Politics & Government

Lansdale Council Majority Approves $10.9M Borough Complex Renovation

Lansdale Borough Hall and Lansdale Police will soon undergo a renovation at 1 Vine St.

Last month, Lansdale Borough Council was poised to vote unanimously for the preliminary and final land development for the Lansdale Borough Hall and police station municipal complex renovation—but Mayor Andy Szekely threatened a veto and the vote stalled until Wednesday night.
At that meeting, council voted 7-2 to essentially override Szekely's veto and approve the $10.9 million development of the property by contractor Gordon Baver Inc.
Furthermore, it was revealed by solicitor Joe Clement that Szekely had no traditional authority to veto the resolution, but it was "appropriate to go through the process."
The two dissenters in the development vote were Democrats Jack Hansen and Rich DiGregorio Jr. Both flip-flopped their votes due to some influence from Szekely, Hansen said.
"I had a long discussion with our mayor, and he put forward a very reputable argument about it," Hansen said.
Hansen's main qualm: The use of a $10 million 2012 general obligation bond for the project is not allowed without approval first of borough council. Hansen argued that the project was not included in an initial list from the bond counsel on what the money could be used for in the borough.
"I did ask for list of projects for the  2012 bond isse, and I have not received it yet. My argument is (the municipal complex renovation) is not on the list at all. I think that’s wrong," Hansen said. "When the bond was issued last year we were told by bond counsel that the money had to be used for what was on the list. Timi said the money can be changed from what it is listed for by the technical legal definitions. Nothing ever came before council to change the use of that money."
Borough Manager Timi Kirchner told Hansen his opinion was invalid. She said the money could be used for structural improvements related to municipal or police operations.
"The very first item in the statement for capital items be used for are structures related to municipal operations and structures related to police operations. They are authorized, and what we are spending money on is authorized in statement within that bond," Kirchner said.    
Council President Matt West said Hansen last year wanted to attach a formalized list to the bond with specific numbers of projects perceived in the future. West said council debated as to why that was not a good practice.
"It pigeonholes us," West said. "There are specific things that this money can be spent on and this is one of them. It falls within that."
Hansen was also the dissenter in an 8-1 vote for Baver to perform relocation services for borough hall.
Councilman Dan Dunigan lauded Spiezle Architects, the firm that conducted a facilities study of all borough properties and oversaw the bid process, for a great bid spread and differential of under 10 percent.
"As a guy in the insurance industry on the surety side of it, there are a couple monitors of quality work on the architectural and engineering side reflected in the quality of bids you get and sureties you get in the bid spread. The rule of thumb in my world of credit on the surety side is 10 pecent," he said. "I believe the first couple of bids are within 2 to 3 percent. From a cost standpoint and credit standpoint, if I were Gordon Baver's surety broker, I would be thrilled at these bid results."


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