Council subpoenas a deputy mayor and Drexel's president to testify on the Academy of Natural Sciences

City Council has issued subpoenas to make two officials testify about the closing of the Academy of Natural Sciences museum on the Parkway: Deputy Mayor Patricia "Trish" Wellenbach and Drexel University President Antonio Merlo. Committee on Legislative Oversight chair Isaiah Thomas signed the subpoenas Thursday, Oct. 29, on behalf of Jeffery Young Jr. and Nina Ahmad, the Inquirer reported.

Neither of them came to the committee's Oct. 26 hearing. The hearing was recessed, not closed, and it resumes Monday, Nov. 16, at 10 a.m. in Room 400 of City Hall (meeting page). For residents, the question is still the one Council started with: whether the city's natural history museum, closed to the public since Sept. 27, can reopen, and who would pay for it.

What the subpoenas do

Subpoenas from Council are rare. The Inquirer reported that the last one came in 2022, when then-Councilmember Helen Gym compelled testimony from the Philadelphia Parking Authority's acting director. None had been issued since Kenyatta Johnson became Council president in 2024, the paper reported.

Both witnesses are expected to show up:

• Council spokesperson Vincent Thompson said a Drexel representative confirmed Merlo will appear, according to the Inquirer.
• Parker administration spokesperson Joe Grace said Wellenbach will testify, the paper reported. The city's Law Department accepted the subpoena for her.

At the first hearing, Drexel said Merlo had to be on campus for an accreditation site visit. Wellenbach, who has been serving as a senior adviser to the Academy, sent written testimony saying she was not the "appropriate" person to testify because she can't speak for Drexel or the Academy. Young called her absence "a disrespect to the Philadelphians," the Inquirer reported.

What our records add

The power was in the resolution from the start. The hearing comes from Resolution 260737, introduced by Young and adopted Sept. 17. Its title authorizes "the issuance of subpoenas to the full extent authorized under Section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter." Its other sponsors were Curtis Jones Jr., Jim Harrity, Kendra Brooks, Mark Squilla, Nicolas O'Rourke, Ahmad and Quetcy Lozada. Our record shows the Oct. 26 action as "Recessed."

A task force is one vote away. Ahmad's Resolution 260944, introduced Oct. 29, would have the Committee on Public Health and Human Services set up a task force on the Academy's future, including options to reopen the museum and pay for it. It is on the final passage calendar for the Nov. 12 stated meeting. Ten members are listed as sponsors. Our story on the task force.

Zoning is on a separate track. Young's bill restricting uses in the Fifth District Overlay, Bill 260764, is on the Nov. 17 Rules Committee agenda. Our preview of that hearing explains its link to the Academy site.

The money question

Drexel says it can no longer afford the $5 million to $6 million a year it puts into the Academy. The William Penn Foundation has offered to fund a year of operations, but Drexel has not accepted, the Inquirer reported. At the Oct. 26 hearing, Drexel and the Academy's board chair gave cost figures that did not match, as we reported.

What's next

• Nov. 12: possible final vote on the task force resolution at the stated meeting.
• Nov. 16, 10 a.m.: the Legislative Oversight hearing resumes with Wellenbach and Merlo under subpoena. Our meeting page will add the video and transcript once posted.
• Nov. 17, 10 a.m.: Rules Committee hearing that includes Bill 260764.