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Council suspends rules to introduce ordinance engaging Duane Morris for investigation; referral set
Summary
Council suspended rules to introduce Bill 10, an ordinance to engage law firm Duane Morris to conduct an investigation; the measure was referred to the committee of the whole and will be discussed on January 29 for more detailed deliberation.
At the meeting Allentown City Council voted to suspend the rules to introduce Bill 10, which reads that "Allentown City Council hereby approves the engagement of Duane Morris to conduct such investigation and make such recommendations." The clerk announced the ordinance will be referred to the committee of the whole; the meeting to consider it was scheduled for January 29 at 6 p.m.
Council suspended the normal eight-day notice rules to introduce the ordinance and then referred it to committee for further discussion. Several councilmembers asked whether referral would preclude consideration of alternative investigatory approaches; council solicitor staff and the clerk explained referral and suspension are procedural steps and that the full council can consider alternatives when the committee meets.
Members of the public questioned the process, asked whether an RFP had been issued and raised conflict-of-interest concerns about councilmembers voting on investigation-related actions. Barbara Reardon asked why an earlier investigator who had been performing work would not continue; other residents asked whether Duane Morris was preselected and how the firm was chosen.
Ending: Council scheduled a committee-of-the-whole meeting to review the proposed engagement and said procedural and substantive questions will be addressed at that session.
