We remain deeply disappointed that the future of City Hall is only a little more clear — if at all — than it was months ago.

We want to emphasize that this not PFM consultant Gordon Mann’s failing or responsibility. We appreciate his remarks and his attempt to look at many facets of the issue, as reported in last Wednesday’s edition of the Sun-Gazette.

We continue to believe that Mayor Derek Slaughter should have presented more detailed plans for what could come next when council first opened bids to buy the property at 245 W. Fourth St. We believe members of City Council and constituents that have adopted a more activist stance on the issue should ask – and in some cases attempt to answer – the questions stemming from that lack of detail as well.

How much would replacing the offices, if the building were sold, cost? How much to build a new building? How much to renovate the locations, once called “temporary,” now in use so that they could be permanent?

How much would renovating the condemned City Hall building to reach full compliance cost? For what percentage of our city’s budget should the maintenance of administrative offices account?

Are there other properties, were the City Hall building to be repaired and functioning again, that the city could sell into our economy and onto our tax rolls? Are there options that draw from portions of these ideas to create the most affordable option?

We believe the best decision for Williamsport’s taxpayers and residents can only be made if these questions are adequately answered. While we see no reason these answers should not have been part of our city’s public record months if not years ago, we continue to hope that at long last, they will be.