Allentown City Council unanimously approved a set of procurement items the meeting identified as R128, R129 and R131.

R128 authorizes an engagement with HT Lyons for $19,740 to provide engineering services to scope and design renovations to the variable air volume system and ductwork at the city’s Public Safety Building.

R129 authorizes a contract with Penn Credit Corporation to provide collection services for past-due accounts, primarily for the Bureau of Revenue and Audit, the Bureau of Recycling and Solid Waste, and EMS services. Councilmember Miss Garland asked whether Penn Credit has been the subject of lawsuits in Pennsylvania; Sarah McNeil said that legal would need to research that question and that staff was not aware of active Pennsylvania suits. McNeil noted a Virginia case dating to 2017 referenced in the discussion.

R131 authorizes purchases through cooperative contracts with Dell Marketing, Recycling Equipment Corp. and SIV Ambulances for various goods and services.

Each contract was approved by unanimous roll call with all present councilmembers recorded as voting yes and no nays recorded. The administration reported that standard procurement processes were followed: the HT Lyons engagement used a cooperative procurement, and the Penn Credit award followed an advertised RFP and committee evaluation process.

Council did not name a mover or seconder on the record for these items during the meeting. Staff said legal review would be required to follow up on any questions about vendor litigation history for the Penn Credit award.