DV Journal

(From a press release)

Josh Maxwell, chair of the Chester County Board of Commissioners, has been elected Chairman of the Board of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the Greater Philadelphia region’s federally-designated metropolitan planning organization.

Maxwell, 40, was elected as DVRPC Board Chair to serve for fiscal year 2025, and in this role, will oversee an 18-member board that represents the nine-county Greater Philadelphia region.  In addition to defining the duties of the Office of the DVRPC Executive Director and DVRPC committees, the Board establishes regional transportation policies, and determines transportation priorities and the allocation of transportation funds to meet those priorities.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Commissioner Maxwell, and I look forward to his leadership as we work together to realize our vision for a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable region,” said DVRPC Executive Director Ariella Maron. “As DVRPC Board Chair, Commissioner Maxwell will continue to foster cross-county and bi-state collaboration to address the myriad transportation, environmental, and economic challenges facing us and move our region forward.”

“It’s my firm commitment to ensure that Southeast PA, Pennsylvania’s economic driver, receives its fair share of transportation funding,” said Maxwell. “Equally important is our responsibility to spend this funding in the most efficient way possible.

“I am honored to be elected as DVRPC Chair for the coming year and look forward to working with staff and fellow board members to advance transportation projects and attract Federal funds for public transportation projects that are crucial to our region,” he added.

Tim Philps, Executive Director of the Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC) said,  “The Board of Directors of TMACC are excited that Commissioner Maxwell has been elected Chair of DVRPC.  He brings to this role a broad perspective of public policy knowledge, especially in health and human services.  As we address the multimodal needs of residents, nonprofit service organizations and employers, we are able to have deeper conversations about the needs of people to improve the quality of life.

“Josh has been a staunch supporter of access to public transportation and trails, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and well-informed land-use planning, while recognizing the need for highway improvement to support regional economic growth,” added Phelps. “His leadership and vision as a TMACC board member have been invaluable to us, and we look forward to his continued impact in our region as chair of DVRPC,” he said.

The DVRPC was formed in 1965 to provide comprehensive, coordinated planning for the orderly growth and development of, initially, southeastern Pennsylvania and, later, southern New Jersey.  The region includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania, and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer counties in New Jersey.  An interstate, intercounty and intercity agency, DVRPC is an advisory agency focusing on regional policy and capital funding issues for transportation, economic development, and environment and land use.

Looking glum as they sat at the dais, the Chester County Prison Board members got an earful from enraged residents on Wednesday, angry over convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante’s escape from the county prison and the manhunt that stretched over two weeks until law enforcement caught him.

Although the board voted to immediately enclose two areas, including the one where Cavalcante escaped by crab-walking up a wall to the roof and a similar site in another section, and also to wall in all the exercise yards, many in the crowd of 100 or so people were not mollified.

Another prisoner used a similar method to escape in May.

“I’m livid,” said Sheila Lerner of Westtown Township. “You had one job to do, to ensure the safety and to manage the prison properly. Maybe this is not the job for you.”

A man who lives in West Marlborough Township, two miles from the prison, said, “For all those kids, for all those parents, we can never unsee what we saw.”

He also thanked law enforcement and Commissioner Chair Josh Maxwell, who said he was sorry and acknowledged mistakes were made.

“I watched this board ratify two proposals without budgets and without the objectivity or the experts,” the resident said. “We need to bring people in who have that objectivity. I’m going to ask you guys to form a committee that does an investigation that does reach out to experts. I saw the governor offer his entire staff of the Correctional Department. That’s probably the way to go.”

Acting Warden Howard Holland

Acting Warden Howard Holland, who was appointed just one day before Cavalcante’s escape, gave a long list of suggestions, including at least 50 more cameras and eight more people to man them 24 hours; ankle bracelets; color-coded uniforms based on the severity of prisoners’ charges; at least two officers monitoring the exercise yards; and alarm systems around the perimeter of the prison. He would also like to see the prison’s search dog program started again.

Holland said he has already taken steps to prevent the path of escape Cavalcante and the previous prisoner used.

Sally Mininger of Tredyffrin Township refused to give the current county government any credit for Cavalcante’s capture. “We all know it was Yoda, the scent dog, who was the hero,” she said. “The prisoner was able to steal a vehicle and travel some distance, so any one of our communities could have been affected.”

Guy Ciarrocchi, a former deputy attorney general who ran for Congress, spoke passionately about what he saw as the board’s failure. “Allow me to cut to the chase: You failed us. You failed us in your duties to protect us, to keep the bad guys away from the good guys.

“My comments aren’t personal. I’m disappointed to come here with so many citizens to point out the obvious. Our comments are not directed at law enforcement. I’m eternally grateful to the men and women who went into the woods in the heat to find him,” Ciarrocchi said.

But, Ciarrocchi continued, the behavior of political figures like Sheriff Maddox and District Attorney Deb Ryan, who both sit on the Prison Board, was problematic.

“If something like this happens again, do you promise not to hold political fundraisers while citizens are asked to be sheltering in place?” Ciarrocchi said. “I hope that the citizens of Chester County, that we’ve learned our lesson.”

Maddox and Ryan are both running for judgeships on the Court of Common Pleas.

A group of architects from TransSystems LLC presented “high-level” drawings of plans to enclose the exercise yards and permanently secure those problem areas, which the board approved. They gave a cost estimate of $2.5 to 3.5 million to enclose all eight exercise yards. The work might take six to nine months, depending on the availability of materials.

Several citizens suggested the solution was simply to reject high-risk prisoners like Cavalcante.

“Will you refuse to accept murderers and rapists until the prison is fully staffed and secured? And if you’re forced to take them, will you guard them 24/7?” Ciarrocchi asked. “Deny them outdoor exercise? What are you going to do about the staffing shortage emergency? What are the steps you’re taking? Are you reaching out to the FOP, retired military, or retired correctional officers? Have you talked to private security firms? Are you treating it like an emergency?”

“I hope that the citizens of Chester County, that we’ve learned our lesson,” Ciarrocchi added.

County Administrator  Robert Kagel said federal American Rescue Plan dollars could be used to fund the project. The Prison Board will meet again on Sept. 26 at the prison, and residents can watch via Zoom.

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From a press release

The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) recently recognized 17 county officials as graduates of the CCAP Academy for Excellence in County Government. Included in the recognitions were Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell and Chester County Administrator Bobby Kagel.

The CCAP Academy is a certificate training program specifically designed for county officials and leadership in home-rule counties.  Participants complete required courses in leadership, management and decision-making; county legal issues, today’s trends in county government; county functions and responsibilities; county financial management; risk management, personnel and labor relations; personal development; and also attain elective credits by attending courses covering a wide range of topics.

CCAP and the Academy are committed to training informed and responsible public officials to give Pennsylvania’s counties the leadership needed to deal with the challenges of today’s county government. The Academy for Excellence is a voluntary program that began 25 years ago.  Commissioner Maxwell and Bobby Kagel join the 160-plus county officials who have graduated from the program since its inception.