Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica joined various elected leaders from the Commonwealth to participate in a news conference hosted by State Representatives Jennifer O’Mara and Eddie Day Pashinski, and State Senator Carolyn Comitta. The news conference, held at the Pennsylvania State Capitol highlighted House Bill 158 and Senate Bill 184, which would bring more transparency and accountability to the hospital closure process.

Pashinski’s and O’Mara’s legislation, H.B. 158, and Comitta’s S.B. 184, would double the time in which a hospital system must notify state and local agencies of a planned closure from 90 to 180 days. In addition, the legislation would establish more comprehensive standards for procedures and notification of a planned closure. It also includes requirements for an approved Closing Plan and Health Equity Impact Assessment to be submitted to the Department of Health and state attorney general. And, it calls for increased community input, data collection, public comment, and public hearings prior to closure.

“Springfield Hospital’s Emergency Room closed over a year ago, and the building remains vacant. The nearest ER for Springfield residents is 15 minutes away. What used to be a 5-minute drive has now increased three-fold after our local hospital closed down,” O’Mara said. “This is unacceptable because minutes matter in a life-or-death situation. Our state law needs to ensure this isn’t the norm for every closure and that communities have the time they need to thoroughly prepare new care options.”

Last September, Crozer Health publicly announced its reorganization plan- redefining its healthcare services to the Delaware County community. Since that announcement, they have closed critical and vital healthcare services including the emergency department at Springfield Hospital and services at Delaware County Memorial Hospital including the emergency department and birthing center, and other vital services.

“This has left a major void in the healthcare needs of residents, especially in the eastern section of our County,” said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica “Residents in the Drexel Hill and Upper Darby communities, which is the most heavily populated section of our county- no longer have a local ER or Birthing Center. Some of our residents can’t just hop in their car and travel miles to another hospital. Many rely on public transportation. There are also language barriers for residents in that diverse section of our community and some are low-income families. These challenges create immense barriers to some of our residents trying to access vital healthcare.”

The Emergency Room closures also continue to impact EMS in Delaware County. There are now further transport times to distant hospitals- now averaging 30 minutes. ER wait times for EMS to transfer patients to staff has doubled from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. There has also been an increase in EMS being sent to non-emergency incidents due to the Emergency Department being closed, which creates a delay in EMS being available for emergency services to the community. There are also strains on nearby hospitals that are now taking patients who would have normally gone to their local hospital.

Currently, hospitals are only required to provide 90 days’ notice before their closure. House Bill 158 would extend that date to 180 days. The bill would also require hospitals to have an approved closure plan and conduct a Health Equity Assessment prior to closing.

In April 2022, Delaware County Council passed an emergency ordinance requiring 180-day notice to the County of a decision to close either all or most of the units of a hospital or certain “significant impact units” such as emergency departments, ambulance services, labor and delivery units, or behavioral health departments. In addition, a closure plan is required to be submitted to the Delaware County Health Department no later than 120 days from the anticipated date of closure.

House Bill 158 requires a 180-day notice and requires a hospital to conduct a health equity assessment to determine the estimated number of patients affected, the estimated number of low-income, senior, minority and Medicare and MA patients impacted, the names and addresses of the three nearest hospitals that provide comparable services, a summary of public transit options including estimated drive times, the estimated fiscal impact a closure would have on the affected community, and other valuable data. 

Delaware County Council and Chief Administrative Officer Marc Woolley will discuss proposed and approved spending of funding that the County has received as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) during a public discussion scheduled for Monday, May 22 at 6:00 p.m. in the County Council Public Meeting Room located at 201 West Front St., Media, PA.

The funds, which the County has received from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (part of the American Rescue Plan Act) can be applied to a variety of uses addressing COVID-19 and its impact on public health and the economic harm it has caused. These funds may also be used for certain investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, and the County may also apply a portion of these funds to the cost of the general government services provided by the County.

To make decisions about how to best use these funds, Delaware County Council wants to hear directly from Delaware County residents and business owners about their priorities and ideas. The ARPA discussion is open to the public and members of the public are invited to share their input. Each resident will be given three minutes to present. 

The meeting will be streamed live and accessible through the Delaware County website at delcopa.gov/meetings.

Delaware County residents and business owners can also email or mail ideas and suggestions to ARPA@co.delaware.pa.us.

