ALLENTOWN, Pa. — City Council took another step Wednesday on its long path toward a much-talked-about investigation into claims of racism and discrimination at City Hall.
Council by a 6-1 vote approved a measure that allocates at least $300,000 for an investigative agency to examine all firings, resignations and salary adjustments within city government since the start of 2022.
Investigators also are expected to interview people who filed complaints internally or with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Human Relations Commission.
“I don't think you should limit yourselves — because this is very real; the complaints are very real."Phoebe Harris, Allentown School Board director
Council members were ready to vote on a firm $300,000 limit for the probe, but a one-word amendment proposed by Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach and passed by the full council opens the door to allocate more funding for the investigation down the line.
The resolution passed Wednesday by council says the investigation will not “initially” exceed $300,000.
Phoebe Harris, who serves on Allentown School Board, warned council members that it could be difficult to find a “credible company and not a fly-by-night” agency that can conduct a “thorough” investigation for $300,000.
“I don't think you should limit yourselves — because this is very real; the complaints are very real,” she said.
Probe is pending
Council approved the investigation in October, about three months after the Allentown NAACP branch alleged numerous instances of racism and discrimination within city government.
A five-page letter from the organization to Mayor Matt Tuerk highlighted a “concerning number of complaints from Black and Brown employees” who work in City Hall.
Among the allegations are claims that some white Allentown police officers threatened to shoot their Black colleagues, who are targeted by racial slurs and “continuously threatened.”
“I worry about how it's worded, that it gives a lot of leeway to future city councils to maybe let it get a little too political, maybe a little weaponized."Allentown City Councilman Santo Napoli on a measure that lets council sideline administration officials
Employees of color reported being “verbally attacked” by white supervisors, while it’s also alleged that “white managers rule out Black and Brown employees during promotions,” according to the letter.
Residents demanded for much of last summer that city council investigate the allegations, a probe that Tuerk has said he welcomes.
Council passed a no-confidence measure against Tuerk in December, several weeks after he fired a city employee who repeatedly called for the investigation.
Allentown Communications Manager Genesis Ortega said former human resources employee Karen Ocasio was among three people Tuerk fired after an 18-month investigation into the department.
‘A slippery slope’
Councilman Santo Napoli was the lone council member to vote against funding the investigation.
Council earlier in the meeting approved a change to the city’s code that could make it easier for the body to launch probes by letting members block administration officials from the process to select an investigative agency.
Though Napoli voted for the change, he said he felt it was not “becoming of our body” to sidestep the normal contracting process to launch an investigation.
“I worry about how it's worded, that it gives a lot of leeway to future city councils to maybe let it get a little too political, maybe a little weaponized."Allentown City Councilman Santo Napoli
He called that practice “a slippery slope.”
“I worry about how it's worded, that it gives a lot of leeway to future city councils to maybe let it get a little too political, maybe a little weaponized,” Napoli said.
Council members have had to work through a slew of legal and procedural hurdles since approving the investigation that has delayed its start.
Councilman Ed Zucal has said the probe could take up to six months — the same length of time it’s been since council approved it.
