LEHIGH VALLEY MORNING CALL EDITORIAL: …Allentown’s contracting process is at the heart of an FBI investigation into Allentown City Hall. During the July 2 raid, FBI agents seized documents looking for links between campaign donations to city officials and those awarded municipal contracts or seeking contracts…
A Morning Call review of city contracting procedure shows that, unlike the neighboring cities of Bethlehem and Easton, power is held almost completely within the city’s executive branch. Allentown’s administrative code clearly states that contracting powers are “vested” with the mayor and the Finance Department. Allentown City Council has almost no oversight.
That creates the potential for abuse, said David VanSlyke, an expert on public administration and business at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs… (more)