Mailed copies can be sent to:

ARPA Public Suggestions

c/o Marc Woolley, Chief Administrative Officer 

Delaware County Courthouse and Government Center

201 W. Front St., Media, PA 19063

Delaware County’s Office of Sustainability is hosting its 2nd Annual Sustainability Conference at Widener University from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, 2023, with an aim to inspire, inform, and connect participants working towards a more sustainable future in Delaware County and the region.

Last year’s inaugural Sustainability Conference successfully brought together more than 150 local and regional sustainability experts and everyday “sustainability heroes” to network, discuss sustainability issues and pain points, and learn about the latest advances in zero waste, electric vehicles, urban farming, and many other everyday sustainability topics. 

This year, the day-long conference has been expanded to accommodate over 300 attendees, bringing together sustainability experts and advocates, scientists, government officials, sustainability practitioners, members of the local community, and everyday sustainability heroes to hear from a variety of speakers and panelists centered around the County's six sustainability focus areas. 

These six areas of focus include natural resources, energy and efficiencies, transportation, zero waste, climate resiliency, and health and wellness—all viewed through the lens of environmental justice. 

The conference is free of charge, vegan, zero waste and accessible by public transit. 

Residents interested in attending must register for the conference. Space is limited, so interested individuals are urged to register quickly at https://sustaindelco23.eventbrite.com.

Limited space also remains for sustainability-focused organizations interested in hosting exhibition tables* at the conference to provide sustainability information, opportunities for involvement, and more. 

Organizations interested in hosting an exhibition table will need to complete the online registration process, available at delcopa.gov/exhibitors, by no later than May 11 at 10:00 p.m. 

Exhibition tables will be provided free-of-charge to interested organizations, as space permits. Please note, space is limited so not all applicants are guaranteed an exhibition spot. Exhibition space will include one rectangular table (6-8 feet) and two chairs. Delaware County reserves the right to accept or deny all applications at its discretion.

A complete itinerary of speakers and panelists will be shared in the coming weeks.

* Please note, product sales or solicitation of services are not permitted at exhibition tables.

Members of the community

Sustainability-focused organizations

Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer, Councilwoman Christine Reuther, and Director of Delaware County’s Department of Emergency Services Tim Boyce presented a $1.7M ceremonial check to members of Delaware County Fire Departments on May 4 at the Delaware County Emergency Services building in Middletown. 

Last fall, in a unanimous vote, Delaware County Council authorized using up to $1,750,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide grants to local fire departments across the county. More than 60 active fire companies were eligible for grants worth up to $25,000 for their operational needs. The funds were designed to replace lost revenues and supplement fund-raising efforts adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Delaware County’s First Responders have been our true Front-Line Heroes over the past three years during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer. “They served our residents with immense bravery and dedication during a time when the rest of the world was quarantining and social distancing to keep themselves safe.”

Many local fire companies rely on volunteers and fundraising to keep their operations afloat and many fundraising efforts were curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants that the County has authorized will provide them with funds that can help offset the financial hardships they have faced. 

“Our First Responders have made enormous sacrifices during the pandemic and these grants will allow them to continue to focus on providing essential lifesaving services and protecting our community,” said Director of Delaware County’s Department of Emergency Services, Tim Boyce.

The Delaware County Health Department (DCHD), in partnership with Delaware County Council and the Delaware County Black Caucus, will hold an Open House at the DCHD Wellness Center at Chester on Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This event is an opportunity for the community to tour the newly modernized facility, located at 151 W. 5th Street in Chester and learn about the many Wellness Center services provided by DCHD.

A rain date for Sunday, May 7, has been set.

Visitors are invited to enjoy free treats from J&M Water Ice, public health giveaways, and the first 10 families to arrive will also receive a ShopRite gift card. DCHD staff members will be on hand to provide personalized tours of the updated facilities to families and individuals during designated times throughout the Open House.

“The revitalization of our Wellness Center at Chester is a symbol of our commitment to the people of Chester and its surrounding communities,” said Delaware County Health Department Director Melissa Lyon. “The first step in helping people feel better is making them feel welcomed and invited into our Wellness Centers.”

DCHD currently operates two Wellness Centers, one in Chester and one in Yeadon.

Attendees can hear remarks from Delaware County Health Department Deputy Director Lora Werner, Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor, and Delaware County Black Caucus Health and Welfare Committee Chair, Angela White. Remarks will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m.

