After five years, the unresolved saga of Williamsport’s City Hall may be coming to an end — but it could take a few more weeks.

City Council decided to table a resolution forwarded by Councilman Jonah Milliken authorizing the solicitation for bids for the sale of city real estate, naming and discussing that as the condemned and historic building at 245 W. Fourth St.

It was a 4-2 vote, with Milliken and Councilman Jon Mackey opposed to the tabling and Councilman Vince Pulizzi, council vice president, absent. In favor of tabling it were council President Eric Beiter, Councilwoman Liz Miele, Councilman Adam Yoder and Councilman David Dussinger. The discussion on the proposed resolution also occurred at the Committee of the Whole meeting two days before the council held its meeting.

Miele said in an earlier discussion at the committee meeting and referencing her points at the council that she wanted to see a request for proposals or invitation for bids — whatever is decided on — sculpted so as not to force the city to necessarily have to accept the highest bid but rather she would like to see the city pursue a best plan for the building.

“My concern for the request for proposals is that it is sculpted not so much as an income-generator for the city in the short-term as an income-generator in the long-term,” she said. “That is to say that I want to make sure the building is used either for street-facing retail or for housing, so that it adds to the downtown streetscape,” she said.

Beiter said he had a concern about the plans after the sale of the building, especially without his perceived lack of a plan moving forward and in light of what he deemed as a “bit of a mess” caused by lease arrangements and real estate closings as part of the separation between the city and River Valley Transit Authority.

Milliken also remarked how he wanted what was best for the city but noted there was a $560,000 revenue line item showing the sale in this year’s budget that will have to be addressed one way or the other. There may be an opportunity to create a request for proposals or an invitation for bids depending on the direction council takes.

The historic building was damaged in July 2021 by rainwater that leaked in from the gutter system and roof during a heavy rainstorm. The building was inspected by the codes department and air samples were taken. The building and its occupants, including city workers, were evacuated for health and safety reasons. In December 2021 another leak occurred when a pipe burst sprayed water on several floors.

Police have since utilized the building for storage of their records, and the police patrol division is located at the former transit museum on Nichols Place, while the police administration is at Trade and Transit Centre I.