Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Administrative Code topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Millcreek transition panel debates RFP timeline, scope for drafting administrative code
Summary
Members of the Millcreek Township Transition Advisory Committee debated an RFP to hire a consultant to draft the township's administrative code, disagreeing over a proposed Dec. 31 completion target and whether the work will be largely restating statutory language or require substantial drafting and ordinance amendments.
At its second meeting, the Millcreek Township Transition Advisory Committee spent most of its time debating an RFP to hire outside help to draft Millcreek's administrative code and how quickly that work should be completed.
"The December 31st deadline is very arbitrary and very early," said Matt, a committee member, voicing concern that an accelerated schedule and a Nov. 1 proposal completion date would rush a process that could be done more deliberately. Other members pushed back, saying most of the text is already provided by the optional-plans law and that issuing an RFP now will produce cost and timeline information the supervisors can use.
Why it matters: the administrative code will define the day-to-day rules that implement the township's new government structure and guide how departments report to a paid manager. Committee members said a completed code will help prospective council candidates and ensure that ordinance amendments align with the new power structure.
What the RFP would cover: committee members presented a draft RFP adapted from a previous government study commission request and recommended sending it to six or seven municipal law firms and consultant groups, including local solicitors and municipal associations. The committee discussed sending the RFP to McDonald (current solicitor), Knox, Elderton and municipal consultant groups referenced in subcommittee outreach.
Cost and schedule: a committee member reported a prior estimate from the regional municipal league: $120 per hour for roughly 410 hours, or about $49,200, with a not-to-exceed figure around $51,200 from a 2024 proposal. Members said they want the RFP to solicit firm estimates so supervisors can decide whether to proceed. Several members argued that much of the code simply restates duties already outlined in state law; others said the work will require careful amendments in the township's existing ordinances (several hundred were cited) so they reflect the manager-led reporting structure.
Role of the solicitor and procurement process: the committee agreed any consultant drafts would need township solicitor review; members acknowledged potential appearance-of-conflict concerns but said solicitor review was likely unavoidable. The group discussed procedural details such as where proposals should be submitted (several members recommended routing them to Jim Bach) and setting proposals due by close of business to match township office hours.
Public engagement and next steps: the committee asked staff to attach clear background materials to the RFP so proposers understand that 90% of the text is statutory and to gather multiple price estimates before presenting a recommendation to the supervisors. The Department of Community and Economic Development offered a virtual workshop for the committee at the July 2 meeting to answer procedural questions. Committee members said they will finalize edits to the RFP, bring a final draft back for a vote at the next committee meeting, and ask the supervisors to place the RFP for consideration at the supervisors' July meeting.
The committee did not adopt the RFP at this meeting; members tasked subcommittee leads to revise the draft and collect cost estimates, and scheduled the next committee meeting for July 2.
