Chester council approves multiple appointments and authorizes CDBG/HOME advertisement; one planning‑commission appointment reported as dead

Chester City Council moved through a series of resolutions at its first full meeting of the year, approving routine appointments and authorizing administrative steps on federal block‑grant materials.

Clerk read a slate of items that included reappointments and new appointments to boards and committees. Resolutions recorded on the agenda included the reappointment of Nasir Leach to the Chester Economic Development Authority (term to expire 12/31/2030) and the reappointment of Michael Lewis to the block captain committee (term to expire 12/31/2028). The clerk also read motions to appoint Alicia Stewart Martin to the Chester Economic Development Authority (filling an expired term), Marquise Bailey to the Chester Housing Authority Board, and multiple planning and zoning board appointments.

One contested item, Resolution 8 (appointment of Dave Collins to the Chester City Planning Commission to fill an expired term), produced a divided roll call that a council member later described as "dead." The clerk and solicitor noted the vote produced roughly two yes votes, two no votes and one abstention; council then pursued a motion to reappoint Leola Williams to that seat and also moved to appoint Dave Collins as an alternate member. The meeting record shows a reappointment motion and a separate alternate‑appointment motion; the clerk recorded votes but the transcript shows conflicting names and counts during the procedural exchange.

Council also authorized the Chester Economic Development Authority to prepare and advertise the draft FY26 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Program Action Plan in accordance with federal regulations. A councilor asked if the draft disbursement schedule would be made public; staff answered that the advertisement process would make the attachment available to the public.

Finally, council approved a supplemental proposal by MG Engineering Associates LLC for unforeseen environmental issues in an amount not to exceed $20,000.

Where recorded, the clerk took roll calls for each resolution and read back votes. The meeting record does not show any other formal items being tabled or remanded to committee during the session.