PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The future of the city of Chester’s government hangs in the balance as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is expected to decide if its day-to-day operations require an overhaul.
Michael Doweary, the state-appointed receiver for the bankrupt city of Chester, is tasked with helping the city get off of Pennsylvania’s financially distressed list. Part of that effort necessitates a closer look at how the city’s government is run.
“In Chester, the council members and mayor serve as department heads, and that’s where the management of the day-to-day operations has been a challenge,” he said.
Earlier this week, Doweary took that complaint to the state Supreme Court.
“It was our goal through recent recovery plan efforts and the argument before the state Supreme Court to basically give us the permission, the authority to put professional management in place — experienced, qualified professionals to run the day-to-day management,” he explained.
If approved, those elected officials would still be in charge of legislative business but would no longer run city management duties.
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Part of the plan is to keep the city from becoming an unincorporated service district.
“Not every aspect of the recovery plan is welcome, I’ll say, with open arms and just fully embraced,” Doweary admitted. “There are certain aspects that require stronger internal controls, more stringent reporting. We really need to make decisions that are in line with the financial recovery of the city.”
Stefan Roots, who will likely be Chester’s next mayor after recently winning the Democratic nomination, is on board with the plan. Calls to the office of Chester Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland were not immediately returned.
The high court is expected to rule on this issue within the next 90 days.
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