Municipal Complex Design Needs RFP: Lansdale Mayor

At the recent Lansdale Borough council meeting, Mayor Andy Szekely and councilmembers debated over the necessity of Requests for Proposal in the conceptual design of the renovation of the Lansdale municipal complex.

Szekely's current stance: The borough should not hire Spiezle Architects, and commence an RFP process and hire bidding firms for the alternative design options for Lansdale Borough Hall and Lansdale Police headquarters.

The borough's current stance: Spiezle was hired to complete a facilities and grounds study, and are a "trusted advisor" that should submit conceptual designs for the project.

A special meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday at 9 p.m. at Lansdale Borough Hall, to consider a motion to vote on a contract for development of concept drawings for the municipal complex renovation.

During the debate, there was much mention of Szekely's blogs and Councilman Denton Burnell's blogs on this topic.

"In my discussions with residents and professionals, one thing that I have had a bit of an issue with is that, in 2010, we put out an RFP for a ground and facilties study. In looking at the study—and the assessment was rather vague—when we have a study put out there, I understand the firms and respondents were thoroughy vetted for study."

"We have had the study, followed by fact that Spiezle eventually will do the architectural designs and drawings," he said. "What I'd like to know: how much we've spent on Spiezle so far. If it's a lot of money, it may be an issue. If it's not that much, maybe I'm ranting and raving for nothing."

Councilman Dan Dunigan said that 23 firms responded to the facilities and grounds study, and the borough knew there was a high likelihood it would need services of a professional architect and engineering firm, much like Spiezle.

The number went from 23 to eight to two to, eventually, Spiezle. Dunigan said a facilities and grounds study committee vetted each applicant in more than 1,000 hours of mantime.

"Now, we have a properly-vetted advisor (Spiezle), who then produces a product. But I think it's well done," said Dunigan. "Those folks climbed over, in, around, under and through every building. We asked them to pay special attention to 311 (W. Main St.), this structure (borough hall) and the police station, knowing they are those which need the most attention and have the most usage from the public and the police."

Borough Manager Timi Kirchner then clarified the process. She said the original contract in the RFP with Spiezle was for $158,000 to review more than 30 borough-owned strucutres over 11 months.

Kirchner and Dunigan said Spiezle was neither the highest or the lowest bidder.

"A good bit of money has been spent since 2010," Dunigan said. "Every product Spiezle has produced has been, in my opinion, exemplary. There's a point in time where a trusted advisor is a good thing to have."

Dunigan said the borough could go out to RFP "every time you want somebody to do anything."

"I don't prefer to do it in my personal life," he said. "I have an accountant who does my taxes every year. He produces a great product. I trust him. If he were to give me a reason not to trust him—if Spiezle gave us a reason not to trust them, if anybody else we engaged gave us a reason not to trust them—that would be an opportune time."

Dunigan said Spiezle's price is fair and it knows the borough's product; the borough knows what to expect from Spiezle in return.  

"It's foolhardy to think you simply keep going back out (for RFPs), and I don’t think you gain anything. I think you actually lose something," Dunigan said.

After a while, Dunigan said the "pie gets diluted" when you split the borough up into parts and have different firms "climb over it."

"You don't get the large, most professional firms, because it's going to cost Spiezle or somebody responding to an RFP for 10 buildings nearly the exact same for 20, 30 or 40 buildings," he said. "The RFP doesn't change, the requirements in the RFP don't change. What does change is the amount of potential on the other end."

Szekely retorted that the public can decide for itself on the proper approach for Lansdale.   

"I'm talking two buildings," Szekely said. "I think what we lose by not having that is variety and design."

Szekely said, for example, when the borough originally had 311 W. Main St. completed in 2006-2007, there was only one architect and possibly no RFP.

"What I see is that you have a facilities study done and now that same person is getting the work," Szekely said. "What it boils down to is residents have to listen to both sides of what's going on here ... as to what we do with residents' money."

Szekely asked what the future of work of Spiezle would cost for Lansdale. Dunigan said it could be around $400,000, but no less than $200,000 and no more than $700,000. 

"Is it worth it?" asked Szekely. "Is it worth looking at RFPs for borough hall and the police? Do we throw that out there, looking for lower prces and different designs?"

Burnell spoke up with a "practical counterexample": Borough engineer Remington, Vernick and Beach were selected last year by council, without an RFP.

"They've done excellent work for us," Burnell said. "A project that comes to mind is the work on Jenkins Avenue. Chris and his team did a study for us, they went and looked at all the issues occuring in that area, and came back with proposals, and ultimately they will do the engineering work."

"My concern," Burnell continued, "is we're saying this is something new, that we're trying to hoodwink you. We follow this process openly all the time. We have trusted advisors for a reason."

Councilman Mike Sobel said another such trusted advisor is traffic engineer Pennoni Associates.

"(They) do a wonderful job. (Chief Robert McDyre and Pennoni) work hand-in-hand all the time. They give you opinions, recommendations. They've been with the borough for years. They've done a nice job for us. It's a trusted advisor we go to and know we can get the answer we need."

Szekely said that's precisely his point: Lansdale has never used Spiezle before.

"They’ve done a study and now they're contracted to do drawings," Szekely said.

Kirchner said the study selection process began in September 2010, with an RFP recommend by the Administration and Finance Committee and approved by council.

The RFP, she said, was to give a full assessment of the properties owned by Lansdale Borough, thus classifying its state. Then, the borough could set priorities for maintenance.  

Spiezle delivered a final report in June 2012 after 14 months. Council then authorized Spiezle to come back with solutions to the worst issues of both buildings. In December 2010, council determined alternative locations for a new borough hall and police station were not reasonable. Council then scheduled a report on options for a public January meeting.

"After much discussion in committee, and with major emphasis on the proposed solutions, one which retains the outside walls of borough hall—as was done earlier with the repurposing of the post office—it was determined this solution was to be the one primarily considered," Kirchner said.  

"It was also determined that a proposal that suggests an entirely new building should also be considered," she said, "particularly for cost comparisons and alternative approaches for honoring the history of this site."

A special meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday at 9 p.m. at Lansdale Borough Hall, to consider a motion to vote on a contract for development of concept drawings for the municipal complex renovation.