Commonwealth Court judge says Chester government nurtures a culture of ‘denial, shifting blame, arrogance and nepotism’

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In an order highly critical of the Chester government, Commonwealth Court Judge Ellen Ceisler granted the state-appointed receiver expanded administrative duties while limiting his ability to spend city funds.

“Testimony presented in court exposed to the Court a culture of denial, blame-shifting, arrogance and nepotism within the city government,” Ceisler wrote in his order. “Testimony also demonstrated the existence of significant operational issues within city departments, as well as the lack of transparency, lack of cooperation and gross disrespect of Receiver and his team by city officials. .”

A three-day hearing was held earlier in January in front of Ceisler in which wide receiver Michael T. Doweary sought to amend the city’s Law 47 stimulus plan to give him the final say on nearly every job. major administrative functions or delegate these functions to Chief Operating Officer Leonard Lightner.

Ceisler’s order confirms without change Doweary’s ability to oversee the administrative duties and professional management of the city.

“The Court finds that the Collector has the power to remove City Council members from their positions as department heads and appoint experienced professionals in their place,” she wrote. “The Court also believes that having a chief of staff oversee the day-to-day operations of all city departments would help alleviate many of the obstacles faced by Receiver and his team.”

Lightner would become his chief of staff, according to court documents.

Ceisler rescinded the receiver’s request to hire contractors on behalf of the city, pass a budget or budget amendments, spend American Rescue Plan Act funds, or enter into contracts or agreements on behalf of the city. from the city.

In her order, the judge noted Lightner’s testimony outlining what the city needs to get out of a long-term budget emergency.

[W]We need consistency, we need stability and we need direction,” she reiterated Lightner’s testimony. “The Court believes that the initiatives of the receivers in this category, related to human resources, finance, audit, procurement and legal affairs, will help provide the City with this consistency, stability and direction. “

Chester receiver Michael Doweary

In April 2020 Governor Tom Wolf declared a financial emergency in Chester and that summer Doweary was appointed receiver. He was tasked with creating a recovery plan and implementing it, ensuring that some vital services were provided to the city’s residents.

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