Residents Decry Delco's Mental Health Proposal On Don Guanella Land

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — The Delaware County Council meeting Wednesday was packed with residents who are pushing back on the potential housing of mental health services on part of the tract of land known as Don Guanella, now called Delco Woods.

Public comment at the meeting lasted more than an hour, with numerous concerned residents and stakeholders expressing their frustration, concerns, and anger over the idea.

Marple resident Charles Alexander told the council "get used to this," referencing the throngs of residents who are opposed to any use of the land that is not open space or recreational.

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"You have a woken the sleeping giant that is Delaware County's silent majority," he said. "We implore you to listen to the will of the people. If you do not, we will demand that you resign."

Other residents also called on council members to resign at Thursday's meeting. No commissioners agreed to resign.

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James Small accused the council of making decisions without the community's consent or concerns, saying the council has turned the people against them.

"Don't make good people do bad things, 'cause we'll do it," Howard Alexander of Broomall told the council. "We'll be there with pitchforks and torches and hot tar and feathers."

Marple's Joe Finio, who is a member of the Save Marple Greenspace group, said the issue is not about housing people with mental illnesses, it's about the council reneging on their commitment to using the space for recreational and open space purposes.

Broomall's Jason Rode said using the property for any purposes other than recreation would be an injustice to county and Marple residents.

"The park will not have the same success that you envisioned and fought for the residents of this county because no one will want to frequent the park with their children or grandchildren," he said.

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If you have information on the rumored housing of illegal immigrants in Delaware County, email Max.Bennett@Patch.com.

Many residents spoke of a breach of trust by the council, citing the lack of mention of using the property for anything other than recreation and open space during the years of planning the new park.

Charles Protesto, President of Save Marple Greenspace, told the council they lied to residents' faces.

"I cannot trust you ever again," he said. "Once you lose the trust of the people, that's it, it's over, it's done."

Delaware County Republican Party Chairman Frank Agovino, of Springfield, said he was in attendance to support residents who feel misled about the county's plans for the property and that he fears the council, which is wholly comprised of Democrats, would shift blame to Republicans.

"My sense is the council will change the Don Guanella conversation to 'Republicans don't favor greenspace, Republicans oppose mental health and solutions to mental health,'" he said. "Let me be clear: neither one of those are true."

After the lengthy public comment, Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer reiterated her opposition to the plans to use the space for anything other than recreation.

While she agreed that residential mental health services are needed in the county, she said the Delco Woods area is not the appropriate site for such services.

Councilman Kevin Madden said the discussions regarding using the space for mental health services are just that: discussions.

"We don't have a blueprint in place to build some mental health facility there," he said. County officials are beholden to providing both the recreational open space and mental health services, he said.

He said he would love to establish those services somewhere else, but said doing so could prove much more costly than using the existing structures on the Don Guanella tract.

"I tend to think that we can build a [long-term structured residences] facility in a way that's safe for the community," he said. "If I'm wrong, I'll back off on that."

Councilman Richard Womack said he acknowledged residents' concerns and said civil conversations regarding the services will help find a solution that is agreeable to everyone.

Council President Monica Taylor said officials will continue to search for other areas to house these services.