PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Some residents of the city’s East Germantown section are fuming at their councilmember, Donna Miller, for her support of a new dollar store in the neighborhood.

Miller has proposed altering the zoning for a block at Pulaski and Chelten Avenues, where developer Pat Burns wants to build a multi-store structure that would include a Dollar Tree store.  Burns is also about to open a Save-A-Lot store nearby.

Council’s Rules committee debated Miller’s proposal, and at a hearing today resident Chris Mendel said the plan smacks of Philadelphia business-as-usual.

“Pay to play, back-door deals, lack of transparency, lack of accountability: that’s the issue I would like to drive home,” he said.

Councilwoman Miller denied any such deals.

“This is not a part of pay to play, it’s not a part of a back(room) deal,” she responded.

The committee recessed without a vote and will take up Miller’s measure on Wednesday.

Reported by KYW City Hall bureau chief Mike Dunn