[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6193219,"mediaKeyId","3868096-ecb631654b5b12ad8a5d2773d0203b5a","parentId",3868096,"title","Council approves edited letter of support for Safe Harbor building project, removes building specifics","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",25070000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868096-ecb631654b5b12ad8a5d2773d0203b5a&start=25070&end=25070","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868096-ecb631654b5b12ad8a5d2773d0203b5a/thumbnail_25070000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6193219/West-Chester/Chester-County/Pennsylvania/Council-approves-edited-letter-of-support-for-Safe-Harbor-building-project-removes-building-specifics","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193219-9c2513924b0ecaa5c1de0ac81efb697f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770936591&Signature=bCw7Z5ZhczLwHg38JdrqEnmAgnjMgtzSHjwk2VFoNIYC6NcOlUD6HBSsBKDCBD-NRMtox94PnSyuGNJYkwb-Obfnhfdrbz2s9uMhjLl2utmunwqye1MLKNiXYRkCSzchP09KJst0nRUhghtamtyu3tO0A84KQSca4zpjdUvBhfWIuHk-FAEmTHCFnO9qgWPtwOxm49ul1cM8V3JNTwkG1FlzCT~TyJTKWmop26vvdstKxRGtEQ~D-EJEqNDRn8l97ejgxe-MBn7Cc5JSx2SWi~fgzFZSD3~DYYCJWw48NCSNOvYJFibxs9PffQAP~ssNRQP10PYPQeJX1vqBm~GkRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Borough of West Chester, PA","date","2025-06-19T01:08:02Z","article","The Borough of Westchester voted June 18 to send a letter of support for Safe Harbor of Chester County’s proposed building project after council members edited the draft to remove detailed design references and certain emphatic language.

Council reviewed an attached draft letter and instructed staff to make the language more general rather than including specifics that a project design team could change. Sean (a councilmember who had previously revised the letter) explained the edits: “We basically removed specific references to design features in the building from the letter and made it more general in terms of the borough support for the institution's mission,” he said.

Council members noted the draft had referenced a “three‑story facility” and a claim that the project would “expand housing capacity by 50%.” One council member said those particulars should be omitted because the design and capacity remain subject to change. The council also suggested striking the word “strongly” from the endorsement sentence to make the statement terser.

A motion was made to support sending the letter with the edits discussed; the council voted in favor: Miss Dorsey — yes; Mr. Flynn — yes; Miss Vaccaro — yes; Mr. McGinnis — yes; Mr. Travis — yes; Miss Shimoni — yes. The motion passed.

Council members described the approved letter as an expression of support for Safe Harbor’s mission and intent, without endorsing specific building design elements or exact capacity figures. No additional commitments of borough funds or land-use approvals were made at the meeting; the action was limited to conveying municipal support for the organization’s project subject to future permitting and design processes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Borough Council Voting Session - June 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Westchester council voted to send a letter endorsing Safe Harbor of Chester County’s mission while removing specific design references (three‑story building, 50% capacity number) and the word “strongly” from the endorsement language.","taxTitle","West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania","taxId",71483,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6193222,"Westchester University, borough report growth in town–gown outreach; task force and data projects planned",518,1433445,1951915,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868096-ecb631654b5b12ad8a5d2773d0203b5a&start=1433&end=1951","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868096-ecb631654b5b12ad8a5d2773d0203b5a/thumbnail_1433445.jpg","/articles/6193222/West-Chester/Chester-County/Pennsylvania/Westchester-University-borough-report-growth-in-towngown-outreach-task-force-and-data-projects-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193222-070aa30b73e1e16fa29e9035b3578185/orig.mp4?Expires=1770936591&Signature=cjf0dVLdzCyw~xq9YhgXC7nxEjM4qL28NPI6-NTR01c5aCaVxFIDHWol1pVS7UWfdAIq~mZD7gJXtOrD9mOFO1WqAJe9zXmPjNzwgk9581irShw-ow-hxSNzKcbMqZidPvLOnsOTdujIoFloHAy5P7y8Lg8vbfp9Bi8pJ4cNMX-KHhnxkYXx0pUcIzDm5OP9pO4awxGyhGqWJJ7-dhSOVMfKFvi9f3HUEIShCT2FAxISyw0uyHatbF6XpbjnsVCO~biRRPBGqeYTtQTgzzJ5XmqfffNeoOZSG51WppRtVRp7BFFuEPhgUMEOq~qE~dS8nx2UxtsN3skSGLEPalNCfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Julie Dietrich, executive director for external relations at Westchester University, presented the Westchester Community Campus Committee’s academic-year report to borough council on June 18, summarizing events, participation and next steps for town–gown collaboration.

