PriyaPatelTLDR: Allentown City Council in Pennsylvania is set to discuss the selection process for an outside investigator into alleged discrimination in city hall. The council is considering excluding employees from the city’s finance department from the scoring committee, which would decide which agency carries out the investigation. Some council members believe that having finance employees on the committee would present a conflict of interest, as the investigation relates to city employees. However, Mayor Matt Tuerk has argued that excluding finance staff could put the city at risk.
Allentown City Council in Pennsylvania is set to discuss the selection process for an outside investigator into alleged discrimination in city hall. The council is considering excluding employees from the city’s finance department from the scoring committee, which would decide which agency carries out the investigation, due to concerns of a conflict of interest. The proposed investigation stemmed from a letter from the Allentown NAACP in July 2023, which alleged that around 10 city employees faced racism and discrimination at work. City employees have since come forward to accuse the mayor and other city leaders of failing to address complaints of mistreatment. The allegations have caused a rift between Mayor Tuerk and some city council members, who narrowly voted “no confidence” in the mayor in late 2023.
The city issued a request for proposals from legal agencies for the investigation and is now evaluating bids. Mayor Tuerk argues that finance staff should be included on the scoring committee, as they would ensure that proper procedures are followed. However, council members claim that having finance staff involved in the selection process presents a conflict of interest, as the investigation relates to city employees. Council members are set to discuss the issue further in a meeting on Thursday.
