Upper Darby Council voted on Wednesday to once again start the process to enact a 1 percent earned income tax.
Chief Administrative Officer Crandall Jones said the township is at the crossroads in terms of a policy point between what the community wants and how to pay for it.
Upper Darby Township Chief Administrative Officer Crandall Jones
He said either the EIT or continued real estate taxes will be needed and he cited infrastructure and public works costs that continue to rise.
Jones said ideas such as the proposed community center or a possible safety center depend on revenue. He said a conservative updated estimate is the tax will bring $17.8 million into the township.
Councilmember Laura Wentz said the tax will have a negative impact on seniors, the poor and and called it a 30 percent increase. She called for the tax to be phased in at a lower level such as half a percent.
Council Member Laura Wentz
She said that in speaking with residents throughout the township “There is not a single person has supported it.”
“I don’t think the township should be adding a 1 percent gross tax on everybody’s income,” Wentz added.
She said that with real estate tax increases, council is restricted from the amount they can raise it by the Home Rule Charter.
Jones said it was his view the tax will be less of an imposition on seniors and the poor than continuing to raise real estate taxes, which are among the highest in Delaware County.
Councilmember Michelle Billups said an EIT is a common tool that most municipalities use and many residents are already paying the tax when they work in other municipalities. That money would now come back to Upper Darby.
“I know no one wants their taxes to be raised but it’s going for infrastructure and community programs and maintenance. I think it is something we need,” Billups said.
The vote in favor was 7-3 with final approval planned for a public hearing at the Sept. 17 council meeting.
New fire chief
At Wednesday’s meeting, Jones also spoke about the new fire chief who was selected by Mayor Ed Brown.
Jones said that in a national search 23 respondents applied. That number was narrowed to seven candidates to give written responses.
Five finalists were invited for more detailed interviews, and finally three who came to town were interviewed by Jones and the mayor.
Meetings included a meet-and-greet and local interviews with the volunteer fire companies and union membership. One candidate dropped out in the final round.
Nicholas Martin was selected and offered the job, which pays $155,000 per year.
Jones said Martin has a 30-year background in the fire service with 20 in leadership in Salisbury, N.C., and Columbia, S.C., Fire Departments as well as a master’s degree in fire leadership from Johns Hopkins University.
Wentz said she is 100 percent in agreement with the mayor’s choice.
“It doesn’t happen every day,” Wentz said of them being on the same page.
Prospect bankruptcy
Jones also presented the request hire a special council, Beth Fleming LLC, to handle issues involved in the Prospect Medical Holdings bankruptcy. The for-profit company owned Crozer Health, which includes Delaware County Memorial Hospital in the township.
The hospital has been shuttered for nearly three years and the township believes the building is deteriorating.
Delaware County Memorial Hospital on Lansdowne Avenue in Drexel Hill several years ago as many remember it as a full-service hospital. (DAILY TIMES)
Township Solicitor Michael Clarke said the township’s interest in the Prospect bankruptcy is “significant.”
He said property taxes, business privilege taxes and sewer fees are at stake. He noted the property has a lien against it and in court filings Prospect would no longer own the property.
He said that as part of Monday’s meeting in federal bankruptcy court the township received assurances and an order from the judge that water for the sprinkler system would remain on and the property would continue to have security.
But the judge did give Prospect the option to abandon the property.
Clarke said it is ongoing to be decided whether the building will be abandoned or the Upper Darby School District will buy it.
Fleming will represent the township in those matters — and already did Monday — as over $600,000 in business taxes remain outstanding.
LGBTQ+ health care
Next on the agenda council members voted to introduce a resolution that Upper Darby is a safe and welcoming community for LGBTQ+ individuals and their families for gender health care and urged county and state officials to do the same.
Councilmember Jess Branas said in this political climate it comes to the local communities to protect residents from future harm, “especially when it comes to the youth.”
Jess Branas (Courtesy of Upper Darby)
She noted many anti-trans bills are appearing at the state level, nine of which have been raised in Pennsylvania.
“This is where we get together to say we are here to protect you,” Branas said.
Tower Theater
In another topic touched on at the meeting, Brown said the administration has a meeting scheduled with Live Nation music promotions about the Tower Theater on 69th Street and the possibility of using it for Upper Darby Summer Stage.
The Summer Stage, which has celebrated its 50th year, is looking at places to relocate for 2026 while renovations are ongoing at the high school.
Audit
The administration also proposed CliftonLarsonAllen LLP be appointed to serve as the township’s independent auditor to perform the audits of all township accounts. It will be voted on at the Aug. 20.
Police contract
Finally, Jones said arbitration with the Upper Darby police union is due to take place in September. Officers are working under the existing contract while that takes place.