Council committee backs measure to block Allentown administration from investigation bids

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — An Allentown City Council committee on Thursday voted to sideline administration officials from participating in the process to choose who will investigate claims of racism and discrimination in city government.

The three-member committee — now led by Ed Zucal after he was elected Thursday as chair — unanimously voted to recommend a resolution that would block the city’s finance director and others from scoring bids and awarding the contract.

The full council is set to vote on the resolution at its Feb. 21 meeting.

Allentown’s administrative code requires the city’s finance director, Bina Patel, to sit on any bid-selection committee. The resolution would override that requirement.

Mayor Matt Tuerk on Wednesday called the measure "a bad idea" that "puts the city at risk."

The committee is looking to pass the measure because it “is an inherent conflict of interest” for the finance director to help select the agency that could examine the finance department as part of the investigation, Zucal said.

Council member Ce-Ce Gerlach said she “definitely will be supporting the resolution just to avoid the conflict of interest and maintain a level of fidelity within the investigation.”

The resolution would allow the city’s purchasing agent, Sarrah McNeil, to participate in the process and “guide” council members through awarding a contract, City Clerk Mike Hanlon said.

“[McNeil] is very good at what she does,” Hanlon told the committee.

Hanlon said Thursday that council’s pending investigation is the only one he’s seen the body order in his 34 years with the city.

Zucal said he remains optimistic the investigation will be completed by the end of the year despite the short delay in the process due to the resolution.

“I want it done right, whether it takes six months or nine months,” Zucal said.