As a resident, I give Mayor Kirkland and his team extremely high marks for the evidenced-based presentation of the State of the City address. However, as a resident, I couldn’t help but wonder if, had this narrative been presented throughout the year…say quarterly, if it would have shut down those naysayers and those who would hold us back as a city. I had the privilege of covering the vast majority of the Kirkland administration’s achievements, so I think it would be safe to say quarterly in-person sessions like this one would’ve better served the city. Nevertheless, this State of the City was exceptionally positive and absolutely fact-based.
Recreation
The city held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for upgrades to the Octagon and McClure Parks–Octagon Park is located at 10th & Pennell, and McClure Park is located at 62 West 8th Street. The best thing about these parks is that they were designed by the children.
Sun Village has a brand new playset on the 9th Street side of the park. This playset project was funded by PECO Energy, Kaboom, the City of Chester, and the Chester Education Foundation. Thank you to Councilwoman Elizabeth Williams, Councilman Stefan Roots, and all of the volunteers who came out to complete this project.
The Chester City Pool opened on time; operated the entire summer with more than sufficient lifeguard staff; when many pools in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and surrounding areas struggled with staffing and other issues. Thank you to Delcora, who was a major help in getting the filter system ready on time. All of the efforts allowed Chester families to beat the heat and enjoy a fun-filled summer.
Finance
The city invested in Edmunds GovTech Financial Software. This software provides online payments, contracts and exports better financial reports. All this standardizing data and centralizing visibility for more efficient financial management will provide better results for employees, business owners, and residents.
The city also invested in ADP Payroll software which will assist with benefit payroll, timesheets, and more.
Under the direction of Councilman William Morgan, beginning in 2019, the Human Resources Department transferred over 100 retirees and spouses to a Medicare Advantage Supplement plan–a plan of this kind will save the city millions of dollars annually.
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