The Convention Center Authority owns the convention center building. Penn Square Partners (via RACL) is the equitable owner of the Marriott Hotel. And there are certain areas which are owned and operated in common. So in designing the electric and gas systems, the engineers would arrange for separate meters for the three different areas. Correct?

It wasn’t done! And why it wasn’t done make no sense whatsoever to veteran builder and property manager Robert Field from the view points of construction expense, maintenance, cost accounting, and operations.

Upon hearing about the problem, NewsLanc posed the following question to Kevin Molloy, Executive Director of the Authority.

Question: “Concerning the three electric meters: Is one for the convention center proper, one for the hotel, and one for the common areas? If not, what areas do each electric meter serve?”

Response: “The three meters are not for each ownership proper, hence we are analyzing usage so that we can establish a allocation formula for the ownerships.”

Molloy also states: “The topic of utility metering has been discussed at length on several occasions by the Authority Board. We are in the process of analyzing usage so that we can establish a allocation formula that is acceptable to all parties. Once our analysis is completed, we will be in a better position to determine how to fairly and accurately allocate utility expenses among the parties.”

NewsLanc is at a loss to comprehend the reason behind such a radical departure from normal design and good sense which creates such obfuscation concerning cost allocation. It is reasonable to believe that the primary developer, S. Dale High, and Penn Square Partners (the High companies and Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.) were the major voices in such a decision. Our readers can draw their own conclusions concerning what motivated this decision.