County Council Establishes New Board, Task Force

MEDIA–The Delaware County Council established a new county task force and county board at its meeting Tuesday.

The Delaware County Veterans Justice Initiative Task Force is a 15-member group responsible for studying the implementation of a Veterans Justice Initiative intended to address the special needs of military veterans who are in the court system or prison.

The initiative will include a . The county council and Court of Common Pleas announced Monday that they were taking steps towards creating a special set of legal avenues for local veterans mired in the criminal justice system.

Members of the task force represent multiple county services and legal branches, including veterans’ affairs and adult services.

The county intends to begin the program in January 2012.

At its meeting Tuesday, the council also established the Animal Protection Board of Delaware County and appointed its eight members.

The board will oversee a new animal control facility that will be built in Darby Township to handle stray animals, which under state law is the responsibility of the state and municipalities.

Members of the board include representatives from first- and second-class townships, a police representative and a union representative.

The new facility is expected to open on January 1, 2012.

In July 2010 the announced that it would no longer accept stray animals from municipalities as of July 1, 2011, but has for six months while the new facility is constructed