Congratulations to Colwyn

With state help, the borough pulled itself out of dire straits.  

Back in April, our weekly news briefs included this Delaware County headline: “Colwyn financially recovers, exits Act 47”

It’s worth taking an extra moment to celebrate the drastic turnaround of this little borough.

Eight years ago, Colwyn Borough was in serious trouble. Its finances were in shambles. The infighting among the council members and administration led to chaotic borough meetings — which in turn generated embarrassing headlines.

The minutes from a March 2014 council meeting included the phrase “mayhem ensued.”

In May 2015, the state intervened. It placed the tiny borough — Colwyn covers less than half a square-mile and has a population of about 2,500 — under Act 47 “distressed” status.

The state cited a lack of transparency by elected officials and a failure to maintain even basic financial record-keeping processes. 

But after seven years of hard work, the borough successfully exited Act 47 in April 2022:

Since 2015, Colwyn has made huge strides to improve its management practices and fiscal situation. Improvements to Borough management have been significant.

Colwyn is now on a self-sustaining course, after receiving support from the commonwealth, both in terms of management and financial help. 

Such a turnaround is a hopeful example, as 14 other Pennsylvania municipalities remain in Act 47 status — including Chester City since 1995. Millbourne Borough, also in Delaware County, was declared distressed in 1993 but exited Act 47 in 2014.