Diverse array of service providers merit praise

From preparing for horrific mass casualties to applauding a philanthropic role model, the Chester County Commissioners heard a wide range of topics at their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Chester County Detective Lt. Michael McGinnis (clockwise from top left), Commissioner Terence Farrell, Chief County Detective Kevin Dykes, First Assistant District Attorney Michael No-one, Commissioner Kathi Cozzone, Pat Davis, District Attorney Tom Hogan, DES Director Robert Kagel, Chrissy DePao, and Commissioner Michelle Kichline applaud the county's proactive training efforts.
Chester County Detective Lt. Michael McGinnis (clockwise from top left), Commissioner Terence Farrell, Chief County Detective Kevin Dykes, First Assistant District Attorney Michael G. Noone, Commissioner Kathi Cozzone, Deputy Director for Law Enforcement Services Pat Davis, District Attorney Tom Hogan, DES Director Robert Kagel, Safe Schools Planning Coordinator Chrissy DePaolantonio, and Commissioner Michelle Kichline applaud the county's proactive disaster training efforts.

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan led off the agenda with a commendation for the county’s Department of Emergency Services (DES) that had nothing to do with its hard work during the recent blizzard. Accompanied by members of his office, Hogan explained that the DES had recently planned and coordinated a multi-agency response to a violent attack.

Calling Chester County “light years ahead of the rest of the country in planning for something like,” Hogan said you never want to have to use such training; however, having it in place could save lives. Hogan said neutralizing a threat can be handled by law enforcement in minutes, but it represents the beginning of a long process that includes getting treatment for the wounded, reunifying families, and briefing the public.

Hogan said DES took the lead in coordinating a full-scale mass casualty drill involving police, fire, EMTs, students, parents, fire police, hospitals, and media at the Collegium Charter School.  He presented a plaque to DES Director Robert Kagel, thanking him for keeping Chester County on the cutting edge of preparations.

Kagel said credit for the success of the drill belonged to Safe Schools Planning Coordinator Chrissy DePaolantonio, and Pat Davis, a former police chief who serves as deputy director for law enforcement services at DES. Both worked to ensure that everyone was focused on expediting care to save as many lives as possible, Kagel said.

In other business, the commissioners signed a proclamation designating Friday, Jan. 29, as R. James Macaleer Day. Macaleer, a West Chester resident who died in October, was “one of Chester County’s most successful business entrepreneurs, co-founding shared Medical Systems (SMS), a healthcare-based information processing system company that grew to become the county’s leading employer, and an internationally-recognized billion dollar company.”

County Commissioners Michelle Kichline (from left), Terence Farrell and Kathi Cozzone (right) join members of the R. James Macaleer family.
County Commissioners Terence Farrell (from left), Michelle Kichline and Kathi Cozzone (right) join relatives of the late R. James Macaleer to celebrate a day in his honor.

But it was Macaleer’s decades-long commitment to community service that led the commissioners to commemorate him on what would have been his 82nd birthday. The proclamation cites his work with the Boy Scouts, the Brandywine Valley Association, Natural Lands Trust, and the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.

“Acknowledging Jim’s tremendous economic and philanthropic legacy,” the proclamation urged all Chester County citizens “to honor the memory of R. James Macaleer by continuing this legacy, donating time, talents and gifts to benefit business, civic and charitable organizations.”

The commissioners also praised the service providers and foundations that ensured that county residents received services during the six-month budget impasse. The cessation of funding ended when Gov. Wolf signed a general fund spending plan on Dec. 29.

The commissioners presented a resolution that noted that many service providers had to tap savings accounts or borrow money to ensure that residents, some of the county’s most vulnerable, had access to care. They extended sincere thanks to those who made sacrifices to maintain services “to those residents of the commonwealth whose needs transcend the political landscape of budget adoption.”

 

 

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