Event parking is available on 5th Street or in the Penn Street parking lot (located in the rear of the building).

Mammograms provided by the Delaware County Health Department in Partnership with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center 

The Delaware County Health Department (DCHD) and the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital are partnering to bring Delaware County a ‘Day of Breast Cancer Awareness,’ providing women with free mammogram screenings at the Delaware County Wellness Center in Yeadon, on Monday, May 8, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

All women ages 40 and over, with and without insurance, and with no prior diagnosis of breast cancer, are eligible to register. Limited appointments for the mammogram screenings still remain. Registrants will also be able to speak with DCHD staff, tour the Wellness Center, and discuss other health services that are offered by DCHD to Delaware County residents.

To register for the screening, call the Delaware County Wellness Line at (484) 276-2100, or request an appointment by email at DelcoWellness@co.delaware.pa.us. Registration takes only a few minutes, and all registered individuals will receive a confirmation call back. A limited number of walk-ins may be available.

The Delaware County Bureau of Elections is responsible for reviewing all vote-by-mail ballot envelopes that are returned in Delaware County before they can be counted. Vote-by-mail ballots that are reviewed and determined to be flawed are then segregated, and the Bureau attempts to contact voters to give the voter a chance to obtain a new ballot at the Voter Service Center or request a replacement mailed ballot, if time permits.

Any vote-by-mail ballot — whether mail-in or absentee — with a legal flaw is disqualified. Flawed ballots are those that are damaged, unsigned, undated, improperly dated, unsealed, or not placed in the “secrecy envelope” before being placed in the larger “Ballot Return Envelope.” By law, the Delaware County Bureau of Elections is prevented from processing the ballots from flawed envelopes.

Correcting Flaws

Voters who receive notice that the ballot envelope is flawed must correct the ballot in-person at the Voter Service Center, located on the 1st floor of the Government Center Building, at 201 W. Front St., in Media, PA. If time permits, the voter can ask for a replacement ballot to be mailed. Voters will have the opportunity to receive a replacement ballot and complete and return their ballot during the same visit. Voter's valid ID is required.

Delaware County voters have until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot for the upcoming May 16, 2023 Primary Election. Delaware County Elections is issuing the following guidance for voters who plan to vote with a vote-by-mail ballot (either a no-excuse mail-in ballot or a traditional absentee ballot) during this election.

Voters who included an email address on their application should check their inbox or spam box for such notification.

Requesting a Vote-by-Mail Ballot: Deadline is May 9

Delaware County voters who still want to apply for a vote-by-mail ballot have two options. They can apply online at delcopa.gov/vbm-app by Tuesday, May 9 at 11:59 p.m. (a valid PennDOT driver’s license or state ID number is required), or they can apply in-person at the Voter Service Center, by Tuesday, May 9 (valid ID is required). By law, the Voter Service Center will be open through 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9.

In-Person Polling Places

Information about final in-person polling places for the May 16, 2023 Primary Election will be published during the week of May 8, 2023. The vast majority of polling places are unchanged since the 2022 General Election.

For more information, voters are reminded that the Delaware County’s election website — Delco Votes! — provides election news, sample ballots, ballot drop box locations, in-person polling location information, access to downloadable and online forms, livestreams and recordings of Board of Elections meetings, and more at delcopa.gov/vote.

The Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) and the Delaware County Parks and Recreation Department are finalizing preparations for the 2023 Delaware County Senior Games, the popular Olympic-style competition that allows senior athletes and active older residents a chance to showcase their athletic skills and compete for medals in a variety of sporting events.

The games run from Monday, June 12 through Friday, June 23.

Hundreds of Delaware County senior athletes ages 50 and older, hailing from many of the County’s 49 municipalities and representing a wide range of skill levels and competitiveness, will compete in a variety of sporting events that include track & field, swimming, golf, bowling, table tennis, bocce, corn hole, horseshoes, and pickleball (a complete schedule is available via the registration link below).

Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in every age category and all participating seniors and volunteers receive a free Senior Games t-shirt.

The 2023 Senior Games will kick off with Pickleball at the Brandywine Youth Club in Concord and with Bocce at Rose Tree Park on June 12, followed by various events Monday through Friday for the next 10 days. Residents of every skill level are encouraged to participate.

