Petitioners urge council to drop Duane Morris probe and remove member from vote; council declines immediate action

A group of petitioners asked the Allentown City Council to stop the city—s outside investigation conducted by the law firm Duane Morris and to remove Council Member Candida Afa from participating in investigation-related votes because she is also a subject of complaints.

Karen Ocasio presented the petition, citing concerns that Duane Morris—s ties to local political donors could create bias and arguing the firm is not appropriate to investigate discrimination complaints. "We want to stop the investigation with Duane Morris since it is going to cost the city over a million dollars and there are red flags about their relationships and donations," Ocasio said during her presentation. She asked the council to remove Afa from any votes on the investigation and to halt Duane Morris—s role.

Council members said they would not take a vote that evening. The clerk explained the petition presentation process: the petitioner speaks, council may comment from the dais, and then members of the public may offer comment; no immediate action was taken. Council members indicated the petition would be recorded and considered under the usual process.

Members of the public who spoke after the petition reiterated mistrust of Duane Morris as a firm that represents employers and companies rather than employees and asked the council to seek a different investigator. A speaker who identified as a long-time city employee described repeated complaints to HR and to city officials and said those complaints were not addressed; another speaker emphasized that the petition had signatures from people who share the concerns and said organizers may pursue political remedies in upcoming elections.

No council motion, referral or vote on the petition occurred that night. Council staff noted the petition was a new-business item and that the petitioner had the floor; the council provided no schedule for a formal vote. Petitioners requested that councilors "do the right thing," and warned that they would pursue votes in future elections if they did not receive action.

The presenters and commenters named Duane Morris repeatedly as the law firm currently engaged for the investigation but offered no binding estimate of the final cost beyond petitioner statements that it could exceed $1 million. Councilors encouraged commenters to follow the formal petition and committee processes for review.

The petition was entered into the record and will follow the council—s customary process for petitions and new-business items; no additional action was recorded on the meeting minutes.