Council Celebrates David Creagan, Passes 2020 Budget
Outgoing Swarthmore Borough Council President David Creagan receives an Irish Setter calendar from council member Ross Schmucki.
Monday night’s final Swarthmore Borough Council meeting of the year might have been expected to be routine, even tedious, with quick unanimous votes to pass legislation already hashed out. And indeed such votes — to approve the 2020 schedule of meetings, to authorize the tax collector to collect the sanitary sewage fees, to appoint a new member to the Zoning Hearing Board, etc. — were quickly called, and announced passed, by outgoing Council President David Creagan, whose four-year term is coming to an end. But the meeting was enlivened by interruptions of official business to celebrate Creagan, who has served on Borough Council for a total of eight years.
Creagan’s calm and measured demeanor, cited by many of his colleagues throughout the meeting, was on display last night as he simultaneously ran an efficient meeting, paused to address a community-merit-badge-seeking Boy Scout in the audience, and found affectionate words for all.
Grace and Style in Public Service
State Senator and former Swarthmore mayor Tim Kearney (D-26) rose during public comment to praise Creagan, saying, “I’ve always looked to you, David, as a role model for how to conduct oneself in a public forum. You did it with grace and with style.”
Council member Mary Walk said of the outgoing council president, “He’s someone who doesn’t say a lot, but when he does say something, he means it.”
Walk also summarized Creagan’s long career serving the public good, citing his nine years in the Foreign Service working in embassies around the world, his leadership of the board of A Better Chance Strath Haven, and his diligent and astute work guiding the hiring process of Swarthmore Police Chief Ray Stufflet (which involved interviewing nearly 30 candidates), among other accomplishments.
Council member Ross Schmucki recalled that, when he was first elected to the council, there were three Davids serving. “We are at the end of an era,” he said.
The light-hearted tone continued as Walk presented Creagan with some dog-themed gifts of appreciation from the Council, including an organic dog biscuit cookbook. Creagan has three setters that compete nationally in field trials.
Other Business
The Council unanimously approved the 2020 budget, which includes higher fees for trash collection and sanitary sewers but no tax rate increase. (See article in December 13 issue.) [online link to: swarthmorean.com/free-content/2019-12-12/swarthmore-borough-council-considers-2020-budget]
Mary Walk reported on behalf of the Planning and Zoning Committee that no action would be taken on short-term rentals at this time. “I don’t think we have too many problems right now,” added council member Lauren McKinney, who also serves on the committee. “But we encourage people to talk to their neighbors, especially if you’re going to have people renting rooms at your house.”
Mayor Marty Spiegel reported that the Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development will be conducting an extensive management study of Swarthmore’s police department. The state-funded study, which will assess staffing needs, salary and benefits, relations with local schools and Swarthmore College, and more, is expected to take about six months.
Electric Vehicle Charging Station and Recycling
Borough Manager Jane Billings reported on a welcome steady increase in use of the borough’s recycling center. The borough makes money on paper and cardboard delivered to center for recycling. By contrast it pays money — $105/ton — to recycle the commingled material picked up curbside.
Billings also reported that the borough’s new electric charging station in the town center parking lot was used for 38 hours by 12 different vehicles in its first month of operation, saving 26 gallons of gasoline.
The meeting, which was attended by three residents not present in any official capacity, was followed by champagne and cookies.
