Briefs are concise reports on what’s happening around the county. This morning:

Democrats Win Big in Phoenixville Borough Council

Election Day in Phoenixville was dressed up in blue, as Democratic representatives swept up all available seats on the Borough Council.

Only two incumbents decided to seek re-election as voters decided on four council seats, one for each of the four wards. In the results, one incumbent managed to keep his seat, with three new council members elected to represent the borough next year.

According to the unofficial results posted on the Chester County website, Borough Council President James Kovaleski was re-elected, with Edwin Soto, Catherine Doherty, and Jonathan Ewald winning seats on the council for the first time.

“I had a lot of faith in the group of candidates that we had,” said Soto after the win. “I’m very happy to see such a hard working group of folks serving our borough. I’m excited to serve the borough. The people really came out to support me and I look forward to serving them with dignity.”

State Proposes Stricter Immunization Regulations

Pennsylvania state officials announced plans on Thursday, to implement increased immunization regulations for all students enrolled in both public and private schools in the state.

The proposed changes include shortening the current eight month provisional period between first dose of vaccinations currently required for all children before starting school and the second dose. The new regulation would also make the final dose a requirement before the start of school, or in cases this is impractical, completion within the first five days of school.

“The current eight-month provisional window for immunization presents a very real risk for children to become infected and potentially spread preventable, communicable diseases to others,” stated Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy. “It is critical that we work together to ensure Pennsylvania’s children are healthy, and ensuring children have a medically appropriate path to being fully immunized will go a long way toward accomplishing that goal.”

Pennsylvania Turnpike Recorded $33 Million in Unpaid Tolls for Last Year

Drivers who decide to circumvent the payment for driving on Pennsylvania Turnpike have racked up an eye watering $33.3 million in outstanding unpaid tolls for last year.  

According to Turnpike Commission Chairman, Sean Logan, approximately 1.5 million notices are sent out to people with the request to pay the driving toll. The notices are calculated to the furthest point of entrance, with a $25 processing fee added on.

While a lot of drivers respond with payment after first or second notice, close to 30% never pay their fines, and despite repeated appeals to the state legislature, the Turnpike Commission has no authority to take the matter any further.

“We are not PennDOT, we are the Turnpike Commission,” said Logan.“So if you are a habitual violator or run up a huge bill with us, I can’t put points on your license or go after your registration.”

Easttown Planning Commission Gives the Nod to Devon Yard

After lengthy discussion that included both passionate support and dissension from the community, the Easttown Township Planning Commission decided to accept and recommend the Devon Center Overlay District.

This will allow for the plan that was originally presented by Waterloo Devon L.P., Urban Outfitters, Inc., and Anthropologie, Inc. to proceed with the next steps of approval by the Township.

During the session, the majority of the commission agreed to forward the plan to the Board of Supervisors, who will then make the decision on whether to adopt the ordinance, defined as a “zoning text amendment” at a future meeting.

“I don’t agree with everything in the plan but I appreciate what the developer has presented to us,” said Mark Stanish, Chairman of the Planning Commission. “There is an amazing amount of detail.”