it in the past,” Wagner said.