115 West Lincoln Highway

Friday, May 25, 2012 at 11:00am

Sponsored by the City of Coatesville, The Brandywine Conservancy, Coatesville Community Policing Committee, and The Coatesville Parks and Recreation Commission.

Saturday Saturday May 5, 2012 at 11:00, Millview

Raindate to be Determined.

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Now Open

The new 125 room Courtyard by Marriott Coatesville   is now open.  Visit PA CareerLink® – Chester County for the posting of available job opportunities.

Coatesville Announces New Partnership with Online, Mobile Citizen Reporting Platform

City Will Use SeeClickFix to Improve Quality of Life, Encourage Greater Civic Participation

 Coatesville, PA (December 16, 2011) – Today, City Manager Gary Rawlings announces a new program that will allow residents to report quality-of-life issues and request city services through an online and mobile interface. Powered by SeeClickFix, the place-based reporting platform allows residents to document neighborhood concerns and improvements alike, ranging from potholes and graffiti to illegal dumping and snow removal.

“With this emerging technology, the City of Coatesville hopes to further manage and foster a safe and vibrant community for all who inhabit and visit our city,” Rawlings said. “We’re hoping this partnership emphasizes the importance we place on communicating with those we serve and responding to constituent concerns in an efficient and public manner.”

With the online and mobile reporting platform, residents can report quality-of-life concerns through service request categories via the Coatesville website, custom mobile applications (iPhone, Android, Blackberry), Facebook App, and SeeClickFix.com. When submitting issues via mobile app, for example, residents can provide locational, descriptive, and photographic information as they see the issue in real time. Once the resident submits an issue, the reporter, Coatesville, and anyone ‘watching’ the area will receive an alert. The town can then acknowledge the service request, route it to the proper department, and update the request—and residents following the issue—once it’s been resolved.

The partnership allows residents to not only report community issues, but also view, comment on, and vote to fix problems submitted by their neighbors. Citizens can even create their own “watch areas” to receive notifications about all issues reported in their community, enabling them to follow the progress of all service requests—not just the ones they report.

“As the years progress, more and more communities are bridging that gap between offline and online engagement through digital tools like SeeClickFix,” said Ben Berkowitz, SeeClickFix CEO. “The City of Coatesvilles serves as an excellent example of government harnessing these technological advances to connect with citizens and solve real problems in the public space.”
The Coatesville SeeClickFix website can be found here: http://www.coatesville.org/report-an-issue-with-coatesville and residents can download iPhone, Android, and Blackberry apps here: http://www.seeclickfix.com/apps.

                             About SeeClickFix

SeeClickFix allows citizens anywhere in the world to report and monitor non-emergency community issues ranging from potholes and planted trees to garbage and graffiti. Launched in 2008, it empowers citizens, community groups, media organizations, and governments to work together and improve their neighborhoods. Through mobile web, web, iPhone, Android, and Blackberry apps, the SeeClickFix platform is the most widely-distributed citizen reporting tool in the country. SeeClickFix supports the Open311 standard that promotes improved communication between local municipalities and the citizens they serve. The platform is fun and easy to use for citizens while being inexpensive and easily adaptable for governments. Over 60 percent of issues reported on SeeClickFix are ultimately resolved. For more information or to report an issue, visit www.seeclickfix.com.

Test to Take Place November 9, 2011 at 2 p.m. ET

As part of their ongoing efforts to keep our country and communities safe during emergencies, the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The EAS test plays a key role in ensuring the nation is prepared for all hazards, and that the U.S. public can receive critical and vital information, should it ever be needed.  The first nationwide test will be conducted Wednesday, November 9 at 2 p.m. ET.  This test may last up to three and a half minutes, and will be transmitted via television and radio stations within the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. Similar to local emergency alert system tests, an audio message will interrupt television and radio programming indicating: “This is a test.” When the test is over, regular programming will resume.  For more information about the nationwide Emergency Alert System test, please visit http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6407 and www.FCC.gov.   On November 9 at 2 p.m. EDT, please remember: Don’t stress; it’s only a test.

• FEMA Administrator’s Message – In English http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6407

• FEMA Administrator’s Message – In Spanish http://www.fema.gov/medialibrary/media_records/6408

• FEMA Press Release – http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=55722

• FEMA Blog – http://blog.fema.gov/2011/10/emergency-alert-system-test-one-month.html

• FCC Website – http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/emergency-alert-system-nationwide-test

NBC Philadelphia Reports Coatesville Pa is receiving National Praise as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People from America’s Promise Alliance for more info click here …. Coatesville Named One of the Best Places for Youth

Rawlings was selected from 38 candidates that applied for the position from a national candidate search. “I am extremely pleased that the City was able to attract a seasoned and well-credentialed professional like Gary Rawlings”, said Marking. “This is a very positive accomplishment of this council and another sign that things continue to turn around for the city”, said Marking.

Rawlings had been the City Manager of Charles Town, West Virginia until December, 2010. Prior to that he had been the City Manager in Dexter and Coldwater, Michigan. He has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Hartford. Mr. Rawlings also has an Associate’s Degree in Risk Management with extensive experience in insurance and management consulting.

Marking thanked his fellow Council members for all their hard work in the recruitment process. “City Council owes one another a debt of gratitude as this search was essentially done in only three and a half months”, said Marking. “We met with the executive recruiter, Bill McCauley, from Keystone Municipal Services Inc., on December 13, and after many hours of hard work, we are completing the interview process”, he noted. “This just goes to show what City Council can do when we work together in a cohesive fashion”, said Marking.

Rawlings must satisfactorily complete a physical and psychological examination as well as successfully secure the required fidelity bond prior to starting work. He will be paid $95,000 a year and be required to live within the City of Coatesville.  His first day of work is expected to be May 2, 2011.

Help Serve the City’s Government by Volunteering Your Time

The City of Coatesville’s government has many opportunities for service. One of the most impactful ways you can contribute to the success and future of our City is by volunteering to serve on one of its various Authorities, Boards, Commissions and Committees (ABCCs). We have plenty of seats to fill at this time and we’re hopeful to find energetic, talented, committed residents to fill them!

Some of the ABCCs meet regularly (such as the Redevelopment Authority, the Planning Commission, and the Zoning Hearing Board) while others meet less frequently – or sadly have ceased to meet at all.

Find information about the various ABCCs and an application to apply by visiting the Coatesville Government section.