Millcreek Township’s proposal to buy the Zem Zem Shrine Club for use as a community center was the focus of a sometimes contentious conversation between a township supervisor and former township supervisor on Monday.
Former supervisor Sue Weber, now an elected member of the Millcreek Township Government Study Commission, criticized the township for hiring firms for professional services, including services related to the potential community center, without requesting proposals and bids from a variety of companies.
Supervisors hired a consulting firm to study the feasibility of the township parks and recreation department operating a community center last fall and on Monday hired a firm to do an environmental assessment of the Shrine Club property. Both firms were hired without seeking other proposals or bids.
Pennsylvania law does not require second-class townships like Millcreek to seek bids or proposals for professional services, but not doing so is a disservice to taxpayers, Weber said.