Sponsored by Delaware County Council, and hosted by COSA and the Department of Parks and Recreation, the games encourage older residents to stay socially and physically active throughout the year and achieve their personal best. The games also foster friendships among the athletes. Physical activity, even moderate, can help seniors by improving mental capacity, preventing disease, improving healing, increasing balance, and increasing life expectancy.

Marc Manfre, Director of Parks and Recreation and Barbara S. Nicolardi, Director of COSA, will again serve as co-chairs of the long running games.

“Marc and I are excited to kick off this year’s Senior Games in just a little over a month and we’re expecting our participation numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels,” said COSA Director Nicolardi. “We’re anticipating really fun games this year and encourage our seniors to register and come out and have fun.” Registration will remain open through May 31.

The Community YMCA of Eastern Delaware County—again partnering with the games by hosting the swimming events at Ridley High School—is offering athletes a free one-month membership at one of three local YMCA’s to help competitors prepare for the games. In addition, a Winner’s Circle Luncheon celebration will be held at the Drexelbrook Event Center on Monday, July 10, 2023.

Registration is required for all events. Registration for the games is $15 and is open to all Delaware County residents 50 and older ($20 for non-residents). Registration forms, schedules, and more information on the games are available at the Parks and Recreation Office in Rose Tree Park, at local libraries, senior centers and online at www.delcoseniorgames.org.

Residents can also call the Parks and Recreation Department at (610) 891-4663 or COSA at (610) 490-1300 to register or get more information.

Delaware County has also created a fun video to help inspire our seniors to lace up their shoes and get moving for the upcoming games and in their everyday lives. The video can be accessed on the County’s YouTube channel, linked below.

Our short video announcing the 2023 games!

Delaware County Council recognized May as Mental Health Awareness Month and May 7-13 as National Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week during the May 3 public Council Meeting.

National Mental Health Awareness Month is designated to creating awareness and promoting acceptance of mental illnesses and working to remove the stigma associated with mental illness. The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month is “Look Around, Look Within”, identifying how the area we live in plays a significant role in residents’ health and well-being.

National Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week will be held May 7-13, 2023. This year’s theme is “Accept. Advocate. Act.” The theme was created to promote the change in attitudes, behaviors, and systems, and how children’s mental health is viewed. Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Week also reinforces that positive mental health is essential to a child’s development.

With early and effective interventions, people with mental health conditions can lead full and productive lives. Raising awareness about mental health can help to reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health issues. In Delaware County, we are fortunate to have an extensive System of Care, through the Department of Human Services and Office of Behavioral Health, that help residents access the services and resources they need to address the mental health needs of residents of all ages across the county. 

Delaware County Council recognized May 7-13 as National Correctional Employees Week during the May 3 public Council Meeting.

Established by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 as a way to thank correctional officers for their service and celebrate their contributions to society, various U.S. agencies use the week as an opportunity to honor correctional officers in jails, prisons, and community correctional facilities nationwide.

“Council commends the team of exceptional correctional officers we have serving at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility,” said Delaware County Councilman Kevin Madden, who also serves as the Co-Chair of the Jail Oversight Board. “These trained law-enforcement professionals are dedicated to maintaining a safe correctional facility and ensuring public safety. They also work to provide correctional facility residents with direction, hope, and a new focus while assisting with reentry and life outside of the correctional facility.”

The rehabilitation of inmates and reduction of recidivism is a key goal of County Council, the Jail Oversight Board, and Prison Warden Laura Williams and her staff.

The George W. Hill Correctional Facility recently celebrated the one-year anniversary since the County’s April 2022 deprivatization of what had been the only privately managed county prison in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The transition of control from the private management firm to full County operational control and management was the result of a multi-year process of study and planning. Under County leadership and direction, the prison is now placing an emphasis on reducing recidivism and providing incarcerated people with stabilizing tools that will better prepare them to successfully transition back into the community.

The County’s correctional officers and employees serve admirably in various capacities, including as jail administrators, nurses, mental health professionals, supervisors, social workers, case managers, educators, chaplains, directors, dietary workers, commissary workers, and program coordinators. Under the leadership of Prison Warden Williams, they are responsible for the custody, care, and rehabilitation of thousands of correctional facility residents every year, as well as the maintenance of a safe and secure facility.

