City Council will decide in two weeks whether to accept a bid on the former City Hall at the corner of West Fourth and Hepburn Streets in Williamsport. KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
City of Williamsport officials are pushing a request for proposals for studying city government and City Hall feasibility a week.
A re-advertised notice appeared Friday in the Sun-Gazette, making the deadline 3 p.m. April 26, according to Bill Scott, city engineer.
The city is soliciting interested architectural and engineering firms in a request for proposals seeking professional design services.
There is a goal to study the best place for the long-term housing of city government, which will include a feasibility study on condemned former City Hall, 245 W. Fourth St.
Councilman Eric Beiter, chairman of the economic revitalization committee and vice president of council, said the RFP was drafted by Council President Adam Yoder with input from council members. The study was included in the budget allocating $75,000.
Mayor Derek Slaughter said the extra study is a waste of money and believed the money could be better spent on other city expenses such as improving public infrastructure and safety.
The clash has occurred while the city has an offer on the table of $555,500 by JBAS Realty of Jessup to recondition city hall into apartments, a small coffee shop and common space.
There is no indication from council whether the offer on the table will be removed and voted on until the return of the RFP and review of the applicants interested in doing the feasibility study.
The city reserves the right to split the feasibility study project into multiple awards, or decline awarding any contract, the advertisement indicates.
Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox
