As part of the federal government's American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) passed to help communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Delaware County will receive an estimated $110 million in new funding. The County can use this one-time and unprecedented funding on a broad array of critically important projects, including:

• Responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its negative economic impacts
• Investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure
• Improving and expanding government services, including expanding economic development and job attraction efforts and improving pay for essential workers who have worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic

Below is a short video presentation featuring Delaware County Executive Director Howard Lazarus. You can also visit our new ARPA web page for more information.

We are looking for your input. Please email ideas and suggestions to ARPA@co.delaware.pa.us.

On Tuesday, February 8, Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor was honored to present a resolution to the Upper Darby School District Board of Directors and Superintendent Dr. Daniel McGarry, in recognition of the District’s response efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Upper Darby School District, as well as the entire world, has faced immense challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic for nearly two years, including the disruption of work and school, the rapid adoption of remote learning, loss of income among residents and businesses, serious illnesses, and the loss of lives.

During this critical time, many organizations, institutions, and individuals stepped up and answered the call to serve the residents of Delaware County, helping us navigate and survive this evolving pandemic without the aid of a County Health Department.

Upper Darby School District deserves to be commended for its efforts. The District’s leadership, under the direction of Superintendent Dr. Daniel McGarry, and teachers, students, and parents have faced this pandemic with compassion, bravery, and dedication – focusing efforts not only on education but on the health and safety of the community.

Efforts included raising awareness, sharing critical information with the community, assisting families with food insecurity, disseminating school-based rapid-antigen testing for students and staff, and, on many occasions, providing the use of the school facilities as a site for large-scale life-saving COVID-19 vaccinations.

Council commends and thanks the Upper Darby School District Board of Directors, Superintendent Dr. Daniel McGarry, Upper Darby School District teachers, aides, bus drivers, staff, and the students and parents for going above and beyond in their efforts to keep their community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Annual Mail-in Ballot Request List Explained

The bipartisan passage of Act 77 in 2019 provided Pennsylvania voters the right to cast no-excuse mail-in ballots. Included with this legislation was an option allowing voters to request to be included on an “annual mail-in ballot request list."

Voters who opt-in are sent a letter and a vote-by-mail application each year by February 1, instructing them to submit the application in order to receive mail-in ballots for each election to be held over the following 12 months—a period of time which typically covers two elections: a Spring primary election and Fall general election (as well as any special elections that could arise). 

Last week, this letter and mail-in ballot application started hitting mailboxes of Delaware County voters who had opted-in to the annual mail-in ballot request list during the previous year.

Voters who prefer to vote with a mail-in ballot, whether returned by mail, through any of the 40+ secure ballot drop boxes installed throughout the County, or by hand at a County Voter Service Center, should simply complete and return the application or use the QR code in the mailing to fill out the form online. These voters will then be sent a mail-in ballot several weeks before each election. 

Voters who do not return the request form will not be sent a mail-in ballot for the upcoming Spring primary or Fall general elections.

It's important to understand that all voters—regardless of whether they received the mailing last week, and regardless of whether they submitted an application requesting mail-in ballots for the upcoming year—can always decide to request a mail-in ballot closer to election day, on an election-by-election basis. The deadline for requesting your mail-in ballot is 7 days prior to election day (though a minimum of 15 days is recommended).

A recent 3-2 decision by the PA Commonwealth Court found no-excuse mail-in voting, as prescribed by Act 77, violates the Pennsylvania State Constitution. However, this decision has been appealed to the PA Supreme Court. As a result of the appeal, the lower Court’s ruling will have no effect on mail-in voting for the upcoming General Primary election scheduled for May 17, 2022. 

Per the PA Department of State: “Today’s ruling on the use of mail-in ballots has no immediate effect on mail-in voting. Go ahead and request your mail-in ballot for the May primary election.”

All registered voters who elect to request a mail-in ballot with the intention of mailing the completed ballot or using one of the 40+ secure ballot drop boxes installed throughout the County are encouraged to apply.   

On Feb. 9, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered that the period for candidates to circulate and file petitions for the May 17, 2022 Primary has been “temporarily suspended.”

Until further notice, candidates should not begin circulating petitions for any contests at the federal, state or local levels, including persons who may plan to circulate petitions to run for political party Committee Persons at the precinct level.

The Supreme Court provided no further details about the length of the suspension. The ruling was the result of ongoing hearings on new maps for the state’s congressional districts, which could affect the boundaries for multiple races.

Delaware County Elections will update the Delco Votes! website when more information becomes available about district maps and any other impacts they may have on our local election calendar.

Delaware County is searching for centenarians to be honored at its annual Centenarian Luncheon being held on Monday, May 16, 2022. 

All residents turning 100 or older in 2022 are welcome to attend the Centenarian Luncheon at the Drexelbrook Banquet Center in Drexel Hill. In 2021, 26 centenarians attended the luncheon and staff of the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) visited five centenarians in the community and mailed an additional 20 proclamations to centenarians.

“The County has been celebrating our centenarians for the past 20 years at the annual luncheon and it’s always a highlight of the year,” said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. “It's fun and also extremely inspiring to celebrate 100 years of life with our residents and hear their fascinating and remarkable stories.”

Centenarians and one guest are admitted for free. Additional guests may purchase tickets for $25.00 each. Guests also receive a commemorative photo from the day along with a special proclamation from Delaware County Council.

The organization or facility that brings the most centenarians to the luncheon will receive a cash prize. For more information or to register to attend the luncheon, please contact Debbie Hedgepeth at (610) 872-1406.

The outreach team number is accessible 24/7.

If you see a homeless person on the street in your community, consider contacting the Horizon House, Inc.’s homeless outreach team at (267) 671-4357. They will attempt to engage the person to ensure that they have access to services and care. 

Homeless individuals are often dealing with issues such as mental illness, substance abuse, and/or alcohol abuse. Over the course of time, Horizon House outreach teams establish a relationship and build rapport with someone who is homeless and are able to get them to accept help and support. Once an individual accepts support, the team quickly facilitates access to a safe haven and/or emergency housing, treatment options, benefits, physical and behavioral health care, and housing.

Drive-ups are welcome, but pre-registration is encouraged.

Drive-ups are welcome, but pre-registration is encouraged.

Delaware County Govt Official 2022 Calendar

Meet your Delaware County Council members

The Delaware County Task Force's COVID-19 website