U.D. Council discusses releasing some Federal American Rescue Plan funds
Upper Darby Council members discussed the release of a portion of Federal American Rescue Plan pandemic funds at their May 4 meeting.
While council did not agree to release the full $14 million funding APRA pending completion into a council-authorized investigation into how some of the money was accounted for earlier this year, Vice President Laura Wentz, D-At-Large, said the finance and appropriation committee is looking to allocate some of the funds.
The committee was preparing an ordinance to release some funds as bonus pay for township employees who worked through the pandemic, however, since it involved union contracts they decided to table that until the township labor council lawyers look into the details.
“We are looking to make some allocations of the ARPA funds, not all at once, we are looking for specific information,” Wentz said. “We would like to do it in multiple different ordinances.”
A sixth vote from the council as a whole would be required to pass any ordinance brought from the finance committee.
Wentz said the finance is looking to get information from township non-profits that would be interested in receiving ARPA funds.
“We’re asking that you send an email to us udfinancecommittee@gmail.com,” Wentz said.
Information requested includes the name of the non-profit, their board members and the amount requested and the plans to spend the funds.
Wentz said they hope to have a list of eligible nonprofits by the end of the month. Once they look through the information the finance council would create an ordinance allocation.
The administration has hired a ARPA administrator to handle the funds and there are questions if council as the legislative body has the ability to handle responsibilities that fall to the administration in the township Home Rule Charter.
Wentz said the finance committee is not willing to release the complete $14 million of ARPA funds all at once. Council Hafiz Tunis, D-7th District, asked why funds are being released piecemeal creating additional red tape.
“Because of the investigation we have concerns that not all the funds are there, even though some people think they are, we think there might be some missing,” Wentz said.
She said she doesn’t think it is all missing and at this time the finance committee was comfortable releasing smaller amounts starting with union workers, which is the majority of their workforce.
Wentz said they plan on proposing additional ordinances for non-union township workers, volunteer firefighters.
When the investigation is completed they can then release the large amounts knowing what is remaining, Wentz said.
Wentz said capital budget funding is available for the community and sewer programs.
Council member Meaghan Wagner, R-1st District, who is also a member of the Finance Committee, repeated her view that while wanting to allocate the funds she is concerned about mishandling of funds.
Councilman Andrew Hayman said he would vote for the release of some of the funds but thinks it should all be released.
“How much is enough?” Hayman asked. He noted the proposed ordinance would release over $2 million.
Wentz said she would not commit to an estimated amount that should be released.
“I don’t think it’s about money,” Wagner chimed in and Hayman agreed.
Hayman said the money is there, the Township treasurer said it was there and it should be allocated.
Following the discussion council voted 7-4 to table the ordinance to allocate a partition of the money.