ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown residents could see Mayor Matt Tuerk driving around the city in a brand-new electric vehicle — a sight that is roiling one City Council member.
Councilman Ed Zucal hit out at Tuerk during Wednesday night’s council meeting after the city recently spent about $45,000 on an all-electric 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E to replace the mayor’s official vehicle.
Zucal accused the mayor of circumventing the city’s purchasing policies and sidestepping council, which must approve most contracts over $40,000.
“This is the kind of thing that gets people in trouble,” Zucal said, alluding to former Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s downfall after running afoul of contracting procedures.
“It's not a luxury vehicle; it's not a sports car. It's a standard EV vehicle, which actually is part of the city's broader sustainability efforts."Genesis Ortega, Allentown communications manager
Tuerk chose not to respond directly to Zucal’s accusations at Wednesday’s meeting.
“As soon as Councilperson Zucal puts his concerns in writing, the administration will address them,” Tuerk said.
“I’ll be happy to do that,” Zucal said.
The councilman insinuated city officials tried to hide the electric-vehicle purchase, but the mayor welcomed LehighValleyNews.com into the city’s garage after Wednesday’s meeting to see his new, all-black official vehicle — though he requested no pictures be taken.
Purchase already authorized
Tuerk’s administration should have issued a request for proposals and earned council’s support before buying a new car for the mayor’s daily use, Zucal told LehighValleyNews.com before Wednesday’s meeting.
But city Communications Manager Genesis Ortega said Zucal’s claims the mayor sidestepped proper procurement process to buy himself a new car are wide of the mark.
The purchase was authorized as part of the 2024 budget Allentown City Council eventually unanimously approved last year.
“The purchase is the most inexpensive way for us to pilot an opportunity for the city to electrify our fleet.”Genesis Ortega, Allentown communications manager
The budget sets aside about $1.4 million for fleet-management needs this year, a figure that includes funding for a new vehicle in the mayor’s office, Ortega said.
The administration bought the new electric vehicle through the city’s contract with COSTARS, a state-run cooperative purchasing program that lets municipalities buy some equipment — including vehicles — without explicit approval from council, she said.
EV ‘pilot program’
Tuerk’s new Ford Mustang Mach-E is the first electric vehicle in Allentown’s fleet and will serve as something of a pilot program, Ortega said, refuting Zucal’s claims that it’s a “luxury sports car.”
“It's not a luxury vehicle; it's not a sports car. It's a standard EV vehicle, which actually is part of the city's broader sustainability efforts. The purchase is the most inexpensive way for us to pilot an opportunity for the city to electrify our fleet.”Allentown Communications Manager Genesis Ortega
“It's not a luxury vehicle; it's not a sports car," she said. "It's a standard EV vehicle, which actually is part of the city's broader sustainability efforts.
“The purchase is the most inexpensive way for us to pilot an opportunity for the city to electrify our fleet.”
The mayor’s office initially was set to get a gas-powered Ford Edge SUV this year, but the fleet manager found the Mustang Mach-E for about $10,000 less, Ortega said.
The mayor will use his regular trips to different areas of the city to help determine potential locations for charging stations and potential challenges as the city eyes “a full transition” to electric vehicles at some point, Ortega said.
The administration transferred Tuerk’s former vehicle, a Dodge Durango, to Allentown’s Building Standards and Safety office as part of its fleet-replacement plan, she said.
Allentown Council on Wednesday unanimously passed a measure that requires the administration to get its approval on all contracts over $40,000, including those already authorized by the budget and the COSTARS program.
Tuerk’s administration suggested the change to close a “loophole” and increase transparency for council members and residents.