The committee said it expanded outreach through an improved welcome event, fall and spring cleanups, a community warehouse project that reuses student furniture, and a housing fair with borough staff. Committee leaders also formed a smaller, action-oriented task force to convert broad conversations into implementable steps and said they will replicate that problem-solving model with neighboring townships.

“...we had a shuttle this time, so that really helped with accessibility and getting the students and forth,” Dr. Dietrich said, describing the welcome and other efforts to reduce friction between students and residents. She reported a fall cleanup focused on Greek life with more than 100 students and a spring cleanup with about 250 students.

The committee said it intends to increase resident participation and accountability within the group and is considering a name change to \"Westchester Together\" to reflect a broader communication effort. Dr. Dietrich noted the committee has added university representation to the borough’s transportation advisory committee and is developing a student parking focus group working with Ramsey Reiner, the borough’s interim building and codes enforcement director.

The committee is also collaborating with the borough manager and a Center for Community Solutions project to analyze data on student rental properties and noise citations to inform targeted interventions. Dr. Dietrich said the group met with university leadership, including the new president and student-affairs vice president, to maintain direct lines of communication.

Council members and staff in attendance were thanked for participating in events including the housing fair; Dr. Dietrich said she will continue to pursue resident engagement strategies and shared plans for an August welcome event timed to improve accessibility.

No formal council action was taken; the report was informational and identified next steps for the committee and borough staff.","The Westchester Community Campus Committee provided an academic-year report highlighting welcome events, student cleanups, a community warehouse program, a housing fair and a new task force to drive action on recurring town–university issues. The committee plans more resident engagement and data work on student rental properties.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6193228,"Residents, officials praise police response to downtown rally; council to consider public recognition",131,273875,404960,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868096-ecb631654b5b12ad8a5d2773d0203b5a&start=273&end=404","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868096-ecb631654b5b12ad8a5d2773d0203b5a/thumbnail_273875.jpg","/articles/6193228/West-Chester/Chester-County/Pennsylvania/Residents-officials-praise-police-response-to-downtown-rally-council-to-consider-public-recognition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193228-ec8638263fb978bfb10922ac4dd65fcd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770936591&Signature=RABHPHFJwIZqHRUBo0MGa5OdQtdzKLs7KGtQGXFrlKDd3IRWOJlkTyWXogAxWhmeWAAo64jvtz9ZJGKKDP5wjrzJHFEiYSI7QcI6A5UL01K7Vv3vANS6Df5vDfTWwxzBjUMXsnidHonE3bomq7d~TNszdsa~0lLBG6topZvsZFFDbYrO3CspxA~tculaT03ZBebNKs4-dSwlywE6~CrC0VFzYE14sDTy9f08sWXqxpYjoH4lCHBV7b9v9xuy7MeweVandwTUHKdjk8wUkkphsfIaxvoOsNU19A290ZBwu--sMtHSAC~4LMHDVoDC3um-X-AGZvFNTA733kmoVwe9~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents, visiting officials and council members on June 18 praised the Westchester Police Department and other law enforcement partners for what speakers described as a swift, de-escalatory response to a potentially dangerous incident at a downtown demonstration over the weekend.

Multiple public commenters and council members urged the borough to formally recognize officers and an anonymous civilian who alerted authorities. The mayor said more details on that recognition will be shared with the community.

Jim Wiley, a borough resident and member of the Transportation Advisory Committee, thanked officers and council for setting a tone that, he said, allowed a peaceful demonstration to continue. “It is not possible to have a peaceful demonstration or even a free speech at all, if participants do not feel safe,” Wiley told the council during public comment.

Phil Daig, who identified himself as mayor of Downingtown and a member of Indivisible Chester County, echoed Wiley: “Your police are, as always, ... exemplary,” and thanked the borough police for their work.

Resident Paula Klein, who attended the rally with family members, described fearing for the safety of young children at the event and urged the borough to consider a formal way to honor officers and community members who helped. “We also wonder if there isn't something more official that the borough council could consider to appreciate and honor the people who really saved a lot of lives,” Klein said.

Council members repeatedly thanked officers and others who assisted. Councilmember Brian Travis criticized what he called “deliberate misinformation” about the timeliness of official communications, saying law enforcement, the district attorney’s office and the FBI provided essential updates while protecting the investigation. “The suspect was arrested. The investigation was successful. Law enforcement acted swiftly, decisively, and responsibly,” Travis said.

