City spending $70K to repair roof at U.S. Motors
The city of Philadelphia is putting a lot of money into the roof repair project at the old U.S, Motors building, Alderman-at-Large Leroy Clemons pointed out two weeks ago.
His comments came a regular board meeting July 7. The city owns the building and is leasing it to La-Z-Boy as a warehouse for around $150,000 per year. The company recently closed its plant in Newton, but Philadelphia Mayor James A. Young said the company intends to continue to use the U.S. Motors building as one of its regional warehouses.
La-Z-Boy has been using two sections of the building and recently leased the remaining section. However, the roof is in dire need of repair. As the landlord, the city is obligated to pay for it, officials said.
The board passed an order to pay Norman Roofing $70,400 for its work on the roof. Clemons noted that more repair work was needed. After a discussion, the board passed the motion 5-0.
The city is in the process of putting together a $1.5 million infrastructure bond issue. Some of that money is expected to cover the roof repair.
In another matter, the board went into executive session before approving the minutes of the previous meeting. They discussed Ward 4 Alderman Cassie Henson’s appointment of Darrius Thames to the Park Board in the previous meeting. Thames’s appointment was confirmed on a 4-1 vote with Ward 2 Alderman Jim Fulton voting no.
“After he was approved, it was brought to my attention that there were some issues,” Fulton said. “I didn’t feel comfortable appointing him.”
Fulton had no other comment.
In other matters, the board voted to:
• Approve minutes and the claims docket;
• Approve the payment of $14,730 to Waggoner Engineering for a project at the airport;
• Approve the payment of $70,043 to BNA out of the sewer and bond account;
• Approve the payment of $1,500 to Clyde C. Scott Insurance to renew the mayor and board’s bonds;
• Approve the reimbursement of $400 to the petty cash fund from the Street Department’s fund;
• Approve the setting of two rezoning hearings on August 4 for properties at 1) 501 Valleyview Drive, and 2) 705 Range Avenue;
• Approve the hiring of two men for the fire department. Damien Seales was hired as a probationary firefighter. Marco Patrick was hired as a driver. The board also accepted two resignations;
• Approve the purchase of a Paratech 16 Trence kit from EVS through grant money as the cost of $26,822; and,
• Approve the reimbursement of $246 to Kendyl E. Terrell from court services;
• Approve the payment of $5,136 to NAFECO from the fire rebate account.
The board also discussed an unclean property on Valley View Drive but took no action.