Coatesville hopes to sell two parcels, replace colleague who resigned
By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times
Council members David C. Collins (from left), Joseph Hamrick, and Jarrell Brazzle listen to a litany of looming capital expenditures. The vacant seat belonged to Councilman Jeff Loprinzi, who has resigned from City Council.
A City Hall roof that’s on life-support, aging police cars that cost more than double their value to pass inspection, firefighters who lack the recommended safety gear, and an unsupported phone system that dies – sometimes several times a week.
Those were just some of the hundreds of thousands of dollars of looming, unbudgeted expenses presented to Coatesville City Council at Monday night’s meeting in the form of a “wish list” from department heads. Manager Kirby Hudson solicited the input to make a point: Council needs to pursue alternative revenue sources.
Hudson presented one at the last City Council meeting. It went nowhere, and so he put it back on the agenda. He said Coatesville owns two parcels outside the city limits. One tract in West Brandywine Township, known as the Conti property, contains about “63 usable acres;” the other, in Valley Township on Mt. Airy Road, totals a little more than 20 acres, he said.
Coatesville is hoping to sell this property, which consists of a couple of aging buildings and more than 20 acres on Mt. Airy Road in Valley Township.
The city has been paying about $12,000 in taxes for land that lies dormant, Hudson said. He said not only would the city have to spend to a prohibitive amount of money to make the properties functional, but it also doesn’t have a specific use for them. Hudson said he has received inquiries from two prospective buyers who have expressed interest in the Mount Airy property.
Hudson suggested moving forward with getting appraisals so the city could set a minimum price and conduct an auction. He said the Conti property was appraised for nearly $1.4 million in 2007. In a depressed market, he said he believed the city could get at least $1 million for both parcels, a sum that would help “get things on an even keel.”
Council voted to approve soliciting appraisals; however, several members suggested that the city needs a long-range plan for capital expenditures. “We haven’t done that since Jean Krack left,” said Councilman Ed Simpson, referring to a former city manager from 2006.
City Council added an item to its own wish list: a new council member for the Fifth Ward. Council unanimously approved the resignation of Jeff Loprinzi, who stepped down for personal reasons, said Council President David C. Collins. “I’m going to miss Jeff,” said Councilman Joseph Hamrick, adding that he understood that Loprinzi lacked the time needed to devote to council.
Solicitor John Carnes said City Council has 30 days to name a replacement. He said that person would then have to run for the unexpired term; however, he did not know whether enough time existed for that person to appear on the primary ballot.
Continuing the theme of time constraints, Collins called City Council “delinquent on all plans” it made earlier in the year to establish some new policies, such as a budget review committee, attendance guidelines for city committees, and goals and objectives for city management. Collins scheduled several workshops to focus on those initiatives.
Anthony Emondi, a resident of Eighth Avenue who has repeatedly complained about speeding drivers, appeared before City Council to extend his thanks for the recent addition of speed-limit signs. “I waited a long time, and I finally got my signs,” he said, expressing his gratitude.