Mayor (Westchester) told the meeting there will be “more to come” on recognition and suggested the borough will present an opportunity for the community to acknowledge officers and the anonymous citizen who provided a tip. “There'll be more to come, and we'll be sure to share that with the community so that everyone can come out and acknowledge our heroes,” the mayor said.

Council members and public commenters emphasized the value of public vigilance and the “see something, say something” approach; several described specific citizens who alerted police, including an Uber driver mentioned by a council member as an “unsung hero.”

No formal proclamation or award was approved at the June 18 meeting; the mayor and council indicated they intend to develop recognition options and communicate details once plans are finalized.","Residents and visiting officials thanked Westchester police for de-escalating a potentially dangerous incident at a recent rally. Council members and the mayor said they plan to publicly recognize officers and an anonymous citizen whose tip helped avert harm.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":42,"_45":102,"_46":103,"_48":104,"_50":105,"_52":106,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":107,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":108,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6193233,"Westchester council adopts ordinance to accept ICC certifications for electrical, mechanical and plumbing work",15,15356,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3868096-ecb631654b5b12ad8a5d2773d0203b5a&start=0&end=15","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3868096-ecb631654b5b12ad8a5d2773d0203b5a/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6193233/West-Chester/Chester-County/Pennsylvania/Westchester-council-adopts-ordinance-to-accept-ICC-certifications-for-electrical-mechanical-and-plumbing-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193233-4930f4d26d63556a2c951892f9b50ac5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770936591&Signature=bY-cH7-~ywmwBeH1-TMu5hOqsI0FyPNDRBg1lLBzgYxS2RrUGWrLdHmBGccdRocqjk2XS7MzVdm9pBMWkpEmL-06WflWFHLtQHk6I~zifwNOQZyUgYMmyT3B3c0xuldZPeofdXYbTkcoI0pXvqBt9vmS0iKAeySX-UF483m7EUB-d51m6qiOE8EYFvRvAs-LFAV8EZrwEeOtFO7FrD~QkU6pRP7z2NfL~eSeeibWO1HqAiP7EBt0zm-2-Vo-JdrqLS2VkQkn-IqOFhfspcYW0CzuciX8mKmAtnQw7yoAEf6CBh6V6CWq0Hiz83FARvYwZ5G06~TWxK5fddd5bbLI8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Borough of Westchester on June 18 adopted an ordinance amending borough code chapters that govern electrical, mechanical and plumbing trades so contractors may qualify to perform work by showing International Code Council (ICC) certifications rather than a borough-issued license.

Council members voted to adopt the change after a public hearing and a brief explanation from borough staff that the amendment corrects wording that conflated ICC certifications with licensing.

The change affects chapter 54 (electrical), chapter 72 (mechanical) and chapter 82 (plumbing) of the borough code. A borough staff member explained that when the borough opted into the statewide building code in 2004 it grandfathered local registration requirements. The ordinance does not remove the borough’s ability to require that trade workers be certified or previously registered; rather, it clarifies that the ICC issues certifications — not licenses — and allows individuals who hold ICC certifications to qualify to perform those trades within the borough.

“The ICC does not issue a license for people in those trades. They issue certifications,” the staff member said during the public hearing, explaining why the wording needed to be updated.

A council member made a motion “to approve the ordinance changes as presented.” The council then called the question and recorded unanimous support on the vote: Miss Dorsey — yes; Mr. Flynn — yes; Miss Vaccaro — yes; Mr. McGinnis — yes; Mr. Travis — yes; Miss Shimoni — yes. The motion passed.

Council discussion and the staff explanation emphasized that the amendment is a technical correction to align borough code language with how the ICC describes its credentials; the underlying local requirement that trade work be performed by certified or registered individuals was not eliminated in the adopted language.

The ordinance was advertised and made available for public inspection prior to the hearing, the staff member said, and the hearing record includes those notices.

The council did not take supplemental policy actions at the meeting beyond adopting the corrected language; no implementation timeline or additional enforcement provisions were specified during the hearing.","The Borough of Westchester voted to amend three chapters of its code to recognize International Code Council certifications (rather than local licenses) for electrical, mechanical and plumbing contractors who have not been previously registered with the borough.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves edited letter of support for Safe Harbor building project, removes building specifics

Westchester University, borough report growth in town–gown outreach; task force and data projects planned

Residents, officials praise police response to downtown rally; council to consider public recognition

Westchester council adopts ordinance to accept ICC certifications for electrical, mechanical and plumbing work