PA Senate State Government Committee Chairman Senator Cris Dush and six state Senators have addressed concerns to the Department of General Services (DGS) Secretary Reggie McNeil regarding the department’s failure to submit a required state property disposition plan. The letter, excerpted below, highlights that this plan has not been submitted since at least 2013.
The absence of these plans is said to have led to severe mismanagement of state properties across the Commonwealth. Senator Dush and other committee members are urging DGS to comply with its statutory obligations by submitting a surplus property disposition plan for legislative review.
In their letter, they write: “We are writing to inquire about the Property Disposition Plan, which the Department of General Services is required to develop pursuant to Section 2403-A of Act 175 of 1929, known as the Administrative Code of 1929.”
They further note: “As of the date of this letter, the Senate State Government Committee has still not received this plan from your department. Additionally, it is our suspicion that your department has not submitted this plan for several years. The requirement for this plan to be posted to the Pennsylvania Bulletin has not been satisfied since 2013.”
The senators emphasize that without this plan, there has been significant mismanagement in handling properties such as White Haven Center, Polk Center, Hamburg Center, and Wernersville State Hospital. They mention that DGS suggested legislation might be needed for disposing of these properties but assert it is DGS’s responsibility.
The letter concludes: “We believe this plan to be an absolute necessity for transparency and efficiency, and we urge your department to fulfill your statutory duty and submit a surplus property disposition plan to this committee as soon as possible.”
A copy of the full letter and list of signatories can be accessed online.
