PRINTER'S NO. 3404
No. 258 Session of 1984
INTRODUCED BY O'BRIEN, SALVATORE, WESTON, PERZEL AND WOGAN,
JUNE 28, 1984
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, JUNE 29, 1984
A RESOLUTION
1 Providing for a bipartisan committee to investigate the
2 Philadelphia School District in relation to the granting of
3 an option to purchase certain surplus property.
4 WHEREAS, The Philadelphia School District has authorized its
5 board officers to grant an option to the AFL-CIO Housing
6 Corporation to purchase approximately five acres of land at the
7 unused Shallcross School site in Northeast Philadelphia for the
8 purpose of enabling this corporation to seek Federal funding for
9 the construction of a housing project; and
10 WHEREAS, The school district took this action without benefit
11 of public hearings and without any meaningful input from
12 residents of the affected communities as to the impact of this
13 action on the lives of such residents or as to the best use of
14 this vacant site; and
15 WHEREAS, The Shallcross School site has been traditionally
16 used by area children for recreational purposes; and
17 WHEREAS, The neighboring communities, including many civic
18 associations, athletic associations and youth clubs, have
1 requested that this site be set aside for use as athletic fields
2 and as a recreational facility for the area children; and
3 WHEREAS, The disposition of surplus school land can have a
4 major impact on neighboring communities; and
5 WHEREAS, It is in the public interest that neighboring
6 communities, community organizations and affected citizens be
7 granted meaningful input before a school district disposes or
8 authorizes its officers or employees to dispose of its surplus
9 land; and
10 WHEREAS, It is imperative that public hearings be held before
11 a school district disposes or authorizes its officers or
12 employees to dispose of surplus school land; therefore be it
13 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
14 appoint a bipartisan select committee of seven members, four
15 from the majority party and three from the minority party, to
16 investigate the actions of the Philadelphia School District in
17 authorizing its board officers to grant an option to the AFL-CIO
18 Housing Corporation to purchase surplus school land without
19 conducting public hearings and without seeking meaningful
20 community input, to determine the adequacy of existing laws, and
21 to recommend any necessary remedial legislation; and be it
22 further
23 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
24 testimony and make its investigations at such places as it deems
25 necessary in this Commonwealth. It may issue subpoenas under the
26 hand and seal of its chairman commanding any person to appear
27 before the committee and to answer questions touching matters
28 properly being inquired into by the committee and to produce
29 such books, papers, records and documents as the committee deems
30 necessary. The subpoenas may be served upon any person and shall
19840H0258R3404 - 2 -
1 have the same effect as subpoenas issued out of the courts of
2 this Commonwealth. Any person who willfully neglects or refuses
3 to testify before the committee or to produce any books, papers,
4 records or documents shall be subject to the penalties provided
5 by the laws of this Commonwealth in such case. Each member of
6 the committee shall have power to administer oaths and
7 affirmations to witnesses appearing before the committee; and be
8 it further
9 RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings and its
10 recommendations for any necessary remedial legislation to the
11 House of Representatives as soon as possible.
F20L82DGS/19840H0258R3404 - 3 -