COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING AND PUBLIC MEETING BEFORE COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON RULES - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday, January 26, 1999 9:11 a.m. - - - BILL NO. 990002 - An ordinance declaring it desirable for the health, safety, and welfare of the people in the area served by Chestnut Hill College, a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which operates facilities located at 96901 Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the Hospitals and Higher Education Facilities Authority of Philadelphia to undertake a project for Chestnut Hill College and approving the buildings and facilities included in such project. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA, Chair COUNCILWOMAN AUGUSTA A. CLARK COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED-MILLER COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILMAN FRANK DICICCO COUNCILMAN W. THACHER LONGSTRETH - - - VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 2 1/26/99 COMMITTEE ON RULES - BILL 990002 I N D E X Donald Cramp, Chief Executive Officer . . . . 3 Philadelphia Hospitals and Higher Education Facilities Authority Beth Kroger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Vice President of Fiscal Affairs, Chestnut Hill College Austin McGreal, General Counsel . . . . . . . 8 Philadelphia Hospitals and Higher Education Facilities Authority 3 1/26/99 COMMITTEE ON RULES - PUBLIC HEARING - BILL 990002 P R O C E E D I N G S
Good morning, everyone. This is the public hearing of the Rules Committee. The clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 990002.
Bill No. 990002, an ordinance declaring it desirable for the health, safety, and welfare of the people in the area served by Chestnut Hill College, a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which operates facilities located at 96901 Germantown Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the Hospitals and Higher Education Facilities Authority of Philadelphia to undertake a project for Chestnut Hill College and approving the buildings and facilities included in such project.
Thank you. Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Thank you, thank you. My 4 1/26/99 COMMITTEE ON RULES - PUBLIC HEARING - BILL 990002 name is Donald Cramp. I'm the Chief Executive Officer of the Philadelphia Hospitals and Higher Education Facilities Authority. May I, on behalf of the Hospitals and Higher Education Facilities Authority of Philadelphia, offer our warmest congratulations to a person who's been extremely supportive of the Authority for many years. If I may tell a quick short story, recently, I had the opportunity to go to the Temple Children's Medical Center, and I walked through that beautiful facility and saw the people there that are serving in this wonderful setting. And a few years ago, we were before this committee, and a question was asked about the zoning for a bridge, and that financing almost was put on hold until the Councilwoman at that time Verna left, went to her office after being excused and came back in about ten minutes with all the documents that illustrated that indeed, it had gone through zoning, and then the proceedings went ahead. And I saw that bridge that ties those two hospitals together in the last month. 5 1/26/99 COMMITTEE ON RULES - PUBLIC HEARING - BILL 990002 And that was one of the many times you've supported us, and we thank you.
May I add another word, if I may: my thanks to Councilman Kenney, who, for many years, has served in the capacity of hearing our testimony. And I would like to, if I may, say that we deeply appreciate those years.
To be short, if I may, Madam Chairperson, my name is Donald Cramp. I serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Hospitals and Higher Education Facilities Authority of Philadelphia. I wish to make a brief and usual and customary brief introductory statement in support of the proposed bill before you this morning. On December 8, 1998, a representative from Chestnut Hill College attended the Hospitals and Higher Education Facilities 6 1/26/99 COMMITTEE ON RULES - PUBLIC HEARING - BILL 990002 Authority of Philadelphia of Philadelphia board of directors meeting seeking the Authority's assistance in a financing. The Chestnut Hill College application was accepted with pleasure, as this is our first higher education financing for the Authority. A Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibilities Act, the so-called TEFRA hearing, on behalf of Chestnut Hill College was held successfully and without conflict on January 22, 1999 in our boardroom in accordance with the published newspaper advertisements. Today, we have the privilege of assisting Chestnut Hill College, a distinguished institution and the many people associated with this outstanding college. May I again express our appreciation to each member of the Rules Committee on the Council on behalf of the board and the Authority for scheduling of this meeting. If there are no questions of me, I would like to introduce Miss Beth Kroger, who is Vice President of Fiscal Affairs for Chestnut Hill College, new to our community. And in recent months, we have become very 7 1/26/99 COMMITTEE ON RULES - PUBLIC HEARING - BILL 990002 familiar with her excellent grace and competence. Miss Beth Kroger.
I also would like to thank you for allowing us to come before you.
I'm sorry, would you pull the microphone closer to you so we can hear you. Thank you.
Okay. I would also like to thank you for allowing us to come before the Rules Committee so quickly and certainly appreciate your efforts to get our ordinance 19 introduced so quickly to the Council and would like to appreciate the Authority for their willingness to work with us so quickly and efficiently. Chestnut Hill College is located in the northwest corner of Philadelphia. It has about 1500 students. And the project that will 8 1/26/99 COMMITTEE ON RULES - PUBLIC HEARING - BILL 990002 be funded from this bond issue is to construct a multipurpose building. The building will house, on the first two floors, a combination gymnasium and convocation center. And on the top two floors, academic space for technology. The remaining proceeds will be used for building renovations and restorations, including the roofs and our boiler plant.
Thank you. Are there any questions from members of the committee? (No questions.)
Madame Chairman, my name is Austin McGreal. I'm general counsel to the Authority. And if the Rules Committee in their deliberations rules favorably, I would appreciate it if you would suspend the rules. Thank you very much for your kindness.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman 9 1/26/99 COMMITTEE ON RULES - PUBLIC HEARING - BILL 990002 Miller.
Thank you, Madame Chair. As the district Councilperson, Chestnut Hill College is in the 8th Councilmatic District, and I just want to state for the record that I also support the bill, having heard no opposition. Thank you.
Thank you. Councilman Longstreth, I think you would like to echo that?
I echo the sentiments expressed by Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you. Are there any other questions or comments from members of the committee? (No questions.)
Hearing none, this concludes our public hearing of Bill 21 990002. - - -.
We will now go into our public meeting. The Chair recognizes Councilman 10 1/26/99 COMMITTEE ON RULES - PUBLIC HEARING Kenney.
Madame Chair, I move that Bill No. 990002 be reported out of this committee favorably; and additionally, that a request be made for rules suspension to allow for first reading at our next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
It's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 12 990002 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and also a recommendation that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next session of Council. All in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it, the motion is carried. Thank you all very much.
Thank you. (Adjourned at 9:19 a.m.) 11 C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Tuesday, January 26, 1999, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON RULES BILL NO. 990002 __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, Registered Professional Reporter