Contract to market, sell middle school property questioned

Gateway School Board is expected to vote next week on whether to advertise for proposals for firms to market and sell the Gateway Middle School property.

Questions have been raised on the validity of an agreement the board entered into last year.

Board member Rick McIntyre presented a resolution Tuesday stating for the “sake of transparency” a request for proposals would allow all interested companies make a submissionfor the board to review.

The board hired The 360 Group of Pittsburgh in April 2017 to market and sell the 26-acre middle school property at 4450 Old William Penn Highway. Mr. McIntyre said that although the board hired the firm, a contract was never approved.

Mr. McIntyre suggested tabling the first installment payment to The 360 Group. The board is scheduled to consider making its first payment of $2,500to the firm on Feb. 28.

“We are not contractually obligated in any real way to actually pay that money right now,” Mr. McIntyre said. “That contract was never actually submitted nor approved by the board.”

Solicitor Bruce Dice said he couldn’t recall whether the contract was approved.

“If the contract was not approved,it is voidable,” he said. “It appears to me that they’ve made some attempt and reliance upon the contract to secure potential buyers, at least that’swhat we’ve heard.

“You’ve got a thorny issue at this point,” he said.

Board secretary Bonnie Easha said there was no exhibit of a contract in the minutes from the meeting back in April 2017.

However, board member George Lapcevich said he recalled seeing a contract after that meeting that was signed by board president Scott Williams.

Board vice president Mary Beth Cirucci said the contract was neither seen by the entireboard nor voted on.

The board is holding an intergovernmental meeting with Monroeville Council on Feb. 27, and The 360 Group has been invited to attend representing Gateway.

“I think they’re a major factor in this,” board member Valerie Warning said of The 360 Group.

“I think should be there,” Mr. Dice said, who added, “You’re putting them in a precarious situation.”

Art McAuley, broker of record for The 360 Group, has said once the school is closed, it could take about a year to sell the property.