In recognition of National Correctional Employees Week, Council presented a resolution to Warden Williams and correctional professionals including Deputy Warden Lisa Mastroddi, Major Albert Pleasant, Major Richard Leach, Investigator George Rhoades, Program & Reentry Administrator Kelly Shaw, and Health Services Administrator Kristen Grady.

“We are grateful to County Council and Executive Leadership for their recognition of the men and women of George W. Hill — true heroes who have committed their lives to civil service while maintaining care, custody, and control of incarcerated persons throughout their navigation of the legal justice system,” said Warden Williams. “Correctional professionals are some of the most resilient and resourceful individuals who maintain commitment to their duty even when infrastructures fail, population needs change, or global pandemics arise. Correctional agencies are cities within cities — self-sustaining and managing the needs of a large populations of persons. We are exceptionally fortunate to have a facility of incredible employees within this county.”

Delaware County Council recognized May 6-12 as National Nurses Week during the May 3 public Council Meeting.

National Nurses Week was created in 1991 to serve as a time to reflect on the important contributions that nurses make to provide high-quality healthcare and compassion to the patients they care for. The week is recognized annually beginning on May 6 in celebration of “National Recognition Day for Nurses”, and concludes on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

Nurses serve on the front lines, risking their lives to treat and care for injured and sick people during times of strife, natural disasters, and public health emergencies. They represent the largest component of the healthcare profession, with studies showing that when nurse staffing levels increase- the risk of patient complications decreases. 

Nurses across Delaware County provide experienced care to the patients they serve each day and are the cornerstone of public health, touching the lives of residents through every stage of life.

During the public meeting, Council presented a resolution to Stephanie Reese, a registered RN and the Administrator for the Division of Personal Health for the County’s Health Department and Kristen Grady who works as a nurse at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility. Council also commended the dedicated team of nurses at Fair Acres, noting that the level of care and compassion they offer to the residents they serve each day is extraordinary. Council also recognized all the nurses across the county- from school nurses to ER nurses to nurses at assisted living facilities and commended them for their dedication and compassion.

Delaware County Council and the Delaware County Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are proud to join the nation in recognition of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

Observed annually each May, AANHPI Heritage month is a time to reflect upon and celebrate the remarkable role of the AANHPI community in in our nation’s history. Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders make our Nation more vibrant through diversity of cultures, languages, and religions.

The month of May was chosen to observe AANHPI for a number of reasons, including to commemorate the first Japanese who came to the country in May of 1843, and to mark the May 1869 completion of the Transcontinental Railroad which involved the labor of many Chinese immigrants.

The AANHPI community is made up of culturally- and linguistically diverse people, representing populations from many countries and islands. Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).

More information about AANHPI Heritage Month can found on the County's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion web page at www.delcopa.gov/inclusion/.

Delaware County, through a partnership between the Delaware County Parks and Recreation Department, the Delaware County Office of Sustainability, and Covanta Environmental Solutions, is holding a free e-Waste Collection Event on Thursday, May 11, from 9:00 a.m. – 1 p.m., at Upland County Park located at 280 6th Street in Upland.

Registration is required. Delaware County residents must register at www.prc.org/collectionevents or by calling (610) 353-1555 (extension #3) in order to access the location and dispose of waste. Please note that this event is offered as a community service to the residents of Delaware County and is not open to businesses, institutions, or an industry.

Acceptable waste includes televisions (1 TV permitted per registration, 1 registration per person), computer monitors and printers, CPUs (towers), laptops, mice and keyboards, desktop copiers and scanners, tablets, routers and modems, home and cell phones, cable boxes and electronic cables, DVD players, VCRs, stereos and video game consoles, and vacuum cleaners.

Additional TVs will be accepted for a fee: $30 for each additional CRT or flat screen TV and $40 for each additional rear projection or console TV. All forms of payment will be accepted.

Registrants should NOT bring Freon-containing devices (e.g. refrigerators, dehumidifiers), large appliances, batteries, lightbulbs, smoke detectors, or mixed recyclables (e.g. cans, plastic, glass, cardboard, paper).

Upon registration, participants will be given an arrival time. Please arrive at your allotted time. All items should be placed in the car trunk or truck bed. 

For additional information and registration questions, contact Carol Butler by email at butler@prc.org or by phone at 610-353-1555 (extension 3).

Delaware County Govt Official 2023 Calendar

Meet your Delaware County Council members

The Delaware County Health Department website