UDPD says parking enforcement is now accredited

Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt reports the Parking Enforcement Department has been recognized as an accredited parking authority. It comes a few years after a period of tumult involving parking authority incidents.

“Since taking over the Parking Enforcement Department last year we were notified that we are an accredited parking organization. We have that through the International Park and Mobility Institute,” Bernhardt said at last week’s council meeting. “We are the only police parking enforcement agency that has received that accreditation in the country.”

Bernhardt called it a major milestone.

This comes after recent criminal charges and federal suits against the authority.

Some 18,000 unaccounted parking tickets never made it to district courts between April 2021 and early 2023. That was followed by the former director being charged with theft for allegedly stealing approximately $4,300 from parking kiosks

In August 2024 the township transferred parking enforcement into the police department.

Bernhardt said a lot has changed in the department, including the morale, and he thanked the staff for their hard work.

The superintendent also reported the police department was reaccredited by Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission.

Bernhardt said reaccreditation is actually more difficult than the initial recognition, with every incident up for review by a panel of three police chiefs.

Of the 1,200 police departments in Pennsylvania fewer than 200 have the accreditation and fewer are being reaccredited, he said.

Mayor Ed Brown also noted that he had the honor of swearing in two police officers, Michael Clark and Austin Mahle, as well as the promotion of Sgt. Daniel Connell.

Issuing a bond

In addition to police news, the council heard a presentation on a proposed $8.4 million bond issuance to address capital needs.

Zach Williard, managing director of PFM Financial Advisors, told council members the township borrowing would tax-exempt debt, resulting in a lower interest rate than the public is eligible for.

The township has not borrowed money in the past three to four years, he noted.

Williard said borrowing at a fixed rate, a 20 to 25 year bond in today’s market would be in the low 4 percent range. That rate can change depending on rates at the time it is locked in.

Melissa Maze of PFM said that with the recent 2024 audit the township is in a good position to seek a credit rating.

The township could also put into place refinancing to get lower rates on an existing debt, a 2021 bond, she said.

IRS rules require that within six months of the bond being issued, a contract must be in place to spend the funds from it, and 85 percent of the money must be spent within three years.

Maze said the ordinance amount will appear to be higher than what council authorizes. That is due to state process requirements.

The money would go to sewer improvements and general fund needs.

Council is expected to take the second vote on the capital budget on May 6, with a vote on the interest rate at a June meeting with the money potentially available 30 days later.

The township will see a $300,000 drop in existing township debt in 2027, which will help offset the new bond, officials said.

Chief Administrative Officer Crandall Jones said that if the township was not to move forward on a bond, and instead use a “pay-as-you go” plan for the improvements, building a fund balance would not be possible.

In answer to a question from 6th District Councilmember David Bantoe, Maze said the township previously had a credit rating with S & P Global, but no longer does because of falling behind on audits. The township is now caught up and similar to where other townships are at this time of year, Maze said. She said they are taking most clients to Moody’s right now.

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