Gov. Tom Wolf recently signed into law a bill, sponsored by Rep. Dave Zimmerman (R-Lancaster), that would allow boroughs to make emergency purchases to quickly repair items such as a damaged water main, sewer lines and sinkholes.
Previously, boroughs were required to undergo a competitive bidding process for all public works projects over $10,000.
The new law requires the borough council to adopt a resolution stating the extent of the emergency and the actions taken at the next public meeting.
“We have seen incidents such as broken water mains and sinkholes here, and in nearby Lebanon County, displace residents and disrupt commerce for too long while the approvals to begin work to fix the problems cause needless delay,” Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons said. “Local governments, which are closer to and more familiar with such issues, need to be able to respond to their constituents in a timely manner. This new law will help greatly with that need.”
Zimmerman noted that other municipal codes contain provisions related to the one in the new law.
“It is also important to note that boroughs have similar abilities in instances when the governor of the Commonwealth declares a statewide emergency, so we are not undermining any procedures, only expanding a commonsense provision,” Zimmerman said.