Coatesville City Council compiles lengthy to-do list

 Members pledge to review multiple issues on or before end of March By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times City Manager Kirby Hudson (left) chats with Police Chief Jack Laufer after Laufer’s first City Council meeting since his swearing-in on Jan. 14. Members of Coatesville City Council may have created their own version of March Madness at Monday night’s meeting. With a sparse...

City uses trust fund to avoid tax hike

$8.8 million preliminary budget includes $1.5 million infusion from reserves By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Longtime Coatesville resident Ron Suber questions City Council about its dire financial straits. Coatesville City Council approved an $8.8 million preliminary budget Monday night, but not before amending it to eliminate a tax hike. “I do not want to see a millage increase,”...

City’s 2013 budget proposal addresses $1.4 million deficit

Gap would be closed with tax hike, spending cuts, trust fund withdrawal By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Coatesville Finance Director John Marcarelli (left) presented an overview of the proposed 2013 budget as the city’s codes director, Damalier Molina, listened. Coatesville City Council got its first look at the 2013 proposed budget Monday night, a draft that elicited a less-than-enthusiastic...

City Council focusing on Coatesville’s red ink

Ways to cut costs dominated Monday night’s meeting By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Council members Joseph Hamrick (from left), Jeff LoPrinzi and Jarrell Brazzle listen to explanations for some of the city’s recent expenditures. Money – specifically a scarcity of it – dominated Coatesville City Council’s Monday night meeting. The council voted to re-approve...

Third vote to tap Coatesville trust fund fails

Finance director says $2.25 million needed to avert crisis By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Despite the threat of City Hall furloughs, City Council failed to pass an ordinance to withdraw more than $2 million from the city’s trust fund. For the third time in less than a month, Coatesville City Council failed to garner enough votes tonight to transfer more than $2 million from...

City Council not ready to tap trust fund – yet

Vote to withdraw $2.25 million fails 5-2, but will be revisited By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times Coatesville City Councilmen Jeff LoPrinzi (left) and Jarrell Brazzle listen during discussion of the city’s dire financial straits. A vote to tap Coatesville’s dwindling trust fund to meet expenses failed Monday night 5-2, and an effort to convince a former police-chief candidate...